Full text of The Employment Situation : September 1997

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USDL 97-347
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THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION:

SEPTEMBER 1997

The unemployment rate was unchanged in September, and returning strikers
bolstered an otherwise modest rise in nonfarm payroll employment, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
At 4.9 percent, the jobless rate has remained within a very narrow range
since April. The number of payroll jobs rose by 215,000, including a gain
of 166,000 in the air transportation industry, where workers returned from
strike. (Workers on strike are not counted as employed in the
establishment survey.)
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The number of unemployed persons, at 6.8 million in September, was
little changed over the month, and the unemployment rate held at 4.9
percent. Over the past 6 months, the unemployment rate has remained within
a tenth of a percentage point of 4.9 percent. Jobless rates for the major
worker groups--adult men (4.1 percent), adult women (4.4 percent),
teenagers (16.7 percent), whites (4.3 percent), blacks (9.6 percent), and
Hispanics (7.6 percent)--showed little or no change in September. (See
tables A-1 and A-2.)
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment was essentially unchanged at a seasonally adjusted
level of 129.7 million in September. The proportion of the population that
was employed (the employment-population ratio) was 63.7 percent and has
been at or near this level since March. (See table A-1.)
About 7.8 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) held more than one
job in September. They accounted for 6.0 percent of all employed persons.
Both the number of multiple jobholders and their percentage of the total
employed were about the same as a year earlier. (See table A-9.)
Both the civilian labor force, 136.5 million, and the labor force
participation rate, 67.0 percent, were about unchanged in September.
(See table A-1.)
Persons Not in the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
About 1.4 million persons (not seasonally adjusted) were marginally
attached to the labor force in September--that is, they wanted and were
available for work and had looked for jobs sometime in the prior 12 months.

- 2 Table A. Major indicators of labor market activity, seasonally adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
___________________________________________________________________________
|
Quarterly
|
Monthly data
|
|
averages
|
|
|_________________|__________________________|Aug.Category
|
19971/
|
19971/
|Sept.
|_________________|__________________________|change
|
II
|
III | July | Aug. | Sept. |
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
HOUSEHOLD DATA
|
Labor force status
|____________________________________________________
Civilian labor force..| 136,157| 136,413| 136,290| 136,480| 136,467|
-13
Employment..........| 129,462| 129,742| 129,708| 129,804| 129,715|
-89
Unemployment........|
6,695|
6,671|
6,583|
6,677|
6,752|
75
Not in labor force....| 66,678| 66,954| 66,876| 66,884| 67,102|
218
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Unemployment rates
|____________________________________________________
All workers...........|
4.9|
4.9|
4.8|
4.9|
4.9|
.0
Adult men...........|
4.1|
4.1|
4.0|
4.1|
4.1|
.0
Adult women.........|
4.4|
4.3|
4.2|
4.4|
4.4|
.0
Teenagers...........|
15.9|
16.5|
16.4|
16.4|
16.7|
0.3
White...............|
4.1|
4.2|
4.2|
4.2|
4.3|
.1
Black...............|
10.2|
9.4|
9.4|
9.3|
9.6|
.3
Hispanic origin.....|
7.7|
7.6|
7.9|
7.2|
7.6|
.4
________|________|________|________|________|_______
ESTABLISHMENT DATA
|
Employment
|____________________________________________________
Nonfarm employment....| 121,854|p122,538| 122,440|p122,480|p122,695|
p215
Goods-producing 2/..| 24,694| p24,747| 24,713| p24,771| p24,757|
p-14
Construction......|
5,616| p5,633|
5,625| p5,637| p5,636|
p-1
Manufacturing.....| 18,504| p18,541| 18,514| p18,562| p18,546|
p-16
Service-producing 2/| 97,159| p97,791| 97,727| p97,709| p97,938|
p229
Retail trade......| 22,045| p22,188| 22,159| p22,191| p22,214|
p23
Services..........| 35,436| p35,727| 35,684| p35,699| p35,797|
p98
Government........| 19,594| p19,744| 19,719| p19,795| p19,717|
p-78
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Hours of work 3/
|____________________________________________________
Total private.........|
34.5|
p34.5|
34.4|
p34.6|
p34.5| p-0.1
Manufacturing.......|
42.0|
p41.9|
41.8|
p41.9|
p41.9|
p.0
Overtime..........|
4.8|
p4.7|
4.7|
p4.7|
p4.7|
p.0
|________|________|________|________|________|_______
|
Earnings 3/
|____________________________________________________
Avg. hourly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| $12.19| p$12.29| $12.24| p$12.30| p$12.34| p$0.04
Avg. weekly earnings, |
|
|
|
|
|
total private.......| 420.85| p424.12| 421.06| p425.58| p425.73|
p.15
______________________|________|________|________|________|________|_______
1/ Beginning in January 1997, household data reflect revised population
controls used in the survey.
2/ Includes other industries, not shown separately.
3/ Data relate to private production or nonsupervisory workers.
p=preliminary.

- 3 The number of discouraged workers--a subset of the marginally attached
who were not currently looking for jobs specifically because they believed
no jobs were available for them or there were none for which they would
qualify--was 328,000 in September, little changed from a year earlier.
(See table A-9.)
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 215,000 in September, after seasonal
adjustment. The bulk of the increase was due to the return of workers who
were on strike in August. (See table B-1.)
Employment in transportation was up by 170,000 in September, as
strikers in the air transportation industry returned to payrolls.
Employment in that industry was down by 6,000 since July, the month before
the strike. In contrast, trucking and warehousing added 18,000 workers
over the same 2 months, reflecting, in part, increased business in the wake
of the strike-generated disruption of package delivery services.
Following an exceptionally small gain in August, employment in the
services industry rose by 98,000 in September, in line with the average
monthly growth during the first 8 months of the year. An increase of
46,000 in business services in September included continued growth in
computer and data processing services (12,000) and a gain in the help
supply industry (10,000). Despite the September increase, employment in
help supply services has fallen by 50,000 since March. Employment in
health services continued its steady growth by adding 19,000 jobs in
September, with half of the increase occurring in hospitals. Employment in
home health services was flat over the month and has not shown any net gain
since April. Engineering and management services continued its strong
growth, adding 14,000 employees in September. In contrast, there were
small declines in amusement and recreation services (-9,000) and child day
care services (-14,000), following strong summer employment growth.
Job gains in wholesale and retail trade were slightly below their
monthly averages for the first 8 months of the year. Growth continued in
the finance industry in September, reflecting employment increases in
mortgage brokerages, security brokerages, and holding companies and other
investment offices.
Government employment fell by 78,000 in September, due primarily to a
decline of 47,000 in local government education (after seasonal
adjustment), following 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 made seasonal adjustment of these data
difficult. Employment in local government, except education, fell by
18,000 in September, following strong summer hiring. Federal employment
fell by 9,000, reflecting, in part, the layoff of postal workers hired to
handle increased demand for parcel delivery during the strike in the air
transportation industry.
Within the goods-producing sector, construction employment was
virtually unchanged in September and has shown little growth since May.
Manufacturing employment fell by 16,000 in September, after a large
increase in the prior month. Losses in the motor vehicles industry totaled
14,000, as several plants were shut down for inventory control. Apparel
employment continued a downward trend, declining by 7,000 workers. Of the
manufacturing industries that had been growing, only electronic components
showed a notable increase (4,000).

