Total nonfarm employment for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, metropolitan area increased by 119,700 over the year in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart 1 and table 1.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Bovee noted that the local rate of job growth, 4.4 percent, was similar to the 4.4-percent national increase. (All data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year analysis is used throughout.)

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, is made up of four metropolitan divisions—separately identifiable employment centers within the greater metropolitan area. Employment increased over the year in all four divisions. Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA, with 37 percent of the area’s total nonfarm employment, gained 45,000 jobs over the year. Philadelphia, PA, which accounted for 32 percent of the area’s employment, gained 27,200 jobs since August 2020. Camden, NJ, with 19 percent of local employment, added 31,600 jobs, and Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ, with 13 percent of the area’s employment, gained 15,900 jobs.

Industry employment

In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, leisure and hospitality had the largest job gain (41,500), with all four divisions recording increases. (See chart 2.) The 21.4-percent advance in the metropolitan area’s leisure and hospitality supersector compared to the 17.5-percent increase on a national level.

The professional and business services supersector added 22,700 jobs over the year in the metropolitan area. All four divisions gained jobs over the year. The metropolitan area had a 5.1-percent gain compared to the 5.6-percent increase for the nation.

Three other local supersectors had significant job gains over the year: trade, transportation, and utilities (+20,600), education and health services (+18,000), and information (+3,600).

Twelve largest metropolitan areas

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, was 1 of the nation’s 12 largest metropolitan statistical areas in August 2021. All 12 areas gained jobs over the year. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, had the largest increase (+463,600). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, had the smallest gain (+101,700) among the largest areas. (See table 2 and chart 3.)

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, had a 7.2-percent rate of job gain, followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ (+6.5 percent). The rates of job gains in the remaining 10 areas ranged from 5.9 percent in Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH, to 2.7 percent in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI.

The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment release for September 2021 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Technical Note

Special technical note: This technical note describes the procedures regularly used on a monthly basis to develop estimates from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the procedures described in this technical note have been modified. The modifications are briefly described in the box note of this news release. More information on the changes to the CES business birth-death model is available at www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesbd.htm.

This release presents nonfarm payroll employment estimates from the CES program. The CES survey is a Federal-State cooperative endeavor between State employment security agencies and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Definitions. Employment data refer to persons on establishment payrolls who receive pay for any part of the pay period which includes the 12th of the month. Persons are counted at their place of work rather than at their place of residence; those appearing on more than one payroll are counted on each payroll. Industries are classified on the basis of their principal activity in accordance with the 2017 version of the North American Industry Classification System.

Method of estimation. CES State and Area employment data are produced using several estimation procedures. Where possible these data are produced using a "weighted link relative" estimation technique in which a ratio of current-month weighted employment to that of the previous-month weighted employment is computed from a sample of establishments reporting for both months. The estimates of employment for the current month are then obtained by multiplying these ratios by the previous month's employment estimates. The weighted link relative technique is utilized for data series where the sample size meets certain statistical criteria.

For some employment series, the sample of establishments is very small or highly variable. In these cases, a model-based approach is used in estimation. These models use the direct sample estimates (described above), combined with forecasts of historical (benchmarked) data to decrease volatility in estimation. Two different models (Fay-Herriot Model and Small Domain Model) are used depending on the industry level being estimated. For more detailed information about each model, refer to the BLS Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/ces-20110307.pdf.

Annual revisions. Employment estimates are adjusted annually to a complete count of jobs, called benchmarks, derived principally from tax reports which are submitted by employers who are covered under state unemployment insurance (UI) laws. The benchmark information is used to adjust the monthly estimates between the new benchmark and the preceding one and also to establish the level of employment for the new benchmark month. Thus, the benchmarking process establishes the level of employment, and the sample is used to measure the month-to-month changes in the level for the subsequent months.

Reliability of the estimates. The estimates presented in this release are based on sample surveys, administrative data, and modeling and, thus, are subject to sampling and other types of errors. Sampling error is a measure of sampling variability—that is, variation that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed. Survey data also are subject to nonsampling errors, such as those which can be introduced into the data collection and processing operations. Estimates not directly derived from sample surveys are subject to additional errors resulting from the specific estimation processes used. The sums of individual items may not always equal the totals shown in the same tables because of rounding.

Employment estimates. Changes in metropolitan area nonfarm payroll employment are cited in the analysis of this release only if they have been determined to be statistically significant at the 90-percent confidence level. Measures of sampling error for the total nonfarm employment series are available for metropolitan areas and metropolitan divisions at www.bls.gov/web/laus/790stderr.htm. Measures of sampling error for more detailed series at the area and division level are available upon request.

Measures of sampling error for states at the supersector level and for the private service-providing, goods-producing, total private and total nonfarm levels are available on the BLS website at https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/790stderr.htm. Information on recent benchmark revisions is available online at https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/benchmark.htm.

Area definitions. The substate area data published in this news release reflect the delineations issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on April 10, 2018. The 12 metropolitan areas discussed in this release are the metropolitan areas with the largest population according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties in New Jersey; New Castle County in Delaware; and Cecil County in Maryland.

• The Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division includes Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey.

• The Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division includes Delaware and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania.

• The Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA Metropolitan Division includes Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania.

• The Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division includes New Castle County in Delaware; Cecil County in Maryland; and Salem County in New Jersey.

Additional information

Employment data from the CES program are available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/sae/.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, Philadelphia metropolitan area and its components, not seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)

Area	Back data	Aug 2020	Jun 2021	Jul 2021	Aug 2021	Aug 2020 to Aug 2021
						Net change	Percent change
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area
Total nonfarm		2,709.2	2,843.2	2,828.2	(p)2,828.9	(p)119.7	(p)4.4
Mining, logging, and construction		118.0	119.7	120.7	(p)122.0	(p)4.0	(p)3.4
Manufacturing		173.7	175.2	176.7	(p)176.2	(p)2.5	(p)1.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities		493.9	517.2	516.0	(p)514.5	(p)20.6	(p)4.2
Information		49.7	52.2	53.1	(p)53.3	(p)3.6	(p)7.2
Financial activities		216.0	217.8	218.8	(p)219.4	(p)3.4	(p)1.6
Professional and business services		442.1	463.8	464.4	(p)464.8	(p)22.7	(p)5.1
Education and health services		612.0	636.1	630.2	(p)630.0	(p)18.0	(p)2.9
Leisure and hospitality		193.5	230.4	237.0	(p)235.0	(p)41.5	(p)21.4
Other services		102.0	107.5	107.5	(p)107.1	(p)5.1	(p)5.0
Government		308.3	323.3	303.8	(p)306.6	(p)-1.7	(p)-0.6
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		868.6	902.1	895.2	(p)895.8	(p)27.2	(p)3.1
Mining, logging, and construction		23.1	22.7	23.0	(p)23.2	(p)0.1	(p)0.4
Manufacturing		30.8	31.2	31.4	(p)31.2	(p)0.4	(p)1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities		123.3	125.9	125.3	(p)124.6	(p)1.3	(p)1.1
Information		17.1	18.2	18.4	(p)18.5	(p)1.4	(p)8.2
Financial activities		57.6	57.5	58.0	(p)57.9	(p)0.3	(p)0.5
Professional and business services		127.1	133.9	133.1	(p)133.3	(p)6.2	(p)4.9
Education and health services		274.8	280.9	279.4	(p)277.9	(p)3.1	(p)1.1
Leisure and hospitality		57.6	70.3	70.9	(p)70.6	(p)13.0	(p)22.6
Other services		32.9	34.7	34.6	(p)34.6	(p)1.7	(p)5.2
Government		124.3	126.8	121.1	(p)124.0	(p)-0.3	(p)-0.2
Philadelphia City, PA
Total nonfarm		652.6	674.2	669.4	(p)671.7	(p)19.1	(p)2.9
Mining, logging, and construction		11.2	11.0	11.2	(p)11.4	(p)0.2	(p)1.8
Manufacturing		17.2	17.0	17.1	(p)17.0	(p)-0.2	(p)-1.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities		83.4	84.2	84.2	(p)83.9	(p)0.5	(p)0.6
Information		15.1	16.1	16.3	(p)16.4	(p)1.3	(p)8.6
Financial activities		41.3	41.8	41.8	(p)41.7	(p)0.4	(p)1.0
Professional and business services		95.6	99.9	99.0	(p)99.5	(p)3.9	(p)4.1
Education and health services		221.7	225.0	223.8	(p)222.5	(p)0.8	(p)0.4
Leisure and hospitality		40.4	50.5	51.0	(p)51.0	(p)10.6	(p)26.2
Other services		23.5	24.9	24.8	(p)24.8	(p)1.3	(p)5.5
Government		103.2	103.8	100.2	(p)103.5	(p)0.3	(p)0.3
Delaware County, PA
Total nonfarm		216.0	227.9	225.8	(p)224.1	(p)8.1	(p)3.8
Mining, logging, and construction		11.9	11.7	11.8	(p)11.8	(p)-0.1	(p)-0.8
Manufacturing		13.6	14.2	14.3	(p)14.2	(p)0.6	(p)4.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities		39.9	41.7	41.1	(p)40.7	(p)0.8	(p)2.0
Information		2.0	2.1	2.1	(p)2.1	(p)0.1	(p)5.0
Financial activities		16.3	15.7	16.2	(p)16.2	(p)-0.1	(p)-0.6
Professional and business services		31.5	34.0	34.1	(p)33.8	(p)2.3	(p)7.3
Education and health services		53.1	55.9	55.6	(p)55.4	(p)2.3	(p)4.3
Leisure and hospitality		17.2	19.8	19.9	(p)19.6	(p)2.4	(p)14.0
Other services		9.4	9.8	9.8	(p)9.8	(p)0.4	(p)4.3
Government		21.1	23.0	20.9	(p)20.5	(p)-0.6	(p)-2.8
Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		1,002.7	1,057.9	1,049.2	(p)1,047.7	(p)45.0	(p)4.5
Mining, logging, and construction		54.8	57.3	56.6	(p)56.8	(p)2.0	(p)3.6
Manufacturing		87.3	88.3	89.1	(p)88.6	(p)1.3	(p)1.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities		185.1	197.1	193.5	(p)192.9	(p)7.8	(p)4.2
Information		23.5	25.2	25.6	(p)25.8	(p)2.3	(p)9.8
Financial activities		85.8	88.3	88.4	(p)88.7	(p)2.9	(p)3.4
Professional and business services		194.5	202.8	202.7	(p)203.2	(p)8.7	(p)4.5
Education and health services		186.4	195.8	193.0	(p)193.3	(p)6.9	(p)3.7
Leisure and hospitality		71.8	81.3	85.2	(p)83.4	(p)11.6	(p)16.2
Other services		40.4	42.8	43.2	(p)43.0	(p)2.6	(p)6.4
Government		73.1	79.0	71.9	(p)72.0	(p)-1.1	(p)-1.5
Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		496.9	528.8	526.1	(p)528.5	(p)31.6	(p)6.4
Mining, logging, and construction		23.3	22.3	23.4	(p)24.3	(p)1.0	(p)4.3
Manufacturing		37.9	37.6	38.1	(p)38.2	(p)0.3	(p)0.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities		121.9	126.5	129.5	(p)129.4	(p)7.5	(p)6.2
Information		6.3	6.0	6.1	(p)6.1	(p)-0.2	(p)-3.2
Financial activities		29.1	29.3	29.3	(p)29.4	(p)0.3	(p)1.0
Professional and business services		70.1	75.9	77.2	(p)76.8	(p)6.7	(p)9.6
Education and health services		90.8	98.9	96.3	(p)97.8	(p)7.0	(p)7.7
Leisure and hospitality		36.0	44.3	44.8	(p)45.2	(p)9.2	(p)25.6
Other services		15.9	16.9	16.5	(p)16.3	(p)0.4	(p)2.5
Government		65.6	71.1	64.9	(p)65.0	(p)-0.6	(p)-0.9
Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		341.0	354.4	357.7	(p)356.9	(p)15.9	(p)4.7
Mining, logging, and construction		16.8	17.4	17.7	(p)17.7	(p)0.9	(p)5.4
Manufacturing		17.7	18.1	18.1	(p)18.2	(p)0.5	(p)2.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities		63.6	67.7	67.7	(p)67.6	(p)4.0	(p)6.3
Information		2.8	2.8	3.0	(p)2.9	(p)0.1	(p)3.6
Financial activities		43.5	42.7	43.1	(p)43.4	(p)-0.1	(p)-0.2
Professional and business services		50.4	51.2	51.4	(p)51.5	(p)1.1	(p)2.2
Education and health services		60.0	60.5	61.5	(p)61.0	(p)1.0	(p)1.7
Leisure and hospitality		28.1	34.5	36.1	(p)35.8	(p)7.7	(p)27.4
Other services		12.8	13.1	13.2	(p)13.2	(p)0.4	(p)3.1
Government		45.3	46.4	45.9	(p)45.6	(p)0.3	(p)0.7
Footnotes (p) Preliminary
SOURCE: Current Employment Statistics - National - State and Metropolitan Area Return to Mid-Atlantic Information Office Homepage