Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

January 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

February 4, 2011
1

1

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

January 2011

Level: 130,265

Change: +36

2

1

-32

49

9

28

-38

-2

-1

-10

31

13

-3

5

-14

-50 -25 0 25 50 75 100

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 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

+36

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed in January. Between a peak in January 2008 and 

a trough in February 2010, nonfarm employment contracted by 8.8 million. Since then, business 

establishments have added 1 million jobs. 

• In January, both manufacturing and retail trade experienced jobs gains, while job losses occurred 

in transportation and warehousing and in construction. 
2

1

0.8 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.1

-0.1-0.3-0.5-0.6

-1.0

-1.4

-2.1

-2.6

-3.2

-3.7

-4.2

-4.6-4.7-4.9-5.0-5.0-4.8-4.6

-4.1-3.8

-3.2

-2.7

-2.0

-1.3

-0.6-0.4-0.2-0.1

0.1 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.8

-6

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

Over-the-year percent change, 2007-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in total nonfarm

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

• On a year-over-year basis, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 0.8 percent in January. 

This is the highest year-over-year percent change since December 2007. 

   
3

4

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, total private

Production employees

Level: 33.4

Change: -0.1

All employees

Level: 34.2

Change: -0.1

5

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

of all employees and CPI-U (1982-84), 2007-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings

Over-the-year percent changes

January 2011 AHE: 1.9

December 2010 CPI-U: 1.4

AHE

CPI-U

• During January, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.1 

hour to 34.2 hours. Similarly, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls declined by 0.1 hour to 33.4 hours. 

• Average hourly earnings of all employees rose by 8 cents in January to $22.86. Over the past 12 

months, average hourly earnings have risen by 1.9 percent. 

• Between December 2009 and December 2010, the consumer price index for all urban consumers 

(CPI-U) grew by 1.4 percent. 
4

6

85

90

95

100

105

2006-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

January 2011

Level: 92.6

Percent change: -0.2

of all employees

7

85

90

95

100

105

2006-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

January 2011

Level: 100.9

Percent change: +0.1

payrolls of all employees

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees declined by 0.2 percent over the month. 

Since a reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 2.2 percent. 

• In January, the index of aggregate weekly payroll for all employees increased by 0.1 percent. 
5

8

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

January 2011

Level: 5,455

Change: -32

9

-3.2

-6.7 -7.0

6.7

-21.6

-3.0

-0.9

1.9

-6.4

-4.9

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

Residential building Nonresidential 

building

Heavy and civil 

engineering

Residential specialty 

trades

Nonresidential 

specialty trades

January 2011

Prior 12-mo. avg.

Over-the-month change, January 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment in construction continued to trend downward in January, declining by 32,000. 

• Job losses occurred in construction of buildings (-10,000) and in nonresidential specialty trade 

contractors (-22,000). 

• Although the January job loss reflects recent trends, severe winter weather also may have 

impacted employment. The average workweek of all employees in the construction sector 

declined 0.8 hour in January. 
6

10

-12

-34 -38

-56

-33

-56 -68

-85 -88

-131-121

-175

-284

-171-175-173-172

-140

-54 -46 -49 -51 -44

-28

9

-3

9

38 27 12

32

-29

-6 -6

15 14

49

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Manufacturing employment increased by 49,000 over the month. Since reaching an employment 

low in December 2009, manufacturers have added 161,000 positions. 

   
7

11

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Production employees

Level: 41.0

Change: -0.2

All employees

Level: 40.5

Change: +0.1

12

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

manufacturing, 2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly overtime hours,

Production employees

Level: 4.0

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 3.1

Change: 0.0

• The average workweek week of all employees on manufacturing payrolls rose by 0.1 hour to 40.5 

hours in January. Factory overtime was unchanged over the month. 

   
8

13

3

3

2

13

10

5

1

20

3

2

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

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, January 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

62

14

-3.3-4.7

-26.4

-18.4

-1.1-1.4

-10.6

-33.3

-19.4

-13.5-16.9

-25.4

-82.6

15.5

-10.6

-25.8

-33.3

-20.4

33.6

-4.3-0.4

4.8

-7.6

-0.5

24.3

-10.4

2.2 5.0 6.6

-1.4

21.3

-20.2

-0.2

2.7

-1.9-2.3

20.4

-100

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in motor vehicles and parts

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Durable-goods industries boosted manufacturing payrolls by 62,000 jobs in January. 

