National Longitudinal Surveys

The National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) are a set of surveys sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor. These surveys have gathered information at multiple points in time on the labor market experiences and other significant life events of several groups of men and women. Each of the NLS samples consists of several thousand individuals, many of whom have been surveyed over several decades. The National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) are a set of surveys sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor. These surveys have gathered information at multiple points in time on the labor market experiences and other significant life events of several groups of men and women. Each of the NLS samples consists of several thousand individuals, many of whom have been surveyed over several decades. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) began in 1997 with 8,984 men and women born in 1980-84 (ages 12–17 in 1997). Sample members were interviewed annually from 1997 to 2011 and biennially thereafter. The 2015 interview was conducted with 7,103 men and women ages 30–36. Data are available from Round 1 (1997–98) to Round 17 (2015–16). The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) began in 1979 with 12,686 men and women born in 1957-64 (ages 14–22 in 1979). Sample members were interviewed annually from 1979-1994 and biennially thereafter. Oversamples of military and economically disadvantaged, nonblack/non-Hispanic respondents were dropped in 1985 and 1991, leaving a sample size of 9,964. The 2014 interview (Round 26) was conducted with 7,071 men and women ages 49–58. The NLSY79 Children and Young Adults (NLSCYA) began in 1986 with children born to female NLSY79 respondents. Biennial data collection consists of interviews with the mothers and interviews with the children themselves; from 1994 onward, children turning age 15 and older during the survey year have been administered a Young Adult questionnaire that is similar to the NLSY79 questionnaire. In 2014, 276 children (ages 0–14) and 5,735 young adults (ages 15–42) were interviewed. To date, about 10,500 children have been interviewed in at least one survey round. The National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Women and Mature Women (NLSW) comprised two separate surveys. The Young Women's survey began in 1968 with 5,159 women born in 1943-53 (ages 14–24 in 1968). Sample members were interviewed 22 times from 1968 to 2003. The final interview in 2003 was conducted with 2,857 women ages 49–59. The Mature Women's survey began in 1967 with 5,083 women born in 1922-37 (ages 30–44 in 1967). Sample members were interviewed 21 times from 1967 to 2003. The final interview in 2003 was conducted with 2,237 women ages 66–80. The National Longitudinal Surveys of Young Men and Older Men (NLSM) comprised two separate surveys. The Young Men's survey began in 1966 with 5,225 men born in 1941-51 (ages 14–24 in 1966). Sample members were interviewed 12 times from 1966 to 1981. The Older Men's survey began in 1966 with 5,020 men born in 1906-21 (ages 45–59 in 1966). Sample members were interviewed 12 times from 1966 to 1983. A final interview in 1990 was conducted with 2,092 respondents who were 69–83 years old, and 2,206 family members of deceased respondents. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97), the newest survey in the NLS program, is a sample of 8,984 young men and women born during the years 1980 through 1984 and living in the United States when first interviewed. Survey respondents were ages 12 to 17 when first interviewed in 1997. The U.S. Department of Labor selected the NLSY97 cohort to enable research on youths’ transition from school to the labor market and into adulthood. Data from the first 17 rounds of data collection are available to researchers. Round 17 consisted of 7,103 respondents, age 30- 36, and was completed in 2015-2016 with data made available in fall of 2017. In addition, survey staff conducted special high school and college transcript data collections to supplement the data on schooling provided by respondents. Many NLSY97 respondents also participated in a special administration of the computer-adaptive form of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, and scores from that test are available for approximately 80 percent of sample members. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) is a sample of 12,686 men and women born during the years 1957 through 1964 and living in the United States when the survey began. Survey respondents were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. The U.S. Department of Labor selected the NLSY79 cohort to replicate the NLS of Young Women and the NLS of Young Men, which began in the 1960s. The NLSY79 also was designed to help researchers and policymakers evaluate the expanded employment and training programs for youths legislated by the 1977 amendments to the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA). Data are available for this cohort through 2014 when the 7,071 men and women in the sample were ages 49 to 58. Data from the 2016-2017 survey will be released in late 2018/early 2019. To supplement the main data collection, survey staff conducted special high school and transcript surveys. NLSY79 respondents also participated in a special administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The NLSY79 Children and Young Adults (NLSCYA) Funded by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the NLSY79 Child and Young Adult surveys contain comprehensive information on the experiences of children born to female NLSY79 respondents. The collection of data on these NLSY79 children began in 1986, and a battery of cognitive, socioemotional, and physiological assessments has been administered biennially since that year. Their mothers also provide reports on their children’s health, temperament, motor and social development, behavior problems, school activities, and home environments. Beginning in 1988, children age 10 and older have answered a self-administered set of questions about family, friends, jobs, school, after-school activities, computer use, religious attendance, smoking, alcohol and drug use, and more. Starting in 1994, children who have reached age 15 by December 31 of the survey year complete a questionnaire that is similar to the main NLSY79 survey and asks about work experiences, training, schooling, health, fertility, parenting and attitudes. The Young Adult questionnaire, conducted primarily by telephone, replaced the child assessments for young adults 15 years or older. Young adults also report on sensitive topics such as parent child conflict, participation in delinquent or criminal activities, use of controlled and uncontrolled substances, sexual activity, volunteer activities, and expectations for the future. The data collected about the children can be linked with information collected from their mothers in the main NLSY79 survey. The NLSY79 Child and Young Adult surveys are a valuable resource for studying how individual and family characteristics and experiences affect the well-being and development of children, adolescents, and young adults.