Fifth Census of Canada 1911 - IPUMS Subset
Canada, 2011
Get Microdata
Reference ID
CAN_1911_PHC_v01_M_v7.5_A_IPUMS
Producer(s)
Department of Agriculture, Census Branch, IPUMS
Metadata
Created on
Sep 03, 2025
Last modified
Sep 03, 2025
Page views
199
- Data files
- CAN1911_PHC-H-H.dat
- CAN1911_PHC-P-H.dat
Principal occupation, 1950 code (CA1911A_OCC1950)
Data file: CAN1911_PHC-P-H.dat
Overview
Type:
Discrete
Decimal:
0
Start:
434
End:
436
Width:
3
Range:
-
Format:
Numeric
Questions and instructions
Literal question
17. Chief occupation or trade
Categories
| Value | Category |
|---|---|
| 000 | Accountants and auditors |
| 001 | Actors and actresses |
| 003 | Architects |
| 004 | Artists and art teachers |
| 005 | Athletes |
| 006 | Authors |
| 007 | Chemists |
| 008 | Chiropractors |
| 009 | Clergymen |
| 010 | College presidents and deans |
| 012 | Agricultural sciences |
| 014 | Chemistry |
| 015 | Economics |
| 016 | Engineering |
| 017 | Geology and geophysics |
| 019 | Medical sciences |
| 028 | Nonscientific subjects |
| 029 | Subject not specified |
| 031 | Dancers and dancing teachers |
| 032 | Dentists |
| 033 | Designers |
| 035 | Draftsmen |
| 036 | Editors and reporters |
| 042 | Engineers, chemical |
| 043 | Engineers, civil |
| 044 | Engineers, electrical |
| 046 | Engineers, mechanical |
| 048 | Engineers, mining |
| 049 | Engineers (n.e.c.) |
| 051 | Entertainers (n.e.c.) |
| 052 | Farm and home management advisors |
| 053 | Foresters and conservationists |
| 054 | Funeral directors and embalmers |
| 055 | Lawyers and judges |
| 056 | Librarians |
| 057 | Musicians and music teachers |
| 058 | Nurses, professional |
| 059 | Nurses, student professional |
| 061 | Agricultural scientists |
| 062 | Biological scientists |
| 063 | Geologists and geophysicists |
| 069 | Miscellaneous natural scientists |
| 070 | Optometrists |
| 071 | Osteopaths |
| 073 | Pharmacists |
| 074 | Photographers |
| 075 | Physicians and surgeons |
| 076 | Radio operators |
| 078 | Religious workers |
| 079 | Social and welfare workers, except group |
| 081 | Economists |
| 091 | Sports instructors and officials |
| 092 | Surveyors |
| 093 | Teachers (n.e.c.) |
| 094 | Technicians, medical and dental |
| 095 | Technicians, testing |
| 096 | Technicians (n.e.c.) |
| 097 | Therapists and healers (n.e.c.) |
| 098 | Veterinarians |
| 099 | Professional, technical and kindred workers (n.e.c.) |
| 100 | Farmers (owners and tenants) |
| 123 | Farm managers |
| 200 | Buyers and department heads, store |
| 201 | Buyers and shippers, farm products |
| 203 | Conductors, railroad |
| 205 | Floormen and floor managers, store |
| 210 | Inspectors, public administration |
| 230 | Managers and superintendents, building |
| 240 | Officers, pilots, pursers and engineers, ship |
| 250 | Officials and administrators (n.e.c.), public administration |
| 260 | Officials, lodge, society, union, etc. |
| 270 | Postmasters |
| 280 | Purchasing agents and buyers (n.e.c.) |
| 290 | Managers, officials, and proprietors (n.e.c.) |
| 291 | Supervisor |
| 300 | Agents (n.e.c.) |
| 301 | Attendants and assistants, library |
| 302 | Attendants, physicians and dentists office |
| 304 | Baggagemen, transportation |
| 305 | Bank tellers |
| 310 | Bookkeepers |
| 320 | Cashiers |
| 321 | Collectors, bill and account |
| 322 | Dispatchers and starters, vehicle |
| 325 | Express messengers and railway mail clerks |
| 335 | Mail carriers |
| 340 | Messengers and office boys |
| 341 | Office machine operators |
| 342 | Shipping and receiving clerks |
| 350 | Stenographers, typists, and secretaries |
| 360 | Telegraph messengers |
| 365 | Telegraph operators |
| 370 | Telephone operators |
| 380 | Ticket, station, and express agents |
| 390 | Clerical and kindred workers (n.e.c.) |
| 400 | Advertising agents and salesmen |
| 410 | Auctioneers |
| 420 | Demonstrators |
| 430 | Hucksters and peddlers |
| 450 | Insurance agents and brokers |
| 460 | Newsboys |
| 470 | Real estate agents and brokers |
| 480 | Stock and bond salesmen |
| 490 | Salesmen and sales clerks (n.e.c.) |
| 500 | Bakers |
| 501 | Blacksmiths |
| 502 | Bookbinders |
| 503 | Boilermakers |
| 504 | Brickmasons, stonemasons, and tile setters |
| 505 | Cabinetmakers |
| 510 | Carpenters |
| 511 | Cement and concrete finishers |
| 512 | Compositors and typesetters |
| 513 | Cranemen, derrickmen, and hoistmen |
| 514 | Decorators and window dressers |
| 515 | Electricians |
| 520 | Electrotypers and stereotypers |
| 521 | Engravers, except photoengravers |
| 522 | Excavating, grading, and road machinery operators |
| 523 | Foremen (n.e.c.) |
| 524 | Forgemen and hammermen |
| 525 | Furriers |
| 530 | Glaziers |
| 532 | Inspectors, scalers, and graders, log and lumber |
| 533 | Inspectors (n.e.c.) |
| 534 | Jewelers, watchmakers, goldsmiths, and silversmiths |
| 540 | Linemen and servicemen, telegraph, telephone, and power |
| 541 | Locomotive engineers |
| 542 | Locomotive firemen |
| 543 | Loom fixers |
| 544 | Machinists |
| 550 | Mechanics and repairmen, automobile |
| 551 | Mechanics and repairmen, office machine |
| 553 | Mechanics and repairmen, railroad and car shop |
| 554 | Mechanics and repairmen (n.e.c.) |
| 555 | Millers, grain, flour, feed, etc. |
| 560 | Millwrights |
| 561 | Molders, metal |
| 562 | Motion picture projectionists |
| 563 | Opticians and lens grinders and polishers |
| 564 | Painters, construction and maintenance |
| 565 | Paperhangers |
| 570 | Pattern and model makers, except paper |
| 571 | Photoengravers and lithographers |
| 572 | Piano and organ tuners and repairmen |
| 573 | Plasterers |
| 574 | Plumbers and pipe fitters |
| 575 | Pressmen and plate printers, printing |
| 580 | Rollers and roll hands, metal |
| 581 | Roofers and slaters |
| 582 | Shoemakers and repairers, except factory |
| 583 | Stationary engineers |
| 584 | Stone cutters and stone carvers |
| 585 | Structural metal workers |
| 590 | Tailors and tailoresses |
| 591 | Tinsmiths, coppersmiths, and sheet metal workers |
| 592 | Tool makers, and die makers and setters |
| 593 | Upholsterers |
| 594 | Craftsmen and kindred workers (n.e.c.) |
| 595 | Members of the armed services |
| 600 | Apprentice auto mechanics |
| 601 | Apprentice bricklayers and masons |
| 602 | Apprentice carpenters |
| 603 | Apprentice electricians |
| 604 | Apprentice machinists and toolmakers |
| 610 | Apprentice plumbers and pipe fitters |
| 611 | Apprentices, building trades (n.e.c.) |
| 612 | Apprentices, metalworking trades (n.e.c.) |
| 613 | Apprentices, printing trades |
| 614 | Apprentices, other specified trades |
| 615 | Apprentices, trade not specified |
| 616 | Assistant |
| 622 | Blasters and powdermen |
