Full text of The Employment Situation : March 1999

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USDL 99-81
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Friday, April 2, 1999.

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

MARCH 1999

Employment was little changed in March, and the unemployment rate
declined to 4.2 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment increased
by only 46,000. Employment rose in most service-producing industries, but
unseasonably cold weather contributed to job losses in construction.
Manufacturing and mining employment continued to decline.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
Both the number of unemployed persons, 5.8 million, and the unemployment rate, 4.2 percent, decreased in March. From April 1998 through
February 1999, the rate had been in the 4.3- to 4.5-percent range. The
jobless rate for adult men dropped to 3.2 percent in March. Unemployment
rates for whites (3.6 percent) and Hispanics (5.8 percent) also decreased,
while rates for other major demographic groups--adult women (3.9 percent),
teenagers (14.3 percent), and blacks (8.1 percent)--were little changed.
(See tables A-1 and A-2.)
Among the major educational attainment categories, the unemployment
rate for persons 25 years and over with less than a high school diploma
fell to 6.1 percent in March. Jobless rates for high school graduates with
no college experience (3.4 percent), persons with college experience but no
bachelor's degree (2.8 percent), and college graduates (1.9 percent) showed
little or no change. (See table A-3.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment was essentially unchanged in March at 133.0 million,
seasonally adjusted. The employment-population ratio--the proportion of the
population age 16 and older with jobs--was 64.3 percent, little changed over
the month. (See table A-1.)
The civilian labor force decreased to 138.8 million, seasonally
adjusted. The labor force participation rate was 67.0 percent in March,
down from 67.3 percent a month earlier. (See table A-1.)
About 8.0 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in March. These multiple jobholders made up 6.1 percent of the total
employed, the same share as a year earlier. (See table A-10.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.2 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.

- 2 Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
|
Quarterly
|
Monthly data
|
|
averages
|
|
|_________________|__________________________| Feb.Category
| 1998 | 1999 1/|
1999 1/
| Mar.
|________|________|________ _________________|change
|
IV
|
I
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA
|
Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 138,285| 139,144| 139,347| 139,271| 138,816|
-455
Employment..........| 132,166| 133,191| 133,396| 133,144| 133,033|
-111
Unemployment........|
6,120|
5,953|
5,950|
6,127|
5,783|
-344
Not in labor force....| 67,813| 67,732| 67,372| 67,602| 68,220|
618
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........|
4.4|
4.3|
4.3|
4.4|
4.2|
-0.2
Adult men...........|
3.6|
3.4|
3.4|
3.7|
3.2|
-.5
Adult women.........|
4.0|
3.8|
3.7|
3.8|
3.9|
.1
Teenagers...........|
14.9|
14.6|
15.5|
14.1|
14.3|
.2
White...............|
3.8|
3.7|
3.8|
3.8|
3.6|
-.2
Black...............|
8.4|
8.0|
7.8|
8.3|
8.1|
-.2
Hispanic origin.....|
7.4|
6.4|
6.6|
6.7|
5.8|
-.9
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA
|
Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 126,816|p127,548| 127,335|p127,632|p127,678|
p46
Goods-producing 2/..| 25,221| p25,235| 25,251| p25,271| p25,182|
p-89
Construction......|
6,072| p6,207|
6,170| p6,249| p6,202|
p-47
Manufacturing.....| 18,588| p18,488| 18,534| p18,483| p18,448|
p-35
Service-producing 2/| 101,596|p102,314| 102,084|p102,361|p102,496|
p135
Retail trade......| 22,658| p22,805| 22,755| p22,836| p22,825|
p-11
Services..........| 38,031| p38,359| 38,245| p38,369| p38,464|
p95
Government........| 19,985| p20,087| 20,045| p20,098| p20,118|
p20
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Hours of work 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
34.6|
p34.5|
34.5|
p34.6|
p34.5| p-0.1
Manufacturing.......|
41.7|
p41.6|
41.6|
p41.6|
p41.6|
p.0
Overtime..........|
4.5|
p4.5|
4.6|
p4.5|
p4.5|
p.0
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Indexes of aggregate weekly hours (1982=100) 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
146.0| p146.7|
146.4| p147.2| p146.5| p-0.7
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Earnings 3/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| $12.94| p$13.06| $13.03| p$13.06| p$13.09| p$0.03
Avg. weekly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| 447.29| p451.01| 449.54| p451.88| p451.61| p-.27
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Beginning in January 1999, household data reflect revised population
controls used in the Current Population Survey.
2/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.

- 3 The number of discouraged workers--a subset of the marginally attached
who were not currently looking for work specifically because they believed
no jobs were available for them--was 295,000 in March. (See table A-10.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by only 46,000 in March, to 127.7
million, seasonally adjusted. Over the prior 4 months, job gains had
averaged 276,000 a month. (See table B-1.)
Construction employment dropped by 47,000, seasonally adjusted, in
March, after increasing by 268,000 over the prior 5 months. Relatively
mild weather had helped bolster employment in the winter months. As a
result, there was less need for seasonal hiring in March. In addition,
unusually cold weather in much of the country during the March survey
reference period further slowed hiring. Most of the over-the-month
declines in construction employment, on a seasonally adjusted basis, were
in outside activities such as heavy construction and the masonry, concrete,
and roofing components of special trades.
Manufacturing employment fell by 35,000 in March, continuing a downward
trend that began a year earlier. In March, job reductions continued in
industrial machinery (-14,000) and fabricated metals (-4,000). Over the
past 12 months, manufacturing has lost 381,000 jobs. The largest over-theyear employment declines occurred in industrial machinery (-89,000),
apparel (-83,000), and electrical equipment (-69,000).
Employment in mining declined by 7,000 in March and has fallen by
55,000 over the year. While the declines have been concentrated in oil and
gas extraction, the March drop was spread across all types of mining.
Within the service-producing sector, employment in retail trade was
little changed in March, after seasonal adjustment. Employment in eating
and drinking places fell by 48,000, reflecting below-normal seasonal
hiring. Other retail industries added jobs in March, including 14,000 in
general merchandise stores and 9,000 each in furniture stores and
miscellaneous retail establishments.
The services industry added 95,000 jobs in March, slightly below the
average monthly increase of 112,000 for the previous 12 months. Robust
employment growth continued in engineering and management services.
Computer services also grew, but the gain of 10,000 jobs in March fell
short of the average monthly gain of 17,000 over the prior year. Help
supply services added 13,000 jobs over the month; this industry has added
81,000 jobs since September, following a 7-month period with no net change.
Over the month, employment in health services rose by 15,000, with gains
occurring in doctors' offices and hospitals. Agricultural services
employment declined by 8,000, after seasonal adjustment. This industry
includes landscape and horticultural services, activities that likely were
affected by the harsh weather conditions in early March.
Employment in finance rose by 11,000 in March, as growth continued
throughout most of its component industries. The insurance industry posted
an increase of 6,000, in line with its recent trend. Real estate
employment declined slightly for the second straight month; it had risen by
62,000 over the prior 12 months.
Employment in transportation and public utilities increased by 8,000 in
March, below the industry's average monthly growth of 14,000 over the prior
year. Communications employment was essentially flat. Transportation
added 11,000 jobs, largely in trucking.

- 4 Wholesale trade employment rose by 9,000 in March, with increases split
between durable and nondurable goods distribution. Within government,
local education employment rose by 21,000 over the month.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls edged down 0.1 hour in March to 34.5 hours,
seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing workweek was 41.6 hours for the
third straight month. Factory overtime, at 4.5 hours, was unchanged over
the month. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers on private nonfarm payrolls declined by 0.5 percent to 146.5
(1982=100), seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index was down
0.4 percent in March to 106.3. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents in March to $13.09, seasonally
adjusted. This followed a 3-cent gain (as revised) in February. Average
weekly earnings were $451.61 in March (seasonally adjusted), down less than
0.1 percent over the month. Over the year, average hourly earnings rose by
3.6 percent and average weekly earnings increased by 3.3 percent. (See
table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for April 1999 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, May 7, 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 1998,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing about 48 million
people.
For both surveys, the data for a given month relate to a particular week
or pay period. In the household survey, the reference week is generally
the calendar week that contains the 12th day of the month. In the
establishment survey, the reference period is the pay period including the
12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.
Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of
questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over
in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the
labor force.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours
in a family business or farm. People are also counted as employed if they
were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather,
vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.
People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following
criteria: They had no employment during the reference week; they were
available for work at that time; and they made specific efforts to find
employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference
week. Persons laid off from a job and expecting recall
need not be
looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The unemployment data
derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the eligibility for
or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
The civilian labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed
persons. Those not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the
labor force. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a percent
of the labor force. The labor force participation rate is the labor force
as a percent of the population, and the employment-population ratio is the
employed as a percent of the population.
Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
Federal, State, and local government entities. Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave. Persons are counted in each job
they hold. Hours and earnings data are for private businesses and relate
only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-producing sector.

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

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

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

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

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-1.

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

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, sex, and age

Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

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

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

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

207,036
138,418
66.9
132,299
63.9
3,022
129,277
6,119
4.4
68,618

204,547
137,340
67.1
130,908
64.0
3,173
127,735
6,432
4.7
67,207

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

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

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

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

207,036
138,816
67.0
133,033
64.3
3,281
129,752
5,783
4.2
68,220

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

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

99,362
73,785
74.3
70,544
71.0
3,242
4.4

98,405
73,657
74.9
70,295
71.4
3,362
4.6

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

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

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

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

99,362
74,234
74.7
71,352
71.8
2,881
3.9

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

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

91,215
69,781
76.5
67,185
73.7
2,086
65,099
2,597
3.7

90,502
69,446
76.7
66,769
73.8
2,194
64,575
2,677
3.9

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

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

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

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

91,215
69,951
76.7
67,713
74.2
2,222
65,492
2,238
3.2

Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Agriculture.................................
Nonagricultural industries..................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 106,141 107,593 107,674 106,141 106,887 106,960 107,521 107,593 107,674
Civilian labor force............................ 63,682 64,484 64,632 63,683 63,848 64,110 64,748 64,767 64,582
Participation rate........................
60.0
59.9
60.0
60.0
59.7
59.9
60.2
60.2
60.0
Employed...................................... 60,644 61,555 61,755 60,613 60,931 61,322 61,937 61,869 61,680
Employment-population ratio...............
57.1
57.2
57.4
57.1
57.0
57.3
57.6
57.5
57.3
Unemployed....................................
3,038
2,929
2,877
3,070
2,917
2,788
2,810
2,899
2,902
Unemployment rate.........................
4.8
4.5
4.5
4.8
4.6
4.3
4.3
4.5
4.5
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population..............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Agriculture.................................
Nonagricultural industries..................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................

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

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

99,833
60,780
60.9
58,400
58.5
764
57,635
2,381
3.9

98,534
59,666
60.6
57,136
58.0
734
56,402
2,530
4.2

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

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

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

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

99,833
60,533
60.6
58,183
58.3
834
57,349
2,350
3.9

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

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

15,988
7,856
49.1
6,715
42.0
172
6,543
1,142
14.5

15,511
8,228
53.0
7,003
45.1
245
6,758
1,225
14.9

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

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

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

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

15,988
8,331
52.1
7,136
44.6
224
6,912
1,195
14.3

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population.............
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Agriculture.................................
Nonagricultural industries..................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate.........................

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-2.

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

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

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

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population.............. 171,016 172,491 172,597 171,016 172,084 172,197 172,394 172,491 172,597
Civilian labor force............................ 114,822 115,821 115,866 115,184 115,687 115,996 116,529 116,610 116,284
Participation rate..........................
67.1
67.1
67.1
67.4
67.2
67.4
67.6
67.6
67.4
Employed...................................... 109,842 110,949 111,414 110,556 111,304 111,560 112,135 112,189 112,144
Employment-population ratio.................
64.2
64.3
64.6
64.6
64.7
64.8
65.0
65.0
65.0
Unemployed....................................
4,980
4,873
4,451
4,628
4,383
4,436
4,394
4,420
4,140
Unemployment rate...........................
4.3
4.2
3.8
4.0
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.8
3.6
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force............................
Participation rate..........................
Employed......................................
Employment-population ratio.................
Unemployed....................................
Unemployment rate...........................

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

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

59,541
77.1
57,546
74.5
1,995
3.4

59,179
77.1
57,201
74.5
1,978
3.3

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

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

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

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

59,698
77.3
58,010
75.1
1,688
2.8

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

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

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

49,729
60.1
48,078
58.1
1,650
3.3

49,028
59.9
47,271
57.7
1,757
3.6

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

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

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

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

49,602
59.9
47,983
58.0
1,620
3.3

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

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

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

6,596
52.1
5,790
45.8
806
12.2
13.7
10.7

6,977
56.6
6,084
49.3
893
12.8
14.7
10.7

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

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

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

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

6,984
55.2
6,151
48.6
833
11.9
12.7
11.1

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

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

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

24,729
16,125
65.2
14,798
59.8
1,327
8.2

24,257
15,931
65.7
14,463
59.6
1,468
9.2

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

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

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

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

24,729
16,212
65.6
14,904
60.3
1,308
8.1

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

7,023
72.6
6,439
66.5
584
8.3

7,050
71.5
6,529
66.3
521
7.4

7,031
71.2
6,583
66.7
448
6.4

7,037
72.7
6,503
67.2
534
7.6

7,086
72.4
6,590
67.3
496
7.0

7,063
72.0
6,588
67.2
475
6.7

7,210
73.3
6,782
68.9
428
5.9

7,160
72.7
6,682
67.8
477
6.7

7,065
71.6
6,656
67.4
409
5.8

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

7,930
65.3
7,277
59.9
653
8.2

8,057
65.1
7,457
60.3
600
7.4

8,166
65.9
7,575
61.2
590
7.2

7,902
65.0
7,256
59.7
646
8.2

8,051
65.6
7,443
60.6
608
7.6

8,035
65.4
7,474
60.8
561
7.0

8,114
65.7
7,579
61.3
535
6.6

8,082
65.3
7,509
60.7
573
7.1

8,129
65.6
7,545
60.9
584
7.2

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

902
37.2
641
26.4
261
28.9
30.0
28.0

897
36.3
637
25.8
261
29.0
31.8
26.5

928
37.6
639
25.9
289
31.1
34.7
27.5

992
40.9
704
29.0
288
29.0
28.5
29.5

1,064
43.3
771
31.4
293
27.5
33.0
22.1

1,059
43.0
822
33.4
237
22.4
27.3
17.6

1,032
41.8
725
29.3
307
29.8
34.2
25.0

1,000
40.5
708
28.6
293
29.2
31.6
27.0

1,018
41.2
702
28.4
316
31.0
32.9
29.1

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

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

21,414
14,523
67.8
13,595
63.5
929
6.4

20,851
14,254
68.4
13,263
63.6
991
7.0

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

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

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

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

21,414
14,570
68.0
13,732
64.1
838
5.8

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
1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Educational attainment
Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

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

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

28,442
12,119
42.6
11,265
39.6
854
7.0

29,251
12,516
42.8
11,622
39.7
894
7.1

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

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

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

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

28,442
12,094
42.5
11,356
39.9
739
6.1

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

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

57,805
37,734
65.3
36,302
62.8
1,432
3.8

57,885
37,850
65.4
36,262
62.6
1,588
4.2

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

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

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

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

57,805
37,740
65.3
36,448
63.1
1,292
3.4

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

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

43,028
31,826
74.0
30,835
71.7
991
3.1

42,313
31,459
74.3
30,448
72.0
1,011
3.2

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

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

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

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

43,028
31,892
74.1
30,989
72.0
903
2.8

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

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

43,859
35,124
80.1
34,483
78.6
641
1.8

42,085
33,833
80.4
33,210
78.9
623
1.8

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

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

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

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

43,859
34,997
79.8
34,345
78.3
652
1.9

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

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Category

Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over................. 130,150 131,639 132,299 130,908 132,113 132,526 133,396 133,144 133,033
Married men, spouse present..................... 42,608 42,757 42,941 42,789 43,209 43,227 43,542 43,016 43,114
Married women, spouse present................... 33,003 33,092 33,300 32,853 32,953 33,093 33,652 33,092 33,134
Women who maintain families.....................
7,901
8,105
8,254
7,802
7,969
8,087
8,076
8,113
8,148
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty...........
Technical, sales, and administrative support....
Service occupations.............................
Precision production, craft, and repair.........
Operators, fabricators, and laborers............
Farming, forestry, and fishing..................

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

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

40,138
38,854
17,965
14,543
17,763
3,035

38,433
38,631
17,796
14,552
18,226
3,326

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

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

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

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

39,900
38,893
18,074
14,661
18,177
3,417

CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers.......................
1,733
1,646
1,721
1,905
2,005
1,912
1,987
1,895
1,893
Self-employed workers.........................
1,168
1,220
1,267
1,264
1,304
1,304
1,298
1,381
1,376
Unpaid family workers.........................
30
28
34
34
40
34
30
44
39
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers....................... 118,294 120,119 120,509 118,797 119,718 120,380 121,115 121,066 121,005
Government.................................. 18,289 19,027 18,867 18,124 18,607 18,686 18,913 18,782 18,699
Private industries.......................... 100,005 101,093 101,642 100,673 101,111 101,694 102,202 102,283 102,306
Private households........................
1,010
832
929
997
969
943
881
849
917
Other industries.......................... 98,994 100,261 100,713 99,676 100,142 100,751 101,321 101,434 101,389
Self-employed workers.........................
8,819
8,511
8,642
8,831
8,929
8,814
8,830
8,658
8,650
Unpaid family workers.........................
106
114
126
105
112
122
121
114
125
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.............

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

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

3,703
2,160
1,269
19,398

3,866
2,183
1,398
18,434

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

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

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

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

3,564
2,045
1,208
18,545

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

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

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

3,499
2,055
1,225
18,841

3,698
2,062
1,370
17,872

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

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

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

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

3,374
1,955
1,159
17,944

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-5. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Category
Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

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

6,432
2,677
2,530
1,225

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

5,783
2,238
2,350
1,195

4.7
3.9
4.2
14.9

4.4
3.5
4.0
15.0

4.3
3.6
3.9
14.0

4.3
3.4
3.7
15.5

4.4
3.7
3.8
14.1

4.2
3.2
3.9
14.3

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

1,092
1,084
636

1,059
967
561

907
913
585

2.5
3.2
7.5

2.2
2.9
6.9

2.3
2.8
6.3

2.3
2.8
6.1

2.4
2.8
6.5

2.1
2.7
6.7

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

5,079
1,386

4,929
1,196

4,617
1,191

4.5
5.6

4.2
5.4

4.2
5.2

4.1
5.2

4.3
4.9

4.0
4.9

707
1,616
677
1,340
247

765
1,611
672
1,147
297

765
1,516
550
1,147
254

1.8
4.0
4.4
6.8
6.9

1.8
3.7
3.8
6.7
6.3

1.8
3.7
3.2
6.7
7.5

1.8
3.8
3.5
5.9
7.7

1.9
3.9
4.4
6.0
7.8

1.9
3.8
3.6
5.9
6.9

4,960
1,429
21
593
815
450
365
3,531
252
1,474
201
1,604
518
192

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

4,534
1,218
32
490
697
369
328
3,316
219
1,469
157
1,471
397
200

4.7
5.0
3.4
8.4
3.9
3.6
4.3
4.6
3.3
5.5
2.5
4.7
2.8
9.2

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

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

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

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

4.2
4.3
5.3
6.7
3.4
2.9
4.1
4.2
2.9
5.4
1.9
4.2
2.1
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 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Duration
Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

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

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

2,497
2,386
1,681
864
816

2,253
2,190
1,676
929
747

2,792
1,971
1,728
830
898

2,546
1,983
1,611
752
859

2,614
1,839
1,578
754
824

2,353
2,071
1,469
753
716

2,601
1,944
1,550
766
784

2,478
1,891
1,434
736
697

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

15.2
8.0

13.8
7.4

14.1
8.0

14.6
6.9

14.4
6.7

14.1
6.7

13.4
6.9

13.8
7.0

13.5
6.9

100.0
37.0
33.4
29.6
15.5
14.1

100.0
38.0
36.3
25.6
13.2
12.4

100.0
36.8
35.8
27.4
15.2
12.2

100.0
43.0
30.4
26.6
12.8
13.8

100.0
41.5
32.3
26.2
12.2
14.0

100.0
43.3
30.5
26.2
12.5
13.7

100.0
39.9
35.1
24.9
12.8
12.1

100.0
42.7
31.9
25.4
12.6
12.9

100.0
42.7
32.6
24.7
12.7
12.0

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 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Reason
Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

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

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

2,888
1,047
1,841
1,295
547
788
2,048
395

2,950
966
1,984
(1)
(1)
745
2,187
544

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

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

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

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

2,563
812
1,751
(1)
(1)
780
1,988
431

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

48.6
18.2
30.4
11.1
32.9
7.4

48.0
17.7
30.4
11.6
33.2
7.1

47.2
17.1
30.1
12.9
33.5
6.5

45.9
15.0
30.9
11.6
34.0
8.5

45.2
13.9
31.3
11.1
34.9
8.8

45.9
14.0
31.9
11.8
33.9
8.4

45.5
14.6
30.9
11.8
33.6
9.1

44.8
13.9
30.9
12.3
34.5
8.3

44.5
14.1
30.4
13.5
34.5
7.5

2.4
.6
1.6
.4

2.3
.6
1.6
.3

2.1
.6
1.5
.3

2.1
.5
1.6
.4

2.0
.5
1.5
.4

2.0
.5
1.5
.4

1.9
.5
1.4
.4

2.0
.5
1.5
.4

1.8
.6
1.4
.3

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

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Measure

Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

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

1.5

1.2

1.2

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.0

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

2.4

2.3

2.1

2.1

2.0

2.0

1.9

2.0

1.8

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

5.0

4.7

4.4

4.7

4.4

4.3

4.3

4.4

4.2

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

5.2

4.9

4.6

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

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

6.0

5.6

5.3

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

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

8.9

8.2

7.9

(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 1999, data reflect revised
population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Age and sex

Mar.
1998

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999

Mar.
1999

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

6,432
2,321
1,225
572
655
1,096
4,115
3,661
476

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

5,783
2,223
1,195
554
640
1,028
3,573
3,087
504

4.7
10.6
14.9
16.9
13.5
8.1
3.6
3.7
2.8

4.4
9.9
15.0
18.0
13.0
6.9
3.3
3.4
3.0

4.3
9.8
14.0
16.9
12.1
7.2
3.3
3.4
3.0

4.3
10.1
15.5
18.4
13.1
6.9
3.2
3.3
2.9

4.4
10.2
14.1
15.5
13.1
7.7
3.3
3.4
2.9

4.2
10.0
14.3
16.6
12.8
7.4
3.1
3.1
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...........................

3,362
1,280
685
322
364
595
2,068
1,805
275

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

2,881
1,151
643
286
354
508
1,721
1,481
252

4.6
11.2
16.3
18.3
14.8
8.3
3.3
3.4
3.0

4.3
10.3
16.5
20.0
14.4
6.6
3.1
3.1
3.1

4.3
10.8
16.4
19.9
14.0
7.3
3.2
3.2
3.1

4.2
10.7
16.9
19.7
14.7
7.1
3.0
3.1
2.8

4.3
10.1
14.6
15.3
14.1
7.5
3.2
3.3
3.0

3.9
9.9
15.0
16.9
13.6
7.0
2.7
2.8
2.6

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

3,070
1,041
540
250
291
501
2,047
1,856
201

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

2,902
1,071
551
267
286
520
1,852
1,606
251

4.8
10.0
13.4
15.4
12.1
7.8
3.8
4.1
2.7

4.6
9.5
13.3
15.9
11.4
7.1
3.6
3.8
2.9

4.3
8.7
11.3
13.8
10.2
7.1
3.5
3.6
2.8

4.3
9.5
13.9
16.9
11.5
6.7
3.4
3.5
3.1

4.5
10.2
13.7
15.7
12.1
8.0
3.3
3.5
2.7

4.5
10.0
13.6
16.2
11.9
7.8
3.4
3.5
3.2

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Total

Men

Women

Category
Mar.
1998

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1999

Mar.
1998

Mar.
1999

67,580
4,756
1,426

68,618
4,471
1,245

25,121
2,010
642

25,577
1,913
573

42,459
2,746
784

43,042
2,559
672

343
1,083

295
949

185
457

166
407

158
626

129
543

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

7,987
6.1

8,027
6.1

4,187
6.0

4,239
6.0

3,800
6.3

3,788
6.1

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

4,632
1,635
216
1,471

4,458
1,700
309
1,523

2,697
476
142
854

2,622
532
194
864

1,935
1,158
74
617

1,836
1,168
114
659

NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE

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

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

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Mar.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

Total......................... 124,006 125,176 126,047 126,697 124,914 126,804 127,118 127,335 127,632 127,678
Total private.................... 103,880 105,219 105,655 106,185 105,186 106,818 107,096 107,290 107,534 107,560
Goods-producing.........................

24,780

24,630

24,638

24,681

25,276

25,184

25,269

25,251

25,271

25,182

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

577
50.4
93.0
330.8
102.8

535
49.9
88.4
297.2
99.0

526
49.6
87.1
289.0
100.3

524
49.5
86.2
285.4
102.4

587
51
93
336
107

560
50
90
312
108

557
50
90
308
109

547
51
89
299
108

539
51
88
292
108

532
50
86
289
107

Construction..........................
5,459
5,676
5,725
5,784
General building contractors........ 1,300.6 1,375.6 1,377.7 1,386.0
Heavy construction, except building.
713.6
715.6
725.7
748.5
Special trade contractors........... 3,445.1 3,584.3 3,621.7 3,649.1

5,860
1,373
805
3,682

6,051
1,414
834
3,803

6,153
1,433
861
3,859

6,170
1,448
862
3,860

6,249
1,461
863
3,925

6,202
1,462
848
3,892

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

18,744
12,954

18,419
12,648

18,387
12,630

18,373
12,635

18,829
13,013

18,573
12,765

18,559
12,763

18,534
12,740

18,483
12,701

18,448
12,681

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

11,140
7,657
785.7
521.1
546.4
719.3

10,925
7,458
803.1
527.0
547.5
695.5

10,913
7,458
803.0
528.2
551.9
694.5

10,909
7,469
803.2
529.8
556.3
693.8

11,166
7,669
801
520
558
719

11,011
7,522
809
524
568
699

10,996
7,519
813
527
571
698

10,974
7,494
818
527
568
694

10,951
7,480
819
528
571
694

10,929
7,472
818
530
568
693

235.2
224.9
224.1
224.1
1,494.6 1,482.0 1,478.3 1,475.7
2,211.0 2,133.5 2,134.2 2,122.8
379.0
358.2
356.7
348.3

(1)
1,497
2,205
381

(1)
1,481
2,162
370

(1)
1,480
2,152
367

(1)
1,484
2,133
359

(1)
1,481
2,130
358

(1)
1,477
2,116
349

1,718.4 1,656.7 1,651.9 1,651.1

1,722

1,668

1,664

1,657

1,653

1,653

679.7
642.5
642.4
643.2
1,888.6 1,867.3 1,857.8 1,863.1
1,003.5
990.7
984.8
991.2
522.9
515.9
510.0
508.1
867.3
840.1
838.7
836.0
388.0
372.4
374.8
376.7

681
1,887
1,002
525
868
389

649
1,877
998
519
845
378

646
1,871
990
518
842
378

642
1,874
996
516
841
378

643
1,857
985
510
840
378

643
1,859
988
509
837
378

7,604
5,297
1,663.8
40.5
602.5
792.0
684.6
1,560.6
1,034.1
133.2
1,007.8
85.1

7,663
5,344
1,704
41
604
796
688
1,564
1,036
136
1,009
85

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

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

7,560
5,246
1,723
40
578
727
672
1,563
1,032
134
1,014
77

7,532
5,221
1,718
39
572
714
672
1,561
1,034
134
1,013
75

7,519
5,209
1,717
39
569
713
670
1,560
1,031
134
1,012
74

Nondurable goods.....................
Production workers................
Food and kindred products...........
Tobacco products....................
Textile mill products...............
Apparel and other textile products..
Paper and allied products...........
Printing and publishing.............
Chemicals and allied products.......
Petroleum and coal products.........
Rubber and misc. plastics products..
Leather and leather products........
Service-producing.......................

7,494
5,190
1,686.7
42.1
575.6
718.1
670.0
1,559.6
1,027.3
129.3
1,009.4
76.1

7,474
5,172
1,679.4
40.5
570.1
710.5
670.0
1,557.1
1,030.2
129.9
1,011.6
75.0

7,464
5,166
1,677.4
38.6
567.4
711.1
667.4
1,555.3
1,028.7
130.5
1,012.7
74.6

99,226 100,546 101,409 102,016

Transportation and public utilities...
6,456
6,580
6,594
6,617
Transportation......................
4,132
4,220
4,229
4,250
Railroad transportation...........
228.0
232.0
231.4
230.8
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................
472.8
477.0
480.3
484.9
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,658.1 1,699.3 1,702.5 1,712.5
Water transportation..............
176.9
180.8
180.5
179.7
Transportation by air............. 1,136.6 1,164.0 1,167.6 1,170.8
Pipelines, except natural gas.....
14.1
14.0
14.0
14.0
Transportation services...........
445.9
452.4
452.7
456.8
Communications and public utilities.
2,324
2,360
2,365
2,367
Communications.................... 1,469.2 1,513.9 1,520.0 1,521.8
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services.......................
855.2
845.6
845.4
844.7

99,638 101,620 101,849 102,084 102,361 102,496
6,504
4,170
231

6,604
4,249
231

6,627
4,262
233

6,644
4,273
236

6,657
4,279
235

6,665
4,290
234

460
1,690
183
1,146
14
446
2,334
1,475

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

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

467
1,741
190
1,168
14
457
2,371
1,522

469
1,741
189
1,177
14
454
2,378
1,528

470
1,748
186
1,181
14
457
2,375
1,527

859

853

853

849

850

848

6,880
4,117
2,763
22,357

6,783
4,039
2,744
22,259

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

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

6,907
4,116
2,791
22,755

6,910
4,126
2,784
22,836

6,919
4,130
2,789
22,825

930.5
947.2
952.2
974.9
2,660.0 2,845.9 2,737.6 2,742.6
2,343.2 2,511.4 2,417.9 2,426.4
3,486.8 3,535.0 3,522.2 3,514.3

966
2,759
2,428
3,536

991
2,842
2,504
3,558

997
2,823
2,490
3,561

1,003
2,847
2,514
3,548

1,012
2,841
2,510
3,557

1,010
2,855
2,525
3,562

2,311.2 2,353.3 2,364.8 2,375.7
1,054.7 1,067.8 1,073.2 1,079.7
1,064.0 1,114.3 1,086.2 1,086.0

2,333
1,056
1,098

2,370
1,069
1,105

2,377
1,073
1,101

2,384
1,074
1,108

2,396
1,078
1,122

2,399
1,083
1,121

1,037.2 1,102.9 1,096.9 1,098.9
7,519.8 7,507.6 7,595.1 7,667.7
2,813.7 2,947.9 2,926.5 2,897.1

1,048
7,645
2,874

1,082
7,807
2,917

1,084
7,854
2,915

1,094
7,838
2,933

1,101
7,855
2,952

1,110
7,807
2,961

Finance, insurance, and real estate...
7,213
7,428
7,428
7,458
Finance.............................
3,504
3,620
3,619
3,634
Depository institutions........... 2,034.8 2,048.2 2,043.5 2,049.4
Commercial banks................ 1,459.0 1,458.9 1,455.0 1,457.3
Savings institutions............
261.8
265.1
264.1
265.7
Nondepository institutions........
602.3
657.0
659.9
664.7
Mortgage bankers and brokers....
275.6
312.0
313.9
319.5
Security and commodity brokers....
630.5
664.8
661.8
664.4
Holding and other investment
offices........................
236.3
250.4
254.2
255.5
Insurance...........................
2,298
2,357
2,358
2,366
Insurance carriers................ 1,562.7 1,608.2 1,606.3 1,611.0
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................
735.7
748.8
751.3
755.3
Real estate.........................
1,411
1,451
1,451
1,458

7,258
3,512
2,041
1,465
262
602
276
633

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

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

7,488
3,628
2,051
1,460
266
659
314
667

7,491
3,631
2,052
1,461
265
661
316
664

7,505
3,642
2,056
1,462
266
664
320
667

236
2,302
1,566

250
2,357
1,606

251
2,360
1,610

251
2,363
1,613

254
2,364
1,612

255
2,370
1,615

736
1,444

751
1,479

750
1,483

750
1,497

752
1,496

755
1,493

37,106
695
1,755
1,178
8,412
966
3,149
2,819

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

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

38,245
758
1,780
1,186
8,792
1,000
3,218
2,866

38,369
761
1,778
1,177
8,836
998
3,242
2,886

38,464
753
1,781
1,172
8,867
997
3,253
2,899

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

6,744
4,027
2,717
21,823

36,864
617.3
1,688.8
1,239.8
8,285.6
959.5
3,041.2
2,710.8

6,850
4,093
2,757
22,354

37,377
637.3
1,673.5
1,224.7
8,564.0
983.2
3,028.1
2,690.1

6,855
4,105
2,750
22,282

37,858
638.4
1,689.3
1,243.0
8,638.9
984.3
3,074.3
2,729.6

38,192
667.4
1,707.8
1,231.4
8,734.4
990.0
3,143.8
2,795.4

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

1,544.5
1,144.2
378.8
567.2
1,502.7
9,848.3

1,737.8
1,183.5
390.9
571.5
1,601.0
9,971.3

1,538
1,145
382
565
1,647
9,867

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

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

1,709
1,183
396
559
1,748
9,959

1,724
1,189
395
570
1,745
9,971

1,734
1,186
394
569
1,758
9,986

1,790.3 1,851.5 1,851.9 1,857.0

1,796

1,849

1,845

1,856

1,858

1,862

1,756.8
3,924.9
694.8
966.2
2,324.2
2,595.9
589.3
742.0

1,745.8
3,986.7
658.8
996.4
2,430.8
2,727.6
612.1
775.2

1,761
3,925
698
970
2,189
2,587
575
744

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

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

1,753
3,978
652
997
2,240
2,697
592
770

1,749
3,984
659
999
2,271
2,711
597
774

1,749
3,989
661
1,001
2,286
2,720
598
776

86.2
85.6
85.8
88.2
2,248.6 2,252.3 2,271.0 2,282.4
3,175.7 3,335.7 3,372.6 3,408.2

92
2,263
3,164

94
2,279
3,321

94
2,283
3,338

94
2,290
3,367

94
2,293
3,380

94
2,296
3,401

895.1
926.9
929.6
935.8
1,007.5 1,097.1 1,110.4 1,126.8
50.8
54.0
53.9
55.9

904
1,012
(1)

932
1,092
(1)

934
1,098
(1)

937
1,113
(1)

943
1,118
(1)

945
1,133
(1)

19,728
2,671
1,815
4,619
1,928
2,691
12,438
7,003
5,435

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

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

20,045
2,702
1,825
4,685
1,947
2,738
12,658
7,155
5,503

20,098
2,713
1,837
4,705
1,963
2,742
12,680
7,166
5,514

20,118
2,702
1,826
4,712
1,967
2,745
12,704
7,187
5,517

20,126
2,662
1,808.9
4,741
2,064.8
2,676.1
12,723
7,390.7
5,331.8

1,708.7
1,168.6
389.6
557.8
1,494.5
9,934.8

1,746.9
3,972.4
649.0
991.9
2,192.0
2,677.5
598.5
765.2

19,957
2,677
1,802.1
4,617
1,903.1
2,713.8
12,663
7,295.7
5,367.1

1,724.7
1,181.3
388.6
571.6
1,533.1
9,944.9

1,742.9
3,978.8
654.7
993.2
2,405.5
2,703.6
606.3
770.1

20,392
2,698
1,825.1
4,797
2,075.7
2,721.5
12,897
7,509.3
5,387.9

20,512
2,691
1,818.6
4,836
2,106.9
2,728.6
12,985
7,573.8
5,411.2

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

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Mar.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

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

34.5

34.0

34.3

34.2

34.6

34.5

34.6

34.5

34.6

34.5

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

40.9

40.5

40.5

40.5

41.0

41.0

41.2

41.1

41.0

40.7

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

43.4

42.4

42.5

42.1

43.8

43.5

43.4

42.7

42.8

42.7

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

37.9

37.8

37.9

37.7

38.5

38.8

39.5

39.7

39.3

38.4

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

41.7
4.6

41.3
4.3

41.3
4.2

41.5
4.4

41.8
4.8

41.7
4.5

41.7
4.5

41.6
4.6

41.6
4.5

41.6
4.5

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

42.4
4.9

41.9
4.5

41.9
4.4

42.0
4.6

42.5
5.0

42.3
4.6

42.3
4.6

42.1
4.7

42.2
4.6

42.1
4.7

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.........

40.8
40.4
42.5
44.5

40.7
40.1
42.4
43.8

40.3
39.9
42.2
43.7

40.6
40.5
42.4
43.7

41.2
40.7
43.2
44.6

41.2
40.1
43.5
43.9

41.6
40.2
43.8
43.7

41.8
40.5
44.0
43.7

41.0
40.4
43.4
43.7

41.0
40.8
43.0
43.7

45.2
42.2
43.5

44.0
41.8
42.2

43.7
41.7
42.2

44.2
41.8
41.9

45.3
42.4
43.3

43.7
42.1
42.4

43.2
42.2
42.1

43.9
41.9
42.1

43.8
42.0
42.2

44.2
42.0
41.7

41.4
43.7
43.9
41.7
40.5

41.0
43.3
44.0
41.2
39.0

41.3
43.8
44.8
41.4
39.5

41.2
44.0
45.1
41.4
40.0

41.4
43.4
43.5
41.5
40.5

41.4
44.1
44.7
41.0
39.3

41.1
44.6
45.2
41.0
39.4

41.1
43.3
44.1
41.2
39.5

41.5
44.0
45.1
41.3
39.7

41.3
43.8
44.8
41.3
39.9

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

40.7
4.2

40.6
4.2

40.5
4.0

40.7
4.2

40.8
4.4

40.8
4.4

40.9
4.3

40.8
4.4

40.9
4.4

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........

40.9
37.0
41.2
37.2
43.1
38.4
43.4
43.2
41.5
37.7

41.6
37.3
40.7
36.7
43.5
37.7
42.8
43.9
41.3
36.7

41.2
37.2
40.3
37.2
42.9
37.7
42.7
43.8
41.5
37.3

41.3
37.2
40.5
37.1
43.4
37.9
42.9
43.8
41.7
37.2

41.5
37.7
41.2
37.2
43.4
38.4
43.4
(2)
41.5
37.9

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

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

42.0
38.0
40.9
36.9
43.4
38.3
42.8
(2)
41.3
37.1

41.8
38.3
40.7
37.5
43.4
38.0
42.8
(2)
41.7
38.0

41.9
38.0
40.5
37.1
43.7
37.9
42.9
(2)
41.8
37.3

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

32.9

32.4

32.7

32.6

32.8

32.9

32.9

32.9

33.0

32.9

Transportation and public utilities...

39.4

38.8

39.0

39.0

39.8

39.3

39.1

39.5

39.2

39.3

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

38.4

38.0

38.3

38.3

38.3

38.5

38.4

38.4

38.5

38.5

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

28.7

28.1

28.6

28.6

28.9

29.0

29.0

29.0

29.2

29.0

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

36.8

36.0

36.4

36.2

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

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

32.7

32.3

32.5

32.4

32.6

32.6

32.7

32.6

32.7

32.6

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.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

Mar.
1998

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

$12.68
12.63

$13.09
13.03

$13.09
13.06

$13.11
13.09

$437.46
437.00

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

14.18

14.45

14.45

14.51

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

16.89

17.28

17.21

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

16.29

16.72

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

13.47

13.66

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.........

14.02
10.95
10.80
13.46
15.52

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.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

$445.06
449.54

$448.99
451.88

$448.36
451.61

579.96

585.23

585.23

587.66

17.32

733.03

732.67

731.43

729.17

16.65

16.77

617.39

632.02

631.04

632.23

13.66

13.71

561.70

564.16

564.16

568.97

14.12
11.30
11.10
13.67
15.39

14.13
11.28
11.05
13.66
15.40

14.18
11.29
11.09
13.71
15.50

594.45
446.76
436.32
572.05
690.64

591.63
459.91
445.11
579.61
674.08

592.05
454.58
440.90
576.45
672.98

595.56
458.37
449.15
581.30
677.35

18.32
13.01
14.36

18.40
13.31
14.68

18.49
13.31
14.70

18.56
13.35
14.77

828.06
549.02
624.66

809.60
556.36
619.50

808.01
555.03
620.34

820.35
558.03
618.86

13.06
17.92
18.52
13.73
10.79

13.27
17.50
17.73
13.88
11.14

13.26
17.55
17.80
13.86
11.15

13.29
17.61
17.98
13.88
11.21

540.68
783.10
813.03
572.54
437.00

544.07
757.75
780.12
571.86
434.46

547.64
768.69
797.44
573.80
440.43

547.55
774.84
810.90
574.63
448.40

12.63
11.70
18.54
10.29
8.43
15.27
13.36
16.97
21.16
11.78
9.32

12.98
11.94
17.25
10.63
8.67
15.71
13.65
17.25
21.20
12.19
9.65

12.96
11.91
17.93
10.59
8.65
15.70
13.66
17.20
21.62
12.16
9.55

13.01
11.94
19.10
10.62
8.69
15.76
13.67
17.22
21.90
12.21
9.53

514.04
478.53
685.98
423.95
313.60
658.14
513.02
736.50
914.11
488.87
351.36

526.99
496.70
643.43
432.64
318.19
683.39
514.61
738.30
930.68
503.45
354.16

524.88
490.69
667.00
426.78
321.78
673.53
514.98
734.44
946.96
504.64
356.22

529.51
493.12
710.52
430.11
322.40
683.98
518.09
738.74
959.22
509.16
354.52

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

12.19

12.66

12.67

12.67

401.05

410.18

414.31

413.04

Transportation and public utilities...

$15.24

$15.61

$15.57

$15.51

$600.46

$605.67

$607.23

$604.89

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

13.86

14.36

14.33

14.29

532.22

545.68

548.84

547.31

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

8.67

9.02

9.00

9.01

248.83

253.46

257.40

257.69

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

13.97

14.47

14.56

14.55

514.10

520.92

529.98

526.71

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

12.77

13.30

13.33

13.35

417.58

429.59

433.23

432.54

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. 1999Mar. 1999

Mar.
1998

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

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

$12.63
7.71

$12.94
7.80

$12.98
7.81

$13.03
7.83

$13.06
7.84

$13.09
N.A.

0.2
(3)

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

14.25
16.82
16.40
13.46
12.73

14.46
17.37
16.75
13.58
12.89

14.50
17.26
16.82
13.58
12.89

14.51
17.09
16.74
13.63
12.93

14.55
17.06
16.78
13.66
12.97

14.59
17.27
16.90
13.70
12.98

.3
1.2
.7
.3
.1

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

12.10

12.45

12.49

12.56

12.58

12.62

.3

15.27
13.84
8.64

15.45
14.23
8.85

15.53
14.26
8.91

15.55
14.35
8.96

15.53
14.30
8.97

15.53
14.36
8.98

.0
.4
.1

13.85
12.65

14.35
13.06

14.43
13.09

14.49
13.18

14.51
13.23

14.54
13.29

.2
.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 .1 percent from January 1999 to February 1999, the latest month available.
4 Derived by assuming that overtime hours are paid at the rate of time and one-half.
N.A. = not available.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Mar.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

Mar.
1998

Jan.
1999

Feb.
1999p

Mar.
1999p

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

141.6

141.0

142.7

143.2

146.4

146.4

147.2

146.5

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

111.8

109.5

109.7

114.1

115.3

114.8

115.1

113.5

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

54.1

48.5

55.6

52.6

52.4

50.1

49.3

48.5

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

143.0

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

109.0

150.2

158.7

164.4

171.1

171.3

174.2

166.8

105.6

109.7

107.3

107.4

106.8

106.7

106.3

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

109.1
140.4
132.4
109.6
89.8

109.5
141.3
135.0
110.8
89.7

113.7
143.6
132.7
113.9
95.5

110.9
144.6
131.4
116.8
90.9

111.0
146.9
133.0
118.4
90.4

110.1
148.3
134.0
118.1
89.8

110.1
145.9
133.7
117.3
89.8

109.6
145.7
135.6
115.2
89.5

68.6
115.8
105.0

67.8
115.2
105.2

68.7
115.4
104.1

74.4
119.1
111.1

68.6
116.6
106.9

68.2
116.8
105.7

68.6
116.2
104.6

68.4
116.0
104.7

69.0
115.9
102.8

111.1
129.8
166.4
77.3
103.6

105.2
123.2
158.3
74.6
94.1

105.4
124.6
161.3
75.0
96.5

105.4
126.0
164.6
75.0
98.4

111.3
128.7
164.6
76.8
104.1

106.6
126.9
162.2
74.5
96.9

105.5
128.0
164.1
74.2
97.5

105.1
123.8
159.6
74.7
97.0

105.7
124.9
161.7
74.7
97.9

105.5
124.7
162.4
74.7
98.4

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........

102.9
113.6
57.8
87.7
69.8
109.7
125.4
103.3
71.1
147.1
37.3

100.6
117.2
60.7
82.3
61.8
107.9
121.4
101.2
70.8
146.3
31.6

100.0
115.7
57.3
80.7
61.9
106.1
121.1
101.1
70.8
147.6
32.0

100.3
115.8
54.2
81.0
61.8
106.9
121.8
101.4
71.1
148.8
31.6

104.3
118.5
59.7
87.8
70.2
111.1
125.3
103.4
73.6
147.2
37.3

102.3
119.5
58.8
83.4
64.3
108.6
123.9
102.1
74.1
146.8
34.1

102.4
121.0
53.9
83.4
64.2
108.1
123.0
101.3
77.5
147.5
33.4

102.3
121.5
58.3
83.1
62.9
107.9
123.9
101.6
72.4
147.0
32.5

101.9
120.7
56.9
81.8
62.7
107.7
122.5
101.4
75.1
148.6
32.7

101.7
120.9
56.5
81.1
61.9
108.2
121.9
101.3
73.8
149.0
31.5

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

154.9

155.1

157.6

158.0

156.7

159.9

160.3

160.6

161.5

161.3

Transportation and public utilities...

128.5

129.6

130.6

130.9

130.9

131.8

131.6

133.5

132.8

133.1

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

126.9

127.7

128.7

129.0

127.6

130.0

129.9

130.3

130.6

130.7

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

135.4

135.3

137.5

137.6

139.3

141.9

142.1

142.5

144.0

143.0

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

134.5

135.3

136.8

136.6

133.6

137.4

137.3

137.5

138.3

138.4

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

190.9

190.7

194.4

195.3

191.9

196.3

197.4

197.0

198.3

198.2

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

Nov.
1998

Dec.
1998

143.8

145.7

110.1

115.1

47.8

47.0

147.5

149.5

105.4

105.3

113.4
139.1
132.1
109.5
95.3

108.9
141.5
132.6
109.0
90.3

73.9
118.4
112.4

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-6.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Diffusion indexes of employment change, seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Time span

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Private nonfarm payrolls, 356 industries1

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

62.5
50.8
58.0
63.8
54.5

60.0
64.6
61.4
58.7
p52.8

54.9
59.6
59.8
59.6
p48.6

55.6
56.6
63.6
56.9

47.8
62.8
60.1
56.6

55.6
61.0
54.6
59.0

54.8
57.3
61.1
55.1

59.0
61.5
59.1
53.9

58.0
56.0
60.0
53.5

55.8
62.5
64.3
52.4

54.5
62.2
62.4
54.8

58.8
60.7
64.9
56.6

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

63.6
61.9
64.9
68.4
p59.0

61.4
62.8
63.3
67.3
p52.1

59.4
64.0
65.6
64.2

53.1
63.8
66.2
61.7

55.2
63.5
63.9
60.4

53.2
64.9
61.2
58.4

59.7
64.2
60.1
57.2

60.1
61.5
65.9
56.7

59.1
63.9
67.4
56.0

58.0
64.2
68.1
53.7

56.6
67.0
70.8
57.6

54.6
66.6
71.9
58.1

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

66.4
62.8
67.6
72.1

60.1
65.4
67.0
70.9

59.1
64.7
65.3
69.4

57.3
65.7
64.9
63.5

59.0
66.2
65.6
64.5

60.1
65.0
67.3
61.8

57.6
66.4
68.0
59.0

60.4
66.0
67.3
58.1

59.7
66.2
70.6
58.1

59.3
67.6
72.3
60.8

61.1
66.9
73.3
p57.4

63.2
66.3
72.6
p56.3

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

63.6
64.5
69.8
71.2

62.4
66.7
67.6
69.5

62.6
64.5
69.2
69.5

63.3
65.6
70.1
66.6

61.7
68.5
69.8
65.2

61.9
67.3
69.8
64.0

58.7
67.7
71.2
62.8

62.2
66.4
71.2
p63.6

62.2
68.0
71.1
p62.1

61.5
69.9
73.0

63.5
69.1
72.9

65.4
68.3
72.3

Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1

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

54.7
42.8
49.3
55.8
43.9

54.3
54.7
54.3
51.8
p39.6

46.4
48.2
50.0
52.5
p40.3

53.2
42.1
56.8
48.6

42.4
55.4
51.4
45.0

44.2
50.7
52.2
47.8

46.4
47.1
50.4
39.6

49.6
55.4
48.9
47.5

48.6
47.8
56.5
43.2

52.2
52.9
57.2
38.8

45.3
54.3
56.1
37.1

48.2
55.4
60.8
45.7

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

56.8
43.9
54.3
60.1
p39.2

50.0
46.8
49.3
59.0
p33.5

47.8
46.0
54.3
50.7

42.1
47.5
54.0
46.4

43.2
46.4
55.4
43.2

38.8
49.3
50.4
38.8

40.6
51.4
47.5
36.7

43.5
50.0
52.2
34.2

48.2
53.6
57.9
41.4

47.1
51.1
62.6
30.9

45.3
57.6
64.7
35.6

39.9
54.7
65.5
38.1

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

55.4
42.1
54.3
61.5

46.4
45.3
54.3
56.8

42.8
46.4
51.4
52.2

40.3
47.1
52.9
39.2

41.4
48.2
51.4
40.6

42.4
48.6
55.0
34.5

41.0
51.1
56.8
30.9

41.0
50.4
57.6
28.1

43.9
52.9
60.4
31.7

43.2
52.9
64.4
38.5

43.2
53.2
67.6
p31.3

45.3
52.2
65.8
p29.9

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

46.0
43.5
57.2
50.7

44.2
47.5
52.5
51.1

46.0
45.3
54.7
50.4

47.8
45.3
56.5
41.7

41.0
50.4
57.9
38.5

41.7
49.6
57.6
36.7

38.5
50.4
58.6
32.7

38.8
48.6
58.6
p32.0

36.3
51.1
60.4
p29.5

38.5
55.0
60.4

39.9
54.0
59.4

44.6
51.8
58.3

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