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This is a brief guide for users on the various types of area codes used for QCEW data in the BLS publication databases and data files. These notes are applicable to both NAICS and SIC coded QCEW data, the later of which are available for reference periods from 1975 to 2000.
See https://www.bls.gov/cew/classifications/ for links to lists of QCEW area codes and titles.
The most common area codes are for the county level records. In these cases, the area code is formed from the 2-digit state FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) and the 3-digit county FIPS code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
47037 Davidson County, Tennessee
NOTE: Connecticut introduced new county geographies based on the State's Planning Regions in 2022. QCEW data use these new county codes starting with 2024 data. Data prior to 2024 use the old Connecticut county codes. See new Connecticut counties for more information.
Statewide data follows the same convention as the county level data substituting three zeros for the county FIPS code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
08000 Colorado -- Statewide
Worksites that do not have a physical location defined with an address, or worksite aggregates of employees with no physical location specific to their economic activity, are designated in published QCEW data with an "Unknown or Undefined" area designation within the state where their UI liability is captured, signified with a county code of '999' following the state's 2-digit FIPS code:
53999 Unknown of Undefined, Washington
Special national codes begin with US in the first 2 positions of the area code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
USMSA U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (combined)
Area codes for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) based on the definitions introduced in July 2023 are based on the 5-digit MSA codes for those MSAs. However, in order to take advantage of QCEW's existing software and systems, only the first 4 digits of the Census 5-digit MSA codes are used to make up the QCEW MSA area code. (For all Census MSAs, the 5th digit of the Census MSA code is zero). To make up the full 5 character QCEW area code field, the letter C precedes the first 4-digits of the Census MSA code to make up the 5 character QCEW MSA area code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
QCEW - C3310 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL MSA 33100 - Census
Area codes for Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) based on the definitions introduced in July 2023 are based on the 3-digit CSA codes for those CSAs. To make up the full 5 character area code field, the letters CS precede the 3 digits of the Census CSA code to make up the 5 character area code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
QCEW - CS176 Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA 176 - Census
Area codes for Micropolitan Statistical Areas (MicroSAs) based on the definitions introduced in July 2023 are based on the 5-digit MicroSA codes for those areas. However, in order to take advantage of QCEW's existing software and systems, only the first 4 digits of the Census 5-digit MicroSA codes are used to make up the QCEW MSA area code. (For all Census MicroSAs, the 5th digit of the Census MSA code is zero. There are two exceptions, see below). To make up the full 5 character QCEW area code field, the letter C precedes the first 4-digits of the Census MSA code to make up the 5 character QCEW MSA area code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
QCEW - C1764 Coco, PR MicroSA 1764 - Census
Two Micropolitan Statistical Areas (MicroSAs), have Census-assigned codes that do not end in zero. These two MicroSAs are assigned different QCEW codes to avoid collisions with other QCEW codes and comply with QCEW's existing MicroSA 5-character format.
QCEW - C257A Henderson, Ky MicroSA 25775 - Census
QCEW - C368A Ottawa, IL MicroSA 36837 - Census
Area codes for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) based on the definitions introduced before December 2003 are based on the 4-digit MSA codes for those MSAs from various historical MSA definition files (See Pre-2004 MSA codes for details). To make up the full 5 character QCEW area code field, the letter M is added to the beginning of the 4-digit Census MSA code to make up the 5 character QCEW MSA area code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
QCEW - M2760 Fort Wayne, In MSA 2760 - Census
Area codes for Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) based on the definitions introduced before December 2003 are based on the 2-digit CMSA codes for those CMSAs from various historical MSA definition files (See Pre-2004 MSA codes for details). To make up the full 5 character QCEW area code field, the letters CMS are added to the beginning of the 2-digit Census CMSA code to make up the 5 character QCEW MSA area code. An example of this type of area code, and its corresponding title is:
QCEW - CMS77 Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa-NJ-De-Md CMSA 77 - Census
QCEW incorporates MSA definitions in a manner that attempts to minimize the burden on users to relate MSA coded QCEW data for different periods of time. Since QCEW is not a time series product, switching to new versions of MSA definitions creates breaks that reduce the utility of QCEW MSA data. QCEW practice is to switch to a new definition when results from each decennial census stabilize. See the County-MSA-CSA-Crosswalk for the crosswalk between counties and MSAs, CSAs, and MicroSAs
For SIC data:
For NAICS data:
NOTE: QCEW MSA data is limited to the following content constraints:
Last Modified Date: August 20, 2024