April 2015

Release Date: May 8, 2015

Prepared by Staff of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

Contents

Summary

Mining & Logging

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities

Information

Financial Activities

Professional & Business Services

Private Education & Health Services

Leisure & Hospitality

Other Services

Government

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis

Current Employment Statistics

Highlights
Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, April 2015 

CES Highlights 

 

Release Date: May 8, 2015

(+7,000) added jobs. Employment in temporary 

help services changed little over the month.

+ 61,000 Education and health services 

 In April, health care providers added 45,000 

jobs. Employment rose in ambulatory health 

care services (+25,000), in hospitals (+12,000), 

and in nursing and residential care facilities 

(+8,000). Health care employment has 

expanded by 390,000 over the past 12 months.

Total Nonfarm + 223,000

Total Private + 213,000

 Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 

223,000 in April, after edging up (+85,000) in 

March. In April, professional and business 

services, health care, and construction added 

jobs. Employment in mining fell over the 

month.

 The employment change for March revised 

down from +126,000 to +85,000, and the 

employment change for February revised up 

from +264,000 to +266,000. Incorporating

revisions, employment has increased by an 

average 191,000 per month over the past 3 

months.

 Average hourly earnings of all privatesector employees rose by 3 cents in April. 

Over the year, hourly earnings are up 2.2 

percent. In April, average weekly hours held at 

34.5 hours. 

+ 62,000 Professional and business services 

 Employment in professional and technical 

services rose by 21,000 in April. Within this 

industry, employment continued to trend up in 

management and technical consulting services 

(+6,000) and in computer systems design and 

related services (+9,000). 

 Employment in administrative and support 

services rose by 39,000 in April. Within this 

industry, services to buildings and dwellings 

(+16,000) and business support services 380 247 216 87 113 35 177188 144 213 164 293 205 314 115 187 219 127 164 256 150 225 317 109 166 188 225 330 236 286 249 213 250 221 423 329 201 266 85 223

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2012 - April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, May 08, 2015.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesal

e Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
+ 45,000 Construction 

 In April, construction added 45,000 jobs. 

Job growth was concentrated within specialty 

trade contractors, with employment gains split 

about evenly between residential specialty 

trades (+21,000) and nonresidential specialty 

trades (+20,000). Employment in 

nonresidential building construction fell by 

8,000 over the month. Over the past 12 

months, construction has added 280,000 jobs. 

- 15,000 Mining and logging 

 Employment in mining fell by 15,000 in 

April. Job losses were concentrated in support 

activities for mining (-10,000) and in oil and 

gas extraction (-3,000). So far this year, the 

mining industry has lost 49,000 jobs, and 

37,000 of the losses occured in support 

activities for mining.

+1,000 Manufacturing

 Manufacturing employment changed little

in April. Within durable goods manufacturing, 

an employment gain in motor vehicles and 

parts (+6,000) was mostly offset by a job loss 

in machinery (-5,000). Within nondurable 

goods, petroleum and coal products added 

3,000 jobs, largely due to workers returning 

from strike. 

10

6

17

61

62

9

3

1

15

12

-5

1

45

-15

-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80

Government

Other services

Leisure and hospitality

Education and health services*

Professional and business services*

Financial activities

Information

Utilities

Transportation and warehousing*

Retail trade

Wholesale trade

Manufacturing

Construction*

Mining and logging*

Employment in total nonfarm

April 2015 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

223*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, April 2015

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015
2

3 15 13 101112

5

9

5

6

7

9

6

2

1

4

-2-2

-1

-5

-7

9

6

3

5

0

-3

3

1

0

3

2

3

2

0

5

1

3

6

2

4

8

3

7

1

1

1

-7

-14

-12

-15

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15

Employment in mining and logging

Over-the-month change, January 2011–April 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Mining & Logging

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

 Mining and logging lost 15,000 jobs over 

the month. Employment in support 

activities for mining and oil and gas 

extraction decreased by 10,000 and 3,000 

respectively. Rig counts have declined by

949 over the past year (Source: Baker 

Hughes). Oil prices increased in April, but 

are still down over the year. (Source: U.S. 

Energy Information Administration). 

 Thus far in 2015, mining employment has 

decreased by 49,000, more than offsetting a 

gain of 41,000 jobs in 2014.
 Construction added 45,000 jobs over the month. Employment in 

construction has grown by 280,000, or 4.6 percent, over the year.

 Specialty trade contractors added 41,000 over the month. This growth 

was split between residential and non-residential specialty trades. 

Employment declined by 8,000 in nonresidential building.

 

 

 

 

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in construction April 2015 Level: 6,383

OTM Change: 45*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2003–April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

16,000

Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in manufacturing

April 2015 Level: 12,322

OTM Change: 1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2003–April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

 Manufacturing employment was essentially unchanged 

(+1,000) in April. The 1-month diffusion index increased to

50.6 in April from 45.6 in March. The diffusion index 

measures the dispersion of employment change in 

manufacturing, with a value above 50 indicating that more 

manufacturing industries are adding jobs than losing.

 Within durable goods, motor vehicles and parts gained 6,000 

jobs, while machinery employment decreased by 5,000. The 

majority of the decline in machinery employment occurred in 

oil and gas field machinery. Within nondurable goods, 

petroleum and coal products added 3,000 jobs, largely due to 

workers returning from strike. (Source: CES Strike Report).

 Average weekly hours for all employees in manufacturing 

declined by 0.1 hour to 40.8 hours. The work week for 

production employees was unchanged at 41.8.

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release date May 8, 2015

Manufacturing 
 Employment in wholesale trade 

changed little in April (-5,000). 

Employment in the industry had 

increased by an average of 10,000 per 

month over the prior 12-month period.

 

 

5,200

5,400

5,600

5,800

6,000

6,200

Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in wholesale trade

April 2015 Level: 5,904

OTM Change: -5

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2003–April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Wholesale Trade

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015
 Employment in retail trade changed little in April (+12,000). The 

industry had added an average 26,000 jobs per month over the prior 12 

months.

NAICS 4521 – Department Stores

 In April, employment in department stores decreased by 6,000. Since the 

recent employment peak in August 2014, the industry has lost 22,000 jobs. 

This employment drop coincides with a continued trend of decreasing 

department store sales over the past few years (Source: Market Realist). 

 

Retail Trade

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging

Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp.,

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
3,800

4,000

4,200

4,400

4,600

4,800

5,000

Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in transportation and warehousing

April 2015 Level: 4,758 OTM Change: 15*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2003–April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

4

5

0

2

2

-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Couriers and messengers*

Support activities for transportation

Transit and ground passenger transportation

Truck transportation

Air transportation

Employment in selected transportation industries

April 2015 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation 

industries:

15*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

Transportation and Warehousing

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

 Transportation and warehousing employment continued to trend up (+15,000)

in April. Over the past 12 months the industry has added 164,000 jobs. In April, 

employment edged up in support activities for transportation (+5,000) and in air 

transportation (+2,000).

NAICS 492 – Couriers and messengers

 Couriers and messengers added 4,000 jobs in April. Over the past 12 months 

the industry has added 46,000 jobs, compared to 19,000 jobs added during the 

preceding 12-month period.

 
 Utilities employment edged up 

by 1,000 over the month. 

 

 

 

 

530

540

550

560

570

580

590

600

Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in utilities

April 2015 Level: 561

OTM Change: 1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2003–April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Utilities

CES Highlights Release Date: : May 8, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
Information

 Information employment was virtually 

unchanged in April (+3,000). However, 

over the past 12 months, the industry 

gained 55,000 jobs. 

 

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015
 Employment in financial activities 

continued to tick up (+9,000) in April. Over 

the past 6 months, financial activities has 

added 79,000 jobs.

 

 

 

 

3

8 24

3 10

1

-1

6 12 10

8 10 1213

6 12136 17

-4

-1

9

3

2

4 13

2

9

9 17 16 13 10

7 287 19

9

7

9

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15

Employment in financial activities

Over-the-month change, January 2012–April 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Financial Activities

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015
 In April, professional and business services added 62,000 jobs. So 

far in 2015, the industry has added 166,000 jobs. Among the major 

component industries in April, employment in professional and 

technical services and administrative and waste services expanded by 

21,000 and 41,000, respectively.

NAICS 54 – Professional and technical services

 Computer systems design and related services added 9,000 jobs, 

contributing the largest gain among the professional and technical 

services component industries. Employment continued to trend up in 

architectural and engineering services and management and technical 

consulting services.

