Chart 2. Comparisons of BLS, analyst, and MSHA estimates of U.S. coal mining (NAICS 2121) employment in 2020
Source Coal mining employment estimate

QCEW (BLS)

40,109

Analyst calculated estimate (including proprietors’ employment)

49,694

MSHA (including proprietors’ employment)

63,635

Note: BLS = U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, MSHA = Mine Safety and Health Administration, NAICS = North American Industry Classification System, and QCEW = Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

Source: “Quarterly census of employment and wages” (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, updated quarterly), https://www.bls.gov/cew/; “Employment by state” (Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis), https://www.bea.gov/data/employment/employment-by-state; and “Mine injury and worktime, quarterly” (U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, January–December 2020), https://arlweb.msha.gov/Stats/Part50/WQ/2020/MIWQ-2020.pdf.