Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation

February 2015

Adjustments to Household Survey

Population Estimates in January 2015 

 Household survey data beginning in January 2015 reflect updated population estimates, also 

referred to as population controls. Population estimates for the household survey are developed 

by the U.S. Census Bureau. Each year, the Census Bureau updates the estimates to reflect new 

information and assumptions about the growth of the population since the previous decennial 

census. The population adjustments incorporated with household survey data for January 2015 

result from adjustments for net international migration, updated birth and death statistics and 

other information, and some methodological changes in the population estimation process. In 

accordance with usual practice, official population and labor force estimates for December 2014 

and earlier months were not revised. 

 To show the impact on the labor force data, the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses special 

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

December 2014, the updated controls increased the estimated size of the civilian noninstitutional 

population 16 years and over by 528,000, the civilian labor force by 348,000, employment by 

324,000, unemployment by 24,000, and the number of persons not in the labor force by 179,000. 

The total unemployment rate, the labor force participation rate, and the employment-population 

ratio were not affected. See the table on the following pages for the population control effects on 

labor force series for key demographic groups. 

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

their website at http://www.census.gov/popest/methodology/. 
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally

adjusted, December 2014 (2015 population adjustment effect)

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or 

Latino ethnicity

As 

published

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls

Difference 1

TOTAL

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 249,027 249,555 528

Civilian labor force ..................................... 155,521 155,870 348

Participation rate ................................. 62.5 62.5 .0

Employed ............................................. 147,190 147,514 324

Employment-population ratio .................. 59.1 59.1 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 8,331 8,356 24

Unemployment rate .............................. 5.4 5.4 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 93,506 93,685 179

Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 120,301 120,474 173

Civilian labor force ..................................... 82,800 82,931 131

Participation rate ................................. 68.8 68.8 .0

Employed ............................................. 78,052 78,172 120

Employment-population ratio .................. 64.9 64.9 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 4,748 4,758 10

Unemployment rate .............................. 5.7 5.7 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 37,501 37,544 42

Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 111,875 112,028 154

Civilian labor force ..................................... 80,068 80,196 128

Participation rate ................................. 71.6 71.6 .0

Employed ............................................. 75,801 75,919 118

Employment-population ratio .................. 67.8 67.8 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 4,267 4,277 10

Unemployment rate .............................. 5.3 5.3 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 31,807 31,833 26

Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 128,726 129,080 354

Civilian labor force ..................................... 72,721 72,939 218

Participation rate ................................. 56.5 56.5 .0

Employed ............................................. 69,138 69,342 204

Employment-population ratio .................. 53.7 53.7 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 3,584 3,597 14

Unemployment rate .............................. 4.9 4.9 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 56,005 56,141 137

See notes at end of table.

2 
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, 

not seasonally adjusted, December 2014 (2015 population adjustment effect)–Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity

As 

published

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls

Difference 1

Women, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 120,557 120,883 326

Civilian labor force ..................................... 70,058 70,268 210

Participation rate ................................. 58.1 58.1 .0

Employed ............................................. 66,797 66,993 197

Employment-population ratio .................. 55.4 55.4 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 3,262 3,275 13

Unemployment rate .............................. 4.7 4.7 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 50,499 50,615 116

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 16,595 16,643 48

Civilian labor force ..................................... 5,395 5,406 11

Participation rate ................................. 32.5 32.5 .0

Employed ............................................. 4,592 4,601 9

Employment-population ratio .................. 27.7 27.6 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 803 804 2

Unemployment rate .............................. 14.9 14.9 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 11,201 11,238 37

WHITE

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 196,091 196,230 139

Civilian labor force ..................................... 122,650 122,752 101

Participation rate ................................. 62.5 62.6 .0

Employed ............................................. 117,068 117,162 94

Employment-population ratio .................. 59.7 59.7 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 5,582 5,590 7

Unemployment rate .............................. 4.6 4.6 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 73,441 73,478 38

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 31,040 31,154 114

Civilian labor force ..................................... 18,933 19,014 81

Participation rate ................................. 61.0 61.0 .0

Employed ............................................. 17,009 17,081 72

Employment-population ratio .................. 54.8 54.8 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 1,924 1,933 9

Unemployment rate .............................. 10.2 10.2 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 12,107 12,140 33

See notes at end of table.

3 
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, 

not seasonally adjusted, December 2014 (2015 population adjustment effect)–Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity

As 

published

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls

Difference 1

ASIAN

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 13,886 14,129 243

Civilian labor force ..................................... 8,796 8,940 144

Participation rate ................................. 63.3 63.3 -.1

Employed ............................................. 8,424 8,562 138

Employment-population ratio .................. 60.7 60.6 -.1

Unemployed .......................................... 372 379 7

Unemployment rate .............................. 4.2 4.2 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 5,090 5,189 99

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Civilian noninstitutional population .................. 38,839 39,082 243

Civilian labor force ..................................... 25,630 25,771 141

Participation rate ................................. 66.0 65.9 .0

Employed ............................................. 23,995 24,129 133

Employment-population ratio .................. 61.8 61.7 .0

Unemployed .......................................... 1,635 1,642 7

Unemployment rate .............................. 6.4 6.4 .0

Not in labor force ....................................... 13,209 13,311 102

4