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National Longitudinal Surveys
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National Longitudinal Surveys Home Page
The National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) are a set of surveys designed to gather information at multiple points in time on the labor market activities and other significant life events of several groups of men and women. NLS data have served as an important tool for economists, sociologists, and other researchers for more than 50 years. Learn about the different NLS cohorts. Please participate in a survey to help shape a new youth cohort.
Notices
- Introducing the NLSY26 Read More »
- NLSY97 data from 1997 through 2019 (Rounds 1-19) released. Read More »
Graphics
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: NLSY97: Cumulative number of jobs held from age 18 through age 34 in 1998-2019, by sex and age.
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: NLSY97: Percent of weeks employed from age 18 to age 34 in 1998-2019, by educational attainment, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: NLSY97: Percent of weeks not in the labor force from age 18 to age 34 in 1998-2019, by sex and age.
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: NLSY97: Marital status at age 24 and age 34 by educational attainment.
Click the graphic to enlarge chart: NLSY97: Percent of individuals whose health limited the kind or amount of work they performed by age and educational attainment.
Latest News Releases
Americans born in the early 1980s hold an average of 8.6 jobs from ages 18 through 34
03/29/2022
A longitudinal study of Americans born in the early 1980s reveals that individuals held an
average of 8.6 jobs from ages 18 through 34. Over half of these jobs were held between the
ages of 18 and 23. Individuals were employed for an average of 75 percent of weeks from ages
18 to 34.
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Persons born in the latter years of the baby boom average 12.4 jobs from ages 18 to 54
08/31/2021
Persons born in the latter years of the baby boom (1957-64) held an average of 12.4
jobs from ages 18 to 54. Nearly half of these jobs were held from ages 18 to 24.
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Publications
The Economics Daily
People born in early 1980s held an average of 8.6 jobs from ages 18 through 34
People born in 1980–84 held an average of 8.6 jobs from ages 18 through 34. Women held an average of 8.7 jobs, and men held an average of 8.5 jobs. read more »
Monthly Labor Review
A look at the new job-task information in the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth
Looking at workers born from 1957 to 1964 and 1980 to 1984, this article examines the attributes of U.S. jobs and how they vary across different demographics. read more »