Comments of 2000 Benchmark Revisions to Regional Employment Data

IndicatorsComments on2000 Benchmark Revisionsto Regional Employment Databy Tom DeCoffOnce a year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment were significant, with additional jobs tal-(BLS) revises employment data for the previous two lied in each month of the year. Employment growthyears to incorporate the latest benchmarks. The most between December 1999 and December 2000, previ-recent revisions were based on the 2000 benchmark ously estimated at 1.4 percent, was revised to 2.2 per-and affected employment data for both 1999 and cent—a rate that exceeds the (unrevised) national2000. This article discusses some of the more signifi- growth rate for that period (also 1.4 percent).cant revisions specific to the states and industries of Revisions to 1999 data were small, but nonethelessNew England. Similarly, the June issue of BLS’s added jobs in the region. Exhibit 1 compares employ-Employment and Earnings will highlight revisions made ment in New England, before and after the 2000to national data. benchmark revisions. Comparisons for selected statesThis year's revisions reveal good news about New are shown in Exhibit 2. Table 1 on pages v and vi sum-England's labor market. First, the number of jobs in the marizes previous and revised employment data for all ofregion in the year 2000 increased beyond the level origi- New England's states and industries.nally estimated. Employment in 2000 was revised Upward revisions in five of the six New ...