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January 2001

L.S. Department of Labof

___ * _________________

». * ,

bor
>rkers’ comp<
lemployment


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ureau of Labor S

t

U.S. Department of Labor
Alexis M. Herman, Secretary
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner
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Maine
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MONTHLY LABOR

REVIEW
Volume 124, Number 1
January 2001

The em ploym ent-at-w ill doctrine: three m ajor exceptions
U.S. workers without an employment contract can be fired “at will”;
judicial exceptions to the rule seek to prevent wrongful termination

3

C h a rle s J. M u h l

Changes in State law s during 2000:
Labor
Minimum wage rates, overtime, child labor, and employment discrimination
were among major legislation enacted or revised during the year

12

R ic h a rd R. N e lso n

W orkers’ com pensation
About half of all States changed their laws to some extent,
with most of them increasing benefits paid for disability and death

25

G len n W h ittin g to n

U nem ploym ent insurance

29

Some States modified their voluntary quit provision
for situations involving domestic abuse
R o b e r t K en y o n , Jr. and L o ry n L a n c a ste r

Departm ents
Labor month in review
Précis
Book review
Current labor statistics

2
35
36
37

Editor-in-Chief: Deborah P. Klein • Executive Editor: Richard M. Devens • Managing Editor: Anna Huffman Hill • Editors: Brian I. Baker,
Bonita L. Boles, Richard Hamilton, Leslie Brown Joyner, Lawrence H. Leith, • Book Reviews: Roger A. Comer, Ernestine Patterson
Leary • Design and Layout: Catherine D. Bowman, Edith W. Peters • Contributors: Eugene Coyle


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Labor Month in Review
The January Review
We were very pleased to have Charles J.
Muhl, formerly our workplace law editor
and now a Chicago-based attorney, con­
tribute a full-length article. He surveys
the growing exceptions to the “employment-at-will” doctrine. Employment-atwill asserts that workers and employers
should be able to enter specific employ­
ment contracts of any (or no) fixed dura­
tion, but that there is no obligation on
either side if an employee was hired with­
out such a contract. Exceptions to this
assumption began to become a visible
part of common law in the 1950s. How­
ever, it was not until the 1980s that the
bulk of the exceptions were developed
in both statutory and common law.
The most common exception to employment-at will is for public policy. This
holds that an employee is wrongfully dis­
charged if the termination is counter to
an explicit policy of the government. One
example is the discharge of an employee
for filing a workers ’ compensation claim.
Another exception is an implied contract.
Here, the usual case involves an em­
ployee handbook or similar document
that states, for example, that discipline
or termination will only be for “just
cause.” The most expansive (and least
widespread) exception is the “covenantof-good-faith” exception. Under this
doctrine, a covenant of good faith is as­
sumed in every employment relationship,
thus broadening the prohibition of
wrongful discharge beyond the narrow
boundaries of the public policy excep­
tion or cases where an implicit contract
could be adduced.
Richard R. Nelson continues his longrunning series of annual reports on de­
velopments in State labor law. Although
he avers that enactments were less nu­
merous last year, the Northern corners
of the Nation managed to break new le­
gal ground. Washington passed the first
indexed State minimum wage and Maine
is the first State to place limits on the
amount of mandatory overtime an em­
ployer may require.
2

Monthly Labor Review January 2001


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Glenn Whittington looks at changes
in workers’ compensation laws and finds
that several States have increased their
maximum benefits for disability or death.
In addition, some States extended cov­
erage to new or more clearly defined
classes of injury or concepts of em­
ployee.
R obert K enyon, Jr., and Loryn
Lancaster team up to summarize legisla­
tion affecting unemployment insurance.
In this arena, some actions were in re­
sponse to Federal enactments. The La­
bor Department issued a rule allowing
States to provide benefits when employ­
ees take leave or otherwise suspend em­
ployment following the birth or adop­
tion of a child. The Victims of Traffick­
ing and Violence Protection Act of 2000
addresses separations due to circum­
stances of domestic violence. Four
States passed legislation making excep­
tions to the voluntary quit provisions
of their unemployment insurance sys­
tems for such separations.

Most students work
Working a job while enrolled in school is
the norm among older high school stu­
dents. Nearly three out of every five stu­
dents who were 16 years old when the
1997-98 school year began worked for
an employer at some point during the
academic year.
Among all students who were 16 at
the start of the 1997-98 school year, 58
percent had an employee job during the
academic year. Among female students,
the proportion with an employee job was
60 percent, while among male students
the proportion was slightly lower (57
percent).
Students in Grade 11 were consider­
ably more likely to work for an employer
during the school year than those in
Grade 10. Of students who were 16 at the
start of the fall term, 63 percent of those
in Grade 11 held an employee job, com­
pared with 50 percent of those in Grade
10. Note that jobs such as babysitting or
yard work done on an as-needed basis

or for multiple employers are considered
to be “freelance” jobs rather than “em­
ployee” jobs. Additional information is
available from “Employment Experience
of Youths: Results from a Longitudinal
Survey,” news release usdl 00-353.

Multifactor productivity
gains
Multifactor productivity—measured as
output per unit of combined labor, capi­
tal, and intermediate purchases inputs—
increased between 1987 and 1996 in 63
of the 108 industries for which the Bu­
reau of Labor Statistics publishes data.
Most of the gains were at relatively mod­
est rates. Average annual increases of
between 0.1 and 1.0 percent were re­
corded in 32 industries. In another 21 in­
dustries, multifactor productivity rose by
between 1.1 and 2.0 percent. Ten indus­
tries had productivity growth rates ex­
ceeding 2.0 percent. Two industries
whose average annual gains far exceeded
those of all other manufacturers were elec­
tronic components and accessories (14.8
percent) and computers and office equip­
ment (14.4 percent).

