Internet address:  http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:              USDL 98-481
   Household data: (202) 606-6378
                                    Transmission of material in this
                                    release is embargoed until
   Establishment data:   606-6555   8:30 A.M. (EST),
Media contact: 606-5902             Friday, December 4, 1998.


                 THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:  NOVEMBER 1998
                                     
                                     
   Employment increased in November, and the unemployment rate edged down
to 4.4 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today.  Nonfarm payroll employment grew by 267,000, with
sizable job gains in services, construction, and retail trade more than
offsetting another large decline in manufacturing.
   
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
   
   Both the number of unemployed persons, 6.1 million, and the unemployment
rate, 4.4 percent, edged down in November.  Over the last 12 months, the
jobless rate has ranged from 4.3 to 4.7 percent.  Among the major worker
groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (3.5 percent) and whites (3.8
percent) edged down, while the rates for adult women (4.1 percent),
teenagers (15.1 percent), blacks (8.7 percent), and Hispanics (7.0 percent)
showed little change in November.  (See tables A-1 and A-2.)
   
   The number of persons unemployed for less than 5 weeks decreased by
389,000 to 2.5 million in November, following an increase in October.  (See
table A-6.)
   
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
   
   Total employment rose by 477,000 in November to 132.2 million,
seasonally adjusted.  The employment-population ratio--the proportion of
the population age 16 and older with jobs--was 64.1 percent, little changed
from the previous month.  Over the year, employment has risen by 1.9
million, after adjusting for the changes in the composite estimation
procedure introduced with the January 1998 data.  (See table A-1.)
   
   About 8.3 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in November.  These multiple jobholders comprised 6.3 percent of total
employed, about the same as a year earlier.  (See table A-10.)
   
   The civilian labor force, 138.3 million (seasonally adjusted), was
about unchanged in November.  Over the year, the labor force has grown by
1.7 million, after adjusting for the changes in the composite estimation
procedure.  In November, the labor force participation rate was essentially
unchanged at 67.1 percent.  (See table A-1.)
   
                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
                      |   Quarterly     |       Monthly data       |
                      |   averages      |                          |
                      |_________________|__________________________| Oct.-
      Category        |     1998 1/     |          1998 1/         | Nov.
                      |_________________|__________________________|change
                      |   II   |  III   |  Sept. |  Oct.  |  Nov.  |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
    HOUSEHOLD DATA    |                 Labor force status
                      |____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 137,351| 137,596| 138,075| 137,976| 138,253|    277
  Employment..........| 131,349| 131,333| 131,765| 131,677| 132,154|    477
  Unemployment........|   6,002|   6,262|   6,310|   6,299|   6,099|   -200
Not in labor force....|  67,554|  67,887|  67,624|  67,943|  67,851|    -92
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
                      |                 Unemployment rates
                      |____________________________________________________
All workers...........|     4.4|     4.6|     4.6|     4.6|     4.4|   -0.2
  Adult men...........|     3.6|     3.8|     3.8|     3.7|     3.5|    -.2
  Adult women.........|     4.0|     4.0|     4.0|     4.0|     4.1|     .1
  Teenagers...........|    14.0|    14.7|    15.4|    16.0|    15.1|    -.9
  White...............|     3.8|     3.9|     3.9|     4.0|     3.8|    -.2
  Black...............|     8.7|     9.3|     9.2|     8.6|     8.7|     .1
  Hispanic origin.....|     6.9|     7.4|     7.4|     7.2|     7.0|    -.2
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
 ESTABLISHMENT DATA 2/|                     Employment
                      |____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 125,516| 126,141| 126,363|p126,508|p126,775|   p267
  Goods-producing 2/..|  25,315|  25,210|  25,241| p25,208| p25,205|    p-3
    Construction......|   5,931|   5,980|   5,981|  p6,013|  p6,060|    p47
    Manufacturing.....|  18,804|  18,660|  18,692| p18,631| p18,584|   p-47
  Service-producing 2/| 100,201| 100,931| 101,122|p101,300|p101,570|   p270
    Retail trade......|  22,402|  22,561|  22,592| p22,598| p22,663|    p65
    Services..........|  37,347|  37,691|  37,768| p37,892| p38,042|   p150
    Government........|  19,802|  19,892|  19,928| p19,941| p19,959|    p18
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
                      |                  Hours of work 3/
                      |____________________________________________________
Total private.........|    34.6|    34.5|    34.4|   p34.6|   p34.6|    p.0
  Manufacturing.......|    41.7|    41.7|    41.6|   p41.7|   p41.6|  p-0.1
    Overtime..........|     4.6|     4.6|     4.5|    p4.5|    p4.5|    p.0
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
                      |    Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (1982=100) 3/
                      |____________________________________________________
Total private.........|   144.6|   145.1|   144.9|  p145.7|  p145.8|   p0.1
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
                      |                      Earnings 3/
                      |____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |        |        |        |        |        |
  total private.......|  $12.73|  $12.84|  $12.87| p$12.90| p$12.93| p$0.03
Avg. weekly earnings, |        |        |        |        |        |
  total private.......|  440.46|  443.29|  442.73| p446.34| p447.38|  p1.04
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
    1/ Beginning in January 1998, household data reflect new composite
estimation procedures and revised population controls.
    2/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
    3/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
    p=preliminary.

                                  - 2 -

Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
   
   About 1.2 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in November.  These were people who wanted and
were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12
months but were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for
work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
   
   The number of discouraged workers--a subset of the marginally attached
who were not currently looking for work specifically because they believed
no jobs were available for them--was 310,000 in November, about the same as
a year earlier.  (See table A-10.)

Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
   
   Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 267,000 in November to 126.8
million, seasonally adjusted.  This gain was comparable to the average
increase in the first 5 months of 1998 (255,000) and well above the average
monthly rise from June to October (189,000).  Employment in services,
retail trade, and construction rose markedly in November, while
manufacturing lost an additional 47,000 jobs, and mining continued its long-
term downward trend.
   
   The services industry added 150,000 jobs in November, its largest
increase since May.  Employment in business services rose by 55,000.
Within business services, computer services rose by 14,000, continuing its
growth trend, and help supply services gained 22,000 jobs, well above its
average pace for this year.  The November employment increase in
engineering and management services (30,000) was the second largest monthly
rise in a year of robust growth.  Private educational services added 15,000
jobs over the month, for a total gain of 54,000 since August.  Employment
in health services was up by 14,000, with the largest increase in doctors?
offices and clinics.  The number of jobs in home health care services was
unchanged, following 13 straight months of declines; employment in nursing
and personal care facilities also was unchanged in November, following
decreases in 4 of the prior 5 months.
   
   The construction industry had another large employment gain (47,000),
after adding 32,000 jobs in October.  Smaller-than-usual seasonal layoffs
in special trade contractors and heavy construction accounted for most of
the November increase (after seasonal adjustment).  Over the past 12
months, employment in construction has risen by 310,000.
   
   Retail trade gained 65,000 jobs in November, following little growth in
October.  Over the year, employment in this industry has risen by 457,000.
Nearly half of November?s increase occurred in eating and drinking places.
Employment in department stores rose by 19,000, as seasonal hiring was
stronger than usual.  In wholesale trade, employment was essentially flat
for the second month in a row.
   
   Employment in the finance industry rose by 10,000, with most of the gain
occurring in mortgage brokerages.  Insurance continued to add jobs, with a
gain of 6,000 over the month, and employment in real estate increased by
7,000.
   
   Employment in transportation and public utilities rose by 7,000 in
November, well below the average for the prior year.  Water transportation
and transportation services accounted for most of the increase.  Employment
was unchanged in both trucking and communications.  In government, local
education employment was up by 24,000.  Federal employment, except postal,
declined by 4,000 in November.
   
   Manufacturing employment decreased by 47,000 in November, following a
decline of 61,000 in October.  Since its latest peak in March, the number

                                  - 4 -

of factory jobs has fallen by 245,000.  Industrial machinery lost 15,000
jobs in November, and electronic equipment lost 8,000.  Employment in both
industries has been trending downward since March.  Apparel continued its
long-term decline, losing 10,000 jobs in November.  In addition, primary
metals, aircraft, and instruments all have experienced accelerating job
losses in recent months.  Employment in mining decreased by 3,000 over the
month and has fallen by 33,000 since its most recent peak in September 1997.
   
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)

   The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.6 hours in November, seasonally
adjusted.  The manufacturing workweek edged down by 0.1 hour to 41.6 hours,
while factory overtime remained unchanged at 4.5 hours.  (See table B-2.)
   
   The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls was little changed at 145.8 (1982=100),
seasonally adjusted.  The manufacturing index decreased by 0.6 percent to
107.2.  (See table B-5.)
   
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)

   Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls rose 3 cents in November to $12.93, seasonally
adjusted.  Average weekly earnings increased by 0.2 percent to $447.38.
Over the year, average hourly and weekly earnings have risen by 3.7 and 3.4
percent, respectively.  (See table B-3.)
   
                 ________________________________________
   
   -------------------------------------------------------------- 
 |   In accordance with usual practice, the release of December  |
 |data will incorporate annual revisions in seasonally adjusted  |
 |unemployment and other labor force series.  Seasonally adjusted|
 |data for the most recent 5 years are subject to revision.      |
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   
   The Employment Situation for December 1998 is scheduled to be released
on Friday, January 8, 1999, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).  Release dates for the
balance of 1999 are as follows:

     Feb. 5          May 7          Aug. 6          Nov. 5
     March 5         June 4         Sept. 3         Dec. 3
     April 2         July 2         Oct. 8
                                  - 5 -

Explanatory Note


 This news release presents statistics from two major surveys, the Current
Population Survey (household survey) and the Current Employment Statistics
survey (establishment survey).  The household survey provides the
information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment that appears
in the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA.  It is a sample survey of about
50,000 households  conducted by the Bureau of the Census  for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).
 
 The establishment survey provides the information on the employment,
hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B
tables, marked ESTABLISHMENT DATA.  This information is collected from
payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies.  In June 1998,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing about 48 million
people.
 
 For both surveys, the data for a given month  relate to a particular week
or pay period.  In the household survey,  the reference week is generally
the calendar week that contains the 12th day of the month.  In the
establishment survey, the reference  period is the pay period including the
12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.

Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
 
 Household survey.  The sample  is selected  to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population.  Based on responses to a series of
questions on work and job search activities, each person  16 years and over
in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the
labor force.
 
 People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours
in a family business or farm.  People are also counted as employed if they
were  temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather,
vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.
 
 People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following
criteria:  They had no employment during the  reference week; they were
available for work at that time; and they made specific efforts to find
employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference
week.  Persons laid off from  a job and expecting recall   need not be
looking for work to be counted as unemployed.  The unemployment data
derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the eligibility for
or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
 
 The civilian labor force  is the sum of  employed and  unemployed
persons.  Those not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the
labor force.  The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a percent
of the  labor force.  The labor force participation rate is the labor force
as a percent of the population, and the employment-population ratio is the
employed as a percent of the population.
 
 Establishment survey.  The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
Federal, State, and local government entities.  Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave.  Persons are counted in each job
they hold.  Hours and earnings data are for private businesses and relate
only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-producing sector.

                                  - 6 -
 
 Differences in employment estimates.  The numerous conceptual and
methodological differences between the household and establishment surveys
result in important distinctions in the employment estimates derived from
the surveys.  Among these are:
 
 --The household survey includes agricultural workers, the self-employed,
unpaid family workers, and private household workers among the employed.
These groups are excluded from the establishment survey.

 --The household survey includes people on unpaid leave among the
employed. The establishment survey does not.
 
 --The household survey is limited to  workers 16 years of age and older.
The establishment survey is not limited by age.
 
 --The  household survey has no duplication of individuals, because
individuals  are counted only once, even if they hold more than one job. In
the establishment survey, employees working at more than one job  and thus
appearing on more than one payroll would be counted separately for each
appearance.
 
 Other differences between the two surveys are described in   "Comparing
Employment Estimates from Household and Payroll Surveys," which may be
obtained from BLS upon request.

Seasonal adjustment
 
 Over the course of a year, the size of the nation's labor force and the
levels of employment and unemployment undergo sharp fluctuations due to
such seasonal events as changes in weather, reduced or expanded production,
harvests, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools.  The
effect of such seasonal  variation can  be  very large; seasonal
fluctuations may account for as much as 95 percent of the month-to-month
changes in unemployment.
 
 Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each
year, their influence on statistical trends can be eliminated by adjusting
the statistics from month to month.  These adjustments make nonseasonal
developments, such as declines in economic activity or increases in the
participation of women in the labor force, easier to spot.  For example,
the large number of youth entering the labor force each June is likely to
obscure any other changes that have taken place relative to May, making it
difficult to determine if the level of economic activity has risen or
declined.  However, because the effect of students finishing school in
previous years is known, the statistics for the current year can be
adjusted to allow for a comparable change.  Insofar as the seasonal
adjustment is made correctly, the adjusted figure provides a more useful
tool with which to analyze changes in economic activity.
 
 In both the household and establishment surveys, most seasonally adjusted
series are independently adjusted.  However, the adjusted series for many
major estimates, such as total payroll employment, employment in most major
industry divisions, total employment, and unemployment are computed by
aggregating independently adjusted component series.  For example, total
unemployment is derived by summing the adjusted series for four major age-
sex components; this differs from the unemployment estimate that would be
obtained by directly adjusting the total or by combining the duration,
reasons, or more detailed age categories.
 
 The numerical factors used to make the seasonal adjustments are
recalculated twice a year.  For the household survey, the factors are
calculated for the January-June period and again for the July-December

                                  - 7 -

period.  For the establishment survey, updated factors for seasonal
adjustment are calculated for the May-October period and introduced along
with new benchmarks, and again for the November-April period.  In both
surveys, revisions to historical data are made once a year.

Reliability of the estimates
 
 Statistics based on the household and establishment surveys are subject
to both sampling and nonsampling error.  When a sample rather than the
entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates
may differ from the "true" population values they represent.  The exact
difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample
selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the
estimate.  There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that
an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard
errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error.  BLS
analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
 
 For example, the confidence interval for the monthly change in total
employment from the household survey is on the order of plus or minus
376,000.  Suppose the estimate of total employment increases by 100,000
from one month to the next.  The 90-percent confidence interval on the
monthly change would range from -276,000 to 476,000 (100,000 +/- 376,000).
These figures do not mean that the sample results are off by these
magnitudes, but rather that there is about a 90-percent chance that the
"true" over-the-month change lies within this interval.  Since this range
includes values of less than zero, we could not say with confidence that
employment had, in fact, increased.  If, however, the reported employment
rise was half a million, then all of the values within the 90-percent
confidence interval would be greater than zero.  In this case, it is likely
(at least a 90-percent chance) that an employment rise had, in fact,
occurred.  The 90-percent confidence interval for the monthly change in
unemployment is +/- 258,000, and for the monthly change in the unemployment
rate it is +/- .21 percentage point.
 
 In general, estimates involving many individuals or establishments have
lower standard errors (relative to the size of the estimate) than estimates
which are based on a small number of observations.  The precision of
estimates is also improved when the data are cumulated over time such as
for quarterly and annual averages.  The seasonal adjustment process can
also improve the stability of the monthly estimates.
 
 The household and establishment surveys are also affected by nonsampling
error.  Nonsampling errors can occur for many reasons, including the
failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain
information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness
of respondents to provide correct information on a timely basis, mistakes
made by respondents, and errors made in the collection or processing of the
data.
 
 For example, in the establishment survey, estimates for the most recent 2
months are based on substantially incomplete returns; for this reason,
these estimates are labeled preliminary in the tables.  It is only after
two successive revisions to a monthly estimate, when nearly all sample
reports have been received, that the estimate is considered final.
 
 Another major source of nonsampling error in the establishment survey is
the inability to capture, on a timely basis, employment generated by new
firms.  To correct for this systematic underestimation of employment growth
(and other sources of error), a process known as bias adjustment is
included in the survey's estimating procedures, whereby a specified number
of jobs is added to the monthly sample-based change.  The size of the

                                  - 8 -

monthly bias adjustment is based largely on past relationships between the
sample-based estimates of employment and the total counts of employment
described below.
 
 The sample-based estimates from the establishment survey are adjusted
once a year (on a lagged basis) to universe counts of payroll employment
obtained from administrative records of the unemployment insurance program.
The difference between the March sample-based employment estimates and the
March universe counts is known as a benchmark revision, and serves as a
rough proxy for total survey error.  The new benchmarks also incorporate
changes in the classification of industries.  Over the past decade, the
benchmark revision for total nonfarm employment has averaged 0.2 percent,
ranging from zero to 0.6 percent.

Additional statistics and other information
 
 More comprehensive statistics are contained in Employment and Earnings,
published each month by BLS.  It is available for $17.00 per issue or
$35.00 per year from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402.  All orders must be prepaid by sending a check or money order
payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or by charging to Mastercard or
Visa.
 
 Employment and Earnings also provides measures of sampling error for the
household survey data published in this release.  For unemployment and
other labor force categories, these measures appear in tables 1-B through
1-H of its "Explanatory Notes."  Measures of the reliability of the data
drawn from the establishment survey and the actual amounts of revision due
to benchmark adjustments are provided in tables 2-B through 2-G of that
publication.
 
 Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-606-STAT; TDD phone:
202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone:  1-800-326-2577.
  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-1.  Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age

  (Numbers in thousands)
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |Not seasonally adjusted|             Seasonally adjusted(1)            
                                                    |                       |                                               
           Employment status, sex, and age          |                       |                                               
                                                     _______________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |  Nov. |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Nov. |  July |  Aug. | Sept. |  Oct. |  Nov. 
                                                    |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                        TOTAL                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............|203,941|205,919|206,104|203,941|205,270|205,479|205,699|205,919|206,104
    Civilian labor force............................|136,912|138,255|138,288|136,864|137,296|137,415|138,075|137,976|138,253
          Participation rate........................|   67.1|   67.1|   67.1|   67.1|   66.9|   66.9|   67.1|   67.0|   67.1
      Employed......................................|130,999|132,424|132,577|130,575|131,067|131,168|131,765|131,677|132,154
          Employment-population ratio...............|   64.2|   64.3|   64.3|   64.0|   63.9|   63.8|   64.1|   63.9|   64.1
        Agriculture.................................|  3,259|  3,630|  3,226|  3,384|  3,441|  3,529|  3,518|  3,603|  3,344
        Nonagricultural industries..................|127,739|128,794|129,351|127,191|127,626|127,640|128,247|128,075|128,810
      Unemployed....................................|  5,914|  5,831|  5,711|  6,289|  6,230|  6,247|  6,310|  6,299|  6,099
          Unemployment rate.........................|    4.3|    4.2|    4.1|    4.6|    4.5|    4.5|    4.6|    4.6|    4.4
    Not in labor force..............................| 67,029| 67,664| 67,816| 67,077| 67,973| 68,064| 67,624| 67,943| 67,851
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                Men, 16 years and over              |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............| 98,141| 99,121| 99,217| 98,141| 98,785| 98,892| 99,006| 99,121| 99,217
    Civilian labor force............................| 73,426| 74,165| 74,162| 73,682| 74,027| 73,695| 74,165| 74,091| 74,404
          Participation rate........................|   74.8|   74.8|   74.7|   75.1|   74.9|   74.5|   74.9|   74.7|   75.0
      Employed......................................| 70,328| 71,219| 71,256| 70,352| 70,605| 70,441| 70,751| 70,797| 71,266
          Employment-population ratio...............|   71.7|   71.9|   71.8|   71.7|   71.5|   71.2|   71.5|   71.4|   71.8
      Unemployed....................................|  3,098|  2,946|  2,906|  3,330|  3,422|  3,253|  3,414|  3,294|  3,138
          Unemployment rate.........................|    4.2|    4.0|    3.9|    4.5|    4.6|    4.4|    4.6|    4.4|    4.2
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                Men, 20 years and over              |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............| 90,251| 91,101| 91,192| 90,251| 90,802| 90,889| 91,003| 91,101| 91,192
    Civilian labor force............................| 69,455| 70,051| 70,065| 69,500| 69,790| 69,490| 69,829| 69,815| 70,076
          Participation rate........................|   77.0|   76.9|   76.8|   77.0|   76.9|   76.5|   76.7|   76.6|   76.8
      Employed......................................| 66,951| 67,773| 67,809| 66,824| 67,040| 66,901| 67,185| 67,241| 67,658
          Employment-population ratio...............|   74.2|   74.4|   74.4|   74.0|   73.8|   73.6|   73.8|   73.8|   74.2
        Agriculture.................................|  2,275|  2,542|  2,337|  2,323|  2,394|  2,443|  2,424|  2,463|  2,382
        Nonagricultural industries..................| 64,676| 65,231| 65,472| 64,501| 64,646| 64,457| 64,761| 64,778| 65,276
      Unemployed....................................|  2,504|  2,278|  2,256|  2,676|  2,750|  2,589|  2,645|  2,575|  2,418
          Unemployment rate.........................|    3.6|    3.3|    3.2|    3.9|    3.9|    3.7|    3.8|    3.7|    3.5
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
               Women, 16 years and over             |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............|105,799|106,798|106,887|105,799|106,484|106,587|106,693|106,798|106,887
    Civilian labor force............................| 63,486| 64,090| 64,126| 63,182| 63,270| 63,721| 63,910| 63,885| 63,849
          Participation rate........................|   60.0|   60.0|   60.0|   59.7|   59.4|   59.8|   59.9|   59.8|   59.7
      Employed......................................| 60,670| 61,205| 61,321| 60,223| 60,462| 60,727| 61,014| 60,881| 60,888
          Employment-population ratio...............|   57.3|   57.3|   57.4|   56.9|   56.8|   57.0|   57.2|   57.0|   57.0
      Unemployed....................................|  2,816|  2,884|  2,805|  2,959|  2,808|  2,994|  2,896|  3,004|  2,961
          Unemployment rate.........................|    4.4|    4.5|    4.4|    4.7|    4.4|    4.7|    4.5|    4.7|    4.6
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
               Women, 20 years and over             |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............| 98,212| 99,037| 99,135| 98,212| 98,778| 98,901| 98,994| 99,037| 99,135
    Civilian labor force............................| 59,787| 60,224| 60,326| 59,348| 59,359| 59,712| 59,804| 59,810| 59,907
          Participation rate........................|   60.9|   60.8|   60.9|   60.4|   60.1|   60.4|   60.4|   60.4|   60.4
      Employed......................................| 57,495| 57,898| 58,024| 56,953| 57,000| 57,286| 57,435| 57,422| 57,473
          Employment-population ratio...............|   58.5|   58.5|   58.5|   58.0|   57.7|   57.9|   58.0|   58.0|   58.0
        Agriculture.................................|    806|    802|    709|    833|    793|    819|    773|    778|    726
        Nonagricultural industries..................| 56,689| 57,097| 57,315| 56,120| 56,207| 56,468| 56,663| 56,643| 56,747
      Unemployed....................................|  2,292|  2,326|  2,302|  2,395|  2,359|  2,426|  2,368|  2,388|  2,434
          Unemployment rate.........................|    3.8|    3.9|    3.8|    4.0|    4.0|    4.1|    4.0|    4.0|    4.1
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
              Both sexes, 16 to 19 years            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian  noninstitutional population.............| 15,478| 15,781| 15,777| 15,478| 15,690| 15,689| 15,702| 15,781| 15,777
    Civilian labor force............................|  7,670|  7,980|  7,897|  8,016|  8,147|  8,213|  8,442|  8,351|  8,270
          Participation rate........................|   49.6|   50.6|   50.1|   51.8|   51.9|   52.4|   53.8|   52.9|   52.4
      Employed......................................|  6,552|  6,753|  6,744|  6,798|  7,027|  6,981|  7,145|  7,015|  7,023
          Employment-population ratio...............|   42.3|   42.8|   42.7|   43.9|   44.8|   44.5|   45.5|   44.5|   44.5
        Agriculture.................................|    179|    287|    180|    228|    254|    267|    322|    361|    237
        Nonagricultural industries..................|  6,373|  6,466|  6,564|  6,570|  6,773|  6,715|  6,823|  6,653|  6,786
      Unemployed....................................|  1,118|  1,226|  1,153|  1,218|  1,120|  1,232|  1,297|  1,336|  1,248
          Unemployment rate.........................|   14.6|   15.4|   14.6|   15.2|   13.8|   15.0|   15.4|   16.0|   15.1
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
  and seasonally adjusted columns.
     NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used
  in the household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-2.  Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, age, and Hispanic origin

