More information on Primary household maintainer

Censuses:

2006 (1/5 sample), 2001 (1/5 sample), 1996 (1/5 sample), 1991

Reported for:

Private households

Question number:

Derived variable: Question H1

Responses:

Not applicable

Remarks:

This variable identifies the first household maintainer entered in Question H1. This will normally be the person who contributes the greatest amount towards the payments for shelter expenses; in the case of a household where two people share these expenses equally, the first person listed in Question H1 is chosen as the main household maintainer.

Due to changes in questionnaire design and data capture, the method of identifying the primary household maintainer in 2001 and 1996 differs slightly from that of 1991. These changes may affect households where two or more persons contribute towards shelter expenses. As a result, the characteristics of the primary household maintainer in 2001 and 1996 may not be strictly comparable to those released in the 1991 Census.

In the 1981 and 1986 Censuses, only one person could be counted as being the household maintainer. Comparisons with the 2001, 1996 and 1991 Censuses can be carried out using the Primary household maintainer variable.