Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

November 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

December 2, 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

November 2011

Level: 131,708

Change: 120

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 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–November 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

217

53

20

127

104

210

100

120

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

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

Employment in total nonfarm

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Nonfarm payroll employment rose 120,000 in November. 

• Over the prior 12 months, payroll employment had increased by an average of 131,000 

per month. 

• Since an employment trough in February 2010, nonfarm employment has expanded by 

2.5 million, indicating moderate labor market improvement. 

 
3

-20

2

22

27

33

8

-4

1

8

50

-2

2

-12

4

-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, December 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

120

• In November, a job gain in private-sector employment (+140,000) was partially offset by 

a job loss in government (-20,000). Retail trade stood out with a significant job gain over 

the month. Employment growth continued in professional and business services, leisure 

and hospitality, and health care. 

• Nonfarm employment reached a trough in February 2010 and has since grown by 2.5 

million. During this period, the private sector added 2.9 million jobs, while government 

cut about one-half million jobs. 

• The private sector has now recovered 33 percent of jobs lost in the peak-to-trough period 

of January 2008 to February 2010. 

 
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, December 02, 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–November 2011

Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.3

Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 33.6

Change: -0.1

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

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

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–November 2011

November 2011

Level: 94.3

Change: 0.1%

Total private, all employees

• In November, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was 

unchanged at 34.3 hours for the second consecutive month. The all-employee workweek 

is now 0.6 hour longer than when it reached a low in June 2009. 

• The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm 

payrolls edged down 0.1 hour to 33.6 hours in November. The production and 

nonsupervisory employee workweek has grown 0.6 hour since reaching a trough in 

October 2009 but is still 0.3 hour below its June 2007 peak. 

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

percent in November. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has 

increased by 4.1 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 Sep-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, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

November 2011 Earnings: 1.8

October 2011 CPI-U: 3.6

*1982–84=100

March 2007–November 2011

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

106

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

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly payrolls 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–November 2011

November 2011

Level: 104.3

Change: 0.1%

Total private, all employees

• Over the past year, average hourly earnings of all employees have increased by 1.8 

percent. The consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) was up 3.6 percent 

from October 2010 to October 2011. 

• Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector fell by 2 cents to $23.18 

in November after increasing 12 cents over the prior 2 months. 

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees rose 0.1 percent 

over the month. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 8.2 

percent. 
6

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

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

Employment in mining and logging

November 2011

Level: 815

Change: 4

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 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–November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Mining and logging employment edged up 4,000 in November. Over the past 4 months, 

the pace of job growth slowed somewhat. 

• Since reaching a trough in October 2009, mining employment has risen by 156,000, with 

support activities for mining (+115,000) accounting for most of the gains. 

 
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

November 2011

Level: 5,522

Change: -12

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 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–November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In November, construction employment edged down (-12,000) for the second consecutive 

month. 

• Losses continued to be concentrated in nonresidential construction. In November, 

nonresidential industry employment fell by 12,000, accounting for the entire decline in 

construction. 

• Since reaching a trough in January 2011, employment in construction has remained 

essentially flat, although the production employee workweek has expanded by 2.4 hours 

since reaching a low in October 2009. 

 
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

28

7

14

34

-1-1

6

2

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in manufacturing

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Manufacturing employment remained essentially unchanged for a fourth consecutive 

month. This stall in hiring occurred even as economic activity in the manufacturing 

sector continued to grow. 

 
9

-3.0

-0.8

5.2

-0.8

-3.4

3.8

8.3

1.0

-0.3

0.7

-5 0 5 10

Miscellaneous 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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

10

• In November, a job gain of 10,000 in durable goods was partially offset by a decrease of 

8,000 in nondurable goods. 

• In November, transportation equipment manufacturers added 5,000 jobs. Motor vehicles 

and parts accounted for 1,000 of this gain. This industry has added 90,000 jobs since 

reaching an employment trough in June 2009, although, employment remains 27 percent 

lower than at the start of the recent recession. Over the past year, the industry has slowly 

and consistently expanded its workforce despite the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, 

and Thailand floods, both of which disrupted the motor vehicles and parts supply chain 

and inventories. 
10

-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

3

12

29

3

23

13

50

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in retail trade

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in retail trade added 50,000 jobs in November, a much stronger gain than 

the prior 12-month average (+13,000). Seasonal hiring was stronger than it had been 

during recent years and resulted in the large seasonally adjusted employment gain. 

• November retail employment saw significant gains in electronics and appliance stores 

and clothing and clothing accessory stores. 

 
11

7,500

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

November 2011

Level: 7,626

Change: 8

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 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–November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Financial activities employment edged up in November (+8,000). Credit intermediation 

and related activities stood out as the main contributor to employment growth. 

• The industry had lost more than 700,000 jobs since December 2006, but employment has 

leveled off since late 2010. 

 
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

45

44

0

39

45

54

39

33

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in professional and business services

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, December 2, 2011.

1.0

17.9

20.9

3.4

4.5

5.1

-2.0

2.0

8.8

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25

- 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, December 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

33

• Job growth continued in professional and business services. In November, industry 

employment increased by 33,000. Since the end of the most recent recession, the 

industry has recovered about 58 percent of the 1.6 million jobs lost during the downturn. 

• Within administrative and waste services, employment growth in November (+21,000) 

continued at about the same pace as the prior 12 months. The employment increase in 

temporary help services accounted for most of this gain. 

• In November, employment changed little in professional and technical services (+9,000), 

which had added an average 23,000 jobs per month during the prior 12 months. 
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

November 2011

Level: 2,333

Change: 22

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 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–November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment gains in temporary help services have picked up over the past 5 months, 

averaging 20,000 per month, an improvement over the average monthly gain of 5,000 

jobs the industry experienced during the first half of 2011. 

 
14

47

43

46

58

45

47

44

49

8

13

38

34

47

16

-3

5

49

33

21

41

15

30

40

31

19

28

56

27

26

27

36

41

19

64

37

28

29

43

33

40

21

18

54

38

52

37

27

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

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

Employment in education and health services

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, December 2, 2011.

3.8

8.7

-1.8

2.7

2.7

4.7

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals

- Home health care services

- Outpatient care centers

- Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services ̊

Employment in selected health care industries

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

17

• Education and health services employment trended up in November (+27,000). This 

change is the smallest the industry has seen since June. In November, most of the job 

gains occurred in health care and social assistance (+19,000). 

• While health care employment continued to trend up in November (+17,000), this 

gain fell below the industry’s prior 12-month average job gain. November job growth 

was little changed in ambulatory health care services, a sector that has historically 

accounted for the majority of jobs added in the industry. Hospitals added 9,000 jobs 

in November, just above its average for the prior 12-month period. 
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

29

-25

27

15

23

2424

22

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

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

Employment in leisure and hospitality

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands -9 -4

1

-17

-14

0

-5

-16

-28

-30

-32

-24

-18

-19

-25

-24

31

3

-15

-22

-29

-24

-8

-38

6

-5

23

17

-3

-8

-15

29

53

9

-4

11

1

40

28

23

-6

4

5

22

30

19

33

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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

Employment in food services and drinking places

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Leisure and hospitality employment continued to trend up in November (+22,000), in line 

with the prior 5-month average. The November employment change resulted from a gain 

in food services and drinking places (+33,000), which was partially offset by a loss in 

accommodations (-12,000). 

• The employment increase in food services and drinking places was well above recent 

trend. This strong job growth coincides with a higher-than-expected increase in the 

Consumer Confidence Index. 

 
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

November 2011

Level: 21,989

Change: -20

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 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–November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-4.7

-6.0

-6.4

1.9

-5.1

1.5

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, December 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, November 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-20

• Government employment continued to trend down in November (-20,000). Government 

has lost 568,000 jobs since the end of the most recent recession in June 2009. 

• In November, government jobs losses occurred at both the state and local levels. Job 

losses following the 2007 recession have coincided with government budget cuts.