Changes to Data and Geographic Areas
Changes for 2009
Two Cities Added to Labor Force Statistics Data
Under Bureau of Labor Statistics-mandated methodology, in order for city-level labor force estimates to be produced, a city must meet three criteria:
- Have a population of 25,000 or more
- Be controlled by a form of local government
- Have an annual population estimate produced by the U.S. Census Bureau
Two additional cities have met the above criteria and data will be available beginning with January 2009 estimates. The additional cities are Seguin and Weatherford. Now, data are available for 107 cities in Texas. To view the complete list of cities, go to 2009 Cities.
Title Change for Natural Resources and Mining
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has implemented a title change for the Natural Resources and Mining series. Effective with the release of the January 2009 estimates, this industry will now be titled Mining and Logging. In some of the MSAs, an additional title change has occurred from Mining and Construction to Mining, Logging, and Construction.
Release Schedule for Revised Data
The Labor Market and Career Information Department has almost completed its annual benchmark revisions. Revised Nonagricultural Wage and Salary employment estimates, including annual averages, are now available for 2007 and 2008. Under the guidelines of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, other years may have experienced changes in employment levels.
Labor force estimates (Civilian Labor Force, Employed, Unemployed, and Unemployment Rate) for Texas and all areas within the state have been revised for 2008. Revised sub-state labor force estimates for 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004 will be released on Thursday, March 26, 2009. Below is a table for quick reference.
Labor Force Estimates for Sub-state Areas
Reference Year Release Date
2008 March 5, 2009
2007 March 26, 2009
2006 March 26, 2009
2005 March 26, 2009
2004 March 26, 2009
***************************************************************************************************************
Changes for 2008
Two Cities Added to Labor Force Statistics Data
Under Bureau of Labor Statistics-mandated methodology, in order for city-level labor force estimates to be produced, a city must meet three criteria:
- Have a population of 25,000 or more
- Be controlled by a form of local government
- Have an annual population estimate produced by the U.S. Census Bureau
Two additional cities have met the above criteria and data will be available beginning with January 2008 estimates. The additional cities are San Benito and Southlake. Now, data is available for 105 cities in Texas. To view the complete list of cities, go to 2008 Cities.
Monthly Revisions to be Reinstated to the Labor Force Statistics Data Series
In accordance with a change in policy instituted last year by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we will perform monthly revisions to labor force estimates for the state and sub-state areas. The monthly labor force estimates, including the number of employed, the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate, will be published as a preliminary estimate and revised the following month as a final estimate. The final estimate will stand until the annual benchmark revisions are completed in March of each year.
Hours and Earnings Data Series to Undergo Changes
Beginning with the March 6, 2008 release of January 2008 data, production and publication of all metropolitan statistical area hours and earnings data will be discontinued as instructed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. State-level data will continue to be produced with a new title of Average Hours and Earnings of Production or Nonsupervisory Workers for Texas and will be featured in each Texas Labor Market Review issue. The data presented will include information for manufacturing as well as selected non-manufacturing industries.
Federal Geographical Coverage of the Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Series Changes
Each year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the States negotiate Cooperative Agreements based on the level of funding in the Presidents budget’s request. The BLS has determined that a current budget shortfall will be taken in reductions to the State Current Employment Statistics allocations and workload. To this end, the BLS has eliminated the production and publishing of Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment for the 65 smallest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States. Three of those areas are found in Texas. They are the San Angelo MSA, the Sherman-Denison MSA, and the Victoria MSA. Beginning with the release of January 2008 data, these areas will no longer be included in the BLS-sponsored series.
Texas to Produce and Publish Statistics for Three Metropolitan Statistical Areas
The Texas Workforce Commission’s Labor Market and Career Information department will continue to produce civilian labor force statistics, including unemployment rates, and industry total job growth estimates for the San Angelo MSA, the Sherman-Denison MSA, and the Victoria MSA. These areas were dropped from the Bureau of Labor Statistics sponsored series due to funding reductions for the Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Series.
Release Schedule for Revised Data
The Labor Market and Career Information Department has almost completed its annual benchmark revisions. Revised Nonagricultural Wage and Salary employment estimates, including annual averages, are now available for 2006 and 2007. Under the guidelines of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, other years may have experienced changes in employment levels.
Labor force estimates (Civilian Labor Force, Employed, Unemployed, and Unemployment Rate) for Texas and all areas within the state have been revised for 2007. Revised 2006 labor force figures will be released on Thursday, March 27, 2008. Revised labor force estimates for 2005, 2004, and 2003 will be released on Friday, April 18, 2008. Below is a table for quick reference.
Labor Force Estimates
Reference Year Release Date
2007 March 6, 2008
2006 March 27, 2008
2005 April 18, 2008
2004 April 18, 2008
2003 April 18, 2008
***************************************************************************************************************
Changes for 2007
Three Cities Added to Labor Force Statistics Data
Under Bureau of Labor Statistics-mandated methodology, in order for city-level labor force estimates to be produced, a city must meet three criteria:
- Have a population of 25,000 or more
- Be controlled by a form of local government
- Have an annual population estimate produced by the U.S. Census Bureau
Three additional cities have met the above criteria and data will be available beginning with January 2007 estimates. The additional cities are Eagle Pass, Schertz, and Waxahachie. Now, data is available for 103 cities in Texas. To view the complete list of cities, go to 2007 Cities.
