Technical information: USDL 00-06
Household data: (202) 691-6378
Transmission of material in this release is
Establishment data: 691-6555 embargoed until 8:30 A.M. (EST),
Media contact: 691-5902 Friday, January 7, 2000.
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: DECEMBER 1999
Employment rose in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at
4.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 315,000. Job
growth occurred throughout the service-producing sector and in
construction, while manufacturing employment was little changed. Average
hourly earnings rose by 6 cents in December following a rise of 1 cent in
November and have increased by 3.7 percent over the year.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 5.7
million in December, and the unemployment rate was 4.1 percent for the
third consecutive month. The jobless rate moved downward in 1999; the
fourth quarter average of 4.1 percent was down from 4.4 percent in the
fourth quarter of 1998. Unemployment rates for all the major worker
groups--adult men (3.3 percent), adult women (3.6 percent), teenagers (13.8
percent), whites (3.5 percent), blacks (7.9 percent), and Hispanics (5.9
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 number of persons in the civilian labor force, 140.1 million, was
little changed in December, as was the labor force participation rate, at
67.1 percent. Total employment rose to 134.4 million. The employment-
population ratio--the proportion of the population age 16 and older with
jobs--was 64.4 percent in December, matching its all-time high first reached
in January 1999. (See table A-1.)
About 8.0 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in December. These multiple jobholders represented 6.0 percent of the
total employed, compared with 6.2 percent in December 1998. (See table A-10.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
The number of persons who were marginally attached to the labor force
in December totaled 1.1 million (not seasonally adjusted). These people
wanted and were available to work and had looked for a job sometime in the
prior 12 months. They are not counted as unemployed because they had not
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| Seasonally adjusted household survey data have been revised to |
|incorporate updated seasonal adjustment factors that reflect the |
|1999 experience; data back to January 1995 were subject to revision.|
|The unemployment rates for January-December 1999, as originally |
|published and as revised, appear on page 5, along with additional |
|information on the revisions. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
| Quarterly | Monthly data |
| averages | |
|_________________|__________________________| Nov.-
Category | 1999 | 1999 | Dec.
|_________________|__________________________|change
| III | IV | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA | Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 139,394| 139,880| 139,697| 139,834| 140,108| 274
Employment..........| 133,526| 134,153| 133,940| 134,098| 134,420| 322
Unemployment........| 5,868| 5,727| 5,757| 5,736| 5,688| -48
Not in labor force....| 68,650| 68,780| 68,786| 68,832| 68,724| -108
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........| 4.2| 4.1| 4.1| 4.1| 4.1| .0
Adult men...........| 3.5| 3.4| 3.5| 3.3| 3.3| .0
Adult women.........| 3.8| 3.6| 3.5| 3.6| 3.6| .0
Teenagers...........| 13.8| 13.8| 13.8| 14.0| 13.8| -0.2
White...............| 3.7| 3.5| 3.5| 3.5| 3.5| .0
Black...............| 8.2| 8.1| 8.3| 8.0| 7.9| -.1
Hispanic origin.....| 6.4| 6.1| 6.3| 6.1| 5.9| -.2
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA | Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 128,936|p129,585| 129,332|p129,554|p129,869| p315
Goods-producing 1/..| 25,194| p25,245| 25,198| p25,260| p25,277| p17
Construction......| 6,270| p6,356| 6,314| p6,369| p6,385| p16
Manufacturing.....| 18,398| p18,361| 18,356| p18,364| p18,363| p-1
Service-producing 1/| 103,743|p104,340| 104,134|p104,294|p104,592| p298
Retail trade......| 22,884| p22,910| 22,891| p22,887| p22,952| p65
Services..........| 39,172| p39,544| 39,433| p39,545| p39,654| p109
Government........| 20,194| p20,272| 20,237| p20,258| p20,322| p64
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Hours of work 2/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 34.5| p34.5| 34.5| p34.5| p34.5| p.0
Manufacturing.......| 41.8| p41.7| 41.8| p41.7| p41.7| p.0
Overtime..........| 4.7| p4.7| 4.7| p4.6| p4.7| p0.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (1982=100) 2/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........| 148.3| p149.1| 148.8| p149.2| p149.3| p0.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
| Earnings 2/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| $13.31| p$13.42| $13.39| p$13.40| p$13.46| p$0.06
Avg. weekly earnings, | | | | | |
total private.......| 458.64| p462.88| 461.96| p462.30| p464.37| p2.07
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
2/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.
NOTE: Seasonally adjusted household data have been revised. See note
on page 5.
- 3 -
searched for employment in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. The number of
discouraged workers was 267,000 in December. These people, a subset of the
marginally attached, were not currently looking for work specifically
because they believed no jobs were available for them. (See table A-10.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 315,000 in December to 129.9
million, after seasonal adjustment. Job growth in 1999 totaled 2.7 million
or 2.1 percent; this compares to a 2.4 percent gain in 1998. Private-
sector payroll employment rose by 251,000 over the month. (See table B-1.)
The services industry added 109,000 jobs in December. Employment in
business services rose by 77,000 over the month, with job gains in
personnel supply services (27,000) and computer and data processing
services (13,000). Engineering and management services added 23,000 jobs.
Both business services and engineering and management services had much
smaller increases in November. Health services employment grew by 16,000
in December, the second consecutive month with an above-average increase
for the industry. Employment in two services industries that tend to
experience large seasonal fluctuations in demand--agricultural services and
amusements and recreation--declined in December.
Employment in retail trade rose by 65,000 in December. Over the year,
retail employment increased by 427,000, or 1.9 percent, slightly above the
1.7 percent gain in 1998. In December, job gains were concentrated in
general merchandise stores (34,000) and eating and drinking places
(27,000). December's job gain in general merchandise stores was the first
increase since April 1999. Employment in eating and drinking places
fluctuated in 1999 but remained on an upward trend. Wholesale trade
employment increased by 16,000 in December, in line with its average for
the prior 12 months. Growth in the industry was concentrated in durable
goods distribution.
Transportation and public utilities added 32,000 jobs in December,
twice the average for the prior 12 months. Within transportation, air
transportation, which moves packages as well as passengers, added 14,000
jobs, and trucking and warehousing added 9,000.
Finance, insurance, and real estate added 12,000 jobs in December,
mostly in finance. Within finance, employment in security and commodity
brokerages grew by 5,000. Employment in real estate was little changed in
December, following gains over the previous 2 months totaling 14,000.
Employment in government rose by 64,000 in December, after seasonal
adjustment. Much of the gain was in local government education, where
there had been little net change over the prior 3 months.
In the goods-producing sector, construction employment rose by 16,000
in December, following a much larger gain in November. Most of the
December increase was in heavy construction.
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In December, for the second straight month, manufacturing employment
was little changed. Over the year, manufacturing lost 248,000 jobs, with
most of the decline occurring during the first half of the year. In
durable goods, aircraft manufacturing continued to lose jobs. The December
loss was offset by small gains in other durable goods industries, including
electronic components, where employment increased by 2,000 over the month
and by 10,000 since its most recent low in April. Fabricated metals also
added 2,000 jobs in December; since its most recent low point in August,
this industry has added 6,000 jobs. Within nondurable goods industries,
apparel and textiles continued their long-term employment declines, with
job losses in 1999 that totaled 66,000 and 32,000, respectively.
Within mining, employment in oil and gas extraction continued to trend
upward. The industry has added 6,000 jobs since August; this follows heavy
losses through most of 1998 and the first half of 1999.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged in December at 34.5 hours,
seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing workweek also was unchanged at
41.7 hours; manufacturing overtime was up by 0.1 hour to 4.7 hours.
(See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 0.1 percent to 149.3
(1982=100), seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index edged down by
0.1 percent in December to 106.0. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls increased by 6 cents in December to $13.46,
seasonally adjusted. This follows a gain of 1 cent in November. Hourly
earnings rose by 11 cents in each of the last 2 quarters of 1999, following
gains of 13 cents in each of the first 2 quarters of the year. Over the
month, average weekly earnings rose by 0.4 percent to $464.37, seasonally
adjusted. Over the year, average hourly earnings rose by 3.7 percent, and
average weekly earnings increased by 3.4 percent. (See table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for January 2000 is scheduled to be released
on Friday, February 4, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
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Revision of Seasonally Adjusted Household Survey Data
At the end of each calendar year, BLS routinely updates the seasonal
adjustment factors for the labor force series derived from the Current
Population Survey (also referred to as the household survey) to incorporate
the experience of that year. This year, seasonally adjusted data for
January 1995-December 1999 were subject to revision. (Seasonally adjusted
establishment data will be revised in June, concurrent with the
introduction of annual benchmark adjustments.)
Table B summarizes the effects of the revisions on the overall
unemployment rate since January 1999. The rate was revised in only 1
month, by 0.1 percentage point. Revised seasonally adjusted data for major
labor force series since December 1998 appear in table C.
The January 2000 issue of Employment and Earnings will contain the new
seasonal adjustment factors for major series for the January-June 2000
period. The publication also will contain a description of the current
seasonal adjustment methodology and revised data for the most recent 13
months or quarters for all regularly published tables containing seasonally
adjusted household survey data. Historical data for the household series
contained in the "A" tables of this release also can be accessed on the BLS
Internet site at (http://stats.bls.gov/cpsatabs.htm). Revised historical
seasonally adjusted monthly and quarterly data also are available on the
Internet from the ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/lf directory.
Table B. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates and changes due to
revision, January-December 1999
----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |
Month and year | As first | As | Change
| Computed | revised |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
| | |
1999 | | |
| | |
January.................| 4.3 | 4.3 | .0
February................| 4.4 | 4.4 | .0
March...................| 4.2 | 4.2 | .0
April...................| 4.3 | 4.3 | .0
May.....................| 4.2 | 4.2 | .0
June....................| 4.3 | 4.3 | .0
July....................| 4.3 | 4.3 | .0
August..................| 4.2 | 4.2 | .0
September...............| 4.2 | 4.2 | .0
October.................| 4.1 | 4.1 | .0
November................| 4.1 | 4.1 | .0
December................| 1/ 4.0 | 4.1 | 0.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Not published.
Planned Changes in the Household Survey Data
Effective with the release of data for January 2000, revisions will be
introduced into the population controls used for the household survey. The
changes will result in a downward shift in the estimated total civilian
noninstitutional population 16 years and over for January 2000. The
changes will subtract approximately 193,000 from the previously estimated
population trend growth between December 1999 and January 2000. The impact
will vary for subpopulations such as men (-67,000), women (-127,000),
Hispanic (-23,000) and non-Hispanic (-171,000). The effect of the change
on labor force estimates will be described in the Employment Situation news
release for January scheduled for February 4, 2000.
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HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table C. Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age
(Numbers in thousands)
1998 1999
Employment status, sex, and
age
Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional
population(1).......... 206,270 206,719 206,873 207,036 207,236 207,427 207,632 207,828 208,038 208,265 208,483 208,666 208,832
Civilian labor force.... 138,545 139,232 139,137 138,804 139,086 139,013 139,332 139,336 139,372 139,475 139,697 139,834 140,108
Participation rate.. 67.2 67.4 67.3 67.0 67.1 67.0 67.1 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.1
Employed.............. 132,517 133,225 133,029 132,976 133,054 133,190 133,398 133,399 133,530 133,650 133,940 134,098 134,420
Employment-popula-
tion ratio.... 64.2 64.4 64.3 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.3 64.4
Unemployed............ 6,028 6,007 6,108 5,828 6,032 5,823 5,934 5,937 5,842 5,825 5,757 5,736 5,688
Unemployment rate. 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional
population(1).......... 91,220 91,124 91,189 91,215 91,302 91,368 91,487 91,561 91,692 91,793 91,896 91,986 92,052
Civilian labor force.... 70,044 70,202 70,111 69,934 69,992 69,978 70,116 70,167 70,240 70,328 70,339 70,388 70,529
Participation rate.. 76.8 77.0 76.9 76.7 76.7 76.6 76.6 76.6 76.6 76.6 76.5 76.5 76.6
Employed.............. 67,528 67,771 67,527 67,628 67,562 67,470 67,645 67,703 67,768 67,943 67,898 68,037 68,197
Employment-popula-
tion ratio.... 74.0 74.4 74.1 74.1 74.0 73.8 73.9 73.9 73.9 74.0 73.9 74.0 74.1
Agriculture......... 2,254 2,304 2,231 2,239 2,305 2,224 2,246 2,256 2,237 2,189 2,206 2,262 2,227
Nonagricultural
industries...... 65,274 65,467 65,296 65,389 65,257 65,246 65,399 65,447 65,531 65,754 65,692 65,775 65,970
Unemployed............ 2,516 2,431 2,584 2,306 2,430 2,508 2,471 2,464 2,472 2,385 2,441 2,351 2,332
Unemployment rate. 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.3 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.3
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional
population(1).......... 99,181 99,686 99,746 99,833 99,923 100,008 100,131 100,203 100,285 100,385 100,458 100,573 100,666
Civilian labor force.... 60,118 60,691 60,591 60,554 60,765 60,708 60,988 60,852 60,904 60,860 60,955 61,052 61,154
Participation rate.. 60.6 60.9 60.7 60.7 60.8 60.7 60.9 60.7 60.7 60.6 60.7 60.7 60.7
Employed.............. 57,776 58,373 58,261 58,216 58,336 58,483 58,647 58,477 58,648 58,630 58,800 58,838 58,958
Employment-popula-
tion ratio.... 58.3 58.6 58.4 58.3 58.4 58.5 58.6 58.4 58.5 58.4 58.5 58.5 58.6
Agriculture......... 767 802 822 821 803 820 851 798 780 778 800 768 791
Nonagricultural
industries...... 57,009 57,571 57,439 57,395 57,533 57,663 57,796 57,679 57,868 57,852 58,000 58,070 58,167
Unemployed............ 2,342 2,318 2,330 2,338 2,429 2,225 2,341 2,375 2,256 2,230 2,155 2,214 2,196
Unemployment rate. 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.6
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional
population(1).......... 15,868 15,909 15,939 15,988 16,011 16,051 16,014 16,065 16,061 16,086 16,129 16,107 16,114
Civilian labor force.... 8,383 8,339 8,435 8,316 8,329 8,327 8,228 8,317 8,228 8,287 8,403 8,394 8,425
Participation rate.. 52.8 52.4 52.9 52.0 52.0 51.9 51.4 51.8 51.2 51.5 52.1 52.1 52.3
Employed.............. 7,213 7,081 7,241 7,132 7,156 7,237 7,106 7,219 7,114 7,077 7,242 7,223 7,265
Employment-popula-
tion ratio.... 45.5 44.5 45.4 44.6 44.7 45.1 44.4 44.9 44.3 44.0 44.9 44.8 45.1
Agriculture......... 220 191 275 230 233 246 233 224 217 212 232 280 261
Nonagricultural
industries...... 6,993 6,890 6,966 6,902 6,923 6,991 6,873 6,995 6,897 6,865 7,010 6,943 7,004
Unemployed............ 1,170 1,258 1,194 1,184 1,173 1,090 1,122 1,098 1,114 1,210 1,161 1,171 1,160
Unemployment rate. 14.0 15.1 14.2 14.2 14.1 13.1 13.6 13.2 13.5 14.6 13.8 14.0 13.8
1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Seasonally adjusted
data have been revised based on the experience through December 1999.
- 5 -
Explanatory Note
This news release presents statistics from two major surveys, the Current
Population Survey (household survey) and the Current Employment Statistics
survey (establishment survey). The household survey provides the
information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment that appears
in the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample survey of about
50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the employment,
hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B
tables, marked ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected from
payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies. In June 1999,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing about 48 million
people.
For both surveys, the data for a given month relate to a particular week
or pay period. In the household survey, the reference week is generally
the calendar week that contains the 12th day of the month. In the
establishment survey, the reference period is the pay period including the
12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.
Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of
questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over
in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the
labor force.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours
in a family business or farm. People are also counted as employed if they
were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather,
vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.
People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following
criteria: They had no employment during the reference week; they were
available for work at that time; and they made specific efforts to find
employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference
week. Persons laid off from a job and expecting recall need not be
looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The unemployment data
derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the eligibility for
or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
The civilian labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed
persons. Those not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the
labor force. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a percent
of the labor force. The labor force participation rate is the labor force
as a percent of the population, and the employment-population ratio is the
employed as a percent of the population.
Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
Federal, State, and local government entities. Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave. Persons are counted in each job
they hold. Hours and earnings data are for private businesses and relate
only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-producing sector.
- 6 -
Differences in employment estimates. The numerous conceptual and
methodological differences between the household and establishment surveys
result in important distinctions in the employment estimates derived from
the surveys. Among these are:
--The household survey includes agricultural workers, the self-employed,
unpaid family workers, and private household workers among the employed.
These groups are excluded from the establishment survey.
--The household survey includes people on unpaid leave among the
employed. The establishment survey does not.
--The household survey is limited to workers 16 years of age and older.
The establishment survey is not limited by age.
--The household survey has no duplication of individuals, because
individuals are counted only once, even if they hold more than one job. In
the establishment survey, employees working at more than one job and thus
appearing on more than one payroll would be counted separately for each
appearance.
Other differences between the two surveys are described in "Comparing
Employment Estimates from Household and Payroll Surveys," which may be
obtained from BLS upon request.
Seasonal adjustment
Over the course of a year, the size of the nation's labor force and the
levels of employment and unemployment undergo sharp fluctuations due to
such seasonal events as changes in weather, reduced or expanded production,
harvests, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools. The
effect of such seasonal variation can be very large; seasonal
fluctuations may account for as much as 95 percent of the month-to-month
changes in unemployment.
Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each
year, their influence on statistical trends can be eliminated by adjusting
the statistics from month to month. These adjustments make nonseasonal
developments, such as declines in economic activity or increases in the
participation of women in the labor force, easier to spot. For example,
the large number of youth entering the labor force each June is likely to
obscure any other changes that have taken place relative to May, making it
difficult to determine if the level of economic activity has risen or
declined. However, because the effect of students finishing school in
previous years is known, the statistics for the current year can be
adjusted to allow for a comparable change. Insofar as the seasonal
adjustment is made correctly, the adjusted figure provides a more useful
tool with which to analyze changes in economic activity.
In both the household and establishment surveys, most seasonally adjusted
series are independently adjusted. However, the adjusted series for many
major estimates, such as total payroll employment, employment in most major
industry divisions, total employment, and unemployment are computed by
aggregating independently adjusted component series. For example, total
unemployment is derived by summing the adjusted series for four major age-
sex components; this differs from the unemployment estimate that would be
obtained by directly adjusting the total or by combining the duration,
reasons, or more detailed age categories.
The numerical factors used to make the seasonal adjustments are
recalculated twice a year. For the household survey, the factors are
calculated for the January-June period and again for the July-December
- 7 -
period. For the establishment survey, updated factors for seasonal
adjustment are calculated for the May-October period and introduced along
with new benchmarks, and again for the November-April period. In both
surveys, revisions to historical data are made once a year.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the household and establishment surveys are subject
to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the
entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates
may differ from the "true" population values they represent. The exact
difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample
selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the
estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that
an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard
errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error. BLS
analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
For example, the confidence interval for the monthly change in total
employment from the household survey is on the order of plus or minus
376,000. Suppose the estimate of total employment increases by 100,000
from one month to the next. The 90-percent confidence interval on the
monthly change would range from -276,000 to 476,000 (100,000 +/- 376,000).
These figures do not mean that the sample results are off by these
magnitudes, but rather that there is about a 90-percent chance that the
"true" over-the-month change lies within this interval. Since this range
includes values of less than zero, we could not say with confidence that
employment had, in fact, increased. If, however, the reported employment
rise was half a million, then all of the values within the 90-percent
confidence interval would be greater than zero. In this case, it is likely
(at least a 90-percent chance) that an employment rise had, in fact,
occurred. The 90-percent confidence interval for the monthly change in
unemployment is +/- 258,000, and for the monthly change in the unemployment
rate it is +/- .21 percentage point.
In general, estimates involving many individuals or establishments have
lower standard errors (relative to the size of the estimate) than estimates
which are based on a small number of observations. The precision of
estimates is also improved when the data are cumulated over time such as
for quarterly and annual averages. The seasonal adjustment process can
also improve the stability of the monthly estimates.
The household and establishment surveys are also affected by nonsampling
error. Nonsampling errors can occur for many reasons, including the
failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain
information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness
of respondents to provide correct information on a timely basis, mistakes
made by respondents, and errors made in the collection or processing of the
data.
For example, in the establishment survey, estimates for the most recent 2
months are based on substantially incomplete returns; for this reason,
these estimates are labeled preliminary in the tables. It is only after
two successive revisions to a monthly estimate, when nearly all sample
reports have been received, that the estimate is considered final.
Another major source of nonsampling error in the establishment survey is
the inability to capture, on a timely basis, employment generated by new
firms. To correct for this systematic underestimation of employment growth
(and other sources of error), a process known as bias adjustment is
included in the survey's estimating procedures, whereby a specified number
of jobs is added to the monthly sample-based change. The size of the
- 8 -
monthly bias adjustment is based largely on past relationships between the
sample-based estimates of employment and the total counts of employment
described below.
The sample-based estimates from the establishment survey are adjusted
once a year (on a lagged basis) to universe counts of payroll employment
obtained from administrative records of the unemployment insurance program.
The difference between the March sample-based employment estimates and the
March universe counts is known as a benchmark revision, and serves as a
rough proxy for total survey error. The new benchmarks also incorporate
changes in the classification of industries. Over the past decade, the
benchmark revision for total nonfarm employment has averaged 0.3 percent,
ranging from zero to 0.7 percent.
Additional statistics and other information
More comprehensive statistics are contained in Employment and Earnings,
published each month by BLS. It is available for $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: 202-606-5886; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.
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
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 206,270 208,666 208,832 206,270 208,038 208,265 208,483 208,666 208,832
Civilian labor force............................ 138,297 139,895 139,941 138,545 139,372 139,475 139,697 139,834 140,108
Participation rate........................ 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.2 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.1
Employed...................................... 132,732 134,515 134,696 132,517 133,530 133,650 133,940 134,098 134,420
Employment-population ratio............... 64.3 64.5 64.5 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.2 64.3 64.4
Agriculture................................. 2,953 3,185 2,979 3,241 3,234 3,179 3,238 3,310 3,279
Nonagricultural industries.................. 129,779 131,330 131,717 129,276 130,296 130,471 130,702 130,788 131,141
Unemployed.................................... 5,565 5,380 5,245 6,028 5,842 5,825 5,757 5,736 5,688
Unemployment rate......................... 4.0 3.8 3.7 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1
Not in labor force.............................. 67,973 68,771 68,891 67,725 68,666 68,790 68,786 68,832 68,724
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 99,309 100,179 100,264 99,309 99,863 99,976 100,088 100,179 100,264
Civilian labor force............................ 74,055 74,545 74,631 74,382 74,499 74,643 74,680 74,728 74,930
Participation rate........................ 74.6 74.4 74.4 74.9 74.6 74.7 74.6 74.6 74.7
Employed...................................... 70,930 71,797 71,699 71,173 71,436 71,630 71,623 71,732 71,927
Employment-population ratio............... 71.4 71.7 71.5 71.7 71.5 71.6 71.6 71.6 71.7
Unemployed.................................... 3,125 2,748 2,932 3,209 3,063 3,013 3,057 2,996 3,003
Unemployment rate......................... 4.2 3.7 3.9 4.3 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.0
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 91,220 91,986 92,052 91,220 91,692 91,793 91,896 91,986 92,052
Civilian labor force............................ 69,949 70,441 70,460 70,044 70,240 70,328 70,339 70,388 70,529
Participation rate........................ 76.7 76.6 76.5 76.8 76.6 76.6 76.5 76.5 76.6
Employed...................................... 67,439 68,293 68,125 67,528 67,768 67,943 67,898 68,037 68,197
Employment-population ratio............... 73.9 74.2 74.0 74.0 73.9 74.0 73.9 74.0 74.1
Agriculture................................. 2,076 2,243 2,047 2,254 2,237 2,189 2,206 2,262 2,227
Nonagricultural industries.................. 65,363 66,050 66,077 65,274 65,531 65,754 65,692 65,775 65,970
Unemployed.................................... 2,510 2,148 2,335 2,516 2,472 2,385 2,441 2,351 2,332
Unemployment rate......................... 3.6 3.0 3.3 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.3
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 106,960 108,487 108,569 106,960 108,175 108,289 108,395 108,487 108,569
Civilian labor force............................ 64,242 65,350 65,309 64,163 64,873 64,832 65,017 65,106 65,178
Participation rate........................ 60.1 60.2 60.2 60.0 60.0 59.9 60.0 60.0 60.0
Employed...................................... 61,801 62,718 62,997 61,344 62,094 62,020 62,317 62,366 62,493
Employment-population ratio............... 57.8 57.8 58.0 57.4 57.4 57.3 57.5 57.5 57.6
Unemployed.................................... 2,440 2,632 2,313 2,819 2,779 2,812 2,700 2,740 2,685
Unemployment rate......................... 3.8 4.0 3.5 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 99,181 100,573 100,666 99,181 100,285 100,385 100,458 100,573 100,666
Civilian labor force............................ 60,337 61,440 61,426 60,118 60,904 60,860 60,955 61,052 61,154
Participation rate........................ 60.8 61.1 61.0 60.6 60.7 60.6 60.7 60.7 60.7
Employed...................................... 58,273 59,314 59,491 57,776 58,648 58,630 58,800 58,838 58,958
Employment-population ratio............... 58.8 59.0 59.1 58.3 58.5 58.4 58.5 58.5 58.6
Agriculture................................. 717 728 740 767 780 778 800 768 791
Nonagricultural industries.................. 57,556 58,586 58,751 57,009 57,868 57,852 58,000 58,070 58,167
Unemployed.................................... 2,065 2,127 1,935 2,342 2,256 2,230 2,155 2,214 2,196
Unemployment rate......................... 3.4 3.5 3.1 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.6
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population............. 15,868 16,107 16,114 15,868 16,061 16,086 16,129 16,107 16,114
Civilian labor force............................ 8,011 8,014 8,056 8,383 8,228 8,287 8,403 8,394 8,425
Participation rate........................ 50.5 49.8 50.0 52.8 51.2 51.5 52.1 52.1 52.3
Employed...................................... 7,020 6,909 7,081 7,213 7,114 7,077 7,242 7,223 7,265
Employment-population ratio............... 44.2 42.9 43.9 45.5 44.3 44.0 44.9 44.8 45.1
Agriculture................................. 161 215 193 220 217 212 232 280 261
Nonagricultural industries.................. 6,860 6,694 6,888 6,993 6,897 6,865 7,010 6,943 7,004
Unemployed.................................... 990 1,106 975 1,170 1,114 1,210 1,161 1,171 1,160
Unemployment rate......................... 12.4 13.8 12.1 14.0 13.5 14.6 13.8 14.0 13.8
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. Seasonally
adjusted data have been revised based on the experience through December 1999.
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
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 172,197 173,709 173,821 172,197 173,275 173,432 173,585 173,709 173,821
Civilian labor force............................ 115,796 116,735 116,896 115,980 116,619 116,495 116,654 116,703 117,008
Participation rate.......................... 67.2 67.2 67.3 67.4 67.3 67.2 67.2 67.2 67.3
Employed...................................... 111,647 112,919 113,116 111,539 112,308 112,303 112,548 112,611 112,951
Employment-population ratio................. 64.8 65.0 65.1 64.8 64.8 64.8 64.8 64.8 65.0
Unemployed.................................... 4,149 3,816 3,781 4,441 4,311 4,192 4,106 4,092 4,057
Unemployment rate........................... 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 59,662 59,788 59,843 59,716 59,932 59,841 59,777 59,761 59,889
Participation rate.......................... 77.2 76.9 76.9 77.3 77.3 77.1 77.0 76.9 77.0
Employed...................................... 57,725 58,264 58,140 57,811 58,007 58,102 58,043 58,067 58,221
Employment-population ratio................. 74.7 74.9 74.7 74.8 74.8 74.9 74.7 74.7 74.8
Unemployed.................................... 1,937 1,524 1,703 1,905 1,925 1,739 1,734 1,694 1,668
Unemployment rate........................... 3.2 2.5 2.8 3.2 3.2 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 49,429 50,150 50,277 49,223 49,713 49,593 49,733 49,814 50,011
Participation rate.......................... 60.0 60.3 60.4 59.8 59.9 59.7 59.8 59.9 60.1
Employed...................................... 47,960 48,659 48,930 47,561 48,140 48,010 48,203 48,273 48,486
Employment-population ratio................. 58.3 58.5 58.8 57.8 58.0 57.8 58.0 58.0 58.2
Unemployed.................................... 1,469 1,491 1,347 1,662 1,573 1,583 1,530 1,541 1,525
Unemployment rate........................... 3.0 3.0 2.7 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force............................ 6,705 6,797 6,776 7,041 6,974 7,061 7,144 7,128 7,108
Participation rate.......................... 53.4 53.4 53.2 56.0 54.8 55.4 56.1 56.0 55.8
Employed...................................... 5,962 5,996 6,046 6,167 6,161 6,191 6,302 6,271 6,244
Employment-population ratio................. 47.4 47.1 47.5 49.1 48.4 48.6 49.5 49.2 49.0
Unemployed.................................... 743 801 730 874 813 870 842 857 864
Unemployment rate........................... 11.1 11.8 10.8 12.4 11.7 12.3 11.8 12.0 12.2
Men....................................... 13.2 12.5 12.8 13.8 12.3 12.7 11.9 12.8 13.3
Women..................................... 8.8 11.0 8.6 10.9 11.0 11.9 11.7 11.2 10.9
BLACK
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 24,561 25,019 25,051 24,561 24,904 24,946 24,985 25,019 25,051
Civilian labor force............................ 16,136 16,555 16,488 16,155 16,321 16,474 16,489 16,508 16,513
Participation rate.......................... 65.7 66.2 65.8 65.8 65.5 66.0 66.0 66.0 65.9
Employed...................................... 14,993 15,292 15,302 14,894 15,047 15,114 15,124 15,187 15,204
Employment-population ratio................. 61.0 61.1 61.1 60.6 60.4 60.6 60.5 60.7 60.7
Unemployed.................................... 1,143 1,263 1,186 1,261 1,274 1,360 1,365 1,321 1,309
Unemployment rate........................... 7.1 7.6 7.2 7.8 7.8 8.3 8.3 8.0 7.9
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 7,047 7,335 7,257 7,060 7,162 7,205 7,281 7,277 7,273
Participation rate.......................... 71.9 73.3 72.4 72.0 72.0 72.3 72.9 72.8 72.6
Employed...................................... 6,592 6,841 6,758 6,598 6,714 6,696 6,717 6,767 6,766
Employment-population ratio................. 67.2 68.4 67.5 67.3 67.5 67.2 67.3 67.7 67.5
Unemployed.................................... 455 493 499 462 448 509 564 510 507
Unemployment rate........................... 6.5 6.7 6.9 6.5 6.3 7.1 7.7 7.0 7.0
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................ 8,089 8,338 8,293 8,052 8,241 8,316 8,252 8,305 8,260
Participation rate.......................... 65.8 66.5 66.1 65.5 66.1 66.5 65.9 66.3 65.8
Employed...................................... 7,600 7,818 7,807 7,495 7,673 7,759 7,745 7,757 7,706
Employment-population ratio................. 61.8 62.4 62.2 61.0 61.5 62.1 61.9 61.9 61.4
Unemployed.................................... 490 520 486 557 568 557 507 548 554
Unemployment rate........................... 6.1 6.2 5.9 6.9 6.9 6.7 6.1 6.6 6.7
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force............................ 999 882 938 1,043 918 953 956 926 980
Participation rate.......................... 40.6 35.6 37.8 42.4 37.0 38.4 38.5 37.3 39.5
Employed...................................... 801 632 737 801 660 659 662 663 732
Employment-population ratio................. 32.6 25.5 29.7 32.5 26.6 26.5 26.7 26.7 29.5
Unemployed.................................... 198 250 201 242 258 294 294 263 248
Unemployment rate........................... 19.8 28.3 21.4 23.2 28.1 30.8 30.8 28.4 25.3
Men....................................... 25.7 31.0 25.2 27.6 29.6 30.3 35.3 31.0 27.5
Women..................................... 14.4 26.0 17.6 19.1 26.7 31.4 26.1 25.9 23.0
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 21,405 21,947 22,008 21,405 21,752 21,820 21,881 21,947 22,008
Civilian labor force............................ 14,485 14,841 14,965 14,512 14,710 14,766 14,809 14,887 14,984
Participation rate.......................... 67.7 67.6 68.0 67.8 67.6 67.7 67.7 67.8 68.1
Employed...................................... 13,398 14,001 14,112 13,379 13,759 13,795 13,879 13,979 14,095
Employment-population ratio................. 62.6 63.8 64.1 62.5 63.3 63.2 63.4 63.7 64.0
Unemployed.................................... 1,087 840 853 1,133 951 971 930 908 889
Unemployment rate........................... 7.5 5.7 5.7 7.8 6.5 6.6 6.3 6.1 5.9
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. Seasonally adjusted data have been revised
based on the experience through December 1999.
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
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
Less than a high school diploma
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 29,094 28,228 28,144 29,094 28,568 28,583 28,246 28,228 28,144
Civilian labor force.................... 12,509 12,197 11,963 12,499 12,307 12,151 12,201 12,132 11,956
Percent of population............... 43.0 43.2 42.5 43.0 43.1 42.5 43.2 43.0 42.5
Employed.............................. 11,609 11,424 11,236 11,618 11,448 11,327 11,401 11,347 11,243
Employment-population ratio......... 39.9 40.5 39.9 39.9 40.1 39.6 40.4 40.2 39.9
Unemployed............................ 900 773 727 881 859 824 800 785 713
Unemployment rate................... 7.2 6.3 6.1 7.0 7.0 6.8 6.6 6.5 6.0
High school graduates, no college(2)
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 57,115 57,789 57,590 57,115 57,195 57,518 57,275 57,789 57,590
Civilian labor force.................... 37,442 37,830 37,534 37,279 36,954 37,188 37,080 37,671 37,362
Percent of population............... 65.6 65.5 65.2 65.3 64.6 64.7 64.7 65.2 64.9
Employed.............................. 36,066 36,665 36,248 35,891 35,657 35,879 35,874 36,445 36,071
Employment-population ratio......... 63.1 63.4 62.9 62.8 62.3 62.4 62.6 63.1 62.6
Unemployed............................ 1,376 1,165 1,286 1,388 1,297 1,309 1,206 1,226 1,291
Unemployment rate................... 3.7 3.1 3.4 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.5
Less than a bachelor's degree(3)
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 43,022 44,070 44,069 43,022 43,130 42,955 43,787 44,070 44,069
Civilian labor force.................... 31,933 32,688 32,544 31,846 31,842 32,140 32,203 32,312 32,404
Percent of population............... 74.2 74.2 73.8 74.0 73.8 74.8 73.5 73.3 73.5
Employed.............................. 31,080 31,883 31,788 30,926 30,864 31,269 31,330 31,444 31,586
Employment-population ratio......... 72.2 72.3 72.1 71.9 71.6 72.8 71.6 71.3 71.7
Unemployed............................ 853 805 756 920 978 871 873 868 818
Unemployment rate................... 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.9 3.1 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.5
College graduates
Civilian noninstitutional population...... 43,484 44,365 44,821 43,484 45,086 45,081 44,986 44,365 44,821
Civilian labor force.................... 34,889 35,253 35,852 34,862 36,037 35,722 35,721 35,264 35,824
Percent of population............... 80.2 79.5 80.0 80.2 79.9 79.2 79.4 79.5 79.9
Employed.............................. 34,323 34,697 35,287 34,225 35,465 35,112 35,106 34,655 35,186
Employment-population ratio......... 78.9 78.2 78.7 78.7 78.7 77.9 78.0 78.1 78.5
Unemployed............................ 566 556 565 637 572 610 615 609 638
Unemployment rate................... 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8
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. Seasonally
adjusted data have been revised based on the experience through December 1999.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-4. Selected employment indicators
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Category
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over................. 132,732 134,515 134,696 132,517 133,530 133,650 133,940 134,098 134,420
Married men, spouse present..................... 43,426 43,599 43,531 43,205 43,368 43,367 43,206 43,273 43,283
Married women, spouse present................... 33,502 33,920 34,221 33,077 33,504 33,275 33,521 33,635 33,762
Women who maintain families..................... 8,011 8,553 8,302 8,087 8,335 8,312 8,398 8,526 8,375
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty........... 40,007 40,558 41,038 39,777 40,800 40,784 40,718 40,363 40,800
Technical, sales, and administrative support.... 38,517 39,380 39,560 38,281 38,874 38,634 39,023 39,283 39,311
Service occupations............................. 17,873 17,548 17,582 18,000 17,976 17,876 17,694 17,633 17,706
Precision production, craft, and repair......... 14,586 14,919 14,988 14,569 14,322 14,659 14,836 14,903 14,940
Operators, fabricators, and laborers............ 18,702 18,813 18,546 18,470 18,089 18,227 18,340 18,476 18,299
Farming, forestry, and fishing.................. 3,046 3,298 2,981 3,427 3,412 3,365 3,365 3,407 3,367
CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers....................... 1,683 1,946 1,822 1,867 1,908 1,930 1,936 2,049 2,018
Self-employed workers......................... 1,241 1,193 1,127 1,332 1,266 1,198 1,267 1,216 1,211
Unpaid family workers......................... 29 46 31 34 46 40 42 41 36
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers....................... 120,917 122,511 123,053 120,365 121,150 121,583 121,654 121,965 122,426
Government.................................. 18,902 19,098 19,169 18,709 19,114 19,080 18,817 18,902 18,959
Private industries.......................... 102,015 103,413 103,885 101,656 102,036 102,503 102,837 103,063 103,467
Private households........................ 962 932 972 937 873 1,035 939 944 948
Other industries.......................... 101,053 102,481 102,912 100,719 101,163 101,468 101,898 102,119 102,519
Self-employed workers......................... 8,745 8,715 8,566 8,829 9,000 8,791 8,833 8,686 8,662
Unpaid family workers......................... 117 104 97 119 93 100 101 108 98
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons................ 3,455 3,045 3,332 3,448 3,279 3,283 3,179 3,274 3,320
Slack work or business conditions........... 2,005 1,804 2,017 1,938 1,904 1,922 1,928 1,930 1,951
Could only find part-time work.............. 1,088 974 974 1,144 1,057 1,073 993 1,032 1,025
Part time for noneconomic reasons............. 19,770 19,744 19,662 18,721 19,230 18,801 18,799 18,651 18,618
