CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE DATA - JANUARY 2021 CURRENT MONTH - JANUARY 2021 PREVIOUS MONTH - DECEMBER 2020 YEAR AGO - JANUARY 2020 AREA UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate U.S. (000 - not seasonally adjusted) 159,234 148,383 10,851 6.8 160,017 149,613 10,404 6.5 163,497 156,994 6,504 4.0 MISSOURI (not seasonally adjusted) 3,043,385 2,887,935 155,450 5.1 3,055,793 2,913,854 141,939 4.6 3,077,693 2,955,956 121,737 4.0 METROPOLITAN AREAS CAPE GIRARDEAU 47,391 45,203 2,188 4.6 48,092 46,092 2,000 4.2 48,059 46,354 1,705 3.5 CAPE GIRARDEAU (MO PT) 45,491 43,487 2,004 4.4 46,197 44,348 1,849 4.0 46,141 44,542 1,599 3.5 Bollinger 5,403 5,135 268 5.0 5,406 5,167 239 4.4 5,487 5,237 250 4.6 Cape Girardeau 40,088 38,352 1,736 4.3 40,791 39,181 1,610 3.9 40,654 39,305 1,349 3.3 COLUMBIA MSA (Boone Co.) 95,630 92,019 3,611 3.8 97,720 94,439 3,281 3.4 96,467 93,625 2,842 2.9 JEFFERSON CITY MSA 75,244 72,306 2,938 3.9 75,217 72,648 2,569 3.4 74,929 72,474 2,455 3.3 Callaway 21,451 20,570 881 4.1 21,463 20,682 781 3.6 21,369 20,620 749 3.5 Cole 39,263 37,734 1,529 3.9 39,413 38,073 1,340 3.4 39,095 37,861 1,234 3.2 Moniteau 7,410 7,111 299 4.0 7,284 7,037 247 3.4 7,367 7,100 267 3.6 Osage 7,120 6,891 229 3.2 7,057 6,856 201 2.8 7,098 6,893 205 2.9 JOPLIN MSA 84,346 80,473 3,873 4.6 84,129 80,528 3,601 4.3 82,694 79,698 2,996 3.6 Jasper 57,175 54,550 2,625 4.6 57,127 54,675 2,452 4.3 56,020 54,040 1,980 3.5 Newton 27,171 25,923 1,248 4.6 27,002 25,853 1,149 4.3 26,674 25,658 1,016 3.8 KANSAS CITY MSA 1,151,844 1,092,362 59,482 5.2 1,150,285 1,098,754 51,531 4.5 1,143,202 1,103,640 39,562 3.5 KANSAS CITY MSA (MO PT) 659,889 625,209 34,680 5.3 663,670 631,301 32,369 4.9 664,335 639,654 24,681 3.7 Bates 7,776 7,376 400 5.1 7,672 7,312 360 4.7 7,852 7,499 353 4.5 Caldwell 4,321 4,117 204 4.7 4,262 4,068 194 4.6 4,340 4,181 159 3.7 Cass 54,529 51,967 2,562 4.7 54,633 52,364 2,269 4.2 55,177 53,129 2,048 3.7 Clay 136,017 129,987 6,030 4.4 136,987 131,347 5,640 4.1 137,428 133,024 4,404 3.2 Clinton 10,589 10,078 511 4.8 10,515 10,083 432 4.1 10,663 10,277 386 3.6 Jackson 360,667 339,354 21,313 5.9 363,246 343,195 20,051 5.5 361,854 347,382 14,472 4.0 Lafayette 16,717 15,930 787 4.7 16,620 15,912 708 4.3 16,885 16,236 649 3.8 Platte 58,398 56,040 2,358 4.0 58,842 56,597 2,245 3.8 59,107 57,339 1,768 3.0 Ray 10,875 10,360 515 4.7 10,893 10,423 470 4.3 11,029 10,587 442 4.0 ST. JOSEPH MSA 62,170 59,476 2,694 4.3 63,029 60,563 2,466 3.9 62,710 60,464 2,246 3.6 ST. JOSEPH MSA (MO PT) 58,014 55,452 2,562 4.4 58,823 56,462 2,361 4.0 58,589 