The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a unit of the U.S. Department of Labor, is the principal fact-finding agency of the federal government in labor economics and statistics. Established on June 27, 1884, it serves as a key part of the U.S. Federal Statistical System. The BLS is responsible for collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating essential statistical data to the American public, Congress, other federal agencies, and state and local governments. The agency's work spans measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes. BLS data must be relevant, timely, accurate, impartial, and accessible. To maintain impartiality, major data release dates are scheduled more than a year in advance in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget.
The BLS provides data and analysis on employment, unemployment, inflation, productivity, and workplace injuries and illnesses. Key reports include the Employment Situation Summary (the "US jobs report") and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The BLS is led by an Acting Commissioner, William J. Wiatrowski. In January 2026, the BLS reported a 4.3% unemployment rate and a gain of 130,000 payroll jobs. Recent announcements include real average hourly earnings increasing 0.3% in January 2026. In fiscal year 2024, the BLS spent $678 million, which was 1.2% of the Department of Labor’s spending. The BLS moved its headquarters to the Suitland Federal Center in Suitland, Maryland in 2024, sharing a facility with the Census Bureau.
