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Census of Scotland, 1901 - IPUMS Subset

United Kingdom 1901 [Scotland], 1901
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GBR_1901_PHC-SCT_v01_M_v7.5_A_IPUMS
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Registrar General, IPUMS
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  • GBR1901_PHC-SCT-H-H
  • GBR1901_PHC-SCT-P-H

Occupation, HISCO classification (OCCHISCO)

Data file: GBR1901_PHC-SCT-P-H

Overview

Type: Discrete
Start: 121
End: 125
Width: 5
Range: -
Format: Numeric

Questions and instructions

Categories
Value Category
01100 Chemists
01200 Physicists
01300 Physical scientists nec
01400 Physical science assistants and technicians
02000 Professional engineers, specialisation unknown
02100 Architects
02200 Civil engineers
02300 Electrical engineers
02410 Mechanical engineers, general or nfs
02420 Industrial machinery or tools engineers
02430 Mechanical engineer (motors and engines, except marine)
02440 Marine engineers
02450 Ship construction engineers
02460 Heating, ventilation and refrigeration engineers
02490 Other mechanical engineers
02500 Chemical engineers
02600 Metallurgists and assayers
02700 Mining engineers
02800 Industrial engineers
02900 Professional engineers nec
03010 Surveyors, general and nfs
03020 Land surveyors
03030 Mine surveyors
03040 Hydrographic surveyors
03090 Other surveyors
03100 Draughtsmen
03200 Technician, specialisation unknown
03210 Technicians
03220 Civil engineering technicians
03230 Electrical engineering technicians
03240 Mechanical engineering technicians
03250 Chemical engineering technicals
03260 Metallurgical technicians
03270 Mining technicians
03290 Engineering technicians nec
04200 Ship's deck officer or pilot
04210 Ships officers nfs
04220 Ship's masters and captains (sea)
04230 Ship's masters and captains (sea or inland waterways)
04240 Ship's masters and captains (inland waterways)
04250 Ship's navigating officers and ship's mates
04260 Ship and boat pilots
04270 Marine superintendents (deck)
04290 Other ship deck officers and pilots
04300 Ship's engineers
05100 Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related scientists
05200 Medical scientists
05300 Agronomists and related scientists
05400 Life sciences technicians
06100 Medical doctors and surgeons
06110 Medical doctors and physicians (UK: Medical doctors only)
06130 Surgeons
06140 Specialised physicians
06150 Specialised surgeons
06160 Public health physicians
06170 Oculist
06190 Medical doctors, nec
06200 Dentists
06300 Veterinarians
06400 Pharmacists
06500 Medical and related assistants
07110 Trained nurses
07210 Nurses nfs
07220 Medical nurses, untrained or level of training unknown
07320 Midwives
07330 Monthly nurses
07500 Opticians and optometrists
07600 Healers and therapists nec
07920 Osteopaths
07930 Chiropractors
07940 Sanitarians
07990 Other medical, dental, veterinary and related workers
08000 Mathematicians and actuaries, etc.
09000 Economists
11010 Accountants
11020 Auditors
11090 Accountants nec
12110 Lawyers
12120 Barristers
12130 Solicitors
12200 Judge
12220 Justice of the peace
12300 Notary
12900 Jurists (except lawyer, judge or solicitor)
13100 Teachers in higher education
13200 Teachers not in higher education
13210 Teachers (unspecified)
13220 Teachers (secondary)
13230 Teachers (primary)
13240 Teachers (pre-primary)
13250 Teachers (of the disabled)
13300 School administrators and principals
13920 Governesses
13990 Other teaching personnel
14120 Ministers of religion
14130 Missionaries
14140 Members of religious orders
14190 Other ministers of religion
14900 Workers in religion nec
15100 Authors
15220 Editors
15230 Journalists, reporters and correspondents
15900 Others writers
16110 Artists nfs and art teachers
16120 Sculptors
16130 Artistic painters
16140 Cartoonists
16150 Engravers and etchers (artistic)
16190 Other specified creative artists
16200 Designers
