Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
Highlights
May 2012
Bureau of Labor Statistics
June 1, 2012
Employment in total nonfarm
January 2000–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
140,000
138,000
136,000
134,000
132,000
130,000
128,000
126,000
May 2012
Level: 133,009
Change: 69
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, June 01, 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–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
800
202
112
157
223
275
259
143
77
69
54
84
96
85
121
120
110
41
200
220
189
239
400
220
246
251
516
600
-40
-35
-58
-51
-27
-167
-231
-199
-202
-339
-361
-803
-800
-818
-724
-799
-692
-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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Nonfarm employment continued to trend up in May (+69,000).

Job growth has decelerated each month since January.
1 Employment in total nonfarm
Total nonfarm:
69
Over-the-month change, May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
1
Construction
-28
Manufacturing
12
Wholesale trade
16
Retail trade
2
Transportation and warehousing
36
Utilities
0
Information
-2
Financial activities
3
Professional and business services
-1
Education and health services
46
Leisure and hospitality
-9
Other services
6
Government
-13
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
February 2010–May 2012 net change
Total nonfarm:
Total nonfarm:
3,765
Total private: 69
4,267
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Mining and logging
163
Construction
-13
Manufacturing
491
Wholesale trade
178
Retail trade
362
Transportation and warehousing
235
Utilities
6
Information
-106
Financial activities
64
1273 Professional and business services
914
Other services
48
Government
-502
-1000
-500
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
652
0
500
1000
1500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in construction fell; Government employment continued to trend
down.

Education and health care, transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade
all experienced job growth in May. Manufacturing employment continued to
trend up.

Since an employment trough in February 2010, most nonfarm job gains have
come in professional and business services, education and health services, and
leisure and hospitality.
2 Average weekly hours, total private
January 2000–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted
35.0
All employees
Level: 34.4
Change: -0.1
34.5
34.0
33.5
Production employees
Level: 33.7
Change: 0.0
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, June 01, 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 for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls declined to
34.4 hours in May. Average weekly hours for production and nonsupervisory
employees remained unchanged at 33.7 hours.
3 Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*
March 2007–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted
6.0
May 2012 Earnings: 1.7
April 2012 CPI-U: 2.3
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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
* 1982–84=100
.

Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.7 percent.
In April, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) had an
over-the-year increase of 2.3 percent.

For about a year beginning in late 2010, price increases outpaced increases in
earnings. Since the third quarter of 2011, however, the gap between the two has
narrowed.

In May 2012, average hourly earnings rose by 2 cents or 0.1 percent.
4 Employment in construction
January 2000–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7,400
6,900
6,400
May 2012
Level: 5,516
Change: -28
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, June 01, 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:
-28
Over-the-month change, May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Residential building
-1.0
Nonresidential building
1.5
Heavy and civil engineering
-11.2
Residential specialty trades
-10.0
Nonresidential specialty trades
-7.7
-15
-10
-5
0
5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.

Construction employment declined by 28,000 in May.

Job losses were concentrated in specialty trade contractors and heavy and civil
engineering construction.
5 Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
-41
-44
-49
-34
-30
-200
52
30
42
9
12
28
30
3
9
-3
8
12
3
9
15
2
0
-61
-179
-150
-166
-172
-179
-167
-143
-130
-114
-100
-20
-28
-39
-56
-31
-59
-75
-79
-84
-8
0
-50
-17
4
8
32
34
10
20
50
37
26
28
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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
January 2000–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted
42.5
Production employees
Level: 41.5
Change: -0.2
42.0
41.5
41.0
40.5
40.0
39.5
All employees
Level: 40.5
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, June 01, 2012.
Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most
recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Manufacturing employment continued to trend up (+12,000) in May, just as it did
in April (+9,000). These changes reflect a slowdown from the average monthly
gains of 41,000 in the first quarter of 2012.

The manufacturing workweek for all employees fell by 0.3 hour in May to 40.5
hours, while the average hours of production employees declined by 0.2 hour to
41.5
6 Employment in durable goods
Over-the-month change, May 2012
Durable goods:
13
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Wood products
-1.4
Nonmetallic mineral products
-3.0
Primary metals
3.8
Fabricated metal products
5.7
Machinery
2.5
Computer and electronic products
1.7
Electrical equipment and appliances
1.2
Transportation equipment
4.1
Furniture and related products
-2.1
Miscellaneous manufacturing
0.8
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing increased by 13,000 in May and has
expanded by 489,000 since a recent low in January 2010.

In May, job gains in durable goods were spread out across most of the component
industries.
7 Employment in wholesale trade
January 2000–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
6,300
May 2012
Level: 5,623
Change: 16
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, June 01, 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 wholesale trade
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2012
15
15
5
7
7
6
0
2
5
11
12
13
14
7
8
10
5
3
6
5
7
9
10
16
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
20
-25
-24
-25
-23
-17
-15
-18
-13
-15
-14
-14
-14
-22
-20
-20
-19
-11
-11
-8
-3
-2
-1
-3
-1
0
-10
-48
-50
-45
-44
-41
-37
-37
-40
-34
-30
-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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Wholesale trade employment increased by 16,000 in May, in line with its prior 6month average.

Wholesale trade has recovered 184,000 jobs since its most recent trough, in May
2010, representing a recovery of about one-third of the jobs lost during the
industry’s most recent downturn.
8 Employment in transportation
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
60
17
14
6
10
2
3
5
11
7
8
8
8
3
1
3
1
5
4
10
12
15
15
9
9
9
13
20
15
25
36
40
-4
-16
-21
-18
-26
-24
-52
-42
-40
-9
-7
-8
-12
-11
-33
-30
-34
-24
-13
-20
-18
-14
-8
-10
-15
-3
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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

In May, employment in transportation and warehousing increased by 36,000
partially offsetting declines in April.

These 2 months of large fluctuations can be traced to employment for transit and
ground passenger transportation and for courier services, which both drove the
large changes in April and May. Employment in these two industries has shown
little net change over the past 12 months.
9 Employment in professional and business services
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
72
79
89
5
8
18
37
41
39
59
88
50
56
39
40
55
23
46
49
79
45
32
56
44
-1
-3
-31
-22
-41
-200
-100
-133
-148
-184
-184
-144
-150
-120
-116
-64
-61
-71
-70
-63
-100
-68
-50
-40
-1
0
0
1
8
14
29
50
67
100
79
82
150
-250
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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected professional and business services
Over-the-month change, May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Professional and technical˚
-4.0
- Accounting and bookkeeping
-14.0
- Architectural and engineering
0.3
- Computer systems design
5.3
- Management and technical consulting
2.2
Management of companies
2.0
Administrative and waste services˚
0.8
- Employment services
6.1
- Services to buildings
-14.3
-20
-15
Professional and
business services:
-1
-10
-5
0
5
10
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Although employment in professional and business services was essentially
unchanged in May, it has grown by 1.4 million since a recent low point in
September 2009.

In May, losses in accounting and bookkeeping services (-14,000) and services to
buildings and dwellings (-14,000) were offset by small gains elsewhere in the
industry.
10 Employment in health care
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
46
50
34
20
18
22
26
23
24
26
28
23
22
19
16
15
12
10
10
11
11
16
15
15
14
10
19
20
24
22
22
23
19
18
22
23
19
18
21
15
32
32
32
30
31
33
25
20
33
36
36
35
28
30
29
30
35
37
40
38
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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
22.8
- Outpatient care centers
4.6
- Home health care services
6.9
Hospitals
4.5
Nursing and residential care
5.5
5
Ambulatory health care services˚
- Offices of physicians
9.9
0
Health care
industries:
33
10
15
20
25
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.
˚Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Employment in health care, continued to expand in May, rising by 33,000.
Ambulatory health care services drove job growth, over the month.

Health care has added 340,000 jobs to its payrolls over the past year.
11 Employment in leisure and hospitality
January 2000–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
14,000
13,500
13,000
12,500
12,000
May 2012
Level: 13,576
Change: -9
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, June 01, 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
Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
35
27
28
24
7
5
9
7
16
13
15
20
25
19
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
-22
-25
-24
-24
-12
-18
-28
-26
-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, June 01, 2012.
Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Leisure and hospitality employment edged down for the second consecutive
month in May (-9,000).

The industry’s average monthly job gain was 38,000 over the 6 months ending in
March. These gains came mostly in food services and drinking places.
12 Employment in government
January 2000–May 2012
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
23,500
23,000
22,500
22,000
21,500
21,000
May 2012
Level: 21,969
Change: -13
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, June 01, 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 government
Over-the-month change, May 2012
Government:
-13
Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service
-2.0
U.S. Postal Service
-2.9
State government education
-3.7
State government, excluding education
-1.1
Local government education
-3.3
Local government, excluding education
0.4
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2012.
Note: Data are preliminary.

Government employment continued to edge downward in May (-13,000), with
small declines distributed throughout the sector.

The industry has averaged monthly job losses of 5,000 year-to-date, compared
with average monthly job losses of 22,000 throughout 2011.
13