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The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey of about 50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is the primary source of information on labor force characteristics of the U.S. population. The sample is scientifically selected to represent the civilian noninstitutional population. Respondents are interviewed to obtain information about the employment status of each member of the household 15 years of age and older. Supplemental questions are often added to the regular CPS questionnaire to produce estimates on a variety of topics including school enrollment, income, and previous work experience. For more information visit the Current Population Reports or Current Population Survey Web pages.
English as a Second Language
In 2000, the Current Population Survey compared the education levels of the foreign-born population and the U.S. native population, aged 25 and over:
- 22.2% had less than a ninth grade education, compared to 4.7% of the native population,
- 10.8% had completed no more than 9th to 12th grade, compared to 8.7% of the native population,
- 67% had at least a high school education, compared to 86.6% of the native population,
- 25.8% had a bachelor's degree or more, compared to 25.6% of the native population.
- The survey also found that 76.2% of the foreign born who were natualized citizens completed high school, compared to 59.8% who were not citizens. (Lollock, p4)
Among the foreign born with at least a high school education in 2000:
- 6.7 million children spoke another language at home,
- 2.4 million children had difficulty speaking English.
- 14.1% of children aged 5-17 spoke another language at home, and
- 5.1% of children aged 5-17 have difficulty speaking English.
- 3.0% of Black, non-Hispanic children spoke another language at home, and
- 0.9% of Black, non-Hispanic children had difficulty speaking English.
- 3.6% of White, non-Hispanic children spoke another language at home, and
- 0.7% of White, non-Hispanic children had difficulty speaking English.
- 73.9% of Hispanic children spoke another language at home, and
- 31.0% of Hispanic children had difficulty speaking English.
(Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, p68, Table POP4)
Characteristics of the Immigrant Population
In 2000, 28.4 million foreign born resided in the United States, representing 10.4% of the total U.S. population.
Among the foreign born in 2000:
- 51% were born in Latin America,
- 25.5% were born in Asia,
- 15.3% were born in Europe,
- 8.1% were born in other regions of the world.
(Lollock, p1)
- 79% of the foreign born were 18 to 64 years of age, compared to 59.7% of natives;
- 10% of the foreign born were below 18, compared to 28.3% of the native population;
- 43.6% of the foreign born were ages 25 to 44, compared to 28.6% of the native population;
- 24.3% of the foreign born were 45 to 64 years old, compared to 21.7% of natives; and
- 11% of the foreign born were aged 65 and over, compared to 12 % of the native population.
- 45.1% of the foreign born lived in a central city in a metropolitan area, compared with 27.5% of the native population;
- 49.8% of the foreign-born population lived outside central cities but within a metropolitan area, compared to 51.9% of the native population; and
- 5.1% of the foreign-born population lived in nonmetropolitan areas, compared to 20.7% of the native population.
- 39.9% lived in the West, compared to 20.8% of the native population;
- 26.8% lived in the South, compared to 35.9% of the native population;
- 22.6% lived in the Northeast, compared to 18.6% of the native population; and
- 10.7% lived in the Midwest, compared to 24.6% of the native population.
(Lollock, p2)
- 80.4% of the foreign born who arrived in the U.S. before 1970 had obtained citizenship by 2000,
- 61.9% of those who had arrived from 1970-79,
- 38.9% of those who arrived in 1980-89, and
- 8.9% of those who arrived from 1990-99.
(Lollock, p3)
The Current Population Survey, 1999, reported the following comparisons of high school graduation rates for adults aged 25 and over born in the U.S. and the foreign-born population:
- 85.9% of the native-born population, compared to 65.7% of the foreign-born population,
- 70.5% of the native-born Hispanic adults, compared to 44.1% of foreign-born Hispanic adults,
- 92.8% of native-born non-Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander adults, compared to 82.6% of foreign-born non-Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander adults, and
- 88% of native-born non-Hispanic, White adults, compared to 81.5% of foreign-born non-Hispanic, White adults.
(Newburger, p4)
The Current Population Survey reported that 19.9% of students in elementary and high school had at least one foreign-born parent in 1999. This can be further broken down as follows:
- 7.4% of White non-Hispanic students,
- 10.6% of Black students,
- 18.0% of White students,
- 65.3% of Hispanic students, and
- 87.8% of Asian/Pacific Islander students.
(Jamieson, p5, Table B)
In 2000, the Current Population Survey compared the education levels of the foreign-born population and the U.S. native population, aged 25 and over:
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22.2% had less than a ninth grade education, compared to 4.7% of the native population,
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10.8% completed no more than 9th to 12th grade, compared to 8.7% of the native population,
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67% had at least a high school education, compared to 86.6% of the native population,
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25.8% had a bachelor's degree or more, compared to 25.6% of the native population.
(Lollock, p4)
In 2000, the percentages of the foreign born with at least a high school education were:
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81.3% from Europe,
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83.8% from Asia,
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49.6% from Latin America,
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37.3% from Central America,
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68.1% from the Caribbean,
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79.6% from South America, and
- 86.6% from other regions.
(Lollock, p5, Figure 8)
The 2000 Current Population Survey found that:
- 67% of the foreign-born population aged 25 and over had graduated from high school, compared to 86.6% of the native population.
- 76.2% of the foreign born who were naturalized citizens completed high school, compared to 59.8% who were not citizens.
- 22.2% of the foreign-born population had less than a ninth grade education, compared to 4.7% of the native population.
- 10.8% of the foreign-born population completed no more than 9th to 12th grade, compared to 8.7% of the native population.
- 25.8% of the foreign-born population had a bachelor's degree or more compared to 25.6% of the native population.
(Lollock, p5)
Percent of each population aged over 25 that had graduated from high school or more:
- 85% of non-Hispanic adults,
- 87.7% of non-Hispanic White adults,
- 77.4% of non-Hispanic Black adults,
- 84.7% of non-Hispanic Asian & Pacific Islander adults,
- 56.1% of Hispanic adults,
- 84.3% of White adults,
- 77% of Black adults.
(Newburger, p2)
Literacy and Economic Status
The Current Population Survey done in 1999 found that the average 1998 earnings for high school graduates was $23,594:
- $28,742 for men,
- $17,898 for women,
- $24,801 for non-Hispanic White adults,
- $19,225 for non-Hispanic Black adults, and
- $20,978 for Hispanic adults.
The same survey found the average 1998 earnings for people who were not high school graduates was $16,053:
- $19,155 for men,
- $11,353 for women,
- $16,837 for non-Hispanic White adults,
- $13,473 for non-Hispanic Black adults, and
- $15,832 for Hispanic adults.
(Newburger, p5)
The Current Population Survey done by the U.S. Census Bureau found the following for the civilian labor force aged 25 or over in 1999:
- 89.9% of those who were employed were high school graduates or more,
- 77.2% of those who were not employed were high school graduates or more, and
- 70.7% of those who were not in the labor force were high school graduates or more.
(Newburger, p4)
The Current Population Survey done in 2000, found that 36.3% of foreign-born full-time, year-round workers and 21.3% of native workers earned less than $20,000 in 1999:
Among foreign-born workers earning less than $20,000:
- 57.1% were from Central America
- 16.2% were from Europe
- 22.4% were from Asia.
United States residents living below the poverty level included:
- 6.8% of all foreign-born residents,
- 11.2% of native-born residents,
- 21.3% of foreign-born residents without U.S. citizenship, and
- 9.1% of foreign-born naturalized citizens.
Percentage living below poverty level based on country of origin was:
- 9.3% from Europe,
- 12.8% from Asia,
- 21.9% from Latin America,
- 24.2% from Central America,
- 20.6% from the Caribbean,
- 11.5% from South America, and
- 11.5% from other regions.
(Lollock, p6)
Family Characteristics and Barriers to Parental Involvement
The Current Population survey found the following for the year 2000:
- 4.7% of married-couple families lived below the poverty level;
- 4.4% of White families;
- 3.3% of White, non-Hispanic families;
- 6.1% of Black families;
- 7.7% of Asian/Pacific Islander families; and
- 4.1% of Hispanic families.
- 24.7% of female householder, no husband present families lived below the poverty level;
- 20.0% of White families;
- 16.9% of White, non-Hispanic families;
- 34.6% of Black families;
- 19.9% of Asian/Pacific Islander families; and
- 34.2% of Hispanic families.
(Dalaker, p2, Table A)
The Current Population Survey found that 6-8 year olds in 1999 who:
Had mothers with a bachelor's degree or higher were:
- 26.4% of the White population;
- 13.9% of the Black population; and
- 7.4% of the Hispanic population.
Had mothers with a high school diploma or GED were:
- 35.2% of the White population;
- 37.1% of the Black population; and
- 25.2% of the Hispanic population.
Had mothers with less than a high school diploma were:
- 6.9% of the White population;
- 19.6% of the Black population; and
- 49.2% of the Hispanic population.
Had mothers with some college education were:
Welfare and Literacy
The 1997 Current Population Survey found the following poverty rates for young children under age 6:
In 1997, children under age 6 living with single mothers were five times as likely to be poor (56%) as were those living with both parents (11%).
(National Center for Children in Poverty, p6)
In 1997, the poverty rate among children under age 6 whose better educated parent had:
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