Job Characteristics

Job Characteristics

Mature Women Job Characteristics

Throughout the survey years, several details have been collected on characteristics of the jobs the Mature Women held, including work hours and schedule, traveling to work, number of people employed at company, supervising responsibilities, and dual jobs.

Work Hours and Schedule

In 1979 and in the 1995-2003 survey years, questions were asked about the number of hours worked and the type of work schedule the respondents had, such as the type of shift (regular day, night shift, etc.). In the 1972 and 1977 survey years, respondents voiced their preference on whether they would like more hours and more pay, fewer hours and less pay, or the same hours at the same pay. Respondents were also asked in most survey years about being offered flexible work schedules (see Fringe Benefits). To access these variables, see the WORK SCHEDULE, LABOR FORCE STATUS, and HOURS WORKED Areas of Interest.

Traveling to Work

Several questions have been asked about a respondent's commute.  In 1967 and 1969, respondents were asked the length of time and number of miles to travel to work, the method of traveling, and the cost of parking and tolls.  A similar set of questions was asked in 1972, 1977, and 1995.  A single question about length of time for travel to work was asked in 1982, 1987, and 1989. To access these variables, see the TRAVEL TO/FROM WORK Area of Interest.

Number of People Employed At Company

Questions about the number of people employed in a respondent's company (both the immediate plant/office and the entire company) were asked in select survey years between 1977 through 1992. To access these variables, see the NUMBER EMPLOYEES Area of Interest.

Supervising Responsibilities

In select survey years between 1982 to 1992, respondents who worked outside the home were asked for their main job if they supervised the work of others. If so, the respondent indicated how many people she supervised, if she had any say over the supervisees' pay or promotion, and if her boss had a supervisor.

In the 1995 through 2003 surveys, there was a more extensive series of questions about supervisory positions. The respondent indicated if she held a supervisory position, the number she supervised directly, the gender count of those she supervised, how much responsibility she had for deciding pay/promotions and for the specific tasks the people performed, and if any of her subordinates supervised other employees. She was also asked if someone supervised her work, if her supervisor was a man or woman, how closely her work was supervised, the number of other people her boss supervised and the gender breakdown of those subordinates, if her boss had a supervisor, and the gender of that supervisor. The respondent also answered questions about whether she made decisions about budgets, hiring or firing.

To access these variables, see the SUPERVISION Area of Interest.

Dual Jobs

In most of the survey years between 1969 and 1992, respondents indicated whether they worked dual jobs and, if so, the number of weeks they had been a dual job holder and the number of dual jobs. Details about the dual job were also gathered. To access these variables, see the EMPLOYERS Area of Interest.

Survey Instruments: Job characteristic questions can be found in the "Work Experience and Attitudes" and the "Employer Supplement" sections of the questionnaires.