CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY 

INTERVIEWING MANUAL 

April 2015

 CPS-250 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE CENSUS 

(4/2015) U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 

This document does not contain any Title 13 data or other Personally Identifiable 

Information. All data are fictitious and any resemblance to actual data is coincidental. 

Consistent with Field Division policy, any names referenced in practice interviews or 

other exercises are not meant to refer to any actual person, especially any current or 

past Census Bureau employees.
Table of Contents

PART A. THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY AND YOU

CHAPTER 1. THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY ............................................. A1-1

A. PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY.............................................................................. A1-3

B. DESIGN OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE ............................................................... A1-3

C. USES OF THE DATA .......................................................................................... A1-3

D. WHEN THE CPS IS CONDUCTED.................................................................... A1-5

E. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAMPLE .................................................................... A1-5

1.E.1 How the Sample is Designed.................................................................. A1-5

1.E.2 How the Sample Works ......................................................................... A1-6

F. GENERAL LABOR FORCE CLASSIFICATION GROUPS............................. A1-6

G. PATHS THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT ......................................................... A1-7

CHAPTER 2. CONDUCTING THE CPS INTERVIEW................................................. A2-1

A. EXPLAINING THE SURVEY............................................................................. A2-3

B. AUTHORIZATION .............................................................................................. A2-4

C. CONFIDENTIALITY........................................................................................... A2-4

D. RESPONDENT IDENTIFICATION POLICY (RIP) .......................................... A2-4

2.D.1 How RIP affects Basic CPS.................................................................. A2-4

2.D.2 RIP Question......................................................................................... A2-4 

E. ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD RESPONDENTS ...................................................... A2-5

F. RETAINING RAPPORT WITH RESPONDENTS.............................................. A2-5

G. ANSWERING RESPONDENT QUESTIONS..................................................... A2-6

2.G.1 What is this Survey All About? ............................................................ A2-6

2.G.2 Who Uses This Information? What Good Is It? ................................... A2-7

2.G.3 How Was I Selected for This Survey?.................................................. A2-7

2.G.4 How Many Times Will I Be Interviewed?............................................ A2-7

2.G.5 I Hesitate to Tell Some Things About Myself. 

 What Protection Do I Have? ............................................................. A2-7

2.G.6 Is This Survey Authorized by Law? ..................................................... A2-7

2.G.7 Why Do You Include Me? I'm Retired? .............................................. A2-7

2.G.8 Why Am I Being Interviewed Again?

 I Was Interviewed Last Year............................................................ A2-8

2.G.9 Respondent Gave Information in Decennial Census. ........................... A2-8

2.G.10 Respondent Not Affected by the Employment Situation...................... A2-8

H. THE VOLUNTARY NATURE OF THE SURVEY. ........................................... A2-8

I. BEGINNING THE INTERVIEW......................................................................... A2-9

2.I.1 How to Ask Questions.......................................................................... A2-9

2.I.2 How to Probe ........................................................................................ A2-9

2.I.3 Importance of Using Neutral Probes................................................... A2-10

2.I.4 Respondent Replies "I Don't Know"................................................... A2-10

J. IF YOU CAN'T GET AN INTERVIEW ............................................................ A2-11

K. ENDING THE INTERVIEW.............................................................................. A2-11

April 2015 i
PART B. CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY CONCEPTS

CHAPTER 1. EMPLOYMENT CONCEPTS ....................................................................B1-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................B1-3

B. EMPLOYMENT CONCEPTS...............................................................................B1-3

C. BUSINESS .............................................................................................................B1-3

1.C.1 Business Exclusions.............................................................................B1-4

1.C.2 Business Inclusions ..............................................................................B1-4

D. WORK....................................................................................................................B1-5

E. JOB.........................................................................................................................B1-7

F. ABSENCE FROM A JOB .....................................................................................B1-7

G. MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS..................................................................................B1-9

1.G.1 More Than One Employer in Occupations Where

Multiple Employers Are Common.......................................................B1-9

1.G.2 More Than One Client..........................................................................B1-9

1.G.3 More Than One Contract......................................................................B1-9

H. HOURS WORKED................................................................................................B1-9

1.H.1 Usual Hours........................................................................................B1-10

1.H.2 Actual Hours.......................................................................................B1-10

1.H.3 Full-time and Part-time Hours............................................................B1-10

1.H.4 Reasons for Part-time Work ...............................................................B1-10

CHAPTER 2. UNEMPLOYMENT CONCEPTS ..............................................................B2-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................B2-3

B. ON LAYOFF..........................................................................................................B2-3

C. LOOKING FOR WORK........................................................................................B2-3

D. ACTIVITY PRIOR TO JOB SEARCH or REASONS FOR JOB SEARCH........B2-4

E. DURATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT ..................................................................B2-4

F. AVAILABILITY FOR WORK..............................................................................B2-5

CHAPTER 3. NOT IN LABOR FORCE CONCEPTS .....................................................B3-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................B3-3

B. IDENTIFYING DISABLED, UNABLE TO WORK, 

AND RETIRED .................................................................................................B3-3

C. JOB MARKET ATTACHMENT ........................................................................ B3-4

CHAPTER 4. INDUSTRY AND OCCUPATION DATA .................................................B4-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................B4-3

B. CLASS OF WORKER...........................................................................................B4-4

C. INDUSTRY............................................................................................................B4-4

4.C.1 Employer Name.......................................................................................B4-4

4.C.2 Kind of Business or Industry...................................................................B4-4

4.C.3 Determining if Industry is Manufacturing, Wholesale or Retail.............B4-5

D. OCCUPATION .....................................................................................................B4-5

4.D.1 Kind of Work (Occupation) ....................................................................B4-5

April 2015 ii
4.D.2 Usual Activities or Duties .......................................................................B4-6

E. DEPENDENT COLLECTION OF INDUSTRY AND OCCUPATION DATA ..B4-6

F. INDUSTRY AND OCCUPATION FEEDBACK .................................................B4-7

G. COLLECTION OF INDUSTRY AND OCCUPATION FOR SECOND JOB.......B4-7

CHAPTER 5. EARNINGS AND UNION MEMBERSHIP CONCEPTS........................B5-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................B5-3

B. EARNINGS CONCEPTS AND PROCEDURES..................................................B5-3

5.B.1 Amount of Earnings ................................................................................B5-3

5.B.2 Hourly Workers.......................................................................................B5-4

5.B.3 Non-Hourly Workers...............................................................................B5-4

5.B.4 Overtime pay, Tips, and Commissions ...................................................B5-4

C. UNION MEMBERSHIP AND COVERAGE CONCEPTS ..................................B5-4

PART C. THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY INSTRUMENT

CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW OF THE CPS INSTRUMENT .............................................C1-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................C1-3

B. AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF QUESTIONS FOR EACH INTERVIEW........C1-3

C. SCREEN LAYOUT ...............................................................................................C1-3

D. PLACE MARKERS...............................................................................................C1-5

E. METHODS OF MAKING ENTRIES....................................................................C1-8

F. NAVIGATION AND USE OF SPECIAL KEYS................................................C1-11

1.F.1 Navigating in the Instrument..............................................................C1-11

1.F.2 Special Keys.......................................................................................C1-11

G. ERROR MESSAGES...........................................................................................C1-15

H. HELP SCREENS .................................................................................................C1-16

I. FLASHCARD / INFORMATION BOOKLET ...................................................C1-16

J. STARTING THE INTERVIEW PROGRAM .....................................................C1-16

1.J.1 Entering Case Management ...............................................................C1-16

1.J.2 Menus.................................................................................................C1-16

1.J.3 Tool Bar Icons / Function Keys .........................................................C1-17

1.J.4 Case List Pane ....................................................................................C1-18

1.J.5 Details Pane........................................................................................C1-19

1.J.6 Selecting a Case..................................................................................C1-19

K. EXITING FROM A PARTIALLY COMPLETED INTERVIEW......................C1-20

L. COMPLETING A PARTIAL INTERVIEW .......................................................C1-20

M. EXITING FROM A COMPLETED INTERVIEW .............................................C1-21

N. PROGRAM ERROR RECOVERY .....................................................................C1-22

CHAPTER 2. THE FRONT OF THE CPS INSTRUMENT ............................................C2-1

A. OVERVIEW...........................................................................................................C2-3

B. ADDRESS..............................................................................................................C2-5

2.B.1 Physical Description............................................................................ C2-6

2.B.2 Problem Addresses.............................................................................. C2-6

April 2015 iii
2.B.3 Incorrect Addresses............................................................................. C2-6

2.B.4 Mailing Address.................................................................................. C2-6

C. YEAR BUILT (AREA SEGMENTS ONLY)........................................................C2-6

2.C.1 Built Before April 2000....................................................................... C2-6

2.C.2 Built After April 2000 ......................................................................... C2-6

D. COVERAGE QUESTIONS...................................................................................C2-7

2.D.1 When Asked ........................................................................................ C2-7

2.D.2 Extra Units........................................................................................... C2-7

2.D.3 Type B and C Contact Information ..................................................... C2-7

2.D.4 Personal Visit or Telephone Interview................................................ C2-7

E. OWN OR RENT ....................................................................................................C2-9

2.E.1 Owned or Being Bought...................................................................... C2-9

2.E.2 Rented for Cash ................................................................................... C2-9

2.E.3 Occupied Without Payment of Cash Rent........................................... C2-9

2.E.4 Specific Situations............................................................................... C2-9

F. CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING QUARTERS...................................................C2-10

2.F.1 Classification Problems..................................................................... C2-10

2.F.2 Determining the Type of Housing Unit..............................................C2-10

CHAPTER 3. CPS DEMOGRAPHIC DATA...................................................C3-1

A. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ...............................................................................C3-3

B. HOUSEHOLD ROSTER .......................................................................................C3-3

3.B.1 The Preferred Order for Listing............................................................C3-3

C. RELATIONSHIP TO REFERENCE PERSON.....................................................C3-5

3.C.1 Cohabitation .........................................................................................C3-6

D. HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSHIP.............................................................................C3-7

3.D.1 Use of Non-household Respondents/Proxy Respondents....................C3-7

3.D.2 Families With Two or More Homes.....................................................C3-9

3.D.3 Crew Members of a Vessel ................................................................C3-10

3.D.4 Other...................................................................................................C3-10

E. VERIFICATION OF HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION ......................................C3-11

3.E.1 Changes in Household Membership from Month to Month ..............C3-11

3.E.2 Additional Units.................................................................................C3-11

F. DATE OF BIRTH ...............................................................................................C3-11

G. PARENT LINE NUMBERS................................................................................C3-11

3.G.1 Inclusions and Exclusions..................................................................C3-12

3.G.2 Problem Cases....................................................................................C3-12

H. MARITAL STATUS............................................................................................C3-13

I. SPOUSE'S LINE NUMBER................................................................................C3-13

J. ARMED FORCES STATUS ...............................................................................C3-13

3.J.1 Period of service.................................................................................C3-14

3.J.2 Current Status.....................................................................................C3-14

K. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ......................................................................C3-16

3.K.1 Regular schooling...............................................................................C3-16

3.K.2 Exclusions from Regular School........................................................C3-18

3.K.3 Followup Education Items..................................................................C3-18

L. ORIGIN OR DESCENT ......................................................................................C3-22

3.L.1 Definition of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Origin .............................C3-22

April 2015 iv
 3.L.2 Completing the Origin Items ............................................................ C3-23

M. RACE ...................................................................................................................C3-25

3.M.1 Definition of Race ..............................................................................C3-26

3.M.2 Completing the Race Items ................................................................C3-27

3.M.3 Comparison of the Origin and Race Items.........................................C3-28

N. THE DEMOGRAPHICS GRID...........................................................................C3-30

O. FAMILY INCOME..............................................................................................C3-31

3.O.1 "Zero" income ....................................................................................C3-32

3.O.2 Estimating Income..............................................................................C3-32

P. NATIVITY AND IMMIGRATION ....................................................................C3-34

Q. DISABILITY........................................................................................................C3-38

3.Q.1 When to probe? ..................................................................................C3-38

3.Q.2 Completing the Disability Series........................................................C3-39

3.Q.3 Introduction to the Disability Series...................................................C3-40

3.Q.4 Deaf or Serious Difficulty Hearing ....................................................C3-41

3.Q.5 Blind or Serious Difficulty Seeing .....................................................C3-41

3.Q.6 Serious Difficulty Concentrating, Remembering, 

 or Making Decisions .....................................................................C3-41

3.Q.7 Serious Difficulty Walking or Climbing Stairs..................................C3-41

3.Q.8 Difficulty Dressing or Bathing...........................................................C3-41

3.Q.9 Difficulty Doing Errands....................................................................C3-41

R. DEMOGRAPHIC EDITS WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT .................................C3-42

CHAPTER 4. THE LABOR FORCE INTERVIEW.........................................................C4-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................C4-3

B. EMPLOYED ..........................................................................................................C4-3

4.B.1 Business................................................................................................C4-3

4.B.2 Work.....................................................................................................C4-3

4.B.3 Multiple Jobs........................................................................................C4-6

4.B.4 Usual Hours..........................................................................................C4-7

4.B.5 Actual Hours.........................................................................................C4-8

4.B.6 Economic and Non-Economic Reasons for Working Part-time ..........C4-8

4.B.7 With a Job/Temporarily Absent .........................................................C4-11

4.B.8 Reasons for Being Absent from Work ...............................................C4-11

C. UNEMPLOYED ..................................................................................................C4-13

4.C.1 On Layoff ...........................................................................................C4-13

4.C.2 Looking for Work...............................................................................C4-16

4.C.3 Selecting a Job Search Method ..........................................................C4-17

4.C.4 Availability to Start a Job...................................................................C4-20

4.C.5 Duration of Looking...........................................................................C4-20

4.C.6 Activity Prior to Job Search ...............................................................C4-21

4.C.7 Reasons Unavailable for Work...........................................................C4-22

D. NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE ...........................................................................C4-22

4.D.1 Desire for Work..................................................................................C4-23

4.D.2 Main Reason for Not Looking for Work............................................C4-23

4.D.3 Other Measures of Labor Market Attachment ...................................C4-26

4.D.4 Job History .........................................................................................C4-27

4.D.5 Retired and Main Status.....................................................................C4-29

April 2015 v
E. INDUSTRY AND OCCUPATION .....................................................................C4-30

4.E.1 Class of Worker..................................................................................C4-30

4.E.2 Further Guidelines Regarding Class-of-Worker Entries....................C4-32

4.E.3 Employer Names................................................................................C4-35

4.E.4 Industry...............................................................................................C4-36

4.E.5 Manufacturing, Retail or Wholesale ..................................................C4-37

4.E.6 Kind of Work (Occupation) ...............................................................C4-38

4.E.7 Unusual Cases of Job or Business......................................................C4-39

4.E.8 Usual Activities or Duties ..................................................................C4-41

4.E.9 Dependent Interviewing for Industry and Occupation.......................C4-41

4.E.10 Industry and Occupation Referrals.....................................................C4-41

4.E.11 Items on Number of Paid Employees ...............................................C4-42

F. EARNINGS & UNION MEMBERSHIP.............................................................C4-43

4.F.1 Hourly Workers..................................................................................C4-44

4.F.2 Non-Hourly Workers..........................................................................C4-46

4.F.3 Union Membership and Coverage Questions.....................................C4-46

G. SCHOOL ENROLLMENT..................................................................................C4-49

CHAPTER 5. "BACK" OF THE CPS INTERVIEW.......................................................C5-1

A. ENDING THE INTERVIEW.................................................................................C5-3

B. SCHEDULING YOUR NEXT VISIT ...................................................................C5-3

5.B.1 Set Boosts / Blocks...............................................................................C5-3

5.B.2 Appointment Callback Date/Time........................................................C5-5

5.B.3 Sunday Interviews................................................................................C5-5

C. THANK YOU ........................................................................................................C5-6

5.C.1 Reason for No Contact Next Month.....................................................C5-6

D. CATI ELIGIBILITY ..............................................................................................C5-7

E. SPANISH HOUSEHOLDS....................................................................................C5-7

F. TELEPHONE VERSUS PERSONAL VISIT........................................................C5-7

G. VERIFY INFORMATION.....................................................................................C5-8

H. ADDING INTERVIEWER NOTES (CASE NOTES) ..........................................C5-8

I. COLLECTING INFORMATION FOR A PERSON PREVIOUSLY

SKIPPED IN INTERVIEW ...................................................................................C5-9

J. RESPONDENT IDENTIFICATION POLICY (RIPFLG)

COLLECTED IN THE “BACK” .........................................................................C5-10

CHAPTER 6. NONINTERVIEWS......................................................................................C6-1

A. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................C6-3

B. EXPLANATION OF TYPE A CODES.................................................................C6-4

6.B.1 No One Home.......................................................................................C6-5

6.B.2 Temporarily Absent..............................................................................C6-5

6.B.3 Refused.................................................................................................C6-6

6.B.4 Language Barrier..................................................................................C6-6

6.B.5 Unable to Locate ..................................................................................C6-6

6.B.6 Other Occupied (specify reason)..........................................................C6-7

April 2015 vi
C. TYPE A PROCEDURES .......................................................................................C6-7

D. EXPLANATION OF TYPE B CODES.................................................................C6-7

6.D.1 Vacant - Regular...................................................................................C6-7

6.D.2 Temporarily Occupied by Persons with URE ......................................C6-8

6.D.3 Vacant - Storage of Household Furniture.............................................C6-9

6.D.4 Unfit or to be Demolished....................................................................C6-9

6.D.5 Under Construction, Not Ready ...........................................................C6-9

6.D.6 Converted to Temporary Business or Storage......................................C6-9

6.D.7 Unoccupied Tent or Trailer Site...........................................................C6-9

6.D.8 Permit Granted, Construction Not Started ...........................................C6-9

6.D.9 Other Type B......................................................................................C6-10

E. TYPE B PROCEDURES .....................................................................................C6-10

F. SEASONAL STATUS.........................................................................................C6-10

6.F.1 Year Round.........................................................................................C6-10

6.F.2 By Migratory Workers .......................................................................C6-10

6.F.3 Seasonally...........................................................................................C6-11

G. WHEN INTENDED FOR OCCUPANCY ..........................................................C6-11

6.G.1 Summers Only....................................................................................C6-11

6.G.2 Winters Only ......................................................................................C6-11

6.G.3 Other...................................................................................................C6-11

H. EXPLANATION OF TYPE C CODES...............................................................C6-12

6.H.1 Demolished.........................................................................................C6-12

6.H.2 House or Trailer Moved .....................................................................C6-12

6.H.3 Outside Segment.................................................................................C6-12

6.H.4 Converted to Permanent Business or Storage ....................................C6-12

6.H.5 Merged................................................................................................C6-12

6.H.6 Condemned (and Unoccupied)...........................................................C6-12

6.H.7 Removed During Subsampling ..........................................................C6-12

6.H.8 Unit Already Had a Chance of Selection ...........................................C6-12

6.H.9 Unused Line of Listing Sheet.............................................................C6-13

6.H.10 Other Type C......................................................................................C6-13

I. TYPE C PROCEDURES .....................................................................................C6-13

PART D. THE HOUSING VACANCY SURVEY

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION....................................................................... D1-1

A. HOW TO IDENTIFY HVS................................................................................... D1-3

B. COMPLETING HVS ITEMS ............................................................................... D1-4

CHAPTER 2. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING HVS ITEMS............................ D2-1

A. DETERMINING IF HOUSING UNITS QUALIFY FOR HVS........................... D2-3

B. PERSON TO INTERVIEW FOR HVS ................................................................ D2-3

C. ITEMS OBTAINED BY TELEPHONE............................................................... D2-3

CHAPTER 3. THE HVS ITEMS........................................................................................ D3-1

April 2015 vii
A. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................. D3-3

B. NUMBER OF ACRES.......................................................................................... D3-3

C. YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT............................................................................... D3-3

D. NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS IN STRUCTURE ......................................... D3-3

3.D.1 Examples of Structures......................................................................... D3-4

3.D.2 Determining the Number Of Housing Units......................................... D3-4

E. NUMBER OF ROOMS ....................................................................................... D3-5

F. NUMBER OF BEDROOMS ............................................................................... D3-5

G. COMPLETE PLUMBING FACILITIES.............................................................. D3-6

3.G.1 Hot and Cold Piped Water ................................................................... D3-6

3.G.2 A Flush Toilet ...................................................................................... D3-6

3.G.3 A Bathtub or Shower ............................................................................ D3-6

H. COMPLETE KITCHEN FACILITIES ............................................................... D3-6

3.H.1 A Sink with Piped Water ..................................................................... D3-6

3.H.2 A Range or Cookstove ......................................................................... D3-7

3.H.3 A Refrigerator ...................................................................................... D3-7

I. NUMBER OF BATHROOMS ............................................................................. D3-7

J. AIR CONDITIONING ......................................................................................... D3-8

K. UNIT EVER OCCUPIED..................................................................................... D3-8

L. NUMBER OF MONTHS VACANT ................................................................... D3-9

M. STATUS OF UNIT ............................................................................................ D3-10

 N. VACANT OTHER........................................................................D3-12

O. MONTHLY RENT ............................................................................................. D3-13

P. UTILITIES PAID BY RENTER ........................................................................ D3-14

Q. COMMERCIAL USE OF PROPERTY.............................................................. D3-15

R. SALES PRICE OF THE PROPERTY................................................................ D3-15

PART E. WEBCATI, FRONT AND BACK OF THE INSTRUMENT

CHAPTER 1. WEBCATI FRONT ITEMS FOR CPS ......................................................E1-1

CHAPTER 2. FRONT OF THE CPS CATI INSTRUMENT...........................................E2-1

CHAPTER 3. BACK OF THE CPS CATI INSTRUMENT .............................................E3-1

ALPHABETIC INDEX ...................................................................................................INDEX-1

ITEMS INDEX...............................................................................................................INDEX-14

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1 EXAMPLES OF INDUSTRY RESPONSES WHICH NEED

 SPECIAL CARE IN REPORTING ..............................................APP1-1

APPENDIX 2 EXAMPLES OF OCCUPATIONS FOR WHICH SPECIAL

 CARE IS NECESSARY..................................................................APP2-1

APPENDIX 3 CAPI OUTCOME CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS ............................APP3-1

April 2015 viii
APPENDIX 4 CATI OUTCOME CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS............................APP4-1

APPENDIX 5 CAPI & CATI NOTES ABBREVIATION LIST .................................APP5-1

APPENDIX 6 CAPI & CATI TEMPLATES.................................................................APP6-1

APPENDIX 7 CPS LETTERS.........................................................................................APP7-1

ITEMS BOOKLET ................................................................................................................. IB-1 

April 2015 ix
List of Figures

Figure 

Number

Name Page

A1 INTROB, Beginning the Interview A2-3

A1a RIPFLG, Respondent Identification Policy A2-5

A2 H_PURPOSE, Frequently Asked Questions A2-6

B1 Reasons for Working Part-Time B1-11

B2 Job Search Categories B2-4

B3 Class of Worker Types B4-4

B4 Example of I&O Feedback Item Screen B4-7

C1a Screen Illustration (Column Format) C1-6

C1b Screen Illustration (Table, or Grid, Format) C1-7

C1c Screen Illustration (Grayed out Text) C1-7

C2a ORISPN, Main Item in Origin Series C1-8

C2b IO1DT2, Sample Screen With Open-Ended Question C1-9

C2c TELPHN, Numeric Entry With Punctuation Filled in Advance C1-10

C3 Sample Keyboard Illustration C1-12

C4a Hard Error Message C1-15

C4b Soft Error Message C1-15

C5 Example of Type Z Item Screen C1-21

C6 START_CP, First Item in the CPS Instrument C2-3

C7 SHOROS_CP, Household Composition Screen C2-4

C8 Example of GENINTRO_CP Screen C2-5

C9 Example of INTROB Screen C2-5

C10a BUILD C2-7

C10b TABX_INTRO, Example of Table X Screen C2-8

C11a NROS2B, Roster Greater than 16 Persons Screen C3-4

C11b CNT2BG, Additional Household Members Screen C3-4

C12a S_RRP, Relationship to Reference Person C3-6

C12b COHAB, Cohabitation Screen C3-6

C13 S_HHMEM, Usual Residence Screen C3-9

C14a LNMOM, Line Number of Parent C3-11

C14b MOMTYP/DADTYP, Parent Type C3-12

C14c Marital Status Codes C3-13

Figure 

Number

Name Page

April 2015 x
C15 AFWHEN, Period of Service C3-14

C16a EDUCA, Educational Attainment C3-16

C16b DIPGED, High School Diploma C3-19

C16c HGCOMP, Highest Grade Completed Before GED C3-20

C16d CYC, Years of College Credit Completed C3-20

C16e CERT1, Certification or License C3-22

C16f CETR2, Issued by federal, state, or local government C3-23

C16g CERT3, Certification Required C3-23

C17a HSPNON, First Item in Origin Series C3-22

C17b ORISPN, Main Item in Origin Series C3-23

C17c S_ORTOSP, Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino Item C3-24

C18a RACE, Race Questions for Personal Interviews C3-25

C18b RACE, Race Questions for Phone Interviews C3-26

C18c RACEAS, Lookup List of Specific Asian Groups C3-28

C18d RACEPI, Lookup List of Specific Asian Native Hawaiian/ Other 

Pacific Islander Groups

C3-28

C18e S_RACEOT, Lookup List of “Other” Race Groups C3-29

C18f Comparison of the Origin and Race Items C3-29

C19 Demographics Grid Columns C3-30

C19a Demographics Grid Screen C3-31

C20 S_FAMINC, Family Income C3-32

C21 NTVT, Country of Birth C3-35

C22 CITIZN, Citizen of U.S. Screen C3-36

C23 CITYPA and CITYPB, Born in the U.S C3-36

C24 INUSYR, Living in the U.S. Since When? C3-37

C25 INUSN, Years Living in the U.S. Screen C3-37

C25a Example of a Disability Question C3-39

C25b Example of “Who is that?” C3-39

C25c Example of Disability Introduction Screen (PREDIS) C3-40

C26 BUS, Business or Farm C4-3

C27 WORK, Work for Pay or Profit C4-4

C28 BUS1, Work for Family Business C4-5

C29 BUS2, Payments from the Business C4-5

Figure 

Number

Name Page

C30 MJ, More than one Job C4-6

April 2015 xi
C31 HRUSL1, Usual Hours per Week C4-7

C32 HRFTPT, Usually Work 35 or More Hours C4-7

C33 HRWANT, Want Full Time Work C4-8

C34 HRRSN1, Reason for Working Part Time C4-9 

C35 HRRSN2, Main Reason for Wanting Part Time Work C4-10

C36 HRRSN3, Reason Worked <35 Hours C4-10

C37 ABSNT, Absent From Work C4-11

C38 ABSRSN, Main Reason Absent From Work C4-12

C39 ABSPD, Paid by Employer For Time Off C4-13

C40 LAY, On Layoff from a Job C4-14

C41 LAYDT, Date to Return to Work form Layoff C4-14

C42 LAY6M, Recalled Within 6 Months C4-14

C43 LAYAVL, Available for Work if Recalled C4-14

C44 LAYAVR, Why Not Available to Return to Work C4-15

C45 LAYLK, Looking For Work While on Layoff C4-15

C46a LAYDR1, Duration of Layoff C4-15

C46b LAYDR2, Months on Layoff C4-15

C47 LAYDR3, Weeks on Layoff C4-16

C48 LAYFT, On Layoff from Full Time Work C4-16

C49 LK, Looking for Work C4-16

C50 LKM, Method of Looking for Work C4-18

C51 LKPS, Other Method of Looking for Work C4-19

C52 LKAVL, Available to Start a Job C4-20

C53a LKDR1, Duration of Looking C4-20

C53b LKDR2, Months Looking C4-20

C54 LKDR3, Weeks Looking For Work C4-21

C55 LKFT, Looking For Full Time Work C4-21

C56a LKLL1, Activity Before Looking for Work C4-21

C56b LKLL1S, Specific Activity C4-21

C57 LKLL2, Lost or Quit Job or Temporary Job Ended C4-21

C58 DWWNT, Want a Job C4-23

C59 DWRSN, Reason for Not Looking For Work C4-24

Figure 

Number

Name Page

C60 DWLK, Looked for Work in Past 12 Months C4-26

C61 DWWK, Worked in Past 12 Months C4-26

April 2015 xii
C62 DW4WK, Worked in Past 4 Weeks C4-26

C63 DWLKWK, Looking for Work C4-26

C64 DWAVL, Available for Work C4-26

C65 JHWK, Worked At Job in the Past 12 Months C4-27

C66 JHDP1, Worked During Last 4 Weeks C4-27

C67 JHRSN, Reason Left Job C4-27

C68 JHWANT, Intend to Look for Work C4-29

C69 NLFJH, When Last Worked C4-29

C70 NLFRET, Retired From Job C4-29

C71 NLFACT, Current Status C4-30

C72 IO1INT, Class of Worker C4-30

C73 IO1NMP, Name of Company C4-35

C74 IO1NMB, Name of Business C4-35

C75 IO1NMG, Name of Government Agency C4-35

C76 IO1IND, Kind of Business or Industry C4-36

C77 IO1MFG, Manufacturing, Retail or Wholesale C4-37

C78 IO1OCC, Occupation/Kind of Work C4-38

C79 IO1DT, Usual Activities or Duties C4-41

C80a PDEMP1, Paid Employees C4-42

C80b NMEMP1, Number of Paid Employees C4-42

C81 ERNPR, Easiest Way to Report Earnings C4-43

C82 ERNUOT, Usually Receive Overtime Pay, Tips, or Commissions C4-43

C83a ERNHRTD, Hourly Rate of Pay - Dollars C4-44

C83b ERNHRTC, Hourly Rate of Pay - Cents C4-44

C84 ERNHR, Hours Worked Per Week C4-44

C85 ERNRT, Hourly Rate of Pay C4-45

C86a ERNH2D, Hourly Rate of Pay Excluding Overtime -Dollars C4-45

C86b ERNH2S, Hourly Rate of Pay Excluding Overtime -Cents C4-45

C87 ERNLAB, Union Membership C4-47

C88 ERNCOV, Covered By A Union or Employee Association 

Contract

C4-49

Figure 

Number

Name Page

C89 SCHENR, Enrolled in School C4-49

C90 SCHLVL, High School, College or University C4-50

C91 SCHFT, Full or Part Time Student C4-50

C91a Boosts/Blocks for Interviewer Time Preference Screen C5-4

April 2015 xiii
C91b Appointment CALLBACK C5-5

C91c REASON, Reason for No Contact C5-6

C92 CATI_EL1, CATI Eligibility C5-7

C92b VERIFY, Verify Information C5-8

C93 NOTES, Instrument Case Note Screen C5-8

C93a NEXT_PER Screen C5-9

C93b SKIPCHECK Screen C5-9

C93c RIPFLG, CATI Back Screen C5-10

C93d RIPFLG, CAPI Back Screen C5-10

C94 INTROB Screen, Noninterview Option C6-3

C95 NONTYP, Type of Noninterview C6-4

C96 TYPEA, Type of Type A Noninterview C6-5

C97 TYPB, Type of Type B Noninterview C6-8

C98 SEASON, Seasonal Status of Unit C6-10

C99 INTOCC, When Unit Intended for Occupancy C6-11

C100 TYPC, Type of Type C Noninterview C6-13

D1 BCNAME Screen D1-4

D2 HVSC, Number of Acres D3-3

D3 HVSYR, Year Structure Built D3-3

D4 HVSNUM, Number of Units in Structure D3-4

D5 HVSRM, Number of Rooms in Unit D3-5

D6 HVSBD, Number of Bedrooms in Unit D3-5

D7 HVSPLB, Complete Plumbing Facilities in Unit D3-6

D8 HVSKIT, Complete Kitchen Facilities in Unit D3-6

D9 HVSBTH, Number of Bathrooms in Unit D3-7

D10 HVSAC, Air Conditioning in Unit D3-8

D11 HVSOCC, Unit Ever Occupied D3-8

D12 HVSVAC, Number of Months Unit Has Been Vacant D3-9

D13 HVSSTA, Status of Unit D3-11

Figure 

Number

Name Page

D14 HVSRNT, Monthly Rent for Unit D3-12

D15 HVSUT, Utilities Paid By Renter D3-13

D16 HVSCOM, Commercial Use of Property D3-13

D17 HVSPRC, Sales Price of Property D3-14

E1 Select A Survey E1-3

E2 Assign Skills E1-3

April 2015 xiv
E3 Conduct Interview – Case Search E1-4

E4 Conduct Interview – Search Results E1-6

E5 Notes E1-7

E6 Case History E1-9

E7 Roster E1-10

E8 Dial E1-11

E9 Dial Outcome E1-12

E10 Dial Retry E1-14

E11 Recorded Message E1-15

E12 Problem With Call E1-19

E13 Unavailable Through Closeout E1-20

E14 Sample Unit Not Found/Unreached/Eligibility Uncertain E1-21

E15 Non-Interview Recycles E1-22

E16/E16a Refusals E1-24

E17 Provide Reason E1-24

E18 In Scope but Currently Unavailable E1-25

E19 Refer to Supervisor E1-26

E20 Language Barrier E1-28

E21 Hello E2-2

E22 Intro E2-4

E23 Intro Supervisor Statement E2-5

E24-E26 Control Codes E3-2 & E3-3

E27 Interviewing E3-4

E28 Appointment 1 E3-5

E29 Appointment 2 E3-6

E30 Appointment 3 E3-7

E31 Boost/Block 1 E3-8

Figure

Number

Name Page

E32 Boost/Block 2 E3-9

E33 Case Notes E3-10

List of Tables

xv April 2015
Table Number Name Page

B1 Determining Which Activities are Considered as Work B1-6

B2 Determining Which Activities are Counted as a Job B1-8

C1 Function Keys and Special Keys C1-13 & C1-14

C2 Summary Table for Determining Who is to be Included as a Member 

of the Household

C3-8

C3 Determining Active Duty Status C3-15

C4 Determining Educational Attainment C3-17 & C1-18

C5 Determining What is Counted as Income C3-33

C6 Determining Reasons for Not Looking for Work C4-25

C7 Reason for Leaving Last Job C4-28

C8 Difficult to Code Occupations C4-40

C9 Determining If Special Types of Income are Included as Earnings C4-48

D1 HVS, Converting Rent Amount to a Monthly Rate D3-12

xvi April 2015
PART A

THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY 

AND YOU

April 2015
Part A, Chapter 1 

The Current Population Survey

Topic See Page

1.A Purpose of the Survey A1-3

1.B Design of the Questionnaire A1-3

1.C Uses of the Data A1-3

1.D When the CPS is Conducted A1-5

1.E Description of the Sample A1-5

1.F General Labor Force Classification Groups A1-7

1.G Paths Through the Instrument A1-8
Part A Chapter 1 Page A1-2 The Current Population Survey
PART A, CHAPTER 1

THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY

1.A PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY

The Census Bureau has been conducting the 

Current Population Survey (CPS) since 

1940. This survey collects up-to-date facts 

about the number of Americans who are 

employed, unemployed, or not in the market 

for jobs. It is the main source of information 

on the characteristics of greatest importance

in dealing with the unemployed. It provides 

information about their sex, race, age, how 

long they've been looking for work, and 

what their last jobs were.

Facts about the kind of work people are 

doing, how many hours they work, and how 

much they earn, are essential for judging the 

economic condition of the country.

1.B DESIGN OF THE 

QUESTIONNAIRE

For over a decade, the CPS has made use of 

Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing 

(CAPI) and Computer Assisted Telephone 

Interviewing (CATI). This technology 

allows very complex skip patterns and other 

procedures which combine data collection 

and data input into a single operation. This

technology also reduces respondent burden 

and allows us to do many things that are not 

possible in a paper and pencil environment. 

For example, by providing you with the 

previous month's job descriptions you only 

ask the respondent if anything has changed, 

thus reducing the burden on the respondent 

and the interviewer.

In January 2007, this computer assisted 

interviewing technology converted from a 

DOS based environment, using CASES, to a 

Windows based environment, using Blaise. 

Both the CPS instrument and Case 

Management are now Windows based. This 

conversion to Windows allows us to utilize 

color and graphics in our new CPS Blaise 

instrument. In addition, the Windows based 

environment also makes navigation through 

the instrument much easier on the 

interviewer.

This technology, combined with your 

interviewing skills and knowledge of CPS 

concepts, help maintain CPS's position as 

the most highly regarded survey of labor 

market behavior in the world.

1.C USES OF THE DATA

CPS data are released within three weeks

after you and other Census representatives 

collect them. The data are reported in a 

press release called the "Employment 

Situation," distributed by the Department of 

Labor. The commissioner of the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the results to 

the Joint Economic Committee of the United 

States Congress. Within two weeks 

following the press release, the BLS 

publishes Employment and Earnings. This 

publication contains figures on employment 

and unemployment, the age and sex of the 

working population, the number employed 

in agricultural and nonagricultural 

industries, hours worked, duration of 

unemployment, and other current facts 

collected through the CPS. The Census 

Bureau collects labor force data while the 

BLS analyzes the data and publishes the 

results. 

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A1-3 August 2013
Other information is collected periodically 

in conjunction with this survey in 

supplements to the CPS.

Supplement topics:

1. Special employment

Measures the extent to which persons 

work during the year.

Measures "displaced workers" who 

have lost a job in the last three years for 

involuntary reasons.

2. Education

Measures the population's education 

level and the educational training level 

of employed workers and persons 

looking for work. It also measures the 

high school drop out rate.

3. Family data

Determines growth and characteristics 

of families.

4. Income

Obtains information on family and 

individual income and how it relates to 

age, occupation, and other 

characteristics.

5. Migration

Studies the extent of the nation's 

internal migration from one year to the 

next.

6. Community participation

Measures the level of participation

from community members in volunteer 

activities and various political events.

7. Health insurance coverage

Measures Americans level of 

insurance coverage. 

Measures the different ways insurance 

are obtained, e.g. through an

employer, government sponsored, 

health insurance exchanges etc. 

6. Other topics

Measures the extent of employment 

and unemployment among veterans by 

period of service.

Determines the availability of 

telephones.

Calculates the extent of heating, 

plumbing, and other facilities in vacant 

living quarters.

As stated earlier, the CPS provides labor 

force data for the nation. Those who use 

CPS data include: the Federal Government, 

State and local governments, the press, 

private businesses, labor groups, university 

and private researchers, and the public. The 

survey provides a vast amount of statistics 

that help describe the current state of the 

economy. When combined with other 

economic indicators, we can show the 

direction in which the economy is moving 

month by month. 

Following are examples of some specific

uses of CPS employment and 

unemployment data:

• Government may revise policies or 

develop new policies based on the levels 

of employment and unemployment.

• The Federal Government uses the data to 

allocate funds for states and local areas 

stricken by high unemployment. Billions 

Part A Chapter 1 Page A1-4 The Current Population Survey
of dollars are allocated to states and local 

areas based in part on CPS findings.

• The Veterans Administration uses the data 

to help determine the employment level of 

veterans and what services veterans need.

• State governments use the data to improve 

the job opportunities for areas within 

states that are experiencing high 

unemployment.

• Private businesses use the data to project 

potential sales by area and to see the 

supply and demand for labor in certain 

areas. This can be useful in deciding 

where to build a new plant. They might 

want to build in an area with high 

unemployment since the supply of labor 

would be adequate.

• The public uses the data, as well as other 

economic indicators, to decide whether to 

purchase major items such as automobiles 

and houses. For example, a person 

considering buying a new house might 

decide to wait if the economic news is bad. 

1.D WHEN THE CPS IS 

CONDUCTED

CPS Field Representatives and Interviewers 

conduct interviews each month at a sample 

of households throughout the United States.

You conduct the CPS one week (interview 

week) and ask the labor force questions that 

refer to the previous week (reference /survey 

week). You will need to understand the 

difference between these two terms.

1.E DESCRIPTION OF THE 

SAMPLE

The CPS sample was redesigned after the 

2010 Decennial Census. Cases belonging to 

this new sample are referred to as 2010 

Sample Design cases. You will NOT have 

any of these cases before April 2014; you 

will be able to identify them by their control 

number. Page C1-18 of this manual provides 

more information on CPS control numbers.

Differences between the 2010 Sample 

Design and the 2000 Sample Design are 

noted throughout this section. 

1.E.1 How the Sample is Designed

The sample areas, called Primary Sampling 

Units (PSUs), are established as follows:

Sample PSUs

Census Bureau statisticians classified all the 

counties in the United States by certain 

characteristics, such as number of 

unemployed males and females, number of 

males and females in the civilian labor force, 

number of persons (15+) employed in 

agriculture and manufacturing, and rate of 

population growth. From each group of 

similar counties, they selected one county to 

represent that group. These representative 

counties (or combinations) are PSUs. Each 

PSU is assigned a unique 5-digit number, 

such as 99993 or 99726. Each PSU number 

is made up of a two digit state code and a 

three digit county code.

Interview Week. The week in which 

you conduct interviews. CPS interviews 

normally take place during the week 

(Sunday through Saturday) of the month 

containing the 19th day.

Reference Week/Survey Week. 

The week for which you ask information 

from the respondent; it is sometimes 

referred to as "survey week." Reference 

week for the CPS will be the week 

(Sunday through Saturday) of the month 

containing the 12th day.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A1-5 August 2013
Sample selection and segments within 

each PSU:

Our current sample is drawn from the 2000 

Census. 

• Each selected PSU was divided into either 

small land areas or groups of addresses 

called segments.

• Each segment contains addresses which 

are assigned for interview in one or more 

samples. There are four types of 

segments: area, permit, unit and group 

quarters.

Consult your 11-8 Listing and Coverage 

Manual for more details on listing the 

various types of segments.

The 2010 Sample Design was drawn from 

the Master Address File (MAF), which 

contains the results of the 2010 Census 

operations and ongoing operations such as 

government listings and updates from 

surveys like the American Community 

Survey.

Units within each PSU are sampled from 

one of two lists of addresses (or “frames”) 

within that PSU. The two frames are the 

Unit frame (containing housing units within 

the PSU) and the Group Quarters frame 

(containing Group Quarters within the PSU). 

The 2010 Sample Design does not utilize 

segments.

Consult your 11-922: Field Representatives’ 

Guide to Locating Sample Addresses for 

more details on the Unit frame and Group 

Quarters frame. This manual is available in 

your laptop under the ‘Manuals’ folder.

Sample Units

For 2000 Sample Design cases, depending 

on the type of segment, you will either 

interview at units already designated on your 

laptop, or you will list the units at a specific 

address. In the latter situation, you will also 

interview those units on designated lines of 

the listing sheet. In any case, the sample is 

of addresses, not persons or families.

Because the 2010 Sample Design does not 

utilize segments, no listing will be required 

for cases belonging to this sample. You will 

only interview at units already designated on 

your laptop for these cases. The units were 

selected from within the PSU. This can be a 

house, apartment, or any type of structure 

designated as a separate living area.

Sample of Newly Constructed Units

In areas where building permits are issued 

for new construction (Permit Areas), we 

select a sample of building permits issued 

since the 2000 Decennial Census. We 

assign these addresses as permit segments.

In places where no building permits are 

required (Non-Permit Areas), you list and 

interview newly constructed units in area 

segments.

There is NO sample of newly constructed 

units for the 2010 Sample Design and no 

listing will be required for cases belonging 

to this sample. 

Sample of Group Quarters

Some units are in places with special living 

arrangements. A Group Quarter (GQ) is a 

type of living quarters where the residents 

share common facilities or receive 

authorized care or custody. A GQ is not a 

housing unit by definition. Examples of 

these would include dormitories and 

convents. A GQ segment is comprised of 

one or more GQs that were identified in 

2000 census blocks originally screened for 

unit segments. GQs which were not 

Part A Chapter 1 Page A1-6 The Current Population Survey
identified as such in the 2000 Decennial 

Census may appear in area, unit and permit 

segments also. However, we do not sample 

and interview GQs in permit segments.

For 2010 Sample Design cases, you will 

generally only encounter GQs in your GQ 

frame assignments. You know your case is a 

GQ frame assignment when the letters “GQ” 

appear in the Frame field of the Assignment 

tab. However, because GQs are not always 

identified properly on the MAF, you may 

encounter this type of living quarters when 

attempting to complete a Unit frame 

assignment. If you find a GQ at your 

assigned case’s address when attempting to

complete a Unit frame assignment, refer to 

the 11-922: Field Representatives’ Guide to 

Locating Sample Addresses for further 

guidance.

1.E.2 How the Sample Works

Each month about 72,000 housing units are 

selected for interview. The CPS is based on 

about 60,000 of the 72,000 selected housing 

units. Approximately 50,000 interviews are 

completed. 

Each sample unit is in sample for four 

consecutive months, dropped for eight 

months, and then interviewed for another 

four consecutive months. After these eight 

months in sample the household is out of the 

CPS. In this way sample units are "rotated" 

in and out of a sample.

1.F GENERAL LABOR FORCE 

CLASSIFICATION GROUPS

We classify all household members 15 years 

of age or older into three broad groupings: 

employed, unemployed, and not in the labor 

force. 

The definitions and components of the three 

labor force groupings are as follows:

Employed. Employed persons are those 

who are working at a paid job or 

business for at least one hour during the 

reference week, or are working at an 

unpaid family business for 15 or more 

hours during the reference week or who 

did not work last week, but held a job or 

owned a business from which they were 

temporarily absent during the reference 

week.

Unemployed. Unemployed persons are 

those individuals who did not work at all 

during the reference week, who were not 

absent from a job, but who actively 

looked for work during the past four 

weeks and were available for work 

during the reference week.

Persons who were on layoff from a job 

to which they expect to return and were 

available for work during the reference 

week are also classified as unemployed, 

even if they did not actively look for 

work.

Not in the Labor Force. This group 

consists of persons who are neither 

employed nor unemployed; that is, they 

did not work, they were not absent from 

a job, nor did they actively look for 

work within the past four weeks.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A1-7 August 2013
1.G PATHS THROUGH THE 

INSTRUMENT

The CPS instrument collects demographic 

data on all household members, but only 

collects labor force data for civilian 

household members who are 15 years of age 

or older. There are four distinct "paths" in 

the questionnaire: (1) the employed, at work 

path; (2) the employed, temporarily absent 

path; (3) the unemployed path; and (4) the 

not in labor force path. (The computer will 

determine which series of questions to ask 

based on your entries in each question.)

PATH 1: Employed, At Work

If the specified person did any paid work 

during the reference week, even for as little 

as one hour, or did 15 hours or more of 

unpaid work on a family farm or business, 

you ask for the number of hours worked and 

a description of the person's job. If you (or 

another interviewer) interviewed the person 

in the previous month, you will verify that 

the person still holds the same job.

PATH 2: Employed, Absent From Work

If the specified person did not work during 

the reference week, but held a job from 

which (s)he was absent, you ask for the 

same job information as you do for the 

persons who were at work last week.

PATH 3: Unemployed

If the specified person did not work and was 

not absent from a job, you find out if (s)he 

was on layoff from a job or if (s)he looked 

for work in the previous 4 weeks. If (s)he 

has looked for work and was not 

unemployed in the previous month you ask 

how long (s)he has been looking for work or 

on layoff. If the person was unemployed in 

the past month, the instrument automatically 

updates the previous month's duration of 

unemployment and data relating to job 

search activities.

PATH 4: Not in the Labor Force

If the specified person did not work, was not 

absent from a job, and did not look for work 

in the previous four weeks, (s)he is not in 

the labor force. You ask whether (s)he has 

looked for work in the past 12 months, 

wants a job now, and was available for work 

in the reference week. During interview 

numbers 4 and 8, you also ask about the 

person's work history, why (s)he is not 

currently looking for work, and what his/her 

future intentions are regarding job search.

Part A Chapter 1 Page A1-8 The Current Population Survey
Part A, Chapter 2 

Conducting the CPS Interview

Topic See Page

2.A Explaining the Survey A2-3

2.B Authorization A2-4

2.C Confidentiality A2-4

2.D Respondent Identification Policy (RIP) A2-4

2.E Eligible Household Respondents A2-5

2.F Retaining Rapport with Respondents A2-5

2.G Answering Respondent Questions A2-6

2.H The Voluntary Nature of the Survey A2-8

2.I Beginning the Interview A2-9

2.J If You Can’t Get an Interview A2-11

2.K Ending the Interview A2-11
Part A Chapter 2 Page A2-2 Conducting the CPS Interview
PART A, CHAPTER 2

CONDUCTING THE CPS INTERVIEW

2.A EXPLAINING THE SURVEY

This section provides important background 

information that you will need to know 

before starting a CPS interview. Among the 

topics discussed in this section are: 

• how to explain the survey

• survey authorization

• confidentiality

• eligible household respondents

• how to maintain rapport with respondents

How to Introduce the Survey

Show your official Census I.D. and identify 

yourself. Give the following introduction 

(or a similar introduction):

 

“Hello, my name is .....”

“The Census Bureau regularly conducts 

the Current Population Survey to 

collect information on the number and 

types of jobs Americans need.”

“By law the Census Bureau will treat any 

information you provide in connection 

with this survey as confidential. The 

survey is authorized by an act of 

Congress. Your participation in this 

survey is voluntary. However, the 

accuracy of the survey depends on your 

cooperation.”

“Did you receive our letter?”

If (s)he did not receive the letter, give him/her 

a copy and allow time to read it. Then proceed 

with the survey. At this point you should be at 

the INTROB screen and ready to begin the 

interview (Figure A1 below).

Figure A1. INTROB, Beginning the Interview

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A2-3 June 2013
2.B AUTHORIZATION

The information collected in the CPS is 

authorized by the following:

• Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 182

Authorizes the Census Bureau to collect 

statistical information.

• Title 29, U.S. Code, Sections 1-9

Authorizes the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

(BLS) to collect labor force statistics.

• Title 38, U.S. Code, Section 527

Authorizes the Census Bureau to collect 

information for the Department of Veterans' 

Affairs.

• Public Laws 89-10, 92-318, 93-380

Authorizes the Census Bureau to collect 

information on education.

2.C CONFIDENTIALITY

Within the context of the CPS, the term 

confidentiality refers to our guarantee to 

individuals who provide survey information. 

The name, address, and other information that 

would identify an individual is not available to 

persons other than sworn Census Bureau 

employees, as Title 13 requires.

You must avoid mentioning or providing 

anyone with materials that would link a 

specific household or person with a specific 

survey. When discussing your job, be careful 

never to reveal any information you get 

during an interview to an unauthorized 

person.

There are severe penalties for revealing any 

information gathered in a Census Bureau 

survey that would identify an individual. 

Unauthorized disclosure of individual 

information by a sworn Census Bureau 

employee is punishable by a fine of up to 

$250,000 and imprisonment of up to 5 years. 

2.D RESPONDENT 

IDENTIFICATION POLICY (RIP)

The Respondent Identification Policy (RIP) 

was instituted by the Census Bureau to protect 

the confidentiality of respondents’ information 

within their own households. The policy 

prohibits the Census Bureau from revealing 

confidential data to other household members 

unless the original respondent gives 

authorization. 

2.D.1 How RIP affects Basic CPS

The answer to the RIP question will determine 

if you can conduct dependent interviewing or 

not. If the original respondent, which we refer 

to as the “RIP respondent,” wishes their 

information to be confidential, and they are 

not available for a subsequent interview, you 

cannot conduct dependent interviewing. 

However, if the RIP respondent permits you to 

verify their information with anyone in the 

household, then you can conduct dependent 

interviewing. The RIP respondent name will 

appear on the START_CP (CAPI) or HELLO 

(CATI) screens if the RIP respondent has 

requested that their information not be verified 

with anyone in the household. If this is the 

case, and you are not speaking with the RIP 

respondent, then you cannot conduct 

dependent interviewing.

2.D.2 RIP Question

There is only one question that determines if 

the dependent questions are asked of only the 

RIP respondent or of any other household 

member in the household. The RIP question 

(RIPFLG) (Figure A1a.) is answered as 

(1) Yes ONLY if the respondent will allow 

Part A Chapter 2 Page A2-4 Conducting the CPS Interview
anyone else in the household to verify their 

information in subsequent interviews. If the 

respondent DOES NOT wish their information 

to be verified by other household members in 

subsequent interviews, then an answer of (2) 

No should be selected. 

Figure A1a. RIPFLG, Respondent Identification

Policy

The instrument will only allow one person to 

be the RIP respondent. Once the RIP question 

is asked and the RIP respondent is selected, 

the RIP question will not be re-asked in 

subsequent months. You may change the 

answer to the RIPFLG question during the 

initial interview only. The only time the 

RIPFLG will change in subsequent interviews 

is when there is a replacement household. 

2.E ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD 

RESPONDENTS

Any household member 15 years of age or 

older is technically eligible to act as a 

respondent. If at all possible, try to interview 

the most knowledgeable member of the 

household. In most situations, this individual 

will be the reference person or the spouse of 

the reference person.

If it becomes obvious that the household 

member you are interviewing is unable to 

answer the survey questions, ask to speak to a 

more knowledgeable respondent. If a more 

knowledgeable respondent is not available, 

arrange to call back when one is available.

2.F RETAINING RAPPORT 

WITH RESPONDENTS

You begin to build a harmonious relationship 

with the respondent when (s)he first answers 

the door or phone. Maintaining this rapport 

throughout the interview will ensure that you 

collect full and valid information. Through 

your sincere understanding and interest in the 

respondent, you provide a friendly 

atmosphere in which the respondent can talk 

honestly and fully. If rapport is broken 

because the respondent finds a particular 

question “too personal,” take time to reassure 

him/her about the confidential nature of the 

survey.

Reference person. The first person 

mentioned by the respondent, who either 

owns or rents the "sample unit" (e.g., 

house, apartment).

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A2-5 June 2013
2.G ANSWERING RESPONDENT 

QUESTIONS

A small percentage of respondents will want 

additional information before agreeing to 

participate in the survey. Some respondents 

may be reluctant to provide information 

about themselves or family members or may 

refuse to be interviewed. It is your 

responsibility to sell the survey. A good 

selling job at the very beginning of the 

survey (that is, the initial interview) will 

eliminate trouble for you and your fellow 

field representatives and interviewers in 

succeeding months. You can bring up the 

H_PURPOSE screen, which lists Frequently 

Asked Questions (FAQs), at any time by 

pressing the [Shift] and [F2] keys 

simultaneously, or by selecting the FAQ tab 

located at the top of the screen (see Figure 

A2 below). 

To convert reluctant respondents, try to 

identify his/her specific objection(s) to 

participating in the survey and tailor your 

answer accordingly. A thorough

understanding of the survey is the key to a 

good explanation. The following are a few 

examples of questions you may receive and 

suggested responses:

2.G.1 What is this survey all about? 

“The Census Bureau conducts the Current 

Population Survey each month to provide an 

up-to-date estimate of the number of persons 

working, the number who are unemployed, 

and many other related facts. Occasionally 

we ask additional questions on education, 

health, family income, housing, and other 

important subjects.”

“It is extremely important to know how many 

persons are out of work from month to 

month. Government officials, labor groups, 

and business people need accurate 

information on the current unemployment 

situation to know how many and what types 

of jobs are needed. It is easier to resolve 

employment problems if we know, well in 

advance, the direction the economy is 

moving.”

Figure A2. H_PURPOSE, Frequently Asked Questions

Part A Chapter 2 Page A2-6 Conducting the CPS Interview
2.G.2 Who uses this information? What 

good is it?

“In a country as big as ours and one that 

changes so rapidly between decennial 

censuses, people in government, businesses, 

and other groups need up-to-date facts in 

order to plan efficient and adequate 

programs. It is important to know how many 

people are working or out of work (to help 

direct programs which would contribute to an 

expanding economy and provide new jobs), 

how many children will be attending school 

(to plan for schools and the training of an 

adequate number of teachers), how many 

new families are forming (to plan for 

adequate housing to meet their needs), and so 

on. The CPS is one of the most important 

and timely sources of information used to 

make such plans.” See Part A, Chapter 1 for 

a discussion of the uses of CPS data.

2.G.3 How was I selected for this survey? 

“Actually, we selected your address, rather 

than you personally, for this survey. Each 

month, we scientifically select about 15,000 

groups of addresses to represent the United 

States. Each of the address groups contains 

about four housing units and altogether result 

in about 48,000 interviewed households each 

month. If you should move away while your 

address is still in the survey, we would 

interview the family that moves in.” 

2.G.4 How many times will I be 

interviewed?

“We interview occupants of a dwelling for 8 

months, 4 consecutive months in the current 

year and the same 4 months in the following 

year.”

“We interview for 8 months because it is 

important to see if the employment situation 

of the occupant changes. It is also less

expensive to interview the same dwelling for 

8 months.”

2.G.5 I hesitate to tell some things about 

myself. What protection do I have?

“All information individuals give to the 

Census Bureau is held in the strictest 

confidence by law (Title 13, United States 

Code, Section 9) . All Census Bureau 

employees have taken an oath to this effect 

and are subject to a jail penalty and a fine if 

we disclose any information survey 

respondents give us.”

2.G.6 Is this survey authorized by law?

“Yes. Title 13, United States Code, Section 

182, and Title 29, United States Code, 

Sections 1 through 9, authorized the 

collection of most of the information we 

request in this survey.”

“ In addition, portions of the survey in any 1 

month may be authorized by one of the 

following: Title 7, United States Code, 

Sections 1621-1627; Title 38, United States 

Code, Section 219; and Public Laws 890-10, 

92-318, and 93-380. In some months, the 

survey may contain questions authorized

under laws other than those cited.”

2.G.7 Why do you include me? I'm 

retired.

Some retired persons may feel that their 

activities are not important to this type of 

survey and wonder why we include them.

The following may help you explain the 

survey to them:

“In order to have an accurate picture of the 

entire population, it is necessary to include 

persons in all age groups. Our experience

with interviewing retired persons shows that

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A2-7 June 2013
many of them are actually participants in the 

labor force because they work part time or 

are looking for work. This information, along 

with data on other subjects such as income, 

health, and housing, assists in the 

measurement of the economic condition of 

the elderly population as a whole.”

2.G.8 Why am I being interviewed again? 

I was interviewed last year.

“Our representatives contact occupants of a 

selected dwelling unit eight times – 4 months 

in one year and the same 4 months in the 

following year. Our representatives contacted 

this address four times last year and your 

address is scheduled for four more 

interviews.”

2.G.9 Respondent gave information 

in Decennial Census.

Some respondents may say that they already 

reported this information in the Decennial 

Census. The following approach may be 

useful in clarifying differences: 

“The Census Bureau conducts the Decennial 

Census every 10 years. It gives government 

officials a good idea of how many people are 

living in this country. We conduct labor 

force surveys monthly to determine how 

many Americans are employed and 

unemployed each month.”

2.G.10 Respondent not affected by 

the employment situation.

The level of unemployment affects almost 

everyone. When a lot of people are out of 

work, the entire economy suffers. The 

suffering is not limited to those individuals 

who cannot find a job. Business people will 

experience slumping sales. Professionals 

will find clients unable to pay bills. Salaried 

employees may suffer reduction in pay or 

hours. Farmers will find demand for their 

products dropping. In sum, when 

employment declines, almost everyone 

suffers.

2.H THE VOLUNTARY NATURE 

OF THE SURVEY

The fact that participation in the CPS is 

voluntary does not diminish your 

responsibility to convert reluctant 

respondents. When a person says the survey 

is voluntary and that (s)he would prefer not 

to participate, the following points may help 

you to obtain an interview:

• The importance and uses of the data. Refer

to page A1-3 for an explanation of the uses 

of labor force data.

• The brevity of the survey. Explain that the

interviews take only 10 to 15 minutes per 

household.

• The confidentiality of the survey data.

Title 13, United States Code, require that 

the data collected be seen only by Census 

Bureau employees who have sworn an oath 

of office. It also requires that we publish 

only statistical summaries of the data.

• Ask the respondent to allow you to begin

the interview on a “trial basis.” Explain 

that the person does not have to answer any 

questions (s)he feels are too personal. In 

many cases the respondents provide most, 

if not all, of the needed information.

Part A Chapter 2 Page A2-8 Conducting the CPS Interview
2.I BEGINNING THE 

INTERVIEW

The first month a household is in sample the 

first few screens allow you to verify the 

segment and housing unit listing. You also 

will record the household roster and collect 

demographic information for each household 

member listed. Following are a few 

examples of the information collected in the 

first month's interview: 

• list of persons living or staying in 

the household

• relationship of household members to the

reference person

• age

• race

• ethnicity

• sex

• armed forces membership and

veteran's status

• education

• nativity and immigration

In subsequent months you only collect 

missing information.

2.I.1 How to Ask Questions

• Ask exactly as worded

You must ask questions exactly as worded so 

they will yield comparable results. Avoid 

changing words or phrases and adding or 

dropping words to the question.

• Ask every question

Although the answer to a particular question 

may seem obvious to you, do not fill the 

answer without asking the question. The 

respondent may provide an answer which 

applies to a question asked later in the 

interview. In this case you may verify the 

answer to the question. It is important that 

you ask or verify each applicable question.

If the respondent misunderstands or 

misinterprets a question:

● Repeat the question as worded and give

the respondent another chance to 

answer.

• If you still do not get an acceptable

response, use the probing techniques 

discussed below.

2.I.2 How to probe

When the respondent's answer does not meet 

the question's objective, probe to clarify or 

expand his/her answer.

The probing procedures listed below are 

useful in stimulating discussion. Introduce 

these devices casually as a natural expression 

of interest.

● Brief assenting comments, such as -

“Yes, I see,” show the respondent that you 

are giving your attention to the answer. 

They often stimulate the respondent to talk 

further.

• An expectant pause accompanied by an 

inquiring look after the respondent has 

given only a brief reply often conveys to 

the respondent that (s)he has merely begun 

answering the question. It will often bring 

forth further response.

● Repeating the question or listing the 

response categories (when applicable) is 

useful when the respondent does not 

understand the question, misinterprets it, 

seems unable to make up his/her mind, or

strays from the subject.

• Repeating the respondent's reply is

useful in helping to clarify the response 

and prompting the respondent to enlarge 

upon his/her statement. Be sure you adhere 

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A2-9 June 2013
strictly to the respondent's answer and do 

not interject your own ideas.

• Neutral questions (probes) in a neutral

tone of voice will bring fuller, clearer 

responses. For example:

“I don't quite understand what you

mean.”

or

“Which figure would you say comes

closest?” (Probe to clarify hours

worked last week, weeks looking for

work, or income.)

Such questions show your interest and are 

successful when used correctly. You must 

immediately recognize how the respondent's 

answer fails to meet the question’s objective 

and use a neutral probe to get the correct 

information. Your manner of asking neutral 

questions is important; a sharp demanding 

tone can damage rapport. It is sometimes 

good for you to appear slightly bewildered by 

the respondent's answer. Indicate in your 

probe that it might be you who did not 

understand. (For example - “I'm not sure 

what you mean by that, could you tell me a 

little more?”) This can arouse the 

respondent's desire to help someone who is 

trying to do a good job. However, do not 

overplay this technique. The respondent 

should not get the feeling that you do not 

know when a question is properly answered.

Interviewers often have to separate the facts 

wanted from the respondent's attitudes. The 

basic procedure is:

• Know the question's objective thoroughly.

• Know how to probe when the answer is

inadequate, while maintaining good 

rapport.

2.I.3 Importance of Using Neutral 

Probes

We have stressed that you need to stimulate 

discussion. This does not mean that you 

should influence the respondent's answer 

or unnecessarily prolong the interview. 

Probing should be as neutral as possible so 

you do not distort the respondent's answers. 

When you ask neutral questions of all 

respondents, we have comparability between 

all the interviewers in the survey. If each 

interviewer asks a leading probe, we would 

not be comparing responses to the same 

questions. This would thoroughly defeat the 

goal of having a standardized survey.

2.I.4 Respondent Replies “I Don't 

Know”

Respondents do not always mean what they 

first say. The “I don't know” answer might 

mean:

• The respondent does not understand the

question and answers “I don't know” to 

avoid saying that (s)he did not understand.

• The respondent is thinking and says, “I

don't know” to give him/her time to think.

• The respondent may be trying to evade the

issue, so (s)he begs off with the “I don't 

know” response.

• The respondent may actually not know.

Discussion often presents a truer picture of 

the respondent's thoughts and may help you 

determine if you should probe further.

Part A Chapter 2 Page A2-10 Conducting the CPS Interview
2.J IF YOU CAN'T GET AN 

INTERVIEW

Noninterviews fall into three groups--Type 

A, B, and C. The Type A group consists of 

households occupied by persons eligible for 

interview, whom you should have 

interviewed but could not. 

Sample units which you do not interview for 

other reasons are Type B or C noninterviews. 

Refer to Part C, Chapter 6 for a detailed 

discussion of noninterview types and 

procedures.

You will need to make a personal visit to 

units in your assignment that were 

noninterviews the previous month. The 

exception is those households reported as 

Type C noninterviews (since they are 

ineligible for sample) and the one Type B 

situation described below.

If all the following conditions exist, you can 

complete the CPS by telephone for a Type B 

noninterview without making a personal visit 

to the unit.

1. The unit was a Type B noninterview in 

the preceding month.

2. The unit is very far from your home, and 

you are not planning to return to the area 

for other interviews. 

3. You have the name and telephone 

number of a reliable respondent (e.g., 

owner, rental agent, knowledgeable 

neighbor, or local merchant) and a 

telephone interview is acceptable with 

that person.

If one of the above conditions is not met, you 

must make a personal visit to the sample unit.

2.K ENDING THE INTERVIEW

After completing the labor force section of 

the interview and collecting any supplement 

information (if necessary), you are ready to 

end the interview.

The last section of the interview requests a 

phone number if one is available. It helps 

you determine if the household will be 

available next month, if a Sunday interview 

is possible, and exits you from the interview. 

We call this the “BACK” portion of the 

interview. Refer to Part C, Chapter 5 for a 

detailed discussion of the “BACK” of the 

CPS interview.

Be sure you leave the respondent with a 

friendly feeling towards you and the Census 

Bureau, so the way is clear for future 

contact.

Noninterview Household. A household 

for which you cannot obtain information 

because:

• The unit is occupied but an interview 

was not possible, or

• The unit is occupied by persons not 

eligible for interview, or

• The unit is not occupied or not eligible 

for sample.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page A2-11 June 2013
END OF PART A

The next section of this manual contains CPS labor force concepts.

Part A Chapter 2 Page A2-12 Conducting the CPS Interview
PART B 

CURRENT POPULATION 

SURVEY CONCEPTS 

 

April 2015

 

 
Part B, Chapter 1 

Employment Concepts

Topic See Page 

1.A Introduction B1-3 

1.B Employment Concepts B1-3 

1.C Business B1-3 

1.D Work B1-5 

1.E Job B1-7 

1.F Absence from a Job B1-7 

1.G Multiple Jobholders B1-9 

1.H Hours Worked B1-9 
Part B Chapter 1 Page B1-2 Employment Concepts 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B1-3 January 2007 

PART B, CHAPTER 1 

EMPLOYMENT CONCEPTS 

1.A INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to define the 

concepts related to employment.

The chapter is broken down as follows: 

1.B Employment Concepts 

1.C Business 

1.D Work 

1.E Job 

1.F Absence from a Job 

1.G Multiple Jobholders 

1.H Hours Worked 

Further details on individual questions 

dealing with employment are in Part C, 

Chapter 4. 

1.B EMPLOYMENT CONCEPTS

As stated in Part A, Chapter 1, employed 

persons are those who are working at a paid 

job or business for at least one hour during 

the reference week, or are working without 

pay in a family business for 15 or more 

hours during the reference week, or did not 

work in the reference week but had a job or 

business from which they were temporarily 

absent. 

Business, work, and job are all important 

concepts in understanding who is employed. 

Most of the cases you face when 

interviewing will be straightforward. That 

is, the respondent will be able to tell you if 

the specified person was working and had a 

job or business. However, there will be 

some borderline or atypical cases that will 

require your knowledge of the inclusions 

and exclusions that follow. 

1.C BUSINESS

Employed. Employed persons are 

those who are working at a paid job or 

business for at least one hour during the 

reference week, or are working without 

pay in a family business for 15 or more 

hours during the reference week or who 

did not work last week, but held a job 

or owned a business from which they 

were temporarily absent during the 

reference week. Business. A business exists when one or 

more of the following conditions is met: 

 Machinery or equipment of 

substantial value is used in 

conducting the business, or 

 An inventory of significant value 

is maintained for the business, or 

 An office, store, website, or other 

place of business is maintained, or 

 The business is advertised by: 

 listing in the classified section of 

the telephone book, frequent 

listings or long term postings on 

a website, or 

 displaying a sign, or 

 distributing cards or leaflets or 

otherwise publicizing that the 

work or service is offered to the 

general public. 
Part B Chapter 1 Page B1-4 Employment Concepts 

Business is a particularly important concept 

in classifying a person as being absent from 

work during the reference week. Knowing 

whether a person holds a job or has a 

business allows us to determine if persons 

who did not work during the reference week 

should be classified as employed at work or 

employed but temporarily absent. It also 

helps to obtain a good description of the 

person's industry and occupation, determine 

class of worker, and to find out whether a 

person holds multiple jobs. 

