15. Type of activity

Ask questions 15-19 only for those aged ten (10) years or older.

Question 15: type of activity

1. How to ask the question:
Ask, "What did you do during the week of March 19-25, 1973?"

Begin reading the options immediately after asking the question. This is so the respondent can determine precisely which was accurate for the enumerated person during the reference week.

Ask the options in the same order as they appear on the form.

The following definitions will allow you to determine the correct answer:

Box 1: worked. This is a person who performed the equivalent of at least one day of paid work during the week of March 19-25.

"Work" is a broad concept for the census and refers to one of the following:

A. Paid work for another person as an employee or worker (paid) which includes:
- Work paid by the day, or by regular pay
- Work paid in kind (food, lodging or supplies received in place of cash payment).
- Work paid by the piece, on commission or as tips.
- Active duty in the armed forces

B. Work in one's own business, profession, or as an independent worker (self-employed).

C. Work without pay in a business or on a farm run by a family member (a son who works without pay in his father's store, for example) for more than 15 hours per week.

D. Part-time work, i.e., any work performed in the last week on a part-time basis for which the person received payment in money.

Sewing and other work performed in the home for other persons or businesses, and for which payment in cash or kind is received, is included in this category. Also included is the preparation of food, candy, etc. for sale.

Keep in mind that thousands of housewives, students, and elderly who do not appear to work actually perform activity that earns them money, and this is considered "work" for census purposes.

Do not consider the following as work (for census purposes):
A. Household task performed at home, such as housework (except work as a servant with or without pay), odd jobs performed for other family members without pay, and jobs performed for one's own house, such as cutting the lawn, painting the walls, etc.

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B. Unpaid volunteer work for the church, the Red Cross, or other non-profit organizations.

C. Work performed by interned persons who are in an institution such as a prison, sanitarium, retirement home, or work farm. This does not include regular workers who are in fact performing a job.

Box 2: did not work but has a job. This is a person who did not work during the week of March 19-25, but who has a job or business from which he or she was absent for reasons of illness, bad weather, vacation, etc.

Box 3: had worked before and looked for work. This is a person who did not work during the week of March 19-25 because he or she was fired or for other reasons; this person was waiting to be called back to work or was looking for a new job.

Box 4: looked for work for the first time. This is a person who has never had paid work and was actively looking for a job or during the week of March 19-25.

Box 5: lived from his rental or retirement income. This is a person who did not perform any paid activity during the week of March 19-25, and received retirement income, pension, or payment for services previously rendered by the person or a relative. Include in this category those persons who receive rental or other income without performing any type of paid activity.

Box 7: housework. This is a person who did not perform any paid work for most of the time on March 19-25 and dedicated himself or herself exclusively to housework.

Box 8: other. This is a person who cannot be categorized in any of the previous categories.

Box 9: unknown. Use this box if it is impossible to determine any status.

2. How to record the answer:
The key to this question lies in selecting the correct type of activity for each person aged ten years or older. The following guidelines will allow you to perform your work efficiently:

a. Do not record an answer until you are sure that the person you are interviewing has correctly understood the question and you receive an answer, which is coherent within the pertinent definitions.

b. A person may not be categorized in more than one category or type, even if the respondent provides information that fits into two categories (worked and studied; worked and receives pension income; takes care of the house and works, etc.) When choosing type of activity give preference to paid activity, then studies, then housework.

Once the response is chosen, mark an "X" in the appropriate box.

c. The "unknown" box is intended only for cases in which the respondent cannot answer the question, because he or she does not know the enumerated person's activity and, therefore, cannot categorize a household member according to any of the categories given.

3. Example:
[This box contains question 15 of the section VI "people in the census household."]

Note: Ask questions 16-19 only of those people who declare option 1, 2, or 3 as their type of activity for question 15.