1

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 

February 2011 

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2011 

 Household survey data beginning in January 2011 reflect updated population controls. 

Official population and labor force estimates for December 2010 and earlier months will not be 

revised. 

 The population control adjustments introduced with household survey data for January 2011 

were applied to the population base determined by Census 2000. The results from Census 2010 

will not be incorporated into the household survey population controls until the release of data 

for January 2012. 

 Adjustments to the household survey population controls result from the U.S. Census 

Bureau’s annual review of the intercensal population estimates. For January 2011, the Census 

Bureau determined that a downward adjustment should be made to the civilian noninstitutional 

population estimate used for the household survey. This determination was based on revised 

estimates of net international migration, updated vital statistics and other information, and some 

methodological changes in the population estimation process. 

 To gauge the impact of the updated population controls, the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses 

special tabulations of December data that incorporate the new controls. When applied to 

December 2010, the updated controls resulted in a decrease of 347,000 in the estimated size of 

the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years and over. A comparison of December 2010 

labor force data based on the old and new controls shows that the population adjustments caused 

decreases in the labor force (504,000), employment (472,000), and unemployment (32,000), 

while the estimated number of persons not in the labor force was increased (157,000). The total 

unemployment rate was not affected. (See the table on the following pages for the population 

control effects on labor force series for the major demographic groups.) 

 Information about the Census Bureau’s population estimation methodology is available on 

their website at http://www.census.gov/popest/national/national.html; see the document titled 

Methodology. Questions about population estimation should be directed to the Census Bureau’s 

Population Division at 1-866-758-1060 or by email at pop@census.gov. 
2

Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally 

adjusted, December 2010 (2011 population adjustment effect) 

(Numbers in thousands) 

Employment status, sex, age, race, 

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 

As 

published 

 

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls 

 

Difference 1

TOTAL 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 238,889 238,542 -347 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 153,156 152,652 -504 

Participation rate ................................................ 64.1 64.0 -.1 

Employed ............................................................ 139,159 138,687 -472 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 58.3 58.1 -.1 

Unemployed ........................................................ 13,997 13,965 -32 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 9.1 9.1 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 85,733 85,890 157 

Men, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 107,216 107,106 -110 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 78,780 78,439 -341 

Participation rate ................................................ 73.5 73.2 -.2 

Employed ............................................................ 71,235 70,924 -311 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 66.4 66.2 -.2 

Unemployed ........................................................ 7,545 7,515 -30 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 9.6 9.6 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 28,436 28,667 231 

Women, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 114,894 114,552 -342 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 68,999 68,801 -198 

Participation rate ................................................ 60.1 60.1 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 63,809 63,624 -184 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 55.5 55.5 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 5,190 5,176 -14 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 7.5 7.5 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 45,895 45,751 -144 

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 16,780 16,884 104 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 5,378 5,412 35 

Participation rate ................................................ 32.0 32.1 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 4,116 4,139 23 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 24.5 24.5 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 1,262 1,274 12 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 23.5 23.5 .1 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 11,402 11,472 70 

 

See notes at end of table. 
3

Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, 

December 2010 (2011 population adjustment effect)–Continued 

(Numbers in thousands) 

Employment status, sex, age, race, 

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 

As 

published 

 

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls 

Difference 1

WHITE 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 192,749 192,420 -328 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 124,309 123,827 -482 

Participation rate ................................................ 64.5 64.4 -.1 

Employed ............................................................ 114,035 113,585 -450 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 59.2 59.0 -.1 

Unemployed ......................................................... 10,274 10,243 -32 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 8.3 8.3 .0 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 68,439 68,593 153 

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 28,896 28,915 19 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 17,835 17,843 7 

Participation rate ................................................ 61.7 61.7 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 15,120 15,126 6 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 52.3 52.3 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 2,715 2,717 2 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 15.2 15.2 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 11,061 11,073 11 

ASIAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 11,387 11,363 -24 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 7,355 7,331 -24 

Participation rate ................................................ 64.6 64.5 -.1 

Employed ............................................................ 6,829 6,807 -23 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 60.0 59.9 -.1 

Unemployed ........................................................ 526 524 -2 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 7.2 7.2 .0 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 4,032 4,033 1 

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 34,188 33,919 -269 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 22,929 22,693 -236 

Participation rate ................................................ 67.1 66.9 -.2 

Employed ............................................................ 19,957 19,737 -220 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 58.4 58.2 -.2 

Unemployed ......................................................... 2,972 2,956 -16 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 13.0 13.0 .1 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 11,259 11,226 -33 

 

 1 Differences are calculated from unrounded estimates. 

 NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are 

 not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.