1

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 

February 2010 

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2010

 Household survey data beginning in January 2010 reflect updated population controls. As 

part of its annual review of intercensal population estimates, the U.S. Census Bureau determined 

that a downward adjustment should be made to the household survey population controls. This 

adjustment stems from revised estimates of net international migration, updated vital statistics 

and other information, and some methodological changes in the population estimation process. 

Documentation on the Census Bureau’s population estimation methodology is available on their 

website at http://www.census.gov/popest/topics/methodology/2009-nat-meth.pdf. 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. 

 The updated controls resulted in a decrease of 258,000 in the estimated size of the civilian 

noninstitutional population 16 years and over for December 2009. Official population and labor 

force estimates for December 2009 and earlier months will not be revised. 

 A comparison of December 2009 data based on the old and new controls shows that the 

population adjustments caused decreases in the labor force (-249,000), employment (-243,000), 

and unemployment (-5,000). The total unemployment rate, however, was not affected. (See 

table below.) 

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

December 2009 (2010 population adjustment effect) 

(Numbers in thousands) 

Employment status, sex, age, race, 

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 

As 

originally 

published 

 

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls 

 

Difference 1

TOTAL 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................................. 236,924 236,666 -258 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 152,693 152,444 -249 

Participation rate ............................................... 64.4 64.4 .0 

Employed ........................................................... 137,953 137,709 -243 

Employment-population ratio ............................... 58.2 58.2 .0 

Unemployed ....................................................... 14,740 14,735 -5 

Unemployment rate ........................................... 9.7 9.7 .0 

Not in labor force .................................................... 84,231 84,222 -9 

 

See notes at end of table. 
2

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

December 2009 (2010 population adjustment effect)–Continued 

(Numbers in thousands) 

Employment status, sex, age, race, 

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 

As 

originally 

published 

 

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls 

 

Difference 1

Men, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population ............................... 106,125 105,898 -227 

Civilian labor force ................................................ 78,392 78,189 -203 

Participation rate ............................................. 73.9 73.8 .0 

Employed ......................................................... 70,251 70,061 -190 

Employment-population ratio ............................. 66.2 66.2 .0 

Unemployed ...................................................... 8,141 8,129 -13 

Unemployment rate .......................................... 10.4 10.4 .0 

Not in labor force ................................................... 27,733 27,709 -24 

Women, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population ............................... 113,832 113,707 -125 

Civilian labor force ................................................. 68,617 68,545 -72 

Participation rate ............................................. 60.3 60.3 .0 

Employed ......................................................... 63,430 63,360 -69 

Employment-population ratio .............................. 55.7 55.7 .0 

Unemployed ...................................................... 5,187 5,185 -2 

Unemployment rate .......................................... 7.6 7.6 .0 

Not in labor force ................................................... 45,215 45,162 -53 

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population ............................... 16,967 17,060 93 

Civilian labor force ................................................. 5,684 5,709 25 

Participation rate ............................................. 33.5 33.5 .0 

Employed ......................................................... 4,272 4,288 16 

Employment-population ratio .............................. 25.2 25.1 .0 

Unemployed ...................................................... 1,412 1,421 9 

Unemployment rate .......................................... 24.8 24.9 .1 

Not in labor force ................................................... 11,283 11,351 68 

WHITE 

Civilian noninstitutional population ............................... 191,628 191,355 -274 

Civilian labor force ................................................. 124,344 124,109 -235 

Participation rate ............................................. 64.9 64.9 .0 

Employed ......................................................... 113,416 113,194 -222 

Employment-population ratio .............................. 59.2 59.2 .0 

Unemployed ...................................................... 10,928 10,915 -13 

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

Not in labor force ................................................... 67,284 67,246 -38 

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population ............................... 28,437 28,494 56 

Civilian labor force ................................................. 17,484 17,515 31 

Participation rate ............................................. 61.5 61.5 .0 

Employed ......................................................... 14,759 14,782 22 

Employment-population ratio .............................. 51.9 51.9 .0 

Unemployed ...................................................... 2,725 2,733 9 

Unemployment rate .......................................... 15.6 15.6 .0 

Not in labor force ................................................... 10,953 10,979 25 

 

See notes at end of table. 
3

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

December 2009 (2010 population adjustment effect)–Continued 

(Numbers in thousands) 

Employment status, sex, age, race, 

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 

As 

published 

 

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls 

 

Difference 1

ASIAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................................. 10,904 10,874 -31 

Civilian labor force .................................................. 7,163 7,121 -42 

Participation rate .............................................. 65.7 65.5 -.2 

Employed ........................................................... 6,560 6,521 -40 

Employment-population ratio ............................... 60.2 60.0 -.2 

Unemployed ....................................................... 602 601 -2 

Unemployment rate ........................................... 8.4 8.4 .0 

Not in labor force .................................................... 3,741 3,752 11 

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY 

Civilian noninstitutional population ................................. 33,379 33,167 -212 

Civilian labor force .................................................. 22,481 22,312 -169 

Participation rate .............................................. 67.3 67.3 -.1 

Employed ........................................................... 19,591 19,430 -160 

Employment-population ratio ............................... 58.7 58.6 -.1 

Unemployed ....................................................... 2,890 2,882 -8 

Unemployment rate ........................................... 12.9 12.9 .1 

Not in labor force .................................................... 10,899 10,855 -43 

 

 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.