Reminder about Elimination of Monthly Revision
In accordance with a change in policy instituted last year by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we no longer perform monthly revisions to labor force estimates for the state or any sub-state area. Once published, monthly labor force estimates, including the number of employed, the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate, will stand until the annual benchmark revisions are completed in March of each year.
Release Schedule for Revised Data
The Labor Market and Career Information Department has almost completed its annual benchmark revisions. Revised Nonagricultural Wage and Salary employment estimates, including annual averages, are now available for 2005 and 2006. Under the guidelines of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, other years may have experienced changes in employment levels.
Labor force estimates (Civilian Labor Force, Employed, Unemployed, and Unemployment Rate) for Texas and all areas within the state have been revised for 2006. Revised 2005 labor force figures will be released on Thursday, March 29, 2007. Revised labor force estimates for 2003 and 2004 will be released on Friday, April 20, 2007. Revised data for 2000, 2001, and 2002 will be released on Friday, May 18, 2007. Below is a table for quick reference.
Labor Force Estimates
Reference Year Release Date
2006 March 8, 2007
2005 March 29, 2007
2004 April 20, 2007
2003 April 20, 2007
2002 May 18, 2007
2001 May 18, 2007
2000 May 18, 2007
************************************************************************************
Changes for 2006
With the release of January 2006 statistics, the Labor Market and Career Information Department will incorporate several changes in accordance with Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) guidelines. These changes, which affect both the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and Current Employment Statistics programs, include:
Three Cities Added to Labor Force Statistics Data
Under BLS-mandated methodology, in order for city-level labor force estimates to be produced, a city must meet three criteria:
- Have a population of 25,000 or more
- Be controlled by a form of local government
- Have an annual population estimate produced by the U.S. Census Bureau
Three additional cities have met the above criteria and data will be available beginning with January 2006 estimates. The additional cities are Pflugerville, Rockwall, and Wylie. Now, data is available for 100 cities in Texas.
Two Metropolitan Areas Have Name Changes
Principal cities are used in titling Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) with the city of largest population listed first. The city with the second largest population is listed next and so forth. Due to city population growth, two Metropolitan Statistical Areas in Texas have experienced a name change. The McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr MSA will now be titled McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA. The Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land MSA will now be titled Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA. Both areas remain unchanged in their geographic composition. To view the complete list of MSAs and their county make-up, go to MSA Comparison.
Policy Change Eliminates Monthly Revision to Labor Force Estimates
In accordance with a change in policy instituted by BLS, we will no longer revise monthly labor force estimates (Civilian Labor Force, Employed, Unemployed, and Unemployment Rate) for the state or any sub-state areas (cities, counties, MSAs, or WDAs). Once published, monthly labor force estimates will stand until the regular annual benchmark revisions are completed in March of each year.
Additional Industry Detail Available for Texas Employment Estimates
The Texas seasonally adjusted Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment series now includes estimates for two more industries - Information and Other Services. With the addition of these two industries, data will now be additive to both the Service Providing and Total Nonagricultural levels. This will allow for easy identification of industries that are responsible for employment shifts over the month and over the year.
Schedule for Releasing Revised Estimates
The Labor Market and Career Information Department has nearly completed its annual benchmark revisions.
Revised 2004 and 2005 Nonagricultural Wage and Salary employment estimates, including annual averages, will be released on Thursday, March 9, 2006.
Revised Labor force estimates (Civilian Labor Force, Employed, Unemployed, and Unemployment Rate) for Texas and all areas within the state will be released according to the following schedule:
- Revised 2005 - Thursday, March 9, 2006
- Revised 2004 - Thursday, March 30, 2006
- Revised 2003 - Friday, April 21, 2006
- Revised 2000 through 2002 - Friday, May 19, 2006
*******************************************************************************************************************
Listed below are the important changes to LMCI programs that were implemented in March 2005. This information will serve as a refresher and assist in answering questions regarding our statistics.
Changes for 2005
In cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), TWC's Labor Market & Career Information (LMCI) Department implemented a new methodology for producing labor force data - including unemployment rates - beginning in March, 2005 with the release of January 2005 estimates.
In addition to changes in methodology, the LMCI Department began producing estimates for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) based on 2000 Census-based definitions under guidelines set forth by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Changes-2005
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Changes-2005
Beginning with the release of January 2005 estimates, the LMCI Department, along with the BLS, will adopt the new Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) geographic designations developed by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Beginning with this release, data will only be produced under the new MSA definitions. BLS and the LMCI Department will recalculate historical estimates according to the new MSA definitions.
Data for current and historical periods will no longer be available under the old MSA definitions. Previously, Texas had 27 MSAs. Under the new definitions, the number will be reduced to 25. In addition to geographic changes, some MSAs will also undergo name changes. Please see the FAQ regarding Labor Force Estimate changes (above) for more information regarding data availability.
