Eligibility and Access Modes
There are several different ways to access restricted BLS data. Different access mode options exist depending on where BLS restricted data is available as well as the sensitivity level of the data. Your project may be bound to a specific mode of access. If you have questions about which mode of access you should use, contact BLS before submitting your proposal.
Where is BLS Restricted Data Available?
BLS Program/Survey |
Onsite at BLS |
FSRDC |
Offsite |
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) |
X |
X |
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CFOI Micro Fatality Research File |
|
|
X |
Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) |
X |
|
|
Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) |
X |
|
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Current Employment Statistics (CES): National and State and Area |
X |
|
|
International Price Program (IPP) |
X |
X |
|
Job Openings and Labor Turnovers Survey (JOLTS) |
X |
|
|
Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) |
X |
|
|
National Compensation Survey (NCS) |
X |
X |
|
National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) Original Cohorts: Mature and Young Women, and Older and Young Men files with Geographic Variables |
|
X |
|
National Longitudinal Surveys Geocode Data |
|
|
X |
National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) Zip Code and Census Tract Files |
X |
X |
|
National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) Zip Code and Census Tract Files |
X |
X |
|
NLSY97 School Surveys |
X |
X |
|
Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) |
X |
|
|
Producer Price Indexes (PPI) |
X |
X |
|
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and Longitudinal Database of Establishments (LDE) |
X |
|
|
Surveys of Employer Provided Training (1993 and 1995) |
X |
|
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Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) |
X |
X |
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Who is eligible for restricted data access?
To qualify as a researcher eligible to access BLS restricted data, you must satisfy certain requirements. This will depend on which mode of access you are applying to use.
Eligibility requirement for all access modes
You must have a verifiable affiliation (through employment or at least part-time student status) with one of the following organizations:
- A U.S. Federal statistical agency.
- A U.S. Federal agency’s research office or arm.
- A U.S. institution of higher education.
- An eligible U.S. nonprofit organization (either IRS 501c(1) or 501c(3) organization).
- A State, local, or Indian tribal government.
- An association of State or local public officials.
- An organization representing member State or local governments.
- A Federally-funded research and development center.
Additional eligibility requirements for access onsite at BLS
- There are no additional requirement except for Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) data. You must have currently or be able to obtain Special Sworn Status (SSS) from the Census Bureau. If you need to obtain SSS clearance, the process will not begin until after your application has been approved by BLS. The SSS process takes approximately 4-6 weeks.
Additional eligibility requirements for FSRDC access
- You must have currently or be able to obtain Special Sworn Status (SSS) from the Census Bureau. If you need to obtain SSS clearance, the process will not begin until after your application has been approved by BLS. The SSS process takes approximately 4-6 weeks.
- You must pay for data access in accordance with the policies outlined in the fees and invoicing section.
If I am eligible and plan to apply, what should I keep in mind?
- Once an application is approved, you and your employer or educational institution must enter into a written legal agreement with the BLS. Within the agreement, the signing official will vouch for your trustworthiness. The terms and conditions of agreements with BLS are non-negotiable. Please contact Restricted Data Access Administrator to obtain a sample agreement.
- If you are coming onsite to BLS or to an FSRDC to perform statistical research, you will not be compensated for your work or any associated expenses, such as traveling or living expenses.
- Interested researchers may submit a project proposal for review by the BLS Microdata Access Review Board (MARB). If approved, you will be granted up to two years to conduct work with restricted data files onsite at BLS or for one year at a Federal Statistical Research Data Center.
- BLS strives to make available to the public the maximum amount of information possible without compromising the confidentiality pledged to survey respondents. BLS must protect from disclosure respondent identifiable information collected for exclusively statistical purposes under a pledge of confidentiality. Depending on the data involved, other laws, such as the Privacy Act, the Trade Secrets Act, and the Workforce Investment Act, also may apply. Please see Confidentiality and Disclosure for more information.
Last Modified Date: October 10, 2019
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