Full text of The Employment Situation : March 1997

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USDL 97-117
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THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

MARCH 1997

Employment rose, and the unemployment rate was about unchanged at 5.2
percent in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000, and
average hourly earnings rose by 5 cents in March.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons, 7.1 million, and the unemployment
rate, 5.2 percent, were essentially unchanged in March, after seasonal
adjustment. Jobless rates for the major demographic groups--adult men (4.4
percent), adult women (4.7 percent), teenagers (16.4 percent), whites (4.5
percent), blacks (10.7 percent), and Hispanics (8.6 percent)--showed little
or no movement over the month. (See tables A-1 and A-2.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment rose by 745,000 in March to 129.2 million (seasonally
adjusted). The proportion of the population that was employed (the
employment-population ratio) rose to 63.8 percent, an all-time high for
this series.
About 7.9 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in March. These multiple jobholders accounted for 6.1 percent of all
employed persons. (See table A-9.)
The civilian labor force increased by 685,000 to 136.3 million
(seasonally adjusted), and the labor force participation rate rose to 67.3
percent. Over the past year, the labor force has increased by 2.5 million
(after adjusting for the change in population controls introduced in
January), and the participation rate has increased by half a percentage
point.

- 2

-

Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
|
Quarterly
|
Monthly data
|
|
averages
|
|
|_________________|__________________________|Feb.Category
| 1996 | 19971/ |
19971/
|Mar.
|________|________|__________________________|change
|
IV
|
I
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA
|
Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 134,830| 135,934| 135,848| 135,634| 136,319|
685
Employment..........| 127,705| 128,728| 128,580| 128,430| 129,175|
745
Unemployment...... |
7,124|
7,206|
7,268|
7,205|
7,144|
-61
Not in labor force....| 66,627| 66,462| 66,437| 66,754| 66,194|
-560
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........|
5.3|
5.3|
5.4|
5.3|
5.2|
-0.1
Adult men...........|
4.4|
4.5|
4.6|
4.4|
4.4|
.0
Adult women.........|
4.8|
4.7|
4.6|
4.7|
4.7|
.0
Teenagers...........|
16.6|
17.0|
17.0|
17.5|
16.4|
-1.1
White...............|
4.6|
4.5|
4.6|
4.5|
4.5|
.0
Black...............|
10.6|
10.9|
10.8|
11.3|
10.7|
-.6
Hispanic origin.....|
8.0|
8.3|
8.3|
8.1|
8.6|
.5
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA
|
Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 120,509|p121,236| 120,982|p121,275|p121,450|
p175
Goods-producing 2/..| 24,320| p24,471| 24,399| p24,513| p24,501|
p-12
Construction......|
5,492| p5,598|
5,535| p5,643| p5,616|
p-27
Manufacturing.....| 18,262| p18,303| 18,296| p18,299| p18,315|
p16
Service-producing 2/| 96,189| p96,765| 96,583| p96,762| p96,949|
p187
Retail trade......| 21,864| p21,940| 21,922| p21,928| p21,971|
p43
Services..........| 34,785| p35,097| 35,015| p35,082| p35,193|
p111
Government........| 19,510| p19,566| 19,544| p19,587| p19,568|
p-19
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Hours of work 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
34.6|
p34.6|
34.2|
p34.9|
p34.8| p-0.1
Manufacturing.......|
41.8|
p41.9|
41.7|
p41.9|
p42.1|
p.2
Overtime..........|
4.5|
p4.8|
4.7|
p4.7|
p4.9|
p.2
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Earnings 3/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| $11.98| p$12.10| $12.05| p$12.10| p$12.15| p$0.05
Avg. weekly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| 414.00| p419.07| 412.11| p422.29| p422.82|
p.53
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Beginning in January 1997, household data reflect revised
population controls used in the survey.
2/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.

- 3 Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.5 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in March--that is, they wanted and were
available for work and had looked for jobs sometime in the prior 12 months.
The number of discouraged workers--a subset of the marginally attached who
were not currently looking for jobs specifically because they believed no
jobs were available for them or there were none for which they would
qualify--was 356,000 in March, down from 451,000 a year earlier. (See
table A-9.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 175,000 in March to 121.5 million,
after seasonal adjustment. Job gains in a variety of service-providing
industries were somewhat offset by losses in construction and government.
(See table B-1.)
The services industry added 111,000 jobs in March, slightly more than
the average monthly gain of 100,000 in 1996. Employment in business
services rose by 58,000, as the help supply industry added 25,000 jobs, and
computer and data processing services continued its robust growth.
Employment in health services increased by 22,000, led by a sizable advance
in hospitals. Private education employment also rose.
Employment in retail trade increased by 43,000 in March. Department
stores had large gains in both February and March, which offset a loss in
January. There were above-average increases in March in building supply
stores, food stores, and miscellaneous retail establishments. Eating and
drinking places had a large employment decline, after seasonal adjustment,
reflecting lighter-than-usual March hiring.
Employment in finance continued to grow in March, primarily in banks,
security brokerages, and mortgage brokerages. Strong growth also continued
in real estate, which has added 53,000 jobs in the past year. Wholesale
trade posted a large job gain for the second month in a row. Employment in
transportation and public utilities rose modestly after 2 months of large
increases.
Manufacturing employment edged up by 16,000 in March, with the largest
increases occurring in lumber and industrial machinery. Factory employment
has increased by 74,000 since September, following a loss of 319,000 from
its recent peak in March 1995. The recent growth has been concentrated in
the durable goods industries, especially industrial machinery and aircraft.
Construction employment fell by 27,000 in March, following an increase
of 108,000 in February. The unusual winter weather patterns this year and
last have caused large fluctuations in the construction employment series,
even after seasonal adjustment. Nevertheless, monthly job gains in
construction have averaged 30,000 since October, compared with an average
gain of 22,000 in the prior 12 months.
A decrease in government employment of 19,000 reflected a decline of
14,000 in local education, after seasonal adjustment, following gains in
the prior 2 months. Employment in state government was unchanged, while
federal employment continued to decline.

- 4 Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls edged down by 0.1 hour in March, to 34.8 hours,
seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing workweek rose by 0.2 hour to 42.1
hours, a very high level by historical standards. Factory overtime
advanced by 0.2 hour to 4.9 hours, the highest level since the series began
in 1956. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of private production or
nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm payrolls, at 140.5 (1982=100) in March,
was little changed, after seasonal adjustment, as the rise in employment
offset the decline in the average workweek. The manufacturing index
increased by 0.5 percent to 107.4. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of private production or nonsupervisory
workers on nonfarm payrolls rose by 5 cents in March to $12.15, seasonally
adjusted. Average weekly earnings edged up by 0.1 percent to $422.82,
reflecting the largely offsetting movements of higher hourly earnings and a
slightly shorter workweek. Over the past year, average hourly earnings
rose by 4.0 percent, and average weekly earnings increased by 4.9 percent.
(See table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for April 1997 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, May 2, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).

- 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 1996,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing over 47 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 $13.00 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 1H 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: 202-6065897; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-1.

Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, sex, and age

Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

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

199,921
132,692
66.4
124,992
62.5
3,243
121,750
7,700
5.8
67,229

202,388
134,535
66.5
126,887
62.7
2,933
123,954
7,647
5.7
67,854

202,513
135,524
66.9
128,125
63.3
3,166
124,959
7,399
5.5
66,989

199,921
133,464
66.8
126,062
63.1
3,470
122,592
7,402
5.5
66,457

201,463
134,831
66.9
127,644
63.4
3,354
124,290
7,187
5.3
66,632

201,636
135,022
67.0
127,855
63.4
3,426
124,429
7,167
5.3
66,614

202,285
135,848
67.2
128,580
63.6
3,468
125,112
7,268
5.4
66,437

202,388
135,634
67.0
128,430
63.5
3,292
125,138
7,205
5.3
66,754

202,513
136,319
67.3
129,175
63.8
3,386
125,789
7,144
5.2
66,194

95,864
71,444
74.5
66,961
69.9
4,483
6.3

97,320
72,214
74.2
67,981
69.9
4,233
5.9

97,386
72,731
74.7
68,573
70.4
4,158
5.7

95,864
71,936
75.0
67,856
70.8
4,080
5.7

96,654
72,362
74.9
68,589
71.0
3,773
5.2

96,742
72,414
74.9
68,707
71.0
3,707
5.1

97,264
73,106
75.2
69,164
71.1
3,942
5.4

97,320
72,987
75.0
69,232
71.1
3,755
5.1

97,386
73,268
75.2
69,478
71.3
3,790
5.2

88,366
67,753
76.7
64,005
72.4
2,249
61,755
3,749
5.5

89,556
68,447
76.4
64,923
72.5
2,080
62,843
3,523
5.1

89,604
68,937
76.9
65,502
73.1
2,244
63,257
3,435
5.0

88,366
67,886
76.8
64,562
73.1
2,376
62,186
3,324
4.9

88,971
68,391
76.9
65,349
73.4
2,355
62,994
3,042
4.4

89,040
68,369
76.8
65,367
73.4
2,356
63,011
3,002
4.4

89,446
68,998
77.1
65,813
73.6
2,364
63,449
3,185
4.6

89,556
68,827
76.9
65,818
73.5
2,276
63,542
3,009
4.4

89,604
69,111
77.1
66,066
73.7
2,362
63,703
3,045
4.4

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............ 104,058 105,068 105,127 104,058 104,809 104,894 105,022 105,068 105,127
Civilian labor force.......................... 61,248 62,321 62,794 61,528 62,469 62,608 62,742 62,647 63,051
Participation rate......................
58.9
59.3
59.7
59.1
59.6
59.7
59.7
59.6
60.0
Employed.................................... 58,031 58,906 59,552 58,206 59,055 59,148 59,416 59,197 59,697
Employment-population ratio.............
55.8
56.1
56.6
55.9
56.3
56.4
56.6
56.3
56.8
Unemployed..................................
3,217
3,415
3,241
3,322
3,414
3,460
3,327
3,450
3,354
Unemployment rate.......................
5.3
5.5
5.2
5.4
5.5
5.5
5.3
5.5
5.3
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate......................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio.............
Agriculture...............................
Nonagricultural industries................
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.......................

96,798
57,811
59.7
55,109
56.9
807
54,303
2,701
4.7

97,571
58,720
60.2
55,931
57.3
697
55,234
2,788
4.7

97,638
59,160
60.6
56,442
57.8
710
55,732
2,718
4.6

96,798
57,803
59.7
55,054
56.9
842
54,212
2,749
4.8

97,366
58,574
60.2
55,753
57.3
786
54,967
2,821
4.8

97,457
58,728
60.3
55,871
57.3
772
55,099
2,857
4.9

97,520
58,894
60.4
56,165
57.6
797
55,369
2,729
4.6

97,571
58,743
60.2
55,954
57.3
775
55,179
2,788
4.7

97,638
59,130
60.6
56,359
57.7
739
55,620
2,771
4.7

14,757
7,128
48.3
5,879
39.8
187
5,692
1,250
17.5

15,261
7,368
48.3
6,032
39.5
156
5,877
1,336
18.1

15,271
7,428
48.6
6,182
40.5
212
5,970
1,246
16.8

14,757
7,775
52.7
6,446
43.7
252
6,194
1,329
17.1

15,126
7,866
52.0
6,542
43.3
213
6,329
1,324
16.8

15,139
7,925
52.3
6,617
43.7
298
6,319
1,308
16.5

15,318
7,956
51.9
6,601
43.1
307
6,294
1,354
17.0

15,261
8,065
52.8
6,657
43.6
240
6,417
1,408
17.5

15,271
8,078
52.9
6,750
44.2
285
6,465
1,328
16.4

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 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-2.

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
Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 167,853 169,492 169,569 167,853 168,924 169,044 169,436 169,492 169,569
Civilian labor force.......................... 112,246 113,484 114,135 112,827 113,816 113,991 114,377 114,333 114,736
Participation rate........................
66.9
67.0
67.3
67.2
67.4
67.4
67.5
67.5
67.7
Employed.................................... 106,495 107,863 108,745 107,398 108,570 108,734 109,151 109,197 109,630
Employment-population ratio...............
63.4
63.6
64.1
64.0
64.3
64.3
64.4
64.4
64.7
Unemployed..................................
5,751
5,621
5,389
5,429
5,246
5,257
5,226
5,136
5,106
Unemployment rate.........................
5.1
5.0
4.7
4.8
4.6
4.6
4.6
4.5
4.5
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate........................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.........................

58,106
77.2
55,237
73.4
2,869
4.9

58,622
77.1
55,899
73.5
2,723
4.6

59,000
77.5
56,411
74.1
2,589
4.4

58,229
77.4
55,749
74.1
2,480
4.3

58,549
77.3
56,276
74.3
2,273
3.9

58,623
77.4
56,356
74.4
2,267
3.9

59,042
77.7
56,653
74.5
2,388
4.0

58,968
77.5
56,692
74.5
2,275
3.9

59,161
77.7
56,923
74.8
2,238
3.8

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

48,056
59.4
46,095
57.0
1,961
4.1

48,603
59.8
46,700
57.4
1,902
3.9

48,852
60.1
46,962
57.7
1,891
3.9

48,051
59.4
46,062
56.9
1,989
4.1

48,558
59.8
46,530
57.3
2,028
4.2

48,686
59.9
46,614
57.3
2,072
4.3

48,631
59.8
46,750
57.5
1,881
3.9

48,619
59.8
46,747
57.5
1,872
3.9

48,832
60.0
46,915
57.7
1,917
3.9

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

6,084
52.0
5,163
44.2
921
15.1
17.0
13.1

6,259
51.6
5,264
43.4
995
15.9
16.3
15.5

6,282
51.8
5,373
44.3
910
14.5
16.0
12.8

6,547
56.0
5,587
47.8
960
14.7
15.9
13.3

6,709
56.0
5,764
48.1
945
14.1
15.5
12.6

6,682
55.6
5,764
48.0
918
13.7
14.8
12.6

6,704
55.3
5,747
47.4
957
14.3
14.9
13.6

6,746
55.6
5,758
47.5
988
14.6
14.6
14.7

6,742
55.6
5,792
47.7
951
14.1
15.0
13.1

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

23,485
14,899
63.4
13,282
56.6
1,617
10.9

23,872
15,170
63.5
13,465
56.4
1,705
11.2

23,895
15,325
64.1
13,677
57.2
1,649
10.8

23,485
15,019
64.0
13,401
57.1
1,618
10.8

23,762
15,290
64.3
13,673
57.5
1,617
10.6

23,794
15,306
64.3
13,693
57.5
1,613
10.5

23,847
15,372
64.5
13,709
57.5
1,663
10.8

23,872
15,408
64.5
13,672
57.3
1,736
11.3

23,895
15,439
64.6
13,784
57.7
1,655
10.7

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

6,785
72.3
6,049
64.5
735
10.8

6,733
70.7
6,079
63.8
654
9.7

6,812
71.7
6,149
64.7
663
9.7

6,776
72.3
6,080
64.8
696
10.3

6,899
72.7
6,264
66.0
635
9.2

6,833
72.0
6,235
65.7
598
8.8

6,829
71.8
6,198
65.2
632
9.2

6,765
71.0
6,159
64.7
605
9.0

6,803
71.6
6,173
65.0
629
9.3

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

7,288
61.8
6,680
56.7
608
8.3

7,564
63.3
6,803
56.9
761
10.1

7,628
63.7
6,928
57.9
700
9.2

7,304
62.0
6,689
56.7
615
8.4

7,499
63.0
6,833
57.4
666
8.9

7,544
63.3
6,851
57.5
693
9.2

7,574
63.4
6,880
57.6
694
9.2

7,636
63.9
6,851
57.3
785
10.3

7,641
63.9
6,934
57.9
706
9.2

827
35.6
553
23.8
274
33.1
38.0
28.2

872
36.4
583
24.3
290
33.2
37.4
29.5

886
36.5
600
24.8
285
32.2
43.7
22.0

939
40.5
632
27.2
307
32.7
36.3
29.1

892
37.5
576
24.2
316
35.4
41.2
30.0

929
38.9
607
25.4
322
34.7
38.6
31.2

969
40.4
631
26.3
337
34.8
42.7
27.5

1,007
42.0
662
27.6
346
34.3
37.4
31.3

996
41.1
676
27.9
319
32.1
41.4
23.7

19,025
12,524
65.8
11,229
59.0
1,295
10.3

20,067
13,529
67.4
12,337
61.5
1,192
8.8

20,119
13,620
67.7
12,381
61.5
1,239
9.1

19,025
12,543
65.9
11,320
59.5
1,223
9.8

19,454
13,182
67.8
12,094
62.2
1,088
8.3

19,505
13,150
67.4
12,141
62.2
1,009
7.7

20,013
13,795
68.9
12,653
63.2
1,142
8.3

20,067
13,640
68.0
12,538
62.5
1,102
8.1

20,119
13,662
67.9
12,493
62.1
1,169
8.6

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate........................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.........................
Men.....................................
Women...................................
HISPANIC ORIGIN
Civilian noninstitutional population............
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate........................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio...............
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: 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
1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-3. Selected employment indicators
(In thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Category

Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over............... 124,992 126,887 128,125 126,062 127,644 127,855 128,580 128,430 129,175
Married men, spouse present................... 42,051 42,173 42,339 42,223 42,631 42,607 42,909 42,513 42,509
Married women, spouse present................. 32,277 32,611 32,830 32,168 32,509 32,631 32,826 32,578 32,699
Women who maintain families...................
7,457
7,571
7,812
7,372
7,444
7,500
7,501
7,556
7,720
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................

36,186
37,631
16,831
13,277
17,804
3,263

37,591
37,845
17,067
13,702
17,752
2,930

37,811
38,044
17,275
13,887
17,931
3,177

36,098
37,751
16,843
13,602
18,106
3,613

37,177
37,821
17,408
13,508
18,259
3,445

37,234
37,902
17,271
13,574
18,310
3,496

37,478
38,163
17,171
13,902
18,317
3,528

37,525
38,073
17,170
14,140
18,144
3,388

37,723
38,158
17,292
14,200
18,234
3,507

CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers.....................
1,719
1,664
1,764
1,863
1,829
1,878
1,988
1,932
1,905
Self-employed workers.......................
1,484
1,257
1,348
1,560
1,464
1,475
1,448
1,353
1,414
Unpaid family workers.......................
40
12
55
43
68
66
62
15
59
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers..................... 112,648 114,790 115,601 113,535 115,133 115,212 115,560 115,987 116,533
Government................................ 18,419 18,289 18,282 18,141 18,270 18,266 18,385 18,144 17,994
Private industries........................ 94,229 96,501 97,319 95,394 96,863 96,946 97,176 97,843 98,539
Private households......................
917
863
875
911
956
934
1,002
882
869
Other industries........................ 93,312 95,638 96,444 94,483 95,907 96,012 96,174 96,962 97,671
Self-employed workers.......................
8,992
9,033
9,245
9,041
9,023
9,109
9,445
9,124
9,292
Unpaid family workers.......................
109
132
113
105
140
149
162
136
108
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...........

4,569
2,630
1,626
18,524

4,419
2,616
1,485
18,865

4,277
2,459
1,542
18,918

4,451
2,507
1,608
17,743

3,983
2,107
1,559
17,957

4,338
2,353
1,653
17,868

4,426
2,423
1,552
18,340

4,262
2,378
1,550
18,070

4,153
2,344
1,518
18,120

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

4,358
2,491
1,608
17,870

4,209
2,491
1,465
18,342

4,075
2,329
1,516
18,338

4,224
2,363
1,573
17,114

3,815
2,001
1,543
17,313

4,162
2,214
1,622
17,237

4,163
2,310
1,512
17,737

4,098
2,277
1,523
17,452

3,937
2,210
1,475
17,565

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 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-4. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Category
Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

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

7,402
3,324
2,749
1,329

7,205
3,009
2,788
1,408

7,144
3,045
2,771
1,328

5.5
4.9
4.8
17.1

5.3
4.4
4.8
16.8

5.3
4.4
4.9
16.5

5.4
4.6
4.6
17.0

5.3
4.4
4.7
17.5

5.2
4.4
4.7
16.4

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

1,349
1,176
614

1,238
1,145
748

1,218
1,096
769

3.1
3.5
7.7

3.0
3.6
8.8

3.0
3.7
8.4

2.8
3.3
9.1

2.8
3.4
9.0

2.8
3.2
9.1

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

5,943
1,481

5,706
1,497

5,736
1,428

5.5
6.0

5.3
5.6

5.2
5.8

5.2
5.7

5.1
6.0

5.1
5.7

872
1,745
831
1,639
307

817
1,724
701
1,609
273

787
1,702
732
1,616
279

2.4
4.4
5.8
8.3
7.8

2.3
4.5
5.7
7.7
7.7

2.4
4.6
5.4
7.6
7.7

2.1
4.4
5.3
7.9
7.5

2.1
4.3
4.7
8.1
7.5

2.0
4.3
4.9
8.1
7.4

5,793
1,803
38
684
1,081
606
475
3,990
294
1,738
192
1,766
522
223

5,517
1,627
26
645
956
508
448
3,890
310
1,702
222
1,656
544
186

5,447
1,615
26
674
915
467
448
3,832
296
1,675
247
1,614
523
200

5.7
6.4
6.5
10.3
5.2
4.9
5.6
5.5
4.2
6.7
2.5
5.5
2.8
10.7

5.5
6.1
4.9
10.3
4.7
4.5
5.1
5.2
3.5
6.3
2.9
5.3
2.8
10.9

5.4
5.9
7.6
9.4
4.8
4.7
5.0
5.2
4.0
6.2
3.1
5.2
3.0
10.3

5.4
6.0
6.0
10.1
4.6
4.4
4.8
5.2
4.1
6.4
3.5
4.9
2.9
8.6

5.3
5.6
4.2
9.0
4.5
4.0
5.3
5.2
4.3
6.5
3.0
5.0
2.9
8.8

5.2
5.5
4.0
9.6
4.3
3.6
5.2
5.1
4.1
6.3
3.2
4.8
2.8
9.5

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 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-5. Duration of unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Duration
Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

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

2,303
2,578
2,819
1,398
1,421

2,440
2,902
2,305
1,153
1,153

2,313
2,663
2,423
1,259
1,164

2,632
2,305
2,406
1,102
1,304

2,819
2,252
2,184
1,018
1,166

2,671
2,357
2,179
976
1,203

2,801
2,223
2,155
943
1,212

2,591
2,382
2,163
1,025
1,138

2,650
2,380
2,064
1,001
1,063

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

18.2
9.8

15.7
8.6

16.3
9.3

17.2
8.2

16.0
7.7

15.8
7.8

16.0
7.7

16.0
8.4

15.3
7.9

100.0
29.9
33.5
36.6
18.2
18.5

100.0
31.9
37.9
30.1
15.1
15.1

100.0
31.3
36.0
32.7
17.0
15.7

100.0
35.8
31.4
32.8
15.0
17.8

100.0
38.9
31.0
30.1
14.0
16.1

100.0
37.1
32.7
30.2
13.5
16.7

100.0
39.0
31.0
30.0
13.1
16.9

100.0
36.3
33.4
30.3
14.4
15.9

100.0
37.4
33.6
29.1
14.1
15.0

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 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-6. Reason for unemployment
(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Reason

Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

3,849
1,266
2,583
1,925
658
806
2,534
511

3,659
1,327
2,332
1,608
724
813
2,608
567

3,493
1,250
2,243
1,560
683
808
2,530
568

3,508
1,031
2,477
(1)
(1)
783
2,538
593

3,261
994
2,267
(1)
(1)
825
2,523
586

3,221
987
2,234
(1)
(1)
845
2,556
626

3,245
953
2,293
(1)
(1)
890
2,505
600

3,163
944
2,218
(1)
(1)
787
2,648
647

3,187
1,021
2,167
(1)
(1)
784
2,535
647

50.0
16.4
33.6
10.5
32.9
6.6

47.8
17.4
30.5
10.6
34.1
7.4

47.2
16.9
30.3
10.9
34.2
7.7

47.3
13.9
33.4
10.5
34.2
8.0

45.3
13.8
31.5
11.5
35.1
8.1

44.4
13.6
30.8
11.7
35.3
8.6

44.8
13.2
31.7
12.3
34.6
8.3

43.7
13.0
30.6
10.9
36.6
8.9

44.6
14.3
30.3
11.0
35.4
9.0

2.9
.6
1.9
.4

2.7
.6
1.9
.4

2.6
.6
1.9
.4

2.6
.6
1.9
.4

2.4
.6
1.9
.4

2.4
.6
1.9
.5

2.4
.7
1.8
.4

2.3
.6
2.0
.5

2.3
.6
1.9
.5

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 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-7. Range of alternative measures of labor underutilization
(Percent)

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Measure

Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

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

2.1

1.7

1.8

1.8

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.5

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

2.9

2.7

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.4

2.4

2.3

2.3

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

5.8

5.7

5.5

5.5

5.3

5.3

5.4

5.3

5.2

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

6.1

5.9

5.7

(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...............

6.9

6.8

6.5

(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..

10.3

10.0

9.6

(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 1997,
data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-8. Unemployed persons by sex and age, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Age and sex

Mar.
1996

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997

Mar.
1997

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

7,402
2,616
1,329
632
704
1,287
4,788
4,166
591

7,205
2,583
1,408
655
712
1,175
4,638
4,142
485

7,144
2,554
1,328
637
697
1,226
4,591
4,018
550

5.5
12.3
17.1
19.4
15.6
9.5
4.3
4.3
3.7

5.3
11.9
16.8
17.0
17.0
9.0
4.1
4.2
3.1

5.3
11.9
16.5
19.3
14.7
9.1
4.1
4.2
3.3

5.4
12.2
17.0
17.7
16.6
9.4
4.0
4.2
3.1

5.3
12.0
17.5
19.7
15.2
8.7
4.1
4.2
3.0

5.2
11.8
16.4
19.4
14.6
9.0
4.0
4.1
3.3

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

4,080
1,467
756
356
407
711
2,595
2,268
314

3,755
1,361
746
338
369
615
2,419
2,117
299

3,790
1,384
745
368
386
640
2,390
2,058
323

5.7
13.1
18.7
21.2
17.1
9.9
4.3
4.4
3.5

5.2
12.5
18.4
18.9
19.0
9.2
3.9
4.0
3.1

5.1
12.3
17.4
20.6
15.4
9.3
3.8
3.9
3.4

5.4
12.9
18.4
20.4
17.1
9.8
4.0
4.1
3.2

5.1
12.0
17.9
19.6
15.4
8.6
3.9
4.0
3.3

5.2
12.2
17.9
21.4
15.7
8.9
3.9
3.9
3.5

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

3,322
1,149
573
276
297
576
2,193
1,898
277

3,450
1,222
662
317
343
560
2,219
2,025
186

3,354
1,170
583
269
311
587
2,202
1,960
227

5.4
11.4
15.4
17.4
14.0
9.1
4.3
4.3
3.9

5.5
11.3
15.2
15.1
15.0
8.9
4.3
4.5
3.0

5.5
11.4
15.5
18.1
14.0
8.9
4.5
4.7
3.3

5.3
11.4
15.5
14.9
16.2
8.9
4.1
4.3
2.9

5.5
11.9
16.9
19.7
15.0
8.8
4.2
4.5
2.6

5.3
11.3
14.9
17.1
13.3
9.1
4.2
4.3
3.1

1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-9. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)

Total

Men

Women

Category
Mar.
1996

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1996

Mar.
1997

67,229
5,400
1,584

66,989
4,949
1,471

24,419
2,233
752

24,656
2,108
683

42,810
3,167
832

42,333
2,840
788

451
1,132

356
1,115

261
491

185
498

190
641

171
617

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

7,905
6.3

7,862
6.1

4,117
6.1

4,055
5.9

3,788
6.5

3,807
6.4

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

4,687
1,751
214
1,213

4,546
1,687
196
1,398

2,724
505
160
702

2,642
499
133
755

1,963
1,246
54
511

1,903
1,188
63
643

NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE

Total not in the labor force....................................
Persons who currently want a job..............................
Searched for work and available 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 1997, 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
Mar.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

Total......................... 117,895 118,950 119,700 120,547 118,750 120,492 120,723 120,982 121,275 121,450
Total private....................

98,086

99,479

99,837 100,560

99,356 100,995 101,199 101,438 101,688 101,882

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

23,695

23,776

23,831

23,973

24,196

24,319

24,356

24,399

24,513

24,501

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

563
50.2
100.8
308.2
103.4

556
51.3
96.6
307.6
100.1

556
51.1
96.0
307.8
101.5

558
51.2
96.0
307.0
103.8

574
51
101
314
108

566
52
97
308
109

566
52
97
308
109

568
52
97
309
110

571
52
96
313
110

570
52
97
312
109

Construction..........................
4,944
5,065
5,092
5,199
General building contractors........ 1,153.3 1,192.3 1,186.2 1,195.0
Heavy construction, except building.
676.4
635.1
650.2
680.8
Special trade contractors........... 3,114.4 3,237.8 3,255.2 3,322.7

5,341
1,223
770
3,348

5,491
1,241
764
3,486

5,520
1,250
766
3,504

5,535
1,260
765
3,510

5,643
1,271
783
3,589

5,616
1,266
775
3,575

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

18,188
12,551

18,155
12,518

18,183
12,548

18,216
12,575

18,281
12,619

18,262
12,613

18,270
12,616

18,296
12,636

18,299
12,643

18,315
12,647

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.........

10,597
7,248
741.8
499.7
523.1
705.8

10,670
7,302
758.2
502.7
517.9
703.1

10,694
7,333
759.4
504.0
519.4
702.3

10,724
7,358
764.4
505.6
525.5
702.0

10,623
7,263
755
500
536
706

10,694
7,327
771
501
537
703

10,710
7,333
771
503
539
702

10,734
7,355
771
503
539
703

10,744
7,372
774
505
540
702

10,759
7,377
781
507
538
703

238.0
234.0
232.8
232.2
1,440.5 1,460.9 1,461.7 1,466.1
2,091.4 2,098.1 2,107.8 2,116.6
356.5
362.5
364.6
368.2

239
1,442
2,087
358

234
1,461
2,087
360

233
1,462
2,092
361

234
1,466
2,101
362

233
1,465
2,107
366

233
1,468
2,112
370

1,647.8 1,641.9 1,641.2 1,640.3

1,651

1,647

1,645

1,642

1,643

1,644

612.8
611.6
614.9
617.0
1,728.9 1,776.2 1,784.2 1,787.8
924.8
949.6
953.1
954.3
446.0
476.3
480.3
482.4
831.6
830.0
829.9
830.0
386.2
381.4
384.0
385.6

614
1,726
926
445
832
388

611
1,772
952
468
830
385

611
1,776
953
472
834
386

612
1,788
959
476
832
389

615
1,788
954
481
831
389

617
1,789
955
483
830
387

Nondurable goods.....................
7,591
7,485
7,489
7,492
Production workers................
5,303
5,216
5,215
5,217
Food and kindred products........... 1,625.9 1,614.3 1,613.0 1,613.4
Tobacco products....................
39.7
42.9
41.8
40.6
Textile mill products...............
640.1
624.9
623.0
623.5
Apparel and other textile products..
859.6
806.7
810.5
806.7
Paper and allied products...........
676.2
670.8
669.7
668.7
Printing and publishing............. 1,530.6 1,520.8 1,521.1 1,523.9
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,024.0 1,011.6 1,012.9 1,013.9
Petroleum and coal products.........
136.7
132.4
132.5
134.0
Rubber and misc. plastics products..
960.7
967.8
972.5
974.5
Leather and leather products........
97.9
92.9
92.1
92.5

7,658
5,356
1,675
41
642
862
681
1,531
1,027
140
960
99

7,568
5,286
1,647
42
628
829
675
1,525
1,017
139
974
92

7,560
5,283
1,649
41
628
824
674
1,523
1,016
138
973
94

7,562
5,281
1,659
40
630
818
673
1,523
1,017
136
972
94

7,555
5,271
1,655
41
625
816
674
1,523
1,016
137
975
93

7,556
5,270
1,659
42
625
810
673
1,524
1,017
137
976
93

96,574

94,554

96,173

96,367

96,583

96,762

96,949

Transportation and public utilities...
6,233
6,312
6,333
6,358
Transportation......................
3,965
4,035
4,052
4,075
Railroad transportation...........
230.9
224.6
223.8
223.8
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................
455.3
474.7
475.8
479.9
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,835.9 1,832.0 1,838.3 1,846.9
Water transportation..............
165.8
167.8
168.7
169.9
Transportation by air.............
830.6
874.3
879.1
884.2
Pipelines, except natural gas.....
14.0
13.6
13.6
13.6
Transportation services...........
432.3
447.7
452.6
457.0
Communications and public utilities.
2,268
2,277
2,281
2,283
Communications.................... 1,371.8 1,397.3 1,403.8 1,407.5
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services.......................
896.5
879.4
877.5
875.2

6,292
4,011
233

6,350
4,062
229

6,340
4,057
229

6,378
4,091
229

6,404
4,110
227

6,415
4,121
226

442
1,884
171
835
14
432
2,281
1,378

460
1,870
172
868
14
449
2,288
1,401

462
1,852
172
878
14
450
2,283
1,397

465
1,881
176
876
14
450
2,287
1,404

464
1,891
176
884
14
454
2,294
1,411

466
1,894
176
889
14
456
2,294
1,413

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

94,200

95,174

95,869

903

887

886

883

883

881

6,664
3,906
2,758
21,504

6,548
3,841
2,707
21,350

6,651
3,890
2,761
21,857

6,655
3,894
2,761
21,931

6,662
3,897
2,765
21,922

6,689
3,914
2,775
21,928

6,708
3,921
2,787
21,971

856.0
892.1
893.2
917.0
2,579.0 2,764.2 2,657.6 2,658.1
2,272.4 2,438.9 2,349.1 2,352.2
3,356.7 3,447.9 3,432.1 3,435.6

887
2,687
2,363
3,403

942
2,770
2,444
3,462

948
2,781
2,454
3,461

942
2,736
2,416
3,469

945
2,747
2,432
3,471

954
2,769
2,457
3,484

2,222.4 2,286.8 2,291.3 2,305.7
1,016.6 1,040.8 1,044.4 1,047.9
1,068.8 1,108.2 1,070.2 1,068.9

2,242
1,020
1,100

2,309
1,042
1,106

2,313
1,044
1,102

2,315
1,047
1,108

2,321
1,050
1,103

2,329
1,051
1,102

944.5 1,022.3 1,012.6 1,008.9
7,272.8 7,230.4 7,295.0 7,397.3
2,611.6 2,768.7 2,737.9 2,712.1

951
7,413
2,667

1,005
7,527
2,736

1,016
7,558
2,752

1,017
7,571
2,764

1,018
7,567
2,756

1,019
7,544
2,770

Finance, insurance, and real estate...
6,893
7,012
7,017
7,054
Finance.............................
3,287
3,372
3,374
3,392
Depository institutions........... 2,013.4 2,034.2 2,029.7 2,034.8
Commercial banks................ 1,458.4 1,481.5 1,477.5 1,482.9
Savings institutions............
265.2
254.8
253.3
251.8
Nondepository institutions........
502.4
535.5
534.9
542.4
Mortgage bankers and brokers....
226.3
242.6
243.0
247.5
Security and commodity brokers....
530.4
557.2
561.3
565.5
Holding and other investment
offices........................
240.5
245.2
248.2
249.5
Insurance...........................
2,257
2,258
2,257
2,261
Insurance carriers................ 1,549.0 1,546.5 1,544.1 1,545.1
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................
708.0
711.2
713.3
715.5
Real estate.........................
1,349
1,382
1,386
1,401

6,931
3,293
2,020
1,464
265
501
(1)
532

7,038
3,361
2,035
1,479
258
530
(1)
552

7,052
3,369
2,035
1,480
257
533
(1)
555

7,062
3,379
2,035
1,484
255
536
(1)
560

7,072
3,383
2,037
1,484
255
533
(1)
564

7,094
3,400
2,042
1,490
252
541
(1)
568

240
2,257
1,549

244
2,264
1,550

246
2,265
1,551

248
2,260
1,549

249
2,261
1,547

249
2,260
1,544

708
1,381

714
1,413

714
1,418

711
1,423

714
1,428

716
1,434

34,039
603
1,662
1,175
7,058
898
2,565
2,265

34,780
628
1,692
1,185
7,285
885
2,672
2,362

34,865
623
1,700
1,183
7,326
885
2,690
2,379

35,015
634
1,711
1,189
7,389
878
2,762
2,448

35,082
638
1,714
1,185
7,408
883
2,728
2,403

35,193
634
1,712
1,183
7,466
880
2,757
2,428

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

6,504
3,826
2,678
20,912

33,849
540.2
1,598.1
1,238.1
6,944.1
892.0
2,481.1
2,188.0

6,609
3,879
2,730
21,521

34,249
529.8
1,599.3
1,235.1
7,195.4
867.7
2,580.6
2,279.7

6,630
3,891
2,739
21,390

34,636
533.3
1,623.2
1,253.8
7,224.0
872.4
2,571.6
2,258.5

35,007
567.2
1,643.0
1,248.0
7,337.9
874.3
2,655.7
2,332.2

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

1,158.6
1,064.9
358.7
524.9
1,395.7
9,484.8

1,278.2
1,119.2
363.8
532.2
1,340.0
9,679.4

1,306.8
1,145.7
367.6
537.3
1,443.0
9,733.6

1,155
1,066
361
518
1,518
9,499

1,251
1,121
370
530
1,545
9,666

1,262
1,128
370
532
1,559
9,679

1,277
1,133
369
536
1,565
9,709

1,290
1,143
369
537
1,554
9,721

1,305
1,147
371
530
1,557
9,743

1,646.4 1,702.0 1,708.3 1,709.9

1,650

1,694

1,697

1,711

1,716

1,715

1,723.9
3,837.5
652.1
924.1
2,116.0
2,390.0
583.6
654.8

1,763.9
3,897.0
667.0
950.7
2,173.4
2,450.5
596.6
682.4

1,728
3,842
655
928
1,991
2,381
569
656

1,757
3,875
668
941
2,025
2,420
579
675

1,760
3,880
665
943
2,021
2,416
575
676

1,763
3,880
670
944
2,016
2,425
580
678

1,766
3,887
666
947
2,028
2,432
581
680

1,768
3,899
668
954
2,044
2,439
580
684

77.9
78.9
78.8
81.4
2,122.1 2,117.6 2,131.7 2,142.1
2,878.0 2,932.3 2,969.0 2,991.7

83
2,136
2,868

86
2,152
2,941

87
2,153
2,952

86
2,154
2,961

87
2,154
2,971

87
2,157
2,975

1,757.3
3,874.5
665.5
940.8
1,979.5
2,412.1
584.7
674.4

1,291.0
1,133.8
364.2
534.5
1,378.8
9,694.6

1,759.1
3,882.3
662.3
944.2
2,147.0
2,432.1
592.0
677.1

819.9
891.1
44.7

852.1
928.4
46.2

853.9
941.6
46.2

861.5
948.7
46.7

829
894
(3)

859
935
(3)

859
942
(3)

861
941
(3)

866
949
(3)

873
950
(3)

19,809
2,770
1,915.2
4,773
2,098.8
2,674.4
12,266
7,058.6
5,207.8

19,471
2,703
1,837.1
4,582
1,927.5
2,654.0
12,186
6,960.5
5,225.3

19,863
2,698
1,846.9
4,757
2,095.8
2,660.9
12,408
7,168.7
5,239.0

19,987
2,701
1,848.5
4,788
2,124.5
2,663.4
12,498
7,233.3
5,264.6

19,394
2,780
1,922
4,639
1,951
2,688
11,975
6,675
5,300

19,497
2,733
1,873
4,640
1,960
2,680
12,124
6,798
5,326

19,524
2,729
1,870
4,642
1,963
2,679
12,153
6,801
5,352

19,544
2,725
1,860
4,638
1,960
2,678
12,181
6,823
5,358

19,587
2,712
1,858
4,656
1,977
2,679
12,219
6,860
5,359

19,568
2,709
1,856
4,656
1,977
2,679
12,203
6,846
5,357

1 This series is not suitable for seasonal adjustment because it has very little seasonal and irregular movement.
Thus, the not seasonally adjusted series can be used for analysis of cyclical and long-term trends.
2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3 This series is 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-2. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by industry

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Mar.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

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

34.2

33.9

34.5

34.6

34.5

34.6

34.8

34.2

34.9

34.8

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

40.6

40.4

40.7

41.2

40.8

41.1

41.3

40.8

41.3

41.4

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

45.0

44.2

45.7

45.8

45.7

44.8

45.7

44.3

46.3

46.4

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

38.1

36.3

37.4

38.3

38.7

38.9

38.8

37.8

39.0

38.9

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

41.3
4.1

41.5
4.5

41.6
4.5

42.0
4.7

41.3
4.3

41.7
4.5

42.0
4.6

41.7
4.7

41.9
4.7

42.1
4.9

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

42.0
4.4

42.2
4.8

42.4
4.8

42.9
5.1

42.0
4.5

42.4
4.7

42.7
4.9

42.4
5.0

42.8
5.0

42.9
5.3

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.........

40.4
39.0
42.7
43.8

39.6
39.3
40.9
44.5

40.2
38.8
42.1
44.6

40.6
39.8
42.7
45.1

40.6
39.4
43.2
43.9

41.0
39.8
43.2
44.1

41.0
40.2
43.4
44.6

40.4
39.7
42.3
44.4

40.8
39.7
43.6
44.7

40.9
40.2
43.3
45.1

44.3
41.9
43.3

44.7
42.1
43.3

44.6
42.3
43.5

45.2
42.6
43.8

44.5
42.0
43.0

44.7
42.3
43.0

44.6
42.5
43.2

44.8
42.1
43.1

44.7
42.6
43.5

45.3
42.7
43.5

41.4
42.3
42.3
41.9
39.8

41.2
44.6
45.5
41.7
39.6

41.5
44.3
45.1
41.9
40.1

42.0
44.8
45.8
42.2
40.7

41.4
42.2
42.1
41.7
39.7

41.4
44.1
44.6
41.8
40.0

41.8
44.5
45.1
42.1
40.6

41.1
45.0
45.9
41.6
40.0

41.9
44.4
45.2
42.2
40.7

42.0
45.0
45.9
42.0
40.6

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

40.3
3.8

40.5
4.0

40.4
4.0

40.7
4.2

40.5
4.0

40.7
4.1

41.0
4.3

40.6
4.2

40.8
4.3

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........

40.5
39.5
40.7
37.0
42.8
38.2
43.1
43.0
41.3
37.7

40.7
39.2
40.9
36.9
43.8
37.7
43.2
45.0
41.4
37.7

40.8
39.1
40.5
36.9
43.3
38.1
43.1
43.3
41.5
38.0

40.7
41.1
41.5
37.5
43.5
38.7
43.0
42.4
41.7
38.6

41.1
40.4
40.8
36.9
43.1
38.2
43.1
(2)
41.3
37.8

41.2
40.6
41.3
37.4
43.6
38.2
43.3
(2)
41.2
39.0

41.4
41.6
41.6
37.4
43.8
38.4
43.6
(2)
41.8
38.8

41.0
39.4
41.1
37.1
43.7
38.1
43.2
(2)
41.2
38.0

41.4
41.4
40.8
37.2
43.7
38.5
43.3
(2)
41.6
39.0

41.3
41.8
41.5
37.5
43.9
38.7
43.0
(2)
41.8
38.8

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

32.5

32.2

32.9

32.9

32.8

32.8

33.0

32.4

33.2

33.1

Transportation and public utilities...

39.5

39.1

39.6

39.5

39.9

39.9

40.0

39.4

39.9

39.9

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

38.1

37.8

38.5

38.4

38.3

38.3

38.6

38.0

38.8

38.6

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

28.5

28.0

28.7

28.7

28.9

29.0

28.9

28.7

29.4

29.1

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

35.7

35.7

36.7

36.6

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

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

32.2

32.0

32.7

32.6

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

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
Mar.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

Mar.
1996

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

$11.69
11.68

$12.12
12.05

$12.14
12.10

$12.17
12.15

$399.80
402.96

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

13.17

13.67

13.67

13.74

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

15.51

16.16

16.04

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

15.13

15.70

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

12.54

13.04

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.........

13.05
10.29
10.00
12.59
14.74

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........

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

$410.87
412.11

$418.83
422.29

$421.08
422.82

534.70

552.27

556.37

566.09

15.97

697.95

714.27

733.03

731.43

15.65

15.72

576.45

569.91

585.31

602.08

13.03

13.09

517.90

541.16

542.05

549.78

13.61
10.58
10.38
12.98
15.13

13.59
10.58
10.34
13.04
15.11

13.63
10.58
10.41
13.00
15.21

548.10
415.72
390.00
537.59
645.61

574.34
418.97
407.93
530.88
673.29

576.22
425.32
401.19
548.98
673.91

584.73
429.55
414.32
555.10
685.97

17.61
12.28
13.36

17.75
12.72
13.91

17.76
12.73
13.91

17.98
12.76
13.94

780.12
514.53
578.49

793.43
535.51
602.30

792.10
538.48
605.09

812.70
543.58
610.57

11.91
16.69
17.11
12.97
10.25

12.45
17.50
18.09
13.38
10.60

12.45
17.43
17.98
13.38
10.57

12.53
17.51
18.05
13.40
10.55

493.07
705.99
723.75
543.44
407.95

512.94
780.50
823.10
557.95
419.76

516.68
772.15
810.90
560.62
423.86

526.26
784.45
826.69
565.48
429.39

11.83
11.11
19.55
9.55
7.85
14.45
12.52
16.03
19.20
11.14
8.46

12.21
11.43
18.81
9.92
8.11
14.85
12.86
16.40
20.11
11.48
8.84

12.20
11.35
18.79
9.87
8.17
14.82
12.89
16.52
20.42
11.44
8.93

12.28
11.44
20.52
9.91
8.22
14.96
13.02
16.53
20.55
11.51
8.90

476.75
449.96
772.23
388.69
290.45
618.46
478.26
690.89
825.60
460.08
318.94

494.51
465.20
737.35
405.73
299.26
650.43
484.82
708.48
904.95
475.27
333.27

492.88
463.08
734.69
399.74
301.47
641.71
491.11
712.01
884.19
474.76
339.34

499.80
465.61
843.37
411.27
308.25
650.76
503.87
710.79
871.32
479.97
343.54

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

11.21

11.61

11.65

11.66

364.33

373.84

383.29

383.61

Transportation and public utilities...

$14.44

$14.75

$14.66

$14.66

$570.38

$576.73

$580.54

$579.07

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

12.67

13.15

13.24

13.22

482.73

497.07

509.74

507.65

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

7.90

8.23

8.23

8.25

225.15

230.44

236.20

236.78

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

12.74

13.00

13.14

13.17

454.82

464.10

482.24

482.02

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

11.72

12.20

12.25

12.27

377.38

390.40

400.58

400.00

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:
Feb. 1997Mar. 1997

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

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

$11.68
7.40

$11.99
7.45

$12.04
7.46

$12.05
7.46

$12.10
7.47

$12.15
N.A.

0.4
(3)

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

13.25
15.46
15.24
12.55
11.91

13.62
15.76
15.55
12.94
12.27

13.69
15.90
15.66
12.99
12.30

13.73
16.01
15.72
13.03
12.34

13.76
15.94
15.76
13.03
12.32

13.82
15.93
15.85
13.09
12.38

.4
-.1
.6
.5
.5

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

11.16

11.45

11.50

11.49

11.55

11.60

.4

14.47
12.70
7.88

14.59
13.05
8.13

14.61
13.16
8.16

14.75
13.08
8.18

14.62
13.21
8.20

14.68
13.25
8.23

.4
.3
.4

12.68
11.67

13.02
12.02

13.01
12.07

12.95
12.06

13.06
12.15

13.10
12.20

.3
.4

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 .1 percent from January 1997 to February 1997, 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
Mar.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

Mar.
1996

Nov.
1996

Dec.
1996

Jan.
1997

Feb.
1997p

Mar.
1997p

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

132.5

133.0

136.0

137.4

135.5

138.2

139.3

137.1

140.6

140.5

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

106.0

105.7

106.9

109.0

109.5

110.9

111.6

110.5

112.7

112.7

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

53.4

52.3

54.3

54.8

55.7

53.9

55.1

54.0

56.8

57.0

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

129.9

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

104.4

126.7

131.4

104.8

105.2

137.6

145.6

150.5

151.3

147.9

156.4

154.3

106.4

105.2

106.1

106.8

106.1

106.9

107.4

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.........

106.1
129.7
121.0
104.5
91.3

107.6
130.4
123.2
99.1
92.5

108.5
132.5
122.0
102.4
92.7

110.0
135.0
125.5
105.2
93.7

106.3
133.1
122.0
108.9
91.5

108.4
137.9
123.9
109.2
91.6

109.3
137.7
125.4
110.2
92.6

108.8
135.6
124.2
107.4
92.2

110.0
137.6
125.1
111.2
92.7

110.5
139.3
127.0
109.7
93.7

72.6
112.5
104.4

72.2
114.9
104.9

71.5
115.5
106.0

72.2
116.8
107.1

73.1
113.0
103.2

72.6
115.4
103.2

72.1
115.9
104.0

72.8
115.3
104.4

72.2
116.8
105.7

72.8
117.3
106.0

108.2
113.9
148.9
73.9
102.0

106.1
124.0
164.5
73.1
99.8

107.7
123.8
163.9
73.8
102.1

108.6
125.5
166.6
74.5
104.2

108.1
113.2
147.9
73.6
102.4

107.2
122.7
161.7
73.6
102.0

107.9
123.9
163.9
74.2
103.9

105.9
126.1
167.7
73.3
103.5

108.7
124.1
164.1
74.5
105.0

108.7
125.7
166.2
74.0
104.3

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........

102.1
109.0
59.4
91.5
76.7
106.8
123.6
100.7
71.2
139.3
44.0

100.8
109.2
65.9
90.2
71.6
109.1
120.5
98.2
72.9
140.5
41.2

100.7
109.1
63.2
88.9
71.8
107.7
121.5
98.3
70.6
141.6
41.2

101.6
109.1
64.3
91.3
72.7
107.7
123.8
97.7
70.6
142.8
42.1

103.7
114.7
64.0
92.0
76.7
108.4
123.6
100.9
74.6
139.2
44.1

102.8
113.2
66.4
91.3
74.3
109.3
122.8
99.4
74.8
140.9
42.5

103.4
114.2
65.9
92.1
73.9
109.8
123.2
99.8
75.5
142.6
43.5

102.5
113.7
60.5
91.2
73.1
109.5
121.8
98.7
76.3
140.3
42.0

102.8
114.3
65.6
89.8
72.9
109.3
123.1
98.9
73.6
142.4
42.5

103.1
114.4
68.3
91.6
73.0
109.6
123.5
97.9
74.2
143.1
42.3

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

144.4

145.3

149.1

150.1

147.2

150.5

151.7

149.1

153.2

153.0

Transportation and public utilities...

126.4

126.9

129.3

129.4

129.1

130.4

130.6

129.6

131.7

131.9

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

122.6

123.7

125.9

126.5

124.3

126.3

127.2

125.4

128.5

128.1

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

128.8

130.0

132.5

133.4

133.7

137.1

137.1

136.0

139.5

138.5

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

123.7

125.8

129.4

129.6

125.4

127.6

130.6

125.6

130.9

131.5

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

173.3

173.7

179.2

181.0

175.2

179.4

181.5

177.7

182.9

183.0

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

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:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

60.0
58.8
63.2
52.4
59.8

60.8
62.1
59.3
63.2
p58.3

51.3
66.0
54.9
60.0
p56.9

58.6
64.2
54.6
52.4

61.7
60.3
51.4
62.2

55.2
63.5
55.1
57.4

57.7
61.5
54.1
55.8

57.0
62.1
57.4
57.3

61.8
60.8
51.8
52.7

59.7
61.5
54.8
63.1

61.8
63.1
56.3
57.2

59.6
63.9
59.4
59.0

Over 3-month span:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

63.8
67.1
66.6
60.7
p64.5

61.2
69.5
63.2
61.8
p64.2

61.1
70.4
56.9
61.2

59.8
68.7
53.4
60.0

63.1
66.4
54.2
61.0

62.9
66.0
52.9
63.6

59.7
68.5
56.6
60.3

63.1
69.5
53.8
56.7

64.5
65.3
54.2
60.8

67.1
65.6
54.6
60.0

64.6
68.0
58.3
64.6

63.5
67.8
57.0
62.9

Over 6-month span:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

63.3
70.8
66.3
60.3

65.2
71.6
60.8
62.9

63.8
69.0
58.7
63.8

64.2
69.8
54.4
63.8

62.4
69.5
53.5
62.6

65.9
69.5
54.1
59.0

65.7
69.2
53.1
65.2

63.9
69.0
56.3
62.6

66.3
69.2
55.9
61.8

67.3
68.5
54.1
63.9

70.6
69.1
56.2
p65.4

69.5
66.6
61.8
p66.6

Over 12-month span:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

64.9
70.2
62.6
61.0

63.9
71.6
60.8
61.7

64.0
71.8
60.1
61.5

65.4
71.8
61.2
61.1

67.0
72.1
58.1
62.8

67.6
71.8
57.7
64.3

67.6
71.5
54.5
64.2

67.0
72.1
58.7
p64.6

70.2
70.1
58.6
p64.7

69.5
69.4
57.3

69.2
65.7
59.4

70.1
65.0
59.8

Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1

Over 1-month span:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

52.5
56.5
56.8
42.1
54.0

56.5
60.1
55.0
48.2
p49.6

50.7
59.7
46.0
48.2
p50.4

45.7
58.6
45.3
39.6

54.0
53.2
39.2
53.2

45.7
57.9
40.3
49.6

49.3
57.6
45.0
43.9

49.3
53.6
45.0
50.0

59.4
55.8
42.4
44.6

53.2
54.7
45.3
54.3

53.6
57.2
46.4
48.2

55.0
59.4
47.5
52.9

Over 3-month span:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

60.8
63.7
60.4
38.8
p55.8

58.3
64.4
51.8
39.9
p52.5

53.2
66.2
43.5
37.8

47.8
60.8
34.9
43.2

48.9
56.1
33.1
45.3

54.0
56.8
32.0
47.5

50.4
60.8
33.1
45.7

58.3
58.6
35.6
40.6

57.6
54.0
38.8
50.7

59.7
56.1
39.6
47.1

54.7
60.1
40.6
51.8

57.6
60.8
38.8
51.4

Over 6-month span:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

56.5
62.2
55.4
32.0

59.0
64.4
45.0
37.4

56.8
60.4
38.5
37.1

55.4
61.5
33.5
38.1

50.7
59.0
27.7
42.4

57.9
56.8
28.8
37.8

59.4
56.5
28.8
48.6

56.5
57.2
30.6
43.5

57.6
60.1
33.5
45.0

58.6
55.8
33.1
51.1

64.4
59.7
34.2
p51.1

60.8
55.8
38.8
p51.4

Over 12-month span:
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............

56.8
57.9
42.1
33.1

57.9
58.6
40.3
33.1

55.8
60.8
39.9
33.8

58.6
60.8
40.6
35.6

57.2
60.8
34.5
37.1

57.6
63.3
31.7
41.0

58.6
59.4
25.9
40.6

59.0
60.1
28.8
p42.1

61.2
57.2
28.1
p44.2

59.7
55.8
24.1

60.1
49.6
27.0

57.6
47.5
29.1

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.