Labor Force 

Characteristics

by Race and

Ethnicity, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

November 2009

Report 1020

125YEARS

BLS
1

25YEARS

BLS

Labor Force Characteristics

by Race and Ethnicity, 2008

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

November 2009

Report 1020
Contents

Page

Overview............................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Labor force participation..................................................................................................................................................... 1

Employment........................................................................................................................................................................ 1

Education............................................................................................................................................................................ 2

Occupation and industry..................................................................................................................................................... 2

Families and mothers.......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Unemployment and not in the labor force.......................................................................................................................... 3

Earnings.............................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Tables

. . Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by sex, age, race, and Hispan

. . . or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages................................................................................................. 5

. . Table 2. Labor force participation rates by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

. . . 1972–2008 annual averages....................................................................................................................... 6

. . Table 3. Employment-population ratios by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

. . . 1972–2008 annual averages....................................................................................................................... 7

. . Table 4. Employment status of persons 25 years and older by educational attainment, sex, rac

and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages....................................................

. . Table 5. Employed persons by occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

. . . 2008 annual averages............................................................................................................................... 11

. . Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicit

2008 annual averages.........................................................................................................

. . Table 7. Employed persons by industry, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages....... 

. . Table 8. Employment and unemployment in families by type of family, race, and Hispanic or Latino

. . . ethnicity, 2008 annual averages............................................................................................................... 29

. . Table 9. Labor force participation rates by presence and age of youngest child, sex, race, and Hispanic

. . . or Latino ethnicity, 1996–2008 annual averages..................................................................................... 30

. . Table 10. Unemployment rates by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

. . . 1972–2008 annual averages..................................................................................................................... 34

. . Table 11. Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

. . . 2008 annual averages............................................................................................................................... 35

. . Table 12. Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

. . . 2008 annual averages............................................................................................................................... 36

. . Table 13. Persons in the labor force and not in the labor force by selected characteristic

. . . 2008 annual averages............................................................................................................................... 37

. . Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race, and Hispan

. . . or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages..................................................................................... 39

. . Table 15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by educational attainment, se

. . . race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages ............................................................... 43

. . Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation, sex, race, a

. . . Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages................................................................................ 44

Technical Note ................................................................................................................................................................ 47

ii

Page
Labor Force Characteristics 

by Race and Ethnicity, 2008

Overview

Overall labor market conditions deteriorated markedly in 2008 following the onset of the recession in December 2007. Although individuals in all race 

and ethnicity groups experienced labor market difficulties, 

labor market problems for blacks or African Americans and 

Hispanics or Latinos were especially acute in 2008. For example, in 2008, the unemployment rate was 10.1 percent 

for blacks and 7.6 percent for Hispanics. These figures were 

considerably higher than the unemployment rates for whites 

and Asians, at 5.2 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively. 

The labor market difficulties of blacks and Hispanics are 

associated with many factors, not all of which are measurable. Some of these factors are their lower average levels 

of schooling; their tendency to be employed in occupations 

with high levels of unemployment; their greater concentration in the central cities of urban areas, where job opportunities may be relatively limited; and the likelihood that they 

experience discrimination in the workplace. These and other factors may make it especially difficult for some black 

and Hispanic workers to find or keep jobs as the overall 

demand for labor contracts during economic downturns. 

This report describes the labor force characteristics and 

earnings patterns among the major race and ethnicity groups 

and provides detailed data through a set of supporting tables. 

These data are obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of 60,000 households that is a 

rich source of information on the labor force. For definitions 

of terms and concepts used in this report, see the Technical Note. For additional information about the CPS, see the 

explanatory note for the household survey online at http://

www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf. 

Labor force participation

The overall labor force participation rate peaked at 67.1 

percent in the late 1990s into 2000 and then began to 

trend down. The participation rate was 66.0 percent 

in 2008. (See tables 1 and 2.)

Among the major race and ethnicity groups, Hispanics 

continued to have the highest labor force participation 

rate (68.5 percent) in 2008, while the participation rate 

for blacks was the lowest (63.7 percent). The participa-

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tion rates for whites (66.3 percent) and Asians (67.0 

percent) were roughly midway between the rates for 

blacks and Hispanics, continuing a long-term pattern. 

Compared with annual average data for 2007, the participation rates for whites and Hispanics were down 

slightly in 2008, while the rate for blacks held steady 

and the rate for Asians continued to trend up.

Employment

In 2008, employment among the major race and ethnicity groups, with the exception of Asians, was lower 

than a year earlier. The employment-population ratios 

(the proportion of the population that is employed) 

for whites, blacks, and Hispanics fell over the year, 

reflecting the declines in employment. In 2008, the 

employment-population ratio for blacks was 57.3 

percent, compared with 64.3 percent for Asians, 63.3 

percent for Hispanics, and 62.8 percent for whites. 

This pattern of a relatively low employment-population ratio for blacks has persisted for decades. (See 

tables 1 and 3.) 

Among adult men (age 20 and older) in 2008, Hispanics had the highest employment-population ratio (78.6 

percent), followed by Asians (75.6 percent) and whites 

(72.4 percent). The employment-population ratio for 

black men, at 63.9 percent, remained lower than the 

ratio for men in other groups in 2008, continuing a 

long-term pattern. Among adult women, Asians had the 

highest employment-population ratio, at 59.3 percent, 

followed by blacks (59.1 percent) and whites (57.7 

percent). Unlike Hispanic men, the ratio for Hispanic 

women (54.6 percent) was lower than their Asian, 

black, and white counterparts. (See table 1.)

Black, Asian, and Hispanic teenagers (ages 16 to 19) 

tend to have relatively low employment-population 

ratios compared with whites. In 2008, the ratios for 

black (20.2 percent), Asian (21.3 percent), and Hispanic teens (28.6 percent) were lower than that for 

white teens (35.9 percent). All teenage groups experienced declines in their employment-population ratios 

in 2008, reflecting—at least in part—the downturn in 

the economy. 

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Education

In 2008, about 90 percent of blacks and Asians (25 

years of age and older) in the labor force had received 

at least a high school diploma, the same proportion 

as whites. In contrast, about 68 percent of Hispanics 

had completed high school. Asians were most likely 

to have graduated from college; fifty-eight percent 

had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 34 

percent of whites, 24 percent of blacks, and 16 percent 

of Hispanics. Although blacks and Hispanics were less 

likely than whites and Asians to have obtained a college degree, the proportion of college graduates for all 

groups has increased over time. (See table 4.)

For all groups, higher levels of education are associated with a greater likelihood of being employed and 

a lower likelihood of being unemployed. Individuals 

with higher levels of education generally have better 

access to higher paying jobs—such as those in management, professional, and related occupations—than 

individuals with less education. Nonetheless, at nearly 

every level of education, blacks and Hispanics were 

more likely to be unemployed in 2008 than Asians 

or whites. 

Occupation and industry

Blacks and Hispanics are less likely to be in management, professional, and related occupations—the 

highest paying major job category—than whites and 

Asians. In 2008, half (50 percent) of Asian men worked 

in management, professional, and related occupations, 

compared with 34 percent of white men, 23 percent 

of black men, and 15 percent of Hispanic men. (See 

table 5.)

About 4 in 10 black men were employed in service 

jobs and sales and office jobs in 2008, while about 3 

in 10 Hispanic, Asian, and white men were employed 

in the same occupations. Black men also were more 

likely than other men to work in production, transportation, and material moving occupations. In 2008, over 

one-half of Hispanic men were employed in two job 

groups—natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations and production, transportation, and 

material moving occupations. 

Among women, in 2008, Asians were more likely than 

other groups to be employed in management, professional, and related jobs. About 46 percent of Asian 

women were employed in this occupation group, compared with about 41 percent of white women, 31 percent 

of black women, and 24 percent of Hispanic women. 

In contrast, 64 percent of Hispanic women worked in 

service jobs and in sales and office jobs, compared with 

about 60 percent of black women, 53 percent of white 

women, and 46 percent of Asian women. 

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Blacks made up 11 percent of all employed workers 

in 2008, but they accounted for about one-quarter 

or more of those in several specific occupations, 

including nursing aides (35 percent), security guards 

and bus drivers (about 30 percent each), and social 

workers (25 percent). Hispanics—who accounted 

for 14 percent of all workers—were substantially 

overrepresented in several job categories, including 

grounds maintenance workers (41 percent), maids and 

housekeeping cleaners (41 percent), and construction 

laborers (44 percent). Asians accounted for 5 percent 

of all employed workers but made up a much larger 

share of workers in several job categories, including 

computer software engineers (29 percent); physicians 

and surgeons (17 percent); and electrical, electronics, 

and electromechanical assemblers (18 percent). (See 

table 6.)

By industry, black workers were disproportionately 

represented, relative to other race and ethnicity groups, 

in education and health services, transportation and 

utilities, and public administration in 2008. Hispanic 

men were very heavily concentrated in construction 

(21 percent), as compared with white (14 percent), 

black (7 percent), and Asian (4 percent) men. Both 

Hispanic men and women were disproportionately 

employed in the leisure and hospitality sector. Asians 

were overrepresented in professional and business 

services, in manufacturing, and in leisure and hospitality. (See table 7.) 

Families and mothers 

The likelihood of having an employed family member declined from 2007 to 2008 for white, black, and 

Hispanic families, and was littled changed for Asian 

families. Asian families remained the most likely to 

have an employed family member (90 percent) in 

2008, followed by Hispanic families (87 percent) and 

white families (82 percent). Black families remained 

the least likely to have an employed family member 

(78 percent). (See table 8.) 

In 2008, nearly one-half (44 percent) of black families 

and about one-quarter (24 percent) of Hispanic families 

were maintained by women (with no spouse present). 

About 12 percent of Asian families and 15 percent of 

white families were maintained by women. In general, 

families maintained by women are less likely to have 

an employed member than other families. 

Historically, black mothers with children under 18 

have been more likely than white mothers with children under 18 to be in the labor force. In 2008, 76.7 

percent of black mothers were labor force participants, compared with 70.8 percent of white mothers. 

In contrast, Hispanic women with children under 18 

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typically have lower levels of labor force participation than either black or white mothers. In 2008, 61.4 

percent of Hispanic mothers were in the labor force. 

Asian mothers (68.8 percent) were more likely than 

Hispanic mothers to be in the labor force, but less 

likely than black or white mothers. Since 1996, the 

labor force participation rates of Hispanic mothers and 

black mothers have grown by 4.7 and 3.4 percentage 

points, respectively, while the rate for white mothers 

has remained about the same. (See table 9.) 

Unemployment and not in the labor force

Among the major race and ethnicity groups, blacks had 

the highest unemployment rate in 2008, at 10.1 percent, 

compared with 7.6 percent for Hispanics, 5.2 percent 

for whites, and 4.0 percent for Asians. Historically, 

the jobless rate for blacks generally has been at least 

twice that for whites, whereas the unemployment rate 

for Hispanics has hovered between the rates for whites 

and blacks. From 2007 to 2008, unemployment rates 

increased for all the major race and ethnicity groups. 

(See tables 1 and 10.)

Higher unemployment rates for blacks and Hispanics 

occur across all major age and sex groups. In 2008, 

the rates for black adult men and women (age 20 

and older) were 10.2 and 8.1 percent, respectively, 

compared with 6.8 and 6.9 percent for Hispanic adult 

men and women, respectively. The unemployment 

rates were 4.9 percent for white adult men and 4.4 

percent for white adult women. The jobless rates for 

Asian adult men and women were 3.9 and 3.5 percent, 

respectively. (See table 1.)

Teenagers (ages 16 to 19) are especially vulnerable to 

joblessness. In 2008, black teenagers had the highest 

unemployment rate among the major race and ethnicity 

groups at 31.2 percent, compared with 22.4 percent for 

Hispanics, 16.8 percent for whites, and 14.6 percent 

for Asians. 

Unemployed blacks have been jobless for longer 

periods than unemployed workers in other groups. 

In 2008, the median duration of unemployment for 

blacks was 12.1 weeks, compared with 10.2 weeks 

for Asians, 8.8 weeks for whites, and 8.4 weeks for 

Hispanics. (See table 11.)

In 2008, more than half (53.7 percent) of unemployed 

workers (8.9 million) were job losers. Reentrants to the 

labor force (27.7 percent), job leavers (10.0 percent), 

and new entrants (8.6 percent) constituted the balance 

of unemployed persons. Over the year, the number of 

job losers who did not expect to be recalled to work 

(that is, not on temporary layoff) accounted for about 

four-fifths of the increase in unemployed job losers. 

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Between 2007 and 2008, the number of persons who 

were on temporary layoff increased among all the 

major race and ethnicity groups. (See table 12.)

Black men are more likely than other men to be out 

of the labor force. Among men age 25 to 54, the proportion of blacks who did not participate in the labor 

force in 2008 was higher than that of whites, Asians, 

and Hispanics. Among women of the same age, the 

percentage of Hispanics not in the labor force was 

higher than that of whites, blacks, and Asians. (See 

table 13.)

In 2008, blacks made up 11 percent of the civilian labor 

force, but 24 percent of persons marginally attached 

to the labor force. Persons marginally attached to the 

labor force are individuals who were not in the labor 

force, who wanted and were available for work, and 

who had looked for a job sometime in the previous 12 

months—but not in the 4 weeks preceding the CPS. 

Hispanics and Asians were represented about proportionately among the marginally attached. Blacks also 

comprised a high proportion of discouraged workers 

(28 percent) in 2008. Discouraged workers, a subset 

of the marginally attached, are persons not currently 

looking for work because they believe no jobs are 

available for them. 

Earnings 

Although blacks and Hispanics have attained higher 

levels of education and have moved into higher paying 

occupations, they still have considerably lower earnings 

than Asians or whites. In 2008, the median usual weekly 

earnings of full-time wage and salary workers were 

$589 for blacks and $529 for Hispanics, compared with 

$861 for Asians and $742 for whites. The earnings of 

black men ($620) and Hispanic men ($559) were 75 and 

68 percent, respectively, of the earnings of white men 

($825). The earnings of black women ($554) were 85 

percent of the earnings of white women ($654), a higher 

ratio than among black and white men. Median earnings 

for Hispanic women were $501, about 77 percent of 

white women’s earnings. (See tables 14 and 15.)

For men, the earnings disparity between black or Hispanic workers and Asian or white workers holds steady 

across all major occupational groups. For example, 

in 2008, median usual weekly earnings of Asian men 

($1,403) and white men ($1,255) working full time 

in management, professional, and related occupations 

were well above the earnings of Hispanic men ($1,002) 

and black men ($892) in the same occupations. This 

disparity is evident toward the other end of the earnings 

spectrum as well; Hispanic and black men employed 

in production, transportation, and material moving 

occupations had median earnings of $514 and $559 

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per week, respectively, which were less than the median earnings of their white ($658) or Asian ($585) 

counterparts. (See table 16.)

Among women, the earnings gap is generally smaller 

than that for men, and, in some major occupational 

•

categories, earnings levels are fairly close. In management, professional, and related occupations, for 

example, the earnings of black women ($763) and 

Hispanic women ($775) were around 85 percent of 

those of white women ($900). In most occupational 

categories, Asian women had the highest earnings. 

4
Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by sex, age, race, and Hispanic

or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, sex, and age Total White Black or African 

American Asian Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity

 

Total, both sexes

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 233,788 189,540 27,843 10,751 32,141 

Civilian labor force........................................... 154,287 125,635 17,740 7,202 22,024 

Percent of population................................ 66.0 66.3 63.7 67.0 68.5 

Employed..................................................... 145,362 119,126 15,953 6,917 20,346 

Percent of population................................ 62.2 62.8 57.3 64.3 63.3 

Unemployed................................................. 8,924 6,509 1,788 285 1,678 

Unemployment rate.................................. 5.8 5.2 10.1 4.0 7.6 

Not in labor force............................................. 79,501 63,905 10,103 3,549 10,116 

 Men, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 113,113 92,725 12,516 5,112 16,524 

Civilian labor force........................................... 82,520 68,351 8,347 3,852 13,255 

Percent of population................................ 73.0 73.7 66.7 75.3 80.2 

Employed..................................................... 77,486 64,624 7,398 3,692 12,248 

Percent of population................................ 68.5 69.7 59.1 72.2 74.1 

Unemployed................................................. 5,033 3,727 949 160 1,007 

Unemployment rate.................................. 6.1 5.5 11.4 4.1 7.6

Not in labor force............................................. 30,593 24,374 4,169 1,260 3,270 

 Men, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 104,453 86,056 11,194 4,787 14,971 

Civilian labor force........................................... 79,047 65,483 7,962 3,767 12,629 

Percent of population................................ 75.7 76.1 71.1 78.7 84.4 

Employed..................................................... 74,750 62,304 7,151 3,621 11,769 

Percent of population................................ 71.6 72.4 63.9 75.6 78.6 

Unemployed................................................. 4,297 3,179 811 146 860

Unemployment rate.................................. 5.4 4.9 10.2 3.9 6.8 

Not in labor force............................................. 25,406 20,573 3,232 1,021 2,342 

 Women, 16 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 120,675 96,814 15,328 5,639 15,616 

Civilian labor force........................................... 71,767 57,284 9,393 3,350 8,769 

Percent of population................................ 59.5 59.2 61.3 59.4 56.2 

Employed..................................................... 67,876 54,501 8,554 3,225 8,098 

Percent of population................................ 56.2 56.3 55.8 57.2 51.9 

Unemployed................................................. 3,891 2,782 839 125 672

Unemployment rate.................................. 5.4 4.9 8.9 3.7 7.7 

Not in labor force............................................. 48,908 39,531 5,934 2,289 6,847 

 Women, 20 years and over

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 112,260 90,400 13,974 5,333 14,127 

Civilian labor force........................................... 68,382 54,508 8,991 3,278 8,274 

Percent of population................................ 60.9 60.3 64.3 61.5 58.6 

Employed..................................................... 65,039 52,124 8,260 3,162 7,707 

Percent of population................................ 57.9 57.7 59.1 59.3 54.6 

Unemployed................................................. 3,342 2,384 732 116 567

Unemployment rate.................................. 4.9 4.4 8.1 3.5 6.9 

Not in labor force............................................. 43,878 35,892 4,982 2,055 5,853 

 Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 17,075 13,084 2,676 630 3,042 

Civilian labor force........................................... 6,858 5,644 787 157 1,121 

Percent of population................................ 40.2 43.1 29.4 24.9 36.9 

Employed..................................................... 5,573 4,697 541 134 870 

Percent of population................................ 32.6 35.9 20.2 21.3 28.6 

Unemployed................................................. 1,285 947 246 23 251

Unemployment rate.................................. 18.7 16.8 31.2 14.6 22.4 

Not in labor force............................................. 10,218 7,440 1,889 473 1,921 

NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

4 5
Table 2. Labor force participation rates by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1972–2008 annual averages

(Percent)

Total White Black or African American Asian Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women

1972....... 60.4 78.9 43.9 60.4 79.6 43.2 59.9 73.6 48.7 -- -- -- -- -- --

1973...... 60.8 78.8 44.7 60.8 79.4 44.1 60.2 73.4 49.3 -- -- -- 60.2 81.5 41.0

1974...... 61.3 78.7 45.7 61.4 79.4 45.2 59.8 72.9 49.0 -- -- -- 61.1 81.7 42.4

1975...... 61.2 77.9 46.3 61.5 78.7 45.9 58.8 70.9 48.8 -- -- -- 60.8 80.7 43.2

1976...... 61.6 77.5 47.3 61.8 78.4 46.9 59.0 70.0 49.8 -- -- -- 60.8 79.6 44.3

1977...... 62.3 77.7 48.4 62.5 78.5 48.0 59.8 70.6 50.8 -- -- -- 61.6 80.9 44.3

1978...... 63.2 77.9 50.0 63.3 78.6 49.4 61.5 71.5 53.1 -- -- -- 62.9 81.1 46.6

1979...... 63.7 77.8 50.9 63.9 78.6 50.5 61.4 71.3 53.1 -- -- -- 63.6 81.3 47.4

1980...... 63.8 77.4 51.5 64.1 78.2 51.2 61.0 70.3 53.1 -- -- -- 64.0 81.4 47.4

1981...... 63.9 77.0 52.1 64.3 77.9 51.9 60.8 70.0 53.5 -- -- -- 64.1 80.6 48.3

1982...... 64.0 76.6 52.6 64.3 77.4 52.4 61.0 70.1 53.7 -- -- -- 63.6 79.7 48.1

1983...... 64.0 76.4 52.9 64.3 77.1 52.7 61.5 70.6 54.2 -- -- -- 63.8 80.3 47.7

1984...... 64.4 76.4 53.6 64.6 77.1 53.3 62.2 70.8 55.2 -- -- -- 64.9 80.6 49.7

1985...... 64.8 76.3 54.5 65.0 77.0 54.1 62.9 70.8 56.5 -- -- -- 64.6 80.4 49.3

1986...... 65.3 76.3 55.3 65.5 76.9 55.0 63.3 71.2 56.9 -- -- -- 65.4 81.0 50.1

1987...... 65.6 76.2 56.0 65.8 76.8 55.7 63.8 71.1 58.0 -- -- -- 66.4 81.0 52.0

1988...... 65.9 76.2 56.6 66.2 76.9 56.4 63.8 71.0 58.0 -- -- -- 67.4 81.9 53.2

1989...... 66.5 76.4 57.4 66.7 77.1 57.2 64.2 71.0 58.7 -- -- -- 67.6 82.0 53.5

1990...... 66.5 76.4 57.5 66.9 77.1 57.4 64.0 71.0 58.3 -- -- -- 67.4 81.4 53.1

1991...... 66.2 75.8 57.4 66.6 76.5 57.4 63.3 70.4 57.5 -- -- -- 66.5 80.3 52.4

1992...... 66.4 75.8 57.8 66.8 76.5 57.7 63.9 70.7 58.5 -- -- -- 66.8 80.7 52.8

1993...... 66.3 75.4 57.9 66.8 76.2 58.0 63.2 69.6 57.9 -- -- -- 66.2 80.2 52.1

1994...... 66.6 75.1 58.8 67.1 75.9 58.9 63.4 69.1 58.7 -- -- -- 66.1 79.2 52.9

1995...... 66.6 75.0 58.9 67.1 75.7 59.0 63.7 69.0 59.5 -- -- -- 65.8 79.1 52.6

1996...... 66.8 74.9 59.3 67.2 75.8 59.1 64.1 68.7 60.4 -- -- -- 66.5 79.6 53.4

1997...... 67.1 75.0 59.8 67.5 75.9 59.5 64.7 68.3 61.7 -- -- -- 67.9 80.1 55.1

1998...... 67.1 74.9 59.8 67.3 75.6 59.4 65.6 69.0 62.8 -- -- -- 67.9 79.8 55.6

1999...... 67.1 74.7 60.0 67.3 75.6 59.6 65.8 68.7 63.5 -- -- -- 67.7 79.8 55.9

2000...... 67.1 74.8 59.9 67.3 75.5 59.5 65.8 69.2 63.1 67.2 76.1 59.2 69.7 81.5 57.5

2001...... 66.8 74.4 59.8 67.0 75.1 59.4 65.3 68.4 62.8 67.2 76.2 59.0 69.5 81.0 57.6

2002...... 66.6 74.1 59.6 66.8 74.8 59.3 64.8 68.4 61.8 67.2 75.9 59.1 69.1 80.2 57.6

2003...... 66.2 73.5 59.5 66.5 74.2 59.2 64.3 67.3 61.9 66.4 75.6 58.3 68.3 80.1 55.9

2004...... 66.0 73.3 59.2 66.3 74.1 58.9 63.8 66.7 61.5 65.9 75.0 57.6 68.6 80.4 56.1

2005...... 66.0 73.3 59.3 66.3 74.1 58.9 64.2 67.3 61.6 66.1 74.8 58.2 68.0 80.1 55.3

2006...... 66.2 73.5 59.4 66.5 74.3 59.0 64.1 67.0 61.7 66.2 75.0 58.3 68.7 80.7 56.1

2007...... 66.0 73.2 59.3 66.4 74.0 59.0 63.7 66.8 61.1 66.5 75.1 58.6 68.8 80.5 56.5

2008...... 66.0 73.0 59.5 66.3 73.7 59.2 63.7 66.7 61.3 67.0 75.3 59.4 68.5 80.2 56.2

Year

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for white, black or African American, and Asian race groups include persons who selected that race

group only; previously, multiracial persons were included in the group they identified as the main race. Asian estimates for 2000–02 include

Asian and Pacific Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asians are a separate category. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available.

5

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Table 3. Employment-population ratios by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1972–2008 annual averages

(Percent)

Total White Black or African American Asian Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women

1972....... 57.0 75.0 41.0 57.4 76.0 40.7 53.7 66.8 43.0 -- -- -- -- -- --

1973...... 57.8 75.5 42.0 58.2 76.5 41.8 54.5 67.5 43.8 -- -- -- 55.6 76.0 37.3

1974...... 57.8 74.9 42.6 58.3 75.9 42.4 53.5 65.8 43.5 -- -- -- 56.2 75.7 38.4

1975...... 56.1 71.7 42.0 56.7 73.0 42.0 50.1 60.6 41.6 -- -- -- 53.4 71.5 37.4

1976...... 56.8 72.0 43.2 57.5 73.4 43.2 50.8 60.6 42.8 -- -- -- 53.8 71.1 38.6

1977...... 57.9 72.8 44.5 58.6 74.1 44.5 51.4 61.4 43.3 -- -- -- 55.4 73.6 39.1

1978...... 59.3 73.8 46.4 60.0 75.0 46.3 53.6 63.3 45.8 -- -- -- 57.2 74.9 41.3

1979...... 59.9 73.8 47.5 60.6 75.1 47.5 53.8 63.4 46.0 -- -- -- 58.3 75.6 42.5

1980...... 59.2 72.0 47.7 60.0 73.4 47.8 52.3 60.4 45.7 -- -- -- 57.6 73.5 42.4

1981...... 59.0 71.3 48.0 60.0 72.8 48.3 51.3 59.1 45.1 -- -- -- 57.4 72.4 43.0

1982...... 57.8 69.0 47.7 58.8 70.6 48.1 49.4 56.0 44.2 -- -- -- 54.9 68.9 41.3

1983...... 57.9 68.8 48.0 58.9 70.4 48.5 49.5 56.3 44.1 -- -- -- 55.1 69.4 41.1

1984...... 59.5 70.7 49.5 60.5 72.1 49.8 52.3 59.2 46.7 -- -- -- 57.9 72.1 44.2

1985...... 60.1 70.9 50.4 61.0 72.3 50.7 53.4 60.0 48.1 -- -- -- 57.8 72.1 43.8

1986...... 60.7 71.0 51.4 61.5 72.3 51.7 54.1 60.6 48.8 -- -- -- 58.5 72.5 44.7

1987...... 61.5 71.5 52.5 62.3 72.7 52.8 55.6 62.0 50.3 -- -- -- 60.5 74.0 47.4

1988...... 62.3 72.0 53.4 63.1 73.2 53.8 56.3 62.7 51.2 -- -- -- 61.9 75.3 48.8

1989...... 63.0 72.5 54.3 63.8 73.7 54.6 56.9 62.8 52.0 -- -- -- 62.2 75.8 48.8

1990...... 62.8 72.0 54.3 63.7 73.3 54.7 56.7 62.6 51.9 -- -- -- 61.9 74.9 48.6

1991...... 61.7 70.4 53.7 62.6 71.6 54.2 55.4 61.3 50.6 -- -- -- 59.8 72.1 47.3

1992...... 61.5 69.8 53.8 62.4 71.1 54.2 54.9 59.9 50.8 -- -- -- 59.1 71.2 46.8

1993...... 61.7 70.0 54.1 62.7 71.4 54.6 55.0 60.0 50.9 -- -- -- 59.1 71.7 46.3

1994...... 62.5 70.4 55.3 63.5 71.8 55.8 56.1 60.8 52.3 -- -- -- 59.5 71.7 47.2

1995...... 62.9 70.8 55.6 63.8 72.0 56.1 57.1 61.7 53.4 -- -- -- 59.7 72.1 47.3

1996...... 63.2 70.9 56.0 64.1 72.3 56.3 57.4 61.1 54.4 -- -- -- 60.6 73.3 47.9

1997...... 63.8 71.3 56.8 64.6 72.7 57.0 58.2 61.4 55.6 -- -- -- 62.6 74.5 50.2

1998...... 64.1 71.6 57.1 64.7 72.7 57.1 59.7 62.9 57.2 -- -- -- 63.1 74.7 51.0

1999...... 64.3 71.6 57.4 64.8 72.8 57.3 60.6 63.1 58.6 -- -- -- 63.4 75.3 51.7

2000...... 64.4 71.9 57.5 64.9 73.0 57.4 60.9 63.6 58.6 64.8 73.3 57.1 65.7 77.4 53.6

2001...... 63.7 70.9 57.0 64.2 72.0 57.0 59.7 62.1 57.8 64.2 72.7 56.4 64.9 76.2 53.3

2002...... 62.7 69.7 56.3 63.4 70.8 56.4 58.1 61.1 55.8 63.2 71.3 55.8 63.9 74.5 52.9

2003...... 62.3 68.9 56.1 63.0 70.1 56.3 57.4 59.5 55.6 62.4 70.9 54.9 63.1 74.3 51.2

2004...... 62.3 69.2 56.0 63.1 70.4 56.1 57.2 59.3 55.5 63.0 71.6 55.1 63.8 75.1 51.8

2005...... 62.7 69.6 56.2 63.4 70.8 56.3 57.7 60.2 55.7 63.4 71.8 55.9 64.0 75.8 51.5

2006...... 63.1 70.1 56.6 63.8 71.3 56.6 58.4 60.6 56.5 64.2 72.7 56.5 65.2 76.8 52.8

2007...... 63.0 69.8 56.6 63.6 70.9 56.7 58.4 60.7 56.5 64.3 72.8 56.6 64.9 76.2 53.0

2008...... 62.2 68.5 56.2 62.8 69.7 56.3 57.3 59.1 55.8 64.3 72.2 57.2 63.3 74.1 51.9

Year

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for white, black or African American, and Asian race groups include persons who selected that race

group only; previously, multiracial persons were included in the group they identified as the main race. Asian estimates for 2000–02 include

Asian and Pacific Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asians are a separate category. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available.

6

7
Table 4. Employment status of persons 25 years and over by educational attainment, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 25 

years and over

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High school 

graduates, no 

college

Some college, 

no degree

Associate

degree

Bachelor's

degree and 

higher

Total

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 196,304 26,122 61,115 33,493 17,611 57,962 

Civilian labor force.................................. 132,255 12,166 38,263 23,268 13,449 45,108 

Percent of population..................... 67.4 46.6 62.6 69.5 76.4 77.8 

Employed............................................ 126,161 11,073 36,097 22,092 12,948 43,951 

Employment-population ratio......... 64.3 42.4 59.1 66.0 73.5 75.8 

Unemployed........................................ 6,094 1,092 2,166 1,176 502 1,158 

Unemployment rate......................... 4.6 9.0 5.7 5.1 3.7 2.6 

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 94,204 12,990 29,298 15,631 7,620 28,665 

Civilian labor force.................................. 70,982 7,790 21,364 11,959 6,258 23,612 

Percent of population..................... 75.3 60.0 72.9 76.5 82.1 82.4 

Employed............................................ 67,605 7,108 20,093 11,356 6,021 23,027 

Employment-population ratio......... 71.8 54.7 68.6 72.6 79.0 80.3 

Unemployed........................................ 3,377 682 1,270 603 236 585 

Unemployment rate......................... 4.8 8.8 5.9 5.0 3.8 2.5 

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 102,100 13,133 31,817 17,862 9,991 29,297 

Civilian labor force.................................. 61,273 4,376 16,899 11,310 7,191 21,497 

Percent of population..................... 60.0 33.3 53.1 63.3 72.0 73.4 

Employed............................................ 58,555 3,965 16,004 10,737 6,926 20,924 

Employment-population ratio......... 57.4 30.2 50.3 60.1 69.3 71.4 

Unemployed........................................ 2,717 410 896 573 265 573 

Unemployment rate......................... 4.4 9.4 5.3 5.1 3.7 2.7 

White

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 160,541 20,653 50,101 27,281 14,597 47,910 

Civilian labor force.................................. 107,849 9,843 31,065 18,713 11,113 37,115 

Percent of population..................... 67.2 47.7 62.0 68.6 76.1 77.5 

Employed............................................ 103,373 9,036 29,495 17,873 10,742 36,228 

Employment-population ratio......... 64.4 43.8 58.9 65.5 73.6 75.6 

Unemployed........................................ 4,475 807 1,570 840 371 888 

Unemployment rate......................... 4.1 8.2 5.1 4.5 3.3 2.4 

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 77,984 10,566 24,180 12,883 6,378 23,977 

Civilian labor force.................................. 58,957 6,590 17,668 9,829 5,249 19,620 

Percent of population..................... 75.6 62.4 73.1 76.3 82.3 81.8 

Employed............................................ 56,446 6,066 16,741 9,397 5,070 19,171 

Employment-population ratio......... 72.4 57.4 69.2 72.9 79.5 80.0 

Unemployed........................................ 2,511 524 927 433 179 449 

Unemployment rate......................... 4.3 7.9 5.2 4.4 3.4 2.3 

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 82,558 10,086 25,922 14,398 8,218 23,933 

Civilian labor force.................................. 48,892 3,253 13,396 8,883 5,864 17,495 

Percent of population..................... 59.2 32.3 51.7 61.7 71.4 73.1 

Employed............................................ 46,928 2,970 12,753 8,477 5,672 17,056 

Employment-population ratio......... 56.8 29.4 49.2 58.9 69.0 71.3 

Unemployed........................................ 1,964 284 643 407 192 439 

Unemployment rate......................... 4.0 8.7 4.8 4.6 3.3 2.5 

See note at end of table.

7

8
Table 4. Employment status of persons 25 years and over by educational attainment, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 25 

years and over

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High school 

graduates, no 

college

Some college, 

no degree

Associate

degree

Bachelor's

degree and 

higher

Black or African American

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 22,254 3,629 7,918 4,379 1,956 4,372 

Civilian labor force.................................. 14,973 1,443 5,200 3,232 1,533 3,564 

Percent of population..................... 67.3 39.8 65.7 73.8 78.4 81.5 

Employed............................................ 13,786 1,234 4,719 2,972 1,439 3,423 

Employment-population ratio......... 62.0 34.0 59.6 67.9 73.6 78.3 

Unemployed........................................ 1,187 209 482 260 95 141 

Unemployment rate......................... 7.9 14.5 9.3 8.0 6.2 4.0 

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 9,810 1,645 3,684 1,862 767 1,852 

Civilian labor force.................................. 6,978 730 2,636 1,420 617 1,575 

Percent of population..................... 71.1 44.4 71.6 76.2 80.5 85.0 

Employed............................................ 6,357 616 2,358 1,296 579 1,508 

Employment-population ratio......... 64.8 37.5 64.0 69.6 75.6 81.4 

Unemployed........................................ 621 114 278 124 37 67 

Unemployment rate......................... 8.9 15.6 10.6 8.7 6.1 4.2 

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 12,444 1,983 4,234 2,517 1,189 2,520 

Civilian labor force.................................. 7,995 713 2,564 1,812 917 1,990 

Percent of population..................... 64.2 35.9 60.6 72.0 77.1 79.0 

Employed............................................ 7,429 617 2,361 1,676 859 1,915 

Employment-population ratio......... 59.7 31.1 55.8 66.6 72.3 76.0 

Unemployed........................................ 566 95 203 136 57 74 

Unemployment rate......................... 7.1 13.4 7.9 7.5 6.3 3.7 

Asian

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 9,248 1,028 1,847 879 639 4,856 

Civilian labor force.................................. 6,518 469 1,190 626 477 3,757 

Percent of population..................... 70.5 45.7 64.4 71.2 74.7 77.4 

Employed............................................ 6,290 439 1,139 602 459 3,651 

Employment-population ratio......... 68.0 42.8 61.6 68.5 71.9 75.2 

Unemployed........................................ 229 30 51 24 18 106 

Unemployment rate......................... 3.5 6.4 4.3 3.8 3.8 2.8 

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 4,358 372 805 438 286 2,459 

Civilian labor force.................................. 3,498 221 603 346 236 2,093 

Percent of population..................... 80.3 59.4 74.9 79.0 82.5 85.1 

Employed............................................ 3,370 203 577 330 225 2,035 

Employment-population ratio......... 77.3 54.6 71.8 75.4 78.7 82.8 

Unemployed........................................ 128 18 26 16 11 58 

Unemployment rate......................... 3.7 8.0 4.2 4.6 4.7 2.8 

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 4,890 656 1,043 441 353 2,397 

Civilian labor force.................................. 3,020 248 587 280 241 1,664 

Percent of population..................... 61.8 37.9 56.3 63.4 68.4 69.4 

Employed............................................ 2,920 236 562 272 234 1,616 

Employment-population ratio......... 59.7 36.0 53.8 61.6 66.4 67.4 

Unemployed........................................ 101 12 25 8 7 48 

Unemployment rate......................... 3.3 4.9 4.3 2.8 2.9 2.9 

See note at end of table.

8 9
Table 4. Employment status of persons 25 years and over by educational attainment, sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 25 

years and over

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High school 

graduates, no 

college

Some college, 

no degree

Associate

degree

Bachelor's

degree and 

higher

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 25,479 9,555 7,526 3,371 1,612 3,414 

Civilian labor force.................................. 18,235 5,911 5,576 2,627 1,288 2,833 

Percent of population..................... 71.6 61.9 74.1 77.9 79.9 83.0 

Employed............................................ 17,115 5,426 5,232 2,484 1,236 2,736 

Employment-population ratio......... 67.2 56.8 69.5 73.7 76.7 80.1 

Unemployed........................................ 1,120 485 344 142 52 97 

Unemployment rate......................... 6.1 8.2 6.2 5.4 4.1 3.4 

Men

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 13,081 5,025 3,986 1,677 732 1,660 

Civilian labor force.................................. 11,035 4,021 3,444 1,448 633 1,489 

Percent of population..................... 84.4 80.0 86.4 86.3 86.5 89.7 

Employed............................................ 10,363 3,714 3,231 1,371 607 1,439 

Employment-population ratio......... 79.2 73.9 81.1 81.8 82.9 86.7 

Unemployed........................................ 672 307 213 77 26 50 

Unemployment rate......................... 6.1 7.6 6.2 5.3 4.1 3.3 

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 12,398 4,530 3,541 1,694 879 1,754 

Civilian labor force.................................. 7,200 1,889 2,132 1,179 655 1,344 

Percent of population..................... 58.1 41.7 60.2 69.6 74.5 76.6 

Employed............................................ 6,752 1,712 2,001 1,113 629 1,297 

Employment-population ratio......... 54.5 37.8 56.5 65.7 71.6 73.9 

Unemployed........................................ 448 178 131 65 26 47 

Unemployment rate......................... 6.2 9.4 6.2 5.6 4.0 3.5 

NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

9 10
Table 5. Employed persons by occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

2008 annual averages

Occupation and sex Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and over (thousands)....................................... 145,362 119,126 15,953 6,917 20,346 

 Percent.............................................................................. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Management, professional, and related occupations........................ 36.3 37.0 27.4 48.2 18.3 

 Management, business, and financial operations........................... 15.2 15.9 10.0 16.5 8.1 

 Management occupations...................................................... 10.9 11.6 6.3 10.6 5.7 

 Business and financial operations occupations........................... 4.3 4.3 3.7 5.9 2.4 

 Professional and related occupations.......................................... 21.1 21.1 17.4 31.7 10.2 

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 2.5 2.3 1.7 8.9 .9 

 Architecture and engineering occupations................................. 2.0 2.1 .9 4.1 1.0 

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. .9 .9 .6 2.3 .3 

 Community and social services occupations.............................. 1.6 1.5 2.7 .8 1.0 

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1.1 1.2 .7 .7 .5 

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 5.9 6.2 5.0 4.8 3.2 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 1.9 2.1 1.1 1.7 1.2 

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................ 5.1 5.0 4.7 8.5 2.1 

Service occupations.................................................................. 16.8 15.7 24.4 16.3 24.2 

 Healthcare support occupations................................................ 2.2 1.8 5.2 2.0 2.1 

 Protective service occupations................................................... 2.1 2.0 3.7 .8 1.6 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 5.4 5.2 5.9 6.1 8.1 

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 3.7 3.6 5.1 2.2 9.0 

 Personal care and service occupations....................................... 3.4 3.1 4.5 5.2 3.4 

Sales and office occupations...................................................... 24.5 24.5 25.5 21.5 21.4 

 Sales and related occupations................................................... 11.2 11.4 9.9 11.1 9.3 

 Office and administrative support occupations.............................. 13.2 13.1 15.7 10.4 12.1 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations......... 10.2 11.0 6.4 4.1 18.2 

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.................................... .7 .7 .3 .2 1.9 

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 6.0 6.5 3.4 1.8 12.6 

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations........................... 3.5 3.7 2.7 2.1 3.7 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............ 12.2 11.9 16.2 9.9 17.8 

 Production occupations............................................................ 6.2 6.1 6.9 6.7 9.3 

 Transportation and material moving occupations........................... 6.1 5.8 9.3 3.2 8.5 

See note at end of table.

10

11
Table 5. Employed persons by occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

2008 annual averages—Continued

Occupation and sex Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Men, 16 years and over (thousands).......................................... 77,486 64,624 7,398 3,692 12,248 

 Percent................................................................................. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Management, professional, and related occupations........................ 33.5 34.0 23.0 50.1 14.8 

 Management, business, and financial operations........................... 16.3 17.2 9.6 16.6 7.7 

 Management occupations...................................................... 12.8 13.6 7.1 12.2 6.0 

 Business and financial operations occupations........................... 3.5 3.6 2.5 4.4 1.6 

 Professional and related occupations.......................................... 17.2 16.8 13.3 33.5 7.2 

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 3.6 3.2 2.4 12.7 1.2 

 Architecture and engineering occupations................................. 3.3 3.3 1.7 6.1 1.4 

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. .9 .9 .6 2.5 .3 

 Community and social services occupations.............................. 1.2 1.1 2.3 .7 .6 

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1.0 1.1 .5 .6 .3 

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 2.9 2.9 2.4 3.5 1.2 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 1.9 2.0 1.4 1.7 1.1 

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................ 2.4 2.3 2.0 5.6 1.1 

Service occupations.................................................................. 13.5 12.6 20.1 13.6 19.6 

 Healthcare support occupations................................................ .5 .3 1.3 .8 .4 

 Protective service occupations................................................... 3.0 2.9 4.9 1.1 2.2 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 4.4 4.1 5.9 6.7 7.5 

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 4.2 4.0 5.9 2.5 8.3 

 Personal care and service occupations....................................... 1.4 1.2 2.1 2.6 1.2 

Sales and office occupations...................................................... 16.9 16.7 18.2 17.5 13.9 

 Sales and related occupations................................................... 10.6 10.9 8.4 10.9 7.5 

 Office and administrative support occupations.............................. 6.3 5.8 9.8 6.6 6.4 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations......... 18.3 19.4 13.0 7.2 29.1 

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.................................... 1.0 1.1 .5 .3 2.6 

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 10.9 11.7 7.0 3.2 20.7 

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations........................... 6.4 6.6 5.6 3.7 5.9 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............ 17.8 17.3 25.7 11.6 22.6 

 Production occupations............................................................ 8.1 8.1 9.2 6.8 10.6 

 Transportation and material moving occupations........................... 9.7 9.2 16.5 4.9 12.0 

See note at end of table.

1112
Table 5. Employed persons by occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

2008 annual averages—Continued

Occupation and sex Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Women, 16 years and over (thousands).................................... 67,876 54,501 8,554 3,225 8,098 

 Percent.............................................................................. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Management, professional, and related occupations........................ 39.5 40.6 31.3 46.0 23.5 

 Management, business, and financial operations........................... 13.9 14.3 10.4 16.4 8.8 

 Management occupations...................................................... 8.7 9.3 5.7 8.8 5.2 

 Business and financial operations occupations........................... 5.1 5.1 4.7 7.6 3.6 

 Professional and related occupations.......................................... 25.6 26.3 20.9 29.7 14.7 

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 1.3 1.2 1.1 4.4 .6 

 Architecture and engineering occupations................................. .6 .6 .2 1.7 .3 

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. .9 .9 .5 2.0 .3 

 Community and social services occupations.............................. 2.0 1.9 3.1 .9 1.7 

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1.3 1.4 1.0 .8 .9 

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 9.4 10.0 7.2 6.2 6.0 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 2.0 2.2 .8 1.6 1.2 

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................ 8.1 8.1 7.0 11.9 3.8 

Service occupations.................................................................. 20.6 19.3 28.2 19.4 31.3 

 Healthcare support occupations................................................ 4.2 3.5 8.5 3.4 4.8 

 Protective service occupations................................................... 1.0 .8 2.6 .4 .8 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 6.5 6.5 6.0 5.5 8.9 

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 3.2 3.1 4.5 1.9 10.0 

 Personal care and service occupations....................................... 5.7 5.4 6.6 8.3 6.8 

Sales and office occupations...................................................... 33.1 33.7 31.9 26.1 32.9 

 Sales and related occupations................................................... 11.9 12.0 11.1 11.4 12.1 

 Office and administrative support occupations.............................. 21.2 21.7 20.7 14.7 20.7 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations......... .9 .9 .7 .6 1.7 

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.................................... .3 .3 .1 .2 .9 

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... .3 .3 .3 .1 .4 

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations........................... .3 .3 .3 .3 .4 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............ 5.9 5.4 7.9 7.8 10.6 

 Production occupations............................................................ 3.9 3.6 4.8 6.6 7.4 

 Transportation and material moving occupations........................... 1.9 1.8 3.1 1.2 3.2 

 NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

12 13
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and over ............................................................ 145,362 82.0 11.0 4.8 14.0 

Management, professional, and related occupations ........................... 52,761 83.6 8.3 6.3 7.1 

 Management. business. and financial operations.................................. 22,059 85.9 7.2 5.2 7.5 

 Management occupations .................................................................. 15,852 87.3 6.4 4.6 7.3 

 Chief executives .............................................................................. 1,655 90.8 3.9 4.0 4.8 

 General and operations managers .................................................. 985 89.2 5.4 4.3 6.2 

 Legislators ....................................................................................... 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Advertising and promotions managers....................................... 77 84.4 7.6 5.8 9.7 

 Marketing and sales managers ................................................ 922 89.4 4.9 4.1 6.2 

 Public relations managers ...................................................... 64 90.6 3.5 (2

) 5.4

 Administrative services managers .......................................... 100 86.0 8.9 2.3 5.7 

 Computer and information systems managers ........................... 475 80.0 7.7 10.2 5.3 

 Financial managers ............................................................... 1,168 85.1 7.9 5.7 8.6 

 Human resources managers ................................................... 293 86.3 8.2 4.0 7.3 

 Industrial production managers ................................................ 243 89.7 4.9 3.8 9.6 

 Purchasing managers ............................................................ 193 83.9 12.9 2.5 3.7 

 Transportation, storage, and distribution managers..................... 239 88.7 7.7 1.7 12.7 

 Farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers.............................. 217 95.9 .9 1.7 4.6 

 Farmers and ranchers ............................................................ 751 97.6 1.0 .7 2.4 

 Construction managers ......................................................... 1,244 93.3 3.7 1.4 9.1 

 Education administrators ...................................................... 829 83.7 12.2 2.6 7.6 

 Engineering managers ......................................................... 109 87.2 1.1 8.0 4.9 

 Food service managers ......................................................... 1,039 79.0 7.3 11.8 12.9 

 Funeral directors .................................................................. 45 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Gaming managers ............................................................... 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Lodging managers ............................................................... 177 80.8 5.5 12.2 9.1 

 Medical and health services managers....................................... 561 83.8 10.1 4.2 7.3 

 Natural sciences managers ................................................... 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Postmasters and mail superintendents....................................... 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Property, real estate, and community association managers ......... 558 87.8 7.7 3.1 8.2 

 Social and community service managers .................................... 338 84.3 10.1 2.2 7.7 

 Managers, all other ............................................................... 3,473 86.0 6.8 5.3 7.6 

 Business and financial operations occupations.............................. 6,207 82.1 9.4 6.5 7.9 

 Agents and business managers of artists, performers,

 and athletes..................................................................... 50 88.0 5.8 4.8 6.5 

 Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products........................... 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products..................... 191 82.7 7.6 6.1 12.2 

 Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and

 farm products..................................................................... 264 87.1 6.7 4.8 11.2 

 Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators............ 312 80.4 14.6 3.6 7.6 

 Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health

 and safety, and transportation................................................ 179 88.3 7.9 3.1 6.4 

 Cost estimators..................................................................... 100 98.0 .7 1.2 5.3 

 Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists ............ 803 79.2 14.0 3.5 7.9 

 Logisticians........................................................................ 50 82.0 12.3 5.5 12.2 

 Management analysts ............................................................ 731 86.6 6.2 5.8 4.6 

 Meeting and convention planners............................................. 55 78.2 14.0 4.1 6.2 

 Other business operations specialists....................................... 254 76.0 12.2 9.2 10.0 

See notes at end of table.

1314
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Accountants and auditors ...................................................... 1,762 79.9 8.3 10.2 7.6 

 Appraisers and assessors of real estate.................................... 102 90.2 5.2 2.0 7.2 

 Budget analysts..................................................................... 64 71.9 17.5 8.3 5.0 

 Credit analysts ..................................................................... 20 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Financial analysts.................................................................. 110 80.0 6.0 12.9 9.8 

 Personal financial advisors...................................................... 430 86.5 5.9 5.9 6.1 

 Insurance underwriters......................................................... 82 79.3 13.3 5.5 7.1 

 Financial examiners............................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Loan counselors and officers................................................... 392 82.9 10.6 4.4 11.5 

 Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents........................... 58 72.4 19.7 4.2 4.4 

 Tax preparers..................................................................... 105 84.8 9.1 5.7 12.6 

 Financial specialists, all other................................................... 78 71.8 20.6 5.3 14.9 

 Professional and related occupations............................................. 30,702 81.9 9.0 7.1 6.7 

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 3,676 74.3 7.2 16.7 5.1 

 Computer scientists and systems analysts................................. 837 75.0 9.7 13.7 5.3 

 Computer programmers......................................................... 534 77.9 5.7 14.1 4.0 

 Computer software engineers................................................... 1,034 64.8 4.7 29.0 3.7 

 Computer support specialists................................................... 382 78.0 11.1 8.2 7.9 

 Database administrators......................................................... 93 80.6 6.3 13.5 3.8 

 Network and computer systems administrators........................... 227 79.7 8.0 9.8 7.4 

 Network systems and data communications analysts.................. 422 82.0 7.1 9.2 6.4 

 Actuaries........................................................................... 26 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Mathematicians..................................................................... 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Operations research analysts................................................... 75 86.7 8.6 4.1 8.3 

 Statisticians........................................................................ 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous mathematical science occupations........................ 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Architecture and engineering occupations.................................... 2,931 83.5 5.1 9.6 6.7 

 Architects, except naval......................................................... 233 88.8 3.3 6.1 8.2 

 Surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists........................ 49 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Aerospace engineers............................................................ 137 81.0 6.1 11.1 5.0 

 Agricultural engineers............................................................ 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Biomedical engineers............................................................ 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemical engineers............................................................... 64 81.3 9.5 8.6 .5 

 Civil engineers..................................................................... 346 83.5 3.2 11.2 9.2 

 Computer hardware engineers................................................ 69 65.2 3.0 30.7 4.1 

 Electrical and electronics engineers.......................................... 350 81.7 3.0 13.4 5.3 

 Environmental engineers......................................................... 37 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Industrial engineers, including health and safety........................... 177 84.7 5.9 7.6 5.2 

 Marine engineers and naval architects....................................... 17 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Materials engineers............................................................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Mechanical engineers............................................................ 318 84.0 4.5 10.6 4.1 

 Mining and geological engineers, including mining

 safety engineers.................................................................. 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Nuclear engineers.................................................................. 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Petroleum engineers............................................................ 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Engineers, all other............................................................... 363 82.4 4.7 11.7 4.5 

 Drafters.............................................................................. 162 85.8 3.0 7.2 9.0 

 Engineering technicians, except drafters.................................... 416 81.0 10.9 5.4 10.3 

See notes at end of table.

14 15
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Surveying and mapping technicians.......................................... 105 94.3 1.5 1.2 8.0 

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. 1,307 78.8 7.1 12.0 4.7 

 Agricultural and food scientists................................................ 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Biological scientists............................................................... 101 79.2 4.2 13.3 3.9 

 Conservation scientists and foresters....................................... 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Medical scientists.................................................................. 132 64.4 8.1 24.8 2.7 

 Astronomers and physicists................................................... 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Atmospheric and space scientists............................................. 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemists and materials scientists............................................. 118 71.2 4.7 22.3 6.9 

 Environmental scientists and geoscientists................................. 85 91.8 4.0 2.7 4.1 

 Physical scientists, all other................................................... 136 65.4 6.1 27.8 1.7 

 Economists........................................................................ 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Market and survey researchers................................................ 134 88.8 5.7 3.3 5.8 

 Psychologists........................................................................ 176 88.6 7.2 3.1 6.6 

 Sociologists........................................................................ 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Urban and regional planners................................................... 32 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous social scientists and related workers..................... 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Agricultural and food science technicians.................................... 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Biological technicians............................................................ 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemical technicians............................................................ 53 75.5 18.0 6.9 7.0 

 Geological and petroleum technicians....................................... 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Nuclear technicians............................................................... 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Other life, physical, and social science technicians..................... 129 76.0 12.5 8.5 5.7 

 Community and social services occupations................................. 2,293 75.9 19.0 2.5 8.9 

 Counselors........................................................................... 674 73.4 20.5 2.2 8.9 

 Social workers..................................................................... 729 70.5 24.5 2.9 10.0 

 Miscellaneous community and social service specialists............... 303 72.9 20.9 2.6 14.5 

 Clergy................................................................................. 441 86.4 10.2 2.7 3.6 

 Directors, religious activities and education................................. 50 96.0 1.7 .8 4.5 

 Religious workers, all other...................................................... 95 87.4 10.1 .8 11.0 

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1,671 88.6 7.0 2.8 6.6 

 Lawyers.............................................................................. 1,014 91.4 4.6 2.9 3.8 

 Judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers........................... 54 92.6 6.8 .3 3.2 

 Paralegals and legal assistants................................................ 346 83.5 11.6 2.2 10.3 

 Miscellaneous legal support workers.......................................... 257 84.0 10.0 3.9 13.3 

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 8,605 85.3 9.2 3.8 7.5 

 Postsecondary teachers......................................................... 1,218 81.1 5.2 11.9 4.0 

 Preschool and kindergarten teachers....................................... 685 83.1 11.7 3.5 9.8 

 Elementary and middle school teachers.................................... 2,958 86.4 9.9 2.2 6.8 

 Secondary school teachers...................................................... 1,210 89.5 7.2 1.8 6.5 

 Special education teachers...................................................... 387 89.4 8.0 1.3 3.7 

 Other teachers and instructors................................................ 751 83.6 9.3 3.8 8.2 

 Archivists, curators, and museum technicians.............................. 35 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Librarians........................................................................... 197 89.3 6.7 3.5 3.7 

 Library technicians............................................................... 44 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Teacher assistants............................................................... 1,020 81.3 13.9 2.8 15.0 

 Other education, training, and library workers.............................. 101 89.1 6.1 3.6 5.5 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 2,820 87.4 6.1 4.1 8.3 

See notes at end of table.

15

16
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Artists and related workers...................................................... 213 92.0 2.0 3.7 5.4 

 Designers........................................................................... 834 87.1 5.6 6.1 8.2 

 Actors................................................................................. 30 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Producers and directors......................................................... 154 84.4 8.9 4.0 7.3 

 Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers........................ 252 84.5 10.3 2.3 8.3 

 Dancers and choreographers................................................... 25 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Musicians, singers, and related workers.................................... 186 85.5 9.7 1.6 10.8 

 Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers,

 all other.............................................................................. 39 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Announcers........................................................................ 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 News analysts, reporters and correspondents.............................. 94 92.6 2.1 3.9 2.9 

 Public relations specialists...................................................... 135 90.4 5.1 1.7 7.3 

 Editors................................................................................. 171 92.4 3.5 2.5 2.2 

 Technical writers.................................................................. 47 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Writers and authors............................................................... 186 93.0 4.1 1.1 3.3 

 Miscellaneous media and communication workers........................ 83 77.1 6.1 12.1 27.4 

 Broadcast and sound engineering technicians

 and radio operators............................................................ 98 79.6 11.0 5.9 12.9 

 Photographers..................................................................... 181 89.5 4.3 3.9 10.1 

 Television, video, and motion picture camera operators

 and editors........................................................................ 50 94.0 5.2 .1 12.8 

 Media and communication equipment workers, all other............... 1 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................... 7,399 80.0 10.2 8.0 5.9 

 Chiropractors........................................................................ 60 96.7 1.8 .3 4.7 

 Dentists.............................................................................. 152 82.9 3.3 12.0 5.2 

 Dietitians and nutritionists...................................................... 100 75.0 20.3 3.7 7.1 

 Optometrists........................................................................ 37 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Pharmacists........................................................................ 243 76.1 8.7 12.6 2.5 

 Physicians and surgeons......................................................... 877 75.8 6.2 16.6 5.8 

 Physician assistants............................................................... 99 87.9 6.6 5.2 9.3 

 Podiatrists........................................................................... 12 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Registered nurses.................................................................. 2,778 80.5 10.0 7.8 4.7 

 Audiologists........................................................................ 12 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Occupational therapists......................................................... 87 93.1 1.2 6.3 5.5 

 Physical therapists............................................................... 197 82.2 3.9 13.0 3.5 

 Radiation therapists............................................................... 20 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Recreational therapists......................................................... 17 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Respiratory therapists............................................................ 109 81.7 10.4 4.6 7.4 

 Speech-language pathologists................................................ 133 91.7 2.3 4.8 6.2 

 Therapists, all other............................................................... 107 82.2 14.7 2.6 3.7 

 Veterinarians........................................................................ 56 92.9 4.0 3.7 4.1 

 Health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other.................. 20 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians........................ 351 74.4 14.6 8.8 9.0 

 Dental hygienists.................................................................. 143 91.6 4.1 2.0 5.3 

 Diagnostic related technologists and technicians........................ 298 84.2 8.8 5.3 5.0 

 Emergency medical technicians and paramedics........................ 138 90.6 4.7 .1 6.6 

 Health diagnosing and treating practitioner

 support technicians............................................................ 447 81.2 10.8 5.2 10.8 

See notes at end of table.

1617
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses........................ 566 71.9 22.1 3.6 7.1 

 Medical records and health information technicians..................... 98 80.6 13.9 4.0 9.9 

 Opticians, dispensing............................................................ 50 92.0 7.5 .3 8.4 

 Miscellaneous health technologists and technicians..................... 139 66.2 23.3 8.4 5.5 

 Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations............... 52 82.7 5.6 6.5 8.0 

Service occupations..................................................................... 24,451 76.4 15.9 4.6 20.2 

 Healthcare support occupations................................................... 3,212 67.1 25.8 4.2 13.6 

 Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides................................. 1,889 58.4 34.5 4.3 13.1 

 Occupational therapist assistants and aides................................. 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Physical therapist assistants and aides....................................... 75 86.7 8.4 4.0 8.0 

 Massage therapists.................................................................. 147 81.0 7.0 8.0 7.4 

 Dental assistants..................................................................... 263 88.6 6.9 2.0 17.3 

 Medical assistants and other healthcare support occupations............ 831 75.6 16.9 4.2 15.3 

 Protective service occupations...................................................... 3,047 76.5 19.1 1.8 10.9 

 First-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers.................. 42 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives.................. 117 83.8 12.5 2.9 6.1 

 First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and

 prevention workers............................................................... 54 88.9 5.8 1.3 9.5 

 Supervisors, protective service workers, all other........................... 102 79.4 14.5 2.2 12.2 

 Fire fighters........................................................................... 293 88.4 8.2 .3 9.4 

 Fire inspectors........................................................................ 27 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers....................................... 403 74.4 22.0 .6 10.4 

 Detectives and criminal investigators.......................................... 139 84.9 10.6 2.3 9.5 

 Fish and game wardens............................................................ 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Parking enforcement workers................................................... 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Police and sheriff’s patrol officers................................................ 674 82.2 13.6 1.8 11.6 

 Transit and railroad police......................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Animal control workers............................................................ 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Private detectives and investigators............................................. 89 82.0 13.8 .8 6.5 

 Security guards and gaming surveillance officers........................... 867 63.1 31.0 3.0 12.4 

 Crossing guards..................................................................... 68 64.7 29.9 .4 16.4 

 Lifeguards and other protective service workers........................... 148 93.2 5.7 .8 9.6 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 7,824 79.2 12.1 5.4 21.0 

 Chefs and head cooks............................................................... 351 73.2 10.3 14.1 22.7 

 First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation

 and serving workers............................................................... 635 79.7 14.4 3.8 14.1 

 Cooks.................................................................................... 1,997 73.5 18.1 5.0 30.2 

 Food preparation workers......................................................... 724 80.2 9.8 6.6 24.6 

 Bartenders.............................................................................. 365 91.2 3.5 2.3 9.6 

 Combined food preparation and serving workers, 

 including fast food.................................................................. 323 77.7 15.6 2.0 17.2 

 Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession,

 and coffee shop..................................................................... 323 78.9 12.2 4.5 15.4 

 Waiters and waitresses............................................................ 2,010 83.2 7.3 6.2 14.6 

 Food servers, nonrestaurant...................................................... 187 71.1 20.5 6.5 18.0 

 Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers............ 349 77.9 13.1 5.6 26.9 

 Dishwashers........................................................................... 289 80.6 12.0 3.4 35.7 

See notes at end of table.

1718
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Hosts and hostesses, restaurant, lounge, and coffee shop............... 263 88.6 6.2 3.0 11.6 

 Food preparation and serving related workers, all other.................. 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 5,445 78.9 15.0 2.8 33.4 

 First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping 

 janitorial workers.................................................................. 296 79.1 18.6 1.1 23.7 

 First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, 

 lawn service, and groundskeeping workers................................. 258 93.4 4.5 .6 16.8 

 Janitors and building cleaners................................................... 2,125 74.3 18.4 3.4 28.2 

 Maids and housekeeping cleaners............................................. 1,434 75.2 18.1 3.7 40.5 

 Pest control workers............................................................... 71 85.9 6.1 2.8 15.3 

 Grounds maintenance workers................................................... 1,262 87.3 7.7 1.6 41.0 

 Personal care and service occupations.......................................... 4,923 75.2 14.7 7.4 14.2 

 First-line supervisors/managers of gaming workers........................ 155 87.7 7.2 3.2 10.3 

 First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers............ 174 74.7 11.1 13.8 7.5 

 Animal trainers........................................................................ 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Nonfarm animal caretakers...................................................... 157 91.7 2.9 1.9 12.3 

 Gaming services workers......................................................... 111 60.4 13.1 21.8 3.5 

 Motion picture projectionists...................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers.................................... 42 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous entertainment attendants and related workers............ 166 85.5 7.1 2.7 11.3 

 Funeral service workers............................................................ 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Barbers................................................................................. 87 59.8 33.3 4.1 20.2 

 Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists.............................. 773 80.1 11.3 6.5 11.0 

 Miscellaneous personal appearance workers................................. 229 37.6 4.4 55.0 6.3 

 Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges................................. 72 63.9 23.9 8.1 19.9 

 Tour and travel guides............................................................... 35 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Transportation attendants......................................................... 139 76.3 16.8 3.3 13.1 

 Child care workers.................................................................. 1,314 77.8 17.4 2.7 20.0 

 Personal and home care aides................................................... 871 67.6 21.8 6.7 17.4 

 Recreation and fitness workers................................................... 353 84.4 9.6 3.3 9.5 

 Residential advisors.................................................................. 70 70.0 28.1 .1 4.7 

 Personal care and service workers, all other................................. 114 81.6 11.3 3.7 12.3 

Sales and office occupations......................................................... 35,544 82.0 11.5 4.2 12.3 

 Sales and related occupations...................................................... 16,295 83.4 9.7 4.7 11.7 

 First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers..................... 3,471 85.9 7.3 5.2 10.4 

 First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers............... 1,287 86.2 6.9 4.9 11.0 

 Cashiers................................................................................. 3,031 73.8 16.3 6.4 16.6 

 Counter and rental clerks......................................................... 161 73.3 14.8 7.9 13.7 

 Parts salespersons.................................................................. 119 88.2 7.5 1.7 14.7 

 Retail salespersons.................................................................. 3,416 83.1 10.7 4.1 12.3 

 Advertising sales agents............................................................ 216 85.6 10.3 2.2 8.4 

 Insurance sales agents............................................................ 573 88.1 7.6 2.7 9.4 

 Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents............ 388 86.3 7.2 5.1 9.2 

 Travel agents........................................................................ 98 78.6 9.8 10.3 6.4 

 Sales representatives, services, all other....................................... 521 84.5 8.9 4.5 8.8 

 Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing..................... 1,343 91.0 3.9 3.8 8.6 

 Models, demonstrators, and product promoters.............................. 74 83.8 8.0 6.7 6.6 

See notes at end of table.

18 19
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Real estate brokers and sales agents.......................................... 962 87.8 7.2 3.5 8.6 

 Sales engineers..................................................................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Telemarketers........................................................................ 139 71.2 23.6 .7 16.6 

 Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, 

 and related workers............................................................... 243 84.0 9.5 3.7 14.4 

 Sales and related workers, all other............................................. 212 92.5 4.8 1.2 7.4 

 Office and administrative support occupations................................. 19,249 80.9 13.0 3.7 12.8 

 First-line supervisors/managers of office and

 administrative support workers................................................ 1,641 84.2 10.4 3.4 10.5 

 Switchboard operators, including answering service........................ 49 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Telephone operators............................................................... 48 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Communications equipment operators, all other........................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bill and account collectors......................................................... 232 74.6 20.0 2.2 18.2 

 Billing and posting clerks and machine operators........................... 516 80.8 13.5 3.6 12.6 

 Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks.............................. 1,434 86.9 6.9 4.4 8.0 

 Gaming cage workers............................................................... 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Payroll and timekeeping clerks................................................... 158 82.9 11.8 4.1 10.8 

 Procurement clerks.................................................................. 26 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tellers................................................................................. 466 79.0 12.3 6.1 15.8 

 Brokerage clerks..................................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Correspondence clerks............................................................ 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Court, municipal, and license clerks............................................. 100 81.0 11.1 3.7 10.5 

 Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks....................................... 64 81.3 12.7 1.4 12.1 

 Customer service representatives................................................ 1,908 75.5 18.3 3.7 14.5 

 Eligibility interviewers, government programs................................. 63 68.3 22.1 6.5 23.7 

 File clerks.............................................................................. 364 78.0 15.5 4.4 12.0 

 Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks............................................. 120 70.0 19.1 3.9 9.6 

 Interviewers, except eligibility and loan....................................... 146 77.4 18.4 1.9 17.7 

 Library assistants, clerical......................................................... 107 84.1 8.9 4.5 5.7 

 Loan interviewers and clerks...................................................... 122 88.5 7.1 2.4 18.3 

 New accounts clerks............................................................... 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Order clerks........................................................................... 112 85.7 11.8 1.5 18.0 

 Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping............ 52 78.8 15.3 5.7 10.0 

 Receptionists and information clerks.......................................... 1,413 84.3 9.8 3.8 15.2 

 Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks......... 136 75.0 14.3 6.5 14.8 

 Information and record clerks, all other....................................... 107 78.5 15.5 4.1 11.7 

 Cargo and freight agents......................................................... 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Couriers and messengers......................................................... 261 82.4 13.9 1.7 21.1 

 Dispatchers........................................................................... 286 79.0 15.9 1.9 11.8 

 Meter readers, utilities............................................................... 45 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Postal service clerks ............................................................... 167 60.5 27.0 8.5 10.5 

 Postal service mail carriers......................................................... 373 77.5 14.5 6.4 9.8 

 Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing

 machine operators.................................................................. 90 53.3 34.1 10.9 11.4 

 Production, planning, and expediting clerks ................................. 269 84.4 8.9 3.7 7.3 

 Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks.......................................... 543 81.8 11.6 2.8 20.2 

 Stock clerks and order fillers...................................................... 1,481 76.0 16.8 3.6 18.6 

 Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping......... 63 81.0 13.6 5.2 17.8 

See notes at end of table.

1920
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Secretaries and administrative assistants.................................... 3,296 87.5 8.1 2.3 9.6 

 Computer operators.................................................................. 134 73.1 19.9 4.3 5.1 

 Data entry keyers..................................................................... 415 75.9 17.6 5.2 12.9 

 Word processors and typists...................................................... 149 77.2 17.3 3.6 13.1 

 Desktop publishers.................................................................. 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Insurance claims and policy processing clerks.............................. 275 75.3 19.4 2.8 12.2 

 Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service......... 123 69.1 20.8 7.1 12.9 

 Office clerks, general............................................................... 1,176 77.9 15.4 4.7 14.1 

 Office machine operators, except computer................................. 43 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Proofreaders and copy markers................................................ 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Statistical assistants............................................................... 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Office and administrative support workers, all other........................ 558 79.9 13.1 4.8 9.6 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ............ 14,806 88.3 6.9 1.9 25.0 

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations....................................... 988 88.9 4.5 1.7 39.3 

 First-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing,

 and forestry workers............................................................... 48 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Agricultural inspectors............................................................... 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Animal breeders..................................................................... 12 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Graders and sorters, agricultural products.................................... 63 74.6 13.6 4.0 59.3 

 Miscellaneous agricultural workers............................................. 723 90.2 3.5 1.5 45.1 

 Fishers and related fishing workers............................................. 36 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Hunters and trappers............................................................... 1 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Forest and conservation workers................................................ 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Logging workers..................................................................... 73 87.7 5.9 (2

) 12.3

 Construction and extraction occupations.......................................... 8,667 89.4 6.3 1.4 29.6 

 First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades

 and extraction workers............................................................ 844 94.2 3.0 1.2 16.1 

 Boilermakers........................................................................... 22 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons .............................. 230 87.8 7.4 1.2 39.9 

 Carpenters ........................................................................... 1,562 89.5 6.0 1.3 25.7 

 Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers................................. 224 96.0 1.9 1.0 42.7 

 Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers............... 90 84.4 7.4 .1 57.7 

 Construction laborers............................................................... 1,651 87.5 7.7 1.9 44.1 

 Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators..................... 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Pile-driver operators............................................................... 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Operating engineers and other construction

 equipment operators............................................................... 398 91.7 5.1 .5 17.4 

 Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers........................... 209 92.8 3.6 .4 56.9 

 Electricians........................................................................... 874 89.2 5.9 2.7 16.2 

 Glaziers................................................................................. 49 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Insulation workers.................................................................. 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Painters, construction and maintenance....................................... 647 86.4 7.3 2.2 40.1 

 Paperhangers........................................................................ 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters........................... 606 90.1 6.4 .6 19.5 

 Plasterers and stucco masons................................................... 46 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Reinforcing iron and rebar workers............................................. 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Roofers................................................................................. 234 85.5 8.4 .4 42.9 

See notes at end of table.

20 21
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Sheet metal workers............................................................... 136 89.0 6.2 1.2 11.8 

 Structural iron and steel workers................................................ 77 93.5 2.2 .3 14.4 

 Helpers, construction trades...................................................... 113 80.5 18.1 .3 41.3 

 Construction and building inspectors.......................................... 93 87.1 9.2 1.6 5.4 

 Elevator installers and repairers................................................ 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Fence erectors........................................................................ 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Hazardous materials removal workers.......................................... 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Highway maintenance workers................................................... 103 80.6 17.2 (2

) 10.2

 Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators.................. 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners.............................. 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous construction and related workers........................... 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, 

 oil, gas, and mining............................................................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Earth drillers, except oil and gas................................................ 35 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters............ 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Mining machine operators ......................................................... 51 92.2 3.3 5.6 21.2 

 Roof bolters, mining ............................................................... 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Roustabouts, oil and gas......................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Helpers—extraction workers...................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Other extraction workers............................................................ 55 90.9 3.5 1.0 33.5 

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.............................. 5,152 86.4 8.5 2.8 14.5 

 First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, 

 installers, and repairers............................................................ 300 89.3 6.7 1.0 8.7 

 Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers............... 335 80.3 10.8 7.5 13.0 

 Radio and telecommunications equipment

 installers and repairers............................................................ 200 79.5 13.7 4.4 11.8 

 Avionics technicians............................................................... 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers........................... 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electrical and electronics installers and repairers,

 transportation equipment......................................................... 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electrical and electronics repairers, industrial and utility.................. 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles............ 27 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electronic home entertainment equipment

 installers and repairers............................................................ 75 73.3 13.5 8.0 16.2 

 Security and fire alarm systems installers .................................... 62 87.1 8.2 2.2 16.8 

 Aircraft mechanics and service technicians.................................... 153 85.0 5.5 6.4 13.8 

 Automotive body and related repairers.......................................... 157 93.0 5.2 .7 27.2 

 Automotive glass installers and repairers.................................... 28 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Automotive service technicians and mechanics.............................. 852 88.5 6.5 2.9 19.7 

 Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists................ 358 87.7 7.5 1.7 11.6 

 Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service

 technicians and mechanics...................................................... 217 92.6 5.0 .4 10.5 

 Small engine mechanics............................................................ 64 90.6 6.0 (2

) 10.9

 Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment

 mechanics, installers, and repairers.......................................... 86 86.0 7.6 .4 22.0 

 Control and valve installers and repairers.................................... 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

See notes at end of table.

2122
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics

 and installers........................................................................ 397 86.6 8.6 2.2 13.2 

 Home appliance repairers......................................................... 51 80.4 10.2 5.7 10.7 

 Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics.............................. 439 86.1 8.8 3.0 13.0 

 Maintenance and repair workers, general.................................... 461 84.8 10.2 2.4 13.7 

 Maintenance workers, machinery................................................ 39 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Millwrights.............................................................................. 60 91.7 4.4 1.6 5.9 

 Electrical power-line installers and repairers................................. 109 89.9 8.7 .3 8.9 

 Telecommunications line installers and repairers........................... 204 81.4 16.2 1.1 15.0 

 Precision instrument and equipment repairers.............................. 58 91.4 4.8 3.5 12.4 

 Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and

 repairers.............................................................................. 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Commercial divers.................................................................. 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Locksmiths and safe repairers................................................... 31 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Manufactured building and mobile home installers........................ 12 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Riggers................................................................................. 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Signal and track switch repairers................................................ 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Helpers—installation, maintenance, and repair workers.................. 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers........................ 213 86.9 7.9 2.4 18.5 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations.................. 17,800 79.3 14.5 3.8 20.4 

 Production occupations............................................................... 8,973 80.4 12.2 5.2 21.1 

 First-line supervisors/managers of production

 and operating workers............................................................ 874 84.2 9.5 5.0 14.9 

 Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers............ 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers............... 203 66.5 12.2 17.5 19.4 

 Engine and other machine assemblers....................................... 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Structural metal fabricators and fitters.......................................... 36 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators.................................... 1,050 76.4 15.3 5.9 19.8 

 Bakers................................................................................. 194 81.4 12.1 5.0 28.9 

 Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish processing workers......... 309 75.7 14.6 6.7 38.4 

 Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying

 machine operators and tenders................................................ 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Food batchmakers.................................................................. 73 79.5 11.7 6.2 29.0 

 Food cooking machine operators and tenders.............................. 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Computer control programmers and operators.............................. 68 91.2 3.9 1.6 6.8 

 Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic................................................... 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic.................................................................. 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic.................................................................. 12 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic................................................ 105 84.8 9.1 4.0 22.0 

 Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operator,

 and tenders, metal and plastic................................................... 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine

 tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic..................... 50 86.0 6.6 5.8 19.6 

See notes at end of table.

22 23
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and

 tenders, metal and plastic......................................................... 20 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Milling and planning machine setters, operators, and

 tenders, metal and plastic......................................................... 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Machinists.............................................................................. 409 86.6 7.0 4.2 12.1 

 Metal furnace and kiln operators and tenders................................. 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Model makers and patternmakers, metal and plastic........................ 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Molders and molding machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic................................................... 58 86.2 12.2 1.3 22.2 

 Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic.................................................................. 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tool and die makers............................................................... 71 94.4 0.9 1.2 5.9 

 Welding, soldering, and brazing workers....................................... 598 85.5 8.7 3.7 21.0 

 Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic.................................................................. 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Lay-out workers, metal and plastic............................................. 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Plating and coating machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic................................................... 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners.......................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Metalworkers and plastic workers, all other.................................... 349 83.1 10.0 5.5 24.4 

 Bookbinders and bindery workers................................................ 36 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Job printers........................................................................... 47 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Prepress technicians and workers............................................. 44 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Printing machine operators......................................................... 213 86.9 9.1 2.9 20.5 

 Laundry and dry-cleaning workers............................................. 239 66.9 22.4 7.7 29.3 

 Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials........................... 57 68.4 19.7 10.0 41.0 

 Sewing machine operators......................................................... 226 73.9 9.4 14.1 36.8 

 Shoe and leather workers and repairers....................................... 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Shoe machine operators and tenders.......................................... 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers................................................ 71 80.3 6.1 12.2 24.4 

 Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders............ 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders.................. 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Textile knitting and weaving machine setters,

 operators, and tenders............................................................ 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine

 setters, operators, and tenders................................................ 17 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Extruding and forming machine setters, operator,

 and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers....................................... 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Fabric and apparel patternmakers............................................. 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Upholsterers........................................................................... 56 69.6 27.2 .4 42.1 

 Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other........................ 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters.......................................... 85 89.4 2.8 5.7 13.0 

 Furniture finishers.................................................................. 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Model makers and patternmakers, wood....................................... 0 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood.................. 44 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 except sawing..................................................................... 22 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

See notes at end of table.

2324
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Woodworkers, all other............................................................ 37 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers........................ 55 92.7 2.0 (2

) 10.5

 Stationary engineers and boiler operators.................................... 101 82.2 13.1 2.4 7.2 

 Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators............ 71 84.5 12.3 (2

) 7.0

 Miscellaneous plant and system operators.................................... 34 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders......... 52 78.8 16.2 4.4 13.2 

 Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and blending workers............ 108 80.6 14.5 1.4 20.6 

 Cutting workers........................................................................ 80 83.8 8.0 5.1 27.4 

 Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting

 machine setters, operators, and tenders.................................... 29 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders............... 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers........................ 751 78.3 13.4 5.8 14.2 

 Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers........................... 59 79.7 1.6 6.8 16.7 

 Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians.................. 95 86.3 6.2 6.9 13.8 

 Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders..................... 261 76.6 15.0 5.0 42.5 

 Painting workers..................................................................... 183 80.9 13.2 1.1 26.2 

 Photographic process workers and processing 

 machine operators.................................................................. 53 79.2 8.1 12.7 11.8 

 Semiconductor processors......................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cementing and gluing machine operators and tenders..................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment

 operators and tenders............................................................ 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders.................. 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Etchers and engravers............................................................ 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic.................. 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders..................... 42 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tire builders........................................................................... 14 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Helpers—production workers...................................................... 34 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Production workers, all other...................................................... 958 78.7 16.4 2.8 23.9 

 Transportation and material moving occupations.............................. 8,827 78.3 16.9 2.5 19.7 

 Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers............... 208 78.8 14.4 5.5 12.0 

 Aircraft pilots and flight engineers................................................ 141 94.3 1.8 2.4 2.5 

 Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists..................... 27 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ambulance drivers and attendants, except

 emergency medical technicians................................................ 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bus drivers........................................................................... 651 65.4 30.4 1.8 12.2 

 Driver/sales workers and truck drivers.......................................... 3,388 82.2 14.3 1.5 17.8 

 Taxi drivers and chauffeurs...................................................... 373 61.4 26.3 10.5 18.9 

 Motor vehicle operators, all other................................................ 66 71.2 24.0 2.1 15.2 

 Locomotive engineers and operators.......................................... 58 84.5 14.5 (2

) 6.0

 Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators................................. 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Railroad conductors and yardmasters.......................................... 53 88.7 8.8 2.9 5.4 

 Subway, streetcar, and other rail transportation workers.................. 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Sailors and marine oilers......................................................... 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ship and boat captains and operators.......................................... 39 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ship engineers........................................................................ 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bridge and lock tenders ............................................................ 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

See notes at end of table.

24 25
Table 6. Employed persons by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total

(In

thousands)

White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Parking lot attendants ............................................................... 83 72.3 15.7 8.7 27.3 

 Service station attendants ......................................................... 87 80.5 10.3 4.4 12.4 

 Transportation inspectors ......................................................... 51 68.6 21.5 6.5 9.2 

 Other transportation workers ...................................................... 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Conveyor operators and tenders ................................................ 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Crane and tower operators ...................................................... 69 85.5 13.9 (2

) 10.6

 Dredge, excavating, and loading machine operators ..................... 60 88.3 4.5 (2

) 15.7

 Hoist and winch operators......................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Industrial truck and tractor operators .......................................... 568 72.7 23.4 1.5 26.7 

 Cleaners of vehicles and equipment .......................................... 317 79.2 17.4 .9 28.8 

 Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand .................. 1,889 78.8 15.9 2.4 21.2 

 Machine feeders and offbearers ................................................ 34 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Packers and packagers, hand ................................................... 391 76.5 15.3 4.6 43.7 

 Pumping station operators ......................................................... 25 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Refuse and recyclable material collectors .................................... 98 75.5 16.4 2.4 31.1 

 Shuttle car operators............................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tank car, truck, and ship loaders ................................................ 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Material moving workers, all other................................................ 48 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 1 Percents are not shown where base is less than 50,000.

2

 Indicates no data or data that did not meet publication criteria.

 NOTE: Dashes indicate no data or data that do not meet publication criteria. Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as 

Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

2526
Table 7. Employed persons by industry, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

Industry and sex Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and over (thousands)........................ 145,362 119,126 15,953 6,917 20,346 

 Percent............................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

 Agriculture, forestry, and fishing................................. 1.5 1.7 .3 .4 2.2 

 Mining .................................................................. .6 .6 .3 .2 .6 

 Construction............................................................ 7.5 8.3 3.8 2.6 13.3 

 Manufacturing......................................................... 10.9 11.0 9.5 13.5 11.4 

 Durable goods...................................................... 7.1 7.2 5.4 9.2 6.2 

 Nondurable goods................................................ 3.9 3.8 4.1 4.3 5.2 

 Wholesale and retail trade.......................................... 14.2 14.4 12.9 13.0 13.9 

 Wholesale trade................................................... 2.8 2.9 2.1 2.5 2.9 

 Retail trade......................................................... 11.4 11.5 10.8 10.5 11.0 

 Transportation and utilities.......................................... 5.3 5.1 7.7 3.9 5.7 

 Information............................................................ 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.5 1.6 

 Financial activities................................................... 7.0 7.1 6.3 7.5 5.3 

 Professional and business services.............................. 10.7 10.7 9.1 13.7 10.5 

 Education and health services.................................... 21.6 20.8 27.9 21.8 14.9 

 Leisure and hospitality............................................. 8.8 8.5 8.8 11.4 11.6 

 Other services......................................................... 4.8 4.8 4.3 6.0 5.9 

 Other services, except private households.................. 4.3 4.3 3.8 5.6 4.4 

 Private households................................................ .6 .6 .5 .4 1.5 

 Public administration................................................ 4.7 4.4 6.5 3.5 3.1 

 Men, 16 years and over (thousands)........................ 77,486 64,624 7,398 3,692 12,248 

 Percent............................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

 Agriculture, forestry, and fishing................................. 2.1 2.4 .7 .4 3.0 

 Mining .................................................................. .9 1.0 .5 .3 1.0 

 Construction............................................................ 12.8 13.8 7.3 4.2 21.2 

 Manufacturing......................................................... 14.5 14.6 13.5 16.0 13.2 

 Durable goods...................................................... 9.9 10.0 8.2 11.8 7.6 

 Nondurable goods................................................ 4.6 4.6 5.4 4.2 5.6 

 Wholesale and retail trade.......................................... 14.6 14.7 14.5 13.3 13.4 

 Wholesale trade................................................... 3.7 3.8 3.3 2.8 3.5 

 Retail trade......................................................... 10.9 10.9 11.2 10.5 9.9 

 Transportation and utilities.......................................... 7.7 7.3 12.2 5.6 7.5 

 Information............................................................ 2.6 2.6 2.9 3.0 1.7 

 Financial activities................................................... 6.0 6.0 5.1 6.9 4.1 

 Professional and business services.............................. 11.6 11.4 10.2 16.7 10.9 

 Education and health services.................................... 10.1 9.5 13.4 13.8 5.8 

 Leisure and hospitality............................................. 8.0 7.6 9.2 11.7 10.6 

 Other services......................................................... 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.6 4.9 

 Other services, except private households.................. 4.3 4.3 4.5 4.5 4.8 

 Private households................................................ .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 

 Public administration................................................ 4.8 4.7 5.9 3.5 2.8 

See note at end of table.

26

27
Table 7. Employed persons by industry, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

 —Continued

Industry and sex Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Women, 16 years and over (thousands)..................... 67,876 54,501 8,554 3,225 8,098 

 Percent............................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

 Agriculture, forestry, and fishing................................. .8 .9 .1 .3 1.0 

 Mining .................................................................. .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 

 Construction............................................................ 1.6 1.7 .8 .7 1.3 

 Manufacturing......................................................... 6.9 6.8 6.0 10.7 8.8 

 Durable goods...................................................... 3.9 3.9 3.0 6.2 4.1 

 Nondurable goods................................................ 3.0 2.9 3.0 4.4 4.7 

 Wholesale and retail trade.......................................... 13.6 14.0 11.5 12.7 14.7 

 Wholesale trade................................................... 1.8 1.9 1.1 2.1 2.0 

 Retail trade......................................................... 11.9 12.1 10.4 10.5 12.6 

 Transportation and utilities.......................................... 2.6 2.5 3.8 2.1 2.9 

 Information............................................................ 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.0 1.4 

 Financial activities................................................... 8.3 8.4 7.3 8.1 7.2 

 Professional and business services.............................. 9.7 9.9 8.1 10.4 10.0 

 Education and health services.................................... 34.8 34.3 40.5 30.9 28.7 

 Leisure and hospitality............................................. 9.7 9.6 8.4 11.1 13.0 

 Other services......................................................... 5.3 5.4 4.1 7.5 7.3 

 Other services, except private households.................. 4.2 4.3 3.3 6.9 3.9 

 Private households................................................ 1.1 1.1 .9 .7 3.5 

 Public administration................................................ 4.5 4.1 7.0 3.5 3.6 

NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

27

28
Table 8. Employment and unemployment in families by type of family, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

2008 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Family type and employment status of family members Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian Hispanic or 

Latino ethnicity

 Total families ..................................................................... 77,943 63,490 9,297 3,403 10,500 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 64,058 52,273 7,290 3,052 9,135 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 82.2 82.3 78.4 89.7 87.0 

With unemployed member(s) ...................................................... 6,104 4,506 1,188 215 1,159 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 7.8 7.1 12.8 6.3 11.0 

Some member(s) employed ................................................... 4,319 3,332 686 172 846 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 70.8 74.0 57.8 79.9 73.0 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 3,830 2,955 605 158 743 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 62.7 65.6 50.9 73.4 64.1 

 Married-couple families ......................................................... 58,125 49,967 4,311 2,747 6,839 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 48,541 41,468 3,648 2,476 6,162 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 83.5 83.0 84.6 90.1 90.1 

With unemployed member(s) ...................................................... 3,796 3,076 446 167 726 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 6.5 6.2 10.3 6.1 10.6 

Some member(s) employed ................................................... 3,133 2,552 356 142 586 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 82.5 83.0 79.8 85.0 80.7 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 2,837 2,301 328 133 528 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 74.7 74.8 73.5 79.6 72.7 

 Families maintained by women ............................................. 14,383 9,459 4,049 424 2,515 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 10,929 7,331 2,914 360 1,936 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 76.0 77.5 72.0 84.9 77.0 

With unemployed member(s) ...................................................... 1,666 978 591 36 295 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 11.6 10.3 14.6 8.5 11.7 

Some member(s) employed ................................................... 817 513 252 22 168 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 49.0 52.5 42.6 61.1 56.9 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 666 416 208 17 133 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 40.0 42.5 35.2 47.2 45.1 

 Families maintained by men ................................................... 5,435 4,064 937 233 1,145 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 4,589 3,474 728 217 1,036 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 84.4 85.5 77.7 93.1 90.5 

With unemployed member(s) ...................................................... 642 452 150 12 138 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 11.8 11.1 16.0 5.2 12.1 

Some member(s) employed ................................................... 368 267 78 8 92 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 57.3 59.1 52.0 66.7 66.7 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 326 238 69 7 83 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 50.8 52.7 46.0 58.3 60.1 



NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race .

28

29
Table 9. Labor force participation rates by presence and age of youngest child, sex, race, and Hispanic or

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2008 annual averages

(Percent)

Both sexes White Black or African American

Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women

With no children under 18 years

1996............ 60.1 66.8 53.5 60.5 67.6 53.6 56.9 61.5 52.3

1997............ 60.4 67.0 53.8 60.8 67.8 53.8 57.3 61.2 53.5

1998............ 60.3 67.0 53.9 60.6 67.6 53.8 58.0 62.0 54.2

1999............ 60.4 66.8 54.1 60.7 67.5 53.9 58.3 62.1 54.6

2000............ 60.6 67.0 54.3 60.9 67.7 54.3 58.4 62.5 54.5

2001............ 60.4 66.7 54.3 60.8 67.4 54.3 57.9 61.7 54.4

2002............ 60.0 66.2 53.9 60.4 66.8 54.0 56.8 61.0 52.7

2003............ 59.7 65.4 54.1 60.1 66.1 54.1 56.5 60.0 53.2

2004............ 59.6 65.3 54.0 60.0 66.1 54.0 56.4 59.5 53.5

2005............ 59.8 65.5 54.2 60.1 66.2 54.1 57.3 60.8 53.9

2006............ 60.0 65.8 54.2 60.4 66.5 54.2 57.1 60.5 53.9

2007............ 59.8 65.6 54.0 60.3 66.4 54.1 56.5 60.1 53.0

2008............ 59.9 65.6 54.3 60.3 66.3 54.3 56.9 60.4 53.6

With children under 18 years

1996............ 81.1 94.5 70.8 81.8 95.3 70.7 78.5 89.7 73.3

1997............ 81.8 94.6 71.9 82.4 95.4 71.7 79.6 89.6 75.0

1998............ 81.8 94.6 71.8 82.2 95.3 71.3 81.0 90.4 76.7

1999............ 82.0 94.6 72.2 82.3 95.4 71.5 82.0 89.3 78.5

2000............ 82.1 94.7 72.3 82.3 95.3 71.6 82.2 90.3 78.2

2001............ 81.9 94.6 72.1 82.2 95.3 71.5 81.8 89.7 77.9

2002............ 81.6 94.3 71.8 81.9 94.8 71.1 81.9 90.3 77.7

2003............ 81.2 94.1 71.1 81.4 94.7 70.3 81.5 89.7 77.5

2004............ 80.7 94.1 70.4 81.1 94.8 69.8 80.5 88.4 76.5

2005............ 80.7 94.1 70.5 81.1 94.8 69.8 80.4 88.7 76.3

2006............ 81.0 94.1 70.9 81.4 94.9 70.2 80.5 88.1 76.9

2007............ 81.4 94.3 71.0 81.7 95.0 70.3 81.2 89.6 76.6

2008............ 81.5 94.1 71.4 81.8 94.8 70.8 81.1 89.7 76.7

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger

1996............ 84.5 93.5 77.5 85.3 94.4 77.7 81.3 87.9 78.1

1997............ 84.7 93.6 77.9 85.4 94.4 78.0 81.8 88.1 78.7

1998............ 84.5 93.5 77.6 84.9 94.2 77.3 83.1 88.2 80.6

1999............ 84.8 93.4 78.2 85.4 94.4 78.1 83.2 86.7 81.4

2000............ 85.1 93.5 78.7 85.7 94.3 78.6 83.3 87.8 81.0

2001............ 85.0 93.6 78.3 85.5 94.5 78.1 83.3 87.5 81.1

2002............ 84.8 93.3 78.2 85.1 94.0 77.8 84.3 89.2 81.8

2003............ 84.5 93.1 77.8 84.7 93.7 77.3 84.0 88.0 82.1

2004............ 84.1 93.1 77.3 84.5 93.9 76.9 82.7 86.3 80.9

2005............ 83.7 93.0 76.5 84.1 93.8 76.3 82.4 86.9 80.2

2006............ 83.8 93.1 76.7 84.3 94.0 76.3 82.4 85.7 80.8

2007............ 84.3 93.2 77.2 84.6 94.0 76.7 83.7 87.7 81.5

2008............ 84.3 93.1 77.3 84.7 93.9 77.0 83.1 87.8 80.6

See note at end of table.

Year

29

30
Table 9. Labor force participation rates by presence and age of youngest child, sex, race, and Hispanic or

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2008 annual averages—Continued

(Percent)

Both sexes White Black or African American

Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women

With children under 6 years

1996............ 77.2 95.6 63.2 77.9 96.3 62.7 75.4 91.9 68.2

1997............ 78.3 95.8 64.8 78.8 96.5 64.1 77.1 91.3 70.8

1998............ 78.6 96.1 64.9 78.9 96.6 64.1 78.5 93.0 72.0

1999............ 78.5 96.1 64.8 78.5 96.7 63.4 80.6 92.5 74.9

2000............ 78.4 96.1 64.6 78.2 96.5 63.0 80.9 93.3 74.9

2001............ 78.1 95.8 64.3 78.1 96.2 63.0 80.0 92.5 73.9

2002............ 77.7 95.5 63.7 77.9 95.9 62.7 78.9 91.8 72.5

2003............ 77.2 95.4 62.8 77.3 96.0 61.5 78.2 92.1 71.8

2004............ 76.5 95.4 61.8 76.8 96.0 60.7 77.6 91.1 70.8

2005............ 77.0 95.4 62.8 77.2 96.1 61.6 77.8 91.2 71.4

2006............ 77.5 95.4 63.5 77.7 95.9 62.5 78.0 91.1 71.8

2007............ 77.8 95.7 63.3 77.9 96.2 62.3 77.9 92.3 70.4

2008............ 77.9 95.4 64.0 78.0 95.9 62.9 78.6 92.4 71.7

With children under 3 years

1996............ 75.4 95.8 59.4 76.2 96.5 59.2 72.1 92.2 63.1

1997............ 76.6 95.9 61.4 77.5 96.5 61.4 73.6 92.1 65.1

1998............ 77.2 96.2 61.9 77.7 96.7 61.5 75.8 93.2 67.5

1999............ 77.0 96.4 61.5 77.0 97.0 60.1 78.7 92.4 72.0

2000............ 76.3 96.4 60.4 76.3 96.7 59.0 77.6 93.6 69.8

2001............ 76.0 95.9 60.2 76.1 96.4 58.9 77.3 92.6 69.7

2002............ 76.1 95.8 60.2 76.3 96.2 59.2 76.9 93.2 68.6

2003............ 75.2 95.7 58.9 75.6 96.2 57.8 74.7 91.4 67.0

2004............ 74.4 95.7 57.5 74.9 96.3 56.8 74.7 91.0 66.4

2005............ 74.8 95.5 58.4 75.1 96.4 57.2 74.7 90.6 67.0

2006............ 75.8 95.5 60.2 76.2 96.2 59.3 75.0 90.6 67.2

2007............ 75.6 95.9 59.2 76.0 96.4 58.3 74.8 92.8 65.7

2008............ 76.1 95.7 60.4 76.4 96.2 59.4 75.0 92.4 66.7

See note at end of table.

Year

3031
Table 9. Labor force participation rates by presence and age of youngest child, sex, race, and Hispanic or

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2008 annual averages—Continued

(Percent)

Asian Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total Men Women Total Men Women

With no children under 18 years

1996................................. - - - 61.6 71.3 50.5

1997................................. - - - 62.6 72.1 51.4

1998................................. - - - 62.8 72.1 51.7

1999................................. - - - 62.5 71.6 52.2

2000................................. - - - 63.7 73.2 52.6

2001................................. - - - 63.0 72.4 52.6

2002................................. 61.2 67.8 55.0 63.9 72.7 53.2

2003................................. 59.7 66.4 53.7 62.8 72.1 51.5

2004................................. 59.1 65.0 53.5 63.5 72.6 52.5

2005................................. 59.9 66.0 54.3 63.0 72.1 51.9

2006................................. 60.0 66.2 54.1 63.7 73.0 52.2

2007................................. 60.2 66.6 54.0 63.7 72.8 52.4

2008................................. 60.3 66.6 54.4 63.5 72.7 52.1

With children under 18 years

1996................................. - - - 72.3 93.7 56.7

1997................................. - - - 74.0 93.4 59.6

1998................................. - - - 74.2 92.9 60.2

1999................................. - - - 74.6 93.8 60.3

2000................................. - - - 75.7 93.8 62.0

2001................................. - - - 75.7 93.6 62.0

2002................................. 78.3 93.2 66.6 75.8 93.2 62.7

2003................................. 78.9 93.5 67.0 75.1 93.4 61.2

2004................................. 77.9 93.8 64.9 74.9 93.9 60.4

2005................................. 77.9 93.1 65.6 74.5 94.2 59.6

2006................................. 78.3 93.2 66.3 75.3 94.2 60.9

2007................................. 78.9 93.1 67.1 76.5 94.8 61.4

2008................................. 80.0 93.0 68.8 76.4 94.4 61.4

With children 6 to 17 years, none younger

1996................................. - - - 77.3 92.3 66.7

1997................................. - - - 77.6 91.2 68.2

1998................................. - - - 77.5 90.6 68.1

1999................................. - - - 78.6 91.2 69.5

2000................................. - - - 79.3 91.5 70.5

2001................................. - - - 79.6 91.7 70.9

2002................................. 82.6 91.6 75.7 79.0 91.1 70.2

2003................................. 82.9 93.5 74.3 78.8 91.5 69.4

2004................................. 82.6 93.8 73.4 79.6 92.8 70.2

2005................................. 80.7 92.3 71.2 78.8 92.9 68.7

2006................................. 80.8 91.8 72.0 79.1 92.6 69.4

2007................................. 81.8 91.7 73.6 80.5 93.1 70.4

2008................................. 82.7 91.8 74.9 80.4 93.2 70.0

See note at end of table.

Year

3132
Table 9. Labor force participation rates by presence and age of youngest child, sex, race, and Hispanic or

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2008 annual averages—Continued

(Percent)

Asian Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total Men Women Total Men Women

With children under 6 years

1996................................. - - - 68.5 94.8 48.7

1997................................. - - - 70.9 95.1 52.3

1998................................. - - - 71.3 94.9 53.0

1999................................. - - - 71.2 95.9 52.1

2000................................. - - - 72.5 95.7 54.5

2001................................. - - - 72.2 95.2 53.8

2002................................. 73.5 94.8 56.3 73.1 94.8 56.1

2003................................. 74.2 93.4 58.5 71.9 94.9 53.4

2004................................. 73.1 93.8 56.0 70.6 94.8 51.2

2005................................. 74.9 94.0 59.3 70.6 95.4 50.9

2006................................. 75.6 94.8 59.9 71.7 95.6 52.7

2007................................. 75.8 94.8 59.9 72.9 96.1 53.0

2008................................. 77.1 94.3 61.9 72.7 95.5 53.0

With children under 3 years

1996................................. - - - 66.2 94.6 44.7

1997................................. - - - 68.6 94.6 48.0

1998................................. - - - 69.5 95.0 48.9

1999................................. - - - 68.8 96.2 47.4

2000................................. - - - 70.4 96.2 50.0

2001................................. - - - 69.7 95.3 48.7

2002................................. 72.1 95.4 53.5 70.3 95.1 50.3

2003................................. 73.0 94.5 55.1 69.5 95.2 47.9

2004................................. 70.2 93.8 50.4 68.2 95.2 46.0

2005................................. 72.4 92.9 55.8 67.7 96.0 45.0

2006................................. 73.4 94.2 56.8 69.5 95.9 48.6

2007................................. 73.6 94.2 56.2 69.9 96.0 47.6

2008................................. 75.9 94.4 59.5 70.3 95.9 47.9

Year

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for white, black or African American, and Asian race groups include persons who selected

that race group only; previously, multiracial persons were included in the group they identified as the main race. Asian estimates for

2000–02 include Asian and Pacific Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asians are a separate category. Persons whose ethnicity is identified

as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Children are "own" children and include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted

children. Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children. Dash indicates data not

available.

3233
Table 10. Unemployment rates by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1972–2008 annual averages

(Percent)

White Asian Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women

1972....... 5.6 5.0 6.6 5.1 4.5 5.9 10.4 9.3 11.8 -- -- -- -- -- --

1973...... 4.9 4.2 6.0 4.3 3.8 5.3 9.4 8.0 11.1 -- -- -- 7.5 6.7 9.0

1974...... 5.6 4.9 6.7 5.0 4.4 6.1 10.5 9.8 11.3 -- -- -- 8.1 7.3 9.4

1975...... 8.5 7.9 9.3 7.8 7.2 8.6 14.8 14.8 14.8 -- -- -- 12.2 11.4 13.5

1976...... 7.7 7.1 8.6 7.0 6.4 7.9 14.0 13.7 14.3 -- -- -- 11.5 10.8 12.7

1977...... 7.1 6.3 8.2 6.2 5.5 7.3 14.0 13.3 14.9 -- -- -- 10.1 9.0 11.9

1978...... 6.1 5.3 7.2 5.2 4.6 6.2 12.8 11.8 13.8 -- -- -- 9.1 7.7 11.3

1979...... 5.8 5.1 6.8 5.1 4.5 5.9 12.3 11.4 13.3 -- -- -- 8.3 7.0 10.3

1980...... 7.1 6.9 7.4 6.3 6.1 6.5 14.3 14.5 14.0 -- -- -- 10.1 9.7 10.7

1981...... 7.6 7.4 7.9 6.7 6.5 6.9 15.6 15.7 15.6 -- -- -- 10.4 10.2 10.8

1982...... 9.7 9.9 9.4 8.6 8.8 8.3 18.9 20.1 17.6 -- -- -- 13.8 13.6 14.1

1983...... 9.6 9.9 9.2 8.4 8.8 7.9 19.5 20.3 18.6 -- -- -- 13.7 13.6 13.8

1984...... 7.5 7.4 7.6 6.5 6.4 6.5 15.9 16.4 15.4 -- -- -- 10.7 10.5 11.1

1985...... 7.2 7.0 7.4 6.2 6.1 6.4 15.1 15.3 14.9 -- -- -- 10.5 10.2 11.0

1986...... 7.0 6.9 7.1 6.0 6.0 6.1 14.5 14.8 14.2 -- -- -- 10.6 10.5 10.8

1987...... 6.2 6.2 6.2 5.3 5.4 5.2 13.0 12.7 13.2 -- -- -- 8.8 8.7 8.9

1988...... 5.5 5.5 5.6 4.7 4.7 4.7 11.7 11.7 11.7 -- -- -- 8.2 8.1 8.3

1989...... 5.3 5.2 5.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 11.4 11.5 11.4 -- -- -- 8.0 7.6 8.8

1990...... 5.6 5.7 5.5 4.8 4.9 4.7 11.4 11.9 10.9 -- -- -- 8.2 8.0 8.4

1991...... 6.8 7.2 6.4 6.1 6.5 5.6 12.5 13.0 12.0 -- -- -- 10.0 10.3 9.6

1992...... 7.5 7.9 7.0 6.6 7.0 6.1 14.2 15.2 13.2 -- -- -- 11.6 11.7 11.4

1993...... 6.9 7.2 6.6 6.1 6.3 5.7 13.0 13.8 12.1 -- -- -- 10.8 10.6 11.0

1994...... 6.1 6.2 6.0 5.3 5.4 5.2 11.5 12.0 11.0 -- -- -- 9.9 9.4 10.7

1995...... 5.6 5.6 5.6 4.9 4.9 4.8 10.4 10.6 10.2 -- -- -- 9.3 8.8 10.0

1996...... 5.4 5.4 5.4 4.7 4.7 4.7 10.5 11.1 10.0 -- -- -- 8.9 7.9 10.2

1997...... 4.9 4.9 5.0 4.2 4.2 4.2 10.0 10.2 9.9 -- -- -- 7.7 7.0 8.9

1998...... 4.5 4.4 4.6 3.9 3.9 3.9 8.9 8.9 9.0 -- -- -- 7.2 6.4 8.2

1999...... 4.2 4.1 4.3 3.7 3.6 3.8 8.0 8.2 7.8 -- -- -- 6.4 5.6 7.6

2000...... 4.0 3.9 4.1 3.5 3.4 3.6 7.6 8.0 7.1 3.6 3.6 3.6 5.7 5.0 6.8

2001...... 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.2 4.2 4.1 8.6 9.3 8.1 4.5 4.5 4.4 6.6 5.9 7.5

2002...... 5.8 5.9 5.6 5.1 5.3 4.9 10.2 10.7 9.8 5.9 6.1 5.7 7.5 7.2 8.0

2003...... 6.0 6.3 5.7 5.2 5.6 4.8 10.8 11.6 10.2 6.0 6.2 5.7 7.7 7.2 8.4

2004...... 5.5 5.6 5.4 4.8 5.0 4.7 10.4 11.1 9.8 4.4 4.5 4.3 7.0 6.5 7.6

2005...... 5.1 5.1 5.1 4.4 4.4 4.4 10.0 10.5 9.5 4.0 4.0 3.9 6.0 5.4 6.9

2006...... 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.0 4.0 4.0 8.9 9.5 8.4 3.0 3.0 3.1 5.2 4.8 5.9

2007...... 4.6 4.7 4.5 4.1 4.2 4.0 8.3 9.1 7.5 3.2 3.1 3.4 5.6 5.3 6.1

2008...... 5.8 6.1 5.4 5.2 5.5 4.9 10.1 11.4 8.9 4.0 4.1 3.7 7.6 7.6 7.7

Total Black or African American

Year

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for white, black or African American, and Asian race groups include persons who selected that race

group only; previously, multiracial persons were included in the group they identified as the main race. Asian estimates for 2000–02 include

Asian and Pacific Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asians are a separate category. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino

may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available.

33

34
Table 11. Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

2008 annual averages

Duration of unemployment Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and over (In thousands)................... 8,924 6,509 1,788 285 1,678 

 Percent............................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Less than 5 weeks........................................................ 32.8 35.0 25.3 30.6 36.8 

5 to 14 weeks............................................................... 31.4 31.4 31.3 31.2 31.2 

15 to 26 weeks................................................................. 16.0 15.5 17.7 16.3 14.7 

27 weeks and over....................................................... 19.7 18.0 25.7 21.9 17.3 

Average (mean) duration, in weeks................................. 17.9 16.7 21.7 20.4 16.0 

Median duration, in weeks............................................. 9.4 8.8 12.1 10.2 8.4 

 Men, 16 years and over (In thousands)...................... 5,033 3,727 949 160 1,007 

 Percent............................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Less than 5 weeks........................................................ 33.3 35.4 25.8 28.6 38.4 

5 to 14 weeks............................................................... 30.5 30.6 29.8 31.4 30.3 

15 to 26 weeks................................................................. 16.1 15.8 17.5 16.9 14.7 

27 weeks and over....................................................... 20.1 18.2 26.9 23.1 16.6 

Average (mean) duration, in weeks................................. 18.0 16.8 22.2 20.9 15.3 

Median duration, in weeks............................................. 9.5 8.8 12.4 10.8 8.1 

 Women, 16 years and over (In thousands)................ 3,891 2,782 839 125 672 

 Percent............................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Less than 5 weeks........................................................ 32.3 34.5 24.7 33.2 34.3 

5 to 14 weeks............................................................... 32.6 32.5 33.0 31.0 32.7 

15 to 26 weeks................................................................. 15.8 15.2 17.9 15.5 14.6 

27 weeks and over....................................................... 19.3 17.8 24.4 20.2 18.4 

Average (mean) duration, in weeks................................. 17.7 16.6 21.1 19.7 16.9 

Median duration, in weeks............................................. 9.3 8.7 11.7 9.5 8.7 

 NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

34

35
Table 12. Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

2008 annual averages

Reason for unemployment Total White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and over (In thousands)................... 8,924 6,509 1,788 285 1,678 

 Percent............................................................ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs......... 53.7 54.9 50.6 48.9 55.8 

 On temporary layoff....................................................... 13.2 14.9 7.9 6.6 15.3 

 Not on temporary layoff.................................................... 40.5 40.1 42.7 42.3 40.5 

 Permanent job losers................................................. 29.9 29.9 30.1 33.7 26.2 

 Persons who completed temporary jobs......................... 10.6 10.1 12.6 8.6 14.3 

Job leavers...................................................................... 10.0 10.4 8.2 11.7 8.6 

Reentrants......................................................................... 27.7 26.7 31.2 27.9 25.8 

New entrants...................................................................... 8.6 8.0 9.9 11.4 9.8 

 Men, 16 years and over (In thousands)................... 5,033 3,727 949 160 1,007 

 Percent............................................................ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs......... 60.7 62.5 55.1 57.5 65.2 

 On temporary layoff....................................................... 15.9 18.0 9.2 6.9 18.7 

 Not on temporary layoff.................................................... 44.8 44.5 45.9 51.3 46.6 

 Permanent job losers................................................. 32.3 32.2 32.1 42.5 29.0 

 Persons who completed temporary jobs......................... 12.5 12.4 13.9 8.8 17.6 

Job leavers...................................................................... 9.1 9.3 7.8 11.3 8.0 

Reentrants......................................................................... 22.4 21.2 26.8 20.6 19.3 

New entrants...................................................................... 7.8 6.9 10.3 10.6 7.4 

 Women, 16 years and over (In thousands) ................ 3,891 2,782 839 125 672 

 Percent............................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs......... 44.6 44.8 45.4 37.6 41.7 

 On temporary layoff............. ff....................................................... .......................................... 9.7 10.7 6.6 6.4 10.3 9.7 10.7 6.6 6.4 10.3

 Not on temporary layoff.................................................... 34.9 34.0 39.0 31.2 31.4 

 Permanent job losers................................................. 26.8 26.9 27.8 22.4 22.0 

 Persons who completed temporary jobs......................... 8.1 7.2 11.2 8.0 9.4 

Job leavers...................................................................... 11.3 11.8 8.8 12.0 9.4 

Reentrants......................................................................... 34.6 34.0 36.4 37.6 35.7 

New entrants...................................................................... 9.6 9.4 9.4 12.8 13.2 

 NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

35

36
Table 13. Persons in the labor force and not in the labor force by selected characteristics, 2008 annual averages

(Number in thousands)

Not in the labor force

Race, age, sex, Civilian Total Want a job Do

and labor Searched for work in the prior year not

Hispanic origin force 1 Total 2 want

Total job

now

Total

Total, 16 years and over................... 154,287 79,501 4,983 2,157 1,614 462 1,152 74,519 

 16 to 24 years................................. 22,032 15,452 1,733 819 568 145 422 13,719 

 25 to 54 years................................. 104,396 21,255 2,168 1,023 780 226 554 19,087 

 55 years and over........................ 27,858 42,794 1,082 314 266 90 176 41,712 

Men, 16 years and over.................... 82,520 30,593 2,228 1,041 827 282 545 28,365 

 16 to 24 years................................. 11,538 7,372 885 437 314 93 221 6,487 

 25 to 54 years................................. 56,202 5,876 850 449 376 138 238 5,027 

 55 years and over........................ 14,780 17,345 494 156 137 51 86 16,851 

Women, 16 years and over.............. 71,767 48,908 2,755 1,115 787 180 607 46,154 

 16 to 24 years................................. 10,494 8,080 848 383 254 52 201 7,233 

 25 to 54 years................................. 48,195 15,379 1,319 574 404 88 315 14,060 

 55 years and over......................... 13,078 25,449 588 158 129 39 90 24,861 

White

Total, 16 years and over................... 125,635 63,905 3,596 1,501 1,097 293 804 60,309 

 16 to 24 years................................. 17,786 11,212 1,216 559 370 84 285 9,996 

 25 to 54 years................................. 83,922 16,346 1,531 701 525 143 382 14,815 

 55 years and over......................... 23,927 36,347 850 241 203 66 137 35,497 

Men, 16 years and over.................... 68,351 24,374 1,594 720 559 176 383 22,780 

 16 to 24 years................................. 9,394 5,347 621 298 203 53 150 4,726 

 25 to 54 years................................. 46,056 4,258 580 300 248 85 163 3,678 

 55 years and over........................ 12,901 14,769 393 122 108 38 70 14,376 

Women, 16 years and over.............. 57,284 39,531 2,002 781 538 117 421 37,529 

 16 to 24 years................................. 8,392 5,865 595 261 166 31 135 5,270 

 25 to 54 years................................. 37,866 12,088 951 401 277 58 219 11,137 

 55 years and over........................ 11,026 21,578 457 119 95 28 67 21,121 

Black or African American

Total, 16 years and over................... 17,740 10,103 964 466 382 129 253 9,139 

 16 to 24 years................................. 2,767 2,822 369 192 153 51 102 2,453 

 25 to 54 years................................. 12,589 3,054 427 223 184 61 123 2,627 

 55 years and over........................ 2,384 4,227 168 50 45 16 28 4,059 

Men, 16 years and over.................... 8,347 4,169 438 225 195 81 114 3,731 

 16 to 24 years................................. 1,369 1,337 180 99 83 34 49 1,157 

 25 to 54 years................................. 5,901 1,146 188 104 92 40 53 958 

 55 years and over........................ 1,077 1,686 70 22 20 8 12 1,616 

Women, 16 years and over.............. 9,393 5,934 526 241 187 48 139 5,408 

 16 to 24 years................................. 1,399 1,485 189 94 71 18 53 1,296 

 25 to 54 years................................. 6,688 1,909 239 119 92 22 70 1,670 

 55 years and over......................... 1,307 2,540 98 29 25 9 16 2,443 

See notes at end of table. 

Available for work now 3

Total Discouraged

workers 4 Other

37 36
Table 13. Persons in the labor force and not in the labor force by selected characteristics,

 2008 annual averages—Continued

(Number in thousands)

Not in the labor force

Race, age, sex, Civilian Total Want a job Do

and labor Searched for work in the prior year not

Hispanic origin force 1 Total 2 want

Total job

now

Asians

Total, 16 years and over................... 7,202 3,549 213 91 66 21 45 3,336 

 16 to 24 years................................. 683 819 54 24 15 4 11 765 

 25 to 54 years................................. 5,408 1,207 116 51 38 11 27 1,091 

 55 years and over........................ 1,110 1,523 43 16 13 6 7 1,480 

Men, 16 years and over.................... 3,852 1,260 102 50 38 13 25 1,158 

 16 to 24 years................................. 353 400 32 14 10 3 7 368 

 25 to 54 years................................. 2,921 268 48 27 21 7 14 220 

 55 years and over........................ 578 592 22 9 7 4 3 570 

Women, 16 years and over.............. 3,350 2,289 111 41 28 7 20 2,178 

 16 to 24 years................................. 330 419 22 9 5 1 4 397 

 25 to 54 years................................. 2,488 938 68 25 16 4 12 870 

 55 years and over........................ 532 932 21 7 6 2 4 911 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total, 16 years and over................... 22,024 10,116 831 339 258 77 181 9,286 

 16 to 24 years................................. 3,789 2,873 334 151 115 31 84 2,539 

 25 to 54 years................................. 16,117 3,913 394 158 118 40 78 3,519 

 55 years and over....................... 2,118 3,331 103 29 26 7 19 3,228 

Men, 16 years and over.................... 13,255 3,270 315 145 118 41 77 2,954 

 16 to 24 years................................. 2,220 1,224 148 71 55 18 38 1,075 

 25 to 54 years................................. 9,813 781 124 59 49 20 29 658 

 55 years and over........................ 1,222 1,264 43 15 14 4 11 1,221 

Women, 16 years and over.............. 8,769 6,847 516 193 140 36 104 6,331 

 16 to 24 years................................. 1,569 1,649 186 80 59 13 47 1,463 

 25 to 54 years................................. 6,304 3,131 270 99 69 20 49 2,862 

 55 years and over....................... 896 2,066 60 14 12 4 8 2,006 

1

 The sum of the employed plus the unemployed.

2

 Includes those who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for such reasons as school or family 

responsibilities, ill health, and transportation problems, as well as a small number for whom reason for nonparticipation

was not determined.

3 Refers to persons who have searched for work during the prior 12 months (but not the prior 4 weeks) and were available 

to take a job during the reference week, also are referred to as "marginally attached to the labor force."

4

 Includes the following reasons for not actively looking for work in the prior 4 weeks: Thinks no work available, 

could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or old, and other types of discrimination.

 NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

Other

Available for work now 3

Total Discouraged

workers 4

37 38
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race, and

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages

Years Total White Black or African 

American Asian Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity

Total, both sexes

1979..................... $241 $248 $199 — $194

1980..................... 262 269 212 — 209

1981..................... 284 291 235 — 223

1982..................... 302 310 245 — 240

1983..................... 313 320 261 — 250

1984..................... 326 336 269 — 259

1985..................... 344 356 277 — 270

1986..................... 359 371 291 — 277

1987..................... 374 384 301 — 285

1988..................... 385 395 314 — 290

1989..................... 399 409 319 — 298

1990..................... 412 424 329 — 304

1991..................... 426 442 348 — 312

1992..................... 440 458 357 — 321

1993..................... 459 475 369 — 331

1994..................... 467 484 371 — 324

1995..................... 479 494 383 — 329

1996..................... 490 506 387 — 339

1997..................... 503 519 400 — 351

1998..................... 523 545 426 — 370

1999..................... 549 573 445 — 385

2000..................... 576 590 474 $615 399

2001..................... 596 610 491 639 417

2002..................... 608 623 498 658 424

2003..................... 620 636 514 693 440

2004..................... 638 657 525 708 456

2005..................... 651 672 520 753 471

2006..................... 671 690 554 784 486

2007..................... 695 716 569 830 503

2008..................... 722 742 589 861 529

See note at end of table.

38

39
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages–Continued

Years Total White Black or African 

American Asian Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity

Men

1979..................... $292 $298 $227 — $219

1980..................... 313 320 244 — 234

1981..................... 340 350 268 — 251

1982..................... 364 375 278 — 269

1983..................... 379 387 294 — 274

1984..................... 392 401 303 — 287

1985..................... 407 418 305 — 296

1986..................... 419 433 319 — 299

1987..................... 434 450 327 — 306

1988..................... 449 465 348 — 308

1989..................... 468 482 348 — 315

1990..................... 481 494 361 — 318

1991..................... 493 506 375 — 323

1992..................... 501 514 380 — 339

1993..................... 510 524 392 — 346

1994..................... 522 547 400 — 343

1995..................... 538 566 411 — 350

1996..................... 557 580 412 — 356

1997..................... 579 595 432 — 371

1998..................... 598 615 468 — 390

1999..................... 618 638 488 — 406

2000..................... 641 662 510 $685 417

2001..................... 670 689 529 732 440

2002..................... 679 702 524 756 451

2003..................... 695 715 555 772 464

2004..................... 713 732 569 802 480

2005..................... 722 743 559 825 489

2006..................... 743 761 591 882 505

2007..................... 766 788 600 936 520

2008..................... 798 825 620 966 559

See note at end of table.

40 39
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

Years Total White Black or African 

American Asian Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity

Women

1979..................... $182 $184 $169 — $157

1980..................... 201 203 185 — 172

1981..................... 219 221 206 — 190

1982..................... 239 242 217 — 203

1983..................... 252 254 232 — 215

1984..................... 265 268 241 — 223

1985..................... 277 281 252 — 230

1986..................... 291 294 264 — 241

1987..................... 303 307 276 — 251

1988..................... 315 318 288 — 260

1989..................... 328 334 301 — 269

1990..................... 346 353 308 — 278

1991..................... 366 373 323 — 292

1992..................... 380 387 335 — 302

1993..................... 393 401 348 — 313

1994..................... 399 408 346 — 305

1995..................... 406 415 355 — 305

1996..................... 418 428 362 — 316

1997..................... 431 444 375 — 318

1998..................... 456 468 400 — 337

1999..................... 473 483 409 — 348

2000..................... 493 502 429 $547 366

2001..................... 512 522 454 563 388

2002..................... 529 547 473 566 397

2003..................... 552 567 491 598 410

2004..................... 573 584 505 613 419

2005..................... 585 596 499 665 429

2006..................... 600 609 519 699 440

2007..................... 614 626 533 731 473

2008..................... 638 654 554 753 501

See note at end of table.

40 41
Table 14. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2008 annual averages—Continued

Years Total White Black or African 

American Asian Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity

Women's earnings as a percent of men's

1979..................... 62.3 61.7 74.4 — 71.7

1980..................... 64.2 63.4 75.8 — 73.5

1981..................... 64.4 63.1 76.9 — 75.7

1982..................... 65.7 64.5 78.1 — 75.5

1983..................... 66.5 65.6 78.9 — 78.5

1984..................... 67.6 66.8 79.5 — 77.7

1985..................... 68.1 67.2 82.6 — 77.7

1986..................... 69.5 67.9 82.8 — 80.6

1987..................... 69.8 68.2 84.4 — 82.0

1988..................... 70.2 68.4 82.8 — 84.4

1989..................... 70.1 69.3 86.5 — 85.4

1990..................... 71.9 71.5 85.3 — 87.4

1991..................... 74.2 73.7 86.1 — 90.4

1992..................... 75.8 75.3 88.2 — 89.1

1993..................... 77.1 76.5 88.8 — 90.5

1994..................... 76.4 74.6 86.5 — 88.9

1995..................... 75.5 73.3 86.4 — 87.1

1996..................... 75.0 73.8 87.9 — 88.8

1997..................... 74.4 74.6 86.8 — 85.7

1998..................... 76.3 76.1 85.5 — 86.4

1999..................... 76.5 75.7 83.8 — 85.7

2000..................... 76.9 75.8 84.1 79.9 87.8

2001..................... 76.4 75.8 85.8 76.9 88.2

2002..................... 77.9 77.9 90.3 74.9 88.0

2003..................... 79.4 79.3 88.5 77.5 88.4

2004..................... 80.4 79.8 88.8 76.4 87.3

2005..................... 81.0 80.2 89.3 80.6 87.7

2006..................... 80.8 80.0 87.8 79.3 87.1

2007..................... 80.2 79.4 88.8 78.1 91.0

2008..................... 79.9 79.3 89.4 78.0 89.6

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for white, black or African American, and Asian race groups include persons who

selected that race group only; previously, multiracial persons were included in the group they identified as the main race.

Asian estimates for 2000–02 include Asian and Pacific Islanders; beginning in 2003, Asians are a separate category.

Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available.

41

42
Table 15. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by educational

attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

Educational attainment, race, and Hispanic or Latino 

ethnicity Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 25 years and over............................................ $761 $784 $611 $895 $568 

Less than a high school diploma.................................... 453 466 408 419 422 

High school graduates, no college1

................................. 618 643 515 568 553 

Some college, no degree................................................ 699 723 600 689 640 

Associate degree............................................................ 757 782 623 706 704 

Bachelor's degree and higher 2

....................................... 1,115 1,133 912 1,167 945 

 Men, 25 years and over............................................ 857 883 654 999 591 

Less than a high school diploma.................................... 497 502 449 485 472 

High school graduates, no college1

................................. 709 738 581 600 603 

Some college, no degree................................................ 803 836 663 725 696 

Associate degree............................................................ 883 914 668 770 795 

Bachelor's degree and higher 2

....................................... 1,285 1,329 966 1,349 1,059 

 Women, 25 years and over....................................... 670 688 582 771 518 

Less than a high school diploma.................................... 378 378 382 383 360 

High school graduates, no college1

................................. 520 535 480 521 479 

Some college, no degree................................................ 611 621 567 640 585 

Associate degree............................................................ 661 678 592 651 628 

Bachelor's degree and higher 2

....................................... 955 961 862 996 852 

 1 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.

2 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.

NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

42

43
Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation,

sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages

Occupation Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and over............................................................ $722 $742 $589 $861 $529

Management, professional, and related occupations........................... 1,025 1,043 814 1,233 873

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations............ 1,128 1,147 866 1,250 906

 Management occupations......................................................... 1,204 1,231 899 1,442 941

 Business and financial operations occupations.............................. 974 998 823 1,024 857

 Professional and related occupations............................................. 980 989 780 1,225 855

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 1,242 1,238 957 1,406 1,124

 Architecture and engineering occupations..................................... 1,244 1,252 942 1,415 1,096

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. 1,035 1,069 785 1,028 944

 Community and social services occupations................................. 788 808 708 956 735

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1,174 1,231 857 1,272 908

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 866 881 727 958 776

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 882 904 743 846 797

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................... 962 966 770 1,139 835

Service occupations..................................................................... 475 482 447 488 412

 Healthcare support occupations................................................... 465 473 433 540 453

 Protective service occupations...................................................... 748 794 599 873 716

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 402 401 388 467 395

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 431 434 422 473 396

 Personal care and service occupations........................................... 475 481 462 460 420

Sales and office occupations......................................................... 614 623 557 654 542

 Sales and related occupations...................................................... 656 692 507 653 524

 Office and administrative support occupations................................. 601 604 578 654 549

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations............ 702 709 635 746 534

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................................... 420 432 341 365 371

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 688 696 599 697 546

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............................. 774 785 688 792 626

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............... 594 610 521 531 485

 Production occupations............................................................... 595 611 520 521 481

 Transportation and material moving occupations............................... 593 609 521 561 492

See note at end of table.

43

44
Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation,

 sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages—Continued

Occupation Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Men, 16 years and over............................................................... $798 $825 $620 $966 $559

Management, professional, and related occupations........................... 1,238 1,255 892 1,403 1,002

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations............ 1,343 1,363 913 1,440 992

 Management occupations......................................................... 1,384 1,403 976 1,556 998

 Business and financial operations occupations.............................. 1,167 1,220 879 1,170 977

 Professional and related occupations............................................. 1,169 1,182 881 1,387 1,012

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 1,320 1,295 1,052 1,446 1,155

 Architecture and engineering occupations..................................... 1,286 1,299 952 1,469 1,120

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. 1,156 1,191 732 1,342 1,081

 Community and social services occupations................................. 860 890 686 969 765

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1,696 1,739 1,072 1,159 1,448

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 1,020 1,035 888 1,135 980

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 951 974 804 999 847

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................... 1,210 1,236 926 1,454 968

Service occupations..................................................................... 537 551 500 518 448

 Healthcare support occupations................................................... 512 506 510 676 452

 Protective service occupations...................................................... 794 834 651 1,076 760

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 432 430 406 474 417

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 488 492 460 500 416

 Personal care and service occupations........................................... 591 606 558 527 520

Sales and office occupations......................................................... 733 758 592 705 591

 Sales and related occupations...................................................... 796 828 587 748 642

 Office and administrative support occupations................................. 651 671 594 658 534

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations............ 705 712 630 766 541

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................................... 427 441 327 367 380

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 688 695 585 700 544

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............................. 774 785 681 803 623

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............... 637 658 559 585 514

 Production occupations............................................................... 659 675 587 588 516

 Transportation and material moving occupations............................... 615 637 525 577 513

See note at end of table.

44 45
Table 16. Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation,

 sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2008 annual averages—Continued

Occupation Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Women, 16 years and over......................................................... $638 $654 $554 $753 $501

Management, professional, and related occupations........................... 892 900 763 1,041 775

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations............ 941 948 838 1,059 821

 Management occupations......................................................... 979 990 868 1,224 832

 Business and financial operations occupations.............................. 885 891 779 982 809

 Professional and related occupations............................................. 867 875 722 1,033 761

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 1,088 1,097 899 1,256 905

 Architecture and engineering occupations..................................... 1,001 1,008 885 1,019 1,036

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. 931 928 859 946 797

 Community and social services occupations................................. 753 759 713 946 718

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 962 965 785 1,460 791

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 818 836 659 876 737

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 777 797 630 773 737

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................... 909 919 729 1,047 777

Service occupations..................................................................... 418 418 418 453 383

 Healthcare support occupations................................................... 459 469 425 506 453

 Protective service occupations...................................................... 594 638 521 606 531

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 376 374 376 423 360

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 383 375 401 420 357

 Personal care and service occupations........................................... 441 450 419 422 388

Sales and office occupations......................................................... 578 581 535 626 519

 Sales and related occupations...................................................... 516 528 439 575 433

 Office and administrative support occupations................................. 590 592 571 653 556

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations............ 607 609 813 525 399

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................................... 392 406 363 363 341

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 747 726 921 223 718

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............................. 779 773 921 678 750

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............... 462 467 441 467 382

 Production occupations............................................................... 464 472 430 470 386

 Transportation and material moving occupations............................... 455 449 488 440 372

 NOTE: Estimates 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. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

45 46
Technical Note

47

The estimates in this report were obtained from the Current 

Population Survey (CPS), a national monthly sample survey 

of approximately 60,000 households that provides a wide 

range of information on the labor force, employment, and 

unemployment. Earnings data are collected from one-fourth 

of the CPS monthly sample. The survey is conducted for the 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census 

Bureau, using a scientifically selected national sample with 

coverage in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. 

Material in this report is in the public domain and, with 

appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. 

This information is available to sensory-impaired individuals 

upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD message 

referral phone number: 1 (800) 877-8339.

Concepts and definitions

Civilian noninstitutional population. Included are persons 

16 years of age and older residing in the 50 States and the 

District of Columbia who are not confined to institutions 

such as nursing homes and prisons, and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces. 

Employed persons. All persons who, during the refer­enc

week, (a) did any work at all (at least 1 hour) as paid employees, worked in their own business, profession, or on their 

own farm, or worked 15 hours or more as unpaid workers in 

an enterprise operated by a member of the family, and (b) all 

those who were not working but who had jobs or busi­nesse

from which they were temporarily absent because of vacation, illness, bad weather, childcare problems, maternity or 

paternity leave, labor-management dispute, job training, or 

other family or personal reasons, whether or not they were 

paid for the time off or were seeking other jobs. 

Unemployed persons. All persons who had no employment 

during the reference week, were available for work (except 

for temporary illness) and had made specific efforts to find 

employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with 

the reference week. Persons who were waiting to be recalled 

to a job from which they had been laid off need not have been 

looking for work to be classified as unemployed. 

Duration of unemployment. This represents the length of time 

(through the current reference week) that persons classified 

as unemployed had been looking for work. For persons on 

layoff, duration of unemployment represents the number of 

full weeks they had been on layoff. Mean duration is the 

arithmetic average computed from single weeks of unemployment; median duration is the midpoint of a distribution 

of weeks of unemployment. 

Reason for unemployment. Unemployment also is categorized according to the status of individuals at the time they 

began to look for work. The reasons for unemployment are 

divided into four major groups: 

(1) Job losers, comprising (a) persons on temporary layoff, who have been given a date to return to work or who 

expect to return within 6 months (persons on layoff need 

not be looking for work to qualify as unemployed), (b) 

permanent job losers, whose employment ended involuntarily and who began looking for work, and (c) persons 

who completed temporary jobs, who began looking for 

work after the jobs ended; 

(2) Job leavers, persons who quit or otherwise terminated their employment voluntarily and immediately began 

looking for work; 

(3) Reentrants, persons who previously worked but who 

were out of the labor force prior to beginning their job 

search; and 

(4) New entrants, persons who had never worked. 

Labor force. This group comprises all persons classified as 

employed or unemployed in accordance with the criteria 

described above. 

Unemployment rate. This represents the number of unemployed persons as a percent of the labor force. 

Participation rate. This represents the proportion of the population that is in the labor force. 

Employment-population ratio. This represents the proportion 

of the population that is employed. 

Not in the labor force. Included in this group are all persons 

in the civilian noninstitutional population who are neither 
48

employed nor unemployed. The marginally attached are 

persons not in the labor force who wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 

12 months (or since the end of their last job if they held 

one within the past 12 months). They were not counted as 

unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 

4 weeks preceding the survey. Discouraged workers are a 

subset of the marginally attached who were not currently 

looking for work specifically because they believed no jobs 

were available for them.

Occupation, industry, and class of worker. This information 

for the employed applies to the job held in the reference 

week. Persons with two or more jobs are classified in the 

job at which they worked the greatest number of hours. The 

unemployed are classified according to their last job. Beginning in 2003, the occupational and industrial classification of 

CPS data is based on the 2002 Census Bureau occupational 

and industrial classification systems, which are derived from 

the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and 

the 2002 North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS). (Consistent data are available back to 2000. Earlier 

data use a different classification system.) 

White, black or African American, and Asian. These are 

terms used to describe the race of persons. Beginning in 

2003, persons in these categories are those who selected 

that race group only. (Previously, persons identified a group 

as their main race.) Persons in the remaining race categories—American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian 

or Other Pacific Islanders, and persons who selected more 

than one race category—are included in the estimates of total 

employment and unemployment but are not shown separately 

because the number of survey respondents is too small to 

develop estimates of sufficient quality. In the enumeration 

process, race is determined by the household respondent. 

More information on the 2003 changes in questions on race 

and Hispanic ethnicity is available on the BLS Web site at 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/rvcps03.pdf.

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. This refers to persons who 

iden­tified themselves in the enumeration process as bein

Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is 

identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. More 

information on the 2003 changes in questions on race and 

Hispanic ethnicity is available online at http://www.bls.

gov/cps/rvcps03.pdf.

Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes 

and other deductions, and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually received (at the main job, in the case 

of multiple jobholders). Earnings reported on a basis other 

than weekly (for example, annual, monthly, hourly) are 

converted to weekly. The term “usual” is as perceived by the 

respon­dent. If the respondent asks for a definition of usual

inter­viewers are instructed to define the term as more tha

half the weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months. Data 

refer to the sole or primary job of wage and salary workers 

(excluding all self-employed persons regardless of whether 

their businesses were incorporated). 

Median earnings. These figures indicate the value that divides the earnings distribution into two equal parts, one part 

having values above the median and the other having values 

below the median. The medians shown in this publication 

are calculated by linear interpolation of the $50 centered 

interval within which each median falls.

Family. A family is defined as a group of two or more persons residing together who are related by birth, marriage, 

or adoption; all such persons are considered as members of 

one family. Families are classified either as married-couple

families or as families maintained by women or men without spouses. A family maintained by a woman or a man is 

one in which the householder is never married, widowed, 

divorced, or separated. 

Children. Data on children refer to one’s own children and 

include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. 

Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, other 

related children, and all unrelated children living in the 

household.

Reliability of the estimates

Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and 

nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than an 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

 All other types of error are referred to as 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 information, and errors made in the collection or 

pro­cessing of data

 For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS 

and information on estimating standard errors, see the Household Data section of “Explanatory Notes and Estimates of 

Error” in Employment and Earnings, on the BLS Web site 

at http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.