56,490 2,099 3.6 Andrew 9,725 9,352 373 3.8 9,802 9,475 327 3.3 9,832 9,514 318 3.2 Buchanan 43,511 41,523 1,988 4.6 44,263 42,400 1,863 4.2 43,926 42,337 1,589 3.6 DeKalb 4,778 4,577 201 4.2 4,758 4,587 171 3.6 4,831 4,639 192 4.0 ST. LOUIS MSA 1,438,304 1,359,294 79,010 5.5 1,443,527 1,369,424 74,103 5.1 1,477,439 1,422,956 54,483 3.7 ST. LOUIS MSA (MO PT) 1,107,584 1,050,305 57,279 5.2 1,114,512 1,060,435 54,077 4.9 1,134,592 1,092,341 42,251 3.7 Franklin 52,221 49,568 2,653 5.1 52,247 49,929 2,318 4.4 53,619 51,497 2,122 4.0 Jefferson 116,037 110,078 5,959 5.1 116,635 111,232 5,403 4.6 119,080 114,506 4,574 3.8 Lincoln 28,432 27,014 1,418 5.0 28,352 27,155 1,197 4.2 29,545 28,042 1,503 5.1 St. Charles 222,129 213,224 8,905 4.0 223,537 215,180 8,357 3.7 229,768 221,755 8,013 3.5 St. Louis Co. 520,362 493,491 26,871 5.2 524,338 498,464 25,874 4.9 532,167 513,312 18,855 3.5 Warren 18,056 17,211 845 4.7 18,060 17,308 752 4.2 18,692 17,868 824 4.4 St. Louis City 150,347 139,719 10,628 7.1 151,343 141,167 10,176 6.7 151,721 145,361 6,360 4.2 SPRINGFIELD MSA 237,065 227,069 9,996 4.2 237,785 228,600 9,185 3.9 235,559 227,242 8,317 3.5 Christian 45,834 43,951 1,883 4.1 45,975 44,312 1,663 3.6 45,600 44,008 1,592 3.5 Dallas 7,126 6,761 365 5.1 7,065 6,721 344 4.9 7,098 6,747 351 4.9 Greene 152,003 145,614 6,389 4.2 152,817 146,898 5,919 3.9 150,868 145,769 5,099 3.4 Polk 14,625 13,994 631 4.3 14,529 13,953 576 4.0 14,531 13,986 545 3.8 Webster 17,477 16,749 728 4.2 17,399 16,716 683 3.9 17,462 16,732 730 4.2 FAYETTEVILLE MSA (MO PT - McDonald Co) 10,752 10,302 450 4.2 10,758 10,320 438 4.1 10,620 10,225 395 3.7 CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE DATA - JANUARY 2021 CURRENT MONTH - JANUARY 2021 PREVIOUS MONTH - DECEMBER 2020 YEAR AGO - JANUARY 2020 AREA UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate MICROPOLITAN AREAS BRANSON 36,324 31,920 4,404 12.1 38,098 35,736 2,362 6.2 38,983 34,721 4,262 10.9 Stone 12,305 10,946 1,359 11.0 12,976 12,189 787 6.1 13,174 11,873 1,301 9.9 Taney 24,019 20,974 3,045 12.7 25,122 23,547 1,575 6.3 25,809 22,848 2,961 11.5 FARMINGTON (St. Francois Co.) 26,254 24,715 1,539 5.9 26,447 25,090 1,357 5.1 26,598 25,300 1,298 4.9 FT. LEONARD WOOD (Pulaski Co.) 14,570 13,781 789 5.4 14,460 13,740 720 5.0 14,680 14,000 680 4.6 HANNIBAL 19,791 18,940 851 4.3 20,049 19,297 752 3.8 19,843 19,129 714 3.6 Marion 14,180 13,574 606 4.3 14,401 13,858 543 3.8 14,225 13,716 509 3.6 Ralls 5,611 5,366 245 4.4 5,648 5,439 209 3.7 5,618 5,413 205 3.6 KENNETT (Dunklin Co.) 11,667 10,844 823 7.1 11,303 10,605 698 6.2 11,517 10,810 