Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

March 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

April 1, 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

March 2011

Level: 130,738

Change: 216

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 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

194216

-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–March 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 216,000 in March. Since a recent low in February 

2010, employment has grown by 1.5 million. 

   
3

-14

5

37

45

78

6

-4

0

0

18

14

17

-1

15

-20 0 20 40 60 80 100

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, April 01, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, March 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

216

4

‐128

‐87

‐186

‐240‐217

‐265

‐317

‐434

‐491

‐787

‐636

‐841

‐721

‐787‐773

‐326

‐438

‐287

‐215‐213‐250

‐34

‐102

‐42 ‐21

144

229

48 65 93 110109143128167

94

240230

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

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

Employment in total private

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In March, job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and 

leisure and hospitality.

• Employment in the private sector rose by 230,000 in March. Since reaching a low point 

in employment in February 2010, the private sector has added 1.8 million jobs—an 

average of 138,000 per month. 
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, April 01, 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–March 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 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, April 01, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–March 2011

March 2011

Level: 93.3

Change: 0.2%

Total private, all employees

• During March, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was 

unchanged at 34.3 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 33.6 hours. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees rose by 0.2 percent over the 

month. Since a reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.0 

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, April 01, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

March 2011 Earnings: 1.7

February 2011 CPI-U: 2.2

*1982–84=100

March 2007–March 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, April 01, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–March 2011

March 2011

Level: 101.8

Change: 0.2%

Total private, all employees

• Average hourly earnings of all employees in the private sector were unchanged in March 

at $22.87. Hourly earnings are up 1.7 percent over the year. 

• Between February 2010 and February 2011, the consumer price index for all urban 

consumers (CPI-U) increased by 2.2 percent. 

• In March, the index of aggregate weekly payrolls for all employees rose by 0.2 percent. 

Since reaching a low in June 2009, the index has increased by 5.6 percent. 
6

550

600

650

700

750

800

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

Employment in mining and logging

March 2011

Level: 758

Change: 15

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Mining and logging employment rose by 15,000 in March, mostly due to an increase in 

support activities for mining (+9,000). 

• Since a recent low point in October 2009, mining and logging employment has increased 

by 97,000. 

   
7

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Jan-01 Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11

Construction employment

Specialty trade employment

Residential specialty trade 

contractors

Nonresidential specialty trade 

contractors

Construction

January 2001-March 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 1, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in selected construction industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

January 2001-March 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 1, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in selected construction industries

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Construction employment was little changed in March, following a gain of 37,000 in 

February and a decline of 20,000 in January. The January and February figures may have 

been impacted by severe weather. 

   
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

32

17

-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–March 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-1.4

-0.3

6.1

-1.9

0.3

4.9

8.2

1.1

0.5

0.4

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 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, April 01, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, March 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

17

• Manufacturing employment continued to trend up in March (+17,000). Since reaching an 

employment low in December 2009, manufacturers have added 211,000 positions. 

• Employment in durable goods manufacturing increased by 17,000 in March. Employment 

gains were concentrated in fabricated metal products (+8,000). 
9

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, April 01, 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–March 2011 Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.5

Change: 0.1

All employees

Level: 40.5

Change: -0.1

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

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

Average weekly overtime hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 2011 Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 3.3

Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 4.3

Change: 0.1

• Average weekly hours of all employees in manufacturing fell by 0.1 hour to 40.5 hours in 

March. The factory workweek for production employees increased by 0.1 hour to 41.5 

hours. 

• Average weekly overtime hours of all employees in manufacturing were unchanged in 

March, while production worker overtime hours in manufacturing increased by 0.1 hour 

to 4.3 hours. 
10

14,000

14,200

14,400

14,600

14,800

15,000

15,200

15,400

15,600

15,800

16,000

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

Employment in retail trade

March 2011

Level: 14,488

Change: 18

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Retail trade employment edged up by 18,000 in March. Since reaching an employment 

trough in December 2009, the industry has added 140,000 jobs. 

   
11

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

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

Employment in professional and business services

March 2011

Level: 17,075

Change: 78

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 2011 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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

March 2011

Level: 2,258

Change: 29

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 2011 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in professional and business services grew by 78,000 in March, and has 

increased by 692,000 since reaching a low point in September 2009. 

• In March, employment in temporary help services increased by 29,000. 

• Temporary help services has added 512,000 jobs since its most recent low point in 

August 2009. 
12

9

10

2

1

8

18

0 5 10 15 20

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, April 01, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.

Over-the-month change, March 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

37

• Health care employment continued to rise in March (+37,000). Over the past 12 months, 

health care added 283,000 jobs, or an average of 24,000 jobs per month. 

• In March, employment gains in health care were spread among the components, 

including ambulatory health care services (+18,000), hospitals (+10,000), and nursing 

and residential care facilities (+9,000). 

   
13

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

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

Employment in leisure and hospitality

March 2011

Level: 13,156

Change: 37

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 2011 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

8,000

8,200

8,400

8,600

8,800

9,000

9,200

9,400

9,600

9,800

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

Employment in food services and drinking places

March 2011

Level: 9,478

Change: 27

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 01, 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–March 2011 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 37,000 in March. Growth in food 

services and drinking places (+27,000) accounted for most of the increase.

• Since reaching a low in January 2010, employment in leisure and hospitality has 

increased by 225,000. Food services accounted for 173,000 jobs gained.
14

-6

-9

-1

1

-4

5

-10 -5 0 5 10

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, April 01, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, March 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-14

14,000

14,200

14,400

14,600

14,800

15,000

5,000

5,100

5,200

5,300

5,400

5,500

Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11

State government

Local government

January 2007-March 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, April 1, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in state and local government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Local

State

• Government payroll employment edged down in March (-14,000). 

• In March, the majority of the employment losses were concentrated in local government 

(-15,000). Since its recent peak in September 2008, local government employment has 

declined by 416,000.