Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
January 2012
Bureau of Labor Statistics
February 3, 2012
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
January 2012
Level: 132,409
Change: 243
124,000
122,000
120,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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 total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, January 2008–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
516
650
202
112
157
203
243
220
246
251
54
84
96
85
121
120
110
-58
-51
-27
-167
-40
-35
-42
-231
-199
-202
Jul-10
-339
-361
Jan-10
-803
-750
-950
Jan-08
Jul-08
-818
-724
-799
-692
-661
-550
-482
-432
-489
-350
-171
-84
-95
-150
-208
-190
-198
-210
-274
50
41
250
220
189
239
450
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Total nonfarm employment rose by 243,000 in January 2012, compared to an average
increase of 152,000 per month in 2011.
•
The January employment gained in total nonfarm brings the number of net jobs recovered
since a trough in February 2010 to 3.2 million jobs, or 36 percent of the 8.8 million jobs
lost between January 2008 and February 2010.
2
Employment in total nonfarm
February 2010 – January 2012 net change
Total nonfarm: 3,165
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
157
Construction
43
Manufacturing
400
Wholesale trade
139
Retail trade
347
Transportation and warehousing
193
Utilities
5
Information
-102
Financial activities
30
Professional and business services
1,112
Education and health services
717
Leisure and hospitality
575
Other services
48
Government
-498
-1000
-500
0
500
1000
1500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note 1: Data are preliminary.
Note: February 2010 represents the most recent total nonfarm employment trough. Data are preliminary.
Note 2: February 2010 represents the most recent total nonfarm employment trough.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, January 2012
Total nonfarm:
243
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
10
Construction
21
Manufacturing
50
Wholesale trade
14
Retail trade
11
Transportation and warehousing
13
Utilities
0
Information
-13
Financial activities
-5
70 Professional and business services
Education and health services
36
Leisure and hospitality
44
Other services
7
Government
-14
-25
-5
15
35
55
75
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
In January, job growth was widespread throughout most major industries.
•
The goods-producing industries –mining and logging, construction, and manufacturing–
saw employment increases.
•
Among the service-providing industries, wholesale trade, professional and business
services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality, gained the most jobs.
•
Private service-providing industries accounted for about 3.1 million of the 3.2 million net
jobs recovered since February 2010.
•
Goods producing industries have added 600,000 jobs during this period primarily from
mining and manufacturing. Government subtracted nearly half a million jobs from the net
change.
3
Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.5
Change: 0.0
34.5
34.0
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.8
Change: 0.1
33.0
32.5
32.0
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
92
January 2012
Level: 95.5
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 Sep-11
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls remained
unchanged in January, while production and nonsupervisory employees saw average
weekly hours increase by 0.1 hours.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees continued to trend upwards in
January, just as it had since October 2009.
•
In January 2012 the index of aggregate weekly hours stood 4.8 percent below its peak in
January 2008.
4
Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
January 2012 Earnings: 1.9
December 2011 CPI-U: 3.0
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, February 03, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
•
Average hourly earnings for all employees in private industry rose 4 cents or 0.2 percent
in January.
•
Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings has increased by 1.9 percent; while in
December, the CPI-U had a 12-month percent change of 3.0 percent.
•
The CPI-U outpaced private earnings growth, in terms of their most recent over-the-year
growth rates.
5
Employment in mining and logging
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
850
800
750
700
650
January 2012
Level: 832
Change: 10
600
550
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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 added 10,000 jobs in January. The majority of job growth in mining
during January was from support activities for mining.
•
Since a low in October 2009, mining employment has expanded by 172,000, with 10,000
jobs being added in January.
6
Employment in construction
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7,400
6,900
6,400
January 2012
Level: 5,572
Change: 21
5,900
5,400
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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:
21
Over-the-month change, January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Residential building
2.5
Nonresidential building
6.4
Heavy and civil engineering
-1.4
Residential specialty trades
4.3
Nonresidential specialty trades
9.7
-5
0
5
10
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Construction has experienced two months of solid job growth with 21,000 jobs added in
January, and 31,000 in December.
•
The majority of gains in construction in January were split between nonresidential
building construction and nonresidential specialty trade contractors.
•
Since reaching a trough one year ago, construction employment has increased by
116,000.
7
Employment in manufacturing
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
18,000
January 2012
Level: 11,862
Change: 50
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
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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 hours, manufacturing
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.9
Change: 0.3
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.9
Change: 0.3
39.0
38.5
38.0
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing has experienced 2 months of solid job growth with 50,000 added in
January and 32,000 in December. Furthermore, manufacturers have added 404,000 jobs
since January 2010.
•
The 1-month diffusion index of manufacturing employment rose from 64.2 in December
to 69.1 in January, indicating a wider dispersion of the job growth across industries. A
measure above 50 indicates that more industries are increasing employment than are
reducing it.
•
The factory workweek for all employees rose 0.3 hour; the employment gain combined
with a longer workweek resulted in a 1.2-percent increase in the index of aggregate
weekly hours for manufacturing.
8
Employment in durable goods
Over-the-month change, January 2012
Durable goods:
44
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
3.1
Nonmetallic mineral products
2.3
Primary metals
1.7
Fabricated metal products
10.9
Machinery
10.5
Computer and electronic products
-1.9
Electrical equipment and appliances
0.9
Transportation equipment
10.3
Furniture and related products
1.5
Miscellaneous manufacturing
5.3
-5
0
5
10
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Durable goods employment growth contributed to the bulk of the jobs gained within
manufacturing.
•
Fabricated metal products, and machinery, and transportation equipment were the
primary drivers of job growth within durable goods.
9
Employment in transportation equipment
Over-the-month change, January 2008–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
12
4
9
5
-11
-3
6
6
4
1
5
-1
-1
-1
10
10
18
16
11
-10
-6
-1
-1
0
-43
-36
-36
-26
-28
-17
-15
-35
-40
-21
-20
-23
-19
-8
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0
3
6
6
9
20
12
16
19
40
-60
-80
-100
-100
-120
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Employment in transportation equipment continued trending upward in January.
•
Since reaching a trough in December 2009, employment in the industry has expanded by
116,000.
10
Employment in wholesale trade
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
6,300
January 2012
Level: 5,583
Change: 14
6,200
6,100
6,000
5,900
5,800
5,700
5,600
5,500
5,400
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
16,000
15,800
15,600
15,400
15,200
15,000
14,800
14,600
January 2012
Level: 14,741
Change: 11
14,400
14,200
14,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Wholesale trade employment increased by 14,000 in January.
•
The employment level for wholesale trade remains 8 percent below November 2007
peak, after having added 144,000 jobs since its trough in May 2010.
•
Employment in retail trade continued to trend upwards. •
Over the month, job gains in department stores, health and personal care stores, and auto
dealers were partly offset by a loss of jobs in clothing stores.
11
Employment in transportation and warehousing
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
4,800
January 2012
Level: 4,337
Change: 13
4,700
4,600
4,500
4,400
4,300
4,200
4,100
4,000
3,900
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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 financial activities
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8,400
8,300
8,200
8,100
8,000
7,900
7,800
January 2012
Level: 7,690
Change: -5
7,700
7,600
7,500
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Transportation and warehousing employment continued to trend upward into January.
The industry has added 193,000 jobs since a recent trough in February 2010.
•
Financial activities employment changed little in January.
•
Since reaching a trough in July 2010, employment in the industry has shown little net
change.
12
Employment in professional and business services
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
19,000
January 2012
Level: 17,654
Change: 70
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
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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 selected professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and
business services:
70
Professional and technical˚
30.3
- Accounting and bookkeeping
12.5
- Architectural and engineering
6.9
- Computer systems design
1.7
- Management and technical consulting
3.0
Management of companies
3.1
36.7 Administrative and waste services˚
- Employment services
33.2
- Services to buildings
4.0
0
10
20
30
40
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
Professional and business services added 70,000 jobs in January, with nearly half from
employment services.
•
Accounting and bookkeeping, and architectural and engineering services also added jobs.
13
Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,500
2,300
2,100
1,900
January 2012
Level: 2,406
Change: 20
1,700
1,500
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
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, which added 20,000 jobs in January, accounted for 61 percent
of the gain in employment services.
•
Temporary help services has added 656,000 jobs since August 2009, but its employment
level is 251,000 below its August 2006 peak.
14
Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
46
50
26
18
20
18
19
19
16
15
16
15
10
11
12
10
11
10
24
26
28
22
23
22
22
23
15
14
15
20
24
19
18
23
19
18
21
22
25
20
31
32
32
36
30
31
33
35
28
30
29
30
35
37
40
36
45
4
5
0
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
12.9
- Offices of physicians
2.7
- Outpatient care centers
4.5
- Home health care services
1.9
Hospitals
12.7
Nursing and residential care
5.3
0
Health care
industries:
31
5
10
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
In January, health care employment continued to grow in line with its long term trend.
•
Hospitals and ambulatory services each individually contributed 13,000 jobs over the
month.
15
Employment in leisure and hospitality
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
14,000
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
January 2012
Level: 13,499
Change: 44
11,500
11,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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 food services and drinking places
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
9,900
9,700
9,500
9,300
9,100
8,900
8,700
January 2012
Level: 9,778
Change: 33
8,500
8,300
8,100
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2
months of data are preliminary.
•
Over the month, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 44,000.
•
Food services and drinking places netted an increase of 33,000 jobs in January.
•
Since February 2010, food services and drinking places has added 487,000 jobs.
16
Employment in government
January 2000–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
January 2012
Level: 21,973
Change: -14
20,500
20,000
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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 government
Over-the-month change, January 2008–January 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
432
550
450
350
250
33
24
48
46
30
-150
-179
-142
-150
-14
-27
-21
-17
-14
-13
-20
-9
-37
-15
-13
-54
-18
-79
-8
0
-51
-49
-56
-43
-12
-15
0
21
1
-7
-9
-6
-3
-50
-12
52
17
7
26
33
49
20
0
50
110
150
-259
-250
-350
Jan-08
Jul-08
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Government employment continued to trend lower in January.
•
Since reaching employment peaks in August 2008, local government has lost 515,000
jobs, while state government has lost 153,000 jobs.
•
The U.S. Postal Service has been cutting jobs since 1999.
17