Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Trinidad and Tobago

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

Central Statistical Office, P.O. Box 98, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990. The present description relates to the 1990 population census (held on 15 May).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The past week, and the 12 months preceding the date of the enumeration for main activity status.

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.

Re (g): Hours of work relate to usual hours of work of employed persons.

Re (h): The census also collected information on other topics, such as hours worked during the past week (including overtime), address of place of work, gross income during last pay period (week, fortnight, month, quarter, other).

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference periods, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition also covers all members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment

The question used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed is What did you do during the past week (a) had a job, worked; (b) had a job, did not work; (c) seeking first job; (d) others seeking work; (e) wanted work and available past three months; (f) student; (g) home duties; (h) retired; (i) disabled; (j) old age pensioner; (k) did not want work; (l) other; (m) not stated. Those who classified themselves under (a) or (b) were counted as employed.

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. conscripts for military/civilian service;
  6. apprentices and trainees.
Only persons belonging to categories (i), (ii), (v) and (vi) can be identified separately by means of specific questions.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference week, were without work and seeking work. To determine if a person is to be counted as unemployed, the question used is the same as that indicated under 6 (b) above, but the answers could be (c) seeking first job; (d) other seeking work; and, in both cases, (e) wanted work and available past three months. Students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

7.Classifications used:

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

(a) Industry

Based on the questions: What is the name of Government department or Establishment in which N worked/had a job? (e.g. Ministry of Health (St. Ann's Hospital), Pete's Advertising Agency) and What kind of business is carried on there? (e.g. Psychiatric Hospital, creative designs or advertisements for media). Interviewers were asked to classify first job seekers by industry of last application, and unemployed persons previously employed by industry of last place of employment. For coding industry, nine major groups of the national classification of industries were used. Links to ISIC-rev.2 have been established to the major division (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the questions: What kind of work was N doing (job held) during the past week? (e.g. secondary school teacher, accounts clerk, automobile mechanic) and What was N's job title (e.g. teacher II, accounts clerk I, automobile mechanic grade A)?. Interviewers were asked to classify first job seekers by kind of job last applied for, and unemployed persons previously employed by job last held. For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 has been used to the minor group (3-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: What type of worker status applies to N?. For coding status in employment, the following nine groups were used: Government, public service; Government, public enterprise; non-Government; unpaid; learner; own-account, no paid help; own-account with paid help; never worked; not stated.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The title of the publication containing the census results is Population and Housing Census 1990, Volume III, Part 2: Economic activity, issued in 1993.

The organization responsible for this publication is the Central Statistical Office, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The census results are also available in other forms, such as unpublished tables, diskettes and magnetic tapes.