Description

PWSPUMA identifies the location of the respondent's primary workplace, in terms of the Super-PUMA (see PUMASUPR), a Census Bureau-defined area of contiguous territory containing 400,000+ residents within a state. Codes for Super-PUMAs are state-dependent, so PWSPUMA can only be interpreted in combination with PWSTATE2.

Super-PUMAs defined for place of work (PWSPUMA) differ slightly from Super-PUMAs defined for place of current residence (PUMASUPR). In most cases, the two are identical. For a few cases, however, multiple Super-PUMAs of residence are combined to form larger Super-PUMAs of work. See Codes and Frequencies for the relationship between PWSPUMA codes and PUMASUPR codes.

Note about 2012 ACS samples: The Census Bureau redraws PUMA boundaries every 10 years based on population information gathered from the most recent decennial census. The 2012 ACS files are the first to use the new PUMA codes and boundaries based on the 2010 Decennial Census. The Census Bureau did not define Super PUMAs based on the 2010 Decennial Census.

PWSPUMA is a 3-digit numeric variable which identifies the location of the respondent's primary workplace, in terms of the Super-PUMA (see PUMASUPR), a Census Bureau-defined area of contiguous territory containing 400,000+ residents within a state. Codes for Super-PUMAs are state-dependent, so PWSPUMA can only be interpreted in combination with PWSTATE2. PWSPUMA 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 if applicable by Census year (and data sample if specified).

User Note: Super-PUMAs defined for place of work (PWSPUMA) differ slightly from Super-PUMAs defined for place of current residence (PUMASUPR). In most cases, the two are identical. For a few cases, however, multiple Super-PUMAs of residence are combined to form larger Super-PUMAs of work. See Codes and Frequencies for the relationship between PWSPUMA codes and PUMASUPR codes.

PWSPUMA Specific Variable Codes
000 = N/A or not identifiable
001 = Did not work in the United States or in Puerto Rico

See links for details regarding Super-PUMA codes:
Relationship between Super-PUMAs of Place of Work (PWSPUMA) and Super-PUMAs
2000-onward PUMA and Super-PUMA Maps, Boundary files and Detailed Composition

Comparability

This variable is the same in the 1 percent and 5 percent samples of census 2000. For the 1 percent sample, Super-PUMAs are the smallest geographic unit available. In the 5 percent sample of census 2000, PUMAs - contiguous territory of 100,000+ inhabitants - are the smallest geographic unit available. Multiple PUMAs are aggregated to form the Super-PUMAs in the 5 percent sample.

Place of work is reported in terms of the PUMA where the workplace was located, in PWPUMA for 1990 and in PWPUMA00 for the 5 percent sample of census 2000. For 1980, PWCNTYGP provides similar information on the location of the workplace, using county groups (counties, cities, or other census-designated places with 100,000+ residents) as the basic geographic unit.

In the 2005-onward ACS and PRCS, PWSPUMA was constructed using PWSTATE2 and PWPUMA00.

Universe

Availability

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: --
• 2018: --
• 2017: --
• 2016: --
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 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: --
• 2003: --
• 2002: --
• 2001: --
• 2000: 5%; 1% old; 1% unwt; 1%
• 1990: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --
• 1900: --
• 1880: --
• 1870: --
• 1860: --
• 1850: --

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: --
• 2018: --
• 2017: --
• 2016: --
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 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: --
• 1980: --
• 1970: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --

Flags

Editing Procedure

There is no editing procedure available for this variable.