Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
April 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
May 6, 2011
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
April 2011
Level: 131,028
Change: 244
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, May 06, 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–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
458
600
235
221
244
68
152
13
93
200
171
192
277
400
‐192
‐39
‐35
‐55
‐386
‐619
‐820
‐802
-800
‐726
‐796
‐660
-600
‐502
‐434
‐509
-400
‐300
‐231
‐236
‐221
‐185
‐233
‐178
‐231
‐267
‐130
‐83
‐72
-200
‐49
‐59
‐29
0
-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, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 244,000 in April. Since a recent low in February
2010, employment has grown by 1.8 million.
•
Over the last 3 months, payroll employment has risen by an average of 233,000 jobs,
compared with an average of 104,000 jobs in the prior 3 months.
2 Employment in total nonfarm
Total nonfarm:
244
Over-the-month change, April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
10
Construction
5
Manufacturing
29
Wholesale trade
7
Retail trade
57
Transportation and warehousing
4
2
Utilities
2
Information
Financial activities
4
Professional and business services
51
Education and health services
49
Leisure and hospitality
46
Other services
1
Government
-24
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
80
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total private
Over-the-month change, January 2008–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
144
229
48
65
93
110
109
143
128
167
94
261
231
268
400
‐34
‐42
‐21
‐102
‐287
‐215
‐213
‐250
‐326
‐721
‐787
‐773
‐787
-800
‐841
‐636
-600
‐438
-400
‐434
‐491
-200
‐128
‐87
‐186
‐240
‐217
‐265
‐317
0
4
200
-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, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In April, job gains occurred in mining, manufacturing and several service-providing
industries.
•
Employment in the private sector rose by 268,000 in April. Since reaching a low point in
employment in February 2010, the private sector has added 2.1 million jobs—an average
of 149,000 per month.
3 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–April 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: 0.0
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, May 06, 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–April 2011
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
April 2011
Level: 93.6
Change: 0.3%
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, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In April, 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 was also unchanged at 33.6 hours.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees rose by 0.3 percent over the
month. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.3
percent.
4 Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
April 2011 Earnings: 1.9
March 2011 CPI-U: 2.7
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, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
Index of aggregate weekly payrolls
Total private, all employees
March 2006–April 2011
104
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
102
100
98
96
April 2011
Level: 102.4
Change: 0.4%
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, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average hourly earnings of all employees in the private sector increased by 3 cents in
April to $22.95. Hourly earnings are up 1.9 percent over the year. Between March 2010
and March 2011, the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) increased by
2.7 percent.
•
In April, the index of aggregate weekly payrolls for all employees rose by 0.4 percent.
Since reaching a low in June 2009, the index has increased by 6.2 percent.
5 Employment in mining and logging
Over-the-month change, January 2008–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8
5
5
6
7
6
5
5
‐1
‐3
‐1
0
‐1
0
1
2
2
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
9
10
10
11
13
15
-10
‐8
‐8
‐8
‐8
‐7
‐6
‐5
-5
‐16
‐17
‐16
-15
‐20
-20
-25
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Mining and logging employment rose by 10,000 in April, mostly due to an increase in
support activities for mining (+7,000).
•
Since a recent low point in October 2009, mining and logging employment has increased
by 106,000.
6 Employment in construction
January 2000–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7,400
6,900
6,400
April 2011
Level: 5,524
Change: 5
5,900
5,400
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 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 construction
Construction:
5
Over-the-month change, April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Residential building
-2
Nonresidential building
-1
Heavy and civil engineering
13
Residential specialty trades
-3
Nonresidential specialty trades
-2
-5
0
5
10
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment was little changed in April, following a similar employment
change in March. Heavy and civil engineering employment grew by 13,000 in April.
•
From April 2006 (the most recent employment peak) through February 2010, the industry
had lost 2.2 million jobs. Since then, employment in construction has changed little, on
net.
7 Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15
11
32
12
9
9
38
27
50
37
22
29
53
100
‐6
‐6
‐171
‐175
‐173
‐172
‐140
‐131
‐121
‐175
-150
-200
‐29
‐33
‐56
‐68
‐85
‐88
‐56
‐34
‐38
-100
‐54
‐46
‐49
‐51
‐44
‐28
‐12
‐3
0
-50
-250
‐284
-300
-350
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in durable goods
Over-the-month change, April 2011
Durable goods:
19
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
-1.9
Nonmetallic mineral products
0.7
Primary metals
4.1
Fabricated metal products
5.1
Machinery
5.2
Computer and electronic products
4.0
Electrical equipment and appliances
0.4
Transportation equipment
4.3
-4
-1.6
Furniture and related products
-1.6
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-2
0
2
4
6
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing employment rose by 29,000 in April. Since reaching an employment low
in December 2009, manufacturers have added a quarter of a million jobs.
•
Employment in durable goods manufacturing increased by 19,000 in April. Employment
gains were concentrated in machinery (+5,000), fabricated metal products (+5,000),
primary metals (+4,000), and computer and electronic products (+4,000).
8 Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.4
Change: -0.1
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.4
Change: 0.0
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, May 06, 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–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
Production employees
Level: 4.2
Change: -0.1
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
All employees
Level: 3.3
Change: 0.1
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, May 06, 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 were unchanged at 40.4 hours
in April. The factory workweek for production employees fell by 0.1 hour to 41.4 hours.
•
Average weekly overtime hours of all employees in manufacturing increased by 0.1 hour
in April, while production worker overtime hours in manufacturing decreased by 0.1 hour
to 4.2 hours.
9 Employment in retail trade
January 2000–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
16,000
15,800
15,600
15,400
15,200
15,000
14,800
14,600
April 2011
Level: 14,532
Change: 57
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, May 06, 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 retail trade
Over-the-month change, January 2008–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
57
100
18
‐3
‐16
‐3
‐13
‐17
‐19
‐48
‐47
‐50
‐130
‐104
‐91
‐78
‐86
‐41
‐35
‐45
‐63
‐69
‐60
‐68
‐61
-100
‐14
‐13
‐19
‐8
‐20
‐47
-50
‐7
0
0
0
6
11
16
25
26
31
35
50
-150
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Retail trade employment rose by 57,000 in April. Employment in general merchandise
stores increased by 27,000, offsetting a decline of similar magnitude in the prior month.
•
Since reaching an employment trough in December 2009, retail trade has added 184,000
jobs.
10 Employment in selected professional and business services
Professional and
business
services:
51
Over-the-month change, April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and technical˚
33
- Accounting and bookkeeping
3
- Architectural and engineering
6
- Computer systems design
8
- Management and technical consulting
11
Management of companies
1
Administrative and waste services˚
18
- Employment services
-2
- Services to buildings
5
-10
0
10
20
30
40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.
Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
April 2011
Level: 2,250
Change: -2
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, May 06, 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 51,000 in April. Notable
employment gains were in management and technical consulting services (+11,000), and
in computer systems design and related services (+8,000). Since reaching a low point in
September 2009, employment in professional and business services has increased by
745,000.
•
In April, employment in temporary help services was essentially unchanged following a
gain of 34,000 in March.
11 Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
31
27
20
17
13
15
16
16
12
12
14
14
15
28
27
25
23
22
24
22
24
19
20
19
20
19
21
23
25
24
24
26
28
30
30
30
30
32
33
35
34
35
37
37
40
8
10
5
0
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, April 2011
Health care
industries:
37
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
22
- Offices of physicians
7
- Outpatient care centers
3
- Home health care services
4
Hospitals
10
Nursing and residential care
6
0
5
10
15
20
25
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.
•
Health care employment continued to rise in April (+37,000). Over the past 12 months,
health care added 295,000 jobs, or an average of 25,000 jobs per month.
•
In April, employment gains in health care were spread among the components, including
ambulatory health care services (+22,000) and hospitals (+10,000).
12 Employment in leisure and hospitality
Over-the-month change, January 2008–April 2011
38
17
23
40
31
35
39
46
52
54
51
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
60
1
2
2
20
‐3
‐5
‐3
‐15
‐24
‐31
‐50
‐51
‐56
‐63
-60
‐55
‐51
‐34
‐35
‐34
‐28
‐30
‐29
-40
‐24
‐22
-20
‐14
‐12
‐17
‐9
‐8
‐3
‐1
0
-80
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in food services and drinking places
Over-the-month change, January 2008–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
53
60
40
50
31
23
30
27
29
31
40
9
11
17
20
1
‐4
‐8
‐8
‐15
‐15
‐24
‐22
‐38
-40
‐29
‐28
‐30
‐32
-30
‐25
‐24
‐24
‐18
‐19
‐16
‐17
‐14
‐9
-20
‐3
‐5
‐5
‐4
0
-10
0
1
3
6
10
-50
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 46,000 in April. Job 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 291,000. Food services and drinking places accounted for 208,000 jobs
gained during that same time period.
13 Employment in government
January 2000–April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
April 2011
Level: 22,166
Change: -24
20,500
20,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 06, 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 state and local government
January 2007 - April 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
5,500
15,000
5,450
14,900
5,400
14,800
14,700
Local
5,300
14,600
5,250
14,500
5,200
14,400
5,150
Local government
State government
5,350
14,300
State
5,100
14,200
5,050
14,100
5,000
14,000
Jan-07
Aug-07
Mar-08
Oct-08
May-09
Dec-09
Jul-10
Feb-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 6, 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 April (-24,000).
•
In April, local government except education and state government except education lost
9,000 jobs each. Since a recent peak in September 2008, local government employment
has fallen by 409,000.
14