Full text of The Employment Situation : September 1996

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Household data:
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606-6373
Establishment data:
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THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

USDL 96-414
Transmission of material in this
release is embargoed until
8:30 A.M. (EDT),
Friday, October 4, 1996.

SEPTEMBER 1996

Both unemployment and nonfarm payroll employment were essentially
unchanged in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today. The jobless rate was 5.2 percent in
September; it had been 5.1 percent in August. Payroll employment fell in
manufacturing and local government in September, and growth slowed in
several other major industries. Average hourly earnings rose by 6 cents
over the month.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
About 7.0 million persons were unemployed in September and the
unemployment rate was 5.2 percent. Both measures were about the same as
they had been in August. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment
rate for adult men rose by 0.3 percentage point to 4.5 percent, while the
rate for teenagers fell to 15.6 percent. (See table A-1.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment, at 127.4 million in September, continued to trend
upward. The proportion of the population 16 years and over that was
employed (the employment-population ratio) remained at 63.3 percent. The
number of employed persons has increased by about 2.3 million over the past
year, and the employment-population ratio has risen by half a percentage
point. (See table A-1.)
The number of persons who held more than one job in September was 7.8
million (not seasonally adjusted). These multiple jobholders comprised 6.1
percent of the total employed. This multiple jobholding rate was the same
for men and women. (See table A-9.)
The civilian labor force grew by 455,000 in September to 134.3 million,
more than offsetting a decline in the previous month. The labor force has
grown by 1.8 million since September 1995. (See table A-1.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.5 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in September--that is, they wanted and were
available for work but had stopped looking for jobs sometime in the prior
12 months. Of this total, discouraged workers--those who were no longer
looking specifically because they believed no jobs were available for them-numbered 391,000. (See table A-9.)

- 2 Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
___________________________________________________________________________
|
Quarterly
|
Monthly data
|
|
averages
|
|
|_________________|__________________________|Aug.Category
|
1996
|
1996
|Sept.
|_________________|__________________________|change
|
II
| III
| July | Aug. | Sept. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA
|
Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 133,647| 134,135| 134,181| 133,885| 134,340|
455
Employment..........| 126,389| 127,102| 126,884| 127,055| 127,368|
313
Unemployment........|
7,258|
7,033|
7,297|
6,830|
6,971|
141
Not in labor force....| 66,633| 66,715| 66,460| 66,962| 66,721|
-241
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........|
5.4|
5.2|
5.4|
5.1|
5.2|
0.1
Adult men...........|
4.7|
4.5|
4.7|
4.2|
4.5|
.3
Adult women.........|
4.8|
4.7|
4.9|
4.6|
4.5|
-.1
Teenagers...........|
16.3|
16.4|
16.4|
17.2|
15.6|
-1.6
White...............|
4.7|
4.5|
4.7|
4.4|
4.5|
.1
Black...............|
10.3|
10.5|
10.5|
10.5|
10.5|
.0
Hispanic origin.....|
9.2|
8.7|
9.0|
8.7|
8.2|
-.5
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA
|
Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 119,272|p119,936| 119,789|p120,030|p119,990|
p-40
Goods-producing 1/..| 24,249| p24,268| 24,265| p24,295| p24,245|
p-50
Construction......|
5,380| p5,437|
5,427| p5,438| p5,447|
p9
Manufacturing.....| 18,294| p18,261| 18,268| p18,286| p18,229|
p-57
Service-producing 1/| 95,024| p95,668| 95,524| p95,735| p95,745|
p10
Retail trade......| 21,499| p21,682| 21,672| p21,676| p21,698|
p22
Services..........| 34,257| p34,527| 34,463| p34,532| p34,586|
p54
Government........| 19,435| p19,528| 19,482| p19,591| p19,510|
p-81
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Hours of work 2/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
34.4|
p34.5|
34.2|
p34.5|
p34.7|
p0.2
Manufacturing.......|
41.7|
p41.7|
41.6|
p41.7|
p41.8|
p.1
Overtime..........|
4.6|
p4.5|
4.4|
p4.5|
p4.5|
p.0
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Earnings 2/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| $11.76| p$11.86| $11.81| p$11.86| p$11.92| p$0.06
Avg. weekly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| 404.56| p408.90| 403.90| p409.17| p413.62| p4.45
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
2/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.

- 3 Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment was about unchanged in September at 120.0
million, after seasonal adjustment, as private sector employment growth
slowed markedly and government employment declined. (See table B-1.)
Manufacturing employment declined by 57,000 in September; industry
losses now total 331,000 since the most recent peak in March 1995. Job
losses were widespread in September, with the largest declines occurring in
industrial machinery and transportation equipment. In the latter industry,
there has been no net job growth since June. Within nondurable goods, job
losses continued in several industries, including food and kindred
products, printing and publishing, and apparel.
Construction employment increased by only 9,000 in September. Growth in
the industry has slowed considerably in the past 2 months, following
relatively strong gains over the first 7 months of the year. The long-term
decline in mining employment continued.
Within the service-producing sector, government employment fell by
81,000 in September. This was due mainly to a seasonally adjusted decline
of 67,000 in local education, following unusually large gains in the prior
3 months.
Changing seasonal patterns due to the earlier start of the
school year and the trend toward year-round schools have shifted some of
the seasonal job growth in education to the summer months. Despite this
drop in September, employment in local education still has expanded by
95,000 since May. Losses continued in federal government employment, where
job declines have approached a quarter million since the most recent
employment peak in May 1992.
Employment growth in services slowed further in September. The increase
of 54,000 was just under half of the average monthly gain recorded in the
first half of the year and smaller than the modest increases of July and
August. Employment growth in September was weak in business and private
educational services, and employment declined in child day care. In
contrast, employment in health services grew by 30,000, following 3 months
of sluggishness.
Retail trade added only 22,000 jobs in September, half the average
monthly gain of the past year. Employment declined in general merchandise
and apparel stores and grew moderately in eating and drinking places. While
the pace of job growth in wholesale trade has slowed considerably since
March, the September increase of 5,000 was especially small.
Employment in finance, insurance, and real estate increased modestly in
September. Employment growth accelerated in insurance, but employment in
finance and real estate was little changed over the month. Gains in
transportation and public utilities employment were relatively small for
the third consecutive month. Within transportation, there was a small
increase in air transportation, but employment in trucking and warehousing
was flat over the month and has shown no net growth since late last year.

- 4 Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private
nonfarm payrolls rose 0.2 hour in September to 34.7 hours, seasonally
adjusted. The manufacturing workweek edged up 0.1 hour to 41.8 hours, and
factory overtime was unchanged at 4.5 hours. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of private production or
nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm payrolls rose 0.7 percent in September to
138.0 (1982=100), seasonally adjusted, largely reflecting the increase in
the average workweek. The manufacturing index edged down 0.2 percent to
106.1. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of private production or nonsupervisory workers
on nonfarm payrolls rose 6 cents in September to $11.92, seasonally
adjusted. Average weekly earnings increased by 1.1 percent to $413.62.
Over the past year, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.5 percent,
and average weekly earnings have risen by 4.4 percent. (See table B-3.)
------------------------------------------------------------|
The August and September 1996 establishment-based
|
|employment data in this release incorporate corrected
|
|seasonal adjustment factors. Factors previously
|
|published for March-October 1996 were found to contain
|
|a minor computational error. BLS will publish the
|
|corrected seasonally adjusted employment, hours, and
|
|earnings data for March-September 1996 in the October
|
|issue of Employment and Earnings. These series also
|
|will be available, beginning October 18, on the INTERNET
|
|(Address: http://stats.bls.gov:80/cgi-bin/dsrv?ee) or
|
|by calling FAXSTAT at (202) 606-6325 and requesting
|
|document 3030. All revisions are expected to be minor.
|
|Revised seasonal factors for the August-October 1996
|
|employment series are now available on the INTERNET (Address:|
|ftp://stats.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/ee/sfae0996.dat)
|
|or by calling the number shown above and asking for
|
|document 1510.
|
------------------------------------------------------------_________________________
The Employment Situation for October 1996 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, November 1, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).

- 5 Explanatory Note

This news release presents statistics from two major surveys, the Current
Population Survey (household survey) and the Current Employment Statistics
survey (establishment survey). The household survey provides the
information on the labor force, employment, and unemployment that appears
in the A tables, marked HOUSEHOLD DATA. It is a sample survey of about
50,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS).
The establishment survey provides the information on the employment,
hours, and earnings of workers on nonfarm payrolls that appears in the B
tables, marked ESTABLISHMENT DATA. This information is collected from
payroll records by BLS in cooperation with State agencies. In June 1996,
the sample included about 390,000 establishments employing over 47 million
people.
For both surveys, the data for a given month relate to a particular week
or pay period. In the household survey, the reference week is generally
the calendar week that contains the 12th day of the month. In the
establishment survey, the reference period is the pay period including the
12th, which may or may not correspond directly to the calendar week.
Coverage, definitions, and differences between surveys
Household survey. The sample is selected to reflect the entire
civilian noninstitutional population. Based on responses to a series of
questions on work and job search activities, each person 16 years and over
in a sample household is classified as employed, unemployed, or not in the
labor force.
People are classified as employed if they did any work at all as paid
employees during the reference week; worked in their own business,
profession, or on their own farm; or worked without pay at least 15 hours
in a family business or farm. People are also counted as employed if they
were temporarily absent from their jobs because of illness, bad weather,
vacation, labor-management disputes, or personal reasons.
People are classified as unemployed if they meet all of the following
criteria: They had no employment during the reference week; they were
available for work at that time; and they made specific efforts to find
employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference
week. Persons laid off from a job and expecting recall
need not be
looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The unemployment data
derived from the household survey in no way depend upon the eligibility for
or receipt of unemployment insurance benefits.
The civilian labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed
persons. Those not classified as employed or unemployed are not in the
labor force. The unemployment rate is the number unemployed as a percent
of the labor force. The labor force participation rate is the labor force
as a percent of the population, and the employment-population ratio is the
employed as a percent of the population.
Establishment survey. The sample establishments are drawn from private
nonfarm businesses such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
Federal, State, and local government entities. Employees on nonfarm
payrolls are those who received pay for any part of the reference pay
period, including persons on paid leave. Persons are counted in each job
they hold. Hours and earnings data are for private businesses and relate
only to production workers in the goods-producing sector and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-producing sector.

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

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

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

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

- 8 monthly bias adjustment is based largely on past relationships between the
sample-based estimates of employment and the total counts of employment
described below.
The sample-based estimates from the establishment survey are adjusted
once a year (on a lagged basis) to universe counts of payroll employment
obtained from administrative records of the unemployment insurance program.
The difference between the March sample-based employment estimates and the
March universe counts is known as a benchmark revision, and serves as a
rough proxy for total survey error. The new benchmarks also incorporate
changes in the classification of industries. Over the past decade, the
benchmark revision for total nonfarm employment has averaged 0.2 percent,
ranging from zero to 0.6 percent.
Additional statistics and other information
More comprehensive statistics are contained in Employment and Earnings,
published each month by BLS. It is available for $13.00 per issue or
$35.00 per year from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
20402. All orders must be prepaid by sending a check or money order
payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or by charging to Mastercard or
Visa.
Employment and Earnings also provides measures of sampling error for the
household survey data published in this release. For unemployment and
other labor force categories, these measures appear in tables 1-B through 1H of its "Explanatory Notes." Measures of the reliability of the data
drawn from the establishment survey and the actual amounts of revision due
to benchmark adjustments are provided in tables 2-B through 2-G of that
publication.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-606-STAT; TDD phone: 202-6065897; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-326-2577.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-1.

Employment status of the civilian population by sex and age

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, sex, and age

Sept.
1995

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

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

199,005
132,341
66.5
125,173
62.9
3,430
121,744
7,167
5.4
66,664

200,847
135,011
67.2
128,143
63.8
3,706
124,437
6,868
5.1
65,836

201,060
134,230
66.8
127,529
63.4
3,607
123,922
6,700
5.0
66,831

199,005
132,501
66.6
125,036
62.8
3,335
121,701
7,465
5.6
66,504

200,278
133,910
66.9
126,462
63.1
3,491
122,971
7,448
5.6
66,368

200,459
133,669
66.7
126,610
63.2
3,382
123,228
7,060
5.3
66,790

200,641
134,181
66.9
126,884
63.2
3,502
123,382
7,297
5.4
66,460

200,847
133,885
66.7
127,055
63.3
3,421
123,635
6,830
5.1
66,962

201,060
134,340
66.8
127,368
63.3
3,535
123,833
6,971
5.2
66,721

95,397
71,288
74.7
67,646
70.9
3,642
5.1

96,335
72,888
75.7
69,533
72.2
3,355
4.6

96,447
72,028
74.7
68,614
71.1
3,413
4.7

95,397
71,348
74.8
67,328
70.6
4,020
5.6

96,048
72,241
75.2
68,278
71.1
3,964
5.5

96,140
72,121
75.0
68,283
71.0
3,837
5.3

96,230
72,375
75.2
68,400
71.1
3,975
5.5

96,335
71,973
74.7
68,442
71.0
3,531
4.9

96,447
72,102
74.8
68,319
70.8
3,783
5.2

87,940
67,374
76.6
64,417
73.3
2,375
62,042
2,957
4.4

88,650
68,390
77.1
65,725
74.1
2,477
63,248
2,665
3.9

88,733
68,140
76.8
65,353
73.7
2,439
62,914
2,788
4.1

87,940
67,286
76.5
64,023
72.8
2,296
61,727
3,263
4.8

88,530
68,064
76.9
64,818
73.2
2,337
62,480
3,246
4.8

88,570
68,118
76.9
64,962
73.3
2,292
62,669
3,157
4.6

88,614
68,274
77.0
65,094
73.5
2,381
62,713
3,179
4.7

88,650
68,114
76.8
65,286
73.6
2,352
62,933
2,829
4.2

88,733
68,072
76.7
64,978
73.2
2,377
62,601
3,094
4.5

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............ 103,608 104,512 104,614 103,608 104,230 104,319 104,411 104,512 104,614
Civilian labor force.......................... 61,053 62,123 62,202 61,153 61,669 61,548 61,806 61,912 62,238
Participation rate......................
58.9
59.4
59.5
59.0
59.2
59.0
59.2
59.2
59.5
Employed.................................... 57,527 58,610 58,915 57,708 58,184 58,326 58,484 58,613 59,049
Employment-population ratio.............
55.5
56.1
56.3
55.7
55.8
55.9
56.0
56.1
56.4
Unemployed..................................
3,525
3,514
3,287
3,445
3,485
3,222
3,322
3,299
3,189
Unemployment rate.......................
5.8
5.7
5.3
5.6
5.7
5.2
5.4
5.3
5.1
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate......................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio.............
Agriculture...............................
Nonagricultural industries................
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.......................

96,408
57,520
59.7
54,586
56.6
793
53,793
2,934
5.1

97,146
57,992
59.7
55,026
56.6
880
54,146
2,966
5.1

97,226
58,548
60.2
55,776
57.4
890
54,886
2,772
4.7

96,408
57,387
59.5
54,568
56.6
778
53,790
2,819
4.9

96,925
57,915
59.8
55,014
56.8
831
54,183
2,901
5.0

96,999
57,893
59.7
55,211
56.9
842
54,369
2,682
4.6

97,064
58,102
59.9
55,266
56.9
863
54,403
2,837
4.9

97,146
58,225
59.9
55,522
57.2
829
54,693
2,704
4.6

97,226
58,356
60.0
55,711
57.3
881
54,831
2,645
4.5

14,657
7,447
50.8
6,170
42.1
262
5,908
1,277
17.1

15,051
8,629
57.3
7,392
49.1
349
7,043
1,237
14.3

15,101
7,541
49.9
6,401
42.4
278
6,123
1,140
15.1

14,657
7,828
53.4
6,445
44.0
261
6,184
1,383
17.7

14,823
7,932
53.5
6,630
44.7
323
6,308
1,301
16.4

14,890
7,658
51.4
6,437
43.2
248
6,189
1,221
15.9

14,963
7,805
52.2
6,524
43.6
258
6,266
1,280
16.4

15,051
7,545
50.1
6,248
41.5
240
6,008
1,297
17.2

15,101
7,911
52.4
6,679
44.2
278
6,401
1,232
15.6

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.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-2.

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

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, race, sex, age, and
Hispanic origin
Sept.
1995

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 167,200 168,489 168,639 167,200 168,098 168,222 168,345 168,489 168,639
Civilian labor force.......................... 112,039 113,713 113,275 112,113 113,109 112,941 113,076 112,832 113,316
Participation rate........................
67.0
67.5
67.2
67.1
67.3
67.1
67.2
67.0
67.2
Employed.................................... 106,886 108,801 108,495 106,666 107,612 107,757 107,772 107,828 108,256
Employment-population ratio...............
63.9
64.6
64.3
63.8
64.0
64.1
64.0
64.0
64.2
Unemployed..................................
5,152
4,912
4,780
5,447
5,497
5,184
5,304
5,004
5,060
Unemployment rate.........................
4.6
4.3
4.2
4.9
4.9
4.6
4.7
4.4
4.5
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate........................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.........................

57,773
77.0
55,595
74.1
2,178
3.8

58,553
77.5
56,568
74.9
1,985
3.4

58,369
77.2
56,344
74.6
2,024
3.5

57,715
76.9
55,250
73.7
2,465
4.3

58,340
77.4
55,914
74.2
2,426
4.2

58,426
77.5
56,047
74.3
2,379
4.1

58,456
77.5
56,079
74.3
2,376
4.1

58,354
77.3
56,174
74.4
2,179
3.7

58,303
77.1
56,008
74.1
2,295
3.9

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

48,074
59.6
45,988
57.0
2,086
4.3

47,960
59.1
45,847
56.5
2,113
4.4

48,536
59.8
46,591
57.4
1,945
4.0

47,876
59.3
45,851
56.8
2,025
4.2

48,103
59.4
45,976
56.8
2,128
4.4

47,956
59.2
46,063
56.9
1,894
3.9

47,981
59.2
46,009
56.8
1,972
4.1

48,124
59.3
46,217
57.0
1,907
4.0

48,286
59.5
46,406
57.2
1,881
3.9

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

6,192
53.7
5,303
46.0
889
14.4
15.2
13.4

7,200
60.6
6,387
53.7
813
11.3
12.1
10.5

6,370
53.4
5,560
46.6
811
12.7
13.8
11.5

6,522
56.6
5,565
48.3
957
14.7
15.8
13.4

6,666
56.6
5,723
48.6
943
14.1
15.2
12.9

6,558
55.5
5,647
47.8
911
13.9
14.7
13.0

6,639
56.0
5,684
48.0
955
14.4
16.6
12.0

6,354
53.5
5,437
45.7
917
14.4
15.6
13.2

6,726
56.4
5,842
49.0
885
13.2
14.5
11.8

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

23,323
14,786
63.4
13,173
56.5
1,613
10.9

23,650
15,470
65.4
13,792
58.3
1,677
10.8

23,690
15,132
63.9
13,547
57.2
1,585
10.5

23,323
14,820
63.5
13,181
56.5
1,639
11.1

23,549
15,149
64.3
13,599
57.7
1,551
10.2

23,579
14,955
63.4
13,451
57.0
1,504
10.1

23,611
15,279
64.7
13,671
57.9
1,609
10.5

23,650
15,361
65.0
13,750
58.1
1,611
10.5

23,690
15,167
64.0
13,569
57.3
1,597
10.5

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

6,724
72.3
6,120
65.8
605
9.0

6,888
73.2
6,320
67.1
568
8.2

6,840
72.6
6,190
65.7
651
9.5

6,727
72.3
6,096
65.5
631
9.4

6,786
72.2
6,136
65.3
650
9.6

6,728
71.5
6,110
64.9
617
9.2

6,867
72.9
6,233
66.2
634
9.2

6,890
73.2
6,326
67.2
564
8.2

6,849
72.7
6,177
65.6
672
9.8

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

7,135
60.9
6,455
55.1
681
9.5

7,478
63.1
6,749
57.0
728
9.7

7,429
62.6
6,767
57.0
662
8.9

7,122
60.8
6,478
55.3
644
9.0

7,373
62.4
6,758
57.2
615
8.3

7,373
62.4
6,743
57.0
630
8.5

7,504
63.4
6,830
57.7
674
9.0

7,511
63.4
6,824
57.6
687
9.1

7,417
62.5
6,794
57.3
623
8.4

927
40.2
599
26.0
328
35.4
31.9
38.6

1,104
46.2
723
30.3
381
34.5
36.4
32.4

863
35.9
591
24.6
272
31.5
32.1
30.9

971
42.1
607
26.3
364
37.5
36.0
38.9

990
42.3
705
30.1
286
28.9
27.4
30.2

854
36.4
598
25.4
256
30.0
35.3
25.0

908
38.5
607
25.8
301
33.1
43.3
20.9

960
40.2
599
25.1
361
37.6
38.6
36.5

901
37.5
598
24.9
303
33.6
36.6
30.7

18,752
12,457
66.4
11,374
60.7
1,083
8.7

19,292
12,989
67.3
11,844
61.4
1,145
8.8

19,346
12,912
66.7
11,895
61.5
1,016
7.9

18,752
12,369
66.0
11,247
60.0
1,122
9.1

19,131
12,514
65.4
11,365
59.4
1,149
9.2

19,184
12,576
65.6
11,472
59.8
1,104
8.8

19,238
12,641
65.7
11,500
59.8
1,141
9.0

19,292
12,877
66.7
11,750
60.9
1,127
8.7

19,346
12,822
66.3
11,766
60.8
1,057
8.2

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

1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Category

Sept.
1995

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over............... 125,173 128,143 127,529 125,036 126,462 126,610 126,884 127,055 127,368
Married men, spouse present................... 42,468 42,622 42,603 42,178 42,406 42,587 42,478 42,622 42,265
Married women, spouse present................. 32,175 32,209 32,798 32,180 32,330 32,649 32,713 32,732 32,765
Women who maintain families...................
7,171
7,276
7,443
7,155
7,314
7,360
7,230
7,291
7,443
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................

35,596
37,380
16,582
13,655
18,164
3,795

36,265
37,971
17,571
14,029
18,344
3,962

36,759
37,725
17,200
13,881
18,199
3,766

35,607
37,504
16,932
13,486
18,002
3,588

36,257
37,681
17,312
13,439
18,282
3,560

36,696
37,683
17,215
13,572
18,137
3,472

36,361
37,795
17,418
13,439
18,392
3,594

36,520
37,858
17,397
13,701
18,075
3,500

36,741
37,801
17,533
13,717
18,047
3,576

CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers.....................
1,836
1,991
1,899
1,754
2,026
1,900
1,863
1,802
1,833
Self-employed workers.......................
1,554
1,635
1,616
1,525
1,456
1,457
1,564
1,528
1,597
Unpaid family workers.......................
40
79
92
43
46
35
52
65
97
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers..................... 112,615 115,358 114,960 112,586 114,032 114,130 114,294 114,634 114,908
Government................................ 18,214 17,737 18,052 18,249 18,256 18,329 18,294 18,286 18,088
Private industries........................ 94,401 97,620 96,908 94,337 95,776 95,801 96,000 96,348 96,820
Private households......................
944
1,030
976
959
918
812
935
1,009
1,006
Other industries........................ 93,457 96,590 95,932 93,378 94,858 94,989 95,065 95,339 95,814
Self-employed workers.......................
9,008
8,956
8,825
8,954
8,878
9,073
8,998
8,876
8,763
Unpaid family workers.......................
120
124
138
112
124
136
130
121
127
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...........

4,217
2,307
1,608
18,282

4,407
2,388
1,615
15,459

4,012
2,215
1,531
18,223

4,502
2,526
1,706
17,842

4,277
2,216
1,719
17,620

4,301
2,322
1,569
18,211

4,366
2,589
1,494
17,814

4,354
2,477
1,610
18,229

4,309
2,426
1,616
17,710

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

4,073
2,198
1,586
17,649

4,218
2,242
1,586
14,866

3,852
2,114
1,495
17,530

4,355
2,413
1,675
17,218

4,068
2,092
1,663
17,038

4,146
2,215
1,542
17,623

4,159
2,457
1,479
17,157

4,205
2,350
1,600
17,613

4,128
2,318
1,574
17,036

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.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-4. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Category
Sept.
1995

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

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

7,465
3,263
2,819
1,383

6,830
2,829
2,704
1,297

6,971
3,094
2,645
1,232

5.6
4.8
4.9
17.7

5.6
4.8
5.0
16.4

5.3
4.6
4.6
15.9

5.4
4.7
4.9
16.4

5.1
4.2
4.6
17.2

5.2
4.5
4.5
15.6

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

1,496
1,298
619

1,258
1,085
704

1,323
1,106
674

3.4
3.9
8.0

2.9
3.8
8.7

3.0
3.6
7.6

3.0
3.5
9.1

2.9
3.2
8.8

3.0
3.3
8.3

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

5,955
1,473

5,363
1,476

5,611
1,359

5.5
5.9

5.5
5.9

5.2
5.6

5.3
6.1

4.9
5.9

5.1
5.6

884
1,746
887
1,646
285

786
1,685
754
1,534
216

883
1,767
798
1,422
269

2.4
4.4
6.2
8.4
7.4

2.3
4.7
5.3
8.3
9.1

2.4
4.1
5.2
7.9
7.7

2.5
4.6
5.5
7.7
6.3

2.1
4.3
5.2
7.8
5.8

2.3
4.5
5.5
7.3
7.0

5,846
1,848
20
800
1,028
517
511
3,998
318
1,813
219
1,648
524
231

5,418
1,582
25
575
981
464
517
3,836
303
1,664
177
1,692
500
144

5,366
1,514
31
593
890
497
394
3,852
285
1,579
241
1,747
552
226

5.8
6.6
3.3
12.4
4.9
4.2
5.9
5.5
4.5
6.9
3.1
5.2
2.8
11.6

5.7
6.2
2.1
10.0
5.1
4.8
5.5
5.6
4.2
6.6
2.5
5.7
3.3
10.0

5.5
6.1
4.7
9.5
5.1
4.6
5.7
5.2
4.5
6.4
2.6
5.1
2.7
9.2

5.5
5.9
2.8
10.1
4.6
4.2
5.3
5.4
4.3
6.3
2.8
5.5
3.2
8.6

5.3
5.6
4.4
8.8
4.7
3.8
6.0
5.2
4.2
6.3
2.4
5.2
2.7
7.4

5.3
5.4
5.1
9.1
4.3
4.0
4.6
5.2
4.0
6.0
3.2
5.3
3.0
11.0

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.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Duration
Sept.
1995

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

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

2,916
2,075
2,176
953
1,223

2,364
2,402
2,102
835
1,268

2,581
1,998
2,122
935
1,187

2,786
2,317
2,323
1,054
1,269

2,815
2,334
2,336
1,020
1,317

2,485
2,160
2,435
1,116
1,319

2,701
2,322
2,319
958
1,361

2,486
2,129
2,248
978
1,270

2,446
2,245
2,279
1,054
1,225

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

16.2
7.8

17.3
8.6

16.9
8.5

16.3
8.1

16.8
8.3

17.6
8.1

16.8
8.6

17.4
8.5

17.0
8.9

100.0
40.7
28.9
30.4
13.3
17.1

100.0
34.4
35.0
30.6
12.2
18.5

100.0
38.5
29.8
31.7
14.0
17.7

100.0
37.5
31.2
31.3
14.2
17.1

100.0
37.6
31.2
31.2
13.6
17.6

100.0
35.1
30.5
34.4
15.8
18.6

100.0
36.8
31.6
31.6
13.1
18.5

100.0
36.2
31.0
32.8
14.3
18.5

100.0
35.1
32.2
32.7
15.1
17.6

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed...............................
Less than 5 weeks............................
5 to 14 weeks................................
15 weeks and over............................
15 to 26 weeks.............................
27 weeks and over..........................

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Reason

Sept.
1995

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

3,017
635
2,382
1,653
728
961
2,635
555

2,932
777
2,155
1,459
696
808
2,556
573

2,812
674
2,138
1,450
688
892
2,495
500

3,422
967
2,455
(1)
(1)
875
2,551
601

3,388
1,154
2,234
(1)
(1)
661
2,784
532

3,431
990
2,441
(1)
(1)
676
2,419
528

3,343
953
2,391
(1)
(1)
749
2,529
623

3,054
889
2,165
(1)
(1)
773
2,448
548

3,225
1,059
2,167
(1)
(1)
807
2,404
545

42.1
8.9
33.2
13.4
36.8
7.7

42.7
11.3
31.4
11.8
37.2
8.3

42.0
10.1
31.9
13.3
37.2
7.5

45.9
13.0
33.0
11.7
34.2
8.1

46.0
15.7
30.3
9.0
37.8
7.2

48.6
14.0
34.6
9.6
34.3
7.5

46.1
13.1
33.0
10.3
34.9
8.6

44.8
13.0
31.7
11.3
35.9
8.0

46.2
15.2
31.0
11.6
34.4
7.8

2.3
.7
2.0
.4

2.2
.6
1.9
.4

2.1
.7
1.9
.4

2.6
.7
1.9
.5

2.5
.5
2.1
.4

2.6
.5
1.8
.4

2.5
.6
1.9
.5

2.3
.6
1.8
.4

2.4
.6
1.8
.4

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Measure

Sept.
1995

Aug. Sept. Sept.
1996 1996 1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug. Sept.
1996 1996

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

1.6

1.6

1.6

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.7

1.7

1.7

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

2.3

2.2

2.1

2.6

2.5

2.6

2.5

2.3

2.4

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

5.4

5.1

5.0

5.6

5.6

5.3

5.4

5.1

5.2

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

5.7

5.4

5.3

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

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

6.5

6.1

6.1

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

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

9.7

9.3

9.0

(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.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Age and sex

Sept.
1995

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996

Sept.
1996

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

7,465
2,687
1,383
654
719
1,304
4,778
4,201
557

6,830
2,380
1,297
602
698
1,083
4,459
3,945
493

6,971
2,386
1,232
564
675
1,153
4,587
4,096
528

5.6
12.6
17.7
20.1
15.7
9.7
4.3
4.4
3.5

5.6
12.2
16.4
19.4
14.2
9.7
4.3
4.4
3.6

5.3
11.7
15.9
19.0
13.4
9.3
4.1
4.2
3.6

5.4
12.2
16.4
19.4
14.1
9.7
4.2
4.2
3.8

5.1
11.5
17.2
19.1
16.0
8.3
3.9
4.1
3.1

5.2
11.2
15.6
17.2
14.5
8.7
4.1
4.2
3.3

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

4,020
1,451
757
346
401
694
2,571
2,235
331

3,531
1,237
702
341
362
535
2,307
2,005
291

3,783
1,306
689
307
383
618
2,466
2,210
287

5.6
12.8
18.6
20.7
16.8
9.6
4.3
4.4
3.8

5.5
12.9
17.2
20.0
15.4
10.4
4.1
4.2
3.3

5.3
12.4
17.0
20.5
14.2
9.7
4.0
4.1
3.5

5.5
13.3
19.4
24.2
16.1
9.8
4.0
4.1
3.8

4.9
11.5
18.2
22.0
15.9
7.7
3.8
3.8
3.2

5.2
11.9
17.1
18.6
16.1
8.8
4.0
4.2
3.2

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

3,445
1,236
626
308
318
610
2,207
1,966
226

3,299
1,144
595
260
336
548
2,153
1,940
202

3,189
1,079
544
256
292
535
2,121
1,886
241

5.6
12.3
16.6
19.5
14.5
9.8
4.3
4.5
3.2

5.7
11.4
15.6
18.8
12.9
8.8
4.5
4.6
3.9

5.2
11.0
14.8
17.5
12.5
8.7
4.1
4.2
3.6

5.4
10.9
13.1
14.4
11.8
9.5
4.3
4.4
3.7

5.3
11.6
16.2
16.3
16.0
8.9
4.1
4.3
2.9

5.1
10.6
14.0
15.7
12.9
8.5
4.1
4.2
3.4

1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Total

Men

Women

Category
Sept.
1995

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1995

Sept.
1996

66,664
5,514
1,583

66,831
5,219
1,518

24,109
2,100
679

24,419
1,948
681

42,556
3,414
903

42,412
3,271
836

341
1,242

391
1,127

193
487

218
464

148
755

173
663

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

7,666
6.1

7,808
6.1

4,157
6.1

4,197
6.1

3,510
6.1

3,611
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......................

4,395
1,662
287
1,296

4,253
1,714
258
1,547

2,669
490
205
790

2,565
506
199
914

1,726
1,173
82
506

1,688
1,208
58
633

NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE

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

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

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Sept.
1995

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

Total......................... 118,102 119,554 119,764 120,482 117,623 119,335 119,554 119,789 120,030 119,990
Total private....................

98,998 101,163 101,486 101,238

98,298

99,877 100,103 100,307 100,439 100,480

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

24,588

24,547

24,759

24,679

24,176

24,262

24,275

24,265

24,295

24,245

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

583
51.0
104.8
317.2
109.6

580
53.0
100.7
314.2
112.4

582
53.1
100.7
315.1
113.1

576
52.2
99.9
311.5
112.1

574
51
104
313
106

576
52
101
316
107

575
52
101
314
108

570
52
100
310
108

571
52
100
311
108

569
52
99
310
108

Construction..........................
5,469
5,744
5,783
5,741
General building contractors........ 1,238.9 1,288.3 1,295.2 1,276.3
Heavy construction, except building.
835.9
836.2
842.9
846.3
Special trade contractors........... 3,393.9 3,619.4 3,644.8 3,618.3

5,187
1,195
756
3,236

5,384
1,229
764
3,391

5,403
1,233
768
3,402

5,427
1,231
769
3,427

5,438
1,232
770
3,436

5,447
1,232
765
3,450

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

18,536
12,856

18,223
12,540

18,394
12,713

18,362
12,713

18,415
12,747

18,302
12,632

18,297
12,635

18,268
12,612

18,286
12,622

18,229
12,588

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

10,680
7,319
770.8
506.6
545.9
708.7

10,627
7,248
774.8
491.5
544.2
695.2

10,710
7,327
782.3
501.4
547.9
706.8

10,710
7,343
777.4
501.3
547.0
707.6

10,648
7,294
762
506
536
707

10,679
7,302
762
500
537
705

10,695
7,327
766
500
536
708

10,680
7,311
765
500
535
700

10,707
7,337
769
500
536
706

10,673
7,309
765
500
535
705

239.8
238.4
239.2
238.6
1,440.1 1,439.4 1,456.0 1,460.2
2,063.1 2,083.0 2,077.5 2,071.7
352.1
359.5
358.8
355.8

240
1,437
2,066
352

239
1,443
2,087
360

239
1,450
2,088
359

237
1,453
2,088
357

237
1,456
2,085
359

238
1,458
2,074
356

1,634.0 1,646.4 1,650.0 1,649.6

1,633

1,652

1,651

1,656

1,652

1,649

591.3
616.1
615.3
612.2
1,784.4 1,741.4 1,768.0 1,776.3
972.9
933.1
958.8
964.8
446.4
450.3
451.1
455.2
834.8
831.8
833.3
831.5
391.6
378.9
386.9
387.1

591
1,780
968
447
834
387

615
1,773
965
449
834
386

614
1,775
967
446
835
386

616
1,766
953
453
832
385

615
1,786
968
454
832
385

612
1,774
961
456
830
383

Nondurable goods.....................
7,856
7,596
7,684
7,652
Production workers................
5,537
5,292
5,386
5,370
Food and kindred products........... 1,750.4 1,676.7 1,722.2 1,709.6
Tobacco products....................
44.2
37.0
39.7
41.1
Textile mill products...............
659.5
631.1
637.9
635.2
Apparel and other textile products..
921.9
828.9
840.8
841.2
Paper and allied products...........
690.7
676.9
679.6
676.6
Printing and publishing............. 1,536.1 1,526.0 1,525.6 1,519.0
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,032.0 1,024.6 1,026.0 1,019.5
Petroleum and coal products.........
144.3
142.5
143.1
141.0
Rubber and misc. plastics products..
971.3
960.7
974.0
973.6
Leather and leather products........
105.5
91.9
95.4
94.9

7,767
5,453
1,678
42
657
913
690
1,539
1,030
142
972
104

7,623
5,330
1,664
41
637
853
679
1,525
1,025
139
963
97

7,602
5,308
1,647
41
637
847
676
1,528
1,020
140
969
97

7,588
5,301
1,640
40
637
849
672
1,527
1,019
139
968
97

7,579
5,285
1,641
38
634
835
674
1,527
1,020
140
976
94

7,556
5,279
1,634
39
633
833
673
1,522
1,018
139
972
93

95,803

93,447

95,073

95,279

95,524

95,735

95,745

Transportation and public utilities...
6,234
6,326
6,330
6,395
Transportation......................
3,971
4,028
4,029
4,106
Railroad transportation...........
238.5
231.9
233.4
233.4
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................
443.0
393.7
390.5
472.9
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,884.8 1,909.2 1,907.0 1,902.5
Water transportation..............
176.9
182.1
179.8
177.9
Transportation by air.............
797.0
853.6
859.0
859.4
Pipelines, except natural gas.....
14.6
14.2
14.1
13.8
Transportation services...........
415.9
442.8
444.7
446.1
Communications and public utilities.
2,263
2,298
2,301
2,289
Communications.................... 1,349.6 1,397.3 1,403.5 1,400.7
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services.......................
913.0
900.3
897.6
888.2

6,194
3,936
236

6,311
4,028
232

6,327
4,043
231

6,335
4,053
229

6,340
4,054
231

6,343
4,060
232

430
1,868
174
796
15
417
2,258
1,346

450
1,891
167
837
14
437
2,283
1,384

453
1,890
171
844
14
440
2,284
1,388

459
1,889
172
848
14
442
2,282
1,391

459
1,880
173
853
14
444
2,286
1,398

458
1,878
172
859
14
447
2,283
1,397

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

93,514

95,007

95,005

912

899

896

891

888

886

6,620
3,870
2,750
21,800

6,451
3,764
2,687
21,258

6,567
3,850
2,717
21,499

6,576
3,858
2,718
21,575

6,585
3,862
2,723
21,672

6,598
3,870
2,728
21,676

6,603
3,873
2,730
21,698

878.1
954.7
946.9
935.3
2,662.6 2,675.0 2,699.0 2,716.0
2,338.5 2,363.4 2,387.6 2,404.8
3,371.3 3,456.3 3,459.3 3,447.1

