February 2018

Release Date: March 9, 2018

Prepared by Analysts of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

Contents

Summary

Mining & Logging

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities

Information

Financial Activities

Professional & Business Services

Private Education & Health Services

Leisure & Hospitality

Other Services

Government

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis

Current Employment Statistics

Highlights
Current Employment Statistics Summary, February 2018

CES Highlights 

EMBARGOED AND PRERELEASE UNTIL 8:30AM

Release Date: March 9, 2018

+50,000 Retail Trade 

 In February, employment rose by 50,000 in 

retail trade. Building material and garden 

supply stores (+10,000), clothing and clothing 

accessories stores (+15,000), and general 

merchandise stores (+18,000), contributed to 

the job gain over the month. 

+50,000 Professional and Business Services 

 Employment in professional and business 

services increased by 50,000 over the month. 

Over the prior 12 months, employment in the 

industry had increased by an average 39,000 

per month. 

 Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 

313,000 in February. Job growth was 

widespread and included gains in construction, 

retail trade, professional and business 

services, manufacturing, financial activities, 

and mining. 

 The employment change for December 

revised up from +160,000 to +175,000, and 

the change for January revised up from 

+200,000 to +239,000. Incorporating 

revisions, job growth has averaged 242,000 

per month over the past 3 months.

 Average hourly earnings for all employees 

on private, nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents in 

February, after increasing by 7 cents in 

January. Hourly earnings are up 2.6 percent 

over the year. Average weekly hours, at 34.5 

hours, rose by 0.1 hour over the month. 

+61,000 Construction

 Employment in construction rose by 61,000 

in February, compared to an average gain of 

41,000 over the prior 3 months. Over the 

month, construction of buildings added 16,000 

jobs, while specialty trade contractors added 

38,000 jobs. These gains were split about 

evenly between residential and nonresidential 

components. 

211

267

78

282

326

191

256

164

88

351

264

234

103

257

235

174

34

285

325

175

264

140

172

180

259

200

73

175

155

239

190

221

14

271

216

175

239

313

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, March 09, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in total nonfarm

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
+31,000 Manufacturing

 In February, employment in manufacturing 

rose by 31,000. Durable goods industries 

accounted for the increase, including job gains 

in primary metals (+4,000), fabricated metal 

products (+6,000), machinery (+6,000), and 

transportation equipment (+8,000). Over the 

past 12 months, manufacturing has added 

224,000 jobs. 

+28,000 Financial Activities 

 Within financial activities, employment rose 

in credit intermediation (+8,000), securities, 

commodity contracts and investments 

(+5,000), and insurance carriers and related 

activities (+8,000). Over the past 12 months, 

financial activities has added 143,000 jobs. 

+8,000 Mining and Logging

 Employment in mining rose by 9,000 in 

February, with most of the job gains coming in 

support activities for mining (+7,000). Since 

reaching an employment low in October 2016, 

mining has added 69,000 jobs. 

26

10

16

23

50

28

-12

1

15

50

6

31

61

8

-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80

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

February 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

313*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, February 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights 

EMBARGOED AND PRERELEASE UNTIL 8:30AM

Release Date: March 9, 2018
 Employment in mining grew by 9,000 in 

February. Support activities for mining had 

a contribution of 7,000 jobs. The gains are 

consistent with a 3.8-percent increase in 

domestic oil rigs, although the price of

West Texas Intermediate oil fell 7.5 

percent to $59.41 per barrel.

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

900

950

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in mining

February 2018 Level: 663

OTM Change: 9*

Sep 2014 peak: 852 

Oct 2016 trough: 594

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Mining and Logging 

Summary Mining &

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 Construction employment rose by 61,000 in 

February. The gain was led by specialty trade 

contractors, which added 38,000 jobs, equally 

split between non-residential and residential 

specialty trade contractors.

 Construction of buildings added 16,000 jobs 

in February, which were also about equally 

split between residential and nonresidential 

components.

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in construction

February 2018 Level: 7,173

OTM Change: 61* 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 Manufacturing experienced another strong month of job gains in 

February (+31,000). Durable goods accounted for all of this change. The 

manufacturing diffusion index rose by 9.9 points over the month, to 69.1, 

indicating widespread employment gains (an index above 50 indicates that 

more manufacturing industries are adding jobs than losing them).

 Employment in durable goods manufacturing increased by 32,000 in 

February. Among the component industries, transportation equipment 

(+8,000) and primary metals (+6,000) added jobs. Employment in 

fabricated metal products (+6,000) and machinery (+6,000) continued to 

trend up. Most other component industries beat their prior 12-month 

average trends.

 

10,500

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in manufacturing

February 2018 Level: 12,614

OTM Change: 31* 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

1

2

8

0

1

6

6

4

2

3

-2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Miscellaneous durable goods manufacturing

Furniture and related products

Transportation equipment*

Electrical equipment and appliances

Computer and electronic products

Machinery

Fabricated metal products

Primary metals*

Nonmetallic mineral products

Wood products

Employment in durable goods

February 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

32*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in wholesale trade changed little 

in February (+6,000). Over the most recent 6 

months, the industry has added 48,000 jobs, 

nearly 90 percent of which were added in durable 

goods (+42,000). This growth has coincided with 

employment gains in durable goods manufacturing 

over the same time span. 

 

Wholesale Trade

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 In February, employment in retail trade increased by 50,000.

Employment rose in general merchandise stores (+18,000) and in clothing 

and clothing accessories stores (+15,000). These industries hired fewer 

seasonal workers than usual for the holidays (on a not seasonally adjusted 

basis) and have not laid off as many worker as usual after the holidays, 

resulting in the seasonally adjusted job gains in February. However, over 

the past 4 months, when most seasonal hiring and layoffs typically occur, 

employment in these industries has shown little net change. 

 Building materials and garden supply stores continued to add jobs in 

February (+10,000) and over the past year (+49,000). 

 

6 20242428 1821

-6

-9 4142

-26 27 58 45

8

-1 22 1516 11

4

-7 15 22

-22

-32

-4

-10

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-1

4

2

7 27

-26 15 50

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

3.4

-0.1

17.7

-2.7

14.9

0.6

-2.6

4.3

10.3

1.2

0.0

3.3

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Nonstore retailers

Miscellaneous store retailers

General merchandise stores*

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

Clothing and clothing accessories stores*

Gasoline stations

Health and personal care stores

Food and beverage stores

Building material and garden supply stores*

Electronics and appliance stores

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Employment in retail trade

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Over-the-month change, February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade:

50*

Retail Trade

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in transportation 

continued to trend up in February 

(+15,000). This over-the-month change 

is in line with a well-established trend of 

steady gains for the industry. Over the 

year, transportation and warehousing 

has added 148,000 jobs, or 2.9 percent. 23

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20

26

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-8

22

26

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5

18 18

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21

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18

27

0

14 14

3

20

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4

12

25

14

12

9

12

15

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, March 09, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Transportation and Warehousing

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 In February, employment in utilities 

changed little (+1,000). Employment in 

the industry is 4,000 lower than a peak 

reached in December 2016.

542

544

546

548

550

552

554

556

558

560

562

564

566

568

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in utilities

February 2018 Level: 553

OTM Change: 1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Utilities

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 Employment in information continued 

its downward trend in February (-12,000), 

driven by weakness in motion pictures 

and sound recording industries. Over the 

year, information has lost 62,000 jobs, 

with telecommunications accounting for 

half of the losses.

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-1

-11

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-4-4

-16

-12

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in information

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

Information

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 

 Employment in financial activities 

increased by 28,000 in February. This 1-

month gain is the industry’s largest since 

January 2017 and is stronger than the 

average monthly gain of 10,000 for the 

prior 12-month period.

