Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
March 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
April 1, 2011
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
March 2011
Level: 130,738
Change: 216
124,000
122,000
120,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
600
458
400
277
192
200
171
0
-200
194216
152
93
68
13
‐55
‐83 ‐72
‐39 ‐35
‐49 ‐59 ‐29
‐130
‐185 ‐178
‐233 ‐231
‐267
‐192
‐231‐236‐221
‐300
-400
‐386
‐434
‐502
‐509
-600
‐619
‐660
‐726
‐802 ‐820 ‐796
-800
-1,000
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 216,000 in March. Since a recent low in February
2010, employment has grown by 1.5 million.
2 Employment in total nonfarm
Total nonfarm:
216
Over-the-month change, March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
15
Construction
-1
Manufacturing
17
Wholesale trade
14
Retail trade
18
0
Transportation and warehousing
0
Utilities
Information
-4
Financial activities
6
Professional and business services
78
Education and health services
45
Leisure and hospitality
37
Other services
5
Government
-14
-20
0
20
40
60
80
100
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total private
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
400
240230
229
200
144
48 65
0
4
‐34
-200
-400
167
143128
94
93 110109
‐42
‐102
‐87
‐128
‐186
‐217
‐240
‐265
‐317
‐21
‐215‐213
‐250
‐326
‐434
‐491
‐287
‐438
-600
‐636
‐721
-800
‐787‐773
‐787
‐841
-1,000
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In March, job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and
leisure and hospitality.
•
Employment in the private sector rose by 230,000 in March. Since reaching a low point
in employment in February 2010, the private sector has added 1.8 million jobs—an
average of 138,000 per month.
3 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.3
Change: 0.0
34.5
34.0
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.6
Change: 0.1
33.0
32.5
32.0
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Index of aggregate weekly hours
Total private, all employees
March 2006–March 2011
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
March 2011
Level: 93.3
Change: 0.2%
92
90
Mar-06
Sep-06
Mar-07
Sep-07
Mar-08
Sep-08
Mar-09
Sep-09
Mar-10
Sep-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
During March, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was
unchanged at 34.3 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory
employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 33.6 hours.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees rose by 0.2 percent over the
month. Since a reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.0
percent.
4 Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
March 2011 Earnings: 1.7
February 2011 CPI-U: 2.2
Over-the-year percent change
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
Total private earnings
CPI–U
-3.0
Mar-07
Sep-07
Mar-08
Sep-08
Mar-09
Sep-09
Mar-10
Sep-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
Index of aggregate weekly payrolls
Total private, all employees
March 2006–March 2011
104
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
102
100
98
96
March 2011
Level: 101.8
Change: 0.2%
94
92
Mar-06
Sep-06
Mar-07
Sep-07
Mar-08
Sep-08
Mar-09
Sep-09
Mar-10
Sep-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average hourly earnings of all employees in the private sector were unchanged in March
at $22.87. Hourly earnings are up 1.7 percent over the year.
•
Between February 2010 and February 2011, the consumer price index for all urban
consumers (CPI-U) increased by 2.2 percent.
•
In March, the index of aggregate weekly payrolls for all employees rose by 0.2 percent.
Since reaching a low in June 2009, the index has increased by 5.6 percent.
5 Employment in mining and logging
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
800
750
700
650
March 2011
Level: 758
Change: 15
600
550
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Mining and logging employment rose by 15,000 in March, mostly due to an increase in
support activities for mining (+9,000).
•
Since a recent low point in October 2009, mining and logging employment has increased
by 97,000.
6 Employment in selected construction industries
January 2001-March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8,000
3,000
7,000
6,500
2,000
6,000
Residential specialty trade
contractors
1,500
Nonresidential specialty trade
contractors
Construction employment
Specialty trade employment
7,500
2,500
5,500
Construction
5,000
1,000
Jan-01
Jan-03
Jan-05
Jan-07
Jan-09
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 1, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment was little changed in March, following a gain of 37,000 in
February and a decline of 20,000 in January. The January and February figures may have
been impacted by severe weather.
7 Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
100
53
50
38
9
32
27
9
32
15 11
12
17
0
‐3
‐12
-50
‐28
‐33
‐34 ‐38
‐56
‐56
-100
‐54
‐6 ‐6
‐29
‐46 ‐49 ‐51 ‐44
‐68
‐85 ‐88
‐121
‐131
-150
‐140
‐175 ‐171‐175‐173‐172
-200
-250
-300
‐284
-350
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in durable goods
Over-the-month change, March 2011
Durable goods:
17
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
0.4
Wood products
0.5
Nonmetallic mineral products
Primary metals
1.1
Fabricated metal products
8.2
Machinery
4.9
Computer and electronic products
0.3
Electrical equipment and appliances
-1.9
Transportation equipment
6.1
Furniture and related products
-0.3
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-1.4
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing employment continued to trend up in March (+17,000). Since reaching an
employment low in December 2009, manufacturers have added 211,000 positions.
•
Employment in durable goods manufacturing increased by 17,000 in March. Employment
gains were concentrated in fabricated metal products (+8,000).
8 Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.5
Change: 0.1
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.5
Change: -0.1
39.0
38.5
38.0
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Average weekly overtime hours, manufacturing
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
Production employees
Level: 4.3
Change: 0.1
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
All employees
Level: 3.3
Change: 0.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent
2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average weekly hours of all employees in manufacturing fell by 0.1 hour to 40.5 hours in
March. The factory workweek for production employees increased by 0.1 hour to 41.5
hours.
•
Average weekly overtime hours of all employees in manufacturing were unchanged in
March, while production worker overtime hours in manufacturing increased by 0.1 hour
to 4.3 hours.
9 Employment in retail trade
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
16,000
15,800
15,600
15,400
15,200
15,000
14,800
14,600
March 2011
Level: 14,488
Change: 18
14,400
14,200
14,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Retail trade employment edged up by 18,000 in March. Since reaching an employment
trough in December 2009, the industry has added 140,000 jobs.
10 Employment in professional and business services
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
19,000
March 2011
Level: 17,075
Change: 78
18,500
18,000
17,500
17,000
16,500
16,000
15,500
15,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
March 2011
Level: 2,258
Change: 29
1,900
1,800
1,700
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in professional and business services grew by 78,000 in March, and has
increased by 692,000 since reaching a low point in September 2009.
•
In March, employment in temporary help services increased by 29,000.
•
Temporary help services has added 512,000 jobs since its most recent low point in
August 2009.
11 Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, March 2011
Health care
industries:
37
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
18
- Offices of physicians
8
- Outpatient care centers
1
- Home health care services
2
Hospitals
10
Nursing and residential care
9
0
5
10
15
20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.
•
Health care employment continued to rise in March (+37,000). Over the past 12 months,
health care added 283,000 jobs, or an average of 24,000 jobs per month.
•
In March, employment gains in health care were spread among the components,
including ambulatory health care services (+18,000), hospitals (+10,000), and nursing
and residential care facilities (+9,000).
12 Employment in leisure and hospitality
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
14,000
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
March 2011
Level: 13,156
Change: 37
11,500
11,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
Employment in food services and drinking places
January 2000–March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
9,800
9,600
9,400
9,200
9,000
8,800
8,600
March 2011
Level: 9,478
Change: 27
8,400
8,200
8,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 37,000 in March. Growth in food
services and drinking places (+27,000) accounted for most of the increase.
•
Since reaching a low in January 2010, employment in leisure and hospitality has
increased by 225,000. Food services accounted for 173,000 jobs gained.
13 Employment in selected government
Government:
-14
Over-the-month change, March 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service
5
U.S. Postal Service
-4
State government education
1
State government, excluding education
-1
Local government education
-9
Local government, excluding education
-6
-10
-5
0
5
10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in state and local government
January 2007-March 2011
5,500
15,000
5,400
14,800
Local
14,600
5,300
14,400
5,200
Local government
State government
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
State
14,200
5,100
14,000
5,000
Jan-07
Jan-08
Jan-09
Jan-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 1, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Government payroll employment edged down in March (-14,000).
•
In March, the majority of the employment losses were concentrated in local government
(-15,000). Since its recent peak in September 2008, local government employment has
declined by 416,000.
14