Adult Literacy in America - National Center for Education Statistics ...

Employment Status
Respondents were asked what they were doing the week before the survey:
1) working at a full-time job for pay or profit (35 hours or more)
2) working two or more part-time jobs for pay, totaling 35 or more hours
3) working for pay or profit part time (1 to 35 hours)
4) unemployed, laid off, or looking for work
5) with a job but not at work
6) with a job but on family leave (maternity or paternity leave)
7) in school
8) keeping house
9) retired
10) doing volunteer work
136 ......Appendix B
Respondents were then divided into four groups: adults working full time (or
working two or more part-time jobs); those working part time; those
unemployed, laid off, or looking for work; and those out of the labor force.
Adults in categories 1 and 2 above were counted as being employed full time;
those in category 3 were counted as being employed part time; those in
category 4 were counted as unemployed; those in categories 5 and 6 were
counted as being not at work; and those in categories 7 through 10 were
counted as being out of the labor force.
Weeks Worked
All respondents, including those who were unemployed or out of the labor
force the week before the survey, were asked to indicate how many weeks they
worked for pay or profit during the past 12 months, including paid leave (such
as vacation and sick leave).
Weekly Wages
Respondents who were employed either full time or part time or were on leave
the week before the survey were asked to report their average wage or salary
(including tips and commissions) before deductions. They reported their wage
or salary per hour, day, week, two-week period, month, year, or other unit of
time, and these data were used to calculate their weekly wages.
Occupational Categories
Respondents were asked two questions about their current or most recent job,
whether full time or part time. The first question asked them to identify the
type of business or industry in which they worked — for example, television
manufacturing, retail shoe store, or farm. The second question asked them to
indicate their occupation, or the name of their job — for example, electrical
engineer, stock clerk, typist, or farmer. Their responses were used to create
four occupational categories: management, professional, and technical; sales
and clerical; craft and service; and labor, assembly, fishing, and farming.