Nevada’s Data Package Garners National Award for Data Insights and Innovations
WASHINGTON – The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) was named the recipient of the prestigious Data Insights and Innovations Award for its BLSloadR data package, given by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) at its 2026 Winter Policy Forum in National Harbor, MD. Presented by NASWA’s Workforce and Labor Market Information Committee, this award is bestowed on a state showing excellence and innovation in labor market information.
BLSloadR provides users of R, a free software environment for statistical computing, with an efficient and accessible way to retrieve and analyze data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Published on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN), the package enables users to extract full datasets, such as Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), and Current Employment Statistics (CES). Downloaded approximately 100 times per week, the tool enables quick data processing, replacing months of complex work.
“The creation of this data package demonstrates an exceptional innovation in labor market information accessibility,” NASWA President and CEO Scott B. Sanders said. “This tool has enhanced how states can work with BLS data.”
“This award highlights the creative and unique work being done by the Research & Analysis Bureau,” said David Schmidt, DETR Chief Economist. “This product is an example of Nevada’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and expanding access to labor market information both within Nevada and across the country.”
For more information, visit NASWA’s Winter Policy Forum and Workforce and Labor Market Information Committee webpages.
###
About the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (www.detr.nv.gov): The Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR) is the state’s lead workforce development department. It consists of divisions that offer workforce related services, job placement and training, services for people with disabilities, investigation of claims of discrimination, unemployment insurance benefits, labor market data and more. Many of these services are provided through EmployNV and in cooperation with its community partners.
