Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

January 2012

Bureau of Labor Statistics

February 3, 2012

 
2 

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

203

243

-950

-750

-550

-350

-150

50

250

450

650

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

Employment in total nonfarm

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Total nonfarm employment rose by 243,000 in January 2012, compared to an average 

increase of 152,000 per month in 2011. 

• The January employment gained in total nonfarm brings the number of net jobs recovered 

since a trough in February 2010 to 3.2 million jobs, or 36 percent of the 8.8 million jobs 

lost between January 2008 and February 2010. 

 

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 Jan-12

Employment in total nonfarm

January 2012

Level: 132,409

Change: 243

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3 

-498

48

575

717

1,112

30

-102

5

193

347

139

400

43

157

-1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500

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, February 03, 2012.

Note 1: Data are preliminary.

Note 2: February 2010 represents the most recent total nonfarm employment trough.

February 2010 – January 2012 net change

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm: 3,165

Note: February 2010 representsthe most recent total nonfarm employmenttrough. Data are preliminary.

-14

7

44

36

70

-5

-13

0

13

11

14

50

21

10

-25 -5 15 35 55 75

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, February 03, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

243

• In January, job growth was widespread throughout most major industries. 

• The goods-producing industries –mining and logging, construction, and manufacturing– 

saw employment increases. 

• Among the service-providing industries, wholesale trade, professional and business 

services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality, gained the most jobs. 

• Private service-providing industries accounted for about 3.1 million of the 3.2 million net 

jobs recovered since February 2010. 

• Goods producing industries have added 600,000 jobs during this period primarily from 

mining and manufacturing. Government subtracted nearly half a million jobs from the net 

change. 
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 Jan-12

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.5

Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 33.8

Change: 0.1

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 Sep-11

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–January 2012

January 2012

Level: 95.5

Change: 0.2%

Total private, all employees

• Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls remained 

unchanged in January, while production and nonsupervisory employees saw average 

weekly hours increase by 0.1 hours. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees continued to trend upwards in 

January, just as it had since October 2009. 

• In January 2012 the index of aggregate weekly hours stood 4.8 percent below its peak in 

January 2008. 

 
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 Sep-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, February 03, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

January 2012 Earnings: 1.9

December 2011 CPI-U: 3.0

*1982–84=100

March 2007–January 2012

• Average hourly earnings for all employees in private industry rose 4 cents or 0.2 percent 

in January. 

• Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings has increased by 1.9 percent; while in 

December, the CPI-U had a 12-month percent change of 3.0 percent. 

• The CPI-U outpaced private earnings growth, in terms of their most recent over-the-year 

growth rates. 

 
6 

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

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

Employment in mining and logging

January 2012

Level: 832

Change: 10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Mining and logging added 10,000 jobs in January. The majority of job growth in mining 

during January was from support activities for mining. 

• Since a low in October 2009, mining employment has expanded by 172,000, with 10,000 

jobs being added in January. 

 
7 

5,400

5,900

6,400

6,900

7,400

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

Employment in construction

January 2012

Level: 5,572

Change: 21

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

9.7

4.3

-1.4

6.4

2.5

-5 0 5 10 15

Nonresidential specialty trades

Residential specialty trades

Heavy and civil engineering

Nonresidential building

Residential building

Employment in construction

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction:

21

• Construction has experienced two months of solid job growth with 21,000 jobs added in 

January, and 31,000 in December. 

• The majority of gains in construction in January were split between nonresidential 

building construction and nonresidential specialty trade contractors. 

 

• Since reaching a trough one year ago, construction employment has increased by 

116,000. 

 
8 

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

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

Employment in manufacturing

January 2012

Level: 11,862

Change: 50

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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 Jan-12

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012 Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.9

Change: 0.3

All employees

Level: 40.9

Change: 0.3

• Manufacturing has experienced 2 months of solid job growth with 50,000 added in 

January and 32,000 in December. Furthermore, manufacturers have added 404,000 jobs 

since January 2010. 

• The 1-month diffusion index of manufacturing employment rose from 64.2 in December 

to 69.1 in January, indicating a wider dispersion of the job growth across industries. A 

measure above 50 indicates that more industries are increasing employment than are 

reducing it. 

• The factory workweek for all employees rose 0.3 hour; the employment gain combined 

with a longer workweek resulted in a 1.2-percent increase in the index of aggregate 

weekly hours for manufacturing. 

