Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation 

February 2013

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2013 

 Household survey data beginning in January 2013 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. The adjustments incorporated with household survey data for January 2013 result from 

adjustments for net international migration, updated birth and death statistics and other 

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

accordance with usual practice, official population and labor force estimates for December 2012 

and earlier months were not revised. 

 To gauge 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 2012, the updated controls increased the estimated size of the civilian noninstitutional 

population 16 years and over by 138,000, the civilian labor force by 136,000, employment by 

127,000, unemployment by 9,000, and persons not in the labor force by 2,000. The total 

unemployment rate, the labor force participation rate, and the employment-population ratio were 

not affected. (See the table on the following pages for the population control effects on labor 

force series for key demographic groups.) 

 Information about the Census Bureau’s population estimation methodology is available on 

their website at http://www.census.gov/popest/methodology/. 
2

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

adjusted, December 2012 (2013 population adjustment effect) 

(Numbers in thousands) 

Employment status, age, sex, race, 

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity 

 

As 

published 

 

Based on 

updated 

population 

controls 

 

Difference 1

TOTAL 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 244,350 244,488 138 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 154,904 155,040 136 

Participation rate ................................................ 63.4 63.4 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 143,060 143,187 127 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 58.5 58.6 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 11,844 11,853 9 

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

Not in labor force ..................................................... 89,445 89,448 2 

Men, 16 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 117,902 117,943 41 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 82,190 82,239 49 

Participation rate ................................................ 69.7 69.7 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 75,686 75,733 47 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 64.2 64.2 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 6,503 6,506 3 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 7.9 7.9 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 35,712 35,704 -9 

Men, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 109,308 109,347 39 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 79,552 79,602 50 

Participation rate ................................................ 72.8 72.8 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 73,716 73,762 47 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 67.4 67.5 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 5,836 5,839 3 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 7.3 7.3 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 29,756 29,746 -11 

Women, 16 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 126,447 126,545 98 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 72,715 72,801 87 

Participation rate ................................................ 57.5 57.5 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 67,373 67,454 80 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 53.3 53.3 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 5,341 5,348 6 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 7.3 7.3 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 53,733 53,744 11 

See notes at end of table.
3

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

adjusted, December 2012 (2013 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 1

Women, 20 years and over 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 118,170 118,256 86 

Civilian labor force ................................................... 69,980 70,066 86 

Participation rate ................................................ 59.2 59.2 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 65,152 65,232 79 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 55.1 55.2 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 4,828 4,834 6 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 6.9 6.9 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 48,190 48,190 0 

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 16,871 16,885 14 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 5,372 5,373 1 

Participation rate ................................................ 31.8 31.8 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 4,192 4,193 1 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 24.8 24.8 .0 

Unemployed ......................................................... 1,180 1,180 0 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 22.0 22.0 .0 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 11,499 11,512 13 

WHITE 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 193,849 193,685 -164 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 123,404 123,330 -74 

Participation rate ................................................ 63.7 63.7 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 115,213 115,150 -64 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 59.4 59.5 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 8,191 8,180 -11 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 6.6 6.6 .0 

Not in labor force ..................................................... 70,445 70,355 -90 

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 30,093 30,156 63 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 18,350 18,402 52 

Participation rate ................................................ 61.0 61.0 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 15,832 15,876 44 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 52.6 52.6 .0 

Unemployed ........................................................ 2,518 2,526 8 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 13.7 13.7 .0 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 11,743 11,754 11 

 

 

See notes at end of table.
4

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

adjusted, December 2012 (2013 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 1

ASIAN 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 12,935 13,181 246 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 8,501 8,662 161 

Participation rate ................................................ 65.7 65.7 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 7,940 8,089 150 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 61.4 61.4 .0 

Unemployed ......................................................... 561 573 12 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 6.6 6.6 .0 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 4,434 4,519 85 

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY 

Civilian noninstitutional population .................................. 37,231 37,013 -218 

Civilian labor force .................................................... 24,487 24,331 -156 

Participation rate ................................................ 65.8 65.7 .0 

Employed ............................................................ 22,137 21,998 -139 

Employment-population ratio ................................ 59.5 59.4 .0 

Unemployed ......................................................... 2,350 2,333 -17 

Unemployment rate ............................................ 9.6 9.6 .0 

Not in labor force ...................................................... 12,744 12,682 -62 

 

 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.