U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Population Survey (CPS)

Technical Documentation

February 2022

 

Documentation for prior years is available at 

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

Adjustments to Household Survey

Population Estimates in January 2022

Household survey data beginning in January 2022 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 is available on the Current Population Survey 

technical documentation page.) 

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 2022 reflect the 

introduction of a blended 2020 population base, which combines population totals from the 2020 Census 

and demographic characteristics from other sources. The January 2022 adjustments reflect updated birth 

and death statistics, which include the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; new estimates 

of net international migration, which reflect reduced international migration due to the pandemic; and 

methodological improvements to the estimation process. The vast majority of the population change, 

however, is due to the change in the base population from Census 2010 to the blended Census 2020

base. 

For additional information, see the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2021 Methodology and Release Notes 

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 2021 and earlier months were not revised; consequently, household survey data for January 

2022 will not be directly comparable with data for December 2021 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 data for December 2021. 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 2021 (2022

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 262,136 263,109 973

Civilian labor force 161,696 163,226 1,530

Participation rate 61.7 62.0 0.3

Employed 155,732 157,203 1,471

Employment-population ratio 59.4 59.7 0.3

Unemployed 5,964 6,023 59

Unemployment rate 3.7 3.7 0.0

Not in labor force 100,440 99,883 -557

Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 126,832 128,191 1,359

Civilian labor force 85,339 86,578 1,239

Participation rate 67.3 67.5 0.2

Employed 82,024 83,222 1,198

Employment-population ratio 64.7 64.9 0.2

Unemployed 3,314 3,356 42

Unemployment rate 3.9 3.9 0.0

Not in labor force 41,493 41,613 120

Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 118,520 119,568 1,048

Civilian labor force 82,547 83,681 1,134

Participation rate 69.6 70.0 0.4

Employed 79,525 80,627 1,102

Employment-population ratio 67.1 67.4 0.3

Unemployed 3,022 3,054 32

Unemployment rate 3.7 3.6 -0.1

Not in labor force 35,973 35,888 -85

Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 135,304 134,918 -386

Civilian labor force 76,357 76,648 291

Participation rate 56.4 56.8 0.4

Employed 73,708 73,981 273

Employment-population ratio 54.5 54.8 0.3

Unemployed 2,649 2,667 18

Unemployment rate 3.5 3.5 0.0

Not in labor force 58,947 58,270 -677

See notes at end of table.

2
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2021 (2022

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 127,167 126,523 -644

Civilian labor force 73,546 73,745 199

Participation rate 57.8 58.3 0.5

Employed 71,140 71,328 188

Employment-population ratio 55.9 56.4 0.5

Unemployed 2,406 2,416 10

Unemployment rate 3.3 3.3 0.0

Not in labor force 53,621 52,779 -842

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population 16,449 17,018 569

Civilian labor force 5,602 5,801 199

Participation rate 34.1 34.1 0.0

Employed 5,068 5,248 180

Employment-population ratio 30.8 30.8 0.0

Unemployed 535 553 18

Unemployment rate 9.5 9.5 0.0

Not in labor force 10,847 11,217 370

WHITE

Civilian noninstitutional population 202,250 202,788 538

Civilian labor force 124,427 125,607 1,180

Participation rate 61.5 61.9 0.4

Employed 120,536 121,678 1,142

Employment-population ratio 59.6 60.0 0.4

Unemployed 3,891 3,930 39

Unemployment rate 3.1 3.1 0.0

Not in labor force 77,823 77,180 -643

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

Civilian noninstitutional population 33,749 33,954 205

Civilian labor force 20,364 20,537 173

Participation rate 60.3 60.5 0.2

Employed 19,045 19,207 162

Employment-population ratio 56.4 56.6 0.2

Unemployed 1,319 1,330 11

Unemployment rate 6.5 6.5 0.0

Not in labor force 13,385 13,417 32

See notes at end of table.

3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2021 (2022

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 16,612 16,780 168

Civilian labor force 10,727 10,867 140

Participation rate 64.6 64.8 0.2

Employed 10,344 10,479 135

Employment-population ratio 62.3 62.4 0.1

Unemployed 383 388 5

Unemployment rate 3.6 3.6 0.0

Not in labor force 5,885 5,913 28

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Civilian noninstitutional population 45,303 45,665 362

Civilian labor force 29,800 30,087 287

Participation rate 65.8 65.9 0.1

Employed 28,443 28,716 273

Employment-population ratio 62.8 62.9 0.1

Unemployed 1,357 1,371 14

Unemployment rate 4.6 4.6 0.0

Not in labor force 15,503 15,578 75

 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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