 February’s employment increase was 

widespread. Most major component 

industries saw job gains that far 

exceeded their average monthly change 

over the prior 12-month period. 

Financial Activities

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018

7

8

5

2

8

-2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Real estate and rental and leasing

Insurance carriers and related activities*

Securities and commodities*

 - Commercial banking

Credit intermediation1*

Employment in selected financial activities

February 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Financial 

activities:

28*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance
 Professional and business services added 50,000 jobs in February, above 

the industry’s prior-12 month average change. Employment movements in 

professional and technical services (+19,000) and administrative and waste 

services (+28,000) also came in above their respective prior 12-month 

averages. Within administrative and waste services, temporary help services 

employment edged up in February (+27,000).

 

28

2

19

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Administrative and waste

services

Management of companies

and enterprises

Professional and technical

services

Employment in Professional and business services component industries

Over-the-month change Prior-3 mo. Avg. Prior-6 mo. Avg Prior-12 mo. Avg

Over-the-month change and prior averages, February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

-1 -1

8

11

16

19

-5

3

-7

19

7

30

-52

-4

4

2

-30

13

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-6

36

-3

17

-19

0

-1

6 6

17

13 13

5

11

20

7

-1

-3

27

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in Temporary help services

Over-the-month change Annual average

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasaonally adjusted, in thousands

Feb-18: 27

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018 Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

Professional and Business Services
 Employment in private education and health services continued to trend 

up in February (+23,000). Health care employment continued to trend up 

(+19,000), mostly in ambulatory health care services and hospitals. Over 

the past year, private education and health services has added 449,000 

jobs, or an average 37,000 per month. 

 In February, hospitals added 9,000 jobs, accounting for roughly half of 

the increase in health care employment. Hospitals have added 33,000 jobs 

over the last 3 months. 

 Employment in ambulatory health care services continued to trend up 

in February (+8,000), led by offices of physicians (+5,000) and home health 

care services (+4,000). Employment in outpatient care services was flat.

 

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50 49

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45

79

46

55

21

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56

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77

36

54 54

52

36

57

35

60

23

46

36

56 57

48

14 15

38

30

63

23

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, March 09, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in education and health services

1

9

4

0

5

8

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals*

 - Home health care services

 - Outpatient care centers

 - Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services1

Employment in selected health care industries

February 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

19

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in food services and drinking 

places changed little in February (+12,000). 

Over the prior 3 months, this industry had 

added an average 27,000 jobs per month. 21 70

-12 33 31 42 36 32 42 58 29 3739 53

5 13 22 20 12 41 34 25 21 29 39 18 121922 16 59

6

-59 82 2124 36 12

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in food services and drinking places

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

Leisure and Hospitality

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 Employment in other services

changed little in February (+10,000). 

Over the most recent 12 months, 

however, the industry has added 95,000

jobs, a change of 1.7 percent. Personal 

and laundry services accounted for 49 

percent of the jobs gained over this 

period.

7

6

1

7 11

-6 11

-10

1

99 14

-4 17

66

-6 16

2 12 17

-1 11

-15 16 13

0

7 16 14

55

0 17 11

55 10

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in other services

Over-the-month change, January 2015–February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

Other Services

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
 Employment in government 

increased by 26,000 jobs in February, 

almost entirely due to an increase of 

27,000 jobs in local government 

education. The job increase in local 

education comes after a weaker than 

average January (-16,000). Taken 

together, January and February show an 

average change of 6,000, roughly in line 

with the monthly average change in 

2017 (+2,000).

U. S. Postal Service employment 

decreased by 6,000 in February, its 

largest 1-month decline since January 

2016 (-9,000). 

5

27

1

2

-6

0

-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

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

February 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, February 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

26

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 09, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Government

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: March 9, 2018
Prepared by Staff of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

CES Analysts

Michael Calvillo

Wander Cedeño

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Brittney Forbes

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis