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.