Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Population Survey (CPS)
Technical Documentation
February 2015
Adjustments to Household Survey
Population Estimates in January 2015
Household survey data beginning in January 2015 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. The population adjustments incorporated with household survey data for January 2015
result from adjustments for net international migration, updated birth and death statistics and
other information, and some methodological changes in the population estimation process. In
accordance with usual practice, official population and labor force estimates for December 2014
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 2014, the updated controls increased the estimated size of the civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years and over by 528,000, the civilian labor force by 348,000, employment by
324,000, unemployment by 24,000, and the number of persons not in the labor force by 179,000.
The total unemployment rate, the labor force participation rate, and the employment-population
ratio were not affected. See the table on the following pages for the population control effects on
labor force series for key demographic groups.
Information about the Census Bureau’s population estimation methodology is available on
their website at http://www.census.gov/popest/methodology/.
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally
adjusted, December 2014 (2015 population adjustment effect)
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
As
published
Based on
updated
population
controls
249,027
155,521
62.5
147,190
59.1
8,331
5.4
93,506
249,555
155,870
62.5
147,514
59.1
8,356
5.4
93,685
528
348
.0
324
.0
24
.0
179
120,301
82,800
68.8
78,052
64.9
4,748
5.7
37,501
120,474
82,931
68.8
78,172
64.9
4,758
5.7
37,544
173
131
.0
120
.0
10
.0
42
111,875
80,068
71.6
75,801
67.8
4,267
5.3
31,807
112,028
80,196
71.6
75,919
67.8
4,277
5.3
31,833
154
128
.0
118
.0
10
.0
26
128,726
72,721
56.5
69,138
53.7
3,584
4.9
56,005
129,080
72,939
56.5
69,342
53.7
3,597
4.9
56,141
354
218
.0
204
.0
14
.0
137
Difference 1
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population ………………
Civilian labor force ……………………………….
Participation rate ……………………………
Employed ………………………………………
Employment-population ratio ………………
Unemployed ……………………………………
Unemployment rate …………………………
Not in labor force …………………………………
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population ………………
Civilian labor force ……………………………….
Participation rate ……………………………
Employed ………………………………………
Employment-population ratio ………………
Unemployed ……………………………………
Unemployment rate …………………………
Not in labor force …………………………………
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.
2
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups,
not seasonally adjusted, December 2014 (2015 population adjustment effect)–Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity
As
published
Based on
updated
population
controls
Difference 1
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population ………………
Civilian labor force ……………………………….
Participation rate ……………………………
Employed ………………………………………
Employment-population ratio ………………
Unemployed ……………………………………
Unemployment rate …………………………
Not in labor force …………………………………
120,557
70,058
58.1
66,797
55.4
3,262
4.7
50,499
120,883
70,268
58.1
66,993
55.4
3,275
4.7
50,615
326
210
.0
197
.0
13
.0
116
Civilian noninstitutional population ………………
Civilian labor force ……………………………….
Participation rate ……………………………
Employed ………………………………………
Employment-population ratio ………………
Unemployed ……………………………………
Unemployment rate …………………………
Not in labor force …………………………………
16,595
5,395
32.5
4,592
27.7
803
14.9
11,201
16,643
5,406
32.5
4,601
27.6
804
14.9
11,238
48
11
.0
9
.0
2
.0
37
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population ………………
Civilian labor force ……………………………….
Participation rate ……………………………
Employed ………………………………………
Employment-population ratio ………………
Unemployed ……………………………………
Unemployment rate …………………………
Not in labor force …………………………………
196,091
122,650
62.5
117,068
59.7
5,582
4.6
73,441
196,230
122,752
62.6
117,162
59.7
5,590
4.6
73,478
139
101
.0
94
.0
7
.0
38
31,040
18,933
61.0
17,009
54.8
1,924
10.2
12,107
31,154
19,014
61.0
17,081
54.8
1,933
10.2
12,140
114
81
.0
72
.0
9
.0
33
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
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.
3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups,
not seasonally adjusted, December 2014 (2015 population adjustment effect)–Continued
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity
As
published
Based on
updated
population
controls
Difference 1
ASIAN
Civilian noninstitutional population ………………
Civilian labor force ……………………………….
Participation rate ……………………………
Employed ………………………………………
Employment-population ratio ………………
Unemployed ……………………………………
Unemployment rate …………………………
Not in labor force …………………………………
13,886
8,796
63.3
8,424
60.7
372
4.2
5,090
14,129
8,940
63.3
8,562
60.6
379
4.2
5,189
243
144
-.1
138
-.1
7
.0
99
38,839
25,630
66.0
23,995
61.8
1,635
6.4
13,209
39,082
25,771
65.9
24,129
61.7
1,642
6.4
13,311
243
141
.0
133
.0
7
.0
102
HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
Civilian noninstitutional population ………………
Civilian labor force ……………………………….
Participation rate ……………………………
Employed ………………………………………
Employment-population ratio ………………
Unemployed ……………………………………
Unemployment rate …………………………
Not in labor force …………………………………
4