Questionnaire Text

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Q. 16 Occupation _____
If at work, state here the usual principal occupation, giving a full description. If unemployed or retired, describe the principal occupation previously held. For students or persons at school, state the type (secondary, community, vocational, university, etc.)


Question 16: Occupation

(i) If working, state the usual principal occupation (i.e., the one by which living is mainly earned).
(ii) If unemployed or retired, describe the principal occupation previously held.
(iii) In all cases describe the occupation fully and precisely, using any special name by which the job is known and stating the type of work done. The following are examples of the types of occupational descriptions which should be used: "Hosiery machine operator", "Dock laborer", "Gas fitter", "Ticket checker", "Woodworking machinist", "Builder's laborer", "Electrical fitter", "Goods checker", "Sound technician", "Civil engineer", "Garage foreman", "Radio mechanic", "Laboratory technician", "Electrical engineer", "Site foreman", "Motor mechanic". General terms such as "Machine operator", "Technician", "Laborer", "Engineer", "Fitter", "Foreman", "Checker", or "Mechanic" should not be used alone.
(iv) For civil servants and local government employees, the grade should be stated. For Army or Garda personnel, the rank should be stated.
(v) For teachers, the branch of teaching should be stated (e.g., "Primary teacher", "Vocational teacher", etc.)
(vi) For clergy and members of religious orders engaged in teaching or other service, a full description should be given, such as "Christian Brother, primary teacher", "Nun, general hospital nurse", etc.
(vii) For students or persons in school, state the type of school or institution (e.g. "Secondary", "Community", "Vocational", "University", etc.)

Questionnaire instructions view entire document:  text  image
Q.15 to Q.19:
The Questions on the person's position in regard to employment (Questions 15-19) are the most difficult to check and require the most careful study. These Questions should be answered for each persons aged 15 years and over. (i.e. born on or before 5 April, 1966). Answers in respect of persons aged under 15 should be ignored.

Q.16: Occupation
You should study the relevant Note with particular care as it covers most of the usual difficulties experienced in answering this Question. The Occupation must be given for every person in Category 1, 3 or 6 at Question 15. The type of educational establishment being attended should be stated for a person in Category 4 at Question 15. You may observe apparent discrepancies between the answers to Question 15 and 16 (e.g. an Occupation stated at Question 16 for a person categorised as "at School Student" at Question 15) but you need not take any action in this regard. Note however, that there is a tendency for housewives to be described as "Home (or Domestic) Duties" in reply to the question on Occupation. Such an entry is a valid one only when it relates to a domestic servant and it should be struck out if is given for a housewife.

You should ensure that the description of the Occupation is precise. Following are examples of terms which are not sufficiently precise in themselves and of possible correct descriptions which should be entered in such cases:-

Inadequate entry
Accountant
Agent
Assistant
Checker
Civil Servant
Clerk
Collector
Contractor
Director
Driver
Engineer
Factory Worker
Fitter
Foreman
Inspector
Labourer
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 Labourer
Drilling Machine Operator
Restaurant Manager
Furniture Manufacturer
Motor Mechanic
Shopkeeper
Gate Porter
Compositor
Medical Secretary
Laboratory Technician

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 valid statistical classification.