Census of Population of Ireland, 1981 - IPUMS Subset
Ireland, 1981
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Reference ID
IRL_1981_PHC_v01_M_v7.5_A_IPUMS
Producer(s)
Central Statistics Office, IPUMS
Metadata
Created on
Dec 22, 2014
Last modified
Sep 03, 2025
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- Data files
- IRL1981_PHC-H-H
- IRL1981_PHC-P-H
Occupation (IE1981A_OCC)
Data file: IRL1981_PHC-P-H
Overview
Type:
Discrete
Start:
221
End:
223
Width:
3
Range:
-
Format:
Numeric
Questions and instructions
Literal question
<svar a="all" v="IE81A420 IE81A421">Q. 16 Occupation _____<br /><div class="i1">If at work, state here the usual principal occupation, giving a full description. If unemployed or retired, describe the principal occupation previously held. For students or persons at school, state the type (secondary, community, vocational, university, etc.)</div><br /></svar></p>
<p><svar v="IE81A420 IE81A421">Question 16: Occupation<br /><div class="i1">(i) If working, state the usual principal occupation (i.e., the one by which living is mainly earned).<br />(ii) If unemployed or retired, describe the principal occupation previously held.<br />(iii) In all cases describe the occupation fully and precisely, using any special name by which the job is known and stating the type of work done. The following are examples of the types of occupational descriptions which should be used: "Hosiery machine operator", "Dock laborer", "Gas fitter", "Ticket checker", "Woodworking machinist", "Builder's laborer", "Electrical fitter", "Goods checker", "Sound technician", "Civil engineer", "Garage foreman", "Radio mechanic", "Laboratory technician", "Electrical engineer", "Site foreman", "Motor mechanic". General terms such as "Machine operator", "Technician", "Laborer", "Engineer", "Fitter", "Foreman", "Checker", or "Mechanic" should not be used alone.<br />(iv) For civil servants and local government employees, the grade should be stated. For Army or Garda personnel, the rank should be stated.<br />(v) For teachers, the branch of teaching should be stated (e.g., "Primary teacher", "Vocational teacher", etc.)<br />(vi) For clergy and members of religious orders engaged in teaching or other service, a full description should be given, such as "Christian Brother, primary teacher", "Nun, general hospital nurse", etc.<br />(vii) For students or persons in school, state the type of school or institution (e.g. "Secondary", "Community", "Vocational", "University", etc.)</div><br /></svar>
<p><svar v="IE81A420 IE81A421">Question 16: Occupation<br /><div class="i1">(i) If working, state the usual principal occupation (i.e., the one by which living is mainly earned).<br />(ii) If unemployed or retired, describe the principal occupation previously held.<br />(iii) In all cases describe the occupation fully and precisely, using any special name by which the job is known and stating the type of work done. The following are examples of the types of occupational descriptions which should be used: "Hosiery machine operator", "Dock laborer", "Gas fitter", "Ticket checker", "Woodworking machinist", "Builder's laborer", "Electrical fitter", "Goods checker", "Sound technician", "Civil engineer", "Garage foreman", "Radio mechanic", "Laboratory technician", "Electrical engineer", "Site foreman", "Motor mechanic". General terms such as "Machine operator", "Technician", "Laborer", "Engineer", "Fitter", "Foreman", "Checker", or "Mechanic" should not be used alone.<br />(iv) For civil servants and local government employees, the grade should be stated. For Army or Garda personnel, the rank should be stated.<br />(v) For teachers, the branch of teaching should be stated (e.g., "Primary teacher", "Vocational teacher", etc.)<br />(vi) For clergy and members of religious orders engaged in teaching or other service, a full description should be given, such as "Christian Brother, primary teacher", "Nun, general hospital nurse", etc.<br />(vii) For students or persons in school, state the type of school or institution (e.g. "Secondary", "Community", "Vocational", "University", etc.)</div><br /></svar>
Categories
| Value | Category |
|---|---|
| 201 | Farmers |
| 202 | Farmers' sons and daughters (assisting on farm) |
| 203 | Farmers' other relatives (assisting on farm) |
| 204 | Farm managers |
| 205 | Agricultural labourers |
| 206 | Market gardeners and nurserymen |
| 207 | Jobbing gardeners, groundsmen and gardeners' labourers |
| 209 | Other agricultural workers |
| 210 | Foresters and forestry labourers |
| 211 | Fishermen |
| 212 | Mine and quarry workers |
| 213 | Turf workers |
| 214 | Telephone installers and repairers |
| 216 | Linesmen and cable jointers |
| 217 | Electricians and electrical fitters |
| 219 | Radio and television mechanics |
| 220 | Other electrical and electronic workers |
| 221 | Fitters and mechanics |
| 223 | Vehicle builders and assemblers |
| 224 | Plumbers and gas fitters |
| 225 | Sheet metal workers |
| 226 | Structural metal and metal plate workers |
| 227 | Welders and cutters |
| 228 | Machine tool setters and operators |
| 229 | Precision instrument and watch and clock makers |
| 230 | Goldsmiths, silversmiths and jewellery makers |
| 232 | Other engineering and related workers |
| 238 | Sawyers and woodworking machinists |
| 239 | Carpenters, joiners, and cabinet makers |
| 241 | Sawyers and woodworking machinists |
| 242 | Other woodworkers |
| 245 | Boot and shoe makers (factory) |
| 246 | Boot and shoe makers and repairers (not factory) |
| 247 | Other leather workers |
| 248 | Spinners, doublers, winders, and reelers |
| 249 | Weavers and related workers |
| 250 | Bleachers, dyers and finishers |
| 251 | Knitters and knitting and hosiery machine operatives |
| 253 | Upholsterers and coach trimmers |
| 254 | Tailors and dressmakers |
| 255 | Cutters |
| 256 | Sewers, embroiderers, and machinists |
| 257 | Other textile and clothing workers |
| 258 | Millers |
| 259 | Bakers, pastrycooks, and biscuit makers |
| 260 | Makers of sugar and chocolate confectionery, jams and jellies |
| 261 | Milk processors and makers of dairy products |
| 262 | Meat curers, canners and preservers |
| 263 | Other makers of food |
| 264 | Makers of beverages |
| 265 | Makers of tobacco products |
| 266 | Makers of paper and paper products |
| 268 | Compositors, monotype, and linotype operators |
| 269 | Printers (so described) |
| 270 | Printing press operators |
| 271 | Other paper and printing workers |
| 272 | Gas and chemical workers |
| 273 | Glass and ceramics workers |
| 274 | Workers in metal manufacture |
| 275 | Workers in rubber and rubber products |
| 276 | Workers in plastics |
| 278 | Craftsmen (n.e.s.) |
| 279 | Other workers in other products |
| 280 | Builders, contractors, and clerks of works |
| 282 | Bricklayers |
| 283 | Masons and stone cutters |
| 284 | Plasterers |
| 285 | Other tradesmen |
| 286 | Painters and decorators |
| 288 | Crane and hoist operators |
| 289 | Earth moving and other construction machinery operators |
| 292 | Stationary engine operators, boiler firemen, and stokers |
| 295 | Labourers and unskilled workers (n.e.s) |
| 297 | Foremen and supervisors of manual workers |
| 301 | Inspectors and supervisors |
| 302 | Aircraft pilots, navigators, and flight engineers |
| 303 | Railway engine drivers |
| 304 | Signalmen and level crossing keepers |
| 305 | Porters and ticket collectors |
| 306 | Ships' officers |
| 307 | Sailors |
| 308 | Dock labourers |
| 309 | Drivers of buses |
| 310 | Drivers of other road passenger vehicles |
| 311 | Drivers of road goods vehicles |
| 312 | Bus conductors |
| 313 | Lorry drivers' helpers |
| 314 | Postmen and post office sorters |
| 315 | Messengers |
| 316 | Telephone, telegraph, and radio operators |
| 317 | Other transport and communication workers |
| 318 | Warehousemen and storekeepers |
| 319 | Packers and bottlers |
| 320 | Clerks |
| 321 | Typists |
| 322 | Proprietors and managers in wholesale or retail trade |
| 323 | Garage proprietors and managers |
| 324 | Shop assistants and barmen |
| 325 | Commercial travellers and manufacturers' agents |
| 326 | Roundsmen |
| 327 | Street vendors, hawkers, and newspaper sellers |
| 328 | Insurance agents |
| 329 | Insurance brokers and financial agents |
| 330 | Auctioneers, valuers, and other salesmen |
| 333 | Proprietors and managers |
| 334 | Garda (police) sergeants and lower ranks |
| 335 | Housekeepers and matrons of schools, etc. |
| 336 | Chefs and cooks |
| 337 | Waiters and waitresses |
| 338 | Maids and related workers |
| 340 | Charwomen and office cleaners |
| 341 | Barbers and hairdressers |
| 342 | Laundry workers, dry cleaners, and pressers |
| 343 | Caretakers |
| 344 | Watchmen and related workers |
| 345 | Hospital and ward orderlies, hospital porters, and attendants |
| 346 | Other service workers |
| 350 | Senior officials - Civil Service and Local Authority |
| 351 | Directors, managers and company secretaries |
| 360 | Professed clergymen and nuns |
| 361 | Other religious occupations |
| 362 | University professors and lecturers |
| 363 | Teachers |
| 364 | Medical practitioners |
| 365 | Dental practitioners |
| 366 | Nurses |
| 367 | Pharmacists and dispensers |
| 368 | Other medical workers |
| 369 | Engineers |
| 370 | Surveyors and architects |
| 371 | Chemists and other scientists |
| 372 | Accountants |
| 373 | Judges, barristers and solicitors |
| 374 | Veterinary surgeons |
| 375 | Authors, journalists and editors |
| 376 | Actors, entertainers and musicians |
| 377 | Painters, sculptors and commercial artists |
| 378 | Sportsmen and related workers |
| 379 | Social workers |
| 380 | Professional workers (n.e.s.) |
| 381 | Draughtsmen |
| 382 | Technical and related workers (n.e.s.) |
| 397 | Commissioned officers |
| 398 | Other ranks in armed forces |
| 399 | Gainfully occupied but occupation not stated |
| 401 | In school |
| 407 | Looking after home/family |
| 409 | Unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability |
| 410 | Retired from employment |
| 998 | Unknown |
| 999 | NIU (not in universe) |
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
This variable indicates a person's occupation.
Universe
Ireland 1981: Persons age 15+ [discrepancies: type I .7%; type II none]
concept
Concept