Although the content of the Occupational Outlook Handbook has not changed much, the information has changed significantly to reflect new statistical data, methodological improvements, and shifts in philosophical and societal attitudes. (Author)

Of all private nonfarm workers, 65 percent were employed in 1972 in establishments offering pension plans, compared with 58 percent in 1968. (Author)

Broad trends in occupational employment have been projected fairly accurately by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and significant improvements have been made in procedures for developing projections. However, accuracy has not increased over time. (JOW)

Describes how local area unemployment statistics are developed by state employment security agencies to provide the Bureau of Labor Statistics with data on the insured unemployed by county of residence. Includes a discussion of the handbook method, a consistent and uniform method of estimating total unemployment for states and areas. (Editor/TA)

In 26 states, the maximum weekly benefit is now at least half of the statewide average weekly wage; in 4 states, the maximum is two-thirds. (Editor)

Describes recent federal legislation under which the local area unemployment statistics (LAUS) program will play an important role in allocating billions of dollars in economic aid to states and local areas. Major issues resulting from a review of the LAUS program (procedures, methods, reliability requirements) are discussed. (Editor/TA)

Although average annual earnings of blacks are considerably lower than those of whites, the earnings distributions have large overlapping areas. (Editor)

The jobless rates of participants in the federal food stamps program and in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program greatly exceeded national averages in 1976; the majority of recipients were outside of the labor force. (BM)

The 1970 census confirms that skill, sex, and age are likely to determine the worker's position on the pay ladder. (Author)

Although wages rose slightly more than prices in 1977, inflation left workers with generally smaller real income. The article examines various factors affecting wage movements and summarizes 1977 wage changes in the economy as a whole and under collective bargaining agreements. (MF)

Slower employment growth in most industries, a reversal of the trend toward a larger share of jobs in the public sector, and a return to more rapid productivity gains are some of the highlights of the Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest long-range projections of employment and output by industry. (BM)