2.1c4 Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Population Survey

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) studies the U.S. population in several ways. One of its products is the Current Population Survey (CPS), which surveys a sample of 60,000 households monthly. The CPS asks about employment, earnings, hours worked, and demographic characteristics (BLS, 2021). It also tracks the nation’s unemployment rate, available on its website, and reported to the public through news media.

American Time Use Survey

Sociologists also use the data from the American Time Use Survey conducted by the BLS. This survey “measures the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, childcare, volunteering, and socializing” (BLS, 2024). Figure 2.5 reports the American Time Use Survey results. They show how much time people spend on various activities each day.