Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - United States of America (Ratification: 1990)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee notes the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the Governing Body’s decision at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded to examine the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information provided this year, as well as of the information available to it in 2019.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes the comprehensive information provided by the Government in its report and notes that statistics continue to be supplied regularly to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT). The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there were no changes in the laws and regulations which administer the collection, compilation and publication of labour statistics in the United States during the reporting period. The main source of statistics on the labour force, employment, unemployment and time-related underemployment continues to be the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS). Statistics derived from the CPS, along with the relevant methodological information, are disseminated through the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website. The Committee notes from the supplementary information provided by the Government that, in May 2017, a special supplement to the CPS on contingent workers and alternative employment arrangements was conducted (the Contingent Worker Supplement (CWS)). Based on experience with the CWS, the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioned a study from the National Academy of Sciences to recommend updates to the CWS. The Committee notes that data on the economically active population derived from population censuses are regularly compiled, recalling that the most recent population census was conducted in April 2010. It notes that the next population census took place in 2020, but that on 13 October 2020, the US Supreme Court allowed the Census Bureau to halt the 2020 census count ahead of schedule. The Committee requests that the Government provide data and information on the methodology used in the application of the provisions of the Convention, including in relation to the 2020 population census. It also invites the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes the comprehensive information provided by the Government in its report and notes that statistics continue to be supplied regularly to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT). It also notes from the report that there were no changes in the laws and regulations which administer the collection, compilation and publication of labour statistics in the United States during the reporting period. The Committee notes, however, that there have been some changes in labour statistics due to budget reductions. The main source of statistics on the labour force, employment, unemployment and time-related underemployment continues to be the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS). Statistics derived from the CPS, along with the relevant methodological information, are disseminated through the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website. The Committee further notes that data on the economically active population derived from population censuses are regularly compiled and that the most recent population census was conducted in April 2010. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply data and information on the methodology used in the application of the provisions of the Convention, as well as information on any plans for conducting the next round of the population census. It also invites the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes the Government’s report, the information in reply to its previous comments and the adoption in 2002 of the Confidential Information and Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act.

Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the North American Industrial Classification System has been revised and that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) continues to take measures with a view to expanding its employment cost index sample and improving assessment of the variation in wages, salaries and employer-provided benefits.

Article 15. Coverage of strike statistics. Further to its previous comments in which it reiterated a request to the Government to consider the possibility of ensuring coverage of the largest possible number of strikes, instead of restricting this coverage to strikes involving over 1,000 workers, the Committee notes that information on work stoppages involving fewer employees are collected and published monthly by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify whether this information is used for the purpose of compiling statistics.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 14 of the Convention. The Committee notes that this Article is being applied in general. However, it notes that the coverage of the statistics on non-fatal occupational injuries is not complete. The self-employed accounted for about 9 per cent of total employment in 1998. The percentage of total employment accounted for by the public sector, farms with fewer than 11 employees and private households is not available. The Committee requests information regarding any steps the Government may be envisaging to compile statistics of non-fatal injuries for these groups of workers.

Article 15. The Committee notes that the position of the Government has not changed and that the Government continues to maintain that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was unable to include work stoppages involving less than 1,000 workers in the survey on work stoppages, due to a lack of financial resources, and that for most analytical purposes data on employers with 1,000 or more employees are sufficient in the United States. The Committee again asks the Government to keep this matter under review so as to ensure that the established limit is as low as possible, and to indicate in future reports any developments in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

Article 14 of the Convention.  The Committee notes that this Article is being applied in general. However, it notes that the coverage of the statistics on non-fatal occupational injuries is not complete. The self-employed accounted for about 9 per cent of total employment in 1998. The percentage of total employment accounted for by the public sector, farms with fewer than 11 employees and private households is not available. The Committee requests information regarding any steps the Government may be envisaging to compile statistics of non-fatal injuries for these groups of workers.

Article 15.  The Committee notes that the position of the Government has not changed and that the Government continues to maintain that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was unable to include work stoppages involving less than 1,000 workers in the survey on work stoppages, due to a lack of financial resources, and that for most analytical purposes data on employers with 1,000 or more employees are sufficient in the United States. The Committee again asks the Government to keep this matter under review so as to ensure that the established limit is as low as possible, and to indicate in future reports any developments in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee would like to draw the Government's attention to the obligation under this Article to communicate to the Office, as soon as practicable, the published statistics, for example, the 1990 Population Census compiled in pursuance of Article 8 of the Convention.

Article 15. The Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has been unable to include work stoppages involving less than 1,000 workers in the survey on work stoppages due to lack of financial resources, and that BLS nevertheless considers that for most analytical purposes data on employers with 1,000 or more employees are sufficient in the United States. The Committee requests the Government to keep this matter under review so as to ensure that the established limit is as low as possible, and to indicate in future reports any development in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

The Committee has examined the Government's first report and notes with interest that all the provisions (except for Article 15 on the point mentioned below) of the Convention are satisfactorily applied. It hopes that the Government will continue its efforts to collect, compile and publish basic labour statistics, as well as to communicate necessary information to the International Labour Office, as required under the Convention.

As regards Article 15 of the Convention (read together with Article 2), the Committee notes that work stoppages involving less than 1,000 workers are not covered by the statistics. It recalls that, according to the resolution adopted by the Fifteenth International Conference of Labour Statisticians concerning statistics of strikes and lockouts, paragraph 7, the lower limit on the scale of the action covered by the statistics, if placed, should be as low as possible. The Committee would therefore be grateful if the Government would indicate whether it intends to give consideration to lowering this limit.