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Internet address: http://stats.bls.gov/newsrels.htm
Technical information:
USDL 98-130
Household data: (202) 606-6378
Transmission of material in this
release is embargoed until
Establishment data:
606-6555 8:30 A.M. (EST),
Media contact:
606-5902 Friday, April 3, 1998

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

MARCH 1998

Both nonfarm payroll employment and the unemployment rate were about
unchanged in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
of Labor reported today. Following 5 months of strong growth, the number
of payroll jobs edged down by 36,000, reflecting declines in construction
and retail trade and an unusually small gain in services. The unemployment
rate was 4.7 percent in March.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons, 6.5 million, was little changed from
the prior month. The jobless rate, 4.7 percent in March, has been at or
below 5 percent for the last 12 months. Unemployment rates for the major
worker groups--adult men (3.9 percent), adult women (4.3 percent), teenagers
(15.0 percent), whites (4.1 percent), blacks (9.2 percent), and Hispanics
(6.9 percent)--showed little or no movement over the month. (See tables A-1
and A-2.)
The unemployment rates for persons 25 years and over changed little in
each of the major educational attainment categories. The rate was 7.2
percent for those with less than a high school diploma, 4.2 percent for
high school graduates with no college experience, 3.3 percent for high
school graduates with some college experience but no bachelor's degree, and
1.9 percent for college graduates. (See table A-3.)
The number of persons unemployed for less than 5 weeks rose to 2.9
million in March (seasonally adjusted); it had been 2.5 million in January.
Long-term unemployment of 27 weeks or longer--891,000 in March--was at its
lowest level of the current expansion. This measure had peaked at 2.2
million in October 1992. (See table A-6.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment, at 131.0 million (seasonally adjusted), was
essentially unchanged over the month. Over the year, total civilian
employment has risen by about 2.1 million, after adjusting for changes in
the composite estimation procedure. The employment-population ratio--the
proportion of the population with jobs--was 64.0 percent, near its all-time
high. (See table A-1.)
About 8.0 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in March. They comprised 6.1 percent of the total employed. (See
table A-10.)

- 2 Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
|
Quarterly
|
Monthly data
|
|
averages
|
|
|_________________|__________________________| Feb.Category
|
1997 | 1998 1/|
1998 1/
| Mar.
|_________________|__________________________|change
|
IV |
I
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA
|
Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 136,813| 137,524| 137,493| 137,557| 137,523|
-34
Employment..........| 130,421| 131,080| 131,083| 131,163| 130,994|
-169
Unemployment........|
6,392|
6,444|
6,409|
6,393|
6,529|
136
Not in labor force....| 67,123| 66,871| 66,745| 66,844| 67,024|
180
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........|
4.7|
4.7|
4.7|
4.6|
4.7|
0.1
Adult men...........|
4.0|
3.8|
3.8|
3.8|
3.9|
.1
Adult women.........|
4.0|
4.3|
4.4|
4.3|
4.3|
.0
Teenagers...........|
15.0|
14.6|
14.1|
14.7|
15.0|
.3
White...............|
4.0|
4.0|
4.0|
3.9|
4.1|
.2
Black...............|
9.7|
9.4|
9.3|
9.7|
9.2|
-.5
Hispanic origin.....|
7.4|
6.9|
6.9|
6.8|
6.9|
.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA
|
Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 123,487|p124,421| 124,265|p124,517|p124,481|
p-36
Goods-producing 2/..| 24,899| p25,132| 25,139| p25,172| p25,086|
p-86
Construction......|
5,693| p5,836|
5,843| p5,877| p5,789|
p-88
Manufacturing.....| 18,633| p18,724| 18,722| p18,723| p18,726|
p3
Service-producing 2/| 98,588| p99,289| 99,126| p99,345| p99,395|
p50
Retail trade......| 22,370| p22,455| 22,462| p22,476| p22,428|
p-48
Services..........| 36,108| p36,509| 36,417| p36,532| p36,577|
p45
Government........| 19,761| p19,800| 19,781| p19,812| p19,807|
p-5
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Hours of work 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
34.6|
p34.8|
34.8|
p34.9|
p34.7| p-0.2
Manufacturing.......|
42.1|
p41.9|
42.1|
p42.0|
p41.7|
p-.3
Overtime..........|
4.9|
p4.8|
4.9|
p4.8|
p4.7|
p-.1
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (1982=100) 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
142.2| p143.9|
143.6| p144.5| p143.5| p-1.0
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Earnings 3/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| $12.45| p$12.58| $12.52| p$12.59| p$12.63| p$0.04
Avg. weekly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| 431.30| p437.78| 435.70| p439.39| p438.26| p-1.13
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Beginning in January 1998, household data reflect new composite
estimation procedures and revised population controls.
2/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.

- 3 The civilian labor force, at 137.5 million (seasonally adjusted), was
virtually unchanged over the month. The labor force participation rate was
67.2 percent. (See table A-1.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.4 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in March. These were people who wanted and
were available for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12
months but were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for
work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.
The number of discouraged workers--a subset of the marginally attached
who were not currently looking for work specifically because they believed
no jobs were available for them--totaled 343,000 in March, little changed
from a year earlier. (See table A-10.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment edged down in March after adding 1.7
million jobs during the prior 5 months. Employment in March was 3.1
million higher than a year earlier. Over the month, there were declines in
construction and retail trade. These were mostly offset by a relatively
small gain in services and continued growth in finance, insurance, and real
estate and in transportation and public utilities. (See table B-1.)
In the goods-producing sector, construction employment fell by 88,000
over the month, after seasonal adjustment. This followed 4 months of large
gains, which were partly due to an exceptionally mild winter during which
seasonal employment declines were much smaller than normal. As a result,
there was less need to add workers in March. Also, the weather during the
March survey reference period was much colder than usual, further slowing
seasonal hiring.
Manufacturing employment was essentially unchanged for the second
straight month, after growing by 169,000 between September and January.
Job growth has slowed in several industries that had accounted for much of
the increase--fabricated metals, industrial machinery, electronic
components, and aircraft.
In the service-producing sector, employment in the services industry
rose by only 45,000 over the month, the smallest gain since August 1997.
The weakness in March was due in part to an employment decline in the help
supply industry (-16,000), following a sizable gain in February. Motion
picture employment declined by 8,000 in March. Health services added only
7,000 jobs, compared with a monthly average of 18,000 over the prior year.
In contrast, strong growth continued in March in computer services
(17,000), engineering and management services (16,000), and social services
(11,000).
Retail trade employment fell by 48,000 in March, as seasonal hiring
was below normal in eating and drinking places. Employment in apparel
stores declined for the second month in a row. Employment in wholesale
trade and its component industries was about unchanged in March.
Government employment was little changed over the month at 19.8 million,
seasonally adjusted. After 5 years of substantial declines, employment
losses in federal government, except the postal service, have slowed,
totaling only 7,000 since September.

- 4 Transportation and public utilities continued to grow, adding 22,000
jobs in March and 86,000 since December. Spurring the March increase were
widespread gains in transportation and continued strong growth in telephone
communications. The number of jobs in finance, insurance, and real estate
rose by 31,000 over the month, reflecting strong housing and stock markets
and low mortgage rates.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls decreased by 0.2 hour to 34.7 hours, seasonally
adjusted. The manufacturing workweek fell by 0.3 hour to 41.7 hours,
bringing the decline since December to half an hour. Factory overtime
decreased for the second straight month by 0.1 hour to 4.7 hours. (See
table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls declined by 0.7 percent to 143.5
(1982=100), seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index decreased by 0.6
percent to 108.9. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls were up 4 cents in March to $12.63, seasonally
adjusted. Reflecting the decline in the workweek, average weekly earnings
edged down 0.3 percent to $438.26. Since March 1997, average hourly and
weekly earnings have risen by 4.0 and 3.7 percent, respectively.
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for April 1998 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, May 8, at 8:30 A.M. (EDT).
----------------------------------------------------------------|
Revisions in the Establishment Survey Data
|
| With the release of May data in June, BLS will introduce
|
|revisions in the establishment-based series on nonfarm payroll |
|employment, hours, and earnings to reflect the regular annual
|
|benchmark adjustments and updated seasonal adjustment factors.
|
|This year’s benchmark process affects all unadjusted series from |
|April 1996 forward.
|
| BLS also will implement refinements to the seasonal adjustment |
|process for the hours and earnings series to correct for
|
|distortions related to the method of accounting for the varying |
|length of payroll periods across months.
|
| All seasonally adjusted employment series will be revised from |
|January 1993 forward. The hours and earnings series will be
|
|revised from January 1989 forward to incorporate the new
|
|methodology. Seasonal adjustment factors for March through
|
|October 1998 will be available on May 29, 1 week prior to the
|
|release of the May estimates, on the Internet
|
|(http://stats.bls.gov/ceshome.htm). Further information on these|
|revisions is available by calling (202) 606-6555.
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------

- 5 Explanatory Note

This news release presents statistics from two major surveys, the Current
Population Survey (household survey) and the Current Employment Statistics
survey (establishment survey). The household survey provides the
information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment that appears
in the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample survey of about
50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the employment,
hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B
tables, marked ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected from
payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies. In June 1997,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing about 48 million
people.
For both surveys, the data for a given month relate to a particular week
or pay period. In the household survey, the reference week is generally
the calendar week that contains the 12th day of the month. In the
establishment survey, the reference period is the pay period including the
12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.
Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of
questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over
in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the
labor force.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours
in a family business or farm. People are also counted as employed if they
were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather,
vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.
People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following
criteria: They had no employment during the reference week; they were
available for work at that time; and they made specific efforts to find
employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference
week. Persons laid off from a job and expecting recall
need not be
looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The unemployment data
derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the eligibility for
or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
The civilian labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed
persons. Those not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the
labor force. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a percent
of the labor force. The labor force participation rate is the labor force
as a percent of the population, and the employment-population ratio is the
employed as a percent of the population.
Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
Federal, State, and local government entities. Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave. Persons are counted in each job
they hold. Hours and earnings data are for private businesses and relate
only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-producing sector.

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

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

Other differences between the two surveys are described in
"Comparing
Employment Estimates from Household and Payroll Surveys," which may be
obtained from BLS upon request.
Seasonal adjustment
Over the course of a year, the size of the nation's labor force and the
levels of employment and unemployment undergo sharp fluctuations due to
such seasonal events as changes in weather, reduced or expanded production,
harvests, major holidays, and the opening and closing of schools. The
effect of such seasonal variation can be very large; seasonal
fluctuations may account for as much as 95 percent of the month-to-month
changes in unemployment.
Because these seasonal events follow a more or less regular pattern each
year, their influence on statistical trends can be eliminated by adjusting
the statistics from month to month. These adjustments make nonseasonal
developments, such as declines in economic activity or increases in the
participation of women in the labor force, easier to spot. For example,
the large number of youth entering the labor force each June is likely to
obscure any other changes that have taken place relative to May, making it
difficult to determine if the level of economic activity has risen or
declined. However, because the effect of students finishing school in
previous years is known, the statistics for the current year can be
adjusted to allow for a comparable change. Insofar as the seasonal
adjustment is made correctly, the adjusted figure provides a more useful
tool with which to analyze changes in economic activity.
In both the household and establishment surveys, most seasonally adjusted
series are independently adjusted. However, the adjusted series for many
major estimates, such as total payroll employment, employment in most major
industry divisions, total employment, and unemployment are computed by
aggregating independently adjusted component series. For example, total
unemployment is derived by summing the adjusted series for four major agesex components; this differs from the unemployment estimate that would be
obtained by directly adjusting the total or by combining the duration,
reasons, or more detailed age categories.
The numerical factors used to make the seasonal adjustments are
recalculated twice a year. For the household survey, the factors are
calculated for the January-June period and again for the July-December

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

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, sex, and age

Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

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

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

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

204,547
136,967
67.0
130,150
63.6
2,931
127,219
6,816
5.0
67,580

202,513
136,115
67.2
129,035
63.7
3,387
125,648
7,080
5.2
66,398

203,941
136,864
67.1
130,575
64.0
3,384
127,191
6,289
4.6
67,077

204,098
137,169
67.2
130,777
64.1
3,385
127,392
6,392
4.7
66,929

204,238
137,493
67.3
131,083
64.2
3,319
127,764
6,409
4.7
66,745

204,400
137,557
67.3
131,163
64.2
3,335
127,829
6,393
4.6
66,844

204,547
137,523
67.2
130,994
64.0
3,132
127,862
6,529
4.7
67,024

97,387
72,731
74.7
68,573
70.4
4,158
5.7

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

98,405
73,285
74.5
69,506
70.6
3,779
5.2

97,387
73,164
75.1
69,415
71.3
3,749
5.1

98,141
73,682
75.1
70,352
71.7
3,330
4.5

98,225
73,662
75.0
70,195
71.5
3,467
4.7

98,241
73,852
75.2
70,518
71.8
3,333
4.5

98,331
73,780
75.0
70,459
71.7
3,320
4.5

98,405
73,695
74.9
70,297
71.4
3,399
4.6

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

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

90,502
69,356
76.6
66,263
73.2
2,066
64,197
3,093
4.5

89,604
69,040
77.1
66,031
73.7
2,357
63,674
3,009
4.4

90,251
69,500
77.0
66,824
74.0
2,323
64,501
2,676
3.9

90,339
69,561
77.0
66,676
73.8
2,314
64,362
2,885
4.1

90,391
69,652
77.1
67,008
74.1
2,282
64,726
2,644
3.8

90,476
69,601
76.9
66,990
74.0
2,264
64,726
2,611
3.8

90,502
69,451
76.7
66,753
73.8
2,168
64,585
2,699
3.9

105,127
62,794
59.7
59,552
56.6
3,241
5.2

106,070
63,355
59.7
60,285
56.8
3,070
4.8

106,141
63,682
60.0
60,644
57.1
3,038
4.8

105,127
62,951
59.9
59,620
56.7
3,331
5.3

105,799
63,182
59.7
60,223
56.9
2,959
4.7

105,873
63,507
60.0
60,582
57.2
2,925
4.6

105,997
63,641
60.0
60,565
57.1
3,076
4.8

106,070
63,777
60.1
60,704
57.2
3,073
4.8

106,141
63,827
60.1
60,697
57.2
3,130
4.9

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

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

98,534
59,869
60.8
57,316
58.2
676
56,639
2,554
4.3

97,638
59,070
60.5
56,322
57.7
752
55,570
2,748
4.7

98,212
59,348
60.4
56,953
58.0
833
56,120
2,395
4.0

98,300
59,624
60.7
57,255
58.2
845
56,410
2,369
4.0

98,420
59,652
60.6
57,040
58.0
811
56,229
2,612
4.4

98,471
59,721
60.6
57,146
58.0
801
56,345
2,575
4.3

98,534
59,771
60.7
57,186
58.0
717
56,470
2,585
4.3

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

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

15,511
7,742
49.9
6,571
42.4
189
6,383
1,170
15.1

15,271
8,005
52.4
6,682
43.8
278
6,404
1,323
16.5

15,478
8,016
51.8
6,798
43.9
228
6,570
1,218
15.2

15,459
7,984
51.6
6,846
44.3
226
6,620
1,138
14.3

15,427
8,189
53.1
7,035
45.6
227
6,809
1,154
14.1

15,453
8,235
53.3
7,028
45.5
270
6,758
1,207
14.7

15,511
8,300
53.5
7,055
45.5
247
6,808
1,245
15.0

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...
Civilian labor force.................
Participation rate.............
Employed...........................
Employment-population ratio....
Unemployed.........................
Unemployment rate..............
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population...
Civilian labor force.................
Participation rate.............
Employed...........................
Employment-population ratio....
Agriculture......................
Nonagricultural industries.......
Unemployed.........................
Unemployment rate..............
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 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-2.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, race, sex, age, and
Hispanic origin
Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

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

169,569
114,135
67.3
108,745
64.1
5,389
4.7

170,917
114,489
67.0
109,504
64.1
4,985
4.4

171,016
114,822
67.1
109,842
64.2
4,980
4.3

169,569
114,597
67.6
109,528
64.6
5,069
4.4

170,545
115,073
67.5
110,604
64.9
4,469
3.9

170,649
115,263
67.5
110,729
64.9
4,534
3.9

170,810
115,253
67.5
110,698
64.8
4,555
4.0

170,917
115,392
67.5
110,842
64.9
4,550
3.9

171,016
115,297
67.4
110,605
64.7
4,692
4.1

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

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

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

59,084
77.0
56,751
73.9
2,333
3.9

59,083
77.6
56,867
74.7
2,216
3.8

59,355
77.5
57,363
74.9
1,992
3.4

59,389
77.5
57,272
74.7
2,117
3.6

59,262
77.3
57,336
74.8
1,926
3.3

59,372
77.4
57,456
74.9
1,916
3.2

59,201
77.1
57,209
74.5
1,992
3.4

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

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

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

49,153
60.0
47,371
57.8
1,783
3.6

48,793
60.0
46,885
57.6
1,908
3.9

48,906
59.9
47,265
57.8
1,641
3.4

49,134
60.1
47,474
58.1
1,660
3.4

49,077
60.0
47,250
57.7
1,827
3.7

49,057
59.9
47,279
57.7
1,778
3.6

49,077
59.9
47,276
57.7
1,801
3.7

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

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

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

6,584
53.4
5,720
46.4
864
13.1
15.8
10.3

6,721
55.4
5,776
47.6
945
14.1
15.1
13.0

6,812
55.6
5,976
48.8
836
12.3
12.8
11.6

6,740
55.0
5,983
48.8
757
11.2
11.3
11.1

6,914
56.3
6,113
49.8
802
11.6
14.2
8.8

6,963
56.6
6,107
49.6
857
12.3
14.7
9.8

7,019
56.9
6,120
49.6
899
12.8
14.9
10.6

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

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

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

24,257
15,855
65.4
14,357
59.2
1,498
9.4

23,895
15,438
64.6
13,816
57.8
1,622
10.5

24,149
15,638
64.8
14,128
58.5
1,510
9.7

24,180
15,709
65.0
14,149
58.5
1,560
9.9

24,196
15,788
65.3
14,316
59.2
1,472
9.3

24,229
15,885
65.6
14,349
59.2
1,535
9.7

24,257
15,971
65.8
14,498
59.8
1,473
9.2

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

6,812
71.7
6,149
64.7
663
9.7

6,900
71.4
6,306
65.2
594
8.6

7,023
72.6
6,439
66.5
584
8.3

6,823
71.8
6,214
65.4
609
8.9

6,965
72.1
6,420
66.5
545
7.8

6,957
72.0
6,356
65.8
601
8.6

7,012
72.6
6,456
66.9
556
7.9

6,974
72.1
6,428
66.5
546
7.8

7,044
72.8
6,511
67.3
533
7.6

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

7,628
63.7
6,928
57.9
700
9.2

7,876
64.9
7,192
59.2
684
8.7

7,930
65.3
7,277
59.9
653
8.2

7,636
63.8
6,937
58.0
699
9.2

7,731
63.9
7,080
58.6
651
8.4

7,791
64.4
7,163
59.2
628
8.1

7,799
64.3
7,178
59.2
621
8.0

7,952
65.5
7,265
59.8
687
8.6

7,935
65.3
7,284
60.0
651
8.2

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

886
36.5
600
24.8
285
32.2
43.7
22.0

842
34.8
581
24.0
260
30.9
34.9
27.4

902
37.2
641
26.4
261
28.9
30.0
28.0

979
40.4
665
27.4
314
32.1
40.5
24.6

942
39.2
628
26.1
314
33.3
35.0
31.9

961
39.8
630
26.1
331
34.4
36.2
33.1

977
40.5
683
28.3
294
30.1
31.8
28.5

959
39.6
656
27.1
302
31.5
34.7
28.4

992
40.9
703
29.0
289
29.1
27.8
30.3

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

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

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

20,851
14,225
68.2
13,132
63.0
1,093
7.7

20,119
13,666
67.9
12,533
62.3
1,133
8.3

20,575
13,880
67.5
12,921
62.8
959
6.9

20,629
13,973
67.7
12,921
62.6
1,052
7.5

20,741
13,954
67.3
12,988
62.6
966
6.9

20,798
14,149
68.0
13,181
63.4
968
6.8

20,851
14,298
68.6
13,305
63.8
993
6.9

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 1998, data reflect
new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted(1)

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Educational attainment
Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

30,190
12,813
42.4
11,591
38.4
1,222
9.5

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

29,251
12,568
43.0
11,535
39.4
1,033
8.2

30,190
12,629
41.8
11,572
38.3
1,057
8.4

29,505
12,511
42.4
11,575
39.2
936
7.5

29,566
12,555
42.5
11,606
39.3
949
7.6

29,981
12,682
42.3
11,771
39.3
911
7.2

29,228
12,555
43.0
11,676
39.9
879
7.0

29,251
12,392
42.4
11,500
39.3
891
7.2

57,148
37,706
66.0
35,873
62.8
1,832
4.9

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

57,885
37,873
65.4
36,113
62.4
1,760
4.6

57,148
37,776
66.1
36,115
63.2
1,661
4.4

57,310
37,641
65.7
36,193
63.2
1,448
3.8

57,631
37,827
65.6
36,287
63.0
1,540
4.1

57,606
37,787
65.6
36,303
63.0
1,485
3.9

57,418
37,807
65.8
36,302
63.2
1,505
4.0

57,885
37,931
65.5
36,331
62.8
1,600
4.2

41,675
31,239
75.0
30,047
72.1
1,192
3.8

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

42,313
31,424
74.3
30,319
71.7
1,105
3.5

41,675
31,306
75.1
30,179
72.4
1,127
3.6

42,417
31,544
74.4
30,574
72.1
970
3.1

42,085
31,506
74.9
30,484
72.4
1,022
3.2

41,718
31,440
75.4
30,429
72.9
1,011
3.2

42,527
31,505
74.1
30,538
71.8
967
3.1

42,313
31,515
74.5
30,471
72.0
1,043
3.3

40,874
33,001
80.7
32,339
79.1
663
2.0

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

42,085
33,957
80.7
33,344
79.2
614
1.8

40,874
32,817
80.3
32,138
78.6
679
2.1

41,739
33,505
80.3
32,916
78.9
589
1.8

41,822
33,678
80.5
33,083
79.1
595
1.8

41,974
33,685
80.3
33,040
78.7
645
1.9

42,238
33,672
79.7
33,029
78.2
643
1.9

42,085
33,777
80.3
33,145
78.8
632
1.9

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

1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation, therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and
seasonally adjusted columns.
2 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Category

Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over................
Married men, spouse present....................
Married women, spouse present..................
Women who maintain families....................

128,125
42,339
32,830
7,812

129,482
42,615
32,821
7,860

130,150
42,608
33,003
7,901

129,035
42,502
32,690
7,696

130,575
42,967
32,840
7,726

130,777
42,952
32,975
7,822

131,083
42,977
32,793
7,784

131,163
42,915
32,821
7,884

130,994
42,779
32,872
7,776

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

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

38,661
38,577
17,698
14,421
17,831
2,962

37,618
38,153
17,319
14,138
18,267
3,513

37,986
38,540
17,827
14,191
18,467
3,512

38,205
38,562
17,890
14,299
18,394
3,472

38,099
38,382
18,162
14,285
18,622
3,355

38,164
38,491
17,950
14,456
18,632
3,436

38,454
38,693
17,752
14,656
18,179
3,269

1,764
1,348
55

1,685
1,210
27

1,733
1,168
30

1,901
1,433
59

1,855
1,493
49

1,844
1,496
54

1,949
1,348
44

1,928
1,324
41

1,866
1,242
32

115,601
18,282
97,319
875
96,444
9,245
113

117,765
18,525
99,240
995
98,245
8,682
113

118,294
18,289
100,005
1,010
98,994
8,819
106

116,413
18,067
98,346
882
97,464
9,219
109

118,083
18,170
99,913
910
99,003
9,004
97

118,403
18,248
100,155
946
99,209
8,886
99

118,529
18,421
100,108
985
99,123
8,964
131

118,961
18,378
100,583
1,035
99,547
8,761
117

119,131
18,072
101,058
1,022
100,037
8,784
102

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

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

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

4,011
2,300
1,467
19,260

4,162
2,340
1,519
18,144

3,890
2,221
1,386
18,083

3,855
2,230
1,323
18,386

4,082
2,282
1,400
18,515

3,882
2,123
1,455
18,407

3,902
2,188
1,445
18,448

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

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

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

3,834
2,166
1,448
18,736

3,957
2,210
1,484
17,559

3,689
2,100
1,346
17,486

3,654
2,113
1,291
17,791

3,865
2,162
1,373
17,898

3,743
2,025
1,433
17,786

3,726
2,057
1,416
17,929

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.................
CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers......................
Self-employed workers........................
Unpaid family workers........................
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers......................
Government.................................
Private industries.........................
Private households.......................
Other industries.........................
Self-employed workers........................
Unpaid family workers........................
PERSONS AT WORK PART TIME

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
1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-5. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Category
Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

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

7,080
3,009
2,748
1,323

6,393
2,611
2,575
1,207

6,529
2,699
2,585
1,245

5.2
4.4
4.7
16.5

4.6
3.9
4.0
15.2

4.7
4.1
4.0
14.3

4.7
3.8
4.4
14.1

4.6
3.8
4.3
14.7

4.7
3.9
4.3
15.0

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

1,218
1,104
735

1,100
1,040
645

1,111
1,114
642

2.8
3.3
8.7

2.4
2.8
8.1

2.6
2.8
7.7

2.6
3.1
7.6

2.5
3.1
7.6

2.5
3.3
7.6

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

5,670
1,411

5,070
1,279

5,126
1,409

5.1
5.7

4.4
5.4

4.6
5.0

4.5
5.4

4.5
5.2

4.5
5.7

795
1,706
730
1,593
275

793
1,622
622
1,290
233

702
1,634
686
1,340
248

2.1
4.3
4.9
8.0
7.3

1.7
3.9
4.5
7.1
6.6

1.9
4.0
4.7
7.0
7.2

2.0
4.2
4.6
5.9
6.8

2.0
4.0
4.1
6.5
6.3

1.8
4.1
4.5
6.9
7.1

5,428
1,610
24
660
926
473
453
3,818
287
1,672
242
1,617
527
196

4,976
1,378
16
567
795
365
430
3,598
249
1,538
208
1,603
429
181

4,975
1,443
22
612
809
455
354
3,532
254
1,457
209
1,613
536
201

5.2
5.5
3.9
9.4
4.3
3.7
5.3
5.1
3.9
6.3
3.2
4.9
2.8
9.3

4.7
4.6
3.3
7.9
3.6
3.1
4.4
4.7
3.1
6.2
2.4
4.4
2.3
8.6

4.8
5.0
3.3
8.9
3.8
3.1
4.9
4.7
3.3
5.8
2.8
4.5
2.1
9.7

4.7
4.8
4.0
7.9
3.9
3.4
4.5
4.7
3.8
5.9
2.6
4.3
2.4
10.6

4.7
4.7
2.6
7.8
3.7
2.9
5.0
4.7
3.2
5.8
2.6
4.7
2.3
8.6

4.7
5.0
3.7
8.6
3.8
3.6
4.2
4.6
3.3
5.4
2.6
4.7
2.9
9.7

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 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in
the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Duration
Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

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

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

2,488
2,365
1,950
957
994

2,524
2,274
2,019
1,055
964

2,618
2,325
2,079
1,003
1,076

2,423
2,048
1,865
899
966

2,531
1,922
1,964
936
1,028

2,488
1,971
1,811
773
1,038

2,622
1,909
1,830
855
974

2,858
1,979
1,731
841
891

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

16.3
9.3

15.3
7.5

15.2
8.0

15.4
7.9

15.6
7.8

16.3
7.7

15.6
7.4

15.6
7.2

14.3
6.8

100.0
31.3
36.0
32.7
17.0
15.7

100.0
36.6
34.8
28.7
14.1
14.6

100.0
37.0
33.4
29.6
15.5
14.1

100.0
37.3
33.1
29.6
14.3
15.3

100.0
38.2
32.3
29.4
14.2
15.2

100.0
39.4
30.0
30.6
14.6
16.0

100.0
39.7
31.4
28.9
12.3
16.6

100.0
41.2
30.0
28.8
13.4
15.3

100.0
43.5
30.1
26.4
12.8
13.6

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 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Reason
Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

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

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

3,311
1,238
2,073
1,511
562
755
2,246
505

3,148
993
2,155
(1)
(1)
797
2,497
617

2,886
815
2,071
(1)
(1)
655
2,229
560

2,991
961
2,030
(1)
(1)
692
2,170
552

2,807
860
1,947
(1)
(1)
808
2,229
518

2,795
821
1,975
(1)
(1)
786
2,266
543

2,980
980
2,000
(1)
(1)
744
2,215
549

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

47.2
16.9
30.3
10.9
34.2
7.7

47.8
16.8
31.0
11.6
33.4
7.2

48.6
18.2
30.4
11.1
32.9
7.4

44.6
14.1
30.5
11.3
35.4
8.7

45.6
12.9
32.7
10.3
35.2
8.8

46.7
15.0
31.7
10.8
33.9
8.6

44.1
13.5
30.6
12.7
35.0
8.1

43.7
12.8
30.9
12.3
35.5
8.5

45.9
15.1
30.8
11.5
34.1
8.5

2.6
.6
1.9
.4

2.4
.6
1.7
.4

2.4
.6
1.6
.4

2.3
.6
1.8
.5

2.1
.5
1.6
.4

2.2
.5
1.6
.4

2.0
.6
1.6
.4

2.0
.6
1.6
.4

2.2
.5
1.6
.4

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

1 Not available.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in
the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Measure

Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

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

1.8

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.3

1.3

1.3

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

2.6

2.4

2.4

2.3

2.1

2.2

2.0

2.0

2.2

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

5.5

5.0

5.0

5.2

4.6

4.7

4.7

4.6

4.7

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

5.7

5.2

5.2

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

6.5

6.0

6.0

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

9.6

8.9

8.9

(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 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in
the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Age and sex

Mar.
1997

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998

Mar.
1998

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

7,080
2,522
1,323
622
705
1,199
4,547
4,014
538

6,393
2,378
1,207
638
538
1,171
4,018
3,571
450

6,529
2,335
1,245
579
670
1,090
4,184
3,712
486

5.2
11.7
16.5
19.0
14.9
8.9
4.0
4.1
3.3

4.6
10.9
15.2
17.6
13.6
8.4
3.4
3.5
2.8

4.7
10.6
14.3
17.7
11.7
8.5
3.6
3.7
2.8

4.7
10.8
14.1
17.3
11.6
8.9
3.5
3.6
2.7

4.6
10.8
14.7
18.5
11.3
8.5
3.5
3.6
2.7

4.7
10.7
15.0
16.9
13.7
8.0
3.6
3.8
2.9

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

3,749
1,370
740
354
390
630
2,359
2,052
313

3,320
1,348
709
371
313
639
1,975
1,718
268

3,399
1,282
700
330
374
582
2,102
1,828
285

5.1
12.1
17.9
20.9
16.1
8.8
3.8
3.9
3.4

4.5
11.6
15.6
18.2
14.1
9.3
3.2
3.3
2.9

4.7
11.1
14.2
18.4
11.1
9.3
3.5
3.6
3.4

4.5
11.2
16.4
18.3
14.9
8.1
3.3
3.4
3.1

4.5
11.7
17.0
21.0
13.1
8.7
3.2
3.2
2.9

4.6
11.2
16.5
18.5
15.2
8.1
3.4
3.5
3.1

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

3,331
1,152
583
268
315
569
2,188
1,962
225

3,073
1,030
498
267
225
532
2,043
1,853
181

3,130
1,053
545
249
296
508
2,082
1,884
201

5.3
11.2
15.0
17.0
13.7
8.9
4.2
4.3
3.1

4.7
10.1
14.7
17.0
13.0
7.4
3.6
3.8
2.6

4.6
10.2
14.3
17.0
12.4
7.6
3.6
3.9
2.1

4.8
10.4
11.6
16.3
8.2
9.7
3.7
3.9
2.3

4.8
9.8
12.3
16.0
9.5
8.3
3.8
4.1
2.4

4.9
10.1
13.4
15.2
12.2
7.9
3.9
4.1
2.6

1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and revised population controls used in the
household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Total

Men

Women

Category
Mar.
1997

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1997

Mar.
1998

66,989
4,949
1,471

67,580
4,756
1,426

24,656
2,108
683

25,121
2,010
642

42,333
2,840
788

42,459
2,746
784

356
1,115

343
1,083

185
498

185
457

171
617

158
626

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

7,862
6.1

7,987
6.1

4,055
5.9

4,187
6.0

3,807
6.4

3,800
6.3

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..........

4,546
1,687
196
1,398

4,632
1,635
216
1,471

2,642
499
133
755

2,697
476
142
854

1,903
1,188
63
643

1,935
1,158
74
617

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 1998, data reflect new composite estimation procedures and 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.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

Total......................... 120,472 122,160 122,940 123,576 121,344 123,512 123,866 124,265 124,517 124,481
Total private.................... 100,522 102,461 102,838 103,369 101,799 103,749 104,096 104,484 104,705 104,674
Goods-producing.........................

24,163

24,496

24,511

24,587

24,670

24,888

24,995

25,139

25,172

25,086

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

562
53.5
92.4
312.7
103.1

561
51.2
89.5
321.6
98.7

559
50.8
88.9
320.0
99.5

560
50.9
88.4
317.8
102.7

572
54
93
317
108

572
54
90
322
106

574
53
90
323
108

574
52
90
324
108

572
52
89
324
107

571
52
89
323
107

Construction..........................
5,204
5,345
5,341
5,391
General building contractors........ 1,227.1 1,291.6 1,284.4 1,289.6
Heavy construction, except building.
685.3
647.7
654.0
683.9
Special trade contractors........... 3,291.7 3,405.9 3,402.2 3,417.1

5,609
1,298
777
3,534

5,682
1,327
759
3,596

5,747
1,343
774
3,630

5,843
1,363
782
3,698

5,877
1,368
792
3,717

5,789
1,363
771
3,655

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

18,397
12,705

18,590
12,831

18,611
12,858

18,636
12,874

18,489
12,771

18,634
12,882

18,674
12,913

18,722
12,944

18,723
12,947

18,726
12,940

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.........

10,821
7,422
780.5
507.1
529.5
708.9

11,035
7,572
791.8
516.9
529.3
720.6

11,054
7,597
792.2
518.9
529.5
719.8

11,075
7,614
793.4
520.8
534.0
720.0

10,848
7,437
797
507
542
709

11,020
7,570
800
511
542
716

11,048
7,593
806
513
543
717

11,093
7,623
808
516
550
719

11,102
7,632
809
519
549
720

11,103
7,629
808
521
546
720

235.9
236.8
235.9
236.3
1,461.0 1,491.6 1,492.6 1,490.8
2,142.3 2,193.1 2,200.8 2,204.8
371.5
385.9
385.5
385.6

(1)
1,463
2,136
372

(1)
1,485
2,184
384

(1)
1,489
2,188
387

(1)
1,496
2,194
387

(1)
1,497
2,198
387

(1)
1,494
2,198
387

1,642.1 1,684.0 1,682.7 1,683.1

1,645

1,673

1,678

1,685

1,685

1,687

614.3
653.6
652.8
652.4
1,812.1 1,865.3 1,876.0 1,880.8
969.2
983.6
990.7
993.8
489.9
527.1
529.5
527.9
852.5
862.1
859.1
861.8
384.9
380.0
382.6
385.0

614
1,810
969
491
853
386

647
1,868
995
521
860
381

651
1,868
988
526
861
385

655
1,874
992
527
864
387

654
1,879
993
530
860
386

653
1,880
993
529
863
386

Nondurable goods.....................
7,576
7,555
7,557
7,561
Production workers................
5,283
5,259
5,261
5,260
Food and kindred products........... 1,653.0 1,669.4 1,668.7 1,671.1
Tobacco products....................
40.8
42.8
42.3
40.2
Textile mill products...............
611.0
597.1
595.5
596.3
Apparel and other textile products..
822.8
780.9
779.1
778.3
Paper and allied products...........
673.1
676.0
675.1
674.0
Printing and publishing............. 1,533.9 1,553.0 1,555.4 1,554.4
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,025.6 1,022.3 1,024.5 1,027.8
Petroleum and coal products.........
136.5
130.5
130.6
132.2
Rubber and misc. plastics products..
986.4
996.2
998.5 1,000.5
Leather and leather products........
93.3
86.4
86.8
85.9

7,641
5,334
1,698
42
612
827
677
1,535
1,028
140
988
94

7,614
5,312
1,701
42
602
796
676
1,551
1,028
137
992
89

7,626
5,320
1,706
41
604
795
676
1,553
1,029
138
996
88

7,629
5,321
1,710
40
601
792
678
1,558
1,027
134
1,002
87

7,621
5,315
1,709
41
598
783
678
1,560
1,028
135
1,001
88

7,623
5,311
1,714
41
597
782
678
1,558
1,030
135
1,002
86

98,989

96,674

98,624

98,871

99,126

99,345

99,395

Transportation and public utilities...
6,353
6,456
6,478
6,513
Transportation......................
4,123
4,200
4,217
4,239
Railroad transportation...........
223.8
228.5
227.9
228.3
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................
467.3
472.8
476.3
481.9
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,640.1 1,675.0 1,681.2 1,688.7
Water transportation..............
169.9
164.6
170.3
172.9
Transportation by air............. 1,176.4 1,207.4 1,204.9 1,207.5
Pipelines, except natural gas.....
14.2
14.2
14.1
14.1
Transportation services...........
431.6
437.6
442.7
445.7
Communications and public utilities.
2,230
2,256
2,261
2,274
Communications.................... 1,358.9 1,397.2 1,402.1 1,414.7
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services.......................
871.1
858.7
858.6
858.8

6,405
4,164
226

6,495
4,243
229

6,478
4,221
230

6,516
4,247
233

6,542
4,268
232

6,564
4,281
231

455
1,671
175
1,191
14
432
2,241
1,364

459
1,702
177
1,222
14
440
2,252
1,390

462
1,699
175
1,201
14
440
2,257
1,396

463
1,713
172
1,210
14
442
2,269
1,406

466
1,719
177
1,215
14
445
2,274
1,410

469
1,722
179
1,220
14
446
2,283
1,420

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

96,309

97,664

98,429

877

862

861

863

864

863

6,758
4,033
2,725
21,964

6,611
3,889
2,722
21,945

6,729
3,993
2,736
22,403

6,746
4,006
2,740
22,450

6,780
4,024
2,756
22,462

6,793
4,044
2,749
22,476

6,798
4,046
2,752
22,428

888.3
893.3
892.8
911.9
2,674.1 2,866.9 2,763.3 2,750.6
2,351.7 2,510.0 2,427.1 2,416.4
3,430.3 3,516.0 3,501.1 3,488.4

922
2,783
2,452
3,478

934
2,868
2,522
3,521

934
2,874
2,520
3,522

945
2,866
2,531
3,533

948
2,864
2,510
3,539

947
2,863
2,511
3,538

2,292.8 2,309.9 2,310.0 2,321.0
1,051.5 1,055.1 1,056.5 1,059.6
1,071.1 1,113.3 1,068.2 1,060.8

2,315
1,055
1,104

2,338
1,062
1,111

2,338
1,061
1,106

2,339
1,061
1,111

2,339
1,061
1,102

2,342
1,062
1,093

1,014.7 1,079.3 1,070.5 1,067.2
7,386.1 7,362.0 7,442.6 7,522.2
2,736.3 2,914.8 2,875.7 2,841.7

1,025
7,525
2,793

1,062
7,669
2,900

1,070
7,688
2,918

1,073
7,694
2,901

1,076
7,709
2,899

1,078
7,666
2,901

Finance, insurance, and real estate...
6,951
7,115
7,132
7,178
Finance.............................
3,359
3,472
3,480
3,500
Depository institutions........... 2,030.3 2,058.7 2,056.7 2,062.6
Commercial banks................ 1,476.0 1,497.8 1,494.7 1,497.8
Savings institutions............
253.5
252.0
251.0
251.8
Nondepository institutions........
535.4
563.5
568.3
576.6
Mortgage bankers and brokers....
241.3
253.1
258.5
265.6
Security and commodity brokers....
576.7
616.6
619.9
624.9
Holding and other investment
offices........................
216.1
233.4
235.2
235.5
Insurance...........................
2,215
2,252
2,257
2,266
Insurance carriers................ 1,498.3 1,523.6 1,525.4 1,535.3
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................
717.0
728.1
731.2
730.5
Real estate.........................
1,377
1,391
1,395
1,412

6,992
3,366
2,037
1,482
254
534
242
579

7,132
3,457
2,058
1,500
250
558
252
610

7,151
3,472
2,064
1,502
253
561
253
614

7,170
3,479
2,061
1,500
252
563
252
619

7,190
3,489
2,064
1,502
252
567
260
622

7,221
3,508
2,070
1,504
252
576
265
627

216
2,217
1,500

231
2,247
1,521

233
2,257
1,529

236
2,257
1,527

236
2,263
1,530

235
2,268
1,537

717
1,409

726
1,428

728
1,422

730
1,434

733
1,438

731
1,445

35,176
648
1,746
1,196
7,577
896
2,787
2,457

36,102
687
1,763
1,197
7,832
903
2,819
2,484

36,276
682
1,759
1,185
7,918
908
2,868
2,520

36,417
687
1,772
1,187
7,970
912
2,872
2,515

36,532
683
1,766
1,192
8,026
914
2,920
2,571

36,577
680
1,766
1,198
8,041
920
2,902
2,555

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

6,571
3,877
2,694
21,494

34,990
580.0
1,676.5
1,257.1
7,459.1
890.8
2,676.2
2,349.6

6,722
4,003
2,719
22,056

35,616
575.8
1,663.4
1,231.4
7,778.5
898.6
2,723.4
2,383.2

6,737
4,022
2,715
21,924

36,056
572.9
1,680.2
1,263.6
7,840.8
903.4
2,755.5
2,415.4

36,369
608.3
1,697.3
1,262.3
7,938.1
913.5
2,809.0
2,465.9

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

1,298.1
1,125.4
377.5
532.8
1,372.8
9,603.7

1,475.0
1,156.9
388.3
561.5
1,471.1
9,810.9

1,291
1,126
380
529
1,494
9,612

1,401
1,153
389
551
1,583
9,771

1,421
1,157
390
561
1,600
9,795

1,435
1,163
392
559
1,606
9,801

1,451
1,159
393
566
1,617
9,816

1,468
1,157
392
558
1,616
9,823

1,716.1 1,780.6 1,784.5 1,786.2

1,721

1,773

1,780

1,786

1,789

1,791

1,749.4
3,851.1
677.0
942.9
2,178.0
2,459.0
595.5
688.4

1,764.4
3,935.3
667.3
978.3
2,272.7
2,555.7
621.2
723.6

1,753
3,852
678
946
2,047
2,445
580
690

1,767
3,910
683
968
2,118
2,511
594
711

1,769
3,917
681
975
2,121
2,521
598
716

1,766
3,927
673
975
2,132
2,529
605
717

1,769
3,931
670
980
2,139
2,535
603
720

1,768
3,936
669
982
2,141
2,546
607
725

81.4
80.8
81.6
84.3
2,178.3 2,176.2 2,194.9 2,204.9
2,950.1 3,093.0 3,128.9 3,162.0

87
2,193
2,934

89
2,199
3,074

89
2,209
3,096

88
2,214
3,125

90
2,218
3,134

90
2,220
3,150

866
923
(1)

893
979
(1)

901
993
(1)

907
1,009
(1)

909
1,013
(1)

913
1,014
(1)

19,545
2,709
1,856
4,622
1,929
2,693
12,214
6,853
5,361

19,763
2,694
1,826
4,673
1,967
2,706
12,396
6,964
5,432

19,770
2,689
1,818
4,665
1,964
2,701
12,416
6,965
5,451

19,781
2,674
1,825
4,664
1,960
2,704
12,443
6,985
5,458

19,812
2,676
1,820
4,661
1,958
2,703
12,475
7,008
5,467

19,807
2,672
1,817
4,667
1,962
2,705
12,468
7,008
5,460

857.7
921.8
47.6
19,950
2,700
1,849.7
4,748
2,069.3
2,679.0
12,502
7,237.6
5,264.2

1,438.1
1,148.0
385.6
557.5
1,366.6
9,776.4

1,760.2
3,919.5
671.0
970.7
2,084.4
2,511.5
609.3
712.4

1,454.6
1,152.6
386.8
563.6
1,414.3
9,789.6

1,761.9
3,926.4
666.2
974.6
2,263.2
2,531.7
613.7
716.6

896.5
897.1
904.6
993.2 1,004.0 1,011.1
48.8
49.0
48.4
19,699
2,654
1,799.7
4,600
1,920.3
2,679.9
12,445
7,121.3
5,323.6

20,102
2,661
1,808.0
4,761
2,076.4
2,684.2
12,680
7,338.4
5,342.0

20,207
2,663
1,810.4
4,789
2,099.3
2,689.4
12,755
7,396.6
5,358.5

1 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.
2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Mar.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

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

34.6

34.2

34.6

34.5

34.8

34.8

34.6

34.8

34.9

34.7

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

41.2

40.9

40.8

40.8

41.4

41.2

41.4

41.6

41.4

40.9

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

45.7

45.0

44.0

43.3

45.9

45.6

45.0

45.5

44.1

43.4

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

38.4

37.4

37.9

37.9

38.9

38.1

38.8

39.8

39.3

38.4

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

42.0
4.7

41.9
4.7

41.7
4.5

41.7
4.6

42.1
4.9

42.1
4.9

42.2
4.9

42.1
4.9

42.0
4.8

41.7
4.7

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

42.9
5.1

42.6
5.0

42.5
4.9

42.5
4.9

42.9
5.2

42.9
5.2

43.0
5.2

42.8
5.2

42.7
5.1

42.4
5.0

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.........

40.7
39.9
42.5
44.8

40.2
40.6
42.2
45.4

40.5
40.3
42.6
44.7

40.8
40.2
42.7
44.5

41.0
40.3
43.1
44.8

41.2
40.5
42.9
45.3

41.0
40.7
43.9
45.3

41.3
41.2
43.9
45.4

41.2
41.3
43.8
44.7

41.1
40.5
43.3
44.4

44.7
42.5
43.8

46.1
42.6
43.6

45.2
42.3
43.5

45.2
42.3
43.5

44.8
42.6
43.5

45.3
42.6
43.8

45.5
42.9
43.6

46.2
42.7
43.5

45.3
42.6
43.3

45.3
42.4
43.2

42.2
45.0
45.8
42.2
40.3

41.8
43.8
43.8
41.8
39.9

41.6
43.5
43.5
42.0
40.2

41.3
43.7
44.0
41.8
40.5

42.1
45.0
45.7
42.0
40.2

42.0
44.0
44.3
42.2
40.5

42.0
44.7
45.0
41.8
40.7

41.9
43.8
43.8
41.7
40.2

41.8
43.7
43.7
42.0
40.7

41.2
43.5
43.7
41.6
40.4

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

40.7
4.2

40.9
4.2

40.6
4.0

40.6
4.2

40.9
4.4

41.1
4.5

41.1
4.5

41.2
4.4

40.9
4.3

40.8
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........

40.7
39.1
41.2
37.5
43.5
38.7
43.2
43.0
41.8
38.5

41.4
37.8
41.6
37.3
43.7
38.0
43.4
44.5
42.0
37.7

40.9
37.4
41.1
37.1
42.9
38.2
43.3
42.1
41.6
37.9

40.8
37.0
41.2
37.2
43.1
38.5
43.4
42.5
41.5
37.5

41.3
40.2
41.2
37.5
43.8
38.6
43.3
(2)
41.8
38.7

41.6
39.3
41.5
37.1
44.1
38.8
43.4
(2)
42.2
38.0

41.7
39.1
41.7
37.5
43.8
38.6
43.1
(2)
42.1
38.3

41.9
38.4
41.8
37.6
43.6
38.5
43.5
(2)
42.0
38.3

41.4
38.7
41.7
37.4
43.3
38.5
43.5
(2)
41.8
38.8

41.3
37.4
41.2
37.1
43.4
38.4
43.4
(2)
41.5
37.6

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

32.9

32.4

33.0

32.9

33.0

33.1

32.8

32.9

33.2

33.0

Transportation and public utilities...

39.5

39.2

39.8

39.3

39.8

40.2

39.7

39.8

40.0

39.5

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

38.5

38.1

38.5

38.5

38.6

38.7

38.2

38.4

38.6

38.6

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

28.7

28.1

28.8

28.7

29.1

28.9

28.9

29.0

29.2

29.0

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

36.5

36.1

37.1

36.9

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

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

32.6

32.4

32.8

32.7

(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.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

Mar.
1997

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

$12.17
12.14

$12.59
12.52

$12.63
12.59

$12.66
12.63

$421.08
422.47

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

13.72

14.10

14.11

14.18

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

15.98

16.61

16.89

16.96

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

$430.58
435.70

$437.00
439.39

$436.77
438.26

565.26

576.69

575.69

578.54

730.29

747.45

743.16

734.37

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

15.67

16.22

16.19

16.28

601.73

606.63

613.60

617.01

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

13.08

13.41

13.42

13.48

549.36

561.88

559.61

562.12

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.........

13.64
10.60
10.43
13.03
15.16

13.97
10.89
10.75
13.39
15.47

13.97
10.91
10.76
13.46
15.45

14.03
10.96
10.82
13.48
15.52

585.16
431.42
416.16
553.78
679.17

595.12
437.78
436.45
565.06
702.34

593.73
441.86
433.63
573.40
690.62

596.28
447.17
434.96
575.60
690.64

17.86
12.78
13.93

18.30
13.02
14.33

18.31
13.01
14.35

18.33
13.03
14.35

798.34
543.15
610.13

843.63
554.65
624.79

827.61
550.32
624.23

828.52
551.17
624.23

12.49
17.51
18.01
13.47
10.56

13.00
17.79
18.28
13.68
10.81

12.97
17.82
18.36
13.71
10.82

13.03
17.94
18.51
13.77
10.80

527.08
787.95
824.86
568.43
425.57

543.40
779.20
800.66
571.82
431.32

539.55
775.17
798.66
575.82
434.96

538.14
783.98
814.44
575.59
437.40

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........

12.25
11.40
19.40
9.92
8.24
14.93
13.01
16.42
20.51
11.50
8.86

12.57
11.67
18.32
10.25
8.41
15.20
13.27
16.89
20.65
11.74
9.29

12.57
11.65
18.12
10.25
8.39
15.24
13.32
16.93
20.93
11.74
9.23

12.64
11.73
18.41
10.29
8.40
15.34
13.38
17.04
20.98
11.78
9.30

498.58
463.98
758.54
408.70
309.00
649.46
503.49
709.34
881.93
480.70
341.11

514.11
483.14
692.50
426.40
313.69
664.24
504.26
733.03
918.93
493.08
350.23

510.34
476.49
677.69
421.28
311.27
653.80
508.82
733.07
881.15
488.38
349.82

513.18
478.58
681.17
423.95
312.48
661.15
515.13
739.54
891.65
488.87
348.75

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

11.66

12.09

12.15

12.17

383.61

391.72

400.95

400.39

Transportation and public utilities...

$14.70

$15.22

$15.19

$15.17

$580.65

$596.62

$604.56

$596.18

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

13.28

13.76

13.85

13.85

511.28

524.26

533.23

533.23

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

8.27

8.63

8.62

8.65

237.35

242.50

248.26

248.26

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

13.20

13.67

13.91

13.95

481.80

493.49

516.06

514.76

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

12.24

12.67

12.75

12.77

399.02

410.51

418.20

417.58

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. 1998Mar. 1998

Mar.
1997

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

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

$12.14
7.50

$12.48
7.62

$12.48
7.62

$12.52
7.64

$12.59
7.69

$12.63
N.A.

0.3
(3)

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

13.79
15.94
15.80
13.07
12.37

14.11
16.43
16.22
13.37
12.63

14.17
16.41
16.36
13.39
12.64

14.15
16.42
16.22
13.38
12.64

14.21
16.77
16.30
13.43
12.70

14.25
16.93
16.42
13.47
12.75

.3
1.0
.7
.3
.4

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

11.59

11.94

11.92

11.97

12.05

12.10

.4

14.73
13.30
8.25

15.05
13.73
8.50

15.09
13.69
8.51

15.26
13.67
8.57

15.19
13.81
8.59

15.20
13.87
8.62

.1
.4
.3

13.12
12.16

13.64
12.50

13.59
12.48

13.63
12.52

13.83
12.62

13.88
12.68

.4
.5

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 .7 percent from January 1998 to February 1998, 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.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

Mar.
1997

Jan.
1998

Feb.
1998p

Mar.
1998p

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

137.5

138.2

140.5

140.8

142.5

143.6

144.5

143.5

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

110.0

110.5

110.5

113.9

115.0

116.4

115.9

114.0

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

55.1

54.5

56.6

56.2

56.0

56.7

54.8

53.6

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

138.2

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

107.6

140.8

154.0

152.2

156.7

164.3

163.5

156.1

108.3

108.3

109.4

109.9

110.0

109.6

108.9

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.........

112.5
139.5
131.1
106.4
95.8

112.8
140.9
130.9
107.3
95.4

111.3
142.2
127.3
110.0
93.9

113.2
143.6
129.6
110.0
96.5

113.9
144.2
130.5
112.8
96.5

113.9
145.9
133.1
114.4
97.2

113.8
145.3
134.1
114.1
95.6

112.9
144.7
131.8
111.8
95.1

75.8
119.2
111.3

74.2
118.7
111.6

74.1
118.3
112.0

73.2
116.7
107.7

74.0
118.6
111.1

74.3
119.8
110.8

75.9
119.8
110.9

74.4
119.9
110.8

74.4
118.9
110.4

108.9
128.1
169.3
75.9
102.5

110.8
128.0
162.9
76.1
99.4

109.9
128.1
163.2
76.6
101.2

109.0
129.6
165.7
76.5
103.0

108.8
127.6
167.9
75.4
102.5

110.3
129.7
168.7
76.0
101.4

111.1
131.4
169.6
75.6
103.4

111.0
128.6
164.5
76.1
102.2

110.3
128.9
164.1
76.7
103.4

108.8
128.6
163.9
76.1
103.0

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........

102.8
112.0
60.6
88.8
74.1
108.8
124.8
100.0
72.8
144.8
42.2

102.7
115.0
64.9
87.6
69.3
110.0
123.1
101.8
71.1
146.7
37.9

101.9
113.8
61.5
86.3
68.7
107.7
123.6
102.1
67.7
146.1
38.0

102.0
113.5
58.0
86.7
68.7
108.1
124.2
102.5
69.3
146.0
37.3

104.3
117.4
63.7
88.8
74.3
110.2
124.3
100.3
76.1
145.0
42.8

104.3
118.4
64.2
88.1
70.6
110.7
126.4
101.6
73.9
146.8
39.1

104.4
119.0
60.0
88.7
71.2
110.2
125.9
101.3
72.4
147.2
38.8

104.7
119.9
60.9
88.4
70.8
110.1
125.3
102.4
74.6
147.8
38.8

104.0
118.7
61.3
87.8
69.6
109.4
125.1
102.9
70.6
147.1
39.3

103.4
118.6
61.1
87.0
68.7
109.6
124.1
102.7
71.8
146.2
37.5

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

149.9

150.6

153.9

154.3

152.3

155.9

154.9

155.8

157.4

156.8

Transportation and public utilities...

129.2

128.8

130.7

129.9

131.4

133.2

131.1

132.0

132.6

131.5

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

125.1

125.6

127.4

127.6

126.3

128.3

126.9

128.1

129.0

129.0

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

133.6

133.8

136.1

136.0

138.5

140.3

140.5

140.8

142.0

140.7

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

127.6

129.5

133.7

134.0

129.0

132.9

129.3

130.3

134.8

135.2

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

181.3

182.4

187.1

188.3

182.6

188.3

187.5

188.8

190.4

190.1

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

Nov.
1997

Dec.
1997

140.2

142.9

110.8

113.3

53.1

52.4

137.7

139.5

108.4

108.1

111.0
138.1
126.2
105.7
94.0

112.6
138.4
131.4
105.1
97.5

72.7
116.2
108.9

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:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

57.6
62.4
51.7
59.3
64.5

61.9
60.1
64.3
59.1
p57.6

67.1
54.5
60.1
59.0
p54.5

64.5
55.6
54.9
61.1

57.7
48.0
62.9
57.4

63.9
53.9
60.5
50.7

62.5
54.1
56.5
58.8

62.6
59.8
59.3
58.7

61.4
57.0
54.4
56.5

60.3
54.9
62.6
64.2

63.8
57.2
58.1
61.7

62.4
57.9
61.0
61.4

Over 3-month span:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

65.3
65.4
62.6
64.6
p66.9

69.5
62.5
63.6
62.2
p65.2

70.4
58.7
62.6
64.2

68.7
53.2
61.2
65.6

67.1
54.6
62.1
59.7

67.0
52.4
63.1
58.7

69.1
57.9
62.6
59.1

69.7
59.6
58.8
65.0

65.7
59.7
62.8
65.3

65.6
59.0
60.4
67.3

67.0
57.0
64.7
68.4

66.2
56.3
65.0
69.9

Over 6-month span:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

71.1
66.9
62.2
67.6

69.8
61.4
63.5
66.6

69.8
58.1
63.5
64.5

70.9
56.6
63.5
64.6

70.1
58.1
62.6
64.3

69.8
58.1
61.2
66.7

69.7
56.7
65.3
67.0

69.4
59.8
63.6
68.3

69.4
60.3
62.6
70.2

67.4
59.1
64.5
72.9

67.7
61.5
64.2
p73.2

66.2
63.3
67.4
p70.6

Over 12-month span:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

70.2
63.6
63.5
67.3

71.6
62.4
64.7
66.2

71.8
62.6
62.4
69.4

71.8
63.3
62.9
70.4

72.1
61.7
64.7
70.1

71.8
61.9
64.2
69.5

71.5
58.7
65.0
71.3

72.1
62.2
63.1
p71.9

70.1
62.2
63.8
p70.8

69.5
61.1
66.7

66.6
62.2
65.7

65.0
63.3
65.0

Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1

Over 1-month span:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

55.8
54.3
45.7
54.0
60.8

59.0
56.1
54.3
50.4
p49.3

60.4
44.2
47.8
52.9
p50.7

58.6
51.4
39.2
52.9

52.9
42.1
52.2
51.4

58.6
42.8
52.2
49.3

59.4
43.5
44.2
51.8

56.1
52.2
52.9
49.6

52.9
47.1
44.2
54.3

55.0
50.0
50.7
57.6

58.6
47.5
49.6
59.4

58.3
50.7
52.2
57.2

Over 3-month span:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

61.9
59.7
47.5
53.2
p60.4

64.7
50.4
47.8
51.4
p57.6

65.5
47.5
42.1
50.7

59.7
40.3
38.5
52.5

57.6
42.4
43.2
48.6

60.1
36.3
45.0
48.9

62.2
38.5
48.9
48.6

57.9
43.9
43.2
53.6

55.0
49.3
50.4
55.8

55.4
46.4
46.4
62.9

60.1
45.3
52.5
64.0

59.4
43.9
52.5
67.3

Over 6-month span:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

62.2
55.8
41.4
53.2

62.2
48.6
41.7
53.2

62.6
43.9
41.0
50.4

63.3
38.8
38.1
49.3

59.4
39.2
39.6
48.6

56.5
39.6
40.6
52.2

56.5
38.8
47.5
55.0

58.6
39.6
46.8
58.3

58.6
43.9
45.3
60.8

55.0
45.0
50.4
65.1

58.3
44.2
48.2
p67.3

55.0
44.6
53.2
p64.0

Over 12-month span:
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............
1997..............
1998..............

57.9
46.0
39.6
51.4

58.6
44.2
42.8
47.8

60.8
46.0
39.2
52.2

60.8
47.8
39.6
55.0

60.8
41.0
42.4
57.6

63.3
41.7
40.3
55.8

59.4
38.5
43.5
57.2

60.1
38.8
40.3
p58.3

57.2
36.3
43.5
p59.0

56.5
37.4
46.8

50.4
38.1
46.4

49.6
39.9
47.1

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.