# How would I find civil servants (Federal public workers)? What is the correct variable to use?

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-would-i-find-civil-servants-federal-public-workers-what-is-the-correct-variable-to-use/1762>\
**Category:** CPS\
**Created:** [June 1, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-would-i-find-civil-servants-federal-public-workers-what-is-the-correct-variable-to-use/1762 "2017-06-01T20:18:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![whawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@whawk](https://forum.ipums.org/u/whawk)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-would-i-find-civil-servants-federal-public-workers-what-is-the-correct-variable-to-use/1762/1 "2017-06-01T20:18:00Z")

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I am using CPS IPUMS and I can’t find a variable that would distinguish federal workers.

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**Author:** ![grover](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/grover/32/5_2.png) [@grover](https://forum.ipums.org/u/grover)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/how-would-i-find-civil-servants-federal-public-workers-what-is-the-correct-variable-to-use/1762/2 "2017-06-02T15:09:00Z")

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I believe the [CLASSWKR](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/CLASSWKR#codes_section) variable (code 25, ‘Federal government employee’) is what you are looking for.

I hope this helps!