Asterisk Table | National Longitudinal Survey of Youth | 1997

NLSY97

NLSY79

This page presents a table summarizing selected variables from the NLSY97 surveys (use the drop-down menu to select topics of interest). The table lists individual items or groups of related items, with year columns indicating the survey years in which the item(s) are available. Both survey questions and created variables are included. "R" used in variable descriptions stands for "respondent." Users are encouraged to consult the questionnaires for exact question wording in each survey round.

Table codes: For round 1, a letter code indicates which questionnaire included a given item/set of items; Y=Youth Questionnaire, P=Parent Questionnaire, S=Screener, Household Roster, and Nonresident Roster Questionnaire. An asterisk in subsequent rounds indicates the variable was present in the youth questionnaire. A number with the symbol ≥ or = in front of it (such as ≥15) indicates the question was asked in the youth questionnaire to an age-restricted subsample. In rounds 2-5, U=Household Income Update.

I. Employment, Unemployment, and Job Search (age restrictions as of interview date)

A. Current Population Survey (CPS): Week before survey

Variable	R1	R4	R10
Labor force and employment status	Y≥15	≥15	*
Worked for profit or pay; worked at unpaid position in family business or farm	Y≥15	≥15	*
Hours per week worked or usually worked or usually worked at main job	Y≥15	≥15	*
Hours per week worked at main job last week	Y≥15	≥15	*
Number of overtime hours	Y≥15	≥15	*
Reason worked part time	Y≥15	≥15	*
Reason absent from work	Y≥15	≥15	*
Actual weeks or expected duration of layoff	Y≥15	≥15	*
Disability prevents Y from working or accepting work	Y≥15	≥15	*
Length of time spent looking for work	Y≥15	≥15	*
Search methods used in last 4 weeks	Y≥15	≥15	*
Is Y searching for part-time or full-time job	Y≥15	≥15	*

B. Characteristics of employee jobs (starting in round 4, also self-employed jobs of youths age 18 at end of prior calendar year)

Variable	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16
1. Jobs of any length
Who helped Y find job	Y≥14
Job start and stop dates	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Industry and occupation at start date	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Rate of pay at start date	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Usual hours per week worked	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Overtime rate of pay at start date	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Weeks Y had worked as of job's stop date	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Class of worker	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Y covered by collective bargaining (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Reason for gap during employment	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Did Y look for work during gap	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Age, race, and sex of immediate supervisor (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Shift worked (all jobs R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Size of employer (# employees/locations/people worked for Y) (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Benefits available at employer (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Reason for leaving job or reason selfemployment job ended	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
General job satisfaction (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Volunteer work: frequency and reason									*		*			*	*	*
2. Jobs lasting more than 13 weeks
Y covered by collective bargaining (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Age, race, and sex of immediate supervisor (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Shift worked (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Size of employer (# employees/locations/people worked for Y) (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Benefits available at employer (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
General job satisfaction (all jobs in R 1)	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	≥16	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

C. Characteristics of freelance jobs (any length)¹

Variable	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14
Type and duration of freelance job(s)	Y	*	*	*	*
Who helped Y find job	Y
Usual hours worked per week	Y	*	*	*	*
Number of weekdays, weekends worked	Y	*	*	*	*
Number of days per week usually worked	Y	*	*	*	*
Hours per day worked on weekdays, weekends	Y	*	*	*	*
Usual weekly earnings	Y	*	*	*	*
Number of weeks worked at job	Y	*	*	*	*
1. Self-employment jobs for youths earning $200 or more per week
Industry and occupation	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	²	²	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Number of people who worked for Y	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	²	²	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Reason job ended	Y≥16	≥16	≥16	²	²	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
¹ In rounds 1 and 2, the survey collected characteristics of freelance jobs for youths ages 14 or older (as of the interview date) and characteristics of all jobs for youths ages 12 and 13. The round 3 survey gathered characteristics of freelance jobs for all youths. Round 4 included freelance jobs for youths born in 1983 or 1984. Round 5 included freelance jobs only for youths born in 1984.
² Youths age 16 or older at the interview date but younger than 18 at the end of the previous calendar year answer these questions. Older youths report information on self-employment jobs in the regular employee jobs section. Starting in round 6, all self-employed jobs were collected inside the regular employment section, regardless of the amount earned or the age of the respondent.

D. Military (Youths age 16 and older who report an ongoing job)

Variable	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16
Branch of Armed Forces	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Current or most recent military occupation	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Current pay grade or pay grade when entered		*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Military veterans series of questions: combat/war zone duty, grade/rank and MOS when discharged, reserve experience, service medals, service connected disabilities, participation in transition back to civilian life program, use of state workforce office for job searches.												*	*	*

E. Periods not working at an employee job

Variable	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16
Start and stop date of period not working	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Number of weeks on layoff	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Number of weeks unemployed	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Number of weeks out of labor force	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Number of weeks actively looking for work	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Methods of job search used	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Main reason did not look for work	Y≥14	≥14	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Details of injuries/illnesses related to Worker's Comp													*	*	*

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Asterisk Table | National Longitudinal Survey of Youth | 1997

I. Employment, Unemployment, and Job Search (age restrictions as of interview date)

A. Current Population Survey (CPS): Week before survey

B. Characteristics of employee jobs (starting in round 4, also self-employed jobs of youths age 18 at end of prior calendar year)

C. Characteristics of freelance jobs (any length)¹

D. Military (Youths age 16 and older who report an ongoing job)

E. Periods not working at an employee job

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Asterisk Table | National Longitudinal Survey of Youth | 1997

I. Employment, Unemployment, and Job Search (age restrictions as of interview date)

A. Current Population Survey (CPS): Week before survey

B. Characteristics of employee jobs (starting in round 4, also self-employed jobs of youths age 18 at end of prior calendar year)

C. Characteristics of freelance jobs (any length)1

D. Military (Youths age 16 and older who report an ongoing job)

E. Periods not working at an employee job

Main menu

Cohorts

Helpful Links

C. Characteristics of freelance jobs (any length)¹