SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

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

Census Office, Statistical Office, Central Planning Division.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1945, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1991 and 2001. The present description relates to the 2001 population census (held on 12 June).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole country.

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

4. Reference period:

The week and the year 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

(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): The census collected information from employed persons on the number of months worked during the reference year, and on the number of hours worked during the reference week.

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

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference week, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Professional armed forces, working students with a part-time job and students seeking work are excluded from the definition.

(b) Employment: Considered as employed are all persons who stated that they mostly worked during the short reference period. The question used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed is “What did you do most during the past week? For example, did you work, look for a job, keep house or carry on some other activity?”.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

i) persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;

ii) employed persons, temporarily absent from work;

iii) seasonal or occasional workers;

iv) apprentices and trainees.

Only persons belonging to categories (i) and (ii) can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference week, were without work, wanted to work and were available for work. The definition includes those who actively looked for work as well as those who did nothing about finding a job because they knew none were available.

7. Classifications used:

Employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed are 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?”. For coding industry, 17 groups of the national classification were used. Links to ISIC-rev.3 have been established to the tabulation category (1-digit) level.

(b) Occupation: Based on the question: “What sort of work did you/do you do in your main occupation?”. For coding occupation, ten groups of the national classification were used. Links to 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?”. For coding status in employment, eight groups were used: paid employee-Government; paid employee-private; paid employee-Statutory body; unpaid family worker; own business with paid employee; own business without paid employee; apprentice; don't know/not stated.

(d) Level of education: Based on the question: “What is the highest formal level of education that you have attained?”. For coding this variable, the following groups were used: Day-care/Nursery; Pre-school; Infant; Primary Grade/Standard (1–3 years); Primary Grade/Standard (4–7 years); Secondary; Pre-University/Post Secondary/College; University; Other; None; Not Stated.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

(a) A module on Crime was included; (b) a module on Health was included; (c) there were additional questions on the Disability module; (d) there were additional questions on the Training module.

9. Publication of the census results:

The final census data on the economically active population and its components have not yet been published.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Statistical Office, Central Planning Division, Ministry of Finance.

The census data will be available in the form of diskettes as well as on CDs.