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Office of Survey Methods Research
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Household and establishment survey response rates
Notice
- BLS data collection was affected to differing degrees by the pandemic. Some surveys had to collect data in new ways because in-person visits were suspended and telephone collection centers were temporarily closed. Some survey respondents' availability, ability, or willingness to provide data was disrupted. For more details on data collection changes, please see our COVID-19 webpage.
On This Page:
Introduction
This page presents information on BLS establishment and household survey response rates—the percentage of the sample that responds to or participates in a survey. Response rates are usually calculated as:
Response Rate = (# units responding) / ((# units eligible)+ (# of units with eligibility undetermined))
Different surveys have different definitions of what is and isn’t eligible. Refer to survey response rate calculations for more detail.
Historically, survey response rates have been used as a measure of how representative a survey is of the sampled population.1 Response rates of surveys don't relate well to nonresponse bias, but the pattern of the response rates may give insights into survey processes. There are many reasons why response rates differ between surveys: the amount of time available to collect data, the mode of data collection, and constraints on who can respond. Changes in patterns that are similar between surveys might indicate a common cause, while rate changes unique to a survey might point to a change in methods.
This report groups similar surveys to allow for comparisons. For example, response rates from surveys collected from business establishments are shown together while those collected from households are shown together. Date ranges will vary from chart to chart depending on the most recent time period for which data are available.
Nonresponse bias links show examples of nonresponse bias studies (where available). Additional nonresponse bias studies may be found on the survey’s webpage, linked in the first column of each table.
Response rates on this webpage are updated quarterly.
Note
1Groves, R.M. & Peytcheva, E. (2008). "The impact of nonresponserates on nonresponse bias: a meta-analysis." Public Opinion Quarterly, 72(2), 167–189.
Chart 1. Household surveys
Notes
Telephone Point of Purchase Survey (TPOPS)
The drop in TPOPS response rates in 2012 is the result of the conversion from a landline only sample frame to a dual framesample design containing both landlines and cell phones. Additionally, TPOPS was discontinued in late 2019.
Consumer Price Index-Housing (CPI-Housing)
In March 2021 the CPI-Housing rate shown in Chart 1 was converted from a collection rate to an estimation rate, for consistency purposes with other surveys.
| Survey | Sample size | Mandatory/ Voluntary |
Frequency | Collection methods | Collection period |
Approximate survey length | Nonresponse bias research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,060 households | Voluntary | Monthly | Phone | 8 weeks | 18 min | ||
| 2,500 households | Voluntary | Monthly | Diary | 2 months | 2 weeks | Info | |
| 3,700 households | Voluntary | Monthly | Personal visit, Phone | 1 month | 65 min | Info | |
| 7,800 housing units | Voluntary | Monthly | Personal visit, Phone | 1 month | 5 min | Info | |
| 60,000 households | Voluntary | Monthly | Personal visit, Phone | 10 days | 10 min (varies by month) | Info | |
| 33,000 households | Voluntary | Quarterly | RDD(Random Digital Dialing), Phone | 7 weeks | 13 min | Info | |
Chart 2. Establishment surveys: overall unit response rates
Notes
Annual Refiling Survey (ARS)
In order to achieve the necessary savings for the funding level allocated to BLS in the Consolidated Appropriations Act,2014, the BLS reduced the scope and frequency of collection for select units in the ARS. For more information, refer to 2014 Budget Enacted for Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Consumer Price Index Commodities & Services (CPI C&S) and Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
The drop in CPI C&S and JOLTS response rates in October 2013 was due to the Federal Government Shutdown.
Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS)
The ORS is a five-year cumulative design. Each year a sample of 10,000 establishments is added to the prior sample group(s) until the total sample reaches 50,000. After five years the sample design starts new with 10,000 added annually. During interim years (year one through four) preliminary estimates are published and available for one year. Once the next year is published, the prior year is removed from the website. Once year five is published, those estimates are deemed final and remain on the BLS public website.
Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS)
The first of five samples in the 2nd wave (2019) was collected between September 2018 and July 2019. Most of the data were collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and response efforts. Personal visits were suspended between March 2019 and December 2021 which impacted the number of responding establishments in the second and third samples. The establishment response rates decreased from 70.2 percent observed in the 2019 release to 62.1 percent in 2021. To mitigate the impact of pandemic non-response on survey estimates, BLS expanded the sample size from approximately 10,000 establishments to 15,000 for the last two samples in the second wave. While the number of sample establishments increased, the BLS expects similar establishment response rates in the last two samples as those observed in 2020 and 2021. It also expects the number of collected occupational observations to be comparable to the number collected as part of the 2019 release. Additionally, the collection approach was enhanced to prioritize cooperating establishments and minimizing collection efforts to establishments with lack of engagement, refusing cooperation, or providing incomplete data.
