Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

September 2012

Bureau of Labor Statistics

October 5, 2012
2 

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

September 2012

Level: 133,500

Change: 114

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 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–September 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

142

114

-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–September 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Total nonfarm employment rose by 114,000 in September. 

• Since the beginning of the year, job growth has averaged 146,000 per month, compared 

with an average gain of 153,000 in 2011. 
3 

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

September 2012

Level: 111,499

Change: 104

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 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–September 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

97

104

-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–September 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In September, total private employment rose by 104,000, bringing the year-to-date gain 

to 1.3 million. 

• Thus far in 2012, job growth has averaged 145,000 per month, compared with an average 

gain of 175,000 in 2011. 

• Since reaching an employment trough in February 2010, the private sector has added 4.7 

million jobs.
4 

Embargoed pre-release until 10-05-2012 8:30 AM (EDT)

10

9

11

49

13

13

-6

0.1

17.1

9.4

-1.6

-16

5

1

-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, October 05, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

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

Total nonfarm:

114

-470

68

746

1015

1414

98

-102

10.5

264.4

373.8

200.0

480

-6

164

-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, October 05, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

31–month change, September 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

114

Total nonfarm:

4256

Total private:

4726

February 2010 – September 2012

• In September, employment rose in health care and in transportation and warehousing, but 

changed little in other industries.

• Since an employment trough in February 2010, most nonfarm job gains have occurred in 

professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and 

hospitality.
5 

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, October 05, 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–September 2012 Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.5

Change: 0.1

Production employees

Level: 33.7

Change: 0.0

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, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–September 2012

September 2012

Level: 96.4

Change: 0.4%

Total private, all employees

• Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up 0.1 hour 

to 34.5 hours in September. 

• The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm 

payrolls was unchanged in September at 33.7 hours. 

• The September employment gain combined with a longer workweek resulted in a 0.4-

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

reaching a trough in October 2009, the index has risen 6.4 percent.
6 

-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, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

September 2012 Earnings: 1.8

August 2012 CPI-U: 1.7

*1982–84=100

March 2007–September 2012

• Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 7 cents in 

September to $23.58. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have risen by 1.8 

percent.

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 1.7 percent 

from August 2011 to August 2012. 
7 

-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

3

1

5

-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–September 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Construction employment was essentially unchanged in September (+5,000) for the 

fourth consecutive month. 

• Since February 2010, employment in the industry has shown essentially no net change. 
8 

-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

-22

-16

-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–September 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-1.5

0.2

-3.0

-0.2

-5.5

-0.2

0.0

-3.4

-0.9

1.7

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4

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, October 05, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

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

Durable goods:

-13

• Manufacturing employment edged down in September (-16,000), following a decline of 

22,000 in August. On net, manufacturing employment has been unchanged since April. 

• Between an employment trough in January 2010 and April 2012, manufacturing had 

added 484,000 jobs or an average of 18,000 jobs per month. 

• In September, computer and electronic product manufacturers lost 6,000 jobs, with 

computer and peripheral equipment makers accounting for about half of the loss. There 

was widespread weakness in other durable goods industries.
9 

4,000

4,100

4,200

4,300

4,400

4,500

4,600

4,700

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

Employment in transportation and warehousing

September 2012

Level: 4,408

Change: 17

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 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–September 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Transportation and warehousing employment increased by 17,000 in September. Over 

the year, industry employment has risen by 104,000. 

• Within transportation and warehousing, transit and ground passenger transportation 

gained 9,000 jobs over the month as seasonal increases in school and employee buses 

were stronger than expected.
10

7,400

7,600

7,800

8,000

8,200

8,400

8,600

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

Employment in financial activities

September 2012

Level: 7,758

Change: 13

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 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–September 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

8.1

2.8

-3.8

3.3

6.4

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

Real estate and rental and leasing

Insurance and related activities

Securities and commodities

- Commercial banking

Credit intermediation ̊

Employment in selected financial activities

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

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

Financial 

activities:

13

• Employment in financial activities edged up (+13,000), reflecting modest job growth in 

credit intermediation (+6,000) and real estate (+7,000). 

• Over the past 12 months, financial activities has added 83,000 jobs.
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

19

13

-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–September 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in professional and business services changed little in September (+13,000); 

however, since an employment low in September 2009, the industry has added 1.6 

million jobs.
12

6.4

-5.4

4.8

3.7

-1.8

2.9

2.9

-0.7

4.9

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

- 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, October 05, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

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

Professional and 

business services:

13

-4

-38

-32

-12

-30

-34

-28

-41

-30

-72

-113

-75

-80

-55

-55

-60

-22

-19

3

-6

7

32

56

45

58

23

30

28

33

31

2

20

20

31

33

30

16

14

36

-1

2

-8

9

21

24

17

20

19

36

50

-13

21

15

18

13

0

-2

-160

-140

-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 temporary help services

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Within professional and technical services, employment in computer systems design and 

related services continued to trend up in September. Since reaching an employment low 

in August 2009, the industry has added an average of 5,000 jobs per month. 

• Employment in temporary help services was essentially flat in September (-2,000) for the 

second consecutive month. 
13

35

29

30

37

28

21

33

19

14

18

31

23

15

22

10

11

30

24

19

18

22

22

23

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

16

44

-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–September 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

5.7

8.0

7.8

9.4

6.6

29.8

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

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, October 05, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

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

Health care 

industries:

44

• Health care employment rose by 44,000 in September, largely due to gains in ambulatory 

health care services.

• Job growth in health care had averaged 16,000 per month from June through August. 

• Hospitals added 8,000 jobs over the month. 
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

38

11

-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–September 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-4

-5

-9

-25

-12

-3

7

-18

-28

-26

-36

-22

-25

-24

-24

-30

38

6

-8

-24

-28

-24

-11

-38

-1

-9

25

19

11 1

1

30

54

16

13

15

0

42

38

33

2

7

5

20

28

24

53

25

26

35

27

8

8

10

25

31

16

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

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

Employment in food services and drinking places

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in leisure and hospitality continued to rise in September. 

• As of March, the industry had recovered all of the jobs lost during its most recent 

employment downturn. Since March, job growth in the industry has averaged 13,000 per 

month, which puts industry employment 110,000 above its most recent employment peak 

in January 2008. 

• Food services and drinking places continued to add jobs in September and accounts for 

most of the employment growth in leisure and hospitality since January 2008. 
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

September 2012

Level: 22,001

Change: 10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 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–September 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-9.2

2.5

-0.3

13.6

-3.0

6.8

-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 05, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

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

Government:

10

• Government employment changed little in September (+10,000) and is up 73,000 over 

the past 3-months. However, government employment remains 569,000 below its level 

at the end of the most recent recession in June 2009. 

• A job loss in local government (-7,000) partially offset modest gains elsewhere in the 

sector.