September 2015

Release Date: October 2, 2015

Prepared by Staff of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

Contents

Summary

Mining & Logging

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities

Information

Financial Activities

Professional & Business Services

Private Education & Health Services

Leisure & Hospitality

Other Services

Government

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis

Current Employment Statistics

Highlights
Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, September 2015

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015

+31,000 Professional and Business Services 

 Employment continued to trend upward in 

professional and business services. Computer 

systems design and related services added 

7,000 jobs over the month, while legal services 

added 5,000 jobs. Professional and business 

services employment has risen by an average 

45,000 per month in 2015, compared to an 

average monthly gain of 59,000 in 2014. 

 Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 

142,000 in September. Employment rose in 

health care and information, while mining 

employment decreased over the month. Thus 

far in 2015, employment has increased by an 

average 198,000 per month, compared to an 

average 260,000 per month in 2014.

 The employment change for July was 

revised down from +245,000 to +223,000, and 

the change for August was revised down from 

+173,000 to +136,000. Incorporating revisions, 

employment growth rose by an average

167,000 per month in the third quarter.

 Average hourly earnings for all employees 

on private-sector payrolls changed little in 

September (-1 cent), following a 9-cent 

increase in August. Over the year, hourly 

earnings are up 2.2 percent. In September,

average weekly hours were down 0.1 hour to 

34.5 hours. 

+29,000 Education and Health Services 

 In September, payroll employment 

continued to rise in health care (+34,000). 

Hospitals accounted for 16,000 of the jobs 

gained. Over the year, hospitals have added 

146,000 jobs. 380 247 216 87 113 35 177188 144 213 164 293 205 314 115 187 219 127 164 256 150 225 317 109 166 188 225 330 236 286 249 213 250 221 423 329 201 266 119 187 260 245 223 136142

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2012 - September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
+24,000 Retail Trade 

 Employment in retail trade continued to 

trend up in September. General merchandise 

stores and automobile dealers added 10,000 

and 5,000 jobs, respectively. Over the year, 

employment in retail trade has risen by 

314,000. 

+12,000 Information 

 Information employment rose by 12,000 in 

September, with small movements among the 

component industries. 

-12,000 Mining and Logging

 Mining lost 10,000 jobs over the month. 

Since reaching a peak in December, 

employment in the industry has decreased by 

102,000 or 11.9 percent. Support activities for 

mining accounted for most of the jobs lost—

-7,000 over the month and -80,000 year to 

date. Logging employment fell by 2,000 in 

September.

24

1

35

29

31

0

12

-1

4

24

-4

-9

8

-12

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

Over-the-month change, September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

142*

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, September 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Mining and logging employment 

decreased in September (-12,000).

Logging shed 2,000 jobs and mining lost 

10,000 jobs. Mining employment 

peaked in December and, since then, has 

decreased by 102,000.

2

3 15 13 101112

5

9

5

6

7

9

6

2

1

4

-2-2

-1

-5

-7

9

6

3

5

0

-3

3

1

0

3

2

3

2

0

5

1

3

6

2

4

8

3

7

1

1

1

-7

-14-14-14

-20

-5

-9-9

-12

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in mining and logging

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Mining and Logging

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Construction employment changed 

little in September (+8,000) and has 

shown little movement in recent 

months. 

-35 26 18 16 24 11 20

5 36

-3

3 24 17

0

-1-1

-19 15

99

8 19 16 40 22 52 17

-2 2023-2 12 2725 35

-16 69 2630 41 11

7 31 1722 10 30 44 41 31

-12 30 12

1

55

8

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in construction

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Employment in manufacturing changed little in 

September (-9,000). Within durable goods,

furniture and related products added 3,000 jobs. 

This increase was offset by small losses in other 

durable goods industries.

 The 1-month diffusion index increased to 44.4 in 

September from 39.4 in August. The diffusion index 

measures the dispersion of employment change in 

manufacturing, with a value below 50 indicating 

that more manufacturing industries are losing jobs 

than gaining.

 In September, average weekly hours declined by 

0.2 hour for production employees and by 0.2 hour 

for all employees. 23 35 17 30 1212 18 24

55

-2 25 35 23 42 17 14 11 24

-4

-13

3

-4 14 1922

4

0

1

-2

-22 28 11 18 32 1416 20

91112 23 14149 23 45 19 17

3

6

0

6

1 11

-18

-9

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Manufacturing

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Employment in wholesale trade 

changed little in September (-4,000).

5,200

5,400

5,600

5,800

6,000

6,200

Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in wholesale trade

September 2015 Level: 5,916

OTM Change: -4

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2005–September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Wholesale Trade

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Employment in retail trade continued to trend up in September 

(+24,000), in line with its average monthly change over the prior 12 

months (+27,000). 

NAICS 4411– Automobile Dealers

 Within motor vehicle and parts dealers, automobile dealers added 

5,000 jobs in September. This increase coincides with recent strength in 

auto sales. In August, auto sales were 17.8 million (seasonally adjusted 

annualized rate); the highest level since July 2005 (Source: Motor 

Intelligence). 

NAICS 452– General Merchandise Stores

 In September, general merchandise stores added 10,000 jobs. Over 

the past 12 months, the industry has added 68,000 jobs. 60 28

9 72

-2 3333

1 29

-2 14

-1 65

-12 10 25

-11

-18

-13

7 31 23 73

-23 31 17

-6 22 32 3941 36 30 35 32 57

-17

-19 27 43 11 39 25

-3 32 26 61

0 35 23 32 11 3336 29

4 24

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

2

1

10

0

-2

2

1

2

2

2

-1

3

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Nonstore retailers

Miscellaneous store retailers

General merchandise stores*

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Gasoline stations

Health and personal care stores

Food and beverage stores

Building material and garden supply stores

Electronics and appliance stores

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Employment in retail trade

September 2015 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade:

24

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

Retail Trade

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in transportation and 

warehousing changed little (+4,000) in 

September. Couriers and messengers 

added 3,000 jobs. Over the year, 

transportation and warehousing has 

added 138,000 jobs. 

3,800

4,000

4,200

4,400

4,600

4,800

5,000

Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in transportation and warehousing

September 2015 Level: 4,798

OTM Change: 4

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2005–September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation and Warehousing

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Utilities employment experienced 

little change in September (-1,000). 

-2

2

0

1

0

0

-2

1

1

-1

1

0

1

0

1

-1

0

1

-8

8

0

-1

-2

0

0

0

-1

2

1

1

-3

0

0

0

2

-2

-2

0

2

-1

0

1

2

2

-2

0

3

2

0

1

11

2

0

2

1

-1

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in utilities

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Utilities 

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Employment in information rose by 

12,000 in September. Small increases 

occurred in component industries, with 

employment in motion picture and 

sound recording industries edging up by 

7,000. 

1

-5

-6

5

1

7

-11

-42 44

3

-5

8

-11

9

-2

33

-9

3

-1

-6

-2

8

-3

-5 32

-1-1 12

-3 11

-27 18 12

7

-4

0

-4

3

5

-5 12

5 13

4

-3

7

66

7

-2 10

-1

3

4

-5 12

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in information

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Information

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Employment in financial activities

was unchanged in September. Job gains 

had averaged 13,000 per month over the 

prior 12 months.

3

8 24

3 10

1

-1

6 12 10

8 10 1213

6 12136 17

-4

-1

9

3

2

4 13

2

9

9 17 16 13 10

7 287 19

9 13

7

9 21 15 12

0

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in financial activities

Over-the-month change, January 2012–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Financial Activities

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up 

in September (+31,000) with positive trends in component industries: 

professional and technical services (+18,000), management of companies 

and enterprises (+2,000), and administrative and waste services (+10,000). 

Monthly job gains in in professional and business services have averaged 

45,000 thus far in 2015, compared with an average monthly gain of 59,000 

in 2014. 

NAICS 54 – Professional and Technical Services

 Within professional and technical services, legal services added 5,000 

jobs in September. Employment continued to trend up in computer 

systems design and related services (+7,000); over the year this industry 

added 104,000 jobs. 

 3942 82 56 47

2 31 57 69 53 41 61 97 63 27 48 28 41 58 35 18 66 48 46 42 89 55 61 68 36 43 31 25 46 66

-2 36 69 39 72 54 74 45 56 51 40 96 72 20 49 39 666868 40 2731

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in professional and business services

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-1

-2

-1

1

1

-3

4

0

-1

0

2

0

2

0

-4

4

2

2

2

-2

3

2

2

2

-2

-1

3

2

-3

-5

0

1

1

-1

-3

-2

0

-1

0

-2

-1

1

-1

4

-5

-1

2

1

-2

3

-1

2

1

-2

1

-1

5

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in legal services

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and Business Services

CES Highlights Release Date: October 02, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in education and health services edged up by 29,000 in 

September, with all of the gain occurring in health care (+34,000). Over 

the past 12 months, private education and health services has 

expanded by 568,000 jobs. 

NAICS 622—Hospitals 

 Hospitals added 16,000 jobs in September. Employment in the industry

has increased by 146,000 over the past 12 months, accounting for over

one quarter of the job gains in private education and health services

over the same period.

gain 6.0

15.5

2.5

2.7

6.8

12.9

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance.

Over-the-month change, September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

34*

0

0

8

9

6

2

6

2

9

33

4 16

7

5

1

1

1

3

0

2

4

3

1

-1

3

1

8

-16

1

-3

0

-3

-2

1

-6

-5

-1

3

3

5

2

-2 10

7

3 11

9 13 11 10 1415

8 22 17 16

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in hospitals

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 In September, employment in leisure and hospitality continued to trend 

up (+35,000), in line with its prior 12-month average monthly gain.

Within leisure and hospitality, food services and drinking places 

employment edged up in September (+21,000), and the industry has added 

349,000 jobs in the last 12 months. 

 

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

16,000

Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in leisure and hospitality

September 2015 Level: 15,221

OTM Change: 35

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2005–September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands 10 27 33 27 19 1819 23 3133 45 32 40 33 43

6

5

6 33 46 56 1012 64 40 37 15 34 44 38 47 25 14 28 32 1720 28 38 32 39 33 20 27 39 45 27 55 25 60

-9 2022 34 26 24 21

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15

Employment in food services and drinking places

Over-the-month change, January 2011–September 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and Hospitality

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in other services 

changed little (+1,000) in September and 

is essentially unchanged over the past 3 

months.

5,200

5,250

5,300

5,350

5,400

5,450

5,500

5,550

5,600

5,650

5,700

5,750

Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15

Employment in other services

September 2015 Level: 5,640

OTM Change: 1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2005–September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Other Services

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
 Government employment changed 

little in September (+24,000). 

Employment at the federal, state, and 

local levels changed little over the 

month. Government has added 127,000 

jobs so far in 2015, with the majority of 

the employment gain occurring in local 

government.

9

0

4

14

0

-2

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

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

September 2015 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, September 2015

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

24

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 02, 2015.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

Government

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: October 2, 2015
Prepared by Staff of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

CES Analysts

Michael Calvillo

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Brittney Forbes

Lyda Ghanbari

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Kara Sullivan

Jay Stuart

Parth Tikiwala

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis