Daily AncestorP
P in the class of worker item of the 1950 census means the person worked for a private employer for wages, salary, commission or pay in kind.
The 1950 census used four class of worker codes: P for a private employer, G for government, O for own business and NP for unpaid family work. P covered everyone working for a private firm, from general manager to porter, and also people working for churches, unions and other private nonprofit groups.
The instructions give examples: a maid in a private home was P, a hired farm hand was P, and most clergymen were P. The 1940 census used PW for the same group.
As seen in a recordOccupation, industry and class of worker items of the 1950 census
Maid, Private family, P
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Daily Ancestor. "P." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/abbreviations/census-p. Last checked 2026-10-12.