August 2018

Release Date: September 7, 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, August 2018

CES Highlights Release Date: September 7, 2018

+53,000 Education and Health Services

 Health care added 33,000 jobs in August. 

Within the industry, employment increased in 

ambulatory care services (+21,000) and in 

hospitals (+8,000). Over the past 12 months, 

health care has added 301,000 jobs.

+22,000 Wholesale Trade

 Durable goods wholesalers added 14,000 

jobs in August and 68,000 jobs over the year, 

accounting for most of the job growth within 

wholesale trade during these periods.

 Nonfarm employment increased by 

201,000 in August. Professional and business 

services, health care, wholesale trade, 

transportation and warehousing, and mining

added jobs over the month.

 The employment change for July revised 

down from +157,000 to +147,000, and the 

change for June also revised down from 

+248,000 to +208,000. On net, employment 

over these months is 50,000 lower than 

previously reported.

 Average hourly earnings of all privatesector employees increased by 10 cents in 

August, after rising by 7 cents in July. Over the 

year, hourly earnings have risen by 2.9 

percent. Average weekly hours, at 34.5 hours,

were unchanged in August. 

+53,000 Professional and Business Services

 Employment in professional and business 

services increased by 53,000 in August, with 

more than half of the growth occurring in 

professional and technical services. Over the 

year, professional and business services has 

added 519,000 jobs.

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

175176

324

155

175

268

208

147

201

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

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

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, September 07, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–August 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: September 7, 2018

+20,000 Transportation and Warehousing

 In August, employment in transportation 

and warehousing rose by 20,000. Within the 

industry, couriers and messengers added 

4,000 jobs. Over the year, transportation and 

warehousing has added 173,000 jobs. 

+6,000 Mining and Logging

 Employment in mining increased by 6,000 

in August, with support activities for mining 

accounting for the increase. Since an 

employment trough in October 2016, mining 

has added 104,000 jobs, with support 

activities for mining responsible for 100,000 of 

the job gain.

+23,000 Construction 

 Employment in construction continued to 

trend up in August (+23,000). The industry has 

added 297,000 jobs over the past 12 months, 

with specialty trade contractors accounting for 

two-thirds of the growth.

-3

13

17

53

53

11

-6

0

20

-6

22

-3

23

6

-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

August 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Total nonfarm:

201*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

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: September 7, 2018

Current Employment Statistics Survey Summary, August 2018
 Employment in mining grew by 6,000 in 

August, due to a gain in support activities for 

mining. So far in 2018, mining has added 

49,000 jobs, with 38,000 coming from support 

activities for mining.

 Consistent with the August job gain, 

domestic oil rigs increased 0.3 percent from 

July.

-15

-21

-19

-12

-11

-9

-5

-1

-4

-2

3

-1

1

9

6 10

5

5

2

9

-1

2

4

1

6

9

8

9

3

9

-1

6

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

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

Employment in mining

Over-the-month change, January 2016–August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: September 7, 2018
 Construction employment edged up by 

23,000 in August. Employment continued to 

trend up in construction of buildings (+7,000) 

and in specialty trade contractors (+15,000).

4 13 41

9

-6

5 30

3 32 2424 11 51 463

-5

7 16

-6 28

9 17 4242 28 67

-3 16 30

8 1823

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

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

Employment in construction

Over-the-month change, January 2016–August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: September 7, 2018
 Employment in manufacturing changed little in August (-3,000). The 

industry has added 159,000 jobs thus far in 2018. The manufacturing 

diffusion index over one month fell to 52.6 from 61.2 in July, indicating 

that fewer industries added jobs in August than in July.

 

 

 Within nondurable goods, an employment increase in chemicals 

(+5,000) was about offset by a job loss in plastics and rubber products (-

4,000). 

55 125 18

4 15

-9

-1 13

-4

6 24

-17

-19

6

-18 21 14

-24

-7

-3

2 12 1821 1010

4 14

-4 39

6 20 30 39 20 31 21 28 23 21 18

-3

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

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

Employment in manufacturing

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

0

-4

5

0

-1

2

0

0

1

-1

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Miscellaneous nondurable goods manufacturing

Plastics and rubber*

Chemicals*

Petroleum and coal products

Printing

Paper products

Apparel

Textile product mills

Textile mills

Food manufacturing

Employment in nondurable goods

August 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Nondurable 

goods:

1

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Manufacturing

CES Highlights Release Date: September 7, 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 grew by 22,000 in August, 

bringing the 12-month net change to +99,000. Durable goods 

wholesalers accounted for a majority of these gains. Gains 

within durable goods have been dispersed across component 

industries, similar to the widespread gains within durable goods 

manufacturing industries over the same periods. 

5,200

5,400

5,600

5,800

6,000

6,200

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

Employment in wholesale trade

August 2018 Level: 6,007

OTM Change: 22* 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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–August 2018

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: September 7, 2018
 Employment in retail trade changed little in August (-6,000), below its prior 

12-month average (+6,000). Since January 2017, industry employment has 

been essentially unchanged (+1,000).

 Over the month, employment in the clothing and accessories industry has 

decreased by 21,000; while employment in sporting goods, hobby, and music 

stores increased by 9.000. 

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 12 46 11

-2 29

-42

4

-6

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

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

Employment in retail trade

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

2.8

2.7

-3.1

9.2

-20.8

-0.6

1.6

3.5

-2.2

-1.4

-2.0

4.4

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

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

Over-the-month change, August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Retail trade:

-6

CES Highlights Release Date: September 7, 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

Retail Trade
 Employment in transportation and 

warehousing increased in August 

(+20,000). So far this year, the industry 

has added 113,000 jobs compared with 

135,000 in all of 2017. 

 Employment in several industries 

departed from their prior 12-month 

averages, including truck transportation 

and transit and ground passenger 

transportation. Couriers and messengers 

added 4,000 jobs in August.

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: September 7, 2018
 Utilities employment was essentially 

unchanged in August and is essentially 

unchanged over the year (-3,000).

-1

1

-1

0

-1

2

1

0

00

0

0

-1

-1

0

-1

-1

1

-1

0

0

0

0

0

-1

1

-1

1

-2

0

-3

0

-5

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

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

Employment in utilities

Over-the-month change, January 2016–August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: September 7, 2018
 Information employment changed little 

in August. Telecommunications lost 4,000 

jobs over the month, with losses totaling 

26,000 over the year. 

0

4

-6

7

8

1

3

0

77

-14

8

-1 14

7

6

-35 47

1

5

9

4

-4

-3

-2

0

-1

-11

-4

2

-3

-1

-8

0

-4-4

-16

-1

6

33

-2

-1

-6

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

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

Employment in information

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018. 

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

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: September 7, 2018
 Employment in financial activities 

changed little (+11,000) in August. Over 

the most recent 12 months, financial 

activities has added 111,000 jobs.

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: September 7, 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

August 2018 Level: 8,588

OTM Change: 11 

Feb 2011 trough: 7,676

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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–August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands
 Employment in professional and business services increased by 53,000 in 

August. Professional and technical services came in above trend, adding 28,000 

jobs over the month, while employment in management of companies and 

enterprises (+5,000) and in administrative and waste services (+21,000) was in 

line with recent trends.

21

53

23

52

72

63

3132

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

31

38

61

41

59

4947

37

53

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

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

Employment in Professional and business services

Over-the-month change Annual average

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

Seasaonally adjusted, in thousands

Aug-18: 53*

Prior-12: 42

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018 Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

21

5

28

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, August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018

Data are preliminary.

* denotes significance

CES Highlights Release Date: September 7, 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
 Health care added 33,000 jobs in August, continuing its upward trend. 

Health care has been remarkably consistent, adding an average 25,000 

jobs a month over the last 12 months.

 

 

 Within health care, ambulatory health care services added 21,000 jobs 

in August. Employment in both home health care services (+8,000) and 

offices of physicians (+5,000) continued to trend up and accounted for the 

majority of job growth within ambulatory health care. 

 

 Hospitals also added jobs in August (+8,000). Hospitals have gained an 

average of 8,000 jobs a month in 2018, compared to an average gain of 

6,000 per month in 2017.

 

 37 26 22 4040 27 3335 27 45 21 27 30 34 25 37 35 33 35 20 2929 25 40 11 26 14 26 19 3638 18 21 23 20 32 21 31 25 23 28 2222 33

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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

Employment in health care 

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

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018. Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

4

8

8

2

5

21

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

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

August 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Health care 

industries:

33*

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 2018.

Data are preliminary.

1 Includes additional component industries not shown separately.

* denotes significance

Private Education and Health Services

CES Highlights Release Date: September 7, 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
 Leisure and hospitality employment 

changed little in August (+17,000). 

 The employment trend in food services 

and drinking places remained in line with the 

year-to-date average of 18,000 jobs added 

per month, although the Consumer 

Confidence Index was stronger in August. 

18

3

-3

-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Food services and drinking places

Accommodation

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Employment in leisure and hospitality

August 2018 Prior 12-month average

Over-the-month change, August 2018

Seasonally adjusted, in thousands

Leisure and 

hospitality:

17

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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: September 7, 2018
 Employment in other services

changed little in August (+13,000). Over 

the most recent 12 months, the industry 

has added 90,000 jobs, representing a 

change of 1.6 percent. Personal and 

laundry services accounted for 42,000 of 

the gains during this period.

7

6

1

7

11

-6

11

-10

1

9 9

14

-4

17

6 6

-6

16

2

12

17

-1

11

-15

16

13

0

7

16

14

5 5

0

17

11

5

3

7

3

14

11

18

-12

13

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

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

Over-the-month change Annual average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, September 07, 2018.

Most recent 2 months of data are preliminary.

Over-the-month change, January 2015–August 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: September 7, 2018
 In August, employment changed little 

in government (-3,000), continuing a 

generally flat trend since July 2016. 

 Federal employment is down 7,000 

over the last 12 months, and the U.S. 

Postal Service accounts for all of this job 

loss. Employment in both state 

government and local government is 

unchanged over the year.

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

August 2018 Level: 22,340

OTM Change: -3

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics survey, September 07, 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–August 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: September 7, 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

Osman Alhassan

Michael Calvillo

Wander Cedeño

Steve Crestol

Tyler Downing

Brittney Forbes

Katelynn Harris

Mike McCall

John Mullins

Michael Osifalujo

Edward Park

Current Employment Statistics Highlights

Detailed Industry Employment Analysis