BusinessJanuary 31, 2026

A New Leader for U.S. Labor Statistics

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

commissioner/kəˈmɪʃənər/

The official who leads an agency or department.

"The commissioner will lead the BLS team."

acting/ˈæktɪŋ/

Temporarily doing a job until a permanent person is chosen.

"William Wiatrowski is serving as acting commissioner."

unemployment/ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/

The condition of people who do not have jobs but are looking for work.

"The BLS reports the national unemployment rate each month."

inflation/ɪnˈfleɪʃən/

A rise in the general level of prices over time.

"High inflation makes daily goods more expensive."

Listening

A New Leader for U.S. Labor Statistics

President Donald Trump has nominated Brett Matsumoto to be the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Matsumoto has worked at the BLS since 2015 and he holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The agency’s permanent leadership has been absent since President Trump fired Erika McEntarfer on August 1, 2025. William Wiatrowski has been serving as acting commissioner while the administration selects a nominee, and the choice must be confirmed by the Senate before it becomes permanent.

Economists and markets have been watching this change closely because the BLS produces key measures such as unemployment and inflation. Although initial details varied, some organizations noted that initial details were unverified. Matsumoto spent time on detail at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, which has given him experience in policy work while he remained a BLS employee. Many analysts have said that a commissioner who knows the agency's data methods can help defend the bureau's technical work.

165 words

Quiz

1. Who has been serving as acting commissioner?

2. Since what year has Matsumoto worked at the BLS?

3. What measures does the BLS produce?

Reading Practice

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

Discussion

Do you check price changes, like food or transport costs, in your daily life?

Have you ever used statistics to make a decision about work or money?

What do you think is important when a government report is described as 'independent'?

Would you trust a career civil servant to lead a statistics office? Why?