Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults who were working at a paying job last week, with a job or business last week but not at work, not working last week because they perform seasonal or contract work, or working at a non-paying job last week OR who did not have a job or business last week but did in the past 12 months, CLASSWK reports the type of main job they held. In 2003 and earlier years, CLASSWK reports whether persons were self-employed, worked as an employee in private industry or the public sector, or worked without pay in a family business or farm. If the individual worked more than one job, the question applied to the job where longer hours were worked; if the same hours were worked in two jobs, the question applied to the one the respondent considered most important or to the longest-held job.
A related variable, CLASSWK2, collects similar information for the current or longest-held job.
Comparability
Several changes limit the comparability of CLASSWK over time.
The change in the variable universe limits the comparability of CLASSWK over time.
For 1969-1996, for persons who worked during the preceding two weeks or who had a job but were not at work during those two weeks, information was collected on the current job; for persons who were currently unemployed (looking for work or on lay-off) or who were waiting for a new job to begin, the question referred to the most recent full-time (35+ hours per week) civilian (non-military) job held for at least two weeks. For 1997-2003, the question applied only to the current job of sample adults who worked during the preceding week. For 2004 forward, for sample adults who had worked during the preceding week or who had a job but were not at work during that week, information was collected on the current job. Also for 2004 forward, for sample adults who were not working or temporarily absent from a job during the previous week but who had ever worked at a job or business, information was collected on the most recent job (for persons under age 65) or on the longest-held job (for persons age 65 or older).
The methods interviewers used to collect information for this variable changed over time.
Prior to 1997, interviewers generally inferred class of worker from information provided in response to earlier questions, namely: "Who does [person] work for?"; "What kind of business or industry is this?"; and "What kind of work is [person] doing?" As the Field Representative's Manual for 1969 and later years stated, "The information given in answer to questions 41a-c will usually be sufficient for identifying 'class of worker.' If the information previously supplied is not adequate for this purpose, ask additional questions as necessary, for example, 'Did he work for himself in his own business, or did he work for someone else?'" Beginning in 1997, the information was systematically provided by respondents, who selected the appropriate category from choices listed on a card.
The degree of detail in the responses for this variable also changed over time. IPUMS NHIS uses a composite coding system for CLASSWK to maximize comparability over time.
The first digit groups together broad categories available across years; the second digit provides detail available only in some years. Thus, for example, all government employee classifications share a first digit of "3," while the second digit distinguishes between federal, state, and local government employees (because the latter two groups were separately identified only for 1974 forward). Similarly, all self-employed persons receive a first-digit code of "4," while the second digit distinguishes between self-employment in incorporated and non-incorporated businesses (information only available for 1974-1996).
Finally, the 2019 questionnaire redesign impacts comparability between earlier years and 2019 forward. The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.
Universe
- 1965: Persons in 2 quarters of 1965.
- 1966-1981: All persons.
- 1982-1996: Persons age 18+.
- 1997-2003: Sample adults age 18+ who were working or temporarily absent from a job last week.
- 2020: Sample adults aged 18+ who were working at a paying job last week, with a job or business last week but not at work, working in a seasonal/contract position, or working at a non-paying job or business last week (EMPSTAT) OR who did not have a job or business last week but who had a job or business in the past 12 months (EMPLAST).
- 2021: Sample adults aged 18+ who were working at or were on temporary leave from a paid job or business last week (EMPSTAT), or who work, but not for pay at a family-owned job or business, or who did not have a job or business last week but had a job or business in the past 12 months (EMPLAST).
Availability
- 1965-2003, 2020-2021
Weights
- 1965-1996 : PERWEIGHT
- 1997-2003, 2020-2021 : SAMPWEIGHT
