clean_bls_data.py

def clean_bls_data(df):
    '''
    Function for cleaning BLS data into a 'tidy' vertical dataset like:
    State | Date | Metric
    Returns pandas dataframe.
    '''

    # Melt the dataframe into vertical format.
    melted_df = pd.melt(df, id_vars=['Date'],
                       value_vars=df.columns[1:],
                       var_name='State',
                       value_name='Pct_Unemployed'
                       )

    return melted_df