Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
May 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
June 5, 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
May 2009
125,000
125,000
Level: 132,151
Change: -345
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
1
Jan-9
9
Jan-0
2
120,000
Jan-0
0
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 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
-345
-380
-450
-504
-600
-597
-681
-750
-681
-652
-741
May09
9
9
Ap r0
Mar-0
Feb-0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v08
Oc t08
08
Sep-
Aug08
Ju l- 0
8
08
-0 8
Jun-
8
Ap r0
May
Mar08
8
Feb-0
Jan-0
8
-900
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 345,000 in May. This decline was
about half of the average monthly job loss for the prior 6 months. Since the
recession began in December 2007, payroll employment has fallen by 6 million.
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
-4.0
-4.0
December 2007
-5.0
-5.0
-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, June 5, 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
2.0
1.0
0.7
0.5
0.3
0.0
0.2
-0.1
-1.0
-0.2
-0.3
-0.4
-0.7
-1.1
-1.6
-2.0
-2.2
-3.0
-2.7
-3.1
-4.0
-3.5
-3.7
-3.9
May09
9
Mar-0
Jan-0
9
No v
-08
Sep-0
8
Jul- 0
8
-08
May
Mar08
Jan-0
8
-5.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 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).
•
In the 17 months since the start of the recession, employment has fallen by 4.3
percent. During the 2001 and 1990 recessions, employment levels fell by 1.7
percent and 1.4 percent, respectively, over the same length of time.
•
Employment is down 3.9 percent from May 2008.
3
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, May 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Mining and logging
-10
Construction
Manufacturing
-59
-156
Wholesale trade
-22
Retail trade
Transportation and warehousing
Utilities
-18
-15
Total nonfarm:
-345
0
-24
Information
-30
Financial activities
-51
Professional and business services
44
Education and health services
3
Leisure and hospitality
-1
Other services
-7
Government
-180
-150
-120
-90
-60
-30
0
30
60
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In May, job losses occurred in most major industry sectors. Steep job losses
continued in manufacturing, but the rate of decline moderated in many major
industries, including construction, professional and business services, and retail
trade.
•
Goods-producing industries shed 225,000 jobs in May, while service-providing
industries lost 120,000 jobs.
•
The only industry with employment gains in May was education and health
services, which added 44,000 jobs.
4
Average weekly hours, total private
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted
34.5
34.5
May 2009
Level: 33.1
Change: -0.1
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
5
Jan-9
9
Jan-0
6
33.0
Jan-0
4
33.0
Jan-0
3
33.5
Jan-0
2
33.5
Jan-0
1
34.0
Jan-0
0
34.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 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
May 2009
Level: 99.7
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, June 5, 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 May, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls was 33.1 hours, seasonally adjusted. With the exception
of March, this is the lowest level on record for the series, which began in 1964.
•
A 0.1-hour decrease offset a 0.1-hour increase in April.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers
on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.7 percent in May. Since peaking in
December 2007, the index has decreased by 7.5 percent.
5
Employment in mining
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
12
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
9
6
7.7
8.3
6.0
5.9
9.3
7.5
7.1
2.6
3
0.1
0
0.0
-0.9
-3
-3.5
-6
-9
-8.0
-8.9
-12
-11.2
-15
-10.5
-14.5
-09
May
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
-08
8
Jun08
May
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
-18
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in mining realized a loss of 11,000 jobs in May. Since peaking in
October 2008, the industry has shed 58,000 jobs, a sharp contrast to 2008 during
which the industry added an average 4,000 jobs per month.
6
Employment in construction
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-30
-31
-34
-44
-44
-24
-44
-60
-46
-61
-64
-59
-65
-90
-98
-108
-113
-120
-123
-127
-135
-0 9
May
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
Oc t08
08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
Jun08
-0 8
May
8
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
-150
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment declined by 59,000 in May, compared with an average
monthly job loss of 117,000 in the industry for the previous 6 months.
•
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 May were widespread throughout the industry, with the
sharpest declines in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (-30,000) and
residential construction of buildings (-11,000).
7
Employment in manufacturing
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
19,000
19,000
May 2009
18,000
18,000
Level: 11,986
Change: -156
17,000
17,000
Jan-0
9
Jan-0
8
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
11,000
Jan-0
5
11,000
Jan-0
4
12,000
Jan-0
3
13,000
12,000
Jan-0
2
14,000
13,000
Jan-0
1
15,000
14,000
Jan-0
0
16,000
15,000
Jan-9
9
16,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 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, May 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Wood products
Nonmetallic mineral products
-7
Durable goods:
-131
-6
Primary metals
-10
-19
Fabricated metal products
Machinery
-26
-14
Computer and electronic products
Electrical equipment and appliances
Transportation equipment
-6
-36
Furniture and related products
-7
-1
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-40
-35
-30
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Employment in manufacturing fell by 156,000 over the month, with job losses
occurring in most component industries. Since the start of the recession,
manufacturing employment has decreased by 1.8 million, representing 3 in 10 of
the jobs lost during this downturn.
•
Employment in durable goods manufacturing was responsible for the majority of
these losses with 131,000 jobs cut from payrolls in May. Three durable goods
industries, motor vehicles and parts (-30,000), machinery (-26,000), and
fabricated metal products (-19,000) accounted for over half of the overall decline
in factory employment.
8
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
1999-2009
42.0
Seasonally adjusted
42.0
May 2009
Level: 39.3
41.5
41.5
Change: -0.2
Jan -0
4
Jan -0
9
39.0
Jan -0
8
39.0
Jan -0
7
39.5
Jan -0
6
39.5
Jan -0
5
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, June 5, 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 decreased by 0.2 hour to 39.3 hours, and factory
overtime remained unchanged at 2.7 hours. The manufacturing workweek has
remained below 40 hours for 6 consecutive months. A level of 39.3 hours was last
recorded in February 1983.
9
Employment in wholesale trade
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-10
-11.0
-6.2
-6.6
-8.7
-7.1
-12.6
-12.7
-16.2
-16.6
-20
-21.9
-27.1
-30
-29.8
-40
-31.4
-32.4
-34.1
-39.6
9
-09
Ap r0
May
Feb-0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
Oc t08
No v08
Sep-0
8
Aug-0
8
08
Jul- 0
8
Jun-
8
Ap r0
May08
8
8
Mar-0
Jan-0
8
Feb-0
Mar09
-45.6
-50
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
10
3.8
-10
-15.5
-20.1
-30
-17.5
-24.2
-36.5
-37.7
-50
-45.6
-45.7
-48.4
-46.4
-56.3
-70
-57.2
-61.4
-90
-61.9
-90.8 -88.1
May09
9
9
Ap r0
Feb-0
9
Mar-0
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oct-0
8
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
08
-08
Jun-
8
Ap r0
May
8
Feb-0
Mar08
Jan-0
8
-110
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Wholesale trade employment was down 22,000 over the month, with durable
goods wholesalers accounting for more than half of this loss. Wholesale trade has
lost 363,000 jobs since employment peaked in November 2007.
•
Employment in retail trade fell by 18,000 in May, compared with an average
monthly job loss of 63,000 in the industry for the previous 6 months. Since
peaking in November 2007, employment has declined by 772,000.
10
Employment in transportation
and warehousing
1999-2009
4,750
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
4,750
May 2009
Level: 4,236.6
Change: -14.5
4,500
4,500
Jan-0
9
Jan08
Jan-0
7
Jan-0
6
Jan-0
5
Jan-0
4
3,750
Jan03
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, June 5, 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 cut 15,000 jobs from payrolls in May. This loss
was less than half the average monthly decline of 34,000 jobs the industry had
experienced over the previous 6 months.
•
Trucking shed 8,000 jobs this month, the smallest 1-month decline the industry
has seen since October 2008. Truck transportation has cut 147,000 positions since
the start of the current recession.
11
Employment in information
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
10
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
3
0
-2
-3
-6
-4
-5
-7
-10
-4
-4
-6
-11
-13
-16
-17
-20
-20
-24
-25
-0 9
May
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
-0 8
8
Jun08
May
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
-30
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Information employment fell by 24,000 in May. This was 8,000 lower than its
prior 6-month average decline of 16,000.
•
Information has now lost 164,000 jobs since the start of the recession, with 52
percent of those losses coming from publishing (except Internet) and 27 percent
coming from telecommunications.
12
Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-7
-10
-20
-14
-14
-8
-11
-13
-17
-18
-26
-30
-27
-30
-33
-40
-41
-45
-50
-45
-56
-60
-56
-09
May
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
-08
8
Jun08
May
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
-70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in financial activities declined by 30,000 over the month. This is less
than the prior 6-month average job loss of 46,000.
•
Job losses occurred throughout the sector, including securities (-10,000) and real
estate (-9,000).
13
Employment in professional and
business services
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-4
-20
-60
-40
-36
-51
-63
-64
-61
-63
-51
-52
-63
-100
-124
-140
-119
-111
-132
-151
-180
-176
May09
9
9
Ap r0
Mar-0
Jan-0
9
Feb-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oct-0
8
Sep-
Aug08
08
Jul- 0
8
Jun-
8
-08
Ap r0
May
8
Mar08
Feb-0
Jan-0
8
-220
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in temporary help
services
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-7
-20
-23
-25
-40
-38
-34
-34
-37
-43
-37
-45
-48
-60
-57
-73
-80
-55
-73
-90
-90
May09
9
9
Ap r0
Mar-0
Jan-0
9
Feb-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oct-0
8
Sep-
Aug08
08
Jul- 0
8
Jun-
-08
8
Ap r0
May
8
Mar08
Feb-0
Jan-0
8
-100
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
During May, professional and business services employment declined by 51,000;
the loss was moderate relative to the 136,000 jobs lost on average over the
previous 6 months.
•
Temporary help employment changed little in May, following monthly losses that
averaged 73,000 during the prior 6 months.
14
Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
50
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
41
39
40
38
34
32
30
29
28
28
25
25
23
25
22
21
20
24
19
14
10
-0 9
May
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
Oc t08
08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
Jun08
-0 8
May
8
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Health care employment grew by 24,000 in May, about in line with its average
monthly gain thus far in 2009.
•
Average monthly growth in health care has slowed from 30,000 per month in
2008, largely due to little growth in hospital employment during 2009.
15
Employment in leisure
and hospitality
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
10
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
3
0
-1
-5
-10
-20
-5
-16
-17
-17
-17
-19
-26
-30
-32
-33
-36
-40
-34
-38
-40
-50
-51
-0 9
May
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan-0
9
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
-0 8
8
Jun08
May
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
-60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in leisure and hospitality industry was essentially flat in May. This
industry has shed 384,000 jobs since the recession began and has lost an average
of 39,000 jobs over the last 6 months.
•
Job losses in amusements, gambling, and recreation were offset by small
employment gains in food services and drinking places and performing arts and
spectator sports.
16
Employment in government
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
105
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
92
90
75
60
45
30
22
37
30
34
20
15
10
15
19
4
8
4
7
0
-15
-4
-11
-7
-21
-30
-0 9
May
9
Ap r0
Mar09
Feb -0
9
Jan09
Dec -0
8
No v
-08
08
Oc t08
Sep-
Aug08
Jul- 0
8
-0 8
8
Jun08
May
Ap r0
Mar08
Feb -0
8
Jan-0
8
-45
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 5, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Government employment experienced a small decline in May (-7,000), resulting
from the loss of Census intermittent workers and U.S. Postal service employees.
State and local government employment was relatively unchanged.
17