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CES National Benchmark Article 

BLS Establishment Survey National Estimates Revised to 

Incorporate March 2015 Benchmarks

Authors: Madison Lau and Kerrie Leslie

About the authors: 

Madison Lau and Kerrie Leslie are economists in the Division of Current Employment Statistics 

– National, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Telephone: (202) 691-6555 

Email: Contact CES 
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Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3

Summary of the benchmark revisions............................................................................................. 3

Revisions in the postbenchmark period ........................................................................................ 13

Changes to the CES published series ............................................................................................ 15

Series changes ........................................................................................................................... 15

Additional series published at first preliminary release of monthly estimates ......................... 19

Reconstructions ............................................................................................................................. 21

Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, January 2000 – March 2015 ................ 21

Education and health services and membership associations and organizations, March 2006 – 

February 2009 ........................................................................................................................... 22

Education and health services, March 2009 – February 2010 .................................................. 23

Why benchmarks differ from estimates ........................................................................................ 24

Benchmark revision effects for other data types........................................................................... 25

Methods......................................................................................................................................... 30

Benchmark sources and procedures .......................................................................................... 30

Birth/Death ................................................................................................................................ 30

Seasonal adjustment .................................................................................................................. 31

Availability of revised data ........................................................................................................... 32

Table of figures ............................................................................................................................. 33

Tables ........................................................................................................................................ 33

Exhibits ..................................................................................................................................... 33
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Introduction 

With the release of January 2016 data on February 5, 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 

introduced its annual revision of national estimates of employment, hours, and earnings from the 

Current Employment Statistics (CES) monthly survey of nonfarm establishments. Each year, the 

CES survey realigns its sample-based estimates to incorporate universe counts of employment—

a process known as benchmarking. Comprehensive counts of employment, or benchmarks, are 

derived primarily from unemployment insurance (UI) tax reports that nearly all employers are 

required to file with State Workforce Agencies. 

Summary of the benchmark revisions 

The March 2015 benchmark level for total nonfarm employment is 140,099,000. 

In most years, a discussion of revisions to the not seasonally adjusted employment level for the 

March benchmark also describes the revisions to the over-the-year change from the previous 

March benchmark level. This year, with the implementation of the March 2015 benchmark, 

historical data have been reconstructed back to January 2000 for CES series 65-624120 services 

for the elderly and persons with disabilities. More information on this historical reconstruction is 

available in the Reconstructions section below. As a result of this reconstruction, the March 2014 

not seasonally adjusted employment level has also been revised and the revisions associated with 

this benchmark can be looked at in several ways. 

To eliminate the nonstandard impact on the benchmark from the reconstruction to CES series 65-

624120 services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, the originally published CES 

employment levels were adjusted to incorporate the reconstruction prior to calculating the 

benchmark error and performing the wedge. For more information on the CES wedging process, 

refer to the Methods section of this article. This approach better reflects the performance of the 

estimates for the benchmark time period. The tables in this article reflect this process. 

Considering only the change to the employment level due to error, which accounts for the 

decrease of 27,000 due to the reconstruction, total nonfarm employment for March 2015 had a 

downward revision of -172,000, or -0.1 percent, to 140,099,000. Because the March 2014 

employment level now reflects changes due to the reconstruction, another measure of the impact 

of the benchmark is to consider the over-the-year change revision from March 2014 to March 

2015. Prior to the implementation of the benchmark, the level change for total nonfarm over that 

time period was 3,084,000. After the benchmark, the change is 2,912,000 which is 172,000 less 

than previously published. 

Compared with the sample-based, published estimate for March 2015, the March 2015 

benchmark level is 199,000 lower. This is a downward adjustment of -0.1 percent. 

Table 1 below shows the recent history of total nonfarm percent and level benchmark revisions. 

Over the prior ten years, the annual benchmark revision at the total nonfarm level has averaged 

0.3 percent (in absolute terms), with an absolute range of 0.0 percent to 0.7 percent. 
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Table 1. Percent and level differences between nonfarm employment benchmarks and estimates by industry 

supersector, March 2005-2015 (1)

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

(2) 2012 2013 (3) 2014 2015 (4)

00-000000 Total nonfarm Percent -0.1 0.6 -0.2 -0.1 -0.7 -0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.1 0.0 -0.1

Level -158 752 -293 -89 -902 -378 162 424 -119 67 -172

05-000000 Total private Percent -0.2 0.7 -0.2 -0.1 -0.9 -0.4 0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.1 -0.2

Level -166 749 -241 -137 -933 -391 134 481 -126 105 -232

10-000000 Mining and logging Percent -0.3 1.2 0.0 0.4 -3.5 -3.0 -0.4 1.6 -1.2 -1.8 -2.2

Level -2 8 0 3 -25 -20 -3 13 -10 -16 -19

20-000000 Construction Percent 0.5 2.6 0.1 0.7 -2.9 -1.3 -0.5 1.8 0.3 1.6 0.6

Level 35 189 6 49 -171 -67 -26 93 14 90 39

30-000000 Manufacturing Percent -0.3 -0.1 -1.0 -0.1 -0.7 -1.0 0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.4 -0.1

Level -47 -21 -137 -17 -84 -119 9 -25 23 43 -12

40-000000 

Trade, 

transportation, and 

utilities

Percent 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.2 -1.2 -0.6 0.4 0.6 -0.5 -0.1 0.0

Level 74 158 140 65 -300 -143 95 145 -131 -31 -5 

41-420000 Wholesale trade Percent 0.4 0.8 0.4 -0.7 -1.2 -2.3 -0.2 0.8 -0.4 -0.8 -0.7

Level 25.0 47.0 21.5 -43.1 -68.0 -124.5 -13.1 45.3 -20.2 -45.4 -41.3

42-000000 Retail trade Percent 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.6 -1.6 -0.1 0.6 0.5 -0.8 0.0 -0.2

Level 74.3 78.0 107.5 92.8 -235.6 -18.4 83.8 78.9 -110.3 5.5 -23.5

43-000000 Transportation and 

warehousing

Percent -0.1 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.1 0.2 1.4

Level -4.8 44.9 11.5 15.0 9.9 3.1 22.4 29.4 3.6 9.7 65.3

44-220000 Utilities Percent -3.7 -2.1 0.0 0.0 -1.2 -0.6 0.5 -1.5 -0.8 -0.1 -0.8

Level -20.6 -11.4 -0.2 -0.2 -6.8 -3.4 2.8 -8.5 -4.6 -0.6 -4.7

50-000000 Information Percent -2.1 -0.5 -1.8 0.3 -1.5 -0.4 -0.4 1.8 -0.2 2.4 -1.6

Level -64 -15 -54 8 -42 -11 -12 47 -5 66 -44

55-000000 Financial activities Percent -0.8 0.4 -1.3 -0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.9 0.6 -0.1 0.2 -0.1

Level -68 35 -111 -23 -4 34 69 45 -10 19 -9

60-000000 Professional and 

business services

Percent -0.4 1.3 0.2 -0.4 -0.8 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 -0.8 -0.6

Level -64 230 44 -63 -137 -3 125 2 4 -147 -110
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CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title Type 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 

(2) 2012 2013 (3) 2014 2015 (4)

65-000000 Education and health 

services

Percent 0.0 0.5 -0.2 -0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.5 0.0 -0.3 -0.1 0.0

Level -5 96 -39 -17 -56 7 -108 -2 -61 -16 -7

70-000000 Leisure and 

hospitality

Percent 0.4 0.3 -0.8 -1.1 -0.6 -0.6 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.3 -0.3

Level 44 42 -108 -151 -72 -80 93 104 72 38 -45

80-000000 Other services Percent -1.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 -0.8 0.2 -2.0 1.1 -0.4 1.1 -0.4

Level -69 27 18 9 -42 11 -108 59 -22 59 -20

90-000000 Government Percent 0.0 0.0 -0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.2 0.3

Level 8 3 -52 48 31 13 28 -57 7 -38 60

Footnotes

(1) The differences listed in this table reflect the error due to normal benchmarking procedures. Typically this error is equal to the March benchmarked level 

minus the published March estimated level. However in some years, other factors beyond normal benchmarking procedures influence the difference between the 

benchmarked and published March estimate levels. Those years are footnoted.

(2) A review of industries for the possible presence of noncovered employment in benchmark 2011 yielded 13 additional industries. As a result of including these 

industries, employment for total nonfarm was 95,000 more than the originally published March 2011 estimate level. The difference between the benchmarked 

and published March 2011 estimate level was 162,000. For this table, the 95,000 amount was added to the original published total nonfarm and total private 

March 2011 estimates before calculating the percent and level differences. Similarly, for the financial activities and education and health services supersectors, 

this table displays March 2011 data after incorporating the employment from the additional industries.

(3) The percent and level differences in this column reflect reconstructions to series within CES supersectors financial activities and education and healthcare 

services. Each first quarter, the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, whose data account for approximately 97 percent of the CES 

universe scope (see The Sample section of the CES Technical Notes at www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm), incorporates updated industry assignments. In 2013, 

these updates included two substantial groups of nonrandom, noneconomic code changes, one to funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles (NAICS 525), and the 

other, a reclassification of approximately 466,000 in employment from private households (NAICS 814), which is out of scope for CES, to services for the 

elderly and persons with disabilities (NAICS 62412), which is in scope. These changes also had an impact, beyond what would be considered typical for a given 

benchmark year, on corresponding CES series. For more information about the changes to these industries, see the QCEW First Quarter 2013 News Release 

available at www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cewqtr_09262013.htm or the Special notice regarding reconstructed data section of the 2013 CES Benchmark 

Article at www.bls.gov/ces/cesbmart13.pdf. (4) With the 2015 benchmark, CES reconstructed the national employment series for CES series 65-624120 services for the elderly and persons with disabilities 

back to January 2000. CES previously reconstructed this series with the 2013 benchmark; however, between the 2013 and 2015 benchmark, a better source of 

information for the employment within NAICS 62412 for the state of California was found. The inclusion of the reconstructed series resulted in total nonfarm 

and total private employment that was 27,000 less than the originally published March 2015 estimate level. The difference between the benchmarked and 

originally published March 2015 estimate level is -199,000 or -0.1 percent. This table displays March 2015 data after accounting for the decrease of 27,000 from 

the reconstructed series. Similarly, for the education and health services supersector, this table displays March 2015 data after incorporating the reconstructed 

series.

To Table of Figures
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Table 2 shows the nonfarm employment benchmarks for March 2015, not seasonally adjusted, 

by industry. The revision to the reconstructed total nonfarm employment is -172,000. 

Nine supersectors saw negative revisions. The largest downward revision occurred in 

professional and business services, -110,000, or -0.6 percent. Within this supersector, the largest 

revision was in administrative and support services with a revision of -69,400, or -0.9 percent. 

The next largest downward revision occurred in leisure and hospitality, which experienced a 

downward revision of -45,000, or -0.3 percent. This downward revision was driven by a large 

downward revision in food services and drinking places (-60,000, or -0.6 percent). Information 

was revised downward by -44,000, or -1.6 percent. Within this supersector, the largest downward 

revision was in telecommunications (-55,500, or -6.9 percent). Other services had a downward 

revision of -20,000, or -0.4 percent, driven by a large downward revision in membership 

associations and organizations (-34,200, or -1.2 percent). Mining and logging experienced the 

largest downward revision in percentage terms among supersectors with a revision of -19,000, 

or -2.2 percent. Manufacturing and financial activities also had downward revisions of -12,000, 

or -0.1 percent, and -9,000, or -0.1 percent, respectively. The two smallest downward revisions 

occurred in education and health services (-7,000, or 0.0 percent) and trade, transportation, and 

utilities (-5,000, or 0.0 percent). 

The remaining two supersectors had upward revisions. The larger upward revision occurred in 

government by an amount of 60,000, or 0.3 percent. Construction had an upward revision of 

39,000, or 0.6 percent. 
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Table 2. Nonfarm employment benchmarks for industries released with first 

preliminary estimates, March 2015 (in thousands)

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(1) Differences

Amount Percent

00-000000 Total nonfarm 140,099 140,271 -172 -0.1

05-000000 Total private 117,751 117,983 -232 -.2

06-000000 Goods-producing 19,153 19,145 8 .0

07-000000 Service-providing 120,946 121,126 -180 -.1

08-000000 Private service-providing 98,598 98,838 -240 -.2

10-000000 Mining and logging 848 867 -19 -2.2

10-113300 Logging 50.7 52.3 -1.6 -3.2

10-210000 Mining 797.1 814.3 -17.2 -2.2

10-211000 Oil and gas extraction 195.9 196.6 -.7 -.4

10-212000 Mining, except oil and gas 197.1 197.9 -.8 -.4

10-212100 Coal mining 68.0 70.7 -2.7 -4.0

10-212200 Metal ore mining 42.7 42.9 -.2 -.5

10-212300 Nonmetallic mineral mining 

and quarrying

86.4 84.3 2.1 2.4

10-213000 Support activities for mining 404.1 419.8 -15.7 -3.9

20-000000 Construction 6,051 6,012 39 .6

20-236000 Construction of buildings 1,362.6 1,359.0 3.6 .3

20-236100 Residential building 656.5 660.2 -3.7 -.6

20-236200 Nonresidential building 706.1 698.8 7.3 1.0

20-237000 Heavy and civil engineering 

construction

845.6 853.8 -8.2 -1.0

20-238000 Specialty trade contractors 3,842.5 3,799.4 43.1 1.1

20-238001 Residential specialty trade 

contractors

1,647.8 1,637.7 10.1 .6

20-238002 Nonresidential specialty trade 

contractors

2,194.7 2,161.7 33.0 1.5

30-000000 Manufacturing 12,254 12,266 -12 -.1

31-000000 Durable goods 7,744 7,782 -38 -.5

31-321000 Wood products 372.9 373.4 -.5 -.1

31-327000 Nonmetallic mineral products 383.5 389.2 -5.7 -1.5

31-331000 Primary metals 399.7 405.6 -5.9 -1.5

31-332000 Fabricated metal products 1,465.0 1,468.2 -3.2 -.2

31-333000 Machinery 1,134.0 1,138.6 -4.6 -.4

31-334000 Computer and electronic 

products

1,050.4 1,055.4 -5.0 -.5

31-334100 Computer and peripheral 

equipment

158.4 168.2 -9.8 -6.2

31-334200 Communications equipment 88.9 90.0 -1.1 -1.2

31-334400 Semiconductors and 

electronic components

368.3 369.7 -1.4 -.4

31-334500 Electronic instruments 398.5 390.4 8.1 2.0

31-334600 Miscellaneous computer and 

electronic products

36.3 37.1 -.8 -2.2

31-335000 Electrical equipment and 

appliances

382.1 371.7 10.4 2.7

31-336000 Transportation equipment 1,596.8 1,608.6 -11.8 -.7
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CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(1) Differences

Amount Percent

31-336001 Motor vehicles and parts 904.5 919.9 -15.4 -1.7

31-337000 Furniture and related 

products

375.4 384.6 -9.2 -2.5

31-339000 Miscellaneous durable goods 

manufacturing

584.1 586.7 -2.6 -.4

32-000000 Nondurable goods 4,510 4,484 26 .6

32-311000 Food manufacturing 1,482.0 1,469.9 12.1 .8

32-313000 Textile mills 117.1 118.7 -1.6 -1.4

32-314000 Textile product mills 114.7 113.3 1.4 1.2

32-315000 Apparel 137.3 137.9 -.6 -.4

32-322000 Paper and paper products 371.4 365.4 6.0 1.6

32-323000 Printing and related support 

activities

449.9 446.7 3.2 .7

32-324000 Petroleum and coal products 105.4 102.4 3.0 2.8

32-325000 Chemicals 805.8 809.0 -3.2 -.4

32-326000 Plastics and rubber products 683.3 684.8 -1.5 -.2

32-329000 Miscellaneous nondurable 

goods manufacturing

242.7 235.5 7.2 3.0

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and 

utilities

26,449 26,454 -5 .0

41-420000 Wholesale trade 5,832.1 5,873.4 -41.3 -.7

41-423000 Durable goods 2,920.5 2,935.0 -14.5 -.5

41-424000 Nondurable goods 2,011.2 2,030.7 -19.5 -1.0

41-425000 Electronic markets and agents 

and brokers

900.4 907.7 -7.3 -.8

42-000000 Retail trade 15,305.3 15,328.8 -23.5 -.2

42-441000 Motor vehicle and parts 

dealers

1,900.1 1,897.6 2.5 .1

42-441100 Automobile dealers 1,219.8 1,210.4 9.4 .8

42-441200 Other motor vehicle dealers 139.6 139.1 .5 .4

42-441300 Auto parts, accessories, and 

tire stores

540.7 548.1 -7.4 -1.4

42-442000 Furniture and home 

furnishings stores

460.9 457.0 3.9 .8

42-443000 Electronics and appliance 

stores

510.5 491.6 18.9 3.7

42-444000 Building material and garden 

supply stores

1,222.7 1,244.0 -21.3 -1.7

42-445000 Food and beverage stores 3,023.1 2,991.0 32.1 1.1

42-446000 Health and personal care 

stores

1,027.0 1,022.4 4.6 .4

42-447000 Gasoline stations 885.9 884.8 1.1 .1

42-448000 Clothing and clothing 

accessories stores

1,299.4 1,325.8 -26.4 -2.0

42-451000 Sporting goods, hobby, book, 

and music stores

609.3 590.6 18.7 3.1

42-452000 General merchandise stores 3,071.8 3,108.7 -36.9 -1.2

42-452100 Department stores 1,305.4 1,304.4 1.0 .1
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CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(1) Differences

Amount Percent

42-452900 Other general merchandise 

stores

1,766.4 1,804.3 -37.9 -2.1

42-453000 Miscellaneous store retailers 799.0 797.5 1.5 .2

42-454000 Nonstore retailers 495.6 517.8 -22.2 -4.5

43-000000 Transportation and 

warehousing

4,758.6 4,693.3 65.3 1.4

43-481000 Air transportation 449.2 442.3 6.9 1.5

43-482000 Rail transportation 247.0 244.4 2.6 1.1

43-483000 Water transportation 65.1 64.8 .3 .5

43-484000 Truck transportation 1,417.9 1,413.5 4.4 .3

43-485000 Transit and ground passenger 

transportation

488.1 485.0 3.1 .6

43-486000 Pipeline transportation 48.2 48.2 .0 .0

43-487000 Scenic and sightseeing 

transportation

25.1 25.0 .1 .4

43-488000 Support activities for 

transportation

641.3 639.6 1.7 .3

43-492000 Couriers and messengers 587.3 579.6 7.7 1.3

43-493000 Warehousing and storage 789.4 750.9 38.5 4.9

44-220000 Utilities 553.3 558.0 -4.7 -.8

50-000000 Information 2,730 2,774 -44 -1.6

50-511000 Publishing industries, except 

Internet

723.5 716.7 6.8 .9

50-512000 Motion picture and sound 

recording industries

391.1 381.1 10.0 2.6

50-515000 Broadcasting, except Internet 279.5 289.1 -9.6 -3.4

50-517000 Telecommunications 807.7 863.2 -55.5 -6.9

50-518000 Data processing, hosting and 

related services

292.3 292.1 .2 .1

50-519000 Other information services 235.5 231.7 3.8 1.6

55-000000 Financial activities 8,037 8,046 -9 -.1

55-520000 Finance and insurance 5,992.2 5,999.8 -7.6 -.1

55-521000 Monetary authorities - central 

bank

17.7 18.4 -.7 -4.0

55-522000 Credit intermediation and 

related activities

2,556.8 2,564.8 -8.0 -.3

55-522100 Depository credit 

intermediation

1,679.3 1,695.6 -16.3 -1.0

55-522110 Commercial banking 1,277.3 1,279.6 -2.3 -.2

55-522200 Nondepository credit 

intermediation

586.5 581.9 4.6 .8

55-522300 Activities related to credit 

intermediation

291.0 287.3 3.7 1.3

55-523000 Securities, commodity 

contracts, investments, and 

funds and trusts

895.7 890.8 4.9 .5

55-524000 Insurance carriers and related 

activities

2,522.0 2,525.8 -3.8 -.2
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CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(1) Differences

Amount Percent

55-530000 Real estate and rental and 

leasing

2,044.6 2,046.5 -1.9 -.1

55-531000 Real estate 1,490.7 1,491.9 -1.2 -.1

55-532000 Rental and leasing services 530.6 531.6 -1.0 -.2

55-533000 Lessors of nonfinancial 

intangible assets

23.3 23.0 .3 1.3

60-000000 Professional and business 

services

19,233 19,343 -110 -.6

60-540000 Professional and technical 

services

8,581.7 8,620.4 -38.7 -.5

60-541100 Legal services 1,112.9 1,115.8 -2.9 -.3

60-541200 Accounting and bookkeeping 

services

1,084.6 1,116.3 -31.7 -2.9

60-541300 Architectural and engineering 

services

1,379.8 1,396.2 -16.4 -1.2

60-541400 Specialized design services 130.3 132.2 -1.9 -1.5

60-541500 Computer systems design and 

related services

1,863.1 1,821.9 41.2 2.2

60-541600 Management and technical 

consulting services

1,244.0 1,283.2 -39.2 -3.2

60-541700 Scientific research and 

development services

649.9 645.5 4.4 .7

60-541800 Advertising and related 

services

475.2 483.1 -7.9 -1.7

60-541900 Other professional and 

technical services

641.9 626.2 15.7 2.4

60-550000 Management of companies 

and enterprises

2,189.6 2,192.6 -3.0 -.1

60-560000 Administrative and waste 

services

8,462.0 8,529.9 -67.9 -.8

60-561000 Administrative and support 

services

8,076.8 8,146.2 -69.4 -.9

60-561100 Office administrative services 464.0 472.9 -8.9 -1.9

60-561200 Facilities support services 138.8 131.4 7.4 5.3

60-561300 Employment services 3,382.3 3,427.3 -45.0 -1.3

60-561320 Temporary help services 2,747.9 2,770.2 -22.3 -.8

60-561400 Business support services 887.9 908.4 -20.5 -2.3

60-561500 Travel arrangement and 

reservation services

199.0 196.8 2.2 1.1

60-561600 Investigation and security 

services

860.6 877.9 -17.3 -2.0

60-561700 Services to buildings and 

dwellings

1,842.1 1,831.0 11.1 .6

60-561900 Other support services 302.1 300.5 1.6 .5

60-562000 Waste management and 

remediation services

385.2 383.7 1.5 .4

65-000000 Education and health services 21,973 21,980 -7 .0

65-610000 Educational services 3,615.3 3,617.9 -2.6 -.1
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CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(1) Differences

Amount Percent

65-620000 Health care and social 

assistance

18,358.1 18,362.2 -4.1 .0

65-620001 Health care 14,883.9 14,927.9 -44.0 -.3

65-621000 Ambulatory health care 

services

6,765.9 6,808.7 -42.8 -.6

65-621100 Offices of physicians 2,502.1 2,524.8 -22.7 -.9

65-621200 Offices of dentists 894.3 907.5 -13.2 -1.5

65-621300 Offices of other health 

practitioners

801.9 815.5 -13.6 -1.7

65-621400 Outpatient care centers 734.1 732.3 1.8 .2

65-621500 Medical and diagnostic 

laboratories

256.6 250.5 6.1 2.4

65-621600 Home health care services 1,294.7 1,294.3 .4 .0

65-621900 Other ambulatory health care 

services

282.2 283.8 -1.6 -.6

65-622000 Hospitals 4,853.3 4,845.2 8.1 .2

65-623000 Nursing and residential care 

facilities

3,264.7 3,274.0 -9.3 -.3

65-623100 Nursing care facilities 1,639.7 1,645.0 -5.3 -.3

65-623200 Residential mental health 

facilities

603.2 614.5 -11.3 -1.9

65-623300 Community care facilities for 

the elderly

860.5 858.5 2.0 .2

65-623900 Other residential care 

facilities

161.3 156.0 5.3 3.3

65-624000 Social assistance 3,474.2 3,434.3 39.9 1.1

65-624100 Individual and family services 2,099.6 2,065.4 34.2 1.6

65-624200 Emergency and other relief 

services

153.7 153.1 .6 .4

65-624300 Vocational rehabilitation 

services

332.4 329.8 2.6 .8

65-624400 Child day care services 888.5 886.0 2.5 .3

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 14,599 14,644 -45 -.3

70-710000 Arts, entertainment, and 

recreation

1,982.2 1,983.7 -1.5 -.1

70-711000 Performing arts and spectator 

sports

428.9 443.5 -14.6 -3.4

70-712000 Museums, historical sites, and 

similar institutions

142.9 137.8 5.1 3.6

70-713000 Amusements, gambling, and 

recreation

1,410.4 1,402.4 8.0 .6

70-720000 Accommodation and food 

services

12,617.0 12,660.3 -43.3 -.3

70-721000 Accommodation 1,851.6 1,834.9 16.7 .9

70-722000 Food services and drinking 

places

10,765.4 10,825.4 -60.0 -.6

80-000000 Other services 5,577 5,597 -20 -.4

80-811000 Repair and maintenance 1,267.4 1,261.9 5.5 .4
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 12 of 33

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CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(1) Differences

Amount Percent

80-812000 Personal and laundry services 1,381.3 1,373.2 8.1 .6

80-813000 Membership associations and 

organizations

2,928.0 2,962.2 -34.2 -1.2

90-000000 Government 22,348 22,288 60 .3

90-910000 Federal 2,734.0 2,719.0 15.0 .5

90-911000 Federal, except U.S. Postal 

Service

2,141.7 2,125.8 15.9 .7

90-919120 U.S. Postal Service 592.7 592.8 -.1 .0

90-920000 State government 5,250.0 5,239.0 11.0 .2

90-921611 State government education 2,582.1 2,600.7 -18.6 -.7

90-922000 State government, excluding 

education

2,667.9 2,638.2 29.7 1.1

90-930000 Local government 14,364.0 14,330.0 34.0 .2

90-931611 Local government education 8,164.3 8,133.7 30.6 .4

90-932000 Local government, excluding 

education

6,199.3 6,196.4 2.9 .0

Footnotes 

(1) The CES estimates in this column contain reconstructions to series within the education and health services 

supersector. With the 2015 benchmark, CES reconstructed the national employment series for CES series 65-624120 

services for the elderly and persons with disabilities back to January 2000. CES previously reconstructed this series 

with the 2013 benchmark; however, between the 2013 and 2015 benchmark, a better source of information for the 

employment within NAICS 62412 for the state of California was found. The inclusion of the reconstructed series 

resulted in total nonfarm and total private employment that was 27,000 less than the originally published March 

2015 estimate level. The difference between the benchmarked and originally published March 2015 estimate level 

is -199,000 or -0.1 percent. This table displays March 2015 data after accounting for the decrease of 27,000 from the 

reconstructed series. Similarly, for the education and health services supersector, this table displays March 2015 data 

after incorporating the reconstructed series.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 13 of 33

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Revisions in the postbenchmark period

From April 2015 to December 2015, also known as the postbenchmark period, estimates were recalculated for each month based on 

new benchmark levels and new net birth/death factors. Net birth/death factors were revised to incorporate information from the most 

recent year of universe employment counts. Table 3 shows the net birth/death model values for the supersectors over the 

postbenchmark period. From April 2015 to December 2015, the net birth/death model cumulatively added 928,000, compared with 

852,000 in the previously published April 2015 to December 2015 employment estimates. 

Table 3. Net birth/death estimates by industry supersector, April-December 2015 (in thousands)

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cumulative

Total

10-000000 Mining and logging 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 7

20-000000 Construction 33 40 23 11 12 7 11 -10 -19 108

30-000000 Manufacturing -1 6 4 -3 4 2 2 4 2 20

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 4 25 9 3 18 8 28 8 5 108

41-420000 Wholesale trade -4 5 -1 -3 4 0 7 3 2 13

42-000000 Retail trade 5 15 7 7 9 5 17 5 3 73

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 3 5 3 -1 5 3 4 0 0 22

44-220000 Utilities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

50-000000 Information 2 5 0 2 4 -3 6 4 0 20

55-000000 Financial activities -1 6 1 2 5 -1 17 4 9 42

60-000000 Professional and business services 81 20 3 28 24 -16 78 7 -13 212

65-000000 Education and health services 19 15 -16 11 23 9 44 15 -4 116

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 76 91 83 62 21 -37 -12 -20 4 268

80-000000 Other services 10 8 6 -3 3 -1 3 1 0 27

Total nonfarm birth/death adjustment 223 217 114 115 115 -31 178 13 -16 928

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 14 of 33

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Table 4 presents revised total nonfarm employment data on a seasonally adjusted basis for January 2015 through December 2015. The 

revised data for April 2015 forward incorporate the effect of applying the rate of change measured by the sample to the new 

benchmark level, as well as updated net birth/death model adjustments and new seasonal adjustment factors. Revisions to November 

and December also reflect incorporation of additional sample receipts. 

Table 4. Differences in seasonally adjusted levels and over-the-month changes, total nonfarm employment, 

January - December 2015 (in thousands)

2015 Levels Over-the-month Changes

As Previously Published As Revised Difference As Previously Published As Revised Difference

January 140,793 140,623 -170 201 221 20 

February 141,059 140,888 -171 266 265 -1 

March 141,178 140,972 -206 119 84 -35 

April 141,365 141,223 -142 187 251 64 

May 141,625 141,496 -129 260 273 13 

June 141,870 141,724 -146 245 228 -17 

July 142,093 142,001 -92 223 277 54 

August 142,246 142,151 -95 153 150 -3 

September 142,391 142,300 -91 145 149 4 

October 142,698 142,595 -103 307 295 -12 

November 142,950 142,875 -75 252 280 28 

December(p) 143,242 143,137 -105 292 262 -30 

Footnotes

(p) Preliminary

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 15 of 33

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Changes to the CES published series

With the release of the January 2016 first preliminary estimates, CES incorporated series 

changes related to annual sample adequacy and disclosure review, and began publishing 

additional industry employment data with the first preliminary release of monthly estimates.

Series changes

All CES series are evaluated annually for sample size, coverage, and response rates. The 

following changes result from a re-evaluation of the sample and universe coverage for CES 

industries, which are based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 

industries. Some small industries no longer have sufficient sample to be estimated and published 

separately and will be combined with other similar industries for estimation and publication 

purposes. The following information is also available at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesnewseries.htm. 

A list of currently published CES series is available at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesseriespub.htm. 

Some series have new CES industry codes or titles as a result of the series changes (Exhibit 1). 

These CES industry code or title changes have been applied to all data types published for the 

designated series. Historical data for those series with new CES industry codes or CES industry 

titles were impacted as noted on the remainder of this page; historical data are available under 

the new CES industry codes or CES industry titles. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 16 of 33

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Exhibit 1. Series with CES industry code or title changes

NAICS 

Code

Previous New

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title

3325,6 31-332600 Spring and wire products 31-332600 Hardware, spring, and wire 

products

334112,8 31-334118 Computer terminals and 

other computer peripheral 

equipment

31-334118 Computer storage devices, 

terminals, and other 

peripheral equipment

31522,4,8 32-315280 Women's and all other cut 

and sew apparel

32-315280 Cut and sew apparel, except 

contractors

62322 65-623220 Residential mental and 

substance abuse care

65-623220 Residential mental health and 

substance abuse facilities

62412 65-624120 Services for the elderly 

and disabled

65-624120 Services for the elderly and 

persons with disabilities

811112,3 80-811113 Automotive transmission 

repair

80-811113 Automotive exhaust system 

and transmission repair

81292,9 80-812990 All other personal services 80-812990 All other personal services, 

including photofinishing

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 2 through Exhibit 7 reference the new CES industry codes and titles, not the previous 

CES industry codes and titles, as noted in Exhibit 1. 

Only directly estimated data types1

 are included in the exhibits: 

• Employment of All Employees (AE) 

• AE Average Weekly Hours (AE AWH) 

• AE Average Hourly Earnings (AE AHE) 

• AE Average Weekly Overtime Hours (AE AWOH) 

• Employment of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees (PE) 

• PE Average Weekly Hours (PE AWH) 

• PE Average Hourly Earnings (PE AHE) 

• PE Average Weekly Overtime Hours (PE AWOH) 

• Employment of Women Employees (WE) 

 

1 CES estimates data in two ways: directly and indirectly. Directly estimated data types refer to data types for which 

estimates are calculated directly from the responding sample. Indirectly estimated data types refer to data types for 

which estimates are calculated from other directly estimated data types. Average weekly earnings of all employees 

and indexes of aggregate weekly hours of all employees are examples of indirectly estimated data types. For more 

information on indirectly estimated data types, see the CES Technical Notes available at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 17 of 33

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The directly estimated data types listed except for AE are collectively called non-AE data types. 

In order to more easily identify affected series, since AE series are published at a more detailed 

industry level than non-AE series, series changes are shown for AE and non-AE data types. The 

non-AE tables cover all directly estimated non-AE data types. 

The first three exhibits reference the AE data type and the second three exhibits reference all 

non-AE data types. The three exhibits in each group display the discontinued, collapsed, and new 

series. Discontinued series exhibits (Exhibit 2 and Exhibit 5) display series for which the data 

types noted are no longer published. Collapsed series exhibits (Exhibit 3 and Exhibit 6) display 

series for which the data types noted are no longer published because the industry no longer has 

sufficient sample to be estimated and published separately. Affected industries have been 

combined with other similar industries for estimation and publication purposes. Historical data 

for these series were reconstructed to provide consistent time series. New series exhibits (Exhibit 

4 and Exhibit 7) display series for which the data types noted are now published. 

AE exhibits

Exhibit 2. Discontinued AE series

NAICS 

Code

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Next Highest Published Industry Title(CES Industry Code)

42432 41-424320 Men's and boys' clothing Apparel and piece goods (41-424300)

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 3. Collapsed AE series

NAICS 

Code

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Collapsed into CES Industry Title(CES Industry Code)

3325 31-332500 Hardware Hardware, spring, and wire products 

(31-332600)

334112 31-334112 Computer storage devices Computer storage devices, terminals, and 

other peripheral equipment (31-334118)

31522 32-315220 Men's and boys' cut and sew 

apparel

Cut and sew apparel, except contractors 

(32-315280)

811112 80-811112 Automotive exhaust system 

repair

Automotive exhaust system and 

transmission repair (80-811113)

81292 80-812920 Photofinishing All other personal services, including 

photofinishing (80-812990)

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 4. New AE series

There are no new AE series published. 

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 18 of 33

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Non-AE exhibits

Exhibit 5. Discontinued Non-AE series

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title

Discontinued 

From 

Publication

Next Highest Published 

Industry Title

(CES Industry Code)

21232 10-212320 Sand, gravel, clay, and 

refractory mining

WE Nonmetallic mineral mining 

and quarrying (10-212300)

21239 10-212390 Other nonmetallic mineral 

mining

WE Nonmetallic mineral mining 

and quarrying (10-212300)

3271 31-327100 Clay products and 

refractories

AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Nonmetallic mineral 

products (31-327000)

3272 31-327200 Glass and glass products AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Nonmetallic mineral 

products (31-327000)

3322 31-332200 Cutlery and hand tools AE AWH, AE 

AHE, WE

Fabricated metal products 

(31-332000)

332321 31-332321 Metal windows and doors AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Ornamental and architectural 

metal products (31-332320)

332323 31-332323 Ornamental and 

architectural metal work

AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Ornamental and architectural 

metal products (31-332320)

336111 31-336111 Automobiles AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Automobiles and light trucks 

(31-336110)

336112 31-336112 Light trucks and utility 

vehicles

AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Automobiles and light trucks 

(31-336110)

337215 31-337215 Showcases, partitions, 

shelving, and lockers

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Furniture and related 

products (31-337000)

3152 32-315200 Cut and sew apparel AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Apparel (32-315000) 

3151,9 32-315900 All other apparel 

manufacturing

AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Apparel (32-315000) 

32612 32-326120 Plastics pipe, fittings, and 

profile shapes

AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Plastics products 

(32-326100)

32613,6 32-326160 Plastics bottles and 

laminated plastics plate, 

sheet, and shapes

AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Plastics products 

(32-326100) 

44811 42-448110 Men's clothing stores PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Clothing stores (42-448100) 

5172 50-517200 Wireless 

telecommunications 

carriers (except satellite)

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Telecommunications 

(50-517000) 

5174,9 50-517900 Other telecommunications PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Telecommunications 

(50-517000)

52222 55-522220 Sales financing PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Nondepository credit 

intermediation (55-522200)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 19 of 33

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NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title

Discontinued 

From 

Publication

Next Highest Published 

Industry Title

(CES Industry Code)

54141 60-541410 Interior design services PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Specialized design services 

(60-541400)

56141 60-561410 Document preparation 

services

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Business support services 

(60-561400)

71321 70-713210 Casinos, except casino 

hotels

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Gambling industries 

(70-713200)

71329 70-713290 Other gambling industries PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Gambling industries 

(70-713200)

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 6. Collapsed Non-AE series

There are no collapsed non-AE series.

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 7. New Non-AE series

There are no new non AE series published. 

To Table of Figures

Additional series published at first preliminary release of monthly estimates 

Additional industry employment data are now published by the CES program with the first 

preliminary release of monthly estimates. Twenty-seven additional industries are now available 

in the Employment Situation Table B-1 for both not seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted 

employment. Exhibit 8 details the additional industries that are available:

Exhibit 8. Additional CES series available with first preliminary release

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title

CES Series ID

Not Seasonally 

Adjusted

Seasonally 

Adjusted

2122 10-212200 Metal ore mining CEU1021220001 CES1021220001

2123 10-212300 Nonmetallic mineral 

mining and quarrying CEU1021230001 CES1021230001

3343,6 31-334600 Miscellaneous computer 

and electronic products CEU3133460001 CES3133460001

4412 42-441200 Other motor vehicle 

dealers CEU4244120001 CES4244120001

4413 42-441300 Auto parts, accessories, 

and tire stores CEU4244130001 CES4244130001

4529 42-452900 Other general 

merchandise stores CEU4245290001 CES4245290001
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 20 of 33

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NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title

CES Series ID

Not Seasonally 

Adjusted

Seasonally 

Adjusted

5222 55-522200 Nondepository credit 

intermediation CEU5552220001 CES5552220001

5223 55-522300 Activities related to credit 

intermediation CEU5552230001 CES5552230001

5414 60-541400 Specialized design services CEU6054140001 CES6054140001

5417 60-541700 Scientific research and 

development services CEU6054170001 CES6054170001

5418 60-541800 Advertising and related 

services CEU6054180001 CES6054180001

5419 60-541900 Other professional and 

technical services CEU6054190001 CES6054190001

5611 60-561100 Office administrative 

services CEU6056110001 CES6056110001

5612 60-561200 Facilities support services CEU6056120001 CES6056120001

5615 60-561500 Travel arrangement and 

reservation services CEU6056150001 CES6056150001

5616 60-561600 Investigation and security 

services CEU6056160001 CES6056160001

5619 60-561900 Other support services CEU6056190001 CES6056190001

6212 65-621200 Offices of dentists CEU6562120001 CES6562120001

6213 65-621300 Offices of other health 

practitioners CEU6562130001 CES6562130001

6215 65-621500 Medical and diagnostic

laboratories CEU6562150001 CES6562150001

6219 65-621900 Other ambulatory health 

care services CEU6562190001 CES6562190001

6232 65-623200 Residential mental health 

facilities CEU6562320001 CES6562320001

6233 65-623300 Community care facilities 

for the elderly CEU6562330001 CES6562330001

6239 65-623900 Other residential care 

facilities CEU6562390001 CES6562390001

6241 65-624100 Individual and family 

services CEU6562410001 CES6562410001

6242 65-624200 Emergency and other 

relief services CEU6562420001 CES6562420001

6243 65-624300 Vocational rehabilitation 

services CEU6562430001 CES6562430001

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 21 of 33

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Reconstructions 

Three separate data reconstructions were performed as part of the 2015 CES benchmark. Exhibit 

9 outlines at the most detailed published levels, the CES series, data types, and timespans that 

were impacted by reconstructions of data. 

Exhibit 9. CES detailed series involved in data reconstructions

CES 

Industry 

Code(s)

CES Industry 

Title(s) Data Type(s) Involved Timespan Additional Information 

65-624120 Services for the 

elderly and 

persons with 

disabilities

Employment of all employees 

(AE); employment of 

production and 

nonsupervisory employees 

(PE); and employment of 

women employees (WE) 

January 

2000 – 

March 2015 

65-000000; 

80-813000 

Education and 

health services; 

Membership 

associations and 

organizations

All hours and earnings data 

types related to AE

March 2006 

– February 

2009 

These data were 

suppressed on 

November 24, 

2015. 

65-000000 Education and 

health services

Employment of PE; all hours 

and earnings data types for 

both AE and PE

March 2009 

– February 

2010

To Table of Figures

Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, January 2000 – March 2015 

The CES series 65-624120 services for the elderly and persons with disabilities was previously 

reconstructed with the 2013 benchmark due a correction in the coding of UI records for several 

state programs that provide funding for services for the elderly and persons with disabilities. 

That reconstruction was developed based upon the best information available at the time for the 

programs. For more information, see the 2013 CES National Benchmark Article at 

www.bls.gov/ces/cesbmart13.pdf. 

Since the initial reconstruction was completed, the state of California Labor Market Information 

(LMI) agency continued to work on analyzing the data for the In-Home Support Services (IHSS) 

program with the authorized payroll agent. The payroll agent had switched to a new payroll 

processing system, providing more accurate employment counts for the IHSS program. The prior 

system’s primary focus was to ensure that wages were reported in the correct quarter, and did not 

focus on employment counts. 

Further examination of the data from the IHSS program led the state of California LMI agency 

and BLS to the conclusion that further refinement to the services for the elderly and persons with 

disabilities employment series was appropriate.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 22 of 33

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This reconstruction resulted in revisions to the not seasonally adjusted data from January 2000 to

March 2015. Seasonally adjusted data for this series and its aggregates were subject to revision 

back to January 1990. 

Education and health services and membership associations and organizations, March 

2006 – February 2009

On November 24, 2015, BLS suppressed all employee hours and earnings data for CES series 

65-000000 education and health services and 80-813000 membership associations and 

organizations and their aggregates due to an error introduced during the 2009 CES benchmark. 

All employee (AE) hours and earnings data became official BLS series with the release of the 

2009 CES benchmark. This meant that, for the first time, these previously experimental data 

were subjected to the same benchmarking procedures as the production and nonsupervisory 

employee (PE) hours and earnings data. During the 2009 CES benchmark, the AE hours and 

earnings data for the two series noted above for the time period of the experimental data series 

(March 2006 – February 2009) were not subjected to the same benchmarking procedures for that 

time period as their PE hours and earnings data counterparts; this also impacted the aggregates of 

the two noted series. 

To correct for errors for the entire experimental time period (March 2006 – February 2009), BLS

applied benchmarking procedures to the AE hours and earnings data for the two noted series 

consistent with the benchmarking procedures for PE hours and earnings data. For the summary 

levels of the two noted series, the AE hours and earnings data were then re-aggregated to account 

for the updated AE hours and earnings data. 

This reconstruction resulted in revisions to the not seasonally adjusted data from March 2006 to

February 2009. The seasonally adjusted data for these series were subject to revision back to 

March 2006, which is the start of the time series. 

All industries and data types impacted by this reconstruction are listed in the exhibits below: 

Exhibit 10. Industries involved in the CES data suppression

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title

05-000000 Total private

08-000000 Private service-providing

65-000000 Education and health services

80-000000 Other services

80-813000 Membership associations and organizations

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 23 of 33

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Exhibit 11. Data types involved in the CES data suppression

Data Type Code Data Type Name

02 Average weekly hours of all employees

03 Average hourly earnings of all employees

11 Average weekly earnings of all employees

12 Average weekly earnings of all employees, 1982-1984 dollars

13 Average hourly earnings of all employees, 1982-1984 dollars

16 Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of all employees, 2007=100

17 Indexes of aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees, 2007=100

19 Average weekly hours of all employees, quarterly averages, seasonally adjusted

56 Aggregate weekly hours of all employees, thousands

57 Aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees, thousands

To Table of Figures

Education and health services, March 2009 – February 2010

While reviewing the error that resulted in the suppression of CES all employee (AE) hours and 

earnings data on November 24, 2015, BLS discovered additional errors in the employment of 

production and nonsupervisory employees (PE) and in the hours and earnings for both AE and 

PE for CES series 65-000000 education and health services. These errors spanned March 2009 to 

February 2010. These additional errors were also the result of inconsistently applied 

benchmarking procedures in this series during the 2009 CES benchmark. 

To correct for these errors, BLS applied consistent benchmarking procedures to these series.

This reconstruction resulted in revisions to the not seasonally adjusted data from March 2009 to

February 2010. Seasonally adjusted data for this series and its aggregates were subject to 

revision back to January 1990 for the employment of PE and PE hours and earnings data and 

back to March 2006 for the AE hours and earnings data. 

All industries and data types impacted by this reconstruction are available in the exhibits below:

Exhibit 12. Industries involved in this CES reconstruction

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title

05-000000 Total private

08-000000 Private service-providing

65-000000 Education and health services

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 24 of 33

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Exhibit 13. Data types involved in this CES reconstruction

Data Type 

Code Data Type Name 

02 Average weekly hours of all employees

03 Average hourly earnings of all employees

06 Production and nonsupervisory employees, thousands

07 Average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory employees

08 Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees

11 Average weekly earnings of all employees

12 Average weekly earnings of all employees, 1982-1984 dollars

13 Average hourly earnings of all employees, 1982-1984 dollars

16 Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of all employees, 2007=100

17 Indexes of aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees, 2007=100

19 Average weekly hours of all employees, quarterly averages, seasonally adjusted

30 Average weekly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees

31 Average weekly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees, 1982-84 

dollars

32 Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees, 1982-84 

dollars

34 Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory employees, 

2002=100

35 Indexes of aggregate weekly payrolls of production and nonsupervisory employees, 

2002=100

36 Average weekly hours, production/nonsupervisory employees, quarterly averages, 

seasonally adjusted

56 Aggregate weekly hours of all employees, thousands

57 Aggregate weekly payrolls of all employees, thousands

81 Aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory employees, thousands

82 Aggregate weekly payrolls of production and nonsupervisory employees, thousands

To Table of Figures

Why benchmarks differ from estimates

A benchmark revision is the difference between the benchmark employment level for a given 

March and its corresponding sample-based estimate. The overall accuracy of the establishment 

survey is usually gauged by the size of this difference. The benchmark revision often is regarded 

as a proxy for total survey error, but this does not take into account error in the universe data or 

infrequent events such as historical reconstructions. The employment counts obtained from 

quarterly UI tax forms are administrative data that reflect employer record-keeping practices and 

differing state laws and procedures. The benchmark revision can be more precisely interpreted as 

the difference between two independently derived employment counts, each subject to its own 

error sources.

Like all sample surveys, the establishment survey is susceptible to two sources of error: sampling 

error and nonsampling error. Sampling error is present any time a sample is used to make 

inferences about a population. The magnitude of the sampling error, or variance, relates directly 

to sample size and the percentage of the universe covered by that sample. The CES monthly 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 25 of 33

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survey captures slightly under one-third of the universe, exceptionally high by usual sampling 

standards. This coverage ensures a small sampling error at the total nonfarm employment level. 

More information on the reliability of CES estimates is available in the Reliability section of the 

CES Technical Notes at www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm. 

Both the universe counts and the establishment survey estimates are subject to nonsampling 

errors common to all surveys – measurement, response, and processing errors. The error 

structures for both the CES monthly survey and the UI universe are complex. Still, the two 

programs generally produce consistent total employment figures, each validating the other. 

Benchmark revision effects for other data types

The routine benchmarking process results in revisions to the series for employment of production 

and nonsupervisory employees (PE) and employment of women employees (WE). There are no 

benchmark employment levels for these series; they are revised by preserving ratios of 

employment for the particular data type to employment of all employees (AE) prior to 

benchmarking, and then applying these ratios to the revised employment of all employees. These 

figures are calculated at the basic cell level and then aggregated to produce the summary 

estimates. 

Average weekly hours, average hourly earnings, and in manufacturing industries, average 

weekly overtime hours are not benchmarked; they are estimated solely from reports supplied by 

survey respondents at the basic estimating cell level.

The aggregate industry levels of the hours and earnings series are derived as a weighted average. 

The employment of all employees estimates or the employment of production and 

nonsupervisory employees estimates for the basic cells essentially act as weights for their 

respective hours and earnings estimates for broader industry groupings. Adjustments of the 

employment of all employees estimates to new benchmarks may alter the weights used for both 

AE and PE hours and earnings, which, in turn, may change the estimates for both AE and PE 

hours and earnings at higher levels of aggregation. 

Generally, new employment benchmarks have little effect on hours and earnings estimates for 

major industry groupings. To influence the hours and earnings estimates of a broader industry 

group, employment revisions have to be relatively large and must affect industries that have 

hours or earnings averages that are substantially different from those of other industries in their 

broader group. Table 5 and Table 6 provide information on the levels of specific hours and 

earnings series resulting from the March 2015 benchmark. At the total private level, there was no 

change in average weekly hours estimates for both AE and PE from the previously published 

level. Total private average hourly earnings increased by two cents for AE and PE from the 

previously published level. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 26 of 33

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Table 5. Effect of March 2015 benchmark revisions to AE AWH and AE AHE estimates, selected industries

CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

Estimated(1) Revised Difference Estimated(1) Revised Difference

05-000000 Total private 34.7 34.7 0.0 $25.03 $25.05 $0.02 

06-000000 Goods-producing 40.3 40.3 .0 26.11 26.11 .00

08-000000 Private service-providing 33.6 33.6 .0 24.78 24.80 .02

10-000000 Mining and logging 44.0 44.0 .0 31.31 31.35 .04

20-000000 Construction 38.6 38.6 .0 27.30 27.31 .01

30-000000 Manufacturing 40.9 40.9 .0 25.16 25.16 .00

31-000000 Durable goods 41.3 41.3 .0 26.47 26.48 .01

31-321000 Wood products 39.8 39.8 .0 18.52 18.49 -.03

31-327000 Nonmetallic mineral products 40.9 40.9 .0 23.23 23.24 .01

31-331000 Primary metals 43.2 43.2 .0 25.06 25.08 .02

31-332000 Fabricated metal products 41.3 41.3 .0 22.61 22.62 .01

31-333000 Machinery 41.5 41.5 .0 27.17 27.17 .00

31-334000 Computer and electronic products 40.4 40.4 .0 34.05 34.05 .00

31-335000 Electrical equipment and 

appliances

40.5 40.5 .0 25.64 25.64 .00

31-336000 Transportation equipment 43.1 43.1 .0 29.91 29.94 .03

31-336001 Motor vehicles and parts 43.9 43.8 -.1 24.77 24.63 -.14

31-337000 Furniture and related products 39.3 39.3 .0 19.62 19.64 .02

31-339000 Miscellaneous durable goods 

manufacturing

39.4 39.4 .0 24.31 24.31 .00

32-000000 Nondurable goods 40.1 40.1 .0 22.81 22.81 .00

32-311000 Food manufacturing 39.8 39.8 .0 18.78 18.80 .02

32-313000 Textile mills 42.1 42.1 .0 18.24 18.24 .00

32-314000 Textile product mills 37.8 37.8 .0 15.82 15.83 .01

32-315000 Apparel 36.8 36.8 .0 16.88 16.87 -.01

32-322000 Paper and paper products 41.6 41.6 .0 25.39 25.38 -.01

32-323000 Printing and related support 

activities

37.6 37.6 .0 22.66 22.66 .00

32-324000 Petroleum and coal products 42.2 42.2 .0 38.95 39.05 .10

32-325000 Chemicals 42.0 42.0 .0 31.01 31.01 .00
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 27 of 33

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CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

Estimated(1) Revised Difference Estimated(1) Revised Difference

32-326000 Plastics and rubber products 41.4 41.4 .0 20.73 20.73 .00

32-329000 Miscellaneous nondurable goods 

manufacturing

35.8 35.8 .0 21.88 21.88 .00

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 34.7 34.7 .0 21.78 21.79 .01

41-420000 Wholesale trade 39.2 39.2 .0 28.55 28.55 .00

42-000000 Retail trade 31.4 31.4 .0 17.35 17.35 .00

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 38.8 38.9 .1 22.91 23.01 .10

44-220000 Utilities 42.9 42.8 -.1 37.08 37.04 -.04

50-000000 Information 36.9 36.9 .0 34.89 35.08 .19

55-000000 Financial activities 38.1 38.1 .0 31.59 31.59 .00

60-000000 Professional and business services 36.5 36.5 .0 30.28 30.31 .03

65-000000 Education and health services 32.9 32.9 .0 25.08 25.13 .05

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 26.5 26.5 .0 14.27 14.27 .00

80-000000 Other services 32.0 32.0 .0 22.45 22.57 .12

Footnotes

(1) The CES estimates in this column contain reconstructions to series within CES supersectors. With the 2015 benchmark, CES reconstructed the national 

employment series for CES series 65-624120 services for the elderly and persons with disabilities back to January 2000, which can impact education and health 

services. CES previously reconstructed this series with the 2013 benchmark; however, between the 2013 and 2015 benchmark, a better source of information for 

the employment within NAICS 62412 for the state of California was found. The inclusion of the reconstructed series resulted in total nonfarm and total private 

employment that was 27,000 less than the originally published March 2015 estimate level. The difference between the benchmarked and originally published 

March 2015 estimate level is -199,000 or -0.1 percent. These changes to the employment data can lead to changes in hours and earnings data at higher level 

industries. This table displays March 2015 data after accounting for the decrease of 27,000 from the reconstructed series. Similarly, for the education and health 

services supersector, this table displays March 2015 data after incorporating the reconstructed series.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 28 of 33

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Table 6. Effect of March 2015 benchmark revisions to PE AWH and PE AHE estimates, selected industries

CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

Estimated(1) Revised Difference Estimated(1) Revised Difference

05-000000 Total private 33.8 33.8 0.0 $21.00 $21.02 $0.02 

06-000000 Goods-producing 41.0 41.0 .0 21.75 21.75 .00

08-000000 Private service-providing 32.6 32.6 .0 20.85 20.87 .02

10-000000 Mining and logging 46.0 45.9 -.1 26.60 26.59 -.01

20-000000 Construction 38.9 38.9 .0 25.02 25.02 .00

30-000000 Manufacturing 41.8 41.7 -.1 19.78 19.78 .00

31-000000 Durable goods 42.1 42.1 .0 20.86 20.86 .00

31-321000 Wood products 40.3 40.4 .1 15.85 15.84 -.01

31-327000 Nonmetallic mineral products 41.4 41.4 .0 19.46 19.50 .04

31-331000 Primary metals 43.4 43.4 .0 22.58 22.60 .02

31-332000 Fabricated metal products 42.4 42.4 .0 18.84 18.84 .00

31-333000 Machinery 41.9 41.9 .0 21.17 21.18 .01

31-334000 Computer and electronic products 40.9 40.9 .0 23.12 23.12 .00

31-335000 Electrical equipment and appliances 42.0 42.0 .0 18.71 18.71 .00

31-336000 Transportation equipment 44.1 44.1 .0 25.09 25.09 .00

31-336001 Motor vehicles and parts 44.7 44.7 .0 21.56 21.43 -.13

31-337000 Furniture and related products 39.8 39.8 .0 15.95 15.94 -.01

31-339000 Miscellaneous durable goods 

manufacturing

40.1 40.1 .0 17.45 17.45 .00

32-000000 Nondurable goods 41.2 41.2 .0 17.97 17.99 .02

32-311000 Food manufacturing 40.5 40.5 .0 15.69 15.70 .01

32-313000 Textile mills 43.1 43.1 .0 14.42 14.42 .00

32-314000 Textile product mills 37.0 37.0 .0 13.35 13.36 .01

32-315000 Apparel 38.1 38.1 .0 13.51 13.51 .00

32-322000 Paper and paper products 43.1 43.1 .0 21.12 21.10 -.02

32-323000 Printing and related support activities 39.8 39.8 .0 18.24 18.24 .00

32-324000 Petroleum and coal products 45.6 45.7 .1 37.21 37.31 .10

32-325000 Chemicals 42.9 42.9 .0 21.60 21.60 .00

32-326000 Plastics and rubber products 42.2 42.2 .0 16.75 16.74 -.01

32-329000 Miscellaneous nondurable goods 

manufacturing

38.3 38.3 .0 18.81 18.81 .00
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 29 of 33

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CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry Title Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

Estimated(1) Revised Difference Estimated(1) Revised Difference

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 33.6 33.6 .0 18.66 18.67 .01

41-420000 Wholesale trade 38.9 38.9 .0 23.63 23.63 .00

42-000000 Retail trade 29.8 29.8 .0 14.67 14.69 .02

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 38.6 38.7 .1 20.82 20.88 .06

44-220000 Utilities 42.7 42.7 .0 34.07 34.02 -.05

50-000000 Information 36.2 36.1 -.1 28.70 28.82 .12

55-000000 Financial activities 37.6 37.6 .0 25.35 25.36 .01

60-000000 Professional and business services 35.7 35.7 .0 24.91 24.95 .04

65-000000 Education and health services 32.1 32.1 .0 21.92 21.97 .05

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 25.3 25.3 .0 12.38 12.38 .00

80-000000 Other services 30.8 30.8 .0 18.94 19.07 .13

Footnotes

(1) The CES estimates in this column contain reconstructions to series within CES supersectors. With the 2015 benchmark, CES reconstructed the national 

employment series for CES series 65-624120 services for the elderly and persons with disabilities back to January 2000, which can impact education and health 

services. CES previously reconstructed this series with the 2013 benchmark; however, between the 2013 and 2015 benchmark, a better source of information for 

the employment within NAICS 62412 for the state of California was found. The inclusion of the reconstructed series resulted in total nonfarm and total private 

employment that was 27,000 less than the originally published March 2015 estimate level. The difference between the benchmarked and originally published 

March 2015 estimate level is -199,000 or -0.1 percent. These changes to the employment data can lead to changes in hours and earnings data at higher level 

industries. This table displays March 2015 data after accounting for the decrease of 27,000 from the reconstructed series. Similarly, for the education and health 

services supersector, this table displays March 2015 data after incorporating the reconstructed series.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 30 of 33

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Methods

Benchmark sources and procedures 

Establishment survey benchmarking is done on an annual basis to a population derived primarily 

from the administrative file of employees covered by UI. All employers covered by UI laws are 

required to report employment and wage information to the appropriate Labor Market 

Information (LMI) agency four times per year. Approximately 97 percent of total nonfarm 

employment within the scope of the establishment survey is covered by UI. A benchmark for the 

remaining 3 percent is constructed from alternate sources, primarily records from the Railroad 

Retirement Board (RRB), County Business Patterns (CBP), and Annual Survey of Public 

Employment and Payroll (ASPEP). This 3 percent is collectively referred to as noncovered 

employment. Noncovered employment data from these sources are available only on a lagged 

basis. More information on calculating noncovered employment in the CES program is available 

in the Benchmarks section of the CES Technical Notes at www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm. 

The time required to complete the benchmark revision process—from the full collection of the 

UI population data to publication of the revised industry estimates—is about ten months. The 

benchmark adjustment procedure replaces the March sample-based employment estimates with 

UI-based population counts for March. The benchmark therefore determines the final 

employment levels, while sample movements capture month-to-month trends. 

On a not seasonally adjusted basis, the sample-based estimates for the year preceding and the 

nine months following the benchmark month (March) are also subject to revision; seasonally 

adjusted data are subject to revision back five years. Employment estimates for the months 

between the most recent March benchmark and the previous year's benchmark are adjusted using 

a linear "wedge-back" procedure, which assumes that the total estimation error accumulated at a 

steady rate since the last benchmark. For the nine months following the March benchmark (also 

referred to as the postbenchmark period), CES applies previously derived over-the-month sample 

changes to the revised March level to get the revised estimates (see Revisions in the 

postbenchmark period). New net birth/death model estimates also are calculated and applied 

during postbenchmark estimation. More information on benchmarks in the CES program is 

available in the Benchmarks section of the CES Technical Notes at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm. 

Birth/Death 

The CES sample alone is not sufficient for estimating the total nonfarm employment level 

because each month new firms generate employment that cannot be captured through the sample. 

There is an unavoidable lag between a firm opening for business and its appearance on the CES 

sample frame. The sample frame is built from Unemployment Insurance (UI) quarterly tax 

records. These records cover virtually all U.S. employers and include business births, but they 

only become available for updating the CES sampling frame 7 to 9 months after the reference 

month. After the births appear on the frame, there is also time required for sampling, contacting, 

and soliciting cooperation from the firm, and verifying the initial data provided. In practice, BLS

cannot sample and begin to collect data from new firms until they are at least a year old.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 31 of 33

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BLS has researched both sample-based and model-based approaches to measuring birth units that 

have not yet appeared on the UI universe frame. The research demonstrated that sampling for 

births was not feasible in the very short CES production timeframes, so the Bureau utilizes a 

model-based approach for this component. This model incorporates two components, the first 

component is an indirect imputation for business deaths and the second component is an 

Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) time series model designed to estimate the 

net birth/death employment not accounted for by the imputation from the first component. More 

information on the CES birth/death model is available in the Birth/Death Model section of the 

CES Technical Notes at www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm. 

Only error from the second component is directly measurable. Error from this component is 

measured by comparing the actual net of births and deaths with the model-based adjustment that 

was used in the CES sample-based estimates. Most recently, the data from April 2014 to March 

2015 can be measured. As Table 7 shows, the actual net birth/death for April 2014 to March 

2015 was approximately 79,000 above the forecasted amount used in the CES monthly estimates 

for the same time period. 

Table 7. Differences between forecasted and actual net birth/death, total

private employment, April 2014-March 2015 (in thousands)

2014 2015 Total

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Actual Net 

Birth/Death

250 249 112 99 143 -37 204 8 -21 -202 125 46 976

Forecast Net 

Birth/Death

263 204 129 122 104 -19 164 16 -15 -275 132 72 897

Difference -13 45 -17 -23 39 -18 40 -8 -6 73 -7 -26 79

Cumulative 

Difference

-13 32 15 -8 31 13 53 45 39 112 105 79

To Table of Figures

Seasonal adjustment 

Typically, five years’ worth of seasonally adjusted data are revised with each CES annual 

benchmark. As with the not seasonally adjusted data, if additional seasonally adjusted revisions 

to the seasonal adjustment data are made with a benchmark, those revisions will be noted in 

previous sections of this article. 

For technical information on how seasonal adjustment is performed in the CES program, refer to 

the Seasonal Adjustment section of the CES Technical Notes, available at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm. 

For information on seasonal adjustment model specifications and special model adjustments, see 

the CES Seasonal Adjustment Files and Documentation page, available at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesseasadj.htm. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 32 of 33

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Availability of revised data

LABSTAT, the BLS public database, contains all historical employment, hours, and earnings 

data revised as a result of this benchmark, including both not seasonally adjusted and seasonally 

adjusted data. The data can be accessed at www.bls.gov/ces, the CES homepage. 

Previously published data are available on both a not seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted

basis for all CES industries down to the 3-digit level from the CES Vintage Data page, available 

at www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesvininfo.htm. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 33 of 33

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Table of figures

Tables

Table 1. Percent and level differences between nonfarm employment benchmarks and 

estimates by industry supersector, March 2005-2015 (1) ...................................... 4

Table 2. Nonfarm employment benchmarks for industries released with first preliminary 

estimates, March 2015 (in thousands) .................................................................. 7

Table 3. Net birth/death estimates by industry supersector, April-December 2015 (in 

thousands) ........................................................................................................... 13

Table 4. Differences in seasonally adjusted levels and over-the-month changes, total 

nonfarm employment, January - December 2015 (in thousands) ....................... 14

Table 5. Effect of March 2015 benchmark revisions to AE AWH and AE AHE estimates, 

selected industries ............................................................................................... 26

Table 6. Effect of March 2015 benchmark revisions to PE AWH and PE AHE estimates, 

selected industries ............................................................................................... 28

Table 7. Differences between forecasted and actual net birth/death, total private 

employment, April 2014-March 2015 (in thousands) ........................................ 31

Exhibits

Exhibit 1. Series with CES industry code or title changes ............................................... 16

Exhibit 2. Discontinued AE series .................................................................................... 17

Exhibit 3. Collapsed AE series ......................................................................................... 17

Exhibit 4. New AE series .................................................................................................. 17

Exhibit 5. Discontinued Non-AE series ............................................................................ 18

Exhibit 6. Collapsed Non-AE series ................................................................................. 19

Exhibit 7. New Non-AE series.......................................................................................... 19

Exhibit 8. Additional CES series available with first preliminary release ....................... 19

Exhibit 9. CES detailed series involved in data reconstructions ...................................... 21

Exhibit 10. Industries involved in the CES data suppression ........................................... 22

Exhibit 11. Data types involved in the CES data suppression .......................................... 23

Exhibit 12. Industries involved in this CES reconstruction .............................................. 23

Exhibit 13. Data types involved in this CES reconstruction ............................................. 24

Last Modified Date: April 1, 2016 

Madison Lau and Kerrie Leslie, Economists 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Division of Current Employment Statistics – National 

PSB Suite 4860, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20212-0001

www.bls.gov/CES | Telephone: 1-202-691-6555 | Email: Contact CES