Although paying employees is a common 

function of businesses, by itself, it is not 

sufficient to determine if a business exists. 

For example, households may hire people to 

work as maids, gardeners, etc., but that does 

not make the households businesses. 

1.C.1 Business Exclusions

Unless one of the above conditions is met, 

there is no business. In addition, the 

following arrangements are specifically 

excluded from being counted as a business: 

● Sale of Personal Property

The sale of personal property (for example, 

garage or yard sales, the selling of items on 

the Internet, or the sale of a car) is not a 

business or work. 

● Seasonal businesses

Exclude businesses in the off-season if no 

one in the household worked in the business 

during the off-season. Consider the 

examples below. 

The following household would not have a 

business in July: Members of a household 

had a business chopping and selling 

Christmas trees from October through 

December. No one worked in the business 

during any of the off-season months. 

The following household would have a 

business in July: Members of a household 

ran a ski resort from October through 

March. During the off-season they continued 

to trim the slopes, buy equipment, train staff, 

keep books and take reservations for the 

next season. 

 Distributors 

Distributing products (such as cosmetics, 

household goods, or newspapers) is 

WORK if the selling was done during the 

reference week. However, it is not a 

business UNLESS the person buys the 

goods directly from a wholesale 

distributor or producer, sells them to the 

consumer, and bears any losses resulting 

from failure to collect from the consumer. 

1.C.2 Business Inclusions

 Selling of Items via the Internet 

Individuals who sell items via the Internet 

that are obtained specifically for resale or 

produced for sale would have a business if 

they intended such Internet sales to occur 

on an ongoing or recurring basis, and if 

they intended to make a profit. Although 

not a requirement, one indication of 

intending to sell items on an ongoing or 

recurring basis is the maintenance of an 

inventory of items that have significant 

value. Individuals who sell only their 

own personal property via the Internet 

would not have a business, even if they 

sold items repeatedly. 

Individuals who are providing a service 

by facilitating the sale of other 

individuals’ items via the Internet also 

would have a business, if the individuals 

providing the service did so on an ongoing 

or recurring basis with the intent of 

making a profit. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B1-5 January 2007 

1.D WORK 

Use Table B1, on page B1-6, as a checklist 

to determine if you should count an activity 

as work. 

NOTE. If a person receives part of the 

profits from the business/farm, or would 

have received part of the profits if the 

business/farm had not operated at a loss, 

consider him/her to be working. This is 

regardless of the number of hours worked 

during the reference week unless (s)he owns 

the business for investment purposes only. 

The part of the profit received can be in cash 

or pay "in kind." 

For example, count all of the following as 

receiving part of the profits from the 

business/farm: 

$ receiving a proportion of the proceeds 

from cattle sales 

$ receiving $1500 a month for living 

expenses 

$ receiving a share of the earnings 

 

A person selling items via the Internet (e.g. 

eBay sellers) would be classified as 

working, as long as the individual was not 

selling only personal items and the person 

was engaged in Internet sales-related 

activities for an hour or more during the 

reference week. Internet sales-related 

activities (e.g. photographing an item, 

writing a description of an item, posting an 

item for sale, packing an item, and shipping 

an item) do not have to take place in one 

continuous hour, but the total time spent on 

these activities during the reference week 

has to be equal to or greater than an hour. 

An individual does not have to have a 

business selling items via the Internet to be 

classified as working. Individuals do not 

have to receive payment by the reference 

week for items sold in order to be classified 

as employed (payment can be deferred). 

Work. Work includes any activity for 

wages or salary, for profit or fees, or 

for payment in kind. One hour or more 

of such activity constitutes work. 

Work also includes unpaid activity of 

at least 15 hours a week on a family 

farm or business.
Part B Chapter 1 Page B1-6 Employment Concepts 

Table B1. Determining Which Activities are Considered as Work 

Activity Included as Work? 

Include as work? 

Paid work for cash wages or salary (including welfare payments or other public assistance), at piece 

rates, on commission, or for tips. 

YES 

Exchange or sharework on farms, such as when farmers may help each other during peak farming 

periods, without compensation. 

YES 

Jury Duty NO 

National Guard/Reserve Duty (Weekend, summer training) NO 

Ownership of a business solely for investment purposes. No participation in the management or actual 

operation of the business. 

NO 

Paid training in which the person receives wages or salary for training they must complete before 

starting the job. 

YES 

Unpaid training programs in order to qualify for a job. NO 

Training not sponsored by an employer, even if the trainee is receiving a welfare check or other public 

assistance for attending the training. 

 NO 

Work for pay "in kind" such as meals, living quarters, room and board, or supplies received in place of 

cash wages. 

YES 

Work for profit or fees in own business, profession, or farm. (Includes those who intend to earn a profit 

whose business produced a loss.) 

YES 

Set up own new business. Includes: searched for a place of business; dealt with prospective suppliers, 

contractors, or advertisers; ordered equipment or inventory; readied the building or obtained work 

permits; searched for or met potential clients; interviewed future employees. 

YES 

Selling of Items on the Internet. 

 The reselling of items purchased for personal use.

 The selling of items purchased or produced for the purpose of selling on the internet. 

 Providing a service with the intention of making a profit that facilitates the sale of other individuals’ 

items on the Internet. 

 

NO 

YES 

YES 

Unpaid Work 

 In a family business or farm (other than housework at home) of 15 hours or more which contributed to 

operating a farm or business run by a member of the household who is related by marriage, blood, or 

adoption. 

 Unpaid work that did not contribute to operating a family farm or business. 

 Unpaid work in the business of an unrelated member of the household. 

 Unpaid work for a relative not in the household. 

YES 

 NO 

 NO 

 NO 

Volunteer work without pay NO 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B1-7 January 2007 

1.E JOB 

The difference between a job and work is 

particularly important in identifying persons 

who did not work during the reference week, 

but who had a job from which they were 

absent. Consider this example: 

Joan was paid to clean a friend's house 2 

weeks before the reference week, but does 

not clean houses on an ongoing basis. 

In this instance Joan does not have a job. 

However, if she had an arrangement to 

clean a person's house for pay every 

Tuesday, but happened to be sick during 

the reference week, then she would have a 

job from which she was temporarily 

absent.

It is possible to have worked during the 

reference week and not have a job. A 

person may not have a definite arrangement 

for work on a continuing basis. (See Table 

B2, on page B1-8, to determine which 

activities are considered a job.) Consider 

the following example: 

Fred was paid to build a deck for a friend 

last week. He does not usually build decks 

for a living. Fred would have worked 

during the reference week, but he would 

not have a job.

The concept of job is also important in 

getting a good description of the person's 

industry and occupation and in determining 

whether a person holds multiple jobs. 

1.F ABSENCE FROM A JOB 

The following is a list of reasons for being 

temporarily absent from a job or business 

that are accepted in the CPS interview. 

(Instructions for selecting individual reasons 

are in Part C, starting on page C4-11.) 

● On layoff (temporary or indefinite) 

● Slack work/business conditions 

● Waiting for a new job to begin 

● Vacation/personal days 

● Own illness/injury/medical problems 

● Child care problems 

● Other family/personal obligation 

● Maternity/paternity leave 

● Labor dispute 

● Weather affected job 

● School/training 

● Civic/military duty 

● Does not work in the business 

● Other (specify response) 

Job. A job exists when there is a definite 

arrangement for regular work every 

week, or every month, for pay or other 

compensation (e.g., profits, anticipated 

profits, or pay in kind, such as room and 

board). 

A formal, definite arrangement with one 

or more employers to work on a 

continuing basis for a specified number 

of hours per week or days per month, but 

on an irregular schedule during the week 

or month, is also a job. 
Part B Chapter 1 Page B1-8 Employment Concepts 

Table B2. Determining Which Activities are Counted as a Job 

Activity Included as a Job?

Include as a 

job? 

Domestic or day work. An arrangement to work on a continuing basis for each of 

one or more employers. YES 

Leave of absence. On a leave of absence from a regular job (for example, to 

attend school or travel) and has an arrangement to return to that job. YES 

Maternity/paternity leave. Must intend to return to work, and have an agreement 

with an employer to hold a job or find a place for him/her upon return. YES 

Persons "on call". Arrangements with a union hiring hall or a professional 

service (for example, nurses, substitute teachers) to be called to work with little or 

no advance notice and there is NOT a definite arrangement to work a specified 

period of time each week or each month. 

NO 

Seasonal job during "off" season. For example, in the summer, you would not 

consider a non-working ski instructor as having a job or being absent from a job. NO 

Seasonal job, work in season. For example, count a ski instructor who was on 

vacation or otherwise absent from work during the reference week as having a job 

only if the reference week was part of the ski season. 

YES 

Student attending school. Students who have gone back to school and are not 

currently working DO NOT HAVE A JOB from which they are temporarily 

absent. Having an arrangement to return to work when the school year is over (for 

example as a waiter or waitress) does not make him/her absent from a job. 

NO 

Summer vacation for school personnel. If they have definite arrangements or 

contracts, either oral or written, to return to work. YES 

Unpaid work on a family farm or business. Usually does unpaid work on a 

family farm or business but did not work during the reference week. NO 

Work as needed. Work done as needed, and not done on a continuing basis. An 

example would be a consultant who works on an as-needed basis. NO 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B1-9 January 2007 

1.G MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS 

Multiple jobholders are persons who have 

more than one job or business. In the CPS, 

we ask persons who worked during the 

survey week if they had more than one job

or business and if so, how many they had. 

This information allows us to collect 

additional information about the person's 

main job and other jobs separately.

Refer to the discussion of JOB and 

BUSINESS to determine whether multiple 

jobs exist. Persons who started and ended 

jobs in the same week are considered 

multiple jobholders. The guidelines below 

will help you in situations that are NOT 

considered multiple jobholding.

1.G.1 More Than One Employer in 

Occupations Where Multiple 

Employers are Common

It is possible for individuals to have more 

than one employer, but only one job. If an 

individual does the same type of work for 

more than one employer in an occupation 

where it is common to have more than one 

employer, do not consider the individual a 

multiple jobholder. Examples include 

private household or domestic workers 

including baby-sitters, chauffeurs, 

gardeners, handy persons, cooks, and maids. 

1.G.2 More Than One Client

It is possible for individuals to have more 

than one client, but only one job. If an 

individual does the same type of work for 

more than one client in an occupation where 

it is typical to have more than one client 

(s)he should not be considered a multiple 

jobholder. Examples include artists, 

consultants, doctors, and lawyers. 

1.G.3 More Than One Contract

It is possible for individuals to have more 

than one contract or piece of work without 

having more than one job. For example, a 

general contractor working at more than 

one construction site would not be a 

multiple jobholder. 

If an individual has more than one piece of 

work or more than one contract (for 

example, contractors, construction workers), 

and all the work is the same type, then (s)he 

has only one job. (S)he would not be a 

multiple jobholder. 

1.H HOURS WORKED 

There are two different concepts measured 

in the hours series of questions in the CPS. 

First, you ask respondents the number of 

hours (s)he usually works per week. The 

objective of this question is to measure the 

usual full-time/part-time status of 

employed persons. Next, you ask a series of 

questions to determine the number of hours 

(s)he actually worked last week. From this 

it is determined whether (s)he actually 

worked full-time or part-time during the 

reference week. 

Main Job. The job at which the person 

usually works the most hours is his/her 

main job. If a person usually works the 

same number of hours at two jobs, the 

"main" job is the job at which the 

person has been employed the longest.
Part B Chapter 1 Page B1-10 Employment Concepts 

For multiple jobholders, questions on usual 

and actual hours are asked separately for 

"the main job" and "all other jobs 

combined." 

1.H.1 Usual Hours

You ask all employed persons, both those 

who were at work and those who were 

absent from work, about the number of 

hours they usually work. In addition to 

providing information on full-time/part-time 

status, asking usual hours before actual 

hours provides a frame of reference for the 

subsequent actual hours worked questions. 

(You further improve this estimate by asking 

about the main job and other jobs 

separately.) 

 

It is possible for a person who worked 

during the reference week to not usually

work. In such cases his/her usual hours are 

zero. For example, a retired person worked 

20 hours in a friend's business during the 

reference week, but usually does not work. 

His/her usual hours are 0 and actual hours 

are 20. 

1.H.2 Actual Hours

The question on usual hours worked 

prompts the respondent to think about 

his/her usual schedule. The questions on 

actual hours then prompt the respondent to 

think about any deviations from that 

schedule in order to report actual hours 

worked more accurately. 

In this series of questions you first 

determine if the person lost or took off any 

hours from work. You then identify any 

extra hours or overtime worked. At this 

point you ask for actual hours. For multiple 

jobholders, you ask for actual hours for 

"main" and "other" jobs separately. 

More information about how to record 

 usual and actual hours is on Pages C4-6 

through C4-8. 

1.H.3 Full-time and Part-time Hours 

 

1.H.4 Reasons For Part-Time Work

If a person usually works part-time, or 

worked part-time in the previous week, we 

ask about the main reason for part-time 

work. Based partially on the reason why 

people are working part-time, shown in 

Figure B1, we classify these individuals 

either as part-time for economic reasons or 

part-time for noneconomic reasons. 

Usually. 50% of the time or more, or 

the most frequent schedule during the 

past 4 or 5 months. 

Full-time. Generally speaking, any 

job that is usually 35 hours or more 

per week is considered full-time. In 

some occupations, usual weekly 

schedules of less than 35 hours per 

week are considered to be full-time 

(for example, air-traffic controllers). 

For these cases, the option "Regular 

hours are full-time" is provided.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B1-11 January 2007 

Figure B1. Reasons for Working Part-Time 

Usually Works Full-Time

● Slack work/business conditions 

● Seasonal work 

● Job started or ended during week 

● Vacation/personal day 

● Own illness/injury/medical appt. 

● Holiday (legal or religious) 

● Child care problems 

● Other family/personal obligations 

● Labor dispute 

● Weather affected job 

● School/training 

● Civic/military duty 

● Other reason 

Usually Works Part-Time

● Slack work/business conditions 

● Could only find part-time work 

● Seasonal work 

● Child care problems 

● Other family/personal obligations 

● Health/medical limitations 

● School/training 

● Retired/Social Security limits on earnings 

● Full-time work week is less than 35 hours 

● Other 

The distinction between the two types of 

part-time work is important because the 

number of workers who are part-time for 

economic reasons is an important indicator 

of the health of our economy. 

 

Examples of part-time for economic reasons 

are: individuals who usually work full-time, 

but worked part-time because of slack 

work/business conditions, seasonal work, 

or their job started or ended during the 

survey week. If an individual usually 

works part-time, (s)he is economic parttime only if (s)he wants to work full-time 

AND is working part-time due to slack 

work/business conditions or because (s)he 

could only find part-time work or 

seasonal work AND is available to work 

full-time. 

Part-time for non-economic reasons. 

Individuals who choose to work parttime for personal reasons (for example, 

to allow time to attend school, care for 

children or elderly parents, or to avoid 

exceeding social security limits on yearly 

earnings). 

Part-time for economic reasons. 

Individuals who want and are 

available to work full-time but who are 

working part-time because of poor 

economic conditions or an inability to 

find full-time work.
Part B Chapter 1 Page B1-12 Employment Concepts 

Further details on individual questions dealing with employment 

are in Part C, Chapter 4.
Part B, Chapter 2 

Unemployment Concepts

Topic See Page 

2.A Introduction B2-3 

2.B Looking for Work B2-3 

2.C On Layoff B2-4 

2.D Activity Prior to Job Search or Reasons for Job Search B2-5 

2.E Duration of Unemployment B2-5 

2.F Availability for Work B2-5 
Part B Chapter 2 Page B2-2 Unemployment Concepts 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B2-3 April 2015

PART B, CHAPTER 2 

UNEMPLOYMENT CONCEPTS 

2.A Unemployment Concepts 

The purpose of this chapter is to define 

unemployment and the related concepts of 

layoff, looking for work, duration of 

unemployment and availability for work. 

Further details on individual questions 

related to determining unemployment are 

contained in Part C, Chapter 4. 

Unemployed. Persons who did not work or 

have a job during the reference week, and 

who were actively looking for work during 

the last 4 weeks and were available for work 

during the reference week. 

 Those on layoff from a job during the 

reference week, who are expecting to be 

recalled to a job (regardless of whether or not 

they looked for work) and were available to 

return to their jobs if they had been recalled 

are also unemployed. 

You will ask persons who did not work or 

have a job last week about their job search 

activity and availability for work. For those 

who are actively looking for work, you will 

ask about the length of time they have been 

looking and about certain characteristics of 

their previous job. 

You will ask specific questions about recall 

expectations of persons who reported being 

on layoff. Those who expect to be recalled 

are asked how long they have been on 

layoff, and certain characteristics of the job 

from which they were on layoff. Those 

who do not expect to be recalled are asked 

whether they have been looking for work, 

and if so what job search methods they have 

used. 

Those who do not expect to be recalled are 

routed through the looking for work series. 

2.B LOOKING FOR WORK

To be considered unemployed, there are 

additional requirements. Correctly 

identifying job search methods of those 

looking for work is critical to classifying 

persons as unemployed. 

The definition of unemployed requires the 

use of an active job search method. 

Some job search methods are passive (for 

example, just looking at job postings online, 

reading newspaper ads, or attending job 

training classes) because they could not 

result in a job offer unless additional steps 

were taken. 

The distinction between active and passive 

job search methods is very important. A job 

seeker is classified as unemployed only if 

(s)he used at least one active job search 

Looking for Work. People look for 

work in a variety of ways. To be 

considered looking for work a person 

must have searched for a job within the 4 

weeks prior to the interview week.

Active Job Search. An active job search 

is one that could have resulted in a job 

offer without further action on the part of 

the job seeker.
Part B Chapter 2 Page B2-4 Unemployment Concepts 

method to look for work. If the person 

used only passive job search methods, or did 

nothing, then (s)he is classified as “not in 

the labor force (NILF).” 

 

Figure B2. Job Search Categories 

Active Job Search Methods

• Contacted employer directly/interview (for 

example, spoke to someone in a company’s 

employment office about a job, emailed 

personnel offices at various companies 

inquiring about job openings, or scheduled 

an interview) 

• Contacted public employment agency (for 

example, inquired about job openings listed 

at a state unemployment office or used a 

public employment agency’s online job 

search services) 

• Contacted private employment agency 

(for example, talked to a recruiter or head 

hunter) 

• Contacted friends or relatives (for 

example, asked friends for job leads or 

indicated job seeking status to friends via 

social network) 

• Contacted school/university employment 

center (for example, visited a college 

placement office ) 

• Sent out resume or filled out applications 

(for example, mailed a job application to an 

employer or posted a resume on a job 

website). 

• Checked union/professional registers (for 

example, placed name on a nurse’s register 

or checked union construction register) 

• Placed or answered ads (for example, 

responded to a job posting or placed an ad 

on a website indicating a person is looking 

for work) 

 • Other active (for example, bid on a 

contract or auditioned for a part in a play) 

Passive Job Search Methods

• Looked at ads (for example, only browsed 

job postings or read newspaper ads, but did 

not respond to any) 

• Attended job training programs/courses 

(for example, took a computer skills class) 

• Other passive (for example, studied for a 

real estate license or received email alerts 

about available jobs) 

2.C ON LAYOFF

You will ask persons who are reported to be 

on layoff questions about their expectation 

of recall, the length of time on layoff, 

whether they have been looking for work, 

and the industry and occupation of the job 

from which they were on layoff. 

Layoff. Persons are on layoff if they are 

not currently working, but are waiting to 

be recalled to a job from which they are 

temporarily separated for businessrelated reasons, such as temporary drops 

in demand, business downturns, plant 

remodeling, material shortages, and 

inventory taking. They must either have 

been given a date to report back to work 

or, if not given a date, must expect to be 

recalled to their job within 6 months. 

Persons on layoff do not need to look for 

work to be classified as unemployed. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B2-5 April 2015 

2.D ACTIVITY PRIOR TO JOB 

SEARCH or REASONS FOR JOB 

SEARCH

A person's activity prior to job search, or the 

reason (s)he started looking for work, 

determines whether to classify the person as 

having lost or left a job, or as having newly 

entered or reentered the labor force. 

 This information, in turn, identifies persons 

with previous work experience. 

You then go on to collect information about 

the previous job (Industry and occupation 

series). From this, we can get measures of 

the job skills of the unemployed. 

Keep in mind that we are trying to measure 

the activity immediately prior to the current 

period of job search.

If the person was working just prior to the 

current job search, we want to know how the 

person was separated from that previous job; 

whether they lost their job, quit their job, or 

had a temporary job that ended. 

2.E DURATION OF 

UNEMPLOYMENT

If a person was not unemployed in the 

previous month, you ask how long (s)he has 

been looking for work. The individual can 

respond in either weeks or months. It is 

your responsibility to record both how 

long the individual has been looking for 

work and whether the individual reported 

in weeks or months. 

 If the person has looked for work and was 

not unemployed in the previous month's 

interview, you ask how long (s)he has been 

looking for work or on layoff. If (s)he was 

unemployed in the previous month, the 

instrument automatically updates his/her 

duration of unemployment information from 

the previous month. 

2.F AVAILABILITY FOR 

WORK

You ask unemployed persons whether they 

could have started a job last week, if one had 

been offered. Please note that if the person 

attaches conditions to the type of work or 

work schedule they want, this does not 

affect their availability. For instance, people 

who can only work during certain hours, or 

who want a certain kind of work, WERE 

available for work. 

You ask persons who were unavailable for 

work last week the reason they were 

unavailable such as temporarily ill, waiting 

to start a new job, going to school or some 

other reason.
Part B Chapter 2 Page B2-6 Unemployment Concepts 

You can find further details on unemployment related 

questions in Part C, Chapter 4.
Part B, Chapter 3 

Not In Labor Force Concepts

Topic See Page 

3.A Introduction B3-3 

3.B Identifying Disabled, Unable to Work, and Retired B3-3 

3.C Job Market Attachment B3-4 
Part B Chapter 3 Page B3-2 Not In Labor Force Concepts
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B3-3 January 2007

PART B, CHAPTER 3 

NOT IN LABOR FORCE CONCEPTS 

3.A INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to define the 

concept of not in the labor force and other 

related concepts. Instructions for specific 

questions are contained in Part C, Chapter 4. 

3.B IDENTIFYING DISABLED, 

UNABLE TO WORK, AND 

RETIRED

In some of the questions that appear at the 

beginning of the labor force section you can 

select the answer categories "Disabled" or 

"Unable to work" when respondents 

volunteer this information. If one of these is 

provided, a probe follows to determine 

whether to skip or ask detailed questions 

about labor force activities. 

In order for a person to skip the labor force 

questions, a disability must be so severe that 

it completely incapacitates the individual 

and prevents him/her from doing any kind of 

work for at least the next 6 months (not just 

the type of work of the last job). 

Thus, a truck driver who is unable to drive a 

truck because of a heart condition might be 

able to do less strenuous work (for example, 

an office job as a personnel clerk). 

Likewise, do not assume that persons 

reported on Social Security Disability are 

completely incapacitated. They may be able 

to do some kind of work. 

For Unable to work to be used, the 

conditions listed under disabled must be 

met; that is, the person's medical condition 

prevents him/her from doing any kind of 

work, not just the type of work at his/her last 

job, for the next 6 months. 

The response category is provided because 

individuals with a temporary medical 

condition may not consider themselves as 

disabled (which to some people may signify 

a permanent condition) but rather are 

currently unable to work. During MIS 1 or 

5, person responding to “disabled” go to 

DIS1. Persons responding with "unable to 

work" skip to DIS2. 

You can also select "Retired" in certain 

initial questions. The questionnaire will 

route retired persons 50 years old or older 

who do not want a job, through an 

abbreviated set of labor force questions. 

Not in the labor force (NILF). A 

person who did not work last week, was 

not temporarily absent from a job, did not 

actively look for work in the previous 4 

weeks, or looked but was unavailable for 

work during the reference week; in other 

words, a person who was neither 

employed nor unemployed.

Disability. A specific physical or mental 

condition that prevents the individual 

from working. Not a combination of 

minor health problems that normally 

come with advanced age.
Part B Chapter 3 Page B3-4 Not In Labor Force Concepts

3.C JOB MARKET 

ATTACHMENT

Even though persons not in the labor force 

are not actively looking for work, many 

might want to work under certain 

conditions. The main purpose of a series of 

questions asked of NILF persons is to 

measure the extent of their attachment to the 

workforce. 

Questions are asked regarding desire for 

work, reasons for not looking for a job, 

recency of job search for work activity, and 

availability for work. 

One NILF category is particularly important 

to job market analysts; discouraged

workers. These are persons who say that 

they want a job, but are not looking for a 

reason related to the job market, such as "no 

work available," or "employer wants 

someone younger". (Reasons for not 

looking for work are outlined in Table C6 on 

page C4-25). In addition, a discouraged 

worker must have been available to work 

during the reference week, and have looked 

for work during the prior year (or since last 

working if employed during the past year). 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B3-5 January 2007

Further details for the not in labor force questions 

are contained in Part C, Chapter 4.

Part B, Chapter 4 

Industry and Occupation Data

Topic See Page 

4.A Introduction B4-3 

4.B Class of Worker B4-4 

4.C Industry B4-4 

4.D Occupation B4-5 

4.E Dependent Collection of Industry and Occupation Data B4-6 

4.F Industry and Occupation Feedback B4-7 

4.G Collection of Industry and Occupation for Second Job B4-7 
Part B Chapter 4 Page B4-2 Industry and Occupation Data
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B4-3 July 2008

PART B, CHAPTER 4 

INDUSTRY AND OCCUPATION DATA 

4.A INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to define the 

concepts related to the collection of industry 

and occupation (I&O) data. The chapter 

first addresses what we mean by a person's 

"class of worker." The next section (4.C) 

explains what type of industry information is 

needed and what the different types of 

industries are in the CPS. Section 4.D 

discusses occupation and the type of 

information you need to collect to determine 

it. Then section 4.E defines dependent 

interviewing. Section 4.F discusses the I&O 

feedback from Jeffersonville coders. The 

final section 4.G contains information about 

collecting I&O for a second job. Part C, 

Chapter 4 contains additional information on 

collecting industry and occupation data and 

reviews individual I&O questions. 

You will obtain information from all 

employed persons about the businesses and 

industries in which they work and about the 

type of work they do. You will also collect 

this information on the last job held from 

unemployed persons and a portion of those 

not in the labor force. The information you 

collect is an important part of labor force 

data. It enables researchers to analyze 

occupational and industrial shifts in the 

employment patterns of major population 

groups (e.g., the movement of women out of 

the more "traditional" clerical and service 

occupations into professional jobs). In 

addition, the industry and occupation data 

are important in explaining differences in 

earnings and income among major 

population groups. 

Years of experience have taught us that 

some businesses and jobs are extremely 

difficult to describe adequately. Without 

complete and accurate information, Industry 

and Occupation coders who convert these 

descriptions into 4-digit industry and 

occupation codes will not be able to do their 

jobs. Consequently, many users of these 

data will not have reliable statistics to 

analyze the economy and plan for growth 

and change. So you must be able to probe 

when you suspect that a respondent's answer 

is inadequate, in order to obtain complete 

and accurate I&O information. 

Depending on the person's current 

employment situation, you may be obtaining 

information on: 

● his/her current job, 

● his/her previous job, or 

● the job from which (s)he is on layoff. 

In all cases, the goal is to collect complete 

and accurate industry and occupation 

information. 

In a sample unit's first and fifth interview, 

you ask for complete industry and 

occupation information. After the first and 

fifth interview, industry and occupation 

information is collected using dependent 

interviewing as long as the RIP respondent 

allows you to verify their information with 

anyone in the household or you are speaking 

to the RIP respondent. In other words, you 

will not reask the original I&O questions 

unless the information obtained the previous 

month could not be coded, you are not 

speaking to the RIP respondent and the RIP 

respondent said that you could not verify the 
Part B Chapter 4 Page B4-4 Industry and Occupation Data

information originally provided with anyone 

in the household or a new household 

member must be added. This is discussed 

more in section 4.E. 

Most of this chapter will focus on the firsttime collection of I&O data; there is also a 

section that describes updating the I&O data 

from interview number 1. 

4.B CLASS OF WORKER

The "class of worker" questions precede the 

industry and occupation items and provide 

information on who the specified person 

worked for. That is, did (s)he work for the 

government (federal, state, or local); a 

private for profit company; a private, not for 

profit company; himself/ herself in his/her 

own incorporated or unincorporated 

business or farm; or a family business or 

farm without pay. 

"Class of worker" categories and examples 

of each are shown in Figure B3. 

 

Figure B3. Class of Worker Types 

 Federal Government (for example, employees of 

the U.S. government, such as, IRS, Census Bureau, 

FBI; postal employees, employees of foreign 

governments) 

 State Government (for example, state police, state 

university professors) 

 Local Government (for example, city-owned power 

companies, most public school teachers) 

 Private for profit company (for example, works for 

wages, salary or tips in a company that intends to 

make a profit) 

 Private, not for profit company (for example, 

works for wages or salary for a church, union, 

association, or foundation) 

 Self-employed (for example, his/her own 

incorporated or unincorporated business or farm)

 Family business or farm, without pay

The instrument determines each person's 

class of worker based on your entries in the 

class of worker questions (IO1INT, 

IO1GVT, and IO1INC). Refer to Part C, 

Chapter 4 for a review of these questions. 

Determining class of worker before 

collecting other I&O information allows the 

instrument to tailor the I&O questions for 

each person. This information also helps 

coders determine the correct industry and 

occupation codes to assign. 

4.C INDUSTRY

The goal of the questions on industry/ 

business is to get the name of the specified 

person's employer and to determine what 

kind of industry or business it is. 

4.C.1 Employer Name 

Census employees in Jeffersonville, Indiana 

assign industry codes based on employer 

name and the business or industry 

description you provide. Though some 

respondents are reluctant to provide the 

name of their employer, this information is 

very helpful in assigning the correct industry 

code. Without badgering the respondent, 

make every effort to collect this information. 

In some cases, it may only be necessary to 

reassure respondents of the confidentiality 

of the survey data. 

4.C.2 Kind of Business or Industry 

To ensure that coders can assign an accurate 

industry code, you need to collect a clear 

and specific description of the kind of 

business or industry for which the specified 

person worked. 

The following descriptions are too 

general: 

 "he works in a mine" 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B4-5 July 2008

 "he works for a repair service" 

 “she works with computers" 

In contrast, the following examples are 

more specific: 

 he works in a copper mine 

 he works for a shoe repair service 

 she works for a company that writes 

computer software packages 

4.C.3 Determining if Industry is 

Manufacturing, Wholesale or Retail 

The distinction between the different types 

of industries is important. Special care must 

be taken to distinguish between the 

following industries because they are hard to 

code when this information is not provided: 

 manufacturing 

 wholesale 

 retail 

A manufacturing company makes and 

sells its products in large lots to other 

manufacturers, wholesalers, or retailers. 

A wholesale establishment buys, rather 

than makes, products in large quantities for 

resale to retailers, industrial users, or to 

other wholesalers. 

A retailer sells primarily to individual 

consumers or users but seldom makes 

products. 

Industries that do not manufacture or sell 

wholesale or retail fall into the "something 

else" category. Examples include 

companies such as a car repair shop, an 

accounting firm, a medical center, a trucking 

company, or a bank. 

Some firms are engaged in more than one 

business or activity. When this is the case, 

you will need to do additional probing to 

determine the most appropriate category. If 

the firm does the activities at different 

locations, (an example is a firm that makes 

copy machines at one location and 

chemicals used by the machines at another) 

collect the data for the location where the 

respondent works. If the firm does several 

activities at the same location, such as a 

gasoline station that also sells groceries, 

probe to determine which product is most 

important (an example is gasoline sales). 

4.D OCCUPATION

I&O coders assign occupation codes on the 

basis of the kind of work the specified 

person usually does and on a description of 

his/her most important activities or duties. 

The coding of the data that you collect on 

occupation is done in the same place that 

industry data are coded (Jeffersonville, 

Indiana). Just as was the case for the 

industry data, complete and accurate 

information is important here. Instructions 

on how to collect occupation/job data appear 

below. 

4.D.1 Kind of Work (Occupation) 

This is what a person does, that is, his/her 

occupation (for example, civil engineer, auto 

mechanic, corporate lawyer). This is not 

necessarily his/her job title. 

For some occupations, the common 

descriptions given by respondents are 

simply not sufficient for the Jeffersonville 

coders to assign the correct occupation code. 

(See Appendix 2, “Examples of Occupations 

for which Special Care is Necessary”). 

Inadequate descriptions occur so frequently 

for some occupations that it is possible to 

list them and to suggest useful follow-up 

probes (See Table C8, “Difficult to Code 

Occupations”, on page C4-40). 
Part B Chapter 4 Page B4-6 Industry and Occupation Data

4.D.2 Usual Activities or Duties

Information about usual activities or duties 

is very important for assigning an accurate 

occupation code. This information permits 

more accurate coding of occupation, 

especially when a simple job title does not 

provide enough information to code. 

4.E DEPENDENT COLLECTION 

OF INDUSTRY AND 

OCCUPATION DATA

As mentioned in the introduction of this 

chapter, you use dependent interviewing 

procedures to collect industry and 

occupation (I&O) data in households in their 

second through fourth and sixth through 

eighth interviews. To conduct dependent 

interviewing, a person must meet all three of 

the following conditions: 

1. (S)he is employed in the current month 

and was employed in the previous 

month. 

2. A complete description of I&O 

information was provided in the 

previous month that Jeffersonville was 

able to code properly. 

3. The RIP respondent stated that you 

could verify the information with 

anyone in the household or you are 

speaking to the RIP respondent. 

If these conditions are met, the dependent 

I&O questions will come up. If they are not 

met, you will ask the usual set of I&O 

questions. 

You provide respondents with I&O 

information from the prior month's interview 

and then ask: 

 if (s)he still works for the same company,

 if his/her usual activities and duties have 

changed,

 if the information on occupation and usual 

activities reported in the previous month is 

accurate. 

In addition to reducing respondent and 

interviewer burden, dependent interviewing 

procedures also reduce the number of false 

changes in industry and occupation codes 

from month to month. However, to 

accomplish the latter, it is important that 

you obtain complete and accurate 

information from respondents during 

that crucial first (or fifth) interview. 

If you have doubts about the adequacy of 

a particular job or occupational 

description use the following rule of 

thumb: 

One word responses to the 

question on occupation (for 

example, clerk, engineer, manager, 

nurse, teacher) are usually far too 

general to be coded accurately.

Whenever very brief responses are given 

to this question, probe to obtain a more 

specific response.

Dependent interviewing. Information 

supplied during an earlier interview (for 

example, interview number 1) is used in 

the current interview (for example, 

interview number 2), if possible. In the 

case of I&O, you will have access to the 

previous month's information and will 

verify that the information is still correct.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B4-7 July 2008

4.F INDUSTRY AND 

OCCUPATION FEEDBACK

If the information you collected in prior 

month's interviews could not be coded in 

Jeffersonville, you will be provided with 

Feedback). This feedback will help you to 

probe for the answers you will need in order to 

ensure that the I&O information can be coded. 

You will receive feedback for a maximum of 

two persons per household. 

You should review all cases that have this 

referral flag before contacting that household. 

The I&O feedback statement will appear as 

shown in Figure B4 if there is feedback for a 

person. 

Figure B4. Example of I & O Feedback Item 

Screen 

4.G COLLECTION OF INDUSTRY 

AND OCCUPATION FOR 

SECOND JOB

You will also collect industry and 

occupation data for a person's second job)

during interview numbers 4 and 8. In these 

months, you ask additional questions to 

collect I&O information for the second job 

of all persons who report having more than 

one job. This information is coded in 

Jeffersonville the same way as the 

information on the person's main job.ensure 

that the I&O information can be coded. You 

will receive feedback for a maximum of two 

persons per household.
Part B Chapter 4 Page B4-8 Industry and Occupation Data

Read Part C, Chapter 4 for additional 

information on collecting industry 

and occupation data.
Part B, Chapter 5 

Earnings and Union Membership Concepts

Topic See Page 

5.A Introduction B5-3 

5.B Earnings Concepts and Procedures B5-3 

5.C Union Membership and Coverage Concepts B5-4 
Part B Chapter 5 Page B5-2 Earnings & Union 

Membership Concepts 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B5-3 January 2007

PART B, CHAPTER 5 

EARNINGS AND UNION MEMBERSHIP CONCEPTS 

5.A INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to explain the 

concepts related to earnings and union 

membership and to give an overview of the 

section of the CPS instrument that contains 

earnings and union membership questions. 

Detailed earnings information can be found 

in Part C, Chapter 4. 

You collect earnings and union membership 

information for employed civilian household 

members (15 years of age or older) who are 

wage and salary workers in private industry, 

or at any level of government, or selfemployed in an incorporated business. You 

collect this information only during the 

household's interview numbers 4 and 8. 

Few respondents are enthusiastic about 

providing information on earnings. A fair 

number will want to know why we collect 

earnings data in an employment survey. 

The answer is that the Federal government 

(for example, Council of Economic 

Advisors, Federal Reserve Board) and 

various business and labor organizations 

need timely data on earnings for different 

segments of the population. They use 

earnings data to compare the weekly 

earnings of individuals in different 

population groups (for example, men, 

women, young workers, elderly workers, 

whites, blacks, Hispanics) or occupation 

categories (for example, bakers, carpenters, 

nurses, and teachers). These data are also 

used to track increases in earnings over time 

in order to assess how well earnings are 

performing relative to changes in living 

costs (as measured by the Consumer Price 

Index). The data also allow us to determine 

how many Americans are working at or 

below the minimum wage. Accurate and 

timely data of this type are essential for 

successfully managing our economy. 

Only about one-fourth of the sample is 

eligible to answer these questions each 

month. This means that it is important that 

you attempt to convert refusals and get 

accurate responses for these items. High 

nonresponse rates seriously reduce the 

reliability of the data. 

 

5.B EARNINGS CONCEPTS AND 

PROCEDURES

During interview numbers 4 and 8, you 

collect earnings for all eligible household 

members. You ask for the easiest way for 

them to report earnings (for example, 

hourly, weekly, annually, etc.). The 

instrument will then tailor additional 

earnings questions for the specified person 

on that basis. 

5.B.1 Amount of Earnings 

You must collect earnings information on 

gross pay.

Be alert to cases where the respondent is 

thinking of net or take-home pay (gross pay 

minus deductions). If (s)he knows only 

take-home pay, try to get the total salary or 

gross pay by asking the respondent to 

estimate payroll deductions. 

Gross pay. The total dollar amount 

usually received by the wage earner 

before deductions for federal/state 

income taxes, social security, union dues, 

etc. 
Part B Chapter 5 Page B5-4 Earnings & Union 

Membership Concepts 

Include piece rate income as earnings. 

Persons working in garment making or food 

packaging often receive this type of income. 

Also count college assistantships and 

fellowships and on the job training as 

earnings. 

Do not include pay in kind, such as food or 

lodging for work, or expense accounts as 

earnings. 

5.B.2 Hourly Workers 

From hourly workers, you obtain hourly rate 

of pay, the usual number of hours worked at 

that rate and the amount and periodicity of 

overtime, tips, and commissions usually 

received in order to calculate an estimated 

weekly earnings amount. You then verify 

this amount with the respondent. 

In some cases, a person's hours may vary 

considerably. Try to get an average number 

of hours worked per week for persons whose 

schedule varies from week to week. 

5.B.3 Non-Hourly Workers 

As stated earlier, the instrument will tailor 

the earnings questions to whatever 

periodicity the respondent reports is easiest 

for each household member (weekly, 

monthly, etc.). 

However, the BLS needs estimates of hourly 

wage workers so they can study minimumwage workers. Therefore, you ask an 

additional question of persons who do not 

report that it is easiest to report their 

earnings hourly to determine if they are paid 

at an hourly rate. 

5.B.4 Overtime Pay, Tips, and 

Commissions 

You will also ask if persons usually receive 

overtime pay, tips, or commissions. Persons 

paid by the hour will be asked how much 

they usually receive. 

5.C UNION MEMBERSHIP AND 

COVERAGE CONCEPTS

During interview numbers 4 and 8, you ask 

about labor union or employee association 

membership on the person's sole or main 

job. Select "yes" for these questions if the 

person is a member of a labor union or an 

association that serves as a collective 

bargaining representative for the person. 

You will ask persons who are not members 

of a union or employee association whether 

or not (s)he is covered by a union or 

employee association contract at their sole 

or main job. Covered means: there is a 

contract between their employer and a union 

or association that affects the wages, 

working conditions, and/or benefits at the 

job. 

Associations that engage in the activities 

performed by unions, but are not identified 

as such, can be categorized into two types: 

 professional associations, (for example, 

the National Education Association, 

American Nurses Association)

 government employee associations, (for 

example, state employee associations) 

Hourly earnings. Hourly earnings is 

the hourly rate as stated by the employer, 

expressed precisely in dollars and cents. 

It does not include tips, commissions, or 

any other non-hourly wages. Try to get 

as precise a figure as possible.

Earnings not reported as hourly. 

Round to the nearest whole dollar. If 

the respondent reports 50 cents or 

more beyond a whole dollar, round up 

to the next dollar. If (s)he reports a 

value that is a multiple of $50, ask if it 

is an exact value.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page B5-5 January 2007

END OF PART B

The next section of this manual contains details on conducting 

a CPS interview and provides additional instructions 

for questions that may give you difficulty. 

PART C 

THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY 

INSTRUMENT 

 

April 2015 
Part C, Chapter 1 

Overview of the CPS Instrument

Topic See Page

1.A Introduction C1-3

1.B Automatic Selection of Questions for Each Interview C1-3

1.C Screen Layout C1-3

1.D Place Markers C1-5

1.E Methods of Making Entries C1-8

1.F Navigation and Use of Special Keys C1-11

1.G Error Messages C1-15

1.H Help Screens C1-16

1.I Flashcard/Information Booklet C1-16

1.J Starting the Interview Program C1-16

1.K Exiting from a Partially Completed Interview C1-20

1.L Completing a Partial Interview C1-20

1.M Exiting from a Completed interview C1-21

1.N Program Error Recovery C1-22
Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-2 Overview of CPS Instrument
PART C, CHAPTER 1

OVERVIEW OF THE CPS INSTRUMENT

1.A INTRODUCTION

We refer to the computer software that runs 

the questionnaire as the instrument. 

Chapters 3 and 4 cover the middle of the 

instrument; that is, the demographic 

questions and the labor force questions.

This chapter describes how the questions are 

selected for each interview, screen layout, 

place markers, navigation and the use of 

special keys, error messages, help screens, 

and flashcards.

There are instructions for starting the 

interview program, exiting from a partially 

completed interview, resuming a partial 

interview, and exiting a completed 

interview. 

The CPS instrument is broken into three 

sections known as the front, middle, and 

back. Chapter 2 deals with the front of the 

instrument. Chapter 5 describes the back of 

the instrument, and Chapter 6 is a detailed

discussion of noninterviews.

1.B AUTOMATIC SELECTION 

OF QUESTIONS FOR EACH 

INTERVIEW

The interviewing program decides which 

questions to display, based on data input 

about the address, plus the information you 

enter about the household members.

For example, the labor force questions are 

not asked about anyone who is under 15 

years of age.

You ask demographic questions the first 

time you interview a household to determine 

the composition of the household and the 

characteristics of its members. In later 

months, the instrument passes information 

forward for you to verify and correct if 

necessary. This is done through dependent 

interviewing. See Part B, Chapter 4 for a 

discussion of dependent interviewing.

1.C SCREEN LAYOUT

Throughout the program, each item screen 

displays the question you will ask. It 

contains response options (if applicable) and 

information about what to do next. The 

computer fills the appropriate proper names, 

pronouns, verbs, and reference dates into the 

text of the questions. 

Components of a Screen

Most screens in the CPS instrument can be 

divided into two basic parts:

• The Information (Info) Pane, which

includes the question text with possible 

answer categories (if any), and 

• The Form Pane , which includes a

summary list of the data items to be 

collected.

With each question you ask during the 

interview, you will interact with these two 

basic screen parts.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-3 August 2013
You will look at the Info Pane:

• To read the question you must ask (or

instruction you must follow).

• To find the appropriate answer in the list

of possible answer categories (if any).

You will look at the Form Pane:

• To make the appropriate entry (numeric

code or alphabetic characters).

These two basic parts are described in more 

detail below.

Info Pane

The Info Pane (Figure C1a, page C1-6) is 

located on the top portion of the screen.

It includes some or all of the following 

elements:

• Question text in bold black letters

• Interviewer instruction in blue letters (if

applicable). A blue diamond identifies the 

Interviewer instruction.

The Info pane also includes the list of 

possible answer categories (if any) around 

the middle portion of the screen. Each 

option on the list of answer categories has a 

predetermined numeric code or “precode” to 

distinguish it from the others. The precode 

is what you must enter in the Form Pane 

(described below) to record the respondent’s 

answer(s). There are some questions that 

will have a long list of possible answers and 

that allow you to enter more than one 

answer. In this instance, you will enter each 

precode separated by commas. 

Form Pane

The Form Pane (Figure C1a, page C1-6) is 

located on the bottom portion of the screen, 

and it is where your entries will be recorded 

in the instrument. The Form Pane provides a 

summary list of the data items to be 

collected, and can give you a sense of where 

you are, and how much ground you must 

cover to complete a given section. You will 

sometimes find that a single Form Pane will 

cover a whole section, in which case the 

Form Pane will give you a complete list of 

all the data items you will collect in that 

section. In most cases, however, you will 

find that more than one Form Pane is needed 

to cover a section.

The Form Pane can appear in one of two 

basic formats:

• In table, or grid, format (Figure C1b, page 

C1-7) or 

• In column format (Figure C1a, page C1-6)

The table format is used when there is 

sufficient space on the screen to allow 

Interviewers to collect – on a row-by-row 

basis – the same set of details for any item 

listed on the left-most column. In the table 

format, the instrument will drive you to 

move – or “navigate” – from left to right. 

This means that each time you enter an item 

in the left-most column, the instrument will 

drive you across that same row – from left to 

right – to collect more details about that 

item.

In the column format, the instrument will 

drive you to navigate from top to bottom for 

each column that appears in the Form Pane.

Two-level Screen Interaction

Each question or instruction displayed in the 

Info Pane appears as an item label in the 

Form Pane, thus allowing space on the 

bottom half to trace all of the entries you 

make in a section (or in a subsection, in 

those cases where the section is so long that 

it covers more than one Form Pane). The 

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-4 Overview of CPS Instrument
Info Pane constantly changes as you move 

item by item. By contrast, the Form Pane 

remains stationary until you either reach the 

end of the Form Pane or exit the Form Pane. 

As you enter answers in the Form Pane, the 

layout of the Form Pane itself will not 

change, only the contents of the Form Pane 

change as the instrument fills in your entries 

next to the appropriate item labels.

1.D PLACE MARKERS

Cursor

The cursor is one of several features in the 

instrument that helps you determine your 

location. The cursor is what tells you where 

you are on the screen. It is the blinking 

vertical line in the Form Pane that marks the 

precise spot where your entry will be 

recorded. Always make sure that the cursor 

is where you want it before you start 

keying. Otherwise, you could key the 

answer in the wrong place, and you could 

even over-write some of your previous 

entries.

Case ID

The first label on the bottom margin of the 

Form Pane, also referred to as the status bar 

(Figure C1a, page C1-6), is the Case ID. 

This tells you which case (of all the CPS 

cases on your computer) you are 

interviewing. Along with the screen name 

(described below), the Case ID is a useful 

place marker to give whenever you report 

any instrument questions or problems to 

your regional office.

Screen Name

The screen name is what is used to identify 

each question. The screen name is the 

second label on the status bar (Figure C1a). 

Each data entry point in the Form Pane has a 

corresponding screen name, which is unique 

throughout the instrument (unlike the 

column headings and other item labels in the 

Form Pane which are not unique). Since 

each screen name is unique (no two data 

entry points will have the same screen 

name), the screen name is the one place 

marker you should always include whenever 

you have to describe your location in the 

instrument.

This is especially true when you need to 

report any instrument problems to your 

regional office. When reporting problems, 

make sure you use the screen name located 

on the status bar (e.g., IO1INT in Figure 

C1a). Do not use the item label preceding 

the cursor in a Form Pane with column 

formatting (e.g., “Employed” in Figure C1a) 

nor the column heading in a Form Pane with 

table formatting (e.g., “Name” in Figure 

C1b, page C1-7).

Interview Number

The interview number is the fifth label on 

the status bar (Figure C1a). This number 

tells you if you are conducting a first-time 

interview (month in sample 1) or if you are 

interviewing a continuing case (month in 

sample 2-8).

Respondent Name

The respondent name is the sixth label on 

the status bar (Figure C1a). It is there to 

remind you with whom you are speaking, in 

case you change respondents in the middle 

of the interview.

Text Color and Shading

The text of the questions, the Interviewer 

instructions, and the answer categories in the 

instrument may appear in different colors 

and shading. The instrument uses the text’s 

color and shading as an instruction (telling 

you how to react to the text), or as a place 

marker (telling you where you are on the 

screen). For example, whenever you see the 

bright blue text of an Interviewer

instruction, you know that you are not

supposed to read it to the respondent. 

Likewise, whenever you see an item label 

highlighted in blue in the Form Pane, you 

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-5 August 2013
know that this is where your cursor is 

located. Below are other examples of how 

the instrument uses text color and shading:

Bold black text in the Info Pane

This indicates question text that must be 

read to the respondent (Figure C1a). 

Regular black text in the Info Pane

This indicates answer categories that you 

should not read to the respondent 

(Figure C1a). In the event that answer 

categories should be read, an Interviewer 

instruction will indicate so.

Grayed out text in the Info Pane

This indicates optional text and it is not 

required that you read this to the respondent 

(Figure C1c).

Bright blue text in the Info Pane

This indicates that the text is an instruction 

for you to follow and it should not be read 

to the respondent (Figure C1b) unless an 

Interviewer instruction tells you to do so.

Figure C1a. Screen Illustration (Column Format)

Menu Bar

Tabs

Answer Categories

(Regular Black Text)

Case ID

Screen Name

Interview Number

(month in sample)

Form Pane

(in Column 

Format)

Info Pane

Respondent Name

Question Text

(Bold Black Text)

Status Bar

Title Bar

Item Label

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-6 Overview of CPS Instrument
Figure C1b. Screen Illustration (Table, or Grid, 

Format)

Figure C1c. Screen Illustration (Grayed out ext)

Question Text

(Bold Black Text)

Interviewer Instruction 

(Bright Blue Text)

Form Pane 

(in Table 

Format)

Optional Text 

(Grayed-out Text)

Interviewer Instruction

(Bright Blue Text)

Question Text

(Bold Black Text)

Answer Categories

(Regular Black Text)

Column Label

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-7 August 2013
1.E METHODS OF MAKING 

ENTRIES

For most items, you make an entry by either 

entering a number or letter in the Form 

Pane, or by using your mouse to select the 

radio button or checkbox next to the precode 

in the Info Pane. For a few of the questions, 

you type several words, such as the name of 

the respondent's employer or his/her job title 

or tasks.

Frequently, the instrument displays a list of 

options as illustrated in Figure C2a. You 

select a number from this list and press the 

corresponding key, unless the respondent 

does not know the answer or refuses to give 

an answer.

If the respondent does not know the answer 

for a certain item, try to obtain an estimate

by neutral probing. If you cannot, then 

press Ctrl D for “don't know.” The ?

symbol will appear in the Form Pane to 

confirm the “don’t know” entry. 

Information to fill a “don't know” item 

sometimes turns up later in the interview 

(for example, the person who knows the 

answer may come home from work). In this 

case, you may be able to use the function 

keys to skip back to the item(s) and replace 

the “don’t know” with a better answer. 

Pressing Ctrl M will allow you to view 

which entries currently have a “don’t 

know” or “refused” response.

If the respondent declines to answer a 

certain question despite your persuasive 

efforts, press Ctrl R for “refused.” The ! 

symbol will appear in the Form Pane to 

confirm the “refused” entry. 

Figure C2a. ORISPN, Main Item in Origin Series

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-8 Overview of CPS Instrument
NOTE: You can enter Ctrl D or Ctrl R for 

most items. They are not always displayed 

on the screen as options because they are 

only for situations where you cannot get a 

valid answer. 

If you enter an unacceptable response, a 

dialog box will appear on the screen 

showing an error message telling you that 

your entry was “invalid.” This happens, for 

example, if you enter “3” when the only 

options shown on the screen are “1” for yes 

and “2” for no. When the computer 

message appears, press ENTER or click 

“OK” and then type the correct entry.

Most items cannot be left blank. If you 

press ENTER without first typing a 

response, the instrument prompts you to 

enter a valid response by either displaying 

the message “Item cannot be left blank” or 

by remaining on the item that requires an 

entry. Type a valid response, then press 

ENTER.

When there is a long list of options (such as 

ethnic origin or income level), hand your job 

aid (flash card) booklet to the respondent. 

Ask him/her to tell you the number of the 

correct response.

When an open-ended question appears, type 

the answer, followed by ENTER. If there is 

a second blank line, press ENTER when you 

have no more information to type. Figure 

C2b illustrates a screen of this type.

Figure C2b. IO1DT2, Sample Screen With Open-Ended Question

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-9 August 2013
Try to enter all the necessary information, 

without abbreviating, at the time of the 

interview. Once you have made an entry for 

every question and exited from the program, 

the interview is complete. You cannot go 

back into the program and edit the answers. 

(You can go back into partially completed 

interviews, however, as described in section 

1.K of this chapter.)

The data entry fields for numeric items 

such as telephone number are set up with 

appropriate dashes and parentheses, as 

illustrated in the TELPHN screen, 

Figure C2c. In these fields, type only the 

digits, not the punctuation. The cursor skips 

automatically to the next space that you will 

fill with a digit.

Figure C2c. TELPHN, Numeric Entry With Punctuation Filled in Advance

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-10 Overview of CPS Instrument
1.F NAVIGATION AND USE OF 

SPECIAL KEYS

1.F.1 Navigating in the instrument

There are many different ways to navigate in 

the instrument using either the mouse or the 

keyboard. Because the use of the mouse is 

very intuitive (that is, you can easily guess 

where you should point and click in order to 

get somewhere or to enter something), this 

manual and any CPS instrument training you 

receive will focus mainly on how to 

navigate and enter data through the use of 

the keyboard.

Mouse or Keyboard - You can use only the 

keyboard, or only the mouse that is 

embedded in your laptop (immediately 

below the keyboard), or you can use both –

going back and forth between the two – to 

navigate through the instrument or to make 

data entries. 

Arrow Keys - You will use the arrow keys 

mostly when navigating sequentially from 

one item to the next. Use your Left and 

Right Arrows to navigate horizontally and 

your Up and Down Arrows to navigate 

vertically (Figure C3 on page C1-12).

Page Up/Page Down Keys - You will use 

the Page Up and Page Down keys when 

navigating sequentially from one Form Pane 

to the next (Figure C3). Note that you 

cannot page down to the next Form Pane 

until you have completed the Form Pane 

where your cursor is located. You may also 

have to readjust your cursor when you page 

down or page up to a new Form Pane, 

because the instrument always places you on 

the first item of the Form Pane.

END Key – You will use the END key to 

quickly move to the next unanswered 

question.

Tabs - There are a series of tabs located 

above the Info Pane (Figure C1a). Each tab 

directs you to a different screen in the 

instrument, allowing you to quickly view 

additional information or take a specific 

action:

CPS = exit any tab and return to the 

interview

ADDR = view the address and current 

phone number for the household

FAQ = access the answer to a frequently 

asked question that your respondent may be 

asking (e.g., What is this survey all about? 

Who uses this information? Is this survey 

authorized by law?)

Chg Resp = change the respondent

ROS = view the household roster

OPTOUT = (used in February/March/April 

ONLY) identify individuals who wish to opt 

out of having their data from the ASEC 

supplement linked to administrative records 

(a more detailed discussion on the use of this 

feature is included in the yearly refresher 

training and ASEC materials)

F9 = skip over a person in the household in 

Basic CPS 

CTRL_F9 = skip over a person in the 

household in a supplement

Exit/F10 = exit the interview and go to the 

screens where you can schedule an 

appointment

1.F.2 Special Keys

These keys allow you to do special things or 

do things more quickly during an interview. 

For example, you can back up to a previous 

screen to correct an entry or add notes to 

explain an unusual response. The operation 

of each special key is described in Table C1 

(see page C1-13 and C1-14) and also 

summarized in your computer templates.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-11 August 2013
Figure C3. Sample Keyboard Illustration

Touch Pad 

(Laptop Mouse)

END

Right 

Arrow

Page 

Up

Page 

Down

Up 

Arrow

Down 

Arrow

Left 

Arrow

CTRL Key

SHIFT Key

CTRL Key

SHIFT Key

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-12 Overview of CPS Instrument
Table C1. Function Keys and Special Keys

Key/Key 

Stroke

Action Description

F1 Question Help Shows help for the current question.

Shift-F1 Show HH Shows the household roster.

Ctrl-F1 Opt Out Shows the OPTOUT screen. (Used in February, March, 

and April only)

Shift-F2 FAQs Shows the help screen for Frequently Asked Questions 

(FAQs).

Ctrl-F3 Show Question Text Shows question text.

F4 Menu for Section 

Tabs

Allows you quick access to the Section Tabs, which 

access certain sections of the instrument.

Shift-F4 Show HH Address Shows the Household address.

Shift-F5 Language Allows you to switch to the Spanish version of the 

questions. When you select Spanish, the current 

question and every question thereafter will be displayed 

in Spanish. Press Shift-F5 again and select English to 

return to the English version. 

F7 Item Notes/Remarks Permits you to enter notes for specific items within the 

instrument.

Shift-F7 Show Notes/Remarks Permits you to view the notes you have previously 

entered for an item. If notes exist for a particular item, a 

paperclip symbol will appear next to the item label in 

the Form Pane. Press Shift-F7 to view the notes. These 

notes are item-level notes and do not allow you to 

access the case-level notes that are entered elsewhere 

and viewed differently.

Ctrl-F7 Case Level Notes Calls the Case Level Notes editor.

F8 Return Returns you to the place where a skip was initiated.

F9 Skip to Next Person Skips over the current or next person in the roster to get 

to someone else listed further down in the roster while 

in Basic CPS.

Shift-F9 Change Respondent Permits you to change the respondent.

Ctrl-F9 Supplement Skip 

Person

Skips over the current or next person in the roster to get 

to someone else listed further down in the roster while 

in a supplement.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-13 August 2013
Table C1. Function Keys and Special Keys (continued)

Key/Key 

Stroke

Action Description

F10 Exit Use to exit when the respondent breaks off the 

interview before you can complete the interview. The 

program goes forward to the screens where you can 

schedule a callback. The instrument sets the interview 

status to "partially completed" so that you can resume 

it later when the respondent is available.

Shift-F10 Show Function Keys Permits you to view a help screen with the definition of 

all available function keys.

F11 Calculator Opens the calculator.

F12 Copy Down Copies the entry from the field above.

Ctrl-D Don’t Know Enters a response of “Don’t Know.”

Ctrl-H Blaise Info Shows Blaise version information.

Ctrl-M Show Don’t Know

and Refused

Search/View all items with a response of “Don’t 

Know” or “Refused.”

Ctrl-R Refused Enters a response of “Refused.”

Ctrl-T Interviewer Time 

Preference Screen

Allows you to use boosts and blocks to select the best 

or worst time to call or visit a household for the next 

month’s interview (not for a callback this month). 

END Next Unanswered Moves to the next unfilled/unanswered question.

> Up arrow key Backs up (upward) to the previous item or field.

? Down arrow key Moves forward (downward) to the next item or field, 

where permitted. You cannot move forward past an 

unfilled item. 

= Left arrow key Backs up (leftward) to the previous item or previous 

field.

< Right arrow key Moves forward (rightward) to the next item or field, 

where permitted. You cannot move forward past an 

unfilled item. 

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-14 Overview of CPS Instrument
1.G ERROR MESSAGES

Whenever you do something that is not 

allowed, the instrument will alert you by 

displaying an error message. 

There are two basic types of error messages:

• Hard error messages, and

• Soft error messages

Hard Errors

“Hard” errors are those which you must 

correct before the instrument will allow you 

to move on. A hard error message, 

therefore, will never give you the option to 

suppress (or ignore) the entry that is 

supposedly in error (Figure C4a). However, 

it will allow you to enter “G” to “Go to” the 

problem entry(ies) so that you can make the 

correction.

Soft Errors

“Soft” errors are those which you do not 

need to resolve before you can move on.

A soft error message, therefore, will always 

allow you to enter “S” to “Suppress” the 

entry that is supposedly in error (Figure 

C4b). It also gives you the option to “Go 

to” the problem entry(ies) and make the 

correction.

Figure C4a. Hard Error Message

You are not allowed to 

“suppress” the invalid 

response.

Figure C4b. Soft Error Message

You are allowed to 

“suppress” the invalid 

response. 

Active 

“Suppress” 

button

Inactive 

“Suppress” 

button

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-15 August 2013
1.H HELP SCREENS

There are several screens in the instrument 

for which you can access a separate “Help” 

screen that contains additional information. 

If a help screen is available for the current 

screen, this will be indicated by “?[F1]” in 

bright blue text at the top of the Info Pane. 

To get to the Help screen, you press F1 at 

the screen where “?[F1]” appears. 

1.I FLASHCARD/ 

INFORMATION BOOKLET

Occasionally, flashcards are used with 

certain screens. When a flashcard is used 

with a screen, you will see a bright blue 

book icon () located at the top of the Info 

Pane (as shown in Figure C2a on page C1-

8). This indicates that you should show the 

flashcard to the respondent. In the event that 

the flashcard is to be read to the respondent, 

you will see an Interviewer instruction in the 

Info Pane. 

1.J STARTING THE 

INTERVIEW PROGRAM

When you are ready to go to the door of a 

household for a personal visit, or dial the 

household for a telephone interview, it is 

time to start up the interview program.

1.J.1 Entering Case Management

There are a number of ways to enter Case 

Management. 

Using the Mouse

• Move the mouse arrow onto the CPS 

(Windows) icon on your desktop and 

double-click the left mouse button or 

Touch Pad button. OR

• Move the mouse arrow onto the Start 

button and single-click the left mouse 

button or Touch Pad button and a menu 

will appear. Move the mouse over 

“Programs” and a second menu will 

appear. Highlight CPS (Windows) and 

click the left mouse button or Touch Pad 

button, or tap the touch pad. OR

Using the Keyboard

• Press the Windows key on your laptop 

and a menu will appear. Press “P” for 

Programs and a second menu will appear. 

Arrow down to CPS (Windows) and press 

ENTER.

Once the program opens, click on the Case 

Management Window to make it active and 

press ESC to bypass ALMI and go directly 

into Case Management. Once you’re in 

Case Management you will see that the 

screen is divided into two parts. The upper 

half of the screen is your Case List pane, 

while the lower half of the screen is your 

Details pane. You will also see Menus and 

Tool Bar Icons/Function Keys along the top 

of the screen.

1.J.2 Menus

Menus are located along the top of your 

screen and are labeled: 

File Edit View Actions Help 

In Windows Case Management there will be 

some things that can only be accomplished 

through the use of the menus (i.e. no 

function key). All actions that may be 

performed with a function or shortcut key 

may also be performed through menus. 

To access a menu, press the ALT key and 

the one underlined letter of the menu you 

want displayed. To make the selection, 

either use the arrow keys to highlight your

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-16 Overview of CPS Instrument
selection and press ENTER or press the 

underlined key.

NOTE: You may also use your mouse to 

point and click on menus and sub-menu 

options instead of using the keyboard.

1.J.3 Tool Bar Icons/Function Keys

Tool Bar icons are the buttons located below 

the menus with the function key labels. 

These are here mostly as a reminder of what 

the function keys do. 

F1 – Help: Displays the Help information 

about the active window.

F2 – Interview: Initiates an interview for 

the selected case. If you selected the correct 

case, click “OK” or press ENTER. If you 

selected the wrong case, click “Cancel” or 

highlight “Cancel” using the “TAB” key and 

press ENTER.

F3 – Next Tab: Controls the display in the 

Details Pane by moving you from tab to tab.

F4 – Details/Case List: Toggles the active 

window between the Details Pane and the 

Case List Pane.

Shift-F4 – Show Calendar: You can press 

Shift-F4 to use the calendar function or 

select “Show Calendar” from the View 

Menu. Case Management will display a 

calendar for the current month with the 

current date outlined. If you want to look at 

the next month or previous month, click the 

arrowhead in the upper-left or upper-right 

corner. This is a reference tool only and will 

not insert a date into any Case Management 

field. [This function key will not be 

displayed on the Tool Bar.]

F5 – Reports: Lists reports available for 

display. Select the report you would like to 

display with either the mouse or arrow keys, 

and select “OK” or press ENTER. You can

see either your count of cases or your 

current response rate for the interview 

period.

Shift F6 – Map: Opens the ALMI Map.

F7 – Notes: Displays the Case-Level Notes 

Editor where you can enter a note for the 

selected case or edit a previously entered 

note. Case Management and the CPS 

Instrument will use the same application for 

editing case level notes. Notes entered in 

Case Management are displayed in the 

survey instrument and notes entered in the 

instrument can be viewed in Case 

Management. The Notes application will 

automatically fill in a CAPI indicator - the 

time, date, and your Interviewer code - so 

that notes can be easily traced if a case is 

transferred to another Interviewer. Press 

“F10” to exit the Notes application. If you 

entered a note, select “Yes” and press 

ENTER to save the note. 

F8 – View: Displays options for a variety of 

ways you can look at your cases on the Case 

List pane. The display categories are:

• All

• Not Started

• Open

• Partial

• Interviewed

• Type A

• Type B

• Type C

• CATI

• Deleted

• Missing Data

• Observed

• Transmitted

• Received in HQ

When you select an option, the program will 

list only the cases that match your criteria. 

The display will be just like the main

display, but with a label to identify which 

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-17 August 2013
set of cases you selected. Use “F8” again to 

select a different category. Use “Shift-F8” to 

return to the main display.

F9 – Sort: Allows you to sort your cases by 

multiple fields of your own choosing. To 

add a column to the sort, highlight that 

column in the “Columns Available for 

Sorting” pane on the left and press CTRL-S 

to move that column to the “Sort Column” 

pane. To remove a column from the “Sort 

Column” pane, highlight it and press 

CTRL-S again. Cases will be sorted first by 

the top category, then the second category 

from the top, and so on. The last sort will be 

the bottom category. You may select as 

many columns as you like.

F10 – Exit: Exits Case Management and 

returns to the Windows Desktop. When you 

are done working with Case Management 

ALWAYS click this button to quit and save 

your work.

Ctrl T – ITP: Opens the Interview Time 

Preferences screen which allows you to 

select the best or worst time to call or visit a 

household for the next month’s interview 

(not for a callback this month).

1.J.4 Case List Pane

The Case List Pane, located on the upper 

half of your screen, shows the list of cases 

you still have to complete.

The Case List Pane contains the following 

columns:

• Control Number: There are two control 

numbers this year. The first consists of the

PSU, Segment, Segment Suffix, Sample 

Designation, Sample Designation Suffix, 

Serial and Serial Suffix numbers. 

For Example, Control Number 

01990264999 A75 01A can be broken

down into the following parts:

Survey ID: 01

PSU: 99026

Segment: 4999

Segment Suffix:

Sample Designation: A75

Sample Designation Suffix:

Serial: 01

Serial Suffix: A

Please note that not all Control Numbers 

will contain the Segment Suffix and Serial 

Suffix numbers.

• 2010 Control Number: Some cases will 

have a different Control Number. These 

are the 2010 Sample Design cases. 

These Control Numbers consist of the 

Survey Code, PSU, Frame, Sample 

Designation, Sequence Number, and Time 

of Interview. 

For example, Control Number 

0199006UA64000101M can be broken 

down into the following parts: 

Survey Code: 01

PSU: 99006

Frame: U

Sample Designation: A64

Sequence Number: 000101

Time of Interview: M

Please note that not all Control Numbers 

will contain Time of Interview. “M” is used 

to indicate March Hispanic cases. 

• Address: House number, house number

suffix, street name, unit designation, and 

physical description. There is a space 

between each field. If truncated, a ‘~’ 

should appear in the last space to indicate 

a continuation. [Note: If house number, 

house number suffix, and street name are 

blank, then the physical description will be 

displayed.]

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-18 Overview of CPS Instrument
• Place Name/City

• Zip

• Appointment: This field will be filled

with an appointment time to contact a 

household, if you entered a callback 

appointment.

• P/T: Personal visit or telephone interview.

P = Month in Sample 1 and 5, or no 

telephone number. T = Month in Sample 

2-4 and 6-8, with a telephone number.

