# WNLOOK - how to identify discouraged workers & why so many NILF-Retired individuals in the WNLOOK population?

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/wnlook-how-to-identify-discouraged-workers-why-so-many-nilf-retired-individuals-in-the-wnlook-population/4298>\
**Category:** CPS\
**Created:** [August 31, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/wnlook-how-to-identify-discouraged-workers-why-so-many-nilf-retired-individuals-in-the-wnlook-population/4298 "2021-08-31T15:29:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Janina\_Curtis\_Broker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Janina\_Curtis\_Broker](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Janina_Curtis_Broker)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/wnlook-how-to-identify-discouraged-workers-why-so-many-nilf-retired-individuals-in-the-wnlook-population/4298/1 "2021-08-31T15:29:29Z")

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I am working with the WNLOOK variable and find that a simple crosstab with the variable empstat shows that the population includes both “NILF-Other” and “NILF-Retired”. “NILF Retired” make up roughly 15-20% of the WNLOOK population (and historically even more). **Why are so many retired individuals interested in working** (but have not looked for work over the past four weeks)?

A second question is **how to identify discouraged workers** (BLS definition) in the WNLOOK population. Previous posts in the forum don’t pin down the exact conditions or variables needed. I have found the unharmonized variable UH\_DSCWK\_B2, where I can condition on “discouraged worker” - is the solution to use WNLOOK in the range 1-5, and then condition on UH\_DSCWK\_B2==1?. Also, am I right to assume that the “conditionally interested” population is not part of the “discouraged worker” population?

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Thanks!  
Janina Curtis Broker

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**Author:** ![Matthew\_Bombyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Matthew\_Bombyk](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Matthew_Bombyk)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/wnlook-how-to-identify-discouraged-workers-why-so-many-nilf-retired-individuals-in-the-wnlook-population/4298/2 "2021-09-15T14:08:51Z")

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Currently WNLOOK seems to be the best variable available for identifying discouraged workers in the CPS microdata. Discouraged workers have WNLOOK=1-5, as can be verified by a cross-tab with UH\_DSCWK\_B2. Although UH\_DSCWK\_B2 more directly identifies discouraged workers, the universe is more limited and we do not yet fully understand who is covered by this variable. Until this is clarified, I would not suggest using this variable.