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- About
Education and Training
Factor: Economic Success
Age: Adult
Duration: Less than 3 minutes
Reading Level: Less than 6th grade
What
These seven items are used to assess educational attainment and job-related certifications, training, or licenses.
Who
The adult(s) in a household.
How
INSTRUCTIONS
An interviewer administers the questions.
RESPONSE FORMAT
These questions are administered verbally by an interviewer. The questions have different answer formats and can be used individually.
Educational Attainment
1. What is the highest level of school [name/you] [have/has] completed or the highest degree [name/you] [have/has] received?
If some college but no degree (“j” above), ask…
2. How many years of college CREDIT [have/has] [name/you] completed? [Have / Has] [you/he/she] COMPLETED…
Certificates and Training
3. [Does/do] [name/you] have a currently active professional certification or a state or industry license? Do not include business license, such as a liquor license or vending license.
(Read if necessary: a professional certification or license shows you are qualified to perform a specific job. Examples include a real estate license, a medical assistant certification, a Teacher License or an IT certification. Only include certifications or licenses obtained by an individual.)
4. Were any of [your/his/her] certifications or licenses issued by the federal, state, or local government?
5. Did [name] receive any kind of training – to help search for or train for a new job in the past year?
6. Who paid for [your/name] to attend that training?
7. Where did this training take place?
Why It Matters
Building skills and gaining labor market experience are important contributors to upward mobility. Increasing educational attainment, and successful completion of training and certification programs, are important precursors to improved employment prospects, earnings, and income.
HEADS UP
Degrees and certificates may not necessarily reflect an individual’s job market skills.
SEE ALSO
References
Educational Attainment
U.S. Census Bureau (2015). Current Population Survey Interviewing Manual. Retrieved from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/methodology/intman/CPS_Manual_April2015.pdf.
Certificates and Training
Items adapted from:
U.S. Census Bureau (2015). Current Population Survey Interviewing Manual. Retrieved from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/methodology/intman/CPS_Manual_April2015.pdf.
U.S. Census Bureau (2008). Survey of Income and Program Participation – 2008 Panel
Topical Module Items Booklet. Retreived from: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/sipp/questionnaires/2008/sipp-2008-panel-wave-02-topical-module-questionnaire.pdf
