Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages - Field Definitions
Indicates the industry for which the data were reported. The data are based on the classification
of industrial activity as defined by the 2002, 2007, and 2012 versions of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS). QCEW data from 1990-2006 are classified under the 2002 version of NAICS,
QCEW data from 2007-2010 are classified under the 2007 version of NAICS, and data for 2012 forward are
classified under the 2012 version of NAICS. Each version of NAICS classifies industries in one of 20
Sectors, but, depending on the version, NAICS defines up to 99 3-digit Subsectors, up to 317 4-digit
Industry Groups, up to 724 5-digit NAICS Industries, and up to 1,179 6-digit industries. The Bureau
of Labor Statistics has extended the NAICS coding to 11 alternate aggregate sectors commonly
referred to as super sectors or SuperSectors, and two high level Domains - Goods-Producing and
Service-Providing. Additionally, the BLS has exercised the NAICS option of country specific
coding to define industries in subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors. For each of 19
industries of that subsector, the BLS defines 19 U.S.
specific residential industries and 19 U.S. specific nonresidential industries.
This QCEW database uses a six position industry code that is composed of the NAICS code.
Indicates the area for which the data were reported. The database uses a five-character code
for each area. Currently, data are available for the United States (excluding Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands), as statewide data for each state, including Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, for
all counties, and all Metropolitan Areas.
Indicates the ownership sector for which the data were reported.
This database of Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages information reports five datatypes: All employees, number of establishments, total wages, average weekly wage, and average annual pay.
Indicates the establishment size for which the data were reported. Currently, only data from
all establishment sizes combined are reported in this database.
Reported monthly employment data represent the number of covered workers who worked during, or
received pay for, the pay period which included the 12th day of the month. Reported annual average
employment is an average of the corresponding monthly employment levels.
Reported number of establishments represents the number of establishments whose activities were
reported to the Unemployment Insurance system for the quarter. An establishment is an economic unit,
such as a farm, mine, factory, or store, which produces goods or provides services. It is typically
at a single physical location and engaged in one, or predominantly one, type of economic activity for
which a single industrial classification may be applied. Reported annual average number of
establishments is an average of the corresponding quarterly number of establishment levels.
Reported quarterly total wages are the wages paid by Unemployment Insurance covered employers
during the calendar quarter, regardless of when the services were performed. Reported total annual
wages are the sum of the total wages reported for the corresponding quarters. Total wage values
reported in this database have been rounded and are reported in thousands of dollars.
Quarterly average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing quarterly total wages by the
average of the three monthly employment levels (all employees, as described above) and dividing
the result by thirteen. Annual average weekly wage values are calculated by dividing total annual
wages by the average of the twelve monthly employment levels and dividing the result by fifty-two.
These calculations are made from unrounded employment and wage values, so the average wage values
that can be calculated from data from this database may differ from the averages reported due to
rounding.
Average annual pay values are calculated by dividing total annual wages by the average of the
twelve monthly employment levels. These calculations are made from unrounded employment and wage
values, so the average wage values that can be calculated from data in this database may differ from
the averages reported due to rounding.
Last Modified Date: August 7, 2014
United States Department of Labor
