Labor Market Information Methodology and uses
Part 1
Dennis ReidBureau of Labor Statistics San Francisco Regional
OfficeOctober 2014
2
Labor Force Programs Overview
BLS and the Federal/State Cooperative Programs
Comparison of programs QCEW (Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages “ES-
202”)
CES (Current Employment Statistics)
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics)
CPS (Current Population Survey)
LAUS (Local Area Unemployment Statistics)
JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey)
OSHS (Occupational Safety & Health Statistics)
3
Bureau of Labor Statistics The BLS is the principal fact-finding agency for
the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics
The BLS mission is to collect, process, analyze and disseminate data
BLS is an independent statistical agency. It serves its diverse user communities by providing products and services that are objective, timely, accurate, and relevant.
Users include the American public, Congress, Federal agencies, state and local governments, businesses, labor organizations
4
Fed/State Cooperative Programs
Partnership with eight States & GuamContract: LMI & OSHS Cooperative
Agreements
BLS → States– $, procedures, sample selection, systems, manuals,
training (OSHS: 50% funding by law)
– Ensure consistency across all states
States → BLS– Collect, process and edit the data– Analyze/publish State and area data
BLS ↔ States– Policy collaboration via Workforce Information Council
and Program Policy Councils
5
BLS Confidentiality
Confidentiality of individual firm microdata is of paramount importance to BLS
With very few exceptions, BLS surveys depend on voluntary cooperation
Divulging data from individual firms is prohibited And publication of aggregate level macrodata is
suppressed if it would directly/indirectly reveal confidential microdata
Note: QCEW data are considered to belong to the state, so state laws apply for this program
6
BLS Data Availability
PublicationsPress releases, monthly
publicationse.g. Employment and Earnings, Monthly
Labor Review
Internet - www.bls.gov
Regional Information OfficesRecorded messagesActual human contact
State Offices
7
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
NAICS is an industry classification system with a consistent conceptual framework
Developed by an inter-agency committee that included BLS, BEA, and Census
NAICS was developed as a joint effort with Canada and Mexico
NAICS is a production-oriented classification system
Emphasizes new and emerging industries, high-technology industries, and service industries
8
NAICS Structure
More digits = more detail
Code Title72 Accommodation & Food Services721 Accommodation7211 Traveler Accommodation72119 Other Traveler Accommodation721191 Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
For more info, visit the BLS NAICS Website: www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm
9
Program by Program Comparison…Data Collected By:
QCEW States & BLS
CES BLS & States (very limited)
OES States & BLS ROs
CPS Census BureauLAUS Input from CPS, CES, UI
(UI=Unemployment Insurance)
JOLTS BLS
SOII States & BLS
CFOI States & BLS
10
Data Collected From:
QCEW Establishments
CES Establishments
OES Establishments
CPS Households
LAUS Input from CPS, CES, UI
JOLTS Establishments
SOII Establishments
CFOI Various source documents
11
Are Data an Estimate or a Universe Count?
QCEW Universe
CES Estimate
OES Estimate
CPS Estimate
LAUS Estimate
JOLTS Estimate
SOII Estimate
CFOI Universe
12
Frequency of Collection
QCEW Quarterly for monthly emp. data
CES Monthly
OES Semi-annual
CPS Monthly
LAUS Monthly
JOLTS Monthly
SOII Annual
CFOI On a flow basis
13
Frequency of Publication
QCEW Quarterly and annual
CES Monthly
OES Annual (effective 2006)
CPS Monthly
LAUS Monthly
JOLTS Monthly
SOII Annual
CFOI Annual
14
Major Data Types Published
QCEW UI covered employment and wages
CES Nonfarm employment, hours, hourly
earnings by industry
OES Occupational employment & wages by industry
CPS Civilian labor force, employment,
unemployment, unemployment rate - for the nation as a whole …
15
Major Data Types Published, continued
LAUS Civilian labor force, employment,unemployment, unemployment
rate - for States and local areas
JOLTS Nonfarm job openings, hires, total separations by industry and region
SOII Workplace injuries and illnesses
CFOI Workplace fatalities
16
Geographic Detail Published
QCEW County, MSAs, State, USACES MSAs, State, USAOES MSAs, State, USACPS USALAUS Cities & Towns 25,000+, County, LMA,
MSAs, State, Census Division & Region
JOLTS Census Region, USA
SOII State (most), USACFOI MSAs, State, USA
17
Demographic Detail Published
QCEW None
CES Women Workers (resumed in
September 2006)
OES None
CPS Extensive demographic detail
LAUS None
JOLTS None
SOII Gender, age, race/ethnicity
CFOI Gender, age, race/ethnicity
18
Are Employment Data Benchmarked?
