For Release: Wednesday, July 01, 2015
SOUTHEAST INFORMATION OFFICE: Atlanta, Ga.
Technical information: (404) 893-4222 [email protected]
Media contact:
(404) 893-4220
15-1247-ATL
www.bls.gov/regions/southeast
Atlanta Area Employment – May 2015
Total nonfarm employment for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. Metropolitan Statistical Area stood
at 2,583,200 in May 2015, an increase of 79,600 or 3.2 percent, from a year ago, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that the Atlanta area has recorded
over-the-year employment gains for nearly five years. Nationally, nonfarm employment increased 2.2
percent from May 2014 to May 2015. (See chart 1 and table 1; the Technical Note at the end of this release
contains metropolitan area definitions. All data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, overthe-year analysis is used throughout.)
Industry employment
In the Atlanta metropolitan area, professional and business services recorded the largest employment gain
from May 2014 to May 2015, adding 20,100 jobs. The area’s 4.4-percent growth in professional and
business services employment was larger than the nationwide increase of 3.6 percent. (See chart 2.)
Trade, transportation, and utilities had the second largest increase in jobs locally, increasing by 19,400 from
the previous May. Employment in this supersector grew 3.5 percent in Atlanta compared to 2.1 percent for
the nation.
Leisure and hospitality added 17,500 jobs from May 2014 to May 2015. Over the 12 months, employment
in leisure and hospitality grew 6.6 percent locally, more than double the national rate of 3.0 percent.
Three other supersectors in the Atlanta area gained at least 5,500 jobs since last May — education and
health services (9,800); construction (6,100); and financial activities (5,700). Locally, the rate of
employment in all three supersectors was greater than their respective national rate.
Information was the only supersector in the Atlanta area that had an employment decline greater than 1,000
from the previous May, down 1,100 or 1.2 percent. Nationally, this supersector added jobs over the 12month period, increasing 2.3 percent.
Twelve largest metropolitan areas
Atlanta was 1 of the nation’s 12 largest metropolitan statistical areas in May 2015. All 12 areas experienced
over-the-year job growth during the period, with 6 exceeding the national average of 2.2 percent. The fastest
rate of job growth was registered in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, up 3.4 percent, followed by Atlanta, up
3.2 percent. The slowest growth rate occurred in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (1.0 percent). (See chart
3 and table 2.)
2
The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area added the largest number of jobs, 151,200 since May 2014.
Employment increased by over 100,00 in two other areas—New York-Newark-Jersey City (139,800) and
Dallas (110,500). Philadelphia experienced the smallest gain, adding 29,300 jobs over the 12-month period.
Professional and business services recorded the most job growth in 5 of the 12 metropolitan areas from May
a year ago—Atlanta, Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, San Francisco-OaklandHayward, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria. Education and health services added the most jobs in five
other areas—Los Angeles, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, New York, Philadelphia, and
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale. The remaining two metropolitan areas, Dallas and Houston-The WoodlandsSugar Land, had the most job growth in trade, transportation and utilities.
Manufacturing recorded the largest over-the-year loss of jobs in five areas—Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New
York, and Phoenix. Four areas experienced no job losses greater than 1,000 for any supersector since last
May—Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
Metropolitan area employment data for June 2015 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, July
29, 2015.
Technical Note
This release presents nonfarm payroll employment estimates from the Current Employment Statistics (CES)
program. The CES survey is a Federal-State cooperative endeavor between State employment security
agencies and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Definitions. Employment data refer to persons on establishment payrolls who receive pay for any part of
the pay period which includes the 12th of the month. Persons are counted at their place of work rather than
at their place of residence; those appearing on more than one payroll are counted on each payroll. Industries
are classified on the basis of their principal activity in accordance with the 2012 version of the North
American Industry Classification System.
3
Method of estimation. The employment data are estimated using a "link relative" technique in which a
ratio (link relative) of current-month employment to that of the previous month is computed from a sample
of establishments reporting for both months. The estimates of employment for the current month are
obtained by multiplying the estimates for the previous month by these ratios. Small-domain models are used
as the official estimators for approximately 39 percent of CES published series which have insufficient
sample for direct sample-based estimates.
Annual revisions. Employment estimates are adjusted annually to a complete count of jobs, called
benchmarks, derived principally from tax reports which are submitted by employers who are covered under
state unemployment insurance (UI) laws. The benchmark information is used to adjust the monthly
estimates between the new benchmark and the preceding one and also to establish the level of employment
for the new benchmark month. Thus, the benchmarking process establishes the level of employment, and
the sample is used to measure the month-to-month changes in the level for the subsequent months.
Reliability of the estimates. The estimates presented in this release are based on sample survey and
administrative data and thus are subject to sampling and other types of errors. Sampling error is a measure
of sampling variability—that is, variation that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the entire
population is surveyed. Survey data are also subject to nonsampling errors, such as those which can be
introduced into the data collection and processing operations. Estimates not directly derived from sample
surveys are subject to additional errors resulting from the special estimation processes used. The sums of
individual items may not always equal the totals shown in the same tables because of rounding.
Employment estimates. Measures of sampling error for state CES data at the supersector level are
available on the BLS Web site at www.bls.gov/sae/790stderr.htm. Information on recent benchmark
revisions for states is available at www.bls.gov/sae/.
Area definitions. The substate area data published in this release reflect the delineations issued by the U.S.
Office of Management and Budget on February 28, 2013. A detailed list of the geographic definitions is
available at www.bls.gov/lau/lausmsa.htm.
The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. Metropolitan Statistical Area includes the counties of Barrow,
Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth,
Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Morgan, Newton, Paulding, Pickens,
Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton in Georgia.
Additional information
More complete information on the technical procedures used to develop these estimates and additional data
appear in Employment and Earnings, which is available online at www.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm. Industry
employment data for states and metropolitan areas from the Current Employment Statistics program are also
available in the above mentioned news releases and from the Internet at www.bls.gov/sae/.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice
phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
4
Table 1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, United States and Atlanta metropolitan
area, not seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)
Area and Industry
United States
Total nonfarm...................................................
Mining and logging ..........................................
Construction ....................................................
Manufacturing..................................................
Trade transportation and utilities .....................
Information ......................................................
Financial activities ...........................................
Professional and business services ................
Education and health services ........................
Leisure and hospitality.....................................
Other services .................................................
Government.....................................................
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Total nonfarm...................................................
Mining and logging ..........................................
Construction ....................................................
Manufacturing..................................................
Trade transportation and utilities .....................
Information ......................................................
Financial activities ...........................................
Professional and business services ................
Education and health services ........................
Leisure and hospitality.....................................
Other services .................................................
Government.....................................................
May
2014
Mar
2015
Apr
2015
May
2015 (p)
Change from May
2014 to May 2015 (p)
Number
Percent
139,297
884
6,151
12,140
26,228
2,725
7,940
19,002
21,468
14,942
5,600
22,217
140,298
867
6,012
12,266
26,454
2,774
8,046
19,343
22,007
14,644
5,597
22,288
141,450
852
6,255
12,273
26,570
2,786
8,060
19,602
22,099
14,983
5,627
22,343
142,420
838
6,441
12,314
26,791
2,787
8,101
19,688
22,088
15,393
5,661
22,318
3,123
-46
290
174
563
62
161
686
620
451
61
101
2.2
-5.2
4.7
1.4
2.1
2.3
2.0
3.6
2.9
3.0
1.1
0.5
2,503.6
1.4
100.0
152.3
550.1
89.4
159.0
459.5
307.3
263.7
94.8
326.1
2,545.3
1.3
102.5
152.7
566.4
87.9
162.8
468.9
315.7
263.3
94.8
329.0
2,567.2
1.3
104.5
154.1
568.0
88.3
164.8
473.1
316.7
271.5
94.8
330.1
2,583.2
1.3
106.1
153.6
569.5
88.3
164.7
479.6
317.1
281.2
94.2
327.6
79.6
-0.1
6.1
1.3
19.4
-1.1
5.7
20.1
9.8
17.5
-0.6
1.5
3.2
-7.1
6.1
0.9
3.5
-1.2
3.6
4.4
3.2
6.6
-0.6
0.5
(P) Preliminary
5
Table 2. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, 12 largest metropolitan areas, not
seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)
Area and Industry
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining and logging ...................................
Construction .............................................
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining, logging, and construction.............
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining and logging ...................................
Construction .............................................
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining, logging, and construction.............
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining and logging ...................................
Construction .............................................
May
2014
Mar
2015
Apr
2015
May
2015 (p)
Change from May
2014 to May 2015 (p)
Number
Percent
2,503.6
1.4
100.0
152.3
550.1
89.4
159.0
459.5
307.3
263.7
94.8
326.1
2,545.3
1.3
102.5
152.7
566.4
87.9
162.8
468.9
315.7
263.3
94.8
329.0
2,567.2
1.3
104.5
154.1
568.0
88.3
164.8
473.1
316.7
271.5
94.8
330.1
2,583.2
1.3
106.1
153.6
569.5
88.3
164.7
479.6
317.1
281.2
94.2
327.6
79.6
-0.1
6.1
1.3
19.4
-1.1
5.7
20.1
9.8
17.5
-0.6
1.5
3.2
-7.1
6.1
0.9
3.5
-1.2
3.6
4.4
3.2
6.6
-0.6
0.5
2,596.2
95.5
191.8
409.6
75.0
171.8
441.4
540.9
254.2
100.2
315.8
2,585.3
86.8
191.4
406.4
75.7
172.4
440.5
552.3
238.2
100.7
320.9
2,620.0
94.0
190.2
408.7
76.1
174.1
450.0
555.8
245.9
102.2
323.0
2,647.4
99.2
191.1
414.6
76.6
175.0
455.0
552.6
258.0
102.9
322.4
51.2
3.7
-0.7
5.0
1.6
3.2
13.6
11.7
3.8
2.7
6.6
2.0
3.9
-0.4
1.2
2.1
1.9
3.1
2.2
1.5
2.7
2.1
4,526.4
1.5
157.4
410.1
902.6
80.4
288.6
799.5
689.3
446.0
195.3
555.7
4,481.9
1.2
145.3
407.0
904.7
80.4
285.7
784.7
699.4
426.2
192.0
555.3
4,529.5
1.4
155.3
405.9
909.4
80.0
284.5
806.2
701.5
435.4
193.0
556.9
4,582.9
1.5
162.9
405.6
916.8
80.2
285.4
817.8
702.0
452.5
194.8
563.4
56.5
0.0
5.5
-4.5
14.2
-0.2
-3.2
18.3
12.7
6.5
-0.5
7.7
1.2
0.0
3.5
-1.1
1.6
-0.2
-1.1
2.3
1.8
1.5
-0.3
1.4
3,265.4
192.5
261.9
673.6
82.4
263.8
532.7
398.8
337.0
117.0
405.7
3,340.3
198.2
261.8
697.2
81.9
273.4
548.3
412.0
340.8
114.8
411.9
3,369.1
198.3
261.0
700.7
81.1
275.4
557.2
415.9
349.7
117.8
412.0
3,375.9
196.2
260.2
702.8
81.1
276.4
557.5
415.9
354.6
116.9
414.3
110.5
3.7
-1.7
29.2
-1.3
12.6
24.8
17.1
17.6
-0.1
8.6
3.4
1.9
-0.6
4.3
-1.6
4.8
4.7
4.3
5.2
-0.1
2.1
2,923.0
108.6
203.6
2,973.1
113.9
207.0
2,971.6
110.5
206.4
2,985.3
108.4
205.9
62.3
-0.2
2.3
2.1
-0.2
1.1
Note: See footnotes at end of table.
6
Table 2. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, 12 largest metropolitan areas, not
seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands) - Continued
Area and Industry
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining and logging ...................................
Construction .............................................
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach,
FL
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining and logging ...................................
Construction .............................................
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining, logging, and construction.............
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJDE-MD
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining, logging, and construction.............
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
May
2014
Mar
2015
Apr
2015
May
2015 (p)
Change from May
2014 to May 2015 (p)
Number
Percent
253.0
590.4
33.1
147.5
463.2
349.1
290.3
104.7
379.5
254.2
602.3
33.0
148.5
466.4
362.9
295.1
103.6
386.2
252.1
602.8
34.3
146.6
464.3
362.4
301.2
103.9
387.1
249.5
608.2
33.7
147.3
469.6
364.3
306.9
104.4
387.1
-3.5
17.8
0.6
-0.2
6.4
15.2
16.6
-0.3
7.6
-1.4
3.0
1.8
-0.1
1.4
4.4
5.7
-0.3
2.0
5,716.1
5.4
200.6
523.4
1,045.6
213.0
323.4
880.6
938.1
662.2
199.4
724.4
5,841.3
5.2
209.6
526.1
1,067.9
224.4
327.8
894.9
976.3
670.7
206.2
732.2
5,850.9
5.1
213.7
525.8
1,067.8
225.5
327.3
899.1
971.4
676.5
204.4
734.3
5,867.3
5.2
215.3
526.6
1,071.9
215.0
326.6
900.6
980.3
682.5
206.7
736.6
151.2
-0.2
14.7
3.2
26.3
2.0
3.2
20.0
42.2
20.3
7.3
12.2
2.6
-3.7
7.3
0.6
2.5
0.9
1.0
2.3
4.5
3.1
3.7
1.7
2,425.2
0.6
100.7
80.4
561.1
47.5
168.1
387.6
355.8
299.5
117.3
306.6
2,502.4
0.6
106.1
82.4
577.6
48.4
173.5
401.1
369.1
314.3
122.8
306.5
2,499.8
0.6
105.7
81.8
576.0
48.3
174.5
401.8
369.2
314.1
121.5
306.3
2,500.7
0.6
106.4
81.2
576.3
48.5
174.9
402.1
371.6
311.5
121.2
306.4
75.5
0.0
5.7
0.8
15.2
1.0
6.8
14.5
15.8
12.0
3.9
-0.2
3.1
0.0
5.7
1.0
2.7
2.1
4.0
3.7
4.4
4.0
3.3
-0.1
9,177.4
349.2
371.2
1,684.1
283.1
751.8
1,431.9
1,739.7
859.1
405.1
1,302.2
9,151.0
329.8
366.7
1,687.4
284.8
750.3
1,424.1
1,781.5
813.3
409.9
1,303.2
9,226.4
348.1
366.2
1,689.0
284.0
752.1
1,443.7
1,784.7
837.5
409.8
1,311.3
9,317.2
362.4
367.8
1,706.3
283.7
753.1
1,455.3
1,790.6
874.4
415.9
1,307.7
139.8
13.2
-3.4
22.2
0.6
1.3
23.4
50.9
15.3
10.8
5.5
1.5
3.8
-0.9
1.3
0.2
0.2
1.6
2.9
1.8
2.7
0.4
2,799.8
106.7
179.2
513.0
46.3
2,786.0
106.0
179.0
512.0
45.3
2,814.0
110.2
178.3
516.8
45.5
2,829.1
114.6
178.3
520.5
45.7
29.3
7.9
-0.9
7.5
-0.6
1.0
7.4
-0.5
1.5
-1.3
Note: See footnotes at end of table.
7
Table 2. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, 12 largest metropolitan areas, not
seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands) - Continued
Area and Industry
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining and logging ...................................
Construction .............................................
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining and logging ...................................
Construction .............................................
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VAMD-WV
Total nonfarm................................................
Mining, logging, and construction.............
Manufacturing...........................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
Information ...............................................
Financial activities ....................................
Professional and business services .........
Education and health services .................
Leisure and hospitality..............................
Other services ..........................................
Government..............................................
May
2014
Mar
2015
Apr
2015
May
2015 (p)
Change from May
2014 to May 2015 (p)
Number
Percent
203.3
449.2
588.0
253.0
118.8
342.3
204.4
438.2
600.1
240.3
119.6
341.1
205.5
442.2
603.3
248.9
121.8
341.5
206.2
442.7
599.2
260.0
122.2
339.7
2.9
-6.5
11.2
7.0
3.4
-2.6
1.4
-1.4
1.9
2.8
2.9
-0.8
1,844.2
3.4
95.9
118.5
360.5
35.0
161.3
305.9
266.9
201.2
64.2
231.4
1,905.2
3.3
99.6
116.8
371.5
34.9
165.9
313.4
277.7
209.2
69.3
243.6
1,904.3
3.4
99.6
116.4
368.0
35.7
165.6
316.0
277.7
209.0
68.6
244.3
1,899.4
3.4
101.4
116.9
367.9
35.2
166.4
317.7
279.9
207.0
68.2
235.4
55.2
0.0
5.5
-1.6
7.4
0.2
5.1
11.8
13.0
5.8
4.0
4.0
3.0
0.0
5.7
-1.4
2.1
0.6
3.2
3.9
4.9
2.9
6.2
1.7
2,182.2
0.9
99.6
120.3
350.8
77.1
127.4
439.0
326.6
250.8
83.3
306.4
2,226.3
0.8
104.1
123.1
354.7
80.2
127.2
460.6
330.7
251.1
85.7
308.1
2,238.7
0.8
105.0
123.8
353.5
81.2
126.3
464.8
331.2
255.1
86.6
310.4
2,248.5
0.8
103.8
124.3
357.8
80.8
127.5
466.5
330.0
260.1
86.0
310.9
66.3
-0.1
4.2
4.0
7.0
3.7
0.1
27.5
3.4
9.3
2.7
4.5
3.0
-11.1
4.2
3.3
2.0
4.8
0.1
6.3
1.0
3.7
3.2
1.5
3,124.1
149.6
50.3
394.7
78.2
151.5
705.9
404.0
305.8
194.1
690.0
3,127.1
146.2
48.8
397.9
75.3
149.4
708.6
418.7
292.1
192.8
697.3
3,163.0
150.5
48.9
402.4
75.6
149.9
718.6
421.2
303.2
194.5
698.2
3,181.1
153.9
48.9
404.1
76.4
149.5
723.5
419.4
310.4
195.4
699.6
57.0
4.3
-1.4
9.4
-1.8
-2.0
17.6
15.4
4.6
1.3
9.6
1.8
2.9
-2.8
2.4
-2.3
-1.3
2.5
3.8
1.5
0.7
1.4
(P) Preliminary
8