1 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Jonas Trostle

Office of Publications and Special Studies

CE Microdata Users’ Workshop, July 20, 2023

Submitting a 

Monthly Labor Review

Article

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2 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

Flagship publication of the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics since 1915
3 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

◼ Publishes research, analysis, and data related to the Bureau’s 

major program areas

 Employment and unemployment

 Compensation and working conditions

 Productivity and technology

 Occupational safety and health

 Industry, occupational, and employment projections

 Prices and living conditions
4 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

Submissions should be

1. factual analyses (that have not been published elsewhere),
5 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

Submissions should be

1. factual analyses (that have not been published elsewhere),

2. objective and analytical rather than polemical in tone, and
6 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

Submissions should be

1. factual analyses (that have not been published elsewhere),

2. objective and analytical rather than polemical in tone, and

3. aimed at generalists with the assumption that specialists will 

understand.
7 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

MLR articles typically

◼ describe, explain, update, and inform the Review’s audience 

about analyses and findings relevant to the major BLS 

program areas, and

◼ average 20 double-spaced pages.
8 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

In addition,

◼ MLR articles may focus on regional trends or on international 

labor topics, and

◼ all data should be fact checked before being submitted. 
9 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

Submission specifications and formatting style

◼ The author’s title, affiliation, and email address should be 

included on the first page of the paper. 

◼ Separate files should be provided for (1) the text, (2) the 

figures, and (3) the tables. 

◼ Text -> Microsoft Word.

◼ Tables and figures -> Excel.
10 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review referee process

◼ Submissions from outside BLS are subjected to a 

two-track review process.

 Submissions are screened by the executive editor.

 Those that are of a topic and style that are 

appropriate to the MLR are assigned to a staff editor 

for a detailed editorial review.

 At the same time, the MLR solicits comments from one 

or more subject-matter experts in BLS.
11 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review referee process

◼ With the two reports in hand, the senior editorial staff 

select the submissions that will be considered further. This 

process takes about 8 weeks. Authors are notified whether 

their paper has been accepted, in need of revision for 

further consideration, or rejected.
12 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review editorial process

◼ Upon acceptance, the paper will then be submitted to the 

managing editor to begin the editorial process. 

1. Editor prepares comments and suggestions and ensures 

that the text conforms to MLR style (based primarily on 

the GPO Style Manual).
13 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review editorial process

◼ Upon acceptance, the paper will then be submitted to the 

managing editor to begin the editorial process.

1. Editor prepares comments and suggestions and ensures that the text conforms to 

MLR style (based primarily on the GPO Style Manual). 

2. Editor sends suggestions to the author for corrections 

and responses to comments (1–2 weeks).
14 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review editorial process

◼ Upon acceptance, the paper will then be submitted to the 

managing editor to begin the editorial process. 

1. Editor prepares comments and suggestions and ensures that the text conforms to 

MLR style (based primarily on the GPO Style Manual). 

2. Editor sends suggestions to the author for corrections and responses to 

comments (1–2 weeks).

3. Author and editor confer in person, by phone, and/or 

by email, and changes are negotiated (varies).
15 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review editorial process

◼ Upon acceptance, the paper will then be submitted to the 

managing editor to begin the editorial process. 

1. Editor prepares comments and suggestions and ensures that the text conforms to 

MLR style (based primarily on the GPO Style Manual). 

2. Editor sends suggestions to the author for corrections and responses to 

comments (1–2 weeks).

3. Author and editor confer in person, by phone, and/or by email, and changes are 

negotiated (varies).

4. Editor incorporates all changes into a revised file (1 

day).
16 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review editorial process

◼ Upon acceptance, the paper will then be submitted to the 

managing editor to begin the editorial process. 

1. Editor prepares comments and suggestions and ensures that the text conforms to 

MLR style (based primarily on the GPO Style Manual). 

2. Editor sends suggestions to the author for corrections and responses to 

comments (1–2 weeks).

3. Author and editor confer in person, by phone, and/or by email, and changes are 

negotiated (varies).

4. Editor incorporates all changes into a revised file (1 day).

5. Editor prepares online page proofs and sends a link to 

the author for approval (3 to 5 days).
17 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review editorial process

◼ Upon acceptance, the paper will then be submitted to the 

managing editor to begin the editorial process. 

1. Editor prepares comments and suggestions and ensures that the text conforms to 

MLR style (based primarily on the GPO Style Manual). 

2. Editor sends suggestions to the author for corrections and responses to 

comments (1–2 weeks).

3. Author and editor confer in person, by phone, and/or by email, and changes are 

negotiated (varies).

4. Editor incorporates all changes into a revised file (1 day).

5. Editor prepares online page proofs and sends a link to the author for approval (3 to 5 

days).

6. Author reviews page proofs, which include tables and 

figures, and gives editor approval to publish (1 to 2 

days).
18 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review editorial process

◼ Upon acceptance, the paper will then be submitted to the 

managing editor to begin the editorial process. 

1. Editor prepares comments and suggestions and ensures that the text conforms to 

MLR style (based primarily on the GPO Style Manual). 

2. Editor sends suggestions to the author for corrections and responses to 

comments (1–2 weeks).

3. Author and editor confer in person, by phone, and/or by email, and changes are 

negotiated (varies).

4. Editor incorporates all changes into a revised file (1 day).

5. Editor prepares online page proofs and sends a link to the author for approval (3 to 5 

days).

6. Author reviews page proofs, which include tables and figures, and gives editor 

approval to publish (1 to 2 days).

7. Article is posted online at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr.
19 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS TATISTICS • bls.gov bls.gov

Monthly Labor Review

◼ Where to submit papers:

Email: opubss_submit@bls.gov

Regular mail: Executive Editor

Monthly Labor Review

Bureau of Labor Statistics

2 Massachusetts Avenue NE

Room 2850

Washington, DC 20212
Contact Information

20 — U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS • bls.gov

Jonas Trostle, Editor

Monthly Labor Review

www.bls.gov/opub/mlr

202-691-5009

trostle.jonas@bls.gov

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