U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation 

February 2021 

 

Documentation for prior years is available at 

www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#poparchive

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2021

Household survey data beginning in January 2021 reflect updated population estimates, also referred to 

as population controls. These are independent estimates of population used to weight the household 

survey sample results to reflect the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and older. (Additional 

information about household survey population controls is available on the Current Population Survey 

technical documentation page.) 

The U.S. Census Bureau develops the population estimates for the household survey. Each year, the 

Census Bureau adjusts the estimates to include the latest information about population change and to 

incorporate any improvements in the estimation methodology. 

The population adjustments incorporated with household survey data for January 2021 reflect updated 

birth and death statistics, which include the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; new 

estimates of net international migration, which reflect reduced international migration due to the 

pandemic and associated travel restrictions; and methodological improvements to the estimation process. 

For additional information, see the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2020 Methodology and Release Notes 

documentation. Questions about the population estimates and the methodology used to develop them 

should be directed to the Census Bureau. 

In addition, effective with data for January 2021, household survey estimates for veterans incorporate 

population controls derived from a new Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Population Projection 

Model (VetPop2018). Information about the Veteran Population Projection Model is available from the 

Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Following usual Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) practice, official household survey estimates for 

December 2020 and earlier months were not revised. 

To evaluate the impact of population control adjustments on key labor force data, BLS produces special 

tabulations of December data that incorporate the new population controls. The difference between the 

special tabulations and the official December estimates (not seasonally adjusted) shows the effect of the 

adjustment. The adjustment effect may be either positive or negative. 

See the accompanying table for the latest population control adjustment effects to the major labor force 

series, based on not seasonally data for December 2020. A supplemental table (XLSX) that shows

population control adjustment effects for additional series, including veterans, is also available. 
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2020 (2021

population adjustment effect)

(Numbers in thousands)

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

Latino ethnicity

As

published

Based on

updated

population

controls

Difference

TOTAL

Civilian noninstitutional population 261,230 260,754 -476

Civilian labor force 160,017 159,817 -200

Participation rate 61.3 61.3 0.0

Employed 149,613 149,433 -180

Employment-population ratio 57.3 57.3 0.0

Unemployed 10,404 10,384 -20

Unemployment rate 6.5 6.5 0.0

Not in labor force 101,213 100,936 -277

Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 126,367 126,144 -223

Civilian labor force 84,644 84,544 -100

Participation rate 67.0 67.0 0.0

Employed 78,955 78,864 -91

Employment-population ratio 62.5 62.5 0.0

Unemployed 5,689 5,680 -9

Unemployment rate 6.7 6.7 0.0

Not in labor force 41,723 41,600 -123

Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 118,010 117,808 -202

Civilian labor force 81,877 81,783 -94

Participation rate 69.4 69.4 0.0

Employed 76,572 76,485 -87

Employment-population ratio 64.9 64.9 0.0

Unemployed 5,305 5,297 -8

Unemployment rate 6.5 6.5 0.0

Not in labor force 36,134 36,026 -108

Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 134,862 134,610 -252

Civilian labor force 75,373 75,274 -99

Participation rate 55.9 55.9 0.0

Employed 70,658 70,569 -89

Employment-population ratio 52.4 52.4 0.0

Unemployed 4,715 4,705 -10

Unemployment rate 6.3 6.2 -0.1

Not in labor force 59,490 59,336 -154

See notes at end of table.

2
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2020 (2021

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

Women, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 126,681 126,451 -230

Civilian labor force 72,558 72,463 -95

Participation rate 57.3 57.3 0.0

Employed 68,248 68,163 -85

Employment-population ratio 53.9 53.9 0.0

Unemployed 4,309 4,300 -9

Unemployment rate 5.9 5.9 0.0

Not in labor force 54,124 53,987 -137

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population 16,538 16,495 -43

Civilian labor force 5,582 5,571 -11

Participation rate 33.8 33.8 0.0

Employed 4,793 4,784 -9

Employment-population ratio 29.0 29.0 0.0

Unemployed 789 787 -2

Unemployment rate 14.1 14.1 0.0

Not in labor force 10,956 10,923 -33

WHITE

Civilian noninstitutional population 201,749 201,546 -203

Civilian labor force 123,828 123,782 -46

Participation rate 61.4 61.4 0.0

Employed 116,479 116,442 -37

Employment-population ratio 57.7 57.8 0.1

Unemployed 7,348 7,340 -8

Unemployment rate 5.9 5.9 0.0

Not in labor force 77,921 77,764 -157

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

Civilian noninstitutional population 33,516 33,471 -45

Civilian labor force 19,919 19,904 -15

Participation rate 59.4 59.5 0.1

Employed 18,066 18,052 -14

Employment-population ratio 53.9 53.9 0.0

Unemployed 1,853 1,852 -1

Unemployment rate 9.3 9.3 0.0

Not in labor force 13,597 13,567 -30

See notes at end of table.

3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2020 (2021

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

ASIAN

Civilian noninstitutional population 16,583 16,357 -226

Civilian labor force 10,259 10,124 -135

Participation rate 61.9 61.9 0.0

Employed 9,664 9,538 -126

Employment-population ratio 58.3 58.3 0.0

Unemployed 595 586 -9

Unemployment rate 5.8 5.8 0.0

Not in labor force 6,324 6,233 -91

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Civilian noninstitutional population 44,639 44,452 -187

Civilian labor force 29,129 29,019 -110

Participation rate 65.3 65.3 0.0

Employed 26,442 26,343 -99

Employment-population ratio 59.2 59.3 0.1

Unemployed 2,688 2,676 -12

Unemployment rate 9.2 9.2 0.0

Not in labor force 15,510 15,433 -77

 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.

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