Industries with spring employment peaks
April 17, 2015
Throughout the year, many industries experience swings in business related to seasonal weather changes, holidays, and consumer spending habits. As spring arrives, employment peaks at florists, nurseries, hardware stores, and tour operators, as these industries fill the needs of gardeners, vacationers, and people buying flowers for Mother's Day.
Employment in selected private-sector industries, not seasonally adjusted, January 2009–February 2015
Month
Index (January 2009 = 100)
Car washes
Caterers and mobile food services
Florists
Hardware stores
Home centers
Landscaping services
Limited service restaurants
Nursery, garden, and farm supply stores
Office of certified public accountants
Tax preparation services
Tour operators
Jan 2009
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Feb 2009
102.2
99.0
108.7
98.4
100.4
96.4
100.1
101.3
102.3
108.2
95.5
Mar 2009
103.5
103.5
97.1
97.7
101.1
101.6
101.5
111.6
102.4
97.4
101.6
Apr 2009
103.9
102.0
100.9
98.9
104.0
123.4
102.8
132.4
100.9
93.2
101.6
May 2009
104.8
114.2
110.7
100.2
106.4
137.0
104.3
145.5
96.3
30.0
107.7
Jun 2009
105.1
121.5
103.0
101.1
105.4
140.7
104.9
144.4
95.2
23.6
108.1
Jul 2009
102.8
119.2
96.3
100.5
102.3
140.4
104.7
132.9
95.5
20.8
104.5
Aug 2009
101.8
118.1
94.4
100.1
99.8
137.5
104.4
125.6
94.7
20.6
106.1
Sep 2009
100.2
118.2
92.7
97.1
98.0
133.2
102.1
120.3
94.6
21.1
102.8
Oct 2009
98.4
118.5
94.3
96.7
97.5
130.1
100.8
117.2
95.4
23.8
100.0
Nov 2009
98.3
109.6
92.3
96.1
97.2
124.0
100.7
110.4
94.9
29.1
100.0
Dec 2009
95.9
111.8
95.8
97.3
96.5
107.8
99.9
107.1
95.2
58.7
94.3
Jan 2010
96.0
91.1
88.2
94.6
96.1
92.7
97.6
94.9
93.9
113.9
91.1
Feb 2010
96.7
92.3
97.6
93.4
98.6
93.5
97.3
96.8
96.8
116.4
88.2
Mar 2010
101.2
101.2
88.8
93.9
103.0
96.2
99.5
109.2
97.8
95.5
93.9
Apr 2010
103.5
105.0
92.5
94.8
106.9
122.5
101.1
131.7
97.4
90.4
94.3
May 2010
103.9
118.3
100.8
96.6
109.1
134.4
102.9
139.5
92.2
24.1
95.1
Jun 2010
102.8
124.6
92.6
97.7
104.9
139.8
103.6
137.4
91.9
18.7
101.2
Jul 2010
102.1
119.1
90.3
97.6
101.9
140.3
103.4
129.3
91.6
15.9
96.7
Aug 2010
101.8
122.2
88.2
96.4
100.4
137.5
103.5
123.1
91.4
16.7
95.1
Sep 2010
101.3
124.0
87.8
93.9
98.7
132.6
102.0
121.0
89.8
15.6
93.9
Oct 2010
101.8
125.5
86.4
93.2
97.8
129.7
101.9
121.4
90.8
16.1
97.6
Nov 2010
100.1
118.2
86.5
93.7
97.3
123.0
101.6
117.8
90.9
33.2
95.5
Dec 2010
97.5
122.9
87.8
94.0
97.1
109.4
101.3
115.3
91.3
53.7
98.0
Jan 2011
98.4
95.3
83.1
91.2
96.9
96.3
99.2
102.9
93.1
91.7
93.1
Feb 2011
102.2
98.5
91.7
90.9
97.8
94.8
99.8
108.4
96.9
97.2
94.7
Mar 2011
104.5
104.6
84.9
91.7
103.1
100.3
102.0
119.6
97.9
91.7
97.2
Apr 2011
105.2
115.3
86.4
94.0
108.5
124.4
104.0
142.5
97.2
87.9
101.6
May 2011
105.8
124.6
94.3
95.9
109.6
136.5
105.9
153.8
92.1
38.2
102.8
Jun 2011
107.2
131.4
87.8
97.6
107.7
141.7
106.7
151.1
91.7
31.6
103.7
Jul 2011
106.6
126.9
85.3
96.9
104.7
143.1
106.2
140.3
92.2
24.3
104.9
Aug 2011
106.6
130.6
83.3
96.6
102.4
139.3
106.4
136.2
91.5
21.7
102.0
Sep 2011
106.2
132.4
84.3
95.1
100.4
135.2
105.1
131.9
91.3
19.0
101.2
Oct 2011
105.8
132.8
84.4
95.2
100.1
133.3
104.8
130.6
92.3
19.5
99.6
Nov 2011
105.2
127.2
85.3
94.6
100.3
126.4
104.9
128.2
92.6
23.2
99.6
Dec 2011
105.0
127.7
86.5
94.7
100.0
110.6
104.6
124.1
93.5
55.2
100.0
Jan 2012
106.1
98.6
81.2
92.2
99.9
97.5
102.8
111.1
95.6
96.4
95.5
Feb 2012
105.9
103.9
97.0
91.2
102.2
96.6
103.8
113.9
99.1
103.8
95.9
Mar 2012
107.5
109.1
83.6
93.4
107.8
106.4
106.1
126.0
100.3
90.0
100.8
Apr 2012
109.0
115.6
87.3
96.1
112.5
128.9
107.9
146.2
99.5
85.4
100.8
May 2012
110.6
128.9
96.8
97.9
113.6
139.0
109.3
156.5
94.6
29.0
99.6
Jun 2012
109.4
135.6
89.0
98.0
111.5
143.9
110.6
153.4
94.2
21.9
100.4
Jul 2012
108.2
128.3
86.1
98.4
108.8
143.2
110.5
145.6
95.0
18.0
99.6
Aug 2012
108.5
130.9
83.6
96.8
105.9
139.4
110.5
136.8
94.7
17.9
99.2
Sep 2012
108.5
132.8
85.3
96.0
103.6
136.9
109.6
134.5
94.1
17.8
96.7
Oct 2012
107.8
134.0
84.8
95.7
102.6
134.9
109.3
135.3
95.4
18.5
97.6
Nov 2012
108.8
125.9
86.2
95.6
102.7
127.4
109.5
132.8
95.2
23.8
97.2
Dec 2012
106.2
130.8
88.1
96.3
102.6
112.3
109.6
129.0
96.4
49.6
96.3
Jan 2013
106.2
105.1
81.2
93.3
102.6
98.1
108.0
112.1
97.4
84.3
90.7
Feb 2013
108.2
105.8
96.7
93.0
105.3
100.4
108.4
114.2
101.5
93.0
93.9
Mar 2013
110.8
113.9
82.8
93.5
109.1
107.5
110.2
126.4
102.6
86.2
102.8
Apr 2013
113.2
123.0
87.0
95.4
114.0
128.6
112.3
148.2
101.4
83.2
111.0
May 2013
114.2
133.2
96.8
96.7
115.9
142.5
114.6
164.8
96.9
28.8
111.4
Jun 2013
113.3
139.0
87.6
99.3
114.0
148.3
115.8
162.1
97.0
23.4
113.0
Jul 2013
111.8
131.5
84.1
98.8
111.8
149.2
116.0
153.8
97.8
21.3
107.7
Aug 2013
111.9
133.9
81.3
98.6
108.9
147.0
116.1
148.3
97.6
21.7
106.9
Sep 2013
112.8
135.1
82.5
96.5
107.2
142.3
114.5
145.6
96.8
22.0
106.5
Oct 2013
111.7
136.5
82.9
97.0
107.2
139.0
114.3
144.6
98.5
23.2
108.9
Nov 2013
110.1
129.8
82.8
98.0
107.0
132.5
114.6
139.7
98.1
31.7
105.3
Dec 2013
109.2
135.9
84.9
98.5
105.9
117.1
114.3
134.4
99.0
40.6
105.3
Jan 2014
110.8
107.3
79.8
96.7
104.3
104.2
112.6
119.3
100.4
78.8
97.2
Feb 2014
111.2
111.3
90.9
95.6
106.4
106.1
112.7
122.0
104.4
92.0
105.3
Mar 2014
117.3
116.3
81.0
96.7
110.4
111.6
114.8
131.5
105.2
85.0
106.5
Apr 2014
117.3
126.7
84.1
99.7
115.7
132.5
117.2
156.4
104.0
81.1
111.4
May 2014
118.8
140.1
92.9
101.9
116.9
146.2
119.2
172.5
98.9
29.0
114.6
Jun 2014
118.5
143.4
85.7
101.8
115.4
152.8
120.1
170.3
98.8
26.0
112.2
Jul 2014
118.4
134.7
82.3
102.0
112.8
153.3
120.1
161.0
99.8
23.5
109.8
Aug 2014
116.4
139.3
82.1
101.4
109.0
150.5
120.0
151.2
100.0
23.5
108.9
Sep 2014
116.8
145.6
82.8
100.5
106.7
145.7
118.5
148.2
99.2
23.8
111.8
Oct 2014
115.7
146.5
84.3
100.7
106.0
142.8
118.4
148.8
100.9
25.3
111.0
Nov 2014
115.2
137.1
85.1
101.5
106.2
135.2
118.6
143.4
100.5
33.3
110.6
Dec 2014
114.7
147.3
85.7
101.2
105.7
119.1
118.4
138.8
102.0
53.7
109.3
Jan 2015
115.8
115.9
80.4
100.1
104.6
107.1
117.0
125.1
103.2
92.5
100.8
Feb 2015(p)
120.2
117.6
91.5
99.7
107.1
107.0
117.7
128.0
107.4
103.5
102.8
Employment in selected private-sector industries, not seasonally adjusted, January 2009–February 2015
Month
Employment
Car washes
Caterers and mobile food services
Florists
Hardware stores
Home centers
Landscaping services
Limited service restaurants
Nursery, garden, and farm supply stores
Office of certified public accountants
Tax preparation services
Tour operators
Jan 2009
130,000
135,500
75,600
147,300
619,300
509,000
3,374,000
81,800
427,900
208,000
24,600
Feb 2009
132,900
134,200
82,200
144,900
621,600
490,800
3,375,700
82,900
437,600
225,100
23,500
Mar 2009
134,600
140,200
73,400
143,900
626,100
517,300
3,423,300
91,300
438,200
202,500
25,000
Apr 2009
135,100
138,200
76,300
145,700
644,000
627,900
3,470,100
108,300
431,600
193,900
25,000
May 2009
136,200
154,800
83,700
147,600
659,200
697,500
3,519,700
119,000
412,100
62,400
26,500
Jun 2009
136,600
164,600
77,900
148,900
652,900
716,300
3,539,700
118,100
407,500
49,000
26,600
Jul 2009
133,600
161,500
72,800
148,000
633,500
714,700
3,531,700
108,700
408,700
43,200
25,700
Aug 2009
132,300
160,000
71,400
147,400
617,800
699,700
3,522,300
102,700
405,200
42,900
26,100
Sep 2009
130,200
160,200
70,100
143,000
607,100
677,900
3,443,900
98,400
404,700
43,900
25,300
Oct 2009
127,900
160,600
71,300
142,400
603,600
662,200
3,401,400
95,900
408,200
49,400
24,600
Nov 2009
127,800
148,500
69,800
141,500
601,900
631,100
3,398,600
90,300
406,200
60,500
24,600
Dec 2009
124,700
151,500
72,400
143,300
597,900
548,700
3,369,200
87,600
407,500
122,100
23,200
Jan 2010
124,800
123,400
66,700
139,300
595,300
472,000
3,292,400
77,600
401,600
237,000
22,400
Feb 2010
125,700
125,100
73,800
137,600
610,700
475,900
3,281,600
79,200
414,200
242,200
21,700
Mar 2010
131,600
137,100
67,100
138,300
638,100
489,900
3,356,500
89,300
418,700
198,600
23,100
Apr 2010
134,500
142,300
69,900
139,700
662,000
623,400
3,411,100
107,700
416,600
188,000
23,200
May 2010
135,100
160,300
76,200
142,300
675,500
684,300
3,470,600
114,100
394,500
50,100
23,400
Jun 2010
133,600
168,800
70,000
143,900
649,800
711,500
3,494,800
112,400
393,200
38,900
24,900
Jul 2010
132,700
161,400
68,300
143,800
630,800
714,100
3,489,500
105,800
391,800
33,000
23,800
Aug 2010
132,300
165,600
66,700
142,000
621,500
699,700
3,492,800
100,700
391,000
34,800
23,400
Sep 2010
131,700
168,000
66,400
138,300
611,300
674,800
3,442,500
99,000
384,300
32,400
23,100
Oct 2010
132,300
170,100
65,300
137,300
605,700
660,400
3,437,100
99,300
388,600
33,400
24,000
Nov 2010
130,100
160,100
65,400
138,000
602,800
625,900
3,426,700
96,400
388,800
69,100
23,500
Dec 2010
126,700
166,500
66,400
138,500
601,200
556,800
3,417,100
94,300
390,700
111,700
24,100
Jan 2011
127,900
129,100
62,800
134,400
600,100
490,400
3,348,600
84,200
398,200
190,800
22,900
Feb 2011
132,900
133,400
69,300
133,900
605,600
482,600
3,366,200
88,700
414,500
202,200
23,300
Mar 2011
135,900
141,700
64,200
135,100
638,800
510,500
3,442,100
97,800
418,900
190,700
23,900
Apr 2011
136,700
156,200
65,300
138,500
672,100
633,400
3,507,800
116,600
416,000
182,800
25,000
May 2011
137,500
168,900
71,300
141,200
678,900
694,700
3,573,800
125,800
393,900
79,400
25,300
Jun 2011
139,300
178,100
66,400
143,800
666,700
721,000
3,601,600
123,600
392,200
65,800
25,500
Jul 2011
138,600
171,900
64,500
142,700
648,700
728,200
3,583,500
114,800
394,600
50,600
25,800
Aug 2011
138,600
177,000
63,000
142,300
634,000
708,800
3,590,500
111,400
391,600
45,200
25,100
Sep 2011
138,000
179,400
63,700
140,100
622,000
688,300
3,544,400
107,900
390,600
39,600
24,900
Oct 2011
137,500
179,900
63,800
140,300
620,200
678,500
3,535,600
106,800
394,800
40,600
24,500
Nov 2011
136,700
172,400
64,500
139,400
621,400
643,600
3,540,400
104,900
396,200
48,200
24,500
Dec 2011
136,500
173,000
65,400
139,500
619,000
563,000
3,528,800
101,500
399,900
114,900
24,600
Jan 2012
137,900
133,600
61,400
135,800
618,800
496,100
3,470,100
90,900
409,200
200,600
23,500
Feb 2012
137,700
140,800
73,300
134,400
632,900
491,900
3,500,600
93,200
424,200
215,900
23,600
Mar 2012
139,700
147,800
63,200
137,600
667,600
541,500
3,580,000
103,100
429,300
187,200
24,800
Apr 2012
141,700
156,600
66,000
141,500
696,800
656,200
3,639,100
119,600
425,700
177,700
24,800
May 2012
143,800
174,700
73,200
144,200
703,600
707,700
3,688,700
128,000
404,600
60,300
24,500
Jun 2012
142,200
183,700
67,300
144,400
690,400
732,700
3,731,200
125,500
403,100
45,600
24,700
Jul 2012
140,700
173,800
65,100
145,000
673,600
728,700
3,729,200
119,100
406,400
37,400
24,500
Aug 2012
141,000
177,400
63,200
142,600
655,800
709,300
3,728,900
111,900
405,200
37,300
24,400
Sep 2012
141,000
179,900
64,500
141,400
641,800
696,800
3,696,600
110,000
402,800
37,000
23,800
Oct 2012
140,200
181,600
64,100
141,000
635,600
686,600
3,687,700
110,700
408,300
38,500
24,000
Nov 2012
141,500
170,600
65,200
140,800
636,100
648,600
3,693,200
108,600
407,400
49,500
23,900
Dec 2012
138,000
177,200
66,600
141,800
635,200
571,500
3,698,600
105,500
412,600
103,200
23,700
Jan 2013
138,100
142,400
61,400
137,400
635,400
499,200
3,642,400
91,700
416,700
175,300
22,300
Feb 2013
140,700
143,400
73,100
137,000
651,900
510,800
3,657,300
93,400
434,300
193,500
23,100
Mar 2013
144,000
154,400
62,600
137,700
675,700
547,000
3,717,700
103,400
439,200
179,300
25,300
Apr 2013
147,200
166,600
65,800
140,500
706,200
654,500
3,790,000
121,200
433,700
173,100
27,300
May 2013
148,500
180,500
73,200
142,500
717,700
725,200
3,866,300
134,800
414,800
59,800
27,400
Jun 2013
147,300
188,300
66,200
146,300
706,100
754,800
3,907,400
132,600
415,000
48,600
27,800
Jul 2013
145,300
178,200
63,600
145,500
692,200
759,500
3,915,200
125,800
418,600
44,200
26,500
Aug 2013
145,500
181,400
61,500
145,300
674,300
748,300
3,915,700
121,300
417,600
45,100
26,300
Sep 2013
146,600
183,000
62,400
142,100
664,100
724,100
3,862,500
119,100
414,100
45,700
26,200
Oct 2013
145,200
185,000
62,700
142,900
664,100
707,500
3,855,500
118,300
421,600
48,200
26,800
Nov 2013
143,100
175,900
62,600
144,300
662,400
674,300
3,865,000
114,300
419,800
66,000
25,900
Dec 2013
142,000
184,100
64,200
145,100
655,800
596,000
3,855,800
109,900
423,600
84,500
25,900
Jan 2014
144,000
