Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

May 2006

Bureau of Labor Statistics

June 2, 2006
2

• Nonfarm payrolls edged up 75,000 in May to 135.1 million. From January 

through April, payroll employment growth has averaged 164,000 per month. 

122

55

346

252

267

78

38

131

177

338

133

160

76

265

140

228

106

166

241

175

48

37

354

145 154

200

175

126

75

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05Jan-06Feb-06

Mar-06

Apr-06

May-06

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 2, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, 2004-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3

• Average weekly hours for production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls decreased by 0.1 hour in May to 33.8, seasonally adjusted. 

Average weekly hours have been little-changed since reaching a trough in 

December 2003.

• The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls declined 0.2 percent over the month to 104.6, the first 

decline since August 2005. This decline offsets an increase of 0.4 percent in 

April.

Average weekly hours, total private

1992-2006

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Seasonally adjusted

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 33.8

Change: -0.1

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

1992-2006

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 104.6

Percent Change: -0.2

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

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

1992-2006

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 104.6

Percent Change: -0.2

Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production or nonsupervisory workers.
4

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of production or nonsupervisory workers 

on private nonfarm payrolls declined 0.2 percent in May to 116.3, seasonally 

adjusted, following an increase of 1.0 percent in April. Over the year, the index 

has increased 6.1 percent.

• Average hourly earnings for private sector production or nonsupervisory workers 

edged up by 1 cent in May to $16.62, seasonally adjusted, following a gain of 10 

cents in April. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 3.7 percent. 

Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls

1992-2006

55

68

81

94

107

120

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

55

68

81

94

107

120

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 116.3

Percent Change: -0.2

Aggregate weekly payrolls are the product of average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production or nonsupervisory workers.

Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls

1992-2006

55

68

81

94

107

120

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

55

68

81

94

107

120

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 116.3

Percent Change: -0.2

Aggregate weekly payrolls are the product of average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production or nonsupervisory workers.

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings, 

1990-2006

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Seasonally adjusted, percent

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs Survey, June 2, 2006

Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

May 2006

Percent Change: +3.7

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings, 

1990-2006

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Seasonally adjusted, percent

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs Survey, June 2, 2006

Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

May 2006

Percent Change: +3.7
5

• Employment in the construction industry was essentially unchanged in May, 

marking 3 consecutive months of relatively weak job growth. Weakness was 

widespread throughout the industry.

• Average weekly hours for construction workers declined by 0.6 hour in May to 

38.5, seasonally adjusted. 

Employment in construction

1992-2006

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 7,512

Change: +1

Employment in construction

1992-2006

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 7,512

Change: +1
6

• Manufacturing employment declined by 14,000 in May following an increase of 

19,000 in April. Job losses came in both durable and nondurable goods 

industries.

• Durable goods manufacturing employment decreased by 9,000 in May. The 

largest declines came in transportation equipment and in computer and 

electronics, offsetting April gains in their respective industries. 

• Nondurable goods manufacturing employment fell by 5,000 in May, the sixth 

consecutive month of employment decline. There were small job losses among 

most component industries. 

• The average manufacturing workweek declined 0.1 hour in May, offsetting the 

0.1-hour gain in April. Since reaching a low in June 2005, the manufacturing 

workweek has increased by 0.7 hours. Average weekly overtime was unchanged 

in May.

• Average hourly earnings were unchanged following a 6 cent increase in April.

-6

-10

8

29

23

-8

0

16

-19

-9

-12

-14

-26

8

-8

-12

-5

-18

-9

-11

-26

9

18

8

5

-1 -1

19

-14

-35

-25

-15

-5

5

15

25

35

Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05Jan-06Feb-06

Mar-06

Apr-06

May-06

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 2, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, 2004-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-6

-10

8

29

23

-8

0

16

-19

-9

-12

-14

-26

8

-8

-12

-5

-18

-9

-11

-26

9

18

8

5

-1 -1

19

-14

-35

-25

-15

-5

5

15

25

35

Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05Jan-06Feb-06

Mar-06

Apr-06

May-06

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 2, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, 2004-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
7

• Employment in wholesale trade continued its strong upward trend in May, 

increasing by 14,000. Durable goods led the employment growth, while 

nondurable goods experienced above trend growth. 

• Durable goods added 7,000 jobs in April, slightly above trend for the past twelve 

months. Nearly all of the components had small increases in April.

• Nondurable goods added an above-trend 5,000 jobs to payrolls in May. Most 

industries within nondurable goods experienced small job gains.

• Employment in electronic markets and agents continued on trend in May, rising 

by 2,000. Since reaching a trough in April 2001, this industry has gained 152,000 

jobs. During this time, growth has been concentrated in wholesale trade agents 

and brokers. 

Employment in wholesale trade

1992-2006

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 5,850.4

Change: +14.4

Employment in wholesale trade

1992-2006

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 5,850.4

Change: +14.4
8

• Retail trade employment declined by a significant 27,000 in May. Throughout 

2005, the industry grew by an average 13,000 jobs per month, compared to an 

average of 13,000 jobs lost per month so far in 2006. Despite recent declines, 

employment has remained little changed over the year. Weakness was 

widespread in May, with two-thirds of the components posting employment 

declines.

• Employment in clothing and clothing accessories stores declined by 9,000 in 

May. The trend for this industry has changed in 2006, with job losses occurring 

every month so far this year, compared to an average gain of 5,000 jobs per 

month in 2005.

• Employment in general merchandise stores declined by a significant 9,000 in 

May. Since reaching a peak in August 2005, employment has fallen by 46,000.

Employment in retail trade

1990-2006

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-06Jan-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 15,236.0

Change: -27.1

Employment in retail trade

1990-2006

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-06Jan-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 15,236.0

Change: -27.1
9

• Employment in temporary help services edged lower in May. So far in 2006, this 

industry has shed an average 6,000 jobs per month, compared with an average 

monthly job gain of 14,000 during 2005.

Employment in temporary help services

1992-2006

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 2,596.6

Change: -2.8

Employment in temporary help services

1992-2006

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 2, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

May 2006

Level: 2,596.6

Change: -2.8
10

• Employment growth in health care was below average in May with the addition of 

19,000 jobs. Growth was widespread throughout the components. 

• Hospitals experienced the largest employment increase in the health care industry, 

adding 9,000 jobs. This gain is above trend when compared to the previous 12 

months.

• Ambulatory health care services posted a gain of 8,000 jobs, below its prior 12-

month average gain of 14,000.

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, May 2006

8.4

4.9

1.7

3.0

8.7

1.5

0 2 4 6 8 10

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 2, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Health care:

+18.6

Ambulatory health 

care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, May 2006

8.4

4.9

1.7

3.0

8.7

1.5

0 2 4 6 8 10

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 2, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Health care:

+18.6

Ambulatory health 

care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities