OCT. 10, 2023 — The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are set to hold the first in a joint webinar series to share updates and lay the groundwork for improvements to the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is sponsored jointly by the Census Bureau and BLS. It is the primary source of labor force statistics, a key Principal Federal Economic Indicator (PFEI), and is used to collect critical data measuring the nation’s economic and social well-being through supplemental questions to the monthly basic CPS questions. The Annual Social and Economic Supplement’s Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage statistics are an example of this.

Conceived in the 1930s to meet the increased needs for data on unemployment, the CPS has been conducted in its present form since 1948. It is one of the oldest, largest and most well-recognized surveys in the nation. Response rates for all household surveys, including the CPS, have been steadily declining for years. Current data collection methods are not sufficient to meet the needs to maintain data quality standards and address other challenges.  

The upcoming webinar will provide important details about challenges faced and plans to implement improvements to ensure sustainability. The Census Bureau and BLS will continue to engage stakeholders and provide updates as the project moves forward.

Current Population Survey (CPS) Modernization Webinar

Tuesday, October 24 at 2 p.m. EDT  

• Kyra Linse, survey director, Current Population Survey and American Time Use Survey Team, U.S. Census Bureau
• Nicholas Johnson, division chief of Labor Force Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Julie Iriondo, chief of Media Relations, Public Information Office, U.S. Census Bureau, moderator

The virtual event will consist of a simultaneous audio conference and online presentation:  

WebEx Link

• Webinar password (if requested): Census#1
• Webinar number (if requested): 2762 439 5993

Audio: For telephone audio option (or to ask a question), dial 1-800-369-3157

• Passcode: 3591837

You can also watch this event on YouTube via the Census Live page. (Live captioning available.)

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