• RAW DATA
  • ANALYSIS
  • VISUALS
  • HUMAN

How to query historical BLS series data with your AI

Connect your AI client to the BLS Labor Force MCP to pull specific economic data points. Once connected, you can request any historical series using its unique ID.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I pull specific BLS series data into my AI?

Provide your AI with a specific BLS series ID and a time range. The AI uses the query_bls tool to fetch the raw data and then processes it for your analysis. You'll get structured time series data ready for graphing or trend modeling.

Data outcomes

What you get from your queries

The AI handles the data retrieval so you can focus on the economic implications.

RAW DATA

Clean time series

The AI pulls specific data points for the series ID you provide. You get the exact values for the requested period.

ANALYSIS

Trend identification

Your agent calculates changes, growth rates, or seasonal adjustments based on the retrieved BLS numbers.

VISUALS

Data for charts

The AI formats the series into a structure you can easily copy into a spreadsheet or a graphing tool.

HUMAN

Final interpretation

You review the AI's mathematical findings to ensure the economic context matches your specific research needs.

The workflow

What your AI does when you request data.

The AI handles the technical retrieval so you can focus on the economic implications.

  1. Identify the series

    Your agent parses your request to find the specific BLS series ID and the date range you want to examine.

    query_bls

  2. Fetch the data

    The AI calls the BLS database to pull the historical values for that specific ID.

    query_bls

  3. Structure the results

    The agent organizes the raw numbers into a readable format, like a table or a list of dates and values.

    query_bls

  4. Perform calculations

    The AI calculates the delta or percentage change between the data points you requested.

    query_bls

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to begin your economic research.

Starting points

Replace the series IDs and dates in these examples with the specific ones you need to research.

Bureau of Labor Statistics Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_kdGGGXYtyYIPZkAtQFcbSD5T3kSqUSTy630eHa3g/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Bureau of Labor Statistics capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bls-labor-force-national-unemployment-cps-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_kdGGGXYtyYIPZkAtQFcbSD5T3kSqUSTy630eHa3g/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Query series 'LNS14000000' for the last 12 months to show the unemployment trend.

  • Get the historical data for series 'LNS14000000' from 2020 to 2023.

  • Compare the values for series 'LNS14000000' and 'LNS14000001' over the last two years.

  • Calculate the month-over-month percentage change for series 'LNS14000000' for the current year.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect BLS Labor Force once, then ask.

Click the link to connect the MCP to your client. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can start querying immediately.

Connect BLS Labor Force to your AI

FAQ

How the data retrieval works

  • 01

    Can the AI update data in the BLS database?

    No. The tool only allows for querying existing historical data. It cannot modify or add new records to the BLS.

  • 02

    Do I need to know the series ID beforehand?

    Yes. You need to provide the specific series ID for the tool to pull the correct data.

  • 03

    Can the AI create a PDF report of the data?

    No. The AI can only provide the text and data structures. You will need to copy that data into your own document or spreadsheet tool.

  • 04

    Can I query multiple series at once?

    Yes, you can ask the AI to fetch and compare multiple series IDs in a single request.

  • 05

    Does the AI handle the data cleaning?

    Yes. The AI takes the raw response from the query_bls tool and formats it into a clean, usable structure for you.

  • More questions about BLS Labor Force? The Connector page answers them. See everything the BLS Labor Force Connector can do

Connect Bureau of Labor Statistics to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more