Column 14a: This is where all enumerated people who are working or looking for work will indicate their profession. This question will help classify the population in Togo according to its different activities. When asking someone his profession, he might respond, for example: tiller, farmer, planter, farmhand, laborer, storekeeper, etc. These responses are vague. You must try to clarify them as much as possible. The more information collected, the more precise and interesting it will be.
The current enumeration is being mainly carried out in the bush and a large part of the enumerated population will be declaring that they work off the land. It's up to you to ask well-directed questions that clarify the exact trade or profession. If a man (or woman) declares that he is a farmer, ask if he is the one who decide which crop goes in which field. If he does make this decision, then give him the title of "farm owner". To be even more precise, ask this farm owner if he works exclusively with the help of his family, friends and neighbors or if he employers laborers (who he pays in cash or in kind).
If he works exclusively with his family, we give him the title of "familial farm owner", which is written as: example "Fam."
If he employs workers other than his family (one or more laborers), we give him the title of "employer farmer", which is written as: example. "Patr." However, a person who works off the land, but who is not a farm owner (meaning he is not the one who decides what to plant) might be:
[p. 23]
If there are small children in the household who do not attend school, you must ask if they work in the fields with their parents. If they do, you will classify them as "family aides" ("aides fam."). If they do not work in the fields or elsewhere, you will classify them as "sp" ("sans profession"). You will also assign the code "sp" to old people who no longer work at all. A women who works exclusively as a housewife (taking care of the children, cooking and household tasks) will be recorded as "housewife" ("ménage").
A livestock breeder (steer, sheep, etc.) can be listed as either breeder-owner ("Elev. Patr.") if he employs one or more salaried workers to take care of his flock; or he can be listed as a familial breeder ("Elev. Fam") if he does only employs members of his own household. In this latter case, the household members who take care of the flock will all be listed as family aides ("Aides fam."). We enumerate fishermen in the same fashion:
For professions other than farming, try to obtain as much detail as possible to grasp a good understanding of the exact nature of the profession exercised. For example, you might indicate:
If people have several professions, indicate the principal profession (the most important), which takes up the most of the person's time.
[p. 24]
The enumerator should make sure not to confuse the trade or profession with the occupation. Here are some examples to help you avoid making such errors: a teacher might be a district head or a hospital director during the census. You must indicate that the person's profession is "teacher" and not district head or hospital director (which would actually be his temporary occupational positions). You should also always be recording the trade and profession of the person you are enumeration.