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Industries with spring employment peaks

April 17, 2015

Throughout the year, many industries experience swings in business related to seasonal weather changes, holidays, and consumer spending habits. As spring arrives, employment peaks at florists, nurseries, hardware stores, and tour operators, as these industries fill the needs of gardeners, vacationers, and people buying flowers for Mother's Day.

Employment in selected private-sector industries, not seasonally adjusted, January 2009–February 2015
Month Index (January 2009 = 100)
Car washes Caterers and mobile food services Florists Hardware stores Home centers Landscaping services Limited service restaurants Nursery, garden, and farm supply stores Office of certified public accountants Tax preparation services Tour operators

Jan 2009

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Feb 2009

102.2 99.0 108.7 98.4 100.4 96.4 100.1 101.3 102.3 108.2 95.5

Mar 2009

103.5 103.5 97.1 97.7 101.1 101.6 101.5 111.6 102.4 97.4 101.6

Apr 2009

103.9 102.0 100.9 98.9 104.0 123.4 102.8 132.4 100.9 93.2 101.6

May 2009

104.8 114.2 110.7 100.2 106.4 137.0 104.3 145.5 96.3 30.0 107.7

Jun 2009

105.1 121.5 103.0 101.1 105.4 140.7 104.9 144.4 95.2 23.6 108.1

Jul 2009

102.8 119.2 96.3 100.5 102.3 140.4 104.7 132.9 95.5 20.8 104.5

Aug 2009

101.8 118.1 94.4 100.1 99.8 137.5 104.4 125.6 94.7 20.6 106.1

Sep 2009

100.2 118.2 92.7 97.1 98.0 133.2 102.1 120.3 94.6 21.1 102.8

Oct 2009

98.4 118.5 94.3 96.7 97.5 130.1 100.8 117.2 95.4 23.8 100.0

Nov 2009

98.3 109.6 92.3 96.1 97.2 124.0 100.7 110.4 94.9 29.1 100.0

Dec 2009

95.9 111.8 95.8 97.3 96.5 107.8 99.9 107.1 95.2 58.7 94.3

Jan 2010

96.0 91.1 88.2 94.6 96.1 92.7 97.6 94.9 93.9 113.9 91.1

Feb 2010

96.7 92.3 97.6 93.4 98.6 93.5 97.3 96.8 96.8 116.4 88.2

Mar 2010

101.2 101.2 88.8 93.9 103.0 96.2 99.5 109.2 97.8 95.5 93.9

Apr 2010

103.5 105.0 92.5 94.8 106.9 122.5 101.1 131.7 97.4 90.4 94.3

May 2010

103.9 118.3 100.8 96.6 109.1 134.4 102.9 139.5 92.2 24.1 95.1

Jun 2010

102.8 124.6 92.6 97.7 104.9 139.8 103.6 137.4 91.9 18.7 101.2

Jul 2010

102.1 119.1 90.3 97.6 101.9 140.3 103.4 129.3 91.6 15.9 96.7

Aug 2010

101.8 122.2 88.2 96.4 100.4 137.5 103.5 123.1 91.4 16.7 95.1

Sep 2010

101.3 124.0 87.8 93.9 98.7 132.6 102.0 121.0 89.8 15.6 93.9

Oct 2010

101.8 125.5 86.4 93.2 97.8 129.7 101.9 121.4 90.8 16.1 97.6

Nov 2010

100.1 118.2 86.5 93.7 97.3 123.0 101.6 117.8 90.9 33.2 95.5

Dec 2010

97.5 122.9 87.8 94.0 97.1 109.4 101.3 115.3 91.3 53.7 98.0

Jan 2011

98.4 95.3 83.1 91.2 96.9 96.3 99.2 102.9 93.1 91.7 93.1

Feb 2011

102.2 98.5 91.7 90.9 97.8 94.8 99.8 108.4 96.9 97.2 94.7

Mar 2011

104.5 104.6 84.9 91.7 103.1 100.3 102.0 119.6 97.9 91.7 97.2

Apr 2011

105.2 115.3 86.4 94.0 108.5 124.4 104.0 142.5 97.2 87.9 101.6

