Full text of The Employment Situation : October 1979

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^I^VimfO

United

States

At.

IMuWo gar

Bureau of Labor Statistics

#

Washington, D.C. 20212

Die

employment-population

September.

ratio

was

59-2

percent in October, down 0.2 percentage point from

Over the past year, total employment has

advanced

by

2.1

Norm Bowers
Diane Westcott
Kathryn Hoyle

(202)
(202)

523-1944
523-1371
523-1913
523-1208

1978,

the

civilian

labor

force

employment.

Since

1979

Bureau

of

Labor

Statistics

of

the U.

S.

in

October,

Department of Labor reported today.

the

hitting

an

all-time

high

of

63.9

percent

in September.

surveys

showed

different

movements

in

employment.

I

Unemployment
The

Nation's

Selected categories

unemployment rate increased from 5.8 percent in September to 6.0 percent in October, the same as
it

was in August.

The rate thus remained at the top of the 5.6 to 6.0 range that has prevailed

for the past 14 months.
Total employment—as measured by the monthly survey of households—edged down by 220,000 in
October to 97*3 million.
million

over

the

year.

Employment had expanded substantially in September and was up
In

2.1

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Civilian labor force
Total employment
Unemployment
Not in labor force
Discouraged workers

Quarterly averages

2

months

The number of payroll jobs has advanced by 2.8 million since October 1978.

Unemployment
The number of unemployed persons rose by nearly 200,000 in October to 6.2 million, with most
of the increase occurring among persons who had lost their jobs.

The overall unemployment

level

|

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

1978

|
1

I

I

I

I
I

1929

I

I

I

1979

I

I

I III I IV
I
I
I
II I III I Aug. I Sept. I Oct.
|
I
Thousands of persons
1100,753|101,524|102,475|102,295|103,202|103,049]103,498|103,474
| 94,726| 95,616| 96,596| 96,415| 97,208| 96,900| 97,513| 97,293
| 6,027| 5,908| 5,878| 5,880| 5,994| 6,149| 5,985|
6,182
j 58,482| 58,398| 58,095| 58,886| 58,604| 58,752| 58,515| 58,901
|
853|
760|
724|
826|
739|
N.A.|
N.A.|
N.A.
I
I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

I

rate

Monthly data

I

|
I

I

contrast, nonfarm payroll employment—as measured by the monthly

survey of establishments—rose by about 300,000 to 90.2 million in October, following
of little growth.

by

August

Over the year, labor force

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

I
rose, and the two sample

October

since March, totaling only 760,000.

after

developments

this

has risen by 2.4 million, but growth has slowed considerably

The civilian labor force participation rate, at 63.7 percent, returned to its

The overall employment situation was characterized by mixed

of

The civilian labor force held at 103.5 million in October, as the over-the-month increase in

USDL
79-765
TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS
EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:00 A.M. (EST), FRIDAY,
NOVEMBER 2, 1979

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: OCTOBER

all

increase took place among adults.

unemployment was offset by the decline of about equal magnitude in
Contact:

million;

I
I
6.0|
4-11
6.1|
16-11
5.2|
11-7!
5.5|

I

I
I
5.8|
4-0|
5.8|
16.3|
5.1|
H-5|
5.2|

|

1

I

I

I

Percent of labor force
I
I
I
I
5.71
5-71
5.8|
6.0j
4.0|
3-9|
4.2|
4.2|
5.7|
5.7|
5.6|
5-91
15.8|
16.2|
16.1|
16.5|
5-0|
4.9|
5-11
5.3|
11.4|
11.6|
10.8|
11.0|
5.2|
5.2|
5.4|
5.4|

|

1

|

I
I
5.8j
4.2|
5-51
16.4|
5-11
10.6|
5.4|

|

6.0
4.3
5.8
16.6
5.2
11.7
5.5

I

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

moved

up from 5.8 percent in September to 6.0 percent, the same as the August rate and close to

the rates prevailing since August of 1978.

(See tables A-l and A-5.)
their

I

The increase among women reversed a

I
I
j
|
|

Over-the-month increases in unemployment occurred among adult women
jobless

rates

rose to 5.8 and 11.7 percent, respectively.

decline of comparable magnitude in September.

|
I
Thousands of jobs
Nonfarm payroll employment
| 86,866| 87,799| 88,724| 89,353|89,773p| 89,762|89,845p|90,151p
Goods-producing industries
| 25,731| 26,111| 26,486| 26,630|26,638p| 26,599|26,591p|26,623p
Service-producing industries...| 61,135| 61,688| 62,238| 62,723|63,136p| 63,163|63,254p|63,528p

and

blacks,

as

In contrast, the unemployment rate for adult men,

at 4.3 percent, was little changed from September, though it was up four-tenths of a

percentage

Average weekly hours:
Total private nonfarm
Manufacturing
Manufacturing overtime

I
point

from the May-June level.

Likewise, jobless rates for most other major worker categories,

including teenagers, whites, and full-time workers, were about
month.

the

same

as

in

the

previous

(See table A-2.)

Total Employment and the Labor Force
Total employment edged down by 220,000 in October to 97.3 million.

Movements in

employment

have been somewhat erratic in recent months; the October level was not much different than July.




p=preliminary

L
I
35.8|
40.5|
3.5|

I

I
I
35.8|
40.6|
3.71

I

J
I
35.8|
40.6|
3-71

I

I

1

Hours of work
I
I
35.5| 35.6p|
39.8| 40-lp|
3-2|
3-2p|

I

I

I
I
35.6|
40.11
3-2|

I
I
35.7p|
40.1p|
3.2p|

I

N.A.=not available

I

35.5p
40.lp
3.2p

- 4 -

- 3 p a r t i c i p a t i o n has increased by 0.4 percentage p o i n t , due e n t i r e l y t o continued

gains

in

adult

female p a r t i c i p a t i o n .

Hourly and Weekly Earnings
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm

Industry P a y r o l l Employment

edged

up

payrolls

0.3 percent in October (seasonally adjusted) and were 7.5 percent above October 1978.

Nonfarm p a y r o l l employment rose by 305,000 i n October to 90.2 m i l l i o n , following n e g l i g i b l e
Average weekly earnings declined 0.2 percent over the month but were up 6.6 percent from October
increases

in

each

the past y e a r .

of the prior 2 months.

Payroll employment has advanced by 2.8 m i l l i o n over
1978.

(See table B - l . )

Service-producing industries accounted for v i r t u a l l y
wholesale

and

retail

trade

and s e r v i c e s

all

registering

of
the

the employment
largest

gain,

absolute

Transportation and public u t i l i t i e s and finance, insurance, and real e s t a t e a l s o

with

increases.

posted

gains,

while government employment was about unchanged.
Employment in the goods-producing
construction

sector

Before adjustment for s e a s o n a l i t y , average hourly earnings rose 1
$6.31,

44

cents

above October 1978.

changed

from

increased 30,000, while employment in mining was unchanged.

nondurable goods.

f e l l by 55,000 i n October.
not

apparent

at

that

September.

Jobs

in

job gains

about

(See t a b l e B-3.)

The Hourly Earnings Index—earnings adjusted for overtime in manufacturing, s e a s o n a l i t y , and

Most of t h i s decline probably occurred in the summer months but was

scattered,

with

Among the nondurable

goods

the largest taking p l a c e in food processing and

p r i n t i n g and p u b l i s h i n g .
Hours
The average workweek of production or
payrolls

industry d i v i s i o n except manufacturing.
since

nonsupervisory

workers

was 35.5 hours in October, down 0.2 hour from September.

nonagricultural

Declines took place in every

Manufacturing h o u r s , a t 4 0 . 1 , have shown l i t t l e

May but were down 0.4 hour over t h e past y e a r .

unchanged from September.

on p r i v a t e

(See t a b l e B-2.)

The index of aggregate weekly hours was unchanged in October a t 125.9 (1967-100).

l i t t l e changed both over the month and from a year e a r l i e r .




change

Factory overtime, a t 3.2 hours, was a l s o

was up 2.4 percent over the y e a r , due e n t i r e l y t o employment g a i n s .

The index

The manufacturing index was

(See t a b l e B-5.)

and

low-wage

industries—was

offset

time because of problems of seasonally adjusting auto model changeover.

were

to

Overall manufacturing

Within the durable goods i n d u s t r i e s , transportation equipment jobs

S t r i k e a c t i v i t y was r e s p o n s i b l e for a drop of 40,000 i n machinery.
industries,

September

The Hourly Earnings Index

was l i t t l e

employment was e s s e n t i a l l y the same as in September, as declines i n durable goods
in

from

Average weekly earnings were $224.64 i n October, down 90

cents from September but up $13.91 over the year.

the e f f e c t s of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage
gains

cent

234.9

(1967-100)

in

October, 0.3 percent higher than in September.

above October a year ago.

The index was 7.7 percent

During the 12-month period ended i n September,

Index in d o l l a r s of constant purchasing power decreased 3.7 percent.

the

Hourly

(See table B-4.)

Earnings

Explanatory Note

This release presents and analyzes statistics from
two major surveys. Data on labor force, total employment, and unemployment (A tables) are derived from
the Current Population Survey—a sample survey of
households which is conducted by the Bureau of the
Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Beginning in
September 1975, the sample was enlarged by 9,000
households in order to provide greater reliability for
smaller States and thus permit the publication of annual
statistics for all 50 States and the District of Columbia.
These supplementary households were added to the
47,000 national household sample in January 1978; thus
the sample now consists of about 56,000 households
selected to represent the U.S. civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years and over.
Statistics on nonagricultural payroll employment,
hours, and earnings (B tables) are collected by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State
agencies, from payroll records of a sample of approximately 162,000 establishments. Unless otherwise indicated, data for both statistical series relate to the week
containing the 12th day of the specified month.
Comparability of household and payroll
employment statistics

Employment data from the household and payroll
surveys differ in several basic respects. The household
survey provides information on the labor force activity
of the entire civilian noninstitutional population, 16
years of age and over, without duplication. Each person
is classified as either employed, unemployed, or not in
the labor force. The household survey counts employed
persons in both agriculture and nonagricultural
industries and, in addition to wage and salary workers
(including private household workers), counts the selfemployed, unpaid family workers, and persons "with a
job but not at work" and not paid for the period absent.
The payroll survey relates only to paid wage and
salary employees (regardless of age) on the payrolls of
nonagricultural establishments. Persons who worked at
more than one job during the survey week or otherwise
appear on more than one payroll are counted more than
once in the establishment survey. Such persons are
counted only once in the household survey and are
classified in the job at which they worked the greatest
number of hours.
Unemployment

To be classified in the household survey as
unemployed an individual must: (1) Have been without a




job during the survey week; (2) have made specific
efforts to find employment sometime during the prior 4
weeks; and (3) be presently available for work. In
addition, persons on layoff and those waiting to begin a
new job (within 30 days), neither of whom must meet
the jobseeking requirements, are also classified as
unemployed. The unemployed total includes all persons
who satisfactorily meet the above criteria, regardless
of their eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits
or any kind of public assistance. The unemployment rate
represents the unemployed as a proportion of the
civilian labor force (the employed and unemployed
combined).
The Bureau regularly publishes a wide variety of
labor market measures. See, for example, the demographic, occupational, and industry detail in tables A-2
and A-3 of this release and the comprehensive
data package in Employment and Earnings each month.
A special grouping of seven unemployment measures is
set forth in table A-7. Identified by the symbols U-l
through U-7, these measures represent a range of
possible definitions of unemployment and of the labor
force—from the most restrictive (U-l) to the most
comprehensive (U-7). The official rate of unemployment
appears as U-5.
Seasonal adjustment

Nearly all economic phenomena are affected to
some degree by seasonal variations. These are
recurring, predictable events which are repeated more
or less regularly each year—changes in weather, opening
and closing of schools, major holidays, industry production schedules, etc. The cumulative effects of these
events are often large. For example, on average over
the year, they explain about 95 percent of the monthto-month variance in the unemployment figures. Since
seasonal variations tend to be large relative to the
underlying cyclical trends, it is necessary to use
seasonally-adjusted data to interpret short-term
economic developments. At the beginning of each year,
seasonal adjustment factors for unemployment and
other labor force series are calculated for use during
the entire year, taking into account the prior year's
experience.
All seasonally-adjusted civilian labor force and
unemployment rate statistics, as well as the major
employment and unemployment estimates, are computed by aggregating independently adjusted series.
The official unemployment rate for all civilian workers
is derived by dividing the estimate for total unem-

ployment (the sum of four seasonally-adjusted age-sex
components) by the civilian labor force (the sum of 12
seasonally-adjusted age-sex components).
For establishment data, the seasonally-adjusted
series for all employees, production workers, average
weekly hours, and average hourly earnings are adjusted
by aggregating the seasonally-adjusted data from the
respective component series. These data are also
revised annually, often in conjunction with benchmark
(comprehensive counts of employment) adjustments.
(The most recent revision of seasonally-adjusted data
was based on data through June 1979.)
Sampling variability
Both the household and establishment survey
statistics are subject to sampling error, which should be
taken into account in evaluating the levels of a series as
well as changes over time. Because the household
survey is based upon a probability sample, the results
may differ from the figures that would be obtained if it
were possible to take a complete census using the same
questionnaires and procedures. The standard error is the
measure of sampling variability, that is, of the variation
that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the
entire population is surveyed. The chances are about 68
out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs
from a figure that would be obtained through a
complete census by less than the standard error. Tables
A through 1 in the "Explanatory Notes" of Employment
and Earnings provide approximations of the standard
errors for unemployment and other labor force
categories. To obtain a 90-percent level of confidence,
the confidence interval generally used by BLS, the
errors should be multiplied by 1.6. The following
examples provide an indication of the magnitude of
sampling error: For a monthly change in total em-

ployment, the standard error is on the order of plus or
minus 182,000. Similarly, the standard error on a change
in total unemployment is approximately 115,000. The
standard error on a change in the national unemployment rate is 0.12 percentage point.
Although the relatively large size of the monthly
establishment survey assures a high degree of accuracy,
the estimates derived from it also may differ from the
figures obtained if a complete census using the same
schedules and procedures were possible. However, since
the estimating procedures utilize the previous month's
level as the base in computing the current month's level
of employment (link-relative technique), sampling and
response errors may accumulate over several months.
To remove this accumulated error, the employment
estimates
are
adjusted
to
new
benchmarks
(comprehensive counts of employment), usually on an
annual basis. In addition to taking account of sampling
and response errors, the benchmark revision adjusts the
estimates for changes in the industrial classification of
individual establishments. Employment estimates are
currently projected from March 1978 levels.
One measure of the reliability of the employment
estimates for individual industries is the root-meansquare error (RMSE). The RMSE is the standard deviation adjusted for the bias in estimates. If the bias is
small, the chances are about 68 out of 100 that an
estimate from the sample would differ from its benchmark by less than the RMSE. For total nonagricultural
employment, the RMSE is on the order of plus or minus
83,000. Measures of reliability (approximations of the
RMSE) for establishment-survey data and actual
amounts of revision due to benchmark adjustments are
provided in tables K through P in the "Explanatory
Notes" of Employment and Earnings.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

Oct.

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

1978

1979

197*

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

TOTAL
Total noninstitutional population1
Armed Forces1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio3
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

161,829
2,122
159,707
101,555
63.6
96,095
59. a
3,553
92,541
5,460
5.4
58,152

164,106
2,09 2
162,013
103,373
63.8
97,576
59.5
3,545
94,030
5,798
5.6
58,640

164,468
2,093
162,375
103,939
64.0
93,158
59.7
3,467
94,69 1
5,781
5.6
58,436

161,829
2,122
159,707
101,077
63.3
95,241
58.9
3,374
91,867
5,836
5.8
58,630

163,469
2,076
161,393
102,528
63.5
96,754
59.2
3,260
93,494
5,774
5.6
58,865

163,685
2,082
161,604
103,059
63.8
97,210
59.4
3,262
93,949
5,848
5.7
58,545

163,891
2,090
161,801
103,049
63.7
96,900
59.1
3,322
93,578
6,149
6.0
58,752

164,106
2,092
162,013
103,498
63.9
97,513
59.4
3,400
94,113
5,985
5.8
58,515

69,081
67,382
53,783
79.3
51,889
75.1
2,462
49,428
1,899
3.5
13,593

70,205
68,522
54,795
80.0
52,835
75.3
2,498
50,337
1,96 0
3.6
13,727

70,380
o8,697
54,878
79.9
52,816
75.0
2,472
50,344
2,062
3.8
13,819

69,081
67,382
53,593
79.5
51,448
74.5
2,363
49,085
2,145
4.0
13,789

69,889
68,227
54,39 5
79.7
52,299
74.8
2,306
49,993
2,096
3.9
13,832

69,995
68,319
54,567
79.9
52,319
74.7
2,323
49,996
2,249
4.1
13,752

70,099
68,417
54,527
79.7
52,227
74.5
2,385
49,843
2,30C
4.2
13,890

70,205
68,522
54,653
79.8
52,382
74.6
2,395
49,987
2,271
4.2
13,869

75 , 9 9 8
75 , 8 8 9
38 , 5 0 3
50. 7
36 , 3 7 2
47.9
690
35 ,682
,131
5.5
,387

77,245
77,124
39,543
51.3
37,217
48.2
678
36,538
2,327
5.9
37,581

77,429
77,30b
39,953
51.7
37,684
48.7
654
37,030
2,274
5.7
37,350

75,998
75,889
37,860
49.9
35,726
47.0
587
35,139
2,134
5.6
38,029

76,896
76,784
38,596
50.3
36,37 3
47.3
592
35,781
2,223
5.8
38,188

77,014
76,897
39,010
50.7
36,861
47.9
584
36,276
2,150
5.5
37,887

77,127
77,006
39,292
51.0
36,968
47.9
596
36,371
2,324
5.9
37,714

77,245
77,124
39,331
51.0
37,178
48.1
640
36,538
2,153
5.5
37,793

16,750
6,436
9,264
56.4
7,83.4
46.8
402
7,432
1,431
15.4
7,172

16,655
16,367
9,035
55.2
7,524
45.2
369
7,155
1,511
16.7
7,332

16,659
16,370
9,103
55.6
7,658
46.0
341
7,316
1,445
15.9
7,267

16,750
16,436
9,624
58.6
8,067
48.2
424
7,643
1,557
16.2
6,812

16,684
16,381
9,537
58.2
8,082
48.4
362
7,720
1,455
15.3
6,844

16,677
16,387
9,481
57.9
8,031
48.2
355
7,676
1,450
15.3
6,906

16,665
16,377
9,230
56.4
7,705
46.2
341
7,364
1,525
16.5
7,147

16,655
16,367
9,514
58.1
7,953
47.7
365
7,588
1,561
16.4
6,853

141,873
140,170
89,475
63.3
85,297
60.1
4,178
4.7
50,696

143,621
141,981
91,012
64.1
36,481
60.2
4,531
5.0
50,969

143,937
142,296
91,435
64.3
37,020
60. 5
4,415
4.8
50,361

141,873
140,170
89,067
63.5
84,565
59.6
4,502
5.1
51,103

143,137
141,492
90,279
63.8
85,871
60.0
4,409
4.9
51,213

143,303
141,661
90,554
63.9
36,093
60.1
4,460
4.9
51,107

143,461
141,822
90,662
63.9
85,829
59.8
4,832
5.3
51,161

143,621
141,981
91,081
64.2
86,395
60.2
4,687
5.1
50,900

19,955
19,536
12,080
61.8
10,798
54.1
1,283
10.6
7,456

20,484
20,032
12,362
61.7
11,094
54.2
1,267
10.3
7,671

20,531
20,079
12,504
62.3
11,137
54. 2
1,3t>6
10.9
7,575

19,955
19,536
12,122
62.0
10,749
53.9
1,373
11.3
7,414

20,331
19,901
12,272
61.7
10,883
53.5
1,389
11.3
7,629

20,382
19,943
12,364
62.0
11,025
54.1
1,338
10.8
7,579

20,431
19,979
12,340
61.8
10,987
53.8
1,353
11.0
7,639

20,484
20,032
12,408
61.9
11,095
54.2
1,313
10.6
7,624

Men, 20 years and over
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio3
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Women, 20 years and over
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio3
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
Both sexes, 16-19 years
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio3
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force
White
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio3
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not In labor force
Black and other
Total noninstitutional population1
Civilian noninstitutional population1
Civilian labor force
Participation rate
Employed
Employment-population ratio3
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
Not in labor force

1
The population and Armed Forces figures are not adjusted for seasonal variations; therefore,
identical numbers appear in the unadjusted and seasonally adjusted columns.




2
Civilian employment as a percent of the total noninstitutional population (including Armed
Forces).

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-2. Major unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons
(In thousands)

Unemployment rates

Selected categories
Oct.

Oct.

Oct.

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1973

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

5.6
3.9
5.8
15.3

5,
4.
5.
15.

6.0
4.2
5.9
16.5

5.8
4.2
5.5
16.4

6.0
4.3
5.8
16.6

CHARACTERISTICS

5,836
2,145
2,134
1,557

6, 1a2
2,279
1,573

5.8
4.0
5.6
16.2

White, total
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years

4,502
1,693
1,603
1,206

4, 755
1,819
1,721
1,214

5. 1
3.5
4.9
14.0

4.9
3.4
5.0
13.0

4.
3.
4.
13.

5.3
3.8
5.2
14.9

5.1
3.7
4.8
14.6

5.2
3.7
5.1
14.4

Black and other, total
Men, 20 years and over
Women, 20 years and over
Both sexes, 16-19 years

1,373
481
534
358

1,46j
54 J
558
365

11.3
8.3
10.1
34.5

11.3
7.9
10.8
34.0

10.8
8.3
9.3
30.9

11.0
8.3
10.3
30.7

10.6
7.9
9.6
31.5

11.7
9.0
10. 1
35.7

Married men, spouse present
Married women, spouse present
Women who head families

1,033
1,243
365

1,16b
1,284
423

2.6
5.3
7.5

2.6
5.2
9.1

2.9
4.8
8.1

3.0
5.4
7.9

2.8
4.7
7.6

2.9
5.3
8.4

Full-time workers
Part-time workers
Unemployed 15 weeks and over 1
Labor force time lost 2

4,505
1,354
1,317

4,839
1,371
1,223

5.2
9.0
1.3
6.2

5.1
8.6
1.1
6.3

5.3
8.2
1.0
6.4

5.4
8.8
1.2
6.5

5.4
8.3
1.1
6.2

6.4

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

OCCUPATION 3
White-collar workers
Professional and technical
Managers and administrators, except farm
Sales workers
Clerical workers
Blue-collar workers
Craft and kindred workers
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives
Nonfarm laborers
Service workers
Farm workers

1,621
412
181
257
771
2,329
651
917
181
580
985
136

1,810
437
248
247
878
2,542
661
1,115
212
554
974
123

3.3
2.8
1.8
4.1
4.2
6.8
4.9
7.6
4.8
11.0
7.1
4.6

3.4
2.5
2.0
4.5
4.6
6.5
4.2
7,
5.
10.
7,
3.

3.2
2.5
1.9
3.5
4.4
6.8
4.2
8.3
5.2
10.9
7.2
4.5

3.6
2.6
2.3
4.2
5.0
7.6
4.9
9.3
6.6
11.5
7.0
3.8

3.3
2.5
2.2
3.9
4.5
7.1
4.1
9.2
6.2
10.8
6.7
4.2

3.5
2.8
2.3
3.8
4.7
7.3
4.8
9.2
5.6
10.6
7.0
4.3

4,186
553
1,158
610
548
183
1,238
1,019
625
150

4,547
527
1,421
772
64 9
211
1,218
1,103
65a
149

5.6
11.2
5.1
4.6
6.0
3.4
6.7
4.6
3.9
9.5

5.6
9.6
5.3
4.8

5.7
9.5
5.8
5.5
6.2
3.9
6.2
4.9
3.5
10.4

6.1
9.5
6.2
5.7
6.9
3.8
6.6
5.4
3.8
9.9

5.8
8.8
6.1
5.3
7.3
4.1
6.4
4.7
3.3
10.3

6.0
10.1
6.2
5.6
7.0
3.8
6.5
4.9
4.1
9.8

INDUSTRY 3
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers 4
Construction
Manufacturing
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Transportation and public utilities
Wholesale and retail trade
Finance and service industries
Government workers
Agricultural wage and salary workers

Unemployment rate calculated as a percent of civilian labor force.
Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on -part time for economic reasons as a
percent of potentially available labor force hours.
3
Unemployment by occupation includes all experienced unemployed persons, whereas that by




6.2
3.0
6.8
4.7
3.6
7.7

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-3. Selected employment indicators
[In thousands]
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Selected categories

Oct.

Oct.

Oct.

Jane

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1978

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

CHARACTERISTICS
Total employed, 16 years and over
Men
Women
Married men, spouse present
Married women, spouse present

9 b , 09 5
56,045
40,049
39,135
22,774

, 9 8 , 158
56,840
41,318
39,448
23,518

95,241
55,754
39,4d7
38,306
22,194

96,754
56,638
40,116
39,055
22,580

97,^10
56,595
40,615
39, 163
22,890

96,900
56,316
40,585
39, 146
22,777

97,513
56,653
40,860
39,175
22,965

97,293
56,539
40,754
35, 135
22,922

43 , 0 3 8
14 , 5 4 8
10 0 1 8
5 971
17 , 5 0 1
32 , 165
12 , 6 1 5
11 , 2 6 5
3,626
4,658
12 , 9 3 4
2 ,559

49,991
15,183
10,701
6,228
17,878
32,376
13,039
11,077

4 9 , 165
15,053
10,565
6,065
17,481
31,958
13,003
10,759
3,596
4,600
12,946
2,683

49,573
15,063
10,675
6 , 161
17,673
31,949
12,832
10,853
3,610
4,652
12,697
2,b57

49,615
I4,9d3
10,772
6,0fa5
17,774
31,767
12,755
10,880
3,571
4,561
12,591
2,703

49,779
15,078
10,640
6,1 14
17,947
32,287
13,057
1C,987

3,607
4,653
12,957
2,833

47,713
14,307
9 , 96ti
5 , 98b
17,452
31,986
12,556
1 1 , 178
3,58 1
4,671
12,951
2,321

3,622
4,621
12,796
2,7 36

49,648
14,929
10,648
6,247
17,825
32,191
12,974
1C,989
3,561
4,66 7
12,977
2,702

1,501
1, 699
35J

1,448
1,677
341

1,423
1,638
323

1,445
1,525
293

1,403
1,552
294

1,363
1,632
310

1,391
1,678
3 27

1,373
1,617
312

85,855
15,514
70,341
1,335
69,006
6,258
426

87,542
15,673
71,869
1,290
70,579
6,753
396

85,363
15,387
69,976
1,315
68,661
6,314
453

86,309
15,257
71,051
1,236
69,816
6,b00
482

86,277
15,382
70,895
1,217
69,67 3
6,753
529

86,227
15,260
70,967
1,205
69,761
6,649
443

86,891
15,450
71,441
1,332
70,109
6,682
453

37,032
15,549
71,483
1,270
70,213
6,814
421

88,479
72,545
2,917
1,087
1,830
13,017

90,472
74,408
2,979
1,205
1,774
13,085

86,511
71,318
3,164
1 , 167
1,997
12,025

87,843
72,230
3,416
1,416
2,000
12,198

89,074
73,133
3,340
1,394
1,946
12,597

89, 154
73,222
3,355
1,478
1,877
12,577

88,824
73,252
3,111
1,255
1,856
12,461

88,487
7 3 , 164
3,230
1 ,293
1,937
12,093

OCCUPATION
White-collar workers
Professional and technical
Managers and administrators, execpt farm
Sales workers
Clerical workers
Blue-collar workers
Craft and kindred workers
Operatives, except transport
Transport equipment operatives
Nonfarm laborers
Service workers
Farm workers
MAJOR INDUSTRY AND 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 A T WORK 1
Nonagricultural industries
Full-time schedules
Part time for economic reasons
Usually work full time
Usually work part time
Part time for noneconomic reasons

1
Excludes persons " w i t h a job but not at w o r k " during the survey period for such
reasons as vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.

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

Not seasonally adjusted
Weeks of unemployment

Oct.

Oct.

Oct.

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1978

1979

1978

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

2,644
1,669
1,147
612
535

2,883
1,833
1,065
59 1
475

2,719
1,789
1,317
732
585

2,927
1,782
1,086
616
470

2,784
1,970
1,052
600
451

3,226
1,743
1,191
662
529

2,743
2,050
1,133
627
507

2,963
1 , 965
1,223
703
520

DURATION
Less than 5 weeks
15 weeks and over
15 to 26 weeks

Average (mean) duration, in weeks

11.4
5.3

10.2
5.0

11.8
5.9

10.4
5.6

10.0
6.1

10.5
4.9

10.6
5.9

10.5
5.6

100.0
48.4
30.6
21.0
11.2
9.8

100.0
49.9
31.7
18.4
10.2
8.2

100.0
46.7
30.7
22.6
12.6
10.0

100.0
50.5
30.8
18.7
10. 6
8.1

100.0
48.0
33.9
18. 1
10.3
7.8

100.0
52.4
28.3
19.3
10.7
8.6

100.0
46.3
34.6
19.1
10.6
8.5

100.0
48. 2
31.9
19.9
11.4
8.4

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed
5 to 14 weeks
15 to 26 weeks




i

H O U S E H O L D DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-6. Reasons for unemployment
[Numbers in thousands]
Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted

Oct.

OC L .

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1979

197d

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

2 , 3 80
655
1,725
882
1,808
711

2,456

1,721
825

2,358
796
1,562
86 7
1,738
787

2,532
793
1,739
833
1,7J7
694

2,724
960*
1,765
894
1,798
720

2,608
836
1,771
818
1,785
803

2,771

UbO
1,649
36 8
1,741
743

100. 3
38. c
8.4
30.2
15.9
31.9
13.6

100,
41,
11.
29.
15.3
31.3
12.3

10J,
42,
1131.
14.
29.
14.

100.0
41.0
13.8
27.2
15. 1
30.2
1J.7

100.
43.
13.
30.0
14.4
29.
12.

100.0
44.4
15.6
28.8
14.6
29.3
11.7

100.0
43.4
13.9
29.5
13.6
29.7
13.4

100.0
44.9
14.8
30.0
13.4
29.0
12.8

2. 1

2.3
.3
1.7
.7

2.5
.8
1.7
.7

2.6
.9
1.7
.7

2.5
.8
1.7
.8

2.7

Oct.

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED

2 , 1 )9

Lost last job
On layoff
Other job losers
Left last job
Reentered labor force
Seeking first job

1,812

916
1,855
825
1,788
793

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed
Job losers
On layoff
Other job losers
Job leavers
Reentrants
New entrants
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF THE
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers
Job leavers
Reentrants
New entrants

1.7
.7

2.3
.8

2.4
.8
1.7
.8

1.7
.8

1.7
.8

Table A-6. Unemployment by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
Number of
unemployed persons
(In thousands)

Unemployment rates

Sex and aga

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

...

Oct.

Oct.

1978

1979

Oct.

i

1978

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

...

5,836
1,557
786
775
1,293
3,015
2,569
438

6,182
1,573
734
841
1,460
3 , 184
2,741
438

5.8
16.2
19.2
14.0
8.6
3.9
4.2
3.0

5.6
15.3
16.7
14.1
8.9
3.8
4.0
2.9

5.7
15.3
17.1
14.4
9.0
3.9
4.0
3.2

6.0
16.5
18.1
15.5
9.3
4.1
4.3
3.2

5.8
16.4
16.8
16.0
9.2
3.8
4.1
2.9

6.0
16.6
18.5
15.3
9.5
4.0
4.3
2.S

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

2,971
826
436
390
693
1,505
1,237
253

3,109
779
362
416
791
1 ,597
1,343
241

5.1
16.1
19.9
13.2
8.5
3.3
3.4
2.8

4.7
14.1
15.8
13.5
8.0
3. 1
3. 1
3.1

5.0
14.9
15.2
14.9
8.8
3.3
3.3
3.4

5.2
16.0
17.3
15.3
8.9
3.5
3.6
3.2

5.2
16.2
16.6
15.6
8.8
3.4
3.5
2.9

5.2
15.7
17.1
14.6
9.5
3.4
3.6
2.7

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

2,865
731
350
385
605
1*510
1,332
185

3,073
794
372
425
669
1,588
1,398
197

6.8
16.3
18.4
14.8
8.7
4.9
5.2
3.3

6.9
16.6
17.7
14.8
9.9
4.8
5.3
2.7

6.6
15.8
19.2
13.8
9.3
4.7
5.0
2.9

7.0
17.1
18.9
15.8
9.9
5.0
5.4
3.3

6.6
16.7
17.0
16.5
9.7
4.6
4.9
3.C

7.0
17.6
20.0
16.0
9.6
4.9
5.3
3.4




;

1

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-7. Range of unemployment measures based on varying definitions of unemployment and the labor force,
seasonally adjusted
[Percerftl
Quarterly averages

Monthly data
1979

II

IV

III

Aug.

Sept.

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

civilian labor force

1.3

1.2

1. 2

1.2

1. 1

1.2

1.1

1.2

U-2—Job losers as a percent of the civilian labor force

2.4

2.4

2. 4

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.5

2.7

U-3—Unemployed persons 25 years and over as a percent of the civilian
labor force 25 years and over

4. 1

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9

4.1

3.8

4.0

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

5.5

5.2

5.4

5.4

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

6.0

5. 7

5.7

5.8

6.0

5.8

6.0

U-6—Total full-time jobseekers plus V4 part-time jobseekers plus % total
on part time for economic reasons as a percent of the civilian
labor force less V» of the part-time labor force

7.5

7.2

7.3

7.3

7.5

7.2

7.4

U-7 —Total full-time jobseekers plus V» part-time jobseekers plus % total
on part time for economic reasons plus discouraged workers as a
percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers less
Vi of the part-time labor force

8.4

8.0

7.9

5.5

8.0

M.A.

N.A.= not available.

Table A-8. Employment status of the noninstitutionai population by race and Hispanic origin, not seasonally adjusted
[Number in thousands]
Hispanic origin2
Employment status

Oct.
1978

Civilian noninstitutionai population .
Civilian labor force
Percent of population
Employment
Agriculture
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployment
Unemployment rate . . . .
Not in labor force

159,707

Oct.
1978

Oct.
1979

Oct.
1978

Oct.
1979

Oct.
1978

Oct.
1979

162,375

140,170

142,296

16,764

17,150

7,626

7,983

101,555 103,939
63.6
64.0
96,095
98, 158
3,553
3,467
92,541
94,691
5,46 0
5,781
5. 4
5.6
58,152
58,436

89,475
63.8
85,297
3,196
82,101
4,178
4.7
50,696

91,435
64. 3
87,020
3,156
83,864
4,415
4.8
50,861

10,302
61.4
9,148
294
8,854
1,154
11.2
6,462

10,596
61.8
9,349
245
9, 104
1,247
11.8
6,554

4,954
65.0
4,580
203
4f 377
375
7.6
2,672

5,092
63.8
4,695
236
4,459
397
7.8
2,89 1

1
Data relate to black workers only. According to the 1970 Census, they comprised about 89 percent of the "black and other" population group.




Oct.
1979

2
Data on persons of Hispanic origin are tabulated separately, without regard to race, which means
that they are also included in the data for white and black workers. At the time of the 1970 Census,
approximately 96 percent of their population was white.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-9. Employment status of male Vietnam-era veterans and nonveterans by age, not seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Civilian labor force
Unemployed

Civilian
noninstitutional
population

Percent
of

Employed

Oct.
1973

Oct.
1979

Oct.
1978

Oct.
1979

Oct.
1978

Oct.
1979

Total, 20 years and over
20 to 24 years

8,405
676

8,565
49 3

7,952
596

tf,162
450

7,645
546

7,878
399

307
50

284
51

3.9
8.4

3.5
11.3

25 to 39 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 years and over

6,978
2,203
3,512
1,263
751

7, ,139
1,855
3,647
1,686
884

6,711
2,089
3,39 2
1,230
645

6,945
1,761
3,552
1,632
767

6,468
1,976
3,301
1,191
631

6,739
1,699
3,458
1,582
740

243
113
91
39
14

206
62
94
50
27

3.6
5.4
2.7
3.2
2.2

3.0
3.5
2.6
3.1
3.5

14,855
6,321
4,261
3,773

13,292
5,980
3,804
3,508

14,209
6,495
4,089
3,625

12,844
5,737
3,693
3,414

13,690
6,215
3,957
3,518

448
243
111
94

519
280
132
107

3.4
4.1
2.9
2.7

3.7
4.3
3.2
3.0

Oct.
1978

Oct.
1979

Oct.
1978

Oct.
1979

VETERANS 1

NONVETERANS
Total, 25 to 39 years
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years

13,937
6,295
3,997
3,64b

Vietnam-era veterans are those who served between August 5,1964 and May 7,1975.
2
Nonveterans are males who have never served in the Armed Forces. Published data are limited,
to those 25-39 years of age, the group that most closely corresponds to the bulk of the Vietnam-era
veteran population.




NOTE: Seasonally-adjusted data are no longer being provided because the cKanging age composition
of the Vietnam-era veterans' population distorts the ability to identify seasonality in the series.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA
Table A-10.

Employment status of the noninstitutional population for the ten largest States

[Numbers in thousands!
Seasonally adjusted

t seasonally adjusted
State and employment status

Oct.
1978

Sept.
1979

Oct.
1979

Oct.
1978

June
1979

Julv
1979

Aug.
1979

16,448
10,707
10,070
637
5.9

16,760

16,304
11,067
10,431

16,448
10,723
1J,034

16,676

10,995
10,324

10,843
10,191

671
6.1

16,704
10,919
10,290

6 36
5.8

689

652
6.0

629

16,731
11,051
10,330
721

5.8

6.5

11,038
10,325
713
6.5

Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

6,567

6,758
3,813

3,469
262
7.0

3,567

723
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,740
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

6,758
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

,781
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian tabor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

3,230
5,407
5,118
288
5.3

8,284

8,289
5,349

8,295
5,400
5,069

8,309
5,411
5, 100
311
5.7

Civilian noninstitutional population'.

4,341
2,798

California
Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force

Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

3,731

2,678
120
4.3

6,672

6.4

6,781
3,820
3,580
241
6.3

,567

8,295
5,372
5,068
304
5.7

8 , 3 09

3,230
5,402

4,385
2,912
2,725
187

4,393
2,851
2,727
124
4.4

4,341
(2)

246

6.5

6.4

5,416
5,118

298
5.5

4,193

6,752
4,327

3,963
230
5.5

4,017
310
7.2

6,765
4,343
4,028
315
7.2

5,472
3,530
3,310
219

5,527
3,589
3,365
224
6.2

5,537
3,563
3,339
224
6.3

U)
(2)
(2)
(2)

5,100
302
5.6

6,706
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)

8,278
5,329
5,053
276
5.2

r

5,376
5,131
245

4.6
4,377

5,112
237
4.4

Sept.
1979
16,760

331

6.1

Oct.
1979
16,804
11,083
10,395
688

6.2

(2)
2,738
(2)
(2)

4,381
(2)
2,757
(2)
(2)

4,385
(2)
2,750
(2)
(2)

4,393
(2)

2,657
(2)
(2j

4,373
(2)
2,744
(2)
(2)

0,672
(2)
(2)
293
(2)

6,730
(2)
(2)
301
(2)

6,738
(2)
(2)
323
(2)

6,744
(2)
(2)
302
(2)

6,752
(2)
(2)
348
(2)

6,765
(2)
(2)
378
(2)

5,47^
3,536

5,512
3,545
3,301
244

5,517

5,537
3,570
3,322
248

2,706
(2)
(2)

New Jersey
Civilian noninstitutional population'.
Civilian labor force .
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate .

6.2

3,2S3
24 3

6.9

6.9
13,294
7,931

3,530

5,522
3,528

5,527
3,568

3,266
264
7.5

3,262
266
7.5

3,349

13,298
8,001
7,400
601
7.5

13,300
7,971
7,347

13,304

7,949
4,995
4,650
345
6.9

7,955
5,045

7,961
5,084

4,687
358
7.1

4,793

8,913

8,923
5,327
4,951

219
6.1

6.9

New York
Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

13,264
7,883

7,263
619

7.9

13,304
7,937
7,343
594
7.5

13,320
7,952
7,391
561
7.1

13,264
7,949
7,298

7,961

7,975
5,122
4,819
302

7,893
5,084

5.9

5.1

5.6

8,937
5,364
4,938
426
7.9

8,864
5,300

8,907
5,249
4,900
349

9,478
6,264

9,254

651
8.2

7,364
567
7.1

624
7.8

7,989
7,39 3
596
7.5

13,320
8,018
7,425

593
7.4

Ohio
Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

7,893
5,105

4,864
241
4.7

5,092
4,814
278
5.5

4,d23
261

7,943
4,984
4,706
278

291
5.7

7,975
5,100
4,778
322

6.3

Rtnnsylvania
Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate

8,864
5,325
4,955
369
6.9

8,923
5,301
4,944
357

6.7

4,911

389
7.3

6.6

5,316

8,916
5,288

4,980
336
6.3

4,903
385
7.3

9,416
6,183
5,907
276
4.5

9,433
6,136
5,866
270
4.4

376
7.1

8,937
5,339
4,894
445
8.3

Texas
Civilian noninstitutional population'
Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Unemployment rate
1

9,254
6,067

9,451

5,808

5,984
247
4.0

260
4.3

6,231

6,028

236
3.8

The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variations; therefore, identical numbers
appear in the unadjusted and the seasonally adjusted columns.
* These are the official Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimates used in the administration of
Federal fund allocation programs.




6,048
5,7t>8
280
4.6

9,398
6,100
5,834
266
4.4

9,451

9,478

6,241
5,996
245
3.9

6,245
5,989
256
4.1

Seasonally-adjusted data are not presented for this series, because the variations that are due
t o seasonal influences cannot be separated with sufficient precision from those which stem from
the trend-cycle and irregular components of the original time series.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

T a b l e B 1. Employees on nonagricultural payrolls by industry
[In thousands]
Not seasonally adjusted
Industry

UCT.
I97tt

TOTAL
GOODS-PRODUCING
MINING

SfcPT,
1979 P

OCT.
1979 P

UCT,
1976

JUNE
1979

80,1UO

69,673

90,255

90,851

87,424

69,626

69,713

89,762

89,645

90,151

26,uy7

27,030

27,156

27,107

25,941

26,674

26,723

26,599

26,591

26,623

913

966

979

975

910

949

956

966

972

972

5,04tt

4,978

4,975

4,398

4,662

4,686

4,674

4,665

4,693

CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING

AUW,
1979

Seasonally adjusted

workers

20,832
15,003

20,996
14,960

2lit99
15,176

21,157
15,172

20,633
14,616

21,063
15,096

21,079
15,090

20,957
14,956

20,954
14,959

20,958
14,963

DURABLE GOODS
Production workers

12,508
8,99a

12,598
8,907

12,612
9,123

12,775
9,116

12,419
6,906

12,760
9,123

12,766
9,124

12,714
9,044

12.742
9,070

12,666
9,029

778,4
763,0
780,0
466,4
496,2
483,5
713,3
723,9
728,2
1,227,6 1 , 2 4 4 , 5 1|245,9
1,707,2 1 , 7 1 6 , 1 1,736,3
2,362,1 2 , ^ 6 7 , 1 2,498,8
2,042,9 2 , 0 8 9 , 5 2.133,6
2,053,5 1 , 9 3 3 , 2 |2, 053,6
665,4
695,3
691,6
476,5
460,6
463,1

776,6
469,0
719,4
1,235,2
1.745,3
2,450,2
2.145,7
2,049,0
697,4
467,3

752
490
701
1.229
1.692
2,369
2,025
2,037
666
456

757
465
715
1,257
1.737
2,464
2.124
2,057
693
451

7S3
486
711
1.256
1.730
2,500
2,131
2,073
694
450

752
464
710
1,245
1,714
2,492
2,092
2,079
695
451

760
461
708
1.237
1,717
2,499
2,115
2,087
691
447

765
463
707
1,236
1,730
2,456
2,127
2,033
696
449

8,362
6,056

6,214
5,906

8,303
5,973

6,293
5,966

6,243
5,912

6,212
5,669

6,272
5,954

•«14,3 1|775,9
73,6
72.5
869,1
892,4
.310,7 1.322,2
718,4
716,3
#245,3 1.256,2
•113,1 1 . 1 1 5 . 2
218,2
220,4
762,3
765,7
241,7
242,6

1,706
69
897
1.330
692
1.199
1.098
210
755
256

1,720
69
692
1,312
715
1.242
1.119
212
775
247

1,707
66
892
1,324
716
1,250
1,116
212
777
229

1,696
64
686
1,302
717
1,247
1,111
213
764
243

1,691
66
664
1,295
714
1,244
1,109
215
751
243

1,716
66
690
1,304
715
1,254
1,113
219
754
241

63,744 61.463

62.952

62,990

63,163

63,254

63,526

Production

Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
NONDURABLE GOODS
Production workers

6,324
6,009

Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
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

9,398
6,053

1,763,2 1 , 8 1 0 , 0
76,4
69,0
900,0
890,4
1,346,3 1 , 3 0 8 , 9
695,0
723,3
1,201,2 1 , 2 4 5 , 4
1 , 1 0 0 , 6 1*121,2
216,3
211,7
765,8
766,6
245,8
256,3

SERVICE-PRODUCING

61,693

62,643

8,367
6,055

63,099

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

5,039

5,210

5,243

5.014

5,190

5,169

5,194

5,161

5,229

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

19,813

20,137

20,240

20,352 19,744

20,116

20,122

20,126

20,149

20,261

WHOLESALE TRADE

5,050
14,763

5,211
14,926

5,203
15,037

5,250 5,025
15,102 14,719

5,180
14,936

5,182
14,940

5,185
14,941

5,187
14,962

5,224
15,057

4,788

5,053

5,000

4,793

4,958

4,972

5,003

4,995

5,025

SERVICES

16,497

17,312

17,254

17,325 16,464

17,051

17,092

17,141

17,220

17,290

GOVERNMENT

15,556

14,931

15,362

15,792 15,468

15,637

15,635

15,699

15,709

15,703

2,746
12,810

2,844
12,087

2,787
12,575

2,777
2.760
13,015 12.706

2,788
12,849

2,613
12,666

2,796
12,911

2,791
12,912

RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE

FEDERAL
STATE AND LOCAL

5,255

5,020

2,785
12,650

p=preliminary.




NOTE: Establishment data shown in tables B-1 through B-6 have been revised based on March 1978
benchmark levels and updated seasonal adjustment factors; consequently, they are not comparable with
data published prior to the October 5, 1979 release. For a discussion of the effect of these revisions, see
"BLS Establishment Estimates Revised to March 1978 Benchmark Levels." Employment and Earnings,
October 1979, V o l . 26, No. 10.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
T a b l e B - 2 . Average w e e k l y hours of production or nonsupervisory workers, on private
nonagricultural payrolls by industry

Seasonally adjusted

Not seasonally adjusted
Industry
UCT,
1978

AUG,
1979

SEPT,
1979P

OCT,
1979P

UCT,
1978

JUNE
1979

JULY
1979

AUG.
197V

SfePT,
1979 P

35.9

36,0

35,8

35.6

35,8

35,6

35,6

35,6

35.7

MINING

43,7

a3.1

43,5

"3.5

«3,1

43,0

41,6

43,2

43,1

CONSTRUCTION

37,9

36,0

37.9

37,4

36,9

37.2

36,6

37,2

37,5

40,1
3.2

40,1
3.2

TOTAL PRIVATE

40,0
3,3

40.3
3.6

40,2
3.4

40,5
3,6

40,1
3.4

40,2
3.3

41,4
4.1

40,4
3,4

40,6
3,6

40,7
3,5

«1,3
3,9

40.7
3,6

40.7
3.5

40,7
3,3

40,7
3.3

ao,a

39,9
36,6
41.7
40,6
40,5
41,3
39,7
40,5
40,3
36.9

40,1
39,0
«1,7
41.2
40,9
41.8
40,4
40,7
40,6
39,3

39,9
39,4
41,5
40,5
40,9
41,4
40,5
41,1
40,6
39,3

40,0
39,1
41,9
42,2
40,9
42,0
40,4
42,?
40,9
38,9

39,4
38,5
41,6
41,2
40,7
42,0
40,3
40,8
40,6
38,9

39,3
38,4
41,4
41,3
40,6
41,9
40.2
40.9
40,7
39,3

39.5
36.3
«1.3
41.0
40,6
41,6
39,6
41,7
40,5
39,1

39,7
36,6
41,5
40,9
40,6
41,8
40,2
40,6
40,7
39.1

39.5
3.4

39,4

39,6
3.5

39,4
3.3

39,4
3,2

39,2
3,0

39,2
3.0

39,2
3.0

39,3
3,1

39,9
37,6
40.3
35.5
42,6
37,e

40,6
39,0
40,8
35,3
42.7
37.9

36,6

39,9
36,6
40,8
35.3
42,9
37,4
42,0
44,6
40,3
36.3

39,8
37,1
40,3
35.3
42.8
37,7
42,0
43,9
41,1
37,0

39,8
37,6
40,1
35,2
42.5
37.4

42,0
«4,3
41.3
37,0

40,3
37,6
40,3
35,6
42.6
37,9
«1.6
43.6
40.0
36,6

43.3
40.7
36.4

39,8
38,5
40,1
35,3
42.5
37.5
41,9
43.6
40.6
36,6

39,7
38,0
40,1
35,3
42,6
37.7
42.0
43.7
40.2
36,5

40,0
38,5
40,6
35,2
42,4
37,5
41,6
44,1
40,3
36,8

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES

40,0

40,3

tt0,l

39,9

40,0

39.6

39,7

39,9

40.1

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

32.6

33,2

32.6

32.4

32,9

32,6

32,6

32.5

32.6

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

39,0
30,6

36,9
31,4

36,8
30,7

36.7
30.4

38,9
31,0

36,6
30.6

38,6
30,6

36,7
30,5

36.7
30,7

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND
REAL ESTATE

36,6

36,2

36.3

36.4

36,5

36,2

36,3

36.1

36.4

32,5

32.7

32.7

32,6

32,7

32,7

MANUFACTURING
Overtime hours

40,6

DURABLE GOODS
Overtime hours
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
NONDURABLE GOODS
Overtime hours
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
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

SERVICES

1

3.6

39,6

42,3
41,9
41,0
42,0
4Q,4
42.7
41,0
39,1

32.7

3.2

33.2

41,V
44,7
40,5

32,7

«!./

Data relate t o production workers in mining and manufacturing: t o construction workers in construction; and to nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; wholesale and

retail trade; finance, ; nsurance,'and real estate; and Services. These groups account for approximately four-fifths of the total employment on private nonagricultural payrolls,
p = preliminary.




ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

OCT.

TOTAL PRIVATE

*b,67
5.84

Seasonally adjusted

MINING
CONSTRUCTION
MANUFACTURING
DURABLE GOODS
Lumbei and wood ptoducts
Furnituie and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
NONDURABLE GOODS
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
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

AU(»,
1979

66,19
6,22

7,90
«,4a

Average weekly earnings

SEPT.
1*79 p

UCT,
19/VP

$6,30
6,26

*6,31
6,26

6.55

8,53

9,50

9.51

6,53

9,32
6,69

6,60

6,83

6,76

7.12

7.24

7.27

8,69

UCT,
1976

AUG,
1979

SEPT,
1979 P

S210.73 »222,64 $225,54
221.43
209,07
223,48
365,49
348,73
371,93
354.16
336,93
360,05
267,60 274,04
257.00
267.65 295,39
279,66
246,56 253,03
233.11 196,66 202,02
169,29 267,73 290,65
274,53 371,28 376,96
352.60 276,62 263,44
266,09 303,56 313.50
291,90 252,49 260.98
240,36 341,62 349.21
350.57 247,44 253,37
237.39 196,06 199,25
106,12
223.18 237,90 241.96

.77
.78
,49
.42
.49
.95
.95
• 21
.79
.76

6,23
5,10
6,90
9,10
6.63
7.35
6,36
6,44
6,14
5,04

6,31
5,18
6,97
9,15
6,93
7,50
6,46
8,56
6.21
5,07

6,26
5,20
7,02
9,14
6,98
7.51
6,51
6,66
6,26
5.U

5,65

6,0.4

6,11

6,14

5,69
5.8*
4,42
<i,04
6.66
6,61
7.19
8,70
5,60
3.94

6,26
6,59
".77
4,21
7Ui
6,94
7,65
9,35
5,94
4,22

6,54
6,54
4,81
4,26
7.31
7,05
7.71
9,51
6,02
4,29

6,36
6,36
4,04
4,32
7,36
7,05
7,77
9.53
6,05

235,01
218,63
178,13
142,71
265,90
249,66
301,90
365.41
234,58
145,78

253,06
247,70
192,23
149,00
307.57
263,03
319,77
407,66
237,60
154,45

257.40
255,061
196,25
151.08
312.14
267,20
323.051
425,10
243,61
157,01

8,43

8,43

311,20

335.30

336,04

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

7,76

6,32

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

a,79

5,06

5,13

5.14

157,11

107,99

167,24

WHOLESALE TRADE

6,05
4,29

6,41

6.51

*,5i

4.52

4,56

235,95
132.13

249,35
141,93

252,59
140,61

4,59

5.29

5,36

163.73

191,50

195,29

5,37

5,30

5,45

167.lu

175,96! 1 7 8 . 2 2

5,47

RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES
1

See footnote 1, table B-2.




5,02
5.U

p=preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA
Table B-4.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Hourly earnings index for production or nonsupervisory w o r k e r s

nonagricultural payrolls

on private

by industry division, seasonally adjusted

[1967=100]
Percent change f r o m —
Industry

MAY

OCT,
1978

19/9

JUNE
1979

AUG,
1979

JULY
1979

OCT,
1979

SEPT,*
1979

9
UCT.
1976*
1 UCT, 1979

SEPT.1979UCT,

1979

TOTAL PRIVATE NONFARM:
218.1
108,7

Constant (1967) dollars
MINING
CONSTRUCTION
...
MANUFACTURING
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES

248.9
210,5
220,8
23$,4
211.7
199,6
217,2

227,5
10b.1
262,7
220,4
2«3,7
221,0
207,0
224.3

229,0
105,7

230,9
105,6

232.2
105,1

234,2
104,6

234,9

264,9
220,«
23*.9
2"6, a
III.
6
206,0
225,7

266,9
222,1
235, a
251,3
223.8
210,6
227,0

265,6
223.1
236,9
252,6
225,4
2U.5
228.4

265,6

267,0
224.5
240.3
255,5
227.1
213.3
232,0

N.A.

22".3
236,7
255,0
226.6
214,4
231,4

0.3
(3)

7,7
(i)
7

.5

.3
bth
8,8
6.5
7.3
6,6
6,8

• 1
.7
.2
.1
-.5
.2

1 SEE frOOTNOTt It TAbLE « - 2 .
2 PERCENT C H A ^ & E . -»A8 -3.7 F*UM SEPTEMBER 1978 TU S E P T E * H E * 1 9 7 9 , THE LATEST MONTH A V A I L A B L E .
3 P E R C E N T CHANGE *AS -.3 F K U M AUGUST 1979 TU SEPTtMkfcW 1 9 7 9 , THE LATEST MONTH
AVAILABLE,
N.A. = not available.
p=preliminary.
NOTE: All series are in current dollars except where indicated. The index excludes effects of two types of changes that are unrelated to underlying wage-rate developments: Fluctuations in overtime
premiums in manufacturing (the only sector for which overtime data are available) and the effects of changes in the proportion of workers in high-wage and low-wage industries.
Table B-5.

Indexes of aggregate w e e k l y hours of production or nonsupervisory w o r k e r s ,

nonagricultural payrolls

on private

by industry, seasonally adjusted

[1967=100]

1979

1978
Industry division and group

AUG,

8EPTM.

125.5

125,9

125,9

109,9

109,4

109,6

109,3

148,4

156,7

157,0

155,4

134,5

135,2

132.6

103,3

103,4

103.5

106,6
112,3
104,5
110.6
95,9
104,6
116,2
104, f
102.6
127,2
100,8

107,1

106,6
114,1
106,2
109,9
94,5
106,2
115,4
106,6
V7,3
129,0
100,2

96,2
9a,6
60.7
89,0
66,0
103.1
104,7
106,2
124,2
145.6
64,9

113,6
104,6
1U.4
95,3
105,7
117.7
106,4
100,3
127,2
100,2
98,0
95,0
70,3
89,9
67,3
102,1
103,7
107,5
126,2
143,5
65.7

99,0
96,2
70,9
91,0
67,9
103.6
104,5
109,2
131,0
144,0
64,5

136,7

136,6

137.3

137,5

114.2

115,2

115,4

116,0

MOV.

DEC.

JAN,

FEB,

MAR,

123.0

123,7

124,2

124,4

124,7

125.7

123,6

107,9

108.9

109,8

110,3

110,2

111,3

106,6

110,3

110,1

148,4

150.6

151,3

152,0

152.5

152,5

152.0

1*1,6

152,5

CONSTRUCTION

125.5

126,0

127,9

128,9

126,7

132,7

124.9

133,?

134,4

133,9

MANUFACTURING

103,<»

104,4

105,1

105,6

105,8

106,0

102,0

104,7

104,3

104,4

DURABLE GOODS
Lumber and wood products
Furniture and fixtures
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary metal industries
Fabricated metal products
Machinery, except electrical
Electric and electronic equipment . . .
Transportation equipment
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing industry

06,8
13,9
09,2
11.8
97,9
05.1
12.4
03.7
03.6
24,8
01,8

107,9j
115,0
109,4
112,6
99,1
106,5
113.5
104,6
104,9
125,7
102,1

108.8
115,6
110,2
113,4
99,6
107,8
115,3
105,5
105,6
126,3
101,6

109,2
115,9
109,9
113,0
100,1
107,6
115,8
106,6
105,9
128,2
102,3

109,9
114,9
109,1
112,6
100,3
108,7
117,4
107,6
106,9
129,4
101,7

110.1
116,4
109.4
114,9
100,2
106,6
117,5
108,5
105,9
129.7
101.7

105,0
112,4
105,8
111.5
99,7
102,7
113,0
104,4
94,3
127,2
97,5

108,3
113,3
105,9
113,1
97,9
106,6
117,4

107,9

107,9

112,7
105,3
113,0
97,9
107,1
117,6
106,6
99,4
128.4
100,3

H I , 9
105,9
111,5
97,8
106,7
116,0
106,5
100,3
126,1
100,7

NONDURABLE GOODS
Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufacturers
Textile mill products
Apparel and other textile product* . . .
Paper and allied products
Printing and publishing
Chemicals and allied products
Petroleum and coal products
Rubber and misc. plastics products
Leather and leather products

98,5
95,2
71,7
90,6
90,6
98,8
99,8
07.3
23.0
47,6
70,2

99,6
«»7.7
73,6
91,0
91,0
100,7
101.4 101,5
108.1 107,6
124,41 1 2 3 , 6
1 4 9 , 9 152,0
69,4
66,4

100,3
96,1
91.9
91,0
101,1
102,5
108,7
122,7
153,5
*7.9

99,8
97,0
70,0
90,3
90,3
101,6
103,1
108,5
123,9
154,0
66,6

100,1
96,1
73.4
90,6
69,9
103,0
103,4
106,1
125,0
154,4
66,1

97.8
96,6
73,9
86,7
66,6
100,8
101,7
107,7
125,7
146,4
63,9

99,5
97,0
76,5
69.5
89,5
102,3

99,1
96,6
72,6
69,6
68,7
102,1
103,3
106,4
123,1
150.4
66,0

99,1
95,9
73.0
89,8
89,5
103,2
104,4
106,6
123.0
150,5
61,3

134,Q

134,2

134,2

134,6

135.8

135,3

136,5

112,0

112,5

112,8

113,3

113,7

109,2

115,0

129,21 1 2 9 , 5

129,0

129,3
132,3
129,3

131,3

132,6

130,3

144,6
151,1

UCT.

TOTAL PRIVATE
GOODS-PRODUCING
MINING

133,5

SERVICE-PRODUCING
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
TRADE

1U,7

129,0

99,51
96,4
72,4)
91,0
91.3
1<M>,4

71.«

130,2

129,6
129.0

130,5
129,0

130,5
126,5

130,8
128,7

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND
REAL ESTATE

141,6

142,6

142,7

1*3,3

144,1

148.X

148,4

148,6

149,5

See footnote 1, table B-2.




„

147.3

125,4

toe.*
102,0
126,1
98,/

103,1
106,3
124,2
153,4

125,7

125,7

113,4

129,4
126,6

SERVICES

JUNE

135,9

WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE

1

APR,

p= preliminary.

130,2
130,0

129,9

129,6

130,3

130,6

132,7
126,9

132,4

132,4

129.1

132,8
126,9

128.5

129,5

133,3
129,6

145,5

144,5

145,7

146,5

146.3

147,1

147,5

151,0

151,7

152,6

153,5

153,4

154,1

153,6

130.8

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-6. Indexes of diffusion:

Year and month

Percent of industries in which employment 1 increased

Over 1-month span

Over 3-month span

Over 6-month span

Over 12-month span

1976
January..
February•
March....

77.0
70.3
69.2

85.8
84.3
82 .3

86.9
85.8
79.4

84.0
83.7
85.2

April.
May...
June..

70.6
59.6
51 .7

73.8
64.8
62.5

72.4
67.7
71.5

82 .

July
August....
September.

59.0
54.4
68.9

56.
68.
55.

60.8
66.9
68.6

78.

Oc tober..
November.
De cember.

47.4
65.1
66.0

66.
62.
78.

73.
77.
78.

79.4
80.8
82.6

January..
February.
March....

73.0
67.2
72.4

80.2
84.3
82 .6

86.3
84.6
84.0

80.5
81 .4
82.8

April.
May...
June..

71.5
70.3
65.1

81 .
76.
72.

82.3
79.1
77.6

84.6
85.2
86.6

July
August....
September.

70.3
57.8
67.2

70.
70.
67.7

75,
76.
79.

84.9
83.1
83.1

Oc tober. .
November.
December.

64.2
73.3
75.3

76.2
79.7
79.4

80.
84.
82.

82.8
81 .1
82 .0

January..
February.
March....

68.3
69.2
69.5

80.2
75.6
77.3

83.1
79.1
77.6

81 .4
83.1
81.1

April.
May...
June..

68.0
57.8
66.6

69.8
67.2
66.6

73.5
72.7
71 .2

82.0
81 .7
82.3

July
August....
September.

64.5
60.5
62.5

69.
67.
71 .

73.
77.
79.

81 .
78.
77.

Oc tober. .
November.
December.

73.0
75.9
74.4

78.2

82.
82.
80.

73.
76.
71.

January..
February.
M a r c h . . ..

70.3
65.1
60.5

76.5
72.1
57.8

74.
67.
61.

71 .8
70.6
63.7p

April.
May...
June..

44.8
54.7
57.0

55.2
51.5
58.4

58.1
50.3
46.8p

66.Op

July
August... .
September.

61.6
48.8
47.7p

56.7
52.6p
60.5p

59.6p

Oc tober..
November.
December.

74.7p

' Number of employees, seasonally adjusted, on payrolls of 172 private nonagricultural industries.
p = preliminary.




77.
80.
78.
77 .

Chart 1. Civilian labor force and employment
(Seasonally adjusted)

Chart 2. Unemployment r a t e — a l l

1970

1971

1972

1973

civilian workers

1974

1975

Chart 3. Civilian labor force participation
and t o t a l employment-population ratio
(Seasonally adjusted)




1976

1977

1978

1979

rate

•oo

r »J

6

Is
f m

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

50O