Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

February 2009

Bureau of Labor Statistics

March 6, 2009
2

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05Jan-06Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

120,000

122,500

125,000

127,500

130,000

132,500

135,000

137,500

140,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 133,768

Change: -651

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

Jan-39

Jan-43

Jan-47

Jan-51

Jan-55Jan-59

Jan-63

Jan-67

Jan-71

Jan-75

Jan-79

Jan-83

Jan-87

Jan-91

Jan-95Jan-99

Jan-03

Jan-07

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

1939-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 133,768

Change: -651

• Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 651,000 in February. In the past 4 

 months, payroll employment fell by 2.6 million, or an average of 646,000 per 

 month. This is the largest 4-month decline since September 1945.
3

-4.0

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Months

-4.0

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

July 1990

March 2001

December 2007

from beginning of recession*, seasonally adjusted

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Percentage change in total nonfarm employment,

*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research

-3.5

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Months

-3.5

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

November 1973

July 1981

December 2007

from beginning of recession*, seasonally adjusted

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Percentage change in total nonfarm employment,

*Note: Business cycle peak as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research

• Total nonfarm employment peaked in December 2007, coinciding with the start of 

 the recession as declared by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). 

 With the recent acceleration of job losses, nonfarm employment has fallen by 4.4 

 million since its peak--59 percent occurring in the past 4 months. 

• In the 14 months since the start of the recession, employment has fallen by 3.2 

 percent. The decline is larger than has typically been experienced in the past 

 few recessions. Of the 4 most recent recessions, only the 1981 recession is 

 similar to the current downturn in terms of relative job loss. 
4

-4

-104

-168

-37

-40

-49

1

-15

-44

-180

26

-33

-14

9

-240 -180 -120 -60 0 60 120

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, February 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in total nonfarm

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-651

Total nonfarm:

• In February, employment declined in most major industry sectors, with the largest 

losses occurring in professional and business services, manufacturing, and 

construction. 

• Goods-producing industries shed 276,000 jobs in February, while serviceproviding industries lost 375,000 jobs.
5

90

95

100

105

110

115

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

90

95

100

105

110

115

aggregate weekly hours

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 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.

February 2009

Level: 101.9

Percent change: -0.7

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 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

February 2009

Level: 125.8

Percent change: -0.5

• In February, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers 

on private nonfarm payrolls was 33.3 hours for the third month in a row. This 

remains the shortest workweek in the history of the series, which began in 1964. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory workers 

on nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.7 percent in February. This index peaked in 

December 2007 and has declined by 5.5 percent since that time.

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls for production and nonsupervisory 

workers on private nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.5 percent in February. Since 

reaching a high point in August 2008, the index has fallen by 2.6 percent.
6

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 6,619

Change: -104

-15.6 -16.8

-5.2

-35.5

-31.2

-11.1

-5.0 -6.1

-25.2

-16.4

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

Residential building Nonresidential

building

Heavy and civil

engineering

Residential specialty

trades

Nonresidential

specialty trades

February 2009

Prior 12-mo. avg. 

Over-the-month change, February 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in construction

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

• Construction employment continued to decline in February, as the industry lost 

 104,000 positions. Nearly 40 percent of total losses since the most recent industry 

 peak have occurred in the past 4 months. 

• Since employment peaked in January 2007, construction has lost 1.1 million jobs. 

With the February decline, construction has now lost all of the jobs gained during 

the 2003-2006 housing boom. Employment in the industry currently stands at its 

lowest level since September 1999.

• As with recent months, employment losses were widespread across the industry. 

 Both the residential and nonresidential components shed jobs 
7

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

Jan-39

Jan-43

Jan-47

Jan-51

Jan-55

Jan-59

Jan-63

Jan-67

Jan-71

Jan-75

Jan-79

Jan-83

Jan-87

Jan-91

Jan-95Jan-99

Jan-03

Jan-07

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

1939-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 12,477

Change: -168

-33

-52 -49 -57

-30

-51 -51

-67 -65

-119 -121

-180

-257

-168

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

Jan-08

Feb-08

Mar-08

Apr-08

May-08

Jun-08

Jul-08

Aug-08

Sep-08

Oct-08

Nov-08

Dec-08

Jan-09Feb-09

Employment in manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, 2008-09

• Manufacturing lost 168,000 jobs in February, bringing employment to levels last 

experienced in February 1946. Since the start of the recession 1.3 million jobs 

have been lost--65 percent occurring in the past 5 months. Nearly every 

manufacturing industry has lost jobs over the past 3 months. 

• Durable goods manufacturing continued to bear the brunt of the employment 

losses, accounting for 132,000 or 79 percent of manufacturing’s total decline in 

February.
8

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted

February 2009

Level: 39.6

Change: -0.2

-15

-10

-15

-28

-25

-13

-5

-5

-11

-5

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0

Wood products

Nonmettalic mineral products

Primary metals

Fabricated metal products

Machinery

Computer and electronic products

Electrical equipment and appliances

Transportation equipment

Furniture and related products

Miscellaneous manufacturing

Over-the-month change, February 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in durable goods manufacturing

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

-132

Durable goods:

• Average weekly hours in manufacturing fell by 0.2 hour to 39.6 hours in 

February. Factory overtime also fell by 0.2 hour to 2.6 hours in February. Both 

are at their lowest level since March 1983. 

• Employment in fabricated metals continued to decline in February with 28,000 

jobs cut. The industry has cut 134,000 workers or 8.7 percent of its workforce 

over the past 6 months. 

• Machinery cut 25,000 jobs over the month. Unlike most durable good industries, 

at the start of the recession employment in machinery changed little, however 

over the past 6 months the industry has lost 88,000 jobs. 
9

5,000

5,250

5,500

5,750

6,000

6,250

6,500

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

5,000

5,250

5,500

5,750

6,000

6,250

6,500

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in wholesale trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 5,782.3

Change: -37.0

14,000

14,250

14,500

14,750

15,000

15,250

15,500

15,750

16,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

14,000

14,250

14,500

14,750

15,000

15,250

15,500

15,750

16,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in retail trade

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 14,959.9

Change: -39.5

• Employment in wholesale trade fell by 37,000 over the month, with most of the 

decrease in durable goods wholesalers. The industry has lost 266,000 jobs since it 

peaked in November 2007, bringing employment down to a level last experienced 

in August 2005. 

• In February, retail trade employment dropped by 40,000. Since a peak in 

November 2007, the industry has lost 630,000 jobs. 

• In February, retail trade job losses were widespread, led by automobile 

dealerships (-9,000), sporting goods (-9,000), furniture and home furnishing 

stores (-8,000), and building materials and garden supply stores (-7,000). 
10

3,750

4,000

4,250

4,500

4,750

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

3,750

4,000

4,250

4,500

4,750

and warehousing

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in transportation

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 4,302.4

Change: -48.9

1,150

1,200

1,250

1,300

1,350

1,400

1,450

1,500

1,550

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

1,150

1,200

1,250

1,300

1,350

1,400

1,450

1,500

1,550

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in truck transportation

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 1,282.6

Change: -33.4

• Employment in transportation and warehousing fell by 49,000 in February. Since 

the beginning of the ongoing recession in December 2007, the industry has shed 

253,000 jobs. 

• The decline in February was led by truck transportation (-33,000). Since the most 

recent peak in January 2007, trucking has lost 172,000 jobs or 12 percent of its 

workforce. 
11

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in financial activities

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 7,914

Change: -44

-118.4

-16.2

-48.4

-25.2

-56.6

-140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0

Credit intermediation*

Commercial banking 

Securities and

commodity

Insurance and related

activities

Real estate 

Over-the-year change, February 2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Employment in selected financial activities

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

+26.9

Health care:

* Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Commercial banking

• Employment in financial activities continued to contract in February as 44,000 

jobs were eliminated from industry payrolls. Prior to September 2008, the 

weakness was contained in credit intermediation and real estate. Since then, job 

losses have been widespread. 

• Financial activities has shed nearly 450,000 jobs since employment peaked in 

December 2006, but roughly half of the losses have occurred since September 

2008. 
12

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

19,000

business services

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in professional and

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 17,042

Change: -180

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

3,000

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

1,500

1,750

2,000

2,250

2,500

2,750

3,000

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not 

yet determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in temporary help services

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 1,897.9

Change: -77.7

• Professional and business services employment decreased by 180,000 in 

February, keeping pace with the accelerated losses experienced in the preceding 3 

months. Since reaching an employment peak in December 2007, the industry has 

lost 1.1 million jobs with over half the losses coming in the past 4 months. 

• Temporary help services cut 78,000 jobs in February, keeping pace with the past 

few months. The industry has cut a quarter of its workforce over the past 12 

months, bringing employment to levels not realized since 1996.
13

10,000

10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

Jan-99

Jan-00

Jan-01

Jan-02

Jan-03

Jan-04

Jan-05

Jan-06

Jan-07

Jan-08

Jan-09

10,000

10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

and hospitality

1999-2009

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 6, 2009.

Notes: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet 

determined an endpoint for the recession that began in Dec. 2007. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in leisure

Seasonally adjusted in thousands

February 2009

Level: 13,242

Change: -33

• Leisure and hospitality remained on its prior 6-month trend, shedding 33,000 jobs 

in February. Since employment peaked in December 2007, the industry has lost 

309,000 jobs or 2.3 percent of its workforce. Most of the job losses in February 

occurred in accommodation (-18,000) and food services and drinking places 

 (-14,000).