Full text of The Employment Situation : February 1999

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Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:
USDL 99-52
Household data: (202) 606-6378

Establishment data:
Media contact:

606-6555
606-5902

Transmission of material in this release is
embargoed until 8:30 A.M. (EST),
Friday, March 5, 1999.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

FEBRUARY 1999

Payroll employment rose in February, and the unemployment rate was
little changed at 4.4 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment increased
by 275,000; large gains occurred in construction and retail trade, while
manufacturing had a substantial decline.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
Both the number of unemployed persons, 6.1 million, and the unemployment
rate, 4.4 percent, were essentially unchanged in February, after seasonal
adjustment. The jobless rate has remained within a narrow range of 4.3 to
4.5 percent since last April. The unemployment rate for adult men rose in
February to 3.7 percent. Jobless rates for other major demographic
groups--adult women (3.8 percent), teenagers (14.1 percent), whites
(3.8 percent), blacks (8.3 percent), and Hispanics (6.7 percent)--showed
little or no change over the month. (See tables A-1 and A-2.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment was little changed in February, at 133.1 million, after
seasonal adjustment. The employment-population ratio--the proportion of
the population age 16 and older with jobs--was 64.4 percent, essentially
unchanged from the previous month. Both the civilian labor force, 139.3
million, and the labor force participation rate, 67.3 percent, also were
essentially unchanged. (See table A-1.)
About 8.0 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in February. These multiple jobholders made up 6.1 percent of the
total employed, the same share as a year earlier. (See table A-10.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.3 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in February. These were people who wanted and
were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12
months but were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for
work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
The number of discouraged workers--a subset of the marginally attached
who were not currently looking for work specifically because they believed
no jobs were available for them--was 271,000 in February, down from 361,000
a year earlier. (See table A-10.)

- 2 Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
|
Quarterly
|
Monthly data
|
|
averages
|
|
|_________________|__________________________| Jan.Category
|
1998
| 1998 |
1999 1/
| Feb.
|_________________|__________________________|change
|
III | IV
| Dec. | Jan. | Feb. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA
|
Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 137,656| 138,285| 138,547| 139,347| 139,271|
-76
Employment..........| 131,419| 132,166| 132,526| 133,396| 133,144|
-252
Unemployment........|
6,237|
6,120|
6,021|
5,950|
6,127|
177
Not in labor force....| 67,827| 67,813| 67,723| 67,372| 67,602|
230
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........|
4.5|
4.4|
4.3|
4.3|
4.4|
0.1
Adult men...........|
3.8|
3.6|
3.6|
3.4|
3.7|
.3
Adult women.........|
4.0|
4.0|
3.9|
3.7|
3.8|
.1
Teenagers...........|
14.7|
14.9|
14.0|
15.5|
14.1|
-1.4
White...............|
3.9|
3.8|
3.8|
3.8|
3.8|
.0
Black...............|
9.2|
8.4|
7.9|
7.8|
8.3|
.5
Hispanic origin.....|
7.3|
7.4|
7.6|
6.6|
6.7|
.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA
|
Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 126,141| 126,816| 127,118|p127,335|p127,610|
p275
Goods-producing 2/..| 25,210| 25,221| 25,269| p25,256| p25,268|
p12
Construction......|
5,980|
6,072|
6,153| p6,167| p6,239|
p72
Manufacturing.....| 18,660| 18,588| 18,559| p18,542| p18,492|
p-50
Service-producing 2/| 100,931| 101,596| 101,849|p102,079|p102,342|
p263
Retail trade......| 22,561| 22,658| 22,712| p22,748| p22,871|
p123
Services..........| 37,691| 38,031| 38,148| p38,249| p38,336|
p87
Government........| 19,892| 19,985| 20,022| p20,061| p20,083|
p22
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Hours of work 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
34.5|
34.6|
34.6|
p34.5|
p34.7|
p0.2
Manufacturing.......|
41.7|
41.7|
41.7|
p41.6|
p41.6|
p.0
Overtime..........|
4.6|
4.5|
4.5|
p4.6|
p4.5|
p-.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (1982=100) 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
145.1|
146.0|
146.4| p146.4| p147.3|
p0.9
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Earnings 3/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| $12.84| $12.94| $12.98| p$13.03| p$13.04| p$0.01
Avg. weekly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| 443.29| 447.29| 449.11| p449.54| p452.49| p2.95
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Beginning in January 1999, household data reflect revised population
controls used in the Current Population Survey.
2/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.

- 3 Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 275,000 in February to 127.6 million,
seasonally adjusted. This increase was about in line with the average of
the prior 3 months, but well above the average for the first 10 months of
1998. There was a large job gain in construction in February, partly
reflecting the effects of mild weather across much of the nation. Retail
employment also increased sharply. Manufacturing lost 50,000 jobs
following 2 months of smaller declines. (See table B-1.)
Construction employment increased by 72,000 in February, following a
month of much slower growth. February's above-average temperatures over
much of the country contributed to the strong over-the-month gain. Special
trades contracting increased by 59,000, half of which occurred in two
outside activities, masonry and roofing. Since September 1998, construction
employment has risen by 258,000.
The retail trade industry added 123,000 jobs in February, after seasonal
adjustment. Employment in eating and drinking places increased by 25,000,
following a decline in January. Large gains occurred, after seasonal
adjustment, in apparel and accessory stores (12,000), miscellaneous retail
establishments (24,000), and department stores (23,000), as seasonal
layoffs in these industries were lighter than usual for February. Building
materials (8,000) and furniture stores (10,000) continued to add jobs in
February, partly aided by strong construction activity.
Employment in the services industry grew by 87,000 in February, compared
to an average of 110,000 in the prior 12 months. Computer and data
processing services continued its strong growth, with a gain of 13,000
jobs. Slow growth continued in help supply services employment, which
increased by only 7,000. Job growth slowed in engineering and management
services; employment was up only 3,000 in February after rising by 72,000
over the previous 3 months. Over the month, employment rose in education
(20,000) and social services (16,000), and home health care services posted
its first job increase (7,000) since July 1997.
Transportation and public utilities employment increased by 15,000 in
February, about equal to the industry's average monthly growth over the
prior 12 months. Most of the over-the-month gain was in air transportation
(11,000). Wholesale trade employment rose by 9,000, with widespread
increases in durable goods distribution.

- 4 Employment in finance rose by 8,000 in February as growth continued
throughout most components of the industry. The exception was security
brokerages, which have shown no net employment gains since October.
Insurance and real estate employment levels were essentially unchanged in
February.
Government employment was up by 22,000 over the month, led by gains in
both the educational and noneducational components of local government.
Manufacturing employment dropped by 50,000 in February, the largest
decline since last November. Since March 1998, factory employment has
fallen by 337,000. In February, apparel employment fell by 15,000, more
than twice the average loss for the previous 12 months. The apparel
industry has lost 306,000 jobs since its last peak in November 1991, or
nearly a third of its work force. Aircraft manufacturing employment
decreased by 6,000 over the month, following several months of smaller
declines. Reductions in industrial machinery (-7,000) and electrical
equipment (-2,000) employment continued, but the declines in these
industries were smaller than in recent months. Employment in stone, clay,
and glass products rose by 3,000 in February.
Mining shed another 10,000 jobs in February, bringing employment losses
to 57,000 since its most recent peak in September 1997. Job losses in oil
and gas extraction have accounted for most of the contraction in mining
over this period.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.2 hour in February to 34.7 hours, seasonally
adjusted. The manufacturing workweek was unchanged at 41.6 hours. Factory
overtime edged down 0.1 hour to 4.5 hours. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 0.6 percent to 147.3 (1982=100),
seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index was down 0.3 percent in
February to 106.7. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls rose by 1 cent in February to $13.04, seasonally
adjusted. This followed a 5-cent gain in January. Average weekly earnings
were $452.49 in February (seasonally adjusted), up 0.7 percent over the
month. Over the year, average hourly and weekly earnings both rose by
3.6 percent. (See table B-3.)
___________________________
The Employment Situation for March 1999 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, April 2, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
---------------------------------------------------------------|
March 1998 National Benchmarks
|
|
|
| In accordance with standard practice, BLS will release nonfarm|
|payroll employment benchmark revisions with the May data on
|
|June 4, 1999. The March 1998 benchmark level has been finalized|
|and will result in a small upward revision of 44,000 to total
|
|nonfarm employment for the March 1998 reference month, an
|
|adjustment of 0.04 percent. Further information is available by|
|calling (202) 606-6555.
|
----------------------------------------------------------------

- 5 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, employment, and unemployment that appears
in the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample survey of about
50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the employment,
hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B
tables, marked ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected from
payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies. In June 1998,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing about 48 million
people.
For both surveys, the data for a given month relate to a particular week
or pay period. In the household survey, the reference week is generally
the calendar week that contains the 12th day of the month. In the
establishment survey, the reference period is the pay period including the
12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.
Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of
questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over
in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the
labor force.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours
in a family business or farm. People are also counted as employed if they
were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather,
vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.
People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following
criteria: They had no employment during the reference week; they were
available for work at that time; and they made specific efforts to find
employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference
week. Persons laid off from a job and expecting recall
need not be
looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The unemployment data
derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the eligibility for
or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
The civilian labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed
persons. Those not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the
labor force. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a percent
of the labor force. The labor force participation rate is the labor force
as a percent of the population, and the employment-population ratio is the
employed as a percent of the population.
Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
Federal, State, and local government entities. Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave. Persons are counted in each job
they hold. Hours and earnings data are for private businesses and relate
only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-producing sector.

- 6 Differences in employment estimates. The numerous conceptual and
methodological differences between the household and establishment surveys
result in important distinctions in the employment estimates derived from
the surveys. Among these are:
--The household survey includes agricultural workers, the self-employed,
unpaid family workers, and private household workers among the employed.
These groups are excluded from the establishment survey.
--The household survey includes people on unpaid leave among the
employed. The establishment survey does not.
--The household survey is limited to workers 16 years of age and older.
The establishment survey is not limited by age.
--The household survey has no duplication
individuals are counted only once, even if
the establishment survey, employees working
appearing on more than one payroll would be
appearance.

of individuals, because
they hold more than one job. In
at more than one job and thus
counted separately for each

Other differences between the two surveys are described in
"Comparing
Employment Estimates from Household and Payroll Surveys," which may be
obtained from 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. The
effect of such seasonal variation can be very large; seasonal
fluctuations 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. For example,
the large number of youth entering the labor force each June is likely to
obscure any other changes that have taken place relative to 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.
In both the household and establishment surveys, most seasonally adjusted
series are independently adjusted. However, the adjusted series for many
major estimates, such as total payroll employment, employment in most major
industry divisions, total employment, and unemployment are computed by
aggregating independently adjusted component series. For example, total
unemployment is derived by summing the adjusted series for four major agesex components; this differs from the unemployment estimate that would be
obtained by directly adjusting the total or by combining the duration,
reasons, or more detailed age categories.
The numerical factors used to make the seasonal adjustments are
recalculated twice a year. For the household survey, the factors are
calculated for the January-June period and again for the July-December

- 7 period. For the establishment survey, updated factors for seasonal
adjustment are calculated for the May-October period and introduced along
with new benchmarks, and again for the November-April period. In both
surveys, revisions to historical data are made once a year.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the household and establishment surveys are subject
to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the
entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates
may differ from the "true" population values they represent. The exact
difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample
selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the
estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that
an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard
errors from the "true" population value because of sampling error. BLS
analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
For example, the confidence interval for the monthly change in total
employment from the household survey is on the order of plus or minus
376,000. Suppose the estimate of total employment increases by 100,000
from one month to the next. The 90-percent confidence interval on the
monthly change would range from -276,000 to 476,000 (100,000 376,000).
These figures do not mean that the sample results are off by these
magnitudes, but rather that there is about a 90-percent chance that the
"true" over-the-month change lies within this interval. Since this range
includes values of less than zero, we could not say with confidence that
employment had, in fact, increased. If, however, the reported employment
rise was half a million, then all of the values within the 90-percent
confidence interval would be greater than zero. In this case, it is likely
(at least a 90-percent chance) that an employment rise had, in fact,
occurred. The 90-percent confidence interval for the monthly change in
unemployment is 258,000, and for the monthly change in the unemployment
rate it is .21 percentage point.
In general, estimates involving many individuals or establishments have
lower standard errors (relative to the size of the estimate) than estimates
which are based on a small number of observations. The precision of
estimates is also improved when the data are cumulated over time such as
for quarterly and annual averages. The seasonal adjustment process can
also improve the stability of the monthly estimates.
The household and establishment surveys are also affected by nonsampling
error. Nonsampling errors can occur for many reasons, including the
failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to obtain
information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwillingness
of respondents to provide correct information on a timely basis, mistakes
made by respondents, and errors made in the collection or processing of the
data.
For example, in the establishment survey, estimates for the most recent 2
months are based on substantially incomplete returns; for this reason,
these estimates are labeled preliminary in the tables. It is only after
two successive revisions to a monthly estimate, when nearly all sample
reports have been received, that the estimate is considered final.
Another major source of nonsampling error in the establishment survey is
the inability to capture, on a timely basis, employment generated by new
firms. To correct for this systematic underestimation of employment growth
(and other sources of error), a process known as bias adjustment is
included in the survey's estimating procedures, whereby a specified number
of jobs is added to the monthly sample-based change. The size of the

- 8 monthly bias adjustment is based largely on past relationships between the
sample-based estimates of employment and the total counts of employment
described below.
The sample-based estimates from the establishment survey are adjusted
once a year (on a lagged basis) to universe counts of payroll employment
obtained from administrative records of the unemployment insurance program.
The difference between the March sample-based employment estimates and the
March universe counts is known as a benchmark revision, and serves as a
rough proxy for total survey error. The new benchmarks also incorporate
changes in the classification of industries. Over the past decade, the
benchmark revision for total nonfarm employment has averaged 0.2 percent,
ranging from zero to 0.6 percent.
Additional statistics and other information
More comprehensive statistics are contained in Employment and Earnings,
published each month by BLS. It is available for $17.00 per issue or
$35.00 per year from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402. All orders must be prepaid by sending a check or money order
payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or by charging to Mastercard or
Visa.
Employment and Earnings also provides measures of sampling error for the
household survey data published in this release. For unemployment and
other labor force categories, these measures appear in tables 1-B through
1-H 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 2-B through 2-G of that
publication.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD phone:
202-606-5897; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1.

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, sex, and age

Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Agriculture.................................
Nonagricultural industries..................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................
Not in labor force..............................

204,400
136,286
66.7
129,482
63.3
2,922
126,560
6,804
5.0
68,115

206,719
137,943
66.7
131,339
63.5
2,911
128,428
6,604
4.8
68,776

206,873
138,202
66.8
131,639
63.6
2,894
128,744
6,563
4.7
68,671

204,400
137,384
67.2
131,021
64.1
3,345
127,676
6,363
4.6
67,016

205,919
138,116
67.1
131,858
64.0
3,558
128,300
6,258
4.5
67,803

206,104
138,193
67.1
132,113
64.1
3,348
128,765
6,080
4.4
67,911

206,270
138,547
67.2
132,526
64.2
3,222
129,304
6,021
4.3
67,723

206,719
139,347
67.4
133,396
64.5
3,299
130,097
5,950
4.3
67,372

206,873
139,271
67.3
133,144
64.4
3,328
129,817
6,127
4.4
67,602

98,331
72,930
74.2
69,197
70.4
3,733
5.1

99,198
73,636
74.2
69,992
70.6
3,644
4.9

99,279
73,718
74.3
70,084
70.6
3,634
4.9

98,331
73,735
75.0
70,411
71.6
3,324
4.5

99,121
74,189
74.8
70,925
71.6
3,264
4.4

99,217
74,345
74.9
71,182
71.7
3,163
4.3

99,309
74,437
75.0
71,204
71.7
3,233
4.3

99,198
74,599
75.2
71,459
72.0
3,140
4.2

99,279
74,504
75.0
71,276
71.8
3,228
4.3

90,476
69,104
76.4
66,049
73.0
2,035
64,014
3,055
4.4

91,124
69,687
76.5
66,780
73.3
2,060
64,720
2,908
4.2

91,189
69,746
76.5
66,730
73.2
1,953
64,777
3,016
4.3

90,476
69,559
76.9
66,927
74.0
2,297
64,630
2,632
3.8

91,101
69,913
76.7
67,362
73.9
2,449
64,913
2,551
3.6

91,192
70,023
76.8
67,573
74.1
2,374
65,199
2,450
3.5

91,220
70,069
76.8
67,553
74.1
2,237
65,316
2,516
3.6

91,124
70,295
77.1
67,884
74.5
2,312
65,572
2,411
3.4

91,189
70,174
77.0
67,577
74.1
2,212
65,365
2,598
3.7

Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Agriculture.................................
Nonagricultural industries..................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 106,070 107,521 107,593 106,070 106,798 106,887 106,960 107,521 107,593
Civilian labor force............................ 63,355 64,307 64,484 63,649 63,927 63,848 64,110 64,748 64,767
Participation rate........................
59.7
59.8
59.9
60.0
59.9
59.7
59.9
60.2
60.2
Employed...................................... 60,285 61,347 61,555 60,610 60,933 60,931 61,322 61,937 61,869
Employment-population ratio...............
56.8
57.1
57.2
57.1
57.1
57.0
57.3
57.6
57.5
Unemployed....................................
3,070
2,960
2,929
3,039
2,994
2,917
2,788
2,810
2,899
Unemployment rate.........................
4.8
4.6
4.5
4.8
4.7
4.6
4.3
4.3
4.5
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Agriculture.................................
Nonagricultural industries..................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................

98,471
59,606
60.5
57,011
57.9
722
56,289
2,595
4.4

99,686
60,547
60.7
58,100
58.3
729
57,370
2,447
4.0

99,746
60,608
60.8
58,210
58.4
757
57,452
2,398
4.0

98,471
59,625
60.6
57,097
58.0
799
56,298
2,528
4.2

99,037
59,826
60.4
57,437
58.0
771
56,666
2,389
4.0

99,135
59,896
60.4
57,503
58.0
734
56,769
2,393
4.0

99,181
60,078
60.6
57,745
58.2
753
56,992
2,333
3.9

99,686
60,718
60.9
58,466
58.7
808
57,659
2,251
3.7

99,746
60,622
60.8
58,291
58.4
839
57,452
2,330
3.8

15,453
7,575
49.0
6,422
41.6
164
6,258
1,153
15.2

15,909
7,709
48.5
6,460
40.6
122
6,338
1,249
16.2

15,939
7,849
49.2
6,699
42.0
184
6,515
1,150
14.6

15,453
8,200
53.1
6,997
45.3
249
6,748
1,203
14.7

15,781
8,377
53.1
7,059
44.7
338
6,721
1,318
15.7

15,777
8,274
52.4
7,037
44.6
240
6,797
1,237
15.0

15,868
8,400
52.9
7,228
45.5
232
6,996
1,172
14.0

15,909
8,334
52.4
7,046
44.3
179
6,867
1,288
15.5

15,939
8,475
53.2
7,276
45.7
277
6,999
1,199
14.1

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population.............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
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.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-2.

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Employment status of the civilian population by race, sex, age, and Hispanic origin

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, race, sex, age, and
Hispanic origin
Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 170,917 172,394 172,491 170,917 171,956 172,084 172,197 172,394 172,491
Civilian labor force............................ 114,489 115,425 115,821 115,271 115,714 115,687 115,996 116,529 116,610
Participation rate..........................
67.0
67.0
67.1
67.4
67.3
67.2
67.4
67.6
67.6
Employed...................................... 109,504 110,414 110,949 110,731 111,162 111,304 111,560 112,135 112,189
Employment-population ratio.................
64.1
64.0
64.3
64.8
64.6
64.7
64.8
65.0
65.0
Unemployed....................................
4,985
5,011
4,873
4,540
4,552
4,383
4,436
4,394
4,420
Unemployment rate...........................
4.4
4.3
4.2
3.9
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.8
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate..........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio.................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate...........................

58,974
76.9
56,651
73.8
2,322
3.9

59,306
76.9
57,051
74.0
2,254
3.8

59,443
77.0
57,078
74.0
2,365
4.0

59,314
77.3
57,378
74.8
1,936
3.3

59,579
77.2
57,646
74.7
1,933
3.2

59,634
77.2
57,806
74.8
1,828
3.1

59,712
77.2
57,813
74.8
1,899
3.2

59,751
77.5
57,920
75.1
1,831
3.1

59,799
77.5
57,830
75.0
1,969
3.3

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

49,029
59.9
47,232
57.7
1,797
3.7

49,594
60.0
47,773
57.8
1,821
3.7

49,721
60.1
48,061
58.1
1,660
3.3

49,031
59.9
47,283
57.7
1,748
3.6

49,062
59.7
47,401
57.6
1,661
3.4

49,065
59.6
47,415
57.6
1,650
3.4

49,230
59.8
47,585
57.8
1,645
3.3

49,759
60.2
48,110
58.2
1,650
3.3

49,721
60.1
48,109
58.2
1,612
3.2

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

6,486
52.7
5,621
45.7
866
13.3
16.0
10.5

6,526
51.7
5,590
44.3
935
14.3
16.2
12.4

6,657
52.7
5,809
46.0
848
12.7
13.6
11.8

6,926
56.3
6,070
49.3
856
12.4
14.4
10.1

7,073
56.4
6,115
48.8
958
13.5
14.1
13.0

6,988
55.7
6,083
48.5
905
13.0
14.1
11.6

7,054
56.1
6,162
49.0
892
12.6
14.5
10.6

7,019
55.6
6,105
48.4
913
13.0
14.1
11.9

7,090
56.1
6,250
49.5
840
11.8
12.2
11.4

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

24,229
15,618
64.5
14,080
58.1
1,538
9.9

24,665
16,101
65.3
14,835
60.1
1,267
7.9

24,697
16,004
64.8
14,622
59.2
1,381
8.6

24,229
15,834
65.4
14,340
59.2
1,494
9.4

24,496
16,163
66.0
14,776
60.3
1,387
8.6

24,529
16,201
66.0
14,804
60.4
1,397
8.6

24,561
16,157
65.8
14,884
60.6
1,273
7.9

24,665
16,356
66.3
15,085
61.2
1,271
7.8

24,697
16,242
65.8
14,900
60.3
1,342
8.3

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

6,900
71.4
6,306
65.2
594
8.6

7,098
72.1
6,619
67.3
479
6.8

7,050
71.5
6,529
66.3
521
7.4

6,993
72.3
6,448
66.7
545
7.8

7,144
73.1
6,653
68.0
491
6.9

7,086
72.4
6,590
67.3
496
7.0

7,063
72.0
6,588
67.2
475
6.7

7,210
73.3
6,782
68.9
428
5.9

7,160
72.7
6,682
67.8
477
6.7

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

7,876
64.9
7,192
59.2
684
8.7

8,087
65.4
7,556
61.2
530
6.6

8,057
65.1
7,457
60.3
600
7.4

7,895
65.0
7,238
59.6
657
8.3

7,992
65.2
7,391
60.3
601
7.5

8,051
65.6
7,443
60.6
608
7.6

8,035
65.4
7,474
60.8
561
7.0

8,114
65.7
7,579
61.3
535
6.6

8,082
65.3
7,509
60.7
573
7.1

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

842
34.8
581
24.0
260
30.9
34.9
27.4

917
37.1
660
26.7
257
28.1
35.6
20.6

897
36.3
637
25.8
261
29.0
31.8
26.5

946
39.1
654
27.0
292
30.9
34.0
28.0

1,027
41.8
732
29.8
295
28.7
34.7
23.5

1,064
43.3
771
31.4
293
27.5
33.0
22.1

1,059
43.0
822
33.4
237
22.4
27.3
17.6

1,032
41.8
725
29.3
307
29.8
34.2
25.0

1,000
40.5
708
28.6
293
29.2
31.6
27.0

HISPANIC ORIGIN
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate..........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio.................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate...........................

20,798
14,030
67.5
12,983
62.4
1,047
7.5

21,296
14,358
67.4
13,293
62.4
1,065
7.4

21,355
14,466
67.7
13,420
62.8
1,046
7.2

20,798
14,145
68.0
13,165
63.3
980
6.9

21,286
14,437
67.8
13,382
62.9
1,055
7.3

21,349
14,389
67.4
13,345
62.5
1,044
7.3

21,405
14,488
67.7
13,383
62.5
1,105
7.6

21,296
14,511
68.1
13,550
63.6
960
6.6

21,355
14,591
68.3
13,610
63.7
980
6.7

1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
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. Beginning in January
1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-3. Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Educational attainment
Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

29,228
12,303
42.1
11,303
38.7
1,000
8.1

28,901
12,463
43.1
11,391
39.4
1,073
8.6

28,112
11,917
42.4
10,897
38.8
1,020
8.6

29,228
12,561
43.0
11,670
39.9
891
7.1

28,713
12,408
43.2
11,556
40.2
852
6.9

29,084
12,463
42.9
11,574
39.8
889
7.1

29,094
12,500
43.0
11,626
40.0
874
7.0

28,901
12,379
42.8
11,459
39.7
920
7.4

28,112
12,164
43.3
11,257
40.0
907
7.5

57,418
37,527
65.4
35,794
62.3
1,734
4.6

57,477
37,472
65.2
35,928
62.5
1,545
4.1

57,062
37,063
65.0
35,583
62.4
1,479
4.0

57,418
37,730
65.7
36,225
63.1
1,505
4.0

57,666
37,540
65.1
36,056
62.5
1,484
4.0

57,273
37,408
65.3
35,947
62.8
1,461
3.9

57,115
37,296
65.3
35,873
62.8
1,423
3.8

57,477
37,590
65.4
36,291
63.1
1,299
3.5

57,062
37,261
65.3
35,979
63.1
1,282
3.4

42,527
31,580
74.3
30,538
71.8
1,042
3.3

43,154
31,990
74.1
30,966
71.8
1,023
3.2

43,911
32,601
74.2
31,525
71.8
1,077
3.3

42,527
31,418
73.9
30,448
71.6
970
3.1

42,573
31,349
73.6
30,423
71.5
926
3.0

42,863
31,727
74.0
30,825
71.9
902
2.8

43,022
31,800
73.9
30,911
71.8
889
2.8

43,154
32,399
75.1
31,470
72.9
929
2.9

43,911
32,465
73.9
31,462
71.6
1,003
3.1

42,238
33,859
80.2
33,227
78.7
632
1.9

43,516
34,914
80.2
34,257
78.7
657
1.9

43,949
35,149
80.0
34,471
78.4
678
1.9

42,238
33,742
79.9
33,114
78.4
628
1.9

43,520
34,779
79.9
34,108
78.4
671
1.9

43,408
34,554
79.6
33,922
78.1
632
1.8

43,484
34,838
80.1
34,205
78.7
633
1.8

43,516
34,950
80.3
34,325
78.9
624
1.8

43,949
35,040
79.7
34,368
78.2
673
1.9

Less than a high school diploma
Civilian noninstitutional population......
Civilian labor force....................
Percent of population...............
Employed..............................
Employment-population ratio.........
Unemployed............................
Unemployment rate...................
High school graduates, no college(2)
Civilian noninstitutional population......
Civilian labor force....................
Percent of population...............
Employed..............................
Employment-population ratio.........
Unemployed............................
Unemployment rate...................
Less than a bachelor's degree(3)
Civilian noninstitutional population......
Civilian labor force....................
Percent of population...............
Employed..............................
Employment-population ratio.........
Unemployed............................
Unemployment rate...................
College graduates
Civilian noninstitutional population......
Civilian labor force....................
Percent of population...............
Employed..............................
Employment-population ratio.........
Unemployed............................
Unemployment rate...................
1
and
2
3

The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation, therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
seasonally adjusted columns.
Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-4. Selected employment indicators
(In thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Category

Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over................. 129,482 131,339 131,639 131,021 131,858 132,113 132,526 133,396 133,144
Married men, spouse present..................... 42,615 43,107 42,757 42,869 43,090 43,209 43,227 43,542 43,016
Married women, spouse present................... 32,821 33,416 33,092 32,829 33,037 32,953 33,093 33,652 33,092
Women who maintain families.....................
7,860
7,947
8,105
7,872
7,940
7,969
8,087
8,076
8,113
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty...........
Technical, sales, and administrative support....
Service occupations.............................
Precision production, craft, and repair.........
Operators, fabricators, and laborers............
Farming, forestry, and fishing..................

38,297
38,260
17,752
14,094
18,151
2,927

39,754
38,419
17,690
14,471
18,109
2,895

39,607
38,979
18,000
14,477
17,648
2,928

38,210
38,519
17,899
14,368
18,526
3,477

39,679
38,431
17,692
14,192
18,168
3,604

39,459
38,430
18,024
14,552
18,067
3,538

39,729
38,307
17,976
14,685
18,480
3,396

39,836
38,846
18,070
14,751
18,476
3,422

39,531
39,254
18,163
14,742
18,021
3,490

CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers.......................
1,685
1,703
1,646
1,936
2,247
2,005
1,912
1,987
1,895
Self-employed workers.........................
1,210
1,181
1,220
1,362
1,282
1,304
1,304
1,298
1,381
Unpaid family workers.........................
27
27
28
42
33
40
34
30
44
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers....................... 117,765 119,627 120,119 118,704 119,275 119,718 120,380 121,115 121,066
Government.................................. 18,525 19,121 19,027 18,302 18,547 18,607 18,686 18,913 18,782
Private industries.......................... 99,240 100,505 101,093 100,402 100,728 101,111 101,694 102,202 102,283
Private households........................
995
850
832
1,017
946
969
943
881
849
Other industries.......................... 98,245 99,655 100,261 99,385 99,782 100,142 100,751 101,321 101,434
Self-employed workers.........................
8,682
8,680
8,511
8,826
9,030
8,929
8,814
8,830
8,658
Unpaid family workers.........................
113
121
114
113
95
112
122
121
114
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons................
Slack work or business conditions...........
Could only find part-time work..............
Part time for noneconomic reasons.............

4,042
2,350
1,397
19,235

3,815
2,428
1,056
18,836

3,594
2,174
1,132
19,481

3,864
2,145
1,415
18,407

3,404
2,031
1,136
18,667

3,340
1,910
1,157
18,634

3,417
1,927
1,148
18,674

3,562
2,093
1,115
18,485

3,426
1,984
1,141
18,642

Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons................
Slack work or business conditions...........
Could only find part-time work..............
Part time for noneconomic reasons.............

3,867
2,235
1,384
18,693

3,645
2,305
1,040
18,352

3,443
2,085
1,109
18,964

3,714
2,044
1,390
17,791

3,253
1,927
1,110
18,107

3,191
1,824
1,130
18,110

3,257
1,841
1,116
18,155

3,413
1,989
1,094
17,921

3,298
1,906
1,108
18,061

NOTE: Persons at work excludes employed persons who were absent from their jobs during the entire reference week for
reasons such as vacation, illness, or industrial dispute. Part time for noneconomic reasons excludes persons who usually
work full time but worked only 1 to 34 hours during the reference week for reasons such as holidays, illness, and bad
weather. Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-5. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Category
Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

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

6,363
2,632
2,528
1,203

5,950
2,411
2,251
1,288

6,127
2,598
2,330
1,199

4.6
3.8
4.2
14.7

4.5
3.6
4.0
15.7

4.4
3.5
4.0
15.0

4.3
3.6
3.9
14.0

4.3
3.4
3.7
15.5

4.4
3.7
3.8
14.1

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

1,088
1,014
641

1,011
987
527

1,059
967
561

2.5
3.0
7.5

2.3
2.8
6.9

2.2
2.9
6.9

2.3
2.8
6.3

2.3
2.8
6.1

2.4
2.8
6.5

Full-time workers..............................
Part-time workers..............................

5,093
1,277

4,708
1,272

4,929
1,196

4.5
5.2

4.3
5.5

4.2
5.4

4.2
5.2

4.1
5.2

4.3
4.9

766
1,612
644
1,305
238

750
1,520
537
1,149
284

765
1,611
672
1,147
297

2.0
4.0
4.3
6.6
6.4

1.9
3.9
4.0
6.8
5.4

1.8
3.7
3.8
6.7
6.3

1.8
3.7
3.2
6.7
7.5

1.8
3.8
3.5
5.9
7.7

1.9
3.9
4.4
6.0
7.8

4,947
1,386
17
570
799
380
419
3,561
249
1,534
202
1,576
429
179

4,586
1,318
44
540
734
429
305
3,268
193
1,445
196
1,434
425
210

4,626
1,346
43
545
758
415
343
3,280
245
1,446
192
1,397
436
241

4.7
4.8
2.7
8.0
3.8
3.0
4.9
4.7
3.3
5.7
2.5
4.6
2.3
8.5

4.6
4.6
2.4
6.7
3.9
3.2
5.1
4.7
3.5
5.6
2.5
4.7
2.2
6.7

4.5
4.6
2.2
7.0
3.8
3.2
4.8
4.5
3.2
5.2
2.8
4.6
2.1
7.6

4.4
4.6
4.3
6.4
4.0
3.4
4.9
4.4
3.2
5.5
2.8
4.1
2.0
8.3

4.3
4.6
7.4
7.3
3.5
3.4
3.8
4.2
2.5
5.2
2.4
4.1
2.2
9.6

4.3
4.7
7.7
7.5
3.7
3.3
4.3
4.2
3.2
5.2
2.4
4.0
2.3
11.3

CHARACTERISTIC

OCCUPATION(2)
Managerial and professional specialty..........
Technical, sales, and administrative support...
Precision production, craft, and repair........
Operators, fabricators, and laborers...........
Farming, forestry, and fishing.................
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers
Goods-producing industries...................
Mining.....................................
Construction...............................
Manufacturing..............................
Durable goods............................
Nondurable goods.........................
Service-producing industries.................
Transportation and public utilities........
Wholesale and retail trade.................
Finance, insurance, and real estate........
Services...................................
Government workers.............................
Agricultural wage and salary workers...........

1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
2 Seasonally adjusted unemployment data for service occupations are not available because the seasonal component, which
is small relative to the trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-6. Duration of unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Duration
Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Less than 5 weeks................................
5 to 14 weeks....................................
15 weeks and over................................
15 to 26 weeks................................
27 weeks and over.............................

2,488
2,365
1,950
957
994

2,930
2,133
1,541
775
766

2,497
2,386
1,681
864
816

2,598
1,931
1,804
849
955

2,754
1,896
1,598
732
866

2,546
1,983
1,611
752
859

2,614
1,839
1,578
754
824

2,353
2,071
1,469
753
716

2,601
1,944
1,550
766
784

Average (mean) duration, in weeks................
Median duration, in weeks........................

15.3
7.5

12.9
6.5

13.8
7.4

15.4
7.1

14.1
5.9

14.4
6.7

14.1
6.7

13.4
6.9

13.8
7.0

100.0
36.6
34.8
28.7
14.1
14.6

100.0
44.4
32.3
23.3
11.7
11.6

100.0
38.0
36.3
25.6
13.2
12.4

100.0
41.0
30.5
28.5
13.4
15.1

100.0
44.1
30.3
25.6
11.7
13.9

100.0
41.5
32.3
26.2
12.2
14.0

100.0
43.3
30.5
26.2
12.5
13.7

100.0
39.9
35.1
24.9
12.8
12.1

100.0
42.7
31.9
25.4
12.6
12.9

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED

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

NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-7. Reason for unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Reason
Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

3,254
1,145
2,109
1,503
605
789
2,270
491

3,394
1,364
2,030
1,376
655
721
2,027
462

3,151
1,159
1,993
1,308
685
765
2,182
466

2,827
836
1,991
(1)
(1)
773
2,206
538

2,813
857
1,956
(1)
(1)
730
2,142
577

2,758
850
1,908
(1)
(1)
677
2,130
534

2,754
841
1,913
(1)
(1)
709
2,031
504

2,696
864
1,832
(1)
(1)
699
1,993
537

2,738
849
1,889
(1)
(1)
751
2,110
509

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

47.8
16.8
31.0
11.6
33.4
7.2

51.4
20.7
30.7
10.9
30.7
7.0

48.0
17.7
30.4
11.6
33.2
7.1

44.6
13.2
31.4
12.2
34.8
8.5

44.9
13.7
31.2
11.7
34.2
9.2

45.2
13.9
31.3
11.1
34.9
8.8

45.9
14.0
31.9
11.8
33.9
8.4

45.5
14.6
30.9
11.8
33.6
9.1

44.8
13.9
30.9
12.3
34.5
8.3

2.4
.6
1.7
.4

2.5
.5
1.5
.3

2.3
.6
1.6
.3

2.1
.6
1.6
.4

2.0
.5
1.6
.4

2.0
.5
1.5
.4

2.0
.5
1.5
.4

1.9
.5
1.4
.4

2.0
.5
1.5
.4

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs...........................................
On temporary layoff.............................
Not on temporary layoff.........................
Permanent job losers..........................
Persons who completed temporary jobs..........
Job leavers.......................................
Reentrants........................................
New entrants......................................
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed..................................
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs...........................................
On temporary layoff............................
Not on temporary layoff........................
Job leavers......................................
Reentrants.......................................
New entrants.....................................
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers and persons who completed temporary
jobs...........................................
Job leavers......................................
Reentrants.......................................
New entrants.....................................

1 Not available.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-8. Range of alternative measures of labor underutilization
(Percent)

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Measure

Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

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

1.4

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.2

1.2

1.1

1.1

1.1

U-2 Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as
a percent of the
civilian labor force.....................................

2.4

2.5

2.3

2.1

2.0

2.0

2.0

1.9

2.0

U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor
force
(official unemployment rate).............................

5.0

4.8

4.7

4.6

4.5

4.4

4.3

4.3

4.4

U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent
of the civilian
labor force plus discouraged workers....................

5.2

5.0

4.9

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

U-5 Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all
other marginally
attached workers, as a percent of the civilian labor
force plus all marginally
attached workers........................................

6.0

5.7

5.6

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

U-6 Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers,
plus total employed
part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the
civilian labor force plus
all marginally attached workers.........................

8.9

8.5

8.2

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

1 Not available.
NOTE: This range of alternative measures of labor underutilization replaces the U1-U7 range published in table A-7 of
this release prior to 1994. Marginally attached workers are persons who currently are neither working nor looking for work
but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past. Discouraged
workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not currently looking for a job.
Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time work but have had to
settle for a part-time schedule. For further information, see "BLS introduces new range of alternative unemployment
measures," in the October 1995 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised
population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Age and sex

Feb.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

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.............................

6,363
2,350
1,203
622
567
1,147
3,999
3,561
450

5,950
2,240
1,288
619
653
952
3,743
3,257
509

6,127
2,274
1,199
520
666
1,075
3,835
3,359
501

4.6
10.7
14.7
18.3
11.9
8.4
3.5
3.6
2.7

4.5
10.5
15.7
18.2
14.0
7.3
3.4
3.5
2.7

4.4
9.9
15.0
18.0
13.0
6.9
3.3
3.4
3.0

4.3
9.8
14.0
16.9
12.1
7.2
3.3
3.4
3.0

4.3
10.1
15.5
18.4
13.1
6.9
3.2
3.3
2.9

4.4
10.2
14.1
15.5
13.1
7.7
3.3
3.4
2.9

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...........................

3,324
1,317
692
360
327
625
1,997
1,734
268

3,140
1,241
729
349
375
512
1,900
1,646
273

3,228
1,179
630
262
368
548
2,036
1,750
295

4.5
11.5
16.6
20.4
13.5
8.6
3.2
3.3
2.9

4.4
10.9
16.7
20.9
13.7
7.5
3.2
3.3
2.9

4.3
10.3
16.5
20.0
14.4
6.6
3.1
3.1
3.1

4.3
10.8
16.4
19.9
14.0
7.3
3.2
3.2
3.1

4.2
10.7
16.9
19.7
14.7
7.1
3.0
3.1
2.8

4.3
10.1
14.6
15.3
14.1
7.5
3.2
3.3
3.0

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...........................

3,039
1,033
511
262
240
522
2,002
1,827
182

2,810
999
559
270
278
440
1,842
1,611
236

2,899
1,095
568
259
298
527
1,799
1,609
206

4.8
9.9
12.7
16.0
10.2
8.1
3.8
4.0
2.4

4.7
10.1
14.8
15.4
14.3
7.1
3.6
3.8
2.5

4.6
9.5
13.3
15.9
11.4
7.1
3.6
3.8
2.9

4.3
8.7
11.3
13.8
10.2
7.1
3.5
3.6
2.8

4.3
9.5
13.9
16.9
11.5
6.7
3.4
3.5
3.1

4.5
10.2
13.7
15.7
12.1
8.0
3.3
3.5
2.7

1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-10. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)

Total

Men

Women

Category
Feb.
1998

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Feb.
1999

Feb.
1998

Feb.
1999

68,115
4,912
1,478

68,671
4,703
1,279

25,400
2,165
773

25,562
1,878
592

42,714
2,747
705

43,109
2,825
686

361
1,117

271
1,008

237
537

170
422

124
581

100
586

Total multiple jobholders(4)......................................
Percent of total employed.....................................

7,877
6.1

8,044
6.1

4,142
6.0

4,264
6.1

3,734
6.2

3,780
6.1

Primary job full time, secondary job part time................
Primary and secondary jobs both part time.....................
Primary and secondary jobs both full time.....................
Hours vary on primary or secondary job........................

4,391
1,671
227
1,566

4,396
1,763
276
1,563

2,580
542
154
847

2,551
575
174
932

1,811
1,129
73
719

1,845
1,187
102
631

NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE

Total not in the labor force......................................
Persons who currently want a job................................
Searched for work and vailable to work now(1)................
Reason not currently looking:
Discouragement over job prospects(2)....................
Reasons other than discouragement(3).................
MULTIPLE JOBHOLDERS

1 Data refer to persons who have searched for work during the prior 12 months and were available to take a job during the
reference week.
2 Includes thinks no work available, could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or old, and
other types of discrimination.
3 Includes those who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for such reasons as child-care and transportation
problems, as well as a small number for which reason for nonparticipation was not determined.
4 Includes persons who work part time on their primary job and full time on their secondary job(s), not shown separately.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry
(In thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Feb.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Total......................... 123,346 127,936 125,176 126,028 124,832 126,527 126,804 127,118 127,335 127,610
Total private.................... 103,333 107,547 105,202 105,651 105,112 106,579 106,818 107,096 107,274 107,527
Goods-producing.........................

24,706

25,181

24,635

24,637

25,314

25,209

25,184

25,269

25,256

25,268

Mining................................
Metal mining........................
Coal mining.........................
Oil and gas extraction..............
Nonmetallic minerals, except fuels..

578
50.6
92.8
334.7
99.4

556
49.9
89.8
309.4
106.5

535
49.8
89.5
297.3
98.5

526
49.4
88.5
288.4
99.5

590
52
93
338
107

564
50
89
317
108

560
50
90
312
108

557
50
90
308
109

547
51
90
299
107

537
50
89
291
107

Construction..........................
5,403
6,043
5,673
5,716
General building contractors........ 1,292.8 1,424.2 1,374.5 1,376.8
Heavy construction, except building.
684.2
810.7
714.6
724.0
Special trade contractors........... 3,425.9 3,807.9 3,583.7 3,615.0

5,902
1,371
813
3,718

6,012
1,419
825
3,768

6,051
1,414
834
3,803

6,153
1,433
861
3,859

6,167
1,447
861
3,859

6,239
1,460
861
3,918

Manufacturing.........................
Production workers................

18,725
12,944

18,582
12,784

18,427
12,664

18,395
12,647

18,822
13,024

18,633
12,821

18,573
12,765

18,559
12,763

18,542
12,759

18,492
12,716

Durable goods........................
Production workers................
Lumber and wood products............
Furniture and fixtures..............
Stone, clay, and glass products.....
Primary metal industries............
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products.......................
Fabricated metal products...........
Industrial machinery and equipment..
Computer and office equipment.....
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................
Electronic components and
accessories....................
Transportation equipment............
Motor vehicles and equipment......
Aircraft and parts................
Instruments and related products....
Miscellaneous manufacturing.........

11,122
7,645
784.5
519.6
542.1
718.8

11,021
7,542
812.2
529.4
565.3
701.0

10,936
7,474
805.8
527.0
547.0
695.3

10,924
7,474
805.5
528.1
551.3
694.7

11,159
7,676
800
519
561
718

11,059
7,566
806
524
564
706

11,011
7,522
809
524
568
699

10,996
7,519
813
527
571
698

10,986
7,511
821
527
568
694

10,962
7,494
821
528
571
695

235.3
227.6
224.7
224.1
1,494.8 1,485.4 1,480.6 1,474.8
2,206.5 2,153.7 2,137.2 2,133.8
379.2
366.8
361.9
358.9

(1)
1,497
2,202
381

(1)
1,486
2,175
371

(1)
1,481
2,162
370

(1)
1,480
2,152
367

(1)
1,483
2,137
363

(1)
1,477
2,130
360

1,719.0 1,670.3 1,660.1 1,656.7

1,720

1,680

1,668

1,664

1,660

1,658

679.7
646.9
645.4
645.9
1,885.2 1,883.5 1,869.6 1,864.9
1,002.2 1,000.9
992.0
990.3
523.5
519.8
516.1
510.4
865.2
842.0
840.9
839.7
386.0
377.8
372.5
374.5

680
1,886
1,004
523
866
390

654
1,887
1,000
523
850
381

649
1,877
998
519
845
378

646
1,871
990
518
842
378

645
1,876
998
516
842
378

646
1,864
990
510
841
377

Nondurable goods.....................
Production workers................
Food and kindred products...........
Tobacco products....................
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........

7,603
5,299
1,664.7
41.9
603.7
791.7
684.9
1,561.8
1,032.1
131.8
1,004.6
85.7

7,663
5,348
1,703
41
606
796
688
1,564
1,036
136
1,007
86

7,574
5,255
1,702
40
589
746
677
1,569
1,034
134
1,004
79

7,562
5,243
1,710
40
584
736
674
1,566
1,035
134
1,005
78

7,563
5,244
1,718
39
581
734
673
1,561
1,035
136
1,008
78

7,556
5,248
1,723
40
576
728
671
1,563
1,032
133
1,013
77

7,530
5,222
1,719
40
572
713
671
1,562
1,033
134
1,010
76

Service-producing.......................

7,561
5,242
1,705.2
42.1
581.6
732.5
674.2
1,570.8
1,033.6
133.2
1,009.7
77.8

7,491
5,190
1,686.1
42.1
573.6
719.4
669.7
1,559.6
1,027.3
128.9
1,008.0
76.3

7,471
5,173
1,681.0
40.8
570.1
709.4
668.4
1,558.2
1,029.4
129.5
1,009.2
75.1

98,640 102,755 100,541 101,391

Transportation and public utilities...
6,433
6,678
6,578
6,593
Transportation......................
4,117
4,319
4,217
4,232
Railroad transportation...........
227.3
232.1
231.5
230.9
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................
468.8
484.1
476.8
482.3
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,652.6 1,731.6 1,697.5 1,702.3
Water transportation..............
173.8
185.6
180.4
180.1
Transportation by air............. 1,136.2 1,215.7 1,163.5 1,168.1
Pipelines, except natural gas.....
14.1
14.1
13.9
14.1
Transportation services...........
443.9
455.6
452.9
454.3
Communications and public utilities.
2,316
2,359
2,361
2,361
Communications.................... 1,461.6 1,508.8 1,514.7 1,516.7
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services.......................
854.6
850.2
845.8
844.5

99,518 101,318 101,620 101,849 102,079 102,342
6,494
4,164
231

6,595
4,247
234

6,604
4,249
231

6,627
4,262
233

6,641
4,268
235

6,656
4,282
234

459
1,688
181
1,145
14
446
2,330
1,471

467
1,721
191
1,167
14
453
2,348
1,498

468
1,721
193
1,167
14
455
2,355
1,502

468
1,730
191
1,169
14
457
2,365
1,512

467
1,739
189
1,167
14
457
2,373
1,523

471
1,741
188
1,178
14
456
2,374
1,525

859

850

853

853

850

849

6,853
4,102
2,751
22,315

6,769
4,030
2,739
22,283

6,864
4,096
2,768
22,589

6,877
4,102
2,775
22,672

6,882
4,104
2,778
22,712

6,899
4,112
2,787
22,748

6,908
4,123
2,785
22,871

902.4
981.4
948.6
952.9
2,663.1 3,133.3 2,832.9 2,751.5
2,346.2 2,758.9 2,498.5 2,431.5
3,496.6 3,624.9 3,532.5 3,521.9

959
2,756
2,427
3,533

987
2,812
2,481
3,554

991
2,842
2,504
3,558

997
2,823
2,490
3,561

1,005
2,834
2,501
3,546

1,013
2,856
2,524
3,556

2,300.1 2,366.1 2,352.7 2,363.8
1,052.3 1,069.5 1,067.4 1,072.9
1,067.1 1,204.0 1,114.8 1,085.1

2,331
1,056
1,100

2,367
1,067
1,101

2,370
1,069
1,105

2,377
1,073
1,101

2,383
1,074
1,109

2,395
1,078
1,121

1,038.3 1,134.6 1,101.7 1,098.7
7,444.8 7,809.7 7,511.9 7,607.4
2,845.2 3,131.3 2,949.9 2,933.5

1,043
7,694
2,867

1,076
7,778
2,914

1,082
7,807
2,917

1,084
7,854
2,915

1,093
7,843
2,935

1,103
7,868
2,959

Finance, insurance, and real estate...
7,172
7,437
7,420
7,423
Finance.............................
3,486
3,615
3,616
3,620
Depository institutions........... 2,031.1 2,046.8 2,046.1 2,043.9
Commercial banks................ 1,457.8 1,458.9 1,457.3 1,455.4
Savings institutions............
261.1
264.0
264.6
263.5
Nondepository institutions........
593.3
652.4
656.0
660.0
Mortgage bankers and brokers....
268.4
311.9
311.3
314.0
Security and commodity brokers....
626.8
664.6
663.9
662.9
Holding and other investment
offices........................
234.9
250.9
249.7
253.5
Insurance...........................
2,290
2,359
2,353
2,351
Insurance carriers................ 1,554.2 1,608.4 1,608.1 1,604.6
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................
735.4
750.2
745.1
746.7
Real estate.........................
1,396
1,463
1,451
1,452

7,232
3,496
2,039
1,464
262
593
270
629

7,417
3,598
2,043
1,456
265
640
305
666

7,441
3,605
2,043
1,455
265
649
310
663

7,458
3,615
2,046
1,457
264
652
313
666

7,481
3,624
2,049
1,459
265
658
313
666

7,488
3,632
2,052
1,461
265
661
316
665

235
2,297
1,560

249
2,350
1,601

250
2,357
1,606

251
2,360
1,610

251
2,360
1,613

254
2,359
1,611

737
1,439

749
1,469

751
1,479

750
1,483

747
1,497

748
1,497

37,020
696
1,756
1,177
8,384
961
3,152
2,820

37,905
722
1,783
1,178
8,677
987
3,161
2,829

38,040
737
1,777
1,180
8,715
989
3,177
2,840

38,148
751
1,776
1,186
8,756
991
3,202
2,857

38,249
757
1,777
1,187
8,792
999
3,217
2,864

38,336
757
1,772
1,171
8,832
996
3,224
2,871

Wholesale trade.......................
Durable goods.......................
Nondurable goods....................
Retail trade..........................
Building materials and garden
supplies.........................
General merchandise stores..........
Department stores.................
Food stores.........................
Automotive dealers and service
stations.........................
New and used car dealers..........
Apparel and accessory stores........
Furniture and home furnishings
stores...........................
Eating and drinking places..........
Miscellaneous retail establishments.

Services2.............................
Agricultural services...............
Hotels and other lodging places.....
Personal services...................
Business services...................
Services to buildings.............
Personnel supply services.........
Help supply services............

6,714
4,009
2,705
21,758

36,550
583.4
1,671.8
1,246.1
8,198.9
948.5
2,989.4
2,661.6

6,882
4,102
2,780
23,385

37,984
688.9
1,699.3
1,166.1
8,820.3
985.3
3,255.5
2,904.6

6,842
4,089
2,753
22,345

37,382
635.7
1,670.7
1,226.1
8,564.3
981.5
3,026.8
2,688.8

37,830
635.6
1,683.7
1,237.4
8,634.8
982.4
3,057.6
2,714.7

Computer and data processing
services.......................
Auto repair, services, and parking..
Miscellaneous repair services.......
Motion pictures.....................
Amusement and recreation services...
Health services.....................
Offices and clinics of medical
doctors........................
Nursing and personal care
facilities.....................
Hospitals.........................
Home health care services.........
Legal services......................
Educational services................
Social services.....................
Child day care services...........
Residential care..................
Museums and botanical and zoological
gardens...........................
Membership organizations............
Engineering and management services.
Engineering and architectural
services.......................
Management and public relations...
Services, nec.......................
Government............................
Federal.............................
Federal, except Postal Service....
State...............................
Education.........................
Other State government............
Local...............................
Education.........................
Other local government............

1,524.9
1,137.6
376.9
568.6
1,442.2
9,824.4

1,724.1
1,181.3
389.5
570.6
1,530.6
9,947.5

1,522
1,144
382
569
1,641
9,852

1,661
1,169
389
567
1,718
9,947

1,680
1,175
391
563
1,744
9,955

1,691
1,177
393
564
1,742
9,955

1,711
1,182
395
563
1,750
9,957

1,724
1,189
396
569
1,742
9,973

1,783.1 1,852.4 1,850.3 1,853.1

1,788

1,843

1,849

1,845

1,854

1,859

1,754.5
3,916.2
697.3
961.8
2,305.4
2,572.5
583.8
735.9

1,745.3
3,974.9
655.3
994.7
2,403.5
2,706.1
606.4
771.4

1,761
3,920
702
967
2,179
2,577
574
741

1,755
3,977
662
995
2,238
2,659
583
762

1,753
3,978
661
994
2,245
2,672
586
764

1,751
3,980
661
997
2,252
2,686
589
766

1,752
3,977
653
997
2,249
2,697
591
770

1,752
3,980
660
1,000
2,269
2,713
597
776

83.5
91.1
85.5
85.1
2,239.2 2,270.5 2,250.8 2,270.7
3,143.6 3,322.4 3,332.9 3,361.2

92
2,261
3,148

92
2,281
3,293

94
2,279
3,321

94
2,283
3,338

94
2,289
3,365

93
2,293
3,368

887.7
930.8
927.5
926.7
1,000.6 1,096.7 1,095.9 1,108.3
50.8
54.5
53.8
54.3

899
1,007
(1)

927
1,075
(1)

932
1,092
(1)

934
1,098
(1)

938
1,112
(1)

940
1,116
(1)

19,720
2,676
1,819
4,613
1,924
2,689
12,431
6,999
5,432

19,948
2,713
1,834
4,671
1,949
2,722
12,564
7,083
5,481

19,986
2,725
1,845
4,674
1,945
2,729
12,587
7,114
5,473

20,022
2,706
1,818
4,690
1,957
2,733
12,626
7,133
5,493

20,061
2,704
1,827
4,692
1,953
2,739
12,665
7,162
5,503

20,083
2,699
1,824
4,698
1,958
2,740
12,686
7,171
5,515

20,013
2,661
1,808.0
4,705
2,035.9
2,669.1
12,647
7,338.3
5,308.8

1,693.1
1,171.7
392.1
568.7
1,562.6
9,974.7

1,754.7
3,982.2
663.3
996.7
2,370.0
2,690.8
600.4
764.7

20,389
2,739
1,801.5
4,773
2,067.2
2,705.4
12,877
7,476.5
5,400.0

1,710.7
1,167.8
389.2
561.3
1,496.3
9,933.6

1,746.2
3,971.8
649.3
992.3
2,200.8
2,677.0
597.8
765.3

19,974
2,680
1,804.2
4,624
1,909.4
2,714.6
12,670
7,303.6
5,366.7

20,377
2,684
1,811.8
4,790
2,070.8
2,719.5
12,903
7,514.3
5,388.3

1 These series are not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by industry

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Feb.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Total private....................

34.6

34.7

34.0

34.3

34.7

34.6

34.5

34.6

34.5

34.7

Goods-producing.........................

40.9

41.7

40.5

40.5

41.4

41.1

41.0

41.2

41.1

41.0

Mining................................

44.0

43.7

42.2

42.8

44.4

43.8

43.5

43.4

42.5

43.1

Construction..........................

37.9

39.0

37.8

37.9

39.2

39.1

38.8

39.5

39.7

39.3

Manufacturing.........................
Overtime hours....................

41.7
4.5

42.6
4.9

41.3
4.4

41.3
4.2

42.0
4.8

41.7
4.5

41.7
4.5

41.7
4.5

41.6
4.6

41.6
4.5

Durable goods........................
Overtime hours....................

42.5
4.9

43.2
5.2

41.9
4.5

41.9
4.4

42.8
5.1

42.3
4.6

42.3
4.6

42.3
4.6

42.1
4.7

42.2
4.6

Lumber and wood products............
Furniture and fixtures..............
Stone, clay, and glass products.....
Primary metal industries............
Blast furnaces and basic steel
products.......................
Fabricated metal products...........
Industrial machinery and equipment..
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................
Transportation equipment............
Motor vehicles and equipment......
Instruments and related products....
Miscellaneous manufacturing.........

40.5
40.5
42.6
44.7

41.7
41.5
43.7
44.6

40.6
40.2
42.4
43.8

40.2
39.9
42.2
43.6

41.1
41.0
43.6
44.8

41.1
40.4
43.4
43.7

41.2
40.1
43.5
43.9

41.6
40.2
43.8
43.7

41.7
40.6
44.0
43.7

40.9
40.4
43.4
43.6

45.2
42.3
43.5

43.7
43.4
43.2

44.0
41.8
42.2

43.6
41.8
42.0

45.4
42.7
43.4

43.9
42.3
42.7

43.7
42.1
42.4

43.2
42.2
42.1

43.9
41.9
42.1

43.7
42.1
42.0

41.6
43.5
43.4
42.1
40.2

42.3
45.7
46.8
42.0
40.2

41.1
43.2
43.8
41.1
39.0

41.2
43.8
44.8
41.5
39.5

41.9
43.8
43.8
42.0
40.4

41.5
43.7
43.8
41.1
39.7

41.4
44.1
44.7
41.0
39.3

41.1
44.6
45.2
41.0
39.4

41.2
43.2
43.9
41.1
39.5

41.4
44.0
45.1
41.4
39.7

Nondurable goods.....................
Overtime hours....................

40.6
4.0

41.6
4.6

40.6
4.2

40.5
4.0

40.9
4.4

40.9
4.3

40.8
4.4

40.9
4.3

40.8
4.4

40.9
4.4

Food and kindred products...........
Tobacco products....................
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........

40.9
37.4
41.1
37.1
43.0
38.2
43.3
42.2
41.6
38.0

42.8
37.4
41.4
37.9
44.3
38.7
43.5
44.8
42.7
38.1

41.6
37.4
40.8
36.7
43.6
37.7
42.9
43.9
41.3
36.8

41.2
37.0
40.4
37.3
43.1
37.6
42.7
43.9
41.4
37.5

41.5
38.5
41.5
37.4
43.4
38.5
43.4
(2)
41.8
38.8

41.5
38.5
41.1
37.3
43.5
38.2
43.3
(2)
41.8
37.4

41.7
38.3
40.7
37.3
43.5
38.2
43.0
(2)
41.6
37.6

42.0
36.3
40.9
37.3
43.4
38.1
42.6
(2)
41.7
37.5

42.0
38.1
41.0
36.9
43.5
38.3
42.9
(2)
41.3
37.2

41.8
38.1
40.8
37.6
43.6
37.9
42.8
(2)
41.6
38.2

Service-producing.......................

33.0

32.9

32.4

32.7

33.0

32.9

32.9

32.9

32.9

33.0

Transportation and public utilities...

39.9

39.1

38.7

39.0

39.9

39.3

39.3

39.1

39.4

39.2

Wholesale trade.......................

38.5

38.4

38.0

38.3

38.5

38.3

38.5

38.4

38.4

38.5

Retail trade..........................

28.7

29.3

28.1

28.7

29.0

29.1

29.0

29.0

29.0

29.3

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

37.1

36.2

36.0

36.4

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

Services..............................

32.8

32.6

32.3

32.6

32.7

32.7

32.6

32.7

32.6

32.8

1 Data relate to production workers in mining and manufacturing; construction workers in construction; and
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 nonfarm
payrolls.
2 These series are not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Average hourly earnings

Average weekly earnings

Industry
Feb.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Feb.
1998

Total private....................
Seasonally adjusted.............

$12.65
12.59

$12.99
12.98

$13.09
13.03

$13.08
13.04

$437.69
436.87

Goods-producing.........................

14.11

14.55

14.46

14.44

Mining................................

16.89

17.35

17.35

Construction..........................

16.21

16.84

Manufacturing.........................

13.41

13.69

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...........
Industrial machinery and equipment..
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................
Transportation equipment............
Motor vehicles and equipment......
Instruments and related products....
Miscellaneous manufacturing.........

13.96
10.91
10.77
13.45
15.46

Nondurable goods.....................
Food and kindred products...........
Tobacco products....................
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........

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

$450.75
449.11

$445.06
449.54

$448.64
452.49

577.10

606.74

585.63

584.82

17.41

743.16

758.20

732.17

745.15

16.71

16.65

614.36

656.76

631.64

631.04

13.67

13.66

559.20

583.19

564.57

564.16

14.17
11.34
11.10
13.71
15.35

14.12
11.30
11.10
13.67
15.38

14.10
11.29
11.06
13.72
15.36

593.30
441.86
436.19
572.97
691.06

612.14
472.88
460.65
599.13
684.61

591.63
458.78
446.22
579.61
673.64

590.79
453.86
441.29
578.98
669.70

18.34
12.98
14.36

18.17
13.36
14.71

18.38
13.32
14.66

18.47
13.30
14.63

828.97
549.05
624.66

794.03
579.82
635.47

808.72
556.78
618.65

805.29
555.94
614.46

12.97
17.77
18.31
13.67
10.79

13.28
17.60
17.81
13.96
11.10

13.28
17.49
17.69
13.95
11.13

13.25
17.41
17.57
14.00
11.12

539.55
773.00
794.65
575.51
433.76

561.74
804.32
833.51
586.32
446.22

545.81
755.57
774.82
573.35
434.07

545.90
762.56
787.14
581.00
439.24

12.57
11.64
18.24
10.26
8.38
15.20
13.32
16.94
20.91
11.77
9.29

12.97
12.02
17.19
10.56
8.70
15.77
13.67
17.31
21.21
12.08
9.44

12.99
11.95
17.29
10.63
8.70
15.69
13.65
17.31
21.25
12.19
9.66

12.98
11.94
17.79
10.61
8.70
15.69
13.64
17.26
21.64
12.16
9.54

510.34
476.08
682.18
421.69
310.90
653.60
508.82
733.50
882.40
489.63
353.02

539.55
514.46
642.91
437.18
329.73
698.61
529.03
752.99
950.21
515.82
359.66

527.39
497.12
646.65
433.70
319.29
684.08
514.61
742.60
932.88
503.45
355.49

525.69
491.93
658.23
428.64
324.51
676.24
512.86
737.00
950.00
503.42
357.75

Service-producing.......................

12.17

12.49

12.65

12.65

401.61

410.92

409.86

413.66

Transportation and public utilities...

$15.29

$15.54

$15.57

$15.57

$610.07

$607.61

$602.56

$607.23

Wholesale trade.......................

13.85

14.27

14.35

14.33

533.23

547.97

545.30

548.84

Retail trade..........................

8.62

8.90

9.02

8.99

247.39

260.77

253.46

258.01

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

13.95

14.40

14.45

14.52

517.55

521.28

520.20

528.53

Services..............................

12.75

13.18

13.30

13.32

418.20

429.67

429.59

434.23

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

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-4. Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm
payrolls by industry, seasonally adjusted

Percent
change
from:
Jan. 1999Feb. 1999

Feb.
1998

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Total private:
Current dollars..............
Constant (1982) dollars2.....

$12.59
7.69

$12.90
7.79

$12.94
7.80

$12.98
7.81

$13.03
7.83

$13.04
N.A.

0.1
(3)

Goods-producing...............
Mining......................
Construction................
Manufacturing...............
Excluding overtime4.......

14.21
16.76
16.34
13.42
12.69

14.43
17.20
16.69
13.57
12.88

14.46
17.37
16.75
13.58
12.89

14.50
17.26
16.82
13.58
12.89

14.52
17.16
16.73
13.64
12.93

14.55
17.26
16.78
13.66
12.96

.2
.6
.3
.1
.2

Service-producing.............
Transportation and public
utilities................
Wholesale trade.............
Retail trade................
Finance, insurance, and real
estate...................
Services....................

12.06

12.41

12.45

12.49

12.55

12.56

.1

15.25
13.81
8.59

15.42
14.19
8.85

15.45
14.23
8.85

15.53
14.26
8.91

15.51
14.34
8.96

15.53
14.30
8.96

.1
-.3
.0

13.83
12.60

14.24
13.03

14.35
13.06

14.43
13.09

14.47
13.18

14.47
13.22

.0
.3

Industry

1 See footnote 1, table B-2.
2 The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is used to
deflate this series.
3 Change was .3 percent from December 1998 to January 1999, the latest month available.
4 Derived by assuming that overtime hours are paid at the rate of time and one-half.
N.A. = not available.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-5. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by
industry
(1982=100)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Feb.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Feb.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999p

Feb.
1999p

Total private....................

141.2

147.5

141.0

142.8

145.7

146.4

146.4

147.3

Goods-producing.........................

111.5

116.2

109.6

114.6

114.1

115.3

114.9

115.2

Mining................................

54.7

52.5

57.0

53.5

52.6

52.4

50.1

49.5

Construction..........................

141.4

Manufacturing.........................

108.8

149.1

162.4

164.8

164.4

171.1

171.2

173.9

105.4

110.3

107.8

107.3

107.4

107.0

106.7

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...........
Industrial machinery and equipment..
Electronic and other electrical
equipment........................
Transportation equipment............
Motor vehicles and equipment......
Instruments and related products....
Miscellaneous manufacturing.........

109.1
141.7
132.8
109.1
90.3

109.2
140.5
132.3
109.5
89.7

114.5
143.4
133.1
116.2
95.8

111.6
143.9
132.4
115.7
91.6

110.9
144.6
131.4
116.8
90.9

111.0
146.9
133.0
118.4
90.4

110.3
148.6
134.0
118.1
89.8

110.2
146.0
133.7
117.0
89.6

69.1
120.7
108.6

68.4
115.8
105.0

67.8
115.1
104.5

74.6
120.1
111.3

70.1
117.5
108.4

68.6
116.6
106.9

68.2
116.8
105.7

68.6
116.2
104.7

68.3
116.1
103.9

112.2
128.8
164.9
77.7
102.3

109.2
132.2
172.5
76.0
99.3

105.6
124.0
160.1
74.9
94.0

105.7
125.7
163.7
75.7
96.1

112.8
130.1
166.6
77.6
103.8

108.0
127.1
161.1
75.0
98.6

106.6
126.9
162.2
74.5
96.9

105.5
128.0
164.1
74.2
97.5

105.4
124.6
161.2
74.9
97.0

106.0
126.1
164.6
75.4
97.5

Nondurable goods.....................
Food and kindred products...........
Tobacco products....................
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........

102.7
113.6
61.0
87.5
69.8
109.6
124.7
102.7
68.4
147.1
37.7

104.3
122.2
61.1
84.5
65.1
110.5
126.3
103.4
74.7
151.3
33.9

100.7
117.3
60.9
82.1
61.9
108.2
121.4
101.6
70.6
146.3
31.6

100.1
115.8
57.1
80.9
61.9
106.7
120.9
101.6
71.1
146.9
31.7

104.6
118.5
61.0
88.6
70.8
111.1
126.0
103.2
71.9
147.9
38.7

102.6
118.2
59.1
85.2
65.2
109.2
124.5
102.8
73.6
147.1
33.9

102.3
119.5
58.8
83.4
64.3
108.6
123.9
102.1
74.1
146.8
34.1

102.4
121.0
53.9
83.4
64.2
108.1
123.0
101.3
77.5
147.5
33.4

102.4
121.5
58.5
83.0
63.0
108.4
124.0
102.2
72.4
146.8
32.6

102.0
120.7
56.6
81.9
62.8
108.4
122.3
102.1
75.3
147.9
32.3

Service-producing.......................

154.6

161.5

155.1

157.7

157.0

159.7

159.9

160.3

160.5

161.8

Transportation and public utilities...

129.7

132.8

129.6

130.5

131.1

131.6

131.8

131.6

133.2

132.6

Wholesale trade.......................

126.9

129.8

127.5

128.4

128.2

129.1

130.0

129.9

130.2

130.5

Retail trade..........................

135.0

148.2

135.3

138.1

139.9

142.0

141.9

142.1

142.4

144.7

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

134.5

136.3

135.2

136.4

133.4

136.6

137.4

137.3

137.4

138.0

Services..............................

189.9

196.0

190.6

194.5

192.0

196.4

196.3

197.4

197.0

198.6

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

Oct.
1998

Nov.
1998

144.4

145.8

109.7

116.4

48.5

47.9

165.3

147.4

109.8

105.6

113.3
138.2
131.7
108.7
95.7

113.8
147.2
137.8
117.0
92.7

73.9
118.8
112.0

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-6.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Diffusion indexes of employment change, seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Time span

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Private nonfarm payrolls, 356 industries1

Over 1-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

62.5
50.8
58.0
63.8
p53.1

60.0
64.6
61.4
58.7
p53.4

54.9
59.6
59.8
59.6

55.6
56.6
63.6
56.9

47.8
62.8
60.1
56.6

55.6
61.0
54.6
59.0

54.8
57.3
61.1
55.1

59.0
61.5
59.1
53.9

58.0
56.0
60.0
53.5

55.8
62.5
64.3
52.4

54.5
62.2
62.4
54.8

58.8
60.7
64.9
56.6

Over 3-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

63.6
61.9
64.9
68.4
p58.1

61.4
62.8
63.3
67.3

59.4
64.0
65.6
64.2

53.1
63.8
66.2
61.7

55.2
63.5
63.9
60.4

53.2
64.9
61.2
58.4

59.7
64.2
60.1
57.2

60.1
61.5
65.9
56.7

59.1
63.9
67.4
56.0

58.0
64.2
68.1
53.7

56.6
67.0
70.8
57.6

54.6
66.6
71.9
p57.9

Over 6-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

66.4
62.8
67.6
72.1

60.1
65.4
67.0
70.9

59.1
64.7
65.3
69.4

57.3
65.7
64.9
63.5

59.0
66.2
65.6
64.5

60.1
65.0
67.3
61.8

57.6
66.4
68.0
59.0

60.4
66.0
67.3
58.1

59.7
66.2
70.6
58.1

59.3
67.6
72.3
p59.7

61.1
66.9
73.3
p56.3

63.2
66.3
72.6

Over 12-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

63.6
64.5
69.8
71.2

62.4
66.7
67.6
69.5

62.6
64.5
69.2
69.5

63.3
65.6
70.1
66.6

61.7
68.5
69.8
65.2

61.9
67.3
69.8
64.0

58.7
67.7
71.2
p62.8

62.2
66.4
71.2
p62.9

62.2
68.0
71.1

61.5
69.9
73.0

63.5
69.1
72.9

65.4
68.3
72.3

Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1

Over 1-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

54.7
42.8
49.3
55.8
p43.5

54.3
54.7
54.3
51.8
p41.4

46.4
48.2
50.0
52.5

53.2
42.1
56.8
48.6

42.4
55.4
51.4
45.0

44.2
50.7
52.2
47.8

46.4
47.1
50.4
39.6

49.6
55.4
48.9
47.5

48.6
47.8
56.5
43.2

52.2
52.9
57.2
38.8

45.3
54.3
56.1
37.1

48.2
55.4
60.8
45.7

Over 3-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

56.8
43.9
54.3
60.1
p39.6

50.0
46.8
49.3
59.0

47.8
46.0
54.3
50.7

42.1
47.5
54.0
46.4

43.2
46.4
55.4
43.2

38.8
49.3
50.4
38.8

40.6
51.4
47.5
36.7

43.5
50.0
52.2
34.2

48.2
53.6
57.9
41.4

47.1
51.1
62.6
30.9

45.3
57.6
64.7
35.6

39.9
54.7
65.5
p37.1

Over 6-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

55.4
42.1
54.3
61.5

46.4
45.3
54.3
56.8

42.8
46.4
51.4
52.2

40.3
47.1
52.9
39.2

41.4
48.2
51.4
40.6

42.4
48.6
55.0
34.5

41.0
51.1
56.8
30.9

41.0
50.4
57.6
28.1

43.9
52.9
60.4
31.7

43.2
52.9
64.4
p37.4

43.2
53.2
67.6
p30.6

45.3
52.2
65.8

Over 12-month span:
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............
1999..............

46.0
43.5
57.2
50.7

44.2
47.5
52.5
51.1

46.0
45.3
54.7
50.4

47.8
45.3
56.5
41.7

41.0
50.4
57.9
38.5

41.7
49.6
57.6
36.7

38.5
50.4
58.6
p32.7

38.8
48.6
58.6
p31.7

36.3
51.1
60.4

38.5
55.0
60.4

39.9
54.0
59.4

44.6
51.8
58.3

1 Based on seasonally adjusted data for 1-, 3-, and 6-month spans and unadjusted data for the 12-month span. Data are
centered within the span.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment increasing plus one-half of the industries with
unchanged employment, where 50 percent indicates an equal balance between industries with increasing and decreasing
employment.