ESTONIA

1. Name and address of the organization responsible for the census:

Statistical Office of Estonia, Endla 15, 15174 Tallinn.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1959, 1970, 1979, 1989 and 2000. The present description relates to the 2000 Population Census  (conducted from 31 March to 9 April).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope:

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered:

All persons of all ages.

4. Reference period:

The week preceding the census.

5. Main topics:

(a) Total population, by sex and age: yes

Economically active population by:

(b) Sex and age group: yes

(c) Industry: yes

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of year of birth.

Re (g): The census collected information on the usual hours of work of employed persons during the reference period.

Re (h): The census also collected information on the place of work.

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population:

It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference period, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Conscripts on military service are excluded from the definition, while regular members of the armed forces are included.

(b) Employment:

Based on the question: ADid you work during the reference week for one hour or more (answer yes also in case you were absent from work because of illness, vacation, etc.)?@. Seasonal workers not at work are excluded from the definition.

The following categories were included:

i) persons doing unpaid work in a family firm or business;

ii) employed persons, temporarily absent from work;

iii) working students with a part-time job;

iv) regular members of the armed forces (conscripts are excluded);

v) apprentices and trainees;

vi) persons temporarily laid-off (with formal job attachment).

Only persons belonging to category (iii) are identified separately. Multiple job holders are identified separately through the number of hours worked.

(c) Unemployment:

Persons who classified themselves as >unemployed job seeker, ready to start work= are considered as unemployed.  Discouraged workers and persons temporarily laid-off (without formal job attachment) are excluded from the definition.  Students seeking work and future starts are included in the definition.

7. Classifications used:

Employed persons are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment. Both employed and unemployed persons are classified by educational level.

(a) Industry:

Based on the question: AWhat is the main economic activity of your main place of work/main employer?@. For coding industry, 222 groups of the national classification (3-digit level) are used.  No links to ISIC have been established.

(b) Occupation:

Based on the questions: AWhat is your occupation at your main place of work?@ and AWhat sort of tasks are yours?@; APlease give a short description of your work tasks@.  For coding occupation, around 400 groups of the national classification are used. Links to ISCO-88 have been established at the unit group (4- digit) level.

(c) Status in employment:

Based on the question: AWhat is your occupational status at your main place of work/main employer?@. For coding this variable, the following six groups are used: 1) Employed with permanent contract, 2) Other employee, 3) Entrepreneur - employer farmer with paid employees, 4) Self-employed person, freelancer, farmer without paid employees, 5) Contributing family worker in a family farm or enterprise and 6) Member of a cooperative.

(d) Level of education:

Based on the questions: AWhat is your highest completed vocational or special education?@ and AEducation attained in a school of general education?@. Links to ISCED have been established.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

In the previous census, questions on place of work, branch of economic activity and status in employment were only asked to 25% of the households, without age limit.

In the 2000 census, the groups of status in employment and the national classifications of occupation and industry were completely different.

Questions on the number of hours worked as well as questions on the workplace were also new.

9. Publication of the census results:

The results of the census are available in Estonian on the website www.stat.ee.  They will also be made available in English.  Two bilingual publications are planned for release in 2003, one concerning socio-economic status and the other covering economically active population.  Both publications will be available in the form of diskettes.

The organization responsible for publication of the results is the Statistical Office of Estonia, Endla 15, 15174 Tallinn.