Beyond the Numbers

International Air Passenger Fares Shrug Off the Recession

Passenger fares for flights to and from the United States recently experienced a strong recovery after recording large decreases.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Young adult employment during the recent recession

This article focuses on the impact of the recent recession on the labor market experience of younger workers (24-and 25-year-olds).

Program Perspectives

Legally Required Benefit Costs

Presents BLS data and details on legally required employee benefits; Social Security and Medicare, Federal and State unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation.

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Workers’ Memorial Day

Recognized each year on April 28, Workers’ Memorial Day is a day to remember workers who were killed, injured, or made ill at work and to highlight the hazards in the workplace.

NATIONAL COMPENSATION SURVEY

Health Plan Provisions in State and Local Government in the United States, 2011

BLS created measures of the number of weeks the jobless took to find work or quit looking and leave the labor force.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Job search of the unemployed by duration of unemployment

BLS created measures of the number of weeks the jobless took to find work or quit looking and leave the labor force.

BLS BETA LABS

Beyond the Numbers

In May 2012, BLS will introduce a new publication that will consolidate all BLS summary analytic writing into a cohesive conceptual and visual bundle.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

2012–13 Occupational Outlook Handbook

The redesigned OOH includes several new features to make it more visually appealing and easier for users to find what they are looking for.

Focus on Prices and Spending

How do U.S. Expenditures Compare with those of Other Countries?

Consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009.

Monthly Labor Review

Changes in Federal and State unemployment insurance legislation in 2011

There were two federal legislative enactments that affected the Federal–State Unemployment Compensation Program.

Monthly Labor Review

On Guard Against Workplace Hazards

Security guards face a variety of workplace hazards that can lead to injury, illness, or death.

Fact Sheet

Workplace Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities to Women of Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity

This fact sheet highlights fatal and nonfatal injuries and illnesses incurred by Hispanic or Latino women from 2005 through 2009.

Population Adjustments

Adjustments to the Current Population Survey

Learn more about how population adjustments impact the data from the Current Population Survey

Focus on Prices and Spending

Experimental Consumer Price Index for Older Americans (CPI-E)

BLS calculates an experimental CPI by using households whose reference person or spouse is 62 years of age or older, commonly called the CPI for the elderly, or CPI-E.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Current Price Topics: The 2012 PPI Weight Update: How and why does BLS update revenue weights?

With the release of January 2012 Producer Price Index, the PPI will begin using 2007 value-of-shipments (VOS) data as the weight basis for the PPI.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Rollercoaster Year for Export Agriculture Prices

U.S. agricultural exports had a volatile year in 2011. Agricultural goods prices sharply declined during the final half of the year, after having increased during the first six months of the year.

Spotlight on Statistics

The Recession of 2007–2009

The most recent recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. This Spotlight presents BLS data that compare the recent recession to previous recessions.

Program Perspectives

Health Benefit Costs by Wage Category

Presents BLS data on participation rates, the share of premiums paid by employers, and average monthly employer and employee medical care premium contributions.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Spending in 2010

On the basis of data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE), consumers spent less in 2010, compared with 2009, on almost all major components of the household budget.

Women Workers

Women in the Labor Force: A Databook

This report presents historical and current labor force and earnings data for women from the Current Population Survey (CPS).

Focus on Prices and Spending

Technology in Commodity Markets

The emergence of electronic trading has served to exacerbate the level of volatility in commodity prices, as seen in some Producer Price Indexes.

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Impact of the Earthquake in Japan on U.S. Imports

The economic impact on Japanese export trade to the United States.

Regional Reports

High-tech industries in Massachusetts

This report examines general employment and wage trends within the specific industries that compose the high-tech sector in Massachusetts, beginning in 2001.

Focus on Prices and Spending

A Comparison of the CPI-U and the C-CPI-U

The C-CPI-U is designed to be a closer approximation to a cost-of-living index than the CPI-U.

Spotlight on Statistics

Automobiles

Data on employment within the motor vehicle industry, motor vehicle-related consumer expenditures, injuries experienced by those who work on motor vehicles, and more.

Occupations

Chart book: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

This chart book includes graphs, maps, tables, and text describing the U.S. occupational workforce in May 2010.

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits in the United States

Presents BLS data on the incidence and key provisions of employee benefit plans for civilian, private industry, and state and local government workers.

Demographics

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity, 2010

Unemployment rates among major race and ethnicity groups remained high in 2010 as the economy continued to slowly recover from the recession.

Green Jobs

Careers in Recycling

This report provides information on how recycling works and on various career opportunities related to collecting and processing recyclable materials.

Green Jobs

Careers in Electric Vehicles

This report provides information on careers in the production and maintenance of electric vehicles including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric vehicles.

Employee Benefits

Health and Retirement Plan Provisions in Private Industry

Presents BLS data on detailed provisions of employer-provided health, defined benefit, and defined contribution plans in private industry.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Part D Prescription Drug Coverage and Health Care Spending by Seniors on Medicare

Out-of-pocket health care spending by Medicare households before and after Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Measuring U.S. Inflation Using European Methods

This article examines Eurostat’s Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) and U.S. prices.

Program Perspectives

Outpatient Prescription Drug Coverage

Presents BLS data on outpatient prescription drug coverage, including access and participation rates plus coverage trends for private industry workers.

International Labor Comparisons

Charting International Labor Comparisons

Labor market and other national economic measurements compared across countries.

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Impact of Fuel Surcharges on the Producer Price Index (PPI)

This article examines how rising fuel costs effect all segments of the United States economy.

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Impact of Soaring Cotton Prices on Consumer Apparel Prices

This article examines the impact of rising cotton prices on clothing and apparel prices for U.S. consumers.

New Geographic Home Page

Want to find data for an area?

We've made it easy for you. Visit our new home page for all regional releases.

Spotlight on Statistics

School's Out

What do millions of youth do during the summer? Which industries grow, and which shrink?

Green Jobs

Careers in Green Construction

Green construction involves erecting buildings that are environmentally responsible. This article provides information on careers in green construction.

Program Perspectives

Defined-Contribution Plan Investment Choices

Presents BLS data on commonly found investment options in savings and thrift (e.g. 401(k)) retirement plans for private industry workers.

BLS Email Subscription Service

Upcoming Changes to the BLS Email Subscription Service

Visitors can subscribe to an expanded list of BLS national economic releases with an improved layout, better organization, and enhanced security.

Green Jobs

Careers in Solar Power

Sunlight is the most abundant source of potential energy on the planet. This article provides information on careers in solar power.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is Getting a Face-lift

Preview the new look.

Monthly Labor Review

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Occupations: A Visual Essay

Explore occupations that play a role in expanding scientific frontiers and generating technological progress.

Issues in Labor Statistics

How Long Before the Unemployed Find Jobs or Quit Looking?

This report presents estimates of the length of time someone is unemployed before finding a job or giving up searching for work.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Differences between the CPI and the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index

This article examines how these two indexes are constructed and behave over time.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Grain Prices and Our Grocery Bill

This article examines how rising grain prices can mean higher prices at the grocery store.

Focus on Prices and Spending

U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes and the Terms of Trade

An examination of one method for measuring gains from trade: the terms of trade index—the ratio of the price index of a country's exports to the price index of its imports.

Program Perspectives

High Deductible Health Plans

Program Perspectives on high deductible health plans, including participation and comparisons with traditional plans. Health savings accounts, often used in combination with high deductible health plans, are also highlighted in this issue.

Monthly Labor Review

The 2007–09 Recession and Employment

This issue takes an in-depth look at the 2007-09 recession by industry using Current Employment Statistics data.

BLS Mobile Service

BLS Mobile Homepage

In our never-ending quest to provide the public with the latest labor economics and statistics data no matter where they are, we are introducing a mobile version of the BLS homepage.

A Profile of the Working Poor

A Profile of the Working Poor, 2009

In 2009, about 43.6 million people, or 14.3 percent of the Nation’s population, lived at or below the official poverty level.

Program Perspectives

Defined Contribution Plans

Program Perspectives on highlights of six types of defined contribution plans, providing BLS data on participation by type of plan and method of contribution.

Focus on Prices and Spending

How Consumers Used the 2009 Economic Recovery Payments of $250

Did recipients spend, save, or pay off debt?

Program Perspectives

Sick Leave and Disability Benefit Combinations

Program Perspectives on Sick Leave and Disability Benefit Combinations presents BLS data on sick leave and disability benefit combinations, showing the full level of coverage that an employee receives.

Spotlight on Statistics

Women at Work

Data on the past, present, and future of women in the workforce, women’s earnings and education, time use, spending, and more.

Focus on Prices and Spending

The So-called "Core" CPI

The CPI for all items less food and energy: its history, and a look at its behavior relative to other official CPI indexes.

Focus on Prices and Spending

PPI Introduces Experimental Aggregation System

To expand the scope of coverage for the Producer Price Index, BLS recently developed an experimental aggregation system.

Focus on Prices and Spending

U.S. Export Prices Up as World Grain Stockpiles Decline

How did rising grain prices in 2010 affect agricultural exports?

Program Perspectives

Local and State Government Benefits

Program Perspectives on Local and State Government Benefits presents BLS data on State and local government benefits, including access data on retirement, health care, and paid leave by government sector.

The Editor´s Desk

Top Searches on the BLS Website

Top Searches on the BLS Website presents the terms most often used to search the BLS website.

Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Summary Charts, 2009

Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2009 declined to 3.6 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers from 3.9 cases in 2008.

Monthly Labor Review

The U.S. Housing Bubble and Bust: Impacts on Employment

Employment Projections Program data are used to estimate employment impacts due to the recent housing market cycle.

Program Perspectives

Life and Disability Insurance Benefits

Program Perspectives on Life and Disability Insurance Benefits presents BLS data on life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability plans, including access and participation rates for private industry and state and local government workers.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Sizing Up the 2007–09 Recession: Comparing Two Key Labor Market Indicators With Earlier Downturns

Highlights the severity of the recent recession in the labor market by comparing changes in two key labor market indicators across past downturns.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Household Energy Spending

This report compares spending on selected household energy items as measured by the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) and by the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS).

Spotlight on Statistics

Food for Thought

This Spotlight uses BLS data to provide insight into the wonderful world of food.

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Use of the CPI in Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs)

Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Program Perspectives

Defined Contribution Plans

Program Perspectives on Defined Contribution Plans presents BLS data on defined contribution retirement plans, including access and participation rates for private industry and state and local government workers.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Ranks of Those Unemployed for a Year or More Up Sharply

The number of long-term unemployed has increased sharply.

World Statistics Day

BLS Celebrates World Statistics Day!

The Bureau of Labor Statistics joins with the international statistical community in celebrating World Statistics Day.

Program Perspectives

Fee-For-Service Plans

Program Perspectives on Fee-For Service Plans presents BLS data on fee-for-service medical plans.

Green Jobs

Careers in Wind Energy

As the wind energy industry grows, it will provide new career opportunities for workers. This article provides information on careers in wind energy.

Career Information - en Español!

Spanish OOH

BLS releases career information for over 100 occupations, plus tips for crafting résumés, applications, and cover letters -- in Spanish!

Spotlight on Statistics

Back to College

Headed back to college? See what data BLS has about college students, graduates and employees.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Health Care Spending: 1998, 2003, and 2008

How have rising health care costs affected household budgets?

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Prices: The Use of the CPI in Adjusting Federal Income Tax Brackets

Federal income tax brackets and personal exemption and standard deduction amounts are adjusted each year with CPI data.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Producer Price Indexes: PPI Industry or Commodity Data: Which Better Suits Your Needs?

This article examines the differences between industry- and commodity-based PPI data.

Focus on Prices and Spending

China´s Exchange Rate Policy Reflected in U.S. Import Prices

The competitiveness of imports and exports is affected by foreign currency fluctuations.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Illness-related Work Absences During Flu Season

During flu season, workers who come down with the flu or have a sick family member often must deal with interruptions in their regular work schedules.

Spotlight on Statistics

Travel

This Spotlight presents data on travel-related expenditures, overall employment within the leisure and hospitality industry, as well as employment and earnings of various travel-related occupations.

Program Perspectives

Combined Benefit Plans

Program Perspectives on Combined Benefit Plans (PDF) New data series highlights employee access to medical care and retirement benefits.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Long-term Unemployment Experience of the Jobless

By the end of 2009, the proportion of the unemployed who had been jobless for 27 weeks or longer was the highest on record, with data back to 1948.

New Data Access Tool

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) State and County Map Application

Explore a new mapping tool that provides access to employment and wage data at the National, State and county levels.

Fact Sheet

Gulf Coast Leisure and Hospitality and Oil and Gas Industries

From the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages: Gulf oil and gas drilling employment and Gulf Coast Leisure and Hospitality Employment and Wages

Spotlight on Statistics

Employment Situation of Veterans

In honor of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, this Spotlight presents information about the employment situation of veterans.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Expenditure Survey: Computer Ownership

This issue of a new publication series examines the extent of computer ownership by American households.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Consumer Prices: The Use of CPI in Poverty Measurement

This issue of a new series reviews the use of the CPI in poverty measurement and current U.S. consumer price trends.

Focus on Prices and Spending

Producer Price Indexes: Intermediate Materials Continue their Advance

This issue of a new series examines producer price trends in the first quarter of 2010.

Focus on Prices and Spending

The Price Competitiveness of U.S. Exports

The first issue of a new series analyzes the price competitiveness of U.S. exports and reviews current U.S. import and export price trends.

Fact Sheet

Oil and Gas Industry

These fact sheets highlight injuries and employment in the oil and gas industry:

Chartbook

International Labor Comparisons

The chartbook is a gateway to explore how key labor market and other national economic measurements compare across countries.

Chartbook

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2008

The chartbook includes graphs, maps, tables, and text describing the U.S. occupational workforce in May 2008.

Fact Sheet

Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities in the Coal Mining Industry

Employees in coal mining are more likely to be killed or to incur a non-fatal injury or illness than workers in private industry.

Program Perspectives

Frozen Defined-Benefit Plans

Program Perspectives on Frozen Defined-Benefit Plans presents BLS data on the frequency, accrual of benefits, and alternatives to frozen defined-benefit plans as well as the length of time since the plans were frozen.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Record Unemployment Among Older Workers Does Not Keep Them Out of the Job Market

The labor force participation rate for persons aged 55 years and older rose during much of the recession.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Job Availability During a Recession: An Examination of the Number of Unemployed Persons Per Job Opening

The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening increased to a high of 6.2 unemployed persons per job opening in November 2009.

International Labor Comparisons

Two new chart pages from International Labor Comparisons:

Issues in Labor Statistics

All Firm Sizes Hit Hard During the Current Recession

In the early part of the current recession, all firm sizes have been similarly affected by the recession.

Program Perspectives

Paid Sick Leave

Program Perspectives on Paid Sick Leave presents BLS data on paid sick leave, including access rates, number of days provided per year, and the cost to the employer.

Profile of the Working Poor

In 2008, according to the Census Bureau, 39.8 million people, or 13.2 percent of the Nation's population, lived at or below the official poverty level. In 2008, about 8.9 million adults were among the working poor, 1.4 million more than in 2007.

Spotlight on Statistics

African American History Month

African American History Month, has been observed since 1976. Take a look at BLS data that provide an economic snapshot of African Americans in the United States today.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Recession Leads to Lackluster Employment in the Trucking Industry

A dramatic slowdown in consumer demand has been crippling the Nation's trucking firms.

Program Perspectives

Benefits by Wage Level

Program Perspectives on Benefits by Wage Level presents BLS data on benefits by wage level for several benefits including retirement, health, life insurance, holidays, and vacations.

Consumer Expenditure Survey Turns 30

In 1980, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) first initiated the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) as a continuing survey, with 2010 marking the 30th anniversary.

Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity

Labor market problems for blacks or African Americans and Hispanics or Latinos were especially acute in 2008.

Spotlight on Statistics

Thanksgiving

What activities do you have planned for this Thanksgiving? Perhaps cooking and enjoying a meal with family or friends, playing sports or watching sports on television, doing volunteer work, or shopping?

Fact Sheet

Fatal Occupational Injuries to Members of the Resident Military

Members of the resident military face a set of hazards different from that of the typical worker.

Spotlight on Statistics

Health Care

Health care touches the lives of nearly everyone in the United States at some point.

Women in the Labor Force: A Databook

The past several decades have been marked by notable changes in women's labor force activities. Women's labor force participation is significantly higher today than it was in the 1970s.

Regional Reports

Colleges and Universities in the New York Metropolitan Area: Rapid Growth in Employment and Wages

The New York metropolitan area is home to more than 240 private colleges and universities employing about 97,000 workers.

Regional Reports

After the Dot-Com Bubble: Silicon Valley High-Tech Employment and Wages in 2001 and 2008

Employment in Silicon Valley high-tech industries declined by about 17 percent, a loss of about 85,000 jobs; however, average wages grew by nearly 36 percent.

Spotlight on Statistics

Worker Safety and Health

June is National Safety Month. In recognition, here is a look at BLS data on work-related fatalities and nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses.

Spotlight on Statistics

BLS 125th Anniversary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2009.

Commissioner's Corner

Welcome to the Commissioner's Corner, a new feature from the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Keith Hall.

Issues in Labor Statistics

Ranks of Discouraged Workers and Others Marginally Attached to the Labor Force Rise During Recession

The number of persons who were marginally attached to the labor force increased sharply during the current recession.

Chartbook

International Labor Comparisons

A Chartbook Of International Labor Comparisons (March 2009) focuses on the labor market situation in selected countries for the most recent year available; some charts also show trends.

Program Perspectives

Retirement benefits

Program Perspectives on Retirement Benefits presents BLS data on retirement benefits received by workers. The latest data on participation in defined-contribution and defined-benefit plans are included, as well as information on employer costs per hour for such plans.

Program Perspectives

Paid-Leave Benefits

Program Perspectives on Paid-Leave Benefits presents BLS data on paid-leave benefits received by workers, such as holidays, vacations, and personal leave.

Spotlight on Statistics

African American History Month

African American History Month, also called Black History Month, has been observed since 1976. Take a look at BLS data that provide an economic snapshot of African Americans in the United States today.

Program Perspectives

Health Benefits

Program Perspectives on Health Benefits shows you trends in employer costs for health benefits. The latest data on access, participation, and premiums are also included. This is the inaugural issue of "Program Perspectives," a new publication in which BLS programs showcase their latest data.