Codes

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

Description

ILHEALTH (poor health or disability prevents finding work) reports one of the reasons given to explain 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?" That poor health or disability prevents the individual from finding work is one possible response to this question and is recorded in ILHEALTH.

Along with ILHEALTH, other responses recognized by the survey are as follows: believes no work available (BLVENOWK); could not find work (CANTFIND); lack schooling (LACKSCHL); employers think too young or old (WRONGAGE); other personal handicap (HANDICAP); family responsibilities (FAMDUTY); lack of childcare (KIDDUTY); school or training responsibilities (SCHLDUTY); "other reasons" (OTHEREAS); and "unknown reason" (UNKREASN). Because interviewers recorded all answers, a "yes" response (code 1) in ILHEALTH 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 the specific response "poor health or disability" are coded "no" (code 2).

Universe

Flags

Unharmonized Variables

• UH_NILF09_A1