Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

St. Lucia

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

Statistics Department, Block A, 3rd floor, N.I.S. Building, The Waterfront, Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 12 May).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole island.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The week and the 12 months preceding the census day.

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 age at last birthday.

Re (g): Hours of work relate to the number of hours actually worked during the reference week, and the total period worked as the number of months during the 12 months prior to the census day.

Re (h): Information on income and means of travel to work were collected.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference periods, were most either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Working students with a part time job and students seeking work are excluded from the definition, as well as members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who most worked during the reference periods. The questions used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed are: What did you do most during the past 12 months? and What did you do most during the past week?. The possible answers were: 1) worked; 2) had a job but did not work; 3) looked for work; 4) wanted work and available; 5) home duties; 6) attended school; 7) retired; 8) disabled, unable to work; 9) other; 10) not stated.

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.
Both categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference periods, most were without work, wanted work, were available and looking for work.

7.Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed were classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

Based on the question: What type of business is/was carried on at your workplace?. Unemployed persons were also asked the following question: What sort of work did you look for or want?. For coding industry, 17 groups of the national classification were used. Links to the ISIC-rev.3 have been established to the tabulation category (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What sort of work do/did you do in your main occupation?. For coding occupation, nine groups of the national classification were used. Links to the ISCO-88 have been established to the major-group (1-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: Did you carry on your own business, work for a wage or salary or as an unpaid worker in a family business?. Six groups were used for coding status in employment, namely: paid employee (government); paid employee private; unpaid worker; own business with paid help (employer); own business without paid help (own account); and don't know/not stated.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

In the 1991 census, more information on the unemployed seeking work was sought.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final data were issued in 1995 in the publication entitled: 1991 Population & Housing Census Volumes 1-9.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Statistics Department, NIS Building, The Waterfront, Castries.

Unpublished tables are also available from the Department since May 1992.