The CPS is the primary source of information on the labor force characteristics of the U.S. population. The sample is selected to represent the civilian noninstitutional population. Respondents are interviewed to obtain information about the employment status of each member of the household 15 years of age and older. However, published data focus on those ages 16 and over. The sample provides estimates for the nation as a whole and serves as part of model-based estimates for individual states and other geographic areas. Estimates obtained from the CPS include employment, unemployment, earnings, hours of work, and other indicators.
Years Available: 1950-present
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria: Ages younger than 16 excluded
Methods: Monthly Household Survey
Sampling Design:
Sample Size 50,000 households
Unit of Observation: Household
Limitations:
Data Format:
Data Publisher: U.S. Department of Labor
URL:
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
Variables: Brief description available here