U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 1 of 48

Back to Top

CES National Benchmark Article 

BLS Establishment Survey National Estimates Revised to 

Incorporate March 2017 Benchmarks 

Authors: Caila Pinkleton and Frances Tirado

About the authors: 

Caila Pinkleton is an economist and Frances Tirado is a statistician 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 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 2 of 48

Back to Top

Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 3

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

Revisions in the post-benchmark period....................................................................................... 13

Changes to the CES published series............................................................................................ 15

Series changes due to annual sample review............................................................................ 15

AE exhibits............................................................................................................................ 17

Non-AE exhibits................................................................................................................... 18

Conversion to the 2017 North American Industry Classification System ................................ 20

AE exhibits............................................................................................................................ 21

Non-AE exhibits................................................................................................................... 28

Reconstructions............................................................................................................................. 32

Pre-1990 reconstructed series.................................................................................................. 32

Insurance agencies, brokerages, and related services reconstructed, January 1985 to 

December 1989 ..................................................................................................................... 32

Offices of physicians, January 1972 to December 1989....................................................... 33

Reconstructions due to errors in CES estimates....................................................................... 33

Security guards and patrols and armored car services, October 2016 to December 2017.... 33

Non-AE data types for 5 smaller series, November 2012 to May 2017 ............................... 35

Seasonally adjusted data for women employees due to strike adjustment processing error 36

Why benchmarks differ from estimates........................................................................................ 38

Benchmark revision effects for other data types........................................................................... 39

Methods......................................................................................................................................... 44

Benchmark sources and procedures......................................................................................... 44

Birth/Death ............................................................................................................................... 44

Seasonal adjustment ................................................................................................................. 45

Availability of revised data........................................................................................................... 46

Table of figures............................................................................................................................. 47

Tables.................................................................................................................................... 47

Exhibits................................................................................................................................. 47
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 3 of 48

Back to Top

Introduction 

With the release of January 2018 data on February 2, 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 

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

Current Employment Statistics (CES) monthly survey of nonfarm establishments. Each year, the 

CES survey realigns its sample-based estimates to incorporate universe counts of employment—

a process known as benchmarking. Comprehensive counts of employment, or benchmarks, are 

derived primarily from unemployment insurance (UI) tax reports that nearly all employers are 

required to file with State Workforce Agencies. 

Additionally, with the release of January 2018 data on February 2, 2018, the CES program 

updated the national nonfarm payroll series to the 2017 North American Industry Classification 

System (NAICS) from the NAICS 2012 basis.

Summary of the benchmark revisions 

The March 2017 benchmark level for total nonfarm employment is 145,078,000.

Compared with the sample-based, published estimate for March 2017, total nonfarm 

employment had an upward revision of 138,000, or 0.1 percent.

With the implementation of the March 2017 benchmark, historical data have been reconstructed 

back to October 2016 for CES series 60-561613, security guards and patrols and armored car 

services. As a result of this reconstruction, the March 2017 employment level for total nonfarm 

has also been revised upwards by 3,000. More information on this historical reconstruction is 

available in the Reconstructions section below. 

After accounting for the effect of this reconstruction, total nonfarm employment for March 2017 

had an upward revision of 135,000, or 0.1 percent. The tables in this article reflect this process.

Table 1 below shows the recent history of 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. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 4 of 48

Back to Top

Table 1. Percent and level differences between nonfarm employment benchmarks and estimates by industry supersector, March 2007-

2017 (in thousands)(1)

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Type 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011(2) 2012 2013(3) 2014 2015(4) 2016 2017(5)

00-000000 Total nonfarm Percent -0.2 -0.1 -0.7 -0.3 0.1 0.3 -0.1 (6) -0.1 -0.1 0.1

Level -293 -89 -902 -378 162 424 -119 67 -172 -81 135

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

Level -241 -137 -933 -391 134 481 -126 105 -232 -151 133

10-000000 Mining and logging Percent 0.0 0.4 -3.5 -3.0 -0.4 1.6 -1.2 -1.8 -2.2 -3.2 -4.6

Level 0 3 -25 -20 -3 13 -10 -16 -19 -22 -30

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

Level 6 49 -171 -67 -26 93 14 90 39 47 52

30-000000 Manufacturing Percent -1.0 -0.1 -0.7 -1.0 0.1 -0.2 0.2 0.4 -0.1 0.5 0.1

Level -137 -17 -84 -119 9 -25 23 43 -12 58 15

40-000000 Trade, transportation, 

and utilities

Percent 0.5 0.2 -1.2 -0.6 0.4 0.6 -0.5 -0.1 (6) -0.4 0.3

Level 140 65 -300 -143 95 145 -131 -31 -5 -110 75

41-420000(7) Wholesale trade Percent 0.4 -0.7 -1.2 -2.3 -0.2 0.8 -0.4 -0.8 -0.7 -1.1 -0.4

Level 21.5 -43.1 -68.0 -124.5 -13.1 45.3 -20.2 -45.4 -41.3 -66.6 -21.2

42-000000(7) Retail trade Percent 0.7 0.6 -1.6 -0.1 0.6 0.5 -0.8 (6) -0.2 -0.8 0.1

Level 107.5 92.8 -235.6 -18.4 83.8 78.9 -110.3 5.5 -23.5 -118.2 15.4

43-000000(7) Transportation and 

warehousing

Percent 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.1 0.2 1.4 1.7 1.6

Level 11.5 15.0 9.9 3.1 22.4 29.4 3.6 9.7 65.3 83.5 79.8

44-220000(7) Utilities Percent (6) (6) -1.2 -0.6 0.5 -1.5 -0.8 -0.1 -0.8 -1.6 0.2

Level -0.2 -0.2 -6.8 -3.4 2.8 -8.5 -4.6 -0.6 -4.7 -8.7 1

50-000000 Information Percent -1.8 0.3 -1.5 -0.4 -0.4 1.8 -0.2 2.4 -1.6 -0.1 2.5

Level -54 8 -42 -11 -12 47 -5 66 -44 -2 70

55-000000 Financial activities Percent -1.3 -0.3 -0.1 0.4 0.9 0.6 -0.1 0.2 -0.1 (6) 0.1

Level -111 -23 -4 34 69 45 -10 19 -9 -4 7

60-000000 Professional and 

business services

Percent 0.2 -0.4 -0.8 (6) 0.7 (6) (6) -0.8 -0.6 -0.6 -1.3

Level 44 -63 -137 -3 125 2 4 -147 -110 -125 -270

65-000000 Education and health 

services 

Percent -0.2 -0.1 -0.3 (6) -0.5 (6) -0.3 -0.1 (6) -0.4 0.3

Level -39 -17 -56 7 -108 -2 -61 -16 -7 -83 70

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

Level -108 -151 -72 -80 93 104 72 38 -45 102 126
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 5 of 48

Back to Top

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Type 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011(2) 2012 2013(3) 2014 2015(4) 2016 2017(5)

80-000000 Other services Percent 0.3 0.2 -0.8 0.2 -2.0 1.1 -0.4 1.1 -0.4 -0.2 0.3

Level 18 9 -42 11 -108 59 -22 59 -20 -12 18

90-000000 Government Percent -0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 -0.3 (6) -0.2 0.3 0.3 (6)

Level -52 48 31 13 28 -57 7 -38 60 70 2

Footnotes

(1) The differences listed in this table reflect the error due to normal benchmarking procedures. Typically this error is equal to the March benchmarked level minus the published 

March estimated level. However in some years, other factors beyond normal benchmarking procedures influence the difference between the benchmarked and published March 

estimate levels. Those years are footnoted.

(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 of the 2011 Benchmark Article. (3) The percent and level differences in this column reflect reconstructions to series within CES supersectors financial activities and education and healthcare services. 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 of the 2013 CES Benchmark Article. (4) With the 2015 benchmark, CES reconstructed the national employment series 65-624120, services for the elderly and persons with disabilities back to January 2000. CES 

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 about this reconstruction, see the Reconstruction section of the 2015 Benchmark 

Article. (5) With the 2017 benchmark, CES 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 Benchmark Article.

(6) Absolute revision is less than 0.05 percent. 

(7) Indented series are part of trade, transportation, and utilities.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 6 of 48

Back to Top

Table 2 shows the nonfarm employment benchmarks for March 2017, not seasonally adjusted, 

by industry. The revision to the reconstructed total nonfarm employment is 135,000. 

Nine supersectors saw upward revisions. The largest upward revision occurred in leisure and 

hospitality by an amount of 126,000, or 0.8 percent; within this supersector, the largest revision 

was in accommodation and food services (72,800, or 0.5 percent). The next largest upward 

revision occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities, by an amount of 75,000, or 0.3 percent; 

within this supersector, the largest revision was in transportation and warehousing (79,800, or 

1.6 percent). The next largest upward revision occurred in education and health services by an 

amount of 70,000, or 0.3 percent; within this supersector, the largest revision was in social 

assistance (62,000, or 1.6 percent). The next largest upward revision occurred in information by 

an amount of 70,000, or 2.5 percent; within this supersector, the largest revision was in motion 

picture and sound recording industries (20,900, or 4.9 percent). The next largest upward revision 

occurred in construction by an amount of 52,000, or 0.8 percent; within this supersector, the 

largest revision occurred in nonresidential building (24,300, or 3.2 percent). The four 

supersectors with the smallest upward revisions occurred in: other services (18,000, or 0.3 

percent), manufacturing (15,000, or 0.1 percent), financial activities (7,000, or 0.1 percent), and 

government (2,000, or less than 0.05 percent).

The remaining two supersectors had negative revisions. The largest downward revision occurred 

in professional and business services, –270,000, or –1.3 percent; within this supersector, the 

largest downward revision was in professional and technical services (–147,100, or –1.6 

percent). Mining and logging was revised downward by an amount of –30,000, or –4.6 percent;

within this supersector, the largest downward revision was in oil and gas extraction (–32,900, or 

–22.9 percent). 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 7 of 48

Back to Top

Table 2. Nonfarm employment benchmarks for industries released with first 

preliminary estimates, March 2017 (in thousands) (1)

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(2)

Differences

Amount Percent(3)

00-000000 Total nonfarm 145,078 144,943 135 0.1

05-000000 Total private 122,385 122,252 133 .1

06-000000 Goods-producing 19,624 19,587 37 .2

07-000000 Service-providing 125,454 125,356 98 .1

08-000000 Private service-providing 102,761 102,665 96 .1

10-000000 Mining and logging 650 680 -30 -4.6

10-113300 Logging 48.0 48.6 -.6 -1.3

10-210000 Mining 601.7 631.4 -29.7 -4.9

10-211000 Oil and gas extraction 143.9 176.8 -32.9 -22.9

10-212000 Mining, except oil and gas 179.2 179.8 -.6 -.3

10-212100 Coal mining 51.0 50.1 .9 1.8

10-212200 Metal ore mining 38.8 39.1 -.3 -.8

10-212300 Nonmetallic mineral mining and 

quarrying 89.4 90.6 -1.2 -1.3

10-213000 Support activities for mining 278.6 274.8 3.8 1.4

20-000000 Construction 6,634 6,582 52 .8

20-236000 Construction of buildings 1,487.3 1,478.4 8.9 .6

20-236100 Residential building 723.3 738.7 -15.4 -2.1

20-236200 Nonresidential building 764.0 739.7 24.3 3.2

20-237000 Heavy and civil engineering 

construction 912.2 888.6 23.6 2.6

20-238000 Specialty trade contractors 4,234.5 4,215.0 19.5 .5

20-238001 Residential specialty trade 

contractors 1,850.3 1,842.4 7.9 .4

20-238002 Nonresidential specialty trade 

contractors 2,384.2 2,372.6 11.6 .5

30-000000 Manufacturing 12,340 12,325 15 .1

31-000000 Durable goods 7,687 7,706 -19 -.2

31-321000 Wood products 393.5 392.0 1.5 .4

31-327000 Nonmetallic mineral products 403.0 407.5 -4.5 -1.1

31-331000 Primary metals 368.0 379.0 -11.0 -3

31-332000 Fabricated metal products 1,414.5 1,425.6 -11.1 -.8

31-333000 Machinery 1,067.5 1,079.8 -12.3 -1.2

31-334000 Computer and electronic products 1,035.9 1,034.8 1.1 .1

31-334100 Computer and peripheral 

equipment 156.2 160.5 -4.3 -2.8

31-334200 Communications equipment 86.5 84.5 2.0 2.3

31-334400 Semiconductors and electronic 

components 360.7 359.9 .8 .2

31-334500 Electronic instruments 398.5 396.3 2.2 .6

31-334600 Miscellaneous computer and 

electronic products 34.0 33.6 .4 1.2

31-335000 Electrical equipment and 

appliances 383.8 385.7 -1.9 -.5
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 8 of 48

Back to Top

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(2)

Differences

Amount Percent(3)

31-336000 Transportation equipment 1,637.2 1,620.2 17.0 1

31-336001 Motor vehicles and parts 959.8 946.5 13.3 1.4

31-337000 Furniture and related products 393.2 391.1 2.1 .5

31-339000 Miscellaneous durable goods 

manufacturing 590.4 590.4 .0 .0

32-000000 Nondurable goods 4653 4619 34 .7

32-311000 Food manufacturing 1,567.8 1,560.3 7.5 .5

32-313000 Textile mills 112.8 110.8 2.0 1.8

32-314000 Textile product mills 115.5 111.7 3.8 3.3

32-315000 Apparel 122.6 124.0 -1.4 -1.1

32-322000 Paper and paper products 368.6 368.7 -.1 .0

32-323000 Printing and related support 

activities 442.1 439.2 2.9 .7

32-324000 Petroleum and coal products 111.1 108.3 2.8 2.5

32-325000 Chemicals 819.1 816.6 2.5 .3

32-326000 Plastics and rubber products 713.1 701.7 11.4 1.6

32-329000 Miscellaneous nondurable goods 

manufacturing 280.6 278.0 2.6 .9

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 27,104 27,029 75 .3

41-420000 Wholesale trade 5,854.8 5,876.0 -21.2 -.4

41-423000 Durable goods 2,940.4 2,931.7 8.7 .3

41-424000 Nondurable goods 2,030.6 2,044.7 -14.1 -.7

41-425000 Electronic markets and agents and 

brokers 883.8 899.6 -15.8 -1.8

42-000000 Retail trade 15,628.7 15,613.3 15.4 .1

42-441000 Motor vehicle and parts dealers 1,992.1 1,999.1 -7.0 -.4

42-441100 Automobile dealers 1,289 1,297.4 -8.4 -.7

42-441200 Other motor vehicle dealers 150.2 149.9 .3 .2

42-441300 Auto parts, accessories, and tire 

stores 552.9 551.8 1.1 .2

42-442000 Furniture and home furnishings 

stores 471.2 479.5 -8.3 -1.8

42-443000 Electronics and appliance stores 508.1 508.6 -.5 -.1

42-444000 Building material and garden 

supply stores 1,269.2 1,285.5 -16.3 -1.3

42-445000 Food and beverage stores 3,065.6 3,061.4 4.2 .1

42-446000 Health and personal care stores 1,065.2 1,054.1 11.1 1

42-447000 Gasoline stations 920.1 928.2 -8.1 -.9

42-448000 Clothing and clothing accessories 

stores 1,339.5 1,298.4 41.1 3.1

42-451000 Sporting goods, hobby, book, and 

music stores 582.1 583.2 -1.1 -.2

42-452000 General merchandise stores 3,053.4 3,058.2 -4.8 -.2

42-452200 Department stores 1,136.7 1,226.8 -90.1 -7.9

42-452300

General merchandise stores, 

including warehouse clubs and 

supercenters

1,916.7 1,831.4 85.3 4.5
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 9 of 48

Back to Top

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(2)

Differences

Amount Percent(3)

42-453000 Miscellaneous store retailers 807.1 809.8 -2.7 -.3

42-454000 Nonstore retailers 555.1 547.3 7.8 1.4

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 5,065.6 4,985.8 79.8 1.6

43-481000 Air transportation 486.7 481.6 5.1 1

43-482000 Rail transportation 217.5 209.7 7.8 3.6

43-483000 Water transportation 62.7 62.6 .1 .2

43-484000 Truck transportation 1,429.4 1,448.8 -19.4 -1.4

43-485000 Transit and ground passenger 

transportation 502.1 484.5 17.6 3.5

43-486000 Pipeline transportation 49.5 48.6 .9 1.8

43-487000 Scenic and sightseeing 

transportation 27.0 27.5 -.5 -1.9

43-488000 Support activities for 

transportation 682.2 659.2 23.0 3.4

43-492000 Couriers and messengers 636.3 627 9.3 1.5

43-493000 Warehousing and storage 972.2 936.3 35.9 3.7

44-220000 Utilities 554.5 553.5 1 .2

50-000000 Information 2803 2,733 70 2.5

50-511000 Publishing industries, except 

Internet 726.5 725.2 1.3 .2

50-512000 Motion picture and sound 

recording industries 425.9 405.0 20.9 4.9

50-515000 Broadcasting, except Internet 270.8 266.5 4.3 1.6

50-517000 Telecommunications 789.8 769.3 20.5 2.6

50-518000 Data processing, hosting and 

related services 312.6 299.0 13.6 4.4

50-519000 Other information services 277.0 267.5 9.5 3.4

55-000000 Financial activities 8,363 8,356 7 .1

55-520000 Finance and insurance 6,225.6 6,206.8 18.8 .3

55-521000 Monetary authorities - central 

bank 19.1 18.8 .3 1.6

55-522000 Credit intermediation and related 

activities 2,636.2 2,644.0 -7.8 -.3

55-522100 Depository credit intermediation 1,711.3 1,714.2 -2.9 -.2

55-522110 Commercial banking 1,323.2 1,315.2 8.0 .6

55-522200 Nondepository credit 

intermediation 618.2 621.1 -2.9 -.5

55-522300 Activities related to credit 

intermediation 306.7 308.7 -2.0 -.7

55-523000 Securities, commodity contracts, 

investments, and funds and trusts 927.8 932.1 -4.3 -.5

55-524000 Insurance carriers and related 

activities 2,642.5 2,611.9 30.6 1.2

55-530000 Real estate and rental and leasing 2,136.9 2,149.2 -12.3 -.6

55-531000 Real estate 1,568.8 1,577.3 -8.5 -.5

55-532000 Rental and leasing services 544.2 548.9 -4.7 -.9

55-533000 Lessors of nonfinancial intangible 

assets 23.9 23.0 .9 3.8
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 10 of 48

Back to Top

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(2)

Differences

Amount Percent(3)

60-000000 Professional and business services 20,070 20,340 -270 -1.3

60-540000 Professional and technical services 8,972.8 9,119.9 -147.1 -1.6

60-541100 Legal services 1,126.8 1,118.7 8.1 .7

60-541200 Accounting and bookkeeping 

services 1,089.0 1,105.3 -16.3 -1.5

60-541300 Architectural and engineering 

services 1,406.3 1,429.0 -22.7 -1.6

60-541400 Specialized design services 138.1 141.3 -3.2 -2.3

60-541500 Computer systems design and 

related services 2,012.0 2,027.6 -15.6 -.8

60-541600 Management and technical 

consulting services 1,367.0 1,410.9 -43.9 -3.2

60-541700 Scientific research and 

development services 651.5 696.9 -45.4 -7

60-541800 Advertising and related services 490.0 487.0 3.0 .6

60-541900 Other professional and technical 

services 692.1 703.2 -11.1 -1.6

60-550000 Management of companies and 

enterprises 2,276.1 2,260.8 15.3 .7

60-560000 Administrative and waste services 8,820.9 8,959.1 -138.2 -1.6

60-561000 Administrative and support 

services 8,415.7 8,551.4 -135.7 -1.6

60-561100 Office administrative services 501.3 515.7 -14.4 -2.9

60-561200 Facilities support services 147.7 139.5 8.2 5.6

60-561300 Employment services 3,452.4 3,547.7 -95.3 -2.8

60-561320 Temporary help services 2,811.0 2,900.3 -89.3 -3.2

60-561400 Business support services 904.3 912.4 -8.1 -.9

60-561500 Travel arrangement and 

reservation services 217.8 215.2 2.6 1.2

60-561600 Investigation and security services 906.4 908.3 -1.9 -.2

60-561700 Services to buildings and dwellings 1,969.0 1,992.7 -23.7 -1.2

60-561900 Other support services 316.8 319.9 -3.1 -1.0

60-562000 Waste management and 

remediation services 405.2 407.7 -2.5 -.6

65-000000 Education and health services 23,185 23,115 70 .3

65-610000 Educational services 3,819.2 3,788.2 31.0 .8

65-620000 Health care and social assistance 19,365.9 19,326.6 39.3 .2

65-620001 Health care 15,593.1 15,615.8 -22.7 -.1

65-621000 Ambulatory health care services 7,206.6 7,212.9 -6.3 -.1

65-621100 Offices of physicians 2,558.5 2,562.4 -3.9 -.2

65-621200 Offices of dentists 927.0 937.5 -10.5 -1.1

65-621300 Offices of other health 

practitioners 875.4 888.1 -12.7 -1.5

65-621400 Outpatient care centers 886.4 897.0 -10.6 -1.2

65-621500 Medical and diagnostic 

laboratories 267.6 257.9 9.7 3.6

65-621600 Home health care services 1,393.0 1,382.6 10.4 .7
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 11 of 48

Back to Top

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Benchmark Estimate(2)

Differences

Amount Percent(3)

65-621900 Other ambulatory health care 

services 298.7 287.4 11.3 3.8

65-622000 Hospitals 5,059.0 5,090.3 -31.3 -.6

65-623000 Nursing and residential care 

facilities 3,327.5 3,312.6 14.9 .4

65-623100 Nursing care facilities 1,625.8 1,633.8 -8 -.5

65-623200 Residential mental health facilities 625.9 618.1 7.8 1.2

65-623300 Community care facilities for the 

elderly 911.0 897.6 13.4 1.5

65-623900 Other residential care facilities 164.8 163.1 1.7 1.0

65-624000 Social assistance 3,772.8 3,710.8 62 1.6

65-624100 Individual and family services 2,318.3 2,278.9 39.4 1.7

65-624200 Emergency and other relief 

services 168.7 169.0 -.3 -.2

65-624300 Vocational rehabilitation services 338.3 331.8 6.5 1.9

65-624400 Child day care services 947.5 931.1 16.4 1.7

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 15,524 15,398 126 .8

70-710000 Arts, entertainment, and 

recreation 2,120.3 2,067.0 53.3 2.5

70-711000 Performing arts and spectator 

sports 452.0 424.3 27.7 6.1

70-712000 Museums, historical sites, and 

similar institutions 152.6 153.2 -.6 -.4

70-713000 Amusements, gambling, and 

recreation 1,515.7 1,489.5 26.2 1.7

70-720000 Accommodation and food services 13,403.5 13,330.7 72.8 .5

70-721000 Accommodation 1,926.1 1,883.1 43 2.2

70-722000 Food services and drinking places 11,477.4 11,447.6 29.8 .3

80-000000 Other services 5,712 5,694 18 .3

80-811000 Repair and maintenance 1,305.0 1,293.3 11.7 .9

80-812000 Personal and laundry services 1,455.0 1,458.7 -3.7 -.3

80-813000 Membership associations and 

organizations 2,952.2 2,942.3 9.9 .3

90-000000 Government 22,693 22,691 2 .0

90-910000 Federal 2,793.0 2,796.0 -3.0 -.1

90-911000 Federal, except U.S. Postal Service 2,177.9 2,179.9 -2.0 -.1

90-919120 U.S. Postal Service 615.4 615.6 -.2 .0

90-920000 State government 5,318.0 5,250.0 68.0 1.3

90-921611 State government education 2,633.7 2,578.2 55.5 2.1

90-922000 State government, excluding 

education 2,683.9 2,671.9 12.0 .4

90-930000 Local government 14,582.0 14,645.0 -63.0 -.4

90-931611 Local government education 8,252.7 8,300.7 -48.0 -.6

90-932000 Local government, excluding

education 6,328.8 6,344.1 -15.3 -.2
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 12 of 48

Back to Top

Footnotes 

(1) The CES industries in this table contain series that were affected by the NAICS 2017 conversion. For more 

information, see the Conversion to the 2017 North American Industry Classification System section in the 2017 

Benchmark Article.

(2) With the 2017 benchmark, CES reconstructed the national employment series 60-561613, security guards and 

patrols and armored car services back to October 2016 to correct a microdata error. For more information about 

impacted series, see the Reconstructions section in the 2017 Benchmark Article.

(3) Percent revisions of 0.0 indicate the absolute revision is less than 0.05 percent.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 13 of 48

Back to Top

Revisions in the post-benchmark period

From April 2017 to December 2017, also known as the post-benchmark period, estimates were recalculated for each month based 

primarily on new benchmark levels and new net birth/death factors. Net birth/death factors were revised to incorporate information 

from the most recent year of universe employment counts. Table 3 shows the net birth/death values for the supersectors over the postbenchmark period. From April 2017 to December 2017, the net birth/death model cumulatively added 1,112,000, compared with 

972,000 in the previously published April 2017 to December 2017 employment estimates.

Table 3. Net birth/death estimates by industry supersector, April to December 2017 (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 0 1 0 1 0 0 3

20-000000 Construction 35 42 23 13 11 6 17 -8 -16 123

30-000000 Manufacturing 1 7 4 0 3 2 5 3 1 26

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5 28 12 15 21 12 40 13 7 153

41-420000(1) Wholesale trade -5 5 -1 -1 2 -2 7 2 2 9

42-000000(1) Retail trade 7 16 8 13 12 8 23 5 2 94

43-000000(1) Transportation and warehousing 3 7 5 3 7 6 10 6 3 50

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

50-000000 Information 2 5 -1 4 4 -3 8 4 -1 22

55-000000 Financial activities 0 6 1 6 5 -3 20 2 9 46

60-000000 Professional and business services 97 24 -1 48 22 -18 87 6 -22 243

65-000000 Education and health services 28 17 -18 34 20 1 56 8 -5 141

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 86 93 82 80 24 -36 6 -20 6 321

80-000000 Other services 11 9 7 0 4 -2 7 0 -2 34

Total nonfarm birth/death adjustment 264 232 110 200 115 -41 247 8 -23 1,112

Footnote

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

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 14 of 48

Back to Top

Table 4 presents revised total nonfarm employment data on a seasonally adjusted basis for January 2017 through December 2017. The 

revised data for April 2017 forward incorporate the effect of applying the rate of change measured by the sample to the new 

benchmark level, as well as updated net birth/death model adjustments and new seasonal adjustment factors. Revisions to November 

and December also reflect incorporation of additional sample receipts.

Table 4. Differences in seasonally adjusted levels and over-the-month changes, total nonfarm employment, January to 

December 2017 (in thousands)

2017

Levels Over-the-month Changes

As Previously Published As Revised Difference As Previously Published As Revised Difference

January 145,541 145,696 155 216 259 43

February 145,773 145,896 123 232 200 -32

March 145,823 145,969 146 50 73 23

April 146,030 146,144 114 207 175 -32

May 146,175 146,299 124 145 155 10

June 146,385 146,538 153 210 239 29

July 146,523 146,728 205 138 190 52

August 146,731 146,949 218 208 221 13

September 146,769 146,963 194 38 14 -24

October 146,980 147,234 254 211 271 60

November 147,232 147,450 218 252 216 -36

December(p) 147,380 147,610 230 148 160 12

Footnotes

(p) Preliminary

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 15 of 48

Back to Top

Changes to the CES published series

With the release of the January 2018 first preliminary estimates on February 2, 2018, CES 

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 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 

industries. Some small industries no longer have sufficient sample to be estimated and published 

separately and were combined with other similar industries for estimation and publication 

purposes. The following 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.

Some series have new CES industry codes or titles as a result of the series changes (exhibit 1). 

These CES industry code or title changes have been applied to all data types published for the 

designated series. Historical data for these series with new CES industry codes or CES industry 

titles are impacted as noted on the remainder of this page; historical data are available under the 

new CES industry codes or new CES industry titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 16 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 1. Series with CES industry code or title changes 

NAICS 

Code

Previous New

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

337211,2,4 31-337212

Wood office furniture and 

custom architectural 

woodwork and millwork

31-337214

Office furniture and custom 

architectural woodwork and 

millwork

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 2 through exhibit 7 reference the new CES industry codes and titles, not the previous 

CES industry codes and titles, as noted in exhibit 1. 

Only directly estimated data types1 are included in the exhibits: 

• All Employees (AE)

• AE Average Weekly Hours (AE AWH)

• AE Average Hourly Earnings (AE AHE)

• AE Average Weekly Overtime Hours (AE AWOH)

• Production and Nonsupervisory Employees (PE)

• PE Average Weekly Hours (PE AWH)

• PE Average Hourly Earnings (PE AHE)

• PE Average Weekly Overtime Hours (PE AWOH)

• Women Employees (WE)

The directly estimated data types listed except for AE are collectively called non-AE data types. 

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 non-AE tables cover all directly estimated non-AE data types. 

The first three exhibits reference the AE data type and the second three exhibits reference all 

non-AE data types. The three exhibits in each group display the discontinued, collapsed, and new 

series. Discontinued series exhibits (exhibit 2 and exhibit 5) display series for which the data 

types noted are no longer published. Collapsed series exhibits (exhibit 3 and exhibit 6) display 

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. New series exhibits (exhibit 

4 and exhibit 7) display series for which the data types noted are now published. 

1 CES estimates data in two ways: directly and indirectly. Directly estimated data types refer to data types for which 

estimates are calculated directly from the responding sample. Indirectly estimated data types refer to data types for 

which estimates are calculated from other directly estimated data types. Average weekly earnings of all employees 

and indexes of aggregate weekly hours of all employees are examples of indirectly estimated data types. For more 

information on indirectly estimated data types, see the CES Technical Notes. 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 17 of 48

Back to Top

AE exhibits

Exhibit 2. Discontinued AE series 

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Next Highest Published Industry 

Title 

(CES Industry Code) 

321211,2 31-321212 Hardwood and softwood 

veneer and plywood

Plywood and engineered wood products 

(31-321200)

321213,4,9 31-321214 All other plywood and 

engineered wood products

Plywood and engineered wood products 

(31-321200)

3131 32-313100 Fiber, yarn, and thread 

mills Textile mills (32-313000) 

31321 32-313210 Broadwoven fabric mills Fabric mills (32-313200)

3133 32-313300 Textile and fabric finishing 

mills Textile mills (32-313000) 

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 3. Collapsed AE series 

Previous New

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

337211,2 31-337212 

Wood office furniture 

and custom 

architectural woodwork 

and millwork 337211,2,4 31-337214 

Office furniture 

and custom 

architectural 

woodwork and 

337214 31-337214 millwork Office furniture, except 

wood

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 4. New AE series 

There are no new AE series published as a result of annual sample review. 

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 18 of 48

Back to Top

Non-AE exhibits

Exhibit 5. Discontinued non-AE series 

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Discontinued 

From 

Publication

Next Highest Published 

Industry Title

(CES Industry Code)

2372 20-237200 Land subdivision PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Heavy and civil engineering 

construction (20-237000)

2379 20-237900 Other heavy construction PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Heavy and civil engineering 

construction (20-237000)

3152 32-315200 Cut and sew apparel WE Apparel (32-315000)

3151,9 32-315900 All other apparel 

manufacturing WE Apparel (32-315000) 

32612 32-326120 Plastics pipe, fittings, and 

profile shapes WE Plastics products (32-326100)

32613,6 32-326160 

Plastics bottles and 

laminated plastics plate, 

sheet, and shapes

WE Plastics products (32-

326100) 

42332 41-423320 Masonry materials PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Lumber and construction 

supplies (41-423300)

42333,9 41-423390 Roofing, siding, and other 

construction materials

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Lumber and construction 

supplies (41-423300)

42385 41-423850 Service establishment 

equipment WE Machinery and supplies (41-423800)

42386 41-423860 Other transportation 

goods WE Machinery and supplies (41-423800)

42511 41-425110 Business to business 

electronic markets

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Electronic markets and 

agents and brokers (41-

425000)

42512 41-425120 Wholesale trade agents 

and brokers 

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Electronic markets and 

agents and brokers (41-

425000)

45112 42-451120 Hobby, toy, and game 

stores

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Sporting goods and musical 

instrument stores (42-

451100)

486 43-486000 Pipeline transportation AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Transportation and 

warehousing (43-000000)

517911 50-517911 Telecommunications 

resellers

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Other telecommunications 

(50-517900)

52221 55-522210 Credit card issuing AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Nondepository credit 

intermediation (55-522200)

52222 55-522220 Sales financing AE AWH, AE 

AHE

Nondepository credit 

intermediation (55-522200)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 19 of 48

Back to Top

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Discontinued 

From 

Publication

Next Highest Published 

Industry Title

(CES Industry Code)

52232 55-522320 Financial transaction 

processing and clearing

PE, PE AWH, 

PE AHE

Activities related to credit 

intermediation (55-522300)

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 6. Collapsed non-AE series

There are no collapsed non-AE series as a result of annual sample review. To Table of Figures

Exhibit 7. New non-AE series

There are no new non-AE series published as a result of annual sample review.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 20 of 48

Back to Top

Conversion to the 2017 North American Industry Classification System

With the release of January 2018 data on February 2, 2018, the CES program updated the 

national nonfarm payroll series to the 2017 North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS) from the NAICS 2012 basis. This change implements the final decision from the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB) on recommendations by its Economic Classification Policy 

Committee (ECPC) in the Federal Register, Volume 81, Number 152. For more information 

about the NAICS 2017 updates, see the OMB’s decision and directive on the NAICS 2017 

update, see Federal Register, Volume 80, Number 149. For more information about NAICS 2012 

and NAICS 2017 classifications, see the Census Bureau's NAICS page. For more information 

about other Federal Register notices involving NAICS, see the Census Bureau’s Federal Register 

Notices page. 

This conversion resulted in minor revisions reflecting content and coding changes within the 

retail trade, information, financial activities, and professional and business services major 

industry sectors, as well as a number of consolidations within the durable goods manufacturing, 

retail trade, and information major industry sectors. Several industry titles and descriptions were 

updated. Approximately 4 percent of CES employment was reclassified into different industries 

as a result of the revision. For more information about NAICS codes and CES industry codes, as 

well as previous NAICS conversions, see the CES NAICS page.

Some of the changes associated with the NAICS 2017 update impacted levels of detail not 

published by CES; therefore, only cases where CES industries are impacted are discussed in 

detail here. 

Only the following directly estimated data types are noted in the exhibits: 

• All Employees (AE) 

• AE Average Weekly Hours (AE AWH) 

• AE Average Hourly Earnings (AE AHE) 

• Production and Nonsupervisory Employees (PE) 

• PE Average Weekly Hours (PE AWH) 

• PE Average Hourly Earnings (PE AHE) 

• Women Employees (WE) 

The directly estimated data types listed except for AE are collectively called non-AE data types. 

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 non-AE tables cover all directly estimated non-AE data types. 

The conversion from NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017 can affect CES industry codes in several 

ways. Some CES series were converted as a whole from their NAICS 2012 industry code to their 

new NAICS 2017 industry code. Some CES series were combined with other series because their 

underlying NAICS codes were combined. Other CES series were split into more detailed CES 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 21 of 48

Back to Top

series because their NAICS codes were changed to accommodate new distinct industries. Finally, 

some CES series are no longer published at the same level of detail under NAICS 2017. 

Where reconstructions were necessary, ratios of employment moving from old CES industries 

based on NAICS 2012 to new CES industries based on NAICS 2017 were calculated for March 

2017 and applied to historical CES data. These ratios were calculated by assigning both a NAICS 

2012-based CES industry and a NAICS 2017-based CES industry to individual report-level data 

from the longitudinal database (LDB) from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 

(QCEW) which is used as the CES sample frame. The March 2017 LDB employment was 

summed by old CES industry based on NAICS 2012 and by new CES industry based on NAICS 

2017. Forward ratios were created by dividing the amount of each old NAICS 2012-based CES 

industry moving to a new NAICS 2017-based CES industry by its total for the old CES industry 

(see exhibit 11 for AE ratios and exhibit 16 for non-AE ratios). Reverse ratios were created by 

dividing the amount of each old NAICS 2012-based CES industry moving to a new NAICS 

2017-based CES industry by its total for the new CES industry (see exhibit 12 for AE reverse 

ratios and exhibit 17 for non-AE reverse ratios). 

Forward ratios were held constant and applied to each monthly CES employment estimate for the 

entire history of the series, usually back to 1990, to determine the amount of employment 

moving from a NAICS 2012-based CES industry to a NAICS 2017-based CES industry. Average 

weekly hours and average hourly earnings were recalculated by applying forward 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 were averaged using the new 

employment levels. More information about the calculation of CES estimates for employment, 

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

Methods.

AE exhibits

Exhibit 8 shows AE series that were partially or completely combined with other series. 

For example, the CES industry department stores, except discount (42-452111) was combined 

with a portion of discount department stores (42-452112) to create the new CES industry 

department stores (42-452200). This is because the associated NAICS 2012 industry code 

452111 became NAICS 2017 industry code 452210, and part of NAICS 2012 industry code 

452112 became NAICS 2017 industry code 452210. The remainder of NAICS 2012 industry 

code 452112 became NAICS 2017 industry code 452311, along with all of NAICS 2012 industry 

code 452910.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 22 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 8. New AE series as a result of reclassification of NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017

NAICS 2012

Reclassification

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

452111 42-452111 Department stores, 

except discount

Combined into new NAICS 2017 department stores 

(42-452200)

452112 42-452112 Discount 

department stores

New NAICS 2017 department stores (42-452200) 

combined all of department stores, except discount (42-

452111) and a portion of discount department stores 

(42-452112)

452112 42-452112 Discount 

department stores

New NAICS 2017 warehouse clubs and supercenters 

(42-452311) combined a portion of discount 

department stores (42-452112) and all of warehouse 

clubs and supercenters (42-452910)

45291 42-452910 Warehouse clubs 

and supercenters

Combined into new NAICS 2017 warehouse clubs and 

supercenters (42-452311)

45299 42-452990

All other general 

merchandise 

stores

Moved into new NAICS 2017 all other general 

merchandise stores (42-452319)

454112 42-454112

Electronic 

shopping and 

electronic auctions

Combined into new NAICS 2017 electronic shopping 

and mail-order houses (42-454100)

454113 42-454113 Mail-order houses Combined into new NAICS 2017 electronic shopping 

and mail-order houses (42-454100)

5171 50-517100

Wired

telecommunicatio

ns carriers

Moved into new NAICS 2017 wired 

telecommunications carriers (50-517311)

5172 50-517200

Wireless 

telecommunicatio

ns carriers (except 

satellite)

Moved into new NAICS 2017 wireless 

telecommunications carriers, except satellite (50-

517312)

53223 55-532230 Video tape and 

disc rental

Combined into new NAICS 2017 consumer goods 

rental (55-532200)

53223 55-532230 Video tape and 

disc rental

Moved into new NAICS 2017 video tape and disc 

rental (55-532282)

53229 55-532290

Miscellaneous

consumer goods 

rental

Combined into new NAICS 2017 consumer goods 

rental (55-532200)

532291 55-532291 Home health 

equipment rental

Moved into new NAICS 2017 home health equipment 

rental (55-532283)

541711 60-541711 Biotechnology 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in 

biotechnology, except nanobiotechnology (60-541714) 

is a portion of biotechnology research (60-541711)

541711 60-541711 Biotechnology 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in 

nanotechnology (60-541713) combined a portion of 

biotechnology research (60-541711) and a portion of 

physical, engineering, and life sciences research (60-

541712)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 23 of 48

Back to Top

NAICS 2012

Reclassification

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

541712 60-541712

Physical, 

engineering, and 

life sciences 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in 

nanotechnology (60-541713) combined a portion of 

biotechnology research (60-541711) and a portion of 

physical, engineering, and life sciences research (60-

541712)

541712 60-541712

Physical, 

engineering, and 

life sciences 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in the 

physical, engineering, and life sciences, except 

nanotechnology and biotechnology (60-541715) is a 

portion of physical, engineering, and life sciences 

research (60-541712)

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 9 shows AE series that had changes in scope due to the conversion from NAICS 2012 to 

NAICS 2017. These new CES industries combined series that were previously published 

separately or as part of another series. 

For example, the new CES industry research and development in nanotechnology (60-541713) 

combined a portion of the old CES industry biotechnology research (60-541711) and a portion of 

the old CES industry physical, engineering, and life sciences research (60-541712). The 

remaining part of the old NAICS 2012-based CES industry biotechnology research (60-541711) 

became the new NAICS 2017-based CES industry research and development in biotechnology, 

except nanobiotechnology (60-541714). The remaining part of the old NAICS 2012-based CES 

industry physical, engineering, and life sciences research (60-541712) became the new NAICS 

2017-based CES industry research and development in the physical, engineering, and life 

sciences, except nanotechnology and biotechnology (60-541715).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 24 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 9. Change in scope of AE series as a result of NAICS 2017

NAICS 2017

Reclassification

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

4522 42-452200 Department stores

The new NAICS 2017 series department stores 

(42-452200) combined all of department stores, 

except discount (42-452111) and a portion of 

discount department stores (42-452112)

452311 42-452311 Warehouse clubs and 

supercenters

The new NAICS 2017 series warehouse clubs and 

supercenters (42-452311) combined a portion of 

department stores, except discount (42-452111) 

and all of warehouse clubs and supercenters (42-

452910)

4541 42-454100 Electronic shopping 

and mail-order houses

The new NAICS 2017 series electronic shopping 

and mail-order houses (42-454100) combined 

electronic shopping and electronic auctions (42-

454112) and mail-order houses (42-454113)

5322 55-532200 Consumer goods 

rental

The new NAICS 2017 series consumer goods 

rental (55-532200) combined video tape and disc 

rental (55-532230) and miscellaneous consumer 

goods rental (55-532290)

541713 60-541713

Research and 

development in 

nanotechnology

A portion of biotechnology research (60-541711) 

moved to into new NAICS 2017 research and 

development in nanotechnology (60-541713). 

The rest was reclassified into biotechnology, 

except nanobiotechnology (60-541714).

541713 60-541713

Research and 

development in 

nanotechnology

The new NAICS 2017 series research and 

development in nanotechnology (60-541713) is a 

portion of biotechnology research (60-541711) 

and a portion of physical, engineering, and life 

sciences research (60-541712)

541714 60-541714

Research and 

development in 

biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology

The new NAICS 2017 series research and 

development in biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology (60-541714) is a portion of 

biotechnology research (60-541711)

541715 60-541715

Research and 

development in the 

physical, engineering, 

and life sciences, 

except 

nanotechnology and 

biotechnology

The new NAICS 2017 series research and 

development in the physical, engineering, and life 

sciences, except nanotechnology and 

biotechnology (60-541715) is a portion of 

physical, engineering, and life sciences research 

(60-541712)

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 25 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 10 shows AE series that are no longer published under NAICS 2017. 

For example, NAICS 2017 combines electronic shopping and electronic auctions (NAICS 

454112) and mail-order houses (NAICS 454113) into electronic shopping and mail-order houses 

(NAICS 454110). The two CES industries associated with the NAICS 2012 industries are 42-

454112 and 42-454113. These series were discontinued and the higher-level CES series 

electronic shopping and mail-order houses (42-454100) is the next highest published level.

Exhibit 10. Discontinued NAICS 2012 AE series

NAICS 2012

Next Highest Published Level

(CES Industry Code)

NAICS 

Code

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

452111 42-452111 Department stores, except 

discount Department stores (42-452200)

45291 42-452910 Warehouse clubs and 

supercenters

Warehouse clubs and supercenters 

(42-452311)

454112 42-454112 Electronic shopping and 

electronic auctions

Electronic shopping and mail-order 

houses (42-454100)

454113 42-454113 Mail-order houses Electronic shopping and mail-order 

houses (42-454100)

53223 55-532230 Video tape and disc rental Consumer goods rental (55-532200)

53229 55-532290 Miscellaneous consumer goods 

rental Consumer goods rental (55-532200)

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 11 shows the proportion of AE employment that moved from an old NAICS 2012-based 

CES industry code to a new NAICS 2017-based CES industry code. 

Industries that moved completely from a NAICS 2012-based CES industry to a NAICS 2017-

based CES industry have a ratio of 100. NAICS 2012-based CES industries that moved only a 

portion of their employment from the old NAICS 2012-based CES industry to a new NAICS 

2017-based CES industry have ratios of less than 100. Old NAICS 2012-based CES industry 

codes with ratios of less than 100 are listed multiple times to account for the movement of all of 

their employment. 

For example, 98.3 percent of discount department stores (42-452112) was moved into the new 

NAICS 2017-based CES industry department stores (42-452200). The remaining 1.7 percent was 

moved into the new CES industry warehouse clubs and supercenters (42-452311).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 26 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 11. NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017 AE employment ratios

NAICS 2012 NAICS 2017

Ratio

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

42-452111 Department stores, except 

discount 42-452200 Department stores 100

42-452112 Discount department stores 42-452200 Department stores 98.3

42-452112 Discount department stores 42-452311 Warehouse clubs and 

supercenters 1.7

42-452910 Warehouse clubs and 

supercenters 42-452311 Warehouse clubs and supercenters 100

42-452990 All other general merchandise 

stores 42-452319 All other general merchandise stores 100

42-454112 Electronic shopping and 

electronic auctions 42-454100 Electronic shopping and mailorder houses 100

42-454113 Mail-order houses 42-454100 Electronic shopping and mailorder houses 100

50-517100 Wired telecommunications 

carriers 50-517311 Wired telecommunications carriers 100

50-517200 Wireless telecommunications 

carriers (except satellite) 50-517312 Wireless telecommunications carriers, except satellite 100

55-532230 Video tape and disc rental 55-532200 Consumer goods rental 100

55-532290 Miscellaneous consumer goods 

rental 55-532200 Consumer goods rental 100

55-532230 Video tape and disc rental 55-532282 Video tape and disc rental 100

55-532291 Home health equipment rental 55-532283 Home health equipment rental 100

60-541711 Biotechnology research 60-541713 Research and development in 

nanotechnology 4.9

60-541712 Physical, engineering, and life 

sciences research 60-541713 Research and development in nanotechnology 3.5

60-541711 Biotechnology research 60-541714

Research and development in 

biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology

95.1

60-541712 Physical, engineering, and life 

sciences research 60-541715

Research and development in the 

physical, engineering, and life 

sciences, except nanotechnology 

and biotechnology

96.5

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 27 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 12 shows the proportion of AE employment that moved to a new NAICS 2017-based 

CES industry that came from an old NAICS 2012-based CES industry. 

For example, 37.8 percent of the new NAICS 2017-based CES industry department stores (42-

452200) came from the old NAICS 2012-based CES industry department stores, except discount 

(42-452111). The remaining 62.2 percent of the new NAICS 2017-based CES industry 

department stores (42-452200) came from the old NAICS 2012-based CES industry discount 

department stores (42-452112).

Exhibit 12. NAICS 2017 to NAICS 2012 AE employment ratios

NAICS 2017 NAICS 2012

Ratio

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

CES 

Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

42-452200 Department stores 42-452111 Department stores, except 

discount 37.8

42-452200 Department stores 42-452112 Discount department stores 62.2

42-452311 Warehouse clubs and supercenters 42-452112 Discount department stores 0.9

42-452311 Warehouse clubs and supercenters 42-452910 Warehouse clubs and 

supercenters 99.1

42-452319 All other general merchandise stores 42-452990 All other general merchandise 

stores 100

42-454100 Electronic shopping and mail-order 

houses 42-454112 Electronic shopping and electronic auctions 66.8

42-454100 Electronic shopping and mail-order 

houses 42-454113 Mail-order houses 33.2

50-517311 Wired telecommunications carriers 50-517100 Wired telecommunications 

carriers 100

50-517312 Wireless telecommunications carriers, 

except satellite 50-517200 Wireless telecommunications carriers (except satellite) 100

55-532200 Consumer goods rental 55-532230 Video tape and disc rental 7.3

55-532200 Consumer goods rental 55-532290 Miscellaneous consumer 

goods rental 92.7

55-532282 Video tape and disc rental 55-532230 Video tape and disc rental 100

55-532283 Home health equipment rental 55-532291 Home health equipment rental 100

60-541713 Research and development in 

nanotechnology 60-541711 Biotechnology research 34.9

60-541713 Research and development in 

nanotechnology 60-541712 Physical, engineering, and life sciences research 65.1

60-541714

Research and development in 

biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology

60-541711 Biotechnology research 100

60-541715

Research and development in the 

physical, engineering, and life 

sciences, except nanotechnology and 

biotechnology

60-541712 Physical, engineering, and life 

sciences research 100

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 28 of 48

Back to Top

Non-AE exhibits

Exhibit 13 shows non-AE series that were partially or completely combined with other series, 

just like their AE counterparts. Some series affected for AE were not affected for non-AE 

because non-AE data types are not published at the same level.

Exhibit 13. New non-AE series as a result of reclassification of NAICS 2012 to NAICS 

2017

NAICS 2012

Reclassification

NAICS 

Code

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

454112 42-454112 Electronic shopping 

and electronic auctions

Combined into new NAICS 2017 electronic 

shopping and mail-order houses (42-454100)

454113 42-454113 Mail-order houses Combined into new NAICS 2017 electronic 

shopping and mail-order houses (42-454100)

5171 50-517100

Wired 

telecommunications 

carriers

Moved into new NAICS 2017 wired 

telecommunications carriers (50-517311)

5172 50-517200

Wireless 

telecommunications 

carriers (except 

satellite)

Moved into new NAICS 2017 wireless 

telecommunications carriers, except satellite 

(50-517312)

532291 55-532291 Home health

equipment rental

Moved into new NAICS 2017 home health 

equipment rental (55-532283)

541711 60-541711 Biotechnology 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in 

biotechnology, except nanobiotechnology 

(60-541714) is a portion of biotechnology research 

(60-541711)

541711 60-541711 Biotechnology 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in 

nanotechnology (60-541713) combined a portion 

of biotechnology research (60-541711) and a 

portion of physical, engineering, and life sciences 

research (60-541712)

541712 60-541712

Physical, engineering, 

and life sciences 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in 

nanotechnology (60-541713) combined a portion 

of biotechnology research (60-541711) and a 

portion of physical, engineering, and life sciences 

research (60-541712)

541712 60-541712

Physical, engineering, 

and life sciences 

research

New NAICS 2017 research and development in 

the physical, engineering, and life sciences, except 

nanotechnology and biotechnology (60-541715) is 

a portion of physical, engineering, and life 

sciences research (60-541712)

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 29 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 14 shows non-AE series that had changes in scope due to the conversion from NAICS 

2012 to NAICS 2017. These series reflect the same changes as their AE counterparts, but at less 

detailed levels, and some series affected for AE are not affected for non-AE. 

Exhibit 14. Change in scope of non-AE series as a result of NAICS 2017

NAICS 2017

Reclassification

NAICS 

Code

CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

4541 42-454100 Electronic shopping 

and mail-order houses

The new NAICS 2017 series electronic shopping 

and mail-order houses (42-454100) combined 

electronic shopping and electronic auctions (42-

454112) and mail-order houses (42-454113)

541713 60-541713

Research and 

development in 

nanotechnology

The new NAICS 2017 series research and 

development in nanotechnology (60-541713) is a 

portion of biotechnology research (60-541711) and 

a portion of physical, engineering, and life sciences 

research (60-541712)

541714 60-541714

Research and 

development in 

biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology

The new NAICS 2017 series research and 

development in biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology (60-541714) is a portion of 

biotechnology research (60-541711)

541715 60-541715

Research and 

development in the 

physical, engineering, 

and life sciences, 

except nanotechnology 

and biotechnology

The new NAICS 2017 series research and 

development in the physical, engineering, and life 

sciences, except nanotechnology and 

biotechnology (60-541715) is a portion of physical, 

engineering, and life sciences research (60-541712)

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 15 shows non-AE series that are no longer published under NAICS 2017. Some AE 

series that were discontinued were already not published for non-AE series, and therefore, are 

unaffected by NAICS 2017 discontinuations for non-AE. 

Exhibit 15. Discontinued non-AE series as a result of NAICS 2017

NAICS 2012

Next Highest Published Level

(CES Industry Code)

NAICS 

Code

CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

454112 42-454112 Electronic shopping and 

electronic auctions

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses 

(42-454100)

454113 42-454113 Mail-order houses Electronic shopping and mail-order houses 

(42-454100)

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 30 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 16 shows the proportion of non-AE employment that moved from an old NAICS 2012-

based CES industry code to a new NAICS 2017-based CES industry code.

Industries that moved directly and completely from an old NAICS 2012-based CES industry to a 

new NAICS 2017-based CES industry have a ratio of 100. Old NAICS 2012-based CES 

industries that moved only a portion of their employment from the old NAICS 2012-based CES 

industry to a new NAICS 2017-based CES industry have ratios of less than 100. Old NAICS 

2012-based CES industry codes with ratios of less than 100 are listed multiple times to account 

for the movement of all of their employment. 

For example, 4.9 percent of biotechnology research (60-541711) moved into the new NAICS 

2017-based CES industry research and development in nanotechnology (60-541713). The 

remaining 95.1 percent moved into the new NAICS 2017-based CES industry research and 

development in biotechnology, except nanobiotechnology (60-541714).

Exhibit 16. NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017 non-AE employment ratios

NAICS 2012 NAICS 2017

Ratio

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

42-454112 Electronic shopping and 

electronic auctions 42-454100 Electronic shopping and mailorder houses 100

42-454113 Mail-order houses 42-454100 Electronic shopping and mailorder houses 100

50-517100 Wired telecommunications 

carriers 50-517311 Wired telecommunications carriers 100

50-517200

Wireless 

telecommunications carriers 

(except satellite)

50-517312 Wireless telecommunications 

carriers, except satellite 100

55-532291 Home health equipment 

rental 55-532283 Home health equipment rental 100

60-541711 Biotechnology research 60-541713 Research and development in 

nanotechnology 4.9

60-541712 Physical, engineering, and 

life sciences research 60-541713 Research and development in nanotechnology 3.5

60-541711 Biotechnology research 60-541714

Research and development in 

biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology

95.1

60-541712 Physical, engineering, and 

life sciences research 60-541715

Research and development in 

the physical, engineering, and 

life sciences, except 

nanotechnology and 

biotechnology

96.5

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 31 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 17 shows the proportion of non-AE employment that moved to a new NAICS 2017-

based CES industry that came from an old NAICS 2012-based CES industry.

For example, 66.8 percent of the new NAICS 2017-based CES industry electronic shopping and 

mail-order houses (42-454100) came from the old NAICS 2012-based CES industry electronic 

shopping and electronic auctions (42-454112). The remaining 33.2 percent of the new NAICS 

2017-based CES industry electronic shopping and mail-order houses (42-454100) came from the 

old NAICS 2012-based CES industry mail-order houses (42-454113).

Exhibit 17. NAICS 2017 to NAICS 2012 non-AE employment ratios

NAICS 2017 NAICS 2012

Ratio

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

CES 

Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

42-454100 Electronic shopping and mailorder houses 42-454112 Electronic shopping and 

electronic auctions 66.8

42-454100 Electronic shopping and mailorder houses 42-454113 Mail-order houses 33.2

50-517311 Wired telecommunications 

carriers 50-517100 Wired telecommunications carriers 100

50-517312 Wireless telecommunications 

carriers, except satellite 50-517200

Wireless 

telecommunications carriers 

(except satellite)

100

55-532283 Home health equipment rental 55-532291 Home health equipment 

rental 100

60-541713 Research and development in 

nanotechnology 60-541711 Biotechnology research 34.9

60-541713 Research and development in 

nanotechnology 60-541712 Physical, engineering, and life sciences research 65.1

60-541714

Research and development in 

biotechnology, except 

nanobiotechnology

60-541711 Biotechnology research 100

60-541715

Research and development in the 

physical, engineering, and life 

sciences, except nanotechnology 

and biotechnology

60-541712 Physical, engineering, and 

life sciences research 100

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 32 of 48

Back to Top

Reconstructions 

Several series were reconstructed as part of the 2017 CES benchmark. Two summary-level series 

were reconstructed for pre-1990 data. In addition, errors were corrected for: security guards and 

patrols and armored car services; PE and WE series in 5 smaller series within financial activities, 

professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality; and a strike adjustment error was 

corrected for seasonally adjusted women employees series.

Pre-1990 reconstructed series

Two summary-level series were affected by reconstructions in prior years, but had not seen 

revisions to their pre-1990 histories. Exhibit 18 outlines the CES industries, data types, and time

spans that were involved in the pre-1990 reconstructions. 

Exhibit 18. CES summary series involved in pre-1990 data reconstructions

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title Data Type(s) Involved(1) Time Span

55-524200

Insurance agencies, 

brokerages, and 

related services

AE January 1985 – December 1989

65-621100 Offices of 

physicians

AE January 1972 – December 1989

PE, PE AHE, PE AWH, WE January 1982 – December 1989

Footnotes

(1) For definitions of directly estimated data types, see the Changes to CES published series section.

To Table of Figures

Insurance agencies, brokerages, and related services reconstructed, January 1985 to 

December 1989

During processing for the 2013 benchmark, a recoding effort moved the majority of employment 

out of funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles and into other series within the financial 

activities major industry sector. Impacted basic-level series were reconstructed back to January 

1990; summary-level series were affected indirectly through aggregation. For more information 

about this reconstruction, see the special notice regarding reconstructed data in the 2013 CES 

Benchmark Article.

The 4-digit level series insurance agencies, brokerages, and related services (55-524200) was 

affected by this 2013 reconstruction back to January 1990 through aggregation. This series goes 

back further than January 1990, creating a break in the time series from December 1989 to 

January 1990. 

To correct for this break, monthly growth rates for the January 1985 to December 1989 period 

were applied to the revised January 1990 levels, including a revised over-the-month change for 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 33 of 48

Back to Top

December 1989 to January 1990 based on historical data from the pre-revised series (55-524200 

prior to the 2013 benchmark), in order to derive new monthly levels. The December 1989 to 

January 1990 growth rate from the pre-revised series was applied to the January 1990 level in 

order to derive the new level for December 1989. The growth rates as previously published for 

January 1985 to November 1989 were then applied backwards through time, yielding new levels 

and a continuous time series from January 1985 forward.

Offices of physicians, January 1972 to December 1989

During processing for the 2016 benchmark, a change to NAICS codes for reports in health care 

services affecting two industries was discovered. This change was determined to be 

noneconomic and affected the entire series going back to 1990. Impacted basic-level series were 

reconstructed back to January 1990; summary-level series were affected indirectly through 

aggregation. For more information about this reconstruction, see the Reconstruction section of 

the 2016 CES Benchmark Article.

The 4-digit level series offices of physicians (65-621100) was affected by this 2016 

reconstruction back to January 1990 through aggregation. This series goes back further than 

January 1990, creating a break in the time series from December 1989 to January 1990.

With 2017 benchmark processing, the pre-1990 history of 65-621100 was reconstructed back to 

January 1972 for AE. A ratio of the employment in the reclassified establishments to the 

employment originally in 65-621100 was calculated for March 2016. This March 2016 ratio was 

applied to each month’s employment level for 65-621100 from December 1989 back to January 

1972. The resulting employment amounts were taken out of 65-621100 to create a reconstructed 

AE series. This change also affected PE, PE hours and earnings, and WE series back to January 

1982. Derivatives of directly estimated data types may also be impacted by this reconstruction.

Reconstructions due to errors in CES estimates

Security guards and patrols and armored car services, October 2016 to December 2017

An error was found in the CES microdata for security guards and patrols and armored car 

services (60-561613). AE series were affected for 60-561613 and AE, AE hours and earnings, 

PE, PE hours and earnings, and WE were affected for 60-561610. This error affected data from 

October 2016 to December 2017. 

Exhibit 19 outlines the CES industries, data types, and time spans that were involved in the 

reconstruction of 60-561613.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 34 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 19. CES industries involved in the reconstruction of 60-561613

CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

Data Type(s) 

Involved(1) Time Span

60-561610 Security and armored car 

services

AE, AE AWH, AE AHE, 

PE, PE AWH, PE AHE, WE October 2016 –

December 2017 60-561613 Security guards and patrols 

and armored car services AE

Footnotes

(1) For definitions of directly estimated data types, see the Changes to CES published series section.

To Table of Figures

Using corrected AE microdata, 60-561613 was reconstructed using amended sample links for 

each month to recalculate the AE series. The AE series was then summed with investigation 

services (60-561611) to create AE data at the 60-561610 level. Corrected microdata for non-AE 

data types in 60-561610 and the new summary-level AE series were used to calculate AE hours 

and earnings, PE, PE hours and earnings, and WE. More information about sample links and 

monthly estimation is available in the CES Technical Notes under Monthly Estimation. 

The reconstruction resulted in security and armored car services AE that was 3,000 greater than 

the originally published March 2017 estimate level. All aggregate CES industries that were 

impacted by this reconstruction are included in exhibit 20 below.

Exhibit 20. CES aggregate series impacted by reconstruction of 60-561613

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title Time Span

00-000000 Total nonfarm

October 2016 – December 2017

05-000000 Total private

07-000000 Service providing

08-000000 Private service-providing

60-000000 Professional and business 

services

60-560000 Administrative and waste services

60-561000 Administrative and support services

60-561600 Investigation and security services

To Table of Figures

Reconstructed series were benchmarked according to the usual methodology. The reconstruction 

and subsequent benchmark resulted in revisions to seasonally and not seasonally adjusted data. 

More information about CES benchmarking methods is available in the CES Technical Notes 

under Benchmarks. More information about seasonal adjustment of CES series is available in the 

CES Technical Notes under Seasonal Adjustment.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 35 of 48

Back to Top

Non-AE data types for 5 smaller series, November 2012 to May 2017

The CES program found processing errors in the estimates for PE and WE series in five smaller 

industries within financial activities, professional and business services, and leisure and 

hospitality. The timeframe of the errant data ranges from November 2012 (3rd closing) until May 

2017; however, not all data during this timeframe are errant. 

For some months, errors in detailed-level WE impacted aggregate WE estimates up through total 

nonfarm, and errors in detailed-level PE impacted aggregate PE estimates up through total 

private. The errors in detailed-level PE also resulted in minor errors in hours and earnings for 

aggregated PE (PE AWH and PE AHE), because hours and earnings are weighted by PE 

employment in the aggregation process. For more information about this processing error, see 

the BLS errata page at www.bls.gov/bls/errata/ces-women-production-correction.htm.

Exhibit 21 outlines the CES industries, data types, and time spans that were involved in the 

reconstruction of the five smaller industries for non-AE data types.

Exhibit 21. CES series involved in non-AE reconstruction for 5 smaller industries

CES Industry 

Code

CES Industry 

Title

Data Type(s) 

Involved(1) Time Span

55-524110 Direct life and health 

insurance carriers

PE, PE AWH, PE AHE, WE November 2012 –

May 2017

60-541200 Accounting and bookkeeping 

services

60-541600 Management and technical 

consulting services

60-562900 Remediation and other waste 

services

70-721200 RV parks and recreational 

camps

Footnotes

(1) For definitions of directly estimated data types, see the Changes to CES published series section.

To Table of Figures

To correct for these errors, PE and WE were re-estimated at the detailed level using corrected 

PE-to-AE and WE-to-AE ratios. After correcting PE and WE at the detailed level, there were no 

changes to PE hours and earnings. Using corrected detailed-level PE and WE estimates, 

employment estimates were re-aggregated up to total private for PE and total nonfarm for WE. 

Derivatives of directly estimated data types may also be impacted by this reconstruction. 

Reconstructed series were benchmarked according to the usual methodology. The reconstruction 

and subsequent benchmark resulted in revisions to seasonally and not seasonally adjusted data. 

More information about CES benchmarking methods is available in the CES Technical Notes 

under Benchmarks. More information about seasonal adjustment of CES series is available in the 

CES Technical Notes under Seasonal Adjustment.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 36 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 22 outlines the aggregate CES industries that were impacted by the reconstruction of the

five smaller industries for non-AE data types.

Exhibit 22. CES aggregate series impacted by non-AE reconstruction

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title Time Span

00-000000 Total nonfarm

November 2012 –

May 2017

05-000000 Total private

07-000000 Service providing

08-000000 Private service-providing

55-000000 Financial activities

55-524000 Insurance carriers and related activities

55-524100 Insurance carriers

60-000000 Professional and business services

60-540000 Professional and technical services

60-560000 Administrative and waste services

60-562000 Waste management and remediation services

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality services

70-720000 Accommodation and food services

70-721000 Accommodation

To Table of Figures

Seasonally adjusted data for women employees due to strike adjustment processing error

When generating seasonally adjusted estimates, the CES program sometimes modifies the not 

seasonally adjusted estimates before running X‐13ARIMA‐SEATS to ensure that nonseasonal 

events, such as strikes, are not included in the calculation of the seasonal factors. Once the 

seasonal factors are calculated, they are applied to the not seasonally adjusted data used as 

inputs. Then, the prior adjustments that were removed before running X‐13ARIMA‐SEATS are 

incorporated to create the seasonally adjusted estimates. More information about seasonal 

adjustment of CES series is available in the CES Technical Notes under Seasonal Adjustment.

During processing for the 2017 benchmark, it was discovered that the effects of several strikes 

were not removed before running seasonal adjustment for several women employees series. The 

WE strike adjustment was incorporated during seasonal adjustment processing for the 2017 

benchmark, and affected series were seasonally adjusted back to January 1990. This correction 

has also been made to the latest prior adjustment file, which can be downloaded from 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesseasadj.htm. The correction resulted in small changes to historical 

data for several seasonally adjusted WE series.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 37 of 48

Back to Top

Exhibit 23 outlines the CES industries that were involved in the strike adjustment correction for 

seasonally adjusted WE series.

Exhibit 23. Seasonally adjusted series involved in WE strike adjustment correction

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title

31-336400 Aerospace products and parts

42-445110 Supermarkets and other grocery stores

44-221120 Electric power transmission and distribution

44-221200 Natural gas distribution

50-517311 Wired telecommunications carriers

To Table of Figures

Exhibit 24 outlines the aggregate CES industries that were impacted by the strike adjustment 

correction for seasonally adjusted WE series.

Exhibit 24. Seasonally adjusted aggregate series impacted by WE strike adjustment 

correction

CES Industry Code CES Industry Title

00-000000 Total nonfarm

05-000000 Total private

06-000000 Goods-producing

07-000000 Service-providing

08-000000 Private service-providing

30-000000 Manufacturing

31-000000 Durable goods

31-336000 Transportation equipment

42-000000 Retail trade

42-445000 Food and beverage stores

42-445100 Grocery stores

44-220000 Utilities

44-221100 Power generation and supply

50-000000 Information

50-517000 Telecommunications

50-517300 Wired and wireless telecommunications carriers

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 38 of 48

Back to Top

Why benchmarks differ from estimates

A benchmark revision is the difference between the benchmark employment level for a given 

March and its corresponding sample-based estimate. The overall accuracy of the establishment 

survey is usually gauged by the size of this difference. The benchmark revision often is regarded 

as a proxy for total survey error, but this does not take into account error in the universe data or 

infrequent events such as historical reconstructions. The employment counts obtained from 

quarterly Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax forms are administrative data that reflect employer 

record-keeping practices and differing state laws and procedures. The benchmark revision can be 

more precisely interpreted as the difference between two independently derived employment 

counts, each subject to its own error sources.

Like all sample surveys, the establishment survey is susceptible to two sources of error: sampling 

error and nonsampling error. Sampling error is present any time a sample is used to make 

inferences about a population. The magnitude of the sampling error, or variance, relates directly 

to sample size and the percentage of the universe covered by that sample. The CES monthly 

survey captures slightly under one-third of the universe, exceptionally high by usual sampling 

standards. This coverage ensures a small sampling error at the total nonfarm employment level. 

More information on the reliability of CES estimates is available in the Reliability section of the 

CES Technical Notes.

Both the universe counts and the establishment survey estimates are subject to nonsampling 

errors common to all surveys – measurement, response, and processing errors. The error 

structures for both the CES monthly survey and the UI universe are complex. Still, the two 

programs generally produce consistent total employment figures, each validating the other.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 39 of 48

Back to Top

Benchmark revision effects for other data types

The routine benchmarking process results in revisions to 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 all employees (AE) level prior to benchmarking, and then applying these 

ratios to the revised all employees level. These figures are calculated at the basic cell level and 

then aggregated to produce the summary estimates. 

Average weekly hours, average hourly earnings, and in manufacturing industries, average 

weekly overtime hours are not benchmarked; they are estimated solely from reports supplied by 

survey respondents at the basic estimating cell level.

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

All employees estimates and production and nonsupervisory employees estimates for the basic 

cells act as weights for their respective hours and earnings estimates for broader industry 

groupings. Adjustments of all employees estimates to new benchmarks may alter the 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 5 and table 6 provide information on the levels of specific hours and 

earnings series resulting from the March 2017 benchmark. At the total private level, there was no 

change in average weekly hours estimates for both AE and PE from the previously published 

level. Total private average hourly earnings did not change for both AE and PE from the 

previously published level.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 40 of 48

Back to Top

Table 5. Effect of March 2017 benchmark revisions to AE AWH and AE AHE estimates, selected industries

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

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

05-000000 Total private 34.1 34.1 0.0 $26.14 $26.14 $0.00

06-000000 Goods-producing 39.8 39.8 .0 27.37 27.36 -.01

08-000000 Private service-providing 33.0 33.0 .0 25.86 25.86 .00

10-000000 Mining and logging 44.2 44.3 .1 32.82 32.26 -.56

20-000000 Construction 38.2 38.3 .1 28.64 28.67 .03

30-000000 Manufacturing 40.5 40.5 .0 26.41 26.41 .00

31-000000 Durable goods 41.1 41.1 .0 27.64 27.65 .01

31-321000 Wood products 40.3 40.4 .1 19.62 19.62 .00

31-327000 Nonmetallic mineral products 40.7 40.7 .0 23.85 23.86 .01

31-331000 Primary metals 41.9 41.9 .0 26.46 26.42 -.04

31-332000 Fabricated metal products 41.0 41.0 .0 24.30 24.27 -.03

31-333000 Machinery 41.4 41.4 .0 28.24 28.23 -.01

31-334000 Computer and electronic products 40.3 40.3 .0 35.63 35.63 .00

31-335000 Electrical equipment and 

appliances 41.2 41.2 .0 26.18 26.18 .00

31-336000 Transportation equipment 42.7 42.8 .1 30.78 30.81 .03

31-336001 Motor vehicles and parts 43.3 43.4 .1 25.40 25.48 .08

31-337000 Furniture and related products 39.4 39.4 .0 21.06 21.07 .01

31-339000 Miscellaneous durable goods 

manufacturing 38.6 38.6 .0 25.42 25.43 .01

32-000000 Nondurable goods 39.4 39.5 .1 24.28 24.28 .00

32-311000 Food manufacturing 39.6 39.6 .0 20.43 20.44 .01

32-313000 Textile mills 41.2 41.2 .0 20.32 20.32 .00

32-314000 Textile product mills 38.3 38.3 .0 17.89 17.88 -.01

32-315000 Apparel 36.5 36.5 .0 18.66 18.66 .00

32-322000 Paper and paper products 41.0 41.0 .0 26.35 26.35 .00

32-323000 Printing and related support 

activities 37.6 37.6 .0 23.50 23.50 .00

32-324000 Petroleum and coal products 39.9 39.9 .0 43.91 44.00 .09

32-325000 Chemicals 40.2 40.2 .0 32.89 32.89 .00
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 41 of 48

Back to Top

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

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

32-326000 Plastics and rubber products 40.8 40.8 .0 21.43 21.44 .01

32-329000 Miscellaneous nondurable goods 

manufacturing 34.6 34.6 .0 24.67 24.67 .00

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 33.9 33.9 .0 22.63 22.61 -.02

41-420000 Wholesale trade 38.6 38.6 .0 29.76 29.72 -.04

42-000000 Retail trade 30.5 30.5 .0 18.03 18.03 .00

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 38.1 38.1 .0 23.65 23.61 -.04

44-220000 Utilities 42.3 42.3 .0 39.04 39.07 .03

50-000000 Information 35.9 35.9 .0 37.41 37.49 .08

55-000000 Financial activities 37.0 37.0 .0 32.67 32.68 .01

60-000000 Professional and business services 35.7 35.7 .0 31.57 31.57 .00

65-000000 Education and health services 32.7 32.7 .0 26.07 26.11 .04

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 25.9 25.9 .0 15.37 15.41 .04

80-000000 Other services 31.7 31.6 -.1 23.62 23.78 .16

Footnotes 

(1) With the 2017 benchmark, CES 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 errors in employment resulted in errors in hours and earnings for aggregated series. For more information, see the 

Reconstructions section in the 2017 Benchmark Article.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 42 of 48

Back to Top

Table 6. Effect of March 2017 benchmark revisions to PE AWH and PE AHE estimates, selected industries

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

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

05-000000 Total private 33.3 33.3 0.0 $21.91 $21.91 $0.00

06-000000 Goods-producing 40.7 40.7 .0 22.83 22.83 .00

08-000000 Private service-providing 32.1 32.1 .0 21.72 21.72 .00

10-000000 Mining and logging 45.3 45.6 .3 27.85 27.59 -.26

20-000000 Construction 38.6 38.6 .0 26.33 26.36 .03

30-000000 Manufacturing 41.6 41.6 .0 20.68 20.69 .01

31-000000 Durable goods 42.2 42.2 .0 21.64 21.65 .01

31-321000 Wood products 41.7 41.7 .0 17.17 17.18 .01

31-327000 Nonmetallic mineral products 41.8 41.8 .0 20.00 20.00 .00

31-331000 Primary metals 42.4 42.4 .0 23.07 23.03 -.04

31-332000 Fabricated metal products 41.9 41.9 .0 20.10 20.09 -.01

31-333000 Machinery 42.8 42.8 .0 22.09 22.09 .00

31-334000 Computer and electronic products 41.0 41.0 .0 24.54 24.54 .00

31-335000 Electrical equipment and appliances 42.5 42.5 .0 19.46 19.46 .00

31-336000 Transportation equipment 44.0 44.0 .0 24.86 24.90 .04

31-336001 Motor vehicles and parts 44.5 44.5 .0 21.29 21.36 .07

31-337000 Furniture and related products 39.9 40.0 .1 17.26 17.27 .01

31-339000 Miscellaneous durable goods 

manufacturing 40.4 40.4 .0 18.77 18.78 .01

32-000000 Nondurable goods 40.7 40.7 .0 19.12 19.13 .01

32-311000 Food manufacturing 40.6 40.6 .0 16.84 16.85 .01

32-313000 Textile mills 40.6 40.6 .0 15.75 15.75 .00

32-314000 Textile product mills 37.6 37.6 .0 14.41 14.41 .00

32-315000 Apparel 36.3 36.3 .0 13.75 13.75 .00

32-322000 Paper and paper products 42.4 42.4 .0 21.54 21.55 .01

32-323000 Printing and related support activities 39.5 39.5 .0 18.65 18.65 .00

32-324000 Petroleum and coal products 43.5 43.5 .0 40.21 40.34 .13

32-325000 Chemicals 41.5 41.5 .0 23.61 23.61 .00

32-326000 Plastics and rubber products 41.9 41.9 .0 17.47 17.48 .01
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 43 of 48

Back to Top

CES Industry 

Code CES Industry Title

Average Weekly Hours Average Hourly Earnings

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

32-329000 Miscellaneous nondurable goods 

manufacturing 36.9 36.9 .0 20.10 20.10 .00

40-000000 Trade, transportation, and utilities 33.3 33.2 -.1 19.23 19.22 -.01

41-420000 Wholesale trade 38.5 38.5 .0 24.41 24.38 -.03

42-000000 Retail trade 29.7 29.6 -.1 15.22 15.22 .00

43-000000 Transportation and warehousing 37.6 37.6 .0 21.16 21.12 -.04

44-220000 Utilities 42.4 42.4 .0 36.42 36.46 .04

50-000000 Information 35.3 35.3 .0 30.24 30.28 .04

55-000000 Financial activities 36.6 36.6 .0 26.44 26.46 .02

60-000000 Professional and business services 35.0 35.1 .1 25.91 25.89 -.02

65-000000 Education and health services 32.0 31.9 -.1 22.87 22.90 .03

70-000000 Leisure and hospitality 24.7 24.7 .0 13.28 13.31 .03

80-000000 Other services 30.6 30.6 .0 19.86 20.00 .14

Footnotes 

(1) With the 2017 benchmark, CES reconstructed several series. The CES national employment series 60-561613, security guards and patrols and armored car 

services was reconstructed back to October 2016 to correct a microdata error. The errors in employment resulted in errors in hours and earnings for aggregated 

series. CES also reconstructed 5 smaller industries within financial activities, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality, to correct 

processing errors in estimates for women employees (WE) and production and nonsupervisory employees (PE). The errors in PE also resulted in minor errors 

in hours and earnings for aggregated PE. For more information, see the Reconstructions section in the 2017 Benchmark Article.

To Table of Figures
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 44 of 48

Back to Top

Methods

Benchmark sources and procedures

Establishment survey benchmarking is done on an annual basis to a population 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 Labor Market Information (LMI) agency four times per year. Approximately 97 

percent of total nonfarm employment within the scope of the establishment survey is covered by 

UI. A benchmark for the remaining 3 percent is constructed from alternate sources, primarily 

records from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), County Business Patterns (CBP), and 

Annual Survey of Public Employment and Payroll (ASPEP). This 3 percent is collectively 

referred to as noncovered employment. Noncovered employment data from these sources are 

available only on a lagged basis. More information on calculating noncovered employment in the 

CES program is available in the Benchmarks section of the CES Technical Notes.

The time required to complete the benchmark revision process—from the full collection of the 

UI population data to publication of the revised industry estimates—is about 10 months. The 

benchmark adjustment procedure replaces the March sample-based employment estimates with 

UI-based population counts for March. The benchmark therefore determines the final 

employment levels, while sample movements capture month-to-month trends. 

On a not seasonally adjusted basis, the sample-based estimates for the year preceding and the 9 

months following the benchmark month (March) are also subject to revision; seasonally adjusted 

data are subject to revision back 5 years. Employment estimates for the months between the most 

recent March benchmark and the previous year's benchmark are adjusted using a linear "wedgeback" procedure, which assumes that the total estimation error accumulated at a steady rate since 

the last benchmark. For the 9 months following the March benchmark (also referred to as the 

post-benchmark period), CES applies previously derived over-the-month sample changes to the 

revised March level to get the revised estimates (see Revisions in the post-benchmark period). 

New net birth/death model estimates also are 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.

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 Unemployment Insurance (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 7 to 9 months after the reference 

month. After the births appear on the frame, there is also time required for sampling, contacting, 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 45 of 48

Back to Top

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 birth units 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 the Bureau uses a modelbased 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.

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 adjustment that 

was used in the CES sample-based estimates. Most recently, the data from April 2016 to March 

2017 can be measured. As table 7 shows, the actual net birth/death for April 2016 to March 2017

was approximately 181,000 above the forecasted amount used in the CES monthly estimates for 

the same time period. 

Table 7. Differences between forecasted and actual net birth/death, total private 

employment, April 2016-March 2017 (in thousands)

2016 2017

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

Actual Net 

Birth/Death 404 180 15 244 105 -38 255 -14 -35 -179 98 76 1,111

Forecast Net 

Birth/Death 255 231 99 154 113 -58 237 7 -17 -247 124 32 930

Difference 149 -51 -84 90 -8 20 18 -21 -18 68 -26 44 181

Cumulative 

Difference 149 98 14 104 96 116 134 113 95 163 137 181

To Table of Figures

Seasonal adjustment

Typically, 5 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, refer to 

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.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 46 of 48

Back to Top

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, the CES homepage. 

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.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 47 of 48

Back to Top

Table of figures

Tables 

Table 1. Percent and level differences between nonfarm employment benchmarks and estimates 

by industry supersector, March 2007-2017 (in thousands)(1) .................................................. 4

Table 2. Nonfarm employment benchmarks for industries released with first preliminary 

estimates, March 2017 (in thousands) (1) ................................................................................ 7

Table 3. Net birth/death estimates by industry supersector, April to December 2017 (in 

thousands) ............................................................................................................................. 13

Table 4. Differences in seasonally adjusted levels and over-the-month changes, total nonfarm 

employment, January to December 2017 (in thousands) ...................................................... 14

Table 5. Effect of March 2017 benchmark revisions to AE AWH and AE AHE estimates, 

selected industries ................................................................................................................. 40

Table 6. Effect of March 2017 benchmark revisions to PE AWH and PE AHE estimates, selected 

industries ............................................................................................................................... 42

Table 7. Differences between forecasted and actual net birth/death, total private employment, 

April 2016-March 2017 (in thousands)................................................................................. 45

Exhibits

Exhibit 1. Series with CES industry code or title changes ........................................................... 16

Exhibit 2. Discontinued AE series ................................................................................................ 17

Exhibit 3. Collapsed AE series ..................................................................................................... 17

Exhibit 4. New AE series .............................................................................................................. 17

Exhibit 5. Discontinued non-AE series ......................................................................................... 18

Exhibit 6. Collapsed non-AE series .............................................................................................. 19

Exhibit 7. New non-AE series ...................................................................................................... 19

Exhibit 8. New AE series as a result of reclassification of NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017 ........... 22

Exhibit 9. Change in scope of AE series as a result of NAICS 2017 ........................................... 24

Exhibit 10. Discontinued NAICS 2012 AE series ........................................................................ 25

Exhibit 11. NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017 AE employment ratios ............................................... 26

Exhibit 12. NAICS 2017 to NAICS 2012 AE employment ratios ............................................... 27

Exhibit 13. New non-AE series as a result of reclassification of NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017 . 28

Exhibit 14. Change in scope of non-AE series as a result of NAICS 2017 .................................. 29

Exhibit 15. Discontinued non-AE series as a result of NAICS 2017 ........................................... 29

Exhibit 16. NAICS 2012 to NAICS 2017 non-AE employment ratios ........................................ 30

Exhibit 17. NAICS 2017 to NAICS 2012 non-AE employment ratios ........................................ 31

Exhibit 18. CES summary series involved in pre-1990 data reconstructions ............................... 32

Exhibit 19. CES industries involved in the reconstruction of 60-561613 .................................... 34

Exhibit 20. CES aggregate series impacted by reconstruction of 60-561613............................... 34

Exhibit 21. CES series involved in non-AE reconstruction for 5 smaller industries .................... 35

Exhibit 22. CES aggregate series impacted by non-AE reconstruction ........................................ 36

Exhibit 23. Seasonally adjusted series involved in WE strike adjustment correction .................. 37

Exhibit 24. Seasonally adjusted aggregate series impacted by WE strike adjustment correction 37
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Page 48 of 48

Back to Top

Last Modified Date: January 4, 2019

Caila Pinkleton, Economist and Frances Tirado, Statistician

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