• The Heritage Network
    • Resize:
    • A
    • A
    • A
  • Donate
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics

    Solar Energy Embarrassingly Less Productive than Coal

    A map recently released by the Solar Foundation highlights the industry’s claim that 119,000 Americans are now employed in the solar industry. Its authors exclaim, “The United States solar industry employs more workers than coal mining.” What the map doesn’t touch on is whether solar energy is the most economical … More

    Garbage Collecting a Green Job? According to Government, Yes!

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released yet another green jobs report that has green advocates gushing in ways they couldn’t if they actually read past the first page. As we have noted (here, here, here, and here), the BLS definition of green jobs is so bizarre that the total … More

    Labor Department Incorrectly Calculates Davis–Bacon Wage Requirements

    Should government agencies use the best information possible? For more than 80 years, the Labor Department has answered that question in the negative. The Davis–Bacon Act (DBA) of 1931 requires federal construction contractors to pay their workers at least the “prevailing wage” in their locality. The Act charges the Labor … More

    U.S. Shed 9,000 Mining, Energy Jobs in October, 17,000 Since May

    Buried in Friday’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report on the country’s unemployment situation was this disheartening fact: 9,000 employees of the mining and resource extraction sector lost their jobs in October. That brings total job losses in that sector to 17,000 since May, according to BLS. The Bureau, which is … More

    North Dakota’s Job Creation Formula

    When it comes to creating jobs, North Dakota has found the right formula. The state has the largest percentage increase in employment over the past year and was the fastest of all 50 to recover from the recession. The reason is simple: energy production. “North Dakota has been the poster … More

    Free Trade Proposals Solutions to Tech Sector Job Losses

    The House Rules Committee advanced three proposals Wednesday that may help curb a growing problem for the nation’s economy: stagnant job growth in the technology sector. The three pending free trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and Korea are up for full House approval next week. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch … More

    Washington in a Flash: Unemployment at 9.1%, Employers Add 117,000 Jobs

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that employers added 117,000 jobs in July, up from June’s dismal 18,000 but still below the number needed to keep pace with population growth. The unemployment rate also fell 0.1 percent to 9.1 percent. Get complete analysis from Heritage’s Rea Hederman and … More

    GDP Is Up, But Government Unions Ate Your Raise

    Figures released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics provide less encouragement than today’s GDP report. Total compensation increased by only 1.5 percent in 2009 (without adjusting for inflation) – the lowest increase on record. If a turnaround has begun, workers are not feeling it in their wallets. However, this … More

    Slow Job Creation, Not Job Losses, Driving Unemployment

    Unemployment has risen above 10 percent and no one in Washington seems to understand what is going on. Yesterday, a little noticed release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shed important light onto the job situation. The BLS’s Business Employment Dynamics (BED) program uses unemployment insurance (UI) records to … More

    Morning Bell: The Obama Jobs Gap Grows Again

    Another month, another 263,000 jobs lost under the Obama administration. According to Bureau of Labor and Statistics data released this morning, the United States economy has lost 3.6 million net jobs since President Barack Obama was sworn into office and the unemployment rate has risen from 7.6 % to 9.8%. … More