If you plot labor force participation in the monthly files and the ASEC, using each samples respective weights (WTFINL and ASECWT), they produce inconsistent estimates before 1989. After 1989 they line up. Why are they inconsistent before? And which one is more correct? [lfp_march_v_monthly]

There are a couple things that seem strange about this graph. Most importantly, I am not able to replicate the labor force participation rates shown in this figure. Both estimates I calculate using IPUMS CPS data and published estimates are quite a bit lower than what is shown in this figure. This m…

Inconsistencies between monthly basic files and ASEC

CPS

Topic		Replies	Views
Are the CPS ASEC samples provided here the same samples used by the BLS to calculate labor force participation?	0	403	September 3, 2017
ASEC vs. Basic Monthly samples CPS	2	634	July 10, 2019
Replicating pre-1998 BLS employment and labor force CPS	1	112	March 26, 2025
Labor Force Participation by Age for the year 2014 looks very different CPS	1	427	July 26, 2017
earnwt missing in 1979-1981 in IPUMS CPS Basic Monthly CPS	4	533	October 28, 2016

Inconsistencies between monthly basic files and ASEC

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