Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

June 2009

Bureau of Labor Statistics

July 2, 2009
2

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

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 131,692

Change: -467

-72

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

-175

-321

-380

-597

-681

-741

-681 -652

-519

-322

-467

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

 Nonfarm payroll employment continued to contract in June, declining by 467,000. 

Employment losses in the second quarter of 2009 averaged 436,000 per month, 

down from 670,000 per month in the prior 5 months. Since the start of the 

recession in December 2007, payroll employment has fallen by 6.5 million. 
3

0.7 0.5 0.3 0.2

-0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.4 -0.7

-1.1

-1.6

-2.2

-2.7

-3.1

-3.5 -3.8 -3.9 -4.1

-5.0

-4.0

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, percent

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent changes, 2008-09

 Total nonfarm payroll employment was down 4.1 percent from June 2008, this is 

the largest 12-month percent decline since June 1958.
4

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 33.0

Change: -0.1

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

hourly earnings and CPI-W (1982-84=100)

1999-2009

Over-the-year percent changes in average

Seasonally adjusted, percent

Over-the-year percent changes

June 2009 AHE: 2.7

May 2009 CPI-W: -1.5

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 CES data are preliminary.

Sources: BLS, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

CPI-W

AHE

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

private nonfarm payrolls dropped by 0.1 hour to 33.0 hours — the lowest level on 

record since the series began in 1964. 

 In June, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls were unchanged at $18.53. Over the past 12 months, 

average hourly earnings have increased by 2.7 percent. 
5

90

95

100

105

110

115

90

95

100

105

110

115

aggregate weekly hours

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 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.

June 2009

Level: 99.0

Percent change: -0.8

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 122.6

Percent change: -0.7

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

on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.8 percent in June. Since peaking in 

December 2007, the index has decreased by 8.2 percent. 

 The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of production and nonsupervisory 

workers on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.7 percent in June. This month 

marks the tenth consecutive month of decline – the longest continual decline in 

the series history back to 1964. 
6

-8

-79

-136

-16

-21

-14

0

-21

-27

-118

34

-18

9

-52

-180 -150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 30 60

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, June 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-467

Total nonfarm:

 Job losses continued to be widespread across major industry sectors in June. 

There were significant declines in manufacturing, professional and business 

services, and construction. Together, these three sectors have accounted for nearly 

three-quarters of the jobs lost since the start of the recession.
7

5.9

2.6

6.0

0.1

7.7 8.3 7.5

9.3

7.1

0.0

-0.9

-3.5

-8.0 -8.9

-14.5

-12.9 -11.6

-8.1

-18

-15

-12

-9

-6

-3

0

3

6

9

12

Employment in mining

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

 Mining employment decreased by 8,000 in June, about in line with the average 

monthly decline since peaking in October 2008. 
8

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

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, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 6,240

Change: -79

 Construction employment fell by 79,000 in June. Employment losses were spread 

throughout the industry, as both residential and nonresidential components shed 

jobs. Employment in construction is now at its lowest level since September 1998.

 Since employment peaked in January 2007, the construction industry has lost 

nearly 1.5 million jobs. With the decline in June, this current downturn now 

stands as the largest employment decline in the history of the series back to 1939, 

surpassing the previous record set during the WWII-related employment declines 

from 1942 to 1944. 
9

-33

-52 -49 -57

-30

-51 -51

-67 -65

-119 -121

-180

-262

-172 -172

-150 -156

-136

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

 Manufacturing employment declined by 136,000 in June. The industry has lost 

1.9 million jobs since the start of the current recession, and employment now 

stands below 11.9 million — the lowest level since April 1941. 
10

-8

-5

-7

-18

-14

-16

-3

-32

-7

-2

-40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0

Wood products

Nonmetallic 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, June 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-112

Durable goods:

0

-1

-2

-1

-4

-1

-2

-6

-1

-3

-4

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2

Food manufacturing

Beverage and tobacco

Textile mills

Textile product mills

Apparel

Leather products

Paper products

Printing 

Petroleum and coal products

Chemicals

Plastics and rubber

Over-the-month change, June 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in nondurable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-24

Nondurable goods:

 Employment in durable goods manufacturing was responsible for the majority of 

manufacturing losses with 112,000 jobs cut from payrolls in June. Within the 

durable goods industry, transportation equipment (-32,000), fabricated metal 

products (-18,000), computer and electronic products (-16,000), and machinery 

(-14,000) continued to lose jobs in June.

 Nondurable goods employment fell by 24,000 in June. Within this sector, 

employment losses in plastic and rubber products (-4,000) softened relative to the 

prior 6-month average loss of 11,000. 
11

5,000

5,250

5,500

5,750

6,000

6,250

6,500

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, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 5,677.4

Change: -15.9

 In June, wholesale trade employment fell by 16,000; the employment loss 

occurred at a slower rate of decline than its prior 6-month average loss of 33,000. 

Since reaching an employment peak in November 2007, the industry has cut 

371,000 jobs. 
12

14,000

14,250

14,500

14,750

15,000

15,250

15,500

15,750

16,000

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, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 14,801.1

Change: -21.0

 Retail trade employment edged down in June (-21,000); job losses in retail trade 

have moderated in the past 3 months. Over the month, job losses continued in 

automobile dealerships (-9,000). 

 Retail trade has shed 767,000 jobs since the start of the recession, bringing 

employment in the industry to its lowest level since January 1999. 
13

-3

3

-2

-6

-4

-7

-11

-5 -4 -4

-17

-25

-16

-6

-13

-21

-25

-21

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Employment in information

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

 Information employment fell by 21,000 in June; this is slightly more than its prior 

6-month average decline of 18,000. Since the start of 2009, the industry has shed 

over 100,000 jobs. 

 Among information’s component industries, both publishing and 

telecommunications lost 7,000 jobs in June. During the first 6 months of 2009, 

publishing has cut about 9,000 jobs a month; compared to an average 3,000 jobs 

lost per month during 2008. 
14

7,500

7,750

8,000

8,250

8,500

7,500

7,750

8,000

8,250

8,500

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 7,754

Change: -27

 Employment in financial activities continued to fall in June, declining by 27,000. 

Over the first 6 months of 2009, the industry has shed 256,000 positions. Total 

industry employment currently stands at 7.8 million, the lowest level since 

December 2000. 

 During June, employment fell in credit intermediation and related activities 

(-10,000) and in securities, commodity contracts, and investments (-6,000). 
15

-40

-51

-64

-4

-63 -63

-36

-61 -52

-63

-124 -132

-151

-176

-119 -127

-48

-118

-220

-180

-140

-100

-60

-20

Employment in professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

business services

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

3,000

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, July 2, 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

June 2009

Level: 1,735.8

Change: -37.6

 Professional and business services employment fell by 118,000 in June. Since 

reaching an employment peak in December 2007, the industry has shed 1.5 

million jobs. 

 Within professional and business services, temporary help services employment 

declined by 38,000 in June. This industry has lost 848,000 jobs, or nearly a third 

of its employment, since the start of the recession. 
16

12.4

4.7

4.5

1.7

3.7

4.7

0 3 6 9 12 15

Ambulatory health care 

services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care 

facilities

Over-the-month change, June 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, July 2, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in selected health care industries

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

+20.8

Health care:

Ambulatory health care 

services*

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

 Health care added 21,000 jobs in June. Employment growth in the industry has 

averaged 21,000 per month since the beginning of 2009, down from an average of 

30,000 per month in 2008.

 Ambulatory health care services increased its payrolls by 12,000 positions in 

June. The industry has been relatively unaffected since the start of the current 

recession, adding 266,000 jobs.