NAICS 56 – Administrative and waste services

 Administrative and support services (representing 96 percent of 

administrative and waste services employment) added 39,000 jobs in 

April. Services to buildings and dwellings added 16,000 jobs, 

following a downtick (-8,000) in March. Temporary help services 

employment continued to trend up in April (+16,000).

6

9*

4

-2

2

-3 -1 1 3 5 7 9 11

Management and technical consulting

Computer systems design and related

Architectural and engineering

Accounting and bookkeeping

Legal

Employment in professional and technical services

Over-the-month change, April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Apr-15 Prior-12 month average over-the-month change

April 2015 level: 

8,583

OTM change: 21*

16

16

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-12 May-12 Sep-12 Jan-13 May-13 Sep-13 Jan-14 May-14 Sep-14 Jan-15 Over-the-month change

Employment in administrative and support services

January 2012 - April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

All other administrative and support Temporary help services Services to buildings and dwelling places

Professional and Business Services

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 In April, private education and health services employment 

increased by 61,000. Within the industry, health care added 45,000 

jobs, while social assistance employment continued to trend up over 

the month. 

NAICS 621 – Ambulatory health care services

 Ambulatory health care services added 25,000 jobs in April. Within 

the industry, offices of physicians employment grew by 9,000, while

employment continued to trend up in outpatient care centers (+3,000)

and home health care services (+3,000).

NAICS 622 – Hospitals 

 Hospital employment increased by 12,000 in April. Over the past 6 

months, the industry has added a total of 62,000 jobs.

NAICS 623 – Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

 Nursing and residential care facilities employment increased by 

8,000 in April.

8

12

3

3

9

25

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Nursing and residential care*

Hospitals*

 - Home health care services

 - Outpatient care centers

 - Offices of physicians*

Ambulatory health care services°*

Employment in selected health care industries

April 2015 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

45*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance.

0

0

8

9

6

2

6

2

9

33

4 16

7

5

1

1

1

3

0

2

4

3

1

-1

3

1

8

-16

1

-3

0

-3

-2

1

-6

-5

-1

3

3

5

2

-2 10

7

3 11

9 13 11

8 12

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15

Employment in hospitals

Over-the-month change, January 2011–April 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Consumer Confidence Index Employment in thousands

Leisure and hospitality

employment

Consumer Confidence Index

Leisure and hospitality employment vs. Consumer Confidence Index

January 2000-April 2015 

Seasonally adjusted, Composite Index (1985=100)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Conference Board, Release date: May 08, 2015

26

-7

-2

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50

Food services and drinking places

Accommodation

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Employment in leisure and hospitality

April 2015 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and 

hospitality:

17

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

Leisure and Hospitality

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

 Leisure and hospitality employment changed little (+17,000) in 

April, following weakness in March (-6,000). Over the 12 months prior 

to March, job growth had averaged 42,000 per month. The Consumer

Confidence Index fell 6.2 points in April, coinciding with the recent

employment weakness within the leisure and hospitality industry. 

 Food services and drinking places employment edged up (+26,000) 

in April, offsetting small downward movements in other component 

industries. 

 

 
 Other services employment edged up 

(+6,000) in April, and there was little 

change in any component industry. Other 

services has added 318,000 jobs since its 

most recent trough reached in June 2010. 

5,200

5,250

5,300

5,350

5,400

5,450

5,500

5,550

5,600

5,650

5,700

Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in other services

April 2015 Level: 5,633

OTM Change: 6

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2005–April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Other Services

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015
 Government employment changed little in April (+10,000). Over 

the past 12 months, government has gained a total of 64,000 jobs.

 

 

4

3

-3

3

1

1

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Local government, excluding education

Local government education

State government, excluding education

State government education

U.S. Postal Service

Federal, except U.S. Postal Service

Employment in selected government

April 2015 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

10

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

21,000

21,200

21,400

21,600

21,800

22,000

22,200

22,400

22,600

22,800

23,000

23,200

23,400

Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in government

April 2015 Level: 21,907

OTM Change: 10

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 08, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2003–April 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government

CES Highlights Release Date: May 8, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging

Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
Prepared by Staff of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

CES Analysts

Michael Calvillo

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Brittney Forbes

Lyda Ghanbari

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Kara Sullivan

Jay Stuart

Parth Tikiwala

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis