OMB appreciates
the progress BLS has made to date on a systematic review and
evaluation of the Main NLSY79 and NLSY79 YAS surveys. OMB approves
this round of collection consistent with BLS’s commitment to
continuing this systematic evaluation of the burden and utility of
the existing and new survey questions and continuing to improving
the documentation of its data access policies and procedures for
these surveys. (See NLSY79_Supplemental Terms of Clearance (August
28, 2020).docx document for additional information.)
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2023
36 Months From Approved
09/30/2020
11,405
0
12,070
14,357
0
15,515
0
0
0
The National Longitudinal Survey of
Youth 1979 (NLSY79) is a representative national sample of persons
who were born in the years 1957 to 1964 and lived in the U.S. in
1979. These respondents were ages 14 to 22 when the first round of
interviews began in 1979; they will be ages 55 to 62 when the
planned round twenty-nine of interviews is conducted in 2019 and
2020. In addition to the main NLSY79, the biological children of
female NLSY79 respondents have been surveyed since 1986. A battery
of child cognitive, socio-emotional, and physiological assessments
has been administered biennially since 1986 to NLSY79 mothers and
their children. Starting in 1994, children who had reached age 15
by December 31 of the survey year (the Young Adults) were
interviewed about their work experiences, training, schooling,
health, fertility, self-esteem, and other topics. The longitudinal
focus of the NLSY79 and associated Child and Young Adult surveys
requires information to be collected from the same individuals over
many years in order to trace their education, training, work
experience, fertility, income, and program participation. One of
the goals of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to produce and
disseminate timely, accurate, and relevant information about the
U.S. labor force. The BLS contributes to this goal by gathering
information about the labor force and labor market and
disseminating it to policymakers and the public so that
participants in those markets can make more informed, and thus more
efficient, choices. Research based on the NLSY79 contributes to the
formation of national policy in the areas of education, training,
employment programs, and school-to-work transitions.
US Code:
29
USC 1&2 Name of Law: BLS Authorizing Statute
The decrease in burden is a
result of several changes to the questionnaire to decrease the
interview length which offset the new questions that ask about the
effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the employment, health, and
retirement expectations of this cohort that were added. In
addition, it is expected a smaller number of interviews for Round
29 compared to Round 28. We are anticipating 250 fewer interviews
for the Main Youth in Round 29.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
NLSY79_Supplemental Terms of Clearance (August 28, 2020).docx
YA2018_justification_compiled.xlsx
National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979