Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
August 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
September 4, 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
August 2009
125,000
125,000
Level: 131,223
Change: -216
122,500
122,500
120,000
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 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
-216
-300
-276
-303
-321
-380
-450
-463
-519
-600
-597
-681
-750
-681
-652
-741
-900
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 216,000 in August.
•
In recent months, job losses continued, although they have moderated in many industry
sectors.
1
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
-4.0
-4.0
July 1990
-5.0
-5.0
March 2001
December 2007
-6.0
-6.0
-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, September 4, 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, 2006-09
3.0
Seasonally adjusted, percent
3.0
1.5
1.5
March 2006
Percent change: 2.2
0.0
0.0
-1.5
-1.5
-3.0
-3.0
August 2009
Percent change: -4.3
-4.5
-4.5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment has decreased in each of the 20 months, including August,
and job losses have totaled 6.9 million since the recession started in December 2007, an
unprecedented period of decline in terms of length and depth.
•
Total nonfarm payroll employment was down 4.3 percent from August 2008; this is the
largest 12-month percent decline since November 1949.
2
Average weekly hours, total private
1999-2009
35.0
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
August 2009
Level: 33.1
34.5
34.5
Change: 0.0
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, September 4, 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
8.0
AHE
6.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
CPI-W
-2.0
Over-the-year percent changes
August 2009 AHE: 2.6
-2.0
July 2009 CPI-W: -2.4
-4.0
-4.0
Sources: BLS, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 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.
•
The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm
payrolls was unchanged in August at 33.1 hours.
•
In August, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls rose by 6 cents to $18.56, following a 5-cent gain in July. Hourly
earnings are up 2.6 percent over the year.
3
Index of total private
aggregate weekly hours
1999-2009
115
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
115
August 2009
Level: 98.9
110
Percent change: -0.3
110
105
105
100
100
95
95
90
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 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
August 2009
120
Percent change: +0.1
130
Level: 123.3
120
110
110
100
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 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 fell by 0.3 percent in August. Since peaking in December 2007,
the index has decreased by 8.3 percent.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of production and nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls rose by 0.1 percent in August, following a rise of 0.3 percent in
July. These increases follow 10 consecutive months of decline.
4
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, August 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
-8
Construction
-65
Manufacturing
Total nonfarm:
-216
-63
Wholesale trade
-17
Retail trade
-10
Transportation and warehousing
-1
Utilities
0
Information
-10
Financial activities
-28
Professional and business services
-22
Education and health services
52
Leisure and hospitality
-21
Other services
-5
Government
-18
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Job losses were widespread across major industry sectors in August. There were
significant declines in construction, manufacturing, financial activities, and wholesale
trade. Education and health services continued to add jobs.
5
Employment in mining
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
12
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7.7 8.3
9
6
3
0
6.0
5.9
9.3
7.5
7.1
2.6
0.1
0.0
-0.9
-3
-3.5
-6
-5.5
-9
-8.0
-8.9
-9.4
-12
-10.3
-9.0
-12.9
-15
-14.5
-18
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Mining employment fell by 9,000 in August.
•
Support activities for mining lost 8,000 jobs in August. Employment in this industry
peaked in September 2008 and, since then, has decreased by 67,000, or 19.5 percent.
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
-65
-79
-90
-98
-73
-103
-113
-120
-123
-127
-135
-150
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment fell by 65,000 in August. Most of the job losses occurred in
specialty trades, with employment down by 20,000 in residential specialty trades and by
34,000 in nonresidential specialty trades.
•
Job losses in August were about the same as the prior 3-month average (-70,000).
Employment declines had averaged 117,000 during the 6 months ending in April.
7
Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
-50
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-30
-33
-52 -49 -57
-51 -51
-43
-63
-67 -65
-100
-119 -121
-150
-123
-150 -146
-172 -172
-180
-200
-250
-262
-300
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturers cut 63,000 jobs in August, although the pace of decline has slowed in
recent months. Monthly employment losses averaged 176,000 for the 6 months ending in
April, compared to an average of 94,000 during the last 4 months. The industry has lost
2.0 million jobs since the start of the current recession (December 2007), and has
accounted for over a quarter of total nonfarm payroll jobs lost.
•
More industries within manufacturing have started posting job gains. The 1-month
diffusion index for manufacturing in August stood at 29.5, meaning that more industries
are cutting jobs than gaining jobs; however, this index has steadily improved from a
recent low point of 6.0 in January. This index measures the dispersion of employment
change, with a value below 50 indicating that more manufacturing component industries
are shedding jobs than adding them over the month.
8
Employment in durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, August 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
-3
Durable goods:
-51
Nonmetallic mineral products
-3
Primary metals
-1
Fabricated metal products
-8
Machinery
-5
Computer and electronic products
-8
Electrical equipment and appliances
-2
Transportation equipment
-16
Furniture and related products
-3
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-2
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in nondurable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, August 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Food manufacturing
3
Nondurable goods:
-12
Beverage and tobacco
1
Textile mills
-1
Textile product mills
0
Apparel
-2
Leather products
-1
Paper products
-2
Printing
-5
Petroleum and coal products
0
Chemicals
-3
Plastics and rubber
-1
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Durable goods manufacturing was responsible for the majority of manufacturing job
losses, with 51,000 jobs cut from payrolls in August.
•
Factory job losses remain widespread, although they have moderated in most industries
over recent months.
•
The largest employment declines within manufacturing were seen in transportation
equipment (-16,000), as job losses resumed in its component industry, motor vehicles and
parts (-15,000), following an employment increase in July (after seasonal adjustment).
9
Employment in wholesale trade
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-10
-11.0
-20
-30
-6.6 -6.2
-8.7
-7.1
-12.6
-12.7
-16.6
-15.1 -15.4
-16.2
-17.2 -17.1
-27.1
-29.8
-40
-31.4
-32.4
-30.5
-39.6
-45.6
-50
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In August, wholesale trade employment fell by 17,000. Over the past 4 months, the
industry averaged employment losses of 16,000 per month, roughly half the average
monthly rate of decline experienced in the prior 6-month period.
10
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
-10
-11
-13
-16
-17
-20
-13
-14
-21
-25
-26
-30
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Information employment fell by 10,000 in August, continuing its declining trend.
•
Publishing (-8,000) accounted for the majority of the employment decline in information
as newspaper publishers continued to show consistent jobs losses.
11
Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-10
-20
-30
-7
-14
-14
-18
-8
-11
-13
-17
-17
-26 -27
-27
-33
-28
-33
-40
-41
-45
-50
-46
-56 -56
-60
-70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in financial activities continued to fall in August, declining by 28,000. Job
losses have averaged 26,000 over the past 4 months, reflecting a slower rate of decline
compared to average declines of 46,000 during the prior 6-month period. Since the start
of the current recession in December 2007, financial activities has shed 537,000 jobs.
12
Employment in professional and
business services
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-4
-40
-51
-80
-64
-63 -63
-22
-27
-36
-40
-61
-33
-52
-63
-101
-120
-124
-160
-119
-132
-127
-151
-176
-200
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Professional and business services employment was little changed in August. Monthly
job losses have averaged 46,000 over the past 4 months, compared to the average job loss
of 138,000 experienced from November 2008 to April 2009. Since reaching an
employment peak in December 2007, professional and business services has shed 1.5
million jobs.
•
Most of the leveling off in recent months in professional and business services
employment has been centered in temporary help services, which was also little changed
in August. Jobs losses in this industry have slowed markedly in recent months, although
temporary help services has lost nearly a third of its employment since the start of the
recession.
13
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, August 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
18.3
Ambulatory health care
Ambulatory health careservices*
services*
14
7
Offices of physicians
4.8
Health care:
2.9
Outpatient care centers
August 2009:+27.9
0.6
Prior 12-mo. avg.: +24.9
3.5
Home health care services
Hospitals
Hospitals
4.8
-0.7
6.2
10.3
Nursing
and residential
care
Nursing
and residential
care facilities
4.7
-3
0
3
6
9
12
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
21
•
Employment in health care continued to rise in August, with the addition of 28,000 jobs.
Employment in this industry has risen by 544,000 since the start of the recession.
•
With the exception of hospitals, the August employment increase in all of the industries
within health care exceeded the average monthly job gain experienced during the prior 6
months.
•
Employment in hospitals was little changed in August; job growth in the industry slowed
in early 2009 and has been flat since May.
14
18
Employment in leisure
and hospitality
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
40
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
27
30
20
10
1
0
-5
-10
-20
-30
-40
-17
-1
-5
-16 -17
-17 -19
-19
-26
-33
-40
-36
-21
-32 -34 -34
-50
-51
-60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 4, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in leisure and hospitality edged lower in August. Job losses in leisure were
spread among the component industries. Since reaching a high point in December 2007,
the industry has shed 395,000 jobs or 2.9 percent of its workforce.
•
The current downturn has taken a significant toll on leisure employment, with losses
roughly doubling those seen during the previous downturn in 2001.
15