Sources and Methods: Labour Statistics
Volume 5: Population Censuses

Northern Mariana Islands

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

Central Statistics Division, Capitol Hill, Saipan, MP 96950, in conjunction with the US Bureau of the Census.

2.Population censuses conducted since 1945 (years):

1958, 1967, 1973, 1980 and 1990. The present description relates to the 1990 census (held on 1st April).

3.Coverage of the census:

(a) Geographical scope

Whole area.

(b) Persons covered

The 1990 census counted every person at his or her usual residence; this means the place where the person lives and sleeps most of the time.

4.Reference period:

The week prior to the census and the year preceding the census year.

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): The age is defined both in terms of year of birth and age at last birthday.

Re (g): Employed persons were asked to specify the number of hours worked during the reference week and, for 1989, respectively the number of weeks and the usual number of hours worked.

Re (h): The census also collected information on means of transport and time used to travel to workplace, as well as on total income received in 1989.

6.Concepts and definitions:

(a) Economically active population

It comprises all persons aged 15 years and over who, during the reference periods, were either employed or unemployed, according to the definitions given below. Members of the armed forces are excluded from the definition.

(b) Employment

Considered as employed are all persons who, during the reference week, worked for pay as employees for someone else, or worked for profit or pay in their own business, or worked with or without pay in a business or profit-oriented farm operated by a relative, or worked part-time, such as an hour or two. The question used to determine if a person is to be counted as employed is Did you work at any time last week, either full time or part time?.

It is reported that the following categories are included:

  1. persons doing unpaid work in family firm or business;
  2. persons engaged in the production of primary products for own consumption;
  3. employed persons temporarily absent from work;
  4. working students with a part time job;
  5. seasonal or occasional workers;
  6. apprentices and trainees.
All these categories can be identified separately.

(c) Unemployment

Considered as unemployed are all persons who gave an affirmative reply to both of the following questions: Have you been looking for work to earn money during the last four weeks? and Could you have taken a job last week if one had been offered?.

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 questions: For whom did you work?, What kind of business or industry was this? e.g. hospital, fish cannery, retail bakery, etc and Is this mainly manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, or something else (agriculture, construction, service, government, etc)?. For coding industry, the 1987 U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) was used. Links to the ISIC have not been established.

(b) Occupation

Based on the questions: What kind of work were you doing? (e.g. registered nurse, industrial machinery, mechanic, cake icer.) and What were your most important activities or duties? (e.g. patient care, repair machines in factory, icing cakes, etc)?. For coding occupation, the U.S. Standard Occupational Classification Manual (SOC) was used. Coding for the 1990 Census was done by the U.S. Bureau of Census using SOC, 1980. Links to the ISCO have not been established. No adaptation was done for the 1990 U.S. occupational classification.

(c) Status in employment

Based on the question: Were you: employee of a private for profit company or business or of an individual, for wages, salary or commissions; employee of a private not-for-profit, tax-exempt, or charitable organization; local or territorial government employee (territorial/commonwealth, etc.); federal government employee; self-employed in own not incorporated business, professional practice, or farm; self-employed in own incorporated business, professional practice, or farm; working without pay in family business or farm?. For coding status in employment, the seven groups above were used.

8.Main differences compared with the previous census:

No major difference.

9.Publication of the census results:

The final results have been published in March 1992 in a publication entitled 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics, Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands.

The organizations responsible for this publication are either the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233, or the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

The census results are also available in the form of diskettes and tapes.