Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
August 2012
Bureau of Labor Statistics
September 7, 2012
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
August 2012
Level: 133,300
Change: 96
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
800
220
246
251
54
84
96
85
121
120
110
41
200
220
189
239
400
202
112
157
223
275
259
143
68
87
45
141
96
516
600
-803
-800
-1,000
-58
-51
-27
-167
-40
-35
-171
-339
-231
-199
-202
-818
-724
-799
-692
-661
-600
-482
-432
-489
-400
-361
-208
-190
-198
-210
-274
-84
-95
-42
0
-200
-1,200
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Total nonfarm employment rose by 96,000 in August.

Since the beginning of the year, job growth has averaged 139,000 per month, compared with
an average monthly gain of 153,000 in 2011.
2
Employment in total nonfarm
Total nonfarm:
96
Over-the-month change, August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
-2
Construction
1
Manufacturing
-15
Wholesale trade
8
Retail trade
6
Transportation and warehousing
6
Utilities
9
Information
3
Financial activities
7
Professional and business services
28
Education and health services
22
Leisure and hospitality
34
Other services
-4
Government
-7
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
30–month
change,
August 2012
February 2010
– August
2012, net change
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Total Private:
4628
Mining and logging
163
Construction
-14
Manufacturing
508
Wholesale trade
202.5
Retail trade
357.2
Transportation and warehousing
241.7
Utilities
11.7
Information
-94
Financial activities
82
1416
Leisure and hospitality
735
Other services
57
Government
-571
-1,000
-500
Professional and business services
Education and health services
961
-1,500
Total Nonfarm:
Total nonfarm:
4056
96
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.

In August, employment rose in food services and drinking places, in professional and
business services, and in health care, but changed little in most other major industries over
the month.

Since an employment trough in February 2010, most nonfarm job gains have come in
professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality.
3
Employment in total private
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
600
141
193
84
92
92
128
115
196
134
140
119
257
261
264
108
102
175
52
216
139
178
234
277
254
147
85
116
63
162
103
400
41
200
-1,000
-296
-219
-184
-232
-312
-725
-787
-802
-797
-800
-839
-658
-600
-426
-425
-480
-400
-136
-112
-215
-216
-231
-259
-294
-200
-42
-120
-40
-27
0
-1,200
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Total private employment grew by 103,000 in August, bringing the year-to-date gain to
1.2 million.

Since reaching an employment trough in February 2010, private industry has added 4.6
million jobs, for a gain of 4.3 percent.
4
Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.4
Change: 0.0
34.5
34.0
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.7
Change: 0.0
33.0
32.5
32.0
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Index of aggregate weekly hours
Total private, all employees
March 2006–August 2012
104
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
102
100
98
96
94
August 2012
Level: 96.0
Change: 0.1%
92
90
88
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Mar-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.4
hours in August. The August workweek was 0.6 hour above the October 2009 trough.

At 33.7 hours, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on
private nonfarm payrolls was also unchanged in August.

The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees rose 0.1 percent in August. Since
reaching a trough in October 2009, the index has risen 6 percentage points.
5
Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
August 2012 Earnings: 1.7
July 2012 CPI-U: 1.4
Over-the-year percent change
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
Total private earnings
CPI–U
-3.0
Mar-07 Sep-07 Mar-08 Sep-08 Mar-09 Sep-09 Mar-10 Sep-10 Mar-11 Sep-11 Mar-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100

Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down by 1 cent
in August to $23.52.

Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.7 percent. In July, the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) had increased by 1.4 percent over
the year.
6
Employment in mining and logging
January 2000–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
900
850
800
750
700
650
600
August 2012
Level: 838
Change: -2
550
500
450
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.

Mining and logging employment edged down by 2,000 in August.

Since February 2012, employment in the industry has shown little net change.
7
Employment in construction
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
100
4
0
1
-32
-1
-14
-7
1
-9
-3
-10
-11
-11
-21
-19
-11
-16
-41
-30
-33
-153
-144
-105
-147
-155
-150
-110
-100
-61
-64
-57
-87
-82
-79
-71
-58
-49
-66
-55
-46
-73
-77
-70
-46
-34
-9
-1
0
-50
26
18
30
7
7
7
3
13
20
23
33
50
-200
-250
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Construction employment was essentially unchanged in August. Since reaching an
employment trough in January 2011, the industry has added an average of 3,000 jobs per
month.
8
Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
200
-179
-200
52
30
42
10
13
7
23
28
9
-15
-3
3
52
37
26
28
8
12
30
3
-17
-297
-300
-166
-172
-179
-167
-143
-130
-114
-61
-41
-44
-49
-34
-30
-20
-28
-39
-56
-31
-59
-75
-79
-84
-100
-8
0
2
0
9
15
4
8
32
34
10
20
100
-400
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in durable goods
Over-the-month change, August 2012
Durable goods:
-17
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-1.4
Wood products
-1.3
Nonmetallic mineral products
Primary metals
-2.6
Fabricated metal products
-3.1
Machinery
1.7
Computer and electronic products
-1.8
Electrical equipment and appliances
-1.3
Transportation equipment
-8.2
Furniture and related products
1.6
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-0.5
-12
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.

Manufacturing employment edged down by 15,000 in August; however, since reaching an
employment trough in January 2010, the industry has added 512,000 jobs.

