A CLOSER LOOK : CSO's Continuous Sample Survey of the Population (CSSP)

The following conversation has not happened, but is happening somewhere in Trinidad and Tobago.?Although the names have been changed, the individuals could be any one of us.

Person 1: Do you know that field staff of the CSO are currently engaged in a household survey exercise throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

Person 2: Wait, wait, wait… CSO?

Person 1: Yes, the Central Statistical Office, the agency charged with the responsibility of taking censuses as well as collecting, compiling, analyzing and publishing statistical information relating to all social and economic activities of the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Person 2: Ohhhhhhh, the CSO.?Tell me more about this island wide household survey exercise.

?Person 1: The CSO is charged with the responsibility of producing Labour Force Statistics on a quarterly and annual basis based on data collected through a household survey referred to as the Continuous Sample Survey of the Population (CSSP). In each quarter, six (6) nationwide surveys are conducted, thereby making the CSSP the largest inter-censal exercise currently undertaken by the CSO.

A wide range of demographic and socio-economic characteristics regarding the population of Trinidad and Tobago are obtained from the conduct of the CSSP, with particular emphasis on the Labour Force and its major components – the Employed, Unemployed and Labour Force Participation.

The data provided from this exercise is used solely for developing summary tables and will not be used for the purposes of taxation, investigation or regulations. Data gathered through the CSSP Section are used to produce a Quarterly Labour Force Bulletin and an annual Labour Force Report.?Over 200 communities across Trinidad and Tobago have been surveyed so far in 2022.

?Person 1: That is a mouthful, but you have my attention.?So how will I know who they are and what to do?

?Person 2: There will be as many as 55 persons throughout Trinidad and Tobago at any one point in time from week to week on a continuous basis.

There are 22 Field Interviewers assigned to the Northern areas of Trinidad, 23 to the Central and Southern areas of Trinidad and 7 Field Interviewers to conduct the CSSP survey in Tobago.?Members of the public are asked to note that Officers representing the CSO will all be equipped with a picture identification badge bearing the Name and Post of the person within the organization. These badges must be presented to the respondent before the interview can be conducted. The CSO’s logo is displayed at the back of the Identification Badge.

Person 1: Will the field officers also take the required safety precautions to protect both respondents and themselves, especially during the pandemic?

?Person 2: Definitely.?They will use face masks, maintain physical distance and ensure sanitization is conducted.?

?Person 1: What if I don’t feel like answering any questions??

Person 2: The conduct of this survey is guided by the provisions of the Statistics Act, Chapter 19:02 of the Revised Laws of Trinidad and Tobago. This Act provides the legal framework for the operations of the CSO to: “Collect, compile, analyze and publish statistical information relating to all social and economic activities of the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”.

According to the Statistics Act, citizens are lawfully required to participate in the survey.

?Person 1: I thought so.?But what about the privacy of my business/information.

?Person 2: In keeping with good statistical practices and as regulated under the Statistics Act (Chapter 19:02), the CSO must honour the confidentiality of data supplied by respondents and is therefore not permitted to release any information at an individual level.

Data must be collated and summarized before being provided to the public and must be done in such a way that no individual household can be identified from the information released.

?Person 2: One more thing.

The CSO is seeking the full participation of citizens and the following can be contacted if needed: 625-2406 and ask for Ms. Nykela James or 624 -7311 for verification of the field interviewers in Trinidad and 635-1454 or 635-2147 for verification of the field interviewers in Tobago.?

To find out more about the various CSO surveys being conducted and their locations each week please visit the website at www.cso.gov.tt