• Status: Displays interview status codes.

• Telephone Number

• Interview Number: Month-in-sample

1-8. This is used to determine if persons 

are eligible for certain questions, such as 

the earnings questions. During the 

interview your computer will make this 

determination for you.

• Rte: Route allows you to enter the order

in which you plan to visit your cases. You 

can then click the column header to sort 

your cases (or use F9) so that they are 

displayed in the order you want to work 

that day.

1.J.5 Details Pane

The Details Pane is the area at the bottom 

half of the screen. The information 

displayed in the Details Pane corresponds to 

whichever case is highlighted in the Case 

List Pane. The Details Pane contains seven 

different tabs, each of which contains 

additional information about the case. If you 

are in the Details Pane, the title will be red. 

The F3 key can be used to change the tab 

that is displayed. Fields with a white 

background may be edited. Use Ctrl-S to 

save any changes.

The Details Pane contains the following 

tabs:

• Assignment: This is the main tab and it

contains information about the home 

address, separate mailing addresses, 

control number, Case ID, Interview 

Number, Respondent Name, 

appointments, and other items.

• HH Roster: This tab displays the

household roster. The roster is updated 

when you exit the instrument. You cannot 

update the roster while in Case 

Management; you are only allowed to 

view this information.

• Additional Information: This tab

contains additional information related to 

group quarters.

• Notes: This tab allows you to view caselevel notes. If there are notes to view, a 

red checkmark will appear in the tab.

• Contacts: This tab lists contact

information obtained for Type Bs and Cs.

• Letter Mgmt: This tab allows you to 

request a letter to be sent to the respondent. 

The lower portion of this tab is “Letter 

History” and displays previously sent 

letters. 

• History: This tab contains the history of

all previous visits for a case. It also keeps 

a record of all the times the case has been 

accessed in the current month.

• Contact History: This tab displays details 

of contact attempts for the CURRENT 

interviewing period. 

• Returning Contact History: This tab 

displays details of contact attempts for 

PREVIOUS interviewing periods. 

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-19 August 2013
• Interview Time Preferences: This tab

allows you to view information on the 

best or worst time to contact a household. 

In order to make changes, you must use 

the Ctrl T function key.

• Bldg Mgmt: This tab displays contact 

information for companies or individuals 

affiliated with the sample address. Here 

you will find contact information for 

people who can assist you in gaining 

access to the sample unit. 

1.J.6 Selecting a Case

In the Case List Pane, highlight the case you 

intend to interview and press the F2 key. A 

dialog box will appear, asking you to 

confirm your selection. Press ENTER or 

click OK to confirm that this is the case you 

want to interview. In the next few seconds, 

messages flash by on the screen while the 

computer prepares for the interview. These 

are not important to you unless something 

goes wrong and the first screen of the 

questionnaire (the "START" screen) does 

not appear. If that happens, write down what 

remains on the screen when this initial 

processing stops (for example "case could 

not be found in STATUS file"). If you are 

not able to restart the interview, report the 

message(s) to your RO.

Typically, the first screen of the 

questionnaire appears within a few seconds 

and the computer is ready for you to proceed 

with the interview.

1.K EXITING FROM A 

PARTIALLY COMPLETED 

INTERVIEW

At times, you will have to exit from the 

instrument even though you have only 

partially completed the interview. This 

happens, for example, when a respondent 

breaks off the interview for personal 

reasons, with or without an offer to continue 

later.

You may either press the F10 key or select 

the Exit/F10 tab to exit from an unfinished 

interview.

NOTE: Do not try to exit from the 

interview by shutting off the computer. If 

you do so, the partial information that you 

have collected so far will be lost. 

Furthermore, your Case Management file 

will not be updated properly. This will 

prevent you from going back into this case

to complete the interview. 

The concluding screens prompt you to make 

an appointment for a callback or a return 

visit to obtain the remaining information. If 

more convenient for the respondent, a 

telephone callback is acceptable to complete 

a first or fifth month interview that you 

began as a personal visit.

Partially completed cases where no labor 

force information has been collected, 

continue to appear on your Case 

Management main display so you can select 

the case and resume the interview. These 

"insufficient partials" will remain on your 

laptop. They will NOT be transmitted with 

your final transmission unless you have 

completed the case, completed enough of 

the case to make it a "sufficient partial," or 

entered the case as a Type A noninterview.

1.L COMPLETING A PARTIAL 

INTERVIEW

When you make your return visit or 

telephone call for a partially completed 

interview, highlight the address on your 

Case Management main display and press 

F2 to run the interview program. The 

instrument displays reminder information 

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-20 Overview of CPS Instrument
about the case before you begin collecting 

data for the remaining items. The computer 

presents appropriate lead-in remarks for you 

to use in resuming the conversation with the 

respondent. For example, "Some of the 

questions have already been answered; let 

me see where we should begin." The 

interview continues with the next 

unanswered question. For further review of 

previous responses, use the arrow keys to 

back up one screen at a time or use F4 to 

jump back to a previous screen.

When you complete the interview, the 

instrument places the interview files with the 

rest of your completed work. It is then 

included in your next transmission.

Do your best to complete all partial 

interviews. If you discover that you cannot 

get more information from a household by 

closeout time, you can make the case a 

Type Z - sufficient partial, if part of the 

labor force information has been collected.

From your Case Management main display, 

highlight the case record and press F2 to

begin the interview program. 

On the START_CP item screen, select 

precode 5, “Ready to transmit case – no 

more follow-up.” This will bring up the 

Type Z information screen shown in Figure 

C5. For each person 15 years of age and 

older where the labor force items have not 

been answered, you will be asked to enter 

the reason that best describes why the 

survey data were not collected. After 

answering the Type Z question for each 

person, the case will be removed from the 

laptop and transmitted to HQ with your next 

transmission. Make this selection only if 

you are certain that you cannot get any more 

information.

1.M EXITING FROM A 

COMPLETED INTERVIEW

When you have answered all questions, the 

computer exits the instrument, updates the 

Case Management file, and returns you to

the main Case Management screen. When 

you exit, the program also assesses the 

completion status of the case. The computer 

moves the data files for completed cases to 

the directory where they can be sent to HQ 

during your next transmission.

It then deletes completed cases from your 

Case Management main display. If 

necessary, you can still view Case 

Management records and add notes by 

using the Case Management View function 

(F8 function key) and selecting the 

“Interviewed” display category.

You cannot reenter the instrument and make 

changes to the data after you have 

completed a case. You can re-enter a case to 

change the notes only.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-21 August 2013
Figure C5. Example of Type Z Item Screen

1.N PROGRAM ERROR 

RECOVERY

Occasionally a problem in the computer 

program may prevent the interview from 

continuing in a normal way. The following 

types of problems may occur:

Work area not in use: 

DGBGOBOTTOM Error Message. 

If you see the error message:

or the message:

or the message:

it means that you tried to open a survey that 

is already open. Press ENTER to select Quit 

or OK, and then look on the Task Bar (at the 

bottom of the screen) for the name of the 

survey you want to open. Single-click that 

name to bring up the survey, or press the Alt 

key and the Tab key simultaneously until 

your survey appears.

A Program Stops Responding

If you are working with a program and 

suddenly all operations freeze, the program 

has probably stopped responding. You can 

exit the failed program without shutting 

down the laptop.

To close a program that has stopped 

responding:

1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del once. The Entrust 

Security dialog box appears. Select 

the Task Manager option by typing 

T or clicking the Task Manager

button. The Windows Task 

Manager appears. Click on the 

applications tab to get a list of all the 

programs and processes currently in 

ERROR DBCMD/2001 Work area not 

in use: DBGOBOTTOM

Quit Default

Error BASE/1002 Alias does not exist: 

<various>

Quit Retry

Another version of Case Management -

<survey> is already running.

OK

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-22 Overview of CPS Instrument
operation.

If a program has stopped responding, 

the words “not responding” appear 

beside its name in the list. Do not 

continue on to Step 2 unless the 

status is Not Responding.

2. Use the up or down arrow key to 

select the program you want to close.

3. Press the Tab key until the End 

Task button has a dotted line around 

it, and then press Enter (or single 

click the End Task button), then 

select End Now. Closing the failed 

program should allow you to 

continue working in other programs. 

If it does not, continue with Step 4.

4. Close the remaining open programs.

5. Press the Esc key to exit the Task 

Manager.

6. If the system is still not responding, 

shut down the laptop and start it up 

again.

When you reboot the computer, the 

information collected so far in the current 

interview is lost. In program "crashes" such 

as these, the answers to previous questions 

are probably already erased by the same 

problem that caused the interview program 

to fail.

Reenter Case Management and reselect the 

same case you were interviewing and 

resume (or if necessary restart) the 

interview. If you cannot resume notify your 

RO of the problem.

The Computer Does Not Go to the Next 

Appropriate Question

Occasionally you may get stuck in a loop of 

just a few questions. If the computer does 

not go to the next appropriate question, 

carefully check your answers to each item as 

you step through the loop once more. You 

may have answered "yes" to the "any more 

persons" question, for example. The 

computer continues to go through the loop 

until you erase that answer and enter "no." 

If that doesn't work, try the F4 key to get to 

the jump menu. Jump to another part of the 

interview and attempt to continue from 

there. After you have exhausted all your 

options, you should reboot the computer as 

described above. Only reboot as a last 

resort.

Do not use the CTRL-BREAK key 

combination to get out of a locked 

interview, although someone may suggest 

this to you. This allows the end-ofinterview processing of your Case 

Management file to occur, which you do not 

want if a program error terminated the 

interview.

Non-System Disk Error Message

A Non-System Disk Error message indicates 

that a diskette is in the disk drive while the 

laptop is starting Windows. Remove the 

diskette from the drive and press any key to 

continue.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C1-23 August 2013
Runtime Error Message

You may see a Runtime Error message 

during shutdown procedure. This will 

happen if you did not log in using your 

Entrust password and then tried to shut 

down using Encrypt and Shutdown.

Remember, logging into your laptop through 

Entrust is the normal login method. If you 

used the Cancel button at the Entrust Login 

screen, you bypassed the laptop’s capability 

of encrypting your data at shutdown and the 

Runtime Error message notifies you of this 

abnormal Termination.

If you receive this message, press 

Ctrl-Alt-Del and select the Shut Down 

option. If the Runtime Error message occurs 

every time you try to shutdown, please 

inform your ROCS.

Your Windows Laptop User Guide (Form 

11-7 (WIN) September 2004) contains 

more detailed information about your 

computer and how to use it.

Part C Chapter 1 Page C1-24 Overview of CPS Instrument
Part C, Chapter 2 

The “Front” of the CPS Instrument

Topic See Page

2.A Overview C2-3

2.B Address C2-6

2.C Contact Information C2-6

2.D Own or Rent C2-7

2.E Classification of Living Quarters C2-8
Part C Chapter 2 Page C2-2 The "FRONT" of the CPS Instrument
PART C, CHAPTER 2

THE "FRONT" OF THE CPS INTERVIEW

2.A OVERVIEW

The beginning of the Current Population 

Survey (CPS) instrument consists of a series 

of questions that establish if you are 

interviewing the correct household. This is 

the “FRONT” of the instrument.

This section covers several of the items in 

the front portion of the instrument. You can 

tell which item you are on by looking at the 

lower left hand corner of the screen. For 

example, you will see START_CP (Figure 

C6) near the lower left hand corner of the 

first screen you see. This screen marks the 

beginning of the CPS instrument. It displays 

the status of the case and the current date 

and time. The version number in the left top 

margin can be used to ensure that all FRs 

and CATI interviewers are using the same 

version of the instrument.

The first option (1) takes you through a 

telephone interview. The second option (2) 

follows the introductory screens for a 

personal interview and includes notes. The 

third option (3) skips you over the notes and 

goes directly to the INTROB_CP screen. A 

fourth option (4) is for cases that are 

Noninterviews. Option (5), Ready to 

Transmit will appear for sufficient partial 

interviews. CATI interviewers do not need 

this option since they conduct only 

telephone interviews and their completed 

interviews are automatically sent to 

headquarters. Option (6), Quit, Do not 

attempt now allows you to get out of a case 

if you accessed it by mistake.

Figure C6. START_CP, First Item in the CPS Instrument

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C2-3 August 2013
"The Case status is:" field will contain one 

of the following:

New case This is the 1st time you have 

called up this case this month.

Unreached household You called up the case before 

but did not reach the 

household.

Household reached You contacted the household, 

but did not complete any part 

of the labor force interview.

Household refusal You contacted the household

and they refused to be 

interviewed.

Need Coverage/ You contacted the household, 

Demographics but no coverage or 

demographics information.

Need LBFR + Suppl You contacted the household 

and collected demographics, 

but no labor force or 

supplement information. 

Need LBFR, only You collected demographics, 

but no labor force 

information. 

(Non- supplement months)

Need Suppl only You completed the 

demographics and labor force 

portions of the instrument.

If the "Date is:" field, in the center of the 

screen, is prior to Sunday of interview week, 

you must check that the date on your 

computer is set correctly before beginning 

your work assignment. The Blaise 

instrument uses the date in your computer to 

set some of the fills in the question text. 

This is especially used for the year. If the 

year on the computer is incorrect, the year in 

the question will also be wrong.

There will be cases where you get through 

the demographics and part of the labor force 

and have to F10 out of the interview. In 

these cases, the instrument will set the 

outcome code to 204 for the case. If you 

return to the interview at a later time and the 

respondent refuses, you cannot select 

NONINTERVIEW since the case was 

already partially interviewed. For that 

reason, the NONINTERVIEW category is 

not on the INTROB screen the second time 

you enter an interview under these 

circumstances. In this case you would select 

(5) Ready to Transmit case - no more 

followup at this screen and then continue 

through the Type Z questions as to why the 

remainder of the labor force information was 

not collected.

After the start screen, you will see a series of 

screens providing case-contacting 

information, such as the SHOROS_CP, 

which display the household composition. 

(The SHOROS_CP screen is shown in 

Figure C7.)

The SHOW_INFO_CP screen tells you how 

to access information from the previous 

month. Ctrl + T will display best time to call 

information and Ctrl + F7 will display case 

level notes previously collected. This screen 

also tells you if there is possibly a new 

telephone number or a vacation telephone 

number if it was reported during the 

previous month.

Figure C7. SHOROS_CP, Household 

Composition Screen

Part C Chapter 2 Page C2-4 The "FRONT" of the CPS Instrument
The GENINTRO_CP screen (Figure C8) 

guides you as to how to introduce yourself 

when you contact the household, and asks 

you to speak to last month's respondent or 

obtain a new one.

If the case has been recycled from CATI, 

you will see the SHO_RECYC_CP screen. 

This screen displays the outcome, the 

appointment information, and the notes from 

CATI. If the case is a partial interview, this 

screen will display where the interview was 

interrupted. 

You then check to see if you are at the 

address listed. If you are not at the correct 

address, recheck your listing sheet. If you 

are unable to locate the address listed, notify 

your Regional Office supervisor. (See your 

11-8, Listing and Coverage Manual or 11-

922, Field Representatives Guide to 

Locating Sample Addresses for instructions 

on addresses you are unable to 

find.) Once you reach the correct 

household, determine the residency status of 

the unit.

Next, confirm that you have reached a 

private residence. You may find it 

necessary to restate your name and whom 

you represent. In addition, you will need to 

read the description of the survey.

 

Figure C8. Example of GENINTRO_CP Screen

Figure C9. Example of INTROB Screen

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C2-5 August 2013
At INTROB (Figure C9) you can exit the 

interview, or continue.

Do not confuse precode (3), reluctant 

respondent, on the INTROB screen with the 

"refused" option on the TYPEA screen. If 

you are planning to follow up and attempt to 

convert the respondent, select precode (3). 

If the case is definitely a noninterview this 

month, select precode (4). 

This is the time to explain the purpose and 

importance of this survey to the respondent 

(as described in Part A, Chapter 1). Use the 

information available to help you obtain a 

complete interview.

2.B ADDRESS

After your introduction you begin the 

interview by verifying the exact address.

“I have your address listed as ........”

Make any additions or changes necessary to 

the address shown on the screen. Include a 

physical description and ZIP code to make 

the address complete. You ask address and 

mailing address in all 1st and 5th interview 

numbers and all replacement households.

2.B.1 Physical Description

You may find a physical description of the 

address such as "White house with green 

shutters, etc...", DO NOT overwrite or delete 

this entry. In these cases, the respondent will 

most likely respond to your address 

verification by giving you the mailing 

address, such as box number, route number, 

or house number and street name. These 

may not have been visible at the time of 

listing. Enter the information in the mailing 

address and main address screens.

2.B.2 Problem Addresses

If you have difficulty locating the sample 

unit's address, refer to the address on the 

listing sheet or in the Automated Listing and 

Mapping Instrument, if available, as well as 

addresses on adjacent lines. Follow the 

instructions in your 11-8, Listing and 

Coverage Manual, for help in locating an 

address.

2.B.3 Incorrect Addresses

Make any address corrections on the listing 

sheets, if available, in case management and 

if necessary in the interviewing instrument.

2.B.4 Mailing Address

An adequate mailing address includes:

house number (and apartment number, 

if any)

street name

name of city supplying postal service

state

ZIP code

In rural areas, an adequate mailing address 

may also include route no. (box no., if any) 

and name of post office.

General delivery or lock box number and 

Post Office, city, state, and ZIP code are 

also acceptable mailing addresses.

If the address is identical to the answer you 

received for each item for the address press 

“Enter” for each description.

2.C CONTACT INFORMATION

2.C.1. Type B or C Contact Information

You enter information about the respondent 

for Type B and C Noninterviews starting at 

the BCNAME screen. The information is 

made available the following month on 

returning cases. Place any additional 

Part C Chapter 2 Page C2-6 The "FRONT" of the CPS Instrument
information you might need in the case 

NOTES. Refer to Part C, Chapter 6 for 

more information on Noninterviews.

2.C.2 Personal Visit or Telephone 

Interview

These coverage questions and check items 

that come up at the beginning of the 

interview are included to help you get 

started. For example, you have to enter 

whether this is a personal visit or a 

telephone interview. 

First and fifth month interviews are required 

to be personal visits. As a reminder, your 

Case Management main display shows 

whether each case should be a personal visit 

or a telephone interview.

If you answer "telephone interview" to this 

question for a first or fifth month case, the 

computer will remind you that you need to 

conduct a personal visit interview. 

A first or fifth month interview can be done 

by telephone only as a last resort. 

The computer asks you if this is a last resort. 

If you answer "no," the instrument skips to 

the case NOTES screen to exit the case.

To begin again, you must go back to Case 

Management and re-select the case. If you 

answer "yes," you can go on with the 

interview, but the instrument will mark its 

answer file to indicate that you obtained the 

information from a "last resort" interview.

2.D OWN OR RENT

You ask about ownership of the living 

quarters during the 1st and 5th month 

interview in screen TENUR_SCRN, if the 

occupants are home and do not have a usual 

residence elsewhere. See page C3-7 for 

instructions on determining usual place of 

residence.

You also ask about ownership when you 

first conduct an interview for:

• units previously noninterview

• replacement households

If a respondent cannot supply the 

information during the 1st or 5th month 

interview, the computer will prompt you to 

ask it again in the following month's 

interview.

2.D.1 Owned or Being Bought

Living quarters are "Owned or being 

bought" if the owner or co-owner is a 

household member of the unit even if (s)he 

still has a mortgage or has not fully paid for 

the unit.

A condominium or a cooperative unit is 

"Owned or being bought" only if the owner 

lives in it.

2.D.2 Rented for Cash

Living quarters are "Rented for cash" if the 

occupants pay or have a contract for any 

money rent.

2.D.3 Occupied Without Payment of 

Cash Rent

Living quarters are "Occupied without 

payment of cash rent" if the unit is not 

"Owned or being bought" and if the money 

rent is paid or contracted. Persons usually 

live in these units in exchange for services, 

or as a gift from a relative or friend not 

living in the unit. On rare occasion, a 

relative or friend may pay the rent and also 

be staying in the unit. Consider these as 

“occupied without payment of cash rent.” 

If occupants pay only for their utilities but 

do not pay any money rent, report the unit 

as "Occupied without payment of cash rent."

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C2-7 August 2013
2.D.4 Special Situations

If a structure contains more than one unit, 

be sure the respondent understands you are 

referring to the unit you are interviewing. If 

you are interviewing a unit on the second 

floor, and the occupants pay rent to the 

owner who occupies the first floor, report 

the second floor unit as "Rented for Cash." 

If the first floor unit is in sample, report it as 

"Owned or being bought." Classify rooms in 

a rooming house or dormitory where the 

occupants pay room and board or room rent 

as "Rented for cash."

Classify persons living on military bases 

who pay rent as " Rented for Cash." 

Persons living off the base often get these 

rental payments in the form of a housing 

allowance included in their earnings. 

Persons living on the base do not have these 

payments included in their earnings.

If a person owns a piece of property and 

rents adjacent property and uses both as a 

single place, determine the answer based on 

the property the sample unit is located on. 

For occupied trailers or mobile homes, 

determine the answer based on the trailer or 

mobile home itself. Do not base your 

answer on the site or land on which it is 

located. Enter "NA" for vacant trailers or 

mobile homes. If the answer to 

TENUR_SCRN changes or if you discover a 

classification error, change the classification 

and note it, giving the date and reason for 

the change.

In some housing projects for the elderly, the 

residents can "purchase" a unit and pay 

monthly maintenance fees (including health, 

recreation, security, etc.). The "purchaser" 

cannot sell the unit, and upon death the unit 

reverts to ownership by the sponsoring 

organization. No inheritance claim can take 

place. Treat these units as "owned."

2.E CLASSIFICATION OF 

LIVING QUARTERS 

To classify living quarters for interviews and 

Type A and B noninterviews you must know 

the definition of a housing unit and an 

OTHER unit in order to fill these items 

properly. (Consult your 11-8, Listing and 

Coverage Manual or 11-922, Field 

Representatives Guide to Locating Sample 

Addresses)

Determine access by observation. Choose 

"Direct" if the sample unit has direct access 

or "Through another unit" if it does not have 

direct access.

2.E.1 Classification Problems

If you encounter any problems when 

classifying sample units, make your 

determination by referring to your 11-8, 

Listing and Coverage Manual or 11-922, 

Field Representatives Guide to Locating 

Sample Addresses, and applying the rules in 

the table on page C2-11. Record the problem 

in your case NOTES and send an INTERCOMM on classification problems to your 

office.

2.E.2 Determining the Type of Housing 

Unit

Use the following table to help you 

determine when to consider a unit a housing 

unit and when to consider a unit another 

unit.

Part C Chapter 2 Page C2-8 The "FRONT" of the CPS Instrument
HOUSING UNIT OTHER UNIT

House, Apartment, Flat.

An ordinary house or apartment, an apartment over a

garage or behind a store, janitor's quarters in an 

office building, and housing units in such structures 

as converted barns or sheds.

Unit not permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.

Unit in a transient hotel, motel, motor court, etc., and occupied 

or intended for occupancy by transient guests or is not a 

housing unit.

HU in an Assisted Living Unit.

An assisted living unit whose occupants don't receive 

24-hour nursing care.

Unoccupied tent site or trailer site. 

An unoccupied site for a tent, trailer, or mobile home.

HU permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.

Separate living quarters in a transient hotel, motel, 

motor court, etc. and occupied or intended for 

occupancy by permanent guests or resident 

employees.

Transitional Housing for homeless.

A unit being used as transitional housing for the homeless.

HU in rooming house and boarding house.

Housing units in rooming houses, boarding houses, 

or combination rooming and boarding houses.

OTHER unit in Student Housing.

A unit occupied by unmarried college students that is owned 

by a college or university or is a fraternity or sorority house.

Mobile home or trailer with no permanent room 

added.

Open or unheated porches or sheds built onto trailers 

are not rooms.

Mobile home or trailer with one or more 

permanent rooms added.

More examples of other units are: units in homeless shelters; 

units in shelters for runaway, neglected, or homeless children; 

units in group homes; units in halfway houses for drug/alcohol 

abuse; units in communes; units in maternity homes for unwed 

mothers; units in worker camps; units in Job Corps facilities; 

units in vocational training facilities; staff group quarters 

(dormitories for nurses and interns in general hospitals); units 

in rectories; units in convents; units in monasteries; YMCAs; 

and units in hostels.

HU in Student Housing.

A unit occupied by married college students. 

A unit occupied by college students that is not 

owned by a college or university and is not a 

fraternity or sorority house.

A unit occupied by college students that is leased

(not owned) by a college or university.

OTHER unit.

Any OTHER unit that you cannot classify as one of the types 

listed above. Describe the OTHER unit fully in your notes.

HU in Religious Quarters.

A religious quarter intended for occupancy by a 

family, such as a parsonage.

A unit in a campground, RV park, marina, race track, 

fairground, or recreational camp occupied by persons 

with no usual home elsewhere is an HU. A unit in 

these kinds of places is never an other unit.

HU - not specified.

Living quarters which meet the housing unit 

definition that do not fit into a category. Include 

tents, houseboats, and railroad cars if they meet the 

housing unit definition. Describe the unit fully in 

your notes.

Classify living quarters by type, not condition. For 

example, report vacant or occupied dilapidated 

houses that are housing units and living quarters as 

"house, apt., flat."

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C2-9 January 2007
Part C, Chapter 3

CPS Demographic Data

Topic See Page

3.A General Instructions C3-3

3.B Household Roster C3-3

3.C Relationship to Reference Person C3-5

3.D Household Membership C3-8

3.E Verification of Household Composition C3-12

3.F Date of Birth C3-12

3.G Parent Line Numbers C3-12

3.H Marital Status C3-14

3.I Spouse’s Line Number C3-14

3.J Armed Forces Status C3-14

3.K Educational Attainment C3-17

3.L Origin or Descent C3-24

3.M Race C3-27

3.N The Demographics Grid C3-32

3.O Family Income C3-33

3.P Nativity and Immigration C3-36

3.Q Disability C3-40

3.R Demographic Edits Within the Instrument C3-43
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-2 CPS Demographic Data
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-3 April 2015

PART C, CHAPTER 3

CPS DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

3.A GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Each month your assignment may include:

 Sample units you will visit for the 

first time.

 Sample units you have interviewed 

before.

The demographic data that you collect in the 

instrument provides the BASIC RECORD 

of each sample unit. Complete it carefully.

3.B HOUSEHOLD ROSTER

You create the household roster by showing 

the relationship flashcard and asking:

"What are the names of all persons living or 

staying here? Start with the name of the 

person, or one of the persons, who owns or 

rents this home."

List all persons who are staying in the 

sample unit at the time of interview. Also,

list all persons who usually live there but are 

temporarily away for reasons such as 

visiting, traveling in connection with their 

jobs, attending school, in hospitals, etc. 

Include children who live in the unit, taking 

particular care not to overlook infants. Also 

include lodgers, servants, hired hands, and 

similar persons who usually live there. 

List visitors and other persons who are not 

household members if they are there at the 

time of interview and stayed overnight the 

night before the interview. You many 

encounter situations in which the person or 

persons who owns or rents the home has a 

usual residence elsewhere, but is/are 

temporarily staying in the unit. 

The household roster must be created by 

collecting the household members first. 

Then, you should list the person(s), who are 

not household members, but are temporarily 

staying in the unit, who have a usual 

residence elsewhere, but actually own or 

rent the unit.

3.B.1 The Preferred Order for Listing

1. Reference person (owner/renter of unit)

2. Spouse of reference person

Examples of demographic data you 

collect in the middle of the CPS 

interview

 relationship to reference person

● age

● marital status

● sex

● armed forces status

● educational attainment

● race and ethnicity

You collect this information in interview 

number 1 and verify it in interview 

number 5. Unless information is 

missing, you only ask if there are 

changes in other months. (You will also 

need to ask educational attainment in 

February, July and October.) 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-4 CPS Demographic Data

3. Unmarried partner of reference person

4. Unmarried children of reference person 

or spouse, in order of age beginning with 

the oldest

5. Married sons and daughters (in order of 

age) and their families listed in order: 

son or daughter, spouse, children

6. Other relatives

7. Lodgers and other nonrelated persons

In units composed entirely of unrelated 

persons, list the reference person and then 

the rest of the household in the order the 

respondent gives them.

If, among "other relatives," or persons not 

related to the reference person, there are any 

married couples or persons otherwise 

related, arrange them the same as families of 

married children.

Do not change entries if the people are not 

listed in the preferred order given above.

The CPS instrument will collect 

demographic and labor force information for 

up to 16 household members. After the 16th

person, in all interview number 1 and 

replacement households, the instrument will 

bring up NROS2B (Figure C11a). You will 

need to enter the number of additional 

household members in CNT2BG (Figure 

C11b). For all households in interview 

numbers 2-8, after adding the 16th person the 

instrument will exit the grid and continue to 

the next appropriate question. You will not 

be able to add more than a 16th person to any 

household.

It is important that you list adults (persons 

age 15 or older) first in households with 

more than 16 household members since they 

are eligible for labor force questions.

Figure C11a. NROS2B, Roster Greater than 16 Persons Screen

Figure C11b. CNT2BG, Additional Household Members Screen
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-5 April 2015

3.C RELATIONSHIP TO

REFERENCE PERSON

The relationship data is reported based on 

self-identification. That is, the respondent 

selects the appropriate answer from the 

options given. However, the respondent 

may ask you to define some of the 

relationship categories, so he/she is better 

able to pick the right ones. Figure C12a on 

page C3-6 illustrates the relationship 

categories. 

NOTE: The response codes have changed 

and now reflect same-sex marriages and 

same-sex unmarried partners. See codes 

42-45 on Figure C12a for these new 

categories. Be sure to provide the 

respondent with the flashcard when asking 

this question on personal visits.

The following guidelines should help clarify 

when to use a few of the most difficult-touse relationship codes.

Use code 43 or 45 (Unmarried partner) for 

any person who:

 is not related to the reference person,

 shares living quarters with the reference 

person because they have a close, 

personal relationship

 is of the same sex (code 45) or of the 

opposite sex (code 43)

of the reference person, and

 may or may not be related to another 

person in the household. 

Use code 46 (Child) for all children of the 

reference person, including natural-born 

(biological), adopted, and stepchildren (sons 

and daughters).

Use code 52 (Housemate/Roommate) for 

any person who:

 is not related to the reference person,

 shares living quarters with the reference 

person primarily to share expenses

 is of the same sex or of the opposite sex 

of the reference person, and

 may or may not be related to another 

person in the household.

Use code 53 (Roomer/Boarder) for any 

person who:

 is not related to the reference person,

 occupies a room or rooms in the 

reference person's house and pays rent 

for the room(s), 

 may or may not receive meals from the 

reference person, and

 may or may not be related to another 

person in the household.

Persons with relationship codes 43, 45, 52, 

53, and 54 (Other nonrelative of the 

reference person) may or may not have their 

own relatives in the household. 

In order to determine this, you will ask 

Reference person. The first household 

member mentioned by the respondent, 

who is the owner or renter of the sample 

unit, is the reference person. For persons 

occupying the sample unit without 

payment of cash rent, the reference 

person is the first household member 

listed who is 15 years of age or older.
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-6 CPS Demographic Data

persons that have a relationship to the 

reference person of 

 opposite-sex unmarried partner,

 same-sex unmarried partner,

 partner/roommate,

 roomer/boarder, or

 other nonrelative

if they are related to anyone else in the household (the SUBFAM item). For any of these four 

categories, the instrument will automatically display the SUBFAM item.

Figure C12a. Relationship to Reference Person

3.C.1 Cohabitation

If there are multiple unrelated persons over 

the age of 14 who are either 1) not married 

or 2) married with an absent spouse, who do 

not have a relationship code of 43 or 45

(Unmarried partner to the Reference 

Person), you will ask the Cohabitation 

question (COHAB). The Cohabitation 

question, illustrated in Figure C12b, asks if 

the person has a boyfriend, girlfriend or 

partner in the household. If the response is 

“Yes”, you will probe to find out who the 

boyfriend, girlfriend or partner is and enter 

that person’s line number. If the response is 

“No” you will enter 0.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-7 January 2007

Figure C12b. COHAB, Cohabitation Screen
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-8 CPS Demographic Data

3.D HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSHIP

The summary table for determining 

household membership, Table C2 on Page 

C3-8, provides rules for determining when 

to count a person as a household member.

Consider the following persons in a sample 

unit as household members:

 Persons, whether present or temporarily 

absent, whose usual place of residence at 

the time of interview is the sample unit.

 Persons staying in the sample unit who 

have no usual place of residence 

elsewhere.

A probe to determine whether the person has 

a usual place of residence elsewhere will 

come up for persons who say they do not 

usually live in the unit. If a respondent still 

seems unsure of the concept, explain further 

and probe to determine the correct 

information.

If a person has a usual residence elsewhere,

then (s)he is not a household member. You 

do not ask any further questions of a person 

who is not a household member. (Unless 

you are using this person as a proxy 

respondent for the household.)

3.D.1 Use of Nonhousehold 

Respondents/Proxy Respondents

Keep your use of nonhousehold respondents 

to a minimum. Use a nonhousehold 

respondent only in the following two cases:

1) If the household members are physically 

or mentally unable to respond for 

themselves and the nonhousehold 

respondent is:

 15 years of age or older, and

 lived in the sample unit during 

survey week or spends time caring 

for one or more members of the 

household so that (s)he is 

knowledgeable of the household.

2) If all household members were 

temporarily absent, and:

● a nonhousehold member 15 years 

or older stayed in the sample unit 

during survey week, and

● the household is not in interview 

number 1 or 5.

For example, you arrive at an interview 

number 3's address and the usual residents, a 

husband and wife, are not home. However, 

a relative of theirs answers the door and tells 

you that the couple is on vacation and won't 

be back until the following week. You 

would interview the relative if (s)he is 15 

years old or older and is staying in the 

sample unit. You will be getting 

information about the usual residents but not 

about the relative staying in the unit. The 

relative would have a usual residence 

elsewhere. You would not interview the 

relative if (s)he stopped by to pick up the 

mail and water the plants.

Usual place of residence. The place 

where a person usually lives and 

sleeps. It must be specific living 

quarters held by the person to which 

(s)he is free to return at any time. 

Living quarters rented or loaned to 

someone else or that are exchanged for 

other living quarters temporarily, 

cannot be considered as a usual place 

of residence during the time these 

quarters are occupied by someone else. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-9 January 2010 (rev)

Table C2. Determining Household Membership

SUMMARY TABLE FOR DETERMINING

WHO IS TO BE INCLUDED AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD

A. PERSONS STAYING IN SAMPLE UNIT AT TIME OF INTERVIEW

Person is member of family, lodger, servant, visitor, etc.

1. Ordinarily stays here all the time (sleeps here)...................................................

2. Here temporarily – no living quarters held for person elsewhere.............................

3. Here temporarily – living quarters held for person elsewhere.................................

Person is in Armed Forces

1. Stationed in the locality, usually sleeps here.......................................................

2. Temporarily here on leave – stationed elsewhere.................................................

Person is a student – Here temporarily attending school – living quarters held for person 

elsewhere

1. Not married or not living with immediate family...................................................

2. Not married and living with immediate family......................................................

3. Married and living with immediate family...........................................................

B. ABSENT PERSON WHO USUALLY LIVES HERE IN SAMPLE UNIT

Person is inmate of institutional special place – absent because inmate in an 

institutional regardless of whether or not living quarters held for person 

here..........................................................................................................

Person is temporarily absent on vacation, in general hospital, etc. (including 

veterans’ facilities that are general hospitals) – living quarters held here for 

person.......................................................................................................

Person is absent in connection with job

1. Living quarters held here for person – temporarily absent while “on the road” in 

connection with job (e.g., traveling salesperson, railroad conductor, bus 

driver)........................................................................................................

2. Living quarters held here and elsewhere for person but comes here infrequently 

(e.g./ construction engineer)...........................................................................

3. Living quarters held here at home for unmarried college student working away from 

home during summer school vacation...............................................................

Person is in Armed Forced – was member of this household at time of induction but

currently stationed elsewhere................................................................................

Person is a student in school – away temporarily attending school – living quarters 

held for person here

1. Not married or not living with immediate family...................................................

2. Married and living with immediate family...........................................................

3. Attending school overseas.............................................................................

C. EXCEPTIONS FOR DOUBTFUL CASES

Person with two concurrent residences – determine length of time person has 

maintained two concurrent residences

1. Has slept greater part of that time in another locality............................................

2. Has slept greater part of that time in sample unit................................................

Citizen of foreign country temporarily in United States

1. Living on premises of an Embassy, Ministry, Legation, Chancellory, or 

Consulate................................................................................................

2. Not living on premises of an Embassy, Ministry, etc –

a. Living here and no usual place of residence elsewhere in the United 

States.................................................................................................

b. Visiting or traveling in the United States......................................................

Include as member 

of household

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

 

 No

No

No

No

No

No

No
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-10 CPS Demographic Data

If you have any doubt about the 

acceptability of a nonhousehold respondent, 

contact your supervisor prior to conducting 

the interview.

You must maintain the confidentiality that 

you promised the respondent and have 

sworn to uphold when interviewing a 

nonhousehold respondent. Therefore, you 

may not provide the nonhousehold 

respondent with any other information

which was given by household members 

during previous interviews. This includes 

information on household composition, 

marital status, education, income, etc.

Do not consider a person's vacant living 

quarters that (s)he offers for rent or sale

during his/her absence as his/her usual place 

of residence while (s)he is away. 

3.D.1.a Special Circumstances

You may encounter situations when using a 

nonhousehold/proxy respondent in MIS 2-4 

or 6-8 where you need to create a household 

roster. When creating the household roster, 

the FNAME screen instructs you to enter all 

household members starting with the person, 

or one of the persons, who owns or rents the

unit. In certain situations, the 

nonhousehold/proxy respondent, who is 

staying in the unit at the time of interview, 

may also pay the rent on the unit, but not 

actually live in the unit. 

In this situation, the household roster must 

be created by collecting the household 

members first, followed by those person or 

persons just visiting or staying in the unit for 

a short while, including the person you will 

list as the nonhousehold/proxy respondent. 

The household members are “occupying the 

unit without payment of cash rent,” but as 

the household members, they must be listed 

first on the household roster.

3.D.2 Families With Two or More Homes

Some families have two or more homes and 

may spend part of the time in each. For 

such cases, the usual residence is the place 

in which the person spends the largest part 

of the calendar year. Only one unit can be 

the usual residence. For example, the 

Browns own a home in the city and live 

there most of the year. They spend their 

summer vacation at their beach cottage. 

They do not rent either house in their 

absence. You will need to verify that these 

people usually live at this household at 

screen S_HHMEM (Figure C13).

Figure C13. S_HHMEM, Usual Residence Screen
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-11 April 2015

Use the following to help determine how to 

classify each home.

 Conduct an Interview

If the city home is in sample and occupied at 

the time of interview. 

 Classify as Type B - vacant regular."

The summer beach cottage if it is in sample, 

but not occupied at the time of interview. 

 Classify as Type B - Occupied by 

URE."

The summer beach cottage if it is in sample 

and occupied at the time of interview. 

 Classify as Type A - "Temporarily 

absent."

The city home if it is in sample, but the 

occupants are away at the time of interview.

 Special Situations

Retired persons often maintain a winter 

home in Florida and spend the rest of the 

year in a home they have occupied for much 

of their lives. They may consider the older 

home their main residence. 

If they spend more time in their older 

home but the Florida address is in sample, 

do not interview them there.

If they spend more time in their Florida 

home, interview them there if it is in sample 

even though they do not consider this their 

usual residence.

If a person has two or more concurrent 

residences and sleeps part of the week in 

each, interview him/her in the unit in which 

(s)he sleeps the greater part of the week. If 

the time is split evenly between them, 

interview the person where you find 

him/her.

Report children whose divorced parents 

have joint custody of them and who live 50 

percent of the time with each parent in the 

household where you find them. Otherwise, 

report them in the household where they live 

most of the time.

3.D.3 Crew Members of a Vessel

Crew members of a vessel are household 

members at their homes, regardless of the 

length of their trips. Do not consider 

whether they are at home or on the vessel at 

the time of your visit if they have no usual 

place of residence elsewhere.

3.D.4 Other

A mailing address alone does not constitute 

a usual place of residence. Usual residents 

may also include:

 lodgers

 servants

 farm hands

 other employees living in the unit who 

consider it their usual place of residence

 unmarried children away at school

 persons traveling on business

 persons visiting, on vacation, or 

temporarily in hospitals (noninstitutional)
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-12 CPS Demographic Data

3.E VERIFICATION OF 

HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION

3.E.1 Changes in Household 

Membership From Month to Month

You ask household membership for the 

reference person and verify the household 

roster each month. Any person can change 

his/her household status during the time in 

sample. If someone leaves the household, 

you will delete them from the roster. You 

will need to indicate if they moved out or 

died. If a new member moves into the 

household, you will add them to the roster 

and ask the demographic items for that 

person.

3.E.2 Additional Units

As a result of mergers, structural 

conversions, and other types of alterations, 

the address may not be enough to adequately 

define the sample unit. Some of these 

situations will be apparent before you begin 

the interview. For example, garages and 

mobile homes located on the same property 

as the sample unit may be used as overflow 

sleeping quarters. These additional units will 

carry the same interview number as the 

parent unit. For more information on 

additional units consult your 11-8 Listing 

and Coverage Manual.

3.F DATE OF BIRTH

You will ask date of birth in the first month's 

interview and when you add new members 

to the household roster. Get the exact date 

of birth. If you cannot get the exact date, 

enter the approximate date. If you get only 

the year (for example, 1913), enter "Ctrl-D" 

for the month and day.

3.G PARENT LINE NUMBERS

You will enter parent line numbers for all 

individuals in the household. Next, you will 

enter the mother’s line number at LNMOM

and the father’s line number at LNDAD

(Figure C14a). If the mother or father is not 

a household member, you will enter 0.

After entering a parent line number for an 

individual, you will be prompted to ask 

whether the child is the biological (natural), 

step, or adopted child in screens MOMTYP, 

for mother, and DADTYP, for father (Figure 

C14b).

Figure C14a. LNMOM, Line Number of Parent (LNDAD Screen is similar)
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-13 April 2015

Figure C14b. MOMTYP/DADTYP, Parent Type

3.G.1 Inclusions and Exclusions

Below is a list of people to include and 

exclude as parents when determining 

parent's line number.

Include:

 Natural parents

 Adopted parents

 Step-parents

Exclude:

 Foster parents

 In-laws

 Grandparents

3.G.2 Problem Cases

Take special care when dealing with 

relationships between individuals where the 

parent is not obvious but is present. You 

will usually find these cases in households 

containing individuals with relationships of 

mother (father)-in-law or grandparents. In 

most cases, these individuals will be a parent 

of at least one other individual within the 

household. Be sure to explore all possible 

parent/child relationships for individuals 

listed as mother (father)-in-law or 

grandparent.
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-14 CPS Demographic Data

3.H MARITAL STATUS

You can usually determine marital status, 

without asking, from the name and 

relationship entries. Ask if there is any 

doubt. You ask marital status in the first 

month's interview. You do not ask for 

children under age 15 in the household.

Include persons who state they have a 

common-law marriage as married. Exclude

"separated" persons or persons who have 

parted because of marital discord as defined 

in Figure C14c.

Figure C14c. Marital Status Codes

3.I SPOUSE'S LINE NUMBER

The instrument will prompt you to fill this 

item for individuals who are "Married, 

spouse present." The spouse does not have 

to be eligible for a CPS interview for you to 

enter his/her line number here. This would 

occur where a husband or wife is on active 

duty in the Armed Forces.

3.J ARMED FORCES STATUS 

All household members (male and female) 

age 17 or older are eligible for the Armed 

Forces status questions.

When you ask if a person has ever served on 

active duty, always specify "United States 

Armed Forces." You may find persons who 

have served in the Armed Forces of foreign 

countries.

Each branch of the military has two 

components, a regular component and a 

reserve component. 

Use Table C3 on page C3-16 to help you 

determine if a person is on active duty.

Active Duty. Always consider members 

of the regular Armed Forces, whether 

currently on active duty or now retired, 

as having served on active duty. 

Reserves. Members of reserve 

components may or may not have served 

on active duty, since they may be called 

to active duty by military order. Exclude 

as active duty the 4-6 month training 

period served by all reserve members.

1. Spouse present

2. Spouse absent. In most cases, the 

correct code will be obvious. However, if 

there is some confusion, then apply the 

following rules:

If the spouse is a household member, then 

enter code "1" for marital status.

If the spouse is not a household member 

and the couple is not legally separated, but 

parted temporarily for reasons other than

marital discord (such as employment or 

Armed Forces), then enter code "2" for 

marital status.

3. Widowed

4. Divorced

5. Separated. Include those married 

persons who are legally separated, or who 

have parted because of marital discord but 

have not yet obtained a divorce. 

6. Never married. Include a person whose 

only marriage has been annulled and people 

living together who make no mention of a 

common-law marriage.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-15 April 2015

3.J.1 Period of Service

You ask all persons who have served on 

active duty when they served. Enter all 

periods of service in which the person 

served while on active duty (Figure C15). 

The instrument will only allow a maximum 

of four periods of service to be entered.

There are a total of nine periods of service in 

the instrument. However, since the periods 

of service are listed based on age, you will 

not see all nine categories displayed at one 

time. For example, the instrument will 

display fewer periods of service for younger 

persons than for older ones.

Enter the code(s) for the actual wartime 

service regardless of any peacetime service. 

For persons who were on active duty for 

more than one period of service, choose all 

periods of service in which the person 

served while on active duty. The household 

roster screen (H_HHROS) will display the 

precode for period(s) of service reported 

under the AFWHEN column.

3.J.2 Current Status

For anyone between the ages 17-64 who 

reported in previous interviews that they 

were in the Armed Forces, you will be 

required to update their status by asking if 

they are currently serving in the U.S. Armed 

Forces.

Figure C15. AFWHEN, Period of Service 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-16 CPS Demographic Data

Table C3. Determining Active Duty Status

Type of Duty Active Duty

Now serving in or has ever been on active duty in the:

● U.S. Army

● U.S. Navy

● U.S. Air Force

● U.S. Marine Corps

● U.S. Coast Guard

YES

Persons in the Reserves Branch of any of the above organizations (Army, 

Navy, Air Force, etc.) on active duty status for several months, except for 

training only.

YES

U.S. Public Health Service commissioned officers assigned to any branch of 

the Armed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.) YES

Members of the National Guard in Federal Service (when all or part of their 

service was during a period when their unit was blanketed into the regular 

forces by Presidential Order). Exclude the six months of active duty served 

by all National Guard members as part of their training. 

YES

Cadets in a United States military academy (West Point, Naval Academy, Air 

Force Academy and the Coast Guard Academy.) YES

Persons whose only service was in the Coast Guard Temporary Reserve. NO

Employees of:Merchant Marine

Maritime Commission

American Field Service

NO

Civilian employees of the Department of Defense. NO

Persons whose only active service was in a National Guard or Reserve unit 

that served for any or all of the following reasons should not be included:

● For training purposes only.

● Not blanketed into the regular forces by Presidential order.

 Called into action to help in a local disaster, for example, floods, 

tornadoes, riots, etc.

NO

Interview and report those cases that you cannot resolve.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-17 April 2015

3.K EDUCATIONAL 

ATTAINMENT 

During interview number 1, you ask each 

household member 15 years old and over

for the highest degree they have obtained or 

level of school that they have completed 

(Figure C16a). You will re-ask educational 

attainment in interview number 5, February, 

July, and October even if there is no change. 

Use Table C4 (page C3-18 to C3-19) to 

classify difficult responses. 

3.K.1 Regular Schooling 

A person received Regular schooling if (s)he 

attended day or night school in any of the 

following for grades: 

 public, private, or parochial school

 colleges or universities

 professional schools

Figure C16a. EDUCA, Educational Attainment 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-18 CPS Demographic Data

Table C4. Educational Attainment 

Determining Educational Attainment

Situation Description 

Less than first grade The first category, "Less than 1st grade," refers to persons who attended but did not complete a 

year of school as well as persons who have completed only kindergarten or nursery school, or who 

have never attended school at all. 

A person who only completed the first grade is coded the same as a person whose highest grade of 

school completed is the second, third, or fourth. Fifth and sixth (code 33) and seventh or eighth 

(code 34) are similarly grouped. 

12th grade If the person completed the 12th grade but did not receive a diploma or high school equivalency 

credentials (such as GED) and did not attend college, select 12th grade, NO DIPLOMA. 

Enter 39, high school graduate, for persons who graduated from high school, persons who received 

a high school diploma, and persons who achieved "high school equivalency credentials" if they 

have not attended college. 

Also enter 39 for persons who completed vocational, business, technical, or training courses after 

graduating from high school, but which are not creditable towards a college degree. 

Equivalency tests Enter 39 for persons who pass a high school equivalency test or finish high school while in the 

Armed Forces. 

Post-graduate high 

school 

Persons may attend "post-graduate" high school courses after completing high school. This is not 

the same as attending college. Enter 39, High school graduate, for these people. 

College For persons who have attended college but have not received a degree, select 40, some college but 

no degree. 

Select 41, Associates degree in college - Occupational/vocational program, if the highest degree 

was an associate degree in a program that prepared the person for a specific occupation. Such 

course work may, but need not, be creditable towards a Bachelor's degree. 

Select 42, Associates degree in college - Academic program, if the highest degree was an associate 

degree primarily in the arts and sciences and transferable to a bachelor's degree program. 

Graduate professional 

school 

Make sure you can distinguish the difference between professional degrees (law, medical, dental, 

etc.), master's level degrees (MA, MBA, MSW, etc.), and doctoral degrees (PhD, EdD,etc.). 

Select 45, professional school degree, if the highest degree was earned in such fields as medicine, 

dentistry, chiropractic medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, veterinary 

medicine, law, or theology. Do not include vocational training for a trade such as barber college 

or cosmetology, secretarial, trade, or bartending school. 

 Still in school Report the highest level completed or degree received for those currently enrolled. 

 Special schools 

(such as schools for the 

handicapped) 

Try to get a regular school equivalency from the household respondent. The respondent may not 

be able or may be reluctant to give a regular school equivalency for a student in a special school. 

As a last resort, try to get this information from the local school district. When contacting the 

school district use only the school name and number of years completed in that special school. 

Never use the student's name when discussing grade equivalencies with school officials. This 

would breach our confidentiality requirement. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-19 April 2015

Determining Educational Attainment (continued)

Situation Description 

Special situations Obtain the equivalent school year in the regular American school system for persons who obtained 

a formal education through any of the following methods: 

● Foreign schools 

● Ungraded schools 

● Night schools or instruction by tutors (if such counted toward instruction in the regular 

 school system) 

● Level of education measured by "readers"; first reader is roughly equivalent to first 

 grade in elementary school, second reader to second grade, etc. 

● "Normal" or professional schools; in some areas, persons enter "normal" schools after 

 completing elementary school; elsewhere, after 2 years of high school; in other 

 places, after 4 years of high school or even some college. 

If you cannot determine if a person received 

"regular" schooling or you cannot determine 

the highest degree or year, explain this in 

detail in your notes. 

3.K.2 Exclusions from Regular School

Do not count any of the following as regular 

schooling, unless they are part of a regular 

school and count toward promotion in 

regular school. 

 Vocational or trade schools 

 Correspondence schools 

 "On-the-job" training 

 Adult education classes 

 Job Training Partnership Act training 

 Military basic training 

3.K.3 Followup Education Items

The conventional education question 

collects the level of education completed; 

whereas, the follow-up questions collect the 

number of years completed. This is an 

important distinction, particularly for 

persons above the high-school level. 

You ask the follow-up education items only 

the first time you ask the education question 

(EDUCA). In continuing households, you 

will re-ask the follow-up items only if: 

 you change the education entry when 

updating the information (in interview 

number 5 or in the months of February, 

July, or October). 

 you need to convert an initial "don't 

know" response to the education item. 

Regular schooling. That which 

advances a person toward an elementary, 

or high school diploma or a college, 

university, or professional degree. 

Count schooling in other than regular 

schools only if the credits obtained are 

acceptable in the regular school system.
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-20 CPS Demographic Data

The follow-up items are illustrated below in 

Figures C16b through C16d. 

You may ask at least one but no more than 

two of the follow up items for persons 

whose education falls between the highschool graduate and Master's degree levels. 

For example, if you report that the person is 

a high-school graduate in the education 

question (i.e., you enter 39 in EDUCA), you 

will ask if he/she graduated from high 

school or received a GED (DIPGED in 

Figure C16b). 

For GED recipients only, you will also ask 

for the highest grade completed before 

receiving the GED (HGCOMP in Figure 

C16c). For persons with Associate Degrees 

or with some college but no degree (i.e., you 

enter 40-42 in the education question), you 

will ask how many years of college credit 

they have completed (CYC in Figure C16d). 

Figure C16b. DIPGED, High School Diploma
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-21 April 2015

Figure C16c. HGCOMP, Highest Grade Completed Before GED

Figure C16d. CYC, Years of College Credit Completed
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-22 CPS Demographic Data

3.K.4 Certifications and/or Licenses

In 2015, three new questions were added to 

the CPS, which are related to educational 

attainment. They actually ask about any 

certifications or licenses held by each person 

age 15 and over. Two of the questions being 

added are in the demo-graphic section and 

the third one is in the Industry and 

Occupation section of the labor force 

interview. These questions are being added 

to measure credentials granted outside of the 

regular education system that are used for 

getting or keeping a job. 

The first question (CERT1) asks if the 

individual has a professional certification or 

a state or industry license. Figure C16e 

illustrates the question wording and 

interviewer notes. 

Figure C16e. CERT1, Certification or License

Questions about certification and licenses 

are asked in the first and fifth interviews. 

As with educational attainment, they are 

asked again in the fifth interview even if 

there has been no change. The intent of this 

first question is not to determine how many 

certifications or licenses a respondent has, 

only whether he/she has at least one 

currently active certification or license. In 

many cases, the respondent will answer with 

“Yes” or “No” as the question intends. 

 In this case, select the appropriate response 

and move to CERT2. 

Some respondents, however, may describe 

their (or a household member’s) certification 

or license or ask questions about whether a 

credential they have qualifies. When this 

happens, you will need to probe to ensure 

that (1) the credential they have is, in fact, a 

certification or a license and (2) it is 

currently active. 

People get a certification or license to show 

that they have mastered the skills or 

knowledge needed for a specific type of job. 

Certifications and licenses are typically 

issued by professional or trade organizations 

or by the federal, state, or local government. 

People usually have to pass a test to get a 

certification or license, and sometimes also 

need to have work experience or to complete 

a degree or other educational program. 

Certifications and licenses usually have to 

be renewed periodically. 

Examples include but are not limited to the 

following: 

 Teacher certification or license 

 Information Technology (IT) 

certification 

 Certified construction manager 

 Commercial driver’s license 

 Cosmetology license 

 Medical license (dentist, physician, 

registered nurse, etc.) 

 Licensed attorney 

 Pilot’s license 

 Licensed professional engineer 

 Certified public accountant 

 Licensed plumber 

 Move to next page 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-23 April 2015

Do not include: 

 Personal driver’s license 

 Licenses attained for leisure 

activities, such as a scuba license for 

recreational purposes 

 Certificates issued for completing 

short-term training courses 

The second question (CERT2), shown in 

Figure C16f, is only asked if a respondent 

answers yes to CERT1. 

Figure C16f. CERT2, Issued by federal, state, 

or local government.

If respondents indicate that they have a 

currently active certification or license (that 

is, you entered 1 for CERT1), ask whether 

any of those certifications or licenses were 

issued by a federal, state, or local 

government. If a respondent has multiple 

certifications and/or licenses, he or she 

would report “Yes” to this question if any 

one of them were issued by a government 

agency. 

Again, the majority of respondents are likely 

to answer “Yes” or “No”, but some may 

name an organization or government. If the 

respondent reports a government 

organization (such as the State of Rhode 

Island), then select “Yes.” Most 

government agencies that award licenses are 

called Boards, such as the State Board of 

Education or the State Board of Health. 

If the respondent reports an organization 

name (such as the National Academy of 

Pediatrics), ask him or her whether that 

organization is run by the government or 

whether it is a professional association. 

If the respondent says that it is a 

governmental organization, select “Yes.” If 

it is a professional organization, select “No.” 

The final question (CERT3), shown in 

Figure C16g, appears in the Industry and 

Occupation section. It asks if the currently 

active professional certification or license is 

required for their current job status. 

As mentioned above, questions about 

certifications and licenses are asked in the 

first and fifth interviews. As with 

educational attainment, they are asked again 

in the fifth interview even if there has been 

no change. CERT3 may be re-asked when 

respondents get a new job (or new duties) or 

when their labor force status changes. 

Figure C16g. CERT3, Certification Required 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-24 CPS Demographic Data

3.L ORIGIN OR DESCENT 

In CPS, we ask for demographic 

characteristics such as origin to learn about 

 the labor force patterns and economic 

situation of many detailed population groups 

(e.g., Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, 

etc.). This is particularly important since the 

information helps policymakers develop 

programs to improve the labor force 

situation for Americans of all ethnic origins. 

The origin items are asked when creating the 

roster for a first-interview household or a 

replacement household, or when adding 

persons to the household roster. You will 

ask the origin items in subsequent interviews 

only if a “Don’t Know” was reported for a 

person’s origin in the initial interview. 

HSPNON (Figure C17a) is the first question 

in the origin item series: 

Figure C17a. HSPNON, First Item in Origin 

The flow of the origin questions is as 

follows: 

 You will ask HSPNON to determine if the 

person is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish 

origin. If the answer is “no,” you will go 

to the race question, skipping over the 

remaining origin questions. 

 If the answer to HSPNON is “yes,” you 

will ask ORISPN to find out with which 

Hispanic group the person most closely 

identifies. 

 Only if you enter “Other” in ORISPN will 

you have to go to the look-up list in 

S_ORTOSP. If you enter “Other” in 

S_ORTOSP as well, you will go to 

OROTSS where you can type in the 

verbatim response. 

3.L.1 Definition of Hispanic, Latino, or 

Spanish Origin 

For purposes of this survey, the terms 

“Spanish,” “Hispanic,” and “Latino” are 

used interchangeably. Some respondents 

identify with all three terms, while others 

may identify with only one. In any case, for 

this survey, all three terms have the same 

meaning. In other words: 

 Spanish = Hispanic = Latino

It is very important to remember that 

“origin” does not have the same meaning as 

“race,” even though respondents may use 

these two terms interchangeably. According 

to the Census Bureau’s definitions, “origin” 

and “race” may not be used interchangeably. 

People who report their origin as Spanish, 

Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race. Just 

like individuals of South African origin may 

be White, Black, or of some other race, so 

can individuals of Spanish/ Hispanic/Latino 

origin be White, Black, or of some other 

race. In other words: 

 Origin  Race 

What the Census Bureau is looking for when 

it asks for origin is the heritage, nationality, 

lineage, or country of birth of the person, 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-25 April 2015

his/her parents, or his/her ancestors before 

they came to the United States. There is no 

rule on how many generations to consider. 

A person’s origin may be based on his/her 

own characteristics (heritage, nationality, 

etc.), or it can be based on those of a farremoved ancestor. 

3.L.2 Completing the Origin Items 

When conducting personal interviews, Field 

Representatives should not complete the 

origin items based on observation. If the 

respondent does not know whether the 

person is Spanish/Hispanic/Latino, probe to 

see if you can use the origin of the person’s 

mother to determine the appropriate answer. 

The main origin item (ORISPN), illustrated 

in Figure C17b below, helps determine if the 

person belongs to one of the largest 

Hispanic population groups in the United 

States. You ask this item for whomever you 

recorded “yes” in the first origin question 

(HSPNON). 

Note that this question does not allow 

multiple answers. You can only enter one 

precode, so make sure you enter the precode 

that best reflects the one, single, specific 

group with which the respondent identifies. 

If the respondent mentions more than one 

group, you should probe to see if you can 

use the origin of the person’s mother in 

order to narrow down the person’s origin to 

a single group. 

If the respondent gives a group not listed in 

the answer categories, enter precode <7> for 

“Other Spanish/ Hispanic/Latino group.” 

Figure C17b. ORISPN, Main Item in Origin Series 

Origin = heritage, nationality, 

lineage, or country of birth of 

the person him/herself or of his 

ancestors.
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-26 CPS Demographic Data

When asking ORISPN during a personal

interview, hand the respondent the Flash 

Card that lists the main Spanish/Hispanic 

/Latino groups. When asking ORISPN 

during a phone interview, take the time to 

read the question clearly and carefully, 

pausing between each group listed, so that it 

is easier for the respondent to distinguish 

one group from the next. The manner in 

which you read the question is particularly 

important in phone interviews because the 

respondent cannot respond based on what 

he/she sees on a Flash Card, but only based 

on what he/she hears. 

When you enter precode <7> (for “Other 

Spanish/Hispanic/Latino group”) in 

ORISPN, the instrument will take you to 

item S_ORTOSP (Figure C17c). As you 

can see, this item provides a look-up list of 

origins from which to choose. If you look at 

the groups listed in S_ORTOSP, you may 

think that some groups are listed incorrectly 

because they are not Spanish/Hispanic/ 

Latino groups. 

Brazilians, Haitians, and Filipinos are some 

examples of groups that are not Spanish, 

Hispanic, or Latino. These groups are 

included on the list precisely because they 

are often misreported as Spanish/Hispanic/ 

Latino. By including them on the list, we 

can limit the number of verbatim entries you 

need to make in the other/specify question 

(OROTSS), and we can set our edit 

programs in advance to reject these 

misreported groups during the postcollection data processing. 

If the respondent insists on reporting more 

than one group in S_ORTOSP (which is not 

allowed in this item), and only one of the 

groups is Spanish/Hispanic/Latino, select 

“Both Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino and 

some other group” from the look-up list. 

 If the respondent reports a group that is not 

on the list, select “Other”, and the 

instrument will go to the “Other/Specify” 

screen for the origin item series, where you 

can type the name of the other 

Spanish/Hispanic/Latino group that the 

respondent mentions.

Figure C17c. S_ORTOSP, Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino Item 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-27 April 2015

3.M RACE

 

In CPS, we ask for demographic 

characteristics such as race to learn about 

the labor force patterns and economic 

situation of many detailed population groups 

(e.g., African Americans, American Indians, 

Asians, Native Hawaiians, etc.). This is 

particularly important, since the information 

helps policymakers develop programs to 

improve the labor force situation for 

Americans of all races. 

The race items are asked when creating the 

roster for a first-interview household or a 

replacement household, or when adding 

persons to the household roster. You will 

ask the race items in subsequent interviews 

only if a “Don’t Know” was reported for a 

person’s race in the initial interview. 

RACE is the first question in the race item 

series. Please note that the race question 

has two versions: One for personal

interviews (Figure C18a) and one for phone

interviews (Figure C18b). The instrument 

will fill the appropriate question for you, 

based on the type of interview. Note also 

that the race question allows multiple 

answers, so you will be required to mark all 

that apply.

Figure C18a. RACE, Race Questions for Personal Interviews 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-28 CPS Demographic Data

Figure C18b. RACE, Race Questions for Phone Interviews 

The flow of the race questions is as follows: 

 You will ask the respondent the RACE 

question to determine what race or races 

the person considers him/herself to be.

 Depending on your entries in the main 

race item (RACE), the instrument may 

take you to one or several look-up lists. 

There is a look-up list for Asians (item 

RACEAS), a list for Hawaiians/Pacific 

Islanders (item RACEPI), and a list for 

“Other” (item RACEOT).

 At the RACEOT item, select “Other” if 

you cannot find the response listed. The 

instrument will take you to RACEOS, 

where you can type the verbatim response.

3.M.1 Definition of Race

When you ask the race question, you are not

looking for the color of a person’s skin. 

You are looking for the racial group or 

groups with which the person most closely 

identifies. In other words, the race question 

is looking for the race or races that the 

person considers him/herself to be. For 

example, a person whose physical features 

are White could consider herself Black 

because the only parent who raised her was 

Black. In this case, if the person reports that 

she is Black, you must record her as Black, 

regardless of what her skin color or physical 

features might be. In other words: 

 Race  Skin Color 

The Census Bureau uses the five different 

racial categories listed in RACE to classify a 

person’s race. However, a person may use 

one or more of these categories to identify 

his/her race. 

Referring back to the previous example, 

assume the person considers herself to be 

Black and White instead, because the 

parents were of each race and she identifies 

equally with each race. In this case, if the 

person reports that she is Black and White, 

you must enter the precodes for both races in 

the race question (RACE).
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-29 April 2015

It is very important to remember that 

“origin” does not have the same meaning as 

“race,” even though many respondents may 

use the two terms interchangeably. Be 

careful when collecting race for Hispanics 

because they often report their Hispanic 

ethnicity as their race (e.g., Mexican, Puerto 

Rican, etc.). However, just like people of 

other ethnic groups, Hispanics can be White, 

Black, or of some other race or races. 

3.M.2 Completing the Race Items 

When asking the RACE question during a 

personal interview, hand the respondent the 

Flash Card showing the main race 

categories. Remember, this item is looking 

for the race or races that the person 

considers him/herself to be, so it is very 

important that you DO NOT complete this 

item based on observation. 

When asking the RACE question during a 

phone interview, take the time to read the 

list of races clearly and carefully, pausing 

between each group listed, so that it is easier 

for the respondent to distinguish one group 

from the next. The manner in which you 

read the question is particularly important in 

phone interviews because the respondent 

cannot respond based on what he sees on a 

Flash Card, but only based on what he/she 

hears. 

Pay close attention to the interviewer 

instructions in all the race-related questions. 

For example, make sure that you follow the 

“DO NOT PROBE” instructions when 

asking either version of the race question. 

The race question is NOT LIKE the 

“Looking” item series in Basic CPS. 

The “Looking” series requires you to ask 

“Anything Else?” each time the respondent 

gives an answer in order to ensure that you 

identify every possible job search method 

that the person could have used. In the race 

question, we are not looking for every 

possible race that the person could consider 

him/herself to be. Instead, we are looking 

for only the main race or races that the 

person considers him/herself to be. 

Therefore, you should listen carefully for the 

response and enter the appropriate precode 

or precodes without probing. 

Another interviewer instruction you should 

be aware of is the “DO NOT READ” 

instruction, which appears next to the 

“Other” category in every single race item 

that allows an “Other” option (i.e., all of the 

race items except the RACEOS item where 

you enter the respondent’s verbatim 

response). 

You must not let the respondent know that 

there is an “Other” option because our first 

preference is to have the respondent classify 

his answer(s) according to one of the five 

main race categories listed in RACE. The 

“Other” category is not there for the 

respondent’s use; it is there only for YOUR 

use as a last resort (especially since you 

cannot probe). That is why the “Other” 

category has the “DO NOT READ” 

instruction by it, and that is why it is not 

provided as an option on the Flash Card. 

Once you have recorded all the races 

reported (assuming the respondent gives 

more than one race), the instrument will take 

you to the appropriate look-up race lists. If 

you entered the precode for Asian, you will 

see item RACEAS (Figure C18c). If you 

entered the precode for Native Hawaiian or 

other Pacific Islander, you will see item 

RACEPI (Figure C18d). If you entered the 

Race = the race or races that the 

person considers him/herself to be.
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-30 CPS Demographic Data

precode for “Other” in RACE, you will see 

item S_RACEOT (Figure C18e). As you 

can see, item S_RACEOT provides a lookup list of races from which to choose. 

If you look at the groups listed in 

S_RACEOT, you may think that some 

groups are listed incorrectly because they 

are not race groups. Americans, Germans, 

and Hispanics are some examples of groups 

that are not racial groups. These groups are 

included on the list precisely because they 

are often misreported as races. By including 

them on the list, we can limit the number of 

verbatim entries you need to make in 

RACEOS, and we can set our edit programs 

in advance to reject these misreported 

groups during the post-collection data 

processing. 

To select a race in S_RACEOT, start typing 

the race and then select the appropriate 

precode from the groups listed by either 

double-clicking the race highlighted in the 

table or by clicking select. Please note that 

only one precode may be selected in this 

item. If the respondent reports a group that 

is not on the list, select “Other,” and the 

instrument will go to RACEOS. 

RACEOS is the “Other/Specify” screen for 

the race item series where you can type the 

name of the other race group that the 

respondent mentions. If the respondent does 

not know the name of the group or refuses to 

respond, type Ctrl-D for “Don’t know” or 

Ctrl-R for “Refused”.

3.M.3 Comparison of the Origin and 

Race Items

Although the origin and race questions are 

very similar, you should note that there are a 

few significant differences. The most 

important difference between the specific 

Spanish/Hispanic/Latino question (ORISPN) 

and the race (RACE) question is their 

definition, as explained in sections 3.L.1 and 

3.M.1. Another very important difference is 

that the origin question allows only one 

entry, whereas the race question allows 

multiple entries. 

Yet another difference is that the origin 

question allows you to probe, whereas the 

race question instructs you not to probe 

(with only one exception for Hispanics). 

Figure C18f summarizes the major 

differences and similarities between the 

origin and race questions. 

Figure C18c. RACEAS, Lookup List of 

Specific Asian Groups 

Figure C18d. RACEPI, Lookup List of Specific 

Asian Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 

Groups 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-31 April 2015

Figure C18e. S_RACEOT, Lookup List of “Other” Race Groups 

Figure C18f. Comparison of the Origin and Race Items

CHARACTERISTIC ORIGIN RACE 

1. Order First Second 

2. Question Text Same for personal and phone 

interviews. 

Two versions, one for personal 

interviews and one for phone 

interviews. 

3. Number of entries allowed Single entry Multiple entries 

4. Definition Heritage, lineage, or country 

of birth of the person (or 

his/her ancestors) 

Race or races the person 

considers him/herself to be 

5. Probing Allowed Not allowed (w/Hispanic 

exception) 

6. Other category May be read May NOT be read 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-32 CPS Demographic Data

3.N THE DEMOGRAPHICS 

GRID 

In the former CPS CASES instrument, 

questions related to demographics came up 

only for households in interview number 1 

or when demographic data was missing from 

the previous month. At the end of the 

demographic questions section of the 

interview a CHANGE screen came up 

summarizing key data items for all members 

of the household. This screen allowed you to 

make corrections to any entries, by selecting 

that person and item from the display, and 

prompting you, in interview numbers 2 

through 8, to ask if any household member 

has had a change in marital status. 

In the new Blaise Instrument, you will no 

longer have this CHANGE screen. Instead, 

you will work with a grid that displays each 

person’s demographic data. Questions and 

Interviewer instructions will appear in the 

Info Pane and each household member’s 

previous entries will appear in the Form 

Pane, in Table Format. 

Demographic information will be displayed 

over a series of screens. On each screen, the 

first column in the Form Pane will always 

display the line number for each person in 

the household. The next column will display 

the person’s name. Some of the information 

displayed in the remaining columns of the 

grid are listed in Figure C19. 

Although all of the demographic items are 

displayed in the grid, you are not required to 

re-ask every question for interview numbers 

2 through 8. Only ask the number of 

questions necessary to update missing data 

or to make any corrections to existing data. 

Upon entering a screen with demographic 

information, you may either use your arrow 

keys (left and right to navigate horizontally, 

up and down to navigate vertically) to 

navigate item by item or do one of the 

following: 

 In order to move to the next unanswered 

question, press END. This will bypass all 

questions with entries, even beyond the 

Form Pane you are currently working on. 

 In order to move to the next Form Pane, 

press Page Down. Keep in mind that you 

cannot proceed to the next Form Pane 

unless all entries are complete on your 

existing Form Pane. If you press Page 

Down on a Form Pane where there are 

unanswered questions, you will be 

directed to the next unanswered question 

on that existing Form Pane. 

Figure C19. Demographics Grid Columns 

Rel relationship to the reference 

person 

Mom/MTYP

Dad/DTYP

parent line number and 

parent type 

B-Mon/ 

Day/Year date of birth

Sex, Age,

Mar

sex, age, and marital status 

SP spouse line number

Cohab boy(girl)friend, partner line 

number

AF Ev ever in armed forces 

AF When period served in armed 

forces 

AF Now in the armed forces now 

ED years of education completed 

Origin/ 

Hispanic

Hispanic, Latino or Spanish 

Race racial group 

An example of one of the screens displaying 

demographic information in grid format is 

shown in Figure C19a on page C3-33. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-33 April 2015

Figure C19a. Demographics Grid Screen 

3.O FAMILY INCOME 

You ask for the total family income received 

in the preceding 12 months the first time you 

interview a household and update it in the 

first interview of the second 4 month period 

(S_FAMINC, Figure C20 on page C3-34). 

Use the following guidelines when asking 

the income question: 

 Read the question as worded 

 Show the respondent the income flashcard 

as you ask the question 

 Give the respondent time to make an 

estimate 

 When necessary, help the respondent get a 

total by summing the income from all 

Income. The total money income of 

the reference person plus that of all 

his/her relatives age 15 and over who 

are currently household members. 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-34 CPS Demographic Data

sources. 

For help with determining what is counted 

as income, see Table C5 on page C3-34. 

Income tax records may help the respondent 

compare the last calendar year's taxable 

income with the income in the immediate 

preceding period. Make sure you get the 

total income figure for the preceding 12 

months. 

The respondent may be more cooperative if 

(s)he feels you are not prying too much into 

their business. One way to do this is to say, 

"Which code on this card represents the 

total combined income ..." 

People may be more comfortable giving a 

code rather than an income range. Try this 

if you are experiencing a lot of refusals on 

this item. Remember, you must ask all 

questions exactly as worded! 

3.O.1 "Zero" income

When no one in the family had income, or 

the respondent reports a "loss" or "broke 

even" as the total family income, choose 

"Less than $5,000" (same as if the total 

income was between $1 and $4,999). 

Before accepting an answer of "No income," 

be sure the respondent understands all of the 

things we count as income. 

3.O.2 Estimating Income

In difficult cases, you may have to help the 

respondent. Find out who worked during 

the last 12 months, how much they made a 

week, etc. 

Find out who operated a business or farm or 

received any pension, dividends, etc. Avoid 

Don't Knows in this item if at all possible.

Figure C20. S_FAMINC, Family Income 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-35 April 2015 

Table C5. Determining What is Counted as Income 

Determining Income 

Count as 

income 

Wages and salary. (Before deductions for withholding taxes, Social Security, bonds, 

union dues, etc. Include commissions, tips, Armed Forces pay, cash bonuses, etc.) YES 

Net income from a person's own unincorporated business, professional practice, 

or farm. (The gross receipts of the enterprise minus the business expenses.) YES 

Armed Forces Allowances. Include all allowances received as part of the Armed 

Forces member's paycheck (for example, COLA, Cost of Living Allowance; HOLA, 

Housing Allowance; BAQ, Basic Allowance for Quarters; and BAS, Basic Allowance 

for Separate Rations). Do not include an allowance in the form of free housing or 

meals. 

YES 

Other income payments such as pensions, dividends, interest, unemployment or 

worker's compensation, Social Security, veterans' payments, rents received from 

owned property (minus operating costs), public assistance payments, regular gifts of 

money from friends or relatives not living in the household, alimony, child support, 

and other periodic money income other than earnings. 

YES 

Income from a household member who is a relative of the reference person that is 

temporarily absent. 

YES 

Income in kind. Room and board, free meals in restaurants, value of crops produced 

by a farmer but consumed by his/her family etc. 

 

NO 

Insurance payments or lump-sum inheritances. NO 

Occasional gifts of money from persons not living in the household or any 

exchanges of money between relatives living in the same household. 

 

NO 

Money received from selling one's own house, car, or other personal property. NO 

Withdrawals of savings from banks. NO 

Tax refunds. NO 

Income from nonrelatives of the reference person who are household members. NO 

Income of a relative who has permanently left the household. NO 

Be sure the respondent knows whose income you want to include; name them if necessary. 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-36 CPS Demographic Data

3.P NATIVITY AND 

IMMIGRATION 

We ask the nativity items because, when 

used in conjunction with other 

administrative data on immigration and 

emigration, the nativity items result in more 

accurate statistics regarding the labor force 

supply and demand. Also, we ask the 

nativity items in order to learn more about 

our population's characteristics, specifically: 

 country of birth, 

 ancestry or lineage of family, 

 number of generations not born in 

the U.S., 

 length of residence, and 

 citizenship status 

We do not ask for nativity data to identify 

illegal immigrants. Note that we ask 

whether a person is a citizen, and that we do 

not ask whether he/she is legal or not (that 

is, has a green card or some other legal 

residence status). Like all other CPS data, 

the nativity data are confidential and will be 

made public only in the form of statistical 

totals. We only ask the nativity items for 

households during interview number 1 or 

replacement households, or for other 

households where the nativity items were 

skipped or reported as "Don't know" for one 

or more persons. If in any of these instances 

you find that a respondent is reluctant to 

provide the nativity data, encourage them to 

do so reminding them that the data are: 

 used for the reasons described above, 

 not used to identify illegal aliens, 

 are confidential, and 

 are asked only once per household, unless 

we've missed an answer for someone. 

For each household member, you will ask 

where he/she was born (NTVT illustrated in 

Figure C21), and where his/her mother and 

father were born (MNTVT and FNTVT, 

respectively). For each of these screens, 

NTVT, MNTVT and FNTVT, you will 

utilize a look-up table similar to the look-up 

table used to collect race in S_RACEOT. 

When the respondent gives you the name of 

the country, begin typing the name in the 

Form Pane and the look up table will 

automatically open. Once the correct 

country is highlighted on the list, either 

double click, press ENTER, or click “select” 

to choose that country. Once selected, that 

country will be displayed in the Form Pane. 

Press ENTER once more to proceed. 

If the respondent is adopted, ask for the 

nativity of the adopted parents, even if the 

nativity of the biological parents are known. 

Like the race question, we are looking for 

the cultural influence, not necessarily the 

country of origin.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-37 April 2015

 Figure C21. NTVT, Country of Birth

Tips for using the Nativity look-up table: 

 You may type “US” for “United States.”

 Once you have completed the nativity 

item for a household member, you may 

use the function key “F12” to copy 

that same country down to other household 

members.

Depending on the entries to the person's 

country-of-birth questions and those of 

his/her parents, you may or may not have to 

ask any more nativity questions for that 

person. If the person's country of birth is the 

U.S., you will collect country-of-birth data 

for his/her parents and then skip to the next 

household member. If the person's place of 

birth is Puerto Rico or an Outlying Area of 

the U.S., you will collect country-of-birth 

data for his/her parents and then skip to the 

INUSYR item (Figure C24). 

If the person's country of birth is something 

 OTHER THAN the U.S., Puerto Rico, or an 

Outlying Area of the U.S., you will collect 

country-of-birth data for his/her parents, and 

then you may or may not ask citizenship 

questions about the person. If the person's 

parents both were born in the U.S., Puerto 

Rico, or an Outlying Area of the U.S., you 

will skip the citizenship questions and go to 

INUSYR to ask for their year of entry to the 

U. S. Otherwise, you will go to the CITIZN 

item (Figure C22). 

You will ask items CITYPA and CITYPB 

for each person who is reported as a citizen 

of the U.S. in CITIZN. Items CITYPA and 

CITYPB are illustrated in Figure C23. 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-38 CPS Demographic Data

Figure C22. CITIZN, Citizen of U.S. 

Figure C23. CITYPA and CITYPB, Born in 

the U.S. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-39 April 2015

The following questions (Figures C24 and 

C25) determine which year a person moved 

to the United States. They are only asked of 

persons whose country of birth in NTVT 

was something other than United States. 

If a person reports the “number of years 

ago” instead of the actual year, enter “2” in 

INUSYR. This will skip to item INUSN 

(Figure C25) where you will enter the 

number of years the respondent reported. In 

INUSN the instrument will do two things. 

First, it will verify that this number is not 

greater than the age of the person. If there is 

a problem you will be prompted to ask 

again. Second, it will calculate the actual 

year the person came to live in the U.S. and 

have you verify this with the respondent. 

Figure C24. INUSYR, Living in the U.S. Since When? 

Figure C25. INUSN, Years Living in the U.S. 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-40 CPS Demographic Data

3.Q DISABILITY 

We ask the disability items of all civilian 

household members age 15 years of age and 

older to assess whether or not someone has a 

disability. This information helps 

policymakers to design and evaluate policies 

and programs that could improve the labor 

market outcomes for persons with 

disabilities. The questions were designed to 

have a broad focus while keeping 

respondent burden to a minimum. 

Therefore, these questions were not 

designed to capture the kind or type of 

disability. 

The goal of these questions is to identify 

persons with long-term disabilities, but the 

questions do not specify a minimum length 

of time that the disability needs to last. 

Respondents who ask should be informed 

that these questions are not intended to 

include persons with disabilities that are 

expected to be temporary, or last for only a 

few months. 

The disability items are asked after the labor 

force items for first and fifth month 

interviews, replacement households and 

when new people are added to the household 

roster. If a value of “don’t know” or 

“refused” is collected in the first month 

interview, you will not re-ask the disability 

items for that person(s) until the household 

returns to sample during the fifth month 

interview. 

The disability questions are independent of 

the labor force questions. Because data 

collected in the CPS are confidential, 

individuals’ responses will have no bearing 

or effect on that individual, or other 

household members’ ability to qualify for 

disability benefits. It should not be assumed 

that there is a connection between disability 

status and employment status. If the 

respondent states that they already told you 

they were disabled, you can explain that the 

disability questions do not reflect the labor 

force questions. They are independent and 

do not affect labor force disability status. A 

respondent can report a disability here, but 

could have been working, with no disability, 

in the labor force section. The reverse is 

also true, a respondent could report that they 

were disabled in the labor force section, but 

not report a disability here. You should not 

back up and change answers in the labor 

force section based on answers to the 

disability questions. 

3.Q.1 When to probe?

Disabilities can take on many forms, and the 

same conditions can have different effects 

on each person who experiences it. This 

makes disability a difficult concept to 

measure. If a respondent is not sure if they 

should answer yes, you should ask them if 

the condition causes serious difficulty, or if 

the condition is a result of whatever 

disability the question was asking. You 

should remember that whenever a 

respondent’s answer is not clear, you should 

probe for clarification. 

 If a respondent mentions the word 

“disability” within their description of 

their condition, or a household member’s 

condition, you should record a yes for 

that person without any further probing 

about the extent of the difficulty caused 

(example: Interviewer: “Because of a 

physical, mental, or emotional condition, 

does anyone have serious difficulty 

concentrating, remembering, or making 

decisions?” Respondent: “My daughter 

and I both have a learning disability.” --

The interviewer would then record a yes 

for the respondent and his daughter.) 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-41 April 2015

 If a respondent is unsure about whether 

they should say yes, you should ask them 

if the condition causes serious difficulty 

(example: Interviewer: “Because of a 

physical, mental, or emotional condition, 

does anyone have serious difficulty 

concentrating, remembering, or making 

decisions?” Respondent: “Well, my son 

has ADD.” Interviewer: “Does that 

cause him serious difficulty 

concentrating, remembering, or making 

decisions?”) If they are still uncertain, it 

is appropriate to code the response as 

don’t know. 

 It may also be helpful to probe if the 

problem a respondent described is due to 

a physical, mental, or emotional 

condition (example: Interviewer: “Does 

anyone have difficulty dressing or 

bathing? Respondent: “Well, my brother 

never takes a bath.” Interviewer: “Is it a 

physical, mental, or emotional condition 

that causes your brother difficulty with 

bathing?”) 

 Some of the respondent’s characteristics, 

such as weight or age, may cause you to 

question whether a yes should be 

recorded. In such cases, you should 

probe the respondent to determine 

whether the answer refers to a serious 

difficulty and if so, you should record a 

yes (example: Interviewer: “Because of a 

physical, mental, or emotional condition, 

does anyone have serious difficulty 

concentrating, remembering, or making 

decisions?” Respondent: “My mother is 

old and forgets to take her medicine 

sometimes.” Interviewer: “Would you 

say that your mother has serious 

difficulty remembering?”) 

3.Q.2 Completing the Disability Series

For each of the six possible disabilities, you 

will ask if anyone in the household has any 

of the disabilities listed. All civilian persons 

15 years of age or older in MIS 1 or 5 and 

all replacement households are asked these 

questions. If civilian persons 15 years of 

age or older are added to the household 

during MIS 2-4 or 6-8, then only those 

persons will be asked the disability series of 

questions. (See figure 25a. below.) If the 

respondent says “yes”, then a follow-up 

question will ask “who?” (See figure 25b.) 

This is a multiple entry question where you 

Figure C25a. Example of a Disability Question 

Figure C25b. Example of “Who is that?” 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-42 CPS Demographic Data

Choose one or more people to which that 

particular disability applies. Only those 

civilian household members 15 years of age 

and older, who have not yet answered the 

disability questions will be displayed. 

3.Q.3 Introduction to the Disability 

Series

The introduction to the question set outlines 

the concepts that will be covered in more 

detail in the questions. The term “serious 

difficulty” is used to indicate that these 

questions are not intended to identify 

persons with short-term impairments. The 

introduction and the questions themselves 

do not mention the word “disability” 

because this word is defined differently by 

each person who hears it. It is important 

that you do not describe these questions 

as “disability” questions to the 

respondent. If it becomes clear that it is 

imperative to do so in order to address the 

respondent’s concerns, then you should feel 

free to use the word “disability” to describe 

the purpose of the questions, but do not do 

so unless it is absolutely necessary. 

Figure C25c. Example of the Disability 

Introduction Screen (PREDIS) 

There is a help screen associated with the 

PREDIS screen. The three most frequently 

asked questions are shown. Please refer to 

this screen if you cannot properly answer a 

respondent’s questions. The FAQ’s and 

answers are as follows: 

These questions provide information that 

helps to define disability as a limitation in 

the ability to perform one or more major life 

activities. These data will make it possible 

to measure the employment status of persons 

with disabilities on a timely basis. This 

information is important for many purposes, 

such as guiding policy-makers in their 

efforts to improve labor market outcomes 

for persons with disabilities. 

 I already told you that I was disabled. 

Your responses to earlier questions are 

not used to determine disability status. 

Some people who have disabilities might 

not mention that in response to the labor 

force questions asked earlier. These 

disability-related questions were 

specifically designed to determine who 

has a disability regardless of their 

employment status. 

 Will my answers to these questions 

affect my ability to continue collecting 

disability benefits? No. Because all data 

collected in the CPS are confidential, 

your responses will have no bearing or 

effect on your ability, or anyone else’s 

ability, to qualify for disability benefits. 

3.Q.4 Deaf or Serious Difficulty Hearing

The first question in this series, DS1, is to 

identify people who are deaf, or have serious 

difficulty with hearing in ordinary situations. 

People who have a hearing problem that is 

mostly corrected through the use of a 

hearing aid should answer “no” to this 

question. Also, people who miss 

conversations due to distractions or because 

they were ignoring the speaker, should also 

answer “no”. 

3.Q.5 Blind or Serious Difficulty Seeing

Question DS2 is meant to identify people 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C3-43 April 2015

who are blind, or have serious difficulty 

seeing, even when wearing glasses. The 

ability to see well enough to read a 

newspaper, book or magazine of normalsized type or drive a car should be recorded 

as “no”. If a respondent has poor vision, but 

with the help of ordinary glasses or contacts, 

they can perform the activities described 

above, their answer should also be recorded 

as “no”. 

3.Q.6 Serious Difficulty Concentrating, 

Remembering, or Making Decisions

The purpose of question DS3 is to determine 

if anyone in the household has a long-lasting 

condition that causes a serious difficulty 

with certain ordinary mental functions. The 

specific area of difficulty does not have to 

be limited to difficulty concentrating, 

remembering, or making decisions, but 

should be a function of similar nature such 

as learning or following directions. A 

respondent with Alzheimer’s disease, 

dementia or a serious learning disability 

should answer “yes” to this question. 

3.Q.7 Serious Difficulty Walking or 

Climbing Stairs

Question DS4 is intended to identify people 

who have serious difficulty with ordinary 

physical activities related to mobility. The 

specific area of difficulty does not have to 

be limited to difficulty walking or climbing 

stairs, but should be of a similar nature. If 

the respondent asks for clarification, they 

should answer “yes” if they are unable to 

walk three city blocks. Anyone who has a 

prosthetic body part, or is required to use an 

assistive device such as a wheelchair or 

walker should respond “yes” to this question 

regardless of how much their difficulty is 

alleviated by such assistive devices. 

3.Q.8 Difficulty Dressing or Bathing

Question DS5 is intended to identify anyone 

who has a long lasting condition that causes 

serious difficulty with independently 

performing ordinary self-care activities. The 

specific area of difficulty does not have to 

be limited to dressing or bathing, but should 

be activities of a similar nature, such as 

eating or getting around inside the home. If 

the respondent usually requires assistance in 

order to perform such activities, they should 

respond “yes” to this question. 

3.Q.9 Difficulty Doing Errands

The intent of DS6 is to determine if anyone 

has a long lasting condition that causes 

serious difficulty with independently 

performing necessary tasks outside the 

home. The specific area of difficulty does 

not have to be limited to visiting a doctor’s 

office or shopping alone, but should be 

activities of a similar nature, such as visiting 

a dentist’s office or going to get a haircut. 

This question is not intended to identify 

people who have transportation difficulties, 

such as the lack of a car or access to public 

transportation. 

3.R DEMOGRAPHIC EDITS 

WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT 

There are edits built into the demographic 

questions that you ask of each household 

member to ensure that we get consistent 

demographic information. A number of the 

edits that you may encounter follow. 

 If the individual is the reference person's 

spouse, the instrument fills the individual's 

line number into the reference person's 

SPOUSE variable, and the reference 

person's line number into the individual's 

SPOUSE variable. The instrument will also fill 

their respective MARITAL variables with a 1 (i.e., 

married spouse present). 
Part C Chapter 3 Page C3-44 CPS Demographic Data

 If the household roster does not include a 

spouse for the reference person, the 

instrument will fill a 0 in the reference 

person's SPOUSE variable. It will also not 

allow an entry “married spouse present” 

when displaying the MARITL screen for 

the reference person. 

 If the individual is the reference person's 

child, the instrument will fill the reference 

person's line number into the individual's 

appropriate parent variable, LNMOM (for 

mother) or LNDAD (for father). 

 If the individual is the reference person's 

parent, the instrument will fill the 

individual's line number into the reference 

person's individual's appropriate parent 

variable, LNMOM (for mother) or 

LNDAD (for father). 

 If the household roster does not include a 

parent for the reference person, the 

instrument will fill a 0 in the reference 

person's LNMOM and LNDAD variable. 

The instrument will not allow more than two 

parents for each person. 

 If the individual is the reference person's 

brother/sister, the instrument will fill the 

reference person's parent line number into 

the individual's appropriate parent 

variable, LNMOM (for mother) or 

LNDAD (for father). The instrument will 

also display a "VERIFY" screen 

(PARENT2) to ensure that the individual's 

parent line number is correct. If the 

answer is "No," the instrument will display 

an error message directing you to go back 

to fix the relationship. 

 When collecting a parent line number 

(LNMOM or LNDAD), the instrument 

will not allow you to enter a parent line 

number equal to the current person's line 

number. 

 When collecting the line number of a 

spouse, the instrument will not allow you 

to enter a spouse line number equal to the 

current person's line number or equal to 

any other person's spouse. 

 Once the instrument obtains the SPOUSE 

variable for the first spouse on the roster, it 

will fill the first spouse's line number into 

the second spouse's SPOUSE variable. 

 If the individual is the reference person’s 

unmarried partner (RRP = 21) then the 

COHAB question will not be asked. The 

COHAB variable for the reference person 

will be set to that individual’s line number 

and the individual’s COHAB variable will 

be set to the reference person (REFPER). 

 The instrument will prompt you for the 

correct response if the EDUCA entry fails 

any of the following range checks: 

o If 19 years old, the person should 

have an education below the level of a 

Master's Degree (EA < 44). 

o If 16-18 years old, the person should 

have an education below the level of a 

Bachelor's Degree (EA < 43). 

o If younger than 15 years old, the 

person should have an education 

below college level (EA < 40). 

If, after probing, the answer does not 

change, the instrument will accept the 

entry as valid. 

● The instrument will prompt you to probe 

before it allows you to lower an 

educational level reported in a previous 

month in sample.
Part C, Chapter 4 

The Labor Force Interview

Topic See Page 

4.A Introduction C4-3 

4.B Employed C4-3 

4.C Unemployed C4-14 

4.D Not in the Labor Force C4-26 

4.E Industry and Occupation C4-32 

4.F Earnings and Union Membership C4-45 

4.G School Enrollment C4-51 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-2 The Labor Force Interview
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-3 April 2015

PART C, CHAPTER 4 

THE LABOR FORCE INTERVIEW

4.A INTRODUCTION 

This chapter provides further detail to the 

labor force concepts covered in Part B. 

Each section contains questions that relate to 

a particular series of questions in the labor 

force portion of the middle of the instrument 

(on layoff, earnings, etc.). The chapter is 

broken down as follows: 

4.B Employed 

4.C Unemployed 

4.D Not in the Labor Force 

4.E Industry and Occupation 

4.F Earnings and Union Membership 

4.G School Enrollment 

4.B EMPLOYED

In determining if a person is employed, the 

first question you ask is if anyone in the 

household has a business or farm, BUS, 

Figure C26. 

4.B.1 Business

Figure C26. BUS, Business or Farm

Select 1-Yes when any of the following 

conditions is met:

 machinery or equipment of substantial 

value is used in conducting the business, 

 an inventory of significant value is 

maintained for the business, 

 an office, store, or other place of business 

is maintained, 

 the business is advertised by: 

olisting in the classified section of 

the telephone book, 

ofrequent listings or long term 

posting on a website, 

odisplaying a sign, 

odistributing cards or leaflets or 

otherwise publicizing that the work 

or service is offered to the general 

public. 

4.B.2 Work

After determining if a business is present, 

you ask the working series (WORK through 

MJNUM) of questions to determine whether 

a person is classified as working or not 

working and how many jobs they may have. 

Figure C27 is the WORK screen where you 

enter if the person was at work. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-4 The Labor Force Interview 

Figure C27. WORK, Work for Pay or Profit

Enter 1-Yes if any of the following 

conditions is met: 

 a person did any activity for wages or 

salary, for profit or fees, or for payment in 

kind. One hour or more of such activity 

constitutes work, 

 a person receives part of the profits from 

the business/ farm, or would have received 

part of the profits if the business/farm had 

not operated at a loss, regardless of the 

number of hours worked during the 

reference week. NOTE: If the business is 

only an investment, enter 2 as described 

below, 

 a person did unpaid activity during the 

reference week in a family business or 

farm. 

Enter 2-No for the following conditions: 

 a person received profits from a business 

which (s)he owns for investment purposes 

only and does not participate in the 

management or actual operations of the 

business, 

 a person was on jury duty or National 

Guard/Reserve duty,

 a person did unpaid work that did not 

contribute to the family business/farm, 

 a person did unpaid work in the business 

of an unrelated household member or for a 

relative not in the household, 

Enter 3-Retired if any of the following 

conditions is met:

 a person says they are retired from work, 

whether voluntarily or not, 

 a person says they RETIRED because of 

health, 

 a person says they are "too old to work 

any more". 

Enter 4-Disabled when all of the following 

conditions are met: 

 a person has a specific physical or mental 

condition that prevents the individual from 

working,

 the disability is not a combination of 

minor disabilities that normally come with 

advanced age, 

 the disability incapacitates a person and 

prevents him/her from doing any kind of 

work, not just the type of work at his/her 

last job, for at least the next 6 months. 

Enter 5-Unable to work if the 

conditions listed under disabled are 

met, that is, the person's medical 

condition prevents him/her from doing 

any kind of work, not just the type of 

work at his/her last job, for the next 6 

months. 

This response category is provided because 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-5 April 2015 

individuals with a temporary medical 

condition may not consider themselves 

disabled (which to some people signifies a 

permanent condition), but rather currently 

unable to work. Persons responding with 

"unable to work" follow the same 

questionnaire path as those responding 

"disabled". 

"Workers in family business." 

Persons in a household with a family 

Figure C28. BUS1, Work in Family Business 

 

Figure C29. BUS2, Payments from the 

Business 

business (as identified in BUS) who respond 

"no" to WORK are asked in BUS1 (Figure 

C28) if they worked in the family business. 

If the answer to BUS1 is "yes," they are 

asked in BUS2 (Figure C29) whether they 

received payments or profits from that 

business. (If they do, they are classified as 

wage and salary workers rather than unpaid 

family workers

 

 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-6 The Labor Force Interview 

4.B.3 Multiple Jobs

Figure C30. MJ, More Than One Job

 

This question (MJ, Figure C30) is asked of 

all employed persons each month. Most 

multiple job holders hold two or more wage 

and salary jobs or are self-employed on one 

job and a wage and salary employee on 

another job. (Also included are people who 

started and ended jobs in the same week.) 

The following situations are NOT multiple 

job holding. 

● An individual may have more than one 

employer, but only one job. If an 

individual does the same type of work for 

more than one employer in an occupation 

where it is common to have more than one 

employer the individual should not be 

considered a multiple job holder, (e.g. 

private household or domestic workers 

including baby-sitters, chauffeurs, 

gardeners, handy persons, cooks, and 

maids). 

 An individual may have more than one 

client but only one job. If an individual 

does the same type of work for more than 

one client in an occupation where it is 

typical to have more than one client (e.g., 

artists, consultants, doctors, and lawyers), 

the individual should not be considered a 

multiple job holder. 

 An individual who owns two or more 

unincorporated businesses (and has no 

wage and salary job) is not a multiple job 

holder. 

 An individual may have more than one 

contract or one piece of work without 

having more than one job. For example, a 

general contractor working at more than 

one construction site would not be a 

multiple job holder. If an individual has 

more than one piece of work or more than 

one contract (e.g., contractors, 

construction workers), and all of the work 

is the same type, then the individual has 

one job. 

In order to learn more about the 

characteristics of multiple job holders, you 

will ask them about the industry, occupation, 

and class of worker of their second job in 

the out-going rotations. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-7 April 2015 

4.B.4 Usual Hours

Information on usual hours is asked of all 

employed persons each month. This 

question (HRUSL1, Figure C31) begins the 

collection of hours data. You ask for usual 

hours first to determine a person's typical 

status, and then ask about what they actually 

did in the reference week. 

Multiple job holders are asked about the 

hours at their main job and then at all other 

jobs combined. 

Figure C31. HRUSL1, Usual Hours per Week

You ask an additional question of persons 

who report that their usual hours vary to 

determine if they usually work 35 hours or 

more per week. Although you may select 

“hours vary”, try to keep this entry to a 

minimum. Use this category only if the 

respondent is unable to provide an estimate 

of usual hours as defined below. (See 

Figure C32.) 

Figure C32. HRFTPT, Usually Work 35 or 

More Hours

Remember that usually is 50% of the time 

or more, or the most frequent schedule 

during the past 4 or 5 months. 

Below are a few guidelines to follow for 

estimating usual hours:

 Use whole numbers (Count 30 minutes or 

more as a whole hour), 

 Probe for an exact number when a person 

provides a range of hours such as, "She 

usually works about 40-45 hours per 

week", 

 Obtain the usual hours a person expects to 

work for persons whose job started during 

the reference week, 

 If the person's job ended during the 

reference week, ask for usual hours at that 

job. However, if a new job began during 

the same week, you obtain the usual hours 

for both jobs, since the person would be 

considered a multiple job holder, 

 For persons whose hours vary each week, 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-8 The Labor Force Interview 

enter 1 in the follow-up question 

(HRFTPT, Figure C32) for persons who 

usually work 35 hours or more for most 

weeks during the year.

 It is possible for a person who worked 

during the reference week to not usually

work. In such cases his/her usual hours 

are zero. For example, a retired person 

worked 20 hours in a friend's business 

during the reference week, but usually 

does not work. His/her usual hours are 0 

and actual hours are 20, 

 Include extra hours usually worked even 

if they are without compensation. For 

example, report a lawyer who usually 

works 60 hours per week, but is only paid 

for 40 hours, as usually working 60 hours. 

4.B.5 Actual Hours

In the series of questions on actual hours 

you first determine if a person lost or took 

off hours from work. You then identify any 

extra hours or overtime. These questions 

provide a transition from usual hours and aid 

the respondent's recall of actual hours. You 

then ask for actual hours worked at the main 

job and then for any hours worked at 

additional jobs. 

Below are a few guidelines to follow for 

estimating actual hours:

 Use whole numbers (Count 30 minutes or 

more as a whole hour.)

 For persons with businesses, include 

hours spent setting up a business or 

profession, even if it is not opened yet. 

 Include hours worked at a person's 

business even if (s)he actually transacted 

no business. 

 Include hours worked without 

compensation at a wage or salary job (for 

example, a teacher grading papers at 

home). 

 Include hours spent doing unpaid work on 

a family farm or business that is owned by 

a related household member. 

 Do not include hours spent on jury duty

or on National Guard duty. 

4.B.6 Economic and Non-Economic 

Reasons for Working Part-Time

There are three different questions that 

collect information on the reason for 

working part time. The instrument 

determines which questions you will ask 

based on your entry in HRWANT (Figure 

C33). You ask HRRSN1 of persons who 

want full-time work. 

Figure C33. HRWANT, Want Full Time Work
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-9 April 2015 

HRRSN1 (Figure C34) provides both 

economic and non-economic reasons for 

part-time work in order to give the 

respondent an indication of the type of 

information we are looking for. The number 

of people working part time for economic 

reasons is a closely watched economic 

indicator, as it is a measure of 

"underemployment" and of the inability of 

the nation's economy to generate the types 

of jobs desired. 

Categories of economic reasons are "slack 

work/business conditions," "could only find 

part-time work," and "seasonal work." 

These indicate a business related reason for 

working part time. The remaining 

categories are non-economic reasons since 

they reflect personal, rather than business, 

reasons for working part time. 

Select Slack work/business conditions if 

the person's work schedule was reduced 

below 35 hours for a business reason such 

as a drop in orders, not enough customers, 

business was slow, or to save jobs. Also use 

this category for workers on furlough or 

workers forced to take time off for other 

cost saving reasons. Faced with the 

employer’s decision to reduce hours, an 

individual may subsequently use the time 

off for vacation or personal reasons; in such 

cases, “slack work/business” conditions 

should be selected. 

Do not use this category for workers who 

had already made plans to take vacation 

prior to a furlough notification; use 

“vacation/personal day”; 

Special situation: Select “Slack 

work/business conditions” for people who 

were prevented from working because of a 

government shutdown associated with 

budget or funding-related issues. 

Do not use this for farmers who work less 

than 35 hours during winter; use "otherspecify." 

Select Could only find part-time work

when the person says "That's all I could 

find," or "That's all there is around here." 

Include cases in which the person was hired 

as part time so the employer could avoid 

paying benefits. 

Select Seasonal work for persons whose 

hours were reduced because it is the offseason for their place of business. For 

example, a person working at a golf course 

in the winter or a ski resort in the summer 

might work less than 35 hours because that 

is all the work there is in the off season. 

Select Child care problems for 

persons who specifically mention childcare 

as a reason for taking time off from work. 

For example, "I had to take time off from 

work because I could not find someone to 

watch my children on Friday." 

Select Other family/personal obligations

for all other family or home related reasons 

such as staying home with a sick child, 

working around the house or going with a 

child on a school field trip. 

Select Health/medical limitations if the 

person's own illness, injury, or disability 

prevented him or her from working full 

time. 

Select School/training if the person states 

that (s)he did not work full time due to 

attendance in any type of school or training 

program. 

Select Retired/Social Security limit on 

earnings for persons who say that the 

reason they are working part time is that 

they are retired or that this is the most hours 

they can work without losing Social Security 

benefits. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-10 The Labor Force Interview

Figure C34. HRRSN1, Reason for Working 

Part Time 

Select Full-time workweek is less than 35 

hours when a full-time workweek is 

considered to be less than 35 hours. This is 

the case for a few occupations such as 

airline pilots and flight attendants, whose 

weekly hours may be limited by Federal 

regulation. Also, some union contracts 

provide that a full-time workweek may be 

less than 35 hours. In these cases, workers 

are paid at an overtime rate for any hours 

over the amount considered as full time. 

Include these cases in this category also. 

HRRSN2 (Figure C35) obtains the main 

reason for not wanting to work full time for 

persons who do not want full-time work. 

HRRSN3 (Figure C36) is asked of persons 

who usually work more than 35 hours per 

week, but actually worked less than 35 hours 

during the reference week. Response 

categories in HRRSN2 are noneconomic 

reasons only; categories in HRRSN3 include 

both economic and noneconomic reasons. 

Figure C35. HRRSN2, Main Reason for 

Wanting Part Time Work 

Figure C36. HRRSN3, Reason Worked <35 Hours 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-11 April 2015

There are several categories in HRRSN2 and 

HRRSN3 that are not in HRRSN1, namely: 

Select Job started or ended during week if 

the person's hours were less than 35 because 

his/her job either started or ended during the 

reference week. 

Select Vacation/personal day if the person 

worked part time because (s)he took 

vacation or personal days for part of the 

reference week. 

Select Own illness/injury/medical 

appointment if (s)he worked part time in 

the reference week because of his/her own

illness, injury, or appointment at a doctor's 

or dentist's office. 

Select Holiday (legal or religious) if the 

person takes time off for the holiday even if 

the actual holiday is not during the reference 

week. 

Select Labor dispute (includes strikes and 

lockouts) if the person takes time off when 

the labor dispute is at the person's own place 

of employment. 

Select Weather affected job if (s)he 

worked part time due to adverse weather 

conditions. 

Select Civic/Military duty if the person 

worked part time because of jury duty, 

Armed Forces reserve duty, National Guard 

duty, or a similar obligation. 

4.B.7 With a Job/Temporarily Absent

You will ask persons who were not at work 

for the entire reference week if they were 

absent from a job (answer yes to ABSNT). 

See Figure C37. 

A person is temporarily absent if (s)he had 

job or business, but did not work during the 

reference week. If there is any question 

about the individual's employment status, 

determine: 

 whether (s)he intends to return to work, 

and 

 whether his/her employer has agreed to 

hold a job for the individual when (s)he 

returns. 

4.B.8 Reasons for Being Absent from 

Work 

You enter the person's reason for being 

absent from work in ABSRSN, Figure C38. 

Use the following guidelines when entering 

a person's reason for being absent from 

work. 

Select (1) On layoff for persons on 

temporary or indefinite layoff. A response 

of "on layoff" routes the person to a series of 

questions on the details of the layoff 

situation. Also select this category for 

workers on furlough. Faced with the 

employer’s decision to reduce hours, an 

individual may subsequently use the time off 

for vacation or personal reasons; in such 

cases, “on layoff” should be selected. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-12 The Labor Force Interview

Do not use this category for workers who 

had already made plans to take vacation 

prior to a furlough notification; use 

“vacation/personal day”. 

Special Situation: Select “on layoff” if 

people are prevented from working because 

of a government shutdown associated with 

budget or funding-related issues. 

Select (2) Slack work/business conditions

if the person's hours were eliminated 

because business was slow or to save jobs.

Figure C37. ABSNT, Absent From Work

Figure C38. ABSRSN, Main Reason Absent From Work 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-13 April 2015

Select (3) Waiting for a new job to begin

if (s)he has definite arrangements to begin a 

wage and salary job, either civilian or 

military. Selecting this code routes the 

person into the unemployed series. 

Select (4) Vacation/personal days if the 

reason for being absent from a job during 

the reference week is for vacation or other 

leisure activities. 

If the respondent says "I took a week's 

vacation so I could finish my exams" or 

"take care of my sick spouse" or "...because 

my babysitter was sick," enter the 

appropriate precode further down the list 

(i.e., school/training, other family/personal 

obligation; and child care problems, 

respectively.) If respondents say that they 

were required to take vacation as part of a 

employer-initiated furlough or government 

shutdown, use “on layoff” , which is at the 

start of the list. 

Select (5) Own illness/injury/ medical 

problems if the main reason for being 

absent from work during the reference week 

was because of the person's own illness, 

injury or medical problems. Do NOT 

choose this if the main reason for being 

absent from work was another family 

member's illness, injury, or medical 

problem. In this case, select other 

family/personal obligation. 

Select (6) Child care problems if the 

person was absent for reasons such as 

unable to find adequate or affordable child 

care or if the babysitter was on vacation or 

ill. 

Select (7) Other family/personal 

obligation for family responsibilities other 

than child care problems that caused a 

person to be absent from work during the 

reference week. Include taking care of a 

family member, such as a child or parent. 

Select (8) Maternity or paternity leave

only if maternity or paternity leave is the 

main reason for the absence. Keep in mind 

that (s)he has to intend to return to work and 

his/her employer has agreed to hold the job 

or find a position for the person when (s)he 

returns. 

Select (9) Labor dispute for persons who 

were on strike, were locked out, or who did 

not wish to cross a picket line even though 

they were not members of the union on 

strike. 

Select (10) Weather affected job for 

persons who did not work during the 

reference week because of weather 

conditions. Examples include a teacher who 

could not drive to work because of a severe 

snow storm, or a building contractor who 

could not work because of heavy rains. 

Select (11) School/training for persons who 

took time off to study for an exam, finish a 

paper, etc. Also enter this precode for those 

persons who are on leave of absence from 

their jobs because of school or travel. 

Select (12) Civic/military duty for persons 

who were absent from work for reasons such 

as jury duty or national guard duty. 

Select (13) Does not work in the business

for persons who report that they were absent 

because they do not usually work in the 

family business or farm. (This option is 

only displayed for a person listed as an 

owner of the family business/farm.) The 

instrument will route you to the "looking" 

series of questions. 

Select (14) Other and enter the verbatim 

response if you feel that the response given 

does not fit into one of the listed precodes. 

If you select any codes from (4) through 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-14 The Labor Force Interview

(12) in ABSRSN, you will ask an additional 

question to determine if (s)he is being paid 

by his/her employer (ABSPD, Figure C39). 

The instrument fills ABSPD for owners of a 

business who say they were not temporarily 

absent but meet the above criteria. 

Figure C39. ABSPD, Paid by Employer for 

Time Off

Do not count as being paid persons who are 

receiving money only from: 

 union funds that are distributed to 

members involved in a labor dispute, or 

 unemployment insurance collected by 

persons involved in a labor dispute. 

4.C UNEMPLOYED

4.C.1 On Layoff 

Persons are on layoff if they are waiting to 

be recalled to a job from which they were 

temporarily separated for business-related 

reasons such as temporary drops in demand, 

business downturns, plant remodeling, 

material shortages, and inventory taking. 

They must have been given a date to report 

back to work or, if not given a date, must 

expect to be recalled to the job within 6 

months. 

Figure C40. LAY, On Layoff from a Job

Because a person reported to be on layoff in 

LAY (Figure C40) may not meet the official 

definition as stated above, you will ask 

additional questions to determine whether 

the individual expects to be recalled to the 

job. These questions are LAYDT and 

LAY6M, which are displayed in Figures 

C41 and C42. If a person answers "no" to 

LAYDT, (s)he is asked LAY6M. If there is 

no expectation of recall, (s)he will be routed 

through the job search series. 

Figure C41. LAYDT, Date to Return to Work 

from Layoff 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-15 April 2015

Figure C42. LAY6M, Recalled Within 6 Months 

You also ask if (s)he could have worked had (s)he been recalled in LAYAVL (Figure C43) and, 

if not available, you ask the reason not available in LAYAVR (Figure C44). 

Figure C43. LAYAVL, Available for Work if Recalled
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-16 The Labor Force Interview

Figure C44. LAYAVR, Why Not Available to 

Return to Work 

 To gain further information on the job market 

behavior of persons on layoff, you ask whether 

the person had been looking for work in LAYLK 

(Figure C45). 

Figure C45. LAYLK, Looking For Work While on 

Layoff 

You then ask about the length of time a 

person has been on layoff. LAYDR1 

(Figure C46a) and LAYDR2 (Figure 

C46b) are asked to determine the 

duration of the layoff. Responses may 

be in weeks, months, or years. Note 

that there is a range check in LAYDR2 

and the entries cannot be greater than 

the following: 

LAYDR1 (weeks) = 1 and LAYDR2 = 261 

LAYDR1 (months) = 2 and LAYDR2 = 60 

LAYDR1 (years) = 3 and LAYDR2 = 5

Figure C46a. LAYDR1, Duration of 

Layoff 

Figure C46b. LAYDR2, Months on 

Layoff
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-17 April 2015

You will ask persons reporting a duration of 

layoff of 1 to 4 months to provide the duration in 

weeks. (See Figure C47.) The reason for this is 

that BLS publishes estimates of unemployment 

duration (mean and median) in weeks. 

Therefore, the shorter-term unemployed are 

asked to provide a more precise estimate in 

weeks to enhance the accuracy of the published 

estimates. 

Figure C47. LAYDR3, Weeks on Layoff 

You do not ask the duration questions of 

everyone on layoff. Automatic updating will be 

used in interview numbers 2 through 4 and 6 

through 8 when the person was on layoff in both 

the current and previous months and adequate 

information was obtained in the previous month. 

 Finally, persons on layoff are asked about the 

characteristics of the job to which they are 

awaiting recall, including industry, occupation, 

and whether it was full or part time (Figure C48, 

LAYFT). In the succeeding interviews, 

dependent interviewing will be used in connection 

with the I&O series, as long as the person remains 

on layoff and information adequate for coding has 

been reported. 

Figure C48. LAYFT, On Layoff from Full 

Time Work 

 4.C.2 Looking for Work

The first item in the series of questions 

about “looking” is designed to determine if 

individuals did anything to find work in the 

last 4 weeks. (See figure C49.) 

 Figure C49. LK, Looking For Work

If the respondent answers yes or reports a 

job search activity in response to LK, mark 

“yes.” If the answer to LK is yes, it is 

followed by questions on job search 

methods. People will be asked to report all 

of the job search methods they used in 

question LKM. Whether job search methods 

are mentioned in LK or LKM, please record 

all the things a person did to look for work. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-18 The Labor Force Interview

If a person reports passive job search 

methods only, then (s)he is NOT looking for 

work according to the official definition, and 

is not asked further questions about job 

search activity. Only one active job search 

method is necessary for an individual to be 

classified as unemployed (assuming 

availability). This “looking” series helps you 

determine: 

 What people have done to find work 

 If they could have taken a job if one 

were offered 

 How long they have been looking for 

work 

 What they were doing before they 

started looking for work 

 When they last worked 

 If they are looking for full or part-time 

work 

Below are instructions for when to mark 

each of the job search method categories. 

Before reviewing the instructions for when 

to use each category, read the box below 

that highlights some important issues to 

keep in mind when hearing about job 

searches done using the computer or the 

Internet. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-19 April 2015

The Use of the Internet for Job Search 

A large number of people are using the Internet to look for work. This may be influencing the types of 

responses that you are receiving to the question “What are all the things you have done to find work 

during the last 4 weeks?” It is important to note that the Internet is a tool used to find work, similar to 

a phone, a bulletin board, or postal mail. The use of the Internet, itself, does not constitute a job search 

activity. In order to adequately categorize answers to the job search question, you need to know what 

the respondent did on the Internet to look for work. 

Many of the answers you receive to this question will be classified the same regardless of whether the 

activities were conducted over the Internet, in person, or some other way. For example, if a respondent 

reports that he or she submitted an application online, it does not matter that the activity was done on 

the Internet; it still should be classified as “Sent out resumes/filled out applications.” Similarly, 

browsing job ads on an Internet website is the same as looking through job ads in a printed newspaper. 

Both should be classified as “Looked at ads.” 

Use of the Internet does present unique challenges when coding respondents’ answers to this question. 

In particular, the Internet offers a wide variety of methods for interacting with potential employers and 

researching available jobs. These methods can be referred to by many names that may change over 

time. Today, people email, tweet, post, update, or submit. Next month or next year, different terms 

may be used. Additional instructions are provided below to address some of these challenges. In our 

instructions we will use the terms Internet and Internet-related method to refer to the wide variety of 

methods that people can use. 

There are two general situations that may cause difficulty classifying responses and require you to 

probe for additional information: 

1. If the respondent gives a general answer such as “used the Internet” or “used the 

computer” 

As noted above, the Internet is a tool to look for work. Answers such as “Used the Internet,” 

“Went online,” or “Used the Computer” may be common, especially when the respondent is 

answering on behalf of other household members, but they do not provide enough information 

to determine which of the pre-coded categories to select. If you receive a response like this, 

you should probe to determine what activities were done. For example, if the respondent says 

“My son used the Internet to look for work,” you can probe by asking “What did your son do

on the Internet to find work?” 

2. If the respondent just mentions a website name 

Responses that are just a website name (such as, JobSearchSite.com) or mention using a 

website without indicating what the individual did on the website (such as, “I used 

Monster.com”), do not provide enough information to be coded. Probe to determine what 

individuals did on these websites. For example, “What did you do on JobSearchSite.com to 

find work?” 

If, AFTER probing, you cannot obtain any more information about how an individual used the 

Internet or what an individual did on a website to look for work, code the response as “Don’t know.” 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-20 The Labor Force Interview

4.C.3 Selecting a Job Search Method 

This section provides instructions on 

selecting response categories for a 

respondent’s answer to LKM (FigureC50). 

When recording a response, it is very 

important to distinguish between active and 

passive job search methods. A job search 

method is considered “active” if it COULD 

result in a job offer without any further 

action on the part of the job seeker. Active 

job search methods must make an employer 

aware that a person is looking for work. A 

“passive” job search method is one that 

COULD NOT result in a job offer without 

further action by the job seeker. Activities 

that only involve gathering information 

should be coded as passive job search. 

Active job search methods are listed in the 

left column on your computer screen. 

Passive job search methods are listed in the 

right column. 

If you select “other active” or “other 

passive” in any of the looking methods 

screens, the instrument will display a specify 

screen where you should type in the person's 

verbatim response. After you enter the 

response, you then return to make additional 

entries until you enter (0) for no more 

answers. Figure C51. 

ACTIVE JOB SEARCH 

METHODS 

(1) Contacted employer 

directly/Interview 

Select (1) for people who made direct 

contact with an employer (including 

staff in a personnel office) by personal 

visit, telephone call, mail, email or 

other Internet-related method. Include 

contact with an Armed Forces 

Recruiting Office about joining the 

military. The person must have spoken 

to or sent a message directly to a 

potential employer or someone in the 

company’s personnel office. Also use 

(1) for people who had or scheduled 

an interview with a potential 

employer. 

Simply picking up an application 

without talking to someone about 

getting a job should not be coded as 

“Contacted employer directly.” 

Similarly, looking at a company’s 

website without contacting an 

employer about job openings also 

should not be coded as “Contacted 

employer directly.” 

Do not use (1) for individuals who 

submitted a resume or an application 

whether online or through the postal 

mail. These types of responses should 

be coded as “Sent out resumes/filled 

out applications.” 

(2) Contacted public employment 

agency 

Select (2) for people who contacted a 

public employment agency. The 

individual must have inquired about 

job opportunities (for example, used 

the agency's job search services to 

apply for jobs) rather than simply 

asked about unemployment insurance, 

participated in a job training program, 

or had a job skill assessment. 

Individuals could have used the job 

search services either in person or via 

the agency’s website. 

Public employment offices can 

operate at any level of government: 

Federal, State, or local. Public 

employment offices often are referred 

to as One Stop Career Centers, 

American Job Centers, or Job Service. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-21 April 2015

State or city names also can be part of 

the public employment service’s 

name. 

(3) Contacted private employment 

agency 

Select (3) for people who made contact 

with a private employment agency by 

personal visit, telephone call, email or 

other Internet-related method. Private 

employment agencies give people looking 

for work leads to potential employers or 

contact employers on behalf of job seekers. 

Private employment agencies and 

recruitment websites typically charge 

employers or job seekers a fee for their 

services. Private employment agencies 

sometimes are referred to as “search 

firms,” “recruiting firms,” or “headhunters.” 

Also select (3) for people who registered 

with temporary help agencies or staffing 

firms, and for people who signed up for a 

recruitment website that links individuals 

directly with recruiters. 

Do not confuse private employment 

agencies with personnel offices or human 

resource offices maintained by a business 

itself. A private employment agency serves 

more than one business. 

(4) Contacted friends or relatives

Select (4) for people who asked friends or 

relatives about jobs or potential job leads. 

Friends and relatives can include 

colleagues, business associates, or other 

personal contacts. Contacting friends, or 

relatives can be done in person, over the 

phone, by email, or by other Internetrelated methods. 

Also select (4) if an individual indicates they 

looked for work by networking. A person 

must have discussed job opportunities. 

Simply inviting or adding an individual to 

ones’ social network or exchanging emails 

on topics unrelated to a job search should 

not be coded as “Contacted friends or 

relatives.” Establishing contacts without 

making others aware that the person is 

looking for work or exchanging emails 

without discussing job opportunities should 

be coded as “Other passive.” 

(5) Contacted school/university 

employment centers 

Select (5) for people who contacted a 

school’s employment center for 

assistance in job placement. This 

includes activities such as schoolarranged interviews or being put in 

contact with employers or alumni about 

potential job leads. 

Do not use this category for activities to 

improve job search skills (such as, 

resume writing or interviewing 

workshops) or career counseling. 

(6) Sent out resumes/filled out 

applications 

Select (6) for people who sent information 

about themselves in the form of a resume or 

a letter to a specific employer, or completed 

and returned an application for a job. 

Applications or resumes can be provided to 

employers in person, by mail or email, or 

submitted online or by other Internet-related 

methods. 

Also select (6) for people who posted or 

updated resumes on any website that 

potential employers can view. Such websites 

can include employment websites (such as, 

job boards, job banks, or job listings), 

personal websites, or social networking 

sites. 

Do not enter (6) for people who only worked 

on their resumes or job applications, but did 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-22 The Labor Force Interview

not post or submit them. Do not enter (6) if 

the person only picked up an application. 

These types of activities should be coded as 

“Other passive.” 

(7) Checked union/professional 

registers 

Select (7) for people who signed up 

for a union or professional job register 

or checked such registers for available 

jobs. Occupations for which these 

registers may be used include skilled 

trade occupations, performing arts 

occupations, substitute teaching, and 

nursing. 

(8) Placed or answered ads 

Select (8) for people who placed ads 

indicating they are looking for work, 

anywhere that can be accessed by the 

public: such as newspapers, bulletin 

boards, or websites. This includes 

people who indicated that they are 

looking for work either by posting on 

social media or by creating a profile 

on a networking site. 

Also use (8) for people who answered 

ads or responded to job postings. Do not 

use this category for individuals who 

ONLY browsed or looked at job 

postings, read ads, or downloaded job 

listings. These responses should be 

coded as “Looked at ads.” 

(9) Other Active 

Select (9) for an active job search 

method that is not covered by one of the 

pre-specified active methods. An active 

job search method is one that could 

result in a job offer without any further 

action by the job seeker (for example, 

auditioned for directors or producers, 

bid on contracts, or attended a job fair). 

Active job search methods make an 

employer aware that an individual is 

looking for work. 

Figure C50, LKM, Method of Looking for 

Work 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-23 April 2015

PASSIVE JOB SEARCH 

METHODS

(10) Looked at ads 

 

Select (10) for people who ONLY 

browsed or looked at job postings, read 

ads, or downloaded job listings, but did 

not contact a potential employer. 

(11) Attended Job training

programs/courses 

Select (11) for people who attended job 

training programs or courses (whether 

online or in person) in order to obtain jobrelated knowledge or skills. Include 

responses like “I attended a resume writing 

workshop,” “I took a computer skills class 

online,” or “I’m taking a class that is 

required for my real estate license.” In 

some cases, a respondent may be required 

by an Unemployment Insurance or Welfare 

agency to attend job training programs or 

courses. This is still considered a passive 

job search method, even if it is required. 

(12) Other Passive 

Select (12) for a passive job search method 

that is not covered by one of the prespecified passive job search methods. A 

passive job search method is one that could 

not result in a job offer without further 

action by the job seeker (such as, studying 

for licensing exams, receiving email alerts 

about available jobs, or researching 

companies). Activities that only involve 

gathering information should be coded as 

passive job search. 

(13) Nothing 

Select (13) only for verbatim responses of 

“nothing.” 

If a respondent answers “don't know” or 

“nothing,” an additional question (LKDK) 

is asked in the hopes obtaining further 

information. The precodes are identical to 

those in LKM and should be used in the 

same way. 

If a respondent provides only passive job 

search methods, then an additional 

question (LKPS, Figure C52) is asked to 

obtain more information. The precodes 

are identical to those used in item LKM 

and should be used in the same way. 

Figure C51- LKDK, Other Method for 

Looking for Work 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-24 The Labor Force Interview

Figure C52- LKPS- Additional Method for 

Looking for Work

4.C.4 Availability to Start a Job

In addition to having an active job search, an 

individual must report that (s)he was available to 

start a job in the reference week in order to be 

classified as unemployed. You obtain this 

information in LKAVL. 

If a person attaches conditions to the type of 

work or work schedule wanted, this does not 

affect the person's availability. You should 

select precode (1) for people who can only work 

during certain hours, or who want a certain kind 

of work and were available for that type of work. 

4.C.5 Duration of Looking

You enter duration of looking in the LKDR1 and 

LKDR2 screens (Figures C53a and C53b). 

These items have a range check. Your entries 

cannot be greater than the following: 

LKDR1(weeks) =1 and LKDR2=261 or 

LKDR1(months) =2 and LKDR2=60 or 

LKDR1 (years) =3 and LKDR2=5 

Figure C53a. LKDR1, Duration of Looking 

 

 

Figure C53b. LKDR2, Months Looking

Persons reporting an unemployment 

duration of 1 to 4 months will be asked to 

provide the duration in weeks (Figure C54). 

Since BLS publishes estimates of 

unemployment duration in weeks, an 

estimate in weeks is obtained for the shorterterm unemployed whenever possible. This 

yields more accurate estimates of duration of 

unemployment. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-25 April 2015

 Figure C54. LKDR3, Weeks Looking For Work,

You also ask if (s)he is looking for full-time or parttime work, as shown in Figure C55. Full-time work 

is 35 hours or more per week. Generally speaking, 

any job that is usually 35 hours or more per week is 

considered full time. 

Figure C55. LKFT, Looking For Full Time Work 

4.C.6 Activity Prior to Job Search

Two separate questions (LKLL1 and LKLL2, 

shown in Figure C56a and C57) are asked to find 

out why a person began looking for work. LKLL1 

asks what the person's major activity was 

immediately before (s)he started to look. 

Figure C56a LKLL1, Activity Before 

Looking For Work 

 

 Figure C56b. LKLL1S, Specific Activity 

 If the person was working just prior to 

the current job search, we are interested 

in how (s)he was separated from the 

previous job, that is if the person lost or 

quit the job, or had a temporary job that 

ended.

 Figure C57. LKLL2, Lost or Quit Job or 

Temporary Job Ended

 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-26 The Labor Force Interview

1) Lost Job

 

Persons whose employment ended 

involuntarily, for example, 

discharged for cause (fired), plant 

closed, company moved, reduction in 

staff, job ended, or forced to retire. 

 2) Quit Job

Persons who voluntarily ended their 

employment; include people who 

quit their jobs or retired from their 

jobs. 

3) Temporary Job

Persons who had a temporary job 

that ended. These persons neither 

quit or lost their jobs because these 

jobs were never intended to be longterm. 

4.C.7 Reasons Unavailable for Work

Persons who respond that they were 

unavailable for work last week are asked 

why they were unavailable. Following is a 

brief description of the response categories: 

Temporary illness

Although it is not necessary to probe, if you 

learn that the illness is expected to last more 

than 30 days from the time of interview, 

enter "Other" and the verbatim response. 

Note that the person must have been ill. If 

(s)he was unavailable for work because 

he/she was caring for someone else, enter 

the "Other" precode and the verbatim 

response. 

Going to school

Persons who could not have started or taken 

a job in the previous week because they 

were in school. Include all types of public 

and private educational institutions both in 

and out of the regular school system, such as 

high school, college, business, or vocational 

school. 

Other 

Use this if none of the above precodes are 

appropriate. Examples of "other" reasons 

are: 

 Did not have transportation 

 Couldn't find a babysitter 

 Had to care for a sick family member 

 Long-term illness 

4.D NOT IN THE LABOR 

FORCE 

Persons not working or looking for work are 

asked a series of questions related to their 

desire and availability for work, how 

recently they have worked or looked for 

work, and their plans to look for work. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-27 April 2015

Figure C58. DWWNT, Want a Job 

 

4.D.1. Desire for Work 

NILF persons are asked whether they 

currently want a job (Figure C58.) 

The responses "yes," or "maybe, it depends" 

are grouped into a single precode. 

4.D.2 Main Reason for Not Looking for 

Work, 

You then ask persons who indicate that they 

do want a job the main reason they were not 

looking for work in the past 4 weeks in 

DWRSN, Figure C59. You enter the main 

reason a person is not looking for work now, 

during the interview week. Remember, 

these are persons who say they want to 

work. Thus, an answer such as "retired"

would be unsatisfactory--it might explain 

why they are not currently working, not why 

they are not looking for work. An 

appropriate answer might be their own poor 

health, transportation problems, or that work 

would reduce their pension. 

Categories 1-5 in DWRSN are job-market 

related. An entry of 1-5 will result in an 

individual being classified as a "discouraged 

worker" if (s)he also looked for work in the 

last 12 months and was available for work. 

Table C6 provides guidelines for selecting 

the different reasons for not looking for 

work. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-28 The Labor Force Interview 

Figure C59. DWRSN, Reason Not Looking For Work
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-29 April 2015

Table C6. Reasons for Not Looking for Work 

Guidelines for Selecting "Reasons For Not Looking For Work" 

1) Believes no work available 

 in line of work or area 

Persons who believe there is no work available in their community or in their 

occupation. Includes: "no work around here", "no jobs since mill closed", "no 

jobs for machinists here", etc. 

2) Couldn't find any work Persons who have searched and were unable to find work. Include persons who 

attach a condition, such as "I couldn't find a job that used my college degree."

3) Lacks necessary 

 schooling, training, skills, 

 or experience 

Persons not looking because of illiteracy or inability to speak English or because 

they lack knowledge about how to find a job, or feel they do not have the proper 

training to meet job qualifications. 

4) Employers think too young 

 or too old 

Persons who say work is not available to them because of age. 

Includes: persons too young to obtain a work permit, persons who say "nobody 

will hire a 70-year-old man", and persons informed by prospective employers 

that no job is available to them because of their age (e.g. "while your 

qualifications are good, the position requires someone a little older or more 

mature"). 

5) Other types of 

 discrimination 

Excluding reasons covered by other precodes (e.g., discrimination on the basis 

of age), include here responses related to racial or sex discrimination, or a 

criminal or delinquency record. 

6) Child care problems Reasons related to affordable, available, or adequate child care. 

 

7) Family responsibilities Reasons related to illness in family, care for an elderly parent, etc. 

8) In school or other training Reasons related to attendance at any kind of public or private school, including 

college, vocational or trade school. 

9) Ill health or physical 

 disability 

Reasons related to the person's OWN illness or disability. 

10) Transportation problems Reasons related to not being able to look for work because (s)he was unable to 

find transportation. 

11) Other (specify) Classify responses in one of the above if at all possible. An acceptable "other" 

example is, "too young-his father wouldn't let him". 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-30 The Labor Force Interview

4.D.3 Other Measures of Labor Market

Attachment 

Persons who are not in the labor force but 

want a job are also asked a series of 

questions designed to measure how closely 

attached they are to the job market. (See 

Figures C60-C64.) Responses to these 

questions are used, along with those on job 

desire and reason for not looking for work, 

to identify "discouraged workers," as 

described in Part B chapter 3. 

Figure C60. DWLK, Looked for Work in Past 

12 Months 

Figure C61. DWWK, Worked in Past 12 

Months

Figure C62. DW4WK, Worked in Past 4 

Weeks

Figure C63. DWLKWK, Looking For 

Work 

Figure C64. DWAVL, Available for 

Work 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-31 April 2015

Attaching conditions to the kind of work 

wanted does NOT make the person 

unavailable. For instance, people who can 

only work certain hours, or who want a 

certain kind of work, WERE available for 

that kind of work if nothing else interfered. 

4.D.4 Job History

You ask persons who are not in the labor 

force in the outgoing rotation groups 

(Interview Numbers 4 and 8) several 

questions on recent work activity and job 

seeking intentions beginning with JHWK 

(Figures C65-67). 

Figure C65. JHWK, Worked At Job in the Past 12 Months 

Figure C66. JHDP1, Worked During Last 4 Weeks

Figure C67. JHRSN, Reason Left Job 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-32 The Labor Force Interview

As with the reasons for not looking for 

work, described in 4.D.2, persons can have 

either personal or job-market reasons for 

leaving their last job. Table C7 discusses 

the entries to this question. 

Table C7. Reasons for Leaving Last Job 

Guidelines for Selecting Reasons for Leaving Last Job 

Personal, family (including 

pregnancy)

Examples include birth of a child, moved, vacation, marriage, illness in 

family, child care etc. 

Return to school For example, include left last job to return to school. 

Health Examples include person's own illness or disability, job was too 

physically taxing. 

Retirement or old age This can be either voluntary or forced. Examples include "too old to 

work any more", "retired for health". 

Temporary, seasonal, or 

intermittent job completed 

For a job that lasts only part of the year. For example, crop season 

ended, Christmas job ended, temporary job ended, substitute teaching job 

over. This category can be sometimes confused with "slack work or 

business conditions" and it is, therefore, important to distinguish 

carefully between them. 

Slack work or business conditions The person's work is no longer available. Examples include job 

eliminated, business sold, bankruptcy etc. 

Unsatisfactory work arrangements 

(hours, pay, etc.) 

Person left because they were dissatisfied. Examples include long hours, 

low pay, couldn't get along with supervisor, etc. 

Other This category is for any responses not covered above including discharge 

from Armed Forces and "tired of working". 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-33 April 2015

Figure C68. JHWANT, Intend to Look for 

Work ,

You ask persons who worked within the last 

12 months about the class of worker, 

industry, and occupation of their most recent 

job. This information allows for more 

detailed analysis of persons who have 

recently left the labor force, such as the 

retired. 

The information on job seeking intentions 

(Figure C68) is useful in assessing the 

"potential labor force". 

4.D.5 Retired and Main Status

Three questions at the end of the interview 

collect information from persons who are 

not in the labor force and did not receive the 

job history series of questions. 

Persons who indicate at the beginning of the 

interview that they are either retired or 

disabled, and are in Interview Number 4 or 8 

are asked when they last worked. (NLFJH, 

Figure C69.) 

Figure C69. NLFJH, When Last Worked 

You ask those who had worked within the 

last 12 months questions about the class 

of worker, occupation, and industry of 

that job. 

You also ask persons who are age 50 and 

over who indicated that they did not want 

a job whether they consider themselves to 

be retired (Figure C70). 

 Figure C70. NLFRET, Retired From Job
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-34 The Labor Force Interview

You then ask persons who provide a 

response other than “yes” to describe their 

current status. (NLFACT, Figure C71.) 

Figure C71. NLFACT, Current Status

Persons not in the labor force age 15-49 who 

say they do not want a job are only asked 

this last question.

4.E INDUSTRY AND

OCCUPATION 

The industry and occupation questions 

determine where a person works, what type 

of business it is, what they do on that job, 

and collects the name of the business. The 

instrument will set each person's "Class of 

Worker" based mostly on your entry in 

IO1INT, shown in Figure C72. 

4.E.1 Class of Worker 

If the response given to IO1INT is 

"government", a follow-up question requests 

information on the appropriate level of 

government (i.e., federal, state, or local). 

Figure C72. IO1INT, Class of Worker 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-35 April 2015

FEDERAL Government Employee, 

This category includes employees of 

any branch of the federal government, 

including persons elected to paid federal 

offices, civilian employees of the Armed 

Forces, and most full-time members of the 

National Guard. Also include employees of 

international organizations (e.g., United 

Nations) and employees of foreign 

governments, such as persons employed by 

foreign embassies, as federal employees. 

STATE Government Employee

This category includes employees of state 

governments, such as paid state officials, 

state police, some full-time members of the 

National Guard (primarily building 

maintenance staff), and employees of state 

universities and colleges. 

LOCAL government Employee

This category includes employees of cities, 

towns, counties, and other local government 

jurisdictions. Include here employees of 

city-owned bus lines, electric power 

companies, water and sewer service 

agencies, etc. Some local agencies provide 

services to more than one county or city; 

some agencies may even cross state lines. 

Examples of these agencies are: 

metropolitan transportation authorities or 

boards, port authorities, and water and 

sanitation facilities. 

Employees of public elementary and 

secondary schools typically work for local 

governments. Since state boards of 

education often control the subject content 

of primary and secondary schools, some 

persons may consider school employees as 

state employees. Unless they work for a 

special school for the handicapped or for an 

experimental elementary school of the state 

university, they are in almost all cases local 

government employees. There are a few 

known exceptions: In Hawaii all public 

schools are state-operated. In Alaska and 

Maine some schools are state operated. 

Include all employees of the Washington, 

DC government as local government 

employees. 

If there is a question as to which level of 

government a person works for, ask for the 

level of the agency that issues his/her 

paycheck. 

Employee of a PRIVATE for profit 

company 

This category includes all persons who work 

for a private for profit employer, including 

those working for companies, small or large 

businesses, or for private households. This 

applies regardless of the employee's 

occupation. This category includes 

companies that INTENDED to make a 

profit, even if they happened to lose money 

recently. 

Employee of a nonprofit organization 

including tax exempt and charitable 

organizations

Include churches, unions or associations, 

foundations and other private NONPROFIT 

organizations in this category. 

Self Employed 

Persons who work for profit or fees in their 

OWN business, shop, office, farm, etc., are 

asked a follow-up question on whether the 

business is incorporated. 

Working in a Family Business

If the person works in a family business, a 

follow-up question will request information 

as to whether the person is working for pay. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-36 The Labor Force Interview

These people are also asked a follow-up 

question on whether the business is 

incorporated. The instrument will not ask 

this question if the respondent is the owner 

of the business. 

4.E.2 Further Guidelines Regarding

Class-of-Worker Entries

Corporation employees

Report employees of a corporation as 

employees of a private employer. 

Please note there are a few cases of 

employees of government corporations, such 

as the Bank & Trust Corporation, who must 

be properly reported as Federal government 

employees. 

If a person is self-employed and you learn 

that the business is incorporated, do not 

change the answer from self-employed to 

private company. 

Domestic work in other person's homes

Report gardeners, launderers, cooks, or 

cleaning persons working in another 

person's home as working for a private 

employer. Do not record a domestic worker 

as self-employed unless he/she owns the 

business that provides the service. 

Partnerships

Report two or more persons who operate a 

business in partnership as self-employed in 

own business. The word "own" is not 

limited to one person. 

Public utility employees

Although public utilities (such as 

transportation, communication, electric light 

and power, gas, water, garbage collection, 

and sewage disposal facilities) are subject to 

government regulations, they may be owned 

by either government or private 

organizations. Distinguish between 

government-operated and privatelyowned organizations in recording class of 

worker for public utility employees. 

Work for pay "in kind"

Pay "in kind" includes room, board, 

supplies, and food (e.g., fruit, vegetables, 

meat, dairy products). This is considered 

pay for individuals other than family 

members. Report persons who work for pay 

"in kind" as employees of a private company 

or individual. 

Work on an odd-job or casual basis

Report work on an odd-job or casual basis as 

work for a private company, business, or 

individual. For example, report a baby sitter 

employed in another person's household as 

working for a private for profit company. 

Clergy 

Most clergy file income taxes as if they were 

self-employed, but they are considered 

employees of their churches or temples. 

Include preachers, ministers, priests, rabbis, 

and other clergy as working for a Non-profit 

organization except for the following two 

cases: 

(1) Prison chaplains working in a 

government job (e.g., State of 

Maryland Prison System), are 

government employees. 

(2) Clergy not attached to a particular 

congregation or church 

organization, who conduct religious 

services in various places on a fee 

basis, are self-employed in own 

professional practice. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-37 April 2015

Registered and practical nurses-private 

duty

Report registered nurses and practical nurses 

who report "private duty" for kind of 

business as self-employed. These nurses 

usually obtain their assignments from a 

nurses' registry, but are not employees of the 

registry. Note that a nurse who reports 

"employment agency," "temporary help 

supply services," or a similar description for 

kind of business, and "private duty" as most 

important activity, is an employee of the 

employment agency or service and should 

be marked as working for a private 

company. 

PX (Post exchange) and other nonappropriated fund employees

Non-appropriated funds (NAF) are funds for 

government employees that are not from 

Congressionally appropriated money bills. 

The funds usually are generated from retail 

activities on government installations, such 

as PX's, commissaries, snack bars or service 

stations. However, persons paid from nonappropriated funds are still considered 

employees of the government. For example, 

report persons working at a post exchange 

(base exchange, etc.) as employees of the 

federal government. This nonprofit 

organization is controlled by government 

officials in their official capacity. 

In contrast, report persons working in an 

officers' club, Non Commissioned Officers 

(NCO) club, or similar organization, which 

is usually located on a government 

reservation, as an employee of a private not 

for profit company. Such organizations are 

controlled by private individuals elected by 

some form of membership. 

Child care including foster parents

WHERE a person works is important in 

determining the correct class of worker for 

child care workers. Persons who care for 

children in the child's (that is the parent's) 

home are private for profit employees. This 

includes a babysitter for an evening or a 

person regularly working during the day. 

One of the private categories is also correct 

for those who work in day care centers and 

other non-government institutional settings. 

The institution may be either for profit or 

not for profit. A person who cares for 

children in the caregiver's home is selfemployed. This includes foster parents who 

receive a fee for caring for children. See 

more on this topic under Industry in this 

chapter. 

Paid Home Care 

Long-term care insurance plans may provide 

payment to unlicensed individuals who are 

taking care of a family member, friend, or 

neighbor who is ill or incapacitated. This 

arrangement, sometimes called "informal 

care," often involves an adult child taking 

care of an elderly parent. The caregiver is 

compensated to make up for time spent 

away from work and other costs. A person 

receiving such payments should be treated 

the same as a foster parent. He or she is 

considered to be employed, and his class of 

worker is self-employed (assuming this is 

the primary job). 

Boarding housekeepers

 Report boarding housekeepers who 

consider themselves as working and who 

perform this work in their own homes as 

"own home" for industry and as "selfemployed" for class of worker. Report those 

who do this work for someone else for 

wages, salary, or pay in kind as "boarding 

house" for industry and as "Private, for 

profit company" for class of worker. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-38 The Labor Force Interview

Sales or merchandise employees (Avon, 

Mary Kay, Amway, and others)

Report persons who own a sales franchise 

and are responsible for their own 

merchandise and personnel as "retail or 

wholesale sales" for industry and as selfemployed for class of worker. People who 

sell Avon and Tupperware products are not 

considered employees of those companies; 

they are to be classified as self-employed. 

Refer to page B1-1 ("Business Defined") for 

determining whether or not a business 

exists. Report persons who do sales work 

for someone else as an employee of a private 

company. Also, indicate whether they sell 

door-to-door or use some other method. 

Real estate agents and brokers

Real estate agents are considered as 

employees of a private company because 

they must work for a licensed broker. They 

cannot be self-employed. A broker, on the 

other hand, can either be working for a 

private company or self-employed. 

Postal Service and TVA employees

Persons who work for the U.S. Postal 

Service (Post Office) and the Tennessee 

Valley Authority are Federal employees. 

COMSAT, Amtrak and Conrail

COMSAT, Amtrak, and Conrail are private 

companies. 

Public Transportation, airport, housing, 

and other authorities

Persons who work for public authorities, 

such as the Chicago Transportation 

Authority or the New York Port Authority, 

who get their money from a combination of 

state or local funds and user fees, are local 

government employees. 

Armed Forces

Persons whose last full-time job was in the 

Armed Forces are Federal employees.

Tribal government or tribal councils

Persons who work for tribal governments or 

tribal councils are employees of a local 

government. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-39 April 2015

4.E.3 Employer Names

Enter a clear and specific name of the 

employer. Type the full and exact name of 

the company or business (IO1NMP shown 

in Figure C73). Do not abbreviate unless 

the companies are nationally known such as 

IBM. Give the name of the company, not 

the name of the supervisor, foreman or 

owner. 

Figure C73. IO1NMP, Name of Company

If the respondent says the information is 

classified do not probe. In this situation 

enter "information classified."

Self-employed; family farm or business 

If the person is self-employed, the question 

will be worded to ask for the name of the 

business as shown in Figure C74. If there is 

no business name, enter "self-employed", or 

"family farm", or whatever is appropriate. 

Figure C74. IO1NMB, Name of Business

Government

The instrument will prompt you for the 

name of the specific government agency. 

(Figure C75.) Government agency 

abbreviations may be used, if they are 

commonly known, such as CIA, FBI. 

When in doubt, spell out the full name of 

the government agency. 

Figure C75. IO1NMG, Name of Government 

Agency
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-40 The Labor Force Interview

Odd job and domestic workers

Enter "various employers" for persons who 

work for several different employers, but 

who are NOT self-employed (e.g., maids, 

cooks, chauffeurs, gardeners, baby-sitters). 

Armed Forces (current civilian employees 

only)

Current members of the military are not 

eligible for the labor force questions, so 

"Armed Forces" is an acceptable entry for 

civilian employees only. 

Armed Forces member: last job

For persons whose last job was as a member 

of the Armed Forces, enter "Armed Forces" 

in the employer name, industry, and 

occupation fields. 

4.E.4 Industry 

After entering the name of the company you 

will need to determine the type of business 

or industry. See Figure C76. 

Figure C76. IO1IND, Kind of Business or 

Industry

Enter a clear and specific description of the 

kind of business or industry. For example, 

the following descriptions are too general: 

"works in a mine," "works for a repair 

service," "works with computers." 

In contrast, the following examples are more 

specific: "works in a copper mine," "works 

for a shoe repair service," "works for a 

company that writes computer software 

packages." 

Child care facilities

As mentioned under class of worker, it is 

important to know the location where child 

care is provided to properly classify the 

industry. "Child care in home of employer" 

is one industry; "Care for children in my 

own home" describes another and "Child 

care center," "Day care center," and "Church 

day nursery" are examples of the third child 

care industry, located in centers rather than 

homes. 

Government organizations

The names of government organizations are 

often not descriptive of their business or 

activity. Be sure that the entry describes 

exactly what the activity is. For example, 

the kind of industry for an entry of "County 

Highway Commission" in IO1NMG might 

be one or any combination of the following: 

"Road building," "Road repair," 

"Contracting for road building (repair)." For 

a County Liquor Control Board, the correct 

entry might be "Licensing liquor sales" or 

"Liquor retailer." 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-41 April 2015

4.E.5 Manufacturing, Retail or Wholesale

IO1MFG (Figure C77) will automatically 

come up after the kind of business question. 

(Ask the question if the answer is not 

apparent. 

Figure C77. IO1MFG, Manufacturing, Retail or 

Wholesale

A manufacturing plant makes products and 

sells them in large lots to other manufacturers, 

wholesalers, or retailers. 

A retailer sells primarily to individual 

consumers or users but seldom makes 

products. 

A wholesale establishment buys, rather than 

makes, products in large quantities for resale 

to retailers, industrial users, or to other 

wholesalers. 

Other establishments should be classified as 

"something else." Examples are hotels, 

laundries, banks, telephone companies, 

doctors' offices, mines, farms, advertising 

agencies, and automobile repair shops. 

Some firms are engaged in more than one 

business or industrial activity. If the activities 

are carried on in separate places, describe the 

business in which the person actually works. 

If the activities are carried on in the same

place, describe the major activity of the firm. 

EXAMPLE: Report a miner working in a 

coal mine operated by a major steel 

corporation as working in a "coal mine," not a 

steel mill. 

EXAMPLE: A factory that manufactures 

shoes also manufactures purses. Since shoes 

account for most of the production, all 

employees of the factory, including those 

working on purses, should be classified as 

working for a "shoe factory." 

EXAMPLE: This same shoe/purse factory 

also has a small retail outlet on the premises. 

Persons working in this outlet should also be 

classified as working in a "shoe factory" as 

shoe manufacturing is the firm's main 

business. 

A few specified activities, when carried on 

at separate locations, are exceptions to the 

above. When research laboratories, 

warehouses, repair shops, and storage 

garages exist primarily to serve their own 

parent organizations rather than the public or 

other organizations, report the activity of the 

parent organization. For example, if the 

retail department store has a separate 

warehouse for its use, report the industry of 

the warehouse workers as "retail trade" 

rather than "something else." 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-42 The Labor Force Interview

4.E.6 Kind of Work (Occupation)

Figure C78. IO1OCC, Occupation/Kind of 

Work

Occupation of the self-employed

When a person is self-employed, do not 

enter "manager" as the occupation UNLESS 

the person actually spends most of his/her 

time in the management of the business. If 

the person spends most of the time in actual 

trade or craft of the business, enter that as 

the occupation (e.g., beautician, dentist, 

house painter, plumber) (See Figure C78). 

Avoid occupation entries that describe 

departments or places of work.

The occupation entry should describe what 

the specified person does (e.g., shipping 

department supervisor, inventory clerk). 

Occupation entries which give only the 

name of a department or a place of work 

(e.g., "works in shipping department", 

"works in the warehouse", "works in 

inventory") should be avoided. 

Apprentice vs. trainee 

An apprentice is under contract during 

his/her training period, but a trainee is not. 

Include both the occupation and the word 

"apprentice" or "trainee" in the description 

(e.g., apprentice plumber, buyer trainee). 

Machinist vs. Machine operator vs. 

Mechanic

A machinist is a skilled craftsman who 

constructs metal parts, tools, and machines 

through the use of blueprints, machine and 

hand tools, and precise measuring 

instruments. A machine operator runs a 

factory machine (e.g., drill press operator, 

winder). A mechanic inspects, services, 

repairs, or overhauls machinery. 

Secretary vs. "Official Secretary"

Use the title "secretary" for someone who 

does secretarial work in an office; and report 

a secretary who is an elected or appointed 

officer of a business, union, or other 

organization as an "official secretary." 

For some occupations the descriptions given 

by the respondents are not sufficient for 

coding purposes. In these cases use the 

suggested probes in Table C8 on page C4-40 

to obtain more detailed information. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-43 April 2015

4.E.7 Unusual Cases of Job or Business

The following are guidelines for unusual 

cases of job or business. 

Military jobs

If, after starting the labor force questions, 

you discover that the person is a member of 

the Armed Forces, delete as much of his/her 

labor force information as possible go back 

and make the changes in the grid. 

Only include military jobs for individuals 

who are currently working as a civilian in 

the U.S. Armed Forces. 

For persons who are not working or who are 

absent from their jobs, an Armed Forces job 

may be entered in the I&O series of 

questions if it was their last full-time job. If 

this is the case, simply enter "ARMED 

FORCES". 

Consultants, contractors

Persons who report that they do not have a 

business but who contract out as consultants 

or provide other services for a fee would be 

reported as self-employed. This guideline 

does not apply to consultants who work for a 

consulting firm; they work for a private 

company and should be classified as 

employed in either a private for profit 

company or a private nonprofit organization. 

Persons working for employment 

contractors

Consider persons who are working through 

an employment contractor as working for 

the contractor, not the individual employer 

to whom they are assigned. 

Note, however, that a union hiring list or a 

register is not an employer; they are not 

employment contractors. They are more 

like employment agencies. In these cases, 

the employer is the person or company that 

writes the paycheck. 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-44 The Labor Force Interview

Table C8. Difficult to code occupations 

Difficult to Code Occupations 

Occupation Suggested probe

Assembler What do you assemble (e.g., automobiles, electric motors, farm equipment, sheet 

metal)? 

Clerk What type of clerk are you (e.g., accounting, billing, filing, shipping, statistical, 

sales)? 

Engineer What kind of engineer are you (e.g., civil, electrical, mechanical, nuclear, 

chemical, train, stationary, building)? 

Inspector What type of things do you inspect (e.g., autos, restaurants, houses, buildings, 

meats)? 

Manager What type of manager are you (e.g., bakery, garage, hotel, office, property, store)? 

Machinist Do you set up AND operate machines? 

Machine operator How many machines do you operate? What type of machine do you operate the 

most? 

Mechanic What type of mechanic are you (e.g., auto body, auto engine, appliance, line, truck, 

valve)? 

Nurse What type of nurse are you (registered, licensed, practical, nursing aide, 

vocational)? 

Researcher What field of research are you in? 

Sales Worker What do you sell (e.g., advertising, cars, houses, insurance, shoes, tickets)? 

Supervisor Who or what do you supervise (e.g., clerical workers, counselors, laborers, field 

representatives)? 

Teacher Do you teach at the preschool, elementary, high school, or college level? What 

subject do you teach? 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-45 April 2015

4.E.8 Usual Activities or Duties

Figure C79. IO1DT, Usual Activities or Duties

The answer to this item should tell you 

clearly and specifically what kind of work or 

duties the person performs. If the 

respondent says the information is classified, 

do not probe. In this situation enter 

"information classified." 

Use verbs that end with "ing" to describe the 

person's activities. For example, if the 

respondent says (s)he sells cars, you should 

enter "selling cars." This will make the 

dependent interviewing question on usual 

activities easier to read next month. 

4.E.9 Dependent Interviewing For 

Industry and Occupation 

As discussed in Part B, the I&O series uses 

dependent interviewing, that is, when 

possible, information supplied during a 

previous month's interview is used in the 

current interview. In most cases, you will 

have access to the previous month's I&O 

information and will ask if there have been 

any changes. If none, the information 

previously collected is simply confirmed. 

Dependent interviewing is used in Interview 

Numbers 2 through 4 and 6 through 8 for 

persons who were employed in both the 

current and previous months and for whom 

information adequate for coding was 

previously provided and the RIP respondent 

allows you to verify their information with 

anyone in the household or you are speaking 

to the RIP respondent. 

In MIS5, we start from scratch because of 

the 8 month resting period. We want to 

make sure we get any changes that might 

have occurred. 

4.E.10 Industry & Occupation Referrals

There will be some returning cases, in which 

you collected industry and occupation data 

the previous month and the RIP respondent 

has allowed you to verify the information 

provided or you are speaking to the RIP 

respondent, that you do not ask dependent 

industry and occupation questions. If the 

coders in Jeffersonville could not code the 

item(s) for any reason, you will need to ask 

the questions again the following month. 

These uncodeable entries are called 

referrals. Dependent questions will not 

appear for any referred Industry and/or 

Occupation. The I&O feedback feature on 

the IOIND, IO1OCC, and IOIDT screens 

will help you to understand why the I&O 

information was not able to be coded. This 

feature is discussed more thoroughly in Part 

B, page B4-7. 

The note that appears on the IO1IND screen 

states, "This case was referred last month.” 

Please provide more specific information for 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-46 The Labor Force Interview

the coders." This note appears only if the 

information you provided the previous 

month was inadequate for the coders to code 

the industry or occupation entries. The note 

will also appear on the IO1OCC and IO1DT 

screens, if those items are referred. (See 

Figure C79). 

4.E.11 Items on Number of Paid

Employees

The instrument will display two questions 

about paid employees only in Interview 

Number months 4 and 8. You will ask these 

items for persons who, in their main or 

second job, work in a business of their own 

that is not incorporated. 

The items ask if the business owner has any 

paid employees and, if so, how many. 

These items are illustrated in Figures C80a 

& C80b. 

Figure C80a. PDEMP1, Paid Employees

Figure C80b. NMEMP1, Number of Paid 

Employees 

The unincorporated business owners for 

whom you would have to ask the "paid 

employees" questions in Interview Numbers 

4 and 8 will have been identified, for the 

most part, in a previous month's interview. 

That is why, in general, the "paid 

employees" items for the main job will 

appear after the dependent interview 

question (IODP3). 

If a person is an unincorporated business 

owner in his/her second job, you will ask the 

"paid employees" items for the second job 

immediately after you collect his/her class of 

worker data (IO2INT and IO2INC). 

Information about a person's second job is 

collected only in Interview Numbers 4 

and 8. 

Note that, for persons "working in the 

family business," the instrument will display 

the "paid employees" items only if they 

were reported as business owners (in 

BUSL). 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-47 April 2015

4.F EARNINGS & UNION

MEMBERSHIP 

You ask the earnings and union membership 

questions of households in the outgoing 

rotation groups (Interview Number 4 and 8) 

of all wage and salary workers and the 

incorporated self-employed. These questions 

are used primarily to determine usual 

weekly earnings at the main job and whether 

the person is covered by a union or 

employee association. 

You begin this series of questions with 

ERNPR, which asks for the easiest way for 

the respondent to report earnings for the 

specified person's MAIN JOB (i.e., hourly, 

weekly, annually, or on some other basis, 

See Figure C81). The instrument then 

tailors the earnings questions based on that 

response. 

Figure C81. ERNPR, Easiest Way to Report 

Earnings 

You then ask whether the specified person 

usually receives overtime pay, tips, or 

commissions on his/her main job 

(ERNUOT). 

For a "yes" response, the person should 

receive overtime pay, tips, or commissions 

on a USUAL basis, that is, 50 percent of the 

time or more (Figure C82). If (s)he receives 

them only occasionally, you would enter 

"no." 

Figure C82. ERNUOT, Usually Receive 

Overtime Pay, Tips, or Commissions

This question is followed by a check item 

directing the interviewer to ask different sets 

of questions depending on the answer to the 

easiest periodicity to report earnings. For 

those whose periodicity is hourly, there is a 

separate question for overtime, tips, or 

commissions usually received.
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-48 The Labor Force Interview

4.F.1 Hourly Workers

You ask questions to determine how much 

persons for whom it is easiest to report 

earnings on an hourly basis earn per hour 

and then ask how many hours per week that 

person usually works at that rate. With this 

information, hourly earnings can be 

converted to weekly earnings. (Figure 

C83a,b, and C84.) The dollar and cents 

fields are two separate fields. You will enter 

the dollars in ERNHRTD and the cents in 

ERNHRTC. 

Figure C83a. ERNHRTD, Hourly Rate of PayDollars 

Record the number of hours usually worked 

per week as a whole number. Count 30 

minutes or more as a whole hour. 

(Figure C84.) 

Figure C83b. ERNHRTC, Hourly Rate of PayCents 

Figure C84. ERNHR, Hours Worked Per Week

Try to get an average number of hours 

worked per week for a person whose 

schedule varies from week to week. 

For these workers, we are looking for an 

hourly rate of pay as stated by the employer, 

expressed precisely in dollars and cents. Do 

not round hourly earnings. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-49 April 2015

If the respondent reports a value that is a 

multiple of $.50 (for example, $5.00 or 

$7.50 per hour), ask if this is an exact value. 

If it isn't, try to obtain a more precise figure. 

If the respondent does not know the exact 

amount, enter the amount the respondent 

stated. 

There are some workers who are paid hourly 

rates but for whom it is easiest to report 

some other periodicity. (See Figure C85.) 

This rate of pay should be entered to the 

nearest cent. (See Figure C86b) The dollar 

and cents fields are two separate fields. You 

will enter the dollars in ERNH2D (See 

Figure C86a) and the cents in ERNH2S (See 

Figure C86b).

Figure C85. ERNRT, Hourly Rate of Pay

Figure C86a. ERNH2D, Hourly Rate of Pay Excluding Overtime - Dollars 

Figure C86b. ERNH2S, Hourly Rate of Pay Excluding Overtime – Cents
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-50 The Labor Force Interview

4.F.2 Non-hourly Workers

As noted earlier, you collect earnings 

amounts based on the periodicity reported in 

ERNPR. If the respondent answers "on 

some other basis" to ERNPR, probe for a 

description. If the respondent's answer still 

does not match any listed, choose "other" 

and specify the description in your notes. 

If the respondent reports a method of pay 

such as salary plus commissions, you should 

explain that the question is asking for the 

time period that is most convenient for 

reporting earnings, not the way in which the 

person is paid. (You collect method of pay 

in other earnings questions). Try to get the 

person to pick a rate-of-pay time frame (e.g., 

hourly, weekly, annually), if one is 

convenient, before entering "don't know" or 

"refused". 

Round nonhourly earnings to the nearest 

whole dollar. If the respondent reports 50 

cents or more beyond a whole dollar, round 

up to the next largest whole dollar. 

Otherwise, round down to the whole dollar. 

If the respondent reports a value that is a 

multiple of $50 (for example, $100 per day 

or $250 a week) ask if this is an exact value. 

If it isn't, try to obtain a more precise figure. 

If the respondent does not know the exact 

amount, enter the amount the respondent 

stated. Use Table C9 on page C4-48 to help 

you determine which types of income to 

include as earnings. 

There are range edits/checks for the 

following earnings items: ERNWK, 

ERNMON, ERNTMN, and ERNANN. If 

you enter an earnings amount in one of these 

items that falls outside the limits of the 

range check/edit, you will be prompted to 

check the correctness of the original entry. 

Also, all of the individual earnings items 

listed above are followed by ERNVR which 

verifies the correctness of the total earnings 

information for the specified person. 

The questions on earnings refer to USUAL 

earnings. In cases where the respondent 

states that earnings are not the same from 

week to week (or month to month, etc.), you 

should ask what the earnings are 50 percent 

of the time or more. If the respondent is 

unable to answer, ask for the most frequent 

earnings amount during the past 4 or 5 

months. For annual earnings that have 

varied from year to year, use the annual rate 

for the current year. Respondents who are 

new to their job should report their expected 

earnings for the current time frame. 

4.F.3 Union Membership and Coverage

Questions

You ask union membership and coverage 

questions of civilian household members 15 

years of age or over in outgoing rotation 

groups, who are currently employed wage 

and salary workers in a private industry 

(IO1INT) or in any level of the Government. 

ERNLAB asks about labor union or similar 

association membership on the main job. 

(Figure C87.) Select "yes" if the person is a 

member of a labor union or an association 

which serves as a collective bargaining 

representative. Associations which engage 

in all of the activities performed by unions, 

but are not identified as such, can be 

categorized as follows: 

(1) Professional associations, such as the 

National Education Association, 

American Nurses Association, 

American Association of University 

Professors. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-51 April 2015

(2) Government employee associations at 

the national, state, or local levels, such 

as the Alabama State Employees 

Association, Police Benevolent 

Association (New York City), Boston 

Public Library Professional Staff 

Association. 

Exclude fraternal and civic associations, 

such as the Lions Club, etc. who do not 

bargain collectively on behalf of their 

members. 

If the respondent replies to this item that 

(s)he or a member of his/her household 

belongs to an association that you are not 

sure can be considered as a union or similar 

organization, probe by asking, "Does this 

association engage in collective bargaining 

on behalf of its members?" 

Note that the object of this question is to 

determine union membership in relation to 

the person's main job during survey week. 

If a person held more than one job during 

survey week and was a member of a union 

on his/her second job only, select "No.” 

Figure C87. ERNLAB, Union Membership 
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-52 The Labor Force Interview

Table C9. Determining if Special Types of Income are Included as Earnings 

Include Income as Earnings? 

Piece-rate Pay received at a specified amount per piece is 

important in many manufacturing and 

agricultural jobs, such as food-packaging, 

garment-making, and crop harvesting. This 

amount may vary from week to week, so try to 

obtain what is usually earned. 

YES 

College assistants & 

fellowships 

Include earnings from these sources provided 

that the job associated with such earnings is the 

person's main job. YES 

On-the-job training Include earnings from a private or training 

government organization for on-the-job training 

at the person's main job. YES 

Pay in kind Do not include the value of such things as food 

or lodging that are received as payment for work 

completed. In some cases, persons are paid 

entirely "in kind". This is one case where 

earnings are correctly entered as zero. 

NO 

Expense account Do not include money paid to an employee's 

account for the purpose of meeting expenses 

incurred while carrying out his/her job. 

NO 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C4-53 April 2015

You ask ERNCOV (Figure C88) of persons 

who answer "no" to ERNLAB. This 

question determines if wages, working 

conditions, and/or benefits are covered by a 

contract negotiated between his/her 

employer and a union or employee 

association. This question is intended to 

cover persons who are not actually members 

of a union or another collective bargaining 

association, but who benefit by the contracts 

negotiated by such associations. 

The same criteria you use in the previous 

question to determine if an organization is a 

union or similar employee association 

applies to this question. 

Figure C88. ERNCOV, Covered By A Union 

or Employee Association Contract

4.G SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

Persons between the ages of 16 and 24 are 

asked a short series of questions each month 

about their school enrollment status. This 

information is used to get a picture of trends 

in school enrollment and to compare the 

employment and unemployment status of 

students with the status of youth who are not 

in school. 

You will ask whether they are enrolled in 

school (Figure C89). If they are, you will 

ask for the type of school, and whether they 

are full or part time students. 

Figure C89. SCHENR, Enrolled in School

Schools are defined here as institutions, both 

public and private, which confer academic 

degrees. Academic degrees include high 

school diploma, A.A., B.A., B.S., M.A., 

M.S., Ph.D., M.D., LL.B., D.D.M. Schools 

include junior and senior high schools, 

community or junior colleges, 4-year 

colleges, universities, and professional and 

graduate schools. Count any attendance at 

these schools, even if the person is not 

working on a degree. Count attendance at 

all high schools, whether vocational or 

academic. 

Mark (1) Yes for:

 Either full-time or part-time enrollment.

 Persons who are currently on a school

break such as Christmas or Easter (not

counting summer break).

 Persons with physical or mental handicaps

who are enrolled in special schools for

academic work leading to a degree or

diploma.

 Persons who are currently enrolled in

school but for some reason, such as illness,

are temporarily not attending school.

 Persons serving an internship or

work/study co-op program for college

credit.
Part C Chapter 4 Page C4-54 The Labor Force Interview 

 Persons enrolled in summer school or

evening courses, provided that credit for

the courses can be used toward a high

school diploma or college degree.

Mark (2) No for: 

 Persons who are on summer vacation,

 Persons enrolled in trade, business, or

vocational schools or courses (including

secretarial, real estate, cosmetology, and

driver training) that could not be applied

toward an academic degree,

 Persons enrolled in other non-credit

programs such as adult education, on-thejob training, or sports lessons, or who are

auditing a class,

 Handicapped persons in special schools

which are only custodial or provide

technical training,

 Persons getting instruction only from a

tutor, or from a correspondence school,

 Persons who have officially left school for

the remainder of the term,

 Persons serving internships or residences

at a hospital to qualify as an M.D. or a

specialist,

For those who respond "Yes", you will ask 

if the person attends a high school or 

university (Figure C90). 

For a response of "junior high school," enter 

"high school." 

The next question (Figure C91) asks if the 

person is enrolled in school full-time or parttime. 

For persons in high school accept the 

response provided by the respondent. 

Figure C90. SCHLVL, High School, College 

or University 

Figure C91. SCHFT, Full or Part Time Student

Some high schools have work/study 

programs in which students attend classes 

half the day and work the other half. Some 

people consider this to be part-time 

attendance while others consider this fulltime. Enter the response as given. 

For persons in college or university, full 

time is defined as 12 or more credit hours 

(or the equivalent) of undergraduate classes, 

or 9 or more credit hours (or the equivalent) 

of graduate classes. Part-time is defined as 

anything less than the full-time workload. 

These credit hour cutoffs apply to colleges 

on either a semester or quarter system. 

In schools where enrollment is not measured 

in terms of credit hours, accept the 

respondent's answer. 
Part C, Chapter 5 

“Back” of the CPS Interview

Topic See Page 

5.A Ending the Interview C5-3 

5.B Scheduling Your Next Visit C5-3 

5.C Thank You C5-6 

5.D CATI Eligibility C5-8 

5.E Spanish Households C5-8 

5.F Telephone Versus Personal Visit C5-8 

5.G Verify Information C5-9 

5.H Adding Interviewer Notes (Case Notes) C5-9 

5.I Collecting Information for a Person Previously Skipped in Interview C5-10 

5.J Respondent Identification Policy (RIPFLG) collected in the “Back” C5-11 
Part C Chapter 5 Page C5-2 "Back" of the CPS Interview 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C5-3 April 2015

PART C, CHAPTER 5 

"BACK" OF THE CPS INTERVIEW

5.A ENDING THE INTERVIEW

After completing the labor force section of 

the interview and asking any school 

enrollment questions, you are ready to end 

the CPS interview. (In some months you 

will also need to ask supplement questions 

before ending the interview.) The "Back" 

section of the instrument wraps up the 

interview. You collect information to set up 

the next month's interview or to set a 

callback to finish an incomplete interview. 

5.B SCHEDULING YOUR NEXT 

VISIT

 

At the end of the first and fifth CPS 

interview, you ask if the household has 

access to a telephone and if a telephone 

interview is acceptable . 

You may need to telephone the respondent 

for three reasons: 

 To make appointments to visit the 

respondent. 

 To conduct interviews over the telephone. 

 To obtain missed information. 

If the respondent requests that you conduct 

the interview at another telephone number, 

make sure you enter this information on the 

secondary telephone number screen. You 

can also add a third telephone number, if 

necessary. 

If a telephone interview is not acceptable do 

not question the respondent's reason, but 

explain that we will visit personally in future 

months. 

5.B.1 Set Boosts/Blocks 

At the end of each interview you ask or 

verify with the respondent the best time to 

call or visit the household for next month's 

interview (not for a callback this month) 

using boosts and blocks on the Interview 

Time Preference Screen. Figure C91a on 

page C5-4 is an example of this screen. To 

access this screen, press on Ctrl + T. The 

categories on this screen are specific 

categories needed for scheduling cases at the 

telephone centers in the event that the case is 

assigned to CATI. In addition to those 

specific categories this screen will allow you 

to enter a specific best time to call. This is 

the information that CAPI interviewers will 

find to be most useful for contacting 

respondents next month. 
Part C Chapter 5 Page C5-4 "Back" of the CPS Interview 

Figure C91a. Boosts/Blocks for Interviewer Time Preference Screen 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C5-5 April 2015

Boosts are time frames (indicated in 

green with a plus-sign in the middle) 

when the respondent would like to be 

contacted. Blocks (indicated in red with a 

negative-sign) are time frames when the 

respondent does not want to be contacted. 

To set a boost on a time slot, for example, 

12 pm – 1 pm, Friday), left –click in the 

grid for 12 pm Friday. To block a time 

slot, for example, 2 pm – 3 pm, Friday, 

right-click in the grid for 2 pm Friday. 

You can also use the following drop 

down fields: Boost/Block, Day of Week, 

and Time to set boosts and blocks. To set 

a boost or block for a week for a specific 

time or day, left click on that time or day 

for a boost and right click for a block. 

The entire row will be highlighted. Select 

File; then Save to save this information. 

When you are finished entering this 

information, click on F10/Exit to return to 

the interview. 

Every time slot on the Interview Time 

Preference screen does not have to be 

boosted or blocked. Make sure you boost 

the times that are best to contact the 

household and block the times to not call 

at all. 

5.B.2 Appointment Callback 

Date/Time 

In contrast to the Boosts/Blocks screen, 

which is used to schedule next month’s 

interview, the CALLBACK screen 

(Figure C91b) is used to schedule a 

callback for this month. The instrument 

will automatically take you to this screen 

if for someone reason you need to 

interrupt the interview and complete the 

case at a later time this month. The 

CALLBACK screen will allow you to 

enter a date and time for making the 

callback. 

Unlike the Boosts/Blocks items where the 

data is carried forward from one month to 

the next, the CALLBACK information is 

only held for the current interview 

number. 

Figure C91b. Appointment Callback 

5.B.3 Sunday Interviews 

 In interview numbers 1 and 5 

households, ask if a Sunday interview is 

acceptable regardless of whether you 

choose to interview on Sunday. You 

also need to ask this in replacement 

households that are not in interview 

number 4 or 8. 

This data will be helpful to you and also 

to interviewers at the CATI facilities. 

Remember, Sunday interviewing is 

optional and is allowed only under the 

following circumstances: 

 If a respondent has specifically 

requested a Sunday interview 
Part C Chapter 5 Page C5-6 "Back" of the CPS Interview 

 If a respondent has agreed to a Sunday 

interview 

 If a sample unit was a Type A, No one 

home or Temporarily absent, during the 

previous month 

If you choose to interview on Sunday, 

limit your calls to the hours between noon 

and 9:00 p.m. 

5.C THANK YOU 

After completing the interview and 

determining the best time to contact the 

household, the THANKYOU screen will 

come up. You will either tell the 

respondent thank you for participating in 

the survey (interview numbers 4 and 8) or 

let him/her know that you will be 

contacting/calling them again next month 

(interview number 

2-3 and 5-7). Ask if there is any reason 

why we would not be able to contact the 

household then. 

5.C.1 Reason for No Contact Next 

Month 

If the respondent informs you that there 

would be a reason why we would not be 

able to contact someone in their 

household next month, the instrument 

will prompt you for that reason (Figure 

C91c). 

If the respondent answers (1) 

Temporarily Absent, on vacation, you are 

prompted to ask for a telephone number 

where they can be reached next month 

(VACNUM). 

 

Figure C91c. REASON, Reason for No 

Contact

If precode (2) New Telephone Number at 

present address is selected, you are 

prompted to ask for the new telephone 

number where they can be reached next 

month (NEWTEL). This possible new 

number is then displayed the following 

month on the SHOROS_CP item screen. 

5.C.2 Final Interview – Do’s and 

Don’ts

When respondents complete their eighth 

and final CPS interview, it is important to 

avoid telling them they will not receive 

any more calls from the Census Bureau. 

Thank them for their participation, but 

don’t tell them they will no longer receive 

any more calls from the Census Bureau. 

You don’t need to inform respondents of 

their possible inclusion in future surveys, 

but it is possible for certain households to 

be selected to either the 1) Annual Social 

and Economic Survey, or 2) the 

American Time Use Survey. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C5-7 April 2015

5.C.3 American Time Use Survey 

Here are a few points about the American 

Time Use Survey (ATUS). The ATUS: 

 Is a continuous survey about how, 

where, and with whom Americans 

spend time 

 Asks about activities such as 

working, sleeping, eating and 

watching TV 

 Is sponsored by the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics. 

 Sample is drawn from a small 

percentage of completed MIS-8 

cases. The ATUS is conducted 

about two months after MIS-8 

closes. 

 Only one person from the sampled 

CPS household is selected for 

ATUS. 

 Data are released annually by the 

BLS. 

While the odds of a CPS household being 

sampled for ATUS are small because the 

sample size is small, it is still a possibility 

that a CPS household will be contacted 

for further data collection. It is never 

correct to inform a CPS respondent that 

MIS-8 is their last contact with the 

Census Bureau. 

Teenagers as young as 15 are included in 

the ATUS sample because the activities 

of younger Americans are significantly 

different than those of older Americans 

and must therefore be represented. 
Part C Chapter 5 Page C5-8 "Back" of the CPS Interview 

Figure C92. CATI_EL1, CATI Eligibility

5.D CATI ELIGIBILITY 

At the CATI eligibility screen you should 

always mark "no" for all Type As and Bs, 

except Type B - Armed Forces Members (code 

224). 

Answer NO to the check item "should this case 

go to CATI?" ONLY if specific circumstances 

would prevent doing a telephone interview 

(such as a speech or hearing disability). You 

must explain these circumstances in the case 

NOTES. 

This question is not asked in interview number 

four and eight cases. 

5.E SPANISH HOUSEHOLDS 

If a case had all household members who spoke 

only Spanish the previous month, the 

SHOROS_CP screen (see Part C, Chapter 2, 

Figure C7) will read "Last month, only Spanish 

was spoken by all members of the household."

5.F TELEPHONE VERSUS 

PERSONAL VISIT 

The TELPV item screen asks you to decide 

how you collected most of the information 

for the case. In other words, including all 

followup contacts, how was the bulk of the 

data collected for this case. 

Although you provide similar information at 

the START_CP item, that information only 

reflects your last contact for any given case. 

For example, suppose that: 

1) You collect labor force data in person 

for all but 1 household member in a 4-

person household, and 

2) Later you make a callback (by phone) 

and collect the labor force data for the 

missing person. 

In this example, your entries in the 

START_CP and TELPV items should tell us 

that your last contact with the household 

was by phone, but that you collected the 

bulk of the information in person. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C5-9 April 2015

5.G VERIFY INFORMATION 

The VERIFY screen (Figure C92b) allows 

you to update, in any month, the 

information that tells you how and when you 

can contact a case (such as whether a phone 

or Sunday interview is okay, phone number, 

best time to call, etc.). You can collect up to 

three phone numbers for a household. 

Figure C92b. VERIFY, Verify Information 

5.H ADDING INTERVIEWER 

NOTES (CASE NOTES)

Case Notes are any notes that provide 

information about the case that you want 

relayed to the RO or are required to enter for 

non-interview cases. They are captured upon 

exiting the interview. These notes are 

carried back to Case Management. 

You can begin typing your note where the 

cursor appears, just below the 

automatically generated header. An 

example of a note is “must show 

government ID in order to gain access”. 

Do not use accent marks and special 

characters except for periods and commas. 

When you complete your note, exit the 

Notes Editor by clicking on the F10 Exit 

icon or press the F10 key. After using 

F10, you will get a warning window that 

asks, “Do you want to save filename.txt?” 

Click on “Yes” or hit “enter” to save and 

exit. If you click on or select “No,” your 

notes will not be saved. There is no limit 

to the Case Note Editor like there was in 

CASES (F7 Notes). You still should use 

abbreviations but you do not have to delete 

notes in order to add new notes. The notes 

editor will allow you to move anywhere in 

the notes, so make sure you do not deleted 

CATI notes or any other notes. 

Instructions for using case management 

notes are given in Form 11-7(WIN), 

Windows Laptop User Guide. 

Figure C93. NOTES, Instrument Case Notes 

Screen 

You can get to the Case Note Editor by 

clicking or by pressing CTRL + F7. When 

the Note Editor is opened (See Figure C93), 

the header displays CAPI NOTE the time, 

the date, and the FR code is automatically 

generated. 
Part C Chapter 5 Page C5-10 "Back" of the CPS Interview 

5.I COLLECTING 

INFORMATION FOR A PERSON 

PREVIOUSLY SKIPPED IN 

INTERVIEW

If you have hit F9 to skip over anyone in the 

basic CPS interview, you will get the 

SKIPCHECK screen at the end of the 

instrument (after the supplement). This will 

give you another chance to collect the basic 

CPS information for the person you skipped 

over. In order to get back to the labor force 

section, you will need to press the F9 key on 

the SKIPCHECK screen to go back to the 

NEXT_PER screen. The NEXT_PER 

screen will allow you to select the person 

that you want to complete the information 

for or exit the interview.

On the NEXT_PER screen, if you choose a 

person to interview, you will first go to the 

BUS screen. You will need to hit the END 

key and it will take you to the correct 

location. If you enter 99 to exit the 

interview at NEXT_PER you will also go to 

BUS. You will need to get familiar with 

using the END key to take you to the 

appropriate place. You will get to 

SKIPCHECK in the back again if there are 

other interviews that have incomplete labor 

force information. You will need to enter 2 

to proceed. If all of the interviews have 

complete labor force information, you will 

not see the SKIPCHECK screen. You will 

also get the SKIPCHECK question if you hit 

F10 from the middle of the interview 

without completing the labor force for all 

15+ persons. 

Figures C93a and C93b, NEXT_PER, and 

SKIPCHECK are examples of these screens. 

Figure C93a. NEXT_PER SCREEN 

Figure C93b. SKIPCHECK SCREEN 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page C5-11 April 2015 

5.J RESPONDENT 

IDENTIFICATION POLICY 

(RIPFLG) COLLECTED IN THE 

“BACK” 

The respondent identification policy 

(RIPFLG) item will be asked in the “back” 

of the instrument if you have completed at 

least one labor force interview, but have not 

yet completed labor force for all persons 15 

years of age or older in the household and 

you have used either F9 to skip over persons 

or F10 to exit the interview. In a CATI 

interview, if the RIPFLG question is empty, 

the RIPFLG screen will appear after you hit 

the END key, and after entering 99 on the 

NEXT_PER screen. In a CAPI interview, 

the RIPFLG screen will appear after the 

telephone items. 

Figure C93c. RIPFLG, CATI back screen 

Figure C93d. RIPFLG, CAPI back screen 
Part C, Chapter 6 

Noninterviews

Topic See Page

6.A Introduction C6-3

6.B Explanation of Type A Codes C6-4

6.C Type A Procedures C6-7

6.D Explanation of Type B Codes C6-7

6.E Type B Procedures C6-10

6.F Seasonal Status C6-10

6.G When Intended for Occupancy C6-11

6.H Explanation of Type C Codes C6-12

6.I Type C Procedures C6-13
Part C Chapter 6 Page C6-2 Noninterviews
PART C, CHAPTER 6

NONINTERVIEWS

6.A INTRODUCTION

Circumstances sometimes prevent you from 

obtaining an interview at an address on your 

case list. We divide noninterview cases into 

Type A, Type B, and Type C.

You must make special entries for each 

case that turns out to be a noninterview. 

Do not classify a case as a noninterview

until you are certain of the status of the case. 

Entering the noninterview code tells your 

computer to send the case file to HQ in your 

next transmission. If done too soon, this 

keeps you from verifying the status of the 

case or trying again to get the interview.

When you are certain that the case is a 

noninterview and you know what type (A, 

B, or C), continue forward in the program to 

the INTROB item (Figure C94) and Enter 4. 

This will bring up the NONTYP screen, 

shown in Figure C95 on page C6-4, for you 

to select the type of noninterview.

NOTE: On the INTROB screen, you

cannot code a Type A refusal by pressing 3. 

Option 3 is for initial refusals, which you 

plan to convert. Selecting option 3 on this 

screen makes the case incomplete and 

allows you to re-access the instrument. You 

must take further action on the case by 

completing the interview or making it a 

Type A. This removes the case from your 

case management system.

Figure C94. INTROB Screen, Noninterview Option

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C6-3 August 2013
Figure C95. NONTYP, Type of Noninterview

6.B EXPLANATION OF TYPE A 

CODES

Keep Type A noninterviews to a minimum. 

Every Type A noninterview means we are 

losing valuable information and our sample 

returns may not be representative of the 

population. These noninterviews may arise 

under the following circumstances:

• You find no one at home despite repeated 

visits.

• The entire family is temporarily away all 

of interview week.

• The respondent refuses to give 

information.

• The unit, although occupied, cannot be 

reached because of impassable roads.

• You cannot complete an interview 

because of serious illness or death in the 

family

• You are unable to locate a sample unit.

Under some circumstances, Type A 

noninterviews are unavoidable. However, 

establishing good relations with your 

respondents and visiting when people are 

likely to be home will help you avoid many 

noninterviews. Also, using the telephone 

instead of making return visits will reduce 

callbacks and noninterviews among 

households difficult to find at home.

There are six Type A noninterview 

categories for units occupied by persons 

eligible for interview which you could not 

interview. (See Figure C96 on page C6-5)

Part C Chapter 6 Page C6-4 Noninterviews
Figure C96. TYPEA, Type of Type A Noninterview

6.B.1 No One Home (NOH, 216)

When no one is at home, and you determine 

they are not temporarily absent, proceed as 

follows:

• Fill a Request for Appointment indicating 

whether you plan to telephone (if eligible) 

or call back. Include the household's 

control number for identification. Enter 

your name and telephone number in the 

space provided.

• Call back or telephone (if eligible for 

callback telephoning) to interview a 

responsible member of the household. Try 

to find out from neighbors, janitors, or 

other knowledgeable persons when the 

occupants will be home. 

• If you have made repeated callbacks or 

phone calls and still have been unable to 

contact the respondent, call your Regional 

Office or Team Leader to discuss the 

situation. If they concur, complete it as a 

Type A noninterview, "No one home." Do 

not confuse this reason with the 

noninterview reason "Temporarily

 absent."

6.B.2 Temporarily Absent (TA, 217)

When no one is home at the first visit for the 

month, find out from neighbors, janitors, 

etc., whether the occupants are temporarily 

(TA) absent. A household is "Temporarily 

Absent" when the following conditions are 

met:

• All the occupants are away temporarily on 

a vacation, business trip, caring for sick 

relatives, or some other reason, and will 

not return before your scheduled closeout.

• The housing unit is the occupant’s usual 

place of residence.

• The unit is not a summer cottage or other 

seasonal type unit.

If a household is temporarily absent, 

complete it as a Type A noninterview, 

"Temporarily Absent" and explain in your 

case NOTES.

a. Callbacks for TA Units

If the occupants will return on a certain date, 

record the date and the source of the

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C6-5 August 2013
information (such as a neighbor) in your 

case NOTES. If the date of their expected 

return is before your closeout, make a return 

visit or telephone the household if eligible 

for callback telephoning.

b. Vacation Follow-ups

The vacation reminder will help you 

determine the vacation status of the 

household. You ask the vacation reminder 

in all 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th month 

households. This will aid you in reducing 

your temporarily absent noninterviews. 

During the next month's interview week, 

visit the household as early in the week as 

possible. If the "temporarily absent" is in 

the local telephone area, conduct a telephone 

follow-up yourself. If the household is 

"temporarily absent" outside the local area, 

contact your Regional Office supervisor.

6.B.3 Refused (218)

Occasionally, a household may refuse to 

give any information. You should make 

every reasonable effort to gain cooperation 

from the households assigned to you for 

interview. In a few cases, the respondent 

may refuse to cooperate or respond with 

only "no change" answers. In these few 

cases complete the case as Type A 

noninterview, "Refused."

If you have already completed a portion of 

the interview when the respondent refuses to 

continue, you will need to skip out of the 

remainder of the case [Exit/F10] and set the 

noninterview. If you have completed 

enough of the labor force questions for the 

instrument to set one person's labor force 

status the instrument will treat the case as a

partial interview and will not allow you to 

set a noninterview outcome for the case.

Refusal Letter

Your office will send a letter to the 

respondent (copy to you) requesting the 

household's cooperation. It will also state 

that you will call on them again that month 

or the following month. If your supervisor 

will be in the area on other business, he/she 

may also visit the refusal household to try to 

gain their cooperation.

Confirmed refusals

Your office will advise you whether you can 

consider a refusal household "confirmed." 

Once a refusal becomes "confirmed," future 

calls are not required. For such households, 

check with neighbors or other sources in 

future months to see if the people who 

refused are still there. If you discover that 

they have moved and a new family is now in 

the unit, interview the new family as you 

would any other new household. If the 

"refusal" household is still living in the unit, 

enter the refusal on the noninterview screen.

6.B.4 Language Barrier (213)

Occasionally, you will come across an entire 

household that does not speak English. If 

this occurs, contact your RO so an 

interpreter can be found. If the RO cannot 

arrange for an interpreter to complete the 

interview, complete the case as a Type A 

noninterview, "Language Barrier".

6.B.5 Unable to Locate (214)

There may be some instances when you 

cannot locate a residence. If you come 

across this situation, please refer to Section 

1.3 (pages 1-5) of the Listing and Coverage 

Manual (11-8). Once you have followed the 

procedures in the manual, if you still cannot 

locate the address, complete the case as a 

Type A noninterview "Unable to Locate".

For 2010 Sample Design cases, refer to page 

Part C Chapter 6 Page C6-6 Noninterviews
14 of your 11-922 Field Representatives’ 

Guide to Locating Sample Addresses. 

6.B.6 Other Occupied (specify reason, 

219)

When you cannot interview at a unit 

occupied by persons eligible for interview, 

and the reasons "No one home," 

"Temporarily Absent," “Language Barrier”, 

“Unable to Locate” or "Refused" do not 

apply, enter "Other-Occ." Specify the 

reason, such as:

● "Death in family"

• "Household quarantined"

• "Roads impassable"

During the winter months or in case of 

floods or similar disaster, there may be 

households that you cannot reach because of 

impassable roads. In such cases, distinguish 

between occupied and not occupied 

households. If you obtained an interview 

the previous month, assume the unit is still 

occupied unless some knowledgeable person 

tells you that the unit is now vacant. If the 

household was vacant the previous month, 

assume it is still vacant. If the unit has 

never been visited before, find out if it is 

occupied from: neighbors, local grocery 

stores, gasoline service stations, Post Office 

or rural mail carrier, the county tax 

assessor's office, the office of the county 

recorder or deeds, the U.S. Forest Service 

(Department of Agriculture) or other local 

officials. If you determine the unit is 

occupied, consider it a Type A 

noninterview, "Other-Occ.--Roads 

impassable."

If you determine the unit is vacant, consider 

it a Type B noninterview using the criteria 

given in section 6.D.

6.C TYPE A PROCEDURES

For an apparent Type A case, try all possible 

means to get the interview, following the

Type A conversion instructions below. For 

refusals, this normally means a repeat visit 

after a letter has been sent to the household 

by your Regional Office. For other Type 

As, repeat visits are necessary.

● If all your efforts are fruitless, enter 1 to 

select Type A from the noninterview type 

selection screen. 

• On the TYPEA item screen, choose the 

Type A category that applies to this case. 

Based on your selection, the computer 

assigns the case a status code, and prompts 

you to enter explanatory notes. 

When you exit the interview program, the 

computer places the files for the case in a 

directory to be sent to the HQ computer in 

your next telecommunications transmission. 

Your CPS Supervisor reviews all Type A 

cases. Based on his/her review, these cases 

will be either reassigned for further followup or sent on for processing.

6.D EXPLANATION OF TYPE B 

CODES

Type Bs are units which are either 

unoccupied or occupied solely by persons 

not eligible for interview. (Figure C97 on 

page C6-8)

6.D.1 Vacant - Regular (226)

This category includes the bulk of the vacant 

living quarters. For example, a house, 

apartment or flat which is for rent or sale or 

is being held off the market for personal 

reasons. This includes dilapidated places if 

they are still considered living quarters. 

(Units that are unfit for human habitation, 

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C6-7 August 2013
being demolished, or to be demolished are 

defined in section 6.D.4.) Also report 

unusual types of vacant living quarters, such 

as mobile homes, tents and similar units as 

"Vacant-regular." Do not consider vacant, a 

unit whose occupants are only temporarily 

absent. Include OTHER units in this 

category also; such as vacant transient 

quarters.

a. Units being converted

Mark this category for unoccupied units 

being converted to more units based on how 

you handle your listing. (Consult your 11-8 

Listing and Coverage Manual.)

b. Units undergoing repairs

If a vacant unit is undergoing repairs or 

alterations report it as "vacant-regular."

6.D.2 Temporarily occupied by persons 

with usual residence elsewhere (URE) 

(225)

There are two ways to classify a case as a 

Type B URE:

1) The preferred way is to treat the case 

as an interview and go through the 

roster, identifying each person's 

household membership as URE by 

entering 2 (no) at the S_HHMEM 

screen, and entering 1 (yes) at the 

URE screen.

2) The alternate way is to treat the case 

as a noninterview (INTROB = 

noninterview) and report it as a Type 

B URE (NONTYP = Type B and 

TYPB = Temporarily occupied by 

persons with URE). At this point, 

you have 2 options from which to 

choose. The first and preferred 

option is to go through the roster 

identifying each person's household 

membership status as URE. The 

second option, or last resort, should 

only be used in circumstances where 

you can't get the roster but you have 

information that the household is 

URE.

In either of these situations, the instrument 

will automatically set the case's Final code 

to URE (225) after you determine the 

household membership for each person. It is 

important to classify Type B URE's 

correctly in case the household is eligible for 

the Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS).

Figure C97. TYPB, Type of Type B Noninterview

Part C Chapter 6 Page C6-8 Noninterviews
6.D.3 Vacant-Storage of Household 

Furniture (227)

Mark "vacant-storage of household 

furniture" if the vacant sample unit is used 

only to store excess household furniture.

Report a vacant, furnished housing unit 

offered for rent as "vacant-regular."

6.D.4 Unfit or to be Demolished (228)

Mark this category for an unoccupied 

sample unit that is unfit for human 

habitation. An unoccupied sample unit is 

unfit for human habitation if the roof, 

walls, windows, or doors no longer 

protect the interior from the elements. 

This may be due to vandalism, fire, or other 

means such as deterioration. Some 

indications are: broken windows, missing or 

swinging open doors; missing or destroyed 

roof or walls or holes in the structure; parts 

of the building have been blown or washed 

away; or part of the building is collapsed or 

missing.

CAUTION: If doors and windows have 

been boarded up to keep them from being 

destroyed, do not consider them missing. 

Also, in the few rural sections of the country 

where doors and windows are not ordinarily 

used, do not consider them missing.

Also mark this category for vacant units 

which are to be demolished if there is 

positive evidence such as a sign, notice, or 

mark on the house or in the block, that the 

unit is to be demolished but on which 

demolition has not yet been started.

6.D.5 Under Construction, Not Ready 

(229)

Mark "Under construction, not ready" for 

sample units which are not ready for 

occupancy. This includes units under

construction where the exterior windows 

and doors are not installed and the final 

usable floors are not finished. If 

construction is beyond this point, classify 

the unit as "vacant-regular."

6.D.6 Converted to Temporary Business 

or Storage (230)

Mark "Converted to temporary business or 

storage" for sample units intended for living 

quarters but which are temporarily in use for 

commercial or business purposes, or for the 

storage of hay, machinery, business 

supplies, and the like.

NOTE: Report vacant units in which 

excess household furniture is stored as 

"Vacant-storage of household furniture."

Report vacant units that have been 

permanently converted to business or 

storage as Type C--"Converted to permanent 

business or storage."

If no change or alteration has taken place at 

the time of interview, report vacant units 

which are to be used for business or storage 

purposes in the future, as "Vacant Regular."

6.D.7 Unoccupied Tent Site or Trailer 

Site (231)

Choose "Unoccupied tent site or trailer site" 

for an unoccupied tent site or trailer (mobile 

home) site in a mobile home park.

6.D.8 Permit Granted, Construction Not 

Started (232)

Choose this category for a sample unit in a 

permit segment for which a construction 

permit has been granted, but on which 

construction has not yet started.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C6-9 August 2013
6.D.9 Other Type B (233)

Choose this category ("Other") and specify 

the reason for noninterview for units which 

you cannot classify under any of the above 

reasons. Do not use this category for URE 

or Armed forces (AF) households. The 

instrument will automatically set Type B 

URE and AF after you go through the 

household roster and determine each 

household member's status.

6.E TYPE B PROCEDURES

When you have confirmed the Type B status 

of the unit, go to the noninterview type 

selection screen (Figure C95 on page C6-4).

• Enter precode 2 to select Type B. The 

TYPB selection screen appears (Figure 

C97 on page C6-8).

• On the TYPB item screen, select the 

category of Type B noninterview that 

applies to this case. Based on your 

selection, the computer assigns the case 

a status code, and prompts you to enter 

explanatory notes.

Your case management will transmit the 

files for type B cases in your next 

telecommunications transmission.

6.F SEASONAL STATUS

You will need to choose one of the three 

categories for each unit that is vacant for the 

following reasons: 

● Vacant-regular (226)

• Vacant-storage of household status (227)

• Temporarily occupied by persons with 

URE (225)

Classify the unit by how it is intended for 

occupancy by the owner. If you cannot 

determine the intended occupancy status, 

mark this item according to how the unit 

was last occupied. (Figure C99, contains 

the SEASON screen.) Your answer to this 

question will help determine if you need to 

complete the HVS. See Part D for HVS 

instructions.

Figure C98. SEASON, Seasonal Status of Unit

6.F.1 Year round

Mark "Year round" for vacant or URE units 

which are intended by the owner for 

occupancy (by him/herself or others) at any 

time of the year. If a unit on a resort area is 

intended for occupancy on a year-round 

basis (that is summer, fall, winter, and 

spring) choose "Year round", even if it is 

only occupied during a certain season. This 

also pertains to units intended for year 

round occupancy that are used only 

occasionally throughout the year, such as on 

weekends. The status of the unit depends 

upon the owner's intention of how (s)he 

will use the unit.

6.F.2 By migratory workers

Mark "By migratory workers" only if the 

vacant/URE unit is held for occupancy by 

Part C Chapter 6 Page C6-10 Noninterviews
migratory workers employed in farm work 

during the crop season.

6.F.3 Seasonally

Mark "Seasonally" if the vacant or URE unit 

is intended for occupancy by the owners 

during a certain season (or seasons) of the 

year, except units held for migratory farm 

workers. Include units intended for 

recreational use, like beach cottages and 

hunting cabins, provided they are used on a 

seasonal basis and not year round. Where a 

unit is offered to vacationers in the summer 

for summer sports and in the winter for 

winter sports, consider it as seasonal, again 

excluding units offered to vacationers 

throughout the year. Also include units 

held for herders, loggers, and cannery 

workers in this category, provided they are 

used on a seasonal basis and not year round.

If an owner or knowledgeable respondent 

says that the owner (or others) uses the unit 

for a specific season every year and that 

season is less than 6 months long, you must 

probe to determine the intended use during 

the rest of the year. For example, if an 

owner uses his/her house in Florida from 

November through February and then tries 

to rent it for the rest of the year, then it is 

"year round." If (s)he does not intend to rent 

it, then it is "seasonal."

6.G WHEN INTENDED FOR 

OCCUPANCY

You need to determine which season these 

units are intended for occupancy (Figure 

C100).

6.G.1 Summers only

Include units intended for occupancy only in 

the summer whether occupied just for 

several weeks or on weekends or for the 

entire summer.

6.G.2 Winters only

Mark "Winters only" for units located at 

snow resorts in the North or beach resorts in 

the South which are intended for occupancy 

only in winter, whether occupied just for 

several weeks or on weekends or for the 

entire winter.

6.G.3 Other

Mark "Other" if neither of the above 

classifications is applicable and explain in 

the space provided. For example, "Intended 

for occupancy during tomato canning 

months only," or "Used during hunting 

season only" or occupied both "summer and 

winter seasons" by vacationers and the like.

Figure C99. INTOCC, When Unit Intended for 

Occupancy

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C6-11 August 2013
6.H EXPLANATION OF TYPE C 

CODES 

Type C units are those ineligible for 

sample. The TYPC screen is shown in 

Figure C98.

6.H.1 Demolished (240)

"Demolished" sample units existed at time 

of listing, but were since torn down or 

destroyed, or are in the process of being torn 

down.

6.H.2 House or Trailer Moved (241)

Mark this category for a structure or trailer 

moved since listing. This rule applies for 

trailers or mobile homes not found in a 

mobile home park.

6.H.3 Outside Segment (242)

For Area Segments only - if the address is 

outside the segment boundaries, mark this 

category.

Figure C100. TYPC, Type of Type C Noninterview

6.H.4 Converted to Permanent Business 

or Storage (243)

This refers to units which were living 

quarters but are now being used permanently 

for commercial business or business 

purposes, or for the permanent storage of 

hay, machinery, business supplies, and the 

like.

6.H.5 Merged (244)

Any current sample unit(s) eliminated after 

applying the rules for mergers are Type C -

"merged." (Consult your 11-8 Listing and 

Coverage Manual for merger rules.)

6.H.6 Condemned (and Unoccupied) 

(245)

Mark "Condemned" for unoccupied sample 

units only if there is positive evidence such 

as a sign, notice, or mark on the house or in 

the block that the unit is condemned. Be 

sure this refers to unoccupied units. If 

occupied units are posted "Condemned," 

ignore the sign and interview the occupants. 

If there is no such evidence, report the units 

as "Vacant - regular" unless it is unfit for 

human habitation, in which case mark "Unfit 

or to be demolished."

Part C Chapter 6 Page C6-12 Noninterviews
6.H.7 Unused Line of Listing Sheet (247)

This category applies to units segments, 

permit segments, and TA places in group 

quarters segments, where you 

list/enumerate. At this time, if you list fewer 

units than expected, mark this category for 

any unused serial numbers which the office 

had preassigned.

6.H.8 Other Type C (248)

Mark "Other" and specify the reason for 

units which cannot be classified in any of 

the above categories. Some examples might 

be "duplicate listing," "never living 

quarters," or "permit abandoned" (permit 

segments ONLY). The instrument will 

bring up a specific question to determine 

this based on the type of segment the case is 

in.

6.H.9 Unlocatable Sample Address (258)

This occurs when you determine the 

address cannot be located based on the 

information provided by headquarters. This 

outcome code should only be selectable

when limited address information is 

available. If you select this outcome for a 

case where sufficient address information is 

available, an error message will be 

displayed. The error message will instruct 

you either to assign the case an outcome of 

“Type A – Unable to Locate” or to contact 

your supervisor for assistance. 

In addition, if you attempt to assign a “Type 

A – Unable to Locate” outcome to a case 

with limited address information, an error 

message will instruct you to instead select 

“Type C – Unlocatable Sample Address.”

6.H.10 Unit Does Not Exist or Unit is Out 

of Scope (259)

This outcome code is for situations where 

you are able to locate the housing structure 

but not the particular unit. Examples of 

when to use this outcome are:

• Reconfigured multi-unit structures 

where the unit designations have 

changed

•For GQ assignments where the GQ has 

converted to housing units or to an outof-scope GQ type

•When assigned to interview at a 

domestic violence shelter or an 

assigned GQ converts to a domestic 

violence shelter.

6.I TYPE C PROCEDURES 

As discussed in the introduction, after you 

confirm the status of the unit you go to the 

noninterview type selection screen (Figure 

C95 shown previously on page C6-4).

● Enter precode 3 to select Type C at the 

NONTYP screen.

• On the TYPC screen, select the category 

of Type C noninterview that applies to this 

case. Based on your selection, the 

computer assigns the case status code, and 

prompts you to enter explanatory notes. 

Your Case Management will transmit Type 

C cases in your next telecommunications

transmission. The Type C classification and 

your notes are reviewed by the RO staff. If 

approved, the unit is deleted from sample.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page C6-13 August 2013
END OF PART C

The next section of this manual contains details on

conducting the Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS).

Part C Chapter 6 Page C6-14 Noninterviews
PART D 

THE HOUSING VACANCY SURVEY 

April 2015
Part D, Chapter 1 

General Description – Housing Vacancy Survey

Topic See Page 

1.A How to Identify HVS D1-3 

1.B Completing HVS Items D1-4 
Part D Chapter 1 Page D1-2 HVS General Description
CPS Interviewing Manual Page D1-3 April 2007 (rev)

PART D, CHAPTER 1 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION - HOUSING VACANCY SURVEY

The Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS) is a 

regular part of the CPS. Each month, the 

U.S. Census Bureau collects additional 

information on certain sample units 

identified as vacant housing units in the 

CPS. The results are used to estimate the 

trend in housing vacancies, provide 

information on the characteristics of vacant 

units currently on the market, and to 

determine the relationship between the 

supply and demand for housing. Data for 

the HVS are obtained from some CPS 

questions and special HVS items. The CPS 

contains the information needed for all 

vacant, seasonal and nonseasonal housing 

units. The HVS items ask specific questions 

about the housing unit in sample. 

1.A HOW TO IDENTIFY HVS

HVS questions come up for cases that have 

a Type B outcome code: 

225 - Type B, Temporarily Occupied 

with persons with Usual 

Residence Elsewhere (URE) 

(Selected by the instrument) 

226 - Type B, Vacant Regular 

(Selected by you) 

227 - Type B, Vacant Household 

Furniture Storage 

(Selected by you) 

If the unit is available for yearround use AND the type of living 

quarters is housing unit. 

You may complete the HVS case by 

telephone without making a personal visit to 

the sample unit only if all three of the 

following conditions exist: 

Conditions Necessary for Completing 

an HVS Case by Telephone:

1. The unit was determined to be a

Type B noninterview in the

preceding month.

2. The unit is a substantial distance

from your home, and you are not

planning to return to the area for

other interviews.

3. You have the name and telephone

number of a reliable respondent

(owner, rental agent, knowledgeable

neighbor, or local merchant) and a

telephone interview is acceptable

with that person. (Which you

collected at the BCNAME and

BCNUM screens the previous

month.)

If one or more of the above conditions is not 

met, you must make a personal visit to the 

sample unit. Interview the landlord, owner, 

agent or, if none of these are available, a 

knowledgeable neighbor. If you cannot find 

any of these, you may complete the HVS by 

observation as a last resort. 
Part D Chapter 1 Page D1-4 HVS General Description

Figure D1. BCNAME Screen 

1.B COMPLETING HVS

ITEMS

Use the same care in completing the HVS 

items (questions) that you do for the regular 

CPS questions. They are as important to 

CPS as the questions for occupied units.
Part D, Chapter 2 

Instructions for Completing HVS Items

Topic See Page

2.A Determining if Housing Units Qualify for HVS D2-3

2.B Person to Interview for HVS D2-3

2.C Items Obtained by Telephone D2-4
Part D Chapter 2 Page D2-2 Instructions for Completing HVS Items
CPS Interviewing Manual Page D2-3 January 2013

PART D, CHAPTER 2

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING HVS ITEMS

2.A DETERMINING IF 

HOUSING UNITS QUALIFY 

FOR HVS

When you call up a case in the CPS 

instrument and determine that the housing 

unit is a Type B noninterview, you select 

category (4) Noninterview at the INTROB

screen or, if it is a URE household, select 

category (1) Continue, and the instrument 

will set the Type B - temporarily occupied 

with persons with URE (you will have to go 

through the roster and identify each person’s 

household membership as URE 

(S_HHMEM = no and URE = yes).

After selecting (4) Noninterview at the 

INTROB screen, you must also choose the 

type of noninterview at the NONTYP 

screen. At the NONTYP screen, selecting 

(2) TYPE B makes the case a Type B 

noninterview. After you make the housing 

unit a Type B in the CPS, you will enter the 

category of Type B noninterview that 

applies to the case at the TYPB screen. 

Next, you collect the mailing address in 

ABMAIL screens, whether the housing unit 

has direct access in ACCESS, the type of 

living quarters in LIVQRT and if the unit is 

available for use year-round in SEASON.

If the noninterview status changes before 

you begin to collect HVS information, you 

complete information according to the status 

of the unit during interview week, that is, the 

period for which the CPS is collected. 

2.B PERSON TO INTERVIEW 

FOR HVS 

 

Interview the landlord, owner, agent, 

resident or building manager. Consider a 

janitor as an agent if he/she is responsible 

for answering inquiries about the unit. 

Frequently, the name, address, and phone 

number of persons who can provide 

information is posted on the property.

Interview a knowledgeable neighbor when 

the landlord, owner, or agent is not 

available. Enter the name of whoever 

supplies most or all the information 

necessary to complete the HVS, if possible, 

and a telephone number where they can be 

reached in the BCNAME and BCNUM 

screens. Enter the neighbor's name if the 

neighbor supplied all or most of the 

information. 

Below is a resource list for the types of 

contacts who can provide information about 

a property. 

People Owner

Realtor

Neighbor

Rental/leasing office

Building/property 

 manager

Janitorial staff

Security guards

Mail carrier

Offices Post office

County/tax assessor 

Property appraisal

Register of deeds

Utility department

Permit office

City hall/town clerk
CPS Interviewing Manual Page D2-4 January 2013

Building department 

 or inspector

Fire station 

Other Type of Contact Building Management 

 Contact (BMC)

Fast Data 

Observe the grounds

2.C ITEMS OBTAINED BY 

TELEPHONE

See Chapter 1 of this section, for conditions 

in which you may complete the HVS by 

telephone. In addition, you may make a 

telephone callback when a responsible 

qualified respondent is not available at the 

time of your visit. You must first obtain the 

telephone number of a qualified respondent 

or information for contacting the owner, 

manager, etc. 
Part D, Chapter 3 

HVS Items

Topic See Page

3.A Introduction D3-3

3.B Number of Acres D3-3

3.C Year Structure Built D3-3

3.D Number of Housing Units in Structure D3-3

3.E Number of Rooms D3-5

3.F Number of Bedrooms D3-5

3.G Complete Plumbing Facilities D3-6

3.H Complete Kitchen Facilities D3-6

3.I Number of Bathrooms D3-7

3.J Air Conditioning D3-8

3.K Unit Ever Occupied D3-8

3.L Number of Months Vacant D3-9

3.M Status of Unit D3-10

3.N Vacant-Other D3-12

3.O Monthly Rent D3-13

3.P Utilities Paid by Renter D3-14

3.Q Commercial Use of Property D3-15

3.R Sales Price of the Property D3-15
Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-2 The HVS Items
CHAPTER 3

THE HVS ITEMS

3.A INTRODUCTION

After you identify the unit as meeting HVS 

criteria, the series of HVS items appear in 

the CPS instrument.. 

3.B NUMBER OF ACRES

You ask HVSC (Figure D2) during the first 

month of each 4-month period of interview. 

If the housing unit is an apartment in an 

apartment complex of 10 acres or more, 

select “10 acres or more.”

Figure D2. HVSC, Number of Acres

3.C YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT

The year in which the structure was built,..

(see HVSYR, Figure D3) refers to the 

completion of the original construction or 

the date when the sample unit was first 

occupied, if that came first. It does not refer 

to the time of any later remodeling, 

additions, or conversions.

If the respondent does not know the year 

built, get the best estimate. Notice that for 

old structures you need know only if they 

were built before 1939.

For mobile homes and trailers, “year built” 

is the model year.

When answering this item, be very careful to 

enter the appropriate category.

Figure D3. HVSYR, Year Structure Built

3.D NUMBER OF HOUSING 

UNITS IN STRUCTURE

Before you determine the number of housing 

units in a structure, determine what 

constitutes the structure. The definition is 

the same as that used in the CPS.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-3 August 2013
Sheds and private garages that adjoin houses 

are not separate structures. See Part C, 

Chapter 2 of your CPS manual for 

information on the classification of living 

quarters. 

3.D.1 Examples of Structures

Following are some examples of structures

other than ordinary houses:

• An apartment building is one structure.

• In rental developments or housing 

developments of the village or garden 

type, each building with open space on all 

four sides is a separate structure.

• Sheds, private garages, etc., which adjoin

the house are not separate structures.

• Select (1) 1 unit-detached for mobile 

homes and trailers.

3.D.2 Determining the Number of 

Housing Units

After you have determined the structure, 

select the number of housing units it 

contains in HVSNUM (Figure D4). Use the 

following guidelines:

• The number of housing units in the 

structure is the total number, occupied and 

vacant, in sample or out. If the sample 

unit is a vacant housing unit in a structure 

which contains 2 other apartments, select 

(4) 3-4 units.

• Count only housing units in the structure 

and exclude other living quarters.

• Determine by observation (if possible) or 

inquiry how many housing units the 

structure contains.

• Enter the same item selection for all 

vacant housing units in the same structure. 

For example, if the structure contains 9 

housing units and you interview 2 sample 

units, select (5) 5-9 units for each.

Figure D4. HVSNUM, Number of Units in Structure

Structure. A structure is a separate 

building that either has an open space on 

all sides or is separated from other 

structures by dividing walls that extend 

from ground to roof. In double houses, 

row houses, and houses attached to 

nonresidential structures, each building is 

a structure if the common wall between 

them goes from ground to roof.

Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-4 The HVS Items
3.E NUMBER OF ROOMS

Count whole rooms such as: living rooms, 

dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, finished 

basement or attic rooms, recreation rooms, 

permanently enclosed sun porches which are 

suitable for year-round use, and lodger's 

rooms (HVSRM, Figure D5).

Do not include: bathrooms, halls, foyers or 

vestibules, balconies, closets, alcoves, 

pantries, strip or pullman kitchens, laundry 

or furnace rooms, unfinished attics or 

basements, open porches, sun porches not 

suited for year-round use, unfinished space 

used for storage, mobile homes or trailers 

used only as bedrooms, and offices used 

only by persons not living in the unit.

A partially divided room, such as a dinette 

next to a kitchen or living room is a separate 

room only if there is a partition from floor to 

ceiling, but not if the partition consists

solely of shelves or cabinets.

If a room is to be used by occupants of more 

than one unit, include the room with the unit 

from which it is most easily reached.

3.F NUMBER OF BEDROOMS

Count rooms used mainly for sleeping, even 

if they are used for other purposes (HVSB, 

Figure D6). Also count rooms reserved for 

sleeping, such as guest rooms, even though 

they are used infrequently. Do not count as 

a bedroom a room used mainly for other 

purposes, even though it is also used for 

sleeping, such as a living room with a hideaway bed. Also, do not count bedrooms that 

have been converted to home offices. Count 

only finished rooms. Select (5) None for a 

1-room apartment, or if the living quarters 

have no rooms used mainly for sleeping.

Figure D5. HVSRM , Number of Rooms in Unit

Figure D6. HVSBD, Number of Bedrooms in Unit

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-5 August 2013
3.G COMPLETE PLUMBING 

FACILITIES.

Figure D7. HVSPLB, Complete Plumbing 

Facilities in Unit

In order to have complete plumbing 

facilities, all facilities must be located inside 

the structure, but not necessarily in the same 

room.

Select (1) Yes, have all three facilities,

only if the unit has all of the following:

3.G.1 Hot and Cold Piped Water

A housing unit has piped water if piped 

running water is: 1) inside the structure and 

2) available to the housing unit. Piped water 

means that there is a supply of water is 

available at a sink, wash basin, bathtub or 

shower. The hot water does not have to be 

supplied continuously.

3.G.2 A Flush Toilet

A flush toilet is connected to piped water. 

Units with facilities that are intended to be 

used by persons not living in the housing 

unit and by occupants of that particular 

housing unit should be included. Do not 

include units that do not have an installed 

flush toilet. Also do not include units with 

types of toilet facilities such as: privies, 

outhouses, chemical toilets, and flush toilets 

outside of the structure.

3.G.3 A Bathtub or Shower

A bathtub is connected to piped water. 

Units with facilities that are intended to be 

used by persons not living in the housing 

unit and by occupants of that particular 

housing unit should be included. Do not 

include units that do not have installed 

bathing facilities in the building or units 

with portable or temporary bathing facilities 

available to the intended occupants.

If the unit does not meet all three of these 

conditions, Select (2) No.

3.H COMPLETE KITCHEN

FACILITIES

Figure D8. HVSKIT, Complete Kitchen 

Facilities in Unit

In order to have complete kitchen facilities, 

all facilities must be located inside the unit, 

but not necessarily in the same room. 

Select (1) Yes, have all three facilities, if 

the unit has all of the facilities listed.

Select (2) No, if the following three 

conditions do not apply.

3.H.1 A Sink with Piped Water

A housing unit has a sink with piped water if 

the supply of water is available at the sink 

and the water is running inside the structure 

and is available to the housing unit.

Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-6 The HVS Items
3.H.2 A Range or Cookstove

The unit must have a range or cookstove. 

The range or cookstove does not have to be 

mechanical; it can be a wood burning stove. 

It must be in working order. Do not include 

units where the range or cookstove is not in 

working order and the landlord/owner does 

not plan to fix or replace it prior to renting 

or selling the unit.

3.H.3 A Refrigerator

The unit must have a working mechanical 

refrigerator. A freezer is not necessary. Do 

not include units where the only refrigerator 

does not work, and the landlord/owner does 

not plan to fix or replace it prior to renting 

or selling the unit.

3.I NUMBER OF BATHROOMS

Select (1) No bathroom, or only a half 

bathroom, if the unit lacks one or more of 

the required facilities for a complete 

bathroom (flush toilet, a bathtub or shower, 

and a wash basin with piped water) or has 

no bathroom facilities.

Select (2) 1 complete bathroom, if the unit 

has a room with a flush toilet, bathtub or 

shower, and a wash basin with piped water.

Select (3) 1 complete bathroom, plus half 

bath(s), if the unit has all the facilities for 

one complete bathroom in one room and has 

additional facilities such as a flush toilet or 

shower, but does not have all the facilities 

for a complete bathroom in one or more 

rooms.

Select (4) 2 or more complete bathrooms, 

if the unit has 2 or more rooms, each with a 

flush toilet, a bathtub or shower, and a wash 

basin with piped water.

Figure D9. HVSBTH, Number of Bathrooms in Unit

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-7 August 2013
3.J AIR CONDITIONING

Figure D10. HVSAC, Air Conditioning in Unit

Select (1) Yes, a central air conditioning 

system, if a central installation which air 

conditions a number of rooms is used. In an 

apartment building, such a system may cool 

all apartments in the building, each 

apartment may have its own central system, 

or there may be several systems, each 

providing central air conditioning for a 

group of apartments. This category should 

also be chosen if the unit has a central 

system in addition to individual room 

unit(s).

Select (2) Yes, 1 individual room unit, if 

the unit has only the cooling of air by a 

single refrigeration room unit. Do not select 

this category if the unit has evaporative 

coolers, fans, or blowers which are not 

connected to a refrigeration unit.

Select (3) Yes, 2 or more individual room 

units, if the unit has only the cooling of air 

by 2 or more refrigeration room units. Do 

not select this category if the unit has 

evaporative coolers, fans, or blowers which 

are not connected to a refrigeration unit.

Select (4) No, if the unit is not cooled by a 

refrigeration unit and does not have a central 

air conditioning system.

3.K UNIT EVER OCCUPIED

Figure D11. HVSOCC, Unit Ever Occupied

If the unit is now or has ever been occupied, 

even if it is or was occupied by persons with 

URE, select (1) Yes. If a previously 

occupied unit has been converted into 

several housing units, report each unit as 

having been occupied. Also, select “Yes” 

for a housing unit resulting from conversion 

of nonresidential space because it had been 

used previously. Similarly, a housing unit 

resulting from a merger would have been 

previously occupied.

Select (2) No, only for newly constructed

and still vacant units.

Determine by observation whether or not the 

unit has ever been occupied. When in 

doubt, ask.

Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-8 The HVS Items
3.L NUMBER OF MONTHS 

VACANT

Select the number indicating the amount 

of time that the unit has been vacant 

(HVSVAC, Figure D12). Keep in mind that 

a month is a four-week span of time, not 

necessarily from the first of a month to the 

end of a month. Count the time from the 

date the last occupants moved to the date of 

the previous CPS interview. For example, a 

month would be from the 18th of one month 

to the 18th of the next month. If the date of 

the previous CPS interview was March 21 

and the unit has been vacant since December 

24, select item (3) 2 up to 4 months.

For newly constructed units, report how 

long the unit was vacant from the date 

construction was completed. Construction is 

considered to be complete when all exterior 

windows and doors are installed and the 

final usable floors are in place.

For recently converted or merged units, 

report the time from the date the conversion 

or merger was completed. Conversion is 

the creation of two or more housing units 

from fewer units through structural 

alteration or change in use. For example, 

one unit may be divided into two or three 

units. Merger is the combining of two or 

more housing units into fewer units through 

structural alteration or change in use. For 

example, two units may be combined into 

one.

For units “temporarily occupied with 

persons with usual residence elsewhere”, 

report the length of time since the last usual

residents moved. If the unit has always been 

occupied by UREs and has never been 

occupied by a usual resident, enter the 

length of time since the unit was originally 

ready for occupancy.

Figure D12. HVSVAC, Number of Months Unit Has Been Vacant

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-9 August 2013
3.M STATUS OF UNIT

Report the status of the unit as of the date 

CPS was completed (see Figure D13, 

HVSSTA, on page D3-11). If a unit was 

for rent on the 16th when you completed the 

CPS interview, but was already rented when 

you returned for vacancy information on the 

18th, select (1) For rent since that was the 

status on the 16th. 

You might encounter a situation in which 

the unit is being time-shared. Time-sharing 

is a form of ownership in which a single 

property is owned by multiple owners. Each 

is entitled to occupy the unit for a limited 

period. If the unit is time-shared, select the 

appropriate item for the particular situation 

at the time of the interview.

Select (1) For rent for those units offered 

for rent only, and for units offered for rent or 

for sale at the same time. Do not depend 

entirely on signs; a “For sale” sign does not 

always mean that the unit is not for rent also. 

If it is for rent also, report “For rent” rather 

than “For sale.” For time-shared units, 

select “For rent” if the unit is being offered 

for rent at the time of interview. Instead of 

the owner occupying the unit during his/her 

allotted time, he/she might have decided to 

offer the unit for rent during that period. 

Also, local management may be attempting 

to rent a unit during a time period yet to be 

sold.

Select (2) Rented, not occupied only if any 

money has been paid or agreed upon, but the 

renter has not yet moved in. For timeshared units, select “Rented, not occupied” 

if money has been paid or agreed upon, but 

the renter has not yet moved in.

(3) Regular ownership and units under 

contract, and 

(4) Condominium or cooperative 

ownership are enclosed under “FOR SALE 

ONLY.” In order for a unit to be included 

in one of the FOR SALE ONLY options the 

unit must be only for sale. For time-shared 

units, the management could be selling the 

unit for a specific time interval which 

includes the date of interview, or one of the 

owners could be selling his/her allotted time.

Regular Ownership - Ownership of a unit 

that is not part of a condominium or 

cooperative. For time-shared units, if the 

unit is not part of a condominium or 

cooperative, it should be included in this 

category.

Cooperative or condominium ownership -

A cooperative is a type of ownership 

whereby a group of housing units is owned 

by a corporation of member-owners. Each 

individual member is entitled to occupy an 

individual housing unit and is a shareholder 

in the corporation which owns the property. 

With regard to time-shared units, several 

individuals would be assigned to occupy the 

same unit, but only at different time periods 

throughout the year.

A condominium is a type of ownership that 

enables a person to own an apartment or 

house in a project of similarly owned units. 

The owner has the deed and very likely the 

mortgage on the unit occupied. The owner 

may also hold common or joint ownership in 

some or all common areas such as grounds, 

hallways, entrances, elevators, etc. With 

regard to time-shared condominiums, 

several individuals own a unit that is part of 

the condominium complex and each 

individual has the right to occupy the unit 

during his/her allotted time. 

Cooperative or condominium ownership 

may apply to various types of structures 

including single-family houses, rowhouses, 

townhouses, etc., as well as apartment 

buildings.

Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-10 The HVS Items
Select (5) Sold, not yet occupied for a unit 

which has been sold but the new owner has 

not moved in. However, if the new owner is 

offering it for rent, report the status as (1) 

“For rent.” For time-shared units, select 

“Sold, not yet occupied” for a unit which 

has been sold for occupancy at the time of 

interview but the new owner has never 

stayed there.

Select (6) For occasional use if the vacant 

unit is not for rent or for sale but is held only 

for weekends or occasional use throughout 

the year. For time-shared units, select “For 

occasional use” if the vacant unit is not for 

rent or for sale but is held for the use of a 

specific individual during the time of 

interview and he has stayed there in the past.

Select (7) Occupied by persons with usual 

home elsewhere for a unit temporarily 

occupied by persons with a usual place of 

residence elsewhere. For most occupied

time-shared units, the occupants will 

normally have a place of residence 

elsewhere. Therefore, the unit should be 

included in this category.

If the vacant unit (time-shared units 

included) does not fall into one of the above 

classifications, select (8) Other at the 

HVSSTA screen (Figure D13).

Examples of units held off the rental or sale 

market include units which are:

• Held for settlement of an estate.

• Held off the market for personal 

reasons of the owner, such as: 1) the 

owner has not decided whether or not the 

unit will be torn down, 2) the owner is 

remodeling or repairing the unit and will 

not make it available until the work is 

completed.

• Held for the occupancy of a caretaker or 

janitor.

• Being used temporarily for storage of 

excess house furniture.

• In a multi-unit structure being held for 

sale of the entire structure, except as 

described in “For sale only” above.

• Model apartment or model home.

• Vacant units whose renters moved during 

the month although the rent is paid to the 

end of the month.

• Corporate housing

Figure D13. HVSSTA, Status of Unit

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-11 August 2013
3.N VACANT-OTHER

You might encounter a unit that falls in the 

“Other” category at the HVSSTA screen. 

Starting in January 2012, if the unit falls in 

the “Other” category, you will now select 11 

pre-defined categories at the HVSOTH 

screen. The HVSOTH screen will allow 

analysts to examine the frequency of units in 

specific vacant-other categories and track 

trends over time. It will also call attention to 

units that do not belong in the HVS sample. 

For HVS eligible interviews that do not fit 

into another vacancy category (for rent, for 

sale, rented or sold not occupied, etc.), you 

will ask the most knowledgeable respondent 

why the unit is vacant and select the 

appropriate item for the particular situation 

at the time of the interview. 

Select (1) Foreclosure for those units that 

are vacant because owners’ payments 

(mortgage, taxes, or loans) to their lending 

institution, city, or state, were no longer 

being made. Include units that are under 

foreclosure, bank owned, bankrupt, up for 

auction, sheriff’s sale, repossessed, have a 

lien, or taken for taxes. DO NOT include 

evictions in this category – see Legal 

Proceedings. 

Select (2) Personal/Family Reasons for 

those units that are vacant due to the 

owners’ preferences and/or personal 

situation. Include units where the owner 

does not want to rent/sell, owner is deciding 

what to do, owner is keeping for family use, 

owner is staying with family, or owner is in 

assisted living or other type of care situation. 

DO NOT include divorce or owner deceased 

in this category – see Legal Proceedings.

Select (3) Legal Proceedings for units that 

are vacant due to legal issues or disputes. 

Include units held for the settlement of 

estate, in probate, involved in divorce or 

eviction proceedings, or where the owner is 

deceased. Also include units with code 

violations. 

Select (4) Preparing to Rent/Sell for units 

that are vacant and the owner is currently 

preparing to rent or sell. Include units that 

will be placed for rent or for sale this month 

or where the owner is meeting with a listing 

agent/agency this month to prepare to put 

the unit on the market. DO NOT include 

units that are under contract to be rented or 

sold. These units should be in the “for rent” 

or “for sale” categories at the HVSSTA 

screen.

Select (5) Held for Storage of Household 

Furniture for units that are vacant and used 

to store excess household furniture or other 

household items.

Select (6) Needs Repairs for units that are 

vacant and in need of repairs. Include units 

that are in need of repair, renovations, or 

cleaning, but are not currently being 

repaired, renovated, or cleaned. Include 

units that are dilapidated, only if the 

dilapidated unit is still considered living 

quarters. Also include units where repairs 

have stopped, unless repairs have stopped 

because of the weather conditions.

Select (7) Currently Being 

Repaired/Renovated for units that are 

vacant and currently undergoing repairs. 

Include units that are being repaired, 

renovated, refurbished, or cleaned. DO 

NOT include units that are still under 

construction/being built but are not yet 

livable (including units where the exterior 

windows and doors are not installed and 

the final usable floors are not finished). If 

this is the case, select <5> “Under 

construction, not ready” in the Type B 

Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-12 HVS Item Instructions
Noninterview screen.

Select (8) Specific Use Housing for units 

that are vacant and only used by a specific 

group of people, at one or various times 

throughout the year. If the specific group 

of people occupies the unit at time of 

interview, interview them as UREs. These

include military housing,

employee/corporate housing, transient 

quarters, units held by a church, student 

housing (dorm and school sponsored 

housing), model home/apartment or guest 

house. 

Select (9) Extended Absence for units that 

are intended for year-round occupancy but 

are vacant for 6-months or more. Include 

units where the owner is on extended work 

or military assignment, temporarily out of 

the country, or in jail or other type of 

detention situation. 

Select (10) Abandoned/Possibly to be 

Demolished/Possibly Condemned for units 

that are vacant and abandoned, to be 

demolished, or condemned. Include units 

that are abandoned. Also include units that 

are said to be demolished or condemned, but 

where there is no positive evidence such as 

a sign, notice, or mark on the house or in 

the block to indicate the unit is to be 

demolished or condemned. Getting 

information from a neighbor is not 

considered positive evidence. If a neighbor 

or non-official source says the unit is to be 

demolished or condemned, include the unit 

in this category. DO NOT include units 

that are to be demolished or condemned 

(if there is positive evidence), 

uninhabitable, boarded-up, or open to the 

elements. If this is the case, select <4> 

“Unfit or to be demolished” in the Type B 

Noninterview screen.

Select (11) Other for units that are vacant 

for reasons that do not fit into any of the 

above categories and specify the other status 

at the HVSSTS screen. 

3.O MONTHLY RENT

Figure D14. HVSRNT, Monthly Rent for Unit

The HVSRNT screen (Figure D14) comes 

up if “For Rent” or “Rented, not occupied” 

is selected at the HVSSTA screen. 

Select the rent asked, regardless of what 

utilities or services it includes. If the rent 

requested is based on the occupant's income 

(ability to pay), select the monthly amount 

paid by the last occupants.

Table D1. HVS Converting Rent Amount to a 

Monthly Rate

If period

is:

Multiply

dollar 

amount by:

Divide 

dollar 

amount by:

Daily 30 --

Weekly 4 --

Biweekly 2 --

Quarterly -- 3

Semiannually -- 6

Annually -- 12

Create a scratch sheet and convert reported 

rent to monthly rates as indicated in Table 

D1.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-13 August 2013
For example, if the rent is to be paid by the 

week and the weekly rate is $30, you would

multiply $30 by 4 and select (3) $100 to 

$124 at the HVSRNT screen for that sample 

unit. Do not attempt to subtract costs for 

furniture, utilities and services provided by 

the landlord as part of each regular rent 

payment.

If the rent to be paid includes rent for a 

business unit or for other living quarters, 

report only that part of the total rent which is 

for the sample unit.

Report only the rent paid or scheduled to be 

paid to the landlord or rental agent. DO 

NOT deduct for any part of the rent that

may be paid by a church, government 

agency or similar organization. For 

example, if the unit will rent for $100 a 

month but the renter will have to pay only 

$75 because a church will pay the other $25, 

you would still select the “$100 to $124” 

category.

If the unit “for rent” is a mobile home or 

trailer, include the amount paid for the site, 

if the site rent is to be paid separately.

3.P UTILITIES PAID BY

RENTER

Figure D15. HVSUT1, Utilities Paid by Renter

Note: Screens HVSUT2, HVSUT3 and HVSUT4 

ask if the renter pays for gas; water; or oil, coal, 

wood, kerosene, etc.

This item is also asked of units that are “For 

rent” or “Rented, not occupied”. 

For this item, you want to know what 

utilities or fuels are to be paid for by the 

renter in addition to the “monthly rent 

asked” and not what could be included for 

more rent, or what could be omitted for less 

rent.

Select (1) Yes or (2) No for each of the four 

parts: electricity; gas; water; and oil, coal, 

wood, or kerosene. If there is any question 

about the meaning of the categories, follow 

these instructions.

Select “Yes” if the renter will pay separately 

for all or part of the utility or fuel.

Select “No” if the cost of the utility or fuel is 

included in the rent or if the renter will not 

use the utility or fuel.

If the utility or fuel is available, but you 

cannot determine whether the next 

occupants will use it (for example, it may 

depend on whether they have a gas or 

electric stove), report on the basis of the last 

occupant. Select “Yes” in the “oil, coal, 

wood, kerosene, etc?” category if the renter 

will use (and pay separately for) fuel other 

than those listed in the question. The “coal, 

oil, wood, and kerosene” are merely 

examples of heating and cooking fuels, 

other than gas and electricity.

If the utility is free, consider it as being 

included in the rent and select “No.”

Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-14 HVS Item Instructions
3.Q COMMERCIAL USE OF 

PROPERTY

Figure D16. HVSCOM, Commercial Use of 

Property

This screen comes up if “For sale only” or 

“Sold, not yet occupied” is selected at the 

HVSSTA screen. Use the following 

guidelines selecting categories at 

HVSCOM:

Select (1) Yes if any part of the property is 

used as a commercial establishment or a 

medical or dental office.

Examples of commercial establishments are 

a regular store, shop, restaurant, or filling 

station. A medical office would include 

medical doctor's and/or dentist's office 

which may be in the same structure or in a 

separate structure on the same property.

If there is no commercial establishment, or 

medical or dental office (either occupied or 

vacant) on the property, select (2) No. 

3.R SALES PRICE OF THE 

PROPERTY

Item HVSPRC (Figure D17) is only for 

property not used as a commercial 

establishment, or a medical or dental office; 

that is, (2) No is selected at the HVSCOM

screen.

Report the total sales price (not just the 

down payment) asked by the owner for “this 

property.” For units recently sold but not 

yet occupied, report the selling price.

The sales price asked for “this property” 

includes the price of the housing unit. 

Usually, “this property” consists of the one 

structure and the land on which it is located. 

However, it may include additional 

structures such as garages, sheds, barns, etc. 

For rural units, the property may also 

include substantial acreage. In some multiunit structures where individual housing 

units in the structure are owned separately, 

“this property” refers to the individual unit 

that is for sale.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-15 August 2013
Figure D17. HVSPRC, Sales Price of Property

Part D Chapter 3 Page D3-16 HVS Item Instructions
END OF PART D

This is the end of the survey subject matter portion of your CPS Manual.

The next section contains WEBCATI computer procedures.

CPS Interviewing Manual Page D3-17 August 2013
PART E 

WEBCATI 

FRONT AND BACK 

OF THE INSTRUMENT 

April 2015
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-1 April 2007 (rev) 

PART E, CHAPTER 1 

WEBCATI ITEMS FOR CPS 

WebCATI is the name for the Census Bureau’s control system that handles the telephone center 

software used for computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). The WebCATI system is a 

control system for running Blaise and other telephone center software. 

When you first enter a case, you will go through a series of screens in the WebCATI and in the 

CPS instrument to confirm critical information so you can conduct the interview. The screens 

take you through: 

1. Recording the correct dial outcome 

2. Obtaining the correct respondent 

3. Verifying the correct address 

The following sections detail the screens in WebCATI which you will use to get into the 

interview, and the introductory screens in the CPS instrument which you will use to start the 

interview. 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-2 WebCATI Items for CPS

Getting Into the Instrument 

Main Menu - screen 

Main Menu This is the first screen you will see when you access the 

WebCATI system. To begin interviewing, click <Conduct

an Interview> or press <ENTER> if <Conduct an

Interview> is displayed in red, meaning it is the default 

selection. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-3 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E1. Select a Survey - screen

Select a Survey 

 

This screen is where you select a survey to login to. 

Click the arrow on the drop down menu, then 

highlight the survey name. Once done, click <Select

Survey> to proceed. 

Figure E2. Assign Skills - screen

Assign Skills This screen lists the different skillsets assigned to you for 

conducting specialized interviews (foreign language, refusal 

conversion, etc). If any of the skills assigned to you are 

incorrect, notify your supervisor immediately. To accept the 

skills assigned, click <Accept Skills>. 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-4 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figure E3. Conduct Interview - Case Search – screen 

Conduct Interview - 

Case Search 

The “Conduct Interview - Case Search” screen acts as your 

control center for accessing cases. Here you can access the 

next available case in the queue, search for a specific 

case(s), or return to the main menu. 

Get Next Case Click on <Get Next Case> to bring up the next available 

case in the queue. This will take you to the “Case Notes” 

screen of the launched case. 

Search The data fields immediately below the ‘Search for Specific 

Case’ banner can be used to find cases that match certain 

criteria. Once you have entered any necessary data in the 

search filters, click on <Search> to display the cases that 

match the search criteria. 

To search all surveys, click the “clear” link. To search a 

specific survey, highlight that survey in the survey window. 

Note: Change Yes to No in the Active Cases Field to see 

both active and closed when searching for a case. 

Incoming calls If there is an incoming call and the case needs to be pulled 

up, there are a few ways to find the case. The best options 

are searching by Case ID or Phone Number. The caller may 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-5 April 2007 (rev) 

be able to provide the Control # if they are referring to their 

advance letter. Otherwise, they can provide the phone 

number where the message was left. You may use more than 

one filter in your search. 

Main Menu

Click on <Main Menu> to return to the “Main Menu” screen.
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-6 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figure E4. Conduct Interview - Search Results - screen 

Conduct Interview - 

Search Results 

This screen appears if you’ve run filters to search for a 

specific survey case, Survey ID, or cases. For each case the 

table lists the case status, Case ID, control #, respondent name 

(if available), available phone numbers, and the current 

agendum code assigned. 

If there is more than one page of cases available to view, click 

on the page number(s) listed above or below the results table. 

To select a particular case, click on the <select> link in the 

row of the respective Case ID.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-7 April 2007 (rev) 

Beginning an Interview 

Figure E5. Notes – screen 

Notes Once you access the next available case (or select a case

from your search results), the “Notes” screen is the first 

screen you come to. Here you can: view case notes from 

the CPS interviews and from the previous CPS interviewer 

(if applicable), view the Case History, view the Previous 

History, and check the Household Roster. On the left side 

of the screen are options to do such things as: indicate a 

foreign language is needed, request special interviewing 

skills, etc. 

Click on <Go to DIAL> to proceed to the “Dial” screen. 

Click on <Not attempted / Quit before dialing> to exit the 

case prior to dialing the phone number.

The <Incoming Call> option will display if you have

selected a specific Case ID. Click on <Incoming Call> to 

indicate that the respondent has initiated contact to conduct 

the interview. 

This will take you directly to the instrument to begin 

interviewing. 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-8 WebCATI Items for CPS

Additional Case Information 

Once you enter a case in WebCATI, at the top of the “Notes” screen are tabs that you can click 

on for more information about the case, such as:

• Case History 

• Previous History (CPS outcomes) 

• Boost/Block Information 

• Roster 

• Appointments 

• Mailing Address 

The default view is the Notes tab, hence it is the first screen you encounter once you enter a case. 

When clicking on any of the Case Information tabs, the Navigation links at the bottom of the 

screen remain constant so you may proceed through the case without having to navigate back to 

the original “Notes” screen. 

Tabs that are blue in color are active tabs that you may view. Tabs grey in color are not 

accessible at that time because there is no information associated with the tab. Tabs will become 

active when there is data available, such as once you make an appointment, then the 

Appointment tab will have data associated with it. 

You may click on any active tab at any time.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-9 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E6. Case History – screen

Case History 

Previous History 

 

Boost/Block 

This screen displays the case’s call history. The table in the 

middle of the screen lists date, start time, end time, 

interviewer code, and outcome. 

The most recent call attempt is listed first. To view previous 

call attempts that may not be visible, use the scroll bar inside 

the table to display the rest of the call attempts. 

This tab displays the interview outcomes from the CPS. See 

Appendix 3 for CAPI and Appendix 4 for CATI for a list of 

the outcomes. 

 

The boost/block tab will display the time slots for this case 

and whether or not a boost or block has been set. Setting 

boosts and blocks is covered on page E3-8 and E3-9.
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-10 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figure E7. Roster - screen 

Roster 

Appointments 

 

Mailing Address

The roster screen displays the names of all household 

members that were provided in the last CPS interview. 

The first person on the roster should be the reference person 

for CPS. Gender, age, birth date, and relationship to the 

reference person are also displayed (if provided during a 

previous interview). 

A check mark in the RESP column indicates that the 

household member is the household respondent. 

The appointment tab will display appointments that have been 

set for this case. How to set appointments is covered on page 

E3-4 through E3-7.

The mailing address tab will display the mailing address for 

this case. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-11 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E8. Dial – screen 

Dial This screen displays the available phone numbers for the case. 

The active phone number is always a light-yellow color, and 

on top. Untried or eligible phone numbers are in white and 

uneligible are in a blueish gray color. Click on <Dial Selected

Number> to proceed to the “Dial Outcome” screen. 

• There may be more than one phone number given for 

the case. 

• The field “Person at this Phone” is not filled because the 

phone number may or may not be a phone number for 

the CPS respondent. For instance, the work phone in 

this case could be for the spouse of the respondent. 

For this reason we leave this field blank in CPS. 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-12 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figure E9. Dial Outcome – screen 

Dial Outcome screen This screen lists the various dial outcomes, the telephone 

number to dial, and the household respondent’s name and 

address. If a person answers the phone, click on item 8, 

<Start Interview>.

 Fax Machine If a FAX machine reached NO message sent and no message 

is left, click on this link to go to the “Case Notes” screen. 

WebCATI will then bring up the case fifteen minutes later to 

retry the phone number. If you reach a fax a second time, 

WebCATI will send you to “Case Notes”.

 Ring no answer If there is no answer to the phone call (no live voice, no 

message recording, no funny signal, etc.), click this link to go 

to the “Case Notes” screen. 

 Normal busy / 

 circuits busy 

If you get a normal busy tone or a tone that indicates that 

circuits are busy, click this link to proceed to the “Case Notes” 

screen. 

 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-13 April 2007 (rev) 

 Fast or WATTS/ 

 FTS busy 

If you get a FAST busy tone, click on this link to proceed to 

the “Dial Retry” screen. It will instruct you to immediately 

dial the number again to try and obtain contact. 

No signal or 

 funny signal 

If you receive a funny signal (or no signal) after dialing the 

phone number, click this link to proceed to the “Dial Retry” 

screen. It will instruct you to immediately dial the number 

again to try and obtain contact. If on the redial attempt the 

same results are obtained, indicate a ‘no signal or a funny 

signal’. 

 Bad connection When getting a bad connection after dialing a phone number, 

click this link to proceed to the “Dial Retry” screen. It will 

instruct you to immediately dial the number again to try and 

obtain contact. If on the redial attempt the same results are 

obtained, indicate a ‘bad connection’. 

After the second attempt, the instrument will go to the Notes 

screen. 

 Not attempted / 

 Quit before dialing 

If for some reason you want to exit the case, but still haven’t 

yet dialed the phone number, click this link to go to the 

“Provide Reason” screen - and ultimately exit the case.

Recorded Message / 

Privacy Service 

Click on this link when you hear a recorded message such as: 

an answering machine, a temporarily out of service message, a 

service disconnected message, a number has been changed 

message etc. 

The link takes you to the “Recorded Message” screen where 

you record the dial outcome in more detail.

 Other Problems Click on this link when you encounter a problem during the 

call, such as: an immediate hangup, a refusal, the respondent 

speaks a foreign language, or a message referring to a privacy 

or call block feature. 

The link takes you to the “Problem with call” screen where 

you record the call problem in more detail.

 Start Interview If someone answers the telephone, click this link to proceed to 

the instrument.
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-14 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figure E10. Dial Retry– screen 

Dial Retry screen 

The Dial Retry screen appears after selecting either: Fast or

WATTS/FTS busy, No signal or funny signal, or Bad

connection on the DIAL screen to prompt you to dial the 

phone number again. An instruction on the screen will say 

“Please DIAL AGAIN, and record the outcome below.” 

When clicking on either of these three links a second time, the 

system will proceed to the “Case Notes” screen to exit the 

case. 

Note that the Dial Retry screen looks very similar to the Dial 

screen.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-15 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E11. Recorded Message - screen 

Recorded Message When clicking on <Recorded Message / Privacy Service> at 

the “Dial Outcome,” or “Dial Retry” screens, you are sent to 

the “Recorded Message” screen to record which type of 

message you have received. There are fourteen types of 

outcomes to select from this screen.
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-16 WebCATI Items for CPS

ANSWERING MACHINE / VOICE MAIL 

Answering machine / 

service (correct unit) - 

Message Left 

Answering machine / 

service (correct unit) - 

No Message Left 

Unknown answering 

machine / service - Message 

left 

Unknown answering 

machine / service – NO 

Message left

Click this link to record that you have reached an answering 

machine or service, the message indicates you reached the 

correct household, and have left a message. Messages should 

only be left only once a day.

Document that a message was left in the “Case Notes”. 

Click this link to record that you have reached an answering 

machine or service, the message indicates you reached the 

correct household, and you have NOT left a message. 

Document that a message was NOT left in the “Case Notes”. 

Click this link to record that you have reached an answering 

machine or service, the message does not indicate whether or 

not you reached the correct household, and have left a 

message. Messages should only be left only once a day.

Document that a message was left in the “Case Notes”. 

Click this link to record that you have reached an answering 

machine or service, the message does not indicate whether or 

not you reached the correct household, and you have NOT left 

a message. 

Document that a message was NOT left in the “Case 

Notes.”
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-17 April 2007 (rev) 

PRIVACY SERVICE

Privacy screening service 

(correct unit) - message left 

Privacy screening service 

(correct unit) - NO message 

left 

 

Unknown unit with privacy 

screening - Message left 

Privacy screening services are systems that filter incoming 

calls from telemarketers and persons or organizations not 

recognized by the system. 

When you’ve reached a household with privacy screening 

service, and the message verifies it is the correct unit, and 

have left a message, click this link. 

When you’ve reached the household with privacy screening 

service, and the message verifies it is the correct unit, and 

have NOT left a message, click this link. 

When you’ve reached the household with privacy screening 

service, and the message does not verify it is the correct unit, 

and have left a message, click this link. 

Unknown unit with privacy 

screening - NO Message left 

Click this link if you’ve reached a household with privacy 

screening service, and the message does not verify it is the 

correct unit, and have NOT left a message. 

 

NUMBER CHANGED 

New Number Given If a recorded message has informed you that the number 

dialed has changed, and the new number is given, enter the 

new number in the data fields to the right of this link then 

click “New Number Given” or press enter. 

The instrument will go to the “Dial Retry” screen. Here you 

are prompted to redial the original number to make sure you 

dialed correctly. If you get the same recorded message, click 

the <Recorded Message / Privacy Service> link to return to 

the “Recorded Message” screen. Enter the new number given 

once more in the data fields, then click the <New Number

Given> link or press enter to exit to the “Case Notes” screen. 

No Number Given Click this link if the recorded message indicates that the 

number dialed has been changed, but no new number is given. 

You will proceed to ‘Dial Retry’. At ‘Dial Retry’, redial the 

original number. If you receive the message again, re-indicate 

this by clicking the Recorded Message/Privacy Service link to 

return to the Recorded Message screen where you will click 

the <No Number Given> selection. The case will then go to 

the “Case Notes”. 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-18 WebCATI Items for CPS

OTHER OUTCOMES 

Number not in service Use this selection to indicate the message stated the phone 

number was not in service, not working, not assigned or 

disconnected at this time. WebCATI will proceed to ‘Dial 

Retry’ where you are prompted to redial the number. 

In WebCATI, if you get a second Not In Service or 

Disconnected Message, a new option on the Dial Retry screen 

allows you to record this on that screen. 

NOTE: Be sure to select the option <Temporarily Not in 

Service> rather than <Number Not in Service> when the 

recorded message mentions the number is temporarily out of 

service. Selecting “Number Not in Service” resolves the 

case and takes it out of the calling queue, while selecting 

”Temporarily Not in Service” will allow the case to be called 

again. 

Normal busy / circuits busy Sometimes the phone company gives a recorded message that 

the “line is busy” or “circuits are busy” on the number you 

dialed. When that occurs, click this link. WebCATI will 

proceed to “Case Notes”.

Number could not be 

completed as dialed 

You may receive this message if the area code for the phone 

number is incorrect. If based on your knowledge and you 

know the correct area code, enter the new area code and the 

phone number and select ‘New Number Given’ instead. 

NOTE: WebCATI has a help section link called “Phone 

Number Lookup”, where you can search for the correct area 

code by city name and state. 

Other examples of messages for which you should select 

‘Number could not be completed as dialed’ are messages that 

state, “the customer is not available”, or “party out of range.” 

When you use this selection, WebCATI will prompt you to 

redial the number, and then if the result is the same message, 

WebCATI will proceed to “Case Notes”. 

 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-19 April 2007 (rev) 

Temporarily not in service Click this link if the recorded message states that the phone 

number is temporarily out of service. WebCATI will proceed 

to “Case Notes”. 

Call Problems 

Figure E12. Problem With Call - screen

Problem with call screen When clicking on < Problem with call the “Dial Outcome,” 

or “Dial Retry” screens, you are sent to the “Problem with 

call” screen to record which type of problem you have 

encountered. There are approximately 20 types of 

outcomes to select from this screen.
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-20 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figure E13. Unavailable Through Closeout – screen 

Unavailable through Closeout Click this link, for example, if the designated person will 

not be available to complete the interview prior to the case 

closeout date. The closeout date for the case is displayed 

in the blue banner at the top of the page. 

 After clicking the link, a separate window will appear for 

you to choose either “HH – Institutionalized”, “HH –

Unavailable through closeout”, or “HH-Moved”. Once 

clicking on the appropriate link the system will continue to 

the “Case Notes” screen.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-21 April 2007 (rev) 

Sample Unit not found/ Click on this link if all telephone numbers for the case have

unreached/ been tried, and none of the phone numbers reach the sample 

eligibility uncertain address or reach the persons listed on the roster. 

Figure E14. Sample Unit Not Found/Unreached/Eligibility Uncertain – screen 

 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-22 WebCATI Items for CPS

Non-Interview 

That Can Recycle 

After clicking the link, a separate window, as displayed 

below, will appear for you to choose ‘Possible 

Duplicate’, ‘Not sure if correct sample unit’, ‘Hard of 

hearing’,or ‘Potential refusal. WebCATI will then 

proceed to the “Case Notes”.

 

Figure E15. Non-Interview Recycles – screen 

 

 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-23 April 2007 (rev) 

Refusal/Refusal –Requests 

Personal Visits 

If the respondent “refuses” to participate in the interview, 

click this link. A refusal is coded when the respondent 

verbally objects to participating in the interview even if the 

phone number has not been verified. 

After clicking the link, a separate window, as displayed 

below, will appear for you to choose either ‘No

confirmation of sample unit,’ ‘Respondent refused - broke

off interview and progress made’, or ‘Broke off interview

no progress made’. 

Once clicking on the appropriate link the system will 

continue to the “Provide Reason” screen where you select 

(or enter) the reason the respondent refused to participate. 

There are two other types of refusals. After clicking the 

link, a separate window, as displayed below, will appear for 

you to choose either ‘Request Personal Visit with Progess

Made’, or ‘Request Personal Visit without Progress Made.’

Once clicking on the appropriate link the system will 

continue to the “Notes” screen where you enter the reason 

why the case requires a personal visit. 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-24 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figures E16 & E16a. – Refusals – screens 

Figure E17. Provide Reason - screen
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-25 April 2007 (rev) 

In Scope but Currently 

Unavailable 

Click on this link if the designated person is absent but is expected 

to return before the case closeout date. 

After clicking the link a separate window, as displayed below, will 

appear for you to choose either ‘Temporarily Ill’, ‘Temporarily

Absent’, or ‘Temporarily Institutionalized’ . 

Figure E18. In Scope but Currently Unavailable - screen
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-26 WebCATI Items for CPS

Refer to Supervisor After clicking the link, a separate window, as displayed 

below, will appear for you to choose ‘Possible Duplicate’, 

‘Not sure if correct sample unit’, ‘Hard of hearing’,or 

‘Potential refusal.’ WebCATI will then proceed to the “Case 

Notes”. 

 

Figure E19. Refer to Supervisor - screen 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E1-27 April 2007 (rev) 

Language barrier Click this link when the respondent speaks a language other than 

English, or if he/she seems to not understand English well enough to 

complete the interview. 

As best you can, try probing the respondent to determine which 

language he/she speaks. Then, click the <Language barrier> link 

which will open a separate “Case Language” window (see next 

page). 

Choose the appropriate language by clicking in the radio button next 

to that language. Scroll down if you do not immediately see the 

necessary language. 

If you still can’t find the respondent’s language, click in ‘Other 

Language, specify’ and type in the name of the language. 

Conversely, if you do not know the name of the respondent’s 

language, click in ‘Unknown Language’ at the bottom of the 

language list. 

After choosing the language, click on <Submit> at the bottom of the 

window. The system will assign the case an outcome and then 

proceed to the “Case Notes” screen. 

It is important that we identify the language or determine if someone 

at the unit speaks fluent English and would be available to translate 

for the designated person. Including this information in your “Case 

Notes” will greatly facilitate the followup attempts. 

Select the category ‘Unknown Language’ when you cannot identify 

what language or language family is spoken by the respondent. This 

will route the case to interviewers who are designated “General 

Linguist” in their skills profile. The General Linguist interviewers 

will attempt to determine what language is spoken by the 

respondent, and will update the language selection screen once it is 

identified. 

The language family categories “Asian” and “Germanic” are 

available if you cannot determine which of the more specific Asian 

or Germanic languages the respondent speaks. Interviewers 

designated with the “Asian” or “Germanic” language skill will 

attempt to determine what language is spoken by the respondent, 

and must update the language selection screen once the language is 

identified. 

If the language skill assigned the case is designated in the system as 

an “unsupported language” the case will be put on hold. 
Part E Chapter 1 Page E1-28 WebCATI Items for CPS

Figure E20. Language Barrier - screen 

Hearing Barrier Click this link if you encounter a respondent who is hard of hearing, 

or deaf. This case will then go to an interviewer with the hard of 

hearing skill. 

Bad Connection If you record a bad connection, WebCATI will proceed to ‘Dial 

Retry’ to allow you to retry the phone number. If on the redial 

attempt the same results are obtained, indicate a bad connection. 

 

Wrong number dialed or 

reached 

Click this link if it is determined (by yourself or the respondent) 

that you have dialed the wrong number. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E2-1 April 2007(rev) 

 

PART E, CHAPTER 2 

FRONT OF THE CPS CATI INSTRUMENT 

When you access a case in WebCATI, a separate data collection instrument is launched for the 

case as well. This separate instrument is kept minimized until <Continue with this Person> is 

clicked in WebCATI. 

Prior to reaching the content questions in the CPS instrument there are a few introduction and 

verification screens that must be answered. 

If the interview is being conducted in Spanish, press Shift + F5 and select Spanish.
Part E Chapter 2 Page E2-2 Front of the CPS CATI Instrument 

Figure E21. Hello – screen 

HELLO This screen is used to ask to speak to the designated person. 

The name of the designated person fills in the question. 

If you do reach the household respondent or if the household 

respondent is being called to the phone, enter <1> or <2> to 

proceed to INTRO_1ST. 

If the household respondent is not currently available to 

conduct the interview, enter <3>. The instrument will skip to 

screen HELLO_ALT. Enter a <0> on HELLO_ALT to ask for 

another respondent. The instrument will skip to HELP_OTH. 

Enter a <2> on screen HELP_OTH. The instrument will skip 

to WHO_CALLBACK. Enter <1> to exit the case and proceed 

to the WebCATI screens to assign the proper outcome for the 

case. The appointment will be set in WebCATI. 

If the person who has answered the phone has not heard of the 

household respondent, enter <4>. The instrument will proceed 

to SOMEONE_IN_HH to verify that you have reached the 

correct household. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E2-3 April 2007 (rev) 

If the person no longer lives there (include deceased 

individuals) enter <5>. The instrument will proceed to 

SOMEONE_IN_HH to verify that you have reached the 

correct household. 

If you encounter a problem or alternate situation with the case, 

enter a <6>. The instrument will skip to screen HELLO_PRB. 

Enter a <6> on HELLO_PRB to exit the case and proceed to 

the WebCATI screens to assign the proper outcome for the 

case. You will be able to record the specific problem at the 

WebCATI “Interviewing” screen. 

Prior to leaving the instrument the screen SHOW_CTRL and 

SHOW_ROS will appear. Enter <1> to continue. 
Part E Chapter 2 Page E2-4 Front of the CPS CATI Instrument

Figure E22. Intro - screen 

If <1> is entered, proceed to INTROB_CT. 

Entering <2> will take you to the MOVED screen. CPS 

does not interview movers so this will end the interview. 

Enter <3> or <4> to update the address fields. 

Not all fields must be filled in. You may leave anything 

but NEWMPO_CP, NEWMST_CP and NEWMZIP_CP 

blank.

INTRO Here is where you explain to the respondent the reason for 

the call and to verify the address. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E2-5 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E23. Intro Supervisor Statement - screen

INTROB_CT - Supervisor Statement You must inform the respondent that 

your supervisor might be monitoring 

you. 

Enter <1> to proceed to screen STLLIV 

to verify, and if necessary update the 

household roster. 

Enter <2> if the respondent wishes to 

continue the interview at a later time. 

The instrument will skip to the screen 

SHOW_CTRL where you will enter 

precode <1> to continue. At the 

WebCATI “Interviewing” screen select 

option <2> to set an appointment. 

Enter <3> if a problem surfaces at this 

point. The instrument will skip to the 

screen SHOW_CTRL where you will 

enter precode <1> to continue. Enter <1> 

to continue and exit the case and proceed 

to WebCATI. At the WebCATI 

“Interviewing” screen select option <1> 

for Problem with Call.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E3-1 April 2007 (rev) 

PART E, CHAPTER 3 

BACK OF THE CPS CATI INSTRUMENT 

Upon concluding the interview you will come to a series of screens to confirm critical 

information so that you can finish the interview. The screens take you through: 

 

1. Confirming whether or not the case is completed 

2. Checking the status of the case 

3. Assigning a case outcome, or setting an appointment 

4. Entering notes to document the status of the case or alert others of any problems 

The following section details the last screens of the CPS instrument which you will use to exit 

the interview and the WebCATI screens used to close a case. 
Part E Chapter 3 Page E3-2 Back of the CPS CATI Instrument

EXITING THE INTERVIEW

THANKYOU The THANKYOU screen is presented after you complete 

the entire interview. 

Enter <1> to continue onto the Control Code screens and go 

back into WebCATI. 

SHOW_CTRL: 

SHOW_ROS1:

SHOW_ADDR: 

Figures 24 – 26. Control Codes – screens 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E3-3 April 2007 (rev) 

Control Codes Enter 1 and press <Enter> to proceed through the Control 

Code screens. These are screens that show what outcome 

codes and control data is being passed to the WebCATI 

system from the instrument. 
Part E Chapter 3 Page E3-4 Back of the CPS CATI Instrument

Figure E27. Interviewing - screen

Interviewing Each time you finish data collection in the CPS instrument, 

you will be directed to the WebCATI “Interviewing” screen 

to exit the interview. 

At this screen you can: 

 record a “problem” outcome with the case. 

 set an appointment for the case. 

 indicate you are done with the interview. 

 set boosts or blocks. 

Done with Interview If you have completed the CPS interview, click this link to 

proceed to the “Case Notes” screen to wrap up the case. 

Set Appointment Click this link to schedule a callback to the household to 

complete the CPS interview. A separate “Appointment” 

screen will then appear for you to set the appointment 

details.
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E3-5 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E28. Appointment - screen 1 

Appointment If the respondent would like to be called at a different number 

not listed, click the “Add New Phone Number” icon to enter 

an alternate phone number for the callback.

 Click <Submit> to proceed to the 2nd “Appointment” screen to 

set the time and date for the appointment. 

To specify the date for the appointment you may: leave the

date in the date field as is, click in the date field and enter a

new date, OR click on the calendar icon and click on a date.

 
Part E Chapter 3 Page E3-6 Back of the CPS CATI Instrument

Appointments may be scheduled as fixed or range

appointments. Fixed appointments are for a specific time

while range appointments are for a specific time frame. When 

you click the radio button for “Range”, an additional time 

field will appear to enter the time range for the appointment. 

Click on the arrows on the drop boxes to select the start and 

end times for the appointment. 

Once you’ve finished setting the time and date for the 

appointment, click <Set Appointment> to proceed to the 

“Appointments” screen. 

To add an additional phone number to be called for the 

appointment, click <Change Appointment Contact Info> to 

return to the 1st “Appointment” screen. 

Figure E29. Appointment - screen 2

 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E3-7 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E30. Appointments - screen 3

Appointments This screen summarizes the appointment settings you’ve made 

on the case. 

You have the option of editing the appointment by clicking 

either the <Set Appointment> link or the Edit icon. 

You may also cancel the appointment by clicking on the 

Cancel icon. 

To proceed to the “Case Notes” screen click 

<Done with Interview>. 

NOTE: You will need to cancel pre-existing appointments if 

respondents change the time of the appointment.
Part E Chapter 3 Page E3-8 Back of the CPS CATI Instrument

Figure E31. Boost / Block - screen 1

Boost / Block To increase the chances of a case being called in queue at a 

certain time, an alternate to setting an appointment is to give a 

case a Boost. Conversely, you may also prevent a case from 

being called by giving certain time slots a Block. 

To set a boost on a time slot (for example, 12pm - 1pm, Friday), 

left-click in the grid for 12pm Friday (see above). 

To block a time slot (for example, 2pm - 3pm, Friday), rightclick in the grid for 2pm Friday (see above). 

Click <Submit> to proceed to the 2nd “Boost/Block” screen. 
CPS Interviewing Manual Page E3-9 April 2007 (rev) 

Figure E32. Boost / Block - screen 2

Boost / Block This screen summarizes the boosts / blocks settings you’ve 

made on the case. 

Here, you can click <Set Boosts/Blocks> to edit the Boosts / 

Blocks on the case. 

Click <Done with Interview> to keep the setting as is, and 

proceed to the “Case Notes” screen. 
Part E Chapter 3 Page E3-10 Back of the CPS CATI Instrument

Figure E33. Case Notes – screen

Case Notes This is the last screen before exiting the CPS case. 

Enter notes for the case in the field provided. There is no 

maximum amount of characters you can enter. Once 

done, click on <Exit Case> to wrap up the case and return 

to the “Conduct Interview - Case Search” screen.

 
Current Population Survey Alphabetic Index

For Parts A, B, C, D & E

A

Absence from work (job)..........................B1-7, C4-11

Defined ............................................................B1-7

Absent

ABSNT..........................................................C4-11

All last week..................................................C4-11

From a job or business...............B1-7, C4-5, C4-11

Related screens....................................C4-5, C4-11

Acceptability of telephone interview ....................C5-3

Acreage (HVS) .....................................................D3-3

Active duty

Current Service..............................................C3-14

Defined ..........................................................C3-13

Exclusions .....................................................C3-15

National Guard ..............................................C3-15

Service Priority..............................................C3-14

Active job search methods....................................B2-4

Activities or duties, most important....................C4-41

Activity prior to job search .......................B2-4, C4-21

Actual hours..............................................B1-10, C4-8

Additional Units........................................C2-7, C3-11

ADDR Tab..........................................................C1-11

Address

Incorrect...........................................................C2-6

Mailing ............................................................C2-6

Problem ...........................................................C2-6

When asked .....................................................C2-5

Adult education classes.......................................C3-18

Advertisements, answered or placed

to find a job..............................................B2-4, C4-18

AFEVER.............................................................C3-30

AFNOW..............................................................C3-30

AFWHEN ...........................................................C3-30

Age .....................................................................C3-30

Amount of earnings ........................B5-3, B5-4, C4-43

An expectant pause ...............................................A2-9

Answers to more than one question ......................A2-9

Appointments, request for.....................................C5-3

Apprentice...........................................................C4-38

Apprentice vs. trainee .........................................C4-38

Area segments.......................................................C2-6

Armed Forces......................................................C4-34

Active duty defined .......................................C3-13

Active duty status ..........................................C3-13

Codes.............................................................C3-14

Current Status................................................C3-14

Household Membership...................................C3-8

Last worked at ...................................C4-34, C4-36

Period of Service ...........................................C3-14

When served ..................................................C3-14

Armed Forces allowances...................................C3-33

Armed Forces current 

civilian employees.............................C4-36, C4-39

Armed Forces member

last job ...........................................................C4-36

Arrangements for work .........................................B1-8

Arrow Keys........................................................ C1-11

Asking questions.................................................. A2-9

Association, employee ..............................B5-4, C4-49

Authorization of CPS ........................................... A2-4

Automatic selection of questions.......................... C1-3

Availability for work.................................B2-5, C4-20

Avon sales.......................................................... C4-34

B

Babysitter, class of worker................................. C4-33

Back of the instrument ......................................... C5-3

Bad weather affected job.................................... C4-11

Bankruptcy (reason for leaving job)................... C4-28

Basic record.......................................................... C3-3

Bathtub in unit (HVS Item).................................. D3-6

Bedrooms (HVS Item) ......................................... D3-5

Beginning the interview ....................................... A2-9

Believes no work available........................B3-4, C4-25

Best time to call or visit........................................ C5-3

Birth date............................................................ C3-11

Boarding house

Keeper of ...................................................... C4-33

Bold black text in the Info Pane ........................... C1-6

Boosts and Blocks...................................... C5-3, C5-5

Brief assenting comments .................................... A2-9

Bright blue text in the Info Pane........................... C1-6

Built after April 2000 ........................................... C2-6

Built before April 2000 ........................................ C2-6

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ......................... A1-3

Business (See also Job, Work and Family Business)

Conditions for a business...................... B1-3, C4-3

Conditions for a slack business..................... C4-11

Defined ........................................................... B1-3

Description of ....................................... B1-3, C4-3

Exclusions....................................................... B1-4

Foreign.......................................................... C4-31

In own home ................................................. C4-33

Inclusions........................................................ B1-4

Income from business investment................... C4-4

Incorporated.................................................. C4-31

Internet sales......................................... B1-4, B1-6

Kind of business............................................ C4-36

Last worked at............................................... C4-21

More than one ....................................... B1-9, C4-6

Name of ........................................................ C4-35

Own business.......................................B1-6, C4-31

Preparing to open own business...................... B1-6

Unusual business or job ................................ C4-39

Business Exclusions............................................. B1-4

Business Inclusions.............................................. B1-4

C

Call or visit, best time .......................................... C5-3

INDEX - 1 April 2015
Callbacks ....................................................C5-3, C5-5

For partial interviews.....................................C1-20

For temporarily absent.....................................C6-5

Case ID .................................................................C1-5

Case List Pane.....................................................C1-18

Case Management...............................................C1-16

Case Management Menus...................................C1-16

Case notes.............................................................C5-8

Cash renters ..........................................................C2-9

Cash wages or salary.............................................B1-6

CATI Eligibility....................................................C5-7

Certification ........................................................C3-22

Changes in Household Membership ...................C3-11

Check with

Employer directly ..........................................C4-17

Friends or relatives ........................................C4-18

Chg Resp Tab .....................................................C1-11

Child care................................................C4-25, C4-33

In own home ..................................................C4-36

Childcare.............................................................C4-12

Christmas seasonal work.....................................C4-28

Citizenship ..........................................................C3-35

Civilian employees of the military......................C4-31

Class of worker

Defined ............................................................B4-4

Entries............................................................C4-30

IO1INT..........................................................C4-30

Class of worker precodes......................................B4-4

Clergy, class of worker .......................................C4-32

Closing the interview................................A2-11, C5-3

Coast Guard Temporary Reserve ........................C3-15

COHAB ....................................................C3-6, C3-30

Cohabitation..........................................................C3-6

College

Assistantship and fellowships........................C4-48

Dormitory, living in.......................................C2-11

Dormitory, unit in............................................C2-9

Commission, work for ........................................C4-43

Company name ...................................................C4-35

Completing a partial interview............................C1-20

Computer

Components of a screen...................................C1-3

Form Pane..............................................C1-3, C1-4

Function Keys................................................C1-13

Information (Info) Pane ...................................C1-3

Keyboard .......................................................C1-12

Making entries.................................................C1-8

Navigation .....................................................C1-11

Place Markers..................................................C1-5

Starting the interview program ......................C1-16

Computer assisted interviewing (CAI)..................A1-3

Computing hourly earnings.......................B5-4, C4-44

Computing hours.........................................C4-7, C4-8

Computing other earnings...................................C4-46

COMSAT, Amtrak and Conrail..........................C4-34

Concurrent residences.........................................C3-10

Condemned (and unoccupied) ............................C6-12

Confidentiality ......................................................A2-4

Confirmed refusals................................................C6-6

Consistency of industry, occupation

and class of worker........................................C4-41

Construction, unit under........................................C6-9

Consultants

Job or business...............................................C4-39

Work on as needed basis................................. B1-8

Consultants, contractors..................................... C4-39

Contractor, employment..................................... C4-39

Control Number ................................................. C1-18

Converted to permanent business or storage ...... C6-12

Converted to temporary business or storage......... C6-9

Corporation employees ...................................... C4-32

Correspondence schools..................................... C3-18

Could not find work ........................................... C4-25

Coverage questions .................................... C2-5, C2-7

CPS ...................................................................... A1-3

Data, uses of.................................................... A1-3

Description...................................................... A1-5

Legal authority of.................................. A2-4, A2-7

Purpose of....................................................... A1-3

Questions asked .................................... A1-4, A1-7

Results of ........................................................ A1-3

Supplements to................................................ A1-4

CPS Tab ............................................................. C1-11

Crew members of a vessel.................................. C3-10

Ctrl D ......................................................... C1-8, C1-9

Ctrl R.......................................................... C1-8, C1-9

Ctrl T – ITP........................................................ C1-18

Current desire for work ...................................... C4-23

Current Population Survey (CPS) ........................ A1-3

Current school enrollment.................................. C4-49

Current status (Armed Forces) ........................... C3-14

Cursor................................................................... C1-5

D

DADTYP ................................................C3-11, C3-30

Data, uses of CPS....................................... A1-3, A2-7

Date of birth ....................................................... C3-11

Death in the family............................................... C6-7

Demographic data .....................................C3-3, C3-30

Demographics Grid ............................................ C3-30

Demolished

Type B ............................................................ C6-9

Type C .......................................................... C6-12

Dependent collection of industry

 and occupation data............................................ B4-6

Descent (See also Origin)................................... C3-22

Description of the Sample

How the Sample is Designed .......................... A1-5

Details Pane........................................................ C1-19

Determining which activities are

considered as work.............................................. B1-6

Determining which activities are

counted as a job................................................... B1-8

Different employers during survey week ... B1-9, C4-6

Difficult to code occupations ............................. C4-40

Diplomatic or consular employees..................... C4-31

Direct access ...................................................... C2-10

Disability

Blind ............................................................. C3-41

Deaf .............................................................. C3-40

FAQ’s ........................................................... C3-40

Introduction................................................... C3-40

Other Difficulties.......................................... C3-41

Probe............................................................. C1-12

WORK .................................................. B3-3, C4-4

INDEX - 2 April 2015
Discrimination ....................................................C4-25

Distributors...........................................................B1-4

Dividends............................................................C3-33

Divorced .............................................................C3-13

Domestic and other private

household workers.........................................C4-32

Domestic or day work, considered as a job...........B1-8

Don't know............................................................C1-8

Duration of layoff. ..............................................C4-15

Duration of looking.............................................C4-20

Duration of the survey (in minutes) ......................A2-8

Duration of unemployment ...................................B2-4

Duties of a CPS Interviewer..................................A2-4

Duties or activities, most important ....................C4-41

E

Earnings

Amount............................................................B5-3

Usual weekly .................................................C4-43

Earnings and union membership...............B5-4, C4-43

Earnings concepts and procedures............B5-3, C4-43

eBay sales

Business...........................................................B1-4

Work......................................................B1-5, B1-6

Economic part-time.........................B1-11, C4-8, C4-9

Editor, Case Level Notes ....................................C1-17

Education (See also School)

Adult education classes..................................C3-18

Codes for .......................................................C3-16

Correspondence schools................................C3-18

Elementary school .........................................C3-16

Graduate or professional school ....................C3-17

No school or nursery only..............................C3-17

On-the-job training ........................................C3-18

Schools excluded ...........................................C3-18

Schools included............................................C3-17

Supplement......................................................A1-4

Vocational or trade schools ...........................C3-18

Educational attainment........................................C3-16

Elementary school...............................................C3-16

Eligible household respondents ..................A2-4, C3-7

Embassy..............................................................C4-31

Employed..............................................................C4-3

Defined ..................................................A1-6, B1-3

Questions.........................................................C4-3

Employed, At Work....................................A1-7, C4-3

Employer

Checked with (to find work)..........................C4-17

Government...................................................C4-31

More than one........................................B1-9, C4-6

Private............................................................C4-31

With more than 1 business.....................B1-9, C4-6

Employer Name ........................................B4-4, C4-35

Employment and Earnings....................................A1-3

Employment Concepts..........................................B1-3

Employment contractor.......................................C4-39

Employment office, public and private ...............C4-17

Employment Situation, The ..................................A1-3

Employment status................................................A1-6

END Key ............................................................C1-11

Ending the interview.................................A2-11, C5-3

Equivalency tests, high school ........................... C3-17

Error Messages................................................... C1-15

Establishments, kind of ...................................... C4-37

Estimates

Age................................................................ C3-11

Hours worked.................................................. C4-8

Income .......................................................... C3-32

Weeks looking for work................................ C4-20

Exact address........................................................ C2-5

Examples of demographic data ............................ C3-3

Exchange or sharework on farms ......................... B1-6

Exit/F10 Tab ...................................................... C1-11

Exiting from a completed interview ................... C1-21

Exiting from a partial interview ......................... C1-20

Expense accounts............................................... C4-48

Explaining the survey........................................... A2-3

Confidentiality ................................................ A2-4

General explanation ........................................ A2-6

Legal authority................................................ A2-4

Length of time in sample ................................ A1-6

Sampling procedures....................................... A1-5

To a respondent not affected by the employment 

situation ..................................................... A2-8

To retired persons ........................................... A2-7

Uses of CPS data................................... A1-3, A2-7

Extra units (See your listing manual)................... C2-7

F

F9 Tab ................................................................ C1-11

Facilities for vacant units ..................................... D3-5

Family farm work/business, worked in ...... B1-6, C4-4

Family income.................................................... C3-31

Family responsibilities

Reason absent from work.............................. C4-12

Reason not looking for work......................... C4-25

FAQ Tab ............................................................ C1-11

Farm (see also Family farm)

Exchange work ............................................... B1-6

Income from.................................................. C3-32

Owner ..................................................B1-6, C4-13

Self-employed in........................................... C4-31

Share work ...................................................... B1-6

Wage work...................................................... B1-6

Work ..................................................... B1-6, C4-3

Workers, unusual .......................................... C4-39

Federal employee ............................................... C4-31

Filled out applications....................................... C4-18

Firms with more than one business...................... B1-9

First month of interview....................................... C3-3

Flashcard/Information Booklet........................... C1-16

Flush toilet............................................................ D3-6

Foreign citizens temporarily in U.S...................... C3-8

Foreign job or business ...................................... C4-31

Form Pane .................................................. C1-3, C1-4

Foster child........................................................... C3-5

Foster parent

Job or business.............................................. C4-33

Foster parents..........................................C3-12, C4-33

Friends, checked with for work .......................... C4-18

Front of the instrument......................................... C2-3

Full-time

INDEX - 3 April 2015
Defined ..........................................................B1-10

