The problem of measuring women's work

Abstract

This article aims to analyse the criteria applied in defining the concept of employment in census and questionnaires which are the basis of official statistics on the economic activity of the population. To achieve this objective, a critical review was made of the questionnaires used for the 1970 and 1981 Population Census, the Barcelona Municipal Population Register of 1981 and 1986, the 1982 Agrarian Census, the 1987 Active Population Report (first and second trimester) and the 1985 Fecundity Report. Changes in data collection introduced in recent years will result in improved statistics on female employment, although certain limitations exist due to the fact that work categories applied are those most frequently encountered in male employment.