Workforce Information Council is an independent informational resource that explains how the U.S. workforce and labor market information system works — and how its data can guide better decisions for workforce investment systems, policymakers, employers, and the public.
An independent guide to a complex public data system
Labor market information (LMI), which includes employment counts, wage data, industry and occupational projections, and workforce indicators that influence hiring, training, and public policy, is produced by the United States through an extensive, collaborative system. This system encompasses decades of statistical practice, all state workforce agencies, and federal agencies. Although it is strong, navigating it is not always simple.
The purpose of the Workforce Information Council is to bridge that gap. We provide concise, useful explanations of official labor market data, including what the data measures, where it comes from, how it can be used responsibly, and where to locate the reliable source. We organize, condense, and contextualize publicly available information so that readers can confidently act upon it. Our work is editorial and educational.
We are an independent publisher. We are not associated with, supported by, or operating on behalf of the U.S. Department of Labor or any other federal or state entity, nor are we a government agency. We direct readers to the appropriate authority when it comes to official action, eligibility, or legal interpretation.
The building blocks of workforce and labor market information
Employment & unemployment
How national, state, and local employment and labor force figures are measured, updated, and read in context.
Wages & earnings
Occupational wage and earnings data, what it captures, and the cautions that come with comparing it across areas and years.
Industry & occupational data
How jobs and industries are classified, counted, and connected to the skills behind them.
Employment projections
Short- and long-term outlooks for occupations and industries, and how to use projections without overstating them.
Workforce investment systems
How LMI feeds planning, program design, and accountability across the public workforce system.
Data sources & methods
The federal–state cooperative programs behind the numbers, and how to reach the original, official releases.
How we keep our content trustworthy
We start from official data
Our justifications are based on publicly accessible data from reputable government agencies, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor. We cite official releases when a fact originates from them.
ACCURACY
We aim to be current and correct
We work hard to maintain the accuracy and timeliness of our content, and we quickly review and fix any mistakes that are pointed out to us. We advise readers to verify numbers against the original source because official data is updated periodically.
CLARITY
We explain, we don’t advise
Making information comprehensible is our responsibility. We don’t offer legal, financial, eligibility, or compliance advice; instead, we offer broad, instructive explanations. Readers should rely on the relevant agency for decisions that impact rights, benefits, or obligations.
INDEPENDENCE
We are transparent about what we are
We are not a government agency; rather, we are an independent resource. We make this clear, we don’t assert official status, and we always refer readers to the reliable source for official information.
Disclaimer
Workforce Information Council (workforceinfocouncil.org) is an independent informational website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Labor or any federal, state, or local government agency. For any official inquiry, determination, or assistance, please contact the U.S. Department of Labor directly at https://www.dol.gov.
This website maintains and shares information, guidelines, and references to laws and regulations to enhance public access to and understanding of U.S. workforce and labor market information. Much of this information references or is based on materials published by the U.S. Department of Labor (https://www.dol.gov) and related federal and state agencies. We make every effort to keep this site current and to correct errors brought to our attention.