Overview of BLS International Data and Technical Cooperation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces many different types of international data and provides technical assistance to improve data quality and build capacity in the statistical offices of other countries and international agencies.

Foreign Labor Statistics

The Foreign Labor Statistics program publishes comparative data on labor, compensation, productivity, and consumer prices in other countries. See information below for details:

  • International Consumer Price Indexes (CPIs)

    Consumer price indexes as published by individual countries, unadjusted for comparability, as well as harmonized indexes for a smaller selection of countries, are available on the Foreign Labor Statistics Tables page.

  • International Unemployment Rates
  • Comparative unemployment data, adjusted to U.S. concepts, as well as unadjusted data, available on the Foreign Labor Statistics Tables page starting from 1960 for ten countries. Data on monthly and quarterly unemployment rates are also updated and published on a monthly basis for these ten countries.

  • International Employment Comparisons

    Comparative employment data, adjusted to U.S. concepts, as well as unadjusted data and several other labor force variables, are available on the Foreign Labor Statistics Tables page for ten countries, starting from 1960.

  • International Compensation Costs

    Comparative hourly compensation costs in national currencies and U.S. dollars for production workers and all employees in manufacturing are available on the Foreign Labor Statistics Tables page starting from 1975 for 36 economies.

  • International Productivity

    Comparative productivity and unit labor cost data for the manufacturing sector are available on the Foreign Labor Statistics Tables page starting from 1950 for 16 economies.

International Technical Cooperation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts a comprehensive program of technical assistance designed to build statistical capacity in collecting, compiling, and analyzing economic and labor statistics.  Statisticians, economists, analysts, and other data users from countries all over the world participate in the Bureau’s international technical assistance programs.  In addition to scheduled seminars, the Bureau offers customized training programs, consulting services, and welcomes short-term visitors. 

Import and Export Prices

The International Price Program measures changes in the prices of imported and exported goods and some services traded between the United States and the rest of the world.

 

At one time, BLS produced data on Foreign Direct Investment, but that program was discontinued. For more information, visit the website of the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

 

Last Modified Date: July 19, 2008