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Business Response Survey

Notices

  • Federal Register Notice for 2022 Business Response Survey on Telework, Hiring, and Vacancies Read More »
  • Federal Register Notice for 2021 Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic Read More »
  • Federal Register Notice for 2020 Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic Read More »

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) developed a new survey program that provides data users with timely information to assess the impact of specific events (e.g., policy changes, strikes, resource shortages, health epidemics, terrorist attacks, and severe weather) on the U.S. economy or on new topics of economic interest. The Business Response Survey allows BLS to collect new information about the U.S. economy in a more efficient manner than was previously possible. The first two surveys in this new program were conducted in 2020, and 2021, and asked U.S. businesses how they changed their operations since the onset of the COVID–19 pandemic. In 2022, the new survey asked employers about telework, hiring, and vacancies at their establishments as we begin to emerge from the COVID–19 pandemic.

Highlights

March 22, 2023

Data from the 2022 Business Response Survey show that nationwide, 27.5% of establishments had employees teleworking some or all the time in August and September 2022, 22.4% hired new employees in July 2022, and 20.9% had vacancies they were attempting to fill in August and September 2022.

Read More Highlights»

February 9, 2022

Data from the 2021 Business Response Survey show that nationwide, 34.5% of establishments increased telework for some or all employees, 14.5% increased pay, and 17.5% required some or all employees to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

Read More Highlights»

December 7, 2020

Data from the 2020 Business Response Survey show that nationwide 52 percent of establishments (4.4 million) told employees not to work (with or without pay) for at least some portion of the survey reference period.

Read More Highlights»

Publications

The Economics Daily

The Economics Daily article image

Over one-third of private-sector establishments increased telework during the COVID-19 pandemic

After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 34.5 percent of private-sector establishments in the United States increased telework for some or all employees in 2021. Among establishments that increased telework, 60.2 percent expected the increase in telework to continue after the pandemic ends. read more »

Monthly Labor Review

Monthly Labor Review article image

Telework during the COVID-19 pandemic: estimates using the 2021 Business Response Survey

Using new data from the 2021 Business Response Survey, this article presents unique estimates of telework patterns observed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. read more »

Spotlight on Statistics

Spotlight on Statistics article image

Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on establishments and employment by industry

The coronavirus pandemic impacted all sectors of the economy in 2020. Businesses across the country saw their supply chains interrupted, demand for their products and services decline, and government-mandated closures. This Spotlight on Statistics explores the pandemic’s impact across the economy with emphasis placed on varying experiences by industry and employment in those industries. The Business Response Survey to the Coronavirus Pandemic was conducted from July to September 2020 read more »

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) developed a new survey program that provides data users with timely information to assess the impact of specific events (e.g., policy changes, strikes, resource shortages, health epidemics, terrorist attacks, and severe weather) on the U.S. economy or on new topics of economic interest. The Business Response Survey allows BLS to collect new information about the U.S. economy in a more efficient manner than was previously possible. The first two surveys in this new program were conducted in 2020, and 2021, and asked U.S. businesses how they changed their operations since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the new survey asked employers about telework, hiring, and vacancies at their establishments as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.