Weeks Worked in 1989

The data on weeks worked in 1989 were derived from responses to questionnaire item 31b. Question 31b (Weeks Worked in 1989) was asked of persons 16 years old and over who indicated in question 31a that they worked in 1989.

The data pertain to the number of weeks during 1989 in which a person did any work for pay or profit (including paid vacation and paid sick leave) or worked without pay on a family farm or in a family business. Weeks of active service in the Armed Forces are also included.

Usual Hours Worked Per Week Worked in 1989

The data on usual hours worked per week worked in 1989 were derived from answers to questionnaire item 31c. This question was asked of persons 16 years old and over who indicated that they worked in 1989.

The data pertain to the number of hours a person usually worked during the weeks worked in 1989. The respondent was to report the number of hours worked per week in the majority of the weeks he or she worked in 1989. If the hours worked per week varied considerably during 1989, the respondent was to report an approximate average of the hours worked per week. The statistics on usual hours worked per week in 1989 are not necessarily related to the data on actual hours worked during the census reference week (question 21b).

Persons 16 years old and over who reported that they usually worked 35 or more hours each week during the weeks they worked are classified as "Usually worked full time;" persons who reported that they usually worked 1 to 34 hours are classified as "Usually worked part time."

Year-Round Full-Time Workers--All persons 16 years old and over who usually worked 35 hours or more per week for 50 to 52 weeks in 1989.

Number of Workers in Family in 1989--The term "worker" as used for these data is defined based on the criteria for Work Status in 1989.

Limitation of the Data--It is probable that the number of persons who worked in 1989 and the number of weeks worked are understated since there was some tendency for respondents to forget intermittent or short periods of employment or to exclude weeks worked without pay. There may also be a tendency for persons not to include weeks of paid vacation among their weeks worked; one result may be that the census figures may understate the number of persons who worked "50 to 52 weeks."

Comparability--The data on weeks worked collected in the 1990 census were comparable with data from the 1980, 1970, and 1960 censuses, but may not be entirely comparable with data from the 1940 and 1950 censuses. Since the 1960 census, two separate questions have been used to obtain this information. The first identified persons with any work experience during the year and, thus, indicated those persons for whom the questions on number of weeks worked applied. In 1940 and 1950, however, the questionnaires contained only a single question on number of weeks worked.

In 1970, persons responded to the question on weeks worked by indicating one of six weeks-worked intervals. In 1980 and 1990, persons were asked to enter the specific number of weeks they worked.