2026 Note to Reviewer - Reserve Sample

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June 16, 2026

Memorandum for:	Reviewer of 1220-0202
						
From:			Keenan Dworak-Fisher, Chief
			Division of National Longitudinal Surveys
			
Subject:	Non-substantive Change Request – Pretest Reserve Sample


The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) 2027 Pre-Test was approved for collection on March 6, 2026.  The Pretest began April 6, 2026, and is on-going. The rate at which survey efforts have yielded completed youth questionnaires has been lower than projected, primarily because take-up of the short survey used to screen for eligible households has been significantly lower than expected.  

BLS requests clearance to release a reserve sample of addresses to supplement the initial sample of the addresses released at the start of the Pretest to ensure that the target of 800 completed youth interviews is met. The initial sample contained 13,381 addresses at planning. After incorporating drop points which yield multiple units per address, the initial sample comprised 13,439 address units. The reserve sample adds 2,819 new address units, drawn in equal size from 54 SSUs (approximately 52 per SSU, with small deviations) from the same 9 areas from which the initial sample was drawn. Together with the initial sample, this would bring the total released for the NLSY27 Pretest to 16,258 address units.

The revised version of Exhibit 1 from the Part B Justification document shown below provides a revised projection of how the expanded sample will result in 800 completed youth interviews and 518 completed parent/caregiver interviews.  The most significant change is an adjustment of the assumed completion rate for the eligibility screener from 50% to 42%.  Based on the experiences of the Pretest to date, we have also revised the estimated number of households with age-eligible youth from 20% to 18% and adjusted the rate at which eligible youth will be selected for interview from 73.5% to 80%.

Exhibit 1.	NLSY27 Pretest Sample Sizes and Assumed Rates 

Original Projections

Revised Projections

Count
Rate, %

Count
Rate, %
Housing Unit (HU) sample 
13,381
 

         16,258 

Occupied HUs 
12,177
91

         14,795 
91.0%
Screened HUs 
6,088
50

           6,214 
42.0%
Households with age-eligible youth 
1,218
20

           1,118 
18.0%
Households selected for interview 
895
73.5

              895 
80.0%
Average eligible youth per household 
1.39
 

1.39

Eligible youth 
1,244
 

           1,244 
139.0%
Household screening and consent 
931
74.9

              932 
74.9%
Youth interviews 
800
85.9

              800 
85.9%
Eligible parents or caregivers 
576
71.9

              576 
71.9%
Parent/caregiver interviews 
518
90

              518 
90.0%

On net, these changes result in a modest reduction in the estimated respondent burden, from $37,778 to $37,678.  The revised Table 4 from the Part A justification provides the details below.


Table 4. Estimated Annualized Respondent Cost and Hour Burden
Activity
Number of Respondents
Number of Responses 
per Respondent
Total Responses
Average Burden (Hours)
Total Burden (Hours)
Hourly
Wage Rate
Total Burden Cost
Eligibility Screener
6,214
1
6,214
0.083
516
$20.04
$10,341
Household Screener
1,118
1
1,118
0.166
186
$20.04
$3,727
Youth Interview

800
1
800
1.5
 1,200

$7.25
$8,700
Parent/Caregiver Survey
518
1.39
720
1.0
720
$20.04
$14,429
Verification Calls
292
1
292
0.083
24
$20.04
$481
Total
6,214*

9,144

2,646

$37,678

* Household Screener, Youth Interview, Parent/Caregiver Survey, Verification Calls are a subset of those screened for eligibility.


Current OMB approval is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2029.  There is estimated to be a slight decrease in burden from this request from 2,651 burden hours to 2,646 burden hours due to the revised estimated number of households with age-eligible youth from 20% to 18% and adjusted the rate at which eligible youth will be selected for interview from 73.5% to 80%.

If you have any questions about this request, please contact Keenan Dworak-Fisher by e-mail at [email protected].