Description

DEPARTS reports the time that the respondent usually left home for work last week. Time is measured using a 24-hour clock, where 12:01 a.m. is coded as 0001 and 11:59 p.m. is coded as 2359.

DEPARTS is a 4-digit numeric variable reporting the time that the respondent usually left home for work last week. Time is measured using a 24-hour clock, where 12:01 a.m. is coded as 0001 and 11:59 p.m. is coded as 2359. DEPARTS specific variable codes for missing, edited, or unidentified observations, observations not applicable (N/A), observations not in universe (NIU), top and bottom value coding, etc. are provided below by Census year (and data sample if specified).

User Note: In 1990, DEPARTS is reported in exact minutes. In the 2000 Census, the ACS and the PRCS, values represent the midpoint of a range.

DEPARTS Specific Variable Codes
0000 = N/A

Comparability

In 1990, the data are reported in exact minutes. In the 2000 Census, the ACS and the PRCS, values represent the midpoint of a range.

Universe

Availability

• 2023: All samples
• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: All samples
• 2015: All samples
• 2014: All samples
• 2013: All samples
• 2012: All samples
• 2011: All samples
• 2010: ACS; ACS 3yr; ACS 5yr
• 2009: All samples
• 2008: All samples
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2004: All samples
• 2003: All samples
• 2002: All samples
• 2001: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --
• 1900: --
• 1880: --
• 1870: --
• 1860: --
• 1850: --

• 2023: All samples
• 2022: All samples
• 2021: All samples
• 2020: All samples
• 2019: All samples
• 2018: All samples
• 2017: All samples
• 2016: All samples
• 2015: All samples
• 2014: All samples
• 2013: All samples
• 2012: All samples
• 2011: All samples
• 2010: PRCS; PRCS 3yr; PRCS 5yr
• 2009: All samples
• 2008: All samples
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --

Flags

Editing Procedure

DEPARTS (Time of departure for work)
ACS Years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
ACS editing procedure:
DEPARTS is reported on a 24 hour clock, while the original question asks about the time the respondent left for work on a 12 hour clock with an AM/PM check box. The Census first takes the values reported and converting it to a 24 hour clock, where 11:59 pm is reported at 2359.
If the reported value results in a time on the 24 hour clock that is great than 2400, it will be edited by subtracting 2400 from the reported value. If the reported time is 0000, it will be replaced with 2400. If the value for hours outside the accepted range (0 to 24) or the value for minutes is outside the accepted range (0 to 59), the value for DEPARTS will be replaced with a missing value.
If a person is not a worker (EMPSTAT) or works from home (TRANWORK) but reports a value on DEPARTS, it will be replaced with a "Not in universe" value.
If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK), and reports a departure time between 0100 and 1259 but leaves the AM/PM box blank, it will be allocated. It will be allocated from another person with a valid response whose departure time is in the same hour as the reported value. When this happens, the flag (QDEPARTS) will indicate the value was allocated.
If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK) and has a blank, don't know, refused, or bad value for the time departed for work, DEPARTS will be allocated. If the AM/PM box was not checked, the allocated value will be from another person who is the same sex, reported the same transportation method, and has same value for living in a metropolitan area (METRO). If the AM/PM box was checked, the allocated value will be from someone who matches on the AM/PM box selection in addition to matching on sex, transportation method, and metropolitan status. When this happens, the flag (QDEPARTS) will indicate the value was allocated.
If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK) reports leaving for work at 12:00 AM, DEPARTS will be replaced with 2400. If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK) reports leaving for work between 12:01 AM and 12:59 AM, DEPARTS will be replaced with 0001 to 0059.
If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK) reports leaving for work between 13:00 and 23:59 but selects the AM box, the AM box will be replaced with PM. If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK) has a DEPARTS value between 2401 and 2459, it will be replaced with 0001 to 0059.
If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK) reports leaving for work between 0100 and 1159 and selects the PM box, DEPARTS will be increased by 1200 (values will end up between 1300 and 2359). If a person who is a worker (EMPSTAT) and did not work from home (TRANWORK) selects the PM box and has a DEPARTS value between 2401 and 2459, the PM will be replaced with AM and DEPARTS will take on values between 0001 and 0059.
Internal ACS variable : JWD