April 2018

Release Date: May 4, 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, April 2018

CES Highlights Release Date: May 4, 2018

accounting for about one-fourth of the total 

gain in manufacturing.

+31,000 Education and Health Services

 Health care added 24,000 jobs in April. 

Hospital employment rose by 8,000 over the 

month, bringing its 12-month gain to 95,000. 

Employment also continued to trend up in 

ambulatory care services in April (+17,000).

 Nonfarm employment increased by 

164,000 in April. Professional and business 

services, manufacturing, health care, and 

mining added jobs over the month.

 The employment change for March

increased from +103,000 to +135,000, and the 

change for February decreased from +326,000 

to +324,000. Including these revisions, 

employment over these months is 30,000 

higher than previously reported.

 Average hourly earnings increased by 4 

cents in April. Hourly earnings are up 2.6 

percent over the year. Average weekly hours 

were unchanged at 34.5 hours. 

+54,000 Professional and Business Services

 Employment continued to rise in 

professional and business services in April. 

The industry has added 518,000 jobs over the 

past 12 months.

+24,000 Manufacturing 

 Employment increased by 24,000 in 

manufacturing, largely in durable goods 

industries (+18,000). Machinery contributed 

8,000 jobs to the gain. Employment continued 

to trend up in fabricated metals (+4,000); this 

industry has added 60,000 jobs over the year 

211

267

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282

326

191

256

164

88

351

264

234

103

257

235

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34

285

325

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264

140

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200

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175

155

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175176

324

135

164

0

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100

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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, May 04, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–April 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: May 4, 2018

+17,000 Construction 

 Employment continued to trend up in 

construction (+17,000) during April. The 

industry has added 257,000 payroll jobs over 

the past 12 months.

+8,000 Mining and Logging 

 Mining employment continued to rise in 

April (+8,000). Since an employment trough in 

October 2016, mining has added 86,000 jobs. 

Support activities for mining has driven the 

trend by adding 7,000 jobs in April and 87,000 

jobs since the trough.

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2

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24

17

8

-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

April 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

164*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, April 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 grew by 8,000 in 

April, with support activities for mining 

contributing 7,000 jobs. These job gains are 

consistent with recent economic indicators 

for the industry. The number of active 

domestic oil rigs increased by 1.8 percent, 

and the price of West Texas Intermediate 

oil rose 9.3 percent to $67.07 per barrel in 

April.

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

April 2018 Level: 679

OTM Change: 8*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 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–April 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: May 4 2018
 Construction employment edged up by 

17,000 in April. Over the year, construction 

has added 257,000 jobs. 

 Employment changes in April followed

gains in related March indicators including

building permits (+2.5 percent), new home 

sales (+4 percent), and housing starts (+1.9 

percent).

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50

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13

42

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40

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30

3

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46

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-5

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16

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17

42 42

28

67

-10

17

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

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, May 04, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in construction

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: May 4, 2018
 Manufacturing employment increased by 24,000 in April. Jobs gains 

were once again led by durable goods manufacturing (+18,000), with

employment in nondurable goods manufacturing largely unchanged 

(+6,000).

 Within durable goods manufacturing, machinery was the only industry 

to report an employment gain (+8,000), while communication equipment 

shed 1,000 jobs.

 

5 5

12

5

18

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15

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24

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18

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14

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20

30

39

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31

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24

-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, May 04, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in manufacturing

1

-1

2

2

1

8

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0

1

-1

-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

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

April 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Durable goods:

18*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Manufacturing 

CES Highlights Release Date: May 4, 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 down by 10,000 in 

April, offsetting a gain in March. Despite little net change over 

the last three months, wholesale trade has gained 65,000 jobs 

over the year, with durable goods accounting for four of every 

five jobs added. 

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-10

-15

-10

-5

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5

10

15

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, May 04, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in wholesale trade

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: May 4, 2018
 In April, employment in retail trade was about unchanged 

(+2,000), continuing a trend where industry employment has been

essentially unchanged since January 2017. 

 Employment in general merchandise stores increased by 8,000 in

April, offsetting a March decrease. Employment in building 

materials and garden supply stores edged downward in April (-

5,000).

 

13,800

14,000

14,200

14,400

14,600

14,800

15,000

15,200

15,400

15,600

15,800

16,000

16,200

16,400

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

Employment in retail trade

April 2018 Level: 15,927

OTM Change: 2

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 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–April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

2

2

8

2

-5

-1

-2

2

-5

1

-1

-1

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

Nonstore retailers

Miscellaneous store retailers

General merchandise stores*

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Gasoline stations

Health and personal care stores

Food and beverage stores

Building material and garden supply stores

Electronics and appliance stores

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Employment in retail trade

April 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade:

2

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Retail Trade

CES Highlights Release Date: May 4, 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 was unchanged in April. 

Employment gains in couriers and 

messengers (+6,000) and warehousing 

and storage (+6,000) were offset largely 

by negative movements in truck 

transportation (-6,000) and support 

activities for transportation (-5,000).

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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, May 04, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–April 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: May 4, 2018
 Employment in utilities edged up by 

1,000 in April. Over the last 12 months, 

industry employment has shown no net 

change.

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

April 2018 Level: 555

OTM Change: 1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 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–April 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: May 4, 2018
 Information employment changed little 

in April (+7,000) and has shown little net 

change over the year (+26,000).

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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, May 04, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in information

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: May 4, 2018
 

 Employment in financial activities 

was about unchanged (+2,000) in April, 

the second consecutive month of little 

job change in the industry. Despite the 

recent weakness, employment in 

financial activities has grown steadily 

since reaching an employment trough in 

February 2011. All jobs lost in the 

months surrounding the recession have 

been regained, and in April employment 

was 155,000 above its prerecession 

peak, reached in December 2006.

 

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: May 4, 2018

7,400

7,600

7,800

8,000

8,200

8,400

8,600

8,800

Jan-06 Jan-08 Jan-10 Jan-12 Jan-14 Jan-16 Jan-18

Employment in financial activities

April 2018 Level: 8,549

OTM Change: 2 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 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 2006–April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
 Professional and business services added 54,000 jobs in April, split among 

professional and technical services and administrative and waste services. 

Year to date, professional and business services has added 192,000 jobs—43

percent more than during the preceding 4-month period. 

 In April, professional and technical services added 26,000 jobs, with 

upward trends in the majority of component industries. Employment in 

administrative and waste services also trended up in April (+28,000), led by 

employment services (+12,000) and services to buildings and dwellings 

(+9,000).

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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–April 2018

Seasaonally adjusted, in thousands

Apr-18: 54

Current-12: 43

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 2018 Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

*

0

1

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3

3

3

3

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7

-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Specialized design

Legal

Advertising and related

Scientific research and

development

Other professional and

technical

Management and technical

consulting

Accounting and bookkeeping

Architectural and engineering

Computer systems design

and related

Employment in professional and technical services

Over-the-month change, April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Apr-18 Prior-12

Apr-2018: 26*

Prior-12: 17

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance.

CES Highlights Release Date: May 4, 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

Professional and Business Services
 Employment in health care increased by 24,000 in April. Job growth in 

health care has been fairly consistent, with gains of about 26,000 jobs per

month over the past 12 months. Health care has added 98,000 jobs so far 

in 2018. 

 

 Employment in ambulatory health care services continued to trend up in 

April (+17,000). Its main component industries, including offices of 

physicians and home health care services, also continued their respective 

upward trends. Ambulatory health care services has added 202,000 jobs 

over the past 12 months—a gain of 2.8 percent. 

 Hospitals added 8,000 jobs in April, in line with recent trend. Hospital 

employment has continued to grow in 2018 (+36,000). Over the year, 

hospital employment has increased by 1.9 percent.

 

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31

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24

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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, May 04, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in health care

-1

8

3

2

7

17

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

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

April 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

24*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: May 4, 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
 Food services and drinking places 

employment changed little in April (+15,000). 

Over the year, this industry has added 

228,000 jobs.

15

4

0

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Food services and drinking places

Accommodation

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Employment in leisure and hospitality

April 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, April 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and 

hospitality:

18

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

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: May 4, 2018
 Employment in other services edged 

up in April (+14,000). Over the most 

recent 12 months, the industry has 

added 99,000 jobs, a change of 1.7 

percent. Personal and laundry services 

accounted for 48 percent of the gains 

over this period.

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2

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-20

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-5

0

5

10

15

20

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, May 04, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Employment in other services

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: May 4, 2018
 Employment in government changed 

little in April (-4,000). The number of jobs 

in government has been essentially 

unchanged since September 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

April 2018 Level: 22,318

OTM Change: -4

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, May 04, 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–April 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: May 4, 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