Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Survey

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) is a federal-state cooperative program between the U.S. Bureau of Labor and state workforce agencies. Each year, the OEWS program collects information from approximately 13,500 Ohio businesses with over 950,000 employees. The results are used to produce employment and wage estimates for about 800 occupations. To ensure data quality, it’s important for Ohio employers to respond.

How to complete the report:
Reporting online is easiest.

Online:    https://idcfoews.bls.gov/, Log in using the unique IDCF number.

Email:      oewsohio@idcfmail.bls.gov

Fax:         1-614-728-0759

Mail:        Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

                Bureau of Labor Market Information

                PO Box 182428

                Columbus, OH 43218-2428

Phone:    For establishments with fewer than 20 employees, call (614) 752-9494.

To learn more about Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, visit https://www.bls.gov/respondents/oes/.

Visit Instructions : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) for additional reporting instructions or to download an Excel template. 

Which employees should I report?

• Report employees who worked during the pay period that included the reference date indicated on the form.
• Report employees working at, or reporting to, the location specified after “Report for” in the mailing address in your letter or email.
• Report employees who are on paid leave or assigned temporarily to other work locations, including employees who are working remotely or off-site.
• Report paid owners and officers of incorporated firms.

What information should I report?

For each of these employees, please report the following information:

• Job title
• Brief description of duties (if not clear from the job title)
• Hourly wage rate (for part-time or full-time employees) or annual salary (for full-time employees only)
• Department (optional)
• Worksite location (optional)

Note: If you are reporting for a school, please see the additional reporting instructions.

How should I report job titles?

• Report employee job titles according to the work they are doing, not their training.
  Example: Report an employee working as a drafter, but trained as an engineer, as a drafter.
• Report an employee as a supervisor if they spend at least 80 percent of their time supervising other employees.
  Example: Report a head cashier as a supervisor of cashiers if they spend more than 80 percent of their time supervising other cashiers. Report them as a cashier if they spend less than 80 percent of their time supervising other cashiers.
• Report apprentices separately from helpers.
  Example: Report an apprentice carpenter as a carpenter but report an employee who helps them as a carpenter’s helper.

How should I report wage rates?

• Report hourly wage rates or annual salaries for full-time employees.
• Report hourly wage rates for part-time employees.
• Report each employee’s actual, full wage rate, not an approximation or average.
• For employees who earn tips, commissions, or piece-rate payments, calculate their hourly wage rate or annual salary (full-time only) including their base pay plus tips, commissions, or piece rates.

What information should not be reported?

Do not report any of the following employees or information:

• Do not report contract workers.
• Do not report owners or partners of unincorporated firms.
• Do not report employee names or Social Security numbers.
• Do not report annual wages for part-time employees.

Other Questions?

Call (614) 752-9494 or email ContactLMI@jfs.ohio.gov.

Note: If a business establishment has closed, please also call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Unemployment Insurance Operations, at (877) 644-6562 to let them know.

Thank you in advance for your partnership in ensuring that Ohio’s employment and wage data are accurate!