Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation 

February 2012

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2012 

 Household survey data beginning in January 2012 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 last decennial census. 

The adjustments incorporated with household survey data for January 2012 reflect the 

introduction of the Census 2010 population base, adjustments for net international migration, 

updated birth and death statistics and other information, and some methodological changes in the 

population estimation process. The vast majority of the population change, however, is due to 

the change in base population from Census 2000 to Census 2010. Official population and labor 

force estimates for December 2011 and earlier months will not be revised. 

 To gauge 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 2011, the updated controls increased the estimated size of the civilian noninstitutional 

population 16 years and over by 1,510,000, the civilian labor force by 258,000, employment by 

216,000, unemployment by 42,000, and persons not in the labor force by 1,252,000. The total 

unemployment rate was not affected. The labor force participation rate and the employmentpopulation ratio were each reduced by 0.3 percentage point. (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/. 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 2011 (2012 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 .................................. 240,584 242,094 1,510 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 153,373 153,631 258 

Participation rate ................................................ 63.8 63.5 -.3 

Employed ............................................................ 140,681 140,897 216 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 58.5 58.2 -.3 

Unemployed ........................................................ 12,692 12,734 42 

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

Not in labor force ..................................................... 87,212 88,463 1,252 

16 to 24 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 38,201 38,722 521 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 20,395 20,496 101 

Participation rate ................................................ 53.4 52.9 -.5 

Employed ............................................................ 17,234 17,286 52 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 45.1 44.6 -.5 

Unemployed ........................................................ 3,161 3,210 49 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 15.5 15.7 .2 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 17,807 18,227 420 

25 to 54 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 124,690 124,391 -299 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 101,732 101,323 -408 

Participation rate ................................................ 81.6 81.5 -.1 

Employed ............................................................ 94,069 93,699 -370 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 75.4 75.3 -.1 

Unemployed ........................................................ 7,663 7,624 -38 

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

Not in labor force ..................................................... 22,958 23,067 109 

55 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 77,693 78,981 1,288 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 31,246 31,812 565 

Participation rate ................................................ 40.2 40.3 .1 

Employed ............................................................ 29,378 29,912 534 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 37.8 37.9 .1 

Unemployed ........................................................ 1,868 1,900 32 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 6.0 6.0 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 46,447 47,170 723 

 

See notes at end of table.
3

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

adjusted, December 2011 (2012 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

Men, 16 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 116,832 116,716 -116 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 82,019 81,606 -413 

Participation rate ................................................ 70.2 69.9 -.3 

Employed ............................................................ 74,837 74,470 -368 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 64.1 63.8 -.3 

Unemployed ........................................................ 7,181 7,136 -45 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 8.8 8.7 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 34,813 35,110 297 

Men, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 108,290 107,983 -307 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 79,288 78,822 -467 

Participation rate ................................................ 73.2 73.0 -.2 

Employed ............................................................ 72,812 72,406 -405 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 67.2 67.1 -.2 

Unemployed ........................................................ 6,477 6,415 -61 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 8.2 8.1 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 29,001 29,162 160 

Women, 16 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 123,753 125,378 1,626 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 71,354 72,025 671 

Participation rate ................................................ 57.7 57.4 -.2 

Employed ............................................................ 65,843 66,427 584 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 53.2 53.0 -.2 

Unemployed ........................................................ 5,511 5,598 87 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 7.7 7.8 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 52,398 53,353 955 

Women, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 115,602 116,989 1,387 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 68,746 69,368 622 

Participation rate ................................................ 59.5 59.3 -.2 

Employed ............................................................ 63,676 64,226 550 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 55.1 54.9 -.2 

Unemployed ........................................................ 5,070 5,141 72 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 7.4 7.4 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 46,856 47,621 764 

 

See notes at end of table.
4

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

adjusted, December 2011 (2012 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

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 16,693 17,122 430 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 5,339 5,441 103 

Participation rate ................................................ 32.0 31.8 -.2 

Employed ............................................................ 4,193 4,264 71 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 25.1 24.9 -.2 

Unemployed ......................................................... 1,146 1,177 31 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 21.5 21.6 .2 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 11,354 11,681 327 

WHITE 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 193,682 192,501 -1,181 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 124,114 122,729 -1,385 

Participation rate ................................................ 64.1 63.8 -.3 

Employed ............................................................ 115,117 113,851 -1,266 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 59.4 59.1 -.3 

Unemployed ........................................................ 8,998 8,878 -119 

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

Not in labor force ..................................................... 69,567 69,772 205 

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 29,286 29,693 407 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 18,024 18,191 166 

Participation rate ................................................ 61.5 61.3 -.3 

Employed ............................................................ 15,285 15,449 165 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 52.2 52.0 -.2 

Unemployed ........................................................ 2,739 2,741 2 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 15.2 15.1 -.1 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 11,262 11,502 240 

ASIAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 11,580 12,741 1,161 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 7,505 8,236 731 

Participation rate ................................................ 64.8 64.6 -.2 

Employed ............................................................ 6,991 7,667 676 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 60.4 60.2 -.2 

Unemployed ......................................................... 514 569 55 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 6.8 6.9 .1 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 4,075 4,506 430 

 

 

See notes at end of table.
5

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

adjusted, December 2011 (2012 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

 

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 34,885 36,215 1,330 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 23,309 24,090 781 

Participation rate ................................................ 66.8 66.5 -.3 

Employed ............................................................ 20,731 21,406 675 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 59.4 59.1 -.3 

Unemployed ......................................................... 2,579 2,684 106 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 11.1 11.1 .1 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 11,575 12,125 550 

 

 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.