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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Current Population Survey > Data > Public use files

CPS Public-Use Microdata Files

The Census Bureau provides access to the CPS public-use microdata files; for questions about the microdata files, contact Census at ask.census.gov. BLS does not produce, maintain, or support microdata files from the CPS.

Microdata files include individual survey responses (personally identifiable information has been removed to protect respondent confidentiality). Because of the size of these files, statistical analysis software—such as R, Stata, SAS, or SPSS—is often needed to access and work with them.

The Census Bureau provides documentation that will aide you in working with CPS public-use microdata files. The documentation includes a description of the monthly files and how to obtain them, a data dictionary for variables used in the basic monthly labor force survey, and example calculations of estimates.

There are separate files for the basic monthly labor force survey and for supplemental data collections. The basic monthly CPS files contain the variables for the demographic and labor force questions asked each month. Each file is for a single month; to create annual average estimates, you will need to combine 12 months of data from the 12 single-month files.

In most months there are supplemental questions asked about a specific topic following the series of standard questions asked in the basic monthly survey. The CPS supplement files each contain variables specific to that supplemental data collection.

The basic monthly survey microdata files include variables for:

Demographic data—such as educational attainment, sex, race, age, and marital status
Geographic identifiers—such as states and Census regions
Labor force status—employed, unemployed, and not in the labor force—and related information
Statistical weights

Accessing CPS microdata

Census Bureau CPS public-use datasets

The Census Bureau provides data files for the basic monthly survey, extract files (including files for special weighting and new variables not yet added to the basic monthly data files), and supplement and replicate weight files. Statistical software is needed to work with these files.

Census Bureau microdata access tool (MDAT)

If you are not familiar with statistical software like those mentioned above, you may be able to use the Census Bureau’s microdata access tool (MDAT) to produce simple tabulations. The Census Bureau provides advice for using MDAT. Contact Census for support using this tool.

Matching official BLS labor force estimates

Starting with the file for January 2011, the Census Bureau implemented a new age perturbation procedure. Under this new age swapping method, the statistical weights on the public use file—including the outgoing rotation weight—are slightly different than they are on the internal file used by BLS.

Beginning in January 2023, new privacy disclosure methods have been applied to the public use microdata files, mainly affecting geography and earnings variables.

Thus, estimates generated using the public use files (from January 2011 forward) should be similar to, but will rarely exactly match, the estimates produced by BLS.

Last Modified Date: August 7, 2024