Bureau of Labor Statistics
Encyclopedia
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a unit of the United States Department of Labor
. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress
, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor representatives. The BLS also serves as a statistical resource to the Department of Labor
.
The BLS data must satisfy a number of criteria, including relevance to current social and economic issues, timeliness in reflecting today’s rapidly changing economic conditions, accuracy and consistently high statistical quality, and impartiality in both subject matter and presentation. To avoid the appearance of partiality, the dates of major data releases are scheduled more than a year in advance, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget.
by the Bureau of Labor Act (23 Stat. 60), June 27, 1884, to collect information about employment and labor. It became an independent (sub-Cabinet) department by the Department of Labor Act (25 Stat. 182), June 13, 1888. It was incorporated, as the Bureau of Labor, into the Department of Commerce and Labor
by the Department of Commerce Act (32 Stat. 827), February 14, 1903. Finally, it was transferred to the Department of Labor
in 1913 where it resides today. The BLS is now headquartered in the Postal Square Building
near the United States Capitol
and Union Station
. The Current Commissioner of the BLS is Keith Hall.
Northeast Region
South Region
Midwest Region
West Region
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor representatives. The BLS also serves as a statistical resource to the Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
.
The BLS data must satisfy a number of criteria, including relevance to current social and economic issues, timeliness in reflecting today’s rapidly changing economic conditions, accuracy and consistently high statistical quality, and impartiality in both subject matter and presentation. To avoid the appearance of partiality, the dates of major data releases are scheduled more than a year in advance, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget.
History
The Bureau of Labor was established in the Department of the InteriorUnited States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
by the Bureau of Labor Act (23 Stat. 60), June 27, 1884, to collect information about employment and labor. It became an independent (sub-Cabinet) department by the Department of Labor Act (25 Stat. 182), June 13, 1888. It was incorporated, as the Bureau of Labor, into the Department of Commerce and Labor
United States Department of Commerce and Labor
The United States Department of Commerce and Labor was a short-lived Cabinet department of the United States government, which was concerned with Business.It was created on February 14, 1903...
by the Department of Commerce Act (32 Stat. 827), February 14, 1903. Finally, it was transferred to the Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
in 1913 where it resides today. The BLS is now headquartered in the Postal Square Building
Postal Square Building
The Postal Square Building served as the main post office for the city of Washington, D.C., from the building's completion in 1914 to 1986. It now houses the National Postal Museum, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, offices of the United States Senate, and a Capital City Brewery restaurant...
near the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
and Union Station
Union Station (Washington, D.C.)
Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses...
. The Current Commissioner of the BLS is Keith Hall.
Statistical reporting
Surveys, Indices, and Statistics produced by the BLS fall into 4 main categories:Prices
- U.S. Consumer Price IndexU.S. Consumer Price IndexThe U.S. Consumer Price Index is a time series measure of the price level of consumer goods and services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which started the statistic in 1919, publishes the CPI on a monthly basis...
- Producer Price IndexProducer price indexA Producer Price Index measures average changes in prices received by domestic producers for their output. It is one of several price indices.Its importance is being undermined by the steady decline in manufactured goods as a share of spending....
- U.S. Import and Export Price IndicesU.S. Import and Export Price IndicesThe U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes measure average changes in prices of goods and services that are imported or exported. The indexes is produced monthly by the International Price Program of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Import and Export Price Indexes have been published monthly...
- Consumer Expenditure SurveyConsumer Expenditure SurveyThe Consumer Expenditure Survey is a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey that collects information on the buying habits of U.S. consumers. The program consists of two components — the Interview Survey and the Diary Survey — each with its own sample...
Employment and Unemployment
- Current Population SurveyCurrent Population SurveyThe Current Population Survey is a statistical survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics . The BLS uses the data to provide a monthly report on the Employment Situation. This report provides estimates of the number of unemployed people in the United...
(The "Household Survey") - Current Employment Statistics (The "Establishment Survey")
- Payroll Employment
- Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
- Current Employment Statistics State and Area program
- The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
- The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
- The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) program
- Ten year occupational employment projectionsTen year occupational employment projectionsThe ten-year occupational employment projection is a projection produced by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections...
- Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)
- Mass Layoff Survey
Compensation and Working Conditions
- National Compensation SurveyNational Compensation SurveyProduced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the US Department of Labor, the National Compensation Survey provides comprehensive measures of occupational earnings; compensation cost trends, benefit incidence, and detailed plan provisions. It is used to adjust the federal wage schedule for all...
- Employment Cost IndexEmployment Cost IndexThe Employment Cost Index is a quarterly economic series detailing the changes in the costs of labor for businesses in the United States economy. The ECI is prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics , in the U.S...
- Employment Cost Index
- Workplace Injury and Fatality Statistics
Statistical Regions
Data produced by the BLS is often categorized into groups of states known as Census Regions. There are 4 Census Regions, which are further categorized by Census Division as follows:Northeast Region
- New England Division
- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Middle Atlantic Division
- New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
South Region
- South Atlantic Division
- Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- East South Central Division
- Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
- West South Central Division
- Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Midwest Region
- East North Central Division
- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
- West North Central Division
- Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
West Region
- Mountain Division
- Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
- Pacific Division
- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington.
Publications
BLS publications include:- Occupational Outlook HandbookOccupational Outlook HandbookThe Occupational Outlook Handbook is a publication of the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics that includes information about the nature of work, working conditions, training and education, earnings, and job outlook for hundreds of different occupations. The Handbook is...
- Monthly Labor ReviewMonthly Labor ReviewThe Monthly Labor Review is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Issues often focus on a particular topic. Researchers outside of the BLS are welcome to submit articles.- History :...
- Compensation and Working Conditions
- Occupational Outlook Quarterly
- Career Guide to IndustriesCareer Guide to IndustriesThe Career Guide to Industries is a publication of the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics that includes information about the nature of the industry, working conditions, training and education, earnings, and job outlook for workers in dozens of different industries...
- Many Economic News Releases
- Issues in Labor Statistics
See also
- National Income and Product AccountsNational Income and Product AccountsThe National Income and Product Accounts are part of the national accounts of the United States. They are produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce...
- Economic reports
- Index of Leading IndicatorsIndex of Leading IndicatorsThe Conference Board Leading Economic Index is an American economic leading indicator intended to forecast future economic activity. It is calculated by The Conference Board, a non-governmental organization, which determines the value of the index from the values of ten key variables. These...
- U.S. Census Bureau
- Bureau of Economic AnalysisBureau of Economic AnalysisThe Bureau of Economic Analysis is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides important economic statistics including the gross domestic product of the United States. Its stated mission is to "promote a better understanding of the U.S...
External links
- Labor Statistics Bureau Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register RSS Feed