The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Population Survey (CPS)
Technical Documentation
February 2021
Documentation for prior years is available at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#poparchive
Adjustments to Household Survey
Population Estimates in January 2021
Household survey data beginning in January 2021 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 2021 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 associated travel restrictions; and methodological improvements to the estimation process.
For additional information, see the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2020 Methodology and Release Notes
documentation. Questions about the population estimates and the methodology used to develop them
should be directed to the Census Bureau.
In addition, effective with data for January 2021, household survey estimates for veterans incorporate
population controls derived from a new Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran Population Projection
Model (VetPop2018). Information about the Veteran Population Projection Model is available from the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Following usual Bureau of Labor