Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Employment and wage data for workers covered by State unemployment insurance (UI) laws and for civilian workers covered by the program of Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). It constitutes a virtual census of nonagricultural employees and their wages. In addition, about 47 percent of all workers in agricultural industries are covered. QCEW (previously known as ES-202) data include information at the most detailed industry level (to the 4-digit SIC from 1975 to 2000; to the 6-digit NAICS industry since 1990) on establishment counts, annual employment, and annual and weekly wages.

Alternative title
Covered Employment and Wages (CEW ES-202)
Data creator
U.S. Department of Labour. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics
Distributor
United States. Department of Labour. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Statistics type
Geography
Geographic coverage

United States, county, Metropolitan Statistical Area, and state, including Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands

Time period
1984-present
Periodicity
annual
Sample
census
Extent of file
7 data files (number of logical records varies; dbf format) & accompanying documentation
Notes

MDL also has 1984-1999 country and MSA files on cd-rom, accessible in person at the library.

  • [CD ROM number 328] DBF disk no. 3, version 1: county level, annual averages/totals, 1988 through 1993, total through 4-digit SIC (1987 SIC), by ownership  
  • [CD ROM number 327] DBF disk no. 2, version 3: county level, annual averages/totals, 1994 through 1999, total through 4-digit SIC (1987 SIC), by ownership & MSA level annual averages/totals, 1988-1999 total through 4-digit SIC, private ownership only, plus totals by ownership.
  • [CD ROM number 329] DBF disk no. 5, version 1: county level, annual averages/totals, 1975-1983 total through 2-digit SIC (1972 SIC), 1984-1987 total through 4-digit SIC (1972 SIC), by ownership & MSA level annual averages/totals, 1975-1983 total through 2-digit SIC (1972 SIC), 1984-1987 total through 4-digit SIC (1972 SIC), private sector only, plus totals by ownership 
Access conditions and restrictions

unrestricted