Chart 1-10. Manufacturing employment has edged down
slightly since early 2004, following 3 years of sharp declines
Employment in thousands
18,000
17,500
17,000
16,500
16,000
15,500
15,000
14,500
14,000
13,500
13,000
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
NOTE: Shaded area represents recession. Data are seasonally adjusted.
SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Chart 1-10. Manufacturing employment has edged down
slightly since early 2004, following 3 years of sharp declines
• From the beginning of the recession in March 2001 through February 2004,
manufacturing lost 2.7 million jobs.
• From February 2004 to December 2005, the number of factory workers edged
down by 58,000.
• At 40.7 hours per week in 2005, the factory workweek remains below the 41.3
hour manufacturing workweek that prevailed in 2000.
10