Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
November 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
December 2, 2011
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
November 2011
Level: 131,708
Change: 120
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, December 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–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
458
600
100
120
127
104
210
235
194
217
53
20
171
152
13
93
200
68
192
277
400
-192
-39
-35
-130
-55
-386
-802
-800
-820
-726
-796
-660
-502
-434
-509
-619
-600
-300
-231
-236
-221
-185
-233
-178
-231
-267
-83
-72
-400
-49
-59
-29
0
-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, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment rose 120,000 in November.
•
Over the prior 12 months, payroll employment had increased by an average of 131,000
per month.
•
Since an employment trough in February 2010, nonfarm employment has expanded by
2.5 million, indicating moderate labor market improvement.
2 Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, November 2011
Total nonfarm:
120
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
4
Construction
-12
Manufacturing
2
Wholesale trade
-2
Retail trade
50
Transportation and warehousing
8
Utilities
1
Information
-4
Financial activities
8
Professional and business services
33
Education and health services
27
Leisure and hospitality
22
Other services
2
Government
-20
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In November, a job gain in private-sector employment (+140,000) was partially offset by
a job loss in government (-20,000). Retail trade stood out with a significant job gain over
the month. Employment growth continued in professional and business services, leisure
and hospitality, and health care.
•
Nonfarm employment reached a trough in February 2010 and has since grown by 2.5
million. During this period, the private sector added 2.9 million jobs, while government
cut about one-half million jobs.
•
The private sector has now recovered 33 percent of jobs lost in the peak-to-trough period
of January 2008 to February 2010.
3 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–November 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, December 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–November 2011
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
November 2011
Level: 94.3
Change: 0.1%
92
90
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In November, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was
unchanged at 34.3 hours for the second consecutive month. The all-employee workweek
is now 0.6 hour longer than when it reached a low in June 2009.
•
The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm
payrolls edged down 0.1 hour to 33.6 hours in November. The production and
nonsupervisory employee workweek has grown 0.6 hour since reaching a trough in
October 2009 but is still 0.3 hour below its June 2007 peak.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector rose 0.1
percent in November. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has
increased by 4.1 percent.
4 Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
November 2011 Earnings: 1.8
October 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
-3.0
Mar-07
Sep-07
Mar-08
Sep-08
CPI–U
Mar-09
Sep-09
Mar-10
Sep-10
Mar-11
Sep-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
Index of aggregate weekly payrolls
Total private, all employees
March 2006–November 2011
106
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
104
102
100
98
November 2011
Level: 104.3
Change: 0.1%
96
94
92
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Over the past year, average hourly earnings of all employees have increased by 1.8
percent. The consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) was up 3.6 percent
from October 2010 to October 2011.
•
Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector fell by 2 cents to $23.18
in November after increasing 12 cents over the prior 2 months.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees rose 0.1 percent
over the month. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 8.2
percent.
5 Employment in mining and logging
January 2000–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
850
800
750
700
650
November 2011
Level: 815
Change: 4
600
550
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 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 edged up 4,000 in November. Over the past 4 months,
the pace of job growth slowed somewhat.
•
Since reaching a trough in October 2009, mining employment has risen by 156,000, with
support activities for mining (+115,000) accounting for most of the gains.
6 Employment in construction
January 2000–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7,400
6,900
6,400
November 2011
Level: 5,522
Change: -12
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, December 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 November, construction employment edged down (-12,000) for the second consecutive
month.
•
Losses continued to be concentrated in nonresidential construction. In November,
nonresidential industry employment fell by 12,000, accounting for the entire decline in
construction.
•
Since reaching a trough in January 2011, employment in construction has remained
essentially flat, although the production employee workweek has expanded by 2.4 hours
since reaching a low in October 2009.
7 Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
34
14
6
2
7
15
11
32
12
9
9
38
27
50
37
20
28
53
100
-200
-1
-1
-6
-6
-140
-171
-175
-173
-172
-175
-150
-29
-54
-46
-49
-51
-44
-28
-12
-131
-121
-100
-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, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing employment remained essentially unchanged for a fourth consecutive
month. This stall in hiring occurred even as economic activity in the manufacturing
sector continued to grow.
8 Employment in durable goods
Over-the-month change, November 2011
Durable goods:
10
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
0.7
Nonmetallic mineral products
-0.3
Primary metals
1.0
Fabricated metal products
8.3
Machinery
3.8
Computer and electronic products
-3.4
Electrical equipment and appliances
-0.8
Transportation equipment
5.2
Furniture and related products
-0.8
Miscellaneous manufacturing
-3.0
-5
0
5
10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In November, a job gain of 10,000 in durable goods was partially offset by a decrease of
8,000 in nondurable goods.
•
In November, transportation equipment manufacturers added 5,000 jobs. Motor vehicles
and parts accounted for 1,000 of this gain. This industry has added 90,000 jobs since
reaching an employment trough in June 2009, although, employment remains 27 percent
lower than at the start of the recent recession. Over the past year, the industry has slowly
and consistently expanded its workforce despite the Japanese earthquake and tsunami,
and Thailand floods, both of which disrupted the motor vehicles and parts supply chain
and inventories.
9 Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
50
64
100
29
13
23
3
3
-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
12
18
11
16
25
26
31
35
50
-150
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, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in retail trade added 50,000 jobs in November, a much stronger gain than
the prior 12-month average (+13,000). Seasonal hiring was stronger than it had been
during recent years and resulted in the large seasonally adjusted employment gain.
•
November retail employment saw significant gains in electronics and appliance stores
and clothing and clothing accessory stores.
10 Employment in financial activities
January 2000–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8,400
November 2011
Level: 7,626
Change: 8
8,300
8,200
8,100
8,000
7,900
7,800
7,700
7,600
7,500
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Financial activities employment edged up in November (+8,000). Credit intermediation
and related activities stood out as the main contributor to employment growth.
•
The industry had lost more than 700,000 jobs since December 2006, but employment has
leveled off since late 2010.
11 Employment in professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
39
45
54
39
33
75
45
44
58
51
38
0
-2
-6
-61
-45
-130
-150
-113
-110
-108
-64
-77
-68
-100
-71
-59
-34
-29
-26
-6
30
8
2
7
3
0
-50
25
26
31
31
50
40
43
66
69
85
100
-200
-183
-181
-151
-150
-250
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, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected professional and business services
Over-the-month change, November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and technical˚
8.8
- Accounting and bookkeeping
2.0
- Architectural and engineering
-2.0
- Computer systems design
5.1
- Management and technical consulting
4.5
Management of companies
3.4
Administrative and waste services˚
20.9
- Employment services
17.9
- Services to buildings
1.0
-5
Professional and
business services:
33
0
5
10
15
20
25
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, December 2, 2011.
•
Job growth continued in professional and business services. In November, industry
employment increased by 33,000. Since the end of the most recent recession, the
industry has recovered about 58 percent of the 1.6 million jobs lost during the downturn.
•
Within administrative and waste services, employment growth in November (+21,000)
continued at about the same pace as the prior 12 months. The employment increase in
temporary help services accounted for most of this gain.
•
In November, employment changed little in professional and technical services (+9,000),
which had added an average 23,000 jobs per month during the prior 12 months.
12 Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
November 2011
Level: 2,333
Change: 22
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, December 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 gains in temporary help services have picked up over the past 5 months,
averaging 20,000 per month, an improvement over the average monthly gain of 5,000
jobs the industry experienced during the first half of 2011.
13 Employment in education and health services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
54
38
33
37
43
40
41
36
27
21
18
19
27
26
27
28
29
31
15
19
21
16
13
5
8
10
28
30
33
34
30
20
37
41
40
38
40
52
49
47
49
45
47
44
46
43
50
47
60
56
58
64
70
-3
0
-10
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, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
4.7
2.7
- Offices of physicians
2.7
- Outpatient care centers
- Home health care services
-1.8
Hospitals
8.7
Nursing and residential care
3.8
-4
-2
Health care
industries:
17
0
2
4
6
8
10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, December 2, 2011.
•
Education and health services employment trended up in November (+27,000). This
change is the smallest the industry has seen since June. In November, most of the job
gains occurred in health care and social assistance (+19,000).
•
While health care employment continued to trend up in November (+17,000), this
gain fell below the industry’s prior 12-month average job gain. November job growth
was little changed in ambulatory health care services, a sector that has historically
accounted for the majority of jobs added in the industry. Hospitals added 9,000 jobs
in November, just above its average for the prior 12-month period.
14 Employment in leisure and hospitality
Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
38
-5
-3
15
-15
-14
-25
-50
-51
-56
-63
-60
-31
-24
-34
-35
-34
-51
-40
-55
-29
-28
-30
-22
-20
-24
-9
-12
-17
-8
-3
-1
0
-3
1
2
2
20
23
24
24
22
27
29
17
23
40
31
35
39
46
52
60
54
80
-80
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, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in food services and drinking places
Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
53
60
30
19
22
9
11
17
20
23
23
30
28
29
31
40
33
40
50
-6
1
-24
-22
-15
-8
-4
-3
-5
-15
-38
-40
-29
-30
-25
-24
-18
-19
-28
-30
-32
-24
-20
-16
-17
-14
-9
-8
-5
-4
0
-10
0
1
3
4
5
6
10
-50
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, December 02, 2011.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Leisure and hospitality employment continued to trend up in November (+22,000), in line
with the prior 5-month average. The November employment change resulted from a gain
in food services and drinking places (+33,000), which was partially offset by a loss in
accommodations (-12,000).
•
The employment increase in food services and drinking places was well above recent
trend. This strong job growth coincides with a higher-than-expected increase in the
Consumer Confidence Index.
15 Employment in government
January 2000–November 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
November 2011
Level: 21,989
Change: -20
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, December 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, November 2011
Government:
-20
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service
1.5
U.S. Postal Service
-5.1
State government education
1.9
State government, excluding education
-6.4
Local government education
-6.0
Local government, excluding education
-4.7
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Government employment continued to trend down in November (-20,000). Government
has lost 568,000 jobs since the end of the most recent recession in June 2009.
•
In November, government jobs losses occurred at both the state and local levels. Job
losses following the 2007 recession have coincided with government budget cuts.
16