U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Population Survey (CPS)

Technical Documentation

February 2023 

Documentation for prior years is available at 

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

Adjustments to Household Survey Population Estimates in 

January 2023

Household survey data beginning in January 2023 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, including adjustments for prior years, is 

available in the Current Population Survey technical documentation.) 

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 2023 reflect the 

blended 2020 population base, which combines population totals from the 2020 Census and 

demographic characteristics from other sources. The January 2023 adjustments reflect updated birth and 

death statistics; new estimates of net international migration, which reflect recent increased international 

migration; and methodological improvements. The majority of the overall population level change is due 

to the increase in net international migration in this year’s adjustment, which follows reduced 

international migration due to the pandemic. However, other changes in the characteristics of the 

population are due to methodological improvements to the blended base. 

For additional information, see the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2022 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 2023, household survey estimates for veterans incorporate 

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

Model (VetPop2020). 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 2022 and earlier months were not revised; consequently, household survey data for January 

2023 will not be directly comparable with data for December 2022 or earlier periods. 

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 adjusted data for December 2022. A supplemental table that shows 

population control adjustment effects for additional series is also available.
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2022 (2023

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 264,844 265,798 954

Civilian labor force 164,224 165,095 871

Participation rate 62.0 62.1 0.1

Employed 158,872 159,682 810

Employment-population ratio 60.0 60.1 0.1

Unemployed 5,352 5,412 60

Unemployment rate 3.3 3.3 0.0

Not in labor force 100,621 100,703 82

Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 129,050 129,919 869

Civilian labor force 87,251 88,108 857

Participation rate 67.6 67.8 0.2

Employed 84,304 85,116 812

Employment-population ratio 65.3 65.5 0.2

Unemployed 2,947 2,992 45

Unemployment rate 3.4 3.4 0.0

Not in labor force 41,799 41,812 13

Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 120,360 121,213 853

Civilian labor force 84,262 85,120 858

Participation rate 70.0 70.2 0.2

Employed 81,589 82,402 813

Employment-population ratio 67.8 68.0 0.2

Unemployed 2,673 2,718 45

Unemployment rate 3.2 3.2 0.0

Not in labor force 36,098 36,093 -5

Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 135,795 135,879 84

Civilian labor force 76,973 76,987 14

Participation rate 56.7 56.7 0.0

Employed 74,568 74,566 -2

Employment-population ratio 54.9 54.9 0.0

Unemployed 2,405 2,421 16

Unemployment rate 3.1 3.1 0.0

Not in labor force 58,821 58,892 71

See notes at end of table.

2
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2022 (2023

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 127,345 127,469 124

Civilian labor force 73,981 74,013 32

Participation rate 58.1 58.1 0.0

Employed 71,843 71,858 15

Employment-population ratio 56.4 56.4 0.0

Unemployed 2,138 2,155 17

Unemployment rate 2.9 2.9 0.0

Not in labor force 53,365 53,457 92

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population 17,139 17,116 -23

Civilian labor force 5,981 5,962 -19

Participation rate 34.9 34.8 -0.1

Employed 5,439 5,422 -17

Employment-population ratio 31.7 31.7 0.0

Unemployed 541 540 -1

Unemployment rate 9.1 9.1 0.0

Not in labor force 11,158 11,154 -4

WHITE

Civilian noninstitutional population 203,684 203,993 309

Civilian labor force 125,934 126,299 365

Participation rate 61.8 61.9 0.1

Employed 122,301 122,636 335

Employment-population ratio 60.0 60.1 0.1

Unemployed 3,633 3,663 30

Unemployment rate 2.9 2.9 0.0

Not in labor force 77,750 77,694 -56

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

Civilian noninstitutional population 34,301 34,454 153

Civilian labor force 21,278 21,446 168

Participation rate 62.0 62.2 0.2

Employed 20,146 20,295 149

Employment-population ratio 58.7 58.9 0.2

Unemployed 1,132 1,152 20

Unemployment rate 5.3 5.4 0.1

Not in labor force 13,023 13,008 -15

See notes at end of table.

3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2022 (2023

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 17,005 17,442 437

Civilian labor force 10,890 11,181 291

Participation rate 64.0 64.1 0.1

Employed 10,650 10,932 282

Employment-population ratio 62.6 62.7 0.1

Unemployed 241 249 8

Unemployment rate 2.2 2.2 0.0

Not in labor force 6,115 6,261 146

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Civilian noninstitutional population 46,624 46,915 291

Civilian labor force 30,872 31,161 289

Participation rate 66.2 66.4 0.2

Employed 29,594 29,865 271

Employment-population ratio 63.5 63.7 0.2

Unemployed 1,278 1,297 19

Unemployment rate 4.1 4.2 0.1

Not in labor force 15,752 15,754 2

 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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