IRELAND

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

Central Statistics Office, Ardee Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6, Ireland.

2. Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1979, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2002; the 1979 census was conducted for the purpose of revising the boundaries of electoral constituencies. The present description relates to the 2002 population census (held on 28th April).

3. Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope: Whole country.

(b) Persons covered: All persons of all ages (on the de facto basis).  A few basic questions on persons absent from households were also asked, in order to permit the publication of the de jure population.

4. Reference period:

The day of the census. The person's present principal status was taken into account on the basis of subjective selection by the respondent.

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:  yes

(h) Other characteristics:  yes

Re (a): Most tabulations are based on age at last birthday, but some tables based on year of birth have also been prepared.

6. Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population: It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, at the date of the census, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. The definition also covers professional members of the armed forces.

(b) Employment: Considered as employed are all persons who subjectively considered themselves as being in employment on the day of the census.  Included in principle are persons who, at the census date, performed any work of an economic value, at home or out of home. Working students with a part-time job are excluded from the definition.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

i)         persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;

ii)        persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;

iii)       employed persons, temporarily absent from work;

iv)       seasonal or occasional workers;

v)         apprentices and trainees.

Only persons belonging to category (i) can be identified separately. The incorporation of working students with a part-time job depends on how they described their present status.

(c) Unemployment: Considered as unemployed are all persons who, at the census date, subjectively classified themselves as such.

7. Classifications used:

Both employed persons and unemployed persons previously employed are classified by industry, by occupation and by status in employment.

(a) Industry: Based on the following three questions:  (i) “What is (was) the business of your employer at the place where you work(ed) in your main job?  (Describe the main product or service provided by your employer; if you are (were) self-employed answer in respect of your own business)”;  (ii) “What is (was) the full name of the organization you work(ed) for in your main job?  (If you have your own business write in the name of the business)”;  (iii) “What is (was) the full address at which you actually work(ed)?”  (Two tick boxes were also provided, namely ‘Work mainly at or from home’ and  ‘No fixed place of work’).

The activity of the business was coded using a direct matching ‘lookup’ of over 28,000 activities. If this was not successful, the name and address information was compared to a Business Register ‘lookup’ to code to a business activity.

The activity is coded to the NACE Rev.1 framework at a selection of 2, 3 and 4 digit levels depending on the area of economic activity.  Links to ISIC (both ISIC-rev.2 and ISIC-rev.3) have been established to the NACE levels coded.  Publication is at the NACE 2-digit level.

Due to resource constraints, place of work coding was only carried out on a sample of records where persons were at work (principal economic status=at work).

(b) Occupation: Based on the question: “What is (was) your occupation in your main job?” Respondents were asked to describe their occupation fully and precisely giving the full job title.  Persons retired from employment were asked to answer this question in respect of their principal previous employment.

A combination of direct match and computer assisted coding was used to code the occupation job titles. An occupation matching ‘lookup’ including over 26,000 job titles was used along with a software package that aided coding of more unusual job titles.

For processing purposes, a modified version of the UK 1990 Standard Occupational Classification was used (around 350 unit groups). This was further condensed for publication purposes to around 210 groups. Links to ISCO (both ISCO-68 and ISCO-88) have been established, respectively to the minor and unit group levels.

(c) Status in employment: Persons in employment, unemployed or retired were asked to specify their current/previous status in employment.  The question read  “Do (did) you work as an employee or are (were) you self-employed in your main job?” Four employment status groups were coded, namely: employees; self-employed persons with paid employees; self-employed persons without paid employees; and persons assisting relative (not receiving a fixed wage or salary).

(d) Level of education: Based on the question: “What is the highest level of education (full-time or part-time) which you have completed to date?”.  To code this variable the following 14 levels were used: (1) No formal education; (2) Primary education; (3) Lower secondary;  (4) Upper secondary; (5) Technical or Vocational qualification; (6) Both Upper secondary and Technical or Vocational qualification; (7) Third Level, Non degree; (8) Primary Degree; (9) Professional qualification (of Degree status at least); (10) Both a Degree and a Professional qualification; (11) Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma; (12) Postgraduate Degree (Masters); (13) Doctorate (Ph.D);  (14) Not stated.

8. Main differences compared with the previous census:

The principal differences in coding practice are:

-  “Industry” is coded by linking to a business Register, where possible also enabling place of work to be coded;

-  “Occupation” is coded to a much more detailed level than previously, allowing results to be presented according to the UK's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and according to ISCO-88, as well as the existing national classification.

9. Publication of the census results:

Data on the total and economically active population will be issued in the second half of 2003 in detailed subject-matter census volumes as well as on the web site of the Central Statistics Office (www.cso.ie).

The organization responsible for these publications is the Central Statistics Office, Dublin.

The 2002 census results will also be available in the form of ad-hoc tables (on request).  Small Area Population Statistics will be available on paper and diskette.