| Survey | Sample size | Mandatory/ Voluntary |
Frequency | Collection methods | Collection period |
Nonresponse bias research |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200,000 establishments | Mandatory in 26 states | Annual | Mail, Web | 12 months | Info | |
| 138,000 price quotes | Voluntary | Monthly | Personal visit, Web, Phone | 20-22 business days | NA | |
| 651,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | CATI (ComputerAssisted Telephone Interviewing), EDI (ElectronicData Interchange), Web, Fax, TDE (TouchtoneData Entry), Other | About 2 months | Info | |
| 11,500 establishments | Voluntary | Quarterly | Personal visit, Web, Fax, Phone, Mail, E-mail | 45 days | NA | |
| 5,400 price quotes | Voluntary | Annual | Personal visit, Web | 1 year | Info | |
| 9,175 price quotes | Voluntary | Annual | Personal visit, Web | 1 year | Info | |
| 21,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | CATI,Web, E-mail, Fax | About 45 days | Info | |
| 1,200,000 establishments | Voluntary in most states | Annual | Mail, Fax, Phone, Web, E-mail | About 6 months | NA | |
| 10,000-50,000 establishments | Voluntary | Annual | Personal visit, Web, Fax, Phone, Mail, Email, Video | 1 year | NA | |
| 230,000 establishments | Mandatory | Annual | Mail, Fax, Phone, Web, E-mail | 7 months | Info | |
Chart 3. Establishment surveys: initiation
Notes
Consumer Price Index — Commodities & Services (CPI C&S)
The CPI rate is an unweighted average over the most recent eight semi-annual initiation (collection) periods, whereas the other surveys' rates are calculated based on the most recent initiation (collection) period.
Employment Cost Index (ECI)
The higher than usual ECI initiation rates for September 2015, December 2015, March 2016, and June 2016, are due to higher response rates for the initiation of the state and local government sample, which occurs approximately every 10 years.
International Price Program – Exports (IPP-Exports) and International Price Program – Imports (IPP-Imports)
The IPP fields one import and one export sample each year. Each sample takes approximately 12-15 months to initiate. Themonth listed in the chart and initiation rate table is the end date for a particular initiation period of a sample.
| Survey | Number of initiations attempted annually |
Mandatory/ Voluntary |
Collection methods | Collection period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,500 establishments | Voluntary | Personal visit, Web | February-July and August-January | |
| 70,000 establishments | Voluntary | CATI | 3 months | |
| 3,300 establishments | Voluntary | Personal visit, Web, Fax, Phone, Mail, E-mail | 45 days | |
| 950 establishments | Voluntary | Personal visit | 1 year | |
| 1,500 establishments | Voluntary | Personal visit | 1 year | |
| 7,200 establishments | Voluntary | CATI | 3 months | |
| 10,000 establishments | Voluntary | Personal visit, Web, Fax, Phone, Mail, Email, Video | 1 year | |
| 4,500 establishments | Voluntary | Personal visit | 24-30 months | |
Chart 4. Establishment surveys: repricing/collection at first preliminary release
Notes
General
These rates only include data received prior to the deadline for the first preliminary release for surveys that have multiple releases prior to the final release. Final release response rates for these surveys and for surveys that have only a single releasecan be found on chart 2.
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
The drop in JOLTS response rates in October 2013 was due to the Federal Government Shutdown.
| Survey | Sample size | Mandatory/ Voluntary |
Frequency | Collection methods | Collection period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 651,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | CATI,EDI, Web, Fax, TDE, Other | 10-16 business days | |
| 8,650 items | Voluntary | Monthly | Web | About 20 days | |
| 13,400 items | Voluntary | Monthly | Web | About 20 days | |
| 16,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | CATI,Web, E-mail, Fax | 11-17 business days | |
| 25,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | Web | 14-15 business days | |
Chart 5. Establishment surveys: repricing/collection at final release
| Survey | Sample size | Mandatory/ Voluntary |
Frequency | Collection methods | Collection period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 138,000 price quotes | Voluntary | Monthly | Personal visit, Web, Phone | 20-22 business days | |
| 651,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | CATI,EDI, TDE, Web, Fax, Other | About 2 months | |
| 11,500 establishments | Voluntary | Quarterly | Web, Fax, Phone, Mail, E-mail | 45 days | |
| 8,650 items | Voluntary | Monthly | Web | 4 months | |
| 13,400 items | Voluntary | Monthly | Web | 4 months | |
| 16,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | CATI,Web, E-mail, Fax | About 45 days | |
| 25,000 establishments | Voluntary | Monthly | Web | 14-15 business days | |
Notes
Consumer Price Index Commodities & Services (CPI C&S) and Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
The drop in CPI C&S and JOLTS response rates in October 2013 was due to the Federal Government Shutdown.
For help on BLS response rates or comments about the web page please contact us.
Last Modified Date: December 1, 2022