Elizabeth Weber Handwerker
@elizwebhand.bsky.social
Empirical Labor Economist, reader of economic history, wife, mother of three. My posts represent my own opinions. I only engage with people whose names I know.
Reposted by Elizabeth Weber Handwerker
So great to see BLS back to work measuring and informing us about our large and dynamic economy.
It’s a great institution full of dedicated civil servants deeply committed their mission. They have had a tough year, and everyone is covering for someone who left. I thank them all for their service.
It’s a great institution full of dedicated civil servants deeply committed their mission. They have had a tough year, and everyone is covering for someone who left. I thank them all for their service.
November 20, 2025 at 4:48 PM
So great to see BLS back to work measuring and informing us about our large and dynamic economy.
It’s a great institution full of dedicated civil servants deeply committed their mission. They have had a tough year, and everyone is covering for someone who left. I thank them all for their service.
It’s a great institution full of dedicated civil servants deeply committed their mission. They have had a tough year, and everyone is covering for someone who left. I thank them all for their service.
Currently refreshing www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...
Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations
Revised news release dates following the 2025 lapse in appropriations
www.bls.gov
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Currently refreshing www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lap...
Currently refreshing live.house.gov
live.house
November 13, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Currently refreshing live.house.gov
A whole article about people advocating eschewing modern birth control because they want to avoid artificial hormones, and the reporter never asks why they don't just advocate for Paragard (the very effective and easily reversible no-hormone IUD) instead? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
The MAHA-Fueled Rise of Natural Family Planning
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A whole article about people advocating eschewing modern birth control because they want to avoid artificial hormones, and the reporter never asks why they don't just advocate for Paragard (the very effective and easily reversible no-hormone IUD) instead? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
Trying to use my furlough well. Yesterday, I went on a long bike ride and fixed things around the house. This morning, I have soup simmering in the stove and children's clothing to mend while I listen to www.piie.com/events/2025/...
Bridges and borders: Economic policy across North America
This conference organized by PIIE and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas examines key policy and economic challenges shaping the future of North American integration, with a focus on labor mobility, r...
www.piie.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Trying to use my furlough well. Yesterday, I went on a long bike ride and fixed things around the house. This morning, I have soup simmering in the stove and children's clothing to mend while I listen to www.piie.com/events/2025/...
A year ago, I noticed a new lump in my body. Medical tests showed I had a very treatable early stage common cancer. Over the past year, I had surgery to remove the lump, plus chemotherapy, radiation, and continuing medication to reduce the likelihood of it coming back. I learned a few things:
October 20, 2025 at 11:05 AM
A year ago, I noticed a new lump in my body. Medical tests showed I had a very treatable early stage common cancer. Over the past year, I had surgery to remove the lump, plus chemotherapy, radiation, and continuing medication to reduce the likelihood of it coming back. I learned a few things:
12 years ago today I went back to work at BLS at the end of the 2013 shutdown. I remember watching then-Associate Commissioner Wiatrowsky pushing a cart into the building stacked with dozens of pizzas for his staff.
October 18, 2025 at 11:31 PM
12 years ago today I went back to work at BLS at the end of the 2013 shutdown. I remember watching then-Associate Commissioner Wiatrowsky pushing a cart into the building stacked with dozens of pizzas for his staff.
Time to write my annual list of home production tasks to complete if there is a lapse in federal appropriations.
September 30, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Time to write my annual list of home production tasks to complete if there is a lapse in federal appropriations.
I really like the way my brother-in-law (the candidate for public office) presents his city's budget visually in this pair of videos: youtu.be/RehrElsji7w?... and youtu.be/UQ8Ohc1six0?...
A $107.5M pallet of cash! Let's see where our revenue comes from in our Melrose FY26 city budget
YouTube video by Jason Chen for Melrose City Councilor-at-Large
youtu.be
September 29, 2025 at 2:03 AM
I really like the way my brother-in-law (the candidate for public office) presents his city's budget visually in this pair of videos: youtu.be/RehrElsji7w?... and youtu.be/UQ8Ohc1six0?...
I finally had a chance to listen to this talk in full. Worth hearing. And someone asked Erika about changes in the imputation of CPI data at the very end; her answer was illuminating.
Watch now: Levy's conversation with Erika McEntarfer, former BLS Commissioner and Bard alum.
In her first public address since the events of August 1, Dr. McEntarfer speaks candidly about her removal from office and the future of statistical independence.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PD_...
In her first public address since the events of August 1, Dr. McEntarfer speaks candidly about her removal from office and the future of statistical independence.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PD_...
Erika McEntarfer (Former BLS): "The Importance of Official Data in Assessing Economic Conditions"
YouTube video by Levy Economics Institute
www.youtube.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I finally had a chance to listen to this talk in full. Worth hearing. And someone asked Erika about changes in the imputation of CPI data at the very end; her answer was illuminating.
Happy Constitution Day! I like the resources the Library of Congress has assembled on the Constitution: constitution.congress.gov
constitution.congress.gov
September 18, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Happy Constitution Day! I like the resources the Library of Congress has assembled on the Constitution: constitution.congress.gov
I've been reading about what Generative AI is and is not good for. It can be summed up as "Aggregating data without a underlying model of how things work."
Seems very similar to the way many economists see the shortcomings of data science (when it isn't combined with domain knowledge).
Seems very similar to the way many economists see the shortcomings of data science (when it isn't combined with domain knowledge).
September 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I've been reading about what Generative AI is and is not good for. It can be summed up as "Aggregating data without a underlying model of how things work."
Seems very similar to the way many economists see the shortcomings of data science (when it isn't combined with domain knowledge).
Seems very similar to the way many economists see the shortcomings of data science (when it isn't combined with domain knowledge).
Looking for a non-stressful video from somebody running for office? My talented brother-in-law is running for a small city council in Massachusetts, and illustrated upcoming city infrastructure plans on camera: youtu.be/ofTRdLS9zP4?...
Melrose will soon break ground on our Engine 2 fire station. Check out the design!
YouTube video by Jason Chen for Melrose City Councilor-at-Large
youtu.be
September 14, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Looking for a non-stressful video from somebody running for office? My talented brother-in-law is running for a small city council in Massachusetts, and illustrated upcoming city infrastructure plans on camera: youtu.be/ofTRdLS9zP4?...
At 10am on Tuesday, BLS will publish preliminary benchmark revisions for March 2025 employment for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and selected metropolitan areas at the total nonfarm level. www.bls.gov/sae/notices/...
See below for a 2-page reference explanation of benchmark revisions.
See below for a 2-page reference explanation of benchmark revisions.
September 7, 2025 at 5:59 PM
At 10am on Tuesday, BLS will publish preliminary benchmark revisions for March 2025 employment for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and selected metropolitan areas at the total nonfarm level. www.bls.gov/sae/notices/...
See below for a 2-page reference explanation of benchmark revisions.
See below for a 2-page reference explanation of benchmark revisions.
This publication is now outdated. Last week, a court overturned the 2023 AEWR rule and DoL said they won't appeal. That means an AEWR based only on the Farm Labor Survey (FLS).
Now USDA said it's discontinuing the FLS. www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
I don't know what happens to the AEWR now.
Now USDA said it's discontinuing the FLS. www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
I don't know what happens to the AEWR now.
August 31, 2025 at 12:57 AM
This publication is now outdated. Last week, a court overturned the 2023 AEWR rule and DoL said they won't appeal. That means an AEWR based only on the Farm Labor Survey (FLS).
Now USDA said it's discontinuing the FLS. www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
I don't know what happens to the AEWR now.
Now USDA said it's discontinuing the FLS. www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
I don't know what happens to the AEWR now.
I wrote a 2 page overview of CES Monthly Revisions, at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...
August 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I wrote a 2 page overview of CES Monthly Revisions, at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...
Why are wages rising in agriculture? Why has demand for H-2A workers been increasing, when hiring these workers is so expensive? I read everything I could about US agricultural labor markets and summarized what I learned in www.congress.gov/crs-product/...
www.congress.gov
August 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Why are wages rising in agriculture? Why has demand for H-2A workers been increasing, when hiring these workers is so expensive? I read everything I could about US agricultural labor markets and summarized what I learned in www.congress.gov/crs-product/...
Looking for a 2 page explanation of CES Benchmark revisions? I wrote one at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...
www.congress.gov
August 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Looking for a 2 page explanation of CES Benchmark revisions? I wrote one at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...
Reposted by Elizabeth Weber Handwerker
Am Econ Assn speaks out about firing the #BLS Commish.
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
August 2, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Am Econ Assn speaks out about firing the #BLS Commish.
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
This paper. Wow. The authors linked years of car crash data from Florida with income tax data. They found that having your parked car crashed into was associated with substantial reductions in earnings FIVE YEARS LATER. (Only for people with low earnings to start out).
July 22, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This paper. Wow. The authors linked years of car crash data from Florida with income tax data. They found that having your parked car crashed into was associated with substantial reductions in earnings FIVE YEARS LATER. (Only for people with low earnings to start out).
Is anyone else writing to children at summer camp about interesting papers heard on the NBER YouTube channel, or just me?
July 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Is anyone else writing to children at summer camp about interesting papers heard on the NBER YouTube channel, or just me?
I commute to the Capitol complex from Union Station. I have seen many weird policy marketing campaigns. This has got to be the weirdest.
July 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
I commute to the Capitol complex from Union Station. I have seen many weird policy marketing campaigns. This has got to be the weirdest.
Stories like this bug me. I was a young woman who wanted to be a mother of at least three children. I think of what it meant to me to have examples of economists like my teachers who were mothers of three children, like Christina Romer and @diveq.bsky.social. share.google/gyrm7G3OvhGN...
In Dallas, a MAGA Summit for Young Women Pushes for ‘Less Burnout, More Babies’
The wellness influencer universe is resonating with people who might not otherwise be drawn to politics.
share.google
June 24, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Stories like this bug me. I was a young woman who wanted to be a mother of at least three children. I think of what it meant to me to have examples of economists like my teachers who were mothers of three children, like Christina Romer and @diveq.bsky.social. share.google/gyrm7G3OvhGN...
Reposted by Elizabeth Weber Handwerker
NEW: “I would want to keep investing in that for the good of the general public,” said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell about federal statistical agencies that produce economic indicators facing layoffs and survey cutbacks, adding he hates to see “cutting back” on measuring the U.S. economy
FOMC Press Conference, June 18, 2025
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
youtu.be
June 18, 2025 at 11:16 PM
NEW: “I would want to keep investing in that for the good of the general public,” said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell about federal statistical agencies that produce economic indicators facing layoffs and survey cutbacks, adding he hates to see “cutting back” on measuring the U.S. economy
My brother-in-law wrote this piece for the Naval Institute's Proceedings: www.usni.org/magazines/pr...
Warriors Don’t Fear Ideas
If the Naval Academy is to develop future warriors, scholars, leaders, and citizens of the highest caliber, it must encourage them to think independently.
www.usni.org
June 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
My brother-in-law wrote this piece for the Naval Institute's Proceedings: www.usni.org/magazines/pr...