Economics, Labor, and Population Studies

The U.S. economy is facing major problems and millions of American families are hurting. Job loss and unemployment are at an all-time high. In fact, America has lost 1.5 million jobs over the last 10 years. Compounding the employment crisis, more Americans are losing health care coverage and states are struggling to fill record budget gaps. American households lost $13 trillion in wealth between mid-2007 and March 2009, or about 15 percent in all. That decline badly hit baby boomers just as they’re headed into retirement. And middle-income families whose head of household is age 50 or younger actually have smaller net incomes today than in 1983. Economic policy decision makers need high quality data and analyses to help them address these issues and emerging economic and labor issues in the coming years.

The Economics, Labor, and Population Studies Department houses many of NORC’s large-scale flagship surveys that investigate such subject areas as labor force participation, the finances of consumers, housing needs, and trends in general social indicators. Our multi-disciplinary team includes experts in survey design and methodology, multi-mode data collection, data dissemination, and researching hard-to-reach populations.

The hallmarks of the division include the capacity to field both large and complex surveys, with high item quality and high response rates. This, combined with a strong analytical capacity, allows the department to provide a broad range of value added  quality services that  exceed the expectations of the clients it serves.

Areas Expertise

• Consumer and Family Finances
• Housing Conditions and Relocation
• Labor and Employment
• Poverty
• Business Innovation
• Special Populations
• Immigrants and Refugees
• Residents of Public Housing
• Families Facing Foreclosure
• Children, Youth, Runaways, and Foster Children
• Elderly
• Ethnic Minorities
• Military

Major Capabilities

• Data Collection and Management
• Interviewer-Administered Data Collection
• Self-Administered Data Collection
• Multimode Data Collection
• Statistics and Sampling
• Sample Design
• Statistical Data Analysis
• Security and  Compliance
• Secure Remote Data Access
• Study Design and Survey Methodology
• Questionnaire Design
• Qualitative Techniques
• Key Informant Interviews
• Focus Groups
• Ethnography
• Technical Support
• Translation and Interpretation Methodology for Multilingual Surveys
• Dissemination and Knowledge Management
• Disclosure Analysis
• Program and Policy Analysis and Research
• Performance Measurement