Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
May 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
June 3, 2011
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
May 2011
Level: 131,043
Change: 54
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, June 03, 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–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
458
600
54
235
194
232
68
152
13
93
200
171
192
277
400
-192
-39
-35
-130
-55
-386
-802
-800
-619
-820
-726
-796
-660
-600
-502
-434
-509
-400
-300
-231
-236
-221
-185
-233
-178
-231
-267
-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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment changed little in May, following average increases of 220,000
in the prior 3 months.
•
Total nonfarm employment has increased by 1.8 million, or 1.4 percent, since its trough in
February of 2010. Between January 2008 and February 2010, the U.S. economy had lost 8.8
million jobs.
2
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, May 2011
Total nonfarm:
54
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
6
Construction
2
Manufacturing
-5
Wholesale trade
3
Retail trade
-9
Transportation and warehousing
8
Utilities
1
Information
-1
Financial activities
3
Professional and business services
44
Education and health services
34
Leisure and hospitality
-6
Other services
3
Government
-29
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Employment gains in both professional and business services and education and health
services were offset by losses in government.
•
Employment in other major industries changed little in May.
3
Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.4
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, June 03, 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–May 2011
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
May 2011
Level: 93.9
Change: 0.1%
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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average weekly hours for both all employees and production employees remained
unchanged in May.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector increased by 0.1
percent. Since a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.6 percent.
4
Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
May 2011 Earnings: 1.8
April 2011 CPI-U: 3.1
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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
Index of aggregate weekly payrolls
Total private, all employees
March 2006–May 2011
104
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
102
100
98
96
May 2011
Level: 102.9
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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average hourly earnings of all employees in the private sector increased by 6 cents in May to
$22.98. Hourly earnings are up 1.8 percent over the year.
•
Between April of 2010 and April 2011 the consumer price index for all urban consumers
(CPI-U) increased by 3.1 percent.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees in the private sector increased by
0.4 percent in May. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the end of the latest recession,
the index has rebounded 6.7 percent.
5
Employment in mining and logging
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15
20
8
5
5
6
7
6
5
5
-10
-8
-8
-8
-5
-7
-6
-5
-1
-8
-3
-1
0
-1
0
1
2
5
2
5
6
7
7
6
6
5
6
7
8
9
10
9
11
15
-16
-20
-20
-17
-16
-15
-25
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in mining and logging continued to trend up in May.
•
Mining and logging has added 113,000 jobs, since reaching a low point in October 2009.
Between September 2008 and October 2009 the industry had shed 123,000 jobs.
6
Employment in construction
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7,400
6,900
6,400
May 2011
Level: 5,529
Change: 2
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, June 03, 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:
2
Over-the-month change, May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Residential building
-5.9
Nonresidential building
0.6
Heavy and civil engineering
3.1
Residential specialty trades
14.1
Nonresidential specialty trades
-9.9
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment changed little in May. Residential specialty trade contractors
added 14,000 jobs while residential building (-6,000) and nonresidential specialty trades
(-10,000) lost jobs.
7
Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15
11
32
12
9
9
38
27
50
37
20
24
53
100
-200
-5
-6
-6
-171
-175
-173
-172
-175
-150
-140
-131
-121
-100
-29
-34
-38
-56
-33
-56
-68
-85
-88
-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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.4
Change: 0.0
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.6
Change: 0.2
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, June 03, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing employment changed little in May. From a recent low point in December 2009
through April 2011, manufacturing added 243,000 jobs.
•
The 1-month diffusion index in manufacturing fell from 64.8 in April to 54.9 in May, the lowest
reading since October 2010. The index measures the dispersion of employment change across
industries; a value above 50 indicates that more industries are adding jobs than losing jobs.
•
Average weekly hours for production workers remained unchanged, while average weekly hours
for all employees increased by 0.2 hour.
8
Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
64
100
18
-9
-6
-16
-7
-13
-17
-19
-14
-48
-47
-41
-50
-130
-104
-91
-100
-78
-86
-63
-69
-60
-68
-61
-47
-50
-35
-45
-20
-13
-19
-8
-3
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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Retail trade employment was essentially flat in May, following an increase of 64,000 in
April.
•
Much of the gain in April was due to 27,000 jobs added within general merchandise stores,
which had offset job loss of equal magnitude in March.
9
Employment in transportation and warehousing
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
4,600
4,500
4,400
4,300
4,200
May 2011
Level: 4,261
Change: 8
4,100
4,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 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 transportation and warehousing changed little in May.
•
Since reaching an employment low in February 2010, transportation and warehousing has
added 118,000 jobs, or 28 percent of the jobs lost during its most recent downturn.
10
Employment in financial activities
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8,400
May 2011
Level: 7,612
Change: 3
8,300
8,200
8,100
8,000
7,900
7,800
7,700
7,600
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 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 financial activities changed little in May and has remained flat since
August 2010.
•
Since reaching an employment peak in December 2006, financial activities has lost
739,000 jobs.
11
Employment in professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
38
50
44
58
51
30
2
3
7
8
25
26
31
31
50
40
43
66
69
75
85
100
-2
-29
-26
-108
-130
-113
-100
-110
-71
-64
-77
-68
-61
-45
-34
-59
-50
-6
-6
0
-200
Jan-08
Jul-08
-183
-181
-151
-150
-150
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected professional and business services
Over-the-month change, May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and technical˚
40.3
- Accounting and bookkeeping
17.8
- Architectural and engineering
3.0
- Computer systems design
8.2
- Management and technical consulting
5.2
Management of companies
4.9
Administrative and waste services˚
-0.6
-10
Professional and
business services:
44
-2.2
- Employment services
-1.9
- Services to buildings
0
10
20
30
40
50
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.
•
Employment in professional and business services increased by 44,000 in May.
•
Roughly nine out of ten jobs added in May were in professional and technical services.
•
Accounting and bookkeeping services added 18,000 jobs over the month, and computer
systems design added 8,000 jobs.
12
Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
May 2011
Level: 2,245
Change: -1
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, June 03, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Temporary help services employment was flat in May. Over the prior 6 months, the
industry had accounted for roughly 55 percent of job growth within administrative and
waste services.
13
Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
35
31
32
33
30
30
27
17
20
13
17
15
16
16
12
12
14
14
15
28
25
19
20
23
22
24
22
24
27
28
19
20
19
21
23
25
24
24
26
30
30
30
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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Health care continued its long-term trend of steady job growth in May (+17,000), slightly
below the industry’s prior 12-month average (+24,000).
14
Employment in leisure and hospitality
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011
38
32
17
23
40
31
35
39
46
52
54
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
60
1
2
2
20
-15
-6
-3
-5
-3
-24
-50
-63
-56
-51
-34
-35
-34
-31
-24
-51
-60
-55
-40
-28
-30
-29
-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, June 03, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in leisure and hospitality changed little in May, after adding an average 44,000
jobs during the prior 3 months.
•
Small job losses in arts, entertainment, and recreation and in accommodation more than
offset a small gain in food services and drinking places.
15
Employment in government
January 2000–May 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
May 2011
Level: 22,127
Change: -29
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, June 03, 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 - May 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
14,300
State
5,100
14,200
5,050
14,100
5,000
Jan-07
Local government
State government
5,350
14,000
Aug-07
Mar-08
Oct-08
May-09
Dec-09
Jul-10
Feb-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Government employment fell by 29,000 in May. Most of the losses occurred in local
government education.
•
Local government has shed 446,000 jobs since an employment peak in September 2008.
16