16300 Photographers
16400 Engravers
17120 Musical performers and musicians nfs
17130 Music teachers
17190 Others in music
17200 Dancers and dancing teachers
17300 Actors and related workers
17400 Producers, performing arts
17900 Performing artists nec
18000 Athletes, sportsmen and related workers
19100 Librarians, archivists and curators
19200 Social scientists and historians
19300 Social workers
19500 Interpreters, translators and philologists
19920 Patent agents
19930 Underwriters
19990 Other professional, technical and related workers nec
20100 Legislative officials and heads of government
20200 Government administrators
21110 Proprietors, nfs
21112 Executive officers, nfs (U.S. only)
21120 Manufacturers nfs
21122 Executive officers of manufacturing concerns nfs
21130 Manufacturers or proprietors of specified manufacturing concerns
21132 Executive officers of specified manufacturing concerns
21140 Proprietor, mining, quarrying, oil and natural gas extraction
21141 Oil producer
21142 Executive officers of extractive industry
21150 Proprietor, railway company
21152 Executive officers of railway concerns
21160 Proprietor, other transport and communications
21162 Executive officer of other transport and communications
21170 Proprietor, public utilities (i.e., water, gas, etc.)
21172 Executive officer of public utilities
21180 Proprietor, finance
21182 Executive officer finance company
21190 Other owners of large scale productive enterprises
21192 Executive officers of other large scale productive enterprises
21194 Publisher
21210 Contractors nfs
21220 Construction contractors
21230 Builders
21290 Other specified contractors
21330 Capitalists
21340 Speculators
21390 Investors nec
22110 Superintendents and managers nfs
22120 Superintendents and managers, manufacturing
22130 Superintendents and managers, mining, quarrying, etc.
22140 Superintendents and managers, railways
22150 Superintendents and managers, other transport and communications
22160 Superintendents and managers, public utilities
22170 Superintendents and managers, construction, except railway construction
22180 Superintendents and managers, commerce
22190 Superintendents and managers, nec
23110 Foremen and supervisors nfs
23120 Foremen and supervisors, manufacturing
23130 Foremen and supervisors, mining
23140 Foremen and supervisors, railways
23150 Foremen and supervisors, other transport and communications
23160 Foremen and supervisors, public utilities
23170 Foremen and supervisors, construction, except railway construction
23180 Foremen and supervisors, commerce
23190 Foremen and supervisors, nec
24100 Inspectors of manufactories, companies etc.
31010 Civil servants, title unknown
31020 Tax collectors
31030 Tax assessors
31040 Customs officers
31050 Postmasters or postmistresses
31060 Clerks of court and other court clerks
31090 Government functionaries, nec
32000 Typists, stenographers and secretaries
33120 Bookkeepers and bookkeeping clerks
33130 Cashiers, bank or office
33140 Bank clerks
33142 Bank tellers (US)
33150 Money collector
33160 Cash desk cashier
33170 Toll collectors
33180 Collector (cash or account)
33190 Bookkeeping, account and cash handling workers nec
33210 Railway clerks (UK) and railway agents (CA/US)
33220 Baggage agents and baggage men
33320 Agent, water transport (principally steamship and steamboat)
33330 Agent, land transport (non-rail)
34000 Office machine operators
36010 Conductors, nfs
36020 Railway guards (UK) and railroad conductors (US/CAN)
36030 Sleeping- or pullman-car attendants
36040 Bus, tram or streetcar conductors
36090 Transport conductors, nec
37020 Postal, mail and telegraph clerks
37030 Mail carriers, aka postmen (UK)
37040 Messengers
37050 Mail sorters
37090 Post office, mail, and message workers nec
38010 Tel. operator
38020 Telephone operator
38030 Telegraph operator
38090 Other telephone/telegraph operators
39000 Clerk, nfs
39100 Stock, weight and shipping clerks
