Hi, can anyone tell me is there any changes in IMPUS-USA database since 2011. I access and select the “metarea” “pwmetro” items to estimate the MSA level size of workforce using “perwt”, through the time period 2005 to 2011. However, the result is different from previous paper. I am wondering if any changes in person weights, or increasing in the size of survey sample could explain this difference.
In general, you can check the Revisions Page on IPUMS USA to check for any updates that may have impacted your data over the years. In particular relation to METAREA and PWMETRO, however, it doesn’t look like any substantial updates have occurred since 2011. Do you have any more information or detail that you can send about the figures you are replicating (e.g. a link to a paper, etc.)? In particular a couple details may be important: First, what sample is being used? (e.g. the 1-year, 3-year, or 5-year samples). Second, there are several different methods for calculating the workforce size (e.g. see LABFORCE).