Technical information:                     USDL 96-414
   Household data:     (202) 606-6378
                             606-6373      Transmission of material in this
                                           release is embargoed until
   Establishment data:       606-6555      8:30 A.M. (EDT),
Media contact:               606-5902      Friday, October 4, 1996.

                                     
                 THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:  SEPTEMBER 1996


   Both unemployment and nonfarm payroll employment were essentially
unchanged in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  The jobless rate was 5.2 percent in
September; it had been 5.1 percent in August. Payroll employment fell in
manufacturing and local government in September, and growth slowed in
several other major industries.  Average hourly earnings rose by 6 cents
over the month.
   
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
   
   About 7.0 million persons were unemployed in September and the
unemployment rate was 5.2 percent.  Both measures were about the same as
they had been in August.  Among the major worker groups, the unemployment
rate for adult men rose by 0.3 percentage point to 4.5 percent, while the
rate for teenagers fell to 15.6 percent.  (See table A-1.)
   
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
   
   Total employment, at 127.4 million in September, continued to trend
upward.  The proportion of the population 16 years and over that was
employed (the employment-population ratio) remained at 63.3 percent.  The
number of employed persons has increased by about 2.3 million over the past
year, and the employment-population ratio has risen by half a percentage
point.  (See table A-1.)
   
   The number of persons who held more than one job in September was 7.8
million (not seasonally adjusted).  These multiple jobholders comprised 6.1
percent of the total employed.  This multiple jobholding rate was the same
for men and women.  (See table A-9.)
   
   The civilian labor force grew by 455,000 in September to 134.3 million,
more than offsetting a decline in the previous month.  The labor force has
grown by 1.8 million since September 1995.  (See table A-1.)
   
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
   
   About 1.5 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in September--that is, they wanted and were
available for work but had stopped looking for jobs sometime in the prior
12 months.  Of this total, discouraged workers--those who were no longer
looking specifically because they believed no jobs were available for them-
-numbered 391,000.  (See table A-9.)

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
___________________________________________________________________________
                      |   Quarterly     |       Monthly data       |
                      |   averages      |                          |
                      |_________________|__________________________|Aug.-
      Category        |       1996      |          1996            |Sept.
                      |_________________|__________________________|change
                      |   II   |  III   |  July  |  Aug.  |  Sept. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
    HOUSEHOLD DATA    |                 Labor force status
                      |____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 133,647| 134,135| 134,181| 133,885| 134,340|    455
  Employment..........| 126,389| 127,102| 126,884| 127,055| 127,368|    313
  Unemployment........|   7,258|   7,033|   7,297|   6,830|   6,971|    141
Not in labor force....|  66,633|  66,715|  66,460|  66,962|  66,721|   -241
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
                      |                 Unemployment rates
                      |____________________________________________________
All workers...........|     5.4|     5.2|     5.4|     5.1|     5.2|    0.1
  Adult men...........|     4.7|     4.5|     4.7|     4.2|     4.5|     .3
  Adult women.........|     4.8|     4.7|     4.9|     4.6|     4.5|    -.1
  Teenagers...........|    16.3|    16.4|    16.4|    17.2|    15.6|   -1.6
  White...............|     4.7|     4.5|     4.7|     4.4|     4.5|     .1
  Black...............|    10.3|    10.5|    10.5|    10.5|    10.5|     .0
  Hispanic origin.....|     9.2|     8.7|     9.0|     8.7|     8.2|    -.5
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
 ESTABLISHMENT DATA   |                     Employment
                      |____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 119,272|p119,936| 119,789|p120,030|p119,990|   p-40
  Goods-producing 1/..|  24,249| p24,268|  24,265| p24,295| p24,245|   p-50
    Construction......|   5,380|  p5,437|   5,427|  p5,438|  p5,447|     p9
    Manufacturing.....|  18,294| p18,261|  18,268| p18,286| p18,229|   p-57
  Service-producing 1/|  95,024| p95,668|  95,524| p95,735| p95,745|    p10
    Retail trade......|  21,499| p21,682|  21,672| p21,676| p21,698|    p22
    Services..........|  34,257| p34,527|  34,463| p34,532| p34,586|    p54
    Government........|  19,435| p19,528|  19,482| p19,591| p19,510|   p-81
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
                      |                  Hours of work 2/
                      |____________________________________________________
Total private.........|    34.4|   p34.5|    34.2|   p34.5|   p34.7|   p0.2
  Manufacturing.......|    41.7|   p41.7|    41.6|   p41.7|   p41.8|    p.1
    Overtime..........|     4.6|    p4.5|     4.4|    p4.5|    p4.5|    p.0
                      |________|________|________|________|________|_______
                      |                     Earnings 2/
                      |____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |        |        |        |        |        |
  total private.......|  $11.76| p$11.86|  $11.81| p$11.86| p$11.92| p$0.06
Avg. weekly earnings, |        |        |        |        |        |
  total private.......|  404.56| p408.90|  403.90| p409.17| p413.62|  p4.45
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
    1/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
    2/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.

                                  - 3 -

Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
   
   Nonfarm payroll employment was about unchanged in September at 120.0
million, after seasonal adjustment, as private sector employment growth
slowed markedly and government employment declined. (See table B-1.)
   
   Manufacturing employment declined by 57,000 in September; industry
losses now total 331,000 since the most recent peak in March 1995.  Job
losses were widespread in September, with the largest declines occurring in
industrial machinery and transportation equipment.  In the latter industry,
there has been no net job growth since June.  Within nondurable goods, job
losses continued in several industries, including food and kindred
products, printing and publishing, and apparel.
   
   Construction employment increased by only 9,000 in September.  Growth in
the industry has slowed considerably in the past 2 months, following
relatively strong gains over the first 7 months of the year.  The long-term
decline in mining employment continued.
   
   Within the service-producing sector, government employment fell by
81,000 in September.  This was due mainly to a seasonally adjusted decline
of 67,000 in local education, following unusually large gains in the prior
3 months.   Changing seasonal patterns due to the earlier start of the
school year and the trend toward year-round schools have shifted some of
the seasonal job growth in education to the summer months.  Despite this
drop in September, employment in local education still has expanded by
95,000 since May.  Losses continued in federal government employment, where
job declines have approached a quarter million since the most recent
employment peak in May 1992.
   
   Employment growth in services slowed further in September.  The increase
of 54,000 was just under half of the average monthly gain recorded in the
first half of the year and smaller than the modest increases of July and
August.  Employment growth in September was weak in business and private
educational services, and employment declined in child day care.  In
contrast, employment in health services grew by 30,000, following 3 months
of sluggishness.
   
   Retail trade added only 22,000 jobs in September, half the average
monthly gain of the past year.  Employment declined in general merchandise
and apparel stores and grew moderately in eating and drinking places. While
the pace of job growth in wholesale trade has slowed considerably since
March, the September increase of 5,000 was especially small.
   
   Employment in finance, insurance, and real estate increased modestly in
September.  Employment growth accelerated in insurance, but employment in
finance and real estate was little changed over the month.  Gains in
transportation and public utilities employment were relatively small for
the third consecutive month.  Within transportation, there was a small
increase in air transportation, but employment in trucking and warehousing
was flat over the month and has shown no net growth since late last year.

                                  - 4 -

Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
   
   The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls rose 0.2 hour in September to 34.7 hours, seasonally
adjusted.  The manufacturing workweek edged up 0.1 hour to 41.8 hours, and
factory overtime was unchanged at 4.5 hours.  (See table B-2.)
   
   The index of aggregate weekly hours of private production or
nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm payrolls rose 0.7 percent in September to
138.0 (1982=100), seasonally adjusted, largely reflecting the increase in
the average workweek.  The manufacturing index edged down 0.2 percent to
106.1.  (See table B-5.)
   
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
   
   Average hourly earnings of private production or nonsupervisory workers
on nonfarm payrolls rose 6 cents in September to $11.92, seasonally
adjusted.  Average weekly earnings increased by 1.1 percent to $413.62.
Over the past year, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.5 percent,
and average weekly earnings have risen by 4.4 percent.  (See table B-3.)

  -------------------------------------------------------------
 |   The August and September 1996 establishment-based         |
 |employment data in this release incorporate corrected        |
 |seasonal adjustment factors.  Factors previously             |
 |published for March-October 1996 were found to contain       |
 |a minor computational error.  BLS will publish the           |
 |corrected seasonally adjusted employment, hours, and         |
 |earnings data for March-September 1996 in the October        |
 |issue of Employment and Earnings.  These series also         |
 |will be available, beginning October 18, on the INTERNET     |
 |(Address:  http://stats.bls.gov:80/cgi-bin/dsrv?ee) or       |
 |by calling FAXSTAT at (202) 606-6325 and requesting          |
 |document 3030.  All revisions are expected to be minor.      |
 |Revised seasonal factors for the August-October 1996         |
 |employment series are now available on the INTERNET (Address:|
 |ftp://stats.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/ee/sfae0996.dat)    |
 |or by calling the number shown above and asking for          |
 |document 1510.                                               |
  -------------------------------------------------------------
                                     
                         _________________________

   The Employment Situation for October 1996 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, November 1, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
                                  - 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 1996,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing over 47 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 $13.00 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                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                             Sept.    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                              1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                               TOTAL                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                   
           Civilian noninstitutional population............ 199,005 200,847 201,060 199,005 200,278 200,459 200,641 200,847 201,060
             Civilian labor force.......................... 132,341 135,011 134,230 132,501 133,910 133,669 134,181 133,885 134,340
                   Participation rate......................    66.5    67.2    66.8    66.6    66.9    66.7    66.9    66.7    66.8
               Employed.................................... 125,173 128,143 127,529 125,036 126,462 126,610 126,884 127,055 127,368
                   Employment-population ratio.............    62.9    63.8    63.4    62.8    63.1    63.2    63.2    63.3    63.3
                 Agriculture...............................   3,430   3,706   3,607   3,335   3,491   3,382   3,502   3,421   3,535
                 Nonagricultural industries................ 121,744 124,437 123,922 121,701 122,971 123,228 123,382 123,635 123,833
               Unemployed..................................   7,167   6,868   6,700   7,465   7,448   7,060   7,297   6,830   6,971
                   Unemployment rate.......................     5.4     5.1     5.0     5.6     5.6     5.3     5.4     5.1     5.2
             Not in labor force............................  66,664  65,836  66,831  66,504  66,368  66,790  66,460  66,962  66,721
                                                                                                                                   
                       Men, 16 years and over                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
           Civilian noninstitutional population............  95,397  96,335  96,447  95,397  96,048  96,140  96,230  96,335  96,447
             Civilian labor force..........................  71,288  72,888  72,028  71,348  72,241  72,121  72,375  71,973  72,102
                   Participation rate......................    74.7    75.7    74.7    74.8    75.2    75.0    75.2    74.7    74.8
               Employed....................................  67,646  69,533  68,614  67,328  68,278  68,283  68,400  68,442  68,319
                   Employment-population ratio.............    70.9    72.2    71.1    70.6    71.1    71.0    71.1    71.0    70.8
               Unemployed..................................   3,642   3,355   3,413   4,020   3,964   3,837   3,975   3,531   3,783
                   Unemployment rate.......................     5.1     4.6     4.7     5.6     5.5     5.3     5.5     4.9     5.2
                                                                                                                                   
                       Men, 20 years and over                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
           Civilian noninstitutional population............  87,940  88,650  88,733  87,940  88,530  88,570  88,614  88,650  88,733
             Civilian labor force..........................  67,374  68,390  68,140  67,286  68,064  68,118  68,274  68,114  68,072
                   Participation rate......................    76.6    77.1    76.8    76.5    76.9    76.9    77.0    76.8    76.7
               Employed....................................  64,417  65,725  65,353  64,023  64,818  64,962  65,094  65,286  64,978
                   Employment-population ratio.............    73.3    74.1    73.7    72.8    73.2    73.3    73.5    73.6    73.2
                 Agriculture...............................   2,375   2,477   2,439   2,296   2,337   2,292   2,381   2,352   2,377
                 Nonagricultural industries................  62,042  63,248  62,914  61,727  62,480  62,669  62,713  62,933  62,601
               Unemployed..................................   2,957   2,665   2,788   3,263   3,246   3,157   3,179   2,829   3,094
                   Unemployment rate.......................     4.4     3.9     4.1     4.8     4.8     4.6     4.7     4.2     4.5
                                                                                                                                   
                      Women, 16 years and over                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                   
           Civilian noninstitutional population............ 103,608 104,512 104,614 103,608 104,230 104,319 104,411 104,512 104,614
             Civilian labor force..........................  61,053  62,123  62,202  61,153  61,669  61,548  61,806  61,912  62,238
                   Participation rate......................    58.9    59.4    59.5    59.0    59.2    59.0    59.2    59.2    59.5
               Employed....................................  57,527  58,610  58,915  57,708  58,184  58,326  58,484  58,613  59,049
                   Employment-population ratio.............    55.5    56.1    56.3    55.7    55.8    55.9    56.0    56.1    56.4
               Unemployed..................................   3,525   3,514   3,287   3,445   3,485   3,222   3,322   3,299   3,189
                   Unemployment rate.......................     5.8     5.7     5.3     5.6     5.7     5.2     5.4     5.3     5.1
                                                                                                                                   
                      Women, 20 years and over                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                   
           Civilian noninstitutional population............  96,408  97,146  97,226  96,408  96,925  96,999  97,064  97,146  97,226
             Civilian labor force..........................  57,520  57,992  58,548  57,387  57,915  57,893  58,102  58,225  58,356
                   Participation rate......................    59.7    59.7    60.2    59.5    59.8    59.7    59.9    59.9    60.0
               Employed....................................  54,586  55,026  55,776  54,568  55,014  55,211  55,266  55,522  55,711
                   Employment-population ratio.............    56.6    56.6    57.4    56.6    56.8    56.9    56.9    57.2    57.3
                 Agriculture...............................     793     880     890     778     831     842     863     829     881
                 Nonagricultural industries................  53,793  54,146  54,886  53,790  54,183  54,369  54,403  54,693  54,831
               Unemployed..................................   2,934   2,966   2,772   2,819   2,901   2,682   2,837   2,704   2,645
                   Unemployment rate.......................     5.1     5.1     4.7     4.9     5.0     4.6     4.9     4.6     4.5
                                                                                                                                   
                     Both sexes, 16 to 19 years                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                   
           Civilian  noninstitutional population...........  14,657  15,051  15,101  14,657  14,823  14,890  14,963  15,051  15,101
             Civilian labor force..........................   7,447   8,629   7,541   7,828   7,932   7,658   7,805   7,545   7,911
                   Participation rate......................    50.8    57.3    49.9    53.4    53.5    51.4    52.2    50.1    52.4
               Employed....................................   6,170   7,392   6,401   6,445   6,630   6,437   6,524   6,248   6,679
                   Employment-population ratio.............    42.1    49.1    42.4    44.0    44.7    43.2    43.6    41.5    44.2
                 Agriculture...............................     262     349     278     261     323     248     258     240     278
                 Nonagricultural industries................   5,908   7,043   6,123   6,184   6,308   6,189   6,266   6,008   6,401
               Unemployed..................................   1,277   1,237   1,140   1,383   1,301   1,221   1,280   1,297   1,232
                   Unemployment rate.......................    17.1    14.3    15.1    17.7    16.4    15.9    16.4    17.2    15.6

           1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
         and seasonally adjusted columns.






         
         
         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                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                   
                                                             Sept.    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                              1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                               WHITE                                                                                               
           Civilian noninstitutional population............ 167,200 168,489 168,639 167,200 168,098 168,222 168,345 168,489 168,639
             Civilian labor force.......................... 112,039 113,713 113,275 112,113 113,109 112,941 113,076 112,832 113,316
                 Participation rate........................    67.0    67.5    67.2    67.1    67.3    67.1    67.2    67.0    67.2
               Employed.................................... 106,886 108,801 108,495 106,666 107,612 107,757 107,772 107,828 108,256
                 Employment-population ratio...............    63.9    64.6    64.3    63.8    64.0    64.1    64.0    64.0    64.2
               Unemployed..................................   5,152   4,912   4,780   5,447   5,497   5,184   5,304   5,004   5,060
                 Unemployment rate.........................     4.6     4.3     4.2     4.9     4.9     4.6     4.7     4.4     4.5
                                                                                                                                   
                       Men, 20 years and over                                                                                      
             Civilian labor force..........................  57,773  58,553  58,369  57,715  58,340  58,426  58,456  58,354  58,303
                 Participation rate........................    77.0    77.5    77.2    76.9    77.4    77.5    77.5    77.3    77.1
               Employed....................................  55,595  56,568  56,344  55,250  55,914  56,047  56,079  56,174  56,008
                 Employment-population ratio...............    74.1    74.9    74.6    73.7    74.2    74.3    74.3    74.4    74.1
               Unemployed..................................   2,178   1,985   2,024   2,465   2,426   2,379   2,376   2,179   2,295
                 Unemployment rate.........................     3.8     3.4     3.5     4.3     4.2     4.1     4.1     3.7     3.9
                                                                                                                                   
                      Women, 20 years and over                                                                                     
             Civilian labor force..........................  48,074  47,960  48,536  47,876  48,103  47,956  47,981  48,124  48,286
                 Participation rate........................    59.6    59.1    59.8    59.3    59.4    59.2    59.2    59.3    59.5
               Employed....................................  45,988  45,847  46,591  45,851  45,976  46,063  46,009  46,217  46,406
                 Employment-population ratio...............    57.0    56.5    57.4    56.8    56.8    56.9    56.8    57.0    57.2
               Unemployed..................................   2,086   2,113   1,945   2,025   2,128   1,894   1,972   1,907   1,881
                 Unemployment rate.........................     4.3     4.4     4.0     4.2     4.4     3.9     4.1     4.0     3.9
                                                                                                                                   
                     Both sexes, 16 to 19 years                                                                                    
             Civilian labor force..........................   6,192   7,200   6,370   6,522   6,666   6,558   6,639   6,354   6,726
                 Participation rate........................    53.7    60.6    53.4    56.6    56.6    55.5    56.0    53.5    56.4
               Employed....................................   5,303   6,387   5,560   5,565   5,723   5,647   5,684   5,437   5,842
                 Employment-population ratio...............    46.0    53.7    46.6    48.3    48.6    47.8    48.0    45.7    49.0
               Unemployed..................................     889     813     811     957     943     911     955     917     885
                 Unemployment rate.........................    14.4    11.3    12.7    14.7    14.1    13.9    14.4    14.4    13.2
                   Men.....................................    15.2    12.1    13.8    15.8    15.2    14.7    16.6    15.6    14.5
                   Women...................................    13.4    10.5    11.5    13.4    12.9    13.0    12.0    13.2    11.8
                                                                                                                                   
                               BLACK                                                                                               
           Civilian noninstitutional population............  23,323  23,650  23,690  23,323  23,549  23,579  23,611  23,650  23,690
             Civilian labor force..........................  14,786  15,470  15,132  14,820  15,149  14,955  15,279  15,361  15,167
                 Participation rate........................    63.4    65.4    63.9    63.5    64.3    63.4    64.7    65.0    64.0
               Employed....................................  13,173  13,792  13,547  13,181  13,599  13,451  13,671  13,750  13,569
                 Employment-population ratio...............    56.5    58.3    57.2    56.5    57.7    57.0    57.9    58.1    57.3
               Unemployed..................................   1,613   1,677   1,585   1,639   1,551   1,504   1,609   1,611   1,597
                 Unemployment rate.........................    10.9    10.8    10.5    11.1    10.2    10.1    10.5    10.5    10.5
                                                                                                                                   
                       Men, 20 years and over                                                                                      
             Civilian labor force..........................   6,724   6,888   6,840   6,727   6,786   6,728   6,867   6,890   6,849
                 Participation rate........................    72.3    73.2    72.6    72.3    72.2    71.5    72.9    73.2    72.7
               Employed....................................   6,120   6,320   6,190   6,096   6,136   6,110   6,233   6,326   6,177
                 Employment-population ratio...............    65.8    67.1    65.7    65.5    65.3    64.9    66.2    67.2    65.6
               Unemployed..................................     605     568     651     631     650     617     634     564     672
                 Unemployment rate.........................     9.0     8.2     9.5     9.4     9.6     9.2     9.2     8.2     9.8
                                                                                                                                   
                      Women, 20 years and over                                                                                     
             Civilian labor force..........................   7,135   7,478   7,429   7,122   7,373   7,373   7,504   7,511   7,417
                 Participation rate........................    60.9    63.1    62.6    60.8    62.4    62.4    63.4    63.4    62.5
               Employed....................................   6,455   6,749   6,767   6,478   6,758   6,743   6,830   6,824   6,794
                 Employment-population ratio...............    55.1    57.0    57.0    55.3    57.2    57.0    57.7    57.6    57.3
               Unemployed..................................     681     728     662     644     615     630     674     687     623
                 Unemployment rate.........................     9.5     9.7     8.9     9.0     8.3     8.5     9.0     9.1     8.4
                                                                                                                                   
                     Both sexes, 16 to 19 years                                                                                    
             Civilian labor force..........................     927   1,104     863     971     990     854     908     960     901
                 Participation rate........................    40.2    46.2    35.9    42.1    42.3    36.4    38.5    40.2    37.5
               Employed....................................     599     723     591     607     705     598     607     599     598
                 Employment-population ratio...............    26.0    30.3    24.6    26.3    30.1    25.4    25.8    25.1    24.9
               Unemployed..................................     328     381     272     364     286     256     301     361     303
                 Unemployment rate.........................    35.4    34.5    31.5    37.5    28.9    30.0    33.1    37.6    33.6
                   Men.....................................    31.9    36.4    32.1    36.0    27.4    35.3    43.3    38.6    36.6
                   Women...................................    38.6    32.4    30.9    38.9    30.2    25.0    20.9    36.5    30.7
                          HISPANIC ORIGIN                                                                                          
           Civilian noninstitutional population............  18,752  19,292  19,346  18,752  19,131  19,184  19,238  19,292  19,346
             Civilian labor force..........................  12,457  12,989  12,912  12,369  12,514  12,576  12,641  12,877  12,822
                 Participation rate........................    66.4    67.3    66.7    66.0    65.4    65.6    65.7    66.7    66.3
               Employed....................................  11,374  11,844  11,895  11,247  11,365  11,472  11,500  11,750  11,766
                 Employment-population ratio...............    60.7    61.4    61.5    60.0    59.4    59.8    59.8    60.9    60.8
               Unemployed..................................   1,083   1,145   1,016   1,122   1,149   1,104   1,141   1,127   1,057
                 Unemployment rate.........................     8.7     8.8     7.9     9.1     9.2     8.8     9.0     8.7     8.2

           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.






         
         
         HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
         
         
         
         
         Table A-3. Selected employment indicators

         (In thousands)
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                            Not seasonally adjusted               Seasonally adjusted              
                                                                                                                                   
                              Category                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                             Sept.    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                              1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                           CHARACTERISTIC                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                   
           Total employed, 16 years and over............... 125,173 128,143 127,529 125,036 126,462 126,610 126,884 127,055 127,368
             Married men, spouse present...................  42,468  42,622  42,603  42,178  42,406  42,587  42,478  42,622  42,265
             Married women, spouse present.................  32,175  32,209  32,798  32,180  32,330  32,649  32,713  32,732  32,765
             Women who maintain families...................   7,171   7,276   7,443   7,155   7,314   7,360   7,230   7,291   7,443
                                                                                                                                   
                             OCCUPATION                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                   
             Managerial and professional specialty.........  35,596  36,265  36,759  35,607  36,257  36,696  36,361  36,520  36,741
             Technical, sales, and administrative support..  37,380  37,971  37,725  37,504  37,681  37,683  37,795  37,858  37,801
             Service occupations...........................  16,582  17,571  17,200  16,932  17,312  17,215  17,418  17,397  17,533
             Precision production, craft, and repair.......  13,655  14,029  13,881  13,486  13,439  13,572  13,439  13,701  13,717
             Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........  18,164  18,344  18,199  18,002  18,282  18,137  18,392  18,075  18,047
             Farming, forestry, and fishing................   3,795   3,962   3,766   3,588   3,560   3,472   3,594   3,500   3,576
                                                                                                                                   
                          CLASS OF WORKER                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                   
             Agriculture:                                                                                                          
               Wage and salary workers.....................   1,836   1,991   1,899   1,754   2,026   1,900   1,863   1,802   1,833
               Self-employed workers.......................   1,554   1,635   1,616   1,525   1,456   1,457   1,564   1,528   1,597
               Unpaid family workers.......................      40      79      92      43      46      35      52      65      97
             Nonagricultural industries:                                                                                           
               Wage and salary workers..................... 112,615 115,358 114,960 112,586 114,032 114,130 114,294 114,634 114,908
                 Government................................  18,214  17,737  18,052  18,249  18,256  18,329  18,294  18,286  18,088
                 Private industries........................  94,401  97,620  96,908  94,337  95,776  95,801  96,000  96,348  96,820
                   Private households......................     944   1,030     976     959     918     812     935   1,009   1,006
                   Other industries........................  93,457  96,590  95,932  93,378  94,858  94,989  95,065  95,339  95,814
               Self-employed workers.......................   9,008   8,956   8,825   8,954   8,878   9,073   8,998   8,876   8,763
               Unpaid family workers.......................     120     124     138     112     124     136     130     121     127
                                                                                                                                   
                     PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                   
             All industries:                                                                                                       
               Part time for economic reasons..............   4,217   4,407   4,012   4,502   4,277   4,301   4,366   4,354   4,309
                 Slack work or business conditions.........   2,307   2,388   2,215   2,526   2,216   2,322   2,589   2,477   2,426
                 Could only find part-time work............   1,608   1,615   1,531   1,706   1,719   1,569   1,494   1,610   1,616
               Part time for noneconomic reasons...........  18,282  15,459  18,223  17,842  17,620  18,211  17,814  18,229  17,710
                                                                                                                                   
             Nonagricultural industries:                                                                                           
               Part time for economic reasons..............   4,073   4,218   3,852   4,355   4,068   4,146   4,159   4,205   4,128
                 Slack work or business conditions.........   2,198   2,242   2,114   2,413   2,092   2,215   2,457   2,350   2,318
                 Could only find part-time work............   1,586   1,586   1,495   1,675   1,663   1,542   1,479   1,600   1,574
               Part time for noneconomic reasons...........  17,649  14,866  17,530  17,218  17,038  17,623  17,157  17,613  17,036

             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.






         
         
         HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
         
         Table A-4. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                   Number of                                                       
                                                               unemployed persons                Unemployment rates(1)             
                                                                 (in thousands)                                                    
                              Category                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                   
                                                             Sept.    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                              1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                           CHARACTERISTIC                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                   
            Total, 16 years and over.......................   7,465   6,830   6,971    5.6     5.6     5.3     5.4     5.1     5.2 
              Men, 20 years and over.......................   3,263   2,829   3,094    4.8     4.8     4.6     4.7     4.2     4.5 
              Women, 20 years and over.....................   2,819   2,704   2,645    4.9     5.0     4.6     4.9     4.6     4.5 
              Both sexes, 16 to 19 years...................   1,383   1,297   1,232   17.7    16.4    15.9    16.4    17.2    15.6 
                                                                                                                                   
              Married men, spouse present..................   1,496   1,258   1,323    3.4     2.9     3.0     3.0     2.9     3.0 
              Married women, spouse present................   1,298   1,085   1,106    3.9     3.8     3.6     3.5     3.2     3.3 
              Women who maintain families..................     619     704     674    8.0     8.7     7.6     9.1     8.8     8.3 
                                                                                                                                   
              Full-time workers............................   5,955   5,363   5,611    5.5     5.5     5.2     5.3     4.9     5.1 
              Part-time workers............................   1,473   1,476   1,359    5.9     5.9     5.6     6.1     5.9     5.6 
                                                                                                                                   
                           OCCUPATION(2)                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                   
              Managerial and professional specialty........     884     786     883    2.4     2.3     2.4     2.5     2.1     2.3 
              Technical, sales, and administrative support.   1,746   1,685   1,767    4.4     4.7     4.1     4.6     4.3     4.5 
              Precision production, craft, and repair......     887     754     798    6.2     5.3     5.2     5.5     5.2     5.5 
              Operators, fabricators, and laborers.........   1,646   1,534   1,422    8.4     8.3     7.9     7.7     7.8     7.3 
              Farming, forestry, and fishing...............     285     216     269    7.4     9.1     7.7     6.3     5.8     7.0 
                                                                                                                                   
                              INDUSTRY                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                   
              Nonagricultural private wage and salary                                                                              
              workers......................................   5,846   5,418   5,366    5.8     5.7     5.5     5.5     5.3     5.3 
                Goods-producing industries.................   1,848   1,582   1,514    6.6     6.2     6.1     5.9     5.6     5.4 
                  Mining...................................      20      25      31    3.3     2.1     4.7     2.8     4.4     5.1 
                  Construction.............................     800     575     593   12.4    10.0     9.5    10.1     8.8     9.1 
                  Manufacturing............................   1,028     981     890    4.9     5.1     5.1     4.6     4.7     4.3 
                    Durable goods..........................     517     464     497    4.2     4.8     4.6     4.2     3.8     4.0 
                    Nondurable goods.......................     511     517     394    5.9     5.5     5.7     5.3     6.0     4.6 
                Service-producing industries...............   3,998   3,836   3,852    5.5     5.6     5.2     5.4     5.2     5.2 
                  Transportation and public utilities......     318     303     285    4.5     4.2     4.5     4.3     4.2     4.0 
                  Wholesale and retail trade...............   1,813   1,664   1,579    6.9     6.6     6.4     6.3     6.3     6.0 
                  Finance, insurance, and real estate......     219     177     241    3.1     2.5     2.6     2.8     2.4     3.2 
                  Services.................................   1,648   1,692   1,747    5.2     5.7     5.1     5.5     5.2     5.3 
              Government workers...........................     524     500     552    2.8     3.3     2.7     3.2     2.7     3.0 
              Agricultural wage and salary workers.........     231     144     226   11.6    10.0     9.2     8.6     7.4    11.0 

           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.






         
         
         HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
         
         Table A-5. Duration of unemployment

         (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                            Not seasonally adjusted               Seasonally adjusted              
                                                                                                                                   
                              Duration                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                   
                                                             Sept.    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                              1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                        NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                   
            Less than 5 weeks..............................   2,916   2,364   2,581   2,786   2,815   2,485   2,701   2,486   2,446
            5 to 14 weeks..................................   2,075   2,402   1,998   2,317   2,334   2,160   2,322   2,129   2,245
            15 weeks and over..............................   2,176   2,102   2,122   2,323   2,336   2,435   2,319   2,248   2,279
               15 to 26 weeks..............................     953     835     935   1,054   1,020   1,116     958     978   1,054
               27 weeks and over...........................   1,223   1,268   1,187   1,269   1,317   1,319   1,361   1,270   1,225
                                                                                                                                   
            Average (mean) duration, in weeks..............    16.2    17.3    16.9    16.3    16.8    17.6    16.8    17.4    17.0
            Median duration, in weeks......................     7.8     8.6     8.5     8.1     8.3     8.1     8.6     8.5     8.9
                                                                                                                                   
                        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............................    40.7    34.4    38.5    37.5    37.6    35.1    36.8    36.2    35.1
              5 to 14 weeks................................    28.9    35.0    29.8    31.2    31.2    30.5    31.6    31.0    32.2
              15 weeks and over............................    30.4    30.6    31.7    31.3    31.2    34.4    31.6    32.8    32.7
                15 to 26 weeks.............................    13.3    12.2    14.0    14.2    13.6    15.8    13.1    14.3    15.1
                27 weeks and over..........................    17.1    18.5    17.7    17.1    17.6    18.6    18.5    18.5    17.6






          
          
          HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                             HOUSEHOLD DATA
          
          Table A-6. Reason for unemployment

          (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                        Not seasonally               Seasonally adjusted           
                                                                           adjusted                                                
                                    Reason                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                      Sept.  Aug.   Sept.  Sept.   May   June   July   Aug.   Sept.
                                                                      1995   1996   1996   1995   1996   1996   1996   1996   1996 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                             NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                   
            Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs.....  3,017  2,932  2,812  3,422  3,388  3,431  3,343  3,054  3,225
              On temporary layoff...................................    635    777    674    967  1,154    990    953    889  1,059
              Not on temporary layoff...............................  2,382  2,155  2,138  2,455  2,234  2,441  2,391  2,165  2,167
                Permanent job losers................................  1,653  1,459  1,450   (1)    (1)    (1)    (1)    (1)    (1) 
                Persons who completed temporary jobs................    728    696    688   (1)    (1)    (1)    (1)    (1)    (1) 
            Job leavers.............................................    961    808    892    875    661    676    749    773    807
            Reentrants..............................................  2,635  2,556  2,495  2,551  2,784  2,419  2,529  2,448  2,404
            New entrants............................................    555    573    500    601    532    528    623    548    545
                                                                                                                                   
                             PERCENT DISTRIBUTION                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                   
            Total unemployed........................................                                                               
             Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs....   42.1   42.7   42.0   45.9   46.0   48.6   46.1   44.8   46.2
               On temporary layoff..................................    8.9   11.3   10.1   13.0   15.7   14.0   13.1   13.0   15.2
               Not on temporary layoff..............................   33.2   31.4   31.9   33.0   30.3   34.6   33.0   31.7   31.0
             Job leavers............................................   13.4   11.8   13.3   11.7    9.0    9.6   10.3   11.3   11.6
             Reentrants.............................................   36.8   37.2   37.2   34.2   37.8   34.3   34.9   35.9   34.4
             New entrants...........................................    7.7    8.3    7.5    8.1    7.2    7.5    8.6    8.0    7.8
                                                                                                                                   
                        UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE                                                                             
                               CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE                                                                                
                                                                                                                                   
             Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs....    2.3    2.2    2.1    2.6    2.5    2.6    2.5    2.3    2.4
             Job leavers............................................     .7     .6     .7     .7     .5     .5     .6     .6     .6
             Reentrants.............................................    2.0    1.9    1.9    1.9    2.1    1.8    1.9    1.8    1.8
             New entrants...........................................     .4     .4     .4     .5     .4     .4     .5     .4     .4

            1 Not available.






          
          
          HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                            HOUSEHOLD DATA
          
          Table A-7. Range of alternative measures of labor underutilization

          (Percent)
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                               Not seasonally          Seasonally adjusted        
                                                                                  adjusted                                        
                                       Measure                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                             Sept.  Aug. Sept. Sept.  May   June  July  Aug. Sept.
                                                                              1995  1996  1996  1995  1996  1996  1996  1996  1996
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
          U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer,                                                                              
             as a percent of the civilian labor force.......................   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.8   1.7   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.7
                                                                                                                                  
          U-2 Job losers and persons who completed                                                                                
             temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian                                                                         
             labor force....................................................   2.3   2.2   2.1   2.6   2.5   2.6   2.5   2.3   2.4
                                                                                                                                  
          U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the                                                                               
             civilian labor force (official unemployment rate)..............   5.4   5.1   5.0   5.6   5.6   5.3   5.4   5.1   5.2
                                                                                                                                  
          U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged                                                                                   
             workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force                                                                    
             plus discouraged workers.......................................   5.7   5.4   5.3  (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...............   6.5   6.1   6.1  (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..   9.7   9.3   9.0  (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.






         
         
         HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                              HOUSEHOLD DATA
         
         Table A-8. Unemployed persons by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                   Number of                                                       
                                                               unemployed persons                Unemployment rates(1)             
                                                                 (in thousands)                                                    
                            Age and sex                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                             Sept.    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                              1995    1996    1996    1995    1996    1996    1996    1996    1996 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                   
         Total, 16 years and over..........................   7,465   6,830   6,971    5.6     5.6     5.3     5.4     5.1     5.2 
           16 to 24 years..................................   2,687   2,380   2,386   12.6    12.2    11.7    12.2    11.5    11.2 
             16 to 19 years................................   1,383   1,297   1,232   17.7    16.4    15.9    16.4    17.2    15.6 
               16 to 17 years..............................     654     602     564   20.1    19.4    19.0    19.4    19.1    17.2 
               18 to 19 years..............................     719     698     675   15.7    14.2    13.4    14.1    16.0    14.5 
             20 to 24 years................................   1,304   1,083   1,153    9.7     9.7     9.3     9.7     8.3     8.7 
           25 years and over...............................   4,778   4,459   4,587    4.3     4.3     4.1     4.2     3.9     4.1 
             25 to 54 years................................   4,201   3,945   4,096    4.4     4.4     4.2     4.2     4.1     4.2 
             55 years and over.............................     557     493     528    3.5     3.6     3.6     3.8     3.1     3.3 
                                                                                                                                   
           Men, 16 years and over..........................   4,020   3,531   3,783    5.6     5.5     5.3     5.5     4.9     5.2 
             16 to 24 years................................   1,451   1,237   1,306   12.8    12.9    12.4    13.3    11.5    11.9 
               16 to 19 years..............................     757     702     689   18.6    17.2    17.0    19.4    18.2    17.1 
                 16 to 17 years............................     346     341     307   20.7    20.0    20.5    24.2    22.0    18.6 
                 18 to 19 years............................     401     362     383   16.8    15.4    14.2    16.1    15.9    16.1 
               20 to 24 years..............................     694     535     618    9.6    10.4     9.7     9.8     7.7     8.8 
             25 years and over.............................   2,571   2,307   2,466    4.3     4.1     4.0     4.0     3.8     4.0 
               25 to 54 years..............................   2,235   2,005   2,210    4.4     4.2     4.1     4.1     3.8     4.2 
               55 years and over...........................     331     291     287    3.8     3.3     3.5     3.8     3.2     3.2 
                                                                                                                                   
           Women, 16 years and over........................   3,445   3,299   3,189    5.6     5.7     5.2     5.4     5.3     5.1 
             16 to 24 years................................   1,236   1,144   1,079   12.3    11.4    11.0    10.9    11.6    10.6 
               16 to 19 years..............................     626     595     544   16.6    15.6    14.8    13.1    16.2    14.0 
                 16 to 17 years............................     308     260     256   19.5    18.8    17.5    14.4    16.3    15.7 
                 18 to 19 years............................     318     336     292   14.5    12.9    12.5    11.8    16.0    12.9 
               20 to 24 years..............................     610     548     535    9.8     8.8     8.7     9.5     8.9     8.5 
             25 years and over.............................   2,207   2,153   2,121    4.3     4.5     4.1     4.3     4.1     4.1 
               25 to 54 years..............................   1,966   1,940   1,886    4.5     4.6     4.2     4.4     4.3     4.2 
               55 years and over...........................     226     202     241    3.2     3.9     3.6     3.7     2.9     3.4 

           1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.






          
          
          HOUSEHOLD DATA                                                                                            HOUSEHOLD DATA
          
          Table A-9. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted

          (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                   Total              Men              Women      
                                                                                                                                  
                                       Category                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                               Sept.    Sept.    Sept.    Sept.    Sept.    Sept. 
                                                                               1995     1996     1995     1996     1995     1996  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE                                                                            
                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                  
            Total not in the labor force....................................  66,664   66,831   24,109   24,419   42,556   42,412 
              Persons who currently want a job..............................   5,514    5,219    2,100    1,948    3,414    3,271 
                 Searched for work and available to work now(1).............   1,583    1,518      679      681      903      836 
                    Reason not currently looking:                                                                                 
                      Discouragement over job prospects(2)..................     341      391      193      218      148      173 
                         Reasons other than discouragement(3)...............   1,242    1,127      487      464      755      663 
                                                                                                                                  
                                 MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                  
            Total multiple jobholders(4)....................................   7,666    7,808    4,157    4,197    3,510    3,611 
                Percent of total employed...................................     6.1      6.1      6.1      6.1      6.1      6.1 
                                                                                                                                  
                Primary job full time, secondary job part time..............   4,395    4,253    2,669    2,565    1,726    1,688 
                Primary and secondary jobs both part time...................   1,662    1,714      490      506    1,173    1,208 
                Primary and secondary jobs both full time...................     287      258      205      199       82       58 
                Hours vary on primary or secondary job......................   1,296    1,547      790      914      506      633 

            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.
     ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                    ESTABLISHMENT DATA
     
     
     Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry

     (In thousands)
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                  Not seasonally adjusted                   Seasonally adjusted              
                                                                                                                             
                     Industry                                                                                                
                                               Sept.    July    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                1995    1996   1996p   1996p    1995    1996    1996    1996   1996p   1996p 
                                                                                                                             
               Total......................... 118,102 119,554 119,764 120,482 117,623 119,335 119,554 119,789 120,030 119,990
                                                                                                                             
            Total private....................  98,998 101,163 101,486 101,238  98,298  99,877 100,103 100,307 100,439 100,480
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................  24,588  24,547  24,759  24,679  24,176  24,262  24,275  24,265  24,295  24,245
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................     583     580     582     576     574     576     575     570     571     569
         Metal mining........................    51.0    53.0    53.1    52.2      51      52      52      52      52      52
         Coal mining.........................   104.8   100.7   100.7    99.9     104     101     101     100     100      99
         Oil and gas extraction..............   317.2   314.2   315.1   311.5     313     316     314     310     311     310
         Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels..   109.6   112.4   113.1   112.1     106     107     108     108     108     108
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................   5,469   5,744   5,783   5,741   5,187   5,384   5,403   5,427   5,438   5,447
         General building contractors........ 1,238.9 1,288.3 1,295.2 1,276.3   1,195   1,229   1,233   1,231   1,232   1,232
         Heavy construction, except building.   835.9   836.2   842.9   846.3     756     764     768     769     770     765
         Special trade contractors........... 3,393.9 3,619.4 3,644.8 3,618.3   3,236   3,391   3,402   3,427   3,436   3,450
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................  18,536  18,223  18,394  18,362  18,415  18,302  18,297  18,268  18,286  18,229
           Production workers................  12,856  12,540  12,713  12,713  12,747  12,632  12,635  12,612  12,622  12,588
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................  10,680  10,627  10,710  10,710  10,648  10,679  10,695  10,680  10,707  10,673
           Production workers................   7,319   7,248   7,327   7,343   7,294   7,302   7,327   7,311   7,337   7,309
         Lumber and wood products............   770.8   774.8   782.3   777.4     762     762     766     765     769     765
         Furniture and fixtures..............   506.6   491.5   501.4   501.3     506     500     500     500     500     500
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....   545.9   544.2   547.9   547.0     536     537     536     535     536     535
         Primary metal industries............   708.7   695.2   706.8   707.6     707     705     708     700     706     705
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   239.8   238.4   239.2   238.6     240     239     239     237     237     238
         Fabricated metal products........... 1,440.1 1,439.4 1,456.0 1,460.2   1,437   1,443   1,450   1,453   1,456   1,458
         Industrial machinery and equipment.. 2,063.1 2,083.0 2,077.5 2,071.7   2,066   2,087   2,088   2,088   2,085   2,074
           Computer and office equipment.....   352.1   359.5   358.8   355.8     352     360     359     357     359     356
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................ 1,634.0 1,646.4 1,650.0 1,649.6   1,633   1,652   1,651   1,656   1,652   1,649
           Electronic components and                                                                                         
              accessories....................   591.3   616.1   615.3   612.2     591     615     614     616     615     612
         Transportation equipment............ 1,784.4 1,741.4 1,768.0 1,776.3   1,780   1,773   1,775   1,766   1,786   1,774
           Motor vehicles and equipment......   972.9   933.1   958.8   964.8     968     965     967     953     968     961
           Aircraft and parts................   446.4   450.3   451.1   455.2     447     449     446     453     454     456
         Instruments and related products....   834.8   831.8   833.3   831.5     834     834     835     832     832     830
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........   391.6   378.9   386.9   387.1     387     386     386     385     385     383
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................   7,856   7,596   7,684   7,652   7,767   7,623   7,602   7,588   7,579   7,556
           Production workers................   5,537   5,292   5,386   5,370   5,453   5,330   5,308   5,301   5,285   5,279
         Food and kindred products........... 1,750.4 1,676.7 1,722.2 1,709.6   1,678   1,664   1,647   1,640   1,641   1,634
         Tobacco products....................    44.2    37.0    39.7    41.1      42      41      41      40      38      39
         Textile mill products...............   659.5   631.1   637.9   635.2     657     637     637     637     634     633
         Apparel and other textile products..   921.9   828.9   840.8   841.2     913     853     847     849     835     833
         Paper and allied products...........   690.7   676.9   679.6   676.6     690     679     676     672     674     673
         Printing and publishing............. 1,536.1 1,526.0 1,525.6 1,519.0   1,539   1,525   1,528   1,527   1,527   1,522
         Chemicals and allied products....... 1,032.0 1,024.6 1,026.0 1,019.5   1,030   1,025   1,020   1,019   1,020   1,018
         Petroleum and coal products.........   144.3   142.5   143.1   141.0     142     139     140     139     140     139
         Rubber and misc. plastics products..   971.3   960.7   974.0   973.6     972     963     969     968     976     972
         Leather and leather products........   105.5    91.9    95.4    94.9     104      97      97      97      94      93
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................  93,514  95,007  95,005  95,803  93,447  95,073  95,279  95,524  95,735  95,745
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...   6,234   6,326   6,330   6,395   6,194   6,311   6,327   6,335   6,340   6,343
         Transportation......................   3,971   4,028   4,029   4,106   3,936   4,028   4,043   4,053   4,054   4,060
           Railroad transportation...........   238.5   231.9   233.4   233.4     236     232     231     229     231     232
           Local and interurban passenger                                                                                    
              transit........................   443.0   393.7   390.5   472.9     430     450     453     459     459     458
           Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,884.8 1,909.2 1,907.0 1,902.5   1,868   1,891   1,890   1,889   1,880   1,878
           Water transportation..............   176.9   182.1   179.8   177.9     174     167     171     172     173     172
           Transportation by air.............   797.0   853.6   859.0   859.4     796     837     844     848     853     859
           Pipelines, except natural gas.....    14.6    14.2    14.1    13.8      15      14      14      14      14      14
           Transportation services...........   415.9   442.8   444.7   446.1     417     437     440     442     444     447
         Communications and public utilities.   2,263   2,298   2,301   2,289   2,258   2,283   2,284   2,282   2,286   2,283
           Communications.................... 1,349.6 1,397.3 1,403.5 1,400.7   1,346   1,384   1,388   1,391   1,398   1,397
           Electric, gas, and sanitary                                                                                       
              services.......................   913.0   900.3   897.6   888.2     912     899     896     891     888     886
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................   6,467   6,629   6,633   6,620   6,451   6,567   6,576   6,585   6,598   6,603
         Durable goods.......................   3,761   3,886   3,885   3,870   3,764   3,850   3,858   3,862   3,870   3,873
         Nondurable goods....................   2,706   2,743   2,748   2,750   2,687   2,717   2,718   2,723   2,728   2,730
       Retail trade..........................  21,336  21,795  21,859  21,800  21,258  21,499  21,575  21,672  21,676  21,698
         Building materials and garden                                                                                       
            supplies.........................   878.1   954.7   946.9   935.3     873     907     917     922     924     930
         General merchandise stores.......... 2,662.6 2,675.0 2,699.0 2,716.0   2,679   2,728   2,726   2,731   2,745   2,740
           Department stores................. 2,338.5 2,363.4 2,387.6 2,404.8   2,350   2,409   2,408   2,413   2,422   2,418
         Food stores......................... 3,371.3 3,456.3 3,459.3 3,447.1   3,379   3,416   3,422   3,435   3,445   3,444
         Automotive dealers and service                                                                                      
            stations......................... 2,213.8 2,312.6 2,316.4 2,312.2   2,199   2,259   2,272   2,286   2,291   2,297
           New and used car dealers.......... 1,003.8 1,038.5 1,041.1 1,043.3     999   1,027   1,030   1,034   1,036   1,037
         Apparel and accessory stores........ 1,097.5 1,093.7 1,099.6 1,080.4   1,112   1,100   1,101   1,103   1,099   1,097
         Furniture and home furnishings                                                                                      
            stores...........................   940.5   970.8   977.7   982.6     950     963     972     981     987     992
         Eating and drinking places.......... 7,531.2 7,692.8 7,700.7 7,650.2   7,399   7,454   7,485   7,528   7,489   7,504
         Miscellaneous retail establishments. 2,641.2 2,639.3 2,659.3 2,675.9   2,667   2,672   2,680   2,686   2,696   2,694
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...   6,850   7,075   7,078   7,017   6,842   6,964   6,967   6,987   6,998   7,005
         Finance.............................   3,233   3,354   3,361   3,338   3,239   3,315   3,319   3,329   3,339   3,340
           Depository institutions........... 2,016.1 2,046.2 2,046.3 2,029.8   2,020   2,026   2,029   2,030   2,029   2,029
             Commercial banks................ 1,461.6 1,484.9 1,484.8 1,472.4   1,464   1,469   1,470   1,471   1,471   1,473
             Savings institutions............   269.7   266.8   265.4   261.6     270     267     267     265     264     263
           Nondepository institutions........   465.0   515.6   519.7   519.6     466     507     509     514     519     521
             Mortgage bankers and brokers....   205.6   232.5   234.6   234.4   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)  
           Security and commodity brokers....   524.0   547.9   551.0   545.6     524     538     541     543     548     546
           Holding and other investment                                                                                      
              offices........................   228.2   244.0   243.8   243.3     229     244     240     242     243     244
         Insurance...........................   2,240   2,273   2,267   2,261   2,244   2,261   2,259   2,261   2,259   2,264
           Insurance carriers................ 1,541.7 1,560.8 1,556.8 1,551.5   1,544   1,552   1,551   1,553   1,551   1,554
           Insurance agents, brokers, and                                                                                    
              service........................   698.2   711.7   709.8   709.0     700     709     708     708     708     710
         Real estate.........................   1,377   1,448   1,450   1,418   1,359   1,388   1,389   1,397   1,400   1,401
                                                                                                                             
       Services2.............................  33,523  34,791  34,827  34,727  33,377  34,274  34,383  34,463  34,532  34,586
         Agricultural services...............   612.6   686.1   677.1   650.0     581     605     615     619     620     615
         Hotels and other lodging places..... 1,704.7 1,828.2 1,828.1 1,731.9   1,660   1,681   1,704   1,689   1,684   1,681
         Personal services................... 1,134.4 1,133.9 1,135.6 1,149.3   1,164   1,177   1,175   1,174   1,179   1,180
         Business services................... 6,980.8 7,244.1 7,349.2 7,382.2   6,877   7,152   7,189   7,225   7,270   7,275
           Services to buildings.............   891.7   898.6   901.3   891.6     887     903     895     893     892     888
           Personnel supply services......... 2,600.6 2,672.2 2,753.3 2,802.4   2,508   2,622   2,648   2,668   2,693   2,704
             Help supply services............ 2,301.5 2,371.9 2,443.6 2,486.1   2,216   2,322   2,353   2,367   2,387   2,394
           Computer and data processing                                                                                      
              services....................... 1,103.8 1,205.2 1,218.7 1,224.7   1,107   1,184   1,195   1,206   1,218   1,226
         Auto repair, services, and parking.. 1,028.4 1,105.7 1,110.0 1,109.6   1,025   1,078   1,085   1,096   1,103   1,105
         Miscellaneous repair services.......   358.6   369.5   369.4   368.3     357     364     366     365     366     367
         Motion pictures.....................   490.7   538.0   540.4   527.7     501     525     526     532     525     545
         Amusement and recreation services... 1,537.3 1,775.5 1,764.9 1,595.6   1,463   1,516   1,504   1,514   1,515   1,512
         Health services..................... 9,318.0 9,609.7 9,615.7 9,610.3   9,318   9,555   9,566   9,577   9,587   9,617
           Offices and clinics of medical                                                                                    
              doctors........................ 1,619.0 1,683.4 1,688.6 1,685.3   1,617   1,668   1,674   1,677   1,679   1,685
           Nursing and personal care                                                                                         
              facilities..................... 1,707.0 1,752.7 1,756.4 1,752.6   1,703   1,740   1,744   1,747   1,749   1,750
           Hospitals......................... 3,790.5 3,865.8 3,858.3 3,857.9   3,793   3,851   3,847   3,850   3,849   3,863
           Home health care services.........   639.3   657.0   655.2   658.6     638     658     657     656     655     655
         Legal services......................   917.5   946.5   940.3   925.5     923     929     929     933     935     932
         Educational services................ 1,927.5 1,755.6 1,728.5 1,961.9   1,966   1,987   2,001   2,017   2,015   2,002
         Social services..................... 2,348.5 2,381.8 2,368.6 2,390.9   2,359   2,395   2,396   2,404   2,393   2,406
           Child day care services...........   576.2   515.2   522.6   563.5     569     571     570     568     576     557
           Residential care..................   642.5   674.8   677.3   669.3     645     663     665     669     672     673
         Museums and botanical and zoological                                                                                
           gardens...........................    82.3    93.3    91.6    86.5      80      85      85      85      85      84
         Membership organizations............ 2,114.7 2,211.0 2,184.0 2,127.4   2,131   2,147   2,148   2,146   2,149   2,144
         Engineering and management services. 2,775.4 2,918.5 2,929.1 2,915.2   2,781   2,885   2,901   2,894   2,912   2,927
           Engineering and architectural                                                                                     
              services.......................   822.0   858.6   862.2   857.1     818     838     848     845     848     853
           Management and public relations...   852.2   913.3   920.9   922.8     847     897     901     904     913     920
         Services, nec.......................    44.7    46.5    47.5    47.8   (3)     (3)     (3)     (3)     (3)     (3)  
                                                                                                                             
       Government............................  19,104  18,391  18,278  19,244  19,325  19,458  19,451  19,482  19,591  19,510
         Federal.............................   2,812   2,776   2,761   2,736   2,812   2,776   2,756   2,752   2,742   2,737
           Federal, except Postal Service.... 1,970.3 1,925.7 1,914.0 1,891.2   1,965   1,918   1,906   1,897   1,891   1,884
         State...............................   4,591   4,406   4,395   4,591   4,638   4,655   4,654   4,658   4,665   4,665
           Education......................... 1,881.8 1,674.9 1,680.3 1,908.6   1,935   1,963   1,968   1,980   1,979   1,984
           Other State government............ 2,709.0 2,731.1 2,714.3 2,682.6   2,703   2,692   2,686   2,678   2,686   2,681
         Local...............................  11,701  11,209  11,122  11,917  11,875  12,027  12,041  12,072  12,184  12,108
           Education......................... 6,457.3 5,606.5 5,590.0 6,604.0   6,628   6,690   6,724   6,767   6,852   6,785
           Other local government............ 5,243.9 5,602.2 5,531.5 5,313.0   5,247   5,337   5,317   5,305   5,332   5,323

       1 This series is not suitable for seasonal adjustment because it has very little seasonal and irregular movement. 
     Thus, the not seasonally adjusted series can be used for analysis of cyclical and long-term trends.
       2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
       3 This series is 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-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by industry
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
                                                  Not seasonally adjusted                   Seasonally adjusted              
                                                                                                                             
                     Industry                                                                                                
                                               Sept.    July    Aug.   Sept.   Sept.    May     June    July    Aug.   Sept. 
                                                1995    1996   1996p   1996p    1995    1996    1996    1996   1996p   1996p 
                                                                                                                             
            Total private....................   34.6    34.6    34.8    34.9    34.4    34.2    34.7    34.2    34.5    34.7 
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................   41.6    40.8    41.4    41.7    40.9    40.9    41.2    40.9    41.1    41.1 
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................   45.4    44.8    45.2    45.8    44.8    45.2    45.8    44.9    44.7    45.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................   39.9    39.8    39.8    39.7    38.7    38.1    38.7    38.7    38.7    38.5 
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................   42.0    41.1    41.8    42.3    41.5    41.7    41.8    41.6    41.7    41.8 
           Overtime hours....................    4.8     4.3     4.7     5.1     4.4     4.6     4.6     4.4     4.5     4.5 
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................   42.8    41.7    42.5    43.0    42.3    42.5    42.6    42.3    42.6    42.6 
           Overtime hours....................    5.1     4.4     5.0     5.3     4.7     5.1     5.0     4.7     4.8     4.8 
                                                                                                                             
         Lumber and wood products............   41.1    40.7    41.4    41.7    40.6    41.0    41.2    41.1    40.9    41.1 
         Furniture and fixtures..............   40.1    39.2    40.1    40.4    39.4    39.7    39.5    39.7    39.6    39.5 
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....   44.0    43.5    44.1    44.4    43.1    43.2    43.5    43.2    43.3    43.4 
         Primary metal industries............   43.8    43.6    44.0    44.8    43.6    44.3    44.1    44.0    44.4    44.5 
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   44.2    44.4    44.0    44.4    43.9    44.4    44.5    44.3    44.2    44.0 
         Fabricated metal products...........   42.9    41.6    42.5    43.0    42.4    42.6    42.6    42.4    42.4    42.4 
         Industrial machinery and equipment..   43.4    42.4    42.7    43.1    43.2    43.2    43.3    42.9    43.0    42.8 
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................   42.2    40.5    41.5    41.9    41.7    41.3    41.6    41.2    41.6    41.5 
         Transportation equipment............   44.4    42.7    44.5    45.3    43.6    44.5    44.4    44.0    44.9    44.9 
           Motor vehicles and equipment......   45.5    43.4    45.5    46.3    44.5    46.5    45.7    45.5    46.4    45.9 
         Instruments and related products....   41.5    41.0    41.7    42.1    41.4    41.6    41.9    41.4    41.9    41.9 
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........   40.3    38.9    39.9    40.1    39.8    39.9    39.8    39.7    39.8    39.6 
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................   40.9    40.3    40.9    41.2    40.4    40.6    40.7    40.5    40.5    40.7 
           Overtime hours....................    4.5     4.1     4.4     4.6     3.9     4.0     4.2     4.1     4.0     4.0 
                                                                                                                             
         Food and kindred products...........   42.1    40.9    41.5    42.3    41.1    41.1    41.1    40.7    40.6    41.0 
         Tobacco products....................   40.0    38.7    40.0    40.8    38.7    39.4    39.4    39.3    39.7    39.6 
         Textile mill products...............   41.1    40.2    41.3    41.2    40.6    40.6    41.0    40.8    40.9    40.7 
         Apparel and other textile products..   37.2    36.8    37.6    37.5    36.8    37.2    37.6    37.1    37.3    37.4 
         Paper and allied products...........   43.4    43.2    43.3    43.9    43.0    43.4    43.5    43.4    43.2    43.5 
         Printing and publishing.............   38.6    37.9    38.5    38.9    38.1    38.3    38.1    38.2    38.3    38.5 
         Chemicals and allied products.......   43.2    42.9    42.9    43.2    43.1    43.2    43.4    43.2    43.3    43.0 
         Petroleum and coal products.........   43.8    44.2    43.9    44.8    (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
         Rubber and misc. plastics products..   41.8    40.8    41.6    42.0    41.4    41.4    41.5    41.6    41.5    41.6 
         Leather and leather products........   38.6    37.7    38.9    39.1    38.0    38.3    38.5    38.3    38.8    38.8 
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................   32.7    32.9    33.1    33.0    32.7    32.5    33.0    32.5    32.7    33.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...   39.7    39.8    40.2    40.3    39.5    39.2    40.0    39.4    39.8    40.2 
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................   38.3    38.1    38.4    38.6    38.2    38.1    38.7    38.0    38.3    38.5 
                                                                                                                             
       Retail trade..........................   28.9    29.4    29.5    29.1    28.8    28.8    29.0    28.6    28.8    29.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...   35.7    35.5    35.7    36.6    (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
                                                                                                                             
       Services..............................   32.3    32.5    32.7    32.6    (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  

       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                                                                                                
                                                Sept.      July      Aug.     Sept.     Sept.      July      Aug.     Sept.  
                                                 1995      1996     1996p     1996p      1995      1996     1996p     1996p  
                                                                                                                             
            Total private....................  $11.55    $11.74    $11.76    $11.96    $399.63   $406.20   $409.25   $417.40 
             Seasonally adjusted.............   11.52     11.81     11.86     11.92     396.29    403.90    409.17    413.62 
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................   13.22     13.54     13.55     13.67     549.95    552.43    560.97    570.04 
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................   15.35     15.53     15.51     15.82     696.89    695.74    701.05    724.56 
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................   15.34     15.48     15.55     15.74     612.07    616.10    618.89    624.88 
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................   12.47     12.79     12.79     12.90     523.74    525.67    534.62    545.67 
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................   13.05     13.35     13.38     13.52     558.54    556.70    568.65    581.36 
         Lumber and wood products............   10.28     10.47     10.50     10.56     422.51    426.13    434.70    440.35 
         Furniture and fixtures..............    9.95     10.13     10.17     10.23     399.00    397.10    407.82    413.29 
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....   12.54     12.93     12.91     13.05     551.76    562.46    569.33    579.42 
         Primary metal industries............   14.71     15.09     15.01     15.16     644.30    657.92    660.44    679.17 
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   17.56     18.01     17.89     18.32     776.15    799.64    787.16    813.41 
         Fabricated metal products...........   12.21     12.48     12.52     12.64     523.81    519.17    532.10    543.52 
         Industrial machinery and equipment..   13.34     13.55     13.64     13.81     578.96    574.52    582.43    595.21 
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................   11.78     12.23     12.23     12.30     497.12    495.32    507.55    515.37 
         Transportation equipment............   16.96     17.32     17.29     17.47     753.02    739.56    769.41    791.39 
           Motor vehicles and equipment......   17.58     17.97     17.87     18.13     799.89    779.90    813.09    839.42 
         Instruments and related products....   12.81     13.18     13.18     13.29     531.62    540.38    549.61    559.51 
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........   10.12     10.39     10.43     10.53     407.84    404.17    416.16    422.25 
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................   11.65     12.01     11.96     12.03     476.49    484.00    489.16    495.64 
         Food and kindred products...........   10.97     11.27     11.18     11.19     461.84    460.94    463.97    473.34 
         Tobacco products....................   17.68     21.09     20.41     19.22     707.20    816.18    816.40    784.18 
         Textile mill products...............    9.50      9.67      9.70      9.77     390.45    388.73    400.61    402.52 
         Apparel and other textile products..    7.71      7.94      7.94      8.01     286.81    292.19    298.54    300.38 
         Paper and allied products...........   14.33     14.79     14.71     14.76     621.92    638.93    636.94    647.96 
         Printing and publishing.............   12.50     12.62     12.69     12.83     482.50    478.30    488.57    499.09 
         Chemicals and allied products.......   15.72     16.19     16.25     16.30     679.10    694.55    697.13    704.16 
         Petroleum and coal products.........   19.40     19.00     18.95     19.34     849.72    839.80    831.91    866.43 
         Rubber and misc. plastics products..   10.99     11.24     11.23     11.30     459.38    458.59    467.17    474.60 
         Leather and leather products........    8.24      8.44      8.66      8.76     318.06    318.19    336.87    342.52 
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................   10.96     11.14     11.16     11.37     358.39    366.51    369.40    375.21 
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...  $14.35    $14.51    $14.55    $14.66    $569.70   $577.50   $584.91   $590.80 
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................   12.51     12.80     12.82     13.00     479.13    487.68    492.29    501.80 
                                                                                                                             
       Retail trade..........................    7.77      7.92      7.95      8.04     224.55    232.85    234.53    233.96 
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...   12.40     12.69     12.71     12.91     442.68    450.50    453.75    472.51 
                                                                                                                             
       Services..............................   11.45     11.62     11.63     11.90     369.84    377.65    380.30    387.94 

       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  
                                                   Sept.     May     June     July     Aug.     Sept.     change  
                            Industry               1995     1996     1996     1996     1996p    1996p     from:   
                                                                                                        Aug. 1996-
                                                                                                        Sept. 1996
                                                                                                                  
                Total private:                                                                                    
                   Current dollars..............   $11.52   $11.73   $11.83   $11.81   $11.86   $11.92      0.5   
                   Constant (1982) dollars2.....     7.42     7.38     7.44     7.41     7.44     N.A.     (3)    
                                                                                                                  
                  Goods-producing...............    13.12    13.38    13.45    13.48    13.55    13.59       .3   
                    Mining......................    15.41    15.46    15.59    15.58    15.64    15.77       .8   
                    Construction................    15.17    15.31    15.40    15.46    15.49    15.57       .5   
                    Manufacturing...............    12.43    12.72    12.77    12.79    12.88    12.90       .2   
                      Excluding overtime4.......    11.79    12.06    12.12    12.15    12.22    12.22       .0   
                                                                                                                  
                  Service-producing.............    10.96    11.18    11.29    11.25    11.30    11.37       .6   
                    Transportation and public                                                                     
                       utilities................    14.33    14.50    14.56    14.52    14.61    14.61       .0   
                    Wholesale trade.............    12.51    12.71    12.91    12.81    12.88    13.00       .9   
                    Retail trade................     7.76     7.93     8.00     7.96     8.01     8.01       .0   
                    Finance, insurance, and real                                                                  
                       estate...................    12.44    12.76    12.86    12.77    12.84    12.96       .9   
                    Services....................    11.46    11.69    11.79    11.78    11.81    11.90       .8   

                  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 .4 percent from July 1996 to August 1996, 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                                                                                                
                                               Sept.  July    Aug.     Sept.   Sept.   May     June   July    Aug.     Sept. 
                                               1995   1996    1996p    1996p   1995    1996    1996   1996    1996p    1996p 
                                                                                                                             
            Total private....................  135.7  138.6   140.1    139.8   134.0  135.4   137.7   136.0   137.1    138.0 
                                                                                                                             
     Goods-producing.........................  114.0  111.3   114.3    114.9   109.7  110.0   110.7   110.1   110.6    110.3 
                                                                                                                             
       Mining................................   55.6   55.2    56.0     56.1    53.8   55.2    55.9    54.2    54.2     54.2 
                                                                                                                             
       Construction..........................  155.6  162.8   164.3    162.7   141.0  144.3   147.0   147.8   148.0    147.3 
                                                                                                                             
       Manufacturing.........................  108.9  103.9   107.3    108.4   106.6  106.2   106.5   105.7   106.3    106.1 
                                                                                                                             
        Durable goods........................  109.3  105.4   108.8    110.3   107.6  108.4   108.9   108.0   109.1    108.5 
         Lumber and wood products............  138.1  137.2   141.3    141.3   134.4  135.9   137.2   136.7   136.7    136.3 
         Furniture and fixtures..............  126.3  119.4   125.1    126.4   123.9  124.2   122.6   123.6   123.2    122.9 
         Stone, clay, and glass products.....  112.9  111.4   114.0    114.9   108.1  108.6   109.7   108.4   109.2    109.4 
         Primary metal industries............   91.5   89.0    91.8     93.6    90.7   92.0    92.3    90.9    92.9     92.8 
           Blast furnaces and basic steel                                                                                    
              products.......................   72.5   73.1    72.6     73.2    72.1   73.3    73.5    72.8    72.6     72.3 
         Fabricated metal products...........  115.4  111.3   115.6    117.4   113.6  114.5   115.3   115.1   115.6    115.5 
         Industrial machinery and equipment..  103.4  101.0   101.4    102.3   103.2  103.7   103.9   102.9   103.2    101.6 
         Electronic and other electrical                                                                                     
            equipment........................  109.3  104.8   107.5    109.1   108.0  107.8   108.3   107.8   108.3    108.2 
         Transportation equipment............  123.3  115.7   122.8    126.1   120.8  122.5   123.8   121.7   125.7    124.9 
           Motor vehicles and equipment......  167.1  153.1   165.3    169.6   162.8  171.7   169.6   164.9   172.0    169.0 
         Instruments and related products....   73.2   71.7    73.4     74.1    73.3   73.6    74.0    72.6    73.6     73.6 
         Miscellaneous manufacturing.........  105.3   97.3   102.3    103.2   102.6  102.1   102.3   101.3   101.5    100.3 
                                                                                                                             
        Nondurable goods.....................  108.3  101.8   105.2    105.8   105.3  103.3   103.3   102.6   102.4    102.7 
         Food and kindred products...........  123.8  114.3   120.4    121.7   114.6  114.2   112.6   111.1   110.6    111.4 
         Tobacco products....................   67.8   52.8    60.7     67.0    61.3   60.5    62.5    60.3    57.0     58.8 
         Textile mill products...............   95.1   88.9    92.8     92.4    93.6   90.9    91.6    91.2    91.3     90.8 
         Apparel and other textile products..   83.2   73.1    76.1     76.0    81.5   76.4    76.7    76.0    74.9     75.0 
         Paper and allied products...........  110.8  108.0   109.4    110.5   109.6  108.5   108.4   107.7   107.8    108.8 
         Printing and publishing.............  125.5  121.8   123.8    124.4   124.1  123.2   122.7   123.0   123.2    123.3 
         Chemicals and allied products.......  102.4   99.2    99.5     99.8   102.0  100.4   100.6    99.7    99.6     99.1 
         Petroleum and coal products.........   78.2   78.2    77.8     78.8    76.4   72.9    76.7    75.8    75.8     77.3 
         Rubber and misc. plastics products..  142.8  136.9   142.4    143.5   141.4  140.1   141.0   141.5   142.1    142.3 
         Leather and leather products........   49.3   40.5    44.1     43.9    47.9   44.1    44.4    43.5    42.9     42.9 
                                                                                                                             
     Service-producing.......................  145.4  150.8   151.8    151.0   144.9  146.8   149.8   147.7   149.0    150.5 
                                                                                                                             
       Transportation and public utilities...  126.8  129.4   130.7    133.0   125.4  127.2   130.1   128.3   129.7    131.4 
                                                                                                                             
       Wholesale trade.......................  123.0  125.4   126.1    126.4   122.4  124.0   126.1   123.9   125.0    125.7 
                                                                                                                             
       Retail trade..........................  133.5  138.9   139.5    137.0   132.5  134.0   135.4   134.1   135.0    136.0 
                                                                                                                             
       Finance, insurance, and real estate...  123.1  127.3   127.8    129.4   123.8  124.3   128.9   125.1   126.2    129.9 
                                                                                                                             
       Services..............................  172.2  179.7   181.0    179.7   172.1  174.7   178.7   176.4   178.0    179.6 

       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:                                                                                                     
           1992..............   43.7    43.7    50.0    57.3    55.5    50.1    52.2    49.0    52.1    56.3    53.2    57.4 
           1993..............   60.0    60.8    51.3    58.6    61.7    55.2    57.7    57.0    61.8    59.7    61.8    59.6 
           1994..............   58.8    62.1    66.0    64.2    60.3    63.5    61.5    62.1    60.8    61.5    63.1    63.9 
           1995..............   63.2    59.3    54.9    54.6    51.4    55.1    54.1    57.4    51.8    54.8    56.3    59.4 
           1996..............   52.4    63.2    60.0    52.4    62.2    57.4    55.9   p55.2   p50.1                         
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 3-month span:                                                                                                     
           1992..............   39.7    41.9    49.7    57.0    58.4    55.8    50.6    50.1    52.8    54.4    57.6    61.2 
           1993..............   63.8    61.2    61.1    59.8    63.1    62.9    59.7    63.1    64.5    67.1    64.6    63.5 
           1994..............   67.1    69.5    70.4    68.7    66.4    66.0    68.5    69.5    65.3    65.6    68.0    67.8 
           1995..............   66.6    63.2    56.9    53.4    54.2    52.9    56.6    53.8    54.2    54.6    58.3    57.0 
           1996..............   60.7    61.8    61.2    60.0    61.0    63.5   p59.0   p53.7                                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 6-month span:                                                                                                     
           1992..............   43.3    46.8    47.5    52.5    54.9    56.7    53.8    52.2    55.5    57.6    63.9    61.9 
           1993..............   63.3    65.2    63.8    64.2    62.4    65.9    65.7    63.9    66.3    67.3    70.6    69.5 
           1994..............   70.8    71.6    69.0    69.8    69.5    69.5    69.2    69.0    69.2    68.5    69.1    66.6 
           1995..............   66.3    60.8    58.7    54.4    53.5    54.1    53.1    56.3    55.9    54.1    56.2    61.8 
           1996..............   60.3    62.9    63.8    63.8   p62.5   p57.7                                                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 12-month span:                                                                                                    
           1992..............   47.2    42.3    42.7    44.1    48.0    52.5    55.8    60.7    59.7    61.4    62.9    62.9 
           1993..............   64.9    63.9    64.0    65.4    67.0    67.6    67.6    67.0    70.2    69.5    69.2    70.1 
           1994..............   70.2    71.6    71.8    71.8    72.1    71.8    71.5    72.1    70.1    69.4    65.7    65.0 
           1995..............   62.6    60.8    60.1    61.2    58.1    57.7    54.5    58.7    58.6    57.3    59.4    59.8 
           1996..............   61.0   p62.2   p61.4                                                                         
                                                                                                                             
                              
                                                          Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1
                              
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 1-month span:                                                                                                     
           1992..............   37.4    39.9    43.9    56.8    50.0    48.9    52.2    44.6    47.5    47.8    51.4    54.7 
           1993..............   52.5    56.5    50.7    45.7    54.0    45.7    49.3    49.3    59.4    53.2    53.6    55.0 
           1994..............   56.5    60.1    59.7    58.6    53.2    57.9    57.6    53.6    55.8    54.7    57.2    59.4 
           1995..............   56.8    55.0    46.0    45.3    39.2    40.3    45.0    45.0    42.4    45.3    46.4    47.5 
           1996..............   42.1    48.2    48.2    39.6    53.2    49.6    43.9   p47.5   p42.1                         
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 3-month span:                                                                                                     
           1992..............   29.9    33.5    43.9    49.6    55.4    53.2    46.8    47.8    45.7    47.5    51.1    54.7 
           1993..............   60.8    58.3    53.2    47.8    48.9    54.0    50.4    58.3    57.6    59.7    54.7    57.6 
           1994..............   63.7    64.4    66.2    60.8    56.1    56.8    60.8    58.6    54.0    56.1    60.1    60.8 
           1995..............   60.4    51.8    43.5    34.9    33.1    32.0    33.1    35.6    38.8    39.6    40.6    38.8 
           1996..............   38.8    39.9    37.8    43.2    45.3    47.5   p42.8   p36.7                                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 6-month span:                                                                                                     
           1992..............   32.4    34.9    39.9    46.8    52.2    54.3    48.2    47.8    51.1    51.1    56.8    56.5 
           1993..............   56.5    59.0    56.8    55.4    50.7    57.9    59.4    56.5    57.6    58.6    64.4    60.8 
           1994..............   62.2    64.4    60.4    61.5    59.0    56.8    56.5    57.2    60.1    55.8    59.7    55.8 
           1995..............   55.4    45.0    38.5    33.5    27.7    28.8    28.8    30.6    33.5    33.1    34.2    38.8 
           1996..............   32.0    37.4    37.1    38.1   p42.1   p36.0                                                 
                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                             
      Over 12-month span:                                                                                                    
           1992..............   42.4    36.7    36.3    36.0    39.6    45.7    50.0    55.8    57.9    56.8    58.3    56.5 
           1993..............   56.8    57.9    55.8    58.6    57.2    57.6    58.6    59.0    61.2    59.7    60.1    57.6 
           1994..............   57.9    58.6    60.8    60.8    60.8    63.3    59.4    60.1    57.2    55.8    49.6    47.5 
           1995..............   42.1    40.3    39.9    40.6    34.5    31.7    25.9    28.8    28.1    24.1    27.0    29.1 
           1996..............   33.1   p34.5   p33.8                                                                         

        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.