Analyzing Labor Statistics

Dates and duration

November 3 – 14, 2008 (9 days)

Tuition

$2,880

Participants

This seminar is designed primarily for economists, statisticians, researchers, analysts, and managers working with labor statistics. Participants should have an elementary knowledge of statistics.

Objectives

To strengthen participants' analytical skills by:

• Presenting systematic methods of analyzing labor statistics
• Teaching the tools needed to interpret a variety of data
• Developing skills in presenting statistical reports and data to decisionmakers and other users in an understandable and useful manner

Program content

This seminar will draw on the experience of BLS staff and others in selecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting statistical data. Participants will learn how to identify sources of data that can be applied to particular problems. Effective approaches to clearly presenting data to decisionmakers and non-government organizations and users will be discussed. Presentations are included on the ways in which outside sources use BLS data.

Participants will have time outside of seminar sessions to have appointments with staff of BLS and other organizations to discuss special problems and explore areas of special interest.

A summary of the program is as follows:

The process of analysis

• Nature of analysis
• Sources of data for analysis
• Statistical tools for analysis
• Assessing the reliability of data
• Methods for handling missing data

Application of the analysis process in labor statistics programs

• Employment and unemployment
• Wages and other compensation
• Productivity
• Labor force projections
• Prices and living conditions

Analysis and use of BLS data by private and other government organizations

World development indicators

Statistical disclosure and disclosure limitation

• Practices for the release of data
• Confidentiality issues

Presentation of statistical analysis

• Techniques for presenting statistical analysis to decisionmakers and other users
• Presenting statistics in graphical formats

As a supplementary course, Training of Trainers is open to all participants of this seminar.

Last modified: November 20, 2007