Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

August 2010

Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 3, 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, September 3, 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

August 2010

Level: 130,311

Change: -54

-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

241

51 61 107 67

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

450

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in total private

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed (-54,000) in August. 

• Employment was negatively impacted by continued cuts (-114,000) in the number of 

temporary workers previously hired for Census 2010. 

• Private sector employment edged up by 67,000. 

• The private sector has added 763,000 jobs so far this year, averaging 95,000 per month.
2

 

8

19

-27

4

-5

-7

0

-1

-4

20

45

13

3

-121

-150 -100 -50 0 50 100

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, August 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

-54

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment fell in government and manufacturing, while employment gains occurred in 

mining and logging, as well as education and health services. 

 
3

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, September 3, 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: 0.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

of all employees and CPI-U (1982-84), 2007-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings

Seasonally adjusted

Over-the-year percent changes

August 2010 AHE: 1.7

July 2010 CPI-U: 1.3

AHE

CPI-U

• In August, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was 

unchanged at 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

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

• Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 6 cents in 

August to $22.66. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings of all employees on 

private nonfarm payrolls have increased by 1.7 percent. 

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by 1.3 percent from 

July 2009 to July 2010. 

 
4

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

August 2010

Level: 92.4

Percent change: 0.0

of all employees

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

August 2010

Level: 99.9

Percent change: +0.3

payrolls of all employees

• In August, the index of private aggregate weekly hours was unchanged. Since reaching a 

low in October 2009, the index has increased by 2.1 percent. 

• The index of private aggregate payrolls increased by 0.3 percent in August. Since 

reaching a low in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.6 percent. 

 
5

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

6.4

11.3

6.6 7.3 7.5

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in mining

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-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 22

-29

-9 -4

19

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Mining added 8,000 jobs in August. This increase follows a similar trend of job gains in 

recent months. Since reaching a trough in October 2009, employment in the industry has 

risen by 72,000. Support activities in mining accounts for three-fourths of this 10-month 

gain.

• Construction employment notched up over the month. About half of the increase resulted 

from the return of about 10,000 workers who had been on strike in July. Job gains in 

August were concentrated in heavy and civil engineering and in nonresidential specialty 

trade contractors. 

 
6

-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

38 39

4

34

-27

-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, September 3, 2010.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-1.9-3.8

-26.4

-17.4

0.1

-2.7

-8.1

-37.1

-20.3

-14.3-18.4

-25.5

-79.9

17.1

-10.8

-23.9

-31

-21.8

37

-8.4

-0.8

4

-4.6-1.1

26.6

-9.1

3.5 4.1

9.3

-5.1

22.3

-21.6

-100

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in motor vehicles and parts

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Manufacturing shed 27,000 jobs in August, the first monthly decline in 2010. The decline 

was driven by transportation equipment, which lost 21,000 jobs.

• Within transportation equipment, motor vehicles and parts manufacturing fell by 22,000 

jobs in August, offsetting a similar sized increase in July. The two-month movement was 

the result of a number of plants deviating from their normal practice of shutting down in 

July and reopening in August. 
7

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, September 3, 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: 41.2

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 40.2

Change: +0.1

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, September 3, 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: 3.9

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 3.0

Change: +0.1

• Average weekly hours of all employees and of production workers in manufacturing both 

increased by 0.1 hour over the month. Since reaching a low in October 2009, hours of all 

employees have risen by 0.5 hour. 

• Average weekly overtime of all employees and of production workers in manufacturing 

both increased by 0.1 hour over the month. Since reaching a low in April 2009, overtime 

of all employees in manufacturing has risen by 0.9 hour. 

 
8

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, September 3, 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

August 2010

Level: 4,178.6

Change: -7.4

0.6

0.4

-12.0

0.6

1.7

0.6

-15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12

Air transportation

Truck transportation

Transit and ground passenger transportation

Support activities for transportation

Couriers and messengers

Warehousing and storage

Over-the-month change, August 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in selected transportation

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation and

warehousing: -7.4

and warehousing industries

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment in transportation and warehousing edged down (-7,000) in August partially 

offsetting gains (+12,000) in July. 

• Over the past 2 months, employment in transportation and warehousing has been driven 

by transit and ground passenger transportation. 

 
9

-9 -10

0

-6

-9

-17 -15

-18

-33

-37

-44

-29

-55

-51

-42

-47

-32 -31

-23 -24

-12

-19

2

-9

-22

-7

-19

2

-9 -11 -11

-4

-60

-45

-30

-15

0

15

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Financial activities employment was little changed in August, improving upon its average 

monthly loss for the prior 6 months (-9,000). Since the start of the recession in December 

2007, the industry has shed 651,000 jobs or 7.9 percent of employment. 

 
10

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, September 3, 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

August 2010

Level: 16,714

Change: +20

-11.3

-30.0-26.3

-18.6

-31.5-35.4-37.2

-51.1-45.2

-62.1

-91.4

-62.6

-72.3

-49.5

-61.3-65.9

-12.9

-34.3

-8.8-15.7-9.2

42.2

94.7

49.749.2

35.932.3

23.330.4

18.6

-0.9

16.8

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

120

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Professional and business services employment edged up by 20,000 in August.

• Temporary help services largely explains recent employment trends in professional and 

business services. Temporary help employment has expanded by 392,000 since reaching 

an employment low in September 2009. 

 
11

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

20,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

20,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 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 education and health services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

August 2010

Level: 19,611

Change: +45

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

19.921.0

17.8

23.223.8

17.317.7

13.414.0

31.4

17.2

15.016.5

22.8

28.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 3, 2010.

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Education and health services added 45,000 jobs in August. Since the recession began in 

December 2007, employment in education and health care has expanded by over 1 

million positions. 

• Health care added 28,000 jobs in August. 
12

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, September 3, 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

August 2010

Level: 22,441

Change: -121

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, September 3, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in government fell by 121,000 in August, as 114,000 temporary Census 

2010 positions were eliminated. 

• Local government excluding education added 14,000 jobs over the month. This gain was 

mostly offset by local education employment.