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CES National Benchmark Article 

BLS Establishment Survey National Estimates Revised to 

Incorporate March 2019 Benchmarks 

Authors: Lawrence Doppelt and Shane Haley

About the authors: 

Lawrence Doppelt and Shane Haley are economists in the Division of Current Employment 

Statistics–National, Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor 

Statistics. 

Telephone: (202) 691-6555 

Email: Contact CES 
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Table of Contents

BLS Establishment Survey National Estimates Revised to Incorporate March 2019 Benchmarks1

Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 2

Summary of the revisions............................................................................................................... 3

IMPORTANT Special notice regarding seasonally adjusted historical data.............................. 4

Overview......................................................................................................................................... 4

Seasonally adjusted revisions ......................................................................................................... 5

Not seasonally adjusted revisions................................................................................................... 6

Benchmark revision effects for other data types............................................................................. 9

Summary of research into sources of the revision........................................................................ 13

CES and population differences ............................................................................................... 13

QCEW imputation .................................................................................................................... 13

Revisions to net birth-death ...................................................................................................... 14

Forecasted vs. actual net birth-death..................................................................................... 14

Net birth-death adjustments to the post-benchmark period .................................................. 15

Research conclusions................................................................................................................ 16

Reconstructions............................................................................................................................. 17

Rail transportation processing error.......................................................................................... 17

Basic-level reconstruction methods...................................................................................... 17

Aggregate-level reconstruction methods .............................................................................. 18

Financial activities recoding ..................................................................................................... 19

Basic-level reconstruction methods...................................................................................... 19

Aggregate-level reconstruction methods .............................................................................. 20

Seasonal adjustment in reconstructed series............................................................................. 20

Changes to the CES published series............................................................................................ 21

Series changes due to annual sample review............................................................................ 21

Availability of revised data........................................................................................................... 24

Table of figures............................................................................................................................. 25

Tables........................................................................................................................................ 25

Exhibits ..................................................................................................................................... 25
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Summary of the revisions 

With the release of January 2020 data on February 7, 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 

introduced its annual revision to national estimates of employment, hours, and earnings from the 

Current Employment Statistics (CES) monthly survey of nonfarm establishments. 

The March 2019 benchmarked seasonally adjusted employment level for total nonfarm 

employment is 150,282,000. The not seasonally adjusted benchmarked employment level is 

149,359,000.

Compared with the sample-based, seasonally adjusted published estimate for March 2019, total 

nonfarm employment had a revision of −514,000 or −0.3 percent. The not seasonally adjusted 

total nonfarm employment estimate was revised by −505,000 or −0.3 percent.

Table 1 presents revised total nonfarm employment data on a seasonally adjusted basis for 

January 2019 through December 2019. The revised data for April 2019 forward incorporate the 

effect of applying the rate of change measured by the sample to the new benchmark employment

level, as well as updated net birth-death model forecasts and new seasonal adjustment factors. 

Revisions to November and December also reflect incorporation of additional sample receipts.

For more information about the methodology of benchmarking in the CES program, see the CES 

Technical Notes available at www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn.htm#section7b. 

Table 1. Differences in seasonally adjusted levels and over-the-month changes, total 

nonfarm employment, January to December 2019 (in thousands)

2019

Levels Over-the-month Changes

As 

Revised

As 

Previously 

Published

Difference As 

Revised

As 

Previously 

Published

Difference

January 150,134 150,587 -453 269 312 -43

February 150,135 150,643 -508 1 56 -55

March 150,282 150,796 -514 147 153 -6

April 150,492 151,012 -520 210 216 -6

May 150,577 151,074 -497 85 62 23

June 150,759 151,252 -493 182 178 4

July 150,953 151,418 -465 194 166 28

August 151,160 151,637 -477 207 219 -12

September 151,368 151,830 -462 208 193 15

October 151,553 151,982 -429 185 152 33

November 151,814 152,238 -424 261 256 5

December(p) 151,961 152,383 -422 147 145 2

Footnotes

(p) Preliminary

To Table of Figures
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IMPORTANT Special notice regarding seasonally adjusted historical data

Due to several reconstructions, some seasonally adjusted series were revised further back than 

the usual five years. Affected series, including total nonfarm data, were revised back to 1990.

For more information, see the Reconstructions section of this article.

Overview

Establishment survey benchmarking is done on an annual basis to population employment counts

derived primarily from the administrative file of employees covered by Unemployment 

Insurance (UI). All employers covered by UI laws are required to report employment and wage 

information to the appropriate state UI agency four times per year. Approximately 97 percent of 

total nonfarm employment within the scope of the establishment survey is covered by UI. The UI 

data are obtained and edited by each state’s Labor Market Information (LMI) agency, and are 

tabulated and published through the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) 

program. Both the QCEW and CES categorize their data using the North American Industry 

Classification System (NAICS). 

An employment count for the remaining 3 percent is constructed from alternate sources, 

primarily records from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), as well as County Business 

Patterns (CBP) and Annual Survey of Public Employment and Payroll (ASPEP) data from the 

Census Bureau. This 3 percent is referred to as noncovered employment (NCE). The 

combination of QCEW and NCE employment data make up the benchmark level. The full 

benchmark employment level developed for March replaces the March sample-based estimate 

for each basic cell.

The total annual revision is the difference between the benchmark level for a given March and 

the published March sample-based employment estimate. The overall accuracy of the 

establishment survey is usually gauged by the size of the benchmark revision, which is often 

regarded as a proxy for total survey error. Typically, the total revision is equal to the benchmark 

revision, but in years with historical reconstructions, affected CES series are re-estimated prior to 

benchmarking. The benchmark revision, in these cases, is the difference between the benchmark 

level and the newly reconstructed sample-based estimate. The benchmark revision can be more 

precisely interpreted as the difference between two independently derived employment counts, 

each subject to its own error sources.

In order to create a continuous time series between the new March benchmark level and 

historical sample-based data from the prior March benchmark level, employment estimates for 

the months between the most recent March benchmark and the previous year's benchmark are 

adjusted using a linear "wedge-back" procedure, which assumes that the total estimation error 

accumulated at a steady rate since the last benchmark. For the nine months following the March 

benchmark (also referred to as the post-benchmark period), BLS applies previously derived overthe-month sample changes to the revised March level to get the revised estimates. New net birthdeath model forecasts are also calculated and applied during post-benchmark estimation. More 

information on benchmarks in the CES program is available in the Benchmarks section of the 

CES Technical Notes, as well as in the October 2017 Monthly Labor Review, “Benchmarking 

the Current Employment Statistics National Estimates.”
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Seasonally adjusted revisions

Table 2 presents revised employment data on a seasonally adjusted basis for March 2019 by 

major industry sector. The revision to seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment is

−514,000.

Table 2. Seasonally adjusted employment revisions for major industry sectors, March 

2019 (in thousands)

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title As Revised

As 

Previously 

Published

Differences

Amount Percent

00-000000 Total nonfarm 150,282 150,796 -514 -0.3

05-000000 Total private 127,754 128,286 -532 -0.4

06-000000 Goods-producing 21,011 21,035 -24 -0.1

07-000000 Service-providing 129,271 129,761 -490 -0.4

08-000000 Private service-providing 106,743 107,251 -508 -0.5

10-000000 Mining and logging 741 756 -15 -2.0

20-000000 Construction 7,443 7,448 -5 -0.1

30-000000 Manufacturing 12,827 12,831 -4 (1)

31-000000 Durable goods 8,056 8,054 2 (1)

32-000000 Nondurable goods 4,771 4,777 -6 -0.1

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 27,665 27,810 -145 -0.5

41-420000 Wholesale trade 5,880.3 5,921.7 -41.4 -0.7

42-000000 Retail trade 15,642.9 15,801.8 -158.9 -1.0

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 5,591.6 5,531.6 60 1.1

44-220000 Utilities 550.6 554.7 -4.1 -0.7

50-000000 Information 2,851 2,812 39 1.4

55-000000 Financial activities 8,707 8,637 70 0.8

60-000000 Professional and business services 21,176 21,332 -156 -0.7

65-000000 Education and health services 23,981 24,071 -90 -0.4

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 16,494 16,678 -184 -1.1

80-000000 Other services 5,869 5,911 -42 -0.7

90-000000 Government 22,528 22,510 18 0.1

Footnotes 

(1) Absolute revision is less than 0.05 percent.

To Table of Figures

Typically, five years of seasonally adjusted data are revised with each CES annual benchmark. 

However, reconstructed series are seasonally adjusted over their revised time spans.

For technical information on how seasonal adjustment is performed in the CES program, see the 

Seasonal Adjustment section of the CES Technical Notes.

For information on seasonal adjustment model specifications and special model adjustments, see 

the CES Seasonal Adjustment Files and Documentation page.
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Not seasonally adjusted revisions

Table 3 presents the employment benchmarks for March 2019, not seasonally adjusted, by major 

industry sector. The total revision to not seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment is 

−505,000.

Table 3. Not seasonally adjusted employment benchmarks for major industry sectors, 

March 2019 (in thousands) 

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate

Differences

Amount Percent

00-000000 Total nonfarm 149,359 149,864 -505 -0.3

05-000000 Total private 126,473 126,994 -521 -0.4

06-000000 Goods-producing 20,675 20,698 -23 -0.1

07-000000 Service-providing 128,684 129,166 -482 -0.4

08-000000 Private service-providing 105,798 106,296 -498 -0.5

10-000000 Mining and logging 731 746 -15 -2.1

20-000000 Construction 7,170 7,174 -4 -0.1

30-000000 Manufacturing 12,774 12,778 -4 (1)

31-000000 Durable goods 8,039 8,038 1 (1)

32-000000 Nondurable goods 4,735 4,740 -5 -0.1

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 27,358 27,491 -133 -0.5

41-420000 Wholesale trade 5,857.1 5,895.7 -38.6 -0.7

42-000000 Retail trade 15,425.8 15,576.6 -150.8 -1.0

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 5,525.3 5,465.6 59.7 1.1

44-220000 Utilities 549.4 553.5 -4.1 -0.7

50-000000 Information 2,838 2,803 35 1.2

55-000000 Financial activities 8,658 8,590 68 0.8

60-000000 Professional and business services 20,908 21,067 -159 -0.8

65-000000 Education and health services 24,113 24,208 -95 -0.4

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 16,090 16,260 -170 -1.1

80-000000 Other services 5,833 5,877 -44 -0.8

90-000000 Government 22,886 22,870 16 0.1

Footnotes 

(1) Absolute revision is less than 0.05 percent.

To Table of Figures

Benchmarks for more detailed industries can be found at www.bls.gov/ces/publications/

benchmark/cesbmart19-tables.htm. 

Table 4 below shows the recent history of not seasonally adjusted total nonfarm percent and 

level benchmark revisions. Over the prior 10 years, the annual benchmark revision at the total 

nonfarm level has averaged 0.2 percent (in absolute terms), with a range of −0.7 percent to 0.3 

percent. 

The differences listed in table 4 and beyond reflect the error due to normal benchmarking

procedures after the incorporation of reconstructions. Those years are footnoted. 
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Table 4. Percent and level differences between nonfarm employment benchmarks and estimates by industry supersector, March 2009

to 2019 (in thousands)

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Type 2009 2010(1) 2011(2) 2012 2013(3) 2014 2015(4) 2016 2017(5) 2018(6) 2019(7)

00-000000 Total nonfarm Percent -0.7 -0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.1 (8) -0.1 -0.1 0.1 (8) -0.3

Level -902 -378 162 424 -119 67 -172 -81 135 -16 -489

05-000000 Total private Percent -0.9 -0.4 0.1 0.4 -0.1 0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.1 -0.1 -0.4

Level -933 -391 134 481 -126 105 -232 -151 133 -104 -505

10-000000 Mining and logging Percent -3.5 -3 -0.4 1.6 -1.2 -1.8 -2.2 -3.2 -4.6 -1.1 -2.1

Level -25 -20 -3 13 -10 -16 -19 -22 -30 -8 -15

20-000000 Construction Percent -2.9 -1.3 -0.5 1.8 0.3 1.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.6 -0.1

Level -171 -67 -26 93 14 90 39 47 52 44 -4

30-000000 Manufacturing Percent -0.7 -1 0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.4 -0.1 0.5 0.1 -0.1 (8)

Level -84 -119 9 -25 23 43 -12 58 15 -18 -4

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and 

utilities

Percent -1.2 -0.6 0.4 0.6 -0.5 -0.1 (8) -0.4 0.3 -0.3 -0.4

Level -300 -143 95 145 -131 -31 -5 -110 75 -77 -117

41-420000(9) Wholesale trade Percent -1.2 -2.3 -0.2 0.8 -0.4 -0.8 -0.7 -1.1 -0.4 -0.9 -0.7

Level -68 -124.5 -13.1 45.3 -20.2 -45.4 -41.3 -66.6 -21.2 -54.4 -38.6

42-000000(9) Retail trade Percent -1.6 -0.1 0.6 0.5 -0.8 (8) -0.2 -0.8 0.1 -0.6 -1.0

Level -235.6 -18.4 83.8 78.9 -110.3 5.5 -23.5 -118.2 15.4 -96.4 -150.8

43-000000(9) Transportation and 

warehousing

Percent 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.1 0.2 1.4 1.7 1.6 1.4 1.4

Level 9.9 3.1 22.4 29.4 3.6 9.7 65.3 83.5 79.8 72.7 75.8

44-220000(9) Utilities Percent -1.2 -0.6 0.5 -1.5 -0.8 -0.1 -0.8 -1.6 0.2 0.3 -0.7

Level -6.8 -3.4 2.8 -8.5 -4.6 -0.6 -4.7 -8.7 1 1.8 -4.1

50-000000 Information Percent -1.5 -0.4 -0.4 1.8 -0.2 2.4 -1.6 -0.1 2.5 2.1 1.2

Level -42 -11 -12 47 -5 66 -44 -2 70 59 35

55-000000 Financial activities Percent -0.1 0.4 0.9 0.6 -0.1 0.2 -0.1 (8) 0.1 -0.1 0.8

Level -4 34 69 45 -10 19 -9 -4 7 -12 68

60-000000 Professional and business 

services

Percent -0.8 (8) 0.7 (8) (8) -0.8 -0.6 -0.6 -1.3 -0.4 -0.8

Level -137 -3 125 2 4 -147 -110 -125 -270 -72 -159

65-000000 Education and health services Percent -0.3 (8) -0.5 (8) -0.3 -0.1 (8) -0.4 0.3 (8) -0.4

Level -56 7 -108 -2 -61 -16 -7 -83 70 5 -95

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality Percent -0.6 -0.6 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.3 -0.3 0.7 0.8 (8) -1.1

Level -72 -80 93 104 72 38 -45 102 126 -4 -170

80-000000 Other services Percent -0.8 0.2 -2 1.1 -0.4 1.1 -0.4 -0.2 0.3 -0.4 -0.8

Level -42 11 -108 59 -22 59 -20 -12 18 -21 -44

90-000000 Government Percent 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.3 (8) -0.2 0.3 0.3 (8) 0.4 0.1

Level 31 13 28 -57 7 -38 60 70 2 88 16
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Footnotes

(1) With the 2010 benchmark, BLS reconstructed historical national employment levels of all employees for other

federal government (91-999900) to reflect corrections to initial counts for temporary and intermittent workers for

the 2010 Census. The reconstructions resulted in about 4,000 in employment being added to other federal

government. For more information, see the Reconstructions section in the 2010 CES Benchmark Article. (2) A review of industries for the possible presence of noncovered employment yielded 13 additional industries. As a

result of including these industries, employment in the amount of 95,000 was added to the benchmark nonfarm

level. For more information, see the Changes to noncovered employment section in the 2011 CES Benchmark

Article. (3) With the 2013 benchmark, BLS reconstructed several national employment series. Each first quarter, the

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, whose data account for approximately 97 percent

of the CES universe scope (see The Sample section of the CES Technical Notes), incorporates updated industry

assignments. In 2013, these updates included two substantial groups of nonrandom, noneconomic code changes,

one to funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles (NAICS 525), and the other, a reclassification of approximately

466,000 in employment from private households (NAICS 814), which is out of scope for CES, to services for the

elderly and persons with disabilities (NAICS 62412), which is in scope. These changes also had an impact,

beyond what would be considered typical for a given benchmark year, on corresponding CES series. For more

information about the changes to these industries, see the QCEW First Quarter 2013 News Release or the Special

notice regarding reconstructed data section in the 2013 CES Benchmark Article. (4) With the 2015 benchmark, BLS reconstructed the national employment series 65-624120, services for the elderly

and persons with disabilities back to January 2000. BLS previously reconstructed this series with the 2013

benchmark; however, between the 2013 and 2015 benchmark, a better source of information for the employment

within NAICS 62412 for the state of California was found. The inclusion of the reconstructed series resulted in

total nonfarm and total private employment that was 27,000 less than the originally published March 2015

estimate level. The difference between the benchmarked and originally published March 2015 estimate level is

−199,000 or −0.1 percent. This table displays March 2015 data after accounting for the decrease of 27,000 from

the reconstructed series. Similarly, for the education and health services supersector, this table displays March

2015 data after incorporating the reconstructed series. For more information, see the Reconstructions section in

the 2015 CES Benchmark Article. (5) With the 2017 benchmark, BLS reconstructed the national employment series 60-561613, security guards and

patrols and armored car services back to October 2016 to correct a microdata error. The inclusion of the

reconstructed series resulted in total nonfarm and total private employment that was 3,000 more than the

originally published March 2017 estimate level. The difference between the benchmarked and originally

published March 2017 estimate level is 138,000 or 0.1 percent. This table displays March 2017 data after

accounting for the increase of 3,000 from the reconstructed series. Similarly, for the professional and business

services supersector, this table displays March 2017 data after incorporating the reconstructed series. For more

information, see the Reconstructions section in the 2017 CES Benchmark Article. (6) With the 2018 benchmark, BLS reconstructed several national employment series. A recoding effort in the

QCEW resulted in about 336,000 in employment in wholesale trade agents and brokers (41-425120) moving into

other series within the wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and professional and business

services major industry sectors. Affected basic series were reconstructed for their entire history, generally back to

January 1990. Additionally, a reclassification of a state employer to private ownership caused a shift of about

17,000 in employment from the CES series other state government (90-922999) into services for the elderly and

persons with disabilities (65-624120). Affected basic series were reconstructed from March 2018 back to January

2018. For more information, see the Reconstructions section in the 2018 CES Benchmark Article. (7) With the 2019 benchmark, BLS reconstructed some national employment series in transportation to correct an

error in rail transportation (43-482000), which had resulted in 16,000 in employment being double counted. The

reconstruction removed the doubled-counted employment and affected aggregates of rail transportation, up to and

including total nonfarm, back to January 1990. While the difference between the benchmarked and originally

published March 2019 estimate level is −505,000, or −0.3 percent, this table displays March 2019 data after

accounting for the removal of 16,000 from the published series. For more information, see the Reconstructions

section in the 2019 CES Benchmark Article. (8) Absolute revision is less than 0.05 percent.

(9) Indented industries are part of trade, transportation, and utilities.

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Benchmark revision effects for other data types

Benchmarking also affects the series for production and nonsupervisory employees (PE) and 

women employees (WE). There are no benchmark employment levels for these series; they are 

revised by preserving ratios of employment for the particular data type to the all employee (AE) 

level prior to benchmarking, and then applying these ratios to the revised all employee level. 

These figures are calculated at the basic cell level and then aggregated to produce the summary 

estimates. Average weekly hours (AWH), average hourly earnings (AHE), and, in manufacturing 

industries, average weekly overtime hours (AWOH) are not benchmarked; they are estimated 

solely from reports supplied by survey respondents at the basic estimating cell level. New 

employment benchmarks can additionally affect indirectly estimated data types. For more 

information on indirectly estimated data types, see the Available Data section in the CES 

Technical Notes.

Table 5 lists directly estimated data types and their common abbreviations. Directly estimated 

data types except for AE are collectively called non-AE data types.

Table 5. Directly estimated data types

Data Type Abbreviation

All employees AE

Production and nonsupervisory employees PE

Women employees WE

Average weekly hours of all employees AE AWH

Average hourly earnings of all employees AE AHE

Average weekly overtime hours of all employees AE AWOH

Average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory employees PE AWH

Average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees PE AHE

Average weekly overtime hours of production and nonsupervisory employees PE AWOH

To Table of Figures

The aggregate industry levels of the hours and earnings series are derived as a weighted average. 

AE and PE estimates for basic cells act as weights for their respective hours and earnings 

estimates for broader industry groupings. Adjustments of AE estimates to new benchmarks may 

alter the implicit weights used for both AE and PE hours and earnings, which, in turn, may 

change the estimates for both AE and PE hours and earnings at higher levels of aggregation.

Generally, new employment benchmarks have little effect on hours and earnings estimates for 

major industry groupings. To influence the hours and earnings estimates of a broader industry 

group, employment revisions have to be relatively large and must affect industries that have 

hours or earnings averages that are substantially different from those of other industries in their 

broader group.

Table 6 and table 7 provide information on the not seasonally adjusted levels of major industry 

sector hours and earnings series resulting from the March 2019 benchmark. At the total private 
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level, average weekly hours estimates for AE increased by 0.1 hours and there was no change in

average weekly hours estimates for PE from the previously published level. Total private average 

hourly earnings increased by 5 cents for AE and increased by 4 cents for PE from the previously 

published level. 

Benchmark effects on hours and earnings for more detailed industries can be found at 

www.bls.gov/ces/publications/benchmark/cesbmart19-tables.htm. 
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Table 6. Effect of March 2019 benchmark revisions to all employee average weekly hours and average hourly earnings

estimates, major industry sectors

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

Estimated(1) Revised Difference Estimated(1) Revised Difference

05-000000 Total private 34.2 34.3 0.1 $27.74 $27.79 $0.05

06-000000 Goods-producing 40.2 40.2 .0 28.73 28.72 -.01

08-000000 Private service-providing 33.1 33.1 .0 27.50 27.57 .07

10-000000 Mining and logging 46 46 .0 33.36 33.21 -.15

20-000000 Construction 38.8 38.8 .0 30.48 30.51 .03

30-000000 Manufacturing 40.6 40.6 .0 27.48 27.46 -.02

31-000000 Durable goods 41 41 .0 28.90 28.88 -.02

32-000000 Nondurable goods 39.9 39.8 -.1 25.00 24.98 -.02

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 34 34 .0 24.00 24.01 .01

41-420000 Wholesale trade 38.7 38.7 .0 31.15 31.08 -.07

42-000000 Retail trade 30.3 30.3 .0 19.40 19.42 .02

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 38.3 38.4 .1 24.56 24.60 .04

44-220000 Utilities 42.2 42.2 .0 42.22 42.14 -.08

50-000000 Information 35.9 35.9 .0 41.59 41.81 .22

55-000000 Financial activities 37.4 37.4 .0 35.45 35.43 -.02

60-000000 Professional and business services 36 36 .0 33.36 33.42 .06

65-000000 Education and health services 32.8 32.8 .0 27.49 27.56 .07

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 26 26 .0 16.46 16.46 .00

80-000000 Other services 31.8 31.8 .0 25.00 25.24 .24

Footnotes

(1) With the 2019 benchmark, CES reconstructed several series. The effects of these reconstructions are included in this table. For more information, see the 

Reconstructions section in the 2019 CES Benchmark Article.

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Table 7. Effect of March 2019 benchmark revisions to production and nonsupervisory employee average weekly hours 

and average hourly earnings estimates, major industry sectors

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title

Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

Estimated(1) Revised Difference Estimated(1) Revised Difference

05-000000 Total private 33.5 33.5 0.0 $23.27 $23.31 $0.04

06-000000 Goods-producing 40.9 40.9 .0 24.43 24.43 .00

08-000000 Private service-providing 32.2 32.3 .1 23.02 23.07 .05

10-000000 Mining and logging 46.8 46.7 -.1 29.58 29.50 -.08

20-000000 Construction 39.2 39.2 .0 28.21 28.24 .03

30-000000 Manufacturing 41.6 41.6 .0 21.97 21.96 -.01

31-000000 Durable goods 42 42 .0 22.89 22.89 .00

32-000000 Nondurable goods 40.9 40.9 .0 20.42 20.41 -.01

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 33.5 33.6 .1 20.47 20.48 .01

41-420000 Wholesale trade 38.5 38.5 .0 25.91 25.86 -.05

42-000000 Retail trade 30.1 30.1 .0 16.40 16.42 .02

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 37.5 37.5 .0 22.30 22.33 .03

44-220000 Utilities 42.4 42.4 .0 36.79 36.76 -.03

50-000000 Information 35.2 35.2 .0 33.12 33.25 .13

55-000000 Financial activities 36.7 36.7 .0 27.44 27.43 -.01

60-000000 Professional and business services 35.2 35.2 .0 27.44 27.48 .04

65-000000 Education and health services 32.1 32.1 .0 24.13 24.19 .06

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 24.8 24.8 .0 14.41 14.41 .00

80-000000 Other services 30.7 30.8 .1 21.18 21.39 .21

Footnotes

(1) With the 2019 benchmark, CES reconstructed several series. The effects of these reconstructions are included in this table. For more information, see the 

Reconstructions section in the 2019 CES Benchmark Article.

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Summary of research into sources of the revision

The difference between CES estimates and the population employment results from various 

sources, and disaggregating it into its components is complex. BLS examined potential sources 

of error in both the CES estimates and the QCEW-based portion of the employment benchmark. 

Both are subject to nonresponse and reporting error. Additionally, the CES estimates are subject 

to sampling error and business birth-death modeling error. A profile of the differences and an 

analysis of potential sources of error are outlined below.

CES and population differences

Differences between the CES estimates and population employment levels were analyzed by 

industry detail and month over the benchmark year. Typically, industry supersectors can exhibit 

positive or negative benchmark revisions within a benchmark year, which can offset at the total 

nonfarm level. For the 2019 benchmark, however, the supersector level revisions did not offset,

resulting in a larger-than-normal downward revision for total nonfarm. As shown in table 3, 

professional and business services and leisure and hospitality experienced the largest negative 

revisions, although several other sectors also contributed to the overall downward total nonfarm 

revision. 

In addition to the March 2019 comparison, exhibit 1 summarizes the tracking of CES estimates 

and population employment between March 2018 and March 2019. The series have different 

seasonal patterns, so it is more informative to compare differences in over-the-year change for

individual months. Exhibit 1 shows that CES estimates were higher than the population at the 

outset, but the difference accelerated in December 2018 and into the first quarter of 2019. 

Despite this, no changes to the population inputs were found and no significant errors were 

identified.

Exhibit 1. Monthly over‐the‐year change for total nonfarm employment from April 2018 to 

March 2019, not seasonally adjusted (in thousands) 

2018 2019

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Population 2,175 2,232 2,246 2,380 2,529 2,393 2,411 2,445 2,249 2,464 2,182 1,991

CES(1) 2,280 2,419 2,477 2,467 2,654 2,606 2,653 2,601 2,677 2,867 2,483 2,496

Difference -105 -187 -231 -87 -125 -213 -242 -156 -428 -403 -301 -505

Footnotes

(1) CES estimates are pre-benchmark 2019.

To Table of Figures

QCEW imputation

Every quarter, the QCEW program imputes employment for UI accounts where reports were not 

received or were received but contained only wage information and no employment data. 

Typically, only a small concentration of worksites and employment are imputed. In the first 

quarter of 2019, about 5 percent of establishments in the QCEW were imputed, representing 

about 2 percent of employment. This level of imputed employment had little variance over the 

last five years and is historically low. BLS reviewed the QCEW imputation process to see if it 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 14 of 25

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could be a factor in the divergence between CES and QCEW over-the-year employment trends. 

There were no changes in the imputation process, nor any indication that imputation significantly 

caused the divergence between CES estimates and QCEW employment levels.

Revisions to net birth-death

The CES sample alone is not sufficient for estimating the total nonfarm employment level 

because each month new firms generate employment that cannot be captured through the sample. 

There is an unavoidable lag between a firm opening for business and its appearance on the CES 

sample frame. The sample frame is built from UI quarterly tax records. These records cover 

virtually all U.S. employers and include business births, but they only become available for 

updating the CES sampling frame seven to nine months after the reference month. After the 

births appear on the frame, there is also time required for sampling, contacting, and soliciting 

cooperation from the firm, and verifying the initial data provided. In practice, BLS cannot 

sample and begin to collect data from new firms until they are at least a year old.

BLS has researched both sample-based and model-based approaches to measuring business 

births and deaths that have not yet appeared on the UI universe frame. The research 

demonstrated that sampling for births was not feasible in the very short CES production 

timeframes, so BLS uses a model-based approach to account for this employment. This model 

incorporates two components; the first component is an indirect imputation for business deaths 

and the second component is an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) time 

series model designed to estimate the net birth-death employment not accounted for by the 

imputation from the first component. More information on the CES birth-death model is 

available in the Birth-Death Model section of the CES Technical Notes.

Forecasted vs. actual net birth-death

Only error from the second component is directly measurable. Error from this component is 

measured by comparing the actual net of births and deaths with the model-based forecast that 

was used in the CES sample-based estimates. Most recently, the data from April 2018 to March 

2019 can be measured. As table 8 shows, the actual net birth-death for April 2018 to March 2019

was approximately 10,000 above the forecasted amount used in the CES monthly estimates for 

the same period. 

Table 8. Differences between forecasted and actual net birth-death, total private 

employment, April 2018 to March 2019 (in thousands)

2018 2019

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Total

Actual Net 

Birth-Death 318 224 126 191 87 -91 329 -36 -80 -161 148 23 1,078

Forecast Net 

Birth-Death 275 215 112 171 105 -61 275 -5 -32 -175 137 51 1,068

Difference 43 9 14 20 -18 -30 54 -31 -48 14 11 -28 10

Cumulative 

Difference 43 52 66 86 68 38 92 61 13 27 38 10

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 15 of 25

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Net birth-death adjustments to the post-benchmark period

From April 2019 to December 2019, also known as the post-benchmark period, estimates were recalculated for each month based 

primarily on new benchmark levels and new net birth-death forecasts. Net birth-death forecasts were revised to incorporate 

information from the most recent year of universe employment counts. Table 9 shows the net birth-death values for the supersectors 

over the post-benchmark period. From April 2019 to December 2019, the net birth-death model cumulatively added 1,042,000, 

compared with 958,000 in the previously published April 2019 to December 2019 employment estimates.

Table 9. Net birth-death forecasts by industry supersector, April to December 2019 (in thousands)

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Cumulative

Total

10-000000 Mining and logging -1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 4

20-000000 Construction 33 40 25 9 10 4 23 -11 -13 120

30-000000 Manufacturing 1 7 4 -2 3 2 5 3 1 24

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 9 22 8 10 14 7 38 7 4 119

41-420000(1) Wholesale trade -2 3 -2 -1 2 -2 8 2 0 8

42-000000(1) Retail trade 8 13 6 8 7 4 20 -4 -1 61

43-000000(1) Transportation and warehousing 3 6 4 3 5 5 10 9 5 50

44-220000(1) Utilities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

50-000000 Information 3 5 1 5 2 0 9 4 -1 28

55-000000 Financial activities 3 6 2 8 3 -7 28 2 7 52

60-000000 Professional and business services 94 19 -5 49 21 -24 104 2 -28 232

65-000000 Education and health services 43 15 -19 32 17 -4 67 10 -12 149

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 83 86 86 75 20 -50 17 -31 -6 280

80-000000 Other services 14 8 6 -1 4 -3 12 -2 -4 34

Total private net birth-death forecast 282 209 109 186 95 -75 304 -16 -52 1,042

Footnotes

(1) Indented industries are part of trade, transportation, and utilities.

To Table of Figures
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Research conclusions

Early research and analysis into the components of error has concluded the net birth-death model 

contributed only a small piece to the total survey error. Although some quarters and industries 

had larger revisions relative to others, it is less clear that the overall revision can be attributed to 

a single quarter or industry. The difference in employment growth between the CES estimates 

and the population in December 2018 and into the first quarter of 2019 requires further 

investigation. BLS and the CES program will continue to research the possible causes of error 

within the payroll survey and their impacts on benchmark revisions.
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Reconstructions

In addition to the regular benchmark revisions, CES employment, hours, and earnings estimates 

are sometimes reconstructed in order to avoid series breaks and provide users with continuous, 

comparable employment time series suitable for economic analysis. Reconstructions may be 

necessary to correct processing errors, reporting errors, changes in scope, or to address other 

issues that may cause breaks in CES time series that are not economic in nature. The 

reconstructions that were incorporated with this year’s annual benchmark are described below.

Rail transportation processing error

Several CES series in transportation and warehousing (43-000000) were reconstructed to account 

for the release of more detailed and accurate data from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). 

Two separate, but related, issues resulted in two reconstructions within this industry. 

Basic-level reconstruction methods

The first reconstruction removed employment that was being double counted in rail 

transportation’s (43-482000) history from 1990-2019. The updated RRB data revealed that they 

were reporting overlapping data with states’ LMI agencies for commuter rail transportation, 

which led to double counting of employment in this industry. Historical data for this error was 

only available back to 2003; therefore, a ratio of the amount being double counted for March 

2019 was generated and applied to the history of rail transportation back to 2003 to calculate the 

amount of employment to remove from each month. The difference in January 2003 was wedged 

back to 1990 in order to gradually align the more recent data with historical pre-1990 data. In 

total, this reconstruction removed 16,000 in employment from rail transportation and all of its 

aggregates, including total nonfarm, in March 2019. 

The second reconstruction redistributed transportation employment into correct NAICS codes 

based on RRB’s updated classification system. After removing the double-counted employment 

from rail transportation and wedging back the January 2003 difference, additional employment 

was moved out of rail transportation and into urban, interurban, rural, and charter bus 

transportation (43-485500) and support activities for other transportation, including rail (43-

488900). Furthermore, some employment was removed from urban, interurban, rural, and charter 

bus transportation and placed into support activities for other transportation, including rail. 

Ratios were calculated for the amounts of employment moving out of each series for March 

2019, then applied to their histories back to 1990. The monthly amounts removed were then 

added to the correct industry from March 2019 back to January 1990. All other published data 

types for these industries were adjusted to account for the change, including AE hours and 

earnings, PE, PE hours and earnings, and WE. More detail on both reconstructions is provided in 

exhibit 2.
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Exhibit 2. Not seasonally adjusted AE series changes as a result of the two reconstructions in 

rail transportation

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry

March 2019 AE Change (in thousands)

Due to 

Double 

Count

Due to 

Employment 

Moved from 

43-482000

Due to 

Employment 

Moved from 

43-485500

Total Change 

in 

Employment

00-000000 Total nonfarm -16.0 0.0 0.0 -16.0

05-000000 Total private -16.0 0.0 0.0 -16.0

07-000000 Service-providing -16.0 0.0 0.0 -16.0

08-000000

Private serviceproviding -16.0 0.0 0.0 -16.0

40-000000

Trade, 

transportation, and 

utilities -16.0 0.0 0.0 -16.0

43-000000

Transportation and 

warehousing -16.1 0.0 0.0 -16.1

43-482000 Rail transportation -16.1 -16.4 0.0 -32.5

43-485000

Transit and ground 

passenger 

transportation 0.0 10.3 -4.4 5.9

43-485500

Urban, interurban, 

rural, and charter 

bus transportation 0.0 10.3 -4.4 5.9

43-488000

Support activities for 

transportation 0.0 6.1 4.4 10.5

43-488900

Support activities for 

other transportation, 

including rail 0.0 6.1 4.4 10.5

To Table of Figures

Aggregate-level reconstruction methods

After removing the double-counted employment in rail transportation, CES series for all data 

types were re-aggregated back to 1990. Reconstructed basic series were summed to aggregate 

levels using the normal CES aggregation methods (see the Aggregation Procedures section in the 

CES Technical Notes). Consequently, unadjusted aggregate employment series and hours and 

earnings series are subject to change from the detailed aggregate series to the major industry 

sector levels for trade, transportation, and utilities; private service-providing; service-providing;

total private; and total nonfarm. Not seasonally adjusted employment for transportation and 

warehousing and its aggregates are only affected by the double count.
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Financial activities recoding

A recoding of employers in the first quarter of 2019 in the QCEW resulted in changes to the 

industries in which those businesses are classified. Several large changes were observed in

financial activities, necessitating reconstructions of CES data in commercial banking (55-

522110), savings institutions (55-522120), credit card issuing (55-522210), real estate credit (55-

522292), and financial transaction processing and clearing (55-522320).

Basic-level reconstruction methods

In March 2019, AE for commercial banking gained 49,700 in employment from savings 

institutions, credit card issuing, real estate credit, and financial transaction processing and 

clearing. Ratios of the amount of employment that were moving into commercial banking to the 

total amount of employment in the source industry for March 2019 were created. Those ratios 

were then applied to the entire history of the industry, back to 1990, to find the amounts of 

employment to remove from each series. The total of those amounts for each month was added 

to commercial banking. 

All other data types published for these industries were adjusted to account for the change 

including AE hours and earnings, PE, PE hours and earnings, and WE. Average weekly hours 

and average hourly earnings were recalculated by applying the same ratios to the amount of old 

total hours and old total payroll to move the correct amount of hours or earnings into the new 

CES industry. Total hours and total earnings summed for the new industries were then averaged 

using the new employment levels. More information about the calculation of CES employment, 

hours, and earnings estimates is available in the CES Technical Notes under Estimation 

Methods. All affected industries and the change in AE are listed in exhibit 3.
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Exhibit 3. Not seasonally adjusted AE changes as a result of recoding in financial activities

CES Industry Code CES Industry

March 2019 

AE Change (in 

thousands)

Ratio of 

Change (%)

55-522100 Depository credit intermediation 33.7 (1)

55-522110 Commercial banking 49.7 (1)

55-522120 Savings institutions -16.0 -14.4

55-522200 Nondepository credit intermediation -28.0 (1)

55-522210 Credit card issuing -15.3 -18.3

55-522290

Other nondepository credit 

intermediation -12.7 (1)

55-522292 Real estate credit -12.7 -5.4

55-522300 Activities related to credit intermediation -5.7 (1)

55-522320

Financial transaction processing and 

clearing -5.7 -4.2

Footnotes 

(1) Ratios are only applied at the most detailed level of employment. Employment change for this series was 

calculated from the employment removed from the detailed series.

To Table of Figures

Aggregate-level reconstruction methods

Reconstructed basic series were summed to aggregate levels using the normal CES aggregation 

methods (see the Aggregation Procedures section in the CES Technical Notes). Consequently, 

employment, hours, and earnings are subject to change for the aggregate series credit 

intermediation and related activities (55-522000).

Seasonal adjustment in reconstructed series

For all series affected by the reconstructions of employment, hours, and earnings, the 

corresponding seasonally adjusted series were also subject to change from 1990 to 2019. 

Aggregate industries as well as component series used in indirect seasonal adjustment are also 

subject to change. More information about seasonal adjustment of CES series is available in the 

CES Technical Notes under Seasonal Adjustment.
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Changes to the CES published series

With the release of the January 2020 first preliminary estimates on February 7, 2020, BLS

incorporated series changes related to annual sample adequacy and disclosure review.

Series changes due to annual sample review

All CES series are evaluated annually for sample size, coverage, and response rates. The 

following changes result from a re-evaluation of the sample and universe coverage for CES 

industries, which are based on the 2017 North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS). Some industries no longer have sufficient sample to be estimated and published 

separately and were discontinued or combined with other similar industries for estimation and 

publication purposes. This information is also available at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesnewseries.htm.

A list of currently published CES series is available at 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesseriespub.htm.

Table 10. Series with CES industry code or title changes

There are no series with industry code or title changes.

To Table of Figures

In order to more easily identify affected series and because AE series are published at a more 

detailed industry level than non-AE series, series changes are shown for AE and non-AE data 

types. The first two tables in this section reference the AE data type and the third table references

all non-AE data types. The tables display an AE collapse and discontinued series for AE and 

non-AE data types. Discontinued series tables (table 11 and table 13) display series for which the 

data types noted are no longer published. The collapsed series table (table 12) displays series for 

which the data types noted are no longer published because the industry no longer has sufficient 

sample to be estimated and published separately. Affected industries have been combined with 

other similar industries for estimation and publication purposes. Historical data for these series 

were reconstructed to provide consistent time series. Industries that are no longer published for

AE will also no longer be published for other directly estimated data types or derivative series.

Table 11. Discontinued all employees series

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Next Highest Published Industry

331511 31-331511 Iron foundries Ferrous metal foundries (31-331510)

333111 31-333111 Farm machinery and 

equipment Agricultural implements (31-333110)

334111 31-334111 Electronic computers Computer and peripheral equipment (31-

334100)

334112,8 31-334118

Computer storage devices, 

terminals, and other 

peripheral equipment

Computer and peripheral equipment (31-

334100)
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33421 31-334210 Telephone apparatus Communications equipment (31-334200)

33611 31-336110 Automobiles and light 

trucks Motor vehicles (31-336100)

336112 31-336112 Light trucks and utility 

vehicles Motor vehicles (31-336100)

32551 32-325510 Paints and coatings Paints, coatings, and adhesives (32-

325500)

48841 43-488410 Motor vehicle towing Support activities for road transportation 

(43-488400)

532282 55-532282 Video tape and disc rental Consumer goods rental (55-532200)

541191 60-541191 Title abstract and settlement 

offices Other legal services (60-541190)

To Table of Figures

Table 12. Collapsed all employees series

Previous New

NAICS 

Code

CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

NAICS 

Code

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

33634 31-336340 Motor vehicle 

brake systems 33634,9 31-336390 All other motor 

vehicle parts 33639 31-336390 All other motor 

vehicle parts

To Table of Figures

Table 13. Discontinued series other than all employees

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Discontinued 

From 

Publication

Next Highest Published 

Industry

2121 10-212100 Coal mining PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Mining, except oil and gas 

(10-212000)

32192 31-321920 Wood containers and 

pallets

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Other wood products (31-

321900)

32199 31-321990 All other wood products PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Other wood products (31-

321900)

332321 31-332321 Metal windows and doors WE Ornamental and architectural 

metal products (31-332320)

332323 31-332323 Ornamental and 

architectural metal work WE Ornamental and architectural metal products (31-332320)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 23 of 25

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NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Discontinued 

From 

Publication

Next Highest Published 

Industry

333111 31-333111 Farm machinery and 

equipment

AE AWH, AE 

AHE, PE, PE 

AWH, PE 

AHE, WE, AE 

AWOH, PE 

AWOH

Agricultural, construction, 

and mining machinery (31-

333100)

3341 31-334100 Computer and peripheral 

equipment

AE AWH, AE 

AHE, WE

Computer and electronic 

products (31-334000)

33422 31-334220

Broadcast and wireless 

communications 

equipment

WE Communications equipment 

(31-334200)

334413 31-334413 Semiconductors and 

related devices

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE, AE 

AWOH

Semiconductors and 

electronic components (31-

334400)

33637 31-336370 Motor vehicle metal 

stamping

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE, PE 

AWOH

Motor vehicle parts (31-

336300)

33639 31-336390 All other motor vehicle 

parts

AE AWH, AE 

AHE, PE, PE 

AWH, PE 

AHE, WE, AE 

AWOH, PE 

AWOH

Motor vehicle parts (31-

336300)

3132 32-313200 Fabric mills

AE AWH, AE 

AHE, AE 

AWOH

Textile mills (32-313000)

3252 32-325200 Resin, rubber, and 

artificial fibers

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE, AE 

AWOH, PE 

AWOH

Chemicals (32-325000)

44815 42-448150 Clothing accessories 

stores

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE Clothing stores (42-488100)

486 43-486000 Pipeline transportation PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Transportation and 

warehousing (43-000000)

48841 43-488410 Motor vehicle towing AE AWH, AE 

AHE, WE

Support activities for road 

transportation (43-488400)

541191 60-541191 Title abstract and 

settlement offices

AE AWH, AE 

AHE, PE, PE 

AWH, PE 

AHE, WE

Other legal services (60-

541190)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 24 of 25

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NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Discontinued 

From 

Publication

Next Highest Published 

Industry

541713 60-541713

Research and 

development in 

nanotechnology 

AE AWH, AE 

AHE, WE

Research and development 

in the physical, engineering, 

and life sciences (60-

541710)

541714 60-541714

Research and 

development in 

biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology

AE AWH, AE 

AHE, WE

Research and development 

in the physical, engineering, 

and life sciences (60-

541710)

621111 60-621111 Offices of physicians, 

except mental health

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Offices of physicians (65-

621100)

621112 60-621112 Offices of mental health 

physicians

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Offices of physicians (65-

621100)

To Table of Figures

Availability of revised data 

LABSTAT, the BLS public database, contains all historical employment, hours, and earnings 

data revised as a result of this benchmark, including both not seasonally adjusted and seasonally 

adjusted data. The data can be accessed at www.bls.gov/ces/data/home.htm, the CES National 

Database page.

Previously published data are available on both a not seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted 

basis for all CES industries down to the 3-digit level from the CES Vintage Data page. CES

vintage data are typically updated in late February following the annual benchmark revision. 

Benchmarks for detailed industries can be found at www.bls.gov/ces/publications/benchmark/

cesbmart19-tables.htm. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 25 of 25

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Table of figures

Tables

Table 1. Differences in seasonally adjusted levels and over-the-month changes, total nonfarm 

employment, January to December 2019 (in thousands)........................................................ 3

Table 2. Seasonally adjusted employment revisions for major industry sectors, March 2019 (in 

thousands) ............................................................................................................................... 5

Table 3. Not seasonally adjusted employment benchmarks for major industry sectors, March 

2019 (in thousands)................................................................................................................. 6

Table 4. Percent and level differences between nonfarm employment benchmarks and estimates 

by industry supersector, March 2009 to 2019 (in thousands)................................................. 7

Table 5. Directly estimated data types............................................................................................ 9

Table 6. Effect of March 2019 benchmark revisions to all employee average weekly hours and 

average hourly earnings estimates, major industry sectors................................................... 11

Table 7. Effect of March 2019 benchmark revisions to production and nonsupervisory employee 

average weekly hours and average hourly earnings estimates, major industry sectors........ 12

Table 8. Differences between forecasted and actual net birth-death, total private employment, 

April 2018 to March 2019 (in thousands)............................................................................. 14

Table 9. Net birth-death forecasts by industry supersector, April to December 2019 (in 

thousands) ............................................................................................................................. 15

Table 10. Series with CES industry code or title changes............................................................ 21

Table 11. Discontinued all employees series................................................................................ 21

Table 12. Collapsed all employees series..................................................................................... 22

Table 13. Discontinued series other than all employees............................................................... 22

Exhibits

Exhibit 1. Monthly over‐the‐year change for total nonfarm employment from April 2018 to 

March 2019, not seasonally adjusted (in thousands) ............................................................ 13

Exhibit 2. Not seasonally adjusted AE series changes as a result of the two reconstructions in rail 

transportation ........................................................................................................................ 18

Exhibit 3. Not seasonally adjusted AE changes as a result of recoding in financial activities..... 20

Last Modified Date: February 7, 2020

Lawrence Doppelt and Shane Haley, Economists

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Division of Current Employment Statistics – National

PSB Suite 4175, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20212-0001

www.bls.gov/CES |Telephone: 1-202-691-6555 | Email: Contact CES