Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
February 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
March 6, 2009
Employment in total nonfarm
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
140,000
140,000
137,500
137,500
135,000
135,000
132,500
132,500
130,000
130,000
127,500
127,500
February 2009
125,000
125,000
Level: 133,768
Change: -651
122,500
122,500
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
Jan-0
0
Jan-0
1
120,000
Jan-9
9
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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 total nonfarm
1939-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
140,000
140,000
120,000
120,000
100,000
100,000
80,000
80,000
60,000
60,000
February 2009
40,000
40,000
Level: 133,768
Change: -651
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
3
Jan-9
5
Jan-9
9
Jan-8
7
Jan-9
1
Jan-7
9
Jan-8
3
Jan-7
5
Jan-6
7
Jan-7
1
Jan-6
3
Jan-5
5
Jan-5
9
Jan-4
7
Jan-5
1
Jan-3
9
20,000
Jan-4
3
20,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 651,000 in February. In the past 4
months, payroll employment fell by 2.6 million, or an average of 646,000 per
month. This is the largest 4-month decline since September 1945.
2
Percentage change in total nonfarm employment,
from beginning of recession*, seasonally adjusted
1.0
1.0
0.0
0.0
-1.0
-1.0
-2.0
-2.0
-3.0
-3.0
July 1990
March 2001
December 2007
-4.0
-4.0
-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
Months
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research
Percentage change in total nonfarm employment,
from beginning of recession*, seasonally adjusted
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.0
0.0
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.5
-1.5
-2.0
-2.0
-2.5
-2.5
November 1973
July 1981
December 2007
-3.0
-3.0
-3.5
-3.5
-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
Months
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research
•
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 4.4
million since its peak--59 percent occurring in the past 4 months.
•
In the 14 months since the start of the recession, employment has fallen by 3.2
percent. The decline is larger than has typically been experienced in the past
few recessions. Of the 4 most recent recessions, only the 1981 recession is
similar to the current downturn in terms of relative job loss.
3
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, February 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Mining and logging
-4
Construction
Manufacturing
-104
Total nonfarm:
-651
-168
Wholesale trade
-37
Retail trade
-40
Transportation and warehousing
-49
Utilities
1
-15
Information
-44
Financial activities
Professional and business services
-180
26
Education and health services
-33
Leisure and hospitality
-14
Other services
9
Government
-240
-180
-120
-60
0
60
120
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In February, employment declined in most major industry sectors, with the largest
losses occurring in professional and business services, manufacturing, and
construction.
•
Goods-producing industries shed 276,000 jobs in February, while serviceproviding industries lost 375,000 jobs.
4
Index of total private
aggregate weekly hours
1999-2009
115
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
115
February 2009
Level: 101.9
110
110
Percent change: -0.7
105
105
100
100
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
90
Jan-0
1
90
Jan-0
0
95
Jan-9
9
95
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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.
Index of total private
aggregate weekly payrolls
1999-2009
140
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
140
February 2009
130
130
Level: 125.8
Percent change: -0.5
120
120
110
110
100
100
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
3
70
Jan-0
2
80
70
Jan-0
1
80
Jan-0
0
90
Jan-9
9
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.
•
In February, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers
on private nonfarm payrolls was 33.3 hours for the third month in a row. This
remains 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 0.7 percent in February. This index peaked in
December 2007 and has declined by 5.5 percent since that time.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls for production and nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.5 percent in February. Since
reaching a high point in August 2008, the index has fallen by 2.6 percent.
5
Employment in construction
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
8,500
8,500
February 2009
Level: 6,619
8,000
8,000
Change: -104
6,000
5,500
5,500
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
1
Jan-0
9
6,000
Jan-0
8
6,500
Jan-0
6
6,500
Jan-0
4
7,000
Jan-0
2
7,000
Jan-0
0
7,500
Jan-9
9
7,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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, February 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
0
-5.0
-5.2
-10
-6.1
-11.1
-20
-15.6
-16.4
-16.8
-25.2
-30
-31.2
-40
-35.5
February 2009
Prior 12-mo. avg.
-50
Residential building
Nonresidential
building
Heavy and civil
engineering
Residential specialty
trades
Nonresidential
specialty trades
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment continued to decline in February, as the industry lost
104,000 positions. Nearly 40 percent of total losses since the most recent industry
peak have occurred in the past 4 months.
•
Since employment peaked in January 2007, construction has lost 1.1 million jobs.
With the February decline, construction has now lost all of the jobs gained during
the 2003-2006 housing boom. Employment in the industry currently stands at its
lowest level since September 1999.
•
As with recent months, employment losses were widespread across the industry.
Both the residential and nonresidential components shed jobs
6
Employment in manufacturing
1939-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
20,000
20,000
18,000
18,000
16,000
16,000
14,000
14,000
12,000
12,000
February 2009
10,000
10,000
Level: 12,477
Change: -168
Jan-0
7
Jan-9
9
Jan-0
3
Jan-9
1
Jan-9
5
Jan-8
3
Jan-8
7
Jan-7
5
Jan-7
9
Jan-6
7
Jan-7
1
Jan-5
9
Jan-6
3
Jan-5
1
Jan-5
5
Jan-3
9
Jan-4
3
8,000
Jan-4
7
8,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
50
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
0
-50
-30
-33
-52
-49
-51
-57
-51
-100
-67
-65
-119
-150
-121
-168
-180
-200
-250
-257
9
Feb -0
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
Oct-0
8
No v
-08
Sep-0
8
Au g-0
8
Jul- 08
08
Ju n-
May08
8
Ap r0
8
Mar-0
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
-300
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing lost 168,000 jobs in February, bringing employment to levels last
experienced in February 1946. Since the start of the recession 1.3 million jobs
have been lost--65 percent occurring in the past 5 months. Nearly every
manufacturing industry has lost jobs over the past 3 months.
•
Durable goods manufacturing continued to bear the brunt of the employment
losses, accounting for 132,000 or 79 percent of manufacturing’s total decline in
February.
7
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
1999-2009
42.5
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
February 2009
42.0
42.0
Level: 39.6
Change: -0.2
39.5
39.5
39.0
39.0
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
6
40.0
Jan-0
4
40.0
Jan-0
3
40.5
Jan-0
2
41.0
40.5
Jan-0
1
41.0
Jan-0
0
41.5
Jan-9
9
41.5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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 durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, February 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Wood products
Nonmettalic mineral products
-15
Durable goods:
-132
-10
Primary metals
-15
-28
Fabricated metal products
Machinery
-25
-13
Computer and electronic products
Electrical equipment and appliances
-5
-5
Transportation equipment
-11
Furniture and related products
-5
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Average weekly hours in manufacturing fell by 0.2 hour to 39.6 hours in
February. Factory overtime also fell by 0.2 hour to 2.6 hours in February. Both
are at their lowest level since March 1983.
•
Employment in fabricated metals continued to decline in February with 28,000
jobs cut. The industry has cut 134,000 workers or 8.7 percent of its workforce
over the past 6 months.
•
Machinery cut 25,000 jobs over the month. Unlike most durable good industries,
at the start of the recession employment in machinery changed little, however
over the past 6 months the industry has lost 88,000 jobs.
8
Employment in wholesale trade
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
6,500
6,500
February 2009
Level: 5,782.3
6,250
6,250
Change: -37.0
5,000
Jan-0
4
Jan-0
0
Jan-0
9
5,000
Jan-0
8
5,250
Jan-0
7
5,250
Jan-0
6
5,500
Jan-0
5
5,500
Jan-0
3
5,750
Jan-0
2
5,750
Jan-0
1
6,000
Jan-9
9
6,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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 retail trade
1999-2009
16,000
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
16,000
February 2009
15,750
15,750
Level: 14,959.9
Change: -39.5
15,500
15,500
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
14,000
Jan-0
5
14,250
14,000
Jan-0
4
14,500
14,250
Jan-0
3
14,750
14,500
Jan-0
2
15,000
14,750
Jan-0
1
15,000
Jan-0
0
15,250
Jan-9
9
15,250
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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 wholesale trade fell by 37,000 over the month, with most of the
decrease in durable goods wholesalers. The industry has lost 266,000 jobs since it
peaked in November 2007, bringing employment down to a level last experienced
in August 2005.
•
In February, retail trade employment dropped by 40,000. Since a peak in
November 2007, the industry has lost 630,000 jobs.
•
In February, retail trade job losses were widespread, led by automobile
dealerships (-9,000), sporting goods (-9,000), furniture and home furnishing
stores (-8,000), and building materials and garden supply stores (-7,000).
9
Employment in transportation
and warehousing
1999-2009
4,750
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
4,750
February 2009
Level: 4,302.4
Change: -48.9
4,500
4,500
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
3,750
Jan-0
3
3,750
Jan-0
2
4,000
Jan-0
1
4,000
Jan-0
0
4,250
Jan-9
9
4,250
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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
1999-2009
1,550
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
1,550
February 2009
1,500
1,500
Level: 1,282.6
Change: -33.4
1,450
1,450
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
1,150
Jan-0
5
1,200
1,150
Jan-0
4
1,250
1,200
Jan-0
3
1,250
Jan-0
2
1,300
Jan-0
1
1,350
1,300
Jan-0
0
1,400
1,350
Jan-9
9
1,400
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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 49,000 in February. Since
the beginning of the ongoing recession in December 2007, the industry has shed
253,000 jobs.
•
The decline in February was led by truck transportation (-33,000). Since the most
recent peak in January 2007, trucking has lost 172,000 jobs or 12 percent of its
workforce.
10
Employment in financial activities
1999-2009
9,000
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
9,000
February 2009
Level: 7,914
Change: -44
8,500
8,500
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
5
7,000
Jan-0
4
7,000
Jan-0
2
7,500
Jan-0
1
7,500
Jan-0
0
8,000
Jan-9
9
8,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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 selected financial activities
Over-the-year change, February 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Credit intermediation*
-118.4
Commercialbanking
banking
Commercial
-16.2
Securities and
commodity
Insurance and related
activities
-48.4
Health care:
+26.9
-25.2
-56.6
Real estate
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
Employment in financial activities continued to contract in February as 44,000
jobs were eliminated from industry payrolls. Prior to September 2008, the
weakness was contained in credit intermediation and real estate. Since then, job
losses have been widespread.
•
Financial activities has shed nearly 450,000 jobs since employment peaked in
December 2006, but roughly half of the losses have occurred since September
2008.
11
Employment in professional and
business services
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
19,000
19,000
February 2009
Level: 17,042
18,000
18,000
Change: -180
Jan-0
9
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Jan-0
8
13,000
Jan-0
7
13,000
Jan-0
6
14,000
Jan-0
5
14,000
Jan-0
4
15,000
Jan-0
3
15,000
Jan-0
2
16,000
Jan-0
1
16,000
Jan-0
0
17,000
Jan-9
9
17,000
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 temporary help services
1999-2009
3,000
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
3,000
February 2009
Level: 1,897.9
2,750
2,750
Change: -77.7
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
1,500
Jan-0
7
1,500
Jan-0
6
1,750
Jan-0
5
1,750
Jan-0
4
2,000
Jan-0
3
2,000
Jan-0
2
2,250
Jan-0
1
2,250
Jan-0
0
2,500
Jan-9
9
2,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 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.
•
Professional and business services employment decreased by 180,000 in
February, keeping pace with the accelerated losses experienced in the preceding 3
months. Since reaching an employment peak in December 2007, the industry has
lost 1.1 million jobs with over half the losses coming in the past 4 months.
•
Temporary help services cut 78,000 jobs in February, keeping pace with the past
few months. The industry has cut a quarter of its workforce over the past 12
months, bringing employment to levels not realized since 1996.
12
Employment in leisure
and hospitality
1999-2009
14,500
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
14,500
February 2009
14,000
14,000
Level: 13,242
13,500
13,500
Change: -33
10,000
10,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.
Jan-0
9
10,500
Jan-0
8
10,500
Jan-0
7
11,000
Jan-0
6
11,000
Jan-0
5
11,500
Jan-0
4
11,500
Jan-0
3
12,000
Jan-0
2
12,500
12,000
Jan-0
1
12,500
Jan-0
0
13,000
Jan-9
9
13,000
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.
•
Leisure and hospitality remained on its prior 6-month trend, shedding 33,000 jobs
in February. Since employment peaked in December 2007, the industry has lost
309,000 jobs or 2.3 percent of its workforce. Most of the job losses in February
occurred in accommodation (-18,000) and food services and drinking places
(-14,000).
13