Nonresponse trends in establishment panel surveys: findings from the 2001–2017 IAB establishment panel

Abstract Many household panel surveys have experienced decreasing response rates and increasing risk of nonresponse bias in recent decades, but trends business or establishment are largely understudied. This article examines both one the largest longest-running panels, IAB Establishment Panel. Response rate reported over a 17-year period for each annual cohort rich administrative data used to evaluate changes test hypotheses regarding short-term long-term participation. The findings show that while cumulative declined time, wave-to-wave reinterview remained stable. Reinterview has also stable, consistently increased within all cohorts. Larger establishments those an interviewer change did not answer survey questions (item nonresponse) previous wave were less likely continue participating panel. These their practical implications discussed conclusion.