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A major problem with the Census labor force data is the changing definition of labor force participation over various censuses (see "Definitions of economic activity " for a detailed explanation). In general, the 1961 definition was more inclusive than the 1971 and 1981 definitions. This affects the counts for women especially.
In 1981, to help adjust for this, the census added a category of "marginal workers" that was, in part, designed to re-capture the workers who would have been included in the 1961 definition but excluded in the 1971 and 1981 definitions of main workers. Analysis of cross-district correlations confirms that the 1981 main+marginal workers resembles the 1961 distribution more than the 1971 distribution.
To reflect these changing definitions, we have included both types of data: records #111-123 use the narrower 1971-91 definition of main worker; records #124-139 use the 1961 definition of worker or the 1981 and 1991 categories of both main + marginal workers. Comparison of 1961 with 1981 or 1991 should use records 124-135; comparison of 1971 with 1981 or 1991 should use records 111-123.
Rather than having missing data in 1961 for the narrower 1971-91 definitions, we have estimated what the 1961 counts would have been based on the narrower definition. Similarly, in 1971 we have estimated what the counts would have been with a broader (1961) definition. Both estimates are based on the 1981 distinction between main and marginal workers. THESE ESTIMATES SHOULD BE USED WITH GREAT CAUTION. In general, safer comparisons can be made between the 1961 and 1981/91 censuses using records 124-139 and between the 1971 and 1981/91 censuses using records 111-123.
See also: 1981 Census definition of economic activity.
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| Last updated October 1, 2000 |
comments to: Reeve Vanneman.
reeve@umd.edu
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