Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
December 2011
Bureau of Labor Statistics
January 6, 2012
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
210
200
112
100
127
104
53
20
171
152
13
93
200
68
192
277
400
235
194
217
458
600
-386
-802
-800
-49
-59
-29
-192
-39
-35
-130
-820
-726
-796
-660
-619
-600
-502
-434
-509
-400
-300
-231
-236
-221
-83
-72
-185
-233
-178
-231
-267
-200
-55
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, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
December 2011
Level: 131,900
Change: 200
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, January 06, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 200,000 in December.
•
Over the past year, payroll employment growth averaged 137,000 per month.
•
Since reaching an employment trough in February 2010, nonfarm employment has
expanded by 2.7 million, or 2.1 percent. During this period, the private sector has added
3.2 million jobs, while government cut about one-half million jobs.
2 Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, December 2011
Total nonfarm:
200
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
8
Construction
17
Manufacturing
23
Wholesale trade
12
Retail trade
28
Transportation and warehousing
50
Utilities
1
Information
6
Financial activities
2
Professional and business services
12
Education and health services
29
Leisure and hospitality
21
Other services
4
Government
-12
-20
0
20
40
60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-year change, December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
91
Construction
46
Manufacturing
225
Wholesale trade
84.4
Retail trade
239.7
Transportation and warehousing
67.0
Utilities
5.0
Information
-36
Financial activities
7
452
Professional and business services
Education and health services
427
Leisure and hospitality
268
Other services
44
Government
-280
-400
Total nonfarm:
Total
nonfarm:
1,640
200
Total private:
1,920
-200
0
200
400
600
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In December, private-sector employment grew by 212,000. Government employment
was little changed. Transportation and warehousing added 50,000 jobs in December, with
couriers and messengers adding 42,000 due to particularly strong seasonal hiring.
Employment gains also occurred in education and health services, retail trade, and
manufacturing.
•
In 2011, the private sector added 1.9 million jobs, while government lost 280,000 jobs.
Professional and business services had the largest employment gain (+452,000), followed
by education and health services and leisure and hospitality (+427,000 and +268,000,
respectively). These three industries contributed 60 percent of all private-sector job
gains over the year.
3 Employment in total private
Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
144
229
48
65
93
110
109
143
128
167
94
261
219
241
99
75
173
72
220
134
120
212
400
-34
-102
-42
-21
-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
Jul-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
As of December 2011, the private sector experienced 22 consecutive months of job gains,
recovering 36 percent of jobs lost in the peak-to-trough period from January 2008 to
February 2010.
4 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.4
Change: 0.1
34.5
34.0
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.7
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, January 06, 2012.
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–December 2011
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
December 2011
Level: 94.8
Change: 0.5%
92
90
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In December, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls
increased by 0.1 hour to 34.4 hours. The all-employee workweek is now 0.7 hour longer
than its low in June 2009.
•
The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm
payrolls also edged up 0.1 hour to 33.7 hours in December. The production and
nonsupervisory employee workweek has grown 0.7 hour since reaching a trough in
October 2009, but remains 0.2 hour below its June 2007 peak.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector rose 0.5
percent in December. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has
increased by 4.6 percent.
5 Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
December 2011 Earnings: 2.1
November 2011 CPI-U: 3.4
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, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
Index of aggregate weekly payrolls
Total private, all employees
March 2006–December 2011
106
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
104
102
100
98
December 2011
Level: 105
Change: 0.7%
96
94
92
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector increased by 4 cents to
$23.24 in December.
•
Over the past year, average hourly earnings of all private-sector employees have
increased by 2.1 percent. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U)
was up 3.4 percent from November 2010 to November 2011.
•
The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees rose 0.7 percent
in December. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 8.9
percent. The index has also surpassed its June 2008 peak by 2.3 percent.
6 Employment in mining and logging
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
850
800
750
700
650
December 2011
Level: 825
Change: 8
600
550
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
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 grew by 8,000 in December. Oil and gas extraction and
support activities added 3,000 jobs each.
•
Since reaching a trough in October 2009, mining employment has risen by 164,000, with
support activities for mining accounting for most of the gains (+119,000).
7 Employment in construction
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7,400
6,900
6,400
December 2011
Level: 5,544
Change: 17
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, January 06, 2012.
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:
17
Over-the-month change, December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Residential building
2.5
Nonresidential building
-2.7
Heavy and civil engineering
-0.3
Residential specialty trades
-2.9
Nonresidential specialty trades
20.2
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment edged up by 17,000 in December.
•
Nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 20,000 jobs over the month in
December, mostly offsetting losses over the prior 2 months.
•
Since reaching a trough in January 2011, employment in construction has remained
essentially flat and is currently 2.2 million below its April 2006 peak.
8 Employment in manufacturing
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
18,000
December 2011
Level: 11,790
Change: 23
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, January 06, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
Employment in durable goods
Over-the-month change, December 2011
Durable goods:
23
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
0.9
Nonmetallic mineral products
0.3
Primary metals
-0.1
Fabricated metal products
6.0
Machinery
5.3
Computer and electronic products
0.2
Electrical equipment and appliances
1.4
Transportation equipment
8.6
Furniture and related products
-1.4
Miscellaneous manufacturing
1.7
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing employment increased by 23,000 in December due entirely to gains in
durable goods. In 2011, manufacturing job gains totaled 225,000.
•
In December, transportation equipment manufacturers added 9,000 jobs, while fabricated
metal products added 6,000 and machinery added 5,000.
•
Within transportation equipment, motor vehicles and parts accounted for 7,000 of the job
gain and has added 101,000 jobs since reaching an employment trough in June 2009.
9 Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.5
Change: 0.1
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.5
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, January 06, 2012.
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–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
Production employees
Level: 4.1
Change: 0.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
All employees
Level: 3.2
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, January 06, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent
2 months of data are preliminary.
•
In December, the factory workweek for all employees rose 0.1 hour, while overtime
hours were down 0.1 hour. Both series remain at or near their 5-year highs.
•
The factory workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees also rose 0.1 hour,
while overtime hours were unchanged.
10 Employment in retail trade
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
16,000
15,800
15,600
15,400
15,200
15,000
14,800
14,600
December 2011
Level: 14,687
Change: 28
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, January 06, 2012.
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
Retail trade:
28
Over-the-month change, December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Motor vehicle and parts dealers
4.4
Furniture and home furnishings stores
-0.4
Electronics and appliance stores
-2.8
Building material and garden supply stores
0.8
Food and beverage stores
8.2
Health and personal care stores
-2.3
Gasoline stations
0.7
Clothing and clothing accessories stores
11.1
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores
-10.2
13.0 General merchandise stores
Miscellaneous store retailers
3.6
Nonstore retailers
1.8
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Retail trade continued to add jobs in December (+28,000).
•
In December, job gains continued in both general merchandise stores and clothing and
clothing accessories stores.
•
Employment in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores fell by 10,000.
•
Retail trade has added 240,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
11 Employment in transportation
Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
50
50
60
12
9
3
5
3
7
4
8
6
8
9
11
9
-6
-1
-3
-40
-47
-45
-40
-41
-40
-39
-34
-27
-24
-19
-20
-13
-15
-12
-5
-12
-17
-20
-3
1
2
0
-14
-13
-4
0
5
6
8
20
17
19
22
40
-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, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in transportation and warehousing
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
4,600
4,500
4,400
4,300
4,200
December 2011
Level: 4,335
Change: 50
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, January 06, 2012.
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 rose by 50,000 in December. Couriers
and messengers accounted for almost all of the gain (+42,000) due to particularly strong
seasonal hiring in December for the second year in a row.
•
Since reaching a trough in February 2010, transportation and warehousing has added
192,000 jobs.
12 Employment in professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
150
30
19
12
39
45
54
75
38
45
44
58
51
40
8
30
43
0
-2
-29
-26
-181
-200
-108
-130
-150
-183
-151
-150
-110
-64
-77
-68
-61
-45
-113
-100
-71
-59
-50
-34
-6
-6
0
2
3
7
26
31
31
50
25
66
69
85
100
-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, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
December 2011
Level: 2,304
Change: -8
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, January 06, 2012.
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 changed little for the second month in
a row in December (+12,000).
•
The industry had added an average of 42,000 jobs per month for the first 10 months of
2011.
•
After averaging monthly job gains of 15,000 in the prior 5 months, temporary help
services employment edged down by 8,000 in December.
13 Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
50
43
45
36
33
35
32
24
23
23
28
30
27
28
20
16
13
8
10
20
25
17
15
16
16
12
12
14
14
15
23
22
24
19
20
19
19
20
22
24
21
23
24
25
27
28
30
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, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
11.3
- Offices of physicians
1.9
- Outpatient care centers
1.6
- Home health care services
2.0
Hospitals
9.8
Nursing and residential care
1.5
0
2
Health care
industries:
23
4
6
8
10
12
14
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
Health care continued to add jobs in December (+23,000). In 2011, health care added
315,000 jobs for an increase of 2.3 percent.
•
Employment in hospitals grew by 10,000 in December.
14 Employment in food services and drinking places
Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
53
60
24
30
23
22
9
11
17
20
23
23
30
28
29
31
40
36
40
50
-6
1
-15
-8
-4
-3
-5
-22
-24
-15
-18
-19
-38
-40
-29
-30
-25
-24
-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, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in leisure and hospitality
January 2000–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
14,000
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
December 2011
Level: 13,342
Change: 21
11,500
11,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Leisure and hospitality employment continued to trend up in December (+21,000) due
entirely to a gain of 24,000 jobs within food services and drinking places. Food services
and drinking places has added an average of 27,000 jobs per month over the last 5
months.
•
Since an employment trough in January 2010, leisure and hospitality has added 411,000
jobs.
15 Employment in government
Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2011
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
410
500
400
300
32
-10
-22
-20
-12
-35
-15
-26
-26
-25
-24
-46
-55
-46
-14
-142
-169
-138
-100
-21
-28
-60
-64
-13
-16
-23
3
28
48
48
29
17
21
-18
-15
0
-5
-9
9
100
45
15
1
7
39
34
50
0
113
200
-257
-200
-300
-400
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, January 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected government
Over-the-month change, December 2011
Government:
-12
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service
2.6
U.S. Postal Service
-0.8
State government education
3.2
State government, excluding education
-2.9
Local government education
-9.4
Local government, excluding education
-4.1
-15
-10
-5
0
5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Government employment changed little in December (-12,000).
•
Government lost 280,000 jobs in 2011. Local government education had lost 113,000
jobs over that span, accounting for 40 percent of the job losses within government.
16