CAPAC and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez on New Seasonally Adjusted Employment Data
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will begin publishing monthly seasonally adjusted data on Asian American employment. The announcement comes after Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) raised the importance of collecting and publishing this data during a meeting with Labor Secretary Tom Perez last Spring.
“I applaud the Department of Labor for publishing first of its kind data to help us better understand the Asian American and Pacific Islander labor force,” said CAPAC Chair Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27). “This new seasonally adjusted employment data comes at an important time during our nation’s economic recovery when seeing who is and is not benefitting is more important than ever. I commend Secretary Perez for his leadership in working with CAPAC to ensure that policymakers have access to information that more accurately reflects the needs of our diverse communities, and I look forward to our continued work together to promote economic opportunity for all.”
“Our work to help Americans punch their ticket to the middle class is more data driven than it’s ever been before, and getting accurate and timely data is essential to meeting the employment needs of all our nation’s workers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “With our introduction of monthly seasonally adjusted employment data for Asian-Americans in the U.S. labor force, we now have more information that will allow the Labor department, local communities and worker advocates to respond effectively to the needs of the AAPI community.”
“This past Spring, Congresswoman Chu and I sent a letter to Secretary Perez requesting that the Department of Labor publish seasonally-adjusted monthly employment data on the AAPI community,” said CAPAC Economic Development Task Force Chair Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06). “I am extremely pleased that the Department has agreed to our request. The availability of seasonally-adjusted monthly employment data will open up a whole new trove of information for policymakers who rely on current, accurate data. I thank Secretary Perez and the Department of Labor for being responsive to our concerns, and for moving forward with its plan to provide this important data.”
In prior years, BLS did not seasonally adjust data for the Asian American community due to a number of factors, including the small sample size and lack of sufficient historical data. The new seasonally adjusted series for the unemployment rate will allow users to compare statistics that more accurately reflect trends and patterns within the Asian American labor force.
A copy of the CAPAC letter sent to Secretary Perez can be found here.
More information about seasonal adjustment can be found here.
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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and Members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.