Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

December 2010

Bureau of Labor Statistics

January 7, 2011
2

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

December 2010

Level: 130,712

Change: +103

0.6 0.5 0.3 0.2

-0.1-0.3-0.4-0.6

-1.0

-1.5

-2.1

-2.6

-3.2

-3.7

-4.2-4.5-4.6-4.8-4.9-4.9-4.7-4.5

-3.9

-3.5

-3.0

-2.4

-1.7

-1.0

-0.4-0.2

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.7 0.7 0.9

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

Over-the-year percent change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Employment in total nonfarm

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 103,000 in December. 

• Since a recent low in December 2009, nonfarm employment has expanded by 1.1 million, 

or 0.9 percent. 

   
3

-10 -50 -33

-149

-231-193-210

-334

-458

-554

-728

-673

-779

-726-753

-528

-387

-515

-346

-212-225-224

64

-109

14 39

208

313

432

-175

-66

-1 -24

210

71 103

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

450

600

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

4

-16

10

9

12

9

1

-4

4

7

44

47

-14

-10

-50 -25 0 25 50 75 100

Mining and logging

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

Over-the-month change, December 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

+103

Note: Data are preliminary.

• December marked the third consecutive month of nonfarm employment growth. 

• Education and health services and leisure and hospitality added jobs in December, while 

all other industries showed little employment change. 

   
4

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, total private

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 33.6

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 34.3

Change: 0.0

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

December 2010

Level: 93.2

Percent change: +0.1

of all employees

• Average weekly hours for all employees remained unchanged at 34.3 in December, while 

production worker hours increased by 0.1 hour to 33.6. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees increased by 0.1 percent over the 

month; since a recent low in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.0 percent. 

   
5

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

of all employees and CPI-U (1982-84), 2007-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings

Seasonally adjusted

Over-the-year percent changes

December 2010 AHE: 1.8

November 2010 CPI-U: 1.1

AHE

CPI-U

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

December 2010

Level: 101.3

Percent change: +0.3

payrolls of all employees

• Average hourly earnings for all employees increased by 3 cents in December to $22.78. 

• Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 40 cents, or 1.8 

percent. The Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers rose by 1.1 percent between 

November 2009 and November 2010. 

• In December, the index of private aggregate weekly payrolls for all employees increased 

by 0.3 percent to 101.3, its highest level since October 2008. Since a recent low in 

October 2009, the index has increased by 5.1 percent but is still 1.3 percent below the 

March 2008 peak. 
6

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

December 2010

Level: 5,603

Change: -16

-5.9

-0.4

-12.7

4.1

-0.8

-2.8

-0.4

1.7

-3.9 -4.0

-15

-10

-5

0

5

Residential building Nonresidential 

building

Heavy and civil 

engineering

Residential specialty 

trades

Nonresidential 

specialty trades

December 2010

Prior 12-mo. avg.

Over-the-month change, December 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Construction employment showed little change in December and, on net, has been 

essentially flat since March. 

• Heavy and civil engineering construction lost 13,000 jobs, while employment in building 

construction and specialty trades was unchanged. Extremely cold weather in the eastern 

half of the country and heavy precipitation in the West and Northeast may have 

suppressed employment. 

   
7

-5

-30 -37 -50

-27

-49

-72

-93 -93

-141-130

-177

-279

-166-165

-149-152

-129

-43 -57 -48 -57

-25 -18

22 16 19

38 39

4

32

-26

-6 -4 -8

10

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Manufacturing employment changed little in December. 

• The industry added 136,000 jobs in 2010. Most of the job gains occurred early in the 

year, and employment has shown little net change since May. 

   
8

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.2

Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 40.2

Change: -0.1

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

manufacturing, 2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly overtime hours,

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 4.0

Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 3.1

Change: 0.0

• Average weekly hours for all employees in manufacturing edged down by 0.1 hour to 

40.2 in December, while the production employee workweek was unchanged at 41.2 

hours. 

• Average weekly overtime hours for both all employees and production employees were 

unchanged over the month. 

• Since recent lows in March 2009, the workweek for production employees has increased 

by 1.8 hours, and production employee overtime has increased by 1.4 hours. 
9

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

16,000

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

16,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

December 2010

Level: 14,475.7

Change: +12.0

7.5

3.8

-1.2

0.7

0.5

-7.6

0.2

6.1

0.6

1.4

-2.1

2.1

-18 -15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Electronics and appliance stores

Building material and garden supply stores

Food and beverage stores

Health and personal care stores

Gasoline stations

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

General merchandise stores

Miscellaneous store retailers

Nonstore retailers

Over-the-month change, December 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Employment in retail trade industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade: 12

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Retail trade employment was essentially flat in December, although over the year, 

employment in retail trade has expanded by 116,000. 

• During December, job gains in motor vehicles and parts dealers (+8,000) offset losses in 

health and personal care stores (-8,000). Employment in other component industries 

changed little. 
10

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in professional and business services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

December 2010

Level: 16,854

Change: +7

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

December 2010

Level: 2,219.4

Change: +15.9

• Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up in December as 

job growth continued in temporary help services. 

• Temporary help services has added 495,000 jobs since a recent low in September 2009. 

   
11

20.6

3.3

6.5

4.3

8.0

7.1

13.0

2.8

1.3

3.5

3.8

3.8

-10 0 10 20 30

Ambulatory health care services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care facilities

December 2010: +35.7

Prior 12-mo. avg.: +20.7

Over-the-month change, December 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Employment in selected health care industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Offices of physicians

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

• Education and health services added 44,000 jobs over the month; employment in the 

industry expanded by 422,000 in 2010. 

• Health care accounted for the majority of December’s employment growth in education 

and health services as ambulatory health care services (+21,000) and hospitals (+8,000) 

added jobs. 

   
12

10,000

10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

10,000

10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Note: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

December 2010

Level: 13,231

Change: +47

-13.2

2.2

5.6

-11.3

-23.4

-8.8-7.1

-14.1

-23.9

-30.7-29.6-26.6

-13.7-16.7-19.4

-2.0

18.6

-1.0

-9.7

-13.1-14.9-13.0

-5.8

-21.8

20.2

13.3

22.5

12.3

-8.8

0.2

-1.5

26.3

38.4

24.5

16.5

24.5

-45

-30

-15

0

15

30

45

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 7, 2011.

Employment in food services and drinking places

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Leisure and hospitality added 47,000 jobs in December. Since a recent low in December 

2009, employment in the industry has increased by 240,000. 

• Food services and drinking places continued to add jobs in December 2010. Employment 

in this industry has increased by 188,000 since the most recent trough one year ago.