Rynek pracy · 3.11.1995

Proposal to Revise Method for Estimation of Monthly Labor Force Statistics for Certain Subnational Areas

The Department of Labor, through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is responsible for the development and publication of local area labor force statistics. This program includes the issuance of monthly estimates of the labor force, employment, unemployment, and the unemployment rate for each State and labor market area in the nation. For 11 large States (California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas) and two large areas (New York City, and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area), the Current Population Survey (CPS) sample is sufficiently large to meet the BLS standard for direct use and the monthly estimates are taken directly from the survey. Historically, concern has been expressed over the volatility of monthly CPS estimates in these large States and areas. Under anticipated lower funding levels, BLS plans to reduce the number of households in the CPS. One result will be that the 11 large States and two large areas no longer will be estimated directly from the monthly household survey. The BLS proposes to continue publishing monthly estimates for these subnational areas based on the time series modeling approach