BLS Feature Archives

The high-tech industry, what is it and why it matters to our economic future

This article looks at which industries make up the high-tech sector and analyzes industry employment and output.

Employment patterns in political organizations

This article examines how employment and wage patterns for political organizations are affected by the U.S. election calendar.

HTML | PDF

Fertility of women in the baby boom generation

The article examines fertility patterns by race, ethnicity, education, and labor market experience.

HTML | PDF

Self-employment in the United States

This Spotlight on Statistics examines recent trends in self-employment, including data on paid employees who work for the self-employed.

HTML | PDF

New Data on Professional Certifications and Licenses

We now have data on professional certifications or licenses to go along with statistics on level of education.

HTML

Purchasing power: using wage statistics with regional price parities to create a standard for comparing wages across U.S. areas

This article uses wage data adjusted for an area's prices to assess purchasing power across areas.

HTML | PDF

Comparing the Consumer Price Index with the gross domestic product price index and gross domestic product implicit price deflator

This article compares three major gauges of U.S. price trends.

HTML | PDF

Current Employment Statistics data and their contributions as key economic indicators

This article highlights how the survey has evolved over the last 100 years.

HTML | PDF

Using gasoline data to explain inelasticity

This article examines how the price of gasoline relates to the number of gallons purchased.

HTML | PDF

A closer look at spending patterns of older Americans

This article examines the spending patterns of households with people age 55 and older.

HTML | PDF

Producer prices in 2015: Services inflation slows, goods prices continue to decrease

This article examines movements in producer prices during 2015.

HTML | PDF

Reimagining the Monthly Review, July 1915

This article looks back at the first issue of the oldest continuously published periodical of the U.S. government.

HTML

Trends in employer costs for defined benefit plans

This article explores trends in employer costs for defined benefit retirement plans from 2008 to 2015.

HTML | PDF

The life of American workers in 1915

To help mark the Monthly Labor Review’s centennial, this article looks at American life in 1915 and compares it with today.

HTML

Expenditures on cellular phone services have increased significantly since 2007

This article compares cellular and residential phone service spending from 2007 to 2014.

HTML | PDF

Nonprofit pay and benefits: estimates from the National Compensation Survey

Overall, workers at nonprofit businesses earn a pay premium compared with their for-profit counterparts.

HTML

One hundred years of Current Employment Statistics data collection

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the CES survey, this article reviews data collection procedures and instruments over the past century.

HTML

Worth a Thousand Words? Announcing Interactive Graphics with BLS News Releases

BLS has begun posting interactive graphics to complement some of our most widely read economic reports.

HTML

Which industries need workers? Exploring differences in labor market activity

This article looks at job openings, hires, and separations by industry and then categorizes industries as having high or low job openings and hires.

HTML

People who are not in the labor force: why aren't they working?

Since 2000, the percentage of people not in the labor force has increased. This article examines the reasons.

HTML | PDF

Consumer expenditures vary by age

This article examines the relationship between age and consumer spending.

HTML | PDF

Employment and wages in healthcare occupations

Healthcare occupations represent a significant percentage of U.S. employment and are essential to the country's economic health.

HTML

Occupational Outlook Handbook

The 2016–17 edition can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and the outlook for hundreds of occupations.

HTML

As crude oil plunges, retail gasoline margins spike, then retreat

This article explores how margins for gasoline retailing were influenced by price changes in crude oil and retail gasoline from the second half of 2014 through early 2015.

HTML | PDF

Occupational Requirements Survey: preproduction testing estimates

This article introduces new survey estimates on physical demands, environmental conditions, and other job characteristics.

HTML

Highlights of women’s earnings in 2014

In 2014, women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median usual weekly earnings of $719.

PDF

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2014

This report describes the labor force characteristics and earnings patterns among the largest race and ethnicity groups living in the United States.

PDF

New measure of labor productivity for private community hospitals: 1993–2012

A new index of labor productivity, defined as output per hour, for private community hospitals.

HTML

Mid-Atlantic: Price Movements of Top Exports and Other Highlights

The Mid-Atlantic region exported goods valued at just under $77.9 billion in 2014, a decrease of 1.3 percent from 2013.

PDF

Get the facts on the Bureau of Labor Statistics

See our new video about the statistics we have on the labor market and economy.

HTML

Careers for night owls and early birds

Who's working at sunset–or at 2 a.m.? Lots of people, including reporters, nurses, and police officers.

HTML

Labor law highlights, 1915–2015

This article highlights important U.S. labor legislation since 1915. Areas of focus are child labor laws, gender equality, racial equality, working conditions, and union membership.

HTML

New Jersey & New York: Price Movements of Top Exports and Other Highlights

Total goods exports from New York and New Jersey combined were $122.8 billion in 2014.

PDF

Access to specific provisions of employer-provided benefits: new estimates

This article describes the prevalence with which people working for private employers in the United States are given the opportunity to enroll in health and retirement plans with various provisions.

HTML | PDF

Hurricane Joaquin maps and tables

Hurricane Joaquin’s path is uncertain. Flooding is possible along the East Coast. BLS maps and tables are available for areas that may be affected.

HTML

Measuring wage inequality within and across U.S. metropolitan areas

This article shows that location, size, and occupational composition play important roles in determining the level of wage inequality within and across U.S. metropolitan areas.

HTML

The National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth: research highlights

This article highlights research based on data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth, covering topics from employment and education to health and criminal behavior.

HTML

Pay protection during temporary absences from work

This article explores the range of benefits available for pay protection and looks at how certain unique plans are treated in the BLS statistics.

HTML

Fifty years of looking at changes in people's lives

This Spotlight on Statistics looks at labor market activities and other significant life events of people born in 1957–64 and people born in 1980–84.

HTML

Multiple jobholding in states in 2014

This article examines multiple jobholding rates at the state and regional levels in 2014.

HTML

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Tropical Storm Erika maps and tables

Tropical Storm Erika may have an impact on states on the east coast. BLS maps and tables are available for areas in various states that may be affected by this event.

HTML

Consumer spending in World War II: the forgotten consumer expenditure surveys

This article looks at consumer expenditure surveys from 1941, 1942, and 1944 and the history of consumer spending from the 1930s to 2013.

HTML

A pilot study of job-transfer or work-restriction cases, 2011–2013

This report presents data that led to employees being transferred to another job or restricted from their normal duties.

PDF

Comparison of U.S. and international labor turnover statistics

This article provides an overview of the JOLTS program and examines the availability and definitions of labor demand data from other countries.

HTML

Compensation inequality: evidence from the National Compensation Survey

This article examines inequality measures and trends over the 2007–2014 period.

HTML

Celebrating 100 years of the Monthly Labor Review

BLS Commissioner Erica Groshen launches a yearlong celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of the

HTML

The role of BLS import and export price indexes in the real GDP

This article examines how the import and export price indexes are used in calculating real GDP.

