For release 10:00 a.m. (EST), Wednesday, November 8, 2017 USDL-17-1481
Technical Information: (202) 691-6553 * BDMInfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/bdm
Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS – FIRST QUARTER 2017
From December 2016 to March 2017, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector
establishments were 7.3 million, a decrease of 127,000 jobs over the quarter, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. Over this period, gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector
establishments were 6.7 million, a decrease of 391,000 jobs from the previous quarter. The difference
between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment
gain of 654,000 jobs in the private-sector during the first quarter of 2017. (See tables A and 1.)
The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment
that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics
track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter
to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of
gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See Technical Note.) The BED data series include
gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by
employer size class.
Gross Job Gains
In the first quarter of 2017, gross job gains represented 6.0 percent of private-sector employment. Gross
job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the
addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 6.0
million in the first quarter of 2017, a decrease of 21,000 compared to the previous quarter. Opening
establishments accounted for 1.3 million of the jobs gained in the first quarter of 2017, a decrease of
106,000 jobs from the previous quarter. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)
Gross Job Losses
In the first quarter of 2017, gross job losses represented 5.4 percent of private-sector employment. Gross
job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at
closing establishments. Contracting establishments lost 5.5 million jobs in the first quarter of 2017, a
decrease of 239,000 jobs from the prior quarter. In the first quarter of 2017, closing establishments lost
1.2 million jobs, a decrease of 152,000 jobs from the previous quarter. (See tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)
Establishment Births and Deaths
In the first quarter of 2017, the number of establishment births (a subset of the openings data, see the
Technical Note for more information) increased by 1,000, to a total of 240,000 establishments. These
new establishments accounted for 800,000 jobs, a decrease of 68,000 jobs from the previous quarter.
Data for establishment deaths (a subset of the closings data) are available through the second quarter of
2016, when 724,000 jobs were lost at 214,000 establishments. (See table 8.)
Industries
Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 12 of 13 industries in the first quarter of 2017. The service-
providing industries experienced a net job increase of 451,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2017. Within
service-providing industries, leisure and hospitality had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase,
with a gain of 172,000 jobs. The net job increase in leisure and hospitality was the result of 1.3 million
gross job gains and 1.1 million gross job losses. The transportation and warehousing industry had the
only net job decrease over the quarter. The goods-producing industries experienced a net job increase of
203,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2017. All of the goods-producing industries had positive net gains.
Construction added 125,000 jobs, natural resources and mining added 55,000 jobs, and manufacturing
added 23,000 jobs. (See table 3.)
Table A. Three-month private sector gross job gains and losses, seasonally adjusted
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3 months ended
Category | Mar. | June | Sept. | Dec. | Mar.
| 2016 | 2016 | 2016 | 2016 | 2017
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------
Gross job gains......................... | 7,139 | 7,453 | 7,689 | 7,455 | 7,328
At expanding establishments...... | 5,855 | 6,083 | 6,232 | 6,040 | 6,019
At opening establishments........ | 1,284 | 1,370 | 1,457 | 1,415 | 1,309
| | | | |
Gross job losses........................ | 6,883 | 7,157 | 7,008 | 7,065 | 6,674
At contracting establishments.... | 5,685 | 5,847 | 5,760 | 5,760 | 5,521
At closing establishments........ | 1,198 | 1,310 | 1,248 | 1,305 | 1,153
| | | | |
Net employment change (1)............... | 256 | 296 | 681 | 390 | 654
| | | | |
|--------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------
Gross job gains......................... | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.0
At expanding establishments...... | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.9
At opening establishments........ | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1
| | | | |
Gross job losses........................ | 5.7 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.4
At contracting establishments.... | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.5
At closing establishments........ | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9
| | | | |
Net employment change (1)............... | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross
job losses. See the Technical Note for further information.
Firm Size
In the first quarter of 2017, firms with 1-49 employees had a net employment gain of 369,000. Firms
with 50-249 employees had a net employment gain of 197,000. Firms with 250 or more employees had a
net employment gain of 120,000. Of the 2.0 million net jobs created over the last four quarters, firms
with 1-49 employees contributed 33.8 percent of net job growth, while firms with 50-249 employees
contributed 22.5 percent, and firms with 250 or more employees contributed 43.7 percent. (See tables 4
and 5.)
States
Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 44 states and the District of Columbia in the first quarter of
2017. Over this period, 27 states exceeded the U.S. rate of gross job gains as a percent of employment,
which was 6.0 percent. Alaska had the highest rate of gross job gains as a percent of employment at 9.4
percent. Hawaii, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico had the lowest rate of gross job gains as a percent of
employment at 5.1 percent. Alaska also had the highest rate of gross job losses as a percent of
employment at 9.8 percent, above the national rate of 5.4 percent. Minnesota and the District of
Columbia had the lowest rate of gross job losses as a percent of employment at 4.7 percent. (See tables 6
and 7.)
For More Information
Additional information on gross job gains and gross job losses is available online at www.bls.gov/bdm.
This information includes data on the levels and rates of gross job gains and gross job losses by firm
size, not seasonally adjusted data and other seasonally adjusted time series not presented in this release,
charts of gross job gains and gross job losses by industry and firm size, and frequently asked questions
on firm size data. Additional information about the Business Employment Dynamics data can be found
in the Technical Note of this release or can be obtained by emailing BDMinfo@bls.gov.
_____________
The Business Employment Dynamics for Second Quarter 2017 are scheduled to be released on
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Revisions to Business Employment Dynamics (BED) Data |
| |
| Data in this release incorporate annual revisions to the BED series. Annual revisions are published each |
| year with the release of first quarter data. These revisions cover the last four quarters of not |
| seasonally adjusted data and five years of seasonally adjusted data. |
| |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Note
The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative
program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are
compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most
employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of
workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW
is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce
Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to
render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and
form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.
These reports are used to produce the quarterly QCEW data on total employment and wages and
the longitudinal BED data on gross job gains and losses. The QCEW is also the employment
benchmark for the Current Employment Statistics (CES), Occupational Employment Statistics
(OES), and Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) programs and is a major input to
the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Personal Income Accounts.
In the BED program, the quarterly QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a
longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net
employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained
at opening and expanding units and jobs lost at closing and contracting units.
Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES employment measures
The Bureau publishes three different establishment-based employment measures for any given
quarter. Each of these measures—Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Business
Employment Dynamics (BED), and Current Employment Statistics (CES)—makes use of the
quarterly UI employment reports in producing data; however, each measure has a somewhat
different universe coverage, estimation procedure, and publication product.
Differences in coverage and estimation methods can result in somewhat different measures of
employment change over time. It is important to understand program differences and the intended
uses of the program products. (See table.) Additional information on each program can be obtained
from the program websites shown in the table.
Summary of Major Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES Employment Measures
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| QCEW | BED | CES
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Source |--Count of UI admini-|--Count of longitudi- |--Sample survey:
| strative records | nally-linked UI ad- | 634,000 establish-
| submitted by 9.9 | ministrative records| ments
| million establish- | submitted by 7.9 |
| ments | million private sec-|
| | tor establishments |
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Coverage |--UI and UCFE cover- |--UI Coverage, exclud-|Nonfarm wage and salary
| age: all employers| ing government, pri-| jobs:
| subject to state | vate households, and|--UI Coverage, exclud-
| and federal UI Laws| establishments with | ing agriculture, pri-
| | zero employment | vate households, and
| | | self-employed workers
| | |--other employment,
| | | including railroads,
| | | religious organiza-
| | | tions, and other non-
| | | UI-covered jobs
| | |
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Publication|--Quarterly |--Quarterly |--Monthly
frequency | -6 months after the| -7 months after the | -—Usually the 3rd
| end of each quar- | end of each quarter| Friday after the end
| ter | | of the week including
| | | the 12th of the month
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Use of UI |--Directly summarizes|--Links each new UI |--Uses UI file as a sam-
file | and publishes each | quarter to longitu- | pling frame and to ann-
| new quarter of UI | dinal database and | ually realign sample-
| data | directly summarizes | based estimates to pop-
| | gross job gains and | ulation counts (bench-
| | losses | marking)
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Principal |--Provides a quarter-|--Provides quarterly |--Provides current month-
products | ly and annual uni- | employer dynamics | ly estimates of employ-
| verse count of es- | data on establish- | ment, hours, and earn-
| tablishments, em- | ment openings, clos-| ings at the MSA, state,
| ployment, and wages| ings, expansions, | and national level by
| at the county, MSA,| and contractions at | industry
| State, and national| the national level |
| levels by detailed | by NAICS super- |
| industry | sectors,3-digit |
| | NAICS, and by size |
| | of firm, and at the |
| | state private-sector|
| | total level |
| |--Future expansions |
| | will include |
| | data with greater |
| | industry detail and |
| | data at the county |
| | and MSA level |
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Principal |--Major uses include:|--Major uses include: |--Major uses include:
uses | -Detailed locality | -Business cycle | -Principal federal
| data | analysis | economic indicator
| -Periodic universe | -Analysis of employ-| -Official time series
| counts for bench- | er dynamics under- | for employment change
| marking sample | lying economic ex- | measures
| survey estimates | pansions and con- | -Input into other ma-
| -Sample frame for | tractions | jor economic indi-
| BLS establishment | -Analysis of employ-| cators
| surveys | ment expansion and |
| | contraction by size|
| | of firm |
-----------|---------------------|----------------------|------------------------
Program |--www.bls.gov/cew/ |--www.bls.gov/bdm/ |--www.bls.gov/ces/
Web sites | | |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coverage
Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI and Unemployment Compensation for
Federal Employees (UCFE) laws are compiled from quarterly contribution reports submitted to the
SWAs by employers. In addition to the quarterly contribution reports, employers who operate
multiple establishments within a state complete a questionnaire, called the “Multiple Worksite
Report,” which provides detailed information on the location of their establishments. These reports
are based on place of employment rather than place of residence. UI and UCFE coverage is broad
and basically comparable from state to state.
Major exclusions from UI coverage are self-employed workers, religious organizations, most
agricultural workers on small farms, all members of the Armed Forces, elected officials in most
states, most employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most student workers at schools, and
employees of certain small nonprofit organizations.
Gross job gains and gross job losses in this release are derived from longitudinal histories of 7.9
million private sector employer reports out of 9.9 million total reports of employment and wages
submitted by states to BLS in the first quarter of 2017. Gross job gains and gross job losses data in
this release do not report estimates for government employees or private households (NAICS
814110) and do not include establishments with zero employment in both previous and current
quarters. Data from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are also excluded from the national data.
The table below shows, in millions of establishments, the number of establishments excluded from
the national gross job gains and gross job losses data in the first quarter 2017.
Number of active establishments included in
Business Employment Dynamics data at the national level
Total establishments QCEW program.................................................... 9.9
Excluded: Public sector............................................................ 0.3
Private households......................................................... 0.2
Zero employment............................................................ 1.5
Total establishments included in Business
Employment Dynamics data............................................................. 7.9
Unit of analysis
Establishments are used in the tabulation of the BED statistics by industry and firms are used in the
tabulation of the BED size class statistics. An establishment is defined as an economic unit that
produces goods or services, usually at a single physical location, and engages in one or
predominantly one activity. A firm is a legal business, either corporate or otherwise, and may
consist of several establishments. Firm-level data are compiled based on an aggregation of
establishments under common ownership by a corporate parent using employer tax identification
numbers. The firm level aggregation which is consistent with the role of corporations as the
economic decision makers are used for the measurement of the BED data elements by size class.
Because of the difference in the unit of analysis, total gross job gains and gross job losses by size
class are lower than total gross job gains and gross job losses by industry, as some establishment
gains and losses within a firm are offset during the aggregation process. However, the total net
changes in employment are the same for not seasonally adjusted data and are similar for seasonally
adjusted data.
Concepts and methodology
The Business Employment Dynamics data measure the net change in employment at the
establishment or firm level. These changes come about in one of four ways. A net increase in
employment can come from either opening units or expanding units. A net decrease in
employment can come from either closing units or contracting units. Gross job gains include the
sum of all jobs added at either opening or expanding units. Gross job losses include the sum of all
jobs lost in either closing or contracting units. The net change in employment is the difference
between gross job gains and gross job losses.
The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:
Openings. These are either units with positive third month employment for the first time in the
current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the
current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.
Expansions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and
current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.
Closings. These are either units with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with
no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.
Contractions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and
current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.
Births. These are units with positive third month employment for the first time in the current
quarter with no links to the prior quarter, or units with positive third month employment in the
current quarter and zero employment in the third month of the previous four quarters. Births are a
subset of openings not including re-openings of seasonal businesses.
Deaths. These are units with no employment or zero employment reported in the third month of
four consecutive quarters following the last quarter with positive employment. Deaths are a subset
of closings not including temporary shutdowns of seasonal businesses. A unit that closes during the
quarter may be a death, but we wait three quarters to determine whether it is a permanent closing
or a temporary shutdown. Therefore, there is always a lag of three quarters for the publication of
death statistics.
All employment changes are measured from the third month of the previous quarter to the third
month of the current quarter. Not all establishments and firms change their employment levels.
Units with no change in employment count towards estimates of total employment, but not for
levels of gross job gains and gross job losses.
Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average
of employment in the current and previous quarters. This provides a symmetric growth rate. The
rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to
form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For
instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net
growth rate.
Establishment Births and Deaths
For the purpose of BED statistics, births are defined as establishments that appear in the
longitudinal database for the first time with positive employment in the third month of a quarter, or
showed four consecutive quarters of zero employment in the third month followed by a quarter in
which it shows positive employment in the third month. Similarly, deaths are defined as
establishments that either drop out of the longitudinal database or an establishment that had
positive employment in the third month of a given quarter followed by four consecutive quarters of
showing zero employment in the third month. Although the data for establishment births and
deaths are tabulated independently from the data for openings and closings, the concepts are not
mutually exclusive. An establishment that is defined as a birth in a given quarter is necessarily an
opening as well, and an establishment defined as a death in a quarter must also be a closing. Since
openings include seasonal and other re-openings and closings include temporary shutdowns, the
not seasonally adjusted values for births and deaths must be less than those for openings and
closings. However, because some BED series do not have many re-openings or temporary
shutdowns, as well as the fact that births and deaths are independently seasonally adjusted from
openings and closings, there may be instances in which the seasonally adjusted value of the former
is greater than the latter.
Linkage methodology
Prior to the measurement of gross job gains and gross job losses, QCEW records are linked across
two quarters. The linkage process matches establishments' unique SWA identification numbers
(SWA-ID). Between 95 and 97 percent of establishments identified as continuous from quarter to
quarter are matched by SWA-ID. The rest are linked in one of three ways. The first method uses
predecessor and successor information, identified by the states, which relates records with different
SWA-IDs across quarters. Predecessor and successor relations can come about for a variety of
reasons, including a change in ownership, a firm restructuring, or a UI account restructuring. If a
match cannot be attained in this manner, a probability-based match is used. This match attempts to
identify two establishments with different SWA-IDs as continuous. The match is based upon
comparisons such as the same name, address, and phone number. Third, an analyst examines
unmatched records individually and makes a possible match.
In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, SWAs verify with employers and update, if
necessary, the industry, location, and ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year
cycle. Changes in establishment classification codes resulting from the verification process are
introduced with the data reported for the first quarter of the year. Changes resulting from improved
employer reporting also are introduced in the first quarter.
Sizing methodology
The method of dynamic sizing is used in calculations for the BED size class data series. Dynamic
sizing allocates each firm’s employment gain or loss during a quarter to each respective size class
in which the change occurred. For example, if a firm grew from 2 employees in quarter 1 to 38
employees in quarter 2, then, of the 36-employee increase, 2 would be allocated to the first size
class, 5 to the size class 5 to 9, 10 to size class 10 to 19, and 19 to size class 20 to 49.
Dynamic sizing provides symmetrical firm-size estimates and eliminates any systematic effects
which may be caused by the transitory and reverting changes in firms’ sizes over time.
Additionally, it allocates each job gain or loss to the actual size class where it occurred.
Annual Data
The annual gross job gains and gross job losses measure the net change in employment at the
establishment level from the third month of a quarter in the previous year to the third month of the
same quarter in the current year. The BLS publishes annual BED data based on March-to-March
changes once a year with the release of the first quarter BED data. The annual data based on over-
the-year changes for other quarters of the year are available upon request. The definitions and
methodology in measuring annual gross job gains and gross job losses are similar to the quarterly
measures. The linkage method considers all predecessor and successor relations that may come
about due to changes in ownership and corporate restructuring over the entire year. At the
establishment level, some of the quarterly job gains and job losses are offset during the estimation
over the year. Therefore, the sum of four quarters of gross job gains and gross job losses are not
equal to annual gross job gains and gross job losses. The net change in employment over the year,
however, is equal to the sum of four quarterly net changes on a not seasonally adjusted basis.
Seasonal adjustment
Over the course of a year, the levels of employment and the associated job flows undergo sharp
fluctuations due to such seasonal events as changes in the weather, reduced or expanded
production, harvests, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools. The effect of such
seasonal variation can be very large.
Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each year, their influence can
be eliminated by adjusting these statistics from quarter to quarter. These adjustments make
nonseasonal developments, such as declines in economic activity, easier to recognize. For
example, the large number of youths taking summer jobs is likely to obscure other changes that
have taken place in June relative to March, making it difficult to determine if the level of economic
activity has risen or declined. However, because the effect of students finishing school in previous
years is known, the statistics for the current year can be adjusted to allow for a comparable change.
The adjusted figures provide a more useful tool with which to analyze changes in economic
activity.
The employment data series for opening, expanding, closing, and contracting units are
independently seasonally adjusted; net changes are calculated based on the difference between
gross job gains and gross job losses. Similarly, for industry data, the establishment counts data
series for opening, expanding, closing, and contracting establishments are independently adjusted,
and the net changes are calculated based on the difference between the number of opening and
closing establishments. Additionally establishment and employment levels are independently
seasonally adjusted to calculate the seasonally adjusted rates. Concurrent seasonal adjustment is
run using X-13 ARIMA-SEATS. Seasonally adjusted data series for total private are the sum of
seasonally adjusted data of all sectors including the unclassified sector, which is not separately
published.
The net over-the-quarter change derived by summing the BED component series will differ from
the net employment change estimated from the seasonally adjusted total private employment series
from the CES program. The intended use of BED statistics is to show the dynamic labor market
changes that underlie the net employment change statistic. As such, data users interested
particularly in the net employment change and not in the gross job flows underlying this change
should refer to CES data for over-the-quarter net employment changes.
Reliability of the data
Since the data series on Business Employment Dynamics are based on administrative rather than
sample data, there are no issues related to sampling error. Nonsampling error, however, still exists.
Nonsampling errors can occur for many reasons, such as the employer submitting corrected
employment data after the end of the quarter or typographical errors made by businesses when
providing information. Such errors, however, are likely to be distributed randomly throughout the
dataset.
Changes in administrative data sometimes create complications for the linkage process. This can
result in overstating openings and closings while understating expansions and contractions. The
BLS continues to refine methods for improving the linkage process to alleviate the effects of these
complications.
The BED data series are subject to periodic minor changes based on corrections in QCEW records,
updates on predecessors and successors information, and seasonal adjustment revisions.
Annual revisions are published each year with the release of the first quarter data. These revisions
cover the last four quarters of not seasonally adjusted data and 5 years of seasonally adjusted data.
Additional statistics and other information
Several other programs within BLS produce closely related information. The QCEW program
provides both quarterly and annual estimates of employment by state, county, and detailed
industry. News releases on quarterly county employment and wages and the annual bulletin also
are available upon request from the Division of Administrative Statistics and Labor Turnover
(Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages), telephone (202) 691-6567; (www.bls.gov/cew/);
(e-mail: QCEWInfo@bls.gov).
The Current Employment Statistics (CES) program produces monthly estimates of employment, its
net change, hours, and earnings by detailed industry. These estimates are part of the Employment
Situation report put out monthly by BLS.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) program provides monthly measures of
job openings, as well as employee hires and separations.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request.
Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1 (800) 877-8339.
Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and job losses, seasonally adjusted
Total private
(In thousands)
Gross job gains Gross job losses
Year 3 months ended Net change(1) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
2007 March 584 7,815 6,331 1,484 7,231 5,894 1,337
June 132 7,647 6,205 1,442 7,515 6,084 1,431
September -209 7,376 5,870 1,506 7,585 6,190 1,395
December 268 7,687 6,181 1,506 7,419 6,040 1,379
2008 March -199 7,320 5,860 1,460 7,519 6,111 1,408
June -593 7,281 5,833 1,448 7,874 6,363 1,511
September -913 6,944 5,535 1,409 7,857 6,436 1,421
December -1,838 6,738 5,345 1,393 8,576 7,056 1,520
2009 March -2,680 5,918 4,675 1,243 8,598 7,142 1,456
June -1,667 6,425 5,080 1,345 8,092 6,674 1,418
September -849 6,399 5,139 1,260 7,248 5,854 1,394
December -264 6,665 5,308 1,357 6,929 5,605 1,324
2010 March -247 6,325 5,108 1,217 6,572 5,324 1,248
June 698 6,995 5,674 1,321 6,297 5,090 1,207
September 237 6,741 5,438 1,303 6,504 5,231 1,273
December 566 7,052 5,639 1,413 6,486 5,219 1,267
2011 March 334 6,540 5,322 1,218 6,206 5,025 1,181
June 582 6,966 5,625 1,341 6,384 5,115 1,269
September 841 7,205 5,810 1,395 6,364 5,172 1,192
December 335 6,865 5,503 1,362 6,530 5,273 1,257
2012 March 948 7,080 5,746 1,334 6,132 5,005 1,127
June 616 7,051 5,724 1,327 6,435 5,266 1,169
September 252 6,881 5,571 1,310 6,629 5,430 1,199
December 695 7,110 5,753 1,357 6,415 5,225 1,190
2013 March 560 6,933 5,701 1,232 6,373 5,194 1,179
June 674 7,155 5,834 1,321 6,481 5,275 1,206
September 476 7,048 5,708 1,340 6,572 5,425 1,147
December 717 7,267 5,936 1,331 6,550 5,346 1,204
2014 March 433 6,947 5,680 1,267 6,514 5,365 1,149
June 884 7,459 6,118 1,341 6,575 5,355 1,220
September 522 7,226 5,900 1,326 6,704 5,516 1,188
December 1,084 7,642 6,268 1,374 6,558 5,323 1,235
2015 March 226 7,032 5,722 1,310 6,806 5,606 1,200
June 833 7,589 6,245 1,344 6,756 5,563 1,193
September 414 7,324 5,964 1,360 6,910 5,695 1,215
December 1,010 7,851 6,387 1,464 6,841 5,573 1,268
2016 March 256 7,139 5,855 1,284 6,883 5,685 1,198
June 296 7,453 6,083 1,370 7,157 5,847 1,310
September 681 7,689 6,232 1,457 7,008 5,760 1,248
December 390 7,455 6,040 1,415 7,065 5,760 1,305
2017 March 654 7,328 6,019 1,309 6,674 5,521 1,153
(1) Net change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses.
Table 2. Private sector gross job gains and losses, as a percent of employment(1), seasonally adjusted
Total private
(Percent)
Gross job gains Gross job losses
Year 3 months ended Net change(2) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
2007 March .5 6.9 5.6 1.3 6.4 5.2 1.2
June .1 6.7 5.4 1.3 6.6 5.3 1.3
September -.2 6.4 5.1 1.3 6.6 5.4 1.2
December .2 6.7 5.4 1.3 6.5 5.3 1.2
2008 March -.1 6.4 5.1 1.3 6.5 5.3 1.2
June -.5 6.4 5.1 1.3 6.9 5.6 1.3
September -.9 6.1 4.9 1.2 7.0 5.7 1.3
December -1.7 6.0 4.8 1.2 7.7 6.3 1.4
2009 March -2.4 5.4 4.3 1.1 7.8 6.5 1.3
June -1.5 6.0 4.7 1.3 7.5 6.2 1.3
September -.8 6.0 4.8 1.2 6.8 5.5 1.3
December -.3 6.3 5.0 1.3 6.6 5.3 1.3
2010 March -.2 6.0 4.8 1.2 6.2 5.0 1.2
June .7 6.6 5.4 1.2 5.9 4.8 1.1
September .2 6.3 5.1 1.2 6.1 4.9 1.2
December .5 6.6 5.3 1.3 6.1 4.9 1.2
2011 March .3 6.1 5.0 1.1 5.8 4.7 1.1
June .5 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.9 4.7 1.2
September .8 6.7 5.4 1.3 5.9 4.8 1.1
December .4 6.4 5.1 1.3 6.0 4.8 1.2
2012 March .8 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.6 4.6 1.0
June .5 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.9 4.8 1.1
September .2 6.2 5.0 1.2 6.0 4.9 1.1
December .6 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.8 4.7 1.1
2013 March .5 6.2 5.1 1.1 5.7 4.6 1.1
June .6 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.8 4.7 1.1
September .5 6.3 5.1 1.2 5.8 4.8 1.0
December .6 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.8 4.7 1.1
2014 March .4 6.1 5.0 1.1 5.7 4.7 1.0
June .7 6.5 5.3 1.2 5.8 4.7 1.1
September .4 6.2 5.1 1.1 5.8 4.8 1.0
December .9 6.6 5.4 1.2 5.7 4.6 1.1
2015 March .2 6.0 4.9 1.1 5.8 4.8 1.0
June .7 6.4 5.3 1.1 5.7 4.7 1.0
September .4 6.2 5.0 1.2 5.8 4.8 1.0
December .8 6.6 5.4 1.2 5.8 4.7 1.1
2016 March .3 6.0 4.9 1.1 5.7 4.7 1.0
June .2 6.2 5.1 1.1 6.0 4.9 1.1
September .6 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.8 4.8 1.0
December .3 6.2 5.0 1.2 5.9 4.8 1.1
2017 March .6 6.0 4.9 1.1 5.4 4.5 .9
(1) The rates measure gross job gains and gross job losses as a percentage of the previous and current
quarter employment levels.
(2) Net change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses.
Table 3. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, seasonally adjusted
Gross job gains and job losses Gross job gains and job losses
(in thousands) as a percent of employment
Category 3 months ended 3 months ended
Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar.
2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017
Total private(1)
Gross job gains 7,139 7,453 7,689 7,455 7,328 6.0 6.2 6.4 6.2 6.0
At expanding establishments 5,855 6,083 6,232 6,040 6,019 4.9 5.1 5.2 5.0 4.9
At opening establishments 1,284 1,370 1,457 1,415 1,309 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1
Gross job losses 6,883 7,157 7,008 7,065 6,674 5.7 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.4
At contracting establishments 5,685 5,847 5,760 5,760 5,521 4.7 4.9 4.8 4.8 4.5
At closing establishments 1,198 1,310 1,248 1,305 1,153 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.1 .9
Net employment change 256 296 681 390 654 .3 .2 .6 .3 .6
Goods-producing
Gross job gains 1,317 1,335 1,313 1,319 1,394 6.3 6.4 6.3 6.3 6.6
At expanding establishments 1,125 1,149 1,107 1,126 1,206 5.4 5.5 5.3 5.4 5.7
At opening establishments 192 186 206 193 188 .9 .9 1.0 .9 .9
Gross job losses 1,303 1,381 1,308 1,297 1,191 6.2 6.6 6.3 6.2 5.7
At contracting establishments 1,114 1,172 1,113 1,101 1,009 5.3 5.6 5.4 5.3 4.8
At closing establishments 189 209 195 196 182 .9 1.0 .9 .9 .9
Net employment change 14 -46 5 22 203 .1 -.2 .0 .1 .9
Natural resources and mining
Gross job gains 257 262 248 252 287 13.4 13.9 13.4 13.6 15.3
At expanding establishments 223 230 216 220 253 11.6 12.2 11.7 11.9 13.5
At opening establishments 34 32 32 32 34 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8
Gross job losses 278 296 257 269 232 14.5 15.7 13.9 14.6 12.4
At contracting establishments 244 262 225 238 199 12.7 13.9 12.2 12.9 10.6
At closing establishments 34 34 32 31 33 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8
Net employment change -21 -34 -9 -17 55 -1.1 -1.8 -.5 -1.0 2.9
Construction
Gross job gains 676 660 665 654 707 10.1 9.8 10.0 9.7 10.3
At expanding establishments 553 544 532 533 584 8.3 8.1 8.0 7.9 8.5
At opening establishments 123 116 133 121 123 1.8 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.8
Gross job losses 619 651 622 635 582 9.3 9.8 9.3 9.5 8.5
At contracting establishments 507 525 507 515 474 7.6 7.9 7.6 7.7 6.9
At closing establishments 112 126 115 120 108 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.6
Net employment change 57 9 43 19 125 .8 .0 .7 .2 1.8
Manufacturing
Gross job gains 384 413 400 413 400 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.3
At expanding establishments 349 375 359 373 369 2.8 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.0
At opening establishments 35 38 41 40 31 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3
Gross job losses 406 434 429 393 377 3.2 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.0
At contracting establishments 363 385 381 348 336 2.9 3.1 3.1 2.8 2.7
At closing establishments 43 49 48 45 41 .3 .4 .4 .4 .3
Net employment change -22 -21 -29 20 23 -.1 -.2 -.3 .1 .3
Service-providing(1)
Gross job gains 5,822 6,118 6,376 6,136 5,934 5.9 6.2 6.4 6.1 5.9
At expanding establishments 4,730 4,934 5,125 4,914 4,813 4.8 5.0 5.1 4.9 4.8
At opening establishments 1,092 1,184 1,251 1,222 1,121 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.1
Gross job losses 5,580 5,776 5,700 5,768 5,483 5.6 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.5
At contracting establishments 4,571 4,675 4,647 4,659 4,512 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.5
At closing establishments 1,009 1,101 1,053 1,109 971 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0
Net employment change 242 342 676 368 451 .3 .4 .6 .3 .4
Wholesale trade
Gross job gains 261 274 277 272 263 4.4 4.7 4.8 4.6 4.4
At expanding establishments 217 226 226 225 220 3.7 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.7
At opening establishments 44 48 51 47 43 .7 .8 .9 .8 .7
Gross job losses 268 272 262 256 249 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.3 4.2
At contracting establishments 210 213 209 201 196 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.3
At closing establishments 58 59 53 55 53 1.0 1.0 .9 .9 .9
Net employment change -7 2 15 16 14 -.2 .1 .3 .3 .2
Retail trade
Gross job gains 970 934 957 895 927 6.2 5.9 6.0 5.6 5.9
At expanding establishments 846 804 817 777 805 5.4 5.1 5.1 4.9 5.1
At opening establishments 124 130 140 118 122 .8 .8 .9 .7 .8
Gross job losses 864 912 960 923 881 5.5 5.7 6.1 5.9 5.6
At contracting establishments 756 801 836 803 775 4.8 5.0 5.3 5.1 4.9
At closing establishments 108 111 124 120 106 .7 .7 .8 .8 .7
Net employment change 106 22 -3 -28 46 .7 .2 -.1 -.3 .3
Transportation and warehousing
Gross job gains 239 249 290 383 245 5.0 5.3 6.0 7.8 5.0
At expanding establishments 206 213 250 339 215 4.3 4.5 5.2 6.9 4.4
At opening establishments 33 36 40 44 30 .7 .8 .8 .9 .6
Gross job losses 292 249 229 232 323 6.2 5.3 4.8 4.8 6.6
At contracting establishments 256 211 190 194 290 5.4 4.5 4.0 4.0 5.9
At closing establishments 36 38 39 38 33 .8 .8 .8 .8 .7
Net employment change -53 0 61 151 -78 -1.2 .0 1.2 3.0 -1.6
Utilities
Gross job gains 10 13 11 12 11 1.8 2.4 2.0 2.2 2.0
At expanding establishments 8 11 10 10 10 1.4 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8
At opening establishments 2 2 1 2 1 .4 .4 .2 .4 .2
Gross job losses 10 13 14 13 10 1.8 2.4 2.6 2.4 1.8
At contracting establishments 9 11 12 11 9 1.6 2.0 2.2 2.0 1.6
At closing establishments 1 2 2 2 1 .2 .4 .4 .4 .2
Net employment change 0 0 -3 -1 1 .0 .0 -.6 -.2 .2
Information
Gross job gains 139 157 153 142 142 5.0 5.6 5.4 5.1 5.1
At expanding establishments 117 131 124 115 120 4.2 4.7 4.4 4.1 4.3
At opening establishments 22 26 29 27 22 .8 .9 1.0 1.0 .8
Gross job losses 140 141 152 150 139 5.0 5.0 5.4 5.3 4.9
At contracting establishments 111 109 126 121 116 4.0 3.9 4.5 4.3 4.1
At closing establishments 29 32 26 29 23 1.0 1.1 .9 1.0 .8
Net employment change -1 16 1 -8 3 .0 .6 .0 -.2 .2
Financial activities
Gross job gains 358 388 391 382 353 4.5 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.4
At expanding establishments 284 313 311 298 289 3.6 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.6
At opening establishments 74 75 80 84 64 .9 .9 1.0 1.1 .8
Gross job losses 339 354 350 356 336 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.2
At contracting establishments 262 272 276 274 262 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.3
At closing establishments 77 82 74 82 74 1.0 1.0 .9 1.0 .9
Net employment change 19 34 41 26 17 .2 .4 .5 .4 .2
Professional and business services
Gross job gains 1,274 1,431 1,474 1,395 1,285 6.4 7.2 7.4 7.0 6.3
At expanding establishments 1,041 1,173 1,199 1,121 1,058 5.2 5.9 6.0 5.6 5.2
At opening establishments 233 258 275 274 227 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.1
Gross job losses 1,368 1,354 1,282 1,359 1,265 6.9 6.7 6.4 6.7 6.3
At contracting establishments 1,117 1,065 1,022 1,075 1,026 5.6 5.3 5.1 5.3 5.1
At closing establishments 251 289 260 284 239 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.2
Net employment change -94 77 192 36 20 -.5 .5 1.0 .3 .0
Education and health services
Gross job gains 909 966 1,044 966 948 4.3 4.5 4.8 4.4 4.3
At expanding establishments 743 781 872 774 786 3.5 3.6 4.0 3.5 3.6
At opening establishments 166 185 172 192 162 .8 .9 .8 .9 .7
Gross job losses 826 885 824 905 813 3.8 4.1 3.8 4.1 3.7
At contracting establishments 669 702 656 709 656 3.1 3.3 3.0 3.2 3.0
At closing establishments 157 183 168 196 157 .7 .8 .8 .9 .7
Net employment change 83 81 220 61 135 .5 .4 1.0 .3 .6
Leisure and hospitality
Gross job gains 1,292 1,313 1,350 1,308 1,321 8.3 8.4 8.7 8.4 8.4
At expanding establishments 1,030 1,030 1,056 1,016 1,054 6.6 6.6 6.8 6.5 6.7
At opening establishments 262 283 294 292 267 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7
Gross job losses 1,165 1,278 1,304 1,240 1,149 7.5 8.2 8.4 8.0 7.2
At contracting establishments 959 1,061 1,086 1,027 955 6.2 6.8 7.0 6.6 6.0
At closing establishments 206 217 218 213 194 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2
Net employment change 127 35 46 68 172 .8 .2 .3 .4 1.2
Other services
Gross job gains 282 303 309 281 286 6.9 7.4 7.6 6.8 6.9
At expanding establishments 221 237 241 219 228 5.4 5.8 5.9 5.3 5.5
At opening establishments 61 66 68 62 58 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.4
Gross job losses 270 283 286 293 272 6.6 6.9 7.0 7.1 6.6
At contracting establishments 211 220 222 231 212 5.2 5.4 5.4 5.6 5.1
At closing establishments 59 63 64 62 60 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5
Net employment change 12 20 23 -12 14 .3 .5 .6 -.3 .3
(1) Includes unclassified sector, not shown separately
Table 4. Private sector gross job gains and losses by firm size, seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
Total private by firm(1) Firm size 1 - 49 employees Firm size 50 - 249 employees Firm size 250 or more employees
Year 3 months Net Gross job Net Gross job Net Gross job Net Gross job
ended change(2,3) gains losses change gains losses change gains losses change gains losses
2007 March 478 6,333 5,855 173 3,445 3,272 98 1,158 1,060 207 1,730 1,523
June 163 6,239 6,076 -33 3,330 3,363 99 1,171 1,072 97 1,738 1,641
September -215 5,920 6,135 -116 3,263 3,379 -34 1,079 1,113 -65 1,578 1,643
December 270 6,251 5,981 10 3,317 3,307 56 1,139 1,083 204 1,795 1,591
2008 March -274 5,831 6,105 -152 3,235 3,387 -11 1,079 1,090 -111 1,517 1,628
June -548 5,850 6,398 -287 3,174 3,461 -44 1,090 1,134 -217 1,586 1,803
September -956 5,532 6,488 -343 3,051 3,394 -140 1,020 1,160 -473 1,461 1,934
