1. What is the NTEWS? Is this study conducted by the federal government?

2. How is the information used?

3. What authority do you have to collect these data? How will you keep my information confidential?

4. How long will this survey take?

5. Why me? I don’t work. Why don’t you select someone else?

6. What if I have other questions?

The National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey (NTEWS) is the most important source of information on the education and work credentials held by the nation’s adults. NTEWS is sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), within the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF is an independent agency of the U.S. government. The survey is co-sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Census Bureau collects and processes the survey data for NCSES and NCES.

Government policymakers use the NTEWS data to make informed decisions about how to best use limited resources in the areas of education and job training. Academic researchers use the NTEWS data to study the relationship between education, training for work, and career opportunities. Individuals making decisions about their own education and career choices find this information valuable, as do individuals thinking about changing careers.

The NTEWS is collected under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, the America COMPETES Reauthorization ACT of 2010, and the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002. The U.S. Census Bureau is conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, Section 8 of the United States Code. The NTEWS has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB number 3145-0264, approval expires on November 30, 2024). 

The Census Bureau is required by law to keep your information confidential and can use your responses for statistical purposes only (Title 13, United States Code, Section 9) or (United States Code 20, Section 9573, and United States Code 6, Section 151). Responding to the survey is voluntary and failure to provide some or all of the requested information will not in any way adversely affect you.

Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data. For more information on the Census Bureau’s Data Protection and Privacy principles, please see our data protection website at https://www.census.gov/privacy

The amount of time it takes to complete the questionnaire depends on individual circumstances. The average time to complete the questionnaire is about 15 minutes. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving the survey, please send them to: National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, Attn: NSF Reports Clearance Officer.

We are interested in the experiences of all adults, including adults who are not working, adults who never had work training, and adults who have not been in school for many years. Please be assured that your information will be valuable for the survey. You were randomly chosen to represent hundreds of other adults like you. Once a person has been selected in the sample, we cannot replace them with another person because it would harm the quality of the data.

If you have other questions about the survey, please send an e-mail to NTEWS@census.gov or call the Census Bureau toll-free at 1-888-329-5903. You can find more information at http://www.nsf..gov/statistics/srvyNTEWS.