Published quarterly, with supplements in the intervening months, the Bulletin of Labour Statistics complements the annual data given in the Yearbook of Labour Statisticswith monthly, quarterly or six-monthly series for the last four years on the following subjects:
- general level of employment, employment in non-agricultural activities and employment in manufacturing (in thousands);
- numbers and percentages unemployed;
- average number of hours worked in non-agricultural activities and in manufacturing;
- average earnings or wage rates in non-agricultural activities and in manufacturing;
- consumer prices: general indices and food indices
The Bulletin also includes articles of professional interest to labour statisticians.
In addition to the quarterly issues, a separate edition of the Bulletin now gives the results of the revised ILO October Inquiry, an annual survey of wages and hours of work in 159 occupations and of retail prices for 93 food items.
Monthly or quarterly updates of the Yearbook series were originally published in the International Labour Review and its supplement until publication of the Bulletin and its monthly supplements began in 1965. The Bulletin also contains articles on statistical practices and methodologies and reports of special projects carried out by the Bureau.