Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until	                      USDL-20-1187
8:30 a.m. (EDT), Wednesday, June 10, 2020

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

REAL EARNINGS – MAY 2020

All employees

Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.9 percent from April to May, seasonally 
adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from a decrease of 1.0 
percent in average hourly earnings combined with a decrease of 0.1 percent in the Consumer Price Index 
for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings increased 0.5 percent over the month due to the change in real average 
hourly earnings combined with a 1.5-percent increase in the average workweek.  

Real average hourly earnings increased 6.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, from May 2019 to May 2020. 
The change in real average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 0.9 percent in the average 
workweek resulted in 7.4-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period.


Production and nonsupervisory employees

Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees decreased 0.5 percent from 
April to May, seasonally adjusted. This result stems from a 0.6-percent decrease 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 1.3 percent over the month due to the change in real average 
hourly earnings combined with a 1.8-percent increase in average weekly hours. 

From May 2019 to May 2020, real average hourly earnings increased 6.8 percent, seasonally adjusted. 
The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a 1.5-percent increase in the average 
workweek resulted in an 8.3-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period. 


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*                       Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on May 2020 Establishment Survey Data            *
*                                                                                                      *
*   Earnings data from the establishment survey for May reflect a limited resumption of economic       *  
*   activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and *
*    efforts to contain it. The "Frequenty Asked Questions" at                                         * 
*    www.bls.gov/cps/employment-situation-covid19-faq-may-2020.pdf address questions about the impact  *
*    of the pandemic on the establishment survey (Current Employment Statistics, or CES) for May 2020. *
*                                                                                                      *
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Real Earnings for June 2020 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. 
(EDT).