Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

July 2010

Bureau of Labor Statistics

August 6, 2010

 
1

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

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: 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

July 2010

Level: 130,242

Change: -131

• Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 131,000 in July. 

• The decrease in employment largely reflects continued cuts in the number of temporary 

workers previously hired for Census 2010. 

 
2

8

-11

36

8

7

12

-3

1

-17

-13

30

6

6

-202

-250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100

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, July 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

-131

Note: Data are preliminary.

128,000

129,000

130,000

131,000

132,000

133,000

134,000

135,000

136,000

137,000

138,000

139,000

128,000

129,000

130,000

131,000

132,000

133,000

134,000

135,000

136,000

137,000

138,000

139,000

Total nonfarm

Total nonfarm excluding Census 

temporary and intermittent workers

Census temporary and intermittent workers, 2007-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm, including and excluding

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment fell in government, while modest employment gains continued in 

manufacturing, health care, and mining. 

 
3

100,000

102,500

105,000

107,500

110,000

112,500

115,000

117,500

120,000

100,000

102,500

105,000

107,500

110,000

112,500

115,000

117,500

120,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: 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 private

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

July 2010

Level: 107,737

Change: +71

-12

-85 -58

-161

-253-230-257

-347

-456

-547

-734

-667

-806

-707-744

-649

-334

-452

-297

-215-186

-262

75

-83

16 62

158

241

51 31 71

-900

-750

-600

-450

-300

-150

0

150

300

450

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in total private

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Private sector employment edged up by 71,000. 

• The private sector has added 630,000 jobs so far this year; the majority of the gains were 

in March and April. 

 
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

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: 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

Production employees

Level: 33.5

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 34.2

Change: +0.1

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

of all employees and CPI-U (1982-84), 2007-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Indexes program and Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 

2010. Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings

Seasonally adjusted

Over-the-year percent changes

July 2010 AHE: 1.8

June 2010 CPI-U: 1.1

AHE

CPI-U

• In July, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased 

by 0.1 hour to 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls also increased by 0.1 hour to 33.5 hours. 

• Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents in 

July to $22.59. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings of all employees on 

private nonfarm payrolls have increased by 1.8 percent. 

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumer (CPI-U) rose by 1.1 percent from 

June 2009 to June 2010. 

 
5

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

July 2010

Level: 92.3

Percent change: +0.3

of all employees

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

July 2010

Level: 99.5

Percent change: +0.6

payrolls of all employees

• In July, the index of private aggregate weekly hours increased by 0.3 percent. Since 

reaching a low in October 2009, the index has increased by 2.0 percent. 

• The index of private aggregate payrolls increased by 0.6 percent in July. Since reaching a 

low in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.2 percent. 

 
6

5

3.8

8.1

-0.3

8.1

6.9

4.7

7.2

2.8

-4

-2.7

-5.9

-7.3

-13.3

-15.5

-13.9-13.3

-8

-5.3

-8.8

-3.1

-4.7

7.6

1

7.8 6.9

9.3

6.4

11.3

5.6

7.4

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in mining

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Mining added 7,000 jobs in July. This increase follows a similar trend of job gains in 

recent months. The majority of the July gain was in support activities for mining.

• Since reaching an employment low in October 2009, mining has added 63,000 jobs. 

 
7

-24 -28 -33

-59 -61

-70

-52 -52

-72

-92

-149

-95

-153

-116

-142

-114

-59

-91

-80

-64 -71 -67

-15

-36

-60

-51

27 22

-29 -21

-11

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-9.9

-1.8 -0.7

-7.0

8.0

-4.7 -3.7 -3.0

-6.6

-19.1

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

Residential building Nonresidential 

building

Heavy and civil 

engineering

Residential specialty 

trades

Nonresidential 

specialty trades

July 2010

Prior 12-mo. avg.

Over-the-month change, July 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment in construction edged down (-11,000) in July. A strike in the industry 

reduced payrolls by 10,000 jobs. 

• Residential building lost 10,000 jobs in July, while other construction components were 

flat. 

 
8

-5

-30 -37 -50

-27

-49

-72

-93 -93

-141-130

-177

-279

-166-165

-149-152

-129

-43 -57 -48 -57

-25 -18

22 16 19

38 39

13

36

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-1.9 -3.8

-26.4

-17.4

0.1

-2.7

-8.1

-37.1

-20.3

-14.3-18.4

-25.5

-79.9

17.1

-10.8

-23.9

-31

-21.8

37

-8.4

-0.8

4

-4.6 -1.1

26.6

-9.1

3.5 4.1

9.3

-2.4

20.7

-100

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in motor vehicles and parts

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Manufacturing employment rose by 36,000 in July. The industry has added 183,000 jobs 

so far this year. 

• Employment in motor vehicles and parts increased by 21,000 in July. Some motor 

vehicle plants deviated from their normal practice of shutting down in July for retooling. 

 
9

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

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: 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

Production employees

Level: 41.1

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 40.1

Change: +0.1

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, 2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: 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 overtime hours,

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 3.8

Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 2.9

Change: 0.0

• Average weekly hours of all employees and production workers in manufacturing 

increased by 0.1 hour over the month. Factory overtime was unchanged for both. 

• The factory workweek for all employees is now 1.4 hours longer than a low point of 38.7 

hours in June 2009.

 
10

-2.4

-34.6

-11.8

-66.4-67.5

-36.4-42.0

-66.6

-78.9-80.2

-117.0

-99.2

-71.0-69.8

-87.4

-42.8

-22.2-24.4

-53.5

-15.3

-48.3

-63.0

8.8

-14.5

49.1

7.1

22.7

14.4

-5.8

-20.5

6.7

-150

-120

-90

-60

-30

0

30

60

90

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-4.7

-0.6

-0.4

-3.1

1.0

0.2

2.5

3.0

-0.7

10.9

0.6

-2.0

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

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, July 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in retail trade industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade: 6.7

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Retail trade employment changed little in July (+7,000). 

• General merchandise stores added 11,000 jobs over the month. 

 
11

-1.7

1.8 3.3 2.6

-10.9-11.8

-4.1

-13.9

-37.0

-16.8

-32.4-30.4

-37.9

-26.4

-29.4

-47.8

-15.9-16.7

-27.3

-1.1

-10.4

-15.8

7.2

-4.0

-29.3

-9.0

12.7

7.4 8.7

15.0

12.2

-60

-40

-20

0

20

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-1.7

5.9

10.6

2.3

-2.8

-0.8

-6 -3 0 3 6 9 12

Air transportation

Truck transportation

Transit and ground passenger transportation

Support activities for transportation

Couriers and messengers

Warehousing and storage

Over-the-month change, July 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in selected transportation

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation and

warehousing: 12.2

and warehousing industries

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment in transportation and warehousing edged up (+12,000) in July. Over the past 

5 months, the industry has gained 56,000 jobs. 

• Transit and ground passenger transportation gained 11,000 jobs, while couriers and 

messengers lost 3,000 jobs this month. 

 
12

-9 -10

0

-6

-9

-17 -15

-18

-33

-37

-44

-29

-55

-51

-42

-47

-32 -31

-23 -24

-12

-19

2

-9

-22

-7

-19

2

-9

-12

-17

-60

-45

-30

-15

0

15

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-28.5

-1.6

-1.5

-64.9

-30.2

-90 -60 -30 0 30

Credit intermediation*

Commercial banking 

Securities and commodity

Insurance and related activities

Real estate 

Over-the-year change, July 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in selected financial activities 

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Commercial banking

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Employment in financial activities continues to trend down in July (-17,000).

• So far this year, monthly job losses in this industry have averaged 12,000. This is a 

slower decline compared to the average monthly job losses of 29,000 for all of 2009. 

 
13

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

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: 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 professional and business services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

July 2010

Level: 16,674

Change: -13

4.8

0

0.8

5.8

1.8

-3.8

-13.8

-23.3

4.2

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20

Professional and technical*

Accounting and bookkeeping

Architectural and engineering

Computer systems design

Management and technical consulting

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services*

Employment services

Services to buildings

Over-the-month change, July 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in selected professional and

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and business

services: -13

business services

Professional and technical*

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services*

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

• Employment in professional and business services was little changed (-13,000) in July.
14

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

2000-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: 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 temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

July 2010

Level: 2,087.7

Change: -5.6

• After reaching a low in September 2009, job growth in temporary help services averaged 

45,000 per month from October 2009 through May.

• However, employment in temporary help services showed little change, for the second 

consecutive month.

 
15

27.9

33.5

29.6

37.3

23.6

21.0

33.1

19.7

17.1

20.4

29.7

25.5

12.2

17.8

13.1

8.3

23.2

19.921.0

17.8

23.223.8

17.317.7

13.414.0

31.4

17.2

15.014.0

26.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

23.1

1.1

1.1

9.2

-2.3

5.8

11.8

3.5

0.6

3.5

3.3

3.7

-10 0 10 20 30

Ambulatory health care services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care facilities

July 2010: +26.6

Prior 12-mo. avg.: +18.8

Over-the-month change, July 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

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

• Health care added 27,000 jobs in July; ambulatory health care accounted for most of this 

month’s job growth. 

• Health care has added 665,000 since December 2007. 

 
16

-8

5 10

-13

-37

-13

-27 -27

-43

-36

-58

-40 -39

-26

-46

-34

23

-21

-4

-18

16

-54

-21

-33

12

23 23

36

-15

21

6

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

75

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-13.2

2.2

5.6

-11.3

-23.4

-8.8 -7.1

-14.1

-23.9

-30.7-29.6-26.6

-13.7-16.7-19.4

-2.0

18.6

-1.0

-9.7

-13.1-14.9-13.0

-5.8

-21.8

20.2

13.3

22.5

12.3

-8.8 -7.0

-10.6

-45

-30

-15

0

15

30

45

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in food services and drinking places

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Employment in leisure and hospitality changed little in July 2010. 

• Food service contractors had larger-than-normal seasonal layoffs causing employment 

losses in food services and drinking places.

 
17

2

35 25 12 22 37 47

13

-2 -7

6

-6

27

-19 -9

121

-53 -63 -49

3

-39

38

-11 -26

-2 -23

50 72

381

-252

-202

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Employment in government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

2,800

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

2,800

Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service

Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service 

and Census temporary and 

intermittent workers

and excluding Census temporary and intermittent workers, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, August 6, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in Federal excluding U.S. Postal Service, including

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Government employment fell by 202,000 in July, reflecting the loss of 143,000 

temporary workers hired for Census 2010.

• Employment in both state and local governments edged down over the month.