Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics (LEHD)

The Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program is a data collection and analysis initiative managed by the U.S. Census Bureau. Established to provide detailed insights into labor market dynamics, LEHD integrates various data sources to offer a comprehensive view of employment, worker characteristics, and economic activity across different regions in the United States.

LEHD combines data from state unemployment insurance records, employer-provided data, and household surveys to create a rich dataset that tracks employment patterns, worker flows, and economic conditions. This integration allows for the analysis of job creation, worker mobility, and industry trends at a granular level, including by geographic region, industry sector, and occupation.

One of the key components of LEHD is the Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI), which provides detailed information on employment, earnings, and job creation at the regional level. The QWI data is essential for understanding labor market trends, such as changes in employment by age group, gender, or industry, and it helps policymakers and researchers identify regional economic strengths and weaknesses.

The LEHD program also includes the LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES), which tracks workers’ commuting patterns and job locations. LODES data helps to analyze the geographic distribution of employment and labor market dynamics, such as how jobs and workers move between different areas. This information is valuable for urban planning, transportation policy, and regional economic development.Additionally, LEHD provides data on worker demographics, job tenure, and wages, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the workforce. Researchers and policymakers use this data to address issues related to employment equity, regional economic development, and workforce planning.