145,400
60,300
142,400
645,800
530,500
3,799,600
97,600
429,500
163,800
23,900
Feb 2014
144,500
150,800
68,700
140,800
658,700
540,300
3,803,300
99,800
446,600
191,300
25,900
Mar 2014
152,500
157,600
61,200
142,500
683,700
568,100
3,873,400
107,600
450,000
176,700
26,200
Apr 2014
152,500
171,700
63,600
146,900
716,400
674,400
3,955,100
127,900
445,200
168,700
27,400
May 2014
154,500
189,800
70,200
150,100
723,800
744,400
4,020,300
141,100
423,100
60,400
28,200
Jun 2014
154,100
194,300
64,800
149,900
714,700
777,900
4,053,300
139,300
422,900
54,000
27,600
Jul 2014
153,900
182,500
62,200
150,200
698,800
780,200
4,051,700
131,700
427,000
48,900
27,000
Aug 2014
151,300
188,800
62,100
149,400
674,800
765,900
4,050,400
123,700
427,700
48,800
26,800
Sep 2014
151,900
197,300
62,600
148,000
660,500
741,800
3,997,300
121,200
424,600
49,500
27,500
Oct 2014
150,400
198,500
63,700
148,300
656,700
727,000
3,995,600
121,700
431,700
52,700
27,300
Nov 2014
149,800
185,800
64,300
149,500
657,600
688,300
4,000,800
117,300
430,000
69,200
27,200
Dec 2014
149,100
199,600
64,800
149,000
654,400
606,000
3,993,700
113,500
436,600
111,600
26,900
Jan 2015
150,500
157,000
60,800
147,500
647,700
545,100
3,946,100
102,300
441,500
192,400
24,800
Feb 2015(p)
156,200
159,300
69,200
146,800
663,500
544,800
3,972,600
104,700
459,700
215,300
25,300
Home centers and nursery, garden, and farm supply stores typically reach their highest employment levels in May and their lowest levels in January. Since 2009, employment in nursery, garden, and farm supply stores has increased at least 40 percent from its low point to its peak. Employment in both industries has risen since 2010. In May 2014, employment peaked at 141,000 in nursery, garden, and farm supply stores and 723,800 in home centers.
Employment at florists peaks twice each year, typically in February for Valentine's Day and May for Mother's Day. Employment at florists has fallen in recent years. At its latest peak in May 2014, employment was 70,200, down from 83,700 in May 2009.
In the spring, many people think about filing their income tax forms by the April deadline and taking care of their lawns and gardens. As a result, they may associate tax preparation services, offices of certified public accountants, and landscaping services with the spring. Employment in these industries does not typically peak in the spring, however. Employment in tax preparation services and accountants’ offices typically peak in winter. Tax preparation services have especially large seasonal employment swings. In 2014, tax preparation services employment peaked in February at 191,300 and reached its low point in August at 48,800. Employment in landscaping services rises rapidly in the spring but doesn’t reach its peak until summer.
These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and are not seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. You can find data for these and other industries using the CES Databases tools.
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