At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Provides data on mediating variables (e.g., employment status) that may be useful in studying childhood obesity.
- Sample is large enough to provide national, state and some substate-specific estimates
- From time to time, the CPS has included additional questions on health, education, income, and other issues. The Tobacco Use Supplement, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, is an example of these additional questions.
- Collects information on the occupations, employment activities, and economic status of household members.
Website
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps.html
Purpose
To provide data on the labor force characteristics of the United States (U.S.) non-institutional civilian population.
Target Population
Civilian noninstitutionalized population in the U.S., ages 16 years and older.
Conducted
Began in 1940. Conducted monthly.
Sponsor
Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S. Department of Labor), in cooperation with the Census Bureau (U.S. Department of Commerce)
Special Note(s)
The Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) is an annual supplement to the CPS containing data on basic demographic and labor force data, in addition to data on work experience, income, noncash benefits (such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) benefits. Learn more.
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional survey.
The CPS is administered by the Census Bureau using a probability selected sample of about 59,000 occupied households. The fieldwork is conducted during the calendar week that includes the 19th of the month. The questions refer to activities during the prior week; that is, the week that includes the 12th of the month. Households from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are in the survey.
Sample Size
Of the approximately 70,000 households selected per month, approximately 59,000 households are found to be occupied and eligible for an interview.
Special Note(s)
Learn more about the design and methodology of the Current Population Survey.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Age | Interview/questionnaire |
| Disability (ADL/IADL*; cognitive; hearing; movement/physical; vision; work-related) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Earnings | Interview/questionnaire |
| Educational attainment | Interview/questionnaire |
| Employment | Interview/questionnaire |
| Hispanic origin | Interview/questionnaire |
| Hours of work | Interview/questionnaire |
| Marital status | Interview/questionnaire |
| Occupation, industry, class of worker | Interview/questionnaire |
| Race | Interview/questionnaire |
| Sex | Interview/questionnaire |
| Unemployment | Interview/questionnaire |
Special Note(s)
The Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) is an annual supplement to the CPS containing data on basic demographic and labor force data, in addition to data on work experience, income, noncash benefits (such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) benefits. Learn more.
*ADL: Activities of Daily Living / IADL: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Download data.
Cost
Data are available free of charge.
Special Note(s)
The Annual Social Economic Supplement (ASEC; formerly known as the Annual Demographic Survey) is an annual supplement to the CPS containing data on basic demographic and labor force data, in addition to data on work experience, income, noncash benefits (such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) benefits. Data are available
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
Within confidentiality restrictions; indicators are provided for 278 selected core-based statistical areas (CBSA), 30 selected combined statistical areas (CSA), 217 counties, and 76 central cities in multi-central city core-based statistical areas or combined statistical areas.
Existing Linkages
The American Time Use Survey (ATUS) and Annual Social Economic Survey (ASEC)
Selected Publications
Click here for a full list of publications.
General
Berchick E., Barnett J., Upton, R. Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2018. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2019.
Semega J., Kollar M., Creamer J., Mohanty, A. Income and Poverty in the United States: 2018. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2019.
Resources
Documentation/Codebook(s)
Obtain technical documentation for the Current Population Surveyhis site, including technical papers on the design and methodology, the interviewing manual, and details about various supplements.
