What does the Bureau of Labor Statistics do?

Updates published annually

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a subdivision of the US Department of Labor responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. The agency collects, analyzes, and disseminates essential economic information to support public and private decision-making. It also conducts research and provides data on employment, unemployment, inflation, productivity, and other economic indicators. It was established in 1884.

In FY 2024,

$678M

was spent by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

In FY 2024,

1.2%

of Dept. of Labor spending was by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

How much does the Bureau of Labor Statistics spend?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics spent a net total of $678 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 1.2% of the $54.3 billion spent by the Department of Labor, which itself was 0.8% of all federal spending. The BLS ranked third among DOL subdivisions in net spending.

Net spending is the difference between agency spending and any financial accounts generating funds from the agency’s own activities, like fees or rent. When these funds offset all spending, net spending appears negative. Some agencies tend to operate with positive net spending while others will register negative net spending sometimes or often.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked third among Department of Labor divisions in net spending in 2024.

DOL net spending by division, FY 2024

Like the overall federal budget, agency spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ federal spending has increased from $414.3 million in 1980 to $678 million in 2024.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by BLS, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' spending has increased 63.6%, while overall spending has increased 193.7%.

As a percentage of the overall federal budget, a positive number means agency net spending made up some positive share of total federal spending; a negative number means that net generated funds offset a portion of total spending. BLS spending grew less than overall federal spending since 1980, which means that its share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, BLS accounted for 0.01% of overall federal spending.

Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Net spending by BLS as a share of federal spending, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.

In FY 2024, all of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' spending was direct.

The chart below outlines all net BLS spending.

How did the Bureau of Labor Statistics spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to BLS, FY 2024

How many people work for the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

Some 2,321 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of September 2024. This is 7.9% fewer people than the division staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Bureau of Labor Statistics has decreased 7.9% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for BLS, September 2010–2024

The Bureau of Labor Statistics accounts for 0.1% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. The division constituted a similar share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 compared to 2010 (0.1%).

While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' share of the workforce (0.1%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.01%).

Who leads the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

The BLS is led by a Commissioner. This individual is nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The Commissioner reports to the Secretary of Labor. The term length for the Commissioner is four years.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement