Nonprofit organizations: using the BLS Business Register to measure employment, wages, and establishment size

This article discusses the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tabulations for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, describing the data sources and methodology used to create these estimates. The article also describes the progressive modifications and enhancements BLS has made to these data tabulations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) produces a broad range of data products that measure labor market activity. Included in these estimates are measures of employment, wages, and the number of business establishments. Data can be disaggregated by geographic location, industrial specialization, and other distinguishing characteristics. One potential identifying attribute is whether a company can be classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Although nonprofit organizations exist throughout the United States and in many different industries, there are no data collections specifically designed to produce estimates for these organizations.