May 2020

Release Date: June 5, 2020

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
 Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 2.5 

million in May, after dropping by a staggering 

22.1 million in March and April, combined. 

The May change reflects limited resumption of 

economic activity that had been curtailed in 

March and April due to effects of the 

coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic and efforts 

to contain it. 

 Leisure and hospitality accounted for about 

one-half of the May employment increase. 

Large job gains also occurred in construction, 

education and health services, and retail 

trade. By contrast, employment in government 

declined sharply. 

 Average hourly earnings of all employees 

on private-sector payrolls fell by 29 cents or 

1.0 percent in May. Hourly earnings had risen 

by $1.35 in April. Over the year, hourly 

earnings have increased by 6.7 percent. 

Average weekly hours rose by 0.5 hour to 34.7 

hours. Caution is advised in interpreting recent 

trends in total private hours and earnings. 

Monthly changes in employment composition, 

especially in lower-paying and lower-hour 

industries, have been the driving force of 

recent changes in hours and earnings.

 The employment change for April revised 

down by 150,000 to -20,687,000, and the 

change for March revised down by 492,000 to 

-1,373,000. On net, employment over these 

months is 642,000 lower than previously 

reported.

 

 Changes made to the estimation methods for 

the establishment survey in April to better 

account for temporary or permanent business 

closures were kept in place for May. Also, after 

further research, BLS extended these changes 

back to March, which accounted for a portion 

of the revision to March data. The impacts of 

the pandemic on the payroll survey are 

detailed in the May Employment Situation 

news release and accompanying materials 

(available on the BLS website at 

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0

120,000

125,000

130,000

135,000

140,000

145,000

150,000

155,000

160,000

Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18 Jan-20

Employment in total nonfarm

May 2020 Level: 132,912

OTM Change: 2,509*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 2002–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, May 2020

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: June 5, 2020
Current Employment Statistics Summary, May 2020

CES Highlights Release Date: June 5, 2020

.htm). The response rate for the establishment 

survey was slightly below normal for May; 

however, CES was still able to produce

estimates that meet BLS standards for 

accuracy and reliability.

+1,239,000 Leisure and Hospitality 

 In May, leisure and hospitality recovered 

1.2 million of 8.3 million jobs lost in March and 

April. Food services and drinking places 

accounted for 1.4 million jobs gained in May. 

Employment continued to fall in

accommodation, which has lost 1.1 million 

jobs over the past 3 months.

+464,000 Construction 

 Construction employment rose by 464,000 

in May after declining by 1.1 million in the 

prior 2 months. The job gains in May were 

distributed throughout construction.

+424,000 Education and Health Services 

 Employment in health care rose by 312,000 

following declines totaling 1.6 million in March 

and April. In May, ambulatory health care

services added 376,000 jobs, while hospitals 

and nursing and residential care facilities lost 

jobs. 

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

 Social assistance added 78,000 jobs in 

May after losing 692,000 jobs in the 

previous 2 months. 

+368,000 Retail Trade

 Retail trade added 368,000 jobs in May 

following declines totaling 2.4 million in 

March and April. Job gains were spread 

across most retail industries, including 

sizable gains in clothing and clothing 

accessories (+95,000), automobile dealers 

-585

272

1,239

424

127

33

-38

-2

-19

368

21

225

464

-20

-1,500 -1,000 -500 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000

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

May 2020 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

2,509*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance
Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, May 2020

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: June 5, 2020

(+85,000), and general merchandise stores 

(+84,000). Electronics and appliance stores 

lost 95,000 jobs over the month.

+272,000 Other Services 

 Employment in other services rose by 

272,000 in May, following losses totaling 1.4 

million in the prior 2 months. In May, personal 

and laundry services added 182,000 jobs, 

while repair and maintenance services added 

77,000.

+225,000 Manufacturing

 Manufacturing added 225,000 jobs after 

losing about 1.4 million in March and April. In 

May, gains were distributed among durables 

goods (+119,000) and nondurables goods 

(+106,000) industries.

+127,000 Professional and Business Services 

 Employment in professional and business 

services rose by 127,000 over the month, 

following declines totaling 2.3 million in March 

and April. In May, administrative and waste 

services added 109,000 jobs.

+33,000 Financial Activities

 Employment increased by 33,000 in 

financial activities after declining by 

282,000 in March and April. In May, rental 

and leasing services added 21,000 jobs, 

while activities related to credit 

intermediation added 6,000. 

+21,000 Wholesale Trade

 Employment in wholesale trade 

increased by 21,000 after falling by a total 

395,000 in March and April.

-585,000 Government 

 Government lost 585,000 jobs in May, 

bringing total job losses to 1.6 million over 

the past 2 months. Local government 

accounted for 487,000 of the May loss and 

797,000 of the April loss.

-38,000 Information

 Information lost 38,000 jobs in May 

following a loss of 272,000 in April. 

Weakness in the sector was widespread.

-20,000 Mining and Logging

 Mining employment fell by 20,000 in 

May, with losses concentrated in support 

activities for mining (-16,000) and in oil 

and gas extraction (-7,000). Coal mining 

added 5,000 jobs over the month, mostly 

offsetting a decline in April. Since reaching 

a peak in January 2019, employment in 

mining has declined by 113,000, with 68 

percent of the losses occurring over the 

past 3 months.

-19,000 Transportation and Warehousing 

 Employment in air transportation 

declined by 50,000 in May, following a 

decrease of 79,000 in April. The May loss 

was partly offset by job gains in couriers 

and messengers (+12,000), transit and 

ground passenger transportation 

(+10,000), and in warehousing and storage 

(+9,000).
 Mining employment declined by 20,000 in 

May, bringing the 3-month net job loss to 

77,000. Over the month, support activities 

for mining (-16,000) and oil and gas 

extraction (-7,000) lost jobs. Coal mining 

added 5,000 jobs, largely offsetting a 

decline of 8,000 in April.

 Mining employment losses are reflected 

in May indicator data, which show declines

in the North American rotary rig count. 

 Logging employment, which had declined 

by 5,000 in April, changed little in May. 

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18 Jan-20

Employment in mining

May 2020 Level: 582

OTM Change: -20*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 2002–May 2020

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: June 5, 2020
 Construction employment increased by 

464,000 in May, as businesses started to 

resume activity after the coronavirus

pandemic reduced employment by 1.1 

million in April and March. Strength in 

specialty trade contractors (+325,000) and

construction of buildings (+105,000) 

combined for most of the job growth in May. 

Heavy and civil engineering construction 

added 34,000 jobs. 

 

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

8,500

Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18 Jan-20

Employment in construction

May 2020 Level: 7,043

OTM Change: 464*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 2002–May 2020

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: June 5, 2020
 In May, manufacturing employment increased by 225,000 after falling 

by 1.4 million in April and March. The gains in May were spread between 

durable goods (+119,000) and nondurable goods (+106,000).

 The manufacturing 1-month diffusion index rebounded to 70.4 from 

3.3 in April, as manufacturers started to resume business activity. A value 

over 50 indicates that more manufacturing industries are adding jobs 

than are losing jobs.

 Average weekly hours for all employees in manufacturing rose 0.8 

hour to 38.9 hours over the month, after declining by 2.3 hours in April. 

The average workweek of production workers in manufacturing 

increased 0.9 hour to 39.4 hours in May. Average weekly overtime hours 

for all employees in manufacturing increased by 0.3 hour to 2.4 hours. 

Average weekly overtime hours for production workers rose 0.4 hour to 

3.2 hours.

 Average hourly earnings for all employees stood at $28.96, reflecting a 

decrease of 32 cents but following a 93-cent increase in April. Average 

hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers fell by 7 cents 

to $22.71 in May.

10,000

11,000

12,000

13,000

14,000

15,000

16,000

17,000

Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18 Jan-20

Employment in manufacturing

May 2020 Level: 11,707

OTM Change: 225*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 2002–May 2020

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-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15 Jan-17 Jan-19

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

January 2007–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 39.4

Change: 0.9

All employees

Level: 38.9

Change: 0.8

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: June 5, 2020

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 increased by 

21,000 in May, a small rebound from the 

383,000 jobs lost in April. Nondurable goods 

added 13,000 jobs after shedding 152,000 in 

April. Employment in durable goods and in 

electronic markets and agents and brokers 

changed little in May.

 

5,200

5,400

5,600

5,800

6,000

6,200

Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18 Jan-20

Employment in wholesale trade

May 2020 Level: 5,561

OTM Change: 21*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 2002–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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: June 5, 2020
 Employment in retail trade rose by 

368,000 in May, after dropping by 2.4 

million in March and April, combined. 

Over the 3-month period, industry 

employment declined by 2.0 million. 

 Job gains were widespread in May, 

with considerable gains in clothing and 

clothing accessories stores (+95,000), 

automobile dealers (+85,000), and 

general merchandise stores (+84,000). 

Employment in electronics and 

appliance stores declined by 95,000 over 

the month.

 Recent retail-related economic 

indicators are mixed. Retail Sales

declined sharply in April. The per gallon 

price of regular gasoline increased in 

May (U.S. Energy Information 

Administration). Contrarily, the 

Consumer Confidence Index increased in 

May. 

28

-40

-18

-8

-29

7

-8

0

-8

-4

5

-14

-17

36

12

-1

4

-39

-12

3

-47

-39

27

-25

-8

-29

-24

-12

-12

-5

1

-1

9

22

-14

41

-3

3

-85

-2,286

368

-3,000

-2,500

-2,000

-1,500

-1,000

-500

0

500

1,000

Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19 Jul-19 Jan-20

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2017–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Retail 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: June 5, 2020
 Employment in transportation and warehousing decreased by 19,000 in 

May after dropping 553,000 jobs in April. Driving the May decline, air 

transportation lost 50,000 jobs, following a decline of 79,000 in April.

 

 Employment in couriers and messengers rose by 12,000 in May, 

following a gain of 4,000 in April. Hiring in the industry likely reflects an 

April surge in daily U.S. e-commerce sales as consumers modify their 

shopping habits due to the pandemic. 

 Transit and ground passenger transportation (+10,000) and 

warehousing and storage (+9,000) also added jobs in May.

 

Transportation and Warehousing

CES Highlights Release Date: June 5, 2020

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 utilities declined by 

2,000 in May, bringing the 3-month loss 

to 6,000.

520

540

560

580

600

620

Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18 Jan-20

Employment in utilities

May 2020 Level: 540

OTM Change: -2*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 2002–May 2020

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: June 5, 2020
 Information employment declined by 38,000 in May following a record 

decline of 272,000 in April. May marked the lowest employment level for 

this industry since August 1989.

 

 The May losses were spread across the component industries, with 

broadcasting, except internet (-6,000), telecommunications (-8,000), and 

other information services (-5,000) losing jobs. 

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

3,200

3,400

3,600

3,800

Employment in information

May 2020 Level: 2,578

OTM Change: -38*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 1990–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-5

-4

-8

-6

-11

-5

-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5

Other information services*

Data processing, hosting and related services

Telecommunications*

Broadcasting, except Internet*

Motion picture and sound recording industries

Publishing industries, except Internet

Employment in information

May 2020 Prior 12-month average

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Over Information: -38* -the-month change, May 2020

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, June 05, 2020.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Information

CES Highlights Release Date: June 5, 2020

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 financial activities rose 

by 33,000 in May, following losses 

totaling 282,000 in the prior 2 months. 

 Job gains in May were concentrated 

in real estate and rental and leasing 

(+24,000) and in credit intermediation 

and related activities (+7,000).

 Over the prior 2 months, real estate 

and rental and leasing lost 236,000 jobs, 

and credit intermediation lost 33,000 

jobs. 

 

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: June 5,2020

24

0

1

1

7

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

Real estate and rental and leasing*

Insurance carriers and related activities

Securities and commodities

 - Commercial banking

Credit intermediation1*

Employment in selected financial activities

May 2020 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Financial 

activities:

33*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance
 Employment in professional and business services increased by 

127,000 in May, after declining by 2.3 million in April and March. 

May employment gains occurred in administrative and waste 

services (+109,000), and professional and technical service 

(+40,000). Management of companies and enterprise lost 22,000 

jobs in May. 

 Within administrative and waste services, services to buildings 

and dwellings added 68,000 jobs in May, following losses totaling 

270,000 over the prior 2 months. Temporary help services added 

39,000 jobs, after losing 892,000 jobs in April and March.

 

 Within professional and technical services, job gains occurred in 

other professional and technical services (+21,000) and in 

accounting and bookkeeping services (+13,000), while computer 

systems and design shed 13,000 jobs in May. 

 

 

50

9

29

30

57

35

42

28

3

48

30

34

55

43

42

45

46

34

20

41

33

37

23

26

-2

38

12

50

27

41

43

40

25

42

37

22

20

27

-94

-2,189

127

-3,000

-2,500

-2,000

-1,500

-1,000

-500

0

500

1,000

Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19 Jul-19 Jan-20

Employment in professional and business services

Over-the-month change, January 2017–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

68.0

41.0

109.0

-22.0

7.0

-13.0

7.0

13.0

40.0

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

 - Services to buildings*

 - Employment services*

Administrative and waste services1*

Management of companies*

 - Management and technical consulting

 - Computer systems design*

 - Architectural and engineering

 - Accounting and bookkeeping*

Professional and technical1*

Employment in selected professional and business services

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

Over-the-month change, May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

127*

Professional and Business Services

CES Highlights Release Date: June 5, 2020

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
 In May, employment in health care and social assistance increased by 

391,000 following declines totaling 2.3 million in March and April. 

Educational services added 33,000 jobs after losing 505,000 in the previous 

2 months.

 Within social assistance, child day care services (+44,000), and individual 

and family services (+29,000) added jobs in May, after losing 370,000 and 

246,000 jobs, respectively, over the prior 2 months.

 Employment in ambulatory health care services increased by 376,000 in 

May, with offices of dentists (+245,000) accounting for almost two-thirds 

of the gains. Offices of other health practitioners (+73,000), offices of 

physicians (+51,000), and outpatient care centers (+11,000) also added 

jobs. 

 In May, employment in nursing and residential care facilities fell by 

37,000, while hospitals shed 27,000 jobs. 

 

 

9

74

39

50

38

28

60

37

31

27

52

9

5454

32

15

38

41

27

47

25

51

23

54

56

18

63

65

30

55

73

58

61

40

73

29

69

52

-178

-2,590

424

-3,500

-3,000

-2,500

-2,000

-1,500

-1,000

-500

0

500

1,000

1,500

Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18 Jul-18 Jan-19 Jul-19 Jan-20

Employment in education and health services

Over-the-month change, January 2017–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

-37

-27

-3

11

245

51

376

-300 -200 -100 0 100 200 300 400 500

Nursing and residential care*

Hospitals*

 - Home health care services

 - Outpatient care centers*

 - Offices of dentists*

 - Offices of physicians*

Ambulatory health care services1*

Employment in selected health care industries

May 2020 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

312*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: June 5, 2020

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
 Leisure and hospitality added more than 1.2 million jobs in May, 

rebounding somewhat after record losses in April (-7.5 million) and 

March (-743,000).

 Employment gains were concentrated in food services and drinking 

places (+1.4 million), while depressed demand contributed to continued 

losses in accommodation (-148,000).

 Average hourly earnings for all leisure and hospitality workers fell by 

56 cents to $17.39 in May, after jumping $1.09 in April. The changes in 

average earnings were driven largely to the large job loss in April and a 

partial return in May of lower-earning employees.

 Employment in food services and drinking places increased by nearly 

1.4 million in May as restaurant operators remained confident of 

improved near-term economic conditions following mandatory COVID-19

closures. Since February, the industry has lost a net 4.7 million jobs. 

 The average workweek for nonsupervisory employees in food services 

and drinking places establishments rose to 24 hours in May (an increase 

of 2.4 hours), mostly offsetting the downward movement seen over the 

prior 2 months.

Leisure and Hospitality

CES Highlights Release Date: June 5, 2020

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 other services grew by 

272,000 in May following a decrease of 1.4 

million in March and April, combined. In 

May, personal and laundry services

(+182,000), and repair and maintenance 

(+77,000) added jobs. According to a media 

report, by the middle of May, some states 

had partially lifted restrictions on personal 

care businesses such as barbershops and 

hair and nail salons.

4,200

4,400

4,600

4,800

5,000

5,200

5,400

5,600

5,800

6,000

6,200

6,400

Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18 Jan-20

Employment in other services

May 2020 Level: 4,850

OTM Change: 272*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary. 

* denotes significance.

January 2002–May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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: June 5, 2020
 Government employment decreased by 

585,000 in May, with local government 

accounting for 487,000 of the loss. 

 Over the past 2 months, government 

employment has declined by 1.5 million, 

with state and local education accounting 

for 64 percent of the losses. 

 Federal government employment fell in 

May, due to the layoff of 15,000 temporary 

decennial census workers. 

-177

-310

-21

-63

1

-15

-400 -350 -300 -250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100

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

May 2020 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, May 2020

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-585*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, June 05, 2020.

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: June 5, 2020
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

Osman Alhassan

Ryan Ansell

Hyun Choi

Steve Crestol

Purva Desai

Tyler Downing

Katelynn Harris

Matthew Hong

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Rhiannon Sneeringer

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis