A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921. Compiled by the Ministry of Labour and published by HMSO, 1927.

The Dictionary of Occupational Terms was published in 1927 and, as the full title indicates, it was based on the classification of occupations used in the 1921 Census. For each of the terms in this classification, the Dictionary provides a description of what that occupation involved — sometimes a brief single phrase, in other cases running to several hundred words. There is extensive cross referencing, with listing of synonyms and similar occupations in related spheres of employment, and it includes a considerable number of purely regional terms. In all, it provides 16,837 definitions for 29,106 terms.

This digital edition of the Dictionary includes the complete set of definitions, the prefatory material, and an independent index (not based on the index of the original volume).

The online Dictionary of Occupational Terms:

Using this online edition

Browse the Dictionary: List of Occupational Codes

Index of Occupations:  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  —  Using the index 

Search the Dictionary

The printed Dictionary of Occupational Terms:

The original Prefatory Note explains the genesis of the dictionary.
The original Key to Arrangement and Abbreviations explains how the dictionary is organized.
A digitisation of the Dictionary, from the printed copy used for this site, is available for online reading or download from the Internet Archive.
Availability in print and on CD-ROM.

History of Occupational Classifications in the Census:

• History of the Census: Occupation and Industry — from the 1977 Guide to Census Reports: Great Britain 1801-1966 published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys/General Register Office (London, 1977).

• 1841: Occupation Abstract, summary table pp 53-57.
• 1851: Census of Great Britain — Table XXXIV "Classified Arrangement of the Occupations of the People in 1851", pp.146-154
• 1871: Instructions to the Clerks Employed in Classifying the Occupations and Ages of the People
• 1881: Instructions to the Clerks Employed in Classifying the Occupations and Ages of the People
• 1901: Instructions to the Clerks Employed in Classifying the Occupations and Ages of the People
• 1911: Codes for Occupations
• 1921: Classification of Occupations
  
• 1931: Classification of Occupations

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The Dictionary of Occupational Terms was published under Crown Copyright in 1927 and is now therefore in the public domain.
This edition prepared by Peter Christian, November 2016.