Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
August 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
September 2, 2011
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
August 2011
Level: 131,132
Change: 0
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, September 02, 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–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
458
600
235
194
217
-192
-39
-35
-130
-55
-386
-726
-796
-660
-802
-800
-820
-619
-600
-502
-434
-509
-400
-300
-231
-236
-221
-185
-233
-178
-231
-267
-83
-72
-200
-49
-59
-29
0
53
20
85
0
68
152
13
93
200
171
192
277
400
-1,000
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged in August.
•
Monthly job gains have averaged 40,000 per month over the last 4 months, compared to 179,000
per months during the first 4 months of the year.
2 Employment in total nonfarm
Total nonfarm:
0
Over-the-month change, August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
5
Construction
-5
Manufacturing
-3
Wholesale trade
1.6
Retail trade
-7.8
Transportation and warehousing
-2.4
Utilities
0.5
Information
-48
Financial activities
3
Professional and business services
28
34
Other services
9
Government
-17
-60
-40
-20
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
2
0
20
40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total private
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
120,000
118,000
116,000
114,000
112,000
110,000
108,000
106,000
August 2011
Level: 109,170
Change: 17
104,000
102,000
100,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
In August, job gains continued in health care, professional and technical services, and mining.
Government employment continued to fall even though Minnesota state government employees
returned from a shutdown in July. A strike in telecommunications more than offset the return of
those state government workers.
•
Employment in the private sector was little changed (+17,000) over the month. Since reaching a
recent employment low in February 2010, the private sector has added 2.4 million jobs—an
average of 133,000 per month.
3 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.2
Change: -0.1
34.5
34.0
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.5
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, September 02, 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–August 2011
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
92
August 2011
Level: 93.6
Change: -0.2%
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, September 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down by 0.1 hour
over the month to 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory
employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down to 33.5 hours in August, after holding at 33.6
for the prior 6 months.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector declined 0.2 percent
in August. 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–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
August 2011 Earnings: 1.9
July 2011 CPI-U: 3.6
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, September 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
Index of aggregate weekly payrolls
Total private, all employees
March 2006–August 2011
104
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
102
100
98
96
94
August 2011
Level: 103
Change: -0.4%
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, September 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector decreased by 3 cents, or 0.1
percent, to $23.09 in August. This decline followed an 11-cent gain in July. Over the past 12
months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.9 percent. The Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was up 3.6 percent over the year ending in July.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees fell 0.4 percent over the
month. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 6.8 percent.
5 Employment in mining and logging
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
850
August 2011
Level: 803
Change: 5
800
750
700
650
600
550
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 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 mining continued to trend up in August (+6,000). Since reaching a trough in
October 2009, employment in mining has risen by 144,000, with support activities for mining
accounting for most of the gains.
6 Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7
14
36
37
20
28
15
11
12
9
9
50
32
38
27
53
100
-200
-3
-6
-6
-171
-175
-173
-172
-175
-150
-140
-131
-121
-100
-29
-54
-46
-49
-51
-44
-28
-12
-34
-38
-56
-33
-56
-68
-85
-88
-50
-3
0
-250
-284
-300
-350
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.3
Change: -0.1
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.3
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, September 02, 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 following a large gain of 36,000 in July. From January
through April of this year, job growth in the industry averaged 35,000 per month, but has since
slowed to an average of 14,000 per month.
•
In August, the factory workweek was 0.1 hour shorter for production and nonsupervisory
employees, while average weekly hours for all employees remained unchanged.
7 Employment in transportation equipment
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2
3
3
0
5
1
14
-2
-19
-12
-12
-26
-35
-28
-43
-37
-42
-40
-2
-2
-4
-1
-18
-15
-24
-18
-20
-15
-9
-4
-1
0
0
-1
-3
1
3
3
3
5
6
11
20
22
23
26
28
40
-60
-91
-80
-100
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Transportation equipment employment was little changed (+1,000) in August, following an
increase of 14,000 in July.
•
These changes resulted primarily from the motor vehicles and parts industry. In August,
employment in motor vehicles and parts edged down by 3,000 after rising by 11,000 in July. The
industry showed a smaller-than-normal return from July shutdowns in August. Several plants that
had traditionally shut down for maintenance and retooling were kept open through the month of
July. The result was a seasonally adjusted job gain in July and a seasonally adjusted job loss in
August.
8 Employment in information
Over-the-month change, January 2008–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-4
1
0
-7
-10
-14
-13
-10
-30
-25
-14
-14
-15
-11
-12
-10
-20
-23
-23
-30
-5
-5
-6
-4
-7
-13
-12
-14
-10
-9
-20
-3
-2
-1
-1
-2
-1
-3
-10
-1
0
-2
-3
1
2
5
5
10
-40
-48
-50
-60
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in the information industry declined by 48,000 in August; about 45,000
telecommunication workers were on strike and thus off company payrolls during the survey
reference period.
9 Employment in professional and business services
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
19,000
August 2011
Level: 17,211
Change: 28
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, September 02, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
In August, employment in professional and business services increased by 28,000. Since
reaching a low in September 2009, the industry has averaged job growth of 36,000 per month.
10 Employment in selected professional and business services
Professional and
business services:
28
Over-the-month change, August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and technical˚
16.1
- Accounting and bookkeeping
-0.8
- Architectural and engineering
3.5
- Computer systems design
7.7
- Management and technical consulting
6.0
Management of companies
-0.7
Administrative and waste services˚
13.0
- Employment services
11.9
- Services to buildings
3.1
-5
0
5
10
15
20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.
Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
August 2011
Level: 2,240
Change: 5
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, September 02, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
In August, employment in professional and technical services continued to trend up (+16,000).
Computer systems design accounted for half of this increase.
•
Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month. The industry had been a
primary driver of job growth in administrative services after the 2007-2009 recession, but
employment in the industry has changed little since March.
11 Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
18.1
Ambulatory health care services˚
- Offices of physicians
5.6
- Outpatient care centers
1.4
- Home health care services
6.3
Hospitals
7.7
Nursing and residential care
3.9
0
Health care
industries:
30
5
10
15
20
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.
•
Health care employment rose by 30,000 in August. Ambulatory health care services and hospitals
added 18,000 and 8,000 jobs, respectively. Over the past 12 months, health care employment has
grown by 306,000.
12 Employment in government
January 2000–August 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
August 2011
Level: 21,962
Change: -17
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, September 02, 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 selected government
Over-the-month change, August 2011
Government:
-17
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service
3.1
U.S. Postal Service
-4.7
State government education
-1.4
5.8
Local government education
-13.7
Local government, excluding education
-6.3
-18
State government, excluding education
-13
-8
-3
2
7
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Government employment continued to trend down over the month (-17,000).
•
Employment in state government was little changed (+5,000) in August, despite the return of
about 22,000 Minnesota government workers from a partial government shutdown in July.
•
Employment in local government continued to decline. Since employment peaked in September
2008, local government has lost 550,000 jobs.
13