Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
March 2012
Bureau of Labor Statistics
April 6, 2012
1 Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
March 2012
Level: 132,821
Change: 120
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, April 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 total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
220
246
251
54
84
96
85
121
120
110
41
200
220
189
239
400
202
112
157
223
275
240
120
516
600
-40
-35
-58
-51
-27
-167
-231
-199
-202
-339
-361
-724
-799
-692
-803
-800
-818
-661
-600
-482
-432
-489
-400
-171
-84
-95
-208
-190
-198
-210
-274
-200
-42
0
-1,000
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Total nonfarm employment rose by 120,000 in March, compared to an average
monthly increase of 246,000 over the prior 3 months.
•
Since a recent employment low in February 2010, nonfarm payrolls have
expanded by 3.6 million jobs. Of the 8.8 million jobs lost between January 2008
and February 2010, 41 percent have been recovered.
2 Employment in total private
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
141
193
84
92
92
128
115
196
134
140
119
257
261
264
108
102
175
52
216
139
178
234
277
233
121
400
41
200
-40
-27
-120
-296
-219
-184
-232
-725
-787
-802
-797
-800
-839
-658
-600
-426
-425
-480
-400
-312
-215
-216
-231
-259
-294
-200
-136
-112
-42
0
-1,000
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, March 2012
Total nonfarm:
120
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
1
Construction
-7
Manufacturing
37
Wholesale trade
4
Retail trade
-34
Transportation and warehousing
3
Utilities
1
Information
-9
Financial activities
15
Professional and business services
31
Education and health services
37
Leisure and hospitality
39
Other services
3
Government
-1
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Employment in the private sector grew by 121,000 in March.
•
In March, employment rose in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and in
education and health care. Combined, these three industries accounted for nearly
all of the jobs added to nonfarm payrolls over the month. Retail employment
declined in March.
3 Employment in total nonfarm
February 2010–March 2012 net change
Total nonfarm:
Total nonfarm:
3,577
Total private:120
4,051
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
160
Construction
22
Manufacturing
466
Wholesale trade
150
Retail trade
300
Transportation and warehousing
212
Utilities
7
Information
-102
Financial activities
61
1247
Leisure and hospitality
663
Other services
45
Government
-474
-1000
-500
Professional and business services
Education and health services
820
0
500
1000
1500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Since an employment trough in February 2010, all private-sector industries,
except information, have added jobs.
•
Excluding information, the private service-providing industries have accounted
for 83 percent of the 4.1 million jobs added to private payrolls since February
2010.
•
Government employment has declined by nearly half a million jobs since
February 2010.
4 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.5
Change: -0.1
34.5
34.0
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.8
Change: 0.0
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, April 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–March 2012
102
Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100
100
98
96
94
March 2012
Level: 95.8
Change: -0.2%
92
90
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Mar-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down
by 0.1 hour to 34.5 hours in March, while average weekly hours for production
and nonsupervisory employees remained unchanged at 33.8 hours.
•
The index of aggregate weekly hours decreased by 0.2 percent in March,
following an increase of 0.5 percent in February.
5 Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
March 2012 Earnings: 2.1
February 2012 CPI-U: 2.9
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
Mar-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
•
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased
by 5 cents, or 0.2 percent, in March. Average hourly earnings of private-sector
production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 3 cents, or 0.2 percent, in
March.
•
Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.1 percent.
In February, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) had an
over-the-year increase of 2.9 percent; growth in prices has recently been
outpacing growth in earnings.
6 Employment in construction
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
18
-6
-7
1
-9
-3
-10
-11
-11
-21
-19
-153
-144
-105
-147
-155
-150
-110
-100
-41
-61
-64
-58
-57
-87
-82
-79
-71
-73
-77
-49
-55
-46
-66
-70
-46
-34
-30
-33
-11
-16
-9
-1
0
-50
26
30
13
3
7
7
7
20
23
33
50
-200
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Construction employment edged down in March, with a loss of 11,000 jobs
occurring in construction of buildings.
•
Despite the loss in March, employment in construction has increased by 95,000
since a trough in January 2011, with essentially all of the gain split between heavy
and civil engineering and specialty trade contractors.
7 Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-41
-44
-49
-34
-30
-200
52
31
37
9
3
28
30
3
-3
8
12
37
26
28
-61
-179
-150
-166
-172
-179
-167
-143
-100
-130
-114
-50
-20
-28
-39
-56
-31
-59
-75
-79
-84
-8
0
-17
4
8
32
34
10
20
50
2
0
9
15
52
100
-250
-297
-300
-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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Manufacturing experienced solid job growth with 37,000 jobs added in March,
preceded by 31,000 and 52,000 jobs added in February and January, respectively.
•
Since a trough in January 2010, employment in the industry has risen by 470,000.
8 Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.7
Change: -0.2
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.7
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, April 06, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
The 1-month diffusion index of manufacturing employment rose from 59.9 in
February to 67.9 in March. This indicates a widening dispersion of the job growth
within manufacturing from February to March.
•
The factory workweek for all employees fell by 0.3 hour in March. Over the prior
3 months, the average workweek had expanded by 0.6 hour. Average weekly
overtime for all employees remained unchanged at 3.4 hours.
•
Combining the job gain in manufacturing with the shorter workweek, the index of
aggregate weekly hours of all employees decreased by 0.5 percent in March.
9 Employment in durable goods
Durable goods:
26
Over-the-month change, March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
-0.9
Nonmetallic mineral products
-0.6
Primary metals
0.8
Fabricated metal products
4.9
Machinery
6.5
Computer and electronic products
2.2
Electrical equipment and appliances
1.2
Transportation equipment
13.0
Furniture and related products
-0.3
Miscellaneous manufacturing
0.0
-5
0
5
10
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Durable goods manufacturing employment increased by 26,000 in March and has
expanded by 465,000 since a recent low in January 2010.
•
In March, motor vehicles and parts, machinery, and fabricated metals all
experienced job growth.
Employment in transportation equipment
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
12
4
9
5
-3
6
6
4
1
5
-1
-1
-1
-1
-11
-6
-10
9
10
7
13
18
16
6
11
-1
0
-43
-36
-36
-26
-17
-15
-28
-35
-40
-21
-20
-23
-19
-8
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
0
3
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Transportation equipment boosted employment by 13,000 in March, with motor
vehicles and parts accounting for nearly all of the job gains.
•
Since reaching an employment trough in December 2009, manufacturers of
transportation equipment have added 135,000 jobs.
10 Employment in nondurable goods
Nondurable
goods:
11
Over-the-month change, March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Food manufacturing
4.0
Beverage and tobacco
1.0
Textile mills
-0.1
Textile product mills
-0.1
Apparel
0.3
Leather products
-0.5
Paper products
3.4
Printing
-2.8
Petroleum and coal products
-0.4
Chemicals
2.9
Plastics and rubber
3.4
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
•
Employment in nondurable goods edged up by 11,000 in March.
•
Paper products manufacturers added 3,000 jobs over the month.
Employment in retail trade
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
34
25
-4
-11
-5
7
5
8
14
12
16
27
37
20
13
3
14
5
12
25
-11
-29
-34
-27
-46
-35
-23
-71
-94
-132
-99
-99
-100
-61
-45
-52
-47
-43
-60
-68
-52
-23
-43
-71
-50
-12
-8
1
0
3
10
32
50
37
67
100
-150
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Retail trade employment fell by 34,000 in March.
•
A job loss in general merchandise stores more than offset gains in health and
personal care stores (+6,000) and in building material and supply stores (+5,000).
11 Employment in financial activities
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15
9
5
5
3
3
1
2
1
5
8
5
6
8
10
8
11
14
14
20
-13
-6
-4
-4
-3
-8
-14
-25
-28
-25
-40
-53
-49
-50
-52
-45
-40
-37
-34
-33
-30
-12
-11
-9
-15
-13
-16
-11
-6
-5
-4
-4
-17
-20
-14
-11
-10
-5
0
-60
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Financial activities employment rose by 15,000 in March, with most of the gain
occurring in credit intermediation (+11,000).
•
Employment in the credit intermediation industry reached a trough in June 2010
and has increased by 47,000 since that time; however, 38,000 of the increase has
occurred in the past 5 months.
12 Employment in professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Jan-08
Jul-08
5
31
39
40
41
39
59
72
79
86
88
50
56
55
-64
-100
-184
-200
-133
-148
-116
-120
-184
-144
-150
-3
-1
-31
-22
-41
-61
-71
-70
-100
-68
-40
-63
-50
46
49
23
1
0
0
8
8
14
29
50
32
44
45
56
67
79
100
79
82
150
Jan-09
Jul-09
Jan-10
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected professional and business services
Over-the-month change, March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and technical˚
13.8
- Accounting and bookkeeping
2.3
3.6
- Architectural and engineering
3.9
- Computer systems design
- Management and technical consulting
5.3
Management of companies
1.1
Administrative and waste services˚
15.4
- Employment services
-14.2
- Services to buildings
23.0
-20
Professional and
business services:
31
-10
0
10
20
30
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up in
March, with an increase of 31,000.
•
Employment in professional and business services has grown by 1.4 million since
a recent low point in September 2009.
•
In March, services to buildings and dwellings added 23,000 jobs.
13 Employment in temporary help services
January 2000–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2,700
2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200
2,100
2,000
March 2012
Level: 2,480
Change: -8
1,900
1,800
1,700
Jan-00
Jan-02
Jan-04
Jan-06
Jan-08
Jan-10
Jan-12
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 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 temporary help services was about unchanged over the month
after increasing by 55,000 in February.
•
Since the most recent low in August 2009, temporary help services has added
730,000 jobs, accounting for more than half of the employment gain within
professional and business services.
14 Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
46
50
36
32
32
30
31
33
34
35
23
26
26
24
20
18
22
19
19
16
16
15
10
10
11
10
12
15
11
15
14
15
23
22
22
23
20
19
18
23
19
18
21
20
22
25
24
26
28
28
30
29
30
35
37
40
36
42
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Ambulatory health care services˚
12.1
- Offices of physicians
7.6
- Outpatient care centers
2.6
- Home health care services
3.9
Hospitals
8.1
Nursing and residential care
5.8
0
Health care
industries:
26
5
10
15
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 06, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
•
Employment in health care continued to expand in March, rising by 26,000. This
gain is in line with the average change over the prior 12-month period.
•
Offices of physicians and hospitals added 8,000 jobs each.
15 Employment in food services and drinking places
Over-the-month change, January 2008–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
40
37
28
16
13
15
24
20
25
19
7
5
1
1
2
6
7
11
20
25
26
30
40
33
38
42
38
53
54
60
-1
-11
-8
-24
-28
-24
-38
-36
-30
-28
-26
-22
-25
-24
-24
-12
-18
-25
-40
-9
-3
-4
-5
-9
-20
0
0
-60
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, April 06, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
•
Food services and drinking places employment rose by 37,000 in March.
•
Since a recent low in February 2010, this industry has added 563,000 jobs,
averaging 23,000 jobs per month.
Employment in government
January 2000–March 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
March 2012
Level: 21,997
Change: -1
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, April 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 March, government employment changed little for the third consecutive
month, compared with average monthly job losses of 22,000 in 2011.
•
Since August 2008, employment at the state and the local levels has declined
by 142,000 and 499,000, respectively.
16