This study provides a novel analysis of occupational stratification in Sierra Leone from a historical perspective. By employing census data for early-nineteenth-century colonial Sierra Leone, the present study offers a valuable snapshot of a colony characterized by a heterogenous population of indigenous and migratory origin. The study shows that an association between colonial group categorization and socioeconomic status existed despite the colony being of very recent foundation implying a hierarchical structure of the society. Although Europeans and “mulattoes” occupied most high-status positions, as common in the colonies, indigenous immigrants were also represented in high socioeconomic strata thanks to the opportunities stemming from long- and short-distance trading. However, later arrivals, especially liberated slaves, belonged within the lowest socioeconomic strata of the society and worked as farmers or unskilled labor, suggesting that the time component may also have influence socioeconomic opportunities.

本研究从历史的角度对塞拉利昂的职业分层进行了新的分析。通过使用 19 世纪早期殖民地塞拉利昂的人口普查数据，本研究提供了一个以土著和移民来源的异质人口为特征的殖民地的宝贵快照。该研究表明，尽管殖民地是最近建立的，暗示着社会的等级结构，但殖民地群体分类与社会经济地位之间存在关联。尽管欧洲人和“混血儿”占据了大多数高地位的职位，这在殖民地很常见，但由于长途和短途贸易带来的机会，土著移民在社会经济阶层中也占有一席之地。然而，后来的人，尤其是解放的奴隶，