Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

January 2009

Bureau of Labor Statistics

February 6, 2009
2

Percent change in total nonfarm employment, from 

beginning of recession* 

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Month

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

July 1990

March 2001

December 2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, February 6, 2009

*Notes: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent two 

months are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

Percent change in total nonfarm employment, from 

beginning of recession* 

-3.5

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Month

-3.5

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

November 1973

July 1981

December 2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, February 6, 2009

*Notes: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent two 

months are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

 Total nonfarm employment peaked in December 2007, coinciding with the start of the 

recession as declared by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). With 

the recent acceleration of job losses, nonfarm employment has fallen by 3.6 million 

since its peak. About half of the loss has occurred in the past 3 months. 

 In the 13 months since the start of the recession, employment has fallen by 2.6 

percent. The decline is larger than has typically been experienced in the past few 

recessions. Of the 4 most recent recessions, only the 1981 recession is similar to the 

current downturn in terms of relative job loss. 
3

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 134,580

Change: -598

180

36

184

35

156

54

-65 -28

100

165

215

120

-72

-144-122-160-137-161-128

-175

-321

-380

-597-577-598

-700

-600

-500

-400

-300

-200

-100

0

100

200

300

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

May-08

Jun-08

Jul-08

Aug-08

Sep-08

Oct-08

Nov-08

Dec-08

Jan-09

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-09

 The labor market continued to weaken dramatically in January. Nonfarm payroll 

employment declined by 598,000. In the past 3 months, payroll employment fell by 

1.8 million, or an average of 591,000 per month. This is the largest 3-month decline 

in absolute terms since 1945. 
4

-1

-111

-207

-31

-45

-44

2

-21

-42

-121

54

-28

-9

6

-240 -180 -120 -60 0 60 120

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, January 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-598

Total nonfarm:

 Job losses in January were widespread. Goods-producing industries shed 319,000 

jobs in January, while service-providing industries lost 279,000 jobs.

 The 1-month diffusion index fell to 25.3, its lowest point in the history of the series 

(which dates back to 1991). A diffusion index below 50 indicates that more 

industries are losing jobs than adding jobs.
5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, total private

Seasonally adjusted

January 2009

Level: 33.3

Change: 0.0

90

95

100

105

110

115

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 90

95

100

105

110

115

aggregate weekly hours

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private

Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100

Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production and nonsupervisory workers.

January 2009

Level: 102.6

Percent change: -0.7

 In January, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.3 hours, seasonally adjusted. This 

remains the shortest workweek in the history of the series, which began in 1964. 

 The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers on 

nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.7 percent in January. This index peaked in December 2007 

and has declined by 4.8 percent since that time.
6

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private

Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100

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

workers.

aggregate weekly payrolls

January 2009

Level: 126.6

Percent change: -0.3

 Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls rose by $0.05 to $18.46.

 The index of aggregate weekly payrolls for production and nonsupervisory workers 

on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.3 percent in January. Since reaching a high 

point in August 2008, the index has fallen by 2.0 percent.
7

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

Jan-99

Jan-00Jan-01

Jan-02Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 6,742

Change: -111

-20.3 -20.4

-3.0

-40.7

-26.5

-10.6

-2.9

-6.0

-23.9

-12.5

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

Residential building Nonresidential

building

Heavy and civil

engineering

Residential specialty

trades

Nonresidential

specialty trades

January 2009

Prior 12-mo. avg. 

Over-the-month change, January 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

 Construction employment continued to decline in January, as the industry lost 

111,000 positions. The pace of job losses has accelerated in recent months. Nearly a 

third of total losses since the most recent industry peak have occurred in the past 3 

months.

 Construction has lost 995,000 jobs since employment peaked in January 2007. This 

represents about 92 percent of the jobs gained in construction during the industry’s 

housing-fueled employment expansion from March 2003 to January 2007.

 As with recent months, employment losses were widespread across the industry. 

Both the residential and nonresidential components shed jobs, as firms continue to 

struggle with adverse economic conditions.
8

-14 -23 -32 -33

-16

-28

-12

-51

-30 -22

6

-3

-33

-52 -49 -57

-30

-51 -51

-67 -65

-119-121

-162

-207

-240

-210

-180

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Sep-07

Oct-07

Nov-07

Dec-07

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

May-08

Jun-08

Jul-08

Aug-08

Sep-08

Oct-08

Nov-08

Dec-08

Jan-09

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2007-09

 Manufacturing lost 207,000 jobs in January –– the industry’s largest 1-month 

employment loss since October 1982. Job losses were widespread as evidenced by 

the 1-month diffusion index falling to 7.8. That is the lowest reading in the series 

history (since 1991). 

 Durable goods manufacturing continued to take the brunt of the employment losses, 

accounting for 157,000 or 76 percent of manufacturing’s total decline in January. 
9

-14

-5

-9

-37

-22

-9

-3

-41

-11

-7

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0

Wood products

Nonmettalic mineral products

Primary metals

Fabricated metal products

Machinery

Computer and electronic products

Electrical equipment and appliances

Transportation equipment

Furniture and related products

Miscellaneous manufacturing

Over-the-month change, January 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-157

Durable goods:

 The losses in durable goods manufacturing were widespread in January led by 

transportation equipment and fabricated metal products. 

 Employment in fabricated metals continued to decline in January with 37,000 jobs 

cut, the largest 1-month decline in the history of the series dating back to January 

1990. The industry has cut 6.9 percent of its workforce over the past 5 months.

 The bulk of the transportation equipment decline was located in motor vehicles and 

parts manufacturers, which shed 31,000 jobs over the month. Over the past year, the 

industry has lost 197,000 jobs. 
10

5,000

5,250

5,500

5,750

6,000

6,250

6,500

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 5,000

5,250

5,500

5,750

6,000

6,250

6,500

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in wholesale trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 5,823.2

Change: -31.0

 Employment in wholesale trade fell by 31,000 over the month and by 211,000 over 

the past year, with most of the decreases in the durable goods wholesalers. 

14,000

14,250

14,500

14,750

15,000

15,250

15,500

15,750

16,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 14,000

14,250

14,500

14,750

15,000

15,250

15,500

15,750

16,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 14,998.2

Change: -45.1

 In January, retail trade employment dropped by 45,000. Since a peak in November 

2007, the industry has lost 592,000 jobs. 

 In January, job losses were widespread, led by motor vehicle and parts dealers 

(-14,000), building materials and garden supply stores (-10,000), and general 

merchandise stores (-8,000). 

 
11

3,750

4,000

4,250

4,500

4,750

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 3,750

4,000

4,250

4,500

4,750

and warehousing

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in transportation

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 4,353.0

Change: -43.7

 Employment in transportation and warehousing fell by 44,000 in January. Since the 

beginning of the ongoing recession in December 2007, the industry has shed 202,000 

jobs.

 The decline in January was led by truck transportation (-25,000). Since December 

2007, half of all job loss in transportation and warehousing occurred in truck 

transportation.
12

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 7,974

Change: -42

 Employment in financial activities continued to contract in January as 42,000 jobs 

were eliminated from industry payrolls. Among the component industries, 

employment in securities, credit intermediation, real estate, and rental and leasing 

services continued to decline. 

 Job losses in the sector began to accelerate in late 2008, resulting in a loss of 180,000 

jobs since July—the largest 6-month employment decline in the history of the series.
13

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

business services

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 17,261

Change: -121

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

3,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

3,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 1,978.3

Change: -76.4

 Professional and business services employment decreased by 121,000 in January, 

keeping pace with the accelerated losses experienced in the preceding 2 months. 

Since reaching an employment peak in December 2007, the industry has declined by 

4.7 percent; this matches the 4.7 percent decline during the 13-month period 

following the previous employment peak in November 2000.

 Temporary help services accounted for most of the January decline, shedding 76,000 

jobs.
14

10,000

10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09 10,000

10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

and hospitality

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in leisure

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

January 2009

Level: 13,285

Change: -28

 Leisure and hospitality continued on a downward trend, shedding 28,000 jobs in 

January. Since peaking in December 2007, the industry has lost 266,000 jobs or 2 

percent of its workforce. Most of the job losses in January occurred in 

accommodation (-18,000) and food services and drinking places (-9,000).