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National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79)
NLSY97
NLSY79
NLSCYA
NLSW
NLSM

Asterisk Tables

The selected variables for the NLSY79 asterisk tables are grouped into three main categories: labor market experience variables, human capital and other socioeconomic variables, and environmental variables. Choose a category to view tables summarizing related variables. The tables list individual items or groups of related items with asterisks in the year columns indicating the survey years in which the variable(s) are available. Both survey questions and created variables are included. "R" used in variable descriptions stands for "respondent."

Consult the NLSY79 Questionnaires in the Other Documentation section for exact question wording in each survey round.

  1. Labor Market Experience Variables
  2. Human Capital and Other Socioeconomic Variables
  3. Environmental Variables

Labor Market Experience Variables

Important information: Viewing asterisk tables

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Beginning in 1994, characteristics of the current or most recent job were collected in the first Employer Supplement loop, rather than in the CPS section. To maintain consistency, these questions are still included in this section.

Table 1. NLSY79: Current labor force, employment status, and characteristics of current or most recent job variables by year

Variable

 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Survey week labor force and employment status * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *       *                
Occupation (DOT code) *                                                          
Hours worked in survey week * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *       *                
Hours per week usually worked * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Shift worked * * * * * * *     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Promotion (varies with year)           *       * * *         * * * * * * * * * * *      
Commuting time to current job * * *             *         * *                            
Availability of benefits (beginning in 1994 for multiple jobs) * *   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Global job satisfaction item * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Job satisfaction scale * * * *           *                                        
Job characteristics inventory *     *                                                    
Size of employer * *           * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Minority status of coworkers (1980, 1982), supervisor   *   *                                                    
Time R expects to stay at job * * * *                                                    
Participation in work-study program * * * * * * * *                                            

Work experience since Jan. 1, 1978, or previous survey, or in past calendar year.

Table 2. NLSY79: Work experience variables by year

Variable

 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Weeks worked * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hours usually worked per week * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Number of weeks, spells of unemployment * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Weeks out of labor force * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Characteristics of jobs since Jan. 1, 1978, or last survey, including current or most recent job of more than 10 to 20 hours per week and more than 9 weeks in duration if not a CPS job.

Beginning in 2002, the questionnaire includes separate sets of questions for self-employed respondents and respondents with nontraditional employment arrangements. The information collected is very similar to the regular employment questions, but wordings may vary to accommodate different situations. The three types of employer questions are not represented separately in the table.

Table 3. NLSY79: Characteristics of previous jobs variables by year

Variable

 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Occupation and industry (Census code) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Class of worker * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Start date and stop date * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hours usually worked at home                   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Shift worked                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rate of pay, hourly rate of pay * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Covered by collective bargaining * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                              
Is R union member *                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Reason for leaving job * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Severance pay received                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Availability of benefits (CPS job) (all jobs since 1994)             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Characteristics of employer's pension plan                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Is employer exempt from Social Security; does another plan replace it                                       * * * * * * * * * * *
Global job satisfaction item                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Characteristics of job tasks                                                     * *   *
Job stress                                                       * * *
Promotion and promotion potential with employer           *       * * *         * * * * * * * * * * *      
Size of employer                                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sex of supervisor and coworkers   *   *                         * *                        
Is R a temporary or contractual worker                               * * *         * * * * * * * *
Effects of COVID-19 on job                                                         * *

Table 4. NLSY79: Job search variables by year

Variable

 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Job search activities and (some years) intentions * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *     *                
R looking for work or employed when found current or most recent job       *                       * * * *                      
Methods of job search       *   * * * * * * * * * * * * * *     *                
Job offers rejected (while looking for each job)       *       * * *           * * * *                      
Desired characteristics of job sought       *   * * *