Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

April 2008

Bureau of Labor Statistics

May 2, 2008
126

25

177

46

162

107

57

74 81

140

60

41

-76 -83 -81

-20

-120

-80

-40

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-08

1.5

1.3

1.2 1.2

1.3 1.3

1.1

1.0 1.0 1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.4

0.3

0.0

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.5

1.8

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

B-3. Employment in total nonfarm

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent changes, 2007-08

• In April, employment in total nonfarm payrolls was little changed (-20,000). This 

comes after a 3-month decline totaling 240,000 jobs. 

• The over-the-year percentage change in total nonfarm payroll employment 

continues to slow. In fact, the rate has declined over each of the last 6 months. 
 

-3

-61

-46

-11

-27

1

0

-2

3

39

52

18

7

9

-70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Natural resources and mining

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, April 2008

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-20

Total nonfarm:

• The goods-producing sector dropped 110,000 jobs in April led by jobs losses in 

construction and manufacturing. 

• The service-providing sector gained 90,000 jobs in April. Jobs gains were led by 

education and health services and professional and business services. Retail trade 

experienced the only significant job loss among service providing industries. 
85

90

95

100

105

110

115

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

85

90

95

100

105

110

115

aggregate weekly hours

1997-2008

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private

Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100

Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production and nonsupervisory workers.

April 2008

Level: 107.2

Percent change: -0.4

• In April, the average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.1 hour to 33.7. The workweek has fluctuated no 

more than 0.1 hour from 33.8 hours, seasonally adjusted, since November 2004. 

The index of total private aggregate weekly hours fell by 0.4 percent in April. 
70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

1997-2008

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private

Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100

Aggregate weekly payrolls are the product of average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production and 

nonsupervisory workers.

aggregate weekly payrolls

April 2008

Level: 128.1

Percent change: -0.2

• In April, average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls experienced the smallest change since May 2006, edging 

up by 1 cent to $17.88. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have 

increased by 3.4 percent. 

• The index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls fell 0.2 percent in April. The 

index has grown by 3.8 percent over the past 12 months. 
-10.7

-4.9

-15.7

-22.4

-7.7 -8.6

-2.3 -2.7

-15.4

-0.8

-32

-28

-24

-20

-16

-12

-8

-4

0

4

8

12

Residential building Nonresidential

building

Heavy and civil

engineering

Residential specialty

trades

Nonresidential

specialty trades

April 2008 Prior 12-mo. avg. 

Over-the-month change

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

Residential construction

Housing-related, excluding construction

B-11. Employment in housing-related industries

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month changes, 2007-08

• Employment in construction declined by 61,000 in April, as losses were spread 

between the residential and nonresidential components. Since peaking in 

September 2006, employment in the industry has fallen by 457,000. 

• The downturn in the housing market has affected employment in other industries 

besides construction, such as home centers and real estate credit. 
13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

1997-2008

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

April 2008

Level: 13,596

Change: -46

1 0

-2

1

-2

4

1

-1

2 3

-2 -3 -2

-4

-2

-11

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

Employment in fabricated

metal products

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-08

• Manufacturing employment decreased by 46,000 in April and by 326,000 over the 

past 12 months. Over the month, the manufacturing workweek declined by 0.3 

hour to 40.9 hours and overtime fell by 0.1 hour to 3.9 hours.

• Nearly all of the job losses occurred in durable goods manufacturing. Losses 

occurred in motor vehicles and parts (-17,000) and in fabricated metal products 

(-11,000). Declines also occurred in furniture and related products (-4,000) and in 

semiconductors and electronic components (-3,000). 
-2

13

3

16

12

18

11

6

9

14

5

-2

-6

-10

-4

-11

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

Employment in wholesale trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-08

35

13

60

-33

13

-16

5

13

-15 -18

44

-25

-16

-43

-19

-27

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-08

• Wholesale trade employment continued to edge down in April. Since November 

2007, employment in this industry has declined by an average of 6,000 per month, 

contrasting with the average monthly job growth of 11,000 over the prior 12-

month period. 

• Employment in retail trade continued to trend down, with a decrease of 27,000 in 

April. Since reaching a peak in March 2007, the industry has shed 137,000 jobs. 

Over the month, job losses continued in building material and garden supply 

stores (-12,000) and in department stores (-8,000). 
24 25

2

28 35

-3

23 21 21

70

9

52

-30 -28

-44

39

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

Employment in professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-08

business services

26.8

9.1

1.1

10.2

6.2

-0.8

13.9

-0.3

5.6

-10 0 10 20 30 40

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, April 2008

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in selected professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

business services

services: +39

Professional and business

Professional and technical

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services

• In April, professional and business services gained 39,000 positions after 

shedding 102,000 jobs during the first quarter of 2008. 

• Professional and technical services employment rose by 27,000 in April. 

Computer systems design added 10,000 jobs over the month and employment in 

accounting and bookkeeping services edged up by 9,000. 

• Employment in employment services was little changed in April, though 

temporary help services jobs continued to trend down. 
21.7

7.6

2

6.7

9.4

5.8

16.5

5.5

0.6

3.7

10.3

3.9

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Ambulatory health care

services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential

care facilities

April 2008:+36.9

Prior 12-mo. avg.: +30.7

Over-the-month change, April 2008

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Health care:

Ambulatory health care

services*

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care

facilities

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

• Employment in health care continued to increase in April with a gain of 37,000. 

This industry has added 365,000 over the past 12 months. In April, there were 

gains of 22,000 in ambulatory health care services and of 9,000 in hospitals.
20 18 17

34

41

32

21

26

31

33

13

10

7

13

19 18

0

10

20

30

40

50

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

Employment in food services and

drinking places

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 2, 2008.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-08

• Employment continued to trend upward in food services in April (18,000), 

although job gains have slowed over the past 6 months. Since October 2007, food 

services employment has grown by an average of 13,000 per month; this 

compares to the average increase of 28,000 jobs per month for the preceding 12 

months.