Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
April 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
May 8, 2009
1
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
April 2009
125,000
125,000
Level: 132,414
Change: -539
122,500
122,500
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
3
Jan-0
2
Jan-0
0
Jan-9
9
Jan-0
4
120,000
Jan-0
1
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 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
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
0
-150
-72
-144
-122
-160
-137
-161
-128
-175
-300
-321
-380
-450
-539
-600
-597
-681
-750
-741
-681 -699
9
Ap r0
9
Mar09
Jan -0
9
Feb-0
Dec -0
8
No v08
Oct-0
8
Sep-0
8
Aug-0
8
Jul- 08
-08
Jun-0
8
May
8
Ap r0
8
Mar-0
Jan -0
8
Feb-0
8
-900
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 539,000 in April. Payroll employment
has declined by 3.9 million in the past 6 months, or an average of 656,000 per
month. This is the largest 6-month decline since the series began in 1939.
2
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
December 2007
-3.5
-4.0
-3.5
-4.0
-4.5
-4.5
-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, May 8, 2009.
*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent two months are
preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-year percent changes, 2008-09
3.0
3.0
Mar-06, 2.2
1.5
1.5
0.0
0.0
-1.5
-1.5
-3.0
-3.0
Apr-09, -3.8
-4.5
9
Ap r0
Jan -0
9
Jul- 0
8
Oc t08
8
Ap r0
Jan -0
8
Oct-0
7
7
Jul- 07
Ap r0
Jan -0
7
Oc t06
6
Jul- 06
Ap r0
Jan -0
6
-4.5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 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 5.7
million or 4.2 percent since its peak.
•
Job losses averaged 180,000 per month in the 10 months immediately following
the peak and then accelerated to an average 656,000 per month since October.
3
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Mining and logging
-11
Construction
Manufacturing
-110
-149
Wholesale trade
-41
Retail trade
Transportation and warehousing
Utilities
-47
-38
Total nonfarm:
-539
-1
-17
Information
-40
Financial activities
-122
Professional and business services
15
Education and health services
-44
Leisure and hospitality
-7
Other services
72
Government
-210
-180
-150 -120
-90
-60
-30
0
30
60
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In April, job losses occurred in most major industry sectors. Manufacturing,
construction, and professional and business services continued to have large
employment declines.
•
Goods-producing industries shed 270,000 jobs in April, while service-providing
industries lost 269,000 jobs.
•
Government added 72,000 jobs to payrolls in April, the largest one month change
since the start of the recession; however, this was largely due to the addition of
temporary Census workers.
4
Average weekly hours, total private
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted
34.5
34.5
April 2009
Level: 33.2
Change: 0.0
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, May 8, 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
April 2009
Level: 100.3
110
110
Percent change: -0.6
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, May 8, 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 April, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.2 hours, seasonally adjusted—33.2
hours is 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 0.6 percent in April. Since peaking in December
2007, the index has decreased by 7.0 percent.
5
Employment in mining and logging
1999-2009
850
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
850
April 2009
800
800
Level: 744
Change: -11
750
750
Jan -0
9
Jan -0
8
500
Jan -0
7
500
Jan 06
550
Jan -0
5
550
Jan -0
4
600
Jan 03
600
Jan -0
2
650
Jan -0
1
650
Jan -0
0
700
Jan -9
9
700
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 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 mining and logging realized a loss of 11,000 jobs in April,
continuing the trend of accelerating job loss. Year to date, the industry has shed
45,000 jobs, a sharp contrast to 2008 during which the industry added an average
4,000 jobs per month.
6
Employment in construction
1999-2009
8,500
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
8,500
April 2009
Level: 6,348
8,000
8,000
Change: -110
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 02
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, May 8, 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 declined by 110,000 in April. Over the past 6 months,
job losses have averaged 120,000 per month, compared with 46,000 per month
between December 2007 and October 2008.
•
Since the beginning of the recession, construction employment has declined by
about 1.2 million. Employment in construction currently stands at its lowest level
since November 1998, having lost all the jobs gained in the housing-related
expansion from March 2003 to January 2007.
•
Employment losses in April were widespread throughout the industry as both the
residential and nonresidential components shed jobs.
7
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
-149
-172 -167
-180
-200
-250
-262
9
Ap r0
9
Mar09
Jan -0
9
Feb -0
Dec -0
8
Oc t08
No v08
S ep-0
8
Jul- 08
Aug-0
8
Jun-0
8
8
8
-08
May
Ap r0
Mar-0
Jan -0
8
Feb -0
8
-300
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Wood products
Nonmetallic mineral products
-1
Durable goods:
-127
-1
Primary metals
-12
-29
Fabricated metal products
Machinery
-22
-12
Computer and electronic products
Electrical equipment and appliances
Transportation equipment
-9
-34
Furniture and related products
-8
-1
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Employment in manufacturing fell by 149,000 over the month, with widespread
job losses among the component industries. Employment losses have accelerated
since September 2008, with 1.2 million jobs cut from payrolls since that time.
•
Durable goods manufacturing had the lion’s share of this loss, with 127,000 jobs
cut from payrolls in April. Three durable goods industries—transportation
equipment (-34,000), fabricated metal products (-29,000) and machinery
(-22,000)—accounted for about two thirds of the durable goods manufacturing
job loss.
8
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
1999-2009
42.0
Seasonally adjusted
42.0
April 2009
Level: 39.6
41.5
41.5
Change: +0.2
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
39.0
Jan-0
7
39.0
Jan-0
6
39.5
Jan-0
5
39.5
Jan-0
4
40.0
Jan-0
3
40.0
Jan-0
2
40.5
Jan-0
1
40.5
Jan-0
0
41.0
Jan-9
9
41.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 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.
•
The manufacturing workweek increased by 0.2 hour to 39.6 hours, and factory
overtime rose by 0.1 hour to 2.7 hours. Despite this uptick, the manufacturing
workweek has remained below 40 hours for 5 consecutive months.
9
Employment in wholesale trade
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
6,500
6,500
April 2009
Level: 5,696.2
6,250
6,250
Change: -40.7
Jan-0
0
Jan-0
9
5,000
Jan-0
8
5,000
Jan-0
7
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, May 8, 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
April 2009
15,750
15,750
Level: 14,823.7
Change: -46.7
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
14,750
Jan-0
1
15,000
Jan-0
0
15,250
15,000
Jan-9
9
15,250
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 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.
•
Wholesale trade employment was down 41,000 over the month, with much of the
decrease among durable goods wholesalers. The industry has lost 352,000 jobs
since employment peaked in November 2007, with 224,000 of those lost in the
last 6 months.
•
Employment in retail trade fell by 47,000 in April. Since peaking in November
2007, employment has declined by 766,000.
•
In April, losses in retail trade employment were widespread, led by department
stores (-14,000), automobile dealers (-9,000), and building material and garden
supply stores (-8,000).
10
Employment in transportation
and warehousing
1999-2009
4,750
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
4,750
April 2009
Level: 4,255.5
Change: -38.1
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, May 8, 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 declined by 38,000 in April. This
loss was slightly above the average monthly decline of 34,000 jobs the industry
has experienced over the last 6 months.
•
Losses were concentrated in truck transportation (-16,000) and warehousing and
storage (-8,000).
11
Employment in financial activities
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
8,500
8,500
April 2009
Level: 7,815
Change: -40
8,250
8,250
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
7,500
Jan-0
3
7,500
Jan-0
2
7,750
Jan-0
1
7,750
Jan-0
0
8,000
Jan-9
9
8,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 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 industries
6-month employment changes
seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Credit intermediation*
-86.7
-50.2
-25.8
Commercial banking
Oct. 08-Apr. 09
-7.4
Apr. 08-Oct. 08
-47.3
Securities, commodities,
investments
-19.6
-36.1
Insurance and related
activities
-2.4
-59.3
Real estate
-15.7
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
Employment in financial activities declined by 40,000 over the month. Job losses
occurred throughout the sector, including real estate and rental and leasing
(-15,000) and credit intermediation and related activities (-14,000).
•
Job losses within financial activities have accelerated since October 2008. Over
the past 6 months, job losses have averaged 46,000 per month, compared with
16,000 per month between December 2007 and October 2008.
12
Employment in selected professional and
business services
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Professional
Professional
and
andtechnical*
technical*
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-17.1
Professional and business
services: -122
Accounting and bookkeeping
2.6
Architectural and engineering
-13.5
Computer systems design
-1.4
Management and technical consulting
1.6
Managementofofcompanies
companies
Management
-15.2
-89.9
Administrative
wasteservices*
services*
Administrative
andand
waste
Employment services
-68.9
Services to buildings
-7.2
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
0
20
Employment in temporary help services
1999-2009
3,000
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
3,000
April 2009
Level: 1,758.6
2,750
2,750
Change: -62.5
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, May 8, 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.
•
The professional and business services industry lost 122,000 jobs in April. This
sector has shed an average of 139,000 jobs per month since October 2008, when
losses within the industry began to accelerate. Losses were concentrated in
administrative and waste services (-90,000).
•
Temporary help services lost 63,000 jobs in April. Since December 2007, the
industry has averaged a loss of 52,000 jobs per month.
13
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
17.7
Ambulatory
health
Ambulatory
healthcare
care
services*
services*
14.9
2.2
Offices of physicians
Outpatient care centers
5.4
April 2009:+16.7
8.8
Home health care services
Hospitals
Hospitals
Nursing Nursing
and residential
care -1.6
and residential
facilities
care facilities
Health care:
3
0.8
Prior 12-mo. avg.: +27.4
4.3
0.6
9.4
3.2
-3
0
3
6
9
12
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
18
21
•
The health care industry added 17,000 jobs over the month, in line with its
average monthly gain since January. In 2008 the average gain was 30,000 jobs per
month.
•
Employment in hospitals remained flat in April. So far in 2009, the change in
employment has averaged 2,000 jobs per month, which is about one-fifth of the
2008 monthly average (11,000).
14
Employment in leisure
and hospitality
1999-2009
14,500
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
14,500
April 2009
14,000
14,000
Level: 13,150
13,500
13,500
Change: -44
10,000
10,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 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
12,000
11,500
Jan -0
3
12,000
Jan -0
2
12,500
Jan -0
1
12,500
Jan 00
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.
•
The leisure and hospitality industry lost 44,000 jobs in April. This industry has
shed 401,000 jobs since its most recent peak in December 2007, with 245,000 of
those lost in the last 6 months.
•
Amusements, gambling and recreation (-22,000) and accommodation (-8,000)
accounted for most of the job loss within leisure and hospitality.
15
Employment in government
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
90
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
72
75
60
45
30
37
30
22
34
20
15
15
10
19
4
8
4
7
0
-15
-6
-11
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
Oc t08
Sep-
Aug
- 08
Jul- 0
8
Jun08
-08
May
8
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
08
-21
-30
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in government rose by 72,000 over the month. Within the federal
government, job gains resulted primarily from hiring of temporary workers to
prepare for Census 2010.
16