Current Population Survey (CPS)

1. How soon, after the survey is conducted each month, is the monthly microdata file available to the public?
2. What variables allow me to match records from multiple CPS files?
3. What is the lowest geographical level available from CPS microdata files? Can I obtain estimates at the county level?
4. How can I obtain tabulated data from the CPS?
5. How can I obtain historical data not provided through your website or through DataFerrett (pre-1989)?
6. What is the average response rate for the monthly CPS?

The Basic CPS monthly microdata file is usually made available to the public 30-45 days after data collection is complete. Data files for supplemental information, such as School Enrollment and Food Security, are available anywhere from 6 to 18 months after data collection.

To merge CPS files together, Linking CPS Data Files [PDF - 23K] gives instructions.

The CPS data provide reliable estimates at the state level and for 12 of the largest metropolitan statistical areas. The sample size does not allow reliable estimates to be obtained at the county level. In fact, not all counties are included in the sample, and data are not available for most counties that are sampled due to confidentiality laws. Tabulated data for states and local areas are available from the BLS Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment.

See the BLS/CPS home page and then click on CPS Tables.

Historical microdata files are available through several outside organizations. Contact these for assistance and support with obtaining data files.

• National Bureau of Economic Research
• Inter-University Consortium For Political and Social Research
• Unicon Research
• IPUMS USA

The CPS has one of the highest response rates among government household surveys, consistently ranging from 91 to 93 percent. This rate is calculated after excluding those housing units that are either unoccupied (vacant, under construction) or occupied solely by persons not eligible for interview. These units make up approximately 18 percent of the total sample.