Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
July 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
August 7, 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
July 2009
125,000
125,000
Level: 131,488
Change: -247
122,500
122,500
120,000
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 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
-247
-300
-303
-321
-380
-450
-443
-519
-600
-597
-681
-750
-681
-652
-741
-900
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 247,000 in July, bringing total
employment losses to nearly 6.7 million since the start of the recession in
December 2007.
•
Although employment continues to fall, the pace of job loss has eased over the 3
most recent months. During that period, employment contracted by an average of
331,000 per month. This is down from the average 645,000 jobs lost per month in
the 6-month period from November 2008 to April 2009.
2
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-year percent changes, 2006-09
3.0
Seasonally adjusted, percent
3.0
Mar-06, 2.2
1.5
1.5
0.0
0.0
-1.5
-1.5
-3.0
-3.0
Jul-09, -4.2
-4.5
-4.5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Total nonfarm employment in July 2009 is 4.2 percent lower then a year earlier.
In March 2006, there was an over-the-year gain of 2.2 percent.
3
Average weekly hours, total private
1999-2009
35.0
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
July 2009
Level: 33.1
34.5
34.5
Change: +0.1
34.0
34.0
33.5
33.5
33.0
33.0
32.5
32.5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 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.
Over-the-year percent changes in average
hourly earnings and CPI-W (1982-84=100)
1999-2009
8.0
Seasonally adjusted, percent
AHE
8.0
Over-the-year percent changes
July 2009 AHE: 2.5
6.0
June 2009 CPI-W: -1.7
6.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
0.0
CPI-W
0.0
-2.0
-2.0
Sources: BLS, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 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 CES data are preliminary.
•
In July, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls edged up 0.1 hour to 33.1 hours. Recent low levels of
the average workweek have not been seen since the series began in 1964.
•
In July, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents to $18.56. Over the past 12 months,
average hourly earnings have increased by 2.5 percent.
4
Index of total private
aggregate weekly hours
1999-2009
115
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
115
July 2009
Level: 99.1
110
Percent change: 0.0
110
105
105
100
100
95
95
90
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 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
130
July 2009
120
Percent change: +0.2
130
Level: 122.9
120
110
110
100
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 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 payrolls are the product of average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production and nonsupervisory
workers.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers
on private nonfarm payrolls remained unchanged in July. Since peaking in
December 2007, the index has decreased by 8.1 percent.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of production and nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 0.2 percent in July. This increase is
the first since August 2008.
5
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, July 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Mining and logging
Construction
0
-76
Manufacturing
-52
Wholesale trade
-19
Retail trade
-44
Transportation and warehousing
-22
Utilities
-2
Information
-16
Financial activities
-13
Professional and business services
-38
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
-100
17
9
Total nonfarm:
-247
-80
-60
2
7
-40
-20
0
20
40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
A majority of major industry sectors experienced job losses in July, with losses
concentrated in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional and
business services. Education and health services continued to add jobs.
•
The rate of job loss has slowed in several industries during recent months,
including construction and several service-providing industries.
6
Employment in construction
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-30
-31
-34
-44
-44
-44
-60
-64
-24
-46
-57
-61
-65
-76
-90
-86
-98
-103
-113
-120
-123
-127
-135
-150
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment fell by 76,000 in July. Employment losses were
widespread across the industry, as both the residential and nonresidential
components shed jobs.
•
Although the loss is large by historical standards, it represents an improvement
over the industry’s performance from November 2008 to April 2009. During that
time, the industry employment declines averaged 117,000 per month. In the 3
most recent months, construction employment losses have slowed to an average
of 73,000 per month.
7
Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
-50
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-30
-33
-52
-49
-57
-51
-51
-67
-52
-65
-100
-119 -121
-150
-150 -146
-172 -172
-180
-200
-131
-250
-262
-300
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturers reduced payrolls by 52,000 jobs in July.
•
In the past 3 months, job losses in manufacturing have moderated. From May to
July, the industry shed an average of 110,000 jobs per month compared to an
average loss of 176,000 jobs per month from November 2008 to April 2009.
•
Manufacturing has lost 2.0 million jobs since the start of the current recession in
December 2007, accounting for about 30 percent of total nonfarm payroll jobs
lost--the largest share of any industry.
8
Employment in durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, July 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Wood products
-5
Nonmetallic mineral products
Durable goods:
-32
-2
Primary metals
-2
Fabricated metal products
-14
Machinery
-15
Computer and electronic products
-7
Electrical equipment and appliances
-5
Transportation equipment
28
Furniture and related products
-5
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-4
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in nondurable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, July 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Food manufacturing
-1
Nondurable goods:
-20
Beverage and tobacco
-1
Textile mills
-2
Textile product mills
-1
Apparel
1
Leather products
1
Paper products
-3
Printing
-5
Petroleum and coal products
-1
Chemicals
-3
Plastics and rubber
-7
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
The majority of manufacturing employment losses occurred in durable goods
manufacturing, with 32,000 jobs cut from payrolls. Within durable goods,
machinery (-15,000) and fabricated metal products (-14,000) had the largest
losses.
•
The seasonally-adjusted estimate for motor vehicle and parts (an industry within
transportation equipment) employment rose over the month (28,000). Shutdowns
in May and June resulted in fewer seasonal layoffs for retooling in July. Thus, the
seasonally-adjusted gain likely does not indicate improvement in the industry.
Employment in motor vehicle and parts has been on a long-term decline.
9
Employment in wholesale trade
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-10
-11.0
-20
-6.6 -6.2
-8.7
-7.1
-12.6
-12.7
-16.6
-15.1
-16.2
-14.0
-18.6
-27.1
-30
-29.8
-40
-31.4
-32.4
-30.5
-39.6
-45.6
-50
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In July, wholesale trade employment fell by 19,000. Over the past 3 months, the
industry employment losses averaged 16,000 per month, or roughly half the
average monthly decline experienced in the prior 6-month period (-35,000).
10
Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
10
3.8
-10
-50
-15.5
-20.1
-30
-20.6
-24.2
-32.7
-37.7
-45.6
-48.4
-45.7
-28.1
-44.1
-46.4
-56.3
-70
-90
-57.2
-61.4
-61.9
-90.8 -88.1
-110
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in retail trade continued to fall in July, declining by 44,000.
Although, the loss in July was steeper than in the prior 2 months, the pace of job
loss in recent months has moderated from the pace set during the November 2008
to April 2009 period (-63,000).
11
Employment in transportation
and warehousing
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
10
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
2
0
-1
-3
-2
-3
-10
-12
-20
-15
-12
-14
-15
-18
-22
-30
-40
-27
-35
-33
-34
-32
-36
-44
-50
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in transportation and warehousing declined by 22,000 jobs in July.
The loss is roughly in line with its average monthly decline over the prior 12
months (-25,000). The loss in July was spread throughout the component
industries.
12
Employment in information
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
10
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
3
0
-3
-2
-6
-10
-4
-5
-7
-4
-4
-6
-11
-13
-16
-17
-20
-18
-16
-21
-25
-26
-30
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Information employment fell by 16,000 in July; this is in line with its prior 6month average decline of 17,000. Since peaking in May 2007, the industry has
shed 215,000 jobs.
•
Among information’s component industries, employment losses were
concentrated in publishing (-8,000) and telecommunications (-5,000 jobs) in July.
13
Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-10
-20
-7
-14
-14
-8
-11
-13
-13
-17
-18
-26
-30
-27
-27
-29
-33
-40
-41
-45
-50
-46
-56
-60
-56
-70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected financial activities
Over-the-year change, July 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
Credit intermediation*
-130.3
Commercial
Commercialbanking
banking
-38.0
Health care:
+19.6
Securities and commodity
-80.2
Insurance and related activities
-55.7
Real estate
-84.3
-160
-140
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
Employment in financial activities continued to fall in July, declining by 13,000.
Job losses have averaged 23,000 over the past 3 months, reflecting a slower rate
of decline compared to average declines of 46,000 during the prior 6 months.
Since the start of the current recession in December 2007, financial activities have
shed 501,000 jobs.
14
Employment in professional and
business services
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-4
-20
-60
-40
-27
-36
-51
-63
-64
-61
-63
-52
-38
-63
-100
-106
-124
-140
-119
-132
-127
-151
-180
-176
-220
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 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
-1
-10
-20
-23
-25
-40
-38
-34
-31
-34
-37
-43
-37
-48
-45
-60
-57
-73
-80
-90
-100
-54
-73
-90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Professional and business services employment edged down by 38,000 in July.
The pace of job loss has slowed over the past 3 months (-57,000) compared with
November 2008 to April 2009 (-138,000). Since reaching an employment peak in
December 2007, the industry has shed 1.5 million jobs.
•
Within professional and business services, temporary help services employment
was little change in July. This industry has lost 844,000 jobs, or nearly a third of
its employment, since the start of the recession (December 2007).
15
Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
50
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
41
39
40
38
34
32
30
28
28
29
23
28
25
25
25
22
21
20
18
25
20
14
10
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Health care added 20,000 jobs in July. Health care has continued to grow despite
the recession, adding 513,000 positions since the recession started in December
2007.
•
Although the industry has continued to add jobs through the recession, the pace of
expansion has slowed. Employment growth in the industry has averaged 21,000
per month since the beginning of 2009, down from an average of 30,000 per
month in 2008.
•
Hospitals have accounted for most of the slowdown in employment growth. In
2009, hospital employment growth has averaged 3,000 per month, down from an
average of 11,000 per month in 2008.
16
Employment in leisure
and hospitality
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
40
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
27
30
20
9
10
0
-5
-10
-20
-30
-17
-1
-5
-16
-17
-17
-18
-19
-26
-33
-40
-40
-36
-32
-34
-34
-50
-51
-60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Leisure and hospitality employment was little changed in July and over the past 3
months. Employment declines in the industry have subsided after losses of more
than 200,000 jobs between November 2008 and April 2009.
17
Employment in State government,
excluding education
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
10
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
6
5
3
2
2
1
1
0
0
-1
-1
-2
-5
-3
-4
-2
-1
-4
-2
-6
-7
-10
-11
-15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in local government,
excluding education
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
20
15
Seasonally adjusted in thousands
17
13
5
11
10
10
5
6
8
5
9
7
2
2
0
-5
-3
-1
-2
-3
-2
-10
-13
-15
-13
-20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in State government, excluding education, declined by 11,000 in
July.
•
Employment in local government, excluding education, increased by 17,000 in
July.
18