Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 2, 2005

Current Employment Statistics

Highlights

August 2005
2

All employees on nonfarm payrolls

1990-2005

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

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

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

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

August 2005

Level: 133,999

Change: +169

• Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 169,000 in August, following a gain 

of 242,000 in July. Employment rose over the month in several industries, 

including construction, health care, and accommodation and food services. Over 

the year, payroll employment has increased by 2.2 million.

• Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls were unchanged in August, and remain at 33.7 hours, seasonally 

adjusted. Since late 2002, the average workweek has been flat, fluctuating 

between 33.6 and 33.8 hours.

• Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls rose by 2 cents in August to $16.16, seasonally adjusted. 

Average weekly earnings grew by 0.1 percent over the month to $544.59. Over 

the year, both average hourly and weekly earnings grew by 2.7 percent.
3

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Over-the-month change, August 2005

2

25

-14

8

12

-1

1

3

15

29

43

34

-2

15

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Total nonfarm: 

+169

• In August, job growth was concentrated among service-providing industries, with 

notable gains occurring in education and health services, leisure and hospitality, 

and professional and business services.

• Construction experienced a gain in payroll employment, but August was a weak 

month for the goods-producing industries. Manufacturing employment edged 

down in August, and has declined by 110,000 over the year. Natural resources 

and mining employment continued to trend upward. Responding to rising fuel 

prices and increased demand for other natural resources, the industry added

64,000 jobs since its most recent low in April 2003. Support activities for oil and 

gas operations have accounted for much of this increase.
4

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

1990-2005

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

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

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

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

August 2005

Level: 102.9

Change: +0.1

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

Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls

1990-2005

55

70

85

100

115

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

55

70

85

100

115

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

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

August 2005

Level: 111.2

Change: +0.2

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

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

private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 percent to 102.9 (2002=100) in August. 

Since its most recent trough in May 2003, the index has increased by 4.8 percent, 

although it still has not fully recovered to its prior peak level of 103.9 in October 

2000.

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

on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.2 percent to 111.2 (2002=100) in 

August.
5

Employment in construction

1990-2005

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

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

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

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

August 2005

Level: 7,262

Change: +25

• Employment in construction grew by 25,000 in August. Job growth was 

concentrated in specialty trade contractors.

• Construction employment has increased by 604,000 since its most recent low in 

March 2003. Job gains have occurred primarily in residential construction 

industries, which have been driven by sustained low mortgage rates and a 

consequent surge in home building.
6

-57

-74

-54

-111

-60 -61

-84

-37

-25 -20 -13 -18 -14

-2

10

32

24

-3 -3

25

-14 -8 -7 -3

-27

14

-6

-15

1

-25

-6

-14

-180

-140

-100

-60

-20

20

60

100

Jan-03Feb-03

Mar-03

Apr-03

May-03

Jun-03

Jul-03

Aug-03

Sep-03

Oct-03

Nov-03

Dec-03Jan-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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, 2003-05

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in manufacturing edged down in August and has declined by 

110,000 over the year. 

• Motor vehicle and parts manufa cturers shed 8,000 jobs in August. Since May 

employment in this industry has declined by 37,000, reflecting production 

cutbacks among carmakers. This industry has accounted for nearly half of all 

manufacturing jobs lost over the year.

• Long-term employment declines continued in textile mills and apparel 

manufacturers. These industries have lost 46,000 jobs over the year.

• Both the factory workweek and manufacturing overtime were unchanged in 

August, at 40.5 and 4.5 hours, respectively.
7

Employment in selected professional and business services 

Over-the-month change, August 2005

1.8

4.9

1.0

1.2

-1.6

16.2

-3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18

Accounting and

bookkeeping services

Architectural and

engineering services

Computer systems design

and related services

Management and technical

consulting services

Management of companies

and enterprises

Employment services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Professional and

Business services:+29

• Professional and business services gained 29,000 jobs in August, and has added 

507,000 jobs over the year. Employment gains over the month were widespread, 

with only management of companies and enterprises suffering a job loss. 

• Employment services, which accounts for about 22 percent of total employment 

in this sector, added 16,000 jobs in August.
8

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, August 2005

15.9

8.5

2.5

2.5

9.7

0.7

0 3 6 9 12 15 18

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Health care:

+26.3

Ambulatory health 

care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities

• Health care employment continued to rise, expanding by 26,000 in August. This 

industry has experienced consistent growth over the years, with annual growth 

registering between 2 and 3.5 percent since 2000. 

• Over the month, significant employment gains came in ambulatory health care 

and in hospitals.
9

68

-47

-24 -21

-2

37 39

25 22

47

39

31 29

16

45

31 31

12 11 11 14

24 25

18 22

39

12

61

13

29

37 34

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-03Feb-03

Mar-03

Apr-03

May-03

Jun-03

Jul-03

Aug-03

Sep-03

Oct-03

Nov-03

Dec-03Jan-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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, September 2, 2005.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Over-the-month change, 2003-05

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Leisure and hospitality employment rose by 34,000 in August and 328,000 over 

the year. Employment in this industry has grown consistently for over 2 years. 

Food services and drinking places accounted for most of the growth over the 

month, adding 18,000 jobs in August. Over the year, this industry has added 

280,000 jobs.