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Employment up 2.5 million in May 2020 but still down 19.6 million since February

June 09, 2020

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 2.5 million in May 2020, reflecting a limited resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain it. Employment fell by 1.4 million in March and 20.7 million in April. Despite the May increase, nonfarm employment in May was 13 percent below its February level.

Nonfarm payroll employment, January 1980–May 2020
Month Employment level Over-the-month change

Jan 1980

90,800,000 128,000

Feb 1980

90,883,000 83,000

Mar 1980

90,994,000 111,000

Apr 1980

90,849,000 -145,000

May 1980

90,420,000 -429,000

Jun 1980

90,101,000 -319,000

Jul 1980

89,840,000 -261,000

Aug 1980

90,099,000 259,000

Sep 1980

90,213,000 114,000

Oct 1980

90,490,000 277,000

Nov 1980

90,747,000 257,000

Dec 1980

90,943,000 196,000

Jan 1981

91,033,000 90,000

Feb 1981

91,105,000 72,000

Mar 1981

91,210,000 105,000

Apr 1981

91,283,000 73,000

May 1981

91,296,000 13,000

Jun 1981

91,490,000 194,000

Jul 1981

91,601,000 111,000

Aug 1981

91,565,000 -36,000

Sep 1981

91,477,000 -88,000

Oct 1981

91,380,000 -97,000

Nov 1981

91,171,000 -209,000

Dec 1981

90,895,000 -276,000

Jan 1982

90,565,000 -330,000

Feb 1982

90,563,000 -2,000

Mar 1982

90,434,000 -129,000

Apr 1982

90,150,000 -284,000

May 1982

90,107,000 -43,000

Jun 1982

89,865,000 -242,000

Jul 1982

89,521,000 -344,000

Aug 1982

89,363,000 -158,000

Sep 1982

89,183,000 -180,000

Oct 1982

88,907,000 -276,000

Nov 1982

88,786,000 -121,000

Dec 1982

88,771,000 -15,000

Jan 1983

88,990,000 219,000

Feb 1983

88,917,000 -73,000

Mar 1983

89,090,000 173,000

Apr 1983

89,364,000 274,000

May 1983

89,644,000 280,000

Jun 1983

90,021,000 377,000

Jul 1983

90,437,000 416,000

Aug 1983

90,129,000 -308,000

Sep 1983

91,247,000 1,118,000

Oct 1983

91,520,000 273,000

Nov 1983

91,875,000 355,000

Dec 1983

92,230,000 355,000

Jan 1984

92,673,000 443,000

Feb 1984

93,157,000 484,000

Mar 1984

93,429,000 272,000

Apr 1984

93,792,000 363,000

May 1984

94,098,000 306,000

Jun 1984

94,479,000 381,000

Jul 1984

94,789,000 310,000

Aug 1984

95,032,000 243,000

Sep 1984

95,344,000 312,000

Oct 1984

95,629,000 285,000

Nov 1984

95,982,000 353,000

Dec 1984

96,107,000 125,000

Jan 1985

96,372,000 265,000

Feb 1985

96,503,000 131,000

Mar 1985

96,842,000 339,000

Apr 1985

97,038,000 196,000

May 1985

97,312,000 274,000

Jun 1985

97,459,000 147,000

Jul 1985

97,648,000 189,000

Aug 1985

97,840,000 192,000

Sep 1985

98,045,000 205,000

Oct 1985

98,233,000 188,000

Nov 1985

98,443,000 210,000

Dec 1985

98,609,000 166,000

Jan 1986

98,732,000 123,000

Feb 1986

98,847,000 115,000

Mar 1986

98,934,000 87,000

Apr 1986

99,121,000 187,000

May 1986

99,248,000 127,000

Jun 1986

99,155,000 -93,000

Jul 1986

99,473,000 318,000

Aug 1986

99,588,000 115,000

Sep 1986

99,934,000 346,000

Oct 1986

100,121,000 187,000

Nov 1986

100,308,000 187,000

Dec 1986

100,509,000 201,000

Jan 1987

