1990 Census County, row sum of subgroups different that total column

NHGIS
1

Howdy,

Below is specific data information based on output documentation. I am simplifying my issue somewhat but this is the data I want to use.

Suppose I am interested in the percent of women with children. Using the codes below, this should be: (E4L007 + E4L008 + E4L009 ) / ( E4L007 + E4L008 + E4L009 + E4L010 + E4L011 + E4L012)

This should equivalently be:
(E4L001 + E4L002 + E4L003 + E4L004 + E4L005 + E4L006 ) / ( E4L001 + E4L002 + E4L003 + E4L004 + E4L005 + E4L006 + E4L010 + E4L011 + E4L012)

However, I find that (E4L001 + E4L002 + E4L003 + E4L004 + E4L005 + E4L006 ) != (E4L007 + E4L008 + E4L009 )

For GISJOIN:G0100010, I have the following:

  1. (E4L001 + E4L002 + E4L003 + E4L004 + E4L005 + E4L006 ) = 4188
  2. (E4L007 + E4L008 + E4L009 ) = 1001

Am I mistaken about the definitions or does there appear to be an issue? Does this have anything to do with being sample based?

Thank you for your time,
Best,
Luke

Year: 1990
Geographic level: County (by State)
Dataset: 1990 Census: STF 3 - Sample-Based Data
NHGIS code: 1990_STF3
NHGIS ID: ds123
Breakdown(s): Geographic Subarea:
Total area (00)

Presence and Age of Children and Employment Status
Universe: Females 16 years and over
Source code: NP73
NHGIS code: E4L

Presence and Age of Children and Employment Status
Universe: Females 16 years and over
Source code: NP73
NHGIS code: E4L
E4L001: With own children under 18 years: Under 6 years only: In labor force: Employed or in Armed Forces
E4L002: With own children under 18 years: Under 6 years only: In labor force: Unemployed
E4L003: With own children under 18 years: Under 6 years only: Not in labor force
E4L004: With own children under 18 years: 6 to 17 years only: In labor force: Employed or in Armed Forces
E4L005: With own children under 18 years: 6 to 17 years only: In labor force: Unemployed
E4L006: With own children under 18 years: 6 to 17 years only: Not in labor force
E4L007: With own children under 18 years: Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years: In labor force: Employed or in Armed Forces
E4L008: With own children under 18 years: Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years: In labor force: Unemployed
E4L009: With own children under 18 years: Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years: Not in labor force
E4L010: No own children under 18 years: In labor force: Employed or in Armed Forces
E4L011: No own children under 18 years: In labor force: Unemployed
E4L012: No own children under 18 years: Not in labor force

2

Dear Luke,

This is a tricky table to interpret - the labels and description aren’t as detailed as they probably should be!

The key thing to know relates to the “With own children under 18 years: Under 6 years and 6 to 17 years” category. Based on what you have calculated, you have this category as being women with children (e.g., the sum of E4L007 through E4L009 is the count of all women with children).

Unfortunately, that category counts the number of women with a child under 6 years of age AND a child 6 to 17 years of age. These women have at least two children, and they have a child in each age category.

You should sum all the categories E4L001:E4L012 to yield the universe (all females age 16 or older). The count of women with children will be the sum of E4L001:E4L009 - that is your numerator.

Dave Van Riper

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