November 2018

Release Date: December 7, 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, November 2018

CES Highlights Release Date: December 7, 2018

gain of 3,000 in primary metals. Among 

nondurable goods manufacturing, 

employment rose by 6,000 in chemicals.

+25,000 Transportation and Warehousing 

 Employment rose in transportation and 

warehousing (+25,000), with gains in couriers 

and messengers (+10,000) and in warehousing 

and storage (+6,000). Over the past 12 

months, couriers and messengers have added 

 Nonfarm employment increased by 

155,000 in November. Health care, 

manufacturing, and transportation and 

warehousing added jobs over the month.

 The employment change for October 

revised down from +250,000 to +237,000, and 

the change for September revised up slightly 

from +118,000 to +119,000. On net, 

employment over these months is 12,000 

lower than previously reported.

 Average hourly earnings of all privatesector employees rose by 0.2 percent (6 cents) 

in November and are up 3.1 percent over the 

year. The average workweek, at 34.4 hours, 

declined by 0.1 hour over the month. 

+34,000 Education and Health Services

 Health care added 32,000 jobs in 

November. Ambulatory care (+19,000) and 

hospitals (+13,000) contributed to the growth. 

Over the year, employment in health care has 

risen by 328,000, compared to 292,000 jobs 

added during the prior 12-month period.

+27,000 Manufacturing

 Manufacturers added 27,000 jobs in 

November. Durable goods industries

accounted for 15,000 of the increase with a 

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237

155

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100

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200

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300

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400

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

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, December 07, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–November 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: December 7, 2018

74,000 jobs, compared to 49,000 over the 

preceding 12-month period. Warehousing has 

added 50,000 jobs over the year, similar to its 

prior 12-month trend. 

+32,000 Professional and Business Services 

 In November, employment continued to 

trend up in professional and business services 

(+32,000). Over the year, this industry has 

added 561,000 jobs, compared to 433,000 jobs 

added during the preceding 12 months.

+18,000 Retail Trade

 Employment changed little in retail trade. 

Job gains in general merchandise stores 

(+39,000) and miscellaneous store retailers 

(+10,000) were partly offset by losses in 

electronics and appliance stores (-11,000); 

clothing stores (-14,000); and sporting, hobby, 

and book stores (-11,000).

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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

November 2018 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

155*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, November 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 changed little 

in November (-2,000). The industry had 

added an average 6,000 jobs per month 

during the first 10 months of 2018.

 The November weakness in mining 

employment coincides with by a 16-

percent decline in oil prices over the 

month. 

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

Employment in mining

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: December 7, 2018
 Construction employment changed 

little in November (+5,000), with small 

changes in the component industries: 

construction of buildings (+6,000) and 

specialty trade contractors (-2,000).

 Construction had added an average 

27,000 jobs per month over the prior 

12-month period.

 37 24

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60

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100

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

Employment in construction

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: December 7, 2018
 Employment in manufacturing continued to grow in November 

(+27,000). Job gains were spread across durable goods (+15,000) and 

nondurable goods (+12,000). Over the year, manufacturers have boosted 

payroll employment by 288,000, mostly in durable goods industries.

 Within durable goods, both primary metals and computer and 

electronic products added 3,000 jobs each. Employment continued to 

trend up in transportation equipment (+5,000).

 In nondurable goods, chemicals added 6,000 jobs in November, while 

petroleum and coal products lost 2,000. 

 

 

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

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, December 07, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in manufacturing

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1

3

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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

November 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

15

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: December 7, 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 continued to trend up in 

November (+10,000), bringing the industry’s 12-month 

employment gain to 93,000, with approximately two-thirds of 

the growth occurring in durable goods (+60,000). 

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

Employment in wholesale trade

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: December 7, 2018
 In November, employment in retail 

trade edged up by 18,000. Over the 

year, employment in the industry has 

shown little net change (+24,000).

 Over the month, employment gains

occurred in general merchandise stores 

(+39,000) and miscellaneous stores 

retailers (+10,000). These gains were

partially offset by losses in clothing and 

clothing accessories stores (-14,000); 

electronics and appliance stores 

(-11,000); and in sporting goods, hobby, 

book, and music stores (-11,000).

 In line with November’s employment

change, recent retail-related economic 

indicators were mostly positive. Retail 

Sales rose by 0.9 percent in November.

Personal Income was up by 0.5 percent 

in October. E- Commerce Sales for the 

third quarter 2018 increased by 3.1 

percent from the second quarter. 

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

Employment in retail trade

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Retail 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: December 7, 2018
 Employment in transportation and 

warehousing increased by 25,000 in 

November. Within the industry, couriers 

and messengers (+10,000) and 

warehousing and storage (+6,000) added 

jobs. 

 So far this year, these two industries 

have combined to add 124,000 jobs, 

accounting for two-thirds of all jobs 

added in transportation and 

warehousing.

These two industries are closely related 

with the retail industry, and the rise in 

ecommerce sales is likely a contributing 

factor to the recent job gains. (Source: 

Census Bureau)

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Warehousing and storage *

Couriers and messengers *

Support activities for transportation

Transit and ground passenger transportation

Truck transportation

Air transportation

Employment in select transportation and warehousing industries

Over-the-month change, November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

November 2018 Prior 12-month average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 7, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Transportation 

industries:

25*

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: December 7, 2018
 Employment in utilities was 

unchanged in November and essentially 

unchanged, on net, over the year 

(-2,000).

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

Employment in utilities

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: December 7, 2018
 Information employment changed little 

in November. The industry has lost 60,000 

jobs since its last employment peak in 

October 2016. 

2,500

2,600

2,700

2,800

2,900

3,000

3,100

3,200

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

Employment in information

November 2018 Level: 2,759

OTM Change: -8

Oct 2016 peak: 2,819 

Jan 2013 trough: 2,661

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 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–November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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: December 7, 2018
 

 Employment in financial activities 

changed little (+6,000) in November. An 

employment decline of 6,000 in credit 

intermediation, concentrated primarily 

in the nondepository component 

(-4,000), offset a gain of 6,000 in 

securities, commodity contracts, 

investments, and funds and trusts. Other 

component industries experienced little 

employment change. 

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: December 7, 2018

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Real estate and rental and leasing

Insurance carriers and related activities

Securities and commodities*

 - Commercial banking

Credit intermediation1

Employment in selected financial activities

November 2018 Prior 6-month average

Over-the-month change, November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Financial 

activities:

6

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance
 Employment in professional and business services 

continued to trend up in November (+32,000). So far 

in 2018, professional and business services has added 

an average of 48,000 jobs per month, or an 

annualized rate of 2.8 percent. Employment in the 

industry had risen by 2.3 percent in 2017.

 In November, computer systems design and 

related services (+8,000), architectural and 

engineering services (+6,000), and management and 

technical consulting services (+4,000) accounted for 

nearly all of the employment movement in 

professional and technical services. These three 

industries accounted for nearly two-thirds of the 

258,000 employment gain in professional and 

technical services thus far in 2018.

 Employment in administrative and waste services 

also continued to trend up in November (+14,000). 

Year to date, administrative and waste services has 

added 240,000 jobs. 

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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, November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

CES Highlights Release Date: December 7, 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 continued its run of job growth, adding 32,000 jobs in 

November, resulting in 328,000 jobs added over the last 12 months. Job 

growth in health care has gradually accelerated since early 2017.

 Within health care, ambulatory health care services added 19,000 jobs 

in November, while hospitals added 13,000.

 

 The November job gain in hospitals followed a similar increase in 

October, bringing the 12-month change in hospital employment to 

+118,000. Like health services in general, hospital employment has had a 

strong and stable 2018.

 

 

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

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, December 07, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in health care

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

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, December 07, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in hospitals

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: December 7, 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 

continued to trend up in November 

(+15,000). Over the year, the sector has 

added 268,000 jobs.

 Within the industry, food services and 

drinking places has driven most of the growth 

over the year (+203,000), likely fueled by 

rising personal consumption expenditures.

 After 2 strong months of job growth, 

employment in performing arts and spectator 

sports changed little (-5,000), contributing to 

weakness in arts, entertainment, and 

recreation.

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

Food services and drinking places

Accommodation

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Employment in leisure and hospitality

November 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and 

hospitality:

15

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 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: December 7, 2018
 Employment in other services was 

unchanged in November. Over the most 

recent 12 months, the industry has 

added 65,000 jobs, representing a 

change of 1.1 percent. Personal and 

laundry services accounted for 33,000 of 

the gains during this period.

5,000

5,200

5,400

5,600

5,800

6,000

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

Employment in other services

November 2018 Level: 5,882

OTM Change: 0 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 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–November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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: December 7, 2018
 Employment in government changed 

little in November (-6,000). However, 

U. S. Postal Service added 6,000 jobs in 

November in preparation for the holiday 

season. 

Government employment has shown 

little net change over the year (+48,000). 

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Local government, excluding education

Local government education

State government, excluding education

State government education

U.S. Postal Service*

Federal, except U.S. Postal Service*

Employment in selected government

November 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, November 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-6

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

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: December 7, 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

Osman Alhassan

Michael Calvillo

Wander Cedeño

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Katelynn Harris

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Carson Wilson

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis