Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

May 2010

Bureau of Labor Statistics

June 4, 2010
1

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 130,570

Change: +431

70

-10 -50 -33

-149

-231-193-210

-334

-458

-554

-728

-673

-779

-726-753

-528

-387

-515

-346

-212-225-224

64

-109

14 39

208

290

431

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

450

600

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

• Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 431,000 in May, following an increase of 290,000 

in April. 

• Since falling by 8.4 million between December 2007 and December 2009, employment 

has grown by 982,000 about half of which was gained in May. 

   
2

10

-35

29

2

-7

11

-1

0

-12

22

17

2

2

390

-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Mining and logging

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

Over-the-month change, May 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

+431

Note: Data are preliminary.

128,000

129,000

130,000

131,000

132,000

133,000

134,000

135,000

136,000

137,000

138,000

139,000

128,000

129,000

130,000

131,000

132,000

133,000

134,000

135,000

136,000

137,000

138,000

139,000

Total nonfarm

Total nonfarm excluding Census 

temporary and intermittent workers

Census temporary and intermittent workers, 2007-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm, including and excluding

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• The job growth in May resulted largely from hiring by the Federal government of 

411,000 temporary workers to assist with Census 2010. 

• Manufacturing, temporary help services, and mining also added jobs, while employment 

in construction declined. 

   
3

-12

-85 -58

-161

-253-230-257

-347

-456

-547

-734

-667

-806

-707-744

-649

-334

-452

-297

-215-186

-262

75

-83

16

62

158

218

41

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in total private

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Private-sector employment showed little change over the month (+41,000), following 

increases in March and April. 

• The diffusion index over a 1-month span was 54.1 in May, declining from 66.7 in April. 

Despite the decrease in May, the index remains well above the low of 16.5 in March 

2009. The diffusion index is a measure of the breadth of employment change; a value 

above 50 means that more industries are showing employment increases, while a value 

below 50 means that more industries are showing employment declines. 

   
4

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, total private

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 33.5

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 34.2

Change: +0.1

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

May 2010

Level: 92.2

Percent change: +0.3

of all employees

• In May, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased 

by 0.1 to 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls also increased by 0.1 to 33.5 hours. 

• Since reaching a low in October 2009, hours both for all employees and for production 

and non-supervisory employees have risen by 0.5 hour. 

• In May, the index of aggregate weekly hours of all employees rose by 0.3 percent. Since 

a low in October 2009, the index has increased by 1.9 percent. 
5

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

May 2010

Level: 99.3

Percent change: +0.7

payrolls of all employees

• In May, the index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees rose by 0.7 

percent. 

• The index of aggregate payrolls reached a low in October 2009 and has since increased 

by 3.0 percent. 

   
6

5

3.8

8.1

-0.3

8.1

6.9

4.7

7.2

2.8

-4

-2.7

-5.9

-7.3

-13.3

-15.5

-13.9-13.3

-8

-5.3

-8.8

-3.1

-4.7

7.6

1

7.8 6.9

9.3

7.2

9.8

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in mining

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Employment in mining continued to increase in May as support activities for mining 

added 8,000 jobs. 

• Since reaching a low in October 2009, mining employment has expanded by 50,000. 

   
7

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 5,591

Change: -35

-24 -28 -33

-59 -61

-70

-52 -52

-72

-92

-149

-95

-153

-116

-142

-114

-59

-91

-80

-64 -71 -67

-15

-36

-60

-51

27

14

-35

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Construction employment declined by 35,000 in May, largely offsetting gains in the prior 

2 months (+41,000). The industry has shed 2.1 million jobs since employment peaked in 

August 2006. 

   
8

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 11,660

Change: +29

-5

-30 -37 -50

-27

-49

-72

-93 -93

-141-130

-177

-279

-166-165

-149-152

-129

-43 -57 -48 -57

-25 -18

22 16 19

40 29

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Manufacturing employment increased by 29,000 over the month. Factory employment 

has risen by 126,000 over the past 5 months. 

