Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

September 2010

Bureau of Labor Statistics

October 8, 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, October 8, 2010.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

September 2010

Level: 130,201

Change: -95

5

-21

-6

2

6

10

-2

-5

-1

14

17

38

7

-159

-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, September 2010

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

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

-95

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Nonfarm payroll employment edged down 95,000 in September. 

• Employment fell in government and increased in leisure and hospitality. 

• Employment has been negatively impacted by continued declines in the number of 

temporary workers previously hired by the federal government for Census 2010. 
2

-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 61

117 93 64

-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, October 8, 2010.

Employment in total private

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Private sector employment trended up modestly (+64,000). 

• The private sector has added 863,000 jobs so far this year, averaging 96,000 per month. 
3

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, October 8, 2010.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, total private

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 33.5

Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 34.2

Change: 0.0

-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, October 8, 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

September 2010 AHE: 1.7

August 2010 CPI-U: 1.2

AHE

CPI-U

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

unchanged at 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged also at 33.5 hours. 

• Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 1 

cent in September to $22.67. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings of all 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls have increased by 1.7 percent. 

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by 1.2 percent from 

August 2009 to August 2010. 
4

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

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

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

September 2010

Level: 92.5

Percent change: 0.0

of all employees

85

90

95

100

105

2006-10

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

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private aggregate weekly

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

September 2010

Level: 100.0

Percent change: +0.1

payrolls of all employees

• In September, the index of private aggregate weekly hours was unchanged. Since 

reaching a low in October 2009, the index has increased by 2.2 percent. 

• The index of private aggregate payrolls increased by 0.1 percent in September. Since 

reaching a low in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.7 percent. 

   
5

-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

-9 -2

31

-21

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

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

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-1.1

1.6

-0.2 -1.4

-19.5

-3.7 -2.4

-0.3

-5.2

-10.0

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Residential building Nonresidential 

building

Heavy and civil 

engineering

Residential specialty 

trades

Nonresidential 

specialty trades

September 2010

Prior 12-mo. avg.

Over-the-month change, September 2010

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

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Data are preliminary.

• Construction employment edged down (-21,000) in September, partially offsetting an 

employment gain in August.

• Both the August and September employment changes were concentrated among 

nonresidential specialty trade contractors. 

• Thus far in 2010, construction job losses have averaged 10,000 per month, down from an 

average loss of 84,000 jobs per month in 2009. 

   
6

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

2000-10

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

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

September 2010

Level: 11,670

Change: -6

• Employment in manufacturing changed little in September. The flatness was widespread 

with little movement among component industries.

• Manufacturing has shown essentially no growth since May, after increasing by 134,000 

jobs in the first 5 months of 2010.

   
7

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, October 8, 2010.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.2

Change: 0.0

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, October 8, 2010.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly overtime hours,

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 3.9

Change: +0.1

All employees

Level: 3.0

Change: 0.0

• Average weekly hours of all employees in manufacturing decreased by 0.1 hour but was 

unchanged for manufacturing production employees. Since reaching a low in June 2009, 

hours of all employees in manufacturing have risen by 1.4 hours. 

• Average weekly overtime of all employees was unchanged in September but was up by 

0.1 hour over the month for manufacturing production employees. Since reaching a low 

in April 2009, overtime of all employees in manufacturing has risen by 0.9 hour. 

 
8

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, October 8, 2010.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in professional and business services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

September 2010

Level: 16,734

Change: +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, October 8, 2010.

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

months of data are preliminary.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

September 2010

Level: 2,128.6

Change: +16.9

• Employment in professional and business services edged up (+14,000) in September. 

• Within professional and business services, temporary help services added 17,000 jobs in 

September. Temporary help employment has expanded by 404,000, since reaching a low 

in September 2009. 

 
9

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

15.016.5

24.2

30.6

23.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

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

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

17.2

3.4

1.8

4.8

2.9

3.8

13.2

3.3

1.1

3.8

3.7

3.5

-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

September 2010: +23.9

Prior 12-mo. avg.: +20.4

Over-the-month change, September 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 8, 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 employment rose by 24,000 in September. 

• The increase was concentrated in ambulatory health care services (+17,000). 

• Health care employment has grown by an average 21,000 jobs per month so far in 2010, 

compared to average growth of 18,000 in 2009. 

   
10

-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

30

11

20

38

-75

-50

-25

0

25

50

75

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 8, 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

0.2

-1.5

11.8

33.9

-45

-30

-15

0

15

30

45

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

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

Employment in food services and drinking places

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Leisure and hospitality added 38,000 jobs in September. Since reaching a trough in 

December 2009, the industry has added 178,000 jobs. 

• Within leisure and hospitality, employment in food services and drinking places 

increased by 34,000 in September and has risen by 104,000 thus far in 2010.

   
11

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

-236

-183

-150-159

-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, October 8, 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, October 8, 2010.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in government fell by 159,000 in September. A decline in federal 

government employment was due to the loss of 77,000 temporary Census 2010 positions. 

• As of September, about 6,000 temporary decennial census workers remained on the 

federal government payroll, down from a peak of 564,000 in May. 

   
12

17 19 17

-1

16

24 25

2 0

-4

0

-5 -4

1

-9

-2 -4

4

-32

-14

-43

11

2

-23 -26

-32

1

-1

-15 -15

-56

-11

-76

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

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

Employment in local government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Local government employment continued to trend down in September (-76,000). So far 

in 2010, local governments have reduced employment by 231,000 positions. 

   
13

1.2

10.8

1.8

-8.4

12.4 13

26

-5.1 -3.9

-11.2

-3 -1.5

1.6 4.4 1.3 1.5

-7

7.2

-45.2

-14.9

-21

28

13.1

-14.1-14.9

-24.4

6.7

1.8

-1.7 -1.9

-32.9

-18.1

-49.8

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

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

Employment in local government education

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

  

15.7

8.5

14.6

7.4

3.6

11.7

-1

6.3

4.2

7

3.3

-3.6

-5.8

-3.6

-10.1

-2.9

2.5

-3.3

13.9

0.4

-21.8

-17.1

-11 -9.1 -11

-8.1

-5.3

-2.8

-13.6-12.5

-23

7.2

-26.3

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Over-the-month change, 2008-10

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

Employment in local government, excluding education

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Local government employment in both education and non-education showed losses over 

the month in September. 

• Local government, excluding education eliminated 27,000 positions and local 

government education lost 50,000 jobs.