Current Employment Statistics FAQ

Current Employment Statistics

• What is seasonal adjustment?

  Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influence of recurring seasonal events such as weather; holidays; and the opening and closing of schools from economic data series. This allows for easier observation and analysis of non-seasonal changes in the data. By eliminating seasonal fluctuations, the data series become smoother and it is easier to compare data from month to month. Removal of seasonal fluctuations facilitates analysis of economic business cycles.

   

• How far back are historical CES estimates available?

  CES data based on NAICS industry codes are available back to 1990. Data based on the old SIC coding system are available further back. The length of the SIC-based historical series varies by geographic area.

   

• Can I subtract CES (nonagricultural) employment from LAUS (total) employment to get an estimate of agricultural employment?

  No, this is not possible because CES and LAUS estimates are based on different definitional concepts and scope. See the next question for a more complete explanation.

   

• How often are CES estimates revised?

  Each monthly data release includes preliminary estimates for the current month and revised estimates for the previous month. At the end of the year, annual revisions are done. Annual revisions normally go back 2 years but sometimes revisions further back are needed due to methodological or geographic changes. Revisions are mainly based on more complete survey responses and input data that become available during the course of the year and are intended to improve the accuracy of the estimates.

• What is the difference between LAUS employment and CES employment?

  There are many definitional differences between the LAUS employment estimates and the CES employment estimates. The main difference is that LAUS is a count of people employed by place of residence while CES is an estimate of the number of jobs by place of work. CES covers only nonagricultural employment while LAUS estimates include total employment across all industries and covers others not included in CES such as the self-employed and domestic workers. Although the two series generally follow the same trends, they cannot be directly compared due to the many definitional and methodological differences between them.

   

• Where can I find CES estimates with more industry detail or for geographic areas that are not published?

  An alternate source for employment by industry is the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. Although these data are not as timely as the CES estimates and there are some definitional differences, the two series are quite similar. QCEW employment is available at greater industry detail and includes more geographic detail than the CES estimates.

• Why are CES estimates for Florida not available at the same time as the national data are released?

  The timing of data releases depends on the availability of input data needed to produce the estimates. Data for states and local areas require more input data and processing time and are normally released about 2 weeks after the national data are released.

   

• What is the CES definition of employment?

  CES employment includes the total number of people on establishment payrolls that received pay for the pay period including the 12th of the month. Both full and part time employees are included, as are temporary employees and those on paid leave. People on the payrolls of more than one business are counted at each establishment. CES employment excludes: proprietors, the self-employed, unpaid family or volunteer workers, farm workers, and domestic workers. Also excluded are those that were on layoff for the entire pay period and those on leave without pay. Government employment only includes civilian workers. CES estimates are based on a sample of Florida employers that are surveyed each month.