Technical information: USDL 97-396
Household data: (202) 606-6378
Transmission of material in this
release is embargoed until
Establishment data: 606-6555 8:30 A.M. (EST),
Media contact: 606-5902 Friday, November 7, 1997.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: OCTOBER 1997
Nonfarm payroll employment rose, and the unemployment rate declined to
4.7 percent in October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today. The number of payroll jobs increased
by 284,000; although gains occurred in many industries, there was a
particularly large increase in manufacturing.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
Both the number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate fell in
October. The number of persons who were unemployed, at 6.5 million, was
285,000 below September’s level, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.2
percentage point to 4.7 percent. From April through September, the rate
had ranged from 4.8 to 5.0 percent. In October, the unemployment rate for
adult women declined from 4.4 to 4.0 percent. The rates for adult men (4.1
percent), teenagers (15.3 percent), whites (4.1 percent), blacks (9.5
percent), and Hispanics (8.0 percent) showed little or no movement over the
month. (See tables A-1 and A-2.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment was about unchanged in October at 129.9 million. At
63.7 percent, the proportion of the population with jobs (the employment-
population ratio) has shown little movement since March. Over the past
year, total employment has increased by 2.0 million (after adjusting for
the effect of the revised population controls introduced into the survey in
January). (See table A-1.)
About 8.1 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in October. These multiple jobholders comprised 6.2 percent of the
total employed. (See table A-9.)
Both the civilian labor force, 136.4 million (seasonally adjusted), and
the labor force participation rate, 66.9 percent, were about unchanged from
September.
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.3 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in October. These were people who wanted
and were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior
12 months, but were not counted as unemployed because they did not search
for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
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Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
| Quarterly | Monthly data |
| averages | |
|_________________|__________________________|Sept.-
Category | 19971/ | 19971/ |Oct.
|_________________|__________________________|change
| II | III | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA | Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 136,157| 136,413| 136,480| 136,467| 136,361| -106
Employment..........| 129,462| 129,742| 129,804| 129,715| 129,894| 179
Unemployment........| 6,695| 6,671| 6,677| 6,752| 6,467| -285
Not in labor force....| 66,678| 66,954| 66,884| 67,102| 67,407| 305
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........| 4.9| 4.9| 4.9| 4.9| 4.7| -0.2
Adult men...........| 4.1| 4.1| 4.1| 4.1| 4.1| .0
Adult women.........| 4.4| 4.3| 4.4| 4.4| 4.0| -.4
Teenagers...........| 15.9| 16.5| 16.4| 16.7| 15.3| -1.4
White...............| 4.1| 4.2| 4.2| 4.3| 4.1| -.2
Black...............| 10.2| 9.4| 9.3| 9.6| 9.5| -.1
Hispanic origin.....| 7.7| 7.6| 7.2| 7.6| 8.0| .4
________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA | Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 121,854|p122,564| 122,492|p122,761|p123,045| p284
Goods-producing 2/..| 24,694| p24,745| 24,765| p24,756| p24,827| p71
Construction......| 5,616| p5,633| 5,637| p5,637| p5,657| p20
Manufacturing.....| 18,504| p18,537| 18,555| p18,543| p18,597| p54
Service-producing 2/| 97,159| p97,820| 97,727| p98,005| p98,218| p213
Retail trade......| 22,045| p22,185| 22,189| p22,208| p22,245| p37
Services..........| 35,436| p35,738| 35,702| p35,828| p35,928| p100
Government........| 19,594| p19,755| 19,804| p19,743| p19,745| p2
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Hours of work 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 34.5| p34.5| 34.6| p34.5| p34.5| p.0
Manufacturing.......| 42.0| p41.8| 41.8| p41.8| p42.0| p0.2
Overtime..........| 4.8| p4.7| 4.7| p4.7| p4.8| p.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Earnings 3/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| $12.19| p$12.30| $12.31| p$12.35| p$12.41| p$0.06
Avg. weekly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| 420.85| p424.36| 425.93| p426.08| p428.15| p2.07
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
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 -
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 302,000 in October, little changed from a year earlier. (See
table A-9.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 284,000 in October to 123.0 million,
after seasonal adjustment. Since December 1996, payroll employment has
increased by about 239,000 a month, on average. Job gains were widespread
in October and were especially large in manufacturing. (See table B-1.)
Manufacturing employment increased by 54,000 in October. Since the
recent trough in September 1996, factory employment has risen by 170,000.
In October, half of the increase occurred in just two industries,
industrial machinery and transportation equipment. An addition of 13,000
employees in industrial machinery was the second large gain in 3 months.
The 16,000 increase in transportation equipment reversed the prior month’s
decline. Growth continued in the electronic components industry, which has
added 36,000 jobs so far this year. Employment gains also occurred over
the month in food products (6,000), fabricated metals (4,000), furniture
and fixtures (3,000), printing and publishing (3,000), and instruments
(3,000).
Construction added 20,000 jobs in October, its largest increase since
May. Thus far in 1997, construction employment has increased by only
136,000, compared with 235,000 during the same period in 1996.
Within the service-producing sector, employment in the services industry
rose by 100,000 in October, in line with the monthly average for the past
year. Strong growth continued in computer services and engineering and
management services. Together, these two relatively small industries have
accounted for 1 in 9 payroll jobs added in the past year. Employment in
health services also continued to grow in October, with a particularly
large gain in offices and clinics of medical doctors (12,000).
Employment in the transportation industry increased by 21,000 in
October, with the largest gain occurring in air transportation (9,000).
Communications added 10,000 jobs, primarily in telephone communications,
where employment has grown by 35,000 over the past 12 months. Employment
in finance rose by 18,000 in October, with gains in all the component
industries except savings institutions. Security and commodity brokerages
added 5,000 jobs over the month. The strong growth trend in this industry
has accelerated in recent months, as 19,000 jobs have been added since
June.
Wholesale trade employment rose by 22,000 in October. Retail trade
gained 37,000 jobs, about in line with the pace of growth for the year.
Retail employment growth so far in 1997 has lagged behind that for 1996.
Government employment was virtually unchanged over the month, the result
of offsetting movements within state and local governments and a
continuation of the long-term downward trend in federal employment.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls was unchanged in October at 34.5 hours, seasonally
adjusted. The manufacturing workweek increased by 0.2 hour to 42.0 hours,
and factory overtime edged up by 0.1 hour to 4.8 hours. (See table B-2.)
- 4 -
The index of aggregate weekly hours of private production or
nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.2 percent to
140.9 (1982=100), seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index rose by 0.8
percent to 109.0. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of private production or nonsupervisory workers
on nonfarm payrolls were up 6 cents in October to $12.41, seasonally
adjusted. This follows increases totaling 11 cents in the prior 2 months.
Average weekly earnings rose by 0.5 percent over the month to $428.15.
Over the past year, average hourly earnings have risen by 4.2 percent and
average weekly earnings by 4.5 percent. (See table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for November 1997 is scheduled to be released
on Friday, December 5, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Changes in Establishment-based and Household Data Series |
| Following usual practice, the 6-month updates to seasonal |
|adjustment factors for the establishment survey data will be |
|introduced with next month’s release of November data. These |
|factors will be used for the September 1997 through April 1998 |
|estimates and will be published in the December 1997 issue of |
|Employment and Earnings. As a service to users, these factors |
|will be available on November 28, 1 week prior to the release of |
|November estimates, on the Internet (http://stats.bls.gov/ceshome.htm)|
|or by calling (202) 606-6521. |
| Effective with the release of data for December 1997 in January |
|1998, improvements will be introduced into the composite estimation |
|procedures used in the household survey. These changes will simplify |
|processing of the monthly labor force data at BLS and will allow |
|users of the survey microdata to replicate more easily the official |
|estimates released by BLS. In addition, there will be a slight |
|decrease in the variance of some major estimates, particularly |
|employment levels and the over-the-month change in those levels. |
|The new procedures are expected to produce somewhat lower estimates |
|of the civilian labor force and employment. |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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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 1997,
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 0.2 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 $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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 201,273 203,570 203,767 201,273 203,000 203,166 203,364 203,570 203,767
Civilian labor force.......................... 135,015 136,375 136,665 134,636 136,200 136,290 136,480 136,467 136,361
Participation rate...................... 67.1 67.0 67.1 66.9 67.1 67.1 67.1 67.0 66.9
Employed.................................... 128,439 129,972 130,671 127,617 129,364 129,708 129,804 129,715 129,894
Employment-population ratio............. 63.8 63.8 64.1 63.4 63.7 63.8 63.8 63.7 63.7
Agriculture............................... 3,515 3,569 3,372 3,450 3,391 3,482 3,383 3,450 3,303
Nonagricultural industries................ 124,924 126,403 127,299 124,167 125,973 126,226 126,421 126,265 126,591
Unemployed.................................. 6,577 6,403 5,995 7,019 6,836 6,583 6,677 6,752 6,467
Unemployment rate....................... 4.9 4.7 4.4 5.2 5.0 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.7
Not in labor force............................ 66,258 67,195 67,102 66,637 66,800 66,876 66,884 67,102 67,407
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 96,556 97,946 98,050 96,556 97,649 97,733 97,838 97,946 98,050
Civilian labor force.......................... 72,436 73,068 73,345 72,363 73,242 73,230 73,315 73,190 73,333
Participation rate...................... 75.0 74.6 74.8 74.9 75.0 74.9 74.9 74.7 74.8
Employed.................................... 69,099 69,890 70,215 68,647 69,567 69,749 69,791 69,639 69,790
Employment-population ratio............. 71.6 71.4 71.6 71.1 71.2 71.4 71.3 71.1 71.2
Unemployed.................................. 3,337 3,178 3,130 3,716 3,674 3,481 3,524 3,551 3,543
Unemployment rate....................... 4.6 4.3 4.3 5.1 5.0 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.8
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 88,840 90,068 90,140 88,840 89,829 89,888 89,982 90,068 90,140
Civilian labor force.......................... 68,495 69,204 69,361 68,273 69,167 69,203 69,301 69,171 69,202
Participation rate...................... 77.1 76.8 76.9 76.8 77.0 77.0 77.0 76.8 76.8
Employed.................................... 65,854 66,648 66,855 65,299 66,266 66,414 66,491 66,325 66,331
Employment-population ratio............. 74.1 74.0 74.2 73.5 73.8 73.9 73.9 73.6 73.6
Agriculture............................... 2,478 2,474 2,363 2,400 2,417 2,411 2,300 2,407 2,288
Nonagricultural industries................ 63,376 64,174 64,491 62,899 63,849 64,003 64,191 63,918 64,043
Unemployed.................................. 2,641 2,556 2,506 2,974 2,901 2,789 2,810 2,846 2,871
Unemployment rate....................... 3.9 3.7 3.6 4.4 4.2 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.1
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 104,717 105,623 105,718 104,717 105,351 105,433 105,527 105,623 105,718
Civilian labor force.......................... 62,579 63,307 63,321 62,273 62,958 63,060 63,165 63,277 63,027
Participation rate...................... 59.8 59.9 59.9 59.5 59.8 59.8 59.9 59.9 59.6
Employed.................................... 59,340 60,082 60,456 58,970 59,796 59,958 60,013 60,076 60,104
Employment-population ratio............. 56.7 56.9 57.2 56.3 56.8 56.9 56.9 56.9 56.9
Unemployed.................................. 3,240 3,225 2,865 3,303 3,162 3,102 3,152 3,201 2,923
Unemployment rate....................... 5.2 5.1 4.5 5.3 5.0 4.9 5.0 5.1 4.6
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 97,290 98,082 98,144 97,290 97,834 97,919 98,000 98,082 98,144
Civilian labor force.......................... 58,902 59,705 59,777 58,432 59,207 59,186 59,408 59,483 59,320
Participation rate...................... 60.5 60.9 60.9 60.1 60.5 60.4 60.6 60.6 60.4
Employed.................................... 56,179 57,038 57,397 55,681 56,585 56,685 56,819 56,882 56,926
Employment-population ratio............. 57.7 58.2 58.5 57.2 57.8 57.9 58.0 58.0 58.0
Agriculture............................... 823 886 834 800 740 841 836 841 812
Nonagricultural industries................ 55,356 56,153 56,562 54,881 55,845 55,844 55,983 56,041 56,114
Unemployed.................................. 2,723 2,666 2,380 2,751 2,621 2,501 2,589 2,601 2,395
Unemployment rate....................... 4.6 4.5 4.0 4.7 4.4 4.2 4.4 4.4 4.0
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population........... 15,143 15,420 15,483 15,143 15,336 15,359 15,382 15,420 15,483
Civilian labor force.......................... 7,618 7,466 7,528 7,931 7,826 7,901 7,771 7,813 7,839
Participation rate...................... 50.3 48.4 48.6 52.4 51.0 51.4 50.5 50.7 50.6
Employed.................................... 6,406 6,285 6,419 6,637 6,512 6,608 6,493 6,508 6,637
Employment-population ratio............. 42.3 40.8 41.5 43.8 42.5 43.0 42.2 42.2 42.9
Agriculture............................... 214 209 174 250 234 229 246 202 203
Nonagricultural industries................ 6,192 6,076 6,245 6,387 6,279 6,379 6,247 6,306 6,434
Unemployed.................................. 1,212 1,181 1,108 1,294 1,314 1,293 1,278 1,305 1,201
Unemployment rate....................... 15.9 15.8 14.7 16.3 16.8 16.4 16.4 16.7 15.3
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 168,788 170,290 170,427 168,788 169,897 170,010 170,148 170,290 170,427
Civilian labor force.......................... 113,830 114,614 114,963 113,625 114,691 114,627 114,649 114,694 114,718
Participation rate........................ 67.4 67.3 67.5 67.3 67.5 67.4 67.4 67.4 67.3
Employed.................................... 109,162 110,018 110,653 108,527 109,821 109,853 109,782 109,770 109,985
Employment-population ratio............... 64.7 64.6 64.9 64.3 64.6 64.6 64.5 64.5 64.5
Unemployed.................................. 4,668 4,596 4,309 5,098 4,870 4,774 4,867 4,924 4,734
Unemployment rate......................... 4.1 4.0 3.7 4.5 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.1
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 58,687 59,052 59,214 58,539 59,088 59,096 59,129 59,035 59,070
Participation rate........................ 77.6 77.2 77.4 77.4 77.5 77.4 77.4 77.2 77.2
Employed.................................... 56,738 57,186 57,374 56,294 56,981 57,030 57,018 56,901 56,919
Employment-population ratio............... 75.0 74.8 75.0 74.4 74.7 74.7 74.6 74.4 74.4
Unemployed.................................. 1,949 1,867 1,840 2,245 2,107 2,066 2,111 2,134 2,152
Unemployment rate......................... 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.6
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 48,734 49,214 49,356 48,380 48,924 48,756 48,927 48,997 48,961
Participation rate........................ 60.0 60.3 60.4 59.6 60.1 59.8 60.0 60.0 60.0
Employed.................................... 46,847 47,354 47,701 46,439 47,128 47,055 47,123 47,165 47,275
Employment-population ratio............... 57.7 58.0 58.4 57.2 57.9 57.7 57.8 57.8 57.9
Unemployed.................................. 1,886 1,861 1,655 1,941 1,795 1,701 1,805 1,831 1,686
Unemployment rate......................... 3.9 3.8 3.4 4.0 3.7 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.4
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force.......................... 6,409 6,347 6,393 6,706 6,679 6,775 6,593 6,663 6,687
Participation rate........................ 53.6 51.9 52.3 56.1 54.9 55.6 54.0 54.5 54.7
Employed.................................... 5,576 5,479 5,579 5,794 5,711 5,768 5,641 5,704 5,791
Employment-population ratio............... 46.7 44.8 45.6 48.5 46.9 47.3 46.2 46.7 47.3
Unemployed.................................. 833 868 814 912 968 1,007 951 959 896
Unemployment rate......................... 13.0 13.7 12.7 13.6 14.5 14.9 14.4 14.4 13.4
Men..................................... 14.9 13.7 14.2 15.4 16.3 15.4 15.5 14.6 14.6
Women................................... 10.9 13.7 11.0 11.6 12.6 14.3 13.2 14.1 12.0
BLACK
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 23,728 24,081 24,117 23,728 23,978 24,006 24,043 24,081 24,117
Civilian labor force.......................... 15,370 15,706 15,624 15,276 15,398 15,510 15,804 15,746 15,514
Participation rate........................ 64.8 65.2 64.8 64.4 64.2 64.6 65.7 65.4 64.3
Employed.................................... 13,796 14,220 14,208 13,647 13,793 14,055 14,341 14,236 14,045
Employment-population ratio............... 58.1 59.1 58.9 57.5 57.5 58.5 59.6 59.1 58.2
Unemployed.................................. 1,574 1,487 1,416 1,629 1,605 1,455 1,463 1,510 1,469
Unemployment rate......................... 10.2 9.5 9.1 10.7 10.4 9.4 9.3 9.6 9.5
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 6,888 7,026 7,004 6,838 6,926 6,957 7,072 7,006 6,940
Participation rate........................ 72.9 73.1 72.9 72.4 72.4 72.6 73.7 72.9 72.2
Employed.................................... 6,294 6,484 6,469 6,199 6,296 6,386 6,541 6,459 6,361
Employment-population ratio............... 66.6 67.4 67.3 65.6 65.8 66.6 68.1 67.2 66.2
Unemployed.................................. 594 542 535 639 630 572 532 548 579
Unemployment rate......................... 8.6 7.7 7.6 9.3 9.1 8.2 7.5 7.8 8.3
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force.......................... 7,578 7,810 7,742 7,487 7,615 7,689 7,803 7,818 7,647
Participation rate........................ 63.8 64.8 64.1 63.0 63.5 64.0 64.8 64.8 63.3
Employed.................................... 6,905 7,132 7,105 6,822 6,921 7,053 7,146 7,161 7,020
Employment-population ratio............... 58.1 59.2 58.8 57.4 57.7 58.7 59.4 59.4 58.1
Unemployed.................................. 673 678 637 665 694 636 658 657 627
Unemployment rate......................... 8.9 8.7 8.2 8.9 9.1 8.3 8.4 8.4 8.2
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force.......................... 904 870 878 951 857 864 928 921 927
Participation rate........................ 37.6 36.1 36.1 39.6 35.4 35.7 38.5 38.3 38.1
Employed.................................... 597 603 634 626 577 616 655 616 664
Employment-population ratio............... 24.9 25.0 26.0 26.1 23.8 25.5 27.2 25.6 27.3
Unemployed.................................. 306 267 244 325 281 247 273 305 263
Unemployment rate......................... 33.9 30.7 27.8 34.2 32.7 28.6 29.4 33.1 28.4
Men..................................... 35.1 33.0 25.1 36.5 41.1 32.9 33.1 38.7 27.8
Women................................... 32.7 28.7 30.3 31.9 24.5 25.1 26.2 28.4 29.0
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 19,398 20,464 20,519 19,398 20,293 20,351 20,407 20,464 20,519
Civilian labor force.......................... 13,109 13,864 14,002 12,989 13,807 13,866 13,910 13,827 13,911
Participation rate........................ 67.6 67.8 68.2 67.0 68.0 68.1 68.2 67.6 67.8
Employed.................................... 12,097 12,882 12,953 11,928 12,756 12,768 12,911 12,780 12,799
Employment-population ratio............... 62.4 62.9 63.1 61.5 62.9 62.7 63.3 62.5 62.4
Unemployed.................................. 1,012 982 1,049 1,061 1,051 1,098 999 1,047 1,112
Unemployment rate......................... 7.7 7.1 7.5 8.2 7.6 7.9 7.2 7.6 8.0
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over............... 128,439 129,972 130,671 127,617 129,364 129,708 129,804 129,715 129,894
Married men, spouse present................... 42,964 42,825 43,159 42,617 42,448 42,589 42,697 42,527 42,817
Married women, spouse present................. 32,800 33,007 33,318 32,537 32,519 32,866 32,933 32,843 33,021
Women who maintain families................... 7,412 7,899 7,866 7,392 7,847 7,901 7,941 7,891 7,866
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty......... 37,212 37,833 38,080 36,917 37,493 37,558 37,775 37,869 37,803
Technical, sales, and administrative support.. 38,004 38,523 38,630 37,951 38,142 38,193 38,322 38,600 38,591
Service occupations........................... 17,208 17,595 17,657 17,295 17,412 17,523 17,774 17,809 17,710
Precision production, craft, and repair....... 13,779 13,988 14,110 13,587 14,364 14,282 13,972 13,822 13,984
Operators, fabricators, and laborers.......... 18,552 18,345 18,696 18,235 18,597 18,515 18,473 18,226 18,382
Farming, forestry, and fishing................ 3,684 3,688 3,499 3,565 3,499 3,554 3,407 3,499 3,384
CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers..................... 1,849 1,940 1,805 1,813 1,929 1,913 1,841 1,898 1,787
Self-employed workers....................... 1,597 1,586 1,506 1,560 1,404 1,492 1,487 1,527 1,463
Unpaid family workers....................... 69 43 61 71 40 53 51 40 60
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers..................... 115,749 117,380 118,260 115,018 116,653 117,104 117,323 117,286 117,623
Government................................ 18,270 17,979 18,137 18,132 18,099 18,338 18,254 18,033 18,029
Private industries........................ 97,478 99,401 100,123 96,886 98,554 98,766 99,069 99,253 99,594
Private households...................... 1,017 869 893 992 870 910 946 864 865
Other industries........................ 96,462 98,532 99,230 95,894 97,684 97,856 98,122 98,389 98,729
Self-employed workers....................... 9,035 8,935 8,948 8,967 9,126 8,887 8,923 8,926 8,904
Unpaid family workers....................... 140 87 90 137 128 131 129 81 89
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons.............. 3,973 3,638 3,602 4,286 4,025 4,017 3,992 3,916 3,898
Slack work or business conditions......... 2,053 1,986 1,983 2,258 2,375 2,211 2,122 2,159 2,196
Could only find part-time work............ 1,602 1,405 1,343 1,683 1,347 1,522 1,519 1,476 1,399
Part time for noneconomic reasons........... 18,636 18,097 19,001 17,754 18,322 18,015 18,093 17,690 18,131
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons.............. 3,803 3,475 3,439 4,118 3,782 3,872 3,854 3,728 3,726
Slack work or business conditions......... 1,949 1,881 1,885 2,147 2,220 2,102 2,037 2,040 2,095
Could only find part-time work............ 1,575 1,365 1,312 1,647 1,298 1,509 1,485 1,435 1,364
Part time for noneconomic reasons........... 17,995 17,506 18,392 17,123 17,663 17,418 17,519 17,180 17,549
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
CHARACTERISTIC
Total, 16 years and over....................... 7,019 6,752 6,467 5.2 5.0 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.7
Men, 20 years and over....................... 2,974 2,846 2,871 4.4 4.2 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.1
Women, 20 years and over..................... 2,751 2,601 2,395 4.7 4.4 4.2 4.4 4.4 4.0
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years................... 1,294 1,305 1,201 16.3 16.8 16.4 16.4 16.7 15.3
Married men, spouse present.................. 1,307 1,161 1,137 3.0 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6
Married women, spouse present................ 1,190 1,064 948 3.5 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.1 2.8
Women who maintain families.................. 686 662 659 8.5 8.0 7.4 8.1 7.7 7.7
Full-time workers............................ 5,664 5,353 5,188 5.1 4.9 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.6
Part-time workers............................ 1,368 1,340 1,281 5.6 5.3 5.4 5.6 5.5 5.2
OCCUPATION(2)
Managerial and professional specialty........ 827 776 689 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.8
Technical, sales, and administrative support. 1,791 1,575 1,551 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.2 3.9 3.9
Precision production, craft, and repair...... 794 694 799 5.5 4.7 4.9 4.7 4.8 5.4
Operators, fabricators, and laborers......... 1,521 1,583 1,393 7.7 7.4 7.4 7.7 8.0 7.0
Farming, forestry, and fishing............... 267 240 285 7.0 8.1 6.0 7.4 6.4 7.8
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary
workers...................................... 5,456 5,280 4,974 5.3 5.0 4.9 5.0 5.1 4.8
Goods-producing industries................. 1,645 1,479 1,406 5.8 5.2 5.4 5.4 5.2 4.9
Mining................................... 34 19 41 5.8 2.3 3.8 5.3 2.9 6.0
Construction............................. 628 581 597 9.6 8.5 8.7 9.3 8.6 8.7
Manufacturing............................ 983 879 767 4.7 4.1 4.3 4.1 4.2 3.7
Durable goods.......................... 548 400 365 4.4 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.3 3.0
Nondurable goods....................... 435 479 403 5.1 5.0 5.5 4.9 5.5 4.7
Service-producing industries............... 3,811 3,801 3,568 5.1 5.0 4.7 4.9 5.0 4.7
Transportation and public utilities...... 314 293 238 4.4 2.9 3.4 3.9 3.9 3.2
Wholesale and retail trade............... 1,640 1,663 1,638 6.2 6.5 6.0 6.2 6.3 6.2
Finance, insurance, and real estate...... 212 239 223 2.9 2.5 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.9
Services................................. 1,645 1,606 1,469 5.0 4.8 4.3 4.5 4.7 4.3
Government workers........................... 542 485 438 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.4
Agricultural wage and salary workers......... 201 185 194 10.0 10.6 7.5 9.5 8.9 9.8
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Less than 5 weeks.............................. 2,291 2,525 2,362 2,556 2,538 2,352 2,598 2,470 2,639
5 to 14 weeks.................................. 2,174 1,896 1,802 2,265 2,211 2,071 2,134 2,142 1,883
15 weeks and over.............................. 2,112 1,982 1,830 2,294 2,063 2,157 2,012 2,127 1,983
15 to 26 weeks.............................. 982 933 831 1,062 1,045 1,082 931 1,035 890
27 weeks and over........................... 1,130 1,049 999 1,232 1,018 1,074 1,082 1,092 1,093
Average (mean) duration, in weeks.............. 16.7 16.0 16.6 16.7 15.1 16.6 15.9 16.0 16.6
Median duration, in weeks...................... 8.1 8.3 7.5 8.3 7.7 8.5 7.8 8.4 7.6
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............................ 34.8 39.4 39.4 35.9 37.3 35.7 38.5 36.7 40.6
5 to 14 weeks................................ 33.1 29.6 30.1 31.8 32.5 31.5 31.6 31.8 28.9
15 weeks and over............................ 32.1 31.0 30.5 32.2 30.3 32.8 29.8 31.6 30.5
15 to 26 weeks............................. 14.9 14.6 13.9 14.9 15.3 16.5 13.8 15.4 13.7
27 weeks and over.......................... 17.2 16.4 16.7 17.3 14.9 16.3 16.0 16.2 16.8
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs..... 2,757 2,616 2,525 3,171 3,145 2,903 3,064 3,017 2,906
On temporary layoff................................... 649 595 668 957 925 877 865 878 987
Not on temporary layoff............................... 2,108 2,021 1,857 2,214 2,220 2,026 2,199 2,140 1,920
Permanent job losers................................ 1,476 1,384 1,252 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Persons who completed temporary jobs................ 632 637 606 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Job leavers............................................. 848 980 769 797 829 822 915 868 723
Reentrants.............................................. 2,468 2,307 2,225 2,489 2,359 2,244 2,144 2,259 2,245
New entrants............................................ 504 501 475 577 481 553 544 561 553
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed........................................
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs.... 41.9 40.9 42.1 45.1 46.2 44.5 46.0 45.0 45.2
On temporary layoff.................................. 9.9 9.3 11.1 13.6 13.6 13.4 13.0 13.1 15.4
Not on temporary layoff.............................. 32.1 31.6 31.0 31.5 32.6 31.1 33.0 31.9 29.9
Job leavers............................................ 12.9 15.3 12.8 11.3 12.2 12.6 13.7 12.9 11.2
Reentrants............................................. 37.5 36.0 37.1 35.4 34.6 34.4 32.2 33.7 34.9
New entrants........................................... 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.2 7.1 8.5 8.2 8.4 8.6
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs.... 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1
Job leavers............................................ .6 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6 .7 .6 .5
Reentrants............................................. 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6
New entrants........................................... .4 .4 .3 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer,
as a percent of the civilian labor force....................... 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5
U-2 Job losers and persons who completed
temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian
labor force.................................................... 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1
U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the
civilian labor force (official unemployment rate).............. 4.9 4.7 4.4 5.2 5.0 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.7
U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged
workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force
plus discouraged workers....................................... 5.1 4.9 4.6 (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............... 5.9 5.6 5.3 (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.. 8.8 8.3 7.9 (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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997
Total, 16 years and over.......................... 7,019 6,752 6,467 5.2 5.0 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.7
16 to 24 years.................................. 2,480 2,410 2,364 11.7 11.5 10.9 11.3 11.3 11.1
16 to 19 years................................ 1,294 1,305 1,201 16.3 16.8 16.4 16.4 16.7 15.3
16 to 17 years.............................. 599 640 563 18.0 17.3 17.5 17.7 19.5 17.3
18 to 19 years.............................. 706 666 649 15.3 16.3 15.8 15.6 14.6 14.1
20 to 24 years................................ 1,186 1,105 1,162 8.9 8.4 7.7 8.3 8.1 8.6
25 years and over............................... 4,538 4,342 4,089 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.6
25 to 54 years................................ 4,053 3,830 3,632 4.2 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.7
55 years and over............................. 507 518 465 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.8
Men, 16 years and over.......................... 3,716 3,551 3,543 5.1 5.0 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.8
16 to 24 years................................ 1,370 1,356 1,368 12.3 12.1 11.4 12.0 12.1 12.2
16 to 19 years.............................. 742 705 672 18.1 19.0 17.2 17.8 17.5 16.3
16 to 17 years............................ 336 317 310 19.6 19.9 18.6 17.5 18.9 18.0
18 to 19 years............................ 409 387 362 17.1 18.2 16.2 18.1 16.5 14.9
20 to 24 years.............................. 628 651 696 8.9 8.2 8.1 8.7 9.1 9.8
25 years and over............................. 2,350 2,177 2,162 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5
25 to 54 years.............................. 2,079 1,922 1,882 4.0 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6
55 years and over........................... 268 273 271 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.9
Women, 16 years and over........................ 3,303 3,201 2,923 5.3 5.0 4.9 5.0 5.1 4.6
16 to 24 years................................ 1,110 1,053 996 11.0 10.8 10.4 10.5 10.3 9.9
16 to 19 years.............................. 552 600 529 14.4 14.4 15.5 15.0 15.8 14.3
16 to 17 years............................ 263 323 252 16.2 14.4 16.4 17.8 20.1 16.5
18 to 19 years............................ 297 279 287 13.4 14.3 15.4 13.1 12.6 13.2
20 to 24 years.............................. 558 453 467 8.9 8.6 7.3 7.8 7.1 7.3
25 years and over............................. 2,188 2,165 1,926 4.2 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.1 3.6
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,974 1,908 1,750 4.4 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.2 3.8
55 years and over........................... 239 245 194 3.4 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.4 2.6
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
Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.
1996 1997 1996 1997 1996 1997
NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE
Total not in the labor force.................................... 66,258 67,102 24,120 24,705 42,138 42,397
Persons who currently want a job.............................. 5,080 4,485 1,976 1,738 3,104 2,747
Searched for work and available to work now(1)............. 1,447 1,284 687 561 760 723
Reason not currently looking:
Discouragement over job prospects(2).................. 374 302 238 181 137 121
Reasons other than discouragement(3)............... 1,073 982 449 380 624 602
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS
Total multiple jobholders(4).................................... 8,369 8,139 4,376 4,357 3,993 3,781
Percent of total employed................................... 6.5 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.7 6.3
Primary job full time, secondary job part time.............. 4,532 4,584 2,603 2,649 1,929 1,935
Primary and secondary jobs both part time................... 1,878 1,721 564 514 1,314 1,207
Primary and secondary jobs both full time................... 277 260 193 208 84 51
Hours vary on primary or secondary job...................... 1,640 1,558 984 972 656 586
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
Oct. Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997p 1997p
Total......................... 121,157 122,248 123,204 124,074 120,248 122,056 122,440 122,492 122,761 123,045
Total private.................... 101,384 103,747 103,709 104,043 100,759 102,417 102,721 102,688 103,018 103,300
Goods-producing......................... 24,816 25,236 25,175 25,165 24,479 24,714 24,713 24,765 24,756 24,827
Mining................................ 576 584 581 580 570 574 574 573 576 573
Metal mining........................ 54.1 55.0 54.1 53.4 54 54 54 54 54 53
Coal mining......................... 94.7 91.6 91.0 90.5 95 92 91 91 91 91
Oil and gas extraction.............. 317.7 325.0 324.3 326.1 315 320 321 321 323 322
Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels.. 109.4 112.1 111.5 110.3 106 108 108 107 108 107
Construction.......................... 5,717 5,980 5,933 5,921 5,467 5,622 5,625 5,637 5,637 5,657
General building contractors........ 1,297.7 1,369.0 1,350.3 1,350.1 1,265 1,302 1,308 1,306 1,304 1,316
Heavy construction, except building. 847.3 837.0 844.5 841.3 771 766 761 764 764 758
Special trade contractors........... 3,571.7 3,774.2 3,738.2 3,729.8 3,431 3,554 3,556 3,567 3,569 3,583
Manufacturing......................... 18,523 18,672 18,661 18,664 18,442 18,518 18,514 18,555 18,543 18,597
Production workers................ 12,811 12,912 12,925 12,924 12,731 12,791 12,792 12,815 12,811 12,868
Durable goods........................ 10,806 10,974 10,976 11,006 10,780 10,891 10,910 10,957 10,944 10,990
Production workers................ 7,402 7,527 7,541 7,565 7,379 7,466 7,482 7,525 7,512 7,556
Lumber and wood products............ 794.0 814.8 810.9 808.1 785 797 796 798 798 798
Furniture and fixtures.............. 504.7 507.0 509.0 513.9 503 508 510 506 508 511
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 551.1 552.4 551.2 549.3 542 538 541 541 541 542
Primary metal industries............ 708.0 711.4 712.6 711.8 707 709 708 711 712 713
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 236.6 235.7 236.3 235.9 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Fabricated metal products........... 1,458.9 1,476.2 1,479.7 1,483.3 1,455 1,470 1,468 1,475 1,477 1,481
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 2,106.5 2,158.3 2,159.0 2,167.4 2,115 2,152 2,155 2,165 2,164 2,177
Computer and office equipment..... 364.0 385.4 382.5 384.6 364 379 381 385 384 385
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 1,652.1 1,660.3 1,663.9 1,670.9 1,650 1,651 1,658 1,661 1,663 1,669
Electronic components and
accessories.................... 607.9 636.9 638.7 644.7 609 628 632 637 640 645
Transportation equipment............ 1,784.4 1,846.4 1,844.0 1,850.8 1,783 1,824 1,826 1,855 1,839 1,855
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 958.9 983.6 977.3 978.6 959 967 965 985 972 978
Aircraft and parts................ 470.7 511.6 514.9 519.4 470 505 510 514 515 518
Instruments and related products.... 854.6 859.1 858.2 860.7 855 856 859 858 858 861
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 391.2 388.2 387.6 389.7 385 386 389 387 384 383
Nondurable goods..................... 7,717 7,698 7,685 7,658 7,662 7,627 7,604 7,598 7,599 7,607
Production workers................ 5,409 5,385 5,384 5,359 5,352 5,325 5,310 5,290 5,299 5,312
Food and kindred products........... 1,724.6 1,758.3 1,754.0 1,726.1 1,684 1,692 1,684 1,679 1,683 1,689
Tobacco products.................... 44.1 40.7 42.4 43.7 42 41 41 40 40 41
Textile mill products............... 620.8 607.7 607.1 604.7 620 607 608 604 605 606
Apparel and other textile products.. 857.2 812.2 811.0 810.0 849 816 810 810 803 802
Paper and allied products........... 678.5 679.7 677.3 674.4 679 675 675 675 675 674
Printing and publishing............. 1,537.3 1,546.4 1,543.0 1,549.6 1,539 1,550 1,549 1,547 1,548 1,551
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,028.6 1,029.6 1,025.8 1,024.5 1,029 1,027 1,023 1,024 1,025 1,025
Petroleum and coal products......... 142.9 141.4 140.4 139.2 141 138 138 138 138 137
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 987.9 991.9 994.6 995.7 985 989 986 991 993 993
Leather and leather products........ 94.7 90.5 89.8 90.3 94 92 90 90 89 89
Service-producing....................... 96,341 97,012 98,029 98,909 95,769 97,342 97,727 97,727 98,005 98,218
Transportation and public utilities... 6,338 6,274 6,504 6,532 6,293 6,434 6,443 6,289 6,459 6,488
Transportation...................... 4,115 4,018 4,257 4,285 4,072 4,193 4,202 4,049 4,220 4,241
Railroad transportation........... 232.0 227.3 227.9 229.6 230 230 229 225 226 227
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................ 463.9 397.9 475.5 481.9 445 457 461 464 461 462
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,673.2 1,726.1 1,730.2 1,733.1 1,648 1,686 1,692 1,703 1,708 1,712
Water transportation.............. 173.3 186.6 180.2 179.9 173 178 176 179 176 181
Transportation by air............. 1,135.6 1,024.2 1,189.9 1,204.1 1,140 1,192 1,193 1,025 1,196 1,205
Pipelines, except natural gas..... 14.3 14.6 14.2 14.2 14 14 14 14 14 14
Transportation services........... 423.1 440.9 439.3 442.0 422 436 437 439 439 440
Communications and public utilities. 2,223 2,256 2,247 2,247 2,221 2,241 2,241 2,240 2,239 2,247
Communications.................... 1,345.9 1,384.3 1,381.0 1,385.0 1,343 1,372 1,372 1,376 1,375 1,385
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services....................... 876.7 871.8 865.6 861.8 878 869 869 864 864 862