May 2011

105.8 124.6 94.3 95.9 109.6 136.5 105.9 153.8 92.1 38.2 102.8

Jun 2011

107.2 131.4 87.8 97.6 107.7 141.7 106.7 151.1 91.7 31.6 103.7

Jul 2011

106.6 126.9 85.3 96.9 104.7 143.1 106.2 140.3 92.2 24.3 104.9

Aug 2011

106.6 130.6 83.3 96.6 102.4 139.3 106.4 136.2 91.5 21.7 102.0

Sep 2011

106.2 132.4 84.3 95.1 100.4 135.2 105.1 131.9 91.3 19.0 101.2

Oct 2011

105.8 132.8 84.4 95.2 100.1 133.3 104.8 130.6 92.3 19.5 99.6

Nov 2011

105.2 127.2 85.3 94.6 100.3 126.4 104.9 128.2 92.6 23.2 99.6

Dec 2011

105.0 127.7 86.5 94.7 100.0 110.6 104.6 124.1 93.5 55.2 100.0

Jan 2012

106.1 98.6 81.2 92.2 99.9 97.5 102.8 111.1 95.6 96.4 95.5

Feb 2012

105.9 103.9 97.0 91.2 102.2 96.6 103.8 113.9 99.1 103.8 95.9

Mar 2012

107.5 109.1 83.6 93.4 107.8 106.4 106.1 126.0 100.3 90.0 100.8

Apr 2012

109.0 115.6 87.3 96.1 112.5 128.9 107.9 146.2 99.5 85.4 100.8

May 2012

110.6 128.9 96.8 97.9 113.6 139.0 109.3 156.5 94.6 29.0 99.6

Jun 2012

109.4 135.6 89.0 98.0 111.5 143.9 110.6 153.4 94.2 21.9 100.4

Jul 2012

108.2 128.3 86.1 98.4 108.8 143.2 110.5 145.6 95.0 18.0 99.6

Aug 2012

108.5 130.9 83.6 96.8 105.9 139.4 110.5 136.8 94.7 17.9 99.2

Sep 2012

108.5 132.8 85.3 96.0 103.6 136.9 109.6 134.5 94.1 17.8 96.7

Oct 2012

107.8 134.0 84.8 95.7 102.6 134.9 109.3 135.3 95.4 18.5 97.6

Nov 2012

108.8 125.9 86.2 95.6 102.7 127.4 109.5 132.8 95.2 23.8 97.2

Dec 2012

106.2 130.8 88.1 96.3 102.6 112.3 109.6 129.0 96.4 49.6 96.3

Jan 2013

106.2 105.1 81.2 93.3 102.6 98.1 108.0 112.1 97.4 84.3 90.7

Feb 2013

108.2 105.8 96.7 93.0 105.3 100.4 108.4 114.2 101.5 93.0 93.9

Mar 2013

110.8 113.9 82.8 93.5 109.1 107.5 110.2 126.4 102.6 86.2 102.8

Apr 2013

113.2 123.0 87.0 95.4 114.0 128.6 112.3 148.2 101.4 83.2 111.0

May 2013

114.2 133.2 96.8 96.7 115.9 142.5 114.6 164.8 96.9 28.8 111.4

Jun 2013

113.3 139.0 87.6 99.3 114.0 148.3 115.8 162.1 97.0 23.4 113.0

Jul 2013

111.8 131.5 84.1 98.8 111.8 149.2 116.0 153.8 97.8 21.3 107.7

Aug 2013

111.9 133.9 81.3 98.6 108.9 147.0 116.1 148.3 97.6 21.7 106.9

Sep 2013

112.8 135.1 82.5 96.5 107.2 142.3 114.5 145.6 96.8 22.0 106.5

Oct 2013

111.7 136.5 82.9 97.0 107.2 139.0 114.3 144.6 98.5 23.2 108.9

Nov 2013

110.1 129.8 82.8 98.0 107.0 132.5 114.6 139.7 98.1 31.7 105.3

Dec 2013

109.2 135.9 84.9 98.5 105.9 117.1 114.3 134.4 99.0 40.6 105.3

Jan 2014

110.8 107.3 79.8 96.7 104.3 104.2 112.6 119.3 100.4 78.8 97.2

Feb 2014

111.2 111.3 90.9 95.6 106.4 106.1 112.7 122.0 104.4 92.0 105.3

Mar 2014

117.3 116.3 81.0 96.7 110.4 111.6 114.8 131.5 105.2 85.0 106.5

Apr 2014

117.3 126.7 84.1 99.7 115.7 132.5 117.2 156.4 104.0 81.1 111.4

May 2014

118.8 140.1 92.9 101.9 116.9 146.2 119.2 172.5 98.9 29.0 114.6

Jun 2014

118.5 143.4 85.7 101.8 115.4 152.8 120.1 170.3 98.8 26.0 112.2

Jul 2014

118.4 134.7 82.3 102.0 112.8 153.3 120.1 161.0 99.8 23.5 109.8

Aug 2014

116.4 139.3 82.1 101.4 109.0 150.5 120.0 151.2 100.0 23.5 108.9

Sep 2014

116.8 145.6 82.8 100.5 106.7 145.7 118.5 148.2 99.2 23.8 111.8

Oct 2014

115.7 146.5 84.3 100.7 106.0 142.8 118.4 148.8 100.9 25.3 111.0

Nov 2014

115.2 137.1 85.1 101.5 106.2 135.2 118.6 143.4 100.5 33.3 110.6

Dec 2014

114.7 147.3 85.7 101.2 105.7 119.1 118.4 138.8 102.0 53.7 109.3

Jan 2015

115.8 115.9 80.4 100.1 104.6 107.1 117.0 125.1 103.2 92.5 100.8

Feb 2015(p)

120.2 117.6 91.5 99.7 107.1 107.0 117.7 128.0 107.4 103.5 102.8
Footnotes:

(p) preliminary.

Employment in selected private-sector industries, not seasonally adjusted, January 2009–February 2015
Month Employment
Car washes Caterers and mobile food services Florists Hardware stores Home centers Landscaping services Limited service restaurants Nursery, garden, and farm supply stores Office of certified public accountants Tax preparation services Tour operators

Jan 2009

130,000 135,500 75,600 147,300 619,300 509,000 3,374,000 81,800 427,900 208,000 24,600

Feb 2009

132,900 134,200 82,200 144,900 621,600 490,800 3,375,700 82,900 437,600 225,100 23,500

Mar 2009

134,600 140,200 73,400 143,900 626,100 517,300 3,423,300 91,300 438,200 202,500 25,000

Apr 2009

135,100 138,200 76,300 145,700 644,000 627,900 3,470,100 108,300 431,600 193,900 25,000

May 2009

136,200 154,800 83,700 147,600 659,200 697,500 3,519,700 119,000 412,100 62,400 26,500

Jun 2009

136,600 164,600 77,900 148,900 652,900 716,300 3,539,700 118,100 407,500 49,000 26,600

Jul 2009

133,600 161,500 72,800 148,000 633,500 714,700 3,531,700 108,700 408,700 43,200 25,700

Aug 2009

132,300 160,000 71,400 147,400 617,800 699,700 3,522,300 102,700 405,200 42,900 26,100

Sep 2009

130,200 160,200 70,100 143,000 607,100 677,900 3,443,900 98,400 404,700 43,900 25,300

Oct 2009

127,900 160,600 71,300 142,400 603,600 662,200 3,401,400 95,900 408,200 49,400 24,600

Nov 2009

127,800 148,500 69,800 141,500 601,900 631,100 3,398,600 90,300 406,200 60,500 24,600

Dec 2009

124,700 151,500 72,400 143,300 597,900 548,700 3,369,200 87,600 407,500 122,100 23,200

Jan 2010

124,800 123,400 66,700 139,300 595,300 472,000 3,292,400 77,600 401,600 237,000 22,400

Feb 2010

125,700 125,100 73,800 137,600 610,700 475,900 3,281,600 79,200 414,200 242,200 21,700

Mar 2010

131,600 137,100 67,100 138,300 638,100 489,900 3,356,500 89,300 418,700 198,600 23,100

Apr 2010

134,500 142,300 69,900 139,700 662,000 623,400 3,411,100 107,700 416,600 188,000 23,200

May 2010

135,100 160,300 76,200 142,300 675,500 684,300 3,470,600 114,100 394,500 50,100 23,400

Jun 2010

133,600 168,800 70,000 143,900 649,800 711,500 3,494,800 112,400 393,200 38,900 24,900

Jul 2010

132,700 161,400 68,300 143,800 630,800 714,100 3,489,500 105,800 391,800 33,000 23,800

Aug 2010

132,300 165,600 66,700 142,000 621,500 699,700 3,492,800 100,700 391,000 34,800 23,400

Sep 2010

131,700 168,000 66,400 138,300 611,300 674,800 3,442,500 99,000 384,300 32,400 23,100

Oct 2010

132,300 170,100 65,300 137,300 605,700 660,400 3,437,100 99,300 388,600 33,400 24,000

Nov 2010

130,100 160,100 65,400 138,000 602,800 625,900 3,426,700 96,400 388,800 69,100 23,500

Dec 2010

126,700 166,500 66,400 138,500 601,200 556,800 3,417,100 94,300 390,700 111,700 24,100

Jan 2011

127,900 129,100 62,800 134,400 600,100 490,400 3,348,600 84,200 398,200 190,800 22,900

Feb 2011

132,900 133,400 69,300 133,900 605,600 482,600 3,366,200 88,700 414,500 202,200 23,300

Mar 2011

135,900 141,700 64,200 135,100 638,800 510,500 3,442,100 97,800 418,900 190,700 23,900

Apr 2011

136,700 156,200 65,300 138,500 672,100 633,400 3,507,800 116,600 416,000 182,800 25,000

May 2011

137,500 168,900 71,300 141,200 678,900 694,700 3,573,800 125,800 393,900 79,400 25,300

Jun 2011

139,300 178,100 66,400 143,800 666,700 721,000 3,601,600 123,600 392,200 65,800 25,500

Jul 2011

138,600 171,900 64,500 142,700 648,700 728,200 3,583,500 114,800 394,600 50,600 25,800

Aug 2011

138,600 177,000 63,000 142,300 634,000 708,800 3,590,500 111,400 391,600 45,200 25,100

Sep 2011

138,000 179,400 63,700 140,100 622,000 688,300 3,544,400 107,900 390,600 39,600 24,900

Oct 2011

137,500 179,900 63,800 140,300 620,200 678,500 3,535,600 106,800 394,800 40,600 24,500

Nov 2011

136,700 172,400 64,500 139,400 621,400 643,600 3,540,400 104,900 396,200 48,200 24,500

Dec 2011

136,500 173,000 65,400 139,500 619,000 563,000 3,528,800 101,500 399,900 114,900 24,600

Jan 2012

137,900 133,600 61,400 135,800 618,800 496,100 3,470,100 90,900 409,200 200,600 23,500

Feb 2012

137,700 140,800 73,300 134,400 632,900 491,900 3,500,600 93,200 424,200 215,900 23,600

Mar 2012

139,700 147,800 63,200 137,600 667,600 541,500 3,580,000 103,100 429,300 187,200 24,800

Apr 2012

141,700 156,600 66,000 141,500 696,800 656,200 3,639,100 119,600 425,700 177,700 24,800

May 2012

143,800 174,700 73,200 144,200 703,600 707,700 3,688,700 128,000 404,600 60,300 24,500

Jun 2012

142,200 183,700 67,300 144,400 690,400 732,700 3,731,200 125,500 403,100 45,600 24,700

Jul 2012

140,700 173,800 65,100 145,000 673,600 728,700 3,729,200 119,100 406,400 37,400 24,500

Aug 2012

141,000 177,400 63,200 142,600 655,800 709,300 3,728,900 111,900 405,200 37,300 24,400

Sep 2012

141,000 179,900 64,500 141,400 641,800 696,800 3,696,600 110,000 402,800 37,000 23,800

Oct 2012

140,200 181,600 64,100 141,000 635,600 686,600 3,687,700 110,700 408,300 38,500 24,000

Nov 2012

141,500 170,600 65,200 140,800 636,100 648,600 3,693,200 108,600 407,400 49,500 23,900

Dec 2012

138,000 177,200 66,600 141,800 635,200 571,500 3,698,600 105,500 412,600 103,200 23,700

Jan 2013

138,100 142,400 61,400 137,400 635,400 499,200 3,642,400 91,700 416,700 175,300 22,300

Feb 2013

140,700 143,400 73,100 137,000 651,900 510,800 3,657,300 93,400 434,300 193,500 23,100

Mar 2013

144,000 154,400 62,600 137,700 675,700 547,000 3,717,700 103,400 439,200 179,300 25,300

Apr 2013

147,200 166,600 65,800 140,500 706,200 654,500 3,790,000 121,200 433,700 173,100 27,300

