Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

May 2007

Bureau of Labor Statistics

June 1, 2007

Bureau of Labor Statistics
2

• Nonfarm employment rose by 157,000 in May. 

• In the first 5 months of 2007, job growth averaged 133,000 per month, compared 

with 189,000 per month in 2006. 

• Employment has risen by 8 million since reaching a low point in August 2003. 

All employees on nonfarm payrolls

1996-2007

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 137,831

Change: +157

All employees on nonfarm payrolls

1996-2007

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 137,831

Change: +157
3

• Employment growth in May was concentrated in education and health services 

and leisure and hospitality. These sectors accounted for 64 percent of the gain in 

nonfarm employment. 

• Growth in education and health services was centered within health care and 

social assistance. The employment increase in leisure and hospitality was 

dispersed between amusements, gambling, and recreation and food services and 

drinking places. 

• Professional and business services and government saw continued job gains, 

while employment losses in manufacturing restrained total growth in May. 

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Over-the-month change, May 2007

0

0

-19

9.1

-4.9

4.6

1.6

5

2

32

54

46

5

22

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Natural resources and mining

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary. 

Total nonfarm: 

+157

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Over-the-month change, May 2007

0

0

-19

9.1

-4.9

4.6

1.6

5

2

32

54

46

5

22

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Natural resources and mining

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary. 

Total nonfarm: 

+157
4

• Average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm 

payrolls increased 0.1 hour in May. The workweek has held within a 0.2-hour 

range since June 2004. 

• The index of total private aggregate weekly hours increased by 0.5 percent in 

May, following a small decrease of 0.3 percent in April. Since reaching a trough 

in August 2003, the index has increased by 9.5 percent. 

Average weekly hours, total private

1992-2007

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-92

Jan-93

Jan-94

Jan-95

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0 Seasonally adjusted

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 33.9

Change: 0.1

Average weekly hours, total private

1992-2007

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-92

Jan-93

Jan-94

Jan-95

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0 Seasonally adjusted

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 33.9

Change: 0.1

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

1996-2007

85

90

95

100

105

110

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

85

90

95

100

105

110

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 107.5

Percent Change: 0.5

Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production and nonsupervisory workers.

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

1996-2007

85

90

95

100

105

110

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

85

90

95

100

105

110

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 107.5

Percent Change: 0.5

Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production and nonsupervisory workers.
5

• Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm 

payrolls rose by 6 cents in May. The over-the-year percent change peaked in 

December 2006 at 4.3 percent and has fallen steadily to its current rate of 3.8 

percent.

 

• The index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls rose 0.8 percent in May. 

Over the year, the index grew 5.9 percent. 

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings, 

1990-2007

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Jan-90

Jan-91

Jan-92

Jan-93

Jan-94

Jan-95

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0 Seasonally adjusted, percent

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

May 2007

Percent Change: +3.8

Over-the-year percent change in average hourly earnings, 

1990-2007

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Jan-90

Jan-91

Jan-92

Jan-93

Jan-94

Jan-95

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0 Seasonally adjusted, percent

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

May 2007

Percent Change: +3.8

Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls

1996-2007

65

75

85

95

105

115

125

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

65

75

85

95

105

115

125 Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 124.3

Percent Change: 0.8

Aggregate weekly payrolls are the product of average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production and nonsupervisory

workers.

Index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls

1996-2007

65

75

85

95

105

115

125

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

65

75

85

95

105

115

125 Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

May 2007

Level: 124.3

Percent Change: 0.8

Aggregate weekly payrolls are the product of average hourly earnings, average weekly hours, and production and nonsupervisory

workers.
6

• Construction employment was flat in May, which is in line with its prior 12-

month trend. Employment stagnated as companies reported a smaller-thannormal spring buildup. 

• The flatness was widespread throughout construction. In contrast with recent 

trends, there was no appreciable divergence between nonresidential and 

residential construction employment. 

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

May 2007

Level: 7,671

Change: 0

Employment in construction

1996-2007

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

May 2007

Level: 7,671

Change: 0

Employment in construction

1996-2007

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
7

• Manufacturing continued its long-term decline, cutting 19,000 jobs in May. Job 

losses were concentrated in durable goods within the motor vehicles and parts 

industry.

• The average manufacturing workweek for production workers edged down 0.1 

hour to 41.0 hours, seasonally adjusted. The factory workweek is 0.5 hour below 

its most recent peak reached in July 2006. 

• Average weekly manufacturing overtime hours of production workers fell by 0.1 

hour to 4.1 hours in May, seasonally adjusted.

10

-7

0

15

-12

23

-9 -11 -12

-40

-23

-12

-1

-17

-23

-20 -19

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Jan-06

Feb-06

Mar-06

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Oct-06

Nov-06

Dec-06

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, 2006-07

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

10

-7

0

15

-12

23

-9 -11 -12

-40

-23

-12

-1

-17

-23 -20 -19

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Jan-06

Feb-06

Mar-06

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Oct-06

Nov-06

Dec-06

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, 2006-07

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8

• Employment in professional and business services continued to rise on trend in 

May. Growth was concentrated within the professional and technical services 

industries with solid gains in architectural and engineering services and in 

computer systems design and related services. 

Employment in selected professional and business services

Over-the-month change, May 2007

27.0

6.8

7.2

7.8

1.5

1.2

3.3

-6.6

1.9

-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

Accounting and

bookkeeping services

Architectural and

engineering services

Computer systems design

and related services

Management and technical

consulting services

Employment services

Services to buildings and

dwellings

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Professional and Business 

services: +32

Professional and 

technical services

Management of 

companies

Administrative and 

waste services

Employment in selected professional and business services

Over-the-month change, May 2007

27.0

6.8

7.2

7.8

1.5

1.2

3.3

-6.6

1.9

-40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

Accounting and

bookkeeping services

Architectural and

engineering services

Computer systems design

and related services

Management and technical

consulting services

Employment services

Services to buildings and

dwellings

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Professional and Business 

services: +32

Professional and 

technical services

Management of 

companies

Administrative and 

waste services
9

• Employment in temporary help services has been flat recently, whereas 

professional and technical services employment has grown steadily. 

• Since December 2005, employment in temporary help services is little changed 

(-49,000), and professional and technical services has gained 392,000 jobs. 

Indexed employment in professional and technical 

services and temporary help services

1996-2007

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

Professional and technical services

Temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, 1996 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Indexed employment in professional and technical 

services and temporary help services

1996-2007

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

Professional and technical services

Temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted, 1996 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.
10

• Employment in health care rose by 25,000 in May, compared to a prior 12-month 

average gain of 30,000. Over the past year, health care has added 363,000 jobs. 

• Growth in health care was widespread throughout the components with the 

majority of the increase in ambulatory health care services and hospitals.

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, May 2007

16.1

3.0

0.6

3.3

8.2

1.0

0 5 10 15 20

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Health care:

+25.3

Ambulatory health 

care services*

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, May 2007

16.1

3.0

0.6

3.3

8.2

1.0

0 5 10 15 20

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary.

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Health care:

+25.3

Ambulatory health 

care services*

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities
11

• Employment in food services and drinking places continued its long term trend--

up 35,000 in May and 361,000 over the year. Growth in May is above the prior 

12-month average of 29,000.

32.1

27.0

36.8

23.2 21.4 21.4

40.3

27.0

18.2

33.8

50.8

30.3

25.0 23.3 25.0

31.2 34.5

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-06

Feb-06

Mar-06

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Oct-06

Nov-06

Dec-06

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in food services and drinking places

Over-the-month change, 2006-07

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

32.1

27.0

36.8

23.2 21.4 21.4

40.3

27.0

18.2

33.8

50.8

30.3

25.0 23.3 25.0

31.2 34.5

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-06

Feb-06

Mar-06

Apr-06

May-06

Jun-06

Jul-06

Aug-06

Sep-06

Oct-06

Nov-06

Dec-06

Jan-07

Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 1, 2007.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in food services and drinking places

Over-the-month change, 2006-07

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands