BusinessJanuary 31, 2026

A New Leader for U.S. Labor Statistics

Easy Medium Hard

② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

economist/ɪˈkɑːnəmɪst/

A person who studies or works with money and the economy.

"She works as an economist at the government agency."

nominate/ˈnɑːməˌneɪt/

To officially choose someone for a job or position.

"The president will nominate a new leader."

Senate/ˈsɛnət/

The part of the U.S. government that approves some official choices.

"The Senate will vote on the nominee."

Listening

A New Leader for U.S. Labor Statistics

President Donald Trump named Brett Matsumoto to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Matsumoto is a career economist who has worked at the BLS since 2015 and has a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina.

The BLS reports jobs and prices for the country. The agency had no permanent leader after President Trump fired Erika McEntarfer on August 1, 2025 after a weak jobs report. The nomination must be approved by the Senate. People who watch the economy want the BLS to stay independent. Many investors and businesses use BLS numbers to make plans. Senators will vote on the choice.

101 words

Quiz

1. Who was named to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics?

2. When did the president fire the previous commissioner?

3. Where does Matsumoto work?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you pay attention to news about jobs and prices where you live? Why or why not?

Have you ever used government information (for example, job numbers) to make a plan for work or money?

What do you think makes a government office feel trustworthy?