San Jose again
tops pay list
In 1999, San Jose, California, led the na­
tion in highest average annual pay among
metropolitan statistical areas ( m s a s ).
Annual pay in the San Jose area aver­
aged $61,110, well above the national
average of $34,868.
New York, New York, had the second
highest pay level at $52,351, followed by
San Francisco, California ($50,169), New
Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-WaterburyDanbury, Connecticut ($47,142), and Seattle-B ellevue-Everett, W ashington
($43,921). The first four of these five MSAs
occupied the same slots last year. Seattle
moved up from sixth to fifth. Find addi­
tional information in “Average Annual
Pay Levels in Metropolitan Areas, 1999,”
news release usd l 00-349.
□

Employment at Will

The employment-at-will doctrine:
three major exceptions
In the United States, employees without a written
employment contract generally can be fired
for good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all;
judicial exceptions to the rule seek
to prevent wrongful terminations

Charles J. Muhl

Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that
right thoughts and right efforts will
inevitably bring about right results
—James Allen

ing in terms of bargaining power. Thus, the employment-at-will doctrine reflected the belief that
people should be free to enter into employment
contracts of a specified duration, but that no ob­
ligations attached to either employer or employee
See only that thou work and thou canst if a person was hired without such a contract.
not escape the reward Because employees were able to resign from po­
—Ralph Waldo Emerson sitions they no longer cared to occupy, employ­
ers also were permitted to discharge employees
ike Allen and Emerson, many workers in at their whim.
the United States believe that satisfactory
The Industrial Revolution planted the seeds
job performance should be rewarded with, for the erosion of the employment-at-will doctrine.
among other benefits, job security. However, this When employees began forming unions, the col­
expectation that employees will not be fired if lective bargaining agreements they subsequently
they perform their jobs well has eroded in recent negotiated with employers frequently had provi­
decades in the face of an increased incidence sions in them that required just cause for adverse
of mass layoffs, reductions in com panies’ employment actions, as well as procedures for
workforces, and job turnover. In legal terms, arbitrating employee grievances.2 The 1960s
though, since the last half of the 19th century, marked the beginning of Federal legislative pro­
employment in each of the United States has been tections (including Title VII of the 1964 Civil
“at will,” or terminable by either the employer or Rights Act) from wrongful discharge based on
employee for any reason whatsoever. The em­ race, religion, sex, age, and national origin.3
ployment-at-will doctrine avows that, when an These protections reflected the changing view of
employee does not have a written employment the relationship between employer and employee.
contract and the term of employment is of indefi­ Rather than seeing the relationship as being on
nite duration, the employer can terminate the equal footing, courts and legislatures slowly be­
employee for good cause, bad cause, or no cause gan to recognize that employers frequently have
at all.1
structural and economic advantages when nego­
Traditionally and as recently as the early tiating with potential or current employees. The
1900s, courts viewed the relationship between recognition of employment as being central to a
employer and employee as being on equal foot­ person’s livelihood and well-being, coupled with

L

Charles J. Muhl,
formerly an economist
with the Bureau of
Labor Statistics,
Washington, dc , is an
attorney in Chicago,
Illinois.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

3

Employment at Will

the fear of being unable to protect a person’s livelihood from
unjust termination, led to the development of common-law, or
judicial, exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine begin­
ning in the late 1950s. The bulk of the development of these
exceptions did not take place until the 1980s, but as we enter
the new millennium, the employment-at-will doctrine has been
significantly eroded by statutory and common-law protec­
tions against wrongful discharge.
This article focuses on the three major exceptions to the
employment-at-will doctrine, as developed in common law,
including recognition of these exceptions in the 50 States.
The exceptions principally address terminations that, although
they technically comply with the employment-at-will require­
ments, do not seem just. The most widespread exception pre­
vents terminations for reasons that violate a State’s public
policy. Another widely recognized exception prohibits termi­
nations after an implied contract for employment has been
established; such a contract can be created through employer
representations of continued employment, in the form of ei­
ther oral assurances or expectations created by employer
handbooks, policies, or other written assurances. Finally, a
minority of States has read an implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing into the employment relationship. The goodfaith covenant has been interpreted in different ways, from
meaning that terminations must be for cause to meaning that
terminations cannot be made in bad faith or with malice in­
tended. Only six western States—Alaska, California, Idaho,
Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming—recognize all three of the ma­
jor exceptions.4 Three southern States—Florida, Georgia, and
Louisiana—and Rhode Island do not recognize any of the
three major exceptions to employment at will. (See exhibit 1.)

Public-policy exception
Under the public-policy exception to employment at will, an
employee is wrongfully discharged when the termination is
against an explicit, well-established public policy of the State.
For example, in most States, an employer cannot terminate an
employee for filing a workers’ compensation claim after being
injured on the job, or for refusing to break the law at the re­
quest of the employer. The majority view among States is that
public policy may be found in either a State constitution,
statute, or administrative rule, but some States have either
restricted or expanded the doctrine beyond this bound.
The public-policy exception is the most widely accepted ex­
ception, recognized in 43 of the 50 States. (See map 1.)
Although the significant development of exceptions to em­
ployment at will occurred in the 1980s, the first case to recog­
nize a public-policy exception occurred in California in 1959.
In Petermann v. International Brotherhood o f Teamsters,5
Peter Petermann was hired by the Teamsters Union as a busi-

4

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

E x h ib it 1.

jn itio n o f e m p lo y m e n t-a t-w ill e x c e p tio n s ,
b y Sta ite, a s o f O c t. 1 , 2 0 0 0

Publicpolicy
exception

Implied-contract
exception

43

38

11

Alabama...............
Alaska...................
Arizona..................
Arkansas...............
California..............

no
yes
yes
yes
yes

yes
yes
yes
yes
yes

yes
yes
yes
no
yes

Colorado...............
Connecticut...........
Delaware...............
District of Columbia
Florida...................

yes
yes
yes
yes
no

yes
yes
no
yes
no

no
no
yes
no
no

Georgia.................
Hawaii...................
Idaho.....................
Illinois...................
Indiana..................

no
yes
yes
yes
yes

no
yes
yes
yes
no

no
no
yes
no
no

Iowa.......................
Kansas..................
Kentucky...............
Louisiana..............
Maine....................

yes
yes
yes
no
no

yes
yes1
yes
no
yes

no
no
no
no
no

Maryland...............
Massachusetts.....
Michigan...............
Minnesota.............
Mississippi............

yes
yes
yes
yes
yes'

yes
no
yes
yes
yes

no
yes
no
no
no

Missouri.................
Montana................
Nebraska..............
Nevada..................
New Hampshire.....

yes
yes
no
yes
yes

no1
no
yes
yes
yes

no
yes
no
yes
no1

New Jersey...........
New Mexico..........
New York...............
North Carolina.......
North Dakota........

yes
yes
no
yes
yes

yes
yes
yes
no
yes

no
no
no
no
no

Ohio.......................
Oklahoma.............
Oregon..................
Pennsylvania.........
Rhode Island........

yes1
yes
yes
yes
no

yes
yes
yes
no
no

no
no
no
no
no

South Carolina......
South Dakota.......
Tennessee............
Texas.....................
Utah.......................

yes
yes
yes
yes
yes

yes
yes
yes
no
yes

no
no
no
no
yes

Vermont.................
Virginia..................
Washington...........
West Virginia........
Wisconsin.............
Wyoming...............

yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes

yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes

no
no
no
no
no
yes

State
Total.................

Covenant of
good faith and
fair dealing

1Overturned previous decision that was contrary to current doctrine.

S ource: Data are from David J. Walsh and Joshua L. Schwarz,
“State Common Law Wrongful Discharge Doctrines: Up-date, Refine­
ment, and Rationales,” 33 Am. Bus. L.J. 645 (summer 1996). Case law
was shepardized (verified) to update the recognition of exceptions through
Oct. 1,2000.

M a p 1.

Public-policy exception to employment at will

I Yes, based on public policy from State constitution and statutes, as well as broader notions of public good
and civic duty
j j Yes, based strictly on public policy from State constitution and statutes
I No
SOURCE: Based on data from David J. Walsh and Joshua L. Schwartz, “State Common Law Wrongful Discharge Doctrines: Up-date,
Refinement, and Rationales,” 33 Am.Bus.L.J. 645 (summer 1996).

ness agent and was told by its secretary-treasurer that he
would be employed for as long as his work was satisfactory.
During his employment, Petermann was subpoenaed by the
California legislature to appear before, and testify to, the As­
sembly Interim Committee on Governmental Efficiency and
Economy, which was investigating corruption inside the Team­
sters Union. The union directed Petermann to make false
statements to the committee during his testimony, but he in­
stead truthfully answered all questions posed to him. He was
fired the day after his testimony.
In recognizing that an employer’s right to discharge an
employee could be limited by considerations of public policy,
the California appellate court found that the definition of pub­
lic policy, while imprecise, covered acts that had a “tendency
to be injurious to the public or against the public good.”6 The
court noted that, in California as elsewhere, perjury and the
solicitation of perjury were criminal offenses and that false
testimony in any official proceeding hindered the proper ad­
ministration of both public affairs and justice. Even though
employer and employee could otherwise be prosecuted under
the criminal law for perjury or solicitation of perjury, the court


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found that applying the public policy exception in this con­
text would more fully effectuate California’s declared policy
against perjury. Holding otherwise would encourage criminal
conduct by both employer and employee, the court reasoned.
Courts in other States were slow to follow California’s lead.
No other State considered adopting such an exception until
after 1967, and only 22 States had considered the exception
by the early 1980s.7 Courts clearly struggled with the mean­
ing of the phrase “public policy,” with some finding that a
policy was public only if it was clearly enunciated in a State’s
constitution or statutes and others finding that a public policy
could be inferred from a statute even where the statute neither
required nor permitted an employee to act in a manner that
subsequently resulted in the employee’s termination. The
courts that refused to recognize the exception generally found
that, given the vagueness of the term “public policy,” such
exceptions to employment at will should be created by legisla­
tive, not judicial, act.8
In 1981, one of the broadest definitions of “public policy”
was adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court in Palmateer v.
International H arvester C om pany.9 In this case, Ray

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

5

Employment at Will

Palmateer alleged that he was fired from his job with Interna­
tional Harvester after he provided information to local law
enforcement authorities about potential criminal acts by a
coworker and indicated that he would assist in any criminal
investigation and subsequent trial. The court noted that the
traditional employment-at-will rule was grounded in the no­
tion that the employment relationship was based on recipro­
cal rights, and because an employee was free to end employ­
ment at any time for any condition merely by resigning, the
employer was entitled to the same right in return. Rejecting
this “mutuality theory,” the court pointed to the rising num­
ber of large corporations that conduct increasingly special­
ized operations, leading their employees’ skills to become
more specialized in turn and, hence, less marketable. These
changes made it apparent to the court that employer and em­
ployee are not on equal footing in terms of bargaining power.
Thus, the public-policy exception to the employment-at-will
doctrine was necessary to create a “proper balance...between
the employer’s interest in operating a business efficiently and
profitably, the employee’s interest in earning a livelihood, and
society’s interest in seeing its public policies carried out.”10
The Illinois court found that matters of public policy “strike
at the heart of a citizen’s social rights, duties, and responsi­
bilities” and could be defined in the State constitution or stat­
utes.11 Beyond that, when the constitution and statutes were
silent, judicial decisions could also create such policy, the
court said in creating a broad scope for its exception. In this
case, nothing in the Illinois Constitution or statutes required
or permitted an employee to report potential criminal activity
by a coworker. However, the court found that public policy
favored citizen crime fighters and the exposure of criminal
activity. Thus, Palmateer brought an actionable claim for retal­
iatory discharge.
Two years after Palmateer, the Wisconsin Supreme Court
rejected such an expansive definition of public policy and
limited the application of this employment-at-will exception in
its State to cases in which the public policy was evidenced by
a constitutional or statutory provision. In Brockmeyer v. Dun
& Bradstreet,12 the court found that the public-policy excep­
tion should apply neither to situations in which actions are
merely “consistent with a legislative policy” nor to “judicially
conceived and defined notions of public policy.”13
In Brockmeyer, the plaintiff worked for Dun & Bradstreet
from August 1969 to May 1980, the last 3 years as district
manager of the Credit Services Division in Wisconsin.
Brockmeyer had an above-average performance record, but in
February 1980, his immediate supervisors learned that he was
vacationing with his secretary when it was understood by
others that he was performing his normal duties as district
manager. The supervisors also learned that Brockmeyer had
smoked marijuana in the presence of other employees. The
supervisors confronted him with the allegations and stated

6

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

unequivocally that he would be terminated or reassigned if
his performance did not improve. They also suggested that
either he or his secretary would have to find a reassignment
within Dun & Bradstreet so that they would not continue to
work together. When Brockmeyer tried unsuccessfully to find
another position for his secretary, the supervisors sought and
obtained her resignation. After leaving, the former secretary
filed a sex discrimination claim against Dun & Bradstreet;
Brockmeyer indicated to his supervisors that he would tell the
truth if called to testify at a trial regarding this complaint. Dun
& B radstreet settled the sex discrim ination suit, and
Brockmeyer was fired 3 days later.
Brockmeyer contended that his termination violated Wis­
consin statutes that prohibited (1) perjury, (2) willful and ma­
licious injuring of another in his or her reputation, trade, busi­
ness, or profession, and (3) the use of threats, intimidation,
force, or coercion to keep a person from working. Rejecting
these claims, the Wisconsin Supreme Court found that Dun &
Bradstreet did not engage in any behavior that violated these
statutes. Dun & Bradstreet had legitimate reasons for termi­
nating Brockmeyer, and no evidence demonstrated that Dun
& Bradstreet had asked him to lie in the event that the sex
discrimination action by his secretary went to trial. The court
held that it was not the State’s public policy to prevent dis­
charge of an employee because the employee may testify in a
manner contrary to his employer’s interests.
The court in Brockmeyer decided to limit the application of
the public-policy exception to “fundamental and well-defined
public policy as evidenced by existing law” and held that a
wrongful-discharge claim should not be actionable merely
because an “employee’s conduct was praiseworthy or be­
cause the public may have derived some benefit from it.”14
The court justified its limitation by saying that it would safe­
guard employee job security interests against employer ac­
tions that undermine fundamental policy preferences, while
still providing employers with flexibility to make personnel
decisions in line with changing economic conditions. Later,
the court issued a clarification to the effect that public policy
could support a wrongful-termination suit in cases where an
explicit constitutional or legislative statement did not evidence
that policy, as long as the policy was evident from “the spirit
as well as the letter” of the constitutional and legislative pro­
visions.15 The court also now permits public policy to be
evidenced by administrative rules and regulations.16
Seven States have rejected the public-policy exception in
its entirety: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Nebraska,
New York, and Rhode Island.17 In Murphy v. American Home
Products Corporation,18 the Court of Appeals of New York
(the State’s highest court) forcefully argued that such excep­
tions to the employment-at-will doctrine were the province of
legislators, not judges. While recognizing that many other
jurisdictions had created a public-policy exception, the court

found that legitimacy of the principal justification for such
adoption—namely, inadequate bargaining power on the part
of employees— was better left to the New York legislature to
evaluate. The court found that legislators have “greater re­
sources and procedural means to discern the public will” and
“elicit the view of the various segments of the community that
would be directly affected”.19 Because the recognition of such
an exception requires some sort of principal scheme for its
application, the configuration of that scheme must be deter­
mined by the legislature after the public has had its opportu­
nity to communicate its views, according to the court. Finally,
the court found that any such change in the employment-atwill doctrine would fundamentally alter rights and obligations
under the employment relationship and thus should be ap­
plied prospectively by the legislature, rather than retrospec­
tively by the court.20
To summarize, the vast majority of States do recognize some
form of a public-policy exception to the employment-at-will
doctrine. Such a regulation prevents employees from being
terminated for an action that supports a State’s public policy.
The definition of public policy varies from State to State, but

Map 2.

most States either narrowly limit the definition to clear state­
ments in their constitution or statutes, or permit a broader
definition that enables judges to infer or declare a State’s pub­
lic policy beyond the State’s constitution or statutes.

Implied-contract exception
The second major exception to the employment-at-will doc­
trine is applied when an implied contract is formed between an
employer and employee, even though no express, written in­
strument regarding the employment relationship exists. Al­
though employment is typically not governed by a contract,
an employer may make oral or written representations to em­
ployees regarding job security or procedures that will be fol­
lowed when adverse employment actions are taken. If so,
these representations may create a contract for employment.
This exception is recognized in 38 of the 50 States. (See map 2.)
A common occurrence in the recent past was courts find­
ing that the contents and representations made in employee
handbooks could create an implied contract, absent a clear
and express waiver that the guidelines and policies in such

Implied-contract exception to employment at will, oral assurances and written
assurances (handbook)

| Yes, including oral and written assurances by employers; disclaimers not per se defense
H
|

Yes, limited to written assurances; disclaimers nullify employer representation if unambiguous and prominent
No

SOURCE: Based on data from David J. Walsh and Joshua L. Schwartz, “State Common Law Wrongful Discharge Doctrines: Up-date,
Refinement, and Rationales,” 33 Am.Bus.L.J. 645 (summer 1996).


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Monthly Labor Review

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7

Employment at Will

handbooks did not create contract rights. The typical situa­
tion involves handbook provisions which state that employ­
ees will be disciplined or terminated only for “just cause” or
under other specified circumstances, or provisions which in­
dicate that an employer will follow specific procedures before
disciplining or terminating an employee.21 A hiring official’s
oral representations to employees, such as saying that em­
ployment will continue as long as the employee’s performance
is adequate, also may create an implied contract that would
prevent termination except for cause.
The leading case having to do with the implied-contract
exception is Toussaint v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield o f Michi­
gan, decided by the Supreme Court of that State in 1980.22
Charles Toussaint had been employed in a middle manage­
ment position with Blue Cross for 5 years before his employ­
ment was terminated. When he was hired, he asked his hiring
official about his job security and was told that his employ­
ment would continue “as long as [he] did [his] job.” Toussaint
also was provided with a manual of Blue Cross personnel
policies some 260 pages long; within the manual were state­
ments that disciplinary procedures would be applied to all
Blue Cross employees who completed their probationary pe­
riod and that it was Blue Cross’ policy to terminate employees
only for “just cause.”
The court ruled that, even if employment is not for a defi­
nite term, a provision indicating that an employee would be
fired only for just cause was enforceable and that such a pro­
vision could create an implied contract if it engendered legiti­
mate expectations of job security in the employee. If the em­
ployee is arbitrarily fired thereafter, then a claim for wrongful
discharge is actionable. The court noted that Blue Cross could
have established a policy giving it the right to terminate em­
ployees for no cause at all, but chose instead to follow a “just
cause” termination policy. The court argued that employer
policies and practices create a “spirit of cooperation and friend­
liness” in the workforce, making employees “orderly, coop­
erative, and loyal” by giving them peace of mind regarding
job security and the belief that they will be treated fairly when
termination decisions are made.23 If an employer’s actions
lead an employee to believe that the policies and guidelines of
the employer are “established and official at any given time,
purport to be fair, and are applied consistently and uniformly
to each employee,” then the employer has created an obliga­
tion.24 That obligation is created even though the parties may
not have mutually agreed that contract rights would be estab­
lished by the policies.
An implied contract for employment cannot be disregarded
at the employer’s whim, but the employer can prevent the
contract from being created by including in its policies and
provisions a clear and unambiguous disclaimer stating that
its policies and guidelines do not create contractual rights.25
If a company does this, no employee could reasonably expect

8

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January 2001

that the policies and guidelines provided a contractual right
to job security or any other benefit described therein.
In Pine River State Bank v. Mettilee,26 the Minnesota
Supreme Court agreed with the rationale behind Touissant. In
Pine River, an employee handbook was given to an employee
after he had been working for the bank for several months.
The handbook contained two sections that the employee
claimed created contract rights. The first was a section titled
“Job Security” that described employment in the banking in­
dustry (though not the specific bank) as secure. The second
involved the bank’s “Disciplinary Policy,” which outlined spe­
cific procedures, including reprimands and opportunities to
correct one’s behavior, that would be followed if an employee
was alleged to have violated a company policy. The court
found that the “Job Security” section was insufficient to cre­
ate contract rights, but that the “Disciplinary Policy” section
was sufficient. The court analyzed that provision according
to traditional requirements for the creation of a contract: offer,
acceptance, and consideration for the contract. The court
found that the employer offered employment subject to the
terms in the employee handbook; the employee accepted the
employment offer by showing up for work. The employee’s
labor was the consideration in support of the contract. Thus,
argued the court, the employer breached the employment con­
tract by terminating the employee without following the spe­
cific procedures outlined in the handbook that created the
implied contract. The court reasoned that, when an employer
chooses to prepare and distribute a handbook, the employer
is choosing to “implement or modify its existing contracts
with all employees covered by the handbook.”27
Among the States rejecting the application of an impliedcontract exception to employment at will are Florida, Pennsyl­
vania, and Texas. In Muller v. Stromberg Carlson Corpora­
tion,28 a Florida appellate court rejected the exception because
of fear that it would lead to uncertainty in the application of
the law. Walter H. Muller sued Stromberg Carlson following
his termination and alleged that, pursuant to the company’s
merit pay plan that required an annual review of an employee’s
performance and a recommendation as to pay increases based
on that performance, he had an annual implied-employment
contract. The Florida court rejected Muller’s claim, finding no
justification to depart from the “long established principles
that an employment contract requires definiteness and cer­
tainty in its terms.”29 The court reasoned that, if indefinite
terms or assurances were used to imply an employment con­
tract, the courts in Florida would be “flooded with claims that
judicial discretion be substituted for employer discretion.”30
Addressing the arguments made by the Michigan Supreme
Court in Toussaint, the court said that the longstanding view
in Florida, contrary to that in Michigan, was that beneficial
social or economic policy should not be advanced by judicial
decisions. The Florida court believed the judicial function to

