Saint Helena

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

Statistics Office, Development and Economic Planning Department, No. 1 Main Street, Jamestown.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1956, 1966, 1976, 1987 and 1998.  The present description relates to the 1998 population census (held on 8 March 1998).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole island.       

(b) Persons covered: All persons of all ages.   

4. Reference period:

The week 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:  no

(h) Other characteristics:  no

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of date of birth, year of birth and age at last birthday.  

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.

(b) Employment:  Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference period, were employed full-time, part-time or were self-employed.  The question used to determine whether a person is to be counted as employed is “Are you in paid employment (full-time or part-time) at the time of the census, even if temporarily not working due to ill health, holiday, etc. or are you self-employed?”.      

The following categories are included:                                        

i)         persons, temporarily absent from a job;                                 

ii)        working students with a part-time job;                                   

iii)       apprentices and trainees.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference period, were actively seeking work or seriously wished to work in the week prior to the census.   Those persons who reported they were waiting to start a job already accepted or were on the three-day workfare scheme funded by the Employment and Social Services Department are also regarded as unemployed but are identified separately.

7. Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry:   Based on the question “What is the nature of the business where you work?”. For coding industry, 17 groups of the national classification were used.   Links to ISIC-rev.3 have not been established.

(b) Occupation:  Based on the question “Please give a full description of your occupation/job title which describes the type of work done”.  For coding occupation, nine groups of the national classification were used.    Links to ISCO-88 have not been established.

(c) Status in employment: Based on the question “What was your employment status – were you in paid employment (full time or part time) at the time of the Census?”.  For coding status in employment, the following groups were used: 1) employed full time; 2) employed part time; 3) self-employed; 4) unemployed and looking for work; 5) waiting to start job accepted; 6) employed under the three-day scheme; 7) housewife/looking after family; 8) student; 9) retired from paid work; 10) disabled; 11) Other.

(d) Level of education: Based on the question “Have you achieved any academic trade or vocational qualification since reaching the age of 18?”.  For coding level of education the following groups were used: Post-graduate degree; First university degree; Qualification of degree equivalent; Nursing/Teaching diploma; Other academic trade or vocational qualification.  Links to ISCED-97 have not been established.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major differences.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final results of the census were published in August 1999 in “The 1998 Population Census of St. Helena”.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Statistics Office, Development and Economic Planning Department, No. 1 Main Street, Jamestown.