Obtaining Customer Feedback on BLS's QCEW and BED Programs

Department of Labor Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery

1225-0088 QCEW (BED) Survey (07-27-2016)

Obtaining Customer Feedback on BLS's QCEW and BED Programs

OMB: 1225-0088

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 1225-0088 can be found here:

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QCEW Final Instrument
Introduction

We would like to hear your opinions about statistical products provided by the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, also known as the ES-202
program.
Your participation in this survey will help us improve the statistics we provide.
For ease of responding, most of the survey questions have been designed to allow you to
simply check a box, but you are free to skip any question you don’t want to answer, and
you will have the opportunity to give us more detailed, written comments about any
subject.
Your participation in this survey is voluntary. We estimate that it will take you 15 minutes to
complete this survey. We are collecting this information under OMB Number 1225-0088.
Without this currently approved number, we could not conduct this survey. (Expiration: April
30, 2018).
We appreciate your time and help. Thank you!
Click Next below to begin.
This survey is being administered by SurveyMonkey.com and resides on a server outside of the BLS
domain. Since the BLS cannot guarantee the protection of survey responses, we advise against including
any sensitive or personal information.

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW, BED, or Both?

1. Would you like to answer questions about QCEW statistical products, BED (Business Employment
Dynamics) statistical products, or both QCEW and BED products?
QCEW only
BED only
Both QCEW and BED
Neither - I have not used, or don't use, QCEW or BED data

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Questions Only

2. Which BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data have you used? (Check all that
apply)
Data by size of establishment
Establishment counts
Monthly employment
Annual employment
Average weekly wages
Average annual pay
Total wages
Taxable wages
Contributions
Location quotients
Hurricane evacuation zone data and maps
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Industry Detail

3. Which level of industry detail do you use for QCEW data? (Check all that apply)
Major sectors (total nonfarm, private, government, goods producing, service providing)
Industry sectors (for example, mining, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and
warehousing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, etc.)
Detailed industries within industry sectors (for example, motor vehicles and parts, temporary help services, health care, and
food services and drinking places)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Geographic Detail

4. Which level of geographic detail do you use for QCEW data? (Check all that apply)
National
Statewide
County
Metropolitan Statistical Area (for example, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, and
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Publications

5. Which publications or files do you use for QCEW? (Check all that apply)
News releases
Tables and charts (including online tables, analytical tables, etc.)
BLS databases
BLS text/flat data files
Technical notes
Special notices
Monthly Labor Review articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Uses of Data

6. How do you use BLS QCEW data? (Check all that apply)
Short and long term forecasts
Business cycle analysis
Financial markets modeling and forecasting
Economic policy analysis and planning
Revenue forecasting
News reporting
Economic research
Educational uses
Business location planning
Contract escalation
Personal interest
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Accessing Data

7. How have you obtained BLS QCEW data? (Check all that apply)
BLS website
Email or phone request to BLS staff
Private data supplier/repackager
News media
Social media
State Labor Market Information website(s)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Frequency of Obtaining QCEW Data

8. How often have you accessed QCEW data from the BLS website in the past 12 months?
I haven’t accessed data from the BLS website in the past 12 months
1-5 times
6-12 times
More than 12 times

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with Accessing and Using QCEW Data

9. Based on your experience using BLS QCEW data and publications, please indicate how strongly you
agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Data are available for the industry or sector I
require
Data are available for the geographic area I require
Data are easy to find
Data are easy to download
Data are in the file format I need
Data release schedules are easy to find

QCEW Final Instrument
Usefulness of QCEW Data

10. How useful are each of the following measures to you when you analyzeQCEW employment data?
Very useful

Somewhat
useful

A little useful

Not at all
useful

Not sure what
this is

Over the month change in level
Over the month percent change
Over the quarter change in level
Over the quarter percent change
Over the year change in level
Over the year percent change
Current level (e.g., of employment)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Notifications of QCEW Data Releases

11. How would you prefer to be notified when BLS releases QCEW data and publications?
BLS website
Email or phone request to BLS staff
Private data supplier/repackager
News media
Social media
State Labor Market Information website(s)
No preference
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW News Releases

12. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
news releases that describe QCEW employment and wages.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

News releases provide useful information
News releases are easy to understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with QCEW Documentation

13. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
documentation for the QCEW program.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Documentation explaining Industry employment
concepts, sources, and methods is easy to find
Survey concepts, sources, and methods are
explained in a way that I understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Research Reports

14. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
articles and research summaries that describe industry employment.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Articles and research summaries are available on
topics that interest me
Articles and research summaries are easy to
understand

QCEW Final Instrument
BED Questions Only

15. Which BLS Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data have you used? (Check all that apply)
National Industry Data
National Firm Size Data
Size of Change Data
State Data
Annual Data
National 3-digit NAICS Sector Data
Establishment Age and Survival Data
Nonprofit Data
BED Age by Size Research Data
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
BED Industry Detail

16. Which level of industry detail do you use for BED data? (Check all that apply)
Major sectors (total nonfarm, private, government, goods producing, service providing)
Industry sectors (for example, mining, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and
warehousing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, etc.)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
BED Publications

17. Which publications or files do you use for BED? (Check all that apply)
News releases
Tables and charts (including online tables, analytical tables, etc.)
BLS databases
BLS text/flat data files
Technical notes
Special notices
Monthly Labor Review articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
BED Uses of Data

18. How do you use BLS BED data? (Check all that apply)
Short and long term forecasts
Business cycle analysis
Financial markets modeling and forecasting
Economic policy analysis and planning
Revenue forecasting
News reporting
Economic research
Educational uses
Business location planning
Contract escalation
Personal interest
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Accessing BED Data

19. How have you obtained BLS BED data? (Check all that apply)
BLS website
Email or phone request to BLS staff
Private data supplier/repackager
News media
Social media
State Labor Market Information website(s)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Frequency of Obtaining BED Data

20. How often have you accessed BED data from the BLS website in the past 12 months?
I haven’t accessed data from the BLS website in the past 12 months
1-5 times
6-12 times
More than 12 times

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with BED Data

21. Based on your experience using BLS BED data and publications, please indicate how strongly you
agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

QCEW Final Instrument
Usefulness of BED Data

22. How useful are each of the following measures to you when you analyzeBED employment data?
Very useful

Somewhat
useful

A little useful

Not at all
useful

Not sure what
this is

Over the quarter change in level
Over the quarter percent change
Over the year change in level
Over the year percent change
Gross Job Gains/Loss as a percent of national
employment
Firm size distribution
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Notifications about BED Data Releases

23. How would you prefer to be notified when BLS releases BED data and publications? (Check all that
apply)
BLS website
Email or phone request to BLS staff
Private data supplier/repackager
News media
Social media
State Labor Market Information website(s)
No preference
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
BED News Releases

24. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
news releases that describe BED gross job flows data.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

News releases provide useful information
News releases are easy to understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with BED Documentation

25. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
documentation for the BED program.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Documentation explaining Industry employment
concepts, sources, and methods is easy to find
Survey concepts, sources, and methods are
explained in a way that I understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Research Reports - BED

26. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
articles and research summaries that describe industry employment.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Articles and research summaries are available on
topics that interest me
Articles and research summaries are easy to
understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Use of QCEW Data and BED Data

27. Which BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data have you used? (Check all that
apply)
Data by size of establishment
Establishment counts
Monthly employment
Annual employment
Average weekly wages
Average annual pay
Total wages
Taxable wages
Contributions
Location quotients
Hurricane evacuation zone data and maps
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Use of BED Data and QCEW Data

28. Which BLS Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data have you used? (Check all that apply)
National Industry Data
National Firm Size Data
Size of Change Data
State Data
Annual Data
National 3-digit NAICS Sector Data
Establishment Age and Survival Data
Nonprofit Data
BED Age by Size Research Data
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Level of Industry Detail Used

29. Which level of industry detail do you use for QCEW or BED data? (Check all that apply)
QCEW

BED

Major sectors (total nonfarm, private, government, goods producing, service providing)
Industry sectors (for example, mining, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade,
transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, etc.)
Detailed industries within industry sectors (for example, motor vehicles and parts, temporary help
services, health care, and food services and drinking places)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Level of Geographic Detail Used

30. Which level of geographic detail do you use for QCEW or BED data? (Check all that apply)
QCEW

BED

QCEW

BED

National
Statewide
County
Metropolitan Statistical Area (for example, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Miami-Fort
Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, and New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Publications Used

31. Which publications or files do you use for QCEW or BED? (Check all that apply)

News releases
Tables and charts (including online tables, analytical tables, etc.)
BLS databases
BLS text/flat data files
Technical notes
Special notices
Monthly Labor Review articles
Frequently Asked Questions
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Uses of the Data

32. How do you use BLS QCEW or BED data? (Check all that apply)
QCEW

BED

QCEW

BED

Short and long term forecasts
Business cycle analysis
Financial markets modeling and forecasting
Economic policy analysis and planning
Revenue forecasting
News reporting
Economic research
Educational uses
Business location planning
Contract escalation
Personal interest
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Accessing the Data

33. How have you obtained BLS QCEW or BED data? (Check all that apply)

BLS website
Email or phone request to BLS staff
Private data supplier/repackager
News media
Social media
State Labor Market Information website(s)
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument

Frequency of Accessing QCEW and BED Data

34. How often have you accessed QCEW or BED data from the BLS website in the past 12 months?
QCEW

BED

I haven’t accessed data from the BLS website in the
past 12 months
1-5 times
6-12 times
More than 12 times

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with Using QCEW Data

35. Based on your experience using BLS QCEW data and publications, please indicate how strongly you
agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with Using BED Data

36. Based on your experience using BLS BED data and publications, please indicate how strongly you
agree or disagree with each of the following statements.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

QCEW Final Instrument
Usefulness of Different Measures in QCEW - Both

37. How useful are each of the following measures to you when you analyzeQCEW employment data?
Very useful

Somewhat
useful

A little useful

Not at all
useful

Not sure what
this is

Over the month change in level
Over the month percent change
Over the year change in level
Over the year percent change
Current level of employment
Establishment counts
Wages
Location quotients
Data by size of establishment
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Usefulness of Different Measures in BED

38. How useful are each of the following measures to you when you analyzeBED employment data?
Very useful

Somewhat
useful

A little useful

Not at all
useful

Not sure what
this is

QCEW Final Instrument
Notification When Data Are Released

39. How would you prefer to be notified when BLS releases QCEW and BED data and publications?
(Check all that apply)
QCEW

BED

BLS website
Email or phone request to BLS staff
Private data supplier/repackager
News media
Social media
State Labor Market Information Website(s)
No preference
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument

Satisfaction with News Releases

40. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
news releases that describe QCEW employment and wages.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

News releases provide useful information
News releases are easy to understand

41. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
news releases that describe BED gross job flows data.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

News releases provide useful information
News releases are easy to understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with Documentation

42. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
documentation for the QCEW program.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Documentation explaining Industry employment
concepts, sources, and methods is easy to find
Survey concepts, sources, and methods are
explained in a way that I understand

43. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
documentation for the BED program.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Documentation explaining Industry employment
concepts, sources, and methods is easy to find
Survey concepts, sources, and methods are
explained in a way that I understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Satisfaction with Research Reports in QCEW and BED

44. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about BLS
articles and research summaries that describe industry employment.
Strongly
agree

Agree

Neither
agree nor
disagree

Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

No basis to
decide

Articles and research summaries are available on
topics that interest me
Articles and research summaries are easy to
understand

QCEW Final Instrument
Revisions to QCEW Data

45. The questions in this section ask about the revision of QCEW published data. If you are not familiar
with this topic or do not wish to answer questions about it, please enter 1 below to skip these questions.
Otherwise, enter 2.
Reminder: You can always skip a question if you don't want to answer it.
1 - Skip questions about revised data
2 - Continue with questions about revised data

QCEW Final Instrument

Introduction to Revised Data Section

To reflect the receipt of additional data and other information, QCEW revises published data several times.
Initial statistics are published reflecting reports sent in by almost all covered establishments and provide a
preliminary picture of employment. Data for missing establishments are imputed to yield a representative
total.
As more reports are received, a revised or updated set of statistics is published as the calendar year
progresses. Most of the additional data is incorporated with the first revision. QCEW data for the past year
are finalized with the release of data for the first quarter of the new year.
46. Do you think the process of revising the QCEW data improves or lowers its quality?
Improves quality
Has no effect on quality
Lowers quality
Don’t know

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Quality Is Improved

47. How much do revisions improve the quality of the QCEW data?
A little
Somewhat
A great deal
Don’t know
None
All

QCEW Final Instrument
QCEW Quality Is Lowered

48. How much do revisions lower the quality of the QCEW data?
A little
Somewhat
A great deal
Don’t know
None
All

QCEW Final Instrument
Knowledge of QCEW Data

49. How would you rate your knowledge of the revisions made to QCEW data?
Very knowledgeable
Somewhat knowledgeable
A little knowledgeable
Not at all knowledgeable

QCEW Final Instrument
Additional Questions about the QCEW Revision Process

50. The next few questions ask if you agree or disagree with specific steps BLS takes when revising QCEW
data.
The number of revisions to QCEW data is an acceptable and appropriate amount.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree

51. QCEW revisions of any kind are problematic for my analyses.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree

QCEW Final Instrument
Value of Historical Data

52. How useful would it be to you to have access to some, or all, earlier versions of historical QCEW data
as originally published, in addition to the currently available revised data?
Very useful
Somewhat useful
A little useful
Not at all useful
No opinion/Not sure

53. What can we do to better meet your needs in the area of revisions to QCEW data?
I have no suggestions
Please enter suggestions below

QCEW Final Instrument
Revisions to BED Estimates

54. The three questions in this section ask about revisions to the BED data. If you are not familiar with this
topic or do not wish to answer questions about it, please enter 1 below to skip these questions. Otherwise,
enter 2.
Reminder: You can always skip a question if you don't want to answer it.
1 - Skip questions about revised BED data
2 - Continue with questions about revised data

QCEW Final Instrument
Knowledge of BED

55. The BED data series are subject to periodic minor changes based on corrections in QCEW records,
updates on predecessors and successors information, and seasonal adjustment revisions.
Annual revisions are published each year with the release of the first quarter data. These revisions cover
the last 4 quarters of not-seasonally-adjusted data and 5 years of seasonally adjusted data.
How would you rate your knowledge of the revisions made to BED data?
Very knowledgeable
Somewhat knowledgeable
A little knowledgeable
Not at all knowledgeable

QCEW Final Instrument

56. Do you think the process of revising the BED data improves or lowers its quality?
Improves quality
Has no effect on quality
Lowers quality
Don’t know

QCEW Final Instrument
BED - Open Ended

57. What can we do to better meet your needs in the area of revisions to BED data?
I have no suggestions
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Do Not Use QCEW or BED Data

58. Why don’t you currently use BLS QCEW data? (Check all that apply)
I was unaware of the data
Data have no application to my work
Data are not available for the industry or sector I require
Revisions to data are problematic for my work
Data are not explained and/or presented clearly enough
Data are difficult to locate/BLS QCEW related web pages are difficult to navigate
Data are not in the file format I need
Data suppressions are problematic for my work.
Series breaks are problematic for my work
Data are not available soon enough for my work.
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument

59. Why don’t you currently use BLS BED data? (Check all that apply)
I was unaware of the data
Data have no application to my work
Data are not available for the industry or sector I require
Revisions to data are problematic for my work
Data are not explained and/or presented clearly enough
Data are difficult to locate/BLS BED-related web pages are difficult to navigate
Data are not in the file format I need
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument

60. What can we do that would enable you to use QCEW data?
I have no suggestions
Other (please specify)

61. What can we do that would enable you to use BED data?
I have no suggestions
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Customer Service

62. Have you ever contacted BLS staff for help with either QCEW or BED data?
Yes, QCEW only
Yes, BED only
Yes, both QCEW and BED
No

QCEW Final Instrument
Contacted BLS for Help

63. How have you contacted BLS staff? (Check all that apply)
Website ("Contact Us" link)
Email
Direct mail
Telephone call
Other (please specify)

64. Did you receive a timely reply?
Yes
No

65. How satisfied were you with the reply?
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied

66. Do you have any additional comments, positive or negative, regarding your interaction with BLS staff?
I have no additional comments
Please enter your comments

QCEW Final Instrument
Additional Economic Data Series Used

67. Do you use other sources of industry employment and wage data?
Yes - please list the sources in the box below
No
What other sources of employment data do you use?

QCEW Final Instrument
Affiliation

68. Which category below best describes the organization at which you work or study?
University
Research organization
Financial institution
News media
U.S. Government
State Government
Local Government
Chamber of Commerce
Non-U.S. Government, or international organization
Industry or trade association
Labor union
Non-profit
Data supplier/repackager
Internet blog
Private citizen
Private business, not listed above
Other (please specify)

QCEW Final Instrument
Thank you

69. You have completed the survey. We appreciate any additional comments you may have about BLS
QCEW or BED data. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your survey will be submitted
when you click the Done button below.
Enter additional comments about QCEW in the box below.

70. Enter additional comments about BED in the box below.

File Type	application/pdf
File Title	View Survey
File Modified	2016-07-27
File Created	2016-07-21