December -1,886 5,338 7,224 -689 2,910 3,599 -375 947 1,322 -822 1,481 2,303
2009 March -2,638 4,617 7,255 -983 2,721 3,704 -616 810 1,426 -1,039 1,086 2,125
June -1,763 5,169 6,932 -474 2,946 3,420 -281 950 1,231 -1,008 1,273 2,281
September -906 5,164 6,070 -372 2,826 3,198 -110 932 1,042 -424 1,406 1,830
December -317 5,403 5,720 -159 2,940 3,099 -45 962 1,007 -113 1,501 1,614
2010 March -234 5,115 5,349 -195 2,863 3,058 -2 914 916 -37 1,338 1,375
June 664 5,805 5,141 235 3,093 2,858 204 1,071 867 225 1,641 1,416
September 226 5,525 5,299 26 2,946 2,920 87 998 911 113 1,581 1,468
December 502 5,781 5,279 92 3,051 2,959 92 1,034 942 318 1,696 1,378
2011 March 340 5,375 5,035 99 2,983 2,884 122 971 849 119 1,421 1,302
June 537 5,746 5,209 190 3,073 2,883 169 1,063 894 178 1,610 1,432
September 852 5,974 5,122 272 3,137 2,865 171 1,066 895 409 1,771 1,362
December 297 5,585 5,288 45 2,970 2,925 44 981 937 208 1,634 1,426
2012 March 972 5,904 4,932 388 3,173 2,785 220 1,054 834 364 1,677 1,313
June 612 5,828 5,216 174 3,039 2,865 158 1,074 916 280 1,715 1,435
September 226 5,581 5,355 55 2,963 2,908 54 1,006 952 117 1,612 1,495
December 637 5,779 5,142 180 3,025 2,845 94 1,014 920 363 1,740 1,377
2013 March 588 5,743 5,155 221 3,078 2,857 155 1,027 872 212 1,638 1,426
June 649 5,912 5,263 221 3,084 2,863 137 1,074 937 291 1,754 1,463
September 439 5,748 5,309 208 3,054 2,846 62 1,017 955 169 1,677 1,508
December 651 5,894 5,243 131 3,026 2,895 108 1,036 928 412 1,832 1,420
2014 March 459 5,662 5,203 248 3,077 2,829 153 1,034 881 58 1,551 1,493
June 888 6,142 5,254 299 3,179 2,880 216 1,123 907 373 1,840 1,467
September 502 5,845 5,343 168 3,051 2,883 102 1,058 956 232 1,736 1,504
December 987 6,166 5,179 225 3,111 2,886 157 1,087 930 605 1,968 1,363
2015 March 237 5,664 5,427 181 3,102 2,921 79 1,022 943 -23 1,540 1,563
June 834 6,256 5,422 316 3,197 2,881 189 1,135 946 329 1,924 1,595
September 381 5,884 5,503 113 3,038 2,925 59 1,038 979 209 1,808 1,599
December 895 6,270 5,375 250 3,183 2,933 101 1,078 977 544 2,009 1,465
2016 March 273 5,743 5,470 220 3,124 2,904 60 1,015 955 -7 1,604 1,611
June 300 6,051 5,751 64 3,125 3,061 116 1,109 993 120 1,817 1,697
September 665 6,229 5,564 147 3,135 2,988 80 1,080 1,000 438 2,014 1,576
December 326 5,920 5,594 88 3,076 2,988 52 1,033 981 186 1,811 1,625
2017 March 686 5,952 5,266 369 3,206 2,837 197 1,077 880 120 1,669 1,549
(1) Total gross job gains and gross job losses by firm are lower than total gross job gains and gross job losses by establishment, as some
establishment gains and losses within a firm are offset during the aggregation process.
(2) Net change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses.
(3) Net change totals for firm-level data shown differ from the establishment-level data due to independent seasonal adjustment of the series.
NOTE: See http://www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmfirmsize.htm for additional firm size class data.
Table 5. Components of private sector gross job gains and losses by firm size, seasonally adjusted
Gross job gains and job losses Gross job gains and job losses
(in thousands) as a percent of employment
Category 3 months ended 3 months ended
Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar.
2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017
Total private by firm(1)
Gross job gains 5,743 6,051 6,229 5,920 5,952 4.8 5.1 5.2 4.9 4.9
At expanding firms 4,837 5,149 5,271 4,976 5,026 4.0 4.3 4.4 4.1 4.1
At opening firms 906 902 958 944 926 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8
Gross job losses 5,470 5,751 5,564 5,594 5,266 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.4
At contracting firms 4,624 4,837 4,713 4,734 4,442 3.9 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.7
At closing firms 846 914 851 860 824 .7 .8 .7 .7 .7
Net employment change 273 300 665 326 686 .2 .3 .6 .3 .5
Firm size 1 to 49 employees
Gross job gains 3,124 3,125 3,135 3,076 3,206 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.1 9.4
At expanding firms 2,253 2,264 2,219 2,171 2,316 6.7 6.7 6.6 6.4 6.8
At opening firms 871 861 916 905 890 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.6
Gross job losses 2,904 3,061 2,988 2,988 2,837 8.6 9.1 8.8 8.8 8.3
At contracting firms 2,091 2,189 2,171 2,163 2,042 6.2 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.0
At closing firms 813 872 817 825 795 2.4 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.3
Net employment change 220 64 147 88 369 .7 .2 .5 .3 1.1
Firm size 50 to 249 employees
Gross job gains 1,015 1,109 1,080 1,033 1,077 4.6 5.1 5.0 4.8 4.9
At expanding firms 984 1,072 1,042 997 1,046 4.5 4.9 4.8 4.6 4.8
At opening firms 31 37 38 36 31 .1 .2 .2 .2 .1
Gross job losses 955 993 1,000 981 880 4.4 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.0
At contracting firms 926 960 970 951 854 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.4 3.9
At closing firms 29 33 30 30 26 .1 .2 .1 .1 .1
Net employment change 60 116 80 52 197 .2 .5 .4 .3 .9
Firm size 250 or more employees
Gross job gains 1,604 1,817 2,014 1,811 1,669 2.5 2.8 3.1 2.8 2.5
At expanding firms 1,600 1,813 2,010 1,808 1,664 2.5 2.8 3.1 2.8 2.5
At opening firms 4 4 4 3 5 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0
Gross job losses 1,611 1,697 1,576 1,625 1,549 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.4
At contracting firms 1,607 1,688 1,572 1,620 1,546 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.4
At closing firms 4 9 4 5 3 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0
Net employment change -7 120 438 186 120 .0 .2 .7 .3 .1
(1) Total gross job gains and gross job losses by firm are lower than total gross job gains and gross job
losses by establishment, as some establishment gains and losses within a firm are offset during the
aggregation process.
Table 6. Private sector gross job gains and losses by state, seasonally adjusted
Gross job gains Gross job losses
State (3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar.
2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017
United States(1)... 7,139,000 7,453,000 7,689,000 7,455,000 7,328,000 6,883,000 7,157,000 7,008,000 7,065,000 6,674,000
Alabama..... 90,793 90,760 96,889 91,681 95,018 86,214 91,306 90,051 90,287 81,340
Alaska..... 24,277 26,205 22,603 24,029 23,211 24,338 28,231 27,693 24,699 24,169
Arizona..... 135,581 139,046 164,484 138,291 136,971 130,588 138,270 120,568 126,313 126,704
Arkansas..... 54,640 54,032 61,522 58,062 56,151 54,408 57,902 54,893 53,892 50,773
California..... 943,771 981,914 990,473 980,183 962,840 894,779 933,875 880,241 910,192 872,313
Colorado..... 140,988 149,843 153,653 143,107 147,416 130,307 138,773 134,971 140,926 133,241
Connecticut..... 74,868 77,561 74,841 72,719 79,177 71,778 76,530 76,198 75,033 73,288
Delaware..... 24,679 25,377 23,909 23,338 24,976 24,481 25,216 24,652 23,351 22,313
District of Columbia 26,874 29,953 31,846 28,788 29,705 28,471 29,503 29,467 28,695 24,377
Florida..... 444,007 464,716 539,960 487,710 445,222 411,436 428,968 427,925 445,725 409,290
Georgia..... 223,883 248,515 243,716 239,884 230,965 206,845 229,940 213,118 211,569 212,760
Hawaii..... 27,561 28,651 31,080 26,673 27,379 26,056 30,358 25,354 26,775 25,523
Idaho..... 46,462 41,251 45,011 42,845 45,963 36,462 40,329 41,174 38,897 37,152
Illinois..... 283,828 302,719 294,960 309,191 298,256 284,187 301,468 291,637 290,285 276,590
Indiana..... 141,901 138,247 149,878 142,574 149,579 137,248 136,065 133,516 137,206 131,859
Iowa..... 79,212 74,136 79,033 73,955 78,764 70,423 81,142 75,042 76,993 71,324
Kansas..... 65,870 63,815 69,905 67,413 66,295 67,138 69,868 63,576 64,801 63,041
Kentucky..... 90,742 97,533 107,152 95,679 90,878 92,705 93,542 98,989 90,662 85,832
Louisiana..... 97,906 96,125 107,420 94,259 102,536 107,783 110,705 103,707 103,469 93,274
Maine..... 36,757 38,785 33,988 37,196 36,582 34,506 34,616 37,257 35,905 32,852
Maryland..... 131,658 135,312 139,923 140,769 131,540 128,032 130,754 127,394 131,349 126,358
Massachusetts..... 163,984 182,828 174,563 171,192 168,627 154,476 159,124 167,415 165,880 156,939
Michigan..... 193,986 217,902 208,459 204,720 211,095 179,533 196,003 202,265 200,138 184,414
Minnesota..... 132,819 143,583 148,763 140,520 142,651 127,554 133,901 133,973 138,963 117,302
Mississippi..... 51,728 50,515 56,026 56,611 51,514 55,123 58,142 49,476 50,218 52,216
Missouri..... 131,362 133,732 132,102 134,067 138,174 125,523 127,768 125,330 133,207 116,324
Montana..... 29,091 29,559 28,377 29,076 30,348 27,279 31,986 28,603 27,842 26,801
Nebraska..... 47,358 45,783 51,489 46,158 48,350 44,737 47,712 47,315 49,989 42,036
Nevada..... 72,047 72,895 77,042 71,548 75,922 66,108 65,362 63,229 64,782 59,528
New Hampshire..... 33,670 36,640 36,134 35,405 32,723 32,852 33,071 35,328 33,335 32,020
New Jersey..... 197,702 217,390 212,548 217,599 191,080 202,392 191,614 200,091 200,514 198,940
New Mexico..... 39,814 40,215 43,313 41,275 40,142 39,727 42,367 38,844 40,739 39,132
New York..... 475,125 482,639 490,500 472,712 482,960 444,730 452,880 458,750 461,337 446,567
North Carolina..... 213,858 223,089 221,742 225,601 222,190 197,618 207,520 208,519 205,302 199,056
North Dakota..... 23,641 23,256 27,990 23,021 26,128 31,323 30,933 24,632 26,535 22,998
Ohio..... 255,575 261,010 263,761 260,009 260,122 237,713 263,358 261,433 249,754 236,913
Oklahoma..... 72,625 72,166 79,254 81,574 78,427 80,485 84,369 75,254 78,496 81,448
Oregon..... 109,011 105,151 106,360 103,156 108,577 89,365 102,770 99,322 96,506 89,507
Pennsylvania..... 273,803 268,296 285,638 274,781 268,559 265,993 273,456 258,739 260,840 254,346
Rhode Island..... 23,971 25,378 23,258 23,989 26,217 24,549 25,729 24,390 23,904 24,785
South Carolina..... 98,954 102,914 104,404 108,676 100,891 98,283 94,867 93,113 90,148 92,823
South Dakota..... 21,547 21,921 22,238 21,044 22,209 21,180 21,593 21,398 21,233 20,656
Tennessee..... 132,274 141,910 147,480 144,675 128,481 128,616 132,811 130,083 126,150 123,277
Texas..... 535,504 569,649 617,457 588,802 580,416 571,800 545,548 541,252 538,726 519,376
Utah..... 84,240 79,060 86,460 79,259 91,646 68,971 74,471 77,794 75,963 72,367
Vermont..... 17,059 18,779 18,354 17,998 16,827 17,742 18,235 18,795 17,636 17,258
Virginia..... 183,177 197,646 192,072 194,325 186,996 184,958 188,255 189,545 180,449 172,727
Washington..... 187,856 192,404 177,681 191,782 185,519 159,898 158,624 175,845 179,259 152,983
West Virginia..... 32,334 31,573 35,225 34,777 34,065 38,085 37,617 34,886 33,887 34,690
Wisconsin..... 137,502 138,276 133,986 134,052 143,931 127,509 139,248 134,840 131,290 116,833
Wyoming..... 17,029 15,960 17,147 17,940 17,837 19,984 21,748 17,942 17,692 16,484
Puerto Rico..... 38,377 37,755 39,088 38,952 34,349 40,221 37,274 38,609 36,267 38,301
Virgin Islands..... 1,651 1,792 1,722 1,644 1,463 1,577 1,586 1,856 1,665 1,497
The sum of the states will not necessarily add to the U.S. total because of the independent seasonal adjustment of each state.
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Table 7. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
Gross job gains as a percent of employment Gross job losses as a percent of employment
State (3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Mar.
2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017
United States(1)... 6.0 6.2 6.4 6.2 6.0 5.7 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.4
Alabama..... 5.9 5.8 6.2 5.8 6.1 5.5 5.9 5.8 5.8 5.2
Alaska..... 9.6 10.4 9.1 9.8 9.4 9.6 11.2 11.2 10.0 9.8
Arizona..... 5.9 6.2 7.2 6.0 5.8 5.7 6.0 5.2 5.5 5.4
Arkansas..... 5.5 5.4 6.2 5.9 5.6 5.4 5.9 5.6 5.4 5.0
California..... 6.6 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.7 6.3 6.6 6.2 6.3 6.0
Colorado..... 6.6 7.0 7.1 6.6 6.8 6.1 6.5 6.2 6.5 6.2
Connecticut..... 5.3 5.4 5.2 5.1 5.5 5.0 5.4 5.4 5.2 5.1
Delaware..... 6.6 6.8 6.3 6.2 6.6 6.5 6.7 6.6 6.2 5.9
District of Columbia.. 5.3 5.9 6.2 5.6 5.7 5.6 5.8 5.8 5.6 4.7
Florida..... 6.2 6.5 7.4 6.7 6.1 5.8 5.9 5.8 6.1 5.5
Georgia..... 6.2 6.9 6.7 6.6 6.3 5.8 6.4 5.9 5.8 5.8
Hawaii..... 5.2 5.4 6.0 5.0 5.1 5.0 5.8 4.8 5.0 4.8
Idaho..... 8.2 7.2 7.9 7.5 7.9 6.5 7.0 7.3 6.7 6.3
Illinois..... 5.6 6.0 5.7 6.1 5.8 5.6 5.9 5.7 5.6 5.4
Indiana..... 5.5 5.4 5.8 5.4 5.7 5.3 5.2 5.1 5.2 5.1
Iowa..... 6.1 5.7 6.1 5.7 6.1 5.4 6.2 5.8 5.9 5.5
Kansas..... 5.8 5.7 6.2 5.9 5.8 5.9 6.3 5.6 5.7 5.6
Kentucky..... 5.9 6.2 6.8 6.1 5.7 6.0 6.0 6.3 5.8 5.4
Louisiana..... 6.0 6.0 6.8 5.9 6.4 6.7 6.9 6.5 6.5 5.9
Maine..... 7.2 7.7 6.7 7.4 7.2 6.9 6.8 7.4 7.1 6.4
Maryland..... 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.6 6.1 6.0 6.2 5.9 6.2 5.9
Massachusetts..... 5.4 6.0 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.1 5.2 5.4 5.4 5.1
Michigan..... 5.3 5.9 5.7 5.5 5.6 4.9 5.4 5.5 5.4 5.0
Minnesota..... 5.5 5.9 6.1 5.7 5.8 5.2 5.5 5.5 5.7 4.7
Mississippi..... 5.9 5.7 6.3 6.3 5.7 6.2 6.5 5.5 5.6 5.9
Missouri..... 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.3 5.4 5.4 5.6 4.9
Montana..... 7.9 7.9 7.6 7.8 8.1 7.3 8.6 7.7 7.5 7.1
Nebraska..... 5.9 5.7 6.4 5.7 5.9 5.5 5.9 5.9 6.2 5.2
Nevada..... 6.4 6.5 6.8 6.2 6.6 5.9 5.8 5.5 5.6 5.2
New Hampshire..... 6.0 6.5 6.4 6.3 5.7 5.8 5.9 6.3 5.9 5.6
New Jersey..... 5.8 6.4 6.3 6.4 5.5 6.0 5.7 5.9 5.9 5.8
New Mexico..... 6.4 6.4 7.0 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.7 6.2 6.5 6.2
New York..... 6.2 6.3 6.3 6.1 6.2 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.9 5.7
North Carolina..... 6.1 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.2 5.6 5.8 5.9 5.7 5.5
North Dakota..... 6.7 6.8 8.2 6.7 7.6 8.9 8.9 7.1 7.7 6.7
Ohio..... 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.2 5.7 5.7 5.4 5.1
Oklahoma..... 5.7 5.8 6.3 6.5 6.3 6.3 6.8 6.0 6.3 6.5
Oregon..... 7.1 6.8 6.9 6.6 6.9 5.8 6.6 6.4 6.3 5.7
Pennsylvania..... 5.4 5.3 5.6 5.4 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.1 5.1 5.0
Rhode Island..... 5.8 6.1 5.6 5.7 6.3 5.9 6.2 5.9 5.8 5.9
South Carolina..... 6.0 6.3 6.3 6.5 6.0 6.0 5.8 5.6 5.4 5.6
South Dakota..... 6.2 6.4 6.4 6.0 6.4 6.1 6.2 6.2 6.1 5.9
Tennessee..... 5.4 5.8 5.9 5.8 5.1 5.2 5.4 5.2 5.1 4.9
Texas..... 5.4 5.8 6.2 5.9 5.8 5.8 5.5 5.5 5.4 5.2
Utah..... 7.3 6.7 7.4 6.8 7.7 6.0 6.4 6.7 6.4 6.1
Vermont..... 6.7 7.4 7.2 7.0 6.6 6.9 7.2 7.4 7.0 6.8
Virginia..... 5.9 6.5 6.2 6.2 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.1 5.9 5.6
Washington..... 7.1 7.3 6.7 7.1 6.8 6.0 6.0 6.6 6.7 5.6
West Virginia..... 5.9 5.8 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.9 6.9 6.4 6.2 6.4
Wisconsin..... 5.6 5.7 5.5 5.5 5.9 5.2 5.7 5.6 5.3 4.8
Wyoming..... 8.1 7.7 8.5 8.8 8.8 9.4 10.6 8.8 8.7 8.1
Puerto Rico..... 5.7 5.6 5.8 5.8 5.1 6.0 5.5 5.7 5.4 5.7
Virgin Islands..... 6.0 6.5 6.2 6.0 5.3 5.8 5.7 6.8 6.0 5.5
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
Table 8. Private sector establishment births and deaths, seasonally adjusted
Total private
(Levels in thousands)
Number of Establishments Employment
Births Deaths(1) Births Deaths
Year 3 months ended Level Rate(2) Level Rate Level Rate Level Rate
2007 March 232 3.2 205 2.8 918 .8 787 .7
June 225 3.1 215 3.0 898 .8 859 .8
September 233 3.2 216 3.0 952 .8 845 .7
December 228 3.1 218 3.0 922 .8 836 .7
2008 March 226 3.1 224 3.1 919 .8 832 .7
June 221 3.0 238 3.3 876 .8 913 .8
September 216 3.0 233 3.2 849 .8 881 .8
December 211 2.9 253 3.5 819 .7 951 .9
2009 March 197 2.7 247 3.4 738 .7 869 .8
June 201 2.8 238 3.3 767 .7 837 .8
September 192 2.7 227 3.2 725 .7 793 .7
December 202 2.8 218 3.1 728 .7 749 .7
2010 March 193 2.7 211 3.0 706 .7 687 .7
June 193 2.7 202 2.9 730 .7 665 .6
September 207 2.9 204 2.9 754 .7 701 .7
December 216 3.0 201 2.8 805 .8 700 .7
2011 March 204 2.9 200 2.8 715 .7 632 .6
June 210 2.9 205 2.9 767 .7 689 .6
September 206 2.9 196 2.7 794 .7 675 .6
December 214 3.0 198 2.8 800 .7 700 .6
2012 March 236 3.3 188 2.6 787 .7 614 .6
June 217 3.0 194 2.7 799 .7 673 .6
September 210 2.9 196 2.7 804 .7 692 .6
December 218 3.0 183 2.5 809 .7 673 .6
2013 March 205 2.8 192 2.6 748 .7 646 .6
June 222 3.0 215 2.9 791 .7 696 .6
September 219 2.9 195 2.6 823 .7 678 .6
December 216 2.9 187 2.5 804 .7 670 .6
2014 March 221 2.9 189 2.5 782 .7 633 .6
June 220 2.9 205 2.7 806 .7 718 .6
September 224 3.0 200 2.6 828 .7 706 .6
December 223 2.9 197 2.6 837 .7 708 .6
2015 March 234 3.1 206 2.7 814 .7 691 .6
June 234 3.1 212 2.8 839 .7 732 .6
September 242 3.1 207 2.7 880 .7 704 .6
December 246 3.2 208 2.7 894 .8 732 .6
2016 March 236 3.0 202 2.6 787 .7 660 .6
June 242 3.1 214 2.7 838 .7 724 .6
September 240 3.1 N/A N/A 872 .7 N/A N/A
December 239 3.0 N/A N/A 868 .7 N/A N/A
2017 March 240 3.0 N/A N/A 800 .7 N/A N/A
(1) Values for deaths are not available for the most recent three quarters by definition. See the
Technical Note for more information.
(2) The rates measure births and deaths as a percentage of the average of the previous and current
quarter employment levels or total number of establishments.
United States Department of Labor
