Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
August 2010
Bureau of Labor Statistics
September 3, 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
August 2010
125,000
125,000
Level: 130,311
Change: -54
122,500
122,500
120,000
120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 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 private
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
450
300
241
158
150
75
16
62
51 61
107
67
0
-12
-150
-85
-58
-83
-161
-300
-450
-600
-750
-900
-253-230-257
-334
-347
-186
-215
-262
-297
-452
-456
-547
-667
-734
-649
-707
-744
-806
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed (-54,000) in August.
•
Employment was negatively impacted by continued cuts (-114,000) in the number of
temporary workers previously hired for Census 2010.
•
Private sector employment edged up by 67,000.
•
The private sector has added 763,000 jobs so far this year, averaging 95,000 per month.
1 Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, August 2010
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
8
Construction
19
Manufacturing
-27
Wholesale trade
Total nonfarm:
-54
Retail trade
Transportation and warehousing
4
-5
-7
Utilities
0
Information
-1
Financial activities
-4
Professional and business services
20
Education and health services
45
Leisure and hospitality
13
Other services
Government
-150
3
-121
-100
-50
0
50
100
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Employment fell in government and manufacturing, while employment gains occurred in
mining and logging, as well as education and health services.
2 Average weekly hours, total private
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.2
Change: 0.0
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, September 3, 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.
Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings
of all employees and CPI-U (1982-84), 2007-10
Seasonally adjusted
8.0
Over-the-year percent changes
6.0
August 2010 AHE: 1.7
July 2010 CPI-U: 1.3
4.0
2.0
AHE
0.0
-2.0
CPI-U
-4.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In August, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was
unchanged at 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory
employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 33.5 hours.
•
Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 6 cents in
August to $22.66. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings of all employees on
private nonfarm payrolls have increased by 1.7 percent.
•
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by 1.3 percent from
July 2009 to July 2010.
3 Index of total private aggregate weekly hours
of all employees
2006-10
105
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
95
August 2010
90
Level: 92.4
Percent change: 0.0
85
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Index of total private aggregate weekly
payrolls of all employees
2006-10
105
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
95
August 2010
90
Level: 99.9
Percent change: +0.3
85
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In August, the index of private aggregate weekly hours was unchanged. Since reaching a
low in October 2009, the index has increased by 2.1 percent.
•
The index of private aggregate payrolls increased by 0.3 percent in August. Since
reaching a low in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.6 percent.
4 Employment in mining
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15
11.3
10
8.1
5
5
8.1
9.3
7.8
7.6
7.2
6.9
6.9
6.6
6.4
7.3 7.5
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
-13.3
-13.9
-15.5
-15
-20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in construction
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
50
27
22
19
0
-24 -28
-50
-52 -52
-70
-59
-80
-92
-149
-71 -67
-60
-51
-91
-95
-116
-150
-64
-72
-4
-29
-36
-59 -61
-100
-9
-15
-33
-114
-142
-153
-200
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Mining added 8,000 jobs in August. This increase follows a similar trend of job gains in
recent months. Since reaching a trough in October 2009, employment in the industry has
risen by 72,000. Support activities in mining accounts for three-fourths of this 10-month
gain.
•
Construction employment notched up over the month. About half of the increase resulted
from the return of about 10,000 workers who had been on strike in July. Job gains in
August were concentrated in heavy and civil engineering and in nonresidential specialty
trade contractors.
5 Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
100
50
22 16 19
38 39
-5
-50
-30 -37
-27
-50
-43
-49
-72
-100
34
4
0
-25 -18
-57
-48
-27
-57
-93 -93
-129
-130
-141
-150
-149-152
-166-165
-177
-200
-250
-279
-300
-350
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in motor vehicles and parts
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
50
37
26.6
25
-1.9 -3.8
-2.7
-17.4
-26.4
3.5 4.1
4
0.1
0
-25
22.3
17.1
-0.8
-8.1
-14.3
-20.3 -18.4
-25.5
-10.8
-8.4
-4.6
-1.1
-23.9 -21.8
-31
-37.1
-9.1
9.3
-5.1
-21.6
-50
-75
-79.9
-100
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing shed 27,000 jobs in August, the first monthly decline in 2010. The decline
was driven by transportation equipment, which lost 21,000 jobs.
•
Within transportation equipment, motor vehicles and parts manufacturing fell by 22,000
jobs in August, offsetting a similar sized increase in July. The two-month movement was
the result of a number of plants deviating from their normal practice of shutting down in
July and reopening in August.
6 Average weekly hours, manufacturing
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
42.5
Production employees
42.0
42.0
Level: 41.2
41.5
41.5
Change: +0.1
41.0
41.0
40.5
40.5
40.0
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.2
39.0
Change: +0.1
38.5
38.0
39.5
39.0
38.5
38.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 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: +0.1
Level: 3.9
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: +0.1
3.0
2.5
2.0
2.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 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 hours of all employees and of production workers in manufacturing both
increased by 0.1 hour over the month. Since reaching a low in October 2009, hours of all
employees have risen by 0.5 hour.
•
Average weekly overtime of all employees and of production workers in manufacturing
both increased by 0.1 hour over the month. Since reaching a low in April 2009, overtime
of all employees in manufacturing has risen by 0.9 hour.
7 Employment in transportation and warehousing
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
5,000
5,000
4,900
4,900
4,800
4,800
August 2010
Level: 4,178.6
4,700
4,700
Change: -7.4
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, September 3, 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 selected transportation
and warehousing industries
Over-the-month change, August 2010
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Air transportation
0.6
Truck transportation
0.4
Transit and ground passenger transportation
Transportation and
warehousing: -7.4
-12.0
Support activities for transportation
0.6
Couriers and messengers
1.7
Warehousing and storage
0.6
-15
-12
-9
-6
-3
0
3
6
9
12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Employment in transportation and warehousing edged down (-7,000) in August partially
offsetting gains (+12,000) in July.
•
Over the past 2 months, employment in transportation and warehousing has been driven
by transit and ground passenger transportation.
8 Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15
-15
2
0
0
-9 -10
-6
-9
-17
-15
-18
-19
-23 -24
-29
-4
-7
-9
-12
-30
2
-22
-9
-11 -11
-19
-32 -31
-33
-37
-45
-42
-44
-47
-51
-60
-55
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Financial activities employment was little changed in August, improving upon its average
monthly loss for the prior 6 months (-9,000). Since the start of the recession in December
2007, the industry has shed 651,000 jobs or 7.9 percent of employment.
9 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
August 2010
16,000
16,000
Level: 16,714
Change: +20
15,500
15,500
15,000
15,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 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
Over-the-month change, 2008-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
120
94.7
90
60
42.2
49.749.2
30
0
-30
-60
-90
-11.3
-12.9
-18.6
-30.0-26.3
-31.5
-35.4-37.2
-8.8
-9.2
-15.7
35.932.3
30.4
23.3
18.6
16.8
-0.9
-34.3
-45.2
-51.1
-62.1
-49.5
-62.6
-72.3
-61.3
-65.9
-91.4
-120
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Professional and business services employment edged up by 20,000 in August.
•
Temporary help services largely explains recent employment trends in professional and
business services. Temporary help employment has expanded by 392,000 since reaching
an employment low in September 2009.
10 Employment in education and health services
2000-10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
20,000
20,000
19,000
19,000
18,000
18,000
17,000
17,000
16,000
16,000
August 2010
Level: 19,611
15,000
15,000
Change: +45
14,000
14,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 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 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
28.2
25.5
23.6
20
23.223.8
23.2
21.0
19.7
20.4
19.9
17.8
17.1
12.2
17.8
17.317.7
17.2
13.414.0
13.1
10
22.8
21.0
16.5
15.0
8.3
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Education and health services added 45,000 jobs in August. Since the recession began in
December 2007, employment in education and health care has expanded by over 1
million positions.
•
Health care added 28,000 jobs in August.
11 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
August 2010
21,000
21,000
Level: 22,441
Change: -121
20,500
20,500
20,000
20,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 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
2,700
2,800
Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,700
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, September 3, 2010.
Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in government fell by 121,000 in August, as 114,000 temporary Census
2010 positions were eliminated.
•
Local government excluding education added 14,000 jobs over the month. This gain was
mostly offset by local education employment.
12