Jan 21 -- The Census Bureau invites public comment by March 22, 2021 on its planned renewal of the collection of Basic Demographic Items in the Current Population Survey (CPS) through 2024.
The CPS has been the source of official government statistics on employment and unemployment for over 70 years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Census Bureau jointly sponsor the basic monthly survey. The Census Bureau also prepares and conducts all the field work. At the OMB's request, the Census Bureau and the BLS divide the clearance request in order to reflect the joint sponsorship and funding of the CPS program.
The demographic information collected in the CPS provides a unique set of data on selected characteristics for the civilian noninstitutional population. Some of the demographic information we collect are age, marital status, sex, Armed Forces status, education, race, origin, and family income. We use these data in conjunction with other data, particularly the monthly labor force data, as well as periodic supplement data. We also use these data independently for internal analytic research and for evaluation of other surveys. In addition, we use these data as a control to produce accurate estimates of other personal characteristics.
BLS submits a separate clearance request for the portion of the CPS that collects labor force information for the civilian noninstitutional population. Some of the information within that portion includes employment status, number of hours worked, job search activities, earnings, duration of unemployment, and the industry and occupation classification of the job held the previous week.
The Census Bureau is not proposing any changes to the demographics portion of the CPS.
CPS webpage, including documentation:
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps.html
FR notice inviting comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/21/2021-01235/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
Point of contact: Kyra Linse, Acting Survey Director, Current Population Surveys dsd.cps@census.gov 301-763-9280
