The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) includes 8,984 respondents who were born in the years 1980 through 1984 and lived in the United States when the survey began in 1997. The primary objective of the survey is to study the transition from full-time schooling to the establishment of careers and families. The longitudinal focus of the survey requires information to be collected about 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 is to produce and disseminate timely, accurate, and relevant information about the U.S. labor force. 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 NLSY97 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
Name of Law: Design and Duties of the Bureau Generally
US Code:
29 USC 2
Name of Law: Collection, Collation and Reports of Labor Statistics
The expected burden for Round 22 is 372 hours lower than that recorded for Round 21. This small difference reflects; a) a slight reduction in the expected number of respondents, due to the small reduction in the sample attributed to deaths; and b) a slight reduction in the length of the questionnaire. As described in Attachment 5, NLS has offset the addition of questions about work location, health, and childhood experiences with deletions of questions about the value of a job, fertility, and internet access, as well as reductions in the number of direct questions about the Coronavirus pandemic.
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.
NLSY97_R22_OMB_Justification_Part_A_2025_05-30.docx
NLSY97 R22 OMB justification_Attachment 1_2025.docm
National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997