HTML

The relationship between access to benefits and weekly work hours

Employee benefits often depend on weekly work hours. Part-time workers consistently show lower access rates to benefits than full-time workers.

HTML

The cost of 'basic necessities' has risen slightly more than inflation over the last 30 years

This article constructs three pairs of experimental indexes for three different sets of goods and services.

HTML | PDF

Job openings reach a new high in 2014, hires and quits also increase

This article examines 2014 job openings and labor turnover data, and compares it to historical data for perspective on how the labor market has evolved.

HTML

A look at pay at the top, the bottom, and in between

How big are the differences between the highest levels of pay and the lowest levels? Have they grown?

HTML

The 2014 plunge in import petroleum prices: What happened?

Throughout the first half of 2014, import petroleum prices rose 10.7 percent following a near 2-year low at the end of 2013.

HTML | PDF

Gasoline prices: cyclical trends and market developments

This article examines factors that contributed to shifting producer gasoline prices from 2005 through 2014.

HTML | PDF

A look at Current Employment Statistics vintage data

Vintage data tables are a valuable tool, providing users with all published data, from original estimates to the most up-to-date figures.

HTML

Continued improvement in U.S. labor market in 2014

This article summarizes changes in key labor market measures during 2014.

HTML

Nonfarm employment recovers in 2014

U.S. nonfarm payroll employment grew steadily in 2014, adding 3.1 million jobs, according to the Current Employment Statistics survey.

HTML

A look at today’s pension equity plans

Pension equity plans let employees accumulate pension credits each year, which are converted to a dollar value at retirement.

HTML | PDF

Preserving quality health care data after passage of Affordable Care Act

This article provides an overview of efforts to research the effects of the ACA on NCS cost, coverage, and provisions data.

HTML

Commissioner Groshen pays tribute to former BLS Commissioner Janet Norwood

Janet Norwood was an icon here at BLS, and we are deeply saddened by her passing.

HTML

Improving data quality in Consumer Expenditure Survey with TAXSIM

TAXSIM is used to adjust for nonresponse to tax questions in the Consumer Expenditure Survey.

HTML

Movies, music, and sports: U.S. entertainment spending, 2008-2013

This article examines entertainment spending from 2008 to 2013 and analyzes the relationships between entertainment spending and income, education, and age.

HTML | PDF

Trends in long-term unemployment

This Spotlight on Statistics examines trends in long-term unemployment and the characteristics of people who have experienced it.

HTML

Falling gasoline prices lead to lowest inflation since 2008

This article takes a look at price trends for major components of the Consumer Price Index in 2014.

HTML | PDF

A look at violence in the workplace against psychiatric aides and psychiatric technicians

The workplace violence incidence rate for psychiatric aides was 69 times higher than the national rate.

HTML

Consumer Expenditures in 2013

Consumer spending in 2013 decreased 0.7 percent from 2012, based on annual data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey.

PDF

Disability insurance plans: trends in employee access and employer costs

This article examines trends in employer-provided disability insurance coverage.

HTML | PDF

Producer inflation in 2014: energy prices drop but prices for services advance

This article describes changes in producer prices throughout 2014.

HTML | PDF

Occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in public transportation

In 2013, approximately 5,780 transit and intercity bus drivers experienced a days-away-from-work injury or illness.

HTML

Video about the Chained Consumer Price Index

Learn more about a cost-of-living measure called the Chained Consumer Price Index and how it differs from other measures.

HTML

Analysis of the Current Employment Statistics program using customer outreach survey results

The CES program conducted a customer outreach survey in early 2014.

HTML

Understanding health plan types: What's in a name?

This issue explores how the National Compensation Survey uses plan features to identify six medical plan types.

HTML | PDF

Women in the Labor Force: A Databook

This report presents historical and current labor force and earnings data from the Current Population Survey.

PDF

Access to dependent care reimbursement accounts and workplace-funded childcare

This article takes a look at worker access to dependent care reimbursement accounts and workplace-funded childcare.

HTML | PDF

Independence for young millennials: moving out and boomeranging back

This article examines the process of household formation for young adults born between 1980 and 1984.

HTML

Slicing through fruit price volatility

This article examines average price trends of commonly eaten fruits such as apples, bananas, and oranges.

HTML | PDF

Highlights of women's earnings in 2013

In 2013, women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median usual weekly earnings of $706.

PDF

Technology industries helped post-Great Recession jobs grow faster in northern California

Employment growth in northern California has propped up the recovery of all nonfarm employment throughout the state.

HTML

Analyzing alternatives to export price indexes

Comparing U.S. export prices with export prices from economic competitors and domestic prices.

HTML | PDF

The increased supply of underutilized labor from 2006 to 2014

Four BLS measures of labor underutilization are used to analyze changes in labor supply before and after the 2007–2009 recession.

HTML

Oil extraction surges with the help of sand

In response to public interest for price statistics on hydraulic fracturing sand, the PPI program began publishing a commodity index for this item in January 2013.

HTML | PDF

Trends in unemployment and other labor market difficulties

This article examines trends in the BLS alternative measures of labor underutilization over the period from 1994 to 2014.

HTML | PDF

Income and spending patterns among Black households

Household spending data offer insight on how households prioritize their wants and needs.

HTML | PDF

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries commemorates 20 years of occupational safety and health data

These data are used to identify trends in workplace deaths and to work towards eliminating future work-related fatal injuries.

HTML | PDF

An analysis of multiemployer pension plans

This article looks at trends in defined-benefit plan coverage designed to support employees who have multiple jobs throughout their career.

HTML | PDF

Improvements to BLS data-retrieval tools

BLS has made available a new option that will allow data users to choose whether to include the annual averages when they use BLS data-retrieval tools.

HTML

Trends in employment-based health insurance coverage

From 2003 to 2012, access to employer-provided health insurance exhibited a significant drop and participation also fell.

HTML

Consumer spending and U.S. employment from the 2007–2009 recession through 2022

Through 2022, consumer spending is projected to support stable job growth.

HTML

New England: Price Movements of Top Exports and Other Highlights

New England exports surpassed $56.4 billion in 2013 and accounted for 6.3 percent of total U.S. exports of computer and electronics products.

PDF

Two measures of consumer price change: How are they different?

Price change as measured by the CPI for all urban consumers vs. the average price series for selected goods.

HTML | PDF

How jobseekers can use wage differentials to analyze wage and cost of living data by U.S. area

This article discusses how wage differentials provide a different perspective for evaluating pay.

HTML | PDF

Introducing the new Career Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Quarterly has a new name, a new look, and new features for students, career counselors, jobseekers, and researchers.

HTML

How has labor force participation among young moms and dads changed? A comparison of two cohorts

This article examines work patterns in the lives of young adults in the year after they have their first child.

HTML | PDF

Housing: before, during, and after the Great Recession

This Spotlight examines consumer expenditures on household items, employment in housing-related industries, prices for household items and commodities, and more.

