Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

July 2009

Bureau of Labor Statistics

August 7, 2009

 
2

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

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Notes: 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

July 2009

Level: 131,488

Change: -247

-72

-144 -122 -160 -137 -161 -128

-175

-321

-380

-597

-681

-741

-681 -652

-519

-303

-443

-247

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 247,000 in July, bringing total 

employment losses to nearly 6.7 million since the start of the recession in 

December 2007. 

 

• Although employment continues to fall, the pace of job loss has eased over the 3 

most recent months. During that period, employment contracted by an average of 

331,000 per month. This is down from the average 645,000 jobs lost per month in 

the 6-month period from November 2008 to April 2009. 
3

Mar-06, 2.2

Jul-09, -4.2

-4.5

-3.0

-1.5

0.0

1.5

3.0

-4.5

-3.0

-1.5

0.0

1.5

3.0

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, percent

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent changes, 2006-09

• Total nonfarm employment in July 2009 is 4.2 percent lower then a year earlier. 

In March 2006, there was an over-the-year gain of 2.2 percent.
4

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Notes: 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

July 2009

Level: 33.1

Change: +0.1

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

hourly earnings and CPI-W (1982-84=100)

1999-2009

Over-the-year percent changes in average

Seasonally adjusted, percent

Over-the-year percent changes

July 2009 AHE: 2.5

June 2009 CPI-W: -1.7

Notes: 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 CES data are preliminary.

Sources: BLS, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

CPI-W

AHE

• In July, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls edged up 0.1 hour to 33.1 hours. Recent low levels of 

the average workweek have not been seen since the series began in 1964. 

• In July, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents to $18.56. Over the past 12 months, 

average hourly earnings have increased by 2.5 percent. 
5

90

95

100

105

110

115

90

95

100

105

110

115

aggregate weekly hours

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Notes: 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.

Index of total private

Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100

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

July 2009

Level: 99.1

Percent change: 0.0

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Notes: 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.

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

July 2009

Level: 122.9

Percent change: +0.2

• The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers 

on private nonfarm payrolls remained unchanged in July. Since peaking in 

December 2007, the index has decreased by 8.1 percent. 

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of production and nonsupervisory 

workers on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 0.2 percent in July. This increase is 

the first since August 2008. 
6

0

-76

-52

-19

-44

-22

-2

-16

-13

-38

17

9

2

7

-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40

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, July 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-247

Total nonfarm:

• A majority of major industry sectors experienced job losses in July, with losses 

concentrated in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional and 

business services. Education and health services continued to add jobs. 

• The rate of job loss has slowed in several industries during recent months, 

including construction and several service-providing industries. 
7

-34

-44 -44

-64

-44

-61

-31

-24

-46

-65

-127

-98

-135

-113

-123

-103

-57

-86

-76

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Construction employment fell by 76,000 in July. Employment losses were 

widespread across the industry, as both the residential and nonresidential 

components shed jobs. 

• Although the loss is large by historical standards, it represents an improvement 

over the industry’s performance from November 2008 to April 2009. During that 

time, the industry employment declines averaged 117,000 per month. In the 3 

most recent months, construction employment losses have slowed to an average 

of 73,000 per month.
8

-33

-52 -49 -57

-30

-51 -51

-67 -65

-119 -121

-180

-262

-172 -172

-150 -146

-131

-52

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Manufacturers reduced payrolls by 52,000 jobs in July. 

• In the past 3 months, job losses in manufacturing have moderated. From May to 

July, the industry shed an average of 110,000 jobs per month compared to an 

average loss of 176,000 jobs per month from November 2008 to April 2009.

• Manufacturing has lost 2.0 million jobs since the start of the current recession in 

December 2007, accounting for about 30 percent of total nonfarm payroll jobs 

lost--the largest share of any industry.
9

-5

-2

-2

-14

-15

-7

-5

28

-5

-4

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

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, July 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-32

Durable goods:

-1

-1

-2

-1

1

1

-3

-5

-1

-3

-7

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2

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, July 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in nondurable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-20

Nondurable goods:

• The majority of manufacturing employment losses occurred in durable goods 

manufacturing, with 32,000 jobs cut from payrolls. Within durable goods, 

machinery (-15,000) and fabricated metal products (-14,000) had the largest 

losses.

• The seasonally-adjusted estimate for motor vehicle and parts (an industry within 

transportation equipment) employment rose over the month (28,000). Shutdowns 

in May and June resulted in fewer seasonal layoffs for retooling in July. Thus, the 

seasonally-adjusted gain likely does not indicate improvement in the industry. 

Employment in motor vehicle and parts has been on a long-term decline. 
10

-11.0 -12.7

-8.7

-16.6

-6.6 -6.2

-16.2

-12.6

-7.1

-27.1

-29.8

-39.6

-31.4

-45.6

-32.4 -30.5

-15.1 -14.0

-18.6

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

Employment in wholesale trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• In July, wholesale trade employment fell by 19,000. Over the past 3 months, the 

industry employment losses averaged 16,000 per month, or roughly half the 

average monthly decline experienced in the prior 6-month period (-35,000). 
11

3.8

-45.6

-20.1

-48.4

-37.7

-15.5

-24.2

-45.7

-56.3 -61.4

-90.8-88.1

-46.4

-57.2 -61.9

-32.7 -28.1

-20.6

-44.1

-110

-90

-70

-50

-30

-10

10

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Employment in retail trade continued to fall in July, declining by 44,000. 

Although, the loss in July was steeper than in the prior 2 months, the pace of job 

loss in recent months has moderated from the pace set during the November 2008 

to April 2009 period (-63,000).
12

-1 -3

2

-2

-15 -15

-3

-12

-35

-14

-33 -34 -36

-27

-32

-44

-18

-12

-22

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Employment in transportation

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

and warehousing

• Employment in transportation and warehousing declined by 22,000 jobs in July. 

The loss is roughly in line with its average monthly decline over the prior 12 

months (-25,000). The loss in July was spread throughout the component 

industries.
13

-3

3

-2

-6

-4

-7

-11

-5 -4 -4

-17

-25

-16

-6

-13

-21

-26

-18

-16

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Employment in information

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Information employment fell by 16,000 in July; this is in line with its prior 6-

month average decline of 17,000. Since peaking in May 2007, the industry has 

shed 215,000 jobs. 

• Among information’s component industries, employment losses were 

concentrated in publishing (-8,000) and telecommunications (-5,000 jobs) in July. 
14

-14

-18

-7

-14 -11

-17

-8

-13

-26 -27

-45

-33

-56 -56

-41

-46

-27 -29

-13

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

-130.3

-38.0

-80.2

-55.7

-84.3

-160 -140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0

Credit intermediation*

Commercial banking 

Securities and commodity

Insurance and related activities

Real estate 

Over-the-year change, July 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in selected financial activities 

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

+19.6

Health care:

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Commercial banking 

• Employment in financial activities continued to fall in July, declining by 13,000. 

Job losses have averaged 23,000 over the past 3 months, reflecting a slower rate 

of decline compared to average declines of 46,000 during the prior 6 months. 

Since the start of the current recession in December 2007, financial activities have 

shed 501,000 jobs. 
15

-40

-51

-64

-4

-63 -63

-36

-61 -52

-63

-124 -132

-151

-176

-119 -127

-27

-106

-38

-220

-180

-140

-100

-60

-20

Employment in professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

business services

-25

-38

-34

-23

-37

-43

-34

-48

-37

-45

-90

-73

-90

-73

-57 -54

-1

-31

-10

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

Employment in temporary help

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

services

• Professional and business services employment edged down by 38,000 in July. 

The pace of job loss has slowed over the past 3 months (-57,000) compared with 

November 2008 to April 2009 (-138,000). Since reaching an employment peak in 

December 2007, the industry has shed 1.5 million jobs. 

• Within professional and business services, temporary help services employment 

was little change in July. This industry has lost 844,000 jobs, or nearly a third of 

its employment, since the start of the recession (December 2007). 
16

28

32

28

39

29

23

38

25

22

25

41

34

14

25

21

18

28

25

20

0

10

20

30

40

50

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Health care added 20,000 jobs in July. Health care has continued to grow despite 

the recession, adding 513,000 positions since the recession started in December 

2007. 

• Although the industry has continued to add jobs through the recession, the pace of 

expansion has slowed. Employment growth in the industry has averaged 21,000 

per month since the beginning of 2009, down from an average of 30,000 per 

month in 2008.

• Hospitals have accounted for most of the slowdown in employment growth. In 

2009, hospital employment growth has averaged 3,000 per month, down from an 

average of 11,000 per month in 2008. 
17

-17

-5 -1

-16 -17

-5

-17 -19

-26

-33

-51

-40 -36 -32 -34 -34

27

-18

9

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

Employment in leisure 

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

and hospitality

• Leisure and hospitality employment was little changed in July and over the past 3 

months. Employment declines in the industry have subsided after losses of more 

than 200,000 jobs between November 2008 and April 2009. 
18

3

1

-1

2

-1

1

0

6

-6

2

-4

-2

-3 -2

-4 -2

-1

-7

-11

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

Employment in State government,

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

excluding education

13

5

10

6 5

8 7

11

-3

2

-3

2

-13

-2

-13

-1

9

-2

17

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

Employment in local government,

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 7, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

excluding education

• Employment in State government, excluding education, declined by 11,000 in 

July.

• Employment in local government, excluding education, increased by 17,000 in 

July.