April 2019

Release Date: May 3, 2019

Prepared by Analysts 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
CES Highlights Release Date: May 3, 2019

 Nonfarm employment increased by 

263,000 in April. Professional and business 

services, construction, health care, and social 

assistance added jobs.

 The employment change for March revised 

down from +196,000 to +189,000, and the 

change for February revised up from +33,000 

to +56,000. On net, employment over these 

months is 16,000 higher than previously 

reported.

 Average hourly earnings of all privatesector employees increased by 6 cents in April. 

Over the year, hourly earnings have risen by 

3.2 percent. Average weekly hours, at 34.4 

hours, fell 0.1 hour in April. 

+76,000 Professional and Business Services

 Employment in professional and business 

services rose by 76,000 in April. Administrative 

and support services accounted for 53,000 of 

the increase, including jobs gains in services to 

buildings and dwellings (+21,000), and other 

support services (+10,000). Computer systems 

design and related services also added jobs 

over the month (+14,000). Over the past 12 

months, the professional and business services 

industry has added 535,000 jobs.

+62,000 Education and Health Services

 Health care and social assistance added 

53,000 jobs in April. Among health care 

providers, employment increased in 

ambulatory care services (+17,000) and 

hospitals (+8,000), and community care 

facilities for the elderly (+7,000). Over the 

past 12 months, health care has added 

404,000 jobs.

 Social assistance employment rose by 

26,000 in April, with the increase coming in 

individual and family services. 

90

232234

211

15

282

336

135

270

128

170

215

252

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127

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128

229

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18

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220

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330

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196

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277

196

227

312

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189

263

0

50

100

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200

250

300

350

400

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Over-the-month change Annual average

 

 

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in total nonfarm

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, April 2019

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
Current Employment Statistics Summary, January 2019

CES Highlights Release Date: May 3, 2019

+33,000 Construction 

 Employment in construction rose by 33,000 

in April. Within the industry, nonresidential 

specialty trade contractors (+22,000) and 

heavy and civil engineering construction 

(+10,000) added jobs. As a whole, the 

construction industry has added 256,000 jobs 

over the past 12 months.

+34,000 Leisure and Hospitality

 Employment in food services and drinking 

places changed little in April (+25,000). Over 

the past 12 months, however, employment in 

the industry has grown by 318,000.

+4,000 Manufacturing

 Manufacturing employment changed little 

for a third month in April (+4,000). In the 12 

months prior to February, manufacturing 

employment had grown by an average 22,000 

per month.

27

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34

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76

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10

4

33

-3

-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100

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

April 2019 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

263*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

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 mining changed little 

in April (-2,000). After adding 63,000 

jobs in 2018, the industry has seen little 

change in employment so far in 2019. 

 The price of West Texas Intermediate

rose 12.3 percent in April, although the 

number of active oil rigs declined.

-15

-21

-20

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-4

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-25

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-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Employment in mining

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: May 3, 2019
 Construction employment increased by 33,000 in April. 

Nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 22,000 jobs, and 

heavy and civil engineering construction added 10,000 jobs. 

-2

10

37

22

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10

32

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34

27

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17

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30

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34

3333

73

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16

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20

33

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Employment in construction

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

22

3

10

0

-3

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Nonresidential specialty trade contractors*

Residential specialty trade contractors

Heavy and civil engineering

Nonresidential building

Residential building

Employment in construction

April 2019 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction:

33*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

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: May 3, 2019
 Employment in manufacturing was flat 

in April (+ 4,000). Electronic instruments 

added 3,000 jobs in April and has added 

15,000 jobs over the most recent 12 

months. 

 The 1-month diffusion index fell by 5.9 

points to 48.0. A value below 50 indicates 

that more manufacturing industries are 

losing jobs than are gaining them. The 

diffusion index last fell below 50 in May 

2017.

 The average workweeks of production 

workers and of all employees remained 

unchanged at 41.7 and 40.7 hours, 

respectively. 

 

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: May 3, 2019

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 wholesale trade edged up in April (+10,000), 

bringing the 12-month net change to +110,000. Durable goods 

employment continued to trend up over the month (+7,000) and 

has accounted for 70 percent of the job gains in wholesale trade 

over the year.

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10

15

20

25

30

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Employment in wholesale trade

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: May 3, 2019
 Retail trade employment changed 

little in April (-12,000). Over the past 12 

months, industry employment has 

shown little net change (-49,000).

 Over the month, employment in 

motor vehicles and parts dealers 

increased by 8,000, while employment 

in general merchandise stores declined 

by 9,000.

 Recent retail-related economic 

indicators have been mixed. Retail sales

increased by 1.7 percent in March. The 

Consumer Confidence Index increased 

by 4.0 percent in April. Conversely, the 

per gallon price of regular gasoline 

increased by 10.9 percent in April (U.S. 

Energy Information Administration).

 

Retail 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: May 3, 2019
 Employment in transportation and 

warehousing changed little in April (+11,000), 

with warehousing and storage adding 5,000 

jobs. 

 The first few months of 2019 have been 

marked by slower growth; transportation 

and warehousing has added an average 

9,000 jobs per month, compared to 18,000 

per month in 2018.

 

5

1

0

5

-1

1

-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Warehousing and storage

Couriers and messengers

Support activities for transportation

Transit and ground passenger transportation

Truck transportation

Air transportation

Employment in select transportation and warehousing industries

Over-the-month change, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

April 2019 Prior 12-month average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey May 3, 2019.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Transportation

and warehousing:

+11

Transportation and Warehousing

CES Highlights Release Date: May 3, 2019

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 utilities declined by 

3,000 in April.

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3

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Employment in utilities

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: May 3, 2019
 Information employment was flat in April 

(-1,000) and since the most recent peak in 

October 2018 has changed little (-18,000).

 Among the component industries in April, 

telecommunications employment continued 

to trend down (-3,000). Other information 

services—such as web search portals, 

libraries, and news syndicates—added 5,000 

jobs over the month and 10,000 jobs over 

the past 3 months. 3 14

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-7

7

-1

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Employment in information

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Information

CES Highlights Release Date: May 3, 2019

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 financial activities 

continued to trend up in April (+12,000). 

An upward movement in real estate and 

rental and leasing (+8,000) was partially 

offset by a decline of 4,000 in 

commercial banking. Over the most 

recent 12 months, financial activities has 

added 110,000 jobs. 

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: May 3, 2019
 Employment in professional and business services continued to expand in 

April, advancing by 76,000 and bringing the average monthly gain over the last 

3 months to 51,000. 

 In April, administrative and waste services added 55,000 jobs, accounting for 

the majority of the employment change. Employment gains occurred in services 

to buildings and dwelling places (+21,000), other support services (+10,000), 

and office administrative services (+6,000), all of which were above their 

respective prior 12-month average changes. 

 Within professional and technical services, computer systems design and 

related services added 14,000 jobs over the month, continuing its upward trend 

and bringing its 12-month net employment gain to 94,000.

55

7

14

-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Administrative and waste

services*

Management of companies

and enterprises

Professional and technical

services

Over-the-month change Prior-3 Prior-6 Prior-12

Employment in professional and business services component industries

Over-the-month change and prior averages, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, May 03, 2019

Most recent 2 months are preliminary.

* denotes significance

2

-1

0

1

2

6

10

15

21

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Waste management and remediation

Facilities support

Travel arrangement and reservation

Investigation and security

Business support

Office administrative *

Other support *

Employment

Services to buildings and dwellings*

Over-the-month change Prior-12

Employment in administrative and waste services

Over-the-month change, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Apr-19: 55

Prior-12: 13

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, May 03, 2019

Most recent 2 months are preliminary.

* denotes significance

CES Highlights Release Date: May 3, 2019

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

Professional and Business Services
 Health care added 27,000 jobs in April. Ambulatory health care services 

added 17,000 jobs, while hospitals added 8,000. Employment rose by 

7,000 in community care facilities for the elderly, a component of nursing 

and residential care services. Over the past 12 months, health care has 

added 404,000 jobs. 

 

 Employment in social assistance rose by 26,000 in April, with the 

increase coming in individual and family services. Over the year, social 

assistance has added 120,000 jobs, with individual and family services 

accounting for 100,000 of the increase.

 

 

 

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5

17

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals*

 - Home health care services

 - Outpatient care centers

 - Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services1*

Employment in selected health care industries

April 2019 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

27*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

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Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, May 03, 2019.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in social assistance

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: May 3, 2019

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 April, employment in leisure and hospitality continued to trend up 

(+34,000). The major component industries closely followed their prior 

12-month averages in April. Increasing sales in food services and drinking 

places, coupled with high Consumer Confidence, have likely fueled the 

upward trend.

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40 36

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25

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35

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-24

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65

93

-1

37 34

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, May 03, 2019.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Leisure and Hospitality

CES Highlights Release Date: date in May 3, 2019

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

25

-1

9

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Food services and drinking places

Accommodation

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Employment in leisure and hospitality

April 2019 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and 

hospitality:

34

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance
 Employment in other services 

continued to edge up in April (+14,000). 

Over the most recent 12 months, the 

industry has added 100,000 jobs, 

representing an increase of 1.7 percent. 

Personal and laundry services accounted 

for 37,000 of the gains during this 

period.

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4

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-20

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10

15

20

25

30

Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19

Employment in other services

Over-the-month change, January 2016–April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: May 3, 2019
 Employment in government 

changed little in April (+27,000). Over the 

year, government employment has 

increased by 126,000, with local 

government accounting for 81 percent of 

the gain.

 Employment in federal, except U.S. 

Postal Service increased by 13,000 in 

April, well above its prior 12-month 

average change (+1,000). The April 

increase does not reflect hiring of 

temporary intermittent workers for the 

2020 decennial census, which was 

negligible. 

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13

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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

April 2019 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2019

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

27

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 03, 2019.

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: May 3, 2019
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

Osman Alhassan

Michael Calvillo

Hyun Choi

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Katelynn Harris

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Carson Wilson

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis