Technical information: USDL 99-315
Household data: (202) 606-6378
Transmission of material in this release is
Establishment data: 606-6555 embargoed until 8:30 A.M. (EST),
Media contact: 606-5902 Friday, November 5, 1999.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: OCTOBER 1999
Employment rose in October, and the unemployment rate was essentially
unchanged at 4.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by
310,000, following an increase of only 41,000 (as revised) in September.
Average hourly earnings rose by 1 cent in October.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons, 5.8 million, and the unemployment
rate, 4.1 percent, were essentially unchanged in October. The jobless rate
has been 4.3 percent or lower since March. Unemployment rates for the
major demographic groups--adult men (3.5 percent), adult women (3.5
percent), teenagers (13.9 percent), whites (3.5 percent), blacks (8.3
percent), and Hispanics (6.4 percent)--showed little or no change over the
month. (See tables A-1 and A-2.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
The civilian labor force, at 139.7 million, and the labor force
participation rate, at 67.0 percent, were little changed in October. Total
employment rose by 346,000 to 133.9 million. The employment-population
ratio (64.2 percent) remained near its September level. (See table A-1.)
About 8.0 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in October. These multiple jobholders represented 6.0 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 1.2 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in October. These were people who wanted and
were available to 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 271,000 in October, down from 333,000 a year earlier. (See table
A-10.)
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Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
| Quarterly | Monthly data |
| averages | |
|_________________|__________________________| Sept.-
Category | 1999 | 1999 | Oct.
|_________________|__________________________|change
| II | III | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA | Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 139,173| 139,301| 139,264| 139,386| 139,662| 276
Employment..........| 133,242| 133,423| 133,411| 133,550| 133,896| 346
Unemployment........| 5,931| 5,879| 5,853| 5,836| 5,766| -70
Not in labor force....| 68,259| 68,743| 68,774| 68,879| 68,821| -58
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........| 4.3 | 4.2| 4.2| 4.2| 4.1| -0.1
Adult men...........| 3.5 | 3.5| 3.6| 3.4| 3.5| .1
Adult women.........| 3.9 | 3.8| 3.7| 3.7| 3.5| -.2
Teenagers...........| 13.4 | 13.7| 13.5| 15.0| 13.9| -1.1
White...............| 3.8 | 3.7| 3.7| 3.6| 3.5| -.1
Black...............| 7.5 | 8.3| 7.8| 8.3| 8.3| .0
Hispanic origin.....| 6.8 | 6.5| 6.5| 6.7| 6.4| -.3
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA | Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 128,246|p128,916| 128,945|p128,986|p129,296| p310
Goods-producing 1/..| 25,222| p25,186| 25,148| p25,163| p25,180| p17
Construction......| 6,258| p6,263| 6,246| p6,274| p6,302| p28
Manufacturing.....| 18,433| p18,397| 18,378| p18,364| p18,349| p-15
Service-producing 1/| 103,024|p103,730| 103,797|p103,823|p104,116| p293
Retail trade......| 22,756| p22,882| 22,888| p22,855| p22,825| p-30
Services..........| 38,810| p39,168| 39,205| p39,245| p39,460| p215
Government........| 20,094| p20,190| 20,210| p20,207| p20,260| p53
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Hours of work 2/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 34.4| p34.5| 34.5| p34.4| p34.6| p0.2
Manufacturing.......| 41.7| p41.8| 41.8| p41.8| p41.7| p-.1
Overtime..........| 4.5| p4.7| 4.7| p4.7| p4.6| p-.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (1982=100) 2/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 147.3| p148.2| 148.4| p148.0| p149.0| p1.0
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Earnings 2/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| $13.19| p$13.31| $13.29| p$13.36| p$13.37| p$0.01
Avg. weekly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| 454.06| p458.75| 458.51| p459.58| p462.60| p3.02
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
2/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.
- 3 -
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 310,000 in October to 129.3 million,
after seasonal adjustment. This large increase follows little growth in
September; the average job gain over the 2 months was 176,000. In October,
employment growth was widespread in the service-producing sector, and the
construction and mining industries also added jobs. Job losses continued
in manufacturing, although the declines have been smaller, on average, over
the past 4 months than in the first half of the year. (See table B-1.)
In the service-producing sector, the services industry gained 215,000
jobs in October, following a small gain in September (40,000). The 2-month
average job growth (128,000) is in line with the average for the first 8
months of this year. Business services accounted for about one-third of
October's increase. Within business services, help supply services added
45,000 jobs, well above its average growth. In contrast, computer services
added only 5,000 jobs, the second consecutive month of slow growth for this
industry. Elsewhere in services, notable employment increases occurred in
amusement and recreation services (23,000), health services (19,000),
educational services (23,000), social services (15,000), and engineering
and management services (27,000); all of these industries showed little or
no job growth in September.
Government employment rose by 53,000 in October, after seasonal
adjustment. Local government accounted for nearly all of the growth, with
a gain of 46,000 jobs split almost evenly between education and
noneducation agencies.
Finance, insurance, and real estate added 18,000 jobs in October,
following a decline of 7,000 in the prior month. Real estate employment
grew by 10,000 in October after 2 months of small declines. Within
finance, security and commodity brokerages added 7,000 jobs over the month,
following no growth in September. Employment in mortgage banks and
brokerages fell by 5,000 in October. This industry has lost a total of
19,000 jobs since May, likely reflecting the recent rise in mortgage
interest rates.
Employment in transportation and public utilities rose by 17,000 in
October. Transportation accounted for most of the increase (14,000), with
the largest gains occurring in trucking and warehousing and transportation
by air. Communications employment rose by 8,000 over the month; since
June, the industry has added 28,000 jobs. In public utilities, an October
employment decline of 5,000 more than offset small increases in the prior 2
months. Wholesale trade employment grew by 20,000 in October, with a large
gain occurring in its durable goods component (18,000). October's rise in
wholesale jobs followed a small increase (5,000) in September.
Retail trade lost 30,000 jobs in October. This was its third
consecutive over-the-month decline following a large increase in July.
Average monthly employment growth for the year thus far (30,000) is still
in line with that for all of 1998. In October, large job declines in
eating and drinking places (-28,000), food stores (-13,000), and general
merchandise stores (-8,000) were only partially offset by increases in
building materials and garden supplies (11,000) and auto dealerships (6,000).
In the goods-producing sector, construction employment increased by
28,000 in October, seasonally adjusted, following a gain of the same
magnitude in September. Most of the October growth was in special trade
contractors (22,000), some of which reflects cleanup and reconstruction
following Hurricane Floyd.
All of October's 4,000 increase in mining employment was in oil and gas
extraction, reflecting the recent rise in crude oil prices.
