Abstract
Tracy E. Farmer and Michael A. Searson (1995)
"Use Of Administrative Records In The Bureau Of Labor
Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (ES-202) Program."
For nearly 50 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
and other Federal statistical agencies have been using the
employment and wages data generated from the administrative
records of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system of the
State Employment Security Agencies as a key component of
their statistical programs. Since State and Federal UI
coverage of workers in this country is approximately 96
percent of nonagricultural employment, the Covered Employment
and Wages (ES-202) program provides a virtual universe count
each quarter by detailed industrial and geographical
classifications. The use of these administrative records
provides BLS with an existing mechanism of data collection,
editing and compilation that limits the program costs and
employer burden. In addition to these advantages, there are
also certain difficulties associated with using these data.
The UI program is operational in all 50 States, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and these
States must adhere to selected Federal guidelines; however,
the States also have varying flexibility in administering
their own programs.
This paper describes how BLS deals with existing State
differences to insure a uniform set of standards for the
administrative records that comprise this important
statistical program. The paper will also review the State's
and Bureau actions to deal with the ever changing
employer/employee relationship and the increasing employer
use of payroll/tax agents or leased payroll/tax software to
prepare various reports for the State and Federal entities.
Keywords: Unemployment Insurance, State Employment Security
Agencies (SESAs or States), Multiple Worksite Report,
Quarterly Contribution Report, Status Determination Form.
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