Full Citation

Title: Who had an occupation? Changing Boundaries in Historical U.S. Census Data

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2009

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI:

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: The original official purpose of the U.S. Census was to gather information to design political districts of approximately the same size. Increasingly Census data has been used for descriptive and social scientific purposes. This paper examines how the category of "occupation" has changed and looks at several issues which arise in comparing the present day workforce with the workforce in past decades. Changes in concepts, practices, and historical context have greatly affected how many persons were recorded as having occupations, especially for married women, American Indians, teenagers, and people who have ceased paid work.

Url: https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20762380.pdf?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Meyer, Peter

Periodical (Full): Historical Social Research

Issue: 3

Volume: 34

Pages: 149-167

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure

Countries: United States