Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

November 2010

Bureau of Labor Statistics

December 3, 2010

   
2 

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 0.6

-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, December 3, 2010.

Employment in total nonfarm

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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, December 3, 2010.

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

November 2010

Level: 130,539

Change: +39

• Nonfarm payroll employment changed little in November (+39,000). 

• Over the year, employment has risen by 0.6 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

172

39

-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, December 3, 2010.

-12

-85 -58

-161

-253-230-257

-347

-456

-547

-734

-667

-806

-707-744

-649

-334

-452

-297

-215-186

-262

75

-83

16

62

158

241

51 61

117143112

160

50

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

450

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in total private

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Payroll employment has increased by 951,000, an average of 86,000 per month, since 

December 2009, its recent low point. 

• In November, employment in the private sector continued to trend up at a modest pace 

(+50,000). 

• The private sector has added 1.2 million jobs thus far in 2010 

 
4 

3

-5

-13

5

-28

12

-9

53

30

11

-10

9

9

-14

6

5

5

0

39

44

17

-24

-50 -25 0 25 50 75

Mining and logging

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation and warehousing

Financial activities

Professional and business services

Education and health services

Leisure and hospitality

Government*

November 2010: +40

Prior 3-mo. avg.: +114

Over-the-month change, November 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in total nonfarm* and selected supersectors

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm*:

Note: Data are preliminary.

*ExcludingCensustemporary and intermittentworkers

• Employment in professional and business services (+53,000) and education and 

healthcare (+30,000) continued to rise in November. 

• Retail trade employment fell (-28,000) over the month, a departure from the average 

change of the prior 3 months. 

 
5 

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, December 3, 2010.

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: 33.5

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, December 3, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

November 2010

Level: 93.1

Percent change: +0.1

of all employees

• Average weekly hours for all private-sector employees remained unchanged in 

November, while the workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees decreased 

by 0.1 hour. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours of all private-sector employees increased by 0.1 

percent, reflecting the slight increase in employment. The index has risen by 2.9 percent 

since a low in October 2009. 

 
6 

-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, December 3, 2010.

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

November 2010 AHE: 1.6

October 2010 CPI-U: 1.2

AHE

CPI-U

  

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

November 2010

Level: 101.0

Percent change: +0.1

payrolls of all employees

• Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up one cent 

in November. 

• Over the last 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.6 percent. 

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls for the private-sector ticked up 0.1 percent in 

November and has increased by 4.8 percent since a low in October 2009. 

 
7 

-24 -28 -33

-59 -61

-70

-52 -52

-72

-92

-149

-95

-153

-116

-142

-114

-59

-91

-80

-64 -71 -67

-15

-36

-60

-51

27 22

-29

-9 -2

34

-11

3

-5

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

  

0.5

-0.3

1.3

0.3

-7.1

-2.6

-1.0

2.2

-4.3

-5.0

-10

-5

0

5

Residential building Nonresidential 

building

Heavy and civil 

engineering

Residential specialty 

trades

Nonresidential 

specialty trades

November 2010

Prior 12-mo. avg.

Over-the-month change, November 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Data are preliminary.

• In November, employment in construction was flat and, on net, has changed little since 

March 2010. 

• Resident and nonresidential construction employment showed little change in November. 

 
8 

-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 -11 -13

-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, December 3, 2010.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

  

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, December 3, 2010.

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: 41.3

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 40.3

Change: 0.0

• Manufacturing employment was little changed over the month. 

• Following job growth earlier in 2010, employment has been relatively flat, on net, since 

May. 

• Average weekly hours for all employees remained unchanged in November, while the 

workweek for production employees edged up by 0.1 hour. 

• Since a trough in June 2009, the manufacturing workweek for all employees has 

increased by 1.6 hours. 

 
9 

-2.4

-34.6

-11.8

-66.4-67.5

-36.4-42.0

-66.6

-78.9-80.2

-117.0

-99.2

-71.0-69.8

-87.4

-42.8

-22.2-24.4

-53.5

-15.3

-48.3

-63.0

8.8

-14.5

49.1

7.1

22.7

14.4

-5.8

-16.2

11.1 6.4

-3.9

13.0

-28.1

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

  

4.6

-4.8

0.0

-3.2

-1.8

-0.1

-1.0

-1.6

-3.6

-14.5

-1.8

-0.3

-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, November 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in retail trade industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade: -28.1

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Retail trade lost 28,000 jobs in November with notable losses in department stores 

(-9,000) and furniture and home furnishing stores (-5,000). 

• Employment in motor vehicle and parts dealers edged up (+5,000). This industry has 

added 34,000 jobs since an employment trough in October 2009. 

 
10 

-1.7

1.8 3.3 2.6

-10.9-11.8

-4.1

-13.9

-37.0

-16.8

-32.4-30.4

-37.9

-26.4-29.4

-47.8

-15.9-16.7

-27.3

-1.1

-10.4

-15.8

7.2

-4.0

-29.3

-9.0

12.7

7.4 8.7

12.114.5

-1.1

16.5

0.7

11.6

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

  

-0.8

1.4

-0.4

-2.5

11.2

2.4

-6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15

Air transportation

Truck transportation

Transit and ground passenger transportation

Support activities for transportation

Couriers and messengers

Warehousing and storage

Over-the-month change, November 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in selected transportation

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation and

warehousing: 11.6

and warehousing industries

Note: Data are preliminary.

• After little change in October, employment in transportation and warehousing edged up 

in November. The increase was concentrated in couriers and messengers (+11,000). 

 
11 

-9 -10

0

-6

-9

-17 -15

-18

-33

-37

-44

-29

-55

-51

-42

-47

-32 -31

-23 -24

-12

-19

2

-9

-22

-7

-19

2

-9 -11 -10

-3

4

0

-9

-60

-45

-30

-15

0

15

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Financial activities employment edged down in November. 

• Monthly job losses in financial activities averaged 29,000 in 2009, but have since 

decelerated to 8,000 per month in 2010. 

 

 
12 

7.4

-1.6

2.6

0.9

3.7

-0.2

46.6

44.8

-5.3

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Professional and technical*

Accounting and bookkeeping

Architectural and engineering

Computer systems design

Management and technical consulting

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services*

Employment services

Services to buildings

Over-the-month change, November 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in selected professional and

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and business

services: +53

business services

Professional and technical*

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services*

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

-11.3

-30.0-26.3

-18.6

-31.5-35.4-37.2

-51.1-45.2

-62.1

-91.4

-62.6

-72.3

-49.5

-61.3-65.9

-12.9

-34.3

-8.8

-15.7-9.2

42.2

94.7

49.749.2

35.932.3

23.3

30.4

18.6

-6.7

22.5 27.3

34.7 39.5

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

120

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Employment in professional and business services continued to rise in November. 

• Since September 2009, professional and business services has added 512,000 jobs. 

 

• Job gains have been concentrated in temporary help services, which has added 494,000 

jobs since reaching an employment trough in September 2009. 

 
13 

7.4

-0.5

0.7

4.1

8.0

3.8

13.8

3.5

1

3.6

3.3

3.3

-10 0 10 20

Ambulatory health care services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care facilities

November 2010: +19.2

Prior 12-mo. avg.: +20.5

Over-the-month change, November 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

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

• Health care employment continued on its upwards trend in November. 

• Hospitals added 8,000 jobs over the month, in line with the past three months. 

 
14 

-8

5 10

-13

-37

-13

-27 -27

-43

-36

-58

-40 -39

-26

-46

-34

23

-21

-4

-18

16

-54

-21

-33

12

23 23

36

-15

30

11

24

38

-10

11

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

75

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

  

-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

22.4

11.7

-45

-30

-15

0

15

30

45

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in food services and drinking places

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• In November, employment in leisure and hospitality edged up, largely due to a job gain 

in food services and drinking places. 

• Since reaching a trough in December 2009, leisure and hospitality employment has risen 

by 183,000, with food services and drinking places accounting for 86 percent of this 

increase. 

 
15 

1

9

4 6

3

12

20

8

-6 -7

3

-1

5

-9

-5

1

5

-12

-23

18

1

9

-10

6

-9

6

-1

-5

-12

2

16

-17

12 12

1

-40

-20

0

20

40

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in State government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

  

17 19 17

-1

16

24 25

2 0

-4

0

-5 -4

1

-9

-2 -4

4

-32

-14

-43

11

2

-23 -26

-32

1

-1

-15 -15

-56

-16

-72

8

-14

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 3, 2010.

Employment in local government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Government employment changed little in November. Year to date, job losses total 

220,000. 

• Employment in local government peaked in September 2008, and has since declined by 

360,000.