Why is there a difference between the employed in the labor force and the nonfarm wage and salary employment figures?
The estimated number of employed in the labor force represent those individuals 16 years old and over by place of residence (census data) who are working or actively looking for work. The nonfarm employment figures represent an employer-based survey and reflect estimated jobs by place of work. These figures are more reliable when looking at the economic situation of the state or of an MSA because you can see what industries are growing and compare current to historical employment levels. For example, the data can show how many jobs have been added in mining or services for the last year compared to 5 years ago; thus, more detailed analyses can be achieved with this data series.
The estimated number of employed in the labor force represent those individuals 16 years old and over by place of residence (census data) who are working or actively looking for work. The nonfarm employment figures represent an employer-based survey and reflect estimated jobs by place of work. These figures are more reliable when looking at the economic situation of the state or of an MSA because you can see what industries are growing and compare current to historical employment levels. For example, the data can show how many jobs have been added in mining or services for the last year compared to 10 years ago; thus, more detailed analysis can be achieved with this data series.
