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National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79)

Discrimination

Discrimination-related questions have been included in the NLSY79 during select survey years, as outlined in Table 1. In 1979 and 1982, working-age respondents (age 16 and over) were asked whether they believed specific types of discrimination—such as race, nationality, sex, and age—had caused them difficulties in securing a good job.

From 1980 to 1985, respondents who had served or were serving in the military were asked whether race, sex, or rank discrimination influenced their decision to leave the military or avoid reenlisting. A small number of respondents reported these forms of discrimination as reasons for their decisions.

In 2018, questions focused on age discrimination in the workplace, including whether younger workers were favored for promotions and whether respondents felt pressured to retire early.

In 2022, questions addressed perceived discrimination in job-related events, such as being hired, promoted, or fired. Respondents were also asked if they had experienced poor medical care due to discrimination.

Table 1. Discrimination data in select survey years

Survey Years

 Variable Title Question Names
1979, 1982
  • PROBLEMS IN GETTING A GOOD JOB - RACE DISCRIMINATION?
  • PROBLEMS IN GETTING A GOOD JOB - NATIONALITY DISCRIMINATION?
  • PROBLEMS IN GETTING A GOOD JOB - SEX DISCRIMINATION?
  • PROBLEMS IN GETTING A GOOD JOB - AGE DISCRIMINATION?
 WOW-2, EXP11
1980-1985
  • REASON LEFT ARMED FORCES (LEFT SINCE LAST INT) - RACE DISCRIMINATION
  • REASON NO RE-ENLISTMENT WHEN CURRENT MILITARY TERM ENDS - RACE DISCRIMINATION
  • REASON LEFT ARMED FORCES XX INT - RANK DISCRIMINATION
 MIL-80, MIL-95, MIL-104
2018
  • AGEISM IN WORKPLACE - PROMOTION DECISIONS JOB
  • AGEISM IN WORKPLACE - PRESSURE FOR EARLY RETIREMENT JOB
 QES-HR
2022
  • DISCRIMINATION: NUMBER OF TIMES NOT HIRED FOR JOB
  • DISCRIMINATION: NUMBER OF TIMES NOT GIVEN JOB PROMOTION
  • DISCRIMINATION: NUMBER OF TIMES FIRED FROM JOB
  • DISCRIMINATION: NUMBER OF TIMES GIVEN POOR MEDICAL CARE
 PD-[]

Additional variables of related interest are:

  • 'Main reason another promotion is not possible at current/most recent job' (CPS-119), fielded in 1990, allowed respondents to choose discrimination as a possible reason.
  • A series of questions (CPS-50), fielded in 1980 and 1982, asked respondents about the demographic composition of coworkers.
  • In 1996 and 1998, respondents were asked the 'Number of male employees R supervises at job' (QES-RESPONS17). In 1996-2000, the "Training" section asked respondents if they received any equal opportunity or diversity sensitivity training (Q8-33B).
  • 'Reason R was not looking for work during time period?' (Q7-19), fielded in 2018-2022, allowed respondents to choose age discrimination or other types of discrimination as an answer.
Comparison to Other NLS Surveys Questions concerning work-related discrimination were fielded during various years for the Young and Mature Women and Young and Older Men. The NLSY79 Young Adult 2012-2018 datasets include a series of questions about being unfairly treated at work, in education, and in everyday situations. For more precise details about the content of each survey, consult the appropriate cohort's User's Guide using the tabs above for more information.
Survey Instruments & Documentation Discrimination questions are found in Section 6, "Knowledge of the World of Work" (1979), and Section 17, "On Aspirations and Expectations" (1982). Discrimination in the military is covered in the "Military" sections of the 1980 (Section 6), 1981 (Section 5), and 1982-85 (Section 4) questionnaires. The Employer Supplements for 1990 contain the promotion discrimination questions, while Section 7 of the 1980 questionnaire includes coworkers' characteristics. The 1996 variables are found in Section 8 and the Employer Supplements. The 2000 variables are found in Section 8.
Areas of Interest The 1979 and 1982 employment-related variables can be found within the "Attitudes" areas of interest, the military-related discrimination variables can be found in "Military", the 2018 workplace ageism variables can be found in Time & Tenure w/Employer," and the 2022 perceived discrimination variables are located in "Perceived Discrimination.".