be advancing certainty in business relationships by provid­
ing meaningful criteria that lead to predictable consequences.
The court had “serious reservations as to the advisability of
relaxing the requirements of definiteness in employment con­
tracts considering the concomitant uncertainty which would
result in the employer-employee relationships.”31 The court
added that the inequality of bargaining power between em­
ployers and their employees was not a sufficient basis to cre­
ate implied contracts of employment based on oral or written
assurances.
Texas refused to recognize the implied-contract exception
in the 1986 case Webber v. M. W. Kellogg Company.12 In that
case, the court found that a letter offering a position of employ­
ment, the classification of an employee as “permanent” rather
than “temporary,” and the identification in company docu­
ments of a scheduled retirement date for the employee some
22 years after employment was initiated in company docu­
ments were insufficient in sum to create an implied contract of

Map 3.

employment for a specific duration. Likewise, in Richardson
v. Charles Cole Memorial Hospital,33 the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania rejected the implied-contract exception, finding
that policies published in an employee handbook did not cre­
ate a “meeting of the minds,” one of the traditional standards
for evaluating whether a contract has been created between
two parties. Because the terms of the handbook were not bar­
gained for in the traditional sense, the court reasoned, the
benefits conferred upon the parties by the handbook were
mere gratuities and not rights that were contracted for.
To summarize, then, employers’ oral or written assurances
regarding job tenure or disciplinary procedures can create an
implied contract for employment under which the employer
cannot terminate an employee without just cause and cannot
take any other adverse employment action without following
such procedures. Employers can prevent written assurances
from creating an implied contract by including a clear and
unambiguous disclaimer characterizing those assurances as

Covenant-of-good-faith-and-fair-dealing exception to employment at will

| Yes, plaintiff can sue in tort or contract, or otherwise broader application
□

Yes, limited to contractual remedies or narrower application
| No

SOURCE: Based on data from David J. Walsh and Joshua L. Schwartz, “State Common Law Wrongful Discharge Doctrines: Up-date,
Refinement, and Rationales,” 33 Am.Bus.LJ. 645 (summer 1996).


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Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

9

Employment at Will

company policies that do not create contractual obligations.
Oral assurances must create a reasonable expectation in the
employee in order for an implied contract to be created.

Covenant-of-good-faith exception
Recognized by only 11 States (see map 3), the exception for a
covenant of good faith and fair dealing represents the most
significant departure from the traditional employment-at-will
doctrine.34 Rather than narrowly prohibiting terminations
based on public policy or an implied contract, this exception—
at its broadest—reads a covenant of good faith and fair deal­
ing into every employment relationship. It has been interpreted
to mean either that employer personnel decisions are subject
to a “just cause” standard or that terminations made in bad
faith or motivated by malice are prohibited.35
As with the public-policy exception, California courts were
the first to recognize an implied covenant of good faith and
fair dealing in the employment relationship. In Lawrence M.
Cleary v. American Airlines, Inc.,36 an American Airlines
employee who had worked satisfactorily for the company for
18 years was terminated without any reason given. A Califor­
nia appellate court held that, in virtue of the airline’s express
policy of adjudicating personnel disputes and the longevity
o f the employee’s service, the employer could not fire the em­
ployee without good cause. The court stated that “Termina­
tion of employment without legal cause after such a period of
time offends the implied-in-law covenant of good faith and
fair dealing” and that, from the covenant, “a duty arose on the
part of...American Airlines...to do nothing which would
d ep riv e...th e em ployee...of the benefits of the
employment...having accrued during [the employee’s] 18
years of employment.”37 This California appellate case was
decided in 1980, and the factual situation included an implied
employment contract. However, the court did not hold that a
covenant of good faith and fair dealing was actionable only if
an employee had an express or implied employment contract
from which the covenant could arise. Rather, the appellate
court found that a tort action could be maintained for breach
of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing in every em­
ployment relationship, not just those covered by an express
or implied contract. The California Supreme Court subse­
quently rejected this formulation and eliminated the tort
action.38
Later, however, in Kmart Corporation v. Ponsock, the Su­
preme Court of Nevada permitted a cause of action in tort for
breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in
every employment relationship.39 Ponsock was a tenured em­
ployee at Kmart, hired until retirement or as long as economi­
cally possible. At trial, the jury found that Kmart terminated
Ponsock to avoid having to pay him retirement benefits. As
part of his case, he claimed that Kmart’s discharge was in

10

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January 2001

“bad faith” and that, even without a contract,40 such a termi­
nation gave rise to tort liability. The court agreed, citing the
employer-employee relationship as one of the “rare and ex­
ceptional cases that the duty [of law] is of such a nature as to
give rise to tort liability.”41
In its opinion, the court recognized the changes that many
feel have occurred in the employment relationship:
We have become a nation of employees. We are dependent
upon others for our means of livelihood, and most o f our
people have become completely dependent upon wages. If
they lose their jobs they lose every resource except for the
relief supplied by the various forms of social security. Such
dependence of the mass of the people upon others for all of
their income is something new in the world. For our genera­
tion, the substance o f life is in another man’s hands.42

The court found that Ponsock was dependent on Kmart’s
commitment to extended employment and to retirement ben­
efits based on that employment and that the “special relation­
ships of trust” required a tort remedy in addition to any avail­
able contractual remedy if the employer conducts an “abusive
and arbitrary” dismissal. Providing such a remedy, the court
reasoned, would deter employers from engaging in such mali­
cious behavior. Because the termination in Ponsock was mo­
tivated by the company’s desire to serve its own financial
ends, the employee was entitled to recover for a bad-faith
agreement.
The vast majority of courts have rejected reading such an
implied covenant into the employment relationship. The rea­
soning used by a Florida appellate court in Catania v. East­
ern Airlines, Inc.,43 is representative. Four employees alleged
that Eastern had wrongfully discharged them and claimed,
among other things, that they were entitled to a good-faith
review of the discharge. The court summarized the plaintiffs’
argument as follows:
To require employers to demonstrate valid grounds and meth­
ods for an employee’s discharge does not unduly restrict em­
ployers; it merely provides some balance o f power. It is ap­
parent that there is not truly freedom of contract between an
employer and employee; the individual employee has no
power or ability at all to negotiate an employment contract
more favorable to himself. And the traditional common law
[the employment-at-will doctrine] totally subordinates an in­
terest o f the employee to the employer’s freedom.

Rejecting the “plaintiff’s invitation to be a Taw giver’” and
applying reasoning that had been accepted by the Nevada
Supreme Court, the Florida court found that the burden on
courts of having to determine an employer’s motive for termi­
nating an employee was too great an undertaking.
forever evolving . Additional
statutory and common-law exceptions to the employment-at-

T he employment relationship is

will doctrine may be developed in the future, but the tradi­
tional doctrine has already been significantly eroded by the
public-policy and implied-contract exceptions. In addition to
the three exceptions detailed in this article, other common-law
limitations on employment at will have been developed, in­
cluding actions based on the intentional infliction of emo­
tional distress, intentional interference with a contract, and
promissory estoppel or detrimental reliance on employer rep­

resentations. Suits seeking damages for “constructive dis­
charge,” in which an employee alleges that he or she was
forced to resign, and for “wrongful transfer” or “wrongful
demotion” have increased in recent years. Accordingly, nowa­
days employers must be wary when they seek to end an em­
ployment relationship for good cause, bad cause, or, most
importantly, no cause at all.
D

Notes
1 Shane and Rosenthal, Employment Law Deskbook, § 16.02 (1999).
2

Jeanne Duquette Gorr, The Model Employment Termination Act:
Fruitful Seed or Noxious Weed? 31 duqlr 111 (fall 1992); see also
Robert W. Fisher, “When workers are discharged— an overview ,”
Monthly Labor Review, June 1973, pp. 4-17.
3 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq. This article does not address statutory
exceptions to employment at will. Many such exceptions have been
enacted at both the Federal and State level. For example, Federal law
prevents employment discrimination, including termination for engag­
ing in lawful union activities (see National Labor Relations Act, 29
U.S.C. § 201-219, 1978) and for safety and health violations at the
workplace (see Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 651678, 1985), among others. Certain States have laws preventing em­
ployers from terminating employees for whistle-blowing (reporting
potential violations o f law committed by the employer); other State
laws prohibit employers from terminating employees who file a worker’s
compensation claim or serve on a jury. (See, generally, Shane and
Rosenthal, Employment Law Deskbook.) However, only two States—
Arizona and Montana— have enacted comprehensive wrongful termi­
nation legislation. Montana passed the Wrongful Discharge from Em­
ployment Act in 1987, and Arizona enacted its Employment Protec­
tion Act in 1996. Of the two, the Montana statute is broader in the
scope o f its protections for employees.
4 Courts in Arizona had recognized all three exceptions until passage
o f the Employment Protection Act.
5 174 Cal.App.2d 184 (1959).
6 174 Cal.App.2d at 188.
7 Deborah A. Ballum, “Employment-at-will: The Impending Death
of a Doctrine,” 37 Am. Bus. L.J. 653, 660 (summer 2000).
8 See, for example, Pacheo v. Raytheon, 623 A.2d 464 (R.I. 1993);
and Murphy v. American Home Products Corp., 58 N.Y.2d 293, 448
N.E.2d (1983).
9 85 I11.2d 124, 421 N.E.2d 876 (1981).
10 Id. at 878.
11 Id.
12 113 Wis.2d 561, 335 N.W.2d 834 (1983).
13 Id. at 839-40.
14 Id. at 840, citing Palmateer v. International Harvester Co., 421
N.E.2d at 883.
15 See Wandry v. Eye Credit Union, 129 Wis.2d 37, 384 N.W.2d 325
(1986).
16 See Winkelman v. Beloit Memorial Hosp., 168 Wis.2d 12, 483
N.W.2d 211 (1992).


