NSF Seeks Input on Consolidated Science and Engineering Workforce Survey
By: CJ Neely, PhDThursday, September 10, 2026
The National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) is seeking public input on plans to redesign the National Training, Education, and Workforce Survey (NTEWS). Beginning in 2027, NCSES proposes integrating three existing workforce surveys: the NTEWS, National Survey of College Graduates (NSCG), and Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR).
The consolidated survey will provide national estimates on the employment, education, and training of non-institutionalized U.S. adults ages 18–75. It will focus on individuals in science and engineering occupations, those with science and engineering degrees, the skilled technical workforce, and U.S.-trained doctoral scientists and engineers. Because the survey population is based on residence rather than citizenship, it may include international students and scholars residing in the United States who are selected to participate. The notice does not provide details about what citizenship- or visa-related information, if any, will be collected.
NCSES plans to contact approximately 341,000 individuals, including returning participants from the three existing surveys and new participants selected from the 2025 American Community Survey and the 2022–2025 Survey of Earned Doctorates. An additional 15,000-person pilot will examine the feasibility of using a single data-collection contractor and linking administrative records with survey data. Data collection is expected to begin in May 2027 and continue for approximately six months.
NCSES states that the consolidation is intended to streamline data collection and reduce respondent burden while continuing to meet federal statistical requirements. The resulting data will support federal resources including Science and Engineering Indicators and Characteristics of Scientists and Engineers. NSF is seeking feedback on the usefulness and quality of the collection, its estimated respondent burden, and ways to improve the information collected. Comments are due October 27, 2026.