Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until	                      USDL-20-2090
8:30 a.m. (ET), Thursday, November 12, 2020

Technical Information:	(202) 691-6555  *  cesinfo@bls.gov        *  www.bls.gov/ces
Media Contact:	(202) 691-5902          *  PressOffice@bls.gov

REAL EARNINGS – OCTOBER 2020

All employees

Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.1 percent from September to October, 
seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from an 
increase of 0.1 percent in average hourly earnings combined with no change in the Consumer 
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings increased 0.1 percent over the month due to the change in real average 
hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek.  

Real average hourly earnings increased 3.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, from October 2019 to October 
2020. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 1.2 percent in the 
average workweek resulted in a 4.4-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period.


Production and nonsupervisory employees

Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees increased 0.2 percent from 
September to October, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from a 0.2-percent increase in average 
hourly earnings combined with no change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners 
and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

Real average weekly earnings increased 0.5 percent over the month due to the change in real average 
hourly earnings combined with a 0.3-percent increase in average weekly hours. 

From October 2019 to October 2020, real average hourly earnings increased 3.2 percent, seasonally 
adjusted. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a 1.8-percent increase in the 
average workweek resulted in a 5.0-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period. 

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*       Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on October 2020 Establishment Survey Data                    *
*                                                                                                  *
*  Earnings data from the establishment survey for October reflect the continued resumption of     *
*  economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts*
*  to contain it. The “Frequently Asked Questions” at                                              *
*  www.bls.gov/covid19/employment-situation-covid19-faq-october-2020.htm  address questions about  *
*  theimpact of the pandemic on the establishment survey (Current Employment Statistics, or CES)   *
*  for October 2020.                                                                               *  
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Real Earnings for November 2020 is scheduled to be released on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 
8:30 a.m. (ET).