QCEW NO, QCEW is a benchmark
CES YES, to QCEW
OES YES, to QCEW
CPS NO
LAUS YES, to CPS
JOLTS YES, to CES
SOII YES, to QCEW
CFOI NO, CFOI is a universe count
19
Major Uses
QCEW Sample Frame & BenchmarkCES Economic IndicatorOES Foreign Labor Certification
(FLC),Training & Educational
programsCPS Economic IndicatorLAUS Economic Indicator, allocate
fundsJOLTS Economic IndicatorSOII Workplace safety programsCFOI Workplace safety programs
20
Time from Reference Period to 1st BLS Publication
QCEW 6 months or moreCES USA - 3 weeks; States - 5
weeks;MSAs - 7 weeks
OES 10 months after reference year
CPS 3 weeksLAUS States - 5 weeks; Areas - 7 weeksJOLTS 4-6 weeks after reference
monthSOII 10 months after reference yearCFOI 8 months after reference year
Comparison of Labor Force and OSHS Programs
QCEW CES OES CPS LAUS JOLTS SOII CFOI
Data Collected by
States & BLS BLS States & BLS ROs Census BureauInput from CPS, CES,
UIBLS States and BLS States and BLS
Data Collected from
Establishments Establishments Establishments HouseholdsInput from CPS, CES,
UIEstablishments Establishments various sources
Estimate or Universe Count?
Universe Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate Universe
Frequency of Collection
Quarterly for monthly data
Monthly Semi-Annual Monthly Monthly Monthly Annual on a flow basis
Frequency of Publication
Quarterly & Annual
Monthly Annual Monthly Monthly Monthly Annual Annual
Major Data Types Published
UI covered employment &
wages by industry
Nonfarm employment, hours, hourly earnings by
industry
Occupational employment &
wages by area and industry
Civilian labor force, employment,
unemployment, Unemp. rate for
the nation
Civilian labor force, employment,
unemployment, Unemp. rate for
States & local areas
Nonfarm job openings, hires, and separations by industry and
region
Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Workplace Fatalities
Geographic Detail Published
County, MSAs, State, USA
MSAs, State, USA
MSAs, State, USA USA
Cities & towns 25,000+, County, LMA, MSA, State, Census Division &
Region
Census Region and USA
USA and most States
MSAs, State, USA
Demographic Detail Published
None Women Workers NoneExtensive
Demographic Detail
None NoneGender, age, race/ethnicity
Gender, age, race/ethnicity
Are Data Benchmarked?
No, QCEW is a benchmark
Yes, to QCEW Yes, to QCEW No Yes, to CPS Yes, to CES Yes, to QCEWNo, CFOI is a universe count
Major Uses Sample frame & benchmark
Economic Indicator
Foreign Labor Certification,
Planning training & educational programs
Economic IndicatorEconomic Indicator, Allocation of funds
Economic Indicator
Workplace safety programs
Workplace safety programs
Time from Reference Period to 1st BLS Publication
6 months or more
USA- 3 weeks; States- 5 weeks; MSAs- 7 weeks
10 months 3 weeksStates- 5 weeks; Areas- 7 weeks
4-6 weeks after reference month
10 months 8 months
22
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages(QCEW)
Also known as: ES-202
www.bls.gov/cew for QCEW
www.bls.gov/bdm for Business Employment Dynamics
23
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
QCEW data are not based on a sample
Covers all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws, as well as Federal employees
Covers 97% of all non-farm wage and salary workers and 55% of agricultural workers Industry coverage varies by State depending on State law
Over 9.1 million reporting units, 135 million employees, $6 trillion in annual wages
Cornerstone of most BLS programs
24
QCEW: The Big Picture
QCEW utilizes UI tax system data and other inputs to create a universe file of all covered business establishments.
