Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

August 2007

Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 7, 2007
110,000

115,000

120,000

125,000

130,000

135,000

140,000

145,000

150,000

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

115,000

120,000

125,000

130,000

135,000

140,000

145,000

150,000

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

August 2007

Level: 138,037

Change: -4

206

300

249

144

103

124

222

186 198

109

196

226

162

90

175

122

188

69 68

-4

-40

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

280

320

360

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-07Feb-07

Mar-07

Apr-07

May-07

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary

Over-the-month change, 2006-07

• Nonfarm employment was essentially unchanged in August. This was the 

weakest employment over-the-month change since August 2003. 

• Employment has shown little growth for the past 3 months (44,000 on average). 

This compares with an average monthly increase of 147,000 for the first 5 months 

of the year and 189,000 per month in 2006. 
4

-22

-46

3

13

-4

1

-7

0

6

63

12

2

-28

-60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

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

Over-the-month change, August 2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-4

Total nonfarm:

• Education and health services experienced the only significant job growth among 

the supersectors, adding 63,000 jobs. 

• Jobs losses were seen in manufacturing, local government education, and 

construction. 
33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-96

Jan-97Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, total private

Seasonally adjusted

August 2007

Level: 33.8

Change: 0.0

85

90

95

100

105

110

115

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

115

aggregate weekly hours

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private

Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100

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

August 2007

Level: 107.6

Percent change: 0.0

• Average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls was unchanged in August at 33.8 hours. The workweek has 

remained within a 0.2-hour range since July 2004. 

• The index of total private aggregate weekly hours was unchanged in August. 

Since reaching a low point in August 2003, the index has increased by 9.6 

percent. The rate of growth, however, has slowed since April 2006. 
1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

in average hourly earnings

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-year percent change

Seasonally adjusted, percent

August 2007

Percent Change: +3.9

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Index of total private

Seasonally adjusted, 2002=100

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

nonsupervisory workers.

aggregate weekly payrolls

August 2007

Level: 125.8

Percent change: +0.2

• Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls rose by 5 cents in August. Over the year, nominal earnings are 

up 3.9 percent. 

• The index of total private aggregate weekly payrolls rose 0.2 percent in August. 

Over the year, the index has grown by 5.5 percent. 
5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02Jan-03

Jan-04Jan-05

Jan-06Jan-07

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

August 2007

Level: 7,629

Change: -22

• Employment in construction declined by 22,000 in August. Residential specialty 

trade contractors lost 18,000 jobs over the month. 

• Since its most recent peak in September 2006, construction employment has 

declined by 96,000. 
10

-7

0

15

-12

23

-9 -11 -12

-40

-23

-12

-1

-17

-23

-18

-3

-19

-1

-46

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

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

Jun-07

Jul-07

Aug-07

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Note: Most recent two months of data are preliminary

Over-the-month change, 2006-07

• Manufacturing employment fell by 46,000 in August, its largest one-month job 

loss since July 2003. The industry has lost 215,000 over the past year.

• Durable goods lost 30,000 jobs in August. Jobs losses in this industry were led by 

motor vehicle and parts manufacturing (-11,000). Other durable good industries 

with job losses included machinery, wood products, furniture and related 

products, semiconductors and electronic components, and primary metals.

• Nondurables goods lost 16,000 jobs in August. Jobs losses in this industry 

occurred in food manufacturing, apparel, and textile mills.
7,800

8,000

8,200

8,400

8,600

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

2003-07

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

August 2007

Level: 8,484

Change: 0

• Following a large increase in July, employment in financial activities was flat in 

August. Employment changes in this industry have averaged 6,000 per month so 

far in 2007 compared with an average of 16,000 in 2006.

• Within the industry, employment in credit intermediation edged down over the 

month and is down 19,000 since February 2007.
17.1

3.1

2.4

4.8

6.6

3.2

-14.7

-20.1

4.5

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

Professional and technical

Accounting and bookkeeping

Architectural and engineering

Computer systems design

Management and technical consulting

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services

Employment services

Services to buildings

Over-the-month change, August 2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in selected professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

business services

services: +6

Professional and business

Professional and technical

Management of companies

Administrative and waste services

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

3,000

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98

Jan-99

Jan-00Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

3,000

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

August 2007

Level: 2,569.6

Change: -13.2

• Employment in professional and business services edged up in August, compared 

to monthly average gain of 27,000 over the prior 12 months. 

• Management and technical consulting services gained 7,000 jobs in August and 

75,000 jobs over the past year. 

• Employment services lost jobs in August (-20,000). Most of this was due to 

temporary help services, which lost 72,000 jobs so far this year. 
17.8

5.1

1.5

6.2

11.2

6.3

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Ambulatory health care

services*

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential

care facilities

Over-the-month change, August 2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in health care

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

+35.3

Health care:

Ambulatory health care

services*

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care 

facilities

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

• The health care industry added 35,000 jobs over the month and 396,000 over the 

past year. 

• In August, growth continued in all three sectors: ambulatory care services, 

hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities. 
1,500

1,600

1,700

1,800

1,900

2,000

Jan-96

Jan-97

Jan-98Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02Jan-03

Jan-04Jan-05

Jan-06Jan-07

1,500

1,600

1,700

1,800

1,900

2,000

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Employment in accommodations

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

August 2007

Level: 1,840.3

Change: -10.8

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

9,500

10,000

10,500

Jan-96

Jan-97Jan-98

Jan-99Jan-00

Jan-01Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

9,500

10,000

10,500

drinking places

1996-2007

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 7, 2007.

Notes: Shaded area denotes recession. Most recent two months of data are preliminary.

Employment in food services and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

August 2007

Level: 9,769.3

Change: +24.1

• Employment in leisure and hospitality notched up in August, far below its prior 

12-month average. 

• Employment in accommodations decreased by 23,000 over the past three months. 

These losses have partially offset a 46,000 increase in employment between June 

2006 and May 2007.

• Food services and drinking places continued to expand in August, gaining 24,000 

jobs and 350,000 jobs over the year.