Technical information: USDL 99-156
Household data: (202) 606-6378
Transmission of material in this release is
Establishment data: 606-6555 embargoed until 8:30 A.M. (EDT),
Media contact: 606-5902 Friday, June 4, 1999.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: MAY 1999
The unemployment rate, at 4.2 percent, was little changed in May, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
The number of nonfarm payroll jobs edged up by 11,000, following a large
increase of 343,000 in April (as revised). In May, substantial job losses
occurred in manufacturing and construction, while the services industry had
a relatively small gain.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons, 5.8 million, and the unemployment
rate, 4.2 percent, were little changed in May. The rate has been below 4.5
percent since November 1998. Over the month, jobless rates declined for
adult women (3.6 percent) and teenagers (12.6 percent). Unemployment rates
for adult men (3.6 percent), whites (3.7 percent), blacks (7.5 percent),
and Hispanics (6.7 percent) were virtually unchanged in May. (See tables
A-1 and A-2.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
The civilian labor force, at 139.0 million, and the labor force
participation rate, at 67.0 percent, were essentially unchanged from April.
Total employment, at 133.2 million, also was little changed. The
employment-population ratio--the proportion of the population age 16 and
over with jobs--remained at 64.2 percent in May. (See table A-1.)
About 7.9 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in May. These multiple jobholders represented 5.9 percent of the total
employed, compared with 6.2 percent a year earlier. (See table A-10.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.1 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in May. These were people who wanted and were
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| The establishment data in this release have been revised as a |
|result of the annual benchmarking process and the updating of |
|seasonal adjustment factors. More information on the revisions |
|is contained in the note beginning on page 5. |
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Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
| Quarterly | Monthly data |
| averages | |
|_________________|__________________________| Apr.-
Category | 1998 | 1999 1/| 1999 | May
|________|________|________ _________________|change
| IV | I | Mar. | Apr. | May |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA | Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 138,285| 139,144| 138,816| 139,091| 139,019| -72
Employment..........| 132,166| 133,191| 133,033| 133,069| 133,224| 155
Unemployment........| 6,120| 5,953| 5,783| 6,022| 5,795| -227
Not in labor force....| 67,813| 67,732| 68,220| 68,145| 68,408| 263
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........| 4.4| 4.3| 4.2| 4.3| 4.2| -0.1
Adult men...........| 3.6| 3.4| 3.2| 3.4| 3.6| .2
Adult women.........| 4.0| 3.8| 3.9| 4.1| 3.6| -.5
Teenagers...........| 14.9| 14.6| 14.3| 14.1| 12.6| -1.5
White...............| 3.8| 3.7| 3.6| 3.8| 3.7| -.1
Black...............| 8.4| 8.0| 8.1| 7.7| 7.5| -.2
Hispanic origin.....| 7.4| 6.4| 5.8| 6.9| 6.7| -.2
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA 2/| Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 126,865| 127,640| 127,813|p128,156|p128,167| p11
Goods-producing 3/..| 25,319| 25,310| 25,285| p25,289| p25,197| p-92
Construction......| 6,100| 6,213| 6,232| p6,276| p6,236| p-40
Manufacturing.....| 18,645| 18,542| 18,503| p18,475| p18,430| p-45
Service-producing 3/| 101,545| 102,331| 102,528|p102,867|p102,970| p103
Retail trade......| 22,453| 22,605| 22,611| p22,738| p22,755| p17
Services..........| 38,069| 38,442| 38,556| p38,699| p38,770| p71
Government........| 19,945| 20,044| 20,087| p20,099| p20,092| p-7
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Hours of work 4/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 34.6| 34.6| 34.5| p34.4| p34.5| p0.1
Manufacturing.......| 41.7| 41.6| 41.5| p41.6| p41.7| p.1
Overtime..........| 4.5| 4.5| 4.5| p4.3| p4.6| p.3
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (1982=100) 4/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 146.2| 147.0| 146.8| p147.0| p147.3| p0.3
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Earnings 4/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| $12.94| $13.07| $13.11| p$13.14| p$13.19| p$0.05
Avg. weekly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| 447.84| 451.79| 452.30| p452.02| p455.06| p3.04
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Beginning in January 1999, household data reflect revised population
controls used in the Current Population Survey.
2/ Establishment data have been revised to reflect March 1998 benchmarks
and recomputed seasonal adjustment factors.
3/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
4/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.
- 3 -
available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months
but were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in
the 4 weeks preceding the survey. The number of discouraged workers--a
subset of the marginally attached who were not currently looking for work
specifically because they believed no jobs were available for them--was
256,000 in May. (See table A-10.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed in May at 128.2 million,
seasonally adjusted, after a large increase of 343,000 (as revised) in
April. In May, job losses in the goods-producing industries were offset by
modest growth in the service-producing sector. (See table B-1.)
In the goods-producing sector, construction employment fell by 40,000 in
May, after seasonal adjustment. It had risen by about the same amount in
April (as revised). Construction employment has fluctuated in recent
months in part because of the unusual weather patterns this past winter.
Since October 1998, however, the industry has added 194,000 jobs, about in
line with the gain over the October 1997-May 1998 period.
Manufacturing employment continued to decline in May, with a loss of
45,000 jobs. Factory employment has decreased by 453,000 since its recent
peak in March 1998. Over the month, large declines continued in industrial
machinery (-8,000), apparel (-8,000), and aircraft (-6,000). Smaller
losses occurred in electrical equipment, textiles, paper, and printing and
publishing.
Job losses also continued in mining. Employment in the industry fell by
7,000 in May and has declined by 39,000 thus far in 1999. Most of the
recent decline has been concentrated in oil and gas extraction.
In the service-producing sector, the services industry added 71,000 jobs
in May, well below its average monthly gain of 125,000 over the prior 12
months. Business services added 42,000 jobs in May, with increases in
personnel supply (13,000) and computer services (16,000) equal to their
monthly averages over the prior 12 months. Growth in engineering and
management services (13,000) fell short of its recent pace. Employment in
health services was about unchanged in May, following a large increase in
April. Both hotels and agricultural services had less seasonal hiring than
normal, resulting in seasonally adjusted losses for May.
Retail trade employment was little changed in May, following a sharp
rise in April. Over the month, declines occurred in food stores (-13,000)
and in building materials and garden supplies (-5,000). Eating and
drinking places added 23,000 jobs in May, after a larger gain in April.
Although movements in retail employment have varied widely from month to
month this year, average monthly growth thus far in 1999 (46,000) exceeds
the 1998 monthly average (32,000).
Employment in transportation and public utilities increased by 13,000 in
May, slightly below the industry's average growth over the prior 12 months.
Transportation industries added 12,000 jobs, with trucking and air
transportation each gaining 5,000. Communications continued its moderate
growth trend.
- 4 -
In May, finance, insurance, and real estate added 12,000 jobs, well
below its monthly average of 22,000 in the prior 12 months. Job growth in
both finance and insurance has slowed this year compared with 1998.
Wholesale trade employment edged down by 3,000 in May, compared with an
average gain of 14,000 in the prior 12 months.
Government employment was little changed over the month. A decline in
federal employment (-16,000) reflected the completion of some preliminary
work on the decennial census. Local government education added 19,000 jobs.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls edged up 0.1 hour in May to 34.5 hours, seasonally
adjusted. The manufacturing workweek also was up 0.1 hour to 41.7 hours.
Factory overtime increased by 0.3 hour to 4.6 hours per week. (See
table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 0.2 percent to 147.3
(1982=100), seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index remained at 106.5
in May. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls increased by 5 cents in May to $13.19, seasonally
adjusted. Average weekly earnings rose by 0.7 percent in May to $455.06,
seasonally adjusted. Over the year, average hourly earnings rose by 3.6
percent and average weekly earnings rose by 3.0 percent. (See table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for June 1999 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, July 2, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| Corrections to Earnings Data |
| The average hourly earnings series for wholesale and retail |
|trade released on May 7 contained errors. The errors have been |
|corrected for this release. The corrections resulted in substantial|
|upward revisions to the wholesale and retail trade average hourly |
|earnings data for March and April 1999. The total private |
|hourly earnings series was revised only slightly, due partially |
|to offsetting, downward revisions in other industry series that |
|reflect the routine incorporation of additional sample reports, as |
|well as the introduction of seasonal factor updates this month. |
|Additional information may be obtained by calling 202-606-6555 |
|or via the Internet at http://stats.bls.gov/ceshome.htm. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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Revisions to Establishment Survey Data
In accordance with annual practice, the establishment survey data have
been revised to reflect comprehensive universe counts of payroll jobs
(benchmarks). These counts are derived principally from unemployment
insurance tax records for March 1998; the benchmark process resulted in
revisions to all unadjusted data series from April 1997 forward, the time
period since the last benchmark was established. All seasonally adjusted
data beginning with January 1994 also have been revised, in accordance with
the usual practice of revising 5 years of data.
Table B presents revised total nonfarm employment data on a seasonally
adjusted basis for the period January 1998 through February 1999. The
revised data for April 1998 forward incorporate the effect of applying the
rate of change measured by the sample to the new benchmark level, as well
as updated bias adjustments and new seasonal adjustment factors. In terms
of data revisions, the seasonally unadjusted total nonfarm employment level
for March 1998 was raised by 44,000 (47,000 on a seasonally adjusted
basis). The previously published level for February 1999 was revised
upward by 137,000 (60,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis).
The June 1999 issue of Employment and Earnings will contain an article
that discusses the benchmark and post-benchmark revisions. This issue also
will provide revised seasonal adjustment factors for March through October
1999 and revised estimates for all regularly published tables containing
national establishment survey data on employment, hours, and earnings.
The BLS public database on the Internet, LABSTAT, contains all
historical data revised as a result of this benchmark and updated seasonal
adjustment factors. The data can be accessed through the Current
Employment Statistics (CES) home page at http://stats.bls.gov/ceshome.htm.
Further information on the revisions released today may be obtained by
calling 202-606-6555 or via the Internet on the CES home page.
- 6 -
Table B. Revisions in total nonfarm employment, seasonally adjusted,
January 1998-February 1999
(In thousands)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |
Year and month | As previously | As revised | Difference
| published | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |
1998: | | |
| | |
January.............| 124,640 | 124,580 | -60
February............| 124,832 | 124,773 | -59
March...............| 124,914 | 124,961 | 47
April...............| 125,234 | 125,220 | -14
May.................| 125,562 | 125,478 | -84
June................| 125,751 | 125,689 | -62
July................| 125,869 | 125,808 | -61
August..............| 126,191 | 126,170 | -21
September...........| 126,363 | 126,361 | -2
October.............| 126,527 | 126,567 | 40
November............| 126,804 | 126,841 | 37
December............| 127,118 | 127,186 | 68
| | |
1999: | | |
| | |
January.............| 127,335 | 127,378 | 43
February............| 127,670 | 127,730 | 60
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- 5 -
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 1999,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing about 48 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
- 8 -
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 0.3 percent,
ranging from zero to 0.7 percent.
Additional statistics and other information
More comprehensive statistics are contained in Employment and Earnings,
published each month by BLS. It is available for $17.00 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
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 204,899 207,236 207,427 204,899 206,719 206,873 207,036 207,236 207,427
Civilian labor force............................ 137,240 138,240 138,919 137,369 139,347 139,271 138,816 139,091 139,019
Participation rate........................ 67.0 66.7 67.0 67.0 67.4 67.3 67.0 67.1 67.0
Employed...................................... 131,476 132,552 133,411 131,330 133,396 133,144 133,033 133,069 133,224
Employment-population ratio............... 64.2 64.0 64.3 64.1 64.5 64.4 64.3 64.2 64.2
Agriculture................................. 3,552 3,320 3,489 3,351 3,299 3,328 3,281 3,384 3,295
Nonagricultural industries.................. 127,924 129,232 129,923 127,979 130,097 129,817 129,752 129,685 129,929
Unemployed.................................... 5,764 5,688 5,507 6,039 5,950 6,127 5,783 6,022 5,795
Unemployment rate......................... 4.2 4.1 4.0 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2
Not in labor force.............................. 67,659 68,996 68,508 67,530 67,372 67,602 68,220 68,145 68,408
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 98,591 99,465 99,563 98,591 99,198 99,279 99,362 99,465 99,563
Civilian labor force............................ 73,853 73,837 74,376 73,792 74,599 74,504 74,234 74,234 74,316
Participation rate........................ 74.9 74.2 74.7 74.8 75.2 75.0 74.7 74.6 74.6
Employed...................................... 70,856 70,877 71,470 70,603 71,459 71,276 71,352 71,225 71,198
Employment-population ratio............... 71.9 71.3 71.8 71.6 72.0 71.8 71.8 71.6 71.5
Unemployed.................................... 2,997 2,959 2,906 3,189 3,140 3,228 2,881 3,010 3,118
Unemployment rate......................... 4.1 4.0 3.9 4.3 4.2 4.3 3.9 4.1 4.2
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 90,622 91,302 91,368 90,622 91,124 91,189 91,215 91,302 91,368
Civilian labor force............................ 69,752 69,848 70,069 69,608 70,295 70,174 69,951 69,991 69,932
Participation rate........................ 77.0 76.5 76.7 76.8 77.1 77.0 76.7 76.7 76.5
Employed...................................... 67,413 67,463 67,738 67,084 67,884 67,577 67,713 67,608 67,399
Employment-population ratio............... 74.4 73.9 74.1 74.0 74.5 74.1 74.2 74.0 73.8
Agriculture................................. 2,482 2,339 2,356 2,331 2,312 2,212 2,222 2,353 2,212
Nonagricultural industries.................. 64,930 65,124 65,382 64,753 65,572 65,365 65,492 65,255 65,186
Unemployed.................................... 2,339 2,385 2,331 2,524 2,411 2,598 2,238 2,383 2,534
Unemployment rate......................... 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.2 3.4 3.6
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 106,308 107,771 107,864 106,308 107,521 107,593 107,674 107,771 107,864
Civilian labor force............................ 63,387 64,403 64,543 63,577 64,748 64,767 64,582 64,857 64,704
Participation rate........................ 59.6 59.8 59.8 59.8 60.2 60.2 60.0 60.2 60.0
Employed...................................... 60,619 61,675 61,941 60,727 61,937 61,869 61,680 61,845 62,026
Employment-population ratio............... 57.0 57.2 57.4 57.1 57.6 57.5 57.3 57.4 57.5
Unemployed.................................... 2,767 2,729 2,602 2,850 2,810 2,899 2,902 3,012 2,677
Unemployment rate......................... 4.4 4.2 4.0 4.5 4.3 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.1
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 98,668 99,923 100,008 98,668 99,686 99,746 99,833 99,923 100,008
Civilian labor force............................ 59,434 60,604 60,609 59,583 60,718 60,622 60,533 60,788 60,729
Participation rate........................ 60.2 60.7 60.6 60.4 60.9 60.8 60.6 60.8 60.7
Employed...................................... 57,216 58,354 58,524 57,235 58,466 58,291 58,183 58,320 58,520
Employment-population ratio............... 58.0 58.4 58.5 58.0 58.7 58.4 58.3 58.4 58.5
Agriculture................................. 774 777 835 767 808 839 834 801 831
Nonagricultural industries.................. 56,442 57,577 57,689 56,468 57,659 57,452 57,349 57,519 57,689
Unemployed.................................... 2,218 2,250 2,086 2,348 2,251 2,330 2,350 2,468 2,209
Unemployment rate......................... 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.1 3.6
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population............. 15,609 16,011 16,051 15,609 15,909 15,939 15,988 16,011 16,051
Civilian labor force............................ 8,054 7,787 8,240 8,178 8,334 8,475 8,331 8,312 8,358
Participation rate........................ 51.6 48.6 51.3 52.4 52.4 53.2 52.1 51.9 52.1
Employed...................................... 6,847 6,735 7,150 7,011 7,046 7,276 7,136 7,141 7,306
Employment-population ratio............... 43.9 42.1 44.5 44.9 44.3 45.7 44.6 44.6 45.5
Agriculture................................. 296 204 297 253 179 277 224 230 252
Nonagricultural industries.................. 6,552 6,531 6,852 6,758 6,867 6,999 6,912 6,911 7,054
Unemployed.................................... 1,207 1,052 1,091 1,167 1,288 1,199 1,195 1,171 1,052
Unemployment rate......................... 15.0 13.5 13.2 14.3 15.5 14.1 14.3 14.1 12.6
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 1999, 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
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 171,257 172,730 172,859 171,257 172,394 172,491 172,597 172,730 172,859
Civilian labor force............................ 115,261 115,633 116,198 115,312 116,529 116,610 116,284 116,370 116,254
Participation rate.......................... 67.3 66.9 67.2 67.3 67.6 67.6 67.4 67.4 67.3
Employed...................................... 111,127 111,439 112,160 110,959 112,135 112,189 112,144 111,917 111,985
Employment-population ratio................. 64.9 64.5 64.9 64.8 65.0 65.0 65.0 64.8 64.8
Unemployed.................................... 4,134 4,194 4,038 4,353 4,394 4,420 4,140 4,454 4,269
Unemployment rate........................... 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.7
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 59,488 59,548 59,635 59,338 59,751 59,799 59,698 59,664 59,500
Participation rate.......................... 77.4 77.1 77.1 77.2 77.5 77.5 77.3 77.2 77.0
Employed...................................... 57,746 57,758 57,904 57,452 57,920 57,830 58,010 57,874 57,615
Employment-population ratio................. 75.1 74.8 74.9 74.7 75.1 75.0 75.1 74.9 74.5
Unemployed.................................... 1,743 1,790 1,732 1,886 1,831 1,969 1,688 1,790 1,884
Unemployment rate........................... 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.3 2.8 3.0 3.2
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 48,920 49,486 49,549 49,048 49,759 49,721 49,602 49,672 49,669
Participation rate.......................... 59.7 59.8 59.8 59.8 60.2 60.1 59.9 60.0 60.0
Employed...................................... 47,416 47,862 48,067 47,423 48,110 48,109 47,983 47,862 48,067
Employment-population ratio................. 57.8 57.8 58.0 57.8 58.2 58.2 58.0 57.8 58.0
Unemployed.................................... 1,504 1,624 1,482 1,625 1,650 1,612 1,620 1,811 1,602
Unemployment rate........................... 3.1 3.3 3.0 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.6 3.2
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force............................ 6,853 6,599 7,014 6,926 7,019 7,090 6,984 7,034 7,085
Participation rate.......................... 55.2 52.1 55.3 55.8 55.6 56.1 55.2 55.5 55.8
Employed...................................... 5,965 5,819 6,189 6,084 6,105 6,250 6,151 6,181 6,302
Employment-population ratio................. 48.1 45.9 48.8 49.0 48.4 49.5 48.6 48.8 49.7
Unemployed.................................... 888 780 825 842 913 840 833 853 783
Unemployment rate........................... 13.0 11.8 11.8 12.2 13.0 11.8 11.9 12.1 11.0
Men....................................... 14.3 12.2 12.1 14.0 14.1 12.2 12.7 12.6 11.9
Women..................................... 11.5 11.4 11.4 10.1 11.9 11.4 11.1 11.6 10.1
BLACK
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 24,317 24,765 24,798 24,317 24,665 24,697 24,729 24,765 24,798
Civilian labor force............................ 15,709 16,159 16,248 15,760 16,356 16,242 16,212 16,286 16,303
Participation rate.......................... 64.6 65.2 65.5 64.8 66.3 65.8 65.6 65.8 65.7
Employed...................................... 14,336 14,979 15,058 14,351 15,085 14,900 14,904 15,029 15,079
Employment-population ratio................. 59.0 60.5 60.7 59.0 61.2 60.3 60.3 60.7 60.8
Unemployed.................................... 1,373 1,180 1,190 1,409 1,271 1,342 1,308 1,257 1,224
Unemployment rate........................... 8.7 7.3 7.3 8.9 7.8 8.3 8.1 7.7 7.5
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 7,009 7,092 7,209 7,005 7,210 7,160 7,065 7,118 7,206
Participation rate.......................... 72.2 71.7 72.8 72.2 73.3 72.7 71.6 72.0 72.8
Employed...................................... 6,549 6,661 6,754 6,523 6,782 6,682 6,656 6,681 6,727
Employment-population ratio................. 67.5 67.4 68.2 67.2 68.9 67.8 67.4 67.6 68.0
Unemployed.................................... 460 431 455 482 428 477 409 437 479
Unemployment rate........................... 6.6 6.1 6.3 6.9 5.9 6.7 5.8 6.1 6.6
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 7,762 8,222 8,144 7,792 8,114 8,082 8,129 8,241 8,177
Participation rate.......................... 63.7 66.3 65.6 64.0 65.7 65.3 65.6 66.4 65.8
Employed...................................... 7,130 7,681 7,631 7,146 7,579 7,509 7,545 7,681 7,653
Employment-population ratio................. 58.6 61.9 61.4 58.7 61.3 60.7 60.9 61.9 61.6
Unemployed.................................... 631 541 513 646 535 573 584 560 524
Unemployment rate........................... 8.1 6.6 6.3 8.3 6.6 7.1 7.2 6.8 6.4
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force............................ 938 845 895 963 1,032 1,000 1,018 927 920
Participation rate.......................... 38.5 34.1 36.1 39.5 41.8 40.5 41.2 37.5 37.1
Employed...................................... 657 637 674 682 725 708 702 667 699
Employment-population ratio................. 26.9 25.7 27.2 27.9 29.3 28.6 28.4 26.9 28.2
Unemployed.................................... 282 208 222 281 307 293 316 260 222
Unemployment rate........................... 30.0 24.6 24.8 29.2 29.8 29.2 31.0 28.1 24.1
Men....................................... 30.7 30.2 25.1 31.2 34.2 31.6 32.9 33.0 26.2
Women..................................... 29.4 19.7 24.5 27.4 25.0 27.0 29.1 23.5 22.0
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 20,975 21,483 21,548 20,975 21,296 21,355 21,414 21,483 21,548
Civilian labor force............................ 14,328 14,434 14,498 14,378 14,511 14,591 14,570 14,543 14,535
Participation rate.......................... 68.3 67.2 67.3 68.5 68.1 68.3 68.0 67.7 67.5
Employed...................................... 13,426 13,474 13,613 13,387 13,550 13,610 13,732 13,541 13,558
Employment-population ratio................. 64.0 62.7 63.2 63.8 63.6 63.7 64.1 63.0 62.9
Unemployed.................................... 902 960 885 991 960 980 838 1,002 977
Unemployment rate........................... 6.3 6.7 6.1 6.9 6.6 6.7 5.8 6.9 6.7
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
1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted(1)
Educational attainment
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
Less than a high school diploma
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 29,931 27,991 28,298 29,931 28,901 28,112 28,442 27,991 28,298
Civilian labor force.................... 12,942 11,971 12,052 12,630 12,379 12,164 12,094 11,753 11,743
Percent of population............... 43.2 42.8 42.6 42.2 42.8 43.3 42.5 42.0 41.5
Employed.............................. 12,147 11,170 11,332 11,762 11,459 11,257 11,356 10,972 10,959
Employment-population ratio......... 40.6 39.9 40.0 39.3 39.7 40.0 39.9 39.2 38.7
Unemployed............................ 796 802 720 868 920 907 739 781 784
Unemployment rate................... 6.1 6.7 6.0 6.9 7.4 7.5 6.1 6.6 6.7
High school graduates, no college(2)
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 57,706 57,945 57,931 57,706 57,477 57,062 57,805 57,945 57,931
Civilian labor force.................... 37,627 37,551 37,548 37,488 37,590 37,261 37,740 37,577 37,416
Percent of population............... 65.2 64.8 64.8 65.0 65.4 65.3 65.3 64.8 64.6
Employed.............................. 36,366 36,253 36,346 36,071 36,291 35,979 36,448 36,253 36,058
Employment-population ratio......... 63.0 62.6 62.7 62.5 63.1 63.1 63.1 62.6 62.2
Unemployed............................ 1,261 1,297 1,202 1,417 1,299 1,282 1,292 1,324 1,359
Unemployment rate................... 3.4 3.5 3.2 3.8 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.6
Less than a bachelor's degree(3)
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 42,024 43,059 42,742 42,024 43,154 43,911 43,028 43,059 42,742
Civilian labor force.................... 31,114 31,889 31,640 31,411 32,399 32,465 31,892 32,160 31,930
Percent of population............... 74.0 74.1 74.0 74.7 75.1 73.9 74.1 74.7 74.7
Employed.............................. 30,193 30,953 30,795 30,447 31,470 31,462 30,989 31,202 31,043
Employment-population ratio......... 71.8 71.9 72.0 72.5 72.9 71.6 72.0 72.5 72.6
Unemployed............................ 921 936 845 964 929 1,003 903 958 886
Unemployment rate................... 3.0 2.9 2.7 3.1 2.9 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.8
College graduates
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 42,090 44,289 44,442 42,090 43,516 43,949 43,859 44,289 44,442
Civilian labor force.................... 33,930 35,418 35,650 34,028 34,950 35,040 34,997 35,493 35,771
Percent of population............... 80.6 80.0 80.2 80.8 80.3 79.7 79.8 80.1 80.5
Employed.............................. 33,397 34,776 35,037 33,451 34,325 34,368 34,345 34,742 35,107
Employment-population ratio......... 79.3 78.5 78.8 79.5 78.9 78.2 78.3 78.4 79.0
Unemployed............................ 533 642 613 577 624 673 652 752 664
Unemployment rate................... 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.1 1.9
1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation, therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
2 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-4. Selected employment indicators
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Category
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over................. 131,476 132,552 133,411 131,330 133,396 133,144 133,033 133,069 133,224
Married men, spouse present..................... 42,556 43,104 42,839 42,560 43,542 43,016 43,114 43,190 42,882
Married women, spouse present................... 32,838 33,351 33,487 32,815 33,652 33,092 33,134 33,285 33,487
Women who maintain families..................... 7,943 8,163 8,127 7,854 8,076 8,113 8,148 8,050 8,039
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty........... 38,672 40,526 40,477 38,681 39,836 39,531 39,900 40,504 40,500
Technical, sales, and administrative support.... 38,247 38,711 38,868 38,493 38,846 39,254 38,893 38,866 39,103
Service occupations............................. 17,749 17,779 18,075 17,776 18,070 18,163 18,074 17,868 18,111
Precision production, craft, and repair......... 14,839 14,533 14,519 14,766 14,751 14,742 14,661 14,518 14,432
Operators, fabricators, and laborers............ 18,250 17,550 17,794 18,284 18,476 18,021 18,177 17,656 17,813
Farming, forestry, and fishing.................. 3,719 3,454 3,678 3,487 3,422 3,490 3,417 3,539 3,441
CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers....................... 2,070 1,925 2,067 1,920 1,987 1,895 1,893 1,908 1,919
Self-employed workers......................... 1,430 1,367 1,387 1,391 1,298 1,381 1,376 1,439 1,348
Unpaid family workers......................... 52 28 35 50 30 44 39 31 33
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers....................... 118,753 120,331 121,110 118,852 121,115 121,066 121,005 120,785 121,168
Government.................................. 18,287 18,952 18,766 18,162 18,913 18,782 18,699 18,709 18,672
Private industries.......................... 100,467 101,379 102,344 100,690 102,202 102,283 102,306 102,076 102,496
Private households........................ 975 899 899 992 881 849 917 941 910
Other industries.......................... 99,491 100,479 101,445 99,698 101,321 101,434 101,389 101,135 101,586
Self-employed workers......................... 9,068 8,839 8,748 9,012 8,830 8,658 8,650 8,813 8,687
Unpaid family workers......................... 103 62 65 95 121 114 125 63 60
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons................ 3,602 3,316 3,281 3,754 3,562 3,426 3,564 3,408 3,422
Slack work or business conditions........... 2,005 1,926 1,835 2,119 2,093 1,984 2,045 1,920 1,946
Could only find part-time work.............. 1,299 1,082 1,122 1,317 1,115 1,141 1,208 1,124 1,137
Part time for noneconomic reasons............. 19,035 19,788 19,136 18,544 18,485 18,642 18,545 18,882 18,632
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons................ 3,478 3,130 3,127 3,608 3,413 3,298 3,374 3,224 3,247
Slack work or business conditions........... 1,937 1,835 1,748 2,033 1,989 1,906 1,955 1,831 1,838
Could only find part-time work.............. 1,265 1,051 1,092 1,286 1,094 1,108 1,159 1,092 1,111
Part time for noneconomic reasons............. 18,411 19,181 18,568 17,956 17,921 18,061 17,944 18,320 18,098
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 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-5. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons Unemployment rates(1)
(in thousands)
Category
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
CHARACTERISTIC
Total, 16 years and over......................... 6,039 6,022 5,795 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2
Men, 20 years and over......................... 2,524 2,383 2,534 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.2 3.4 3.6
Women, 20 years and over....................... 2,348 2,468 2,209 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.1 3.6
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years..................... 1,167 1,171 1,052 14.3 15.5 14.1 14.3 14.1 12.6
Married men, spouse present.................... 1,032 1,010 1,033 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.1 2.3 2.4
Married women, spouse present.................. 942 1,006 870 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.9 2.5
Women who maintain families.................... 635 623 514 7.5 6.1 6.5 6.7 7.2 6.0
Full-time workers.............................. 4,877 4,805 4,592 4.3 4.1 4.3 4.0 4.2 4.0
Part-time workers.............................. 1,194 1,214 1,247 4.9 5.2 4.9 4.9 4.9 5.1
OCCUPATION(2)
Managerial and professional specialty.......... 673 796 827 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.0
Technical, sales, and administrative support... 1,558 1,584 1,331 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.3
Precision production, craft, and repair........ 684 580 623 4.4 3.5 4.4 3.6 3.8 4.1
Operators, fabricators, and laborers........... 1,287 1,220 1,233 6.6 5.9 6.0 5.9 6.5 6.5
Farming, forestry, and fishing................. 242 278 300 6.5 7.7 7.8 6.9 7.3 8.0
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers 4,773 4,645 4,521 4.5 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.4 4.2
Goods-producing industries................... 1,334 1,257 1,256 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.3 4.5 4.4
Mining..................................... 10 56 33 1.6 7.4 7.7 5.3 9.3 5.9
Construction............................... 562 520 515 8.0 7.3 7.5 6.7 7.4 7.2
Manufacturing.............................. 762 682 708 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.4 3.3 3.4
Durable goods............................ 380 390 410 3.0 3.4 3.3 2.9 3.1 3.3
Nondurable goods......................... 382 292 298 4.6 3.8 4.3 4.1 3.7 3.6
Service-producing industries................. 3,439 3,387 3,264 4.5 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.1
Transportation and public utilities........ 233 211 248 3.1 2.5 3.2 2.9 2.8 3.3
Wholesale and retail trade................. 1,417 1,455 1,435 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.4 5.4 5.3
Finance, insurance, and real estate........ 168 264 170 2.1 2.4 2.4 1.9 3.2 2.1
Services................................... 1,621 1,458 1,410 4.7 4.1 4.0 4.2 4.1 3.9
Government workers............................. 442 473 504 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.5 2.6
Agricultural wage and salary workers........... 167 205 230 8.0 9.6 11.3 9.5 9.7 10.7
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 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-6. Duration of unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Duration
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Less than 5 weeks................................ 2,634 2,378 2,494 2,608 2,353 2,601 2,478 2,788 2,467
5 to 14 weeks.................................... 1,597 1,671 1,469 1,967 2,071 1,944 1,891 1,867 1,816
15 weeks and over................................ 1,534 1,638 1,544 1,509 1,469 1,550 1,434 1,446 1,523
15 to 26 weeks................................ 724 928 845 671 753 766 736 773 794
27 weeks and over............................. 809 711 699 838 716 784 697 673 729
Average (mean) duration, in weeks................ 15.0 14.0 13.6 14.7 13.4 13.8 13.5 13.1 13.4
Median duration, in weeks........................ 5.9 7.4 6.4 6.1 6.9 7.0 6.9 6.1 6.7
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.............................. 45.7 41.8 45.3 42.9 39.9 42.7 42.7 45.7 42.5
5 to 14 weeks.................................. 27.7 29.4 26.7 32.3 35.1 31.9 32.6 30.6 31.3
15 weeks and over.............................. 26.6 28.8 28.0 24.8 24.9 25.4 24.7 23.7 26.2
15 to 26 weeks............................... 12.6 16.3 15.3 11.0 12.8 12.6 12.7 12.7 13.7
27 weeks and over............................ 14.0 12.5 12.7 13.8 12.1 12.9 12.0 11.0 12.6
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-7. Reason for unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Reason
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs........................................... 2,517 2,633 2,362 2,822 2,696 2,738 2,563 2,700 2,663
On temporary layoff............................. 608 835 609 816 864 849 812 838 821
Not on temporary layoff......................... 1,908 1,797 1,753 2,006 1,832 1,889 1,751 1,862 1,842
Permanent job losers.......................... 1,357 1,263 1,295 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Persons who completed temporary jobs.......... 551 534 458 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Job leavers....................................... 664 754 699 749 699 751 780 841 789
Reentrants........................................ 2,098 1,874 2,052 2,081 1,993 2,110 1,988 2,044 2,040
New entrants...................................... 486 427 394 505 537 509 431 469 415
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed.................................. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs........................................... 43.7 46.3 42.9 45.8 45.5 44.8 44.5 44.6 45.1
On temporary layoff............................ 10.5 14.7 11.1 13.3 14.6 13.9 14.1 13.9 13.9
Not on temporary layoff........................ 33.1 31.6 31.8 32.6 30.9 30.9 30.4 30.8 31.2
Job leavers...................................... 11.5 13.3 12.7 12.2 11.8 12.3 13.5 13.9 13.4
Reentrants....................................... 36.4 33.0 37.3 33.8 33.6 34.5 34.5 33.8 34.5
New entrants..................................... 8.4 7.5 7.2 8.2 9.1 8.3 7.5 7.7 7.0
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs........................................... 1.8 1.9 1.7 2.1 1.9 2.0 1.8 1.9 1.9
Job leavers...................................... .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .6 .6 .6
Reentrants....................................... 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5
New entrants..................................... .4 .3 .3 .4 .4 .4 .3 .3 .3
1 Not available.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-8. Range of alternative measures of labor underutilization
(Percent)
Not seasonally Seasonally adjusted
adjusted
Measure
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of
the civilian
labor force.............................................. 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.1
U-2 Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as
a percent of the
civilian labor force..................................... 1.8 1.9 1.7 2.1 1.9 2.0 1.8 1.9 1.9
U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor
force
(official unemployment rate)............................. 4.2 4.1 4.0 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2
U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent
of the civilian
labor force plus discouraged workers.................... 4.4 4.3 4.1 (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........................................ 5.0 5.0 4.8 (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......................... 7.6 7.4 7.1 (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 1999, data reflect revised
population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-9. Unemployed persons by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons Unemployment rates(1)
(in thousands)
Age and sex
May Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
Total, 16 years and over.......................... 6,039 6,022 5,795 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2
16 to 24 years.................................. 2,215 2,217 2,092 10.2 10.1 10.2 10.0 10.0 9.4
16 to 19 years................................ 1,167 1,171 1,052 14.3 15.5 14.1 14.3 14.1 12.6
16 to 17 years.............................. 535 572 531 16.3 18.4 15.5 16.6 16.9 15.9
18 to 19 years.............................. 640 608 531 13.1 13.1 13.1 12.8 12.3 10.6
20 to 24 years................................ 1,048 1,046 1,040 7.7 6.9 7.7 7.4 7.6 7.5
25 years and over............................... 3,845 3,792 3,718 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.2
25 to 54 years................................ 3,385 3,271 3,218 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.1 3.3 3.2
55 years and over............................. 423 513 462 2.5 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.6
Men, 16 years and over.......................... 3,189 3,010 3,118 4.3 4.2 4.3 3.9 4.1 4.2
16 to 24 years................................ 1,263 1,192 1,180 11.1 10.7 10.1 9.9 10.5 10.2
16 to 19 years.............................. 665 627 584 15.9 16.9 14.6 15.0 14.8 13.3
16 to 17 years............................ 309 332 313 18.3 19.7 15.3 16.9 19.2 17.7
18 to 19 years............................ 361 310 277 14.5 14.7 14.1 13.6 12.2 10.6
20 to 24 years.............................. 598 565 597 8.3 7.1 7.5 7.0 8.0 8.3
25 years and over............................. 1,949 1,827 1,958 3.1 3.0 3.2 2.7 2.9 3.1
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,677 1,562 1,662 3.2 3.1 3.3 2.8 2.9 3.1
55 years and over........................... 238 258 261 2.5 2.8 3.0 2.6 2.6 2.7
Women, 16 years and over........................ 2,850 3,012 2,677 4.5 4.3 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.1
16 to 24 years................................ 952 1,025 912 9.2 9.5 10.2 10.0 9.5 8.6
16 to 19 years.............................. 502 544 468 12.6 13.9 13.7 13.6 13.4 11.8
16 to 17 years............................ 226 240 217 14.2 16.9 15.7 16.2 14.5 13.8
18 to 19 years............................ 279 298 255 11.6 11.5 12.1 11.9 12.5 10.6
20 to 24 years.............................. 450 481 444 7.0 6.7 8.0 7.8 7.1 6.7
25 years and over............................. 1,896 1,965 1,760 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.2
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,708 1,709 1,556 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.4
55 years and over........................... 185 256 201 2.5 3.1 2.7 3.2 3.3 2.6
1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-10. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Total Men Women
Category
May May May May May May
1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999
NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE
Total not in the labor force...................................... 67,659 68,508 24,738 25,187 42,921 43,321
Persons who currently want a job................................ 5,313 5,267 2,237 2,323 3,076 2,944
Searched for work and available to work now(1)............... 1,213 1,148 570 506 644 642
Reason not currently looking:
Discouragement over job prospects(2).................... 268 256 161 134 106 122
Reasons other than discouragement(3).................... 946 892 408 373 537 520
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS
Total multiple jobholders(4)...................................... 8,126 7,895 4,438 4,117 3,688 3,778
Percent of total employed..................................... 6.2 5.9 6.3 5.8 6.1 6.1
Primary job full time, secondary job part time................ 4,660 4,420 2,811 2,595 1,849 1,825
Primary and secondary jobs both part time..................... 1,571 1,639 496 493 1,075 1,146
Primary and secondary jobs both full time..................... 265 264 206 190 59 74
Hours vary on primary or secondary job........................ 1,606 1,537 912 823 694 714
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 1999, 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
May Mar. Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total......................... 126,139 126,867 128,011 128,852 125,478 127,378 127,730 127,813 128,156 128,167
Total private.................... 105,969 106,385 107,543 108,350 105,715 107,386 107,676 107,726 108,057 108,075
Goods-producing......................... 25,418 24,773 25,045 25,241 25,379 25,315 25,329 25,285 25,289 25,197
Mining................................ 595 540 533 532 595 560 553 550 538 531
Metal mining........................ 50.4 49.1 48.6 48.8 50 50 50 50 49 49
Coal mining......................... 92.6 87.1 85.8 85.2 93 89 88 87 86 85
Oil and gas extraction.............. 340.4 300.2 289.6 286.8 343 312 306 305 294 289
Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels.. 111.1 103.4 108.5 111.0 109 109 109 108 109 108
Construction.......................... 5,993 5,806 6,102 6,302 5,932 6,170 6,238 6,232 6,276 6,236
General building contractors........ 1,358.4 1,358.1 1,390.7 1,423.0 1,361 1,410 1,426 1,429 1,426 1,425
Heavy construction, except building. 865.6 761.6 845.8 890.7 833 871 869 864 874 857
Special trade contractors........... 3,768.5 3,686.2 3,865.8 3,988.1 3,738 3,889 3,943 3,939 3,976 3,954
Manufacturing......................... 18,830 18,427 18,410 18,407 18,852 18,585 18,538 18,503 18,475 18,430
Production workers................ 12,984 12,666 12,646 12,648 12,999 12,773 12,730 12,714 12,692 12,659
Durable goods........................ 11,234 10,991 10,984 10,978 11,225 11,050 11,027 11,014 10,995 10,969
Production workers................ 7,702 7,522 7,517 7,516 7,686 7,548 7,529 7,527 7,516 7,499
Lumber and wood products............ 809.2 813.4 814.5 821.0 811 826 827 827 825 823
Furniture and fixtures.............. 531.5 535.9 536.7 537.1 531 534 535 535 536 537
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 565.3 556.4 568.8 574.4 561 569 571 569 570 570
Primary metal industries............ 715.1 693.1 690.9 688.5 716 696 695 693 692 689
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 233.1 222.7 221.8 221.6 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Fabricated metal products........... 1,506.6 1,488.5 1,487.0 1,488.0 1,507 1,495 1,491 1,490 1,489 1,489
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 2,220.9 2,144.1 2,136.6 2,129.4 2,215 2,148 2,146 2,139 2,132 2,124
Computer and office equipment..... 381.1 359.1 359.3 357.5 381 362 362 360 361 358
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 1,714.2 1,658.4 1,655.1 1,651.6 1,718 1,663 1,659 1,659 1,658 1,655
Electronic components and
accessories.................... 668.1 636.9 633.6 633.8 668 637 636 636 634 634
Transportation equipment............ 1,903.0 1,874.4 1,864.4 1,860.0 1,897 1,884 1,871 1,873 1,863 1,854
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 1,006.7 994.1 997.5 999.9 1,001 996 989 992 996 994
Aircraft and parts................ 523.8 509.7 501.7 495.8 525 517 510 511 503 497
Instruments and related products.... 872.8 843.1 842.4 841.4 874 849 847 844 843 842
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 395.0 383.8 387.3 386.2 395 386 385 385 387 386
Nondurable goods..................... 7,596 7,436 7,426 7,429 7,627 7,535 7,511 7,489 7,480 7,461
Production workers................ 5,282 5,144 5,129 5,132 5,313 5,225 5,201 5,187 5,176 5,160
Food and kindred products........... 1,658.1 1,654.0 1,647.8 1,658.8 1,687 1,699 1,695 1,693 1,688 1,688
Tobacco products.................... 37.7 38.1 36.4 35.1 41 40 40 39 38 38
Textile mill products............... 605.4 569.3 567.4 564.5 604 579 575 571 567 563
Apparel and other textile products.. 776.1 700.3 697.2 693.7 773 718 707 702 699 691
Paper and allied products........... 675.9 659.7 658.7 657.3 678 664 664 662 662 659
Printing and publishing............. 1,563.9 1,553.7 1,553.3 1,550.1 1,566 1,561 1,559 1,557 1,555 1,552
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,044.3 1,034.6 1,034.0 1,035.5 1,044 1,041 1,041 1,037 1,038 1,036
Petroleum and coal products......... 141.4 135.4 137.7 139.8 141 139 139 139 139 139
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 1,008.7 1,015.4 1,018.8 1,019.7 1,009 1,016 1,015 1,014 1,019 1,020
Leather and leather products........ 84.6 75.4 74.9 74.9 84 78 76 75 75 75
Service-producing....................... 100,721 102,094 102,966 103,611 100,099 102,063 102,401 102,528 102,867 102,970
Transportation and public utilities... 6,589 6,685 6,721 6,778 6,577 6,708 6,723 6,732 6,752 6,765
Transportation...................... 4,264 4,336 4,371 4,420 4,254 4,356 4,367 4,378 4,397 4,409
Railroad transportation........... 231.3 232.4 234.1 235.9 204 207 207 235 234 235
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................ 483.1 491.4 493.6 500.6 465 474 475 476 483 482
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,732.6 1,758.9 1,775.3 1,800.9 1,738 1,786 1,789 1,796 1,800 1,805
Water transportation.............. 180.9 171.1 177.5 181.4 179 182 181 177 180 180
Transportation by air............. 1,169.1 1,206.7 1,210.5 1,219.2 1,175 1,204 1,213 1,218 1,220 1,225
Pipelines, except natural gas..... 13.7 13.7 13.7 13.8 14 14 14 14 14 14
Transportation services........... 453.6 461.9 465.9 468.4 453 463 462 462 466 468
Communications and public utilities. 2,325 2,349 2,350 2,358 2,323 2,352 2,356 2,354 2,355 2,356
Communications.................... 1,468.4 1,503.5 1,507.5 1,514.3 1,467 1,502 1,507 1,506 1,510 1,513
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services....................... 856.7 845.8 842.5 843.9 856 850 849 848 845 843
Wholesale trade....................... 6,822 6,909 6,948 6,971 6,814 6,924 6,937 6,947 6,965 6,962
Durable goods....................... 4,038 4,091 4,111 4,127 4,032 4,088 4,100 4,103 4,113 4,120
Nondurable goods.................... 2,784 2,818 2,837 2,844 2,782 2,836 2,837 2,844 2,852 2,842
Retail trade.......................... 22,265 22,174 22,489 22,786 22,237 22,556 22,648 22,611 22,738 22,755
Building materials and garden
supplies......................... 985.3 949.8 992.3 1,022.0 942 972 979 982 982 977
General merchandise stores.......... 2,642.7 2,688.7 2,717.3 2,724.3 2,725 2,773 2,781 2,794 2,815 2,806
Department stores................. 2,349.3 2,396.0 2,425.5 2,432.6 2,422 2,470 2,475 2,489 2,516 2,507
Food stores......................... 3,460.6 3,443.6 3,448.4 3,462.4 3,478 3,481 3,492 3,490 3,493 3,480
Automotive dealers and service
stations......................... 2,338.9 2,370.0 2,387.5 2,409.8 2,333 2,377 2,390 2,392 2,398 2,404
New and used car dealers.......... 1,044.4 1,066.7 1,072.1 1,077.7 1,044 1,061 1,065 1,069 1,074 1,078
Apparel and accessory stores........ 1,116.3 1,129.8 1,133.9 1,138.0 1,142 1,152 1,167 1,167 1,162 1,164
Furniture and home furnishings
stores........................... 1,007.1 1,060.6 1,069.7 1,073.5 1,019 1,055 1,064 1,070 1,081 1,086
Eating and drinking places.......... 7,886.2 7,663.1 7,853.0 8,039.0 7,736 7,843 7,855 7,785 7,863 7,886
Miscellaneous retail establishments. 2,827.9 2,868.3 2,887.1 2,917.2 2,862 2,903 2,920 2,931 2,944 2,952
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 7,372 7,547 7,586 7,625 7,374 7,570 7,581 7,595 7,614 7,626
Finance............................. 3,569 3,681 3,691 3,703 3,574 3,675 3,681 3,690 3,700 3,708
Depository institutions........... 2,039.4 2,045.1 2,045.4 2,051.6 2,043 2,049 2,051 2,051 2,052 2,055
Commercial banks................ 1,467.0 1,463.5 1,464.1 1,468.5 1,470 1,469 1,470 1,469 1,469 1,472
Savings institutions............ 258.2 257.6 257.2 257.3 258 258 258 258 257 257
Nondepository institutions........ 647.5 711.9 716.0 719.0 647 705 708 712 717 719
Mortgage bankers and brokers.... 320.0 367.8 370.6 374.3 319 362 365 368 370 373
Security and commodity brokers.... 636.6 661.0 665.4 668.3 639 663 661 664 668 671
Holding and other investment
offices........................ 245.3 262.5 264.0 263.7 245 258 261 263 263 263
Insurance........................... 2,333 2,388 2,392 2,396 2,336 2,383 2,386 2,392 2,395 2,398
Insurance carriers................ 1,589.5 1,627.5 1,629.3 1,632.4 1,592 1,627 1,628 1,632 1,631 1,635
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................ 743.7 760.0 762.6 763.1 744 756 758 760 764 763
Real estate......................... 1,470 1,478 1,503 1,526 1,464 1,512 1,514 1,513 1,519 1,520
Services2............................. 37,503 38,297 38,754 38,949 37,334 38,313 38,458 38,556 38,699 38,770
Agricultural services............... 747.6 663.5 761.3 805.0 694 747 751 747 756 748
Hotels and other lodging places..... 1,791.5 1,715.4 1,744.8 1,798.2 1,774 1,785 1,786 1,789 1,792 1,781
Personal services................... 1,187.6 1,260.1 1,265.6 1,189.3 1,197 1,205 1,201 1,200 1,203 1,198
Business services................... 8,489.8 8,829.5 8,928.6 9,033.0 8,513 8,869 8,922 8,963 9,015 9,057
Services to buildings............. 954.2 966.7 977.5 989.2 948 971 971 973 979 982
Personnel supply services......... 3,194.6 3,235.5 3,294.6 3,349.9 3,212 3,308 3,331 3,343 3,355 3,368
Help supply services............ 2,841.9 2,864.0 2,918.8 2,970.6 2,858 2,933 2,954 2,967 2,981 2,987
Computer and data processing
services....................... 1,569.7 1,738.5 1,751.6 1,762.8 1,573 1,708 1,724 1,734 1,750 1,766
Auto repair, services, and parking.. 1,138.6 1,173.8 1,177.0 1,183.6 1,137 1,168 1,175 1,176 1,178 1,182
Miscellaneous repair services....... 380.0 389.6 395.9 398.9 380 392 392 393 396 399
Motion pictures..................... 573.0 582.0 582.7 588.1 573 573 582 580 585 588
Amusement and recreation services... 1,669.3 1,514.9 1,651.8 1,769.2 1,584 1,653 1,656 1,660 1,671 1,679
Health services..................... 9,823.3 9,918.8 9,938.2 9,945.3 9,830 9,905 9,919 9,932 9,951 9,952
Offices and clinics of medical
doctors........................ 1,789.9 1,845.7 1,852.7 1,855.8 1,793 1,840 1,844 1,850 1,856 1,859
Nursing and personal care
facilities..................... 1,761.9 1,750.2 1,748.6 1,750.5 1,766 1,756 1,755 1,754 1,753 1,755
Hospitals......................... 3,912.2 3,957.9 3,960.0 3,961.3 3,918 3,954 3,959 3,963 3,966 3,967
Home health care services......... 677.8 652.0 655.8 655.3 675 645 651 653 655 653
Legal services...................... 962.5 989.5 992.0 992.1 968 989 992 995 998 998
Educational services................ 2,196.6 2,385.8 2,390.7 2,298.9 2,164 2,218 2,237 2,243 2,247 2,265
Social services..................... 2,649.4 2,752.4 2,772.5 2,787.9 2,624 2,721 2,734 2,744 2,756 2,762
Child day care services........... 620.8 642.2 647.4 653.9 600 621 625 627 629 633
Residential care.................. 743.9 768.5 772.9 774.7 744 765 768 769 773 775
Museums and botanical and zoological
gardens........................... 95.5 88.9 93.0 97.1 92 94 94 95 94 93
Membership organizations............ 2,356.7 2,378.7 2,380.8 2,390.7 2,357 2,385 2,389 2,392 2,393 2,391
Engineering and management services. 3,153.1 3,361.5 3,386.0 3,378.5 3,158 3,316 3,335 3,354 3,370 3,383
Engineering and architectural
services....................... 898.5 923.3 928.7 934.2 901 926 930 933 938 936
Management and public relations... 1,018.1 1,117.7 1,131.0 1,143.0 1,016 1,103 1,111 1,123 1,131 1,141
Services, nec....................... 50.9 54.7 55.6 56.0 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Government............................ 20,170 20,482 20,468 20,502 19,763 19,992 20,054 20,087 20,099 20,092
Federal............................. 2,676 2,697 2,681 2,673 2,675 2,702 2,713 2,710 2,689 2,673
Federal, except Postal Service.... 1,821.9 1,824.5 1,810.0 1,803.3 1,812 1,822 1,834 1,831 1,809 1,794
State............................... 4,659 4,800 4,812 4,749 4,597 4,644 4,670 4,680 4,690 4,687
Education......................... 1,969.1 2,086.1 2,088.5 2,012.8 1,908 1,920 1,941 1,948 1,958 1,951
Other State government............ 2,689.6 2,714.3 2,723.4 2,736.5 2,689 2,724 2,729 2,732 2,732 2,736
Local............................... 12,835 12,985 12,975 13,080 12,491 12,646 12,671 12,697 12,720 12,732
Education......................... 7,419.4 7,592.4 7,553.3 7,593.6 7,052 7,165 7,181 7,200 7,203 7,222
Other local government............ 5,415.1 5,392.3 5,421.3 5,486.7 5,439 5,481 5,490 5,497 5,517 5,510
1 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.
2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Data have been revised to reflect March 1998 benchmarks and recomputed seasonal adjustment factors.
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
May Mar. Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... 34.6 34.2 34.3 34.6 34.7 34.6 34.6 34.5 34.4 34.5
Goods-producing......................... 41.2 40.5 40.9 41.1 41.1 41.1 41.0 40.8 40.8 41.0
Mining................................ 44.3 42.2 43.2 43.9 44.3 42.9 43.0 42.9 43.7 43.8
Construction.......................... 39.3 37.7 38.6 39.3 38.9 39.5 39.2 38.5 38.6 38.9
Manufacturing......................... 41.8 41.4 41.6 41.7 41.8 41.6 41.6 41.5 41.6 41.7
Overtime hours.................... 4.6 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.3 4.6
Durable goods........................ 42.5 42.0 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.2 42.2 42.0 42.1 42.2
Overtime hours.................... 4.8 4.5 4.7 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.4 4.6
Lumber and wood products............ 41.3 40.8 41.2 41.4 41.1 41.7 41.1 41.2 41.2 41.2
Furniture and fixtures.............. 40.1 40.0 40.2 39.7 40.8 40.4 40.3 40.3 40.4 40.3
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 44.0 42.2 43.2 43.8 43.6 43.8 43.4 42.9 43.1 43.4
Primary metal industries............ 44.5 43.9 44.2 44.3 44.3 43.7 43.8 43.9 44.1 44.2
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 45.4 43.9 44.8 44.9 45.3 43.8 43.8 43.9 44.7 44.8
Fabricated metal products........... 42.5 41.8 42.1 42.1 42.5 42.1 42.1 42.1 41.8 42.1
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 43.1 42.1 42.2 42.2 43.0 42.1 42.1 41.9 41.9 42.1
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 41.2 40.8 41.0 41.3 41.4 41.2 41.2 41.0 41.0 41.6
Transportation equipment............ 43.7 43.9 44.2 43.9 43.3 43.5 44.0 43.7 44.0 43.5
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 44.1 45.1 45.6 45.1 43.3 44.3 45.0 44.7 45.1 44.3
Instruments and related products.... 41.3 41.4 41.6 41.5 41.4 41.2 41.3 41.2 41.8 41.7
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 39.9 40.0 40.0 40.1 40.1 39.6 39.7 39.8 39.7 40.2
Nondurable goods..................... 40.8 40.6 40.7 40.8 40.9 40.8 40.8 40.8 40.9 41.0
Overtime hours.................... 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.5
Food and kindred products........... 41.5 41.1 41.2 41.7 41.7 41.8 41.7 41.7 41.9 41.9
Tobacco products.................... 39.0 38.1 38.2 38.9 39.1 38.1 38.5 38.8 38.4 39.0
Textile mill products............... 41.1 40.3 40.9 40.6 41.2 40.8 40.6 40.4 41.0 40.7
Apparel and other textile products.. 37.4 37.4 37.6 37.9 37.4 37.0 37.5 37.4 37.5 37.9
Paper and allied products........... 43.3 43.4 43.6 43.4 43.5 43.5 43.5 43.7 43.6 43.6
Printing and publishing............. 38.1 37.9 38.1 37.9 38.4 38.2 38.1 37.9 38.1 38.2
Chemicals and allied products....... 42.9 42.8 42.7 42.9 43.1 42.9 42.8 42.8 43.0 43.1
Petroleum and coal products......... 42.9 43.7 42.9 42.3 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 41.9 41.8 41.7 41.7 41.8 41.4 41.7 41.8 41.4 41.7
Leather and leather products........ 37.4 37.6 37.8 37.9 37.5 37.3 37.7 37.7 38.0 38.0
Service-producing....................... 32.8 32.6 32.6 33.0 33.0 32.9 33.0 32.8 32.8 32.8
Transportation and public utilities... 39.5 38.8 38.7 38.9 39.7 39.3 39.2 39.1 39.1 38.9
Wholesale trade....................... 38.4 38.2 38.3 38.6 38.4 38.4 38.5 38.4 38.4 38.3
Retail trade.......................... 29.0 28.6 28.7 29.1 29.1 29.0 29.2 29.0 29.0 29.1
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 36.1 36.0 35.9 36.4 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Services.............................. 32.5 32.4 32.4 32.8 32.7 32.7 32.7 32.6 32.5 32.6
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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to reflect March 1998 benchmarks and recomputed seasonal adjustment factors.
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
May Mar. Apr. May May Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... $12.71 $13.12 $13.16 $13.20 $439.77 $448.70 $451.39 $456.72
Seasonally adjusted............. 12.73 13.11 13.14 13.19 441.73 452.30 452.02 455.06
Goods-producing......................... 14.29 14.53 14.64 14.75 588.75 588.47 598.78 606.23
Mining................................ 16.67 17.01 16.94 16.85 738.48 717.82 731.81 739.72
Construction.......................... 16.44 16.79 16.85 17.04 646.09 632.98 650.41 669.67
Manufacturing......................... 13.48 13.73 13.80 13.84 563.46 568.42 574.08 577.13
Durable goods........................ 13.97 14.20 14.27 14.32 593.73 596.40 602.19 605.74
Lumber and wood products............ 11.05 11.31 11.38 11.42 456.37 461.45 468.86 472.79
Furniture and fixtures.............. 10.80 11.10 11.14 11.17 433.08 444.00 447.83 443.45
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 13.58 13.70 13.74 13.86 597.52 578.14 593.57 607.07
Primary metal industries............ 15.55 15.53 15.65 15.73 691.98 681.77 691.73 696.84
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 18.56 18.56 18.66 18.82 842.62 814.78 835.97 845.02
Fabricated metal products........... 13.03 13.33 13.37 13.44 553.78 557.19 562.88 565.82
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 14.38 14.81 14.85 14.93 619.78 623.50 626.67 630.05
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 13.02 13.27 13.34 13.40 536.42 541.42 546.94 553.42
Transportation equipment............ 17.61 17.66 17.87 17.87 769.56 775.27 789.85 784.49
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 18.07 17.98 18.30 18.22 796.89 810.90 834.48 821.72
Instruments and related products.... 13.78 13.97 14.07 14.10 569.11 578.36 585.31 585.15
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 10.80 11.19 11.25 11.27 430.92 447.60 450.00 451.93
Nondurable goods..................... 12.72 13.03 13.08 13.12 518.98 529.02 532.36 535.30
Food and kindred products........... 11.78 11.93 12.07 12.10 488.87 490.32 497.28 504.57
Tobacco products.................... 20.24 19.33 19.98 20.87 789.36 736.47 763.24 811.84
Textile mill products............... 10.37 10.62 10.67 10.72 426.21 427.99 436.40 435.23
Apparel and other textile products.. 8.47 8.78 8.84 8.83 316.78 328.37 332.38 334.66
Paper and allied products........... 15.51 15.78 15.83 15.95 671.58 684.85 690.19 692.23
Printing and publishing............. 13.33 13.73 13.73 13.74 507.87 520.37 523.11 520.75
Chemicals and allied products....... 17.11 17.18 17.27 17.35 734.02 735.30 737.43 744.32
Petroleum and coal products......... 20.81 21.59 21.57 21.31 892.75 943.48 925.35 901.41
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 11.85 12.20 12.20 12.24 496.52 509.96 508.74 510.41
Leather and leather products........ 9.31 9.55 9.59 9.57 348.19 359.08 362.50 362.70
Service-producing....................... 12.19 12.67 12.69 12.71 399.83 413.04 413.69 419.43
Transportation and public utilities... $15.18 $15.51 $15.57 $15.58 $599.61 $601.79 $602.56 $606.06
Wholesale trade....................... 14.00 14.34 14.48 14.53 537.60 547.79 554.58 560.86
Retail trade.......................... 8.69 9.00 9.03 9.04 252.01 257.40 259.16 263.06
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 13.99 14.53 14.61 14.76 505.04 523.08 524.50 537.26
Services.............................. 12.76 13.33 13.32 13.34 414.70 431.89 431.57 437.55
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Data have been revised to reflect March 1998 benchmarks and recomputed seasonal adjustment factors.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-4. Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm
payrolls by industry, seasonally adjusted
Percent
May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May change
Industry 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p from:
Apr. 1999-
May 1999
Total private:
Current dollars.............. $12.73 $13.04 $13.06 $13.11 $13.14 $13.19 0.4
Constant (1982) dollars2..... 7.74 7.83 7.84 7.86 7.83 N.A. (3)
Goods-producing............... 14.29 14.53 14.56 14.61 14.67 14.75 .5
Mining...................... 16.72 17.07 16.97 17.00 16.88 16.90 .1
Construction................ 16.50 16.80 16.83 16.92 16.97 17.10 .8
Manufacturing............... 13.48 13.64 13.67 13.71 13.79 13.84 .4
Excluding overtime4....... 12.77 12.93 12.97 13.00 13.09 13.13 .3
Service-producing............. 12.22 12.56 12.58 12.63 12.65 12.70 .4
Transportation and public
utilities................ 15.27 15.49 15.51 15.53 15.60 15.68 .5
Wholesale trade............. 14.02 14.36 14.36 14.42 14.44 14.48 .3
Retail trade................ 8.70 8.93 8.95 8.98 9.03 9.05 .2
Finance, insurance, and real
estate................... 14.00 14.46 14.49 14.51 14.58 14.64 .4
Services.................... 12.79 13.17 13.22 13.27 13.28 13.33 .4
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 March 1999 to April 1999, 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.
NOTE: Data have been revised to reflect March 1998 benchmarks and recomputed seasonal
adjustment factors.
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
May Mar. Apr. May May Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... 145.0 143.5 145.7 148.3 145.0 146.8 147.3 146.8 147.0 147.3
Goods-producing......................... 116.3 110.5 113.1 114.9 115.8 115.2 115.0 114.2 114.2 114.3
Mining................................ 57.3 48.6 49.1 49.8 57.2 51.8 51.0 50.5 50.4 49.6
Construction.......................... 166.4 151.3 164.8 174.5 162.3 171.9 171.9 169.1 169.2 170.0
Manufacturing......................... 109.4 105.8 106.2 106.3 109.6 107.1 106.8 106.5 106.5 106.5
Durable goods........................ 114.1 110.1 110.8 110.8 113.7 111.0 110.8 110.4 110.4 110.4
Lumber and wood products............ 145.2 143.9 145.4 147.6 144.7 149.5 147.6 147.9 147.5 147.3
Furniture and fixtures.............. 133.8 134.5 135.3 134.1 135.6 135.3 134.9 135.2 135.6 135.6
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 117.4 110.8 116.0 119.1 115.2 117.8 117.0 115.4 116.2 117.0
Primary metal industries............ 94.5 89.9 90.3 90.0 94.2 89.9 90.0 90.0 90.1 90.0
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 73.6 68.0 69.1 69.4 73.6 68.0 68.0 68.2 69.0 69.2
Fabricated metal products........... 119.8 116.3 116.9 117.1 120.0 117.7 117.2 117.0 116.1 117.0
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 111.6 105.6 105.4 104.8 110.9 105.4 105.2 104.4 104.1 104.1
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 109.9 104.8 105.1 105.4 110.7 105.9 105.2 105.1 105.3 106.4
Transportation equipment............ 129.9 126.4 126.6 125.7 127.7 125.1 125.9 125.3 125.3 123.7
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 166.6 165.1 167.6 167.3 161.8 161.0 162.7 162.7 164.6 162.5
Instruments and related products.... 76.7 75.4 75.7 75.0 77.0 75.0 75.2 74.7 76.1 75.4
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 103.9 100.4 101.2 101.3 104.2 99.5 99.8 100.0 100.5 101.4
Nondurable goods..................... 102.9 99.9 99.8 100.1 103.9 101.8 101.5 101.2 101.2 101.1
Food and kindred products........... 114.5 114.0 113.4 115.4 117.9 119.3 118.8 118.8 118.8 118.8
Tobacco products.................... 55.1 54.0 51.1 48.6 62.0 58.5 57.2 55.7 55.2 54.1
Textile mill products............... 87.7 80.7 81.6 80.7 87.8 83.1 82.0 81.1 81.8 80.7
Apparel and other textile products.. 68.5 61.3 61.4 61.6 68.3 62.3 62.1 61.5 61.5 61.4
Paper and allied products........... 108.7 105.6 105.9 105.4 109.6 107.1 106.7 107.0 106.7 106.3
Printing and publishing............. 124.4 121.7 121.8 120.8 125.6 123.4 122.8 121.9 121.9 121.9
Chemicals and allied products....... 103.1 101.8 101.4 102.1 103.6 102.4 102.0 101.8 102.4 102.5
Petroleum and coal products......... 76.3 74.1 74.3 74.5 76.1 76.2 77.4 76.4 74.9 74.2
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 148.6 148.9 149.0 149.4 148.2 147.8 148.5 148.8 147.8 149.2
Leather and leather products........ 36.8 32.5 32.5 32.2 36.9 32.7 33.0 32.4 32.7 32.1
Service-producing....................... 157.8 158.3 160.3 163.2 158.1 161.0 161.8 161.5 161.7 162.1
Transportation and public utilities... 131.6 131.6 131.6 133.7 132.2 134.1 134.1 133.8 134.0 133.5
Wholesale trade....................... 128.5 129.8 130.8 132.2 128.5 130.6 131.3 131.3 131.5 130.9
Retail trade.......................... 139.8 136.8 139.5 143.4 140.1 141.3 142.9 141.9 142.7 143.2
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 135.1 137.4 137.8 140.6 135.8 139.1 139.6 139.3 139.2 139.0
Services.............................. 193.5 196.1 198.8 201.8 193.7 198.3 198.9 198.8 198.9 199.8
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Data have been revised to reflect March 1998 benchmarks and recomputed seasonal adjustment factors.
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:
1995.............. 63.8 58.0 54.6 56.5 47.5 54.8 55.6 59.1 57.9 56.9 55.2 57.7
1996.............. 49.6 64.9 59.4 55.1 61.9 60.8 57.0 62.5 57.3 63.5 59.7 61.2
1997.............. 56.2 61.0 61.9 62.8 58.8 56.3 60.7 61.0 59.4 65.4 63.6 62.1
1998.............. 63.8 57.9 58.8 60.5 55.9 57.9 58.0 55.8 54.6 52.9 59.1 58.6
1999.............. 54.4 58.3 52.1 p59.0 p49.4
Over 3-month span:
1995.............. 63.8 62.9 58.0 53.5 53.9 52.7 59.3 61.0 59.4 58.6 57.3 55.3
1996.............. 62.6 62.5 63.3 63.1 63.1 64.3 64.3 62.2 64.6 64.2 66.2 63.2
1997.............. 63.8 63.6 67.7 67.3 62.6 61.7 61.4 66.2 67.3 69.9 70.8 71.2
1998.............. 66.7 66.2 64.5 63.9 61.4 58.7 60.0 58.4 57.6 57.6 59.0 60.4
1999.............. 60.7 55.9 p59.7 p52.7
Over 6-month span:
1995.............. 66.7 59.7 58.6 56.5 59.0 60.0 57.7 61.0 60.5 59.3 61.7 63.2
1996.............. 62.6 65.2 64.5 65.2 64.7 64.6 67.0 65.4 65.9 66.7 66.9 66.7
1997.............. 67.4 68.3 65.6 67.0 65.6 64.9 66.3 68.4 69.7 71.3 71.3 71.9
1998.............. 70.6 66.9 65.9 62.4 62.6 61.1 58.0 59.8 60.0 60.8 60.8 58.0
1999.............. p61.1 p58.3
Over 12-month span:
1995.............. 63.6 62.4 62.6 63.3 61.7 61.9 58.7 62.2 62.2 61.5 63.5 65.4
1996.............. 64.5 66.7 64.5 65.6 68.5 67.3 67.7 66.4 68.0 69.9 68.7 66.9
1997.............. 69.0 67.3 68.3 69.7 69.5 70.1 70.1 70.4 70.5 69.7 69.8 71.3
1998.............. 70.4 68.3 67.1 64.0 62.1 61.7 61.8 63.8 59.8 p59.6 p58.7
1999..............
Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1
Over 1-month span:
1995.............. 57.2 50.4 47.1 52.9 41.4 45.3 45.0 51.1 48.6 51.1 45.3 48.2
1996.............. 42.4 55.4 46.8 41.0 55.8 51.4 47.1 56.5 48.9 55.0 50.7 54.0
1997.............. 50.0 52.9 53.6 56.1 52.2 53.2 51.1 55.4 53.6 62.2 61.2 55.4
1998.............. 58.6 51.8 50.4 50.4 40.6 46.8 40.3 45.3 42.1 36.3 39.9 45.0
1999.............. 40.3 42.4 39.6 p46.0 p37.4
Over 3-month span:
1995.............. 55.4 51.4 44.2 41.7 43.5 37.4 42.1 43.9 48.2 46.8 44.6 41.4
1996.............. 46.8 46.0 43.5 46.0 48.2 51.1 51.8 49.6 53.2 52.5 55.0 50.7
1997.............. 51.8 51.4 57.6 56.8 54.3 51.8 53.6 55.4 59.7 68.3 65.8 64.4
1998.............. 59.4 57.9 51.8 44.2 41.7 34.9 37.4 37.1 38.1 34.2 35.6 35.3
1999.............. 37.4 31.7 p37.8 p30.2
Over 6-month span:
1995.............. 55.4 45.7 43.2 38.1 41.7 42.8 41.0 42.1 43.5 43.2 44.2 45.0
1996.............. 41.4 46.0 45.7 47.1 46.0 48.6 52.9 50.4 51.8 51.4 52.5 51.8
1997.............. 54.7 54.0 51.4 54.3 52.5 52.2 55.4 61.2 61.5 64.7 66.2 65.1
1998.............. 59.7 49.3 48.2 36.7 36.7 36.7 28.4 31.3 33.5 35.3 32.7 28.1
1999.............. p32.0 p29.5
Over 12-month span:
1995.............. 46.0 44.2 46.0 47.8 41.0 41.7 38.5 38.8 36.3 38.5 39.9 44.6
1996.............. 43.5 47.5 45.3 45.3 50.4 49.6 50.4 48.6 51.1 55.0 54.3 50.7
1997.............. 54.7 52.5 54.0 54.0 55.4 56.8 57.2 57.9 58.3 56.5 55.4 57.2
1998.............. 54.0 49.3 46.0 40.6 35.6 33.8 30.9 32.0 26.6 p27.0 p25.5
1999..............
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. Data have been revised to reflect March 1998 benchmarks and recomputed seasonal adjustment factors.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Contact: (cpsinfo@bls.gov) Division of Labor Force Statistics-BLS
Last revised: June 01, 2001
URL: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/empsit_0599.htm
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