Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation 

February 2016

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2016 

 Household survey data beginning in January 2016 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 and reviews the estimation methodology. The population adjustments incorporated with 

household survey data for January 2016 result from updated birth and death statistics and 

adjustments for net international migration. In accordance with usual practice, official population 

and labor force estimates for December 2015 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 2015, the updated controls increased the estimated size of the civilian noninstitutional 

population 16 years and over by 265,000, the civilian labor force by 218,000, employment by 

206,000, unemployment by 12,000, and the number of persons not in the labor force by 47,000. 

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

ratio were not affected. See the accompanying table for the population control effects on labor 

force series for key demographic groups. 

 For information about the Census Bureau’s population estimation methodology, see “Vintage 

2015 Population Estimates Methodology” on their website at 

http://www.census.gov/popest/methodology/. Questions about the population estimates and the 

methodology used to develop them may be directed to the Census Bureau using the contact 

information found at the link above. 
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2015 (2016

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 251,936 252,201 265

Civilian labor force 157,245 157,463 218

Participation rate 62.4 62.4 0.0

Employed 149,703 149,909 206

Employment-population ratio 59.4 59.4 0.0

Unemployed 7,542 7,554 12

Unemployment rate 4.8 4.8 0.0

Not in labor force 94,691 94,738 47

Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 121,671 121,828 157

Civilian labor force 83,439 83,577 138

Participation rate 68.6 68.6 0.0

Employed 79,158 79,289 131

Employment-population ratio 65.1 65.1 0.0

Unemployed 4,280 4,288 8

Unemployment rate 5.1 5.1 0.0

Not in labor force 38,233 38,251 18

Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 113,241 113,388 147

Civilian labor force 80,663 80,798 135

Participation rate 71.2 71.3 0.1

Employed 76,827 76,954 127

Employment-population ratio 67.8 67.9 0.1

Unemployed 3,836 3,844 8

Unemployment rate 4.8 4.8 0.0

Not in labor force 32,578 32,589 11

Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 130,265 130,373 108

Civilian labor force 73,807 73,886 79

Participation rate 56.7 56.7 0.0

Employed 70,544 70,620 76

Employment-population ratio 54.2 54.2 0.0

Unemployed 3,262 3,266 4

Unemployment rate 4.4 4.4 0.0

Not in labor force 56,458 56,486 28

See notes at end of table.

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Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2015 (2016

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 122,071 122,168 97

Civilian labor force 71,055 71,132 77

Participation rate 58.2 58.2 0.0

Employed 68,131 68,204 73

Employment-population ratio 55.8 55.8 0.0

Unemployed 2,924 2,927 3

Unemployment rate 4.1 4.1 0.0

Not in labor force 51,016 51,036 20

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population 16,624 16,645 21

Civilian labor force 5,527 5,533 6

Participation rate 33.2 33.2 0.0

Employed 4,745 4,750 5

Employment-population ratio 28.5 28.5 0.0

Unemployed 782 783 1

Unemployment rate 14.2 14.2 0.0

Not in labor force 11,096 11,112 16

WHITE

Civilian noninstitutional population 197,471 197,544 73

Civilian labor force 123,401 123,487 86

Participation rate 62.5 62.5 0.0

Employed 118,157 118,239 82

Employment-population ratio 59.8 59.9 0.1

Unemployed 5,244 5,248 4

Unemployment rate 4.2 4.2 0.0

Not in labor force 74,070 74,057 -13

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

Civilian noninstitutional population 31,594 31,641 47

Civilian labor force 19,359 19,397 38

Participation rate 61.3 61.3 0.0

Employed 17,795 17,829 34

Employment-population ratio 56.3 56.4 0.1

Unemployed 1,565 1,568 3

Unemployment rate 8.1 8.1 0.0

Not in labor force 12,235 12,243 8

See notes at end of table.

3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2015 (2016

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 14,553 14,678 125

Civilian labor force 9,185 9,265 80

Participation rate 63.1 63.1 0.0

Employed 8,821 8,897 76

Employment-population ratio 60.6 60.6 0.0

Unemployed 365 368 3

Unemployment rate 4.0 4.0 0.0

Not in labor force 5,367 5,413 46

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Civilian noninstitutional population 40,090 40,126 36

Civilian labor force 26,210 26,235 25

Participation rate 65.4 65.4 0.0

Employed 24,591 24,616 25

Employment-population ratio 61.3 61.3 0.0

Unemployed 1,619 1,619 0

Unemployment rate 6.2 6.2 0.0

Not in labor force 13,881 13,891 10

 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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