Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Agency name	Bureau of Labor Statistics
Logo width	150
Formed	27 June 1884
Preceding1	Bureau of Labor
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Chief1 name	Erica L. Groshen
Chief1 position	Commissioner (Acting)
Parent department	United States Department of Labor
Website	www.bls.gov

Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal government of the United States in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. As an integral unit of the United States Department of Labor, it collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the public, Congress of the United States, other Federal agencies, state and local governments, businesses, and labor organizations. Its objective measurements on employment, unemployment, prices, productivity, and compensation are critical for informed public policy, economic research, and decision-making across the American economy.

History

The agency traces its origins to the Bureau of Labor, established on June 27, 1884, within the Department of the Interior under the leadership of the first United States Commissioner of Labor Statistics, Carroll D. Wright. It became an independent department in 1888 before being incorporated into the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903. Following the establishment of the separate United States Department of Labor in 1913, the bureau was transferred and renamed, solidifying its role. Key historical developments include the initiation of the Consumer Price Index during World War I, the expansion of labor force statistics during the Great Depression and the New Deal, and the modernization of data collection through technological advances like those following the Digital Revolution.

Mission and functions

The core mission is to produce high-quality, impartial, and timely economic data to support public and private decision-making. Its primary functions involve measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. This includes calculating key indicators like the unemployment rate, tracking inflation through the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index, and assessing productivity growth. The agency operates under a mandate of strict confidentiality and scientific independence, ensuring its statistics are free from political influence, as reinforced by the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act and oversight from the Office of Management and Budget.

Key statistical programs

The portfolio of statistical programs is vast, with several being cornerstone economic indicators. The Current Employment Statistics survey, often called the payroll survey, provides detailed industry data on employment, hours, and earnings. The Current Population Survey, conducted with the United States Census Bureau, is the source for the national unemployment rate. The Consumer Price Index measures average price changes for a basket of consumer goods and services, while the Producer Price Index tracks selling prices received by domestic producers. Other major programs include the National Compensation Survey, the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and the International Labor Comparisons program.

Organizational structure

The agency is headed by a Commissioner of Labor Statistics, a presidentially appointed position confirmed by the United States Senate, with Erica L. Groshen currently serving as Acting Commissioner. It is organized into several major offices, each focusing on specific statistical areas. These include the Office of Prices and Living Conditions, the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, the Office of Compensation and Working Conditions, and the Office of Productivity and Technology. Regional offices located in major cities like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, and San Francisco facilitate nationwide data collection and analysis.

Data collection and methodology

Data is gathered through a combination of surveys of households and establishments, administrative records, and other sources. Surveys like the Current Population Survey and the Consumer Expenditure Survey sample tens of thousands of households, while establishment surveys like the Current Employment Statistics collect data from hundreds of thousands of businesses. Methodologies are rigorously developed using principles from survey sampling and econometrics, with procedures reviewed by advisory groups like the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee. The agency employs advanced techniques for seasonal adjustment and maintains rigorous protocols for protecting the confidentiality of respondents, in compliance with Title 13 of the United States Code.

Publications and data access

A wide array of data and analysis is published regularly, primarily through its website. Key publications include the monthly Employment Situation news release, the Consumer Price Index summary, and the Real Earnings report. The Monthly Labor Review is its principal scholarly journal. All data is made freely available to the public via online databases, interactive charts, and downloadable datasets, supporting users ranging from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Congressional Budget Office to academic researchers at institutions like the National Bureau of Economic Research and journalists at outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and CNN.

Category:United States Department of Labor Category:Government agencies established in 1884 Category:National statistical services Category:Labor in the United States