Full text of The Employment Situation : December 1977

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Bureau of Labor Statistics
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K. Hoyle

(202)
home:

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United States
Department
of Labor
Washington, D.C. 20212
USDL 78-16
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS
EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 A. M . (EST), WEDNESDAY *
JANUARY 11, 1978

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

DECEMBER 1977

Employment rose and unemployment dropped sharply in December, it was reported today
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U. S. Department of Labor.

The December unem-

ployment rate was 6.4 percent, down considerably from November and 1.4 points below
December 1976.
Total employment—as measured by the monthly survey of households—continued to
expand with a substantial increase for the second straight month.

The proportion of the

population with jobs reached a record 58.0 percent, up from 56.3 in December a year ago.
The number of employed persons increased by 4.1 million over this period to 92.6 million.
Nonfarm payroll employment—as measured by the monthly survey of establishments—
rose by 215,000 over the month to 83.4 million.

This employment count excludes striking

workers, whose ranks increased by 110,000 in December as a result of the mine workers'
strike.

(The household survey, on the other hand, classifies striking workers as

employed.)

Over the past year, payroll jobs have risen by 3.1 million.

Unemployment
The level of unemployment fell by 480,000 to 6.3 million, seasonally adjusted, in
December.

Most of the improvement took place among persons who had lost their last jobs.

The unemployment rate also declined sharply in December, to 6.4 percent.

Over the year,

the number of unemployed dropped by more than 1.1 million and the rate registered a
decline of 1.4 percentage points.
the lowest since late 1974.

(See table A-l.)

Both the number and the rate were

(See addendum on seasonal adjustment on page 6 of this

release.)
The November-December unemployment declines affected nearly all major demographic,
occupational, and industry groups.




Substantial declines among adult men, wpmen, and

- 2 teenagers brought their rates to 4.7 percent, 6.7 percent, and 15.4 percent, respectively.
Black unemployment showed a substantial reduction, as the rate fell from 13.8 to
percent.

The rate for whites also declined, from 6.0 to 5.6 percent.

12.5

Over the year,

jobless rates dropped markedly for white men, women, and teenagers and black adult men,
while no downtrend was evident among black women and teenagers.

(See table A-2.)

Although the unemployment rate for blue-collar workers continued to exceed that for
white-collar workers, the difference narrowed in 1977.

A strong November-December

improvement brought the blue-collar rate to 7.3 percent, down from 9.6 percent a year
earlier.

The white-collar rate of 3.9 percent showed a drop of six-tenths of a point

Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
Quarterly averages
Selected categories

1977

1976
IV

Monthly data

II

I

1977
I I I

IV

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Thousands of persons

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Civilian labor force
Total employment

95,711

96,067

97,186

97,623

98,675

98,102

98,998

98,926

88,133

88,998

90,370

90,809

92,000

91,230

92,180

92,589

Unemployment

7,578

7,068

6,816

6,814

6,818

6,337

59,132

59,379

58,908

59,140

6,676
58,724

6,872

Not in labor force

59,099

58,391

58,682

992

929

1,061

1,104

968

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

7.0
5.3

6.9
4.9

6.4
4.7
6.7
15.4

Discouraged workers

Percent of labor force
Unemployment rates:
All workers
Adult men
Adult women

!

Teenagers

1

White

|

Black and other
Full-time workers

j

7.9
6.2

7.4
5.6

7.6
19.1

7.1

7.0
5.1
6.9

18.6

18.1

7.2
13.4

6.7

6.3

6.1

5.9

6.1

6.0

5.6

12.8

12.8

13.6

13.4

13.9

13.8

12.5

7.5

6.8

6.5

6.6

6.3

6.6

6.4

5.9

7.0
5.1

6.8
5.0

7.0
17.7

6.9

6.8

7.1

16.6

17.3

17.1

Thousands of jobs
ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Nonfarm payroll employment . . .
Goods-producing industries...
Service-producing industries . .

80, 111
23, 456
56, 655

80, 925
23, 788
57, 137

81, 871
24, 265
57, 606

82, 548
24, 359
58, 189

83,188p
24,505p
58,683p

82, 902 83,222p
24, 436 24,526p
58, 466 58,696p

83,43 9p
24,553p
58,886p

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




36.2
40.0
3.1

36.1
40.1
3.3

36.2
40.4
3.4

36.0
40.3
3.3

36.lp
40.4p
3.5p
N.A.»not ml!abl«.

36.2
40.4
3.5

36.lp
40.5p
3. 5p

36.Op
40.3p
3. 4p

- 3 over the year.

The rate for service workers fell a full percentage point in that time

frame to 8.0 percent, and the farm workers rate was down two points to 4.1 percent.
Among the major industries, there was a particularly strong decline for factory workers
in December, and their rate was nearly two and a half points lower than its year-ago
level.
The average (mean) duration of unemployment was little changed in December, at 14.1
weeks, but was down 1% weeks over the past year.

(See table A-4.)

Total Employment and the Labor Force
An increase in employment almost matched the decline in unemployment, as the size
of the labor force was little changed over the month.

Total employment rose 410,000 in

December to 92.6 million, with adult men the major job gainers.

(See table A-l.)

The

November-December growth in employment was concentrated among full-time workers.
Over the year, employment grew by 4.1 million, or 4.7 percent, marking the largest
12-month gain ever recorded in the post-World War II period.

The number of employed

adult men was up 1.8 million, adult women advanced by 1.7 million, and teenagers
increased their employment by close to 650,000.

Employment in blue-collar and service

work grew relatively more than other occupations.

(See tables A-l and A-3.)

The civilian labor force remained at 98.9 million in December, after an unusually
large increase of 900,000 in the prior month.

The 12-month rise was nearly 3 million.

The labor force participation r a t e — t h e proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population either working or seeking w o r k — edged back to 62.8 percent, just below the
alltime high of 62.9 percent recorded in November.
Discouraged Workers
Discouraged workers are persons who report that they want work but are not looking
for jobs because they believe they cannot find any.

Because they do not meet the labor

market test—that is, they are not engaged in active job search—they are classified as
not in the labor force rather than as unemployed.
basis.




These data are published on a quarterly

Consistent with the decline in unemployment during the fourth quarter, the number of
discouraged workers also fell.

The fourth quarter average was about 970,000, down from

1.1 million in the second and third quarters and slightly below its year-ago level.
About 70 percent of the discouraged total cite job-market factors as their reason for
not seeking work.

(See table A-8.)

Industry Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 215,000 in December to 83.4 million,
seasonally adjusted.

All but one of the major industry groups posted employment gains,

as 78 percent of the 172 industries that comprise the BLS diffusion index of private
nonagricultural payroll employment showed increases in December.

Although the over-the-

month increase in payroll employment was substantial, it would have been greater save for
the effect of a net increase of 110,000 workers on strike.
expanded by 3.1 million over the past year.

Nonfarm payroll jobs have

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

The largest over-the-month employment gain took place in manufacturing—160,000.
Most of this increase occurred in the durable goods industries, where gains were pervasive.
However, the 40,000 increase in the transportation equipment industry resulted mainly
from a return of striking aircraft workers to their jobs.
Employment in contract construction continued to improve.

An over-the-month

increase of nearly 20,000 brought the level of employment 355,000 above its level in
December 1976.

Employment increases also occurred in the services industry, State and

local government, transportation and public utilities, and trade.
Employees on mining payrolls declined by 150,000 over the month, due entirely to
the effects of a major strike by the United Mine Workers.
Hours
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls edged down by a tenth of an hour in December to 36.0 hours, seasonally
adjusted.

The December workweek stood 0.2 hour below its year-ago level.

In manufac-

turing, the workweek dropped 0.2 hour in December, but, at 40.3 hours, was still 0.3 hour
above its year-ago level.

Manufacturing overtime, at 3.4 hours, declined 0.1 hour from

November but was still above the year-ago point.




(See table B-2.)

- 5 The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervis6ry workers on
private nonagricultural payrolls edged down to 117.0 (1967=100) in December, 0.1 percent
below the November level.
December 1976.

However, the overall index has increased by 3.3 percent since

(See table B-5.)

Hourly, and Weekly Earnings
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm
payrolls increased by 0.4 percent, seasonally adjusted, in December.

Average weekly

earnings advanced by only 0.1 percent, however, due to the slight decline in the average
workweek.

Compared with their year-ago levels, average hourly and weekly earnings were

up 7.8 and 7.2 percent, respectively.
Before adjustment for seasonality, average hourly earnings were unchanged from
November's $5.41 but were 39 cents above December 1976.
by $1.08 over the month, reaching $195.84 in December.
earnings grew by $13.11.

Average weekly earnings increased
Over the year, average weekly

(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 204.8 (1967=100) in December, 0.4 percent higher than in November.
index was 7.4 percent above December a year ago.

The

During the 12-month period ended in

November, the Hourly Earnings Index in dollars of constant purchasing power rose 0.7 percent.

(See table B-4.




Data in table B-4 reflect revised seasonal adjustment factors.)

- 6 ADDENDUM ON SEASONAL ADJUSTMENT

At the beginning of each calendar year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics routinely
revises the seasonally-adjusted labor force series derived from the Current Population
Survey to take into account data from the previous year. These revisions are published
in the February release of January data and are used through the end of the year.
Becaus.e of the particular timing of this release and a speed-up in seasonal-adjustment
processing, it is possible this year to release at this time the revisions in the
overall unemployment rate that result from the use of new seasonal-adjustment factors
for 1978.
The table below contains the overall monthly seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates
for the past 13 months as originally published and as they are to be revised. It is to
be noted that the seasonally-adjusted rate for December is the same using the old and the
new factors. However, the pattern for the year is somewhat different using the revised
factors, in that there is a more steady decline in the unemployment rate during the year
rather than a sharp drop in December. The revisions, of course, have no effect on the
1977 annual average rate, which was 7.0 percent.
As soon as they can be prepared for publication, revised 1977 data for many series
presented in this release will be issued in a special press release, probably on or about
January 23. As usual, the release of January 1978 seasonally-adjusted data on February 3
will be based on the revised seasonal factors. Historical data will be available after
January 23 upon request and will also be published in the February 1978 issue of
Employment and Earnings.




Table B. Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates
the past 13 months

Monttl

1976 s

December

April

As currently
published
7-8

for

As revised
7.8
7.4
7.6
7.4
7.1
7.1
7.1
6.9
7.0
6.8
6.8
6.7
6.4

Explanatory Note
This release presents and analyzes statistics from two
major surveys. Data on labor force, total employment, and
unemployment (A tables) are derived from the Current
Population Survey, a sample survey of households conducted
by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The sample consists of about 47,000 households
selected to represent the U.S. civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years of age and over.
Statistics on nonagricultural payroll employment, hours,
and earnings (B tables) are collected by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, in cooperation with State agencies, from payroll
records of a sample of approximately 165,000 establishments. Unless otherwise indicated, data for both series
relate to the week containing the 12th day of the specified
month.
Comparability of household and payroll employment
statistics
Employment data from the household and payroll surveys differ in several basic respects. The household survey
provides information on the labor force activity of the
entire population 16 years of age and over, without duplication, since each person is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force.
The payroll survey relates only to 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 household workers), includes the selfemployed, unoaid family workers, and persons "with a
job but not at work" and not paid for the period absent.
Persons who worked at more than one job 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
To be classified in the household survey as unemployed
an individual must: (1) have been without a job during the
survey week, (2) have made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the prior 4 weeks, and (3) be
presently available for work. In addition, persons on layoff and those waiting to begin a new job (within 30 days)
are also classified as unemployed. The unemployed total




includes all persons who satisfactorily meet the above
criteria, regardless of their eligibility for unemployment
insurance benefits or any kind of public assistance. The
unemployment rate represents the unemployed as a proportion of the civilian labor force (the employed and unemployed combined).
To meet the extensive needs of data users, the Bureau
regularly publishes data on a wide variety of labor market
indicators—see, for example, the demographic, occupational, and industry detail in tables A-2 and A-3. A special
grouping of seven unemployment measures is set forth in
table A-7. Identified by the symbols U-1 through U-7,
these measures represent a range of possible definitions of
unemployment and of the labor force, extending from the
most restrictive (U-1) to the most comprehensive (U-7). The
official rate of unemployment appears as U-5.
Seasonal adjustment
Nearly all economic phenomena are affected to some
degree by seasonal variations. These are recurring, predictable events which are repeated more or less regularly
each year—changes in weather, school vacations, major
holidays, industry production schedules, etc. The cumulative
effects of these events are often large. For example, on average over the year, they explain about 90 percent of the
month-to-month variance in the unemployment figures.
Since seasonal variations tend to be large relative to the
underlying cyclical trends, it is necessary to use seasonallyadjusted data to interpret short-term economic developments. At the beginning of each year, current seasonal
adjustment factors for unemployment and other labor force
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 employment
and unemployment estimates, are computed by aggregating
independently adjusted series. The official unemployment
rate for all civilian workers is derived by dividing the estimate for total unemployment (the sum of four seasonallyadjusted age-sex components) by the civilian labor force
(the sum of 12 seasonally-adjusted age-sex components).
Several alternative methods for seasonally adjusting the
overall unemployment rate are also used on a regular basis
in order to illustrate the degree of uncertainty that arises
because of the seasonal adjustment procedure. Among these
alternative methods are five different age-sex adjustments,

including a concurrent adjustment and one based on stable
factors and four based on other unemployment aggregations.
Alternative rates for 1976 are shown in the table at the end
of this note. (Current alternative rates and an explanation of
the methods may be obtained from BLS upon request.)
For establishment data, the seasonally-adjusted series
for all employees, production workers, average weekly
hours, and average hourly earnings are adjusted by aggregating the seasonally-adjusted data from the respective
component series. These data are revised annually, usually
in conjunction with the annual benchmark adjustments
(comprehensive counts of employment).
Sampling variability
Both the household and establishment survey statistics
are subject to sampling error, which should be taken into
account in evaluating the levels of a series as well as changes
over time. Because the household survey is based upon a
probability sample, the results may differ from the figures
that would be obtained if it were possible to take a complete
census using the same questionnaire and procedures. The
standard error is the measure of sampling variability, that is,
the variations that might occur by chance because only a

sample of the population is surveyed. Tables A-E in the
"Explanatory Notes" of Employment and Earnings provide
standard errors for unemployment and other labor force
categories.
Although the relatively large size of the monthly establishment survey assures a high degree of accuracy, the estimates derived from it also may differ from the figures
obtained if a complete census using the same schedules
and procedures were possible. Moreover, since the estimating procedures employ the previous month's level as
the base in computing the current month's level of employment (link-relative technique), sampling and response
errors may accumulate over several months. To remove
this accumulated error, the employment estimates are adjusted to new benchmarks, usually annually. In addition
to taking account of sampling and response errors, the
benchmark revision adjusts the estimates for changes in
the industrial classification of individual establishments.
Employment estimates are currently projected from March
1974 benchmark levels. Measures of reliability for employment estimates are provided in the "Explanatory Notes" of
Employment and Earnings, as are the actual amounts of
revisions due to benchmark adjustments (tables G-L).

Unemployment rate by alternative seasonal adjustment methods

Month

Other aggregations
Alternative age-sex procedures
(all multiplicative)
Official
Direct
UnadRange
AdCompoadjustAll
All
justed justed
(cols.
site
YearCon- Stable DuraReaResid- ment
rate
2-13)
Total
Rate multipli- addi- ahead current 1967-73 tion
sons
ual
tive
cative
(1)

(2)

(3)

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

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

1976

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




(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
7.2
7.5
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.1
7.9

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.4
7.2
7.6
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.0
7.8

8.1
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.7
7.7
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9

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

(14)

i
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
[Number* in thousands]
Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Dec.
1976

Nov.
1977

Dec.
1977

Dec.
1976

Aug.
1977

157,176
2,146
155,031
95,517
61.6
88,494
56.3
2,850
85,645
7,022
7.4
59,514

159,522
2,132
157,389
98,819
62.8
92,473
58.0
3,181
89,292
6,346
6.4
58,570

159,736
2,129
157,608
98,503
62.5
92,623
58.0
2,914
89,710
5,880
6.0
59,105

157,176
2,146
155,031
95,960
61.9
88,441
56.3
3,257
85,184
7,519
7.8
59,071

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

66,835
65,140
51,855
79.6
48,727
72.9
2,125
46,603
3,128
6.0
13,285

67,948
66,257
52,890
79.8
50,578
74.4
2,283
48,295
2,312
4.4
13,367

68,052
66,364
52,921
79.7
50,514
74.2
2,192
48,322
2,407
4.5
13,443

66,835
65,140
52,078
79.9
48,859
73.1
2,273
46,586
3,219
6.2
13,062

73,535
73,445
35,168
- 47.9
32,831
44.6
452
32,379
2,337
6.6
38,276

74,768
74,669
36,896
49.4
34,405
46.0
548
33,857
2,491
6.8
37,772

74,883
74,783
36,708
49.1
34,530 .
46.1
436
34,094
2,179
5.9
38,075

16,806
16,446
8,493
51.6
6,935
41.3
273
6,663
1,558
18.3
' 7,953

16,806
16,463
9,033
54.9
7,490
44.6
350
7,140
1,543
17.1
7,431

138,253
136,475
84.521
61.9
78,889
57.1
5,632
6.7
51,955

18,923
18,555
10,996
59.3
9,605
50.8
1,390
12.6
7,559

Oct.
1977

Nov.
1977

OlH'.
1977

159,114
2,131
156,982
97,868
62.3
91,095
57.3
3,215
87,880
6,773
6.9
59,114

159,334
2,134
157,201
98,102
62.4
91,230
57.3
3,272
87,958
6,872
7.0
59,099

159,522
2,132
157,389
98,998
62.9
92,180
57.8
3,362
88,818
6,818
6.9
58,391

159,736
2,129
157,608
98,926
62.8
92,589
58.0
3,331
89,258
6,337
6.4
58,682

67,642
65,947
52,588
79.7
49,854
73.7
2,355
47,499
2,734
5.2
13,359

67,745
66,056
52,457
79.4
49,884
73.6
2,343
47,541
2,573
4.9
13,599

67,852
66,161
52,844
79.9
50,043
73.8
2,338
47,705
2,801
5.3
13,317

67,948
66,257
53,033
80.0
50,421
74.2
2,318
48,103
2,612
4.9
13,224

68,052
66,364
53,142
80.1
50,666
74.5
2,344
48,322
2,476
4.7
13,222

73,535
73,445
34,938
47.6
32,340
44.0
573
31,767
2,598
7.4
38,507

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

74,543
74,444
36,201
48.6
33,672
45.2
492
33,180
2,529
7.0
38,242

74,660
74,561
35,931
48.2«
33,474
44.8
541
32,933
2,457
6.8
38,630

74,768
74,669
36,505
48.9
33,921
45.4
597
33,324
2,584
7.1
38,164

74,883
74,783
36,435
48.7
34,011
45.4
553
33,458
2,424
6.7
38,348

16,802
16,460
8,873
53.9
7,580
45.1
286
7,293
1,294
14.6
7,587

16,806
16,446
8,944
54.4
7,242
43.1
411
6,831
1,702
19.0
7,502

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

16,825
16,483
9,210
55.9
7,539
44.8
380
7,159
1,671
18.1
7,273

16,822
16,480
9,327
56.6
7,713
45.9
393
7,320
1,614
17.3
7,153

16,806
16,463
9,460
57.5
7,838
46.6
447
7,391
1,622
17.1
7,003

16,802
16,460
9,349
56.8
7,912
47.1
434
7,478
1,437
15.4
7,111

140,095
138,351
87,287
63.1
82,451
58.9
4,836
5.5
51,064

140,264
138,523
86,879
62.7
82,375
58.7
4,505
5.2
51,644

138,253
136,475
84,854
62.2
78,828
57.0
6,026
7.1
51,621

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

139,789
138,046
86,471
62.6
81,214
58.1
5,257
6.1
51,575

139,962
138,218
86,861
62.8
81,540
58.3
5,321
6.1
51,357

140,095
138,351
•87,442
63.2
82,216
58.7
5,226
6.0
50,909

140,264
138,523
87,214
63.0
82,353
58.7
4,861
5.6
51,309

19,427
19,038
11,532
60.6
10,022
51.6
1,510
13.1
7,506

19,473
19,084
11,624
60.9
10,249
52.6
1,375
11.8
7,460

18,923
18,555
11,109
59.9
9,623
50.9
1,486
13.4
7,446

19,279
18,826
11,402
60.3
9,744
50.5
1,685
14.5
7,494

19,325
18,936
11,359
60.0
9,868
51.1
1,491
13.1
7,577

19,372
18,983
11,375
59.9
9,799
50.6
1,576
13.9
7,608

19,427
19,038
11,575
60.8
9,976
51.4
1,599
13.8
7,463

19,473
19,084
11,741
61.5
10,269
52.7
1,472
12.5
7,343

Sept.
1977

TOTAL
Total noninstitutional population1
Armed Forces1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio3
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Men, 20 years and over
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2

Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Women, 20 years and over
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio1
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Both sexes, 16-19 yeaft
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employment-population ratio2
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
WHITE
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

,

BLACK A N D OTHER
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

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).

NOTE: Household data for December 1977 relate to the week of Dec. 4-10 (week of the 5th) rather than the usual week containing the 12th day.




HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-2. Major unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Selected categories

Number of
unemploifed persons
(Inth<iwsands)

Unemployment rates

Dec.
1976

Dec.
1977

Dec.
1976

Aug.
1977

Sept.
1977

Oct.
1977

Nov.
1977

Dec.
1977

7,519
3,219
2,598
1,702

6,337
2,476
2,424
1,437

7.8
6.2
7.4
19.0

711
5.2
7.1
17.5

6.9
4.9
7.0
18.1

7.0
5.3
6.8
17.3

6.9
4.9
7.1
17.1

6.4
4.7
6.7
15.4

White, total
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20years and over
Both sexes, 16-10 years

6,026
2,580
2,068
1,378

4,861
1,952
1,863
1,046

7.1
5.5
6.8
17.2

6.1
4.5
6.3
14.7

6.1
4.3
6.2
15.9

6.1
4.5
6.2
14.8

6.0
4.3
6.2
14.5

5.6
4.1
5.9
12.6

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

1,486
619
541
326

1,472
510
567
395

13.4
11.3
11.5
34.8

14.5
11.7
12.2
40.4

13.1
10.4
11.3
37.4

13.9
11.7
11.4
37.9

13.8
10.3
12.5
39.0

12.5
9.1
11.2
37.3

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

1,719
1,547
449

1,305
1,405
374

4.3
7.0
10.2

3.5
6.6
10.5

3.4
6.4
10.4

3.7
6.3
9.6

3.4
6.6
9.3

3.3
6.2
8.0

Full-time workers
Part-time workers
Unemployed IS weeks and over1
Labor forcetimelost3

6,125
1,366
2,514

4,995
1,313
1,838

7.5
9.8
2.6
8.4

6.8
8.9
1.9
7.7

6.5
9.5
1.9
7.4

6.6
9.7
1.9
7.5

6.4
9.6
2.0
7.5

5.9
8.9
1.9
7.1

4.1
3.0
2.6

4.3
3.0
3.0
5.0
5.7
7.9
5.3
9.7
5.4
12.3
7.8
4.1

3.9
2.7
2.5
4.6
5.4
7.3
5.3
8.5
5.9
10.6
8.0
4.1

6.3
10.5
5.8
5.7
6.0
5.0
7.2
5.5
4.4
10.2

CHARACTERISTICS
Total, 10 years and over
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years

—

—

OCCUPATION9
White-collar workers
Professional and technical
Managers and administrators, except ferm
Sales workers
Clerical workers
Blue-collar workers
Craft and kindred workers
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives
Nonfarm laborers
Service workers
Farm workers

2,083
459
303
307
1,014
3,110
854
1,269
288
699
1,181
181

1,883
396
253
282
952
2,420
680
964
220
556
1,088
120

4.5
3.3
3.1
5.0
6.1
9.6
7.0
11.0
8.1
13.9
9.0
6.1

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

4.2
3.0
2.5
5.1
6.0
7.9
5.2
10.2
5.7
11.1
7.8
4.7

5,519
638
1,757
1,013
744
253
1,456
1,371
687
224

4,522
485
1,265
726
539
250
1,324
1,167
702
156

7.9
14.1
8.2
8.0
8.6
5.2
8.2
6.8
4.4
14.0

7.0
11.5
7.0
6.5
7.7
4.9
8.3
5.6
4.4
9.3

6.9
10.4
7.2
6.6
8.2
5.0
7.6
5.7
4.0
10.4

5.0
8.1
5.9
4.1
10.4

6.9
11.3
6.8
6.3
7.5
4.7
7.5
6.1
4.4
9.1

538
161
261
116

363
89
161
113

8.3
16.8
8.7
4.7

7.8
17.4
6.3
6.0

7.7
20.1
6.1
5.1

7.5
16.0
6.9
5.3

7.2
14.7
6.8
5.1

5.7
11.9
6.5
5.7

1,421
865
353
203

1,184
718
280
186

9.1
12.4
7.2
5.4

7.9
10.5
6.6
4.9

7.0
9.1
5.9
4.8

7.5
9.4
6.8
5.2

7.0
9.6
5.6
4.4

7.2
9.2
5.1
4.9

5.0
5.7
8.3
5.5
10.2
6.5
12.2
8.3
4.3

INDUSTRY9
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

7.1
12.2
7.0
6.3
8.1

VETERAN STATUS
Male Vietnam-en veterans:9
20 to 34 years
20 to 24 yeers
30 to 34 yeers
Male nonveterans:
20to24yaars
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years

Unemployment rate calculated at 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.
9
Unemployment by occupation includes all experienced unemployed persons, whereas that
1

3




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.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Dec.
i m

Dec.
1977

Dec.
76

Aug.
1977

Sept.
1977

Oct.
1977

Nov.
1977

Dec.
1977

i
|

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

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

88,
52.
36,
38,

494
369
125
n r />
20, 996

9.?, 623
3 4 , 524
3 8 , 099
3 8 , 655
2 1 , 892

8 8 , .'+41
5 2 , 799
3 5 , 642
3 7 ,,998
2 0 ,,498

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

91,095
5 3 , )66
37,129
38,358
21,232

,230
5 4 , ,266
3 6 , ,964
3 8 , ,386
2 1 ,, 0 9 7

9 2 ,,180
5 4 , 715
3 7 , ,465
3 8 , ,485
2 1 , ,265

9 2 , ,589
5 4 , ,996
3 7 ,, 5 9 3
3 8 , ,616
2 1 , ,379

4 5 , 212
1 3 , 705
9 , 580
s, 9 5 6
1 5 ,, 9 7 0
2 8 , ,9 33
l l i ,291
1 0 , ,245
3 ,, 3 0 9
4 ,,088
1 1 , ,935
2 , ,415

46, 981
1 4 , ,179
9 , ,982
6 , ,039
1 6 ,, 7 8 0
3 0 ,, 6 0 0
12, , 2 0 8
10, , 4 4 1
3,,539
4,, 4 1 3
1 2 , ,616
2 , ,426

4 4 ,,648
1 3 , ,544
9 , ,564
5 , ,815
1 5 , ,725
2 9 ,, 1 5 0
1 1 ,, 3 0 2
10, , 2 3 1
3 ,, 2 8 3
4,,334
1 1 ,, 8 8 0
2 , ,791

45,114
13,720
9,688
5,722
15,984
30,231
11,931
10,242
3,462
4,596
12,591
2,778

45,437
13,777
9,777
5,748
16,135
30,282
11,974
10,211
3,541
4,556
12,604
2,676

4 6 , ,147
1 4 , ,054
9 ,, 9 5 1
5 ,, 6 8 7
1 6 ,, 4 5 5
3 0 ,, 0 8 4
11,, 8 2 7
10,, 2 0 4
3,, 4 3 0
4 ,, 6 2 3
12,, 4 2 0
2,, 7 8 3

4 6 , ,232
1 3 ,, 9 1 8
9 , ,916
5 ,, 7 8 0
1 6 ,, 6 1 8
3 0 ,, 3 7 0
1 2 ,, 0 4 0
1 0 ,, 3 5 2
3,493
4 , ,485
1 2 , ,592
2 ,, 7 9 5

4 6 ,,386
14, , 0 1 1
9 ,, 9 6 2
5 ,, 8 9 7
16,, 5 1 6
3 0 ,, 8 4 2
12, , 2 2 0
10,, 4 3 1
3,, 5 1 1
4 ,, 6 8 0
12,, 5 5 8
2,, 7 9 8

