Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults who were working at or were on temporary leave from a paid job or business last week, 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 (WHYNOWK2), OCCUPN204 reports the person's occupation, grouped into 23 major occupation groups. Please refer to the code tab for more information on different occupational categories.
OCCUPN204 provides a simple list of 23 major occupation groups while OCCUPN104 provides a detailed list of 94 occupation subgroups. OCCUPN204 and OCCUPN104 correspond to the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (2000 SOC or the new SOC) major groups and subgroups, respectively, as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Comparability
Users are discouraged to compare OCCUPN204 to other detailed occupation variables because the NHIS used 1987 SOC prior to 2004, which has substantially different occupation codes.
Comparability may be affected by the 2019 questionnaire redesign. 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
- 2004-2018: Sample adults are 18+ who were working at a paying or non-paying job last week, who had a job or business but were not at work last week, or who had ever worked.
- 2021: Sample adults 18+ who were working at or were on temporary leave from a paid job or business last week, 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 (WHYNOWK2)
Availability
- 2004-2018, 2021
Weights
- 2004-2018, 2021 : SAMPWEIGHT
