Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Luxembourg

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

Service central de la statistique et des études économiques (STATEC), B.P. 304, Luxembourg.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1947, 1960, 1966, 1970, 1981 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 1st March).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole territory.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

A reference period has not been established. The questions asked concern the person's current situation.

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, in terms of age at last birthday, and in terms of exact age on the date of the census.

Re (g): The normal hours of work of employed persons.

Re (h): The census also collected information on the means of travel and travel time to and from the workplace.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons who, at the time of the census, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. An age limit was not been established; however, published data relating to the economically active population, employment and unemployment refer only to persons aged 15 years and over. Members of the armed forces are included in the definition.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who answered yes to the question Have you an occupation at present? when it was put to them at the time of the census. Persons who answered no to this question were asked to describe their current situation.

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;
  5. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons falling in categories (i) and (v) can be identified separately by means of their responses to the question on status in employment.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, at the time of the census, replied no to the question Have you an occupation at present? and were without work and seeking work during the reference period. Students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

7.Classifications used:

Only employed persons are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

Specific questions are asked of employed persons, i.e.: the name, address and branch of activity of the firm, establishment or service which they manage or which employs them. For coding industry, about 500 groups of the 4-digit General Nomenclature of Economic Activities in the European Communities (NEAE) were used. Links to the ISIC have not been established.

(b) Occupation

The following specific question is asked to employed persons: Indicate your current occupation or trade, even if you are an apprentice or if you merely help a member of your household in his/her occupation. For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 was used to the unit group (4-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: What is your status in employment?. For coding status in employment, nine categories were used: farmers, self-employed professional workers, other self-empployed workers, workers, private employees, civil servants, international civil servants, apprentices, unpaid family workers.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The title of the publication containing the final census results is: Série spéciale Recensement de la population (1992/1993).

The organization responsible for this publication is Service central de la statistique et des études économiques (STATEC), B.P. 304, Luxembourg.

The results of the 1991 census are also available in the form of unpublished tables, diskettes and magnetic tapes.