A decline in motor vehicles and parts (-8,000) partially offset a gain in July. Auto
manufacturers laid off fewer workers for factory retooling than usual in July, and therefore
fewer workers than usual were recalled in August. The average monthly employment change
for July and August is in line with the recent trend.
9
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.5
Change: -0.1
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.5
Change: -0.2
39.0
38.5
38.0
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

The manufacturing workweek for all employees declined by 0.2 hour to 40.5 hours, and
factory overtime was unchanged at 3.2 hours.

The manufacturing workweek for production employees declined by 0.1 hour to 41.5 hours,
and factory overtime for production employees also decline by 0.1 hour to 4.1 hours.
10
Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
150
6
24
6
-9
-2
34
25
-15
-15
-4
-5
7
14
12
16
27
37
5
8
20
13
3
14
5
3
-11
-11
-27
-46
-35
-8
-23
-61
-94
-132
-99
-99
-100
-71
-71
-45
-52
-47
-43
-60
-68
-52
-23
-43
-50
-12
1
0
12
32
10
25
50
37
67
100
-150
-200
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in retail trade edged up by 6,000 in August. Retail employment has changed
little in 2012, compared to an average gain of 18,000 jobs per month in 2011.
11
Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7
13
11
3
6
11
5
5
3
5
7
8
5
6
8
3
1
1
2
8
14
20
14
40
-28
-25
-2
-6
-4
-13
-3
-4
-6
-5
-4
-12
-11
-8
-14
-9
-15
-40
-52
-60
-49
-53
-34
-33
-37
-45
-40
-25
-11
-4
-14
-17
-13
-16
-20
-11
-5
0
-80
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in financial activities changed little over the month.

Within financial activities, finance and insurance added 11,000 jobs in August, marking that
industry’s largest over-the-month change since September 2010.
12
Employment in professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
28
45
5
18
41
47
72
79
89
18
41
39
39
40
59
88
8
-3
-64
-100
-144
-184
-184
-200
-133
-148
-116
-120
-150
50
56
46
49
23
55
45
79
32
56
44
-31
-22
-41
-61
-71
-70
-100
-68
-63
-50
-40
-1
0
0
1
8
14
29
50
67
100
79
82
150
-250
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Professional and business services added 28,000 jobs in August. Since February 2012,
professional and business services has averaged 33,000 jobs added per month.
13
Employment in selected professional and business services
Professional and
business services:
28
Over-the-month change, August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and technical˚
26.8
- Accounting and bookkeeping
3.5
- Architectural and engineering
3.8
- Computer systems design
10.6
- Management and technical consulting
8.7
0.4
Management of companies
0.5
Administrative and waste services˚
- Employment services
0.4
- Services to buildings
-6.2
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
Employment in temporary help services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
100
50
36
2
7
9
21
15
18
21
24
17
20
19
36
31
33
30
16
14
20
20
2
3
20
7
32
40
23
30
28
33
31
45
60
58
56
80
-5
-13
-1
-8
-6
-22
-19
-30
-72
-80
-100
-113
-120
-75
-80
-55
-55
-60
-41
-60
-30
-34
-28
-12
-38
-32
-40
-4
0
-20
-140
-160
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Within professional and technical services, computer systems design and related services
added 11,000 jobs, followed by management and technical consulting services with 9,000
jobs added. Employment in computer systems design and related services has maintained
fairly consistent growth since its latest trough in August 2009, averaging a gain of 6,000 jobs
per month. Likewise, job growth in management and technical consulting has averaged 6,000
per month since its trough in May 2010.

Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month, and has shown little
net change since February 2012.
14
Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
60
38
32
19
17
19
26
24
23
30
34
36
32
26
18
23
19
20
22
4
9
10
16
15
12
15
11
10
11
10
16
19
18
19
24
22
22
23
20
28
30
31
23
22
18
14
15
19
20
32
36
37
33
28
35
21
30
29
30
40
46
50
0
-10
-20
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
14.2
- Offices of physicians
0.7
- Outpatient care centers
1.2
- Home health care services
7.2
Hospitals
5.7
Nursing and residential care
-3.2
-8
-6
-4
Health care
industries:
17
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Health care employment rose by 17,000 in August. Ambulatory health care and hospitals
accounted for most of the increase over the month.

Since June 2012, average monthly job gains in health care have slowed to 15,000 from
28,000 in the preceding 12 months.
15
Employment in food services and drinking places
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
80
26
28
8
8
10
27
35
0
-1
-9
-8
-24
-28
-24
-22
-25
-24
-24
-30
-38
-36
-28
-26
-18
-12
-25
-11
-3
-4
-5
-9
-40
25
26
7
5
2
1
1
0
-20
20
28
24
30
6
7
11
20
16
13
15
19
25
40
33
38
42
38
53
54
60
-60
-80
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Jul-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Food services and drinking places accounted for 28,000 jobs gained over the month.
Employment in the industry has grown by an average of 21,000 per month since a trough in
February 2010, accounting for 85 percent of the employment gains in leisure and hospitality.
16
Employment in government
January 2000–August 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,500
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
20,500
August 2012
Level: 21,900
Change: -7
20,000
19,500
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected government
Over-the-month change, August 2012
Government:
-7
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service
2.9
U.S. Postal Service
0.0
State government education
-2.7
State government, excluding education
-3.0
Local government education
-1.9
Local government, excluding education
-2.1
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.

Government employment continued to trend down in August (-7,000).

Since the end of the most recent recession in June 2009, government employment has
declined by 670,000, or 3.0 percent.
17