BLS COVID-19 Questions and Answers

COVID-19 Publications

Beyond the Numbers

Telework trends

This Beyond the Numbers article analyzes recent trends in telework data. It presents telework rates for many demographic and worker groups, including sex, age, race, disability status, educational attainment, occupation, and other characteristics. Additionally, it presents data on the number of hours workers teleworked. read more »

Monthly Labor Review

Eating the cost: food prices and the COVID-19 pandemic

This article examines Consumer Price Index (CPI) trends for food at home from January 2019 to December 2023, focusing on the six major food groups of the CPI. read more »

The Economics Daily

Picture this: a decade of employment in the motion picture and video industries

From February 2016 through February 2026, employment in the motion picture and video industries reel-y put on a show. After contending with the pandemic, the resulting reduction in film releases, and multiple worker strikes, employment in the industry ended the decade lower than where it started. read more »

Spotlight on Statistics

For-Profit, Nonprofit, and Government Sector Jobs in 2022

This Spotlight compares the labor force characteristics and experiences of workers in the for-profit, nonprofit, government, and self-employed sectors. In 2022, 69.6 percent of the employed worked in for-profit businesses, 6.5 percent worked in nonprofit organizations, 13.4 percent worked for the government, and 10.4 were self-employed. Have you wondered about how much people who work for nonprofits earn, or which groups of people are most likely to work for themselves? read more »

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in coordination with agencies across the federal government, continues to monitor the impacts of COVID-19. BLS is committed to producing and distributing gold-standard data while also keeping the public, our employees, and our partners at the U.S. Census Bureau and state agencies safe.

This page will be updated regularly.

• An Open Letter to Survey Respondents from Commissioner William Beach
• Statement of the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Response

Are there changes in operations at BLS in response to COVID-19?

The Office of Management and Budget has issued guidance encouraging maximum telework flexibilities for federal employees, so most BLS employees are working remotely, while maintaining the highest level of service.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Existing communications channels (phone, email, internet) continue to operate as normal during this period.

Will data releases be delayed?

BLS intends to release all data on our normal schedule as announced on the BLS release calendar.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BLS programs

• COVID-19 economic research
• Dashboard of key economic indicators in the time of COVID-19

Employment and Unemployment Statistics

• The Employment Situation news release (Last updated September 1, 2022)
• Current Employment Statistics Survey
• Current Population Survey (Last updated September 1, 2022)
• Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (Last updated September 29, 2021)
• County Employment and Wages (Last updated February 23, 2022)
• Business Employment Dynamics (Last updated October 30, 2020)
• Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• American Time Use Survey (Last updated July 22, 2021)
• Employment Projections (Last updated September 8, 2021)
• Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic (Last updated November 2, 2020)
• Occupational Employment and Wages (Last updated March 31, 2021)

Price and Spending Statistics

• Consumer Price Index (Last updated March 9, 2022)
• U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes (Last updated February 16, 2022)
• Producer Price Index (Last updated February 15, 2022)
• Consumer Expenditure Surveys (Last updated April 13, 2022)

Productivity and Costs Statistics

• Quarterly Productivity and Costs (Last updated August 14, 2020)
• Productivity and Costs for Industries and States (Last updated April 29, 2021)
• Multifactor Productivity Trends (Last updated November 18, 2021)

Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, Compensation, Occupational Requirements, and Work Stoppages Statistics

• Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (Last updated November 10, 2021)
• Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (Last updated December 16, 2021)
• Employment Cost Index (Last updated January 28, 2022)
• Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (Last updated March 18, 2022)
• Employee Benefits in the United States (Last updated September 23, 2021)
• Occupational Requirements Survey (Last updated November 18, 2021)
• Work Stoppages (Last updated February 19, 2021)

How could COVID-19 affect BLS data collection?

BLS collects data through a variety of methods for its surveys. Much of the data, particularly from businesses, are collected online and through telephone interviews. Some data, however, are collected in person. For data that are typically collected in person, we are limiting in-person collection and focusing on phone, email, and internet.

Will BLS predict any impacts from COVID-19?

BLS does not make predictions about labor market data that we produce and distribute.

Will visitors be allowed in the Postal Square Building?

Although BLS has been open for business throughout the pandemic, our headquarters in Washington, DC, is not open to the public. Our staff continues to be on maximum telework.

BLS has suspended access to restricted microdata until support staff are available to help external researchers in the Postal Square Building. BLS will allow extensions of data access agreements that expire during the time support staff are unavailable.

Other COVID-19 Resources

• Unemployment Insurance, workplace safety, paid leave, and other workplace issues
• Financial assistance for families and small businesses
• Keeping you and your family healthy

Last Modified Date: September 1, 2022