HTML

Women veterans in the labor force

In 2013, there were 2.2 million women veterans. This Spotlight examines the demographic, employment, and unemployment characteristics of women veterans.

HTML

Mountain-Plains Export Highlights

Total exports for the Mountain-Plains region, which consists of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, were $53 billion in 2013.

PDF

BLS statistics by occupation

This Spotlight on Statistics provides an overview of occupational employment and wages in May 2013, with an emphasis on STEM jobs and occupational data by required entry-level education.

HTML

Trends in producer prices between electronic and brick-and-mortar retail establishments

This article compares the factors affecting changes in prices received by e-commerce and brick-and-mortar establishments for the sale of goods and services.

HTML | PDF

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2013

Employment, unemployment, and earnings data for the major race and ethnicity groups—Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. read more »

PDF

Japan: Price Movements of Top Imports

Japan was the fourth largest import trade partner for the United States in 2013. The price index for imports from Japan declined 3.4 percent between December 2012 and December 2013.

PDF

Restaurants help feed job growth after the recent employment downturn

This article examines recent trends in the leisure and hospitality industry and analyzes the concentrated distribution of job gains.

HTML | PDF

BLS Speakers Available

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has experts available to provide informative presentations about the U.S. labor market and economy.

HTML

Agriculture: occupational employment and wages

This study uses special tabulations of data collected as part of the Green Goods and Services Occupations survey to analyze employment and wages in the agricultural sector.

HTML

Hurricane Arthur maps and tables

Hurricane Arthur is expected to affect North Carolina. BLS maps and tables are available for areas in North Carolina that may be affected by this event.

HTML

How does consumer spending change during boom, recession, and recovery?

This article compares relative importances of CPI items based on data collected during periods characterized roughly as boom, recession, and recovery.

HTML | PDF

Examining the completeness of occupational injury and illness data

This article examines the latest research to understand any undercount of workplace injuries and illnesses and identify solutions.

HTML

Shrimp disease in Asia resulting in high U.S. import prices

In 2013, consumers and businesses found themselves paying higher prices with less product available in supermarkets and restaurants.

HTML | PDF

Comparing fatal work injuries in the United States and the European Union

This article uses workplace safety and health data to compare fatal work injury counts and rates in the United States and the European Union.

HTML

Occupational Employment Statistics

Using Occupational Employment Statistics data during salary negotiations

Hourly and annual wage estimates are available for more than 800 occupations. read more »

PDF

Hurricane flood zone maps and tables

BLS has released a set of maps and data for hurricane flood zones on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Employment, wages, and establishment totals are available by flood zone.

HTML

How frequently do private businesses pay workers?

This article analyzes pay frequencies, or lengths of pay periods, that private businesses use in the United States.

HTML | PDF

What can labor productivity tell us about the U.S. economy?

This article focuses on labor productivity and the corresponding changes in output and labor hours data in the context of historical and business cycle periods.

HTML | PDF

Women in the Labor Force: A Databook

This report presents historical and current labor force and earnings data for women from the Current Population Survey.

PDF

Examining trends in the nonresidential building construction producer price indexes

Nonresidential building construction price movements have loosely paralleled the overall health of the economy.

HTML | PDF

Americans' aging autos

This article examines data showing households continued to own the same number of vehicles over the last 10 years, but are owning their vehicles longer.

HTML | PDF

Introducing the new and improved BLS Commissioner's Corner

The Commissioner's Corner blog now has a brand new look and several new features and capabilities.

HTML

The impact of the falling yen on U.S. import prices

A falling yen means the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar increases for goods imported from Japan.

HTML | PDF

One hundred years of price change: the Consumer Price Index and the American inflation experience

Breaking the 100-year period into subperiods, this article examines patterns and trends in price changes.

HTML

Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities

Occupational Injuries and Illnesses: job-transfer or work-restriction cases

BLS conducted a pilot study about occupational injury and illness cases that resulted in days of job transfer or work restriction in 2012.

PDF

High–income household spending and the economic recovery

This Spotlight on Statistics examines trends in income and expenditures during and after the 2007–2009 recession.

HTML

Introducing a new chart-making tool for students!

Our new K-12 Chart Maker tool offers students and teachers a fun way to create interactive line, column, and bar charts.

HTML

The rise in women's share of nonfarm employment during the 2007-2009 recession: a historical perspective

Women's and men's employment during the recent recession in historical context.

HTML

Employer-sponsored benefits extended to domestic partners

This issue looks at the frequency with which health and defined-benefit plans are available to unmarried opposite-sex and same-sex domestic partners.

HTML | PDF

Consumer Expenditures in 2012

Consumer spending increased by 3.5 percent in 2012. This is the second consecutive year that expenditures increased after 3 consecutive years of declining expenditures.

PDF

Investment in higher education by race and ethnicity

This article extends previous research on human capital and investment in education by examining the patterns of educational expenditures by race and ethnicity.

HTML

Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses among State and Local Government Workers

Charts and analysis that compare injury and illness cases in state and local government with those in private industry.

HTML

Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers, 2013

In 2013, the 3.3 million workers with wages at or below the federal minimum made up 4.3 percent of all hourly paid workers.

PDF

Why does BLS provide both the CPI-W and CPI-U?

The CPI has two population groups: all urban consumers and urban wage earners and clerical workers.

HTML | PDF

A cohort component analysis of the 2007–2009 recession

A model is used to assess where the economy would have been without the recession and compares results with actual data to see the impact of the recession on economic data.

HTML

The Marcellus Shale gas boom in Pennsylvania: employment and wage trends

This article examines employment and wage trends in Pennsylvania's oil and natural gas industry.

HTML

Improvements to the Producer Price Index measure: the Final–Demand–Intermediate–Demand system

The transition from Stage of Processing to Final Demand–Intermediate Demand.

HTML | PDF

Measuring occupational concentration by industry

Some occupations are found in nearly every industry, while others are specific to one or only a few industries.

HTML | PDF

Persistence of a high unemployment rate in New York City during the recent recovery

This article examines the behavior of New York City’s unemployment rate from several perspectives.

HTML | PDF

Fatal occupational injuries involving contractors

Similarities and differences between contractors and workers who are not contractors.

HTML

Examination of state-level labor turnover survey data

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey began in 1998; a similar program, the Labor Turnover Survey, existed from 1930 to 1981.

HTML

The new Producer Price Index aggregation system

This article presents and analyzes limited historical data on the basis of the PPI Final Demand–Intermediate Demand system.

HTML

New education classification better reflects income and spending patterns in the Consumer Expenditure (CE) Survey

The CE Survey replaced the education of reference person classification with a new classification.

HTML | PDF

Life, limbs, and licensing: occupational regulation, wages, and workplace safety of electricians, 1992–2007

Licensing of electricians grew significantly at the state level from 1992 to 2007

HTML

Charting BLS data on The Editor's Desk

Fresh BLS data daily in charts, text, and tables on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or e-mail inbox.

