Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
September 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
October 7, 2011
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
September 2011
Level: 131,334
Change: 103
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, October 07, 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–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
235
194
217
53
20
171
152
13
93
200
68
192
277
400
127
57
103
458
600
-192
-39
-35
-55
-300
-231
-236
-221
-386
-802
-800
-820
-726
-796
-660
-619
-600
-502
-434
-509
-400
-130
-83
-72
-185
-233
-178
-231
-267
-200
-49
-59
-29
0
-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, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 jobs in September.
•
This increase in employment partially reflected the return of about 45,000 telecommunication
workers who had been on strike in August.
•
Since April, payroll employment has increased by an average of 72,000 per month, compared
with an average of 161,000 for the prior 7 months.
2 Employment in total nonfarm
Total nonfarm:
103
Over-the-month change, September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
5
Construction
26
Manufacturing
-13
Wholesale trade
-6
Retail trade
14
Transportation and warehousing
-2
Utilities
1
Information
34
Financial activities
-8
Professional and business services
48
Education and health services
45
Leisure and hospitality
-4
Other services
-3
Government
-34
-50
-30
-10
10
30
50
70
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total private
Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
144
229
48
65
93
110
109
143
128
167
94
261
219
241
99
75
173
42
137
400
-34
-102
-42
-21
-287
-215
-213
-250
-721
-787
-773
-787
-800
-841
-636
-600
-438
-434
-491
-400
-326
-128
-87
-200
-186
-240
-217
-265
-317
0
4
200
-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, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In September, health care, professional and business services, construction, and information
experienced job gains. Gains in information were due to the return of about 45,000
telecommunication workers from a strike. Government employment continued to trend down.
•
Employment in the private sector grew by 137,000 over the month (including the return of
workers from strike). Since reaching a recent employment low in February 2010, the private
sector has added 2.6 million jobs—an average of 136,000 per month.
3 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.3
Change: 0.1
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, October 07, 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–September 2011
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
September 2011
Level: 94
Change: 0.4%
92
90
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 0.1 hour over
the month to 34.3 hours, offsetting a 0.1-hour decrease in August. The average workweek for
production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls also edged up to 33.6
hours in September.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector increased 0.4 percent
in September. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.8
percent.
4 Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
September 2011 Earnings: 1.9
August 2011 CPI-U: 3.8
Over-the-year percent change
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
Total private earnings
-3.0
Mar-07
Sep-07
Mar-08
CPI–U
Sep-08
Mar-09
Sep-09
Mar-10
Sep-10
Mar-11
Sep-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
Index of aggregate weekly payrolls
Total private, all employees
March 2006–September 2011
106
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
104
102
100
98
September 2011
Level: 103.6
Change: 0.6%
96
94
92
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector increased by 4 cents over the
month, or 0.2 percent, in September, offsetting a 4-cent loss in August. 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 3.8 percent over the year ending in August.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees rose 0.6 percent over the
month. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 7.5 percent.
5 Employment in mining and logging
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
850
September 2011
Level: 805
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, October 07, 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 and logging continued to trend up in September (+5,000). Since reaching
a trough in October 2009, employment in the industry has risen by 144,000, with support
activities for mining accounting for most of the gains.
6 Employment in construction
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7,400
6,900
6,400
September 2011
Level: 5,551
Change: 26
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, October 07, 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:
26
Over-the-month change, September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Residential building
1.8
Nonresidential building
13.2
Heavy and civil engineering
6.2
Residential specialty trades
-5.6
Nonresidential specialty trades
10.7
-50
-30
-10
10
30
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction added 26,000 jobs in September. Job gains were concentrated in nonresidential
construction industries, which includes heavy and civil engineering construction.
•
Employment in construction remains 2.2 million below its April 2006 peak. However, the
industry has been little changed since February.
7 Employment in manufacturing
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
18,000
September 2011
Level: 11,741
Change: -13
17,000
16,000
15,000
14,000
13,000
12,000
11,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 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, manufacturing
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.3
Change: 0.0
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.2
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, October 07, 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 edged down in September. Despite the loss, manufacturers have
added 285,000 jobs or an average of 14,000 jobs per month, since an employment trough in
December 2009.
•
In September, the factory workweek remained unchanged at 41.3 for production and
nonsupervisory employees, while average weekly hours for all employees in manufacturing fell
by 0.1 hour to 40.2.
8 Employment in information
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3,800
3,600
3,400
3,200
3,000
September 2011
Level: 2,660
Change: 34
2,800
2,600
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 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 information
Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
34
40
30
20
1
0
-2
-4
-10
-14
-5
-6
Jul-11
-25
-13
-5
-7
-3
-1
-2
-1
-1
-2
Jan-11
-30
-30
-14
-10
-14
-15
-11
-12
-10
-20
-23
-23
-13
-12
-14
-10
-20
-7
-9
-4
-1
-3
0
-10
-5
1
2
5
5
10
-40
-51
-50
-60
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in information rose by 34,000 in September, after declining by 51,000 in August.
Most of the August decline and September rebound was due to a strike and subsequent return of
about 45,000 workers in telecommunications.
9 Employment in professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-61
-110
-108
-77
-68
-64
-130
-113
-100
-71
-59
-45
-34
-29
-26
-6
-2
0
2
0
-6
39
38
48
45
44
40
30
8
25
7
3
38
58
51
69
43
66
26
31
31
50
-50
75
85
100
-181
-200
Jan-08
Jul-08
-183
-151
-150
-150
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
September 2011
Level: 2,287
Change: 19
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, October 07, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
In September, employment in professional and business services increased by 48,000. Small job
gains occurred in a number of component industries, including temporary help services, computer
systems design, and management and technical consulting.
•
Temporary help services has been a primary driver of job growth in administrative and waste
services after the 2007-09 recession. Temporary help has added 542,000 jobs since an
employment low in August 2009.
10 Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
44
50
45
36
27
28
30
30
23
20
20
25
13
17
8
10
15
16
16
12
12
14
14
15
23
27
28
24
21
19
20
22
24
22
23
24
19
20
19
25
33
33
35
32
31
33
24
26
30
30
30
35
37
40
5
0
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, October 07, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, September 2011
Health care
industries:
44
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
26.0
- Offices of physicians
12.2
- Outpatient care centers
3.8
- Home health care services
5.0
Hospitals
13.3
Nursing and residential care
4.5
-40
-20
0
20
40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.
•
Health care employment rose by 44,000 in September, with jobs gains in both ambulatory health
care services and hospitals. Over the past 12 months, health care employment has grown by
336,000.
11 Employment in government
January 2000–September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
September 2011
Level: 21,985
Change: -34
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, October 07, 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 continued to trend down over the month (-34,000). Since the end of the
most recent recession in June 2009, government employment has shed 572,000 jobs – equivalent
to 3 percent of its workforce.
12 Employment in selected government
Over-the-month change, September 2011
Government:
-34
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service
4.0
U.S. Postal Service
-5.3
State government education
-1.4
State government, excluding education
3.3
Local government education
-24.4
Local government, excluding education
-10.6
-50
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in state and local government
January 2007 - September 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
5,500
15,000
5,450
14,900
5,400
14,800
Local
14,700
5,300
14,600
5,250
14,500
5,200
5,150
14,400
State
Local government
State government
5,350
14,300
5,100
14,200
5,050
14,100
5,000
Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11
14,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Government job losses in September were concentrated in local government (-35,000). Both
local government education and local government, excluding education shed jobs.
•
Since employment peaked in September 2008, local government has lost 535,000 jobs.
•
The U.S. Postal Service continued to lose jobs in September (-5,000).
•
Employment in state government was little changed in September.
13