1,, 1 5 0
1,, 4 5 6
244

1,, 1 4 7
1,,516
250

1,, 3 8 0
1,, 5 3 0
340

1,331
1,604
315

1,350
1,566
275

1,, 4 0 2
1,, 5 8 4
303

1,, 4 0 1
1,, 6 0 7
361

1,, 3 7 7
1,, 5 9 2
348

7 9 ,, 4 2 0
15, , 1 3 1
6 4 ,, 2 8 9
1,• 383
6 2 ,, 9 0 6
5,, 7 7 9
446

8 3 ,, 1 0 9
15, , 5 9 2
6 7 ,, 5 1 7
1 ,,4 5 4
6 6 ,, 0 6 3
6,, 1 7 8
424

7 8 ,, 9 5 7
14,, 9 6 7
6 3 ,, 9 9 0
1,, 3 8 4
6 2 ,, 6 0 6
5,, 7 9 8
460

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

81,341
15,296
66,045
1,409
64,636
6,072
504

8 1 ,, 6 5 1
15,, 4 9 4
66, , 1 5 7
1,, 3 5 2
64, , 8 0 5
6 ,039
448

8 2 ,, 2 6 9
15, , 4 2 2
6 6 ,, 8 4 7
1,, 4 1 5
6 5 ,, 4 3 2
6,, 0 7 4
471

8 2 ,, 6 4 2
15,, 4 2 2
6 7 ,, 2 2 0
1,, 4 5 5
65, , 7 6 5
6,, 1 9 7
438

8 2 ,, 5 8 3
6 7 ,, 2 9 7
3,, 1 6 4
1., 2 1 0
j 1 ,954
12,, 1 2 2

8 6 ,, 1 1 2
70, , 2 1 2
3., 0 0 8
1,• 214
1 ,794
12,, 8 9 2

8 0 , , 369
6 5 ,, 8 4 6
3,, 4 5 4
1., 2 3 4
2,, 2 2 0
11,, 0 6 9

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

82,799
67,706
3,315
1,246
2,069
11,778

82 , 6 2 6
67 , 6 4 6
3 ,298
1,251
2 ,047
11 , 6 8 2

8 3 ,, 3 7 8
6 8 ,, 2 1 2
3,, 3 6 6
1,, 2 6 6
2,, 1 0 0
U ,800

83 ,753
68 , 7 0 1
3 ,278
1,239
2 ,039
11 , 7 7 4

Oct.
1977

Nov.
1977

Dec.
1977

OCCUPATION
White-collar workers
Professional and technical
Managers and administrators, execpt farm
Sales workers

Craft and kindred workers
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives

MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS
OF WORKER
Agriculture:

Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers
Government
Private industries
Private households
Other industries
Self-employed workers

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

Dec.
1976

Dec.
1977

Dec.
1976

Aug.
1977

Sept.
1977

2,563
3,314
2,145
935
1,210

2,361
1,951
1,568
791
777

2,765
2,319
2,514
1,130
1,384

2,870
2,338
1,808
966
842

2,789
2,236
1,866
940
926

2,890
2,208
1,862
916
946

2,844
2,115
1,933
1,003
930

2,547
1,955
1,838
950
888

15.6

14.1

15.6

13.5

14.2

13.8

13.8

14.1

100.0
36.5
33.0
30.5
13.3
17.2

100.0
40.2
33.2
26.7
13.5
13.2

100.0
36.4
30.5
33.1
14.9
18.2

100.0
40.9
33.3
25.8
13.8
12.0

100.0
40.5
32.4
27.1
13.6
13.4

100.0
41.5
31.7
26.8
13.2
13.6

100.0
41.3
30.7
28.0
14.6
13.5

100.0
40.2
30.8
29.0
15.0
14.0

DURATION

15 weeks and over
15 to 26 weeks
27 weeks and over
Average (mean) duration, in weeks
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION

5 to 14 weeks
15 to 26 weeks
27 weeks and over




HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-6. Reasons for unemployment
[Numbers in thousands]
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Reasons

Oct.
1977

Nov.
1977

Dec.
1977

3,144
928
2,216
873
1,856
935

3,139
947
2,192
886
1,915
840

3,088
812
2,276
872
1,937
907

2,755
699
2,056
852
1,900
809

100.0
46.6
14.4
32.2
12.9
26.3
14.2

100.0
46.2
13.6
32.5
12.8
27.3
13.7

100.0
46.3
14.0
32.3
13.1
28.2
12.4

100.0
45.4
11.9
33.5
12.8
28.5
13.3

100.0
43.6
11.1
32.6
13.5
30.1
12.8

3.4
.9
1.9
1.0

3.2
.9
1.9
1.0

3.2
.9
2.0
.9

3.1
.9
2.0
.9

2.8
.9
1.9
.8

Dec.
1976

Dec.
1977

Dec.
1976

Aug.
1977

3,730
1,114
2,616
789
1,691
812

2,749
737
2,012
809
1,642
679

3,736
1,057
2,679
831
1,957
942

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

100.0
53.2
15.9
37.3
11.2
24.1
11.6

100.0
46.7
12.5
34.2
13.8
27.9
11.5

100.0
50.0
14.2
35.9
11.1
26.2
12.6

3.9
.8
1.8
.9

2.7
.8
1.7
.7

3.9
.9
2.0
1.0

Sept.
1977

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

UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers
Job leavers
Reentrants

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

Sex and age

Number of
unemployed persons
On thousands)

Unemployment rates

Dec.
1976

Dec.
1977

Dec.
1976

Aug.
1977

Sept.
1977

Oct.
1977

Nov.
1977

Dec.
1977

7,519
1,702
760
930
1,779
4,027
3,449
608

6,337
1,437
685
742
1,537
3,356
2,800
585

7.8
19.0
20.7
17.7
12.5
5.5
5.9
4.2

7.1
17.5
20.7
15.6
11.1
5.0
5.3
3.9

6.9
18.1
19.8
16.9
10.7
4.8
4.9
4.2

7.0
17.3
18.8
16.3
10.6
5.0
5.2
4.2

6.9
17.1
18.9
16.0
10.8
4.8
4.9
4.2

6.4
15.4
17.4
13.7
10.5
4.5
4.6
4.0

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

4,152
933
432
487
1,022
2,194
1,853
349

3,246
770
358
400
801
1,675
1,343
338

7.3
19.1
21.0
17.4
12.9
5.0
5.2
3.9

6.3
17.6
21.7
14.8
11.3
4.2
4.4
3.5

6.0
17.5
19.2
16.0
10.5
3.9
3.8
3.9

6.3
16.7
18.8
15.1
10.2
4.4
4.5
4.1

5.9
16.5
18.2
15.3
10.1
4.0
4.0
3.7

5.6
15.1
16.2
13.9
10.1
3.7
3.7
3.7

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 yeers and over

3,367
769
328
443
757
1,833
1,596
259

3,091
667
327
342
736
1,681
1,457
247

8.6
18.9
20.2
18.0
11.9
6.4
6.9
4.7

8.3
17.4
19.4
16.4
10.8
6.2
6^6
4.6

8.2
18.9
20.5
17.9
10.9
6.1
6.4
4.5

8.0
18.0
18.7
17.6
11.2
5.9
6.3
4.4

8.2
17.9
19.7
16.8
11.7
6.1
6.3
5.0

7.6
15.7
18.9
13.5
11.0
5.7
6.0
4.4

Total, 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




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
1976

Measures

Monthly data

1977

IV

I

II

1977
•III

IV

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

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

2.6

2.2

1.8

1.9

1.9

1.9

2.0

1.9

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

3.9

3.4

3.1

3.2

3.0

3.2

3.1

2.8

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

5.3

4.8

4.4

4.5

4.3

4.6

4.3

4.0

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

7.5

6.8

6.5

6.6

6.3

6.6

6.4

5.9

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

7.9

7.4

7.0

7.0

6.8

7.0

6.9

6.4

U-6—Total full-time jobseekers plus % part-time jobseekers plus % total
on pert time for economic reasons as a percent of the civilian
labor force less % of the part-time labor force

9.7

9.0

8.6

8.6

8.4

8.7

8.5

8.0

U-7 —Total full-time jobseekers plus % part-time jobseekers plusfctotal
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

10.7

9.9

9.7

9.7

9.3

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.- Not available.

Table A-8. Persons not in the labor force by selected characteristics, quarterly averages
[In thousands]
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Characteristics

Total not in labor force
Do not want a job now
Want a job now
Discouraged workers
Job-market factors1
Personal factors3
Men
Women
White
Black and other
1

IV

IV

1976

1977

59,264
54,058
5,206
962
700
263
314
648
713
249

58,808
53,493
5,314
934
605
329
279
655
686
249

IV

58,963
54,715
4,339
827
568
259
281
546
601
226

Job market factors include "could not find job" and "thinks no job available."




1977

1976
III

59,132
53,991
5,436
992
762
230
341
651
755
250

I
59,379
53,792
5,663
929
644
285
283
647
665
280

II
58,908
53,190
5,762
1,061
726
335
316
745
741
287

III
59,,141
53,,429
5,,909
1,,104
746
358
381
723
746
356

IV
58,724
53,374
5,565
968
665
303
307
661
733
250

2
Personal factors include "employers think too young or old." "lacks education or training/' and "other personal handicap."

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-1. Employees on nonagricultural payrolls, by industry
[In thousands]

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Industry

TOTAL
GOODS-PRODUCING

1
1
i AUG.
j| 1 9 7 7

i

r
SEPT.
1977

joCf.
| 1977
j

DEC.
1977

DEC.
1976

84,070

84,186

80,370

62,474

82,763

82,902

24,839

24,500

23,528 ]

24,305

24,360

t * t t 43t>

OCT.
1977

N3V.
1977

81,099

83,672

23,480

24,907|

DEC.
l97o

p

i

JNCV.
1197?
i
1

p

| D5C
- P
; 19 77
Ai
83,439

is 3 , 2 2 2
i
2 4 , 5 2 o !!

24,553

865

709

809

818

856

859

863

3,547

4,161

4,092

3,901

3,605

3,893

3,892

3,911

3,946

3,964

Production workers

19,128
13,730

19,883
14,343

19,882
14,345

19,890
14,329

19,114
13,719

19,594
14,078

19,612
14,091

19,666
14,132

19,717
14,190

19,876
14,314

DURABLE GOODS
Production workers

11,189
7,989

11,693
8,400

11,721
8,432

1 1,769
8,462

11,165
7,967

11,527
8,252

11,545
8,266

11,604
8,31*

11 , 6 2 7
8,339

11,746
8,436

149.9
157. 1
662.2
614.2
524.8
495.9
669.3
623.7
I,182.3 1,206.8
1,409.4 1,490.7
2,122.1 2,225.1
1,876.2 1,981.0
1,778.6 1,820.6
518.7
532.2
410.6
430.1

151.2
659.0
527.8
672.1
1,200.9
1,495.0
2,245.1
1,996.5
1,812.6
534.7
426.4

153.3
651.7
530.6
662.4
1,209.3
1,499.0
2,267.7
2,006.8
1,835.1
536.6
416.2

156
625
494
640
1,185
1,405
2 , 107
1,863
1, 765
517
418

156
642
508
656
1,202
1,460
2,210
1,951
1,802
526
414

155
64b
510
658
1,211
1,456
2,217
1,944
1, 809
526
409

150
653
517
657
1,208
1,473
2 , c 43
1,961
1,801
530
411

15<d
663
521
667
1,207
1 ,480
2,236
1,975
1,781
532
413

153
663
529
669
1,212
1,495
2,252
1,993
1, d21
535
424

8,161
5,913

8,121
5,867

7 ,949
5,752

8,067
5,826

8,067
5,825

8,062
5,819

8,090
5,851

8,130
5,878

1 , 710
t>8
982
1,286
704
1,114
1,061
210
671
261

1,711
67
985
1,285
702
1,116
1,053
210
671
262

I , G>96
67
937
1,285
702
1,117
1,058
211
673
266

1 , 700
67
99J
1,292
702
1,119
1 ,060
212
680
265

1, 708
67
993
1,296
709
1, 125
1,0o5
213
690
264

53,403

58,466

MINING
CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING

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
Production workers
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
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
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE . .

805

863 1

7,939
5,741

d, 190
5,943

1,694.3
79.4
962.8
1,266.9
683.9
1,097.3
1,038.5
202.5
650.0
263.3

1,763.4
75.0
991.2
1,305.5
706.3
1,120.0
1,061.9
213.2
688.2
265.6

1,720.8
72.9
996.0
1,308.0
708.0
1,123.6
1,062.4
212.5
690.4
266.2

1,690.6
71.4
995.3
1,289.4
711.4
1,133.7
1,061.6
211.8
692.4
263.6

1,711
75
961
1,273
682
1,089
1,042
204
648
264

57,619

5d,765

59,231

59, 686

56,842

4,553

4,638

4,653

4,665

4,549

4,581

4,616

4,610

4,630

4,660

17,925

18,377

18,431

18,414

16,466

18,511

58,696

58,886

18,559

18,533

18,770

4,326
14,233

4,450
14,083

4,470
14,300

4,478
14,687

4 , 305
13,620

4 , 398
13,979

4,410
14,021

4,415
13,999

4 ,439
14,047

4,456
14,055

4,385

4,567

4,586

4,604

4,398

4,524

4,545

4,572

4,600

4,618

15,598

14,936

15,448

15,482

15,533

15,601

15,676

5,034

15,239

15,329

15,337

15,379

15,421

2,720
12,314

2,732
12,507

2,728
12,601

2,730
12,607

2,727
12,652

2,722
12,699

14,861

15,580

15,601

15,261

15,447

15,621

2,725
12,536

2,714
12,733

2 , 716
12,905




58,169

19,165

GOVERNMENT

^preliminary.