HTML

The Spending Patterns of Families Receiving Means-tested Government Assistance

Government means-tested assistance programs provide cash and noncash benefits to many low-income families.

HTML | PDF

Overview of projections to 2022

The Monthly Labor Review celebrates the release of labor force, macroeconomy, output, and employment projections for the 2012–2022 period.

HTML

2013: International Year of Statistics

This Spotlight presents selected BLS data and discusses how the statistics are produced and what they tell us about our economy.

HTML

The Consumer Price Index and the ‘median CPI’

Shortly after the publication of the CPI, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland publishes its ‘Median CPI’. This article summarizes the difference between these two measures.

HTML | PDF

Forty Years of the BLS Export and Import Price Indexes: trends and competition

BLS first began publication of export price indexes in 1971, followed 2 years later by import price indexes.

HTML | PDF

Using OSHA inspection data to analyze respirator protection program compliance

This article looks at patterns of respirator protection program violations and identifies factors that affect the likelihood of noncompliance.

HTML

An analysis of fatal occupational injuries at road construction sites, 2003–2010

Even as overall fatal workplace injuries decreased, fatal workplace injuries at road construction sites remained relatively constant.

HTML

California: Price Movements of Top Exports and Other Highlights

Computer and electronic product manufacturing was California's largest export in 2012, ranking second in the United States.

PDF

International Year of Statistics

Symposium of U.S. Statistical Agencies

The U.S. statistical agencies are hosting a symposium November 13–14 to highlight federal statistics and statistical careers.

HTML

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2012

Employment, unemployment, and earnings data for the major race and ethnicity groups—Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics.

PDF

Highlights of Womenâ€™s Earnings in 2012

Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2012

On average, women earned about 81 percent of what men earned; among workers who were 25 to 34 years old, 90 percent.

PDF

Marriage and divorce: patterns by gender, race, and educational attainment

About 85 percent of young baby boomers (people born during the 1957-1964 period) married by age 46.

HTML

Employee benefits for domestic partners

Nearly half of private industry employees with access to a defined benefit retirement plan had a plan that provides survivor benefits to same-sex domestic partners.read more »

HTML

Scheduled passenger air transportation in the PPI: improvements and trends

A new average-pricing approach enables the PPI for scheduled passenger air transportation to better capture true airline pricing behavior.

HTML

Expanded K12 content!

Introducing our new K12 content, with resources for students and educators including classroom activities, games, and more.

HTML

Measures of gasoline price change

Gasoline makes up less than 6 percent of the CPI but is often the main source of price movements in the all items index.

HTML | PDF

Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities

Workplace homicides

In 2012, 375 workers were killed in shootings while on the job.

HTML

Recent trends in spending patterns of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants and other low-income Americans

This article examines spending on food by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.

HTML

Research highlights of the Consumer Expenditure Survey redesign

This article describes research highlights of the ongoing redesign of the Consumer Expenditure Survey and discusses the next steps for the survey.

HTML

Tenure of American Workers

This Spotlight examines trends in employee tenure by various demographic and socioeconomic characteristics over the period of 1996 to 2012.

HTML

Death on the job: fatal work injuries in 2011

In the United States, an average of 13 workers die every day from injuries incurred on the job.

HTML | PDF

Wage estimates by job characteristic: NCS and OES program data

Wage estimates from two surveys provide more extensive information.

HTML

Introducing the BLS Public Data API

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has a wealth of information and statistics within its databases that frequent visitors to the BLS website may wish to access through external programs and applications. read more »

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Long-term unemployment over men’s careers

This analysis covers the mid-1980s through 2009, focusing on men’s employment histories from their mid-20s until their middle to late 40s and early 50s.

HTML | PDF

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The relationship between the housing and labor market crises and doubling up: an MSA-level analysis, 2005–2011

Doubling up and cohabitation increased and homeownership fell in recent years.

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Highlights of the 2013 PPI User Survey

The typical user of PPI data is a manager in a business who uses the PPI as a general indicator of inflation and for price trend analysis.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

The reemergence of the United States as a global petroleum producer

In 2013, domestic production of petroleum in the United States surpassed imports for the first time since 1997.

HTML | PDF

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The hockey lockout of 2012–2013

Although less severe than the disruption of 2004–2005, the hockey lockout of 2012–2013 resulted in the cancellation of 60 percent of regular-season games.

HTML

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The Monthly Labor Review gets a new look

The Monthly Labor Review enters its 99th year with a sleek new design and an eye to the future.

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Why are there revisions to the jobs numbers?

This article explains the data collection process that BLS conducts every month to produce the estimate of U.S. employment change.

HTML | PDF

International Price Program

China: Price Movements of Top Imports and Other Highlights

Imports from China exceeded $425 billion in 2012, ranking first among U.S. import trade partners. read more »

PDF

BLS K-12 Website

Changes coming soon to the BLS K-12 site

Attention students and teachers: BLS has something new for you! We are expanding the content offered on our K-12 site.

HTML

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Workplace hazards of local government firefighters

Compared to all workers, the risk of fatal injuries to firefighters is 25.7 percent higher and the risk of nonfatal injuries and illnesses is over two times greater.

HTML

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

High-employment-growth firms: defining and counting them

Many high-growth firms are the youngest and the smallest firms, but much of the job creation attributable to high-growth firms comes from older firms.

HTML

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Changes coming to the Monthly Labor Review

Get a sneak preview of the new look for the Monthly Labor Review.

HTML

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The relationship between job characteristics and retirement savings in defined contribution plans during the recession

The landscape of U.S. employer-sponsored pensions has undergone substantial changes over recent decades.

HTML

IMPORT/EXPORT PRICES

Louisiana & Texas: Price movements of top energy exports and other highlights

Fuel and energy exports for Texas and Louisiana accounted for over $87 billion in 2012. read more »

PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Compensation highlights in trade, transportation, and utilities industries

This issue takes a look at wages and employee benefits for workers in the trade, transportation, and utilities industries.

HTML | PDF

BLS BETA LABS

BLS Data Finder Features

Data Finder allows users to search across multiple datasets and extract specific data by using keywords or by filtering through multiple categories such as topics and measures. read more »

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Spending on pets: "Tails" from the Consumer Expenditure Survey

In 2011, Americans spent approximately $61.4 billion in total on their pets. This article examines trends in consumer spending on pets.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Owners' equivalent rent and the Consumer Price Index: 30 years and counting

In 1981, BLS announced that homeowner costs in the CPI-U would convert to a rental equivalence measure.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

The effects of shale gas production on natural gas prices

Since 2007, the Producer Price Index for natural gas has exhibited marked volatility.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Growing demand for fertilizer keeps prices high

Steadily growing global demand for grain crops has generated higher crop prices and increased demand for fertilizers, particularly imported fertilizers.

HTML | PDF

SPOTLIGHT ON STATISTICS

International Labor Comparisons

This Spotlight compares output, unemployment, compensation, productivity, consumer prices, and other measures around the world.

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Employment and wage changes in oil-producing counties in the Bakken Formation, 2007—2011

This article examines employment and wages in counties in North Dakota and Montana with wells producing oil from the Bakken Formation.

HTML | PDF

INJURIES, ILLNESSES, AND FATALITIES

New Occupational Safety and Health Statistics

New data series available on fatal injuries among contractors and nonfatal injuries resulting in job transfer or restriction.

HTML

SURVEY METHODS RESEARCH

International Year of Statistics 2013

The Bureau of Labor Statistics and over 1,400 organizations in 111 countries are promoting the use and understanding of statistical methodologies as part of the International Year of Statistics 2013 initiative.

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Retirement and medical benefits: Who has both?

The study finds notable differences in the patterns of access to medical and retirement benefits among the various worker groups.

HTML | PDF

CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY

A Profile of the Working Poor

This report presents data on the relationship between labor force activity and poverty status in 2011 for workers and their families.

PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Reduce, reuse, recycle: green technologies and practices at work

Information on use of multiple Green Technologies and Practices.

HTML

Import/Export Prices

Texas Export Highlights

Over the past three months, export prices for chemical manufacturing, Texas’s top nonenergy export industry, rose 0.8 percent.

PDF

SPOTLIGHT ON STATISTICS

Industry labor productivity trends from 2000 to 2010

This Spotlight examines labor productivity trends from 2000 through 2010 for selected industries and sectors within the nonfarm business sector of the U.S. economy.

HTML | PDF

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Recent college graduates in the U.S. labor force

An annual snapshot of the demographics, labor force activity, and school enrollment of recent college graduates.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Average Food Prices: a snapshot of how much has changed over a century

This article summarizes some average food prices over the last century.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Gold prices during and after the Great Recession

Between 2008 and 2012, the value of gold increased, evidenced by a surge in the Producer Price Index for gold.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Patterns of homeownership, delinquency, and foreclosure among youngest baby boomers

This article shows the patterns of homeownership over a 20-year period, from 1988 through 2008.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Coal: A key player in expanded U.S. energy exports

In 2011, the United States exported more than $16 billion worth of coal, while importing only slightly less than $3 billion in coal.

HTML | PDF

Green Jobs

Careers in Biofuels

Alternative fuels, such as biofuels, can reduce the use of oil-based fuels and can be more environmentally friendly.

HTML

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

Current Employment Statistics (CES) Highlights

CES Highlights features charts and analysis on the monthly nonfarm payroll employment numbers.

PDF

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Special issue: Green Jobs

This special issue features analyses from BLS surveys on Green Jobs.

HTML | PDF

SPOTLIGHT ON STATISTICS

Media and Information

This Spotlight features a broad array of BLS information on various aspects of the media.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Injuries, illnesses, and fatal injuries in mining in 2010

In total, there were 172 fatal work injuries in the mining industry during 2010.

HTML | PDF

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The last private industry pension plans: a visual essay

In 2011, only 10 percent of all private sector establishments provided defined benefit plans, covering 18 percent of private industry employees.

PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Retirement costs for defined benefit plans higher than for defined contribution plans

This issue of Beyond the Numbers focuses on private industry employer retirement plan costs.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Travel expenditures, 2005–2011: spending slows during recent recession

Travel expenditures declined sharply in the recent recession and had not recovered by 2011.

HTML

SPOTLIGHT ON STATISTICS

Hurricane Sandy: A Pre-storm Look at Affected Areas

This Spotlight on Statistics provides a brief look at the pre-Sandy labor market in some of the areas of the United States hit hardest by the storm.

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Writing an escalation contract using the Consumer Price Index

This article can help those who use the CPI to write escalation clauses to create a more comprehensive contract.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Will the 2012 drought have a bigger impact on grocery prices than the 1988 drought?

In the summer of 2012, the United States experienced its worst drought since the 1980s.

HTML

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Impact of the drought on corn exports: paying the price

In the summer of 2012, weather conditions caused the most severe drought the United States has seen since the 1950s. This article discusses the impact of that drought on U.S. corn exports.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Employment and wages in community and social service occupations

There were 1.9 million community and social service occupations jobs in 2011.

HTML | PDF

CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY

Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2011

Women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median usual weekly earnings of $684.

PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

A comparison of 25 years of consumer expenditures by homeowners and renters

This article uses data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey to compare expenditures of homeowners with those of renters.

HTML | PDF

Green Jobs

Careers in Geothermal Energy

Geothermal power uses heat generated by the Earth's core to provide energy. This article provides information on various career opportunities in geothermal energy.

HTML | PDF

Green Jobs

Careers in Environmental Remediation

Environmental professionals use a number of technologies to clean up polluted sites, a process known as environmental remediation.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

A comparison of college attendance and high school coursework among youth

This article examines how the relationship between high school courses and college attendance has changed.

HTML | PDF

INTERNATIONAL LABOR COMPARISONS

Charting International Labor Comparisons

Labor market and other national economic measurements compared across countries.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Who has benefits in private industry in 2012?

Health, retirement, and paid leave benefits made up more than three-fifths of private industry employer-provided benefit costs in March 2012.

HTML | PDF

SPOTLIGHT ON STATISTICS

National Hispanic Heritage Month

This Spotlight presents BLS data about the Hispanic or Latino labor force.

HTML | PDF

American Time Use Survey

Eldercare in 2011

In 2011, an estimated 39.8 million people in the United States were eldercare providers.

HTML

DEMOGRAPHICS

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2011

This report describes the labor force characteristics and earnings patterns among race and ethnicity groups.

PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Facts of the catch: occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities to fishing workers, 2003-2009

Fishers and related fishing workers deal with a set of working conditions unique among all other occupations.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

How parents use time and money

This article examines weekday resource allocation decisions of married couples with a husband employed full time and with children under 18.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Atlanta's thriving air transportation industry: employment and wages, 1990–2010

Air transportation's share of total employment is more than 6 times greater in Fulton County than it is in the United States.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

Wholesale and retail Producer Price Indexes: margin prices

This article explains the rationale behind measuring trade sector output using PPI margin indexes and how margin PPIs should be interpreted.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

New locality of origin import price indexes by industry sector

BLS has expanded the existing import price indexes by locality of origin to include more detail below the “all import” level of aggregation.

HTML | PDF

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

An overview of U.S. occupational employment and wages in 2011

In May 2011, a substantial share of U.S. employment was concentrated in a relatively small number of occupations.

HTML | PDF

Import/Export Prices

Georgia Export Highlights

Georgia exports exceeded 34.7 billion dollars in 2011, ranking 12th among U.S. states.

PDF

BLS is now on Twitter

Follow BLS on Twitter

The latest news releases are available on the BLS Twitter feed.

