National Employer Survey

The National Employer Survey provides and relates information on worker education, employer training and employer business characteristics, including business productivity. The United States Code, Title 13, authorized this survey and provided for voluntary responses. The National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce (EQW), a nonprofit research group, fully funded the survey. All U.S. manufacturing and nonmanufacturing establishments with 20 or more employees, except agriculture and government establishments. A major finding was that, in the early 1990's, increased worker training and education raised business productivity more than comparably increased hours worked or capital equipment. The NES was a one-time survey primarily covering conditions in 1993, with a follow-up covering 1995 conducted in 1996. Primary data collection began in August 1994 and continued for about 8 weeks; data collected were mostly for activities taking place in the prior calendar year but included some information for earlier years. Data on employers is now available in the Annual Business Survey.