Issue 1 – June 2024
At the COPAFS Quarterly Meeting in June, the BLS Commissioner, Dr. Erika McEntarfer, announced a reduction in sample size for the Current Population Survey (CPS) due to insufficient funds to maintain the current monthly sample size of 54,000. The sample reduction was estimated to be 5,000 cases per month and will take place within the next few months. My initial reaction to this announcement was to ask how such a high-profile data collection effort, which makes headline news each month when unemployment numbers are released, has been on life support for so long and now faces sample size reductions. My second reaction was to ask, is this only the tip of the iceberg, given that most federal statistical agencies have been flat funded or seen significant reductions… Read More