Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Virgin Islands (British)

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

Development Planning Unit, B.V.Is. Government, Central Administration Complex, Road Town, Tortola.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

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 country.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages.

4.Reference period:

The week and the year prior to 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: ...

(g) Hours of work: yes

(h) Other characteristics: yes

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

Re (g): Employed persons were asked to specify the number of hours actually worked during the reference week, and the number of months worked during the reference year.

Re (h): The census also collected information on pay period (weekly, monthly, etc), on income per pay period, on moving businesses (informal trading), and on means of transport used to travel to workplace.

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 includes all members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference period, worked or had a job but did not work. The question used to determine whether or not a person was to be counted as employed was Have you worked in the reference period or had a job but did not work?. Working students with a part-time job are excluded from the definition.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;
  3. employed persons, temporarily absent from work;
  4. seasonal or occasional workers;
  5. apprentices and trainees.
None of the above categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the reference period, stated that they had looked for work or that they wanted work and were available.

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 question: What type of business is carried on at your workplace?. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.3 was used to the class (4-digit) level.

(b) Occupation

Based on the question: What sort of work do/did you do in your main occupation?. For coding occupation, the ISCO-88 has been used to the unit group (4-digit) level.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: Did you carry out your own business, work for a wage or a salary or as an unpaid worker in a family business?. Five groups were used for coding status in employment: paid employee-government; paid employee-private; unpaid worker; own business with paid help (employer); own business without paid help (own account).

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final census data were issued in August 1994 in a publication entitled British Virgin Islands, 1991 Population and Housing Census.

The organization responsible for the publication is the Development Planning Unit, Central Administration Complex, Road Town, Tortola.

The census results are also available in the form of diskettes.