U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation 

February 2018 

 

Documentation for prior years is available at 

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

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2018 

Household survey data beginning in January 2018 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.

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 2018 reflect 

updated birth and death statistics, new estimates of net international migration, and 

methodological improvements to the estimation process. 

For additional information, see the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2017 Methodology release notes 

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

develop them should be directed to the Census Bureau. 

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

for December 2017 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 2017. A supplemental table that includes 

population control adjustment effects for additional series is available in XLSX format. 
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2017 (2018

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 256,109 256,597 488

Civilian labor force 159,880 160,213 333

Participation rate 62.4 62.4 0.0

Employed 153,602 153,920 318

Employment-population ratio 60.0 60.0 0.0

Unemployed 6,278 6,293 15

Unemployment rate 3.9 3.9 0.0

Not in labor force 96,230 96,384 154

Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 123,786 124,082 296

Civilian labor force 84,831 85,059 228

Participation rate 68.5 68.6 0.1

Employed 81,300 81,519 219

Employment-population ratio 65.7 65.7 0.0

Unemployed 3,531 3,540 9

Unemployment rate 4.2 4.2 0.0

Not in labor force 38,955 39,022 67

Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 115,292 115,576 284

Civilian labor force 82,193 82,418 225

Participation rate 71.3 71.3 0.0

Employed 79,025 79,241 216

Employment-population ratio 68.5 68.6 0.1

Unemployed 3,168 3,177 9

Unemployment rate 3.9 3.9 0.0

Not in labor force 33,099 33,158 59

Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 132,323 132,515 192

Civilian labor force 75,048 75,154 106

Participation rate 56.7 56.7 0.0

Employed 72,301 72,401 100

Employment-population ratio 54.6 54.6 0.0

Unemployed 2,747 2,752 5

Unemployment rate 3.7 3.7 0.0

Not in labor force 57,275 57,361 86

See notes at end of table.

2
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2017 (2018

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 124,057 124,236 179

Civilian labor force 72,237 72,339 102

Participation rate 58.2 58.2 0.0

Employed 69,775 69,872 97

Employment-population ratio 56.2 56.2 0.0

Unemployed 2,462 2,467 5

Unemployment rate 3.4 3.4 0.0

Not in labor force 51,820 51,897 77

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population 16,760 16,784 24

Civilian labor force 5,449 5,456 7

Participation rate 32.5 32.5 0.0

Employed 4,801 4,807 6

Employment-population ratio 28.6 28.6 0.0

Unemployed 648 649 1

Unemployment rate 11.9 11.9 0.0

Not in labor force 11,311 11,328 17

WHITE

Civilian noninstitutional population 199,458 199,652 194

Civilian labor force 124,594 124,735 141

Participation rate 62.5 62.5 0.0

Employed 120,148 120,280 132

Employment-population ratio 60.2 60.2 0.0

Unemployed 4,446 4,454 8

Unemployment rate 3.6 3.6 0.0

Not in labor force 74,864 74,918 54

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

Civilian noninstitutional population 32,436 32,540 104

Civilian labor force 20,050 20,120 70

Participation rate 61.8 61.8 0.0

Employed 18,791 18,857 66

Employment-population ratio 57.9 58.0 0.1

Unemployed 1,260 1,263 3

Unemployment rate 6.3 6.3 0.0

Not in labor force 12,385 12,420 35

See notes at end of table.

3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2017 (2018

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 15,610 15,781 171

Civilian labor force 9,779 9,890 111

Participation rate 62.6 62.7 0.1

Employed 9,546 9,655 109

Employment-population ratio 61.2 61.2 0.0

Unemployed 233 235 2

Unemployment rate 2.4 2.4 0.0

Not in labor force 5,831 5,891 60

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Civilian noninstitutional population 41,831 42,159 328

Civilian labor force 27,429 27,671 242

Participation rate 65.6 65.6 0.0

Employed 26,077 26,307 230

Employment-population ratio 62.3 62.4 0.1

Unemployed 1,352 1,364 12

Unemployment rate 4.9 4.9 0.0

Not in labor force 14,402 14,488 86

 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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