Formation of the sources of population employment statistics in the second half of the 19th century

The article considers the issues of the formation of statistical sources containing personalized information on the population. Emphasis is placed on the account of employment. Particular attention is paid to the study of primary statistical sources: census forms, cards, leaflets and personal statements. The article describes the features of the account of employment during censuses of different levels. In the second half of the 19th century there is an active formation of statistical documents caused by significant changes in the public sphere and the development of data collection methods. During this period, the long overdue problem of the lack of information about the population, obtained by carrying out audits and the current account, was urgent; therefore, the main sources of population data became censuses (municipal, provincial, homestead and general). The most informative population censuses in terms of employment account were in Petersburg in 1869 and 1881, and in Odessa in 1892. Censuses in provinces were also organized. The most interesting of them in terms of development and account of the issue of employment were the Baltic censuses. They are also interesting for they first used typographically made personal sheets, which urban censuses began to use much later. Census forms had separate parts for main and additional employment, which gives a more complete characterization of employment. Many counties of Russia had homestead censuses. Some census forms considered in detail the socio-demographic characteristics of the population, including employment. Unfortunately, these forms did not spread because they were too complicated. The First National Census organizers tried to avoid the significant shortcomings of statistical activities. Before that period, the fixation of data on employment of all inhabitants of a region had been episodic, the most full-scale account was implemented during the 1897 census. In addition to the development of special forms with questions on employment (main and additional), special emphasis was made on the formation of legal sources that regulated accounting of occupations. Thus, in the course of statistical activities at different levels huge amounts of data on the socio-professional composition of the population were formed. Research of statistical sources led to a conclusion that the most complete information on employment was reflected in the documents during the census campaigns. The census programs gradually started to include questions connected with the obligatory account of employment. Nevertheless, most of them had no coordination between form and content. The only attempt to change the situation was made in the development and implementation of the First National Census, when there were greatest progressive changes with regard to fixing employment.

Keywords

Authors

References