Did not want ..................................................B1-11

Looking for....................................................C4-21

Questions.........................................................C4-7

Full-time work week under 35 hours..................B1-11

Function Keys, Case Management

F1 – Help.......................................................C1-17

F10 – Exit......................................................C1-18

F2 – Interview ...............................................C1-17

F3 – Next Tab................................................C1-17

F4 – Details/Case List ...................................C1-17

F5 – Reports..................................................C1-17

F7 – Notes.....................................................C1-17

F8 – View......................................................C1-17

F9 – Sort........................................................C1-18

Shift F4 – Show Calendar.............................C1-17

Shift F6 – Map ..............................................C1-17

Function Keys, Instrument

Ctrl D – Don’t Know ....................................C1-14

Ctrl F1 – SSN opt out ...................................C1-13

Ctrl F3 –Show question text .........................C1-13

Ctrl F7 – Case level notes.............................C1-13

Ctrl F9 – Supplement skip person ................C1-13

Ctrl H – Blaise Info ......................................C1-14

Ctrl M – Show Don’t Know .........................C1-14

Ctrl R – Refused ...........................................C1-14

Ctrl T – Interviewer Time

 Preference Screen .......................................C1-14

End – Next unanswered question..................C1-14

F1 - Question help .........................................C1-13

F10 - Exit.......................................................C1-14

F11 - Calculator.............................................C1-14

F12 - Copy down...........................................C1-14

F4 - Jump menu.............................................C1-13

F7 - Item notes/remarks.................................C1-13

F8 - Return ....................................................C1-13

F9 - Skip person ............................................C1-13

Shift F9 - Change respondent.......................C1-13

Shift F1 – Display HH roster ........................C1-13

Shift F10 – Show function keys....................C1-14

Shift F2 – FAQs............................................C1-13

Shift F4 –Show HH address..........................C1-13

Shift F5 –Language.......................................C1-13

Shift F7 –Show notes/remarks......................C1-13

G

Gardening in farm garden ...................................C4-32

Gas (utilities) ......................................................D3-13

General explanation ..............................................A2-6

General instructions..............................................C3-3

General Labor Force Classification Groups..........A1-6

Going to school

Activity prior to looking ................................C4-22

Government ........................................................C4-35

Business/industry...........................................C4-30

Employee/employer.......................................C4-31

Programs (e.g., JTPA) ...................................C3-18

Government employee associations......................B5-4

Grade

Completed .....................................................C3-17

Graduate or professional school..........................C3-17

Graduate students............................................... C3-17

Grayed out text in the Info Pane........................... C1-6

Gross amount ..................................................... C3-31

Gross pay.............................................................. B5-3

Group Quarters......................................... A1-6, C1-19

H

Hard Error.......................................................... C1-15

Health, reason for leaving job ............................ C4-22

Help screens....................................................... C1-16

High nonresponse rates ........................................ B5-3

High school ........................................................ C3-17

High school equivalency tests............................ C3-17

Highest level of school completed or

 highest degree obtained.................................. C3-16

Hispanic origin (See also origin or descent)....... C3-22

Holds a job or has a business................................ B1-4

Holiday, reason took time off from work ........... C4-11

Home business ........................................... B1-3, C4-3

Homemaker.......................................................... B1-6

Homes, two or more ............................................. C3-9

Hotel

OTHER unit in.............................................. C2-11

Permanent, housing unit in............................ C2-11

Hourly earnings.........................................B5-4, C4-44

Hourly workers..........................................B5-4, C4-44

Hours usually worked per week ................B1-10, C4-6

Hours vary............................................................ C4-7

Hours worked

Actual.............................................................. C4-8

Estimates......................................................... C4-8

How to record ................................................. C4-8

Last week .............................................B1-10, C4-8

Overtime ..............................................C4-8, C4-43

Purpose ......................................................... B1-10

Time off .......................................................... C4-8

Usual number per week................................. B1-10

Usually works 35 or more hours................... B1-11

Usually works less than 35 hours.................. B1-11

Variable................................................. C4-7, C4-8

What to count.................................................. C4-7

House or trailer moved....................................... C6-12

House, Apartment, Flat ...................................... C2-11

Household changes

Coverage ......................................................... C2-7

Composition changes.................................... C3-11

Composition check........................................ C3-11

Member........................................................... C3-7

More than 16 people ....................................... C3-4

Moved, unit vacant.......................................... C6-7

New persons.................................................. C3-11

Noninterview ...................................... A2-11, C6-3

Nonmembers................................................... C3-7

Original household moves back .................... C3-11

Persons who leave or die............................... C3-11

Status change .................................................. D2-3

Household Membership ....................................... C3-7

Armed Forces membership ............................. C3-8

Crew members of vessels.............................. C3-10

Doubtful cases............................................... C3-10

Families with two or more homes................... C3-9

INDEX - 4 April 2015
Foreign citizens ...............................................C3-8

No usual residence elsewhere ..........................C3-7

Rules for ..........................................................C3-7

Students...........................................................C3-8

Summary table.................................................C3-8

Usual place of residence ..................................C3-7

Vacation homes ...............................................C3-9

Household respondent

Eligible ............................................................A2-4

Household roster...................................................C3-3

Housekeepers......................................................C4-33

Housework..........................................................C4-10

Housing unit (See your 11-8 Listing and Coverage 

Manual)

House, apartment or flat ................................C2-11

In rooming or boarding house........................C2-11

Mobile home or trailer...................................C2-11

Number in structure.........................................D3-3

Permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc.........C2-11

Type of ..........................................................C2-11

Unit not permanent in transient

 hotel, motel, etc. ..........................................C2-11

Unspecified....................................................C2-11

Housing Vacancy Survey, Description of.............D1-3

How the questionnaire was designed ....................A1-3

How the sample works..........................................A1-6

How to ask questions............................................A2-9

How to introduce the survey .................................A2-3

How to probe ........................................................A2-9

HU - not specified...............................................C2-11

HU in an Assisted Living Unit............................C2-11

HU in Religious Quarters....................................C2-11

HU in rooming house and boarding house..........C2-11

HU in Student Housing.......................................C2-11

HU permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc........C2-11

HVS

Acreage............................................................D3-3

Bathtub or shower inside unit..........................D3-6

Bedrooms unit .................................................D3-5

Completing ......................................................D1-4

CPS reason for noninterview...........................C6-3

Flush toilet inside structure or unit ..................D3-6

Hot and cold piped water inside unit ...............D3-6

Monthly rent..................................................D3-13

Months vacant .................................................D3-9

Payments in addition to rent ..........................D3-13

Person interviewed ..........................................D2-4

Rooms in unit ..................................................D3-5

Sale price asked .............................................D3-15

Status of unit..................................................D3-10

Vacant - Other ...............................................D3-12

Unit ever occupied...........................................D3-8

Year built.........................................................D3-3

HVS Questions

HVSAC ...........................................................D3-8

HVSBD ...........................................................D3-5

HVSBTH.........................................................D3-7

HVSC ..............................................................D3-3

HVSCOM......................................................D3-15

HVSKIT ..........................................................D3-6

HVSNUM........................................................D3-4

HVSOCC.........................................................D3-8

HVSOTH.......................................................D3-12

HVSPLB..........................................................D3-6

HVSPRC....................................................... D3-15

HVSRM.......................................................... D3-5

HVSRNT ...................................................... D3-13

HVSSTA....................................................... D3-10

HVSUT1 ....................................................... D3-14

HVSUT2 ....................................................... D3-14

HVSUT3 ....................................................... D3-14

HVSUT4 ....................................................... D3-14

HVSVAC........................................................ D3-9

HVSYR........................................................... D3-3

I

Identification card ................................................ A2-3

If you cannot get an interview............................ A2-11

Ill health, reason not looking for work ............... C4-25

Illness

Disability......................................................... B3-3

In family........................................................ C4-25

Own illness ................................................... C4-12

Temporary illness.......................................... C4-12

Time off because of ...................................... C4-12

Unable to work................................................ C4-4

Income.................................................................. A1-4

Income in kind.................................................... C3-33

Income,Total family........................................... C3-31

Best estimate of............................................. C3-32

Defined ......................................................... C3-31

Exclusions..................................................... C3-33

From family farm or business....................... C3-33

Other sources ................................................ C3-33

Zero............................................................... C3-32

Incorporated business or practice,

class of worker.............................................. C4-30

Incorrect Address................................................. C2-6

Indefinite layoff.................................................. C4-11

Industry ................................................................ B4-4

Examples requiring special care.................... C4-36

Kind of industry.............................................. B4-4

Wholesale buying clubs.................................. B4-5

Industry and Occupation ...........................B4-3, C4-30

Feedback ..............................................B4-7, C4-41

For second job................................................. B4-7

Ineligible for sample........................................... C6-10

Information (Info) Pane.............................. C1-3, C1-4

Initial interviews................................................... A2-6

In-kind, pay ...............................................B1-6, C4-32

Inmates in institutions.......................................... C3-8

Instructions for hourly rates ......................B5-4, C4-44

Insurance payments............................................ C3-33

Intend to look for work..............................B3-4, C4-11

Interest................................................................ C3-33

Internet sales .............................................. B1-4, B1-6

Interview Number .......................... A1-7, C1-5, C1-18

Interview Time Preference ................................... C5-3

Interview Week .................................................... A1-5

Interviewer notes.................................................. C5-8

Interviewing procedures

Closing the interview .................................... A2-11

Determining changes..................................... C3-30

Eligible respondent ......................................... C3-7

How to ask questions...................................... A2-9

INDEX - 5 April 2015
How to explain the survey ...............................A2-3

How to maintain rapport..................................A2-4

How to probe ...................................................A2-9

Identification card, use of................................A2-3

Knowledgeable household member

 not available...............................................C3-7

Priority of labor force questions ......................A1-3

When to interview ...........................................A1-5

Interviews

Conducting ......................................................A1-5

Telephone ........................................................C5-3

Type of ................................................A2-11, C6-3

Introduction, suggested .........................................A2-3

Invalid entry..........................................................C1-9

Investments.................................................B1-6, C4-4

J

Job (see also Business and Work)

Absent all last week.......................................C4-11

Defined ............................................................B1-7

Description of................................................C4-41

Exclusions .......................................................B1-8

Inclusions.........................................................B1-8

Job History ....................................................C4-27

Last......................................................C4-4, C4-28

Looking for........................................C4-16, C4-17

Lost................................................................C4-22

Main ..............................................................B1-10

On call .............................................................B1-8

On layoff..............................................B2-3, C4-13

Quit................................................................C4-22

School personnel on summer vacation ............B1-8

Second ...................................................B1-9, C4-6

Temporary .....................................................C4-22

Terminated during survey week ......................C4-7

Two or more .........................................B1-9, C4- 6

Waiting for a new job to begin ......................C4-12

Job history.................................................B3-3, C4-22

Job market.............................................................B3-4

Job search, internet search .................................C4-19

Job search and intentions to look for work............B2-3

Job search categories.................................B2-4, C4-17

Job Training Partnership Act training .................C3-18

Job training programs or courses ........................C4-19

Joint custody .......................................................C3-10

Jury duty

Count as actual hours.......................................C4-8

Reason absent from work ..............................C4-13

Count as work..................................................B1-6

K

Keyboard ............................................................C1-12

Kind of business or industry .................................B4-4

Kind of work (Occupation).......................B4-5, C4-38

Kindergarten .......................................................C3-17

Knowledgeable household

 member unavailable .........................................C3-7

L

Labor dispute

Reason absent from work.............................. C4-12

Reason worked part-time .............................. C4-11

Labor force

Classifications................................................. A1-6

Composition.................................................... A1-6

Persons not in........................................ A1-7, B3-3

Status............................................................... A1-6

Labor union...............................................B5-4, C4-43

Lacks necessary schooling ................................. C4-25

Laid off (see also Layoff)..........................B2-3, C4-11

Language barrier .................................................. C6-6

Last job was a member of the military ....C4-36, C4-39

Last job, reasons for leaving............................... C4-21

Last worked

Armed forces................................................. C4-34

Descriptions.................................................. C4-41

Family farm/business...................................... C4-5

Regular job...................................................... B1-7

Seasonal job .........................................B1-8, C4-28

Latino origin (See also origin or descent)........... C3-22

Layoff........................................................B2-3, C4-11

Indefinite..............................................B2-3, C4-11

Length of....................................................... C4-15

Temporary..................................................... C4-11

Leave job, reasons.............................................. C4-21

Maternity....................................................... C4-12

Leave of absence .................................................. B1-8

Leaving an item blank .......................................... C1-9

Legal authority for survey .................................... A2-4

Length of time in survey ............................ A1-6, A2-7

Let go, reason left last job .................................. C4-22

Letters

Introductory .................................................... A2-3

Refusal ............................................................ C6-6

Line number

Listing verification.......................................... C2-5

Order of listing................................................ C3-3

Out of order..................................................... C3-4

Parent............................................................ C3-11

Spouse........................................................... C3-13

Listing .................................................................. C3-3

Living quarters................................................... C2-10

Change in classification .................................. C2-9

Classification of............................................ C2-10

Occupied without payment of cash rent.......... C2-9

Owned............................................................. C2-9

Rented for cash ............................................... C2-9

LNDAD.............................................................. C3-11

LNMOM ............................................................ C3-11

Local government employee (class of worker)... C4-31

Looked at ads..........................................C4-18, C4-19

Looking for work .....................................B2-3, C4-16

Estimate ........................................................ C4-21

Full-time or part-time.................................... C4-21

Intend to........................................................ C4-29

Number of weeks.......................................... C4-21

Reasons not................................................... C4-23

Lose any time last week ..................................... B1-10

Lost Job.............................................................. C4-22

Lump-sum inheritances...................................... C3-33

INDEX - 6 April 2015
M

Machine operator................................................C4-38

Machinist ............................................................C4-38

Mailing address.....................................................C2-6

Main job....................................................B1-9, C4-43

Main status or activity...........................................B1-7

Maintaining rapport ..............................................A2-4

Major activity......................................................C4-21

Manufacturing, retail, wholesale...............B4-5, C4-37

MAR...................................................................C3-30

Marital status and family data...................A1-4, C3-13

Maternity/paternity leave ..........................B1-8, C4-12

Mechanic ............................................................C4-38

Merged units (see also Listing Manual)

Type C...........................................................C6-12

Methods of making entries....................................C1-8

Middle of the instrument (interview) ....................C3-3

Migration, supplement ..........................................A1-4

Migratory workers ..............................................C6-10

Military

Academies .....................................................C3-15

Basic training.................................................C3-18

Jobs....................................................C4-21, C4-39

Personnel (household membership of).............C3-8

Service ...........................................................C3-14

Missing information (obtain by telephone).........C1-20

Mobile home or trailer with no permanent

 room added. ....................................................C2-11

Mobile home or trailer with one or more permanent 

rooms added...................................................C2-11

MOMTYP...............................................C3-11, C3-30

Money rent............................................................C2-9

Monthly rent .......................................................D3-13

More than one business...............................B1-9, C4-3

More than one employer .............................B1-9, C4-3

More than one job.......................................B1-9, C4-3

More than sixteen persons in household ...............C3-4

Most important activities or duties............B4-6, C4-41

Multiple job holders....................................B1-9, C4-3

N

Name of employer ....................................B4-4, C4-35

National Guard/Reserve duty............B1-6, C4-4, C4-8

Nativity and immigration....................................C3-34

Navigation...........................................................C1-11

Net income................................................B5-3, C3-33

Neutral questions................................................A2-10

Never married .....................................................C3-13

Never worked full-time.......................................C4-29

New household .....................................................C3-3

No knowledgeable household

 respondent available.........................................C3-7

No one home.........................................................C6-5

No usual place of residence elsewhere..................C3-7

NOH .....................................................................C6-5

Non-appropriated fund employees......................C4-33

Non-economic part-time .......................................C4-8

Non-hourly workers..................................B5-4, C4-46

Nonhousehold respondent.....................................C3-7

Noninterview

Defined ......................................................... A2-11

No one home (NOH)....................................... C6-5

Other occupied................................................ C6-7

Persons.......................................................... C1-20

Questions asked .............................................. C6-3

Reason............................................................. C6-3

Refusal ............................................................ C6-6

Seasonal status.............................................. C6-10

Temporarily absent ......................................... C6-5

Type A ............................................................ C6-4

Type B ............................................................ C6-7

Type C .......................................................... C6-12

Nonrelative of reference person

No own relatives............................................. C3-4

With own relatives.......................................... C3-4

Not in the Labor Force

Defined ........................................................... A1-7

Not in the labor force (NILF)..................... A1-7, B3-3

Not looking for work...............................C4-17, C4-23

Nothing, job search ............................................ C4-19

Number of hours worked

Actually................................................B1-10, C4-8

Usually.................................................B1-10, C4-6

Number of housing units...................................... D3-3

Number, telephone ............................................... C5-3

Numeric items...................................................... C1-9

Nursery school only ........................................... C3-17

Nurses' register................................................... C4-18

Nurses, student

Household membership of .............................. C3-8

O

Occasional gifts of money.................................. C3-33

Occupancy (HVS).............................................. C6-10

Occupation (see also Business and Job)

Defined ........................................................... B4-5

Examples requiring special care.................... C4-40

Of self-employed persons ............................. C4-38

Unusual......................................................... C4-39

Occupied .............................................................. C2-9

Occupied by Armed Forces members ................ C6-10

Occupied without payment of cash rent ............... C2-9

Odd job and domestic workers................C4-32, C4-36

Officers' clubs .................................................... C4-33

Old age, reason not looking for work................. C4-25

On call for a job.................................................... B1-8

On layoff (see also Layoff) .....................C4-11, C4-12

On-the-job training..................................C3-18, C4-48

OPTOUT Tab..................................................... C1-11

Order of listing names on the roster ..................... C3-3

Order of questions................................................ A2-9

Origin or descent

Comparison................................................... C3-28

Completing items.......................................... C3-23

Defined ......................................................... C3-22

Other earnings...................................................... B5-4

Other occupied ..................................................... C6-7

Other occupied, Type A ....................................... C6-7

Other relative of reference person ........................ C3-3

OTHER unit ....................................................... C2-11

INDEX - 7 April 2015
OTHER unit in Student Housing ........................C2-11

Other units

In student housing owned by 

 college or university .................................C2-11

Not specified or other housing unit................C2-11

Transitional housing for homeless.................C2-11

Unit not permanent in transient hotel.............C2-11

Vacant tent or trailer site................................C2-11

Other, Type B .....................................................C6-10

Other, Type C .....................................................C6-13

Outside segment..................................................C6-12

Overtime pay, tips, and commissions........B5-4, C4-43

Own business

Farm ......................................................B1-6, C4-4

Incorporated.........................................B1-6, C4-32

Not incorporated..................................B1-6, C4-32

Owned or being bought, living

quarters (see also Tenure)................................C2-9

Owner, farm..........................................................C4-4

Ownership of a business

for investment purpose ....................................C4-4

Ownership of a business for

investment purposes.............................................B1-6

P

Page Up/Page Down Keys..................................C1-11

Paid Home Care ..................................................C4-33

Paid housekeeper ................................................C4-32

Paid training..........................................................B1-6

Painter.................................................................C4-38

Parent line numbers ............................................C3-11

Parochial schools................................................C3-16

Partially completed interview .............................C1-20

Partner/Roommate ................................................C3-5

Partnership ..........................................................C4-32

Part-time for economic reasons.................B1-11, C4-8

Part-time for non-economic reasons .........B1-11, C4-8

Part-time work

Looking for....................................................C4-21

On layoff from.....................................B2-3, C4-16

Passive job search methods.......................B2-4, C4-16

Pay "in kind".........................................................B1-6

Pay by the hour.........................................B5-4, C4-44

Pay in kind ..........................................................C4-48

Pay, gross..............................................................B5-3

Peacetime service................................................C3-14

Pensions..............................................................C3-33

Period of service .................................................C3-14

Permit granted, construction not started................C6-9

Personal, family or school

Reason left last job ........................................C4-28

Personnel placement office .................................C4-17

Persons "on call"...................................................B1-8

Persons who do not work at a specific location ....C4-6

Persons working for employment contractors.....C4-39

Physical disability...............................................C4-25

Piece-rate ............................................................C4-48

Place markers........................................................C1-5

Placed or answered ads......................................C4-18

Places of work.....................................................C4-38

Post exchange .....................................................C4-33

Post Office and TVA employees........................ C4-34

Post-graduate high school .................................. C3-17

Precodes/list of options ........................................ C1-4

Pregnancy, reason left last job............................ C4-28

Previous month's Employer Name ....................... B4-6

Previous month's Occupation

Usual Activities and Duties............................. B4-6

Primary Sampling Unit (PSU).............................. A1-5

Principal job ......................................................... B1-9

Private company

Class of worker ............................................. C4-31

Employee of.................................................. C4-31

Private duty nurses............................................. C4-33

Private employment agency ............................... C4-17

Private household workers ................................... C4-6

Probing

Examples......................................................... A2-9

Neutral .......................................................... A2-10

Repeating questions........................................ A2-9

Rephrasing questions...................................... A2-9

Problem Addresses............................................... C2-6

Professional associations (see Union) .................. B5-4

Professional practice (See also Business)

Income from.................................................. C3-33

Preparing to start............................................. B1-6

Professional register........................................... C4-18

Professional school............................................. C3-17

Profit or fees, work for......................................... B1-5

Program error recovery ...................................... C1-22

Prospective employers, meeting with................. C4-17

PSU (Primary Sampling Unit).............................. A1-5

Public assistance................................................. C3-33

Public employment agency ................................ C4-17

Public schools..................................................... C3-16

Public Transportation, airport, housing,

and other authorities...................................... C4-34

Public utility employees..................................... C4-32

Purpose of the CPS............................................... A1-3

Purpose of using................................................... C5-3

PX (Post exchange)............................................ C4-33

Q

Quarantine, Type A.............................................. C6-7

Questions not understood................................... A2-10

Quit Job.............................................................. C4-22

R

Race

Comparison................................................... C3-28

Completing Items.......................................... C3-27

Defined ......................................................... C3-26

Rapport, maintaining............................................ A2-4

Rate of pay ................................................B5-4, C4-44

Ready to transmit ............................................... C1-20

Real estate agents and brokers............................ C4-34

Reasons

Left last job ................................................... C4-28

Noninterviews on HVS................................... D1-3

INDEX - 8 April 2015
Not looking for work ...........................B3-4, C4-23

Unavailable for work .....................................C4-22

Work less than 35 hours last week.......B1-10, C4-8

Reference person...................................................A2-4

Defined ............................................................C3-5

Name of...........................................................C3-3

Nonrelative of..................................................C3-5

Not household member....................................C3-7

Relationship to.................................................C3-5

Reference Week....................................................A1-5

Refusal..................................................................C1-8

Confirmed........................................................C6-6

Letter ...............................................................C6-6

Refusal letter.........................................................C6-6

Refused .................................................................C6-6

Register, use of ...................................................C4-18

Registered and practical nurses-private duty.......C4-33

Regular black text in the Info Pane .......................C1-6

Regular schooling ...............................................C3-16

Relationship to reference person...........................C3-5

Relatives, check with for job...............................C4-18

Removed during subsampling.............................C6-12

Rent

Additions to ...................................................D3-13

Monthly .........................................................D3-12

Status of unit (HVS)......................................D3-10

Rented for cash .....................................................C2-9

Repeated grades..................................................C3-17

Repeating the question..........................................A2-9

Repeating the respondent's reply...........................A2-9

Replacement households.......................................A2-7

Reserve Duty ........................................................C4-4

Reserves..............................................................C3-13

Residence

Families with two or more homes....................C3-9

No usual residence elsewhere ................C3-7, C3-9

Two concurrent residences............................C3-10

Usual residence elsewhere...............................C3-7

Vacation home.................................................C3-9

Respodent Identification Policy (RIP)

How affects basic CPS ....................................A2-4

Question...............................................A2-4, C5-10

Dependent I & O .......................B4-3, B4-6, C4-41

Respondent gave information in

Decennial Census.................................................A2-8

Respondent letter

Explanation when no letter received................A2-3

Respondent Name .................................................C1-5

Respondent not affected by the 

employment situation...........................................A2-8

Respondent replies "I don't know"......................A2-10

Respondent was interviewed last year ..................A2-8

Respondent, eligible..............................................A2-4

Response rate ........................................................B5-3

Results of CPS ......................................................A1-3

Users of............................................................A1-4

Retail.........................................................B4-5, C4-37

Retired ..................................................................B3-3

Reason not working.........................................C4-4

Reason working part time..............................C4-10

Retired persons, explaining CPS to.......................A2-7

Retirement or old age, reason for

leaving last job...............................................C4-29

Roads impassable (see also Weather) ...................C6-7

Role as interviewer............................................... A2-4

Rooming house................................................... C2-11

Rooms

Definition........................................................ D3-5

Number in unit................................................ D3-5

ROS Tab............................................................. C1-11

Route.................................................................. C1-19

Rules for asking questions.................................... A2-9

Rural..................................................................... C2-6

S

Salary ........................................................B5-3, C4-43

Sale only (HVS)................................................. D3-10

Sale price asked.................................................. D3-15

Sales or merchandise employees........................ C4-34

Sample (see also CPS 11-8 Listing and Coverage 

Manual)

Areas............................................................... A1-5

Design ............................................................. A1-5

Explanation ..................................................... A1-5

Length of time in............................................. A1-6

Sample of group quarters ..................................... A1-6

Sample of newly constructed units....................... A1-6

Sample of special places....................................... A1-6

Sample units......................................................... A1-6

Scheduling your next visit.................................... C5-3

School enrollment .............................................. C4-49

School/training, reason for being absent ............ C4-13

School/training (EDUCA).................................. C3-16

Adult education classes................................. C3-18

Correspondence............................................. C3-18

Elementary.................................................... C3-17

Equivalency test............................................ C3-17

Exclusions..................................................... C3-18

Government sponsored program................... C3-18

Graduate........................................................ C3-17

High/Junior High .......................................... C3-17

Highest level/degree completed .................... C3-17

Inclusions...................................................... C3-17

Kindergarten ................................................. C3-17

On-the-job training........................................ C3-18

Parochial ....................................................... C3-16

Post graduate................................................. C3-17

Public ............................................................ C3-16

Regular.......................................................... C3-16

University ..................................................... C3-17

Vocational/trade.................................C3-17, C3-18

Screen layout........................................................ C1-3

Screen Name ........................................................ C1-5

Seaman, household membership of.................... C3-10

Seasonal

Activity during the off-season......................... B1-4

Job during "off" season ................................... B1-8

Job, last worked ............................................ C4-28

Job, work in season......................................... B1-8

Status............................................................. C6-10

Seasonal units..................................................... C6-11

Seasonal work .........................................B1-11, C4-28

Christmas........................................................ B1-4

Definition of job.............................................. B1-7

Seasonally .......................................................... C6-10

INDEX - 9 April 2015
Second job ............................................................B4-7

Secretary

Elected or Official .........................................C4-38

Office.............................................................C4-38

Segment

Number..........................................................C1-18

Suffix.............................................................C1-18

Segments...............................................................A1-5

Selecting a job search method.............................C4-17

Self Employed

Class of worker..............................................C4-31

Occupation of ................................................C4-38

On family farm ..............................................C4-35

Sent out resume...................................................C4-18

Separated ............................................................C3-13

Service, Armed Forces........................................C3-15

Set up own new business ......................................B1-6

Setting Boosts/Blocks...........................................C5-3

Setting up a business.............................................B1-6

SEX.....................................................................C3-30

Sharework on farm................................................B1-6

Shower in structure (HVS)....................................D3-6

Site, tent or trailer ...............................................C2-11

Skipping questions................................................A2-9

Slack work/ business conditions.........................B1-11

Reason absent from work ..............................C4-11

Reason worked part-time.................................C4-9

Social Security....................................................C3-33

Soft Error............................................................C1-15

Spanish households...............................................C5-7

Spanish origin (See also origin or descent).........C3-22

Special employment..............................................A1-4

Special keys..........................................................C1-3

Special schools....................................................C3-17

Special situations......................................C2-9, C3-10

Spouse

Absent............................................................C3-13

Line number...................................................C3-13

Present ...............................................C3-13, C3-38

Start.......................................................................C2-3

Starting the interview program ...........................C1-16

State employee....................................................C4-31

State government, class of worker ......................C4-31

Status of unit (HVS) ...........................................D3-10

Stepson/Stepdaughter............................................C3-5

Still in school......................................................C3-17

Storage

Permanent......................................................C6-12

Temporary .......................................................C6-9

Strike (see also Labor dispute)............................C4-11

Structures

Defined ............................................................D3-4

Examples of.....................................................D3-4

Student

Attending school overseas...............................C3-8

Graduate ........................................................C3-17

Household membership of...............................C3-8

Student attending school.......................................B1-8

Student nurses.......................................................C3-8

Student quarters in college dormitory.................C2-11

Summer vacation ........................................B1-8, C3-9

Summer vacation for school personnel.................B1-8

Summers only .....................................................C6-11

Sunday interviewing .............................................C5-5

Supplements, examples of.................................... A1-4

Survey Week ........................................................ A1-5

T

TA units ............................................................... C6-5

TA units (Temporarily absent)............................. C6-5

Table X................................................................. C2-7

Tabs.................................................................... C1-11

Tax refunds ........................................................ C3-33

Teachers............................................................... B4-4

Telephone

Availability ..................................................... C5-3

Location of...................................................... C5-3

No phone......................................................... C5-3

Number ........................................................... C5-3

When asked..................................................... C5-3

When not to use .............................................. C5-5

Telephone holds for temporarily absent ............... C6-5

Telephone interviews

Acceptable ...................................................... C5-3

Best time to call .............................................. C5-3

Callback ................................................ C5-3, C5-5

Introduction..................................................... A2-3

Missing information...................................... C1-20

No one answers repeated calls ........................ C6-5

Noninterview ................................................ A2-11

Noninterviews................................................. C6-3

When to use .................................................... C5-3

Telephone vs Personal Interview (TELPV).......... C5-7

Temporarily absent from a job or business......... C4-11

Temporarily absent household ............................. C6-5

Temporarily occupied by persons with URE........ C3-7

Temporary illness............................................... C4-22

Temporary job.................................................... C4-22

Temporary layoff ............................................... C4-11

Temporary storage ............................................... C6-9

Temporary, seasonal........................................... C6-10

Tent site, unoccupied.................................C2-11, C6-9

Tenure

No cash rent .................................................... C2-9

Owned or being bought................................... C2-9

Rented............................................................. C2-9

Special situations ............................................ C2-9

Trailer ............................................................. C2-9

Type A .......................................................... C2-10

Text color and shading ......................................... C1-5

The voluntary nature of the survey....................... A2-8

Time to call or visit, best...................................... C5-3

Time vacant (HVS) .............................................. D3-9

Tips, part of earnings.................................B5-4, C4-43

Toilet.................................................................... D3-6

Too busy with housework, school,

personal business, etc.................................... C4-10

Tool Bar Icons/ Function Keys........................... C1-17

Total combined income...................................... C3-32

Total family income ........................................... C3-32

Tourist cabins, household membership in ............ C3-9

Trade schools ..................................................... C3-18

Trailer

Housing unit in.............................................. C2-11

Site ................................................................ C2-11

INDEX - 10 April 2015
Trailer moved......................................................C6-12

Training

In school ........................................................C3-17

Mandatory before starting a job.......................B1-6

On-the-job .......................................................B1-6

Transient places

Housing unit in ..............................................C2-11

OTHER unit in ..............................................C2-11

Transitional housing for homeless......................C2-11

Transmitting your work ......................................C1-21

Tribal government or tribal councils...................C4-34

Two residences, household membership in...........C3-9

Type A noninterview

Codes...............................................................C6-4

Conversion.......................................................C6-7

Language barrier..............................................C6-6

No one home....................................................C6-5

Other occupied.................................................C6-7

Procedures.......................................................C6-7

Refusal.............................................................C6-6

Temporarily absent..........................................C6-5

Temporary holds..............................................C6-5

Unable to locate...............................................C6-6

Type B

Codes...............................................................C6-7

Converted to temporary storage.......................C6-9

Other..............................................................C6-10

Permit granted .................................................C6-9

Procedures.....................................................C6-10

Temporarily occupied by URE........................C6-8

Under construction ..........................................C6-9

Unfit or to be demolished ................................C6-9

Unoccupied tent or trailer site..........................C6-9

Vacant..............................................................C6-7

Vacant-storage of household furniture.............C6-9

Type C

Codes.............................................................C6-12

Condemned....................................................C6-12

Converted to permanent business

or storage..................................................C6-12

Demolished....................................................C6-12

House or trailer moved ..................................C6-12

Merged...........................................................C6-12

Other..............................................................C6-13

Outside segment ............................................C6-12

Procedures.....................................................C6-13

Removed during subsampling .......................C6-12

Unit already had a chance of selection...........C6-12

Unused line of listing sheet............................C6-13

Type Z.................................................................C1-20

U

Unable to locate ....................................................C6-6

Unable to work ...........................................B3-3, C4-4

Under construction, not ready...............................C6-9

Unemployed

Defined ..................................................A1-6, B2-3

Questions.......................................................C4-13

Unemployment .........................................B2-3, C4-13

Unemployment insurance ...................................C4-13

Unemployment or worker's compensation................33

Unfinished interview

 (also see Partial Interview)............................... C1-20

Unfit or to be demolished..................................... C6-9

Unincorporated business................................ B4-4, 33

Union hiring hall .................................................. B1-8

Union membership and

coverage concepts................................B5-4, C4-43

Union/professional registers............................... C4-18

Unit

Being converted .............................................. C6-8

Newly constructed .......................................... A1-6

Not permanent in transient

 hotel, motel, etc........................................ C2-11

Permanent in transient hotel, motel, etc. ....... C2-11

Undergoing repairs.......................................... C6-8

Vacant............................................................. C6-7

Unit already had a chance of selection ............... C6-12

Units being converted........................................... C6-8

Units undergoing repairs...................................... C6-8

University (see also School)............................... C3-17

Unoccupied tent site or trailer site.............C2-11, C6-9

Unpaid Work........................................................ B1-6

Unpaid work on a family farm or business........... B1-8

Unsatisfactory work arrangements..................... C4-28

Unused line of listing sheet ................................ C6-13

Unusual occupations .......................................... C4-39

Unusual cases of job or business........................ C4-39

Updating

Education ...................................................... C3-17

Income .......................................................... C3-31

Relationship .......................................... C3-3, C3-5

URE (Usual residence elsewhere)

Household, Type B ......................................... C6-7

HVS for........................................................... D2-3

Question (HHMEM)....................................... C3-9

Use of special function keys....................C1-11, C1-13

Uses of CPS data........................................ A1-3, A2-7

Uses of employment and unemployment data...... A1-4

Using neutral probes........................................... A2-10

Using the demographics grid.............................. C3-30

Usual activities or duties...........................B4-6, C4-41

Usual hours ...............................................B1-10, C4-6

Usual place of residence....................................... C3-7

Armed Forces member.................................... C3-8

Children under joint custody......................... C3-10

Defined ........................................................... C3-7

Doubtful cases................................................. C3-8

Foreign citizens............................................... C3-8

Inmates of institutions..................................... C3-8

None elsewhere............................................... C3-7

Retirees with two or more homes.................. C3-10

Seamen............................................................ C3-8

Student nurses................................................. C3-8

Students........................................................... C3-8

Two or more homes ........................................ C3-9

Vacation homes, tourist cabins and trailers..... C3-9

Usual weekly earnings ....................................... C4-43

Usually ............................................................... B1-10

Usually Works Full-Time................................... B1-11

Usually Works Part-Time................................... B1-11

INDEX - 11 April 2015
V

Vacancy, length of (HVS).....................................D3-9

Vacant...................................................................C2-9

Tent site ...........................................................C6-9

Trailer site........................................................C6-9

Vacant unit

Determining year built.....................................D3-3

Facilities ..........................................................D3-6

Household moved............................................C6-7

HVS Information .............................................D3-3

Information collected............................ D2-3, D3-3

Regular ............................................................C6-7

Regular seasonal............................................C3-10

Storage of household furniture ........................C6-9

Type B.............................................................C6-7

Vacant-storage of household furniture..................C6-9

Vacation follow-ups..............................................C6-6

Vacation homes, household membership in........C3-10

Vacation reminder.................................................C5-6

Vacation, teachers on summer ..............................B1-8

Vacation\personal day.........................................C4-11

Verify information ................................................C5-8

Verify listing.........................................................C2-5

Verifying answers to questions.............................A2-9

Veterans' payments.............................................C3-33

Veterans' period of service..................................C3-14

Veterans' status ...................................................C3-14

Visitors, how to list.....................................C3-3, C3-7

Visits, best time.....................................................C5-3

Vocational or trade schools.........C3-17, C3-18, C4-22

Volunteer work .....................................................B1-6

W

Wages and salary income....................................C3-33

Wages or salary, work for...........................B1-6, C4-4

Waiting for new job to begin ..............................C4-12

Wanted temporary work .....................................C4-20

Wartime service ..................................................C3-14

Water, piped..........................................................D3-6

Weather affected job...........................................C4-12

Weather, bad

Impassable roads .................................C4-11, C4-2

WEBCATI............................................................E1-1

WEBCATI Answering Machine/Voice Mail......E1-19

WEBCATI Boost/Block .......................................E1-9

WEBCATI Call problems...................................E1-22

WEBCATI Case History.......................................E1-9

WEBCATI Case Search........................................E1-4

WEBCATI Control Codes....................................E3-3

WEBCATI Dial Outcome Screen .......................E1-12

WEBCATI Dial Retry screen..............................E1-14

WEBCATI Hearing Barrier.................................E1-28

WEBCATI Language Barrier..............................E1-27

WEBCATI Notes..................................................E1-7

WEBCATI Number changed ..............................E1-17

WEBCATI Privacy Service.................................E1-17

WEBCATI Recorded Message............................E1-15

WEBCATI Roster...............................................E1-10

WEBCATI Set Appointment.................................E3-5

Weeks looking for work..................................... C4-20

Welfare program participants..................C4-17, C4-19

When last worked............................................... C4-26

When the CPS is conducted ................................. A1-5

Wholesale..................................................B4-5, C4-37

Whom to interview..................................... A2-4, C3-7

Why left last job................................................. C4-21

Widowed ............................................................ C3-13

Winter only units................................................ C6-11

With a job but not at work.................................. C4-11

Withdrawals of savings from banks. .................. C3-33

Without pay, class of worker.....................B1-6, C4-31

Work

Around the house .......................................... C4-10

Arrangements unsatisfactory......................... C4-28

At different locations ...................................... C4-6

Availability for.....................................B2-5, C4-14

Could not find ............................................... C4-25

Defined ........................................................... B1-5

Farm...................................................... B1-6, C4-3

For pay in kind.............................................. C4-32

For profit or fees ............................................. B1-6

For wages or salary ............................... B1-6, C4-4

Full-time/part-time status...................... B1-9, C4-7

Hours............................................................... C4-7

Intend to look for .................................B3-4, C4-15

Investments only ................................... B1-6, C4-4

Kind of.................................................B4-5, C4-38

Looking for ..........................................B2-4, C4-16

Not available for ......................B3-3, C4-14, C4-15

Paid home care.............................................. C4-33

Piece rate....................................................... C4-48

Questions ........................................................ C4-4

Slack ....................................................C4-9, C4-11

Temporary..................................................... C4-22

Unable to............................................... B3-3, C4-4

Unpaid family ................................................. B1-6

Unpaid, not family .......................................... B1-6

Unsatisfactory work arrangements................ C4-28

Volunteer, without pay.................................... B1-6

Without pay..................................................... B1-6

Work as needed .................................................... B1-8

Work for pay "in kind"........................................C4-32

Work for profit or fees..........................................B1-6

Work on an odd-job or casual basis........C4-32, C4-36

Work without compensation .....................B1-6, C4-31

Worked last week........................................B1-6, C4-4

Working ......................................................B1-6, C4-4

Working in business............................................C4-31

Y

Yard sales............................................................. B1-4

Year built

Area segments................................................. C2-6

Defined ........................................................... C2-6

Extra units....................................................... C2-7

INDEX - 12 April 2015
HVS.................................................................D3-3

Replacement units............................................A2-7

Year round ..........................................................C6-10

Z

Zero income ....................................................... C3-32

INDEX - 13 April 2015
Current Population Survey Item's Index 

Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

ABMAIL Mailing address C2-6

ABSNT Absence from work B1-7, C4-11

ABSPC1 Absence from work, other specify C4-13

ABSPD Absence from work, paid C4-13

ABSRSN1 Reasons for absence from work C4-11

AFEVER Armed Forces, ever served C3-13

AFWHEN Armed Forces, when served C3-14

AFNOW Armed Forces, current status C3-14

AGE2 Age, less than 15 C3-11

AGEGSS Age, estimated C3-11

BCNAME Type B or C Noninterview, contact information D1-4

BEST_NOSUN No Sunday calls C5-5

BIRTHD Age, day of birth C1-7 C3-11

BIRTHM Age, month of birth C1-7, C3-11

BIRTHY Age, year of birth C1-7, C3-11

BOOSTS/BLOCKS Best time to contact next month C5-3

BUILD Occupied or vacant living quarters C2-7

BUS Business or farm C4-3

BUS1 Unpaid work in family business or farm B1-6, C4-5

BUS2 Payment or profits from business B1-3, C4-5

BUSL Business or farm, list of owners B1-3, C4-3

CALLBACK Schedule a call back, best time for this month C5-5

CATI_EL1 CATI eligibility C5-7

CERT1 A currently active professional certification or a state or industry license C3-22, C3-23

CERT2 Certifications or licenses issued by the federal, state, or local government C3-22, C3-23

CERT3 Certification or license required for job C3-23

CITIZN Nativity and immigration, citizenship C3-36

CITYA Nativity and immigration, citizenship C3-36

CITYB Nativity and immigration, citizenship C3-36

CNT2BG Household roster; additional members C3-3, C3-4

CYC Years of college credit C3-20

INDEX - 14 April 2015
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

DEMOGRAPHIC ITEMS Demographics changes C3-11

DIPGED High school diploma C3-19

DIS1 Disability B3-3, C4-4

DIS2 Disability B3-3, C4-4

DS1 Deaf or Serious Difficulty Hearing C3-40

DS1W Who is deaf or has serious difficulty hearing? C3-40

DS2 Blind or Serious Difficulty Seeing C3-41

DS2W Who is blind or has serious difficulty hearing? C3-41

DS3 Serious Difficulty Concentrating, Remembering, or Making Decisions C3-41

DS3W Who has serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions C3-41

DS4 Serious Difficulty Walking or Climbing Stairs C3-41

DS4W Who has serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs C3-41

DS5 Difficulty Dressing or Bathing C3-41

DS5W Who has difficulty dressing or bathing? C3-41

DS6 Difficulty Doing Errands C3-41

DS6W Who has difficulty doing errands? C3-41

DW4WK Discouraged Worker, worked in past 4 weeks C4-26

DWAVL Discouraged Worker, availability for work C4-26

DWLK Discouraged Worker, looking for work C4-26

DWLKWK Discouraged Worker, looking for work C4-26

DWRSN Discouraged Worker, reason not looking C4-24

DWWK Discouraged worker, looked for work C4-26

DWWNT Discouraged worker, desire for work C4-23

EDUCA Educational attainment C3-16

ERNANN Earnings, annual B5-3, C4-43

ERNBWK Earnings, bi-weekly B5-3, C4-43

ERNCOR Earnings, usual B5-3, C4-43

ERNCOV Union membership or coverage B5-4 C4-49

ERNDKP Earnings, estimated usual B5-4, C4-43

ERNH2D/ERNH2S Earnings, hourly rate of pay – dollars & cents B5-2, C4-45

ERNHR Earnings, usual hours B5-2, C4-44

ERNHRE Earnings, estimated rate of pay B5-2, C4-44

INDEX - 15 April 2015
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

ERNHRTD/ERNHRTC Earnings, hourly rate of pay – dollars & cents B5-2, C4-44

ERNLAB Union membership B5-3, C4-47

ERNMON Earnings, monthly B5-3, C4-46

ERNOHC Earnings, hourly overtime pay, tips, commissions B5-3, C4-43

ERNOHE Earnings, usual hours per week B5-3, C4-43

ERNOTA Earnings, overtime pay, tips, commissions B5-3, C4-43

ERNOTC Earnings, overtime pay, tips, commissions B5-3, C4-43

ERNOTE Earnings, weekly B5-3, C4-43

ERNOTH Earnings, amount B5-3, C4-43

ERNOTP Earnings, periodicity reported B5-3, C4-43

ERNP Earnings, introduction B5-3, C4-43

ERNPR Earnings, periodicity reported B5-3, C4-43

ERNPRS Earnings, other periodicity reported B5-3, C4-43

ERNRG1 Earnings, hourly B5-3, C4-43

ERNRG2 Earnings, overtime pay, tips, commissions B5-3, C4-43

ERNRG3 Earnings, amount B5-3, C4-43

ERNRG4 Earnings, amount B5-3, C4-43

ERNRG5 Earnings, hourly B5-3, C4-43

ERNRGP Earnings, amount B5-3, C4-43

ERNRP2 Earnings, amount B5-3 C4-43

ERNRP3 Earnings, hourly B5-3, C4-43

ERNRT Earnings, hourly rate B5-3, C4-45

ERNTMN Earnings, twice monthly B5-3, C4-46

ERNUOT Earnings, overtime pay, tips, commissions B5-3, C4-43

ERNVR Earnings, correction/verification C4-46

ERNVR1 Earnings, weekly B5-3, C4-43

ERNVR3 Earnings, weekly B5-3, C4-43

ERNVR4 Earnings, total B5-3, C4-43

ERNWK Earnings, weekly B5-3, C4-46

ERNWK1 Earnings, weekly B5-3, C4-46

ERNWKP Earnings, number of weeks paid per year B5-3, C4-46

FNTVT Nativity and immigration, father’s country of birth C3-35

INDEX - 16 April 2015 
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

GENINTRO_CP Introduction C2-5

GRPROF Graduate or professional school courses C3-21

GR6COR Complete six or more graduate/professional school courses C3-21

H_PURPOSE Frequently asked questions A2-6

HNUM_VR Replacement household C2-6

HHRESP Respondent's line number C3-3

HGCOMP Highest grade of regular school C3-20

HRACT1 Actual hours B1-10, C4-8

HRACT2 Actual hours, second job C4-8

HRAVL Availability for full-time work B2-5, C4-8

HRFTPT Hours, usually full-time C4-7

HROFF1 Hours, time off B1-10, C4-8

HROFF2 Hours-time off number B1-10, C4-8

HROT1 Hours, overtime B1-9, C4-8

HROT2 How many hours, overtime B1-10, C4-8

HRRSN1 Part-time, reason for working B1-10, C4-8

HRRSN2 Part-time, reason do not want full-time B1-11, C4-10

HRRSN3 Part-time, reason for working B1-11, C4-10

HRSPC1 Part-time, other specify for reason for working B1-11, C4-10

HRSPC2 Part-time, other specify for reason for working B1-11, C4-10

HRSPC3 Part-time, other specify for reason for working B1-11, C4-10

HRUSL1 Usual hours B1-10, C4-7

HRUSL2 Usual hours, second job B1-10, C4-7

HRWANT Hours, want full-time C4-8

HVSAC HVS, air conditioning D3-8

HVSBD HVS, bedrooms D3-5

HVSBTH HVS, bathrooms in house D3-7

HVSC HVS, number of acres D3-3

HVSCOM HVS, commercial use D3-15

HVSKIT HVS, kitchen D3-6

HVSNUM HVS, number of units D3-4

HVSOCC HVS, occupied D3-8

INDEX - 17 April 2015 
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

HVSPLB HVS, plumbing facilities D3-6

HSPNON Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Origin C3-22

HVSPRC HVS, sale price D3-15

HVSRM HVS, number of rooms D3-5

HVSRNT HVS, monthly rent D3-13

HVSSTA HVS, status of unit D3-10

HVSSTS HVS, other specify for status of unit D3-13

HVSUT HVS, utilities D3-14

HVSVAC HVS, number of months vacant D3-9

HVSYR HVS, year built D3-3

INTOCC1 HVS, when intended for occupancy C6-13

INTROB Introductory screens A2-3, C2-5, 

C6-3

INUSYR Nativity and immigration, year entered U.S C3-34, C3-37

IO1DT Industry and occupation, usual activities or duties B4-6, C1-9, 

C4-41

IO1GVT Industry and occupation, level of government B4-4, C4-31

IO1INC Industry and occupation, business incorporated B4-4, C4-32

IO1IND Industry and occupation, kind of industry B4-4, C4-36

IO1INT Industry and occupation, class of worker B4-4, C4-30

IO1MFG Industry and occupation, manufacturing, wholesale, retail B4-5, C4-35

IO1NMB Industry and occupation, name of business B4-4, C4-35

IO1NMG Industry and occupation, name of government agency C4-35

IO1NMP Industry and occupation, name of company C4-35

IO1OCC Industry and occupation, kind of work or occupation B4-5, C4-38

IO1WP Industry and occupation, working for pay B4-3, C4-35

IO2DT Industry and occupation, usual activities or duties, second job B4-6, C4-42

IO2GVT Industry and occupation, level of government, second job B4-7, C4-31

IO2INC Industry and ocupation, self-employed, second job B4-7, C4-31

IO2IND Industry and occupation, kind of business or industry, second job B4-7

IO2INT Industry and occupation, class of worker, second job B4-7, C4-30

IO2MFG Industry and occupation, manuf., wholesale, retail, second job B4-7

IO2NMB Industry and occupation, name of business, second job B4-7

INDEX - 18 April 2015 
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

IO2NMG Industry and occupation, name of government agency, second job B4-7

IO2NMP Industry and occupation, name of company, second job B4-7

IO2OCC Industry and occupation, kind of work or occupation, second job B4-7, C4-38

INTOCCSP Unit status, Other specify for unit intended for occupancy C6-13

IO2WP Industry and occupation, working for pay, second job B4-7

IODP1 Industry and occupation, dependent interviewing B4-6, C4-37

IODP2 Industry and occupation, dependent interviewing B4-6, C4-41

IODP3 Industry and occupation, dependent interviewing B4-6, C4-41

JHDP1 Job history B1-8, C4-27

JHRSN Job history, reason left last job C4-27

JHRSP Job history, other specify for reason left last job B3-3, C4-28

JHWANT Job history, intend to look for work B3-3, C4-29

JHWK Job history, worked past 12 months B3-3, C4-27

LABFOR Introduction, Labor Force Items C4-3

LAY Layoff B2-3, C4-14

LAY6M Layoff, recall C4-13

LAYAVL Layoff, available for work C4-14

LAYAVR Layoff, not available for work C4-15

LAYDR1 Layoff, duration-periodicity C4-15

LAYDR2 Layoff, duration-length of time C4-15

LAYDR3 Layoff, duration in weeks C4-16

LAYDT Layoff, return to work C4-14

LAYFT Layoff, from full-time job C4-16

LAYLK Layoff, looking for work C4-15

LIVQRT1 Type of housing unit C2-11

LIVQRTSP Other specify for type of housing unit C2-11

LK Looking for work B2-4, C4-16

LKAVL Looking for work, available for job C4-20

LKAVR Looking for work, not available for job C4-20

LKAVS Looking for work, other specify for not available for job C4-20

LKDK1 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-17

LKDK2 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-17

INDEX - 19 April 2015 
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

LKDK3 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-17

LKDK4 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-17

LKDK5 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-17

LKDK6 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-17

LKDKS1 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-17

LKDKS2 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-17

LKDKS3 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-17

LKDKS4 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-17

LKDKS5 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-17

LKDKS6 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-17

LKDR1 Looking for work, length of time - periodicity C4-20

LKDR2 Looking for work, length of time C4-20

LKDR3 Looking for work, number of weeks looking C4-21

LKFT Looking for work, full-time or part-time C4-21

LKLL1 Looking for work, activity before beginning to look C4-21

LKLL1S Looking for work, other activity before beginning to look B2-4, C4-21

LKLL2 Looking for work, reason left last job C4-21

LKLW Looking for work, when last worked C4-20

LKM1 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-18

LKM2 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-18

LKM3 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-18

LKM4 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-18

LKM5 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-18

LKM6 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-18

LKMSP1 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKMSP2 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKMSP3 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKMSP4 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKMSP5 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKMSP6 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKPS1 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-19

LKPS2 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-19

INDEX - 20 April 2015 
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

LKPS3 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-19

LKPS4 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-19

LKPS5 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-19

LKPS6 Looking for work, job search methods B2-4, C4-19

LKPSP1 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKPSP2 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKPSP3 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKPSP4 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKPSP5 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

LKPSP6 Looking for work, other job search methods C4-18

MAILAD Verify mailing address C2-5

MARITL Marital status C3-13

MCHILD1 Household roster, missing babies or small children C3-3

MAWAY Household roster, missing anyone who usually lives here C3-3

MERGUA Merged units C6-11

MJ Multiple job holders B1-9, C4-6

MJNUM Number of multiple jobs C4-36

MLODGE Household roster, missing lodgers etc. C3-3

MELSE Household roster, missing anyone else C3-3

MNTVT Nativity and immigration, mother’s country of birth C3-35

MS123 Year program for master's degree C3-21

NEED_PV Callbacks, need personal visit C5-5

NLFACT Not in labor force, current situation A1-7, B3-3,

C4-30

NLFJH Not in labor force, when last worked B3-3, C4-29

NLFRET Not in labor force, retired B3-3, C4-29

NLFSPC Not in labor force, other specify for current situation B3-3, C4-29

NMEMP1 Number of paid employees C4-42

NONTYP Noninterview type C6-4

NOTES Interviewer notes C5-8

NROS2B Household roster, greater then 16 persons C3-4

NTVT Nativity and immigration, country of birth C3-35

INDEX - 21 April 2015 
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

ORISPN Main Item in origin series C1-8, C3-22, 

C3-23

OROTSS Write in for other spanish, hispanic or latino group C3-24

OTHUNTSP Other units, specify C2-11

OTHUNT Other units C2-11

OWNREN1 Household roster, order of listing C3-3

PARENT Parent's line number C3-11, C3-38

PDEMP1 Self-employed C4-42

PREDIS Introduction to Disability Series C3-40

PRLBFR Labor force questions, who is asked A1-6

RACE Personal interview of race C3-25

RACE Telephone interview of race C3-26

RACEAS Race - specific asian group C3-27, C3-28

RACEPI Race - specific native hawaiian or other pacific islander group C3-27, C3-28

RESP_PRB Eligible household respondent A2-5, C3-8

RESP1 Respondent's line number C3-3

RET Retired, dependent interviewing B3-3

RET1_1 Retired, currently wants job C4-23

RIPFLG Respondent Identification Policy A2-5, C5-10

TELAVL Telephone available elsewhere C5-3

TELHHD Telephone availability C5-3

S_FAMINC Family Income C3-32

S_HHMEM Household membership, usual residence C3-9

S_OROTSP Other spanish, hispanic, or latino group C3-24

S_RACEOT Race - other C3-28, C3-29

S_RRP Relationship to reference person C3-5, C3-6

SCHFT School enrollment, full time or part time C4-50

SCHENR School enrollment C4-49

SCHLVL School enrollment, high school or college C4-50

SEASON Seasonal status, when intended for occupancy C6-10

SHOROS_CP Introductory screens, household composition screen C2-4

SHOW_ROS_CP Household Composition C2-4

INDEX - 22 April 2015 
Screen Name Related Concepts Pages

SPOUSE Spouse's line number C3-13

START_CP Introductory screens C2-3

STLLIV Household roster, still live here C3-3

STRBLT Structure built before April 2000? C2-6

TABX_INTRO Extra units, start of Table X C2-8

TEL_WHR Telephone available-where? C5-3

TELIN_SCRN Acceptability of telephone interview C5-3

TELPV Telephone or personal visit interview C5-7

TENUR_SCRN Type of living quarters C2-9

TYPB Noninterview, type B C6-8

TYPC Non-interview, type C C6-12

TYPEA Non-interview, type A C6-5

USEASRES Household membership, usual residence C3-7

VERADD Verify exact address C2-5

VERIFY Verify information screen C5-8

VERIFY_AGE Age verification C1-7, C3-11

WORK Work B1-5, C4-4

INDEX - 23 April 2015 
APPENDIX 1

EXAMPLES OF INDUSTRY RESPONSES WHICH NEED SPECIAL CARE IN REPORTING

For some industries, the common titles are inadequate. The following list gives examples of inadequate 

and adequate entries:

Inadequate Adequate

Agency Collection agency, advertising agency, real estate agency, 

employment agency, travel agency, insurance agency

Aircraft parts or 

Aircraft components

Airplane engine parts factory, propeller manufacturing, 

electronic instruments factory, wholesale aircraft parts

Automobile parts Auto clutch manufacturing, retail sales and installation of auto 

mufflers, etc.

Automobile components Auto battery factory 

Bakery Bakery plant (bakes and sells to wholesalers, retail stores, 

restaurants, or home delivery), wholesale bakery (buys from a 

bakery plant and sells to grocers, restaurants, hotels, etc.), retail 

bakery (sells only on premises to private individuals but may 

bake its own goods on premises) 

Box factory Paper box factory, wooden box factory, metal box factory

City or City Government City Street Repair Department, City Board of Health, City Board 

of Education 

Club, private Golf club, fraternal club, night club, resident club 

Coal company Coal mine, retail coal yard, wholesale coal

County or County Government See "City" above

Credit company Credit rating bureau, loan company 

Dairy Dairy farm, dairy depot, dairy bar, wholesale dairy products, 

retail dairy products, dairy products manufacturing 

Discount House Discount Store Retail drug store, retail electrical appliances, retail general 

merchandise, retail clothing store

Electrical Components Mfg.

Electrical Parts Mfg.

Electronic tube factory, memory core manufacturing, transistor 

factory, mfg. tape readers

APP1-1 January 2007
Inadequate Adequate

Engineering company Civil engineering consultants, general contracting, wholesale 

heating equipment, construction machinery factory 

Express company Motor freight, railway express agency, railroad car rental (for 

Union Tank Car Co., etc.), armored car service 

Factory, mill Steel rolling mill, hardware factory, aircraft factory, flour mill, 

hosiery mill, commercial printing plant, cotton textiles mill

Farm Report whether crops or livestock are principal products of a 

farm. If the crops raised are used primarily to feed their own 

animals, report the farm as an "animal farm." Examples of crop 

farms are: wheat farm, corn farm, crop farm, orchard, vegetable 

farm. Examples of livestock farms are: dairy farm, feed lot, hog 

farm, turkey farm. 

Foundry Iron foundry, brass foundry, aluminum foundry 

Freight company Motor freight, air freight, railway, water transportation

Fur company Fur dressing plant, fur garment factory, retail fur store, 

wholesale fur, fur repair shop 

Laundry a. Own home laundry - for a person doing laundry for pay in

his/her own home

b. Laundering for private family - for a person working in the

home of a private family

c. Commercial laundry - for a person working in a steam

laundry, hand laundry, Chinese laundry, French laundry, or

similar establishment

d. Self-service laundry - for a person working in an

establishment where the customer brings his/her own

laundry and pays a fee to use the washing machine or other

equipment

Lumber company Sawmill, retail lumber yard, planing mill, logging camp, 

wholesale lumber

Manufacturer's Agent

Manufacturer's Representative

Specify product being sold, for example, jewelry manufacturer's 

representative, lumber manufacturer's agent, electric appliance 

manufacturer's representative, chemical manufacturer's agent

Mine Coal mine, gold mine, bauxite mine, iron mine, copper mine, 

lead mine, marble quarry, sand and gravel pit 

APP1-2 January 2007
Inadequate Adequate

Nylon factory Nylon chemical factory (where chemicals are made into fibers); 

nylon textile mill (where fibers are made into yarn or woven into 

cloth); women's nylon hosiery factory (where yarn is made into 

hosiery)

Office Dentist's office, physician's office, public stenographer's office

Oil company

Oil industry

Oil plant

Oil drilling, petroleum refinery, retail gasoline station, 

petroleum pipeline, wholesale oil distributor, retail fuel oil

Packing house Meat packing plant, fruit cannery, fruit packing shed (wholesale 

packers and shippers)

Pipeline Natural gas pipeline, gasoline pipeline, petroleum pipeline, 

pipeline construction

Plastic factory Plastic materials factory (where plastic materials are made), 

plastic products plant (where articles are actually manufactured 

from plastic materials)

Public utility Electric light and power utility, gas utility, telephone utility, 

water supply utility. If the company provides more than one 

service, specify the services; such as gas utility, electric and 

water utility

Railroad car shop Railroad car factory, locomotive repair ship, locomotive 

manufacturing plant

Repair shop Shoe repair shop, television repair shop, radio repair shop, 

blacksmith shop, welding shop, auto repair shop machine repair 

shop

Ranch See "Farm" for examples

Research Distinguish among three kinds of research agencies:

a. A research department doing research for the use of the 

company itself ("in-house" research). 

b. A commercial research company doing research for other 

companies. 

c. An organization doing non- commercial research. 

APP1-3 January 2007
Inadequate Adequate

School City elementary school, private kindergarten, private college, 

State university. Distinguish between public and private, 

including parochial, and identify the highest level of instruction 

provided, such as junior college, senior high school

Terminal Bus terminal, railroad terminal, boat terminal, airport terminal 

Textile mill Cotton cloth mill, woolen cloth mill, cotton yarn mill, nylon 

thread mill 

Transportation company Motor trucking, moving and storage, water transportation, 

airline, taxicab service, subway, railroad, petroleum pipeline, car 

loading service

Water company Water supply, irrigation system, water filtration plant

Well Oil drilling, oilwell, saltwell, waterwell

APP1-4 January 2007
APPENDIX 2

EXAMPLES OF OCCUPATIONS FOR WHICH SPECIAL CARE IS NECESSARY

The following are examples of inadequate and adequate job entries. If the combined entries for item 

IO1OCC and IO1DT1 and IO1DT2 provide the kind of information shown in the listing of adequate 

examples, accept them as being adequate.

Inadequate Adequate

Accounting

Accounting work

Certified public accountant, accounting machine operator, 

tax auditor, accounts-payable clerk

Adjuster Brake adjuster, machine adjuster, merchandise complaint 

adjuster, insurance adjuster

Agent Freight agent, insurance agent, sales agent, advertising 

agent, purchasing agent

Analyst

Analyzer

Cement analyst, food analyst, budget analyst, computersystems analyst

Caretaker

Custodian

Janitor, guard, building superintendent, superintendent, 

gardener, groundskeeper, sexton, property clerk, locker 

attendant

Claim Examiner

Claim Investigator

Claims Adjuster

Claims Analyst

Claims Authorizer

Unemployment benefits claims taker, insurance adjuster, 

right-of-way claims agent, merchandise complaint adjuster

Clerical Worker

Clerk

Clerical

Stock clerk, shipping clerk, sales clerk (A person who sells 

goods in a store is a salesperson or salesclerk; do not report 

him/her merely as a clerk.)

Data Processor Computer programmer, data typist, keypunch operator, 

computer operator, coding clerk, card tape converter 

operator

Doctor Physician, dentist, veterinarian, osteopath, chiropractor

Engineer Civil engineer, locomotive engineer, mechanical engineer,

aeronautical engineer

Entertainer Singer, dancer, acrobat, musician

APP2-1 January 2007
Inadequate Adequate

Equipment Operator Road grader operator, bulldozer operator, trencher operator

Factory Worker Electric motor assembler, forge heater, turret lathe operator, 

weaver, loom fixer, knitter, stitcher, punch-press operator, 

spray painter, riveter

Farmworker Farm manager, fruit picker, feed dairy cows

Fireman Locomotive fireman, fire fighter, stationary fireman, 

fire boss

Foreman Specify the craft or activity involved, such as foreman 

carpenter, foreman truck driver

Graphic Artist Illustrator, commercial artist, poster artist, art lay-out 

specialist

Group Leader Group leader on assembly line, clerical group leader, labor 

gang leader, recreation group leader, harvest crew boss

Heavy Equipment Operator Specify the type of equipment, such as clam-shovel 

operator, derrick operator, monorail crane operator, dragline 

operator

Helper Baker's helper, carpenter's helper, janitor's helper

IBM Clerk

IBM Machine Operator

IBM Operator

IBM card puncher, IBM tabulator, sorting machine operator, 

proof machine operator

Interior Decorator Be sure the entries in item 23C differentiate between the 

interior decorator who plans and designs interiors for 

homes, hotels, etc., and those who are painting,

paperhanging, etc.

Investigator Insurance claim investigator, income tax investigator, 

social welfare investigator, financial examiner, detective 

Laborer Sweeper, charwoman, baggage porter, janitor, stevedore, 

window washer, car cleaner, section hand, hand trucker

Layout Worker Pattern-maker, sheet-metal worker, compositor, commercial 

artist, structural steel worker, boilermaker, draftsman, 

coppersmith

Maintenance Worker Groundskeeper, janitor, carpenter, electrician

APP2-2 January 2007
Inadequate Adequate

Mechanic Auto engine mechanic, dental mechanic, radio mechanic, 

airplane mechanic, office machine mechanic 

Nun Specify the type of work done, if possible, as grammar 

school teacher, housekeeper, art teacher, organist, cook, 

laundress, registered nurse

Nurse

Nursing

Registered nurse, nursemaid, practical nurse, nurse's aide, 

student nurse, professional nurse

Office Clerk

Office Worker

Office Work

Typist, secretary, receptionist, comptometer operator, file 

clerk, bookkeeper, physician's attendant

Program Analyst Computer systems analyst, procedure analyst, vocational 

director, manufacturing liaison planner

Program Specialist Program scheduler, data processing systems supervisor, 

metal-flow coordinator

Programmer Computer programmer, electronics data programmer, radio 

or TV programmer, production planner 

Research

Research and Development

Research and Testing

Research Assistant

Research Associate

Research Specialist

Research Work

Specify field of research, for example, research physicist, 

research chemist, research mathematician, research 

biologist, etc. Also, if associate or assistant, specify

as research physicist, research associate geologist, etc.

Sales Worker Advertising sales, insurance sales, bond sales, canvasser, 

driver-sales (route selling), fruit peddler, newspaper sales

Scientist Specify field, for example, political scientist, physicist, 

sociologist, home economist, oceanographer, soil scientist

Specialist If the word “specialist” is reported as part of a job title, be 

sure to include a brief description of the actual duties. For 

example, for a "transportation specialist" the actual duties 

might be any one of the following: "Gives cost estimates of 

trips", "plans trips or tours", "conducts tours", "schedules 

trains", or "does economic analysis of transportation 

industry"

Shipping Department Specify what the worker does. For example, shipping and 

receiving clerk, crater, order picker, typist, wraps parcels

APP2-3 January 2007
Inadequate Adequate

Supervisor Typing supervisor, chief bookkeeper, steward, kitchen 

supervisor, buyer, cutting and sewing forelady, sales 

instructor, route foreman

Systems Analyst

Systems Specialist

Computer systems analyst, contract coordinatormanufacturing, production planner

Teacher Teachers should report the level of school that they teach, 

along with the subject. Those that teach many subjects, 

below the high school level, may just report the level. 

College teachers should report a title. Following are some 

illustrations:

Level Subject

Preschool -

Kindergarten -

Elementary -

Elementary Music

Junior High English

High School Physical Ed.

College Mathematics

(Professor)

Technician Medical laboratory technician, dental laboratory technician, 

X-ray technician

Tester Cement tester, instrument tester, engine tester, battery tester

Trucker Truck driver, trucking contractor, electric trucker, hand 

trucker 

Works in stock room, bakery, office, 

etc.

Names of departments or places of work are unsatisfactory. 

The entry must specify what the worker himself/herself 

does; for example, "shipping clerk" or "truck loader," not 

"works in shipping department"; "cost accountant," or 

"filing clerk" not "works in cost control."

APP2-4 January 2007
APPENDIX 3

CAPI OUTCOME CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS

CODE DESCRIPTION

200 New case, not started

201 Completed interview

202 Accessed instrument, insufficient partial

203 Sufficient partial- no more follow-up

204 Sufficient partial – follow-up

205 Sufficient partial – supplement follow-up

213 Type-A, Language Barrier

214 Type-A, Unable to Locate

216 Type-A, No One Home (NOH)

217 Type-A, Temporarily Absent (TA)

218 Type-A, Respondent, Refused (REF)

219 Type-A, Other, Occupied (specify)

223 Type-B, Entire Household Armed Forces

224 Type-B, Entire Household Under 15

225 Type-B, Temp. Occupied by persons with Usual Residence Elsewhere (URE)

226 Type-B, Vacant, Regular (REG)

227 Type-B, Vacant, Storage of Household Furniture

228 Type-B, Unfit, to be Demolished

229 Type-B, Under Construction, not ready

230 Type-B, Converted to Temporary Business/Storage

231 Type-B, Unoccupied Tent/Trailer site

232 Type-B, Permit Granted, construction not started

233 Type-B, Other specify

240 Type-C, Demolished

241 Type-C, House or Trailer moved

242 Type-C, Outside Segment

243 Type-C, Converted to Permanent Business/Storage

244 Type-C, Merged

APP3-1 August 2013
CODE DESCRIPTION

245 Type-C, Condemned

247 Type-C, Unused Line of Listing Sheet

248 Type-C, Other specify

258 Type-C, Unlocatable Sample Address

259 Type-C, Unit Does Not Exist or Unit is Out of Scope

APP3-2 August 2013
APPENDIX 4

CATI OUTCOME CODES AND DESCRIPTIONS

WebCATI

Final Outcome Subtype Description

1 1 Fully completed interview

2 1 Sufficient partial interview

3 Complete but personal visit requested next 

month

4 Partial, not complete at closeout

5 Labor force complete, supplement incomplete

6 1 Fully completed labor force interview with 

supplement complete, DK items incomplete at 

closeout – ASEC only

20 14 Sample unit ineligible – Type B Other –

ASEC only 

20 22 Household entirely occupied by Armed 

Forces or all under 15 years of age

21 1 Household institutionalized for duration of 

field period - recycle 

21 2 Household absent, ill, or hospitalized for 

duration of field period - recycle

21 3 Household moved in US since last contact -

recycle

22 2 Phone number does not reach sample address 

- recycle

23 1 Household/Person deceased - recycle

23 2 Household with all members URE – recycle 

23 3 Household vacant - recycle

23 4 Other noninterview - recycle

24 Unconverted language barrier - recycle

25 Unconverted hearing barrier (NEW) - recycle

172 Case deleted as part of sample reduction

176 Congressional case deleted

177 HQ requested recycle

APP4-1 April 2007 (rev)
WebCATI

Final Outcome Subtype Description

178 Hostile break off/refusal – request personal 

visit – recycle

179 Hostile break off (no data obtained) – recycle

181 Refusal – recycle

183 Exceeded unproductive call max – recycle

185 Sufficient partial interview, callback set

186 Pre-refusal based on explicit refusal or hostile 

break off – recycle

188 1 Uncompleted callbacks; unable to contact on 

callback –recycle

188 2 Temporarily unavailable; absent, ill, 

hospitalized or institutionalized – recycle

191 Language barrier - recycle

192 Hearing barrier – recycle

193 Privacy detectors – recycle

194 Never contacted, confirmed number – recycle

195 Never contacted, unconfirmed number –

recycle

198 Other assessor pre-final, type 3

199 Never tried (new case) – recycle 

APP4-2 April 2007 (rev)
APPENDIX 5 

CAPI & CATI NOTES ABBREVIATION LIST

# – Number

X, 2X, 3X, etc. – Times, 

 2 times, 3 times, etc.

