The Economist featured Revelio Labs employment data in its November 9, 2025 analysis of the challenges of measuring the US. economy during the federal government shutdown.
With official payroll figures for September and October unpublished, private-sector data sources became an important way to track changes in employment. The Economist compared estimates from Revelio Labs and ADP, which pointed to different month-to-month patterns.
Tracking employment when official data is delayed
In “The problem with America’s shutdown economy,” The Economist examines the difficulty of assessing economic conditions when government gridlock interrupts official data releases.
The article highlights Revelio Labs as one of the private-sector sources providing employment estimates during the gap. While ADP data indicated a decline in September followed by a rebound in October, Revelio Labs data showed employment rising in September and declining in October.
The comparison also illustrates why multiple sources can produce different estimates. Private datasets use different underlying information and methodologies, making continued measurement and comparison especially important when official benchmarks are unavailable.
Read the full Economist article for more on measuring the U.S. economy during the government shutdown.
Read the full article: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/11/09/the-problem-with-americas-shutdown-economy
FAQ
What did Revelio Labs employment data show during the shutdown?
Revelio Labs data showed US employment rising in September 2025 and declining in October, according to The Economist.
Why did private employment estimates differ?
Private-sector employment datasets can rely on different underlying data and methodologies, which can produce different estimates of monthly labor market changes.
What does Revelio Labs measure?
Revelio Labs provides standardized workforce data covering areas including employment, job postings, hiring, compensation, skills, company headcount, and employee sentiment.