23 Current Population Survey (CPS)

23.1 Organization

US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics

23.3 Description

  • One of the oldest and largest surveys in the US
  • Primary topics include employment, earnings and education
  • Supplementary topics include child support, health insurance coverage, school enrollment, and other topics
  • Source of monthly labor force statistics, including unemployment rate

23.4 Vintage/Release Frequency

Basic files are released monthly since 1994. Other files are released annually.

23.5 Observational Unit

Household member

23.6 Collection Methodology

  • Probability selected sample of about 60,000 occupied households
  • Selected households are included in the survey for four consecutive months and then for the same four months the following calendar year
  • Administered through personal and telephone interviews using a computerized questionnaire

23.8 User Guide/Data Dictionary

Data dictionary available at same website as data download

23.9 Cost

Free for download

23.10 Proposal or Application required?

No

23.11 DUA required?

No

23.12 Special Notes

  • Data from the Current Population Survey comes in many forms and release frequencies vary. See website for details on how to obtain the various files.