707 6.1 KIRKSVILLE 12,000 11,397 603 5.0 12,068 11,518 550 4.6 12,221 11,714 507 4.1 Adair 10,047 9,543 504 5.0 10,162 9,692 470 4.6 10,237 9,827 410 4.0 Schuyler 1,953 1,854 99 5.1 1,906 1,826 80 4.2 1,984 1,887 97 4.9 LEBANON (Laclede Co.) 16,515 15,575 940 5.7 16,289 15,450 839 5.2 16,961 15,796 1,165 6.9 MARSHALL (Saline Co.) 10,726 10,267 459 4.3 10,616 10,200 416 3.9 10,882 10,460 422 3.9 MARYVILLE (Nodaway Co.) 10,522 10,110 412 3.9 10,583 10,203 380 3.6 10,856 10,478 378 3.5 MEXICO (Audrain Co.) 10,258 9,811 447 4.4 10,251 9,827 424 4.1 10,566 10,152 414 3.9 MOBERLY (Randolph Co.) 10,109 9,571 538 5.3 10,206 9,738 468 4.6 10,151 9,691 460 4.5 POPLAR BLUFF (Butler Co.) 18,287 17,242 1,045 5.7 18,504 17,491 1,013 5.5 18,034 17,186 848 4.7 ROLLA (Phelps Co.) 19,993 19,066 927 4.6 20,078 19,260 818 4.1 19,804 18,992 812 4.1 SEDALIA (Pettis. Co.) 20,431 19,291 1,140 5.6 20,132 19,316 816 4.1 20,842 20,028 814 3.9 SIKESTON (Scott Co.) 19,954 18,975 979 4.9 19,914 18,994 920 4.6 19,934 19,143 791 4.0 WARRENSBURG (Johnson Co.) 23,079 21,951 1,128 4.9 23,132 22,064 1,068 4.6 23,283 22,267 1,016 4.4 WEST PLAINS (Howell Co.) 16,202 15,233 969 6.0 16,227 15,284 943 5.8 16,649 15,770 879 5.3 FT MADISON-KEOKUK IA-MO(MO PT - Clark Co.) 3,155 2,990 165 5.2 3,098 2,941 157 5.1 3,185 3,039 146 4.6 QUINCY IL-MO (MO PT - Lewis Co.) 4,956 4,742 214 4.3 4,913 4,735 178 3.6 5,026 4,840 186 3.7 COMBINED STATISTICAL AREAS (CSAs) Cape Girardeau-Sikeston CSA1 67,345 64,178 3,167 4.7 68,006 65,086 2,920 4.3 67,993 65,497 2,496 3.7 Columbia-Moberly-Mexico CSA2 115,997 111,401 4,596 4.0 118,177 114,004 4,173 3.5 117,184 113,468 3,716 3.2 Joplin-Miami CSA3 98,736 94,245 4,491 4.5 98,377 94,204 4,173 4.2 97,156 93,728 3,428 3.5 Kansas City-Overland Park- KC KS CSA4 1,323,225 1,254,753 68,472 5.2 1,321,952 1,263,010 58,942 4.5 1,315,383 1,269,666 45,717 3.5 St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington CSA5 1,481,059 1,399,328 81,731 5.5 1,486,574 1,410,019 76,555 5.1 1,521,143 1,464,674 56,469 3.7 Springfield-Branson CSA6 273,389 258,989 14,400 5.3 275,883 264,336 11,547 4.2 274,542 261,963 12,579 4.6 SINGLE COUNTY LMAs Atchison 2,738 2,638 100 3.7 2,651 2,566 85 3.2 2,717 2,625 92 3.4 Barry 15,727 14,763 964 6.1 15,298 14,535 763 5.0 15,752 15,011 741 4.7 Barton 5,296 5,087 209 3.9 5,164 4,959 205 4.0 5,184 4,993 191 3.7 Benton 7,316 6,791 525 7.2 7,241 6,805 436 6.0 7,140 6,736 404 5.7 Camden 18,137 16,765 1,372 7.6 18,262 17,139 1,123 6.1 18,123 16,866 1,257 6.9 Carroll 4,793 4,539 254 5.3 4,923 4,389 534 10.8 4,789 4,615 174 3.6 Carter 2,521 2,345 176 7.0 2,537 