Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

May 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

June 3, 2011
2 

120,000

122,000

124,000

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

Employment in total nonfarm

May 2011

Level: 131,043

Change: 54

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

13

-83

-72

-185

-233

-178

-231

-267

-434

-509

-802

-619

-820

-726

-796

-660

-386

-502

-300

-231

-236

-221

-55

-130

-39

-35

192

277

458

-192

-49

-59

-29

171

93

152

68

235

194

232

54

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

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

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Nonfarm payroll employment changed little in May, following average increases of 220,000 

in the prior 3 months. 

• Total nonfarm employment has increased by 1.8 million, or 1.4 percent, since its trough in 

February of 2010. Between January 2008 and February 2010, the U.S. economy had lost 8.8 

million jobs. 

 
3 

-29

3

-6

34

44

3

-1

1

8

-9

3

-5

2

6

-40 -20 0 20 40 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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, May 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

54

• Employment gains in both professional and business services and education and health 

services were offset by losses in government. 

 

• Employment in other major industries changed little in May. 

 
4 

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

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011 Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.4

Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 33.6

Change: 0.0

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

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

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–May 2011

May 2011

Level: 93.9

Change: 0.1%

Total private, all employees

• Average weekly hours for both all employees and production employees remained 

unchanged in May. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector increased by 0.1 

percent. Since a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.6 percent. 

 
5 

-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

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, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

May 2011 Earnings: 1.8

April 2011 CPI-U: 3.1

*1982–84=100

March 2007–May 2011

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

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

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly payrolls 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–May 2011

May 2011

Level: 102.9

Change: 0.4%

Total private, all employees

• Average hourly earnings of all employees in the private sector increased by 6 cents in May to 

$22.98. Hourly earnings are up 1.8 percent over the year. 

• Between April of 2010 and April 2011 the consumer price index for all urban consumers 

(CPI-U) increased by 3.1 percent. 

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees in the private sector increased by 

0.4 percent in May. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the end of the latest recession, 

the index has rebounded 6.7 percent. 
6 

6

2

7

0

5

66

7

5

-3

-5

-7

-6

-16

-20

-17

-16

-8-8-8

-1

-8

2

-1

55

8

7

11

6

7

8

6

9

1

-1

55

15

9

6

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

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

Employment in mining and logging

Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in mining and logging continued to trend up in May. 

• Mining and logging has added 113,000 jobs, since reaching a low point in October 2009. 

Between September 2008 and October 2009 the industry had shed 123,000 jobs. 

 
7 

5,400

5,900

6,400

6,900

7,400

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

Employment in construction

May 2011

Level: 5,529

Change: 2

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-9.9

14.1

3.1

0.6

-5.9

-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

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, June 03, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, May 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction:

2

• Construction employment changed little in May. Residential specialty trade contractors 

added 14,000 jobs while residential building (-6,000) and nonresidential specialty trades 

 (-10,000) lost jobs. 

 
8 

-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

11

53

37

20

24

-5

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011 Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.4

Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 40.6

Change: 0.2

• Manufacturing employment changed little in May. From a recent low point in December 2009 

through April 2011, manufacturing added 243,000 jobs. 

• The 1-month diffusion index in manufacturing fell from 64.8 in April to 54.9 in May, the lowest 

reading since October 2010. The index measures the dispersion of employment change across 

industries; a value above 50 indicates that more industries are adding jobs than losing jobs. 

• Average weekly hours for production workers remained unchanged, while average weekly hours 

for all employees increased by 0.2 hour. 
9 

-8

-47

-20

-68

-61

-35

-45

-63

-69

-60

-130

-91

-104

-78

-86

-50

-13

-19

-41

-14

-48

-47

-17

-19

35

0

25

16

-3

-13

11

-7

18

26

-16

6

31

0

-6

64

-9

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Retail trade employment was essentially flat in May, following an increase of 64,000 in 

April. 

• Much of the gain in April was due to 27,000 jobs added within general merchandise stores, 

which had offset job loss of equal magnitude in March. 

 
10 

4,000

4,100

4,200

4,300

4,400

4,500

4,600

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

Employment in transportation and warehousing

May 2011

Level: 4,261

Change: 8

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in transportation and warehousing changed little in May. 

• Since reaching an employment low in February 2010, transportation and warehousing has 

added 118,000 jobs, or 28 percent of the jobs lost during its most recent downturn. 

 
11 

7,600

7,700

7,800

7,900

8,000

8,100

8,200

8,300

8,400

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

Employment in financial activities

May 2011

Level: 7,612

Change: 3

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in financial activities changed little in May and has remained flat since 

August 2010. 

• Since reaching an employment peak in December 2006, financial activities has lost 

739,000 jobs. 

 
12 

-6

-34

-59

3

-71

-45

-64

-77

-68

-113

-181

-110

-151

-183

-130

-150

-61

-108

-29

-26

-6

7

66

26

3131

2

69

25

43

-2

30

8

40

85

58

51

38

75

50

44

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in professional and business services

Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-1.9

-2.2

-0.6

4.9

5.2

8.2

3.0

17.8

40.3

-10 0 10 20 30 40 50

- Services to buildings

- Employment services

Administrative and waste services ̊

Management of companies

- Management and technical consulting

- Computer systems design

- Architectural and engineering

- Accounting and bookkeeping

Professional and technical ̊

Employment in selected professional and business services

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.

Over-the-month change, May 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

44

• Employment in professional and business services increased by 44,000 in May. 

• Roughly nine out of ten jobs added in May were in professional and technical services. 

• Accounting and bookkeeping services added 18,000 jobs over the month, and computer 

systems design added 8,000 jobs. 

 
13 

1,700

1,800

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

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

Employment in temporary help services

May 2011

Level: 2,245

Change: -1

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Temporary help services employment was flat in May. Over the prior 6 months, the 

industry had accounted for roughly 55 percent of job growth within administrative and 

waste services. 

 
14 

 

33

30

30

37

24

26

31

19

14

19

32

24

14

23

8

12

28

24

21

19

20

22

24

22

12

16

35

17

15

16

25

27

23

30

20

28

13

27

30

37

17

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

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

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Health care continued its long-term trend of steady job growth in May (+17,000), slightly 

below the industry’s prior 12-month average (+24,000). 

 
15 

 

2

-3

2

-22

-29

-9

-28

-30

-51

-24

-55

-34

-35

-34

-56

-63

39

-24

-12

-17

-8

-51

-14

-50

-1

1

31

35

-3

23

-5

38

52

-31

-15

17

-3

54

46

32

-6

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

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

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Over-the-month change, January 2008–May 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in leisure and hospitality changed little in May, after adding an average 44,000 

jobs during the prior 3 months. 

• Small job losses in arts, entertainment, and recreation and in accommodation more than 

offset a small gain in food services and drinking places. 

 
16 

 

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

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

Employment in government

May 2011

Level: 22,127

Change: -29

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–May 2011 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

14,000

14,100

14,200

14,300

14,400

14,500

14,600

14,700

14,800

14,900

15,000

5,000

5,050

5,100

5,150

5,200

5,250

5,300

5,350

5,400

5,450

5,500

Jan-07 Aug-07 Mar-08 Oct-08 May-09 Dec-09 Jul-10 Feb-11

Local government

State government

Employment in state and local government

January 2007 - May 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Local

State

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 03, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Government employment fell by 29,000 in May. Most of the losses occurred in local 

government education. 

• Local government has shed 446,000 jobs since an employment peak in September 2008.