Questionnaire Text

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[Questions 14-18 are be completed for each person aged 14 years or older]


14. Principal occupation ____

If usually working for payment or profit, even if at present out of work, state here the usual principal occupation, giving a full description. For other persons, write as appropriate: "Home duties", "At school" (primary, secondary or vocational), "Student" (medicine, law etc.), "Not yet at work", etc.

Questionnaire instructions view entire document:  text  image
The Enumerator should check that, within his knowledge, there is no inconsistency between the answers in this column and those given in Columns 4, 14 and 16.

Questions 14, 15 and 16 are the most difficult and require the most careful scrutiny. Question 14 should be answered for all persons aged 14 years or over, while questions 15 and 16 should be answered for persons who have a job or who are out of work.


Question 14 - Principal occupation.
This question should be answered for all persons aged 14 years or over.

The Enumerator should study the relevant Notes in Form N with particular care as they cover most of the usual difficulties in regard to the statement of principal occupation. The heading of Column 14 refers to a person "Working for payment or profit" and this means, in effect, any person with a job. Thus, a person who is mainly engaged in assisting a relative on a farm, in a shop or in any other commercial enterprise should be regarded as having a job, even if he receives no payment, or no regular payment. On the other hand, a housewife, who assists in the family business, but who is mainly engaged in housework, should be entered as "Home duties". A member of a religious body should be considered as having a job, even if he or she receives no payment.

The Enumerators should ensure that the description of occupation given is precise, Following are examples of terms which are not sufficiently precise in themselves and of possible correct descriptions which should be entered in Column 14 in such cases:-

Incorrect entry

Accountant
Agent
Assistant
Checker
Civil Servant
Clerk
Collector
Contractor
Director
Driver
Engineer
Factory worker
Fitter
Foreman
Inspector
Laborer
Machinist
Manager
Manufacturer
Mechanic
Merchant
Porter
Printer
Secretary
Technician

Possible Correct Entry
Chartered Accountant
Manufacturer's agent
Shop Assistant
Ticket Checker
Civil Servant-Clerical Officer
Stores Clerk
Rent Collector
Building Contractor
Sales Director
Lorry Driver
Civil Engineer
Hosiery machine Operator
Gas Fitter
Garage Foreman
Maintenance Inspector
Dock Laborer
Drilling Machine Operator
Restaurant Manager
Furniture Manufacturer
Motor Mechanic
Shopkeeper
Gate Porter
Compositor
Medical Secretary
Laboratory Technician


p. 25

If in doubt as to how a particular occupation should be described it is better to give a detailed description rather than to omit particulars which may be essential for purposes of statistical classification.