HTML

Beyond the Numbers

How have health benefits changed in state and local governments from 1998 to 2011?

Health insurance coverage for state and local government employees has undergone significant changes over the past decade.

HTML | PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

Fashion

This Spotlight presents BLS data on the design, manufacture, and sale of clothing, shoes, and accessories.

HTML | PDF

Beyond the Numbers

Employment, college enrollment, and training of young male veterans and nonveterans during the recent recession?

This article focuses on employment, education, and training of young male veterans and nonveterans.

HTML | PDF

Monthly Labor Review

Older men: pushed into retirement in the 1970s and 1980s by the baby boomers?

Older workers and short-term jobs, Measuring annual change in household wealth, and Multiple jobholding.

HTML | PDF

Beyond the Numbers

Energy prices jump while food prices show modest increases

This summary compares price changes in the CPI for detailed categories of goods and services over the first quarter of 2012 with those in 2011.

HTML | PDF

Beyond the Numbers

How new fees are affecting the Producer Price Index for air travel

Airlines recently have expanded the number of services for which they charge fees.

HTML | PDF

Beyond the Numbers

International Air Passenger Fares Shrug Off the Recession

Passenger fares for flights to and from the United States recently experienced a strong recovery after recording large decreases.

HTML | PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Young adult employment during the recent recession

This article focuses on the impact of the recent recession on the labor market experience of younger workers (24-and 25-year-olds).

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Legally Required Benefit Costs

Presents BLS data and details on legally required employee benefits; Social Security and Medicare, Federal and State unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.

PDF

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Workers’ Memorial Day

Recognized each year on April 28, Workers’ Memorial Day is a day to remember workers who were killed, injured, or made ill at work and to highlight the hazards in the workplace.

HTML

NATIONAL COMPENSATION SURVEY

Health Plan Provisions in State and Local Government in the United States, 2011

The National Compensation Survey (NCS) provides comprehensive measures of compensation cost trends, the incidence of benefits, and detailed benefit provisions.

HTML | PDF

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Job search of the unemployed by duration of unemployment

BLS created measures of the number of weeks the jobless took to find work or quit looking and leave the labor force.

HTML | PDF

BLS BETA LABS

Beyond the Numbers

In May 2012, BLS will introduce a new publication that will consolidate all BLS summary analytic writing into a cohesive conceptual and visual bundle.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

2012–13 Occupational Outlook Handbook

The redesigned OOH includes several new features to make it more visually appealing and easier for users to find what they are looking for.

HTML

Focus on Prices and Spending

How do U.S. Expenditures Compare with those of Other Countries?

Consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.

HTML

Monthly Labor Review

Changes in Federal and State unemployment insurance legislation in 2011

There were two federal legislative enactments that affected the Federal–State Unemployment Compensation Program.

PDF

Monthly Labor Review

On Guard Against Workplace Hazards

Security guards face a variety of workplace hazards that can lead to injury, illness, or death.

PDF

Fact Sheet

Workplace Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities to Women of Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity

This fact sheet highlights fatal and nonfatal injuries and illnesses incurred by Hispanic or Latino women from 2005 through 2009.

HTML | PDF

Population Adjustments

Adjustments to the Current Population Survey

Learn more about how population adjustments impact the data from the Current Population Survey

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Experimental Consumer Price Index for Older Americans (CPI-E)

BLS calculates an experimental CPI by using households whose reference person or spouse is 62 years of age or older, commonly called the CPI for the elderly, or CPI-E.

HTML

Focus on Prices and Spending

Current Price Topics: The 2012 PPI Weight Update: How and why does BLS update revenue weights?

With the release of January 2012 Producer Price Index, the PPI will begin using 2007 value-of-shipments (VOS) data as the weight basis for the PPI.

HTML

Focus on Prices and Spending

Rollercoaster Year for Export Agriculture Prices

U.S. agricultural exports had a volatile year in 2011. Agricultural goods prices sharply declined during the final half of the year, after having increased during the first six months of the year.

HTML

Spotlight on Statistics

The Recession of 2007–2009

The most recent recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. This Spotlight presents BLS data that compare the recent recession to previous recessions.

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Health Benefit Costs by Wage Category

Presents BLS data on participation rates, the share of premiums paid by employers, and average monthly employer and employee medical care premium contributions.

PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Spending in 2010

On the basis of data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE), consumers spent less in 2010, compared with 2009, on almost all major components of the household budget.

HTML | PDF

Women Workers

Women in the Labor Force: A Databook

This report presents historical and current labor force and earnings data for women from the Current Population Survey (CPS).

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Technology in Commodity Markets

The emergence of electronic trading has served to exacerbate the level of volatility in commodity prices, as seen in some Producer Price Indexes.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Impact of the Earthquake in Japan on U.S. Imports

The economic impact on Japanese export trade to the United States.

HTML | PDF

Regional Reports

High-tech industries in Massachusetts

This report examines general employment and wage trends within the specific industries that compose the high-tech sector in Massachusetts, beginning in 2001.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

A Comparison of the CPI-U and the C-CPI-U

The C-CPI-U is designed to be a closer approximation to a cost-of-living index than the CPI-U.

HTML | PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

Automobiles

Data on employment within the motor vehicle industry, motor vehicle-related consumer expenditures, injuries experienced by those who work on motor vehicles, and more.

HTML

Occupations

Chart book: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

This chart book includes graphs, maps, tables, and text describing the U.S. occupational workforce in May 2010.

HTML

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits in the United States

Presents BLS data on the incidence and key provisions of employee benefit plans for civilian, private industry, and state and local government workers.

HTML

Demographics

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2010

Unemployment rates among major race and ethnicity groups remained high in 2010 as the economy continued to slowly recover from the recession.

PDF

Green Jobs

Careers in Recycling

This report provides information on how recycling works and on various career opportunities related to collecting and processing recyclable materials.

HTML | PDF

Green Jobs

Careers in Electric Vehicles

This report provides information on careers in the production and maintenance of electric vehicles including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric vehicles.

HTML | PDF

Employee Benefits

Health and Retirement Plan Provisions in Private Industry

Presents BLS data on detailed provisions of employer-provided health, defined benefit, and defined contribution plans in private industry.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Part D Prescription Drug Coverage and Health Care Spending by Seniors on Medicare

Out-of-pocket health care spending by Medicare households before and after Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.

HTML

Focus on Prices and Spending

Measuring U.S. Inflation Using European Methods

This article examines Eurostat’s Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and U.S. prices.

HTML

Program Perspectives

Outpatient Prescription Drug Coverage

Presents BLS data on outpatient prescription drug coverage, including access and participation rates plus coverage trends for private industry workers.

PDF

International Labor Comparisons

Charting International Labor Comparisons

Labor market and other national economic measurements compared across countries.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Impact of Fuel Surcharges on the Producer Price Index (PPI)

This article examines how rising fuel costs effect all segments of the United States economy.

HTML

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Impact of Soaring Cotton Prices on Consumer Apparel Prices

This article examines the impact of rising cotton prices on clothing and apparel prices for U.S. consumers.

HTML

New Geographic Home Page

Want to find data for an area?

We've made it easy for you. Visit our new home page for all regional releases.

HTML

Spotlight on Statistics

School's Out

What do millions of youth do during the summer? Which industries grow, and which shrink?

HTML | PDF

Green Jobs

Careers in Green Construction

Green construction involves erecting buildings that are environmentally responsible. This article provides information on careers in green construction.

HTML

Program Perspectives

Defined-Contribution Plan Investment Choices

Presents BLS data on commonly found investment options in savings and thrift (e.g. 401(k)) retirement plans for private industry workers.

PDF

BLS Email Subscription Service

Upcoming Changes to the BLS Email Subscription Service

Visitors can subscribe to an expanded list of BLS national economic releases with an improved layout, better organization, and enhanced security.

HTML

Green Jobs

Careers in Solar Power

Sunlight is the most abundant source of potential energy on the planet. This article provides information on careers in solar power.

HTML

Occupational Outlook Handbook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is Getting a Face-lift

Preview the new look.

HTML

Monthly Labor Review

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Occupations: A Visual Essay

Explore occupations that play a role in expanding scientific frontiers and generating technological progress.

PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

How Long Before the Unemployed Find Jobs or Quit Looking?

This report presents estimates of the length of time someone is unemployed before finding a job or giving up searching for work.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Differences between the CPI and the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index

This article examines how these two indexes are constructed and behave over time.

HTML

Focus on Prices and Spending

Grain Prices and Our Grocery Bill

This article examines how rising grain prices can mean higher prices at the grocery store.

HTML

Focus on Prices and Spending

U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and the Terms of Trade

An examination of one method for measuring gains from trade: the terms of trade index—the ratio of the price index of a country's exports to the price index of its imports.

HTML

Program Perspectives

High Deductible Health Plans

Program Perspectives on high deductible health plans, including participation and comparisons with traditional plans. Health savings accounts, often used in combination with high deductible health plans, are also highlighted in this issue.

PDF

Monthly Labor Review

The 2007–09 Recession and Employment

This issue takes an in-depth look at the 2007-09 recession by industry using Current Employment Statistics data.

PDF

BLS Mobile Service

BLS Mobile Homepage

In our never-ending quest to provide the public with the latest labor economics and statistics data no matter where they are, we are introducing a mobile version of the BLS homepage.

More about the BLS Mobile Homepage.

A Profile of the Working Poor

A Profile of the Working Poor, 2009

In 2009, about 43.6 million people, or 14.3 percent of the Nation’s population, lived at or below the official poverty level.

PDF

Program Perspectives

Defined Contribution Plans

Program Perspectives on highlights of six types of defined contribution plans, providing BLS data on participation by type of plan and method of contribution.

PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

How Consumers Used the 2009 Economic Recovery Payments of $250

Did recipients spend, save, or pay off debt?

HTML

Program Perspectives

Sick Leave and Disability Benefit Combinations

Program Perspectives on Sick Leave and Disability Benefit Combinations presents BLS data on sick leave and disability benefit combinations, showing the full level of coverage that an employee receives.

PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

Women at Work

Data on the past, present, and future of women in the workforce, womenâ€™s earnings and education, time use, spending, and more.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

The So-called "Core" CPI

The CPI for all items less food and energy: its history, and a look at its behavior relative to other official CPI indexes.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

PPI Introduces Experimental Aggregation System

To expand the scope of coverage for the Producer Price Index, BLS recently developed an experimental aggregation system.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

U.S. Export Prices Up as World Grain Stockpiles Decline

How did rising grain prices in 2010 affect agricultural exports?

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Local and State Government Benefits

Program Perspectives on Local and State Government Benefits presents BLS data on State and local government benefits, including access data on retirement, health care, and paid leave by government sector.

PDF

The Editor´s Desk

Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Summary Charts, 2009

Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2009 declined to 3.6 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers from 3.9 cases in 2008.

HTML | PDF

Monthly Labor Review

The U.S. Housing Bubble and Bust: Impacts on Employment

Employment Projections Program data are used to estimate employment impacts due to the recent housing market cycle.

PDF

Program Perspectives

Life and Disability Insurance Benefits

Program Perspectives on Life and Disability Insurance Benefits presents BLS data on life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability plans, including access and participation rates for private industry and state and local government workers.

PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Sizing Up the 2007–09 Recession: Comparing Two Key Labor Market Indicators With Earlier Downturns

Highlights the severity of the recent recession in the labor market by comparing changes in two key labor market indicators across past downturns.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Household Energy Spending

This report compares spending on selected household energy items as measured by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) and by the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS).

HTML

Spotlight on Statistics

Food for Thought

This Spotlight uses BLS data to provide insight into the wonderful world of food.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Use of the CPI in Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs)

Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index.

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Defined Contribution Plans

Program Perspectives on Defined Contribution Plans presents BLS data on defined contribution retirement plans, including access and participation rates for private industry and state and local government workers.

PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Ranks of Those Unemployed for a Year or More Up Sharply

The number of long-term unemployed has increased sharply.

HTML | PDF

World Statistics Day

BLS Celebrates World Statistics Day!

The Bureau of Labor Statistics joins with the international statistical community in celebrating World Statistics Day.

HTML

Program Perspectives

Fee-For-Service Plans

Program Perspectives on Fee-For Service Plans presents BLS data on fee-for-service medical plans.

PDF

Green Jobs

Careers in Wind Energy

As the wind energy industry grows, it will provide new career opportunities for workers. This article provides information on careers in wind energy.

HTML

Career Information - en Español!

Spanish OOH

BLS releases career information for over 100 occupations, plus tips for crafting résumés, applications, and cover letters -- in Spanish!

HTML

Spotlight on Statistics

Back to College

Headed back to college? See what data BLS has about college students, graduates and employees.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Health Care Spending: 1998, 2003, and 2008

How have rising health care costs affected household budgets?

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Prices: The Use of the CPI in Adjusting Federal Income Tax Brackets

Federal income tax brackets and personal exemption and standard deduction amounts are adjusted each year with CPI data.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Producer Price Indexes: PPI Industry or Commodity Data: Which Better Suits Your Needs?

This article examines the differences between industry- and commodity-based PPI data.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

China´s Exchange Rate Policy Reflected in U.S. Import Prices

The competitiveness of imports and exports is affected by foreign currency fluctuations.

HTML | PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Illness-related Work Absences During Flu Season

During flu season, workers who come down with the flu or have a sick family member often must deal with interruptions in their regular work schedules.

HTML | PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

Travel

This Spotlight presents data on travel-related expenditures, overall employment within the leisure and hospitality industry, as well as employment and earnings of various travel-related occupations.

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Combined Benefit Plans

Program Perspectives on Combined Benefit Plans (PDF) New data series highlights employee access to medical care and retirement benefits.

PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Long-term Unemployment Experience of the Jobless

By the end of 2009, the proportion of the unemployed who had been jobless for 27 weeks or longer was the highest on record, with data back to 1948.

HTML | PDF

New Data Access Tool

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) State and County Map Application

Explore a new mapping tool that provides access to employment and wage data at the National, State and county levels.

HTML

Fact Sheet

Gulf Coast Leisure and Hospitality and Oil and Gas Industries

From the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages: Gulf oil and gas drilling employment and Gulf Coast Leisure and Hospitality Employment and Wages

Spotlight on Statistics

Employment Situation of Veterans

In honor of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, this Spotlight presents information about the employment situation of veterans.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Expenditure Survey: Computer Ownership

This issue of a new publication series examines the extent of computer ownership by American households.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Prices: The Use of CPI in Poverty Measurement

This issue of a new series reviews the use of the CPI in poverty measurement and current U.S. consumer price trends.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

Producer Price Indexes: Intermediate Materials Continue their Advance

This issue of a new series examines producer price trends in the first quarter of 2010.

HTML | PDF

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Price Competitiveness of U.S. Exports

The first issue of a new series analyzes the price competitiveness of U.S. exports and reviews current U.S. import and export price trends.

HTML | PDF

Fact Sheet

Oil and Gas Industry

These fact sheets highlight injuries and employment in the oil and gas industry:

• Fatal and nonfatal injuries HTML | PDF
• Employment HTML | PDF

Chartbook

International Labor Comparisons

The chartbook is a gateway to explore how key labor market and other national economic measurements compare across countries.

HTML | PDF

Chartbook

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2008

The chartbook includes graphs, maps, tables, and text describing the U.S. occupational workforce in May 2008.

HTML | PDF

Fact Sheet

Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities in the Coal Mining Industry

Employees in coal mining are more likely to be killed or to incur a non-fatal injury or illness than workers in private industry.

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Frozen Defined-Benefit Plans

Program Perspectives on Frozen Defined-Benefit Plans presents BLS data on the frequency, accrual of benefits, and alternatives to frozen defined-benefit plans as well as the length of time since the plans were frozen.

PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Record Unemployment Among Older Workers Does Not Keep Them Out of the Job Market

The labor force participation rate for persons aged 55 years and older rose during much of the recession.

HTML | PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Job Availability During a Recession: An Examination of the Number of Unemployed Persons Per Job Opening

The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening increased to a high of 6.2 unemployed persons per job opening in November 2009.

HTML | PDF

International Labor Comparisons

Two new chart pages from International Labor Comparisons:

• Comparisons of Annual Labor Force Statistics
• Comparisons of Manufacturing Productivity and Unit Labor Cost Trends

Issues in Labor Statistics

All Firm Sizes Hit Hard During the Current Recession

In the early part of the current recession, all firm sizes have been similarly affected by the recession.

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Paid Sick Leave

Program Perspectives on Paid Sick Leave presents BLS data on paid sick leave, including access rates, number of days provided per year, and the cost to the employer.

PDF

Profile of the Working Poor

In 2008, according to the Census Bureau, 39.8 million people, or 13.2 percent of the Nation's population, lived at or below the official poverty level. In 2008, about 8.9 million adults were among the working poor, 1.4 million more than in 2007.

PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

African American History Month

African American History Month, has been observed since 1976. Take a look at BLS data that provide an economic snapshot of African Americans in the United States today.

HTML | PDF

Issues in Labor Statistics

Recession Leads to Lackluster Employment in the Trucking Industry

A dramatic slowdown in consumer demand has been crippling the Nation's trucking firms.

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Benefits by Wage Level

Program Perspectives on Benefits by Wage Level presents BLS data on benefits by wage level for several benefits including retirement, health, life insurance, holidays, and vacations.

PDF

Consumer Expenditure Survey Turns 30

In 1980, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) first initiated the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) as a continuing survey, with 2010 marking the 30th anniversary.

HTML

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity

Labor market problems for blacks or African Americans and Hispanics or Latinos were especially acute in 2008.

HTML | PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

Thanksgiving

What activities do you have planned for this Thanksgiving? Perhaps cooking and enjoying a meal with family or friends, playing sports or watching sports on television, doing volunteer work, or shopping?

HTML | PDF

Fact Sheet

Fatal Occupational Injuries to Members of the Resident Military

Members of the resident military face a set of hazards different from that of the typical worker.

HTML | PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

Health Care

Health care touches the lives of nearly everyone in the United States at some point.

HTML | PDF

Women in the Labor Force: A Databook

The past several decades have been marked by notable changes in women's labor force activities. Women's labor force participation is significantly higher today than it was in the 1970s.

HTML | PDF

Regional Reports

Colleges and Universities in the New York Metropolitan Area: Rapid Growth in Employment and Wages

The New York metropolitan area is home to more than 240 private colleges and universities employing about 97,000 workers.

HTML | PDF

Regional Reports

After the Dot-Com Bubble: Silicon Valley High-Tech Employment and Wages in 2001 and 2008

Employment in Silicon Valley high-tech industries declined by about 17 percent, a loss of about 85,000 jobs; however, average wages grew by nearly 36 percent.

HTML | PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

Worker Safety and Health

June is National Safety Month. In recognition, here is a look at BLS data on work-related fatalities and nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses.

HTML | PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

BLS 125th Anniversary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2009.

HTML | PDF

Commissioner's Corner

Welcome to the Commissioner's Corner, a new feature from the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Keith Hall.

HTML

Issues in Labor Statistics

Ranks of Discouraged Workers and Others Marginally Attached to the Labor Force Rise During Recession

The number of persons who were marginally attached to the labor force increased sharply during the current recession.

HTML

Chartbook

International Labor Comparisons

A Chartbook Of International Labor Comparisons (March 2009) focuses on the labor market situation in selected countries for the most recent year available; some charts also show trends.

HTML

Program Perspectives

Retirement benefits

Program Perspectives on Retirement Benefits presents BLS data on retirement benefits received by workers. The latest data on participation in defined-contribution and defined-benefit plans are included, as well as information on employer costs per hour for such plans.

PDF

Program Perspectives

Paid-Leave Benefits

Program Perspectives on Paid-Leave Benefits presents BLS data on paid-leave benefits received by workers, such as holidays, vacations, and personal leave.

PDF

Spotlight on Statistics

African American History Month

African American History Month, also called Black History Month, has been observed since 1976. Take a look at BLS data that provide an economic snapshot of African Americans in the United States today.

HTML | PDF

Program Perspectives

Health Benefits

Program Perspectives on Health Benefits shows you trends in employer costs for health benefits. The latest data on access, participation, and premiums are also included. This is the inaugural issue of "Program Perspectives," a new publication in which BLS programs showcase their latest data.

PDF