Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation 

February 2014

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2014 

 Household survey data beginning in January 2014 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 2014 

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 2013 

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 2013, the updated controls increased the estimated size of the civilian noninstitutional 

population 16 years and over by 2,000, the civilian labor force by 24,000, employment by 

22,000, and unemployment by 2,000. The updated controls reduced the number of persons not in 

the labor force by 22,000. 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/. 
2

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

December 2013 (2014 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 .................... 246,745 246,747 2 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 154,408 154,431 24 

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

Employed ............................................. 144,423 144,445 22 

Employment-population ratio .................. 58.5 58.5 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 9,984 9,986 2 

Unemployment rate .............................. 6.5 6.5 .0 

Not in labor force ....................................... 92,338 92,315 -22 

Men, 16 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................... 119,103 119,132 29 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 81,985 82,009 24 

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

Employed ............................................. 76,403 76,424 22 

Employment-population ratio .................. 64.1 64.2 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 5,583 5,585 3 

Unemployment rate .............................. 6.8 6.8 .0 

Not in labor force ....................................... 37,118 37,122 4 

Men, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................... 110,613 110,654 41 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 79,335 79,363 28 

Participation rate ................................. 71.7 71.7 .0 

Employed ............................................. 74,275 74,299 24 

Employment-population ratio .................. 67.1 67.1 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 5,060 5,064 3 

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

Not in labor force ....................................... 31,278 31,291 13 

Women, 16 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................... 127,642 127,615 -27 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 72,423 72,422 0 

Participation rate ................................. 56.7 56.8 .0 

Employed ............................................. 68,021 68,021 0 

Employment-population ratio .................. 53.3 53.3 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 4,402 4,401 -1 

Unemployment rate .............................. 6.1 6.1 .0 

Not in labor force ....................................... 55,220 55,193 -27 

 

See notes at end of table. 
3

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

adjusted, December 2013 (2014 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 ................... 119,433 119,411 -22 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 69,809 69,810 1 

Participation rate ................................. 58.5 58.5 .0 

Employed ............................................. 65,849 65,850 1 

Employment-population ratio .................. 55.1 55.1 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 3,960 3,959 0 

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

Not in labor force ....................................... 49,624 49,601 -23 

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................... 16,700 16,683 -17 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 5,264 5,259 -5 

Participation rate ................................. 31.5 31.5 .0 

Employed ............................................. 4,300 4,296 -4 

Employment-population ratio ................. 25.7 25.8 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 964 963 -1 

Unemployment rate .............................. 18.3 18.3 .0 

Not in labor force ....................................... 11,436 11,423 -12 

WHITE 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................... 194,927 194,862 -65 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 122,621 122,604 -17 

Participation rate ................................. 62.9 62.9 .0 

Employed ............................................. 115,640 115,624 -16 

Employment-population ratio ................. 59.3 59.3 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 6,982 6,980 -1 

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

Not in labor force ....................................... 72,306 72,258 -48 

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................... 30,569 30,617 48 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 18,315 18,350 34 

Participation rate ................................. 59.9 59.9 .0 

Employed ............................................. 16,194 16,224 31 

Employment-population ratio .................. 53.0 53.0 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 2,121 2,125 4 

Unemployment rate .............................. 11.6 11.6 .0 

Not in labor force ....................................... 12,254 12,268 14 

 

See notes at end of table. 
4

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

adjusted, December 2013 (2014 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 ................... 13,493 13,526 33 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 8,715 8,729 15 

Participation rate ................................. 64.6 64.5 .0 

Employed ............................................. 8,355 8,369 14 

Employment-population ratio .................. 61.9 61.9 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 360 360 1 

Unemployment rate .............................. 4.1 4.1 .0 

Not in labor force ....................................... 4,778 4,796 18 

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................... 37,955 37,898 -57 

Civilian labor force ..................................... 24,807 24,768 -38 

Participation rate ................................. 65.4 65.4 .0 

Employed ............................................. 22,741 22,706 -34 

Employment-population ratio .................. 59.9 59.9 .0 

Unemployed .......................................... 2,066 2,062 -4 

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

Not in labor force ....................................... 13,148 13,130 -18 

 

 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.