Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

November 2005

Bureau of Labor Statistics

December 2, 2005

Bureau of Labor Statistics
2

86

-122

-218

-54

-26

27

3 2

94

123

96 83

117

94

320337

250

106

83

188

130

282

132

155

124

300

122

292

126

175

277

148

17

44

215

-300

-200

-100

0

100

200

300

400

Jan-03Feb-03

Mar-03

Apr-03

May-03

Jun-03

Jul-03

Aug-03

Sep-03

Oct-03

Nov-03

Dec-03Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 2, 2005.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, 2003-05

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Following essentially flat months in September (+17,000) and October (+44,000), 

total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 215,000 jobs to 134.3 million in 

November. This growth was above the 196,000 per month average gain during 

the first 8 months of the year. Since the most recent employment trough in May 

2003, 4.5 million jobs have been added. 

• Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls ticked down 0.1 hour in November to 33.7 hours, seasonally 

adjusted. Since la te 2002, the average workweek has been flat, fluctuating 

between 33.6 and 33.8 hours.

• Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents in November to $16.32, seasonally adjusted. 

This change follows an unusually large increase of 10 cents in October. 
3

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Over-the-month change, November 2005 

2

37

11

12

9

8

1

3

13

29

36

29

5

21

0 10 20 30 40 50

Natural resources and mining

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation and warehousing

Utilities

Information

Financial activities

Professional and business services

Education and health services

Leisure and hospitality

Other services

Government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 2, 2005.

Note: Data are preliminary. 

Total nonfarm: 

+215

• Job growth was widespread over the month.

• Construction, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and 

professional and business services experienced the largest employment increases 

in November. 
4

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

1990-2005

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 2, 2005.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

November 2005

Level: 103.2

Change: -0.1

Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production or nonsupervisory workers.

Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls

1990-2005

55

70

85

100

115

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05

55

70

85

100

115

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 2, 2005.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

November 2005

Level: 112.7

Change: +0.1

Aggregate weekly payrolls are the product of average hourly earn ings, average weekly hours, and production or nonsupervisory workers.

• The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls ticked down 0.1 percent to 103.2 in November. Since its 

most recent trough in May 2003, the index has increased by 5.1 percent, but has 

yet to regain the level of its most recent peak (103.9) in October 2000.

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of production or nonsupervisory workers 

on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 percent to 112.7 in November. This 

modest growth follows the unusually large 0.7 percent increase seen in October.
5

Employment in construction

1990-2005

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, December 2, 2005.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

November 2005

Level: 7,356

Change: +37

• In November, employment in construction increased by 37,000 jobs to 7.4 

million. Since reaching a trough in March 2003, employment in this industry has 

increased by nearly 700,000—besting its most recent employment peak by 

approximately 500,000.

• Heavy and civil engineering construction surpassed its prior 12-month average 

change by nearly 10,000 in November, adding 14,000 jobs. This industry is likely 

seeing growth due, in part, to the rebuilding and repair of utility, road, and other 

major infrastructure in the areas damaged by recent hurricanes.

• Specialty trade contractors employment grew by 17,000 jobs in November.
6

-57

-74

-54

-111

-60-61

-84

-37

-25 -20-13-18-14

-2

10

32

24

-3 -3

25

-14 -8 -7 -3

-27

14

-6

-15

1

-25

-6 -10-16

15 11

-180

-140

-100

-60

-20

20

60

100

Jan-03Feb-03

Mar-03

Apr-03

May-03

Jun-03

Jul-03

Aug-03

Sep-03

Oct-03

Nov-03

Dec-03Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 2, 2005.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, 2003-05

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• For the first time in more than one year, employment in manufacturing increased 

for a second consecutive month—adding 11,000 jobs in November. The October 

gain, however, was largely due to the return of 18,000 workers who had been on 

strike. Over the last 12 months, manufacturing has lost 67,000 jobs.

• Gains in November were concentrated in durable goods industries, which added 

9,000 jobs. Noteworthy increases occurred in wood products and computer and 

electronic products. 

• The factory workweek decreased by 0.2 hour to 40.8 hours. Manufacturing 

overtime decreased by 0.1 hour to 4.5 hours. Manufacturing overtime has been 

between 4.4 and 4.6 hours since November 2003.
7

Employment in selected professional and business services 

Over-the-month change, November 2005

3.7

6.1

5.0

5.7

-3.9

11.2

4.8

-3.6

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Accounting and

bookkeeping services

Architectural and

engineering services

Computer systems design

and related services

Management and technical

consulting services

Management of companies

and enterprises

Employment services

Services to buildings and

dwellings

Waste management and

remediation services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, December 2, 2005.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Professional and

Business services:+29

• Professional and business services added 29,000 jobs in November, falling short 

of its 36,000 prior 12-month trend of 36,000. Over-the-month job growth 

followed a tepid October in which only 6,000 jobs were gained. Since reaching 

an employment trough in December 2002, this industry has added 1.2 million 

jobs.

• Job gains continued in architectural and engineering services, computer and 

systems design, and management and consulting services.

• Employment services added 11,200 jobs in November following an unusual 

decline of 5,300 jobs in October. Combined, these 2 months’ average job gain of 

3,000 is well-below the industry’s trend per month of 20,000 between September 

2004 and September 2005. 

• Temporary help services showed weakness for the second consecutive month by 

adding only 5,000 jobs in November—4,000 below its prior 12-month trend 

(+9,000).
8

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, November 2005

14.6

5.9

1.3

0.4

3.5

1.6

0 4 8 12 16

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 2, 2005.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Health care:

+19.7

Ambulatory health 

care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities

• Health care experienced continued growth in November—adding 20,000 jobs. 

Since November 2004, the industry has added 263,000 jobs, with the majority of 

this growth centered in ambulatory health care services. 

• As is typical, ambulatory health care services saw the largest increase in 

November with approximately 15,000 jobs being added. This industry has not 

seen a month of job loss since January 1999. In the period since, nearly 1 million 

jobs have been added.
9

68

-47

-24-21

-2

37 39

25 22

47

39

31 29

16

45

31 31

12 11 11 14

24 25

18

22

39

12

61

13

29

36

29

-68

-14

29

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-03Feb-03

Mar-03

Apr-03

May-03

Jun-03

Jul-03

Aug-03

Sep-03

Oct-03

Nov-03

Dec-03Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 2, 2005.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Over-the-month change, 2003-05

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Following 2 consecutive months of job loss in September and October, 

employment in leisure and hospitality rebounded slightly by adding 29,000 jobs in 

November, likely aided by falling fuel costs and improving consumer sentiment. 

This gain was 12,000 above the prior 12-month average change, but still left the 

industry 53,000 jobs short of the level seen in August.

• Food services and drinking places, which accounts for over 70 percent of the 

leisure and hospitality employment, gained 39,000 jobs in November. This 

increase comes after 2 consecutive months of uncharacteristic declines, but the 

industry still remains below its August employment level.