39130 Stock records clerk
39310 Office clerks, specialisation unknown
39320 Correspondence clerks
39340 Legal clerks
39350 Insurance clerks
39390 Other correspondence and reporting clerks
39400 Hotel clerk or other receptionist
39500 Library and filing clerks
39600 Railroad, railway clerk
39720 Timekeepers, railway
39730 Timekeepers, factory
39790 Timekeepers, undefined and nec
39900 Other specified clerks
39990 Proofreader
40000 Sales workers, nfs
41000 Working proprietors, nfs
41010 Dealer, merchant etc. (wholesale and retail trade)
41015 Merchants, specified large-scale wholesaleing
41020 Hirers out
42000 Buyers
42200 Buyers nec
43010 Agents nfs
43020 Commercial travellers
43030 Manufacturers and sales agents
43090 Other specialized agents
44110 Insurance, real state or securities salesmen, nfs
44120 Insurance salesmen and agents
44130 Real estate agents
44140 Brokers
44150 Stockbrokers
44160 Patent Agents
44190 Insurance, real estate and securities salesmen nec
44200 Advertising salesmen
44320 Auctioneers
44330 Appraisers
45120 Salespeople, wholesale or retail trade
45130 Clerks in shops and stores
45140 Fashion models
45190 Other sales personnel men, shop assistants and demonstrators
45220 Street sellers, pedlars and hawkers, non-food items
45230 Street sellers, pedlars and hawkers, food items
45240 Newsvendors
45250 Canvassers
45290 Other street traders for coffee and food
49020 Pawnbrokers
49030 Scrap and junk dealers, scavengers
49040 Street vendors, canvassers and news vendors, newsvendors
49090 Dealers and salesworkers nec
51020 Hotel keepers and managers
51030 Restaurant keepers and managers
51040 Boarding and lodging house keepers and managers
51050 Pub, saloon, tavern and coffee house keepers
51060 Ship's pursers
51090 Other hospitality and entertainment keepers and managers
52020 Housekeeper
52030 Stewards
52040 Matrons
52050 Butlers
52090 Other housekeeping service supervisors
53100 Cooks
53101 Cook (domestic) UK only
53102 Cook (not domestic)
53103 Ship's cooks
53220 Waiter or waitress
53230 Bartender
53290 Other food and drink service workers
54010 Servants nfs
54020 House servants nfs and maids
54030 Personal servants and valets
54040 Nursemaids
54050 Companions
54060 Chambermaids and room attendants
54090 Other specified servants
55100 Caretakers and janitors
55200 Charworkers
55230 Window cleaners
55240 Chimney sweeps
55250 Refuse collectors and removers
55290 Other charworkers, cleaners and related workers
56000 Washing and laundry services
57020 Hairdressers
57030 Barbers
57040 Bath attendants
57090 Other barbers, hairdressers and related workers
58100 Firefighters
58210 Policemen and detectives, employer unknown
58220 Policemen and detectives, public service
58230 Policemen and detectives, private service
58240 Sheriffs and their deputies
58290 Other law enforcement officers
58300 Watchmen and guards
58410 Military, rank unknown
58420 Military officers
58430 Other members of the armed forces
58500 Prison keepers and guards
58900 Other protective service workers
59100 Guides
59200 Undertakers and embalmers
59300 Prostitutes
59920 Bookmakers (sport)
59930 Croupiers
59940 Nursing aids and attendents
59950 Errand boys and errand girls
59960 Practical aid (veterinary)
59990 Other service workers nec
61110 General farmers and farmers nfs
61115 Husbandmen or cottars
61117 Female farmer
61120 Major landowner
61220 Field crop farmers
61230 Orchardists and fruit farmers
61240 Market gardeners
61250 Nurserymen and florists
61260 Livestock farmers
61270 Dairy farmers
61280 Poultry farmers
61290 Other specialised farmers
61320 Farmer and fisherman
61330 Cottar and fisherman
61400 Farm managers, foremen and supervisors nfs
62110 Farm workers, specialisation unknown
62113 Farmer's sons and other male relatives
62200 Farm workers (field crop and vegetables)
62300 Farm labourers, orchard and fruit farm workers
62410 Livestock workers, general or nfs
62420 Cattle workers, except specified dairy
62430 Sheep workers
62440 Pig workers
62450 Fur-bearing animal workers
62460 Horse workers
62461 Grooms and horse keepers (domestic)
62463 Grooms and horse keepers (not domestic)
62470 Horse breaker
62490 Livestock workers, nec
62500 Farm workers (dairy)
62600 Farm workers (poultry)
62710 Gardeners nfs
62711 Gardener (domestic)
62713 Gardener (not domestic)
62720 Market garden labourers
62730 Nursery labourers
62740 Landscape gardeners
62790 Other nursery workers and gardeners
62800 Farm machinery operators
62920 Other animal workers e.g., dogs, elephants
62930 Other plant workers e.g., gathers of herbs etc.
62940 Groundskeepers, etc.
62990 Others in agricultural or husbandry
63110 Woodsmen and workers in the woods, nfs
63120 Lumbermen, loggers and kindred workers
63130 River drivers
63140 Wood cutters and choppers
63190 Others in logging and wood cutting
63220 Foresters and wood wardens
63230 Forestry workers
63240 Timber cruisers
63250 Forest fire-fighters
63290 Other forestry workers
64100 Fishermen
64920 Fish farm workers
64930 Oyster farm workers
64940 Whale hunters
64950 Whale or seal hunters
64960 Seal hunters
64970 Trappers or hunters
64990 Other fishermen, hunters and related workers
71120 Miners
71130 Quarrymen
71190 Others working in mines and quarries
71200 Mineral or stone treaters
71300 Well drillers, borers and related workers
72000 Metal workers, specialisation unknown
72100 Metal smelter and furnacemen
72200 Metal rollers
72300 Metal melters and reheaters, and workers in metal melting mills
72400 Metal casters and workers in metal casting plants
72500 Metal moulders and coremakers
72600 Metal annealers, temperers and hardeners
72700 Metal drawers and workers in metal drawing
72800 Metal platers and coaters
72900 Other (specialised) metal workers
73100 Wood treaters
73200 Sawyers and other titled wood/sawmill operatives
73300 Papermill machine operators and paper makers
74000 Chemical workers, product nfs
74100 Drug workers
74200 Gunpowder and explosive makers
74320 Charcoal burners
74330 Coal gas makers
74340 Tar makers
74390 Other coal product makers e.g., coke
74420 Salt makers
74430 Alkali and soda makers
74500 Oil mill workers
74620 Paint and varnish makers
74630 Dye makers
74640 Ink, blacking, colouring, etc., makers
74720 Tallow chandlers, candle makers and grease makers
74730 Soap and perfume makers
74740 Glue, size and gelatine makers
74750 Wax and polish makers
74920 Fertilizer and manure makers
74930 Starch makers
74940 Turpentine makers
74990 Specified chemical workers nec
75000 Textile workers, specialisation unknown
75100 Fibre preparers
75200 Spinners, doublers, twisters and winders
75300 Weaving and knitting-machine setters and pattern-card preparers
75400 Weavers
75500 Knitters
75600 Bleachers, dyer or textile product finisher
75700 Rope makers
75920 Net maker
75990 Other specialised textile workers nec
76110 Tanners or fellmongers, specialisation unknown
76120 Fellmongers
76130 Tanners
76140 Leather curriers and finishers
76190 Other specified leather curers
76200 Fur and pelt dressers
77100 Millers and related workers
77200 Sugar refiners
77310 Butchers
77320 Pork butchers
77340 Slaughterer, meat cutters or meat packer
77350 Sausage makers
77360 Fish butchers
77380 Meat cannery workers and other meat preservers (not sausages)
77390 Other workers in meat preparation
77400 Cannery workers and other food preservers
77500 Butter, cheese and dairy product makers
77610 Baker and confectioner
77620 Bakers
77630 Confectioners and pastry makers
77640 Candy makers
77650 Chocolate makers
77690 Other baked goods makers
77700 Tea, coffee and cocoa preparers
77820 Brewers
77830 Maltsters
77840 Wine workers
77850 Vinegar makers and workers
77860 Distillers
77870 Makers of soft drinks
77880 Bottlers
77890 Other drinks makers and workers
77990 Other food and beverage processors
78100 Tobacco preparers and tobacco factory workers
78200 Cigar makers
78300 Cigarette makers
78400 Other tobacco product makers
79120 Tailors and tailoresses
79130 Dressmakers
79190 Other garment makers
79200 Furriers and fur workers
79320 Milliners
79330 Hat makers
79340 Straw hat makers
79390 Other hat makers
79400 Glove makers and related workers
79520 Seamstresses
79530 Sewers and sewing machine operators
79540 Embroiderers
79590 Others hand sewers
79620 Upholsterers (except vehicle)
79630 Vehicle trimmers and upholsterers
79640 Mattress makers
79690 Others working in upholstery jobs
79920 Sail, tent and awning makers
79930 Umbrella makers
79940 Artificial flower makers
79990 Other cloth and related product manufacturing workers
80100 Boot and shoe makers and repairers
80200 Specialised occupations in the boot and shoe making industry
80320 Saddlers and harness makers
80330 Trunk or bag maker
80390 Other leather goods makers
81120 Cabinet makers
81130 Chair makers
81140 Wicker furniture makers
81190 Other furniture makers
81210 Woodworkers
81220 Sawyers, woodworking
81230 Wood turners and handle makers
81240 Wood planers
81250 Wood carvers
81290 Other woodworking machine operators
81300 Coach, carriage and wagon makers
81400 Wheelwrights and cartwrights
81500 Coopers, hoop makers and benders
81600 Clog makers
81710 Box makers nfs
81720 Wooden box makers
81730 Paper box makers
81790 Box makers nec
81920 Wooden tool makers
81930 Ski makers
81990 Other makers of wooden products
82000 Stone carvers or cutters and stone yard workers
83120 Blacksmiths
83130 Hammersmiths
83140 Forgemen
83150 Farriers or horseshoers
83160 Specialised makers of forged metal products
83190 Other blacksmiths, hammermen and forgeing-press operators
83210 Tool makers nfs
83220 Tool and die makers
83230 Pattern makers nfs and nec
83290 Other tool makers and metal markers
83310 Metalworking machine operators
83320 Metal turners
83390 Other metal working machine operators
83400 Machinists
83520 Metal polishers and finishers
83530 Metal grinders and sharpeners
83540 Cutlers and cutting instrument makers
83550 Cutler (knives, forks, spoon)
83590 Other metal grinders, polishers and tool sharpeners nec
83600 Gunsmiths
83700 Locksmiths
83820 Saw makers
83830 Saw, spade, shovel and half wood/half metal agricultural instrument type things
83840 Chain makers
83850 Nailer and nail makers
83860 Wire makers
83890 Other metal workers nec
84110 Mechanics
84120 Millwrights
84130 Machine makers, builders and fitters
84140 Engine and locomotive builders
84150 Sewing machine makers and builders
84190 Other machinery fitters and machine assemblers
84220 Watch and clock makers
84230 Optical instrument makers and workers (not opticians)
84290 Other specialized instrument makers (not musical instrument makers)
84300 Bicycle makers
84400 Motor vehicle manufacturing and repair workers, specialization unknown
84460 Automobile manufacturing workers
84900 Others in machinery
85100 Electrical fitters and electrical equipment assemblers
85500 Electricians and wiremen
85600 Telephone and telegraph installers
85700 Linesmen: telephone, telegraph and electric
85920 Electrical products inspector or tester
85990 Other electrical fitters and related electrical workers
87120 Plumbers
87130 Pipe fitters
87220 Welders
87230 Braziers
87250 Flamecutter
87290 Other welders, braziers, solderers
87320 Sheet metal worker, general
87330 Coppersmith or copperware maker
87340 Tinsmith, tinner or tinker
87350 Boilermaker
87390 Other sheet metal workers
87420 Structural metal workers
87430 Rivetters nec
87490 Other structural metal preparers and erectors
87520 Ship and boat builders
87530 Shipwrights and ship joiners
87540 Ship's carpenters
87550 Block, mast and tackle makers
87560 Caulker
87590 Other ship builders
88020 Jewellers
88030 Goldsmith
88040 Silversmith
88050 Working with gems and stones
88090 Other jewellery and precious metal workers
89120 Glass makers
89130 Glass bottle makers
89190 Other specific glass makers
89200 Pottery and porcelain makers and workers
89300 Brick and tile makers
89400 Glass engravers, etchers and finishers
89500 Pottery and porcelain painters
89620 Cement makers
89630 Lime burners
89700 Clay-based products makers
90100 Rubber product makers
90200 Tire makers and vulcanisers
91020 Paper and paperboard products makers, except boxes
91090 Other paper product makers
91100 Paper and paper board product makers
92000 Printers nec
92110 Printers nfs
92120 Compositors
92190 Other compositors and typesetters
92200 Lithographic printers
92300 Stereotypers and electrotypers
92400 Lithographers
92500 Photo-engravers
92600 Bookbinders and related workers
92800 Textile printers
92900 Other printers and related workers
93110 Painters, nfs
93120 Painters, construction
93130 Painters, ship
93190 Other specialised painters nec
93200 Decorators
93320 Lacquerers and enamellers
93330 Japanners
93400 Gilders
94110 Musical instrument maker nfs
94120 Piano maker
94130 Piano tuner
94140 Organ builder
94190 Other musical instrument makers and tuner
94220 Basket makers
94230 Brush makers
94240 Broom makers
94290 Bristle and straw workers nec
94300 Non-metallic mineral product makers
94910 Other production or related worker, specialisation unknown
94920 Animal stuffers, taxidermists and shell workers
94930 Linoleum makers and floor cloth makers
94940 Toy and doll makers
94990 Production and related workers nec
95110 Mason nfs or combined
95120 Bricklayers
95130 Stone masons
95140 Plasterers
95150 Paviours
95160 Marble mason
95190 Others in construction
95200 Cement masons and finishers
95310 Roofer, specialisation unknown
95320 Slate and tile roofers
95330 Thatchers
95390 Other roofers
95410 Carpenter and joiner
95420 Carpenters
95430 Joiners
95440 Scaffolders
95490 Other wooden construction workers
95600 Pipe coverers and insulators
95700 Glaziers
95910 Construction workers nec
95920 Paperhangers
95930 Carpet planners
95940 Whitewashers
95950 Demolition workers
95960 Marblers
95990 Others in building construction
96100 Electricity generators
96220 Engineers (US) nfs
96230 Stationary engineers and engine men
96240 Stationary firemen and firemen nfs
96900 Other stationary engine and related equipment operators
97120 Ship boat loaders and dock workers
97130 Railway freight handlers
97140 Porters
97150 Packers
97190 Other freight handlers
97210 Riggers nec or nfs
97220 Ship riggers
97300 Crane and hoist operators
97410 Navvy, excavator and diggers, nfs
97420 Road builders, workers and labourers
97430 Railway builders, workers and labourers
97440 Waterway and harbour builders, workers and labourers
97490 Other road, railway and related construction labourers
97900 Material handling equipment operators nec
98120 Seamen
98130 Boatmen and canalmen
98190 Other crew of boats, ships, etc.
98200 Ship's engine men
98300 Railway/railroad locomotive operators
98320 Railway/railroad engineers and enginemen
98330 Railway/railroad firemen and stokers
98420 Railway brakemen
98430 Railway signallers
98440 Railway switchmen and shunters
98490 Others skilled railway workers
98510 Drivers, nec
98520 Drivers (private)
98530 Drivers (personal, for hire)
98540 Drivers (public)
98550 Delivery men and drivers of goods
98560 Drivers (general haulage)
98562 Carter (agricultural)
98570 Teamsters (inc. mine driver, etc.)
98590 Others drivers
98700 Lock and gate keepers
98720 Lock keepers
98730 Gate keepers
98900 Other transport equipment operators
99120 Labourers nfs
99130 Common labourers or general labourers
99140 Day labourers (e.g., journalier)
99150 Worker nfs
99200 Factory labourers (unspecified)
99300 Occupational title unclassifiable
99420 Assistants nfs
99430 Helpers nfs
99440 Helpers of relative or helping at home
99450 Apprentices nfs
99500 Ambiguous responses
99998 Alternative occupation (Sweden)
99999 No occupation/unknown
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.

