# Is it possible to generate the U6 unemployment rate using the data here?

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/is-it-possible-to-generate-the-u6-unemployment-rate-using-the-data-here/1084>\
**Category:** CPS\
**Created:** [October 20, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/is-it-possible-to-generate-the-u6-unemployment-rate-using-the-data-here/1084 "2015-10-20T22:03:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![econuser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@econuser](https://forum.ipums.org/u/econuser)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/is-it-possible-to-generate-the-u6-unemployment-rate-using-the-data-here/1084/1 "2015-10-20T22:03:00Z")

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Can the variables available in the ipums extracts be used to generate the U6 unemployment rate that the BLS produces. I would be generating it at the state level.

Is there a variable here tha captures marginally attached?

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**Author:** ![Tim\_Moreland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f1d935/32.png) [@Tim\_Moreland](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Tim_Moreland)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/is-it-possible-to-generate-the-u6-unemployment-rate-using-the-data-here/1084/2 "2015-10-21T18:31:00Z")

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It is possible to calculate the [U-6 unemployment rate](http://www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cpsatab15.htm) for ASEC samples with the IPUMS-CPS data. To do this, you will need to use [EMPSTAT](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/EMPSTAT#codes_section) to identify unemployed respondents, [WANTJOB](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/WANTJOB#codes_section) to identify the marginally attached respondents, [WKSTAT](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/WKSTAT#codes_section) to identify those employed part-time for economic reasons, [LABFORCE](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/LABFORCE#codes_section) to identify the total labor force, and [STATEFIP](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/STATEFIP#codes_section) to identify state of residency.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to calculate the U-6 unemployment rate for the IPUMS basic monthly samples. Currently, we do not provide the PEDWWNTO CPS variable that is used to identify those marginally attached to the labor force in the basic monthly samples. However, it is possible to merge your IPUMS-CPS data extract with its corresponding [NBER dataset](http://www.nber.org/data/cps_basic.html). The easiest method is to attempt a sequential merge (i.e. first NBER observation to first IPUMS-CPS observation, second to second, etc.). Since our datasets share the same sort order as the original NBER datasets, this should be successful. You should verify such a merge by confirming that sex, age, and race match between datasets.

Hope this helps.