Not in Labor Force, Unemployed

1

Hello where can I find the IPUMS definition of Not in Labor Force and Unemployed for the employment variables? Thank you!

2

IPUMS does not define labor force participation or employment. Instead, our samples provide the data as it is reported in the original sample. I’m not sure which IPUMS data collection or samples you’re referring to, but I can provide details for our USA and CPS data samples.

The Current Population Survey (CPS) reports employment status (EMPSTAT) and labor force status (LABFORCE) following the definitions described on this Bureau of Labor Statistics Concepts and Definitions page. Note that this definition has changed over time, with the most recent major revision being in 1994 (see the IPUMS CPS EMPSTAT comparability tab for more information). The American Community Survey (ACS) implements this same definition in EMPSTAT & LABFORCE, with a small difference in that this survey contains fewer restrictions on what qualifies as a job search. The US decennial census samples include the most variability in these definitions; these are documented in the IPUMS USA EMPSTAT comparability tab .

The Bureau of Labor Statistics currently classifies people as employed if during the preceding week they they met any of the following criteria:

  • They worked at least 1 hour as a paid employee (see wage and salary workers).
  • They worked at least 1 hour in their own business, profession, trade, or farm (see self-employed).
  • They were temporarily absent from their job, business, or farm, whether or not they were paid for the time off (see with a job, not at work).
  • They worked without pay for a minimum of 15 hours in a business or farm owned by a member of their family (see unpaid family workers).

People are classified as unemployed if they met all of the following criteria:

  • They were not employed during the survey reference week.
  • They were available for work during the survey reference week, except for temporary illness.
  • They made at least one specific, active effort to find a job during the 4-week period ending with the survey reference week (see active job search methods) OR they were temporarily laid off and expecting to be recalled to their job.

Those who do not meet either the criteria for being employed or unemployed are not in the labor force.