Erica Groshen

BLS staffing is down 25% but they are now allowed to hire again.
www.usajobs.gov/job/859334800

The Friends of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Here's background about Friends of BLS
www.friendsofbls.org

Trump’s BLS Pick to Contend With Leadership Vacuum, Staff Losses President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics will go up against critical leadership gaps and staffing shortages that threaten the agency’s role in informing economic policy.

On the nomination of Brett Matsumoto as BLS commissioner, #CornellILR senior economics advisor @ericagroshen.bsky.social says: "I was happy to see that we’re getting someone who has a strong professional record and knows BLS from the inside."

No Company Has Admitted to Replacing Workers With AI in New York New York state has required companies to disclose if “technological innovation or automation” was the cause of job loss for nearly a year. So far, none has.

#CornellILR's @ericagroshen.bsky.social says New York's effort to track AI-related layoffs is a start, but argues employers should be required to share more detailed data on changing skills and occupations so workers can navigate transitions, rather than simply labeling job losses as caused by AI.

Yes, @aaronsojourner.org, exactly right. No one outside BLS sees numbers before they are final. And the Commissioner does not see preliminary numbers. The processes used are decentralized & automated. Fudging would disrupt the system, be noticeable, and staff would talk.

It is confusing.
At BLS, the Consumer Expenditure Survey is usually referred to as the “CE” or “CEX” to avoid just that confusion.

@crampell.bsky.social @samsutton.bsky.social

#labor #labormarket #economics #BLS #BEA #Census #ERS #SOI #NASS #NCSES #ORES #EIA #NCES #NCHS #BJS #BTS
@betseystevenson.bsky.social @aaronsojourner.org @apduorg.bsky.social @copafs.bsky.social @nabe-econ.bsky.social @asa-scipol.bsky.social @nickhartphd.bsky.social @bencasselman.bsky.social

#statistics #data #federalstatistics #datainfrastructure #federaldata #economicstatistics #officialstatistics #statisticalagencies #economicdata #CPI #unemployment #employment #GDP #monetarypolicy #inflation #jobs #jobsday #productivity #markets #infotech #finance

Trump admin moves to finalize return of Schedule F Officials estimate that around 50,000 federal workers will be stripped of their civil service protections beginning in around a month, as unions, employee associations and good government groups decry...

Bad news today.
The administration finalized a plan to remove civil service protections from about 50,000 federal workers, with no exemption for statistical or scientific agency personnel. This erodes protection of those agencies from political influence.
www.govexec.com/workforce/20... #econsky

@aaronsojourner.org @betseystevenson.bsky.social @justinwolfers.bsky.social @asa-scipol.bsky.social @nabe-econ.bsky.social @apduorg.bsky.social @copafs.bsky.social @c2er.bsky.social @jedkolko.bsky.social

#jobs #jobsday #statistics #data #employment #labormarket #labor #economics #finance

When the #jobsreport is released on Wed. significant shifts in the jobs benchmarks are anticipated.
The Friends of BLS has issued a statement outlining what to expect and the reasons why.
Don't fall for uninformed overreactions!
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2026...
#econsky

Trump Names ‘Data Nerd’ to Lead Labor Statistics Agency

Erica Groshen (@ericagroshen.bsky.social), senior labor market advisor at #CornellILR, said she supports the selection of Brett Matsumoto as the new commissioner, explaining: “He’s a B.L.S.-er, he’s a data nerd.”

Read more via @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/b...

The next Commissioner must not only manage the difficult responsibilities inherent to the role, but also repair public trust, defend the agency against perceived political interference, and accelerate critical modernization efforts across all programs. These unusually fraught circumstances mean that the Senate’s upcoming advice and consent responsibilities could be the most consequential ever for the BLS. We, the Friends of BLS, are working every day for the success of the Bureau’s mission, and that mission depends mightily on the leadership of the Commissioner. Given the unique parameters surrounding this nomination and the crossroads at which the Bureau now stands, the Friends urge the Senate to conduct a thorough and timely review of Dr. Matsumoto’s qualifications, as it has every preceding nominee.

1. On Brett Matsumoto's Nomination for BLS Commissioner www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2026...

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JOB OPENING
Seattle's Office of Labor Standards is hiring a Data Strategist to lead data and policv work related to “gig economy” and serve on their policy team.
Learn more and apply here. www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seat...

Position closes on 1/27. #econsky

Please join me and my colleagues for this fun session!

#econbluesky #cpi #inflation #BLS #forecast #TIPS
@copafs.bsky.social @apduorg.bsky.social @asa-scipol.bsky.social @aaronsojourner.org @justinwolfers.bsky.social @steveliesman.bsky.social @jc-econ.bsky.social

New statement from Friends of BLS:
"Some controversy...erupted on Dec. 30 following release of a highly informative Q&A that addressed how [BLS] estimated the Nov. 2025 CPI.
We..find no reason to see the hand of politics anywhere in the Bureau’s CPI work..."
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

Livestreamed sessions from this weekend's American Economic Association annual gathering will be posted at www.aeaweb.org/conference/l...

@apduorg.bsky.social @copafs.bsky.social @asa-scipol.bsky.social @aaronsojourner.org @nabe-econ.bsky.social @jasonfurman.bsky.social @bencasselman.bsky.social @jedkolko.bsky.social @aeainformation.bsky.social

Approximating missing data points Approximating missing data points

IMPORTANT: Includes link to a page on how to handle missing data. BLS won't insert the number for you. However, if you follow their advice, your estimate for CPI in October will be consistent with best practice and with what most others will use to fill in the gap. www.bls.gov/cpi/factshee...

12/30/25: New info from #BLS on impact of #shutdown on #CPI data, including:
How were Nov. indexes calculated?
Why BLS chose carry-forward imputation?
How missing Oct data will impact April 2026 rent & OER indexes?
Statistical weighting changes made in 11/25?

www.bls.gov/cpi/addition...
#econsky

Thank you all experts for explaining "why BLS can't just ask people whether they were unemployed in Oct for the household survey" to me

And this one from Erika is a clear and definite one if you like a TLDR

Welcome, my friends!

Hey, #EconSky!

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is here @usbls.bsky.social!
bsky.app/profile/usbl...

So great to see BLS back to work measuring and informing us about our large and dynamic economy.

It’s a great institution full of dedicated civil servants deeply committed their mission. They have had a tough year, and everyone is covering for someone who left. I thank them all for their service.

Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations

Revised Release Dates for BLS Data Products.

www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...

Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations

Follow this BLS page to see the revised schedule for releases:

www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...

Economic data is back following government reopening - here are the key events this week US economic data 2025: The U.S. government has reopened after its longest shutdown, paving the way for the release of critical economic data such as the September jobs report, CPI, PPI, and PCE. Key c...

#CornellILR's @ericagroshen.bsky.social says that the unusual length of the government closure means that some data was not collected on schedule, creating potential gaps in the upcoming reports. Each economic series will be affected differently depending on how, when + from whom data was gathered.