Description

Definition
OCCHISCO is a uniformly coded classification of occupations that is consistent across all countries. It is the most complicated variable to code consistently in the pre-1950 samples, and the present documentation does not fully cover the issues addressed. We will be progressively adding to the level of detail available on this variable. For example, we will occasionally provide examples of common responses below each code so that users will be able to see what responses were coded where. Users with queries about the coding of specific occupations should contact the IPUMS staff in the first instance. Users interested in variation in occupational responses below the level of detail provided in the codes (e.g., distinguishing "caretakers" from "janitors") should look at the OCCSTRNG variable.

The codes for OCC were adapted from the Historical International Standard Classification of Occupations (HISCO) coding scheme. More information on HISCO is available in M.H.D. van Leeuwen, I. Maas and A. Miles. (2002) HISCO: Historical International Standard Classification of Occupations. Leuven: Leuven University Press. HISCO in turn is based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations from 1968, commonly known as ISCO-68. Information on HISCO can also be located at the HISCO database of occupational titles, and the International Institute of Social History.

More information on the adaptations IPUMS made to HISCO can be found in the article "Occupational Classification in the North Atlantic Population Project" (2003), Historical Methods, Vol. 36, No. 2 (Part 2), pp.89-96.

Structure of the classification scheme
The classification scheme is hierarchical, in the sense that each digit in the 5 digit codes introduces a new level of detail. Codes sharing the same first 1, 2 or 3 digits are considered to be increasingly similar. For example, all people working in agriculture have the first digit 6. The first digit of a code indicates the "Major group" a person's occupation is in.

The second digit indicates a "Minor group" distinction. Continuing the previous example, people who have the first two digits "61" are farmers - who may specify what they are cultivating or tending - and farm managers. Thus, as well as sharing the characteristic of working in agriculture (6) they also share the characteristic of being owners or managers (61).

The first 3 digits denote the "Unit group" of an occupation. At the third digit level, we introduce more detail. For example, the unit group "612" indicates "Specialized farmers". Within this unit group, 4th and 5th digit distinctions known as "titles" or "headings" are made. For example, "61220" indicates "Field crop farmers," and "61230" indicates "Orchardists and fruit farmers."

Understanding headings
In general, if the last two digits of a code are "00" the heading is reserved for general titles. For example, in unit group "721" for "Metal smelter and furnace workers", the heading "72100" is reserved for responses such as "Metal smelter" and "Furnace men."

If the last two digits of a code are "10" the heading is reserved for "not further specified" titles (often abbreviated "n.f.s." or "nfs" in syntax files), and codes ending in "20", "30" and higher multiples of 10 are reserved for responses with more detail on some aspect of the occupation. For example, "58210" is the code for "Policemen and detectives, employer unknown," whereas "58220" and "58230" are the codes for "Policemen and detectives, public service," and "Policemen and detectives, private service" respectively.

Headings ending in digits other than "0" (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 9) are generally reserved for frequent responses specific to a particular country that probably belong with responses sharing the same first four digits of the heading. For example, "61115" ("Husbandman or cottar") in Norway and Sweden and "61117" ("Female farmer") in Canada could be classified with "Other general farmers" ("61110"), but occurred frequently enough that we felt they should be given a separate code for easier identification.

If the last two digits of a code are "90", the heading is reserved for "not elsewhere classified" responses. For example, "58290" is the code for "Other law enforcement officers".

The difference between "n.f.s." and "n.e.c." responses is that "n.f.s." responses are quite general, and may not offer much detail on the tasks and duties of the job. Conversely, "n.e.c." responses are typically quite detailed in the information provided, but there are not enough similar responses to justify a separate heading.

Alterations to HISCO
Compared to HISCO we have reduced the overall number of headings, while still introducing new ones, and retaining more detail from vaguely specified occupations.

In general, we made the fewest changes to the structure of the HISCO codes in major groups 0 and 1 (professional workers). We re-organized the codes within major groups 2 (administrative and managerial workers), 3 (clerical workers), 4 (sales workers), 5 (service workers), and 6 (workers in agriculture). We made the most substantial revisions in moving people between major groups in the manufacturing and transport major groups (7, 8, and 9).

In particular, we created codes for vague responses of the form "Works in [specified type of] factory," such as "Works in cotton mill." We grouped these workers with "Laborers" and titled, skilled workers in the same general industry.

We eliminated codes where HISCO made distinctions that were not consistently made in nineteenth century census data. For example, HISCO distinguished between hand and machine spinners. We found that most spinners did not specify whether they were spinning by hand or machine, more often giving information on what they were spinning (e.g., cotton, wool, silk), or a firm's name.

We introduced codes to handle vague occupations, as discussed above. We also created codes to retain linguistic and nominal distinctions above a rough frequency level. These distinctions are generally made in the fourth and fifth digit of the codes. For example, we distinguish between "Farm workers, specialisation unknown" (62110) and "Farmer's sons and other male relatives" (62113), because "farmer's son" was a numerically significant response in Canada. Both are considered part of the "Farm labourers and helpers, general farming and n.f.s" unit group (621).

Other variables
Responses to the occupational questions also returned information that cannot be classified within an occupational classification scheme, such as relationship to workers, or indications of status. Please see the documentation for the variables OCRELATE and OCSTATUS.

Information on the products sold by retail workers (Major Group 4) is available in the variable PRODUCT.

Occupations were also coded into domestic occupational classification schemes in Great Britain, Norway, and the United States. See the documentation for the following variables for more information.

Norway
OC1HIRNO
OC1TRDNO
OC2HIRNO
OC2TRDNO

United Kingdom
OCCICEM

United States
OCC95US

concept

Concept
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