Modernizing the Current Population Survey

In response to declining survey response rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Census Bureau are working to modernize the Current Population Survey (CPS), the source of the U.S. unemployment rate—a principal federal economic indicator. Data from the CPS has been the workhorse for research on labor force issues, and has helped policymakers understand the social and economic well-being of the U.S. population. One key change in the modernization effort is a new internet self-response (ISR) mode to complement the survey’s in-person and telephone interviews.

On October 29, as part of the Economic Indicators Initiative (EII), the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and the American Enterprise Institute will host an event to discuss this work. The event will open with presentations from BLS and the Census Bureau on the conversion to ISR. Two panels will follow: one featuring experts who have experience converting other surveys to ISR and one with CPS data users on the modernization efforts.

Online viewers can submit questions in advance via email to [email protected].

Please join us for a reception following the program from 5:15 – 6:00 p.m.