 
9 

5.3

1.5

10.3

0.9

-1.9

10.5

10.9

1.7

2.3

3.1

-5 0 5 10 15

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, February 03, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

44

• Durable goods employment growth contributed to the bulk of the jobs gained within 

manufacturing. 

• Fabricated metal products, and machinery, and transportation equipment were the 

primary drivers of job growth within durable goods. 

 
10 

-8

0

-23

-19

9

-1

-21

-35

-15

-43

6

-28

-100

16

-17

-36

-36

-26

19

-4

-3

-2

-10

-1

12

-6

3

6

11

-1

16

-11

-1

-1

0

-1

18

6

6

4

1

5

9

-3

5

12

4

10

10

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

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

Employment in transportation equipment

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in transportation equipment continued trending upward in January. 

 

• Since reaching a trough in December 2009, employment in the industry has expanded by 

116,000. 

 
11 

5,400

5,500

5,600

5,700

5,800

5,900

6,000

6,100

6,200

6,300

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

Employment in wholesale trade

January 2012

Level: 5,583

Change: 14

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

14,000

14,200

14,400

14,600

14,800

15,000

15,200

15,400

15,600

15,800

16,000

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

Employment in retail trade

January 2012

Level: 14,741

Change: 11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Wholesale trade employment increased by 14,000 in January. 

• The employment level for wholesale trade remains 8 percent below November 2007 

peak, after having added 144,000 jobs since its trough in May 2010. 

• Employment in retail trade continued to trend upwards.

• Over the month, job gains in department stores, health and personal care stores, and auto 

dealers were partly offset by a loss of jobs in clothing stores. 

 
12 

3,900

4,000

4,100

4,200

4,300

4,400

4,500

4,600

4,700

4,800

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

Employment in transportation and warehousing

January 2012

Level: 4,337

Change: 13

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

7,500

7,600

7,700

7,800

7,900

8,000

8,100

8,200

8,300

8,400

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

Employment in financial activities

January 2012

Level: 7,690

Change: -5

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Transportation and warehousing employment continued to trend upward into January. 

The industry has added 193,000 jobs since a recent trough in February 2010. 

• Financial activities employment changed little in January. 

• Since reaching a trough in July 2010, employment in the industry has shown little net 

change. 

 
13 

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

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

Employment in professional and business services

January 2012

Level: 17,654

Change: 70

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

4.0

33.2

36.7

3.1

3.0

1.7

6.9

12.5

30.3

0 10 20 30 40

- 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, February 03, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

70

• Professional and business services added 70,000 jobs in January, with nearly half from 

employment services. 

• Accounting and bookkeeping, and architectural and engineering services also added jobs. 

 
14 

1,500

1,700

1,900

2,100

2,300

2,500

2,700

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

Employment in temporary help services

January 2012

Level: 2,406

Change: 20

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Temporary help services, which added 20,000 jobs in January, accounted for 61 percent 

of the gain in employment services. 

• Temporary help services has added 656,000 jobs since August 2009, but its employment 

level is 251,000 below its August 2006 peak. 

 
15 

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

18

31

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

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

Employment in health care 

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

5.3

12.7

1.9

4.5

2.7

12.9

0 5 10 15

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, February 03, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

31

• In January, health care employment continued to grow in line with its long term trend. 

• Hospitals and ambulatory services each individually contributed 13,000 jobs over the 

month. 

 
16 

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

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

Employment in leisure and hospitality

January 2012

Level: 13,499

Change: 44

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

8,100

8,300

8,500

8,700

8,900

9,100

9,300

9,500

9,700

9,900

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

Employment in food services and drinking places

January 2012

Level: 9,778

Change: 33

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Over the month, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 44,000. 

• Food services and drinking places netted an increase of 33,000 jobs in January. 

• Since February 2010, food services and drinking places has added 487,000 jobs. 

 
17 

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 Jan-12

Employment in government

January 2012

Level: 21,973

Change: -14

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 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–January 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

0

52

17

7

26

33

49

20

-7

-9

-6

-3

21

1

-12

110

-49

-56

-43

-12

-15

30

0

-51

0

-8

48

46

432

-259

-150

-179

-142

24

-13

-20

-9

-37

-15

-13

-54

-18

-79

33

-14

-27

-21

-17

-14

-350

-250

-150

-50

50

150

250

350

450

550

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

Employment in government

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 03, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Government employment continued to trend lower in January. 

 

• Since reaching employment peaks in August 2008, local government has lost 515,000 

jobs, while state government has lost 153,000 jobs. 

 

• The U.S. Postal Service has been cutting jobs since 1999.