- 4 -
Manufacturing employment continued to decline in October with a loss of
15,000 jobs. Since June, the number of factory jobs has fallen by an
average of 12,000 per month, compared with an average decline of 36,000 per
month during the first half of the year. The slower pace of job loss since
June can be attributed in part to electrical equipment and to fabricated
metals, which have added 8,000 and 2,000 jobs over the period,
respectively. Employment in both of these industries had been trending
down since the spring of 1998. In October, job losses continued in
instruments, industrial machinery, aircraft, apparel, and textiles. Lumber
and furniture continued their slow growth, and rubber and plastics products
also added jobs in October.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.2 hour in October to 34.6 hours, seasonally
adjusted. Both the manufacturing workweek and overtime edged down by 0.1
hour to 41.7 and 4.6 hours, respectively. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.7 percent to 149.0
(1982=100), seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index declined by 0.6
percent in October to 105.9. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 1 cent in October to $13.37,
seasonally adjusted. This followed a gain of 7 cents in September. In
October, average weekly earnings rose by 0.7 percent to $462.60, seasonally
adjusted. Over the year, both average hourly earnings and average weekly
earnings increased by 3.6 percent. (See table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for November 1999 is scheduled to be released
on Friday, December 3, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| New Seasonal Factors for Establishment Survey Data |
| |
| 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 1999 through April 2000 estimates and will be published in the|
|December 1999 issue of Employment and Earnings. These factors will be |
|available on Monday, November 29, on the Internet |
|(http://stats.bls.gov/ceshome.htm) or by calling (202) 606-6555. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Explanatory Note
This news release presents statistics from two major surveys, the Current
Population Survey (household survey) and the Current Employment Statistics
survey (establishment survey). The household survey provides the
information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment that appears
in the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample survey of about
50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the employment,
hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B
tables, marked ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected from
payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies. In June 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 $16.00 per issue or
$40.00 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.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 205,919 208,265 208,483 205,919 207,632 207,828 208,038 208,265 208,483
Civilian labor force............................ 138,255 139,217 139,761 138,116 139,408 139,254 139,264 139,386 139,662
Participation rate........................ 67.1 66.8 67.0 67.1 67.1 67.0 66.9 66.9 67.0
Employed...................................... 132,424 133,555 134,390 131,858 133,432 133,307 133,411 133,550 133,896
Employment-population ratio............... 64.3 64.1 64.5 64.0 64.3 64.1 64.1 64.1 64.2
Agriculture................................. 3,630 3,342 3,293 3,558 3,354 3,292 3,219 3,137 3,203
Nonagricultural industries.................. 128,794 130,214 131,096 128,300 130,078 130,015 130,192 130,413 130,693
Unemployed.................................... 5,831 5,661 5,372 6,258 5,975 5,947 5,853 5,836 5,766
Unemployment rate......................... 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.5 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1
Not in labor force.............................. 67,664 69,048 68,722 67,803 68,225 68,574 68,774 68,879 68,821
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 99,121 99,976 100,088 99,121 99,668 99,761 99,863 99,976 100,088
Civilian labor force............................ 74,165 74,393 74,623 74,189 74,420 74,500 74,400 74,634 74,655
Participation rate........................ 74.8 74.4 74.6 74.8 74.7 74.7 74.5 74.7 74.6
Employed...................................... 71,219 71,603 71,825 70,925 71,321 71,444 71,332 71,615 71,569
Employment-population ratio............... 71.9 71.6 71.8 71.6 71.6 71.6 71.4 71.6 71.5
Unemployed.................................... 2,946 2,790 2,799 3,264 3,099 3,056 3,067 3,019 3,087
Unemployment rate......................... 4.0 3.8 3.8 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.0 4.1
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 91,101 91,793 91,896 91,101 91,487 91,561 91,692 91,793 91,896
Civilian labor force............................ 70,051 70,286 70,401 69,913 70,127 70,164 70,179 70,326 70,291
Participation rate........................ 76.9 76.6 76.6 76.7 76.7 76.6 76.5 76.6 76.5
Employed...................................... 67,773 68,078 68,175 67,362 67,633 67,687 67,682 67,950 67,815
Employment-population ratio............... 74.4 74.2 74.2 73.9 73.9 73.9 73.8 74.0 73.8
Agriculture................................. 2,542 2,296 2,268 2,449 2,248 2,271 2,242 2,168 2,171
Nonagricultural industries.................. 65,231 65,782 65,907 64,913 65,385 65,416 65,440 65,782 65,644
Unemployed.................................... 2,278 2,208 2,226 2,551 2,494 2,477 2,496 2,376 2,477
Unemployment rate......................... 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.5
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 106,798 108,289 108,395 106,798 107,964 108,067 108,175 108,289 108,395
Civilian labor force............................ 64,090 64,823 65,138 63,927 64,988 64,754 64,864 64,753 65,007
Participation rate........................ 60.0 59.9 60.1 59.9 60.2 59.9 60.0 59.8 60.0
Employed...................................... 61,205 61,952 62,565 60,933 62,112 61,863 62,079 61,935 62,327
Employment-population ratio............... 57.3 57.2 57.7 57.1 57.5 57.2 57.4 57.2 57.5
Unemployed.................................... 2,884 2,871 2,573 2,994 2,876 2,891 2,786 2,817 2,679
Unemployment rate......................... 4.5 4.4 4.0 4.7 4.4 4.5 4.3 4.4 4.1
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 99,037 100,385 100,458 99,037 100,131 100,203 100,285 100,385 100,458
Civilian labor force............................ 60,224 61,053 61,292 59,826 61,092 60,791 60,908 60,793 60,920
Participation rate........................ 60.8 60.8 61.0 60.4 61.0 60.7 60.7 60.6 60.6
Employed...................................... 57,898 58,753 59,238 57,437 58,719 58,373 58,654 58,572 58,806
Employment-population ratio............... 58.5 58.5 59.0 58.0 58.6 58.3 58.5 58.3 58.5
Agriculture................................. 802 833 829 771 869 797 764 767 803
Nonagricultural industries.................. 57,097 57,920 58,409 56,666 57,849 57,576 57,890 57,804 58,003
Unemployed.................................... 2,326 2,299 2,054 2,389 2,373 2,418 2,254 2,222 2,113
Unemployment rate......................... 3.9 3.8 3.4 4.0 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.5
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population............. 15,781 16,086 16,129 15,781 16,014 16,065 16,061 16,086 16,129
Civilian labor force............................ 7,980 7,878 8,068 8,377 8,189 8,300 8,177 8,267 8,451
Participation rate........................ 50.6 49.0 50.0 53.1 51.1 51.7 50.9 51.4 52.4
Employed...................................... 6,753 6,724 6,977 7,059 7,081 7,247 7,075 7,028 7,275
Employment-population ratio............... 42.8 41.8 43.3 44.7 44.2 45.1 44.0 43.7 45.1
Agriculture................................. 287 212 196 338 237 225 212 201 229
Nonagricultural industries.................. 6,466 6,512 6,781 6,721 6,843 7,023 6,862 6,827 7,046
Unemployed.................................... 1,226 1,154 1,091 1,318 1,108 1,053 1,102 1,238 1,176
Unemployment rate......................... 15.4 14.7 13.5 15.7 13.5 12.7 13.5 15.0 13.9
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 171,956 173,432 173,585 171,956 172,999 173,133 173,275 173,432 173,585
Civilian labor force............................ 115,804 116,243 116,683 115,714 116,578 116,393 116,602 116,409 116,577
Participation rate.......................... 67.3 67.0 67.2 67.3 67.4 67.2 67.3 67.1 67.2
Employed...................................... 111,599 112,241 112,890 111,162 112,092 112,117 112,277 112,210 112,483
Employment-population ratio................. 64.9 64.7 65.0 64.6 64.8 64.8 64.8 64.7 64.8
Unemployed.................................... 4,206 4,002 3,793 4,552 4,486 4,276 4,325 4,198 4,093
Unemployment rate........................... 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.5
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 59,620 59,808 59,784 59,579 59,711 59,837 59,968 59,839 59,738
Participation rate.......................... 77.2 77.1 77.0 77.2 77.2 77.3 77.4 77.1 76.9
Employed...................................... 57,911 58,236 58,235 57,646 57,784 57,978 58,013 58,120 58,003
Employment-population ratio................. 75.0 75.1 75.0 74.7 74.7 74.9 74.8 74.9 74.7
Unemployed.................................... 1,709 1,571 1,549 1,933 1,927 1,859 1,955 1,719 1,735
Unemployment rate........................... 2.9 2.6 2.6 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.3 2.9 2.9
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 49,433 49,746 50,042 49,062 49,933 49,542 49,701 49,534 49,660
Participation rate.......................... 60.1 59.9 60.2 59.7 60.2 59.7 59.9 59.6 59.7
Employed...................................... 47,825 48,138 48,581 47,401 48,215 47,878 48,134 47,946 48,148
Employment-population ratio................. 58.2 57.9 58.4 57.6 58.2 57.7 58.0 57.7 57.9
Unemployed.................................... 1,608 1,608 1,460 1,661 1,718 1,665 1,567 1,587 1,512
Unemployment rate........................... 3.3 3.2 2.9 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.0
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force............................ 6,751 6,690 6,857 7,073 6,934 7,013 6,932 7,036 7,179
Participation rate.......................... 53.9 52.5 53.8 56.4 54.6 55.1 54.4 55.2 56.3
Employed...................................... 5,863 5,867 6,073 6,115 6,093 6,261 6,129 6,144 6,332
Employment-population ratio................. 46.8 46.0 47.7 48.8 48.0 49.2 48.1 48.2 49.7
Unemployed.................................... 888 823 784 958 840 753 803 892 847
Unemployment rate........................... 13.2 12.3 11.4 13.5 12.1 10.7 11.6 12.7 11.8
Men....................................... 13.8 12.4 11.4 14.1 11.8 10.9 12.2 13.0 11.6
Women..................................... 12.4 12.2 11.5 13.0 12.5 10.6 10.9 12.4 12.0
BLACK
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 24,496 24,946 24,985 24,496 24,833 24,867 24,904 24,946 24,985
Civilian labor force............................ 16,220 16,494 16,527 16,163 16,300 16,384 16,279 16,534 16,478
Participation rate.......................... 66.2 66.1 66.1 66.0 65.6 65.9 65.4 66.3 66.0
Employed...................................... 14,896 15,113 15,215 14,776 15,103 14,949 15,005 15,154 15,104
Employment-population ratio................. 60.8 60.6 60.9 60.3 60.8 60.1 60.3 60.7 60.5
Unemployed.................................... 1,325 1,381 1,311 1,387 1,197 1,434 1,274 1,380 1,374
Unemployment rate........................... 8.2 8.4 7.9 8.6 7.3 8.8 7.8 8.3 8.3
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 7,212 7,216 7,334 7,144 7,152 7,132 7,151 7,200 7,282
Participation rate.......................... 73.7 72.4 73.4 73.1 72.1 71.8 71.9 72.3 72.9
Employed...................................... 6,754 6,711 6,794 6,653 6,712 6,601 6,706 6,684 6,707
Employment-population ratio................. 69.1 67.3 68.0 68.0 67.7 66.5 67.4 67.1 67.2
Unemployed.................................... 458 506 540 491 440 531 445 516 575
Unemployment rate........................... 6.4 7.0 7.4 6.9 6.1 7.4 6.2 7.2 7.9
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 8,030 8,361 8,286 7,992 8,214 8,318 8,229 8,383 8,254
Participation rate.......................... 65.5 66.9 66.2 65.2 66.0 66.8 66.0 67.1 65.9
Employed...................................... 7,437 7,774 7,790 7,391 7,671 7,663 7,658 7,821 7,751
Employment-population ratio................. 60.7 62.2 62.2 60.3 61.7 61.5 61.4 62.6 61.9
Unemployed.................................... 594 587 496 601 544 654 571 562 502
Unemployment rate........................... 7.4 7.0 6.0 7.5 6.6 7.9 6.9 6.7 6.1
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force............................ 978 917 906 1,027 934 934 899 951 943
Participation rate.......................... 39.8 36.9 36.5 41.8 37.7 37.6 36.2 38.3 38.0
Employed...................................... 705 628 631 732 721 685 642 649 646
Employment-population ratio................. 28.7 25.3 25.4 29.8 29.0 27.6 25.8 26.1 26.0
Unemployed.................................... 273 289 275 295 214 249 257 302 297
Unemployment rate........................... 27.9 31.5 30.3 28.7 22.9 26.7 28.6 31.7 31.5
Men....................................... 31.2 28.7 32.7 34.7 26.7 30.8 29.4 30.6 36.4
Women..................................... 25.0 34.2 27.9 23.5 19.6 22.9 27.9 32.9 26.5
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 21,286 21,820 21,881 21,286 21,618 21,684 21,752 21,820 21,881
Civilian labor force............................ 14,509 14,768 14,837 14,437 14,643 14,592 14,734 14,756 14,797
Participation rate.......................... 68.2 67.7 67.8 67.8 67.7 67.3 67.7 67.6 67.6
Employed...................................... 13,502 13,818 13,922 13,382 13,654 13,685 13,776 13,763 13,853
Employment-population ratio................. 63.4 63.3 63.6 62.9 63.2 63.1 63.3 63.1 63.3
Unemployed.................................... 1,007 950 915 1,055 989 907 959 993 944
Unemployment rate........................... 6.9 6.4 6.2 7.3 6.8 6.2 6.5 6.7 6.4
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
Less than a high school diploma
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 28,713 28,583 28,246 28,713 28,515 28,015 28,568 28,583 28,246
Civilian labor force.................... 12,143 12,275 12,039 12,408 12,047 12,069 12,412 12,198 12,297
Percent of population............... 42.3 42.9 42.6 43.2 42.2 43.1 43.4 42.7 43.5
Employed.............................. 11,368 11,506 11,303 11,556 11,238 11,244 11,530 11,358 11,487
Employment-population ratio......... 39.6 40.3 40.0 40.2 39.4 40.1 40.4 39.7 40.7
Unemployed............................ 774 769 735 852 810 825 883 840 810
Unemployment rate................... 6.4 6.3 6.1 6.9 6.7 6.8 7.1 6.9 6.6
High school graduates, no college(2)
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 57,666 57,518 57,275 57,666 57,963 57,162 57,195 57,518 57,275
Civilian labor force.................... 37,669 37,286 37,170 37,540 37,403 36,941 36,845 37,133 37,019
Percent of population............... 65.3 64.8 64.9 65.1 64.5 64.6 64.4 64.6 64.6
Employed.............................. 36,287 36,022 36,038 36,056 35,961 35,629 35,550 35,807 35,823
Employment-population ratio......... 62.9 62.6 62.9 62.5 62.0 62.3 62.2 62.3 62.5
Unemployed............................ 1,383 1,264 1,132 1,484 1,442 1,313 1,294 1,325 1,195
Unemployment rate................... 3.7 3.4 3.0 4.0 3.9 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.2
Less than a bachelor's degree(3)
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 42,573 42,955 43,787 42,573 42,780 43,610 43,130 42,955 43,787
Civilian labor force.................... 31,827 31,930 32,564 31,349 31,937 32,102 31,803 32,076 32,177
Percent of population............... 74.8 74.3 74.4 73.6 74.7 73.6 73.7 74.7 73.5
Employed.............................. 30,916 31,086 31,714 30,423 31,130 31,097 30,795 31,211 31,307
Employment-population ratio......... 72.6 72.4 72.4 71.5 72.8 71.3 71.4 72.7 71.5
Unemployed............................ 911 844 851 926 806 1,005 1,008 866 871
Unemployment rate................... 2.9 2.6 2.6 3.0 2.5 3.1 3.2 2.7 2.7
College graduates
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 43,520 45,081 44,986 43,520 44,464 45,042 45,086 45,081 44,986
Civilian labor force.................... 35,034 35,948 35,992 34,779 35,856 35,981 36,142 35,745 35,717
Percent of population............... 80.5 79.7 80.0 79.9 80.6 79.9 80.2 79.3 79.4
Employed.............................. 34,405 35,333 35,420 34,108 35,128 35,317 35,579 35,157 35,104
Employment-population ratio......... 79.1 78.4 78.7 78.4 79.0 78.4 78.9 78.0 78.0
Unemployed............................ 629 615 573 671 727 664 563 588 613
Unemployment rate................... 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.9 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.7
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over................. 132,424 133,555 134,390 131,858 133,432 133,307 133,411 133,550 133,896
Married men, spouse present..................... 43,512 43,663 43,590 43,090 43,291 43,353 43,398 43,446 43,158
Married women, spouse present................... 33,451 33,403 33,928 33,037 33,802 33,302 33,458 33,204 33,525
Women who maintain families..................... 7,928 8,380 8,407 7,940 7,991 8,289 8,357 8,313 8,424
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty........... 39,960 40,892 40,973 39,679 40,946 40,901 40,893 40,843 40,690
Technical, sales, and administrative support.... 38,556 38,519 39,035 38,431 38,729 38,573 38,842 38,557 38,996
Service occupations............................. 17,577 17,817 17,444 17,692 18,020 18,035 18,034 17,907 17,566
Precision production, craft, and repair......... 14,129 14,531 14,776 14,192 14,084 14,405 14,241 14,589 14,881
Operators, fabricators, and laborers............ 18,446 18,202 18,675 18,168 18,190 17,985 18,058 18,260 18,396
Farming, forestry, and fishing.................. 3,756 3,594 3,487 3,604 3,504 3,423 3,422 3,346 3,343
CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers....................... 2,284 2,051 1,950 2,247 1,911 1,938 1,900 1,929 1,915
Self-employed workers......................... 1,310 1,246 1,294 1,282 1,369 1,300 1,262 1,176 1,273
Unpaid family workers......................... 37 44 49 33 37 47 48 41 43
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers....................... 119,616 121,255 122,048 119,275 121,005 121,157 121,163 121,498 121,600
Government.................................. 18,586 18,939 18,796 18,547 19,110 19,068 19,243 19,131 18,759
Private industries.......................... 101,030 102,316 103,252 100,728 101,895 102,089 101,920 102,367 102,841
Private households........................ 950 1,006 939 946 1,001 943 871 1,039 931
Other industries.......................... 100,080 101,310 102,313 99,782 100,894 101,146 101,049 101,328 101,910
Self-employed workers......................... 9,091 8,864 8,959 9,030 8,857 8,837 9,066 8,820 8,879
Unpaid family workers......................... 87 95 89 95 87 74 91 98 100
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons................ 3,086 2,948 2,832 3,404 3,418 3,299 3,248 3,269 3,151
Slack work or business conditions........... 1,821 1,689 1,718 2,031 2,092 1,983 1,871 1,895 1,926
Could only find part-time work.............. 1,047 1,031 895 1,136 1,014 1,044 1,057 1,087 975
Part time for noneconomic reasons............. 19,479 19,069 19,644 18,667 18,666 19,122 19,359 18,787 18,816
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons................ 2,956 2,814 2,666 3,253 3,232 3,130 3,105 3,096 2,958
Slack work or business conditions........... 1,724 1,596 1,600 1,927 1,944 1,846 1,791 1,789 1,800
Could only find part-time work.............. 1,030 1,015 876 1,110 1,010 1,028 1,041 1,080 950
Part time for noneconomic reasons............. 18,896 18,490 19,081 18,107 18,016 18,618 18,781 18,288 18,277
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
CHARACTERISTIC
Total, 16 years and over......................... 6,258 5,836 5,766 4.5 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1
Men, 20 years and over......................... 2,551 2,376 2,477 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.5
Women, 20 years and over....................... 2,389 2,222 2,113 4.0 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.5
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years..................... 1,318 1,238 1,176 15.7 13.5 12.7 13.5 15.0 13.9
Married men, spouse present.................... 1,004 955 996 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.3
Married women, spouse present.................. 945 885 840 2.8 2.7 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.4
Women who maintain families.................... 585 574 535 6.9 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.0
Full-time workers.............................. 4,871 4,553 4,637 4.3 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.0 4.0
Part-time workers.............................. 1,362 1,247 1,117 5.5 5.4 4.9 4.5 5.1 4.6
OCCUPATION(2)
Managerial and professional specialty.......... 778 744 761 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8
Technical, sales, and administrative support... 1,553 1,390 1,415 3.9 3.6 4.0 3.6 3.5 3.5
Precision production, craft, and repair........ 594 586 602 4.0 4.9 3.8 4.6 3.9 3.9
Operators, fabricators, and laborers........... 1,316 1,277 1,239 6.8 6.0 6.3 6.2 6.5 6.3
Farming, forestry, and fishing................. 207 172 191 5.4 7.5 6.4 6.2 4.9 5.4
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers 4,896 4,663 4,468 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2
Goods-producing industries................... 1,319 1,375 1,290 4.6 4.7 4.4 5.0 4.9 4.5
Mining..................................... 15 44 25 2.4 4.7 6.4 4.0 7.1 4.3
Construction............................... 471 519 526 6.7 7.5 6.7 7.9 6.8 6.7
Manufacturing.............................. 833 812 739 3.9 3.8 3.5 3.9 4.1 3.7
Durable goods............................ 411 510 412 3.2 3.6 3.8 3.7 4.1 3.4
Nondurable goods......................... 422 302 327 5.1 4.0 3.0 4.2 3.9 4.2
Service-producing industries................. 3,577 3,288 3,177 4.7 4.3 4.4 4.0 4.2 4.0
Transportation and public utilities........ 255 217 250 3.5 2.8 3.6 3.1 2.7 3.2
Wholesale and retail trade................. 1,511 1,415 1,327 5.6 5.4 5.2 4.8 5.2 4.8
Finance, insurance, and real estate........ 210 178 186 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.2 2.3
Services................................... 1,601 1,477 1,414 4.7 4.2 4.5 4.0 4.1 4.0
Government workers............................. 409 381 391 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.0 2.0
Agricultural wage and salary workers........... 161 108 149 6.7 9.6 8.9 9.8 5.3 7.2
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Less than 5 weeks................................ 2,617 2,627 2,359 2,754 2,529 2,680 2,621 2,589 2,471
5 to 14 weeks.................................... 1,728 1,664 1,664 1,896 1,736 1,766 1,810 1,831 1,853
15 weeks and over................................ 1,486 1,370 1,348 1,598 1,668 1,505 1,449 1,392 1,427
15 to 26 weeks................................ 652 672 646 732 824 787 745 698 711
27 weeks and over............................. 834 698 702 866 844 718 704 694 716
Average (mean) duration, in weeks................ 14.6 13.1 13.8 14.1 14.5 13.6 13.2 12.8 13.2
Median duration, in weeks........................ 5.7 6.0 6.1 5.9 6.2 5.7 6.5 5.8 6.4
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.............................. 44.9 46.4 43.9 44.1 42.6 45.0 44.6 44.5 43.0
5 to 14 weeks.................................. 29.6 29.4 31.0 30.3 29.3 29.7 30.8 31.5 32.2
15 weeks and over.............................. 25.5 24.2 25.1 25.6 28.1 25.3 24.6 23.9 24.8
15 to 26 weeks............................... 11.2 11.9 12.0 11.7 13.9 13.2 12.7 12.0 12.4
27 weeks and over............................ 14.3 12.3 13.1 13.9 14.2 12.1 12.0 11.9 12.4
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs........................................... 2,426 2,299 2,162 2,813 2,683 2,740 2,662 2,586 2,490
On temporary layoff............................. 584 620 535 857 892 850 929 890 781
Not on temporary layoff......................... 1,842 1,678 1,626 1,956 1,791 1,890 1,734 1,696 1,710
Permanent job losers.......................... 1,218 1,158 1,097 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Persons who completed temporary jobs.......... 625 520 529 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Job leavers....................................... 757 871 789 730 864 755 797 737 766
Reentrants........................................ 2,137 2,028 1,956 2,142 2,057 2,011 1,896 1,965 1,952
New entrants...................................... 509 464 466 577 349 402 483 537 527
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........................................... 41.6 40.6 40.2 44.9 45.1 46.4 45.6 44.4 43.4
On temporary layoff............................ 10.0 11.0 10.0 13.7 15.0 14.4 15.9 15.3 13.6
Not on temporary layoff........................ 31.6 29.6 30.3 31.2 30.1 32.0 29.7 29.1 29.8
Job leavers...................................... 13.0 15.4 14.7 11.7 14.5 12.8 13.6 12.7 13.4
Reentrants....................................... 36.7 35.8 36.4 34.2 34.6 34.0 32.5 33.7 34.0
New entrants..................................... 8.7 8.2 8.7 9.2 5.9 6.8 8.3 9.2 9.2
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs........................................... 1.8 1.7 1.5 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8
Job leavers...................................... .5 .6 .6 .5 .6 .5 .6 .5 .5
Reentrants....................................... 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4
New entrants..................................... .4 .3 .3 .4 .3 .3 .3 .4 .4
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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
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 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0
U-2 Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as
a percent of the civilian labor force................... 1.8 1.7 1.5 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8
U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor
force (official unemployment rate)...................... 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.5 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1
U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent
of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers.... 4.4 4.3 4.0 (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........................................ 5.1 4.9 4.7 (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............................. 7.3 7.0 6.7 (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
Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
Total, 16 years and over.......................... 6,258 5,836 5,766 4.5 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1
16 to 24 years.................................. 2,320 2,245 2,269 10.5 9.9 9.6 9.6 10.1 10.1
16 to 19 years................................ 1,318 1,238 1,176 15.7 13.5 12.7 13.5 15.0 13.9
16 to 17 years.............................. 607 532 541 18.2 16.1 14.6 15.8 16.3 15.9
18 to 19 years.............................. 704 706 630 14.0 11.8 11.4 12.1 14.1 12.5
20 to 24 years................................ 1,002 1,007 1,093 7.3 7.7 7.7 7.3 7.2 7.8
25 years and over............................... 3,931 3,630 3,496 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.0
25 to 54 years................................ 3,475 3,168 3,056 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.1
55 years and over............................. 466 458 470 2.7 3.0 3.0 2.6 2.6 2.7
Men, 16 years and over.......................... 3,264 3,019 3,087 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.0 4.1
16 to 24 years................................ 1,255 1,162 1,224 10.9 10.7 10.2 9.8 9.9 10.4
16 to 19 years.............................. 713 642 610 16.7 14.1 13.4 13.5 14.9 14.0
16 to 17 years............................ 357 281 261 20.9 16.5 15.4 15.8 16.6 14.9
18 to 19 years............................ 351 345 346 13.7 12.8 11.8 12.3 13.4 13.2
20 to 24 years.............................. 542 519 613 7.5 8.7 8.3 7.6 7.0 8.3
25 years and over............................. 2,006 1,873 1,863 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.0
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,739 1,581 1,601 3.3 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.0
55 years and over........................... 276 296 284 2.9 2.6 3.2 2.9 3.0 2.9
Women, 16 years and over........................ 2,994 2,817 2,679 4.7 4.4 4.5 4.3 4.4 4.1
16 to 24 years................................ 1,065 1,083 1,046 10.1 9.0 8.9 9.4 10.2 9.7
16 to 19 years.............................. 605 596 566 14.8 12.9 11.9 13.4 15.0 13.8
16 to 17 years............................ 250 250 280 15.4 15.7 13.8 15.8 15.9 16.8
18 to 19 years............................ 353 360 284 14.3 10.7 11.0 11.9 15.0 11.7
20 to 24 years.............................. 460 487 480 7.1 6.7 7.1 7.0 7.3 7.2
25 years and over............................. 1,925 1,758 1,633 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.0
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,736 1,587 1,455 3.8 3.5 3.7 3.4 3.4 3.1
55 years and over........................... 190 161 187 2.5 3.5 2.9 2.3 2.0 2.4
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
Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.
1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999
NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE
Total not in the labor force...................................... 67,664 68,722 24,955 25,465 42,708 43,257
Persons who currently want a job................................ 4,550 4,020 1,861 1,657 2,689 2,363
Searched for work and available to work now(1)............... 1,242 1,184 592 588 650 596
Reason not currently looking:
Discouragement over job prospects(2).................... 333 271 197 160 135 111
Reasons other than discouragement(3).................... 910 913 395 428 515 485
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS
Total multiple jobholders(4)...................................... 8,234 8,014 4,270 4,245 3,964 3,769
Percent of total employed..................................... 6.2 6.0 6.0 5.9 6.5 6.0
Primary job full time, secondary job part time................ 4,755 4,462 2,739 2,630 2,016 1,832
Primary and secondary jobs both part time..................... 1,675 1,672 483 504 1,192 1,168
Primary and secondary jobs both full time..................... 278 308 208 204 70 104
Hours vary on primary or secondary job........................ 1,487 1,511 817 868 670 643
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
Oct. Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. June July Aug. Sept. Oct.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total......................... 127,523 128,753 129,442 130,196 126,567 128,443 128,816 128,945 128,986 129,296
Total private.................... 107,311 109,751 109,427 109,636 106,654 108,338 108,663 108,735 108,779 109,036
Goods-producing......................... 25,617 25,628 25,539 25,495 25,306 25,180 25,247 25,148 25,163 25,180
Mining................................ 584 534 534 534 578 526 528 524 525 529
Metal mining........................ 50.0 47.8 48.1 48.0 50 48 48 47 48 48
Coal mining......................... 89.5 83.5 82.4 81.8 90 84 85 83 82 82
Oil and gas extraction.............. 332.6 289.7 290.8 292.4 329 285 285 285 286 290
Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels.. 112.2 113.3 112.8 112.1 109 109 110 109 109 109
Construction.......................... 6,295 6,620 6,555 6,554 6,042 6,258 6,270 6,246 6,274 6,302
General building contractors........ 1,422.5 1,496.6 1,473.4 1,472.6 1,389 1,430 1,432 1,426 1,437 1,439
Heavy construction, except building. 923.0 931.9 934.1 929.2 843 857 857 852 852 856
Special trade contractors........... 3,949.6 4,191.7 4,147.7 4,151.7 3,810 3,971 3,981 3,968 3,985 4,007
Manufacturing......................... 18,738 18,474 18,450 18,407 18,686 18,396 18,449 18,378 18,364 18,349
Production workers................ 12,901 12,687 12,696 12,669 12,849 12,623 12,691 12,622 12,617 12,610
Durable goods........................ 11,141 10,987 10,980 10,970 11,128 10,960 11,015 10,975 10,963 10,954
Production workers................ 7,618 7,504 7,515 7,511 7,605 7,487 7,549 7,513 7,503 7,497
Lumber and wood products............ 824.8 839.3 835.4 834.5 817 824 826 826 827 829
Furniture and fixtures.............. 532.7 542.5 541.8 544.6 532 538 546 543 543 545
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 573.0 579.4 577.7 575.6 566 568 571 568 569 567
Primary metal industries............ 705.6 686.7 685.7 685.8 705 687 692 688 685 686
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 228.2 222.3 221.1 221.3 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Fabricated metal products........... 1,499.4 1,482.0 1,487.1 1,490.6 1,498 1,485 1,493 1,484 1,485 1,487
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 2,179.6 2,114.4 2,114.7 2,106.7 2,188 2,128 2,131 2,122 2,120 2,114
Computer and office equipment..... 375.3 360.3 358.3 354.7 374 364 360 359 359 355
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 1,682.5 1,659.8 1,664.4 1,664.3 1,683 1,657 1,667 1,662 1,664 1,665
Electronic components and
accessories.................... 645.7 641.5 640.1 640.6 647 637 639 641 641 642
Transportation equipment............ 1,892.3 1,857.4 1,849.2 1,842.5 1,892 1,849 1,863 1,859 1,848 1,841
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 998.8 1,010.7 1,008.6 1,005.3 998 998 1,014 1,012 1,008 1,004
Aircraft and parts................ 523.4 481.0 476.9 471.8 523 491 488 483 477 471
Instruments and related products.... 858.1 837.6 833.1 830.1 859 837 840 836 834 830
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 392.8 388.2 391.0 395.0 388 387 386 387 388 390
Nondurable goods..................... 7,597 7,487 7,470 7,437 7,558 7,436 7,434 7,403 7,401 7,395
Production workers................ 5,283 5,183 5,181 5,158 5,244 5,136 5,142 5,109 5,114 5,113
Food and kindred products........... 1,712.6 1,735.0 1,733.7 1,706.0 1,685 1,680 1,681 1,666 1,675 1,676
Tobacco products.................... 42.4 36.2 39.0 39.7 40 39 39 36 38 38
Textile mill products............... 589.8 557.0 555.7 552.9 590 560 559 557 554 551
Apparel and other textile products.. 744.4 676.3 675.6 669.9 738 686 679 672 669 663
Paper and allied products........... 668.7 660.2 657.2 655.7 669 659 659 658 657 656
Printing and publishing............. 1,564.6 1,552.3 1,547.9 1,549.2 1,565 1,552 1,554 1,553 1,552 1,550
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,042.0 1,035.2 1,031.7 1,031.8 1,042 1,033 1,032 1,030 1,031 1,033
Petroleum and coal products......... 141.7 139.4 138.3 138.0 140 137 138 136 136 136
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 1,009.7 1,022.7 1,018.1 1,020.5 1,009 1,016 1,021 1,022 1,016 1,019
Leather and leather products........ 80.9 72.7 73.0 73.1 80 74 72 73 73 73
Service-producing....................... 101,906 103,125 103,903 104,701 101,261 103,263 103,569 103,797 103,823 104,116
Transportation and public utilities... 6,705 6,797 6,876 6,902 6,657 6,781 6,799 6,813 6,837 6,854
Transportation...................... 4,377 4,418 4,500 4,524 4,327 4,423 4,438 4,445 4,459 4,473
Railroad transportation........... 234.2 227.5 228.8 229.0 232 233 230 226 226 227
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................ 490.4 421.4 498.3 504.5 473 483 483 488 486 486
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,792.3 1,850.1 1,854.5 1,864.0 1,766 1,810 1,817 1,817 1,825 1,832
Water transportation.............. 185.7 190.2 186.6 184.2 183 181 182 182 183 184
Transportation by air............. 1,198.4 1,241.7 1,246.3 1,256.4 1,199 1,234 1,240 1,246 1,254 1,260
Pipelines, except natural gas..... 13.9 13.2 12.9 12.9 14 13 13 13 13 13
Transportation services........... 462.0 474.1 472.3 472.8 460 469 473 473 472 471
Communications and public utilities. 2,328 2,379 2,376 2,378 2,330 2,358 2,361 2,368 2,378 2,381
Communications.................... 1,479.5 1,530.3 1,532.7 1,539.6 1,480 1,513 1,519 1,525 1,533 1,541
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services....................... 848.3 848.9 843.6 838.3 850 845 842 843 845 840
Wholesale trade....................... 6,899 7,062 7,046 7,072 6,876 6,993 7,012 7,031 7,036 7,056
Durable goods....................... 4,068 4,184 4,162 4,179 4,068 4,139 4,154 4,169 4,167 4,185
Nondurable goods.................... 2,831 2,878 2,884 2,893 2,808 2,854 2,858 2,862 2,869 2,871
Retail trade.......................... 22,436 23,041 22,912 22,843 22,392 22,796 22,903 22,888 22,855 22,825
Building materials and garden
supplies......................... 955.8 1,008.7 989.6 992.0 957 982 986 988 987 998
General merchandise stores.......... 2,792.0 2,720.4 2,719.5 2,795.1 2,744 2,782 2,778 2,774 2,756 2,748
Department stores................. 2,486.7 2,423.2 2,422.6 2,490.1 2,441 2,482 2,476 2,468 2,453 2,447
Food stores......................... 3,490.0 3,499.4 3,465.7 3,469.0 3,485 3,479 3,478 3,484 3,474 3,461
Automotive dealers and service
stations......................... 2,366.0 2,437.6 2,427.7 2,426.4 2,356 2,403 2,407 2,409 2,413 2,419
New and used car dealers.......... 1,055.0 1,092.7 1,094.1 1,096.4 1,052 1,080 1,085 1,089 1,092 1,094
Apparel and accessory stores........ 1,137.3 1,193.6 1,176.0 1,188.8 1,144 1,178 1,192 1,191 1,189 1,193
Furniture and home furnishings
stores........................... 1,039.4 1,083.6 1,085.2 1,097.0 1,038 1,091 1,090 1,094 1,097 1,098
Eating and drinking places.......... 7,755.7 8,154.7 8,078.8 7,867.7 7,787 7,911 7,989 7,960 7,944 7,916
Miscellaneous retail establishments. 2,899.7 2,943.2 2,969.6 3,006.9 2,881 2,970 2,983 2,988 2,995 2,992
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 7,486 7,732 7,651 7,641 7,494 7,636 7,647 7,650 7,643 7,661
Finance............................. 3,634 3,736 3,704 3,704 3,642 3,709 3,715 3,716 3,712 3,717
Depository institutions........... 2,036.6 2,058.0 2,039.8 2,037.9 2,044 2,045 2,044 2,046 2,046 2,046
Commercial banks................ 1,460.8 1,473.2 1,459.2 1,457.2 1,466 1,463 1,462 1,464 1,464 1,464
Savings institutions............ 256.6 256.3 253.9 252.9 258 256 256 255 255 254
Nondepository institutions........ 682.3 720.9 712.1 704.1 684 721 721 719 713 706
Mortgage bankers and brokers.... 349.4 368.2 360.6 353.9 350 372 369 366 360 355
Security and commodity brokers.... 660.6 690.9 685.9 690.0 660 676 682 685 685 692
Holding and other investment
offices........................ 254.3 266.1 266.3 272.1 254 267 268 266 268 273
Insurance........................... 2,367 2,415 2,405 2,407 2,367 2,402 2,404 2,407 2,408 2,411
Insurance carriers................ 1,614.6 1,643.0 1,633.9 1,635.0 1,614 1,638 1,635 1,636 1,635 1,638
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................ 752.4 772.2 770.7 771.7 753 764 769 771 773 773
Real estate......................... 1,485 1,581 1,542 1,530 1,485 1,525 1,528 1,527 1,523 1,533
Services2............................. 38,168 39,491 39,403 39,683 37,929 38,952 39,055 39,205 39,245 39,460
Agricultural services............... 745.8 827.2 804.7 794.1 716 757 760 757 763 766
Hotels and other lodging places..... 1,783.0 1,951.8 1,858.8 1,815.6 1,784 1,797 1,807 1,813 1,812 1,812
Personal services................... 1,163.3 1,164.9 1,176.2 1,184.9 1,194 1,200 1,207 1,207 1,214 1,215
Business services................... 8,900.7 9,294.6 9,313.0 9,444.0 8,729 9,088 9,148 9,186 9,204 9,279
Services to buildings............. 961.2 1,006.1 1,005.4 1,004.9 959 984 992 998 1,001 1,005
Personnel supply services......... 3,400.4 3,506.3 3,516.2 3,613.7 3,254 3,387 3,422 3,418 3,435 3,474
Help supply services............ 3,033.4 3,112.1 3,118.4 3,205.5 2,891 3,000 3,025 3,024 3,034 3,079
Computer and data processing
services....................... 1,656.0 1,806.4 1,804.7 1,809.8 1,658 1,781 1,794 1,806 1,812 1,817
Auto repair, services, and parking.. 1,155.9 1,192.6 1,191.4 1,197.3 1,155 1,184 1,185 1,185 1,189 1,198
Miscellaneous repair services....... 387.8 400.3 397.6 401.2 386 395 395 396 396 400
Motion pictures..................... 566.6 620.7 607.5 609.9 577 611 609 608 614 622
Amusement and recreation services... 1,569.3 1,982.4 1,809.2 1,669.2 1,626 1,695 1,694 1,712 1,712 1,735
Health services..................... 9,886.3 10008.9 9,989.1 10015.7 9,883 9,964 9,975 9,993 9,996 10,015
Offices and clinics of medical
doctors........................ 1,826.1 1,880.7 1,871.9 1,876.9 1,825 1,864 1,868 1,874 1,873 1,877
Nursing and personal care
facilities..................... 1,759.8 1,760.3 1,756.0 1,757.9 1,759 1,755 1,754 1,755 1,754 1,757
Hospitals......................... 3,947.8 3,980.3 3,971.3 3,982.7 3,948 3,969 3,968 3,973 3,974 3,982
Home health care services......... 657.7 654.9 655.9 660.0 654 653 655 658 656 658
Legal services...................... 980.8 1,010.9 1,001.3 1,005.7 985 1,002 1,000 1,004 1,006 1,009
Educational services................ 2,353.6 1,963.7 2,234.5 2,465.1 2,206 2,272 2,278 2,288 2,287 2,310
Social services..................... 2,689.9 2,757.7 2,794.7 2,819.1 2,682 2,778 2,763 2,799 2,795 2,810
Child day care services........... 626.5 579.8 633.2 642.7 612 633 632 631 624 625
Residential care.................. 754.4 789.0 784.8 789.7 757 777 781 785 787 793
Museums and botanical and zoological
gardens........................... 93.7 101.4 94.1 95.3 93 94 94 95 93 94
Membership organizations............ 2,360.8 2,449.7 2,388.2 2,400.1 2,374 2,409 2,403 2,409 2,410 2,414
Engineering and management services. 3,239.2 3,469.5 3,447.4 3,469.9 3,248 3,411 3,441 3,458 3,458 3,485
Engineering and architectural
services....................... 916.2 962.5 949.6 956.4 915 942 948 948 946 955
Management and public relations... 1,069.5 1,183.7 1,180.9 1,189.5 1,068 1,153 1,165 1,178 1,174 1,190
Services, nec....................... 53.4 57.6 57.5 58.3 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Government............................ 20,212 19,002 20,015 20,560 19,913 20,105 20,153 20,210 20,207 20,260
Federal............................. 2,694 2,657 2,647 2,642 2,711 2,664 2,656 2,651 2,655 2,655
Federal, except Postal Service.... 1,822.8 1,794.7 1,785.1 1,775.4 1,833 1,789 1,779 1,779 1,784 1,787
State............................... 4,749 4,449 4,686 4,845 4,633 4,675 4,682 4,706 4,718 4,725
Education......................... 2,051.2 1,671.6 1,924.0 2,098.0 1,923 1,934 1,947 1,965 1,965 1,968
Other State government............ 2,697.5 2,777.1 2,761.6 2,746.7 2,710 2,741 2,735 2,741 2,753 2,757
Local............................... 12,769 11,896 12,682 13,073 12,569 12,766 12,815 12,853 12,834 12,880
Education......................... 7,374.3 6,123.7 7,147.4 7,575.3 7,108 7,239 7,268 7,308 7,296 7,317
Other local government............ 5,394.3 5,772.1 5,534.9 5,497.8 5,461 5,527 5,547 5,545 5,538 5,563
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.
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.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... 34.6 35.1 34.3 34.6 34.6 34.5 34.5 34.5 34.4 34.6
Goods-producing......................... 41.4 41.3 40.9 41.4 41.1 41.2 41.2 41.1 41.2 41.0
Mining................................ 44.0 44.5 44.4 44.4 43.7 44.0 45.1 44.2 44.4 43.7
Construction.......................... 40.0 40.0 38.6 39.9 39.2 39.4 38.9 39.0 39.4 38.9
Manufacturing......................... 41.9 41.8 41.7 41.9 41.7 41.7 41.9 41.8 41.8 41.7
Overtime hours.................... 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.5 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.6
Durable goods........................ 42.5 42.3 42.1 42.3 42.3 42.3 42.5 42.4 42.5 42.2
Overtime hours.................... 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.9 5.0 4.8
Lumber and wood products............ 41.5 41.7 40.8 41.3 41.1 41.1 41.1 41.3 40.9 41.0
Furniture and fixtures.............. 40.9 40.7 40.5 40.3 40.5 40.4 40.6 40.3 40.9 39.9
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 44.1 44.1 43.9 43.9 43.6 43.4 43.6 43.6 43.5 43.2
Primary metal industries............ 43.6 44.1 44.3 44.4 43.7 44.3 44.5 44.4 44.6 44.4
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 43.2 44.9 44.7 45.1 43.7 45.2 45.2 45.1 44.7 45.3
Fabricated metal products........... 42.6 42.3 41.9 42.4 42.3 42.1 42.3 42.4 42.6 42.1
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 42.4 42.0 41.7 42.0 42.6 42.0 42.4 42.4 42.6 42.2
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 41.5 41.6 41.2 41.6 41.5 41.5 41.7 41.7 41.6 41.4
Transportation equipment............ 44.2 43.7 44.0 43.7 43.9 44.2 44.4 44.0 44.2 43.5
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 44.5 44.7 45.6 44.7 44.1 45.4 46.0 45.2 45.9 44.5
Instruments and related products.... 41.1 41.4 41.2 41.6 41.2 41.5 41.7 41.6 41.8 41.7
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 40.2 40.0 39.7 40.3 39.7 40.0 40.1 40.1 40.0 39.9
Nondurable goods..................... 41.1 41.0 41.0 41.2 40.9 41.0 41.1 40.9 40.8 40.9
Overtime hours.................... 4.5 4.6 4.8 4.7 4.3 4.5 4.5 4.4 4.4 4.5
Food and kindred products........... 42.0 41.9 42.1 42.1 41.6 41.8 42.0 41.6 41.5 41.7
Tobacco products.................... 39.1 40.1 39.2 40.9 38.5 39.1 41.1 40.0 39.3 39.4
Textile mill products............... 41.1 41.1 40.7 41.1 41.1 40.6 41.3 40.9 40.6 41.0
Apparel and other textile products.. 37.6 37.5 36.7 37.8 37.3 37.7 37.5 37.3 37.2 37.6
Paper and allied products........... 43.6 43.4 43.8 44.0 43.5 43.5 43.5 43.7 43.4 43.8
Printing and publishing............. 38.4 38.4 38.6 38.5 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.3 38.2 38.3
Chemicals and allied products....... 43.2 43.1 43.2 43.0 43.2 43.0 43.1 43.3 43.2 42.9
Petroleum and coal products......... 44.0 42.6 42.9 43.5 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 41.8 41.4 41.5 41.6 41.8 41.8 41.7 41.6 41.8 41.5
Leather and leather products........ 37.6 38.6 37.7 37.5 37.4 37.9 37.9 38.2 37.6 37.1
Service-producing....................... 32.8 33.5 32.6 32.8 32.9 32.8 32.9 32.9 32.7 33.0
Transportation and public utilities... 39.3 39.4 38.5 38.5 39.3 38.9 38.7 38.9 38.5 38.5
Wholesale trade....................... 38.3 38.7 38.3 38.6 38.3 38.4 38.4 38.4 38.4 38.6
Retail trade.......................... 28.9 29.9 28.8 28.9 29.1 29.1 29.1 29.0 28.7 29.1
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 36.1 36.9 36.1 36.2 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Services.............................. 32.6 33.2 32.3 32.7 32.7 32.6 32.6 32.7 32.6 32.8
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.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... $12.93 $13.20 $13.38 $13.40 $447.38 $463.32 $458.93 $463.64
Seasonally adjusted............. 12.91 13.29 13.36 13.37 446.69 458.51 459.58 462.60
Goods-producing......................... 14.51 14.93 15.07 15.05 600.71 616.61 616.36 623.07
Mining................................ 17.07 17.01 17.11 16.88 751.08 756.95 759.68 749.47
Construction.......................... 16.89 17.26 17.42 17.51 675.60 690.40 672.41 698.65
Manufacturing......................... 13.55 13.95 14.13 14.04 567.75 583.11 589.22 588.28
Durable goods........................ 14.02 14.47 14.64 14.55 595.85 612.08 616.34 615.47
Lumber and wood products............ 11.22 11.53 11.56 11.59 465.63 480.80 471.65 478.67
Furniture and fixtures.............. 10.99 11.28 11.36 11.37 449.49 459.10 460.08 458.21
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 13.68 13.97 14.15 14.04 603.29 616.08 621.19 616.36
Primary metal industries............ 15.32 15.99 16.22 16.04 667.95 705.16 718.55 712.18
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 18.22 18.99 19.07 18.88 787.10 852.65 852.43 851.49
Fabricated metal products........... 13.17 13.50 13.62 13.53 561.04 571.05 570.68 573.67
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 14.57 15.13 15.25 15.23 617.77 635.46 635.93 639.66
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 13.13 13.51 13.65 13.60 544.90 562.02 562.38 565.76
Transportation equipment............ 17.46 18.23 18.57 18.36 771.73 796.65 817.08 802.33
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 17.63 18.61 19.05 18.74 784.54 831.87 868.68 837.68
Instruments and related products.... 13.86 14.28 14.34 14.41 569.65 591.19 590.81 599.46
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 11.02 11.34 11.46 11.47 443.00 453.60 454.96 462.24
Nondurable goods..................... 12.84 13.18 13.36 13.28 527.72 540.38 547.76 547.14
Food and kindred products........... 11.82 12.08 12.20 12.11 496.44 506.15 513.62 509.83
Tobacco products.................... 16.95 20.99 19.16 18.84 662.75 841.70 751.07 770.56
Textile mill products............... 10.45 10.72 10.78 10.74 429.50 440.59 438.75 441.41
Apparel and other textile products.. 8.65 8.88 9.01 9.00 325.24 333.00 330.67 340.20
Paper and allied products........... 15.60 15.98 16.28 16.09 680.16 693.53 713.06 707.96
Printing and publishing............. 13.61 13.82 13.97 13.99 522.62 530.69 539.24 538.62
Chemicals and allied products....... 17.21 17.51 17.84 17.74 743.47 754.68 770.69 762.82
Petroleum and coal products......... 21.06 21.29 21.77 21.61 926.64 906.95 933.93 940.04
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 11.88 12.32 12.47 12.38 496.58 510.05 517.51 515.01
Leather and leather products........ 9.45 9.77 9.87 9.87 355.32 377.12 372.10 370.13
Service-producing....................... 12.41 12.65 12.83 12.87 407.05 423.78 418.26 422.14
Transportation and public utilities... 15.39 15.67 15.77 15.73 604.83 617.40 607.15 605.61
Wholesale trade....................... 14.19 14.65 14.72 14.77 543.48 566.96 563.78 570.12
Retail trade.......................... 8.84 9.04 9.18 9.19 255.48 270.30 264.38 265.59
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 14.20 14.61 14.62 14.69 512.62 539.11 527.78 531.78
Services.............................. 13.01 13.25 13.48 13.52 424.13 439.90 435.40 442.10
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 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p from:
Sept. 1999-
Oct. 1999
Total private:
Current dollars.............. $12.91 $13.24 $13.28 $13.29 $13.36 $13.37 0.1
Constant (1982) dollars2..... 7.80 7.89 7.88 7.87 7.86 N.A. (3)
Goods-producing............... 14.44 14.85 14.90 14.90 14.97 14.98 .1
Mining...................... 17.15 16.96 17.23 17.12 17.16 16.98 -1.0
Construction................ 16.72 17.16 17.18 17.15 17.21 17.31 .6
Manufacturing............... 13.57 13.95 14.02 14.03 14.09 14.08 -.1
Excluding overtime4....... 12.87 13.20 13.26 13.28 13.31 13.35 .3
Service-producing............. 12.41 12.73 12.77 12.79 12.85 12.87 .2
Transportation and public
utilities................ 15.38 15.65 15.70 15.70 15.77 15.72 -.3
Wholesale trade............. 14.23 14.56 14.61 14.63 14.74 14.81 .5
Retail trade................ 8.83 9.06 9.10 9.13 9.16 9.16 .0
Finance, insurance, and real
estate................... 14.23 14.62 14.68 14.63 14.68 14.72 .3
Services.................... 13.02 13.38 13.42 13.44 13.49 13.53 .3
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 -.1 percent from August 1999 to September 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.
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.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... 147.0 152.3 148.2 149.9 146.0 147.8 148.3 148.4 148.0 149.0
Goods-producing......................... 118.1 117.8 116.1 117.3 115.2 114.6 115.1 114.3 114.8 114.1
Mining................................ 55.7 51.3 51.4 51.4 54.6 49.7 50.9 49.8 50.5 50.0
Construction.......................... 179.1 187.6 179.1 185.1 166.4 172.8 170.7 170.3 172.8 171.3
Manufacturing......................... 109.0 106.9 106.6 107.0 108.1 106.3 107.3 106.4 106.5 105.9
Durable goods........................ 112.9 110.9 110.4 110.9 112.3 110.4 111.9 111.2 111.3 110.2
Lumber and wood products............ 148.6 152.0 148.1 149.4 145.6 146.9 147.3 147.6 146.6 147.0
Furniture and fixtures.............. 136.2 138.2 137.2 137.2 134.6 136.2 138.8 137.5 138.9 136.1
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 119.9 120.8 120.2 119.5 116.5 116.8 118.1 116.8 117.0 115.2
Primary metal industries............ 91.3 89.6 89.8 90.2 91.4 89.8 91.1 90.4 90.3 90.2
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 68.2 69.6 68.9 69.9 69.0 69.4 69.8 70.0 69.0 70.3
Fabricated metal products........... 119.4 116.8 116.2 118.1 118.4 116.6 118.2 117.4 118.0 116.8
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 107.6 102.6 102.1 102.7 108.6 104.0 105.3 104.4 104.6 103.6
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 108.2 106.4 106.0 106.9 108.1 105.9 108.0 107.2 107.1 106.4
Transportation equipment............ 128.4 124.8 125.4 123.7 127.8 125.0 127.1 126.6 126.1 123.5
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 163.3 166.5 169.9 165.5 161.8 165.9 172.1 169.9 171.7 165.0
Instruments and related products.... 75.4 75.0 74.7 75.5 75.7 75.2 76.0 75.4 76.0 75.8
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 103.4 101.2 101.7 104.8 100.5 100.9 101.1 101.1 101.6 101.8
Nondurable goods..................... 103.7 101.5 101.5 101.5 102.4 100.5 100.9 99.9 99.8 100.0
Food and kindred products........... 121.1 123.3 123.7 121.4 117.4 117.9 119.1 116.2 116.9 117.5
Tobacco products.................... 65.1 50.7 54.3 59.5 59.1 56.2 59.0 49.5 50.6 52.7
Textile mill products............... 85.1 80.5 79.5 80.1 85.2 79.8 81.3 80.0 79.3 79.4
Apparel and other textile products.. 65.9 59.1 57.8 59.0 64.7 60.4 59.3 58.6 57.9 58.0
Paper and allied products........... 108.2 105.7 106.3 106.8 108.0 106.0 106.0 105.9 105.4 106.1
Printing and publishing............. 124.8 122.4 122.5 122.8 124.3 122.3 122.4 122.1 121.5 122.1
Chemicals and allied products....... 103.3 102.2 102.8 102.8 103.3 101.9 102.1 102.3 102.9 102.4
Petroleum and coal products......... 79.1 74.9 75.2 75.4 76.3 72.9 74.4 72.5 73.6 73.3
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 148.4 148.6 148.8 150.1 148.1 148.6 149.6 149.4 149.4 149.2
Leather and leather products........ 34.9 32.2 31.4 31.1 34.5 32.0 30.9 31.7 31.2 30.8
Service-producing....................... 160.0 167.8 162.7 164.5 159.8 162.7 163.2 163.7 163.0 164.6
Transportation and public utilities... 134.1 135.3 134.0 134.3 132.9 133.7 133.2 134.1 133.2 133.3
Wholesale trade....................... 130.1 134.5 132.4 133.6 129.3 132.0 132.3 132.5 132.5 133.3
Retail trade.......................... 140.0 149.2 142.8 143.3 140.8 143.6 144.4 143.8 141.9 143.9
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 136.8 144.7 139.1 139.1 138.1 139.4 141.2 140.7 140.4 141.0
Services.............................. 197.4 207.0 201.1 204.9 196.6 200.7 201.1 202.4 202.3 204.7
1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
p = preliminary.
ESTABLISHMENT DATA ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-6. Diffusion indexes of employment change, seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
Time span Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Private nonfarm payrolls, 356 industries1
Over 1-month span:
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 58.8 51.5 57.0 57.6 50.0 p52.4 p56.2
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 59.6 54.6 56.3 56.2 56.2 p56.0 p55.2
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.............. 61.1 58.8 57.3 59.0 55.2 p54.8 p55.8
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 59.0 59.3 58.6
1999.............. 60.1 57.3 p57.3 p56.9
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 44.6 36.3 45.3 57.2 38.5 p42.8 p45.3
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 37.1 30.2 33.8 43.9 43.2 p43.5 p36.3
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.............. 33.1 29.1 28.1 36.0 30.9 p34.2 p34.9
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 26.6 25.5 26.3
1999.............. 32.7 25.9 p27.3 p27.7
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: January 07, 2000
URL: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/empsit_1099.htm
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