24  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

Visual Essay: Payroll Employment

I

n 2011, nonfarm payroll employment experienced its 

largest increase since 2006. Employment increased 

1.8 million, or 1.4 percent, over the year. Within the 

private sector, job gains averaged 175,000 per month, 

compared with an average monthly gain of 104,000 in 

2010. In contrast, government employment losses accelerated and averaged 22,000 per month in 2011, compared 

with 18,000 per month the year before. Every other major 

industry expanded payrolls in 2011, except the information industry, which continued its downward trajectory, 

marking its 11th successive year of job losses.

This visual essay examines employment gains in 2011, 

as measured using data from the Current Employment 

Statistics (CES) survey, which is also known as the 

Establishment Survey. The CES survey is a survey of 

Payroll employment growth accelerates in 2011

Parth A. Tikiwala and Frank Conlon

employers that provides a monthly measure of the 

number of payroll jobs in nonfarm industries, hours, and 

earnings during the pay period that includes the 12th 

of the month. The analysis begins with total nonfarm 

employment and then examines specific industries that 

changed notably over the year. The essay notes hours 

and earnings data and their activity throughout the year 

and compares employment growth with other economic 

indicators.

This essay was prepared by Parth A. Tikiwala and 

Frank Conlon. They are both economists within the 

Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics, 

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Email: Tikiwala.Parth@

bls.gov and phone: (202) 691–5483 and email: Conlon.

Frank@bls.gov and phone: (202) 691–6258.
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

•	 Nonfarm payroll employment, as measured by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey,1 expanded by 1.8 million in 2011, to 132 million.

•	 Job growth, at 1.4 percent, accelerated beyond the 0.8 percent gain seen in 2010.

•	 2011 marked the largest over-a-calendar-year employment growth in magnitude and percent since 2006.

•	 As 2011 ended, however, nonfarm employment was still 5.8 million below its January 2008 peak.

1. Total nonfarm employment, seasonally adjusted, January 2000–December 2011

140,000

138,000

136,000

134,000

132,000

130,000

128,000

126,000

124,000

140,000

138,000

136,000

134,000

132,000

130,000

128,000

126,000

124,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2

Thousands Thousands

NOTE: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.
Payroll Employment in 2011

26  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

–4 

2011 +1.4

2010 +0.8

Total nonfarm

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

2. Percent change over the year in total nonfarm employment by industry, seasonally adjusted

Mining and logging

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation and warehousing

Utilities

Information

Financial activities

Professional and business services

Education and health services

Leisure and hospitality

Other services

Government

Percent

Total nonfarm

2011: +1.4

2010: +0.8

•	 Most major industries in the private sector experienced job growth in 2011.

•	 Over the 12-month period ending in December, the diffusion index for total private employment was 

65.2, compared with 58.5 at the end of 2010. An index value of 50 or more indicates that more industries 

are adding than losing jobs.

•	 With the fastest growing employment relative to all other industries, mining and logging expanded 

payrolls by 12.1 percent.

•	 Annual growth rates among other industries were more moderate, with professional and business services experiencing the second fastest rate of growth, at 3.4 percent.
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

3. Over-the-year change in total nonfarm employment by industry, seasonally adjusted

Mining and logging

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation and warehousing

Utilities

Information

Financial activities

Professional and business services

Education and health services

Leisure and hospitality

Other services

Government

–300 –200 –10

Nonfarm employment (thousands)

Total nonfarm

2011: +1,840

2010: +1,027

•	 Professional and business services experienced the largest increase—584,000 from December 2010 to 

December 2011—in employment level. This gain accounted for nearly one-third of the total nonfarm job 

growth.

•	 Another 22 percent of aggregate nonfarm job growth can be ascribed to the education and health services 

industry, which added 401,000 jobs.

•	 The leisure and hospitality industry also added a large number of jobs—318,000—over the year.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.
Payroll Employment in 2011

28  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

4. Average weekly hours of production and nonsupervisory employees in manufacturing, seasonally adjusted, 

 January 2000–December 2011

2000 2001 2002 2003 

42.5

42.0

41.5

41.0

40.5

40.0

39.5

39.0

42.5

42.0

41.5

41.0

40.5

40.0

39.5

39.0

Hours Hours

• Average weekly hours for production employees in manufacturing rose by 0.3 hour over the year. 

• During the latest recession (December 2007–June 2009), average weekly hours for production employees in 

manufacturing decreased by 1.5 hours, or –3.6 percent. 

• Many other economic indicators ended 2011 on a positive note. For example, the Conference Board Leading Economic Index® for the United States, which uses CES average weekly hours in manufacturing as an 

input, increased by about 3 percent over the year.2

NOTE: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

101

99

97

95

93

91

89

101

99

97

95

93

91

89

2007 

Index

(2007=100)

Index

(2007=100)

5. Index of aggregate weekly hours of all employees in the private sector, seasonally adjusted, January 2007–

 December 2011 

•	 Aggregate weekly hours are the product of the average work week and employment. The index is calculated 

by dividing the monthly aggregates by the annual average of aggregate weekly hours for 2007. As the employment rose and the average weekly hours increased, the index for aggregate weekly hours expanded by 

2.6 percent in 2011.

•	 Average weekly hours for all employees in the private sector increased 0.2 hour, to 34.5 hours in 2011.

•	 The index of aggregate weekly hours for all employees in the private sector rose 2.6 percent in 2011 but was 

still 5.0 percentage points below a peak in January 2008.Changes in the trend of aggregate hours tend to 

coincide with changes in U.S. business cycles.

•	 Average hourly earnings for all employees in the private sector rose 2.1 percent in 2011. However, adjusted 

for inflation, real average hourly earnings decreased 1.0 percent.3

NOTE: Shaded area represents recession as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.
Payroll Employment in 2011

30  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

–100 

6. Over-the-year change in professional and business services employment, seasonally adjusted

Professional and technical services

Legal services

Accounting and bookkeeping services

Architectural and engineering services

Computer systems design and related services

Management and technical consulting services

Management of companies and enterprises

Administrative and waste services

Administrative and support services

Employment services

Temporary help services

Business support services

Services to building and dwellings

Waste management and remediation services

Professional and business services

2011: +584 

NOTES: Major components within professional and businessservices are bolded. Professional and technicalservices and administrative

and waste services include industries not shown separately.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

Employment (thousands)

•	 Employment gains in professional and business services averaged 49,000 per month and totaled 584,000 in 

2011, slightly above the 540,000 gained in 2010. 

•	 The lion’s share of job growth during 2011 was divided among professional and technical services, which 

added more than half, or 51 percent, of the jobs gained in the industry, and administrative and waste services, 

with 42 percent.

•	 This distribution of employment gains contrasts to trends observed in 2010, when administrative and waste 

services led the job growth, contributing 3 out of every 4 jobs added in professional and business services.

•	 This shifting dynamic resulted from a moderation in job growth for temporary help services; the temporary 

help services industry had a 339,000 increase in payroll employment in 2010, followed by less than half that 

number in 2011.
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

15,000

14,500

14,000

13,500

13,000

12,500

12,000

11,500

11,000

10,500

10,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 

15,000

14,500

14,000

13,500

13,000

12,500

12,000

11,500

11,000

10,500

10,000

7. Employment in health care services, seasonally adjusted, January 2000–December 2011 

Thousands Thousands

•	 Employment in the health care industry grew by 297,000, or 2.1 percent, in 2011. This gain is consistent 

with historical job growth in the industry.

•	 Health care services employment tends to be “recession proof.”

•	 Since 2000, the average annual growth rate for health care services employment has been 2.3 percent.

NOTE: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.
Payroll Employment in 2011

32  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

8. Over-the-year change in health care employment by industry, seasonally adjusted

Ambulatory health care services

Offices of physicians

Outpatient care centers

Home health care services

Hospitals

Nursing and residential care facilities

Nursing care facilities

–10 

NOTES: Major components within health care are bolded. Ambulatory health care services and nursing and residential care

facilities include industries not shown separately.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

2011: +297 

Employment (thousands)

•	 Similar to the gain in 2010, the majority of the employment gain in the health care industry in 2011 

occurred within ambulatory health care services, in which employment grew by 191,000. This industry 

provides health care services directly or indirectly to ambulatory patients and does not include inpatient services.

•	 Within ambulatory health care, substantial employment increases occurred in offices of physicians, 

home health care services, and outpatient care centers.

•	 Employment in hospitals grew by 81,000, or 1.7 percent over the year, more than triple its percentage 

growth in 2010.

•	 Job growth in nursing and residential care facilities (24,000) moderated in 2011, because employment 

growth in nursing care facilities was essentially flat over the year.
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

9. Annual growth rates of employment and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) for accommodation and food 

 services, 2000–2011

10

8

6

4

2

0

–2

–4

10

8

6

4

2

0

–2

–4

2000 2001 2002 2003 

SOURCES: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Percent Percent

Employment

PCE

•	 The leisure and hospitality industry added a considerable number of jobs to nonfarm payrolls in 2011. Employment rose by 318,000, or 2.4 percent.

•	 Much like in 2010, the near sole contributor of this job gain in leisure and hospitality was the food services 

and drinking places industry. Employment within this industry tends to rise and fall with changes in personal 

consumption expenditures for accommodation and food services.
Payroll Employment in 2011

34  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

Support activities for mining

Mining except oil and gas

Oil and gas extraction

10. Over-the-month employment change in mining, seasonally adjusted, 2010–2011

Thousands Thousands

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

–2

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

–2 Jan 

2010 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

•	 Mining employment grew by 12.8 percent over the year, making it the fastest growing industry.

•	 In 2010, the average over-the-month change for mining employment was about 6,000, while in 2011, this 

figure increased slightly to more than 7,000.

•	 Oil and gas extraction added 25,000 jobs over the year. More specifically, employment in support for oil and 

gas rose by 38,000, or 17.5 percent.
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

Jan 

2010 

11. Over-the-month employment change in durable and nondurable goods manufacturing, seasonally adjusted, 

 2010–2011

 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

–10

–20

–30

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

–10

–20

–30

Thousands Thousands

•	 In 2011, manufacturing employment increased by 233,000, the largest annual job gain for the industry 

since 1997.

•	 Durable goods employment gained 242,000, or 3.4 percent in 2011. This employment gain was 116,000 

more than that of 2010.

•	 Nondurable goods employment averaged a loss of 1,000 jobs per month in 2011, and netted a total loss 

of 9,000 for the year.

Durable goods

Nondurable goods
Payroll Employment in 2011

36  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

12. Over-the-year employment change in selected durable goods manufacturing industries, seasonally adjusted, 

 2010–2011

Fabricated metal products

Machinery

Motor vehicles and parts

 Durable goods

20

20

0 

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

Employment (thousands)

•	 Durable goods industry employment grew by 242,000.

•	 The 2011 job growth among durable goods industries was concentrated in fabricated metal products, 

machinery, and motor vehicles and parts manufacturing.

•	 Continued improvement in economic indicators related to manufacturing support employment gains. 

New orders for durable goods rose 17 percent, industrial production rose by 8 percent, and motor vehicle production rose by 31 percent in 2011. Motor vehicle sales increased by 8 percent over the same 

period.4
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

13. Over-the-year employment change in retail trade, seasonally adjusted, 2010–2011

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Electronic and appliance stores

Building material and garden supply stores

Food and beverage stores

Health and personal care stores

Gasoline stations

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores

General merchandise stores

Miscellaneous store retaile

Nonstore retailers

–30 –1

Employment (thousands)

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

 Retail trade

2011: +218 

•	 Employment in retail trade continued to grow in 2011, accelerating slightly over 2010. Employment 

growth was concentrated largely in general merchandise stores, which added 77,000 jobs, while jobs in 

other types of retailers grew more moderately. 

•	 Electronic and appliance stores and sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores experienced employment declines over the year. 

•	 Employment growth in retail trade was driven, in part, by an increase in retail sales in 2011. According to 

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, retail sales increased by 6 percent during the year.5
Payroll Employment in 2011

38  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

14. Employment in construction, seasonally adjusted, 2000–2011 

Thousands Thousands

8,000

7,500

7,000

6,500

6,000

5,500

5,000

8,000

7,500

7,000

6,500

6,000

5,500

5,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 

•	 Construction employment increased by 69,000, or 1.3 percent, in 2011. This job gain marks the industry’s 

first calendar-year employment increase since 2006.

•	 While hitting an employment peak in April 2006 and a trough in January 2011, the construction industry 

has been experiencing a severe housing crisis. Construction employment within the peak-to-trough period 

declined by 2.3 million, or 29.4 percent. Despite gains in 2011, employment was still 2.2 million below its 

prerecession peak level.

•	 Over the year, employment edged up in residential and nonresidential (including heavy) construction. The 

largest gains occurred in specialty trade contractors, which accounted for 3 out of every 5 jobs gained in 

construction, nearly the same ratio at which the industry lost jobs during the prior 4 years.

•	 The improvement in construction employment was also reflected in industrywide economic indicators in 

2011. The number of building permits issued rose by nearly 7 percent, and spending on both residential and 

nonresidential construction increased.6

NOTE: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.
Monthly Labor Review • March 2012  

State government

Local government

15. Index of employment of state and local governments, seasonally adjusted, January 2007–December 2011 

Index

(August 2008=100)

Index

(August 2008=100)

101.0

100.5

100.0

99.5

99.0

98.5

98.0

97.5

97.0

96.5

96.0

101.0

100.5

100.0

99.5

99.0

98.5

98.0

97.5

97.0

96.5

96.0

NOTE: Indexes shown in the chart are the monthly employment level divided by the employment level of August

2008, and the quotient is multiplied by 100. These indexes show the relative change in employment from August 2008.

The vertical line represents August 2008.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics.

2007 

•	 Marking its third consecutive year of decline, government employment continued to decrease in 2011, 

as state and local government payrolls decreased by 230,000 workers.

•	 Local government accounted for 150,000 of the job loss in 2011, while employment in state government fell by 80,000.

•	 Reduced revenues for local and state governments have led to budget cuts and resulting job losses. In 

2011, 19 states enacted midyear budget cuts totaling $7.4 billion.7 

•	 Since reaching employment peaks in August 2008, local government has lost 496,000 jobs and state 

government lost 159,000 jobs through December 2011.

•	 The U.S. Postal Service, with 27,000 jobs lost, continued a longrun decline over the year.

Notes

1 The Current Employment Statistics (CES) program is a monthly survey of about 141,000 businesses and government agencies 

representing approximately 486,000 individual worksites. For more information on the program’s concepts and methodology, see 

“Technical Notes to Establishment Survey Data” at http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cestn1.htm. To access CES data, see “Current 

Employment Statistics—CES (National)” at www.bls.gov/ces. The CES data used in this article are seasonally adjusted unless otherwise 

noted.

2 For more information on The Conference Board, see “Global Business Cycle Indicators” (New York, The Conference Board Inc.) at 
Payroll Employment in 2011

40  Monthly Labor Review • March 20

http://www.conference-board.org/data/bcicountry.cfm?cid=1.

3

 To obtain constant-dollar or real earnings, the Bureau of Labor Statistics deflates current dollar series for all employees using the Consumer 

Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

4 For data on new orders for durable goods, see “Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, & Orders” on the Census Bureau website at http://

www.census.gov/manufacturing/m3/. For industrial production data, see “Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization-G.17” at http://

www.federalreserve.gov/releases/G17/Current/default.htm. For motor vehicle sales data, see “Auto and Truck Seasonal Adjustment, Table 1: 

Motor Vehicle Unit Retail Sales” at www.bea.gov/national/xls/gap_hist.xls.

5 For statistics data on retail sales, see “Table 1A. Estimated Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, by Kind of Business” at http://www.

census.gov/retail/marts/www/download/text/advt1.txt.

6 For data on building permits and expenditures on residential and nonresidential construction, see “Guide to Data Sources from the U.S. 

Census Bureau” at http://www.census.gov/econ/construction.html.

7 For more information on the fiscal condition of U.S. states, see “The Fiscal Survey of States” (The National Governors Association and The 

National Association of State Budget Officers, fall 2011) at http://www.nasbo.org/publications-data/fiscal-survey-of-the-states.