873
2,679
2,350
3,379

907
2,728
2,409
3,416

917
2,726
2,408
3,422

922
2,731
2,413
3,435

924
2,745
2,422
3,445

930
2,740
2,418
3,444

2,213.8 2,312.6 2,316.4 2,312.2
1,003.8 1,038.5 1,041.1 1,043.3
1,097.5 1,093.7 1,099.6 1,080.4

2,199
999
1,112

2,259
1,027
1,100

2,272
1,030
1,101

2,286
1,034
1,103

2,291
1,036
1,099

2,297
1,037
1,097

940.5
970.8
977.7
982.6
7,531.2 7,692.8 7,700.7 7,650.2
2,641.2 2,639.3 2,659.3 2,675.9

950
7,399
2,667

963
7,454
2,672

972
7,485
2,680

981
7,528
2,686

987
7,489
2,696

992
7,504
2,694

Finance, insurance, and real estate...
6,850
7,075
7,078
7,017
Finance.............................
3,233
3,354
3,361
3,338
Depository institutions........... 2,016.1 2,046.2 2,046.3 2,029.8
Commercial banks................ 1,461.6 1,484.9 1,484.8 1,472.4
Savings institutions............
269.7
266.8
265.4
261.6
Nondepository institutions........
465.0
515.6
519.7
519.6
Mortgage bankers and brokers....
205.6
232.5
234.6
234.4
Security and commodity brokers....
524.0
547.9
551.0
545.6
Holding and other investment
offices........................
228.2
244.0
243.8
243.3
Insurance...........................
2,240
2,273
2,267
2,261
Insurance carriers................ 1,541.7 1,560.8 1,556.8 1,551.5
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................
698.2
711.7
709.8
709.0
Real estate.........................
1,377
1,448
1,450
1,418

6,842
3,239
2,020
1,464
270
466
(1)
524

6,964
3,315
2,026
1,469
267
507
(1)
538

6,967
3,319
2,029
1,470
267
509
(1)
541

6,987
3,329
2,030
1,471
265
514
(1)
543

6,998
3,339
2,029
1,471
264
519
(1)
548

7,005
3,340
2,029
1,473
263
521
(1)
546

229
2,244
1,544

244
2,261
1,552

240
2,259
1,551

242
2,261
1,553

243
2,259
1,551

244
2,264
1,554

700
1,359

709
1,388

708
1,389

708
1,397

708
1,400

710
1,401

33,377
581
1,660
1,164
6,877
887
2,508
2,216

34,274
605
1,681
1,177
7,152
903
2,622
2,322

34,383
615
1,704
1,175
7,189
895
2,648
2,353

34,463
619
1,689
1,174
7,225
893
2,668
2,367

34,532
620
1,684
1,179
7,270
892
2,693
2,387

34,586
615
1,681
1,180
7,275
888
2,704
2,394

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

6,467
3,761
2,706
21,336

33,523
612.6
1,704.7
1,134.4
6,980.8
891.7
2,600.6
2,301.5

6,629
3,886
2,743
21,795

34,791
686.1
1,828.2
1,133.9
7,244.1
898.6
2,672.2
2,371.9

6,633
3,885
2,748
21,859

34,827
677.1
1,828.1
1,135.6
7,349.2
901.3
2,753.3
2,443.6

34,727
650.0
1,731.9
1,149.3
7,382.2
891.6
2,802.4
2,486.1

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

1,103.8
1,028.4
358.6
490.7
1,537.3
9,318.0

1,205.2
1,105.7
369.5
538.0
1,775.5
9,609.7

1,224.7
1,109.6
368.3
527.7
1,595.6
9,610.3

1,107
1,025
357
501
1,463
9,318

1,184
1,078
364
525
1,516
9,555

1,195
1,085
366
526
1,504
9,566

1,206
1,096
365
532
1,514
9,577

1,218
1,103
366
525
1,515
9,587

1,226
1,105
367
545
1,512
9,617

1,619.0 1,683.4 1,688.6 1,685.3

1,617

1,668

1,674

1,677

1,679

1,685

1,707.0
3,790.5
639.3
917.5
1,927.5
2,348.5
576.2
642.5

1,752.6
3,857.9
658.6
925.5
1,961.9
2,390.9
563.5
669.3

1,703
3,793
638
923
1,966
2,359
569
645

1,740
3,851
658
929
1,987
2,395
571
663

1,744
3,847
657
929
2,001
2,396
570
665

1,747
3,850
656
933
2,017
2,404
568
669

1,749
3,849
655
935
2,015
2,393
576
672

1,750
3,863
655
932
2,002
2,406
557
673

82.3
93.3
91.6
86.5
2,114.7 2,211.0 2,184.0 2,127.4
2,775.4 2,918.5 2,929.1 2,915.2

80
2,131
2,781

85
2,147
2,885

85
2,148
2,901

85
2,146
2,894

85
2,149
2,912

84
2,144
2,927

1,752.7
3,865.8
657.0
946.5
1,755.6
2,381.8
515.2
674.8

1,218.7
1,110.0
369.4
540.4
1,764.9
9,615.7

1,756.4
3,858.3
655.2
940.3
1,728.5
2,368.6
522.6
677.3

822.0
852.2
44.7

858.6
913.3
46.5

862.2
920.9
47.5

857.1
922.8
47.8

818
847
(3)

838
897
(3)

848
901
(3)

845
904
(3)

848
913
(3)

853
920
(3)

19,104
2,812
1,970.3
4,591
1,881.8
2,709.0
11,701
6,457.3
5,243.9

18,391
2,776
1,925.7
4,406
1,674.9
2,731.1
11,209
5,606.5
5,602.2

18,278
2,761
1,914.0
4,395
1,680.3
2,714.3
11,122
5,590.0
5,531.5

19,244
2,736
1,891.2
4,591
1,908.6
2,682.6
11,917
6,604.0
5,313.0

19,325
2,812
1,965
4,638
1,935
2,703
11,875
6,628
5,247

19,458
2,776
1,918
4,655
1,963
2,692
12,027
6,690
5,337

19,451
2,756
1,906
4,654
1,968
2,686
12,041
6,724
5,317

19,482
2,752
1,897
4,658
1,980
2,678
12,072
6,767
5,305

19,591
2,742
1,891
4,665
1,979
2,686
12,184
6,852
5,332

19,510
2,737
1,884
4,665
1,984
2,681
12,108
6,785
5,323

1 This series is not suitable for seasonal adjustment because it has very little seasonal and irregular movement.
Thus, the not seasonally adjusted series can be used for analysis of cyclical and long-term trends.
2 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3 This series is not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Sept.
1995

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

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

34.6

34.6

34.8

34.9

34.4

34.2

34.7

34.2

34.5

34.7

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

41.6

40.8

41.4

41.7

40.9

40.9

41.2

40.9

41.1

41.1

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

45.4

44.8

45.2

45.8

44.8

45.2

45.8

44.9

44.7

45.0

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

39.9

39.8

39.8

39.7

38.7

38.1

38.7

38.7

38.7

38.5

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

42.0
4.8

41.1
4.3

41.8
4.7

42.3
5.1

41.5
4.4

41.7
4.6

41.8
4.6

41.6
4.4

41.7
4.5

41.8
4.5

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

42.8
5.1

41.7
4.4

42.5
5.0

43.0
5.3

42.3
4.7

42.5
5.1

42.6
5.0

42.3
4.7

42.6
4.8

42.6
4.8

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.........

41.1
40.1
44.0
43.8

40.7
39.2
43.5
43.6

41.4
40.1
44.1
44.0

41.7
40.4
44.4
44.8

40.6
39.4
43.1
43.6

41.0
39.7
43.2
44.3

41.2
39.5
43.5
44.1

41.1
39.7
43.2
44.0

40.9
39.6
43.3
44.4

41.1
39.5
43.4
44.5

44.2
42.9
43.4

44.4
41.6
42.4

44.0
42.5
42.7

44.4
43.0
43.1

43.9
42.4
43.2

44.4
42.6
43.2

44.5
42.6
43.3

44.3
42.4
42.9

44.2
42.4
43.0

44.0
42.4
42.8

42.2
44.4
45.5
41.5
40.3

40.5
42.7
43.4
41.0
38.9

41.5
44.5
45.5
41.7
39.9

41.9
45.3
46.3
42.1
40.1

41.7
43.6
44.5
41.4
39.8

41.3
44.5
46.5
41.6
39.9

41.6
44.4
45.7
41.9
39.8

41.2
44.0
45.5
41.4
39.7

41.6
44.9
46.4
41.9
39.8

41.5
44.9
45.9
41.9
39.6

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

40.9
4.5

40.3
4.1

40.9
4.4

41.2
4.6

40.4
3.9

40.6
4.0

40.7
4.2

40.5
4.1

40.5
4.0

40.7
4.0

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........

42.1
40.0
41.1
37.2
43.4
38.6
43.2
43.8
41.8
38.6

40.9
38.7
40.2
36.8
43.2
37.9
42.9
44.2
40.8
37.7

41.5
40.0
41.3
37.6
43.3
38.5
42.9
43.9
41.6
38.9

42.3
40.8
41.2
37.5
43.9
38.9
43.2
44.8
42.0
39.1

41.1
38.7
40.6
36.8
43.0
38.1
43.1
(2)
41.4
38.0

41.1
39.4
40.6
37.2
43.4
38.3
43.2
(2)
41.4
38.3

41.1
39.4
41.0
37.6
43.5
38.1
43.4
(2)
41.5
38.5

40.7
39.3
40.8
37.1
43.4
38.2
43.2
(2)
41.6
38.3

40.6
39.7
40.9
37.3
43.2
38.3
43.3
(2)
41.5
38.8

41.0
39.6
40.7
37.4
43.5
38.5
43.0
(2)
41.6
38.8

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

32.7

32.9

33.1

33.0

32.7

32.5

33.0

32.5

32.7

33.0

Transportation and public utilities...

39.7

39.8

40.2

40.3

39.5

39.2

40.0

39.4

39.8

40.2

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

38.3

38.1

38.4

38.6

38.2

38.1

38.7

38.0

38.3

38.5

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

28.9

29.4

29.5

29.1

28.8

28.8

29.0

28.6

28.8

29.0

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

35.7

35.5

35.7

36.6

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

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

32.3

32.5

32.7

32.6

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

1 Data relate to production workers in mining and manufacturing; construction workers in construction; and
nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real
estate; and services. These groups account for approximately four-fifths of the total employees on private nonfarm
payrolls.
2 These series are not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls by
industry

Average hourly earnings

Average weekly earnings

Industry
Sept.
1995

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

Sept.
1995

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

$11.55
11.52

$11.74
11.81

$11.76
11.86

$11.96
11.92

$399.63
396.29

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

13.22

13.54

13.55

13.67

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

15.35

15.53

15.51

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

15.34

15.48

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

12.47

12.79

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

13.05
10.28
9.95
12.54
14.71

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........

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

$406.20
403.90

$409.25
409.17

$417.40
413.62

549.95

552.43

560.97

570.04

15.82

696.89

695.74

701.05

724.56

15.55

15.74

612.07

616.10

618.89

624.88

12.79

12.90

523.74

525.67

534.62

545.67

13.35
10.47
10.13
12.93
15.09

13.38
10.50
10.17
12.91
15.01

13.52
10.56
10.23
13.05
15.16

558.54
422.51
399.00
551.76
644.30

556.70
426.13
397.10
562.46
657.92

568.65
434.70
407.82
569.33
660.44

581.36
440.35
413.29
579.42
679.17

17.56
12.21
13.34

18.01
12.48
13.55

17.89
12.52
13.64

18.32
12.64
13.81

776.15
523.81
578.96

799.64
519.17
574.52

787.16
532.10
582.43

813.41
543.52
595.21

11.78
16.96
17.58
12.81
10.12

12.23
17.32
17.97
13.18
10.39

12.23
17.29
17.87
13.18
10.43

12.30
17.47
18.13
13.29
10.53

497.12
753.02
799.89
531.62
407.84

495.32
739.56
779.90
540.38
404.17

507.55
769.41
813.09
549.61
416.16

515.37
791.39
839.42
559.51
422.25

11.65
10.97
17.68
9.50
7.71
14.33
12.50
15.72
19.40
10.99
8.24

12.01
11.27
21.09
9.67
7.94
14.79
12.62
16.19
19.00
11.24
8.44

11.96
11.18
20.41
9.70
7.94
14.71
12.69
16.25
18.95
11.23
8.66

12.03
11.19
19.22
9.77
8.01
14.76
12.83
16.30
19.34
11.30
8.76

476.49
461.84
707.20
390.45
286.81
621.92
482.50
679.10
849.72
459.38
318.06

484.00
460.94
816.18
388.73
292.19
638.93
478.30
694.55
839.80
458.59
318.19

489.16
463.97
816.40
400.61
298.54
636.94
488.57
697.13
831.91
467.17
336.87

495.64
473.34
784.18
402.52
300.38
647.96
499.09
704.16
866.43
474.60
342.52

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

10.96

11.14

11.16

11.37

358.39

366.51

369.40

375.21

Transportation and public utilities...

$14.35

$14.51

$14.55

$14.66

$569.70

$577.50

$584.91

$590.80

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

12.51

12.80

12.82

13.00

479.13

487.68

492.29

501.80

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

7.77

7.92

7.95

8.04

224.55

232.85

234.53

233.96

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

12.40

12.69

12.71

12.91

442.68

450.50

453.75

472.51

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

11.45

11.62

11.63

11.90

369.84

377.65

380.30

387.94

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:
Aug. 1996Sept. 1996

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

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

$11.52
7.42

$11.73
7.38

$11.83
7.44

$11.81
7.41

$11.86
7.44

$11.92
N.A.

0.5
(3)

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

13.12
15.41
15.17
12.43
11.79

13.38
15.46
15.31
12.72
12.06

13.45
15.59
15.40
12.77
12.12

13.48
15.58
15.46
12.79
12.15

13.55
15.64
15.49
12.88
12.22

13.59
15.77
15.57
12.90
12.22

.3
.8
.5
.2
.0

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

10.96

11.18

11.29

11.25

11.30

11.37

.6

14.33
12.51
7.76

14.50
12.71
7.93

14.56
12.91
8.00

14.52
12.81
7.96

14.61
12.88
8.01

14.61
13.00
8.01

.0
.9
.0

12.44
11.46

12.76
11.69

12.86
11.79

12.77
11.78

12.84
11.81

12.96
11.90

.9
.8

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 .4 percent from July 1996 to August 1996, 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
Sept.
1995

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

Sept.
1995

May
1996

June
1996

July
1996

Aug.
1996p

Sept.
1996p

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

135.7

138.6

140.1

139.8

134.0

135.4

137.7

136.0

137.1

138.0

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

114.0

111.3

114.3

114.9

109.7

110.0

110.7

110.1

110.6

110.3

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

55.6

55.2

56.0

56.1

53.8

55.2

55.9

54.2

54.2

54.2

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

155.6

162.8

164.3

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

108.9

103.9

107.3

162.7

141.0

144.3

147.0

147.8

148.0

147.3

108.4

106.6

106.2

106.5

105.7

106.3

106.1

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.........

109.3
138.1
126.3
112.9
91.5

105.4
137.2
119.4
111.4
89.0

108.8
141.3
125.1
114.0
91.8

110.3
141.3
126.4
114.9
93.6

107.6
134.4
123.9
108.1
90.7

108.4
135.9
124.2
108.6
92.0

108.9
137.2
122.6
109.7
92.3

108.0
136.7
123.6
108.4
90.9

109.1
136.7
123.2
109.2
92.9

108.5
136.3
122.9
109.4
92.8

72.5
115.4
103.4

73.1
111.3
101.0

72.6
115.6
101.4

73.2
117.4
102.3

72.1
113.6
103.2

73.3
114.5
103.7

73.5
115.3
103.9

72.8
115.1
102.9

72.6
115.6
103.2

72.3
115.5
101.6

109.3
123.3
167.1
73.2
105.3

104.8
115.7
153.1
71.7
97.3

107.5
122.8
165.3
73.4
102.3

109.1
126.1
169.6
74.1
103.2

108.0
120.8
162.8
73.3
102.6

107.8
122.5
171.7
73.6
102.1

108.3
123.8
169.6
74.0
102.3

107.8
121.7
164.9
72.6
101.3

108.3
125.7
172.0
73.6
101.5

108.2
124.9
169.0
73.6
100.3

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

108.3
123.8
67.8
95.1
83.2
110.8
125.5
102.4
78.2
142.8
49.3

101.8
114.3
52.8
88.9
73.1
108.0
121.8
99.2
78.2
136.9
40.5

105.2
120.4
60.7
92.8
76.1
109.4
123.8
99.5
77.8
142.4
44.1

105.8
121.7
67.0
92.4
76.0
110.5
124.4
99.8
78.8
143.5
43.9

105.3
114.6
61.3
93.6
81.5
109.6
124.1
102.0
76.4
141.4
47.9

103.3
114.2
60.5
90.9
76.4
108.5
123.2
100.4
72.9
140.1
44.1

103.3
112.6
62.5
91.6
76.7
108.4
122.7
100.6
76.7
141.0
44.4

102.6
111.1
60.3
91.2
76.0
107.7
123.0
99.7
75.8
141.5
43.5

102.4
110.6
57.0
91.3
74.9
107.8
123.2
99.6
75.8
142.1
42.9

102.7
111.4
58.8
90.8
75.0
108.8
123.3
99.1
77.3
142.3
42.9

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

145.4

150.8

151.8

151.0

144.9

146.8

149.8

147.7

149.0

150.5

Transportation and public utilities...

126.8

129.4

130.7

133.0

125.4

127.2

130.1

128.3

129.7

131.4

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

123.0

125.4

126.1

126.4

122.4

124.0

126.1

123.9

125.0

125.7

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

133.5

138.9

139.5

137.0

132.5

134.0

135.4

134.1

135.0

136.0

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

123.1

127.3

127.8

129.4

123.8

124.3

128.9

125.1

126.2

129.9

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

172.2

179.7

181.0

179.7

172.1

174.7

178.7

176.4

178.0

179.6

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

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Table B-6.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

Diffusion indexes of employment change, seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Time span

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Private nonfarm payrolls, 356 industries1

Over 1-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

43.7
60.0
58.8
63.2
52.4

43.7
60.8
62.1
59.3
63.2

50.0
51.3
66.0
54.9
60.0

57.3
58.6
64.2
54.6
52.4

55.5
61.7
60.3
51.4
62.2

50.1
55.2
63.5
55.1
57.4

52.2
57.7
61.5
54.1
55.9

49.0
57.0
62.1
57.4
p55.2

52.1
61.8
60.8
51.8
p50.1

56.3
59.7
61.5
54.8

53.2
61.8
63.1
56.3

57.4
59.6
63.9
59.4

Over 3-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

39.7
63.8
67.1
66.6
60.7

41.9
61.2
69.5
63.2
61.8

49.7
61.1
70.4
56.9
61.2

57.0
59.8
68.7
53.4
60.0

58.4
63.1
66.4
54.2
61.0

55.8
62.9
66.0
52.9
63.5

50.6
59.7
68.5
56.6
p59.0

50.1
63.1
69.5
53.8
p53.7

52.8
64.5
65.3
54.2

54.4
67.1
65.6
54.6

57.6
64.6
68.0
58.3

61.2
63.5
67.8
57.0

Over 6-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

43.3
63.3
70.8
66.3
60.3

46.8
65.2
71.6
60.8
62.9

47.5
63.8
69.0
58.7
63.8

52.5
64.2
69.8
54.4
63.8

54.9
62.4
69.5
53.5
p62.5

56.7
65.9
69.5
54.1
p57.7

53.8
65.7
69.2
53.1

52.2
63.9
69.0
56.3

55.5
66.3
69.2
55.9

57.6
67.3
68.5
54.1

63.9
70.6
69.1
56.2

61.9
69.5
66.6
61.8

Over 12-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

47.2
64.9
70.2
62.6
61.0

42.3
63.9
71.6
60.8
p62.2

42.7
64.0
71.8
60.1
p61.4

44.1
65.4
71.8
61.2

48.0
67.0
72.1
58.1

52.5
67.6
71.8
57.7

55.8
67.6
71.5
54.5

60.7
67.0
72.1
58.7

59.7
70.2
70.1
58.6

61.4
69.5
69.4
57.3

62.9
69.2
65.7
59.4

62.9
70.1
65.0
59.8

Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1

Over 1-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

37.4
52.5
56.5
56.8
42.1

39.9
56.5
60.1
55.0
48.2

43.9
50.7
59.7
46.0
48.2

56.8
45.7
58.6
45.3
39.6

50.0
54.0
53.2
39.2
53.2

48.9
45.7
57.9
40.3
49.6

52.2
49.3
57.6
45.0
43.9

44.6
49.3
53.6
45.0
p47.5

47.5
59.4
55.8
42.4
p42.1

47.8
53.2
54.7
45.3

51.4
53.6
57.2
46.4

54.7
55.0
59.4
47.5

Over 3-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

29.9
60.8
63.7
60.4
38.8

33.5
58.3
64.4
51.8
39.9

43.9
53.2
66.2
43.5
37.8

49.6
47.8
60.8
34.9
43.2

55.4
48.9
56.1
33.1
45.3

53.2
54.0
56.8
32.0
47.5

46.8
50.4
60.8
33.1
p42.8

47.8
58.3
58.6
35.6
p36.7

45.7
57.6
54.0
38.8

47.5
59.7
56.1
39.6

51.1
54.7
60.1
40.6

54.7
57.6
60.8
38.8

Over 6-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

32.4
56.5
62.2
55.4
32.0

34.9
59.0
64.4
45.0
37.4

39.9
56.8
60.4
38.5
37.1

46.8
55.4
61.5
33.5
38.1

52.2
50.7
59.0
27.7
p42.1

54.3
57.9
56.8
28.8
p36.0

48.2
59.4
56.5
28.8

47.8
56.5
57.2
30.6

51.1
57.6
60.1
33.5

51.1
58.6
55.8
33.1

56.8
64.4
59.7
34.2

56.5
60.8
55.8
38.8

Over 12-month span:
1992..............
1993..............
1994..............
1995..............
1996..............

42.4
56.8
57.9
42.1
33.1

36.7
57.9
58.6
40.3
p34.5

36.3
55.8
60.8
39.9
p33.8

36.0
58.6
60.8
40.6

39.6
57.2
60.8
34.5

45.7
57.6
63.3
31.7

50.0
58.6
59.4
25.9

55.8
59.0
60.1
28.8

57.9
61.2
57.2
28.1

56.8
59.7
55.8
24.1

58.3
60.1
49.6
27.0

56.5
57.6
47.5
29.1

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