Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
October 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
November 6, 2009
B-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
October 2009
125,000
125,000
Level: 130,848
Change: -190
122,500
122,500
120,000
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 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.
B-2. Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
0
-150
-72
-144
-122
-160
-137
-161
-128
-154
-175
-219
-300
-303
-321
-450
-190
-304
-380
-463
-600
-750
-519
-597
-681
-681
-652
-741
-900
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Total nonfarm employment declined by 190,000 in October.
•
Payroll employment has fallen for 22 consecutive months with losses totaling 7.3 million.
•
The past 3 months have seen an average job loss of 188,000, compared with job losses
averaging 357,000 during the prior 3 months. From November 2008 to April 2009,
payroll employment experienced the greatest monthly declines since the recession
started, with losses averaging 645,000.
B-3. Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-year percent changes, 2008-09
2.0
1.0
Seasonally adjusted, percent
0.7
0.5
0.3 0.2
0.0
-1.0
-0.1 -0.2
-0.3 -0.4
-0.7
-1.1
-2.0
-1.6
-2.2
-3.0
-2.7
-3.1
-4.0
-3.5
-3.8 -3.9
-4.1 -4.2 -4.2 -4.2 -4.0
-5.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In October, total nonfarm employment decreased by 4.0 percent over the year, an
improvement over the 4.2 percent rate of the prior 3 months.
B-4. Average weekly hours, total private
1999-2009
35.0
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
October 2009
Level: 33.0
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, November 6, 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.
B-5. Index of total private
aggregate weekly hours
1999-2009
115
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
115
October 2009
110
Level: 98.3
Percent change: -0.2
110
105
105
100
100
95
95
90
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 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 October, the average workweek of production and nonsupervisory employees was
unchanged at 33.0 hours.
•
Average weekly hours have been little changed since March, either 33.0 or 33.1 each
month.
•
The index of total private aggregate weekly hours fell 0.2 percent in October. Since
reaching a peak in December 2007, the index has fallen by 8.8 percent.
B-6. 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
October 2009 AHE: 2.4
-2.0
September 2009 CPI-W: -1.7
-4.0
-4.0
Sources: BLS, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 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.
B-7. Index of total private
aggregate weekly payrolls
1999-2009
140
130
Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100
140
October 2009
130
Level: 122.9
120
Percent change: 0.0
110
120
110
100
100
90
90
80
80
70
70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 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.
•
In October, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees rose 5
cents to $18.72. Over the past year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.4 percent.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) fell
by 1.7 percent over the year ending in September.
•
The index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls has remained about unchanged since
June, after declining for 10 consecutive months.
B-8. Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, October 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
-6
Construction
-62
Manufacturing
-61
Wholesale trade
-8
Retail trade
-40
Transportation and warehousing
-18
Utilities
0
Information
-1
Financial activities
-8
Total nonfarm:
-190
Professional and business services
18
Education and health services
45
Leisure and hospitality
-37
Other services
-12
Government
0
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In October, payroll employment losses occurred in most industries. The largest job
losses over the month were in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade.
•
Despite continued payroll employment declines in most industries, the job losses have
moderated substantially since April.
•
Some industries added jobs in October. Education and health services continued to grow
by adding 45,000 jobs.
•
Although, some industries are still experiencing notable employment declines, the losses
are much smaller and less widespread than they were last fall and winter.
B-9. Employment in construction
Over-the-month change, October 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
0
-3.2
-5.6
-10
-10.7
-9.1
-10.3
-9.4
-13.7
-20
-26.2
-30
-30.2
October 2009
Prior 12-mo. avg.
-35.6
-40
Residential building
Nonresidential
building
Heavy and civil
engineering
Residential specialty
trades
Nonresidential
specialty trades
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction cut 62,000 jobs in October, similar to average job losses of the prior 5
months of 68,000.
•
Losses were concentrated in 2 of the industry’s components: nonresidential specialty
trade contractors (-30,000) and heavy and civil engineering construction (-14,000).
B-10. Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
0
-50
-30
-33
-52 -49 -57
-51 -51
-41
-67 -65
-55
-45
-61
-100
-119 -121
-150
-123
-150 -146
-172 -172
-180
-200
-250
-262
-300
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
B-11. Employment in durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, October 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
-2
Nonmetallic mineral products
-8
Primary metals
-1
Durable goods:
-44
Fabricated metal products
Machinery
-5
-10
Computer and electronic products
-6
Electrical equipment and appliances
-3
Transportation equipment
-2
Furniture and related products
-5
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-3
-15
-10
-5
0
5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In October, manufacturing shed 61,000 jobs, continuing the moderating trend seen in the
prior 3 months that averaged losses of 47,000. Manufacturing lost jobs at a faster rate
between October 2008 and June 2009, during which time 1.3 million jobs were cut, with
losses averaging 161,000 per month.
•
Manufacturing has 2.1 million fewer jobs in October than at the start of the recession.
•
Employment in durable goods manufacturing fell by 44,000 in October and job losses
were widespread throughout the industry.
B-12. Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
15
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3.8
0
-15
-30
-45
-60
-15.5
-20.1
-20.1
-24.2
-37.7
-45.6
-48.4
-20.9
-28.1
-32.7
-45.7
-46.4
-56.3
-61.4
-44.5
-39.8
-44.2
-57.2
-61.9
-75
-90
-88.1
-90.8
-105
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in retail trade fell by 40,000 in October. Employment declines were
concentrated in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores (-16,000) and in
department stores (-11,000).
B-13. Employment in transportation
and warehousing
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2
0
-1
-3
-2
-2
-3
-10
-12
-20
-14
-15 -15
-18
-30
-40
-33
-34 -36
-18 -18
-25
-27
-35
-15
-32
-44
-50
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In October, transportation and warehousing shed 18,000 jobs, continuing the recent trend
of moderate job loss. Since May, the industry has averaged monthly losses of 15,000
jobs.
B-14. Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-10
-20
-30
-7
-14
-14
-18
-8
-11
-9
-13
-8
-14
-17
-23
-26 -27
-27
-33
-33
-40
-41
-50
-60
-45
-46
-56 -56
-70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Financial activities payroll employment declined by 8,000, similar to September’s loss of
9,000 jobs.
•
The industry has not had losses this small since the summer of 2008. Financial activities
incurred the greatest losses from September 2008 to June 2009, during which time job
losses averaged 39,000 per month.
B-15. Employment in temporary help
services
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
60
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
34
40
20
3
0
-1
-6
-20
-40
-60
-23
-25
-38
-34
-37
-34
-43
-37
-48
-30
-45
-57 -54
-80
-100
7
-73
-90
-73
-90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in temporary help services rose by 34,000 in October after having edged up
in August and September.
•
Before that, the industry had lost 838,000 jobs since the beginning of this recession, in
December 2007, through July.
B-16. Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, October 2009
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory
health
Ambulatory
healthcare
care
services*
services*
12.5
Offices of physicians
4.8
Outpatient care centers
4.1
Home health care services
Health care:
+28.5
5.1
Hospitals
Hospitals
10.0
Nursing
and residential care
Nursing and residential care
facilities facilities
6
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 6, 2009.
Note: Data are preliminary.
* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
In October, health care employment continued to trend up, rising by 29,000 jobs. The
industry’s payroll employment has increased by 597,000 since the start of the recession,
gaining an average 27,000 jobs every month.
•
Except for a job loss in July 2003 (-9,000), health care has not posted a job loss in the
past 10 years.