Exploring Differences in Employment between Household and Establishment Data

60 Pages Posted: 24 Mar 2009 Last revised: 18 May 2024

See all articles by Katharine G. Abraham

Katharine G. Abraham

University of Maryland - Joint Program in Survey Methodology and Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

John Haltiwanger

University of Maryland - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Lee Kristin Sandusky

U.S. Census Bureau

James Spletzer

United States Department of Labor

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: March 2009

Abstract

Using a large data set that links individual Current Population Survey (CPS) records to employer-reported administrative data, we document substantial discrepancies in basic measures of employment status that persist even after controlling for known definitional differences between the two data sources. We hypothesize that reporting discrepancies should be most prevalent for marginal workers and marginal jobs, and find systematic associations between the incidence of reporting discrepancies and observable person and job characteristics that are consistent with this hypothesis. The paper discusses the implications of the reported findings for both micro and macro labor market analysis.

Suggested Citation

Abraham, Katharine G. and Haltiwanger, John C. and Sandusky, Lee Kristin and Spletzer, James, Exploring Differences in Employment between Household and Establishment Data (March 2009). NBER Working Paper No. w14805, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1366205

Katharine G. Abraham (Contact Author)

University of Maryland - Joint Program in Survey Methodology and Department of Economics ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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John C. Haltiwanger

University of Maryland - Department of Economics ( email )

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Lee Kristin Sandusky

U.S. Census Bureau ( email )

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James Spletzer

United States Department of Labor ( email )

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