Full text of The Employment Situation : August 1977

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News sag"* ^
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Contact:

J. Bregger (202)
K. Hoyle

(202)

home:

Washington, D.C. 20212

523-1944
523-1371
523-1913
523-1208
333-1384

USDL 77-770
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS
EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 A. M. (EDT), FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 2, 1977

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

AUGUST 1977

Both employment and unemployment rose in August, it was reported today by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U. S. Department of Labor.

The Nation ? s unemployment

rate increased slightly, returning to the June level of 7.1 percent.

The rate has

hovered around the 7-percent mark for the past 5 months.
Total employment—as measured by the monthly survey of households—resumed
advance in August with a modest increase of 210,000 to 90.8 million.

its

The number of

employed persons has grown by 2.9 million over the past year, while the proportion of
the population with jobs has increased from 56.2 to 57.1 percent.
Nonfarm payroll employment—as measured by the monthly survey of establishments—
was up only slightly (90,000) over the month.

At 82.4 million, the payroll job count

was 2.8 million above its year-ago level.
Unemployment
The number of unemployed persons rose by 180,000 in August to 6.9 million, seasonally adjusted.

The increase occurred primarily among persons losing their jobs, as

their proportion of the jobless total rose for the second consecutive month, to 47 percent.
The overall unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, up from 6.9 percent in July.

The

jobless rate has fluctuated around the 7-percent mark since April, after declining from
8 percent in the preceding 5-month period.

Nearly all worker groups shared in the over-

the-year improvement—two notable exceptions were blacks and Vietnam-era veterans.

(See

tables A-l, A-2, and A-5.)
The over-the-month increase in unemployment was concentrated among black workers.
14.5 percent in August, their unemployment rate matched the post-World War II high
recorded in September 1975.

Jobless rates were up for both black men (11.7 percent) and

women (12.2 percent), while the rate for black teenagers (40.4 percent) approximated




At

-

July's extremely high level.

2

-

By contrast, there was little change in the unemployment

rates among white men (4.5 percent), women

(6.3 percent), or teenagers

(14.7 percent).

As a result of these developments, the ratio of black-to-white jobless rates continued
its recent updrift to the unusually high level of 2.4 to 1 in August.

(See table A-2.)

The average (mean) duration of unemployment was 13.5 weeks in August, continuing a
downward trend that began in early 1976.

Average duration has declined about one and a

half weeks since May.
The number of persons working part time for economic reasons declined 170,000 from
July and stood at 3.2 million in August.
usually work at full-time jobs.

All of the decline occurred among those who

(See table A-3.)

Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
Monthly data

Quarterly averages
Selected categories
II

III

1977

1977

1976
IV

I

II

June

July

Aug.

97,641
90,679
6,962
58,686
N.A.

97,305
90,561
6,744
59,242
N.A.

97,697
90,771
6,926
59,064
N.A.

7.1
5.0
7.2
18.6
6.3
13.2
6.5

6.9
5.1
6.9
17.4
6.1
13.2
6.5

7.1
5.2
7.1
17.5
6.1
14.5
6.8

Thousands of persons

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Civilian labor force
Total employment
Unemployment
Not in labor force
Discouraged workers

94,544
87,501
7,043
59,032
903

95,261
87,804
7,457
58,963
827

95,711
88,133
7,578
59,132
992

96,067
88,998
7,068
59,379
92 9

97,186
90,370
6,816
58,908
1,061

Percent of labor force
Unemployment rates:
All workers
Adult men
Adult women
Teenagers
White
Black and other
Full-time workers
ESTABLISHMENT DATA

7.4
5.7
7.1
18.8
6.8
12.9
7.0

7.8
6.0
7.7
18.8
7.1
13.1
7.4

7.9
6.2
7.6
19.1
7.2
13.4
7.5

7.4
5.6
7.1
18.6
6.7
12.8
6.8

7.0
5.1
6.9
18.1
6.3
12.8
6.5

j
Thousands of jobs

1

Nonfarm payroll employment . . . | 79,333
Goods-producing industries . . . 23,380
Service-producing industries . . 55,953

79,683
23,372
56,311

80,090
23,440
56,650

80,927
23,765
57,162

81,909
24,292
57,617

82,121
24,353
57,768

82,366p 82,448p
24,419p 24,307p
57,947p 58,141p

Hours of work
Average weekly hours:
Total private nonfarm
Manufacturing
Manufacturing overtime
p-preliminary.




36.2
40.0
3.0

36.1
39.9
3.0

36.2
40.0
3.1

36.1
40.1
3.1

36.2
40.4
3.4

36.2
40.5
3.4

N . A . » n o t available.

36.lp
40.3p
3.4p

36.Op
40.lp
3.3p

Total Employment and the Labor Force
Total employment edged up by 210,000 in August to 90.8 million.

Except for a pause

in July, this continued the pattern of steady growth dating back to last fall.

All of

the increase in employment occurred among white workers—adult men and teenagers.
However, the employment-population r a t i o — t h e proportion of the total noninstitutional
population that is employed—remained at July's level of 57.1 percent.

Although there

has been little change since April, the August ratio was almost a full percentage point
above the year-ago level.

(See table A-l.)

The civilian labor force increased by 390,000 in August, following a 340,000 decline
in July.

Most of this increase occurred among teenagers, who had accounted for the July

reduction.

The total civilian labor force has shown strong gains throughout most of 1977

and over the past 12 months has grown by .2.3 million.

The labor force participation,

rate, at 62.3 percent, was little changed from July but half a point higher than the
year-earlier rate.
Industry Payroll Employment
Reflecting divergent movements in goods- and service-producing employment, total
nonagricultural payroll employment grew slightly in August.

Over-the-month employment

gains were posted in 41 percent of the industries comprising the BLS diffusion index of
nonagricultural payroll employment; the index had dropped this low only one other time
during the past 2 years.

Substantial gains during 10 of the past 12 months, however,

have raised the payroll job count 2.8 million over the year to the seasonally-adjusted
August level of 82.4 million.

(See tables B-l and B-6.)

The modest rise in overall payroll employment in August resulted from an increase
in the service-producing sector's job count, which more than offset the employment
declines in the goods sector.

The service-producing sector posted its largest increase

in 5 months, adding nearly 200,000 jobs.

Employment growth was particularly strong in

services and trade.
The goods-producing sector registered its first setback since October, declining
by more than 100,000 jobs.

Manufacturing dropped back to its May level, primarily due

to reductions in nondurable goods.




Contract construction suffered a loss of some of its

prior month's gain, but the industry's employment remained well above the levels prevailing in 1976 and early 1977.
Hours
For the third consecutive month, the average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls dropped a tenth of an hour.

The

August level of 36.0 hours, seasonally adjusted, was the lowest since last September
(with the exception of January's weather-induced low).
declined 0.2 hour in August to 40.1 hours.
fifth straight month.

The manufacturing workweek

Manufacturing overtime was 3.4 hours for the

(See table B-2.)

The index of aggregate weekly hours of private production or nonsupervisory workers
on nonagricultural payrolls declined 0.3 percent in August.

The drop was concentrated in

the goods-producing sector, with the manufacturing index dropping 1.1 percent.

The over-

all index, which is regarded as the most comprehensive measure of labor force activity,
has been declining since May, following strong growth earlier in 1977.
100), the index was still 3.1 percent above last August's level.

At 115.3 (1967=

(See table B-5.)

Hourly and Weekly Earnings
On a seasonally-adjusted basis, average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls held steady over the month, while
weekly earnings experienced a moderate decline.
similar drop in weekly hours.

The 0.3-percent decrease reflects a

Hourly and weekly earnings were 7.1 and 6.8 percent above

their respective levels of a year ago.
Before adjustment for seasonality, average hourly earnings were $5.23 in August,
down 1 cent from July but up 34 cents from the level 12 months earlier.

Average weekly

earnings, at $190.37, declined 89 cents over the month but were $11.40 above the
August 1976 level.

(See table B-3.)

The Hourly Earnings Index
The Hourly Earnings Index—earnings adjusted for overtime in manufacturing, seasonality, and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and low-wage
industries—was 199.1 (1967=100) in August, 0.1 percent higher than in July.
was 6.6 percent above August a year ago.




The index

During the 12-month period ended in July, the

-

5

-

Hourly Earnings Index in dollars of constant purchasing power rose 0.3 percent.
table B-4.)




(See

Explanatory Note
This release presents and analyzes statistics f r o m t w o
major surveys. Data on labor f o r c e , total e m p l o y m e n t , and

includes

all

persons w h o

satisfactorily

meet the

criteria, regardless of their eligibility f o r

above

unemployment

tables) are derived f r o m the Current

insurance benefits or any kind of public assistance. T h e

Population Survey, a sample survey of households conducted

unemployment rate represents the unemployed as a pro-

unemployment
by

(A

the Bureau

of the Census for the Bureau of

Labor

Statistics. T h e sample consists of about 47,000 households
selected

to

represent

the

U.S.

civilian

noninstitutional

portion of the civilian labor f o r c e (the e m p l o y e d and unemployed combined).
T o meet the extensive needs of data users, the Bureau
regularly publishes data on a wide variety of labor market

population 16 years of age and over.
Statistics on nonagricultural payroll e m p l o y m e n t , hours,

indicators—see,

f o r example, the demographic, occupa-

and earnings (B tables) are collected by the Bureau of Labor

tional, and industry detail in tables A-2 and A-3. A special

Statistics, in cooperation with State agencies, f r o m payroll

grouping of seven unemployment measures is set forth in

records

of

a

sample

of

approximately

165,000

estab-

table A - 7 .

Identified

by

the symbols U-1 through

U-7,

lishments. Unless otherwise indicated, data f o r both series

these measures represent a range of possible definitions of

relate t o the week containing the 12th day of the specified

unemployment and of the labor force, extending f r o m the
most restrictive (U-1) t o the most comprehensive (U-7). T h e

month.

official rate of unemployment appears as U-5.

Comparability of household and payroll employment
statistics „

Seasonal adjustment

Employment data f r o m the household and payroll surveys differ in several basic respects. T h e household survey
provides information

on the labor f o r c e activity of

the

entire population 16 years of age and over, without duplication, since each person is classified as e m p l o y e d , unemployed, or not in the labor f o r c e .
T h e payroll survey relates only t o paid wage and salary
employees (regardless of age) on the payrolls of nonagricultural establishments. The household survey counts employed persons in both agriculture and in nonagricultural
industries and, in addition to wage and salary workers (including

private

employed,

household

workers),

includes

the

self-

unpaid family workers, and persons " w i t h a

job but not at w o r k " and not paid f o r the period absent.
Persons w h o worked at more than one j o b during the survey week or otherwise appear on more than one payroll are
counted more than once in the establishment survey. Such
persons are counted only once in the household survey and
are classified in the job at which they worked the greatest
number of hours.

Unemployment
T o be classified in the household survey as unemployed

Nearly all economic phenomena are affected to some
degree by

seasonal

variations. These are recurring, pre-

dictable events which are repeated more or less regularly
each y e a r — c h a n g e s

in weather, school vacations, major

holidays, industry production schedules, etc. T h e cumulative
effects of these events are often large. For example, on average over the year, they explain about 90 percent o f the
month-to-month

variance

in the

unemployment

figures.

Since seasonal variations tend to be large relative t o the
underlying cyclical trends, it is necessary to use seasonallyadjusted data to interpret short-term economic
ments. A t

the

develop-

beginning of each year, current seasonal

adjustment factors f o r unemployment and other labor f o r c e
series are calculated taking into account the prior year's
experience, and revised data are introduced in the release
containing January data.
All seasonally-adjusted civilian labor force and unemployment rate statistics, as well as the major e m p l o y m e n t
and unemployment estimates, are computed by aggregating
independently adjusted series. T h e official unemployment
rate f o r all civilian workers is derived by dividing the estimate f o r total unemployment (the sum of four seasonallyadjusted age-sex components) by the civilian labor force

an individual must: ( 1 ) have been without a j o b during the

(the sum of

survey w e e k , ( 2 ) have made specific e f f o r t s t o find em-

Several

ployment sometime during the prior 4 weeks, and ( 3 ) be

overall unemployment rate are also used on a regular basis

presently available f o r w o r k . In addition, persons on lay-

in order t o illustrate the degree of uncertainty that arises

12 seasonally-adjusted age-sex components).

alternative

methods for seasonally adjusting the

o f f and those waiting t o begin a new j o b (within 30 days)

because of the seasonal adjustment procedure. A m o n g these

are also classified as unemployed. The unemployed total

alternative methods are five different age-sex adjustments,




including a concurrent adjustment and o n e based o n stable

sample of

factors and f o u r based on other u n e m p l o y m e n t aggregations.

" E x p l a n a t o r y N o t e s " o f Employment

Alternative rates f o r 1 9 7 6 are shown in t h e t a b l e at t h e end

standard errors f o r

o f this n o t e . (Current alternative rates and an explanation of

categories.

the m e t h o d s m a y b e o b t a i n e d
For
for

all

establishment
employees,

f r o m B L S upon

request.)

data, the seasonally-adjusted
production

workers,

average

series

mates

weekly

derived

gating

and

data

from

the

respective

procedures

were

mating

the base in c o m p u t i n g

the

annual

benchmark

adjustments

provide

f r o m it also m a y d i f f e r f r o m the figures

if a c o m p l e t e

in

with

and Earnings

u n e m p l o y m e n t and other labor f o r c e

c o m p o n e n t series. T h e s e data are revised annually, usually
conjunction

is surveyed. Tables A - E in the

A l t h o u g h the relatively large size o f the m o n t h l y estab-

obtained

seasonally-adjusted

population

lishment survey assures a high degree of accuracy, the esti-

hours, and average hourly earnings are adjusted b y aggrethe

the

census using the same

possible.

procedures e m p l o y

schedules

M o r e o v e r , since the esti-

the previous m o n t h ' s level as

the current m o n t h ' s level o f em-

p l o y m e n t (link-relative t e c h n i q u e ) , sampling and response

( c o m p r e h e n s i v e counts o f e m p l o y m e n t ) .

errors

Sampling variability

may

accumulate over several

months. T o

remove

this accumulated error, the e m p l o y m e n t estimates are ad-

Both the household and establishment survey statistics

justed t o n e w benchmarks, usually annually. In addition

are subject t o sampling error, w h i c h should be taken into

to

account in evaluating the levels o f a series as w e l l as changes

benchmark

o v e r t i m e . Because the household survey is based upon a

the

p r o b a b i l i t y sample, the results m a y d i f f e r f r o m the

E m p l o y m e n t estimates are currently p r o j e c t e d f r o m March

figures

taking

account

of

sampling and response errors, the

revision adjusts the estimates f o r changes in

industrial

classification

of

individual

establishments.

that w o u l d be o b t a i n e d if it w e r e possible t o take a c o m p l e t e

1974 benchmark levels. Measures o f reliability f o r e m p l o y -

census using the same questionnaire and procedures. T h e

ment estimates are provided in the " E x p l a n a t o r y N o t e s " of

standard error is the measure of sampling variability, that is,

Employment

t h e variations that might occur b y chance because o n l y a

revisions

and
due

to

Earnings,

as are the actual amounts of

benchmark

adjustments

(tables G - L ) .

Unemployment rate by alternative seasonal adjustment methods

Month

Other aggregations
Alternative age-sex procedures
(all multiplicative)
Official
Direct
Ad'
adjust- CompoAll
All
justed
site
Stable
DuraConYearReaResid- ment
Total
Rate multipli- addi- ahead current 1967-73 tion
sons
ual
tive
cative

Unadjusted
rate

(1)

(2)

(3)

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.6
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.0
7.8

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.4
7.5
7.8
7.9
7.8
8.0
8.0
7.9

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

8.0
7.8
7.6
7.5
7.2
7.5
7.7
7.8
7.7
7.8
7.8
7.8

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.4

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.4

8.1
7.7
7.7

7.2
7.5
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.1
7.9

7.2
7.6
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.0
7.8

8.0
7.5
7.3
7.4
7.2
7.5
7.6
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.1
7.9

7.8
7.5
7.4
7.5
7.4
7.5
7.8
8.0
7.9
7.9
8.0
7.8

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.7
7.9
7.8
8.0
8.0
7.8

8.2
7.7
7.6
7.4
7.2
7.4
7.7
7.8
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.8

7.9
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.7
8.0
7.8
7.9
8.0
7.9

7.9
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.5
7.7
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.0
7.8

Range
(cols.
2-13)

(14)

1976

i
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December




8.8
8.7
8.1
7.4
6.7
8.0
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7.4
7.4

I

1

| 7-6
! 7.5
7.5
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9

0.4
.3
.4
.2
.3
.3
.2
.3
.4
.3
.3
.1

HOUSEHOLD DATA .

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1. Employment status of the noninstitutional population
[Numbers in thousands]
Not seasonally adjusted
Employment status

Aug.
1976

July
1977

Seasonally adjusted

Aug.
1977

Aug.
1976

Apr.
1977

May
1977

June
1977

July
1977

Aug.
1977

TOTAL
Total noninstitutional population1
Armed Forces1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment raw
Not in labor force

158,899
'2,137
156,761
99,073
63.2
92,315
58.1
3,682
88,633
6,757
6.8
57,689

156,367
2,147
154,220
95,351
61.8
87,834
56.2
3,372
84,462
7,517
7.9
58,869

157,986
2,132
155,854
96,760
62.1
90,023
57.0
3,260
86,763
6,737
7.0
59,094

158,228
2,128
156,101
97,158
62.2
90,408
57.1
3,386
87,022
6,750
6.9
58,943

158,456
2,129
156,327
97,641
62.5
90,679
57.2
3,338
87,341
6,962
7.1
58,686

158,682
2,135
156,547
97,305
62.2
90,561
57.1
3,213
87,348
6,744
6.9
59,242

158,899
2,137
156,761
97,697
62.3
90,771
57.1
3,252
87,519
6,926
7.1
59,064

67,642
65,947
52,978
80.3
50,513
74.7
2,492
48,021
2,466

66,384
64,688
51,698
79.9
48,638
73.3
2,393
46,245
3,060

67,209
65,522
52,089
79.5
49,465
73.6
2,280
47,185
2,624

67,324
65,641
52,282
79.6
49,531
73.6
2,373
47,158
2,751

67,431
65,743
52,497
79.9
49,859
73.9
2,372
47,487
2,638

67,537
65,845
52,494
79.7
49,794
73.7
2,305
47,489
2,700

67,642
65,947
52,588
79.7
49,854
73.7
2,355
47,499
2,734

5.3
12,619

67,537
65,845 '
52,902
80.3
50,379
74.6
2,464
47,916
2,522
4.8
12,943

4.7
12,969

5.9
12,990

5.0
13,433

5.3
13,359

5.0
13,246

5.1
13,351

5.2
13,359

73,168
73,078
34,059
46.6
31,289
42.8
633
30,656
2,770
8.1
39,020

74,315
74,217
34,918
47.0
32,456
43.7
683
31,772
2,462
7.1
39,299

74,429
74,332
35,188
47.3
32,551
43.7
612
31,939
2,638
7.5
39,143

73,168
73,078
34,562
47.3
31,883
43.6
532
31,351
2,679
7.8
38,516

73,958
73,863
35,455
48.0
32,985
44.6
577
32,408
2,470
7.0
38,408

74,081
73,987
35,634
48.2
33,288
44.9
597
32,691
2,346
6.6
38,353

74,198
74,101
35,675
48.1
33,116
44.6
564
32,552
2,559
7.2
38,426

74,315
74,217
35,667
48.1
33,212
44.7
525
32,687
2,455
6.9
38,550

74,429
74,332
35,723
48.1
33,172
44.6
515
32,657
2,551
7.1
38,609

16,815
16,454
10,563
64.2
8,772
52.3
679
8,093
1,791
17.0
5,891

16,830
16,485
11,494
69.7
9,537
56.7
643
8,894
1,957
17.0
4,992

16,828
16,483
10,906
66.2
9,252
55.0
579
8,673
1,654
15.2
5,576

16,815
16,454
9,091
55.3
7,313
43.5
447
6,866
1,778
19.6
7,363

16,819
16,468
9,216
56.0
' 7,573
45.0
403
7,170
1,643
17.8
7,252

16,823
16,473
9,242
56.1
7,589
45.1
416
7,173
1,653
17.9
7,231

16,827
16,483
9,469
57.4
7,704
45.8
402
7,302
1,765
18.6
7,014

16,830
16,485
9,144
55.5
7,555
44.9
383
7,172
1,589
17.4
7,341

16,828
16,483
9,386
56.9
7,745
46.0
382
7,363
1,641
17.5
7,097

137,601 .
135,822
85,453
62.9
79,604
57.9
5,849
6.8
50,369

139,450
137,698
87,616
63.6
82,331
59.0
5,285
6.0
50,082

139,620
137,865
87,407
. 63.4
82,278
58.9
5,128
5.9
50,459

137,601
135,822
84,403
62.1
78,370
57.0
6,033
7.1
51,419

138,894
137,139
85,642
62.4
80,249
57.8
5,393
6.3
51,497

139,089
137,337
85,937
62.6
80,603
58.0
5,334
6.2
51,400

139,270
137,522
86,268
62.7
80,813
58.0
5,455
6.3
51,254

139,450
137,698
85,968
62.4
80,752
57.9
5,216
6.1
51,730

139,620
137,865
86,285
62.6
81,010
58.0
5,275
6.1
51,580

19,232
18,850
11,697
62.1
10,042
52.2
1,656
14.2
7,152

19,279
18,896
11,666
61.7
10,037
52.1
1,629
14.0
7,230

18,766
18,398
10,979
59.7
9,484
50.5
.1,495
13.6
7,419

19,091
18,714
11,071
59.2
9,711
50.9
1,360
12.3
7,643

19,140
18,763
11,171
59.5
9,730
50.8
1,441
12.9
7,592

19,186
18,805
11,325
60.2
9,833
51.3
1,492
13.2
7,480

19,232
18,850
11,236
59.6
9,758
50.7
1,478
13.2
7,614

19,279
18,896
11,402
60.3
9,744
50.5
1,658
14.5
7,494

156,367
158,682
2,147
2,135
154,220
156,547
99,314
96,690
62.7
rt
63.4
8 9 , 3 6 * ^ / 92,372
57.2
58.2
3,790
3,843
n 88,582
85,525
7,32ir D
6,941
7.6
7.0
57,234
57,530

Men, 20 years and over
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed .'.
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

66,384
64,688
52,068
80.5
49,307
74.3
2,531
46,776
2,761

Women, 20 years and over
Total noninstitutional population1 '.
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Both sexes, 16-19 years
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
WHITE
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
BLACK AND OTHER
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

18,766
18,39811,237
61.1
9,763
52.0
1,474
13.1
7,161

1
The population and Armed Forces figures are not adjusted for seasonal variations;
therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and seasonally adjusted columns.




2
Civilian employment as a percent of the total noninstitutional population (including
Armed Forces).

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-2. Major unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Selected categories

Number of
unemployed persons
(In thousands)

Unemployment rates

Aug.
1976

Aug.
1977

Aug.
1976

Apr.
1977

May
1977

June
1977

July
1977

Aug.
1977

7 ,517
3 ,060
2 ,679
1 ,778

6,, 926
2,,734
2,,551
1;,641

7.,9
5.,9
7. 8
19. 6

7. 0
5. 0
7. 0
17. 8

6. 9
5. 3
6. 6
17. 9

7 1
5. 0
7. 2
18.,6

6.,9
5.,1
6. 9
17.,4

-7.1
5.2
7.1
17.5

White, total
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years

6 ,033
2 ,524
2 ,116
1 ,393

5,,275
2.,099
1,,952
1.,224

7. 1
5. 4
7. 1
17. 1

6. 3
4. 6
6. 1
16.,1

6. 2
4. 7
5. 9
15. 7

6. 3
4. 5
6.,4
16.,1

6.,1
4.,6
6.,2
14.,3

6.1
4.5
6.3
14.7

Black and other, total
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years

1 ,495
554
553
388

1,,658
647
590
421

13. 6
10. 3
11. 9
40. 0

12. 3
8. 5
12. 3
36. 2

12. 9
9. 9
11. 8
38. 7

13.,2
9.,6
11. 9
39. 4

13.,2
10.,1
10. 9
40.,7

14.5
11.7
12.2
40.4

Married men, spouse present ...
Married women, spouse present
Women who head families

1 ,704
1 ,679
462

1,,405
1,,469
465

4.,3
7.,6
11.,0

3.,6
6. 6
9. 2

3. 6
6. 3
8. 4

3.,4
6.,8
9. 4

3.,4
6.,6
9.,3

3.5
6.6
10.5

Full-time workers
Part-time workers
Unemployed 15 weeks and over3
Labor force time lost2

6 ,085
1 ,429
2 ,341

5 ,633
1,,293
1,,808

7..5
10.,0
2..5
8.,4

6.,5
9. 9
1. 9
7., 4

6.,5
9. 9
1. 9
7. 5

6.,5
10. 7
1. 8
7.,5

6.,5
9. 2
1.,9
7.,4

6.8
8.9
1.9
7.7

CHARACTERISTICS
Total, 16 years and over
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years

-

-

OCCUPATION3
White-collar workers
Professional and technical
Managers and administrators, except farm
Sales workers
Clerical workers
Blue-collar workers
Craft and kindred workers
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives
Nonfarm laborers
Service workers
Farm workers

2 ,269
431
334
340
1 ,164
3 ,148
848
1 ,275
286
739
1 ,146
109

1;,970
419
250
320
981
2 ,779
695
1,,137
286
661
1 ,154
106

4.,9
3..1
3.,5
5.,8
7.,0
9,,8
7.,0
11.,3
8.,1
14.. 5
8.,5
3.,6

4.,4
3.,2
2.,9
5.,1
6.,0
7.,8
4.,9
9.,3
6.,0
12.,6
8.,1
4.,8

4.,3
2.,9
2.,8
5.,5
5.,7
7.,9
5.,6
8.,9
6.,1
12.,5
9.,0
4.,4

4.,2
3.,0
2.,7
5..2
5.,7
7.,7
5,,6
9.,4
5.,7
10.,9
8.,2
4.,8

4.,0
2.,8
2.,6
5.,4
5.,4
8.,2
5.,6
10.,1
7.,5
10.,7
7.,7
3.,8

4.2
3.0
2.5
5.3
5.8
8.4
5.5
10.0
7.6
12.6
8.4
3.7

5 ,612
747
1 ,723
969
754

4 ,968
520
1 ,503
822
681
2 50
1 ,501
1 ,156
701
136

8,,2
16.,5
8.,1
7.,7
8.,7
4.. 8
8..9
6..6
4,.4
10.,4

7.,0
12.,0
6.,7
6.,0
7.,7
4.,4
7.,8
6.,1
4..0
12.,3

7.,1
13.,0
6.,2
5.,7
7.,0
4.,3
8.,3
6.,6
4.,1
11..5

6.,9
12.,6
6.,3
5.,6
7.,3
4.,1
7.,9
6.,0
4.,2
11.,0

6.,8
12.,1
6.,7
6.,1
7.,6
4.,7
7.,7
5.,7
3.,9
9.,7

7.0
11.5
7.0
6.5
7.7
4.9
8.3
5.6
4.4
9.3

511
165
182
164

7,.6
16,.1
7,.1
5,.1

7,.3
14,,4
7,.7
4,.3

7,.5
13..6
7,.8
5..1

7,.6
18,.1
7,.1
4,.5

7,.9
16,,3
7,. 2
5,.8

7.8
17.4
6.3
6.0

7,. 2
10,. 2
5,.4
4,.1

6,.9
8,.9
6,.3
4,.0

7,.6
9,.9
6,.8
4,.6

7.9
10.5
6.6
4.9

INDUSTRY3
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers4
Construction
Manufacturing
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Transportation and public utilities
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance and service industries
Government workers
Agricultural wage and salary workers

230

1, 5 9 0
1 ,286
710
155

VETERAN STATUS
Male Vietnam-era veterans:5
20 to 34 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
Male nonveterans:
20 to 34 years
20 to 24\ears
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years

1

482
146
217
1.19

1, 3 1 6
753
383
180

1, 2 6 1
729
336
196

Unemployment rate calculated as a percent of civilian labor force.
Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on part time for economic reasons
as a percent of potentially available labor force hours.
3
Unemployment by occupation includes all experienced unemployed persons, whereas that
2




8,.7
11-. 2

7,.9
5 .0

7,,3c
10,.1

5,.7
4,. 2

by industry covers only unemployed wage and salary workers.
4
Includes mining, not shown separately.
5
Vietnam-era veterans are those who served between August 5,1964, and May 7,1975.
c=corrected.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-3. Selected employment indicators
[In thousands]
Selected categories

Not seasonally adjusted
Aug.
1976

Aug.
1977

89,367
54,196
35,171
38,466
19,831

92, 315
55, 565
36, 751
38,,623
20,,231

43,441
12,981
9,421
5,593
15,446
30,180
11,656
10,372
3,286

44,,828
13, 226
9, 804
5, 814
15, 984
31, 566
12, 325
10,,611
3,,483
5,,147
12,,779
3,,143

Seasonally adjusted
Apr.
1977

May
1977

June
1977

July
1977

87, 834
52, 596
35, 238
38 179 '
20,,402

90, 023
53, 575
36, 448
38, 536
21, 076

90, 408
53,,722
36,,686
38,,509
20,,962

90, 679
53, 987
36, 692
38,,582
20,,831

90, 561
53, 900
36, 661
38,,434
20,,846

90,771
53,958
36,813
38,316
20,814

43,,731
13, 471
9, 309
5, 504
15, 447
28,:912
H , ,286
10,,015
3,,266
4,,345
12,,265
2,,913

44, 851
13, 591
9, 434
5, 765
16, 061
30, 193
11, 896
10, 394
3,,482
4,,421
12,,250
2 j,779

44, 766
13,,483
9, 400
5, 695
16, 188
30, 423
11, 894
10,,530
3,,552
4,,447
12,,372 "
2,,904

44, 798
13, 638
9, 570
5, 673
15, 917
30, 432
11, 891
10, 378
3,,551
4, 612
12,,697
2,,838

45, 105
13, 863
9, 583
5, 716
15, 943
30, 063
11, 887
10, 270
3, 397
4, 509
12,,460
2,,743

45,114
13,720
9,688
5,722
15,984
30,231
11,931
10,242
3,462

1,339
1,,700
352

1,,310
1.,548
366

1,,325
1,,655
393

1,,381
1,>595
378

1.,271
1. ,561
363

1,331
1,604
315

Aug.
1976

Aug.
1977

•

CHARACTERISTICS
Total employed, 16 years and over
Women
Married men, spouse present

OCCUPATION
White-collar workers
Managers and administrators, execpt farm

4,866
12,452
3,295

4,596
12,591
2,778

MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS
OF WORKER
Agriculture:
1,604
1,776
462

1.,595
, 675
413

Nonagricultural industries:

Private industries
Private households
Other industries

79,341
14,658
64,683
1,409
63,274
5,719
464

81,,929
14,,671
67,,258
1,,426
65,,832
6 ,213
490

78,,423
15,,262
63 ,161
1,,384
61,,777
5 ,661
444

80,,306
14,,960
65,,346
1,,320
64,,026
5 ,954
499

80 ,429
15,,075
65 ,354
1 ,305
64 ,049
6 ,050
550

80,,814
14,,961
65,,853
1,,388
64,,465
5,,997
518

80,,738
15.,131
65,,607
1,,445
64,,162
5;,896
523

80,951
15,282
65,669
1,401
64,268
6,151
469

74,350
62,683
3,682
1,384
2,298
7,985

77 ,770
65 ,655
3 ,744
1 ,226
2 ,518
8 ,371

78 ,991
64 ,687
3 ,178
1 ,350
1 ,828
11 ,126

81 ,005
66 ,436
3 ,174
1 ,167
2 ,007 "
11 ,395

81 ,771
67 ,219
3 ,290
1 ,314
1 ,976
11 ,262

81 ,618
67 ,126
- 3 ,368
1 ,341
2 ,027
11 ,124

82 ,572
67 ,867
3 ,371
1 ,440
1 ,931
11 ,334

82,613
67,755
3,199
1,196
2,003
11,659

PERSONS AT WORK 1
Nonagricultural industries
Full-time schedules
Part time for economic reasons
Usually work full time
Usually work part time
Part time for noneconomic reasons

1
Excludes persons "with a job but not at work" during the survey period for such
reasons as vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.

Table A-4. Duration of unemployment
[Numbers in thousands]
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Weeks of unemployment

Aug.
1976

Aug.
1977

2,738
2,526
2,058
785
1,274

2,741
2,427
1,589
706
883

15.2

13.4

100.0
37.4
34.5
28.1
10.7
17.4

100.0
40.6
35.9
23.5
10.4
13.1

Apr.
1977

May
1977

June
1977

July
1977

Aug.
1977

3,100
1,857
1,816
715
1,101

2,782
2,093
1,836
800
1,036

3,058
2,023
1,737
798
939

2,830
1,969
1,834
917
917

2,870
2,338
1,808
966
842

15.4

14.3

14.9

14.4

14.1

13.5

100.0
37.5
31.8
30.6
14.7
15.9

100.0
45.8
27.4
26.8
10.6
16.3

100.0
41.5
31.2
27.4
11.9
15.4

100.0
44.9
29.7
25.5
11.7
13.8

100.0
42.7
29.7
27.6

100.0
40.9
33.3
25.8
13.8
12.0

Aug.
1976

DURATION

5 to 14 weeks
15 to 26 weeks
27 weeks and over
Average (mean) duration, in weeks

2,867
2,433
2,341
1,127 "
1,214

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION

15 to 26 weeks




*

13.8
13.8

-

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-5. Reasons for unemployment
[Numbers in thousands]
Reasons

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Aug.
1976

Aug.
1977

Aug.
1976

Apr.
1977

May
1977

June
1977

July
1977

Aug.
1977

3,308
937
2,371
1,080
1,939
997

2,871
801
2,070
989
1,855
1,042

3,790
1,191
2,599
994
1,941
955

2,953
754
2,199
846
2,001
972

3,038
749
2,289
944
1,993
893

2,927
827
2,100
954
1,889
1,077

3,075
919
2,156
841
1,822
974

3,289
1,018
2,271
910
1,857
1,000

100.0
45.2
12.8
32.4
14.7
26.5
13.6

100.0
42.5
11.9
30.6
14.6
27.5
15.4

100.0
49.3
15.5
33.8
12.9
25.3
12.4

100.0
43.6
11.1
32.5
12.5
29.5
14.4

100.,0
44.,2
10.,9
33. 3
13. 7
29. 0
13.,0

100.,0
42.,7
12.,1
30. 7
13. 9
27. 6
15.,1

100.,0
45., 8
13.,7
32. 1
12. 5
27.,1
14.,5

100.0
46.6
14.4
.3 2.2
12.9
26.3
14.2

3.4
1.1
2.0
1.0

2.9
1.0
1.9
1.1

4.0
1.0
2.0
1.0

3.1
.9
2.1
1.0

3.,1
1..0
2.,1
,9

3.,0
1.,0
1.,9
1.,1

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Lost last job
On layoff
Other job losers
Left last job
Reentered labor force
Seeking first job

i

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed
Job losers
On layoff
Other job losers
Job leavers
Reentrants
New entrants
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers
Job leavers
Reentrants
New entrants

3.4
. 9
1.9
1.0

3.,2
,9
1.,9
1.,0

Table A-6. Unemployment by sex and age, seasonally adjusted

Sex and aga

Number of
unemployed persons
(In thousands)

Unemployment rates

Aug.
1976

Aug.
1977

Aug.
1976

Apr.
1977

May
1977

June
1977

July
1977

Aug.
1977

7 ,517
1 ,778
843
956
1 ,657
4 ,075
3 ,438
688

6,,926
1,,641
811
851
1,,609
3,,662
3,,147
550

7. 9
19. 6
22. 1
18. 0
' 11.9
5. 6
5. 9
4. 8

7. 0
17. 8
19. 2
16. 8
10. 8
4. 9
5. 1
4. 1

6. 9
17.,9
20.,4
16.13
10.,7
4.,8
5.,1
4. 0

7.,1
18.,6
21.,3
16.,5
10. 5
5.,0
5.,3
3.,8

6.,9
17.,4
19., 9
15.,3
10.,6
5.,0
5.,2
3. 9

7.1
17.5
20.7
15.6
11.1
5.0
5.3
3.9

Men, 16 years and over
16 to 19 years
16 to 17 years
18 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 years and over
25 to 54 years
55 years and over

3 ,968
908
452
467
903
2 ,189
1 ,813
408

3,,609
875
472
414
899
1,,856
1,,566
307

7. 0
18. 7
21. 5
16. 8
11. 8
5. 0
5. 1
4. 6

6. 1
17. 0
17. 9
16. 0
10. 5
4. 1
4. 3
3. 7

6., 3
17.,0
18.,7
16.,0
10.,6
4.,2
4.,4
3.,9

6.,2
18.,6
22.,7
15.,5
9.,9
4.,1
4.,3
3.,3

6.i 2
16.,9
20.,2
14., 7
10.,6
4.12
4.,3
3.,6

6.3
17.6
21.7
14.8
11.3
4.2
4.4
3.5

Women, 16 years and over
16 to 19 years
16 to 17 years
18 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 years and over
25 to 54 years
55 years and over

3 ,549
870
3 91

3j,317
766
339

9.,1
20. 6
22.,9

8. 2
18. 8
20. 8

7.,9
19.,0
22.,5

8.,4
18.,7
19.,7

8.,0
17.,9
19.,5

8.3
17.4
19.4

489
754
1 ,886
1 ,625
280

437
710
1,,806
1,,581
243

19. 4
11.,9
6.,1
7. 1
5. 2

17. 7
11. 2
6. 0
6. 5
4. 6

16.,6
10.,9
5.,7
6..1
4.,3

17.,5
11.,0
6.,3
6.,7
4.,•6

16.,0
10.,5
6.,2
6.,4
4..4

Total, 16 years and over
16 to 19 years
16 to 17 years
18to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 years and over
25 to 54 years
55 years and over




•

'

16.4
10.8
6.2
6.6
4.6

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-7. Range of unemployment measures based on varying definitions of unemployment and the labor force,
seasonally adjusted
[Percent]
Quarterly averages

Monthly data

XV

July

1977

1976

U-1 —Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer as a percent of the
civilian labor force

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.2

1.8

1.8

1.9

U-2—Job losers as a percent of the civilian labor force

3.7

3.9

3.9

3.4

3.1

3.0

3.2

U-3—Unemployed household heads as a percent of the household head
labor force

4.9

5.3

5.3

4.8

4.4

4.3

4.3

U-4—Unemployed full-time jobseekers as a percent of the full-time labor
force

7.0

7.4

6.8

6.5

U-5—Total unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force
(official measure)

7.4

7.8

U-6—Total full-time jobseekers plus V% part-time jobseekers plus % total
on part time for economic reasons as a percent of the civilian
labor force (ess 1/i of the part-time labor force

9.1

U-7 —Total full-time jobseekers plus Va part-time jobseekers plus % total
on part time for economic reasons plus discouraged workers as a
percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers less
% of the part-time labor force
N.A.* not available.




10.0

7.9

8.7

9.0

9.5

10.3

6.9

7.4

10.7

9.9

9.7

N.A.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

PRESSRELEASE

Table B-1. Employees on nonagricultural payrolls, by industry
l In thousands]
Not seasonally adjusted
Industry

TOTAL

GOODS-PRODUCING
MINING

Aug.

June

1976

1977

July
1977p

Seasonally adjusted
Aug.

1977p

1976

1977

May
1977

Aug.

Apr.

June

1977

July
1977p

Aug.

1977

79, 555

82,930

82, 152

82,349

79, 618

81, 686

81, 921

82, 12 1 82,356

23, 806

24, 679

24, 557

24, 778

23, 310

24, 217

24, 306

24, 353

24, 409

, 24, 307

766

870

841

834

752

847

845

855

827

819

82, 448

3, 869

4, 047

4, 147

4, 201

3, 579

3, 842

3, 861

3, 876

3, 916

3, 886

MANUFACTURING
Production workers

19, 171
13, 797

19, 762
14, 258

19, 569
14, 042

19, 743
14, 175

18, 979
13, 627

19, 528
14,066

19, 600
14, 145

19, 622
14, 144

19, 666
14,161

19, 602
14, 058

D U R A B L E GOODS

11, 108
7, 922

11, 598
8, 334

11, 478
8, 199

11, 483
8, 181

11, 083
7, 911

11, 423
8, 177

11, 469
8, 233

11, 491
8, 240

11, 526
8, 262

11, 509
8, 221

157, 1
629. 0
491. 8
644. 6
1, 214. 8
1, 396. 7
2, 069- 2
1, 837. 6
1, 724. 2
512. 3
430. 4

156. 5
659. 9
511. 1
672. 2
1, 233. 9
1, 463. 6
2, 18 0. 8
1, 938. 8
1, 827. 5
530. 4
423. 4

156. 4
660. 4
501. 6
673. 3
1, 211. 9
1, 443. 7
2, 171. 0
1, 935.4
1, 790. 4
526. 3
407. 4

156. 1
665. 3
509. 2
675. 2
1, 205. 5
1, 460. 3
2, 174. 6
1, 946. 5
1, 738. 4
52 6. 5
42 5. 1

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

Production workers
Ordnance and accessories
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products . . . .
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electrical equipment
Transportation equipment
instruments and related products . .
Miscellaneous manufacturing

8, 164
5, 924

8, 063
5, 875

N O N D U R A B L E GOODS
Production workers

8, 091
5, 843

157
605
486
628
1, 215
1, 394
2, 090
1, 843
1, 737
510
418

157
639
507
651
1, 208
1, 433
2, 150
1, 919
1, 808
526
42 5

157
638
509
654
1, 217
1, 447
2, 165
1, 931
1,802
526
423

157
637
510
659
1, 218
1, 452
2, 168
1, 933
1, 809
528
420

156
641
514
661
1, 209
1, 457
2, 191
1, 945
1,810
528
414

156
640
503
657
1, 206
1, 457
2, 197
1, 952
1, 804
524
413

8, 260
5, 994

7, 896
5, 716

8, 105
5, 889

8, 131
5, 912

8, 131
5, 904

8, 140
5, 899

8, 093
5, 837

1, 715
78
969
1, 292
679
1, 082
1, 040
202
572
267

1, 743
73
981
1, 291
697
1, 102
1, 060
211
680
267

1, 735
71
988
1, 298
703
1, 109
1, 063
210
68 5
269

1, 737
72
987
1, 306
703
1, 111
1, 060
210
680
265

1, 730
72
992
1, 301
707
1, 115
1, 064
210
684
265

1, 720
72
979
1, 286
705
1, 115
1, 067
210
675
264

0
64. 8
995. 6
1, 316. 3
7.09. 6
1, 112. 6
1, 067. 5
213. 7
684. 3
272. 1

1, 761. 3
65. 8
972. 7
1, 256. 9
705. 4
1, 109. 2
1, 069. 4
215. 8
674. 7
2 59- 6

1, 840. 0
77. 7
984. 5
1, 29 3. 5
711. 0
1, 111. 9
1, 075. 6
215. 5
680. 5
269. 6

55, 749

58, 251

57, 595

57, 571

56, 308

57, 469

57, 615

57, 768

57, 947

58, 141

4, 528

4, 629

601

4, 594

4, 501

4, 575

4, 586

4, 579

4, 569

4, 567

17, 754

18. 342

18,307

18, 348

17,764

18,203

18, 235

18,247

18, 295

18, 359

4, 302
13, 452

4, 409
13, 933

4, 422
13, 885

4, 433
13, 915

4, 272
13,492

4, 371
13, 832

4, 384
13, 851

4, 383
13, 864

4, 396
13, 899

4, 402
13, 957

4, 368

4, 534

4, 564.

4, 584

4, 312

4, 463

4, 480

4, 489

4, 505

SERVICES

14,869

15, 458

15, 511

15, 541

14,751

15, 182

15, 197

15, 245

15, 342

15, 418

GOVERNMENT

14, 230

15, 288

14, 612

14, 504

14, 980

15, 046

15, 117

15, 208

15, 236

15, 272

FEDERAL

2, 754
11, 476

2, 765
12, 523

2, 773
11, 839

2, 755
11, 749

2, 732
12, 248

2, 719
12, 327

2, 723
12, 394

2, 735
12,473

2, 721
12, 515

2, 733
12, 539

Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufactures
Textile mill products
Apparel and other textile products .
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and plastics products, nec. .
Leather and leather products

SERVICE-PRODUCING

......

1, 835. 2
85. 0
974. 9
1, 299. 7
684. 7
1, 079. 1
1, 048- 5
207. 1
576. 5
272. 7

1,

727.

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D PUBLIC
UTILITIES
WHOLESALE A N D R E T A I L T R A D E . .
WHOLESALE T R A D E
RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D
REAL ESTATE

STATE A N D LOCAL

p=preiiminary.




4,

4, 52 5

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

PRESSRELEASE

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers 1 on private nonagricultural
payrolls, by industry
Not seasonally adjusted
Industry

Aug.

June

1976

TOTAL PRIVATE
MINING

Seasonally adjusted

1977

1977

1977

P

1976

p

1977

May

June

1977

1977

Aug.

July
1977

1977

p

P

36.

6

36c 4

36. 5

36c

4

36. 1

36. 2

36. 3

36. 2

36.

1

36.

0

2

44. 6

43. 7

42.

0

41. 2

44. 4

44. 0

44. 0

43.

6

42.

0

3 7 . 9

37. 4

37. 8

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours

40.

0

40. 8

40.

3. 1

3. 5

Ordnance and accessories
Lumber and wood products

Apr.

41.

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

D U R A B L E GOODS
Overtime hours

Aug.

Aug.

July

1

30 3

37.

2

36. 8

40.

1

40.

3. 5

3.

5

41. 5

40. 6

4 0 . 1.

3. 2

3. 7

3. 5

3. 7

40.

1

40.

3

41. 0

40.

40.

6

40. 7

40o 3

39.

0
0

40. 8

3.

1

37. 3

37. 4

36. 8

36.

8

36.

2

40. 3

40. 4

40. 5

40.

3

40.

1

3. 4

3. 4

3. 4

3.

4

3.

4

41. 2

41.

0

41.

0

41.

40. 8

39.

7

40. 7

41. 2

40.

1

40. 2

40.

3

0

1

3. 6

3. 6

•

41.
40.

1
0

3. 7

3.6

3.6

40. 9

40.

5

40.

39. 9

40.

5

39. 7

1

Furniture and fixtures

39.

0

39. 2

38. 5

3 80

5

38. 4

38. 7

38. 8

38.

9

38.

Stone, clay, and glass products

41.

5

42.

41. 5

41.

8

41.

1

41. 7

41. 7

41. 7

41.

3

41.

4

Primary metal industries

40 o 6

41. 7

41. 0

41.

0

40. 9

41. 5

410 6

41. 6

41.

2

41.

3

Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical

41.

0

41. 6

40. 6

41.

0

41. 0

40. 7

41.

0

41. 3

41.

0

41.

41.

0

41. 9

41.

41. 1

41. 4

41. 3

41. 6

41. 9

41.

9

41.

5

Electrical equipment

40.

0

40. 6

39o 7

40o

6

40.

40. 0

40„

40. 4

40.

3

40.

7

Transportation equipment

40.

9

43. 2

42.

41.

1

41. 9

41. 9

42. 7

42. 9

42. 1

42.

2

Instruments and related products. . . .

40.

2

40. 7

39. 9

39.9

40. 4

40.

40. 4

40. 7

40.

40.

1

Miscellaneous manufacturing

38.

5

39. 4

38. 3

38. 7

38. 5

38. 9

39.

39» 2

38. 7

38. 7

39.

2

39. 8

39. 3

39.

2

38. 9

39c 5

39. 5

39. 6

39.

39c

30 0

3. 2

3. 2

2. 8

3. 2

3.

3.

N O N D U R A B L E GOODS
Overtime hours

0

1

3c

1
1

1

1
1
1

Food and kindred products

40.

7

Tobacco manufactures
Textile mill products
Apparel and other textile products . .

37.

3

38c 9

36.

39.

6

40. 9

40.

35.

6

36.

35. 5
42. 7

40c

0

Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing

42.
37.

7

37. 7

Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and plastics products, nec . . .

41.

1

42c

42.

0

40.

1

Leather and leather products

36.

9

380

40.

4

40. 3

34.

3

4

40c

1

1

1

40. 3

39.

6

40c

37.

0

36. 8

38.

40.

3

39. 3

40. 5

35.5

35. 2

35.

42.

1

3
1

1
0
1

39c 9

40.

1

0
0

4

3

3 . 0

39.

7

39.

37. 3

36.

40. 5

40.

4 0 . 0

35. 7

35. 9

3 5 . 4

35. 1
42.

4

0

42.

7

9

37. 5

37. 7

37. 6

370 7

37.

8

4

410 3

41. 9

41. 7

4 U

4 1 . 7

43c 2

43. 4

42.

3

42. 3

42. 7

42. 6

43.

410 3

40„ 2

40.

5

40.

41. 2

41. 3

41.

37. 0

37. 1

36. 7

37. 4

37.

40. 5

40.

40.

1

43.

1

7

37.

0

43.

4

41.

0

39. 1

3 8. 6

42.

43. 3

0

40. 7

37. 7

0

0

3. 0

41. 6

43. 3

8

9

0
1

37. 2

5

37.

7

41.

6
6

43.

0

42.

40.

6

40.

4

3 6 . 6

36.

9

8

'

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D PUBLIC
UTILITIES

2

0

40.

1

40.

1

40.

1

39.

33. 4

33.

3

33.

3

33.

3

38. 7

38. 8

38.

8

38.

9

7

31.

7

40. 2

33. 6

340

1

34c 1

33. 6

WHOLESALE T R A D E

3 9 . 0

38. 9

39.

0

39.

0

38. 9

39c

RETAIL TRADE

32. 7

32.

7

32.

0

31. 9

31.9

31. 7

31.

WHOLESALE A N D RETAIL TRADE

1

33. 5

0

33.

0

32.

FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D
REAL ESTATE

36.

9

36. 6

36. 7

36.

6

36. 8

36. 6

36. 7

36. 6

3 6 . 6

36.5

SERVICES

34.

0

33. 5

33. 8

33.

8

33. 5

33. 5

33. 5

33. 3

33.

33.

2

3

1
Data relate to production workers in mining and manufacturing: to construction workers in contract construction: and to nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; wholesale and retail trade; finance, irisurance, and real estate; and services. These groups account for approximately four-fifths of the total employment on private nonagricultural payrolls.
p=preliminary.




ESTABLISHMENT DATA

PRESSRELEASE

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private
nonagricultural payrolls, by industry
Average hourly earnings
Industry

T O T A L PRIVATE
Seasonally adjusted
MINING

Aug.

Average weekly earnings

Aug

Aug.

1977p

1976

1976

June
1977

$ 4 . 89
4. 91

$5. 22
5. 2 2

$5. 2 4
5.26

$5.23
5.26

6.29

6. 88

6. 85

6. 85

July
1977p

Aug.

June
1977

July
1977P

$ 1 7 8 . 9 7 $ 1 9 0 . 01
177. 2 5
188. 96

$191.26
189. 89

$190. 37
189. 3 6

3 0 6 . 85

299. 35

2 87. 70

2 5 9 . 15

1977p

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

7. 71

7. 9 7

8. 0 0

8. 0 2

2 9 2 . 21

298. 08

302. 4 0

298. 34

MANUFACTURING

5.21

5. 6 0

5. 6 4

5.64

208. 40

2 2 8. 4 8

2 2 6 . 16

2 2 6 . 16

5. 5 8

6. 0 0

6 0 01

6. 01

225. 99

249. 00

2 4 4 . 01

2 4 4 . 61

5. 7 7
4. 83
4. 01
5.36
6. 9 2
5.46
5. 79
4. 9 5
6. 52
4. 9 0
4. 0 0

6„ 15
5. 01
4. 2 8
5. 79
7.45
5. 82
6. 15
5.29
7 0 18
5. 15
4. 31

6. 2 5
5. 0 8
4.29
5. 82
7 0 51
5. 81
6. 16
5.33
7. 14
5„ 2 0
4. 3 4

6.33
5. 12
4. 3 9
5. 83
7. 5 8
5. 82
6. 15
5. 3 8
7. 12
5. 16
4. 3 2

232.53
196. 10
156. 3 9
222. 4 4
280. 95
2 2 3 . 86
237. 39
198. 00
266. 67
196. 9 8
154. 00

252.15
2 0 3 . 91
167. 7 8
2 4 3 . 18
310. 67
2 4 2 . 11
257. 69
214.77
3 1 0 . 18
2 0 9 . 61
169. 81

250.
204.
165.
241.
307.
235.
253.
211.
300.
207.
166.

63
72
17
53
91
89
18
60
59
48
22

251„ 3 0
2 0 5 . 31
172. 53
243.69
310. 78
2 3 8 . 62
252. 77
2 18. 4 3
2 9 2 . 63
2 0 5 . 88
167. 18

4. 70

5. 03

5. 10

5. 12

1 84. 2 4

2 0 0 . 19

200. 43

2 00. 70

4„ 9 8
4. 6 2
3. 75
3. 4 2
5. 5 0
5.71
5. 93
7. 13
4.40
3.45

5.
5.
3.
3.
5.
6.
6.
7.
5.
3.

28
77
90
62
86
06
35
73
12
63

5. 3 4
5. 6 8
4. 0 2
3. 5 8
5.97
6. 0 9
6. 4 2
7. 79
5. 13
3. 6 0

5. 4 0
5.56
4. 06
3. 6 0
6. 02
6. 15
6. 4 3
7. 7 7
5. 13
3. 62

202.69
172. 33
148. 5 0
121. 75
233. 2 0
215. 2 7
2 4 3 . 72
2 99. 4 6
1 76. 4 4
127. 31

211.
224.
159.
130.
253.
228.
266.
333.
211.
137.

73
45
51
32
74
46
70
94
46
94

214.13
205. 05
161. 2 0
127. 0 9
254. 92
229. 59
267. 0 7
338. 09
206. 23
133. 2 0

213.
205.
163.
127.
257.
233.
266.
328.
207.
134.

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

6.56

6. 83

6.91

6. 93

2 6 5 . 02

275. 25

2 79. 86

2 7 8 . 59

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

3.98

4. 2 6

4. 2 8

4. 2 6

136. 51

143. 14

145. 9 5

145. 2 7

5„ 21
3. 5 5

5. 51
3. 82

5.56
3. 83

5. 5 4
3. 81

2 0 3 . 19
117. 15

214. 3 4
122.62

216. 84
125. 2 4

2 1 6 . 06
124.59

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE

4.40

4.. 5 4

4. 5 8

4.60

162. 3 6

166. 16

168. 0 9

168. 36

SERVICES

4.32

4. 66

4.66

4. 6 5

146. 8 8

156. 11

157. 51

157. 17

DURABLE GOODS
Ordnance and accessories
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electrical equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
NONDURABLE GOODS
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufactures
Textile mill products
Apparel and other textile products
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and plastics products, nec
Leather and leather products

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

1
See footnote 1, table B-2.
p=preliminary.




84
72
62
80
05
09
20
67
77
30

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

PRESSRELEASE

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-4.
Hourly earnings index for production or nonsupervisory workers 1 on private nonagricultural
payrolls, by industry division, seasonally adjusted
[1967=100]

Industry

Aug.
1976

Max.
1977

Apr.
1977

186.8
108.7

194.1
108.8

108.6

202.3
187.1
186o7
200.9
179.8
173.1
189.8

210.4
191.6
194.3
206.7
188.5
175.9
198.7

212.1
192.6
195.4
208.6
189.8
177.4
199.7

May
1977

Percent change from
June
1977

July P
1977

Aug. P
1977

197.5
108.6

198,
108,
216,
196,
200,
211,
192.
179.
202 o

199.1
N.A.

6.6
(2)

219.4
194.9
201.0
210.4
192.4
181.1

8.5
4.2
7.6
4.7
7.0
4.6
7.2

Aug.
Aug.

19761977

July
Aug.

19771977

TOTAL PRIVATE NONFARM:
Current dollars
Constant (1967) dollars
MINING
CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION ....!.'.'!.'.".'!!
MANUFACTURING
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES

195.3

196.5
108.6
213.1
193.1
196 0 8
210.1
190.7
179.0
200 o 7

215.4
195.1
198.5
210.5
191.1
177.2
201.8

203.5

0.1
(3)
1.3
-.7
.5
-.7
- o2

.7
.5

See footnote 1, table B-2.
* P e r c e n t change was 0 . 3 f r o m J u l y 1976 t o J u l y
P e r c e n t change was 0 . 3 f r o m June 1977 t o J u l y
N.A. - not available.

1977,
1977,

the
the

l a t e s t month
l a t e s t month

available.
available.

p= preliminary.
NOTE: All series are in current dollars except where indicated. The index excludes effects of two types of changes that are unrelated to underlying wage-rate developments: Fluctuations i,
time premiums in manufacturing (the only sector for which overtime data are available) and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and low-wage industries.

Table B-5. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonagricultural
payrolls, by industry, seasonally adjusted
[1967 = 100]

1976

1977

Industry division and group
Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

Julyp

Aug.

111.8

112. 2

112. 2

112. 8

113. 3

112. 3

i 14. 2

115.2,

115. 6

116. i

115. 8

115. 7

95. 7

95.9

96. 0

97. 2

96.9

95. 2

98. 3

100. 0

100. 9

101.7

101. 8

101.5

99.9

MINING

115. 6

131.7

131. 1

132. 6

134. 0

130. 7

134. 6

141.5

142. 2

140.2

141. 8

136.6

127. 8

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

102. 5

99.4

104. 2

105. 7

104. 3

96.4

105. 9

108. 1

112. 0

112. 7

111.3

112. 8

109. 6

93.9

94.0

93.2

94.5

94.4

93.8

95.7

97. 1

97.5

98.5

98. 8

98. 3

97. 2

93.6
39. 8
97.6
101.2
98. 6
89.8
98. 6
95.9
92. 2
90. 7
108. 1
91. 8

93.2
38. 6
98.2
102.4
98.9
88. 8
98. 6
95.9
91.5
89. 1
107. 2
92.2

92. 0
38. 5
99.4
102. 2
99. 7
86. 2
96. 5
94.0
92. 1
86. 1
107.9
92. 0

93.8
38.5
100. 8
102. 8
100. 2
85.7
98. 1
96.7
93.4
91.5
108.5
92. 1

93. 6
39.5
101. 9
103. 5
99. 1
85.0
98. 1
96. 0
93. 1
90. 6
110.4
91.6

93. 2
39.0
101. 1
98.5
96. 1
84. 8
97.6
95. 7
91.7
93. 3
108.9
93. 1

94. 8
39. 1
103.0
102. 7
97. 1
85.5
100. 0
97. 7
95. 5
91.3
112.4
96. 8

96.8
38.5
103.4
105.3
101.5
88.5
101.6
98. 6
95.9
96.7
111.6
96. 0

96. 8
40. 8
104. 1
106. 0
104. 1
90. 0
101.0
98. 3
96. 1
94. 8
111.1
95. 1

98. 1
41. 3
104.1
107.4
104. 7
91. 1
103. 1
100.5
97.3
96. 2
112. 3
95. 0

98. 7
41. 1
103. 8
107. 7
105. 7
91. 1
104. 2
101.2
97.9
96. 9
113. 2
94. 3

98.4
40. 1
105. 8
108.2
105. 1
89. 8
103. 6
102. 9
98.0
95. 1
112. 3
91.4

97. 8
39. 7
103. 7
105. 9
104. 7
89. 3
103. 3
100. 5
99.5
95.3
109. 8
90. 8

NONDURABLE GOODS
94.2
Food and kindred products
96. 5
Tobacco manufactures
84.0
Textile mill products .
95. 5
Apparel and other textile products . . .
87. 6
Paper and allied products
96.1
Printing and publishing
92.9
Chemicals and allied products
99. 8
Petroleum and coal products
112.4
Rubber and plastics products, nec . . . 1 0 5 . 2
Leather and leather products
72.5

95.2
96.4
82. 1
95.2
86. 2
96.5
93. 1
100. 3
112. 2
124.3
72. 1

95.0
96. 2
83.0
95.0
85.7
95.7
93.4
99.4
112. 5
125. 6
71.0

95.4
96. 6
81. 6
95.6
86. 1
97.0
93.6
100. 0
113. 1
125. 7
70.4

95.5
95. 5
81. 6
96. 1
86. 3
97. 2
93. 7
100. 0
114. 7
127. 6
70. 5

94. 7
95. 1
76. 1
95.4
84. 1
96. 2
93.0
100.4
115. 0
127. 7
69. 1

97. 1
97. 5
83. 0
97.9
88. 0
98.0
94. 8
101.8
114. 7
129. 6
71.9

97.6
97.9
75.5
99.5
87.9
98.3
94. 3
102.2
118. 7
131.7
71.9

98.
98.
80.
99.
87.
100.

98. 9
97.5
79.4
100. 2
90.4
101. 3
95. 3
103. 7
121. 3
133. 9
72. 9

98. 1
96. 1
74.6
100.5
88.5
100.9
95.6
103.5
121. 3
132. 7
71.7

96.3
93. 1
73. 1
98. 1
86. 7
99. 6
95.2
103.4
120. 2
129.4

73.9

98.9
97.2
77. 2
101. 1
89.4
101.0
95.4
103. 7
120. 2
135. 8
73. 9

123. 0

123. 6

123. 5

123. 5

124. 6

124. 1

125. 3

125.8

125. 8

126. 6

125.4

125. 7

126. 0

102. 5

102.9

102. 0

103. 2

105. 0

102. 7

104.4

104.2

103. 9

104.4

104. 0

103. 5

102. 6

119. 0

119. 7

119. 3

118.9

120. 0

119. 1

120. 7

121.5

121. 7

121. 7

121. 1

121.4

121. 8

114. 7
120. 6

114.9
121. 6

114. 8
121. 0

114. 8
120.4

114. 8
122. 0

115.4
120.4

117.0
122. 1

116.9
123.2

117. 8
123. 1

117. 3
123.3

117. 3
122. 5

117.4
122. 9

117. 8
123. 3

127. 3

127. 7

128. 3

129. 1

129.8

130. 6

130. 2

131. 1

131.0

131.6

131.5

131.9

131.8

136.6

137.2

137. 6

137. 7

138.4

138. 8

139. 7

140.0

140. 1

140. 2

139. 5

139. 7

140. 8

TOTAL
GOODS-PRODUCING

MANUFACTURING
DURABLE GOODS
Ordnance and accessories
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electrical equipment and supplies ....
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products ....
Miscellaneous manufacturing, Ind

SERVICE-PRODUCING
TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND
TRADE

71.9

RETAIL

FINANCE, INSURANCE,
REAL ESTATE
SERVICES
See footnote 1, table B-2.
preliminary.




94.9
103. 5
120. 5
134. 7

PUBLIC

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL T R A D E

1

5
8
7
7
3
8

115. 3

AND

P

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

PRESSRELEASE

Table B-6. Indexes of diffusion: Percent of industries in which employment 1 increased

Year and month

Over 1-month span

Over 3-month span

Over 6-month span

Over 12-month span

1974

58. 7
55. 8
48. 0

61.6
55. 2
54. 7

64. 8
56.4
54. 7

63. 1
59. 6
54. 9

54. 7
54. 7
54. 4

52. 3
57. 0
50. 9

51. 5
50. 3
44. 5

50. 0
40. 1
28. 2

49. 1
42. 2
32. 6

44. 2
36. 0
35. 5

35. 8
32. 0
21. 8

26. 7
22. 1
20. 6

35. 5
19. 8
19. 8

26. 2
21. 8
12. 8

15. 7
16. 0
13. 7

18. 6
16. 6
14. 0

March

16. 9
16. 9
27. 3

12. 5
14. 0
22. 7

13. 7
12. 8
18. 9

16. 3
17. 4
17. 2

June

44. 2
51. 2
39. 8

34. 6
43. 6
47. 7

29. 1
40. 7
59. 0

20. 3
25. 6
40. 1

57. 3
72. 4
81. 4

55. 5
75. 0
78. 8

63.4
66. 6
72.4

50. 3
61.9
71.5

64. 0
59. 6
69. 2

70. 6
69. 2
75. 0

78. 8
79.4
77. 6

75. 9
79. 1
81.4

76.7
74., 4
77.,9

82. 0
84. 3
84. 9

82. 8
83. 1
77. 0

84. 6
82. 8
79. 4

77., 9
63..4
47.. 1

81. 1
70. 6
57. 0

77. 0
71. 5
70. 9

73. 5
79. 7
79. 4

52..9
49.. 1
68..9

47. 4
65. 1
54. 9

55. 2
55. 2
61.9

75. 3
74. 1
78. 2

39. 0
64. 2
68. 3

59.9
• 53. 8
75. 9

70. 1
69. 8
76. 7

76. 5
75. 0
74. 7

71., 5
61.. 6
79.. 7

76. 7
84. 6
86. 0

88. 4
86. 6
83. 7

77. 6p
73. 3p

79.. 1
68,.9
57. 8

83. 7
71. 5
64. Op

82. 3p
73. 5p

67.• 7p
40,.7p

49. 4p

January

....

February
March
April
May
June
July
August

....

September
October

. ..

November . .
December

..
1975

January

.. .

February

July
August

....

September

November . .
December
1976
January

. ..

February

April
May
June
July
August
September

.

October
November . .
December

,.
1977

January

. ,,

February
March

May
June
July
August
September . .
October

...

December ..

^ Number of employees, seasonally adjusted, on payrolls of 172 private nonagricultural industries,
p = preliminary.