713

1

SERVICES

FEDERAL
STATE AND LOCAL

j

15, 654
2,726
12,928

ESTABLISHMENT

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

DATA

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

DEC.
1976

TOTAL PRIVATE
MINING

Seasonally M^urtid
1

""I

Industry

3CT«
1977

NOV.
1977

D*C.
197 1

p

0EC.
197o

AUG.
1977

SEPT.
1977

OCT.
1977

Noy.
1977

p

DEC.
1977

?6.4

36.2

36.0

3o.2

36.2

3t>. 0

36.0

36.2

36.1

36.0

43. 7

45. i

44.9

43.3

43.6

44.2

44.3

44.6

44.6

43.2

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

Jo. 8

37.6

36.4

36.1

37.2

36.5

36.4

36.8

36.9

36.5

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours

40.6
3.3

40.5
3.6

40.6
3.6

40.9
3.7

40.0
3.2

40. 3
3.3

40.3
3.3

40.4
3.5

40.5
3.5

40.3
3.4

DURABLE GOODS
Overtime hours

41.?
3.5

41.2
3.9

41.3
3«b

41.7
3.9

40.5
3.3

40.9
3.5

41.0
3.5

41.2
3.8

41.1
3.7

40.9
3.6

'•I . 6
40.4
39.3
41.3
40.5
41.2
42.3
40.9
42.6
41.4
39.3

40.7
40.4
39.9
41.5
41.1
41.2
42.0
40.4
42.7
40.6
39.3

40.4
40.1
39.7
41.8
41.2
41.3
42.2
40.6
42.5
40.8
39.6

41.5
40.0
40.3
41.5
41.6
41.7
42.9
41.2
42.9
4 0 . fa
39.6

40.9
40.3
38.5
41.2
40.2
40.5
41.2
40.2
41.2
40.6
38.9

40.2
39.6
39.0
41.4
41.0
40.9
41.8
40.3
42.3
40.3
38.8

40.6
40.0
39.2
41.0
40.9
40.9
41.8
40.3
42.6
40.3
39.0

40.8
40.1
39.5
41.1
41.3
41.1
42.0
40.3
42.7
40.6
39.1

40.2
40.5
39.5
41.7
41.3
41.1
41.9
40.2
42.5
40.4
39.2

40.8
39.9
39.5
4-1.4
41.3
41.0
41.8
40.5
41.5
40.0
39.2

39.7
3.1

39.5
3.3

39.7
3.2

39.8
3.3

39.3
3.0

39.3
3. 1

39.3
3.0

39.4
3.1

39.5
3.2

39.4
3.2

40.5
.iS • 3
40.4
35.3
43.1
38.3
42.1
42.4
41.9
36.8

39.6
39.5
40.5
35.9
42.9
38.0
41.6
43.6
41.0
37.6

39.9
40.0
40.8
36.0
42.9
38.1
41.8
43.6
41.1
37.8

39.9
38.4
41.0
35.9
43.7
38.4
41.8
43.6
41.3
37.6

40.1
37.5
40.1
35.2
42.5
37.7
41.7
42.4
41.4
36.4

39.7
37.8
40.2
35.5
42.4
37.7
41.8
43.0
40.8
37.3

39.5
38.6
40.3
35.3
42.7
38.0
41.7
42.8
40.7
37.6

39.5
38.2
40.5
35.6
42.8
37.9
41.6
43.2
40.9
37.7

39.8
38.7
40.6
35.7
42.7
37.9
41.7
43.3
40.9
37.7

39.5
37.6
40.7
35.8
43.1
37.8
41.4
43.6
40.8
37.2

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

40.5

39.9

39.9

40.1

40.4

40.0

39.9

39.7

39.9

40.0

WHOLESALE A N D RETAIL TRADE

33.9

33.3

33.0

33.5

33.6

33.2

33.2

33.5

33.3

33.2

39.0
32.5

39.1
31.6

39.0
31.3

39.2
31.9

33.6
32.2

38.8
31.6

38.8
31.6

39.1
31.9

39.0
31.6

38.8
31.6

FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D
REAL ESTATE

36.7

36.7

36.6

36

5

36.7

36.7

36.6

36.7

36.7

36.5

SERVICES

33.4

33.4

33.2

33.2

33.5

33.2

33.2

33.5

33.3

33.3

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
Overtime hours
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
Textile mil! 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

*

p

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




ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table 8-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonagricultural payrolls, by industry
Average hourly earnings
!
'odustry

MANUFACTURING
DURABLE GOODS

i

j

DEC.

•CT.

| Nay.

CFC. p

DEC.

OCT.

i 1976
1
i
$5*02
5.02

1977

!
j
i

1977

1977

1976

1977

$5.40
5.3b

j
j

$5.41
5.39

$5.41
5.41

$lo2.73
181.72

$195.48
194.76

$194.76
194.58

$195.84
194.to

6 . 71

7.08

|

7.11

6.61

293.23

319.3A

319.24

286.21

7.38

8.25

|

8.22

8.23

239.98

310.20

299.21

29 7 . 1 0

5.42

5.78

5.81

5.87

220.05

234.09

235.39

240.08

5.78

6 . 19

6.21

6.27

23d.71

255.03

256.47

261.46

251.68
197.15
162.31
225.91
283.50
231.54
253.33
210.64
295.6*
210.73
164.27

258.85
211.29
175.16
245.36
317.29
247.20
268.3d
220.99
317.26
214.37
172.53

260.18
20*.32
175.87
247.87
320.12
249.04
270.50
223.71
317.05
217.46
175.43

268.09
208.00
180.9?
24 6 . 1 0
324.06
251.03
279.71
229.V0
323.4/
220.73
177.41

i

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

Average weekly earnings

p

NOV.
1V77

P

CrfC •
1977

p

6.36
5.23
4.39
5.91
7.72
6.00
6.39
5.47
7.43
5.28
4.39

6.44

6.46

5.22
4.43
5.93
7.77
6.03
6.41
5.51
7.46
5.33
4.43

5.20
4.49
5.93
7.79
6.02
6.52
5.58
7.54
5.41
4.48

4.90

5.17

5.21

5.25

194.53

204.22

206.84

208.95

5.16
5.04
3.83
3.52
5.66
5.86
6.14
7.29
5.01
3.53

5.42
5.31
4.08
3.69
6.10
6.23
6.56
7.31
5.19
3.68

5.50
5.58
4.10
3.71
6.13
6.25
6.59
7.81
5.21
3.70

5.54
5.76
4.10
3.74
6.19
6.27
6.t>5
7.84
5.25
3.71

203.98
193.03
154.73
124.26
243.95
224.44
25b.49
309.10
209.92
129.90

214.63
209.75
165.24
132.47
261.69
236.74
272.90
340.52
212.79
138.37

219.45
223.20
167.28
133.56
2o2.93
238.13
275.46
340.52
214.13
139.36

221.05
221.18
168.10
134.27
270.50
240.77
277.97
341.82
216.83
139.50

6.65

7.17

7.20

7.23

269.33

286.08

2b7.23

^89.92

4.07

4.38

4.38

4.38

137.97

145.85

144.54

146.73

5.34
3.65

5.69
3.^0

5.69
3.91

5.75
3.92

208.26
118.63

222.48
123.£4

221.91
122.38

225.40
125.05

FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D REAL ESTATE

4.43

4.72

4.71

4.75

162.58

173.22

172.39

173.38

SERVICES

4.52

4.85

4.86

4.89

150.97

161.99

161.35

162.35

6.05
4 . 88
4.13
5.47
7.00
5.6 2
5.99
5.15
6.94
5.09
4.18

Leather and leather products.

TRANSPORTATION A N D PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE A N D RETAIL TRADE
WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

1

See footnote 1, table B-2.
(^preliminary.




ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

DEC.
1976

JULY
1977

AUG.
1977

SEPT.
1977

OCT.
1977

NOV. P
1977

DEC.
1977

190.7
109.4

199.4
109.2

199.9
109.1

201.2
109.5

203.3
110.3

204.0
110.1

204.8
N.A.

7.4
(2)

0.4
(3)

207.0
189.8
191.0
203.5
184.7
173.1
194.4

217.1
195.1
200.3
214.3
193.1
180.3
203.5

217.4
195.8
201.2
212.3
193.3
180.6
204.8

21b. 8
196.2
202.7
215.0
194.4
181.8
205. d

221.7
197.8
204.2
217.3
196.2
185.2
208.6

221.1
198.1
205.4
218.9
196.8
185.4
206.5

216.1
198.4
205.7
221.2
198.5
185.8
209.3

4.4
4.5
7.7
<4.7
7.4
7.3
7.7

-2.3
.2
• 2
1.0
•8
.2
.4

P
OEC.
DEC.

19761977

NOV.
OEC.

19771977

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

1
See footnote 1, table B-2.
\ PSR;€NiT CHA\Gc *AS . 7 F-*GM NOVEMBER
PzKCENT CHANGfc mAS - . 1 FROM 3CTQBER

1 9 7 6 TO NOVEMBER
1 9 7 7 TO NOVEMBER

1977,
1977,

THE LATEST
THE LATEST

MONTH A V A I L A B L E .
MONTH A V A I L A B L E .

N.A. - not 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 in overtime
premiums in manufacturing (the only sector for wtjich 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 workers/ on private
nonagricultural payrolls, by industry, seasonally adjusted
[1967-100]
197?

H7o
Industry division and group
OEC.

JAN.

FEB.

MAR.

APR.

113.3

112.3

114.2

115.0

97.0

95.2

98.6

MINING

133.7

131.3

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

104.0

95.9

TOTAL PRIVATE
GOODS-PRODUCING

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG.

SEPT. OCT.

NOV.

P

DEC.

115.4

115.9

115.8

115.8

115.6

115.9 116.8

117.1

117.0

100.1 100.6

101.4

101.8

101.4

100.6

100.9 101.7

102.4

101.8

134.3

140.6

141.6

140.6

142.3

139.9

134.7

142.5 143.9 144.8

112.2

105.8

108.7

111.7

112.4

111.8

112.8

110.8

110.4 112.3

113.9

113.2

97.8

98.4

98.9

99.4

93.9

96.1

98.7

98.0

97.6

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 industry

93.7
93.2
39.1
39.4
101.9 101.4
103.3
98.7
96.6
99.3
85.4
85.2
97.3
98.3
96.0s 95.2
93.3
91.9
90.8
93.4
110.4 108.7
92.5
93.0

95.2
39.3
103.0
103.2
97.4
85.9
10Q.3
97.9
95.6
92.9
112.7
96.5

96.8
96.9
39.2
40.1
103.6 103.5
105.3 106.1
101.7 103.9
88.6
89.7
101.7 101.3
98.7
98.8
96.1
96.3
96.4
94.7
111.6 111.7
95.5
95.0

97.8
98.7
40.7
41.0
104.1 104.0
107.1 107.9
104.2 105.4
90.7
90.9
102.8 104.2
100.2 101.6
97.9
97.2
96.5
95.3
112.3 113.2
94.7
94.6

98.3
40.5
105.3
108.4
104.9
89.0
103.7
103.2
98.3
94.8
111.7
91.4

98.1
39.3
104.0
107.2
104.1
88.2
103.3
103.5
98.3
95.4
111.3
91.3

98.4
39.1
106.0
108.3
103.3
89.0
103.1
103.6
97.8
96.5
112.4
90.3

99.3
99.6 100.3
38.2
38.7
36.2
106.8 110.2 108.4
110.6 112.0 113.5
103.2 106.3 106.1
89.7
90.3
89.6
105.0 105.8 106.6
105.5 104.9 105.3
98.8
99.5 101.3
96.2
94.8
94.5
113.2 113.0 112.6
91.1
95.2
92.3

NONDURABLE GOODS
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
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

95.7
95.8
81.6
96.6
86.3
97.2
93.7
100.1
114.4
127.8
70.7

94.9
94.9
76.1
96.7
84.1
96.2
93.4
100.7
115.0
128.0
69.1

97.3
97.5
82.4
98.1
87.9
98.2
94.6
101.6
114.4
131.8
72.1

97.7
98.5
97.8
98.5
80.5
75.1
99.4
99.6
87.7
88.1
98.6 100.8
94.5
95.2
102.2 102.9
118.4 119.6
132.9 134.8
73.4
71.8

98.5
97.3
78.2
100.2
88.6
100.4
95.1
103.3
119.3
135.3
73.3

98.7
97.3
80.2
99.7
89.8
101.1
95.3
103.8
121.6
133.9
72.9

97.7
95.9
77.2
99.9
87.6
100.3
95.6
103.7
119.9
132.5
69.9

96.9
94.5
71.7
98.9
87.8
99.4
95.1
103.4
120.4
129.7
71.8

96.9
94.1
73.2
99.4
87.2
99.7
95.7
103.0
120.8
129.3
72.7

97.1
92.6
72.4
100.2
87.8
100.2
95.7
102.6
122.8
130.5
73.8

97.8
94.1
72.0
101.3
88.8
99.9
95.9
103.2
123.9
132.2
73.5

98.1
93.7
70.0
101.4
89.4
101.8
96.0
102.8
125.7
134.4
72.2

MANUFACTURING

94.5

97.2

97.5

98.1

P

124.7

124.1

125.0

125.3 125.5

125.9

125.6

125.8

126.1

126.4 127.2

127.3

127.6

TRANSPORTATION A N D PUBLIC
UTILITIES

104.9

102.7

104.4

104.1 103.8

104.6

104.1

103.1

103.5

103.9 102.9

104.1

105.4

WHOLESALE A N D RETAIL
TRADE

120.3

119.4

120.3

120.7

121.0

121.4

121.2

121.6

121.6

121.6 122.7

122.3

122.2

114.8
122.3

115.4
120.8

117.1
121.6

116.9 117.3
122.1 122.4

117.3
123.0

117.3
122.7

117.5
123.1

117.5
123.1

117.8 118.7 119.1
123.3 124. 2 123.4

118.8
123.4

129.6

130.1

130.2

131.0

131.6

131.7

132.3

132.7

133.2

134.2

135.2

134.9

140.6

140.9 142.7

142.6

143.1

SERVICE-PRODUCING

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D
REAL ESTATE
SERVICES
See footnote 1, table B-2.




138.3

139.3

138.8
,

139.8

131.0
140.1

140.3

p-preliminary.

139.6

140.1

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-6

ESTABLISHMENT

DATA

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

January . . . .
February . . .
March

15. 1
15. 7
25. 6

12. 8
12. 8
18. 6

12. 8
11. 9
17. 7

16. 6
17. 4
17. 7

April
May
lune

39. 0
51. 2
40. 7

32. 3
43. 9
52. 3

28. 2
41. 6
56. 7

20. 6
27. 0
40. 7

July
August . . . .
September ,

58. 1
73. 0
80. 8

57.0
76. 2
81. 7

67. 2
70. 1
75. 3

50. 6
63. 1
72. 4

October . . .
November . .
December , .

66. 9
62. 2
74. 1

74. 1
72.4
74. 7

82. 3
83. 4
81. 7

77. 3
80. 2
82. 6

January . . .
February
March

78. 5
77. 9
74. 1

82. 0
84. 3
85. 2

83. 1
81. 7
79. 9

86. 0
84. 6
81. 1

April
May
June

79. 4
66. 6
54. 1

77. 9
71. 5
61. 0

79. 4
70. 9
68. 6

74. 4
79. 7
79. 1

July
August . . . .
September .

57. 3
47. 1
69. 8

52.9
62. 5
56.7

57. 0
57. 3
63. 7

74. !
74. 7
78. 5

October , . .
November ,
December

42. 4
69. 5
73. 0

62. 8
58.7
79.9

69. 8
73. 5
78. 5

76. 5
75. 0
74. 7

January . . .
February
March

75. 0
73. 5
82. 3

79. 7
86. 0
85. 8

89. 0
86. 6
83. 1

75. 9
75. 6
78. 2

Aprii
May
June

77. 6
68. 6
63. 7

84. 0
73. 3
70. 1

80. 5
71. 5
68. 0

78. 2
80. 4p
78. 9p

July
August . . . .
September

65. 7
50. 0
61. 3

56. 1
62. 5
57.0

68. 3
70. 2p
74. 3p

October
November . ,
December

59. 9
73. 7p
77. 8p

71. 9p
7 6 . Op

Over 12 month span

1975

1976

1977

1978
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September . . .
October
November .
December . . ,

1
Number of employees, seasonally adjusted, on payrolls of 172 private nonagricultural industries,
p = preliminary.