QCEW produces detailed geographic data on employment and wages.
This giant database is used as a sample frame for other surveys.
CES data are more timely, but CES has less industry and geographic detail.
25
Five Inputs to QCEW
Two reports are sent to UI “Tax” Unit:
• Status Determination FormsInitial report on intended business activity
• Quarterly Contributions ReportsEmployment, wages, “contributions” (taxes)
The QCEW unit has to interface with UI to get data from these two types of reports
26
Five Inputs to QCEW, continued
Three reports sent to the QCEW unit: Multiple Worksite Reports
For businesses with multiple locations in State
Federal Government Reports
Annual Refiling Survey Forms
Three-year* cycle to verify/update:- Industry/geographic/ownership
codes- Business names and addresses
Employers State UITax Unit
QCEWState
BLS
QCEW Data Flow
Initial StatusDetermination Forms
ContributionsReports
Federal Government Reports
Unit
Multiple WorksiteReports
EQUI deliverable
Annual Refile Survey
*
* Some MWRs and most Fed reports are collected by the BLS EDI Center, then sent to States.
*
(EDI=Electronic Data Interchange)
28
What the State Sends to BLS: EQUI
Enhanced Quarterly Unemployment Insurance (EQUI) Name and Address File
Contains: Business names and addresses Identification and classification information Employment and wage data
(each EQUI record is 1190 characters wide)
Used for: Building the BLS Universe File Updating the Universe File with Refiling Survey results Producing aggregate employment and wage data
29
The BLS Universe File
Collective storage place of all the state EQUI files (Longitudinal Data Base or LDB)
Microdata used for: BLS sampling frame for establishment
surveys Micro-level economic and statistical
research Analysis of business creation and
destruction(Microdata are linked historically)
30
Business Employment Dynamics (BED)
Relatively new BLS published data series on gross job gains and gross job losses
Tracks changes in employment at the establishment level
Provides a picture of the dynamics underlying aggregate net employment growth statistics
The microdata from the QCEW program is the source of the BED data series
33
Employment and Wages Macrodata
Aggregates can be created for: Geographic areas Various industry classification detail
levels Establishment size classes
Used for: Benchmarking CES, OES, OSH surveys Input for LAUS Estimating Personal Income & GDP Providing detailed industry
employment and wages data down to the county level* *subject to confidentiality restrictions
UI Tax Rate & Actuarial Analysis
UI-Covered Employment
Local Area Unemployment
Personal Income (BEA)
Gross Domestic Product (BEA)
Economic Forecasting
Current Employment Statistics
Occupational Employment Statistics
Job Creation/Destruction• Size Class Dynamics• Business Survival Rates
Geocoded Establishments
Occupational Employment Statistics
Occupational Safety and Health Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
National Compensation Survey
Industrial Price Program
Occupational Safety and Health Statistics
Programmatic Uses
Benchmarking(Employment Base)
General Economic Uses
QCEW Data
Analytical Uses Sampling
State Revenue Projections
Jobs Openings & Labor Turnover Survey
Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey
Quarterly Press Releases, Annual Employment and Wages
Local Economic Development Indicators
• Clusters Analysis• Shift Share• Industry Diversity Indexes• Location Quotients
Federal Funds Allocation$175 Billion
(HUD, USDA, HCFA/CHIP)
Minimum Wage Studies
Uses of QCEW Data
Local Economic Impact Response Planning
Local Government Services Planning
Interagency Data Uses• Improve CPS After 2000 Census• LEHD• Industry Code Sharing
Local Transportation Planning
35
Contact Information
Dennis ReidAssistant Regional Commissioner
San Francisco415-625-2260