Finding Local Jobs Stories in BLS Data by Tami Luhby

Finding Local Jobs Stories in BLS Data Tami Luhby Senior Writer, CNNMoney Tami.Luhby@turner.com

Today’s Agenda Familiarize yourself with BLS Understand the terms used Learn how to access the dataThink how to incorporate stats in stories

Overview of BLSData the bureau collects Organization of data Regional officesWays of accessing data

Basic terms Unemployment/employment Labor force Employment population ratio Labor force participation rateSeasonally/non-seasonally adjusted

How to use BLS data in stories Monthly releases Data points in trend/feature articles Digging through data to find stories

BLS Homepage

National: Monthly jobs report 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

Other National Info Hours and earnings Weekly earnings by occupation Weekly hours workedMinimum wage – by industry/state

Story ideas The 86 million invisible unemployed Fewer young adults hold jobsWomen leaving workforce in record numbersWorkers’ wage gains lag pace of inflation

Subject areas

State and local: Monthly reportsUnemployment data by state/metro/county Employment/labor force Quit hit: Look at the dinosaur

State and local: Unemployment Industry breakdown Changes over time

State and local: Demographics Only available by annual averages Age Race Education

Data screen

State and local data: Employment Industry breakdown Some statewide/some metro Earnings Economy at a Glance

Story ideas Odd dynamic propels Ore. jobless rate to No. 2Howard County earnings down, but still better than state average Part Time Cleaner Survives by Constant Work Wage gains not matching job gains in Miami

State and local: Employed Quarterly reports with more data Automotive repair to waste collection All employees/establishmentsTotal wages, av. weekly wages, av. annual pay

State and local: Occupations 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

Hot jobsTop 30 jobs employment growth/declines 2010-2020 Growth by education level

What else is out there? JOLTS Mass layoffs Green jobs

Story ideas Nurse demand high 3.1 million green jobs number casts wide netColorado experienced 12 mass layoffs in April Boston salaries higher than nations average

Know the code A lot of unpublished data Call BLS helplineGet answers on data questions

Contacts 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

Summary Find trendsBolster stories with stats Navigate the maze Call BLS for help

Finding Local Jobs Stories in BLS Data by Tami Luhby

by Reynolds Center for Business Journalism on Jul 09, 2012

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