January 2018

Release Date: February 2, 2018

Prepared by Analysts of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

Contents

Summary

Mining & Logging

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities

Information

Financial Activities

Professional & Business Services

Private Education & Health Services

Leisure & Hospitality

Other Services

Government

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis

Current Employment Statistics

Highlights
Current Employment Statistics Summary, January 2018

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018

+216,000. These monthly revisions reflect the

incorporation of additional sample, as well as

updated benchmarks, net birth-death factors,

and seasonal adjustment models.

+36,000 Construction

Construction employment rose by 36,000 in

January, with specialty trade contractors 

accounting for 26,000 of the increase. Over 

the past 12 months, construction has 

added 226,000 jobs.

+35,000 Leisure and Hospitality

Employment in food services continued to

trend up in January (+31,000). Over the past 

12 months, the industry added 255,000 jobs, 

down from an increase of 312,000 over the 

prior 12 months.

 Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 

200,000 in January. Employment continued to 

trend up in construction, food services, health 

care, and manufacturing. 

 Average hourly earnings of all employees 

on private, nonfarm payrolls increased by 9 

cents or 0.3 percent over the month. Hourly 

earnings have risen 2.9 percent over the year. 

Average weekly hours decreased 0.2 hour in 

January.

 In accordance with annual practice,

establishment survey data have been revised

to reflect comprehensive counts of payroll

jobs, or benchmarks, derived principally from

the Quarterly Census of Employment and

Wages, which enumerates jobs covered by

unemployment insurance tax records.

Nonfarm employment for March 2017 was

revised up by 138,000 on a not seasonally 

adjusted basis. For an analysis of the

benchmark revisions, see 

www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesbmart.pdf.

 The employment change for December 

(seasonally adjusted) revised up from 

+148,000 to +160,000, and the change for

November revised down from +252,000 to

211

267

78

282

326

191

256

164

88

351

264

234

103

257

235

174

34

285

325

175

264

140

172

180

259

200

73

175

155

239

190

221

14

271

216

160

200

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, February 02, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in total nonfarm

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018

+38,000 Education and Health Services

 Health care employment continued to trend 

up in January (+21,000). Over the past 12 

months, employment in the industry has 

increased by an average 25,000 per month, 

down from 29,000 during the prior 12 months.

+15,000 Manufacturing

 Over the month, manufacturing 

employment continued to trend up (+15,000),

in line with the prior 12-month average 

change. In January, a gain of 18,000 jobs was 

widely distributed among durable goods 

industries. 

+15,000 Retail Trade 

 Within retail trade, clothing and clothing 

accessories stores added 15,000 jobs in 

January, mostly offsetting losses over the prior 

2 months. Employment changed little over the 

month elsewhere in retail trade.

+11,000 Transportation and Warehousing 

 Within transportation and warehousing, 

couriers and messengers added 5,000 jobs in 

January, consistent with trend over the 

preceding 12 months.

+10,000 Wholesale Trade 

 Employment in wholesale trade continued 

to edge up in January. The industry has added 

an average 6,000 jobs per month over the past 

12 months, compared to 2,000 per month 

over the prior 12 months. 

+23,000 Professional and Business Services 

 Employment in professional and business 

services changed little over the past 3 months, 

averaging +21,000 per month. Job growth in 

the industry had averaged 38,000 per month 

over the preceding 12 months.

4

6

35

38

23

9

-6

-1

11

15

10

15

36

6

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50

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

January 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

200*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, January 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in mining and logging grew 

by 6,000 in January. Mining contributed 

5,000 jobs.

 Economic indicators continued to 

suggest growth in the mining industry. 

Domestic oil rigs numbered 939 in January, 

up 1 percent from December. West Texas 

Intermediate oil prices rose 12.4 percent 

from the previous month to $64.22 per 

barrel in January. Since reaching a trough 

in October 2016, mining employment has 

risen by 59,000.

 

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

900

950

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in mining

January 2018 Level: 653

OTM Change: 5

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Mining and Logging 

Summary Mining &

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 Construction employment rose by 36,000 in 

January. Specialty trade contractors led the 

growth by adding 26,000 jobs, with a majority 

being in residential specialty trade contractors 

(+14,000). Construction has added 226,000 

jobs over the past 12 months.

4,500

5,000

5,500

6,000

6,500

7,000

7,500

8,000

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in construction

January 2018 Level: 7,099

OTM Change: 36* 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Construction

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 Employment in manufacturing continued to trend up in January 

(+15,000), in line with the prior 12-month average. Over the past 12 

months, the industry has added 186,000 jobs. In recent months, job gains 

in durable goods manufacturing have driven employment gains in topside 

manufacturing. 

 In January, durable goods manufacturing added 18,000 jobs, while 

employment in nondurable goods changed little (-3,000). Within durable 

goods, machinery (+5,000) and transportation equipment (+6,000) 

accounted for roughly 62 percent of the over-the-month change. 

Employment changes in most other component industries were close to 

their prior 12-month averages.

 

5 5

12

5

18

4

15

-9

-1

13

-4

6

24

-17

-19

6

-18

21

14

-24

-7

-3

2

12

18

21

10 10

4

14

-4

39

6

20

30

21

15

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, February 02, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in manufacturing

1

-1

6

0

1

5

3

-1

2

1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Miscellaneous durable goods manufacturing

Furniture and related products

Transportation equipment

Electrical equipment and appliances

Computer and electronic products

Machinery

Fabricated metal products

Primary metals

Nonmetallic mineral products

Wood products

Employment in durable goods

January 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

18*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018

Summary Mining &

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in wholesale trade edged up by 10,000 for the 

third consecutive month in January. Over the most recent 12 

months, the industry has added 74,000 jobs, three quarters of 

which were added in durable goods (+56,000), similar to 

employment trends in manufacturing. 

 

5

9

1

-4

5

-3

0

-3

-13

8

2

-1

5

-3

2

3

-3

-3

2

0 13

3

3

1

5

6

-4

6

0 11

7

4

8

8 1010 10

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in wholesale trade

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Wholesale Trade

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade:

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services

Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 In January, employment changed little in retail trade (+15,000), partially 

offsetting December’s employment decrease of 26,000. Holiday industries 

experienced a smaller layoff in January due, in part, to a weaker buildup 

during the holiday hiring season. The accompanying table shows the notseasonally adjusted employment build up and January layoff.

 Employment in clothing and clothing accessories stores increased by 

15,000 in January, offsetting the declines over the previous 2 months. 

Since reaching a peak in February, employment in this industry has 

dropped by 37,000, primarily in clothing stores.

 Nearly all other retail industries experienced little employment change 

in January. 

 

-29

-26 19 47 12 40 22

5 32 41 54

-6

6 20242428 1821

-6

-9 4142

-26 27 58 45

8

-1 22 1516 11

4

-7 15 22

-22

-32

-4

-10

3

-1

4

2

7 27

-26 15

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in retail trade

Over-the-month change, January 2014–January 2018

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

YEAR 

HOLIDAY 

BUILDUP 

Oct. - Dec.

PERCENT 

HOLIDAY 

BUILDUP

JAN. JAN. LAYOFF AS 

% OF BUILDUP

TOTAL 

LAYOFF

LAYOFF AS 

% OF 

BUILDUP

2012-13 691 8.5 -525 -76 -730 106

2013-14 761 9.3 -577 -76 -802 105

2014-15 719 8.7 -554 -77 -744 104

2015-16 711 8.5 -517 -73 -692 97

2016-17 651 7.7 -456 -70 -691 106

Average 707 8.5 -526 -74 -732 104

2017-18 623 7.4 -493 -79

Note:

 RETAIL TRADE

Holiday Season Employment Buildup/Layoff

(unadjusted, in thousands)

Includes employment only from Furniture and home furnishings stores, 

Electronics and appliance stores, Health and personal care stores, 

Clothing and clothing accessories stores, Sporting goods, hobby, book, 

and music stores, General merchandise stores, Miscellaneous store 

retailers, and Nonstore retailers

Retail Trade

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in transportation and 

warehousing changed little in January

(+11,000), in line with the prior 

12-month average change.

23

8

14

10

20

26

22

12

7

-8

22

26

-13

5

18 18

13

3

21

32

-4

11

18

27

0

14 14

3

20

7

4

12

25

14

12 12 11

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, February 02, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Transportation and Warehousing

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 In January, employment in utilities 

changed little (-1,000). Since reaching a 

peak in December 2016, employment 

has edged down by 4,000.

542

544

546

548

550

552

554

556

558

560

562

564

566

568

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in utilities

January 2018 Level: 553

OTM Change: -1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Utilities

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 Employment in information changed 

little in January (-6,000), although 

telecommunications lost 3,000 jobs. Since 

the most recent employment peak in 

October 2016, the information industry 

has experienced consistent weakness, 

with a total loss of 46,000 jobs. This 

downturn has been driven by the 

telecommunications industry, which 

accounted for 60 percent of the jobs lost.

2,500

2,600

2,700

2,800

2,900

3,000

3,100

3,200

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in information

January 2018 Level: 2,773

OTM Change: -6

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Information

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 Employment in financial activities 

changed little in January (+9,000). A job 

loss of 3,000 in commercial banking was 

more than offset by small upward 

movements in other component 

industries. 

Financial Activities

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018

7,400

7,600

7,800

8,000

8,200

8,400

8,600

8,800

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in financial activities

January 2018 Level: 8,518

OTM Change: 9 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
 Employment in professional and business services changed little in 

January (+23,000). January’s employment change fell below the industry’s 

prior-12 month average change (+38,000), as the three major component 

industries also came in below their average changes.

 

21

53

23

52

72

63

31 32

20

74

44

57

-13

23

27

42

-1

42

53

10

81

21

36

6

27

19

36

50

57

40

53

42

27

60

16

25 23

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in Professional and business services

Over-the-month change Annual average

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Seasaonally adjusted, in thousands

Jan-18: 23

Prior-12: 38

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018 Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

15

0

8

0 5 10 15 20 25

Administrative and waste

services

Management of companies

and enterprises

Professional and technical

services

Employment in Professional and business services component industries

Over-the-month change Prior-3 mo. Avg. Prior-6 mo. Avg Prior-12 mo. Avg

Over-the-month change and prior averages, January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Professional and Business Services

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Employment in health care continued to trend up in January (+21,000), 

in line with 2017’s average monthly change of 24,000 jobs, but weaker 

than an average 31,000 jobs added per month in 2016. 

 In January, hospitals added 13,000 jobs and accounted for most of the 

increase in health care employment. Over the last 3 months hospitals have 

accounted for roughly 40 percent of a 74,000-job gain in health care. In 

contrast, employment in offices of physicians changed little (+6,000) over 

the same 3 months, representing a slowdown in job growth in this 

industry. 

 

37

26

22

40 40

27

33

35

27

45

21

27

30

34

25

37

35

33

35

20

29 29

25

40

11

26

14

26

19

36

38

18

21

23

20

33

21

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, February 02, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in health care

0

13

1

5

-1

8

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals*

 - Home health care services

 - Outpatient care centers

 - Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services1

Employment in selected health care industries

January 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

21

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government
 Within leisure and hospitality, 

employment in food services and drinking 

places continued to trend up in January 

(+31,000). In 2017, this industry added an 

average 22,000 jobs per month, for a total job 

gain of 263,000. 21 70

-12 33 31 42 36 32 42 58 29 3739 53

5 13 22 20 12 41 34 25 21 29 39 18 12 1922 16 59

6

-59 82 212731

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in food services and drinking places

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and Hospitality

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 Employment in other services

changed little in January (+6,000). Over 

the most recent 12 months, however, 

the industry has added 102,000 jobs.

Personal and laundry services accounted 

for 52 percent of the jobs gains over this 

period.

7

6

1

7 11

-6 11

-10

1

99 14

-4 17

66

-6 16

2 12 17

-1 11

-15 16 13

0

7 16 14

55

0 17 11

8

6

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Jan-17 Jul-17 Jan-18

Employment in other services

Over-the-month change, January 2015–January 2018

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Other Services

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
 Employment in government was flat 

in January (+4,000). Federal employment 

increased by 5,000, and the U. S. Postal 

Service accounted for half of this gain. 

State government (-11,000) and local 

government (+10,000) employment also 

changed little over the month. 

Government employment has shown 

essentially no change since July 2016. 

21,400

21,600

21,800

22,000

22,200

22,400

22,600

22,800

23,000

23,200

23,400

Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in government January 2018 Level: 22,328

OTM Change: 4

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, February 02, 2018.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2008–January 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government

Summary Mining & 

Logging Construction Manufacturing

Trade: 

Wholesale

Retail

Transp., 

Warehousing

& Utilities

Information Financial

Activities

Professional

& Business

Services

Private

Education

& Health

Services

Leisure & 

Hospitality

Other

Services Government

CES Highlights Release Date: February 2, 2018
Prepared by Staff of the National Estimates Branch

Current Employment Statistics Survey

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

202-691-6555

Email CES

CES Analysts

Michael Calvillo

Wander Cedeño

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Brittney Forbes

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis