
Lots More on the Big Problem With the Monthly Jobs Report
Odd Lots
NFP vs. QCEW Data Reliability
The Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) report uses a birth-death adjustment model for new and closing firms, which remains stable at around 100,000 jobs monthly but is based on a simple model that may not reflect current economic realities. The Business Employment Dynamics data, derived from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), offers a more accurate view, albeit with an eight-month lag, as it is based on a complete census rather than a sample. QCEW data reveals that job creation from new firms has significantly decreased in 2024, contrasting with the NFP's consistent positive adjustment. The QCEW is considered authoritative due to its comprehensive nature, using administrative data from unemployment insurance, making it the benchmark for employment figures and suggesting a potential overstatement of jobs in NFP between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025.



