Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Argentina

1.Name and address of the organization responsible for the census:

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INDEC), Diagonal Presidente Julio A. Roca 609, Código Postal 1067, Buenos Aires, Capital Federal.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1947, 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1991. The present description relates to the 1991 population census (held on 15 May).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole country, except the Falkland Islands and the South Atlantic Islands.

(b) Persons covered

All persons of all ages residing in the national territory on the date of the census, except Argentina nationals residing abroad and foreign nationals residing in embassies in Argentina.

4.Reference period:

The week preceding the census date, as regards employment, and the four weeks preceding the census date, as regards unemployment.

5.Main topics:

(a) Total population, by sex and age: yes

Economically active population by:

(b) Sex and age group: yes

(c) Industry: yes

(d) Occupation: yes

(e) Status in employment: yes

(f) Highest educational level: yes

(g) Hours of work: no

(h) Other characteristics: no

Re (a): The age is defined in terms of age at last birthday.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 14 years and over who, during the reference periods, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The questions on economic activity were put to a sampling which ranged from 10 per cent in cities with a population of 500,000 or more, to 20 per cent in cities with a population of 100,000 to 499,999. All members of the armed forces are included in the definition.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who worked in a paid or unpaid occupation during the reference week. The questions used to determine whether the person worked are Did you work last week, even if only a few hours?, Did you work at home for someone else, or did you help someone in their trade, farm or job?, and Were you away from work owing to illness, vacation, etc.?.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. employed persons, temporarily absent from work owing to: illness or accident, labour dispute, vacation or other leave, interruption of work due to poor weather or equipment failure;
  3. working students with a part-time job;
  4. seasonal or occasional workers;
  5. conscripts for military/civilian service.
Persons falling in categories (i), (ii), (iii) and (v) can be identified separately by means of their replies to specific questions.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who, during the four-week reference period, were seeking work because they had lost their job, or were seeking work for the first time. The question used to determine if the person was unemployed is Did you look for work during the past four weeks?.

7.Classifications used:

Only employed persons in the samplings were classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry

The question used to determine industry group is What is the line of business or product of the establishment where you work?. For coding industry, the ISIC-rev.3 has been be used to the 3-digit level.

(b) Occupation

The question used to determine occupation group is What tasks do you perform in your job?. For coding occupation, 9 groups of the 1990 national classification were used. Links to the ISCO-88 have been established.

(c) Status in employment

The question used to determine this variable is In your main job, in other words in the job in which you work the most hours, are you: employer, private sector worker or employee, public sector worker or employee, household employee, self-employed, unpaid family worker, other?. For coding status in employment, these seven groups were used.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

There were certain minor differences with respect to the 1980 census in the phrasing of the questions used to determine:

9.Publication of the census results:

No information available.