May 2013

148,500 180,500 73,200 142,500 717,700 725,200 3,866,300 134,800 414,800 59,800 27,400

Jun 2013

147,300 188,300 66,200 146,300 706,100 754,800 3,907,400 132,600 415,000 48,600 27,800

Jul 2013

145,300 178,200 63,600 145,500 692,200 759,500 3,915,200 125,800 418,600 44,200 26,500

Aug 2013

145,500 181,400 61,500 145,300 674,300 748,300 3,915,700 121,300 417,600 45,100 26,300

Sep 2013

146,600 183,000 62,400 142,100 664,100 724,100 3,862,500 119,100 414,100 45,700 26,200

Oct 2013

145,200 185,000 62,700 142,900 664,100 707,500 3,855,500 118,300 421,600 48,200 26,800

Nov 2013

143,100 175,900 62,600 144,300 662,400 674,300 3,865,000 114,300 419,800 66,000 25,900

Dec 2013

142,000 184,100 64,200 145,100 655,800 596,000 3,855,800 109,900 423,600 84,500 25,900

Jan 2014

144,000 145,400 60,300 142,400 645,800 530,500 3,799,600 97,600 429,500 163,800 23,900

Feb 2014

144,500 150,800 68,700 140,800 658,700 540,300 3,803,300 99,800 446,600 191,300 25,900

Mar 2014

152,500 157,600 61,200 142,500 683,700 568,100 3,873,400 107,600 450,000 176,700 26,200

Apr 2014

152,500 171,700 63,600 146,900 716,400 674,400 3,955,100 127,900 445,200 168,700 27,400

May 2014

154,500 189,800 70,200 150,100 723,800 744,400 4,020,300 141,100 423,100 60,400 28,200

Jun 2014

154,100 194,300 64,800 149,900 714,700 777,900 4,053,300 139,300 422,900 54,000 27,600

Jul 2014

153,900 182,500 62,200 150,200 698,800 780,200 4,051,700 131,700 427,000 48,900 27,000

Aug 2014

151,300 188,800 62,100 149,400 674,800 765,900 4,050,400 123,700 427,700 48,800 26,800

Sep 2014

151,900 197,300 62,600 148,000 660,500 741,800 3,997,300 121,200 424,600 49,500 27,500

Oct 2014

150,400 198,500 63,700 148,300 656,700 727,000 3,995,600 121,700 431,700 52,700 27,300

Nov 2014

149,800 185,800 64,300 149,500 657,600 688,300 4,000,800 117,300 430,000 69,200 27,200

Dec 2014

149,100 199,600 64,800 149,000 654,400 606,000 3,993,700 113,500 436,600 111,600 26,900

Jan 2015

150,500 157,000 60,800 147,500 647,700 545,100 3,946,100 102,300 441,500 192,400 24,800

Feb 2015(p)

156,200 159,300 69,200 146,800 663,500 544,800 3,972,600 104,700 459,700 215,300 25,300
Footnotes:

(p) preliminary.

Home centers and nursery, garden, and farm supply stores typically reach their highest employment levels in May and their lowest levels in January. Since 2009, employment in nursery, garden, and farm supply stores has increased at least 40 percent from its low point to its peak. Employment in both industries has risen since 2010. In May 2014, employment peaked at 141,000 in nursery, garden, and farm supply stores and 723,800 in home centers.

Employment at florists peaks twice each year, typically in February for Valentine's Day and May for Mother's Day. Employment at florists has fallen in recent years. At its latest peak in May 2014, employment was 70,200, down from 83,700 in May 2009.

In the spring, many people think about filing their income tax forms by the April deadline and taking care of their lawns and gardens. As a result, they may associate tax preparation services, offices of certified public accountants, and landscaping services with the spring. Employment in these industries does not typically peak in the spring, however. Employment in tax preparation services and accountants’ offices typically peak in winter. Tax preparation services have especially large seasonal employment swings. In 2014, tax preparation services employment peaked in February at 191,300 and reached its low point in August at 48,800. Employment in landscaping services rises rapidly in the spring but doesn’t reach its peak until summer.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and are not seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. You can find data for these and other industries using the CES Databases tools. 

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Industries with spring employment peaks at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2015/industries-with-spring-employment-peaks.htm (visited March 29, 2024).

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