Industry Employment and Wages

Data is derived from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. QCEW is a federal-state cooperative program that collects employment and wage information for workers covered by State and federal unemployment insurance (UI). Data includes counts of employment and wages by geographical area and by firm and establishment size.

Interactive Data Pages

      Maps

      Survey Reporting

      Links

      FAQs

      • Does the QCEW program publish or release the number of employees in a particular company?

        • No. This information is treated as sensitive information because it was collected under a pledge of statistical confidentiality.

      • When are the most current QCEW data available?

        • QCEW data are available quarterly and annually about six months after the end of the quarter. Each release includes monthly employment levels as well as quarterly establishment counts and quarterly wage information.

      • Can I find data on employment and wages for a specific occupation or job?

        • No. The QCEW program does not publish data based on occupations. The published employment and wage levels only reflect an entire establishment, which may consist of multiple occupations and jobs. For occupational data, please visit The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) web pages.

      • What is a labor market area and how are they defined?

        • A Labor Market Area (LMA) consists of an economic center and the associated cities/towns in the vicinity. Their delineations are based on commuting pattern data from the American Community Survey. The Local Area Unemployment Statistics program began publishing unemployment and labor force estimates for the current Labor Market Area definitions in 2015.

      • Why are there sometimes sudden shifts in levels of employment or wages?

        • Many major shifts in employment or wage levels are the result of various economic activities. Examples of what might cause these shifts are establishment openings or closings, and major establishment expansions or contractions. Shifts can be caused by changes in the dominant economic activity at a particular establishment. For example, an establishment may make two products that are properly classified in two different industries. The correct classification for the establishment as a whole is the dominant activity. If, over time, production of the secondary product increases beyond that of the initial dominant product, the industry classification of the establishment should be changed. Another factor is the relocation of an establishment from one area to another. In some cases, the QCEW program is not made aware of the changes underlying these classification updates until a significant time has elapsed since their occurrence. Between fourth and first quarter, QCEW incorporates many changes in the basis of reporting. These changes can be as simple as the correction of an erroneous industry or county classification, or as complicated as breaking a large employer's data into numerous worksite-level reports. Multi-unit establishments may also choose to report in greater detail after only previously reporting as a single unit. For instance, a chain store may have reported as a single large corporation for years but now reports as having 50 locations throughout the state. When the employer changes its reporting basis to multiple worksites or establishments from consolidated reports, the establishment count of that industry will experience a sudden jump.

      • Why is the level of employment different when comparing the estimated labor force data with the covered employment data?

        • The estimated labor force data is residence-based information while the covered employment data is establishment-based information.

      • What is covered employment?

        • Covered employment refers to those employers who fall under the coverage of the state and federal unemployment insurance programs and pay unemployment taxes on their workers. The main activities NOT included in Covered employment are self-employment, railroads, and small agricultural activities.

      • I didn't receive the Multiple Worksite Report (MWR). What should I do?

        • Contact the Maine Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program manager at (207) 623-7900.

      • Why do I need to complete the Industry Verification Survey?

        • The accurate assignment of industrial and geographic codes from the data you supply on this form will ensure the quality of the employment data summaries that we prepare. These summaries can be used in economic development planning, wage analyses and economic research. They are used to project emerging industries and occupations, information that is of great interest to workers, employers, guidance counselors in local schools, employment and job training organizations, and others. The Maine Department of Labor also uses the information you provide for program planning and statistical studies, and for informing public policy on investments in industry and workforce development. Your cooperation is critical to the decisions made in all of these areas.

      • What is the difference between a company, a firm and an establishment in QCEW data?

        • Each of these terms is used to refer to employing entities for which statistical information is collected, and for which statistics are collectively published. An establishment is commonly understood as a single economic unit, such as a farm, a mine, a factory, or a store, that produces goods or services. Establishments are typically at one physical location and engaged in one, or predominantly one, type of economic activity for which a single industrial classification may be applied. A firm, or a company, is a business and may consist of one or more establishments, where each establishment may participate in different predominant economic activity. QCEW conducts various activities to increase the amount of data reported at the establishment level; however, some firms with multiple establishment may choose to report as a single entity.

      • Why should I participate in your surveys?

        • Your information is extremely important for the economic development of an area, county, state, and our nation. Measuring the economy through the accurate data collection, dissemination, analysis and production of employer information is our area of expertise. Surveys that we conduct are key to ensuring we are keeping current with the economic development issues. The information we collect will: enable you to accurately compare business growth in your industry with other parts of the state; show the availability of trained workers qualified to work in your industry; ensure the quality of wage and employment data for your industry.

      [More FAQS...]

      Contact Information

      Maine Department of Labor
      Center for Workforce Research & Information
      118 SHS
      Augusta, ME 04333-0118

      Betty Dawson
      Phone: (207) 621-5195
      TTY: Maine Relay 711
      Fax: (207) 287-2947
      Email: Betty.L.Dawson@Maine.gov