Full text of The Employment Situation : March 1977

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Bureau of Labor Statistics
Contact:

J. Bregger (202)
K. Hoyle

(202)

home:

Washington, D.C. 20212

523-1944
523-1371
523-1913
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#

USDL 77-273
'
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS
EMBARGOED UNTIL 10:00 A. M. (EST), FRIDAY
APRIL 1, 1977

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

MARCH 1977

Employment continued to increase in March and unemployment declined slightly, it
was reported today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U. S. Department of Labor.
The unemployment rate was 7.3 percent, a return to the January level after rising to
7.5 percent in February as a result of weather-related energy shortages.

All of the

unemployment reduction took place among adult men.
Total employment—as measured by the monthly survey of households—rose by more
than half a million in March to 89.5 million.

This sustained the marked expansion that

has totaled 1.7 million persons since last October.
Nonfarm payroll employment—as measured by the monthly survey of establishments—
i

advanced by nearly 500,000 in March to 81.3 million.

The payroll total has also showed

a resurgence over the past 5 months with a rise of 1.5 million jobs.
Unemployment
The number of persons unemployed edged down in March to 7.1 million, seasonally
adjusted.

The over-the-month decline occurred entirely among persons who had lost their

last job, including a large number who were recalled from layoff.

Total unemployment has

declined by nearly 600,000—500,000 adult men and 100,000 adult women—since its 1976 peak
level reached last November, with all of the improvement taking place among job losers.
(See tables A-l and A-5.)
The overall unemployment rate declined to 7.3 percent, the same as in January;
the rate had risen to 7.5 percent in February as a result of energy-related problems.
The rate had been 8.0 percent last November.

The over-the-month reduction took place

among adult men, as their jobless rate fell 0.4 percentage point to 5.4 percent.

This

movement was accompanied by unemployment decreases among male household heads, married




- 2 men, full-time workers, and manufacturing and construction workers.

Jobless rates for

most other demographic groups—for example, teenagers (18.8 percenti and adult women
(7.2 percent)—showed little change in March.

(See table A-2..N

The average (mean) duration of unemployment fell for the second straight month.
The 2-month drop totaled one and a half weeks, bringing the March level to 14.0 weeks,
the lowest point in nearly 2 years.

The February-March change resulted from a sizeable

decline in the number of long-term unemployed—persons who have been seeking work for
15 weeks or more—combined with an increase in the number of those who have been
unemployed less than 5 weeks.

(See table A-4.)

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

Quarterly averages
Selected categories
I
HOUSEHOLD DATA
Civilian labor force
Total employment
Not in labor force
Discouraged workers

Unemployment rates:
All workers
Adult men
Adult women
Teenagers
White
Black and other . .
Household heads
Full-time workers

1977

1976
II

III

1

I

Feb.

Mar.

96,145
88,962
7,183
59,302
N.A.

96,539
89,475
7,064
59,104
N.A.

7.5
5.8
7.2
18.5
6.7
13.1
4.9
6.9

7.3
5.4
7.2

Thousands of persons
i[
95,516
9 5 , 7 1 1 ||96,067
88,133 j 88,998 88,558
6,958
7,578 1 7,068
5 9 , 3 7 9 59,732
59,132
929
N.A.
' 992
1
Parcant of labor force

'>93,644
j 86,514
7,130
1 59,327
1
940

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

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

7.6
5.8
7.4
19.2
6.9
13.1
5.6
7.1

7.4
5.7
7.1

7.8

7.9

6.0

6.2

7.7
18.8
7.1
13.1
5.3
7.4

7.6
19.1
7.2
13.4
5.3
7.5

18.8
6.8
12.9
4.9
7.0

7.4
5.6
7.1

18.6
6.7
12.8
4.8

6.8

7.3
5.6
6.9
18.7
6.7
12.5
4.8
6.7

18.8
6.6
12.7
4.6
6.7

Thousands of jobs

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

IV

1977
Jan.

78,674
23,142
55,532

79,333
23,380
55,953

79,683
23,372
56,311

80,090
23,440
56,650

80,894p 8 0 , 5 6 1
23,741p 2 3 , 5 8 9
57,152p 56,972

80,816p
23,680p
57,136p

81,304p
23,955p
57,349p

36.2p
40.2p
3.3p

36.2p
40.3p
3.3p

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




p»pr«liminary.

36.3
40.3
3.1

36.2
40.0
3.0

36.1
39.9
3.0

36.2
40.0
3.1

36.lp
40. Op
3.3p

35.8
39.5
3.2

N . A . - n o t available.

- 3 In line with the reduction in unemployment, there was also a decline in the number
of persons in nonagricultural industries who were working part time involuntarily (those
on part-time schedules for economic reasons); their number decreased by 160,000 to
3.3 million.

(See table A-3.)

Total Employment and the Labor Force
Total employment rose for the fifth month in a row, advancing by more than 500,000
in March to 89.5 million, seasonally adjusted.

As has been the case in recent months,

all of this increase occurred in nonagricultural industries.

Adult women accounted for

270,000 of the total increase, while adult men rose by 180,000.

Over the past year,

total employment has risen by 2.6 million, with two-thirds of it occurring since last
October.
The proportion of the total noninstitutional population that is employed—the
employment-population ratio—was 56.7 percent in March, the highest percentage in 29
months.

However, the ratio was still somewhat below the alltime high of 57.4 percent

last reached in March 1974.

(See table A-l.)
i

The civilian labor force rose by nearly 400,000 for the second consecutive
large monthly advance.

The labor force has grown by more than a million workers since

January and by 2.7 million since last March; adult women accounted for more than half of
the growth during each period.
The civilian labor force participation rate—the proportion of the civilian
noninstitutional population either working or looking for work—was at a new high of
62.0 percent in March, well above the year-earlier level of 61.3 percent.

(See table

A-l.)
Discouraged Workers
Discouraged workers are persons who report that they want work but are not looking
for jobs because they believe they cannot find any.

Because they do not meet the labor

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




These data are published on a quarterly

Consistent with the decline in unemployment in the first quarter, the number of
discouraged workers also decreased, after rising between the third and fourth quarters
of 1976.

There was an average of 930,000 discouraged workers for the quarter, about

the same level that had prevailed a year earlier.

About 640,00J (or seventy percent)

of the discouraged workers indicated job-market factors as their reason for not seeking
work.

(See table A-8.)

Industry Payroll Employment
Total nonagricultural payroll employment also increased for the fifth consecutive
month, rising by 490,000 in March td 81.3 million, seasonally adjusted.

Over-the-month

gains occurred in more than three-quarters of the industries that comprise the BLS
diffusion index of nonagricultural payroll employment.

Over the past year, payroll

employment has grown by 2.3 million, almost two-thirds of which has taken place since
October.

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

Employment increases were recorded in all eight major industry divisions.

The

largest gain occurred in manufacturing, where 165,000 jobs were added to payrolls.
Four-fifths of this advance took place in the durable goods sector.

Increases in

transportation equipment (40,000) and about 20,000 each in electrical equipment and
fabricated metal products accounted for much of the March growth in durables.
Elsewhere in the goods-producing industries, contract construction employment,
which had been affected by bad weather conditions in January, increased for the second
straight month, rising by 95,000 in March.

At 3.7 million, employment in this industry

was 325,000 above its June 1975 recession low.

There was also an over-the-month gain

in mining—15,000.
In the service-producing sector, strong gains took place in wholesale and retail
trade (90,000) and services (55,000), while there were increases ranging from 20,000 to
25,000 in transportation and public utilities; finance, insurance, and real estate; and
government.
Hours
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls was 36.2 hours in March, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from the




revised February level.

The manufacturing workweek edged up 0.1 hour to 40.3 hours as

a result of increases in the durable goods industries.
over the month at 3.3 hours.

Factory overtime held steady

(See table B-2.)

Despite the stability in the average workweek, the index of aggregate hours of
private nonagricultural production or nonsupervisory workers rose to an alltime high of
115.0 in March (1967=100), reflecting the sharp increase in employment.
3.5 percent above its year-ago level.

The index was

The factory index rose sharply for the second

straight month to a level (97.2) that was 3.1 percent above March 1976.

(See table B-5.)

Hourly and Weekly Earnings
Both average hourly earnings and average weekly earnings of private nonagricultural
production or nonsupervisory workers increased 0.6 percent in March, seasonally adjusted,
and each was 7.3 percent higher than a year earlier.
Before adjustment for seasonality, average hourly earnings were $5.11, up 2 cents
from February.

Hourly earnings were 35 cents above the March 1976 level.

Average weekly

earnings rose 72 cents over the month to $183.45 and have risen $12.57 since March
a year ago.

(See table B-3.)
i

The Hourly Earnings Index
The Hourly Earnings Index—earnings adjusted for overtime in manufacturing,
seasonality, and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and
low-wage industries—was 193.9 (1967=100) in March, 0.4 percent higher than in February.
The index was 7.1 percent above March a year ago.

During the 12-month period ended

in February, the Hourly Earnings Index in dollars of constant purchasing power rose
1.1 percent.




(See table B-4.)

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




includes all persons who satisfactorily meet the above
criteria, regardless of their eligibility for unemployment
insurance benefits or any kind of public assistance. The
unemployment rate represents the unemployed as a proportion of the civilian labor force (the employed and unemployed combined).
To meet the extensive needs of data users, the Bureau
regularly publishes data on a wide variety of labor market
indicators—see, for example, the demographic, occupational, and industry detail in tables A-2 and A-3. A special
grouping of seven unemployment measures is set forth in
table A-7. Identified by the symbols U-1 through U-7,
these measures represent a range of possible definitions of
unemployment and of the labor force, extending from the
most restrictive (U-1) to the most comprehensive (U-7). The
official rate of unemployment appears as U-5.
Seasonal adjustment
Nearly all economic phenomena are affected to some
degree by seasonal variations. These are recurring, predictable events which are repeated more or less regularly
each year—changes in weather, school vacations, major
holidays, industry production schedules, etc. The cumulative
effects of these events are often large. For example, on average over the year, they explain about 9 0 percent of the
month-to-month variance in the unemployment figures.
Since seasonal variations tend to be large relative to the
underlying cyclical trends, it is necessary to use seasonallyadjusted data to interpret short-term economic developments. A t the beginning of each year, current seasonal
adjustment factors for unemployment and other labor force
series are calculated taking into account the prior year's
experience, and revised data are introduced in the release
containing January data.
All seasonally-adjusted civilian labor force and unemployment rate statistics, as well as the major employment
and unemployment estimates, are computed by aggregating
independently adjusted series. The official unemployment
rate for all civilian workers is derived by dividing the estimate for total unemployment (the sum of four seasonallyadjusted age-sex components) by the civilian labor force
(the sum of 12 seasonally-adjusted age-sex components).
Several alternative methods for seasonally adjusting the
overall unemployment rate are also used on a regular basis
in order to illustrate the degree of uncertainty that arises
because of the seasonal adjustment procedure. Among these
alternative methods are five different age-sex adjustments,

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

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

Unemployment rate by alternative seasonal adjustment methods

Month

Unadjusted
rate

Alternative age-sex procedures
Official
AdAll
All
justed
Stable
ConYearmultipli- addiRate
ahead current 1967-73
cative
tive

(1)

(2)

(3)

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

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.5

7.8
7.6

Other aggregations
(all multiplicative)
Duration

Reasons

Total

Direct
adjust- Composite
Resid- ment
ual

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

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

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.4

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.4

7.8

7.5
7.3
7.7
7.9
7.8
8.0
8.0
7.8

7.2
7.4
7.7
7.8
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.8

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

7.9
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.3
7.5
7.7
7.9
7.8
7.9

7.9

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

8.2
7.7
7.6
7.4

7.2
7.6
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.0

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

7.8
7.6
7.5
7.5

7.2
7.5
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.1

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

Range
(cols.
2-13)

(14)

1976
I
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December




7.3
7.6
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.0
7.8

7.5
7.5
7.4
7.5
7.8
7.9
7.8
8.0
8.0
7.9

|

ao
7.8

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA .

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

Mar.
1976

Seasonally adjusted

Feb.
1977

Mar.

Mar.

Nov.

Dec.

1977

1976

1976

1976

157,584
2,137

157,782
2,138
155,643
95,771
61.5
88,215
55.9
2,804
85,411

157,006
2,149 '
154,857
95,871
61.9
88,220
56.2
3,248
84,972

157,176
2,146 '
155,031
95,960
61.9
88,441

7,651
8.0
58,986

7,519
7.8
59,071

66,699

66,835
65,140
52,078
79.9
48,859

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977

Mar.
1977

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

155,325
2 ,147
153,178
93,112
60.8
85,588
55.1
2,897
82,691
7,525
8.1
60,065

155,447
95,340
61.3
87,231
55.4
2,709
84,522
8,109
8.5
60,106

155,325
2,147
153,178
93,862
61.3
86,845
55.9
3,215
83,630
7,(317

7,556
7.9
59,872

7.5
59,316

56.3
3,257
85,184

157,381
2,133
155,248
95,516
61.5
88,558

157,584
2,137
155,447
96,145
61.9
88,962

56.3
3,090
85,468

56.5
3,090
85,872
7,183

•

6,958
7.3
59,732

7.5
59,302

157,782
2,138
155,643
96,539
62.0
89,475
56.7
3,116
86,359
7,064
7.3
59,104

Men, 20 years and over
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1

65,920

Civilian labor force
Participation rate

50,945
79.3
47,525
72.1
2,202
45,322
3,421
6.7

Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

64,230

67,025
65,342

67,114

51,940
79.5
48,192
71.9
2,081

51,925
79.4
48,599
72.4

65,920
64,230

65,423

2,106
46,494

51,075
79.5
48,201
73.1
2,309

65,001
52,066
80.1
48,773
73.1
2,283

45,892
2,874
5.6
13,155

46,490
3,293
6.3
12,935

73.1
2,273
46,586
3,219
6.2
13,Q62

72,640

73,491
73,401
34,848

73,535
73,445
34,938

47.5
32,208

47.6
32,340
44.0
573
31,767
2,598
7.4
38,507

66,930
65,250
51,842
79.5
48,961
73.2
2,209

67,025
65,342
52,092
79.7
49,091
73.2
2,230

67,114
65,423
52,061
79.6
49,267
73.4
2,208
47,059
2,794

46,752
2,881
5.6
13,408

46,861
3,001
5.8
13,250

73,642
73,550
34,740
47.2
32,331
43.9
488

73,746
73,654

• 73,852
73,757

34,982
47.5
32,477

35,295
47.9
32,750

31,843
2,409
6.9
38,810

44.0
485
31,992
2,505
7.2
38,672

44.3
496
32,254
2,545
7.2
38,462

13,285

46,111
3,748
7.2
13,402

72,640
72,561
33,997
46.9
-31,514

73,746
73,654
35,159
47.7
32,434

73,852
73,757
35,433
48.0
32,850

72,561
33,858
46.7
31,414

43.4
372
31,142
2,482
7.3
38,564

44.0
379
32,056
2,725
7.7
38,495

44.5
402
32,448
2,583

43.2
458
30,956
2,444

. 7.3
38,323

7.2 '
38,703

43.9
558
31,650
2,640
7.6
38,553

16,765
16,387
8,170

16,813
16,451
8,241

16,816
16,464
8,414

16,765
16,387
8,929

16,816
16,455
8,957

16,806
16,446
8,944

16,810
16,448
8,934

16,813
16,451
9,071

16,816
16,464
9,183

49.9
6,549
39.1
323
6,226
1,621
19.8
8,216

50.1
6,605
'
39.3
249
6,356
1,636
19.9
8,210

51.1
6,766
40.2
297
6,469
1,648
19.6
8,050

54.5
7,230
43.1
448
6,782
1,699
19.0
7,458

54.4
7,239
43.0
407
6,832
1,718
19.2
7,498

54.4
7,242
43.1
411
6,831
1,702
19.0
7,502

54.3
7,266
43.2
393
6,873
1,668
18.7
7,514

55.1
7,394
44.0
375
7,019
1,677
18.5
7,380

55.8
7,458
44.4

136,778
134,987
82,426

138,575
136,810
84,368

138,117
136,336
84,816

138,253
136,475
84,854

138,415
136,654

138,575
136,810
85,086

61.1
76,300
55.8

62.2
78,828

52,561

52,442

78,685
56.7
6,107
7.2
52,180

62.2
78,647
56.9
6,169

138,732
136,972
85,482
62.4
79,832

6,126
7.4

61.7
77,793
56.1
6,574
7.8

138,732
136,972
84,792
61.9

18,547

19,009

18,191

18,637'

10,687
58.7
9,288
50.1
1,399

10,973
58.9
9,438
49.7
1,535
14.0

3,325
6.4
13,498

5.4
13,362

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

j

412
7,046
1,725
18.8
7,281

WHITE
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

136,778
134,987 •
83,071
61.5
77,412
56.6
5,659
6.8

84,616
61.9
78,923
57.0
5,693
6.7
52,038

62.2
79,365
57.3
5,721
6.7
51,724

57.5
5,650
6.6
51,490

51,916

7.3
51,520

57.0
6,026
7.1
51,621

19,050

18,547

18,889

18,923

18,966

19,009

19,050

18,672
10,979

18,191
10,812
59.4
9,453
51.0
1,359

18,520
11,114

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

18,594
11,030
59.3
9,648

18,637
11.163
59.9
9,697

18,672
11,104

50.9
1,382

51.0
1,466

12.5
7,564

13.1
7,474

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

1

13.1
7,504

7,664

The population and Armed Forces figures are not adjusted for seasonal variations;

therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and seasonally adjusted columns.




58.8
9,530
50.0
1,449
13.2
7,692

2

12.6
7,379

60.0
9,618
50.9
1,496
-

13.5
7,406

7,446

59.5
9,690
50.9
1,414
12.7
7,568

Civilian employment as a percent of the total noninstitutional population (including

Armed Forces).

H O U S E H O L D DATA

H O U S E H O L D DATA .

Table A-2. Major unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
Number of
Unemployment rates

unemployed persons
Selected categories

"otal, 16 years and over
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 1 6-19 years
White, total
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years
Black and other, total
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years
Household heads, total
With relatives
W i t h o u t relatives
Women
With relatives
W i t h o u t relatives
Married men, spouse present
Married women, spouse present
Full-time workers
Part-time workers
Unemployed 15 weeks and over

1

(In thousands)

Mar.
1976

Mar.
1977

Mar.
1976

Nov.
1976

Dec.
1976

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977

Mar.
1977

7,017
2,874
2,444
1,699

7,064
2,794
2,545
1,725

7.5
5.6
7.2
19.0

8.0
6.3
7.6
19.2 ^

7.8
6.2
7.4
19.0.

7.3
5.6
6.9
18.7

7.5
5.8
7.2
18.5

7.3
5.4
7.2
18.8

5,659
2,347
1,951
1,361

5,650
2,285
1,984
1,381

6.8
5.1
6.7
17.1

7.3
5.7
7.0
17.2

7.1
5.5
6.8
17.2

6.7
5.0
6.3
18.1

6.7
5.2
6.4
16.3

6.6
4.9
6.5
16.6

1,359
533
482
344

1,414
515
549
350

12.6
10.2
10.5
36.0

13.5
11.6
11.0
36.5

13.4
11.3
11.5
34.8

12.5

13.1
9.9
12.4
37.2

12.7
9.4
11.6
40.1

2,659
2,042
1,623
419
623
392
231

2,524
1,897
1,488
409
642
411
231

5.0
4.5
4.0
8.8
7.3
9.5
5.2

5.3
5.0
4.5
9.0
7.4
9.8
5.2

5.1
4.8
4.3
8.4
7.6
10.2
5.1

4.9
4.5
4.0
7.1
9.4
4.9

4.6
4.2
3.7
7.8
7.2
9.6
5.0

1,632
1,459
5,637
1,384 '
2,325

1,490
1,514
5,468
1,606
1,923

4.!
6.8
7.0
10.2
2.5
8.1

4.5
7.2
7.6
10.5
2.6
8.6

4.3
7.0
7.5
9.8
2.6
8.4

4.1
6.7
6.9
10.7
2.3
7.9

3.7
6.7
6.7
11.1
2.0
7.8

|

—

—

j
;
;

i

|

i

i

!
!

;
j

9.1
12.4
7.2
5.4

448
152
211
85

441
162
193
86

7.2
16.1
6.6
4.1

20 to 24 years

1,210
754

1,234
721

25 to 29 years

278

353

30 to 34 years

178

160

8.2
11.4
6.1
4.9

Service workers
Farm workers

j
1

3.8
6.5
6.7
10.2
2.4
8.0

9.3
12.1
7.9
5.8

8.2
15.4
8.2
7.7
8.9
5.7
9.0
6.8
4.3
13.2

N o n f a r m laborers

1

8.3
16.8
8.7
4.7

7.7
15.9
7.3
7.5
7.1
4.6
8.6
6.2
4.4
11.2

Transport equipment operatives

j

|

8.5
16.8
8.6
5.0

5,155
647
1,436
788
. 648
252
1,505
1,280
629
195

Operatives, except transport

1

8.2

!

5,185
694
1,545
947
598
221
1,483
1,204
694
167

Craft and kindred workers

1

4.8
4.3
3.8
8.2
7.0
9.0
5.1

7.4
14.9
6.9
6.5
7.4
4.7
8.4
6.2
4.3
12.6

4.7
3.4
3.1
5.7
6.3
9.7
7.0
11.3
8.2
13.5
9.3
5.1

Clerical workers

1

7.9
14.1
8.2
8.0
8.6
5.2
8.2
6.8
4.4
14.0

4.6
3.5
2.9
5.0
6.3
9.1
'6.7
10.2
7.6
.13.2
8.6
4.5

Blue-collar workers

10.8
36.1

|

!

2,191
430
334
325
1,102
2,729
750
.1,075
257
645
1,051
151

Managers and administrators, except farm
Sales workers

i
1

4.5
3.3
3.0
5.7
6.0
8.4
6.1
9.2
7.2
12.9
8.6
4.8

2,087
473
279
287
1,048
2,883
805
1,157
267
654
1,107
130

Professional and technical

10.2

!

OCCUPATION3
White-collar workers

I
1

ii

!
i

i
,

4.5
3.3
3.1
5.0
6.1
9.6
7.0
l i . o

8.1
13.9
9.0
6.1

1

|
,
|

i
|
!

1

i
i

i

S

!
'

4.6
3.3
2.8
5.6
6.4
8.7
6.5
9.6
7.7
12.8
8.4
6.7

i

<
1
1

.

j

4.7
3.1
3.4
5.5
6.5
8.4
6.0
9.2
6.9
13.2
7.9
5.4

INDUSTRY3
Nonagricultural private wage and salary w o r k e r s 4
Manufacturing
Nondurable goods
Transportation and public utilities
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance and service industries
Government workers
Agricultural wage and salary workers

7.6
15.2
7-!
7.0
7.3
4.6
8.7
6.2
4.5
13.4

7.4
14.2
6.6
6.1
7.3
5.1
8.4
6.4
4.0
13.2

7.6
16.8
7.9
3.6

7.0
15.8
6.7
3.9

6.8
17.1
6.6
3.3

8.2
10.6
7.7
4.2

8.6
11.6
7.3
4.8

10.4
7.0
4.3

1

1
1

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

'

Male nonveterans:
20 to 34 years

1
2

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




7.9

by industry covers only unemployed wage and salary workers.
4
Includes mining, not shown separately.
5

Vietnam-era veterans are those who served between August 5, 1964, and April 30, 1975.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA .

Table A-3. Selected employment indicators
[Numbers in thousands]
Not seasonally adjusted
Mar.
1976

Mar.
1977

Seasonally adjusted
Nov.
1976

Mar.
1976

Dec.
1976

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977

Mar.
1977

CHARACTERISTICS
88,220

88,441

88,558

88,962

89,475

52,643
35,577
51,356
37,895
20,482

52,799
35,642
51,525
37,998
20,498

52,918
35,640
51,710
38,195
20,511

53,046
35,916
51,729
38,159
20,756

53,270
36,205
51,970
38,294
20,963

43,369
13,182
9,279
5,401
15,507
28,853
11,139
10,159
3,245
4,310
11,810
2,758

44,297
13,597
9,491
5,597
15,612
29,001
11,353
9,970
3,258
4,420
12,026
2,743

44,648
13,544
9,564
5,815
15,725
29,150
11,302
10,231
3,283
4,334
11,880
2,791

44,521
13,444
9,613
5,633
15,831
29,636
11,626
10,341
3,358
4,309
11,874
2,624

44,451
13,408
9,502
5,815
15,726
29,917
11,668
10,351
3,448
4,450
12,017
2,663

44,495
13,439
9,543 '
5,617
15,896
29,944
11,709
10,574
3,487
4,255
12,272
2,652

1,123
1,442
240

1,327
1,585
299

1,285
1,627
342

1,380
1,530
340

1,246
1,490
354

1,280
1,511
338

1,282
1,513
319

76,648
15,265
61,383
1,292
60,091
5,544
498

79,004
15,251
63,753
1,287
62,466
5,812
594

77,470
14,939
62,531
1,319
61,212
5,647
450

78,766
15,045
63,721
1,448
62,273
5,771
449

78,957
14,967
63,990
1,384
62,606
5,798
460

79,205
15,013
64,192
1,391
62,801
5,853
419

79,520
14,913
64,607
1,317
63,290
5,854
516

79,869
14,923
64,946
1,313
63,633
5,919
536

78,933
64,264
3,123
1,276
1,847
11,546

81,986
66,392
3,219
1,256
1,963
12,375

78,319
64,517
3,173
1,231
1,942
10,629

79,940
65,385
3,545
1,289
2,256
11,010

80,369
65,846
3,454
1,234
2,220
11,069

79,832
65,700
3,320
1,112
2,208
10,812

80,837
66,144
3,438
1,335
2,103
11,255

81,330
66,659
3,276
1,212
2,064
11,395

Total employed, 16 years and over

85,588

88,215

86,845

Women
Household heads
Married men, spouse present
Married women, spouse present

50,981
34,606
50,484
37,706
20,061

52,180
36,035
51,502
37,873
20,942

52,078
34,767
50,948
38,134
20,084

43,493
13,455 '
9,216
5,328
15,494
27,775
10,842
9,794
3,173
3,965
11,830
2,490

44,621
13,721
9,476
5,544
15,880
28,911
11,393
10,193
3,410
3,915
12,288
2,395

1,162
1,510
225

.

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

Craft and kindred workers

MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS
OF WORKER
'

Agriculture:

Nonagricultural industries:

Private industries
Private households
Other industries

PERSONS A T WORK

1

Part time for economic reasons
Usually work full time
Usually work part time

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

I

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




Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Weeks of unemployment

Mar.
1977

Mar.
1976

Nov.
1976

Dec.
1976

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977

Mar.
1977

2,665
2,444

2,759
2,494
2,517
1,188
1,329

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

2,762
2,083
2,283
1,038
1,245

2,804
2,107

2,448
1,178
1,270

2,630
1,915
2,325
870
1,455

2,182
947
1,235

3,005
2,098
1,923
777
1,146

18.0

15.7

16.0

15.5

15.6

15.5

14.7

14.0

100.0
31.0
29.7
39.4
17.9
21.4

100.0
35.3
32.3
32.4
15.6
16.8

\oo.o
38.3
27.9
33.8
12.7
21.2

100.0
35.5
32.1
32.4
15.3
17.1

100.0
36.4
30,5
33.1

100.0
38.7
29.2
32.0

100.0
42.8
29.9
27.4

14.9
18.2

14.6
17.5

100.0
39.5
29.7
30.8
13.4
17.4

Mar.
1976

'

DURATION
2,332
2,231
2,961
1,349
1,612

'

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION

11.1
16.3

•

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A - 5 .

HOUSEHOLD DATA .

Reasons for unemployment

[Numbers in thousands]
Not seasonally adjusted
Reasons

Seasonally adjusted

Mar.
1976

Mar.
1977

Mar.
1976

Nov.

Dec.

1976

1976

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977

Mar.
1977

4,252

3,850

3,472

1,294

1,174

2,958
762

2,676
904

1,773
738

1,918
883

953
2,519
775
1,861
858

3,802

3,736

^1,067

• 1,057
2,679
831
1,957
942

3,207

3,396

3,143

791

1,001
2,395
852
1,963
936

865
2,278
919
2,013
1,003

100.0
50.9
15.5
35.4

100.0
49.8
13.7
36.2

100.0
50.0
14.2
35.9

12.0
25.4
11.7

11.1
26.7
12.3

100.0
49.8
14.0
35.8
11.2
27.0
12.0

100.0
47.5
14.0
33.5
11.9

100.0
44.4

11.1
26.2
12.6

34.3
13.2
28.3
12.9

4.0
.9
2.0
.9

3.7
.8
2.0
.9

4.0
.9
2.1
1.0

3.9

3.4

.9
2.0
1.0

1.0
2.1
.9

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED

On layoff

' 2,735
858
2,061
92 0

2,416
932
1,991
905

PERCENT D I S T R I B U T I O N
100.0
56.5
17.2
39.3
10.1
23.6
9.8

On layoff

•

100.0
45.6
11.2

27.5
13.1

12.2
32.2
13.0
28.4
14.2

UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF T H E
C I V I L I A N LABOR FORCE
4.6
.8
1.9
.8

Table A - 6 .

3.5
.9
2.0
1.0

3.3
1.0
2.1
1.0

Unemployment by sex and a g e , seasonally adjusted

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

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

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




Number of
unemployed persons
(In thousands)

Unemployment rates

Mar.
1976

Mar.
1977

Mar.
1976

Nov.
1976

Dec.
1976

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977

Mar.
1977

7,017

7,064

1,699
743
964

7.5
19.0
20.3
18.4
12.0
5.2
5.2
4.8

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

7. 8
19. 0
20. 7
17. 7
12. 5
5.,5
5. 9
4 . ,2

7. 3
18. 7
21. 1
17. 0
11. 4
5. 1
5. 3
4. 1

7.5
18.5
19.8
17.5
12.0
5.2
5.3
4.8

7.3
18.8

1,645
3,667
2,996
671

1,725
847
886
1,638
3,689
3,086
608

22.2
16.6
11.4
5.1
5.2
4.3

3,798
924
419

3,712
918
459

6.8

505

7 .,5
19.,7

7 .,3
19.,1

6. 6
1 7 ., 4

6.9
18.6

6.5
18.7

459

19.2
21.1
18.1

2 2 . ,2
18.,1

2 1 . ,0
17.,4

1 9 .i 5
1 6 .,1

19.3
17.9

903
1,976
1,546
428

879
1,919
1,534

12.0
4.5
4.4

12.,6
5,,2
5,. 4

11-,3
4.,6
4.,7

385

4.9

4,, 4

12,, 9
5.,0
5,,2
3.. 9

12.1
4.6
4.6
4.7

22.2
16.1
11.2
4.3
4.3
4.4

3,219

3,352
807
388

8.5
18.8
19.4

427
759
1,770
1,552
223

18.7

8,.7
18,,5
20,. 8
17,. 1
12, . 8
6,. 4

8,,6
18.. 9
20..2
18,. 0
11.. 9
6.. 4

8.,3
20,. 1
23..0
18.. 1
11.. 4
5.. 9

6,. 7
5,. 1

6.. 9
4..7

775
324
459
742
1,691
1,450
243

'

12.0
6.1
6.5
4.5

^

4.,0

6,.2
4,,3"

8.4
18.4
20.4
16.9
11.9
6.1
6.3
4.9

8.5
18.9
22.2
17.1
11.7
6.1
6.6
4.2

HOUSEHOLD

HOUSEHOLD DATA .

DATA

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

Monthly data
1977

1976

I

II

III

IV

1977

I

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

„

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

2.7

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.2

2.4

2.3

2.0

U - 2 — J o b losers as a percent of the civilian labor force

3.8

3.7

3.9

3.9

3.4

3. 4

3. 5

3. 3

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

5.0

4.9

5.3

5.3

4.8

4. 8

4. 9

4. 6

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

7.1

7.0

7.4

7.5

6. 8

6. 7

6. 9

6. 7

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

7.6

7.4

7.8

7.9

7.4

7. 3

7. 5

7. 3

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

9.3

9.1

9.5

9.7

9. 0

8. 9

9.1

8. 9

10.2

10.0

10.3

10.7

9. 9

U-7 — T o t a l full-time jobseekers plus 1/a 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
V2 of the part-time labor force

'

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N. A.=not available.

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

Not seasonally adjusted
Characteristics

Total not in labor force
Do not want a job now
•Want a job now
Discouraged workers
Job-market factors 1
Personal factors 3
Men
Women
White
Black and other
1

Job market factors include




I
1977

60, 113
54,,635
5 S(477
976
682
294
370

60,174
54,437
5,727
972
677
295
287
685
725
247

606
768
208

IV

I

II

59,327

59,215
54,050

53,831
5,388
940
649

5,256
977
» 803
174
340
637
697

"could not find j o b " and "thinks no job available."

1977

1976

1975
I
1976

291
366
574
700
233

292
2

59,032
53,938
5,426
903
617
286
308
595
694
204

III

58,963
54,715
4,339
827
568
•

259
281
546
601
226

IV

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

I

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

Personal factors include "employers think too young or old," "lacks education or train-

ing," and "other personal handicap."

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

E S T A B L I S H M E N T DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Mar.
1976

Industry

rOTAL
GOODS-PRODUCING

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977?

Mar.
1977?

Mar.
1976

Nov.
1976

Dec.
1976

Jan.
1977

Feb.
1977?

Mar.
1977?

78, 169

79, 473

79, 727

80, 461

78, 980

8 0, 106

80, 344

80, 561

8 0, 816

81, 304

22, 723

23, 005

23, 043

23, 415

23, 248

23, 489

23, 508

23, 589

23, 680

23, 955

759

806

811

826

77 3

805

8 08

817

827

841
3, 731

MINING

3, 285

3, 198

3, 243

3, 425

3, 578

3, 619

3, 605

3, 561

3, 636

MANUFACTURING
Production workers

18, 679
13, 409

19, 001
13, 606

18, 989
13, 590

19, 164
13, 803

18, 897
13, 602

19, 065
13, 675

19, 095
13, 691

19, 211
13, 801

19, 217
13, 797

19, 383
14, 000

DURABLE GOODS
Production workers

10, 835
7, 712

11, 141
7, 936

11, 104
7, 901

11, 239
8, 063

10, 956
7, 815

11, 128
7, 92 9

11, 158
7, 955

11, 236
8, 026

11, 226
8, 012

11, 361
8, 168

160. 4
578. 9
483. 4
602. 9
169. 4
364. 5
052.6
799- 4
707. 2
501. 4
414. 6

156. 9
602. 1
493. 4
609. 1
180. 2
403. 3
130. 9
871. 9
769. 0
519. 2
404. 5

155. 8
606. 3
491. 4
600. 5
170. 5
394. 9
138.8
879. 9
734. 1
521. 9
409- 7

155.9
612. 5
500. 6
631. 5
183. 0
416. 5
141. 2
888. 7
774. 7
521. 5
412. 4

161
597
488
618
1, 178
1, 380
2, 047
1, 818
1,739
505
42 5

156
621
491
636
1, 186
1, 396
2, 106
1, 860
1, 749
514
413

156
626
493
629
1, 182
1, 404
2, 107
1, 863
1, 766
517
415

156
625
494
631
1, 183
1, 413
2, 125
1, 874
1, 790
521
424

156
626
495
623
1, 178
1, 413
2, 132
1,889
1,764
52 5
42 5

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

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

1,
1,
2,
1,
1,

1,
1,
2,
1,
1,

1,
1,
2,
1,
1,

1,
1,
2,
1,
1,

1,
1,
2,
1,
1,

156
631
505
647
191
432
135
908
807
52 6
42 3

7, 844
5, 697

7, 860
5, 670

7, 885
5, 689

7, 925
5, 740

7, 941
5, 787

7, 937
5, 746

7, 937
5, 736

7, 97 5
5, 775

7, 991
5, 785

8, 022
5, 832

1, 626, 9
70. 3
962. 9
1, 322. 9
665. 5
1, 072.7
1, 026. 9
198. 7
622. 1
275. 0

1, 659. 5
74. 1
956. 2
1, 252. 0
680. 3
1, 089. 3
1, 036. 2
200. 3
651. 7
260. 6

1, 647. 9
70. 9
961. 4
1, 273. 4
679. 5
1, 092. 1
1, 041. 0
199.4
656. 3
262. 9

1, 649. 9
67. 9
968. 5
1, 288. 1
684. 8
1, 095. 0
1, 042. 5
2 00. 7
661. 5
265. 7

1, 698
75
966
1, 319
671
1, 074
1, 030
2 04
627
277

1, 711
75
960
1, 276
680
1, 089
1, 038
2 03
642
263

1,710
75
957
1, 271
68 0
1, 089
1, 041
2 04
647
263

1, 721
74
958
1, 278
684
1, 090
1, 044
205
656
265

1, 722
73
. 962
1, 276
687
1, 093
1, 050
2 06
656
266

1, 722
73
971
1, 284
690
1, 096
1, 046
206
666
268

55, 446

56, 468

56, 684

57, 046

55, 732

56, 617

56, 836

56, 972

57, 136

57,349

4, 462

4, 499

4, 496

4, 533

4, 507

4, 519

4, 553

4, 549

4, 555

4, 57 9

17, 216

17, 791

17,672

17,788

17, 592

17, 8 08

17,898

17, 981

18, 086

18,177

4, 194
13, 022

4, 2 97
13, 494

4, 300
13, 372

4, 320
13, 468

4, 236
13, 356

4, 291
13, 517

4, 304
13, 594

4, 323
13, 658

4, 343
13, 743

4, 364
13, 813

4, 246

4, 379

4, 398

4, 427

4, 276

4, 381

4, 403

4, 42 3

4, 438

4, 458

SERVICES

14, 344

14, 740

14, 887

15, 003

14, 460

14, 873

14, 936

15, 010

15, 068

15, 124

GOVERNMENT

15, 178

15,059

15, 231

1$, 295

14, 897

15, 036

15, 046

15, 009

14, 989

15, 011

2, 724
12,454

2, 697
12, 362

2, 705
12,526

2, 709
12, 586

2,735
12, 162

2, 734
12, 302

2, 720
12, 326

2, 721
12, 288

2, 721
12, 268

2, 720
12, 291

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

SERVICE-PRODUCING
TRANSPORTATION A N D PUBLIC
UTILITIES
WHOLESALE A N D R E T A I L T R A D E . .
WHOLESALE T R A D E
RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D
REAL ESTATE

FEDERAL

\

STATE A N D LOCAL

p=preliminary.




ESTABLISHMENT DATA

E S T A B L I S H M E N T DATA

Table B-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers 1 on private nonagricultural
payrolls, by industry

Not seasonally adjusted
Industry

TOTAL PRIVATE

Mar.
1976

Jan0
1977

Seasonally adjusted

Feb.
1977p

Mar.
1977p

Mar.
1976

Nov.

Jan.
1977

Feb.

1976

Dec.
1976

1977 P

Mar,
1977 p

35.9

35.4

35.9

35.9

36.2

36.2

36.2

35.8

36.2

36.2

MINING

42 o 2

42.4

43.3

42.9

42.8

43.3

43.7

42.9

43 o 6

43.6

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

35.7

33.9

36.5

36.6

36.0

37.4

37.3

35.4

37,7

360 9

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours

40o 0
3.0

39.0
3.0

39.8
3.0

40.1
3.2

40.3
3.1

40.1
3.1

40.0

39.5
3.2

40.2
3.3

40 o 3
3.3

DURABLE GOODS
Overtime hours

40.5
3.0

39.5
3.1

40.4
3.1

40.7
3.3

40.7
3.1

40.8
3.2

40.5
3.3

40.0

40.7

3.4

3.3

40 o 9
3.4

41.0
39.7
38.7
40.6
40„5
40.7
41.1
40.0
41.8
40.4
38.8

40.4
38.7
36.4
39.0
40.0
39.4
40.5
39.1
40.6
39.5
37.6

40.4
40.0
37.2
40.4
40.4
40.2
41.3
40.3
40.9
40.5
39.3

40.7
39.6
38.1
40.9
40.8
40.5
41.5
40.2
42.5
40.0
38.9

40.8
40.0
39.2
40.8
40.6
40.9
41.1
40.1
42.2
40.5
38.8

40.6
40.3
38.6
41.2
40.3
40.8
41.5
40.3
42.0
40.4
39.0

41.0
40.3
38.6
41.2
40.1
40.5
41.2
40.2
41.1
40.7
38.9

40.5
39.9

39.3
3.0

38.3
2,8

39.1
2.9

39.2
3.0

39.6
3.2

39.2
3.0

39.7
38.3
40.6
36.2
42.2
37.3
41.5
41.8
40.8
38.2

39.2
35.7
39.3
33.5
41.8
37.0
41.4
41.6
40.7
34.7

39.5
36.7
40.1
35.1
42.2
37.4
41.8
41.7
41.4
36.4.

39.7
36.1
40.3
35.5
42.3
37.6
41.8
42.2
41.3v
36.3

40.3
39.0
40.9
36.3
42.6
37.4
41.6
42.2
40.8
38.3

4®. 4
36.9
39.8
35.1
42.4
37.6
41.7
41.9
41.2
36.4

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

39.5

39.5

40.0

39.7

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE . . . .

33.2

32.8

38.6
31.6

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND
REAL 1EST ATE
SERVICES

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

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

'

3.2

,

39.5

40.5
39.9
38. 6
41.1
40.9
40.7
41.5
40.3
42.9
40.1
38.9

38.7'
3.0

39.5
3.2

39.5
3.2

40.1
37.5
40.1
35.3
42.6
37.7
41.7
42.5
41.5
36.5

39.5
36.1
39.7
34.2'
41.9
37.4
41.6
42.3
40.9
35.3

40.1

40.3
36.7

36.6

36.4

39.3
3.1

37.0
39.9

40.0
39.9
40.6
39.4
41.4
39.8
38.2

40.4
40.3
37.8
41. 1

40.6
40.6
41.3

40.6
41.3 .
40.7

37.5
40.4
35.5
42.8
37.8
42.9
42.4
41.5

40.6

35.6
42.7
37 0 7
41.9
42.6
41.3'

39.9

40.2

40.5

39.8

40.3

40.1

32.9

33.0

33.6

33.4

33.6

33.2

33.3

33.5

38.5
31.1

38.7
31.2

38.7
31.4

38.7
32.1

38.7
31.9

38.6
32.2

38.7
31.6

39.0
31.7

38.9
31.9

36.4

36.8

36.7

36.7

36.5

36.7

36.7

36.8

36.6

36.8

33.3

33.3

33.4

33.3

33.5

33.5

33.5

33.5

33.6

33.5

•

'

•

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




ESTABLISHMENT

E S T A B L I S H M E N T DATA

DATA

Table B - 3 . Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers 1 on private
nonagricultural payrolls, by industry
Average weekly earnings

Average hourly earnings
Industry

Feb.
1977 P

Mar,
1977P

Mar.
1976

Mar.
1976

Jan.
1977

$ 4 . 76
4C 77

$ 5 . 07
5.07

$5.09
5.09

$ 5 . 11
5. 12

$ 170,88
172.67

MINING

6.29

6.76

6.77

60 74

265. 44

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

7, 55

7. 96

7. 87

7. 85

MANUFACTURING

5,07

5. 46

5.43

5„ 43

5. 81

5. 79

TOTAL PRIVATE
Seasonally adjusted

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

Jan.
1977

Feb,
1977

p

Mar.
1977 P

$ 1 7 9 . 4 8 $182. 73
181.51
184.26

$183, 45
185. 34

286. 62

293. 14

289.15

269. 54

269.84

287. 26

287. 31

5.48

202„80

212.94

216. 11

219. 75

5. 84

219.92

229. 50

233.92

237.69

243.61
196, 00
154. 75
224. 22
285. 22
223.91
249. 04
207.95
280. 98
206,, 55
167.03

247.46
194,04
159.64
228. 63
289. 68
228, 02
251,08
208. 24
297.50
203.60
165.71

5.56
4.50
3.-90
5. 11
6. 63
5. 32
5.66
4. 80
6.44
4. 78
3.96

6.06
4.95
4. 15
5.50
7. 03
5.58
6. 01
5. 16
6.95
5. 10
4. 24

60 03
4.90
4. 16
5. 55
7. 06
5,57
6.03
50 16
6. 87
5. 10
4.25

6.08
4. 90
4. 19
5.59
7. 10
5.63
6.05
5. 18
7. 00
5.09
4.26

227,96
178.65
150.93
207.47
' 268. 52
216.52
232.63
192.00
269.19
193 0 11
153.65

244. 82
191.57
151.06
214. 5*0
281.20
219.85
243,41
201.76
282. 17
201.45
159.42

4.56

4. 95

4. 93

4. 94

179® 21

189. 59

192.76

193,65

5.22 ,
5. 16
3. 83
3. 57
5. 69 *
5.92
6. 18
7.40
5.07
3.57

5. 22
5; 22
3. 84
3.54
5. 68
5.93
6. 18
7. 49
5.03
3.60

5. 22
5. 24
3. 85
3. 60
5. 70
5. 98
6. 18
7.55
5. 01
3. 60

192.15
191.88
144. 94
121.99
221.55
208. 88
236. 55
295. 94
185.64
129.88

204.62
184. 21
150.52
119.60
237.84
219.04
255,85
307.84
206. 35
123.88

206, 19
191.57
153,' 98
124, 25
239. 70
221.78
258, 32
312.33
208. 24
131.04

207, 23
189. 16
155.16
127.80
241.11
224.85
258. 32
318. 61
206.91
130.68

269. 60

266. 39

4. 84
5.01
3.57 '
3. 37
5.25
5. 60
• 5.70
7. 08
4.55
3. 40

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D PUBLIC U T I L I T I E S

6.29

6. 70

6. 74

6. 71

248.46

264. 65

WHOLESALE A N D R E T A I L T R A D E

3.90

4.17

4.20

4. 20

129.48

136. 78

138. 18

138. 60
209.37
118. 06

5.06
3.48

5.41
3.^73

5.40
3.76

5.41
3.76

195.32
109.97

208. 29
116.00

208. 98
117.31

FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D R E A L ESTATE

4. 31

4.52

4.52

4. 52

156. 88

166.34

165.88

165.88

SERVICES

4.28

4. 60

4'. 61

4. 62

142.52

153. 18

153.97

153.85

WHOLESALE T R A D E
RETAIL TRADE

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




ESTABLISHMENT DATA

E S T A B L I S H M E N T DATA

Table B-4.
Hourly earnings inde^ for production or nonsupervisory workers 1 on private nonagricultural
payrolls, by industry division, seasonally adjusted
(1967-100]
Percent change from
Industry
Mar.
1976

Oct.
1976

Nov.
1976

Dec.
1976

Jan.

Feb.

1977

1977

Mar.
1977

181.1
108.0

188.2

189.4
109.2

190.4
109.3

192.7 .
109.7

193.1

193.9

7.1

0.4

108.9

N.A.

(2)

206.1
187.9
188.4
203.1
182.2

(3)

205.7
189.2

207.2

8.3
4.5

191.1
203.7
184.5

210.9
190.7
193.2
207.0
187.7

211.0
191.0

189.8
204.3
183.4

208.4
192.4
192.3
207.9
186.4

.1

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D PUBLIC U T I L I T I E S
WHOLESALE A N D R E T A I L T R A D E

194.8
182.9
180.9
195.2
175.0

173.5
192.2

7.3
6.3
7.6

FINANCE, INSURANCE, A N D R E A L ESTATE .
SERVICES

168.1
185.4

194.1
207.6
188.4

173.1
193.9

172.8
195.4

176.6
198.6

175 o 7
198.7

176.4
199.9

5.0
7.8

TOTAL PRIVATE

p

p

Mar.
Mar.

19761977

Feb.
Mar.

19771977

NONFARM:

Current dollars
Constant (1967) dollars
MINING

1

See footnote 1, table B-2.

2

Percent

c h a n g e was

P e r c e n t c h a n g e was
N.A. = not available.

1.1

108.8

189.7

from February

1976

to February

1977,

the

l a t e s t month

available,,

from January

1977

to February

1977,

the

latest

available.

-0.7

month

.2
.4
.3
.4
#4

!6

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.

Table B-5. Indexes of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonagricultural
payrolls, by industry, seasonally adjusted
[1967 = 100]
1976

Industry division and group

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

112. 2

112. 2

112. 8

113. 3

112. 3

114. 0

95. 9

96. 0

97. 2

96. 9

95. 2

98. 0

99.8

131. '
7

131. 1

132. 6

134. 0

130. 7

134. 8

138. 1

102. 5

99. 4

104. 2

105. 7

104. 3

96.4

105. 3

106.5

' 9 3 .9

94. 0

93. 2

94. 5

94. 4

93. 8

95.4

97. 2

93. 6

93. 2

92. 0

93. 8

93. 2

94. 6

39. 8
97. 6
6'
3
101. 2
2
98. 6
1
89. 8
0
98. 6
95. 9
9
5
92. 2
3
90. 7
3
108. 1
1
91. 8

38. 6
98. 2
102. 4

38. 5
99. 4
102. 2
99. 7
86. 2
96. 5
94. 0
92. 1
86. 1
107. 9
92. 0

5
8
8
2
7
1
7
4
91. 5
108. 5
92. 1

93. 6
39. 5
101. 9
103. 5

39. 0
101. 1
98. 5
96. 1
84. 8
97. 6
95. 7

38.4
102. 3
101.4

97. 0
40. 1

Apr.

May

June

July

111. 1

111. 5

112. 0

111. 6

96. 0

95. 6

97. 2

96. 8

125. 7

125. 9

124. 7

CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION

99. 6

105. 0

MANUFACTURING

94. 3

93. 0

4

90. 9

0
8
6
5
0
2
3
4

39. 9
96. 0
102. 7

TOTAL
GOODS-PRODUCING
MINING

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

....
....

Apparel and other textile products . . .
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and plastics products, nec . . .
Leather and leather products
.

TRANSPORTATION

AND

AND

RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE,
ESTATE

SERVICES
1
See footnote 1, table B-2.
p=prel imi nary.




9 9 .A
113. 9
121. 7

Sept.

111. 8

111. 8

96. 5

95. 7

125. 0

127. 7

115. 6

104. 0

104. 0

103. 7

95. 1

94. 6

94. 2

94. 0
41. 0
96. 6
105. 1
99: 5
88. 3
98. 7
94. 9
• 92.2
92. 8
109. 6
95. 4

93'. 8

93. 5

40. 7
96. 1
103. 3
99. 7
89. 2
98. 4
94. 5

40. 0

98.
88.
98.
95.
91.
89.
107.
92.

9
8
6
9
5
1
2
2

7
3
9
1

91. 1
112. 5
'

96. 8

94. 7
95. 1
76. 1
95.4

96.7
96. 5
77. 7
97. 5

86. 1
97. 0

8 6 ., 3
97.2
9 3 ., 7
1 0 0 .,0
1 1 4 ., 7

84. 1

87. 3

95. 2
96. 4
8 2 ., 1
9 5 ., 2

98. 1
93 6
1 0 0 .,0
1 1 3 .,9

9 1 .,4
97. 3
9 3 ,, 1
9 9 ,,0
1 1 1 .,6

88. 9
96. 9
93. 6
9 9 .A
1 1 2 ., 2

8 7 ..6
96; 1
92.9
9 9 .,8
1 1 2 .A

8 6 ., 2
9 6 ., 5
9 3 ., 1
100. 3
1 1 2 ., 2

9 5 ., 7
9 3 .,4
9 9 .,4
1 1 2 .,5

1 0 7 .,0
7 6 .,0

106. 2
7 4 ., 7

1 0 5 .,2
7 2 ., 5

1 2 4 ., 3
7 2 ., 1

1 2 5 .,6 1 2 5 . 7
7 1 ., 0 \ 70.,4

9 5 ..9
9 2 .,3

91.
93.
108.
93.

96. 8
85. 6
99.4
97. 7
95. 7

95. 5
95.5
81. 6
96. 1

94. 2
96. 5
84. 0
9 5 .,5

99. 9
92. 0

95. 0
96. 2
83. 0
9 5 .,0
8 5 ., 7

99. 1
85.0
98. 1
96. 0
93. 1
90. 6
110. 4
91. 6

Mar. P

95. 4
96. 6
81. 6
9 5 .. 6

95. 2
97r 0
82. 3
98. 0

96. 6
96. 6
8 5 .A

1 2 1 .,3

99.
90.
98.
95.
90.
90.
110.
93.

95. 8
96. 8
83. 4
98. 6

96. 0
96. 1
85.4
9 6 ., 1
8 9 .,3

1 0 0 ., 1
1 1 5 .,6

91. 9
92. 6
109. 1
94. 7

98.
102.

38.
100.
102.
100.
85.
98.
96.
93.

Feb^5

9 3 .. 6
1 0 0 .,0
1 1 3 ., 1

115.0

102. 7
105. 8
102. 0
87.5
102. 2
98.4
96. 3
97. 7
111.1
97. 1
97. 6
96.9
76. 0
99. 1
88.2
99.2
94. 5
102.5

96. 2
93.0
100.4
115.0

98.
94.
102.
115.

1 2 7 .,6
7 0 .,5

127. 7
69. 1

130. 1
71.7

124,.6

124. 1

125. 1

125. 6

103. 9

5
1
0
3

119. 3
132. 3

78.A

1 0 8 ., 8
7 9 ., 8

1 2 1 .,6

1 2 2 ..6

1 2 2 .. 3

1 2 1 .,8

1 2 2 .,5

1 2 3 .,0

1 2 3 .. 6

123,,5

1 0 2 .,5

102,A,

1 0 1 .,9

1 0 1 .,6

1 0 2 ., 1

1 0 2 .,5

102,.9

1 0 2 ..0

1 0 3 .. 2

1 0 5 ..0

102. 7

104. 2

1 1 8 .,0

1 1 9 ..8

1 1 8 ..9

1 1 8 ., 1

1 1 8 .,9

1 1 9 ., 0

1 1 9 .. 7

1 1 9 ..3

1 1 8 ..9

120,.0

119. 1

120. 3

121.3

1 1 3 ., 2

114,.3

114,. 3

1 1 4 ., 1

1 1 4 ., 7

120,. 6

119..6

1 2 0 .,6

114,.8
121,.0

114,,8
120,.4

114,.8
122,.0

120.4

116. 7
121. 6

117. 1

121,. 8

114. 9
121,. 6

115.4

1 1 9 .. 8

1 1 5 ., 3
1 2 0 ., 3

125,. 5

126,. 1

126,. 3

126,.3

126,.6

127,.3

127,. 7

128,,3

129,. 1

129 .8

130. 6

130. 2

131.4

134,.0

134,. 6

135,. 3

135,.0

135,,4

136,, 6

137,. 2

137,.6

137,. 7

138,. 4

138. 8

139. 8

139. 8

7 9 ., 3

123. 5

71.9

RETAIL

WHOLESALE T R A D E

REAL

92. 6
96. 1
92. 7

98. 6
86. 8
94. 9
91. 7
89. 0
86. 9
105. 7
93. 1

Aug.

PUBLIC

UTILITIES
WHOLESALE
TRADE

91. 8
106. 7
95. 4
97. 1
96. 0
84. 9
99 3

N O N D U R A B L E GOODS
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufactures
Textile mill products *

SERVICE-PRODUCING

92.
41.
95.
103.
96.
86.
97.
93.
90.

1977

Oct.

Mar.

122. 9

AND

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B - 6 . Indexes of diffusion:

Year and month

ESTABLISHMENT

DATA

Percent of industries in which employment 1 increased

Over 1 - m o n t h span

Over 3-month span

Over 6 - m o n t h span

Over 12-month span

1974
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August

58. 7
55. 8
48. 0

61. 6
55. 2
54. 7

64. 8
56. 4
54. 7

54. 7
54. 7
54. 4

52. 3
57. 0
50. 9

51. 5
50. 3
44. 5

49. 1
42. 2
32. 6

44. 2
36. 0
35. 5

35. 8
32. 0

35. 5
19.8
19. 8

63. 1
59. 6
54. 9
5 0 . 040. 1

28. 2
26. 7

22. 1

21. 8

20. 6

26. 2
21. 8
12. 8

15. 7

16. 0

18. 6
16. 6

13. 7

14. 0

16.9
16. 9
27. 3

12. 5
14. 0
22. 7

13. 7
18. 9

16. 3
17. 4
17.2

44. 2
51.2
39. 8

34. 6
43. 6
47. 7

29. 1
40. 7
59. 0

20. 3
25. 6
40. 1

57. 3
72.4
81.4

55. 5
75. 0
78. 8

63. 4

66. 6

72.4

50. 3
61. 9
71.5

November

64. 0
59. 6

70. 6
69. 2

December

69. 2

75. 0

78. 8
79.4
77. 6

75. 9
79. 1
81.4

76.7
74.4
77. 9

82. 0

September
October
November
December

1975
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October

12. 8

1976

82. 8

84. 6

84. 3
84. 9

83. 1
77. 0

79. 4

77. 9
63. 4
47. 1

81. 1
70. 6
57. 0

77. 0
71. 5
70. 9

73. 5
79. 7
79. 4

August

52.
49.

September

68.

47. 4
65. 1
54. 9

55. 2
55. 2
61.9

75. 3
73. Op
76. 2p

October

39. 0
64. 2
68. 3

59.9
53. 8
75. 9

70. 1
70. 3p
7-5. 9p

71. 5
62. 5p
77. 3p

75. Op
80. 5p

January
February
March
April
May
June
July

November
December
1977
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.




82. 8