Current Population Survey, September 2011: Volunteer Supplement

This data collection is comprised of responses from two sets of survey questionnaires, the basic monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) and a survey on the topic of volunteer service, which was administered as a supplement to the September CPS questionnaire. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Corporation for National and Community Service jointly sponsored the volunteer service supplemental questions.

The CPS, administered monthly, is a labor force survey providing current estimates of the economic status and activities of the population of the United States. Specifically, the CPS provides estimates of total employment (both farm and nonfarm), nonfarm self-employed persons, domestics, and unpaid helpers in nonfarm family enterprises, wage and salaried employees, and estimates of total unemployment. Data from the CPS are provided for the week prior to the survey.

The volunteer supplement questions were asked of persons age 15 years old or older. Altogether, 152,531 interviews were conducted during the period of September 18-27, 2011. Proxy responses were allowed if attempts for a self-response were unsuccessful. The supplement contained questions about the household member's participation in volunteer service from September 1, 2010, to the date of the interview. Household members were queried on their involvement in their community, about the frequency of volunteer activity, types of organizations they volunteered for, the types of activities they chose, whether any volunteering was done in a foreign country or more than 120 miles from home. Data are also provided on whether or not donations of money, assets, or property valued at 25 dollars or more were made in the past year to charitable or religious organizations.

Demographic variables include age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, veteran status, educational attainment, occupation, and income.