Measuring the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic using the Current Population Survey

Current Population Survey questions to measure impact of coronavirus pandemic

BLS added questions in May 2020 to the Current Population Survey (CPS), the monthly household labor force survey that provides information about employment and unemployment in the United States. These questions helped us understand the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the labor market.

Beginning in October 2022, the CPS will introduce a new set of questions to collect information about the effects of the pandemic on the labor market. We have not yet determined a publication date for data from these new questions.

What are the new questions used to measure the effects of the pandemic beginning in October 2022?

These questions will appear at the end of the basic monthly labor force questions:

Introduction. I now have some questions related to how the COVID-19 pandemic affected where people work.

(Asked about all people who worked last week)

Q1. At any time LAST WEEK did you telework or work at home for pay?

• Yes
• No (go to Q3)

(Asked about all people who teleworked or worked at home last week)

Q2. Last week, you worked [fill: person’s total hours worked last week] hours [fill for multiple jobholders: total, at all jobs]. How many of these hours did you telework or work at home for pay?

• _______ hours

(Asked about all people who worked last week)

Q3. Did you telework or work at home for pay in February 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic started?

• Yes (If Q1 = Yes, go to Q4)
• No

(Asked about all people who teleworked or worked at home both last week and in February 2020)

Q4. LAST WEEK, did you do more, less, or the same amount of telework or work at home for pay as in February 2020 (before the COVID-19 pandemic)?

• More
• Less
• About the same

What were the questions used to measure the effects of the pandemic from May 2020 to September 2022?

These questions appeared at the end of the basic monthly labor force questions.

See the data from the questions asked from May 2020 to September 2022.

Introduction. I now have a few questions related to work activities affected by the coronavirus-COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to contain the coronavirus have included business and school closures, social distancing, and other disruptions. The following questions refer to the last 4 weeks. By the last 4 weeks I mean the 4 week period ending last Saturday.

(Asked about all employed people age 16 and over)

Q1. At any time in the LAST 4 WEEKS, did you telework or work at home for pay BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?

• Yes
• No

(Asked about all people age 16 and over)

Q2. At any time in the LAST 4 WEEKS, were you unable to work because your EMPLOYER CLOSED OR LOST BUSINESS due to the coronavirus pandemic?

• Yes (go to Q3)
• No (go to Q4)

(Asked if “yes” is the response to Q2)

Q3. Did you receive any pay from your EMPLOYER for the hours you DID NOT work in last 4 weeks?

• Yes
• No

(Asked about all people age 16 and over who are not in the labor force)

Q4. Did the coronavirus pandemic prevent you from looking for work in the LAST 4 WEEKS?

• Yes
• No

(Asked about all household members, including children. Questions 5 and 5a were only asked from May 2020 to October 2020)

Q5. At any time in the last 4 weeks, did you or anyone in your household need medical care for something other than coronavirus, but not get it because of the coronavirus pandemic? Please include all adults and children in the household.

• Yes (go to Q5a)
• No

(Asked if “yes” is the response to Q5.)

Q5a. Who was that?

Last Modified Date: September 1, 2022