(CNMI DOL) — The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Labor is issuing a firm reminder to all employers — across government, nonprofit, autonomous, and private sectors — that the deadline to submit the 2025 Census of Employment or COE data is Oct. 31, 2025. Meeting this deadline is vital to support the CNMI’s strategic goal of closing the employment-data gap and increasing compliance through FY 2026.
As of today, the department has identified approximately 2,400 businesses that have not yet fulfilled the COE submission requirement. These outstanding filings represent a significant compliance challenge and an equally important opportunity for our community to strengthen its economic-data infrastructure.
“Accurate employment data is central to sound policymaking and measuring our economy’s resilience,” said DOL Secretary Staffler. “We urge every employer to act now and complete the COE by Oct. 31. We have made everything accessible and available online at our website labor.cnmi.gov/.”
Why the COE matters
The COE provides critical insight into employment figures across sectors, enabling the CNMI to better understand labor-market trends and address workforce needs.
For FY 2026, the department has set a goal to increase compliance with the COE requirement and close the existing data gap to ensure complete, timely information.
Failure to submit deprives policymakers and community leaders of reliable data needed to design effective workforce and economic policies.
Who must submit
All employers operating in the CNMI — including those in governmental agencies, autonomous entities, nonprofit organizations, and privately held businesses — are required to submit COE data. This applies regardless of size or sector.
Consequences of non-compliance
Failure to submit the COE by the deadline may trigger follow-up enforcement actions and denial of Good Standing Certifications from CNMI DOL. More importantly, non-participation undermines the collective effort to build a complete and accurate employment-data set for the CNMI.
What to do
Go to labor.cnmi.gov
Under Employers, choose: Report Census of Employment.
Follow the directions and submit the completed COE form by Oct. 31, 2025.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact CNMI DOL at (670) 664-9136.
The Department of Labor extends its appreciation to those who have already submitted for their timely compliance.