The U.S. Census Bureau announced today it will hold a webinar to share important updates about its Current Population Survey (CPS) modernization efforts. This joint project with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) first launched in 2023. The aim is to implement changes to ensure the survey’s sustainability.
Response rates for all household surveys, including the CPS, have been steadily declining for years. Additional challenges include increased collection costs in the form of labor and travel, as well as an increase in both the number of contacts required to reach the desired sample size and hard-to-reach respondents.
Conceived in the 1930s to meet the increased needs for unemployment statistics, the CPS has been conducted in its present form since 1948, making it one of the oldest and most recognized surveys in the nation. Sponsored jointly by the Census Bureau and the BLS, it is a primary source of labor force statistics for the U.S. population, producing a key Principal Federal Economic Indicator (PFEI). Additionally, the data are used to inform policymakers on the social and economic well-being of the nation and its people by adding a set of supplemental questions to the monthly basic CPS questions.
The webinar will provide updates on where we are in our modernization efforts and planned next steps.
A question-and-answer session will immediately follow the presentation.
When
Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Who
- Kyra Linse, survey director, Current Population Survey (CPS) and the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), Census Bureau.
- Nicholas Johnson, chief of the Division of Labor Force Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Julie Iriondo, senior advisor, Public Information Office, Census Bureau, moderator.
Access
The webinar will be held online on the Webex by Cisco platform. Attendees are asked to preregister.
Credentialed media will be able to ask questions after the presentation utilizing Webex’s direct message feature. Responses will be provided verbally during the webinar.
For more information about the CPS modernization efforts and the webinar series, visit CPS Modernization Efforts and the press kit.