Overview

Topic: Labor Market Activity; Employment; Wages; Inflation; Productivity; Occupational Safety
Dataset Type: Cross-sectional surveys; Longitudinal panel data; Administrative and surveillance data
Expertise Required: 🎓🎓 (Intermediate)
Cost: Free (public-use data); $–$$$ (restricted-use data)
Dataset Summary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity in the United States, including employment, wages, unemployment, inflation, productivity, and workplace injuries.

BLS datasets span industries and occupations—including healthcare—and support economic research, workforce planning, policy development, and education. Major programs include the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Current Population Survey (CPS), the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and the Employment Projections (EP) program. Additional restricted datasets include the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth Geocode Data and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Research File. Public-use aggregated data are available through BLS Data Retrieval Tools, while select restricted files require a formal application process, including submission of a research proposal and CV, and may be accessed onsite or through a Federal Statistical Research Data Center.

Caveats
  • Subject to sampling variability and periodic methodological updates.
  • Aggregated national data may not reflect local or occupation-specific dynamics.
  • Dataset-specific documentation should be reviewed for appropriate analytic use.
  • Access to restricted-use data requires an application and approval process.
Examples of Outcomes Examined
  • Employment status
  • Wage and salary levels
  • Unemployment rates and duration
  • Occupational injury and fatality rates
  • Inflation and productivity trends

Back to Dataset Compendium

Topic

Clinical Epidemiology, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health

Resource Type

Dataset

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