Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

October 2012

Bureau of Labor Statistics

November 2, 2012
1 

126,000

128,000

130,000

132,000

134,000

136,000

138,000

140,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in total nonfarm

October 2012

Level: 133,755

Change: 171

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

41 -84

-95 -208

-190

-198

-210 -274 -432 -489 -803 -661 -818-724 -799-692 -361 -482 -339-231

-199

-202 -42 -171 -40

-35

189

239

516 -167 -58

-51

-27

220

121

120

110

220

246

251

54

84

96

85

202

112

157

223

275

259

143

68

87

45

181

192

148

171

-1,200

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

800

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Total nonfarm employment rose by 171,000 in October. 

• Since the beginning of the year, job growth has averaged 157,000 per month, compared 

to an average monthly gain of 153,000 in 2011. 
2 

104,000

106,000

108,000

110,000

112,000

114,000

116,000

118,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in total private

October 2012

Level: 111,744

Change: 184

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• In October, total private employment rose by 184,000, bringing the year-to-date gain to 

1.6 million.

• Thus far in 2012, job growth has averaged 155,000 per month, compared to the average 

monthly gain of 175,000 in 2011. 

• Since reaching an employment trough in February 2010, the private sector has added 5.0 

million jobs.

Embargoed pre-release until 11-02-2012 8:30 AM (EDT)

41 -136

-112 -215

-216

-231

-259 -294 -425 -480 -797 -658 -839 -725 -787

-802 -312 -426 -296-219

-184 -232 -42 -120-40

-27

141

193

84

9292

128

115

196

134

140

119

257

261

264

108

102

175

52

216

139

178

234

277

254

147

85

116

63

163

134

128

184

-1,200

-1,000

-800

-600

-400

-200

0

200

400

600

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in total private

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3 

-13

9

28

25

51

4

1

-0.1

2.2

36.4

6.5

13

17

-9

-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80

Government

Other services

Leisure and hospitality

Education and health services

Professional and business services

Financial activities

Information

Utilities

Transportation and warehousing

Retail trade

Wholesale trade

Manufacturing

Construction

Mining and logging

Employment in total nonfarm

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

171

-460

80

810

1047

1465

103

-108

10.9

256.3

437.9

205.4

504

10

150

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

Government

Other services

Leisure and hospitality

Education and health services

Professional and business services

Financial activities

Information

Utilities

Transportation and warehousing

Retail trade

Wholesale trade

Manufacturing

Construction

Mining and logging

Employment in total nonfarm

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

32–month change, October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

February 2010 – October 2012 171

Total nonfarm:

4511

Total private:

4971

• In October, employment rose in retail trade, professional and business services, and 

health care but changed little in other industries over the month. 

• Since an employment trough in February 2010, nonfarm job gains total 4.5 million. The 

largest increases have occurred in professional and business services, education and 

health services, and leisure and hospitality. Government lost the largest number of jobs 

during this period. 
4 

32.0

32.5

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Average weekly hours, total private

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.4

Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 33.6

Change: -0.1

88

90

92

94

96

98

100

102

104

Mar-06 Mar-07 Mar-08 Mar-09 Mar-10 Mar-11 Mar-12

Seasonally adjusted, 2007=100

Index of aggregate weekly hours 

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–October 2012

October 2012

Level: 96.3

Change: 0.1%

Total private, all employees

• Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls remained 

unchanged at 34.4 hours in October. 

• The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm 

payrolls edged down by 0.1 hour to 33.6 hours. 

• The October employment gain combined with the unchanged workweek resulted in a 

0.1-percent increase in the index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees. Since 

reaching a trough in October 2009, the index has risen 6.3 percent. 
5 

-3.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

Mar-07 Sep-07 Mar-08 Sep-08 Mar-09 Sep-09 Mar-10 Sep-10 Mar-11 Sep-11 Mar-12 Sep-12

Over-the-year percent change

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

Total private earnings CPI–U

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

October 2012 Earnings: 1.6

September 2012 CPI-U: 2.0

*1982–84=100

March 2007–October 2012

• Average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down by 1 

cent in October to $23.58. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have risen 

by 1.6 percent. 

• The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 2.0 percent 

from September 2011 to September 2012. 
6 

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

900

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in mining and logging

October 2012

Level: 825

Change: -9

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

6 2 7 -1 7 5

4 8 4 -2 -4 -6

-6 -15 -21 -16 -18 -9

-8-8 -3 -6 2

2 5

6

77

8 4 6 8 6

9 3 0 5 3

15

12 9

99 3 6

6 4 8

8

7 0

1 4 -2

-1 -4 -1 -9

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in mining and logging

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Mining and logging lost 9,000 jobs in October, with most of the decline occurring in 

support activities for mining. 

• Since May of this year, employment in mining has decreased by 17,000. 

• Support activities for mining accounted for most of the job losses between May and 

October.
7 

-9 -46

-34 -70 -49 -66

-55

-46 -73

-77 -155 -105 -147 -110 -153

-144 -57 -87

-82

-79

-71

-58 -30

-33 -61

-64

23 7

-41 -11

-16

20 -19

7 -11

-11 -21

33 7 -1 3 -3

13 -10

30 -9 1

26

18 -1 -14

-7 -32 4

33

2

17

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in construction

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

10.1

6.7

-2.5

4.6

-2.0

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Nonresidential specialty trades

Residential specialty trades

Heavy and civil engineering

Nonresidential building

Residential building

Employment in construction

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction:

17

• Employment in construction edged up in October (+17,000) after remaining flat over the 

prior 4 months. 

• Virtually all of October’s gain was concentrated in specialty trade contractors (+17,000). 
8 

-20

-28 -39 -56-31 -59 -75

-79

-84 -130

-114 -179 -297 -166

-172

-179

-167

-143 -61

-41

-44

-49

-34

-30 -8 4

8

32

34

10

20 -17 2

0

9

15

52

37

26

28 8

12

30 3 -3 9

3

28

52

30

42

10

13

7

18 -13

-14

13

-400

-300

-200

-100

0

100

200

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Manufacturing employment changed little in October (+13,000), with no significant 

changes among the component industries. On net, manufacturing employment has 

changed little since April.

• The factory workweek for all employees edged down by 0.1 hour. Combining the 

employment change with the shorter workweek, the index of aggregate weekly hours in 

manufacturing edged down 0.1 percent. 
9 

14,000

14,200

14,400

14,600

14,800

15,000

15,200

15,400

15,600

15,800

16,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in retail trade

October 2012

Level: 14,832

Change: 36

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

1 -43 -23 -71 -52

-47

-43 -60 -68-52 -132 -99

-99 -71 -94 -61 -8 -23 -45 -12 -46

-35 -11 -27

32

10

25 3

12 -11

14

5

20

37 3

13

37 5

8

67 -5

16

27 -4

14

12

34 7

25 -15

-15

24 6 -9 3

18

27

36

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment rose by 36,000 in retail trade. Motor vehicle and parts dealers added 7,000 

jobs, and furniture and home furnishing stores added 4,000 jobs. 

• Over the past 3 months, the retail industry has boosted employment by 82,000, with 

motor vehicles and parts dealers, clothing and accessory stores, and miscellaneous store 

retailers contributing 18,000 jobs each. 
10

15,000

15,500

16,000

16,500

17,000

17,500

18,000

18,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in professional and business services

October 2012

Level: 18,007

Change: 51

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

0 -40 -63 1 -68 -41 -61 -71

-70 -116 -184 -120 -144 -184 -133 -148 -64 -100 -31

-22 -1 8

56

14

44

29 -3

79

32

67 8

45

23

55

79

82

46

49

88

50

56 5

39

40

59

41

39

72

79

89

18

45

18

4141

24 8

51

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in professional and business services

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Professional and business services added 51,000 jobs in October. 

• Since reaching a trough in September 2009, employment in the sector has expanded by 

1.6 million, or by an average of 44,000 per month. 
11

13.3

15.8

33.4

2.4

4.5

6.6

1.5

0.3

15.5

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

- Services to buildings

- Employment services

Administrative and waste services ̊

Management of companies

- Management and technical consulting

- Computer systems design

- Architectural and engineering

- Accounting and bookkeeping

Professional and technical ̊

Employment in selected professional and business services

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

51

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2,400

2,600

2,800

3,000

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in temporary help services

October 2012

Level: 2,540

Change: 14

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Job growth continued in professional and technical services (+16,000). Within 

administrative services, services to buildings added 13,000 jobs over the month. 

• Employment in temporary help services changed little in October and has shown little net 

change over the past 3 months. 
12

51

38

48

55

45

51

42

56 4

12

35

34

45

14 5 1

53

36

15

43

13

31

35

34

18

25

65

10

25

24

18

34 -2

61

38

12

18

29

24

55

19

25

50

33

58

37

20

33

31

71

51

15

44 3

40

31

50

25

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in education and health services

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands 35 2930 37 28 21 33 19 14 18 31 23 15 22 1011 30 24 19 18

22

22

24

20

16

15

36

12

15

11

19

22

16

28

19

23

10

20

32

36

18

26

32

26

46

24 4

23

34

38

32

19

30 9

23

18

37

31

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jan-08 Jul-08 Jan-09 Jul-09 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, January 2008–October 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Health care added 31,000 jobs in October. 

• Over the past 12 months, employment in health care has risen by 296,000. 
13

-0.6

6.2

7.9

1.7

11.2

24.9

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

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals

- Home health care services

- Outpatient care centers

- Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services ̊

Employment in selected health care industries

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, October 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

31

• Within health care, gains continued in ambulatory health care services (+25,000) and 

hospitals (+6,000) in October. 
14

11,000

11,500

12,000

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in leisure and hospitality

October 2012

Level: 13,734

Change: 28

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

7,500

8,000

8,500

9,000

9,500

10,000

10,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in food services and drinking places

October 2012

Level: 9,992

Change: 23

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in leisure and hospitality continued to trend up (+28,000) over the month. 

• As of March, the industry had recovered all of the jobs lost during its most recent 

employment downturn. Employment is currently 174,000 above its most recent peak in 

January 2008. 

• In October, food services and drinking places employment continued to rise (+23,000). 

Since reaching a trough in February 2010, employment in the industry has expanded by 

701,000 or an average of 22,000 per month. 
15

19,500

20,000

20,500

21,000

21,500

22,000

22,500

23,000

23,500

Jan-00 Jan-02 Jan-04 Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12

Employment in government

October 2012

Level: 22,011

Change: -13

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

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

months of data are preliminary.

January 2000–October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

2.8

-2.9

-4.7

-2.6

-0.1

-6.1

-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6

Local government, excluding education

Local government education

State government, excluding education

State government education

U.S. Postal Service

Federal, except U.S. Postal Service

Employment in selected government

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, November 02, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, October 2012 Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-13

• Government employment changed little in October (-13,000) after 3 months of increases. 

Government employment is 569,000 below its August 2008 level, when both state and 

local governments reached peaks.