
An official website of the United States government
In 2018, total nonfarm payroll employment continued its lengthy expansion, which began in May 2014. The overall pace of employment growth during the year was slightly faster than that in 2017 and 2016. Job growth in 2018 remained strong in goods-producing industries and accelerated in service-providing industries.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, nonfarm payroll employment in the United States grew by 2.7 million in 2018, an average monthly gain of 223,000 jobs.[1] This monthly job growth was faster than that in 2017 (+179,000) and 2016 (+193,000), but slightly slower than that in 2015 (+227,000). (See figure 1.)
Period | Over-the-month change | Annual average |
---|---|---|
Jan 2015 | 213 | 227 |
Feb 2015 | 248 | 227 |
Mar 2015 | 77 | 227 |
Apr 2015 | 300 | 227 |
May 2015 | 319 | 227 |
Jun 2015 | 170 | 227 |
Jul 2015 | 293 | 227 |
Aug 2015 | 122 | 227 |
Sep 2015 | 133 | 227 |
Oct 2015 | 339 | 227 |
Nov 2015 | 235 | 227 |
Dec 2015 | 280 | 227 |
Jan 2016 | 90 | 193 |
Feb 2016 | 232 | 193 |
Mar 2016 | 234 | 193 |
Apr 2016 | 211 | 193 |
May 2016 | 15 | 193 |
Jun 2016 | 282 | 193 |
Jul 2016 | 336 | 193 |
Aug 2016 | 135 | 193 |
Sep 2016 | 270 | 193 |
Oct 2016 | 128 | 193 |
Nov 2016 | 170 | 193 |
Dec 2016 | 215 | 193 |
Jan 2017 | 252 | 179 |
Feb 2017 | 141 | 179 |
Mar 2017 | 127 | 179 |
Apr 2017 | 213 | 179 |
May 2017 | 128 | 179 |
Jun 2017 | 229 | 179 |
Jul 2017 | 204 | 179 |
Aug 2017 | 187 | 179 |
Sep 2017 | 18 | 179 |
Oct 2017 | 260 | 179 |
Nov 2017 | 220 | 179 |
Dec 2017 | 174 | 179 |
Jan 2018 | 171 | 223 |
Feb 2018 | 330 | 223 |
Mar 2018 | 182 | 223 |
Apr 2018 | 196 | 223 |
May 2018 | 270 | 223 |
Jun 2018 | 262 | 223 |
Jul 2018 | 178 | 223 |
Aug 2018 | 282 | 223 |
Sep 2018 | 108 | 223 |
Oct 2018 | 277 | 223 |
Nov 2018 | 196 | 223 |
Dec 2018 | 227 | 223 |
Note: Data for November and December 2018 are preliminary. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Most major component industries within the total nonfarm sector experienced employment growth in 2018. (See figure 2.) This strength is evident in the 1-month total private and manufacturing diffusion indexes.[2] Over the year, the total private index averaged 64.6 and the manufacturing index averaged 63.9, indicating especially strong, broad-based employment growth. The last time these series performed so well was in 1997, when the total private index averaged 71.9 and the manufacturing index averaged 65.7.
Industry | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|
Professional and business services | 324 | 407 | 561 |
Education and health services | 605 | 453 | 532 |
Leisure and hospitality | 438 | 351 | 359 |
Construction | 193 | 268 | 307 |
Manufacturing | -7 | 190 | 264 |
Transportation and warehousing | 144 | 186 | 216 |
Financial activities | 182 | 130 | 115 |
Government | 202 | 85 | 96 |
Other services | 61 | 91 | 75 |
Wholesale trade | 22 | 28 | 75 |
Mining and logging | -99 | 45 | 60 |
Retail trade | 199 | -88 | 14 |
Information | 54 | 8 | 6 |
Utilities | 1 | -2 | -1 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Leading the broad-based employment gains were professional and business services and private education and health services, both of which added more than half a million jobs over the year. Leisure and hospitality, construction, and manufacturing also experienced employment growth. A notable change occurred in the retail trade industry, whose employment dropped by 88,000 in 2017 but was essentially unchanged (on net) in 2018. Overall, most of the major component industries added at least as many jobs in 2018 as in 2017.
Employment gains in 2018 coincided with predominantly strong economic indicators. (See table 1.) However, 2018 had its fair share of headwinds as well, including two major hurricanes,[3] devastating wildfires,[4] a tight labor market,[5] and a tumultuous trade environment.[6]
Indicator | Percent change | ||
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
Real gross domestic product (1) | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.9 |
Real personal consumption expenditures (1) | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
Real gross private domestic investment (1) | -1.3 | 4.8 | 6.0 |
Real disposable personal income (1) | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.9 |
Industrial Production Index (2) | 0.5 | 2.9 | 4.1 |
Trade-weighted U.S. dollar index (broad index)(1) | 4.6 | -0.3 | 0.7 |
Crude oil prices: West Texas Intermediate (1) | 39.7 | 11.4 | -14.4 |
New one-family houses sold in the United States (1) | 12.0 | 9.3 | 1.5 |
Notes: (1) Annual, not seasonally adjusted. (2) Annual, seasonally adjusted. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, U.S. Energy Information Administration, and U.S. Census Bureau. |
Year-over-year growth in real gross domestic product accelerated to 2.9 percent in 2018, compared with 2.2 percent in 2017 and 1.6 percent in 2016. Real personal consumption expenditures ticked up by 0.1 percent, to 2.6 percent, indicating some gradual pickup in inflationary pressures. The Industrial Production Index increased to 4.1 percent in 2018, following strong growth of 2.9 percent in 2017. These increases coincided with employment strength in durable goods manufacturing in both years, with the industry adding 215,000 jobs in 2018 and 125,000 jobs in 2017. In 2016, the Industrial Production Index increased by only 0.5 percent, and during the same year, employment in durable goods manufacturing declined by 56,000.
Since May 2014, the recovery point of the most recent recession, nonfarm payroll employment has expanded for 56 consecutive months, adding over 11.7 million jobs.[7] (See figure 3.) By comparison, the longest employment expansion in CES history began in February 1993, lasted nearly twice as long (96 months), and added almost twice as many jobs (22.7 million).
Period | Employment |
---|---|
Jan 1990 | 109,197 |
Feb 1990 | 109,435 |
Mar 1990 | 109,644 |
Apr 1990 | 109,688 |
May 1990 | 109,839 |
Jun 1990 | 109,857 |
Jul 1990 | 109,824 |
Aug 1990 | 109,617 |
Sep 1990 | 109,520 |
Oct 1990 | 109,367 |
Nov 1990 | 109,213 |
Dec 1990 | 109,167 |
Jan 1991 | 109,056 |
Feb 1991 | 108,735 |
Mar 1991 | 108,576 |
Apr 1991 | 108,367 |
May 1991 | 108,251 |
Jun 1991 | 108,337 |
Jul 1991 | 108,292 |
Aug 1991 | 108,313 |
Sep 1991 | 108,338 |
Oct 1991 | 108,357 |
Nov 1991 | 108,297 |
Dec 1991 | 108,330 |
Jan 1992 | 108,372 |
Feb 1992 | 108,313 |
Mar 1992 | 108,368 |
Apr 1992 | 108,523 |
May 1992 | 108,652 |
Jun 1992 | 108,719 |
Jul 1992 | 108,794 |
Aug 1992 | 108,929 |
Sep 1992 | 108,963 |
Oct 1992 | 109,144 |
Nov 1992 | 109,277 |
Dec 1992 | 109,499 |
Jan 1993 | 109,799 |
Feb 1993 | 110,047 |
Mar 1993 | 109,999 |
Apr 1993 | 110,302 |
May 1993 | 110,573 |
Jun 1993 | 110,752 |
Jul 1993 | 111,057 |
Aug 1993 | 111,211 |
Sep 1993 | 111,452 |
Oct 1993 | 111,737 |
Nov 1993 | 111,990 |
Dec 1993 | 112,319 |
Jan 1994 | 112,601 |
Feb 1994 | 112,785 |
Mar 1994 | 113,248 |
Apr 1994 | 113,592 |
May 1994 | 113,928 |
Jun 1994 | 114,242 |
Jul 1994 | 114,613 |
Aug 1994 | 114,902 |
Sep 1994 | 115,251 |
Oct 1994 | 115,464 |
Nov 1994 | 115,876 |
Dec 1994 | 116,171 |
Jan 1995 | 116,508 |
Feb 1995 | 116,702 |
Mar 1995 | 116,913 |
Apr 1995 | 117,076 |
May 1995 | 117,056 |
Jun 1995 | 117,293 |
Jul 1995 | 117,386 |
Aug 1995 | 117,642 |
Sep 1995 | 117,881 |
Oct 1995 | 118,038 |
Nov 1995 | 118,182 |
Dec 1995 | 118,328 |
Jan 1996 | 118,323 |
Feb 1996 | 118,744 |
Mar 1996 | 119,001 |
Apr 1996 | 119,168 |
May 1996 | 119,496 |
Jun 1996 | 119,778 |
Jul 1996 | 120,020 |
Aug 1996 | 120,207 |
Sep 1996 | 120,418 |
Oct 1996 | 120,674 |
Nov 1996 | 120,969 |
Dec 1996 | 121,152 |
Jan 1997 | 121,372 |
Feb 1997 | 121,682 |
Mar 1997 | 121,999 |
Apr 1997 | 122,296 |
May 1997 | 122,557 |
Jun 1997 | 122,825 |
Jul 1997 | 123,119 |
Aug 1997 | 123,099 |
Sep 1997 | 123,594 |
Oct 1997 | 123,940 |
Nov 1997 | 124,246 |
Dec 1997 | 124,559 |
Jan 1998 | 124,823 |
Feb 1998 | 125,024 |
Mar 1998 | 125,174 |
Apr 1998 | 125,453 |
May 1998 | 125,855 |
Jun 1998 | 126,087 |
Jul 1998 | 126,213 |
Aug 1998 | 126,551 |
Sep 1998 | 126,764 |
Oct 1998 | 126,968 |
Nov 1998 | 127,243 |
Dec 1998 | 127,607 |
Jan 1999 | 127,713 |
Feb 1999 | 128,131 |
Mar 1999 | 128,239 |
Apr 1999 | 128,610 |
May 1999 | 128,822 |
Jun 1999 | 129,099 |
Jul 1999 | 129,420 |
Aug 1999 | 129,576 |
Sep 1999 | 129,781 |
Oct 1999 | 130,190 |
Nov 1999 | 130,479 |
Dec 1999 | 130,786 |
Jan 2000 | 131,020 |
Feb 2000 | 131,136 |
Mar 2000 | 131,609 |
Apr 2000 | 131,900 |
May 2000 | 132,118 |
Jun 2000 | 132,079 |
Jul 2000 | 132,247 |
Aug 2000 | 132,240 |
Sep 2000 | 132,364 |
Oct 2000 | 132,365 |
Nov 2000 | 132,570 |
Dec 2000 | 132,722 |
Jan 2001 | 132,712 |
Feb 2001 | 132,804 |
Mar 2001 | 132,761 |
Apr 2001 | 132,475 |
May 2001 | 132,426 |
Jun 2001 | 132,312 |
Jul 2001 | 132,187 |
Aug 2001 | 132,043 |
Sep 2001 | 131,791 |
Oct 2001 | 131,468 |
Nov 2001 | 131,158 |
Dec 2001 | 130,997 |
Jan 2002 | 130,868 |
Feb 2002 | 130,752 |
Mar 2002 | 130,732 |
Apr 2002 | 130,636 |
May 2002 | 130,647 |
Jun 2002 | 130,695 |
Jul 2002 | 130,604 |
Aug 2002 | 130,603 |
Sep 2002 | 130,524 |
Oct 2002 | 130,643 |
Nov 2002 | 130,632 |
Dec 2002 | 130,488 |
Jan 2003 | 130,596 |
Feb 2003 | 130,461 |
Mar 2003 | 130,246 |
Apr 2003 | 130,194 |
May 2003 | 130,210 |
Jun 2003 | 130,209 |
Jul 2003 | 130,207 |
Aug 2003 | 130,167 |
Sep 2003 | 130,279 |
Oct 2003 | 130,473 |
Nov 2003 | 130,490 |
Dec 2003 | 130,605 |
Jan 2004 | 130,787 |
Feb 2004 | 130,844 |
Mar 2004 | 131,156 |
Apr 2004 | 131,426 |
May 2004 | 131,710 |
Jun 2004 | 131,807 |
Jul 2004 | 131,864 |
Aug 2004 | 131,955 |
Sep 2004 | 132,112 |
Oct 2004 | 132,466 |
Nov 2004 | 132,521 |
Dec 2004 | 132,644 |
Jan 2005 | 132,791 |
Feb 2005 | 133,050 |
Mar 2005 | 133,172 |
Apr 2005 | 133,536 |
May 2005 | 133,706 |
Jun 2005 | 133,957 |
Jul 2005 | 134,314 |
Aug 2005 | 134,517 |
Sep 2005 | 134,583 |
Oct 2005 | 134,673 |
Nov 2005 | 135,012 |
Dec 2005 | 135,168 |
Jan 2006 | 135,446 |
Feb 2006 | 135,753 |
Mar 2006 | 136,063 |
Apr 2006 | 136,221 |
May 2006 | 136,261 |
Jun 2006 | 136,342 |
Jul 2006 | 136,538 |
Aug 2006 | 136,713 |
Sep 2006 | 136,860 |
Oct 2006 | 136,870 |
Nov 2006 | 137,082 |
Dec 2006 | 137,268 |
Jan 2007 | 137,493 |
Feb 2007 | 137,573 |
Mar 2007 | 137,810 |
Apr 2007 | 137,860 |
May 2007 | 138,012 |
Jun 2007 | 138,088 |
Jul 2007 | 138,055 |
Aug 2007 | 138,032 |
Sep 2007 | 138,114 |
Oct 2007 | 138,190 |
Nov 2007 | 138,299 |
Dec 2007 | 138,409 |
Jan 2008 | 138,422 |
Feb 2008 | 138,340 |
Mar 2008 | 138,292 |
Apr 2008 | 138,056 |
May 2008 | 137,872 |
Jun 2008 | 137,706 |
Jul 2008 | 137,508 |
Aug 2008 | 137,229 |
Sep 2008 | 136,769 |
Oct 2008 | 136,288 |
Nov 2008 | 135,561 |
Dec 2008 | 134,857 |
Jan 2009 | 134,074 |
Feb 2009 | 133,332 |
Mar 2009 | 132,529 |
Apr 2009 | 131,835 |
May 2009 | 131,491 |
Jun 2009 | 131,026 |
Jul 2009 | 130,685 |
Aug 2009 | 130,501 |
Sep 2009 | 130,259 |
Oct 2009 | 130,061 |
Nov 2009 | 130,073 |
Dec 2009 | 129,804 |
Jan 2010 | 129,807 |
Feb 2010 | 129,715 |
Mar 2010 | 129,895 |
Apr 2010 | 130,132 |
May 2010 | 130,666 |
Jun 2010 | 130,530 |
Jul 2010 | 130,442 |
Aug 2010 | 130,437 |
Sep 2010 | 130,373 |
Oct 2010 | 130,642 |
Nov 2010 | 130,765 |
Dec 2010 | 130,839 |
Jan 2011 | 130,859 |
Feb 2011 | 131,072 |
Mar 2011 | 131,304 |
Apr 2011 | 131,625 |
May 2011 | 131,720 |
Jun 2011 | 131,955 |
Jul 2011 | 132,016 |
Aug 2011 | 132,138 |
Sep 2011 | 132,374 |
Oct 2011 | 132,578 |
Nov 2011 | 132,710 |
Dec 2011 | 132,914 |
Jan 2012 | 133,269 |
Feb 2012 | 133,531 |
Mar 2012 | 133,769 |
Apr 2012 | 133,852 |
May 2012 | 133,951 |
Jun 2012 | 134,023 |
Jul 2012 | 134,176 |
Aug 2012 | 134,346 |
Sep 2012 | 134,535 |
Oct 2012 | 134,693 |
Nov 2012 | 134,851 |
Dec 2012 | 135,088 |
Jan 2013 | 135,283 |
Feb 2013 | 135,562 |
Mar 2013 | 135,698 |
Apr 2013 | 135,890 |
May 2013 | 136,114 |
Jun 2013 | 136,295 |
Jul 2013 | 136,400 |
Aug 2013 | 136,642 |
Sep 2013 | 136,831 |
Oct 2013 | 137,056 |
Nov 2013 | 137,323 |
Dec 2013 | 137,390 |
Jan 2014 | 137,567 |
Feb 2014 | 137,735 |
Mar 2014 | 137,985 |
Apr 2014 | 138,312 |
May 2014 | 138,533 |
Jun 2014 | 138,857 |
Jul 2014 | 139,084 |
Aug 2014 | 139,272 |
Sep 2014 | 139,583 |
Oct 2014 | 139,841 |
Nov 2014 | 140,127 |
Dec 2014 | 140,396 |
Jan 2015 | 140,609 |
Feb 2015 | 140,857 |
Mar 2015 | 140,934 |
Apr 2015 | 141,234 |
May 2015 | 141,553 |
Jun 2015 | 141,723 |
Jul 2015 | 142,016 |
Aug 2015 | 142,138 |
Sep 2015 | 142,271 |
Oct 2015 | 142,610 |
Nov 2015 | 142,845 |
Dec 2015 | 143,125 |
Jan 2016 | 143,215 |
Feb 2016 | 143,447 |
Mar 2016 | 143,681 |
Apr 2016 | 143,892 |
May 2016 | 143,907 |
Jun 2016 | 144,189 |
Jul 2016 | 144,525 |
Aug 2016 | 144,660 |
Sep 2016 | 144,930 |
Oct 2016 | 145,058 |
Nov 2016 | 145,228 |
Dec 2016 | 145,443 |
Jan 2017 | 145,695 |
Feb 2017 | 145,836 |
Mar 2017 | 145,963 |
Apr 2017 | 146,176 |
May 2017 | 146,304 |
Jun 2017 | 146,533 |
Jul 2017 | 146,737 |
Aug 2017 | 146,924 |
Sep 2017 | 146,942 |
Oct 2017 | 147,202 |
Nov 2017 | 147,422 |
Dec 2017 | 147,596 |
Jan 2018 | 147,767 |
Feb 2018 | 148,097 |
Mar 2018 | 148,279 |
Apr 2018 | 148,475 |
May 2018 | 148,745 |
Jun 2018 | 149,007 |
Jul 2018 | 149,185 |
Aug 2018 | 149,467 |
Sep 2018 | 149,575 |
Oct 2018 | 149,852 |
Nov 2018 | 150,048 |
Dec 2018 | 150,270 |
Note: Between February 1993 and February 2001, total nonfarm employment expanded by 22.8 million. Between January 2005 and January 2008, total nonfarm employment expanded by 5.4 million. In the current expansionary period, which started in May 2014, total nonfarm employment has expanded by 11.7 million (as of December 2018). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Average weekly hours for all employees on private payrolls remained flat in 2018, staying within the range of 34.4–34.5 hours the entire year. Average hourly earnings, however, advanced by $0.89, to $27.53, for all employees on total private payrolls, a gain of 3.3 percent. Not surprisingly, given the unchanged workweek and increasing earnings, average weekly earnings also increased by 3.3 percent over the year.
In 2018, average weekly hours for production and supervisory employees trended similarly to those for all employees, staying within the range of 33.6–33.8 hours. The series began the year at a level of 33.6 hours and, over the next 11 months, ranged from 33.7 to 33.8 hours. Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees on total private payrolls increased by $0.78 over the year, to $23.09, a gain of 3.5 percent.
Prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U), rose 1.9 percent over the year, resulting in 1.4-percent growth in real average weekly earnings. The growth in real average weekly earnings accelerated in the last quarter of 2018, averaging 1.1 percent over the year, compared with 0.7 percent in the preceding 9 months. This is due mainly to steady increases in average hourly earnings and some weakness in prices measured by the CPI-U. (See figure 4.)
Period | CPI-U | All employees AHE | Production employees AHE |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 2007 | 2.1 | — | 4.1 |
Feb 2007 | 2.4 | — | 4.1 |
Mar 2007 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
Apr 2007 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 3.8 |
May 2007 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 4.1 |
Jun 2007 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 4.2 |
Jul 2007 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 4.1 |
Aug 2007 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 4.0 |
Sep 2007 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 4.1 |
Oct 2007 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.8 |
Nov 2007 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 3.8 |
Dec 2007 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 3.8 |
Jan 2008 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 3.8 |
Feb 2008 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 3.8 |
Mar 2008 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.8 |
Apr 2008 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 3.8 |
May 2008 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 3.7 |
Jun 2008 | 4.9 | 2.8 | 3.6 |
Jul 2008 | 5.5 | 3.1 | 3.7 |
Aug 2008 | 5.3 | 3.3 | 3.9 |
Sep 2008 | 5.0 | 3.2 | 3.6 |
Oct 2008 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.8 |
Nov 2008 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 3.9 |
Dec 2008 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 3.9 |
Jan 2009 | -0.1 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
Feb 2009 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 3.7 |
Mar 2009 | -0.4 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
Apr 2009 | -0.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
May 2009 | -1.0 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
Jun 2009 | -1.2 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
Jul 2009 | -2.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 |
Aug 2009 | -1.5 | 2.4 | 2.7 |
Sep 2009 | -1.4 | 2.4 | 2.7 |
Oct 2009 | -0.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 |
Nov 2009 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
Dec 2009 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
Jan 2010 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
Feb 2010 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.5 |
Mar 2010 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
Apr 2010 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
May 2010 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
Jun 2010 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
Jul 2010 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
Aug 2010 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
Sep 2010 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 2.2 |
Oct 2010 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
Nov 2010 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
Dec 2010 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
Jan 2011 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
Feb 2011 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.1 |
Mar 2011 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 |
Apr 2011 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
May 2011 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
Jun 2011 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
Jul 2011 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
Aug 2011 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
Sep 2011 | 3.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
Oct 2011 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
Nov 2011 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
Dec 2011 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
Jan 2012 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
Feb 2012 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
Mar 2012 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
Apr 2012 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 1.7 |
May 2012 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
Jun 2012 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
Jul 2012 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
Aug 2012 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.3 |
Sep 2012 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
Oct 2012 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
Nov 2012 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.4 |
Dec 2012 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.7 |
Jan 2013 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.8 |
Feb 2013 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
Mar 2013 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
Apr 2013 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
May 2013 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1.9 |
Jun 2013 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
Jul 2013 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
Aug 2013 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
Sep 2013 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
Oct 2013 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
Nov 2013 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
Dec 2013 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
Jan 2014 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
Feb 2014 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 2.6 |
Mar 2014 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
Apr 2014 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
May 2014 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.4 |
Jun 2014 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
Jul 2014 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
Aug 2014 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
Sep 2014 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
Oct 2014 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
Nov 2014 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 |
Dec 2014 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
Jan 2015 | -0.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
Feb 2015 | -0.1 | 1.9 | 1.7 |
Mar 2015 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
Apr 2015 | -0.1 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
May 2015 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
Jun 2015 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
Jul 2015 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
Aug 2015 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
Sep 2015 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
Oct 2015 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
Nov 2015 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
Dec 2015 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Jan 2016 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
Feb 2016 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
Mar 2016 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Apr 2016 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
May 2016 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
Jun 2016 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
Jul 2016 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
Aug 2016 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
Sep 2016 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
Oct 2016 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
Nov 2016 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
Dec 2016 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
Jan 2017 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.4 |
Feb 2017 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.3 |
Mar 2017 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
Apr 2017 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
May 2017 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
Jun 2017 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
Jul 2017 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
Aug 2017 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
Sep 2017 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.6 |
Oct 2017 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
Nov 2017 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.3 |
Dec 2017 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
Jan 2018 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
Feb 2018 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
Mar 2018 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 |
Apr 2018 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
May 2018 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
Jun 2018 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
Jul 2018 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
Aug 2018 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
Sep 2018 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Oct 2018 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
Nov 2018 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
Dec 2018 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
This section discusses industries whose employment growth improved in 2018.
Professional and business services added 561,000 jobs in 2018, the most of any industry sector. This employment growth accounted for 21 percent of total nonfarm employment growth over the year, or about 1 out of every 5 jobs. The acceleration in employment growth (relative to 2017) was concentrated in professional and technical services, specifically computer systems design and related services (+86,000), accounting and bookkeeping services (+39,000), and scientific research and development services (+38,000). Each of these industries added more jobs in 2018 than in 2017. (See figures 5 and 6.) The other major component industries in the sector—management of companies and enterprises and administrative and waste services—experienced employment growth similar to that in 2017.
Period | Professional and business services | Professional and technical services | Management of companies and enterprises | Administrative and waste services |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 2016 | -12 | 34.2 | 2.1 | -48.4 |
Feb 2016 | 17 | 11.3 | 3.4 | 2.3 |
Mar 2016 | 29 | 11.4 | 0.8 | 17.2 |
Apr 2016 | 33 | 15.6 | 5.5 | 11.5 |
May 2016 | 4 | 19.5 | -3.4 | -12.4 |
Jun 2016 | 41 | 11.2 | 4.0 | 26.6 |
Jul 2016 | 49 | 20.6 | 8.2 | 19.8 |
Aug 2016 | 12 | 10.2 | 4.1 | -2.2 |
Sep 2016 | 75 | 24.5 | 6.6 | 44.2 |
Oct 2016 | 11 | 9.7 | 3.4 | -2.5 |
Nov 2016 | 35 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 25.5 |
Dec 2016 | 30 | 17.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Jan 2017 | 50 | 21.1 | 6.0 | 23.2 |
Feb 2017 | 4 | 4.9 | 6.4 | -8.0 |
Mar 2017 | 33 | 5.8 | 2.4 | 25.2 |
Apr 2017 | 30 | 29.1 | 2.7 | -1.6 |
May 2017 | 51 | 10.7 | 4.4 | 36.1 |
Jun 2017 | 37 | 19.7 | 5.4 | 11.5 |
Jul 2017 | 46 | 19.8 | 4.8 | 21.3 |
Aug 2017 | 36 | 18.2 | 4.5 | 13.2 |
Sep 2017 | 13 | 12.4 | 2.7 | -2.4 |
Oct 2017 | 41 | 11.2 | 6.6 | 23.9 |
Nov 2017 | 35 | 20.8 | 4.6 | 9.0 |
Dec 2017 | 31 | 12.8 | 6.0 | 12.3 |
Jan 2018 | 37 | 21.3 | 4.4 | 11.6 |
Feb 2018 | 44 | 21.8 | 5.0 | 17.6 |
Mar 2018 | 42 | 21.2 | 6.8 | 13.8 |
Apr 2018 | 62 | 23.0 | 9.8 | 29.4 |
May 2018 | 51 | 30.8 | 9.6 | 10.4 |
Jun 2018 | 51 | 26.6 | 8.2 | 16.0 |
Jul 2018 | 37 | 26.3 | -2.3 | 12.9 |
Aug 2018 | 58 | 25.5 | 7.6 | 24.9 |
Sep 2018 | 53 | 16.2 | 4.6 | 32.2 |
Oct 2018 | 55 | 32.2 | 3.7 | 19.2 |
Nov 2018 | 34 | 29.8 | 0.7 | 3.7 |
Dec 2018 | 37 | 17.3 | 3.4 | 15.6 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Industry | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|
Computer systems design and related services | 50.8 | 85.7 |
Management and technical consulting services | 43.0 | 51.3 |
Architectural and engineering services | 40.8 | 41.8 |
Accounting and bookkeeping services | 5.6 | 39.4 |
Scientific research and development services | 8.1 | 38.3 |
Other professional and technical services | 35.1 | 25.6 |
Advertising and related services | -7.8 | 5.2 |
Specialized design services | 2.6 | 4.3 |
Legal services | 8.2 | 0.7 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Both education and healthcare services added jobs in 2018. However, education services expanded at a slightly slower rate, adding 50,000 jobs in 2018, compared with 73,000 jobs in 2017. Conversely, healthcare services accelerated quite markedly, adding 350,000 jobs in 2018, compared with 250,000 jobs in the previous year. (See figure 7.)
Industry | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|
Healthcare services | 250.2 | 350.3 |
Ambulatory healthcare services | 194.4 | 226.2 |
Offices of physicians | 40.6 | 49.5 |
Offices of dentists | 20.2 | 23.1 |
Offices of other health practitioners | 30.6 | 48.7 |
Outpatient care centers | 40.9 | 39.9 |
Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 2.4 | 10.6 |
Home healthcare services | 51.2 | 58.5 |
Other ambulatory healthcare services | 9.0 | -4.4 |
Hospitals | 41.3 | 99.8 |
Nursing and residential care facilities | 14.5 | 24.3 |
Social assistance | 130.0 | 130.9 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Within healthcare, hospitals (+100,000), home healthcare services (+59,000), offices of physicians (+50,000), and offices of other health practitioners (+49,000) drove employment gains. The remaining component industries showed little net change over the year.
Employment growth in social assistance remained steady, with the industry adding 131,000 jobs in 2018, compared with 130,000 jobs in 2017. Within social assistance, individual family services added 111,000 jobs in 2018. This growth was concentrated in services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, which added 3 out of every 4 jobs in this industry.
After adding 190,000 jobs in 2017, manufacturing saw its employment growth accelerate in 2018, adding another 264,000 jobs over the year. Employment growth continued to be concentrated in durable goods manufacturing. In 2018, 81 percent of all manufacturing jobs were added in the durable goods component, compared with 66 percent in 2017. The component industries that drove gains in 2017 continued to show strength in 2018. These industries include transportation equipment (+65,000), machinery (+42,000), and fabricated metal products (+40,000).
The number of jobs added in nondurable goods manufacturing in 2018 (+49,000) was similar to that added in 2017 (+65,000). Within nondurable goods in 2018, food manufacturing accounted for about 43 percent of the employment gains (+21,000) and chemicals accounted for 32 percent (+16,000). (See figure 8.)
Period | Manufacturing | Durable goods manufacturing | Nondurable goods manufacturing |
---|---|---|---|
Jan 2016 | 22 | 15 | 7 |
Feb 2016 | -15 | -13 | -2 |
Mar 2016 | -25 | -22 | -3 |
Apr 2016 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
May 2016 | -18 | -22 | 4 |
Jun 2016 | 20 | -4 | 24 |
Jul 2016 | 17 | 16 | 1 |
Aug 2016 | -23 | -23 | 0 |
Sep 2016 | -3 | -7 | 4 |
Oct 2016 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
Nov 2016 | 0 | -3 | 3 |
Dec 2016 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
Jan 2017 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
Feb 2017 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
Mar 2017 | 9 | 3 | 6 |
Apr 2017 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
May 2017 | 2 | 8 | -6 |
Jun 2017 | 15 | 12 | 3 |
Jul 2017 | -3 | -8 | 5 |
Aug 2017 | 42 | 33 | 9 |
Sep 2017 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Oct 2017 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
Nov 2017 | 30 | 24 | 6 |
Dec 2017 | 28 | 24 | 4 |
Jan 2018 | 16 | 17 | -1 |
Feb 2018 | 31 | 27 | 4 |
Mar 2018 | 20 | 21 | -1 |
Apr 2018 | 22 | 17 | 5 |
May 2018 | 21 | 14 | 7 |
Jun 2018 | 32 | 27 | 5 |
Jul 2018 | 20 | 17 | 3 |
Aug 2018 | 8 | 12 | -4 |
Sep 2018 | 18 | 14 | 4 |
Oct 2018 | 29 | 19 | 10 |
Nov 2018 | 27 | 16 | 11 |
Dec 2018 | 20 | 14 | 6 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Employment growth in manufacturing continued in 2018 despite rising trade tensions between the United States and many of its largest trading partners. Trade restrictions and negotiations disproportionately affect manufacturing industries because tariffs are levied on physical goods, not on services.[8] Adding to the whirlwind of trade tensions, the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (the new trade agreement designed to replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement) was signed on November 30, 2018, and is waiting for ratification by the three countries.[9] The agreement’s new regulations may have far-reaching impacts on the transportation equipment industry and the supply chains that support it.[10]
Employment in transportation and warehousing also accelerated in 2018, adding 216,000 jobs over the year, compared with 186,000 jobs in 2017. This acceleration was driven by couriers and messengers (+54,000) and by warehousing and storage (+84,000). Almost 2 out of every 3 jobs created within transportation and warehousing in 2018 can be attributed to these two industries. The rise of e-commerce has increased the demand for package handling and delivery services (couriers and messengers) and for storing goods and fulfilling online orders (warehousing and storage).
A fundamental shift in the retail trade environment continues as brick-and-mortar retail stores struggle and e-commerce takes over a growing percentage of total retail sales. The U.S. Census Bureau, in its latest e-commerce data release for the fourth quarter of 2018, reported that e-commerce sales totaled $132.8 billion, an increase of 12.1 percent from the third quarter of 2017.[11] More importantly, e-commerce sales are now responsible for 9.9 percent of all retail sales. In light of these changing business dynamics, it is unsurprising that retail trade employment experienced erratic over-the-month changes throughout 2018. However, it still managed to remain basically unchanged—a marked improvement over the loss of 88,000 jobs in 2017. (See figure 9.)
Period | Employment |
---|---|
Jan 2008 | 15,568.5 |
Feb 2008 | 15,527.5 |
Mar 2008 | 15,534.5 |
Apr 2008 | 15,433.6 |
May 2008 | 15,379.2 |
Jun 2008 | 15,342.8 |
Jul 2008 | 15,307.4 |
Aug 2008 | 15,249.0 |
Sep 2008 | 15,178.6 |
Oct 2008 | 15,100.8 |
Nov 2008 | 14,989.4 |
Dec 2008 | 14,876.9 |
Jan 2009 | 14,794.5 |
Feb 2009 | 14,719.4 |
Mar 2009 | 14,650.7 |
Apr 2009 | 14,563.1 |
May 2009 | 14,558.3 |
Jun 2009 | 14,541.0 |
Jul 2009 | 14,488.9 |
Aug 2009 | 14,480.5 |
Sep 2009 | 14,450.2 |
Oct 2009 | 14,381.6 |
Nov 2009 | 14,379.4 |
Dec 2009 | 14,334.8 |
Jan 2010 | 14,401.0 |
Feb 2010 | 14,397.1 |
Mar 2010 | 14,446.7 |
Apr 2010 | 14,427.2 |
May 2010 | 14,438.6 |
Jun 2010 | 14,442.1 |
Jul 2010 | 14,449.2 |
Aug 2010 | 14,454.3 |
Sep 2010 | 14,478.3 |
Oct 2010 | 14,510.7 |
Nov 2010 | 14,486.0 |
Dec 2010 | 14,474.1 |
Jan 2011 | 14,537.1 |
Feb 2011 | 14,558.2 |
Mar 2011 | 14,589.2 |
Apr 2011 | 14,646.2 |
May 2011 | 14,645.8 |
Jun 2011 | 14,681.7 |
Jul 2011 | 14,725.4 |
Aug 2011 | 14,719.4 |
Sep 2011 | 14,743.8 |
Oct 2011 | 14,749.5 |
Nov 2011 | 14,754.8 |
Dec 2011 | 14,747.0 |
Jan 2012 | 14,817.1 |
Feb 2012 | 14,795.3 |
Mar 2012 | 14,826.1 |
Apr 2012 | 14,837.7 |
May 2012 | 14,834.4 |
Jun 2012 | 14,817.5 |
Jul 2012 | 14,812.4 |
Aug 2012 | 14,817.4 |
Sep 2012 | 14,853.7 |
Oct 2012 | 14,869.0 |
Nov 2012 | 14,944.7 |
Dec 2012 | 14,913.8 |
Jan 2013 | 14,936.3 |
Feb 2013 | 14,951.4 |
Mar 2013 | 14,949.1 |
Apr 2013 | 14,968.2 |
May 2013 | 15,002.0 |
Jun 2013 | 15,048.5 |
Jul 2013 | 15,089.7 |
Aug 2013 | 15,129.5 |
Sep 2013 | 15,162.7 |
Oct 2013 | 15,196.3 |
Nov 2013 | 15,212.3 |
Dec 2013 | 15,287.7 |
Jan 2014 | 15,262.9 |
Feb 2014 | 15,243.7 |
Mar 2014 | 15,248.1 |
Apr 2014 | 15,303.0 |
May 2014 | 15,322.9 |
Jun 2014 | 15,351.8 |
Jul 2014 | 15,374.9 |
Aug 2014 | 15,386.2 |
Sep 2014 | 15,418.9 |
Oct 2014 | 15,469.7 |
Nov 2014 | 15,502.9 |
Dec 2014 | 15,510.5 |
Jan 2015 | 15,513.9 |
Feb 2015 | 15,534.1 |
Mar 2015 | 15,544.9 |
Apr 2015 | 15,573.1 |
May 2015 | 15,597.2 |
Jun 2015 | 15,615.9 |
Jul 2015 | 15,638.6 |
Aug 2015 | 15,634.5 |
Sep 2015 | 15,635.2 |
Oct 2015 | 15,685.5 |
Nov 2015 | 15,702.6 |
Dec 2015 | 15,696.0 |
Jan 2016 | 15,721.6 |
Feb 2016 | 15,774.2 |
Mar 2016 | 15,809.0 |
Apr 2016 | 15,819.2 |
May 2016 | 15,812.8 |
Jun 2016 | 15,836.7 |
Jul 2016 | 15,851.8 |
Aug 2016 | 15,869.8 |
Sep 2016 | 15,884.3 |
Oct 2016 | 15,888.7 |
Nov 2016 | 15,871.4 |
Dec 2016 | 15,894.9 |
Jan 2017 | 15,940.7 |
Feb 2017 | 15,888.2 |
Mar 2017 | 15,862.2 |
Apr 2017 | 15,849.0 |
May 2017 | 15,822.2 |
Jun 2017 | 15,821.4 |
Jul 2017 | 15,813.5 |
Aug 2017 | 15,810.6 |
Sep 2017 | 15,811.4 |
Oct 2017 | 15,813.2 |
Nov 2017 | 15,828.2 |
Dec 2017 | 15,807.0 |
Jan 2018 | 15,809.4 |
Feb 2018 | 15,833.1 |
Mar 2018 | 15,834.3 |
Apr 2018 | 15,838.0 |
May 2018 | 15,856.3 |
Jun 2018 | 15,822.1 |
Jul 2018 | 15,824.4 |
Aug 2018 | 15,830.3 |
Sep 2018 | 15,804.3 |
Oct 2018 | 15,794.4 |
Nov 2018 | 15,826.9 |
Dec 2018 | 15,821.0 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Motor vehicle and parts dealers led the employment gains in retail trade in 2018, adding 24,000 jobs over the year. This job growth partly offset weakness in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores (–62,000); electronics and appliance stores (–17,000); and building material and garden supply stores (+4,000). Employment in food and beverage stores changed little over the year. Employment in general merchandise stores was also flat in 2018 (+9,000), following large losses in 2017 (–74,000).
This section discusses industries whose employment growth in 2018 was about the same as that in 2017.
Leisure and hospitality added 359,000 jobs in 2018, close to the growth experienced in 2017, when the industry added 351,000 jobs. Employment growth within the industry was widespread, and component industries experienced over-the-year job gains similar to those in 2017.
In December 2018, there were just over 16.5 million jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry, and of these, about 73 percent were in food services and drinking places. Because workers in food services and drinking places are typically paid by the hour and on a weekly basis, employment in this industry can be affected by natural disasters. In fact, some of the employment weakness in September 2018 may have reflected the impact of Hurricane Florence, just as employment changes in August and September 2017 were likely affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.[12] (See figure 10.)
Period | Employment change |
---|---|
Jan 2015 | 20.8 |
Feb 2015 | 53.3 |
Mar 2015 | 7.2 |
Apr 2015 | 36.1 |
May 2015 | 33.0 |
Jun 2015 | 37.9 |
Jul 2015 | 31.1 |
Aug 2015 | 30.7 |
Sep 2015 | 38.8 |
Oct 2015 | 57.1 |
Nov 2015 | 35.2 |
Dec 2015 | 36.2 |
Jan 2016 | 35.1 |
Feb 2016 | 36.7 |
Mar 2016 | 28.3 |
Apr 2016 | 18.1 |
May 2016 | 22.4 |
Jun 2016 | 18.9 |
Jul 2016 | 4.7 |
Aug 2016 | 38.9 |
Sep 2016 | 32.5 |
Oct 2016 | 24.2 |
Nov 2016 | 22.5 |
Dec 2016 | 23.0 |
Jan 2017 | 27.3 |
Feb 2017 | 20.7 |
Mar 2017 | 31.1 |
Apr 2017 | 21.7 |
May 2017 | 23.5 |
Jun 2017 | 11.3 |
Jul 2017 | 50.1 |
Aug 2017 | 3.8 |
Sep 2017 | -65.9 |
Oct 2017 | 78.9 |
Nov 2017 | 13.8 |
Dec 2017 | 21.3 |
Jan 2018 | 9.7 |
Feb 2018 | 20.8 |
Mar 2018 | 6.7 |
Apr 2018 | 10.8 |
May 2018 | 32.3 |
Jun 2018 | 32.2 |
Jul 2018 | 24.9 |
Aug 2018 | 13.6 |
Sep 2018 | -36.1 |
Oct 2018 | 57.0 |
Nov 2018 | 39.1 |
Dec 2018 | 47.4 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
In 2018, employment in construction expanded by 307,000, fairly consistent with the 268,000 jobs added in 2017. (See table 2.) Within construction, three component industries—nonresidential specialty trade contractors, residential building, and heavy and civil engineering construction—experienced a slight acceleration in employment growth, while nonresidential building and residential specialty trade contractors grew at the same pace as in 2017.
Industry | 12-month change | Difference | |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | 2018 | ||
Construction | 268 | 307 | 39 |
Residential building | 31 | 51 | 20 |
Nonresidential building | 34 | 21 | -14 |
Heavy and civil engineering construction | 51 | 67 | 16 |
Residential specialty trade contractors | 69 | 65 | -4 |
Nonresidential specialty trade contractors | 83 | 104 | 21 |
Note: Employment estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
The year 2018 saw extraordinary events that required recovery and rebuilding efforts. Hurricane Florence made landfall on September 14 near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.[13] In response to the wide-scale flooding caused by the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued disaster declarations for 28 counties in North Carolina and 6 counties in South Carolina.[14] Almost a month later, Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach, Florida. It was the strongest hurricane to strike the contiguous United States in 26 years,[15] causing FEMA to issue disaster declarations for 12 counties in Florida and 17 counties in Georgia.[16] Following these two hurricanes, in November 2018, California experienced the worst wildfire season in its history, with a total of 7,571 fires burning an area of 1,671,203 acres—the largest amount of burned acreage recorded.[17]
Despite these events, the CES survey cannot directly attribute any changes in construction employment to rebuilding or recovery efforts.
Employment growth in the public sector remained steady in 2018, with the sector adding almost the same number of jobs as it did in 2017. Small employment gains at the federal level were offset by slight weakness in both state and local government employment. Although total government employment grew slightly faster in 2018, it still remained 192,000 jobs short of fully recovering from its most recent downturn. (See figure 11.)
Period | Employment |
---|---|
Jan 2007 | 22,095 |
Feb 2007 | 22,131 |
Mar 2007 | 22,149 |
Apr 2007 | 22,175 |
May 2007 | 22,193 |
Jun 2007 | 22,207 |
Jul 2007 | 22,171 |
Aug 2007 | 22,226 |
Sep 2007 | 22,279 |
Oct 2007 | 22,297 |
Nov 2007 | 22,334 |
Dec 2007 | 22,376 |
Jan 2008 | 22,388 |
Feb 2008 | 22,417 |
Mar 2008 | 22,443 |
Apr 2008 | 22,450 |
May 2008 | 22,483 |
Jun 2008 | 22,517 |
Jul 2008 | 22,568 |
Aug 2008 | 22,567 |
Sep 2008 | 22,537 |
Oct 2008 | 22,549 |
Nov 2008 | 22,560 |
Dec 2008 | 22,556 |
Jan 2009 | 22,579 |
Feb 2009 | 22,576 |
Mar 2009 | 22,560 |
Apr 2009 | 22,677 |
May 2009 | 22,617 |
Jun 2009 | 22,576 |
Jul 2009 | 22,521 |
Aug 2009 | 22,537 |
Sep 2009 | 22,451 |
Oct 2009 | 22,524 |
Nov 2009 | 22,533 |
Dec 2009 | 22,482 |
Jan 2010 | 22,491 |
Feb 2010 | 22,476 |
Mar 2010 | 22,518 |
Apr 2010 | 22,569 |
May 2010 | 22,996 |
Jun 2010 | 22,740 |
Jul 2010 | 22,569 |
Aug 2010 | 22,420 |
Sep 2010 | 22,247 |
Oct 2010 | 22,297 |
Nov 2010 | 22,287 |
Dec 2010 | 22,266 |
Jan 2011 | 22,258 |
Feb 2011 | 22,215 |
Mar 2011 | 22,192 |
Apr 2011 | 22,184 |
May 2011 | 22,129 |
Jun 2011 | 22,164 |
Jul 2011 | 22,049 |
Aug 2011 | 22,017 |
Sep 2011 | 21,983 |
Oct 2011 | 21,998 |
Nov 2011 | 21,971 |
Dec 2011 | 21,954 |
Jan 2012 | 21,946 |
Feb 2012 | 21,947 |
Mar 2012 | 21,943 |
Apr 2012 | 21,931 |
May 2012 | 21,911 |
Jun 2012 | 21,930 |
Jul 2012 | 21,913 |
Aug 2012 | 21,916 |
Sep 2012 | 21,925 |
Oct 2012 | 21,903 |
Nov 2012 | 21,883 |
Dec 2012 | 21,887 |
Jan 2013 | 21,869 |
Feb 2013 | 21,881 |
Mar 2013 | 21,870 |
Apr 2013 | 21,869 |
May 2013 | 21,864 |
Jun 2013 | 21,840 |
Jul 2013 | 21,815 |
Aug 2013 | 21,831 |
Sep 2013 | 21,835 |
Oct 2013 | 21,830 |
Nov 2013 | 21,843 |
Dec 2013 | 21,820 |
Jan 2014 | 21,814 |
Feb 2014 | 21,825 |
Mar 2014 | 21,833 |
Apr 2014 | 21,853 |
May 2014 | 21,832 |
Jun 2014 | 21,895 |
Jul 2014 | 21,901 |
Aug 2014 | 21,855 |
Sep 2014 | 21,897 |
Oct 2014 | 21,917 |
Nov 2014 | 21,932 |
Dec 2014 | 21,947 |
Jan 2015 | 21,959 |
Feb 2015 | 21,980 |
Mar 2015 | 21,970 |
Apr 2015 | 22,008 |
May 2015 | 22,013 |
Jun 2015 | 22,011 |
Jul 2015 | 22,052 |
Aug 2015 | 22,061 |
Sep 2015 | 22,042 |
Oct 2015 | 22,056 |
Nov 2015 | 22,077 |
Dec 2015 | 22,102 |
Jan 2016 | 22,119 |
Feb 2016 | 22,145 |
Mar 2016 | 22,183 |
Apr 2016 | 22,189 |
May 2016 | 22,196 |
Jun 2016 | 22,203 |
Jul 2016 | 22,298 |
Aug 2016 | 22,271 |
Sep 2016 | 22,296 |
Oct 2016 | 22,294 |
Nov 2016 | 22,280 |
Dec 2016 | 22,304 |
Jan 2017 | 22,310 |
Feb 2017 | 22,320 |
Mar 2017 | 22,329 |
Apr 2017 | 22,332 |
May 2017 | 22,333 |
Jun 2017 | 22,356 |
Jul 2017 | 22,368 |
Aug 2017 | 22,361 |
Sep 2017 | 22,363 |
Oct 2017 | 22,374 |
Nov 2017 | 22,382 |
Dec 2017 | 22,389 |
Jan 2018 | 22,374 |
Feb 2018 | 22,400 |
Mar 2018 | 22,409 |
Apr 2018 | 22,421 |
May 2018 | 22,427 |
Jun 2018 | 22,453 |
Jul 2018 | 22,458 |
Aug 2018 | 22,494 |
Sep 2018 | 22,494 |
Oct 2018 | 22,486 |
Nov 2018 | 22,482 |
Dec 2018 | 22,485 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
Within mining and logging, the mining industry continued to add jobs in 2018, at a pace similar to that in 2017. This industry is driven primarily by support activities for mining and is very sensitive to changes in the price of oil.[18] (See figure 12.) Since many establishments in the industry operate on very small margins, oil price fluctuations can determine whether the industry adds or loses jobs. This sensitivity results in the price of oil leading employment changes in mining.
Period | WTI crude oil price | Employment (thousands) |
---|---|---|
Jan 2007 | $54.51 | 282.8 |
Feb 2007 | 59.28 | 286.2 |
Mar 2007 | 60.44 | 288.5 |
Apr 2007 | 63.98 | 289.8 |
May 2007 | 63.46 | 293.2 |
Jun 2007 | 67.49 | 293.8 |
Jul 2007 | 74.12 | 297.9 |
Aug 2007 | 72.36 | 297.0 |
Sep 2007 | 79.92 | 296.9 |
Oct 2007 | 85.8 | 295.9 |
Nov 2007 | 94.77 | 300.5 |
Dec 2007 | 91.69 | 304.6 |
Jan 2008 | 92.97 | 308.4 |
Feb 2008 | 95.39 | 311.1 |
Mar 2008 | 105.45 | 317.5 |
Apr 2008 | 112.58 | 319.8 |
May 2008 | 125.4 | 318.5 |
Jun 2008 | 133.88 | 324.0 |
Jul 2008 | 133.37 | 327.1 |
Aug 2008 | 116.67 | 331.2 |
Sep 2008 | 104.11 | 334.4 |
Oct 2008 | 76.61 | 332.7 |
Nov 2008 | 57.31 | 328.3 |
Dec 2008 | 41.12 | 323.9 |
Jan 2009 | 41.71 | 319.4 |
Feb 2009 | 39.09 | 310.2 |
Mar 2009 | 47.94 | 298.9 |
Apr 2009 | 49.65 | 287.1 |
May 2009 | 59.03 | 273.5 |
Jun 2009 | 69.64 | 268.1 |
Jul 2009 | 64.15 | 263.9 |
Aug 2009 | 71.05 | 258.5 |
Sep 2009 | 69.41 | 254.5 |
Oct 2009 | 75.72 | 254.3 |
Nov 2009 | 77.99 | 257.7 |
Dec 2009 | 74.47 | 259.3 |
Jan 2010 | 78.33 | 263.9 |
Feb 2010 | 76.39 | 269.0 |
Mar 2010 | 81.2 | 273.9 |
Apr 2010 | 84.29 | 277.5 |
May 2010 | 73.74 | 284.6 |
Jun 2010 | 75.34 | 289.9 |
Jul 2010 | 76.32 | 294.8 |
Aug 2010 | 76.6 | 299.7 |
Sep 2010 | 75.24 | 305.1 |
Oct 2010 | 81.89 | 310.6 |
Nov 2010 | 84.25 | 315.2 |
Dec 2010 | 89.15 | 315.9 |
Jan 2011 | 89.17 | 314.9 |
Feb 2011 | 88.58 | 315.5 |
Mar 2011 | 102.86 | 325.4 |
Apr 2011 | 109.53 | 334.7 |
May 2011 | 100.9 | 341.4 |
Jun 2011 | 96.26 | 349.9 |
Jul 2011 | 97.3 | 358.8 |
Aug 2011 | 86.33 | 359.7 |
Sep 2011 | 85.52 | 366.0 |
Oct 2011 | 86.32 | 369.8 |
Nov 2011 | 97.16 | 373.3 |
Dec 2011 | 98.56 | 377.4 |
Jan 2012 | 100.27 | 384.5 |
Feb 2012 | 102.2 | 390.1 |
Mar 2012 | 106.16 | 391.3 |
Apr 2012 | 103.32 | 393.9 |
May 2012 | 94.66 | 395.4 |
Jun 2012 | 82.3 | 395.7 |
Jul 2012 | 87.9 | 392.6 |
Aug 2012 | 94.13 | 392.7 |
Sep 2012 | 94.51 | 388.9 |
Oct 2012 | 89.49 | 382.8 |
Nov 2012 | 86.53 | 388.6 |
Dec 2012 | 87.86 | 391.0 |
Jan 2013 | 94.76 | 393.8 |
Feb 2013 | 95.31 | 397.5 |
Mar 2013 | 92.94 | 400.6 |
Apr 2013 | 92.02 | 401.6 |
May 2013 | 94.51 | 406.4 |
Jun 2013 | 95.77 | 409.4 |
Jul 2013 | 104.67 | 409.9 |
Aug 2013 | 106.57 | 411.2 |
Sep 2013 | 106.29 | 415.3 |
Oct 2013 | 100.54 | 416.7 |
Nov 2013 | 93.86 | 413.3 |
Dec 2013 | 97.63 | 414.7 |
Jan 2014 | 94.62 | 417.0 |
Feb 2014 | 100.82 | 420.1 |
Mar 2014 | 100.8 | 426.9 |
Apr 2014 | 102.07 | 432.4 |
May 2014 | 102.18 | 432.2 |
Jun 2014 | 105.79 | 434.3 |
Jul 2014 | 103.59 | 438.1 |
Aug 2014 | 96.54 | 439.8 |
Sep 2014 | 93.21 | 444.2 |
Oct 2014 | 84.4 | 440.9 |
Nov 2014 | 75.79 | 439.7 |
Dec 2014 | 59.29 | 437.2 |
Jan 2015 | 47.22 | 431.1 |
Feb 2015 | 50.58 | 422.0 |
Mar 2015 | 47.82 | 407.2 |
Apr 2015 | 54.45 | 395.1 |
May 2015 | 59.27 | 373.0 |
Jun 2015 | 59.82 | 371.3 |
Jul 2015 | 50.9 | 360.6 |
Aug 2015 | 42.87 | 351.3 |
Sep 2015 | 45.48 | 339.2 |
Oct 2015 | 46.22 | 336.3 |
Nov 2015 | 42.44 | 325.1 |
Dec 2015 | 37.19 | 317.2 |
Jan 2016 | 31.68 | 305.4 |
Feb 2016 | 30.32 | 288.2 |
Mar 2016 | 37.55 | 273.0 |
Apr 2016 | 40.75 | 266.5 |
May 2016 | 46.71 | 261.6 |
Jun 2016 | 48.76 | 256.7 |
Jul 2016 | 44.65 | 256.8 |
Aug 2016 | 44.72 | 254.6 |
Sep 2016 | 45.18 | 255.9 |
Oct 2016 | 49.78 | 256.1 |
Nov 2016 | 45.66 | 259.3 |
Dec 2016 | 51.97 | 262.0 |
Jan 2017 | 52.5 | 266.2 |
Feb 2017 | 53.47 | 273.5 |
Mar 2017 | 49.33 | 281.7 |
Apr 2017 | 51.06 | 287.6 |
May 2017 | 48.48 | 295.2 |
Jun 2017 | 45.18 | 299.1 |
Jul 2017 | 46.63 | 301.8 |
Aug 2017 | 48.04 | 307.1 |
Sep 2017 | 49.82 | 306.4 |
Oct 2017 | 51.58 | 309.8 |
Nov 2017 | 56.64 | 312.9 |
Dec 2017 | 57.88 | 314.7 |
Jan 2018 | 63.7 | 319.3 |
Feb 2018 | 62.23 | 325.2 |
Mar 2018 | 62.73 | 331.7 |
Apr 2018 | 66.25 | 339.3 |
May 2018 | 69.98 | 341.9 |
Jun 2018 | 67.87 | 347.6 |
Jul 2018 | 70.98 | 346.8 |
Aug 2018 | 68.06 | 353.8 |
Sep 2018 | 70.23 | 358.3 |
Oct 2018 | 70.75 | 362.5 |
Nov 2018 | 56.96 | 359.0 |
Dec 2018 | 49.52 | 361.9 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Energy Information Administration. |
The price of oil declined sharply from a high of $76.40 in October 2018 to $44.48 in December 2018, a decrease of roughly 29 percent, but, to date, employment in mining has not peaked.
Employment in the information sector remained essentially unchanged in 2018 (+6,000). Within the sector, telecommunications continued to lose jobs, shedding 34,000 jobs in 2018 after losing 31,000 jobs in 2017. Employment in other information services—a category that includes industries such as news syndicates, libraries and archives, internet publishing and broadcasting, and web search portals—increased by 24,000 in 2018, the same as in 2017. The remaining component industries of the information sector experienced negligible employment changes.
This section discusses industries whose employment growth decelerated in 2018.
The financial activities industry added 115,000 jobs in 2018, slightly down from the 130,000 jobs added in 2017. Within the industry, finance and insurance added 49,000 jobs, less than in the previous year (+68,000). This employment slowdown is partly explained by a widespread weakness within credit intermediation and related activities and a slight deceleration within insurance carriers and related activities. However, job growth in securities, commodity contracts, investments, and funds and trusts (+23,000) was almost twice that recorded in 2017. Real estate and rental and leasing services added 67,000 jobs, in line with growth in 2017.
Employment in other services increased by 75,000 in 2018, after rising by 91,000 in 2017. Among the component industries, only personal and laundry services added jobs over the year (+31,000), accounting for almost half of all job gains within the industry. Employment in repair and maintenance and in membership associations and organizations changed little in 2018.
Total nonfarm employment continued to expand in 2018, advancing faster than it did in 2017 or 2016. (See figure 13.) Over the year, many major industries added more jobs than they did in 2017. The employment strength in goods-producing industries in 2017 largely continued in 2018. Employment in service-providing industries accelerated slightly, leading to the larger over-the-year change in total nonfarm employment. Professional and business services, private education and health services, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and construction led the employment gains.
Period | Employment |
---|---|
Jan 2008 | 138,422 |
Feb 2008 | 138,340 |
Mar 2008 | 138,292 |
Apr 2008 | 138,056 |
May 2008 | 137,872 |
Jun 2008 | 137,706 |
Jul 2008 | 137,508 |
Aug 2008 | 137,229 |
Sep 2008 | 136,769 |
Oct 2008 | 136,288 |
Nov 2008 | 135,561 |
Dec 2008 | 134,857 |
Jan 2009 | 134,074 |
Feb 2009 | 133,332 |
Mar 2009 | 132,529 |
Apr 2009 | 131,835 |
May 2009 | 131,491 |
Jun 2009 | 131,026 |
Jul 2009 | 130,685 |
Aug 2009 | 130,501 |
Sep 2009 | 130,259 |
Oct 2009 | 130,061 |
Nov 2009 | 130,073 |
Dec 2009 | 129,804 |
Jan 2010 | 129,807 |
Feb 2010 | 129,715 |
Mar 2010 | 129,895 |
Apr 2010 | 130,132 |
May 2010 | 130,666 |
Jun 2010 | 130,530 |
Jul 2010 | 130,442 |
Aug 2010 | 130,437 |
Sep 2010 | 130,373 |
Oct 2010 | 130,642 |
Nov 2010 | 130,765 |
Dec 2010 | 130,839 |
Jan 2011 | 130,859 |
Feb 2011 | 131,072 |
Mar 2011 | 131,304 |
Apr 2011 | 131,625 |
May 2011 | 131,720 |
Jun 2011 | 131,955 |
Jul 2011 | 132,016 |
Aug 2011 | 132,138 |
Sep 2011 | 132,374 |
Oct 2011 | 132,578 |
Nov 2011 | 132,710 |
Dec 2011 | 132,914 |
Jan 2012 | 133,269 |
Feb 2012 | 133,531 |
Mar 2012 | 133,769 |
Apr 2012 | 133,852 |
May 2012 | 133,951 |
Jun 2012 | 134,023 |
Jul 2012 | 134,176 |
Aug 2012 | 134,346 |
Sep 2012 | 134,535 |
Oct 2012 | 134,693 |
Nov 2012 | 134,851 |
Dec 2012 | 135,088 |
Jan 2013 | 135,283 |
Feb 2013 | 135,562 |
Mar 2013 | 135,698 |
Apr 2013 | 135,890 |
May 2013 | 136,114 |
Jun 2013 | 136,295 |
Jul 2013 | 136,400 |
Aug 2013 | 136,642 |
Sep 2013 | 136,831 |
Oct 2013 | 137,056 |
Nov 2013 | 137,323 |
Dec 2013 | 137,390 |
Jan 2014 | 137,567 |
Feb 2014 | 137,735 |
Mar 2014 | 137,985 |
Apr 2014 | 138,312 |
May 2014 | 138,533 |
Jun 2014 | 138,857 |
Jul 2014 | 139,084 |
Aug 2014 | 139,272 |
Sep 2014 | 139,583 |
Oct 2014 | 139,841 |
Nov 2014 | 140,127 |
Dec 2014 | 140,396 |
Jan 2015 | 140,609 |
Feb 2015 | 140,857 |
Mar 2015 | 140,934 |
Apr 2015 | 141,234 |
May 2015 | 141,553 |
Jun 2015 | 141,723 |
Jul 2015 | 142,016 |
Aug 2015 | 142,138 |
Sep 2015 | 142,271 |
Oct 2015 | 142,610 |
Nov 2015 | 142,845 |
Dec 2015 | 143,125 |
Jan 2016 | 143,215 |
Feb 2016 | 143,447 |
Mar 2016 | 143,681 |
Apr 2016 | 143,892 |
May 2016 | 143,907 |
Jun 2016 | 144,189 |
Jul 2016 | 144,525 |
Aug 2016 | 144,660 |
Sep 2016 | 144,930 |
Oct 2016 | 145,058 |
Nov 2016 | 145,228 |
Dec 2016 | 145,443 |
Jan 2017 | 145,695 |
Feb 2017 | 145,836 |
Mar 2017 | 145,963 |
Apr 2017 | 146,176 |
May 2017 | 146,304 |
Jun 2017 | 146,533 |
Jul 2017 | 146,737 |
Aug 2017 | 146,924 |
Sep 2017 | 146,942 |
Oct 2017 | 147,202 |
Nov 2017 | 147,422 |
Dec 2017 | 147,596 |
Jan 2018 | 147,767 |
Feb 2018 | 148,097 |
Mar 2018 | 148,279 |
Apr 2018 | 148,475 |
May 2018 | 148,745 |
Jun 2018 | 149,007 |
Jul 2018 | 149,185 |
Aug 2018 | 149,467 |
Sep 2018 | 149,575 |
Oct 2018 | 149,852 |
Nov 2018 | 150,048 |
Dec 2018 | 150,275 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. |
The year 2018 also showcased the resiliency of the U.S. job market. Despite some headwinds from uncertain trade environment, natural disasters, and a historically tight labor market, payrolls continued to march onward.
Tyler Downing, "Employment growth accelerates in 2018, extending a lengthy expansion," Monthly Labor Review, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2019, https://doi.org/10.21916/mlr.2019.10
1 The CES program, which provides detailed industry data on employment, hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls, is a monthly survey of about 142,000 businesses and government agencies representing approximately 689,000 individual worksites. For more information on the program’s concepts and methodology, see “Technical notes for the Current Employment Statistics survey,” Current Employment Statistics—CES (national) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), https://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm. To access CES data, see https://www.bls.gov/ces/. The CES data are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise noted. Over-the-year changes are calculated from December of the previous year through December of the reference year.
2 Diffusion indexes measure the percentage of industries with increasing employment plus one-half of the industries with unchanged employment. A diffusion index of 50 indicates an equal balance between industries with increasing and decreasing employment. For more information on how the index is calculated, see Patricia M. Getz and Mark G. Ulmer, “Diffusion indexes: a barometer of the economy,” Monthly Labor Review, April 1990, https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/1990/04/art3full.pdf.
3 “Destructive 2018 Atlantic hurricane season draws to an end” (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, November 28, 2018), https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/destructive-2018-atlantic-hurricane-season-draws-to-end.
4 For more information, see “Incident information” (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), https://www.fire.ca.gov/.
5 See “Beige Book—July 18, 2018” (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook201807.htm. According to this source, “all districts reported that labor markets were tight and many said that the inability to find workers constrained growth.”
6 The World Trade Organization’s World Trade Outlook Indicator dropped from 102.3 in the first quarter of 2018 to 98.6 in the fourth quarter of 2018, a decline of 3.6 points. For more information, see “Methodology of World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI)” (World Trade Organization), https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news19_e/wtoi_methodology_18_02_19.pdf. For archived releases, see https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/archive_e/wtoi_arc_e.htm.
7 Recessions are identified by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). According to the NBER, the most recent recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. The previous two recessions were from March 2001 to November 2001 and from July 1990 to March 1991. For a complete list of business cycle dates, see “U.S. business cycle expansions and contractions” (Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research), http://www.nber.org/cycles/cyclesmain.html.
8 Alanna Petroff and Julia Horowitz, “What is a tariff? Your trade questions, answered,” CNN Money, June 8, 2018, https://money.cnn.com/2018/06/08/news/economy/tariff-questions-answered/index.html.
9 The full text of the agreement is available at https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement.
10 According to reporting by National Public Radio’s Scott Horsley, “the biggest change this deal makes, really, is to the automotive sector, where it does put higher requirements on North American content, and in particular high-wage content, for vehicles to trade duty-free.” See Horsley, “Trump, at G-20 summit, signs trade deal with Canada, Mexico,” NPR, November 30, 2018, https://www.npr.org/2018/11/30/672161749/trump-at-g-20-summit-signs-trade-deal-with-canada-mexico.
11 For further information, see https://www.census.gov/retail/index.html#ecommerce.
12 The Employment Situation—September 2018, USDL-18-1586 (U.S. Department of Labor, October 5, 2018), https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_10052018.pdf.
13 According to the National Weather Service, “Hurricane Florence, a large and slow moving category one hurricane, made landfall during the morning of September 14, 2018. After the eye crossed Wrightsville Beach, NC at 7:15 a.m. the storm spent the next two days producing record-breaking rainfall across eastern North Carolina and a portion of northeastern South Carolina.” See “Hurricane Florence: September 14, 2018” (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, September 14, 2018), https://www.weather.gov/ilm/HurricaneFlorence.
14 See “North Carolina Hurricane Florence (DR-4393)” (Federal Emergency Management Agency), https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4393; and “South Carolina Hurricane Florence (DR-4394)” (Federal Emergency Management Agency), https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4394.
15 According to the National Weather Service, “Hurricane Michael made landfall as an unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane in the Florida Panhandle region with maximum sustained wind speeds of 140 knots (161 mph) and a minimum pressure 919 mb.” See “Catastrophic Hurricane Michael strikes Florida Panhandle October 10, 2018” (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), https://www.weather.gov/tae/HurricaneMichael2018.
16 See “Florida Hurricane Michael (DR-4399)” (Federal Emergency Management Agency), https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4399; and “Georgia Hurricane Michael (DR-4400)” (Federal Emergency Management Agency), https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4400.
17 “Incident information” (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_stats?year=2018.
18 According to the North American Industry Classification System, support activities for mining includes “establishments primarily providing support services, on a contract or fee basis, required for the mining and quarrying of minerals and for the extraction of oil and gas. Establishments performing exploration (except geophysical surveying and mapping) for minerals, on a contract or fee basis, are included in this subsector.” See https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=21&chart=2017&details=213.