15. Occupation

Question 15 - Occupation

152. We require an exact description of the kind of work the person did last week. Ask, "What kind of work did this person do last week?"

153. It is sometimes difficult to get an exact answer but you should always aim to provide a two or three word description of the person's job. A vague single word description is not enough. Avoid general terms such as 'manager', 'clerk', 'mechanic', 'foreman', 'teacher', 'operator', or 'laborer'. Record exactly what a person did -- for example, 'sales manager', 'typist clerk', 'motor mechanic', 'foreman, carpenter', 'primary teacher', 'forklift operator', 'stevedore'.

154. You will find it best to speak to the person concerned whenever possible. Members of the household are often vague as to the occupations of others.

155. If the person is employed you may find that you get a more accurate idea of his/her job by asking for the job title and recording that.

156. A person may have done more than one kind of job last week. In such a case you should record his main job -- the one he spends most time at -- that which he usually does.

157. If the person combines paid employment with unpaid work you should record the paid job rather than the unpaid job -- for example, if the person is a bus driver and worked last weekend on his farm he should be entered as 'bus driver' and if the person is a housewife who went to market to sell food she should be entered as 'market food seller'.

158. A person engaged temporarily on the census should state his/her usual occupation. Thus if you are a secondary school teacher and are working as a census supervisor or enumerator, your occupation should be recorded as 'secondary teacher'.

159. Many people may be described generally as 'farmer'. It is particularly important that we know exactly what kind of farmers they are.

160. Farmers in Fiji fall into two main categories. Those who live and farm in Fijian villages on communal land and those who farm outside the Fijian village system.

161. A Fijian living in his/her village, sharing the communal life of the village, who worked in village agriculture last week and who did no other work may be described as 'villager'. Such a person may perform a variety of tasks in growing or gathering produce, hunting, or fishing to feed and clothe his/her family and may sell some produce but is not a commercial farmer.

162. Some Fijian villagers grow crops such as dalo, yaqona, or ginger mainly for sale. Such persons should be described as 'growing dalo' or 'growing yaqona' or as the case may be and not as 'villager'.

163. In describing the occupations of persons who farm outside the Fijian village system you must be precise -- for example, write 'cane farmer', 'rice grower', 'dairyman', or 'poultry farm worker'. Avoid the vague word -- do not write 'farmer' or 'laborer'.

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164. Many of these farmers engage in more than one activity but in describing the work done you should pick out the person's main crop or activity -- the one to which he/she devotes most time -- the one which he/she regards as most important -- the one which is commercial. You will thus be able to describe a person as 'growing coconuts', 'raising cattle', 'market gardening', and so on.

165. The term 'cane farmer' should be used only of the person who owns or leases the land on which the cane is grown. Others working on the farm should be described as 'cane farm workers' unless they do a specific job such as 'cane cutter'. The same distinction should be made between those who own, lease or operate dairy farms, cattle farms, or copra plantations and those who work on them.