• The industry had lost 2.2 million jobs in the prior 2 years. 

   
9

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.5

Change: +0.3

All employees

Level: 40.5

Change: +0.3

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

manufacturing, 2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly overtime hours,

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 4.1

Change: +0.2

All employees

Level: 3.0

Change: 0.0

• The manufacturing workweek increased by 0.3 hour for both all employees and 

production employees. 

• Factory overtime was flat for all employees, while production employee overtime 

increased by 0.2 hour in May. 

   
10

5,400

5,500

5,600

5,700

5,800

5,900

6,000

6,100

6,200

6,300

5,400

5,500

5,600

5,700

5,800

5,900

6,000

6,100

6,200

6,300

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in wholesale trade

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 5,578.7

Change: +2.0

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

16,000

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

16,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 14,450.8

Change: -6.6

• Employment in wholesale trade changed little over the month.

• Employment in retail trade changed little in May. So far this year, retail employment has 

risen by 91,000, after falling by 1.2 million during the prior 2 years. 

   
11

4,000

4,100

4,200

4,300

4,400

4,500

4,600

4,700

4,800

4,900

5,000

4,000

4,100

4,200

4,300

4,400

4,500

4,600

4,700

4,800

4,900

5,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 4,139.8

Change: +11.1

• Employment in transportation and warehousing has shown little net change since 

January. 

• Couriers and messengers continued to shed jobs (-3,000) in May. 

   
12

2,500

2,750

3,000

3,250

3,500

3,750

4,000

2,500

2,750

3,000

3,250

3,500

3,750

4,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in information

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 2,728

Change: 0

7,000

7,250

7,500

7,750

8,000

8,250

8,500

8,750

9,000

7,000

7,250

7,500

7,750

8,000

8,250

8,500

8,750

9,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 7,599

Change: -12

• Employment in information was unchanged for the second consecutive month. 

• Employment in financial activities changed little in May. The industry has lost 58,000 

jobs so far this year. 

   
13

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in professional and business services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 16,663

Change: +22

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 2,086.0

Change: +31.0

• Employment in professional and business services continued to rise in May. Since 

September 2009, this industry has added 314,000 jobs. 

• Temporary help services continued to add jobs (+31,000), and employment has increased 

by 362,000 since reaching a low in September 2009. 

   
14

27.9

33.5

29.6

37.3

23.6

21.0

33.1

19.7

17.1

20.4

29.7

25.5

12.2

17.8

13.1

8.3

23.2

19.9 21.0

17.8

23.2 23.8

17.3 17.7

13.4 14.0

31.4

18.2

8.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Health care employment was little changed in May (+8,000). Over the prior 12 months, 

health care employment has increased by an average 20,000 per month. 

   
15

-8

5 10

-13

-37

-13

-27 -27

-43

-36

-58

-40 -39

-26

-46

-34

23

-21

-4

-18

16

-54

-21

-33

12

23 23

35

2

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

75

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-13.2

2.2

5.6

-11.3

-23.4

-8.8 -7.1

-14.1

-23.9

-30.7-29.6-26.6

-13.7-16.7-19.4

-2.0

18.6

-1.0

-9.7

-13.1-14.9-13.0

-5.8

-21.8

20.2

13.3

22.5

19.0

5.5

-45

-30

-15

0

15

30

45

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Employment in food services and drinking places

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Leisure and hospitality employment was little changed in May. 

• Employment in food services and drinking places was essentially flat in May. 

   
16

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

23,500

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

23,500

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has 

not yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

May 2010

Level: 22,968

Change: +390

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

2,800

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

2,800

Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service

Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service 

and Census temporary and 

intermittent workers

and excluding Census temporary and intermittent workers, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 4, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service, including

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Government employment rose by 390,000 in May. The Federal government added 

411,000 temporary workers for Census 2010, bringing total employment of Decennial 

Census workers to 564,000 as of the survey reference period.