Created Variables

COWALL-EMP# - These variables contain the respondent’s class of worker category for each employer (see universe restrictions below).

Important Information About Using Class of Worker Data:

• Beginning with the 2002 survey, changes were made to better identify nontraditional occupations worked by respondents.  This included a clarification of what defines self-employment.  For more information go to the section, "Jobs & Employers".
  
• The coding system used for class of worker was changed beginning with the 1994 survey. The pre and post 1994 system is as follows:

1979-93

1. private company
2. government 
3. self-employed
4. without pay 

1994 and beyond

1. government
2. private for profit company
3. nonprofit organization
4. self-employed
5. working in family business


• Self employed classification : On the basis of answers to the job classification questions, added in 2002, the respondent is classified as self-employed if he or she owned at least 50 percent of the business, was the chief executive officer or principal managing partner of the business, or was supposed to file a form SE for Federal income taxes.  Respondents also are classified as self-employed if they identify themselves as independent contractors, independent consultants, or freelancers.  A job is classified as nontraditional employment if the respondent is paid by a temp employment agency.

All current jobs from which R was not laid off in CPS section; other jobs that are government-sponsored part-time or summer jobs, government sponsored jobs for those not in regular school, part of a tax credit program or any other government sponsored program in employer supplement; other jobs R is > 15 years of age & >= 20 hours/week & >= 9 weeks worked since date of last interview in employer supplements

All current/most recent jobs in CPS section; other jobs that are government-sponsored part-time or summer jobs, government sponsored jobs for those not in regular school, part of a tax credit program or any other government sponsored program in employer supplement; other jobs >= 20 hours/week & >= 9 weeks worked since date of last interview in employer supplements

All current/most recent jobs; other jobs >= 10 hours/week & >= 9 weeks worked since date of last interview; self-employed jobs in employer supplement

Survey Instruments and Documentation:

Questions relating to current/most recent job and corporation status for businesses can be found in the "Current Labor Force Status or CPS" section of each year's questionnaire:  Section 8 (1979), Section 7 (1980), Section 6 (1981 and 1993), and Section 5 (1982-92 and 1994-98 and 2006).  Information on characteristics of up to five jobs held by the respondent between survey dates is drawn, for the 1979 survey year only, from the main questionnaire (Section 10 "Jobs") and from the Employer Supplements for the 1980-2008 surveys.  Since 1993, the Employer Supplement has been physically a part of the questionnaires.

Areas of Interest:

Until 1994, class of worker and type of government worker variables for current/most recent job are located in the "CPS" area of interest on the main NLSY79 data set.  Comparable variables for additional jobs held between interview dates are found in the "Job Information" area of interest. 

Beginning in 1994, the CPS job variables are found in "Job Information" as well.  They were all moved to the Employer Supplement.  Class of worker information for all CPS jobs and up to four additional long-term jobs held since the last interview is also available by searching for areas of interest beginning with "Work History" on the NLSY79 data set. 

Corporation status of self-employed respondents' businesses has been placed in the various yearly "Misc. xxxx" areas of interest.