Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

July 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

August 5, 2011
2 

120,000

122,000

124,000

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

Employment in total nonfarm

July 2011

Level: 131,190 Change: 117

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands 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 68 235 194217 53 46 117

-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

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 117,000 in July, following little change over 

the prior 2 months. 

Monthly job gains had averaged 179,000 during the first 4 months of the year. 
3 

-37

0

17

38

34

-4

-1

0

1

26

2

24

8

10

-60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60

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, August 05, 2011. Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm: 117

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 486593110 109143 128167 94 261 219241 99 80 154

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

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

Employment in total private

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

In July, job gains occurred in health care, retail trade, manufacturing, and mining. 

Government employment continued to trend down. 

Employment in the private sector rose by 154,000 over the month. Since reaching a 

recent low in February 2010, the private sector has added 2.4 million jobs—an average of 

140,000 per month. 
4 

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

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most 

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.3 Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 33.6 Change: 0.0

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

Mar-06 Sep-06 Mar-07 Sep-07 Mar-08 Sep-08 Mar-09 Sep-09 Mar-10 Sep-10 Mar-11

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–July 2011

July 2011

Level: 93.8 Change: 0.1%

Total private, all employees

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

unchanged at 34.3 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls was 33.6 for the sixth consecutive month. 

The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector declined by 

0.1 percent in July. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased 

by 3.5 percent. 
5 

-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 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, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

July 2011 Earnings: 2.3

June 2011 CPI-U: 3.4

*1982–84=100

March 2007–July 2011

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

Mar-06 Sep-06 Mar-07 Sep-07 Mar-08 Sep-08 Mar-09 Sep-09 Mar-10 Sep-10 Mar-11

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly payrolls 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–July 2011

July 2011

Level: 103.5 Change: 0.6%

Total private, all employees

Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector increased by 10 cents, or 

0.4 percent, to $23.13 in July. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have 

increased by 2.3 percent. The consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) was 

up 3.4 percent over the year ending in June. 

The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees rose by 0.6 

percent. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 7.4 percent. 
6 

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

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

Employment in mining and logging

July 2011

Level: 800

Change: 10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011.

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

January 2000–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in mining rose by 9,000 in July; virtually all of the gain (+8,000) occurred 

in support activities for mining. Since the most recent low in October 2009, mining 

employment has risen by 140,000, or about 7,000 per month. Support activities for 

mining has accounted for most of the growth. 
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 37 2028

71124

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-0.4

2.8

14.4

0.7

2.5

1.5

4.5

1.2

-0.3

-4.1

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

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, August 05, 2011. Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods: 23

Manufacturers continued to post employment gains (+24,000) in July, primarily in 

durable goods industries. 

Since an employment low in December 2009, employment in durable goods 

manufacturing has increased by 327,000. In nondurable goods manufacturing industries, 

employment edged down in 2010 and has changed little in 2011. 
8 

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

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

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most 

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.4 Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 40.3 Change: 0.0

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

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

Average weekly overtime hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 

2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 3.1 Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 4.1 Change: 0.0

The factory workweek and overtime hours for all employees in manufacturing were 

unchanged in July. 
9 

0

-4

-24

-18

3

-1

-15

-37

-15

-42

5

-28

-91 11

-18

-35

-43

-26 28

-9

-4

-1

-12

-2 23

-12

3

6

3

-2 26

-19

-2

1

-1

-3 22

2

3

3

0

5 14

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

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

Employment in transportation equipment

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-3

-5

-26

-18

-1

-1

-11

-33

-19

-14

-17

-25

-83 16

-11

-26

-33

-20 34

-4

0

5

-8

-1 24

-10

2

5

7

-1 21

-20

0

3

-2

-2 20

-1

2

2

0

2 12

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

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

Employment in motor vehicles and parts

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation equipment added 14,000 jobs in July; the majority of the gains were in 

motor vehicles and parts (+12,000). 

The motor vehicles and parts industry had fewer seasonal layoffs than usual for July, 

contributing to a seasonally adjusted employment increase of 12,000. 
10

-8

-47

-20

-68

-61

-35

-45

-63

-69

-60

-130

-91

-104

-78

-86

-50

-13

-19

-41

-14

-48

-47

-17

-19 35

0 25 16

-3

-13 11

-7 1826

-16

6 31

0

-6 64

3 11 26

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in retail trade increased by 26,000 in July. Employment in health and 

personal care stores rose by 9,000 over the month; there were with small increases 

distributed among several other retail industries. Retail trade has added 228,000 jobs 

since a recent employment low in December 2009. 
11

-6

-34

-59

3

-71

-45

-64

-77

-68

-113

-181

-110

-151

-183

-130

-150

-61

-108

-29

-26

-6

7 66 263131

2 69 25 43

-2 30

8 40 85 58 51 38 75 4544

4 34

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in professional and business services

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

3.3

3.3

13.3

3.1

5.4

6.1

1.3

-3.6

17.7

-5 0 5 10 15 20

- 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, August 05, 2011. Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.

Over-the-month change, July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and business services: 34

Professional and business services employment continued to trend up (+34,000) in July, 

and has increased by 810,000 since a recent low in August 2009. 

Professional and technical services continued to add jobs (+18,000) in July; the industry 

has added 246,000 jobs since reaching an employment low in March 2010. 
12

1,700

1,800

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

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

Employment in temporary help services

July 2011

Level: 2,230

Change: 0

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011.

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

January 2000–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month and has shown 

little movement on net so far this year. 
13

3.2

14.0

3.1

-0.5

6.3

14.1

-2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

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, August 05, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.

Over-the-month change, July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

31

Health care employment increased by 31,000 in July. Over the past 12 months, health 

care has added 299,000 jobs, or an average of 25,000 jobs per month. 

In July, ambulatory health care services and hospitals added 14,000 jobs each. 
14

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 3135

-3 23

-5 38 52

-31

-15 17

-3 54 46 29

-25 33 17

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

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

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Over-the-month change, January 2008–July 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

8,800

8,900

9,000

9,100

9,200

9,300

9,400

9,500

9,600

9,700

9,800

Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11

Employment in food services and drinking places

July 2011

Level: 9,503 Change: 0

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2006–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and hospitality employment has shown little net change over the last 3 months. 

Food services and drinking places typically drives employment trends within the 

industry, however; food services employment has been flat over the past 3 months. 
15

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

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

Employment in government

July 2011

Level: 22,034 Change: -37

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 05, 2011. Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-3.8

-12.2

-23.8

1.1

-0.4

2.0

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

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, August 05, 2011. Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-37

Government payroll employment continued its downward trend in July (-37,000). 

Employment in state government excluding education dropped by 24,000 in July. The 

decline was mostly due to the partial government shutdown in Minnesota. (State and 

area estimates will be released on Friday, August 19, 2011 at 10:00 A.M.). 
16

14,000

14,100

14,200

14,300

14,400

14,500

14,600

14,700

14,800

14,900

15,000

5,000

5,050

5,100

5,150

5,200

5,250

5,300

5,350

5,400

5,450

5,500

Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11

State government

Local government

Employment in state and local government

January 2007 - July 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Local

State

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 08, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Local government employment continued to trend down over the month. Since reaching 

an employment peak in September 2008, local government has lost 475,000 jobs.