We examine the historical value of the population census and of the two surveys organised within the industrial and commercial census for the measurement of employment. The food industry is taken as a case study. We find that these censuses offer comparable results. In contrast to previous research we see no reason to discard some of these datasets.

Cet article résume les résultats d'une étude menée sur un échantillon de mille Grecs venus travailler dans les mines belges entre 1955 et 1964. Nous mettrons en lumière les apports spécifiques d'une démarche quantitative à la connaissance de ce flux migratoire mais montrerons aussi ses insuffisances et l'intérêt qu'il y a à l'associer à d'autres méthodes.

This article studies the reasons for the inhabitants of the district of Ghent to migrate. Is it correct to consider migration as a survival strategy? What was the impact of industrialisation on migration? To answer these questions migrations figures are examined in full detail. This macro analysis is completed by a micro study of 280 families who left Ghent for Armentières and permits to reconstruct the itineraries and to examine family ties within the sample.