Technical information:
Household data: (202) 691-6378 USDL 08-0757
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
Establishment data: (202) 691-6555 Transmission of material in this release
http://www.bls.gov/ces/ is embargoed until 8:30 A.M. (EDT),
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Friday, June 6, 2008.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: MAY 2008
The unemployment rate rose from 5.0 to 5.5 percent in May, and nonfarm
payroll employment continued to trend down (-49,000), the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. In May, employ-
ment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and
temporary help services, while health care continued to add jobs. Average
hourly earnings rose by 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, over the month.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons increased by 861,000 to 8.5 million in
May, after seasonal adjustment, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 per-
centage point to 5.5 percent. A year earlier, the number of unemployed per-
sons was 6.9 million, and the jobless rate was 4.5 percent. (See table A-1.)
The unemployment rates for adult men (4.9 percent), adult women (4.8 per-
cent), teenagers (18.7 percent), whites (4.9 percent), and blacks (9.7 per-
cent) rose in May. The jobless rate for Hispanics (6.9 percent) was unchanged.
The unemployment rate for Asians was 3.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
(See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)
Among the unemployed, the number of reentrants and new entrants to the
labor force rose in May, by 326,000 and 204,000, respectively. The number of
persons who had lost their last job increased by 268,000 over the month to
4.3 million. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed job losers has
risen by 907,000. (See table A-8.)
The number of newly unemployed--those jobless fewer than 5 weeks--rose by
760,000 to 3.2 million in May. The number of persons unemployed for 27 weeks
or more increased by 197,000 to 1.6 million. This group accounted for 18.3 per-
cent of the unemployed in May. (See table A-9.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
The civilian labor force rose by 577,000 to 154.5 million in May, and the
labor force participation rate edged up to 66.2 percent. Total employment was
little changed at 146.0 million. The employment-population ratio, at 62.6 per-
cent, also was little changed over the month. (See table A-1.)
The number of persons who worked part time for economic reasons, at 5.2 mil-
lion in May, was essentially unchanged over the month but was up by 764,000 over
the past 12 months. These individuals indicated that they were working part time
because their hours had been cut back or they were unable to find full-time jobs.
(See table A-5.)
About 7.7 million persons held more than one job in May. Multiple jobholders
represented 5.3 percent of the employed, the same as a year earlier. (See table
A-6.)
- 2 -
Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
_______________________________________________________________________________
| | |
| Quarterly | |
| averages | Monthly data | Apr.-
Category |_________________|__________________________| May
| | | | | | change
| IV | I | Mar. | Apr. | May |
| 2007 | 2008 | 2008 | 2008 | 2008 |
_________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
|
HOUSEHOLD DATA | Labor force status
|_____________________________________________________
| | | | | |
Civilian labor force ....| 153,667| 153,661| 153,784| 153,957| 154,534| 577
Employment ............| 146,291| 146,070| 145,969| 146,331| 146,046| -285
Unemployment ..........| 7,375| 7,591| 7,815| 7,626| 8,487| 861
Not in labor force ......| 79,270| 79,146| 79,211| 79,241| 78,872| -369
|________|________|________|________|________|________
|
| Unemployment rates
|_____________________________________________________
| | | | | |
All workers .............| 4.8| 4.9| 5.1| 5.0| 5.5| 0.5
Adult men .............| 4.3| 4.4| 4.6| 4.6| 4.9| .3
Adult women ...........| 4.2| 4.3| 4.6| 4.3| 4.8| .5
Teenagers .............| 16.4| 16.8| 15.8| 15.4| 18.7| 3.3
White .................| 4.3| 4.4| 4.5| 4.4| 4.9| .5
Black or African | | | | | |
American ............| 8.6| 8.8| 9.0| 8.6| 9.7| 1.1
Hispanic or Latino | | | | | |
ethnicity ...........| 5.9| 6.5| 6.9| 6.9| 6.9| .0
|________|________|________|________|________|________
|
ESTABLISHMENT DATA | Employment
|_____________________________________________________
| | | | | |
Nonfarm employment.......| 138,031| 137,917| 137,831|p137,803|p137,754| p-49
Goods-producing (1)....| 22,042| 21,820| 21,737| p21,637| p21,580| p-57
Construction ........| 7,521| 7,384| 7,343| p7,291| p7,257| p-34
Manufacturing .......| 13,788| 13,690| 13,644| p13,595| p13,569| p-26
Service-providing (1)..| 115,989| 116,097| 116,094|p116,166|p116,174| p8
Retail trade (2)...| 15,490| 15,434| 15,401| p15,363| p15,336| p-27
Professional and | | | | | |
business services .| 18,093| 18,063| 18,014| p18,046| p18,007| p-39
Education and health | | | | | |
services ..........| 18,527| 18,664| 18,709| p18,770| p18,824| p54
Leisure and | | | | | |
hospitality .......| 13,622| 13,660| 13,676| p13,688| p13,700| p12
Government ..........| 22,291| 22,358| 22,377| p22,389| p22,406| p17
|________|________|________|________|________|________
|
| Hours of work (3)
|_____________________________________________________
| | | | | |
Total private ...........| 33.8| 33.7| 33.8| p33.7| p33.7| p0.0
Manufacturing .........| 41.2| 41.1| 41.2| p41.0| p41.0| p.0
Overtime ............| 4.1| 4.0| 4.0| p4.0| p3.8| p-.2
|________|________|________|________|________|________
|
| Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (2002=100)(3)
|_____________________________________________________
| | | | | |
Total private ...........| 107.7| 107.4| 107.6| p107.2| p107.1| p-0.1
|________|________|________|________|________|________
|
| Earnings (3)
|_____________________________________________________
Average hourly earnings, | | | | | |
total private .........| $17.64| $17.81| $17.87| p$17.89| p$17.94| p$0.05
Average weekly earnings, | | | | | |
total private .........| 596.34| 600.80| 604.01| p602.89| p604.58| p1.69
_________________________|________|________|________|________|________|________
1 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
2 Quarterly averages and the over-the-month change are calculated using
unrounded data.
3 Data relate to private production and nonsupervisory workers.
p = preliminary.
- 3 -
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
In May, about 1.4 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force, about the same as a year earlier. These individ-
uals wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in
the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not
searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. Among the marginally
attached, there were 400,000 discouraged workers in May, little changed from a
year earlier. Discouraged workers were not currently looking for work specif-
ically because they believed no jobs were available for them. The other
1.0 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in May had not
searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as
school attendance or family responsibilities. (See table A-13.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Total nonfarm payroll employment continued to trend down in May (-49,000).
Thus far in 2008, payroll employment has declined by 324,000. In May, job
losses continued in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and temporary
help services. Health care again added jobs over the month. (See table B-1.)
Employment in construction fell by 34,000 in May. Since an employment peak
in September 2006, construction has lost 475,000 jobs. Over the month, employ-
ment declined among residential specialty trade contractors (-19,000) and in
construction of buildings (-12,000).
Manufacturing employment continued to fall over the month (-26,000), with
job losses in wood products (-8,000), computer and electronic products (-8,000),
and nonmetallic mineral products (-5,000). Thus far in 2008, monthly job losses
in manufacturing have averaged 41,000 compared with 22,000 a month in 2007 and
14,000 a month in 2006.
Retail trade employment decreased by 27,000 in May. Job losses in department
stores (-15,000) and gasoline stations (-6,000) accounted for most of the decline.
Since March 2007, retail trade has shed 184,000 jobs.
Employment in professional and business services was down in May (-39,000); the
industry has lost 124,000 jobs in 2008. Over the month, employment in temporary
help services continued to decline (-30,000) and has fallen by 193,000 since its
most recent peak in December 2006. Accounting and book-keeping services also lost
jobs (-10,000) over the month.
Employment continued to rise throughout health care in May (34,000). Job growth
over the last 12 months has totaled 383,000.
Elsewhere in the service-providing sector, food services and drinking places em-
ployment continued to trend up in May, but job growth in this industry has slowed
recently. Employment gains averaged 12,000 per month from November through May,
compared with 27,000 per month during the first 10 months of 2007.
- 4 -
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
In May, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.7 hours, seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing
workweek also was unchanged at 41.0 hours, and factory overtime decreased by 0.2 hour
to 3.8 hours. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.1 percent in May to 107.1 (2002=100). The index
has decreased by 0.6 percent in 2008. Over the month, the manufacturing index fell
by 0.2 percent to 92.0. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
In May, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls rose by 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $17.94, seasonally adjusted. This
followed gains of 6 cents in March and 2 cents in April. Average weekly earnings rose
by 0.3 percent in May to $604.58. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings in-
creased by 3.5 percent, and average weekly earnings rose by 3.2 percent. (See tables
B-3 and B-4.)
______________________________
The Employment Situation for June 2008 is scheduled to be released on Thursday,
July 3, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
- 5 -
Frequently Asked Questions about Employment and Unemployment Estimates
Why are there two monthly measures of employment?
The household survey and establishment survey both produce sample-based
estimates of employment and both have strengths and limitations. The estab-
lishment survey employment series has a smaller margin of error on the mea-
surement of month-to-month change than the household survey because of its
much larger sample size. An over-the-month employment change of 104,000 is
statistically significant in the establishment survey, while the threshold for
a statistically significant change in the household survey is about 400,000.
However, the household survey has a more expansive scope than the establish-
ment survey because it includes the self-employed, unpaid family workers,
agricultural workers, and private household workers, who are excluded by the
establishment survey. The household survey also provides estimates of
employment for demographic groups.
Are undocumented immigrants counted in the surveys?
Neither the establishment nor household survey is designed to identify the
legal status of workers. Thus, while it is likely that both surveys include
at least some undocumented immigrants, it is not possible to determine how many
are counted in either survey. The household survey does include questions about
whether respondents were born outside the United States. Data from these ques-
tions show that foreign-born workers accounted for 15.7 percent of the labor
force in 2007 and 47.7 percent of the net increase in the labor force from 2000
to 2007.
Why does the establishment survey have revisions?
The establishment survey revises published estimates to improve its data
series by incorporating additional information that was not available at the
time of the initial publication of the estimates. The establishment survey
revises its initial monthly estimates twice, in the immediately succeeding
2 months, to incorporate additional sample receipts from respondents in the
survey. For more information on the monthly revisions, please visit
http://www.bls.gov/ces/cesrevinfo.htm.
On an annual basis, the establishment survey incorporates a benchmark
revision that re-anchors estimates to nearly complete employment counts
available from unemployment insurance tax records. The benchmark helps
to control for sampling and modeling errors in the estimates. For more
information on the annual benchmark revision, please visit http://www.bls.
gov/web/cesbmart.htm.
Has the establishment survey understated employment growth because it excludes
the self-employed?
While the establishment survey excludes the self-employed, the household
survey provides monthly estimates of unincorporated self-employment. These
estimates have shown no substantial growth in recent years.
- 6 -
Does the establishment survey sample include small firms?
Yes; about 40 percent of the establishment survey sample is comprised of busi-
ness establishments with fewer than 20 employees. The establishment survey sam-
ple is designed to maximize the reliability of the total nonfarm employment esti-
mate; firms from all size classes and industries are appropriately sampled to
achieve that goal.
Does the establishment survey account for employment from new businesses?
Yes; monthly establishment survey estimates include an adjustment to account
for the net employment change generated by business births and deaths. The
adjustment comes from an econometric model that forecasts the monthly net jobs
impact of business births and deaths based on the actual past values of the net
impact that can be observed with a lag from the Quarterly Census of Employment
and Wages. The establishment survey uses modeling rather than sampling for this
purpose because the survey is not immediately able to bring new businesses into
the sample. There is an unavoidable lag between the birth of a new firm and its
appearance on the sampling frame and availability for selection. BLS adds new
businesses to the survey twice a year.
Is the count of unemployed persons limited to just those people receiving
unemployment insurance benefits?
No; the estimate of unemployment is based on a monthly sample survey of
households. All persons who are without jobs and are actively seeking and
available to work are included among the unemployed. (People on temporary
layoff are included even if they do not actively seek work.) There is no
requirement or question relating to unemployment insurance benefits in the
monthly survey.
Does the official unemployment rate exclude people who have stopped looking for
work?
Yes; however, there are separate estimates of persons outside the labor force
who want a job, including those who have stopped looking because they believe no
jobs are available (discouraged workers). In addition, alternative measures of
labor underutilization (discouraged workers and other groups not officially
counted as unemployed) are published each month in the Employment Situation news
release.
- 7 -
Technical Note
This news release presents statistics from two major surveys, the Current
Population Survey (household survey) and the Current Employment Statistics
survey (establishment survey). The household survey provides the information
on the labor force, employment, and unemployment that appears in the A tables,
marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample survey of about 60,000 households con-
ducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the employment, hours,
and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B tables, marked
ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected from payroll records by BLS
in cooperation with state agencies. The sample includes about 160,000 busines-
ses and government agencies covering approximately 400,000 individual worksites.
The active sample includes about one-third of all nonfarm payroll workers. The
sample is drawn from a sampling frame of unemployment insurance tax accounts.
For both surveys, the data for a given month relate to a particular week or
pay period. In the household survey, the reference week is generally the calen-
dar week that contains the 12th day of the month. In the establishment survey,
the reference period is the pay period including the 12th, which may or may not
correspond directly to the calendar week.
Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire civilian
noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of questions on work
and job search activities, each person 16 years and over in a sample household
is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid employees
during the reference week; worked in their own business, profession, or on their
own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours in a family business or farm.
People are also counted as employed if they were temporarily absent from their
jobs because of illness, bad weather, vacation, labor-management disputes, or
personal reasons.
People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following criteria:
They had no employment during the reference week; they were available for work at
that time; and they made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the
4-week period ending with the reference week. Persons laid off from a job and
expecting recall need not be looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The
unemployment data derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the
eligibility for or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
The civilian labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed persons. Those
not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the labor force. The unemploy-
ment rate is the number unemployed as a percent of the labor force. The labor
force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population, and the
employment-population ratio is the employed as a percent of the population.
- 8 -
Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private nonfarm
businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and
local government entities. Employees on nonfarm payrolls are those who received pay
for any part of the reference pay period, including persons on paid leave. Persons
are counted in each job they hold. Hours and earnings data are for private busines-
ses and relate only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsuper-
visory workers in the service-providing sector. Industries are classified on the
basis of their principal activity in accordance with the 2007 version of the North
American Industry Classification System.
Differences in employment estimates. The numerous conceptual and methodological
differences between the household and establishment surveys result in important dis-
tinctions in the employment estimates derived from the surveys. Among these are:
--The household survey includes agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid
family workers, and private household workers among the employed. These groups are
excluded from the establishment survey.
--The household survey includes people on unpaid leave among the employed. The
establishment survey does not.
--The household survey is limited to workers 16 years of age and older. The
establishment survey is not limited by age.
--The household survey has no duplication of individuals, because individuals
are counted only once, even if they hold more than one job. In the establishment
survey, employees working at more than one job and thus appearing on more than
one payroll would be counted separately for each appearance.
Seasonal adjustment
Over the course of a year, the size of the nation's labor force and the levels of
employment and unemployment undergo sharp fluctuations due to such seasonal events as
changes in 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; seasonal fluctuations may account for as much as 95 percent of the month-to-
month changes in unemployment.
Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each year,
their influence on statistical trends can be eliminated by adjusting the statistics
from month to month. These adjustments make nonseasonal developments, such as de-
clines in economic activity or increases in the participation of women in the labor
force, easier to spot. For example, the large number of youth entering the labor
force each June is likely to obscure any other changes that have taken place rela-
tive to May, making it difficult to determine if the level of economic activity has
risen or declined. However, because the effect of students finishing school in pre-
vious years is known, the statistics for the current year can be adjusted to allow
for a comparable change. Insofar as the seasonal adjustment is made correctly, the
adjusted figure provides a more useful tool with which to analyze changes in economic
activity.
- 9 -
Most seasonally adjusted series are independently adjusted in both the household
and establishment surveys. However, the adjusted series for many major estimates,
such as total payroll employment, employment in most supersectors, total employment,
and unemployment are computed by aggregating independently adjusted component series.
For example, total unemployment is derived by summing the adjusted series for four
major age-sex components; this differs from the unemployment estimate that would be
obtained by directly adjusting the total or by combining the duration, reasons, or
more detailed age categories.
For both the household and establishment surveys, a concurrent seasonal adjustment
methodology is used in which new seasonal factors are calculated each month, using all
relevant data, up to and including the data for the current month. In the household
survey, new seasonal factors are used to adjust only the current month's data. In the
establishment survey, however, new seasonal factors are used each month to adjust the
three most recent monthly estimates. In both surveys, revisions to historical data
are made once a year.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the household and establishment surveys are subject to both
sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire population is
surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true"
population values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured by the
standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of con-
fidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard
errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are
generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
For example, the confidence interval for the monthly change in total employment
from the household survey is on the order of plus or minus 430,000. Suppose the
estimate of total employment increases by 100,000 from one month to the next. The
90-percent confidence interval on the monthly change would range from -330,000 to
530,000 (100,000 +/- 430,000). These figures do not mean that the sample results are
off by these magnitudes, but rather that there is about a 90-percent chance that the
"true" over-the-month change lies within this interval. Since this range includes
values of less than zero, we could not say with confidence that employment had, in
fact, increased. If, however, the reported employment rise was half a million, then
all of the values within the 90-percent confidence interval would be greater than zero.
In this case, it is likely (at least a 90-percent chance) that an employment rise had,
in fact, occurred. At an unemployment rate of around 5.5 percent, the 90-percent con-
fidence interval for the monthly change in unemployment is about +/- 280,000, and for
the monthly change in the unemployment rate it is about +/- .19 percentage point.
In general, estimates involving many individuals or establishments have lower stand-
ard errors (relative to the size of the estimate) than estimates which are based on a
small number of observations. The precision of estimates is also improved when the
data are cumulated over time such as for quarterly and annual averages. The seasonal
adjustment process can also improve the stability of the monthly estimates.
- 10 -
The household and establishment surveys are also affected by nonsampling error.
Nonsampling errors can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a seg-
ment of the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the
sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information on a
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, and errors made in the collection or pro-
cessing of the data.
For example, in the establishment survey, estimates for the most recent 2 months are
based on substantially incomplete returns; for this reason, these estimates are labeled
preliminary in the tables. It is only after two successive revisions to a monthly esti-
mate, when nearly all sample reports have been received, that the estimate is considered
final.
Another major source of nonsampling error in the establishment survey is the inabil-
ity to capture, on a timely basis, employment generated by new firms. To correct for
this systematic underestimation of employment growth, an estimation procedure with two
components is used to account for business births. The first component uses business
deaths to impute employment for business births. This is incorporated into the sample-
based link relative estimate procedure by simply not reflecting sample units going out
of business, but imputing to them the same trend as the other firms in the sample. The
second component is an ARIMA time series model designed to estimate the residual net
birth/death employment not accounted for by the imputation. The historical time series
used to create and test the ARIMA model was derived from the unemployment insurance un-
iverse micro-level database, and reflects the actual residual net of births and deaths
over the past five years.
The sample-based estimates from the establishment survey are adjusted once a year (on
a lagged basis) to universe counts of payroll employment obtained from administrative
records of the unemployment insurance program. The difference between the March sample-
based employment estimates and the March universe counts is known as a benchmark revision,
and serves as a rough proxy for total survey error. The new benchmarks also incorporate
changes in the classification of industries. Over the past decade, the benchmark revision
for total nonfarm employment has averaged 0.2 percent, ranging from less than 0.1 percent
to 0.6 percent.
Other information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon
request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1. Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted (1)
Employment status, sex, and age
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 231,480 233,198 233,405 231,480 232,616 232,809 232,995 233,198 233,405
Civilian labor force....................... 152,350 153,208 154,003 152,776 153,824 153,374 153,784 153,957 154,534
Participation rate................... 65.8 65.7 66.0 66.0 66.1 65.9 66.0 66.0 66.2
Employed................................. 145,864 145,921 145,926 145,913 146,248 145,993 145,969 146,331 146,046
Employment-population ratio.......... 63.0 62.6 62.5 63.0 62.9 62.7 62.6 62.7 62.6
Unemployed............................... 6,486 7,287 8,076 6,863 7,576 7,381 7,815 7,626 8,487
Unemployment rate.................... 4.3 4.8 5.2 4.5 4.9 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.5
Not in labor force......................... 79,130 79,990 79,402 78,704 78,792 79,436 79,211 79,241 78,872
Persons who currently want a job......... 5,551 4,677 5,393 4,958 4,857 4,772 4,730 4,755 4,766
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 111,970 112,803 112,912 111,970 112,493 112,596 112,695 112,803 112,912
Civilian labor force....................... 81,916 81,864 82,443 82,053 82,355 82,132 82,184 82,256 82,602
Participation rate................... 73.2 72.6 73.0 73.3 73.2 72.9 72.9 72.9 73.2
Employed................................. 78,329 77,745 77,983 78,277 78,157 78,113 77,948 78,038 77,954
Employment-population ratio.......... 70.0 68.9 69.1 69.9 69.5 69.4 69.2 69.2 69.0
Unemployed............................... 3,587 4,119 4,459 3,776 4,197 4,019 4,236 4,218 4,648
Unemployment rate.................... 4.4 5.0 5.4 4.6 5.1 4.9 5.2 5.1 5.6
Not in labor force......................... 30,054 30,939 30,470 29,917 30,139 30,464 30,511 30,547 30,310
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 103,361 104,152 104,258 103,361 103,866 103,961 104,052 104,152 104,258
Civilian labor force....................... 78,522 78,632 78,859 78,497 78,864 78,748 78,838 78,776 78,878
Participation rate................... 76.0 75.5 75.6 75.9 75.9 75.7 75.8 75.6 75.7
Employed................................. 75,537 75,048 75,151 75,343 75,427 75,362 75,197 75,148 75,001
Employment-population ratio.......... 73.1 72.1 72.1 72.9 72.6 72.5 72.3 72.2 71.9
Unemployed............................... 2,985 3,584 3,708 3,154 3,437 3,386 3,641 3,628 3,877
Unemployment rate.................... 3.8 4.6 4.7 4.0 4.4 4.3 4.6 4.6 4.9
Not in labor force......................... 24,839 25,520 25,399 24,864 25,002 25,213 25,214 25,376 25,380
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 119,510 120,396 120,493 119,510 120,123 120,213 120,300 120,396 120,493
Civilian labor force....................... 70,434 71,344 71,560 70,724 71,469 71,241 71,600 71,701 71,931
Participation rate................... 58.9 59.3 59.4 59.2 59.5 59.3 59.5 59.6 59.7
Employed................................. 67,535 68,176 67,943 67,637 68,091 67,880 68,021 68,293 68,092
Employment-population ratio.......... 56.5 56.6 56.4 56.6 56.7 56.5 56.5 56.7 56.5
Unemployed............................... 2,899 3,168 3,617 3,087 3,378 3,361 3,579 3,408 3,839
Unemployment rate.................... 4.1 4.4 5.1 4.4 4.7 4.7 5.0 4.8 5.3
Not in labor force......................... 49,076 49,052 48,932 48,787 48,654 48,972 48,700 48,694 48,562
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 111,157 111,990 112,083 111,157 111,739 111,822 111,902 111,990 112,083
Civilian labor force....................... 67,121 68,053 68,124 67,318 67,982 67,816 68,159 68,176 68,390
Participation rate................... 60.4 60.8 60.8 60.6 60.8 60.6 60.9 60.9 61.0
Employed................................. 64,715 65,329 65,115 64,710 65,098 64,950 65,055 65,260 65,138
Employment-population ratio.......... 58.2 58.3 58.1 58.2 58.3 58.1 58.1 58.3 58.1
Unemployed............................... 2,406 2,724 3,008 2,608 2,885 2,865 3,104 2,916 3,252
Unemployment rate.................... 3.6 4.0 4.4 3.9 4.2 4.2 4.6 4.3 4.8
Not in labor force......................... 44,036 43,937 43,959 43,839 43,756 44,006 43,743 43,814 43,693
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 16,962 17,056 17,064 16,962 17,012 17,027 17,041 17,056 17,064
Civilian labor force....................... 6,707 6,523 7,020 6,961 6,978 6,810 6,787 7,005 7,266
Participation rate................... 39.5 38.2 41.1 41.0 41.0 40.0 39.8 41.1 42.6
Employed................................. 5,611 5,544 5,660 5,860 5,724 5,681 5,717 5,923 5,907
Employment-population ratio.......... 33.1 32.5 33.2 34.5 33.6 33.4 33.5 34.7 34.6
Unemployed............................... 1,095 979 1,360 1,101 1,254 1,130 1,070 1,082 1,358
Unemployment rate.................... 16.3 15.0 19.4 15.8 18.0 16.6 15.8 15.4 18.7
Not in labor force......................... 10,256 10,533 10,044 10,001 10,034 10,216 10,254 10,051 9,798
1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and
seasonally adjusted columns.
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-2. Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, and age
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted (1)
Employment status, race, sex, and age
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 187,993 189,147 189,281 187,993 188,787 188,906 189,019 189,147 189,281
Civilian labor force....................... 124,376 124,599 125,415 124,639 125,340 124,940 125,190 125,171 125,762
Participation rate..................... 66.2 65.9 66.3 66.3 66.4 66.1 66.2 66.2 66.4
Employed................................. 119,719 119,341 119,603 119,711 119,858 119,534 119,574 119,667 119,661
Employment-population ratio............ 63.7 63.1 63.2 63.7 63.5 63.3 63.3 63.3 63.2
Unemployed............................... 4,657 5,258 5,812 4,928 5,482 5,406 5,616 5,504 6,101
Unemployment rate...................... 3.7 4.2 4.6 4.0 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.4 4.9
Not in labor force......................... 63,618 64,548 63,866 63,355 63,447 63,966 63,829 63,975 63,519
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force....................... 65,241 65,110 65,416 65,166 65,470 65,270 65,342 65,183 65,392
Participation rate..................... 76.5 75.8 76.1 76.4 76.4 76.1 76.2 75.9 76.1
Employed................................. 63,091 62,483 62,671 62,876 62,924 62,745 62,665 62,507 62,491
Employment-population ratio............ 74.0 72.8 72.9 73.7 73.5 73.2 73.1 72.8 72.7
Unemployed............................... 2,149 2,627 2,744 2,289 2,546 2,524 2,677 2,676 2,901
Unemployment rate...................... 3.3 4.0 4.2 3.5 3.9 3.9 4.1 4.1 4.4
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force....................... 53,577 54,102 54,230 53,703 54,192 54,078 54,264 54,211 54,400
Participation rate..................... 59.7 60.0 60.1 59.9 60.2 60.0 60.2 60.1 60.3
Employed................................. 51,877 52,195 52,159 51,865 52,143 52,004 52,061 52,182 52,177
Employment-population ratio............ 57.8 57.9 57.8 57.8 57.9 57.7 57.7 57.8 57.8
Unemployed............................... 1,700 1,907 2,071 1,837 2,049 2,075 2,202 2,029 2,223
Unemployment rate...................... 3.2 3.5 3.8 3.4 3.8 3.8 4.1 3.7 4.1
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force....................... 5,558 5,386 5,769 5,771 5,678 5,592 5,584 5,777 5,971
Participation rate..................... 42.6 41.2 44.1 44.3 43.5 42.8 42.7 44.2 45.7
Employed................................. 4,751 4,663 4,772 4,969 4,791 4,785 4,848 4,978 4,993
Employment-population ratio............ 36.5 35.7 36.5 38.1 36.7 36.6 37.1 38.1 38.2
Unemployed............................... 807 723 996 801 887 807 736 799 978
Unemployment rate...................... 14.5 13.4 17.3 13.9 15.6 14.4 13.2 13.8 16.4
BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 27,422 27,746 27,780 27,422 27,640 27,675 27,709 27,746 27,780
Civilian labor force....................... 17,357 17,654 17,676 17,405 17,713 17,632 17,702 17,753 17,742
Participation rate..................... 63.3 63.6 63.6 63.5 64.1 63.7 63.9 64.0 63.9
Employed................................. 15,957 16,207 16,015 15,939 16,090 16,169 16,116 16,234 16,029
Employment-population ratio............ 58.2 58.4 57.6 58.1 58.2 58.4 58.2 58.5 57.7
Unemployed............................... 1,400 1,447 1,661 1,466 1,623 1,463 1,586 1,520 1,713
Unemployment rate...................... 8.1 8.2 9.4 8.4 9.2 8.3 9.0 8.6 9.7
Not in labor force......................... 10,065 10,092 10,105 10,017 9,927 10,043 10,007 9,992 10,038
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force....................... 7,763 7,905 7,880 7,785 7,916 7,947 7,922 7,945 7,909
Participation rate..................... 70.4 70.9 70.6 70.6 71.3 71.5 71.2 71.3 70.8
Employed................................. 7,149 7,243 7,182 7,149 7,259 7,320 7,255 7,278 7,202
Employment-population ratio............ 64.8 65.0 64.3 64.8 65.4 65.8 65.2 65.3 64.5
Unemployed............................... 614 662 698 636 656 627 667 667 707
Unemployment rate...................... 7.9 8.4 8.9 8.2 8.3 7.9 8.4 8.4 8.9
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force....................... 8,810 9,039 8,988 8,816 8,921 8,866 9,016 9,038 9,008
Participation rate..................... 64.0 64.9 64.5 64.1 64.3 63.8 64.8 64.9 64.6
Employed................................. 8,254 8,419 8,284 8,228 8,266 8,289 8,336 8,374 8,268
Employment-population ratio............ 60.0 60.4 59.4 59.8 59.6 59.6 59.9 60.1 59.3
Unemployed............................... 556 620 704 588 654 577 680 664 740
Unemployment rate...................... 6.3 6.9 7.8 6.7 7.3 6.5 7.5 7.4 8.2
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force....................... 784 710 808 804 876 819 764 771 825
Participation rate..................... 29.8 26.6 30.2 30.5 33.0 30.8 28.7 28.9 30.9
Employed................................. 554 545 548 562 564 560 525 582 558
Employment-population ratio............ 21.0 20.4 20.5 21.3 21.2 21.0 19.7 21.8 20.9
Unemployed............................... 230 165 259 242 313 259 239 189 266
Unemployment rate...................... 29.4 23.3 32.1 30.1 35.7 31.7 31.3 24.5 32.3
ASIAN
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 10,633 10,658 10,670 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Civilian labor force....................... 7,042 7,220 7,157 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Participation rate..................... 66.2 67.7 67.1 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employed................................. 6,836 6,985 6,881 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employment-population ratio............ 64.3 65.5 64.5 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployed............................... 206 234 275 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployment rate...................... 2.9 3.2 3.8 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Not in labor force......................... 3,591 3,438 3,513 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and
seasonally adjusted columns.
2 Data not available.
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups will not sum to totals shown in table A-1 because data are not presented for all races.
Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Employment status of the Hispanic or Latino population by sex and age
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted (1)
Employment status, sex, and age
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY
Civilian noninstitutional population......... 31,238 31,911 31,998 31,238 31,643 31,732 31,820 31,911 31,998
Civilian labor force....................... 21,460 21,901 22,104 21,434 21,698 21,755 21,775 21,917 22,102
Participation rate..................... 68.7 68.6 69.1 68.6 68.6 68.6 68.4 68.7 69.1
Employed................................. 20,329 20,456 20,699 20,197 20,320 20,401 20,269 20,404 20,573
Employment-population ratio............ 65.1 64.1 64.7 64.7 64.2 64.3 63.7 63.9 64.3
Unemployed............................... 1,131 1,445 1,405 1,237 1,378 1,354 1,507 1,512 1,529
Unemployment rate...................... 5.3 6.6 6.4 5.8 6.3 6.2 6.9 6.9 6.9
Not in labor force......................... 9,778 10,010 9,894 9,804 9,946 9,977 10,045 9,994 9,896
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force....................... 12,390 12,495 12,627 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Participation rate..................... 85.0 84.1 84.7 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employed................................. 11,852 11,769 11,893 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employment-population ratio............ 81.3 79.2 79.8 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployed............................... 538 726 734 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployment rate...................... 4.3 5.8 5.8 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force....................... 8,015 8,272 8,346 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Participation rate..................... 58.4 59.0 59.3 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employed................................. 7,630 7,774 7,873 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employment-population ratio............ 55.6 55.4 56.0 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployed............................... 385 497 473 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployment rate...................... 4.8 6.0 5.7 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force....................... 1,054 1,134 1,131 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Participation rate..................... 36.0 37.6 37.4 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employed................................. 846 913 933 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Employment-population ratio............ 28.9 30.3 30.8 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployed............................... 208 222 198 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Unemployment rate...................... 19.7 19.5 17.5 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and
seasonally adjusted columns.
2 Data not available.
NOTE: Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Updated population controls are introduced
annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-4. Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Educational attainment
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
Less than a high school diploma
Civilian labor force......................... 12,710 12,280 12,423 12,382 12,305 12,127 12,058 12,095 12,119
Participation rate....................... 46.9 46.2 46.5 45.7 46.0 46.4 46.0 45.5 45.4
Employed................................... 11,962 11,353 11,512 11,551 11,362 11,236 11,071 11,157 11,118
Employment-population ratio.............. 44.2 42.7 43.1 42.7 42.5 43.0 42.3 42.0 41.6
Unemployed................................. 749 927 911 831 943 891 986 938 1,001
Unemployment rate........................ 5.9 7.6 7.3 6.7 7.7 7.3 8.2 7.8 8.3
High school graduates, no college (1)
Civilian labor force......................... 38,080 37,703 38,198 38,109 38,364 38,078 37,952 37,926 38,323
Participation rate....................... 62.5 62.2 62.6 62.6 62.9 62.6 62.3 62.6 62.8
Employed................................... 36,515 35,837 36,387 36,386 36,587 36,303 36,016 36,032 36,349
Employment-population ratio.............. 60.0 59.1 59.6 59.8 59.9 59.7 59.1 59.5 59.5
Unemployed................................. 1,565 1,865 1,811 1,724 1,778 1,775 1,936 1,894 1,974
Unemployment rate........................ 4.1 4.9 4.7 4.5 4.6 4.7 5.1 5.0 5.2
Some college or associate degree
Civilian labor force......................... 35,762 36,635 36,565 36,055 36,492 36,437 36,548 36,688 36,791
Participation rate....................... 72.1 72.1 72.0 72.7 72.5 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.4
Employed................................... 34,622 35,219 35,101 34,819 35,187 35,086 35,142 35,271 35,219
Employment-population ratio.............. 69.8 69.3 69.1 70.2 69.9 69.4 69.3 69.4 69.3
Unemployed................................. 1,140 1,415 1,464 1,237 1,305 1,351 1,405 1,417 1,572
Unemployment rate........................ 3.2 3.9 4.0 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.3
Bachelor's degree and higher (2)
Civilian labor force......................... 44,138 45,234 44,612 44,040 44,604 45,226 45,459 45,309 44,566
Participation rate....................... 78.1 78.3 77.8 77.9 78.0 78.1 78.6 78.4 77.7
Employed................................... 43,309 44,351 43,673 43,168 43,651 44,283 44,501 44,376 43,588
Employment-population ratio.............. 76.6 76.7 76.1 76.3 76.4 76.5 77.0 76.8 76.0
Unemployed................................. 829 883 939 872 953 944 958 933 978
Unemployment rate........................ 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2
1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. See box note in the BLS news release
USDL 07-0486, "The Employment Situation: March 2007," issued on April 6, 2007, for a discussion of technical issues regarding
educational attainment data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-5. Employed persons by class of worker and part-time status
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Category
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture and related industries........... 2,121 2,074 2,160 2,081 2,213 2,213 2,192 2,109 2,122
Wage and salary workers.................... 1,239 1,203 1,264 1,212 1,259 1,324 1,331 1,244 1,241
Self-employed workers...................... 861 840 865 842 936 873 849 839 849
Unpaid family workers...................... 20 31 31 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Nonagricultural industries................... 143,743 143,847 143,767 143,799 144,052 143,820 143,796 144,258 143,898
Wage and salary workers.................... 133,908 134,369 134,164 134,006 134,755 134,259 134,411 134,761 134,385
Government............................... 21,479 21,657 21,601 21,190 20,907 21,252 21,262 21,333 21,263
Private industries....................... 112,429 112,712 112,563 112,789 113,846 112,972 113,142 113,394 113,117
Private households..................... 810 780 774 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Other industries....................... 111,619 111,932 111,789 111,909 113,042 112,212 112,383 112,650 112,315
Self-employed workers...................... 9,741 9,353 9,470 9,690 9,161 9,410 9,224 9,355 9,383
Unpaid family workers...................... 94 125 132 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME (2)
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons............. 4,315 5,071 5,096 4,469 4,769 4,884 4,914 5,220 5,233
Slack work or business conditions........ 2,872 3,456 3,560 2,952 3,247 3,291 3,323 3,558 3,595
Could only find part-time work........... 1,226 1,348 1,264 1,248 1,163 1,222 1,362 1,323 1,281
Part time for noneconomic reasons.......... 20,053 20,607 19,708 19,610 19,613 19,348 19,409 19,809 19,428
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons............. 4,246 4,978 5,046 4,391 4,677 4,790 4,797 5,125 5,164
Slack work or business conditions........ 2,830 3,389 3,522 2,893 3,174 3,231 3,238 3,513 3,531
Could only find part-time work........... 1,216 1,345 1,261 1,246 1,149 1,216 1,354 1,331 1,288
Part time for noneconomic reasons.......... 19,689 20,289 19,350 19,192 19,296 19,019 19,072 19,456 19,047
1 Data not available.
2 Persons at work excludes employed persons who were absent from their jobs during the entire reference week for reasons such as
vacation, illness, or industrial dispute. Part time for noneconomic reasons excludes persons who usually work full time but worked
only 1 to 34 hours during the reference week for reasons such as holidays, illness, and bad weather.
NOTE: Detail for the seasonally adjusted data shown in this table will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent
seasonal adjustment of the various series. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-6. Selected employment indicators
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Characteristic
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over..................... 145,864 145,921 145,926 145,913 146,248 145,993 145,969 146,331 146,046
16 to 19 years............................. 5,611 5,544 5,660 5,860 5,724 5,681 5,717 5,923 5,907
16 to 17 years........................... 2,153 1,898 1,919 2,303 2,121 2,109 2,125 2,072 2,040
18 to 19 years........................... 3,458 3,646 3,741 3,540 3,603 3,579 3,578 3,847 3,807
20 years and over.......................... 140,252 140,377 140,267 140,053 140,524 140,312 140,252 140,408 140,139
20 to 24 years........................... 13,845 13,617 13,595 13,953 13,794 13,632 13,657 13,761 13,704
25 years and over........................ 126,407 126,760 126,672 126,018 126,640 126,644 126,574 126,595 126,394
25 to 54 years......................... 100,725 100,035 99,993 100,420 100,174 100,057 99,948 99,964 99,774
25 to 34 years....................... 31,610 31,615 31,573 31,559 31,530 31,599 31,581 31,639 31,545
35 to 44 years....................... 34,466 33,835 33,820 34,330 33,931 33,863 33,783 33,740 33,701
45 to 54 years....................... 34,650 34,584 34,601 34,530 34,713 34,595 34,585 34,586 34,528
55 years and over...................... 25,682 26,725 26,679 25,598 26,466 26,587 26,626 26,631 26,620
Men, 16 years and over....................... 78,329 77,745 77,983 78,277 78,157 78,113 77,948 78,038 77,954
16 to 19 years............................. 2,792 2,697 2,832 2,934 2,731 2,751 2,751 2,890 2,953
16 to 17 years........................... 1,010 863 927 1,093 950 966 971 937 990
18 to 19 years........................... 1,782 1,833 1,904 1,838 1,780 1,782 1,780 1,948 1,946
20 years and over.......................... 75,537 75,048 75,151 75,343 75,427 75,362 75,197 75,148 75,001
20 to 24 years........................... 7,365 7,186 7,215 7,395 7,312 7,219 7,268 7,299 7,250
25 years and over........................ 68,172 67,862 67,937 67,922 68,060 68,129 67,938 67,809 67,742
25 to 54 years......................... 54,552 53,684 53,797 54,360 54,041 54,016 53,847 53,678 53,651
25 to 34 years....................... 17,487 17,285 17,357 17,434 17,348 17,346 17,255 17,321 17,309
35 to 44 years....................... 18,842 18,213 18,210 18,762 18,335 18,400 18,359 18,180 18,147
45 to 54 years....................... 18,224 18,186 18,230 18,164 18,357 18,270 18,233 18,177 18,196
55 years and over...................... 13,620 14,179 14,140 13,562 14,020 14,113 14,091 14,131 14,091
Women, 16 years and over..................... 67,535 68,176 67,943 67,637 68,091 67,880 68,021 68,293 68,092
16 to 19 years............................. 2,820 2,847 2,828 2,926 2,993 2,929 2,966 3,033 2,954
16 to 17 years........................... 1,143 1,034 991 1,211 1,171 1,143 1,154 1,136 1,050
18 to 19 years........................... 1,676 1,812 1,836 1,703 1,823 1,797 1,798 1,899 1,861
20 years and over.......................... 64,715 65,329 65,115 64,710 65,098 64,950 65,055 65,260 65,138
20 to 24 years........................... 6,480 6,431 6,380 6,558 6,482 6,414 6,389 6,463 6,454
25 years and over........................ 58,235 58,898 58,736 58,096 58,580 58,515 58,636 58,786 58,652
25 to 54 years......................... 46,173 46,351 46,196 46,060 46,133 46,041 46,101 46,286 46,122
25 to 34 years....................... 14,123 14,330 14,216 14,126 14,182 14,254 14,326 14,318 14,236
35 to 44 years....................... 15,624 15,622 15,610 15,569 15,596 15,463 15,423 15,559 15,555
45 to 54 years....................... 16,426 16,399 16,370 16,366 16,355 16,325 16,352 16,409 16,332
55 years and over...................... 12,062 12,547 12,540 12,036 12,447 12,474 12,535 12,500 12,529
MARITAL STATUS
Married men, spouse present.................. 46,647 46,002 46,024 46,472 46,063 46,136 45,961 45,964 45,862
Married women, spouse present................ 36,169 36,331 36,298 36,126 35,536 35,648 35,749 36,177 36,171
Women who maintain families.................. 9,190 9,111 9,189 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
FULL- OR PART-TIME STATUS
Full-time workers (2)........................ 120,846 120,027 120,809 120,976 121,202 121,275 121,231 120,856 120,989
Part-time workers (3)........................ 25,018 25,894 25,117 24,886 25,043 24,697 24,691 25,245 24,969
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS
Total multiple jobholders.................... 7,693 7,630 7,653 7,753 7,557 7,582 7,449 7,644 7,679
Percent of total employed................ 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.1 5.2 5.3
1 Data not available.
2 Employed full-time workers are persons who usually work 35 hours or more per week.
3 Employed part-time workers are persons who usually work less than 35 hours per week.
NOTE: Detail for the seasonally adjusted data shown in this table will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent
seasonal adjustment of the various series. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-7. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons Unemployment rates (1)
(in thousands)
Characteristic
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over..................... 6,863 7,626 8,487 4.5 4.9 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.5
16 to 19 years............................. 1,101 1,082 1,358 15.8 18.0 16.6 15.8 15.4 18.7
16 to 17 years........................... 465 509 547 16.8 20.4 18.3 18.6 19.7 21.2
18 to 19 years........................... 638 583 807 15.3 15.9 15.5 14.0 13.2 17.5
20 years and over.......................... 5,762 6,544 7,129 4.0 4.3 4.3 4.6 4.5 4.8
20 to 24 years........................... 1,118 1,345 1,584 7.4 8.7 8.9 9.3 8.9 10.4
25 years and over........................ 4,616 5,179 5,470 3.5 3.8 3.8 4.0 3.9 4.1
25 to 54 years......................... 3,793 4,333 4,598 3.6 3.9 3.9 4.2 4.2 4.4
25 to 34 years....................... 1,502 1,690 1,761 4.5 4.9 4.8 5.3 5.1 5.3
35 to 44 years....................... 1,194 1,350 1,494 3.4 3.6 3.6 3.8 3.8 4.2
45 to 54 years....................... 1,097 1,293 1,343 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7
55 years and over...................... 841 838 896 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.0 3.3
Men, 16 years and over....................... 3,776 4,218 4,648 4.6 5.1 4.9 5.2 5.1 5.6
16 to 19 years............................. 622 590 771 17.5 21.8 18.7 17.8 16.9 20.7
16 to 17 years........................... 252 267 301 18.7 24.0 20.5 22.0 22.2 23.3
18 to 19 years........................... 380 330 475 17.1 19.5 18.0 15.2 14.5 19.6
20 years and over.......................... 3,154 3,628 3,877 4.0 4.4 4.3 4.6 4.6 4.9
20 to 24 years........................... 708 804 900 8.7 9.4 9.9 10.3 9.9 11.0
25 years and over........................ 2,456 2,816 2,960 3.5 3.8 3.7 4.0 4.0 4.2
25 to 54 years......................... 1,985 2,385 2,465 3.5 4.0 3.8 4.1 4.3 4.4
25 to 34 years....................... 811 916 994 4.4 5.1 4.8 5.4 5.0 5.4
35 to 44 years....................... 584 753 772 3.0 3.6 3.4 3.6 4.0 4.1
45 to 54 years....................... 590 716 699 3.1 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.8 3.7
55 years and over...................... 471 431 496 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.4
Women, 16 years and over..................... 3,087 3,408 3,839 4.4 4.7 4.7 5.0 4.8 5.3
16 to 19 years............................. 479 492 587 14.1 14.2 14.5 13.8 14.0 16.6
16 to 17 years........................... 213 242 246 15.0 17.2 16.2 15.5 17.5 19.0
18 to 19 years........................... 258 253 332 13.2 12.1 12.8 12.8 11.8 15.2
20 years and over.......................... 2,608 2,916 3,252 3.9 4.2 4.2 4.6 4.3 4.8
20 to 24 years........................... 410 542 684 5.9 8.0 7.7 8.1 7.7 9.6
25 years and over........................ 2,160 2,363 2,509 3.6 3.8 3.8 4.1 3.9 4.1
25 to 54 years......................... 1,808 1,949 2,133 3.8 3.9 4.0 4.2 4.0 4.4
25 to 34 years....................... 691 774 767 4.7 4.8 4.7 5.3 5.1 5.1
35 to 44 years....................... 610 598 722 3.8 3.6 3.9 3.9 3.7 4.4
45 to 54 years....................... 507 577 644 3.0 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.8
55 years and over (2).................. 333 366 357 2.7 3.4 3.3 3.4 2.8 2.8
MARITAL STATUS
Married men, spouse present.................. 1,217 1,319 1,357 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.9
Married women, spouse present................ 1,025 1,115 1,169 2.8 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.0 3.1
Women who maintain families (2).............. 617 661 683 6.3 7.0 6.7 7.1 6.8 6.9
FULL- OR PART-TIME STATUS
Full-time workers (3)........................ 5,543 6,328 7,010 4.4 4.8 4.8 5.0 5.0 5.5
Part-time workers (4)........................ 1,291 1,303 1,454 4.9 5.4 5.0 5.3 4.9 5.5
1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
2 Not seasonally adjusted.
3 Full-time workers are unemployed persons who have expressed a desire to work full time (35 hours or more per week) or are on layoff
from full-time jobs.
4 Part-time workers are unemployed persons who have expressed a desire to work part time (less than 35 hours per week) or are on
layoff from part-time jobs.
NOTE: Detail for the seasonally adjusted data shown in this table will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent
seasonal adjustment of the various series. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-8. Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Reason
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers and persons who completed
temporary jobs.............................. 3,070 3,931 3,949 3,375 3,796 3,854 4,154 4,014 4,282
On temporary layoff........................ 750 1,053 856 997 1,040 971 1,056 1,099 1,113
Not on temporary layoff.................... 2,319 2,878 3,094 2,379 2,756 2,883 3,098 2,915 3,169
Permanent job losers..................... 1,665 2,114 2,220 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Persons who completed temporary jobs..... 655 764 874 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Job leavers.................................. 705 816 819 768 830 769 781 850 870
Reentrants................................... 2,181 1,995 2,515 2,149 2,201 2,112 2,117 2,134 2,460
New entrants................................. 530 545 793 557 667 648 681 624 828
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed............................. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Job losers and persons who completed
temporary jobs............................. 47.3 53.9 48.9 49.3 50.7 52.2 53.7 52.7 50.7
On temporary layoff....................... 11.6 14.4 10.6 14.6 13.9 13.2 13.7 14.4 13.2
Not on temporary layoff................... 35.8 39.5 38.3 34.7 36.8 39.0 40.1 38.2 37.5
Job leavers................................. 10.9 11.2 10.1 11.2 11.1 10.4 10.1 11.2 10.3
Reentrants.................................. 33.6 27.4 31.1 31.4 29.4 28.6 27.4 28.0 29.1
New entrants................................ 8.2 7.5 9.8 8.1 8.9 8.8 8.8 8.2 9.8
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers and persons who completed
temporary jobs............................. 2.0 2.6 2.6 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.8
Job leavers................................. .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .6 .6
Reentrants.................................. 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.6
New entrants................................ .3 .4 .5 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .5
1 Data not available.
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-9. Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Duration
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Less than 5 weeks...................................... 2,428 2,151 3,222 2,467 2,634 2,639 2,767 2,484 3,244
5 to 14 weeks.......................................... 1,801 2,225 2,035 2,187 2,396 2,396 2,525 2,495 2,469
15 weeks and over...................................... 2,257 2,911 2,819 2,236 2,503 2,377 2,400 2,626 2,773
15 to 26 weeks...................................... 1,135 1,473 1,263 1,099 1,124 1,079 1,118 1,272 1,223
27 weeks and over................................... 1,122 1,439 1,557 1,137 1,380 1,299 1,282 1,353 1,550
Average (mean) duration, in weeks...................... 17.1 18.3 17.0 16.6 17.5 16.8 16.2 16.9 16.6
Median duration, in weeks.............................. 8.4 11.0 8.2 8.3 8.8 8.4 8.1 9.3 8.3
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed....................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Less than 5 weeks.................................... 37.4 29.5 39.9 35.8 35.0 35.6 36.0 32.7 38.2
5 to 14 weeks........................................ 27.8 30.5 25.2 31.7 31.8 32.3 32.8 32.8 29.1
15 weeks and over.................................... 34.8 40.0 34.9 32.5 33.2 32.1 31.2 34.5 32.7
15 to 26 weeks..................................... 17.5 20.2 15.6 16.0 14.9 14.6 14.5 16.7 14.4
27 weeks and over.................................. 17.3 19.7 19.3 16.5 18.3 17.5 16.7 17.8 18.3
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-10. Employed and unemployed persons by occupation, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Unemployment
Employed Unemployed rates
Occupation
May May May May May May
2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008
Total, 16 years and over (1)...................... 145,864 145,926 6,486 8,076 4.3 5.2
Management, professional, and related occupations...... 51,719 52,544 1,019 1,407 1.9 2.6
Management, business, and financial operations
occupations......................................... 21,313 21,823 441 610 2.0 2.7
Professional and related occupations................. 30,406 30,721 578 796 1.9 2.5
Service occupations.................................... 24,337 24,679 1,432 1,648 5.6 6.3
Sales and office occupations........................... 35,983 35,589 1,528 1,779 4.1 4.8
Sales and related occupations........................ 16,705 16,167 772 861 4.4 5.1
Office and administrative support occupations........ 19,278 19,422 756 918 3.8 4.5
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations........................................... 15,661 14,876 969 1,207 5.8 7.5
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations........... 1,004 1,008 73 80 6.8 7.3
Construction and extraction occupations.............. 9,458 8,684 700 907 6.9 9.5
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.... 5,199 5,184 196 220 3.6 4.1
Production, transportation, and material moving
occupations........................................... 18,165 18,238 985 1,228 5.1 6.3
Production occupations............................... 9,535 9,136 534 653 5.3 6.7
Transportation and material moving occupations....... 8,630 9,103 452 575 5.0 5.9
1 Persons with no previous work experience and persons whose last job was in the Armed Forces are included in the unemployed total.
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-11. Unemployed persons by industry and class of worker, not seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed Unemployment
persons rates
Industry and class of worker (in thousands)
May May May May
2007 2008 2007 2008
Total, 16 years and over (1).................... 6,486 8,076 4.3 5.2
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers........ 5,188 6,362 4.4 5.3
Mining............................................... 22 28 3.0 3.4
Construction......................................... 676 809 6.9 8.6
Manufacturing........................................ 651 879 3.9 5.3
Durable goods...................................... 443 565 4.1 5.4
Nondurable goods................................... 208 314 3.6 5.3
Wholesale and retail trade........................... 795 1,049 3.9 5.2
Transportation and utilities......................... 216 269 3.8 4.3
Information.......................................... 110 170 3.3 5.0
Financial activities................................. 281 361 2.9 3.7
Professional and business services................... 743 829 5.4 5.9
Education and health services........................ 622 619 3.3 3.2
Leisure and hospitality.............................. 831 1,074 6.8 8.4
Other services....................................... 242 275 3.9 4.4
Agriculture and related private wage and salary
workers............................................... 64 94 5.1 7.4
Government workers..................................... 428 461 1.9 2.1
Self employed and unpaid family workers................ 276 366 2.5 3.4
1 Persons with no previous work experience are included in the unemployed total.
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-12. Alternative measures of labor underutilization
(Percent)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Measure
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008
U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent
of the civilian labor force....................... 1.5 1.9 1.8 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.8
U-2 Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force.... 2.0 2.6 2.6 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.8
U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian
labor force (official unemployment rate).......... 4.3 4.8 5.2 4.5 4.9 4.8 5.1 5.0 5.5
U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a
percent of the civilian labor force plus
discouraged workers............................... 4.5 5.0 5.5 4.7 5.2 5.1 5.3 5.2 5.7
U-5 Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus
all other marginally attached workers, as a
percent of the civilian labor force plus all
marginally attached workers....................... 5.1 5.6 6.1 5.4 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.8 6.4
U-6 Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached
workers, plus total employed part time for
economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian
labor force plus all marginally attached
workers........................................... 7.9 8.9 9.4 8.3 9.0 8.9 9.1 9.2 9.7
NOTE: Marginally attached workers are persons who currently are neither working nor looking for work but indicate that they want and
are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past. Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached,
have given a job-market related reason for not looking currently for a job. Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those
who want and are available for full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule. For more information, see "BLS
introduces new range of alternative unemployment measures," in the October 1995 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. Updated population
controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-13. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Total Men Women
Category
May May May May May May
2007 2008 2007 2008 2007 2008
NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE
Total not in the labor force........................... 79,130 79,402 30,054 30,470 49,076 48,932
Persons who currently want a job...................... 5,551 5,393 2,562 2,427 2,989 2,966
Searched for work and available to work now (1)..... 1,406 1,416 693 754 713 662
Reason not currently looking:
Discouragement over job prospects (2)........... 368 400 246 260 122 140
Reasons other than discouragement (3)........... 1,038 1,016 447 494 591 522
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS
Total multiple jobholders (4).......................... 7,693 7,653 3,835 3,841 3,858 3,812
Percent of total employed.......................... 5.3 5.2 4.9 4.9 5.7 5.6
Primary job full time, secondary job part time..... 4,121 4,205 2,316 2,300 1,805 1,904
Primary and secondary jobs both part time.......... 1,851 1,827 563 577 1,288 1,250
Primary and secondary jobs both full time.......... 327 286 220 195 107 91
Hours vary on primary or secondary job............. 1,334 1,296 711 739 623 557
1 Data refer to persons who have searched for work during the prior 12 months and were available to take a job during the reference week.
2 Includes thinks no work available, could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or old, and other types of
discrimination.
3 Includes those who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for such reasons as school or family responsibilities, ill health,
and transportation problems, as well as a small number for which reason for nonparticipation was not determined.
4 Includes persons who work part time on their primary job and full time on their secondary job(s), not shown separately.
NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry sector and selected industry detail
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Change
Industry May Mar. Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May from:
2007 2008 2008p 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2008p Apr. 2008-
May 2008p
Total nonfarm......... 138,289 137,033 137,745 138,393 137,518 138,002 137,919 137,831 137,803 137,754 -49
Total private........... 115,712 114,241 114,947 115,587 115,332 115,666 115,557 115,454 115,414 115,348 -66
Goods-producing............. 22,348 21,312 21,412 21,611 22,272 21,907 21,816 21,737 21,637 21,580 -57
Natural resources and mining.... 720 738 743 755 719 744 744 750 751 754 3
Logging...................... 58.6 57.1 56.6 57.5 60.7 60.7 60.2 60.1 61.0 60.2 -.8
Mining......................... 661.0 680.4 686.0 697.4 658.4 683.2 684.0 689.7 689.5 693.7 4.2
Oil and gas extraction........ 143.6 154.5 152.8 156.4 143.8 154.5 153.8 155.2 154.2 156.3 2.1
Mining, except oil and
gas (1)...................... 227.2 218.6 222.6 229.9 224.0 227.0 225.7 226.2 225.5 226.9 1.4
Coal mining.................. 76.5 79.0 78.9 79.9 76.8 78.6 78.7 79.2 79.1 80.1 1.0
Support activities for mining. 290.2 307.3 310.6 311.1 290.6 301.7 304.5 308.3 309.8 310.5 .7
Construction.................... 7,725 6,998 7,122 7,297 7,643 7,426 7,382 7,343 7,291 7,257 -34
Construction of buildings..... 1,776.5 1,608.8 1,614.7 1,642.0 1,773.6 1,690.2 1,673.0 1,668.2 1,655.0 1,642.8 -12.2
Residential building......... 965.4 840.1 843.8 862.1 963.7 891.9 877.0 875.5 869.2 862.9 -6.3
Nonresidential building...... 811.1 768.7 770.9 779.9 809.9 798.3 796.0 792.7 785.8 779.9 -5.9
Heavy and civil engineering
construction................. 1,030.8 895.9 933.1 985.5 1,003.9 984.6 977.6 976.9 966.3 963.3 -3.0
Specialty trade contractors... 4,917.3 4,493.6 4,574.4 4,669.6 4,865.7 4,750.8 4,731.8 4,697.5 4,669.4 4,651.3 -18.1
Residential specialty trade
contractors................. 2,343.4 2,036.7 2,068.8 2,116.3 2,313.5 2,176.2 2,164.2 2,137.5 2,117.1 2,098.3 -18.8
Nonresidential specialty
trade contractors........... 2,573.9 2,456.9 2,505.6 2,553.3 2,552.2 2,574.6 2,567.6 2,560.0 2,552.3 2,553.0 .7
Manufacturing................... 13,903 13,576 13,547 13,559 13,910 13,737 13,690 13,644 13,595 13,569 -26
Production workers........... 9,988 9,794 9,757 9,770 9,992 9,922 9,879 9,847 9,797 9,774 -23
Durable goods.................. 8,844 8,626 8,602 8,598 8,832 8,718 8,685 8,652 8,608 8,589 -19
Production workers........... 6,280 6,135 6,108 6,094 6,267 6,214 6,182 6,152 6,108 6,083 -25
Wood products................. 524.1 484.6 486.5 483.3 522.5 503.5 498.6 492.9 491.0 482.6 -8.4
Nonmetallic mineral products.. 509.6 477.2 482.9 485.3 505.5 494.4 492.2 487.7 486.0 481.3 -4.7
Primary metals................ 458.5 451.7 452.4 451.5 458.3 452.3 451.4 451.3 450.8 449.9 -.9
Fabricated metal products..... 1,558.5 1,552.4 1,542.1 1,543.7 1,559.6 1,560.9 1,557.1 1,556.9 1,545.1 1,545.9 .8
Machinery..................... 1,187.1 1,196.4 1,194.3 1,195.3 1,186.1 1,193.8 1,191.7 1,195.1 1,193.7 1,192.5 -1.2
Computer and electronic
products (1)................. 1,273.4 1,251.7 1,252.4 1,246.4 1,275.0 1,256.3 1,251.9 1,254.1 1,254.8 1,247.3 -7.5
Computer and peripheral
equipment................... 188.2 185.7 186.5 184.9 187.8 184.9 185.9 186.0 187.0 185.2 -1.8
Communications equipment..... 127.0 129.2 130.5 130.2 127.2 129.5 128.7 129.4 130.6 129.8 -.8
Semiconductors and electronic
components.................. 446.9 427.7 427.8 424.4 447.3 433.5 429.7 428.7 427.5 423.2 -4.3
Electronic instruments....... 444.5 445.6 444.4 444.5 445.2 444.3 442.9 446.2 445.7 445.5 -.2
Electrical equipment and
appliances................... 427.7 419.1 420.7 420.2 427.7 421.6 420.8 419.9 421.1 420.9 -.2
Transportation equipment (1).. 1,721.8 1,652.7 1,636.0 1,642.9 1,716.1 1,678.1 1,672.0 1,651.1 1,630.4 1,637.6 7.2
Motor vehicles and parts (2). 1,010.4 930.2 914.9 918.9 1,002.1 956.6 950.4 927.3 909.1 913.5 4.4
Furniture and related products 541.3 509.8 505.3 502.7 538.7 520.4 516.0 511.2 505.4 502.5 -2.9
Miscellaneous manufacturing... 641.5 630.8 629.2 626.7 642.4 636.4 633.3 632.0 630.1 628.3 -1.8
Nondurable goods............... 5,059 4,950 4,945 4,961 5,078 5,019 5,005 4,992 4,987 4,980 -7
Production workers........... 3,708 3,659 3,649 3,676 3,725 3,708 3,697 3,695 3,689 3,691 2
Food manufacturing............ 1,459.8 1,450.0 1,442.6 1,451.8 1,480.5 1,483.2 1,482.7 1,477.0 1,474.7 1,473.0 -1.7
Beverages and tobacco products 194.6 184.9 189.3 191.6 196.2 191.1 189.3 190.8 193.4 192.6 -.8
Textile mills................. 172.1 159.2 155.8 155.1 171.2 162.0 161.4 158.7 156.1 155.0 -1.1
Textile product mills......... 158.8 153.7 153.6 152.7 158.3 154.0 153.0 153.3 152.5 152.1 -.4
Apparel....................... 216.4 198.1 197.6 195.8 215.3 202.0 200.6 198.1 197.0 194.8 -2.2
Leather and allied products... 34.2 33.7 34.0 34.4 33.9 34.5 33.5 33.5 33.8 33.8 .0
Paper and paper products...... 460.2 455.2 456.3 458.2 461.0 459.0 457.8 457.9 458.9 459.4 .5
Printing and related support
activities................... 624.1 612.8 611.8 610.8 624.7 620.1 614.6 614.2 613.5 611.2 -2.3
Petroleum and coal products... 116.7 110.0 111.1 113.3 116.0 112.2 112.5 112.2 111.7 111.6 -.1
Chemicals..................... 860.9 859.0 859.6 861.3 862.4 861.2 861.0 860.5 860.9 861.8 .9
Plastics and rubber products.. 760.7 733.1 733.5 736.4 758.5 739.7 738.7 735.6 734.8 734.7 -.1
Service-providing........... 115,941 115,721 116,333 116,782 115,246 116,095 116,103 116,094 116,166 116,174 8
Private service-providing.. 93,364 92,929 93,535 93,976 93,060 93,759 93,741 93,717 93,777 93,768 -9
Trade, transportation, and
utilities...................... 26,559 26,265 26,285 26,403 26,593 26,631 26,579 26,552 26,506 26,465 -41
Wholesale trade................ 6,027.0 6,023.9 6,030.5 6,051.0 6,011.7 6,067.3 6,057.6 6,054.3 6,044.3 6,040.1 -4.2
Durable goods................. 3,130.5 3,116.7 3,112.9 3,114.1 3,127.2 3,138.0 3,127.3 3,127.8 3,118.2 3,110.7 -7.5
Nondurable goods.............. 2,066.2 2,071.2 2,080.1 2,095.9 2,058.1 2,090.9 2,088.4 2,087.5 2,087.6 2,091.1 3.5
Electronic markets and agents
and brokers.................. 830.3 836.0 837.5 841.0 826.4 838.4 841.9 839.0 838.5 838.3 -.2
Retail trade...................15,441.3 15,186.1 15,176.2 15,248.0 15,500.3 15,472.2 15,428.8 15,401.4 15,362.7 15,335.6 -27.1
Motor vehicle and parts
dealers (1).................. 1,920.5 1,889.9 1,896.1 1,900.7 1,916.4 1,910.2 1,905.1 1,901.5 1,897.5 1,894.0 -3.5
Automobile dealers........... 1,246.7 1,229.5 1,227.9 1,226.0 1,247.1 1,244.0 1,236.2 1,233.7 1,229.0 1,225.1 -3.9
Furniture and home furnishings
stores....................... 576.9 562.9 563.6 563.6 580.5 579.9 575.9 570.6 569.6 570.1 .5
Electronics and appliance
stores....................... 537.1 531.2 530.7 530.0 546.5 534.3 533.6 535.0 537.7 540.1 2.4
Building material and garden
supply stores................ 1,381.1 1,229.0 1,266.7 1,303.3 1,317.8 1,266.0 1,258.5 1,250.8 1,239.1 1,236.6 -2.5
Food and beverage stores...... 2,835.6 2,864.8 2,862.0 2,880.3 2,839.4 2,880.1 2,885.7 2,890.1 2,886.3 2,885.1 -1.2
Health and personal care
stores....................... 985.5 988.7 984.9 986.2 987.5 1,000.6 993.5 993.9 993.1 992.0 -1.1
Gasoline stations............. 865.6 843.5 845.3 843.4 863.2 853.8 854.2 852.6 850.2 843.8 -6.4
Clothing and clothing
accessories stores........... 1,449.5 1,446.9 1,447.7 1,452.1 1,493.6 1,498.2 1,496.3 1,498.9 1,498.5 1,499.8 1.3
Sporting goods, hobby, book,
and music stores............. 640.4 642.6 630.9 636.9 656.4 667.2 661.9 658.6 653.3 656.6 3.3
General merchandise
stores (1)................... 2,958.0 2,907.5 2,869.4 2,866.6 2,994.3 2,971.1 2,955.7 2,943.9 2,931.3 2,914.6 -16.7
Department stores............ 1,544.9 1,497.6 1,476.5 1,465.8 1,585.8 1,564.3 1,543.3 1,534.3 1,527.2 1,512.3 -14.9
Miscellaneous store retailers. 869.7 845.0 849.4 857.7 868.0 869.4 865.3 862.8 863.0 859.7 -3.3
Nonstore retailers............ 421.4 434.1 429.5 427.2 436.7 441.4 443.1 442.7 443.1 443.2 .1
Transportation and warehousing. 4,536.5 4,499.9 4,520.5 4,542.0 4,527.6 4,534.5 4,535.5 4,537.7 4,540.4 4,529.9 -10.5
Air transportation............ 485.0 505.2 502.5 503.5 484.2 504.7 508.2 507.5 504.4 503.0 -1.4
Rail transportation........... 235.9 232.3 233.9 234.9 235.1 233.8 233.7 233.7 233.8 233.6 -.2
Water transportation.......... 63.9 58.8 60.9 63.4 63.4 63.8 62.5 61.6 62.2 62.4 .2
Truck transportation.......... 1,446.8 1,395.9 1,402.3 1,411.0 1,450.2 1,422.5 1,417.4 1,420.4 1,416.7 1,412.7 -4.0
Transit and ground passenger
transportation............... 427.5 426.9 432.5 431.9 407.3 411.9 413.5 412.9 418.0 412.5 -5.5
Pipeline transportation....... 39.9 41.0 40.9 42.2 39.9 40.6 40.9 41.2 41.3 42.3 1.0
Scenic and sightseeing
transportation............... 29.5 25.6 27.8 32.7 28.8 31.0 31.5 31.7 31.5 31.4 -.1
Support activities for
transportation............... 579.6 583.9 589.7 587.8 580.8 584.9 585.9 586.3 588.6 586.8 -1.8
Couriers and messengers....... 575.5 578.5 578.3 581.4 578.3 585.5 586.0 585.3 585.3 587.1 1.8
Warehousing and storage....... 652.9 651.8 651.7 653.2 659.6 655.8 655.9 657.1 658.6 658.1 -.5
Utilities...................... 554.2 555.4 557.4 561.5 553.5 557.1 557.0 558.2 558.6 559.2 .6
Information..................... 3,044 3,008 3,003 3,008 3,037 3,014 3,016 3,013 3,007 3,004 -3
Publishing industries, except
Internet..................... 898.8 882.1 881.4 876.6 901.4 889.2 886.8 882.9 883.6 880.3 -3.3
Motion picture and sound
recording industries......... 392.2 378.9 379.2 387.4 385.2 372.9 380.1 383.0 381.9 381.8 -.1
Broadcasting, except Internet. 325.6 321.5 320.2 321.3 326.6 323.0 322.1 322.5 320.9 321.7 .8
Telecommunications............ 1,028.5 1,019.9 1,017.5 1,018.6 1,027.8 1,025.3 1,022.0 1,020.1 1,018.2 1,018.4 .2
Data processing, hosting and
related services............. 273.5 273.4 273.8 274.1 271.1 273.0 274.2 272.3 272.0 271.9 -.1
Other information services.... 125.5 131.8 130.7 130.1 124.6 130.5 131.2 131.9 130.3 129.5 -.8
Financial activities............ 8,318 8,194 8,207 8,229 8,322 8,244 8,231 8,231 8,232 8,231 -1
Finance and insurance.......... 6,150.3 6,103.4 6,099.3 6,096.0 6,155.4 6,106.2 6,102.2 6,103.4 6,106.2 6,102.5 -3.7
Monetary authorities - central
bank......................... 21.7 20.9 21.1 21.1 21.7 20.7 20.9 20.9 21.1 21.0 -.1
Credit intermediation and
related activities (1)....... 2,897.0 2,814.3 2,806.9 2,803.5 2,896.9 2,825.0 2,820.4 2,811.8 2,808.2 2,802.7 -5.5
Depository credit
intermediation (1).......... 1,817.0 1,820.3 1,819.5 1,819.3 1,818.8 1,821.5 1,823.3 1,821.6 1,823.1 1,822.0 -1.1
Commercial banking.......... 1,341.9 1,343.3 1,342.2 1,342.5 1,343.9 1,342.2 1,344.9 1,343.4 1,343.8 1,343.9 .1
Securities, commodity
contracts, investments....... 842.9 866.4 867.0 864.7 846.2 859.2 862.5 865.8 867.8 868.5 .7
Insurance carriers and related
activities................... 2,301.5 2,314.9 2,316.7 2,319.8 2,303.2 2,313.9 2,311.1 2,318.4 2,321.2 2,323.0 1.8
Funds, trusts, and other
financial vehicles........... 87.2 86.9 87.6 86.9 87.4 87.4 87.3 86.5 87.9 87.3 -.6
Real estate and rental and
leasing....................... 2,167.3 2,090.9 2,107.3 2,133.2 2,166.2 2,138.0 2,128.6 2,127.8 2,125.5 2,128.8 3.3
Real estate................... 1,495.6 1,441.4 1,456.8 1,468.5 1,497.2 1,471.4 1,466.0 1,465.0 1,466.8 1,468.3 1.5
Rental and leasing services... 642.9 618.2 618.9 633.8 640.0 635.2 631.0 631.1 627.0 629.5 2.5
Lessors of nonfinancial
intangible assets............ 28.8 31.3 31.6 30.9 29.0 31.4 31.6 31.7 31.7 31.0 -.7
Professional and business
services....................... 17,937 17,796 18,002 17,978 17,938 18,101 18,073 18,014 18,046 18,007 -39
Professional and technical
services (1).................. 7,557.2 7,891.0 7,916.6 7,769.2 7,627.8 7,819.2 7,829.2 7,823.5 7,845.2 7,835.5 -9.7
Legal services............... 1,176.1 1,166.2 1,167.0 1,168.6 1,180.7 1,173.0 1,174.9 1,172.6 1,172.4 1,171.0 -1.4
Accounting and bookkeeping
services.................... 875.3 1,100.4 1,091.5 920.0 932.5 992.3 991.9 983.3 986.3 976.1 -10.2
Architectural and engineering
services.................... 1,429.1 1,442.6 1,451.7 1,462.2 1,429.8 1,460.5 1,463.0 1,461.8 1,463.8 1,462.3 -1.5
Computer systems design and
related services............ 1,351.4 1,387.2 1,398.4 1,399.1 1,353.5 1,391.6 1,393.5 1,391.3 1,401.9 1,402.1 .2
Management and technical
consulting services......... 941.8 988.8 998.3 1,008.0 943.8 989.2 992.7 997.0 1,002.1 1,007.4 5.3
Management of companies and
enterprises................... 1,846.6 1,830.1 1,829.7 1,834.2 1,842.3 1,845.5 1,844.7 1,839.7 1,838.0 1,836.1 -1.9
Administrative and waste
services...................... 8,532.8 8,075.2 8,255.3 8,374.7 8,468.1 8,436.2 8,398.6 8,351.2 8,362.3 8,335.0 -27.3
Administrative and support
services (1)................. 8,176.9 7,717.4 7,892.9 8,010.0 8,113.0 8,070.8 8,036.1 7,987.3 7,997.4 7,970.0 -27.4
Employment services (1)...... 3,615.6 3,351.9 3,381.1 3,405.7 3,629.7 3,562.1 3,531.6 3,483.7 3,476.0 3,450.3 -25.7
Temporary help services..... 2,606.2 2,397.0 2,419.5 2,432.8 2,614.6 2,574.6 2,536.8 2,506.0 2,494.2 2,464.6 -29.6
Business support services.... 805.7 798.5 794.6 792.2 806.2 797.4 796.6 794.1 793.8 791.2 -2.6
Services to buildings and
dwellings................... 1,922.3 1,726.5 1,861.5 1,954.6 1,846.8 1,861.3 1,859.7 1,857.3 1,866.9 1,871.3 4.4
Waste management and
remediation services......... 355.9 357.8 362.4 364.7 355.1 365.4 362.5 363.9 364.9 365.0 .1
Education and health services... 18,331 18,850 18,931 18,897 18,247 18,617 18,665 18,709 18,770 18,824 54
Educational services........... 2,986.3 3,178.0 3,191.9 3,097.8 2,928.2 3,003.4 3,009.6 3,018.6 3,030.2 3,041.9 11.7
Health care and social
assistance....................15,344.2 15,671.9 15,739.5 15,799.0 15,319.2 15,613.6 15,655.0 15,690.5 15,739.8 15,782.2 42.4
Health care (3)...............12,883.4 13,168.3 13,219.8 13,267.0 12,897.3 13,135.6 13,172.7 13,202.3 13,246.1 13,280.0 33.9
Ambulatory health care
services (1)................ 5,451.2 5,599.6 5,633.1 5,651.3 5,451.8 5,581.7 5,600.0 5,612.5 5,637.4 5,650.2 12.8
Offices of physicians....... 2,194.0 2,245.9 2,255.5 2,261.8 2,196.0 2,240.8 2,248.2 2,251.7 2,259.9 2,264.9 5.0
Outpatient care centers..... 505.2 512.3 516.2 516.5 505.0 511.5 512.0 511.9 515.3 516.4 1.1
Home health care services... 904.4 939.9 948.0 953.1 904.9 934.7 939.5 943.3 950.1 953.9 3.8
Hospitals.................... 4,488.6 4,594.9 4,602.2 4,619.7 4,499.6 4,579.3 4,592.8 4,606.4 4,617.7 4,631.7 14.0
Nursing and residential care
facilities (1).............. 2,943.6 2,973.8 2,984.5 2,996.0 2,945.9 2,974.6 2,979.9 2,983.4 2,991.0 2,998.1 7.1
Nursing care facilities..... 1,595.2 1,605.0 1,607.7 1,613.6 1,597.7 1,608.8 1,613.3 1,609.6 1,612.4 1,615.1 2.7
Social assistance (1)......... 2,460.8 2,503.6 2,519.7 2,532.0 2,421.9 2,478.0 2,482.3 2,488.2 2,493.7 2,502.2 8.5
Child day care services...... 871.5 875.2 878.0 884.6 847.8 859.2 858.6 861.8 861.8 865.5 3.7
Leisure and hospitality......... 13,655 13,307 13,575 13,903 13,428 13,644 13,660 13,676 13,688 13,700 12
Arts, entertainment, and
recreation.................... 2,053.4 1,864.1 1,965.2 2,097.2 1,970.8 2,016.1 2,019.1 2,025.7 2,019.2 2,020.7 1.5
Performing arts and spectator
sports....................... 429.0 408.8 441.3 459.1 409.2 429.5 431.0 433.9 435.8 438.0 2.2
Museums, historical sites,
zoos, and parks.............. 134.0 123.7 129.8 138.5 129.6 132.6 131.7 133.4 133.5 134.9 1.4
Amusements, gambling, and
recreation................... 1,490.4 1,331.6 1,394.1 1,499.6 1,432.0 1,454.0 1,456.4 1,458.4 1,449.9 1,447.8 -2.1
Accommodation and food services11,601.4 11,443.2 11,609.3 11,806.2 11,457.6 11,628.0 11,640.7 11,650.7 11,668.8 11,679.4 10.6
Accommodation................. 1,852.9 1,791.3 1,805.0 1,855.0 1,856.3 1,854.9 1,854.4 1,849.4 1,851.7 1,850.9 -.8
Food services and drinking
places....................... 9,748.5 9,651.9 9,804.3 9,951.2 9,601.3 9,773.1 9,786.3 9,801.3 9,817.1 9,828.5 11.4
Other services.................. 5,520 5,509 5,532 5,558 5,495 5,508 5,517 5,522 5,528 5,537 9
Repair and maintenance........ 1,269.3 1,254.4 1,262.4 1,264.7 1,261.0 1,252.9 1,255.2 1,254.8 1,256.9 1,258.9 2.0
Personal and laundry services. 1,327.4 1,303.1 1,316.1 1,324.7 1,307.8 1,306.6 1,306.4 1,308.5 1,308.5 1,308.1 -.4
Membership associations and
organizations................ 2,923.7 2,951.0 2,953.5 2,969.0 2,925.9 2,948.9 2,955.6 2,959.0 2,963.0 2,969.5 6.5
Government...................... 22,577 22,792 22,798 22,806 22,186 22,336 22,362 22,377 22,389 22,406 17
Federal........................ 2,726 2,710 2,725 2,728 2,727 2,717 2,725 2,726 2,730 2,728 -2
Federal, except U.S. Postal
Service...................... 1,963.7 1,976.4 1,989.3 1,997.2 1,962.3 1,977.3 1,982.9 1,986.6 1,992.4 1,994.2 1.8
U.S. Postal Service........... 762.5 733.7 735.3 730.6 764.6 739.7 741.6 739.1 738.0 733.3 -4.7
State government............... 5,164 5,303 5,311 5,207 5,119 5,159 5,158 5,157 5,162 5,159 -3
State government education.... 2,355.4 2,485.7 2,488.5 2,377.9 2,314.7 2,335.1 2,332.9 2,332.9 2,336.7 2,334.6 -2.1
State government, excluding
education.................... 2,808.2 2,817.4 2,822.2 2,829.1 2,804.2 2,824.0 2,824.9 2,823.8 2,825.5 2,823.9 -1.6
Local government............... 14,687 14,779 14,762 14,871 14,340 14,460 14,479 14,494 14,497 14,519 22
Local government education.... 8,330.5 8,408.1 8,367.2 8,400.0 7,976.6 8,018.0 8,031.9 8,035.7 8,031.1 8,045.2 14.1
Local government, excluding
education.................... 6,356.4 6,370.8 6,394.8 6,471.3 6,363.7 6,441.5 6,447.5 6,457.8 6,465.4 6,474.0 8.6
1 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
2 Includes motor vehicles, motor vehicle bodies and trailers, and motor vehicle parts.
3 Includes ambulatory health care services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
as the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ces/
cesnaics07.htm for more details.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers (1) on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector
and selected industry detail
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Change
Industry May Mar. Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May from:
2007 2008 2008p 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2008p Apr. 2008-
May 2008p
Total private......................... 33.7 33.8 33.6 33.6 33.8 33.7 33.7 33.8 33.7 33.7 0.0
Goods-producing........................... 40.6 40.3 40.2 40.2 40.5 40.4 40.4 40.5 40.4 40.3 -.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 45.8 45.7 44.6 44.3 45.8 45.7 45.7 46.2 44.9 44.7 -.2
Construction.................................. 39.3 38.5 38.3 38.6 38.9 38.8 38.7 38.9 38.8 38.6 -.2
Manufacturing................................. 41.1 41.1 40.9 40.9 41.1 41.1 41.1 41.2 41.0 41.0 .0
Overtime hours............................. 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.7 4.1 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.8 -.2
Durable goods................................ 41.4 41.4 41.3 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.4 41.5 41.3 41.3 .0
Overtime hours............................. 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.7 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.0 4.0 3.8 -.2
Wood products............................... 39.8 38.3 38.3 39.1 39.5 39.0 39.0 38.7 38.4 38.8 .4
Nonmetallic mineral products................ 42.4 42.6 42.1 42.2 42.2 42.2 42.1 43.1 42.2 42.1 -.1
Primary metals.............................. 42.7 43.0 42.3 42.1 42.8 42.5 42.4 42.9 42.4 42.2 -.2
Fabricated metal products................... 41.4 41.7 41.6 41.5 41.4 41.6 41.7 41.7 41.7 41.6 -.1
Machinery................................... 42.3 42.8 42.6 42.2 42.3 43.1 43.0 42.7 42.6 42.3 -.3
Computer and electronic products............ 40.3 41.0 40.9 40.8 40.4 40.4 40.5 41.0 41.1 40.9 -.2
Electrical equipment and appliances......... 40.8 41.2 40.8 40.9 41.0 41.4 41.1 41.3 40.9 41.2 .3
Transportation equipment.................... 43.1 42.4 42.5 42.1 42.9 42.6 42.9 42.3 42.3 42.1 -.2
Motor vehicles and parts (2)............... 43.0 41.9 42.1 41.8 42.5 42.1 42.5 41.8 41.9 41.7 -.2
Furniture and related products.............. 38.6 38.5 38.3 38.6 39.0 38.3 38.2 38.7 38.7 38.9 .2
Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 38.6 39.4 39.3 39.5 38.6 39.0 38.8 39.3 39.4 39.5 .1
Nondurable goods............................. 40.6 40.5 40.4 40.4 40.8 40.6 40.6 40.7 40.5 40.5 .0
Overtime hours............................. 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.7 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.8 -.1
Food manufacturing.......................... 40.4 40.2 40.3 40.5 40.6 40.5 40.6 40.7 40.8 40.7 -.1
Beverages and tobacco products.............. 41.0 40.1 39.9 40.3 40.6 40.5 40.1 40.4 39.6 40.1 .5
Textile mills............................... 40.3 38.8 38.2 38.8 40.3 38.7 38.8 38.8 38.3 38.8 .5
Textile product mills....................... 39.4 39.4 38.2 38.3 39.7 38.6 39.3 39.3 38.3 38.5 .2
Apparel..................................... 37.4 36.9 36.8 37.0 37.3 36.7 36.8 36.7 36.7 36.7 .0
Leather and allied products................. 39.2 39.0 38.9 39.1 38.9 38.2 38.2 38.7 38.7 38.9 .2
Paper and paper products.................... 42.8 43.3 43.2 42.6 42.8 44.0 43.9 43.6 43.3 43.0 -.3
Printing and related support activities..... 38.8 38.7 38.5 38.2 39.1 38.4 38.2 38.6 38.5 38.6 .1
Petroleum and coal products................. 44.5 42.8 42.9 43.5 44.4 43.8 43.6 43.5 43.2 43.6 .4
Chemicals................................... 41.9 41.9 41.5 41.2 42.0 41.6 41.4 41.9 41.4 41.3 -.1
Plastics and rubber products................ 41.0 41.1 40.9 41.0 41.1 41.1 41.2 41.1 40.9 40.9 .0
Private service-providing................ 32.3 32.5 32.2 32.2 32.5 32.4 32.3 32.4 32.4 32.4 .0
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 33.2 33.3 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.3 33.4 33.4 33.3 -.1
Wholesale trade.............................. 38.3 38.6 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.4 38.2 38.4 38.3 38.4 .1
Retail trade................................. 30.0 30.0 29.9 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.1 30.2 30.2 30.1 -.1
Transportation and warehousing............... 36.7 36.7 36.3 36.4 36.9 36.6 36.7 36.7 36.7 36.6 -.1
Utilities.................................... 42.5 43.0 42.7 42.5 42.4 43.1 42.8 43.3 42.6 42.6 .0
Information................................... 36.0 36.7 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.3 36.2 36.6 36.5 36.6 .1
Financial activities.......................... 35.5 36.2 35.7 35.6 35.9 35.8 35.8 35.8 35.9 36.0 .1
Professional and business services............ 34.7 35.1 34.8 34.8 34.8 34.7 34.6 34.8 34.8 34.8 .0
Education and health services................. 32.4 32.7 32.5 32.5 32.6 32.6 32.6 32.7 32.7 32.7 .0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 25.5 25.3 25.1 25.2 25.6 25.3 25.3 25.3 25.3 25.3 .0
Other services................................ 31.0 30.9 30.7 30.7 31.1 30.8 30.8 30.9 30.8 30.8 .0
1 Data relate to production workers in natural resources and mining and manufacturing, construction workers in construction,
and nonsupervisory workers in the service-providing industries. These groups account for approximately four-fifths of the
total employment on private nonfarm payrolls.
2 Includes motor vehicles, motor vehicle bodies and trailers, and motor vehicle parts.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
as the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ces/
cesnaics07.htm for more details.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers (1) on private nonfarm payrolls
by industry sector and selected industry detail
Average hourly earnings Average weekly earnings
Industry May Mar. Apr. May May Mar. Apr. May
2007 2008 2008p 2008p 2007 2008 2008p 2008p
Total private........................... $17.30 $17.92 $17.91 $17.89 $583.01 $605.70 $601.78 $601.10
Seasonally adjusted.................... 17.34 17.87 17.89 17.94 586.09 604.01 602.89 604.58
Goods-producing............................. 18.62 19.03 19.06 19.10 755.97 766.91 766.21 767.82
Natural resources and mining.................... 20.86 22.26 21.74 21.36 955.39 1017.28 969.60 946.25
Construction.................................... 20.85 21.43 21.47 21.57 819.41 825.06 822.30 832.60
Manufacturing................................... 17.21 17.60 17.63 17.62 707.33 723.36 721.07 720.66
Durable goods.................................. 18.14 18.53 18.56 18.58 751.00 767.14 766.53 765.50
Wood products................................. 13.60 13.89 13.95 14.00 541.28 531.99 534.29 547.40
Nonmetallic mineral products.................. 16.98 16.80 17.15 16.88 719.95 715.68 722.02 712.34
Primary metals................................ 19.63 20.21 20.17 20.23 838.20 869.03 853.19 851.68
Fabricated metal products..................... 16.49 16.85 16.79 16.79 682.69 702.65 698.46 696.79
Machinery..................................... 17.63 17.85 17.90 18.10 745.75 763.98 762.54 763.82
Computer and electronic products.............. 19.88 20.80 20.85 21.01 801.16 852.80 852.77 857.21
Electrical equipment and appliances........... 16.09 15.66 15.73 15.70 656.47 645.19 641.78 642.13
Transportation equipment...................... 22.89 23.46 23.56 23.53 986.56 994.70 1001.30 990.61
Furniture and related products................ 14.35 14.42 14.42 14.46 553.91 555.17 552.29 558.16
Miscellaneous manufacturing................... 14.42 15.08 14.95 15.04 556.61 594.15 587.54 594.08
Nondurable goods............................... 15.62 16.01 16.05 16.00 634.17 648.41 648.42 646.40
Food manufacturing............................ 13.52 13.83 13.88 13.85 546.21 555.97 559.36 560.93
Beverages and tobacco products................ 18.58 19.59 19.25 19.22 761.78 785.56 768.08 774.57
Textile mills................................. 12.89 13.45 13.49 13.44 519.47 521.86 515.32 521.47
Textile product mills......................... 11.70 11.78 11.77 11.82 460.98 464.13 449.61 452.71
Apparel....................................... 11.01 11.35 11.50 11.29 411.77 418.82 423.20 417.73
Leather and allied products................... 11.87 12.81 12.63 12.58 465.30 499.59 491.31 491.88
Paper and paper products...................... 18.46 18.66 18.58 18.64 790.09 807.98 802.66 794.06
Printing and related support activities....... 15.92 16.65 16.69 16.67 617.70 644.36 642.57 636.79
Petroleum and coal products................... 24.87 27.22 27.14 27.12 1106.72 1165.02 1164.31 1179.72
Chemicals..................................... 19.53 19.35 19.40 19.27 818.31 810.77 805.10 793.92
Plastics and rubber products.................. 15.31 15.69 15.79 15.71 627.71 644.86 645.81 644.11
Private service-providing.................. 16.95 17.65 17.62 17.58 547.49 573.63 567.36 566.08
Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 15.67 16.16 16.15 16.12 520.24 538.13 534.57 535.18
Wholesale trade................................ 19.29 20.08 19.99 19.85 738.81 775.09 763.62 760.26
Retail trade................................... 12.73 12.90 12.91 12.89 381.90 387.00 386.01 386.70
Transportation and warehousing................. 17.51 18.19 18.27 18.33 642.62 667.57 663.20 667.21
Utilities...................................... 27.70 28.88 28.70 28.76 1177.25 1241.84 1225.49 1222.30
Information..................................... 23.81 24.58 24.51 24.58 857.16 902.09 887.26 892.25
Financial activities............................ 19.53 20.18 20.21 20.20 693.32 730.52 721.50 719.12
Professional and business services.............. 19.95 20.93 20.84 20.87 692.27 734.64 725.23 726.28
Education and health services................... 17.95 18.62 18.64 18.61 581.58 608.87 605.80 604.83
Leisure and hospitality......................... 10.33 10.76 10.79 10.79 263.42 272.23 270.83 271.91
Other services.................................. 15.38 15.84 15.82 15.83 476.78 489.46 485.67 485.98
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
as the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/
ces/cesnaics07.htm for more details.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-4. Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers (1) on private nonfarm payrolls
by industry sector and selected industry detail, seasonally adjusted
Percent
Industry May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May change from:
2007 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2008p Apr. 2008-
May 2008p
Total private:
Current dollars........................ $17.34 $17.75 $17.81 $17.87 $17.89 $17.94 0.3
Constant (1982) dollars (2)............ 8.31 8.26 8.29 8.28 8.27 N.A. (3)
Goods-producing............................. 18.63 18.98 19.04 19.12 19.11 19.14 .2
Natural resources and mining.................... 20.86 21.75 21.69 22.01 21.57 21.51 -.3
Construction.................................... 20.91 21.38 21.47 21.56 21.60 21.68 .4
Manufacturing................................... 17.23 17.49 17.55 17.61 17.61 17.63 .1
Excluding overtime(4)........................ 16.41 16.68 16.74 16.79 16.79 16.85 .4
Durable goods.................................. 18.16 18.41 18.49 18.54 18.57 18.60 .2
Nondurable goods............................... 15.64 15.92 15.94 16.03 16.00 16.01 .1
Private service-providing.................. 17.01 17.44 17.50 17.55 17.59 17.64 .3
Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 15.70 16.02 16.07 16.11 16.11 16.15 .2
Wholesale trade................................ 19.39 19.97 20.00 20.03 20.03 19.99 -.2
Retail trade................................... 12.73 12.80 12.84 12.86 12.86 12.89 .2
Transportation and warehousing................. 17.62 18.10 18.21 18.25 18.30 18.39 .5
Utilities...................................... 27.69 28.61 28.58 28.77 28.55 28.78 .8
Information..................................... 23.87 24.33 24.41 24.53 24.49 24.63 .6
Financial activities............................ 19.59 20.00 20.05 20.11 20.17 20.24 .3
Professional and business services.............. 20.02 20.53 20.63 20.74 20.84 20.93 .4
Education and health services................... 17.99 18.54 18.59 18.61 18.65 18.70 .3
Leisure and hospitality......................... 10.32 10.67 10.73 10.74 10.78 10.80 .2
Other services.................................. 15.33 15.74 15.76 15.77 15.78 15.80 .1
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
2 The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is used to deflate this
series.
3 Change was -.1 percent from Mar. 2008 to Apr. 2008, the latest month available.
4 Derived by assuming that overtime hours are paid at the rate of time and one-half.
N.A. = not available.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS) as the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing
NAICS 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ces/cesnaics07.htm for more details.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-5. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers (1) on private nonfarm payrolls
by industry sector and selected industry detail
(2002=100)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Percent
Industry May Mar. Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May change from:
2007 2008 2008p 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2008p Apr. 2008-
May 2008p
Total private......................... 107.1 106.3 106.4 107.1 107.1 107.4 107.3 107.6 107.2 107.1 -0.1
Goods-producing........................... 102.3 96.7 96.9 98.0 101.6 100.1 99.6 99.5 98.6 98.0 -.6
Natural resources and mining.................. 132.6 134.3 131.5 132.8 132.6 136.0 135.8 138.5 134.1 134.0 -.1
Construction.................................. 117.1 103.2 104.7 108.7 114.6 111.4 110.3 110.4 109.0 107.7 -1.2
Manufacturing................................. 94.2 92.4 91.6 91.7 94.3 93.6 93.2 93.1 92.2 92.0 -.2
Durable goods................................ 97.7 95.4 94.8 94.3 97.2 96.6 96.1 95.9 94.8 94.4 -.4
Wood products............................... 92.2 80.9 81.2 82.3 91.2 85.7 84.9 83.3 82.3 81.3 -1.2
Nonmetallic mineral products................ 98.6 94.1 94.5 95.6 97.3 96.8 95.7 97.7 95.3 94.3 -1.0
Primary metals.............................. 91.6 91.8 90.6 89.6 91.7 90.3 89.9 91.3 90.3 89.5 -.9
Fabricated metal products................... 103.6 104.3 103.2 103.1 103.8 104.9 104.6 104.5 103.6 103.6 .0
Machinery................................... 102.4 104.8 104.3 103.1 102.2 105.8 105.4 104.5 104.2 103.1 -1.1
Computer and electronic products............ 101.4 103.0 102.4 100.5 101.8 101.5 101.8 102.9 102.8 100.6 -2.1
Electrical equipment and appliances......... 88.2 87.9 87.3 87.8 88.5 88.5 87.8 88.4 87.8 88.8 1.1
Transportation equipment.................... 99.2 93.5 92.5 91.8 98.2 95.8 95.9 93.2 91.5 91.4 -.1
Motor vehicles and parts (2)............... 88.6 79.0 77.8 77.3 86.8 81.9 82.0 78.6 76.6 76.6 .0
Furniture and related products.............. 86.8 80.5 79.1 78.9 86.9 82.0 80.9 81.1 80.0 79.6 -.5
Miscellaneous manufacturing................. 90.9 90.7 90.3 90.5 91.0 91.2 89.5 90.8 90.6 90.6 .0
Nondurable goods............................. 88.7 87.3 86.9 87.5 89.5 88.7 88.4 88.6 88.0 88.1 .1
Food manufacturing.......................... 98.5 97.9 97.5 98.7 100.7 101.0 101.1 101.3 101.3 101.0 -.3
Beverages and tobacco products.............. 102.4 85.6 86.3 92.1 103.1 89.4 87.1 90.4 88.6 91.5 3.3
Textile mills............................... 57.4 51.4 49.0 49.9 57.0 51.7 51.6 51.0 49.3 49.6 .6
Textile product mills....................... 77.7 74.8 73.1 73.1 77.9 72.7 73.5 74.3 72.5 72.8 .4
Apparel..................................... 62.4 56.7 56.4 56.3 61.8 58.2 57.8 56.4 56.2 55.4 -1.4
Leather and allied products................. 71.5 71.4 72.2 74.9 70.4 71.9 70.4 70.5 71.9 72.7 1.1
Paper and paper products.................... 85.0 85.9 86.1 85.2 85.3 87.9 87.4 87.0 86.9 86.4 -.6
Printing and related support activities..... 90.7 90.2 89.2 88.8 91.5 90.2 89.1 90.1 89.6 89.6 .0
Petroleum and coal products................. 96.5 92.8 93.2 95.3 95.6 96.8 98.2 96.6 94.9 94.6 -.3
Chemicals................................... 93.4 96.9 96.3 96.7 93.6 96.0 95.5 97.1 96.2 96.8 .6
Plastics and rubber products................ 90.9 88.3 87.7 88.5 90.8 89.0 89.1 88.5 87.8 88.0 .2
Private service-providing................. 108.6 109.0 108.7 109.4 108.9 109.7 109.3 109.7 109.8 109.7 -.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 103.9 103.4 102.9 103.8 104.4 105.3 104.8 105.0 104.8 104.4 -.4
Wholesale trade.............................. 109.4 111.1 110.1 110.9 109.3 111.3 110.6 111.3 110.8 111.0 .2
Retail trade................................. 100.5 98.8 98.4 99.4 101.3 101.6 100.9 101.1 100.8 100.3 -.5
Transportation and warehousing............... 108.4 108.5 107.9 108.8 108.9 108.9 109.5 109.5 109.6 109.1 -.5
Utilities.................................... 96.4 98.0 97.7 97.9 96.1 98.7 97.7 99.2 97.7 97.8 .1
Information................................... 99.2 100.8 99.1 99.5 100.0 99.9 99.6 100.5 100.0 100.2 .2
Financial activities.......................... 107.5 108.9 107.5 107.6 108.8 108.2 108.2 108.3 108.5 108.8 .3
Professional and business services............ 114.9 115.2 115.7 115.4 115.3 116.1 115.5 115.7 116.1 115.6 -.4
Education and health services................. 111.9 116.3 116.1 116.0 112.1 114.5 114.8 115.4 115.8 116.2 .3
Leisure and hospitality....................... 112.8 108.8 110.3 113.6 111.3 111.6 111.8 111.9 112.1 112.1 .0
Other services................................ 100.0 99.6 99.4 99.9 99.8 99.3 99.5 99.9 99.6 99.7 .1
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
2 Includes motor vehicles, motor vehicle bodies and trailers, and motor vehicle parts.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: The indexes of aggregate weekly hours are calculated by dividing the current month's estimates of aggregate hours
by the corresponding 2002 annual average levels. Aggregate hours estimates are the product of estimates of average
weekly hours and production and nonsupervisory worker employment.
Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as the
basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ces/
cesnaics07.htm for more details.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-6. Indexes of aggregate weekly payrolls of production and nonsupervisory workers (1) on private nonfarm payrolls
by industry sector and selected industry detail
(2002=100)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Percent
Industry May Mar. Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May change from:
2007 2008 2008p 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2008p Apr. 2008-
May 2008p
Total private......................... 123.8 127.3 127.3 128.0 124.1 127.4 127.7 128.4 128.1 128.4 0.2
Goods-producing........................... 116.6 112.7 113.1 114.7 115.9 116.4 116.1 116.5 115.4 114.9 -.4
Natural resources and mining.................. 160.9 173.9 166.3 164.9 160.9 172.0 171.2 177.2 168.2 167.6 -.4
Construction.................................. 131.8 119.5 121.4 126.6 129.4 128.6 127.9 128.5 127.1 126.1 -.8
Manufacturing................................. 106.0 106.3 105.6 105.7 106.2 107.1 107.0 107.2 106.2 106.0 -.2
Durable goods................................ 110.6 110.4 109.8 109.4 110.2 111.1 111.0 111.0 109.9 109.6 -.3
Nondurable goods............................. 97.9 98.8 98.5 98.9 99.0 99.8 99.6 100.4 99.5 99.6 .1
Private service-providing................. 126.2 131.9 131.4 131.8 127.1 131.2 131.2 132.0 132.4 132.7 .2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 116.2 119.2 118.5 119.4 117.0 120.3 120.1 120.7 120.5 120.2 -.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 124.3 131.4 129.6 129.7 124.9 130.9 130.3 131.3 130.7 130.7 .0
Retail trade................................. 109.7 109.3 108.9 109.8 110.6 111.4 111.0 111.4 111.1 110.8 -.3
Transportation and warehousing............... 120.5 125.2 125.1 126.5 121.7 125.1 126.4 126.8 127.2 127.3 .1
Utilities.................................... 111.5 118.1 117.0 117.5 111.1 117.8 116.5 119.1 116.5 117.5 .9
Information................................... 116.9 122.7 120.3 121.1 118.2 120.3 120.3 122.1 121.3 122.1 .7
Financial activities.......................... 129.8 135.9 134.4 134.4 131.8 133.8 134.1 134.6 135.4 136.1 .5
Professional and business services............ 136.3 143.5 143.5 143.4 137.3 141.8 141.8 142.8 143.9 143.9 .0
Education and health services................. 132.0 142.3 142.2 141.9 132.6 139.5 140.3 141.2 142.0 142.9 .6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 132.4 132.9 135.1 139.1 130.5 135.2 136.2 136.5 137.2 137.5 .2
Other services................................ 112.1 114.9 114.5 115.3 111.5 113.9 114.2 114.8 114.5 114.8 .3
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: The indexes of aggregate weekly payrolls are calculated by dividing the current month's estimates of aggregate
payrolls by the corresponding 2002 annual average levels. Aggregate payroll estimates are the product of estimates of
average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production and nonsupervisory worker employment.
Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as the
basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ces/
cesnaics07.htm for more details.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-7. Diffusion indexes of employment change
(Percent)
Time span Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Private nonfarm payrolls, 274 industries(1)
Over 1-month span:
2004 .............. 50.5 50.5 64.1 62.6 61.7 58.9 56.0 50.0 56.9 56.9 51.3 51.8
2005 .............. 52.2 60.6 54.2 58.2 55.8 58.2 58.0 61.3 54.7 53.6 62.4 54.7
2006 .............. 65.1 60.9 64.4 59.3 53.3 52.7 60.4 58.9 53.5 55.8 57.1 56.0
2007 .............. 51.6 51.8 52.7 51.1 56.6 50.4 52.2 51.6 56.4 54.6 48.2 48.5
2008 .............. 45.4 41.4 47.4 p48.0 p45.4
Over 3-month span:
2004 .............. 54.4 52.9 57.3 63.5 68.8 66.6 61.3 56.4 57.7 59.5 61.9 54.6
2005 .............. 52.2 55.5 57.5 60.8 58.9 61.9 60.4 63.9 61.1 54.4 54.9 61.3
2006 .............. 67.2 66.2 66.6 65.5 60.6 58.2 56.0 58.9 55.7 56.4 57.1 58.4
2007 .............. 58.4 54.7 55.3 54.7 56.2 53.3 53.1 54.7 58.4 56.8 54.7 52.4
2008 .............. 46.7 42.7 42.3 p45.1 p44.9
Over 6-month span:
2004 .............. 50.0 51.6 55.3 60.9 63.7 65.1 65.1 63.9 60.4 61.7 58.2 56.0
2005 .............. 54.6 57.3 56.8 57.5 57.5 58.2 64.4 62.8 62.0 59.3 61.5 62.0
2006 .............. 63.1 64.4 67.2 67.0 64.4 66.4 61.5 61.7 60.4 59.7 60.8 56.0
2007 .............. 59.1 56.4 57.5 56.8 58.8 58.2 56.2 58.0 58.2 57.1 54.6 53.8
2008 .............. 51.5 49.8 44.7 p47.8 p44.0
Over 12-month span:
2004 .............. 40.5 42.3 45.1 48.9 51.3 58.2 57.5 55.7 57.3 58.8 60.6 60.8
2005 .............. 60.6 60.8 59.7 58.9 58.0 60.0 60.9 63.3 60.4 58.9 59.5 61.7
2006 .............. 67.2 65.1 65.5 62.6 64.8 66.4 64.4 64.4 66.2 65.1 64.4 65.5
2007 .............. 62.6 59.1 60.4 58.9 59.5 58.4 57.5 58.8 61.7 60.4 59.9 57.7
2008 .............. 53.8 54.6 52.6 p50.9 p47.8
Manufacturing payrolls, 84 industries(1)
Over 1-month span:
2004 .............. 43.5 47.6 47.0 63.7 50.6 51.2 58.3 42.9 42.9 48.2 42.3 39.9
2005 .............. 36.3 48.8 42.9 44.6 42.3 35.1 38.1 47.0 45.8 46.4 47.0 47.0
2006 .............. 57.7 45.8 54.8 48.8 38.1 53.0 50.6 44.0 36.3 40.5 38.1 39.3
2007 .............. 47.6 35.7 30.4 29.8 37.5 39.3 41.7 33.3 40.5 45.2 44.6 36.3
2008 .............. 40.5 28.6 38.1 p33.9 p33.3
Over 3-month span:
2004 .............. 41.1 40.5 43.5 56.5 58.9 61.3 57.7 47.0 46.4 41.7 44.6 38.7
2005 .............. 38.1 39.3 42.3 44.6 36.3 37.5 33.3 39.9 45.8 41.7 38.7 49.4
2006 .............. 54.8 52.4 47.6 48.8 44.6 50.6 42.9 47.6 36.3 37.5 32.1 34.5
2007 .............. 33.9 28.6 32.1 27.4 29.8 32.7 31.0 34.5 32.1 39.3 44.0 41.7
2008 .............. 35.7 27.4 26.8 p28.6 p24.4
Over 6-month span:
2004 .............. 29.2 31.5 32.7 44.6 49.4 54.8 59.5 56.0 51.2 51.8 44.0 38.7
2005 .............. 33.9 38.1 35.1 36.9 32.1 32.1 41.7 35.7 36.3 36.9 37.5 42.3
2006 .............. 42.9 45.2 50.6 47.6 48.2 47.6 46.4 48.8 43.5 41.7 38.7 29.8
2007 .............. 34.5 27.4 23.8 27.4 31.5 34.5 33.3 31.0 29.2 35.1 34.5 32.7
2008 .............. 34.5 33.9 32.1 p28.6 p22.0
Over 12-month span:
2004 .............. 13.1 14.3 13.1 20.2 23.2 35.7 36.9 38.1 36.9 44.0 44.6 44.6
2005 .............. 44.6 43.5 41.7 40.5 36.3 35.1 32.1 33.9 32.7 33.3 33.3 38.1
2006 .............. 44.6 40.5 40.5 39.3 39.3 44.6 41.7 42.3 46.4 48.2 45.2 44.0
2007 .............. 39.3 36.3 36.9 28.6 29.8 26.2 26.8 29.2 30.4 29.8 33.3 33.9
2008 .............. 29.8 29.8 29.8 p25.0 p26.2
1 Based on seasonally adjusted data for 1-, 3-, 6-month spans and unadjusted data for the 12-month span.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment increasing plus one-half of the industries with unchanged employ-
ment, where 50 percent indicates an equal balance between industries with increasing and decreasing employment.
Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) as the basis for
the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002. See http://www.bls.gov/ces/cesnaics07.htm for
more details.
United States Department of Labor
