Bureau of Labor Statistics
What is the Bureau of Labor Statistics?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a federal statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Labor that serves as the primary source for labor market data in the United States. For construction professionals, the BLS provides critical industry-specific information including employment trends, wage data, workplace injury statistics, and productivity measures that directly impact project planning, safety management, and regulatory compliance.
The BLS classifies construction activities under NAICS 23, which encompasses establishments primarily engaged in building construction and engineering projects such as highways, utility systems, and commercial facilities. This classification system helps standardize data collection and reporting across the construction sector, making it easier for companies to benchmark their performance against industry standards.
Key Construction Data and Reports
The BLS produces several reports that construction professionals rely on for business planning and compliance purposes:
- Employment and wage statistics - Track hiring trends, labor costs, and regional variations in construction employment
- Injury and illness data - Document workplace safety incidents, fatality rates, and injury trends by construction subsector
- Productivity measures - Analyze output per hour worked and efficiency trends across different construction activities
- Consumer Price Index data - Track material cost inflation and construction-related price changes
Applications in Construction Management
Construction companies use BLS data for multiple operational and strategic purposes. Project managers reference wage and employment statistics when developing labor budgets and staffing plans for large projects. Safety managers utilize injury and illness data to benchmark their company’s safety performance against industry averages and identify areas for improvement.
The data also supports regulatory compliance efforts, as many OSHA reporting requirements and safety program evaluations reference BLS statistics as baseline measurements. Additionally, contractors use BLS economic indicators to forecast market conditions and adjust their business strategies accordingly.
Accessing and Using BLS Information
The BLS maintains comprehensive databases and regular publications that construction professionals can access through their official website. The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about construction occupations, including job duties, education requirements, and salary ranges.
Most BLS data is updated monthly or quarterly, providing current information for decision-making. Construction companies often integrate this data into their risk management processes, using historical trends to predict future labor market conditions and adjust their operational strategies. Understanding how to interpret and apply BLS statistics has become an essential skill for construction managers working on complex projects where accurate labor forecasting and safety benchmarking are critical to success.
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