100,678,000 169,000

Feb 1987

100,919,000 241,000

Mar 1987

101,164,000 245,000

Apr 1987

101,499,000 335,000

May 1987

101,728,000 229,000

Jun 1987

101,900,000 172,000

Jul 1987

102,247,000 347,000

Aug 1987

102,420,000 173,000

Sep 1987

102,647,000 227,000

Oct 1987

103,138,000 491,000

Nov 1987

103,372,000 234,000

Dec 1987

103,661,000 289,000

Jan 1988

103,753,000 92,000

Feb 1988

104,214,000 461,000

Mar 1988

104,489,000 275,000

Apr 1988

104,732,000 243,000

May 1988

104,962,000 230,000

Jun 1988

105,326,000 364,000

Jul 1988

105,550,000 224,000

Aug 1988

105,674,000 124,000

Sep 1988

106,013,000 339,000

Oct 1988

106,276,000 263,000

Nov 1988

106,617,000 341,000

Dec 1988

106,898,000 281,000

Jan 1989

107,161,000 263,000

Feb 1989

107,427,000 266,000

Mar 1989

107,621,000 194,000

Apr 1989

107,791,000 170,000

May 1989

107,913,000 122,000

Jun 1989

108,027,000 114,000

Jul 1989

108,069,000 42,000

Aug 1989

108,120,000 51,000

Sep 1989

108,369,000 249,000

Oct 1989

108,476,000 107,000

Nov 1989

108,752,000 276,000

Dec 1989

108,836,000 84,000

Jan 1990

109,199,000 363,000

Feb 1990

109,435,000 236,000

Mar 1990

109,644,000 209,000

Apr 1990

109,686,000 42,000

May 1990

109,839,000 153,000

Jun 1990

109,856,000 17,000

Jul 1990

109,824,000 -32,000

Aug 1990

109,616,000 -208,000

Sep 1990

109,518,000 -98,000

Oct 1990

109,367,000 -151,000

Nov 1990

109,214,000 -153,000

Dec 1990

109,166,000 -48,000

Jan 1991

109,055,000 -111,000

Feb 1991

108,734,000 -321,000

Mar 1991

108,574,000 -160,000

Apr 1991

108,364,000 -210,000

May 1991

108,249,000 -115,000

Jun 1991

108,334,000 85,000

Jul 1991

108,292,000 -42,000

Aug 1991

108,310,000 18,000

Sep 1991

108,336,000 26,000

Oct 1991

108,357,000 21,000

Nov 1991

108,296,000 -61,000

Dec 1991

108,328,000 32,000

Jan 1992

108,369,000 41,000

Feb 1992

108,311,000 -58,000

Mar 1992

108,365,000 54,000

Apr 1992

108,519,000 154,000

May 1992

108,649,000 130,000

Jun 1992

108,715,000 66,000

Jul 1992

108,793,000 78,000

Aug 1992

108,925,000 132,000

Sep 1992

108,959,000 34,000

Oct 1992

109,139,000 180,000

Nov 1992

109,272,000 133,000

Dec 1992

109,495,000 223,000

Jan 1993

109,794,000 299,000

Feb 1993

110,044,000 250,000

Mar 1993

109,994,000 -50,000

Apr 1993

110,296,000 302,000

May 1993

110,568,000 272,000

Jun 1993

110,749,000 181,000

Jul 1993

111,055,000 306,000

Aug 1993

111,206,000 151,000

Sep 1993

111,448,000 242,000

Oct 1993

111,733,000 285,000

Nov 1993

111,984,000 251,000

Dec 1993

112,314,000 330,000

Jan 1994

112,595,000 281,000

Feb 1994

112,781,000 186,000

Mar 1994

113,242,000 461,000

Apr 1994

113,586,000 344,000

May 1994

113,921,000 335,000

Jun 1994

114,238,000 317,000

Jul 1994

114,610,000 372,000

Aug 1994

114,896,000 286,000

Sep 1994

115,247,000 351,000

Oct 1994

115,458,000 211,000

Nov 1994

115,869,000 411,000

Dec 1994

116,165,000 296,000

Jan 1995

116,501,000 336,000

Feb 1995

116,697,000 196,000

Mar 1995

116,907,000 210,000

Apr 1995

117,069,000 162,000

May 1995

117,049,000 -20,000

Jun 1995

117,286,000 237,000

Jul 1995

117,380,000 94,000

Aug 1995

117,634,000 254,000

Sep 1995

117,875,000 241,000

Oct 1995

118,031,000 156,000

Nov 1995

118,175,000 144,000

Dec 1995

118,320,000 145,000

Jan 1996

118,316,000 -4,000

Feb 1996

118,739,000 423,000

Mar 1996

118,993,000 254,000

Apr 1996

119,158,000 165,000

May 1996

119,486,000 328,000

Jun 1996

119,769,000 283,000

Jul 1996

120,015,000 246,000

Aug 1996

120,199,000 184,000

Sep 1996

120,410,000 211,000

Oct 1996

120,665,000 255,000

Nov 1996

120,961,000 296,000

Dec 1996

121,143,000 182,000

Jan 1997

121,363,000 220,000

Feb 1997

121,675,000 312,000

Mar 1997

121,990,000 315,000

Apr 1997

122,286,000 296,000

May 1997

122,546,000 260,000

Jun 1997

122,814,000 268,000

Jul 1997

123,111,000 297,000

Aug 1997

123,093,000 -18,000

Sep 1997

123,585,000 492,000

Oct 1997

123,929,000 344,000

Nov 1997

124,235,000 306,000

Dec 1997

124,549,000 314,000

Jan 1998

124,812,000 263,000

Feb 1998

125,016,000 204,000

Mar 1998

125,164,000 148,000

Apr 1998

125,442,000 278,000

May 1998

125,844,000 402,000

Jun 1998

126,076,000 232,000

Jul 1998

126,205,000 129,000

Aug 1998

126,544,000 339,000

Sep 1998

126,752,000 208,000

Oct 1998

126,954,000 202,000

Nov 1998

127,231,000 277,000

Dec 1998

127,596,000 365,000

Jan 1999

127,702,000 106,000

Feb 1999

128,120,000 418,000

Mar 1999

128,227,000 107,000

Apr 1999

128,597,000 370,000

May 1999

128,808,000 211,000

Jun 1999

129,089,000 281,000

Jul 1999

129,414,000 325,000

Aug 1999

129,569,000 155,000

Sep 1999

129,772,000 203,000

Oct 1999

130,177,000 405,000

Nov 1999

130,466,000 289,000

Dec 1999

130,772,000 306,000

Jan 2000

131,005,000 233,000

Feb 2000

131,124,000 119,000

Mar 2000

131,596,000 472,000

Apr 2000

131,888,000 292,000

May 2000

132,105,000 217,000

Jun 2000

132,061,000 -44,000

Jul 2000

132,236,000 175,000

Aug 2000

132,230,000 -6,000

Sep 2000

132,353,000 123,000

Oct 2000

132,351,000 -2,000

Nov 2000

132,556,000 205,000

Dec 2000

132,709,000 153,000

Jan 2001

132,698,000 -11,000

Feb 2001

132,789,000 91,000

Mar 2001

132,747,000 -42,000

Apr 2001

132,463,000 -284,000

May 2001

132,410,000 -53,000

Jun 2001

132,299,000 -111,000

Jul 2001

132,177,000 -122,000

Aug 2001

132,028,000 -149,000

Sep 2001

131,771,000 -257,000

Oct 2001

131,454,000 -317,000

Nov 2001

131,142,000 -312,000

Dec 2001

130,982,000 -160,000

Jan 2002

130,852,000 -130,000

Feb 2002

130,736,000 -116,000

Mar 2002

130,717,000 -19,000

Apr 2002

130,623,000 -94,000

May 2002

130,634,000 11,000

Jun 2002

130,684,000 50,000

Jul 2002

130,590,000 -94,000

Aug 2002

130,587,000 -3,000

Sep 2002

130,501,000 -86,000

Oct 2002

130,628,000 127,000

Nov 2002

130,615,000 -13,000

Dec 2002

130,472,000 -143,000

Jan 2003

130,580,000 108,000

Feb 2003

130,444,000 -136,000

Mar 2003

130,232,000 -212,000

Apr 2003

130,177,000 -55,000

May 2003

130,196,000 19,000

Jun 2003

130,194,000 -2,000

Jul 2003

130,191,000 -3,000

Aug 2003

130,149,000 -42,000

Sep 2003

130,254,000 105,000

Oct 2003

130,454,000 200,000

Nov 2003

130,474,000 20,000

Dec 2003

130,588,000 114,000

Jan 2004

130,769,000 181,000

Feb 2004

130,825,000 56,000

Mar 2004

131,142,000 317,000

Apr 2004

131,411,000 269,000

May 2004

131,694,000 283,000

Jun 2004

131,793,000 99,000

Jul 2004

131,848,000 55,000

Aug 2004

131,937,000 89,000

Sep 2004

132,093,000 156,000

Oct 2004

132,447,000 354,000

Nov 2004

132,503,000 56,000

Dec 2004

132,624,000 121,000

Jan 2005

132,774,000 150,000

Feb 2005

133,032,000 258,000

Mar 2005

133,156,000 124,000

Apr 2005

133,518,000 362,000

May 2005

133,690,000 172,000

Jun 2005

133,942,000 252,000

Jul 2005

134,296,000 354,000

Aug 2005

134,498,000 202,000

Sep 2005

134,566,000 68,000

Oct 2005

134,655,000 89,000

Nov 2005

134,993,000 338,000

Dec 2005

135,149,000 156,000

Jan 2006

135,429,000 280,000

Feb 2006

135,737,000 308,000

Mar 2006

136,047,000 310,000

Apr 2006

136,205,000 158,000

May 2006

136,244,000 39,000

Jun 2006

136,325,000 81,000

Jul 2006

136,520,000 195,000

Aug 2006

136,694,000 174,000

Sep 2006

136,843,000 149,000

Oct 2006

136,852,000 9,000

Nov 2006

137,063,000 211,000

Dec 2006

137,249,000 186,000

Jan 2007

137,477,000 228,000

Feb 2007

137,558,000 81,000

Mar 2007

137,793,000 235,000

Apr 2007

137,842,000 49,000

May 2007

137,993,000 151,000

Jun 2007

138,069,000 76,000

Jul 2007

138,038,000 -31,000

Aug 2007

138,015,000 -23,000

Sep 2007

138,095,000 80,000

Oct 2007

138,174,000 79,000

Nov 2007

138,284,000 110,000

Dec 2007

138,392,000 108,000

Jan 2008

138,403,000 11,000

Feb 2008

138,324,000 -79,000

Mar 2008

138,275,000 -49,000

Apr 2008

138,035,000 -240,000

May 2008

137,858,000 -177,000

Jun 2008

137,687,000 -171,000

Jul 2008

137,491,000 -196,000

Aug 2008

137,213,000 -278,000

Sep 2008

136,753,000 -460,000

Oct 2008

136,272,000 -481,000

Nov 2008

135,545,000 -727,000

Dec 2008

134,839,000 -706,000

Jan 2009

134,055,000 -784,000

Feb 2009

133,312,000 -743,000

Mar 2009

132,512,000 -800,000

Apr 2009

131,817,000 -695,000

May 2009

131,475,000 -342,000

Jun 2009

131,008,000 -467,000

Jul 2009

130,668,000 -340,000

Aug 2009

130,485,000 -183,000

Sep 2009

130,244,000 -241,000

Oct 2009

130,045,000 -199,000

Nov 2009

130,057,000 12,000

Dec 2009

129,788,000 -269,000

Jan 2010

129,790,000 2,000

Feb 2010

129,698,000 -92,000

Mar 2010

129,879,000 181,000

Apr 2010

130,110,000 231,000

May 2010

130,650,000 540,000

Jun 2010

130,511,000 -139,000

Jul 2010

130,427,000 -84,000

Aug 2010

130,422,000 -5,000

Sep 2010

130,357,000 -65,000

Oct 2010

130,625,000 268,000

Nov 2010

130,750,000 125,000

Dec 2010

130,822,000 72,000

Jan 2011

130,841,000 19,000

Feb 2011

131,053,000 212,000

Mar 2011

131,288,000 235,000

Apr 2011

131,602,000 314,000

May 2011

131,703,000 101,000

Jun 2011

131,939,000 236,000

Jul 2011

131,999,000 60,000

Aug 2011

132,125,000 126,000

Sep 2011

132,358,000 233,000

Oct 2011

132,562,000 204,000

Nov 2011

132,694,000 132,000

Dec 2011

132,896,000 202,000

Jan 2012

133,250,000 354,000

Feb 2012

133,512,000 262,000

Mar 2012

133,752,000 240,000

Apr 2012

133,834,000 82,000

May 2012

133,934,000 100,000

Jun 2012

134,007,000 73,000

Jul 2012

134,159,000 152,000

Aug 2012

134,331,000 172,000

Sep 2012

134,518,000 187,000

Oct 2012

134,677,000 159,000

Nov 2012

134,833,000 156,000

Dec 2012

135,072,000 239,000

Jan 2013

135,263,000 191,000

Feb 2013

135,541,000 278,000

Mar 2013

135,680,000 139,000

Apr 2013

135,871,000 191,000

May 2013

136,093,000 222,000

Jun 2013

136,274,000 181,000

Jul 2013

136,386,000 112,000

Aug 2013

136,628,000 242,000

Sep 2013

136,815,000 187,000

Oct 2013

137,040,000 225,000

Nov 2013

137,304,000 264,000

Dec 2013

137,373,000 69,000

Jan 2014

137,548,000 175,000

Feb 2014

137,714,000 166,000

Mar 2014

137,968,000 254,000

Apr 2014

138,293,000 325,000

May 2014

138,511,000 218,000

Jun 2014

138,837,000 326,000

Jul 2014

139,069,000 232,000

Aug 2014

139,257,000 188,000

Sep 2014

139,566,000 309,000

Oct 2014

139,818,000 252,000

Nov 2014

140,109,000 291,000

Dec 2014

140,377,000 268,000

Jan 2015

140,568,000 191,000

Feb 2015

140,839,000 271,000

Mar 2015

140,910,000 71,000

Apr 2015

141,194,000 284,000

May 2015

141,525,000 331,000

Jun 2015

141,699,000 174,000

Jul 2015

142,001,000 302,000

Aug 2015

142,126,000 125,000

Sep 2015

142,281,000 155,000

Oct 2015

142,587,000 306,000

Nov 2015

142,824,000 237,000

Dec 2015

143,097,000 273,000

Jan 2016

143,170,000 73,000

Feb 2016

143,433,000 263,000

Mar 2016

143,662,000 229,000

Apr 2016

143,849,000 187,000

May 2016

143,891,000 42,000

Jun 2016

144,158,000 267,000

Jul 2016

144,512,000 354,000

Aug 2016

144,647,000 135,000

Sep 2016

144,916,000 269,000

Oct 2016

145,061,000 145,000

Nov 2016

145,212,000 151,000

Dec 2016

145,442,000 230,000

Jan 2017

145,627,000 185,000

Feb 2017

145,815,000 188,000

Mar 2017

145,944,000 129,000

Apr 2017

146,141,000 197,000

May 2017

146,296,000 155,000

Jun 2017

146,512,000 216,000

Jul 2017

146,727,000 215,000

Aug 2017

146,911,000 184,000

Sep 2017

146,929,000 18,000

Oct 2017

147,196,000 267,000

Nov 2017

147,421,000 225,000

Dec 2017

147,551,000 130,000

Jan 2018

147,672,000 121,000

Feb 2018

148,078,000 406,000

Mar 2018

148,254,000 176,000

Apr 2018

148,391,000 137,000

May 2018

148,669,000 278,000

Jun 2018

148,888,000 219,000

Jul 2018

149,024,000 136,000

Aug 2018

149,268,000 244,000

Sep 2018

149,348,000 80,000

Oct 2018

149,549,000 201,000

Nov 2018

149,683,000 134,000

Dec 2018

149,865,000 182,000

Jan 2019

150,134,000 269,000

Feb 2019

150,135,000 1,000

Mar 2019

150,282,000 147,000

Apr 2019

150,492,000 210,000

May 2019

150,577,000 85,000

Jun 2019

150,759,000 182,000

Jul 2019

150,953,000 194,000

Aug 2019

151,160,000 207,000

Sep 2019

151,368,000 208,000

Oct 2019

151,553,000 185,000

Nov 2019

151,814,000 261,000

Dec 2019

151,998,000 184,000

Jan 2020

152,212,000 214,000

Feb 2020

152,463,000 251,000

Mar 2020

151,090,000 -1,373,000

Apr 2020

130,403,000 -20,687,000

May 2020

132,912,000 2,509,000

Note: Data for the most recent two months are preliminary.

Large employment increases occurred in May in leisure and hospitality, construction, education and health services, and retail trade. Government employment continued to decline sharply.

Employment change by industry, May 2020, seasonally adjusted
Industry Over-the-month change in employment

Mining and logging

-20,000

Logging

400

Mining

-19,900

Oil and gas extraction

-6,900

Mining, except oil and gas

2,700

Coal mining

5,000

Metal ore mining

-1,800

Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying

-500

Support activities for mining

-15,700

Construction

464,000

Construction of buildings

104,900

Residential building

65,600

Nonresidential building

39,300

Heavy and civil engineering construction

33,700

Specialty trade contractors

325,300

Residential specialty trade contractors

160,400

Nonresidential specialty trade contractors

164,900

Manufacturing

225,000

Durable goods

119,000

Wood products

3,000

Nonmetallic mineral products

20,400

Primary metals

-9,400

Fabricated metal products

24,800

Machinery

22,600

Computer and electronic products

-5,000

Computer and peripheral equipment

100

Communications equipment

-1,900

Semiconductors and electronic components

-3,400

Electronic instruments

0

Miscellaneous computer and electronic products

200

Electrical equipment and appliances

-15,300

Transportation equipment

26,000

Motor vehicles and parts

27,700

Furniture and related products

20,900

Miscellaneous durable goods manufacturing

31,000

Nondurable goods

106,000

Food manufacturing

24,900

Textile mills

2,900

Textile product mills

11,700

Apparel

12,800

Paper and paper products

-100

Printing and related support activities

16,400

Petroleum and coal products

-1,100

Chemicals

2,400

Plastics and rubber products

29,800

Miscellaneous nondurable goods manufacturing

6,400

Wholesale trade

21,400

Durable goods

4,100

Nondurable goods

12,600

Electronic markets and agents and brokers

4,700

Retail trade

367,800

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

57,800

Automobile dealers

84,700

Other motor vehicle dealers

8,900

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores

-35,800

Furniture and home furnishings stores

40,400

Electronics and appliance stores

-94,700

Building material and garden supply stores

55,800

Food and beverage stores

43,500

Health and personal care stores

-21,600

Gasoline stations

-3,500

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

94,800

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

36,200

General merchandise stores

84,000

Department stores

47,100

General merchandise stores, including warehouse clubs and supercenters

36,900

Miscellaneous store retailers

54,500

Nonstore retailers

20,600

Transportation and warehousing

-19,000

Air transportation

-50,300

Rail transportation

-2,100

Water transportation

-2,200

Truck transportation

-1,200

Transit and ground passenger transportation

10,100

Pipeline transportation

600

Scenic and sightseeing transportation

4,200

Support activities for transportation

1,300

Couriers and messengers

12,100

Warehousing and storage

8,500

Utilities

-2,300

Information

-38,000

Publishing industries, except Internet

-4,700

Motion picture and sound recording industries

-10,700

Broadcasting, except Internet

-5,900

Telecommunications

-7,800

Data processing, hosting and related services

-3,600

Other information services

-4,700

Financial activities

33,000

Finance and insurance

8,400

Monetary authorities - central bank

0

Credit intermediation and related activities

7,300

Depository credit intermediation

1,100

Commercial banking

1,200

Nondepository credit intermediation

600

Activities related to credit intermediation

5,600

Securities, commodity contracts, investments, and funds and trusts

800

Insurance carriers and related activities

300

Real estate and rental and leasing

24,100

Real estate

3,400

Rental and leasing services

20,800

Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets

-100

Professional and business services

127,000

Professional and technical services

39,800

Legal services

3,200

Accounting and bookkeeping services

13,200

Architectural and engineering services

6,900

Specialized design services

-200

Computer systems design and related services

-12,700

Management and technical consulting services

7,000

Scientific research and development services

3,200

Advertising and related services

-1,500

Other professional and technical services

20,700

Management of companies and enterprises

-21,800

Administrative and waste services

109,300

Administrative and support services

108,700

Office administrative services

1,200

Facilities support services

-2,300

Employment services

41,300

Temporary help services

39,100

Business support services

900

Travel arrangement and reservation services

-5,400

Investigation and security services

-4,500

Services to buildings and dwellings

68,400

Other support services

9,100

Waste management and remediation services

600

Education and health services

424,000

Educational services

33,400

Health care

312,400

Ambulatory health care services

375,700

Offices of physicians

51,300

Offices of dentists

244,800

Offices of other health practitioners

73,100

Outpatient care centers

10,800

Medical and diagnostic laboratories

400

Home health care services

-3,000

Other ambulatory health care services

-1,700

Hospitals

-26,700

Nursing and residential care facilities

-36,600

Nursing care facilities

-18,000

Residential mental health facilities

-10,800

Community care facilities for the elderly

-8,300

Other residential care facilities

500

Social assistance

78,300

Individual and family services

29,400

Emergency and other relief services

2,200

Vocational rehabilitation services

2,300

Child day care services

44,400

Leisure and hospitality

1,239,000

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

17,500

Performing arts and spectator sports

-4,800

Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions

-4,100

Amusements, gambling, and recreation

26,400

Accommodation and food services

1,222,400

Accommodation

-148,200

Food services and drinking places

1,370,600

Other services

272,000

Repair and maintenance

77,200

Personal and laundry services

182,300

Membership associations and organizations

12,700

Government

-585,000

Federal

-14,000

Federal, except U.S. Postal Service

-15,300

U.S. Postal Service

800

State government

-84,000

State government education

-63,300

State government, excluding education

-20,700

Local government

-487,000

Local government education

-309,900

Local government, excluding education

-176,900

Employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 1.2 million in May, following losses of 7.5 million in April and 743,000 in March. Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 1.4 million in May, accounting for about half of the gain in total nonfarm employment. May's gain in food services and drinking places followed steep declines in April and March (−6.1 million combined). In contrast, employment in the accommodation industry fell in May (−148,000) and has declined by 1.1 million since February.

Construction employment increased by 464,000 in May, gaining back almost half of April's decline (−995,000). Much of the gain occurred in specialty trade contractors (+325,000), with growth about equally split between the residential and nonresidential components. Job gains also occurred in construction of buildings (+105,000), largely in residential building.

Employment increased by 424,000 in education and health services in May, after a decrease of 2.6 million in April. Health care employment increased by 312,000 over the month, with gains in offices of dentists (+245,000), offices of other health practitioners (+73,000), and offices of physicians (+51,000). Elsewhere in health care, job losses continued in nursing and residential care facilities (−37,000) and hospitals (−27,000). Employment increased in the social assistance industry (+78,000), reflecting increases in child day care services (+44,000) and individual and family services (+29,000). Employment in private education rose by 33,000 over the month.

Employment in retail trade rose by 368,000 in May, after a loss of 2.3 million in April. Over-the-month job gains occurred in clothing and clothing accessories stores (+95,000), automobile dealers (+85,000), and general merchandise stores (+84,000). By contrast, job losses continued in electronics and appliance stores (−95,000) and in auto parts, accessories, and tire stores (−36,000).

Employment continued to decline in government (−585,000) in May, following a drop of 963,000 in April. Employment in local government was down by 487,000 in May. Local government education accounted for almost two-thirds of the decrease (−310,000), reflecting school closures. Employment also continued to decline in state government (−84,000), particularly in state education (−63,000).

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program. Data for the most recent 2 months are preliminary. To learn more, see "The Employment Situation — May 2020" and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the May data. Also see more charts on employment, hours, and earnings data.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Employment up 2.5 million in May 2020 but still down 19.6 million since February at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/employment-up-2-point-5-million-in-may-2020-but-still-down-19-point-6-million-since-february.htm (visited March 29, 2024).

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