Current Employment Statistics 

Highlights

February 2006

Bureau of Labor Statistics

March 10, 2006

Bureau of Labor Statistics
2

All employees on nonfarm payrolls

1990-2006

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Jan-90Jan-91Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

February 2006

Level: 134,789

Change: +243

• Nonfarm payrolls increased by 243,000 in February to 134.8 million, seasonally 

adjusted. This increase follows gains of 145,000 in December and 170,000 in 

January. Over the year, payroll employment increased by 2.1 million.

• The average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls rose by 5 cents to $16.47, seasonally adjusted. Average hourly 

earnings have increased 19 cents in the last 3 months and the over-the-year 

percentage change, which is 3.5 percent currently, has been accelerating in recent 

months.
3

Employment in total nonfarm and supersectors

Over-the-month change, February 2006 

5

41

-1

3

7

5

1

7

22

39

47

25

5

38

-5 5 15 25 35 45 55

Natural resources and mining

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation and warehousing

Utilities

Information

Financial activities

Professional and business services

Education and health services

Leisure and hospitality

Other services

Government

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary. 

Total nonfarm: 

+243

• Job growth was widespread over the month.

• Education and health services, construction, professional and business services, 

government experienced the largest employment increases in February. Almost 

all supersectors added jobs over the month.
4

Average weekly hours, total private

1992-2006

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

33.0

33.5

34.0

34.5

35.0

Seasonally adjusted

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, March 10, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

February 2006

Level: 33.7

Change: -0.1

Index of total private aggregate weekly hours

1992-2006

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

80

85

90

95

100

105

110

Seasonally adjusted, 2002 = 100

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, March 10, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

February 2006

Level: 103.8

Change: -0.1

Aggregate weekly hours are the product of average weekly hours and production or nonsupervisory workers.

• Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private 

nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.1 hour to 33.7 hours in February, seasonally adjusted. 

Since late 2002, the average workweek has been relatively flat, fluctuating 

between 33.6 and 33.8 hours. 

• The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on 

private nonfarm payrolls decreased by 0.1 percent to 103.8 in February. In 

January, the index had finally recovered to its most recent peak in October 2000. 

The index has increased by 5.7 percent since August 2003, and is now just shy of 

the peak level.
5

1.4 1.4

5.3

3.0

4.4

1.5

4.5

0.1

1.0

-0.9

3.8

2.0

3.7

5.4

4.8

6.6

1.6

3.6

0.2

3.2

4.8

5.9

5.5

2.8 2.9

5.1

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05Jan-06Feb-06

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in mining

Over-the-month change, 2004-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Mining continued its upward trend in February, adding 5,000 jobs. Since 

reaching an employment trough in April 2003, mining employment has increased 

by over 90,000.

• Support activities for mining, particularly those related to oil and gas, accounted 

for nearly all of the over-the-month gain and 80 percent of the change since April 

2003.
6

Employment in construction

1992-2006

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey, March 10, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months ofdata are preliminary.

February 2006

Level: 7,512

Change: +41

• Employment in construction rose by 41,000 in February, following a sizable gain 

in January.

• Construction employment has grown by 857,000 since reaching a trough in March 

2003—a gain of nearly 13 percent. Job gains over this period have been driven 

by sharp increases in home building resulting from a sustained period of low 

mortgage rates. In recent months, relatively mild winter weather in much of the 

country has helped keep construction workers on payrolls.
7

-6

-10

8

29

23

-8

0

-16

-19

-9

-12

-14

-26

8

-8

-12

-5

-18

-9

-11

-26

9

18

8 7

-1

-35

-25

-15

-5

5

15

25

35

Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05Jan-06Feb-06

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in manufacturing

Over-the-month change, 2004-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in manufacturing was virtually unchanged in February; however, 

there were offsetting movements in several industries. Motor vehicles and parts 

(-11,000) and primary metals (-4,000) had the largest job losses, while machinery 

(+5,000) and computer and electronic products (+5,000) had the largest job gains.

• The factory workweek increased by 0.1 hour to 41.0 hours, and factory overtime 

was up by 0.1 hour to 4.6 hours. Manufacturing overtime has fluctuated between 

4.4 and 4.6 hours since October 2003.
8

-2

9 9

15

20

7

-19

15

27

-9

3

19

15

6

-1

4

1

13

22

19

17

29

16

6

21 22

-25

-15

-5

5

15

25

35

Jan-04Feb-04

Mar-04

Apr-04

May-04

Jun-04

Jul-04

Aug-04

Sep-04

Oct-04

Nov-04

Dec-04Jan-05Feb-05

Mar-05

Apr-05

May-05

Jun-05

Jul-05

Aug-05

Sep-05

Oct-05

Nov-05

Dec-05Jan-06Feb-06

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2006.

Note: Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Employment in financial activities

Over-the-month change, 2004-06

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

• Employment in financial activities grew by 22,000 over the month, following a 

similar-sized gain in January. Financial activities employment has risen by 

169,000 over the year.

• Over the month, depository credit intermediation and insurance carriers and

related activities added 4,000 and 6,000 jobs, respectively.
9

Employment in selected professional and business services 

Over-the-month change, February 2006

0.1

2.1

3.9

3.5

4.8

-9.6

0.7

12.5

-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

Legal services

Accounting and

bookkeeping services

Architectural and

engineering services

Computer systems design

and related services

Management and technical

consulting services

Employment services

Business support services

Services to buildings and

dwellings

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs Survey, March 10, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Professional and

Business services:+39

Employment in temporary help services

1992-2006

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Jan-92Jan-93Jan-94Jan-95Jan-96Jan-97Jan-98Jan-99Jan-00Jan-01Jan-02Jan-03Jan-04Jan-05Jan-06

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statisti cs survey, March 10, 2006.

Notes: Shaded areas denote recessions. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

February 2006

Level: 2,614.4

Change: -7.3

• Professional and business services continued to expand for the fourth straight 

month, adding 39,000 jobs in February. The industry has added 466,000 jobs 

over the year. 

• Employment in services to businesses and dwellings increased by 13,000 jobs, 

mostly in landscaping services.

• Employment in temporary help services was little changed over the month and 

has shown little net change since November 2005.
10

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, February 2006

11.2

3.8

1.1

2.4

5.6

1.4

-4 0 4 8 12 16

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care

services

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2006.

Note: Data are preliminary.

Health care:

+18.2

Ambulatory health 

care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential 

care facilities

• Employment continued to grow in health care in February.

• As is typical, ambulatory health care services had the largest increase in February. 

Employment in hospitals rose as well. These industries accounted for nearly all 

of the growth in health care.