  (Numbers in thousands)
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |Not seasonally adjusted|             Seasonally adjusted(1)            
                                                    |                       |                                               
        Employment status, race, sex, age, and      |                       |                                               
                                                     _______________________________________________________________________
                   Hispanic origin                  |                       |                                               
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |  Nov. |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Nov. |  July |  Aug. | Sept. |  Oct. |  Nov. 
                                                    |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                        WHITE                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............|170,545|171,956|172,084|170,545|171,513|171,655|171,804|171,956|172,084
    Civilian labor force............................|115,098|115,804|115,804|115,073|114,975|115,275|115,776|115,602|115,775
        Participation rate..........................|   67.5|   67.3|   67.3|   67.5|   67.0|   67.2|   67.4|   67.2|   67.3
      Employed......................................|110,913|111,599|111,692|110,604|110,630|110,708|111,233|111,013|111,394
        Employment-population ratio.................|   65.0|   64.9|   64.9|   64.9|   64.5|   64.5|   64.7|   64.6|   64.7
      Unemployed....................................|  4,186|  4,206|  4,112|  4,469|  4,346|  4,567|  4,543|  4,589|  4,381
        Unemployment rate...........................|    3.6|    3.6|    3.6|    3.9|    3.8|    4.0|    3.9|    4.0|    3.8
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                Men, 20 years and over              |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Civilian labor force............................| 59,340| 59,620| 59,707| 59,355| 59,403| 59,314| 59,592| 59,469| 59,713
        Participation rate..........................|   77.5|   77.2|   77.3|   77.5|   77.2|   77.0|   77.3|   77.1|   77.3
      Employed......................................| 57,490| 57,911| 58,041| 57,363| 57,436| 57,385| 57,584| 57,509| 57,925
        Employment-population ratio.................|   75.1|   75.0|   75.1|   74.9|   74.6|   74.5|   74.7|   74.5|   75.0
      Unemployed....................................|  1,849|  1,709|  1,666|  1,992|  1,967|  1,929|  2,008|  1,960|  1,788
        Unemployment rate...........................|    3.1|    2.9|    2.8|    3.4|    3.3|    3.3|    3.4|    3.3|    3.0
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
               Women, 20 years and over             |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Civilian labor force............................| 49,286| 49,433| 49,468| 48,906| 48,705| 49,013| 49,110| 49,058| 49,071
        Participation rate..........................|   60.3|   60.1|   60.1|   59.9|   59.3|   59.7|   59.8|   59.7|   59.6
      Employed......................................| 47,717| 47,825| 47,863| 47,265| 47,087| 47,287| 47,492| 47,398| 47,389
        Employment-population ratio.................|   58.4|   58.2|   58.2|   57.8|   57.4|   57.6|   57.8|   57.6|   57.6
      Unemployed....................................|  1,569|  1,608|  1,605|  1,641|  1,618|  1,726|  1,618|  1,660|  1,683
        Unemployment rate...........................|    3.2|    3.3|    3.2|    3.4|    3.3|    3.5|    3.3|    3.4|    3.4
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
              Both sexes, 16 to 19 years            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Civilian labor force............................|  6,472|  6,751|  6,629|  6,812|  6,867|  6,949|  7,074|  7,075|  6,991
        Participation rate..........................|   52.9|   53.9|   52.8|   55.6|   55.1|   55.6|   56.5|   56.4|   55.7
      Employed......................................|  5,705|  5,863|  5,789|  5,976|  6,107|  6,036|  6,158|  6,106|  6,080
        Employment-population ratio.................|   46.6|   46.8|   46.1|   48.8|   49.0|   48.3|   49.2|   48.7|   48.4
      Unemployed....................................|    767|    888|    840|    836|    760|    913|    917|    969|    911
        Unemployment rate...........................|   11.9|   13.2|   12.7|   12.3|   11.1|   13.1|   13.0|   13.7|   13.0
          Men.......................................|   12.5|   13.8|   13.6|   12.8|   13.1|   14.3|   15.0|   14.0|   14.1
          Women.....................................|   11.1|   12.4|   11.6|   11.6|    8.9|   11.9|   10.7|   13.4|   11.9
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                        BLACK                       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............| 24,149| 24,496| 24,529| 24,149| 24,381| 24,418| 24,458| 24,496| 24,529
    Civilian labor force............................| 15,627| 16,220| 16,214| 15,638| 16,059| 15,907| 15,982| 16,172| 16,231
        Participation rate..........................|   64.7|   66.2|   66.1|   64.8|   65.9|   65.1|   65.3|   66.0|   66.2
      Employed......................................| 14,232| 14,896| 14,900| 14,128| 14,508| 14,476| 14,510| 14,781| 14,813
        Employment-population ratio.................|   58.9|   60.8|   60.7|   58.5|   59.5|   59.3|   59.3|   60.3|   60.4
      Unemployed....................................|  1,395|  1,325|  1,315|  1,510|  1,551|  1,431|  1,472|  1,391|  1,418
        Unemployment rate...........................|    8.9|    8.2|    8.1|    9.7|    9.7|    9.0|    9.2|    8.6|    8.7
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                Men, 20 years and over              |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Civilian labor force............................|  6,993|  7,212|  7,133|  6,965|  7,120|  7,017|  6,975|  7,152|  7,103
        Participation rate..........................|   72.4|   73.7|   72.8|   72.1|   73.2|   72.0|   71.5|   73.1|   72.5
      Employed......................................|  6,486|  6,754|  6,662|  6,420|  6,485|  6,470|  6,475|  6,661|  6,602
        Employment-population ratio.................|   67.2|   69.1|   68.0|   66.5|   66.7|   66.4|   66.3|   68.1|   67.4
      Unemployed....................................|    507|    458|    471|    545|    635|    547|    499|    492|    501
        Unemployment rate...........................|    7.3|    6.4|    6.6|    7.8|    8.9|    7.8|    7.2|    6.9|    7.1
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
               Women, 20 years and over             |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Civilian labor force............................|  7,740|  8,030|  8,071|  7,731|  7,921|  7,894|  7,918|  7,983|  8,064
        Participation rate..........................|   64.0|   65.5|   65.7|   63.9|   64.9|   64.6|   64.7|   65.1|   65.7
      Employed......................................|  7,132|  7,437|  7,501|  7,080|  7,296|  7,296|  7,277|  7,385|  7,449
        Employment-population ratio.................|   59.0|   60.7|   61.1|   58.6|   59.8|   59.7|   59.4|   60.2|   60.7
      Unemployed....................................|    608|    594|    570|    651|    625|    597|    641|    598|    615
        Unemployment rate...........................|    7.8|    7.4|    7.1|    8.4|    7.9|    7.6|    8.1|    7.5|    7.6
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
              Both sexes, 16 to 19 years            |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Civilian labor force............................|    894|    978|  1,010|    942|  1,018|    996|  1,089|  1,037|  1,063
        Participation rate..........................|   37.2|   39.8|   41.1|   39.2|   41.6|   40.6|   44.3|   42.2|   43.2
      Employed......................................|    614|    705|    737|    628|    727|    709|    758|    735|    762
        Employment-population ratio.................|   25.5|   28.7|   30.0|   26.1|   29.7|   28.9|   30.8|   29.9|   31.0
      Unemployed....................................|    280|    273|    274|    314|    291|    287|    332|    302|    302
        Unemployment rate...........................|   31.4|   27.9|   27.1|   33.3|   28.6|   28.8|   30.4|   29.1|   28.4
          Men.......................................|   30.9|   31.2|   32.1|   35.0|   30.6|   29.7|   34.1|   35.1|   34.4
          Women.....................................|   31.7|   25.0|   22.2|   31.9|   26.4|   28.1|   26.8|   23.8|   22.1
                   HISPANIC ORIGIN                  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Civilian noninstitutional population..............| 20,575| 21,286| 21,349| 20,575| 21,097| 21,159| 21,224| 21,286| 21,349
    Civilian labor force............................| 13,964| 14,509| 14,384| 13,880| 14,240| 14,277| 14,484| 14,418| 14,326
        Participation rate..........................|   67.9|   68.2|   67.4|   67.5|   67.5|   67.5|   68.2|   67.7|   67.1
      Employed......................................| 13,050| 13,502| 13,425| 12,921| 13,219| 13,203| 13,413| 13,381| 13,318
        Employment-population ratio.................|   63.4|   63.4|   62.9|   62.8|   62.7|   62.4|   63.2|   62.9|   62.4
      Unemployed....................................|    914|  1,007|    960|    959|  1,022|  1,074|  1,071|  1,036|  1,008
        Unemployment rate...........................|    6.5|    6.9|    6.7|    6.9|    7.2|    7.5|    7.4|    7.2|    7.0
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
  and seasonally adjusted columns.
      NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
  group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.  Beginning in January
  1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                                        HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-3. Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment, seasonally adjusted

  (Numbers in thousands)
  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                            |                             |                                                           
                                            |                             |                                                           
                                            |   Not seasonally adjusted   |                   Seasonally adjusted(1)                  
                                            |                             |                                                           
                                             _________________________________________________________________________________________
            Educational attainment          |                             |                                                           
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
                                            |   Nov.  |   Oct.  |   Nov.  |   Nov.  |   July  |   Aug.  |  Sept.  |   Oct.  |   Nov.  
                                            |   1997  |   1998  |   1998  |   1997  |   1998  |   1998  |   1998  |   1998  |   1998  
  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
       Less than a high school diploma      |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
  Civilian noninstitutional population......|  29,505 |  28,713 |  29,084 |  29,505 |  29,027 |  29,204 |  29,290 |  28,713 |  29,084 
    Civilian labor force....................|  12,505 |  12,143 |  12,410 |  12,511 |  12,548 |  12,450 |  12,597 |  12,321 |  12,424 
        Percent of population...............|    42.4 |    42.3 |    42.7 |    42.4 |    43.2 |    42.6 |    43.0 |    42.9 |    42.7 
      Employed..............................|  11,613 |  11,368 |  11,548 |  11,575 |  11,648 |  11,567 |  11,728 |  11,483 |  11,525 
        Employment-population ratio.........|    39.4 |    39.6 |    39.7 |    39.2 |    40.1 |    39.6 |    40.0 |    40.0 |    39.6 
      Unemployed............................|     893 |     774 |     862 |     936 |     901 |     883 |     869 |     838 |     899 
        Unemployment rate...................|     7.1 |     6.4 |     6.9 |     7.5 |     7.2 |     7.1 |     6.9 |     6.8 |     7.2 
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
    High school graduates, no college (2)   |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
  Civilian noninstitutional population......|  57,310 |  57,666 |  57,273 |  57,310 |  57,374 |  57,729 |  57,589 |  57,666 |  57,273 
    Civilian labor force....................|  37,759 |  37,669 |  37,560 |  37,641 |  37,219 |  37,381 |  37,218 |  37,606 |  37,444 
        Percent of population...............|    65.9 |    65.3 |    65.6 |    65.7 |    64.9 |    64.8 |    64.6 |    65.2 |    65.4 
      Employed..............................|  36,376 |  36,287 |  36,159 |  36,193 |  35,694 |  35,898 |  35,693 |  36,106 |  35,980 
        Employment-population ratio.........|    63.5 |    62.9 |    63.1 |    63.2 |    62.2 |    62.2 |    62.0 |    62.6 |    62.8 
      Unemployed............................|   1,383 |   1,383 |   1,400 |   1,448 |   1,525 |   1,483 |   1,525 |   1,500 |   1,465 
        Unemployment rate...................|     3.7 |     3.7 |     3.7 |     3.8 |     4.1 |     4.0 |     4.1 |     4.0 |     3.9 
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
       Less than a bachelor's degree(3)     |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
  Civilian noninstitutional population......|  42,417 |  42,573 |  42,863 |  42,417 |  42,293 |  41,842 |  41,769 |  42,573 |  42,863 
    Civilian labor force....................|  31,772 |  31,827 |  32,126 |  31,544 |  31,174 |  30,863 |  31,152 |  31,221 |  31,901 
        Percent of population...............|    74.9 |    74.8 |    75.0 |    74.4 |    73.7 |    73.8 |    74.6 |    73.3 |    74.4 
      Employed..............................|  30,854 |  30,916 |  31,280 |  30,574 |  30,224 |  29,987 |  30,216 |  30,280 |  31,001 
        Employment-population ratio.........|    72.7 |    72.6 |    73.0 |    72.1 |    71.5 |    71.7 |    72.3 |    71.1 |    72.3 
      Unemployed............................|     918 |     911 |     846 |     970 |     950 |     876 |     937 |     940 |     900 
        Unemployment rate...................|     2.9 |     2.9 |     2.6 |     3.1 |     3.0 |     2.8 |     3.0 |     3.0 |     2.8 
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
              College graduates             |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
                                            |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         |         
  Civilian noninstitutional population......|  41,739 |  43,520 |  43,408 |  41,739 |  43,309 |  43,431 |  43,669 |  43,520 |  43,408 
    Civilian labor force....................|  33,707 |  35,034 |  34,775 |  33,505 |  34,721 |  34,847 |  35,015 |  34,813 |  34,528 
        Percent of population...............|    80.8 |    80.5 |    80.1 |    80.3 |    80.2 |    80.2 |    80.2 |    80.0 |    79.5 
      Employed..............................|  33,173 |  34,405 |  34,180 |  32,916 |  34,146 |  34,236 |  34,453 |  34,132 |  33,875 
        Employment-population ratio.........|    79.5 |    79.1 |    78.7 |    78.9 |    78.8 |    78.8 |    78.9 |    78.4 |    78.0 
      Unemployed............................|     534 |     629 |     594 |     589 |     575 |     611 |     562 |     681 |     652 
        Unemployment rate...................|     1.6 |     1.8 |     1.7 |     1.8 |     1.7 |     1.8 |     1.6 |     2.0 |     1.9 
  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation, therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and
  seasonally adjusted columns.
    2 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
    3 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
     NOTE:  Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
  household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-4. Selected employment indicators

  (In thousands)
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |Not seasonally adjusted|              Seasonally adjusted              
                                                    |                       |                                               
                       Category                     |                       |                                               
                                                     _______________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |  Nov. |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Nov. |  July |  Aug. | Sept. |  Oct. |  Nov. 
                                                    |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                    CHARACTERISTIC                  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Total employed, 16 years and over.................|130,999|132,424|132,577|130,575|131,067|131,168|131,765|131,677|132,154
    Married men, spouse present.....................| 43,129| 43,512| 43,483| 42,967| 42,837| 42,833| 43,255| 43,081| 43,310
    Married women, spouse present...................| 33,162| 33,451| 33,264| 32,840| 32,658| 32,597| 32,870| 33,087| 32,902
    Women who maintain families.....................|  7,740|  7,928|  7,956|  7,726|  7,846|  7,932|  8,002|  7,928|  7,948
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                      OCCUPATION                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Managerial and professional specialty...........| 38,300| 39,960| 39,779| 37,986| 39,011| 38,916| 39,607| 39,732| 39,459
    Technical, sales, and administrative support....| 38,660| 38,556| 38,567| 38,540| 38,500| 38,889| 38,485| 38,441| 38,452
    Service occupations.............................| 17,781| 17,577| 18,065| 17,827| 17,584| 17,727| 17,961| 17,630| 18,083
    Precision production, craft, and repair.........| 14,186| 14,129| 14,478| 14,191| 14,312| 14,079| 13,963| 14,115| 14,551
    Operators, fabricators, and laborers............| 18,723| 18,446| 18,276| 18,467| 18,145| 17,866| 18,047| 18,154| 18,022
    Farming, forestry, and fishing..................|  3,349|  3,756|  3,413|  3,512|  3,503|  3,618|  3,621|  3,683|  3,589
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                   CLASS OF WORKER                  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Agriculture:                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
      Wage and salary workers.......................|  1,747|  2,284|  1,884|  1,855|  2,018|  2,165|  2,213|  2,309|  2,017
      Self-employed workers.........................|  1,466|  1,310|  1,301|  1,493|  1,383|  1,345|  1,280|  1,265|  1,305
      Unpaid family workers.........................|     46|     37|     41|     49|     30|     28|     43|     32|     41
    Nonagricultural industries:                     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
      Wage and salary workers.......................|118,638|119,616|120,296|118,083|118,543|118,676|118,978|118,990|119,702
        Government..................................| 18,384| 18,586| 18,861| 18,170| 18,364| 18,257| 18,415| 18,549| 18,637
        Private industries..........................|100,255|101,030|101,435| 99,913|100,179|100,419|100,563|100,441|101,064
          Private households........................|    913|    950|    967|    910|    974|    853|    900|    940|    975
          Other industries..........................| 99,341|100,080|100,467| 99,003| 99,205| 99,566| 99,663| 99,502|100,089
      Self-employed workers.........................|  9,009|  9,091|  8,951|  9,004|  9,094|  8,947|  9,159|  9,064|  8,942
      Unpaid family workers.........................|     92|     87|    104|     97|     91|     83|     85|     91|    114
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
              PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME             |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    All industries:                                 |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
      Part time for economic reasons................|  3,768|  3,086|  3,159|  3,890|  3,783|  3,463|  3,365|  3,362|  3,281
        Slack work or business conditions...........|  2,153|  1,821|  1,816|  2,221|  2,372|  1,989|  1,897|  2,042|  1,874
        Could only find part-time work..............|  1,334|  1,047|  1,095|  1,386|  1,192|  1,175|  1,152|  1,099|  1,147
      Part time for noneconomic reasons.............| 19,316| 19,479| 19,814| 18,083| 18,584| 18,648| 18,857| 18,641| 18,604
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Nonagricultural industries:                     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
      Part time for economic reasons................|  3,575|  2,956|  3,018|  3,689|  3,632|  3,307|  3,152|  3,216|  3,131
        Slack work or business conditions...........|  2,041|  1,724|  1,737|  2,100|  2,261|  1,900|  1,779|  1,933|  1,789
        Could only find part-time work..............|  1,300|  1,030|  1,073|  1,346|  1,162|  1,143|  1,113|  1,081|  1,120
      Part time for noneconomic reasons.............| 18,708| 18,896| 19,305| 17,486| 17,972| 18,001| 18,305| 18,082| 18,093
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      NOTE: Persons at work excludes employed persons who were absent from their jobs during the entire reference week for
  reasons such as vacation, illness, or industrial dispute.  Part time for noneconomic reasons excludes persons who usually
  work full time but worked only 1 to 34 hours during the reference week for reasons such as holidays, illness, and bad
  weather.  Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used
  in the household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-5. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |       Number of       |                                               
                                                    |   unemployed persons  |             Unemployment rates(1)             
                                                    |     (in thousands)    |                                               
                                                     _______________________________________________________________________
                       Category                     |                       |                                               
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |  Nov. |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Nov. |  July |  Aug. | Sept. |  Oct. |  Nov. 
                                                    |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                    CHARACTERISTIC                  |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
   Total, 16 years and over.........................|  6,289|  6,299|  6,099|   4.6 |   4.5 |   4.5 |   4.6 |   4.6 |   4.4 
     Men, 20 years and over.........................|  2,676|  2,575|  2,418|   3.9 |   3.9 |   3.7 |   3.8 |   3.7 |   3.5 
     Women, 20 years and over.......................|  2,395|  2,388|  2,434|   4.0 |   4.0 |   4.1 |   4.0 |   4.0 |   4.1 
     Both sexes, 16 to 19 years.....................|  1,218|  1,336|  1,248|  15.2 |  13.8 |  15.0 |  15.4 |  16.0 |  15.1 
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
     Married men, spouse present....................|  1,044|  1,006|    981|   2.4 |   2.3 |   2.4 |   2.3 |   2.3 |   2.2 
     Married women, spouse present..................|    948|    939|  1,011|   2.8 |   2.8 |   3.2 |   2.6 |   2.8 |   3.0 
     Women who maintain families....................|    677|    585|    598|   8.1 |   6.8 |   6.8 |   7.6 |   6.9 |   7.0 
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
     Full-time workers..............................|  4,987|  4,903|  4,714|   4.4 |   4.4 |   4.4 |   4.4 |   4.3 |   4.1 
     Part-time workers..............................|  1,329|  1,399|  1,357|   5.4 |   5.3 |   5.4 |   5.3 |   5.7 |   5.5 
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                    OCCUPATION(2)                   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
     Managerial and professional specialty..........|    652|    801|    699|   1.7 |   1.7 |   1.9 |   1.8 |   2.0 |   1.7 
     Technical, sales, and administrative support...|  1,575|  1,567|  1,471|   3.9 |   3.8 |   3.7 |   3.9 |   3.9 |   3.7 
     Precision production, craft, and repair........|    671|    584|    611|   4.5 |   4.4 |   4.6 |   4.3 |   4.0 |   4.0 
     Operators, fabricators, and laborers...........|  1,420|  1,319|  1,289|   7.1 |   6.9 |   6.7 |   7.2 |   6.8 |   6.7 
     Farming, forestry, and fishing.................|    250|    197|    233|   6.6 |   7.0 |   5.5 |   7.5 |   5.1 |   6.1 
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                       INDUSTRY                     |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
     Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers|  4,908|  4,934|  4,804|   4.7 |   4.6 |   4.7 |   4.8 |   4.7 |   4.5 
       Goods-producing industries...................|  1,331|  1,311|  1,318|   4.6 |   4.9 |   4.8 |   5.3 |   4.6 |   4.6 
         Mining.....................................|     22|     14|     12|   3.3 |   3.7 |   3.9 |   3.0 |   2.2 |   2.1 
         Construction...............................|    548|    458|    534|   7.9 |   6.7 |   7.4 |   9.0 |   6.5 |   7.4 
         Manufacturing..............................|    761|    839|    771|   3.6 |   4.4 |   3.9 |   4.1 |   4.0 |   3.7 
           Durable goods............................|    382|    400|    375|   3.1 |   4.3 |   3.7 |   3.8 |   3.1 |   3.0 
           Nondurable goods.........................|    379|    438|    396|   4.4 |   4.5 |   4.4 |   4.6 |   5.3 |   4.7 
       Service-producing industries.................|  3,577|  3,623|  3,486|   4.7 |   4.5 |   4.7 |   4.6 |   4.7 |   4.5 
         Transportation and public utilities........|    233|    257|    237|   3.1 |   3.4 |   3.7 |   3.6 |   3.5 |   3.1 
         Wholesale and retail trade.................|  1,634|  1,524|  1,403|   6.2 |   5.6 |   5.6 |   5.8 |   5.7 |   5.2 
         Finance, insurance, and real estate........|    190|    212|    244|   2.4 |   2.0 |   2.7 |   2.3 |   2.5 |   2.9 
         Services...................................|  1,520|  1,630|  1,602|   4.4 |   4.5 |   4.7 |   4.4 |   4.8 |   4.7 
     Government workers.............................|    426|    409|    387|   2.3 |   2.5 |   2.2 |   2.3 |   2.2 |   2.0 
     Agricultural wage and salary workers...........|    175|    156|    161|   8.6 |   8.2 |   7.0 |   7.9 |   6.3 |   7.4 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
    2 Seasonally adjusted unemployment data for service occupations are not available because the seasonal component, which
  is small relative to the trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
     NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used
  in the household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-6. Duration of unemployment

  (Numbers in thousands)
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |Not seasonally adjusted|              Seasonally adjusted              
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                     _______________________________________________________________________
                       Duration                     |                       |                                               
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |  Nov. |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Nov. |  July |  Aug. | Sept. |  Oct. |  Nov. 
                                                    |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                 NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED               |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
   Less than 5 weeks................................|  2,295|  2,617|  2,325|  2,423|  2,625|  2,675|  2,639|  2,857|  2,468
   5 to 14 weeks....................................|  1,943|  1,728|  1,930|  2,048|  1,983|  1,960|  1,999|  1,841|  2,038
   15 weeks and over................................|  1,675|  1,486|  1,456|  1,865|  1,600|  1,647|  1,651|  1,589|  1,630
      15 to 26 weeks................................|    791|    652|    649|    899|    793|    820|    733|    699|    742
      27 weeks and over.............................|    884|    834|    807|    966|    807|    827|    918|    890|    888
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
   Average (mean) duration, in weeks................|   15.3|   14.6|   14.3|   15.6|   14.3|   13.5|   14.3|   14.3|   14.6
   Median duration, in weeks........................|    7.3|    5.7|    6.4|    7.8|    6.6|    6.9|    6.6|    5.8|    6.7
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                 PERCENT DISTRIBUTION               |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
   Total unemployed.................................|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0
     Less than 5 weeks..............................|   38.8|   44.9|   40.7|   38.2|   42.3|   42.6|   42.0|   45.4|   40.2
     5 to 14 weeks..................................|   32.9|   29.6|   33.8|   32.3|   31.9|   31.2|   31.8|   29.3|   33.2
     15 weeks and over..............................|   28.3|   25.5|   25.5|   29.4|   25.8|   26.2|   26.2|   25.3|   26.6
       15 to 26 weeks...............................|   13.4|   11.2|   11.4|   14.2|   12.8|   13.0|   11.7|   11.1|   12.1
       27 weeks and over............................|   15.0|   14.3|   14.1|   15.2|   13.0|   13.2|   14.6|   14.2|   14.5
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used
  in the household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-7. Reason for unemployment

  (Numbers in thousands)
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |Not seasonally adjusted|              Seasonally adjusted              
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                     _______________________________________________________________________
                        Reason                      |                       |                                               
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |  Nov. |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Nov. |  July |  Aug. | Sept. |  Oct. |  Nov. 
                                                    |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                 NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED               |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Job losers and persons who completed temporary    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
     jobs...........................................|  2,698|  2,426|  2,587|  2,886|  2,908|  2,852|  2,902|  2,815|  2,743
    On temporary layoff.............................|    707|    584|    739|    815|    966|    978|    939|    831|    844
    Not on temporary layoff.........................|  1,992|  1,842|  1,848|  2,071|  1,941|  1,874|  1,963|  1,984|  1,900
      Permanent job losers..........................|  1,304|  1,218|  1,217|  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  
      Persons who completed temporary jobs..........|    688|    625|    631|  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  |  (1)  
  Job leavers.......................................|    661|    757|    651|    655|    799|    740|    724|    734|    654
  Reentrants........................................|  2,099|  2,137|  2,027|  2,229|  2,042|  2,132|  2,195|  2,170|  2,156
  New entrants......................................|    456|    509|    446|    560|    463|    503|    487|    589|    545
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                 PERCENT DISTRIBUTION               |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Total unemployed..................................|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0|  100.0
   Job losers and persons who completed temporary   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
     jobs...........................................|   45.6|   41.6|   45.3|   45.6|   46.8|   45.8|   46.0|   44.6|   45.0
     On temporary layoff............................|   12.0|   10.0|   12.9|   12.9|   15.6|   15.7|   14.9|   13.2|   13.8
     Not on temporary layoff........................|   33.7|   31.6|   32.4|   32.7|   31.3|   30.1|   31.1|   31.5|   31.2
   Job leavers......................................|   11.2|   13.0|   11.4|   10.3|   12.9|   11.9|   11.5|   11.6|   10.7
   Reentrants.......................................|   35.5|   36.7|   35.5|   35.2|   32.9|   34.2|   34.8|   34.4|   35.4
   New entrants.....................................|    7.7|    8.7|    7.8|    8.8|    7.5|    8.1|    7.7|    9.3|    8.9
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
            UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE          |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                   CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE             |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
   Job losers and persons who completed temporary   |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
     jobs...........................................|    2.0|    1.8|    1.9|    2.1|    2.1|    2.1|    2.1|    2.0|    2.0
   Job leavers......................................|     .5|     .5|     .5|     .5|     .6|     .5|     .5|     .5|     .5
   Reentrants.......................................|    1.5|    1.5|    1.5|    1.6|    1.5|    1.6|    1.6|    1.6|    1.6
   New entrants.....................................|     .3|     .4|     .3|     .4|     .3|     .4|     .4|     .4|     .4
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 Not available.
     NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used
  in the household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                               HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-8. Range of alternative measures of labor underutilization

  (Percent)
  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                              |                    |                                         
                                                              |                    |                                         
                                                              |   Not seasonally   |           Seasonally adjusted           
                                                              |      adjusted      |                                         
                            Measure                           |                    |                                         
                                                               ______________________________________________________________
                                                              |                    |                                         
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
                                                              | Nov. | Oct. | Nov. | Nov. | July | Aug. | Sept.| Oct. | Nov. 
                                                              | 1997 | 1998 | 1998 | 1997 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 | 1998 
  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     the civilian                                             |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     labor force..............................................|   1.2|   1.1|   1.1|   1.4|   1.2|   1.2|   1.2|   1.2|   1.2
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  U-2 Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     a percent of the                                         |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     civilian labor force.....................................|   2.0|   1.8|   1.9|   2.1|   2.1|   2.1|   2.1|   2.0|   2.0
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     force                                                    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     (official unemployment rate).............................|   4.3|   4.2|   4.1|   4.6|   4.5|   4.5|   4.6|   4.6|   4.4
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     of the civilian                                          |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      labor force plus discouraged workers....................|   4.5|   4.4|   4.3|  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) 
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  U-5 Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     other marginally                                         |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      attached workers, as a percent of the civilian labor    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     force plus all marginally                                |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      attached workers........................................|   5.2|   5.1|   5.0|  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) 
                                                              |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
  U-6 Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     plus total employed                                      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the     |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
     civilian labor force plus                                |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      
      all marginally attached workers.........................|   8.0|   7.3|   7.2|  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) |  (1) 
  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 Not available.
      NOTE: This range of alternative measures of labor underutilization replaces the U1-U7 range published in table A-7 of
  this release prior to 1994.  Marginally attached workers are persons who currently are neither working nor looking for work
  but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past.  Discouraged
  workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not currently looking for a job. 
  Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time work but have had to
  settle for a part-time schedule.  For further information, see "BLS introduces new range of alternative unemployment
  measures,"  in the October 1995 issue of the Monthly Labor Review.  Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite
  estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the household survey.





  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-9. Unemployed persons by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |       Number of       |                                               
                                                    |   unemployed persons  |             Unemployment rates(1)             
                                                    |     (in thousands)    |                                               
                     Age and sex                    |                       |                                               
                                                     _______________________________________________________________________
                                                    |                       |                                               
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |  Nov. |  Oct. |  Nov. |  Nov. |  July |  Aug. | Sept. |  Oct. |  Nov. 
                                                    |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1997 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 |  1998 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
  Total, 16 years and over..........................|  6,289|  6,299|  6,099|   4.6 |   4.5 |   4.5 |   4.6 |   4.6 |   4.4 
    16 to 24 years..................................|  2,360|  2,324|  2,165|  10.9 |  10.3 |  11.1 |  11.0 |  10.5 |   9.9 
      16 to 19 years................................|  1,218|  1,336|  1,248|  15.2 |  13.8 |  15.0 |  15.4 |  16.0 |  15.1 
        16 to 17 years..............................|    574|    623|    606|  17.6 |  15.2 |  17.1 |  17.9 |  18.8 |  18.4 
        18 to 19 years..............................|    646|    710|    650|  13.6 |  12.9 |  13.8 |  13.8 |  14.2 |  13.1 
      20 to 24 years................................|  1,142|    988|    917|   8.4 |   8.2 |   8.7 |   8.3 |   7.2 |   6.7 
    25 years and over...............................|  3,923|  3,970|  3,898|   3.4 |   3.4 |   3.3 |   3.4 |   3.4 |   3.4 
      25 to 54 years................................|  3,461|  3,520|  3,374|   3.5 |   3.5 |   3.4 |   3.5 |   3.6 |   3.4 
      55 years and over.............................|    472|    456|    529|   2.8 |   2.8 |   2.6 |   2.7 |   2.6 |   3.1 
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Men, 16 years and over..........................|  3,330|  3,294|  3,138|   4.5 |   4.6 |   4.4 |   4.6 |   4.4 |   4.2 
      16 to 24 years................................|  1,325|  1,259|  1,190|  11.6 |  11.4 |  11.4 |  12.1 |  11.0 |  10.3 
        16 to 19 years..............................|    654|    720|    720|  15.6 |  15.9 |  15.8 |  17.7 |  16.8 |  16.6 
          16 to 17 years............................|    312|    369|    348|  18.2 |  17.3 |  18.6 |  20.7 |  21.8 |  20.2 
          18 to 19 years............................|    349|    347|    379|  14.1 |  14.6 |  14.2 |  15.7 |  13.5 |  14.6 
        20 to 24 years..............................|    671|    539|    470|   9.3 |   8.7 |   8.9 |   8.7 |   7.5 |   6.5 
      25 years and over.............................|  2,005|  2,036|  1,926|   3.2 |   3.4 |   3.2 |   3.2 |   3.2 |   3.1 
        25 to 54 years..............................|  1,727|  1,764|  1,620|   3.3 |   3.4 |   3.3 |   3.2 |   3.3 |   3.0 
        55 years and over...........................|    278|    271|    300|   2.9 |   2.9 |   2.5 |   3.1 |   2.8 |   3.1 
                                                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       |       
    Women, 16 years and over........................|  2,959|  3,004|  2,961|   4.7 |   4.4 |   4.7 |   4.5 |   4.7 |   4.6 
      16 to 24 years................................|  1,035|  1,066|    975|  10.1 |   9.1 |  10.7 |   9.8 |  10.1 |   9.4 
        16 to 19 years..............................|    564|    617|    528|  14.7 |  11.5 |  14.2 |  12.9 |  15.1 |  13.4 
          16 to 17 years............................|    262|    254|    257|  17.0 |  12.9 |  15.5 |  14.8 |  15.6 |  16.4 
          18 to 19 years............................|    297|    363|    271|  13.0 |  11.2 |  13.3 |  11.9 |  14.8 |  11.4 
        20 to 24 years..............................|    471|    449|    447|   7.4 |   7.7 |   8.6 |   7.9 |   6.9 |   7.0 
      25 years and over.............................|  1,918|  1,934|  1,972|   3.6 |   3.5 |   3.5 |   3.5 |   3.6 |   3.7 
        25 to 54 years..............................|  1,734|  1,756|  1,754|   3.8 |   3.6 |   3.6 |   3.7 |   3.8 |   3.8 
        55 years and over...........................|    194|    185|    229|   2.6 |   2.6 |   2.8 |   2.3 |   2.4 |   3.0 
  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
     NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used
  in the household survey.
  HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                                        HOUSEHOLD DATA
  
  Table A-10. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted

  (Numbers in thousands)
  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                    |                     |                     |                     
                                                                    |                     |                     |                     
                                                                    |        Total        |         Men         |        Women        
                                                                    |                     |                     |                     
                                                                     _________________________________________________________________
                               Category                             |                     |                     |                     
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
                                                                    |   Nov.   |   Nov.   |   Nov.   |   Nov.   |   Nov.   |   Nov.   
                                                                    |   1997   |   1998   |   1997   |   1998   |   1997   |   1998   
  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
                        NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE                      |          |          |          |          |          |          
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
  Total not in the labor force......................................|  67,029  |  67,816  |  24,715  |  25,056  |  42,313  |  42,761  
    Persons who currently want a job................................|   4,469  |   4,212  |   1,841  |   1,783  |   2,628  |   2,429  
       Searched for work and vailable to work now(1)................|   1,337  |   1,240  |     589  |     580  |     748  |     659  
          Reason not currently looking:                             |          |          |          |          |          |          
            Discouragement over job prospects(2)....................|     331  |     310  |     182  |     198  |     149  |     112  
               Reasons other than discouragement(3).................|   1,006  |     930  |     407  |     383  |     599  |     547  
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
                         MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS                        |          |          |          |          |          |          
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
  Total multiple jobholders(4)......................................|   8,156  |   8,307  |   4,311  |   4,331  |   3,844  |   3,975  
      Percent of total employed.....................................|     6.2  |     6.3  |     6.1  |     6.1  |     6.3  |     6.5  
                                                                    |          |          |          |          |          |          
      Primary job full time, secondary job part time................|   4,609  |   4,609  |   2,741  |   2,651  |   1,868  |   1,959  
      Primary and secondary jobs both part time.....................|   1,849  |   1,794  |     512  |     544  |   1,337  |   1,250  
      Primary and secondary jobs both full time.....................|     194  |     308  |     132  |     211  |      62  |      97  
      Hours vary on primary or secondary job........................|   1,468  |   1,563  |     906  |     906  |     562  |     657  
  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    1 Data refer to persons who have searched for work during the prior 12 months and were available to take a job during the
  reference week.
    2 Includes thinks no work available, could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or old, and other
  types of discrimination.
    3 Includes those who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for such reasons as child-care and transportation
  problems, as well as a small number for which reason for nonparticipation was not determined.
    4 Includes persons who work part time on their primary job and full time on their secondary job(s), not shown separately.
     NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
  household survey.
     ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                    ESTABLISHMENT DATA
     
     
     Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry

     (In thousands)
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                  Not seasonally adjusted                   Seasonally adjusted              
                                                                                                                             
                     Industry                                                                                                
                                                Nov.   Sept.    Oct.    Nov.    Nov.    July    Aug.   Sept.    Oct.    Nov. 
                                                1997    1998   1998p   1998p    1997    1998    1998    1998   1998p   1998p 
                                                                                                                             
               Total......................... 124,965 126,798 127,485 127,818 123,944 125,869 126,191 126,363 126,508 126,775
                                                                                                                             
            Total private.................... 104,869 107,068 107,239 107,388 104,282 106,043 106,269 106,435 106,567 106,816
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................  25,287  25,610  25,521  25,389  25,099  25,135  25,253  25,241  25,208  25,205
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................     594     574     570     564     591     571     571     568     564     561
         Metal mining........................    52.9    50.6    50.4    50.2      53      50      50      50      50      50
         Coal mining.........................    94.3    89.0    89.1    89.9      94      89      90      89      89      90
         Oil and gas extraction..............   338.6   323.0   319.3   314.3     337     325     323     321     317     313
         Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels..   108.2   111.8   111.1   109.2     107     107     108     108     108     108
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................   5,879   6,259   6,270   6,192   5,750   5,970   5,989   5,981   6,013   6,060
         General building contractors........ 1,355.8 1,448.4 1,453.1 1,442.2   1,335   1,410   1,413   1,410   1,420   1,417
         Heavy construction, except building.   823.4   901.4   905.1   869.7     788     828     829     820     824     836
         Special trade contractors........... 3,699.8 3,909.6 3,912.0 3,880.2   3,627   3,732   3,747   3,751   3,769   3,807
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................  18,814  18,777  18,681  18,633  18,758  18,594  18,693  18,692  18,631  18,584
           Production workers................  13,023  12,946  12,864  12,823  12,970  12,746  12,836  12,865  12,817  12,771
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................  11,126  11,103  11,066  11,043  11,094  10,989  11,106  11,090  11,060  11,017
           Production workers................   7,649   7,592   7,570   7,556   7,621   7,468   7,577   7,584   7,566   7,527
         Lumber and wood products............   799.3   815.9   815.1   812.5     795     802     802     805     806     809
         Furniture and fixtures..............   515.6   523.9   525.4   526.7     513     528     526     524     524     524
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....   557.4   574.0   572.9   570.9     554     561     564     564     565     568
         Primary metal industries............   718.0   711.5   705.3   701.1     715     706     714     712     706     699
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   236.3   231.8   229.4   226.3   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)  
         Fabricated metal products........... 1,493.9 1,488.7 1,487.4 1,486.3   1,488   1,477   1,490   1,487   1,486   1,481
         Industrial machinery and equipment.. 2,186.5 2,174.5 2,163.8 2,155.5   2,191   2,193   2,190   2,185   2,175   2,160
           Computer and office equipment.....   378.7   372.8   370.7   366.6     379     375     373     374     370     367
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................ 1,714.9 1,688.7 1,678.4 1,676.1   1,707   1,701   1,694   1,688   1,679   1,671
           Electronic components and                                                                                         
              accessories....................   672.8   657.2   652.8   651.6     672     667     661     659     654     652
         Transportation equipment............ 1,882.1 1,882.2 1,882.5 1,885.5   1,878   1,772   1,884   1,883   1,888   1,881
           Motor vehicles and equipment...... 1,006.6   996.3   998.0 1,002.7   1,005     878     995     995   1,000   1,002
           Aircraft and parts................   518.7   523.5   522.4   521.5     516     526     526     524     523     519
         Instruments and related products....   867.3   854.4   849.1   844.4     867     861     857     855     850     845
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........   390.9   388.8   385.9   383.5     386     388     385     387     381     379
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................   7,688   7,674   7,615   7,590   7,664   7,605   7,587   7,602   7,571   7,567
           Production workers................   5,374   5,354   5,294   5,267   5,349   5,278   5,259   5,281   5,251   5,244
         Food and kindred products........... 1,704.9 1,768.4 1,731.9 1,717.9   1,696   1,696   1,690   1,704   1,700   1,709
         Tobacco products....................    43.6    41.2    41.9    41.9      42      40      40      39      40      40
         Textile mill products...............   611.2   594.9   588.4   584.8     611     594     591     593     589     584
         Apparel and other textile products..   814.1   766.2   752.0   739.0     810     772     762     761     745     735
         Paper and allied products...........   686.6   680.9   676.1   675.1     686     680     680     679     677     675
         Printing and publishing............. 1,564.6 1,562.2 1,566.2 1,572.3   1,560   1,571   1,568   1,568   1,568   1,568
         Chemicals and allied products....... 1,034.0 1,035.0 1,035.2 1,035.4   1,035   1,038   1,036   1,036   1,035   1,037
         Petroleum and coal products.........   139.4   137.0   136.4   135.3     138     135     134     135     134     134
         Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 1,000.8 1,008.4 1,006.6 1,008.8     999     998   1,006   1,007   1,004   1,007
         Leather and leather products........    88.4    79.9    80.1    79.0      87      81      80      80      79      78
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................  99,678 101,188 101,964 102,429  98,845 100,734 100,938 101,122 101,300 101,570
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...   6,498   6,623   6,643   6,644   6,456   6,550   6,570   6,579   6,593   6,600
         Transportation......................   4,188   4,277   4,293   4,293   4,147   4,208   4,235   4,237   4,244   4,249
           Railroad transportation...........   229.1   235.8   235.2   234.6     228     231     232     234     233     234
           Local and interurban passenger                                                                                    
              transit........................   467.5   477.3   485.4   483.4     453     466     469     466     468     468
           Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,692.1 1,743.2 1,746.7 1,735.6   1,678   1,709   1,719   1,716   1,721   1,721
           Water transportation..............   177.5   195.2   192.8   190.2     180     188     192     191     190     193
           Transportation by air............. 1,165.8 1,160.3 1,163.7 1,179.0   1,151   1,154   1,161   1,166   1,165   1,163
           Pipelines, except natural gas.....    14.2    14.3    14.2    14.3      14      14      14      14      14      14
           Transportation services...........   442.1   450.7   454.9   455.9     443     446     448     450     453     456
         Communications and public utilities.   2,310   2,346   2,350   2,351   2,309   2,342   2,335   2,342   2,349   2,351
           Communications.................... 1,452.6 1,493.8 1,500.7 1,501.7   1,449   1,488   1,483   1,490   1,499   1,499
           Electric, gas, and sanitary                                                                                       
              services.......................   857.3   852.2   848.9   849.3     860     854     852     852     850     852
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................   6,724   6,872   6,886   6,880   6,711   6,827   6,838   6,862   6,861   6,868
         Durable goods.......................   3,987   4,089   4,096   4,097   3,989   4,072   4,084   4,094   4,095   4,099
         Nondurable goods....................   2,737   2,783   2,790   2,783   2,722   2,755   2,754   2,768   2,766   2,769
       Retail trade..........................  22,562  22,654  22,661  23,014  22,206  22,547  22,545  22,592  22,598  22,663
         Building materials and garden                                                                                       
            supplies.........................   938.6   988.3   986.8   983.2     944     977     979     984     987     991
         General merchandise stores.......... 2,972.3 2,776.2 2,856.1 3,036.3   2,761   2,790   2,784   2,800   2,809   2,834
           Department stores................. 2,624.1 2,446.3 2,523.2 2,685.2   2,433   2,454   2,459   2,466   2,478   2,497
         Food stores......................... 3,551.7 3,553.1 3,562.4 3,597.7   3,516   3,552   3,551   3,557   3,555   3,561
         Automotive dealers and service                                                                                      
            stations......................... 2,325.9 2,375.3 2,376.8 2,372.9   2,328   2,355   2,354   2,361   2,368   2,374
           New and used car dealers.......... 1,055.5 1,068.6 1,070.4 1,071.1   1,056   1,066   1,064   1,065   1,067   1,071
         Apparel and accessory stores........ 1,155.2 1,091.0 1,096.7 1,146.3   1,105   1,111   1,112   1,109   1,101   1,097
         Furniture and home furnishings                                                                                      
            stores........................... 1,052.9 1,060.8 1,076.7 1,103.6   1,029   1,063   1,070   1,071   1,074   1,078
         Eating and drinking places.......... 7,596.0 7,917.5 7,770.2 7,749.9   7,666   7,781   7,770   7,790   7,788   7,818
         Miscellaneous retail establishments. 2,969.7 2,891.5 2,935.7 3,024.4   2,857   2,918   2,925   2,920   2,916   2,910
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...   7,151   7,399   7,405   7,415   7,172   7,370   7,372   7,393   7,415   7,438
         Finance.............................   3,456   3,572   3,584   3,598   3,463   3,565   3,572   3,578   3,596   3,606
           Depository institutions........... 2,030.6 2,034.5 2,034.4 2,038.7   2,035   2,042   2,042   2,038   2,043   2,043
             Commercial banks................ 1,461.9 1,451.9 1,450.6 1,453.5   1,464   1,459   1,457   1,456   1,456   1,456
             Savings institutions............   259.6   262.7   262.5   263.0     261     265     264     264     265     264
           Nondepository institutions........   579.6   628.7   636.6   645.4     582     624     628     630     639     649
             Mortgage bankers and brokers....   258.6   297.1   302.4   307.5     261     289     294     298     304     310
           Security and commodity brokers....   615.0   661.2   664.8   663.2     616     655     657     662     665     664
           Holding and other investment                                                                                      
              offices........................   230.3   247.2   248.5   250.4     230     244     245     248     249     250
         Insurance...........................   2,279   2,343   2,350   2,354   2,281   2,337   2,339   2,346   2,350   2,356
           Insurance carriers................ 1,549.9 1,597.6 1,601.5 1,603.5   1,550   1,594   1,595   1,599   1,601   1,604
           Insurance agents, brokers, and                                                                                    
              service........................   729.1   745.1   748.2   750.3     731     743     744     747     749     752
         Real estate.........................   1,416   1,484   1,471   1,463   1,428   1,468   1,461   1,469   1,469   1,476
                                                                                                                             
       Services2.............................  36,647  37,910  38,123  38,046  36,638  37,614  37,691  37,768  37,892  38,042
         Agricultural services...............   693.0   760.9   754.6   731.9     694     713     718     719     720     732
         Hotels and other lodging places..... 1,687.2 1,833.1 1,778.2 1,710.9   1,754   1,781   1,786   1,781   1,782   1,780
         Personal services................... 1,155.5 1,145.3 1,148.7 1,147.8   1,185   1,184   1,185   1,179   1,178   1,177
         Business services................... 8,342.3 8,708.1 8,834.3 8,849.4   8,226   8,565   8,619   8,605   8,674   8,729
           Services to buildings.............   948.1   987.3   989.5   991.9     947     980     978     986     987     990
           Personnel supply services......... 3,180.7 3,254.4 3,311.6 3,293.2   3,074   3,151   3,178   3,152   3,158   3,184
             Help supply services............ 2,845.6 2,914.8 2,966.0 2,946.0   2,741   2,815   2,850   2,818   2,825   2,847
           Computer and data processing                                                                                      
              services....................... 1,475.7 1,639.2 1,656.0 1,672.4   1,475   1,622   1,632   1,643   1,659   1,673
         Auto repair, services, and parking.. 1,135.8 1,170.4 1,170.5 1,171.7   1,138   1,162   1,167   1,168   1,168   1,174
         Miscellaneous repair services.......   379.5   390.6   391.3   391.4     379     385     386     388     389     391
         Motion pictures.....................   553.4   559.9   555.6   552.8     557     564     566     568     567     558
         Amusement and recreation services... 1,444.6 1,810.9 1,657.8 1,550.2   1,610   1,694   1,705   1,717   1,718   1,729
         Health services..................... 9,815.9 9,924.9 9,946.3 9,968.1   9,807   9,902   9,919   9,937   9,945   9,959
           Offices and clinics of medical                                                                                    
              doctors........................ 1,770.2 1,833.2 1,841.4 1,846.6   1,772   1,817   1,828   1,835   1,842   1,848
           Nursing and personal care                                                                                         
              facilities..................... 1,763.6 1,757.1 1,755.2 1,758.1   1,760   1,756   1,754   1,758   1,755   1,755
           Hospitals......................... 3,902.2 3,964.7 3,974.5 3,980.6   3,901   3,960   3,966   3,971   3,977   3,979
           Home health care services.........   719.3   668.0   667.4   667.3     714     673     670     667     662     662
         Legal services......................   957.2   982.8   989.8   994.2     959     984     985     991     995     995
         Educational services................ 2,325.5 2,169.0 2,385.3 2,430.5   2,155   2,205   2,198   2,218   2,237   2,252
         Social services..................... 2,562.5 2,642.3 2,667.6 2,682.9   2,552   2,657   2,632   2,652   2,658   2,673
           Child day care services...........   585.7   586.6   598.2   602.4     571     583     586     583     583     587
           Residential care..................   728.5   755.5   759.0   761.2     730     749     752     758     762     763
         Museums and botanical and zoological                                                                                
           gardens...........................    88.4    93.6    93.0    90.8      91      91      92      92      92      93
         Membership organizations............ 2,233.8 2,254.1 2,266.3 2,267.9   2,247   2,272   2,273   2,276   2,280   2,281
         Engineering and management services. 3,077.4 3,267.8 3,286.9 3,308.8   3,089   3,259   3,264   3,280   3,292   3,322
           Engineering and architectural                                                                                     
              services.......................   885.5   929.5   929.7   930.4     885     925     927     926     928     931
           Management and public relations...   974.3 1,067.7 1,076.8 1,091.0     975   1,052   1,055   1,066   1,074   1,092
         Services, nec.......................    51.3    52.9    53.4    53.3   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)  
                                                                                                                             
       Government............................  20,096  19,730  20,246  20,430  19,662  19,826  19,922  19,928  19,941  19,959
         Federal.............................   2,679   2,685   2,693   2,699   2,689   2,672   2,683   2,687   2,712   2,706
           Federal, except Postal Service.... 1,810.9 1,818.0 1,821.8 1,813.7   1,826   1,810   1,816   1,813   1,833   1,829
         State...............................   4,749   4,638   4,778   4,801   4,613   4,645   4,661   4,680   4,662   4,664
           Education......................... 2,082.1 1,909.3 2,069.9 2,097.9   1,923   1,938   1,949   1,960   1,943   1,938
           Other State government............ 2,666.4 2,729.1 2,707.8 2,702.8   2,690   2,707   2,712   2,720   2,719   2,726
         Local...............................  12,668  12,407  12,775  12,930  12,360  12,509  12,578  12,561  12,567  12,589
           Education......................... 7,330.2 6,941.2 7,364.9 7,486.8   6,959   7,078   7,128   7,088   7,088   7,112
           Other local government............ 5,337.6 5,465.5 5,410.2 5,442.9   5,401   5,431   5,450   5,473   5,479   5,477

       1 These series are not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
     trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
       2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
       p = preliminary.




     ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                    ESTABLISHMENT DATA
     
     
     Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by industry
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                  Not seasonally adjusted                   Seasonally adjusted              
                                                                                                                             
                     Industry                                                                                                
                                                Nov.   Sept.    Oct.    Nov.    Nov.    July    Aug.   Sept.    Oct.    Nov. 
                                                1997    1998   1998p   1998p    1997    1998    1998    1998   1998p   1998p 
                                                                                                                             
            Total private....................   34.8    34.3    34.6    34.7    34.7    34.6    34.6    34.4    34.6    34.6 
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................   41.4    40.4    41.4    41.2    41.2    41.1    41.1    40.8    41.1    41.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................   45.6    42.9    43.8    44.1    45.2    44.8    43.8    43.2    43.7    43.7 
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................   37.8    37.5    40.0    38.6    38.2    39.2    39.1    38.4    39.1    38.9 
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................   42.6    41.5    41.9    42.1    42.1    41.7    41.7    41.6    41.7    41.6 
           Overtime hours....................    5.2     4.7     4.7     4.8     4.9     4.6     4.6     4.5     4.5     4.5 
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................   43.3    41.8    42.5    42.6    42.9    42.2    42.3    42.2    42.3    42.2 
           Overtime hours....................    5.5     4.6     4.8     4.9     5.2     4.8     4.8     4.7     4.6     4.6 
                                                                                                                             
         Lumber and wood products............   41.4    40.5    41.5    41.6    41.1    41.2    41.2    40.6    41.1    41.3 
         Furniture and fixtures..............   41.2    39.7    40.9    40.9    40.6    40.7    40.7    40.1    40.5    40.2 
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....   43.1    43.9    44.1    43.5    42.9    43.5    43.6    43.3    43.5    43.3 
         Primary metal industries............   45.5    43.8    43.5    44.0    45.2    43.6    44.1    43.7    43.6    43.7 
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   45.5    44.3    43.0    43.0    45.3    43.8    44.5    44.2    43.7    43.0 
         Fabricated metal products...........   43.3    41.6    42.5    42.8    42.7    42.4    42.3    42.3    42.2    42.1 
         Industrial machinery and equipment..   44.0    41.8    42.4    42.4    43.7    43.0    43.1    42.7    42.7    42.1 
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................   42.7    41.0    41.5    42.2    42.0    41.3    41.7    41.5    41.5    41.5 
         Transportation equipment............   44.5    43.3    44.1    44.3    44.1    42.6    42.6    43.7    43.6    43.8 
           Motor vehicles and equipment......   44.8    43.8    44.5    44.8    44.5    41.7    42.3    44.3    43.8    44.3 
         Instruments and related products....   42.6    40.6    41.1    41.5    42.2    41.3    41.4    41.0    41.1    41.0 
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........   41.2    39.3    40.2    40.2    40.5    40.0    40.1    39.6    39.8    39.5 
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................   41.5    41.0    41.1    41.4    41.0    41.0    40.9    40.8    40.9    40.9 
           Overtime hours....................    4.7     4.7     4.5     4.6     4.5     4.4     4.3     4.3     4.3     4.4 
                                                                                                                             
         Food and kindred products...........   42.2    42.5    42.0    42.5    41.5    42.0    41.5    41.7    41.5    41.8 
         Tobacco products....................   39.5    37.4    39.1    38.5    39.0    40.6    39.6    37.7    38.5    38.0 
         Textile mill products...............   41.9    40.5    41.1    41.3    41.5    41.0    41.0    40.4    41.1    40.8 
         Apparel and other textile products..   37.6    36.7    37.6    37.7    37.2    37.4    37.5    37.3    37.3    37.4 
         Paper and allied products...........   44.4    44.1    43.7    44.0    44.0    43.5    43.3    43.6    43.6    43.6 
         Printing and publishing.............   39.3    38.5    38.4    38.6    38.8    38.4    38.5    38.1    38.2    38.1 
         Chemicals and allied products.......   43.7    43.4    43.2    43.4    43.4    43.0    43.3    43.2    43.3    43.1 
         Petroleum and coal products.........   43.4    43.2    43.9    44.4    (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
         Rubber and misc. plastics products..   42.5    41.4    41.8    42.1    42.0    42.1    41.6    41.7    41.8    41.6 
         Leather and leather products........   38.5    37.2    37.6    37.8    38.2    37.0    38.1    37.4    37.4    37.4 
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................   33.0    32.7    32.8    33.1    32.9    32.9    32.9    32.8    32.9    32.9 
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...   40.4    39.3    39.4    39.7    39.9    39.6    39.3    39.3    39.4    39.3 
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................   38.7    38.1    38.3    38.7    38.5    38.3    38.4    38.2    38.3    38.5 
                                                                                                                             
       Retail trade..........................   28.8    29.1    28.9    28.9    29.0    29.1    29.0    29.0    29.1    29.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...   36.7    35.9    36.0    36.8    (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
                                                                                                                             
       Services..............................   32.8    32.3    32.6    32.9    32.7    32.7    32.7    32.5    32.7    32.7 

       1 Data relate to production workers in mining and manufacturing; construction workers in construction; and
     nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real
     estate; and services. These groups account for approximately four-fifths of the total employees on private nonfarm
     payrolls.
       2 These series are not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
     trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
       p = preliminary.




     ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                    ESTABLISHMENT DATA
     
     
     Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by
     industry
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                      Average hourly earnings                 Average weekly earnings        
                                                                                                                             
                     Industry                                                                                                
                                                 Nov.     Sept.      Oct.      Nov.      Nov.     Sept.      Oct.      Nov.  
                                                 1997      1998     1998p     1998p      1997      1998     1998p     1998p  
                                                                                                                             
            Total private....................  $12.53    $12.89    $12.92    $12.99    $436.04   $442.13   $447.03   $450.75 
             Seasonally adjusted.............   12.47     12.87     12.90     12.93     432.71    442.73    446.34    447.38 
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................   14.12     14.47     14.49     14.50     584.57    584.59    599.89    597.40 
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................   16.41     17.16     17.14     17.27     748.30    736.16    750.73    761.61 
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................   16.28     16.76     16.85     16.80     615.38    628.50    674.00    648.48 
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................   13.36     13.60     13.54     13.61     569.14    564.40    567.33    572.98 
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................   13.95     14.08     14.03     14.10     604.04    588.54    596.28    600.66 
         Lumber and wood products............   10.91     11.19     11.23     11.27     451.67    453.20    466.05    468.83 
         Furniture and fixtures..............   10.69     10.98     10.98     10.96     440.43    435.91    449.08    448.26 
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....   13.36     13.82     13.68     13.68     575.82    606.70    603.29    595.08 
         Primary metal industries............   15.38     15.61     15.28     15.35     699.79    683.72    664.68    675.40 
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   18.28     18.75     18.09     18.20     831.74    830.63    777.87    782.60 
         Fabricated metal products...........   12.93     13.18     13.19     13.23     559.87    548.29    560.58    566.24 
         Industrial machinery and equipment..   14.30     14.53     14.54     14.63     629.20    607.35    616.50    620.31 
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................   13.00     13.26     13.15     13.30     555.10    543.66    545.73    561.26 
         Transportation equipment............   17.94     17.53     17.49     17.57     798.33    759.05    771.31    778.35 
           Motor vehicles and equipment......   18.53     17.85     17.70     17.78     830.14    781.83    787.65    796.54 
         Instruments and related products....   13.66     13.84     13.81     13.87     581.92    561.90    567.59    575.61 
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........   10.71     10.96     11.01     11.00     441.25    430.73    442.60    442.20 
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................   12.48     12.91     12.83     12.89     517.92    529.31    527.31    533.65 
         Food and kindred products...........   11.60     11.95     11.82     11.94     489.52    507.88    496.44    507.45 
         Tobacco products....................   17.88     18.03     17.08     17.49     706.26    674.32    667.83    673.37 
         Textile mill products...............   10.16     10.48     10.44     10.50     425.70    424.44    429.08    433.65 
         Apparel and other textile products..    8.32      8.62      8.65      8.65     312.83    316.35    325.24    326.11 
         Paper and allied products...........   15.22     15.83     15.58     15.63     675.77    698.10    680.85    687.72 
         Printing and publishing.............   13.24     13.64     13.62     13.56     520.33    525.14    523.01    523.42 
         Chemicals and allied products.......   16.85     17.31     17.23     17.30     736.35    751.25    744.34    750.82 
         Petroleum and coal products.........   20.39     20.80     21.01     20.94     884.93    898.56    922.34    929.74 
         Rubber and misc. plastics products..   11.64     11.98     11.90     11.98     494.70    495.97    497.42    504.36 
         Leather and leather products........    9.14      9.37      9.44      9.42     351.89    348.56    354.94    356.08 
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................   12.00     12.37     12.40     12.50     396.00    404.50    406.72    413.75 
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...  $15.19    $15.46    $15.38    $15.48    $613.68   $607.58   $605.97   $614.56 
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................   13.76     14.10     14.13     14.25     532.51    537.21    541.18    551.48 
                                                                                                                             
       Retail trade..........................    8.51      8.90      8.85      8.87     245.09    258.99    255.77    256.34 
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...   13.72     14.10     14.21     14.44     503.52    506.19    511.56    531.39 
                                                                                                                             
       Services..............................   12.57     12.97     13.01     13.15     412.30    418.93    424.13    432.64 

       1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
       p = preliminary.




                ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                              ESTABLISHMENT DATA
                
                
                Table B-4. Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm
                payrolls by industry, seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                         Percent  
                                                   Nov.     July     Aug.     Sept.    Oct.     Nov.      change  
                            Industry               1997     1998     1998     1998     1998p    1998p     from:   
                                                                                                        Oct. 1998-
                                                                                                        Nov. 1998 
                                                                                                                  
                Total private:                                                                                    
                   Current dollars..............   $12.47   $12.79   $12.85   $12.87   $12.90   $12.93      0.2   
                   Constant (1982) dollars2.....     7.62     7.75     7.78     7.79     7.79     N.A.     (3)    
                                                                                                                  
                  Goods-producing...............    14.10    14.31    14.39    14.39    14.43    14.47       .3   
                    Mining......................    16.48    16.88    17.10    17.15    17.21    17.30       .5   
                    Construction................    16.24    16.64    16.67    16.57    16.68    16.76       .5   
                    Manufacturing...............    13.34    13.42    13.52    13.57    13.57    13.59       .1   
                      Excluding overtime4.......    12.61    12.71    12.81    12.90    12.89    12.90       .1   
                                                                                                                  
                  Service-producing.............    11.93    12.30    12.35    12.38    12.40    12.44       .3   
                    Transportation and public                                                                     
                       utilities................    15.10    15.33    15.35    15.42    15.37    15.40       .2   
                    Wholesale trade.............    13.72    14.07    14.16    14.14    14.19    14.20       .1   
                    Retail trade................     8.49     8.78     8.83     8.86     8.84     8.85       .1   
                    Finance, insurance, and real                                                                  
                       estate...................    13.65    14.10    14.16    14.17    14.25    14.37       .8   
                    Services....................    12.48    12.90    12.95    12.99    13.03    13.06       .2   

                  1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
                  2 The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is used to
                deflate this series.
                  3 Change was .0 percent from September 1998 to October 1998, the latest month available.
                  4 Derived by assuming that overtime hours are paid at the rate of time and one-half.
                    N.A. = not available.
                  p = preliminary.




     ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                    ESTABLISHMENT DATA
     
     
     Table B-5. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by
     industry
     
     (1982=100)
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                  Not seasonally adjusted                   Seasonally adjusted              
                                                                                                                             
                     Industry                                                                                                
                                               Nov.   Sept.   Oct.     Nov.    Nov.    July    Aug.   Sept.   Oct.     Nov.  
                                               1997   1998    1998p    1998p   1997    1998    1998   1998    1998p    1998p 
                                                                                                                             
            Total private....................  144.6  145.3   146.8    147.5   143.2  145.2   145.3   144.9   145.7    145.8 
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................  116.7  115.2   117.5    116.1   114.9  114.2   114.7   114.1   114.6    114.2 
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................   58.5   53.4    54.2     53.7    57.9   55.5    54.0    53.1    53.4     52.9 
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................  157.4  166.3   177.6    168.6   154.4  164.6   164.3   160.9   164.7    165.1 
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................  111.8  108.3   108.6    108.9   110.1  107.2   108.0   108.0   107.8    107.2 
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................  115.6  110.6   112.1    112.4   113.9  109.9   111.8   111.7   111.6    110.7 
         Lumber and wood products............  144.4  143.9   147.0    147.1   142.3  144.0   143.8   141.9   143.9    145.0 
         Furniture and fixtures..............  132.9  130.2   134.3    134.9   130.2  134.3   133.7   131.4   132.7    131.7 
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....  114.0  119.4   119.7    117.8   112.6  115.2   116.0   115.4   116.0    116.2 
         Primary metal industries............   97.1   92.4    90.9     91.4    95.9   91.1    93.3    92.3    91.2     90.4 
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   74.4   71.3    68.1     67.3    74.0   71.2    71.9    71.0    69.4     67.2 
         Fabricated metal products...........  121.3  115.9   118.3    119.0   119.0  117.0   117.5   117.7   117.3    116.6 
         Industrial machinery and equipment..  111.9  105.6   106.9    106.4   111.4  109.8   110.0   108.7   108.4    106.1 
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................  114.8  107.2   108.0    109.4   112.4  108.7   109.1   108.9   108.1    107.1 
         Transportation equipment............  132.4  124.8   127.6    128.5   131.0  112.2   122.8   126.5   126.8    126.4 
           Motor vehicles and equipment......  172.4  159.7   162.9    165.2   169.9  129.0   153.5   161.9   161.1    161.6 
         Instruments and related products....   77.8   74.4    74.9     75.3    77.0   76.1    75.9    75.2    75.0     74.3 
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........  106.4  100.4   101.7    100.7   102.9  102.0   101.5   100.3    98.9     97.4 
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................  106.6  105.0   103.9    104.1   104.9  103.5   102.8   103.0   102.6    102.4 
         Food and kindred products...........  120.6  126.9   122.3    122.7   117.8  118.9   116.8   118.9   118.0    119.7 
         Tobacco products....................   67.5   60.5    64.1     63.0    63.7   60.3    58.8    57.9    59.1     58.3 
         Textile mill products...............   90.2   84.8    84.9     84.7    89.3   85.7    85.0    84.3    85.0     83.7 
         Apparel and other textile products..   73.2   66.4    66.6     65.4    72.0   68.3    67.5    67.0    65.2     64.4 
         Paper and allied products...........  113.2  111.6   109.4    110.4   112.2  109.4   109.1   109.9   109.5    109.3 
         Printing and publishing.............  129.3  125.1   124.6    125.5   127.2  125.4   125.4   124.1   124.3    123.2 
         Chemicals and allied products.......  102.9  103.3   102.6    103.0   102.1  102.6   102.8   102.7   102.8    102.3 
         Petroleum and coal products.........   75.7   75.0    75.7     75.9    74.4   75.5    73.8    73.9    73.6     75.0 
         Rubber and misc. plastics products..  149.5  146.7   148.0    149.2   147.2  147.0   146.6   147.3   147.1    147.2 
         Leather and leather products........   39.7   34.0    34.5     34.3    38.7   34.7    35.1    33.9    33.9     33.3 
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................  157.2  158.7   160.0    161.6   155.9  159.1   159.0   158.7   159.7    160.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...  133.8  132.3   133.0    134.1   131.1  131.4   131.2   131.2   131.9    131.5 
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................  128.3  128.8   129.7    130.8   127.2  128.6   129.0   128.7   129.0    129.7 
                                                                                                                             
       Retail trade..........................  141.1  142.5   141.5    144.0   139.4  141.9   141.3   141.5   142.0    141.7 
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...  132.5  134.7   135.2    138.3   131.5  136.1   136.2   135.6   136.1    137.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Services..............................  191.1  193.8   197.2    198.0   190.3  195.2   195.2   194.6   196.3    196.9 

       1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
       p = preliminary.




      ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                   ESTABLISHMENT DATA
      
      
      Table B-6.  Diffusion indexes of employment change, seasonally adjusted
      
      (Percent)
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
             Time span          Jan.    Feb.    Mar.    Apr.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                                                                                                                             
                              
                                                         Private nonfarm payrolls, 356 industries1
                              
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 1-month span:                                                                                                     
           1994..............   59.3    60.5    67.0    64.5    58.6    63.3    63.8    61.7    61.5    60.4    64.0    61.7 
           1995..............   62.5    60.0    54.9    55.6    47.8    55.6    54.8    59.0    58.0    55.8    54.5    58.8 
           1996..............   50.8    64.6    59.6    56.6    62.8    61.0    57.3    61.5    56.0    62.5    62.2    60.7 
           1997..............   58.0    61.4    59.8    63.6    60.1    54.6    61.1    59.1    60.0    64.3    62.4    64.9 
           1998..............   63.8    58.7    59.6    56.9    56.6    59.0    55.1    53.9    53.5   p51.0   p56.0         
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 3-month span:                                                                                                     
           1994..............   64.5    69.2    69.9    68.4    66.6    67.1    69.0    69.5    66.2    65.6    66.6    66.3 
           1995..............   63.6    61.4    59.4    53.1    55.2    53.2    59.7    60.1    59.1    58.0    56.6    54.6 
           1996..............   61.9    62.8    64.0    63.8    63.5    64.9    64.2    61.5    63.9    64.2    67.0    66.6 
           1997..............   64.9    63.3    65.6    66.2    63.9    61.2    60.1    65.9    67.4    68.1    70.8    71.9 
           1998..............   68.4    67.3    64.2    61.7    60.4    58.4    57.2    56.7   p55.9   p54.6                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 6-month span:                                                                                                     
           1994..............   70.9    69.9    69.7    71.2    70.2    69.8    69.8    70.2    68.7    67.4    66.7    65.4 
           1995..............   66.4    60.1    59.1    57.3    59.0    60.1    57.6    60.4    59.7    59.3    61.1    63.2 
           1996..............   62.8    65.4    64.7    65.7    66.2    65.0    66.4    66.0    66.2    67.6    66.9    66.3 
           1997..............   67.6    67.0    65.3    64.9    65.6    67.3    68.0    67.3    70.6    72.3    73.3    72.6 
           1998..............   72.1    70.9    69.4    63.5    64.5    61.8   p58.1   p58.0                                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 12-month span:                                                                                                    
           1994..............   70.2    71.6    71.8    71.8    72.1    71.8    71.5    72.1    70.1    69.5    66.6    65.0 
           1995..............   63.6    62.4    62.6    63.3    61.7    61.9    58.7    62.2    62.2    61.5    63.5    65.4 
           1996..............   64.5    66.7    64.5    65.6    68.5    67.3    67.7    66.4    68.0    69.9    69.1    68.3 
           1997..............   69.8    67.6    69.2    70.1    69.8    69.8    71.2    71.2    71.1    73.0    72.9    72.3 
           1998..............   71.2    69.5    69.5   p65.9   p63.9                                                         
                                                                                                                             
                              
                                                          Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1
                              
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 1-month span:                                                                                                     
           1994..............   56.8    56.5    60.1    59.0    53.6    58.3    59.0    55.8    53.6    56.5    58.3    56.8 
           1995..............   54.7    54.3    46.4    53.2    42.4    44.2    46.4    49.6    48.6    52.2    45.3    48.2 
           1996..............   42.8    54.7    48.2    42.1    55.4    50.7    47.1    55.4    47.8    52.9    54.3    55.4 
           1997..............   49.3    54.3    50.0    56.8    51.4    52.2    50.4    48.9    56.5    57.2    56.1    60.8 
           1998..............   55.8    51.8    52.5    48.6    45.0    47.8    39.6    47.5    43.2   p38.5   p38.8         
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 3-month span:                                                                                                     
           1994..............   60.4    63.7    63.7    60.4    57.6    59.7    61.9    56.8    54.3    55.4    60.8    59.0 
           1995..............   56.8    50.0    47.8    42.1    43.2    38.8    40.6    43.5    48.2    47.1    45.3    39.9 
           1996..............   43.9    46.8    46.0    47.5    46.4    49.3    51.4    50.0    53.6    51.1    57.6    54.7 
           1997..............   54.3    49.3    54.3    54.0    55.4    50.4    47.5    52.2    57.9    62.6    64.7    65.5 
           1998..............   60.1    59.0    50.7    46.4    43.2    38.8    36.7    34.2   p41.7   p33.5                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 6-month span:                                                                                                     
           1994..............   60.4    62.9    61.2    62.6    59.4    57.2    57.6    58.6    58.6    54.7    57.2    55.0 
           1995..............   55.4    46.4    42.8    40.3    41.4    42.4    41.0    41.0    43.9    43.2    43.2    45.3 
           1996..............   42.1    45.3    46.4    47.1    48.2    48.6    51.1    50.4    52.9    52.9    53.2    52.2 
           1997..............   54.3    54.3    51.4    52.9    51.4    55.0    56.8    57.6    60.4    64.4    67.6    65.8 
           1998..............   61.5    56.8    52.2    39.2    40.6    34.5   p31.3   p29.5                                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 12-month span:                                                                                                    
           1994..............   57.9    58.6    60.8    60.8    60.8    63.3    59.4    60.1    57.2    56.5    50.4    49.6 
           1995..............   46.0    44.2    46.0    47.8    41.0    41.7    38.5    38.8    36.3    38.5    39.9    44.6 
           1996..............   43.5    47.5    45.3    45.3    50.4    49.6    50.4    48.6    51.1    55.0    54.0    51.8 
           1997..............   57.2    52.5    54.7    56.5    57.9    57.6    58.6    58.6    60.4    60.4    59.4    58.3 
           1998..............   50.7    51.1    50.4   p41.4   p37.8                                                         

        1 Based on seasonally adjusted data for 1-, 3-, and 6-month spans and unadjusted data for the 12-month span. Data are
      centered within the span. 
        p = preliminary.
        NOTE:  Figures are the percent of industries with employment increasing plus one-half of the industries with
      unchanged employment, where 50 percent indicates an equal balance between industries with increasing and decreasing
      employment.