i

Labor Force Characteristics

by Race and Ethnicity, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

August 2010

Report 1026

BLS
This report was prepared by the Offi ce of

Employment and Unemployment Statistics,

Division of Labor Force Statistics.

Layout by Phyllis Lott and edited by

Maureen Soyars of Offi ce of Publications and

Special Studies.
Labor Force Characteristics

by Race and Ethnicity, 2009

U.S. Department of Labor 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

August 2010

Report 1026

BLS

iii

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 .............................................................................................................. 2

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

Tables

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

 or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages ........................................................................................... 5

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

 1972–2009 annual averages ............................................................................................................... 6

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

 1972–2009 annual averages ............................................................................................................... 7

Table 4. Employment status of people 25 years and older by educational attainment, sex, race, and

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages .......................................................................... 8

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

 2009 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 11

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,

 2009 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 14

Table 7. Employed people by industry, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 

 2009 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 27

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

 ethnicity, 2009 annual averages ......................................................................................................... 29

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

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1996–2009 annual averages ................................................................ 30

Table 10. Unemployment rates by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1972–2009 annual averages .. 34

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

 2009 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 35

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

 2009 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 36

Table 13. People in the labor force and not in the labor force by selected characteristics,

 2009 annual averages ......................................................................................................................... 37

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

 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2009 annual averages ................................................................ 39

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

 sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages .................................................... 43

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

 and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages .................................................................... 44

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

Contents

1

Overview

The U.S. job market continued to deteriorate in 2009, 

and all major race and ethnicity groups continued to 

experience labor market diffi culties. For the second 

year in a row, employment fell more sharply for Blacks 

and Hispanics than for Whites and Asians. Unemployment 

rates remained especially high for Blacks and Hispanics in 

2009, reaching 14.8 percent for Blacks and 12.1 percent 

for Hispanics. These fi gures were much higher than the 

unemployment rates for Whites and Asians, at 8.5 percent 

and 7.3 percent, respectively.

In general, the labor market problems experienced by 

Blacks and Hispanics are associated with many factors, not 

all of which are measurable. Some of these factors include 

a tendency to be employed in occupations with high levels 

of unemployment, lower average levels of schooling, greater 

concentration in the central cities of urban areas where job 

opportunities may be relatively limited, and the likelihood of 

discrimination in the workplace. These factors and others may 

help explain the acute labor market diffi culties Blacks and 

Hispanics encounter, especially 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 defi nitions of 

terms and concepts used in this report, see the Technical Note 

on page 47. Additional information about the CPS can be 

found at http://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm.

Labor force participation

• From 2008 to 2009, the overall labor force 

participation rate declined by 0.6 percentage 

point to 65.4 percent. The decrease in labor force 

participation in 2009 occurred across all of the 

major race and ethnicity groups, although the largest 

declines occurred among Blacks and Asians. Over 

the year, the labor force participation rate of Blacks 

declined by 1.3 percentage points to 62.4 percent, 

and the labor force participation rate of Asians was 

down by 1.0 percentage point to 66.0 percent. The 

participation rates of Hispanics and Whites both 

declined by 0.5 percentage point, to 68.0 and 65.8 

percent, respectively. (See tables 1 and 2.)

Labor Force Characteristics by

Race and Ethnicity, 2009

Employment

• From 2008 to 2009, the employment-population 

ratios (the proportion of the population that is 

employed) fell for all race and ethnicity groups, 

refl ecting continued declines in employment. The 

declines were largest for Blacks and Hispanics; 

the rate for Blacks fell by 4.1 percentage points to 

53.2 percent, and the rate for Hispanics fell by 3.6 

percentage points to 59.7 percent. The employmentpopulation ratios for Asians and Whites fell by 3.1 

and 2.6 percentage points, to 61.2 and 60.2 percent, 

respectively. (See tables 1 and 3.)

• In 2009, the employment-population ratios fell more 

steeply for men than for women, across all race and 

ethnicity groups. The decline was largest for Black 

men, whose employment-population ratio fell by 5.4 

percentage points to 53.7 percent from 2008 to 2009. 

The decline in employment-population ratio was 

smallest for Asian men, with a 3.5-percentage-point 

decline to 68.7 percent. 

• Among adult men (age 20 and older), Hispanics 

had the highest employment-population ratio (73.5 

percent) in 2009, followed by Asians (72.2 percent) 

and Whites (68.7 percent). The employmentpopulation ratio for Black men, at 58.2 percent, 

remained lower than the ratios for men in other groups 

in 2009, continuing a long-term pattern. Among 

adult women, Asians had the highest employmentpopulation ratio, at 56.7 percent, followed by Whites 

(56.3 percent) and Blacks (56.1 percent). Unlike the 

ratio for Hispanic men, the ratio for Hispanic women 

(52.9 percent) was lower than that of their Asian, 

Black, and White counterparts. (See table 1.)

• Among teenagers ages 16 to 19, the employmentpopulation ratio tends to be higher for Whites than 

for Hispanics, Asians, and Blacks. In 2009, the ratio 

for White teens (31.7 percent) was about twice that 

of the ratios for Asian (15.3 percent) and Black (16.5 

percent) teenagers. The ratio for Hispanic teens 

was 23.7 percent. All teenage groups continued to 

experience declines in their employment-population 

ratios in 2009, refl ecting, at least in part, the downturn 

in the economy. 
2

Education

• Among people age 25 and older in the labor force in 

2009, about 90 percent of Whites, Blacks, and Asians 

had at least a high school diploma. In contrast, about 

67 percent of Hispanics had completed high school. 

Asians were most likely to have graduated from 

college; 59 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher, 

compared with 35 percent of Whites, 24 percent of 

Blacks, and 16 percent of Hispanics. The proportion 

of college graduates in all the race and ethnicity 

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

• For all race and ethnicity groups, higher levels of 

education are associated with a greater likelihood of 

employment and a lower likelihood of unemployment. 

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 2009 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. (See table 5.)

• In 2009, half (50 percent) of Asian men worked in 

management, professional, and related occupations, 

compared with 35 percent of White men, 24 percent 

of Black men, and 16 percent of Hispanic men. About 

4 in 10 Black and Hispanic men were employed 

in service jobs and sales and offi ce jobs in 2009, 

whereas about 3 in 10 Asian and White men were 

employed in the same occupations. Black men also 

were more likely than men in other race and ethnicity 

groups to work in production, transportation, and 

material moving occupations. Nearly one-half of 

Hispanic men were employed in two job groups—

natural resources, construction, and maintenance 

occupations and production, transportation, and 

material moving occupations. 

• In 2009, Asian women were more likely than women 

in other race and ethnicity groups to be employed in 

management, professional, and related jobs—about 

47 percent of Asian women, compared with about 

41 percent of White women, 34 percent of Black 

women, and 25 percent of Hispanic women. In 

contrast, 64 percent of Hispanic women worked in 

service jobs and in sales and offi ce jobs, compared 

with about 59 percent of Black women, 53 percent of 

White women, and 46 percent of Asian women. 

• In 2009, Hispanics accounted for 14 percent of all 

employed workers but were disproportionately 

represented by a substantial amount in several job 

categories, including construction laborers (44 

percent), maids and housekeeping cleaners (42 

percent), and grounds maintenance workers (40 

percent). Blacks made up 11 percent of all employed 

workers, but they accounted for about one-quarter 

or more of those in several specifi c occupations, 

including nursing aides (34 percent), security guards 

(29 percent), and taxi drivers and bus drivers (about 

25 percent each). Asians accounted for 5 percent of 

all employed workers but made up a much larger 

share of workers in several job categories, including 

medical scientists (33 percent), computer software 

engineers (27 percent), and physicians and surgeons 

(16 percent). (See table 6.)

• By industry, black workers were overrepresented 

in education and health services, transportation and 

utilities, and public administration in 2009. Hispanic 

men were more heavily concentrated in construction 

(19 percent) than White (13 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 2008 to 2009 for all the major 

race and ethnicity groups. Asian families remained 

the most likely to have an employed family member 

in 2009 (88 percent), followed by Hispanic families 

(84 percent) and White families (81 percent). Black 

families remained the least likely to have an employed 

family member in 2009 (75 percent). (See table 8.)

• In 2009, nearly one-half (44 percent) of Black families 

and about one-fourth (25 percent) of Hispanic 

families were maintained by women (with no spouse 

present). About 15 percent of White families and 

13 percent of Asian 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 

years of age have been more likely than White, Asian, 

and Hispanic mothers to be in the labor force. Among 

mothers with children under 18 in 2009, 76.3 percent 

of Black mothers were labor force participants, 

compared with 70.9 percent of White mothers, 68.0 

percent Asian mothers, and 61.5 percent of Hispanic 

mothers. (See table 9.) 

Unemployment and not in the labor force

• Among the major race and ethnicity groups, Blacks 

had the highest unemployment rate in 2009, at 14.8 

percent, compared with 12.1 percent for Hispanics, 
3

8.5 percent for Whites, and 7.3 percent for Asians. 

Historically, the jobless rate for Blacks in general 

has been at least twice that for Whites, whereas 

the unemployment rate for Hispanics has hovered 

between the rates for Whites and Blacks. From 2008 

to 2009, 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 2009, 

the rates for Black adult men and women (age 20 

and older) were 16.3 and 11.5 percent, respectively, 

compared with 11.6 and 10.6 percent for Hispanic 

adult men and women, respectively. In comparison, 

the unemployment rates were 8.8 percent for White 

adult men and 6.8 percent for White adult women. 

The unemployment rates for Asian adult men and 

women were somewhat lower, at 7.5 and 6.2 percent, 

respectively. (See table 1.)

• Teenagers ages 16 to 19 are especially vulnerable 

to joblessness. Among the major race and ethnicity 

groups in 2009, Black teenagers had the highest 

unemployment rate (39.5 percent), compared with 

30.2 percent for Hispanics, 26.4 percent for Asians, 

and 21.8 percent for Whites.

• Unemployed Blacks tend to be jobless for longer 

periods than unemployed workers in other groups. 

In 2009, the median duration of unemployment for 

Blacks was 19.7 weeks, compared with 16.6 weeks 

for Asians, 14.2 weeks for Whites, and 13.5 weeks 

for Hispanics. The median duration of unemployment 

reached record highs in 2009 for all race and ethnicity 

groups. (See table 11.)

• Of the 14.3 million total unemployed people in 2009, 

64 percent (9.2 million) were job losers (that is, 

those workers who lost their jobs). Reentrants to the 

labor force (22 percent), job leavers (6 percent), and 

new entrants (7 percent) constituted the balance of 

unemployed people. Over the year, the number of job 

losers who did not expect to be recalled to work (that 

is, those workers who were not on temporary layoff) 

accounted for nearly 90 percent of the increase in 

unemployed job losers. Between 2008 and 2009, the 

number of people who were not laid off temporarily 

increased signifi cantly 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 ages 25 to 54, the 

proportion of Blacks who did not participate in the 

labor force in 2009 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 for Whites, Blacks, and Asians. 

(See table 13.)

• In 2009, Blacks made up 11 percent of the civilian 

labor force, but also made up 23 percent of people 

marginally attached to the labor force. People 

marginally attached to the labor force are those 

individuals who were not in the labor force, wanted 

and were available for work, and had looked for a 

job sometime in the previous 12 months—but not 

in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. Hispanics and 

Asians were represented nearly proportionately 

among the marginally attached. Blacks also made 

up a high proportion of discouraged workers (25 

percent) in 2009. Discouraged workers, a subset 

of the marginally attached, are people who are not 

currently looking for work because they believe no 

jobs are available for them.

Earnings 

• Hispanics and Blacks have considerably lower 

earnings than Asians and Whites. In 2009, the median 

usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary 

workers were $541 for Hispanics and $601 for Blacks, 

compared with $757 for Whites and $880 for Asians. 

The earnings of Black men ($621) and Hispanic 

men ($569) were 65 and 60 percent, respectively, of 

the earnings of Asian men ($952). Among women, 

the median earnings of Black women ($582) and 

Hispanic women ($509) were 75 and 65 percent, 

respectively, of the earnings of Asian women ($779). 

The median earnings for White men and women were 

89 and 86 percent of their Asian counterparts in 2009. 

(See table 14.)

• For men, the earnings disparity between Black or 

Hispanic workers and Asian or White workers 

holds across all major occupational groups. For 

example, in 2009, median usual weekly earnings 

of Asian men ($1,357) and White men ($1,266) 

working full time in management, professional, and 

related occupations were well above the earnings of 

Hispanic men ($1,017) and Black men ($922) 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 $516 and $582 per week, 

respectively, which were less than the median 

earnings of their White ($666) or Asian ($617) 

counterparts. (See table 16.)

• Among women, the earnings gap is generally smaller 

than the earnings gap for men, and, in some major 

occupational categories, earnings levels are fairly 

close. For example, in service occupations, the 

earnings of White and Black women were about 93 

percent of the earnings of Asian women in 2009, and 

the earnings of Hispanic women were 84 percent of 

that of Asian women.

5

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

or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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..................... 235,801 190,902 28,241 10,842 32,891 

Civilian labor force.......................................... 154,142 125,644 17,632 7,156 22,352 

Percent of population............................... 65.4 65.8 62.4 66.0 68.0 

Employed.................................................... 139,877 114,996 15,025 6,635 19,647 

Percent of population............................... 59.3 60.2 53.2 61.2 59.7 

Unemployed................................................ 14,265 10,648 2,606 522 2,706 

Unemployment rate.................................. 9.3 8.5 14.8 7.3 12.1 

Not in labor force............................................ 81,659 65,258 10,609 3,685 10,539 

 Men, 16 years and older 

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 114,136 93,433 12,705 5,170 16,897 

Civilian labor force.......................................... 82,123 68,051 8,265 3,857 13,310 

Percent of population............................... 72.0 72.8 65.0 74.6 78.8 

Employed.................................................... 73,670 61,630 6,817 3,551 11,640 

Percent of population............................... 64.5 66.0 53.7 68.7 68.9 

Unemployed................................................ 8,453 6,421 1,448 306 1,670 

Unemployment rate.................................. 10.3 9.4 17.5 7.9 12.5 

Not in labor force............................................ 32,013 25,382 4,441 1,314 3,588 

 Men, 20 years and older 

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 105,493 86,789 11,379 4,837 15,305 

Civilian labor force.......................................... 78,897 65,372 7,914 3,777 12,730 

Percent of population............................... 74.8 75.3 69.6 78.1 83.2 

Employed.................................................... 71,341 59,626 6,628 3,493 11,256 

Percent of population............................... 67.6 68.7 58.2 72.2 73.5 

Unemployed................................................ 7,555 5,746 1,286 284 1,474 

Unemployment rate.................................. 9.6 8.8 16.3 7.5 11.6 

Not in labor force............................................ 26,596 21,417 3,465 1,060 2,575 , , , , , 

 Women, 16 years and older 

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 121,665 97,469 15,536 5,671 15,993 

Civilian labor force.......................................... 72,019 57,593 9,367 3,300 9,043 

Percent of population............................... 59.2 59.1 60.3 58.2 56.5 

Employed.................................................... 66,208 53,366 8,208 3,084 8,007 

Percent of population............................... 54.4 54.8 52.8 54.4 50.1 

Unemployed................................................ 5,811 4,227 1,159 216 1,036 

Unemployment rate.................................. 8.1 7.3 12.4 6.6 11.5 

Not in labor force............................................ 49,646 39,876 6,169 2,371 6,951 

 Women, 20 years and older 

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 113,265 91,078 14,178 5,372 14,463 

Civilian labor force.......................................... 68,856 54,976 8,988 3,248 8,560 

Percent of population............................... 60.8 60.4 63.4 60.5 59.2 

Employed.................................................... 63,699 51,231 7,956 3,045 7,649 

Percent of population............................... 56.2 56.3 56.1 56.7 52.9 

Unemployed................................................ 5,157 3,745 1,032 203 911 

Unemployment rate.................................. 7.5 6.8 11.5 6.2 10.6 

Not in labor force............................................ 44,409 36,101 5,190 2,124 5,903 

 Both sexes, 16 to 19 years 

Civilian noninstitutional population..................... 17,043 13,035 2,684 632 3,123 

Civilian labor force.......................................... 6,390 5,295 729 131 1,063 

Percent of population............................... 37.5 40.6 27.2 20.8 34.0 

Employed.................................................... 4,837 4,138 442 97 742 

Percent of population............................... 28.4 31.7 16.5 15.3 23.7 

Unemployed................................................ 1,552 1,157 288 35 321 

Unemployment rate.................................. 24.3 21.8 39.5 26.4 30.2 

Not in labor force............................................ 10,654 7,740 1,954 501 2,061 

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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 
6

Table 2. Labor force participation rates by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1972–2009 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

Year

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

2009...... 65.4 72.0 59.2 65.8 72.8 59.1 62.4 65.0 60.3 66.0 74.6 58.2 68.0 78.8 56.5

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for White, Black or African American, and Asian race groups include people who selected that race 

group only; previously, those respondents with a multiracial background 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. People whose ethnicity is 

identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available.
7

Table 3. Employment-population ratios by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1972–2009 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

Year

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

2009...... 59.3 64.5 54.4 60.2 66.0 54.8 53.2 53.7 52.8 61.2 68.7 54.4 59.7 68.9 50.1

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for White, Black or African American, and Asian race groups include people who selected that race 

group only; previously, those respondents with a multiracial background 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. People whose ethnicity is 

identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available.
8

Table 4. Employment status of people 25 years and older by educational attainment, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 25 

years and 

older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High school 

graduates, no 

college

Some college, 

no degree

Associate's 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher

Total

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 198,233 26,129 61,469 33,518 18,208 58,909 

Civilian labor force................................. 132,781 12,146 38,186 23,005 13,810 45,634 

Percent of population..................... 67.0 46.5 62.1 68.6 75.8 77.5 

Employed........................................... 122,277 10,371 34,487 21,016 12,872 43,531 

Employment-population ratio......... 61.7 39.7 56.1 62.7 70.7 73.9 

Unemployed....................................... 10,505 1,775 3,699 1,989 938 2,103 

Unemployment rate......................... 7.9 14.6 9.7 8.6 6.8 4.6 

Men 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 95,209 13,028 29,737 15,698 7,819 28,927 

Civilian labor force................................. 71,057 7,716 21,442 11,872 6,364 23,664 

Percent of population..................... 74.6 59.2 72.1 75.6 81.4 81.8 

Employed........................................... 64,831 6,569 19,085 10,772 5,864 22,541 

Employment-population ratio......... 68.1 50.4 64.2 68.6 75.0 77.9 

Unemployed....................................... 6,226 1,147 2,357 1,099 500 1,123 

Unemployment rate......................... 8.8 14.9 11.0 9.3 7.9 4.7 

Women 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 103,024 13,101 31,731 17,820 10,389 29,982 

Civilian labor force................................. 61,724 4,430 16,744 11,134 7,446 21,970 

Percent of population..................... 59.9 33.8 52.8 62.5 71.7 73.3 

Employed........................................... 57,445 3,802 15,402 10,244 7,008 20,990 

Employment-population ratio......... 55.8 29.0 48.5 57.5 67.5 70.0 

Unemployed....................................... 4,279 629 1,342 889 438 980 

Unemployment rate......................... 6.9 14.2 8.0 8.0 5.9 4.5 

White

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 161,904 20,550 50,515 27,137 15,073 48,628 

Civilian labor force................................. 108,354 9,871 31,172 18,447 11,427 37,437 

Percent of population..................... 66.9 48.0 61.7 68.0 75.8 77.0 

Employed........................................... 100,419 8,497 28,372 16,983 10,714 35,854 

Employment-population ratio......... 62.0 41.3 56.2 62.6 71.1 73.7 

Unemployed....................................... 7,935 1,374 2,800 1,465 713 1,583 

Unemployment rate......................... 7.3 13.9 9.0 7.9 6.2 4.2 

Men 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 78,713 10,526 24,555 12,892 6,507 24,232 

Civilian labor force................................. 59,025 6,494 17,778 9,749 5,326 19,679 

Percent of population..................... 75.0 61.7 72.4 75.6 81.8 81.2 

Employed........................................... 54,248 5,583 15,966 8,937 4,948 18,813 

Employment-population ratio......... 68.9 53.0 65.0 69.3 76.0 77.6 

Unemployed....................................... 4,777 910 1,812 812 378 865 

Unemployment rate......................... 8.1 14.0 10.2 8.3 7.1 4.4 

Women

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 83,191 10,023 25,960 14,245 8,566 24,396 

Civilian labor force................................. 49,329 3,378 13,394 8,698 6,101 17,758 

Percent of population..................... 59.3 33.7 51.6 61.1 71.2 72.8 

Employed........................................... 46,172 2,913 12,406 8,046 5,766 17,040 

Employment-population ratio......... 55.5 29.1 47.8 56.5 67.3 69.8 

Unemployed....................................... 3,157 464 988 653 335 718 

Unemployment rate......................... 6.4 13.7 7.4 7.5 5.5 4.0 

See note at end of table. 
9

Table 4. Employment status of people 25 years and older by educational attainment, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 25 

years and 

older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High school 

graduates, no 

college

Some college, 

no degree

Associate's 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher

Black or African American

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 22,584 3,644 7,866 4,519 2,067 4,488 

Civilian labor force................................. 14,941 1,393 5,085 3,250 1,584 3,629 

Percent of population..................... 66.2 38.2 64.6 71.9 76.6 80.9 

Employed........................................... 13,110 1,096 4,375 2,855 1,422 3,363 

Employment-population ratio......... 58.1 30.1 55.6 63.2 68.8 74.9 

Unemployed....................................... 1,831 297 710 394 162 266 

Unemployment rate......................... 12.3 21.3 14.0 12.1 10.3 7.3 

Men 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 9,969 1,639 3,765 1,921 809 1,836 

Civilian labor force................................. 6,961 724 2,625 1,435 630 1,546 

Percent of population..................... 69.8 44.2 69.7 74.7 77.9 84.2 

Employed........................................... 5,939 551 2,199 1,225 544 1,419 

Employment-population ratio......... 59.6 33.6 58.4 63.8 67.3 77.3 

Unemployed....................................... 1,022 173 427 211 86 126 

Unemployment rate......................... 14.7 23.9 16.2 14.7 13.6 8.2 

Women 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 12,615 2,005 4,101 2,598 1,258 2,652 

Civilian labor force................................. 7,980 669 2,460 1,814 954 2,083 

Percent of population..................... 63.3 33.4 60.0 69.8 75.8 78.5 

Employed........................................... 7,171 544 2,176 1,631 877 1,943 

Employment-population ratio......... 56.8 27.1 53.1 62.8 69.7 73.3 

Unemployed....................................... 809 125 284 184 77 140 

Unemployment rate......................... 10.1 18.6 11.5 10.1 8.0 6.7 

Asian

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 9,354 1,096 1,828 915 623 4,892 

Civilian labor force................................. 6,540 489 1,111 636 469 3,836 

Percent of population..................... 69.9 44.6 60.8 69.5 75.3 78.4 

Employed........................................... 6,110 448 1,028 579 434 3,622 

Employment-population ratio......... 65.3 40.8 56.2 63.3 69.6 74.0 

Unemployed....................................... 430 41 83 57 35 214 

Unemployment rate......................... 6.6 8.4 7.5 8.9 7.5 5.6 

Men 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 4,419 429 788 452 296 2,454 

Civilian labor force................................. 3,525 253 578 352 243 2,100 

Percent of population..................... 79.8 59.0 73.4 77.9 82.0 85.5 

Employed........................................... 3,272 229 522 312 224 1,984 

Employment-population ratio......... 74.0 53.3 66.3 69.2 75.9 80.8 

Unemployed....................................... 253 24 56 39 18 116 

Unemployment rate......................... 7.2 9.6 9.6 11.2 7.5 5.5 

Women 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 4,935 668 1,040 463 327 2,438 

Civilian labor force................................. 3,015 236 533 284 226 1,736 

Percent of population..................... 61.1 35.3 51.3 61.3 69.1 71.2 

Employed........................................... 2,838 219 506 266 209 1,638 

Employment-population ratio......... 57.5 32.8 48.6 57.5 64.0 67.2 

Unemployed....................................... 176 17 27 17 17 98 

Unemployment rate......................... 5.9 7.0 5.2 6.2 7.4 5.7 

See note at end of table. 

8
10

Table 4. Employment status of people 25 years and older by educational attainment, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers in thousands)

Employment status, sex, race, and 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

 Total, 25 

years and 

older

Less than a 

high school 

diploma

High school 

graduates, no 

college

Some college, 

no degree

Associate's 

degree

Bachelor's 

degree and 

higher

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 26,145 9,763 7,736 3,421 1,682 3,543 

Civilian labor force................................. 18,642 6,064 5,658 2,670 1,357 2,894 

Percent of population..................... 71.3 62.1 73.1 78.0 80.7 81.7 

Employed........................................... 16,687 5,233 5,069 2,414 1,242 2,729 

Employment-population ratio......... 63.8 53.6 65.5 70.6 73.8 77.0 

Unemployed....................................... 1,955 831 589 255 115 166 

Unemployment rate......................... 10.5 13.7 10.4 9.6 8.5 5.7 

Men 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 13,430 5,130 4,114 1,707 742 1,737 

Civilian labor force................................. 11,187 4,048 3,494 1,469 653 1,524 

Percent of population..................... 83.3 78.9 84.9 86.1 87.9 87.7 

Employed........................................... 9,969 3,508 3,114 1,321 595 1,431 

Employment-population ratio......... 74.2 68.4 75.7 77.4 80.1 82.4 

Unemployed....................................... 1,218 539 380 148 58 93 

Unemployment rate......................... 10.9 13.3 10.9 10.1 8.9 6.1 

Women 

Civilian noninstitutional population............ 12,714 4,634 3,622 1,714 940 1,805 

Civilian labor force................................. 7,455 2,016 2,163 1,201 704 1,371 

Percent of population..................... 58.6 43.5 59.7 70.1 74.9 75.9 

Employed........................................... 6,718 1,724 1,955 1,093 647 1,298 

Employment-population ratio......... 52.8 37.2 54.0 63.8 68.9 71.9 

Unemployed....................................... 737 291 208 108 57 73 

Unemployment rate......................... 9.9 14.5 9.6 9.0 8.1 5.3 

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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 
11

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

2009 annual averages

Occupation and sex Total White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older (thousands)....................................... 139,877 114,996 15,025 6,635 19,647 

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

Management, professional, and related occupations........................ 37.3 38.0 29.2 48.8 19.4 

 Management, business, and financial operations........................... 15.4 16.2 10.1 15.9 8.4 

 Management occupations...................................................... 11.0 11.8 6.3 10.2 5.9 

 Business and financial operations occupations........................... 4.3 4.4 3.8 5.6 2.5 

 Professional and related occupations.......................................... 21.9 21.8 19.1 33.0 11.1 

 Computer and mathematical occupations................................. 2.5 2.3 1.5 8.2 1.0 

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

 Life, physical, and social science occupations........................... .9 .9 .5 2.5 .4 

 Community and social services occupations.............................. 1.7 1.5 3.1 1.0 1.2 

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1.2 1.3 .7 .9 .4 

 Education, training, and library occupations.............................. 6.2 6.4 5.3 5.1 3.4 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations......... 1.9 2.1 1.2 1.5 1.2 

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................ 5.5 5.3 5.7 9.7 2.5 

Service occupations.................................................................. 17.6 16.5 25.2 17.0 25.8 

 Healthcare support occupations................................................ 2.4 2.0 5.6 2.0 2.3 

 Protective service occupations................................................... 2.3 2.1 4.0 .9 2.0 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................ 5.5 5.4 5.9 6.2 8.5 

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations......... 3.8 3.7 4.9 2.3 9.3 

 Personal care and service occupations....................................... 3.6 3.3 4.9 5.6 3.7 

Sales and office occupations...................................................... 24.2 24.2 25.2 21.2 21.3 

 Sales and related occupations................................................... 11.2 11.4 10.0 11.3 9.5 

 Office and administrative support occupations.............................. 13.0 12.8 15.3 9.9 11.8 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations......... 9.5 10.3 6.1 4.0 16.4 

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

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 5.3 5.8 3.0 1.5 10.8 

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations........................... 3.5 3.7 2.8 2.3 3.7 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............ 11.4 11.1 14.3 8.9 17.1 

 Production occupations............................................................ 5.5 5.4 5.9 5.6 8.5 

 Transportation and material moving occupations........................... 5.9 5.7 8.5 3.3 8.6 

See note at end of table.
12

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

2009 annual averages—Continued

Occupation and sex Total White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Men, 16 years and older (thousands).......................................... 73,670 61,630 6,817 3,551 11,640 

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

Management, professional, and related occupations........................ 34.5 35.0 23.8 50.1 15.9 

 Management, business, and financial operations........................... 16.7 17.7 9.6 16.4 7.9 

 Management occupations...................................................... 13.1 14.0 7.0 12.2 6.1 

 Business and financial operations occupations........................... 3.6 3.7 2.5 4.2 1.7 

 Professional and related occupations.......................................... 17.7 17.3 14.2 33.7 8.0 

 Computer and mathematical occupations................................. 3.6 3.3 2.2 11.3 1.2 

 Architecture and engineering occupations................................. 3.2 3.2 1.8 6.5 1.5 

 Life, physical, and social science occupations........................... 1.0 .9 .6 2.5 .4 

 Community and social services occupations.............................. 1.2 1.1 2.5 .8 .8 

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1.2 1.3 .7 .9 .3 

 Education, training, and library occupations.............................. 3.0 3.0 2.4 4.1 1.4 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations......... 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.5 1.2 

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................ 2.7 2.5 2.2 6.1 1.3 

Service occupations.................................................................. 14.3 13.4 21.2 13.7 21.2 

 Healthcare support occupations................................................ .5 .4 1.4 .6 .4 

 Protective service occupations................................................... 3.3 3.2 5.7 1.2 2.7 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................ 4.6 4.3 5.9 6.6 8.2 

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations......... 4.3 4.2 5.9 2.4 8.6 

 Personal care and service occupations....................................... 1.5 1.3 2.4 2.9 1.3 

Sales and office occupations...................................................... 17.0 16.8 18.5 18.0 14.2 

 Sales and related occupations................................................... 10.7 10.9 8.6 11.6 7.7 

 Office and administrative support occupations.............................. 6.3 5.8 10.0 6.4 6.5 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations......... 17.3 18.4 12.4 7.1 26.6 

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

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 9.8 10.6 6.3 2.7 18.0 

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations........................... 6.4 6.7 5.6 4.1 6.0 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............ 17.0 16.5 24.0 11.1 22.2 

 Production occupations............................................................ 7.5 7.4 8.6 5.8 9.9 

 Transportation and material moving occupations........................... 9.5 9.1 15.5 5.3 12.3 

See note at end of table.
13

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

2009 annual averages—Continued

Occupation and sex Total White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Women, 16 years and older (thousands).................................... 66,208 53,366 8,208 3,084 8,007 

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

Management, professional, and related occupations........................ 40.5 41.4 33.7 47.4 24.6 

 Management, business, and financial operations........................... 13.9 14.4 10.5 15.2 9.1 

 Management occupations...................................................... 8.7 9.3 5.7 7.9 5.5 

 Business and financial operations occupations........................... 5.2 5.1 4.8 7.3 3.6 

 Professional and related occupations.......................................... 26.6 27.0 23.2 32.2 15.5 

 Computer and mathematical occupations................................. 1.3 1.2 1.0 4.7 .6 

 Architecture and engineering occupations................................. .6 .6 .3 1.4 .3 

 Life, physical, and social science occupations........................... .9 .9 .5 2.6 .4 

 Community and social services occupations.............................. 2.2 2.1 3.6 1.1 1.7 

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1.3 1.4 .8 1.0 .7 

 Education, training, and library occupations.............................. 9.7 10.3 7.7 6.3 6.4 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations......... 1.9 2.1 .8 1.5 1.2 

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................ 8.7 8.5 8.6 13.7 4.2 

Service occupations.................................................................. 21.3 20.1 28.5 20.7 32.4 

 Healthcare support occupations................................................ 4.5 3.8 9.0 3.5 5.0 

 Protective service occupations................................................... 1.1 .9 2.5 .5 1.0 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................ 6.5 6.6 5.9 5.8 9.0 

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations......... 3.3 3.2 4.1 2.2 10.2 

 Personal care and service occupations....................................... 5.9 5.6 6.9 8.7 7.1 

Sales and office occupations...................................................... 32.2 32.7 30.8 25.0 31.6 

 Sales and related occupations................................................... 11.7 11.8 11.1 11.1 12.1 

 Office and administrative support occupations.............................. 20.4 20.9 19.7 13.9 19.5 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations......... .9 .9 .8 .4 1.6 

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.................................... .3 .3 .1 .1 1.0 

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... .3 .3 .2 .1 .3 

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations........................... .3 .3 .4 .2 .3 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............ 5.2 4.9 6.2 6.4 9.8 

 Production occupations............................................................ 3.3 3.1 3.6 5.5 6.5 

 Transportation and material moving occupations........................... 1.9 1.9 2.6 1.0 3.3 

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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 
14

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages 

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total 

(In thousands) White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older ..................................................................... 139,877 82.2 10.7 4.7 14.0 

Management, professional, and related occupations .................................... 52,219 83.6 8.4 6.2 7.3 

 Management, business, and financial operations............................................ 21,529 86.3 7.0 4.9 7.6

 Management occupations ............................................................................ 15,447 87.8 6.2 4.4 7.5 

 Chief executives ........................................................................................ 1,631 91.9 2.9 4.2 4.6 

 General and operations managers ........................................................... 1,004 88.3 5.5 4.6 6.0 

 Legislators ................................................................................................ 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Advertising and promotions managers................................................ 78 91.0 6.3 2.7 11.1 

 Marketing and sales managers ......................................................... 938 90.5 4.4 3.7 7.2 

 Public relations managers ............................................................... 70 94.3 2.7 3.4 3.3 

 Administrative services managers ................................................... 118 85.6 6.8 2.6 9.8 

 Computer and information systems managers .................................... 471 86.0 6.1 7.0 6.2 

 Financial managers ........................................................................ 1,183 83.9 8.5 6.1 9.1 

 Human resources managers ............................................................ 283 88.0 7.6 3.3 7.6 

 Industrial production managers ......................................................... 240 91.3 4.4 2.9 11.2 

 Purchasing managers ..................................................................... 198 85.9 8.7 4.0 3.7 

 Transportation, storage, and distribution managers.............................. 234 89.3 7.3 2.0 9.4 

 Farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers.................................... 226 95.6 1.5 2.0 7.9 

 Farmers and ranchers .................................................................. 729 97.5 1.4 0.5 1.7 

 Construction managers .................................................................. 1,099 93.4 3.3 1.7 8.2 

 Education administrators ............................................................... 808 84.9 10.7 2.6 7.2 

 Engineering managers .................................................................. 124 87.1 2.9 8.7 5.4 

 Food service managers .................................................................. 1,003 80.8 6.9 10.4 14.2 

 Funeral directors ........................................................................... 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Gaming managers ........................................................................ 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Lodging managers ........................................................................ 160 74.4 8.4 14.7 9.4 

 Medical and health services managers............................................. 533 83.9 9.9 4.6 7.0 1 1 1 1 Natural sciences managers ............................................................ 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Postmasters and mail superintendents............................................. 33 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Property, real estate, and community association managers.................. 597 87.3 8.1 2.8 9.3 

 Social and community service managers............................................. 343 84.0 11.5 1.5 8.5 

 Managers, all other ........................................................................ 3,249 86.4 6.8 4.7 7.4 

 Business and financial operations occupations....................................... 6,082 82.5 9.3 6.1 8.0 

 Agents and business managers of artists, performers,

 and athletes.............................................................................. 42 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products.................................... 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products.............................. 167 86.2 4.3 5.8 16.4 

 Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and

 farm products.............................................................................. 239 86.2 6.8 3.3 10.7 

 Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators..................... 280 82.5 13.7 2.7 7.3 

 Compliance officers, except agriculture, construction, health

 and safety, and transportation...................................................... 200 84.0 12.0 1.7 6.8 

 Cost estimators.............................................................................. 117 97.4 1.1 .3 13.5 

 Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists..................... 843 82.3 12.1 3.2 9.6 

 Logisticians................................................................................. 64 75.0 11.9 7.5 13.6 

 Management analysts .................................................................. 640 86.3 7.4 4.8 5.0 

 Meeting and convention planners...................................................... 56 82.1 12.9 .8 8.2 

 Other business operations specialists................................................ 317 79.8 11.9 5.7 8.7 

See notes at end of table.
15

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages 

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total 

(In thousands) White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Accountants and auditors ............................................................... 1,754 79.7 8.0 10.3 6.3 

 Appraisers and assessors of real estate............................................. 99 89.9 5.2 1.7 6.0 

 Budget analysts........................................................................... 57 73.7 14.9 9.2 3.6 

 Credit analysts .............................................................................. 26 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

Financial analysts........................................................................... 94 83.0 5.8 10.3 6.4 

 Personal financial advisors............................................................... 400 85.3 6.9 6.4 7.7 

 Insurance underwriters.................................................................. 97 79.4 13.6 3.2 11.5 

 Financial examiners........................................................................ 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Loan counselors and officers............................................................ 346 81.5 11.4 5.6 9.9 

 Tax examiners, collectors, and revenue agents.................................... 74 78.4 15.6 5.7 3.1 

 Tax preparers.............................................................................. 99 79.8 11.8 7.1 10.1 

 Financial specialists, all other............................................................ 53 75.5 15.2 7.8 12.8 

 Professional and related occupations...................................................... 30,690 81.7 9.4 7.1 7.1 

 Computer and mathematical occupations............................................. 3,481 75.6 6.7 15.7 5.4 

 Computer scientists and systems analysts.......................................... 759 76.7 7.5 14.7 6.1 

 Computer programmers.................................................................. 498 80.7 5.0 13.0 5.4 

 Computer software engineers......................................................... 952 65.4 5.3 26.6 3.5 

 Computer support specialists............................................................ 384 77.1 11.7 8.3 7.5 

 Database administrators.................................................................. 110 79.1 5.1 14.0 7.3 

 Network and computer systems administrators.................................... 207 85.5 5.6 7.0 7.6 

 Network systems and data communications analysts........................... 401 82.0 6.2 9.4 5.5 

 Actuaries.................................................................................... 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

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

) (1) (1) (1)

 Operations research analysts............................................................ 108 79.6 10.7 8.4 5.8 

 Statisticians................................................................................. 35 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

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

) (1) (1) (1)

Architecture and engineering occupations Architecture and engineering occupations............................................. 2 740 , 83 1. 5 5. 9 9. 7 2.

 Architects, except naval.................................................................. 204 91.2 2.5 4.8 6.9 

 Surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists.............................. 53 90.6 6.4 3.1 2.8 

 Aerospace engineers..................................................................... 136 83.8 6.1 7.8 8.3 

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

) (1) (1) (1)

 Biomedical engineers..................................................................... 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemical engineers........................................................................ 65 80.0 11.0 7.8 2.6 

 Civil engineers.............................................................................. 338 84.0 4.1 10.6 7.3 

 Computer hardware engineers......................................................... 61 65.6 6.2 26.8 7.7 

 Electrical and electronics engineers................................................... 314 75.5 5.1 17.0 5.1 

 Environmental engineers............................................................... 31 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Industrial engineers, including health and safety................................. 186 83.3 2.9 12.4 9.5 

 Marine engineers and naval architects................................................ 12 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Materials engineers........................................................................ 33 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Mechanical engineers..................................................................... 302 84.8 4.0 10.1 5.8 

 Mining and geological engineers, including mining

 safety engineers........................................................................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Nuclear engineers........................................................................ 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Petroleum engineers..................................................................... 26 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Engineers, all other........................................................................ 346 78.0 6.7 13.9 6.1 

 Drafters....................................................................................... 149 89.3 6.8 2.9 9.9 

 Engineering technicians, except drafters............................................. 365 84.7 9.4 4.0 8.3 

See notes at end of table.
16

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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................................................... 80 95.0 1.4 2.2 10.3 

 Life, physical, and social science occupations....................................... 1,328 79.2 6.0 12.7 5.9 

 Agricultural and food scientists......................................................... 32 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Biological scientists........................................................................ 98 80.6 4.7 13.6 5.1 

 Conservation scientists and foresters................................................ 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Medical scientists........................................................................... 170 60.0 4.5 33.3 4.3 

 Astronomers and physicists............................................................ 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Atmospheric and space scientists...................................................... 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemists and materials scientists...................................................... 113 72.6 7.2 19.6 6.6 

 Environmental scientists and geoscientists.......................................... 91 92.3 1.0 2.7 1.2 

 Physical scientists, all other............................................................ 127 77.2 2.1 18.6 4.1 

 Economists................................................................................. 36 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Market and survey researchers......................................................... 127 85.8 4.8 6.7 5.2 

 Psychologists.............................................................................. 161 89.4 6.3 3.2 6.2 

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

) (1) (1) (1)

 Urban and regional planners............................................................ 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous social scientists and related workers.............................. 43 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Agricultural and food science technicians.......................................... 30 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Biological technicians..................................................................... 20 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemical technicians..................................................................... 54 66.7 18.2 12.7 18.7 

 Geological and petroleum technicians................................................ 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

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

) (1) (1) (1)

 Other life, physical, and social science technicians.............................. 144 79.9 8.9 9.3 9.2 

 Community and social services occupations.......................................... 2,341 75.4 19.8 2.7 9.7 

 Counselors.................................................................................... 697 72.6 22.9 2.0 9.4 

 Social workers.............................................................................. 725 72.7 22.5 2.5 9.6 

 Miscellaneous community and social service specialists........................ 349 72.5 21.4 2.5 15.7 

 Clergy.......................................................................................... 427 82.7 12.4 4.0 5.3 

 Directors, religious activities and education.......................................... 66 90.9 4.9 3.4 12.9 

 Religious workers, all other............................................................... 76 82.9 12.5 4.1 8.3 

 Legal occupations........................................................................... 1,710 88.3 6.5 3.6 5.0 

 Lawyers....................................................................................... 1,043 90.0 4.7 4.1 2.8 

 Judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers.................................... 73 91.8 4.8 3.2 7.0 

 Paralegals and legal assistants......................................................... 354 85.9 9.8 1.4 8.3 

 Miscellaneous legal support workers................................................ 240 83.3 9.7 4.7 8.8 

 Education, training, and library occupations.......................................... 8,627 85.1 9.2 3.9 7.8 

 Postsecondary teachers.................................................................. 1,321 82.1 5.3 11.3 4.6 

 Preschool and kindergarten teachers................................................ 691 81.8 14.2 2.6 10.3 

 Elementary and middle school teachers............................................. 2,862 86.9 9.3 2.4 7.1 

 Secondary school teachers............................................................ 1,212 88.3 7.8 2.1 6.6 

 Special education teachers............................................................... 385 90.1 6.8 2.3 4.8 

 Other teachers and instructors......................................................... 758 84.6 9.5 3.9 8.6 

 Archivists, curators, and museum technicians.................................. 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Librarians.................................................................................... 206 89.3 5.3 3.0 6.8 

 Library technicians........................................................................ 50 84.0 7.7 5.3 9.0 

 Teacher assistants........................................................................ 1,006 79.8 14.5 2.4 14.7 

 Other education, training, and library workers....................................... 96 83.3 10.4 4.3 5.4 

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations..................... 2,724 87.6 6.7 3.6 8.8 

See notes at end of table.
17

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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 .8 3.9 9.3 

 Designers.................................................................................... 764 88.5 5.1 4.6 7.9 

 Actors.......................................................................................... 26 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Producers and directors.................................................................. 138 81.9 11.6 4.1 10.1 

 Athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers................................. 258 84.9 10.4 3.1 9.2 

 Dancers and choreographers............................................................ 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Musicians, singers, and related workers............................................. 168 85.1 12.2 .8 8.3 

 Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers,

 all other.................................................................................... 51 86.3 10.7 2.0 21.9 

 Announcers................................................................................. 52 80.8 15.6 2.7 14.9 

 News analysts, reporters and correspondents.................................... 80 93.8 1.8 .9 4.0 

 Public relations specialists............................................................... 137 89.1 6.2 3.3 6.0 

 Editors....................................................................................... 169 89.9 3.7 5.4 1.3 

 Technical writers........................................................................... 51 92.2 3.3 1.7 3.9 

Writers and authors........................................................................ 178 88.2 7.3 1.3 3.1 

 Miscellaneous media and communication workers.............................. 94 79.8 9.0 8.6 37.0 

 Broadcast and sound engineering technicians

 and radio operators..................................................................... 93 88.2 7.5 2.9 9.9 

 Photographers.............................................................................. 188 89.9 4.1 3.9 7.6 

 Television, video, and motion picture camera operators

 and editors................................................................................. 46 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Media and communication equipment workers, all other........................ —— — — —

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations................................. 7,738 78.8 11.1 8.3 6.3 

 Chiropractors................................................................................. 58 96.6 2.2 1.2 3.6 

 Dentists....................................................................................... 164 86.0 1.4 10.8 7.9 

 Dietitians and nutritionists............................................................... 99 72.7 21.8 5.3 7.8 

 Optometrists................................................................................. 26 (

1

) (

1

) (

1

) (

1 Optometrists................................................................................. 26 ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

 Pharmacists................................................................................. 267 75.7 8.9 14.7 3.5 

 Physicians and surgeons............................................................... 914 76.8 5.7 16.4 6.3 

 Physician assistants........................................................................ 91 81.3 11.4 5.8 11.1 

 Podiatrists.................................................................................... 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Registered nurses........................................................................ 2,839 78.5 11.5 8.1 4.6 

 Audiologists................................................................................. 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Occupational therapists.................................................................. 106 88.7 3.8 6.3 2.6 

 Physical therapists........................................................................ 175 85.1 6.1 8.4 4.5 

 Radiation therapists........................................................................ 14 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Recreational therapists.................................................................. 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Respiratory therapists..................................................................... 119 81.5 11.4 4.6 10.8 

 Speech-language pathologists......................................................... 140 95.0 2.4 1.7 5.6 

 Therapists, all other........................................................................ 128 82.0 10.8 5.3 6.5 

 Veterinarians................................................................................. 69 94.2 2.4 3.7 3.6 

 Health diagnosing and treating practitioners, all other........................... 25 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians................................. 349 72.8 13.2 11.2 8.8 

 Dental hygienists........................................................................... 137 86.9 4.3 6.0 4.5 

 Diagnostic related technologists and technicians................................. 342 84.8 8.0 5.3 6.7 

 Emergency medical technicians and paramedics................................. 156 87.2 7.8 1.2 5.5 

 Health diagnosing and treating practitioner

 support technicians..................................................................... 476 77.9 14.5 6.0 11.1 

See notes at end of table.
18

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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................................. 633 71.1 22.4 3.5 8.8 

 Medical records and health information technicians.............................. 103 76.7 17.8 4.3 18.6 

 Opticians, dispensing..................................................................... 50 92.0 3.7 3.4 6.1 

 Miscellaneous health technologists and technicians.............................. 146 69.2 21.5 9.1 6.9 

 Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations..................... 52 80.8 8.3 5.7 2.6 

Service occupations.............................................................................. 24,598 77.1 15.4 4.6 20.6 

 Healthcare support occupations............................................................ 3,309 68.2 25.3 3.9 13.8 

 Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides.......................................... 2,002 59.6 34.0 3.7 12.4 

 Occupational therapist assistants and aides.......................................... 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Physical therapist assistants and aides................................................ 79 84.8 7.4 5.8 10.9 

 Massage therapists........................................................................... 150 84.0 5.1 8.3 10.0 

 Dental assistants.............................................................................. 286 87.1 5.3 5.3 17.9 

 Medical assistants and other healthcare support occupations.................. 776 78.5 16.2 3.1 16.9 

 Protective service occupations............................................................... 3,164 76.2 18.8 1.8 12.3 

 First-line supervisors/managers of correctional officers........................... 50 82.0 14.1 2.5 8.5 

 First-line supervisors/managers of police and detectives........................... 91 80.2 15.0 2.1 5.3 

 First-line supervisors/managers of fire fighting and

 prevention workers........................................................................ 54 88.9 7.3 .8 7.0 

 Supervisors, protective service workers, all other.................................... 94 75.5 18.0 3.8 7.5 

 Fire fighters.................................................................................... 284 88.4 7.5 .7 8.8 

 Fire inspectors................................................................................. 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bailiffs, correctional officers, and jailers................................................ 435 73.3 22.0 1.3 12.9 

 Detectives and criminal investigators................................................... 141 78.0 14.9 3.2 10.3 

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

) (1) (1) (1)

 Parking enforcement workers............................................................ 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

Police and sheriff Police and sheriff s patrol officers ’s patrol officers......................................................... 714 81 7. 14 1. 1 5. 12 7.

 Transit and railroad police.................................................................. 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Animal control workers..................................................................... 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Private detectives and investigators...................................................... 76 78.9 16.5 1.6 9.4 

 Security guards and gaming surveillance officers.................................... 942 65.7 28.6 2.2 16.2 

 Crossing guards.............................................................................. 67 77.6 18.0 3.0 15.9 

 Lifeguards and other protective service workers.................................... 167 89.2 5.2 1.0 5.4 

 Food preparation and serving related occupations.................................... 7,733 80.0 11.4 5.4 21.6 

 Chefs and head cooks..................................................................... 348 71.8 12.6 13.8 20.6 

 First-line supervisors/managers of food preparation

 and serving workers........................................................................ 597 78.2 15.4 3.6 15.8 

 Cooks............................................................................................. 2,004 75.4 15.5 4.8 32.1 

 Food preparation workers.................................................................. 748 79.5 11.2 5.4 22.8 

Bartenders....................................................................................... 404 89.6 5.6 2.1 11.3 

 Combined food preparation and serving workers, 

 including fast food........................................................................... 341 80.1 13.3 4.0 15.4 

 Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession,

 and coffee shop........................................................................... 264 81.1 12.7 4.3 12.9 

 Waiters and waitresses..................................................................... 2,005 84.6 6.2 6.4 15.0 

 Food servers, nonrestaurant............................................................... 169 72.8 18.9 4.9 18.4 

 Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers..................... 320 77.2 13.7 6.6 28.8 

 Dishwashers.................................................................................... 263 80.6 10.9 3.5 39.5 

See notes at end of table.
19

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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........................ 258 87.2 8.0 2.8 12.5 

 Food preparation and serving related workers, all other........................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations..................... 5,349 80.5 13.8 2.9 34.1 

 First-line supervisors/managers of housekeeping 

 janitorial workers........................................................................... 276 80.4 13.5 2.8 21.0 

 First-line supervisors/managers of landscaping, 

 lawn service, and groundskeeping workers....................................... 263 93.9 3.9 1.2 22.2 

 Janitors and building cleaners............................................................ 2,149 77.0 17.3 2.9 29.4 

 Maids and housekeeping cleaners...................................................... 1,428 76.2 16.1 4.3 41.7 

 Pest control workers........................................................................ 55 85.5 9.4 3.7 23.4 

 Grounds maintenance workers............................................................ 1,178 88.8 7.0 1.5 39.6 

 Personal care and service occupations................................................... 5,043 75.4 14.5 7.4 14.3 

 First-line supervisors/managers of gaming workers................................. 154 87.7 4.8 5.4 6.1 

 First-line supervisors/managers of personal service workers..................... 212 74.5 7.6 17.3 6.3 

 Animal trainers................................................................................. 44 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Nonfarm animal caretakers............................................................... 163 89.6 4.4 1.7 11.2 

 Gaming services workers.................................................................. 127 56.7 11.0 26.0 11.2 

 Motion picture projectionists............................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers.......................................... 34 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous entertainment attendants and related workers..................... 163 84.7 8.3 3.2 11.5 

 Funeral service workers..................................................................... 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Barbers.......................................................................................... 93 61.3 35.0 1.8 19.8 

 Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists....................................... 800 82.0 11.9 4.3 12.1 

 Miscellaneous personal appearance workers.......................................... 242 42.1 5.7 49.6 8.3 

 Baggage porters, bellhops, and concierges.......................................... 74 63.5 27.1 5.7 19.8 

 Tour and travel guides..................................................................... 29 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

Transportation attendants Transportation attendants.................................................................. 133 75 2. 17 9. 4 3. 15 0.

 Child care workers........................................................................... 1,292 78.4 16.8 2.7 18.4 

 Personal and home care aides............................................................ 926 67.5 21.1 7.3 19.0 

 Recreation and fitness workers............................................................ 369 85.4 9.0 3.0 10.3 

 Residential advisors........................................................................ 71 67.6 29.6 1.6 5.8 

 Personal care and service workers, all other.......................................... 103 81.6 12.4 2.2 11.1 

Sales and office occupations.................................................................. 33,787 82.2 11.2 4.2 12.4 

 Sales and related occupations............................................................... 15,641 83.5 9.6 4.8 11.9 

 First-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers........................... 3,311 84.7 7.7 5.8 10.3 

 First-line supervisors/managers of non-retail sales workers..................... 1,291 88.1 6.1 4.5 9.0 

 Cashiers....................................................................................... 3,056 75.4 15.6 6.3 17.2 

 Counter and rental clerks.................................................................. 142 79.6 14.1 5.4 10.1 

 Parts salespersons........................................................................... 102 91.2 6.9 .2 11.9 

 Retail salespersons........................................................................... 3,182 81.6 10.9 5.0 14.0 

 Advertising sales agents..................................................................... 209 90.4 6.8 1.3 3.5 

 Insurance sales agents..................................................................... 548 89.6 6.3 2.1 9.5 

 Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents..................... 329 88.1 5.6 4.5 7.8 

 Travel agents................................................................................. 72 81.9 11.8 3.3 10.7 

 Sales representatives, services, all other............................................. 514 85.8 8.6 3.7 11.4 

 Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing.............................. 1,317 91.0 4.7 2.6 8.2 

 Models, demonstrators, and product promoters....................................... 63 84.1 10.5 1.4 7.1 

See notes at end of table.
20

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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................................................... 860 87.8 5.7 4.8 7.4 

 Sales engineers.............................................................................. 29 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Telemarketers................................................................................. 122 72.1 21.7 1.1 10.6 

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

 and related workers........................................................................ 217 85.7 10.0 2.2 19.5 

 Sales and related workers, all other...................................................... 277 86.3 8.8 2.7 7.8 

 Office and administrative support occupations.......................................... 18,146 81.1 12.7 3.6 12.7 

 First-line supervisors/managers of office and

 administrative support workers......................................................... 1,632 84.9 9.8 2.9 10.7 

 Switchboard operators, including answering service................................. 47 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Telephone operators........................................................................ 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Communications equipment operators, all other.................................... 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bill and account collectors.................................................................. 195 75.4 19.9 2.0 15.7 

 Billing and posting clerks and machine operators.................................... 481 81.3 13.4 2.9 13.9 

 Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks....................................... 1,306 87.4 6.6 3.7 7.5 

 Gaming cage workers........................................................................ 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Payroll and timekeeping clerks............................................................ 150 80.0 15.1 3.9 14.4 

 Procurement clerks........................................................................... 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tellers.......................................................................................... 432 82.9 10.4 5.0 13.7 

 Brokerage clerks.............................................................................. 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Correspondence clerks..................................................................... 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Court, municipal, and license clerks...................................................... 105 74.3 18.1 5.0 10.3 

 Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks................................................ 48 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Customer service representatives...................................................... 1,862 74.9 18.0 3.9 15.6 

 Eligibility interviewers, government programs.......................................... 63 65.1 22.6 5.0 19.2 

 File clerks....................................................................................... 324 77.8 14.6 4.5 13.8 

 Hotel, mote H t l t l d td k l k l, and resort desk clerks...................................................... 143 74.1 15.9 6.7 13.2 74 1 15 9 6 7 13 2

 Interviewers, except eligibility and loan................................................ 145 77.2 14.7 5.0 18.2 

 Library assistants, clerical.................................................................. 129 86.0 8.8 1.8 7.7 

 Loan interviewers and clerks............................................................... 113 85.8 10.3 3.3 13.2 

 New accounts clerks........................................................................ 25 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Order clerks.................................................................................... 102 78.4 12.2 8.5 19.6 

 Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping.................. 44 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Receptionists and information clerks................................................... 1,277 84.8 9.8 2.5 15.1 

 Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks.................. 111 73.9 16.5 5.5 9.0 

 Information and record clerks, all other................................................ 109 75.2 19.5 2.8 10.4 

 Cargo and freight agents.................................................................. 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Couriers and messengers.................................................................. 255 78.0 16.0 2.7 16.0 

 Dispatchers.................................................................................... 278 81.7 15.4 1.6 14.0 

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

) (1) (1) (1)

 Postal service clerks ........................................................................ 154 54.5 28.3 13.7 9.4 

 Postal service mail carriers............................................................... 355 75.8 14.9 7.7 9.1 

 Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing

 machine operators........................................................................... 72 65.3 26.4 6.7 7.1 

 Production, planning, and expediting clerks .......................................... 281 84.7 8.6 4.2 4.9 

 Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks................................................... 483 81.0 14.4 2.7 23.0 

 Stock clerks and order fillers............................................................... 1,397 76.4 15.8 4.4 17.5 

 Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping.................. 61 77.0 16.3 6.0 17.9 

See notes at end of table.
21

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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............................................. 3,176 87.7 8.3 1.9 9.2 

 Computer operators........................................................................... 115 70.4 21.5 4.2 14.4 

 Data entry keyers.............................................................................. 375 76.3 14.8 5.2 13.3 

 Word processors and typists............................................................... 163 76.7 17.1 3.7 19.0 

 Desktop publishers........................................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Insurance claims and policy processing clerks....................................... 252 79.0 16.7 1.8 12.9 

 Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service.................. 104 67.3 24.3 5.3 10.1 

 Office clerks, general........................................................................ 1,002 78.8 13.1 5.5 13.9 

 Office machine operators, except computer.......................................... 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Proofreaders and copy markers......................................................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Statistical assistants........................................................................ 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Office and administrative support workers, all other................................. 533 82.2 11.7 3.3 10.5 

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations ..................... 13,323 88.6 6.8 2.0 24.2 

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations................................................ 926 90.1 5.0 1.4 40.7 

 First-line supervisors/managers of farming, fishing,

 and forestry workers........................................................................ 49 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Agricultural inspectors........................................................................ 17 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Animal breeders.............................................................................. 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Graders and sorters, agricultural products............................................. 70 81.4 14.2 1.2 58.0 

 Miscellaneous agricultural workers...................................................... 681 92.5 3.2 1.2 45.7 

 Fishers and related fishing workers...................................................... 31 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Hunters and trappers........................................................................ 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Forest and conservation workers......................................................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Logging workers.............................................................................. 59 79.7 12.6 — 6.1 

 Construction and extraction occupations................................................ 7,439 89.8 6.0 1.4 28.5 

 First-line supervisors/managers of construction trades Fi t li i / f t ti t d

 and extraction workers..................................................................... 735 93.1 5.0 .8 16.1 

 Boilermakers.................................................................................... 22 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons .................................... 151 87.4 10.3 1.1 31.3 

Carpenters .................................................................................... 1,264 91.1 4.5 1.5 24.2 

 Carpet, floor, and tile installers and finishers.......................................... 223 93.3 2.3 1.8 44.5 

 Cement masons, concrete finishers, and terrazzo workers........................ 74 93.2 4.9 — 51.5 

 Construction laborers........................................................................ 1,427 87.5 7.4 1.9 44.2 

 Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators.............................. 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Pile-driver operators........................................................................ 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Operating engineers and other construction

 equipment operators........................................................................ 377 89.4 5.5 .8 13.7 

 Drywall installers, ceiling tile installers, and tapers................................. 170 92.4 3.2 — 56.6 

 Electricians.................................................................................... 776 89.4 6.7 1.7 15.3 

 Glaziers.......................................................................................... 46 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Insulation workers........................................................................... 36 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Painters, construction and maintenance................................................ 522 88.5 6.6 1.6 39.9 

 Paperhangers................................................................................. 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters................................. 536 90.3 6.5 1.4 18.0 

 Plasterers and stucco masons............................................................ 39 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Reinforcing iron and rebar workers...................................................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Roofers.......................................................................................... 216 88.4 4.4 0.9 47.7 

See notes at end of table.
22

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages 

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total 

(In thousands) White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Sheet metal workers........................................................................ 132 87.9 7.5 1.5 11.1 

 Structural iron and steel workers......................................................... 63 90.5 2.7 1.2 9.0 

 Helpers, construction trades............................................................... 64 93.8 5.9 .3 48.6 

 Construction and building inspectors................................................... 99 87.9 7.3 2.6 10.8 

 Elevator installers and repairers......................................................... 33 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Fence erectors................................................................................. 31 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Hazardous materials removal workers................................................... 32 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Highway maintenance workers............................................................ 108 82.4 13.6 .1 12.3 

 Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators........................... 12 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners....................................... 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous construction and related workers.................................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Derrick, rotary drill, and service unit operators, 

 oil, gas, and mining........................................................................ 30 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Earth drillers, except oil and gas......................................................... 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters.................. 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Mining machine operators .................................................................. 54 90.7 7.3 .1 14.9 

 Roof bolters, mining ........................................................................ 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Roustabouts, oil and gas.................................................................. 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Helpers—extraction workers............................................................... 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Other extraction workers..................................................................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.................................... 4,957 86.5 8.4 3.1 14.6 

 First-line supervisors/managers of mechanics, 

 installers, and repairers.................................................................. 342 89.5 7.0 2.0 9.8 

 Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers........................ 329 84.5 9.9 4.9 11.4 

 Radio and telecommunications equipment

 installers and repairers..................................................................... 179 82.1 12.6 3.3 12.5 1 1 1 1 Avionics technicians........................................................................ 14 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers.................................... 34 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electrical and electronics installers and repairers,

 transportation equipment.................................................................. 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electrical and electronics repairers, industrial and utility........................... 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles..................... 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electronic home entertainment equipment

 installers and repairers..................................................................... 64 79.7 9.0 7.7 19.8 

 Security and fire alarm systems installers ............................................. 71 94.4 2.9 — 13.0 

 Aircraft mechanics and service technicians.......................................... 142 84.5 7.0 6.9 15.5 

 Automotive body and related repairers................................................ 163 87.7 7.3 1.1 30.5 

 Automotive glass installers and repairers............................................. 24 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Automotive service technicians and mechanics....................................... 799 87.0 8.0 3.3 18.7 

 Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists........................... 330 86.7 7.1 3.3 13.0 

 Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service

 technicians and mechanics............................................................... 223 91.5 5.8 1.4 9.7 

 Small engine mechanics..................................................................... 58 89.7 4.4 2.5 7.0 

 Miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment

 mechanics, installers, and repairers................................................... 91 84.6 10.0 .8 19.1 

 Control and valve installers and repairers............................................. 25 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

See notes at end of table.
23

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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................................................................................. 376 91.0 6.1 1.8 18.7 

 Home appliance repairers.................................................................. 49 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics....................................... 418 85.6 9.2 3.2 11.3 

 Maintenance and repair workers, general............................................. 415 83.6 11.0 2.9 15.2 

 Maintenance workers, machinery......................................................... 34 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Millwrights....................................................................................... 54 96.3 2.1 .5 2.1 

 Electrical power-line installers and repairers.......................................... 126 88.1 10.0 .7 10.8 

 Telecommunications line installers and repairers.................................... 183 80.3 14.2 3.0 15.4 

 Precision instrument and equipment repairers....................................... 55 78.2 13.2 7.5 8.2 

 Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and

 repairers....................................................................................... 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Commercial divers........................................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Locksmiths and safe repairers............................................................ 32 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Manufactured building and mobile home installers................................. 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Riggers.......................................................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Signal and track switch repairers......................................................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Helpers—installation, maintenance, and repair workers........................... 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Other installation, maintenance, and repair workers................................. 195 85.1 7.9 4.0 16.7 

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations........................ 15,951 80.3 13.5 3.7 21.1 

 Production occupations........................................................................ 7,654 81.3 11.5 4.9 21.9 

 First-line supervisors/managers of production

 and operating workers..................................................................... 739 84.7 9.3 4.9 14.8 

 Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers..................... 23 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers........................ 147 71.4 11.6 13.2 28.8 

E i d th hi bl 18 (

1

) (

1

) (

1

) (

1 Engine and other machine assemblers................................................ 18 ( ) 1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Structural metal fabricators and fitters................................................... 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators............................................. 845 76.7 14.0 6.6 18.7 

 Bakers.......................................................................................... 193 87.0 6.3 4.5 32.7 

 Butchers and other meat, poultry, and fish processing workers.................. 302 72.8 16.7 7.8 35.9 

 Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying

 machine operators and tenders......................................................... 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Food batchmakers........................................................................... 87 87.4 7.0 1.8 32.5 

 Food cooking machine operators and tenders....................................... 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Computer control programmers and operators....................................... 64 85.9 5.9 5.5 9.9 

 Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic......................................................... 5 (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........................................................................... 9 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic......................................................... 81 86.4 10.0 1.6 18.1 

 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........................... 48 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

See notes at end of table.
24

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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............................................................... 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Milling and planning machine setters, operators, and 

 tenders, metal and plastic............................................................... 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Machinists....................................................................................... 372 86.6 5.1 5.7 15.0 

 Metal furnace and kiln operators and tenders....................................... 19 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Model makers and patternmakers, metal and plastic.............................. 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Molders and molding machine setters, operators,

 and tenders, metal and plastic......................................................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic........................................................................... 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tool and die makers........................................................................ 54 98.1 (2

) .4 11.6 

 Welding, soldering, and brazing workers................................................ 459 85.4 9.0 3.4 18.1 

 Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders,

 metal and plastic........................................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Lay-out workers, metal and plastic...................................................... 6 (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................................................... 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Metalworkers and plastic workers, all other.......................................... 284 82.4 9.9 5.8 27.5 

 Bookbinders and bindery workers......................................................... 25 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Job printers.................................................................................... 50 76.0 15.3 7.5 11.0 

 Prepress technicians and workers...................................................... 44 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Printing machine operators............................................................... 155 87.7 7.7 2.9 18.6 

 Laundry and dry-cleaning workers...................................................... 192 69.8 17.8 9.3 30.6 

 Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials.................................... 55 70.9 21.3 4.2 35.7 

 Sewing machine operators.................................................................. 197 75.6 10.0 13.3 41.7 

 Shoe and leather workers and repairers................................................ 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Shoe machine operators and tenders................................................... 6 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tailors, dressmakers, and sewers...................................................... 74 74.3 8.6 16.5 24.3 

 Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders.................. 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders........................... 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Textile knitting and weaving machine setters,

 operators, and tenders..................................................................... 8 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine

 setters, operators, and tenders......................................................... 16 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Extruding and forming machine setters, operator,

 and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers................................................ —— — — —

 Fabric and apparel patternmakers...................................................... 2 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Upholsterers.................................................................................... 47 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Textile, apparel, and furnishings workers, all other................................. 14 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters................................................... 50 94.0 4.7 .9 24.1 

 Furniture finishers........................................................................... 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Model makers and patternmakers, wood................................................ —— — — —

 Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood........................... 27 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders,

 except sawing.............................................................................. 27 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

See notes at end of table.
25

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages 

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total 

(In thousands) White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Woodworkers, all other..................................................................... 29 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers.............................. 41 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Stationary engineers and boiler operators............................................. 98 83.7 10.4 3.1 12.0 

 Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators.................. 72 75.0 18.9 2.9 6.3 

 Miscellaneous plant and system operators............................................. 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Chemical processing machine setters, operators, and tenders.................. 48 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Crushing, grinding, polishing, mixing, and blending workers..................... 108 84.3 11.5 2.1 27.2 

 Cutting workers.............................................................................. 81 82.7 10.6 5.3 29.9 

 Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting

 machine setters, operators, and tenders............................................. 33 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders..................... 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers.............................. 612 81.4 11.0 4.5 14.5 

 Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers.................................... 39 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Medical, dental, and ophthalmic laboratory technicians........................... 96 86.5 6.7 5.9 16.4 

 Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders.............................. 237 77.6 15.8 4.0 45.1 

 Painting workers.............................................................................. 153 80.4 14.8 .7 22.1 

 Photographic process workers and processing 

 machine operators........................................................................... 54 72.2 23.1 2.2 10.5 

 Semiconductor processors.................................................................. 3 (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..................................................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders........................... 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Etchers and engravers..................................................................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic........................... 38 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders.............................. 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tire builders.................................................................................... 18 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Helpers—production workers............................................................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Production workers, all other............................................................... 807 79.8 14.9 3.1 23.9 

 Transportation and material moving occupations....................................... 8,297 79.4 15.3 2.6 20.4 

 Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers........................ 221 80.5 13.2 2.2 15.0 

 Aircraft pilots and flight engineers......................................................... 126 92.1 2.3 1.6 3.9 

 Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists........................... 40 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ambulance drivers and attendants, except

 emergency medical technicians......................................................... 13 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bus drivers.................................................................................... 655 70.7 24.9 2.0 13.3 

 Driver/sales workers and truck drivers................................................... 3,151 82.5 13.4 1.8 18.7 

 Taxi drivers and chauffeurs............................................................... 377 59.2 25.7 12.6 15.3 

 Motor vehicle operators, all other......................................................... 61 90.2 6.2 .5 17.3 

 Locomotive engineers and operators................................................... 57 87.7 8.5 .5 4.9 

 Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators.......................................... 5 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Railroad conductors and yardmasters................................................... 50 86.0 10.7 — 13.7 

 Subway, streetcar, and other rail transportation workers........................... 11 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Sailors and marine oilers.................................................................. 21 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ship and boat captains and operators................................................... 35 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Ship engineers................................................................................. 7 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Bridge and lock tenders ..................................................................... 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

See notes at end of table.
26

Table 6. Employed people by detailed occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages 

 —Continued

Percent of total employed

 Occupation

Total 

(In thousands) White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Parking lot attendants ..................................................................... 84 63.1 24.4 8.5 22.2 

 Service station attendants .................................................................. 89 84.3 9.3 4.7 14.1 

 Transportation inspectors .................................................................. 54 87.0 11.7 2.3 9.9 

 Other transportation workers ............................................................ 15 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Conveyor operators and tenders ......................................................... 10 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Crane and tower operators ............................................................... 61 83.6 12.8 .3 14.0 

 Dredge, excavating, and loading machine operators .............................. 50 94.0 3.3 — 13.0 

 Hoist and winch operators.................................................................. 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Industrial truck and tractor operators ................................................... 507 72.8 22.4 1.7 26.6 

 Cleaners of vehicles and equipment ................................................... 316 80.4 16.4 1.7 37.1 

 Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand ........................... 1,707 80.4 14.0 2.7 21.9 

 Machine feeders and offbearers ......................................................... 29 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Packers and packagers, hand ............................................................ 378 80.4 12.3 4.8 43.7 

 Pumping station operators ............................................................... 22 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Refuse and recyclable material collectors ............................................. 83 77.1 17.0 .2 25.9 

 Shuttle car operators........................................................................ 3 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Tank car, truck, and ship loaders ......................................................... 4 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

 Material moving workers, all other...................................................... 46 (1

) (1) (1) (1)

1 Percents are not shown where base is less than 50,000.

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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or 

Latino may be of any race.

1 Percents are not shown where base is less than 50,000.

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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or 

Latino may be of any race.
27

Table 7. Employed people by industry, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages 

Industry and sex Total White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older (thousands)........................ 139,877 114,996 15,025 6,635 19,647 

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

 Agriculture, forestry, and fishing................................. 1.5 1.7 .4 .4 2.2 

 Mining .................................................................. .5 .6 .2 .1 .6 

 Construction............................................................ 6.9 7.7 3.4 2.3 11.6 

 Manufacturing......................................................... 10.2 10.3 8.4 11.8 11.1 

 Durable goods...................................................... 6.4 6.6 4.5 7.9 5.8 

 Nondurable goods................................................ 3.8 3.8 3.9 4.0 5.2 

 Wholesale and retail trade.......................................... 14.1 14.3 12.7 14.0 14.0 

 Wholesale trade................................................... 2.7 2.9 1.8 2.4 2.8 

 Retail trade......................................................... 11.4 11.4 10.9 11.6 11.2 

 Transportation and utilities....................................... 5.2 4.9 7.6 4.2 5.1 

 Information............................................................ 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.6 1.6 

 Financial activities................................................... 6.9 7.0 5.9 6.8 5.0 

 Professional and business services.............................. 10.7 10.8 8.9 13.0 10.6 

 Education and health services.................................... 22.7 21.9 29.7 22.8 16.2 

 Leisure and hospitality............................................. 9.1 8.9 8.8 12.1 12.4 

 Other services......................................................... 5.0 5.0 4.5 6.0 6.2 

 Other services, except private households............... 4.4 4.4 4.1 5.6 4.7 

 Private households................................................ .6 .6 .4 .4 1.5 

 Public administration................................................ 4.9 4.6 7.1 3.8 3.5 

 Men, 16 years and older (thousands)........................ 73,670 61,630 6,817 3,551 11,640 

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

 Agriculture, forestry, and fishing................................. 2.2 2.4 .8 .4 3.0 

 Mining .................................................................. .8 .9 .4 .2 .8 

 Construction............................................................ 11.9 12.9 6.8 3.8 18.9 

 Manufacturing...................................................... g ... 13.8 13.9 12.6 14.4 12.9 

 Durable goods...................................................... 9.1 9.3 7.1 10.4 7.4 

 Nondurable goods................................................ 4.6 4.6 5.5 4.0 5.5 

 Wholesale and retail trade.......................................... 14.6 14.7 14.2 14.7 13.6 

 Wholesale trade................................................... 3.7 3.8 3.1 2.9 3.5 

 Retail trade......................................................... 11.0 10.9 11.1 11.8 10.1 

 Transportation and utilities....................................... 7.6 7.1 12.5 6.0 6.8 

 Information............................................................ 2.6 2.5 2.6 3.3 1.6 

 Financial activities................................................... 6.0 6.1 5.0 6.6 3.9 

 Professional and business services.............................. 11.9 11.8 10.5 15.4 11.4 

 Education and health services.................................... 10.7 10.1 13.8 14.7 6.8 

 Leisure and hospitality............................................. 8.4 8.0 9.1 12.3 11.7 

 Other services......................................................... 4.5 4.4 5.1 4.6 5.4 

 Other services, except private households............... 4.4 4.3 5.0 4.5 5.2 

 Private households................................................ .1 .1 .0 .1 .2 

 Public administration................................................ 5.1 5.0 6.7 3.7 3.2 

See note at end of table.
28

Table 7. Employed people by industry, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages 

 —Continued

Industry and sex Total White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Women, 16 years and older (thousands).................. 66,208 53,366 8,208 3,084 8,007 

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

 Agriculture, forestry, and fishing................................. .7 .9 .1 .3 1.0 

 Mining .................................................................. .1 .2 .1 .1 .1 

 Construction............................................................ 1.4 1.6 .6 .5 1.0 

 Manufacturing......................................................... 6.1 6.2 4.8 8.9 8.5 

 Durable goods...................................................... 3.3 3.4 2.3 4.9 3.6 

 Nondurable goods................................................ 2.8 2.8 2.6 4.0 4.9 

 Wholesale and retail trade.......................................... 13.5 13.8 11.5 13.3 14.5 

 Wholesale trade................................................... 1.7 1.8 .8 1.8 1.8 

 Retail trade......................................................... 11.8 12.0 10.7 11.4 12.7 

 Transportation and utilities....................................... 2.5 2.4 3.6 2.1 2.8 

 Information............................................................ 2.1 2.0 2.2 1.9 1.5 

 Financial activities................................................... 7.8 8.1 6.7 7.0 6.5 

 Professional and business services.............................. 9.5 9.7 7.5 10.2 9.4 

 Education and health services.................................... 36.1 35.5 42.9 32.1 29.8 

 Leisure and hospitality............................................. 9.9 9.9 8.7 11.9 13.4 

 Other services......................................................... 5.5 5.6 4.0 7.7 7.3 

 Other services, except private households............... 4.4 4.4 3.3 6.9 4.0 

 Private households................................................ 1.1 1.2 .6 .8 3.3 

 Public administration................................................ 4.7 4.3 7.5 4.0 4.0 

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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 
29

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

2009 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 ..................................................................... 78,361 63,774 9,318 3,471 10,489 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 63,010 51,494 7,022 3,057 8,852 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 80.4 80.7 75.4 88.1 84.4 

With unemployed member(s) ................................................... 9,381 7,089 1,624 394 1,770 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 12.0 11.1 17.4 11.4 16.9 

Some member(s) employed ................................................... 6,438 5,072 886 306 1,228 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 68.6 71.5 54.6 77.7 69.4 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 5,460 4,294 748 272 1,021 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 58.2 60.6 46.1 69.0 57.7 

 Married-couple families ......................................................... 58,124 49,970 4,260 2,776 6,741 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 47,876 40,913 3,551 2,462 5,951 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 82.4 81.9 83.4 88.7 88.3 

With unemployed member(s) ................................................... 6,056 4,972 626 304 1,109 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 10.4 9.9 14.7 11.0 16.5 

Some member(s) employed ................................................... 4,838 3,986 483 252 864 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 79.9 80.2 77.2 82.9 77.9 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 4,182 3,432 424 224 736 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 69.1 69.0 67.7 73.7 66.4 

Families maintained by women ............................................. 14,610 9,590 4,086 447 2,608 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 10,642 7,169 2,764 377 1,917 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 72.8 74.8 67.6 84.3 73.5 

With unemployed member(s) ................................................... 2,309 1,399 774 51 442 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 15.8 14.6 18.9 11.4 16.9 

S b () l d Some member(s) employed ................................................... 1 065, 705 293 30 232 705 293 30 232

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 46.1 50.4 37.9 58.8 52.5 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 823 541 228 26 171 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 35.6 38.7 29.5 51.0 38.7 

 Families maintained by men ................................................... 5,627 4,214 972 248 1,140 

With employed member(s) ......................................................... 4,492 3,412 707 218 984 

As a percent of total families ................................................... 79.8 81.0 72.7 87.9 86.3 

With unemployed member(s) ................................................... 1,016 717 224 38 219 

As a percent of total families ................................................ 18.1 17.0 23.0 15.3 19.2 

Some member(s) employed ................................................... 535 381 110 24 132 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)............... 52.7 53.1 49.1 63.2 60.3 

 Some usually work full time ................................................ 455 321 96 22 113 

 As a percent of families with unemployed member(s)......... 44.8 44.8 42.9 57.9 51.6 

  

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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. 
30

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

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2009 annual averages

(Percent)

Total, 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

2009............ 59.3 64.6 54.0 59.9 65.4 54.3 55.9 59.3 52.7

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

Year

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

2009............ 81.3 93.8 71.4 81.8 94.5 70.9 80.2 87.7 76.3

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

2009............ 84.2 92.7 77.3 84.7 93.7 77.0 82.2 85.7 80.3

See note at end of table.
31

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

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2009 annual averages—Continued

(Percent)

Total, 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

2009............ 77.8 95.1 64.2 78.1 95.6 63.3 77.7 90.4 71.4

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

Year

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

2009............ 76.1 95.0 61.1 76.6 95.5 60.5 74.5 90.2 66.6

See note at end of table.
32

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

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2009 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

2009................................. 59.0 65.3 53.1 62.6 70.7 52.8

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

— — —

Year

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

2009................................. 80.1 94.1 68.0 76.5 94.2 61.5

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

2009................................. 82.7 92.9 74.0 80.7 93.6 69.9

See note at end of table. 31
33

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

Latino ethnicity, 1996–2009 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

2009................................. 77.3 95.4 61.4 72.4 94.9 53.1

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

Year

— — —

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

2009................................. 76.1 95.9 58.2 70.0 94.4 49.1

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for White, Black or African American, and Asian race groups include people who selected that

race group only; previously, those respondents with a multiracial background 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. People 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.
34

Table 10. Unemployment rates by sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1972–2009 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

Total Black or African American

Year

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

2009...... 9.3 10.3 8.1 8.5 9.4 7.3 14.8 17.5 12.4 7.3 7.9 6.6 12.1 12.5 11.5

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for White, Back or African American, and Asian race groups include people who selected that race 

group only; previously, those respondents with a multiracial background 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. People whose ethnicity is 

identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash indicates data not available.
35

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

2009 annual averages

Duration of unemployment Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older (In thousands)................... 14,265 10,648 2,606 522 2,706 

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

Less than 5 weeks........................................................ 22.2 23.5 16.6 20.6 24.9 

5 to 14 weeks............................................................... 26.8 27.3 24.8 25.8 27.7 

15 to 26 weeks................................................................. 19.5 19.5 19.7 18.4 19.1 

27 weeks and over....................................................... 31.5 29.7 38.9 35.1 28.2 

Average (mean) duration, in weeks................................. 24.4 23.3 28.9 26.9 22.6 

Median duration, in weeks............................................. 15.1 14.2 19.7 16.6 13.5 

 Men, 16 years and older (In thousands)................... 8,453 6,421 1,448 306 1,670 

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

Less than 5 weeks........................................................ 21.7 22.9 16.5 20.3 25.2 

5 to 14 weeks............................................................... 26.6 27.1 24.5 24.9 28.8 

15 to 26 weeks................................................................. 20.0 20.1 19.6 18.6 19.6 

27 weeks and over....................................................... 31.7 29.9 39.4 36.2 26.4 

Average (mean) duration, in weeks................................. 24.6 23.5 29.3 27.5 21.5 

Median duration, in weeks............................................. 15.5 14.5 19.8 17.4 13.0 

 Women, 16 years and older (In thousands)................ 5,811 4,227 1,159 216 1,036 

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

Less than 5 weeks........................................................ 22.9 24.4 16.7 21.0 24.4 

5 to 14 weeks............................................................... 27.2 27.7 25.2 27.1 26.1 

15 to 26 weeks................................................................. 18.7 18.5 19.8 18.2 18.4 

27 weeks and over....................................................... 31.2 29.4 38.3 33.7 31.2 

Average (mean) duration, in weeks................................. 24.1 23.0 28.4 25.9 24.3 

Median duration, in weeks............................................. 14.5 13.7 19.5 15.6 14.3 

 

 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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
36

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

2009 annual averages

Reason for unemployment Total White

Black or 

African 

American

Asian

Hispanic or 

Latino 

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older (In thousands)................... 14,265 10,648 2,606 522 2,706 

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

Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs......... 64.2 66.2 58.4 61.7 65.8 

 On temporary layoff....................................................... 11.4 13.0 6.0 7.3 12.2 

 Not on temporary layoff.................................................... 52.8 53.1 52.3 54.4 53.6 

 Permanent job losers................................................. 43.0 43.6 41.1 46.6 40.5 

 Persons who completed temporary jobs......................... 9.8 9.5 11.2 7.8 13.1 

Job leavers...................................................................... 6.2 6.2 5.4 7.5 4.9 

Reentrants......................................................................... 22.3 21.0 27.0 21.2 20.7 

New entrants...................................................................... 7.3 6.7 9.2 9.6 8.7 

 Men, 16 years and older (In thousands)................... 8,453 6,421 1,448 306 1,670 

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

Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs......... 70.6 72.8 63.6 66.7 74.3 

 On temporary layoff....................................................... 13.6 15.4 6.9 7.5 14.4 

 Not on temporary layoff.................................................... 57.0 57.3 56.7 58.8 60.0 

 Permanent job losers................................................. 45.8 46.6 43.4 50.3 44.9 

 Persons who completed temporary jobs......................... 11.2 10.8 13.3 8.5 15.1 

Job leavers...................................................................... 5.2 5.2 4.5 6.9 3.8 

Reentrants......................................................................... 17.8 6.3 23.0 18.0 14.6 

New entrants...................................................................... 6.4 5.8 8.9 8.5 7.2 

 Women, 16 years and older (In thousands) ............. 5,811 4,227 1,159 216 1,036 

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

Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs......... 54.9 56.1 51.8 54.6 51.9 

 On tem porary layoff............. ff.................................................... .......................................... 8.3 9.4 4.9 6.9 8.7 8.3 9.4 4.9 6.9 8.7

 Not on temporary layoff.................................................... 46.7 46.7 46.9 47.7 43.2 

 Permanent job losers................................................. 38.9 39.1 38.3 41.2 33.4 

 Persons who completed temporary jobs......................... 7.8 7.7 8.5 6.5 9.8 

Job leavers...................................................................... 7.6 7.7 6.6 8.3 6.6 

Reentrants......................................................................... 29.0 28.1 32.0 25.5 30.5 

New entrants...................................................................... 8.4 8.0 9.7 11.1 11.0 

 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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
37

Table 13. People in the labor force and not in the labor force by selected characteristics, 2009 annual averages

(Numbers 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 a

job

now

Total

Total, 16 years and older.................. 154,142 81,659 5,894 2,818 2,226 778 1,449 75,765 

 16 to 24 years................................. 21,361 16,207 1,944 983 708 200 509 14,263 

 25 to 54 years................................. 103,742 21,823 2,624 1,383 1,127 427 699 19,199 

 55 years and older..................... 29,040 43,629 1,325 452 391 151 240 42,303 

Men, 16 years and older................... 82,123 32,013 2,779 1,435 1,184 485 699 29,234 

 16 to 24 years................................. 11,066 7,861 1,028 538 402 139 263 6,833 

 25 to 54 years................................. 55,730 6,367 1,138 676 588 265 323 5,229 

 55 years and older....................... 15,327 17,784 612 220 194 81 113 17,172 

Women, 16 years and older............. 72,019 49,646 3,115 1,384 1,043 293 749 46,531 

 16 to 24 years................................. 10,295 8,346 915 445 307 61 246 7,431 

 25 to 54 years................................. 48,012 15,456 1,486 707 539 162 376 13,970 

 55 years and older........................ 13,712 25,844 713 231 197 70 127 25,131 

White

Total, 16 years and older.................. 125,644 65,258 4,229 1,967 1,530 512 1,018 61,030 

 16 to 24 years................................. 17,290 11,709 1,365 677 472 125 347 10,343 

25 t 54 83 444 16 571 1 814 937 755 275 480 14 757

Available for work now 3

Total Discouraged

workers 4 Other

 25 to 54 years................................. 83,444 16,571 1,814 937 755 275 480 14,757 

 55 years and older........................ 24,911 36,979 1,049 353 304 113 191 35,930 

Men, 16 years and older................... 68,051 25,382 2,014 1,008 822 329 494 23,368 

 16 to 24 years................................. 9,026 5,694 727 373 271 88 183 4,967 

 25 to 54 years................................. 45,678 4,548 791 463 401 178 223 3,758 

 55 years and older....................... 13,346 15,140 496 172 150 63 88 14,643 

Women, 16 years and older............. 57,593 39,876 2,215 959 708 184 524 37,662 

 16 to 24 years................................. 8,264 6,015 638 304 201 37 164 5,376 

 25 to 54 years................................. 37,765 12,022 1,023 474 354 96 257 10,999 

 55 years and older....................... 11,564 21,839 553 181 154 51 103 21,286 

Black or African American

Total, 16 years and older.................. 17,632 10,609 1,135 595 508 197 310 9,474 

 16 to 24 years................................. 2,691 2,966 412 221 181 61 119 2,554 

 25 to 54 years................................. 12,451 3,298 541 309 267 111 155 2,757 

 55 years and older....................... 2,490 4,345 182 66 60 25 36 4,163 

 

Men, 16 years and older................... 8,265 4,441 533 301 263 116 147 3,908 

 16 to 24 years................................. 1,304 1,433 218 119 99 41 58 1,215 

 25 to 54 years................................. 5,825 1,291 240 151 137 64 73 1,051 

 55 years and older....................... 1,135 1,717 75 30 28 11 17 1,642 

Women, 16 years and older............. 9,367 6,169 603 295 244 81 163 5,566 

 16 to 24 years................................. 1,387 1,534 194 102 82 21 61 1,339 

 25 to 54 years................................. 6,626 2,007 301 157 130 47 83 1,706 

 55 years and older........................ 1,355 2,628 108 36 33 14 19 2,521 

See notes at end of table. 
38

Table 13. People in the labor force and not in the labor force by selected characteristics,

 2009 annual averages—Continued

(Numbers 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 a

job

now

Asian

Total, 16 years and older.................. 7,156 3,685 292 141 98 37 61 3,393 

 16 to 24 years................................. 616 871 75 40 24 5 19 796 

 25 to 54 years................................. 5,364 1,225 161 79 56 22 33 1,064 

 55 years and older....................... 1,175 1,589 57 23 18 10 8 1,533 

Men, 16 years and older................... 3,857 1,314 130 72 53 22 31 1,184 

 16 to 24 years................................. 331 420 42 25 16 4 12 379 

 25 to 54 years................................. 2,908 273 65 36 27 13 15 208 

 55 years and older..................... 617 621 24 11 9 5 4 597 

Women, 16 years and older............. 3,300 2,371 162 69 45 15 30 2,209 

 16 to 24 years................................. 285 451 33 15 8 1 7 418 

 25 to 54 years................................. 2,456 952 96 43 28 10 19 856 

 55 years and older....................... 559 969 33 12 9 5 4 935 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total, 16 years and older.................. 22,352 10,539 1,024 473 381 144 236 9,515 

 16 to 24 years................................. 3,710 3,036 359 177 129 41 88 2,677 

 25 to 54 years................................. 16,303 4,065 527 250 211 85 126 3,538 

 55 years and older...................... 2,339 3,437 138 46 40 18 22 3,300 

Men, 16 years and older................... 13,310 3,588 438 232 196 86 110 3,150 

 16 to 24 years................................. 2,122 1,345 174 91 68 27 42 1,171 

 25 to 54 years................................. 9,868 919 202 120 109 51 58 718 

 55 years and older....................... 1,319 1,324 62 21 18 8 10 1,261 

Women, 16 years and older............. 9,043 6,951 586 241 185 58 126 6,365 

 16 to 24 years................................. 1,588 1,691 185 86 61 14 46 1,505 

 25 to 54 years................................. 6,435 3,146 325 130 102 34 68 2,821 

 55 years and older...................... 1,020 2,114 75 25 22 10 12 2,038 

Other

Available for work now 3

Total Discouraged 

workers 4

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 people who have searched for work during the prior 12 months (but not during the prior 4 weeks) and were available to take a job 

during the reference week, also 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 fi nd 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 ar e not presented 

for all races. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
39

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

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2009 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

2009..................... 739 757 601 880 541

See note at end of table.
40

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

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2009 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

2009..................... 819 845 621 952 569

See note at end of table.
41

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

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2009 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

2009..................... 657 669 582 779 509

See note at end of table.
42

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

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 1979–2009 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

2009..................... 80.2 79.2 93.7 81.8 89.5

NOTE: Beginning in 2003, estimates for White, Black or African American, and Asian race groups include people who 

selected that race group only; previously, those respondents with a multiracial background 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. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Dash indicates data not 

available.
43

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

attainment, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 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 older............................................ $774 $799 $621 $907 $576 

Less than a high school diploma.................................... 454 464 413 421 421 

High school graduates, no college1

................................. 626 651 533 592 555 

Some college, no degree................................................ 699 727 593 713 644 

Associate degree............................................................ 761 781 647 710 685 

Bachelor's degree and higher2

....................................... 1,137 1,152 921 1,168 985 

 Men, 25 years and older............................................ $873 $898 $656 $980 $598 

Less than a high school diploma.................................... 500 504 453 487 469 

High school graduates, no college1

................................. 716 740 588 632 594 

Some college, no degree................................................ 810 845 623 780 716 

Associate degree............................................................ 878 902 713 764 756 

Bachelor's degree and higher2

....................................... 1,327 1,352 987 1,326 1,106 

 Women, 25 years and older....................................... $687 $702 $600 $809 $529 

Less than a high school diploma.................................... 382 378 391 390 355 

High school graduates, no college1

................................. 542 556 497 515 495 

Some college, no degree................................................ 608 618 567 631 579 

Associate degree............................................................ 674 689 604 619 615 

Bachelor's degree and higher2

....................................... 970 976 886 1,045 884 

1 Includes people with a high school diploma or equivalent Includes people with a high school diploma or equivalent.

2 Includes people with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.

NOTE: People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
44

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

sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages

Occupation Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or Latino 

ethnicity

 Total, 16 years and older............................................................ $739 $757 $601 $880 $541

Management, professional, and related occupations........................... 1,044 1,061 844 1,227 891

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations............ 1,138 1,154 905 1,247 926

 Management occupations......................................................... 1,208 1,234 935 1,428 974

 Business and financial operations occupations.............................. 996 1,012 864 1,102 798

 Professional and related occupations............................................. 994 1,005 803 1,218 859

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 1,253 1,255 1,021 1,343 1,033

 Architecture and engineering occupations..................................... 1,266 1,269 1,064 1,357 1,197

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. 1,059 1,094 756 1,115 977

 Community and social services occupations................................. 783 805 733 911 745

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1,200 1,213 947 1,542 899

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 887 899 767 1,016 803

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 888 887 876 996 718

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................... 970 983 768 1,169 848

Service occupations..................................................................... 470 475 447 486 410

 Healthcare support occupations................................................... 472 482 440 522 473

 Protective service occupations...................................................... 747 811 579 955 667

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 398 397 392 434 380

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 444 443 424 498 400

 Personal care and service occupations........................................... 440 439 448 450 406

Sales and office occupations......................................................... 624 635 578 671 556

 Sales and related occupations...................................................... 665 698 497 648 521

 Office and administrative support occupations................................. 612 613 596 690 566

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations............ 719 727 615 783 553

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................................... 416 417 398 377 388

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 718 724 622 715 576

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.......................... , ,p p ... 781 791 634 865 621

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............... 605 618 540 566 485

 Production occupations............................................................... 610 622 539 575 475

 Transportation and material moving occupations............................... 599 613 540 532 495

See note at end of table. 
45

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

 sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages—Continued

Occupation Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or Latino 

ethnicity

 Men, 16 years and older............................................................ $819 $845 $621 $952 $569

Management, professional, and related occupations........................... 1,248 1,266 922 1,357 1,017

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations............ 1,334 1,356 940 1,429 1,035

 Management occupations......................................................... 1,384 1,406 942 1,542 1,066

 Business and financial operations occupations.............................. 1,171 1,211 932 1,173 987

 Professional and related occupations............................................. 1,191 1,213 910 1,338 1,000

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 1,304 1,316 1,026 1,349 1,004

 Architecture and engineering occupations..................................... 1,318 1,324 1,144 1,398 1,202

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. 1,190 1,226 714 1,167 983

 Community and social services occupations................................. 897 946 732 962 902

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 1,741 1,761 1,131 1,748 965

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 1,068 1,081 992 1,162 1,051

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 960 965 874 1,068 761

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................... 1,184 1,253 793 1,400 976

Service occupations..................................................................... 524 538 499 533 442

 Healthcare support occupations................................................... 544 566 506 780 596

 Protective service occupations...................................................... 798 849 600 948 704

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 416 416 400 487 401

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 488 490 466 513 425

 Personal care and service occupations........................................... 546 553 554 512 503

Sales and office occupations......................................................... 737 759 602 705 576

 Sales and related occupations...................................................... 793 832 591 716 601

 Office and administrative support occupations................................. 657 666 613 678 554

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations............ 727 736 617 803 563

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................................... 428 433 393 395 401

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 719 726 620 717 577 Co st uct o a d e t act o occupat o s 9 6 6 0 5

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............................. 787 796 634 895 623

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............... 648 666 582 617 516

 Production occupations............................................................... 678 689 613 646 518

 Transportation and material moving occupations............................... 618 637 554 577 514

See note at end of table.
46

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

 sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 2009 annual averages—Continued

Occupation Total White

Black or 

African

American

Asian

Hispanic

or Latino 

ethnicity

 Women, 16 years and older......................................................... $657 $669 $582 $779 $509

Management, professional, and related occupations........................... 907 913 800 1,097 774

 Management, business, and financial operations occupations............ 955 960 882 1,083 807

 Management occupations......................................................... 1,002 1,012 929 1,205 897

 Business and financial operations occupations.............................. 894 893 832 1,045 740

 Professional and related occupations............................................. 880 886 763 1,101 760

 Computer and mathematical occupations.................................... 1,149 1,132 1,018 1,330 1,082

 Architecture and engineering occupations..................................... 1,061 1,086 873 1,021 1,181

 Life, physical, and social science occupations.............................. 940 949 761 954 957

 Community and social services occupations................................. 741 742 734 850 701

 Legal occupations.................................................................. 985 984 896 1,374 736

 Education, training, and library occupations................................. 836 847 736 921 753

 Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations............ 775 776 879 836 667

 Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations........................... 924 935 766 1,132 780

Service occupations..................................................................... 418 417 418 450 378

 Healthcare support occupations................................................... 464 476 429 504 455

 Protective service occupations...................................................... 599 649 521 988 523

 Food preparation and serving related occupations........................... 378 376 383 398 342

 Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations............ 388 381 402 481 358

 Personal care and service occupations........................................... 415 417 408 429 383

Sales and office occupations......................................................... 590 593 558 649 543

 Sales and related occupations...................................................... 525 552 436 528 456

 Office and administrative support occupations................................. 602 602 591 693 572

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations............ 542 544 557 491 385

 Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations...................................... 372 369 415 361 335

 Construction and extraction occupations....................................... 673 678 665 613 552 Co st uct o a d e t act o occupat o s 6 3 6 8 665 6 3 55

 Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations............................. 644 658 633 484 562

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations............... 472 477 453 481 374

 Production occupations............................................................... 472 477 438 486 378

 Transportation and material moving occupations............................... 472 475 475 428 368

 NOTE: People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
47

Technical Note

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 scientifi cally

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; Federal Relay 

Service: 1 (800) 877-8339.

Concepts and defi nitions

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 confi ned 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 reference 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 businesses 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 specifi c efforts to fi nd 

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 classifi ed as unemployed. 

Duration of unemployment. This represents the length of 

time (through the reference week) that persons classifi ed 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. 

4. New entrants, persons who had never worked. 

Labor force. This group comprises all persons classifi ed as 

employed or unemployed in accordance with the criteria 

described above. 

Unemployment rate. This represents the number of unemployed person 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 

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 
48

preceding the survey. Discouraged workers, a subset of

the marginally attached, were not looking for work 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 classifi ed in the 

job at which they worked the greatest number of hours. The

unemployed are classifi ed according to their last job. Beginning in 2003, the occupational and industrial classifi cation of 

CPS data is based on the 2002 Census Bureau occupational 

and industrial classifi cation systems, which are derived from 

the 2000 Standard Occupational Classifi cation (SOC) and

the 2002 North American Industry Classifi cation System 

(NAICS). (Consistent data are available back to 2000. Earlier 

data use a different classifi cation system.) 

White, Black or African American, and Asian. These are 

terms used to describe the race of persons. Beginning in 

2003, people in these categories are those who selected that 

race group only. (Previously, respondents identifi ed a group 

as their main race.) People in the remaining race categories—

American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other 

Pacifi c Islanders, and people 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 suffi cient 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 

identifi ed themselves in the enumeration process as being 

Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is 

identifi ed 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 defi nition of usual, interviewers are instructed to defi ne the term as more than 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 fi gures 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 defi ned 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 classifi ed 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, or is 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 confi dence, 

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 confi dence.

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.

A full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS 

and information on estimating standard errors is available at 

http://www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

50

U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Offi ce of Employment and Unemployment Statistics

Postal Square Building, Room 4675

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE.

Washington, DC 20212-0001