Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Population Survey (CPS)
Technical Documentation
February 2016
Adjustments to Household Survey
Population Estimates in January 2016
Household survey data beginning in January 2016 reflect updated population estimates, also
referred to as population controls. Population estimates for the household survey are developed
by the U.S. Census Bureau. Each year, the Census Bureau updates the estimates to reflect new
information and assumptions about the growth of the population since the previous decennial
census and reviews the estimation methodology. The population adjustments incorporated with
household survey data for January 2016 result from updated birth and death statistics and
adjustments for net international migration. In accordance with usual practice, official population
and labor force estimates for December 2015 and earlier months were not revised.
To show the impact on the labor force data, the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses special
tabulations of December data that incorporate the new population controls. When applied to
December 2015, the updated controls increased the estimated size of the civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years and over by 265,000, the civilian labor force by 218,000, employment by
206,000, unemployment by 12,000, and the number of persons not in the labor force by 47,000.
The total unemployment rate, the labor force participation rate, and the employment-population
ratio were not affected. See the accompanying table for the population control effects on labor
force series for key demographic groups.
For information about the Census Bureau’s population estimation methodology, see “Vintage
2015 Population Estimates Methodology” on their website at
http://www.census.gov/popest/methodology/. Questions about the population estimates and the
methodology used to develop them may be directed to the Census Bureau using the contact
information found at the link above.
2
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2015 (2016
population adjustment effect)
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
As
published
Based on
updated
population
controls
Difference
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
251,936
157,245
62.4
149,703
59.4
7,542
4.8
94,691
252,201
157,463
62.4
149,909
59.4
7,554
4.8
94,738
265
218
0.0
206
0.0
12
0.0
47
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
121,671
83,439
68.6
79,158
65.1
4,280
5.1
38,233
121,828
83,577
68.6
79,289
65.1
4,288
5.1
38,251
157
138
0.0
131
0.0
8
0.0
18
113,241
80,663
71.2
76,827
67.8
3,836
4.8
32,578
113,388
80,798
71.3
76,954
67.9
3,844
4.8
32,589
147
135
0.1
127
0.1
8
0.0
11
130,265
73,807
56.7
70,544
54.2
3,262
4.4
56,458
130,373
73,886
56.7
70,620
54.2
3,266
4.4
56,486
108
79
0.0
76
0.0
4
0.0
28
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
See notes at end of table.
3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2015 (2016
population adjustment effect) -- Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
Based on
updated
population
controls
As
published
Difference
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
122,071
71,055
58.2
68,131
55.8
2,924
4.1
51,016
122,168
71,132
58.2
68,204
55.8
2,927
4.1
51,036
97
77
0.0
73
0.0
3
0.0
20
16,624
5,527
33.2
4,745
28.5
782
14.2
11,096
16,645
5,533
33.2
4,750
28.5
783
14.2
11,112
21
6
0.0
5
0.0
1
0.0
16
197,471
123,401
62.5
118,157
59.8
5,244
4.2
74,070
197,544
123,487
62.5
118,239
59.9
5,248
4.2
74,057
73
86
0.0
82
0.1
4
0.0
-13
31,594
19,359
61.3
17,795
56.3
1,565
8.1
12,235
31,641
19,397
61.3
17,829
56.4
1,568
8.1
12,243
47
38
0.0
34
0.1
3
0.0
8
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
See notes at end of table.
4
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2015 (2016
population adjustment effect) -- Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
Based on
updated
population
controls
As
published
Difference
ASIAN
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
14,553
9,185
63.1
8,821
60.6
365
4.0
5,367
14,678
9,265
63.1
8,897
60.6
368
4.0
5,413
125
80
0.0
76
0.0
3
0.0
46
40,090
26,210
65.4
24,591
61.3
1,619
6.2
13,881
40,126
26,235
65.4
24,616
61.3
1,619
6.2
13,891
36
25
0.0
25
0.0
0
0.0
10
HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all
races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.