B20005A. Sex by Work Experience in the Past 12 Months by Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2011 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for the Population 16 Years and Over (White Alone) [95] - American Community Survey 2011 (ACS11) - ACS 2011 (1-Year Estimates)

Data Dictionary:

ACS 2011 (1-Year Estimates)

you are here: choose a survey survey data set table details

Survey: ACS 2011 (1-Year Estimates)

Data Source:

U.S. Census Bureau

Data set: American Community Survey 2011 (ACS11)

Table:

B20005A. Sex by Work Experience in the Past 12 Months by Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2011 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for the Population 16 Years and Over (White Alone) [95]

Universe: Universe: White alone population 16 years and Over

Table Details

B20005A.

Sex by Work Experience in the Past 12 Months by Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2011 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for the Population 16 Years and Over (White Alone)

Universe: Universe: White alone population 16 years and Over

Variable	Label
B20005A001	Total
B20005A002	Male
B20005A003	Worked Full-Time, Year-Round in the Past 12 Months
B20005A004	No Earnings
B20005A005	With Earnings
B20005A006	$1 to $2,499 or Loss
B20005A007	$2,500 to $4,999
B20005A008	$5,000 to $7,499
B20005A009	$7,500 to $9,999
B20005A010	$10,000 to $12,499
B20005A011	$12,500 to $14,999
B20005A012	$15,000 to $17,499
B20005A013	$17,500 to $19,999
B20005A014	$20,000 to $22,499
B20005A015	$22,500 to $24,999
B20005A016	$25,000 to $29,999
B20005A017	$30,000 to $34,999
B20005A018	$35,000 to $39,999
B20005A019	$40,000 to $44,999
B20005A020	$45,000 to $49,999
B20005A021	$50,000 to $54,999
B20005A022	$55,000 to $64,999
B20005A023	$65,000 to $74,999
B20005A024	$75,000 to $99,999
B20005A025	$100,000 or More
B20005A026	Other
B20005A027	No Earnings
B20005A028	With Earnings
B20005A029	$1 to $2,499 or Loss
B20005A030	$2,500 to $4,999
B20005A031	$5,000 to $7,499
B20005A032	$7,500 to $9,999
B20005A033	$10,000 to $12,499
B20005A034	$12,500 to $14,999
B20005A035	$15,000 to $17,499
B20005A036	$17,500 to $19,999
B20005A037	$20,000 to $22,499
B20005A038	$22,500 to $24,999
B20005A039	$25,000 to $29,999
B20005A040	$30,000 to $34,999
B20005A041	$35,000 to $39,999
B20005A042	$40,000 to $44,999
B20005A043	$45,000 to $49,999
B20005A044	$50,000 to $54,999
B20005A045	$55,000 to $64,999
B20005A046	$65,000 to $74,999
B20005A047	$75,000 to $99,999
B20005A048	$100,000 or More
B20005A049	Female
B20005A050	Worked Full-Time, Year-Round in the Past 12 Months
B20005A051	No Earnings
B20005A052	With Earnings
B20005A053	$1 to $2,499 or Loss
B20005A054	$2,500 to $4,999
B20005A055	$5,000 to $7,499
B20005A056	$7,500 to $9,999
B20005A057	$10,000 to $12,499
B20005A058	$12,500 to $14,999
B20005A059	$15,000 to $17,499
B20005A060	$17,500 to $19,999
B20005A061	$20,000 to $22,499
B20005A062	$22,500 to $24,999
B20005A063	$25,000 to $29,999
B20005A064	$30,000 to $34,999
B20005A065	$35,000 to $39,999
B20005A066	$40,000 to $44,999
B20005A067	$45,000 to $49,999
B20005A068	$50,000 to $54,999
B20005A069	$55,000 to $64,999
B20005A070	$65,000 to $74,999
B20005A071	$75,000 to $99,999
B20005A072	$100,000 or More
B20005A073	Other
B20005A074	No Earnings
B20005A075	With Earnings
B20005A076	$1 to $2,499 or Loss
B20005A077	$2,500 to $4,999
B20005A078	$5,000 to $7,499
B20005A079	$7,500 to $9,999
B20005A080	$10,000 to $12,499
B20005A081	$12,500 to $14,999
B20005A082	$15,000 to $17,499
B20005A083	$17,500 to $19,999
B20005A084	$20,000 to $22,499
B20005A085	$22,500 to $24,999
B20005A086	$25,000 to $29,999
B20005A087	$30,000 to $34,999
B20005A088	$35,000 to $39,999
B20005A089	$40,000 to $44,999
B20005A090	$45,000 to $49,999
B20005A091	$50,000 to $54,999
B20005A092	$55,000 to $64,999
B20005A093	$65,000 to $74,999
B20005A094	$75,000 to $99,999
B20005A095	$100,000 or More

Relevant Documentation:

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2011 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2011-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> Subject Definitions -> Population Variables -> Sex

Sex

The data on sex were derived from answers to Question 3. Individuals were asked to mark either "male" or "female" to indicate their biological sex. For most cases in which sex was invalid, the appropriate entry was determined from other information provided for that person, such as the person's given (i.e., first) name and household relationship. Otherwise, sex was allocated from a hot deck.

Sex is asked for all persons in a household or group quarters. On the mailout/mailback paper questionnaire for households, sex is asked for all persons listed on the form. This form accommodates asking sex for up to 12 people listed as living or residing in the household for at least 2 months. If a respondent indicates that more people are listed as part of the total persons living in the household than the form can accommodate, or if any person included on the form is missing sex, then the household is eligible for Failed Edit Follow-up (FEFU). During FEFU operations, telephone center staffers call respondents to obtain missing data. This includes asking sex for any person in the household missing sex information. In Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) and Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) instruments sex is asked for all persons. In 2006, the ACS began collecting data in group quarters (GQs). This included asking sex for persons living in a group quarters. For additional data collection methodology, please see www.census.gov/acs.

Data on sex are used to determine the applicability of other questions for a particular individual and to classify other characteristics in tabulations. The sex data collected on the forms are aggregated and provide the number of males and females in the population. These data are needed to interpret most social and economic characteristics used to plan and analyze programs and policies. Data about sex are critical because so many federal programs must differentiate between males and females. The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services are required by statute to use these data to fund, implement, and evaluate various social and welfare programs, such as the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Laws to promote equal employment opportunity for women also require census data on sex. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs must use census data to develop its state projections of veterans' facilities and benefits. For more information on the use of sex data in Federal programs, please see www.census.gov/acs.

Sex Ratio

The sex ratio represents the balance between the male and female populations. Ratios above 100 indicate a larger male population, and ratios below 100 indicate a larger female population. This measure is derived by dividing the total number of males by the total number of females and then multiplying by 100. It is rounded to the nearest tenth.

Question/Concept History

Sex has been asked of all persons living in a household since the 1996 ACS Test phase. When group quarters were included in the survey universe in 2006, sex was asked of all person in group quarters as well.
Beginning in 2008, the layout of the sex question response categories was changed to a horizontal side-by-side layout from a vertically stacked layout on the mail paper ACS questionnaire

Limitation of the data

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) was included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations have sex distributions that are very different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the sex distribution. This is particularly true for a given geographic area. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the sex question in the 2007 ACS Grid-Sequential Test (www.census.gov/acs). The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008.

Comparability

Sex is generally comparable across different data sources and data years.
However, data users should still be aware of methodological differences that may exist between different data sources if they are comparing American Community Survey sex data to other data sources, such as Population Estimates or Decennial Census data. For example, the American Community Survey data are that of a respondent-based survey and subject to various quality measures, such as sampling and nonsampling error, response rates and item allocation. This differs in design and methodology from other data sources, such as Population Estimates, which is not a survey and involves computational methodology to derive intercensal estimates of the population. While ACS estimates are controlled to Population Estimates for sex at the nation, state and county levels of geography as part of the ACS weighting procedure, variation may exist in the sex structure of a population at lower levels of geography when comparing different time periods or comparing across time due to the absence of controls below the county geography level. For more information on American Community Survey data accuracy and weighting procedures, please see www.census.gov/acs.

It should also be noted that although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties .

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2011 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2011-1yr Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> Subject Definitions -> Population Variables -> Work Experience

Work Experience

The data on work experience were derived from answers to Questions 38, 39, and 40. This term relates to work status in the past 12 months, weeks worked in the past 12 months, and usual hours worked per week worked in the past 12 months.

To comply with provisions of the Civil Rights Act, the U.S. Department of Justice uses these data to determine the availability of individuals for work. Government agencies, in considering the programmatic and policy aspects of providing federal assistance to areas, have emphasized the requirements for reliable data to determine the employment resources available. Data about the number of weeks and hours worked last year are essential because these data allow the characterization of workers by full-time/part-time and full-year/part-year status. Data about working last year are also necessary for collecting accurate income data by defining the universe of persons who should have earnings as part of their total income.

Work Status in the Past 12 Months

The data on work status in the past 12 months were derived from answers to Question 38. People 16 years old and over who worked 1 or more weeks according to the criteria described below are classified as "Worked in the past 12 months." All other people 16 years old and over are classified as "Did not work in the past 12 months."

Weeks Worked in the Past 12 Months

The data on weeks worked in the past 12 months were derived from responses to Question 39, which was asked of people 16 years old and over who indicated that they worked during the past 12 months.

The data pertain to the number of weeks during the past 12 months 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 the Past 12 Months

The data on usual hours worked per week worked in the past 12 months were derived from answers to Question 40. This question was asked of people 16 years old and over who indicated that they worked during the past 12 months.

The data pertain to the number of hours a person usually worked during the weeks worked in the past 12 months. The respondent was to report the number of hours worked per week in the majority of the weeks he or she worked in the past 12 months. If the hours worked per week varied considerably during the past 12 months, the respondent was to report an approximate average of the hours worked per week.

People 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;" people who reported that they usually worked 1 to 34 hours are classified as "Usually worked part time."

Aggregate Usual Hours Worked Per Week in the Past 12 Months

Aggregate usual hours worked is the sum of the values for usual hours worked each week of all the people in a particular universe. (For more information, see "Aggregate" under "Derived Measures.")

Mean Usual Hours Worked Per Week in the Past 12 Months

Mean usual hours worked is the number obtained by dividing the aggregate number of hours worked each week of a particular universe by the number of people in that universe. For example, mean usual hours worked for workers 16 to 64 years old is obtained by dividing the aggregate usual hours worked each week for workers 16 to 64 years old by the total number of workers 16 to 64 years old. Mean usual hours worked values are rounded to the nearest one-tenth of an hour. (For more information, see "Mean" under "Derived Measures.")

Full-Time, Year-Round Workers

All people 16 years old and over who usually worked 35 hours or more per week for 50 to 52 weeks in the past 12 months.

Number of Workers in Family in the Past 12 Months

The term "worker" as used for these data is defined based on the criteria for work status in the past 12 months.

Question/Concept History

Beginning in 2008, the weeks worked question was separated into 2 parts: part (a) asked whether the respondent worked 50 or more weeks in the past 12 months and part (b) asked respondents who answered 'no' to part (a) how many weeks they worked, even for a few hours.

Limitation of the Data

It is probable that the number of people who worked in the past 12 months and the number of weeks worked are understated since there is 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 people not to include weeks of paid vacation among their weeks worked; one result may be that the American Community Survey figures understate the number of people who worked "50 to 52 weeks."

The American Community Survey data refer to the 12 months preceding the date of interview. Since not all people in the American Community Survey were interviewed at the same time, the reference period for the American Community Survey data is neither fixed nor uniform.

Beginning in 2006, the population in group quarters (GQ) is included in the ACS. Some types of GQ populations may have work experience distributions that are different from the household population. The inclusion of the GQ population could therefore have a noticeable impact on the work experience distribution. This is particularly true for areas with a substantial GQ population.

The Census Bureau tested the changes introduced to the 2008 version of the weeks worked question in the 2006 ACS Content Test. The results of this testing show that the changes may introduce an inconsistency in the data produced for this question as observed from the years 2007 to 2008, see "2006 ACS Content Test Evaluation Report Covering Weeks Worked" (www.census.gov/acs).

Comparability

For information on Work Experience data comparability, please see the comparability section for Employment Status.