Current Population Survey (CPS) Basic Demographics

Attachment E-2

The Monthly Flow of
Current Population Survey Data

Issued April 2010
CPS-692(4-10)

1. Select sample
A.
Census records

6. Use the results
to determine policy

Census
Records

B.
Listing
B.
To Congress

For
wh
you om did
work
?

Poverty rate
fell last year

2. Conduct

interview

The Monthly Flow of
Current Population
Survey Data

3. Transmit
data

A.
To the media
Internet
Newspaper
Radio
Television

Census Bureau
headquarters

5. Present
results

4. Tabulate and review
survey results

Census Bureau
Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

The Monthly Flow of
Current Population Survey Data
1.

A.

B.		

Census records. The list of
addresses established during the
latest census of population and
housing (the decennial census).

		Tabulate and review survey results.
Census Bureau analysts produce initial
summary tabulations and review the
monthly survey results before turning
them over to the survey sponsor, the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Then,
Bureau of Labor Statistics analysts
produce final tabulations, review the
data, and prepare a public press release
summarizing the most significant findings.

5.

Present results:

	Conduct interviews. For initial
interviews, field representatives
personally visit addresses in the survey
sample. If the residence is occupied, the
field representative, using a portable
computer, records basic demographic
information, such as name, age, and
race, about each person living there. The
field representative then asks labor force
questions for each eligible household
member who is 15 years of age and older.
In following months, Census Bureau staff
phone or personally visit the sample
addresses to update the basic information
and conduct labor force interviews
with eligible household members.

3.

4.

Listing. Addresses of housing units
identified or built after the latest
census of population and housing.
Census Bureau field representatives
compile this listing in local areas.

We interview the eligible people in
households at the addresses that make
up the sample. If the original household
members move, we interview the new
occupants, if they are eligible.
2.

The Census Bureau maintains strict
computer security by requiring individual
passwords for all computers and by
transmitting data in a compressed format
that is unreadable until processed by
Census Bureau headquarters computers.
Once we successfully receive individual
interviews at Census Bureau headquarters,
field representatives erase the interview
data from their computers.

		Select sample. The U.S. Census Bureau
scientifically selects the addresses
included in the Current Population
Survey sample to accurately represent
all residences across our country. The
selected addresses come from two principal
sources: census records and listing.

6.

		Transmit data. Each day during the
week in which the survey is conducted,
Census Bureau staff connect their
computers to telephone lines, and the
computer sends the interview data to
Census Bureau headquarters in Suitland,
Maryland.

CENSUS BUREAU RESULTS ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 182. Section 9
of this law requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may use this information only for statistical purposes.

A.

To the media. The Bureau of
Labor Statistics releases the
employment data to the media,
who then report to the public on
key results. The most publicized
survey result is the monthly
national unemployment rate.

B.		

To Congress. The Commissioner
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
presents the monthly labor
force data to the Joint Economic
Committee of the Congress one
hour following public release.

	Use results to determine policy. The
data are very important to national and
local policymakers and researchers from
public and private institutions who use
survey results to help make budgeting,
marketing, and job-training decisions.