A profile of the demographic and labour force characteristics of the population: sample analysis of the 1981 census of population

Abstract

A detailed Census of Population was taken on 5th April, 1981. This continued a long tradition in Ireland of taking a Census in years ending " 1 " , extending back to 1821 and broken only in the 1921 to 1941 period. While maintaining a tradition, the 1981 Census nevertheless sets its own milestones. The household schedule was redesigned in the form of a booklet, as opposed to the single large page used at previous Censuses. Very extensive use was made of a tick (/) box style of answering. Three new questions were included for the first time on a Census, viz. Present (Economic) Status; Address of Place of Work; and Household Heating. And finally, it was decided to analyse a sample of Census returns in respect of some of the Census topics. This paper concerns itself with a discussion of this sample analysis, considering aspects of the methodology as well as some of the more interesting results1 and their implications.