Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
December 2008
Bureau of Labor Statistics
January 9, 2009
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
300
200
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
177
126
100
162
107
46
25
140
81
57 74
60 41
0
-47
-67
-76 -83 -88 -67
-100
-100
-200
-127
-300
-400
-403-423
-500
-524
-584
-600
Dec08
Oct-0
8
No v
-08
Sep-0
8
Jul- 08
Aug-0
8
Jun-0
8
8
-08
Ap r0
May
8
Mar08
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
Dec07
Oct-0
7
No v
-07
Sep-0
7
Jul- 07
Aug07
Jun-0
7
7
-07
Ap r0
May
7
Feb-0
Mar07
Jan-0
7
-700
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 524,000 in December. Over the
most recent 4 months, payroll employment fell by 1.9 million, or an average
of 484,000 per month, sharply higher than the average loss of 82,000 per
month during the first 8 months of 2008.
•
In 2008, payroll employment fell by 2.6 million, the largest annual
employment decrease, in absolute terms, since 1945.
2
Percent change in total nonfarm employment, from
beginning of recession*
Seasonally adjusted
0.5
0.0
0.5
0.0
July 1990
March 2001
-0.5
-0.5
December 2007
-1.0
-1.0
-1.5
-1.5
-2.0
-2.0
-2.5
-2.5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Month
*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Total nonfarm employment peaked in December 2007, coinciding with the
start of the recession as declared by the National Bureau of Economic
Research (NBER). With the recent acceleration of job losses, nonfarm
employment has fallen by 1.9 percent during 2008, the largest employment
percentage decline since 1982.
3
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, December 2008
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Natural resources and mining
-1
Construction
Manufacturing
-101
Total nonfarm:
-524
-149
Wholesale trade
-30
Retail trade
-67
Transportation and warehousing
-24
Utilities
0
-20
Information
-14
Financial activities
Professional and business services
-113
45
Education and health services
-22
Leisure and hospitality
-35
Other services
7
Government
-180
-135
-90
-45
0
45
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Job losses in December were widespread. Goods-producing industries shed
251,000 jobs in December while service-providing industries lost 273,000.
•
The 1-month diffusion index fell to 25.4 in December, its lowest point in the
history of the series (which dates back to 1991). A diffusion index below 50
indicates that more industries are losing jobs than adding jobs.
•
In contrast to most industries, education and health services added 45,000 jobs
in December. During 2008, education and health services added 536,000
positions.
4
Average weekly hours, total private
1997-2008
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
35.0
December 2008
34.5
34.5
Level: 33.3
Change: -0.2
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-9
9
Jan-9
8
Jan-0
4
33.0
Jan-0
3
33.0
Jan-0
2
33.5
Jan-0
1
33.5
Jan-0
0
34.0
Jan-9
7
34.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not
yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Index of total private
aggregate weekly hours
1997-2008
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
115
115
December 2008
110
110
Level: 103.5
Percent change: -1.1
105
105
100
100
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
85
Jan-0
1
85
Jan-0
0
90
Jan-9
9
90
Jan-9
8
95
Jan-9
7
95
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet
determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production and nonsupervisory workers.
•
In December, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.2 hour to 33.3 hours, seasonally
adjusted. This is the shortest workweek in the history of the series, which
began in 1964.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory
workers on nonfarm payrolls fell by 1.1 percent in December. This index
peaked in December 2007 and has declined by 4.0 percent since that time.
5
Index of total private
aggregate weekly payrolls
1997-2008
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
140
140
December 2008
130
130
Level: 127.0
Percent change: -0.9
120
120
110
110
100
100
Jan-0
8
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
Jan-0
1
70
Jan-0
0
80
70
Jan-9
9
80
Jan-9
8
90
Jan-9
7
90
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet
determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Aggregate weekly payrolls are the product of average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production and nonsupervisory
workers.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls for production and nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.9 percent in December. Since
reaching a high point in August 2008, the index has fallen by 1.9 percent.
6
Employment in construction
1997-2008
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
8,500
8,000
8,500
8,000
December 2008
Level: 6,833
7,500
7,500
Change: -101
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
5,000
Jan-0
3
5,500
5,000
Jan-0
2
5,500
Jan-0
1
6,000
Jan-0
0
6,000
Jan-9
9
6,500
Jan-9
8
7,000
6,500
Jan-9
7
7,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not
yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in construction
Over-the-month change
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
10
0
-4.1
-10
-9.4
-6.6
-6.8
-9.0
-12.6
-20
-30
-19.2
-19.8
-27.5
December 2008
Prior 12-mo. avg.
-34.4
-40
Residential building
Nonresidential
building
Heavy and civil
engineering
Residential specialty
trades
Nonresidential
specialty trades
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment continued to decline in December, as the industry
lost 101,000 positions. Construction has lost 899,000 jobs since employment
peaked in September 2006, with 70 percent of the losses occurring in 2008.
•
Job losses were widespread throughout construction, with all of the major
components shedding jobs. In particular, specialty trade contractors lost
62,000 jobs in December, the largest 1-month decline for this industry since
February 2007 (-78,000). The job losses in this industry were divided
between the residential and nonresidential contractors.
7
Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
0
-18
-30
-12
-27
-3
-6
-20
-22 -25
-35 -31
-21
-22
-35
-40
-47 -46
-60
-44 -40
-52
-61
-69
-90
-104
-120
-123
-150
-149
Dec08
Oct-0
8
No v
-08
Sep-0
8
Jul- 08
Aug-0
8
Jun-0
8
8
-08
Ap r0
May
8
Mar08
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
Dec07
Oct-0
7
No v
-07
Sep-0
7
Jul- 07
Aug07
Jun-0
7
7
-07
Ap r0
May
7
Feb-0
Mar07
Jan-0
7
-180
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
1997-2008
42.5
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
42.0
42.0
41.5
41.5
41.0
41.0
40.5
40.5
December 2008
40.0
40.0
Level: 39.9
Change: -0.4
39.5
39.5
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
Jan-0
1
Jan-0
0
Jan-9
9
Jan-9
8
39.0
Jan-9
7
39.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not
yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in manufacturing fell by 149,000 in December, the largest 1month decline since August 2001. Job losses were widespread as evidenced
by the 1-month diffusion index falling to 11.3. The majority of job loss in
December occurred in durable goods. Factory losses totaled 791,000 in 2008
with nearly half of the decline coming in the last 3 months.
•
In December, the average workweek for production workers in
manufacturing, a leading economic indicator, fell by 0.4 hour to 39.9 hours,
its lowest value since reaching 39.7 in January 1996, a month in which
weather affected average weekly hours. Factory overtime declined by 0.3
hour in December.
8
Employment in durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, December 2008
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Wood products
-12
Durable goods:
-114
-8
Nonmettalic mineral products
Primary metals
-7
-28
Fabricated metal products
Machinery
-7
-8
Computer and electronic products
Electrical equipment and appliances
-5
-24
Transportation equipment
Furniture and related products
-9
-5
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in motor vehicles
and parts
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
10
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
1
0
-1
-2
-4
-7
-10
-6
-1
-6
-6
-10
-11
-20
0
-1
-2
-6
-12
-16
-19
-20
-16
-16
-21
-23
-30
Dec08
No v08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Jul- 0
8
Jun-0
8
May08
8
8
Ap r0
Mar-0
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
8
Dec -0
7
Oct-0
7
No v07
Sep-0
7
Aug-0
7
07
Jul- 07
Jun-
7
7
-07
May
Ap r0
Mar07
Jan-0
7
Feb-0
Aug08
-36
-40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Durable goods shed 114,000 jobs in December and 594,000 during 2008. The
losses were widespread in December led by fabricated metal products
(-28,000) and transportation equipment (-24,000).
•
Motor vehicles and parts manufacturers shed 21,000 jobs over the month.
Employment in this industry has fallen by 162,000 during 2008, the largest
job loss by any component industry within manufacturing.
9
Employment in wholesale trade
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
30
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
20
10
18.3
15.8
12.9
11.9
14.2
10.7
6.4
3.4
8.5
5.2
0
-1.5
-2.1
-10
-3.3
-5.6
-9.7
-5.5
-3.8
-7.6
-10.5
-10.4
-17.0
-20
-30
-27.3
-30.0
-32.8
Dec08
No v08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Jul- 0
8
Aug08
Jun-0
8
May08
8
8
Ap r0
Mar-0
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
8
Dec -0
7
Oct-0
7
No v07
Sep-0
7
Aug-0
7
07
Jul- 07
Jun-
7
7
-07
May
Ap r0
Mar07
Feb-0
Jan-0
7
-40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in wholesale trade fell by 30,000 over the month and by 164,000
in 2008, with most of the decreases in the durable goods wholesalers.
10
Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
80
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
59.9
60
44.0
40 34.6
13.3
12.6
20
5.2
13.2
0
-20
-15.0-18.2
-16.4
-40
-7.6
-15.6
-25.3
-32.9
-43.4
-60
-23.9
-27.4
-21.8
-27.7
-45.7
-67.0
-75.6
-80
-100
-66.6
-100.0
Dec08
Oct-0
8
No v
-08
Sep-0
8
Jul- 08
Aug-0
8
Jun-0
8
8
-08
Ap r0
May
8
Mar08
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
Dec07
Oct-0
7
No v
-07
Sep-0
7
Jul- 07
Aug07
Jun-0
7
7
-07
Ap r0
May
7
Feb-0
Mar07
Jan-0
7
-120
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In December, retail trade employment dropped by 67,000. For all of 2008, the
industry lost 522,000 jobs, the largest 1-year decline in the history of the
series. The industry has now lost more jobs in the December 2007 recession
than in the 12 months following the start of the 1990 and 2001 recessions.
•
In December, job losses were widespread, led by motor vehicle and parts
dealers (-25,000) and miscellaneous store retailers (-11,000). During 2008,
motor vehicle and parts dealers have shed 155,000 jobs.
11
Employment in transportation
and warehousing
1997-2008
4,750
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
4,750
4,500
4,500
4,250
4,250
4,000
4,000
December 2008
Level: 4,393.8
3,750
3,750
Change: -23.9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
Jan-0
1
Jan-0
0
Jan-9
9
3,500
Jan-9
8
Jan-9
7
3,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet
determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in truck transportation
1997-2008
1,550
1,500
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
1,550
December 2008
1,500
Level: 1,350.8
Change: -15.6
1,450
1,450
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
1,150
Jan-0
3
1,200
1,150
Jan-0
2
1,250
1,200
Jan-0
1
1,250
Jan-0
0
1,300
Jan-9
9
1,350
1,300
Jan-9
8
1,400
1,350
Jan-9
7
1,400
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not
yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in transportation and warehousing fell by 24,000 in December.
In the last 4 months, the industry has averaged losses of 28,000 jobs,
compared to an average monthly loss of 4,000 during the first 8 months of
2008.
•
This recent acceleration is largely due to increased job losses in truck
transportation. Employment in trucking fell by 16,000 in December, and
49,000 over the last 4 months. Truck transportation had lost only 23,000 jobs
during the first 8 months of 2008.
12
Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
20
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
14
10
7
0
0
-2
-10
-2
-5
-7
-11
-14
-20
-8
-18
-3
-7
-8
-13
-13
-10
-14
-19 -18
-23
-23
-27 -28
-30
Dec08
No v08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Jul- 0
8
Aug08
Jun-0
8
May08
8
8
Ap r0
Mar-0
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
8
Dec -0
7
Oct-0
7
No v07
Sep-0
7
Aug-0
7
07
Jul- 07
Jun-
7
7
-07
May
Ap r0
Mar07
Feb-0
Jan-0
7
-40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Financial activities employment continued to decline in December, falling by
14,000, about half its prior 3-month average. During 2008, job losses in this
industry totaled 148,000.
•
Job losses in December were spread throughout the industry. During 2008,
losses in credit intermediation accounted for 53 percent of the losses in
financial activities.
13
Employment in professional and
business services
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
120
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
90
70
52
60
30
28
24 25
35
23 21 21
2
0
17
9
-3
-30
-23
-30 -28
-60
-49 -55
-59
-50
-90
-65
-81
-120
-113
-150
-145
Dec08
Oct-0
8
No v
-08
Sep-0
8
Jul- 08
Aug-0
8
Jun-0
8
8
-08
Ap r0
May
8
Mar08
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
Dec07
Oct-0
7
No v
-07
Sep-0
7
Jul- 07
Aug07
Jun-0
7
7
-07
Ap r0
May
7
Feb-0
Mar07
Jan-0
7
-180
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in temporary help
services
Over-the-month change, 2007-08
40
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
27
20
0
-2
-11
-20
-7
-10 -12 -11
-7
-7
-8
-4
-5
-19
-24
-40
-38
-31
-24
-36 -36
-38
-45
-54
-60
-80
-86
-81
Dec08
No v
-08
Oct-0
8
Sep-0
8
Aug-0
8
Jul- 08
Jun-0
8
8
-08
Ap r0
May
Mar08
8
Feb-0
Jan-0
8
Dec07
No v
-07
Oct-0
7
Sep-0
7
Aug07
Jul- 07
Jun-0
7
7
-07
Ap r0
May
Mar07
7
Feb-0
Jan-0
7
-100
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 9, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Professional and business services continued to contract in December, cutting
113,000 jobs and 681,000 during 2008, the largest absolute decline since
2001. Temporary help services accounted for most of the December decline,
shedding 81,000 jobs, bringing its job losses in 2008 to 490,000.
14