Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
May 2010
Bureau of Labor Statistics
June 4, 2010
Employment in total nonfarm
2000-10
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 2010
125,000
125,000
Level: 130,570
Change: +431
122,500
122,500
120,000
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
600
431
450
290
300
150
208
70
0
64
-10
-150
-50 -33
-109
-149
-231
-300
-193-210
-212-225-224
-334
-450
-528
-554
-750
-728
-900
-346
-387
-458
-600
14 39
-673
-779
-726
-515
-753
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 431,000 in May, following an increase of 290,000
in April.
•
Since falling by 8.4 million between December 2007 and December 2009, employment
has grown by 982,000 about half of which was gained in May.
1 Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, May 2010
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
Construction
10
-35
Manufacturing
29
Wholesale trade
2
Retail trade
Total nonfarm:
+431
-7
Transportation and warehousing
11
Utilities
-1
Information
0
Financial activities
-12
Professional and business services
22
Education and health services
17
Leisure and hospitality
2
Other services
2
Government
-100
390
-50
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm, including and excluding
Census temporary and intermittent workers, 2007-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
139,000
139,000
138,000
138,000
137,000
137,000
136,000
136,000
135,000
135,000
134,000
134,000
Total nonfarm
133,000
133,000
132,000
131,000
Total nonfarm excluding Census
temporary and intermittent workers
132,000
131,000
130,000
130,000
129,000
129,000
128,000
128,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
The job growth in May resulted largely from hiring by the Federal government of
411,000 temporary workers to assist with Census 2010.
•
Manufacturing, temporary help services, and mining also added jobs, while employment
in construction declined.
2 Employment in total private
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
300
218
158
150
75
16
62
41
0
-12
-150
-85
-58
-83
-161
-300
-253
-230
-215
-257
-450
-297
-334
-347
-186
-262
-452
-456
-547
-600
-649
-667
-750
-707
-734
-744
-806
-900
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Private-sector employment showed little change over the month (+41,000), following
increases in March and April.
•
The diffusion index over a 1-month span was 54.1 in May, declining from 66.7 in April.
Despite the decrease in May, the index remains well above the low of 16.5 in March
2009. The diffusion index is a measure of the breadth of employment change; a value
above 50 means that more industries are showing employment increases, while a value
below 50 means that more industries are showing employment declines.
3 Average weekly hours, total private
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.2
Change: +0.1
34.5
34.5
34.0
34.0
33.5
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.5
33.0
33.0
Change: +0.1
32.5
32.5
32.0
32.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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
of all employees
2006-10
105
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
95
May 2010
90
Level: 92.2
Percent change: +0.3
85
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In May, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased
by 0.1 to 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory
employees on private nonfarm payrolls also increased by 0.1 to 33.5 hours.
•
Since reaching a low in October 2009, hours both for all employees and for production
and non-supervisory employees have risen by 0.5 hour.
•
In May, the index of aggregate weekly hours of all employees rose by 0.3 percent. Since
a low in October 2009, the index has increased by 1.9 percent.
4 Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls
payrolls of all employees
2006-10
105
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
95
May 2010
90
Level: 99.3
Percent change: +0.7
85
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In May, the index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees rose by 0.7
percent.
•
The index of aggregate payrolls reached a low in October 2009 and has since increased
by 3.0 percent.
5 Employment in mining
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15
10
5
8.1
5
8.1
9.8
9.3
7.8
7.6
7.2
6.9
6.9
7.2
4.7
3.8
2.8
1
0
-0.3
-5
-4
-2.7
-3.1
-5.9
-10
-4.7
-5.3
-7.3
-8
-8.8
-13.3
-13.9-13.3
-15.5
-15
-20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in mining continued to increase in May as support activities for mining
added 8,000 jobs.
•
Since reaching a low in October 2009, mining employment has expanded by 50,000.
6 Employment in construction
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8,000
8,000
7,500
7,500
7,000
7,000
6,500
6,500
6,000
6,000
May 2010
Level: 5,591
5,500
5,500
Change: -35
5,000
5,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 construction
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
50
27
14
0
-24 -28
-50
-15
-33
-100
-52 -52
-70
-59
-64
-72
-80
-92
-149
-71 -67
-60
-51
-91
-95
-114
-116
-150
-35
-36
-59 -61
-142
-153
-200
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment declined by 35,000 in May, largely offsetting gains in the prior
2 months (+41,000). The industry has shed 2.1 million jobs since employment peaked in
August 2006.
7 Employment in manufacturing
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
18,000
18,000
17,000
17,000
16,000
16,000
15,000
15,000
14,000
14,000
13,000
13,000
12,000
12,000
May 2010
Level: 11,660
11,000
11,000
Change: +29
10,000
10,000
9,000
9,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 manufacturing
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
100
50
22 16
40
19
29
0
-5
-30 -37
-50
-27
-50
-43
-49
-72
-100
-25 -18
-57
-48
-57
-93 -93
-150
-141
-129
-130
-166-165
-177
-200
-149 -152
-250
-279
-300
-350
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing employment increased by 29,000 over the month. Factory employment
has risen by 126,000 over the past 5 months.
•
The industry had lost 2.2 million jobs in the prior 2 years.
8 Average weekly hours, manufacturing
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
42.5
Production employees
42.0
42.0
Level: 41.5
41.5
41.5
Change: +0.3
41.0
41.0
40.5
40.5
40.0
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.5
39.0
Change: +0.3
38.5
38.0
39.5
39.0
38.5
38.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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.
Average weekly overtime hours,
manufacturing, 2000-10
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
6.0
5.5
Production employees
5.0
Change: +0.2
Level: 4.1
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.5
4.0
4.0
3.5
3.5
3.0
2.5
All employees
Level: 3.0
Change: 0.0
3.0
2.5
2.0
2.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 0.3 hour for both all employees and
production employees.
•
Factory overtime was flat for all employees, while production employee overtime
increased by 0.2 hour in May.
9 Employment in wholesale trade
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
6,300
6,300
6,200
6,200
6,100
6,100
6,000
6,000
5,900
5,900
5,800
5,800
5,700
5,700
May 2010
5,600
Level: 5,578.7
5,500
Change: +2.0
5,400
5,600
5,500
5,400
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
16,000
16,000
15,500
15,500
15,000
15,000
May 2010
14,500
Level: 14,450.8
14,500
Change: -6.6
14,000
14,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 wholesale trade changed little over the month.
•
Employment in retail trade changed little in May. So far this year, retail employment has
risen by 91,000, after falling by 1.2 million during the prior 2 years.
10 Employment in transportation and warehousing
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
5,000
5,000
4,900
4,900
4,800
4,800
May 2010
Level: 4,139.8
4,700
4,700
Change: +11.1
4,600
4,600
4,500
4,500
4,400
4,400
4,300
4,300
4,200
4,200
4,100
4,100
4,000
4,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 has shown little net change since
January.
• Couriers and messengers continued to shed jobs (-3,000) in May.
11 Employment in information
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
4,000
4,000
3,750
May 2010
3,750
Level: 2,728
Change: 0
3,500
3,500
3,250
3,250
3,000
3,000
2,750
2,750
2,500
2,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 financial activities
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
9,000
9,000
8,750
8,750
8,500
8,500
8,250
8,250
8,000
8,000
7,750
7,750
May 2010
7,500
7,250
Level: 7,599
Change: -12
7,500
7,250
7,000
7,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 information was unchanged for the second consecutive month.
•
Employment in financial activities changed little in May. The industry has lost 58,000
jobs so far this year.
12 Employment in professional and business services
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
19,000
19,000
18,500
18,500
18,000
18,000
17,500
17,500
17,000
17,000
16,500
16,500
May 2010
16,000
Level: 16,663
Change: +22
15,500
16,000
15,500
15,000
15,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 temporary help services
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3,000
3,000
2,800
2,800
2,600
2,600
2,400
2,400
2,200
2,200
2,000
May 2010
1,800
Change: +31.0
2,000
Level: 2,086.0
1,600
1,800
1,600
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 professional and business services continued to rise in May. Since
September 2009, this industry has added 314,000 jobs.
•
Temporary help services continued to add jobs (+31,000), and employment has increased
by 362,000 since reaching a low in September 2009.
13 Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
50
40
37.3
33.5
30 27.9
33.1
31.4
29.7
29.6
25.5
23.6
20
23.2 23.8
23.2
21.0
20.4
19.7
19.9
17.8
17.1
21.0
17.8
13.4 14.0
13.1
12.2
10
18.2
17.3 17.7
8.3
8.0
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Health care employment was little changed in May (+8,000). Over the prior 12 months,
health care employment has increased by an average 20,000 per month.
14 Employment in leisure and hospitality
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
75
50
35
23
25
5
23
16
10
23
12
2
0
-4
-8
-13
-25
-13
-36
-50
-21
-33
-34
-40 -39
-43
-18
-21
-26
-27 -27
-37
-46
-54
-58
-75
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in food services and drinking places
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
45
30
22.5
20.2
18.6
19.0
13.3
15
2.2
5.6
5.5
0
-2.0
-15 -13.2
-11.3
-23.4
-30
-8.8
-1.0
-5.8
-7.1
-9.7
-13.7
-16.7
-19.4
-14.1
-13.0
-13.1
-14.9
-23.9
-21.8
-26.6
-30.7-29.6
-45
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Leisure and hospitality employment was little changed in May.
•
Employment in food services and drinking places was essentially flat in May.
15 Employment in government
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,500
23,500
23,000
23,000
22,500
22,500
22,000
22,000
21,500
21,500
21,000
May 2010
20,500
Change: +390
21,000
Level: 22,968
20,000
20,500
20,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: 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 Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service, including
and excluding Census temporary and intermittent workers, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,800
2,800
2,700
Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service
2,500
2,400
2,700
2,600
2,600
Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service
and Census temporary and
intermittent workers
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,300
2,200
2,200
2,100
2,100
2,000
2,000
1,900
1,900
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Government employment rose by 390,000 in May. The Federal government added
411,000 temporary workers for Census 2010, bringing total employment of Decennial
Census workers to 564,000 as of the survey reference period.
16