CARICOM CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CCDP)

National Census Report 2001, St. Vincent and the GrenadinesCHAPTER 5Economic Activity5.1 IntroductionThe 2001 Census gathered information on the Economic Activity of the population 15 years orover for two different reference periods, the past twelve months and the past week. The referenceperiod pertaining to the past twelve months refers to the usual economic activity an individual isnormally engaged in, while the past week reference period refers to the economic activity that anindividual was engaged the week prior to the survey.This Chapter presents the 2001 characteristics of the current economic activity of the population15 years and over, using the reference period of the past week. Particular focus is placed on theemployed and the status in employment 13 , occupation and industry, and on the unemployed.Comparison is also made with the 1991 data.5.2 Working Age PopulationIn 2001, there were 73 730 persons in the working age population 14 , the majority being males37 144 vs. 36 586 females. There was an increase of 6 857 persons or 10.25 per cent in the1991/2001 intercensal period. The males accounted for the bigger share (4 040) of this increase,which resulted in a shift of the sex distribution of the working age population. In 1991, the sexratio of the working age population was 98 compared to 101 in 2001. The youth population in2001 accounted for 28.48 per cent of the working age population and the percentages weresimilar for male and female youths, with 28.69 per cent for both (Table 5.1).13 Status in Employment is defined by type of relationship of the employed person to their employment (paidemployee, unpaid worker, employer etc.) in company/organization whether public/private/governmental/nongovernmentalinstitutions.14 Persons aged 15 years and older57