U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Current Population Survey (CPS) 

Technical Documentation 

February 2020 

 

Documentation for prior years is available at 

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

Adjustments to Household Survey 

Population Estimates in January 2020

Household survey data beginning in January 2020 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 2020 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 2019 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 2019 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 2019. A supplemental table (XLSX) that 

includes population control adjustment effects for additional series also is available. 
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2019 (2020

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 260,181 259,370 -811

Civilian labor force 164,007 163,483 -524

Participation rate 63.0 63.0 0.0

Employed 158,504 157,997 -507

Employment-population ratio 60.9 60.9 0.0

Unemployed 5,503 5,486 -17

Unemployment rate 3.4 3.4 0.0

Not in labor force 96,174 95,887 -287

Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 125,852 125,449 -403

Civilian labor force 86,500 86,211 -289

Participation rate 68.7 68.7 0.0

Employed 83,467 83,188 -279

Employment-population ratio 66.3 66.3 0.0

Unemployed 3,033 3,023 -10

Unemployment rate 3.5 3.5 0.0

Not in labor force 39,352 39,237 -115

Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 117,413 117,042 -371

Civilian labor force 83,628 83,349 -279

Participation rate 71.2 71.2 0.0

Employed 80,940 80,670 -270

Employment-population ratio 68.9 68.9 0.0

Unemployed 2,688 2,680 -8

Unemployment rate 3.2 3.2 0.0

Not in labor force 33,785 33,692 -93

Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population 134,329 133,921 -408

Civilian labor force 77,507 77,272 -235

Participation rate 57.7 57.7 0.0

Employed 75,036 74,809 -227

Employment-population ratio 55.9 55.9 0.0

Unemployed 2,471 2,462 -9

Unemployment rate 3.2 3.2 0.0

Not in labor force 56,822 56,650 -172

See notes at end of table.

2
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2019 (2020

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 126,082 125,700 -382

Civilian labor force 74,730 74,501 -229

Participation rate 59.3 59.3 0.0

Employed 72,534 72,312 -222

Employment-population ratio 57.5 57.5 0.0

Unemployed 2,196 2,188 -8

Unemployment rate 2.9 2.9 0.0

Not in labor force 51,352 51,199 -153

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population 16,686 16,629 -57

Civilian labor force 5,649 5,633 -16

Participation rate 33.9 33.9 0.0

Employed 5,029 5,015 -14

Employment-population ratio 30.1 30.2 0.1

Unemployed 619 618 -1

Unemployment rate 11.0 11.0 0.0

Not in labor force 11,038 10,996 -42

WHITE

Civilian noninstitutional population 201,326 200,865 -461

Civilian labor force 126,758 126,461 -297

Participation rate 63.0 63.0 0.0

Employed 122,919 122,632 -287

Employment-population ratio 61.1 61.1 0.0

Unemployed 3,839 3,829 -10

Unemployment rate 3.0 3.0 0.0

Not in labor force 74,568 74,404 -164

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN

Civilian noninstitutional population 33,215 33,156 -59

Civilian labor force 20,855 20,814 -41

Participation rate 62.8 62.8 0.0

Employed 19,692 19,653 -39

Employment-population ratio 59.3 59.3 0.0

Unemployed 1,163 1,161 -2

Unemployment rate 5.6 5.6 0.0

Not in labor force 12,360 12,342 -18

See notes at end of table.

3
Employment status of the population for selected labor force groups, not seasonally adjusted, December 2019 (2020

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 16,482 16,209 -273

Civilian labor force 10,443 10,272 -171

Participation rate 63.4 63.4 0.0

Employed 10,189 10,022 -167

Employment-population ratio 61.8 61.8 0.0

Unemployed 254 250 -4

Unemployment rate 2.4 2.4 0.0

Not in labor force 6,040 5,938 -102

HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Civilian noninstitutional population 43,986 43,663 -323

Civilian labor force 29,493 29,274 -219

Participation rate 67.1 67.0 -0.1

Employed 28,275 28,065 -210

Employment-population ratio 64.3 64.3 0.0

Unemployed 1,218 1,209 -9

Unemployment rate 4.1 4.1 0.0

Not in labor force 14,493 14,389 -104

 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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