Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
March 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
April 3, 2009
Employment
Employment in
in total
total nonfarm
nonfarm
1999-2009
1999-2009
140,000
140,000
Seasonally
Seasonallyadjusted
adjustedininthousands
thousands
140,000
140,000
137,500
137,500
137,500
137,500
135,000
135,000
135,000
135,000
132,500
132,500
132,500
132,500
130,000
130,000
130,000
130,000
127,500
127,500
127,500
127,500
March
March2009
2009
Level:
Level:133,019
133,019
125,000
125,000
125,000
125,000
Ja -0
Jann
-0 99
Ja -0
Jann
-0 88
Ja -0
Jann
-0 77
122,500
122,500
Ja -0
Jann
-0 66
Ja -0
Jann
-0 55
Ja -0
Jann
-0 33
Ja -0
Jann
-0 22
Ja -9
Jann
-9 99
Ja -0
Jann
-0 00
120,000
120,000
Ja -0
Jann
-0 11
122,500
122,500
Ja -0
Jann
-0 44
Change:
Change:-663
-663
120,000
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 2009.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not
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.
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
March 2009
40,000
40,000
Level: 133,019
Change: -663
2007
1999
2003
1995
1987
1991
1979
1983
1975
1967
1971
1959
1963
1955
1947
1951
1939
20,000
1943
20,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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.

Total nonfarm payroll employment continued to fall sharply (-663,000) in March.
Payroll employment has declined by 3.3 million in the past 5 months, or an
average of 667,000 per month. This is the largest 5-month decline since the series
began in 1939
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, April 3, 2009.
*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent two months are
preliminary.
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
-3.0
-3.0
November 1973
July 1981
-3.5
-3.5
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, April 3, 2009.
*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent two months 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 5.1
million since its peak – 65 percent occurring in the past 5 months.

In the 15 months since the start of the recession, employment has fallen by 3.7
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, March 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Mining and logging
-18
Construction
Manufacturing
-126
-161
Wholesale trade
-31
Retail trade
Transportation and warehousing
Utilities
-48
-34
Total nonfarm:
-663
1
-10
Information
-43
Financial activities
-133
Professional and business services
8
Education and health services
-40
Leisure and hospitality
-23
Other services
-5
Government
-210
-180
-150
-120
-90
-60
-30
0
30
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.

In March, job losses were large and extended across nearly all major industry
sectors. Losses were particularly sharp in manufacturing, professional and
business services, and construction.

Goods-producing industries shed 305,000 jobs in March, while service-providing
industries lost 358,000 jobs.
4
Average weekly hours, total private
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted
34.5
34.5
March 2009
Level: 33.2
Change: -0.1
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
0
Jan-0
5
33.0
Jan-0
4
33.0
Jan-0
3
33.5
Jan-0
2
33.5
Jan-0
1
34.0
Jan-9
9
34.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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
1999-2009
115
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
115
March 2009
Level: 100.9
110
110
Percent change: -1.0
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, April 3, 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 March, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls fell 0.1 hour to 33.2 hours, seasonally adjusted - the
lowest level on record for the series, which began in 1964.

The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers
on nonfarm payrolls fell by 1.0 percent in March. Since peaking in December
2007, the index has decreased by 6.4 percent.
5
Employment in construction
1999-2009
8,500
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
8,500
March 2009
Level: 6,473
8,000
8,000
Change: -126
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
5,500
Jan-0
7
5,500
Jan-0
6
6,000
Jan-0
5
6,000
Jan-0
4
6,500
Jan-0
3
6,500
Jan-0
2
7,000
Jan-0
1
7,000
Jan-0
0
7,500
Jan-9
9
7,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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.

Construction employment continued to contract in March as the industry shed
126,000 jobs. Nearly half of the total losses since the most recent industry peak in
January 2007 have occurred in the past 5 months.

Since the beginning of the recession, employment has dropped by about 1.1
million. Employment in construction now stands at its lowest level since March
1999, offsetting jobs gained in the housing-related expansion from March 2003 to
January 2007.

As with recent months, employment losses were widespread across the industry.
Both the residential and nonresidential components shed jobs, as firms continued
to reduce staff to cope with weak demand.
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
March 2009
10,000
10,000
Level: 12,310
Change: -161
2003
2007
1995
1999
1987
1991
1979
1983
1971
1975
1963
1967
1955
1959
1947
1943
1951
8,000
1939
8,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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
0
-50
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-30
-33
-52
-49
-51
-57
-51
-67
-65
-100
-119
-121
-150
-169
-180
-200
-161
-250
-262
9
Feb-0
Mar09
Jan-0
9
Dec08
No v
-08
Oc t08
08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
-08
Jun-0
8
8
Ap r0
May
8
Feb-0
8
Mar-0
Jan-0
8
-300
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Manufacturing employment fell by 161,000 in March, with widespread job losses
occurring among the component industries. Manufacturing has lost 1.5 million
jobs since the start of the current recession, bringing employment to a level last
experienced in February 1946.

Durable goods manufacturing continued to bear the brunt of the employment
losses, accounting for 125,000 or 78 percent of manufacturing’s total decline in
March.
7
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
1999-2009
42.0
Seasonally adjusted
42.0
March 2009
Level: 39.3
41.5
41.5
Change: -0.2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Jan-0
Jan-0
Jan-0
Jan-0
Jan-0
Jan-0
39.0
Jan-0
39.0
2
39.5
Jan-0
39.5
1
40.0
Jan-0
40.0
0
40.5
Jan-0
40.5
9
41.0
Jan-9
41.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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.

Average weekly hours in manufacturing fell by 0.2 hour to 39.3 hours in March.
Since the start of the current recession, average weekly hours and overtime have
fallen steeply; both are at their lowest levels since 1983.
8
Employment in durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, March 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Wood products
Nonmettalic mineral products
0
Durable goods:
-125
-9
Primary metals
Fabricated metal products
-9
-28
Machinery
-27
-5
Computer and electronic products
Electrical equipment and appliances
-9
-26
Transportation equipment
Furniture and related products
-10
-2
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.

The losses in durable goods manufacturing were widespread in March led by
fabricated metal products (-28,000), machinery (-27,000), and transportation
equipment (-26,000).

Fabricated metal products exhibited the heaviest job loss in manufacturing in
March, declining by 28,000. Job losses have accelerated in the past 5 months,
with employment declining by 134,000 or 9 percent.

The machinery industry cut 27,000 jobs in March, the largest 1-month loss in the
history of the series dating back to January 1990. The industry has shed 106,000
jobs over the past 5 months, which account for 88 percent of jobs lost since
employment peaked in March 2008
9
Employment in wholesale trade
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
6,500
6,500
March 2009
Level: 5,747.7
6,250
6,250
Change: -31.2
5,000
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
0
Jan-0
9
5,000
Jan-0
8
5,250
Jan-0
6
5,250
Jan-0
5
5,500
Jan-0
4
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, April 3, 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
March 2009
15,750
15,750
Level: 14,892.9
Change: -47.8
15,500
15,500
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
14,000
Jan-0
5
14,000
Jan-0
4
14,250
Jan-0
3
14,500
14,250
Jan-0
2
14,750
14,500
Jan-0
1
15,000
14,750
Jan-0
0
15,250
15,000
Jan-9
9
15,250
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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 31,000 over the month, with nearly all of
the declines in durable goods wholesalers. The industry has lost 300,000 jobs
since employment peaked in November 2007. Two-thirds of that loss has come in
the last 6 months.

Retail trade employment fell by 48,000 in March. Since peaking in November
2007, employment has declined by an average of 44,000 per month.

In March, weakness in retail trade employment was widespread, led by building
materials and garden supply stores (-13,000), automobile dealerships (-12,000),
and electronics and appliance stores (-10,000).
10
Employment in transportation
and warehousing
1999-2009
4,750
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
4,750
March 2009
Level: 4,290.0
Change: -34.0
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, April 3, 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
March 2009
1,500
1,500
Level: 1,295.5
Change: -14.9
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, April 3, 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.

Transportation and warehousing lost 34,000 jobs in March, raising total job losses
to 265,000 since employment peaked in December 2007.

Truck transportation cut 15,000 jobs in March, marking 12 straight months of
decline. Since the most recent employment peak in January 2007, trucking has
lost 159,000 jobs or 11 percent of its workforce.
11
Employment in financial activities
1999-2009
9,000
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
9,000
March 2009
Level: 7,867
Change: -43
8,500
8,500
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
Jan-0
6
7,000
Jan-0
5
7,000
Jan-0
4
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, April 3, 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, March 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Credit intermediation*
-125.6
Commercialbanking
banking
Commercial
-26.0
Securities and
commodity
Insurance and related
activities
-55.1
Health care:
+13.5
-34.3
-66.0
Real estate
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Employment in financial activities continued to decline in March as 43,000 jobs
were eliminated from industry payrolls. Most of the job cuts occurred in credit
intermediation (-15,000); real estate (-12,000); and securities, commodity
contracts, and investments (-7,000).

Financial activities has shed about 495,000 jobs since December 2006, with more
than half of the losses occurring in the past 7 months.
12
Employment in professional and
business services
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
19,000
19,000
March 2009
Level: 16,894
18,000
18,000
Change: -133
Jan-0
9
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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
March 2009
Level: 1,816.8
2,750
2,750
Change: -71.7
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, April 3, 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 professional and business services fell by 133,000 in March. Over
the current 5-month period, the industry has averaged job losses of 144,000 per
month. Since peaking in December 2007, professional and business services
employment has fallen by 1.2 million.

Temporary help services cut 72,000 positions in March, bringing its recessionary
job loss to 767,000, or 30 percent of employment. With the accelerated losses in
payrolls over the past 5 months, temporary help services is at the lowest
employment level since April 1996.
13
Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, March 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
7.7
Ambulatory
health
Ambulatory
healthcare
care
services*
services*
14.9
3.2
Offices of physicians
5.3
Nursing Nursing
and residential
care
and residential
facilities
care facilities
March 2009:+13.5
1
Prior 12-mo. avg.: +28.4
2.7
Home health care services
Hospitals
Hospitals
Health care:
0.7
Outpatient care centers
4.1
-0.7
10.3
6.5
3.2
-3
0
3
6
9
12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

15
18
Health care continued to add jobs in March (14,000) but at a reduced rate. In the
first quarter of 2009, health care added an average of 17,000 jobs per month,
about half the average monthly gain (30,000) seen in 2008.
14
Employment in leisure
and hospitality
1999-2009
14,500
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
14,500
March 2009
14,000
14,000
Level: 13,200
13,500
13,500
Change: -40
10,000
10,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 3, 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 shed 40,000 jobs in March. Employment in the industry
has fallen by 351,000 jobs since the start of the recession in December 2007.
Most of the job losses in March occurred in accommodation (-23,000) and food
services and drinking places (-9,000).
15