Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

United Kingdom

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

For England and Wales: Office of Population, Census Surveys, Room 816, St. Catherine's House, 10 Kingsway, London WC 2B 6JP.

For Scotland: General Register Office (Scotland), Ladywell House, Ladywell Road, Edinburgh EH12 7TF.

For Northern Ireland: Census Office, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 8SJ.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1951, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1981 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 21 April). It primarily concerns England and Wales, but the answers also apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland so that the description can be taken to represent the position in the United Kingdom.

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country (see also para. 2 above).

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The week preceding the day of 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) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of year of birth (complete date, i.e. day, month and year).

Re (g): Employed persons were asked to specify their usual hours of work.

Re (h): The census also collected information on place of work and means of travel to work.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 16 years and over who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. As for the 1981 census, economic position and status in employment are included in the full processing while industry, occupation and workplace are part of the 10 per cent sample. Seasonal and occasional workers were covered by the definition if they were working or looking for a job during the reference week. The definition also includes professional members of the armed forces. There are no conscripts in the United Kingdom.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference week, were working for an employer (full or part time) or were self employed or were on a government employment or training scheme. This included casual or temporary work, and related to work for pay or profit but not to unpaid work (except in a family business). A person was also included if she or he had a job during the reference week but was off sick, on holiday, temporarily laid off or on strike. A part-time job is a job in which the hours worked (excluding any overtime) are usually 30 hours or less per week.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  3. working students with a part time job;
  4. seasonal or occasional workers (if working during the reference week);
  5. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons belonging to category (iii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference week, were waiting to start a job he or she had already accepted or were without work and looking for a job, including persons wanting a job but prevented from looking by holiday or temporary sickness.

7.Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed in the sample are classified by industry and by occupation (the coverage for unemployed persons is those who had a job in the last ten years). Only employed persons are classified by status in employment (see also para. 6 (a) above). Economically inactive persons, such as the retired, were also asked to give information on hours worked, industry and occupation, if they had had a job in the last ten years.

(a) Industry

Respondents were asked to give the name, address and business of the employer (self employed: name, address and nature of the person's business). For coding industry, 320 groups based on the national classification of industries were used, but only 10 per cent sample processed. Links (best fit) to the ISIC-rev.3 have been established at the division (2-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Respondents were asked to give the full title of the present or last job and to describe the main things they do or did in the job. Precise terms should be used, for example: packing machinist; poultry processor; jig and tool fitter; supervisor of typists; accounts clerk; rather than general titles like: machinist; process worker; supervisor or clerk. For coding occupation, 371 groups of the national classification of occupations were used, but only 10 per cent sample processed. Links to the ISCO-88 have been established to the mixed group level.

(c) Status in employment

A specific question on the economic position was asked. For coding this variable, the following five groups were used in the tables based on full processing, namely: working for an employer full time; working for an employer part time; self employed employing other people; self employed not employing other people; on a government employment or training scheme.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

The main changes consist of:

9.Publication of the census results:

First national results on the economically active population were available in 1992. Detailed information on industry, occupation, workplace etc. were available in 1993.

A variety of publications were issued. Customers requiring further information should contact the Census Customer Services, OPCS, Segensworth Road, Titchfield, Hampshire PO15 5RR.

A variety of media were also used for the dissemination of the census data.