Section 4. Economic activity - For all persons 15 years old and over
This section deals with the economic activity of all who are 15 years old and over. It relates to the past week as well as the past 12 months. Questions 16 to 18 apply to those answering from 10 to 30 in Question 15.
Interviewer: Job seekers and persons wanting work must have responses to Questions 16-18
15. Economic activity past week
What did [the respondent] do during the past week?
Interviewer: For persons who are ticked for 40-99, skip to Q.21
[] 10 Had a job, worked (HJ/W)
[] 11 Had a job, did not work (HJNW)
[] 20 Seeking first job (SFJ)
[] 21 Others seeking work (OSW)
[] 30 Wanted work and available past three months (WW)
[] 40 Student (S)
[] 41 Home duties (HD)
[] 42 Retired (R)
[] 43 Disabled (D)
[] 44 Old age pensioner (OAP)
[] 45 Did not want work (DNWW)
[] 98 Other
[] 99 Not stated (NS)
Section 4 - Economic activity-questions [15] to [21] The main purpose of this section is to determine which individuals have been engaged in economic activity, that is the production of goods and services for sale during the week preceding enumeration and at any time during the past twelve [12] months and, those who were not so engaged. It is essential that the enumerator understands the concept of the term work as given in question [15] and makes use of it in his interviews. Generally, work done outside Trinidad and Tobago is not relevant to the census, but work done under contract on Canadian farms by residents is to be included, as also is work by resident crew on ships and aircraft operating outside of the country.
It should be noted that priority is given to work over all other activities. Also, economic activity holds precedence over non-economic.
Question [15] - Economic activity during the past week
This question aims at classifying persons according to their economic activity during the week preceding enumeration. It is also intended to distinguish between persons who worked [i.e. were economically active] and those who did not work. The possible responses and definitions are given hereunder.
[10] Had a job, worked
An individual is classified as having worked if he/she was engaged in the production of goods and services for sale, whether the job was temporary or even less than a week. Priority is given to worked/with a job over any other activity. For example, if during the week prior to enumeration the individual worked for two days and looked for work for three days, he is to be classified as worked. Usually working/with a job entails the person receiving a wage, salary or other form of recompense, but trainees and apprentices, whether paid or not, as well as unpaid helpers and family workers on commercial farms and other enterprises are also to be listed as worked. Priority is given to economic activity in the reference week of enumeration beginning with worked/had a job, not working and seeking work over such activities as home duties etc.
It is worth repeating for emphasis that temporary employment during the past week, regardless of the nature of the job, for example, LID employee, or ten-day stints, porter, car wash attendant, laborer, street vendor, etc. must be recorded as having a job. Probe eligible respondents for evidence of temporary and ad hoc nature of employment.
[11] Had a job, did not work
This category includes persons who had a job during the past week but did not work because of illness, injury or because of vacation leave or some other form of leave. Also included are persons on temporary lay-off or industrial dispute.
[20] Persons seeking first job
Persons seeking first job include those who never worked, but were actively seeking work during the past week. Note, however, you must ensure that the person does not hold a temporary or part-time job since "working" holds priority over "not working".
[21] Others seeking work
Include persons previously employed and not currently employed but actively seeking work during the past week.
[30] Wanted work and available past three [3] months
Persons wanting work and available but not actively seeking work during the past week, but have actively looked for work during the past three-months. These persons must have worked in the past.
Note: Questions [16] to [18] apply to job seekers and persons wanting work as well as persons with jobs. For those on the LID roll [Labor intensive development] and waiting for a call to work classify as wanting work.
[40]-[45]
Categories of persons who are not economically active cover persons engaged in home duties, full-time students and those retired or disabled. Persons who fall under categories [40] to [99] i.e. from "student" to "not stated", skip to question [21].
Note: "Did not want to work" refers only to those persons who are eligible for work and definitely state that they did not want work. At no time must this category refer to retired persons, old age pensioners and the disabled. Be sure to double check instances of "home duties" for males so as to ascertain that the right code has been ticked.