Bureau of Labor Statistics

Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

August 2012

Bureau of Labor Statistics

September 7, 2012

 
2 

 Total nonfarm employment rose by 96,000 in August. 

 Since the beginning of the year, job growth has averaged 139,000 per month, compared with 

an average monthly gain of 153,000 in 2011. 

 

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

August 2012

Level: 133,300

Change: 96

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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–August 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

141

96

-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–August 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
3 

 In August, employment rose in food services and drinking places, in professional and 

business services, and in health care, but changed little in most other major industries over 

the month. 

 Since an employment trough in February 2010, most nonfarm job gains have come in 

professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality. 

-7

-4

34

22

28

7

3

9

6

6

8

-15

1

-2

-30 -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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

96

-571

57

735

961

1416

82

-94

11.7

241.7

357.2

202.5

508

-14

163

-1,500 -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, September 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

30–month change, August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

96

Total Nonfarm:

4056

Total Private:

4628

February 2010 – August 2012, net change
4 

 Total private employment grew by 103,000 in August, bringing the year-to-date gain to 

1.2 million. 

 Since reaching an employment trough in February 2010, private industry has added 4.6 

million jobs, for a gain of 4.3 percent. 

 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

162

103

-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–August 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
5 

 Average weekly hours for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.4 

hours in August. The August workweek was 0.6 hour above the October 2009 trough. 

 At 33.7 hours, the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on 

private nonfarm payrolls was also unchanged in August. 

 The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees rose 0.1 percent in August. Since 

reaching a trough in October 2009, the index has risen 6 percentage points. 

 

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, September 07, 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–August 2012

Seasonally adjusted

All employees

Level: 34.4

Change: 0.0

Production employees

Level: 33.7

Change: 0.0

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, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

March 2006–August 2012

August 2012

Level: 96.0

Change: 0.1%

Total private, all employees
6 

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

in August to $23.52. 

 Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.7 percent. In July, the 

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) had increased by 1.4 percent over 

the year. 

 

-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

Over-the-year percent change

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

Total private earnings CPI–U

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted

August 2012 Earnings: 1.7

July 2012 CPI-U: 1.4

*1982–84=100

March 2007–August 2012
7 

 Mining and logging employment edged down by 2,000 in August. 

 Since February 2012, employment in the industry has shown little net change. 

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

August 2012

Level: 838

Change: -2

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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–August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
8 

 Construction employment was essentially unchanged in August. Since reaching an 

employment trough in January 2011, the industry has added an average of 3,000 jobs per 

month. 

 -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

0

1

-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–August 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
9 

 Manufacturing employment edged down by 15,000 in August; however, since reaching an 

employment trough in January 2010, the industry has added 512,000 jobs. 

 A decline in motor vehicles and parts (-8,000) partially offset a gain in July. Auto 

manufacturers laid off fewer workers for factory retooling than usual in July, and therefore 

fewer workers than usual were recalled in August. The average monthly employment change 

for July and August is in line with the recent trend. -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

3234

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

23

-15

-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–August 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-0.5

1.6

-8.2

-1.3

-1.8

1.7

-3.1

-2.6

-1.3

-1.4

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

Miscellaneous 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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

-17
10 

 The manufacturing workweek for all employees declined by 0.2 hour to 40.5 hours, and 

factory overtime was unchanged at 3.2 hours. 

 The manufacturing workweek for production employees declined by 0.1 hour to 41.5 hours, 

and factory overtime for production employees also decline by 0.1 hour to 4.1 hours. 

 

38.0

38.5

39.0

39.5

40.0

40.5

41.0

41.5

42.0

42.5

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

Average weekly hours, manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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–August 2012

Seasonally adjusted

Production employees

Level: 41.5

Change: -0.1

All employees

Level: 40.5

Change: -0.2
11 

 Employment in retail trade edged up by 6,000 in August. Retail employment has changed 

little in 2012, compared to an average gain of 18,000 jobs per month in 2011. 

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

-2

6

-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–August 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
12 

 Employment in financial activities changed little over the month. 

 Within financial activities, finance and insurance added 11,000 jobs in August, marking that 

industry’s largest over-the-month change since September 2010. 

 -5 -11

1

-14

-4

-17

-13

-16

-34

-33

-45

-37

-49

-53

-40

-52

-28

-25

-11

-25

-9

-15

2

-12

-11

-8

-14

8

-6

-5

-4

3 8

5

6

8

-3

3

14

-4

14

-13

-4

5

-6

5

11

5

1

7

13

6

11

3

-2

7

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

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

Employment in financial activities

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
13 

 Professional and business services added 28,000 jobs in August. Since February 2012, 

professional and business services has averaged 33,000 jobs added per month. 

 

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

41

47

28

-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–August 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
14 

 Within professional and technical services, computer systems design and related services 

added 11,000 jobs, followed by management and technical consulting services with 9,000 

jobs added. Employment in computer systems design and related services has maintained 

fairly consistent growth since its latest trough in August 2009, averaging a gain of 6,000 jobs 

per month. Likewise, job growth in management and technical consulting has averaged 6,000 

per month since its trough in May 2010. 

 Employment in temporary help services changed little over the month, and has shown little 

net change since February 2012. 

 

-6.2

0.4

0.5

0.4

8.7

10.6

3.8

3.5

26.8

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

- Services to buildings

- Employment services

Administrative and waste services ̊

Management of companies

- Management and technical consulting

- Computer systems design

- Architectural and engineering

- Accounting and bookkeeping

Professional and technical ̊

Employment in selected professional and business services

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Professional and 

business services:

28

-4

-38

-32

-12

-30

-34

-28

-41

-30

-72

-113

-75

-80

-55

-55

-60

-22

-19

3

-6

7

32

56

45

58

23

30

28

33

31

2

20

20

31

33

30

16

14

36

-1

2

-8

9

21

24

17

20

19

36

50

-13

21

15

18

7

-5

-160

-140

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

-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 temporary help services

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
15 

 Health care employment rose by 17,000 in August. Ambulatory health care and hospitals 

accounted for most of the increase over the month. 

 Since June 2012, average monthly job gains in health care have slowed to 15,000 from 

28,000 in the preceding 12 months. 35 2930 37 28 21 33 19 14 18 31 23 15 22 1011 30 24 19 18 222223 20 16 15 36 1215 11 1922 16 28 19 23 10 20 32 36 18 26 32 26 46 24

4

23

34

38

32

19

30

9

19

17

-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–August 2012

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-3.2

5.7

7.2

1.2

0.7

14.2

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

Nursing and residential care

Hospitals

- Home health care services

- Outpatient care centers

- Offices of physicians

Ambulatory health care services ̊

Employment in selected health care industries

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

 ̊Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

Over-the-month change, August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

17
16 

 Food services and drinking places accounted for 28,000 jobs gained over the month. 

Employment in the industry has grown by an average of 21,000 per month since a trough in 

February 2010, accounting for 85 percent of the employment gains in leisure and hospitality. -4-5 -9 -25 -12 -3

7

-18

-28

-26

-36

-22

-25

-24

-24

-30

38

6

-8

-24

-28

-24

-11

-38

-1

-9

25

19

11 1

1

30

54

16

13

15

0

42

38

33

2

7

5

20

28

24

53

25

26

35

27

8

8

10

26

28

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

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

Employment in food services and drinking places

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

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2012.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
17 

 Government employment continued to trend down in August (-7,000). 

 Since the end of the most recent recession in June 2009, government employment has 

declined by 670,000, or 3.0 percent. 

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

August 2012

Level: 21,900

Change: -7

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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–August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

-2.1

-1.9

-3.0

-2.7

0.0

2.9

-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, September 07, 2012.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, August 2012

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Government:

-7