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This page presents information on BLS establishment and household survey response rates—the percentage of the samplethat 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 surveyresponse 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 differbetween 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 betweensurveys 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 businessestablishments are shown together while those collected from households are shown together. Date ranges will vary fromchart 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.
1Groves, R.M. & Peytcheva, E. (2008). "The impact of nonresponserates on nonresponse bias: a meta-analysis." Public Opinion Quarterly, 72(2), 167–189.
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 and will be deletedfrom this chart beginning in 2021.
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 | Info | |
1,700 households | Voluntary | Monthly | Diary | 2 months | 2 weeks | Info | |
3,365 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 | |
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.
The drop in CPI C&S and JOLTS response rates in October 2013 was due to the Federal Government Shutdown.
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 | |
16,000 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 | |
230,000 establishments | Mandatory | Annual | Mail, Fax, Phone, Web, E-mail | 7 months | Info | |
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.
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.
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 | |
4,500 establishments | Voluntary | Personal visit | 24-30 months | |
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.
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 | |
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 | |
The drop in CPI C&S and JOLTS response rates in October 2013 was due to the Federal Government Shutdown.
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Last Modified Date: September 10, 2020