Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

December 2009

Bureau of Labor Statistics

January 8, 2010

   
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, January 8, 2010.

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

December 2009

Level: 130,910

Change: -85

-72

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

-175

-321

-380

-597

-681

-741

-681-652

-519

-303

-463

-304

-154-139-127

4

-85

-900

-800

-700

-600

-500

-400

-300

-200

-100

0

100

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Nonfarm payroll employment edged down (-85,000) in December. 

• Monthly job losses averaged 691,000 in the first quarter of the year and then slowed in 

each successive quarter with the 4th quarter averaging 69,000 per month. 

• In 2009, employment in nonfarm payrolls fell by 4.2 million, the largest annual decrease 

in the history of the series. Since the recession began in December 2007, payroll 

employment has decreased by 7.2 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 -4.2 -4.2 -4.1 -3.9

-3.5

-3.1

-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, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent changes, 2008-09

• The 12-month rate of job loss has slowed from 4.2 percent in August to 3.1 percent in 

December. The over-the-year rate of change is now at a pace last seen in February. 

   
4

-1

-53

-27

-18

-10

-8

-1

-6

4

50

35

-25

-4

-21

-90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90

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, December 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-85

Total nonfarm:

• In December, job losses, led by construction and manufacturing, were widespread 

throughout most industry sectors. 

• During 2009, job losses have moderated in most industry sectors. 

• Only professional and business services and education and health services 

experienced job gains. 

   
5

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

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

December 2009

Level: 33.2

Change: 0.0

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, January 8, 2010.

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.

December 2009

Level: 99.1

Percent change: 0.0

• In December, average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory employees 

remained unchanged at 33.2 hours. 

• In December, the index of total private aggregate weekly hours remained unchanged. 

Since reaching a peak in December 2007, the index has fallen by 8.1 percent. 

   
6

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

-4.0

-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

December 2009 AHE: 2.2

November 2009 CPI-W: 2.3

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, January 8, 2010.

CPI-W

AHE

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, January 8, 2010.

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

December 2009

Level: 124.5

Percent change: +0.2

• In December, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees rose 

3 cents to $18.80. Over the past year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.2 percent, 

similar to the November over-the-year change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban 

Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). 

• The index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls rose by 0.2 percent in December 

after a 0.8 percent increase in November. However, the index is still 3.6 percent below its 

peak in August 2008. 

   
7

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

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 mining and logging

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

December 2009

Level: 703

Change: -1

• Employment in mining and logging was flat in December. 

• Since reaching a peak in October 2008, employment in the industry has decreased by 

91,000 or 11.5 percent. 

   
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, January 8, 2010.

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

December 2009

Level: 5,907

Change: -53

-3.8

-7.7

-18.4

-14.8

-8.9 -8.4 -8.8 -9.5

-20.3

-34.5

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Residential building Nonresidential 

building

Heavy and civil 

engineering

Residential specialty 

trades

Nonresidential 

specialty trades

December 2009

Prior 12-mo. avg. 

Over-the-month change, December 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

• Construction employment fell by 53,000 in December, similar to its prior 6-month 

average. In 2009, the industry shed 934,000 jobs. 

• In December, losses were concentrated in nonresidential and heavy construction 

(-35,000). Over the current 6 months, 75 percent of the decline in construction has 

occurred in these components. 

   
9

-33

-52 -49 -57

-30

-51 -51

-67 -65

-119-121

-180

-262

-172-172

-150-146

-123

-41

-55

-41 -48 -35 -27

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

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, manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted

December 2009

Level: 40.4

Change: 0.0

• In December, manufacturing shed 27,000 jobs. Average monthly job losses in the second 

half of 2009 were about one-fourth as large as those in the first half of the year. 

• In December, the factory workweek was unchanged at 40.4 and overtime held at 3.4 

hours. Since May, the manufacturing workweek has increased by 1.0 hour. 

   
10

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, January 8, 2010.

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

December 2009

Level: 5,618.5

Change: -18.2

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, January 8, 2010.

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

December 2009

Level: 14,623.0

Change: -10.2

• Wholesale trade employment declined by 18,000 in December, bringing the total job loss 

to 232,000 in 2009. Nearly all of the jobs lost, over the month and over the year, were in 

durable goods. 

• Retail trade employment edged down in December, as employment in general 

merchandise stores fell by 15,000. 

• The retail industry shed 415,000 jobs in 2009 and 945,000 jobs since the beginning of the 

recession. 

   
11

3,750

4,000

4,250

4,500

4,750

3,750

4,000

4,250

4,500

4,750

and warehousing

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

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 transportation

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

December 2009

Level: 4,153.7

Change: -8.0

-3

3

-2

-6

-4

-7

-11

-5 -4 -4

-17

-25

-16

-6

-13

-21

-26

-13

-11

-5

-1 -2

-14

-6

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Employment in information

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Transportation and warehousing employment edged down in December. The industry 

shed 236,000 jobs in 2009, the largest annual job loss in the history of the series. 

Trucking shed 94,000 jobs in 2009. 

• Employment in information was little change in December. The industry shed 134,000 

jobs in 2009, the largest annual job loss since 2003. Publishing accounted for the 

majority of the industry job loss in 2009. 

   
12

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, January 8, 2010.

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

December 2009

Level: 7,695

Change: +4

• Employment in financial activities was little changed in December. Over the year, the 

industry shed 315,000 jobs, the largest annual job loss in the history of the series. 

Finance and insurance (-200,000) accounted for the majority of the industry job loss in 

2009. 

   
13

-40 -51 -64

-4

-63 -63

-36

-61 -52 -63

-124-132

-151

-176

-119-127

-27

-101

-31

-6

24 33

89

50

-220

-180

-140

-100

-60

-20

20

60

100

140

Employment in professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

business services

-25

-38 -34

-23

-37 -43 -34

-48

-37 -45

-90

-73

-90

-73

-57 -54

-1

-30

-6

3

17

44

55 47

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Employment in temporary help

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

services

• Employment in professional and business services rose by 50,000 in December. 

Temporary help services accounted for nearly all of this increase. Since reaching a recent 

employment low in July, temporary help services has added 166,000 jobs. 

• In 2009, professional and business services cut 542,000 jobs. 

   
14

22.8

8.9

2.5

8.0

1.4

-2.7

14.3

4.2

0.9

5.9

4.0

5

-6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

Ambulatory health care services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care facilities

December 2009:+21.5

Prior 12-mo. avg.: +23.3

Over-the-month change, December 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in selected health care industries

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Health care:

Ambulatory health care 

services*

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Offices of physicians

Outpatiant care centers

Home health care services

• Health care employment continued to rise in December (22,000). The industry’s payroll 

employment has increased by 631,000 since the start of the recession. 

• In December, notable gains occurred in the offices of physicians (9,000) and home health 

care services (8,000). 

• Ambulatory and health care services added 179,000 jobs during 2009, led by home health 

care services. 

   
15

-17

-5 -1

-16 -17

-5

-17 -19

-26

-33

-51

-40 -36 -32 -34 -34

27

-19

1

-14

13

-42

-13

-25

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

Employment in leisure 

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

and hospitality

22

30

20

10

37 34

15 19

-21

4 4

-11

8 7

-4

73

-11

-72

-58

12

-39

36

4

-21

-90

-75

-60

-45

-30

-15

0

15

30

45

60

75

90

Employment in government

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, January 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Employment in leisure and hospitality edged down in December. Since the beginning of 

the recession, the industry shed 455,000 jobs, with three-quarters of the job loss in 

accommodations and food services. 

• Employment in government edged down in December as most of this loss was divided 

between federal and local government. 

• In 2009, government employment fell by 65,000; all of the job loss occurred in the 

second half of the year. Local government employment declined by 98,000 jobs over the 

year.