Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

December 2012

Bureau of Labor Statistics

January 4, 2013
1 

• Total nonfarm employment rose by 155,000 in December. 

• In 2012, employment grew by an average of 153,000 per month, the same as the average 

monthly gain for 2011. 

126,000

128,000

130,000

132,000

134,000

136,000

138,000

140,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in total nonfarm

December 2012

Level: 134,021

Change: 155

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

41 -84

-95 -208

-190

-198

-210 -274 -432 -489 -803 -661 -818-724 -799-692 -361 -482 -339-231

-199

-202 -42 -171 -40

-35

189

239

516 -167 -58

-51

-27

220

121

120

110

220

246

251

54

84

96

85

202

112

157

223

275

259

143

68

87

45

181

192

132

137

161

155

-1,200

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

800

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
2 

• In December, total private employment rose by 168,000. In 2012, job growth averaged 

159,000 per month, compared to an average monthly gain of 175,000 in 2011. 

• Since reaching an employment trough in February 2010, the private sector has added 5.3 

million jobs, a gain of 5.0 percent. 

104,000

106,000

108,000

110,000

112,000

114,000

116,000

118,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in total private

December 2012

Level: 112,096

Change: 168

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

41 -136

-112 -215

-216

-231

-259 -294 -425 -480 -797 -658 -839 -725 -787

-802 -312 -426 -296-219

-184 -232 -42 -120-40

-27

141

193

84

9292

128 115

196

134

140

119

257

261

264

108

102

175

52

216

139

178

234

277

254

147

85

116

63

163

134

122

203

171

168

-1,200

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in total private

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3 

• In December, education and health services contributed more than 40 percent of the total 

nonfarm job gain. Employment also rose in construction and manufacturing, and 

employment in both leisure and hospitality and professional and business services 

continued upward trends. 

• Since an employment trough in February 2010, nonfarm job gains have totaled 4.8 

million. The largest increases have occurred in professional and business services, 

education and health services, and leisure and hospitality, which together contributed 

nearly three-fourths of all nonfarm job gains during this period. Government lost 546,000 

jobs during this period. 

-13

5

31

65

19

9

-9

1.8

-0.6

-11.3

-0.1

25

30

4

-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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

155

-546

77

860

1138

1523

116

-109

10.8

263.2

506.1

215.4

526

35

162

-1,500 -1,000 -500 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Note: Data are preliminary.

34–month change, December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

155

Total nonfarm:

4777

Total private:

5323

February 2010 – December 2012
4 

• Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose 0.1 hour in 

December. Since reaching a trough in October 2009, the average workweek for all 

employees in the private sector has risen 0.7 hour. 

• The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm 

payrolls edged up by 0.1 hour to 33.8 hours. 

• In December, the employment gain for all private-sector employees combined with the 

gain in the workweek resulted in a 0.4-percent increase in the index of aggregate weekly 

hours. Since reaching a trough in October 2009, the index has risen 7.0 percent.

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012 Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.5

Change: 0.1

Production employees

Level: 33.8

Change: 0.1

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

Mar-06 Mar-07 Mar-08 Mar-09 Mar-10 Mar-11 Mar-12

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–December 2012

December 2012

Level: 96.9

Change: 0.4%

Total private, all employees
5 

• Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 7 

cents in December to $23.73. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have 

risen by 2.1 percent. 

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 1.8 percent 

from November 2011 to November 2012. 

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Mar-07 Sep-07 Mar-08 Sep-08 Mar-09 Sep-09 Mar-10 Sep-10 Mar-11 Sep-11 Mar-12 Sep-12

Over-the-year percent change

Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*

Total private earnings CPI–U

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

December 2012 Earnings: 2.1

November 2012 CPI-U: 1.8

*1982–84=100

March 2007–December 2012
6 

• Construction added 30,000 jobs in December, with gains in residential specialty trade 

contractors, in residential building, and in nonresidential building. 

• Construction employment was up by 45,000 in the fourth quarter of 2012, after changing 

little in the third quarter. 

-9 -46

-34 -70 -49 -66

-55

-46 -73

-77 -155 -105 -147 -110 -153

-144 -57 -87

-82

-79

-71

-58 -30

-33 -61

-64

23 7

-41 -11

-16

20 -19

7 -11

-11 -21

33 7 -1 3 -3

13 -10

30 -9 1

26

18 -1 -14

-7 -32 4

33 -1

25 -10

30

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in construction

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

5.6

12.3

-0.7

7.0

5.8

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

Nonresidential specialty trades

Residential specialty trades

Heavy and civil engineering

Nonresidential building

Residential building

Employment in construction

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction:

30
7 

• In December, manufacturing employment grew by 25,000, with small gains in a number 

of component industries. 

• Manufacturing added 180,000 jobs over the year. 

• The workweek for all employees in manufacturing edged up by 0.1 hour in December to 

40.7 hours. The increase in employment combined with the longer workweek resulted in 

a 0.5-percent increase in the index of aggregate weekly hours in manufacturing. 

-20

-28 -39 -56-31 -59 -75

-79

-84 -130

-114 -179 -297 -166

-172

-179

-167-143 -61

-41

-44

-49

-34

-30 -8 4

8

32

34

10

20 -17 2

0

9

15

52

37

26

28 8

12

30 3 -3 9

3

28

52

30

42

10

13

7

18 -13

-16 7

5

25

-400

-300

-200

-100

0

100

200

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012 Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.6

Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 40.7

Change: 0.1
8 

• Durable goods employment edged up in December, with gains spread across several 

component industries. 