- 4 Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on
private nonfarm payrolls decreased by 0.1 hour in September to 34.5 hours,
seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing workweek and factory overtime
remained at 41.9 and 4.7 hours, respectively. (See table B-2.)
The index of aggregate weekly hours of private production or
nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm payrolls edged down by 0.1 percent to
140.5 (1982=100), seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing index was
unchanged in September, at 108.2. (See table B-5.)
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of private production or nonsupervisory workers
on nonfarm payrolls were up 4 cents in September to $12.34, seasonally
adjusted. Average weekly earnings were little changed at $425.73. Over
the past year, average hourly earnings have risen by 3.6 percent and
average weekly earnings by 3.0 percent. (See table B-3.)
________________________________________
The Employment Situation for October 1997 is scheduled to be released on
Friday, November 7, at 8:30 A.M. (EST).
-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Changes in Household Data Series
|
|
|
|
Effective with the release of data for December 1997 in January |
|1998, improvements will be introduced into the composite estimation |
|procedures used in the Current Population Survey. These changes
|
|will simplify processing of the monthly labor force data at BLS and |
|will allow users of the survey microdata to replicate the official |
|estimates released by BLS. In addition, there will be a slight
|
|decrease in the variance of some major estimates, particularly
|
|employment levels and the over-the-month change in those levels.
|
|The new procedures will produce somewhat lower estimates of the
|
|civilian labor force and employment.
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------

- 5 Explanatory Note

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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.
1996

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

201,061
134,230
66.8
127,529
63.4
3,607
123,923
6,700
5.0
66,831

203,364
137,460
67.6
130,865
64.4
3,661
127,205
6,594
4.8
65,904

203,570
136,375
67.0
129,972
63.8
3,569
126,403
6,403
4.7
67,195

201,061
134,291
66.8
127,248
63.3
3,480
123,768
7,043
5.2
66,770

202,832
136,173
67.1
129,639
63.9
3,430
126,209
6,534
4.8
66,659

203,000
136,200
67.1
129,364
63.7
3,391
125,973
6,836
5.0
66,800

203,166
136,290
67.1
129,708
63.8
3,482
126,226
6,583
4.8
66,876

203,364
136,480
67.1
129,804
63.8
3,383
126,421
6,677
4.9
66,884

203,570
136,467
67.0
129,715
63.7
3,450
126,265
6,752
4.9
67,102

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

97,838
74,149
75.8
70,890
72.5
3,259
4.4

97,946
73,068
74.6
69,890
71.4
3,178
4.3

96,447
72,087
74.7
68,304
70.8
3,783
5.2

97,559
73,200
75.0
69,929
71.7
3,271
4.5

97,649
73,242
75.0
69,567
71.2
3,674
5.0

97,733
73,230
74.9
69,749
71.4
3,481
4.8

97,838
73,315
74.9
69,791
71.3
3,524
4.8

97,946
73,190
74.7
69,639
71.1
3,551
4.9

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

89,982
69,571
77.3
67,000
74.5
2,424
64,576
2,571
3.7

90,068
69,204
76.8
66,648
74.0
2,474
64,174
2,556
3.7

88,733
68,056
76.7
64,978
73.2
2,366
62,612
3,078
4.5

89,766
69,059
76.9
66,418
74.0
2,421
63,997
2,640
3.8

89,829
69,167
77.0
66,266
73.8
2,417
63,849
2,901
4.2

89,888
69,203
77.0
66,414
73.9
2,411
64,003
2,789
4.0

89,982
69,301
77.0
66,491
73.9
2,300
64,191
2,810
4.1

90,068
69,171
76.8
66,325
73.6
2,407
63,918
2,846
4.1

TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional population............
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate......................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio.............
Agriculture...............................
Nonagricultural industries................
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.......................
Not in labor force............................
Men, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate......................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio.............
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.......................
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate......................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio.............
Agriculture...............................
Nonagricultural industries................
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.......................
Women, 16 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 104,614 105,527 105,623 104,614 105,274 105,351 105,433 105,527 105,623
Civilian labor force.......................... 62,202 63,311 63,307 62,204 62,973 62,958 63,060 63,165 63,277
Participation rate......................
59.5
60.0
59.9
59.5
59.8
59.8
59.8
59.9
59.9
Employed.................................... 58,915 59,976 60,082 58,944 59,710 59,796 59,958 60,013 60,076
Employment-population ratio.............
56.3
56.8
56.9
56.3
56.7
56.8
56.9
56.9
56.9
Unemployed..................................
3,287
3,335
3,225
3,260
3,263
3,162
3,102
3,152
3,201
Unemployment rate.......................
5.3
5.3
5.1
5.2
5.2
5.0
4.9
5.0
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.......................

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

98,000
59,123
60.3
56,311
57.5
888
55,423
2,811
4.8

98,082
59,705
60.9
57,038
58.2
886
56,153
2,666
4.5

97,226
58,349
60.0
55,644
57.2
844
54,800
2,705
4.6

97,767
59,130
60.5
56,481
57.8
743
55,738
2,650
4.5

97,834
59,207
60.5
56,585
57.8
740
55,845
2,621
4.4

97,919
59,186
60.4
56,685
57.9
841
55,844
2,501
4.2

98,000
59,408
60.6
56,819
58.0
836
55,983
2,589
4.4

98,082
59,483
60.6
56,882
58.0
841
56,041
2,601
4.4

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

15,382
8,765
57.0
7,554
49.1
348
7,205
1,212
13.8

15,420
7,466
48.4
6,285
40.8
209
6,076
1,181
15.8

15,101
7,886
52.2
6,626
43.9
270
6,356
1,260
16.0

15,300
7,984
52.2
6,740
44.1
266
6,474
1,244
15.6

15,336
7,826
51.0
6,512
42.5
234
6,279
1,314
16.8

15,359
7,901
51.4
6,608
43.0
229
6,379
1,293
16.4

15,382
7,771
50.5
6,493
42.2
246
6,247
1,278
16.4

15,420
7,813
50.7
6,508
42.2
202
6,306
1,305
16.7

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

1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-2.

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

(Numbers in thousands)

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted(1)

Employment status, race, sex, age, and
Hispanic origin
Sept.
1996

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

WHITE
Civilian noninstitutional population............ 168,639 170,148 170,290 168,639 169,782 169,897 170,010 170,148 170,290
Civilian labor force.......................... 113,275 115,365 114,614 113,334 114,630 114,691 114,627 114,649 114,694
Participation rate........................
67.2
67.8
67.3
67.2
67.5
67.5
67.4
67.4
67.4
Employed.................................... 108,495 110,654 110,018 108,217 110,052 109,821 109,853 109,782 109,770
Employment-population ratio...............
64.3
65.0
64.6
64.2
64.8
64.6
64.6
64.5
64.5
Unemployed..................................
4,780
4,711
4,596
5,117
4,578
4,870
4,774
4,867
4,924
Unemployment rate.........................
4.2
4.1
4.0
4.5
4.0
4.2
4.2
4.2
4.3
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian labor force..........................
Participation rate........................
Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio...............
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate.........................

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

59,307
77.6
57,418
75.2
1,889
3.2

59,052
77.2
57,186
74.8
1,867
3.2

58,343
77.2
56,042
74.2
2,301
3.9

59,008
77.4
57,112
74.9
1,895
3.2

59,088
77.5
56,981
74.7
2,107
3.6

59,096
77.4
57,030
74.7
2,066
3.5

59,129
77.4
57,018
74.6
2,111
3.6

59,035
77.2
56,901
74.4
2,134
3.6

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

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

48,677
59.7
46,699
57.3
1,978
4.1

49,214
60.3
47,354
58.0
1,861
3.8

48,314
59.5
46,394
57.2
1,920
4.0

48,874
60.0
47,047
57.8
1,827
3.7

48,924
60.1
47,128
57.9
1,795
3.7

48,756
59.8
47,055
57.7
1,701
3.5

48,927
60.0
47,123
57.8
1,805
3.7

48,997
60.0
47,165
57.8
1,831
3.7

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

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

7,382
60.5
6,538
53.6
843
11.4
12.1
10.7

6,347
51.9
5,479
44.8
868
13.7
13.7
13.7

6,677
56.0
5,781
48.5
896
13.4
14.8
11.9

6,748
55.5
5,893
48.5
855
12.7
12.7
12.7

6,679
54.9
5,711
46.9
968
14.5
16.3
12.6

6,775
55.6
5,768
47.3
1,007
14.9
15.4
14.3

6,593
54.0
5,641
46.2
951
14.4
15.5
13.2

6,663
54.5
5,704
46.7
959
14.4
14.6
14.1

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

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

24,043
15,953
66.4
14,409
59.9
1,544
9.7

24,081
15,706
65.2
14,220
59.1
1,487
9.5

23,690
15,184
64.1
13,566
57.3
1,618
10.7

23,950
15,434
64.4
13,837
57.8
1,597
10.3

23,978
15,398
64.2
13,793
57.5
1,605
10.4

24,006
15,510
64.6
14,055
58.5
1,455
9.4

24,043
15,804
65.7
14,341
59.6
1,463
9.3

24,081
15,746
65.4
14,236
59.1
1,510
9.6

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

6,840
72.6
6,190
65.7
651
9.5

7,077
73.7
6,554
68.3
523
7.4

7,026
73.1
6,484
67.4
542
7.7

6,834
72.6
6,174
65.6
660
9.7

6,831
71.5
6,255
65.5
575
8.4

6,926
72.4
6,296
65.8
630
9.1

6,957
72.6
6,386
66.6
572
8.2

7,072
73.7
6,541
68.1
532
7.5

7,006
72.9
6,459
67.2
548
7.8

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

7,429
62.6
6,767
57.0
662
8.9

7,793
64.8
7,081
58.8
712
9.1

7,810
64.8
7,132
59.2
678
8.7

7,435
62.7
6,788
57.2
647
8.7

7,693
64.1
6,974
58.1
719
9.4

7,615
63.5
6,921
57.7
694
9.1

7,689
64.0
7,053
58.7
636
8.3

7,803
64.8
7,146
59.4
658
8.4

7,818
64.8
7,161
59.4
657
8.4

863
35.9
591
24.6
272
31.5
32.1
30.9

1,083
44.9
774
32.1
309
28.5
32.7
24.4

870
36.1
603
25.0
267
30.7
33.0
28.7

915
38.0
604
25.1
311
34.0
37.2
30.9

910
37.9
608
25.3
302
33.2
32.6
33.8

857
35.4
577
23.8
281
32.7
41.1
24.5

864
35.7
616
25.5
247
28.6
32.9
25.1

928
38.5
655
27.2
273
29.4
33.1
26.2

921
38.3
616
25.6
305
33.1
38.7
28.4

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

20,407
14,028
68.7
13,014
63.8
1,014
7.2

20,464
13,864
67.8
12,882
62.9
982
7.1

19,346
12,871
66.5
11,801
61.0
1,070
8.3

20,236
13,746
67.9
12,730
62.9
1,016
7.4

20,293
13,807
68.0
12,756
62.9
1,051
7.6

20,351
13,866
68.1
12,768
62.7
1,098
7.9

20,407
13,910
68.2
12,911
63.3
999
7.2

20,464
13,827
67.6
12,780
62.5
1,047
7.6

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

1 The population figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation; therefore, identical numbers appear in the unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted columns.
NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races"
group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in January
1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Category

Sept.
1996

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over............... 127,529 130,865 129,972 127,248 129,639 129,364 129,708 129,804 129,715
Married men, spouse present................... 42,603 42,740 42,825 42,330 42,273 42,448 42,589 42,697 42,527
Married women, spouse present................. 32,798 32,472 33,007 32,679 32,445 32,519 32,866 32,933 32,843
Women who maintain families...................
7,443
7,854
7,899
7,420
7,858
7,847
7,901
7,941
7,891
OCCUPATION
Managerial and professional specialty.........
Technical, sales, and administrative support..
Service occupations...........................
Precision production, craft, and repair.......
Operators, fabricators, and laborers..........
Farming, forestry, and fishing................

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

37,407
38,475
18,041
14,349
18,754
3,839

37,833
38,523
17,595
13,988
18,345
3,688

36,759
37,812
17,435
13,681
18,069
3,557

37,318
38,362
17,390
14,380
18,647
3,680

37,493
38,142
17,412
14,364
18,597
3,499

37,558
38,193
17,523
14,282
18,515
3,554

37,775
38,322
17,774
13,972
18,473
3,407

37,869
38,600
17,809
13,822
18,226
3,499

CLASS OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers.....................
1,899
2,001
1,940
1,834
1,941
1,929
1,913
1,841
1,898
Self-employed workers.......................
1,616
1,597
1,586
1,557
1,444
1,404
1,492
1,487
1,527
Unpaid family workers.......................
92
63
43
91
50
40
53
51
40
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers..................... 114,960 118,116 117,380 114,765 116,969 116,653 117,104 117,323 117,286
Government................................ 18,052 17,706 17,979 18,092 17,807 18,099 18,338 18,254 18,033
Private industries........................ 96,909 100,409 99,401 96,673 99,162 98,554 98,766 99,069 99,253
Private households......................
976
1,005
869
981
967
870
910
946
864
Other industries........................ 95,932 99,404 98,532 95,692 98,195 97,684 97,856 98,122 98,389
Self-employed workers.......................
8,825
8,959
8,935
8,811
9,106
9,126
8,887
8,923
8,926
Unpaid family workers.......................
138
130
87
129
148
128
131
129
81
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...........

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

4,036
2,078
1,518
15,398

3,638
1,986
1,405
18,097

4,302
2,398
1,617
17,823

4,019
2,300
1,391
18,336

4,025
2,375
1,347
18,322

4,017
2,211
1,522
18,015

3,992
2,122
1,519
18,093

3,916
2,159
1,476
17,690

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

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

3,877
1,972
1,479
14,839

3,475
1,881
1,365
17,506

4,130
2,284
1,580
17,204

3,806
2,159
1,347
17,780

3,782
2,220
1,298
17,663

3,872
2,102
1,509
17,418

3,854
2,037
1,485
17,519

3,728
2,040
1,435
17,180

NOTE: Persons at work excludes employed persons who were absent from their jobs during the entire reference week for
reasons such as vacation, illness, or industrial dispute. Part time for noneconomic reasons excludes persons who usually
work full time but worked only 1 to 34 hours during the reference week for reasons such as holidays, illness, and bad
weather. Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

Table A-4. Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Category
Sept.
1996

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

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

7,043
3,078
2,705
1,260

6,677
2,810
2,589
1,278

6,752
2,846
2,601
1,305

5.2
4.5
4.6
16.0

4.8
3.8
4.5
15.6

5.0
4.2
4.4
16.8

4.8
4.0
4.2
16.4

4.9
4.1
4.4
16.4

4.9
4.1
4.4
16.7

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

1,319
1,138
676

1,131
1,009
701

1,161
1,064
662

3.0
3.4
8.3

2.6
3.2
7.6

2.7
3.2
8.0

2.6
3.1
7.4

2.6
3.0
8.1

2.7
3.1
7.7

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

5,644
1,369

5,311
1,363

5,353
1,340

5.1
5.6

4.7
5.2

4.9
5.3

4.7
5.4

4.7
5.6

4.8
5.5

880
1,770
787
1,470
271

767
1,662
690
1,535
271

776
1,575
694
1,583
240

2.3
4.5
5.4
7.5
7.1

2.1
3.8
4.6
7.1
6.2

2.0
4.3
4.7
7.4
8.1

2.0
4.1
4.9
7.4
6.0

2.0
4.2
4.7
7.7
7.4

2.0
3.9
4.8
8.0
6.4

5,441
1,568
31
614
923
521
402
3,873
288
1,633
221
1,731
552
223

5,227
1,552
36
635
881
443
438
3,675
288
1,635
238
1,514
497
192

5,280
1,479
19
581
879
400
479
3,801
293
1,663
239
1,606
485
185

5.3
5.6
5.1
9.3
4.4
4.2
4.7
5.2
4.1
6.2
3.0
5.3
3.0
10.8

5.0
5.2
3.0
8.4
4.2
3.5
5.3
4.9
3.6
6.1
3.2
4.6
2.4
7.1

5.0
5.2
2.3
8.5
4.1
3.5
5.0
5.0
2.9
6.5
2.5
4.8
2.9
10.6

4.9
5.4
3.8
8.7
4.3
3.4
5.5
4.7
3.4
6.0
3.2
4.3
2.8
7.5

5.0
5.4
5.3
9.3
4.1
3.6
4.9
4.9
3.9
6.2
3.0
4.5
2.6
9.5

5.1
5.2
2.9
8.6
4.2
3.3
5.5
5.0
3.9
6.3
3.0
4.7
2.6
8.9

OCCUPATION(2)
Managerial and professional specialty........
Technical, sales, and administrative support.
Precision production, craft, and repair......
Operators, fabricators, and laborers.........
Farming, forestry, and fishing...............
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary
workers......................................
Goods-producing industries.................
Mining...................................
Construction.............................
Manufacturing............................
Durable goods..........................
Nondurable goods.......................
Service-producing industries...............
Transportation and public utilities......
Wholesale and retail trade...............
Finance, insurance, and real estate......
Services.................................
Government workers...........................
Agricultural wage and salary workers.........

1 Unemployment as a percent of the civilian labor force.
2 Seasonally adjusted unemployment data for service occupations are not available because the seasonal component, which
is small relative to the trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Duration
Sept.
1996

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

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

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

2,409
2,322
1,863
780
1,084

2,525
1,896
1,982
933
1,049

2,522
2,245
2,277
1,040
1,237

2,523
2,022
2,071
1,078
993

2,538
2,211
2,063
1,045
1,018

2,352
2,071
2,157
1,082
1,074

2,598
2,134
2,012
931
1,082

2,470
2,142
2,127
1,035
1,092

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

16.9
8.5

16.0
8.0

16.0
8.3

16.9
8.6

15.1
7.7

15.1
7.7

16.6
8.5

15.9
7.8

16.0
8.4

100.0
38.5
29.8
31.7
14.0
17.7

100.0
36.5
35.2
28.3
11.8
16.4

100.0
39.4
29.6
31.0
14.6
16.4

100.0
35.8
31.9
32.3
14.8
17.6

100.0
38.1
30.6
31.3
16.3
15.0

100.0
37.3
32.5
30.3
15.3
14.9

100.0
35.7
31.5
32.8
16.5
16.3

100.0
38.5
31.6
29.8
13.8
16.0

100.0
36.7
31.8
31.6
15.4
16.2

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

NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Reason

Sept.
1996

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

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

2,859
716
2,143
1,438
705
958
2,217
561

2,616
595
2,021
1,384
637
980
2,307
501

3,236
989
2,247
(1)
(1)
800
2,441
559

2,902
871
2,031
(1)
(1)
801
2,306
574

3,145
925
2,220
(1)
(1)
829
2,359
481

2,903
877
2,026
(1)
(1)
822
2,244
553

3,064
865
2,199
(1)
(1)
915
2,144
544

3,017
878
2,140
(1)
(1)
868
2,259
561

42.0
10.1
31.9
13.3
37.2
7.5

43.4
10.9
32.5
14.5
33.6
8.5

40.9
9.3
31.6
15.3
36.0
7.8

46.0
14.1
31.9
11.4
34.7
7.9

44.1
13.2
30.9
12.2
35.0
8.7

46.2
13.6
32.6
12.2
34.6
7.1

44.5
13.4
31.1
12.6
34.4
8.5

46.0
13.0
33.0
13.7
32.2
8.2

45.0
13.1
31.9
12.9
33.7
8.4

2.1
.7
1.9
.4

2.1
.7
1.6
.4

1.9
.7
1.7
.4

2.4
.6
1.8
.4

2.1
.6
1.7
.4

2.3
.6
1.7
.4

2.1
.6
1.6
.4

2.2
.7
1.6
.4

2.2
.6
1.7
.4

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

1 Not available.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Not seasonally
adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Measure

Sept.
1996

Aug. Sept. Sept.
1997 1997 1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug. Sept.
1997 1997

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

1.6

1.4

1.5

1.7

1.5

1.5

1.6

1.5

1.6

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

2.1

2.1

1.9

2.4

2.1

2.3

2.1

2.2

2.2

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

5.0

4.8

4.7

5.2

4.8

5.0

4.8

4.9

4.9

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

5.3

5.0

4.9

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

6.1

5.7

5.6

(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..

9.0

8.6

8.3

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

1 Not available.
NOTE: This range of alternative measures of labor underutilization replaces the U1-U7 range published in table A-7
of this release prior to 1994. Marginally attached workers are persons who currently are neither working nor looking
for work but indicate that they want and are available for a job and have looked for work sometime in the recent past.
Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached, have given a job-market related reason for not currently
looking for a job. Persons employed part time for economic reasons are those who want and are available for full-time
work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule. For further information, see "BLS introduces new range of
alternative unemployment measures," in the October 1995 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. Beginning in January 1997,
data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Number of
unemployed persons
(in thousands)

Unemployment rates(1)

Age and sex

Sept.
1996

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997

Sept.
1997

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

7,043
2,442
1,260
579
680
1,182
4,612
4,080
530

6,677
2,390
1,278
544
732
1,112
4,318
3,786
500

6,752
2,410
1,305
640
666
1,105
4,342
3,830
518

5.2
11.5
16.0
17.6
14.7
8.9
4.1
4.2
3.3

4.8
10.9
15.6
18.4
13.7
8.2
3.7
3.8
2.9

5.0
11.5
16.8
17.3
16.3
8.4
3.8
3.9
3.1

4.8
10.9
16.4
17.5
15.8
7.7
3.7
3.8
3.0

4.9
11.3
16.4
17.7
15.6
8.3
3.7
3.8
3.0

4.9
11.3
16.7
19.5
14.6
8.1
3.8
3.9
3.1

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

3,783
1,340
705
319
385
635
2,445
2,168
291

3,524
1,340
714
282
429
626
2,218
1,917
279

3,551
1,356
705
317
387
651
2,177
1,922
273

5.2
12.1
17.5
19.2
16.2
9.0
4.0
4.2
3.3

4.5
10.3
15.2
17.8
13.5
7.5
3.4
3.5
2.8

5.0
12.1
19.0
19.9
18.2
8.2
3.7
3.8
3.1

4.8
11.4
17.2
18.6
16.2
8.1
3.5
3.6
3.0

4.8
12.0
17.8
17.5
18.1
8.7
3.6
3.6
3.0

4.9
12.1
17.5
18.9
16.5
9.1
3.5
3.6
2.9

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

3,260
1,102
555
260
295
547
2,167
1,912
239

3,152
1,050
564
262
303
486
2,100
1,869
221

3,201
1,053
600
323
279
453
2,165
1,908
245

5.2
10.9
14.4
16.0
13.1
8.7
4.2
4.2
3.4

5.2
11.6
16.0
19.0
13.8
8.9
4.0
4.2
3.0

5.0
10.8
14.4
14.4
14.3
8.6
3.9
4.0
3.2

4.9
10.4
15.5
16.4
15.4
7.3
3.9
4.1
3.0

5.0
10.5
15.0
17.8
13.1
7.8
4.0
4.1
3.0

5.1
10.3
15.8
20.1
12.6
7.1
4.1
4.2
3.4

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

HOUSEHOLD DATA

HOUSEHOLD DATA

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

Total

Men

Women

Category
Sept.
1996

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1997

Sept.
1996

Sept.
1997

66,831
5,219
1,518

67,195
4,705
1,363

24,419
1,948
681

24,878
1,888
667

42,412
3,271
836

42,317
2,816
696

391
1,127

328
1,035

218
464

213
454

173
663

115
581

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

7,808
6.1

7,838
6.0

4,197
6.1

4,220
6.0

3,611
6.1

3,618
6.0

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

4,253
1,714
258
1,547

4,438
1,601
238
1,528

2,565
506
199
914

2,611
514
183
894

1,688
1,208
58
633

1,827
1,087
55
634

NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE

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

1 Data refer to persons who have searched for work during the prior 12 months and were available to take a job during
the reference week.
2 Includes thinks no work available, could not find work, lacks schooling or training, employer thinks too young or
old, and other types of discrimination.
3 Includes those who did not actively look for work in the prior 4 weeks for such reasons as child-care and
transportation problems, as well as a small number for which reason for nonparticipation was not determined.
4 Includes persons who work part time on their primary job and full time on their secondary job(s), not shown
separately.
NOTE: Beginning in January 1997, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Sept.
1996

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

Total......................... 120,454 122,232 122,236 123,139 120,019 121,834 122,056 122,440 122,480 122,695
Total private.................... 101,187 103,616 103,743 103,669 100,506 102,269 102,417 102,721 102,685 102,978
Goods-producing.........................

24,852

25,002

25,242

25,175

24,439

24,702

24,714

24,713

24,771

24,757

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

577
54.6
95.3
317.2
110.2

584
55.5
92.1
324.7
112.1

584
55.3
91.6
324.6
112.1

580
54.5
91.1
322.8
111.5

571
54
95
316
106

576
54
93
321
108

574
54
92
320
108

574
54
91
321
108

572
54
91
320
107

575
54
91
322
108

Construction..........................
5,725
5,947
5,980
5,931
General building contractors........ 1,302.7 1,366.3 1,369.2 1,349.5
Heavy construction, except building.
851.7
828.0
834.8
841.2
Special trade contractors........... 3,570.8 3,752.5 3,775.5 3,740.5

5,441
1,259
771
3,411

5,628
1,300
777
3,551

5,622
1,302
766
3,554

5,625
1,308
761
3,556

5,637
1,306
762
3,569

5,636
1,303
761
3,572

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

18,550
12,840

18,471
12,721

18,678
12,917

18,664
12,927

18,427
12,723

18,498
12,790

18,518
12,791

18,514
12,792

18,562
12,818

18,546
12,814

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.........

10,805
7,402
794.8
504.5
551.5
712.2

10,861
7,420
807.4
500.5
549.8
703.1

10,979
7,533
814.2
506.2
552.7
715.6

10,981
7,546
810.5
507.0
551.1
716.7

10,771
7,372
782
503
541
711

10,864
7,454
800
508
540
708

10,891
7,466
797
508
538
709

10,910
7,482
796
510
541
708

10,964
7,530
798
506
541
715

10,947
7,519
797
506
540
716

240.9
235.6
239.7
240.4
1,455.9 1,454.7 1,476.0 1,478.5
2,103.5 2,151.1 2,158.1 2,160.5
362.6
383.7
384.3
381.5

(1)
1,452
2,108
364

(1)
1,468
2,146
378

(1)
1,470
2,152
379

(1)
1,468
2,155
381

(1)
1,475
2,165
384

(1)
1,475
2,166
383

1,652.1 1,650.7 1,661.6 1,666.6

1,652

1,644

1,651

1,658

1,663

1,666

609.0
632.7
637.5
640.0
1,788.0 1,803.6 1,846.9 1,840.8
969.7
945.1
983.8
976.0
461.3
507.7
511.4
514.0
854.4
858.4
859.3
859.5
388.3
381.7
388.2
389.4

610
1,783
965
461
854
385

622
1,809
960
498
854
387

628
1,824
967
505
856
386

632
1,826
965
510
859
389

637
1,856
985
514
858
387

641
1,836
971
515
859
386

Nondurable goods.....................
7,745
7,610
7,699
7,683
Production workers................
5,438
5,301
5,384
5,381
Food and kindred products........... 1,754.0 1,716.4 1,759.1 1,753.7
Tobacco products....................
43.5
37.8
40.4
42.0
Textile mill products...............
620.4
603.4
607.9
608.7
Apparel and other textile products..
861.1
793.9
810.4
808.9
Paper and allied products...........
680.9
677.9
679.7
678.2
Printing and publishing............. 1,531.2 1,547.3 1,546.5 1,540.9
Chemicals and allied products....... 1,029.8 1,028.3 1,029.8 1,027.1
Petroleum and coal products.........
143.7
141.1
141.2
140.0
Rubber and misc. plastics products..
985.7
977.2
993.6
993.6
Leather and leather products........
95.0
86.6
90.5
90.1

7,656
5,351
1,682
41
618
853
678
1,536
1,029
141
984
94

7,634
5,336
1,693
41
609
818
677
1,546
1,030
139
988
93

7,627
5,325
1,692
41
607
816
675
1,550
1,027
138
989
92

7,604
5,310
1,684
41
608
810
675
1,549
1,023
138
986
90

7,598
5,288
1,679
40
604
808
675
1,547
1,024
138
993
90

7,599
5,295
1,683
40
607
801
676
1,546
1,027
138
992
89

97,964

95,580

97,132

97,342

97,727

97,709

97,938

Transportation and public utilities...
6,334
6,425
6,267
6,497
Transportation......................
4,103
4,169
4,011
4,252
Railroad transportation...........
231.7
230.6
226.9
227.7
Local and interurban passenger
transit........................
457.8
396.2
396.2
475.2
Trucking and warehousing.......... 1,672.1 1,707.2 1,725.1 1,732.2
Water transportation..............
177.5
186.8
186.8
180.9
Transportation by air............. 1,128.6 1,194.5 1,020.3 1,180.7
Pipelines, except natural gas.....
14.5
14.6
14.6
14.2
Transportation services...........
420.9
438.6
441.0
440.6
Communications and public utilities.
2,231
2,256
2,256
2,245
Communications.................... 1,350.5 1,378.4 1,384.3 1,381.6
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services.......................
880.0
877.1
872.1
863.2

6,290
4,066
230

6,431
4,187
226

6,434
4,193
230

6,443
4,202
229

6,284
4,043
225

6,451
4,213
226

444
1,651
173
1,134
14
420
2,224
1,345

458
1,687
176
1,192
14
434
2,244
1,372

457
1,686
178
1,192
14
436
2,241
1,372

461
1,692
176
1,193
14
437
2,241
1,372

462
1,702
179
1,021
14
440
2,241
1,376

460
1,710
176
1,187
14
440
2,238
1,376

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

95,602

97,230

96,994

879

872

869

869

865

862

6,697
3,953
2,744
22,290

6,513
3,826
2,687
21,718

6,630
3,909
2,721
22,026

6,634
3,917
2,717
22,079

6,664
3,938
2,726
22,159

6,674
3,955
2,719
22,191

6,684
3,959
2,725
22,214

907.1
964.5
950.4
934.1
2,712.4 2,750.4 2,782.8 2,792.2
2,381.7 2,413.4 2,438.7 2,449.2
3,446.2 3,523.9 3,521.5 3,504.5

901
2,739
2,403
3,445

932
2,787
2,452
3,482

928
2,798
2,450
3,487

930
2,803
2,458
3,502

929
2,822
2,470
3,505

928
2,822
2,473
3,504

2,305.2 2,348.5 2,352.5 2,346.2
1,044.8 1,060.4 1,062.5 1,063.1
1,083.7 1,088.2 1,100.4 1,083.4

2,289
1,040
1,101

2,316
1,054
1,099

2,315
1,056
1,097

2,318
1,055
1,096

2,325
1,058
1,102

2,330
1,058
1,101

987.9 1,032.3 1,035.1 1,037.1
7,642.2 7,805.1 7,827.1 7,767.6
2,711.8 2,776.0 2,798.3 2,824.4

998
7,509
2,736

1,032
7,572
2,806

1,034
7,595
2,825

1,042
7,639
2,829

1,044
7,622
2,842

1,047
7,633
2,849

Finance, insurance, and real estate...
6,936
7,148
7,150
7,085
Finance.............................
3,314
3,431
3,437
3,420
Depository institutions........... 2,022.0 2,064.2 2,065.0 2,044.7
Commercial banks................ 1,467.3 1,503.4 1,504.2 1,488.7
Savings institutions............
258.4
254.6
253.5
249.7
Nondepository institutions........
523.7
547.4
549.2
552.0
Mortgage bankers and brokers....
235.0
245.2
245.0
246.5
Security and commodity brokers....
557.9
597.3
600.0
598.4
Holding and other investment
offices........................
209.9
222.3
222.9
224.6
Insurance...........................
2,218
2,241
2,239
2,227
Insurance carriers................ 1,509.2 1,516.5 1,515.4 1,506.4
Insurance agents, brokers, and
service........................
708.7
724.2
723.5
721.0
Real estate.........................
1,404
1,476
1,474
1,438

6,925
3,317
2,023
1,468
259
525
235
558

7,029
3,389
2,043
1,488
253
542
244
586

7,034
3,394
2,044
1,487
254
543
243
586

7,058
3,405
2,048
1,490
253
545
243
592

7,066
3,413
2,048
1,492
252
548
244
595

7,075
3,424
2,046
1,490
251
553
247
599

211
2,220
1,510

218
2,222
1,503

221
2,226
1,506

220
2,230
1,509

222
2,232
1,510

226
2,229
1,507

710
1,388

719
1,418

720
1,414

721
1,423

722
1,421

722
1,422

34,621
630
1,722
1,189
7,354
898
2,706
2,398

35,451
669
1,752
1,189
7,618
903
2,744
2,409

35,522
668
1,744
1,182
7,645
903
2,748
2,407

35,684
673
1,747
1,182
7,682
901
2,767
2,425

35,699
675
1,748
1,183
7,660
895
2,734
2,397

35,797
679
1,749
1,187
7,706
904
2,740
2,407

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

6,527
3,821
2,706
21,797

34,741
665.0
1,772.1
1,156.9
7,464.9
899.7
2,822.6
2,507.6

6,706
3,962
2,744
22,289

36,046
747.7
1,893.0
1,141.5
7,707.0
905.7
2,774.7
2,435.3

6,709
3,970
2,739
22,368

36,007
738.6
1,893.4
1,141.5
7,760.7
904.0
2,812.2
2,471.7

35,925
716.4
1,799.5
1,154.7
7,824.8
906.0
2,860.9
2,520.1

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

1,222.2
1,099.3
378.7
520.6
1,537.4
9,503.8

1,343.9
1,146.6
391.1
547.7
1,859.3
9,725.9

1,364.9
1,145.3
389.2
539.2
1,627.0
9,720.4

1,226
1,097
377
530
1,471
9,514

1,322
1,136
384
532
1,542
9,673

1,337
1,131
386
537
1,561
9,673

1,347
1,137
387
539
1,576
9,697

1,357
1,136
388
546
1,567
9,712

1,369
1,143
388
549
1,558
9,731

1,691.5 1,751.4 1,752.3 1,750.1

1,691

1,740

1,740

1,745

1,744

1,750

1,740.1
3,817.4
669.2
925.7
1,979.0
2,401.7
574.5
674.5

1,765.3
3,886.8
687.0
957.6
2,053.8
2,478.6
588.3
705.5

1,739
3,823
668
933
2,022
2,421
573
678

1,764
3,864
682
952
2,062
2,466
587
695

1,761
3,869
682
953
2,074
2,474
590
698

1,762
3,877
685
957
2,089
2,494
594
702

1,765
3,884
685
958
2,092
2,499
600
703

1,764
3,893
685
965
2,100
2,498
586
709

86.3
96.3
94.8
89.9
2,171.0 2,275.6 2,243.6 2,183.5
2,862.9 3,030.2 3,038.2 3,028.3

85
2,188
2,872

88
2,201
2,971

88
2,202
2,988

88
2,209
3,010

88
2,206
3,025

88
2,201
3,039

1,768.4
3,890.5
685.1
972.2
1,821.9
2,472.5
535.7
708.9

1,357.4
1,144.6
391.3
556.2
1,832.3
9,734.0

1,771.8
3,889.4
684.4
965.2
1,798.1
2,458.2
546.9
709.8

849.9
888.4
47.9

891.2
967.3
49.4

894.6
974.2
49.0

888.8
970.2
48.8

845
886
(1)

869
941
(1)

877
950
(1)

878
959
(1)

880
969
(1)

884
968
(1)

19,267
2,739
1,890.4
4,577
1,873.9
2,703.3
11,951
6,621.1
5,329.6

18,616
2,713
1,867.5
4,431
1,679.7
2,751.6
11,472
5,769.7
5,702.7

18,493
2,706
1,852.4
4,413
1,678.5
2,734.2
11,374
5,752.2
5,621.9

19,470
2,682
1,833.0
4,600
1,900.3
2,699.6
12,188
6,792.6
5,395.1

19,513
2,740
1,884
4,640
1,941
2,699
12,133
6,796
5,337

19,565
2,703
1,851
4,636
1,943
2,693
12,226
6,850
5,376

19,639
2,694
1,843
4,640
1,950
2,690
12,305
6,902
5,403

19,719
2,689
1,839
4,671
1,972
2,699
12,359
6,954
5,405

19,795
2,691
1,831
4,667
1,965
2,702
12,437
7,017
5,420

19,717
2,682
1,826
4,663
1,968
2,695
12,372
6,970
5,402

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

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Sept.
1996

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

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

34.9

34.7

35.0

34.7

34.7

34.5

34.6

34.4

34.6

34.5

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

41.8

41.0

41.5

41.9

41.1

41.4

41.1

41.2

41.1

41.2

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

45.9

45.2

45.7

45.3

45.3

46.0

45.4

45.4

45.6

44.7

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

39.7

40.1

39.7

40.0

38.7

39.4

38.7

39.0

38.6

39.0

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

42.3
5.1

41.2
4.5

42.0
4.9

42.4
5.2

41.7
4.5

42.0
4.8

41.8
4.6

41.8
4.7

41.9
4.7

41.9
4.7

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

43.1
5.3

41.9
4.7

42.7
5.2

43.1
5.5

42.5
4.8

42.8
5.2

42.6
5.0

42.6
5.0

42.7
5.0

42.6
5.0

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

41.6
40.4
44.3
44.8

40.8
39.5
43.3
43.9

41.2
40.5
43.8
44.8

41.4
41.0
44.1
45.5

40.9
39.6
43.2
44.4

41.0
40.4
43.4
44.8

41.0
39.9
42.9
44.7

41.1
40.0
43.1
44.4

40.7
40.0
43.0
45.1

40.7
40.2
43.0
45.1

44.6
43.1
43.3

44.3
41.6
42.8

45.0
42.6
43.1

45.4
43.0
43.8

44.3
42.4
43.1

44.7
42.6
43.6

44.5
42.4
43.3

44.3
42.4
43.4

45.4
42.4
43.4

45.2
42.3
43.6

42.0
45.1
46.2
42.0
40.4

41.2
42.4
42.2
41.2
39.5

41.7
44.2
44.8
42.1
40.3

42.3
44.4
44.9
42.1
40.8

41.6
44.4
45.3
41.8
39.9

42.0
44.5
45.2
41.9
40.3

42.0
44.2
44.8
41.8
40.1

42.0
43.7
44.0
41.7
40.4

41.7
44.2
44.8
42.3
40.2

41.8
43.7
44.0
42.0
40.3

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

41.3
4.7

40.4
4.3

41.0
4.6

41.4
4.9

40.7
4.1

40.8
4.3

40.6
4.1

40.6
4.3

40.7
4.2

40.8
4.3

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........

42.2
42.0
41.4
37.6
44.0
38.8
43.3
44.2
42.1
39.2

41.1
35.3
40.6
36.6
43.3
38.1
42.7
42.7
41.0
37.8

41.8
36.5
41.6
37.6
43.4
38.6
43.1
42.9
41.7
38.2

42.3
37.6
41.9
37.8
44.1
39.3
43.7
43.7
41.9
38.8

41.0
40.4
40.9
37.3
43.5
38.3
43.1
(2)
41.6
38.7

41.4
38.4
41.4
37.1
43.8
38.3
43.3
(2)
41.6
38.2

40.9
37.6
41.2
37.4
43.4
38.3
43.1
(2)
41.5
38.1

41.1
36.1
41.3
36.9
43.5
38.4
43.0
(2)
41.7
38.4

41.1
36.2
41.2
37.3
43.4
38.3
43.4
(2)
41.7
37.8

41.1
36.2
41.4
37.5
43.6
38.8
43.5
(2)
41.4
38.3

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

33.0

33.1

33.2

32.8

32.9

32.7

32.9

32.7

32.9

32.7

Transportation and public utilities...

40.3

39.4

40.5

40.0

39.8

39.5

39.6

39.0

40.1

39.5

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

38.6

38.3

38.5

38.5

38.4

38.4

38.5

38.3

38.4

38.4

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

29.1

29.6

29.7

28.9

28.9

28.9

28.9

28.8

29.1

28.7

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

36.5

35.8

36.0

35.8

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

(2)

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

32.6

32.8

32.9

32.5

(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.
1996

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

Sept.
1996

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

$11.95
11.91

$12.15
12.24

$12.20
12.30

$12.39
12.34

$417.06
413.28

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

13.66

13.93

13.96

14.08

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

15.73

16.03

15.96

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

15.75

16.00

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

12.90

13.11

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.........

13.52
10.57
10.27
12.99
15.18

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
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

$421.61
421.06

$427.00
425.58

$429.93
425.73

570.99

571.13

579.34

589.95

16.28

722.01

724.56

729.37

737.48

16.09

16.28

625.28

641.60

638.77

651.20

13.15

13.25

545.67

540.13

552.30

561.80

13.62
10.82
10.53
13.20
15.28

13.71
10.80
10.60
13.19
15.20

13.82
10.86
10.69
13.28
15.33

582.71
439.71
414.91
575.46
680.06

570.68
441.46
415.94
571.56
670.79

585.42
444.96
429.30
577.72
680.96

595.64
449.60
438.29
585.65
697.52

18.10
12.67
13.77

18.09
12.69
14.01

17.98
12.81
14.01

18.31
12.86
14.17

807.26
546.08
596.24

801.39
527.90
599.63

809.10
545.71
603.83

831.27
552.98
620.65

12.35
17.45
18.04
13.31
10.48

12.69
17.23
17.54
13.54
10.52

12.76
17.48
17.88
13.53
10.57

12.89
17.63
18.09
13.69
10.61

518.70
787.00
833.45
559.02
423.39

522.83
730.55
740.19
557.85
415.54

532.09
772.62
801.02
569.61
425.97

545.25
782.77
812.24
576.35
432.89

12.01
11.19
18.37
9.78
8.00
14.74
12.82
16.25
19.35
11.31
8.69

12.37
11.52
20.95
10.01
8.20
15.18
13.01
16.59
20.02
11.57
8.75

12.33
11.51
19.77
10.02
8.24
15.14
13.06
16.56
19.95
11.58
8.89

12.41
11.52
18.23
10.09
8.37
15.18
13.21
16.58
20.52
11.66
9.13

496.01
472.22
771.54
404.89
300.80
648.56
497.42
703.63
855.27
476.15
340.65

499.75
473.47
739.54
406.41
300.12
657.29
495.68
708.39
854.85
474.37
330.75

505.53
481.12
721.61
416.83
309.82
657.08
504.12
713.74
855.86
482.89
339.60

513.77
487.30
685.45
422.77
316.39
669.44
519.15
724.55
896.72
488.55
354.24

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

11.36

11.56

11.60

11.81

374.88

382.64

385.12

387.37

Transportation and public utilities...

$14.57

$14.95

$14.95

$14.99

$587.17

$589.03

$605.48

$599.60

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

13.03

13.37

13.46

13.50

502.96

512.07

518.21

519.75

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

8.06

8.27

8.29

8.43

234.55

244.79

246.21

243.63

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

12.89

13.18

13.32

13.44

470.49

471.84

479.52

481.15

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

11.89

12.07

12.11

12.36

387.61

395.90

398.42

401.70

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. 1997Sept. 1997

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

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

$11.91
7.45

$12.19
7.52

$12.23
7.54

$12.24
7.53

$12.30
7.56

$12.34
N.A.

0.3
(3)

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

13.57
15.70
15.59
12.87
12.20

13.85
16.05
15.91
13.11
12.38

13.86
16.12
15.95
13.12
12.42

13.86
16.10
15.96
13.11
12.41

13.94
16.09
16.03
13.20
12.50

13.99
16.25
16.11
13.23
12.51

.4
1.0
.5
.2
.1

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

11.35

11.63

11.69

11.70

11.76

11.79

.3

14.51
13.03
8.04

14.80
13.33
8.28

14.85
13.42
8.30

14.95
13.38
8.32

14.96
13.53
8.36

14.93
13.50
8.41

-.2
-.2
.6

12.91
11.89

13.18
12.20

13.29
12.26

13.30
12.26

13.46
12.32

13.46
12.35

.0
.2

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 1997 to August 1997, the latest month available.
4 Derived by assuming that overtime hours are paid at the rate of time and one-half.
N.A. = not available.
p = preliminary.

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

ESTABLISHMENT DATA

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

Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted

Industry
Sept.
1996

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

Sept.
1996

May
1997

June
1997

July
1997

Aug.
1997p

Sept.
1997p

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

139.9

142.7

143.8

142.7

137.9

140.0

140.6

140.2

140.7

140.5

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

115.7

114.1

116.8

117.7

111.3

113.7

112.7

112.9

113.0

113.2

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

56.6

57.2

57.7

57.0

54.9

57.3

56.3

56.3

56.5

55.3

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

162.2

169.5

169.0

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

109.6

105.8

109.3

169.0

148.1

156.2

152.8

154.1

152.8

154.4

110.6

107.1

108.3

107.8

107.8

108.2

108.2

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.........

111.2
144.1
127.0
115.6
94.4

108.4
143.5
122.9
112.4
91.2

112.2
146.4
128.0
114.5
94.9

113.6
146.7
129.8
115.1
96.6

109.4
138.6
123.9
109.9
93.2

111.4
142.9
128.0
110.2
93.9

111.0
142.2
126.7
108.7
94.0

111.1
142.3
127.3
110.0
93.2

112.1
141.0
126.7
109.7
95.7

111.8
141.2
127.0
109.4
95.7

74.3
117.2
104.7

72.1
112.9
106.2

74.6
117.9
107.4

75.3
119.4
109.6

74.0
115.1
104.4

72.6
117.1
108.5

72.3
116.8
108.1

72.0
116.5
108.5

75.0
117.5
109.0

75.1
117.0
109.4

109.2
126.5
170.4
75.7
104.2

106.0
119.5
151.6
73.7
99.1

108.8
128.4
168.8
75.5
103.2

110.9
128.8
167.6
75.8
104.8

108.1
124.2
166.6
75.4
101.8

108.2
126.8
165.4
75.1
103.2

108.5
126.2
165.6
75.2
102.3

109.1
125.7
163.1
75.1
103.4

109.1
129.5
169.7
75.8
102.5

109.9
126.7
163.9
75.6
102.4

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

107.3
125.0
71.6
90.5
77.9
111.3
125.0
101.3
79.0
145.8
44.1

102.2
118.2
48.8
86.3
69.5
109.2
124.0
98.8
76.2
139.9
37.7

105.4
124.0
55.1
89.1
72.6
109.6
125.3
100.2
76.5
145.5
40.5

106.6
125.3
61.0
89.9
73.0
111.5
126.5
101.9
77.2
146.7
40.7

103.9
115.1
64.0
89.0
76.4
109.4
123.7
100.6
76.8
143.8
42.8

104.0
117.3
58.9
88.8
73.0
110.4
125.1
100.5
75.0
144.7
41.7

103.4
115.8
57.8
88.2
73.2
109.0
125.2
99.7
74.2
144.2
41.0

103.1
115.6
57.2
88.5
72.0
109.0
125.4
99.3
73.5
144.3
40.7

102.9
115.1
53.8
87.6
71.8
108.5
124.5
100.4
73.9
145.1
39.5

103.3
115.6
53.8
88.6
71.5
109.7
125.5
101.1
75.1
144.6
39.4

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

150.7

155.6

156.0

153.8

149.9

151.8

153.1

152.5

153.1

152.7

Transportation and public utilities...

131.5

130.3

128.6

133.3

129.0

131.0

131.3

129.3

127.5

130.5

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

124.8

127.1

127.5

127.1

123.9

125.9

126.2

126.0

126.4

126.5

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

137.2

142.9

143.8

139.5

135.8

138.0

138.2

138.2

139.8

137.8

Finance, insurance, and real estate...

127.7

129.7

130.3

127.9

128.1

127.3

130.5

127.4

128.9

128.3

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

180.2

187.8

188.2

185.3

179.9

182.3

184.5

184.4

184.8

184.6

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

59.7
57.6
62.4
51.7
59.3

61.0
61.9
60.1
64.3
59.1

49.6
67.1
54.5
60.1
59.0

57.6
64.5
55.6
54.9
61.1

61.5
57.7
48.0
62.9
57.4

56.2
63.9
53.9
60.5
50.7

55.5
62.5
54.1
56.5
58.8

58.3
62.6
59.8
59.3
p57.4

62.2
61.4
57.0
54.4
p54.8

59.6
60.3
54.9
62.6

61.7
63.8
57.2
58.1

59.3
62.4
57.9
61.0

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

64.7
65.3
65.4
62.6
64.6

60.8
69.5
62.5
63.6
62.2

60.5
70.4
58.7
62.6
64.2

58.6
68.7
53.2
61.2
65.6

62.9
67.1
54.6
62.1
59.7

63.6
67.0
52.4
63.1
58.7

59.6
69.1
57.9
62.6
p59.3

62.9
69.7
59.6
58.8
p61.9

64.7
65.7
59.7
62.8

66.9
65.6
59.0
60.4

64.3
67.0
57.0
64.7

63.6
66.2
56.3
65.0

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

62.9
71.1
66.9
62.2
67.6

64.6
69.8
61.4
63.5
66.6

64.3
69.8
58.1
63.5
64.5

64.3
70.9
56.6
63.5
64.6

62.2
70.1
58.1
62.6
p63.9

65.6
69.8
58.1
61.2
p64.3

66.0
69.7
56.7
65.3

64.9
69.4
59.8
63.6

66.3
69.4
60.3
62.6

66.7
67.4
59.1
64.5

69.4
67.7
61.5
64.2

69.2
66.2
63.3
67.4

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

64.9
70.2
63.6
63.5
67.3

63.9
71.6
62.4
64.7
p65.9

64.0
71.8
62.6
62.4
p69.7

65.4
71.8
63.3
62.9

67.0
72.1
61.7
64.7

67.6
71.8
61.9
64.2

67.6
71.5
58.7
65.0

67.0
72.1
62.2
63.1

70.2
70.1
62.2
63.8

69.5
69.5
61.1
66.7

69.2
66.6
62.2
65.7

70.1
65.0
63.3
65.0

Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries1

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

52.2
55.8
54.3
45.7
54.0

56.8
59.0
56.1
54.3
50.4

49.6
60.4
44.2
47.8
52.9

44.2
58.6
51.4
39.2
52.9

53.2
52.9
42.1
52.2
51.4

46.4
58.6
42.8
52.2
49.3

49.3
59.4
43.5
44.2
51.8

51.8
56.1
52.2
52.9
p50.4

57.9
52.9
47.1
44.2
p52.2

52.2
55.0
50.0
50.7

54.0
58.6
47.5
49.6

55.8
58.3
50.7
52.2

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

61.5
61.9
59.7
47.5
53.2

59.0
64.7
50.4
47.8
51.4

54.0
65.5
47.5
42.1
50.7

46.8
59.7
40.3
38.5
52.5

48.6
57.6
42.4
43.2
48.6

54.3
60.1
36.3
45.0
48.9

51.1
62.2
38.5
48.9
p49.6

58.3
57.9
43.9
43.2
p52.2

57.2
55.0
49.3
50.4

59.4
55.4
46.4
46.4

54.7
60.1
45.3
52.5

58.3
59.4
43.9
52.5

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

55.8
62.2
55.8
41.4
53.2

58.6
62.2
48.6
41.7
53.2

58.6
62.6
43.9
41.0
50.4

55.8
63.3
38.8
38.1
49.3

51.8
59.4
39.2
39.6
p49.3

57.2
56.5
39.6
40.6
p51.8

59.7
56.5
38.8
47.5

57.2
58.6
39.6
46.8

57.6
58.6
43.9
45.3

58.3
55.0
45.0
50.4

62.6
58.3
44.2
48.2

60.8
55.0
44.6
53.2

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

56.8
57.9
46.0
39.6
51.4

57.9
58.6
44.2
42.8
p47.8

55.8
60.8
46.0
39.2
p52.2

58.6
60.8
47.8
39.6

57.2
60.8
41.0
42.4

57.6
63.3
41.7
40.3

58.6
59.4
38.5
43.5

59.0
60.1
38.8
40.3

61.2
57.2
36.3
43.5

59.7
56.5
37.4
46.8

60.1
50.4
38.1
46.4

57.6
49.6
39.9
47.1

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