February 2017

Release Date: March 10, 2017

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, February 2017

CES Highlights Release Date: March 10, 2017

+58,000 Construction

 In February, employment in construction 

increased by 58,000. Within the industry, 

heavy and civil engineering construction 

added 15,000 jobs and specialty trade 

contractors added 36,000 jobs. Employment 

growth in specialty trades was split between 

residential (+15,000) and nonresidential 

(+22,000) trades. Over the year, construction 

employment has grown by 219,000 jobs.

 Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 

235,000 in February. Construction, private 

education and healthcare, manufacturing, and 

mining added jobs.

 The employment change for January was

revised up from +227,000 to +238,000, and 

the change for December revised down from 

+157,000 to +155,000. Incorporating

revisions, job growth has averaged 209,000

per month over the past 3 months.

 Average hourly earnings for all employees 

on private, nonfarm payrolls rose by 6 cents in 

February, after a 5-cent increase in January. 

Hourly earnings are up 2.8 percent over the 

year. In February, average weekly hours, at 

34.4 hours, were unchanged. 

+62,000 Education and Health Services

 Employment in private education rose by 

29,000 in February following little change in 

January (-5,000). Over the year, employment 

in education has expanded by 105,000. 

 In February, employment in health care 

increased by 27,000, with ambulatory health

care services (+18,000) contributing to growth. 

Over the past year, health care employment 

has grown by an average of 30,000 per month. 190 151 272 329 246 304 202 230 280 227 312 255 234238 86 262 344 206 254 157 100 321 272 239 126 237 225 153 43 297 291 176 249 124 164 155 238 235

0

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400

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

Employment in total nonfarm

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: March 10, 2017

+37,000 Professional and Business Services 

 In February, employment continued to 

trend upward in professional and business 

services (+37,000). Over the past 12 months, 

the industry has added 597,000 jobs.

+28,000 Manufacturing

 In February, manufacturing employment 

rose by 28,000. Job gains occurred in 

machinery (+7,000) and food manufacturing 

(+9,000). Employment declined by 6,000 in 

transportation equipment. Manufacturers 

have added 57,000 jobs over the past 3 

months.

+9,000 Mining and logging

 Mining added 8,000 jobs in February. 

Mining employment has risen by 21,000 since 

reaching a low in October 2016. Support 

activities for mining accounted for 6,000 jobs 

gained over the month and for 15,000 since 

October. 

-26,000 Retail Trade 

 Employment in retail trade edged lower in 

February, following an increase of 40,000 in 

January. Over the month, employment 

declined in electronics and appliance stores 

(-8,000), sporting goods, hobby, book and 

music stores (-9,000), and in general 

merchandise stores (-19,000). 

8

8

26

62

37

7

0

-1

9

-26

10

28

58

9

-60 -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

February 2017 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, February 2017

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

235*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, February 2017

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 increased by 

8,000 in February, with support activities 

for mining adding 6,000 jobs. These 

gains are consistent with related 

economic indicators. Domestic oil-rig

counts increased 14 percent over the 

month. The price of West Texas 

Intermediate oil changed little (-5 cents) 

over the month. 

5

5

5

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-9

-12

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-11

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-20

-17

-9

-8

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8

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

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

Employment in mining

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: March 10, 2017
 Construction employment grew by 

58,000 in February. 

 Heavy and civil engineering 

construction added 15,000 jobs, while

specialty trade contractors added 36,000 

jobs. Amongst the trades, nonresidential 

specialty trade contractors contributed 

the most to February’s employment 

gains (+22,000), while residential 

specialty trade contractors added 15,000 

jobs. Employment in construction of 

buildings changed little (+6,000). 56 21 3739 26 20 42 30 27 20 18 23 44 26

-11 44 37 14 21 15

8 44 55 39 11 23 43

-1

-14

0 18

-4 23 16 28 12 40 58

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

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

Employment in construction

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: March 10, 2017
 In February, employment in manufacturing rose by 28,000. The 

manufacturing diffusion index increased from 50.0 in January to 65.4, its 

highest level since November 2014. A value above 50 indicates that more 

component industries gained jobs than lost them.

 Average weekly hours of all employees were unchanged in February at 

40.8 hours. Average weekly hours of production employees ticked up by 

0.1 hour to 42.0 hours.

 Employment in durable goods changed little in February. Within durable 

goods, employment gains in machinery were offset by losses in 

transportation equipment. These changes are consistent with recent 

economic indicators for these industries. In January, machinery output had 

increased by 0.9 percent over the month, while motor vehicle and parts 

output decreased by 2.9 percent. (Federal Reserve).

 Nondurable goods added 18,000 jobs in February. Employment in food 

manufacturing continued to trend up, accounting for half of the job gains 

in nondurable goods.

 

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: March 10, 2017

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 continued to trend up in 

February (+10,000), bringing the current 6-month net job gain to 

40,000. 10

6

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5

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3 13

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2

6 10

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

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

Employment in wholesale trade

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. 

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: March 10, 2017
Employment in retail trade edged down in February (-26,000), partly 

offsetting a gain in January. 

General merchandise stores lost 19,000 jobs in February. Other general 

merchandise stores accounted for 15,000 of the loss. Electronics and 

appliance stores lost 8,000 jobs, offsetting an increase of 5,000 jobs in 

January. Employment in sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores 

continued to trend down in February (-9,000).

Retail Trade

CES Highlights Release Date: March 10, 2017

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 

February (+9,000) and is essentially flat year to date. Monthly job growth 

in transportation and warehousing has been slowing over the past few 

years from an average of 18,000 jobs per month in 2014 to 8,000 in 2016.

 Employment in truck transportation increased by 11,000 in February. 

Since a recent employment trough in June 2016, trucking has added 25,000 

jobs.

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9

-30

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-10

0

10

20

30

40

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

Employment in transportation and warehousing

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

2

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

Employment in truck transportation

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Transportation and Warehousing

CES Highlights Release Date: March 10, 2017

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 utilities edged down by 

1,000 in February. 

542

544

546

548

550

552

554

556

558

560

562

564

566

568

Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15 Jan-17

Employment in utilities

February 2017 Level: 555

OTM Change: -1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017.

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

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

January 2007–February 2017

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: March 10, 2017
 Information employment was 

unchanged in February and has shown 

little net change over the year (-14,000). 

1.4

-0.7

-3.6

1.9

-1.0

-0.9

-0.5

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Other information services

Data processing, hosting and related services

Telecommunications

Broadcasting, except internet

Motion picture and sound recording industries

Publishing industries, except internet

Employment in information

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Over-the-month change, February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017.

Current over-the-month change Prior 6-month average change

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: March 10, 2017
 Employment in financial activities 

changed little in February (+7,000), 

following 2 months of strong growth. 

Over the 12 months prior to February, 

the industry had added 16,000 jobs per 

month on average. 

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10

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20

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40

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

Employment in financial activities

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

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: March 10, 2017
 Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up 

in February (+37,000). Since a trough in August 2009, professional and 

business services employment recovered the number of jobs lost following 

a December 2007 peak. Employment in the industry has since expanded by 

2.4 million above that peak.

 In February, employment continued to trend up in professional and 

technical services (+20,000), while administrative and waste services 

experienced a below-average employment change (+12,000).

 

16000

16500

17000

17500

18000

18500

19000

19500

20000

20500

21000

Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Jan-17

Employment in Professional and business services

January 2007 - February 2017

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

February 2017 Level: 20,499

OTM change: 37

December 2007 peak: 18,051

August 2009 trough: 16,386

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017.

Shaded area represents recession as denoted by the National Buruea of Economic Research. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

12

5

20

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

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, February 2017

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, Marcyh 10, 2017

Data are preliminary.

Professional and Business Services

CES Highlights Release Date: March 10, 2017

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
 In February, private educational services added 29,000 jobs, 

accounting for roughly half of the job gain in education and health care. 

Educational services has added 105,000 jobs over the past 12 months, 

an increase of 3 percent.

 Health care added 27,000 jobs in February, in line with the average 

monthly change of 30,000 for the prior 12-month period. Within health 

care, ambulatory health care services added 18,000 jobs, also in line its 

prior 12-month average change of 20,000.

 Health care has added 357,000 jobs over the year, which is most of 

the overall change in private education and health services. 15

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30

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

Employment in educational services

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

2 12 23 13 32 15 19 33 23 33 373737 26 21 3940 30 36 33 25 45 24 28 27 34 23 3638 36 42 20 3030 28 36 12 27

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

Employment in health care 

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: March 10, 2017

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
 Leisure and hospitality employment 

continued to trend up in February 

(+26,000). 

 Food services and drinking places 

employment continued to trend up in 

February (+17,000). For the fourth 

consecutive month, the trend within the 

industry has been driven by limitedservice restaurants. 36

7 61 55 60 26

9 18 47 43 3840 22 48 17 38 79 26 41 32 67 57 53 37 30 4549 15

9 49 42 21 1111 44

5 2426

-20

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20

40

60

80

100

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

Employment in leisure and hospitality

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. 

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: March 10, 2017
 Employment in other services

changed little in February (+8,000). This 

industry has added 57,000 jobs over the 

year. Personal and laundry services 

accounted for 75 percent of the job 

gains over this 12-month period.

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10

20

30

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

Employment in other services

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. 

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: March 10, 2017
 Employment in government changed 

little in February (+8,000). Over the past 

5 months, employment in the industry 

has shown little net change.

-14 12 11 30

-6 45

-24

-8 43 13 10 15

7 16

-11 27 20 1115 42

-16

7 12 22 1616 36

-5 2628 42 33 26

-8

-14

5 17

8

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

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

Employment in government

Over-the-month change, January 2014–February 2017

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, March 10, 2017. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: March 10, 2017
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

Tyler Downing

Brittney Forbes

Mike McCall

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Trinity Wade

Julia Wolfe

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis