Global Job Satisfaction: During all surveys except 1975 and 1977, respondents rated how they felt about their current/last job (all jobs in 1995-2003) on a scale from "like it very much" to "dislike it very much." In most of these years, respondents also listed specific factors about their jobs that they liked and disliked. In addition, data comparing respondents' attitudes toward their current jobs with their attitudes toward their jobs in a previous survey year were collected during certain early years of the survey. In 1970, 1972, 1978, 1980, and 1988, respondents answered a question intended to capture their commitment to working. Respondents stated whether they would continue to work if they had enough money to live comfortably without working; in all years except 1988, they also gave a reason for their response. Finally, the 1968 original survey asked respondents about their motivation to work (R00321.00). Table 4.21.1 provides reference numbers for regularly asked job satisfaction items.
Survey Year |
Attitude toward current job, current / last job, or all jobs1 |
Attitude toward current job compared to job in a previous interview |
Things liked / disliked about job |
Commitment to work |
| 1968 | R00262.00 | -- | R00263.00-R00268.00 | -- |
| 1969 | R01077.00, R01090.00 | R01091.00, R01092.00 | R01078.00-R01083.00 | -- |
| 1970 | R01861.00 | R01874.00, R01875.00, R02229.00 | R01862.00-R01867.00 | R01881.00-R01884.00 |
| 1971 | R02946.00 | R02959.00, R02960.00, R03307.00 | R02947.00-R02952.00 | -- |
| 1972 | R03819.00 | R03849.00, R03850.00 | R03820.00-R03825.00 | R03856.00-R03859.00 |
| 1973 | R04609.00 | R04626.00, R04627.00 | R04610.00-R04615.00, R04628.00 | -- |
| 1978 | R06277.00 | R06285.00, R06286.00 | R06278.00-R06283.00 | R06485.00-R06488.00 |
| 1980 | R07178.00, R07206.00 | -- | R07179.00-R07184.00, R07207.00-R07212.00 |
-- |
| 1982 | R07630.00 | -- | R07631.00-R07636.00 | -- |
| 1983 | R08545.00 | R08553.00, R08554.00 | R08543.00-R08551.00 | R08778.00-R08781.00 |
| 1985 | R09560.00 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1987 | R10740.00 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1988 | R11150.00 | R11582.00, R11583.00 | R11151.00-R11153.00, R11155.00-R11157.00 |
R11589.00 |
| 1991 | R13606.00, R12385.00 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1993 | R13717.00, R13718.00, R15781.00, R15782.00 |
-- | -- | -- |
| 1995 | R25476.00-R25481.00 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1997 | e.g., R36578.00 (job #01) | -- | -- | -- |
| 1999 | e.g., R44618.00 (job #01) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2001 | e.g. R58146.00 (job #01) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2003 | e.g. R69189.00 (job #01) | -- | -- | -- |
| 1 Attitude toward current job was asked in the 1968-87 surveys. In 1988-93, the survey inquired about the respondent's current or last job. In 1995-2003, the survey asked about each job the respondent held since the last interview. |
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Facet-Specific Job Satisfaction Scale: During the 1980 survey, employed respondents (wage and salary workers or self-employed respondents) were asked to rate a series of descriptive statements, on a scale from "very true" to "not at all true." These job satisfaction statements covered pay, working conditions, chances for promotion, job security, competence of the supervisor, and the friendliness of their coworkers. The variable titles include the phrase "Job Satisfaction Index" and their reference numbers are R07195.00-R07209.00 and R07219.00-R07227.00.
Users can construct a job satisfaction index by coupling: (1) the global job satisfaction measures described above, (2) select items from the facet-specific job satisfaction ratings, and (3) responses to the commitment to work question. Table 4.21.2 presents the years in which these components are available.
| Job Satisfaction Scale Components | Years Available |
| Global Satisfaction Measures | all years except 1975 and 1977 |
| Facet Specific Job Satisfaction Ratings | 1980 |
| Commitment to Work | 1970, 1972, 1978, 1983, 1988 |
Survey Instruments & Documentation: The user can find the job satisfaction questions within the "Current Labor Force Status" sections of the questionnaires. More information on constructing the seven-item job satisfaction scale can be found in Appendices 23 and 28 of the Young Women's Codebook Supplement(PDF).
| User Notes: Cross-cohort analyses are possible using items from the other Original Cohorts, NLSY79, and NLSY97. |
Andrisani, Paul J.; Appelbaum, Eileen; Koppel, Ross; and Miljus, Robert C. Work Attitudes and Labor Market Experience: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Surveys. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1978.
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