Current Population Survey

The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a statistical survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS uses the data to provide direct monthly estimates of the number of unemployed people in the United States and to provide annual-average estimates of employment and unemployment in large metropolitan areas.

Related Topics:
Statistical - Survey - United States Census Bureau - Bureau of Labor Statistics - Unemployed

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The CPS began in 1940, and responsibility for conducting the CPS was given to the Census Bureau in 1947. In 1994 the CPS was redesigned to obtain better survey data.

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CPS is a survey that is:

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• Employment-focused
• Enumerator-conducted
• Continuous
• Cross-sectional

CPS is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households. The sample represents the civilian noninstitutional population. The survey asks about the employment status of each member of the household 15 years of age or older in the calendar week containing 12th day of the month. Based on responses to a series of questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force.

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Current Population Survey: Survey Methodology ►