• Employments gains occurred in motor vehicles and parts (+20,000), fabricated metal products 

(+13,000), machinery (+10,000), and in computer and electronic products (+5,000). These gains 

were partially offset by declines in nondurable goods manufacturing, which lost 13,000 jobs over 

the month. 

• The motor vehicles and parts industry typically experiences seasonal plant shutdowns in January. 

However, in 2011, the industry saw a small not seasonally adjusted job gain. 
9

15

-8.0

-47.2

-19.9

-68.1

-60.8

-34.7

-44.7

-63.3-68.8

-60.0

-130.4

-90.8

-103.8

-78.2

-86.4

-50.4

-13.2-18.7

-41.0

-13.8

-47.6-47.1

-16.5-19.2

35.1

0.4

24.9

15.9

-3.3

-12.5

10.8

-6.7

17.7

26.3

-15.6

2.8

27.5

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

16

3.6

-0.8

-2.5

4.4

1.3

2.0

-2.0

14.6

-1.2

5.9

0.9

1.3

-18 -15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Electronics and appliance stores

Building material and garden supply stores

Food and beverage stores

Health and personal care stores

Gasoline stations

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

General merchandise stores

Miscellaneous store retailers

Nonstore retailers

Over-the-month change, January 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in retail trade industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade: 27.5

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment in retail trade rose by 28,000 in January. Since reaching an employment trough in 

December 2009, retail employment has risen by 123,000. 

• In January, clothing and clothing accessories stores accounted for about half of the employment 

gain in retail trade. Clothing stores have added 74,000 jobs since reaching an employment trough 

in October 2009. 
10

17

-4.3

1.5 0.4

5.6

-14.0-13.1

-5.4

-12.1

-41.0

-17.1

-40.3

-12.1

-39.5

-23.7

-33.9

-45.1

-18.6-20.2

-27.3

-2.9

-12.5-14.8

1.0

19.2

-39.5

-2.8

8.3 4.8

9.010.59.0

-0.7

8.3

3.8

22.1

48.6

-38.0

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

18

0.6

3.2

-1.2

3.5

-44.8

-0.7

-60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10

Air transportation

Truck transportation

Transit and ground passenger transportation

Support activities for transportation

Couriers and messengers

Warehousing and storage

Over-the-month change, January 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in selected transportation

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation and

warehousing: -38

and warehousing industries

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Transportation and warehousing employment decreased by 38,000 in January; this loss comes on 

the heels of an employment increase of 49,000 in December. 

• In January, couriers and messengers was the main driver of employment losses, cutting 45,000 

positions. Courier services had experienced a strong buildup in December for the holiday delivery 

season, followed by a similarly large seasonal layoff in January. Over the 2-month span, 

employment in courier services changed little. 
11

19

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

2000-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in professional and business services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

January 2011

Level: 16,929

Change: +31

20

-4.9

-34.6-28.7

-15.5

-29.8-34.5-32.3

-40.6

-28.6

-66.9

-113.8

-73.4-77.9

-54.7-56.2

-66.6

-17.3-24.0

3.0

-7.0

6.7

38.0

59.3

47.5

56.6

22.730.0

21.1

30.2

18.6

-2.8

16.919.927.226.8

38.1

-11.4

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

120

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up in January. Since a 

reaching an employment trough in September 2009, the industry has added 546,000 jobs. 

• Although temporary help services has been the main driver of job growth since the trough, 

employment in the industry changed little in January. 

   
12

21

33.0

30.529.9

37.0

24.225.6

31.5

18.5

13.7

18.9

31.7

23.8

14.1

23.2

7.7

12.1

27.8

24.4

21.0

19.120.2

22.423.6

21.9

12.3

16.4

34.5

17.3

14.615.7

24.7

27.1

23.3

30.1

19.8

26.7

10.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-11

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

22

8

2.1

2.5

4.3

0.7

1.9

13.8

2.1

2.6

3.6

3.2

4.9

-10 0 10 20

Ambulatory health care services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care facilities

January 2011: +10.6

Prior 12-mo. avg.: +21.9

Over-the-month change, January 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 4, 2011.

Employment in selected health care industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Offices of physicians

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

• In January, health care employment continued to trend up over the month (+11,000). Over the 

prior 12 months, health care has added an average of 22,000 jobs per month.