American Time Use Survey

American Time Use Survey
Name	American Time Use Survey
Jurisdiction	United States
Parent agency	Bureau of Labor Statistics
Established	2003
Frequency	Annual

American Time Use Survey

The American Time Use Survey is a federally administered time diary survey conducted to measure how people in the United States allocate time to work, household activities, caregiving, leisure, and sleep. It provides population-level estimates used by agencies, researchers, and policymakers to analyze labor patterns, family responsibilities, and daily routines. The survey's data inform studies by institutions such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and academic centers across Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Michigan.

Overview

The survey collects 24-hour activity diaries from respondents drawn from the national sample frame maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau and processed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data products include activity classifications, respondent characteristics, and secondary files that link to labor measures used by the Current Population Survey and analyses in journals like Science, Econometrica, and Demography. Major stakeholders include the Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration, nonprofit organizations such as the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, and international comparators like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Methodology

Sampling methods rely on probability-based selection originating from the Current Population Survey sampling frame administered by the U.S. Census Bureau. Interviewing uses structured time diaries collected by telephone or web, with coding schemes harmonized with standards from the International Labour Organization and best practices discussed at forums like the American Statistical Association. Survey weights adjust for nonresponse and post-stratification against benchmarks from the Decennial Census and population controls used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Analytic variables permit linkage to occupational classifications such as the Standard Occupational Classification and industry codes from the North American Industry Classification System.

Major Findings and Trends

Analyses demonstrate shifts in paid work hours, household labor, and caregiving across demographic groups, with notable differences by gender, age, race, and educational attainment examined by scholars at Princeton University, Columbia University, and University of California, Berkeley. Time use trends have shown changes during events such as the Great Recession (2007–2009), the COVID-19 pandemic, and periods of rising labor force participation rate for prime-age adults. Research using the survey has documented patterns related to commuting time, childcare hours, eldercare provision, and sleep duration cited in publications from the National Bureau of Economic Research, RAND Corporation, and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Uses and Applications

Policymakers in agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, analysts at the Congressional Budget Office, and researchers at universities apply time use estimates to model unpaid work valuation, estimate productivity, and inform policy on childcare subsidies, paid leave, and retirement planning. The survey supports economic measures used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and underpins program evaluations conducted by the Administration for Children and Families and the Department of Education. Nonprofit advocacy groups such as the AARP and Children's Defense Fund also use time use data to advocate for programmatic changes.

Limitations and Criticisms

Critiques address measurement error from self-reported diaries, underreporting of multitasking, and coverage gaps for institutionalized populations such as residents of facilities regulated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Methodological debates involve calibration to benchmarks from the Decennial Census and representativeness relative to administrative data from the Social Security Administration. Scholars from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Yale University have highlighted concerns about recall bias, sample attrition, and the challenges of harmonizing activity codes with international datasets from the United Nations.

History and Development

The survey was implemented in the early 2000s as a recurring measure after experimental time diary studies by researchers affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and academic collaborators at Cornell University and Brown University. Its development drew on methodological work from time use pioneers connected to projects at the University of Oxford and the European Statistical System. Over time, the survey expanded topical modules and improved coding protocols in cooperation with stakeholders including the American Time Use Association and international partners such as the European Commission.

Category:United States statistical surveys Category:Labor statistics Category:Household surveys