Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

February 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

March 4, 2011

 
1

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

February 2011

Level: 130,515

Change: +192

13

-83-72

-185-233

-178

-231-267

-434

-509

-802

-619

-820

-726

-796

-660

-386

-502

-300

-231-236-221

-55

-130

-39-35

192

277

458

-192

-49-59-29

171

93

152

63

192

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

450

600

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

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, March 4, 2011.

• Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 192,000 in February. Since a recent low in 

February 2010, employment has grown by 1.3 million, or an average 106,000 per month. 

 
2

4

-128-87

-186

-240-217

-265

-317

-434

-491

-787

-636

-841

-721

-787-773

-326

-438

-287

-215-213-250

-34

-102

-42-21

144

229

48 65 93 110109143128167

68

222

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

450

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in total private

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

4

33

33

12

-8

22

1

0

3

47

40

21

14

-30

-50 -25 0 25 50 75 100

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, February 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

+192

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment in the private sector rose by 222,000 in February. In the past 12 months, the 

private sector has added 1.5 million jobs – an average of 127,000 per month. 

• In February, job gains occurred in construction, manufacturing, transportation and 

warehousing, healthcare, and professional and business 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

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

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

85

90

95

100

105

2006-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

February 2011

Level: 92.8

Percent change: +0.2

of all employees

• During February, 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. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees rose by 0.2 percent over the 

month. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 2.4 

percent. 

 
4

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

of all employees and CPI-U (1982-84), 2007-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

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

February 2011 AHE: 1.7

January 2011 CPI-U: 1.7

AHE

CPI-U

85

90

95

100

105

2006-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

February 2011

Level: 101.2

Percent change: +0.2

payrolls of all employees

• Average hourly earnings of all employees in the private sector were changed little in 

February, following a 9-cent gain in January. Hourly earnings are up 1.7 percent over the 

year. 

• Between January 2010 and January 2011, the consumer price index for all urban 

consumers (CPI-U) increased by 1.7 percent. 

• In February, the index of aggregate weekly payroll for all employees rose by 0.2 percent. 

Since reaching a low in June 2009, the index has increased by 5.0 percent. 
5

-15

-39-31

-65

-56

-69

-55

-42

-73-75

-154

-113

-144

-101

-162

-138

-56

-96

-78-79

-68

-57

-30

-44

-62

-52

17 16

-37

-18-11

20

-6 -2 -8 -6

-22

33

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Construction employment rose by 33,000 in February, following a decline of 22,000 in 

January. The January figure may have been impacted by severe weather. 

• Average weekly hours of construction workers grew by 0.9 hour in February to 38.5, 

partially offsetting a decrease of 1.0 in January. 

 
6

2.2

-2.0

4.5

11.0

16.7

-2.3

-0.3

1.7

-5.1

-3.0

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

Residential building Nonresidential 

building

Heavy and civil 

engineering

Residential specialty 

trades

Nonresidential 

specialty trades

February 2011

Prior 12-mo. avg.

Over-the-month change, February 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Data are preliminary.

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Construction employment

Specialty trade employment

Residential specialty trade 

contractors

Nonresidential specialty trade 

contractors

Construction

2001-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in selected construction industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Over the month, employment increased in both residential and nonresidential specialty 

trade contractors. 

• Employment in nonresidential specialty trade contractors peaked in February 2008 and 

fell by 619,000 jobs through February 2010; since then, employment has remained 

unchanged. 

• Employment in residential specialty trade contractors peaked 2 years ahead of 

nonresidential specialty trade contractors and fell by nearly 1 million through October 

2010. Employment in residential specialty trade contractors is up 21,000 over the past 4 

months. 
7

-12

-34-38

-56

-33

-56-68

-85-88

-131-121

-175

-284

-171-175-173-172

-140

-54-46-49-51-44

-28

9

-3

9

38 27 12

32

-29

-6 -6

15 11

53

33

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 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: 40.5

Change: +0.1

• Manufacturing employment continued to increase in February (+33,000). Since reaching 

an employment low in December 2009, manufacturers have added 195,000 positions. 

• Average weekly hours of all employees in manufacturing rose by 0.1 hour in February. 

The factory workweek for production employees also increased by 0.1 hour in February. 

 
8

3

2

4

7

9

1

0

3

-1

1

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

Wood products

Nonmetallic mineral products

Primary metals

Fabricated metal products

Machinery

Computer and electronic products

Electrical equipment and appliances

Transportation equipment

Furniture and related products

Miscellaneous manufacturing

Over-the-month change, February 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

30

Note: Data are preliminary.

4

2

1

0

-1

1

0

-2

1

1

-2

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6

Food manufacturing

Beverage and tobacco

Textile mills

Textile product mills

Apparel

Leather products

Paper products

Printing

Petroleum and coal products

Chemicals

Plastics and rubber

Over-the-month change, February 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in nondurable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Nondurable goods:

3

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Durable goods manufacturing boosted employment by 30,000 in February. Employment 

gains in February were concentrated in machinery (+9,000) and fabricated metal products 

(+7,000). 

• Since a recent employment trough in December 2009, durable goods industries have 

added 233,000 jobs to payrolls. 

• Employment in nondurable goods industries changed little in February. 

 
9

-8.0

-47.2

-19.9

-68.1

-60.8

-34.7

-44.7

-63.3-68.8

-60.0

-130.4

-90.8

-103.8

-78.2

-86.4

-50.4

-13.2-18.7

-41.0

-13.8

-47.6-47.1

-16.5-19.2

35.1

0.4

24.9

15.9

-3.3

-12.5

10.8

-6.7

17.7

26.3

-15.6

6.2

30.6

-8.1

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Retail trade employment changed little in February. Since reaching an employment 

trough in December 2009, the industry has added 122,000 jobs. 

 
10

-4.3

1.5 0.4

5.6

-14.0-13.1

-5.4

-12.1

-41.0

-17.1

-40.3

-12.1

-39.5

-23.7

-33.9

-45.1

-18.6-20.2

-27.3

-2.9

-12.5-14.8

1.0

19.2

-39.5

-2.8

8.3 4.8

9.010.59.0

-0.7

8.3

3.8

22.1

50.1

-44.4

22.0

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Transportation and warehousing employment grew by 22,000 in February. Over the past 

12 months, this industry has added 103,000 jobs. 

• In February, half of the employment increase in transportation and warehousing can be 

attributed to growth in truck transportation. 

 
11

-7

-11

0

-11

-6

-13

-17

-20

-30

-33

-45

-34

-52-53

-42

-51

-23-25

-12

-25

-12-14

0

-7

-16

-9

-14

5

-8

-12-10

-2

0 1

-1

1

-12

3

-60

-45

-30

-15

0

15

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• In February, employment in financial activities changed little. The industry’s 

employment trend has shown relative improvement, with average monthly job losses 

decelerating from 7,000 in the 6 months ending in August 2010 to essentially no change 

in the past 6 months. 

 
12

-6

-34

-59

3

-71

-45

-64

-77-68

-113

-181

-110

-151

-183

-130

-150

-61

-108

-29-26

-6

7

66

26 31 31

2

69

25

43

-2

30

8

40

85

58

35 47

-225

-175

-125

-75

-25

25

75

125

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in professional and business services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Employment in professional and business services expanded by 47,000 over the month, 

and has increased by 601,000 since reaching a trough in September 2009. 

 
13

10

-2.3

3.1

4.2

6.6

0.9

36.4

28.6

-1.5

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Professional and technical*

Accounting and bookkeeping

Architectural and engineering

Computer systems design

Management and technical consulting

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services*

Employment services

Services to buildings

Over-the-month change, February 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in selected professional and

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and business

services: +47

business services

Professional and technical*

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services*

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

-4.9

-34.6-28.7

-15.5

-29.8-34.5-32.3

-40.6

-28.6

-66.9

-113.8

-73.4-77.9

-54.7-56.2

-66.6

-17.3-24.0

3.0

-7.0

6.7

38.0

59.3

47.5

56.6

22.730.0

21.1

30.2

18.6

-2.8

16.919.927.226.8

43.1

-4.9

15.5

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

120

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• In February, job gains in professional and business services were concentrated in 

employment services. 

• Since September 2009, employment growth in professional and business services has 

been driven primarily by temporary help services. 

 
14

16.9

1.5

2.6

7.5

2.1

15.3

13.3

2.1

2.4

3.8

2.8

5.6

-10 0 10 20

Ambulatory health care services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care facilities

February 2011: +34.3

Prior 12-mo. avg.: 21.7

Over-the-month change, February 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in selected health care industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Offices of physicians

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

• Health care employment continued to increase in February (+34,000). Over the past 12 

months, health care has added 278,000 jobs, or an average of 23,000 jobs per month. 

• In February, employment gains in health care were concentrated in ambulatory health 

care services (+17,000) and nursing and residential care facilities (+15,000). 

 
15

2

-3

2

-22

-29

-9

-28-30

-51

-24

-55

-34-35-34

-56

-63

39

-24

-12-17

-8

-51

-14

-50

-1

1

31 35

-3

23

-5

38

52

-31

-15

17

-3

21

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

75

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Leisure and hospitality employment edged up by 21,000 in February. Since reaching a 

low in January 2010, employment in leisure and hospitality has increased by 161,000, 

with food services accounting for most of the job gains during this period. 

 
16

7.5

-7.3

-5

-6.3

-11.7

-6.3

1.9

-2.8

3.5

-3.6

-9.8

-9.4

-15 -5 5 15

Federal, except U.S. Postal Service*

U.S. Postal Service

State government education

State, government, excluding education

Local government education

Local government, excluding education

February 2011: -30

Prior 12-mo. avg.: -20

Over-the-month change, February 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

Employment in selected government industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

U.S. Postal Service

State government education

Local government education

14,000

14,200

14,400

14,600

14,800

15,000

5,000

5,100

5,200

5,300

5,400

5,500

State government

Local government

2007-2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 4, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in state and local government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Local

State

• Government payroll employment edged down in February (-30,000). In the past 12 

months, employment in government has decreased by 257,000. 

• Over the month, the majority of the employment losses were concentrated in local 

government (-18,000). Since a recent peak in September 2008, local government 

employment has declined by 377,000.