| 623 | Boatmen, canalmen, and lock keepers |
| 624 | Brakemen, railroad |
| 625 | Bus drivers |
| 630 | Chainmen, rodmen, and axmen, surveying |
| 631 | Conductors, bus and street railway |
| 632 | Deliverymen and routemen |
| 633 | Dressmakers and seamstresses, except factory |
| 634 | Dyers |
| 635 | Filers, grinders, and polishers, metal |
| 640 | Fruit, nut, and vegetable graders, and packers, except factory |
| 641 | Furnacemen, smeltermen and pourers |
| 642 | Heaters, metal |
| 643 | Laundry and dry cleaning operatives |
| 644 | Meat cutters, except slaughter and packing house |
| 645 | Milliners |
| 650 | Mine operatives and laborers |
| 660 | Motormen, mine, factory, logging camp, etc. |
| 661 | Motormen, street, subway, and elevated railway |
| 662 | Oilers and greaser, except auto |
| 670 | Painters, except construction or maintenance |
| 671 | Photographic process workers |
| 672 | Power station operators |
| 673 | Sailors and deck hands |
| 674 | Sawyers |
| 675 | Spinners, textile |
| 680 | Stationary firemen |
| 681 | Switchmen, railroad |
| 682 | Taxicab drivers and chauffers |
| 683 | Truck and tractor drivers |
| 684 | Weavers, textile |
| 685 | Welders and flame cutters |
| 690 | Operative and kindred workers (n.e.c.) |
| 700 | Housekeepers, private household |
| 710 | Laundressses, private household |
| 720 | Private household workers (n.e.c.) |
| 730 | Attendants, hospital and other institution |
| 731 | Attendants, professional and personal service (n.e.c.) |
| 732 | Attendants, recreation and amusement |
| 740 | Barbers, beauticians, and manicurists |
| 750 | Bartenders |
| 751 | Bootblacks |
| 752 | Boarding and lodging house keepers |
| 753 | Charwomen and cleaners |
| 754 | Cooks, except private household |
| 760 | Counter and fountain workers |
| 761 | Elevator operators |
| 762 | Firemen, fire protection |
| 763 | Guards, watchmen, and doorkeepers |
| 764 | Housekeepers and stewards, except private household |
| 769 | Caretaker |
| 770 | Janitors and sextons |
| 771 | Marshals and constables |
| 772 | Midwives |
| 773 | Policemen and detectives |
| 780 | Porters |
| 781 | Practical nurses |
| 782 | Sheriffs and bailiffs |
| 783 | Ushers, recreation and amusement |
| 784 | Waiters and waitresses |
| 785 | Watchmen (crossing) and bridge tenders |
| 790 | Service workers, except private household (n.e.c.) |
| 810 | Farm foremen |
| 820 | Farm laborers, wage workers |
| 830 | Farm laborers, unpaid family workers |
| 840 | Farm service laborers, self-employed |
| 900 | Sealer |
| 910 | Fishermen and oystermen |
| 930 | Gardeners, except farm, and groundskeepers |
| 940 | Longshoremen and stevedores |
| 950 | Lumbermen, raftsmen, and woodchoppers |
| 960 | Teamsters |
| 970 | Laborers (n.e.c.) |
| 971 | Well/oil digging/drilling |
| 975 | Employed, unclassifiable |
| 980 | Keeps house/house work/housewife |
| 982 | At home / helps in home |
| 983 | At school |
| 984 | Retired |
| 985 | Unemployed/ without occupation |
| 986 | Invalid/sick/disabled |
| 987 | Inmate/prisoner |
| 991 | Capitalist/gentleman |
| 992 | Income |
| 995 | Other non-occupational response |
| 996 | Assistant |
| 997 | Occupation missing/unknown |
| 999 | Unknown or not applicable |
Warning: these figures indicate the number of cases found in the data file. They cannot be interpreted as summary statistics of the population of interest.
Interviewer instructions
103. <span class="em">Chief occupation or trade</span>. Chief or principal occupation or means of living will be entered in column 17 and in column 18 the employment or occupation by which the person for whom the entry is being made supplements the earnings obtained from the chief or regular employment. An entry should be made in this column for every person of ten years and over. The record in column 17 should be either (1) the word or words which most accurately indicate the particular kind of work done by which the individual earns money or money equivalent, - as 'physician,' 'carpenter,' 'farmer,' 'stenographer,' 'nurse,' etc.; or '(2) 'income;' ,or (3) if no occupation the entry will be ' none.'</p>
<p>104. <span class="em">Income</span>. For every person who does not follow a specific occupation but has an independent income, as from investments, pensions, superannuation, etc., the fact should be noted by writing the word 'income' in column 17; and the entry 'none' should be made for all persons ten years old and over who follow no occupation and who do not live on income.</p>
<p>105. <span class="em">Persons retired</span>. Persons who on account of old age, permanent physical disability or otherwise are no longer following a gainful occupation should not be reported as of the occupation formerly followed. If living on their own income the entry should be 'income,' but if they are supported gratuitously by other persons or institutions the entry in this column should be 'none.'</p>
<p>106. <span class="em">Exceptions</span>. Farmers or business men who have retired from active service but who still control an interest in the farm or enterprise in which formerly engaged are to be returned as under the name of the occupation, business or trade from which their living is obtained and the entry will be made thus: 'Farmer r.' for farmer retired, and 'Grocer r.' for grocer retired, or as the case may be.</p>
<p>107. <span class="em">Persons temporarily unemployed</span>. Persons who are out of employment when visited by the enumerator may state that they have no occupation, when the fact is that they usually have an occupation but happen to be idle or unemployed at the time of the visit. In such cases the occupation followed by the person when employed should be obtained and recorded.</p>
<p>108. <span class="em">Farm workers</span>. A person in charge of a farm should be returned as a farmer, whether he owns it or operates it as a tenant, renter or cropper; but a person who manages a farm for someone else for wages or salary should be reported as farm manager or farm overseer; and a person who works on a farm for someone else, but not as manager, tenant or cropper, should be reported as farm labourer.</p>
<p>109. <span class="em">Women doing housework</span>. In the case of woman doing housework in her own home, without salary or wages, and having no other employment, the entry in column 17 should be 'none.' But a woman working at housework for wages should be returned in column 17 as housekeeper, servant, cook, chambermaid, etc., as the case may be; and the entry in column 22 should state the kind of place where she works, as private family, hotel, or boarding house. Or if a woman, in addition to doing housework in her own home, regularly earns money by some other occupation, whether pursued in her own home or outside, the kind of occupation should be stated in column 17 and the place where employed in column 22. For instance, a woman who regularly takes in washing should be reported as laundress or washerwoman in column 17, and the entry 'at home'' should be made in column 22.</p>
<p>110. <span class="em">Children working for parents</span>. Children of ten years of age and over who work for their parents at home at general household work, or on the farm, or at any other work or chores, when attending school, should not be recorded as having an occupation. Those, however, who spend the major portion of their time at home, and who materially assist their parents in .the performance of work other than household duties, should be reported as of the occupation in which their time is employed.</p>
<p>111. <span class="em">General or indefinite terms not to be used</span>. The kind or class of occupation must be stated precisely in column 17, and the place where the person is employed, as 'farm,' 'woolen factory,' 'cotton factory,' 'mine,' etc., will be carefully recorded in column 22. The occupation or trade of any person should not be described in column 17 by such indefinite terms as 'manufacturer,' 'merchant,' 'cotton mill employee,' 'labourer' 'miner,' 'manager,' etc. A worker in a mine may be described in column 17 by his precise designation as miner, labourer, driver, foreman, driller, etc., but unless the kind or class of mine in which he operates is stated in column 22 the record will be useless for compilation into statistical tables. See Sample Schedule.</p>
<p>112. <span class="em">Mechanic</span>. The word 'mechanic' should be avoided in all cases, and the exact occupation given, as carpenter, blacksmith, painter, etc. Generally the term means one who has the art of using tools in shaping wood, metal, etc., as a handicraftsman or artisan; but this is not the sense in which it is to be understood in taking a census of the trade or occupation of the people. Specify the trade by its particular name in common use.</p>
<p>113. <span class="em">Agent</span>. The different kinds of 'agents' should be carefully distinguished by stating in column 22 the line of business followed. See Sample Schedule.</p>
<p>114. <span class="em">Retail or wholesale merchants</span>. The enumerator will distinguish carefully between retail and wholesale merchants; the kind or class will be entered in column 17 as retail or wholesale, and the kind of business, as dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., will be entered in column 22.</p>
<p>115. <span class="em">Clerk</span>. The use of the word 'clerk' should be avoided whenever a more definite occupation can be named. Thus a person in a store who is engaged in selling goods should be recorded as a 'salesman' or a 'saleswoman.' A stenographer, typewriter, accountant, bookkeeper, cashier, etc., should be reported as such, and not as clerk.</p>
<p>116. <span class="em">Illustrations of occupations</span>. The following examples will illustrate the method of returning some of the common occupations (column 17) and places of employment or industry (column 22); these will also suggest to enumerators the distinctions which they are to make in the nearly two thousand other classes of occupation:</p>
<p>120. <span class="em">Domestic gainful and non-gainful occupations</span>. If married women or other female dependents or children of ten years or over carry on a gainful or wage-earning occupation in any capacity, the kind of occupation will be given, and they will be classed as employers or employees as the case may be; but if they are only carrying on domestic affairs in a household without wages they are not to be classed as having any occupation.</p>
<p>121. <span class="em">Piece-work at home</span>. A person doing piece-work at home will be entered in column 17 according to the occupation, whether employed under contract or agreement with a manufacturer or other employer of labour or as help to the person so employed, and will be classed in column 20 as an employee.
<p>104. <span class="em">Income</span>. For every person who does not follow a specific occupation but has an independent income, as from investments, pensions, superannuation, etc., the fact should be noted by writing the word 'income' in column 17; and the entry 'none' should be made for all persons ten years old and over who follow no occupation and who do not live on income.</p>
<p>105. <span class="em">Persons retired</span>. Persons who on account of old age, permanent physical disability or otherwise are no longer following a gainful occupation should not be reported as of the occupation formerly followed. If living on their own income the entry should be 'income,' but if they are supported gratuitously by other persons or institutions the entry in this column should be 'none.'</p>
<p>106. <span class="em">Exceptions</span>. Farmers or business men who have retired from active service but who still control an interest in the farm or enterprise in which formerly engaged are to be returned as under the name of the occupation, business or trade from which their living is obtained and the entry will be made thus: 'Farmer r.' for farmer retired, and 'Grocer r.' for grocer retired, or as the case may be.</p>
<p>107. <span class="em">Persons temporarily unemployed</span>. Persons who are out of employment when visited by the enumerator may state that they have no occupation, when the fact is that they usually have an occupation but happen to be idle or unemployed at the time of the visit. In such cases the occupation followed by the person when employed should be obtained and recorded.</p>
<p>108. <span class="em">Farm workers</span>. A person in charge of a farm should be returned as a farmer, whether he owns it or operates it as a tenant, renter or cropper; but a person who manages a farm for someone else for wages or salary should be reported as farm manager or farm overseer; and a person who works on a farm for someone else, but not as manager, tenant or cropper, should be reported as farm labourer.</p>
<p>109. <span class="em">Women doing housework</span>. In the case of woman doing housework in her own home, without salary or wages, and having no other employment, the entry in column 17 should be 'none.' But a woman working at housework for wages should be returned in column 17 as housekeeper, servant, cook, chambermaid, etc., as the case may be; and the entry in column 22 should state the kind of place where she works, as private family, hotel, or boarding house. Or if a woman, in addition to doing housework in her own home, regularly earns money by some other occupation, whether pursued in her own home or outside, the kind of occupation should be stated in column 17 and the place where employed in column 22. For instance, a woman who regularly takes in washing should be reported as laundress or washerwoman in column 17, and the entry 'at home'' should be made in column 22.</p>
<p>110. <span class="em">Children working for parents</span>. Children of ten years of age and over who work for their parents at home at general household work, or on the farm, or at any other work or chores, when attending school, should not be recorded as having an occupation. Those, however, who spend the major portion of their time at home, and who materially assist their parents in .the performance of work other than household duties, should be reported as of the occupation in which their time is employed.</p>
<p>111. <span class="em">General or indefinite terms not to be used</span>. The kind or class of occupation must be stated precisely in column 17, and the place where the person is employed, as 'farm,' 'woolen factory,' 'cotton factory,' 'mine,' etc., will be carefully recorded in column 22. The occupation or trade of any person should not be described in column 17 by such indefinite terms as 'manufacturer,' 'merchant,' 'cotton mill employee,' 'labourer' 'miner,' 'manager,' etc. A worker in a mine may be described in column 17 by his precise designation as miner, labourer, driver, foreman, driller, etc., but unless the kind or class of mine in which he operates is stated in column 22 the record will be useless for compilation into statistical tables. See Sample Schedule.</p>
<p>112. <span class="em">Mechanic</span>. The word 'mechanic' should be avoided in all cases, and the exact occupation given, as carpenter, blacksmith, painter, etc. Generally the term means one who has the art of using tools in shaping wood, metal, etc., as a handicraftsman or artisan; but this is not the sense in which it is to be understood in taking a census of the trade or occupation of the people. Specify the trade by its particular name in common use.</p>
<p>113. <span class="em">Agent</span>. The different kinds of 'agents' should be carefully distinguished by stating in column 22 the line of business followed. See Sample Schedule.</p>
<p>114. <span class="em">Retail or wholesale merchants</span>. The enumerator will distinguish carefully between retail and wholesale merchants; the kind or class will be entered in column 17 as retail or wholesale, and the kind of business, as dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., will be entered in column 22.</p>
<p>115. <span class="em">Clerk</span>. The use of the word 'clerk' should be avoided whenever a more definite occupation can be named. Thus a person in a store who is engaged in selling goods should be recorded as a 'salesman' or a 'saleswoman.' A stenographer, typewriter, accountant, bookkeeper, cashier, etc., should be reported as such, and not as clerk.</p>
<p>116. <span class="em">Illustrations of occupations</span>. The following examples will illustrate the method of returning some of the common occupations (column 17) and places of employment or industry (column 22); these will also suggest to enumerators the distinctions which they are to make in the nearly two thousand other classes of occupation:</p>
<p>120. <span class="em">Domestic gainful and non-gainful occupations</span>. If married women or other female dependents or children of ten years or over carry on a gainful or wage-earning occupation in any capacity, the kind of occupation will be given, and they will be classed as employers or employees as the case may be; but if they are only carrying on domestic affairs in a household without wages they are not to be classed as having any occupation.</p>
<p>121. <span class="em">Piece-work at home</span>. A person doing piece-work at home will be entered in column 17 according to the occupation, whether employed under contract or agreement with a manufacturer or other employer of labour or as help to the person so employed, and will be classed in column 20 as an employee.
Description
Definition
This variable indicates a person's principal occupation, using the 1950 occupational code.
Universe
Canada 1911: All persons
concept
Concept
| var_concept.title | Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| Work Variables -- PERSON | IPUMS |