U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
Current Population Survey (CPS) Series

(ICPSR Studies 9927, 6244, 6171, 9307 and others)

The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a household sample survey conducted 
monthly by the Census Bureau to provide estimates of the population as a 
whole and of various subgroups in the population, as well as estimates 
of employment, unemployment, and other characteristics of the
general labor force. In addition to demographic characteristics such as age,
sex, race, marital status and household relationships, data are provided on
employment status, occupation, and industry of persons 14 years of age and
older. Data on labor force activity are provided for the week prior to the 
survey in one data file in logical record length format. The universe for the 
surveys is the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States 
living in households, from which a national probability sample is selected. A
set of core questions is asked with every survey. Additionally, sets of 
supplemental questions on special topics are asked in different months of the
survey. There are seven special topic groups: January Files, Annual 
Demographic Files (March), March Estimates of Noncash Benefit Values,
March/April Match Files, May Files, June Files, and October School Enrollment 
Files. In recent years, some CPS studies have been subtitled to reflect
supplemental topics. A major redesign of the Current Population Survey
was implemented in January 1994. The primary aim of the redesign was to
improve the quality of the data derived from the survey by introducing a
new questionnaire and modernized data collection methods.

RELATED PUBLICATION:
U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. "The Current Population 
Survey: Design and Methodology (Technical Paper 40)." Washington, DC: 
U.S. Government Printing Office, n.d.