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Geographic Information

Bureau of Labor Statistics > Geographic Information > Geographic definitions for Economic Summaries
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Unemployment rates

The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program produces labor force data for census regions and divisions, states, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities, by place of residence. As an alternative to the county-based Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that it produces for all states, the LAUS program uses New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) for areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Current LAUS area definitions
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Average weekly wages

The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) publishes employer-reported data covering 98 percent of U.S. jobs, by county, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), state, and national levels.

Current QCEW area definitions
Employment on nonfarm payrolls

The Current Employment Statistics (CES) program publishes data for most Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and for most metropolitan divisions. For metropolitan areas in New England states, the New England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) are used instead of MSA definitions. Additional information is available for a few non-standard areas, including several large cities. Estimates are not produced for micropolitan and combined statistical areas.

Current CES area definitions
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Prices paid by urban consumers

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) produces price change data available for the U.S. city average, for regions and metropolitan areas, for national population-size classes of urban areas, and for cross-classifications of regions and size classes.

Current CPI area definitions
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Average annual spending

The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) produces estimates for consumer expenditures that are published for the nation, for census regions, and for the largest metropolitan areas.

Current CE area definitions
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Average hourly wages

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program provides information for the nation and over 580 areas, including states, the District of Columbia, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), nonmetropolitan areas, and territories. (Not all areas have information for all occupations.) New England areas are defined according to New England City and Town Areas (NECTA) classification.

Current OEWS area definitions
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Employment cost trends

The Employment Cost Index (ECI) and Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC), publishes information for the United States, census regions and divisions, and 15 metropolitan areas. Metropolitan areas consist of selected Combined Statistical Areas (CSA) and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA).

Current ECI and ECEC area definitions