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Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
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Certifications and licenses
Here you will find labor force, employment, and unemployment statistics for people with or without certifications and licenses from the Current Population Survey (CPS) as well as information about these data. The CPS covers the nation’s civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and older.
Explore our data
- Find the latest labor force statistics for people with or without certifications and licenses in the following annual averages tables:
- Table 49. Certification and licensing status by employment status (PDF) (XLSX)
- Table 50. Employment status by certification and licensing status and selected characteristics (PDF) (XLSX)
- Table 51. Certification and licensing status of the employed by selected characteristics (PDF) (XLSX)
- Table 52. Certification and licensing status of the employed by industry and class of worker (PDF) (XLSX)
- Table 53. Certification and licensing status of the employed by occupation (PDF) (XLSX)
- Table 54. Median weekly earnings by certification and licensing status and selected characteristics (PDF) (XLSX)
- Table 55. Median weekly earnings by certification and licensing status and occupation (PDF) (XLSX)
- Find annual averages tables for prior years (tables 49 to 55).
Looking for additional analysis?
- Search the data visualizations in the TED: The Economics Daily for certifications and licenses
- Search our library of research by CPS staff for certifications and licenses
- Read highlights of 2016 data on certifications and licenses
- Read highlights of 2015 data on certifications and licenses
Understanding these data
What you need to know
- Questions to identify people with professional certifications and licenses were added to the CPS in January 2015. Annual average data are available starting in 2015.
- Certifications and licenses are credentials that demonstrate a level of skill or knowledge needed to perform a specific type of job. Certifications are issued by a non-governmental body, but licenses are awarded by a government agency and convey a legal authority to work in an occupation. People may have more than one certification or license; people with a license may also have a certification.
Questions about these data?
See if we have answered them in these Frequently asked questions about certifications and licenses
Related content
- Wondering how other concepts are defined in the CPS? Check out the concepts and definitions page
- Dive into technical documentation of the CPS, including the historical comparability of CPS estimates
- Interested in another topic? Search in the CPS A-Z index page
- Looking for Foreign Labor Certification (hiring foreign workers for employment in the U.S.?) See the U.S. Department of Labor
Last modified: September 1, 2025