ES202: The Data Base for Local Employment Analysis

This article analyzes the costs and benefits of using state-level unemployment compensation (UC) records, commonly known as ES202 data, for analyzing local economic change. Although the unedited UC records are helpful for the most general level for statewide analysis, these records must be edited considerably for more detailed questions and/or any substate analyses. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Urban Research Center detail the problems and issues they confronted in using Wisconsin's ES202 data to address these latter concerns. Included is a description of the type of data available from ES202 reports and a discussion of the many obstacles that are likely to confront all researchers attempting to transform raw ES202 data into a more useful form. The authors conclude that properly used, ES202 data provide a wide range of valuable information that can be used to inform local economic development policy