El Paso Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the El Paso area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
El Paso area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $731)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
4.6
El Paso area
4.8
4.5
El Paso Co.
4.7
6.4
Hudspeth Co.
6.7
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
May-16
8.0
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Percent
4.0
El Paso area
El Paso area employment
(numbers in thousands)
United States
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
May-14
May-15
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Change from May
May 2017
318.7
15.5
16.7
68.3
4.8
13.3
35.7
45.4
36.6
9.7
72.7
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
8.6
0.3
-0.4
1.7
-0.3
0.7
2.6
1.5
1.6
0.0
0.9
2.8
2.0
-2.3
2.6
-5.9
5.6
7.9
3.4
4.6
0.0
1.3
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, May 2017
6.0
Percent
6.0
5.4
South region
U.S. city average
4.7
12-month percent changes in PPI
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Employment services
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
1.7
1.9
0.0
0.7
0.0
All Items
0.9
-2.0
Food
Energy
-4.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
South Region average annual expenditures 2015
May-15
May-16
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
El Paso
area
Occupation
All other
$9,419
18.1%
Housing
$16,518
31.8%
Healthcare
$4,264
8.2%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$5,608
10.8%
Food
$6,613
12.7%
Transportation
$9,598
18.5%
Total:
$52,020
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Private industry, March 2017
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
West South
Central (1)
$30.07
21.60
8.47
1.92
0.96
1.05
2.10
1.10
2.31
(1) West South Central includes AR, LA, OK, and TX.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
United
States
Total, all occupations
$18.00
$23.86
Dentists, general
73.18
83.59
Human resources managers
51.16
57.79
Registered nurses
31.83
34.70
Accountants and auditors
29.81
36.89
Automotive service technicians and mechanics
17.30
19.90
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
17.25
20.96
Customer service representatives
13.78
16.91
Retail salespersons
12.74
13.07
Construction laborers
12.61
18.22
Medical secretaries
12.23
16.85
Medical assistants
12.11
15.79
8.49
9.89
Cooks, fast food
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
3.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
2.0
1.0
0.0
West South Central
-1.0
Mar-14
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Southwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/southwest • 972-850-4800
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17