2,384 153 6.0 2,495 2,350 145 5.8 Cedar 5,864 5,598 266 4.5 5,770 5,535 235 4.1 5,740 5,497 243 4.2 Chariton 3,875 3,704 171 4.4 3,850 3,712 138 3.6 3,788 3,644 144 3.8 Cooper 7,153 6,819 334 4.7 7,195 6,891 304 4.2 7,297 7,005 292 4.0 Crawford 10,843 10,212 631 5.8 10,744 10,217 527 4.9 10,908 10,416 492 4.5 Dade 3,601 3,449 152 4.2 3,525 3,396 129 3.7 3,563 3,427 136 3.8 CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE DATA - JANUARY 2021 CURRENT MONTH - JANUARY 2021 PREVIOUS MONTH - DECEMBER 2020 YEAR AGO - JANUARY 2020 AREA UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate Daviess 4,147 3,968 179 4.3 4,025 3,879 146 3.6 4,119 3,960 159 3.9 Dent 6,442 6,123 319 5.0 6,411 6,100 311 4.9 6,386 6,099 287 4.5 Douglas 5,226 4,942 284 5.4 5,197 4,942 255 4.9 5,296 4,734 562 10.6 Gasconade 7,509 7,153 356 4.7 7,495 7,181 314 4.2 7,664 7,383 281 3.7 Gentry 3,415 3,310 105 3.1 3,314 3,211 103 3.1 3,458 3,354 104 3.0 Grundy 4,368 4,184 184 4.2 4,289 4,138 151 3.5 4,405 4,233 172 3.9 Harrison 3,847 3,678 169 4.4 3,742 3,600 142 3.8 3,823 3,645 178 4.7 Henry 9,760 9,257 503 5.2 9,782 9,329 453 4.6 9,699 9,251 448 4.6 Hickory 3,854 3,656 198 5.1 3,845 3,659 186 4.8 3,799 3,598 201 5.3 Holt 2,564 2,480 84 3.3 2,498 2,429 69 2.8 2,565 2,477 88 3.4 Howard 4,893 4,695 198 4.0 4,871 4,707 164 3.4 4,940 4,757 183 3.7 Iron 3,530 3,284 246 7.0 3,505 3,291 214 6.1 3,505 3,305 200 5.7 Knox 1,752 1,682 70 4.0 1,728 1,659 69 4.0 1,816 1,752 64 3.5 Lawrence 17,651 16,644 1,007 5.7 17,498 16,725 773 4.4 17,833 17,007 826 4.6 Linn 5,222 4,841 381 7.3 5,127 4,849 278 5.4 5,103 4,818 285 5.6 Livingston 7,441 7,150 291 3.9 7,343 7,091 252 3.4 7,350 7,100 250 3.4 Macon 7,532 7,170 362 4.8 7,456 7,141 315 4.2 7,561 7,253 308 4.1 Madison 5,483 5,187 296 5.4 5,471 5,199 272 5.0 5,532 5,299 233 4.2 Maries 3,971 3,786 185 4.7 3,950 3,785 165 4.2 3,898 3,744 154 4.0 Mercer 1,920 1,843 77 4.0 1,814 1,753 61 3.4 1,899 1,820 79 4.2 Miller 12,239 11,533 706 5.8 12,245 11,676 569 4.6 12,072 11,407 665 5.5 Mississippi 5,744 5,422 322 5.6 5,610 5,332 278 5.0 5,774 5,521 253 4.4 Monroe 3,738 3,519 219 5.9 3,714 3,538 176 4.7 3,780 3,590 190 5.0 Montgomery 5,729 5,495 234 4.1 5,659 5,445 214 3.8 5,835 5,590 245 4.2 Morgan 8,292 7,730 562 6.8 8,184 7,766 418 5.1 8,068 7,579 489 6.1 New Madrid 8,688 8,227 461 5.3 8,436 8,018 418 5.0 8,365 7,969 396 4.7 Oregon 3,999 3,733 266 6.7 3,935 3,688 247 6.3 3,977 3,761 216 5.4 Ozark 3,399 3,165 234 6.9 3,349 3,129 220 6.6 3,455 3,176 279 8.1 Pemiscot 6,240 5,763 477 7.6 6,181 5,722 459 7.4 6,259 5,902 357 5.7 Perry 9,873 9,473 400 4.1 9,829 9,498 