From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a unit of the United States Department of Labor, is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor representatives. The BLS also serves as a statistical resource to the Department of Labor.

The BLS data must satisfy a number of criteria, including relevance to current social and economic issues, timeliness in reflecting today’s rapidly changing economic conditions, accuracy and consistently high statistical quality, and impartiality in both subject matter and presentation.

Contents 1 History 2 Structure 3 Statistical reporting 4 Publications 5 See also 6 External links

The Bureau of Labor was established in the Department of the Interior by the Bureau of Labor Act (23 Stat. 60), June 27, 1884, to collect information about employment and labor. It became an independent (sub-Cabinet) department by the Department of Labor Act (25 Stat. 182), June 13, 1888. It was incorporated, as the Bureau of Labor, into the Department of Commerce and Labor by the Department of Commerce Act (32 Stat. 827), February 14, 1903. Finally, it was transferred to the Department of Labor in 1913 where it resides today. The BLS is now headquartered in the Postal Square Building near the Capitol and Union Station. The Acting Commissioner of the BLS is Phil Rones.

Indices and statistics produced by the BLS include:

• U.S. Consumer Price Index
• National Compensation Survey
  • Employment Cost Index
  • Employer Costs for Employee Compensation
• Producer Price Index
• Consumer Expenditure Survey
• Unemployment rate
• Productivity
• U.S. Import and Export Price Indices
• Statistics on wages, earnings, and benefits by area, occupation, and industry
• Ten year occupational employment projections

Selected BLS publications include:

• Monthly Labor Review
• Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Career Guide to Industries
• Occupational Outlook Quarterly

• National Income and Product Account
• GNP
• Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Economic reports

• Bureau of Labor Statistics webpage
• Labor Statistics Bureau Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register RSS Feed

v • d • e  Agencies under the United States Department of Labor

Administrative Review Board • Benefits Review Board • Bureau of International Labor Affairs • Bureau of Labor Statistics • Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives • Employees' Compensation Appeals Board • Employment Standards Administration • Employment and Training Administration • Mine Safety and Health Administration • Occupational Safety and Health Administration • Employee Benefits Security Administration • Veterans' Employment and Training Service • Women's Bureau