Wholesale trade....................... 6,556 6,710 6,701 6,731 6,538 6,634 6,664 6,675 6,688 6,710
Durable goods....................... 3,833 3,972 3,959 3,980 3,837 3,917 3,938 3,957 3,965 3,981
Nondurable goods.................... 2,723 2,738 2,742 2,751 2,701 2,717 2,726 2,718 2,723 2,729
Retail trade.......................... 21,829 22,366 22,283 22,336 21,791 22,079 22,159 22,189 22,208 22,245
Building materials and garden
supplies......................... 906.9 950.6 932.6 927.7 905 928 930 929 926 922
General merchandise stores.......... 2,807.0 2,782.7 2,789.4 2,882.5 2,756 2,798 2,803 2,822 2,819 2,822
Department stores................. 2,465.3 2,438.6 2,446.5 2,535.2 2,416 2,450 2,458 2,470 2,470 2,477
Food stores......................... 3,463.6 3,522.2 3,502.4 3,519.8 3,458 3,487 3,502 3,505 3,502 3,521
Automotive dealers and service
stations......................... 2,300.8 2,352.1 2,345.6 2,344.0 2,295 2,315 2,318 2,325 2,330 2,338
New and used car dealers.......... 1,046.5 1,061.9 1,062.2 1,064.2 1,043 1,056 1,055 1,057 1,057 1,061
Apparel and accessory stores........ 1,101.5 1,100.5 1,083.8 1,098.1 1,107 1,097 1,096 1,102 1,102 1,102
Furniture and home furnishings
stores........................... 1,004.1 1,035.5 1,040.6 1,055.0 1,003 1,034 1,042 1,044 1,051 1,051
Eating and drinking places.......... 7,479.3 7,822.8 7,758.7 7,619.0 7,516 7,595 7,639 7,618 7,624 7,624
Miscellaneous retail establishments. 2,765.4 2,799.8 2,829.5 2,889.4 2,751 2,825 2,829 2,844 2,854 2,865
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 6,922 7,152 7,089 7,090 6,941 7,034 7,058 7,068 7,079 7,102
Finance............................. 3,316 3,439 3,420 3,428 3,330 3,394 3,405 3,414 3,424 3,442
Depository institutions........... 2,021.0 2,064.7 2,044.9 2,045.9 2,028 2,044 2,048 2,048 2,046 2,053
Commercial banks................ 1,466.5 1,504.0 1,488.8 1,489.4 1,472 1,487 1,490 1,491 1,490 1,493
Savings institutions............ 257.5 253.5 250.1 249.7 259 254 253 252 251 251
Nondepository institutions........ 524.6 550.5 552.9 553.2 528 543 545 549 554 558
Mortgage bankers and brokers.... 234.5 246.3 247.4 247.1 236 243 243 245 248 250
Security and commodity brokers.... 559.6 600.4 599.2 603.9 562 586 592 595 600 605
Holding and other investment
offices........................ 210.8 223.0 223.2 224.7 212 221 220 222 224 226
Insurance........................... 2,215 2,239 2,230 2,233 2,219 2,226 2,230 2,232 2,232 2,233
Insurance carriers................ 1,504.9 1,515.6 1,508.7 1,511.7 1,508 1,506 1,509 1,510 1,510 1,512
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................ 710.0 723.5 720.9 720.9 711 720 721 722 722 721
Real estate......................... 1,391 1,474 1,439 1,429 1,392 1,414 1,423 1,422 1,423 1,427
Services2............................. 34,923 36,009 35,957 36,189 34,717 35,522 35,684 35,702 35,828 35,928
Agricultural services............... 658.5 738.6 717.9 712.3 635 668 673 675 681 685
Hotels and other lodging places..... 1,726.7 1,892.3 1,801.1 1,759.1 1,726 1,744 1,747 1,747 1,750 1,763
Personal services................... 1,164.2 1,143.4 1,156.8 1,163.1 1,193 1,182 1,182 1,185 1,189 1,190
Business services................... 7,537.2 7,757.6 7,829.5 7,923.7 7,379 7,645 7,682 7,657 7,711 7,735
Services to buildings............. 900.1 903.3 906.3 905.2 899 903 901 894 904 902
Personnel supply services......... 2,853.3 2,809.6 2,862.4 2,917.9 2,711 2,748 2,767 2,732 2,741 2,752
Help supply services............ 2,534.4 2,469.0 2,519.8 2,570.2 2,398 2,407 2,425 2,395 2,407 2,407
Computer and data processing
services....................... 1,232.5 1,359.5 1,368.4 1,386.8 1,236 1,337 1,347 1,360 1,373 1,388
Auto repair, services, and parking.. 1,104.4 1,146.9 1,147.0 1,152.2 1,104 1,131 1,137 1,139 1,144 1,151
Miscellaneous repair services....... 378.1 391.8 390.1 390.0 376 386 387 388 389 388
Motion pictures..................... 517.7 560.0 542.5 542.8 529 537 539 550 552 551
Amusement and recreation services... 1,427.3 1,827.2 1,641.7 1,517.4 1,478 1,561 1,576 1,563 1,572 1,559
Health services..................... 9,529.8 9,734.4 9,719.9 9,757.9 9,532 9,673 9,697 9,712 9,731 9,757
Offices and clinics of medical
doctors........................ 1,694.4 1,753.4 1,752.5 1,763.5 1,695 1,740 1,745 1,745 1,752 1,764
Nursing and personal care
facilities..................... 1,743.7 1,771.8 1,764.1 1,765.4 1,742 1,761 1,762 1,765 1,763 1,765
Hospitals......................... 3,826.1 3,889.3 3,885.2 3,896.5 3,829 3,869 3,877 3,884 3,891 3,900
Home health care services......... 671.5 683.8 687.2 692.8 670 682 685 685 686 686
Legal services...................... 931.5 964.6 954.3 959.5 936 953 957 957 962 963
Educational services................ 2,168.4 1,800.4 2,049.5 2,243.6 2,035 2,074 2,089 2,094 2,095 2,106
Social services..................... 2,428.1 2,455.9 2,488.2 2,516.8 2,422 2,474 2,494 2,497 2,508 2,511
Child day care services........... 592.3 547.3 595.0 610.2 576 590 594 600 593 594
Residential care.................. 676.2 709.2 704.1 708.4 679 698 702 703 708 711
Museums and botanical and zoological
gardens........................... 86.5 94.6 89.9 90.3 86 88 88 88 88 89
Membership organizations............ 2,179.0 2,244.3 2,186.5 2,198.1 2,189 2,202 2,209 2,206 2,204 2,208
Engineering and management services. 2,870.7 3,040.3 3,026.0 3,044.8 2,882 2,988 3,010 3,027 3,036 3,055
Engineering and architectural
services....................... 850.5 895.5 888.5 893.0 848 877 878 881 883 891
Management and public relations... 892.8 973.0 967.0 976.2 892 950 959 968 965 973
Services, nec....................... 46.8 49.2 48.7 49.6 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Government............................ 19,773 18,501 19,495 20,031 19,489 19,639 19,719 19,804 19,743 19,745
Federal............................. 2,716 2,705 2,689 2,669 2,732 2,694 2,689 2,690 2,690 2,687
Federal, except Postal Service.... 1,866.8 1,851.7 1,839.3 1,818.6 1,879 1,843 1,839 1,830 1,833 1,832
State............................... 4,733 4,411 4,613 4,785 4,618 4,640 4,671 4,664 4,676 4,666
Education......................... 2,050.5 1,674.6 1,906.4 2,087.6 1,922 1,950 1,972 1,961 1,974 1,955
Other State government............ 2,682.8 2,736.0 2,706.8 2,697.5 2,696 2,690 2,699 2,703 2,702 2,711
Local............................... 12,324 11,385 12,193 12,577 12,139 12,305 12,359 12,450 12,377 12,392
Education......................... 7,052.0 5,763.1 6,794.0 7,223.9 6,797 6,902 6,954 7,030 6,971 6,961
Other local government............ 5,272.2 5,622.2 5,398.7 5,353.5 5,342 5,403 5,405 5,420 5,406 5,431
1 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.
2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
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
Oct. Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997p 1997p
Total private.................... 34.5 35.0 34.7 34.6 34.4 34.6 34.4 34.6 34.5 34.5
Goods-producing......................... 41.5 41.5 41.9 41.6 41.1 41.1 41.2 41.1 41.2 41.3
Mining................................ 45.9 45.6 45.5 45.3 45.4 45.4 45.4 45.5 44.9 44.9
Construction.......................... 39.9 39.7 40.0 39.6 38.9 38.7 39.0 38.6 39.0 38.7
Manufacturing......................... 41.9 42.0 42.4 42.2 41.7 41.8 41.8 41.8 41.8 42.0
Overtime hours.................... 4.7 4.9 5.2 5.0 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.8
Durable goods........................ 42.7 42.7 43.2 43.0 42.4 42.6 42.6 42.7 42.6 42.8
Overtime hours.................... 4.9 5.2 5.5 5.3 4.7 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.1
Lumber and wood products............ 41.4 41.3 41.6 41.4 40.8 41.0 41.1 40.8 40.9 41.0
Furniture and fixtures.............. 40.3 40.5 41.1 40.6 39.6 39.9 40.0 40.0 40.3 39.8
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 44.0 43.8 44.3 43.9 43.3 42.9 43.1 43.0 43.2 43.1
Primary metal industries............ 44.4 44.7 45.3 45.1 44.4 44.7 44.4 45.0 44.9 45.1
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 44.4 44.8 45.1 45.1 44.6 44.5 44.3 45.2 44.9 45.5
Fabricated metal products........... 42.7 42.5 43.0 42.8 42.3 42.4 42.4 42.3 42.3 42.4
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 42.9 43.1 43.8 43.4 43.0 43.3 43.4 43.4 43.6 43.5
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 41.7 41.7 42.2 42.2 41.5 42.0 42.0 41.7 41.7 42.2
Transportation equipment............ 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 44.0 44.2 43.7 44.3 43.7 44.4
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 45.0 44.7 44.8 45.1 44.8 44.8 44.0 44.7 43.9 45.1
Instruments and related products.... 41.7 42.1 42.1 42.0 41.8 41.8 41.7 42.3 42.0 42.1
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 40.2 40.3 40.8 40.9 39.8 40.1 40.4 40.2 40.3 40.3
Nondurable goods..................... 40.9 40.9 41.4 41.2 40.6 40.6 40.6 40.7 40.8 40.9
Overtime hours.................... 4.4 4.6 4.9 4.6 4.1 4.1 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.4
Food and kindred products........... 41.7 41.7 42.2 41.9 41.1 40.9 41.1 41.0 41.0 41.3
Tobacco products.................... 41.2 37.8 39.1 39.0 39.8 37.6 36.1 37.5 37.7 38.0
Textile mill products............... 41.1 41.6 42.0 41.5 40.9 41.2 41.3 41.2 41.5 41.4
Apparel and other textile products.. 37.6 37.4 37.6 37.6 37.3 37.4 36.9 37.1 37.3 37.2
Paper and allied products........... 43.6 43.4 44.0 43.8 43.4 43.4 43.5 43.4 43.5 43.8
Printing and publishing............. 38.4 38.6 39.2 38.8 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.3 38.7 38.6
Chemicals and allied products....... 43.2 43.0 43.5 43.6 43.1 43.1 43.0 43.3 43.3 43.8
Petroleum and coal products......... 43.6 43.0 43.2 43.0 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 41.6 41.7 41.9 41.8 41.5 41.5 41.7 41.7 41.4 41.8
Leather and leather products........ 39.0 38.4 39.0 37.9 38.6 38.1 38.4 38.0 38.5 37.6
Service-producing....................... 32.6 33.3 32.8 32.7 32.6 32.9 32.7 32.9 32.7 32.7
Transportation and public utilities... 39.7 40.5 39.6 39.4 39.6 39.6 39.0 40.1 39.1 39.3
Wholesale trade....................... 38.3 38.5 38.4 38.5 38.2 38.5 38.3 38.4 38.3 38.4
Retail trade.......................... 28.7 29.7 29.0 28.8 28.8 28.9 28.8 29.1 28.8 28.9
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 35.7 36.1 35.8 35.8 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Services.............................. 32.4 32.9 32.5 32.5 (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
Oct. Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1997 1997p 1997p
Total private.................... $11.95 $12.21 $12.39 $12.43 $412.28 $427.35 $429.93 $430.08
Seasonally adjusted............. 11.91 12.31 12.35 12.41 409.70 425.93 426.08 428.15
Goods-producing......................... 13.62 13.96 14.07 14.10 565.23 579.34 589.53 586.56
Mining................................ 15.54 15.94 16.23 16.18 713.29 726.86 738.47 732.95
Construction.......................... 15.75 16.09 16.27 16.30 628.43 638.77 650.80 645.48
Manufacturing......................... 12.83 13.15 13.24 13.29 537.58 552.30 561.38 560.84
Durable goods........................ 13.42 13.71 13.81 13.89 573.03 585.42 596.59 597.27
Lumber and wood products............ 10.56 10.80 10.87 10.86 437.18 446.04 452.19 449.60
Furniture and fixtures.............. 10.28 10.59 10.71 10.69 414.28 428.90 440.18 434.01
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 12.91 13.21 13.28 13.31 568.04 578.60 588.30 584.31
Primary metal industries............ 15.09 15.17 15.26 15.33 670.00 678.10 691.28 691.38
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 17.94 17.97 18.28 18.34 796.54 805.06 824.43 827.13
Fabricated metal products........... 12.55 12.79 12.86 12.88 535.89 543.58 552.98 551.26
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 13.70 14.02 14.15 14.18 587.73 604.26 619.77 615.41
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 12.33 12.75 12.87 12.91 514.16 531.68 543.11 544.80
Transportation equipment............ 17.25 17.47 17.62 17.93 762.45 773.92 782.33 797.89
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 17.73 17.86 18.07 18.50 797.85 798.34 809.54 834.35
Instruments and related products.... 13.27 13.52 13.67 13.68 553.36 569.19 575.51 574.56
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 10.47 10.57 10.65 10.63 420.89 425.97 434.52 434.77
Nondurable goods..................... 12.00 12.33 12.40 12.41 490.80 504.30 513.36 511.29
Food and kindred products........... 11.16 11.51 11.51 11.47 465.37 479.97 485.72 480.59
Tobacco products.................... 17.73 19.78 18.12 17.74 730.48 747.68 708.49 691.86
Textile mill products............... 9.73 10.01 10.09 10.08 399.90 416.42 423.78 418.32
Apparel and other textile products.. 8.03 8.23 8.34 8.36 301.93 307.80 313.58 314.34
Paper and allied products........... 14.74 15.13 15.19 15.21 642.66 656.64 668.36 666.20
Printing and publishing............. 12.81 13.07 13.21 13.19 491.90 504.50 517.83 511.77
Chemicals and allied products....... 16.28 16.57 16.62 16.67 703.30 712.51 722.97 726.81
Petroleum and coal products......... 19.35 19.99 20.28 20.30 843.66 859.57 876.10 872.90
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 11.28 11.57 11.64 11.65 469.25 482.47 487.72 486.97
Leather and leather products........ 8.71 8.87 9.07 9.09 339.69 340.61 353.73 344.51
Service-producing....................... 11.37 11.62 11.82 11.86 370.66 386.95 387.70 387.82
Transportation and public utilities... $14.49 $15.00 $15.05 $15.03 $575.25 $607.50 $595.98 $592.18
Wholesale trade....................... 12.94 13.47 13.52 13.54 495.60 518.60 519.17 521.29
Retail trade.......................... 8.12 8.29 8.44 8.45 233.04 246.21 244.76 243.36
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 12.87 13.35 13.44 13.53 459.46 481.94 481.15 484.37
Services.............................. 11.93 12.12 12.37 12.42 386.53 398.75 402.03 403.65
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
Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. change
Industry 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997p 1997p from:
Sept. 1997-
Oct. 1997
Total private:
Current dollars.............. $11.91 $12.23 $12.24 $12.31 $12.35 $12.41 0.5
Constant (1982) dollars2..... 7.42 7.54 7.53 7.56 7.56 N.A. (3)
Goods-producing............... 13.57 13.86 13.86 13.94 13.98 14.07 .6
Mining...................... 15.67 16.12 16.10 16.07 16.20 16.30 .6
Construction................ 15.58 15.95 15.96 16.03 16.10 16.13 .2
Manufacturing............... 12.87 13.12 13.11 13.20 13.22 13.35 1.0
Excluding overtime4....... 12.21 12.42 12.41 12.50 12.50 12.61 .9
Service-producing............. 11.35 11.69 11.70 11.77 11.81 11.85 .3
Transportation and public
utilities................ 14.43 14.85 14.95 15.01 14.99 14.99 .0
Wholesale trade............. 12.93 13.42 13.38 13.54 13.52 13.53 .1
Retail trade................ 8.10 8.30 8.32 8.36 8.42 8.44 .2
Finance, insurance, and real
estate................... 12.86 13.29 13.30 13.49 13.46 13.59 1.0
Services.................... 11.91 12.26 12.26 12.33 12.36 12.42 .5
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 .0 percent from August 1997 to September 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
Oct. Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1996 1997 1997p 1997p 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997p 1997p
Total private.................... 138.8 143.9 142.7 142.7 137.2 140.6 140.2 140.8 140.6 140.9
Goods-producing......................... 114.8 116.7 117.7 116.9 111.4 112.7 112.9 113.0 113.2 113.8
Mining................................ 56.5 57.7 57.4 57.0 55.0 56.3 56.3 56.3 55.7 55.7
Construction.......................... 162.5 169.1 168.9 166.8 149.4 152.8 154.1 152.9 154.4 153.7
Manufacturing......................... 108.3 109.3 110.6 110.1 106.9 107.8 107.8 108.1 108.1 109.0
Durable goods........................ 110.2 112.2 113.5 113.4 109.2 111.0 111.1 112.0 111.7 112.8
Lumber and wood products............ 143.5 146.6 147.1 146.0 139.4 142.2 142.3 141.5 141.9 142.4
Furniture and fixtures.............. 126.3 128.1 130.7 130.5 123.6 126.7 127.3 126.7 128.0 127.3
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 114.7 114.4 115.5 114.3 110.7 108.7 110.0 109.7 109.9 110.2
Primary metal industries............ 92.9 94.3 95.8 95.5 92.9 94.0 93.2 95.2 94.8 95.7
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 72.6 73.1 73.7 73.6 72.9 72.3 72.0 73.4 73.4 73.9
Fabricated metal products........... 116.6 117.7 119.5 119.1 114.9 116.8 116.5 117.2 117.1 117.8
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 103.9 107.6 109.4 108.9 104.6 108.1 108.5 108.9 109.3 110.0
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 108.2 108.5 110.1 110.9 107.5 108.5 109.1 108.9 108.8 110.7
Transportation equipment............ 123.6 128.6 129.4 130.2 123.1 126.2 125.7 129.7 127.1 130.7
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 163.9 168.2 167.9 169.0 163.7 165.6 163.1 169.1 164.0 169.6
Instruments and related products.... 75.3 75.5 75.7 75.5 75.4 75.2 75.1 75.8 75.4 75.6
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 104.6 103.2 104.5 105.1 101.5 102.3 103.4 102.5 102.0 101.6
Nondurable goods..................... 105.8 105.4 106.5 105.4 103.9 103.4 103.1 102.8 103.2 103.8
Food and kindred products........... 120.8 123.9 125.3 121.8 115.7 115.8 115.6 114.8 115.4 116.7
Tobacco products.................... 71.4 58.0 65.9 67.8 63.1 57.8 57.2 57.6 57.9 60.2
Textile mill products............... 89.9 89.1 89.9 88.3 89.2 88.2 88.5 87.6 88.6 88.4
Apparel and other textile products.. 77.5 72.6 73.0 73.0 76.0 73.2 72.0 71.7 71.6 71.3
Paper and allied products........... 110.2 109.6 111.0 110.1 109.4 109.0 109.0 108.5 109.0 110.0
Printing and publishing............. 124.1 125.3 126.6 126.2 123.6 125.2 125.4 124.5 125.3 125.8
Chemicals and allied products....... 100.5 100.1 101.5 101.7 100.4 99.7 99.3 100.1 100.8 102.4
Petroleum and coal products......... 77.6 76.8 76.3 75.7 75.0 74.2 73.5 74.9 74.2 73.2
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 144.5 145.2 146.6 146.5 143.4 144.2 144.3 144.9 144.4 145.6
Leather and leather products........ 43.9 40.5 40.7 40.0 42.7 41.0 40.7 39.7 39.6 39.3
Service-producing....................... 149.5 156.1 153.9 154.3 148.7 153.1 152.5 153.2 152.9 153.1
Transportation and public utilities... 129.9 129.1 132.6 132.3 128.5 131.3 129.3 128.2 129.8 130.9
Wholesale trade....................... 124.5 127.5 127.1 127.7 123.7 126.2 126.0 126.5 126.3 126.8
Retail trade.......................... 135.5 143.8 139.8 139.3 135.9 138.2 138.2 139.7 138.4 139.2
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 124.4 130.5 127.8 128.0 123.8 130.5 127.4 129.4 128.5 127.1
Services.............................. 179.7 188.4 185.5 186.9 178.2 184.5 184.4 184.9 184.8 184.6
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.............. 59.7 61.0 49.6 57.6 61.5 56.2 55.5 58.3 62.2 59.6 61.7 59.3
1994.............. 57.6 61.9 67.1 64.5 57.7 63.9 62.5 62.6 61.4 60.3 63.8 62.4
1995.............. 62.4 60.1 54.5 55.6 48.0 53.9 54.1 59.8 57.0 54.9 57.2 57.9
1996.............. 51.7 64.3 60.1 54.9 62.9 60.5 56.5 59.3 54.4 62.6 58.1 61.0
1997.............. 59.3 59.1 59.0 61.1 57.4 50.7 58.8 58.7 p55.5 p62.6
Over 3-month span:
1993.............. 64.7 60.8 60.5 58.6 62.9 63.6 59.6 62.9 64.7 66.9 64.3 63.6
1994.............. 65.3 69.5 70.4 68.7 67.1 67.0 69.1 69.7 65.7 65.6 67.0 66.2
1995.............. 65.4 62.5 58.7 53.2 54.6 52.4 57.9 59.6 59.7 59.0 57.0 56.3
1996.............. 62.6 63.6 62.6 61.2 62.1 63.1 62.6 58.8 62.8 60.4 64.7 65.0
1997.............. 64.6 62.2 64.2 65.6 59.7 58.7 59.1 p63.6 p63.6
Over 6-month span:
1993.............. 62.9 64.6 64.3 64.3 62.2 65.6 66.0 64.9 66.3 66.7 69.4 69.2
1994.............. 71.1 69.8 69.8 70.9 70.1 69.8 69.7 69.4 69.4 67.4 67.7 66.2
1995.............. 66.9 61.4 58.1 56.6 58.1 58.1 56.7 59.8 60.3 59.1 61.5 63.3
1996.............. 62.2 63.5 63.5 63.5 62.6 61.2 65.3 63.6 62.6 64.5 64.2 67.4
1997.............. 67.6 66.6 64.5 64.6 64.3 p64.5 p66.9
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 69.5 66.6 65.0
1995.............. 63.6 62.4 62.6 63.3 61.7 61.9 58.7 62.2 62.2 61.1 62.2 63.3
1996.............. 63.5 64.7 62.4 62.9 64.7 64.2 65.0 63.1 63.8 66.7 65.7 65.0
1997.............. 67.3 66.2 p69.8 p69.8
Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1
Over 1-month span:
1993.............. 52.2 56.8 49.6 44.2 53.2 46.4 49.3 51.8 57.9 52.2 54.0 55.8
1994.............. 55.8 59.0 60.4 58.6 52.9 58.6 59.4 56.1 52.9 55.0 58.6 58.3
1995.............. 54.3 56.1 44.2 51.4 42.1 42.8 43.5 52.2 47.1 50.0 47.5 50.7
1996.............. 45.7 54.3 47.8 39.2 52.2 52.2 44.2 52.9 44.2 50.7 49.6 52.2
1997.............. 54.0 50.4 52.9 52.9 51.4 49.3 51.8 49.6 p54.3 p57.6
Over 3-month span:
1993.............. 61.5 59.0 54.0 46.8 48.6 54.3 51.1 58.3 57.2 59.4 54.7 58.3
1994.............. 61.9 64.7 65.5 59.7 57.6 60.1 62.2 57.9 55.0 55.4 60.1 59.4
1995.............. 59.7 50.4 47.5 40.3 42.4 36.3 38.5 43.9 49.3 46.4 45.3 43.9
1996.............. 47.5 47.8 42.1 38.5 43.2 45.0 48.9 43.2 50.4 46.4 52.5 52.5
1997.............. 53.2 51.4 50.7 52.5 48.6 48.9 48.6 p53.2 p54.7
Over 6-month span:
1993.............. 55.8 58.6 58.6 55.8 51.8 57.2 59.7 57.2 57.6 58.3 62.6 60.8
1994.............. 62.2 62.2 62.6 63.3 59.4 56.5 56.5 58.6 58.6 55.0 58.3 55.0
1995.............. 55.8 48.6 43.9 38.8 39.2 39.6 38.8 39.6 43.9 45.0 44.2 44.6
1996.............. 41.4 41.7 41.0 38.1 39.6 40.6 47.5 46.8 45.3 50.4 48.2 53.2
1997.............. 53.2 53.2 50.4 49.3 48.6 p51.4 p57.2
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 56.5 50.4 49.6
1995.............. 46.0 44.2 46.0 47.8 41.0 41.7 38.5 38.8 36.3 37.4 38.1 39.9
1996.............. 39.6 42.8 39.2 39.6 42.4 40.3 43.5 40.3 43.5 46.8 46.4 47.1
1997.............. 51.4 47.8 p52.5 p55.4
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: December 05, 1997
URL: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/empsit_1097.htm
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