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PUBLISHER=US DEPARTMENT OF LABORURL-STATUS=LIVEARCHIVE-DATE=2021-12-27, | chief1_name = Erika McEntarferPUBLISHER=BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICSARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20170223211552/HTTPS://WWW.BLS.GOV/BLS/SENIOR_STAFF/, 2017-02-23, | chief2_name = William J. Wiatrowski| chief2_position = Deputy Commissioner| chief3_name = | chief3_position = | child1_agency = www.bls.gov}}| footnotes = }}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 and serves as a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System. The BLS 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 United States Department of Labor, and conducts research measuring the income levels families need to maintain a satisfactory quality of life.WEB,www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/05/art3full.pdf, Archived copy, 2013-12-22, live,www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/05/art3full.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20140611033324www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/05/art3full.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20140611033324www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/05/art3full.pdf, 2014-06-11, 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, impartiality in both subject matter and presentation, and accessibility to all. 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.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/business/economy/unemployment-labor-department-data-politics.html, How Economic Data Is Kept Politics-Free, Cohen, Patricia, 2016-11-03, The New York Times, 2017-02-23, 0362-4331, live,web.archive.org/web/20170311130615/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/business/economy/unemployment-labor-department-data-politics.html, 2017-03-11,

History

{{see also|United States labor law}}The Bureau of Labor was established within the Department of the Interior on June 27, 1884, to collect information about employment and labor. Its creation under the Bureau of Labor Act (23 Stat. 60) stemmed from the findings of U.S. Senator Henry W. Blair’s “Labor and Capital Hearings”, which examined labor issues and working conditions in the U.S.GB McKinney, Henry W. Blair’s Campaign to Reform America: From the Civil War to the U.S (2012) 110-111 Statistician Carroll D. Wright became the first U.S. Commissioner of Labor in 1885, a position he held until 1905. The Bureau’s placement within the federal government structure changed three times in the first 29 years following its formation. It was made an independent (sub-Cabinet) department by the Department of Labor Act (25 Stat. 182) on June 13, 1888. The Bureau was then incorporated into the Department of Commerce and Labor by the Department of Commerce Act (32 Stat. 827) on February 14, 1903. Finally, it was transferred under the Department of Labor in 1913 where it resides today.NEWS,www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/257.html, Records of the Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2016-08-15, National Archives, 2017-02-23, en, live,web.archive.org/web/20170224052052/https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/257.html, 2017-02-24, WEB,www.bls.gov/bls/history/home.htm, Overview : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, en-us, 2017-02-23, live,web.archive.org/web/20170223130902/https://www.bls.gov/bls/history/home.htm, 2017-02-23, The BLS is now headquartered in the Postal Square Building near the United States Capitol and Union Station.Since 1915, the BLS has published the Monthly Labor Review, a journal focused on the data and methodologies of labor statistics.The BLS is headed by a commissioner who serves a four-year term from the date he or she takes office. The most recent Commissioner of Labor Statistics is William W. Beach,WEB,www.bls.gov/bls/senior_staff/beach.htm, William W. Beach, Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 16, 2019, who was assumed office on March 28, 2019 President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration, whitehouse.gov, 17 Oct 2017Nomination - William Beach — Department of Labor, 16 Jan 2019 Dr. William Beach was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 13, 2019. William Beach’s Senate Confirmation. Erica Groshen, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, 2013 and sworn in as the 14th Commissioner of Labor Statistics on January 29, 2013, for a term that ended on January 27, 2017.Presidential Nominations, 112th Congress (011 - 2012), PN1404-112 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102205230thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ntquery/z?nomis:112PN0140400: |date=2016-01-02 }}, Library of Congress, thomas.loc.govSenate Confirms Erica Groshen to Head Bureau of Labor Statistics {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904212538blogs.wsj.com/economics/tag/erica-groshen/ |date=2017-09-04 }}, by Jeffrey Sparshott at Wall Street Journal] William Wiatrowski, Deputy Commissioner of the BLS, served as Acting Commissioner until the next commissioner, William Beach was sworn in. William Beach served until January 2024, at which time he was succeeded by Erika McEntarfer.

Commissioners

Commissioners of Labor Statistics (1885 to present):WEB, Past BLS Commissioners,www.bls.gov/bls/history/commissioners/home.htm, bls.gov, {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center”!Portrait!Commissioner!Took office!Left office100px)|Carroll D. Wright|January 1885|January 1905100px)|Charles P. Neill|February 1905|May 1913100px)George Wallace William Hanger>George Hanger (Acting)|May 1913|August 1913100px)|Royal Meeker|August 11, 1913|June 1920100px)|Ethelbert Stewart|June 1920|June 1932100px)|Charles E. Baldwin (Acting)|July 1932|July 1933100px)|Isador Lubin|July 1933|January 1946100px)|A. Ford Hinrichs (Acting)|January 1946|July 1946100px)|Aryness Joy Wickens|July 1946|August 1946100px)|Ewan Clague|August 1946|September 1965100px)Arthur Ross (BLS Commissioner)>Arthur Ross|October 1965|July 1968100px)|Ben Burdetsky (Acting)|July 1968|March 1969100px)|Geoffrey H. Moore|March 1969|January 1973100px)|Ben Burdetsky (Acting)|January 1973|July 1973100px)|Julius Shiskin|July 1973|October 1978100px)|Janet L. Norwood|May 1979|December 1991100px)|William G. Barron Jr. (Acting)|December 1991|October 1993100px)|Katharine Abraham|October 1993|October 2001100px)Lois Orr (BLS Commissioner)>Lois Orr (Acting)|October 2001|July 2002100px)|Kathleen Utgoff|July 2002|July 2006100px)|Philip Rones (Acting)|July 2006|January 2008100px)Keith Hall (economist)>Keith Hall|January 2008|January 2012100px)|John M. (Jack) Galvin (Acting)|January 2012|January 2013100px)|Erica Groshen|January 29, 2013|January 27, 2017100px)|William J. Wiatrowski (Acting)|January 2017|March 2019100px)William Beach (economist)>William Beach|March 13, 2019|March 2023100px)|William J. Wiatrowski (Acting)|March 2023|January 31, 2024||Erika McEntarfer |January 31, 2024|Present

Statistical reporting

Statistics published by the BLS fall into four main categories:WEB,www.bls.gov/bls/proghome.htm, Subject Area Categories : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017-02-23, live,web.archive.org/web/20170223130858/https://www.bls.gov/bls/proghome.htm, 2017-02-23,

Prices

• U.S. Consumer Price Index
• Producer Price Index
• U.S. Import and Export Price Indices
• Consumer Expenditure Survey

Employment and unemployment

(File:US Unemployment measures.svg|thumb|Unemployment measurements by the BLS from 1950 to 2010)File:Job seekers ratio.webp|thumb|300px|Job seekers ratio in the #0714FF|Cold job market}}{{legend|#2A9B00|Balanced job market}}{{legend|#BA3117|Hot job market}}

• Current Population Survey (The “Household Survey“)
  • The American Time Use SurveyWEB,www.bls.gov/tus/, American Time Use Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics, live,web.archive.org/web/20170223130145/https://www.bls.gov/tus/, 2017-02-23,
• Current Employment StatisticsWEB,www.bls.gov/ces/, Current Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, live,web.archive.org/web/20170223190145/https://www.bls.gov/ces/, 2017-02-23, (The “Establishment Survey“)
  • Payroll Employment
  • JOLTS report - Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
  • Economic geography
  • Salary Data
• Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)WEB,www.bls.gov/lau/, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, live,web.archive.org/web/20170908215735/https://www.bls.gov/lau/, 2017-09-08,
  • List of U.S. states by unemployment rate
• Current Employment Statistics State and Area programWEB,www.bls.gov/sae/, Employment, Hours, and Earnings from the Current Employment Statistics survey (State & Metro Area) Home Page, Bls.gov, 2012-05-30, 2012-06-22, live,www.bls.gov/sae/," title="web.archive.org/web/20120615165944www.bls.gov/sae/,">web.archive.org/web/20120615165944www.bls.gov/sae/, 2012-06-15,
• The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)WEB,www.bls.gov/jlt/, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey Home Page, Bls.gov, 2012-06-22, live,www.bls.gov/jlt/," title="web.archive.org/web/20120616201002www.bls.gov/jlt/,">web.archive.org/web/20120616201002www.bls.gov/jlt/, 2012-06-16,
• The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)WEB,www.bls.gov/qcew/, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Bls.gov, 2012-03-28, 2012-06-22, live,www.bls.gov/qcew/," title="web.archive.org/web/20120610154515www.bls.gov/qcew/,">web.archive.org/web/20120610154515www.bls.gov/qcew/, 2012-06-10,
• The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) programWEB,www.bls.gov/bed/, Business Employment Dynamics Home Page, Bls.gov, 2012-05-01, 2012-06-22, live,www.bls.gov/bed/," title="web.archive.org/web/20121015114659www.bls.gov/bed/,">web.archive.org/web/20121015114659www.bls.gov/bed/, 2012-10-15,
• Ten year occupational employment projections
• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, called OES until recently
• Mass Layoff Statistics--discontinued in 2013WEB,www.bls.gov/mls/, Mass Layoff Statistics Home Page, Bls.gov, 2012-05-16, 2017-02-22, live,web.archive.org/web/20170223125904/https://www.bls.gov/mls/, 2017-02-23,

Compensation and working conditions

• National Compensation Survey
  • Employment Cost Index
• Workplace Injury and Fatality StatisticsWEB,www.bls.gov/iif/, Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities, Bls.gov, 2012-06-22, live,www.bls.gov/iif/," title="web.archive.org/web/20120626042756www.bls.gov/iif/,">web.archive.org/web/20120626042756www.bls.gov/iif/, 2012-06-26, File:Number of workers involved in strikes, US Bureau of Labor Statistics.svg|thumb|Workers involved in strikes by yearWorkers involved in strikes by year

Productivity

• Labor productivity, aggregate and by industryWEB,www.bls.gov/bls/productivity.htm, Overview of BLS Productivity Statistics, Bls.gov, 2012-06-22, live,www.bls.gov/bls/productivity.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20120625155059www.bls.gov/bls/productivity.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20120625155059www.bls.gov/bls/productivity.htm, 2012-06-25,
• Multifactor productivity
• State labor productivity
• Work Stoppage data

Statistical regions

Data produced by the BLS is often categorized into groups of states known as Census Regions. There are four 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.

See also

• Alternative employment arrangements
• Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Career Guide to Industries
• Data.gov
• Economic reports
• Index of Leading Indicators
• Job Creation Index
• Monthly Labor Review
• National Income and Product Accounts
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• U.S. Census Bureau
• USAFacts

Footnotes

{{Reflist|2}}

Further reading

• Joseph P. Goldberg and William T. Moye, The First 100 Years of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bulletin No. 2235. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1985.
• William J. Wiatrowski, “BLS at 125: Using historic principles to track the 21st-century economy”. Monthly Labor Review, June 2009, pp. 3–25.

External links

{{Commons}}

• {{Official website|1=http://www.bls.gov/}}
• Records of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the National Archives (Record Group 257)
• Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Federal Register
• Publications of the BLS available on FRASER
• Bulletins of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, dating back to 1895
• Local Area Unemployment Reports

{{DOL agencies}}{{US Statistical Agencies}}{{Authority control}}