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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC)

Supplier
Census and DOL/BLS
Years Available
1998 to present
Periodicity
Annual
Mode of Collection
Multi-stage sample survey: household-based, one person responding for all household members.
Description
The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey that provides current estimates and trends in employment, unemployment, earnings, and other characteristics of the general labor force, the population as a whole, and various population subgroups. The Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS-ASEC) is conducted annually in the months of February, March, and April. In addition to the usual monthly labor force data, this supplement provides information on work experience, income, noncash benefits, and migration of persons ages 15 years and older.
Selected Content
Comprehensive work experience information on the employment status, occupation, and industry of persons ages 15 years older, Armed Forces members living in a household that includes at least one civilian, and additional Hispanic households that are not included in the monthly labor force estimates. Additional data are available concerning weeks worked, hours per week worked, reason not working full time, total income and income components. Data on employment and income refer to the preceding year, although demographic data refer to the time of the survey.
Population Covered
The U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population ages 15 years and older.
Methodology
The CPS-ASEC is an annual supplement to the CPS. Information about the CPS sample and methodology is presented in the CPS data source description. The CPS-ASEC sample does not include observations for most counties. The sample design provides consistent national-level estimates, but consideration is also given to providing reliable annual state-level estimates of unemployment. Of the more than 3,100 counties in the country, about 1,300 counties are in the sample.