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Measuring Payroll Employment: A Note on the Current Employment Statistics

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  • Ryan A. Decker

Abstract

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics (CES) is a high-quality, closely watched indicator of labor market health and the business cycle. Recent revisions to CES data have garnered significant attention. I provide a primer on CES methodology and analyze recent survey response and data revision patterns. CES revisions actually tend to be small, but they have increased in recent years. I discuss potential ideas for improving the CES including expanding the data sample with internal or external data, adjusting the estimates with benchmark data more often, and enhancing estimation of establishment birth and death.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryan A. Decker, 2026. "Measuring Payroll Employment: A Note on the Current Employment Statistics," NBER Working Papers 34924, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34924
    Note: EFG
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data; Data Access
    • E0 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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