Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Organization

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an agency within the U.S. Labor Department, is responsible for collecting and reporting economic data, including employment statistics.


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8/24/2025, 1:43:56 AM

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8/24/2025, 1:47:19 AM

Summary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a crucial fact-finding agency within the U.S. Department of Labor and a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, established on June 27, 1884. Its core mission involves collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating vital statistical data on labor economics, including employment, wages, inflation (such as the Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index), working conditions, and productivity. This data is essential for various stakeholders, including the public, Congress, government agencies, and businesses. The BLS also conducts research on family income levels necessary for a satisfactory quality of life. The agency ensures impartiality and relevance by meticulously scheduling its data releases in advance, adhering to criteria of timeliness, accuracy, and accessibility. Recently, the BLS made a significant downward revision of 818,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, the largest since the Great Recession, which has prompted discussions about the accuracy of economic indicators and suggested a weaker U.S. economy than previously understood.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Mission

    Collect, process, analyze, and disseminate statistical data on labor economics; measure labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy; conduct research on family income levels for a satisfactory quality of life.

  • Affiliation

    Principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System

  • Agency Type

    Fact-finding agency

  • Founding Act

    Bureau of Labor Act (23 Stat. 60)

  • Headquarters

    4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20212-0002, USA

  • Key Publication

    Monthly Labor Review (MLR)

  • Key Data Produced

    Nonfarm Payrolls, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Producer Price Index (PPI), Import/Export Index (MXP), employment figures, wages, labor force participation, productivity, workplace injuries and illnesses, pay and benefits, working conditions, prices.

  • Operating Principles

    Relevance, timeliness, accuracy, impartiality, accessibility

  • First U.S. Commissioner of Labor

    Carroll D. Wright

Timeline
  • The Bureau of Labor was established within the Department of the Interior under the Bureau of Labor Act (23 Stat. 60). (Source: Wikipedia)

    1884-06-27

  • Carroll D. Wright became the first U.S. Commissioner of Labor, a position he held until 1905. (Source: Web Search)

    1885

  • The Monthly Labor Review (MLR), the principal journal of fact, analysis, and research published by BLS, was established. (Source: Web Search)

    1915

  • The BLS announced a massive downward revision of 818,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, the largest such correction since the Great Recession, signaling a potentially weaker U.S. economy and raising questions about the reliability of economic indicators. (Source: Related Document)

    Recently

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System. The BLS 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 United States Department of Labor, and conducts research measuring the income levels families need to maintain a satisfactory quality of life. 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, impartiality in both subject matter and presentation, and accessibility to all. To avoid the appearance of partiality, the dates of major data releases are scheduled more than a year in advance, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget.

Web Search Results
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics - Wikipedia

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System. The BLS 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 [...] The Bureau of Labor was established within the Department of the Interior on June 27, 1884, to collect information about employment and labor. Its creation under the Bureau of Labor Act (23 Stat. 60) stemmed from the findings of U.S. Senator Henry W. Blair's "Labor and Capital Hearings", which examined labor issues and working conditions in the U.S.( Statistician Carroll D. Wright became the first U.S. Commissioner of Labor in 1885, a position he held until 1905. The Bureau's placement within [...] BLS also serves as a statistical resource to the United States Department of Labor, and conducts research measuring the income levels families need to maintain a satisfactory quality of life.(

  • Information Guide - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as part of the U.S. Federal Statistical System. BLS collects, calculates, analyzes, and publishes data essential to the public, employers, researchers, and government organizations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the [...] K-12 Student & Teacher Resources Games & Quizzes Student's Desk Teacher's Desk Questions & Answers Beta Redesigned News Releases BLS Information SHARE ON: Image 7: share on facebook;)Image 8: share on twitter;)Image 9: share on linkedin;) PRINT:Image 10: Print Information Guide ================= Image 11: bls logo Information Guide 1. Introduction Mission About The BLS Information Guide [...] TheMonthly Labor Review (MLR) was established in 1915 and is the principal journal of fact, analysis, and research published by BLS. BLS economists, statisticians, and data scientists join with academic researchers, private sector professionals, and state and local government specialists to provide a wealth of research in a wide variety of fields: the labor force, the economy, employment, inflation, productivity, workplace injuries and illnesses, pay and benefits, working conditions, prices,

  • About the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as part of the U.S. Federal Statistical System. BLS collects, calculates, analyzes, and publishes data essential to the public, employers, researchers, and government organizations. [...] Mission Statement _The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making._ Our Work and Organization ------------------------- [...] Image 7: Image of BLS.GOV on screen www.bls.gov is the website of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with online publications and data tools to help you find what you're looking for. Data retrieval ›› Charts and application ›› Customized tables ›› More data sources ›› News releases ›› Subject areas ›› Publications ›› Handbook of Methods ›› A–Z index ›› About the website ›› Glossary ›› Errata ›› Accessibility information ›› Protecting online privacy ››

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): What It Is and How It Works

    The BLS is a U.S. government agency responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data related to labor and economic conditions, including employment, wages, inflation, and productivity. Its data, provided through various surveys and reports, supports economic policy-making and offers insights into labor market trends and economic health. Article Sources [...] The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a federal agency that collects and disseminates various data about the U.S. economy and labor market. Its reports include the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI), both of which are considered to be important measures of inflation. The BLS also produces the Import/Export Index (MXP), which tracks the price changes of goods bought and sold by the U.S. ### Key Takeaways [...] The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is an American government agency tasked with collecting and disseminating a range of economic and employment data. The BLS is responsible for two key inflation indicators: the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI). In addition, the BLS produces national and regional figures on employment, labor force participation, productivity, and wages. ## Understanding the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) | USAGov

    Bureau of Labor Statistics State and local governments Branches of government Elected officials Federal laws and regulations Indian tribes and resources for Native Americans Federal, state, territory, county, and municipal courts Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ================================ The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) measures labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Website ------- [...] Published Time: Wed, 30 Jul 2025 21:59:21 GMT Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) | USAGov =============== Skip to main content Image 1: U.S Flag An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Here's how you know Image 2 Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Image 3 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS [...] Bureau of Labor Statistics Contact ------- Contact the Bureau of Labor Statistics Phone number ------------ 1-202-691-5200 Find an office near you ----------------------- Find regional offices of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Main address ------------ 4600 Silver Hill Road Washington, DC 20212-0002 SHARE THIS PAGE: Image 8: FacebookImage 9: X Twitter USAGovImage 10: Email Have a question? ----------------