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Technical Information: (202) 691-6467 USDL 03-521
http://www.bls.gov/bdm
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 Tuesday, September 30, 2003
NEW QUARTERLY DATA ON BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS FROM BLS
New quarterly data on business employment dynamics were issued today by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. These data
quantify the sizable number of jobs that appear and disappear in the U.S.
economy each quarter. From September 2002 to December 2002, the number of
job gains from opening and expanding establishments and the number of job
losses from closing and contracting establishments each were nearly 8
million. The data also show that the net employment declines associated
with the 2001 recession resulted from a large temporary increase in gross
job losses accompanied by a sharp decrease in gross job gains. As of
December 2002, gross job gains had not returned to pre-recession levels.
The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of
increases and decreases in employment that occur at all establishments
in the economy. The new data track these changes in employment at private
business establishments from one quarter to the next. In the new data
series, gross job gains are defined as increases in employment resulting
from expansions of employment at existing establishments or from the
opening of establishments. Gross job losses are defined as declines in
employment at existing establishments or from closing establishments. The
difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross
jobs lost is the net change in employment. These statistics show the
dynamic labor market changes that underlie the net employment change
statistic.
The new series on Business Employment Dynamics are derived from the
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), also known as the ES-202
program. This program is a quarterly census of all establishments under
state unemployment insurance programs, representing about 98 percent of
employment on nonfarm payrolls. The net change in employment from this new
data series will not match the estimates from employment series such as the
monthly Current Employment Statistics survey (CES) or the totals from the
QCEW program. The CES estimates are based on a sample of establishments,
while gross job gains and gross job losses are based on a quarterly census
of administrative records. In addition, the CES has a different coverage,
excluding the agriculture sector but including establishments not covered
by the unemployment insurance program. Business Employment Dynamics data
have a more limited scope than QCEW data. The data in this release, in
contrast to QCEW data, exclude government employees, private households
(NAICS 814110), and establishments with zero employment. See the Back-
ground section and the Technical Note for further information.
- 2 -
This first release of Business Employment Dynamics data covers the
period from September 1992 to December 2002. All totals in this release
are over-the-quarter changes based on the changes between the third months
of each quarter. All data referred to in the text are seasonally adjusted.
The tables accompanying this release provide both seasonally adjusted and
unadjusted data.
Fourth Quarter 2002
Opening and expanding private sector business establishments gained 7.7
million jobs in the fourth quarter of 2002, while closing and contracting
establishments lost 7.8 million jobs. This led to a net employment loss of
70,000 jobs. (See table A.) Expanding establishments gained 6.1 million
jobs in the quarter, while opening establishments accounted for a gain of
1.6 million jobs. Contracting establishments lost 6.2 million jobs, while
closing establishments accounted for a loss of 1.6 million jobs. Expanding
and contracting establishments accounted for most jobs gained and lost.
Table A. Private sector gross job gains and losses, seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3 months ended
Category |--------------------------------------
| Dec. | Mar. | June | Sept. | Dec.
| 2001 | 2002 | 2002 | 2002 | 2002
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | |
Gross job gains...................| 7,902 | 8,013 | 8,010 | 7,922 | 7,746
At expanding establishments.....| 6,083 | 6,200 | 6,223 | 6,208 | 6,114
At opening establishments.......| 1,819 | 1,813 | 1,787 | 1,714 | 1,632
|--------------------------------------
Gross job losses..................| 8,710 | 8,289 | 8,091 | 7,851 | 7,816
At contracting establishments...| 6,930 | 6,545 | 6,372 | 6,257 | 6,189
At closing establishments.......| 1,780 | 1,744 | 1,719 | 1,594 | 1,627
|--------------------------------------
Net employment change 1/..........| -808 | -276 | -81 | 71 | -70
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ The net employment change is the difference between total gross job
gains and total gross job losses.
Rates
From September to December 2002, gross job gains represented 7.2 per-
cent of private sector employment, while gross job losses represented 7.3
percent of private sector employment. (See table B.) The difference
between these two rates, -0.1 percent, is the percentage net change in
employment. The gross job gains rate indicates that 7.2 percent of jobs
in December 2002 did not exist in September 2002, and the gross job losses
rate indicates that 7.3 percent of jobs in September 2002 did not exist in
December 2002. These gross job gains and job losses statistics demonstrate
that a sizable number of jobs appear and disappear in the relatively short
time frame of one quarter. This reallocation of jobs across establishments
highlights the amount of job churning that underlies the quarterly net
employment change of -0.1 percent.
- 3 -
Table B. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of
employment, seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3 months ended
Category |--------------------------------------
| Dec. | Mar. | June | Sept. | Dec.
| 2001 | 2002 | 2002 | 2002 | 2002
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | |
Gross job gains...................| 7.3 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.2
At expanding establishments.....| 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7
At opening establishments.......| 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5
|--------------------------------------
Gross job losses..................| 8.0 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.3
At contracting establishments...| 6.4 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8
At closing establishments.......| 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5
|--------------------------------------
Net employment change 1/..........| -0.7 | -0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | -0.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ The net employment change is the difference between total gross job
gains and total gross job losses.
Establishment counts
Out of 6.4 million active establishments, a total of 1.8 million estab-
lishments gained jobs from September to December 2002. (See table C.)
Of these, 1.5 million were expanding establishments and 345,000 were
opening establishments. During the fourth quarter of 2002, 1.8 million
establishments lost jobs. Of these, 1.5 million were contracting estab-
lishments and 333,000 were closing establishments. The statistics from
tables A and C indicate that the average expanding establishment added 4.2
jobs during the quarter and the average contracting establishment lost 4.2
jobs during the quarter.
Table C. Number of private sector establishments by direction of employ-
ment change, seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3 months ended
Category |--------------------------------------
| Dec. | Mar. | June | Sept. | Dec.
| 2001 | 2002 | 2002 | 2002 | 2002
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | |
Establishments gaining jobs.......| 1,775 | 1,786 | 1,794 | 1,805 | 1,798
Expanding establishments........| 1,429 | 1,444 | 1,447 | 1,460 | 1,453
Opening establishments..........| 346 | 342 | 347 | 345 | 345
|--------------------------------------
Establishments losing jobs .......| 1,856 | 1,834 | 1,825 | 1,781 | 1,809
Contracting establishments......| 1,516 | 1,496 | 1,484 | 1,474 | 1,476
Closing establishments..........| 340 | 338 | 341 | 307 | 333
|--------------------------------------
Net establishment change 1/.......| 6 | 4 | 6 | 38 | 12
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ The net establishment change is the difference between the number of
opening establishments and the number of closing establishments.
- 4 -
These Business Employment Dynamics data add to the labor market statistics
currently available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The more tradition-
al measure of net employment change indicates that employment fell by 70,000
jobs during the fourth quarter of 2002. The gross job gains and job losses
statistics indicate that this net employment loss is the result of 6.1 million
jobs added at 1.5 million expanding establishments, 1.6 million jobs added at
345,000 opening establishments, 6.2 million jobs lost at 1.5 million contract-
ing establishments, and 1.6 million jobs lost at 333,000 closing establish-
ments. These large gross job flows that underlie the substantially smaller
net job changes cannot be observed in the cross-sectional statistics.
September 1992 - December 2002
The level of gross job gains exceeded the level of gross job losses
every quarter from September 1992 through December 2000, leading to a net
increase in the number of jobs. (See table 1.) The gross job gains and
job losses series crossed in March 2001, and the level of gross job losses
exceeded the level of gross job gains for six consecutive quarters through
the second quarter of 2002.
Gross job gains peaked in the fourth quarter of 1999 at a level of 9.1
million jobs. In the fourth quarter of 2002, gross job gains were at a
level of 7.8 million jobs, the lowest since the second quarter of 1995.
Gross job losses peaked in the second quarter of 2001 at a level of 9.0
million jobs and declined every quarter through the fourth quarter of 2002.
(See table 1.)
Gross job gains at expanding establishments moved in the same direction
as total gross job gains, and gross job losses at contracting establishments
were similar to changes in total gross job losses. The number of jobs gained
at opening establishments exceeded the number of jobs lost at closing estab-
lishments except during the 2001 recession. (See table 1.)
The business cycle is reflected in the gross job gains and losses sta-
tistics. The increasing net employment losses during the first two quarters
of 2001 were characterized by increasing gross job losses and declining gross
job gains, with a continued decline in gross job gains in the third quarter
of 2001. The four quarters of data for 2002 indicate that gross job losses
declined and gross job gains did not return to their pre-recession levels.
Background
The Business Employment Dynamics statistics track changes in employment
at the establishment level, revealing the dynamics underlying net changes
in employment.
The Business Employment Dynamics data are based on data collected in the
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), or ES-202, program. These
data are the result of a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) and State Employment Security Agencies. The data include
all establishments subject to state unemployment insurance (UI) laws and
federal agencies subject to the Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees (UCFE) program. Each quarter, the state agencies edit and
process the data and send the information to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Gross job gains and job losses are based on employment levels in the third
month of each quarter.
- 5 -
The Business Employment Dynamics totals require that establishment data
be linked across quarters. This longitudinal aspect of the data allows the
tracking of when establishments open, close, expand, or contract their
employment. The linkage process is described in the Technical Note. There
are four types of gross job flows: employment gains at opening establishments,
employment expansions at existing establishments, employment losses at closing
establishments, and employment contractions at existing establishments. In-
creases in employment at opening and expanding establishments sum to measure
gross job gains. Declines in employment at closing and contracting establish-
ments sum to measure gross job losses. The more traditional measure of net
change in employment is the difference between the number of jobs gained and
the number of jobs lost.
Currently, data on gross job gains and gross job losses are available as
levels and as rates for the private sector. The rates measure gross job
gains and gross losses and their components as a percentage of the average
of the previous and current quarter employment. This differs from the
traditional calculation of a percentage rate (which would divide only by
previous quarter employment) and provides a symmetric treatment of the
growth of opening and closing establishments.
Estimates are available with and without seasonal adjustment. Seasonal
adjustment is run concurrently and models are updated annually. The first
update in seasonal adjustment models will be with the release of first
quarter 2004 data.
Uses of the Data
As the quarterly time series on Business Employment Dynamics grows
longer, their value in assessing the business cycle, the level of labor
market volatility, and the effect of establishment employment changes on
aggregate employment will increase. The gross job gain and gross job loss
statistics will be particularly useful in highlighting the forces behind
net changes in employment. In addition, these estimates will highlight the
importance of job changes at opening and closing establishments relative to
changes at existing establishments.
The Business Employment Dynamics data should help economists, policy-
makers, and the business community develop a more complete understanding
of business cycles. It can show whether net employment changes over the
course of the business cycle are due to changes in the pace of job gains
or of job losses.
Future Releases
BLS plans to update the series on Business Employment Dynamics on a
quarterly basis with a news release. BLS also plans to develop data for
the 50 states and the District of Columbia and to release estimates based
on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and establish-
ment size class data in the future. In future months, please refer to the
BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov for updates of the Business Employment
Dynamics series.
For more information, please see the Technical Note of this release
or the Business Employment Dynamics Web page at the BLS Web site
http://www.bls.gov/bdm. Additional information about Business Employment
Dynamics may be obtained by e-mailing BDMinfo@bls.gov.
- 6 -
Technical Note
The Business Employment Dynamics data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing administrative records. These records
are the product of a federal-state cooperative program known as the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), or the ES-202 program. The data are
derived from summaries of employment of workers covered by unemployment
insurance (UI) legislation and provided by State Employment Security
Agencies (SESAs). The summaries are a byproduct of the administration of
state unemployment insurance programs that require most employers to pay
quarterly taxes based on the employment and wages of workers covered by UI.
The administrative records are linked across quarters to provide a
longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows
the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which
in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding
establishments and jobs lost at closing and contracting establishments.
Coverage
Employment and wage data for workers covered by state UI and Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) laws are compiled from quarterly
contribution reports submitted to the SESAs by employers. In addition to
the quarterly contribution reports, employers who operate multiple establish-
ments within a state complete a questionnaire, called the "Multiple Worksite
Report," which provides detailed information on the location of their estab-
lishments. These reports are based on place of employment rather than place
of residence. UI and UCFE coverage is broad and basically comparable from
state to state.
Major exclusions from UI coverage are self-employed workers, religious
organizations, most agricultural workers on small farms, all members of the
Armed Forces, elected officials in most states, most employees of railroads,
some domestic workers, most student workers at schools, and employees of
certain small nonprofit organizations.
Gross job gains and gross job losses in this release are derived from
longitudinal histories of over 6.4 million private sector employer reports
out of 8.2 million total reports of employment and wages submitted by states
to BLS in the fourth quarter 2002. Gross job gains and gross job losses data
in this release do not report estimates for government employees or private
households (NAICS 814110) and do not include establishments with zero employ-
ment over three quarters. Data from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also
are excluded from the national data. The table below shows, in millions of
establishments, the number of establishments excluded from the gross job
gains and gross job losses data in the fourth quarter 2002:
- 7 -
Number of active establishments included in
the Business Employment Dynamics data
Millions
Total establishments ES-202 program.................................8.2
Excluded: Public sector....................................... 0.3
Private households.................................. 0.5
Zero employment..................................... 1.0
Establishments in Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands............................ 0.0*
Total establishments included in the Business
Employment Dynamics data......................................... 6.4
*Approximately 48,000 establishments.
Concepts and methodology
The Business Employment Dynamics data measure the net change in employment
at the establishment level. These changes come about in one of four ways.
A net increase in employment can come from either opening establishments or
expanding establishments. A net decrease in employment can come from either
closing establishments or contracting establishments. Gross job gains in-
clude the sum of all jobs added at either opening or expanding establishments.
Gross job losses include the sum of all jobs lost in either closing or con-
tracting establishments. The net change in employment is the difference
between gross job gains and gross job losses.
The formal definitions of establishment-level employment changes are as
follows:
Openings. These are either establishments with positive third month
employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the
prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current
quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.
Expansions. These are establishments with positive employment in the
third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase
in employment over this period.
Closings. These are either establishments with positive third month
employment in the previous quarter, with no positive employment reported
in the current quarter, or with positive third month employment in the
previous quarter followed by zero employment in the current quarter.
Contractions. These are establishments with positive employment in the
third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease
in employment over this period.
All establishment-level employment changes are measured from the third
month of each quarter. Not all establishments change their employment
levels; these establishments count towards estimates of total employment,
but not for levels of gross job gains and gross job losses.
Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing
their levels by the average of total private employment in the current and
previous quarters. This provides a symmetric growth rate. The rates are
calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and
then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and
subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between
the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth
rate.
- 8 -
The linkage process matches establishments' unique SESA identification
numbers (SESA-ID). Between 95 to 97 percent of establishments identified
as continuous from quarter to quarter are matched by SESA-ID. The rest are
linked in one of three ways. The first method uses predecessor and successor
information, identified by the states, which relates records with different
SESA-IDs across quarters. Predecessor and successor relations can come about
for a variety of reasons, including a change in ownership, a firm restruc-
turing, or a UI account restructuring. If a match cannot be attained in this
manner, a probability-based match is used. This match attempts to identify
two establishments with different SESA-IDs as continuous. The match is based
upon comparisons such as the same name, address, and phone number. Third,
an analyst examines unmatched records individually and makes a possible match.
In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, SESAs verify with
employers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and ownership
classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establish-
ment classification codes resulting from the verification process are intro-
duced with the data reported for the first quarter of the year. Changes re-
sulting from improved employer reporting also are introduced in the first
quarter.
Seasonal adjustment
Over the course of a year, the levels of employment and the associated
job flows undergo sharp fluctuations due to such seasonal events as changes
in the 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.
Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each
year, their influence can be adjusted from quarter to quarter. These adjust-
ments make nonseasonal developments, such as declines in economic activity,
easier to recognize. For example, the large number of youths taking summer
jobs is likely to obscure other changes that have taken place in June rela-
tive to March, making it difficult to determine if the level of economic ac-
tivity has risen or declined. However, because the effect of students finish-
ing school in previous years is known, the statistics for the current year
can be adjusted to allow for a comparable change. The adjusted figures pro-
vide a more useful tool with which to analyze changes in economic activity.
The employment data series for opening, expanding, closing, and con-
tracting establishments are independently adjusted and the net changes
are calculated based on the difference between gross job gains and gross
job losses. Similarly, the establishment data for opening, expanding,
closing, and contracting establishments are independently adjusted, and
the net changes are calculated based on the difference between the number
of opening and closing establishments. Also, both total private establish-
ment and employment levels are independently seasonally adjusted to calcu-
late the seasonally adjusted rates. Seasonal adjustment is run concurrently
using X-12 ARIMA.
- 9 -
Reliability of the data
Since the data series on Business Employment Dynamics are based on
administrative rather than sample data, there are no issues related to
sampling error. Nonsampling error, however, still exists. Nonsampling
errors can occur for many reasons, such as the employer submitting cor-
rected employment data after the end of the quarter or typographical er-
rors made by businesses when providing information. Such errors, however,
are likely to be distributed randomly throughout the dataset.
Changes in administrative data sometimes create complications for the
linkage process, slightly overstating openings and closings while slightly
understating expansions and contractions. This is a product of working
with such a vast array of administrative data, and the BLS continues to
search for means of adjusting the linkage process to alleviate the effects
of these complications.
Additional statistics and other information
Several other programs within BLS produce closely related information.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) program provides monthly
measures of job openings, as well as employee hires and separations. The
Current Employment Statistics program releases monthly estimates of employ-
ment, its net change, and earnings by detailed industry. These estimates
are part of The Employment Situation report put out monthly by BLS. Finally,
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, or ES-202 program, provides
both quarterly and annual estimates of employment by state, county, and de-
tailed industry.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
number: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and job losses, seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
Gross job gains Gross job losses
Year 3 months ended Net change (1) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 276 7,233 5,528 1,705 6,957 5,362 1,595
December 344 7,162 5,504 1,658 6,818 5,428 1,390
1993 March 534 7,511 5,532 1,979 6,977 5,318 1,659
June 636 7,290 5,757 1,533 6,654 5,260 1,394
September 709 7,383 5,770 1,613 6,674 5,322 1,352
December 754 7,481 5,876 1,605 6,727 5,357 1,370
1994 March 643 7,502 5,880 1,622 6,859 5,401 1,458
June 880 7,761 6,033 1,728 6,881 5,400 1,481
September 1,025 7,838 6,121 1,717 6,813 5,493 1,320
December 614 7,682 6,044 1,638 7,068 5,602 1,466
1995 March 830 7,858 6,180 1,678 7,028 5,647 1,381
June 307 7,705 6,020 1,685 7,398 5,934 1,464
September 673 7,873 6,211 1,662 7,200 5,667 1,533
December 570 8,023 6,287 1,736 7,453 5,916 1,537
1996 March 432 7,980 6,262 1,718 7,548 6,030 1,518
June 594 8,111 6,329 1,782 7,517 5,961 1,556
September 590 8,146 6,285 1,861 7,556 5,988 1,568
December 827 8,267 6,390 1,877 7,440 5,906 1,534
1997 March 823 8,305 6,463 1,842 7,482 5,886 1,596
June 627 8,139 6,386 1,753 7,512 5,924 1,588
September 876 8,608 6,674 1,934 7,732 5,972 1,760
December 642 8,673 6,674 1,999 8,031 6,098 1,933
1998 March 777 8,829 6,668 2,161 8,052 6,120 1,932
June 677 8,739 6,601 2,138 8,062 6,191 1,871
September 759 8,587 6,600 1,987 7,828 6,123 1,705
December 619 8,482 6,704 1,778 7,863 6,115 1,748
1999 March 401 8,804 6,720 2,084 8,403 6,454 1,949
June 587 8,806 6,803 2,003 8,219 6,383 1,836
September 752 8,938 6,931 2,007 8,186 6,335 1,851
December 950 9,066 7,046 2,020 8,116 6,303 1,813
2000 March 719 8,847 6,938 1,909 8,128 6,414 1,714
June 534 8,723 6,938 1,785 8,189 6,463 1,726
September 407 8,854 6,930 1,924 8,447 6,620 1,827
December 301 8,680 6,867 1,813 8,379 6,594 1,785
2001 March -281 8,474 6,700 1,774 8,755 6,883 1,872
June -782 8,217 6,413 1,804 8,999 7,115 1,884
September -1,080 7,898 6,104 1,794 8,978 7,060 1,918
December -808 7,902 6,083 1,819 8,710 6,930 1,780
2002 March -276 8,013 6,200 1,813 8,289 6,545 1,744
June -81 8,010 6,223 1,787 8,091 6,372 1,719
September 71 7,922 6,208 1,714 7,851 6,257 1,594
December -70 7,746 6,114 1,632 7,816 6,189 1,627
(1) Net change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses.
Table 2. Private sector gross job gains and job losses, not seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
Gross job gains Gross job losses
Year 3 months ended Net change (1) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 32 6,695 5,186 1,509 6,663 5,253 1,410
December 141 7,017 5,547 1,470 6,876 5,573 1,303
1993 March -1,673 6,817 4,706 2,111 8,490 6,319 2,171
June 3,266 8,712 6,929 1,783 5,446 4,234 1,212
September 412 6,832 5,408 1,424 6,420 5,223 1,197
December 580 7,345 5,921 1,424 6,765 5,483 1,282
1994 March -1,573 6,762 5,027 1,735 8,335 6,423 1,912
June 3,606 9,244 7,237 2,007 5,638 4,354 1,284
September 664 7,236 5,726 1,510 6,572 5,401 1,171
December 477 7,551 6,097 1,454 7,074 5,705 1,369
1995 March -1,400 7,133 5,327 1,806 8,533 6,718 1,815
June 3,062 9,135 7,182 1,953 6,073 4,807 1,266
September 295 7,238 5,786 1,452 6,943 5,581 1,362
December 492 7,913 6,371 1,542 7,421 5,990 1,431
1996 March -1,878 7,297 5,430 1,867 9,175 7,173 2,002
June 3,375 9,575 7,520 2,055 6,200 4,861 1,339
September 134 7,433 5,822 1,611 7,299 5,901 1,398
December 809 8,181 6,508 1,673 7,372 5,951 1,421
1997 March -1,448 7,650 5,630 2,020 9,098 6,986 2,112
June 3,342 9,577 7,565 2,012 6,235 4,875 1,360
September 346 7,809 6,149 1,660 7,463 5,885 1,578
December 727 8,621 6,830 1,791 7,894 6,118 1,776
1998 March -1,613 8,204 5,819 2,385 9,817 7,247 2,570
June 3,543 10,266 7,823 2,443 6,723 5,129 1,594
September 150 7,741 6,045 1,696 7,591 6,049 1,542
December 774 8,474 6,873 1,601 7,700 6,109 1,591
1999 March -2,032 8,186 5,881 2,305 10,218 7,621 2,597
June 3,485 10,362 8,076 2,286 6,877 5,311 1,566
September 62 8,023 6,317 1,706 7,961 6,278 1,683
December 1,097 9,032 7,208 1,824 7,935 6,298 1,637
2000 March -1,607 8,208 6,097 2,111 9,815 7,532 2,283
June 3,443 10,307 8,269 2,038 6,864 5,385 1,479
September -332 7,917 6,285 1,632 8,249 6,583 1,666
December 400 8,628 6,986 1,642 8,228 6,622 1,606
2001 March -2,622 7,880 5,924 1,956 10,502 8,018 2,484
June 2,173 9,735 7,671 2,064 7,562 5,936 1,626
September -1,734 7,040 5,519 1,521 8,774 7,023 1,751
December -828 7,795 6,147 1,648 8,623 7,026 1,597
2002 March -2,363 7,506 5,512 1,994 9,869 7,560 2,309
June 2,704 9,512 7,463 2,049 6,808 5,317 1,491
September -618 7,059 5,605 1,454 7,677 6,223 1,454
December -148 7,629 6,151 1,478 7,777 6,318 1,459
(1) See footnote 1, table 1.
Table 3. Private sector gross job gains and losses, as a percent of employment, (1) seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
Gross job gains Gross job losses
Year 3 months ended Net change (2) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 0.3 8.1 6.2 1.9 7.8 6.0 1.8
December 0.2 7.9 6.1 1.8 7.7 6.1 1.6
1993 March 0.6 8.3 6.1 2.2 7.7 5.9 1.8
June 0.8 8.1 6.4 1.7 7.3 5.8 1.5
September 0.8 8.1 6.3 1.8 7.3 5.8 1.5
December 0.8 8.1 6.4 1.7 7.3 5.8 1.5
1994 March 0.7 8.1 6.3 1.8 7.4 5.8 1.6
June 0.9 8.3 6.5 1.8 7.4 5.8 1.6
September 1.1 8.3 6.5 1.8 7.2 5.8 1.4
December 0.6 8.0 6.3 1.7 7.4 5.9 1.5
1995 March 0.8 8.1 6.4 1.7 7.3 5.9 1.4
June 0.3 7.9 6.2 1.7 7.6 6.1 1.5
September 0.7 8.1 6.4 1.7 7.4 5.8 1.6
December 0.5 8.2 6.4 1.8 7.7 6.1 1.6
1996 March 0.6 8.2 6.4 1.8 7.6 6.1 1.5
June 0.6 8.2 6.4 1.8 7.6 6.0 1.6
September 0.6 8.2 6.3 1.9 7.6 6.0 1.6
December 0.9 8.3 6.4 1.9 7.4 5.9 1.5
1997 March 0.8 8.2 6.4 1.8 7.4 5.8 1.6
June 0.6 8.0 6.3 1.7 7.4 5.8 1.6
September 0.9 8.4 6.5 1.9 7.5 5.8 1.7
December 0.6 8.4 6.5 1.9 7.8 5.9 1.9
1998 March 0.7 8.5 6.4 2.1 7.8 5.9 1.9
June 0.6 8.3 6.3 2.0 7.7 5.9 1.8
September 0.8 8.2 6.3 1.9 7.4 5.8 1.6
December 0.5 8.0 6.3 1.7 7.5 5.8 1.7
1999 March 0.4 8.3 6.3 2.0 7.9 6.1 1.8
June 0.6 8.3 6.4 1.9 7.7 6.0 1.7
September 0.7 8.3 6.4 1.9 7.6 5.9 1.7
December 0.9 8.4 6.5 1.9 7.5 5.8 1.7
2000 March 0.6 8.1 6.4 1.7 7.5 5.9 1.6
June 0.4 7.9 6.3 1.6 7.5 5.9 1.6
September 0.3 8.0 6.3 1.7 7.7 6.0 1.7
December 0.2 7.8 6.2 1.6 7.6 6.0 1.6
2001 March -0.2 7.7 6.1 1.6 7.9 6.2 1.7
June -0.8 7.4 5.8 1.6 8.2 6.5 1.7
September -1.1 7.2 5.6 1.6 8.3 6.5 1.8
December -0.7 7.3 5.6 1.7 8.0 6.4 1.6
2002 March -0.2 7.5 5.8 1.7 7.7 6.1 1.6
June 0.0 7.5 5.8 1.7 7.5 5.9 1.6
September 0.1 7.4 5.8 1.6 7.3 5.8 1.5
December -0.1 7.2 5.7 1.5 7.3 5.8 1.5
(1) The rates measure gross job gains and job losses as a percentage of the average of the previous and current employment.
(2) See footnote 1, table 1.
Table 4. Private sector gross job gains and losses, as a percent of employment, (1) not seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
Gross job gains Gross job losses
Year 3 months ended Net change (2) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 0.1 7.5 5.8 1.7 7.4 5.8 1.6
December 0.2 7.8 6.2 1.6 7.6 6.2 1.4
1993 March -1.8 7.7 5.3 2.4 9.5 7.1 2.4
June 3.7 9.7 7.7 2.0 6.0 4.7 1.3
September 0.4 7.4 5.9 1.5 7.0 5.7 1.3
December 0.6 7.9 6.4 1.5 7.3 5.9 1.4
1994 March -1.7 7.4 5.5 1.9 9.1 7.0 2.1
June 3.9 10.0 7.8 2.2 6.1 4.7 1.4
September 0.7 7.6 6.0 1.6 6.9 5.7 1.2
December 0.5 7.9 6.4 1.5 7.4 6.0 1.4
1995 March -1.5 7.5 5.6 1.9 9.0 7.1 1.9
June 3.2 9.5 7.5 2.0 6.3 5.0 1.3
September 0.3 7.4 5.9 1.5 7.1 5.7 1.4
December 0.5 8.1 6.5 1.6 7.6 6.1 1.5
1996 March -2.0 7.5 5.6 1.9 9.5 7.4 2.1
June 3.5 9.8 7.7 2.1 6.3 4.9 1.4
September 0.1 7.4 5.8 1.6 7.3 5.9 1.4
December 0.9 8.2 6.5 1.7 7.3 5.9 1.4
1997 March -1.5 7.6 5.6 2.0 9.1 7.0 2.1
June 3.4 9.5 7.5 2.0 6.1 4.8 1.3
September 0.4 7.6 6.0 1.6 7.2 5.7 1.5
December 0.7 8.3 6.6 1.7 7.6 5.9 1.7
1998 March -1.6 7.9 5.6 2.3 9.5 7.0 2.5
June 3.4 9.8 7.5 2.3 6.4 4.9 1.5
September 0.1 7.3 5.7 1.6 7.2 5.7 1.5
December 0.8 8.0 6.5 1.5 7.2 5.7 1.5
1999 March -1.9 7.8 5.6 2.2 9.7 7.2 2.5
June 3.2 9.7 7.6 2.1 6.5 5.0 1.5
September 0.0 7.4 5.8 1.6 7.4 5.8 1.6
December 1.0 8.3 6.6 1.7 7.3 5.8 1.5
2000 March -1.5 7.5 5.6 1.9 9.0 6.9 2.1
June 3.2 9.5 7.6 1.9 6.3 4.9 1.4
September -0.2 7.2 5.7 1.5 7.4 5.9 1.5
December 0.4 7.8 6.3 1.5 7.4 6.0 1.4
2001 March -2.4 7.2 5.4 1.8 9.6 7.3 2.3
June 2.0 8.9 7.0 1.9 6.9 5.4 1.5
September -1.6 6.4 5.0 1.4 8.0 6.4 1.6
December -0.8 7.2 5.7 1.5 8.0 6.5 1.5
2002 March -2.2 7.1 5.2 1.9 9.3 7.1 2.2
June 2.5 8.9 7.0 1.9 6.4 5.0 1.4
September -0.6 6.5 5.2 1.3 7.1 5.8 1.3
December -0.2 7.1 5.7 1.4 7.3 5.9 1.4
(1) See footnote 1, table 3.
(2) See footnote 1, table 1.
Table 5. Number of private sector establishments by direction of employment change, seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
Establishments gaining jobs Establishments losing jobs
Year 3 months ended Net change (1) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 11 1,576 1,287 289 1,541 1,263 278
December 24 1,591 1,294 297 1,534 1,261 273
1993 March 32 1,614 1,310 304 1,537 1,265 272
June 26 1,631 1,337 294 1,521 1,253 268
September 37 1,647 1,348 299 1,530 1,268 262
December 23 1,655 1,365 290 1,544 1,277 267
1994 March 13 1,644 1,356 288 1,576 1,301 275
June 29 1,700 1,390 310 1,570 1,289 281
September 38 1,715 1,404 311 1,579 1,306 273
December 13 1,693 1,394 299 1,613 1,327 286
1995 March 31 1,717 1,411 306 1,616 1,341 275
June 26 1,697 1,390 307 1,640 1,359 281
September 7 1,715 1,412 303 1,649 1,353 296
December 23 1,726 1,409 317 1,656 1,362 294
1996 March 15 1,736 1,424 312 1,663 1,366 297
June 22 1,745 1,426 319 1,674 1,377 297
September 36 1,762 1,432 330 1,675 1,381 294
December 35 1,787 1,455 332 1,673 1,376 297
1997 March 31 1,801 1,471 330 1,683 1,384 299
June 18 1,783 1,463 320 1,702 1,400 302
September 17 1,810 1,482 328 1,706 1,395 311
December 9 1,818 1,482 336 1,736 1,409 327
1998 March 19 1,814 1,469 345 1,738 1,412 326
June 56 1,841 1,487 354 1,706 1,408 298
September 22 1,824 1,488 336 1,744 1,430 314
December 2 1,831 1,512 319 1,730 1,413 317
1999 March 11 1,827 1,493 334 1,766 1,443 323
June -1 1,847 1,506 341 1,785 1,443 342
September 16 1,860 1,510 350 1,783 1,449 334
December 36 1,903 1,539 364 1,758 1,430 328
2000 March 24 1,882 1,525 357 1,810 1,477 333
June 20 1,876 1,526 350 1,819 1,489 330
September 23 1,879 1,520 359 1,821 1,485 336
December 12 1,863 1,512 351 1,831 1,492 339
2001 March 5 1,849 1,502 347 1,841 1,499 342
June -3 1,811 1,473 338 1,861 1,520 341
September -8 1,774 1,435 339 1,878 1,531 347
December 6 1,775 1,429 346 1,856 1,516 340
2002 March 4 1,786 1,444 342 1,834 1,496 338
June 6 1,794 1,447 347 1,825 1,484 341
September 38 1,805 1,460 345 1,781 1,474 307
December 12 1,798 1,453 345 1,809 1,476 333
(1) Net change is the difference between the number of opening establishments and the number of closing establishments.
Table 6. Number of private sector establishments by direction of employment change, not seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
Establishments gaining jobs Establishments losing jobs
Year 3 months ended Net change (1) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 15 1,497 1,235 262 1,581 1,334 247
December 37 1,577 1,282 295 1,514 1,256 258
1993 March -61 1,481 1,189 292 1,735 1,382 353
June 103 1,857 1,522 335 1,304 1,072 232
September 37 1,565 1,295 270 1,572 1,339 233
December 36 1,643 1,354 289 1,525 1,272 253
1994 March -79 1,513 1,236 277 1,774 1,418 356
June 110 1,928 1,575 353 1,349 1,106 243
September 36 1,630 1,350 280 1,623 1,379 244
December 27 1,683 1,384 299 1,594 1,322 272
1995 March -61 1,585 1,291 294 1,812 1,457 355
June 108 1,925 1,575 350 1,414 1,172 242
September 6 1,627 1,355 272 1,694 1,428 266
December 38 1,720 1,402 318 1,636 1,356 280
1996 March -82 1,605 1,304 301 1,864 1,481 383
June 108 1,975 1,612 363 1,446 1,191 255
September 29 1,664 1,370 294 1,726 1,461 265
December 52 1,787 1,451 336 1,650 1,366 284
1997 March -67 1,669 1,351 318 1,884 1,499 385
June 105 2,014 1,651 363 1,470 1,212 258
September 9 1,706 1,415 291 1,761 1,479 282
December 31 1,823 1,481 342 1,706 1,395 311
1998 March -85 1,682 1,348 334 1,949 1,530 419
June 145 2,077 1,678 399 1,472 1,218 254
September 9 1,713 1,416 297 1,808 1,520 288
December 29 1,842 1,514 328 1,695 1,396 299
1999 March -92 1,695 1,372 323 1,978 1,563 415
June 93 2,083 1,700 383 1,540 1,250 290
September -4 1,742 1,434 308 1,854 1,542 312
December 70 1,917 1,541 376 1,719 1,413 306
2000 March -82 1,751 1,406 345 2,022 1,595 427
June 114 2,113 1,721 392 1,570 1,292 278
September -5 1,757 1,442 315 1,901 1,581 320
December 53 1,878 1,512 366 1,791 1,478 313
2001 March -104 1,720 1,386 334 2,050 1,612 438
June 91 2,045 1,668 377 1,607 1,321 286
September -38 1,654 1,357 297 1,964 1,629 335
December 50 1,788 1,426 362 1,819 1,507 312
2002 March -102 1,659 1,330 329 2,034 1,603 431
June 101 2,029 1,642 387 1,577 1,291 286
September 4 1,685 1,383 302 1,865 1,567 298
December 58 1,811 1,448 363 1,776 1,471 305
(1) See footnote 1, table 5.
Table 7. Private sector establishments by direction of employment change, as a percent of total establishments, (1)
seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
Establishments gaining jobs Establishments losing jobs
Year 3 months ended Net change (2) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 0.2 29.5 24.1 5.4 28.8 23.6 5.2
December 0.4 29.6 24.1 5.5 28.6 23.5 5.1
1993 March 0.6 29.8 24.2 5.6 28.4 23.4 5.0
June 0.5 29.9 24.5 5.4 27.9 23.0 4.9
September 0.6 30.0 24.6 5.4 27.9 23.1 4.8
December 0.4 29.9 24.7 5.2 27.9 23.1 4.8
1994 March 0.2 29.6 24.4 5.2 28.4 23.4 5.0
June 0.6 30.5 24.9 5.6 28.1 23.1 5.0
September 0.6 30.5 25.0 5.5 28.2 23.3 4.9
December 0.2 30.0 24.7 5.3 28.6 23.5 5.1
1995 March 0.6 30.3 24.9 5.4 28.4 23.6 4.8
June 0.5 29.7 24.3 5.4 28.7 23.8 4.9
September 0.1 29.9 24.6 5.3 28.8 23.6 5.2
December 0.4 30.0 24.5 5.5 28.8 23.7 5.1
1996 March 0.3 30.0 24.6 5.4 28.7 23.6 5.1
June 0.4 30.1 24.6 5.5 28.8 23.7 5.1
September 0.7 30.2 24.5 5.7 28.6 23.6 5.0
December 0.5 30.4 24.8 5.6 28.5 23.4 5.1
1997 March 0.5 30.5 24.9 5.6 28.5 23.4 5.1
June 0.3 30.0 24.6 5.4 28.7 23.6 5.1
September 0.3 30.3 24.8 5.5 28.6 23.4 5.2
December 0.1 30.4 24.8 5.6 29.0 23.5 5.5
1998 March 0.3 30.2 24.5 5.7 28.9 23.5 5.4
June 1.0 30.5 24.6 5.9 28.2 23.3 4.9
September 0.3 30.0 24.5 5.5 28.7 23.5 5.2
December 0.0 30.0 24.8 5.2 28.4 23.2 5.2
1999 March 0.2 29.9 24.4 5.5 28.9 23.6 5.3
June 0.0 30.2 24.6 5.6 29.2 23.6 5.6
September 0.3 30.3 24.6 5.7 29.0 23.6 5.4
December 0.6 30.9 25.0 5.9 28.5 23.2 5.3
2000 March 0.4 30.4 24.6 5.8 29.2 23.8 5.4
June 0.3 30.1 24.5 5.6 29.2 23.9 5.3
September 0.3 30.0 24.3 5.7 29.1 23.7 5.4
December 0.2 29.7 24.1 5.6 29.2 23.8 5.4
2001 March 0.1 29.4 23.9 5.5 29.2 23.8 5.4
June 0.0 28.8 23.4 5.4 29.5 24.1 5.4
September -0.1 28.2 22.8 5.4 29.8 24.3 5.5
December 0.1 28.2 22.7 5.5 29.5 24.1 5.4
2002 March 0.0 28.3 22.9 5.4 29.1 23.7 5.4
June 0.1 28.4 22.9 5.5 28.8 23.4 5.4
September 0.6 28.4 23.0 5.4 28.0 23.2 4.8
December 0.2 28.2 22.8 5.4 28.3 23.1 5.2
(1) The rates measure establishments gaining or losing jobs as a percentage of the average of previous and current quarter
total number of establishments.
(2) See footnote 1, table 5.
Table 8. Private sector establishments by direction of employment change, as a percent of total establishments, (1)
not seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
Establishments gaining jobs Establishments losing jobs
Year 3 months ended Net change (2) Total Expanding Opening Total Contracting Closing
establishments establishments establishments establishments
1992 September 0.3 27.9 23.0 4.9 29.4 24.8 4.6
December 0.7 29.2 23.7 5.5 28.1 23.3 4.8
1993 March -1.2 27.5 22.1 5.4 32.3 25.7 6.6
June 1.9 34.3 28.1 6.2 24.1 19.8 4.3
September 0.7 28.4 23.5 4.9 28.5 24.3 4.2
December 0.6 29.6 24.4 5.2 27.5 22.9 4.6
1994 March -1.4 27.4 22.4 5.0 32.0 25.6 6.4
June 2.0 34.8 28.4 6.4 24.3 19.9 4.4
September 0.7 28.9 23.9 5.0 28.8 24.5 4.3
December 0.5 29.7 24.4 5.3 28.1 23.3 4.8
1995 March -1.1 28.0 22.8 5.2 32.1 25.8 6.3
June 1.9 33.9 27.7 6.2 24.9 20.6 4.3
September 0.1 28.2 23.5 4.7 29.4 24.8 4.6
December 0.7 29.8 24.3 5.5 28.3 23.5 4.8
1996 March -1.5 27.8 22.6 5.2 32.4 25.7 6.7
June 1.9 34.2 27.9 6.3 25.0 20.6 4.4
September 0.5 28.4 23.4 5.0 29.4 24.9 4.5
December 0.9 30.3 24.6 5.7 27.9 23.1 4.8
1997 March -1.1 28.3 22.9 5.4 31.9 25.4 6.5
June 1.7 34.0 27.9 6.1 24.9 20.5 4.4
September 0.2 28.5 23.6 4.9 29.4 24.7 4.7
December 0.5 30.3 24.6 5.7 28.4 23.2 5.2
1998 March -1.4 28.1 22.5 5.6 32.6 25.6 7.0
June 2.4 34.5 27.9 6.6 24.4 20.2 4.2
September 0.2 28.1 23.2 4.9 29.6 24.9 4.7
December 0.5 30.1 24.7 5.4 27.7 22.8 4.9
1999 March -1.5 27.8 22.5 5.3 32.4 25.6 6.8
June 1.5 34.2 27.9 6.3 25.3 20.5 4.8
September -0.1 28.3 23.3 5.0 30.2 25.1 5.1
December 1.2 31.0 24.9 6.1 27.7 22.8 4.9
2000 March -1.3 28.3 22.7 5.6 32.7 25.8 6.9
June 1.8 34.0 27.7 6.3 25.3 20.8 4.5
September -0.1 28.0 23.0 5.0 30.3 25.2 5.1
December 0.8 29.8 24.0 5.8 28.5 23.5 5.0
2001 March -1.7 27.4 22.1 5.3 32.7 25.7 7.0
June 1.4 32.6 26.6 6.0 25.7 21.1 4.6
September -0.6 26.2 21.5 4.7 31.1 25.8 5.3
December 0.8 28.3 22.6 5.7 28.7 23.8 4.9
2002 March -1.6 26.3 21.1 5.2 32.3 25.5 6.8
June 1.6 32.1 26.0 6.1 25.0 20.5 4.5
September 0.0 26.4 21.7 4.7 29.3 24.6 4.7
December 0.9 28.3 22.6 5.7 27.8 23.0 4.8
(1) See footnote 1, table 7.
(2) See footnote 1, table 5.