Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

November 2012

Bureau of Labor Statistics

December 7, 2012
1 

126,000

128,000

130,000

132,000

134,000

136,000

138,000

140,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in total nonfarm

November 2012

Level: 133,852

Change: 146

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

41 -84

-95 -208

-190

-198

-210 -274 -432 -489 -803 -661 -818-724 -799-692 -361 -482 -339-231

-199

-202 -42 -171 -40

-35

189

239

516 -167 -58

-51

-27

220

121

120

110

220

246

251

54

84

96

85

202

112

157

223

275

259

143

68

87

45

181

192

132

138

146

-1,200

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

800

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Total nonfarm employment rose by 146,000 in November. 

• Since the beginning of the year, job growth has averaged 151,000 per month, similar to 

the average monthly gain of 153,000 in 2011. 
2 

104,000

106,000

108,000

110,000

112,000

114,000

116,000

118,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in total private

November 2012

Level: 111,890

Change: 147

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

41 -136

-112 -215

-216

-231

-259 -294 -425 -480 -797 -658 -839 -725 -787

-802 -312 -426 -296-219

-184 -232 -42 -120-40

-27

141

193

84

9292

128

115

196

134

140

119

257

261

264

108

102

175

52

216

139

178

234

277

254

147

85

116

63

163

134

122

189

147

-1,200

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in total private

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In November, total private employment rose by 147,000. Thus far in 2012, job growth 

has averaged 154,000 per month, compared to an average monthly gain of 175,000 in 

2011. 

• Since reaching an employment trough in February 2010, the private sector has added 5.1 

million jobs.
3 

-1

3

23

18

43

1

12

0.0

3.5

52.6

13.1

-7

-20

5

-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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

146

Total nonfarm:

4608

Total private:

5117

-509

80

817

1059

1512

105

-101

10.4

263.3

514.3

222.5

492

-15

158

-1,000 -500 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

33–month change, November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

146

Total nonfarm:

4608

Total private:

5117

February 2010 – November 2012

• In November, retail trade contributed more than one-third of the total nonfarm job gain. 

Employment continued to rise in professional and business services, health care, and 

leisure and hospitality. These gains were partially offset by job losses in construction. 

• Since an employment trough in February 2010, nonfarm job gains total 4.6 million. The 

largest increases have occurred in professional and business services, education and 

health services, and leisure and hospitality. Government lost the largest number of jobs 

during this period. 
4 

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most 

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–November 2012 Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.4

Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 33.7

Change: 0.1

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

Mar-06 Mar-07 Mar-08 Mar-09 Mar-10 Mar-11 Mar-12

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–November 2012

November 2012

Level: 96.5

Change: 0.2%

Total private, all employees

• Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls remained 

unchanged at 34.4 hours in November. The average workweek for production and 

nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 0.1 hour to 33.7 

hours. 

• The November employment gain combined with the unchanged workweek resulted in a 

0.2-percent increase in the index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees. Since 

reaching a trough in October 2009, the index has risen 6.5 percent.
5 

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Mar-07 Sep-07 Mar-08 Sep-08 Mar-09 Sep-09 Mar-10 Sep-10 Mar-11 Sep-11 Mar-12 Sep-12

Over-the-year percent change

Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*

Total private earnings CPI–U

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

November 2012 Earnings: 1.7

October 2012 CPI-U: 2.2

*1982–84=100

March 2007–November 2012

• Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 4 

cents in November to $23.63. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have 

risen by 1.7 percent. 

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 2.2 percent 

from October 2011 to October 2012. 
6 

-9 -46

-34 -70 -49 -66

-55

-46 -73

-77 -155 -105 -147 -110 -153

-144 -57 -87

-82

-79

-71

-58 -30

-33 -61

-64

23 7

-41 -11

-16

20 -19

7 -11

-11 -21

33 7 -1 3 -3

13 -10

30 -9 1

26

18 -1 -14

-7 -32 4

33 -1

15 -20

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in construction

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-7.8

3.2

-3.8

-4.3

-6.8

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

Nonresidential specialty trades

Residential specialty trades

Heavy and civil engineering

Nonresidential building

Residential building

Employment in construction

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction:

-20

• Employment in construction decreased in November (-20,000) after ticking up in 

October. Since early 2010, employment in construction has shown no clear trend. 

• In November, construction of buildings accounted for 11,000 jobs lost, largely in 

residential building. 
7 

Embargoed pre-release until 12-07-2012 8:30 AM (EST)

-20

-28 -39 -56-31 -59 -75

-79

-84 -130

-114 -179 -297 -166

-172

-179

-167-143 -61

-41

-44

-49

-34

-30 -8 4

8

32

34

10

20 -17 2

0

9

15

52

37

26

28 8

12

30 3 -3 9

3

28

52

30

42

10

13

7

18 -13

-16

10 -7

-400

-300

-200

-100

0

100

200

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most 

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–November 2012 Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.6

Change: 0.1

All employees

Level: 40.6

Change: 0.1

• Manufacturing employment changed little in November (-7,000), and has been essentially 

unchanged over the past 6 months. 

• The factory workweek for all employees edged up by 0.1 hour in November to 40.6 hours 

following a 0.1-hour decrease the prior month. Combining the flat employment with the 

longer workweek, the index of aggregate weekly hours in manufacturing increased by 0.2 

percent.
8 

1.6

-9.1

0.9

0.6

-1.4

0.1

-0.2

-0.2

0.5

1.2

-12.3

-16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6

Plastics and rubber

Chemicals

Petroleum and coal products

Printing

Paper products

Leather products

Apparel

Textile product mills

Textile mills

Beverage and tobacco

Food manufacturing

Employment in nondurable goods

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Nondurable 

goods:

-18

-1.3

-0.3

8.5

1.3

-3.7

-0.5

4.5

-1.7

1.2

3.3

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

Miscellaneous manufacturing

Furniture and related products

Transportation equipment

Electrical equipment and appliances

Computer and electronic products

Machinery

Fabricated metal products

Primary metals

Nonmetallic mineral products

Wood products

Employment in durable goods

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

11

• Over the month, employment gains in the motor vehicles and parts component of 

transportation equipment and in wood products were more than offset by job losses in 

food manufacturing and chemicals. 
9 

-1 -11

-11 -22 -14

-14 -20

-19-14 -37

-37 -41 -34 -48

-45

-44 -25

-24

-25 -17

-15 -18-13 -15 -23 -8 -2

-1

-3 5

3

0 6

9

7

5

10

13

14 7

8

6 2

5 -3

12 7

15

15 7

5

13

14 8

9

7 -1 8

13

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in wholesale trade

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in wholesale trade continued to trend up over the month. Since reaching an 

employment trough in May 2010, the industry has added 228,000 jobs. 
10

1 -43 -23 -71 -52

-47

-44 -60 -68-52 -132 -99

-99 -71 -94 -61 -8 -23 -45 -12 -46

-35 -11 -27

32

10

25 3

12 -11

14

5

20

37 3

13

37 5

8

68 -5

16

27 -4

14

12

34 7

25 -15

-15

24 6 -9 3

18

37

51

53

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-17 -6 2 -9

-9

-6

-3 0 -15

-11 -19-15

-15 -4 -17 -5

-2 -5

-6

-2 -5

-3 3 -1 5

3 8 4

-9 -4

-4 -7

-6

10 0 -2 1 -6

-2 4 1

3 -5 8

7 2

11

9 -19 -4 3 -2 5 2 9 5

21

15

33

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in clothing and clothing accessories stores

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment rose by 53,000 in retail trade in November. Over the past 3 months, the 

retail trade industry has boosted employment by 140,000, with nearly half of the gain 

occurring in clothing and accessory stores. 

• Clothing and accessory stores added 33,000 jobs to payrolls over the month. General 

merchandise stores and electronics and appliance stores also added jobs. In contrast to 

these increases, miscellaneous store retailers lost 13,000 jobs in November. 
11

0 -40 -63 1 -68 -41 -61 -71

-70 -116 -184 -120 -144 -184 -133 -148 -64 -100 -31

-22 -1 8

56

14

44

29 -3

79

32

67 8

45

23

55

79

82

46

49

88

50

56 5

39

40

59

41

39

72

79

89

18

45

18

4141

24 8

55

43

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in professional and business services

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in professional and business services

November 2012

Level: 18,054

Change: 43

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment continued to grow in professional and business services in November 

(+43,000). 

• Since reaching a trough in September 2009, employment in the sector has expanded by 

1.7 million, fully recovering the jobs lost during the most recent recession. 
12

6.8

3.8

23.3

5.1

0.0

7.1

2.4

1.3

15.3

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

- Services to buildings

- Employment services

Administrative and waste services ̊

Management of companies

- Management and technical consulting

- Computer systems design

- Architectural and engineering

- Accounting and bookkeeping

Professional and technical ̊

Employment in selected professional and business services

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

43

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in temporary help services

November 2012

Level: 2,560

Change: 18

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In November, employment continued to trend up in computer systems design and related 

services (+7,000). 

• Employment in temporary help services edged up by 18,000 over the month, about in line 

with the average monthly increase over the prior 12 months. 
13

35

29

30

37

28

21

33

19

14

18

31

23

15

22

10

11

30

24

19

18

22

22

24

20

16

15

36

12

15

11

19

22

16

28

19

23

10

20

32

36

18

26

32

26

46

24 4

23

34

38

32

19

30 9

23

18

34

34

20

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

7.0

8.3

0.3

0.1

1.7

4.7

-2 0 2 4 6 8 10

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, November 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

20

• Health care added 20,000 jobs in November, continuing a long-run growth trend.

• Over the month, employment rose in hospitals (+8,000) and nursing and residential care 

facilities (+7,000), while employment in ambulatory health care services changed little.
14

10 -3 -12 -32

-31 -17

-13 -27 -45 -27 -53 -35 -44-34 -61 -72

55 -25 -5 -27 6 -58 -13 -54 -10 1

26

38

25

24

12

35

57

-18 2

21 -8

57

64

36 -15

35

17

12

20

30

42

28

39

45

43 -4

-4

14

24

49

28

20

23

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Over-the-month change, January 2008–November 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Leisure and hospitality industries continued to add jobs to payrolls in November 

(+23,000). 

• Since a trough in January 2010, employment in the industry has expanded by 818,000, 

mostly in food services and drinking places.
15

19,500

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

23,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in government

November 2012

Level: 21,962

Change: -1

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2012.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–November 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Government employment changed little in November after a decrease in October. 

• Government employment is 618,000 below its August 2008 level, when employment in 

both state and local governments reached peaks.