bls-labor-mcp-server

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Tools

Seven tools in two groups — four for BLS data access (survey discovery, SeriesID resolution, history, current values) and three for optional DataCanvas SQL analysis of large result sets:

Tool	Description
bls_list_surveys	List BLS survey programs (CPI, CPS, CES, JOLTS, PPI, OEWS, …) with codes, descriptions, and calculation-support flags.
bls_search_series	Search the BLS series catalog by natural language, survey, area, or keywords to resolve cryptic SeriesIDs.
bls_get_series	Fetch time-series data for 1–50 BLS series by SeriesID, with optional year range and period-over-period calculations.
bls_get_latest	Return the single most recent observation for one or more BLS series.
bls_dataframe_describe	List canvas dataframes registered by bls_get_series — provenance, TTL, row count, column schema. Requires CANVAS_PROVIDER_TYPE=duckdb.
bls_dataframe_query	Run a SELECT against canvas dataframes registered by bls_get_series. Supports JOINs, aggregates, window functions, CTEs. Requires CANVAS_PROVIDER_TYPE=duckdb.
bls_dataframe_drop	Drop a canvas dataframe by name. Opt-in via BLS_DATAFRAME_DROP_ENABLED=true; TTL handles cleanup by default. Requires CANVAS_PROVIDER_TYPE=duckdb.

bls_list_surveys

List available BLS survey programs and their metadata.

• Covers all major BLS programs: CPS, CES, CPI, PPI, JOLTS, LAUS, OEWS, ECEC, and others
• Optional category filter (prices, employment, wages, productivity, injuries, time_use)
• Returns survey codes, descriptions, and calculation-support flags (allowsNetChange, allowsPercentChange, hasAnnualAverages)
• Backed by the live BLS surveys API with monthly caching; does not consume daily API quota

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bls_search_series

The entry point for most BLS workflows. Resolves human concepts to BLS SeriesIDs.

• BLS identifiers like LNS14000000 and CES0000000001 encode survey + area + item + seasonal flag in opaque positional codes — this tool decodes them
• Free-text and keyword search against the full BLS series catalog
• Filter by survey code, geographic area (state name, MSA, or FIPS), and seasonal adjustment flag
• Returns decoded series components (survey, area, item, seasonal flag) alongside the plain-language name
• Operates entirely offline against LABSTAT flat files bundled at startup — no API quota consumed
• Use before bls_get_series or bls_get_latest when you have a concept but not a SeriesID

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bls_get_series