Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

August 2011

Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 2, 2011
2

120,000

122,000

124,000

126,000

128,000

130,000

132,000

134,000

136,000

138,000

140,000

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

Employment in total nonfarm

August 2011

Level: 131,132

Change: 0

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

13

-83

-72

-185

-233

-178

-231

-267

-434

-509

-802

-619

-820

-726

-796

-660

-386

-502

-300

-231

-236

-221

-55

-130

-39

-35

192

277

458

-192

-49

-59

-29

171

93

152

68

235

194

217

53

20

85

0

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

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

Employment in total nonfarm

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged in August. 

• Monthly job gains have averaged 40,000 per month over the last 4 months, compared to 179,000 

per months during the first 4 months of the year. 

 
3

-17

9

2

34

28

3

-48

0.5

-2.4

-7.8

1.6

-3

-5

5

-60 -40 -20 0 20 40

Government

Other services

Leisure and hospitality

Education and health services

Professional and business services

Financial activities

Information

Utilities

Transportation and warehousing

Retail trade

Wholesale trade

Manufacturing

Construction

Mining and logging

Employment in total nonfarm

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

0

100,000

102,000

104,000

106,000

108,000

110,000

112,000

114,000

116,000

118,000

120,000

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

Employment in total private

August 2011

Level: 109,170

Change: 17

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In August, job gains continued in health care, professional and technical services, and mining. 

Government employment continued to fall even though Minnesota state government employees 

returned from a shutdown in July. A strike in telecommunications more than offset the return of 

those state government workers. 

• Employment in the private sector was little changed (+17,000) over the month. Since reaching a 

recent employment low in February 2010, the private sector has added 2.4 million jobs—an 

average of 133,000 per month. 
4

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

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

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011

Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.2

Change: -0.1

Production employees

Level: 33.5

Change: -0.1

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

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

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–August 2011

August 2011

Level: 93.6

Change: -0.2%

Total private, all employees

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

over the month to 34.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory 

employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down to 33.5 hours in August, after holding at 33.6 

for the prior 6 months. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector declined 0.2 percent 

in August. Since reaching a low point in October 2009, the index has increased by 3.3 percent. 
5

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

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

Over-the-year percent change

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

Total private earnings CPI–U

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

August 2011 Earnings: 1.9

July 2011 CPI-U: 3.6

*1982–84=100

March 2007–August 2011

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

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

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly payrolls 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–August 2011

August 2011

Level: 103

Change: -0.4%

Total private, all employees

• Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector decreased by 3 cents, or 0.1 

percent, to $23.09 in August. This decline followed an 11-cent gain in July. Over the past 12 

months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.9 percent. The Consumer Price Index for 

All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was up 3.6 percent over the year ending in July. 

• The index of aggregate weekly payrolls of all private sector employees fell 0.4 percent over the 

month. Since reaching a low point in June 2009, the index has increased by 6.8 percent. 
6

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

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

Employment in mining and logging

August 2011

Level: 803

Change: 5

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in mining continued to trend up in August (+6,000). Since reaching a trough in 

October 2009, employment in mining has risen by 144,000, with support activities for mining 

accounting for most of the gains. 

 
7

-12

-34

-38

-56

-33

-56

-68

-85

-88

-131

-121

-175

-284

-171

-175

-173

-172

-140

-54

-46

-49

-51

-44

-28

9

-3

9

38

27

12

32

-29

-6-6

15

11

53

37

20

28

7

14

36

-3

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

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

Employment in manufacturing

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

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

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011 Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.3

Change: -0.1

All employees

Level: 40.3

Change: 0.0

• Manufacturing employment changed little following a large gain of 36,000 in July. From January 

through April of this year, job growth in the industry averaged 35,000 per month, but has since 

slowed to an average of 14,000 per month. 

• In August, the factory workweek was 0.1 hour shorter for production and nonsupervisory 

employees, while average weekly hours for all employees remained unchanged. 

 
8

0

-4

-24

-18

3

-1

-15

-37

-15

-42

5

-28

-91

11

-18

-35

-43

-26

28

-9

-4

-1

-12

-2

23

-12

3

6

3

-2

26

-19

-2

1

-1

-3

22

2

3

3

0

5

14

1

-100

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

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

Employment in transportation equipment

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Transportation equipment employment was little changed (+1,000) in August, following an 

increase of 14,000 in July. 

• These changes resulted primarily from the motor vehicles and parts industry. In August, 

employment in motor vehicles and parts edged down by 3,000 after rising by 11,000 in July. The 

industry showed a smaller-than-normal return from July shutdowns in August. Several plants that 

had traditionally shut down for maintenance and retooling were kept open through the month of 

July. The result was a seasonally adjusted job gain in July and a seasonally adjusted job loss in 

August. 

 
9

-1

-3

1

-9

-4

-7

-13

-12

-14

-10

-20

-23-23

-12

-10

-30

-25

-14

-15

-11

-1

-2

-14

-10

-5

-6

-13

-2

-1

-14

55

-10

-4

2

-5

-7

-3

-1

1

0

-2

-3

-48

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

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

Employment in information

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in the information industry declined by 48,000 in August; about 45,000 

telecommunication workers were on strike and thus off company payrolls during the survey 

reference period. 

 
10

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

19,000

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

Employment in professional and business services

August 2011

Level: 17,211

Change: 28

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In August, employment in professional and business services increased by 28,000. Since 

reaching a low in September 2009, the industry has averaged job growth of 36,000 per month. 

 
11

3.1

11.9

13.0

-0.7

6.0

7.7

3.5

-0.8

16.1

-5 0 5 10 15 20

- Services to buildings

- Employment services

Administrative and waste services ̊

Management of companies

- Management and technical consulting

- Computer systems design

- Architectural and engineering

- Accounting and bookkeeping

Professional and technical ̊

Employment in selected professional and business services

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.

Over-the-month change, August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

28

1,700

1,800

1,900

2,000

2,100

2,200

2,300

2,400

2,500

2,600

2,700

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

Employment in temporary help services

August 2011

Level: 2,240

Change: 5

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In August, employment in professional and technical services continued to trend up (+16,000). 

Computer systems design accounted for half of this increase. 

• Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month. The industry had been a 

primary driver of job growth in administrative services after the 2007-2009 recession, but 

employment in the industry has changed little since March. 

 
12

3.9

7.7

6.3

1.4

5.6

18.1

0 5 10 15 20

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals

- Home health care services

- Outpatient care centers

- Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services ̊

Employment in selected health care industries

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown seperately.

Over-the-month change, August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

30

• Health care employment rose by 30,000 in August. Ambulatory health care services and hospitals 

added 18,000 and 8,000 jobs, respectively. Over the past 12 months, health care employment has 

grown by 306,000. 

 
13

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

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

Employment in government

August 2011

Level: 21,962

Change: -17

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-6.3

-13.7

5.8

-1.4

-4.7

3.1

-18 -13 -8 -3 2 7

Local government, excluding education

Local government education

State government, excluding education

State government education

U.S. Postal Service

Federal, except U.S. Postal Service

Employment in selected government

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 02, 2011.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, August 2011

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-17

• Government employment continued to trend down over the month (-17,000). 

• Employment in state government was little changed (+5,000) in August, despite the return of 

about 22,000 Minnesota government workers from a partial government shutdown in July. 

• Employment in local government continued to decline. Since employment peaked in September 

2008, local government has lost 550,000 jobs.