Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

September 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

October 7, 2011
2

120,000

122,000

124,000

126,000

128,000

130,000

132,000

134,000

136,000

138,000

140,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Employment in total nonfarm

September 2011

Level: 131,334

Change: 103

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

13

-83

-72

-185

-233

-178

-231

-267

-434

-509

-802

-619

-820

-726

-796

-660

-386

-502

-300

-231

-236

-221

-55

-130

-39

-35

192

277

458

-192

-49

-59

-29

171

93

152

68

235

194

217

53

20

127

57

103

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 jobs in September. 

• This increase in employment partially reflected the return of about 45,000 telecommunication 

workers who had been on strike in August. 

• Since April, payroll employment has increased by an average of 72,000 per month, compared 

with an average of 161,000 for the prior 7 months. 

 
3

-34

-3

-4

45

48

-8

34

1

-2

14

-6

-13

26

5

-50 -30 -10 10 30 50 70

Government

Other services

Leisure and hospitality

Education and health services

Professional and business services

Financial activities

Information

Utilities

Transportation and warehousing

Retail trade

Wholesale trade

Manufacturing

Construction

Mining and logging

Employment in total nonfarm

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

103

4

-128

-87

-186

-240

-217

-265

-317

-434

-491

-787

-636

-841

-721

-787

-773

-326

-438

-287

-215

-213

-250

-34

-102

-42

-21

144

229

48

65

93

110

109

143

128

167

94

261

219

241

99

75

173

42

137

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11

Employment in total private

Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In September, health care, professional and business services, construction, and information 

experienced job gains. Gains in information were due to the return of about 45,000 

telecommunication workers from a strike. Government employment continued to trend down. 

• Employment in the private sector grew by 137,000 over the month (including the return of 

workers from strike). Since reaching a recent employment low in February 2010, the private 

sector has added 2.6 million jobs—an average of 136,000 per month. 

 
4

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.3

Change: 0.1

Production employees

Level: 33.6

Change: 0.1

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

Mar-06 Mar-07 Mar-08 Mar-09 Mar-10 Mar-11

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–September 2011

September 2011

Level: 94

Change: 0.4%

Total private, all employees

• The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 0.1 hour over 

the month to 34.3 hours, offsetting a 0.1-hour decrease in August. The average workweek for 

production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls also edged up to 33.6 

hours in September. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector increased 0.4 percent 

in September. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.8 

percent. 

 
5

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Mar-07 Sep-07 Mar-08 Sep-08 Mar-09 Sep-09 Mar-10 Sep-10 Mar-11 Sep-11

Over-the-year percent change

Average hourly earnings, all employees, and CPI–U*

Total private earnings CPI–U

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

September 2011 Earnings: 1.9

August 2011 CPI-U: 3.8

*1982–84=100

March 2007–September 2011

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

106

Mar-06 Mar-07 Mar-08 Mar-09 Mar-10 Mar-11

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly payrolls 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–September 2011

September 2011

Level: 103.6

Change: 0.6%

Total private, all employees

• Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector increased by 4 cents over the 

month, or 0.2 percent, in September, offsetting a 4-cent loss in August. Over the past 12 months, 

average hourly earnings have increased by 1.9 percent. The consumer price index for all urban 

consumers (CPI-U) was up 3.8 percent over the year ending in August. 

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees rose 0.6 percent over the 

month. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 7.5 percent. 

 
6

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Employment in mining and logging

September 2011

Level: 805

Change: 5

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in mining and logging continued to trend up in September (+5,000). Since reaching 

a trough in October 2009, employment in the industry has risen by 144,000, with support 

activities for mining accounting for most of the gains. 

 
7

5,400

5,900

6,400

6,900

7,400

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Employment in construction

September 2011

Level: 5,551

Change: 26

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

10.7

-5.6

6.2

13.2

1.8

-50 -30 -10 10 30

Nonresidential specialty trades

Residential specialty trades

Heavy and civil engineering

Nonresidential building

Residential building

Employment in construction

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction:

26

• Construction added 26,000 jobs in September. Job gains were concentrated in nonresidential 

construction industries, which includes heavy and civil engineering construction. 

• Employment in construction remains 2.2 million below its April 2006 peak. However, the 

industry has been little changed since February. 

 
8

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

18,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Employment in manufacturing

September 2011

Level: 11,741

Change: -13

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011 Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.3

Change: 0.0

All employees

Level: 40.2

Change: -0.1

• Manufacturing employment edged down in September. Despite the loss, manufacturers have 

added 285,000 jobs or an average of 14,000 jobs per month, since an employment trough in 

December 2009. 

• In September, the factory workweek remained unchanged at 41.3 for production and 

nonsupervisory employees, while average weekly hours for all employees in manufacturing fell 

by 0.1 hour to 40.2. 

 
9

2,600

2,800

3,000

3,200

3,400

3,600

3,800

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Employment in information

September 2011

Level: 2,660

Change: 34

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-1

-3

1

-9

-4

-7

-13

-12

-14

-10

-20

-23-23

-12

-10

-30

-25

-14

-15

-11

-1

-2

-14

-10

-5

-6

-13

-2

-1

-14

55

-10

-4

2

-5

-7

-3

-1

1

0

-2

-5

-51

34

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11

Employment in information

Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in information rose by 34,000 in September, after declining by 51,000 in August. 

Most of the August decline and September rebound was due to a strike and subsequent return of 

about 45,000 workers in telecommunications. 

 
10

-6

-34

-59

3

-71

-45

-64

-77

-68

-113

-181

-110

-151

-183

-130

-150

-61

-108

-29

-26

-6

7

66

26

3131

2

69

25

43

-2

30

8

40

85

58

51

38

75

45

44

0

39

38

48

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11

Employment in professional and business services

Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

1,700

1,800

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Employment in temporary help services

September 2011

Level: 2,287

Change: 19

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In September, employment in professional and business services increased by 48,000. Small job 

gains occurred in a number of component industries, including temporary help services, computer 

systems design, and management and technical consulting. 

• Temporary help services has been a primary driver of job growth in administrative and waste 

services after the 2007-09 recession. Temporary help has added 542,000 jobs since an 

employment low in August 2009. 

 
11

33

30

30

37

24

26

31

19

14

19

32

24

14

23

8

12

28

24

21

19

20

22

24

22

12

16

35

17

15

16

25

27

23

30

20

28

13

27

30

33

20

23

36

33

44

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, January 2008–September 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

4.5

13.3

5.0

3.8

12.2

26.0

-40 -20 0 20 40

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals

- Home health care services

- Outpatient care centers

- Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services ̊

Employment in selected health care industries

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.

Over-the-month change, September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

44

• Health care employment rose by 44,000 in September, with jobs gains in both ambulatory health 

care services and hospitals. Over the past 12 months, health care employment has grown by 

336,000. 

 
12

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10

Employment in government

September 2011

Level: 21,985

Change: -34

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Government employment continued to trend down over the month (-34,000). Since the end of the 

most recent recession in June 2009, government employment has shed 572,000 jobs – equivalent 

to 3 percent of its workforce. 

 
13

-10.6

-24.4

3.3

-1.4

-5.3

4.0

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

Local government, excluding education

Local government education

State government, excluding education

State government education

U.S. Postal Service

Federal, except U.S. Postal Service

Employment in selected government

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-34

14,000

14,100

14,200

14,300

14,400

14,500

14,600

14,700

14,800

14,900

15,000

5,000

5,050

5,100

5,150

5,200

5,250

5,300

5,350

5,400

5,450

5,500

Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11

Local government

State government

Employment in state and local government

January 2007 - September 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Local

State

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, October 07, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

• Government job losses in September were concentrated in local government (-35,000). Both 

local government education and local government, excluding education shed jobs. 

• Since employment peaked in September 2008, local government has lost 535,000 jobs. 

• The U.S. Postal Service continued to lose jobs in September (-5,000). 

• Employment in state government was little changed in September.