Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

December 2005

Bureau of Labor Statistics

January 6, 2006

Bureau of Labor Statistics
2

86

-122

-218

-54

-26

27

3 2

94

123

96 83

117

94

320337

250

106

83

188

130

282

132

155

124

300

122

292

126

175

277

148

17 25

305

108

-300

-200

-100

0

100

200

300

400

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

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 6, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, 2003-05

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Nonfarm payrolls increased by 108,000 in December to 134.5 million, seasonally 

adjusted. This increase follows a gain of 305,000 in November. Since the most 

recent employment trough in May 2003, 4.6 million jobs have been added. 

• Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls decreased by 0.1 hour in December to 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 5 cents in December to $16.34, seasonally adjusted. 

Over the year, average hourly earnings were up 3.1 percent. 
3

1.9

2.4

2.8

2.4 2.5

1.5

-1.3

-0.4

0.1

1.7

1.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, January 6, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-year percent change, 1995-2005

Seasonally adjusted, percent changes

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Over-the-year change, 2005 

45

246

-51

71

98

86

6

22

188

486

363

242

30

188

-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550

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 Statisti cs survey, January 6, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary. 

Total nonfarm: 

+2,019

• Over the year, payroll employment grew by 2.0 million. The increase of 1.5 

percent is similar to growth in 2004. The payroll gains over the past 2 years mark 

the first consecutive years of significant job growth since 2000.

• Professional and business services, education and health services, construction, 

and leisure and hospitality experienced the largest employment increases during 

2005. Manufacturing was the only supersector to endure a job loss in 2005, its 

eighth annual decline in the past 9 years.
4

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Over-the-month change, December 2005 

3

-9

18

2

-16

-10

-1

3

12

33

25

23

11

14

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

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, January 6, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary. 

Total nonfarm: 

+108

• Job growth was widespread over the month.

• Professional and business services, education and health services, leisure and 

hospitality, and manufacturing experienced the largest employment increases in 

December. 
5

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 Statisti cs survey, January 6, 2006.

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

December 2005

Level: 103.4

Change: -0.2

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 Statisti cs survey, January 6, 2006.

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

December 2005

Level: 113.0

Change: +0.1

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

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

private nonfarm payrolls decreased by 0.2 percent in December to 103.4. This is 

the first decline since May. Since its most recent trough in May 2003, the index 

has increased by 5.3 percent, but has yet to regain the level of its most recent peak 

(103.9) in October 2000.

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

on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 percent to 113.0 in December. 

During 2005, the index increased by 5.2 percent. 
6

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, January 6, 2006.

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

December 2005

Level: 7,332

Change: -9

• Construction employment was little changed (-9,000) in December.

• Strong hiring during the 2005 buildup period coupled with weak early season 

layoffs helped lead to a larger-than-average employment decline in December. 

Over the year, the construction industry added 246,000 jobs.
7

-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 -10-16

13 8

18

-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

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 6, 2006.

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 increased by 18,000 in December, following a 

small increase in November. (The October job gain represents workers returning 

from strike and recovery of hurricane-related job losses in September.) However, 

over the last 12 months, manufacturing has lost 51,000 jobs.

• Most of December’s increase occurred in durable goods industries, which added 

15,000 jobs. The gain was spread though many of the component industries, 

including wood products and computer and electronic products. 

• The factory workweek declined by 0.1 hour to 40.7 hours and factory overtime 

was unchanged at 4.5 hours, seasonally adjusted. Manufacturing overtime has 

been between 4.4 and 4.6 hours since November 2003.
8

Employment in selected professional and business services 

Over-the-month change, December 2005

2.9

6.0

4.4

2.6

4.2

-16.7

3.5

-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10

Legal services

Accounting and

bookkeeping services

Architectural and

engineering services

Computer systems design

and related services

Management and technical

consulting services

Employment services

Services to buildings and

dwellings

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, January 6, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Professional and

Business services:+33

• Professional and business services added 33,000 jobs in December, following a 

much larger increase in November (76,000). However, December’s over-themonth change was below the industry’s recent trend. Over the year, the industry 

added 486,000 jobs. 

• Professional and technical services employment increased by 28,000 in 

December. Job gains trended up in architectural and engineering services, and 

management and consulting services, and accounting services.

• Employment services lost 16,700 jobs in December following a gain of 48,800 

jobs in November. Combined, these 2 months’ average job gain of 16,000, is 

slightly below the prior 12-month trend. 

• Employment in temporary help services was little changed over the month 

(+9,000); over the year, the industry added 156,000 jobs.
9

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, December 2005

9.1

5.0

1.3

0.7

7.7

4.3

0 4 8 12 16

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 6, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Health care:

+21.1

Ambulatory health 

care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities

• Health care added 21,000 jobs in December and 271,000 jobs in 2005. Both 

ambulatory care services and hospitals continued to add jobs in December. 

• As is typical, ambulatory health care services had the largest increase in 

December, though its gain of 9,100 was below its recent trend. This industry has 

not seen a month of job loss since January 1999. Over the year, the industry 

added 142,600 jobs with approximately half in offices of physicians. 
10

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

36

29

-68

-7

53

23

-80

-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

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 6, 2006.

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 added 23,000 jobs in December, following a 53,000 gain 

in November. The rebound in employment during these past 2 months offset 

losses incurred in September and October, which were, in part, directly and 

indirectly impacted by Hurricane Katrina. 

• Food services, which accounts for the majority of the leisure and hospitality 

employment, gained 36,000 jobs in December. Gains in the past 2 months offset 

the previous 2 months of declines, leaving employment in the industry similar to 

its pre-hurricane level. Over the year, food services and drinking places added 

220,000 jobs.