Figure 1. Total nonfarm employment, seasonally adjusted, January 1939–December 2015
Date	Employment level (in thousands)
Jan 1939	29,923
Feb 1939	30,101
Mar 1939	30,280
Apr 1939	30,094
May 1939	30,300
Jun 1939	30,502
Jul 1939	30,419
Aug 1939	30,663
Sep 1939	31,032
Oct 1939	31,408
Nov 1939	31,469
Dec 1939	31,539
Jan 1940	31,603
Feb 1940	31,715
Mar 1940	31,826
Apr 1940	31,700
May 1940	31,880
Jun 1940	31,978
Jul 1940	31,942
Aug 1940	32,352
Sep 1940	32,810
Oct 1940	33,265
Nov 1940	33,668
Dec 1940	34,172
Jan 1941	34,480
Feb 1941	34,844
Mar 1941	35,094
Apr 1941	35,469
May 1941	36,182
Jun 1941	36,651
Jul 1941	37,137
Aug 1941	37,544
Sep 1941	37,835
Oct 1941	37,948
Nov 1941	38,024
Dec 1941	38,104
Jan 1942	38,347
Feb 1942	38,513
Mar 1942	38,936
Apr 1942	39,352
May 1942	39,772
Jun 1942	40,028
Jul 1942	40,471
Aug 1942	40,988
Sep 1942	41,255
Oct 1942	41,515
Nov 1942	41,673
Dec 1942	41,915
Jan 1943	42,172
Feb 1943	42,395
Mar 1943	42,553
Apr 1943	42,647
May 1943	42,596
Jun 1943	42,781
Jul 1943	42,701
Aug 1943	42,546
Sep 1943	42,485
Oct 1943	42,675
Nov 1943	42,820
Dec 1943	42,746
Jan 1944	42,655
Feb 1944	42,544
Mar 1944	42,292
Apr 1944	42,063
May 1944	41,985
Jun 1944	41,947
Jul 1944	41,905
Aug 1944	41,850
Sep 1944	41,672
Oct 1944	41,709
Nov 1944	41,712
Dec 1944	41,861
Jan 1945	41,897
Feb 1945	41,904
Mar 1945	41,796
Apr 1945	41,443
May 1945	41,304
Jun 1945	41,149
Jul 1945	40,873
Aug 1945	40,467
Sep 1945	38,500
Oct 1945	38,599
Nov 1945	38,997
Dec 1945	39,112
Jan 1946	39,832
Feb 1946	39,251
Mar 1946	40,193
Apr 1946	40,909
May 1946	41,349
Jun 1946	41,733
Jul 1946	42,153
Aug 1946	42,643
Sep 1946	42,909
Oct 1946	43,094
Nov 1946	43,397
Dec 1946	43,379
Jan 1947	43,539
Feb 1947	43,563
Mar 1947	43,606
Apr 1947	43,492
May 1947	43,638
Jun 1947	43,808
Jul 1947	43,743
Aug 1947	43,959
Sep 1947	44,201
Oct 1947	44,415
Nov 1947	44,487
Dec 1947	44,579
Jan 1948	44,682
Feb 1948	44,537
Mar 1948	44,681
Apr 1948	44,370
May 1948	44,795
Jun 1948	45,033
Jul 1948	45,160
Aug 1948	45,176
Sep 1948	45,295
Oct 1948	45,251
Nov 1948	45,194
Dec 1948	45,029
Jan 1949	44,671
Feb 1949	44,500
Mar 1949	44,238
Apr 1949	44,230
May 1949	43,982
Jun 1949	43,739
Jul 1949	43,529
Aug 1949	43,622
Sep 1949	43,784
Oct 1949	42,950
Nov 1949	43,245
Dec 1949	43,517
Jan 1950	43,528
Feb 1950	43,298
Mar 1950	43,952
Apr 1950	44,376
May 1950	44,718
Jun 1950	45,084
Jul 1950	45,454
Aug 1950	46,188
Sep 1950	46,442
Oct 1950	46,712
Nov 1950	46,778
Dec 1950	46,855
Jan 1951	47,288
Feb 1951	47,577
Mar 1951	47,871
Apr 1951	47,856
May 1951	47,953
Jun 1951	48,068
Jul 1951	48,062
Aug 1951	48,009
Sep 1951	47,955
Oct 1951	48,009
Nov 1951	48,148
Dec 1951	48,309
Jan 1952	48,298
Feb 1952	48,522
Mar 1952	48,504
Apr 1952	48,616
May 1952	48,645
Jun 1952	48,286
Jul 1952	48,144
Aug 1952	48,923
Sep 1952	49,319
Oct 1952	49,598
Nov 1952	49,816
Dec 1952	50,164
Jan 1953	50,145
Feb 1953	50,339
Mar 1953	50,475
Apr 1953	50,432
May 1953	50,491
Jun 1953	50,522
Jul 1953	50,536
Aug 1953	50,487
Sep 1953	50,365
Oct 1953	50,242
Nov 1953	49,907
Dec 1953	49,702
Jan 1954	49,468
Feb 1954	49,382
Mar 1954	49,158
Apr 1954	49,178
May 1954	48,965
Jun 1954	48,896
Jul 1954	48,835
Aug 1954	48,825
Sep 1954	48,882
Oct 1954	48,944
Nov 1954	49,178
Dec 1954	49,331
Jan 1955	49,497
Feb 1955	49,644
Mar 1955	49,963
Apr 1955	50,247
May 1955	50,512
Jun 1955	50,790
Jul 1955	50,985
Aug 1955	51,111
Sep 1955	51,262
Oct 1955	51,431
Nov 1955	51,592
Dec 1955	51,805
Jan 1956	51,975
Feb 1956	52,167
Mar 1956	52,295
Apr 1956	52,375
May 1956	52,506
Jun 1956	52,584
Jul 1956	51,954
Aug 1956	52,630
Sep 1956	52,601
Oct 1956	52,781
Nov 1956	52,822
Dec 1956	52,930
Jan 1957	52,888
Feb 1957	53,097
Mar 1957	53,157
Apr 1957	53,238
May 1957	53,149
Jun 1957	53,066
Jul 1957	53,123
Aug 1957	53,126
Sep 1957	52,932
Oct 1957	52,765
Nov 1957	52,559
Dec 1957	52,385
Jan 1958	52,077
Feb 1958	51,576
Mar 1958	51,300
Apr 1958	51,027
May 1958	50,913
Jun 1958	50,912
Jul 1958	51,037
Aug 1958	51,231
Sep 1958	51,506
Oct 1958	51,486
Nov 1958	51,944
Dec 1958	52,088
Jan 1959	52,480
Feb 1959	52,687
Mar 1959	53,016
Apr 1959	53,320
May 1959	53,549
Jun 1959	53,679
Jul 1959	53,803
Aug 1959	53,334
Sep 1959	53,429
Oct 1959	53,359
Nov 1959	53,635
Dec 1959	54,175
Jan 1960	54,274
Feb 1960	54,513
Mar 1960	54,458
Apr 1960	54,812
May 1960	54,473
Jun 1960	54,347
Jul 1960	54,304
Aug 1960	54,271
Sep 1960	54,228
Oct 1960	54,144
Nov 1960	53,962
Dec 1960	53,744
Jan 1961	53,683
Feb 1961	53,556
Mar 1961	53,662
Apr 1961	53,626
May 1961	53,785
Jun 1961	53,977
Jul 1961	54,123
Aug 1961	54,298
Sep 1961	54,388
Oct 1961	54,522
Nov 1961	54,743
Dec 1961	54,871
Jan 1962	54,891
Feb 1962	55,187
Mar 1962	55,276
Apr 1962	55,602
May 1962	55,627
Jun 1962	55,644
Jul 1962	55,746
Aug 1962	55,838
Sep 1962	55,977
Oct 1962	56,041
Nov 1962	56,056
Dec 1962	56,028
Jan 1963	56,116
Feb 1963	56,230
Mar 1963	56,322
Apr 1963	56,580
May 1963	56,616
Jun 1963	56,658
Jul 1963	56,794
Aug 1963	56,910
Sep 1963	57,077
Oct 1963	57,284
Nov 1963	57,255
Dec 1963	57,360
Jan 1964	57,487
Feb 1964	57,751
Mar 1964	57,898
Apr 1964	57,922
May 1964	58,089
Jun 1964	58,221
Jul 1964	58,413
Aug 1964	58,619
Sep 1964	58,903
Oct 1964	58,794
Nov 1964	59,217
Dec 1964	59,421
Jan 1965	59,583
Feb 1965	59,800
Mar 1965	60,003
Apr 1965	60,259
May 1965	60,492
Jun 1965	60,690
Jul 1965	60,963
Aug 1965	61,228
Sep 1965	61,490
Oct 1965	61,718
Nov 1965	61,997
Dec 1965	62,321
Jan 1966	62,528
Feb 1966	62,796
Mar 1966	63,192
Apr 1966	63,436
May 1966	63,711
Jun 1966	64,110
Jul 1966	64,301
Aug 1966	64,507
Sep 1966	64,644
Oct 1966	64,854
Nov 1966	65,019
Dec 1966	65,200
Jan 1967	65,407
Feb 1967	65,428
Mar 1967	65,530
Apr 1967	65,467
May 1967	65,619
Jun 1967	65,750
Jul 1967	65,887
Aug 1967	66,142
Sep 1967	66,164
Oct 1967	66,225
Nov 1967	66,703
Dec 1967	66,900
Jan 1968	66,805
Feb 1968	67,215
Mar 1968	67,295
Apr 1968	67,555
May 1968	67,653
Jun 1968	67,904
Jul 1968	68,125
Aug 1968	68,328
Sep 1968	68,487
Oct 1968	68,720
Nov 1968	68,985
Dec 1968	69,246
Jan 1969	69,438
Feb 1969	69,700
Mar 1969	69,905
Apr 1969	70,072
May 1969	70,328
Jun 1969	70,636
Jul 1969	70,729
Aug 1969	71,006
Sep 1969	70,917
Oct 1969	71,120
Nov 1969	71,087
Dec 1969	71,240
Jan 1970	71,176
Feb 1970	71,304
Mar 1970	71,452
Apr 1970	71,348
May 1970	71,123
Jun 1970	71,029
Jul 1970	71,053
Aug 1970	70,933
Sep 1970	70,948
Oct 1970	70,519
Nov 1970	70,409
Dec 1970	70,790
Jan 1971	70,866
Feb 1971	70,806
Mar 1971	70,859
Apr 1971	71,037
May 1971	71,247
Jun 1971	71,253
Jul 1971	71,315
Aug 1971	71,370
Sep 1971	71,617
Oct 1971	71,642
Nov 1971	71,846
Dec 1971	72,108
Jan 1972	72,445
Feb 1972	72,652
Mar 1972	72,945
Apr 1972	73,163
May 1972	73,467
Jun 1972	73,760
Jul 1972	73,708
Aug 1972	74,138
Sep 1972	74,263
Oct 1972	74,673
Nov 1972	74,967
Dec 1972	75,270
Jan 1973	75,621
Feb 1973	76,017
Mar 1973	76,285
Apr 1973	76,455
May 1973	76,646
Jun 1973	76,887
Jul 1973	76,911
Aug 1973	77,166
Sep 1973	77,276
Oct 1973	77,606
Nov 1973	77,912
Dec 1973	78,035
Jan 1974	78,104
Feb 1974	78,254
Mar 1974	78,296
Apr 1974	78,382
May 1974	78,547
Jun 1974	78,602
Jul 1974	78,635
Aug 1974	78,619
Sep 1974	78,611
Oct 1974	78,629
Nov 1974	78,261
Dec 1974	77,657
Jan 1975	77,297
Feb 1975	76,919
Mar 1975	76,649
Apr 1975	76,461
May 1975	76,623
Jun 1975	76,520
Jul 1975	76,769
Aug 1975	77,155
Sep 1975	77,230
Oct 1975	77,535
Nov 1975	77,680
Dec 1975	78,018
Jan 1976	78,506
Feb 1976	78,817
Mar 1976	79,049
Apr 1976	79,292
May 1976	79,311
Jun 1976	79,376
Jul 1976	79,547
Aug 1976	79,704
Sep 1976	79,892
Oct 1976	79,905
Nov 1976	80,237
Dec 1976	80,448
Jan 1977	80,692
Feb 1977	80,988
Mar 1977	81,391
Apr 1977	81,729
May 1977	82,089
Jun 1977	82,488
Jul 1977	82,836
Aug 1977	83,074
Sep 1977	83,532
Oct 1977	83,794
Nov 1977	84,173
Dec 1977	84,408
Jan 1978	84,595
Feb 1978	84,948
Mar 1978	85,461
Apr 1978	86,163
May 1978	86,509
Jun 1978	86,951
Jul 1978	87,205
Aug 1978	87,481
Sep 1978	87,618
Oct 1978	87,954
Nov 1978	88,391
Dec 1978	88,673
Jan 1979	88,810
Feb 1979	89,054
Mar 1979	89,480
Apr 1979	89,418
May 1979	89,791
Jun 1979	90,109
Jul 1979	90,215
Aug 1979	90,297
Sep 1979	90,325
Oct 1979	90,482
Nov 1979	90,576
Dec 1979	90,673
Jan 1980	90,802
Feb 1980	90,882
Mar 1980	90,994
Apr 1980	90,850
May 1980	90,419
Jun 1980	90,099
Jul 1980	89,837
Aug 1980	90,097
Sep 1980	90,210
Oct 1980	90,491
Nov 1980	90,748
Dec 1980	90,943
Jan 1981	91,037
Feb 1981	91,105
Mar 1981	91,210
Apr 1981	91,283
May 1981	91,293
Jun 1981	91,490
Jul 1981	91,602
Aug 1981	91,566
Sep 1981	91,479
Oct 1981	91,380
Nov 1981	91,171
Dec 1981	90,893
Jan 1982	90,567
Feb 1982	90,562
Mar 1982	90,432
Apr 1982	90,152
May 1982	90,107
Jun 1982	89,864
Jul 1982	89,522
Aug 1982	89,364
Sep 1982	89,183
Oct 1982	88,906
Nov 1982	88,783
Dec 1982	88,769
Jan 1983	88,993
Feb 1983	88,918
Mar 1983	89,090
Apr 1983	89,366
May 1983	89,643
Jun 1983	90,022
Jul 1983	90,440
Aug 1983	90,132
Sep 1983	91,247
Oct 1983	91,518
Nov 1983	91,871
Dec 1983	92,227
Jan 1984	92,673
Feb 1984	93,154
Mar 1984	93,429
Apr 1984	93,792
May 1984	94,100
Jun 1984	94,479
Jul 1984	94,792
Aug 1984	95,034
Sep 1984	95,344
Oct 1984	95,630
Nov 1984	95,979
Dec 1984	96,107
Jan 1985	96,373
Feb 1985	96,497
Mar 1985	96,843
Apr 1985	97,039
May 1985	97,313
Jun 1985	97,459
Jul 1985	97,649
Aug 1985	97,842
Sep 1985	98,045
Oct 1985	98,233
Nov 1985	98,442
Dec 1985	98,609
Jan 1986	98,734
Feb 1986	98,841
Mar 1986	98,935
Apr 1986	99,122
May 1986	99,249
Jun 1986	99,155
Jul 1986	99,473
Aug 1986	99,587
Sep 1986	99,934
Oct 1986	100,120
Nov 1986	100,306
Dec 1986	100,511
Jan 1987	100,683
Feb 1987	100,915
Mar 1987	101,164
Apr 1987	101,502
May 1987	101,728
Jun 1987	101,900
Jul 1987	102,247
Aug 1987	102,418
Sep 1987	102,646
Oct 1987	103,138
Nov 1987	103,370
Dec 1987	103,664
Jan 1988	103,758
Feb 1988	104,211
Mar 1988	104,487
Apr 1988	104,732
May 1988	104,961
Jun 1988	105,324
Jul 1988	105,546
Aug 1988	105,670
Sep 1988	106,009
Oct 1988	106,277
Nov 1988	106,616
Dec 1988	106,906
Jan 1989	107,168
Feb 1989	107,426
Mar 1989	107,619
Apr 1989	107,792
May 1989	107,910
Jun 1989	108,026
Jul 1989	108,066
Aug 1989	108,115
Sep 1989	108,365
Oct 1989	108,476
Nov 1989	108,753
Dec 1989	108,849
Jan 1990	109,184
Feb 1990	109,433
Mar 1990	109,647
Apr 1990	109,687
May 1990	109,838
Jun 1990	109,862
Jul 1990	109,830
Aug 1990	109,614
Sep 1990	109,525
Oct 1990	109,366
Nov 1990	109,216
Dec 1990	109,160
Jan 1991	109,040
Feb 1991	108,735
Mar 1991	108,577
Apr 1991	108,366
May 1991	108,241
Jun 1991	108,338
Jul 1991	108,298
Aug 1991	108,308
Sep 1991	108,340
Oct 1991	108,357
Nov 1991	108,299
Dec 1991	108,325
Jan 1992	108,377
Feb 1992	108,314
Mar 1992	108,368
Apr 1992	108,527
May 1992	108,653
Jun 1992	108,721
Jul 1992	108,792
Aug 1992	108,930
Sep 1992	108,966
Oct 1992	109,148
Nov 1992	109,284
Dec 1992	109,496
Jan 1993	109,805
Feb 1993	110,047
Mar 1993	109,998
Apr 1993	110,306
May 1993	110,572
Jun 1993	110,754
Jul 1993	111,055
Aug 1993	111,211
Sep 1993	111,451
Oct 1993	111,737
Nov 1993	112,000
Dec 1993	112,312
Jan 1994	112,583
Feb 1994	112,783
Mar 1994	113,248
Apr 1994	113,598
May 1994	113,931
Jun 1994	114,246
Jul 1994	114,619
Aug 1994	114,901
Sep 1994	115,254
Oct 1994	115,467
Nov 1994	115,887
Dec 1994	116,164
Jan 1995	116,488
Feb 1995	116,692
Mar 1995	116,913
Apr 1995	117,075
May 1995	117,060
Jun 1995	117,294
Jul 1995	117,390
Aug 1995	117,643
Sep 1995	117,887
Oct 1995	118,040
Nov 1995	118,189
Dec 1995	118,322
Jan 1996	118,303
Feb 1996	118,735
Mar 1996	119,002
Apr 1996	119,165
May 1996	119,487
Jun 1996	119,774
Jul 1996	120,023
Aug 1996	120,202
Sep 1996	120,427
Oct 1996	120,677
Nov 1996	120,976
Dec 1996	121,147
Jan 1997	121,381
Feb 1997	121,684
Mar 1997	122,000
Apr 1997	122,292
May 1997	122,552
Jun 1997	122,818
Jul 1997	123,124
Aug 1997	123,093
Sep 1997	123,605
Oct 1997	123,945
Nov 1997	124,251
Dec 1997	124,554
Jan 1998	124,830
Feb 1998	125,026
Mar 1998	125,177
Apr 1998	125,457
May 1998	125,861
Jun 1998	126,080
Jul 1998	126,209
Aug 1998	126,551
Sep 1998	126,774
Oct 1998	126,973
Nov 1998	127,255
Dec 1998	127,601
Jan 1999	127,727
Feb 1999	128,137
Mar 1999	128,244
Apr 1999	128,620
May 1999	128,831
Jun 1999	129,091
Jul 1999	129,417
Aug 1999	129,577
Sep 1999	129,791
Oct 1999	130,191
Nov 1999	130,484
Dec 1999	130,780
Jan 2000	131,010
Feb 2000	131,140
Mar 2000	131,608
Apr 2000	131,895
May 2000	132,122
Jun 2000	132,075
Jul 2000	132,251
Aug 2000	132,241
Sep 2000	132,377
Oct 2000	132,363
Nov 2000	132,589
Dec 2000	132,731
Jan 2001	132,705
Feb 2001	132,777
Mar 2001	132,752
Apr 2001	132,471
May 2001	132,433
Jun 2001	132,302
Jul 2001	132,190
Aug 2001	132,033
Sep 2001	131,793
Oct 2001	131,468
Nov 2001	131,175
Dec 2001	131,005
Jan 2002	130,867
Feb 2002	130,733
Mar 2002	130,713
Apr 2002	130,634
May 2002	130,627
Jun 2002	130,684
Jul 2002	130,599
Aug 2002	130,585
Sep 2002	130,526
Oct 2002	130,652
Nov 2002	130,662
Dec 2002	130,505
Jan 2003	130,597
Feb 2003	130,447
Mar 2003	130,238
Apr 2003	130,194
May 2003	130,186
Jun 2003	130,195
Jul 2003	130,219
Aug 2003	130,177
Sep 2003	130,281
Oct 2003	130,479
Nov 2003	130,496
Dec 2003	130,618
Jan 2004	130,780
Feb 2004	130,826
Mar 2004	131,158
Apr 2004	131,407
May 2004	131,715
Jun 2004	131,791
Jul 2004	131,835
Aug 2004	131,956
Sep 2004	132,120
Oct 2004	132,466
Nov 2004	132,530
Dec 2004	132,660
Jan 2005	132,794
Feb 2005	133,033
Mar 2005	133,169
Apr 2005	133,534
May 2005	133,708
Jun 2005	133,955
Jul 2005	134,331
Aug 2005	134,525
Sep 2005	134,593
Oct 2005	134,678
Nov 2005	135,015
Dec 2005	135,174
Jan 2006	135,452
Feb 2006	135,768
Mar 2006	136,049
Apr 2006	136,232
May 2006	136,255
Jun 2006	136,337
Jul 2006	136,544
Aug 2006	136,725
Sep 2006	136,883
Oct 2006	136,887
Nov 2006	137,095
Dec 2006	137,266
Jan 2007	137,506
Feb 2007	137,596
Mar 2007	137,785
Apr 2007	137,864
May 2007	138,007
Jun 2007	138,085
Jul 2007	138,052
Aug 2007	138,028
Sep 2007	138,116
Oct 2007	138,201
Nov 2007	138,316
Dec 2007	138,413
Jan 2008	138,432
Feb 2008	138,346
Mar 2008	138,268
Apr 2008	138,058
May 2008	137,873
Jun 2008	137,708
Jul 2008	137,499
Aug 2008	137,233
Sep 2008	136,781
Oct 2008	136,308
Nov 2008	135,539
Dec 2008	134,844
Jan 2009	134,053
Feb 2009	133,350
Mar 2009	132,527
Apr 2009	131,841
May 2009	131,490
Jun 2009	131,020
Jul 2009	130,691
Aug 2009	130,479
Sep 2009	130,260
Oct 2009	130,060
Nov 2009	130,053
Dec 2009	129,774
Jan 2010	129,802
Feb 2010	129,733
Mar 2010	129,896
Apr 2010	130,139
May 2010	130,661
Jun 2010	130,528
Jul 2010	130,458
Aug 2010	130,424
Sep 2010	130,372
Oct 2010	130,629
Nov 2010	130,752
Dec 2010	130,840
Jan 2011	130,882
Feb 2011	131,070
Mar 2011	131,295
Apr 2011	131,641
May 2011	131,714
Jun 2011	131,949
Jul 2011	132,019
Aug 2011	132,126
Sep 2011	132,372
Oct 2011	132,574
Nov 2011	132,720
Dec 2011	132,927
Jan 2012	133,265
Feb 2012	133,522
Mar 2012	133,761
Apr 2012	133,836
May 2012	133,951
Jun 2012	134,038
Jul 2012	134,181
Aug 2012	134,371
Sep 2012	134,552
Oct 2012	134,684
Nov 2012	134,833
Dec 2012	135,076
Jan 2013	135,266
Feb 2013	135,577
Mar 2013	135,712
Apr 2013	135,904
May 2013	136,122
Jun 2013	136,268
Jul 2013	136,408
Aug 2013	136,677
Sep 2013	136,862
Oct 2013	137,051
Nov 2013	137,342
Dec 2013	137,387
Jan 2014	137,574
Feb 2014	137,742
Mar 2014	138,014
Apr 2014	138,324
May 2014	138,537
Jun 2014	138,843
Jul 2014	139,075
Aug 2014	139,293
Sep 2014	139,579
Oct 2014	139,779
Nov 2014	140,110
Dec 2014	140,402
Jan 2015	140,623
Feb 2015	140,888
Mar 2015	140,972
Apr 2015	141,223
May 2015	141,496
Jun 2015	141,724
Jul 2015	142,001
Aug 2015	142,151
Sep 2015	142,300
Oct 2015	142,595
Nov 2015	142,875
Dec 2015	143,146
Source: Current Employment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.