Supporting Statement B CPS Contingent Worker_2016

CPS Contingent Worker Supplement Survey

1220-0153

December 2016

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

B. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

1. Respondent Universe

The CWS will be conducted in May 2017 in conjunction with the CPS, for which the universe is 122 million households. From this universe, the Census Bureau selects a sample of approximately 72,000 households each month, of which approximately 60,000 households are eligible for interviews. The Census Bureau actually interviews about 53,000 households each month. The items in the CWS are asked, as appropriate, of employed members of the households. Unemployed persons who are looking for a new job also receive a limited number of questions.

2. Procedures for Collecting Information

This is a supplemental survey that will be conducted after the regular CPS questions in May 2017. The statistical properties of these supplemental items will fall within those associated with the CPS itself. See Attachment G for information on sample design and selection. For information about estimation procedures, see Chapter 10 of “Current Population Survey Design and Methodology: Technical Paper 66,” available at http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/tp-66.pdf.

3. Methods to Maximize Response

For the May 2016 basic CPS, the household–level nonresponse rate was 13.2 percent. CPS supplements have additional nonresponse, which varies by supplement. In 2015, additional supplement nonresponse varied between 9 and 26 percent, with nonresponse generally lower for supplements on work-related subjects.

Response rates and data accuracy for the CPS are maintained at high levels through internal consistency edits in the computerized instrument, interviewer instructions, training, and close monitoring of these data. For information about data accuracy and nonresponse, see “Current Population Survey Design and Methodology: Technical Paper 66” (training of interviewers is detailed in Appendix D, design of the instrument is described in Chapter 6, data processing is described in Chapter 9, and nonresponse is described in Chapters 15 and 16), available at http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/tp-66.pdf.

4. Testing of Procedures

Four new questions are proposed for the CWS (see section 8 of Attachment A). These questions will: a) explore whether individuals obtain customers or online tasks through companies that electronically match them, often through apps, and b) examine whether work obtained through electronic matching platforms is a source of secondary earnings. Two questions will focus on short, in-person jobs or tasks that workers find through companies that match them directly with customers by using a website or mobile app, and two questions will focus on short, paid tasks that are done entirely online and are obtained through companies that maintain online lists. These questions underwent cognitive testing and expert review. Attachment H discusses the findings from the cognitive testing.

In addition, the CWS is subject to the same testing procedures as the monthly CPS. This includes instrument testing, output testing, and systems testing.

5. Contact Persons

The following individuals may be consulted concerning the statistical data collection and analysis operation:

Statistical Design:

Yang Cheng

CPS Lead Scientist

Demographic Statistical Methods Division

U.S. Census Bureau

Statistical Analysis:

Dorinda Allard

Chief, Division of Labor Force Statistics

Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Data Collection/Survey Design:

Lisa A. Clement

Survey Director, Current Population and American Time Use Surveys

Associate Directorate Demographic Programs

U.S. Census Bureau

Attachments

A. Supplement Questionnaire

B. Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1 through 9

C. News release from May 2005 CWS

D. CPS Advance letter

E. Confidentiality Brochure

F. Title 13, United States Code

G. Overview of CPS Sample Design and Methodology

H. Cognitive testing Report

I. Stakeholder Outreach

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