May 2018

Release Date: June 1, 2018

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
Current Employment Statistics Summary, May 2018

CES Highlights Release Date: June 1, 2018

+25,000 Construction

Employment edged up in construction in

May (+25,000). The industry has added 

286,000 jobs over the past 12 months. 

Nonresidential special trade contractors added 

+15,000 jobs in May and +117,000 jobs over

the year.

+31,000 Professional and Business Services

In May, employment continued to trend up

in professional and technical services

(+23,000). Over the year, the industry has 

added 206,000 jobs.

 Nonfarm employment increased by 

223,000 in May. Employment continued to 

trend up in retail trade, health care, and 

construction.

 The employment change for April revised 

down from +164,000 to +159,000, and the 

change for March revised up from +135,000 to 

+155,000. On net, employment over these

months is 15,000 higher than previously

reported.

 Average hourly earnings of all employees 

on private-sector payrolls increased by 8 cents 

in May. Hourly earnings are up 2.7 percent 

over the year. Average weekly hours were 

unchanged in May at 34.5 hours. 

+31,000 Retail Trade

Retail trade added 31,000 jobs in May, with

job gains of 6,000 in building material and 

garden supply stores and 13,000 in general 

merchandise stores. Retail trade has added 

125,000 jobs over the year.

+39,000 Education and Health Services

Health care added 29,000 jobs in May.

Within health care, employment in ambulatory 

care services rose by 18,000 over the month, 

while hospital employment continued to trend 

up (+6,000). Over the past 12 months, health 

care has added 318,000 jobs.

211

267

78

282

326

191

256

164

88

351

264

234

103

257

235

174

34

285

325

175

264

140

172

180

259

200

73

175

155

239

190

221

14

271

216

175176

324

155159

223

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in total nonfarm

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: June 1, 2018

+19,000 Transportation and Warehousing

 Employment in transportation and 

warehousing continued to trend up in May, 

with job gains in couriers and messenger 

services (+5,000) and in warehousing and 

storage (+7,000). Over the year, employment 

in transportation and warehousing has 

increased by 156,000.

+18,000 Manufacturing 

 Employment continued to trend up in 

manufacturing over the month, with most of 

the change concentrated in durable goods 

industries (+15,000). Machinery added 6,000 

jobs over the month, while employment in 

fabricated metal products continued to trend 

upward (+2,000). Over the year, these two

industries have accounted for half of the 

employment growth in durable goods 

manufacturing—45,000 and 56,000,

respectively.

+4,000 Mining and Logging 

 Mining employment continued to trend up 

in May (+6,000). Since an employment trough 

in October 2016, mining has added 91,000 

jobs. Support activities for mining has been 

responsible for most of the job growth both 

over the month (+3,000) and since the trough 

(+89,000).

5

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31

8

6

-1

19

31

4

18

25

4

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

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

May 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

223*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, May 2018

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 continued to 

trend upward in May (+6,000). The 

employment trend in this industry tends 

to follow changes in oil prices. The spot 

price of West Texas intermediate crude 

oil has been increasing since a low point 

in early 2016. Mining employment 

reached a trough in October 2016 and 

has increased by 91,000 as of May 2018.

 Logging lost 2,000 jobs in May.

-9

-13

-16 -16

-22

-3

-10

-12

-17

-7

-16

-10

-15

-21

-19

-12

-11

-9

-5

-1

-4

-2

3

-1

1

9

6

10

5 5

2

9

-1

2

4

1

6

9

8

8

6

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in mining

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: June 1, 2018
 Construction employment continued 

to trend up in May (+25,000). 

Nonresidential specialty trades 

accounted for 15,000 of this increase. 

 Over the year, construction has added 

286,000 jobs, led by gains in specialty 

trade contractors (+206,000) and 

residential building (+44,000).

37

24

-16

50

38

16

22

19

13

42

52

40

4

13

41

9

-6

5

30

3

32

24 24

11

51

46

3

-5

7

16

-6

28

9

17

42 42

28

67

-3

21

25

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in construction

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: June 1, 2018
 Employment in manufacturing continued to trend up in May (+18,000). 

Over the year, the industry has added 259,000 jobs, a 2.1-percent increase.

 Recently, durable goods manufacturing has driven job gains in 

manufacturing, and that trend continued in May (+15,000). Of the 259,000 

jobs added over-the-year in manufacturing, durable goods manufacturing 

has contributed 200,000, 77 percent. Employment in nondurable goods 

manufacturing changed little in May (+3,000).

 Among the component industries, machinery added jobs (+6,000), while 

the other components continued to follow their long-term trends.

5 5

12

5

18

4

15

-9

-1

13

-4

6

24

-17

-19

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-18

21

14

-24

-7

-3

2

12

18

21

10 10

4

14

-4

39

6

20

30

39

20

31

21

25

18

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in manufacturing

1

1

1

2

2

6

2

-1

-1

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Miscellaneous durable goods 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

May 2018 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

15

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: June 1, 2018

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 was little changed in May 

(+4,000). Despite little net employment change over the last 6 

months, wholesale trade has gained 68,000 jobs over the year. 

Three-quarters of those jobs were added in durable goods 

industries.

5

-3

2

3

-3

-3

2

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3

3

1

5

6

-4

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0 11

7

4

8

8 10

9

7

3 10

-11

4

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

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

Employment in wholesale trade

Over-the-month change, January 2016–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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: June 1, 2018

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
 In May, employment in retail trade grew by 31,000. Year to date, 

employment growth has averaged 22,000 per month, compared to 

little net change per month during 2017 (-2,000). 

 Over the month, employment rose in general merchandise stores 

and in building materials and garden supply stores. General 

merchandise stores added 13,000 jobs, which were split between 

department stores (+8,000) and general merchandise stores, including 

warehouse clubs and supercenters (+6,000). 

 Employment increased by 6,000 in building materials and garden 

supply stores, offsetting a similar decrease in April. This industry has 

added 53,000 jobs over the past year. 

6 20242428 1821

-6

-9 4142

-26 27 58 45

8

-1 22 1516 11

4

-7 15 22

-22

-32

-4

-10

3

-1

4

2

7 27

-26 12 46 11

9 31

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-1

1

13

1

7

1

-1

1

6

1

1

1

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Nonstore retailers

Miscellaneous store retailers

General merchandise stores*

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Gasoline stations

Health and personal care stores

Food and beverage stores

Building material and garden supply stores*

Electronics and appliance stores

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Employment in retail trade

May 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade:

31*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Retail Trade

CES Highlights Release Date: June 1, 2018

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
 Employers in transportation and 

warehousing added 19,000 jobs in May. 

The growth was spread amongst truck 

transportation (+7,000), warehousing 

and storage (+7,000), and couriers and 

messenger services (+5,000). So far this 

year, job growth in transportation and 

warehousing has averaged +15,000 per 

month, compared with +11,000 per 

month in 2017.

Transportation and Warehousing

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: June 1, 2018
 Utilities employment changed little in 

May and has shown little net change 

over the year.

1

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1

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-1

-1

1

0

-1

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-1

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0

0

-1

-1

0

-1

-1

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-1

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0

0

0

0

-1

1

-1

1

-1

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015—May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in utilities

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: June 1, 2018
 Employment in information changed 

little in May (+6,000), and has shown little 

net change over the year.

0

4

-6

7

8

1

3

0

7 7

-14

8

-1

14

7 6

-35

47

1

5

9

4

-4

-3

-2

0

-1

-11

-4

2

-3

-1

-8

0

-4 -4

-16

-1

6

4

6

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2016

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in information

May 2018

Information

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: June 1, 2018
 Employment in financial activities 

changed little (+8,000) in May. Although 

recent monthly job changes have been 

small, over the past year financial 

activities employment has grown by 

125,000. These gains were about evenly 

split between the finance and insurance 

and the real estate and rental and 

leasing industries. 

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: June 1, 2018 18 12 10

5

9 16 22 12

6 16 13

7 15

8 16 21 1516 22 20

6

88 26 28

7

6 13 11 15 13 15

8

99

8

3 29

5

3

8

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in financial activities

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 
 Professional and business services employment continued to trend up in May 

(+31,000), but came in below its prior-12 month average change. Employment 

continued to trend up in professional and technical services (+23,000) , 

including +7,000 in computer systems design and related services. 

Management of companies and enterprises added 8,000 jobs in May. 

 Small offsetting movements in the component industries of administrative 

and waste services kept employment flat in May.

21

53

23

52

72

63

3132

20

74

44

57

-13

23

27

42

-1

42

53

10

81

21

36

6

27

19

36

50

57

40

53

42

27

60

16

31

38

61

4143

31

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in Professional and business services

Over-the-month change Annual average

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasaonally adjusted, in thousands

May-18: 31

Prior-12: 42

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018 Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

0

8

23

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Administrative and waste

services

Management of companies

and enterprises

Professional and technical

services

Employment in Professional and business services component industries

Over-the-month change Prior-3 mo. Avg. Prior-6 mo. Avg Prior-12 mo. Avg

Over-the-month change and prior averages, May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

CES Highlights Release Date: June 1, 2018

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 employment continued to grow in May (+29,000). Job gains 

have averaged 26,000 per month in 2018, in line with average monthly 

growth in 2017 (+24,000). 

 

 Within health care, employment in ambulatory health care services rose 

by 18,000 in May. Its main component industries also continued their 

respective upward employment trends. Ambulatory health care services 

has added 208,000 jobs over the last 12 months for a gain of 2.9 percent. 

 Hospital employment continued to trend up in May (+6,000). Hospital 

employment has continued to grow in 2018, adding an average of 9,000 

jobs per month so far. In 2017, hospital employment had risen by an 

average of 6,000 per month.

 

37

26

22

40 40

27

33

35

27

45

21

27

30

34

25

37

35

33

35

20

29 29

25

40

11

26

14

26

19

36

38

18

21

23

20

32

21

31

25

23

29

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in health care

5

6

4

5

4

18

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25

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

May 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

29*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: June 1, 2018

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 leisure and hospitality

changed little in May (+21,000). Museums, 

historical sites, and similar institutions lost 

4,000 jobs. The Consumer Confidence Index

ticked up in May, while employment changed 

little in food services and drinking places 

(+18,000).

18

0

4

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Food services and drinking places

Accommodation

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Employment in leisure and hospitality

May 2018 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and 

hospitality:

21

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Leisure and Hospitality

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: June 1, 2018
 Employment in other services edged 

up in May (+13,000). Over the most 

recent 12 months, the industry has 

added 97,000 jobs, a change of 1.7 

percent. Personal and laundry services 

accounted for 47 percent of the gains 

over this period.

7

6

1

7

11

-6

11

-10

1

9 9

14

-4

17

6 6

-6

16

2

12

17

-1

11

-15

16

13

0

7

16

14

5 5

0

17

11

5

3

7

3

14

13

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, June 01, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in other services

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: June 1, 2018
 Employment in government changed 

little in May (+5,000). Employment in 

federal agencies declined by 3,000. 

Government employment has been 

essentially flat over the year (+21,000). 

21,400

21,600

21,800

22,000

22,200

22,400

22,600

22,800

23,000

23,200

23,400

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in government

May 2018 Level: 22,326

OTM Change: 5

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 01, 2018.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–May 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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: June 1, 2018
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

Michael Calvillo

Wander Cedeño

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Brittney Forbes

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis