Technical information:  (202) 691-6378     USDL 04-1829
               http://www.bls.gov/cps/
                                           For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902     Tuesday, September 21, 2004


                          EMPLOYEE TENURE IN 2004

   The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with
their current employer was 4.0 years in January 2004, according to data
released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
of Labor.  This measure, referred to as employee tenure, was 3.7 years in
January 2002.  Nearly 31 percent of workers age 25 and over had 10 or more
years of tenure with their current employer in January 2004.
   
   Information on employee tenure is obtained from supplemental questions
in the Current Population Survey (CPS).  The CPS is a monthly survey of
about 60,000 households that provides information on the labor force
status, demographics, and other characteristics of the civilian noninsti-
tutional population age 16 and over.  The questions about employee tenure
have been essentially the same since 1983.  Prior to that year, the ques-
tions on employee tenure were significantly different.  As a result, this
release focuses only on comparable data from 1983 to 2004.  (See the Tech-
nical Note.)
   
Demographic Characteristics
   
   Median employee tenure is higher among older workers than younger ones,
as would be expected.  For example, in January 2004, the median tenure of
workers age 55 to 64 (9.6 years) was more than three times that of workers
age 25 to 34 (2.9 years).
   
   In January 2004, median tenure for women (3.8 years) was about 0.3 year
less than that of men (4.1 years).  Prior to 1996, the difference in median
tenure between men and women was about a year.  Beginning in 1996, the dif-
ference has been only about a half year or less.  (See table 1.)
   
   About half of all workers age 45 and over had been with their current
employer for 10 years or more in January 2004.  For workers age 35 to 44,
about one-quarter had such long tenure.  Thirty-two percent of male wage
and salary workers age 25 and over had been with their current employer
for 10 years or more in January 2004, compared with 29 percent of women.
Since January 1983, when the proportions were 38 percent for men and 25
percent for women, the gap between them has narrowed considerably.  (See
table 2.)

                                  - 2 -

   In January 2004, 17 percent of Hispanics or Latinos (age 16 and over)
had been with their current employer for 10 years or more, compared with
27 percent of whites, 23 percent of blacks, and 19 percent of Asians.
(See table 3.)  The shorter tenure among Hispanic or Latino workers can be
explained, in part, by their relative youth.  Among employed Hispanics or
Latinos age 25 years and over, nearly 40 percent were between the ages of
25 and 34, compared with about 25 percent of employed whites and about 30
percent each of employed blacks and Asians.  Moreover, about 1 in 5 employed
Hispanics or Latinos age 16 and over had not been in the United States for
10 years.

   The proportion of wage and salary workers with a year or less of tenure
with their current employer was 23 percent in January 2004.  This short-
tenured group includes new entrants and reentrants to the workforce, job
losers who found new jobs during the previous year, and workers who had
voluntarily changed employers during the previous year.  Also, young work-
ers have shorter tenure than older workers.  For example, almost three-
quarters of 16- to 19-year-olds and about half of 20- to 24-year-olds had
tenure of 12 months or less with their current employer; this compares with
about 1 in 10 workers age 45 and over.
   
Industry
   
   In January 2004, nonagricultural wage and salary workers in the public
sector had nearly double the tenure of their counterparts in private in-
dustries, 6.9 and 3.5 years, respectively.  (See table 5.)  Part of the
gap in tenure is due to the fact that government workers tend to be some-
what older than workers in private industries; nearly 75 percent of govern-
ment workers were age 35 and over, compared with 60 percent of private wage
and salary workers.
   
   Within the private sector, manufacturing workers had the highest me-
dian tenure (5.8 years) of the major industry groups.  Within manufactur-
ing, industries with particularly high employee tenure included petroleum
and coal products (11.4 years), electrical equipment and appliances (9.8
years), beverage and tobacco products (8.0 years), and transportation
equipment (7.7 years).  Across the major industries, median tenure was 
lowest among workers in leisure and hospitality, at 2.0 years.  Again, age
distribution affects overall median tenure; workers in manufacturing tend
to be older than those in leisure and hospitality.
   
Occupation
   
   Workers in management, professional, and related occupations had the
highest median tenure (5.0 years) among the major occupational groups.
Employees in service occupations had the lowest median tenure, 2.8 years.
(See table 6.)  Workers in service occupations tend to be younger than
persons employed in management, professional, and related occupations.
   
   Jobs with noticeably high employee tenure include management occupa-
tions (6.0 years), architecture and engineering occupations (5.8 years),
protective service occupations (5.5 years), education, training, and
library occupations (5.1 years), and production occupations (5.0 years).
Jobs with somewhat low employee tenure include food preparation and serv-
ing related occupations (1.8 years), personal care and service occupations
(2.7 years), sales and related occupations (2.8 years), and healthcare sup-
port occupations (2.9 years).






                                  - 3 -

Technical Note


   The data in this release were collected through a supplement to the
January 2004 Current Population Survey (CPS).  The CPS, which is conducted
by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a
monthly survey of about 60,000 households that provides information on the
labor force status, demographics, and other characteristics of the nation's
civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over.
   
   Several major changes introduced into the CPS in 2003 affect the tenure
data that are presented in this release.  These include the introduction of
Census 2000 population controls, the use of new questions about race and
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, the presentation of data for Asians, and the
introduction of new industry and occupational classification systems.  For
a detailed discussion of these changes and their impact on CPS data, see
"Revisions to the Current Population Survey Effective in January 2003" in
the February 2003 issue of Employment and Earnings and available at
http://www.bls.gov/cps/rvcps03.pdf on the BLS Web site.
   
   Data for February 2000 and January 2002 presented in this release,
previously based on 1990 census population controls, are now based on
Census 2000 population controls.  The use of the new controls had little 
or no impact on the data.
   
   The January 2004 CPS supplement obtained information on worker displace-
ment and workers' tenure with their current employer.  The data on worker 
displacement appear in the BLS news release USDL 04-1381, "Worker Displace-
ment, 2001-03," issued on July 30, 2004.
   
   Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200, TDD message referral
phone number:  1-800-877-8339.
   
Reliability of the estimates
   
   Statistics based on the CPS 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 de-
pending 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.

   The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling error
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 in-
formation, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
   
                                  - 4 -

   For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and in-
formation on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of Employment and Earnings.
   
Tenure questions and concepts
   
   In the January 2004 CPS supplement, questions on tenure were asked of all 
employed persons.  The first question was:  "How long has ... been working 
continuously for (fill in name of present employer)?"

                       _____ Days
                       _____ Weeks
                       _____ Months
                       _____ Years

For responses of "1 year" or "2 years," a follow-up question was asked:
"Could you please give the exact number of months?"

   The purpose of the follow-up question is to obtain more precise infor-
mation on workers who had been with their current employer for a relatively 
short time.  This follow-up question was included for the first time in the 
February 1996 CPS supplement on worker displacement and tenure.  CPS sup-
plements that obtained information on tenure in January of 1983, 1987, and 
1991 did not include the follow-up question.  In those surveys, responses of 
1 year or more could be coded only as the nearest full year, and responses of 
less than a year were coded as the nearest full month.
   
   Prior to January 1983, CPS supplements on tenure asked wage and salary
workers, "When did ... start working at (his/her) present job?"  For wage 
and salary workers, the meaning of the term "job" is ambiguous.  For example, 
a worker who had been employed at a particular company for 10 years and had 
been promoted to a managerial position 1 year prior to the survey may have 
been counted as having 10 years or 1 year of tenure, depending on whether the 
respondent interpreted the question to mean tenure with the current employer 
or tenure in the managerial position.  To rectify this ambiguity, the wording 
of the question was changed in January 1983 to specify the length of time a 
worker had been with his or her current employer.  The change resulted in a 
break in historical comparability, and, for this reason, estimates of tenure 
are not presented in this release for years prior to 1983.
   
Interpreting tenure data
   
   Data on tenure have been used as a gauge of employment security, with
some observers regarding increases in tenure as a sign of improving security 
and decreasing tenure as a sign of deteriorating security.  However, there 
are limitations to using the data in this way.  For example, during reces-
sions or other periods of declining job security, median tenure and the pro-
portion of workers with long tenure could rise because less-senior workers 
are more likely to lose their jobs than are workers with longer tenure.  Dur-
ing periods of economic growth, median tenure and the proportion of workers 
with long tenure could fall because more job opportunities are available for 
new entrants to the workforce and experienced workers have more opportunities 
to change employers and take better jobs.  Tenure also could rise under im-
proving economic conditions, however, as fewer layoffs occur and good job 
matches develop between workers and employers.
   
   A changing age distribution among workers would also affect median tenure.  
Since older workers are more likely to have long tenure with their current 
employer than younger workers, aging baby boomers in the workforce would pro-
vide upward pressure on overall median tenure.
 
 
 

   Table 1.  Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by age and sex,
   selected years, 1983-2004
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
               Age and sex              January   January   January   February  February  February  January   January 
                                          1983      1987      1991      1996      1998      2000      2002      2004  
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                  TOTAL                                                                                               
                                                                                                                      
         16 years and over............     3.5       3.4       3.6       3.8       3.6       3.5       3.7       4.0  
   16 to 17 years.....................      .7        .6        .7        .7        .6        .6        .7        .7  
   18 to 19 years.....................      .8        .7        .8        .7        .7        .7        .8        .8  
   20 to 24 years.....................     1.5       1.3       1.3       1.2       1.1       1.1       1.2       1.3  
   25 years and over..................     5.0       5.0       4.8       5.0       4.7       4.7       4.7       4.9  
     25 to 34 years...................     3.0       2.9       2.9       2.8       2.7       2.6       2.7       2.9  
     35 to 44 years...................     5.2       5.5       5.4       5.3       5.0       4.8       4.6       4.9  
     45 to 54 years...................     9.5       8.8       8.9       8.3       8.1       8.2       7.6       7.7  
     55 to 64 years...................    12.2      11.6      11.1      10.2      10.1      10.0       9.9       9.6  
     65 years and over................     9.6       9.5       8.1       8.4       7.8       9.4       8.6       9.0  
                                                                                                                      
                   Men                                                                                                
                                                                                                                      
         16 years and over............     4.1       4.0       4.1       4.0       3.8       3.8       3.9       4.1  
   16 to 17 years.....................      .7        .6        .7        .6        .6        .6        .8        .7  
   18 to 19 years.....................      .8        .7        .8        .7        .7        .7        .8        .8  
   20 to 24 years.....................     1.5       1.3       1.4       1.2       1.2       1.2       1.4       1.3  
   25 years and over..................     5.9       5.7       5.4       5.3       4.9       4.9       4.9       5.1  
     25 to 34 years...................     3.2       3.1       3.1       3.0       2.8       2.7       2.8       3.0  
     35 to 44 years...................     7.3       7.0       6.5       6.1       5.5       5.3       5.0       5.2  
     45 to 54 years...................    12.8      11.8      11.2      10.1       9.4       9.5       9.1       9.6  
     55 to 64 years...................    15.3      14.5      13.4      10.5      11.2      10.2      10.2       9.8  
     65 years and over................     8.3       8.3       7.0       8.3       7.1       9.0       8.1       8.2  
                                                                                                                      
                  Women                                                                                               
                                                                                                                      
         16 years and over............     3.1       3.0       3.2       3.5       3.4       3.3       3.4       3.8  
   16 to 17 years.....................      .7        .6        .7        .7        .7        .6        .7        .6  
   18 to 19 years.....................      .8        .7        .8        .7        .7        .7        .7        .8  
   20 to 24 years.....................     1.5       1.3       1.3       1.2       1.1       1.0       1.1       1.3  
   25 years and over..................     4.2       4.3       4.3       4.7       4.4       4.4       4.4       4.7  
     25 to 34 years...................     2.8       2.6       2.7       2.7       2.5       2.5       2.5       2.8  
     35 to 44 years...................     4.1       4.4       4.5       4.8       4.5       4.3       4.2       4.5  
     45 to 54 years...................     6.3       6.8       6.7       7.0       7.2       7.3       6.5       6.4  
     55 to 64 years...................     9.8       9.7       9.9      10.0       9.6       9.9       9.6       9.2  
     65 years and over................    10.1       9.9       9.5       8.4       8.7       9.7       9.5       9.6  

     NOTE:  Data beginning 2000 reflect the introduction of Census 2000 population controls in January 2003 and are
   not strictly comparable with data for prior years.  In addition, data for 2004 reflect the introduction of revised
   population controls in January 2003 and January 2004.  Data for 1996 and 1998 are based on population controls from
   the 1990 census.  Data for the period 1983-1991 are based on population controls from the 1980 census.  Also,
   beginning in 1996, the figures incorporate the effects of the redesign of the Current Population Survey introduced
   in January 1994.  Data exclude the incorporated and unincorporated self-employed.




 
   Table 2.  Percent of employed wage and salary workers 25 years and over who had 10 years or more of tenure with
   their current employer by age and sex, selected years, 1983-2004
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
               Age and sex              January   January   January   February  February  February  January   January 
                                          1983      1987      1991      1996      1998      2000      2002      2004  
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                      
                  TOTAL                                                                                               
                                                                                                                      
          25 years and over...........    31.9      30.7      32.2      30.5      30.7      31.5      30.8      30.6  
   25 to 29 years.....................     3.3       4.1       5.1       2.8       2.7       2.5       2.2       2.4  
   30 to 34 years.....................    16.9      16.9      19.3      14.7      14.7      13.9      11.7      10.9  
   35 to 39 years.....................    29.9      29.6      31.1      26.9      27.0      26.1      25.2      23.2  
   40 to 44 years.....................    38.1      38.7      39.3      36.1      35.6      35.8      33.9      32.4  
   45 to 49 years.....................    46.5      45.2      46.5      44.5      42.9      45.2      41.2      42.1  
   50 to 54 years.....................    53.5      51.8      51.4      50.4      48.8      48.7      49.3      48.5  
   55 to 59 years.....................    59.3      57.6      56.7      54.0      52.9      53.1      53.3      50.9  
   60 to 64 years.....................    59.8      55.9      55.4      51.5      54.4      53.0      50.4      49.7  
   65 years and over..................    50.9      50.1      46.3      47.4      45.0      49.8      48.1      48.7  
                                                                                                                      
                   Men                                                                                                
                                                                                                                      
          25 years and over...........    37.7      35.0      35.9      33.1      32.7      33.4      32.6      32.4  
   25 to 29 years.....................     4.0       4.5       5.7       3.3       3.1       3.0       2.6       2.7  
   30 to 34 years.....................    18.7      18.7      21.1      15.6      15.3      15.1      13.0      11.9  
   35 to 39 years.....................    36.9      34.8      35.6      30.5      29.7      29.4      27.2      24.9  
   40 to 44 years.....................    51.1      48.5      46.3      41.7      39.1      40.2      37.4      36.2  
   45 to 49 years.....................    57.8      53.0      53.5      50.8      47.4      49.0      45.5      48.1  
   50 to 54 years.....................    62.3      59.4      58.5      54.9      52.8      51.6      53.9      53.0  
   55 to 59 years.....................    66.2      63.2      61.0      55.7      56.5      53.7      56.4      53.4  
   60 to 64 years.....................    65.6      58.7      57.5      50.4      55.7      52.4      48.2      48.5  
   65 years and over..................    47.6      47.4      42.6      47.6      42.3      48.6      46.4      46.8  
                                                                                                                      
                  Women                                                                                               
                                                                                                                      
          25 years and over...........    24.9      25.7      28.2      27.6      28.4      29.5      28.8      28.6  
   25 to 29 years.....................     2.5       3.6       4.4       2.2       2.2       1.9       1.8       1.9  
   30 to 34 years.....................    14.8      14.7      17.3      13.6      14.0      12.5      10.2       9.8  
   35 to 39 years.....................    21.6      23.8      26.1      22.9      24.0      22.3      22.9      21.3  
   40 to 44 years.....................    23.4      27.9      32.0      30.4      31.8      31.2      30.2      28.5  
   45 to 49 years.....................    33.0      36.4      39.3      38.1      38.4      41.4      37.0      36.2  
   50 to 54 years.....................    42.5      43.0      43.4      45.8      44.6      45.8      44.8      44.1  
   55 to 59 years.....................    51.0      50.8      51.4      52.1      49.2      52.5      50.0      48.4  
   60 to 64 years.....................    52.6      52.4      53.1      52.7      53.0      53.6      52.4      51.0  
   65 years and over..................    54.5      53.1      49.9      47.2      47.7      51.0      49.9      50.7  

     NOTE:  Data beginning 2000 reflect the introduction of Census 2000 population controls in January 2003 and are
   not strictly comparable with data for prior years.  In addition, data for 2004 reflect the introduction of revised
   population controls in January 2003 and January 2004.  Data for 1996 and 1998 are based on population controls from
   the 1990 census.  Data for the period 1983-1991 are based on population controls from the 1980 census.  Also,
   beginning in 1996, the figures incorporate the effects of the redesign of the Current Population Survey introduced
   in January 1994.  Data exclude the incorporated and unincorporated self-employed.




