Full text of The Employment Situation : February 1979

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NeWSsSr
Bureau of Labor Statistics

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- 2 -

Total Employment and the Labor Force
Total employment expanded by about 345,000 in February, a larger-than-average monthly rise,
and the eaployment-to-population ratio reached a record 59.4 percent.

Washington, D.C. 20212

occurred among adults, with both men and women contributing.
Contact:

John Bregger

(202)

Kathryn Hoyle

(202)

523-1944
523-1371
523-1913
523-1208

USDL 79-181
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS
EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 A.M. (EST), FRIDAY,
MARCH 9, 1979

professional and clerical workers—were the major gainers.

All of the Increase

White-collar workers—particularly
Over the year, employment has increased

by 3.6 million, and white-collar jobholders have accounted for almost 70 percent of the growth.
(See tables A-l and A-3.)

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

The civilian labor force also grew by about 345,000 over the month to 102.5 million.

FEBRUARY 1979

labor force was 3.3 million, or 3.4 percent, larger than a year earlier.

The

At 63.9 percent, the

Employment rose in February and unemployment was unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
civilian labor force participation rate reached a new high and was more than a point above the
of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.

The level of unemployment remained at 5.9 million
February 1978 level.

and the overall rate of joblessness (5.7 percent) continued to hover just below the 6 percent
TaotaA

Major indicator! of labor m a r k * aclivttv. w o n m l l y majuftwi

mark.

Qu-_-_»__

1

Total employment—as measured by the monthly survey of households—grew by 345,000 in
Selected categories
February to 96.6 million.

!

3.6 million.

300,000 over the month to 87.8 million.

Since February 1978, nonagricultural payroll jobs have

advanced by 3.5 million.

I

|

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Nonfarm payroll employment—as measured by the monthly survey of establishments—rose by

IV

98,538
92,046
! 6,492
58,861
970

Total employment
Not in labor force
Discouraged workers

1 1978

1978

1977

Over the past year, the number of employed persons has increased by

99,263
93,084
6,179
58,741
941

1

MMMMvfktl

IT [ I I I

TV

Dec.

1979
Jan.

|

Feb.

Thousands off persons

100,127 (100,753 101,524 101,867 102,183
94,099
94,726 95,616 95,855 96,300
5,908
6,028
6,027
6,012
5,883
58,478
58,482 58,398 58,275 58,170
760
853
N.A.
851
N,A.

102,527
96,647
5,881
58,012
N.A.

Percent of labor force

Unemployment
Unemployment rates:
The unemployment picture continued unchanged in February.

6.6
4.7
6.7
16.6
5.7 !
13.2 |
6.1 |

The number of persons unemployed

remained at January's level of 5.9 million, while the unemployment rate, 5.7 percent, was not
very different from those of the prior 6 months.

Teenagers
White
Black and other
Full-time workers

Similarly, the rates for adult men (4.0 percent)

adult women (5.7 percent), and teenagers (16.1 percent) showed no significant movements from
January to February, nor have these rates shown any substantive changes since August 1978.
Since February a year ago, the o erall jobless rate has declined by four-tenths of a percentage point, and the number of unemployed has fallen by a quarter of a million.

Virtually all

6.2
4.5
6.0
16.9
5.4 j
12.4 |
5.7 1

6.0
4.2
6.1
16.1
5.2 ;
12.1
5.5

developments among white adult men, while the rate for blacks has shown no improvement.
workers experienced an ovei-the-year reduction in joblessness.

Nonfarm payroll employment . . .
Goods-producing industries . . .
Service-producing industries . .

83,489
24,583
58,906




5.9
4.1
5.8
16.5i
5.2
11.-5
5.31

5.8
4.0
5.7 j
15.7
5.1
11.2
5.2

5.7
4.0
5.7
16.1
4.9
11.9
5.2

84,262
24,766
59,495

85,677
25,376
60,302

86,115
25,478
60,637

86,963
25,857
61,106

87,281
26,030
61,251

87,465p
26,099p
61,366p

87,766p
26,149p
61,617p

35.9
40.7
8

35.7p
40.7p
3.8p

35.7p
40.6p
3.8p

Hours of work
Average weekly hours:
Total private nonfarm

Hispanic

(See tables A-l, A-2, and A-8.)

5.8
4.0
5.8
16.3
5.1
11.5
5.2

1 Thousands of jobs

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

of the decline in unemployment took place among adult men, whose rate was down by half a point.
The unemployment rate for whites also has dropped by half a point, principally reflecting

6.0
4.1
6.1i
16.1
5.2
11.7
5.51

36.0
40.5
3.6

Manufacturing overtime

.

.:

p-pr«lnnin*rv

:

i

35.7
40.2
3.6

36.0
40.6
3.6

35.8
40.4
3.5

35.9
40.6
3.7

- 3 -

- 4 -

Industry Payroll Employment

The Hourly Earnings Index

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 300,000 to 87.8 million in February, as employment
grew In two-thirds of the 172 industries that comprise the BLS diffusion index of private nonagricultural employment.

The number of nonfarm jobs was 3.5 million higher than a year earlier.

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

2-month expansion of 200,DO0 contributed heavily to an over-the-year employment growth of 640,000
in this industry.

was 223,1 (1967=100) in February, 0.4 percent higher than in January..

(80,000)—led

by transportation equipment, machinery, and electrical equipment—and services (65,000).

Smaller

over-the-month gains took place in transportation and public utilities (35,000) and finance,
Insurance, and real estate (15,000).
Construction employment was down by 30,000 in February, following a somewhat smaller decline
in January; however, employment in this cyclically sensitive industry was still 400,000 above
Employment in mining continued the steady upward movement that has been

evident since the 1973 energy crisis.
Hours
The average workweek of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural
payrolls was 35.7 hours in February, unchanged from the January level.
week, at 40.6 hours, edged down 0.1 hour over the month.
unchanged from January's level.

The manufacturing work-

Factory overtime, at 3.8 hours, was

(See table B-2.)

Reflecting the February employment increase, the index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls rose 0.5 percent to 123.0
The index was 5.0 percent above its year-ago level.

(See table B-5.)

Hourly and Weekly Earnings
Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls both rose 0.5 percent from January and were 8.7 percent higher than February 1978 (seasonally adjusted).

Before adjustment for seasonality, average hourly earnings

rose 2 cents to $5.97, 48 cents above February 1978.
above January and $17.54 above a year earlier.




Average weekly earnings were $211.34, $1.90

(See table B-3.)

The index was 8.0 percent

During the 12-month period ended in January, the Hourly Earnings

Index in dollars of constant purchasing power declined 1.3 percent.

(See table B-4.

Constant

dollar data reflect revisions in the seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage
Earners and Clerical Workers—CPI-W.)

Sizeable over-the-month growth also occurred in durable goods manufacturing

(1967-100).

and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and low-wage industries—

above February a year ago.

For the second consecutive month, job gains were strongest in retail trade (115,000).

the year-earlier level.

The Hourly Earnings Index—earnings adjusted for overtime in manufacturing, seasonality,

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 which is conducted by the Bureau of the
Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beginning in
September 1975, the sample was enlarged by 9,000
households in order to provide greater reliability for
smaller States and thus permit the publication of annual
statistics for all 50 States and the District of Columbia.
These supplementary households were added to the
47,000 national household sample in January 1978; thus
the sample now consists of about 56,000 households
selected to represent the U.S. civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years 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 statistical 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 thev labor force activity
of the entire civilian noninstitutional population, 16
years of age and over, without duplication. Each person
is classified as either employed, unemployed, or not in
the labor force. The household survey counts employed
persons in both agriculture and nonagricultural
industries and, in addition to wage and salary workers
(including private household workers), counts the selfemployed, unpaid family workers, and persons "with a
job but not at work" and not paid for the period absent.
The payroll survey relates only to paid wage and
salary employees (regardless of age) on the payrolls of
nonagricultural establishments. 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 tq 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), neither of whom must meet
the jobseeking requirements, 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).
The Bureau regularly publishes a wide variety of
labor market measures. See, for example, the demographic, occupational, and industry detail in tables A-2
and A-3 of this release and the comprehensive
data package in Employment and Earnings each month.
A special grouping of seven unemployment measures is
set forth in table A-7. Identified by the symbols U-l
through U-7, these measures represent a range of
possible definitions of unemployment and of the labor
force—from the most restrictive (U-l) 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, opening
and closing of schools, 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 95 percent of the monthto-month variance in the unemployment figures. Since
seasonal variations tend to be large relative to the
underlying cyclical trends, it is necessary to* use
seasonally-adjusted data to interpret short-term
economic developments. At the beginning of each year,
seasonal adjustment factors for unemployment and
other labor force series are calculated for use during
the entire year, taking into account the prior year's
experience.
All seasonally-adjusted civilian * labor force and
unemplOj -nent 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 unem-

ployment (the sum of four seasonally-adjusted age-sex
components) by the civilian labor force (the sum of 12
seasonally-adjusted age-sex components).
For establishment data, the seasonally-adjusted
series for all employees, production workers, average
weekly hours, and average hourlv earnings are adjusted
by aggregating the seasonally-adjusted data from the
respective component series. These data are also
revised annually, often in conjunction with benchmark
(comprehensive counts of employment) adjustments.
(The most recent revision of seasonally-adjusted data
was based on data through May 1978.)
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
questionnaires and procedures. The standard error is the
measure of sampling variability, that is, of the variation
that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the
entire population is surveyed. The chances are about 68
out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs
from a figure that would be obtained through a
complete census by less than the standard error. Tables
A through H in the "Explanatory Notes" of Employment
and Earnings provide -approximations of the standard
errors for unemployment and other labor force
categories. To obtain a 90-percent level of confidence,
the confidence interval generally used by BLS, the
errors should be multiplied by 1.6. The following
examples provide* an indication of the magnitude of
sampling error: For a monthly change in total em-

ployment, the standard error is on the order of plus or
minus 182,000. Similarly, the standard error on a change
in total unemployment is approximately 115,000. The
standard error on a change in the national unemployment rate is 0.12 percentage point.
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 a/id procedures were possible. However, since
the estimating procedures utilize 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
(comprehensive counts of employment), usually on an
annual basis; 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 1977 levels.
One measure of the reliability of the employment
estimates for individual industries is the root-meansquare error (RMSE). The RMSE is the standard deviation adjusted for the bias in estimates. If the bias is
small, the chances are about 68 out of 100 that an
estimate from the sample would differ from its benchmark by less than the RMSE. For total nonagricultural
employment, the RMSE is on the order of plus or minus
81,000. Measures of reliability (approximations of the
RMSE) for establishment-survey data and actual
amounts of revision due to benchmark adjustments are
provided in tables J through O in the "Explanatory
Notes" of Employment and Earnings.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-2. Major unemployment indicator*, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons
(In thousands)

Unemployment rates

Selected categories
Feb.
1*73

Feb.

Feb.
1979

Oct.

Jar.

Nov.

Dec.

1973

1976

1S79

1979

5.8

5.9
4. 1
5.6
16.5

5.6
4.0
5.7
15.7

5.
4.
5,
16.

5.2
3. 5

5.\
3.6

reo.

1976

1978

6.1
4.5
5.8
17.^

5.8
4.0
5 . fe
1b.^

lb.2

5.4
3.9

5.0
3.4
5.0
13.o

14.2

13!7

4.
3,
5,
13.

11.7
o.3
10.3
36.5

1 1. o
O. 4

10.2
34.9

11.2
7.8
10.o
32.7

11.9
6.6
10.6
35.5

2.5
5.6
7.7

2 .J

7.8

2.6
5.1
8.3

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

6,C>9 2
2,376
2,112
1,604

5,881
2,154
2,177
1,549

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

4,705
1,652
1,640
1,213

4,453
1,633
1,658
1,163

S.z
14.o

5. 1
3.5
4.9
14.0

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

1,404
498
509
397

1,452
502
557
J33

11.9
8.0
10. J
33.1

11.3
0.3
1u. 1
34.5

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

1, 163
1,223
3o1

1,071
1,222
411

7.7

Full-time workers
Part-time workers
Unemployed 15 weeks and over1
Labor force time lost 2

4,836
1, 260
1,559

4,584
1,306
1,260

1,715
364
198
267
886
2,399
642
*72
194
591
981
120

1,703
360
201
27 7
86 6
2,227
635
906
169
497
974
104

3.0
2.5
1.3
4.4
5. I
7.z
5.0
8.J
5.1
11.3
7.2
4.1

7.6
4.0
11.0
7. 1
4.6

.5
2

4,413
529
1,267
662
605
172
1,315
1,097
558
147

4,199
586
1,^86
567
519
160
1,256
1,062
584
140

5.1
11.2
5.6
5.1
6.7
3.3
7.2
5.2
3.5
9.7

5.6
11.2
5. 1
4.6
6.0
3.4
6.7
4.6
j.9
9.5

5.6
10.8
5.1
4.6
5.8
3.3
6.5
5.0
3.9
7.9

2.o
5. J
7.5

5. 1

9.0
1.3
6. 2

5.2
0.9
1.2
6.2

5. 3
*.2
1.2
6. 2

9.1
1.2
6.2

5.2
3.6
1.2
6.2

J. J
2.6
1.8
4. 1
4.^
u.c

3.2
2.4
2.2
3.1
4.5
0.4

3.5
3.0
1.*
3.b
4.o
o.8
4.7
7.7
5. J
11. )
7.7
3.4

3.3
2.5
2.0
3.S
4 .0
6.4
4.5
7.6
4.9
9.4
7.3
<.3

3.4
2.3
1.9
4.3
4.7
6.4
4.7
7.6
5.0
9.3
7.1
3.6

5.3
12. 1
5.0
4.4
6.0
3.3
6.8
5. 1
4.0
7. 7

5.7
10.o
5.0
4.4
5.9
3.5
6.5
5.1
4.0
7.2

5.7
1.6
6.6

3.9
5.8

OCCUPATION 3
White-collar workers
Professional and technical
Managers and administrators, except farm
Sales workers
Clerical workers
Blue-collar workers
Craft and kindred workers
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives
Nonfarm laboters
Service workers
Farm workers

4. j

)

INDUSTRY3
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers 4
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
1

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




by industry covers only unemployed wage and salary workers.
4
Includes mining, not shown separately.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Selected employment indicators
tin thousands]

Feo.

Fet.

Oct.

MOV.

Jec.

Jan.

Feb.

1973

1979

1978

1S73

1978

1978

1979

1979

91,185
53,466
37,719
38,0^7
21,651

94,765
55,032
39,733
38,744
22,587

93,347
54,943
38,1C4
38,677
21,704

95,241
55,754
39,4d7
38,836
22,194

95,751
56,0i6
39,655
3d,944
zz,274

95,855
56,072
39,783
39,039
22,297

96,30G
56,449
39,851
39,20;
22,410

96,647
56,549
40,098
39,374
22,632

46,475
14,254
9,962
5,666
16,594
29,796
11,780
10,405
3,543
4,064
12,557
2,35 6

48,911
15,24 4
10,258
5,963
17,447
30,927
12,505
10,657
3,535
4,230
12,603
2,324

46,582
14,062
10,116
5,836
16,566
31,140
12,131
10,69)
3,631
4,638
12,723
2,764

47,713
14,307
9,96tf
5,986
17,45/
31,98o
12,55b
11,178
3,581
4,671
12,951
2,821

47,888
14,2*7
10,030
6,192
17,3b9
1/i,o46
11,177
3,64C
4,739
13,009
2,7^9

48,040
14,b29
10,217
6,092
17,102
31,962
12, 6 10
10,887
3,640
4,325
13,007
2,826

48,275
14,743
10,322
6,055
17,154
32,491
12,842
11,047
3,678
4,924
12,777
2,759

49,001
15,034
10,414
6,141
17,412
32,331
12,932
10,953
3,618
4,829
12,770
2,742

1,114
1,46 0
196

1,166
1,418
212

1,366
1,595
322

1,4^3
1,63o
32J

1,424
1,563
293

1,478
1,625
318

1,365
1,547
293

1,429
1,550
348

81,33 1
15,52 6
66,325
1,328
64,997
6,123
440

85,067
15,568
69,500
1,26 5
68,235
6,486
416

83,054
15,253
67,801
1,401
66,400
6,260
4 82

85,36 3
15,387
69,976
1,315
68,661
6,314
453

85,578
15,373
70,205
1,335
68,870
6,370
455,

85,579
15,360
70,219
1,316
68,903
6,515
460

86,169
15,217
70,952
1,245
69,707
6,529
478

86,346
15,293
71,053
1,334
69,719
6,632
456

84,176
63,592
3,111
1,248
1,86 3
12,473

37,692
71,600
3,06 8
1,297
1,771
13,024

84,096
69,211
3,203
1,160
2,043
11,682

36,511
71,318
3,16 4
1,167
1,997
12,029

86,653
71,394
J , 131
1,279
1,852
12,128

87,046
71,787
3,058
1,209
1,349
12,201

87,49C
72,209
3,159
1,208
1,951
12,122

87,592
72,250
3,147
1,205
1,942
12,195

Feb.

CHARACTERISTICS
Total employed, 16 years and over
Men
Women
Married men, spouse present
Married women, spouse present
OCCUPATION
White-collar workers
Professional and technical
Managers and administrators, execpt farm
Sales workers
Clerical workers
Blue-collar workers
Craft and kindred workers
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives
Nonfarm laborers
Service workers
Farm workers
MAJOR INDUSTRY A N D 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 A T WORK'
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

Feb.

Feb.

Feb.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

1978

1979

1978

1S78

1978

1978

1979

1979

2,591
2,406
1,742
1,062
68 0

2,68 3
2,393
1,407
847
56 0

2,649
1,880
1,559
894
665

2,719
1,789
1,317
732
585

«*,833
1,774
1,196
685
511

2,876
1,979
1,208
726
482

2,713
1,877
1,251
728
523

2,743
1,870
1,260

12.6
7.7

11.3
6.8

12.6
7.1

11.8
5.9

11.0
5.4

10.7
5.6

11.2
5.9

11.3

100.0
38.5
35.7
25.8
15.8
10.1

100.0
41.4
36.9
21.7
13.1
8.6

100.0
43.5
30.9
25.6
14.7
10.9

100.0
46.7
30.7
22.6
12.6
10.0

100.0
48.8
30.6
20.6
11.8
8.8

100.0
47.4
32.6
19.9
12.0
7.9

100.G
46.4
32.1
21.4
12.5
9.C

100.0
46.7
31.8
21.4
12.1

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

I

712
548

6.3

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




9.3

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A - 5 . Reasons for unemployment
[Numbers in thousands!

Feb.

F^b.

Feb.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

1978

197*

1978

1S78

1978

1976

1979

197 9

3,241
1.347
2,194
335
1,d48
765

3 , 106
1 , 154
1,952
819
1,30 J
75 9

2,589

2,45&
644

<c,

1,31^
812
1,72 1
825

746
1,62b
825
1,754
o72

2,442
715
1,727
871
1,937
826

2,454
753
1,701
927
1,692
823

2,481
792
1,689
829
1,756
874

100.0
4o.O
15.5
32.5
U. 1
27. 4
11.4

100.0
47.9
17.3
30. 1
12.6
^7.8
11.7

100.0
42.0
11.7
3C.3
14.5
29.2
14.3

100.0
42.2
11. 1
31.2
14.C
29.o
14.^

100.0
40.7
12.8
^7.9
14.2
30.1
15.0

100.0
40.2
11.8
28.4
14.3
31.9
13-6

100.0
41.6
12.£
28.9
15.7
28.1
14.C

100.0
41.8
13.3
28.4
14.0
29.6
14.7

2.3
.8

2.4
.9

1.7
.9

1.9
.8

2.4
.S
1.7
.6

2.4
.8
1.7
•9

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

719
1,o 70
396
1,c?2
880

J72

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

3.3
.9
1.9

3.0

2.5
.9

1.8
.8

1.8
.9

2.4
.8
1.7

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

unemployed persons
(Int

Unemployment rates

Sex and age

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

Feb.

Feb.

Feb.

uct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan •

Feb.

1978

1979

197b

1*7a

1978

1973

197S

1979

6,092
1,604
813
80o
1,477

5,881
1,549
758
807
1,316

2,992
2,532
476

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




5.8
16.^
19.2
14.0
8.6
J.9
4.2
3.0

5.8
16.2
19,
14.

2,998
2,566
449

6.1
17.2
20.5
14.9
10.1
4.0
4.2
3.3

3,221
845
453
4C3
802
1,551
1,261
291

2,9tf9
835
423
4 24
674
1/453
1,202
257

16.9
20.8
14.1
10.1
3.4
3.5
3.2

5. 1
16. 1
19.9
13.2
8.5
3.3
3.4
2.8

5.0
15.9
2C. 1
12.7
8.5
3.1
3.2
2.5

5.1
16.7
20.7

2,871
7 59
360
403
6 75
1,441
1,271
185

2,391
7 14
335
383
642
1,539
1,364
192

7.0
17.6
20.1
15.8
10.0
4.8
5.2
3.3

6.8
16.3
18.4
14.8
8.7
4.9
5.2
3.3

6.9
16.5
18.3
15.5
9.6

6.9
16.3
19.6
14.
9.

9,
3.
4.
2.

4.9
5.2
3.5

5.9
16.5
20.2
13.8

9.3
3.9
4.2
2.9

13.6
8.9
3. 2
3.4
2.6

5.6
15.7
18. U
13.€

8.6
3.S
4.2
2.S
5.1
16.1
19.1
13.5

5.7
16.1
18.4
14.6
8.6
3.9
4.1
3.0

5.0
16.5

8.4
3.2
3.2
2.6

19.2
14.7
8.2
3.2
3.2
2.8

6.7
15.3
17.5
13.6
8.S
5.C
5.4
3.1

6.
15.
17,
14,
9,
4,
5.3
3.3

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A 7. Range of unemployment measures based on varying definitions of unemployment and the labor force,
seasonally adjusted
lPercent1
Monthly data

Quarterly averages

1977

1978

1979

197d

IV

IV

Jan.

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

1.6

civilian labor force

1.6

^.9

U-2—Job losers as a percent of the civilian labor force
U-3—Unemployed persons 25 years and over as a percent of the civilian
labor force 25 years and over

1.4

2.6

4.b

4.1

1.3

J.2

2.4

4.1

1.2

A.4

2.4

J.9

4.1

3.9

1.2

2. a

3.9

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

6.1

force

5.7

5.5

5.5

5.2

S.O

5.d

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

6.6

(official measure)
U-6—Total full-time jobseekers plus % part-time jobseekers plus 14 total
on part time for economic reasons as a percent of the civilian
labor force less % of the part-time labor force

6.0

7.7

8.1

7.6

7.5

7.2

7.2

7.2

U-7 — T o t a l full-time jobseekers plus % part-time jobseekers plus % total
on part time for economic reasons plus discouraged workers as a
percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers less
Vi of the part-time labor force

N. A.

9.1

7..

N.A .

N.A.- not available.

Table A-8. Employment status of the noninstitutional population by race and Hispanic origin, n o t seasonally adjusted
(Number in thousands]
Hispanic o r i g i n '

Employment status

Civilian noninstitutional population .
Civilian labor force
Percent of population
Employment
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployment
Unemployment rate . . . .
Not in labor force
1

Feo.
1978

Feb.
1S79

i5a#onu

16C,539

97,924

131,249

62.0

63.1

91,165

94,765
z,796
91,969
6,484
6.4
59,290

^,771
38,413

6,739
6.9
60,080

Data relate to black workers only. According to the 1970 Census, they comprised about 89 per-

cent of the "black and other" population group.




2

Feb.
1S7d

136,6J4

66,344
6^.z
6 1 , 0 M
2,514
78,547

5,264
6.1

5 2 , 4 90

Feu.
1*7a

Feb.
1978

ieb.
1979

14U,625

1 6 , 5 1 "J

16,3d4

7,496

7,618

69,^15
63.4
o4,2J7
z,551
o1,687
4,97o
5.o

9,920
60.1

10,241

6,593
211
d,382
1,328
13.4

<4,534
60.5
4,C47

4,656
63.7
4,456
2C2

51,blO

6,59C

6 0. 6
o, d4fe
196
8 , b5C

Ffct.
1973

1,39 4
13.6

161
5,886
487
10.7

b,643

i,9c2

Feb.
1979

4,254
401
8.2

2,762

Data on persons of Hispanic origin are tabulated separately, without regard to race, which means

that they are also included in the data for white and black workers. A t the time of the 1970 Census,
approximately 96 percent of their population was white.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-9. Employment status of male Vietnam-era veterans and nonveterans by age, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Unemployed
Civilian
Percent
of
labor
force

Employed

tutional
population

Veteran status

Feb.
1978

Feb.
1*79

Feb.
1978

Feb.
1979

Feb.
1978

Feb .
1979

Total, 20 years and over
20 to 24 years

3,263
82 9

8,476
6 24

7,789
7 33

8,049
57S

7,312
610

7,5b6
490

477
123

25 to 39 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 years and over

6,754
2,540
3,226
983
68C

7,054
2,090
3,558
1,406
798

6,489
2,401
3,125
963
567

6,78b
1,982
3,437
1,367
684

5 , 1o4
2,241
2,S9C
933
5J8

6,44b
1,o11
3,307
1,328
6 50

1J,383
5,860
3,994
3,529

14,242
6,47C
4,085
3,687

12,689
5,514
3,806
3,369

13,544
6;126
3,833
3,528

12,037
5,162
3 ,6^. 2
3,25 J

12,9*1
5, 7o6
3,73^
3,423

Feb.
1978

Feb.
1979

F€t.
1S78

Feb.
1979

4 63
39

16.3

5.8
15.4

325
160
135
30
29

3 40
171
130
39
34

5.0
6.7
4.3
2.1
5.1

5.C
8.6
3.8
2.9
5.C

652
352
184
116

6 03
342
156
105

5.1
6 .4
4.8
i.4

4.5
5.6
4.0
3.0

VETERANS1

NONVETERANS
Total, 25 to 39 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years

Vietnam-era veterans are those who served between August 5,1964 and May 7 , 1 9 7 5 .
Nonveterans are males who have never served in the Armed Forces. Published data are limited,
to those 25-39 years of age, the group that most closely corresponds to the bulk of the Vietnam-era
veteran population.
2




NOTE: Seasonally-adjusted data are no longer being provided because the changing age composition
of the Vietnam-era veterans' population distorts the ability to identify seasonality in the series.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-10. Employment status of the noninstitutional population for ten large States
[Numbers in thousands]

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
State and employment status

Feb.
1978

Jan.
1979

Feb.
1979

Feb.
1978

Oct.
1978

Nov.
1978

Dec.
1978

Jan.

Feb.

1979

1979

16,184
10,425
9,568
857
8.2

16,536
10,806
10,027
780
7.2

16,561
10,826
10,064
762
7.0

16,184
10,461
9,653
808
7.7

16,448
10,723
10,034
689
6.4

16,477
10,718
10,065
653
6.1

16,506
10,760
10,084
676
6.3

16,536
10,824
10,137
687
6.3

16,561
10,863
10,149
714
6.6

6,453
3,623
3,402
222
6.1

6,620
3,756
3,473
283
7.5

6,636
3,781
3,560
221
5.8

6,453
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,567
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

,585
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,602
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,620
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,636
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

8,183
5,227
4,854
373
7.1

8,247
5,272
4,969
303
5.7

8,252
5,224
4,929
296
5.7

8,183
5,262
4,921
341
6.5

8,230
5,402
5,100
302
5.6

8,236
5,430
5,120
310
5.7

8,243
5,382
5,045
337
6.3

8,247
5,317
5,051
266
5.0

8,252
5,260
4,996
264
5.0

4,313
2,790
2,590
199
7.1

4,354
2,905
2,685
219
7.5

4,357
2,918
2,725
193
6.6

4,313
(2)
2,641
(2)
(2)

4,341
(2)
2,657
(2)
(2)

4,346
(2)
2,675
(2)
(2)

4,350
(2)
2,676
(2)
(2)

4,354
(2)
2,727
(2)
(2)

4,357
(2)
2,775
(2)
(2)

6,613
4,171
3,872
299
7.2

6,694
4,257
3,916
341
8.0

6,701
4,288
3,937
352
8.2

6,613
(2)
(2)
252
(2)

6,672
(2)
(2)
293
(2)

6,679
(2)
(2)
299
(2)

6,687
(2)
(2)
304
(2)

6,694
(2)
(2)
329
(2)

6,701
(2)
(2)
305
(2)

5,439
3,323
3,047
277
8.3

5,488
3,511
3,249
262
7.5

5,492
3,546
3,250
296
8.3

5,439
3,361
3, 109
252
7.5

5,472
3,536
3,293
243
6.9

5,477
3,563
3,330
233
6.5

5,482
3,592
3,326
266
7.4

5,488
3,569
3,327
242
6.8

5,492
3,583
3,312
271
7.6

13,271
7,716
7,030
686
8.9

13,276
7,987
7,369
618
7.7

13,278
7,951
7,366
586
7.4

13,271
7,793
7,162
631
8.1

13,264
7,949
7,298
651
8.2

13,268
7,965
7,405
560
7.0

13,273
8,056
7,512
544
6.8

13,276
8,094
7,531
563
7.0

13,278
8,030
7,498
532
6.6

7,833
4,743
4,446
297
6.3

7,912
4,997
4,666
331
6.6

7,917
4,983
4,658
326
6.5

7,833
4,814
4,561
253
5.3

7,893
5,084
4,823
261
5.1

7,900
5,109
4,835
274
5.4

7,906
5,118
4,851
267
5.2

7,912
5,065
4,760
305
6.0

7,917
5,056
4,773
283
5.6

8,836
5,132
4,740
392
7.6

8,881
5,276
4,900
376
7.1

8,885
5,240
4,845
394
7.5

8,836
5,168
4,842
326
6.3

8,864
5,300
4,911
389
7.3

8,870
5,350
4,960
390
7.3

8,875
5,357
4,998
359
6.7

8,881
5,333
4,994
339
6.4

8,885
5,275
4,947
328
6.2

9,112
5,834
5,517
317
5.4

9,309
6,085
5,816
269
4.4

9,325
6,154
5,878
276
4.5

9,112
5,899
5,601
298
5.1

9,254
6,048
5,768
280
4.6

9,272
6,094
5,797
297
4.9

9,291
6,116
5,813
303
5.0

9,309
6,150
5,913
237
3-9

9,325
6,220
5,963
257
4.1

California
Civilian noninstitutional population '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Florida
Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Illinois
Civilian noninstitutional population 1
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Massachusetts
Civilian noninstitutional population ' .
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Michigan
Civilian noninstitutional population 1
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
New Jersey
Civilian noninstitutional population1 .
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
New York
Civilian noninstitutional population '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Ohio
Civilian noninstitutional population 1
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Pennsylvania
Civilian noninstitutional population '
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Texas
Civilian noninstitutional population 1
Civilian labor foice
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

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




Seasonally-adjusted data are not presented for this series, because the variations that are
due to seasonal influences cannot be separated with sufficient precision from those which stem
from the trend-cycle and irregular components of the original time series.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

T a b l e B-1. Employees on nonagricultural payrolls by industry
[In thousands]
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Industry

TOTAL
GOODS-PRODUCING

FEB,
1978

OCT.
197b

NOV,
1978

DEC.
1978

86*441

84,188

86*573

87*036

87*281

87.465

87,766

25*359

24,724

25*670

25*872

26*030

26*099

26,149

FEB.
1978

DEC.
1978

JAN, p
1979

FEB.
1979

82*962

88.054

86.236

23*996

25*967

25.416

P

1979

668

898

895

894

664

893

903

904

908

916

3*464

4,331

3.932

3*861

3,901

4*341

4*368

4,397

4*379

4,348

workers

19*864
14*250

20.738
14.927

20.569
14.794

20*604
14*821

20,139
14,499

20*436
14*655

20*601
14,803

20,729
14,919

20*812
15*000

20,885
15,074

DURABLE GOODS
Production workers

11.827
8*476

12.519
9.012

12.456
8.951

12*472
8*978

11*986
8*620

12*305
8*816

12*410
8,909

12,491
8,985

12,553
9,039

12,635
9,127

720.1
484.5
659.5
1.179,6
1*616.8
2.277.7
1.925,1
1.893,5
632.7
437.9

751.9
493.7
699.8
1*235.5
1.700.3
2.439.7
2*025.1
2*043,3
677.8
451.8

737.2
491.9
677,2
1.234,0
,1.691,5
2.452.7
2.021.0
2.029,4
1
680.3
441.1

740.0
491.4
682.2
1.233.5
1.686.9
2.468.5
2.028.7
2.015.1
685.4
440.1

756
487
691
1*193
1*638
2*271
1.935
1*928
635
452

748
464
696
1*220
1*667
2.391
1.987
1.991
665
456

759
487
701
1*235
1*684
2*404
2*001
2*010
671
458

765
491
707
1*240
1,697
2*425
2*011
2*021
676
456

770
494
705
1,239
1,705
2,445
2,025
2,029
662
459

777
494
714
1,247
1,709
2,461
2,039
2,052
688
454

8.037
5*774

8*219
5*915

8.133
5*843

8.132
5.843

8*153
5*879

8.131
5*839

8*191
5*894

8*238
5*934

8,259
5,961

8,250
5,947

1*690,5 1*652,5 1.635.4
76.5
70.3
73.2
910.4
904.2
904,3
1*305.3 1*290,8 1.301,9
705.6
701.5
701.7
1*212.4 1*206,1 1.212.7

1*667
71
907
1*307
692
1*185
1*069
210
752
251

1,693
71
910
1.36?
700
1*198
1*093
210
761
248

1*711
72
910
1*312
705
1*203
1*097
211
771
246

1,714
72
910
1,317
708
1,209
1,101
211
773
244

1,709
72
909
1,307
709
1*215
1,102
212
775
240

60*903

61*164

61,251

61,366

61,617

MINING
CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING
Production

Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic 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 misc. plastics products
Leather and leather products

SERVICE-PRODUCING

1*631.9
72.8
912.8
1*309,5
691,6
1*160,8
1*073,6
201.9
731.6
250.7

1*094.0
209.0
769,8
245.5

1*092,0
205.2
767,0
240,0

1*093.9
205.7
768.0
237.9

1*705
74
917
1*315
699
1*163
1*061
208
738
253

58*966

62*087

60*820

61*082

59*464

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

4*720

4*992

4*907

4*933

4.782

4*922

4*947

4*967

4,962

4,998

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

18*615

20*388

19*599

19*445

19*071

19*632

19.701

19.697

19,797

19,927

WHOLESALE TRADE

4.780
13*835

5*010
15*378

4,972
14,627

4*971
14,474

4*828
14*243

4*945
14*687

4,968
14.733

4,995
14*702

5,007
14,790

5,021
14,906

4*550

4*775

4.773

4,785

4*591

4*737

4.774

4*789

4,811

4,838

RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES
GOVERNMENT
FEDERAL
STATE AND LOCAL
p=preliminary.




15*482

16.245

16.021

16,181

15*670

16*169

16.270

16*327

16,315

16,378

15,599

15.687

15*520

15,738

15*350

15*443

15.472

15*471

15,481

15,486

2*720
12*879

2*733
12*954

2*718
12*802

2,726
13,012

2*736
12*614

2*760
12*683

2.757
12*715

2*734
12.737

2,743
12,738

2*742
12,744

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
T a b l e B - 2 . Average w e e k l y hours of production or nonsupervisory workers, on private
nonagricultural payrolls by industry

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

FEB.
1978
TOTAL PRIVATE
MINING

DEC,
1978

JAN.
1979 p

FEB.
1979

p

FEB,
1978

OCT.
1978

NOV.
1978

BEC.
1978

JAN.
1979

p

35.3

36.1

35.2

35.4

35.7

35.9

35,8

35.9

35.7

42,9

43,5

42.5

43.0

43.2

43.0

43.3

43.7

43.5

36.8

CONSTRUCTION

34.6

37.1

34.7

35.4

35.6

36.9

37.2

36.0

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours

39.6
3.5

41,4
3.9

40.1
3.5

40,2
3.5

40.1
3.7

40.5
3.6

40.7
3,7

40.7
3.8

40.7
3.8

DURABLE GOODS
Overtime hours

40.3
3.7

42.3
4,3

40.8
3.8

41.0
3,9

40.7
4.0

41.2
3.9

41,4
4,0

41.5
4.1

41.4
4.2

39.1
39.2
40.0
41.4
40.2
41.7
39.6
40.2
40.4
36.0

40,1
40,1
42.2
42.5
42.2
43.6
41.3
44.5
41.7
39,3

38.5
38.1
40.4
41.9
40.8
42.0
40.2
41.9
40,7
38,5

39,0
38,1
40,6
41,6
40,8
42.4
40.3
42.1
41,0
38,5

39.6
40.0
40.9
41.6
40.7
41.8
40.0
40.9
40.6
38.3

40.1
39.0
41,8
42.1
40.8
42.0
40.3
42.6
40.9
38.8

40.1
39.2
41.9
42.3
41.1
42.2
40.4
42.9
40.9
38.8

40.1
39.2
42.0 |
42.2 I
41.4 |
42.5
40.5 !
42.9 i
40.9 J
38.8

40.0
39.1
41,3
42.2
41,2
42,1
40,6
43,0
41.2
39.0

38.7
3.1

39,9
3.3

39,0
3.0

39,0
3,0

39,1
3.3

39.3
3.2

39.6
3.2

39.5
3.3

39.6
3.2

39.2
37.8
40.1
35.0
41.9
37.0
41.4
42.1
39.5
36.0

40,4
38,8
40.8
35.8
43.4
38,2
42.3
43,8
41.9
37.1

39,5
36,2
39.9
34,6
42.6
37,1
41.7
43,6
41.1
36,2

39.1
35,8
39.9
34.9
42.4
37.4
41.7
44,1
41,1
36,1

39.7
38.3
40.3
3$. 5
42.5
37.4
41.6
42,8
39.8
36.4

39.9
36.7
40.3 i
35.2
42.6 i
37.7 !
41.9
43.9
41.0
37.1

40.0
37.4
40.4
35.7
43.1
37.9
42.1
44.2
41.1
36.8

40.0
38.1
40.4
35.6
42.7
37.6
41.8
43.7
41.2
36.7

40.1
36.8
40.9
35.3
42.9
37.7
42.0
44.2
41.5
36.9

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

40.0

40.2

39,4

39,6

40.1

40.1

40.0

40.0

40.0

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

32.3

33.1

31,9

32.1

32,7

32.9

32.8

32.9

32.4

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

38.4
30.4

39.1
31.3

38,4
29,9

38.5
30.2

38.7
30,9

38.9
31.0

38,8
30.9

38.9
31.0

38.7
30.5

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND
REAL ESTATE

36.4

36.3

36.4

36.3

36,3

36.6

36.3

36.3

36.3

32.5

32.4

32.4

32.9

32.8

32.7

32.5

32.6

Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal pfoducts
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
NONDURABLE GOODS
Overtime hours
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 misc. plastics products
Leather and leather products

SERVICES

32.7

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 employment on private nonagricultural payrolls.
p = preliminary.




ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-3. Average hourly and w e e k l y earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonagricultural payrolls by industry
Average wee kly earnings

Average hourly earnings
Industry

TOTAL PRIVATE

MINING

FEB,
1978

DEC.
1978

JAN,
1979

FEB. p
1979

$5.49
5.49

S5.91
5.91

$5.95
5.94

$5.97
5.97

6.93

8.05

8.20

8.21

FEB,
1978

DEC,
1978

JAN,
1979

FEB,
1979

p

$193,80 $213,35 $209.44 $211.34
195.99 212,17 212.06 2 1 3 . 1 3
297.30

350,18

348.50

353.03

CONSTRUCTION

8.32

8.91

8.96

8.97

287.87

330.56

310.91

317.54

MANUFACTURING

5.98

6.47

6.48

6.50

236.81

267,86

259.65

261,30

6.37

6.92

6.90

6.93

256.71

292.72

281.52

284,13

5.39
4.55
6,04
7,96
6,13
6.59
5,68
7.60
5.59
4.57

5.79
4,86
6,57
8,56
6,62
7.13
6.10
8.40
5.95
4.86

5.81
4.89
6.55
8.58
6.59
7.07
6,12
8,33
5.97
4.92

5.82
4,93
6.57
8.66
6.63
7.13
6.14
8,32
6,04
4,94

210.75
178.36
241.60
329,54
246,43
274,80
224,93
305,52
225.84
173,66

232,18
194,89
277.25
363,80
279.36
310.87
251.93
373,80
248.12
191.00

223.69
186.31
264.62
359.50
268.87
296.94
246.02
349.03
242.98
169.42

226,98
187,83
266.74
360,26
270,50
302,31
247,44
350,27
247.64
190.19

5.38

5.75

5,81

5,81

208.21

229.43

226,59

226.59

5.68
6.06
4.16
3.85
6.32
6.34
6.82
8.57
5.33
3.84

6.02
6.32
4,48
4,07
6,79
6,68
7,28
8,86
5.75
4.01

6.10
6.46
4.51
4.17
6.80
6.69
7.31
8.97
5.81
4.15

6,11
6.57
4,50
4.18
6.82
6.62
7.31
8,94
5.79
4.15

222,66
229,07
166,82
134.75
264.81
234.58
282.35
360.80
210,54
138,24

243.21
245.22
182.78
145.71
294.69
255.18
307.94
388.07
240.93
148.77

240.95
233.85
179,95
144.28
289,68
248,20
304,83
391,09
238,79
150,23

238.90
235,21
179.55
145.88
269.17
247,59
304,83
394,25
237.97
149.82

DURABLE GOODS

NONDURABLE GOODS

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

7.37

7.82

7.79

7.82

294,80

314,36

306.93

309.67

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

4.54

4.60

4,95

4,96

146,64

158,88

157.91

159,22

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

5.66
4.10

6.15
4.31

6.18
4.46

6,18
4,47

217.34
124.64

240,47
134,90

837.31
133.35

237,93
134,99

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE

4.76

5,07

5.13

5,16

173.26

184,04

186.73

187,31

SERVICES

4.91

5.16

5.23

5.26

160.56

167,70

169.45

170,42

See footnote 1, table B-2.




p=preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

T a b l e B-4. Hourly e a r n i n g s index f o r production or nonsupervisory w o r k e r s
nonagricultural payrolls

on private

by industry division, seasonally a d j u s t e d

Percent change f r o m —
Industry

NOV.
1978

DEC.
1978

JAN. P
1979

FEB. P
1979

FEB.
1978

SEPT.
1978

OCT.
1978

206*6
109*4

216.2
108.7

218.0
108.7

219.0
108.5

220.7
108.6

222.3
108.3

223,1
N.A.

8.0
(2)

221*0
200*1
209*4
224*9
199.7
187.3
206.8

247.1
209.9
218.9
233*3
209*9
196*2
214.8

249.7
210.6
220.8
234.0
211.6
199.8
217.5

249.8
211.4
222.4
234.7
213.0
200.8
217.8

249.1
212.5
224.1
238.3
214.6
202.0
218.9

251.9
213.5
225.3
238.0
217.6
202.1
221.4

252.7
215.3
226.5
239.0
217.8
202.8
221.7

14.3
7.6
8.2
6.3
9.1
8.3
7.2

FEB.
?EB.

19781979

JAN.
FEB.

19791979

TOTAL PRIVATE NONFARM:

Constant (1967) dollars
MINING
CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES

0.4
(3)
•3
•8
•6
•4
•1
•4
• 1

* See footnote 1, table B-2.
\
*

PERCENT CHANGE MAS
PERCENT CHANGE MAS

•1.3 FROM JANUARY
'.2 FROM DECEMBER

1978 TO JANUARY
1978 TO JANUARY

1979. THE LATEST MONTH AVAILABLE.
1979. THE LATEST MONTH AVAILABLE.

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 which overtime data are available) and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and low-wage industries.
T a b l e B - 5 . I n d e x e s o f a g g r e g a t e w e e k l y h o u r s o f p r o d u c t i o n or n o n s u p e r v i s o r y w o r k e r s ,
nonagricultural payrolls

on private

by i n d u s t r y , seasonally adjusted

1979

1978
Industry division and ffjroup
OCT.

120.6

120.4

120.8

121.6

106.1

105*4

105*5

106.5

144.0

143.5

145,7

144*4

117.1

122.6

124.2

122*8

122.6

120.0

120.6

105.1

106.0

144.2

143,1

111.!

118.8

102.0

117.1

119.1| 120.4

100*9

103.<

106.0

MINING

106*6

ill.:

CONSTRUCTION

104.2

MANUFACTURING

100.1

TOTAL PRIVATE

SEPT.

JULY

MAR*

GOODS-PRODUCING

AUG.

JUNE

FEB*

APR*

MAY

N0¥.

DEC.

JAN.

FEB.

122.4

122.9

122.4

123,0

106.0

109.1

108.6

109,0

145.2

148.0

149.1

149.7

150,6

123,6

124.3

126.5

120.6

120.7

102*5

101.6

101.7

101*6

101*0

101.2

102,1

103.7

104.6

105.1

105.4

DURABLE GOODS
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment . .
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing industry

1 0 1 . 9 103.9! 104*2
114.0 114.3 115.0
111.1 112.9 112.5
108*4 111*0 112*7
92.9
93.4
92.a|
101.4 102.9 103.5
107*1 109*41 110*1
98*6 101*21 100*4
93.7
97*5
97.3
117.5 120,S 121.7
102*6
9 9 . 0 102.01

103.5

103.6

111.6

113.6
109.5
112.4
94,1
102,4
111.3
99.8
95.6
H2.4
101.4

104*0
112*3
108*3
111*1
94.4
102,6
112*1
101*8
96*2
123*6
99,8

103*5 1 0 3 . 9
110.7 111.6
106.4 106.2
109.6 110.1
95,5
95*3
101*8 1 0 2 . 0
110*8 1 1 1 . 5
101,1 100.1
96.1
97.7
123*9 1 2 3 . 9
100*6 100*3

105*5
113.9
107.5
110.6
96.9
103.1
113.6
101.4
100.4
124.5
100.9

107.1
111.3
106.6
112.0
99,0
101.2
114.5
102,6
108.6
125.7
101*6

108.3
116.2
109.4
113.3
99.2
106.8
116.9
103.4
103.8
126.9
101.5

108.7
116.6
109.7
111.2
99,1
106.5
116.9
104.7
104.9
129.4
102.9

109,7
116,2
109,1
113,3
99.2
107,6
119,5
106,2
105,5
131,9
100,6

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 coat products
Rubber and misc. plastics products
Leather and leather products

97.4
94.7
79.4
92*5
90.1
99*1
96.9
104*6
119.0
140.1
67*8

98.7
94.0
64.1
91.8
91.4
101.9
96.6|
106.9
120.4
147.0
70.1

98*1
93.6
78,6
91*5
90*1
101*9
99*1
106*6
121*2
146*2
67*1

97.2
91.4
71.5
91.2
90*1
99.2
98.3|
106.0
123.2
145.4
69.1

97.2
91.3
74.5
91.8
90.1
99.0
97.8
106.0
122.7
145.0
69.6

97.2
92.2
73.5
91.6
88.7
98.2
98.5
106.2
123.0
147.0
68.8

96*8
94.6
7S.S
92.4
96.0
100.5
100.3
107.2
126,7
146.6
67.3

99.1
96.1
77.61
92.2
89.8
100.7
100.1
107.0
124.2
152.3
66.5

99.91
96.7]
74.9
93.4
89.5
101.9
101.1
108.2
126.5
153.9
66.5|

99.2
94,4
72,6
91.1
89.2
102.7
102.3
108.7
129.4
154.3
64.9

130*61 1 3 1 . 4

132.0

132.3

132.5

132.01 1 3 2 . 8

107.7

108*2

109.9

110*2

110.3

110.4

126.6 127*4

127*2 1 2 7 . 5

128.2

128.4

126.7

127.4

129.0

125.7
128*6

126*1 127*1
127.71 1 2 7 . 7

127.4
126.5

127*6
128*7

126.5
128.8

126.0
127.1

128.9
129.0

141.7

SERVICE-PRODUCING
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
TRADE
WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

99,9
96,4
60*2
93.4
*3.7^
93*2
91
102*4
101.6|
99,1
99.3| 106*5
122.1
106
144*4 1 4 7 . 3
71.31
69.iJ
99. i
96*2

*z*a

110.3
111.4
93.9
103.3
109.51
99.8
96.6
120.eh
101*5
98.*
94.6
81.S|
92.d
91.«
101.*
98.2
106.9
118.4|
146.4
70.41

128*4 1 2 9 . 8

130.5] 1 3 0 . 1

107.7

109*1

166*7

124*2

125.9

123*9

125.
124*4 1 2 6 .

1 3 0 . 7 130*7

109.0! 1 0 9 . 4 106*5

126,41 126 .a!
126.0
126.6

1 2 5 . 2 126.1
1 2 7 . 3 127.0

FINANCE. INSURANCE, AND
REAL ESTATE

135*1

135.4

137.5

136.2

1 3 7 . 9 139*0

139.2

139*6

140.5

141.6

140.9

141.7

SERVICES

141*6

143, i

144.1] 1 4 3 . J

1 4 3 . 9 144*1

144.1

145.1

145.0

141,6

145

145.4!

1

See footnote 1, table B-2.




110.5

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-6.

Indexes of diffusion:

Year and month

Percent of industries in which employment 1 increased

Over 1-month span

Over 3-month span

Over 6-month span

Over 12-month span

1976
January
February
March

78.2
72.4
69.5

85.8
84.9
81.4

87.2
85.8
82.0

85.2
84.0
85.2

April
May
June

70.1
58. 1
57.8

72.4
67.2
65. 1

75.
68,
71.

78.8
82.6
79.9

July
Augus t
September

58.4
49.1
64.8

57.8
64.0
53.8

63.1
65.1
66.3

78.
77.
80.

October
November
December

47.1
67.4
66.6

65.1
64.2
81.4

73.3
78.8
81.4

80.8
80.8
82.6

January
February
March

76.2
66.0
74.7

83. 1
86.3
81.1

88.1
87.8
85.2

78.8
80.
80.

April
May
June

68.0
64.8
71.2

79.
76.
68.

79.
75.

84.6
84.0
83.1

July
August
September

59.3
51.7
60.8

63.
58.
62.

69.8
74.1

82.
83.
82.

October
November
December

60.5
73.8
72.1

73.
75.
79.

77.
82,
83.

81.1
81.1
80.8

January
February
March

69.8
70.3
70.1

80.2
80.2
75.9

85.5
79.9
77.9

80.5
79.1
77.6

April
May
June

62.8
56.4
67.2

67.4
63.7
62.5

68.
67.
59.

78.
80.
82.

July
Augus t
September

54.9
51.7
57.6

57.
49.
58.

61.
74.
77.

80.2p
77.9p

October
November
December

70.6
80.2
79.7

75.
85.
86.9p

81. 4p
83.4p

74.4p
65.7p

80.8p

1977

1978

1979
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.




U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
WASHINGTON, DX. 20210
OFFICIAL OUSINCftS
FCNALTY FOII FHIVATt UOC,




FIRST CLASS MAIL
POSTAGE AKO PCCS PAID
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
LAB • 441