Codes

This variable is not available for any of the currently selected samples.

Description

OTHEREAS ("other reason") is a residual category for responses explaining a seeming anomaly: why were persons who said they wanted a job not actively looking for work? Adult civilians who were not in the labor force during the previous week (neither working nor temporarily absent from a job nor actively looking for work) were asked whether they currently wanted a job (see WANTJOB), and, if they said "Yes" or "Maybe," were asked the open-ended question, "What is the reason [this person] is not looking for work?" If the response to this question did not fit any of the other categories on the form (see below), the interviewer was to mark "other" and specify the details in notes.

More specific responses recognized by the survey are as follows: could not find work (CANTFIND); lack schooling (LACKSCHL); employer thinks too young or old (WRONGAGE); poor health or disability (ILHEALTH); other personal handicap (HANDICAP); lack of childcare (KIDDUTY); family responsibilities (FAMDUTY); school or training responsibilities (SCHLDUTY); and "unknown reason" (UNKREASN). The HANDICAP variable is also a residual category used to explain why persons who said they wanted a job were not actively looking for work. How the answers coded as "other personal handicap" differed from the answers coded as "other reason" is not clear. Because interviewers recorded all answers, a "yes" response (code 1) in OTHEREAS does not preclude "yes" responses for one or more of the other rationales listed above.

Comparability

Apart from universe changes, this variable is comparable over time.

In the original public use data files for the ASEC CPS, the "not in universe" and "no" (response not given) categories were combined. In IPUMS-CPS, those who were not asked the question, "What is the reason [this person] is not looking for work?" are coded as being "not in universe" (code 0). Those who were asked this question but did not give a response that fit the category "other reason" are coded "no" (code 2).

Universe

Flags

Unharmonized Variables

• UH_NILF10_A1