Full text of The Employment Situation : December 1987

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Bureau of Labor Statistics

Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical information: (202) 523-1371
523-1944
523-1959
Media Contact:
523-1913

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

USDL 88-3
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS
RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL
8:30 A.M. (EST), FRIDAY,
JANUARY 8, 1988
DECEMBER 1987

Employment continued to increase in December and unemployment was
little changed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today.
The overall unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, and
the rate for civilian workers was 5.8 percent. While little different from
November, both rates have declined nearly a percentage point during
1987.
The number of nonagricultural wage and salary jobs—as measured by the
monthly survey of establishments—increased by 325,000 in December to 103.6
million.
Civilian employment—as measured by the monthly survey of
households—rose by 240,000 to 113.7 million.
Over the past year, job
growth in both surveys has totaled about 3 million.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons, at 7.0 million in December, and the
civilian unemployment rate, at 5.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, were
little changed from November but have edged down from this past summer^s
levels.
Both of these measures have improved markedly during 1987. This
improvement largely reflects a decline in the number of unemployed persons
who lost their last job. (See tables A-2 and A-8.)
In December, there was little or no change in the jobless rates for
adult men (4.9 percent), adult women (5.2 percent), teenagers (16.1
percent), whites
(4.9 percent),
and blacks
(12.2 percent).
The
unemployment rate for Hispanics, which is often more volatile than those
for whites and blacks, declined to 8.1 percent in December, a return to its
general level of the July-to-October period. Jobless rates for nearly all
worker
groups showed considerable improvement over the year. (See tables
A-2 and A-3.)
The mean duration of unemployment, at 14.2 weeks, and the median
duration, at 6.0 weeks, were about unchanged from November. However, in




This release incorporates annual
in
rev isions
seasonally adjusted unemployment and o ther labor foirce
series der ived from the household survey. Information on
the revisions appear s on page 5.

- 2 line with the general improvement in unemployment, both measures showed a
decline in duration of about 1 week compared with year-earlier levels.
Civilian Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Civilian employment rose by 240,000 in December to 113.7 million, and
the percentage of the population with jobs held at a high of 61.9 percent.
Table A. Major Indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted

Quarterly
averages

Monthly data

Category
1987
III

1987
IV

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Labor force \J
Total employment 1/
Civilian labor force.
Civilian employment
Unemployment
Not in labor force...
Discouraged workers

121,786
114,587
120,053
112,854
7,199
62,963
992

Thousands of
122,316 122,128
115,235 114,951
120,568 120,387
113,486 113,210
7,082
7,177
62,899
62,924
910
N.A.

persons
122,349
115,259
120,594
113,504
7,090
62,876
N.A.

122,472
115,494
120,722
113,744
6,978
62,898
N.A.

Percent of labor force
Unemployment rates:
All workers \J
All civilian workers
Adult men
Adult women.......
Teenagers
White
Black
Hispanic origin...

5.
6.
5.
5.
16.
5.
12.
8.

5
5
5
5
16
5
12
8

5,
6,
5,
5,
17,
5.
12,
8.

5,
5.
5.
5.
16.
5.
12.
9.

16.1
4.9
12.
8.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Nonfarm employment....,
Goods-producing
,
Service-producing...,

Thousands of jobs
102,278 pl03,267 102,983 pl03,246 pl03,572
24,884 p25,169
25,064 p25,173 p25,270
77,394 p78,098
77,919 p78,073 p78,302
Hours of work

Average weekly hours:
Total private
Manufacturing
Overtime

34.8
40.9
3.7

p34.8
p41.2
p3.9

34.9
41.3
4.0

If
Includes the resident Armed Forces.
p=preliminary.
NOTE: Household data have been revised
based on the experience through December 1987.



p34.9
p41.2
p3.9

P34.7
p41.1
p3.9

N.A.=not available,

3 During the course of 1987, civilian employment has increased
million, the largest annual gain since 1984, (See table A-2.)

by

3.1

The civilian labor force was little changed in December at 120,7
million.
Over the past year, the labor force grew by 2.2 million, with
adult women comprising about two-thirds of the increase.
Discouraged Workers (Household Survey Data)
The number of discouraged workers—persons who want to work but do not
look for jobs because they believe that they cannot find any—declined to
about 900,000 in the fourth quarter of 1987, the lowest level since the
fourth quarter of 1979.
The discouraged total was down by more than
200,000, or 20 percent, from a year earlier. Women and blacks continued to
comprise disproportionately large shares of all discouraged workers. (See
table A-14.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Total nonagricultural
employment rose
by 325,000 in December,
seasonally adjusted, to a level of 103.6 million. As has often been the
case in recent years, the services industry paced the over-the-month gains,
but there
were also
further job
increases in
construction
and
manufacturing. (See table B-l.)
Manufacturing employment grew for the sixth straight month, adding
another 40,000 jobs in December. The growth was not quite as widespread as
the month before, however, as two components, machinery and electrical
equipment,
were responsible for half of manufacturing's overall increase.
Employment in the motor vehicles and equipment industry was essentially
unchanged over the month but, in contrast to the trend for the whole of
manufacturing,
has been edging down;
it is now nearly 60,000 below its
early 1986 level.
Construction, up 55,000, after seasonal adjustment, ended the year
with its third consecutive monthly increase. At 5.1 million, construction
employment was 200,000 above a year earlier.
Within the service-producing sector, the services industry rose
sharply in December, by 145,000, as business services (35,000) and health
services (40,000) led the way. Wholesale trade, dominated by an increase
in its durable goods component, rose 20,000. Retail trade employment, in
contrast, was flat for the second consecutive month, as jobs in general
merchandise stores showed a seasonally adjusted drop of 35,000 over the
October-December
period.
Employment in finance, insurance, and real
estate, which has been growing at a slower pace in recent months compared
to the prior 4 years, was unchanged in December. The industry's finance
component was also unchanged from November and has shown hardly any growth
since July.




- 4 Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonagricultural payrolls fell 0.2 hour in December, after seasonal
adjustment, to 34.7 hours.
The manufacturing workweek, while slipping a
tenth of an hour for the second consecutive month, wais still at a very high
41.1 hours. Factory overtime, which held at 3.9 hours, also was quite high
by historical standards. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonagricultural payrolls edged down by 0.2 percent to
122.0 (1977=100), seasonally adjusted, reflecting the decline in the
workweek.
The manufacturing index was little changed, at 95.5, but has
risen by 3.5 percent over the past year. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings edged down- by 0.2 percent
in December,
seasonally adjusted, and average weekly earnings fell by 0.8 percent. Prior
to seasonal adjustment, hourly earnings dropped by 1 cent to $9.13, while
weekly earnings edged up 57 cents to $318.64. (See table B-3.)
The Hourly Earnings Index (Establishment Survey Data)
The Hourly Earnings Index (HEI) was 175.6 (1977=100) in December,
seasonally adjusted, a decrease of 0.1 percent from November. For the 12
months ended in December, the index rose
2.7 percent.
In dollars of
constant purchasing power, the HEI decreased 1.8 percent during the 12month period ending in November.
The HEI excludes the effects of two
types of changes unrelated to underlying wage rate movements—fluctuations
in manufacturing overtime and interindustry employment shifts.
(See
table B-4.)

The Employment Situation for January 1988 will be released on Friday,
February 5, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).




- 5 Revisions of Seasonally Adjusted Household Survey Data
At the end of each calendar year, the BLS routinely revises the
seasonally adjusted labor force series derived from the Current Population
Survey (household survey) to incorporate the experience of that year. As a
result of the recalculation of the seasonal factors, seasonally adjusted
data for the most recent 5 years are subject to revision. (Establishment
data are similarly revised at about mid-year, concurrently with the
introduction of annual benchmark adjustments.)
Revisions were minimal for the aggregate unemployment rates published
during 1987. For example, the overall and the civilian worker unemployment
rates for February and March each were revised by a tenth, and the overall
rate also was revised by a tenth in July. The 1987 annual averages, 6.1
percent for all workers and 6.2 percent for civilian workers, are, of
course, not affected by seasonal adjustment revisions. Table B presents
revised seasonally adjusted data for major civilian labor force series for
December 1986 through December 1987.
The January 1988 issue of Employment and Earnings will contain the new
seasonal adjustment factors that will be used to calculate the civilian
labor force and other major series for January-June of 1988.
The
publication will also contain a description of the current seasonal
adjustment methodology and revised data for the most recent 13 months or
calendar quarters for all regularly published tables containing seasonally
adjusted household survey data.
Revised monthly data for the 1983-87
revision period for 430 labor force series will be published in the
February 1988 issue.
Historical seasonally adjusted data (monthly and
quarterly) may be purchased from the Bureau.
(Contact Gloria P. Green,
(202) 523-1959).




HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table B. Employment status of the civilian nonlnstltutional population by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status,
sex, and age

1987

1986
Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population1 .
Civilian labor force
Percent of population
Employed
Employment-population ratio 2 ..
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

181,547 181,827 181,998 182,179 182,344 182,533 182,703 182,885 183,002 183,161 183,311 183,470
118,576 118,978 119,230 119,246 119,363 119,907 119,608 119,890 120,306 119,963 120,387 120,594
65.5
65.6
65.5
65.7
65.5
65.5
65.5
65.4
65.3
65.7
65.7
65.7
110,657 111,014 111,344 111,455 111,806 112,334 112,300 112,639 113,050 112,872 113,210 113,504
61.5
61.6
61.5
61.3
61.2
61.2
61.1
61.0
61.8
61.9
61.6
61.8
7,308
7,251
7,557 7,573
7,886 7,791
7,964
7,919
7,177
7,090
7,091
7,256
6.0
6.7
6.1
6.3
6.3
6.6
6.7
6.0
5.9
5.9
6.0
6.5

Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population1 .
Civilian labor force
Percent of population
Employed
Employment-population ratio 2 ..
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

78,973
61,848
78.3
58,120
73.6
2,304
55,816
3,728
6.0
17,125

79,132
61,911
78.2
58,220
73.6
2,287
55,933
3,691
6.0
17,221

79,216
61,930
78.2
58,324
73.6
2,317
56,007
3,606
5.8
17,286

79,303
61,933
78.1
58,380
73.6
2,361
56,019
3,553
5.7
17,370

79,387
61,970
78.1
58,516
73.7
2,378
56,138
3,454
5.6
17,417

79,474
62,129
78.2
58,673
73.8
2,383
56,290
3,456
5.6
17,345

79,536
62,054
78.0
58,632
73.7
2,316
56,316'
3,422
5.5
17,482

79,625
62,106
78.0
58,783
73.8
2,333
56,450
3,323
5.4
17,519

79,668
62,083
77.9
58,825
73.8
2,289
56,536
3,258
5.2
17,585

79,740
62,085
77.9
58,967
73.9
2,345
56,622
3,118
5.0
17,655

79,807
62,211
78.0
59,037
74.0
2,343
56,694
3,174
5.1
17,596

79,885
62,299
78.0
59,164
74.1
2,297
56,867
3,135
5.0
17,586

88,016
48,947
55.6
46,121
52.4
609
45,512
2,826
5.8
39,069

88,150
49,167
55.8
46,290
52.5
625
45,665
2,877
5.9
38,983

88,237
49,343
55.9
46,485
52.7
634
45,851
2,858
5.8
38,894

88,321
49,414
55.9
46,582
52.7
602
45,980
2,832
5.7
38,907

88,395
49,494
56.0
46,761
52.9
603
46,158
2,733
5.5
38,901

88,464
49,728
56.2
47,028
53.2
629
46,399
2,700
5.4
38,736

88,546
49,722
56.2
47,088
53.2
619
46,469
2,634
5.3
38,824

88,632
49,886
56.3
47,206
53.3
620
46,586
2,680
5.4
38,746

88,685
49,969
56.3
47,308
53.3
609
46,699
2,661
5.3
38,716

88,785
49,922
56.2
47,251
53.2
600
46,651
2,671
5.4
38,863

88,843
50,095
56.4
47,480
53.4
636
46,844
2,615
5.2
38,748

88,923
50,254
56.5
47,634
53.6
636
46,998
2,620
5.2
38,669

14,558 14,545 14,546 14,555 14,562
7,899 7,899
7,900 7,957
7,781
54.2
54.3
54.7
54.3
53.4
6,529
6,493
6,535
6,504
6,416
44.8
44.6
44.7
44.1
44.9
274
274
240
269
262
6,219
6,176
6,260
6,242 6,261
1,406
1,422
1,365
1,370
1,396
17.5
17.8
17.3
17.7
17.9
6,777 6,645
6,663
6,589 6,656

14,595
8,050
55.2
6,633
45.4
257
6,376
1,417
17.6
6,545

14,621 14,628 14,649 14,637
7,832 7,898 8,254 7,956
54.4
53.6
54.0
56.3
6,654
6,580
6,650
6,917
45.5
45.5
45.0
47.2|
257
239
259
245
6,323
6,391
6,672 6,415
1,252
1,248
1,302
1,337
16.0
15.8
16.4
16.2
6,789
6,730
6,681
6,395

14,661
8,081
55.1
6,693
45.7
270
6,423
1,388
17.2
6,580

14,663
8,041
54.8
6,706
45.7
239
6,467
1,335
16.6
6,622

Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population1 .
Civilian labor force
Percent of population
Employed
Employment-population ratio 2 ..
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Percent of population
Employed
Employment-population ratio2...
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
1

The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation.
Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional
population.
2




NOTE: Data have been revised based on the experience through
December 1987.

Explanatory Note

This news release presents statistics from two major surveys,
the Current Population Survey (household survey) and the
Current Employment Statistics Survey (establishment survey).
The household survey provides the information on the labor
force, total employment, and unemployment that appears in
the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample
survey of about 59,500 households that is conducted by the
Bureau of the Census with most of the findings analyzed and
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the
employment, hours, and earnings of workers on
nonagricultural payrolls that appears in the B tables, marked
ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected
from payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies.
The sample includes over 290,000 establishments employing
over 38 million people.
For both surveys, the data for a given month are actually
collected for and relate to a particular week. In the household
survey, unless otherwise indicated, it is the calendar week that
contains the 12th day of the month, which is called the survey
week. In the establishment survey, the reference week is the
pay period including the 12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.
The data in this release are affected by a number of technical
factors, including definitions, survey differences, seasonal adjustments, and the inevitable variance in results between a
survey of a sample and a census of the entire population. Each
of these factors is explained below.

Coverage, definitions, and differences
between surveys
The sample households in the household survey are selected
so as to reflect the entire civilian noninstitutional population
16 years of age and older. Each person in a household is
classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the labor force.
Those who hold more than one job are classified according to
the job at which they worked the most hours.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all
as paid civilians; worked in their own business or profession or
on their own farm; or worked 15 hours or more in an enterprise operated by a member of their family, whether they were
paid or not. People are also counted as employed if they were
on unpaid leave because of illness, bad weather, disputes between labor and management, or personal reasons. Members
of the Armed Forces stationed in the United States are also included in the employed total.
People are classified as unemployed, regardless of their
eligibility for unemployment benefits or public assistance, if
they meet all of the following criteria: They had no employment during the survey week; they were available for work at




that time; and they made specific efforts to find employment
sometime during the prior.4 weeks. Persons laid off from their
former jobs and awaiting recall and those expecting to report
to a job within 30 days need not be looking for work to be
counted as unemployed.
The labor force equals the sum of the number employed and
the number unemployed. The unemployment rate is the
percentage of unemployed people in the labor force (civilian
plus the resident Armed Forces). Table A-5 presents a special
grouping of seven measures of unemployment based on varying definitions of unemployment and the labor force. The
definitions are provided in the table. The most restrictive
definition yields U-l and the most comprehensive yields U-7.
The overall unemployment rate is U-5a, while U-5b represents
the same measure with a civilian labor force base.
Unlike the household survey, the establishment survey only
counts wage and salary employees whose names appear on the
payroll records of nonagricultural firms. As a result, there are
many differences between the two surveys, among which are
the following:
— The household survey, although based on a smaller sample, reflects a
larger segment of the population; the establishment survey excludes agriculture,
the self-employed, unpaid family workers, private household workers, and
members of the resident Armed Forces;
— The household survey includes people on unpaid leave among the
employed; the establishment survey does not;
— The household survey is limited to those 16 years of age and older; the
establishment survey is not limited by age;
— The household survey has no duplication of individuals, because each individual is counted only once; in the establishment survey, employees working at
more than one job or otherwise appearing on more than one payroll would be
counted separately for each appearance.

Other differences between the two surveys are described in
"Comparing Employment Estimates from Household and
Payroll Surveys," which may be obtained from the BLS upon
request.

Seasonal adjustment
Over the course of a year, the size of the Nation's labor
force and the levels of employment and unemployment
undergo sharp fluctuations due to such seasonal events as
changes in weather, reduced or expanded production, harvests, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools.
For example, the labor force increases by a large number each
June, when schools close and many young people enter the job
market. The effect of such seasonal variation can be very
large; over the course of a year, for example, seasonality may
account for as much as 95 percent of the month-to-month
changes in unemployment.

Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular
pattern each year, their influence on statistical trends can be
eliminated by adjusting the statistics from month to month.
These adjustments make nonseasonal developments, such as
declines in economic activity or increases in the participation
of women in the labor force, easier to spot. To return to the
school's-out example, the large number of people entering the
labor force each June is likely to obscure any other changes
that have taken place since May, making it difficult to determine if the level of economic activity has risen or declined.
However, because the effect of students finishing school in
previous years is known, the statistics for the current year can
be adjusted to allow for a comparable change. Insofar as the
seasonal adjustment is made correctly, the adjusted figure provides a more useful tool with which to analyze changes in
economic activity.
Measures of labor force, employment, and unemployment
contain components such as age and sex. Statistics for all
employees, production workers, average weekly hours, and
average hourly earnings include components based on the
employer's industry. All these statistics can be seasonally adjusted either by adjusting the total or by adjusting each of the
components and combining them. The second procedure
usually yields more accurate information and is therefore
followed by BI s. For example, the seasonally adjusted figure
for the labor force is the sum of eight seasonally adjusted
civilian employment components, plus the resident Armed
Forces total (not adjusted for seasonality), and four seasonally
adjusted unemployment components; the total for unemployment is the sum of the four unemployment components; and
the overall unemployment rate is derived by dividing the
resulting estimate of total unemployment by the estimate of
the labor force.
The numerical factors used to make the seasonal adjustments are recalculated regularly. For the household
survey, the factors are calculated for the January-June period
and again for the July-December period. The January revision
is applied to data that have been published over the previous 5
years. For the establishment survey, updated factors for
seasonal adjustment are calculated only once a year, along
with the introduction of new benchmarks which are discussed
at the end of the next section.
Sampling variability
Statistics based on the household and establishment surveys
are subject to sampling error, that is, the estimate of the
number of people employed and the other estimates drawn
from these surveys probably differ from the figures that would
be obtained from a complete census, even if the same questionnaires and procedures were used. In the household survey, the
amount of the differences can be expressed in terms of standard errors. The numerical value of a standard error depends
upon the si/e of the sample, the results of the survey, and other
factors. However, the numerical value is always such that the
chances are approximately 68 out of 100 that an estimate based
on the sample will differ by no more than the standard error




from the results of a complete census. The chances are approximately 90 out of 100 that an estimate based on the sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 times the standard error from the
results of a complete census. At approximately the 90-percent
level of confidence—the confidence limits used by BLS in its
analyses—the error for the monthly change in total employment is on the order of plus or minus 328,000; for total
unemployment it is 220,000; and, for the overall unemployment rate, it is 0.19 percentage point. These figures do not
mean that the sample results are off by these magnitudes but,
rather, that the chances are approximately 90 out of 100 that
the " t r u e " level or rate would not be expected to differ from
the estimates by more than these amounts.
Sampling errors for monthly surveys are reduced when the
data are cumulated for several months, such as quarterly or
annually. Also, as a general rule, the smaller the estimate, the
larger the sampling error. Therefore, relatively speaking, the
estimate of the size of the labor force is subject to less error
than is the estimate of the number unemployed. And, among
the unemployed, the sampling error for the jobless rate of
adult men, for example, is much smaller than is the error for
the jobless rate of teenagers. Specifically, the error on monthly
change in the jobless rate for men is .26 percentage point; for
teenagers, it is 1.25 percentage points.
In the establishment survey, estimates for the 2 most current
months are based on incomplete returns; for this reason, these
estimates are labeled preliminary in the tables. When all the
returns in the sample have been received, the estimates are
revised. In other words, data for the month of September are
published in preliminary form in October and November and
in final form in December. To remove errors that build up
over time, a comprehensive count of the employed is conducted each year. The results of this survey are used to
establish new benchmarks—comprehensive counts of
employment—against which month-to-month changes can be
measured. The new benchmarks also incorporate changes in
the classification of industries and allow for the formation of
new establishments.
Additional statistics and other information
In order to provide a broad view of the Nation's employment situation, BI s regularly publishes a wide variety of data
in this news release. More comprehensive statistics are contained in Employment and Earnings, published each month by
BI s. It is available for$8.50per issue or$22.00per year from
the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.,
20204. A check or money order made out to the Superintendent of Documents must accompany all orders.
Employment and Earnings also provides approximations of
the standard errors for the household survey data published in
this release. For unemployment and other labor force
categories, the standard errors appear in tables B through J of
its "Explanatory Notes." Measures of the reliability of the
data drawn from the establishment survey and the actual
amounts of revision due to benchmark adjustments are provided in tables M, O, P, and O of that publication.

H O U S E H O L D DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1. Employment status of the population, including Armed Forces in the United States, by sex
(Numbers in thousands)

Seasonally adjusted 1

Not seasonally adjusted
Employment status and sex
Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

183,297
119,799
65.4
112,338
61.3
1,750
110,588
2,826
107,762
7,461
6.2
63,498

185,225
122,366
66.1
115,564
62.4
1,755
113,809
3,020
110,789
6,802
5.6
62,859

185,370
121,956
65.8
115,429
62.3
1,750
113.679
2,874
110,805
6,526
5.4
63,414

183,297
120.326
65.6
112,407
61.3
1,750
110,657
3,153
107,504
7,919
6.6
62,971

87,868
66,950
76.2
62,568
71.2
1.593
60,975
4.382
6.5

88,849
67,753
76.3
64,084
72.1
1,593
62.491
3.669
5.4

88,924
67,565
78.0
63,854
71.8
1,589
62,265
3,711
5.5

87,868
67,409
76.7
62,960
71.7
1,593
61,367
4,449
6.6

88,598
67,937
76.7
63,916
72.1
1,575
62,341
4,021
5.9

95,429
52,849
55.4
49,770
52.2
157
49,613
3,079
5.8

96.376
54,613
56.7
51,480
53.4

96,446
54,391
56.4
51,575
53.5
161
51,414
2,816
5.2

95,429
52,917
55.5
49,447
51.8
157
49,290
3.470
6.6

96,140
54,105
56.3
50,870
52.9
161
50,709
3,235
6.0

Aug
1987

!
I Sept.
; 1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

185,052
122,128
66.0
114,951
62.1
1,741
113,210
3,249
109,961
7,177
5.9
62,924

185,225
122,349
66.1
115,259
62.2
1,755
113,504
3,172
110,332
7,090
5.8
62,876

185,370
122,472
66.1
115,494
62.3
1,750
113,744
3,215
110,529
6,978
5.7
62,898

88,683
67,776
76.4
63,949
72.1
1,581
62,368
3,827
5.6

88,756
67,947
76.6
64,048
72.2
1,580
62,468
3,899
5.7

88,849
68,019
76.6
64,174
72.2
1,593
62,581
3,845
5.7

88,924
68,030
76.5
64,245
72.2
1,589
62,656
3,785
5.6

96,221
53,930
56.0
50,666
52.7
162
50,504
3,264
6.1

96.295
54,181
56.3
50,903
52.9
161
50,742
3,278
6.1

96,376
54,330
56.4
51,085
53.0
162
50,923
3,245
6.0

96,446
54,442
56.4
51,249
53.1
161
51.088
3.193
5.9

TOTAL
2

Noninstltutional population
Labor force2
Participation rate3
Total employed2
Employment-population ratio4
Resident Armed Forces
Civilian employed
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate5
Not in labor force

184,738 184,904
122,042 121,706
66.1
65.8
114,786 114,615
62.1
62.0
1,736 i
1,743
113,050 112,872
3,143
3,184
109,907 109,688
7,256
7,091
5.9
5.8
62,696
63,198

Men, 16 years and over
Noninstitutional population2
Labor force2
Participation rate3
Total employed2
Employment-population ratio4
Resident Armed Forces
Civilian employed.
Unemployed
Unemployment rate5
Women, 16 years and over
Noninstitutional population2
Labor force2
Participation rate3
Total employed2
Employment-population ratio4
Resident Armed Forces
Civilian employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate5

1
The population and Armed Forces figures are not adjusted for
seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
2
Includes members of the Armed Forces stationed in the United
States.
3
Labor force as a percent of the noninstitutional population.




J 62

51,318
3,133
5.7
4

Total employment as a percent of the noninstitutional population.
Unemployment as a percent of the labor force (including the resident
Armed Forces).
NOTE: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the
experience through December 1987.
5

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD D A T A

Table A-2. Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age
(Numbers in thousands)
Seasonally adjusted 1

Not seasonally adjusted
Employment status, sex, and age
Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

181,547
118,049
65.0
110,588
60.9
7,461
6.3

183,470
120,611
65.7
113,809
62.0
6,802
5.6

183,620
120,206
65.5
113,679
61.9
6,526
5.4

181,547
118,576
65.3
110,657
61.0
7,919
6.7

183,002
120,306
65.7
113,050
61.8
7,256
6.0

183,161
119,963
65.5
112,872
61.6
7,091
5.9

183,311
120,387
65.7
113,210
61.8
7,177
6.0

183,470
120,594
65.7
113,504
61.9
7,090
5.9

183,620
120,722
65.7
113,744
61.9
6,978
5.8

78,973
61,665
78.1
57,959
73.4
2,128
55,831
3,706
6.0

79,885
62,288
78.0
59,289
74.2
2,234
57,056
2,999
4.8

80,002
62,075
77.6
59,035
73.8
2,121
56,914
3,040
4.9

78,973
61,848
78.3
58,120
73.6
2,304
55,816
3,728
6.0

79,668
62,083
77.9
58,825
73.8
2,289
56,536
3,258
5.2

79,740
62,085
77.9
58,967
73.9
2,345
56,622
3,118
5.0

79,807
62,211
78.0
59,037
74.0
2,343
56,694
3,174
5.1

79,885
62,299
78.0
59,164
74.1
2,297
56,867
3,135
5.0

80,002
62,248
77.8
59,185
74.0
2,298
56,887
3,063
4.9

88,016
49,057
55.7
46,512
52.8
545
45,966
2,546
5.2

88,923
50,690
57.0
48,166
54.2
624
47,542
2,525
5.0

89,010
50,492
56.7
48,146
54.1
578
47,568
2,346
4.6

88,016
48,947
55.6
46,121
52.4
609
45,512
2,826
5.8

88,685
49,969
56.3
47,308
53.3
609
46,699
2,661
5.3

80,785
49,922
56.2
47,251
53.2
600
46,651
2,671
5.4

88,843
50,095
56.4
47,480
53.4
636
46,844
2,615
5.2

88,923
50,254
56.5
47,634
53.6
636
46,998
2,620
5.2

89,010
50,361
56.6
47,750
53.6
643
47,107
2,611
5.2

14,558
7,327
50.3
6,117
42.0
153
5,964
1,209
16.5

14,663
7,633
52.1
6,354
43.3
162
6,192
1,279
16.8

14,609
7,639
52.3
6,498
44.5
175
6,323
1,141
14.9

14,558
7,781
53.4
6,416
44.1
240
6,176
1,365
17.5

14,649
8,254
56.3
6,917
47.2
245
6,672
1,337
16.2

14,637
7,956
54.4
6,654
45.5
239
6,415
1,302
16.4

14,661
8,081
55.1
6,693
45.7
270
6,423
1,388
17.2

14,663
8,041
54.8
6,706
45.7
239
6,467
1,335
16.6

14,609
8,113
55.5
6,809
46.6
274
6,535
1,304
16.1

TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2

Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

,

1
The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation;
therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and seasonally
adjusted columns.
2
Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional




population.
NOTE: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the
experience through December 1987.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, age, and Hispanic origin
(Numbers in thousands)

Seasonally adjusted1

Not seasonally adjusted
Employment status, race, sex, age, and
Hispanic origin

Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

156,111
101,983
65.3
96,388
61.7
5,596
5.5

157,449
103,729
65.9
98,698
62.7
5,031
4.9

157,552
103,443
65.7
98,639
62.6
4,804
4.6

156,111
102,474
65.6
96,544
61.8
5,930
5.8

157,134
103,516
65.9
98,181
62.5
5,335
5.2

157,242
103,357
65.7
98,069
62.4
5,288
5.1

157,342
103,669
65.9
98,317
62.5
5,352
5.2

157,449
103,731
65.9
98,492
62.6
5,239
5.1

157,552
103,907
66.0
98,779
62.7
5,128
4.9

Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

53,970
78.5
51,094
74.3
2,876
5.3

54,349
78.3
52,050
75.0
2,298
4.2

54,197
78.0
51,873
74.6
2,323
4.3

54,157
78.8
51,284
74.6
2,873
5.3

54,183
78.2
51,715
74.7
2,468
4.6

54,213
78.2
51,803
74.7
2,410
4.4

54,375
78.4
51,864
74.8
2,511
4.6

54,381
78.3
51,969
74.9
2,412
4.4

54,368
78.2
52,046
74.9
2,322
4.3

Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

41,619
55.2
39,808
52.8
1,812
4.4

42,850
56.3
41,058
54.0
1,792
4.2

42,659
56.0
41,004
53.8
1,655
3.9

41,540
55.0
39,510
52.4
2,030
4.9

42,332
55.8
40,449
53.3
1,883
4.4

42,308
55.7
40,409
53.2
1,899
4.5

42,379
55.7
40,538
53.3
1,841
4.3

42,464
55.8
40,606
53.4
1,858
4.4

42,569
55.9
40,712
53.5
1,857
4.4

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
,
Unemployment rate
Men
,
Women

6,394
53.8
5,486
46.1
908
14.2
16.1
12.3

6,531
54.7
5,590
46.8
941
14.4
15.1
13.7

6,587
55.3
5,761
48.4
826
12.5
15.0
10.0

6,777
57.0
5,750
48.4
1,027
15.2
15.8
14.5

7,001
58.5
6,017
50.3
984
14.1
15.2
12.9

6,836
57.2
5,857
49.0
979
14.3
15.1
13.4

6,915
57.9
5,915
49.5
1,000
14.5
15.1
13.8

6,886
57.7
5,917
49.6
969
14.1
14.8
13.3

6,970
58.6
6,021
50.6
949
13.6
14.9
12.3

20,152
12,598
62.5
10,980
54.5
1,618
12.8

20,482
13,178
64.3
11,632
56.8
1,545
11.7

20,508
13,127
64.0
11,631
56.7
1,496
11.4

20,152
12,706
63.1
10,968
54.4
1,738
13.7

20,396
13,150
64.5
11,513
56.4
1,637
12.4

20,426
13,028
63.8
11,421
55.9
1,607
12.3

20,453
13,152
64.3
11,556
56.5
1,596
12.1

20,482
13,193
64.4
11,589
56.6
1,604
12.2

20,508
13,215
64.4
11,605
56.6
1,610
12.2

Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

5,932
74.3
5,249
65.8
683
11.5

6,053
74.6
5,454
67.2
599
9.9

6,026
74.1
5,430
66.8
595
9.9

5,952
74.6
5,250
65.8
702
11.8

6,054
74.9
5,407
66.9
647
10.7

6,032
74.5
5,421
67.0
611
10.1

6,023
74.3
5,431
67.0
592
9.8

6,045
74.5
5,430
66.9
615
10.2

6,043
74.3
5,430
66.8
613
10.1

Women, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

5,908
58.9
5,251
52.4
657
11.1

6,252
61.3
5,594
54.9
659
10.5

6,241
61.2
5,626
55.1
615
9.9

5,905
58.9
5,180
51.6
725
12.3

6,122
60.3
5,430
53.5
692
11.3

6,067
59.7
5,357
52.7
710
11.7

6,177
60.7
5,495
54.0
682
11.0

6,207
60.9
5,537
54.3
670
10.8

6,224
61.0
5,544
54.3
680
10.9

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
,
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Men
Women

758
35.4
480
22.4
279
36.8
38.3
35.2

872
40.1
585
26.9
287
32.9
32.1
33.7

860
39.6
575
26.5
285
33.2
35.1
31.2

849
39.6
538
25.1
311
36.6
36.2
37.1

974
44.9
676
31.2
298
30.6
33.7
27.1

929
42.8
643
29.6
286
30.8
31.5
30.0

952
43.8
630
29.0
322
33.8
32.5
35.2

941
43.3
622
28.6
319
33.9
32.2
35.8

948
43.7
631
29.1
317
33.4
33.5
33.4

WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population.
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

BLACK
Civilian noninstitutional population.
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

See footnotes at end of table




HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, age, and Hispanic origin—Continued
(Numbers in thousands)

Seasonally adjusted1

Not seasonally adjusted
Employment status, race, sex, age, and
Hispanic origin

Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

12,540
8,235
65.7
7,406
59.1
829
10.1

13,043
8,788
67.4
8,002
61.4
786
8.9

13,082
8,685
66.4
8,002
61.2
684
7.9

12,540
8,328
66.4
7,460
59.5
868
10.4

12,925
8,549
66.1
7,856
60.8
693
8.1

12,965
8,581
66.2
7,877
60.8
704
8.2

13,003
8,654
66.6
7,935
61.0
719
8.3

13,043
8,763
67.2
7,978
61.2
785
9.0

13,082
8,772
67.1
8,058
61.6
714
8.1

HISPANIC ORIGIN

Employment-population ratio2
Unemployment rate

1
The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation;
therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and seasonally
adjusted columns.
2
Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional
population.

NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not
sum to totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented
and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.
Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the experience
through December 1987.

Table A-4. Selected employment Indicators
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted
Category

Seasonally adjusted

Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

110,588
40,055
27,895
5,965

113,809
40,879
28,683
6,218

113,679
40,707
28,614
6,239

110,657
40,082
27,517
5,958

113,050
40,308
28,189
6,107

112,872
40,404
28,069
6,151

113,210
40,556
28,099
6,178

113,504
40,645
28,175
6,237

113,744
40,711
28,249
6,227

1,417
1,292
117

1,492
1,384
144

1,403
1,350
121

1,626
1,387
149

1,591
1,393
155

1,624
1,415
139

1,705
1,430
140

1,595
1,407
155

1,599
1,450
156

99,430
16,588
82,842
1,167
81,675
8,088
243

102,245
17,307
84,938
1,244
83,694
8,316
228

102,239
17,206
85,033
1,135
83,898
8,317
249

99,197
16,458
82,739
1,225
81,514
8,057
241

101,241
16,794
84,447
1,175
83,272
8,214
248

101,282
16,928
84,354
1,100
83,254
8,204
297

101,522
17,033
84,489
1,222
83,267
8,274
242

101,943
17,118
84,825
1,286
83,539
8,222
235

101,997
17,064
84,933
1,200
83,733
8,280
248

All industries:
Part time for economic reasons
Slack work
Could only find part-time work
Voluntary part time

5,494
2,506
2,758
14,805

5,430
2,504
2,569
15,639

5,166
2,327
2,517
15,691

5,592
2,459
2,895
13,860

5,283
2,468
2,526
14,573

5,261
2,213
2,683
14,415

5,353
2,377
2,655
14,488

5,534
2,408
2,696
14,523

5,262
2,284
2,638
14,711

Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons
Slack work
Could only find part-time work
Voluntary part time

5,226
2,313
2,689
14,449

5,152
2,293
2,510
15,232

4,910
2,133
2,462
15,238

5,324
2,291
2,791
13,459

5,016
2,265
2,463
14,099

4,986
2,034
2,603
13,987

5,067
2,196
2,557
14,011

5,241
2,209
2,597
14,064

5,004
2,111
2,552
14,222

CHARACTERISTIC
Civilian employed, 16 years and over
Married men, spouse present
Married women, spouse present
Women who maintain families
MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers
Self-employed workers
Unpaid family workers
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers
Government
Private industries
Private households
Other industries
Self-employed workers
Unpaid family workers
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME1

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




NOTE: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the
experience through December 1987.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-5. Range of unemployment measures based on varying definitions of unemployment and the labor force, seasonally adjusted
(Percent)
Quarterly averages
Measure

Monthly data

1987

1986

1987

IV

Oct.

Nov.

Dec-

U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer as a percent of the
civilian labor force
U-2 Job losers as a percent of the civilian labor force

1.9

1.8

1.7

1.6

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

3.3

3.2

3.0

2.8

2.7

2.8

2.7

2.7

U-3 Unemployed persons 25 years and over as a percent of the
civilian labor force
U-4 Unemployed full-time jobseekers as a percent of the
full-time civilian labor force

5.4

5.1

4.8

4.6

4.5

4.6

4.5

4.5

6.5

6.2

5.9

5.6

5.5

5.6

5.5

5.4

U-5a Total unemployed as a percent of the labor force,
including the resident Armed Forces

6.8

6.5

6.2

5.9

5.8

5.9

5.8

5.7

U-5b Total unemployed as a percent of the civilian labor force

6.8

6.6

6.3

6.0

5.9

6.0

5.9

5.8

U-6 Total full-time jobseekers plus 1 /2 part-time jobseekers plus
112 total on part time for economic reasons as a percent of
the civilian labor force less 1/2 of the part-time labor force

9.2

9.0

8.5

8.2

8.1

8.2

8.2

8.0

10.2

9.9

9.3

9.0

8.8

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

U-7 Total full-time jobseekers plus 112 part-time jobseekers
plus 112 total on part time for economic reasons plus discouraged
workers as a percent of the civilian labor force plus
discouraged workers less 112 of the part-time labor force
N.A. = not available.
NOTE: Data have been revised based on the experience
December 1987.

through

Table A-6. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates1

Category
Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

CHARACTERISTIC
Total, 16 years and over
Men, 16 years and over
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 16 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years

7,919
4,449
3,728
3,470
2,826
1,365

7,090
3,845
3,135
3,245
2,620
1,335

6,978
3,785
3,063
3,193
2,611
1,304

6.7
6.8
6.0
6.6
5.8
17.5

6.0
6.1
5.2
6.0
5.3
16.2

5.9
5.8
5.0
6.1
5.4
16.4

6.0
5.9
5.1
6.1
5.2
17.2

5.9
5.8
5.0
6.0
5.2
16.6

5.8
5.7
4.9
5.9
5.2
16.1

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

1,817
1,353
662

1,487
1,247
579

1,441
1,275
568

4.3
4.7
10.0

3.7
4.3
9.0

3.7
4.2
8.8

3.7
4.2
8.9

3.5
4.2
8.5

3.4
4.3
8.4

Full-time workers
Part-time workers
Labor force time lost2

6,481
1,459

5,684
1,415

5,601
1,396

6.4
8.8
7.6

5.6
8.2
6.9

5.5
8.4
6.8

5.6
8.3
6.8

5.5
8.2
6.8

5.4
8.0
6.6

5,981
130
818
1,504
849
655
286
1,658
1,585
598
211

5,243
62
664
1,150
616
534
277
1,545
1,545
611
200

5,096
71
663
1,106
606
500
289
1,423
1,544
565
196

6.7
13.9
13.5
6.9
6.5
7.6
4.6
7.3
5.1
3.5
11.5

6.0
8.6
11.3
5.6
5.5
5.8
4.4
7.0
4.7
3.7
10.6

5.9
7.4
11.9
5.6
5.4
5.9
4.1
6.4
4.8
3.4
8.6

5.9
8.3
11.2
5.7
5.2
6.5
4.4
6.5
4.7
3.3
10.6

5.8
7.0
10.6
5.3
4.8
5.9
4.5
6.8
4.8
3.4
11.1

5.7
8.0
10.6
5.1
4.8
5.6
4.6
6.2
4.8
3.2
10.9

INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Transportation and public utitities
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance and service industries
Government workers
Agricultural wage and salary workers

Unemployment as a percent of the 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.
NOTE: Data have been revised based on the experience through
December 1987.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-7. Duration of unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)

Ssssonslly adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Weeks of unemployment
Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

DURATION

Average (mean) duration in weeks
Median duration in weeks

2,972
2,443
2,046
954
1,092

3,131
2,039
1,633
770
863

2.871
1,991
1,665
813
851

3,335
2,403
2,194
1,042
1,152

3,203
2,142
1,896
834
1,062

3,220
1,949
1,904
917
987

3.223
2.093
1,801
844
957

3,218
2,029
1.834
899
935

3,229
1,968
1,791
892
899

15.4
7.5

14.0
5.9

14.6
6.3

15.0
7.1

14.3
6.4

14.2
5.8

14.1
6.2

14.0
6.1

14.2
6.0

100.0
39.8
32.7
27.4
12.8
14.6

100.0
46.0
30.0
24.0
11.3
12.7

100.0
44.0
30.5
25.5
12.5
13.0

100.0
42.0
30.3
27.7
13.1
14.5

100.0
44.2
29.6
26.2
11.5
14.7

100.0
45.5
27.6
26.9
13.0
14.0

100.0
45.3
29.4
25.3
11.9
13.4

100.0
45.4
28.7
25.9
12.7
13.2

100.0
46.2
28.2
25.6
12.8
12.9

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed
5 to 14 weeks
15 weeks and over
15 to 26 weeks
27 weeks and over

NOTE: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the
experience through December 1987.

Table A-8. Reason for unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Reasons
Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers
On layoff
Other job losers
Job leavers
Reentrants
New entrants

3,936
1,126
2,810
929
1,795
801

3,171
825
2,346
950
1,929
752

3,206
909
2,297
856
1,738
727

3,913
1,064
2,849
1,024
2,005
990

3,389
874
2,515
992
1,969
855

3,313
820
2,493
981
1,908
882

3,388
944
2,444
960
1,845
914

3,307
878
2,429
926
1,974
855

3,200
856
2,344
946
1,945
909.

100.0
52.8
15.1
37.7
12.5
24.1
10.7

100.0
46.6
12.1
34.5
14.0
28.4
11.1

100.0
49.1
13.9
35.2
13.1
26.6
11.1

100.0
49.3
13.4
35.9
12.9
25.3
12.5

100.0
47.0
12.1
34.9
13.8
27.3.
11.9

100.0
46.8
11.6
35.2
13.8
26.9
12.5

100.0
47.7
13.3
34.4
13.5
26.0
12.9

100.0
46.8
12.4
34.4
13.1
28.0
12.1

100.0
45.7
12.2
33.5
13.5
27.8
13.0

3.4
.8
1.5
.7

2.6
.8
1.6
.6

2.7
.7
1.4
.6

3.3
.9
1.7
.8

2.8
.8
1.6
.7

2.8
.8
1.6
.7

2.8
.8
1.5
.8

2.7
.8
1.6
.7

2.7
.8
1.6
.8

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

NOTE: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the
experience through December 1987.




HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-9. Unemployed persons by sex and age, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates1

Sex and age
Dec.
1986

Dec.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

7,919
3,001
1,365
634
731
1,636
4,913
4,393
523

7,090
2,641
1,335
649
691
1,306
4,442
3,909
513

6,978
2,547
1,304
613
688
1,243
4,412
3,939
488

6.7
13.0
17.5
19.1
16.3
10.7
5.1
5.4
3.5

6.0
11.8
16.2
18.3
14.7
9.4
4.7
4.9
3.2

5.9
11.8
16.4
18.3
15.2
9.4
4.6
4.8
3.3

6.0
11.8
17.2
20.4
14.7
8.8
4.6
4.8
3.1

5.9
11.6
16.6
19.2
14.8
8.9
4.5
4.7
3.4

5.8
11.2
16.1
17.8
14.7
8.5
4.5
4.8
3.2

Men, 16 years and over
16 to 24 years
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

4,449
1,623
721
319
398
902
2,810
2,462
347

3,845
1,414
710
356
355
704
2,419
2,109
313

3,785
1,378
722
347
367
656
2,390
2,112
282

6.8
13.5
18.2
19.0
17.2
11.2
5.2
5.5
3.9

6.1
12.5
17.8
20.5
15.9
9.6
4.7
4.9
3.4

5.8
12.1
17.3
19.7
15.9
9.3
4.5
4.7
3.2

5.9
12.1
17.4
20.9
14.8
9.2
4.5
4.8
3.1

5.8
12.0
17.2
20.4
14.8
9.2
4.4
4.6
3.5

5.7
11.7
17.2
19.3
15.3
8.7
4.4
4.6
3.2

Women, 16 years and over
16 to 24 years
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

3,470
1,378
644
315
333
734
2,103
1,931
176

3,245
1,227
625
293
336
602
2,023
1,800
200

3,193
1,169
582
266
321
587
2,022
1,827
206

6.6
12.5
16.9
19.1
15.3
10.2
5.0
5.4
2.9

6.0
11.0
14.4
16.0
13.4
9.0
4.7
5.0
2.9

6.1
11.5
15.4
16.9
14.4
9.4
4.7
4.9
3.5

6.1
11.5
16.9
19.9
14.6
8.5
4.7
4.9
3.1

6.0
11.2
16.0
17.9
14.7
8.6
4.7
4.9
3.2

5.9
10.7
14.8
16.2
14.1
8.4
4.7
4.9
3.3

Total, 16 years and over
16 to 24 years
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

1
Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
NOTE: Data have been revised based on the experience through
December 1987.

Table A-10. Employment status of black and other workers
(Numbers in thousands)
Seasonally adjusted1

Not seasonally adjusted
Employment status

Civilian noninstitutional population...
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

Dec.
1986

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Nov.
1987

Dec.
1987

25,436
16,065
63.2
14,200
55.8
1,865
11.6
9,371

26,021
16,882
64.9
15,112
58.1
1,771
10.5
9,139

26,068
16,763
64.3
15,040
57.7
1,723
10.3
9,305

25,436
16,163
63.5
14,174
55.7
1,989
12.3
9,273

25,868
16,697
64.5
14,804
57.2
1,893
11.3
9,171

25,919
16,594
64.0
14,778
57.0
1,816
10.9
9,325

25,969
16,755
64.5
14,946
57.6
1,809
10.8
9,214

26,021
16,869
64.8
15,017
57.7
1,852
11.0
9,152

26,068
16,853
64.7
15,008
57.6
1,845
10.9
9,215

The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation;
therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and seasonally
adjusted columns.
2
Civilian employment e * a percent of the civilian noninstitutional




population.
NOTE: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the
experience through December 1987.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-11. Occupational status of the employed and unemployed, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian employed

Unemployed

Unemployment rate

Occupation
Dec.
1986

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1987

110,588

113,679

7,461

Managerial and professional specialty
Executive, administrative, and managerial
Professional specialty

27,325
12,869
14,457

28,519
13,546
14,972

Technical, sales, and administrative support
Technicians and related support
Sales occupations
Administrative support, including clerical

35,016
3,330
13,853
17,833

Service occupations
Private household
Protective service
Service, except private household and protective

Dec.
1986

Dec.
1987

6,526

6.3

5.4

584
287
297

605
342
263

2.1
2.2
2.0

2.1
2.5
1.7

35,929
3,393
13,932
18,605

1,421
107
586
728

1,329
93
564
671

3.9
3.1
4.1
3.9

3.6
2.7
3.9
3.5

14,886
990
1,872
12,024

15,250
921
1,947
12,383

1,302
68
116
1,117

1,146
60
76
1,011

8.0
6.5
5.8
8.5

7.0
6.1
3.7
7.5

Precision production, craft, and repair
Mechanics and repairers
Construction trades
Other precision production, craft, and repair

13,449
4,282
4,925
4,242

13,431
4,347
5,035
4,050

963
236
482
246

738
172
406
160

6.7
5.2
8.9
5.5

5.2
3.8
7.5
3.8

Operators, fabricators, and laborers
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors
Transportation and material moving occupations
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers
Construction laborers
Other handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers

17,020
7,689
4,652
4,679
658
4,021

17,554
8,023
4,671
4,861
785
4,076

2,063
876
446
741
208
533

1,667
683
380
604
193
411

10.8
10.2
8.8
13.7
24.1
11.7

8.7
7.9
7.5
11.0
19.7
9.2

2,892

2,996

288

286

9.1

8.7

Total, 16 years and over1

Farming, forestry, and fishing

Dec.
1986

' Persons with no previous work experience and those whose last job was
in the Armed Forces are included in the unemployed total.

Table A-12. Employment status of mala Vietnam-era veterans and nonveterans by age, not seasonally adjuatad
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force

Veteran status
and age

Civilian
noninatltutional
population

Unemployed
Total

Employed
Number

Dec.
1986

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Dec.
1987

Dec.
1986

Dec.
1987

Percent of
labor force
Dec.
Dec.
1986
1987

VIETNAM-ERA VETERANS
Total, 30 years and over
30 to 44 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 years and over

7,792
6,314
1,045
2,857
2,412
1,478

7,863
6,083
813
2,402
2,868
1,780

7,256
6,043
990
2,746
2,307
1,213

7,242
5,786
766
2,304
2,716
1,456

6,901
5,721
911
2,602
2,208
1,180

6,902
5,481
687
2,185
2,609
1,421

355
322
79
144
99
33

340
305
79
119
107
35

4.9
5.3
8.0
5.2
4.3
2.7

4.7
5.3
10.3
5.2
3.9
2.4

18,886
8,653
5,946
4,287

19,908
8,974
6,501
4,433

17,841
8,220
5,609
4,012

18,727
8,487
6,113
4,127

16,901
7,759
5,307
3,835

17,943
8,091
5,886
3,966

940
461
302
177

784
396
227
161

5.3
5.6
5.4
4.4

4.2
4.7
3.7
3.9

NONVETERANS
Total, 30 to 44 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years

NOTE: Male Vietnam-era veterans are men who served in the Armed
Forces between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. Nonveterans are men
who have never served in the Armed Forces; published data are limited to




those 30 to 44 years of age, the group that most closely corresponds to
the bulk of the Vietnam-era veteran population.




HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-13. Employment status of the civilian population for eleven large States—Continued

Table A-13. Employment status a the civilian population for eleven large States

(Numbers in thousands)

(Numbers in thousands)

Seasonally adjusted'

inally adjusts*

Seasonally adjusted2
State and employment status

California
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

20,314
13.389
12,546

20,624
13,775
13,036

20,731
13,918
13,201

9,460
5,851
5,519

Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

8,690
5,703
5,343

20.695
13,801
12.979

8,688
5,828
5.446

6,934
4,638
4,231

Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

5,948
3,852
3,700

6,003
3,962
3,834

6,007
3,945
3,804

13,747
8.454
7,994

13,788
8,590
8,167

13,790
8.539
8,184

5,948
3,900
3,727

5,990
3,986
3,815

5,994
3,916
3.740

13,781
8.526
8,145

13,784
8,392
8,012

New York
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
North Carolina
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Ohio
Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
See footnotes at end of table

Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

Civilian noninstitutional population
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

20.731
13,928
13,191

9,480
5,868
5,574

8,686
5,819
5,409

8,691
5,670
5,278

I
j

13,786
8,480
8,057

8,691
5.701
5.272

9,254 j
5,479 |
5.220 |

9,291 |
5,716 |
5,417 ;

2,300
8,569
7,895

(
I

' These are the official Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates used in the
administration of Federal fund allocation programs.
' The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore,
identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and the seasonally adjusted

9,293
5,744 j
5,451 I

12,318
8,455
7,881

j
i
I

9,254 j
5.528 !
5,229 ]

12,089
8,354
7,550

9,286
5,675
5,359 |

12.246
8,546
7,828

columns,
NOTE: Revised sei
seasonally adjusted s<
February 5.

j

12,264
8,401
7,685

9,288
5,738
5,400

9,293
5,793
5,463

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-14. Persons not in the labor force by reason, sex, and race, quarterly averages
(In thousands)

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally
adjusted
Reason, sex, and race
1986

1987

1986

1987

IV

IV

IV

62,908

62,947

62,808

62,851

62,901

62,963

62,899

57,219
8,075
3,773
25,907
15,781
3,683

57,614
8,184
4,248
25,391
16,224
3,567

57,026
6,333
3,957
26,024
16,055
4,657

56,983
6,394
4,111
26,182
15,872
4,424

57,008
6,403
4,193
25,550
16,250
4,611

57,490
6,388
4,426
25,646
16,317
4,713

57,408
6,414
4,467
25,513
16,508
4,507

5,690
1,378
817
1,277
1,120
794
326
1,097

5,333
1,343
901
1,170
891
566
325
1,028

5,861
1,425
763
1,356
1,147
824
323
1,170

5,780
1,348
848
1,231
1,135
762
373
1,218

5,871
1,470
914
1,325
1,048
694
354
1,114

5,802
1,556
847
1,274
992
635
357
1,132

5,462
1,389
834
1,234
910
581
329
1,094

Total not in labor force ...

20,773

21,130

20,455

20,486

20,681

20,811

20,845

Do not want a job now .

18,807

19,229

18,444

18,459

18,585

18,945

18,878

1,965
647
396
483
440

1,902
707
458
358
378

2,008
676
360
493
479

1,994
661
408
469
456

2,062
750
463
428
421

2,064
773
416
431
444

1,918
737
414
358
409

Total not in labor force ...

42,136

41,817

42,354

42,365

42,220

42,152

42,055

Do not want a job now .

38,411

38,385

38,582

38,524

38,423

38,545

38,530

3,724
731
421
1,277
637
658

3,432
636
443
1,170
533
650

3,853
749
403
1,356
654
691

3,786
687
440
1,231
666
762

3,809
720
451
1,325
619
693

3,738
784
431
1,274
561
688

3,545
653
421
1,234
552
685

Total not in labor force ...

53,668

53,746

53,557

53,658

53,627

53,771

53,679

Do not want a job now .

49,575

49,811

49,336

49,437

49,284

49,536

49,564

4,094
937
583
940
772
862

3,935
949
701
864
598
823

4,238
972
541
992
806
927

4,198
951
617
912
771
946

4,344
1,093
683
959
714
896

4,252
1,062
648
948
643
951

4,045
986
646
909
620
884

Total not in labor force ...

7,449

7,326

7,401

7,367

7,457

7,326

7,294

Do not want a job now .

6,057

6,099

6,034

6,169

6,088

6,083

Want a*job now
Reason not looking: School < ttendance .
Ill health, dis< oility
Home respon. ibilities
Think cannot get a job ...
Other reasons3

1,393
380
209
281
302
221

1,227
348
183
278
246
172

1,294
315
193
313
298
175

1,237
333
168
275
315
145

1,210
341
165
304
237
163

TOTAL
Total not in labor force
Do not want a job now
Current activity: Going to school
III, disabled
Keeping house
Retired
Other activity
Want a job now
Reason not looking: School attendance .
Ill health, disability
Home responsibilities
Think cannot get a job ...
Job-market factors1
Personal factors2
Other reasons3
Men

Want a job now
Reason not looking: School attendance .
Ill health, disability
Think cannot get a job ...
Other reasons3
Women

Want a job now
Reason not looking: School attendance .
Ill health, disability
Home responsibilities
Think cannot get a job ...
Other reasons
White

Want a job now
Reason not looking: School attendance .
Ill health, disability
Home responsibilities
Think cannot get a job ...
Other reasons3
Black

1
Job-market factors include "could not find job" and "thinks no job
available."
2
Personal factors include "employers think too young or old," "lacks
education or training," and "other personal handicap."




1,389
374
190
308
292
225

5,962
1,402
346
225
291
327
212

3
Includes small number of men not looking for work because of "home
responsibilities."
NOTE: Seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the
experience through December 1987.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-1. Employees on nonagricultural payrolls by industry
(In thousands)
Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Dec .
1986

Total
Total private
Goods-producing
Mining
Oil and gas extraction

Oct.
1987

1987

Dec .
1987 pl

Sept.
1987

104,093

104,333

100,567

102,275

102,434

8 4 , 103

86,392

86,541

86,788

83,643

85,229

85,386

24 ,563

25,442

25,377

25,206

24,630

24,886

24,917

724
406

751
434

759
439

728
414.8

766 I
443.0 I

766
444.7

767
449.6

5,321
1,334.9

5,209
1,316.8

5,055
1 ,286.9

Manufacturing
Production workers

18,974
12,908

19,355
13,232

19,402
13,268

19,384
13,257

Durable goods
Production workers

11,185
7,402

11,361
7,570

11 ,398
7,605

749.7
753.9
531.4
528.0
592.1
593.9
764.8
762. 1
281 . 1
281 .6
1 ,447. 1 1,453.3
2,059 .9 2,068.2
2,115 .6 2,122.2
2,021 . 1 2,030.0
840 .2
843.0
696 .2
701.4
383.0
384.5

Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Blast furnaces and basic steel products . .
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electrical and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Motor vehicles and equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing

Aug.
1987

I 01 , 2 8 9 1 0 3 , 7 8 7

4,861
1,271.9

Construction
General building contractors

Dec .
1986

71 6 . 3
SO 3 . 6
57 7 . 0
7 9.3
25 7 . 8
,42 6.3
,01 4.8
, 12 . 9
,03 4.0
86 6 . 0
69 8 . 9 I
36 2 . 9 !

Oct .
1987

Nov.
19 8 7

p

!

102 ,983 103,246

103 ,572

85,795

86,038

86 .294

25,064

25,173

25,270

764
443

760
440
5,077
1 ,283

5,006
1 ,262

4,989
1 ,260

18,970
12,906

19, 129
13,0 38

19, 169
13,072

19,247
13,129

19,336
13,205

1 1 ,403
7,612

11,175
7,393

11,248
7,475

11 ,268
11,319
7 , 4 9 4 , 7,5 30

11 ,364
7,573

74 1 .2
53 2.6
58 2.8
76 7.1
28 3.4
1,45 4.6
2,08 4.6
2,13 2.6
2,03 1.8
84 6.0
70 0.6
37 4.6

728
499
584
733
259
1 ,422
2,011
2,118
2,018
853
698
364

736
518
582
754
278
,425
,044
,095
,028
848
695
37 1

740
520
581
764
283
1 ,429
2,053
2,096
2,018
837
695
372

741
524
583
768
286
1,438
2,064
2,111
2,019
838
697
374

750
526
588
770
286
1 ,446
2 ,070
2,118
2 ,018
836
701
377

7,795
5,513

7,881
5,563

7,901
5,578

7,928
5,599

7,972
5,632

I ,631
58
715
1,110
679
1,474
1 ,017
163
800
148

1 ,632
56
732
1,110
677
1 ,508
1 ,031
164
819
152

I ,631
55
735
1,117
681
1,509
1 ,031
166
824
152

1 ,635
55
736 j
1,123
678
1,514
1 ,035
167
833
152

1 ,644
56
738
1 , 128
682
1,522
1 ,042
166
841

4,936
1 ,277

5,053
1 ,279

8,004
5,663

7,981
5,645

1 ,679.6
59.0
739.6
1,133.1
679.5
1,513.5
1 ,034.2
166.6
834.4
154.6

1,659.1
57.9
741
1,134
682
1,527
I ,039
165
840
155

1 ,633.1
58.0
740.3
1 ,125.0
684.3
1,533.5
1,043.4
164.6
843.8
155.3

76,726

78,345

78,716

7 9 , 127

Transportation and public utilities
Transportation
Communication and public utilities

5,320
3,114
2,206

5,485
3,249
2,236

5,490
3,247
2,243

5,495
3,2 53
2,242

5,286
3,078
2,208

5,377
3,147
2,230

5,416
3, 183
2,233

5,436
3, 198
2,238

5,460
3,215
2,245

Wholesale trade
Durable goods
Nondurable goods

5,733
3,384
2,349

5,862
3,451
2,411

5,868
3,461
2,407

5,878
3,475
2,403

5,725
3,383
2,342

5,807
3,422
2,385

5,815
3,431
2,384

5,831
3,444
2,387

5,851
3,458
2,393

18,612
2,658.1
2,977.4
1,959.7
5,884.4

18,463
2,478.8
2,980.5
2,002.1
6,038.2

18,700
2,599.9
3,015.7
1,997.7
5,992.5

19,046
2,725.4
3,052.5
2,002.3
6,008.7

18,007
2,363
2,916
1,970
5,938

18,256
2,411
2,962
1,985
5,992

18,314
2,415
2,958
1 ,988
6,018

18,408
2,459
2,969
2,000
6,032

18,424
2,437
2,980
2,002
6,047

Nondurable goods
Production workers
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 miscellaneous plastics products
Leather and leather products
Service-producing

Retail trade
General merchandise stores
Food stores
Automotive dealers and service s t a t i o n s . . . .
Eating and drinking places
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Finance
Insurance
Real e s t a t e
Service*
Business services
Health services
Government
Federal
State
Local
p = preliminary.




7,789
5,506!
1 ,62
6
71
I ,10
67
1 ,48
1 ,0
16
79
14

6,437
3,224
1 ,996
1,217
23,438
4,938.6
6,677.3
17 , 1 8 6
2,895
4,004
10,287

7,994
5,662

6,636
3,286
2,064
1,286
24,504
5,245.7
6,986.5
17,395
2,944
4,068
10,383

6,634
3,292
2,067
1 ,275
24,472
5,233.9
7,018.3
17,552
2,954
4,098
10,500

77,517

77,919

1 53 j

78,07 3 j 78,302

6,658
3,302
2,069
1 ,287

.6,646
3,297
2,076
1,273

6,451
3,227
1 ,999
1,225

6,624
3,293
2,050
1,281

6,629
3,292
2,054
1 ,283

24,517
5,252.9
7,051.4

23,544
4,912
6,691

24,279
5,133
6,923

24,295
5,152
6,943

24,406
5,194
6,987

24,472
5,192
7,025

17 ,545
2,970
4,089
10,486

16,924
2,904
3,927
10,093

17,046
2,940
3,964
10,142

17 ,048
2,962
3,957
10,129

17,188
2,965
3,973
10,250

17 ,208
2,975
3,979
10,254

6,650
3,296
2,068
1 ,286

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private, nonagricultura! payrolls by industry
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Industry
• Dec.
| 19 86

Oec .
1987

Oct .
1 9R7

Dec .
1986

Aug.
1987

Sept.
1987

Oct.
1987

Dec.
1987

1987

-f34 ft ; 3 4 . 9

34.9

34.6

34.9

34.6

Mining

42 4

42.7

42.8

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

Construction

36 8

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

Manufacturing
Overtime hours .

41 5
3 .8

! 38.8
I
j 4 1.3
I
4.0

37.8
41.4
4. I

41.9
4.2

40.8
3.6

41 .0
3.8

40.6
3.6

41.3
4.0

41.2
3.9

41.1
3.9

Durable goods
Overtime hours .

42.3
4.0

|

4 1.8

I

4.2

42.0
4.2

42.5
4.4

4 1.4
3.6

41 .6
4.0

4 1.0
3.7

41 .9
4. 1

41.8
4.0

4 1.6
4.0

4 0.4
4 0.4
42.3
4 3.7
4 3.7
4 2.2
42.9
41.4
42.6
43.0
42. 1
39.6

40.7
4 0.9
42.3
44.1
44.4
42.7
43.6
42. 1
4 2.8
42.9
43.4
40. 1

40.6
39.9
4 2.2
42.5
42.6
41 .2
41 .7
41. 0
42. 1
42. 4
4 1 .1
(2)

40.4
40. 1
42.1
43.5
4 4.0
41.5
42.2
41 .0
41 .9
41.9
41.7
(2)

39.4
39.3
41.9
43.4
45.2
40.8
41 .6
40.4
41.3
41.3
41.1
(2)

40.4
40.0
42.6
43.7
44.3
42.0
4 2.6
41.1
42.5
43.0
4 2.1
(2)

40
40
42
43
43
42
42
41
42
43
41
(2)

4 0.7
39.7
42.6
43. 5
44. 1
41.7
4 2.5
41 . 0
41.5
41.4
42.3
(2)

4 0.5
3.9

4 0.6
3.9

41 .0
3.9

40.0
3.5

40.3
3.7

40. 1
3.6

40.5
3.8

40.4
3.8

4 0.4
3.7

40 7
41 2
42 2
37 .5
43 1
38 .1
42 4
43 .8
41 9
38 .7

40
41
42
37
43
38
42
43
42
38

41.3
41.2
42.3
37.8
44. 1
38.7
43.0
43.9
42.5
38.9

39.8
(2)
41.6
37.0
43.2
38.0
42. 1
4 3.6
(2)
(2)

40.3
(2)
42. 1
37 .4
4 3.4
37 .9
42.4
43.3
(2)
(2)

40.2
(2)
41.3
36.3
43.8
38. 2
42.8
43.2
(2)
(2)

40.5
(2)
41.9
37.
43.
38.
42.
43.
(2)
(2)

40.6
(2)
41.8
37. I
43.4
38.0
42.6
43.5
(2)
(2)

4 0.8
(2)
41.7
3 7.4
43.2
37 . 9
42. 5
43.9
(2)
(2)

39. 1

38.9

39.3

39.1

39.3

39.2

38.9

Total private

Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Blast furnaces and basic steel products
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electrical and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Motor vehicles and equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
Nondurable goqjjs . .
Overtime hours .
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
Hubber and miscellaneous plastics products
Leather and leather products
Transportation and public utilities .

4 0.6
41.1
42.0
43.0
42.9
4 2.2
42.8
42. 1
43.4
43.9
42.2
4 0.2

| 4 0.6
! 40.6
j 4 3.0

I 43.4
!

43.7
42.0
i 4 2.4
41 . 1
4 2.3
42.7
41 .8
4 0.0
1

40.6
3.6
0.3
7 .4
2.2
7 . 4
1
7

2.6
3.6
2.3
8. 1
39. 1

Wholesale trade

38. 4

Retail trade

29.4

Finance, insurance, and real estate

36 . S

Services

|

8
2
2
.4
6
3
7
.7
1
5

39.3

I
I
j

38.4

|

2 9.2

j

36.2

34 .9
(2)
j

(2)

38.4

38.2

38.3

38.0

38.4

38.3

38.2

29.3

28.9

29.6

29.6

29.3

29.2

28.8

j

2 9.0

i

36.4

36. 1

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

!

32.5

3 2.5

32.4

32.5

32.5

32.5

32.6

3 2.5

I 3?.5
Data relate to production workers in mining and manufacturing: to construction
workers in 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 employees on private
nonagriculturai payrolls.




2
This series is not published seasonally adjusted since the seasonal component is
smail relative to the trend-cycle and/or irregular components and consequently cannot
be separated with sufficient precision.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervlsory workers1 or) private nonagrlcultural
payrolls by Industry

Average weekly earning*

hourly
Industry
Dec.
1986

Oct .
1987

Nov.
1987 Pi

Dec .
1987

•58.86
8.84

$9.09
9.08

$9.14
9.13

$9.13
9.11

Mining

12.63

12.34

12.46

12.46

53 5.5 1

5 2 6.92

529.55

Construction

12.77

12.79

12.81

12.81

469.94

496.25

475.25

9.85

9.95

10.01

10.08

408.78

410.94

414.41

422.35

Durable goods
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Blast furnaces and basic steel products..
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electrical and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Motor vehicles and equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing

10.40
8.32
7.65
10.17
11.82
13.74
10.02
10.67
9.8 2
12.96
13.56
9.65
7.69

10.51
8.44
7.73
10.31
12.05
13.97
10.11
10.86
9.95
13.09
13.73
9.81
7.77

10.57
8.48
7.74
10.34
12.08
13.97
1 0 . 15
10.89
13.18
13.81
9,90
7.81

10.64
8.45
7.79
10.34
12.15
14.04
10.23
10.97
10.09
13.26
13.91
9.99
7.89

439.92
337.79
314.42
4 2 7 . 14
508.26
589.45
422.84
456.68
413.42
562.46
595.28
407.23
309.14

439.32
342.66
313.84
4 4 3.33
522.97
610.49
424.62
460.46
408.95
553.71
586.27
410.06
310.80

443.94
342.59
312.70
437.38
5 2 7.90
610.49
428.33
467. 18
414.41
561.47
5 9 3.83
416.79
309.28

452.20
343.92
318.61
437.38
535.82
623.38
436.82
478.29
424.79
567.53
596.74
433. 57
316.39

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 miscellaneous plastics products
Leather and leather products

9.07
8.88
12.93
7.10
5.90
1 1.34
10.15
12.20
14.41
8.82
5.98

9.18
8.86
12.77
7.24
5.99
11.48
10.42
12.52
14.66
8.91
6.09

9.24
8.97
13.59
7.31
5.99
11.49
10.40
12.58
14.72
8.93
6.1 1

9.30
9.07
13.58
7.31
6.02
11.58
10.44
12.61
14.72
9.02
6.14

368.24
357.86
483.58
299.62
220.66
500.09
392.81
519.72
628.28
373.09
227.84

371.79
360.60
526. 12
305.53
224.63
501 .68
397.00
530.85
642. 1 1
3 7 3.33
235.68

375. 14
365.98
559.91
308.48
224.03
500.96
398.32
537. 17
643.26
375.95
235.24

3M .30
374.59
5 5 9.50
309.21
227 . 56
510.68
404.03
542.23
646„2 1
383.35
2 38.8 5

Total private
Seasonally adjusted

Manufacturing

Transportation and public utilities

10.01

Dec.
1986

Pi

Oct .
1987

$308.33
305.86

Nov .
Dec .
1987 P| 1987

$317.24 $318.07
318.64
316.89

$318.64
3 16.12

11.90

12.09

12.19

12.16

465.29

475. 14

479.07

4 7 5.46

Wholesale trade

9.47

9.67

9.75

9.75

363.65

371 .33

373.43

374 .40

Retail trade

6.07

6.16

6.19

6 . 17

178.46

179.87

179.51

180.78

3 2 4.69

319.49

282.75

283.40

Finance, insurance, and real estate

8.48

8.81

8.92

8.85

309.52

318.92

Services

8.32

8.61

8.70

8.72

269.57

279.83

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

NOTE: Corrected average hourly and weekly earnings data tor transportation and public utilities
in August 1987 are $12.04 and $476.78, respectively; for September, $12.09 and $473.93, respectively

Table B-4. Hourly Earnings Index for production or nonsupervlsory workers1 on private nonagrlcultural payrolls by Industry
(1977=100)
Seasonally adJueUd

change
Dec .
1986

Total prtvate nonfarm:
Current dollars .
Constant (1977) <
HVIvHflQ

Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation and
Wholesale trade . . .
Retail trade
Finance, Ineurance,
reel aetata

1

Oct .
1987

Nov.
1987p

Dec .
1987p




AUE.

1987

Sept.
1987

Oct .
1987

Nov.
I987p

Oec .
1987p

171.6
95.6
182.7
155.3
173.7
174.7
174.8
159.2

17 4.9
93.4
182.3
156.3
175.7
177.3
17 8.5
161 .9

176.0
93.9
184
156
176
178
179
162

176.2
N.A.
184.
155,
177,
178,
179,
161 .

2.7
(2)
.7
.3
2.1
2.2
2.9
1.8

171.1
95.3
(4)
154.3
173.4
173.5
(4)
159.3

174.1
93.7
(4)
154.7
175.5
177.0
(4)
161.5

174.6
93.8
(4)
154.0
176.7
176.6
(4)
162.7

174.9
93.7
(4)
154.7
176.3
176.9
(4)
162.2

175.8
9 3.8
(4)
156.7
176.7
177.3
(4)
162.3

175.6
N.A.
(4)
1 5'4 . 7
177.0
177.3
(4)
162. 1

182.4
177.5

189.4
183.9

191 .8
185.7

190.7
186.0

4.6
4.8

(4)
176.6

(4)
182.4

(4)
182.3

(4)
183.9

(4)
185.1

(4)
184.9

See footnote 1, table B-2.
Change is -1.8 from November 1986 to November 1987, the latest month available.
Change is .2 from October 1987 to November 1987, the latest month available.
4
These series are not seasonally adjusted since the seasonal component is small relative
to the trend-cycle and/or irregular components and consequently cannot be separated with sufficient precision
5
Change is less than .05 percent.
2

3

Dec.
1986

Dec.
1986Dec.
1987

Nov.
1 987Dec .
1987

-0. 1
(3)
(4)
-1.3
.2
(5)
(4)

(4)
-. 1

p = preliminary.
N.A. = not available.
NOTE: Seasonally adjusted August and September 1987 indexes for transportation and public
utilities have been corrected. Corrected not seasonally adjusted indexes are 176 1 and 177.1,
respectively.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
1

Table B5. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural
payrolls by industry
(1977=100)
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Industry

Total

Dec.
1986

Oct .
1987

Nov.
1987

1 19.5

123.0

122.8

Dec .
Oec .
Pi 1987 pi 1986

98.6

Goods-producing
Mining
Construction . .
Manufacturing

81 .2

88.2

126.6

147.8

123.6

1 17.9

102.8

97.8

87.9

Oct .
1987

1987

Sept.
1987

121.2

120.4

121.9

122.2

122.0

97.7

101.3

101 .5

10? .0

AUR.

Nov.
Oec .
198 7 pi 1987

88.5

79.5

85.2

84.9

86.8

86.4

134.7

130.7

133.6

124.9

136.2

139.5

94.1

95.8

96.4

92.3

93.8

93.1

95.0

95.4

95.5

Durable goods
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Blast furnaces and basic steel products .
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electrical and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Motor vehicles and equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing

91.8
99.1
111.1
84.7
61.5
47.1
90.8
86.3
104.3
101.5
91.1
105.1
82.2

93.0
104.4
115.4
90.3
65.9
5 3.3
91.9
88.6
102.3
97.3
86.5
103.9
86.5

93.8
103.1
115.5
88.6
66.7
53.8
93.0
90.2
103.9
98.6
87.6
106.2
86.0

95.1
102.8
117.3
86.8
67.7
55. 1
94.3
92.7
106.4
99.4
87.7
109.4
84.2

89.8
101.0
106.5
86.5
61.1
46.9
88.3
83.8
101.5
97.2
86.3
102.1
81.0

91.2
101 .2
111.7
86.1
65.0
53.0
89.4
87.4
100.8
97.4
86.1
103.0
82.3

90.1
99.2
109.7
85.9
65.9
55.2
88.2
86.7
99.3
95.2
83.3
102.1
80.7

92.6
101.7
1 12.7
87.7
66.8
54.9
91 .3
89.3
102.0
97.8
86.9
105.1
82.7

93.0
104.2
113.0
88. 1
67.1
54.8
92.0
90.0
102.3
97.5
86.7
105.2
82.5

92.9
104.6
112.7
88.9
67. 1
54.9
91.7
90. 1
103.4
95.0
83.0
106.4
82.9

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 miscellaneous plastics products .
Leather and leather products

97
99
81
82
86
102
132
93
79
114
57

100.0
104.5
85.0
84.8
89.1
101.4
132.7
95.4
85.4
118.9
62.1

100.2
103. 1
82.0
84.9
88.9
101.9
134.5
96.6
84.7
120.2
62.0

100.8
102.2
80.6
84.9
89.1
103.5
137.2
97.8
83.8
122.2

96.
98.
75.
80.
86.
100,
129.
92,
81,
112.7
56.7

97.7
99.5
71.0
83.7
86.6
100.4
131.4
95.5
83.4
115.5
61 .4

97.4
99. 1
72.4
82.4
84.8
101.9
132.6
96.4
83.2
115.5
60.0

98.7
100.3
73.8
83.7
87.8
101.3
132.3
96.3
84.5
118.4
61 .1

99.0
101 .3
75.8
83.8
87.6
101.0
133.0
96.8
84.5
119.5
60.5

99.4
101.7
76.0
83.6
88.3
101 .5
133. 1
97.0
86. 1
120.0
61 .3

131.0

133.7

134.0

129.0

133.1

132.9

133.3

133.6

133.0

Service-producing

107.9

111.8

111.8

Wholesale trade

117.3

119.6

119.4

1124.4
I
1140.0

121.7

122.9

141.8

142.5

147.1

154.3

154.2

Finance, ins6rance, and real estate
Services

62.6
135.1

Transportation and public utilities .

Retail trade

97.4

' See footnote 1, table B-2.

106.5

109.7

109.9

1 10.9

111.0

109.7

116.4

1 18.2

117.3

118.8

118.9

1 18.9

111.3
119.9
1 18.0

122.4

122.5

121 .9

121.5

1 19.9

139.8

143.0

141.4

142.2

143.4

141.4

147.8

152.9

152.9

153.5

154.4

155.0

126.5
141.7
154. 1

p = preliminary.

Table B-6. Indexes of diffusion: Percent of industries in which employment1 increased
Time
span

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

55.9
53.2
53.5

47.0
48.1
56.8

52.4
48.1
58.6

47.3
53.5
58.4

53.2
52.4
58.6

46.8
46.8
55.7

53.8
52.4
68.6

53.8
56.2
54.6

47.8
55.1
65.4

53.2
53.2
65.4

54.3
59.7
p70.3

57.3
59.7
p62.4

3-month
span

51 . 1
49.7
58.6

48.4
44.9
S9.5

42.4
45.7
61 . 1

46.5
48.4
61 . 6

44.3
47.6
61.4

49.7
45.4
67.3

47.0
48.4
66.2

48.6
55. 1
75.1

45.9
55.9
69.7

47.6
58.1
p78.4

55.1
58.6
p75.4

56.5
60.3

Over
6-month
span

46.5
47.6
61 . 9

46.5
47.6
62.7

43.2
43.0
58.9

44. 3
43.2
67.3

44.3
45.4
67.6

45.1
48.4
71 . 1

43.0
47.3
76.2

44.3
53.0
p80.3

49.2
59.2
p80.3

49.2
58.9

47.3
57.8

45.9
58.9

Over
12-month
span

44.6
43.2
62.2

44. 1
44. 1
63.5

43.8
46.2
67.3

40.8
45.7
68.9

41 . 6
47.8
p72.4

41 . 6
49.5
p73.0

42.2
49.5

42.4
51 . 6

43.8
54.9

44.3
52.2

44. 1
55. 1

42.4
56.5

Over
1-month
span
Over

Year

Jan.

' Number of employees, seasonally adjusted for 1, 3. and 6 month spans, on payrolls of 185
private nonagricultural industries. Data for the 12-month span are unadjusted,
p = preliminary.




NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment rising. (Half of the unchanged components are counted as rising.) Data are centered within the spans.

* U . S . GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFF ICE 1 1 9 8 8 - 2 0 2 - 1 0 5 : 8 0 0 3 3

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