• Over the month, motor vehicles and parts contributed 5,000 to the uptick in employment 

in transportation equipment. 

1.1

-0.4

6.0

-2.1

0.0

2.0

-0.7

0.2

3.5

1.9

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Miscellaneous manufacturing

Furniture and related products

Transportation equipment

Electrical equipment and appliances

Computer and electronic products

Machinery

Fabricated metal products

Primary metals

Nonmetallic mineral products

Wood products

Employment in durable goods

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

11

-8 0 -23

-19 9 -1 -21 -35 -15 -43 6 -28 -100

16 -17 -36

-36 -26

19 -4

-3

-2 -10 -1

12 -6 3

6

11 -1

16 -11 -1

-1 0 -1

18 6

6

4

1

5

9 -3 5

12 4 9

10

7

13 4

5

5

17 -6

0

-3

12 6

-140

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in transportation equipment

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
9 

• Nondurable goods employment grew by 14,000 in December. Since reaching an 

employment trough in December 2011, the industry has added 38,000 jobs. 

• Chemicals added 4,000 jobs over the month after a decline of 6,000 jobs in November. 

2.1

4.3

0.9

0.4

-0.5

0.5

-0.4

0.8

0.4

1.4

4.5

-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Plastics and rubber

Chemicals

Petroleum and coal products

Printing

Paper products

Leather products

Apparel

Textile product mills

Textile mills

Beverage and tobacco

Food manufacturing

Employment in nondurable goods

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, December 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Nondurable 

goods:

14
10

• Employment in retail trade changed little in December, after increasing by 143,000 over 

the prior 3 months. 

• Clothing and accessory stores shed 19,000 jobs over the month, after adding 55,000 over 

the prior 3 months. 

• In December, employment continued to trend up in automobile dealers and in food and 

beverage stores. 

1 -43 -23 -71 -52

-47

-44 -60 -68-52 -132 -99

-99 -71 -94 -61 -8 -23 -45 -12 -46

-35 -11 -27

32

10

25 3

12 -11

14

5 20

37 3

13

37 5

8

68 -5

16

27 -4

14

12

34 7

25 -15

-15

24 6 -9 3

18

37

44

63 -11

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
11

• Employment in financial activities continued to trend up in December. 

• Over the year, financial activities added 80,000 jobs. 

7,400

7,600

7,800

8,000

8,200

8,400

8,600

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in financial activities

December 2012

Level: 7,776

Change: 9

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
12

• In December, employment continued its upward trend in professional and business 

services, surpassing its January 2008 peak. 

• Since reaching a trough in September 2009, employment in the sector has expanded by 

1.7 million. 

• Employment in temporary help services was essentially unchanged in December. 

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in professional and business services

December 2012

Level: 18,065

Change: 19

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in temporary help services

December 2012

Level: 2,550

Change: -1

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
13

• Health care employment continued to expand in December, adding 45,000 jobs. 

• Over the month, employment rose in ambulatory health care services (+23,000), hospitals 

(+12,000) and nursing and residential care facilities (+10,000). 

• In 2012, health care employment rose by 338,000. 35 2930 37 28 21 33 19 14 18 31 23 15 22 1011 30 24 19 18 222224 20 16 15 36 1215 11 1922 16 28 19 23 10 20 32

36

18

26

32

26

46

24 4

23

34

38

32

19

30 9

23

18

34

38

20

45

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

9.8

11.7

5.4

2.9

6.8

23.0

-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 services ̊

Employment in selected health care industries

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

45
14

• Leisure and hospitality industries continued to add jobs to payrolls in December

(+31,000). 

• Since a trough in January 2010, employment in leisure and hospitality has expanded by 

861,000, and the industry’s employment in December was 224,000 above its most recent

employment peak, reached in January 2008. 

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in leisure and hospitality

December 2012

Level: 13,784

Change: 31

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

10 -3 -12 -32

-31 -17

-13 -27 -45 -27 -53 -35 -44-34 -61 -72

55 -25 -5 -27 6 -58 -13 -54 -10 1

26

38

25

24

12

35

57

-18 2

21 -8

57

64

36 -15

35

17

12

20

30

42

28

39

45

43 -4

-4

14

24

49

28

26

29

31

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15

• In December, employment in food services and drinking places rose by 38,000, 

surpassing 10 million for the first time. 

• In 2012, the industry added an average of 24,000 jobs per month, essentially the same as 

in 2011. 

-4

-5 -9 -25 -12 -3 7 -18 -28

-26 -36 -22

-25

-24

-24 -30

38 6 -8 -24 -28

-24 -11 -38 -1 -9

25

19

11 1

1

30

54

16

13

15 0

42

38

33 2 7

5

20

28

24

53

25

26

35

27 8

8

10

25

40

34

20

15

38

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in food services and drinking places

Over-the-month change, January 2008–December 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
16

• Government employment changed little in December. 

• Government employment is 655,000 below its August 2008 level, when employment in 

both state and local governments reached peaks. 

• Although government lost an average 6,000 jobs per month in 2012, the change reflects a 

deceleration over 2011, when the sector lost an average 22,000 jobs per month. 

19,500

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

23,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in government

December 2012

Level: 21,925

Change: -13

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 04, 2013.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–December 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands