Erica Groshen on BLS Data Integrity Amidst Political Pressure

Historical Commitment to Data Integrity

• 📜 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has a long-standing commitment, dating back to 1884, to the fearless publication of facts regardless of political influence.
• 🎯 This principle, established by the first commissioner, emphasizes impartiality and accuracy in reporting economic data.

Current Leadership and Data Quality

• 🛡️ The current acting BLS commissioner, Bill Wiatrowski, is described as an excellent leader and data nerd, ensuring the quality of data during this transition.
• 💡 Wiatrowski was chosen as deputy commissioner by Erica Groshen, indicating confidence in his technical abilities and leadership.
• ✅ The quality of data under his stewardship is not a cause for concern.

Nuances of BLS Data Quality

• 📊 While the BLS has 25 programs and is continually improving its data collection and analysis through advancements in science and technology, there are challenges.
• 📉 A significant issue across most BLS programs is the declining response rates in surveys, which can impact data reliability.
• 💰 Furthermore, the BLS has been suffering from very poor funding for at least the last ten years, potentially hindering its ability to maintain and improve data quality.

Rebuilding Trust in Economic Data

• 📱 Technology presents a dual challenge: it makes traditional survey-based data collection more difficult but also offers new ways to process and combine alternative data sources.
• 🚀 The future of statistical agencies lies in a "Stats 3.0 world," utilizing more alternative data sources and creating blended data products.
• 📈 This transition requires significant investment in research and systems to ensure the reliability of new data feeds and products, a direction the BLS must pursue.