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons................ 3,242 2,886 3,129 3,271 3,127 3,112 2,983 3,105 3,157
Slack work or business conditions........... 1,901 1,696 1,891 1,851 1,813 1,806 1,807 1,815 1,843
Could only find part-time work.............. 1,057 955 964 1,115 1,041 1,063 964 1,013 1,018
Part time for noneconomic reasons............. 19,270 19,193 19,143 18,187 18,652 18,273 18,249 18,083 18,061
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. Seasonally
adjusted data have been revised based on the experience through December 1999.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-5. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons Unemployment rates(1)
(in thousands)
Category
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
CHARACTERISTIC
Total, 16 years and over......................... 6,028 5,736 5,688 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1
Men, 20 years and over......................... 2,516 2,351 2,332 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.3
Women, 20 years and over....................... 2,342 2,214 2,196 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.6
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years..................... 1,170 1,171 1,160 14.0 13.5 14.6 13.8 14.0 13.8
Married men, spouse present.................... 1,007 925 969 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2
Married women, spouse present.................. 948 880 872 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5
Women who maintain families.................... 547 548 556 6.3 6.3 6.4 6.0 6.0 6.2
Full-time workers.............................. 4,801 4,536 4,540 4.2 4.1 4.0 4.0 3.9 3.9
Part-time workers.............................. 1,255 1,191 1,175 5.1 4.6 5.0 4.7 4.9 4.9
OCCUPATION(2)
Managerial and professional specialty.......... 747 751 719 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7
Technical, sales, and administrative support... 1,477 1,461 1,464 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.6
Precision production, craft, and repair........ 497 578 624 3.3 4.5 3.9 4.0 3.7 4.0
Operators, fabricators, and laborers........... 1,299 1,224 1,198 6.6 6.2 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1
Farming, forestry, and fishing................. 282 246 208 7.6 6.4 5.3 5.8 6.7 5.8
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers 4,681 4,478 4,478 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1
Goods-producing industries................... 1,286 1,202 1,274 4.5 4.8 4.8 4.5 4.2 4.4
Mining..................................... 32 25 22 5.6 4.2 6.7 5.0 4.6 4.1
Construction............................... 436 439 526 6.1 7.6 6.9 6.7 5.7 6.6
Manufacturing.............................. 818 738 726 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.6
Durable goods............................ 423 450 449 3.4 3.7 4.0 3.5 3.7 3.6
Nondurable goods......................... 395 288 277 4.8 4.1 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.5
Service-producing industries................. 3,395 3,276 3,204 4.4 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.0
Transportation and public utilities........ 243 260 234 3.1 3.0 2.8 3.1 3.3 3.0
Wholesale and retail trade................. 1,506 1,457 1,438 5.5 4.8 5.2 4.9 5.3 5.2
Finance, insurance, and real estate........ 229 185 173 2.8 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.1
Services................................... 1,417 1,374 1,359 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.8
Government workers............................. 404 393 414 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1
Agricultural wage and salary workers........... 187 186 155 9.1 9.6 5.7 7.7 8.3 7.1
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. Data have been
revised based on the experience through December 1999.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-6. Duration of unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Duration
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Less than 5 weeks................................ 2,299 2,384 2,348 2,573 2,599 2,582 2,545 2,601 2,620
5 to 14 weeks.................................... 1,817 1,729 1,615 1,884 1,798 1,805 1,811 1,760 1,694
15 weeks and over................................ 1,449 1,268 1,281 1,572 1,463 1,412 1,434 1,401 1,388
15 to 26 weeks................................ 680 633 621 759 747 708 719 725 693
27 weeks and over............................. 769 635 661 813 716 704 715 676 695
Average (mean) duration, in weeks................ 14.1 12.9 13.0 14.0 13.2 13.0 13.2 13.0 12.8
Median duration, in weeks........................ 6.7 6.0 5.8 6.8 6.4 5.9 6.3 6.2 5.9
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.............................. 41.3 44.3 44.8 42.7 44.4 44.5 44.0 45.1 45.9
5 to 14 weeks.................................. 32.7 32.1 30.8 31.2 30.7 31.1 31.3 30.5 29.7
15 weeks and over.............................. 26.0 23.6 24.4 26.1 25.0 24.3 24.8 24.3 24.3
15 to 26 weeks............................... 12.2 11.8 11.8 12.6 12.7 12.2 12.4 12.6 12.2
27 weeks and over............................ 13.8 11.8 12.6 13.5 12.2 12.1 12.3 11.7 12.2
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Seasonally
adjusted data have been revised based on the experience through December 1999.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-7. Reason for unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted Seasonally adjusted
Reason
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs........................................... 2,849 2,340 2,451 2,795 2,629 2,573 2,518 2,493 2,401
On temporary layoff............................. 934 755 859 865 893 869 802 851 795
Not on temporary layoff......................... 1,915 1,584 1,592 1,930 1,736 1,704 1,716 1,642 1,606
Permanent job losers.......................... 1,382 1,065 1,073 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Persons who completed temporary jobs.......... 533 519 519 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Job leavers....................................... 628 792 718 719 793 758 778 821 825
Reentrants........................................ 1,706 1,833 1,745 1,994 1,942 1,967 1,958 1,935 2,036
New entrants...................................... 381 415 330 503 481 504 511 485 453
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........................................... 51.2 43.5 46.7 46.5 45.0 44.3 43.7 43.5 42.0
On temporary layoff............................ 16.8 14.0 16.4 14.4 15.3 15.0 13.9 14.8 13.9
Not on temporary layoff........................ 34.4 29.4 30.4 32.1 29.7 29.4 29.8 28.6 28.1
Job leavers...................................... 11.3 14.7 13.7 12.0 13.6 13.1 13.5 14.3 14.4
Reentrants....................................... 30.6 34.1 33.3 33.2 33.2 33.9 34.0 33.7 35.6
New entrants..................................... 6.9 7.7 6.3 8.4 8.2 8.7 8.9 8.5 7.9
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs........................................... 2.1 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7
Job leavers...................................... .5 .6 .5 .5 .6 .5 .6 .6 .6
Reentrants....................................... 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5
New entrants..................................... .3 .3 .2 .4 .3 .4 .4 .3 .3
1 Not available.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Seasonally
adjusted data have been revised based on the experience through December 1999.
HOUSEHOLD DATA HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-8. Range of alternative measures of labor underutilization
(Percent)
Not seasonally Seasonally adjusted
adjusted
Measure
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
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................................ 1.0 .9 .9 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
U-2 Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as
a percent of the civilian labor force................... 2.1 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7
U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor
force (official unemployment rate)...................... 4.0 3.8 3.7 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1
U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent
of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers.... 4.3 4.0 3.9 (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........................................ 4.8 4.6 4.5 (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 6.8 6.9 (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 1999, data reflect revised
population controls used in the household survey. Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the experience
through December 1999.
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
Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
Total, 16 years and over.......................... 6,028 5,736 5,688 4.4 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1
16 to 24 years.................................. 2,158 2,249 2,209 9.8 9.6 10.0 10.0 10.0 9.8
16 to 19 years................................ 1,170 1,171 1,160 14.0 13.5 14.6 13.8 14.0 13.8
16 to 17 years.............................. 567 553 553 16.7 15.9 16.1 15.9 16.5 16.5
18 to 19 years.............................. 609 619 612 12.2 12.1 13.8 12.4 12.3 12.1
20 to 24 years................................ 988 1,078 1,049 7.2 7.3 7.2 7.7 7.7 7.4
25 years and over............................... 3,860 3,488 3,479 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0
25 to 54 years................................ 3,320 3,048 2,987 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0
55 years and over............................. 511 459 477 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.7
Men, 16 years and over.......................... 3,209 2,996 3,003 4.3 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.0
16 to 24 years................................ 1,227 1,194 1,252 10.6 9.9 9.9 10.4 10.2 10.6
16 to 19 years.............................. 693 645 671 16.0 13.9 14.6 14.2 14.9 15.2
16 to 17 years............................ 336 292 311 19.1 16.2 16.6 15.5 16.9 17.7
18 to 19 years............................ 353 353 356 13.7 12.6 13.2 13.2 13.6 13.5
20 to 24 years.............................. 534 549 581 7.4 7.6 7.2 8.2 7.5 7.8
25 years and over............................. 1,985 1,789 1,757 3.2 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.8
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,676 1,531 1,493 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.8
55 years and over........................... 292 252 246 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.5
Women, 16 years and over........................ 2,819 2,740 2,685 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.1
16 to 24 years................................ 931 1,055 957 8.9 9.3 10.0 9.6 9.8 8.9
16 to 19 years.............................. 477 526 489 11.8 13.2 14.7 13.4 13.0 12.2
16 to 17 years............................ 231 261 242 14.1 15.6 15.6 16.3 16.1 15.1
18 to 19 years............................ 256 266 256 10.6 11.6 14.5 11.4 10.8 10.5
20 to 24 years.............................. 454 529 468 7.1 7.0 7.2 7.2 7.9 7.0
25 years and over............................. 1,875 1,699 1,722 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.2
25 to 54 years.............................. 1,644 1,517 1,494 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.2
55 years and over........................... 219 207 231 2.8 2.4 2.1 2.5 2.6 2.9
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. Data have been
revised based on the experience through December 1999.
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
Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec.
1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999
NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE
Total not in the labor force...................................... 67,973 68,891 25,254 25,632 42,719 43,259
Persons who currently want a job................................ 4,187 4,045 1,762 1,736 2,425 2,309
Searched for work and available to work now(1)............... 1,196 1,142 548 557 649 585
Reason not currently looking:
Discouragement over job prospects(2).................... 358 267 214 162 145 106
Reasons other than discouragement(3).................... 838 874 334 395 504 479
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS
Total multiple jobholders(4)...................................... 8,220 8,037 4,163 4,026 4,057 4,011
Percent of total employed..................................... 6.2 6.0 5.9 5.6 6.6 6.4
Primary job full time, secondary job part time................ 4,561 4,411 2,574 2,479 1,988 1,932
Primary and secondary jobs both part time..................... 1,778 1,759 522 507 1,255 1,252
Primary and secondary jobs both full time..................... 233 343 149 231 84 112
Hours vary on primary or secondary job........................ 1,613 1,495 898 797 715 698
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
Dec. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total......................... 128,028 130,209 130,589 130,694 127,186 128,945 129,048 129,332 129,554 129,869
Total private.................... 107,686 109,664 109,891 110,015 107,213 108,735 108,830 109,095 109,296 109,547
Goods-producing......................... 25,274 25,496 25,425 25,188 25,354 25,148 25,186 25,198 25,260 25,277
Mining................................ 570 534 531 527 570 524 527 528 527 529
Metal mining........................ 49.6 47.6 48.4 48.2 50 47 48 48 49 48
Coal mining......................... 90.4 82.3 82.5 82.8 90 83 83 82 82 83
Oil and gas extraction.............. 322.1 292.7 290.5 292.3 320 285 287 289 288 291
Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels.. 107.6 111.8 109.7 104.1 110 109 109 109 108 107
Construction.......................... 6,068 6,549 6,489 6,284 6,173 6,246 6,293 6,314 6,369 6,385
General building contractors........ 1,396.0 1,471.5 1,465.9 1,441.7 1,404 1,426 1,440 1,445 1,451 1,452
Heavy construction, except building. 826.4 932.9 898.9 834.8 876 852 857 861 869 881
Special trade contractors........... 3,845.9 4,145.0 4,123.8 4,007.9 3,893 3,968 3,996 4,008 4,049 4,052
Manufacturing......................... 18,636 18,413 18,405 18,377 18,611 18,378 18,366 18,356 18,364 18,363
Production workers................ 12,818 12,663 12,655 12,634 12,795 12,622 12,617 12,608 12,616 12,616
Durable goods........................ 11,096 10,969 10,979 10,979 11,074 10,975 10,959 10,952 10,958 10,959
Production workers................ 7,590 7,503 7,513 7,514 7,568 7,513 7,496 7,489 7,494 7,487
Lumber and wood products............ 821.8 834.9 832.5 829.4 823 826 827 829 830 830
Furniture and fixtures.............. 536.7 545.4 544.1 545.1 534 543 544 546 543 543
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 565.4 575.8 574.4 565.2 570 568 569 568 571 571
Primary metal industries............ 701.7 685.5 689.0 690.2 699 688 685 685 687 687
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 226.5 221.0 222.6 223.8 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Fabricated metal products........... 1,498.0 1,490.7 1,492.4 1,495.0 1,493 1,484 1,486 1,487 1,488 1,490
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 2,168.4 2,110.7 2,113.0 2,118.3 2,167 2,122 2,117 2,116 2,117 2,118
Computer and office equipment..... 370.8 358.0 357.7 357.5 370 359 358 358 357 359
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 1,675.0 1,665.6 1,668.5 1,674.6 1,669 1,662 1,662 1,665 1,664 1,667
Electronic components and
accessories.................... 639.9 641.7 642.3 645.5 640 641 640 643 643 645
Transportation equipment............ 1,893.9 1,837.0 1,841.0 1,841.4 1,882 1,859 1,848 1,838 1,836 1,831
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 1,002.3 1,001.1 1,006.8 1,010.1 994 1,012 1,006 1,001 1,002 1,002
Aircraft and parts................ 520.8 471.6 469.5 466.1 518 483 476 471 467 463
Instruments and related products.... 850.3 829.9 832.1 832.5 851 836 833 830 833 833
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 384.9 393.6 392.2 387.3 386 387 388 388 389 389
Nondurable goods..................... 7,540 7,444 7,426 7,398 7,537 7,403 7,407 7,404 7,406 7,404
Production workers................ 5,228 5,160 5,142 5,120 5,227 5,109 5,121 5,119 5,122 5,129
Food and kindred products........... 1,683.5 1,709.4 1,693.5 1,677.9 1,693 1,666 1,679 1,680 1,686 1,691
Tobacco products.................... 42.6 40.6 40.8 41.8 40 36 38 38 38 38
Textile mill products............... 583.0 552.6 552.5 549.7 582 557 553 551 552 550
Apparel and other textile products.. 723.5 671.9 665.4 654.8 724 672 669 666 663 658
Paper and allied products........... 666.8 654.4 655.1 655.0 666 658 657 655 655 655
Printing and publishing............. 1,569.5 1,551.1 1,555.0 1,556.5 1,560 1,553 1,552 1,552 1,550 1,548
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,040.8 1,031.7 1,032.5 1,033.9 1,042 1,030 1,033 1,033 1,033 1,033
Petroleum and coal products......... 138.3 138.4 136.7 133.4 140 136 137 136 136 135
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 1,012.9 1,021.2 1,022.1 1,023.8 1,012 1,022 1,017 1,021 1,022 1,026
Leather and leather products........ 78.8 72.6 72.3 70.9 78 73 72 72 71 70
Service-producing....................... 102,754 104,713 105,164 105,506 101,832 103,797 103,862 104,134 104,294 104,592
Transportation and public utilities... 6,747 6,889 6,905 6,947 6,684 6,813 6,831 6,841 6,860 6,892
Transportation...................... 4,408 4,511 4,518 4,556 4,340 4,445 4,455 4,458 4,472 4,498
Railroad transportation........... 230.8 227.7 227.6 227.6 231 226 227 227 227 228
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................ 490.6 503.4 503.4 503.5 474 488 486 486 487 487
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,779.5 1,860.1 1,845.4 1,840.1 1,769 1,817 1,825 1,828 1,833 1,842
Water transportation.............. 177.4 182.7 178.6 175.3 183 182 182 182 181 180
Transportation by air............. 1,252.8 1,252.6 1,278.6 1,322.2 1,205 1,246 1,250 1,251 1,259 1,273
Pipelines, except natural gas..... 13.8 12.9 12.9 13.2 14 13 13 13 13 13
Transportation services........... 463.1 472.0 471.7 473.7 464 473 472 471 472 475
Communications and public utilities. 2,339 2,378 2,387 2,391 2,344 2,368 2,376 2,383 2,388 2,394
Communications.................... 1,489.2 1,539.7 1,546.8 1,549.0 1,492 1,525 1,533 1,541 1,545 1,551
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services....................... 850.0 838.6 840.6 841.7 852 843 843 842 843 843
Wholesale trade....................... 6,899 7,079 7,080 7,076 6,901 7,031 7,041 7,064 7,066 7,082
Durable goods....................... 4,074 4,182 4,190 4,202 4,077 4,169 4,172 4,188 4,191 4,205
Nondurable goods.................... 2,825 2,897 2,890 2,874 2,824 2,862 2,869 2,876 2,875 2,877
Retail trade.......................... 23,174 22,883 23,241 23,599 22,525 22,888 22,862 22,891 22,887 22,952
Building materials and garden
supplies......................... 951.5 994.8 994.8 991.9 967 988 992 1,001 1,004 1,007
General merchandise stores.......... 3,062.2 2,795.2 2,966.2 3,085.4 2,758 2,774 2,762 2,756 2,750 2,784
Department stores................. 2,718.7 2,491.0 2,644.3 2,742.9 2,456 2,468 2,460 2,455 2,447 2,469
Food stores......................... 3,551.6 3,485.5 3,512.2 3,548.0 3,487 3,484 3,478 3,481 3,478 3,485
Automotive dealers and service
stations......................... 2,359.0 2,425.8 2,421.3 2,421.4 2,370 2,409 2,415 2,420 2,424 2,434
New and used car dealers.......... 1,055.6 1,095.0 1,095.8 1,095.4 1,059 1,089 1,091 1,092 1,096 1,099
Apparel and accessory stores........ 1,250.4 1,194.7 1,252.0 1,309.8 1,147 1,191 1,189 1,200 1,199 1,191
Furniture and home furnishings
stores........................... 1,093.5 1,098.1 1,116.5 1,146.3 1,048 1,094 1,097 1,099 1,093 1,101
Eating and drinking places.......... 7,808.5 7,866.7 7,868.1 7,906.3 7,857 7,960 7,932 7,925 7,943 7,970
Miscellaneous retail establishments. 3,097.2 3,021.9 3,109.8 3,189.6 2,891 2,988 2,997 3,009 2,996 2,980
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 7,522 7,646 7,656 7,671 7,542 7,650 7,653 7,668 7,678 7,690
Finance............................. 3,664 3,706 3,718 3,734 3,663 3,716 3,715 3,719 3,725 3,735
Depository institutions........... 2,046.9 2,037.8 2,042.1 2,050.9 2,047 2,046 2,047 2,047 2,047 2,049
Commercial banks................ 1,468.5 1,457.5 1,462.1 1,469.3 1,467 1,464 1,466 1,464 1,465 1,468
Savings institutions............ 256.6 252.9 251.8 251.6 257 255 255 254 253 252
Nondepository institutions........ 699.8 707.9 707.7 711.5 698 719 713 711 710 714
Mortgage bankers and brokers.... 360.0 355.7 355.7 355.7 360 366 361 358 358 358
Security and commodity brokers.... 660.2 690.6 696.5 700.8 661 685 686 691 697 702
Holding and other investment
offices........................ 257.3 269.4 271.4 270.6 257 266 269 270 271 270
Insurance........................... 2,379 2,409 2,411 2,415 2,379 2,407 2,410 2,414 2,411 2,412
Insurance carriers................ 1,623.8 1,636.8 1,636.5 1,638.2 1,624 1,636 1,637 1,641 1,636 1,637
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................ 755.4 772.2 774.0 776.4 755 771 773 773 775 775
Real estate......................... 1,479 1,531 1,527 1,522 1,500 1,527 1,528 1,535 1,542 1,543
Services2............................. 38,070 39,671 39,584 39,534 38,207 39,205 39,257 39,433 39,545 39,654
Agricultural services............... 682.0 794.4 774.7 711.8 739 757 763 766 774 758
Hotels and other lodging places..... 1,705.2 1,810.3 1,740.1 1,725.4 1,783 1,813 1,811 1,806 1,810 1,804
Personal services................... 1,184.7 1,182.2 1,184.1 1,201.0 1,202 1,207 1,210 1,210 1,214 1,224
Business services................... 8,902.9 9,465.8 9,466.3 9,484.9 8,829 9,186 9,204 9,303 9,331 9,408
Services to buildings............. 958.4 1,004.1 1,003.9 996.0 964 998 1,000 1,003 1,003 997
Personnel supply services......... 3,350.2 3,630.3 3,620.0 3,623.5 3,292 3,418 3,440 3,490 3,504 3,531
Help supply services............ 2,974.8 3,222.2 3,209.8 3,212.0 2,922 3,024 3,032 3,099 3,101 3,125
Computer and data processing
services....................... 1,693.8 1,815.0 1,830.3 1,843.1 1,691 1,806 1,814 1,823 1,828 1,841
Auto repair, services, and parking.. 1,157.7 1,195.5 1,195.9 1,195.1 1,163 1,185 1,190 1,196 1,198 1,197
Miscellaneous repair services....... 389.4 401.6 402.0 402.6 390 396 398 400 401 405
Motion pictures..................... 581.1 601.4 607.6 611.5 577 608 608 612 614 606
Amusement and recreation services... 1,479.4 1,673.0 1,562.5 1,550.8 1,647 1,712 1,713 1,730 1,728 1,711
Health services..................... 9,914.6 10012.2 10037.4 10054.6 9,899 9,993 9,999 10,009 10,025 10,041
Offices and clinics of medical
doctors........................ 1,837.0 1,878.4 1,887.0 1,894.0 1,833 1,874 1,876 1,880 1,887 1,890
Nursing and personal care
facilities..................... 1,758.9 1,757.5 1,758.3 1,762.2 1,756 1,755 1,756 1,756 1,755 1,760
Hospitals......................... 3,954.9 3,979.4 3,981.9 3,988.8 3,952 3,973 3,977 3,978 3,979 3,987
Home health care services......... 653.9 659.1 662.9 658.7 651 658 657 658 658 656
Legal services...................... 988.4 1,005.4 1,010.8 1,013.2 988 1,004 1,007 1,009 1,012 1,015
Educational services................ 2,342.0 2,443.8 2,483.4 2,427.6 2,223 2,288 2,289 2,288 2,298 2,304
Social services..................... 2,714.9 2,826.1 2,849.8 2,856.5 2,708 2,799 2,803 2,817 2,841 2,850
Child day care services........... 629.8 649.4 657.6 657.3 618 631 631 634 644 648
Residential care.................. 760.0 789.8 796.4 800.5 762 785 788 792 798 802
Museums and botanical and zoological
gardens........................... 91.6 95.7 93.1 93.4 94 95 94 95 95 95
Membership organizations............ 2,366.1 2,395.0 2,395.0 2,404.9 2,380 2,409 2,408 2,409 2,411 2,419
Engineering and management services. 3,277.1 3,472.6 3,485.5 3,504.0 3,292 3,458 3,464 3,487 3,498 3,521
Engineering and architectural
services....................... 919.1 955.5 959.0 959.6 922 948 948 954 960 965
Management and public relations... 1,088.3 1,193.1 1,196.6 1,208.9 1,090 1,178 1,180 1,193 1,195 1,215
Services, nec....................... 55.2 58.0 58.1 58.7 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1)
Government............................ 20,342 20,545 20,698 20,679 19,973 20,210 20,218 20,237 20,258 20,322
Federal............................. 2,739 2,631 2,640 2,686 2,701 2,651 2,654 2,643 2,646 2,652
Federal, except Postal Service.... 1,801.5 1,768.3 1,764.3 1,759.8 1,819 1,779 1,785 1,780 1,778 1,777
State............................... 4,733 4,843 4,861 4,818 4,652 4,706 4,717 4,722 4,725 4,735
Education......................... 2,042.1 2,091.5 2,122.9 2,083.2 1,932 1,965 1,965 1,960 1,965 1,974
Other State government............ 2,691.3 2,751.6 2,738.0 2,735.0 2,720 2,741 2,752 2,762 2,760 2,761
Local............................... 12,870 13,071 13,197 13,175 12,620 12,853 12,847 12,872 12,887 12,935
Education......................... 7,489.6 7,567.4 7,694.6 7,687.2 7,148 7,308 7,295 7,305 7,315 7,350
Other local government............ 5,380.8 5,503.4 5,502.2 5,488.2 5,472 5,545 5,552 5,567 5,572 5,585
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
Dec. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... 34.7 34.6 34.5 34.6 34.6 34.5 34.4 34.5 34.5 34.5
Goods-producing......................... 41.7 41.5 41.5 41.6 41.1 41.1 41.1 41.1 41.3 41.0
Mining................................ 43.7 44.6 44.7 45.2 43.3 44.2 44.3 44.1 44.2 44.9
Construction.......................... 39.1 40.0 39.5 38.7 39.4 39.0 39.1 39.1 40.0 38.9
Manufacturing......................... 42.6 42.0 42.2 42.6 41.7 41.8 41.8 41.8 41.7 41.7
Overtime hours.................... 4.9 4.9 4.9 5.1 4.5 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.7
Durable goods........................ 43.3 42.5 42.7 43.1 42.2 42.4 42.4 42.3 42.2 42.1
Overtime hours.................... 5.2 4.9 5.0 5.3 4.6 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.8
Lumber and wood products............ 41.7 41.4 41.3 41.2 41.5 41.3 41.1 41.1 41.0 40.8
Furniture and fixtures.............. 41.5 40.5 40.5 41.6 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.2 40.0 40.5
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 43.8 44.0 44.1 43.1 43.8 43.6 43.6 43.4 43.9 43.1
Primary metal industries............ 44.6 44.3 44.7 45.4 43.7 44.4 44.4 44.3 44.3 44.5
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 43.7 44.9 45.4 46.3 43.3 45.1 45.0 45.0 45.4 45.8
Fabricated metal products........... 43.4 42.4 42.7 43.4 42.2 42.4 42.3 42.1 42.1 42.1
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 43.2 42.3 42.6 43.4 42.1 42.4 42.4 42.4 42.3 42.4
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 42.3 41.8 42.2 42.6 41.1 41.7 41.6 41.6 41.5 41.4
Transportation equipment............ 45.7 44.1 44.1 44.6 44.1 44.0 44.0 43.9 43.5 43.0
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 46.8 45.3 45.2 45.9 44.9 45.2 45.2 45.3 44.7 44.1
Instruments and related products.... 42.0 41.4 42.0 42.6 41.1 41.6 41.6 41.5 41.6 41.7
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 40.2 40.2 40.2 40.2 39.6 40.1 40.0 39.8 39.6 39.7
Nondurable goods..................... 41.6 41.3 41.4 41.8 40.9 40.9 40.9 41.0 41.0 41.0
Overtime hours.................... 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.4 4.6
Food and kindred products........... 42.8 42.4 42.4 42.5 42.0 41.6 41.7 42.0 41.8 41.7
Tobacco products.................... 37.5 42.4 42.7 44.2 36.6 40.0 40.2 41.0 42.3 43.5
Textile mill products............... 41.4 41.5 41.6 42.0 40.8 40.9 40.8 41.3 41.2 41.4
Apparel and other textile products.. 37.9 37.7 37.6 38.1 37.3 37.3 37.5 37.5 37.3 37.5
Paper and allied products........... 44.3 43.8 43.9 44.3 43.4 43.7 43.5 43.5 43.5 43.3
Printing and publishing............. 38.8 38.6 38.8 39.0 38.1 38.3 38.3 38.4 38.3 38.3
Chemicals and allied products....... 43.5 43.1 43.5 43.8 42.7 43.3 43.2 43.1 43.2 43.1
Petroleum and coal products......... 44.7 43.2 43.0 44.0 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 42.7 41.6 42.0 42.5 41.7 41.6 41.7 41.5 41.6 41.5
Leather and leather products........ 38.1 37.7 38.2 38.3 37.5 38.2 37.2 37.5 37.8 37.7
Service-producing....................... 32.9 32.8 32.7 32.8 32.9 32.9 32.8 32.8 32.8 32.9
Transportation and public utilities... 39.1 38.4 38.2 38.2 39.1 38.9 38.6 38.5 38.1 38.3
Wholesale trade....................... 38.4 38.6 38.4 38.5 38.4 38.4 38.5 38.6 38.4 38.5
Retail trade.......................... 29.2 28.8 28.7 29.2 29.0 29.0 28.8 28.9 28.9 29.0
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 36.2 36.1 36.0 36.1 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2)
Services.............................. 32.6 32.7 32.7 32.7 32.7 32.7 32.6 32.7 32.8 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
Dec. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... $13.00 $13.41 $13.44 $13.48 $451.10 $463.99 $463.68 $466.41
Seasonally adjusted............. 12.98 13.39 13.40 13.46 449.11 461.96 462.30 464.37
Goods-producing......................... 14.56 15.04 15.03 15.10 607.15 624.16 623.75 628.16
Mining................................ 17.29 17.00 16.94 17.22 755.57 758.20 757.22 778.34
Construction.......................... 16.87 17.49 17.38 17.43 659.62 699.60 686.51 674.54
Manufacturing......................... 13.69 14.04 14.09 14.22 583.19 589.68 594.60 605.77
Durable goods........................ 14.16 14.55 14.58 14.73 613.13 618.38 622.57 634.86
Lumber and wood products............ 11.33 11.59 11.60 11.68 472.46 479.83 479.08 481.22
Furniture and fixtures.............. 11.10 11.33 11.35 11.49 460.65 458.87 459.68 477.98
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 13.70 14.02 14.09 14.07 600.06 616.88 621.37 606.42
Primary metal industries............ 15.36 16.02 16.14 16.22 685.06 709.69 721.46 736.39
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 18.18 18.96 19.18 19.23 794.47 851.30 870.77 890.35
Fabricated metal products........... 13.34 13.50 13.57 13.70 578.96 572.40 579.44 594.58
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 14.73 15.18 15.20 15.39 636.34 642.11 647.52 667.93
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 13.26 13.58 13.57 13.68 560.90 567.64 572.65 582.77
Transportation equipment............ 17.56 18.47 18.46 18.69 802.49 814.53 814.09 833.57
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 17.73 18.93 18.87 19.16 829.76 857.53 852.92 879.44
Instruments and related products.... 14.00 14.36 14.36 14.42 588.00 594.50 603.12 614.29
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 11.12 11.47 11.46 11.62 447.02 461.09 460.69 467.12
Nondurable goods..................... 12.99 13.27 13.34 13.45 540.38 548.05 552.28 562.21
Food and kindred products........... 12.02 12.10 12.23 12.32 514.46 513.04 518.55 523.60
Tobacco products.................... 17.05 17.77 17.76 17.70 639.38 753.45 758.35 782.34
Textile mill products............... 10.56 10.72 10.79 10.86 437.18 444.88 448.86 456.12
Apparel and other textile products.. 8.71 8.99 9.04 9.12 330.11 338.92 339.90 347.47
Paper and allied products........... 15.78 16.12 16.14 16.25 699.05 706.06 708.55 719.88
Printing and publishing............. 13.68 13.97 14.01 14.11 530.78 539.24 543.59 550.29
Chemicals and allied products....... 17.31 17.72 17.74 17.87 752.99 763.73 771.69 782.71
Petroleum and coal products......... 21.22 21.68 21.81 21.87 948.53 936.58 937.83 962.28
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 12.08 12.37 12.40 12.53 515.82 514.59 520.80 532.53
Leather and leather products........ 9.43 9.83 9.82 9.88 359.28 370.59 375.12 378.40
Service-producing....................... 12.50 12.89 12.93 12.98 411.25 422.79 422.81 425.74
Transportation and public utilities... $15.50 $15.76 $15.86 $15.89 $606.05 $605.18 $605.85 $607.00
Wholesale trade....................... 14.32 14.78 14.86 14.98 549.89 570.51 570.62 576.73
Retail trade.......................... 8.88 9.20 9.21 9.25 259.30 264.96 264.33 270.10
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 14.40 14.68 14.72 14.74 521.28 529.95 529.92 532.11
Services.............................. 13.18 13.54 13.60 13.71 429.67 442.76 444.72 448.32
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
Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. change
Industry 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p from:
Nov. 1999-
Dec. 1999
Total private:
Current dollars.............. $12.98 $13.29 $13.35 $13.39 $13.40 $13.46 0.4
Constant (1982) dollars2..... 7.81 7.87 7.86 7.87 7.86 N.A. (3)
Goods-producing............... 14.51 14.90 14.93 14.97 15.00 15.04 .3
Mining...................... 17.18 17.12 17.09 17.09 16.92 17.10 1.1
Construction................ 16.80 17.15 17.21 17.27 17.32 17.43 .6
Manufacturing............... 13.60 14.03 14.04 14.07 14.07 14.10 .2
Excluding overtime4....... 12.90 13.28 13.29 13.33 13.33 13.36 .2
Service-producing............. 12.49 12.79 12.85 12.89 12.90 12.97 .5
Transportation and public
utilities................ 15.47 15.70 15.76 15.76 15.80 15.89 .6
Wholesale trade............. 14.30 14.63 14.74 14.80 14.85 14.95 .7
Retail trade................ 8.89 9.13 9.15 9.18 9.20 9.26 .7
Finance, insurance, and real
estate................... 14.40 14.63 14.70 14.72 14.72 14.74 .1
Services.................... 13.08 13.44 13.49 13.55 13.55 13.62 .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 -.1 percent from October 1999 to November 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
Dec. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1998 1999 1999p 1999p 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999p 1999p
Total private.................... 147.8 150.0 149.9 150.5 146.6 148.4 148.2 148.8 149.2 149.3
Goods-producing......................... 116.7 117.6 117.2 116.0 115.5 114.3 114.6 114.7 115.6 114.7
Mining................................ 53.8 51.9 51.6 51.8 53.4 49.8 50.3 50.6 50.4 51.6
Construction.......................... 166.7 185.4 181.3 170.1 171.3 170.3 172.4 173.2 179.0 174.2
Manufacturing......................... 110.1 107.2 107.6 108.5 107.5 106.4 106.4 106.2 106.1 106.0
Durable goods........................ 114.5 111.1 111.8 113.1 111.5 111.2 110.9 110.5 110.4 110.0
Lumber and wood products............ 148.7 150.0 149.2 147.8 148.1 147.6 147.1 147.6 147.2 146.5
Furniture and fixtures.............. 139.7 138.1 137.8 142.0 134.6 137.5 137.5 137.4 136.1 137.5
Stone, clay, and glass products..... 117.2 119.8 119.5 114.7 118.1 116.8 117.0 116.2 118.1 115.7
Primary metal industries............ 92.7 90.0 91.3 92.8 90.4 90.4 90.2 89.8 90.2 90.6
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products....................... 68.7 69.4 70.3 72.0 68.0 70.0 69.9 69.9 70.5 71.1
Fabricated metal products........... 121.8 118.1 119.1 121.2 117.7 117.4 117.2 116.8 116.9 117.0
Industrial machinery and equipment.. 109.3 103.3 104.4 106.8 106.3 104.4 104.2 104.1 104.0 104.1
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................ 109.5 107.2 108.4 110.5 105.9 107.2 106.7 106.7 106.4 106.4
Transportation equipment............ 132.9 124.3 125.0 126.8 127.3 126.6 125.4 124.2 123.0 121.2
Motor vehicles and equipment...... 172.8 166.9 168.3 171.9 163.6 169.9 168.0 167.3 165.5 163.0
Instruments and related products.... 76.5 74.7 75.7 76.4 75.0 75.4 75.1 75.1 75.2 74.7
Miscellaneous manufacturing......... 101.3 103.6 102.7 101.6 100.3 101.1 101.3 100.8 100.3 100.9
Nondurable goods..................... 104.0 101.8 101.8 102.2 102.1 99.9 100.2 100.4 100.3 100.5
Food and kindred products........... 120.7 122.4 121.1 120.0 119.3 116.2 117.7 118.7 118.6 119.1
Tobacco products.................... 62.2 62.0 61.8 65.5 56.2 49.5 53.7 54.8 56.6 58.2
Textile mill products............... 84.7 80.6 80.9 81.2 83.4 80.0 79.5 80.0 79.9 80.2
Apparel and other textile products.. 64.3 59.1 58.4 58.2 63.4 58.6 58.6 58.1 57.7 57.6
Paper and allied products........... 109.5 106.0 106.3 107.7 107.1 105.9 105.6 105.2 105.4 105.3
Printing and publishing............. 126.4 123.1 124.1 124.9 123.0 122.1 122.1 122.6 121.8 121.5
Chemicals and allied products....... 104.1 102.8 103.8 104.7 102.2 102.3 102.7 102.8 103.3 103.0
Petroleum and coal products......... 77.5 75.2 73.5 73.1 79.4 72.5 73.9 73.2 72.4 75.1
Rubber and misc. plastics products.. 151.9 149.8 151.3 153.9 148.1 149.4 149.2 149.2 149.6 150.4
Leather and leather products........ 34.2 31.1 31.4 30.5 33.4 31.7 30.9 30.5 30.8 29.5
Service-producing....................... 161.7 164.5 164.6 166.0 160.5 163.7 163.3 164.1 164.2 164.8
Transportation and public utilities... 134.2 134.1 133.7 134.5 133.0 134.1 133.5 133.3 132.2 133.0
Wholesale trade....................... 130.2 134.2 133.5 133.6 130.2 132.5 133.1 133.8 133.1 133.7
Retail trade.......................... 146.8 142.8 144.7 149.4 140.9 143.8 142.6 143.1 143.1 143.9
Finance, insurance, and real estate... 137.9 139.0 138.9 139.6 138.9 140.7 140.2 140.5 139.8 140.4
Services.............................. 196.6 205.2 204.3 204.2 197.8 202.4 202.3 204.0 205.0 205.3
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 55.1 57.2 p58.7 p54.4
Over 3-month span:
1995.............. 63.8 62.9 58.0 53.5 53.9 52.7 59.3 61.0 59.4 58.6 57.3 55.3
1996.............. 62.6 62.5 63.3 63.1 63.1 64.3 64.3 62.2 64.6 64.2 66.2 63.2
1997.............. 63.8 63.6 67.7 67.3 62.6 61.7 61.4 66.2 67.3 69.9 70.8 71.2
1998.............. 66.7 66.2 64.5 63.9 61.4 58.7 60.0 58.4 57.6 57.6 59.0 60.4
1999.............. 60.7 55.9 59.6 54.6 56.3 56.2 56.2 59.0 57.4 p60.7 p59.8
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 57.4 56.9 p62.1 p60.0
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 57.0 57.6 p58.0 p58.7
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 42.8 48.9 p54.3 p48.9
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 44.6 38.5 p48.9 p50.7
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 34.5 36.3 p46.0 p45.0
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 28.4 29.5 p28.4 p30.9
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: February 04, 2000
URL: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/pub/empsit_1299.htm
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