Monthly CPS data are not currently being released amidst the U.S. federal government shut down. Once the September 2025 monthly data are available, we will process and release them as quickly as possible via IPUMS.
COVIDLOOK
Prevented from looking for work due to COVID-19 pandemic
- Codes
- Description
- Comparability
- Universe
- Availability
- Flags
- Questionnaire Text
- UnHarmonized Variables
Codes and Frequencies
Description
COVIDLOOK reports whether the COVID-19 pandemic prevented those respondents who were not in the labor force from looking for work during the past four weeks.
This variable is part of a battery of five supplemental questions added to the CPS basic monthly survey in May of 2020 to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor force. For more information on how the pandemic affected the CPS, see our detailed documentation here.
Universe
- Civilians 16+ who are not in the labor force.
Availability
| Years | Jan | Feb | ASEC | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | - | - | - | - | - | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 2021 | X | X | - | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 2022 | X | X | - | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - |
