Understanding Society User Support

Many thanks for your enquiry. The Understanding Society team is looking into it and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We aim to respond to simple queries within 48 hours and more complex issues within 7 working days.

Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team

Hello,

Please see the note in the BHPS User Manual (https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/documentation/mainstage/user-guides/bhps-user-manual-volume-a.pdf), App2-15:

"wNJBSP

This measures the number of separate jobs (including self-employment spells) held in
the reference year (1.9.9LY - 31.8.9TY). Different jobs held with the same employer are
each counted.
Uses wJLYID wJBHAS wJBOFF wJBSTAT wCJSWK9 on Record wINDRESP. Uses
wJSPNO wJHSTAT wJHSPW on Record wJOBHIST. "

and page A1-1 for the explanation of the abbreviations used above:

"Derived variables sometimes use data taken from earlier, and in some case, later waves. This is indicated by:
w-1 = indicates the year prior to the wave under investigation:
w+1 = indicates the year following the wave under investigation
LY = indicates the 12 months prior to the start of fieldwork (e.g. 1 September 1990 - 31
August 1991 for Wave One)
TY = indicates the present period, beginning at the 1 September on which fieldwork begins
for a specific wave (e.g. 1 September 1991 for Wave One, 1 September 1992 for
Wave Two, etc.)"

I hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Piotr Marzec,
UKHLS User Support