Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the wage data come from?

Wage data comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys approximately 200,000 employers semi-annually. Results represent annual full-time equivalent wage rates — the wage a worker would earn if they worked full-time all year at that rate. They are not actual individual earnings, which depend on hours worked.

What are H-1B LCA filings and what do they tell me?

H-1B Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) are filings employers submit to DOL certifying they will pay foreign workers at least the prevailing wage. The data is public record. Important caveats: LCAs are certifications, not approved visas; an employer may file more LCAs than they intend to use; and actual offers may differ from the certified wage floor. Despite these limitations, LCA data is one of the few public sources of employer-specific wage commitments.

How current is the data on this site?

Data freshness varies by dataset:

• OEWS wages: Annual (April release)
• CPI: Monthly (mid-month release)
• CES employment: Monthly (first Friday)
• JOLTS: Monthly (~5-week lag)
• UI claims: Weekly (Thursday release)
• SOII injuries: Annual (~9-month lag)
• CFOI fatalities: Annual (~12-month lag)

What is the difference between OEWS wages and actual earnings?

OEWS reports wage rates — the rate at which workers are paid per hour or year. Actual annual earnings depend on hours worked, which varies significantly across occupations (teachers may work 9 months; manufacturing workers may have overtime). OEWS wages are "annualized" by multiplying hourly rates by 2,080 hours, regardless of actual hours worked.

What does the injury incidence rate mean?

The incidence rate expresses cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers per year. A rate of 4.0 means that in a workforce of 100 full-time workers, you would expect approximately 4 recordable injuries or illnesses in a year. Only injuries that are work-related and meet OSHA recording criteria are counted — minor injuries that require only first aid are excluded.

What is the difference between CPI and PPI?

The CPI measures prices from the consumer's perspective — what you pay at the store. The PPI measures prices from the producer's perspective — what businesses receive for their output. Because costs flow from production to distribution to retail, PPI changes often lead CPI changes by weeks or months. Economists watch PPI for "upstream" inflation pressure that hasn't yet reached consumers.

How should I interpret UI claims as an economic indicator?

Initial UI claims are one of the most timely labor market signals, with only a one-week lag. Rising initial claims signal increasing layoffs. The 4-week moving average smooths week-to-week volatility. A sustained increase above ~300,000/week nationally has historically preceded recessions. However, claims reflect only workers who file for benefits — gig workers, self-employed, and those who don't qualify are excluded.

What is JOLTS and why does it matter?

JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) provides monthly data on job openings, hires, quits, and layoffs. It reveals the labor market's "churn" — how many positions are open vs. filled, and why workers are leaving jobs. The quits rate is especially watched as a confidence indicator: when workers feel secure, they're willing to quit for better opportunities. Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen cited the quits rate as a key metric for assessing labor market health.