Participants should have an elementary knowledge of statistics and some experience in analyzing labor or social data. Seminar objectives Planners, administrators, and policy makers need timely, accurate, and relevant labor statistics in order to plan, carry out, and evaluate programs designed to improve the well-being of the population in both rural and urban areas. Optimal use of statistics is often hampered by a lack of economists and statisticians experienced in analyzing and interpreting data in a manner best serving policymakers. The objectives of the seminars offered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are to strengthen the participants' ability to produce and analyze all types of labor statistics, and to demonstrate how such data can be used in policy and program development and decisionmaking. Methodology Specialists from BLS, other U.S. Government agencies, and international agencies will work with participants during each seminar.
Seminars offer opportunities for problem solving, both individually and in group workshops.
Participants also will have the opportunity to undertake supplementary customized programs, if desired. Seminars and customized training programs provide a forum for participants to hear firsthand from the BLS staff about their experiences in carrying out specific statistical programs, including problems encountered and solutions adopted. Workshops included in seminars offer a unique chance to exchange experiences and alternatives that have originated under diverse circumstances around the world. The sharing of the practical experiences of the BLS staff, together with the experiences of the participants and their countries, extends to all aspects of a statistical program. Each participant will receive a certificate upon the successful completion of a training program.