Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics Highlights
April 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics May 8, 2009
1
Employment in total nonfarm
1999-2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands 140,000 137,500 135,000 132,500 130,000 127,500 125,000 122,500 120,000
Jan-0 6 Jan-9 9 Jan-0 0 Jan-0 1 Jan-0 2 Jan-0 3 Jan-0 4 Jan-0 5 Jan-0 8 Jan-0 7 Jan-0 9
140,000 137,500 135,000 132,500 130,000 127,500 April 2009 Level: 132,414 Change: -539 125,000 122,500 120,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
Seasonally adjusted in thousands 0 -72 -144 -122 -160 -137 -161 -128 -175
-150
-300 -321 -450 -380
-600
-539 -597 -681 -741 -681 -699
-750
-900
Feb-0 8 Jan -0 8 -08 8 No v08 Dec -0 8 Jan -0 9 9 Mar09 Jun-0 8 Jul- 08 8 Sep-0 8 Oct-0 8 Aug-0 8 Mar-0 Ap r0 Feb-0 May Ap r0 9
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 539,000 in April. Payroll employment has declined by 3.9 million in the past 6 months, or an average of 656,000 per month. This is the largest 6-month decline since the series began in 1939.
2
Percentage change in total nonfarm employment,
from beginning of recession*, seasonally adjusted
1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 -3.0 -3.5 -4.0 -4.5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 -3.0 November 1973 July 1981 December 2007 -3.5 -4.0 -4.5 Months
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. *Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent two months are preliminary.
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-year percent changes, 2008-09
3.0 Mar-06, 2.2 3.0
1.5
1.5
0.0
0.0
-1.5
-1.5
-3.0 Apr-09, -3.8 -4.5
Jan -0 6 Jan -0 7 Jan -0 8 Jan -0 9 6 Oc t06 Jul- 06 7 Jul- 07 Oct-0 7 8 Jul- 0 8 Oc t08 Ap r0 Ap r0 Ap r0 Ap r0 9
-3.0
-4.5
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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Total nonfarm employment peaked in December 2007, coinciding with the start of the recession as declared by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). With the recent acceleration of job losses, nonfarm employment has fallen by 5.7 million or 4.2 percent since its peak. Job losses averaged 180,000 per month in the 10 months immediately following the peak and then accelerated to an average 656,000 per month since October.
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3
Employment in total nonfarm
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands Mining and logging Construction Manufacturing Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation and warehousing Utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Education and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Government
-210 -180 -150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 30 60
-11 -110 -149 -41 -47 Total nonfarm: -539 -38 -1 -17 -40 -122 15 -44 -7 72
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Data are preliminary.
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In April, job losses occurred in most major industry sectors. Manufacturing, construction, and professional and business services continued to have large employment declines. Goods-producing industries shed 270,000 jobs in April, while service-providing industries lost 269,000 jobs. Government added 72,000 jobs to payrolls in April, the largest one month change since the start of the recession; however, this was largely due to the addition of temporary Census workers.
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4
Average weekly hours, total private
1999-2009
34.5 Seasonally adjusted April 2009 Level: 33.2 Change: 0.0 34.0 34.0 34.5
33.5
33.5
33.0
Jan-9 9 Jan-0 0 Jan-0 1 Jan-0 2 Jan-0 3 Jan-0 4 Jan-0 5 Jan-0 6 Jan-0 7 Jan-0 8 Jan-0 9
33.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Index of total private aggregate weekly hours
115 Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100 April 2009 110 Level: 100.3 Percent change: -0.6 110
1999-2009
115
105
105
100
100
95
95
90
Jan -9 9 Jan -0 0 Jan -0 1 Jan -0 2 Jan -0 3 Jan -0 4 Jan -0 5 Jan -0 6 Jan -0 7 Jan -0 8 Jan -0 9
90
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production and nonsupervisory workers.
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In April, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.2 hours, seasonally adjusted—33.2 hours is the lowest level on record for the series, which began in 1964. The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.6 percent in April. Since peaking in December 2007, the index has decreased by 7.0 percent.
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5
Employment in mining and logging
1999-2009
850 800 750 700 650 600 550 500
Jan -0 7 Jan -0 8 Jan -0 5 Jan -0 2 Jan -0 1 Jan -9 9 Jan -0 0 Jan -0 4 Jan 03 Jan 06 Jan -0 9
Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 Level: 744 Change: -11
850 800 750 700 650 600 550 500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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Employment in mining and logging realized a loss of 11,000 jobs in April, continuing the trend of accelerating job loss. Year to date, the industry has shed 45,000 jobs, a sharp contrast to 2008 during which the industry added an average 4,000 jobs per month.
6
Employment in construction
1999-2009
8,500 Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 8,000 Level: 6,348 Change: -110 7,500 7,500 8,000 8,500
7,000
7,000
6,500
6,500
6,000
6,000
5,500
Jan -0 3 Jan -0 5 Jan -0 4 Jan 02 Jan -0 6 Jan -0 7 Jan -0 1 Jan -0 8 Jan -0 0 Jan -0 9 Jan -9 9
5,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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Construction employment declined by 110,000 in April. Over the past 6 months, job losses have averaged 120,000 per month, compared with 46,000 per month between December 2007 and October 2008. Since the beginning of the recession, construction employment has declined by about 1.2 million. Employment in construction currently stands at its lowest level since November 1998, having lost all the jobs gained in the housing-related expansion from March 2003 to January 2007. Employment losses in April were widespread throughout the industry as both the residential and nonresidential components shed jobs.
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7
Employment in manufacturing
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
0 Seasonally adjusted in thousands
-50
-33 -52 -49 -57
-30 -51 -51 -67 -65
-100 -119 -121 -150 -180 -172 -167 -149
-200
-250 -262 -300
Feb -0 8 Jan -0 8 -08 8 No v08 Dec -0 8 Jan -0 9 9 Mar09 8 Jun-0 8 Jul- 08 Oc t08 Aug-0 8 S ep-0 8 Mar-0 Ap r0 Feb -0 May Ap r0 9
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in durable goods manufacturing
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands Wood products Nonmetallic mineral products Primary metals Fabricated metal products Machinery Computer and electronic products Electrical equipment and appliances Transportation equipment Furniture and related products Miscellaneous manufacturing
-40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5
Durable goods: -127 -12 -29 -22 -12 -9 -34 -8
-1 -1
-1
0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Data are preliminary.
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Employment in manufacturing fell by 149,000 over the month, with widespread job losses among the component industries. Employment losses have accelerated since September 2008, with 1.2 million jobs cut from payrolls since that time. Durable goods manufacturing had the lion’s share of this loss, with 127,000 jobs cut from payrolls in April. Three durable goods industries—transportation equipment (-34,000), fabricated metal products (-29,000) and machinery (-22,000)—accounted for about two thirds of the durable goods manufacturing job loss.
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8
Average weekly hours, manufacturing
1999-2009
42.0 Seasonally adjusted April 2009 41.5 Level: 39.6 Change: +0.2 41.5 42.0
41.0
41.0
40.5
40.5
40.0
40.0
39.5
39.5
39.0
Jan-9 9 Jan-0 0 Jan-0 2 Jan-0 1 Jan-0 3 Jan-0 4 Jan-0 6 Jan-0 5 Jan-0 7 Jan-0 9 Jan-0 8
39.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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The manufacturing workweek increased by 0.2 hour to 39.6 hours, and factory overtime rose by 0.1 hour to 2.7 hours. Despite this uptick, the manufacturing workweek has remained below 40 hours for 5 consecutive months.
9
Employment in wholesale trade
1999-2009
6,500 Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 6,250 Level: 5,696.2 Change: -40.7 6,250 6,500
6,000
6,000
5,750
5,750
5,500
5,500
5,250
5,250
5,000
Jan-9 9 Jan-0 0 Jan-0 1 Jan-0 2 Jan-0 3 Jan-0 4 Jan-0 5 Jan-0 6 Jan-0 7 Jan-0 8 Jan-0 9
5,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in retail trade
1999-2009
16,000 15,750 15,500 15,250 15,000 14,750 14,500 14,250 14,000
Jan-9 9 Jan-0 0 Jan-0 1 Jan-0 2 Jan-0 3 Jan-0 4 Jan-0 5 Jan-0 6 Jan-0 7 Jan-0 8 Jan-0 9
Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 Level: 14,823.7 Change: -46.7
16,000 15,750 15,500 15,250 15,000 14,750 14,500 14,250 14,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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Wholesale trade employment was down 41,000 over the month, with much of the decrease among durable goods wholesalers. The industry has lost 352,000 jobs since employment peaked in November 2007, with 224,000 of those lost in the last 6 months. Employment in retail trade fell by 47,000 in April. Since peaking in November 2007, employment has declined by 766,000. In April, losses in retail trade employment were widespread, led by department stores (-14,000), automobile dealers (-9,000), and building material and garden supply stores (-8,000).
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10
Employment in transportation and warehousing
1999-2009
4,750 Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 Level: 4,255.5 4,500 Change: -38.1 4,500 4,750
4,250
4,250
4,000
4,000
3,750
Jan -9 9 Jan -0 0 Jan -0 2 Jan -0 3 Jan -0 1 Jan -0 4 Jan -0 5 Jan -0 6 Jan -0 7 Jan -0 8 Jan -0 9
3,750
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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Employment in transportation and warehousing declined by 38,000 in April. This loss was slightly above the average monthly decline of 34,000 jobs the industry has experienced over the last 6 months. Losses were concentrated in truck transportation (-16,000) and warehousing and storage (-8,000).
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11
Employment in financial activities
1999-2009
8,500
Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 Level: 7,815 Change: -40
8,500
8,250
8,250
8,000
8,000
7,750
7,750
7,500
Jan-9 9 Jan-0 0 Jan-0 1 Jan-0 2 Jan-0 3 Jan-0 4 Jan-0 5 Jan-0 6 Jan-0 7 Jan-0 8 Jan-0 9
7,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
Employment in selected financial activities industries
6-month employment changes
seasonally adjusted, in thousands Credit intermediation* -86.7 -50.2 -25.8 Oct. 08-Apr. 09 Apr. 08-Oct. 08 Securities, commodities, investments -47.3 -19.6 -36.1 -2.4 -59.3 -15.7 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 -7.4
Commercial banking
Insurance and related activities
Real estate
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Data are preliminary. * Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
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Employment in financial activities declined by 40,000 over the month. Job losses occurred throughout the sector, including real estate and rental and leasing (-15,000) and credit intermediation and related activities (-14,000). Job losses within financial activities have accelerated since October 2008. Over the past 6 months, job losses have averaged 46,000 per month, compared with 16,000 per month between December 2007 and October 2008.
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12
Employment in selected professional and business services
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Professional and technical* Professional and technical*
Accounting and bookkeeping Architectural and engineering Computer systems design Management and technical consulting Management of companies Management of companies Administrative and waste services* Administrative and waste services* Employment services Services to buildings -89.9 -68.9 -7.2 -15.2 Professional and business services: -122 Seasonally adjusted in thousands -17.1 2.6 -13.5 -1.4 1.6
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Data are preliminary. * Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
-120
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
Employment in temporary help services
1999-2009
3,000 Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 2,750 Level: 1,758.6 Change: -62.5 2,750 3,000
2,500
2,500
2,250
2,250
2,000
2,000
1,750
1,750
1,500
Jan-0 1 Jan-0 2 Jan-0 3 Jan-9 9 Jan-0 0 Jan-0 4 Jan-0 5 Jan-0 7 Jan-0 8 Jan-0 6 Jan-0 9
1,500
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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The professional and business services industry lost 122,000 jobs in April. This sector has shed an average of 139,000 jobs per month since October 2008, when losses within the industry began to accelerate. Losses were concentrated in administrative and waste services (-90,000). Temporary help services lost 63,000 jobs in April. Since December 2007, the industry has averaged a loss of 52,000 jobs per month.
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13
Employment in selected health care industries
Over-the-month change, April 2009
Seasonally adjusted in thousands Ambulatory health care Ambulatory health care services* services* Offices of physicians 2.2 5.4 3 0.8 8.8 4.3 0.6 9.4 Health care: April 2009:+16.7 Prior 12-mo. avg.: +27.4 17.7 14.9
Outpatient care centers
Home health care services
Hospitals Hospitals Nursing Nursing and residential -1.6 and residential care facilities care facilities
3.2 18 21
-3 0 3 6 9 12 15 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Data are preliminary. * Includes additional component industries not shown separately.
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The health care industry added 17,000 jobs over the month, in line with its average monthly gain since January. In 2008 the average gain was 30,000 jobs per month. Employment in hospitals remained flat in April. So far in 2009, the change in employment has averaged 2,000 jobs per month, which is about one-fifth of the 2008 monthly average (11,000).
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14
Employment in leisure and hospitality
14,500 14,000 13,500 13,000 12,500 12,000 11,500 11,000 10,500 10,000
Jan -9 9 Jan 00 Jan -0 1 Jan -0 2 Jan -0 3 Jan -0 4 Jan -0 5 Jan -0 6 Jan -0 7 Jan -0 8 Jan -0 9
Seasonally adjusted in thousands April 2009 Level: 13,150 Change: -44
1999-2009
14,500 14,000 13,500 13,000 12,500 12,000 11,500 11,000 10,500 10,000
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009.
Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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The leisure and hospitality industry lost 44,000 jobs in April. This industry has shed 401,000 jobs since its most recent peak in December 2007, with 245,000 of those lost in the last 6 months. Amusements, gambling and recreation (-22,000) and accommodation (-8,000) accounted for most of the job loss within leisure and hospitality.
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15
Employment in government
Over-the-month change, 2008-09
90 75 60 45 30 15 0 -15 -30
Feb -0 8 Jan-0 8 Mar08 -08 Jun08 8 Jul- 0 8 Aug - 08 Ap r0 May
Seasonally adjusted in thousands 72
37 30 22 20 10
34 15 19 4 4 8 7
-11 -21
Dec -0 8 No v -08 Feb -0 9 Jan-0 9
-6
Mar09
Oc t08
08
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 8, 2009. Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
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Employment in government rose by 72,000 over the month. Within the federal government, job gains resulted primarily from hiring of temporary workers to prepare for Census 2010.
16
Sep-
Ap r0
9