Post on 10-Nov-2014
description
Finding Local Jobs Stories in BLS Data
Tami Luhby
Senior Writer, CNNMoney Tami.Luhby@turner.com
Familiarize yourself with BLS Understand the terms used
Learn how to access the data Think how to incorporate stats in stories
Today’s Agenda
Data the bureau collects
Organization of data
Regional offices
Ways of accessing data
Overview of BLS
Unemployment/employment
Labor force
Employment population ratio
Labor force participation rate
Seasonally/non-seasonally adjusted
Basic terms
Monthly releases
Data points in trend/feature articles
Digging through data to find stories
How to use BLS data in stories
BLS Homepage
Two surveys: Payroll and household
Number of jobs added/lost (P)
Unemployment rate (H)
Industry breakdown (P)
Long term unemployment (H)
National: Monthly jobs report
Demographics from household survey
Race
Age
Gender
Education
National: Monthly jobs report
Hours and earnings
Weekly earnings by occupation
Weekly hours worked
Minimum wage – by industry/state
Other National Info
The 86 million invisible unemployed
Fewer young adults hold jobs
Women leaving workforce in record numbers
Workers’ wage gains lag pace of inflation
Story ideas
Subject areas
Unemployment data by state/metro/county
Employment/labor force
Quit hit: Look at the dinosaur
State and local: Monthly reports
Industry breakdown
Changes over time
State and local: Unemployment
Only available by annual averages
Age
Race
Education
State and local: Demographics
Data screen
Industry breakdown
Some statewide/some metro
Earnings
Economy at a Glance
State and local data: Employment
Odd dynamic propels Ore. jobless rate to No. 2
Howard County earnings down, but still better than state average
'Part Time' Cleaner Survives by Constant Work
Wage gains not matching job gains in Miami
Story ideas
Quarterly reports with more data
Automotive repair to waste collection
All employees/establishments
Total wages, av. weekly wages, av. annual pay
State and local: Employed
800 occupations for 640 areas
One occupation over multiple areas
Multiple occupations in one area
Downside: comes out once a year
State and local: Occupations
Employment numbers
Average hourly wage
Annual 90th percentile wage
Fun facts: highest/lowest paying jobs
State and local: Occupations
Top 30 jobs employment growth/declines
2010-2020
Growth by education level
Hot jobs
JOLTS
Mass layoffs
Green jobs
What else is out there?
Nurse demand high
3.1 million 'green jobs' number casts wide net
Colorado experienced 12 mass layoffs in April
Boston salaries higher than nation's average
Story ideas
A lot of unpublished data
Call BLS helpline
Get answers on data questions
Know the code
BLS PR: Gary Steinberg (202) 691-5902/steinberg.gary@bls.gov
National Unemployment (202) 691-6378
State & Local Unemployment (202) 691-6392
National Employment (202) 691-6555
State & Local Employment (202) 691-6559
Contacts
Find trends
Bolster stories with stats
Navigate the maze
Call BLS for help
Summary