       
   Table 3.  Distribution of employed wage and salary workers by tenure with current employer, age, sex, race, and
   Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, January 2004
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   
                                                      Percent distribution by tenure with current employer         
     Age, sex, race, and         Number                                                                            
      Hispanic or Latino        employed                                                                           
          ethnicity          (in thousands)            12    13 to           3 to 4  5 to 9  10 to   15 to     20  
                                             Total   months    23   2 years  years   years     14      19    years 
                                                    or less  months                          years   years  or more
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   
             TOTAL                                                                                                 

      16 years and over.....    121,753      100.0    23.0     7.0     5.7    18.5    19.8     9.9     6.4     9.7
   16 to 19 years...........      5,433      100.0    73.2    11.2     7.5     7.8      .3     -       -       -   
   20 years and over........    116,320      100.0    20.7     6.8     5.6    19.0    20.7    10.3     6.7    10.2 
     20 to 24 years.........     13,028      100.0    49.6    12.6    10.2    20.8     6.6      .1     -       -   
     25 to 34 years.........     27,877      100.0    26.9     9.4     7.4    25.9    23.7     5.9      .9     -   
     35 to 44 years.........     30,314      100.0    17.4     5.7     4.8    19.1    25.1    13.7     9.3     5.0 
     45 to 54 years.........     27,713      100.0    11.0     4.7     3.7    14.8    20.7    13.6    10.5    20.9 
     55 to 64 years.........     13,983      100.0    10.4     4.0     3.4    12.8    18.8    13.9    10.6    26.0 
     65 years and over......      3,405      100.0     9.9     3.1     4.1    14.0    20.2    14.0     9.2    25.5 
                                                                                                                   
              Men                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                   
      16 years and over.....     63,146      100.0    22.4     6.6     5.6    18.3    19.6    10.1     6.5    10.9 
   16 to 19 years...........      2,683      100.0    70.9     9.9     9.3     9.5      .4     -       -       -   
   20 years and over........     60,462      100.0    20.3     6.5     5.4    18.6    20.4    10.5     6.8    11.4 
     20 to 24 years.........      6,798      100.0    50.0    11.4     9.6    21.5     7.4      .1     -       -   
     25 to 34 years.........     15,209      100.0    26.0     9.1     6.9    26.4    24.1     6.6      .9     -   
     35 to 44 years.........     15,885      100.0    16.4     5.0     4.7    18.1    25.1    14.6    10.4     5.6 
     45 to 54 years.........     13,785      100.0     9.6     4.7     3.5    12.8    19.1    13.7    11.3    25.3 
     55 to 64 years.........      7,026      100.0    11.4     3.9     3.5    12.0    17.5    12.9     9.1    29.7 
     65 years and over......      1,761      100.0     8.7     3.3     4.4    16.8    20.1    13.4     8.4    24.9 
                                                                                                                   
             Women                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                   
      16 years and over.....     58,608      100.0    23.7     7.4     5.8    18.7    20.1     9.6     6.2     8.4 
   16 to 19 years...........      2,750      100.0    75.5    12.3     5.8     6.1      .3     -       -       -   
   20 years and over........     55,858      100.0    21.2     7.2     5.8    19.4    21.1    10.1     6.5     8.8 
     20 to 24 years.........      6,230      100.0    49.2    13.8    10.9    20.1     5.8      .1     -       -   
     25 to 34 years.........     12,668      100.0    27.9     9.7     7.9    25.2    23.3     5.2      .8     -   
     35 to 44 years.........     14,429      100.0    18.4     6.5     4.9    20.1    25.0    12.6     8.1     4.3 
     45 to 54 years.........     13,929      100.0    12.4     4.8     3.9    16.8    22.3    13.4     9.8    16.6 
     55 to 64 years.........      6,957      100.0     9.4     4.1     3.3    13.6    20.2    15.0    12.1    22.2 
     65 years and over......      1,644      100.0    11.2     3.0     3.7    11.0    20.3    14.6    10.1    26.1 
                                                                                                                   
           White (1)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                   
       16 years and over....    100,243      100.0    22.7     7.1     5.4    18.2    19.6    10.2     6.6    10.2 
   Men......................     52,758      100.0    22.3     6.7     5.3    17.9    19.3    10.3     6.7    11.5 
   Women....................     47,485      100.0    23.2     7.6     5.5    18.5    20.0    10.1     6.4     8.7 
                                                                                                                   
   Black or African American                                                                                       
             (1)                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                   
       16 years and over....     13,401      100.0    24.5     5.8     6.6    19.2    20.5     8.4     5.9     9.1 
   Men......................      6,097      100.0    23.4     5.4     7.0    18.7    20.6     9.3     5.8     9.8 
   Women....................      7,304      100.0    25.4     6.1     6.2    19.6    20.4     7.6     6.1     8.5 
                                                                                                                   
           Asian (1)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                   
       16 years and over....      5,131      100.0    22.3     7.2     7.5    21.5    22.8     8.6     5.3     4.9 
   Men......................      2,678      100.0    20.3     7.2     6.8    22.4    23.5     9.5     4.8     5.4 
   Women....................      2,453      100.0    24.3     7.2     8.2    20.6    21.9     7.6     5.8     4.3 
                                                                                                                   
      Hispanic or Latino                                                                                           
          ethnicity                                                                                                
                                                                                                                   
       16 years and over....     16,338      100.0    26.9     7.4     7.8    22.8    18.2     8.0     4.4     4.4 
   Men......................      9,778      100.0    26.4     7.5     7.4    23.2    17.9     8.2     4.5     4.7 
   Women....................      6,560      100.0    27.6     7.3     8.5    22.2    18.7     7.7     4.3     3.8 

     1 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group
   are not included.  Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they
   identified as their main race.
     NOTE:  Detail for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals
   because data are not presented for all races.  In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic
   or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.  Data reflect the
   introduction of revised population controls in January 2003 and January 2004.  Detail may not sum to totals be-
   cause of rounding.  Data exclude the incorporated and unincorporated self-employed.  Dash represents zero or
   rounds to zero.






     Table 4.  Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers 25 years
     and over by educational attainment, sex, and age, January 2004
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
                                                                 25 years and over                        
                                                                                                          
       Educational attainment and sex                                                                     
                                            Total    25 to 34   35 to 44   45 to 54   55 to 64   65 years 
                                                       years      years      years      years    and over 
                                                                                                          
                                                                                                          
         Total..........................     4.9        2.9        4.9        7.7        9.6        9.0   
     Less than a high school diploma....     3.8        2.4        3.4        5.3        7.7        6.9   
     High school graduates, no                                                                            
       college..........................     5.1        3.1        4.9        7.5        9.2        9.7   
     Some college, no degree............     4.9        3.0        5.0        8.0        9.7        9.1   
     Associate degree...................     5.1        3.2        5.0        7.6        8.7        8.9   
     Bachelor's degree and higher.......     5.0        2.9        5.1        8.3       10.3       10.0   
       Bachelor's degree................     4.8        3.0        5.1        8.2        9.9        8.2   
       Master's degree..................     5.6        2.9        5.3        8.7       11.0       11.5   
       Doctoral or professional                                                                           
         degree.........................     4.7        2.1        4.4        7.7       10.9       10.3   
                                                                                                          
         Men............................     5.1        3.0        5.2        9.6        9.8        8.2   
     Less than a high school diploma....     4.0        2.7        3.6        6.7        8.5        6.0   
     High school graduates, no                                                                            
       college..........................     5.3        3.2        5.3        9.8       10.0        7.9   
     Some college, no degree............     5.2        3.0        5.6       10.2        9.7        9.9   
     Associate degree...................     5.4        3.4        5.6        9.0        7.4        7.9   
     Bachelor's degree and higher.......     5.3        3.0        5.4        9.6       10.4       10.2   
       Bachelor's degree................     5.1        3.1        5.5        9.9       10.5        7.3   
       Master's degree..................     5.7        3.1        5.4        7.9       10.2       14.6   
       Doctoral or professional                                                                           
         degree.........................     5.2        2.1        4.5        8.3       10.4       12.0   
                                                                                                          
         Women..........................     4.7        2.8        4.5        6.4        9.2        9.6   
     Less than a high school diploma....     3.6        2.0        3.0        4.6        6.9        8.2   
     High school graduates, no                                                                            
       college..........................     4.9        3.0        4.5        6.0        8.2       10.4   
     Some college, no degree............     4.7        2.9        4.5        6.3        9.7        8.2   
     Associate degree...................     4.8        2.9        4.6        6.7        9.5       10.0   
     Bachelor's degree and higher.......     4.7        2.8        4.8        7.4       10.1        9.6   
       Bachelor's degree................     4.5        2.9        4.8        6.8        8.8       10.3   
       Master's degree..................     5.5        2.7        5.2        9.7       12.1        9.3   
       Doctoral or professional                                                                           
         degree.........................     4.0        2.2        4.3        6.1       11.2        8.0   

       NOTE:  Data reflect the introduction of revised population controls in January 2003 and January
     2004.  Data exclude the incorporated and unincorporated self-employed.




     
   Table 5.  Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary
   workers by industry, selected years, 2000-04
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                           Industry                           February  January   January 
                                                                2000      2002      2004  
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
     Total, 16 years and over...............................     3.5       3.7       4.0  
                                                                                          
   Private sector...........................................     3.2       3.3       3.5  
     Agriculture and related industries.....................     3.7       4.2       3.7  
     Nonagricultural industries.............................     3.2       3.3       3.5  
       Mining...............................................     4.8       4.5       5.2  
       Construction.........................................     2.7       3.0       3.0  
       Manufacturing........................................     4.9       5.4       5.8  
         Durable goods manufacturing........................     4.8       5.5       6.0  
           Nonmetallic mineral products.....................     5.5       5.3       4.8  
           Primary metals and fabricated metal products.....     5.0       6.3       6.4  
           Machinery manufacturing..........................     5.3       6.8       6.4  
           Computers and electronic products................     3.9       4.7       5.2  
           Electrical equipment and appliances..............     5.0       5.5       9.8  
           Transportation equipment.........................     6.4       7.0       7.7  
           Wood products....................................     3.7       4.3       5.0  
           Furniture and fixtures...........................     4.4       4.7       4.7  
           Miscellaneous manufacturing......................     3.7       4.5       4.6  
         Nondurable goods manufacturing.....................     5.0       5.3       5.5  
           Food manufacturing...............................     4.6       5.0       4.9  
           Beverage and tobacco products....................     5.5       4.6       8.0  
           Textiles, apparel, and leather...................     4.7       5.0       5.0  
           Paper and printing...............................     5.1       6.2       6.9  
           Petroleum and coal products......................     9.5       9.8      11.4  
           Chemicals........................................     6.0       5.7       5.3  
           Plastics and rubber products.....................     4.6       5.3       5.7  
       Wholesale and retail trade...........................     2.7       2.8       3.1  
         Wholesale trade....................................     3.9       3.9       4.3  
         Retail trade.......................................     2.5       2.6       2.8  
       Transportation and utilities.........................     4.7       4.9       5.3  
         Transportation and warehousing.....................     4.0       4.3       4.7  
         Utilities..........................................    11.5      13.4      13.3  
       Information (1)......................................     3.4       3.3       4.3  
         Publishing, except Internet........................     4.2       4.8       4.7  
         Motion picture and sound recording industries......     1.6       2.3       2.2  
         Broadcasting, except Internet......................     3.6       3.1       4.0  
         Telecommunications.................................     4.3       3.4       4.6  
       Financial activities.................................     3.5       3.6       3.9  
         Finance and insurance..............................     3.6       3.9       4.1  
           Finance..........................................     3.3       3.6       4.0  
           Insurance........................................     4.4       4.5       4.4  
         Real estate and rental and leasing.................     3.1       3.0       3.3  
           Real estate......................................     3.1       3.2       3.5  
           Rental and leasing services......................     3.0       2.2       2.9  
       Professional and business services...................     2.4       2.7       3.2  
         Professional and technical services................     2.6       3.1       3.6  
         Management, administrative, and waste                                    
           services (1).....................................     2.0       2.1       2.6  
           Administrative and support services..............     1.8       1.9       2.4  
           Waste management and remediation services........     3.6       4.3       3.4  
       Education and health services........................     3.4       3.5       3.6  
         Educational services...............................     3.2       3.6       3.8  
         Health care and social assistance..................     3.5       3.5       3.6  
           Hospitals........................................     5.1       4.9       4.7  
           Health services, except hospitals................     3.2       3.1       3.3  
           Social assistance................................     2.4       2.5       2.8  
       Leisure and hospitality..............................     1.7       1.8       2.0  
         Arts, entertainment, and recreation................     2.6       2.3       2.8  
         Accommodation and food services....................     1.5       1.6       1.9  
           Accommodation....................................     2.8       2.7       3.1  
           Food services and drinking places................     1.4       1.4       1.6  
       Other services.......................................     3.1       3.3       3.3  
         Other services, except private households..........     3.2       3.3       3.5  
           Repair and maintenance...........................     3.0       3.0       3.2  
           Personal and laundry services....................     2.7       2.8       3.4  
           Membership associations and organizations........     4.0       4.1       3.9  
         Other services, private households.................     3.0       2.7       2.3  
                                                                                          
   Public sector............................................     7.1       6.7       6.9  
     Federal government.....................................    11.5      11.3      10.4  
     State government.......................................     5.5       5.4       6.4  
     Local government.......................................     6.7       6.2       6.4  

     1 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
     NOTE:  Data reflect the introduction of Census 2000 population controls in January
   2003 and are not strictly comparable with data for prior years.  In addition, data for
   2004 reflect the introduction of additional revised population controls in January 2003
   and January 2004.  Industries reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census industry
   classification system derived from the 2002 North American Industry Classification
   System into the Current Population Survey.  Data refer to the sole or principal job of
   full- and part-time workers.  Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of
   whether or not their businesses are incorporated.






   Table 6.  Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary
   workers by occupation, selected years, 2000-04
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
                          Occupation                          February  January   January 
                                                                2000      2002      2004  
                                                                                          
                                                                                          
       Total, 16 years and over.............................     3.5       3.7       4.0  
                                                                                          
    Management, professional, and related occupations.......     4.6       4.6       5.0  
      Management, business, and financial operations                                      
        occupations.........................................     4.9       5.2       5.5  
         Management occupations.............................     5.3       5.6       6.0  
         Business and financial operations occupations......     4.0       4.2       4.5  
      Professional and related occupations..................     4.4       4.2       4.7  
         Computer and mathematical occupations..............     3.1       3.2       4.8  
         Architecture and engineering occupations...........     4.8       5.2       5.8  
         Life, physical, and social science occupations.....     4.6       4.3       4.2  
         Community and social services occupations..........     4.6       4.4       4.7  
         Legal occupations..................................     3.9       4.5       4.1  
         Education, training, and library occupations.......     5.4       4.8       5.1  
         Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media                                   
           occupations......................................     3.2       3.0       3.6  
         Healthcare practitioner and technical                                            
           occupations......................................     4.6       4.3       4.5  
                                                                                          
    Service occupations.....................................     2.5       2.4       2.8  
      Healthcare support occupations........................     2.8       2.5       2.9  
      Protective service occupations........................     5.6       5.4       5.5  
      Food preparation and serving related occupations......     1.6       1.5       1.8  
      Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance                                       
        occupations.........................................     3.4       3.0       3.3  
      Personal care and service occupations.................     2.3       2.3       2.7  
                                                                                          
    Sales and office occupations............................     3.1       3.2       3.4  
      Sales and related occupations.........................     2.6       2.7       2.8  
      Office and administrative support occupations.........     3.4       3.6       4.0  
                                                                                          
    Natural resources, construction, and maintenance                                      
      occupations...........................................     3.6       3.7       3.7  
      Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations............     2.8       4.0       3.7  
      Construction and extraction occupations...............     3.1       3.2       3.2  
      Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.....     4.7       4.6       4.7  
                                                                                          
    Production, transportation, and material moving                                       
      occupations...........................................     3.9       4.3       4.2  
      Production occupations................................     4.5       5.2       5.0  
      Transportation and material moving occupations........     3.2       3.2       3.4  

      NOTE:  Data reflect the introduction of Census 2000 population controls in January
   2003 and are not strictly comparable with data for prior years.  In addition, data for
   2004 reflect the introduction of additional revised population controls in January 2003
   and January 2004.  Occupations reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census occupational
   classification system derived from the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification system
   into the Current Population Survey.  Data refer to the sole or principal job of full-
   and part-time workers.  Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of whether or
   not their businesses are incorporated.