331 3.4 9,955 9,651 304 3.1 Pike 7,448 7,103 345 4.6 7,546 7,240 306 4.1 7,514 7,183 331 4.4 Putnam 2,290 2,191 99 4.3 2,202 2,119 83 3.8 2,292 2,193 99 4.3 Reynolds 2,851 2,703 148 5.2 2,835 2,702 133 4.7 2,910 2,775 135 4.6 Ripley 4,943 4,610 333 6.7 4,924 4,615 309 6.3 4,967 4,712 255 5.1 St. Clair 3,846 3,639 207 5.4 3,799 3,601 198 5.2 3,747 3,545 202 5.4 Ste. Genevieve 9,278 8,871 407 4.4 9,276 8,920 356 3.8 9,087 8,767 320 3.5 Scotland 2,427 2,346 81 3.3 2,355 2,284 71 3.0 2,393 2,308 85 3.6 Shannon 3,375 3,143 232 6.9 3,286 3,080 206 6.3 3,292 3,091 201 6.1 Shelby 3,090 2,938 152 4.9 3,003 2,857 146 4.9 3,080 2,950 130 4.2 Stoddard 13,338 12,621 717 5.4 13,128 12,473 655 5.0 13,353 12,640 713 5.3 Sullivan 2,886 2,723 163 5.6 2,770 2,638 132 4.8 2,813 2,686 127 4.5 Texas 9,122 8,637 485 5.3 8,986 8,505 481 5.4 9,005 8,541 464 5.2 Vernon 9,626 9,228 398 4.1 9,417 9,046 371 3.9 9,503 9,141 362 3.8 Washington 10,155 9,491 664 6.5 10,098 9,547 551 5.5 10,317 9,738 579 5.6 Wayne 5,054 4,757 297 5.9 5,063 4,783 280 5.5 5,102 4,847 255 5.0 Worth 1,173 1,135 38 3.2 1,134 1,096 38 3.4 1,169 1,136 33 2.8 Wright 7,341 6,952 389 5.3 7,128 6,770 358 5.0 7,527 6,981 546 7.3 CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE DATA - JANUARY 2021 CURRENT MONTH - JANUARY 2021 PREVIOUS MONTH - DECEMBER 2020 YEAR AGO - JANUARY 2020 AREA UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate LABOR FORCE EMPLOYMENT Number Rate PLACES OF 20,000 OR MORE Arnold 11,303 10,804 499 4.4 11,428 10,918 510 4.5 11,678 11,239 439 3.8 Ballwin 16,523 15,900 623 3.8 16,687 16,060 627 3.8 16,999 16,539 460 2.7 Belton 11,456 10,848 608 5.3 11,450 10,931 519 4.5 11,576 11,090 486 4.2 Blue Springs 30,508 29,144 1,364 4.5 30,784 29,474 1,310 4.3 30,897 29,834 1,063 3.4 Cape Girardeau 20,243 19,284 959 4.7 20,599 19,700 899 4.4 20,464 19,763 701 3.4 Chesterfield 24,342 23,442 900 3.7 24,615 23,679 936 3.8 25,112 24,384 728 2.9 Columbia 65,315 62,849 2,466 3.8 66,768 64,502 2,266 3.4 65,846 63,946 1,900 2.9 Ferguson 9,636 8,878 758 7.9 9,647 8,967 680 7.0 9,716 9,234 482 5.0 Florissant 27,520 25,822 1,698 6.2 27,664 26,082 1,582 5.7 28,083 26,859 1,224 4.4 Gladstone 14,601 13,856 745 5.1 14,676 14,001 675 4.6 14,699 14,180 519 3.5 Grandview 12,886 12,115 771 6.0 12,985 12,252 733 5.6 12,923 12,401 522 4.0 Hazelwood 13,534 12,692 842 6.2 13,665 12,820 845 6.2 13,783 13,202 581 4.2 Independence 56,934 53,203 3,731 6.6 57,218 53,805 3,413 6.0 57,034 54,462 2,572 4.5 Jefferson City 20,760 19,885 875 4.2 20,878 20,064 814 3.9 20,622 19,952 670 3.2 Joplin 24,772 23,601 1,171 4.7 24,753 23,639 1,114 4.5 24,244 23,378 866 3.6 Kansas City 259,307 244,603 14,704 5.7 261,431 247,274 14,157 5.4 260,208 250,357 9,851 3.8 Kirkwood 15,669 15,044 625 4.0 15,792 15,195 597 3.8 16,103 15,648 455 2.8 Lee's Summit 55,034 52,783 2,251 4.1 55,551 53,376 2,175 3.9 55,659 54,030 1,629 2.9 Liberty 16,445 15,733 712 4.3 16,514 15,897 617 3.7 16,643 16,100 543 3.3 Maryland Heights 15,819 15,082 737 4.7 15,917 15,234 683 4.3 16,184 15,688 496 3.1 Nixa 11,906 11,436 470 3.9 11,927 11,530 397 3.3 11,839 11,451 388 3.3 O'Fallon 48,822 46,964 1,858 3.8 49,257 47,395 1,862 3.8 50,558 48,843 1,715 3.4 Ozark 10,815 10,376 439 4.1 10,852 10,461 391 3.6 10,745 10,389 356 3.3 Raymore 11,636 11,182 454 3.9 11,687 11,268 419 3.6 11,792 11,432 360 3.1 Raytown 14,954 13,931 1,023 6.8 15,057 14,089 968 6.4 14,987 14,261 726 4.8 Rolla 8,592 8,199 393 4.6 8,641 8,283 358 4.1 8,521 8,167 354 4.2 St. Charles 38,745 36,984 1,761 4.5 38,910 37,323 1,587 4.1 39,826 38,464 1,362 3.4 St. Joseph 36,606 34,856 1,750 4.8 37,235 35,592 1,643 4.4 36,925 35,539 1,386 3.8 St. Peters 33,928 32,661 1,267 3.7 34,150 32,961 1,189 3.5 35,098 33,968 1,130 3.2 Sedalia 10,206 9,613 593 5.8 10,077 9,626 451 4.5 10,428 9,981 447 4.3 Springfield 87,185 83,261 3,924 4.5 87,700 83,995 3,705 4.2 86,396 83,350 3,046 3.5 University City 18,201 17,277 924 5.1 18,316 17,452 864 4.7 18,615 17,971 644 3.5 Warrensburg 9,176 8,785 391 4.3 9,189 8,830 359 3.9 9,269 8,912 357 3.9 Webster Groves 12,351 11,902 449 3.6 12,440 12,022 418 3.4 12,696 12,380 316 2.5 Wentzville 22,107 21,273 834 3.8 22,254 21,468 786 3.5 23,150 22,124 1,026 4.4 Wildwood 18,504 17,860 644 3.5 18,659 18,040 619 3.3 19,108 18,577 531 2.8 1 The CapeGirardeau-Sikeston CSA consists of the Cape Girardeau MSA plus the Sikeston Micropolitan Area. 2 The Columbia-Moberly-Mexico CSA consists of the Columbia MSA plus the Moberly and Mexico Micropolitan Areas 3 The Joplin-Miami CSA consists of the Joplin MSA plus the Miami OK Micropolitan Area 4 The Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City CSA consists of the Kansas City MSA plus the St. Joseph (MO) and Lawrence (KS) MSA's plus the Warrensburg (MO), Atchison (KS) and Ottawa (KS) Micropolitan Areas. 5 The St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington CSA consists of the St. Louis MSA plus the Farmington (MO) and Centralia (IL) Micropolitan Areas. 6 The Springfield-Branson CSA consists of the Springfield MSA plus the Branson Micropolitan Area PRODUCED BY MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/MERIC IN COOPERATION WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS