Technical information: USDL 97-148
Household data: (202) 606-6378
Transmission of material in this
release is embargoed until
Establishment data: 606-6555 8:30 A.M. (EDT),
Media contact: 606-5902 Friday, May 2, 1997.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: APRIL 1997
Unemployment declined in April, and nonfarm payroll employment rose
modestly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today. The nation’s jobless rate fell from 5.2 to 4.9 percent.
The number of payroll jobs rose by 142,000 in April, and average hourly
earnings edged down by 1 cent.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons declined by 430,000 to 6.7 million, and
the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage point to 4.9 percent in April,
after seasonal adjustment. All of the major demographic groups contributed
to the improvement. The jobless rate for adult women decreased by 0.3
point to 4.4 percent, the rate for blacks fell by 0.9 point to 9.8 percent,
and the rate for whites dropped by 0.3 point to 4.2 percent. (See tables
A-1 and A-2.)
Among the unemployed, the number of persons in the newly jobless
category--those who had been looking for work fewer than 5 weeks--declined
in April, as did the number who had been looking for work for 5 to 14
weeks. The number of unemployed persons who had lost their job and did not
expect to be recalled also decreased over the month. (See tables A-5
and A-6.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment was about unchanged in April, following a substantial
gain in March. The proportion of the population with jobs (the employment-
population ratio) remained at 63.8 percent, the highest level since the
series began. (See table A-1.)
Approximately 7.9 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more
than one job in April, comprising 6.1 percent of all employed persons.
(See table A-9.)
Both the civilian labor force, 136.1 million persons (seasonally
adjusted), and the labor force participation rate, 67.2 percent, were
essentially unchanged in April. The labor force has shown substantial
growth since the beginning of last year. (See table A-1.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.5 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in April--that is, they wanted and were
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Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
| Quarterly | Monthly data |
| averages | |
|_________________|__________________________|Mar.-
Category | 1996 | 19971/ | 19971/ |Apr.
|________|________|__________________________|change
| IV | I | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA | Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 134,830| 135,934| 135,634| 136,319| 136,098| -221
Employment..........| 127,705| 128,728| 128,430| 129,175| 129,384| 209
Unemployment........| 7,124| 7,206| 7,205| 7,144| 6,714| -430
Not in labor force....| 66,627| 66,462| 66,754| 66,194| 66,577| 383
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........| 5.3| 5.3| 5.3| 5.2| 4.9| -0.3
Adult men...........| 4.4| 4.5| 4.4| 4.4| 4.2| -.2
Adult women.........| 4.8| 4.7| 4.7| 4.7| 4.4| -.3
Teenagers...........| 16.6| 17.0| 17.5| 16.4| 15.4| -1.0
White...............| 4.6| 4.5| 4.5| 4.5| 4.2| -.3
Black...............| 10.6| 10.9| 11.3| 10.7| 9.8| -.9
Hispanic origin.....| 8.0| 8.3| 8.1| 8.6| 8.1| -.5
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA | Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 120,509|p121,238| 121,296|p121,435|p121,577| p142
Goods-producing 2/..| 24,320| p24,469| 24,508| p24,499| p24,442| p-57
Construction......| 5,492| p5,596| 5,639| p5,614| p5,570| p-44
Manufacturing.....| 18,262| p18,304| 18,299| p18,316| p18,302| p-14
Service-producing 2/| 96,189| p96,769| 96,788| p96,936| p97,135| p199
Retail trade......| 21,864| p21,952| 21,940| p21,993| p22,025| p32
Services..........| 34,785| p35,096| 35,101| p35,173| p35,266| p93
Government........| 19,510| p19,557| 19,577| p19,550| p19,582| p32
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Hours of work 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 34.6| p34.7| 34.9| p34.9| p34.6| p-0.3
Manufacturing.......| 41.8| p41.9| 41.9| p42.1| p42.2| p.1
Overtime..........| 4.5| p4.8| 4.7| p4.9| p5.0| p.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Earnings 3/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| $11.98| p$12.10| $12.10| p$12.15| p$12.14|p-$0.01
Avg. weekly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| 414.00| p419.48| 422.29| p424.04| p420.04| p-4.00
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Beginning in January 1997, household data reflect revised
population controls used in the survey.
2/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.
- 3 -
available for work, and had looked for jobs sometime in the prior 12 months.
The number of discouraged workers--a subset of the marginally attached who
were not currently looking for jobs specifically because they believed no
jobs were available for them or there were none for which they would
qualify--was 379,000 in April. (See table A-9.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 142,000 in April to 121.6
million, after seasonal adjustment. Job gains in many of the service-
producing industries were offset somewhat by declines in construction and
manufacturing. (See table B-1.)
The services industry added 93,000 jobs in April, in line with the
average monthly change for the past year. Health services and engineering
and management services recorded strong increases of 34,000 and 29,000,
respectively. Social services had a relatively large job gain for the
second month in a row. In contrast, business services added only 19,000
jobs, as continued expansion in computer and data processing employment was
partly offset by a small decline in help supply services. Job growth in
help supply services has been both slow and sporadic since August.
Employment in amusement and recreation services declined in April,
reflecting, in part, slow seasonal hiring due to unusually cold weather
during the survey reference period.
In April, job growth continued in finance and real estate; insurance
also posted a gain. Strong job growth continued in transportation and
communications for the fourth consecutive month. Retail trade added 32,000
jobs in April, somewhat below the average monthly gain of the past year.
An employment increase of 46,000 in eating and drinking places offset a
loss of similar magnitude in March. Employment in general merchandise
stores declined in April, following a large increase in the prior month.
Employment in wholesale trade was unchanged in April after 2 months of
growth.
Government employment rose by 32,000 in April. The noneducation
component of local government increased by 19,000, following 2 months
without growth. Federal employment, which was unchanged over the month,
has declined by 275,000 since the most recent peak in May 1992.
Construction employment fell by 44,000 in April (after seasonal
adjustment); it had declined by 25,000 in March. Unfavorable weather in
both months contributed to this weakness. In contrast, the industry had a
substantial employment gain in February, when the weather was much warmer
than normal.
Manufacturing employment declined by 14,000 in April, following a gain
of 75,000 over the prior 6 months. Motor vehicles and equipment lost
13,000 jobs in April, mostly due to temporary shutdowns for inventory
control and a strike of 3,500 workers. Employment growth continued in
industrial machinery, fabricated metals, and aircraft; gains in these three
industries totaled 14,000 over the month and 102,000 over the past year.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls fell by 0.3 hour in April, to 34.6 hours, seasonally
adjusted. The manufacturing workweek edged up by 0.1 hour to 42.2 hours,
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matching its post-World War II high reached in January 1995. Factory
overtime edged up to 5.0 hours, the highest level since the series began in
1956. (See table B-2.)
Reflecting the decline in the average workweek, the index of aggregate
weekly hours of private production or nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm
payrolls dropped by 0.8 percent to 139.6 (1982=100) in April, on a
seasonally adjusted basis. The manufacturing index, in contrast, edged up
by 0.2 percent to 107.6. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of private production or nonsupervisory workers
edged down 1 cent in April to $12.14, seasonally adjusted, following gains
totaling 11 cents in the first quarter. Average weekly earnings were down
0.9 percent to $420.04 in April. Over the past year, average hourly
earnings have increased by 3.6 percent and average weekly earnings by 4.5
percent. (See table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for May 1997 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, June 6, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
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| Revisions in the Establishment Survey Data |
| The Employment Situation news release of May data in June will |
|introduce revisions in the establishment-based series on nonfarm |
|payroll employment, hours, and earnings to reflect the regular |
|annual benchmark adjustments for March 1996 and updated seasonal |
|adjustment factors. |
| This year's benchmark process affects all unadjusted series |
|from April 1995 forward. In addition, the unadjusted data from |
|January 1988 forward for selected series in the transportation |
|and public utilities division will be revised to reflect industry |
|coding changes for a group of employers within the airline and |
|trucking industries. These recomputations will have a slight |
|effect on higher level aggregate series, including total nonfarm |
|employment. |
| All seasonally adjusted series will be revised from January |
|1988 forward to incorporate an updated version of the X-12 |
|ARIMA seasonal adjustment software. Seasonal adjustment factors |
|for March through October 1997 will be available on May 30, 1 week|
|prior to the release of the May estimates, on the Internet |
|(http://stats.bls.gov:80/ceshome.htm) or by calling |
|(202) 606-6555. |
------------------------------------------------------------------
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Explanatory Note
This news release presents statistics from two major surveys, the Current
Population Survey (household survey) and the Current Employment Statistics
survey (establishment survey). The household survey provides the
information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment that appears
in the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample survey of about
50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the employment,
hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B
tables, marked ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected from
payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies. In June 1996,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing over 47 million
people.
For both surveys, the data for a given month relate to a particular week
or pay period. In the household survey, the reference week is generally
the calendar week that contains the 12th day of the month. In the
establishment survey, the reference period is the pay period including the
12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.
Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of
questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over
in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the
labor force.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours
in a family business or farm. People are also counted as employed if they
were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather,
vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.
People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following
criteria: They had no employment during the reference week; they were
available for work at that time; and they made specific efforts to find
employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference
week. Persons laid off from a job and expecting recall need not be
looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The unemployment data
derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the eligibility for
or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
The civilian labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed
persons. Those not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the
labor force. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a percent
of the labor force. The labor force participation rate is the labor force
as a percent of the population, and the employment-population ratio is the
employed as a percent of the population.
Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
Federal, State, and local government entities. Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave. Persons are counted in each job
they hold. Hours and earnings data are for private businesses and relate
only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-producing sector.
- 6 -
Differences in employment estimates. The numerous conceptual and
methodological differences between the household and establishment surveys
result in important distinctions in the employment estimates derived from
the surveys. Among these are:
--The household survey includes agricultural workers, the self-employed,
unpaid family workers, and private household workers among the employed.
These groups are excluded from the establishment survey.
--The household survey includes people on unpaid leave among the
employed. The establishment survey does not.
--The household survey is limited to workers 16 years of age and older.
The establishment survey is not limited by age.
--The household survey has no duplication of individuals, because
individuals are counted only once, even if they hold more than one job. In
the establishment survey, employees working at more than one job and thus
appearing on more than one payroll would be counted separately for each
appearance.
Other differences between the two surveys are described in "Comparing
Employment Estimates from Household and Payroll Surveys," which may be
obtained from BLS upon request.
Seasonal adjustment
Over the course of a year, the size of the nation's labor force and the
levels of employment and unemployment undergo sharp fluctuations due to
such seasonal events as changes in weather, reduced or expanded production,
harvests, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools. The
effect of such seasonal variation can be very large; seasonal
fluctuations may account for as much as 95 percent of the month-to-month
changes in unemployment.
Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each
year, their influence on statistical trends can be eliminated by adjusting
the statistics from month to month. These adjustments make nonseasonal
developments, such as declines in economic activity or increases in the
participation of women in the labor force, easier to spot. For example,
the large number of youth entering the labor force each June is likely to
obscure any other changes that have taken place relative to May, making it
difficult to determine if the level of economic activity has risen or
declined. However, because the effect of students finishing school in
previous years is known, the statistics for the current year can be
adjusted to allow for a comparable change. Insofar as the seasonal
adjustment is made correctly, the adjusted figure provides a more useful
tool with which to analyze changes in economic activity.
In both the household and establishment surveys, most seasonally adjusted
series are independently adjusted. However, the adjusted series for many
major estimates, such as total payroll employment, employment in most major
industry divisions, total employment, and unemployment are computed by
aggregating independently adjusted component series. For example, total
unemployment is derived by summing the adjusted series for four major age-
sex components; this differs from the unemployment estimate that would be
obtained by directly adjusting the total or by combining the duration,
reasons, or more detailed age categories.
The numerical factors used to make the seasonal adjustments are
recalculated twice a year. For the household survey, the factors are
calculated for the January-June period and again for the July-December
- 7 -
period. For the establishment survey, updated factors for seasonal
adjustment are calculated for the May-October period and introduced along
with new benchmarks, and again for the November-April period. In both
surveys, revisions to historical data are made once a year.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the household and establishment surveys are subject
to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the
entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates
may differ from the "true" population values they represent. The exact
difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample
selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the
estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that
an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard
errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error. BLS
analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
For example, the confidence interval for the monthly change in total
employment from the household survey is on the order of plus or minus
376,000. Suppose the estimate of total employment increases by 100,000
from one month to the next. The 90-percent confidence interval on the
monthly change would range from -276,000 to 476,000 (100,000 +/- 376,000).
These figures do not mean that the sample results are off by these
magnitudes, but rather that there is about a 90-percent chance that the
"true" over-the-month change lies within this interval. Since this range
includes values of less than zero, we could not say with confidence that
employment had, in fact, increased. If, however, the reported employment
rise was half a million, then all of the values within the 90-percent
confidence interval would be greater than zero. In this case, it is likely
(at least a 90-percent chance) that an employment rise had, in fact,
occurred. The 90-percent confidence interval for the monthly change in
unemployment is +/- 258,000, and for the monthly change in the unemployment
rate it is +/- .21 percentage point.
In general, estimates involving many individuals or establishments have
lower standard errors (relative to the size of the estimate) than estimates
which are based on a small number of observations. The precision of
estimates is also improved when the data are cumulated over time such as
for quarterly and annual averages. The seasonal adjustment process can
also improve the stability of the monthly estimates.
The household and establishment surveys are also affected by nonsampling
error. Nonsampling errors can occur for many reasons, including the
failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain
information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness
of respondents to provide correct information on a timely basis, mistakes
made by respondents, and errors made in the collection or processing of the
data.
For example, in the establishment survey, estimates for the most recent 2
months are based on substantially incomplete returns; for this reason,
these estimates are labeled preliminary in the tables. It is only after
two successive revisions to a monthly estimate, when nearly all sample
reports have been received, that the estimate is considered final.
Another major source of nonsampling error in the establishment survey is
the inability to capture, on a timely basis, employment generated by new
firms. To correct for this systematic underestimation of employment growth
(and other sources of error), a process known as bias adjustment is
included in the survey's estimating procedures, whereby a specified number
of jobs is added to the monthly sample-based change. The size of the
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monthly bias adjustment is based largely on past relationships between the
sample-based estimates of employment and the total counts of employment
described below.
The sample-based estimates from the establishment survey are adjusted
once a year (on a lagged basis) to universe counts of payroll employment
obtained from administrative records of the unemployment insurance program.
The difference between the March sample-based employment estimates and the
March universe counts is known as a benchmark revision, and serves as a
rough proxy for total survey error. The new benchmarks also incorporate
changes in the classification of industries. Over the past decade, the
benchmark revision for total nonfarm employment has averaged 0.2 percent,
ranging from zero to 0.6 percent.
Additional statistics and other information
More comprehensive statistics are contained in Employment and Earnings,
published each month by BLS. It is available for $13.00 per issue or
$35.00 per year from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402. All orders must be prepaid by sending a check or money order
payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or by charging to Mastercard or
Visa.
Employment and Earnings also provides measures of sampling error for the
household survey data published in this release. For unemployment and
other labor force categories, these measures appear in tables 1-B through 1-
H of its "Explanatory Notes." Measures of the reliability of the data
drawn from the establishment survey and the actual amounts of revision due
to benchmark adjustments are provided in tables 2-B through 2-G of that
publication.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD phone: 202-606-
5897; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1. Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted(1)
Employment status, sex, and age
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 200,101 202,513 202,674 200,101 201,636 202,285 202,388 202,513 202,674
Civilian labor force.......................... 132,512 135,524 135,180 133,427 135,022 135,848 135,634 136,319 136,098
Participation rate...................... 66.2 66.9 66.7 66.7 67.0 67.2 67.0 67.3 67.2
Employed.................................... 125,388 128,125 128,629 126,125 127,855 128,580 128,430 129,175 129,384
Employment-population ratio............. 62.7 63.3 63.5 63.0 63.4 63.6 63.5 63.8 63.8
Agriculture............................... 3,344 3,166 3,425 3,412 3,426 3,468 3,292 3,386 3,497
Nonagricultural industries................ 122,044 124,959 125,205 122,713 124,429 125,112 125,138 125,789 125,887
Unemployed.................................. 7,124 7,399 6,551 7,302 7,167 7,268 7,205 7,144 6,714
Unemployment rate....................... 5.4 5.5 4.8 5.5 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.2 4.9
Not in labor force............................ 67,589 66,989 67,494 66,674 66,614 66,437 66,754 66,194 66,577
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 95,955 97,386 97,474 95,955 96,742 97,264 97,320 97,386 97,474
Civilian labor force.......................... 71,450 72,731 72,755 71,922 72,414 73,106 72,987 73,268 73,232
Participation rate...................... 74.5 74.7 74.6 75.0 74.9 75.2 75.0 75.2 75.1
Employed.................................... 67,415 68,573 69,105 67,932 68,707 69,164 69,232 69,478 69,627
Employment-population ratio............. 70.3 70.4 70.9 70.8 71.0 71.1 71.1 71.3 71.4
Unemployed.................................. 4,036 4,158 3,650 3,990 3,707 3,942 3,755 3,790 3,604
Unemployment rate....................... 5.6 5.7 5.0 5.5 5.1 5.4 5.1 5.2 4.9
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 88,440 89,604 89,680 88,440 89,040 89,446 89,556 89,604 89,680
Civilian labor force.......................... 67,624 68,937 68,933 67,829 68,369 68,998 68,827 69,111 69,147
Participation rate...................... 76.5 76.9 76.9 76.7 76.8 77.1 76.9 77.1 77.1
Employed.................................... 64,296 65,502 65,956 64,573 65,367 65,813 65,818 66,066 66,243
Employment-population ratio............. 72.7 73.1 73.5 73.0 73.4 73.6 73.5 73.7 73.9
Agriculture............................... 2,283 2,244 2,396 2,310 2,356 2,364 2,276 2,362 2,428
Nonagricultural industries................ 62,014 63,257 63,560 62,263 63,011 63,449 63,542 63,703 63,815
Unemployed.................................. 3,328 3,435 2,976 3,256 3,002 3,185 3,009 3,045 2,904
Unemployment rate....................... 4.9 5.0 4.3 4.8 4.4 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.2
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 104,146 105,127 105,200 104,146 104,894 105,022 105,068 105,127 105,200
Civilian labor force.......................... 61,062 62,794 62,426 61,505 62,608 62,742 62,647 63,051 62,866
Participation rate...................... 58.6 59.7 59.3 59.1 59.7 59.7 59.6 60.0 59.8
Employed.................................... 57,973 59,552 59,525 58,193 59,148 59,416 59,197 59,697 59,756
Employment-population ratio............. 55.7 56.6 56.6 55.9 56.4 56.6 56.3 56.8 56.8
Unemployed.................................. 3,089 3,241 2,901 3,312 3,460 3,327 3,450 3,354 3,109
Unemployment rate....................... 5.1 5.2 4.6 5.4 5.5 5.3 5.5 5.3 4.9
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 96,856 97,638 97,685 96,856 97,457 97,520 97,571 97,638 97,685
Civilian labor force.......................... 57,636 59,160 58,794 57,817 58,728 58,894 58,743 59,130 58,974
Participation rate...................... 59.5 60.6 60.2 59.7 60.3 60.4 60.2 60.6 60.4
Employed.................................... 55,081 56,442 56,388 55,075 55,871 56,165 55,954 56,359 56,392
Employment-population ratio............. 56.9 57.8 57.7 56.9 57.3 57.6 57.3 57.7 57.7
Agriculture............................... 834 710 775 842 772 797 775 739 779
Nonagricultural industries................ 54,247 55,732 55,613 54,233 55,099 55,369 55,179 55,620 55,613
Unemployed.................................. 2,555 2,718 2,406 2,742 2,857 2,729 2,788 2,771 2,581
Unemployment rate....................... 4.4 4.6 4.1 4.7 4.9 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.4
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population........... 14,805 15,271 15,309 14,805 15,139 15,318 15,261 15,271 15,309
Civilian labor force.......................... 7,252 7,428 7,453 7,781 7,925 7,956 8,065 8,078 7,977
Participation rate...................... 49.0 48.6 48.7 52.6 52.3 51.9 52.8 52.9 52.1
Employed.................................... 6,011 6,182 6,285 6,477 6,617 6,601 6,657 6,750 6,748
Employment-population ratio............. 40.6 40.5 41.1 43.7 43.7 43.1 43.6 44.2 44.1
Agriculture............................... 227 212 253 260 298 307 240 285 290
Nonagricultural industries................ 5,784 5,970 6,031 6,217 6,319 6,294 6,417 6,465 6,458
Unemployed.................................. 1,241 1,246 1,169 1,304 1,308 1,354 1,408 1,328 1,229
Unemployment rate....................... 17.1 16.8 15.7 16.8 16.5 17.0 17.5 16.4 15.4
1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-2. Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, age, and Hispanic origin
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted(1)
Employment status, race, sex, age, and
Hispanic origin
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 167,973 169,569 169,675 167,973 169,044 169,436 169,492 169,569 169,675
Civilian labor force.......................... 111,965 114,135 113,867 112,720 113,991 114,377 114,333 114,736 114,618
Participation rate........................ 66.7 67.3 67.1 67.1 67.4 67.5 67.5 67.7 67.6
Employed.................................... 106,724 108,745 109,177 107,364 108,734 109,151 109,197 109,630 109,831
Employment-population ratio............... 63.5 64.1 64.3 63.9 64.3 64.4 64.4 64.7 64.7
Unemployed.................................. 5,241 5,389 4,690 5,356 5,257 5,226 5,136 5,106 4,786
Unemployment rate......................... 4.7 4.7 4.1 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.2
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 58,003 59,000 58,983 58,193 58,623 59,042 58,968 59,161 59,196
Participation rate........................ 77.0 77.5 77.4 77.3 77.4 77.7 77.5 77.7 77.7
Employed.................................... 55,499 56,411 56,772 55,765 56,356 56,653 56,692 56,923 57,057
Employment-population ratio............... 73.7 74.1 74.5 74.0 74.4 74.5 74.5 74.8 74.9
Unemployed.................................. 2,504 2,589 2,212 2,428 2,267 2,388 2,275 2,238 2,139
Unemployment rate......................... 4.3 4.4 3.7 4.2 3.9 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.6
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 47,821 48,852 48,526 47,977 48,686 48,631 48,619 48,832 48,662
Participation rate........................ 59.1 60.1 59.6 59.3 59.9 59.8 59.8 60.0 59.8
Employed.................................... 45,983 46,962 46,902 45,984 46,614 46,750 46,747 46,915 46,902
Employment-population ratio............... 56.8 57.7 57.6 56.8 57.3 57.5 57.5 57.7 57.6
Unemployed.................................. 1,838 1,891 1,624 1,993 2,072 1,881 1,872 1,917 1,759
Unemployment rate......................... 3.8 3.9 3.3 4.2 4.3 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.6
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force.......................... 6,141 6,282 6,357 6,550 6,682 6,704 6,746 6,742 6,760
Participation rate........................ 52.4 51.8 52.4 55.9 55.6 55.3 55.6 55.6 55.7
Employed.................................... 5,242 5,373 5,503 5,615 5,764 5,747 5,758 5,792 5,872
Employment-population ratio............... 44.7 44.3 45.4 47.9 48.0 47.4 47.5 47.7 48.4
Unemployed.................................. 899 910 854 935 918 957 988 951 888
Unemployment rate......................... 14.6 14.5 13.4 14.3 13.7 14.3 14.6 14.1 13.1
Men..................................... 15.8 16.0 14.7 15.3 14.8 14.9 14.6 15.0 14.3
Women................................... 13.4 12.8 12.1 13.1 12.6 13.6 14.7 13.1 11.9
BLACK
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 23,519 23,895 23,923 23,519 23,794 23,847 23,872 23,895 23,923
Civilian labor force.......................... 14,900 15,325 15,265 15,004 15,306 15,372 15,408 15,439 15,365
Participation rate........................ 63.4 64.1 63.8 63.8 64.3 64.5 64.5 64.6 64.2
Employed.................................... 13,368 13,677 13,801 13,432 13,693 13,709 13,672 13,784 13,863
Employment-population ratio............... 56.8 57.2 57.7 57.1 57.5 57.5 57.3 57.7 57.9
Unemployed.................................. 1,532 1,649 1,463 1,572 1,613 1,663 1,736 1,655 1,503
Unemployment rate......................... 10.3 10.8 9.6 10.5 10.5 10.8 11.3 10.7 9.8
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 6,716 6,812 6,796 6,724 6,833 6,829 6,765 6,803 6,805
Participation rate........................ 71.5 71.7 71.3 71.6 72.0 71.8 71.0 71.6 71.4
Employed.................................... 6,067 6,149 6,221 6,081 6,235 6,198 6,159 6,173 6,234
Employment-population ratio............... 64.6 64.7 65.3 64.8 65.7 65.2 64.7 65.0 65.4
Unemployed.................................. 648 663 575 643 598 632 605 629 571
Unemployment rate......................... 9.7 9.7 8.5 9.6 8.8 9.2 9.0 9.3 8.4
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 7,308 7,628 7,631 7,319 7,544 7,574 7,636 7,641 7,641
Participation rate........................ 61.9 63.7 63.7 62.0 63.3 63.4 63.9 63.9 63.8
Employed.................................... 6,707 6,928 6,997 6,706 6,851 6,880 6,851 6,934 6,997
Employment-population ratio............... 56.8 57.9 58.4 56.8 57.5 57.6 57.3 57.9 58.4
Unemployed.................................. 601 700 635 613 693 694 785 706 644
Unemployment rate......................... 8.2 9.2 8.3 8.4 9.2 9.2 10.3 9.2 8.4
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force.......................... 877 886 838 961 929 969 1,007 996 920
Participation rate........................ 37.6 36.5 34.7 41.3 38.9 40.4 42.0 41.1 38.1
Employed.................................... 594 600 583 645 607 631 662 676 632
Employment-population ratio............... 25.5 24.8 24.2 27.7 25.4 26.3 27.6 27.9 26.2
Unemployed.................................. 283 285 254 316 322 337 346 319 287
Unemployment rate......................... 32.3 32.2 30.4 32.9 34.7 34.8 34.3 32.1 31.2
Men..................................... 35.0 43.7 37.4 34.9 38.6 42.7 37.4 41.4 37.3
Women................................... 29.5 22.0 23.4 30.8 31.2 27.5 31.3 23.7 25.3
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 19,080 20,119 20,180 19,080 19,505 20,013 20,067 20,119 20,180
Civilian labor force.......................... 12,417 13,620 13,427 12,552 13,150 13,795 13,640 13,662 13,572
Participation rate........................ 65.1 67.7 66.5 65.8 67.4 68.9 68.0 67.9 67.3
Employed.................................... 11,260 12,381 12,358 11,357 12,141 12,653 12,538 12,493 12,470
Employment-population ratio............... 59.0 61.5 61.2 59.5 62.2 63.2 62.5 62.1 61.8
Unemployed.................................. 1,158 1,239 1,069 1,195 1,009 1,142 1,102 1,169 1,102
Unemployment rate......................... 9.3 9.1 8.0 9.5 7.7 8.3 8.1 8.6 8.1
1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in January
1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Selected employment indicators
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Category
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over............... 125,388 128,125 128,629 126,125 127,855 128,580 128,430 129,175 129,384
Married men, spouse present................... 42,152 42,339 42,371 42,127 42,607 42,909 42,513 42,509 42,329
Married women, spouse present................. 32,123 32,830 32,603 31,983 32,631 32,826 32,578 32,699 32,473
Women who maintain families................... 7,426 7,812 7,908 7,366 7,500 7,501 7,556 7,720 7,838
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty......... 36,094 37,811 37,565 36,116 37,234 37,478 37,525 37,723 37,599
Technical, sales, and administrative support.. 37,450 38,044 37,998 37,584 37,902 38,163 38,073 38,158 38,150
Service occupations........................... 17,074 17,275 17,319 17,033 17,271 17,171 17,170 17,292 17,267
Precision production, craft, and repair....... 13,364 13,887 14,087 13,572 13,574 13,902 14,140 14,200 14,301
Operators, fabricators, and laborers.......... 17,975 17,931 18,183 18,206 18,310 18,317 18,144 18,234 18,415
Farming, forestry, and fishing................ 3,431 3,177 3,478 3,561 3,496 3,528 3,388 3,507 3,605
CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers..................... 1,830 1,764 1,965 1,852 1,878 1,988 1,932 1,905 1,989
Self-employed workers....................... 1,466 1,348 1,393 1,502 1,475 1,448 1,353 1,414 1,424
Unpaid family workers....................... 48 55 67 51 66 62 15 59 70
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers..................... 112,936 115,601 115,947 113,577 115,212 115,560 115,987 116,533 116,608
Government................................ 18,564 18,282 18,307 18,307 18,266 18,385 18,144 17,994 18,036
Private industries........................ 94,372 97,319 97,640 95,270 96,946 97,176 97,843 98,539 98,572
Private households...................... 827 875 871 873 934 1,002 882 869 922
Other industries........................ 93,545 96,444 96,769 94,397 96,012 96,174 96,962 97,671 97,650
Self-employed workers....................... 9,008 9,245 9,132 9,045 9,109 9,445 9,124 9,292 9,159
Unpaid family workers....................... 101 113 126 104 149 162 136 108 130
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons.............. 4,299 4,277 4,244 4,466 4,338 4,426 4,262 4,153 4,402
Slack work or business conditions......... 2,501 2,459 2,419 2,581 2,353 2,423 2,378 2,344 2,491
Could only find part-time work............ 1,522 1,542 1,571 1,577 1,653 1,552 1,550 1,518 1,629
Part time for noneconomic reasons........... 18,291 18,918 19,139 17,712 17,868 18,340 18,070 18,120 18,176
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons.............. 4,081 4,075 4,066 4,251 4,162 4,163 4,098 3,937 4,235
Slack work or business conditions......... 2,362 2,329 2,279 2,462 2,214 2,310 2,277 2,210 2,374
Could only find part-time work............ 1,491 1,516 1,547 1,543 1,622 1,512 1,523 1,475 1,603
Part time for noneconomic reasons........... 17,690 18,338 18,562 17,068 17,237 17,737 17,452 17,565 17,661
NOTE: Persons at work excludes employed persons who were absent from their jobs during the entire reference week for
reasons such as vacation, illness, or industrial dispute. Part time for noneconomic reasons excludes persons who usually
work full time but worked only 1 to 34 hours during the reference week for reasons such as holidays, illness, and bad
weather. Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-4. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons Unemployment rates(1)
(in thousands)
Category
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
CHARACTERISTIC
Total, 16 years and over....................... 7,302 7,144 6,714 5.5 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.2 4.9
Men, 20 years and over....................... 3,256 3,045 2,904 4.8 4.4 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.2
Women, 20 years and over..................... 2,742 2,771 2,581 4.7 4.9 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.4
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years................... 1,304 1,328 1,229 16.8 16.5 17.0 17.5 16.4 15.4
Married men, spouse present.................. 1,307 1,218 1,161 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7
Married women, spouse present................ 1,223 1,096 1,026 3.7 3.7 3.3 3.4 3.2 3.1
Women who maintain families.................. 582 769 637 7.3 8.4 9.1 9.0 9.1 7.5
Full-time workers............................ 5,876 5,736 5,329 5.4 5.2 5.2 5.1 5.1 4.8
Part-time workers............................ 1,448 1,428 1,415 5.9 5.8 5.7 6.0 5.7 5.7
OCCUPATION(2)
Managerial and professional specialty........ 859 787 755 2.3 2.4 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0
Technical, sales, and administrative support. 1,750 1,702 1,683 4.4 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.2
Precision production, craft, and repair...... 799 732 714 5.6 5.4 5.3 4.7 4.9 4.8
Operators, fabricators, and laborers......... 1,565 1,616 1,453 7.9 7.6 7.9 8.1 8.1 7.3
Farming, forestry, and fishing............... 303 279 256 7.8 7.7 7.5 7.5 7.4 6.6
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary
workers...................................... 5,705 5,447 5,221 5.6 5.4 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.0
Goods-producing industries................. 1,714 1,615 1,578 6.1 5.9 6.0 5.6 5.5 5.4
Mining................................... 26 26 13 4.6 7.6 6.0 4.2 4.0 2.0
Construction............................. 685 674 618 10.3 9.4 10.1 9.0 9.6 8.7
Manufacturing............................ 1,003 915 947 4.8 4.8 4.6 4.5 4.3 4.4
Durable goods.......................... 576 467 457 4.7 4.7 4.4 4.0 3.6 3.6
Nondurable goods....................... 427 448 490 5.0 5.0 4.8 5.3 5.2 5.8
Service-producing industries............... 3,991 3,832 3,643 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.1 4.9
Transportation and public utilities...... 299 296 208 4.2 4.0 4.1 4.3 4.1 2.8
Wholesale and retail trade............... 1,712 1,675 1,658 6.5 6.2 6.4 6.5 6.3 6.2
Finance, insurance, and real estate...... 181 247 255 2.4 3.1 3.5 3.0 3.2 3.4
Services................................. 1,799 1,614 1,522 5.6 5.2 4.9 5.0 4.8 4.6
Government workers........................... 545 523 438 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.4
Agricultural wage and salary workers......... 228 200 212 11.0 10.3 8.6 8.8 9.5 9.6
1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
2 Seasonally adjusted unemployment data for service occupations are not available because the seasonal component, which
is small relative to the trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-5. Duration of unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Duration
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Less than 5 weeks.............................. 2,221 2,313 2,131 2,450 2,671 2,801 2,591 2,650 2,354
5 to 14 weeks.................................. 2,133 2,663 1,981 2,330 2,357 2,223 2,382 2,380 2,156
15 weeks and over.............................. 2,770 2,423 2,439 2,387 2,179 2,155 2,163 2,064 2,092
15 to 26 weeks.............................. 1,343 1,259 1,293 1,098 976 943 1,025 1,001 1,058
27 weeks and over........................... 1,427 1,164 1,147 1,289 1,203 1,212 1,138 1,063 1,034
Average (mean) duration, in weeks.............. 18.9 16.3 16.7 17.3 15.8 16.0 16.0 15.3 15.2
Median duration, in weeks...................... 10.6 9.3 10.2 8.6 7.8 7.7 8.4 7.9 8.3
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed............................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Less than 5 weeks............................ 31.2 31.3 32.5 34.2 37.1 39.0 36.3 37.4 35.7
5 to 14 weeks................................ 29.9 36.0 30.2 32.5 32.7 31.0 33.4 33.6 32.7
15 weeks and over............................ 38.9 32.7 37.2 33.3 30.2 30.0 30.3 29.1 31.7
15 to 26 weeks............................. 18.8 17.0 19.7 15.3 13.5 13.1 14.4 14.1 16.0
27 weeks and over.......................... 20.0 15.7 17.5 18.0 16.7 16.9 15.9 15.0 15.7
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-6. Reason for unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally Seasonally adjusted
adjusted
Reason
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs..... 3,610 3,493 3,050 3,535 3,221 3,245 3,163 3,187 2,979
On temporary layoff................................... 1,094 1,250 988 1,092 987 953 944 1,021 976
Not on temporary layoff............................... 2,517 2,243 2,062 2,443 2,234 2,293 2,218 2,167 2,003
Permanent job losers................................ 1,828 1,560 1,453 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Persons who completed temporary jobs................ 689 683 609 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Job leavers............................................. 694 808 723 723 845 890 787 784 754
Reentrants.............................................. 2,291 2,530 2,239 2,487 2,556 2,505 2,648 2,535 2,420
New entrants............................................ 530 568 540 567 626 600 647 647 577
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed........................................
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs.... 50.7 47.2 46.6 48.3 44.4 44.8 43.7 44.6 44.3
On temporary layoff.................................. 15.4 16.9 15.1 14.9 13.6 13.2 13.0 14.3 14.5
Not on temporary layoff.............................. 35.3 30.3 31.5 33.4 30.8 31.7 30.6 30.3 29.8
Job leavers............................................ 9.7 10.9 11.0 9.9 11.7 12.3 10.9 11.0 11.2
Reentrants............................................. 32.2 34.2 34.2 34.0 35.3 34.6 36.6 35.4 36.0
New entrants........................................... 7.4 7.7 8.2 7.8 8.6 8.3 8.9 9.0 8.6
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs.... 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2
Job leavers............................................ .5 .6 .5 .5 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6
Reentrants............................................. 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.8
New entrants........................................... .4 .4 .4 .4 .5 .4 .5 .5 .4
1 Not available.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-7. Range of alternative measures of labor underutilization
(Percent)
Not seasonally Seasonally adjusted
adjusted
Measure
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer,
as a percent of the civilian labor force....................... 2.1 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5
U-2 Job losers and persons who completed
temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian
labor force.................................................... 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2
U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the
civilian labor force (official unemployment rate).............. 5.4 5.5 4.8 5.5 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.2 4.9
U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged
workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force
plus discouraged workers....................................... 5.7 5.7 5.1 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
U-5 Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other
marginally attached workers, as a percent of the civilian
labor force plus all marginally attached workers............... 6.4 6.5 5.9 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
U-6 Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus
total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of
the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers.. 9.7 9.6 9.0 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
1 Not available.
NOTE: This range of alternative measures of labor underutilization replaces the U1-U7 range published in table A-7
of this release prior to 1994. Marginally attached workers are persons who currently are neither working nor looking
for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past.
Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not currently
looking for a job. Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time
work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule. For further information, see "BLS introduces new range of
alternative unemployment measures," in the October 1995 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. Beginning in January 1997,
data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-8. Unemployed persons by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons Unemployment rates(1)
(in thousands)
Age and sex
Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997
Total, 16 years and over.......................... 7,302 7,144 6,714 5.5 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.2 4.9
16 to 24 years.................................. 2,533 2,554 2,449 11.9 11.9 12.2 12.0 11.8 11.4
16 to 19 years................................ 1,304 1,328 1,229 16.8 16.5 17.0 17.5 16.4 15.4
16 to 17 years.............................. 621 637 618 19.0 19.3 17.7 19.7 19.4 18.5
18 to 19 years.............................. 692 697 617 15.3 14.7 16.6 15.2 14.6 13.3
20 to 24 years................................ 1,229 1,226 1,220 9.1 9.1 9.4 8.7 9.0 9.0
25 years and over............................... 4,748 4,591 4,253 4.2 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.7
25 to 54 years................................ 4,203 4,018 3,750 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.1 3.8
55 years and over............................. 525 550 487 3.3 3.3 3.1 3.0 3.3 3.0
Men, 16 years and over.......................... 3,990 3,790 3,604 5.5 5.1 5.4 5.1 5.2 4.9
16 to 24 years................................ 1,430 1,384 1,331 12.8 12.3 12.9 12.0 12.2 11.8
16 to 19 years.............................. 734 745 701 17.9 17.4 18.4 17.9 17.9 17.2
16 to 17 years............................ 357 368 350 21.2 20.6 20.4 19.6 21.4 20.5
18 to 19 years............................ 391 386 362 16.2 15.4 17.1 15.4 15.7 15.2
20 to 24 years.............................. 696 640 631 9.8 9.3 9.8 8.6 8.9 8.7
25 years and over............................. 2,551 2,390 2,267 4.2 3.8 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.7
25 to 54 years.............................. 2,288 2,058 2,003 4.4 3.9 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.8
55 years and over........................... 273 323 272 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.5 3.0
Women, 16 years and over........................ 3,312 3,354 3,109 5.4 5.5 5.3 5.5 5.3 4.9
16 to 24 years................................ 1,103 1,170 1,118 11.0 11.4 11.4 11.9 11.3 10.9
16 to 19 years.............................. 570 583 528 15.5 15.5 15.5 16.9 14.9 13.6
16 to 17 years............................ 264 269 268 16.7 18.1 14.9 19.7 17.1 16.5
18 to 19 years............................ 301 311 255 14.3 14.0 16.2 15.0 13.3 11.3
20 to 24 years.............................. 533 587 589 8.4 8.9 8.9 8.8 9.1 9.3
25 years and over............................. 2,197 2,202 1,986 4.3 4.5 4.1 4.2 4.2 3.8
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,915 1,960 1,747 4.3 4.7 4.3 4.5 4.3 3.9
55 years and over........................... 252 227 214 3.6 3.3 2.9 2.6 3.1 3.0
1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-9. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Total Men Women
Category
Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr.
1996 1997 1996 1997 1996 1997
NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE
Total not in the labor force.................................... 67,589 67,494 24,504 24,719 43,084 42,775
Persons who currently want a job.............................. 5,378 4,836 2,265 2,070 3,113 2,766
Searched for work and available to work now(1)............. 1,516 1,480 749 700 767 780
Reason not currently looking:
Discouragement over job prospects(2).................. 403 379 270 206 133 173
Reasons other than discouragement(3)............... 1,113 1,101 479 494 634 606
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS
Total multiple jobholders(4).................................... 7,500 7,874 4,117 4,123 3,383 3,751
Percent of total employed................................... 6.0 6.1 6.1 6.0 5.8 6.3
Primary job full time, secondary job part time.............. 4,250 4,445 2,594 2,631 1,655 1,814
Primary and secondary jobs both part time................... 1,690 1,826 544 559 1,146 1,267
Primary and secondary jobs both full time................... 241 221 169 162 72 59
Hours vary on primary or secondary job...................... 1,301 1,351 796 762 506 590
1 Data refer to persons who have searched for work during the prior 12 months and were available to take a job during
the reference week.
2 Includes thinks no work available, could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or
old, and other types of discrimination.
3 Includes those who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for such reasons as child-care and
transportation problems, as well as a small number for which reason for nonparticipation was not determined.
4 Includes persons who work part time on their primary job and full time on their secondary job(s), not shown
separately.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Industry
Apr. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997p 1997p
Total......................... 118,765 119,717 120,534 121,369 118,922 120,723 120,982 121,296 121,435 121,577
Total private.................... 98,980 99,865 100,566 101,405 99,527 101,199 101,438 101,719 101,885 101,995
Goods-producing......................... 23,968 23,824 23,971 24,192 24,209 24,356 24,399 24,508 24,499 24,442
Mining................................ 567 556 558 564 573 566 568 570 569 570
Metal mining........................ 50.5 51.1 51.3 51.6 51 52 52 52 52 52
Coal mining......................... 100.3 95.9 95.8 96.0 101 97 97 96 96 97
Oil and gas extraction.............. 308.5 307.5 306.4 307.9 314 308 309 312 311 313
Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels.. 107.2 101.4 104.5 108.2 107 109 110 110 110 108
Construction.......................... 5,199 5,087 5,197 5,411 5,353 5,520 5,535 5,639 5,614 5,570
General building contractors........ 1,188.0 1,185.8 1,195.6 1,220.9 1,227 1,250 1,260 1,271 1,267 1,259
Heavy construction, except building. 742.2 650.5 678.9 739.3 765 766 765 784 773 761
Special trade contractors........... 3,268.4 3,250.6 3,322.2 3,450.7 3,361 3,504 3,510 3,584 3,574 3,550
Manufacturing......................... 18,202 18,181 18,216 18,217 18,283 18,270 18,296 18,299 18,316 18,302
Production workers................ 12,566 12,546 12,577 12,574 12,624 12,616 12,636 12,642 12,651 12,638
Durable goods........................ 10,639 10,694 10,728 10,740 10,654 10,710 10,734 10,746 10,764 10,761
Production workers................ 7,288 7,329 7,360 7,369 7,289 7,333 7,355 7,368 7,382 7,379
Lumber and wood products............ 748.8 760.2 764.3 769.4 761 771 771 775 781 781
Furniture and fixtures.............. 497.3 503.6 504.3 501.6 498 503 503 505 506 502
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 533.0 518.9 525.5 535.1 534 539 539 540 538 537
Primary metal industries............ 703.7 702.9 703.0 702.3 704 702 703 703 704 703
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 237.4 233.1 233.0 231.3 238 233 234 234 234 232
Fabricated metal products........... 1,437.8 1,462.1 1,465.0 1,466.8 1,440 1,462 1,466 1,466 1,467 1,471
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 2,088.5 2,107.2 2,115.8 2,119.0 2,086 2,092 2,101 2,106 2,111 2,117
Computer and office equipment..... 356.7 363.8 367.3 368.4 358 361 362 365 369 370
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 1,646.4 1,640.7 1,640.1 1,640.0 1,650 1,645 1,642 1,643 1,644 1,645
Electronic components and
accessories.................... 613.0 613.9 617.2 620.1 615 611 612 614 618 622
Transportation equipment............ 1,768.1 1,784.3 1,794.6 1,788.9 1,763 1,776 1,788 1,788 1,796 1,786
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 961.0 953.2 960.3 950.9 955 953 959 954 961 948
Aircraft and parts................ 447.9 480.0 482.7 486.3 447 472 476 481 483 487
Instruments and related products.... 831.2 830.0 829.6 831.2 832 834 832 831 830 832
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 384.6 383.6 386.1 385.2 386 386 389 389 387 387
Nondurable goods..................... 7,563 7,487 7,488 7,477 7,629 7,560 7,562 7,553 7,552 7,541
Production workers................ 5,278 5,217 5,217 5,205 5,335 5,283 5,281 5,274 5,269 5,259
Food and kindred products........... 1,613.2 1,612.3 1,612.8 1,605.9 1,667 1,649 1,659 1,654 1,658 1,656
Tobacco products.................... 38.9 41.8 40.1 39.4 41 41 40 41 42 42
Textile mill products............... 636.9 622.8 623.8 622.0 636 628 630 625 626 620
Apparel and other textile products.. 857.5 809.2 805.3 804.3 858 824 818 814 808 806
Paper and allied products........... 672.9 669.8 668.7 667.7 677 674 673 674 673 672
Printing and publishing............. 1,525.1 1,521.9 1,524.1 1,523.8 1,527 1,523 1,523 1,524 1,524 1,527
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,021.0 1,012.2 1,013.9 1,014.3 1,024 1,016 1,017 1,016 1,017 1,017
Petroleum and coal products......... 137.8 132.5 132.6 134.2 139 138 136 137 136 135
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 962.4 972.1 973.7 973.5 962 973 972 975 975 974
Leather and leather products........ 97.3 92.3 92.7 92.1 98 94 94 93 93 92
Service-producing....................... 94,797 95,893 96,563 97,177 94,713 96,367 96,583 96,788 96,936 97,135
Transportation and public utilities... 6,257 6,332 6,360 6,395 6,294 6,340 6,378 6,403 6,416 6,434
Transportation...................... 3,987 4,050 4,070 4,104 4,015 4,057 4,091 4,108 4,115 4,132
Railroad transportation........... 232.6 223.8 223.1 224.8 233 229 229 227 225 225
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................ 455.1 476.8 480.5 483.1 442 462 465 465 467 471
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,847.3 1,837.7 1,844.4 1,861.9 1,882 1,852 1,881 1,890 1,892 1,897
Water transportation.............. 170.2 168.2 169.9 174.4 173 172 176 175 176 176
Transportation by air............. 833.2 877.9 882.9 886.6 837 878 876 883 887 890
Pipelines, except natural gas..... 13.9 13.7 13.6 13.6 14 14 14 14 14 14
Transportation services........... 434.2 452.1 455.1 459.2 434 450 450 454 454 459
Communications and public utilities. 2,270 2,282 2,290 2,291 2,279 2,283 2,287 2,295 2,301 2,302
Communications.................... 1,373.4 1,404.4 1,411.7 1,416.3 1,378 1,397 1,404 1,412 1,417 1,423
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services....................... 896.2 877.7 878.0 874.7 901 886 883 883 884 879
Wholesale trade....................... 6,530 6,631 6,665 6,689 6,550 6,655 6,662 6,690 6,709 6,710
Durable goods....................... 3,838 3,891 3,909 3,921 3,844 3,894 3,897 3,914 3,924 3,926
Nondurable goods.................... 2,692 2,740 2,756 2,768 2,706 2,761 2,765 2,776 2,785 2,784
Retail trade.......................... 21,170 21,401 21,526 21,753 21,415 21,931 21,922 21,940 21,993 22,025
Building materials and garden
supplies......................... 901.9 892.9 918.6 968.6 896 948 942 945 956 964
General merchandise stores.......... 2,573.8 2,657.8 2,681.9 2,657.5 2,675 2,781 2,736 2,747 2,794 2,780
Department stores................. 2,264.3 2,349.3 2,377.0 2,349.4 2,360 2,454 2,416 2,432 2,483 2,446
Food stores......................... 3,365.2 3,432.9 3,430.8 3,440.1 3,401 3,461 3,469 3,472 3,479 3,480
Automotive dealers and service
stations......................... 2,244.3 2,292.5 2,304.5 2,319.4 2,253 2,313 2,315 2,322 2,328 2,328
New and used car dealers.......... 1,022.0 1,044.5 1,047.3 1,049.8 1,024 1,044 1,047 1,050 1,050 1,051
Apparel and accessory stores........ 1,070.4 1,069.9 1,073.7 1,075.5 1,098 1,102 1,108 1,103 1,106 1,103
Furniture and home furnishings
stores........................... 949.2 1,014.4 1,011.3 1,008.9 957 1,016 1,017 1,020 1,021 1,019
Eating and drinking places.......... 7,449.3 7,301.3 7,392.3 7,572.6 7,468 7,558 7,571 7,574 7,539 7,585
Miscellaneous retail establishments. 2,616.2 2,739.3 2,712.8 2,710.6 2,667 2,752 2,764 2,757 2,770 2,766
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 6,912 7,023 7,056 7,086 6,942 7,052 7,062 7,077 7,095 7,118
Finance............................. 3,294 3,376 3,390 3,400 3,303 3,369 3,379 3,384 3,397 3,410
Depository institutions........... 2,014.7 2,030.0 2,033.8 2,035.2 2,023 2,035 2,035 2,037 2,041 2,043
Commercial banks................ 1,459.1 1,478.2 1,481.7 1,483.3 1,467 1,480 1,484 1,484 1,488 1,491
Savings institutions............ 265.4 253.1 252.4 251.6 265 257 255 255 253 252
Nondepository institutions........ 505.4 535.9 542.6 546.5 505 533 536 534 541 546
Mortgage bankers and brokers.... 228.4 243.1 247.3 249.2 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Security and commodity brokers.... 532.4 561.3 563.6 567.2 534 555 560 564 566 570
Holding and other investment
offices........................ 241.5 248.3 249.6 251.2 241 246 248 249 249 251
Insurance........................... 2,253 2,260 2,264 2,265 2,256 2,265 2,260 2,264 2,263 2,268
Insurance carriers................ 1,546.9 1,545.4 1,544.9 1,543.7 1,549 1,551 1,549 1,549 1,544 1,546
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................ 706.2 714.2 719.3 720.8 707 714 711 715 719 722
Real estate......................... 1,365 1,387 1,402 1,421 1,383 1,418 1,423 1,429 1,435 1,440
Services2............................. 34,143 34,654 34,988 35,290 34,117 34,865 35,015 35,101 35,173 35,266
Agricultural services............... 612.3 533.1 564.8 639.3 606 623 634 638 631 632
Hotels and other lodging places..... 1,625.1 1,622.7 1,639.9 1,659.7 1,673 1,700 1,711 1,714 1,709 1,708
Personal services................... 1,237.7 1,264.3 1,256.3 1,256.5 1,179 1,183 1,189 1,195 1,191 1,194
Business services................... 6,998.9 7,229.9 7,338.6 7,376.3 7,085 7,326 7,389 7,414 7,467 7,486
Services to buildings............. 895.8 873.9 877.7 883.3 899 885 878 885 883 886
Personnel supply services......... 2,510.8 2,575.3 2,653.9 2,668.1 2,569 2,690 2,762 2,732 2,755 2,753
Help supply services............ 2,216.9 2,262.3 2,331.7 2,341.2 2,272 2,379 2,448 2,408 2,427 2,422
Computer and data processing
services....................... 1,170.1 1,291.7 1,307.9 1,319.1 1,169 1,262 1,277 1,291 1,307 1,320
Auto repair, services, and parking.. 1,072.2 1,133.8 1,143.3 1,148.2 1,072 1,128 1,133 1,143 1,144 1,149
Miscellaneous repair services....... 361.7 363.7 367.2 371.4 363 370 369 369 370 372
Motion pictures..................... 522.0 533.9 537.3 529.6 517 532 536 537 530 526
Amusement and recreation services... 1,497.6 1,381.3 1,442.4 1,529.8 1,516 1,559 1,565 1,557 1,556 1,541
Health services..................... 9,500.4 9,694.8 9,726.9 9,754.2 9,520 9,679 9,709 9,721 9,737 9,771
Offices and clinics of medical
doctors........................ 1,654.3 1,708.3 1,710.4 1,718.4 1,659 1,697 1,711 1,716 1,716 1,723
Nursing and personal care
facilities..................... 1,726.8 1,758.0 1,762.9 1,766.1 1,733 1,760 1,763 1,765 1,767 1,772
Hospitals......................... 3,837.4 3,883.2 3,893.5 3,897.2 3,844 3,880 3,880 3,887 3,895 3,901
Home health care services......... 654.1 661.9 666.1 671.0 658 665 670 665 667 673
Legal services...................... 922.0 943.3 949.2 952.0 926 943 944 946 953 958
Educational services................ 2,118.8 2,148.3 2,160.1 2,158.6 1,994 2,021 2,016 2,029 2,031 2,031
Social services..................... 2,397.3 2,431.7 2,452.4 2,465.7 2,389 2,416 2,425 2,431 2,441 2,453
Child day care services........... 585.1 592.1 598.6 600.9 569 575 580 581 582 584
Residential care.................. 658.2 676.7 682.0 685.4 661 676 678 679 684 688
Museums and botanical and zoological
gardens........................... 82.3 79.1 81.2 85.8 84 87 86 87 87 88
Membership organizations............ 2,125.1 2,130.7 2,141.3 2,143.6 2,137 2,153 2,154 2,153 2,156 2,157
Engineering and management services. 2,876.6 2,970.2 2,992.7 3,024.1 2,863 2,952 2,961 2,973 2,976 3,005
Engineering and architectural
services....................... 827.7 854.6 861.4 869.9 834 859 861 867 873 877
Management and public relations... 891.7 942.4 950.7 964.4 893 942 941 949 952 965
Services, nec....................... 45.4 46.0 46.9 47.7 (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3)
Government............................ 19,785 19,852 19,968 19,964 19,395 19,524 19,544 19,577 19,550 19,582
Federal............................. 2,767 2,700 2,702 2,702 2,776 2,729 2,725 2,714 2,709 2,709
Federal, except Postal Service.... 1,914.2 1,848.6 1,851.2 1,852.8 1,919 1,870 1,860 1,860 1,858 1,857
State............................... 4,772 4,748 4,773 4,781 4,643 4,642 4,638 4,648 4,642 4,653
Education......................... 2,095.4 2,088.3 2,108.3 2,111.2 1,956 1,963 1,960 1,970 1,962 1,972
Other State government............ 2,677.0 2,659.9 2,664.2 2,669.7 2,687 2,679 2,678 2,678 2,680 2,681
Local............................... 12,246 12,404 12,493 12,481 11,976 12,153 12,181 12,215 12,199 12,220
Education......................... 7,034.2 7,165.6 7,228.0 7,195.1 6,682 6,801 6,823 6,857 6,841 6,843
Other local government............ 5,211.4 5,238.4 5,265.0 5,286.2 5,294 5,352 5,358 5,358 5,358 5,377
1 This series is not suitable for seasonal adjustment because it has very little seasonal and irregular movement.
Thus, the not seasonally adjusted series can be used for analysis of cyclical and long-term trends.
2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3 This series is not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
p = preliminary.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by industry
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Industry
Apr. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997p 1997p
Total private.................... 34.1 34.5 34.6 34.4 34.3 34.8 34.2 34.9 34.9 34.6
Goods-producing......................... 40.7 40.7 41.2 41.2 41.0 41.3 40.8 41.3 41.4 41.5
Mining................................ 44.9 45.6 45.5 45.0 45.0 45.7 44.3 46.2 46.1 45.2
Construction.......................... 38.6 37.4 38.3 38.7 38.9 38.8 37.8 39.0 38.9 38.9
Manufacturing......................... 41.2 41.6 42.0 41.8 41.5 42.0 41.7 41.9 42.1 42.2
Overtime hours.................... 4.2 4.5 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.9 5.0
Durable goods........................ 42.0 42.5 42.9 42.7 42.4 42.7 42.4 42.8 42.9 43.1
Overtime hours.................... 4.5 4.8 5.1 5.0 4.9 4.9 5.0 5.0 5.3 5.4
Lumber and wood products............ 40.7 40.2 40.7 41.3 40.8 41.0 40.4 40.8 41.0 41.3
Furniture and fixtures.............. 38.7 38.9 39.9 39.5 39.2 40.2 39.7 39.8 40.3 40.2
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 43.2 42.0 42.6 42.9 43.4 43.4 42.3 43.5 43.2 43.0
Primary metal industries............ 43.6 44.6 44.8 44.6 43.9 44.6 44.4 44.7 44.8 45.0
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 44.0 44.5 44.6 44.2 44.1 44.6 44.8 44.6 44.7 44.5
Fabricated metal products........... 41.8 42.2 42.5 42.5 42.3 42.5 42.1 42.5 42.6 43.1
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 42.7 43.5 43.8 43.6 43.2 43.2 43.1 43.5 43.5 43.9
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 40.7 41.7 42.1 41.9 40.9 41.8 41.1 42.1 42.1 42.4
Transportation equipment............ 44.1 44.3 44.9 44.6 44.6 44.5 45.0 44.4 45.1 44.7
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 45.4 45.0 45.8 45.3 46.0 45.1 45.9 45.1 45.9 45.4
Instruments and related products.... 41.3 42.0 42.2 41.8 41.4 42.1 41.6 42.3 42.0 42.1
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 39.4 40.1 40.4 40.2 39.6 40.6 40.0 40.7 40.3 40.5
Nondurable goods..................... 40.0 40.4 40.7 40.6 40.4 41.0 40.6 40.8 41.0 41.0
Overtime hours.................... 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.4
Food and kindred products........... 40.2 40.7 40.7 40.6 41.1 41.4 41.0 41.3 41.3 41.4
Tobacco products.................... 39.4 39.1 39.1 38.7 40.4 41.6 39.4 41.4 39.7 39.3
Textile mill products............... 40.1 40.3 41.2 41.3 40.3 41.6 41.1 40.6 41.2 41.5
Apparel and other textile products.. 36.4 36.8 37.5 37.2 36.5 37.4 37.1 37.1 37.5 37.5
Paper and allied products........... 42.9 43.3 43.6 43.5 43.4 43.8 43.7 43.7 44.0 43.9
Printing and publishing............. 37.9 38.1 38.8 38.4 38.1 38.4 38.1 38.5 38.8 38.6
Chemicals and allied products....... 42.8 43.2 43.2 43.1 42.9 43.6 43.2 43.4 43.2 43.2
Petroleum and coal products......... 43.4 43.4 42.8 42.9 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 41.1 41.5 41.8 41.7 41.4 41.8 41.2 41.6 41.9 42.0
Leather and leather products........ 37.5 37.8 38.6 38.5 37.6 38.8 38.0 38.8 38.8 38.9
Service-producing....................... 32.4 32.9 32.9 32.7 32.5 33.0 32.4 33.2 33.1 32.8
Transportation and public utilities... 39.2 39.8 39.8 39.6 39.4 40.0 39.4 40.1 40.2 39.7
Wholesale trade....................... 38.1 38.5 38.5 38.3 38.1 38.6 38.0 38.8 38.7 38.3
Retail trade.......................... 28.4 28.7 28.8 28.6 28.6 28.9 28.7 29.4 29.2 28.9
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 35.6 36.7 36.5 35.8 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Services.............................. 32.2 32.7 32.6 32.4 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
1 Data relate to production workers in mining and manufacturing; construction workers in construction; and
nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real
estate; and services. These groups account for approximately four-fifths of the total employees on private nonfarm
payrolls.
2 These series are not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
p = preliminary.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by
industry
Average hourly earnings Average weekly earnings
Industry
Apr. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1997 1997p 1997p
Total private.................... $11.75 $12.14 $12.17 $12.18 $400.68 $418.83 $421.08 $418.99
Seasonally adjusted............. 11.72 12.10 12.15 12.14 402.00 422.29 424.04 420.04
Goods-producing......................... 13.35 13.66 13.72 13.78 543.35 555.96 565.26 567.74
Mining................................ 15.55 16.05 16.03 16.18 698.20 731.88 729.37 728.10
Construction.......................... 15.19 15.65 15.64 15.72 586.33 585.31 599.01 608.36
Manufacturing......................... 12.73 13.02 13.08 13.10 524.48 541.63 549.36 547.58
Durable goods........................ 13.29 13.58 13.64 13.65 558.18 577.15 585.16 582.86
Lumber and wood products............ 10.33 10.60 10.61 10.64 420.43 426.12 431.83 439.43
Furniture and fixtures.............. 10.06 10.34 10.43 10.42 389.32 402.23 416.16 411.59
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 12.76 13.04 13.00 13.04 551.23 547.68 553.80 559.42
Primary metal industries............ 15.00 15.10 15.16 15.17 654.00 673.46 679.17 676.58
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 17.92 17.78 17.87 18.02 788.48 791.21 797.00 796.48
Fabricated metal products........... 12.43 12.72 12.75 12.80 519.57 536.78 541.88 544.00
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 13.44 13.89 13.94 13.96 573.89 604.22 610.57 608.66
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 12.00 12.41 12.50 12.57 488.40 517.50 526.25 526.68
Transportation equipment............ 17.27 17.43 17.54 17.55 761.61 772.15 787.55 782.73
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 17.97 17.96 18.08 18.13 815.84 808.20 828.06 821.29
Instruments and related products.... 13.03 13.38 13.46 13.45 538.14 561.96 568.01 562.21
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 10.35 10.57 10.56 10.56 407.79 423.86 426.62 424.51
Nondurable goods..................... 11.93 12.20 12.26 12.28 477.20 492.88 498.98 498.57
Food and kindred products........... 11.21 11.34 11.43 11.47 450.64 461.54 465.20 465.68
Tobacco products.................... 20.55 18.79 19.67 20.52 809.67 734.69 769.10 794.12
Textile mill products............... 9.65 9.89 9.91 9.93 386.97 398.57 408.29 410.11
Apparel and other textile products.. 7.94 8.18 8.23 8.22 289.02 301.02 308.63 305.78
Paper and allied products........... 14.61 14.79 14.94 15.01 626.77 640.41 651.38 652.94
Printing and publishing............. 12.52 12.89 12.99 12.94 474.51 491.11 504.01 496.90
Chemicals and allied products....... 16.17 16.53 16.48 16.46 692.08 714.10 711.94 709.43
Petroleum and coal products......... 19.30 20.40 20.48 20.13 837.62 885.36 876.54 863.58
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 11.19 11.45 11.50 11.55 459.91 475.18 480.70 481.64
Leather and leather products........ 8.41 8.92 8.87 8.89 315.38 337.18 342.38 342.27
Service-producing....................... 11.22 11.65 11.67 11.65 363.53 383.29 383.94 380.96
Transportation and public utilities... $14.49 $14.67 $14.68 $14.76 $568.01 $583.87 $584.26 $584.50
Wholesale trade....................... 12.76 13.23 13.25 13.30 486.16 509.36 510.13 509.39
Retail trade.......................... 7.92 8.23 8.26 8.28 224.93 236.20 237.89 236.81
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 12.76 13.16 13.22 13.14 454.26 482.97 482.53 470.41
Services.............................. 11.72 12.25 12.26 12.22 377.38 400.58 399.68 395.93
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
p = preliminary.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-4. Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm
payrolls by industry, seasonally adjusted
Percent
Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. change
Industry 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997p 1997p from:
Mar. 1997-
Apr. 1997
Total private:
Current dollars.............. $11.72 $12.04 $12.05 $12.10 $12.15 $12.14 -0.1
Constant (1982) dollars2..... 7.40 7.46 7.46 7.47 7.50 N.A. (3)
Goods-producing............... 13.40 13.69 13.73 13.75 13.79 13.81 .1
Mining...................... 15.44 15.90 16.01 15.95 15.99 16.10 .7
Construction................ 15.28 15.66 15.72 15.76 15.77 15.84 .4
Manufacturing............... 12.74 12.99 13.03 13.02 13.08 13.09 .1
Excluding overtime4....... 12.09 12.30 12.34 12.32 12.38 12.35 -.2
Service-producing............. 11.15 11.50 11.49 11.55 11.61 11.59 -.2
Transportation and public
utilities................ 14.49 14.61 14.75 14.63 14.70 14.75 .3
Wholesale trade............. 12.71 13.16 13.08 13.20 13.28 13.24 -.3
Retail trade................ 7.90 8.16 8.18 8.20 8.24 8.26 .2
Finance, insurance, and real
estate................... 12.64 13.01 12.95 13.08 13.15 13.05 -.8
Services.................... 11.65 12.07 12.06 12.15 12.19 12.17 -.2
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
2 The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is used to
deflate this series.
3 Change was .4 percent from February 1997 to March 1997, the latest month available.
4 Derived by assuming that overtime hours are paid at the rate of time and one-half.
N.A. = not available.
p = preliminary.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-5. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by
industry
(1982=100)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Industry
Apr. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997p 1997p
Total private.................... 133.6 136.1 137.6 138.1 135.2 139.3 137.1 140.7 140.7 139.6
Goods-producing......................... 107.7 106.9 109.0 110.2 110.0 111.6 110.5 112.6 112.7 112.4
Mining................................ 53.7 54.2 54.7 54.7 54.6 55.1 54.0 56.7 56.8 55.7
Construction.......................... 140.2 131.3 137.7 146.2 146.8 151.3 147.9 156.3 154.3 152.3
Manufacturing......................... 104.3 105.2 106.5 106.1 105.7 106.8 106.1 106.9 107.4 107.6
Durable goods........................ 106.8 108.6 110.1 109.9 107.7 109.3 108.8 110.0 110.5 110.9
Lumber and wood products............ 132.2 132.7 135.1 138.2 134.8 137.7 135.6 137.6 139.6 140.6
Furniture and fixtures.............. 119.4 122.2 125.3 123.6 120.8 125.4 124.2 125.1 127.0 126.1
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 108.2 102.1 105.1 108.1 108.9 110.2 107.4 111.0 109.4 108.7
Primary metal industries............ 90.5 92.6 93.2 92.8 91.0 92.6 92.2 92.9 93.1 93.6
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 71.8 71.4 71.6 70.8 72.4 72.1 72.8 72.1 72.2 71.5
Fabricated metal products........... 112.0 115.5 116.5 116.8 113.5 115.9 115.3 116.5 117.0 118.8
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 102.8 106.1 107.3 106.9 103.6 104.0 104.4 105.8 106.0 107.3
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 105.8 107.9 108.9 108.3 106.8 107.9 105.9 108.9 108.9 109.9
Transportation equipment............ 122.4 123.6 126.6 125.0 122.9 123.9 126.1 124.0 126.7 124.7
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 167.3 163.2 167.7 163.9 167.4 163.9 167.7 163.5 167.5 163.2
Instruments and related products.... 72.9 74.0 74.2 73.3 72.9 74.2 73.3 74.5 73.8 73.8
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 100.5 102.0 103.2 102.3 101.4 103.9 103.5 105.0 103.5 103.7
Nondurable goods..................... 100.9 100.7 101.6 100.9 102.9 103.4 102.5 102.7 103.1 103.0
Food and kindred products........... 107.2 109.1 108.8 107.7 114.1 114.2 113.7 114.1 114.2 114.2
Tobacco products.................... 57.2 63.2 59.4 57.0 64.0 65.9 60.5 65.6 62.9 62.3
Textile mill products............... 89.7 88.5 90.8 90.7 90.1 92.1 91.2 89.2 90.9 90.9
Apparel and other textile products.. 75.4 71.7 72.5 71.7 75.5 73.9 73.1 72.7 72.8 72.3
Paper and allied products........... 106.6 107.7 108.1 108.0 108.5 109.8 109.5 109.5 110.0 109.8
Printing and publishing............. 122.2 121.7 124.1 122.9 122.7 123.2 121.8 123.2 124.2 123.4
Chemicals and allied products....... 99.7 98.3 98.6 98.4 100.1 99.8 98.7 99.1 98.7 99.0
Petroleum and coal products......... 73.0 70.9 71.0 72.9 72.8 75.5 76.3 73.8 74.1 72.9
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 138.7 141.7 142.9 142.4 139.7 142.6 140.3 142.4 143.5 143.8
Leather and leather products........ 43.6 41.1 42.1 41.7 43.9 43.5 42.0 42.9 42.3 42.4
Service-producing....................... 145.3 149.2 150.4 150.6 146.6 151.7 149.1 153.4 153.3 151.8
Transportation and public utilities... 126.0 129.6 130.4 130.5 127.6 130.6 129.6 132.3 133.0 131.6
Wholesale trade....................... 123.1 126.0 126.8 126.5 123.7 127.2 125.4 128.5 128.5 127.1
Retail trade.......................... 129.9 132.5 133.7 134.5 132.7 137.1 136.0 139.6 139.2 137.8
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 123.9 129.5 129.5 127.8 124.2 130.6 125.6 131.1 131.3 128.1
Services.............................. 174.4 179.4 181.1 181.6 175.1 181.5 177.7 183.0 183.0 181.7
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
p = preliminary.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-6. Diffusion indexes of employment change, seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
Time span Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Private nonfarm payrolls, 356 industries1
Over 1-month span:
1993.............. 60.0 60.8 51.3 58.6 61.7 55.2 57.7 57.0 61.8 59.7 61.8 59.6
1994.............. 58.8 62.1 66.0 64.2 60.3 63.5 61.5 62.1 60.8 61.5 63.1 63.9
1995.............. 63.2 59.3 54.9 54.6 51.4 55.1 54.1 57.4 51.8 54.8 56.3 59.4
1996.............. 52.4 63.2 60.0 52.4 62.2 57.4 55.8 57.3 52.7 63.1 57.2 59.0
1997.............. 59.8 58.7 p55.6 p54.2
Over 3-month span:
1993.............. 63.8 61.2 61.1 59.8 63.1 62.9 59.7 63.1 64.5 67.1 64.6 63.5
1994.............. 67.1 69.5 70.4 68.7 66.4 66.0 68.5 69.5 65.3 65.6 68.0 67.8
1995.............. 66.6 63.2 56.9 53.4 54.2 52.9 56.6 53.8 54.2 54.6 58.3 57.0
1996.............. 60.7 61.8 61.2 60.0 61.0 63.6 60.3 56.7 60.8 60.0 64.6 62.9
1997.............. 64.6 p63.8 p58.8
Over 6-month span:
1993.............. 63.3 65.2 63.8 64.2 62.4 65.9 65.7 63.9 66.3 67.3 70.6 69.5
1994.............. 70.8 71.6 69.0 69.8 69.5 69.5 69.2 69.0 69.2 68.5 69.1 66.6
1995.............. 66.3 60.8 58.7 54.4 53.5 54.1 53.1 56.3 55.9 54.1 56.2 61.8
1996.............. 60.3 62.9 63.8 63.8 62.6 59.0 65.2 62.6 61.8 63.9 65.6 p67.0
1997.............. p65.9
Over 12-month span:
1993.............. 64.9 63.9 64.0 65.4 67.0 67.6 67.6 67.0 70.2 69.5 69.2 70.1
1994.............. 70.2 71.6 71.8 71.8 72.1 71.8 71.5 72.1 70.1 69.4 65.7 65.0
1995.............. 62.6 60.8 60.1 61.2 58.1 57.7 54.5 58.7 58.6 57.3 59.4 59.8
1996.............. 61.0 61.7 61.5 61.1 62.8 64.3 64.2 64.6 p64.6 p66.0
1997..............
Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1
Over 1-month span:
1993.............. 52.5 56.5 50.7 45.7 54.0 45.7 49.3 49.3 59.4 53.2 53.6 55.0
1994.............. 56.5 60.1 59.7 58.6 53.2 57.9 57.6 53.6 55.8 54.7 57.2 59.4
1995.............. 56.8 55.0 46.0 45.3 39.2 40.3 45.0 45.0 42.4 45.3 46.4 47.5
1996.............. 42.1 48.2 48.2 39.6 53.2 49.6 43.9 50.0 44.6 54.3 48.2 52.9
1997.............. 54.0 50.4 p49.3 p49.6
Over 3-month span:
1993.............. 60.8 58.3 53.2 47.8 48.9 54.0 50.4 58.3 57.6 59.7 54.7 57.6
1994.............. 63.7 64.4 66.2 60.8 56.1 56.8 60.8 58.6 54.0 56.1 60.1 60.8
1995.............. 60.4 51.8 43.5 34.9 33.1 32.0 33.1 35.6 38.8 39.6 40.6 38.8
1996.............. 38.8 39.9 37.8 43.2 45.3 47.5 45.7 40.6 50.7 47.1 51.8 51.4
1997.............. 55.8 p51.1 p47.5
Over 6-month span:
1993.............. 56.5 59.0 56.8 55.4 50.7 57.9 59.4 56.5 57.6 58.6 64.4 60.8
1994.............. 62.2 64.4 60.4 61.5 59.0 56.8 56.5 57.2 60.1 55.8 59.7 55.8
1995.............. 55.4 45.0 38.5 33.5 27.7 28.8 28.8 30.6 33.5 33.1 34.2 38.8
1996.............. 32.0 37.4 37.1 38.1 42.4 37.8 48.6 43.5 45.0 51.1 50.0 p52.2
1997.............. p50.4
Over 12-month span:
1993.............. 56.8 57.9 55.8 58.6 57.2 57.6 58.6 59.0 61.2 59.7 60.1 57.6
1994.............. 57.9 58.6 60.8 60.8 60.8 63.3 59.4 60.1 57.2 55.8 49.6 47.5
1995.............. 42.1 40.3 39.9 40.6 34.5 31.7 25.9 28.8 28.1 24.1 27.0 29.1
1996.............. 33.1 33.1 33.8 35.6 37.1 41.0 40.6 41.0 p44.6 p45.0
1997..............
1 Based on seasonally adjusted data for 1-, 3-, and 6-month spans and unadjusted data for the 12-month span. Data are
centered within the span.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment increasing plus one-half of the industries with
unchanged employment, where 50 percent indicates an equal balance between industries with increasing and decreasing
employment.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Contact: (cpsinfo@bls.gov) Division of Labor Force Statistics-BLS
Last revised: June 06, 1997
URL: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/empsit_0497.htm
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