ADR – Address 

AG – Agendum 

AGN – Again

AKDT – Alaska Daylight Time

AKST – Alaska Standard Time

AM – Answering machine or 

 morning

AMML – Answering machine 

 message left

AMNML – Answering machine 

 NO message left

ANS – Answer 

APPT – Appointment 

APT – Apartment 

ASSN – Association 

ASSR – Assessor 

ASST – Assistant, Assist

AVL – Available 

AVE – Avenue 

BCK – Back 

BLDG – Building 

BLK – Block 

BLVD – Boulevard 

BSY – Busy

BRKN – Broken 

BTRY – Battery 

C - Complete

CB – Callback 

CDNT - Could Not 

CDROM – CDROM Phone 

 Disc (Directory)

CDT – Central Daylight Time

CST – Central Standard Time

CIR – Circle 

CLD – Called 

CLSD – Closed 

CMP INT – Complete Interview

CNT – Count 

CNTC – Contact 

CNTY – County 

CO – Company 

CONT – Continue 

COOP – Cooperate 

CP - Contact Person 

CT – Court 

CTY – City 

DA – Directory Assistance

DAU – Daughter

DISC – Disconnected 

DR – Drive 

DSC ADR – Descriptive 

 Address

DUP – Duplicate 

DWN – Down 

E – East

EDT – Eastern Daylight Time

EST – Eastern Standard Time 

EM – Exact Match

F – Female 

F/U – Followup 

FAX – Fax Machine

FND – Find / Found

FR – Field Representative

FRI – Friday 

FRM – From 

FRNT – Front 

FT – Foot / Feet (Distance)

FWD – Forward 

GCB – Guess Call Back

GRP – Group, Group Home

HADT – Hawaiian-Aluetian 

 Daylight Time

HAST – Hawaiian-Aluetian 

 Standard Time

HCB – Hard Call Back

HH – Household 

HHM – Household Member

HGUP – Hang Up

HU – Housing Unit

HWY – Highway 

HIS – History

I&O – Industry and Occupation

ID – Identification

IMMD – Immediate 

INCL – Include 

INCM – Income 

INFO – Information 

INSD – Inside

INST – Instrument

INT – Interview / Interviewer

JIC – Just in case

LN – Lane 

LN# – Line Number

LP – Language Problem

LPTP – Laptop Computer

LRG – Large 

LS – Listing Sheet 

LT – Left 

LTR – Letter 

LV – Leave

M – Male 

Mbr – Member 

MDT – Mountain Daylight Time

MST – Mountain Standard Time 

MGR – Manager 

MHP – Mobile Home Park

MI – Mile(s) 

ML – Message Left

MO – Month 

MON – Monday

MSG – Message

MSDAPPT – Missed 

 Appointment

MU – Multi-Units

MV(D) – Move, Moved 

N – North 

NA – Not available / not 

 applicable

NE – Northeast 

NIS – Not in Service

NOH – No One Home

NRBY – Nearby 

NW – Northwest 

NX – Next 

ORG – Organization 

OSP – Original Sample Person

OTH – Other 

OTSD – Outside 

PER – Person 

PRT INT – Partial Interview

PD – Privacy Detector

PDT – Pacific Daylight Time

PST – Pacific Standard Time

PH, PH# – Phone, Phone No.

PK – Park 

PKY – Parkway 

Pl – Place 

PM – Afternoon / Evening

PMGR – Property Manager

POB – Place of Business

POBX – P.O. Box

POE – Place of Employment

POS – Possible 

PREV – Previous 

PROP – Property 

PRVD – Provide 

PUB LIB – Public Library

PV – Personal Visit

PXY – Proxy 

 

QST – Question 

QSTNR – Questionnaire 

RD – Road / Rural Delivery

RECD – Received 

REF – Refused 

REF PER – Reference Person

REQ – Request

RESP – Respondent

RH – Rooming House

RLCT – Reluctant 

RM – Room, Roommate 

RNA – Ring No Answer

RR – Rural Route 

RRD – Rural Route Delivery 

RT – Right

RTE – Route

S – South 

SAT – Saturday

SCB – Soft Call Back

SCRN – Screen (computer)

SD – Said 

SE – Southeast 

SFR – Senior Field 

 Representative

SGNL – Signal

S_L_ – Sheet #, Line #

SM – Small 

SP – Sample Person

SP/W – Spoke With

SS – Spanish Speaking

ST – Street

STAT – Status 

SUN – Sunday 

SUp – Supervisor

SUPPL – Supplement 

SW – Southwest 

TA – Temporarily Absent

TXAS – Tax Assessor

TER – Terrace 

THUR – Thursday 

TLK(D) – Talk(ed)

TOMO – Tomorrow 

TPK – Turnpike 

TR – Trail 

TRLR – Trailer 

TRLR PRK – Trailer Park

TRNSM – Transmission / 

 Transmitted

TRSFR – Transfer 

TUE – Tuesday

UTL – Unable to Locate

VAC – Vacant

VST(D) – Visit(ed)

W – West 

WED – Wednesday 

W/IN – Within 

WK – Week 

W/OUT – Without 

WRG – Wrong 

WWW - World Wide Web / 

 Internet

 

YR(S) – Years(s)

APP5-1 August 2013
APPENDIX 6

CAPI & CATI TEMPLATES

CAPI Template 

CATI Template
APPENDIX 7 

CPS Letters 

 This section of the manual contains a copy of each of the CPS 

Letters. 

The letters included are as follows: 

CPS-263(MIS-1)(L) 

CPS-264(MIS-5)(L) 

CPS-580(ASEC)(L) 
 


 


 



 IB-1 January 2007

Basic CPS Items Booklet 

CAPI Front Items 

START_CP 

CENSUS CATI/CAPI SYSTEM Current Population Survey 

Case status is: 

Date is: Time is: 

INTERVIEW NUMBER: 

1 Telephone Interview 

2 Personal interview (See Roster Tab) 

3 Personal interview (Skip all notes and go to INTROB) 

4 Noninterview 

5 Ready to transmit case-no more followup 

6 Quit: Do not attempt now 

TYPEZ 

No survey data were collected for (name of person talking about). 

 Enter the reason that best describes why (name of person talking about)'s 

 survey data were not collected. 

1 Person was ill or in the hospital 

2 Person was temporarily away from home 

3 Refused 

4 Other (specify) 

TYPEZSP 

Enter other reason why survey data were not collected. 

NEED_PV_CP 

This case requires a personal visit unless this is a last resort. 

1 Not last resort 

2 Continue 
 IB-2 January 2007

SHOW_ROS_CP 

Status of household composition 

LN NAME M RELATION SX AGE MAR SP AN ED RC HS LN 

1 Continue 

SHOW_SUPP_CP 

Household roster 

LN NAME AGE LBFR STAT SUPP STATLN 

1 Continue 

SHOW_INFO_CP 

INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS INTERVIEWS 

Press CTRL-T to View best time to call information Press CNTRL-F7 to view case level notes 

 

1 Continue 

SHOW_RECYC_CP 

Recycle information from CATI 

OUTCOME: 

F5 to view status of persons 

CTRL-F7 to view notes for appointment date and time 

1 Continue 
 IB-3 January 2007

DIAL_CP 

Dial this number: 

Secondary Number: 

Secondary Resp: 

Third Number: 

Third RESP: 

Current Resp: 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

 

1 Someone answers 

2 No contact/Answering Machine 

3 New Telephone number or Telephone disconnected 

4 NOT ATTEMPTED NOW 

WHICH_PHN_CP 

Which phone number needs to be updated? 

First number: 

Secondary Number: 

Third Number: 

1 First phone number 

2 Second phone number 

3 Third phone number 

NEWNUMBER_CP 

OLD NUMBER: 

Record new number 

Enter (0) for no telephone number 
 IB-4 January 2007

SHOW_CPINFO_CP 

 BC NAME: 

 BC TITLE: 

 BC PHONE NUMBER: 

 BC EXT: 

 BC OBSERVATION: 

 

1 Continue 

GENINTRO_CP 

DO NOT READ AS WORDED BELOW 

Identify yourself - if personal, show I.D. 

Ask for eligible respondent /Ask to speak to (NAME) 

Introduce survey - adjust introduction to last month's status and respondent 

If new HH - give introductory letter and allow time to read. 

The Household address is: 

(house number)(street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

1 Continue 

INTROB_CP 

Is respondent ready to complete the interview? 

1 Continue 

2 Inconvenient time. Callback needed. 

3 Reluctant Respondent - hold for refusal followup 

4 Noninterview 

5 Other outcome OR problem interviewing respondent 

6 Wrong address (wrong case selected) 

HHNUM_VR_CP 

Do Not Ask 

Is this a Replacement Household? 

 

1 Yes 

2 No 
 IB-5 January 2007

VERADD_CP 

I have your address listed as ... READ ADDRESS BELOW

Is that your exact address? 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

1 Same address 

2 Address has changed 

3 Incorrect address previously recorded 

4 Moved, new address 

NEWHNO_CP 

Enter corrections for House Number or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (house number) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

NEWHNOSUF_CP 

Enter corrections for House # Suffix or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 
 IB-6 January 2007

NEWSTR_CP 

Enter corrections for Street name or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

NEWUNIT_CP 

Enter corrections for Unit Designation or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

NEWGQINFO_CP 

Enter corrections for Group Quarters Unit Description or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

 
 IB-7 January 2007

NEWNONCITY_CP 

Enter corrections for Non City Style Address or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

NEWPHYDES_CP 

Enter corrections for Physical Description or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

NEWPO_CP 

Enter corrections for City or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 
 IB-8 January 2007

NEWST_CP 

Enter corrections for State or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

NEWZIP_CP 

Enter corrections for Zipcode or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

NEWBLNAME_CP 

Enter corrections for Unit Designation or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des: 

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 

CHNGPH_CP 

Do not ask 

Do you need to change the current phone number? 

CURRENT NUMBER: 

1 Yes 

2 No 
 IB-9 January 2007

NEWPH_CP 

What is the new telephone number where you would like to be called? 

PHTYP_CP 

Is this a home, office, or cell number? 

1 Home 

2 Office 

3 Cell 

MAILAD_CP 

Is this also your mailing address?

1 Yes 

2 No 

 

NEWMHNO_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - House # or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

NEWMHNOSUF_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - House # suffix or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

NEWMSTR_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - Street Name or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

NEWMUNIT_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - Unit Designation or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

NEWMQGQINFO_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - GQ Unit Description or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 
 IB-10 January 2007

NEWMNONCITY_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - Non-City Style Address or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

NEWMPO_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - City or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

NEWMST_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address -State or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

NEWMZIP_CP 

Enter change to Mailing address - Zipcode or Press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

PK_RESP_CP 

Enter line number of respondent 

New respondent must be a household member and 15+ or a proxy 

R LN NAME M AGE 

1 Person1 

2 Person2 

3 Person3 

4 Person4 

5 Person5 

6 Person6 

7 Person7 

8 Person8 

9 Person9 

10 Person10 

11 Person11 

12 Person12 

13 Person13 

14 Person14 

15 Person15 

16 Person16 
 IB-11 January 2007

SUPP_STRTED_CP 

RESPONDENT SELECTED: 

 (name of person talking about) has already started the supplement. It must be completed 

before anyone else can be interviewed. 

1 Back to select new respondent 

2 Set callback 

3 Person unavailable through (date) 

SUPP_PROXY_CP 

If (name of person talking about) can give proxy information for (NAME) then continue. Else, 

you must enter 'L' in the last item in order to continue interviewing the rest of the household. 

1 Continue 

INTRO_RESUME_CP 

Respondent: Respondent name 

 Some of the questions have already been answered. 

After you enter 1, Press 'END' to return to the next unanswered question 

1 Continue 
 IB-12 January 2007

Basic CPS Items Booklet 

CATI Front Items 

RECTOCAPI_CT 

This should not have been assigned to CATI because it is a MIS (1 or 5) case. This case 

needs to be recycled to field. 

1 Continue 

HELLO 

Current Population Survey 

Hello. This is ..... from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

May I please speak to Respondent name? 

Status: Cutoff date: 

 

1 This is correct person 

2 Correct person called to phone 

3 Person not home now or not available now (incl. temp ill/hosp.) 

4 Person unknown at this number 

5 Person no longer lives there (Includes deceased individuals) 

6 Other outcome OR problem interviewing household. 

HELLO_SUPP_STRTD 

(Respondent name) has already started the supplement. It must be completed before 

anyone else can be interviewed. 

1 Set callback for (respondent name) 

2 Person unavailable through (date) 

HELLO_SUPP_CNTNUE 

Can the person you are talking to give proxy information for (NAME)? 

1 Yes 

2 No 
 IB-13 January 2007

HELLO_ALT 

Ask for another possible household respondent.

LN NAME RELATION AGE 

1 NO ONE listed available now 

2 Person1 

3 Person2 

4 Person3 

5 Person4 

6 Person5 

7 Person6 

8 Person7 

9 Person8 

10 Person9 

11 Person10 

12 Person11 

13 Person12 

14 Person13 

15 Person14 

16 Person15 

17 Person16 

99 Other problem interviewing household 

HELLO_PRB 

Problem interviewing household - Household not available 

1 Household Temporarily absent or away 

2 Household Ill, hospitalized (physically or mentally unable to respond) 

3 Household Deceased 

4 Household Institutionalized 

5 All members - Usual Residence Elsewhere 

6 Other problems - exit to webCATI 
 IB-14 January 2007

SUPP_ALTERNATE 

These people need self response interviews: 

CUTOFF DATE : (Cut-off Date) 

 I still need to interview (READ NAMES). 

(Is he/ Is she/ Are either of them/ Are any of them) available now? 

 LN NAME STATUS LN 

1 No_One 

2 Person1 

3 Person2 

4 Person3 

5 Person4 

6 Person5 

7 Person6 

8 Person7 

9 Person8 

10 Person9 

11 Person10 

12 Person11 

13 Person12 

14 Person13 

15 Person14 

16 Person15 

17 Person16 
 IB-15 January 2007

HELLO_ALT2 

Ask for another possible household respondent.

 This is the last callback for supplement data. 

 Accept proxy respondent 

LN NAME RELATION AGE 

1 NO, No one listed is available 

2 Person1 

3 Person2 

4 Person3 

5 Person4 

6 Person5 

7 Person6 

8 Person7 

9 Person8 

10 Person9 

11 Person10 

12 Person11 

13 Person12 

14 Person13 

15 Person14 

16 Person15 

17 Person16 

SOMEONE_IN_HH 

I'm trying to reach someone in the (Name of reference person/respondent) household.

Does (READ NAMES) live there? 

R LN NAME M AGE 

1 Yes, person you are speaking with or someone available now. 

2 Yes, but person NOT home or NOT available now. 

3 No 
 IB-16 January 2007

GETNAME 

Enter the line number of the person you are speaking with. 

1 Person1 

2 Person2 

3 Person3 

4 Person4 

5 Person5 

6 Person6 

7 Person7 

8 Person8 

9 Person9 

10 Person10 

11 Person11 

12 Person12 

13 Person13 

14 Person14 

15 Person15 

16 Person16 

HELP_OTH 

Perhaps you can help me. I would like to speak to a member of the (Name of reference 

person/respondent) household who usually lives there, is at least 15 years old, and is 

knowledgeable about the household. 

IF APPROPRIATE: Would you or someone else there now qualify? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Wrong household 

OTH_FNAME 

What is your name? 

OTH_LNAME 

Enter last name 
 IB-17 January 2007

WHO_CALLBACK 

IF NECESSARY: Whom should I ask for when I call back? 

 LN NAME RELATION AGE 

1 Thru closeout no eligible household respondent will be available 

2 Person1 

3 Person2 

4 Person3 

5 Person4 

6 Person5 

7 Person6 

8 Person7 

9 Person8 

10 Person9 

11 Person10 

12 Person11 

13 Person12 

14 Person13 

15 Person14 

16 Person15 

17 Person16 

99 No name given or name given not listed above 

SPEAK_TO_SOMEONE 

Since no one in the (Name of reference person/respondent) household will be available before 

the end of our survey period, perhaps you can help us. 

We need to speak to someone who is 15 years of age or older and who is currently staying in 

the (Name of reference person/respondent) household.

Would you or someone there now qualify? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

OTH_FNAME2 

What is your name? 

OTH_LNAME2 

Enter last name 
 IB-18 January 2007

VER_RESIDENCE 

Have I reached a residence at: 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4)

1 Yes 

2 No 

NOT_FOR_CATI 

The Census Bureau is conducting the Current Population Survey at selected 

addresses throughout the country. However, your household does not qualify for a 

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW at this time. Thank you for your help. 

HANG UP! 

1 Continue 

EXITTHANK 

Thank you for your time. 

HANG UP.

1 Continue 
 IB-19 January 2007

INTRO_1ST 

Hello, I'm ...... from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

I'm calling concerning the Current Population Survey. We contacted this household last 

month to obtain the governments statistics on employment and unemployment in your city 

and across the country. I'm calling this month to update the information. 

I have your address listed as: 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4)

Is that your exact address? 

1 SAME address 

2 MOVED, not same address 

3 Haven't moved, but address has changed 

4 Incorrect address previously recorded 

MOVED 

Since your address rather than you personally was chosen for inclusion in the survey, no 

interview is required of you at this time. Thank you for your past cooperation. The help 

you gave us was an important contribution to the Current Population Survey data. 

1 Continue 

NEWHNO_CT 

 Enter corrections for House Number or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:
 IB-20 January 2007

NEWHNOSUF_CT

 Enter corrections for House Number Suffix or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:

NEWSTR_CT 

 Enter corrections for Street Name or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:

NEWUNIT_CT 

 Enter corrections for Unit designation or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 
 IB-21 January 2007

NEWGQINFO_CT

 Enter corrections for GQ Information or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:

NEWNONCITY_CT 

 Enter corrections for Non-City Style Address or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:

NEWPHYDES_CT 

 Enter corrections for Physical Description or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building: 
 IB-22 January 2007

NEWPO_CT

 Enter corrections for City or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:

NEWST_CT 

 Enter corrections for State or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:

NEWZIP_CT 

 Enter corrections for Zipcode or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:
 IB-23 January 2007

NEWBLNAME_CT

 Enter corrections for Building Name or press ENTER for Same/No Change. 

 

(house number) (street name) (unit designation) 

(city), (state) (zip) -(zip 4) 

Phy des:

GQ unit: 

Non-City: 

Building:

INTRO_PT 

Hello, this is ...... from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

We completed part of the interview for this household for the Current 

Population Survey and would like to finish it now. 

CUTOFF DATE : (Cut-off Date) 

1 Continue 

INTROB_CT 

My supervisor is working with me today and may listen in to evaluate my performance. 

Persuade respondent to complete interview now, if possible 

1 Continue 

2 Inconvenient time. Callback needed 

3 Other outcome or problem 

INTRO_RESUME 

Respondent: Respondent name 

Some of the questions have already been answered. 

Press 'END' to return to the next unanswered question 
Basic CPS Items Booklet

Demographic Items

PERSTAT

(Are all of these persons still living here? / Person status) 

1 Person deceased 

2 Person moved out 

3 Person left - was a URE last month 

4 Delete person - to correct previous mistake 

5 Person is a URE this month 

9 Reinstate person 

FNAME

(What are the names of all persons living or staying here? / What is the name of the 

next person) 

Enter 999 if no more persons 

LNAME 

Enter Last Name 

S_HHMEM 

Is this (name of person talking about)’s usual place of residence? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Proxy 

URE 

Does (name of person talking about) have a usual place of residence elsewhere? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-24 May 2015
SEX 

Ask only if necessary 

What is (name of person talking about)’s sex? 

1 Male 

2 Female 

NROS2B 

16 Persons in household roster

At this point count additional people. You will interview only those household members 15 

years old or older who are listed.

Are there any other persons 15 years old or older now living or staying there? (Who 

have not been listed.)

1 Yes 

2 No 

CNT2BG

How many other? 

Enter number 

MCHILD 

I have listed . . . READ NAMES

Have I missed any babies or small children?

1 Yes 

2 No 

MAWAY

Have I missed anyone who usually lives here but is away now -traveling, at school, or 

in a hospital?

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-25 May 2015
MLODGE 

Have I missed any lodgers, boarders, or persons you employ who live here?

1 Yes 

2 No 

MELSE 

Have I missed anyone else staying here?

1 Yes 

2 No 

OWNREN1

What is the name of the person or one of the persons who owns or rents that home?

Enter line number (1-16) if current HH member Enter (0) if owner(s)/renter(s) not a 

household member

1 Owner/Renter not a HH member 

2 Person 1's name 

3 Person 2's name 

4 Person 3's name 

5 Person 4's name 

6 Person 5's name 

7 Person 6's name 

8 Person 7's name 

9 Person 8's name 

10 Person 9's name 

11 Person 10's name 

12 Person 11's name 

13 Person 12's name 

14 Person 13's name 

15 Person 14's name 

16 Person 15's name 

17 Person 16's name 

IB-26 May 2015
HHRESP 

Ask if necessary

With whom am I speaking?

Respondent must be a household member and 15+ or a proxy. 

1. Under_15 

2. Person 1's name 

3. Person 2's name 

4. Person 3's name 

5. Person 4's name 

6. Person 5's name 

7. Person 6's name 

8. Person 7's name 

9. Person 8's name 

10. Person 9's name 

11. Person 10's name 

12. Person 11's name 

13. Person 12's name 

14. Person 13's name 

15. Person 14's name 

16. Person 15's name 

17. Person 16's name 

HHRESP_VERIFY

Are all persons –

1 Under 15 years of age 

2 Non-household members 

S_RRP 

How (are / is) (name/you) related to (reference person's name/you)? 

42 Opposite-sex Spouse (Husband/Wife)

43 Opposite-sex Unmarried Partner

44 Same-sex Spouse (Husband/Wife)

45 Same-sex Unmarried Partner 

46 Child 

47 Grandchild 

48 Parent (Mother/Father)

49 Brother/Sister

50 Other relative (Aunt, Cousin, Nephew, Mother-in-law, etc.)

51 Foster_Child 

52 Housemate/Roommate

53 Roomer/Boarder

54 Other nonrelative

IB-27 May 2015
S_SUBFAM 

Earlier you said that (name of person talking about) (was/were) not related to 

(reference person's name/you). (Are / Is) (name of person talking about) related to 

anyone else in this household? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

SUBFAM_WHO 

Who (are / is) (name of person talking about) related to?

PROBE: Anyone else?

Enter line number(s), separate with commas 

1 Person 1's name 

2 Person 2's name 

3 Person 3's name 

4 Person 4's name 

5 Person 5's name 

6 Person 6's name 

7 Person 7's name 

8 Person 8's name 

9 Person 9's name 

10 Person 10's name 

11 Person 11's name 

12 Person 12's name 

13 Person 13's name 

14 Person 14's name 

15 Person 15's name 

16 Person 16's name 

IB-28 May 2015
LNMOM 

Enter line number of mother of (name of person talking about)

Ask if necessary: Is (name's/your) mother a member of this household?

1 No_One 

2 Person1 

3 Person2 

4 Person3 

5 Person4 

6 Person5 

7 Person6 

8 Person7 

9 Person8 

10 Person9 

11 Person10 

12 Person11 

13 Person12 

14 Person13 

15 Person14 

16 Person15 

17 Person16 

MOMTYP 

(Are / Is) (name of person talking about) (your / mother's name) biological, step, or 

adopted child? 

1 Biological 

2 Step 

3 Adopted 

LNDAD 

Enter line number of father of (name of person talking about)

Ask if necessary: Is (name's/your) father a member of this household? 

1 No_One 

2 Person1 

3 Person2 

4 Person3 

5 Person4 

6 Person5 

7 Person6 

IB-29 May 2015
8 Person7 

9 Person8 

10 Person9 

11 Person10 

12 Person11 

13 Person12 

14 Person13 

15 Person14 

16 Person15 

17 Person16 

DADTYP 

(Are / Is) (name of person talking about) (your / father's name) biological, step, or 

adopted child? 

1 Biological 

2 Step 

3 Adopted 

PARENT2 

(REF_FNAME ^REF_LNAME’s) parent is also (name of person talking about)’s 

parent, is that correct? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

BIRTHM 

What is (name's/your) date of birth? 

 Enter Birth Month

1 Jan 

2 Feb 

3 Mar 

4 Apr 

5 May 

6 June 

7 July 

8 Aug 

9 Sept 

10 Oct 

11 Nov 

12 Dec 

IB-30 May 2015
BIRTHD 

What is (name's/your) date of birth? 

 Enter Birth Day 

BIRTHY 

What is (name's/your) date of birth?

Enter Birth Year (Enter 4 digit year - ex: 1964) 

VERIFY_AGE 

As of last week, that would make (name/you) (approximately (AGE)/ less than 1 / over 

98 / AGE) years old. Is that correct?

1. Yes 

2. No 

AGEGSS 

Even though you don’t know (name's/your) exact birthdate, what is your best guess as 

to how old (you/he/she) (was/were) on (your/his/her) last birthday?

99 99 years or older

00 – 98 0 to 98 years old

AGE2 

Ask if necessary 

(Are / Is) (you/he/she) under 15? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

PREMARTL 

Since our last interview, has any household member had any changes in his or her 

Marital Status? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-31 May 2015
MARITL 

(Are / Is) (name/you) now married, widowed, divorced, separated or never married? 

1 Married - Spouse PRESENT 

2 Married - Spouse ABSENT 

3 Widowed 

4 Divorced 

5 Separated 

6 Never married 

SPOUSE 

Enter line number of spouse of (name of person talking about)

- -Ask if necessary 

0 No_One 

1 Person1 

2 Person2 

3 Person3 

4 Person4 

5 Person5 

6 Person6 

7 Person7 

8 Person8 

9 Person9 

10 Person10 

11 Person11 

12 Person12 

13 Person13 

14 Person14 

15 Person15 

16 Person16 

COHAB 

Do you have a boyfriend, girlfriend or partner in this household? 

If Yes, probe WHO and enter line number

 If No, enter "0"

0 No 

1 Person 1's name 

2 Person 2's name 

3 Person 3's name 

IB-32 May 2015
4 Person 4's name 

5 Person 5's name 

6 Person 6's name 

7 Person 7's name 

8 Person 8's name 

9 Person 9's name 

10 Person 10's name 

11 Person 11's name 

12 Person 12's name 

13 Person 13's name 

14 Person 14's name 

15 Person 15's name 

16 Person 16's name 

AFEVER 

Did (name/you) ever serve on active duty in the U. S. Armed Forces? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

AFWHEN

IF NECESSARY: Previously I was told that (name/you) served on active duty in the U. S. 

 Armed Forces.

When did (you/he/she) serve? 

Enter all that apply, separate with commas Mark up to 4 that apply 

1 September 2001 or later

2 August 1990 to August 2001

3 May 1975 to July 1990

4 Vietnam Era (August 1964 to April 1975)

5 February 1955 to July 1964

6 Korean War (July 1950 to January 1955)

7 January 1947 to June 1950

8 World War II (December 1941 to December 1946)

9 November 1941 or earlier

AFNOW 

(Are / Is) (name/you) (now/still) in the Armed Forces? 

IB-33 May 2015
1 Yes 

2 No 

EDUCA 

What is the highest level of school (name/you) (have/has) completed or the highest 

degree (name/you) (have/has) received? 

31 Less than 1st grade

32 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade

33 5th or 6th grade

34 7th or 8th grade

35 9th grade

36 10th grade

37 11th grade

38 12th grade NO DIPLOMA

39 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE- high school DIPLOMA or the equivalent (For 

example: GED)

40 Some college but no degree

41 Associate degree in college - Occupational/vocational program

42 Associate degree in college -- Academic program

43 Bachelor's degree (For example: BA, AB, BS)

44 Master's degree (For example: MA, MS, MEng, MEd, MSW, MBA)

45 Professional School Degree (For example: MD,DDS,DVM,LLB,JD)

46 Doctorate degree (For example: PhD, EdD)

DIPGED 

People can get a High School diploma in a variety of ways, such as graduating from 

High School or by getting a GED or other equivalent. How did (name/you) get 

(your/his/her) High School diploma?

1 Graduation from High School

2 GED or other equivalent

HGCOMP 

What was the highest grade of regular school (name/you) completed before receiving 

(your/his/her) GED?

1 Less than 1st grade

IB-34 May 2015
2 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade

3 5th or 6th grade

4 7th or 8th grade

5 9th grade

6 10th grade

7 11th grade

8 12th grade NO DIPLOMA

CYC 

(Including any time that may have been spent getting as Associate's Degree,/ )

(How/how) many years of college CREDIT (have/has) (name/you) completed?

(Have / Has) (you/he/she) COMPLETED...

1 Less than 1 year (include 0 years completed)?

2 The first, or FRESHMAN year?

3 The second, or SOPHOMORE year?

4 The third, or JUNIOR year?

5 Four or more years?

CERT1

(Does/do) (name/you) have a currently active professional certification or a state or 

industry license? Do not include business license, such as a liquor license or vending 

license. 

(Read if necessary: a professional certification or license shows you are qualified to 

perform a specific job. Examples include a realtor license, a medical assistant 

certification, a Teacher License or an IT certification. Only include certifications or 

licenses obtained by an individual.)

1. Yes

2. No

CERT2 

Were any of (your/his/her) certifications or licenses issued by the federal, state, or local 

government? 

1. Yes

2. No

 HSPNON 

(Are / Is) (name/you) of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-35 May 2015
ORISPN

(Are / Is) (name/you) Mexican, Mexican American, or Chicano; Puerto Rican; Cuban, 

Cuban American, or of another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin; for example, 

Argentinean, Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Spaniard, and so on?

If multiple answer, Probe: Which group (do/does) (you/he/she) most closely identify 

 with? 

1 Mexican 

2 Mexican American

3 Chicano 

4 Puerto Rican

5 Cuban 

6 Cuban-American

7 Other 

S_OROTSP

What is that origin?

OROTSS 

Specify "Other" Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino group 

RACE

I am going to read you a list of race categories. You may choose one or more races. 

For this survey, Hispanic origin is not a race. Are you: White; Black or African 

American; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; OR Native Hawaiian or Other 

Pacific Islander?

Do not probe unless response is Hispanic or a Hispanic origin 

Enter all that apply, separate with commas 

1 White 

2 Black or African American 

3 American Indian or Alaska Native 

4 Asian 

5 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 

6 Other - DO NOT READ 

IB-36 May 2015
RACEAS 

You may choose one or more Asian groups. (Are / Is) (you/name) Asian Indian, 

Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or another Asian group, for example, 

Hmong, Laotian, Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian, and so on? 

Read each item

Enter all that apply, separate with commas 

1 Asian Indian 

2 Chinese 

3 Filipino 

4 Japanese 

5 Korean 

6 Vietnamese 

7 Other Asian 

RACEPI

You may choose one or more Pacific Islander groups. (Are / Is) (you/name) Native 

Hawaiian; Guamanian or Chamorro; Samoan; or another Pacific Islander group, for 

example, Fijian, Tongan, and so on? 

Read each item

Enter all that apply, separate with commas

1 Native Hawaiian 

2 Guamanian or Chamorro 

3 Samoan 

4 Other Pacific Islander 

S_RACEOT 

Read only if necessary: What is (your/his/her) race?

RACEOS 

Specify Other race

IB-37 May 2015
Basic CPS Items Booklet

Labor Force Items

LABFOR 

I am going to ask a few questions about work-related activities (THE WEEK BEFORE 

LAST/LAST WEEK). By (the week before last/last week), I mean the week beginning on 

Sunday, (DATE), and ending on Saturday, (DATE). 

1 Continue 

BUS

(Do you/ Does NAME/ Does anyone in this household) have a business or a farm?

1 Yes 

2 No 

BUSL 

Whose business or farm is it?

Enter all that apply, separate by commas.

Probe: Anyone else? 

1 Person1 

2 Person2 

3 Person3 

4 Person4 

5 Person5 

6 Person6 

7 Person7 

8 Person8 

9 Person9 

10 Person10 

11 Person11 

12 Person12 

13 Person13 

14 Person14 

15 Person15 

16 Person16 

IB-38 May 2015
WORK 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), did (name/you) do ANY work for 

(pay/either pay or profit)?

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Retired 

4 Disabled 

5 Unable to work 

BUS1 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), did (name/you) do any unpaid work in the 

family business or farm? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

BUS2 

(Do / Does) (name/you) receive any payments or profits from the business? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

RET 

Last month (name/you) (was/were) reported to be retired. (Are / Is) (you/he/she) still 

retired? 

1. Yes 

2. No

3. Was not retired last month

DIS 

Does (your/his/her) disability continue to prevent (you/he/she) from doing any kind of work 

for the next 6 months (or working in the family business)? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Did not have a disability last month

IB-39 May 2015
RET1_1

(Do / Does) (name/you) currently want a job, either full or part time? 

1 Yes or maybe, it depends

2 No 

3 Has a job

DIS1_1

Does (your/his/her) disability prevent (you/he/she) from accepting any kind of work during 

the next six months?

1 Yes 

2 No 

DIS2_1 

(Do / Does) (name/you) have a disability that prevents (you/he/she) from accepting any kind 

of work during the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

ABSNT 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), (in addition to the business) (name/you) 

have a job either full or part time? Include any job from which (name/you) (was/were) 

temporarily absent. 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Retired 

4 Disabled 

5 Unable to Work 

RET1_2 

(Do / Does) (name/you) currently want a job, either full or part time? 

1 Yes or maybe, it depends

2 No 

3. Has a job 

IB-40 May 2015
DIS1_2 

Does (your/his/her) disability prevent (you/he/she) from accepting any kind of work during 

the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

DIS2_2 

(Do / Does) (name/you) have a disability that prevents (you/he/she) from accepting any kind 

of work during the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

LAY 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), (was/were) (name/you) on layoff from a job? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Retired 

4 Disabled 

5 Unable to work 

RET1_3 

(Do / Does) (name/you) currently want a job, either full or part time? 

1 Yes or maybe, it depends

2 No 

3 Has a job

DIS1_3 

Does (your/his/her) disability prevent (you/he/she) from accepting any kind of work during 

the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3

IB-41 May 2015
DIS2_3 

(Do / Does) (name/you) have a disability that prevents (you/he/she) from accepting any kind 

of work during the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

ABSRSN1 

What was the main reason (you/he/she) (was/were) absent from work (THE WEEK 

BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK)? 

1 On layoff (temporary or indefinite)

2 Slack work/business conditions

3 Waiting for new job to begin

4 Vacation/personal days

5 Own illness/injury/medical problems

6 Child care problems

7 Other family/personal obligation

8 Maternity/paternity leave

9 Labor dispute

10 Weather affected job

11 School/training

12 Civic/military duty

13 Does not work in the business

14 Other (specify)

ABSPD 

(Are / Is) ( you/he/she) being paid by (your/his/her) employer for any of the time off (the 

week before last/last week)? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

MJ 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), did (name/you) have more than one (job/job 

or business), including part time, evening or weekend work? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-42 May 2015
MJNUM 

Altogether, how many (jobs/ jobs or businesses) did (you/he/she) have? 

1 2 jobs 

2 3 jobs 

3 4 or more jobs 

HRUSL1 

How many hours per week (do/does) (name/you) USUALLY work at (your/his/her) (job?/ 

main job?)

Enter number of hours

(00-99) Hours each week

(V) Hours vary each week

HRUSL2 

How many hours per week (do/does) (you/he/she) USUALLY work at (your/his/her) other 

(job/ jobs)?

Enter number of hours

(00-99) Hours each week

(V) Hours vary each week

HRFTPT 

(Do / Does) (you/he/she) usually work 35 hours or more per week (at (your/his/her) job/in 

the family business/ at all (your/his/her) jobs combined)? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Hours Vary 

HRWANT 

(Do / Does) (name/you) want to work a full time workweek of 35 hours or more per week? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Regular hours are full-time 

IB-43 May 2015
HRRSN1 

Some people work part time because they cannot find full time work or because business is 

poor. Others work part time because of family obligations or other personal reasons. What 

is (name's/your) MAIN reason for working part time? 

Probe if necessary: What is (name's/your) main reason for working part time instead of 

 full time?

1 Slack work/business conditions

2 Could only find part-time work

3 Seasonal work

4 Child care problems

5 Other family/personal obligations

6 Health/medical limitations

7 School/training

8 Retired/Social Security limit on earnings

9 Full-time workweek is less than 35 hours

10 Other - specify

HRSPC1 

Enter Verbatim Response

HRRSN2 

What is the main reason (you/he/she) (do/does) not want to work full time?

1 Child care problems

2 Other family/personal obligations

3 Health/medical limitations

4 School/training

5 Retired/Social Security limit on earnings

6 Full time work week less than 35 hours

7 Other - specify

HRSPC2 

Enter Verbatim Response

IB-44 May 2015
HROFF1 

Now I have some questions about the exact number of hours (name/you) worked (THE 

WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK). (THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), did 

(you/he/she) lose or take off any hours from ((his/her) MAIN job/work), for ANY reason 

such as illness, slack work, vacation, or holiday? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

HROFF2 

How many hours did (name/you) take off?

Enter number of hours

HROT1 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), did (name/you) work any overtime or extra 

hours (at (his/her) MAIN job that / that)(you/he/she) (do/does) not usually work? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

HROT2 

How many ADDITIONAL hours did (you/he/she) work?

Enter number of hours

HRACT1 

(LAST WEEK/THE WEEK BEFORE LAST), how many hours did ( you/he/she) 

ACTUALLY work at (your/his/her) (job?/MAIN job?)?

Enter number of hours 

(00 - 99) 

HRACT2 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), how many hours did ( you/he/she) 

ACTUALLY work at (your/his/her) other (job/ jobs?)?

Enter number of hours 

(00 - 99)

IB-45 May 2015
ABSRSN2 

What was the main reason ( you/he/she) (was/were) absent from work (THE WEEK 

BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK)? 

1. On layoff (temporary or indefinite)

2. Slack work/business conditions

3. Waiting for new job to begin

4. Vacation/personal days

5. Own illness/injury/medical problems

6. Child care problems

7. Other family/personal obligation

8. Maternity/paternity leave

9. Labor dispute

10. Weather affected job

11. School/training

12. Civic/military duty

13. Does not work in the business

14. Other (specify)

ABSPC2 

Enter Verbatim Response

HRRSN3 

What is the main reason (name/you) worked less than 35 hours (THE WEEK BEFORE 

LAST/LAST WEEK)?

1 Slack work/business conditions

2 Seasonal work

3 Job started or ended during week

4 Vacation/personal day

5 Own illness/injury/medical appointment

6 Holiday (legal or religious)

7 Child care problems

8 Other family/personal obligations

9 LaborDispute 

10 Weather affected job

11 School/training

12 Civic/Military duty

13 Other reason

IB-46 May 2015
HRSPC3 

Enter Verbatim Response

HRAVL 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), could (name/you) have worked full time IF 

the hours had been available? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

LAYDT 

Has (name's/your) employer given (you/he/she) a date to return to work? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

LAY6M 

(Have / Has) (you/he/she) been given any indication that ( you/he/she) will be recalled to 

work within the next 6 months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

LAYAVL 

Could (you/he/she) have returned to work (THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK) IF 

(you/he/she) had been recalled?

1 Yes 

2 No 

LAYAVR 

Why is that? 

1 Own temporary illness 

2 Going to school 

3 Other 

LAYAVS

Enter specific reason 

IB-47 May 2015
LAYLK 

Even though (you/he/she) (expect/expects) to be called back to work, (have/has) (you/he/she) 

been looking for work during the last 4 weeks? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

LAYDR1 

As of the end of (THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), how long had/has 

(you/he/she) been on layoff? 

1 Weeks 

2 Months 

3 Years 

LAYDR2

Do not read to respondent 

Enter number of (weeks, months, years)

LAYDR3

We would like to have that in weeks, IF possible, exactly how many weeks had (name/you) 

been on layoff?

Enter number of weeks 

LAYFT

Is the job from which (name/you) (are / is) on layoff a full time job of 35 hours or more per 

week?

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-48 May 2015
LK 

(Have / Has) (name/you) been doing anything to find work during the last 4 weeks? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Retired 

4 Disabled 

5 Unable to work 

DIS1_4 

Does (your/his/her) disability prevent (you/he/she) from accepting any kind of work during 

the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

DIS2_4 

(Do / Does) (name/you) have a disability that prevents (you/he/she) from accepting any kind 

of work during the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-49 May 2015
LKM 

What are all the things (you/he/she) (have/has) done to find work during the last 4 weeks? 

Do not read answer categories

Enter (0) for no additional answer

1 Contact employer directly/interview 

2 Contacted public employment agency 

3 Contacted private employment agency 

4 Contacted friends or relatives 

5 Contacted school/university employment center 

6 Sent out resumes/filled out applications 

7 Checked union/professional registers 

8 Placed or answered ads 

9 Other active 

10 Looked at ads 

11 Attended job training programs/courses 

12 Other passive 

13 Nothing 

LKMSP 

Enter verbatim response 

IB-50 May 2015
LKDK 

You said (name/you) (have/has) been trying to find work. How did ( you/he/she) go about 

looking?

Do not read answer categories

Enter (0) for no additional answer

1 Contact employer directly/interview 

2 Contacted public employment agency 

3 Contacted private employment agency 

4 Contacted friends or relatives 

5 Contacted school/university employment center 

6 Sent out resumes/filled out applications 

7 Checked union/professional registers 

8 Placed or answered ads 

9 Other active 

10 Looked at ads 

11 Attended job training programs/courses 

12 Other passive 

13 Nothing 

LKDKS 

Enter verbatim response 

IB-51 May 2015
LKPS 

Can you tell me more about what (he/she) did to search for work?

Do not read answer categories

Enter (0) for no additional answer

1 Contact employer directly/interview 

2 Contacted public employment agency 

3 Contacted private employment agency 

4 Contacted friends or relatives 

5 Contacted school/university employment center 

6 Sent out resumes/filled out applications 

7 Checked union/professional registers 

8 Placed or answered ads 

9 Other active 

10 Looked at ads 

11 Attended job training programs/courses 

12 Other passive 

13 Nothing 

LKPSP

Enter verbatim response 

LKAVL 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), could (you/he/she) have started a job if one 

had been offered? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

LKAVR 

Why is that? 

1 Waiting for new job to begin 

2 Own temporary illness 

3 Going to school 

4 Other (specify) 

LKAVS 

Enter verbatim response 

IB-52 May 2015
LKLL1 

BEFORE (name/you) started looking for work, what (was/were) (you/he/she) doing: 

working, going to school, or something else? 

1 Working 

2 School 

3 Left military service 

4 Something ELSE 

LKLL1S

Enter verbatim response 

LKLL2 

Did (you/he/she) lose or quit that job, or was it a temporary job that ended? 

1 Lost job 

2 Quit job 

3 Temporary job ended 

LKLW 

When did (you/he/she) last work at (a/that) job or business?

1 Within the last 12 months 

2 More than 12 months ago 

3 Never worked 

CERT3

Earlier you told me (you/name) had a currently active professional certification or license. 

Is (your/his/her) certification or license required for (your/his/her) ...

a) job

b) main job?

c) job from which (you/he/she/) (are/is) on layoff?

d) job at which (you/he/she) last worked?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don’t have a currently active certification or license 

IB-53 May 2015
LKDATM

Ask if necessary, otherwise verify 

What was the month and year that (you/he/she) last worked? 

Enter month 

1 January 

2 February 

3 March 

4 April 

5 May 

6 June 

7 July 

8 August 

9 September 

10 October 

11 November 

12 December 

LKDATY 

What was the month and year that (you/he/she) last worked?

Enter year 

LKDR1 

As of the end of (THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), how long had (you/he/she) 

been looking for work? 

1 Weeks 

2 Months 

3 Years 

LKDR2

Do not read to the respondent

Enter number of (weeks, months, years)

IB-54 May 2015
LKDR3 

We would like to have that in weeks if possible. Exactly how many weeks (have/has) 

(name/you) been looking for work? 

Enter number of weeks

LKFT 

(Have / Has) (you/he/she) been looking for full time work of 35 hours or more per week?

1 Yes 

2 No 

3 Doesn't matter 

DWWNT 

(Do / Does) (name/you) currently want a job, either full or part time?

1 Yes, or maybe, it depends 

2 No 

3 Retired 

4 Disabled 

5 Unable to work 

DIS1_5

Does (your/his/her) disability prevent (you/he/she) from accepting any kind of work during 

the next six months?

1 Yes 

2 No 

DIS2_5 

(Do / Does) (name/you) have a disability that prevents (you/he/she) from accepting any kind 

of work during the next six months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-55 May 2015
DWRSN 

What is the main reason (you/he/she) (was/were) not looking for work during the LAST 4 

WEEKS? 

1 Believes no work available in line of work or area 

2 Couldn't find any work 

3 Lacks necessary schooling, training, skills or experience 

4 Employers think too young or too old 

5 Other types of discrimination 

6 Can't arrange child care 

7 Family responsibilities 

8 In school or other training 

9 Ill health, physical disability 

10 Transportation problems 

11 Other 

DWRSP 

Enter verbatim response 

DWLK 

Did (name/you) look for work at any time during the last 12 months? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

DWWK 

Did (you/he/she) actually WORK at a job or business during the last 12 months?

1 Yes 

2 No 

DW4WK 

Did (you/he/she) do any of this work during the last 4 weeks? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-56 May 2015
DWLKWK 

And since (name/you) LEFT that job or business (have/has) (you/he/she) looked for work? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

DWAVL 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), could (you/he/she) have started a job IF one 

had been offered? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

DWAVR 

Why is that? 

1 Own temporary illness 

2 Going to school 

3 Other (SPECIFY) 

DWAVS

Enter verbatim response 

JHWK 

(Have / Has) (name/you) worked at a job or business at any time during the past 12 months?

1 Yes 

2 No 

JHDP1

Did (you/he/she) do any of this work during the last 4 weeks?

1 Yes 

2 No 

3

IB-57 May 2015
JHRSN 

What is the main reason (you/he/she) left (your/his/her) last job? 

1 Personal, family (including pregnancy) 

2 Return to school 

3 Health 

4 Retirement or old age 

5 Temporary, seasonal or intermittent job completed 

6 Slack work or business conditions 

7 Unsatisfactory work arrangements (hours, pay, etc) 

8 Other (specify) 

JHRSP 

Enter verbatim reason 

JHWANT 

(Do / Does) (name/you) intend to look for work during the next 12 months? 

1 Yes, or it depends 

2 No 

IODP1 

Last month, it was reported that (name/you) worked for (input.IO1NAM). (Do / Does) 

(you/he/she) still work for (input.IO1NAM)

1 Yes 

2 No 

IODP2 

Have the usual activities and duties of (your/his/her) job changed since last month? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-58 May 2015
IODP3 

Last month (name/you) (was/were) reported as (a/an) (input.IO1OCC) and (your/his/her) 

usual activities were (input.IO1DT1 8500.IO1DT2). Is this an accurate description of 

(your/his/her) current job? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IO1INT 

(Were/Was) (name/you) employed by government, by a private company, a nonprofit 

organization, or (was/were) ( you/he/she) self -(or working in the family business?)?

1 Government

2 Private-for-profit company

3 Non-profit organization including tax exempt and charitable organizations

4 Self-employed

5 Working in the family business

IO1GVT 

Would that be the federal, state, or local government? 

1 Fed 

2 State 

3 Local 

IO1INC 

(Is/Was) this business incorporated? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

PDEMP1 

(Do/Does) (name/you) usually have any paid employees? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-59 May 2015
NMEMP1 

Excluding all owners, how many paid employees does (name's/your) business usually have? 

IO1WP

(Were/Was) (name/you) working for pay?

1 Yes 

2 No 

IO1NMP 

What is the name of the (company/non-profit organization) for which (you/he/she) work (at 

main job)/worked (at main job)/works (at main job) (work/works/worked) 

Do not read to respondent

(name of company, business, organization or other employer)

IO1NMG 

What is the name of the government agency for which (you/he/she) (work/works) 

IO1NMB 

What is the name of (your/name's) business? 

IO1IND 

What kind of business or industry is this? 

Read if necessary: What do they make or do where (you/he/she) (work/works)? 

IO1MFG 

Ask if necessary: Is this business or organization mainly manufacturing, retail trade, wholesale 

trade, or something ELSE?

1 Manufacturing

2 Retail trade

3 Wholesale trade

4 Something else

IB-60 May 2015
IO1OCC 

What kind of work (DO/DOES/DID) (name/you) do, that is, what (is/was) (your/his/her) 

occupation? For example: plumber, typist, farmer

IO1DT1 

What (are / were) (your/his/her) usual activities or duties at this job? 

For example: typing, keeping account books, filing, selling cars, operating printing press, laying 

brick. 

IO1DT2

What (are / were) (your/his/her) usual activities or duties at this job?

For example: typing, keeping account books, filing, selling cars, operating printing press, laying 

brick. 

PDEMP1A 

(Do/Does) (name/you) usually have any paid employees?

1 Yes 

2 No 

NMEMP1A 

Excluding all owners, how many paid employees does (name's/your) business usually have? 

IO1WPA 

(Were/Was) (name/you) working for pay?

1 Yes 

2 No 

IO1NMBA 

What is the name of (your/name's) business? 

IB-61 May 2015
IO1INDA 

What kind of business or industry is this? 

Read if necessary: What do they make or do where (you/he/she) (work/works)?

IO1MFGA 

Ask if neccessary: Is this business or organization mainly manufacturing,

retail trade, wholesale trade, or something ELSE?

1. Manufacturing

2. Retail trade

3. Wholesale trade

4. Something else

IO1OCCA 

What kind of work (DO/DOES/DID) (name/you) do, that is, what (is/was) (your/his/her) 

occupation? 

For example: plumber, typist, farmer

IO1DT1A 

What (are / were) (your/his/her) usual activities or duties at this job? 

For example: typing, keeping account books, filing, selling cars, operating printing press, laying 

brick. 

IO1DT2A 

What (are / were) (your/his/her) usual activities or duties at this job? 

For example: typing, keeping account books, filing, selling cars, operating printing press, laying 

brick. 

IOPRO1 

Now I have a few questions about (your/his/her) second job. 

1. Continue 

IB-62 May 2015
IO2INT 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK) at (name's/your) second job,(was/were) 

(name/you) employed by government, by a private company, a non-profit organization, or 

(was/were) (you/he/she) self (or working in the family business?) 

1 Government

2 Private-for-profit company

3 Non-profit organization including tax exempt and charitable organizations

4 Self-employed

5 Working in the family business

IO2GVT 

Would that be the federal, state, or local government? 

1 Federal 

2 State 

3 Local (county, city, township)

IO2INC 

(Is/Was) this business incorporated? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

PDEMP2 

(Do / Does) (name/you) usually have any paid employees? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

NMEMP2 

Excluding all owners, how many paid employees does (name's/your) business usually have? 

IO2WP 

(Was/Were) (name/you) working for pay? 

IB-63 May 2015
IO2NMP 

What is the name of the (company/non-profit organization) for which (name/you) work (at 

main job)/worked (at main job)/works (at main job) at (your/his/her) SECOND job? 

Do not read to respondent: Name of company, business, organization or other employer

IO2NMG 

What is the name of the government agency for which (name/you) (work/works) at 

(your/his/her) SECOND job?

IO2NMB 

What is the name of (your/name's) business? 

IO2IND 

What kind of business or industry is this? 

Read if necessary: 

What do they make or do where (name/you) (work/works)? 

IO2MFG 

Ask if necessary: 

Is this business or organization mainly manufacturing, retail trade, wholesale trade, or something 

ELSE?

1 Manufacturing

2 Retail trade

3 Wholesale trade

4 Something else

IO2OCC 

What kind of work (DO/DOES/DID) (name/you) do, that is, what (is/was) (your/his/her) 

occupation? 

For example: plumber, typist, farmer 

IB-64 May 2015
IO2DT1 

What (are / were) (your/his/her) usual activities or duties at this job? 

Do not read to respondent: 

For example: typing, keeping account books, filing, selling cars, operating printing press, laying 

brick. 

IO2DT2

What are (your/his/her) usual activities or duties at this job?

For example: typing, keeping account books, filing, selling cars, operating printing press, laying 

brick. 

ERNP 

This month I have a few questions about earnings. 

1 Continue 

ERNPR 

For (name's/your) (job/MAIN job), what is the easiest way for you to report 

(your/his/her) total earnings BEFORE taxes or other deductions: hourly, weekly, 

annually, or on some other basis?

Read if necessary: We use this information to compare the amount that people earn in different 

types of jobs. 

1 Hourly 

2 Weekly 

3 Bi-weekly 

4 Twice monthly 

5 Monthly 

6 Annually 

7 Other (specify) 

ERNPRS 

Enter verbatim response

IB-65 May 2015
ERNUOT 

(Do / Does) (name/you) usually receive overtime pay, tips, or (commissions?/commissions at 

(your/his/her) MAIN job?)

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNHRTD 

(EXCLUDING overtime pay, tips and commissions) what is (your/his/her) hourly rate of 

pay on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN job)? 

Enter dollar amount 

ERNHRTC 

(EXCLUDING overtime pay, tips and commissions) what is (your/his/her) hourly rate of 

pay on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN job)? 

Enter cents amount

ERNHRED 

What is your best estimate of (your/his/her) hourly rate of pay? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNHREC 

What is your best estimate of (your/his/her) hourly rate of pay? 

Enter cents amount

ERNRG1 

Do not ask the respondent 

Hourly earnings recorded as: (entry in ERNH1O) hourly. Is this entry correct?

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-66 May 2015
ERNHCOD

Do not ask the respondent 

Incorrect entry was recorded as: (entry in ERNH1O) hourly.

Correct dollar entry is: $ 

ERNHCOC 

Do not ask the respondent 

Incorrect entry was recorded as: (entry in ERNH1O) hourly. 

Correct cents entry is: $ 00.

ERNHR 

How many hours (do/does) (name/you) usually work per week at this rate? 

Enter number of hours 

ERNOTP 

(How/At (your/his/her) MAIN job, how) much (do/does) (you/he/she) usually receive JUST 

in overtime pay, tips or commissions, before taxes or other deductions?

Do not read to respondent Enter periodicity

1 Per hour 

2 Per day 

3 Per week 

4 Per month 

5 Per year 

6 Other 

ERNOTHD 

(How/At (your/his/her) MAIN job, how) much (do/does) (you/he/she) usually receive 

JUST in overtime pay, tips or commissions, before taxes or other deductions?

Do not read to respondent: Enter dollar amount

ERNOTHC 

(How/At (your/his/her) MAIN job, how) much (do/does) (you/he/she) usually receive 

JUST in overtime pay, tips or commissions, before taxes or other deductions?

Do not read to respondent: Enter cents amount

IB-67 May 2015
ERNOTAD

(How/At (your/his/her) MAIN job, how) much (do/does) (you/he/she) usually receive 

JUST in overtime pay, tips or commissions, before taxes or other deductions?

Do not read to respondent: Enter dollar amount

ERNOTAC 

(How/At (your/his/her) MAIN job, how) much (do/does) (you/he/she) usually receive 

JUST in overtime pay, tips or commissions, before taxes or other deductions?

Do not read to respondent: Enter cents amount

ERNOTE 

What is your best estimate of how much (you/he/she) usually (earn/earns) WEEKLY, JUST 

in overtime pay, tips, or commissions, before taxes or other deductions? 

Enter dollar amount 

ERNRG2 

Do not ask: Usual (weekly/hourly/monthly/annual) earnings in overtime pay, tips or 

 commissions recorded as: (ERNOTO)

Is this entry correct?

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNOCOD 

Do not read to respondent: Incorrect entry was recorded as: (ERNOTO)

Correct dollar entry is: $ 

ERNOCOC 

Do not read to respondent: Incorrect entry was recorded as: (ERNOTO)

Correct cents entry is: $ 

IB-68 May 2015
ERNOCHD 

Do not read to respondent: Incorrect entry was recorded as: (ERNOTO)

Correct entry is: $ 

ERNOCHC 

Do not read to respondent: Incorrect entry was recorded as: (ERNOTO) 

Correct cents entry is: $ 

ERNOH 

How many hours (do/does) (name/you) usually work per week at this rate? 

Enter number of hours 

ERNOHE 

What is your best estimate of the number of hours per week (you/he/she) usually 

(work/works) at this rate? 

Enter number of hours 

ERNVR1 

I have estimated (your/his/her) usual WEEKLY earnings (as/for (your/his/her) main job as) 

(AMOUNT) before taxes or other deductions. Does that sound correct? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-69 May 2015
ERNVRA 

I have recorded: 

1 (entry in ERNH1O) as (your/his/her) hourly rate of pay. 

2 (Entry in ERNHRO) as the number of hours ( you/he/she)usually worked at this 

rate. 

3 (Entry in ERNOTO) as the amount (you/he/she) usually earned 

(weekly/hourly/monthly/annual) in overtime pay, tips and commissions.

4 (Entry in ERNOHE) as the number of hours per week (you/he/she) usually works 

at this rate.

Which piece or pieces of information do not seem to be correct?

Enter all that apply, separate by commas.

If all information is correct, enter (0) to continue

1 Hourly_rate 

2 Number of hours 

3 Overtime pay

4 Hours per week

ERNH1CD 

What is (name's/your) hourly rate of pay on this job, excluding overtime pay, tips or 

commissions? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNH1CC 

What is (name's/your) hourly rate of pay on this job, excluding overtime pay, tips or 

commissions? 

Enter cents amount

ERNHC 

How many hours (do/does) (name/you) usually work per week at the rate of (entry in 

ERNH1C/ERNH1O)? 

Enter hours (01-99)

IB-70 May 2015
ERNOTCD 

How much (do/does) (name/you) usually earn (weekly/monthly/annually) just in overtime 

pay, tips or commissions? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNOTCC 

How much (do/does) (name/you) usually earn (weekly/monthly/annually) just in overtime pay, 

tips or commissions? 

Enter cents amount

ERNOHCD 

How much (do/does) (name/you) usually earn hourly just in overtime pay, tips or 

commissions? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNOHCC 

How much (do/does) (name/you) usually earn hourly just in overtime pay, tips or commissions? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNH2C 

How many hours (do/does) (name/you) usually work per week at the rate of (entry in 

ERNOHC/ERNOTO)? 

Enter hours (00-99)

ERNWK1 

Then, including overtime pay, tips and commissions, what are (name/you) usual WEEKLY 

earnings on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN), before taxes or other deductions? 

Correct Entry is:

IB-71 May 2015
ERNVR3 

I have estimated (your/his/her) total WEEKLY earnings (as/ for (your/his/her) main job, as 

(entry in ERNX2) WEEKLY before taxes or other deductions. Does that sound correct?

1 Yes 

2 No (Irreconcilable difference) 

ERNWK 

(Including overtime pay, tips and commissions,) What are (name's/your) usual weekly 

earnings on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN), before taxes or other deductions?

Enter dollar amount

ERNTMN 

(Including overtime pay, tips and commissions,) what are (name's/your) usual twice 

monthly earnings on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN), before taxes or other deductions? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNMON

(Including overtime pay, tips and commissions,) what are (name's/your) usual monthly 

earnings on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN), before taxes or other deductions?

Enter dollar amount

ERNANN 

(Including overtime pay, tips and commissions,) what are (name's/your) usual annual 

earnings on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN), before taxes or other deductions? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNBWK 

(Including overtime pay, tips and commissions,) what are (name's/your) usual bi weekly 

earnings on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN), before taxes or other deductions? 

Enter dollar amount 

IB-72 May 2015
ERNDKP 

What is your best estimate of (your/his/her) usual (weekly/bi-weekly/monthly/annual) 

earnings before taxes or other deductions? 

Enter dollar amount (Reported earnings are greater than $72,000)

ERNRG3

Do not read to respondent

(Weekly/Bi-weekly/Twice Monthly/Monthly/Annual) earnings recorded as: (ERNAMT)

Is this entry correct?

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNRGP

Do not read to respondent 

Incorrect entry was recorded as: (ERNAMT) (weekly/bi-weekly/monthly/annually)

Correct entry is:

ERNVR4 

I have recorded (your/his/her) total earnings (for (your/his/her) (as/main job ) (ERNAMT) 

(weekly/bi-weekly/monthly/annually) before taxes or other deductions. Is that correct? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNCOR 

(Including overtime pay, tips and commissions,), what are (your/his/her) usual 

(weekly/bi-weekly/monthly/annual) earnings on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN), before 

taxes or other deductions? 

Enter dollar amount

IB-73 May 2015
ERNRG4 

Do not read to respondent 

(Weekly/Bi-weekly/Twice Monthly/Monthly/Annual) earnings recorded as: (ERNAMT)

Is this entry correct?

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNRP2 

Do not read to respondent 

Incorrect entry was recorded as: (ERNAMT) weekly/bi-weekly/monthly/annually

Correct entry is:

ERNWKP 

How many weeks a year (do/does) (name/you) get paid for? 

Number of weeks

ERNRT

(Even though you told me it is easier to report (your/his/her) earnings (you/he/she) PAID 

AT AN HOURLY RATE on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN)? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNH2D 

(EXCLUDING overtime pay, tips and commissions) what is (your/his/her) hourly rate of 

pay on (this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN) job? 

Enter dollar amount

ERNH2S 

(EXCLUDING overtime pay, tips and commissions) what is (your/his/her) hourly rate of pay on 

(this job/ (your/his/her) MAIN) job?

Enter cents amount

IB-74 May 2015
ERNRG5

Do not read to respondent 

Hourly earnings recorded as: ERNH2 hourly

Is this entry correct? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNRP3D 

Do not read to respondent 

Incorrect entry was recorded as: ERNH2 hourly

Correct dollar entry is: $

ERNRP3C 

Do not read to respondent 

Incorrect entry was recorded as: ERNH2 hourly 

Correct cents entry is: $ 

ERNLAB 

On this job, (are / is) (name/you) a member of a labor union or of an employee association 

similar to a union? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

ERNCOV 

On this job, (are / is) (name/you) covered by a union or employee association contract?

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-75 May 2015
NLFJH 

When did (name/you) last work at a job or business? 

1 Within last 12 months 

2 More than 12 months ago 

3 Never worked 

NLFRET

(Are / Is) (name/you) retired FROM A JOB OR BUSINESS?

1 Yes 

2 No 

NLFACT 

What best describes (name's/your) situation at this time?

For example, (are / is) (you/he/she) disabled, ill, in school, taking care of house or family, or 

something ELSE?

1 Disabled 

2 Ill 

3 In school 

4 Taking care of house or family 

5 In retirement 

6 Something ELSE/other 

NLFSPC 

Enter verbatim response 

SCHENR 

(THE WEEK BEFORE LAST/LAST WEEK), (was/were) (you/he/she) enrolled in a high 

school, college, or university? 

Enter '1' if currently on holiday or seasonal vacation.

 Enter '2' for summer vacation.

1 Yes 

2 No 

IB-76 May 2015
SCHLVL

Ask only if necessary: Would that be high school, college or university?

1 High school 

2 College or university 

SCHFT 

(Are / Is) (you/he/she) enrolled in school as a full time or part time student? 

1 Full-time 

2 Part-time 

RIPFLG

(We will recontact this household in 8 months / In the future we may need to recontact this 

household / We will recontact this household next month) to update this information. If we 

are unable to reach you and we talk to someone else instead, is it OK if we refer to some of 

the information you gave us?

♦ If needed: For example, we might say "Last month (name) was a teacher.

 Is (s/he) still a teacher?"

1 Yes 

2 No 

PREDIS

?[F1]

This month we want to learn about people who have physical, mental, or emotional 

conditions that cause serious difficulty with their daily activities. (blank/ Please answer for 

NAME./Please answer for all household members who are 15 years old or over./Since you 

have not previously answered these questions, please answer for yourself only./ Since 

NAME has not previously answered these questions, please answer for NAME only./Since 

household members who are 15 years of age and older were added to the household this 

month, and they have not previously answered these questions, please answer for those 

household members only.)

1 Continue 

IB-77 May 2015
DS1

(Are you/Is NAME/Is anyone/Are any of the new household members) deaf or 

(do you/does NAME/does anyone/do they) have serious difficulty hearing?

♦ Blank/Only include new household members who are 15 years of age and older.

1 Yes 

2 No

DS1W

(Are you/Is NAME/Is anyone/Are any of the new household members) deaf or 

(do you/does NAME/does anyone/do they) have serious difficulty hearing?

Who is that?

♦ Enter all that apply, separate with commas.

♦ Probe: Anyone else?

DS2

(Are you/Is NAME/Is anyone/Are any of the new household members) blind or 

(do you/does NAME/does anyone/do they) have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing 

glasses?

♦ Blank/Only include new household members who are 15 years of age and older.

1 Yes 

2 No 

DS2W

(Are you/Is NAME/Is anyone/Are any of the new household members) blind or 

(do you/does NAME/does anyone/do they) have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing 

glasses?

Who is that?

♦ Enter all that apply, separate with commas.

♦ Probe: Anyone else?

IB-78 May 2015
DS3

Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, (do you/does NAME/does anyone/do 

any of the new household members) have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or 

making decisions?

♦ Blank/Only include new household members who are 15 years of age and older.

1 Yes 

2 No 

DS3W

Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, (do you/does NAME/does anyone/do 

any of the new household members) have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or 

making decisions?

Who is that?

♦ Enter all that apply, separate with commas.

♦ Probe: Anyone else?

DS4

(Do you/Does NAME/Does anyone/Do any of the new household members) have serious 

difficulty walking or climbing stairs?

♦ Blank/Only include new household members who are 15 years of age and older.

1 Yes 

2 No 

DS4W

(Do you/Does NAME/Does anyone/Do any of the new household members) have serious 

difficulty walking or climbing stairs?

Who is that?

♦ Enter all that apply, separate with commas.

♦ Probe: Anyone else?

IB-79 May 2015
DS5

(Do you/Does NAME/Does anyone/Do any of the new household members) have difficulty 

dressing or bathing?

♦ Blank/Only include new household members who are 15 years of age and older.

1 Yes 

2 No 

DS5W

(Do you/Does NAME/Does anyone/Do any of the new household members) have difficulty 

dressing or bathing?

Who is that?

♦ Enter all that apply, separate with commas.

♦ Probe: Anyone else?

DS6

Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, (do you/does NAME/does anyone/do 

any of the new household members) have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a 

doctor's office or shopping?

♦ Blank/Only include new household members who are 15 years of age and older.

1 Yes 

2 No 

DS6W

Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, (do you/does NAME/does anyone/do any 

of the new household members) have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's 

office or shopping?

Who is that?

♦ Enter all that apply, separate with commas.

♦ Probe: Anyone else?

IB-80 May 2015
NTVT 

In what country (was/were) (name/you) born?

MNTVT 

In what country was (your/his/her) mother born?

FNTVT 

In what country was (your/his/her) father born?

CITIZN 

(Are / Is) (name/you) a CITIZEN of the United States?

1 Yes 

2 No, not a citizen 

CITYPA 

(were/was) (name/you) born a citizen of the United States? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

CITYPB 

Did (name/you) become a citizen of the United States through naturalization? 

1 Yes 

2 No 

INUSYR 

When did (name/you) come to live in the United States? 

Enter '2' if respondent reports the number of years ago instead of the actual year. 

Enter year 

IB-81 May 2015
INUSN 

Do not read to respondent 

Enter the number of years reported 

Enter '0' for mistake if no number reported 

S_FAMINC

Which category represents (your/name of reference person/the total combined income) 

(total combined income during the past 12 months?/ of all members of your FAMILY 

during the past 12 months?/ of all members of (name of reference person) 's FAMILY 

during the past 12 months?)

This includes money from jobs, net income from business, farm or rent, pensions, 

dividends, interest, social security payments and any other money income received (. / by 

members of (your/ name of reference person) FAMILY who are 15 years of age or older.)

1 Less than $5,000

2 5,000 to 7,499

3 7,500 to 9,999

4 10,000 to 12,499

5 12,500 to 14,999

6 15,000 to 19,999

7 20,000 to 24,999

8 25,000 to 29,999

9 30,000 to 34,999

10 35,000 to 39,999

11 40,000 to 49,999

12 50,000 to 59,999

13 60,000 to 74,999

14 75,000 to 99,999

15 100,000 to 149,999

16 150,000 or more

IB-82 May 2015