New York-New Jersey Information Office

For release: Thursday, June 30, 2011

NYLS -7495

Technical information: Martin Kohli (646) 264-3620 • BLSInfoNY@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ro2
Media contact:           Michael L. Dolfman (212) 337-2500

AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS IN NEW YORK – MAY 2011

 

Average weekly earnings for all employees on private sector payrolls in New York State increased $18.92 (or 2.1 percent) to $909.04 from May 2010 to May 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart 1.) The average work week lengthened by 0.2 hour (0.6 percent) to 34.2 hours, and average hourly earnings rose $0.40 (1.5 percent) to $26.58. Regional Commissioner Michael L. Dolfman pointed out that the percentage rise in New York average weekly wages was not as large as the gain in the United States. From May a year ago, average weekly earnings in the nation rose 2.6 percent to $798.57, and hours for all employees edged up 0.6 percent; average hourly earnings increased 2.0 percent. (All data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year analysis is used throughout.)

 

New York industries

Earnings. In May, information recorded the highest average weekly earnings for all employees ($1,380.83), followed by financial activities ($1,307.21), professional and business services ($1,226.88), and construction ($1,190.69). (See table 1.) On an hourly basis, the rankings were the same—information ($39.34) had the highest earnings among New York's private industry supersectors, followed by financial activities ($35.14) and professional and business services ($34.56).

Seven of the nine private industry supersectors in New York had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages. Information wages rose $117.81 (or 9.3 percent), and manufacturing and education and health services recorded the next largest increases, $49.65 and $39.30, or 5.4 percent, for each. Other services, with a 4.3-percent increase, was the only other supersector posting a percentage gain that exceeded 2.0 percent. At the other end of the spectrum, weekly earnings dropped in two supersectors—financial activities (-2.0 percent) and leisure and hospitality (-2.1 percent). (See chart 2.)

Nationally, all nine private industry supersectors recorded higher average weekly wages, led by information, with a 4.1-percent gain. Education and health services followed, with a 3.2-percent increase. Four other supersectors registered increases exceeding 2.0 percent. (Changes in earnings in national industries are available at www.bls.gov/data.)

Hours. Among all private industry supersectors in New York, manufacturing reported the longest average workweek in May 2011, 40.0 hours. (See table 2.) Construction had the next highest weekly average, 37.8 hours, followed by financial activities, with 37.2. Leisure and hospitality (27.4) had the shortest workweek and was the only industry with an average workweek under 30 hours.

Over the year, five New York supersectors experienced a rise in average hours, with construction and information each posting an increase of 1.5 hours. Other services followed, with a gain of 1.1 hours. The length of the workweek was unchanged in financial activities and in professional and business services. Two supersectors experienced a shortening of the workweek—hours dipped by 0.3 in trade, transportation, and utilities, and by 0.6 hour in leisure and hospitality. Nationally, seven of the supersectors registered lengthier workweeks, with construction recording the largest increase (0.8 hours). In manufacturing and other services, the workweek was unchanged.

New York metropolitan areas

Earnings. Among the 12 metropolitan statistical areas in New York, weekly earnings for all employees ranged from $995.28 in New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island to $572.24 in Elmira. (See table 3.) Besides New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, four other metropolitan areas in New York State had weekly averages that exceeded $800—Albany-Schenectady-Troy ($870.00), Binghamton ($817.60), Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown ($810.52), and Syracuse ($807.36). On an hourly basis, New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island and Albany-Schenectady-Troy wages ranked first and second, at $28.60 and $25.00, respectively, and Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown followed, with a $23.98 average.

Over the year, average weekly earnings rose in eight metropolitan areas, led by Ithaca, which registered an increase of $82.57 (13.5 percent). Albany-Schenectady-Troy and Pougheepsie-Newburgh-Middletowon followed, with increases of $77.72 (9.8 percent) and $43.93 (5.7 percent), respectively. On an hourly basis, earnings in Ithaca rose 10.1 percent, followed by a 6.1-percent gain in Kingston and a 5.7-percent gain in Albany-Schenectady-Troy.

Weekly earnings decreased in four metropolitan areas: Utica-Rome had a $33.15 (5.1 percent) loss followed by Rochester, with a $20.40 decline (5.1 percent). Binghamton and Syracuse each recorded declines of less than 0.5 percent. On an hourly basis, Rochester registered the largest percentage decline (3.9 percent).

Hours. Average weekly hours for all employees ranged from 34.8 in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, and Syracuse to 31.1 hours in Elmira. (See table 4.) New York City, part of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island metropolitan area, posted a 34.9-hour average. From May a year ago, average hours rose in 6 of the 12 areas, with Elmira recording the largest increase, up 1.5 hour, followed by Albany-Schenectady-Troy, up 1.3 hour. The workweek was unchanged over the year in Buffalo-Niagara Falls and New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island. Declines in the workweek, reported for the other four areas, were led by Utica-Rome, with a 0.7-hour decrease. (See chart 3.)

State comparisons

Earnings. In May 2011, New York's average weekly earnings of $909.04 ranked sixth highest in the nation. The District of Columbia, with a $1,273.76 average, ranked first, followed by Washington ($967.65), Connecticut ($960.50), and California ($953.12). At the bottom of the ranking were Arkansas ($648.46), Mississippi ($654.40), and South Dakota ($654.44). On an hourly basis, average earnings for all employees in New York also ranked sixth.

Over the year, New York was 1 of 38 states and the District of Columbia with an increase in average weekly earnings. For average hourly earnings, 37 states, including New York, and the District of Columbia experienced an over-the-year increase in May 2011.

Hours. The average workweek for all private sector employees in New York was 34.2 hours, ranking 36th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. (See table 5.) Texas, with a 37.0-hour workweek, ranked first, followed by Louisiana and Mississippi. The shortest average workweeks among the states were recorded in New Hampshire (33.1 hours) and Massachusetts (33.2). New York was 1 of 32 states and the District of Columbia to register lengthier work weeks in May 2011 compared to one year earlier.

TECHNICAL NOTE

The Current Employment Statistics (CES) Survey, conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a monthly survey of more than 400,000 business establishments. The BLS recently expanded payroll and hours measures derived from the Current Employment Statistics survey to cover all employees of private nonfarm establishments for the Nation, each State, and more than 400 metropolitan areas.

National estimates of hours and earnings for all employees were first published as experimental series in March 2007, and these series became official CES estimates in 2010.

State and area estimates of all-employee payroll were first published in March 2010. All-employee hours and earnings data are available for 1) all statewide supersectors (major industry divisions) that have sufficient sample, and for 2) each Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) at the total private-industry level. These series start in January 2007. State and area hours and earnings data are not seasonally adjusted.

The new data series cover all paid, private-sector employees, including production and supervisory employees. Respondents report total hours for which all employees received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. Total hours during the pay period include all hours worked (including overtime hours) and hours paid for holidays, vacations, and sick leave. The concept of total hours differs from scheduled hours worked. The average weekly hours reflects effects of numerous factors such as unpaid absenteeism, labor turnover, part-time work, strikes, and fluctuations in work schedules for economic reasons. Manufacturing firms also report total overtime hours for employees who receive overtime premiums for hours beyond their regular hours.

Total gross pay earned during the entire pay period (before deductions) is also reported. Included in the payroll reports is pay for overtime, vacations, holidays and sick leave paid directly by the firm. Bonuses, commissions, and other non-wage cash payments are excluded unless they are earned and paid regularly—at least once a month. Employee benefits paid by the employer, tips, and payments in kind also are excluded. Average weekly earnings are the product of average weekly hours and average hourly earnings. For more information about data collection and survey methodology, see www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch2_a.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

For personal assistance or further information on average earnings data, as well as other Bureau products, contact the New York-New Jersey Information Office at (646) 264-3600 from 9:00a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.