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National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97)
NLSY97
NLSY79
NLSCYA
NLSW
NLSM
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Asterisk Tables

The selected variables for the NLSY97 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." "Y" used in variable descriptions stands for "youth."

Table codes: The most common table code is an asterisk. This means that the variable was included in the questionnaire in the associated round. 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. A number with the symbol ≥ or = in front of it (such as ≥15) indicates the question was asked in the questionnaire to an age-restricted subsample. In rounds 2-5, U=Household Income Update.

Consult the NLSY97 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

Note: Age restrictions as of interview date.

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Variable

 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
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           *                    

Starting in round 4, self-employed jobs of youths age 18 at the end of the prior calendar year are included.

Table B1. Jobs of any length

Variable

 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
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 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Max/min hours per week worked                             * * * * * *
Amount of notice for days/hours scheduled                             * * * * * *
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 R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Reason for gap during employment Y≥14 ≥14 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Note B1.1
Did Y look for work during gap Y≥14 ≥14 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Age, race, and sex of immediate supervisor (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * *                
Shift worked (all jobs R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Size of employer (# employees/locations/people worked for Y) (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Benefits available at employer (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Reason for leaving job or reason self-employment job ended Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General job satisfaction (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Volunteer work: frequency and reason                 *   *       * *        
Hypothetical required severance to quit job                                       *
Working from home                                       *
COVID-19 impacts on job                                       *
When applying for a job, nature of employer inquiries about criminal history                                       *

Note B1.1: Also includes follow-up question specific to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Table B2. "Jobs lasting more than 13 weeks" up until 2013; starting in 2013, it was "jobs lasting 26 weeks or more"

Variable

 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
Y covered by collective bargaining (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Age, race, and sex of immediate supervisor (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * *                
Shift worked (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Size of employer (# employees/locations/people worked for Y) (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Benefits available at employer (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General job satisfaction (all jobs in R1) Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 ≥16 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Job tasks                                   * * *
Non-compete agreements                                   * * *

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.

Variable

 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
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 * * * *                              
Self-employment jobs for youths earning $200 or more per week

Industry and occupation

 Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 Note C.1 Note C.1                              

Number of people who worked for Y

 Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 Note C.1 Note C.1                              

Reason job ended

 Y≥16 ≥16 ≥16 Note C.1 Note C.1                              

Note C.1: 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.

Youths age 16 and older who report an ongoing job.

Variable

 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
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.                         * * *          

Variable

 R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20
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 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Note E.1
Details of injuries/illnesses related to Worker's Comp                         * * *          
Applied for/received unemployment since 3/1/20                                       *

Note E.1: Also includes follow-up question specific to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.