WLS Codebooks

Note: Codebooks contain frequency data from the private data release. For some variables, these differ from the frequencies in the public release. Variables that differ between the public and private versions include "(not available on public release)" as part of the variable description, or a note indicating the difference between the public and private versions.

Phone: Employment

GEMPL  Employment Module


OVERVIEW

In the 1993 wave, data was collected on up to two jobs in each of up to four
employment spells.  In 2004, we collected information on up to two jobs in each
of up to eight employment spells that respondents held since they were last
interviewed; 1993 for the great majority of them and 1975 for those that did
not respond to the 1993 wave.  The employment spells were collected in the
following order (see Employment flowchart for more detail):

Respondents who were currently employed at the last interview were asked to
confirm that they worked with that employer.  If they did, data on the first or
only job was pulled from previous data from the last or only job at the current
employer.

Respondents who did not confirm were asked about the job they held at the time
of the last interview.

Respondents who were not employed at the previous interview were asked about
the first employment spell they held for six months or longer Respondents who
had not had an employment spell of six months or longer were asked about an
employment spell at which they were currently working

Respondents who did not meet any of these criteria are coded -2 for the entire
employment section.

Respondents who met one of these requirements were asked about their first
seven employment spells since they were last interviewed and if they had more
than seven they were asked to skip to the current or most recent employment
spell for the eighth spell.

The second major difference is that the instrument was set up to collect job
data in a roster form (i.e. the respondent was asked the same roster of
questions about each employment spell).  While this does not change the order
or manner in which questions are asked, it did present some problems that are
discussed below.

After the roster of employment history details, respondents were asked more
detailed questions about a selected employer.  The selected employer was the
current or last employer for each respondent.  In addition to the job detail
questions in the previous wave, respondents were asked about disabilities that
affected them on or off the job and whether they have received disability
benefits.

The variable about union membership (GF023JCC) was in the employment module in
the previous wave.  Now it is asked in the job characteristics section (see
cor850.rtf)


BRIEF VARIABLE DESCRIPTIONS

    Non-Rostered
    _____________________________________________________________________
    GF001JS:                Pattern of Employment Spells (See Cor 782)

    GF002JS - GF046JS:      Summary Variables Describing Employment 
                            History, Current Work Status, Overlapping
                            Jobs,and Availability of Pensions and
                            Health Insurance

    GF601RE - GF605RE:      Most Severe Disability

    GF651RE - GF655RE:      Second Most Severe Disability

    GF701RE - GF705RE:      Disability Benefits


    Rostered: the variable names end j1_  for the first employer spell, 
    j2_ for the second, jp_ for the pre-retirement job and jc_ for the 
    job details job
    _____________________________________________________________________
    GF001J1C - GF002J1C:    Start and End Dates of Employment Spell

    GF104J1C - GF004J1C:    Hours Worked and Full Time Status for 
                            First/Only Job

    GFU07J1D - GF020J1E:    Occupation, Industry, Class of Worker, 
                            Occupational Prestige and Status Scores 
                            for First Only Job

    GF026J1C - GF126J1C:    Pension Availability and Participation

    GF027J1C - GF128J1C:    Health Insurance Availability and 
                            Participation

    GF030J1C:               Did Respondent Ever Have a Change In Job 
                            Duties With Employer

    GF031J1D:               Date Respondent Changed Duties

    GF132J1C - GF032J1C:    Hours Worked and Full Time Status for 
                            Last/Only Job

    GF041J1E - GF047J1F:    Occupation, Industry, Occupational 
                            Prestige and Status Scores for Last/Only
                            Job

    GFU50J1D - GF063J1C:    Reasons Respondent Left Employment Spell

    GF064J2:                Date Overlapping Job Becomes Main Job 
                            (Only In Second Through Seventh Spells)

    GF065J1C:               Is First Employer Spell the Same as 
                            Previously Recorded Current Job? (First 
                            Spell Only)

    GF070JCD - GF072JCD:    Job Details Section Number of Employees 
                            at Job Details Employer and Whether 
                            Respondent Remained at Job for Health 
                            Insurance (Job Details Spell Only)