In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many private industry employers implemented changes to their sick leave policies. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) National Compensation Survey and two BLS supplemental surveys, this article examines changes to sick leave provisions and use before and during the pandemic.

April 26, 2021

In March 2020, 50 percent of private educational services workers participated in employer-sponsored medical care plans. High-deductible health plans were available to 40 percent of these workers in 2020, and the median annual deductible amount for individual plans was $2,000.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is hiring entry-level economist positions to work in a variety of program areas. These Pathways positions, located throughout BLS, are in honor of former colleague Jennifer A. Edgar, a longtime proponent of using data science methods and skills for economic analysis. 

This job posting is for recent graduates from qualifying educational institutions. The grade levels are GS-07 and GS-09, based on education. The application period is open April 12–16, 2021. See the vacancy announcement for more information and to apply. Job duties include the following: 

April 14, 2021

In December 2020, West Virginia had the highest job openings rate at 5.8 percent. Other states with a job openings rate greater than 5.0 percent in December 2020 were Georgia, Arizona, New Jersey, Oregon, and South Carolina. The job openings rates are a moving average of the rate for the reference month and the prior 2 months.

April 14, 2021

In December 2020, West Virginia had the highest job openings rate at 5.8 percent. Other states with a job openings rate greater than 5.0 percent in December 2020 were Georgia, Arizona, New Jersey, Oregon, and South Carolina. The job openings rates are a moving average of the rate for the reference month and the prior 2 months.

April 13, 2021

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 4.2 percent for the 12 months ended in March 2021. Prices for final demand goods increased 7.0 percent over this 12-month period. Final demand less foods and energy prices increased 3.6 percent. Final demand services prices increased 3.0 percent, while final demand construction prices increased 1.5 percent over the year ended in March.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics is hiring entry-level economist positions to work in a variety of program areas. These Pathways positions, located throughout BLS, are in honor of former colleague Jennifer A. Edgar, a longtime proponent of using data science methods and skills for economic analysis. 

This job posting is for recent graduates from qualifying educational institutions. The grade levels are GS-07 and GS-09, based on education. The application period is open April 12–16, 2021. See the vacancy announcement for more information and to apply. Job duties include the following: 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring price changes, labor market activity, working conditions, and productivity in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate economic information to support public and private decision-making.

The Consumer Price Index, Producer Price Index, and International Price programs will present on advanced topics tailored to the interests of our data users. This users’ conference will offer attendees the opportunity to better understand our methodology and processes, while providing a platform for open discussion with BLS economists.

April 21, 2021 Agenda

9:00-9:10 Opening remarks from BLS Commissioner William Beach

9:10-10:00 Medical care in the CPI and PPI

10:05-10:55 Quality adjustment across price programs

11:00-12:00 Recent and upcoming advancements using alternative collection methods for price indexes

April 28, 2021...

April 13, 2021

The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 4.2 percent for the 12 months ended in March 2021. Prices for final demand goods increased 7.0 percent over this 12-month period. Final demand less foods and energy prices increased 3.6 percent. Final demand services prices increased 3.0 percent, while final demand construction prices increased 1.5 percent over the year ended in March.

In 2019, 57.4 percent of all women participated in the labor force. This was up from 57.1 percent who participated in 2018, but 2.6 percentage points below the peak of 60.0 percent in 1999. By comparison, the labor force participation rate for men was 69.2 percent in 2019, little changed from the previous year and 17.4 percentage points below its peak of 86.6 percent in 1948.

The rapid rise in women’s labor force participation was a major development in the labor market during the second half of the 20th century. Overall, women’s labor force participation increased dramatically from the 1960s through the 1980s, before slowing in the 1990s. With the dawn of the 21st century, labor force participation among women began a gradual decline, until the participation rate hit a recent low in 2015 of 56.7 percent.

Women’s involvement in the labor market has changed in several notable ways over the past several decades. For example, women became much more likely to pursue...

Labor productivity—defined as output per labor hour—has grown at a below-average rate since 2005, representing a dramatic reversal of the above-average growth of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The productivity slowdown during these years has left many economic observers wondering why this situation has occurred and what factors may have contributed. To clarify potential sources of the productivity slowdown, this article presents an analysis of labor productivity and its component series—multifactor productivity, contribution of capital intensity, and contribution of labor composition—at both the economy-wide and industry levels, complemented with a survey of the contemporary productivity literature.