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17 At this time, it is unclear how Maine views the public-policy
exception, as no decision has addressed it directly.
18 58 N.Y.2d 293, 448 N.E.2d 86 (1983).
19 Id. at 302.
20 One year after the decision was rendered, the New York legislature
enacted the Retaliatory Action by Employers Act, amending the State's
labor law so that it would protect whistle-blowers from wrongful termi­
nation. See n.y. lab. law § 740 (Gould's New York Consolidated Laws
Unannotated, 1988).
21 Shane and Rosenthal, Employment Law Deskbook, § 16.03[5].
22 408 Mich. 579, 292 N.W.2d 880 (1980).
23 Id. at 644.
24 Id.
25 The following is a sample disclaimer, which must be clear and
unambiguous in the handbook or policy in order to be effective: “This
policy is not intended as a contractual obligation of the company. The
company reserves the right to amend this policy from time to time at
its discretion and in accordance with applicable law.”
26 333 N.W.2d 622 (1983).
27 Id. at 626-27.
28 427 So.2d 266 (1983).
29 Id. at 268.
30 Id. at 269.
31 Id. at 270.
32 720 S.W.2d 124 (1986).
33 320 Pa.Super. 106, 466 A.2d 1084 (1983).
34 Shane and Rosenthal, Employment Law Deskbook, § 16.03[8].
35 Id.
36 111 Cal.App.3d 443 (1980).
37 Id. at 455.
38 See Foley v. Interactive Data Corp., 47 Cal.3d 654, 765 P.2d 373
(Cal. 1988).
39 103 Nev. 39, 732 P.2d 1364 (1987).
40 In the trial, the court did find that an employment contract
existed that Kmart had breached.
41 Id. at 49.
42 Id. at 51, quoting F. Tannenbaum, A Philosophy o f Labor (1951).
43 381 So.2d 265 (1980).

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

11

State Labor Laws, 2000

State labor legislation
enacted in 2000
Increases in minimum wage rates, overtime requirement changes,
child labor revisions, bans on employment discrimination,
and protection from workplace harassment and violence
were major subjects of State labor legislation
Richard R. Nelson
he volume of State labor legislation enacted in 2000
was lighter than in recent years. Six State legislatures
did not meet in regular session and some States met
only for budget purposes.1 Despite this lower volume, there
were clusters of activity in some important labor standards
areas.
Activity was concentrated in the traditional subjects of
minimum wage protection, regulation of child labor, and bans
on employment discrimination. Trends continued from pre­
vious years with additional States granting employers im­
munity from civil liability for disclosure of work performance
information and authorizing reciprocal agreements for the
collection of wage claims. New laws enacted address work­
place harassment and violence, and protect whistleblowers. A
first-in-the-Nation law enacted places limits on mandatory
overtime; also, for the first time, an indexed State minimum
wage rate took effect.
This article summarizes significant State labor legisla­
tion passed in 2000. It does not, however, cover legislation
on occupational safety and health, employment and train­
ing, labor relations, employee background clearance, eco­
nomic development, and local living wage ordinances.
Changes in unemployment insurance and workers’ compen­
sation laws appear elsewhere in this issue.

T

Wages. Again this year, minimum wage was an important
area of legislation and activity, with bills to increase rates
introduced in several States and at the Federal level. New
Richard R. Nelson is a State standards advisor in the D ivision of
External Affairs, Wage and Hour D ivision, Employment Standards
Administration, U.S. Department o f Labor.

12 Monthly Labor Review January 2001


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legislation increased minimum wage rates in California, Con­
necticut, and Rhode Island; rates also increased in Connecti­
cut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York as the result
of previous laws. On January 1,2001, as the result of a 1998
ballot measure, Washington became the first State in the
Nation to have a rate that is annually adjusted for inflation.
Bills proposing increases in the minimum wage were ve­
toed in Maine and New Mexico., and a bill to increase the
Federal minimum wage rate by $1 over 2 years failed to be
adopted as well.
As of January 1,2001, minimum wage rates were higher
than the Federal standard in Alaska, California, Connecti­
cut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachu­
setts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Provisions that allow employers to use tips received by
employees to meet a portion of the minimum wage, were
revised in New York and Rhode Island; and a lower mini­
mum wage for certain tipped employees was authorized in
Connecticut. In Hawaii, employers are to notify customers
if service charges added to the sale of food or beverages are
used to pay for costs or expenses other than wages and tips
of employees.
Certain computer software professionals and certified
nurses are now exempted from the overtime requirements
of California’s minimum wage law; and Maine is the first
State to place limits on the amount of mandatory overtime
that employees can be required to work.
Prevailing wage laws pertaining to public works projects
currently exist in 31 States and the Federal Government.
Only a few major amendments to these existing laws were
enacted in 2000. California passed measures expanding cov­
erage, amending the administrative hearing process, and

holding contractors and subcontractors jointly and sever­
ally liable for amounts due to employees; the Maryland law
now covers certain school construction projects that were
previously exempted; Wisconsin administratively increased
the dollar threshold amount for coverage for State and mu­
nicipal public works contracts; threshold amounts also in­
creased in Ohio; and New Jersey implemented the registra­
tion of public works contractors, as provided for in 1999
legislation.
Other significant wage legislation authorized the Vermont
labor commissioner to collect unpaid wages, and raised the
maximum size of a wage claim that may be accepted in
Alaska. The Iowa wage collection law now specifies that
rights and obligations provided for in the law continue until
they are fulfilled, even if the employer-employee relation­
ship has been severed.
In a case brought by farmworkers, the California Supreme
Court held that workers who are required to ride employerowned vehicles to and from their jobs must be paid for that
particular type of travel time.
New Jersey became the 30th State to adopt legislation
authorizing reciprocal agreements with other States for the
collection of claims for wages, benefits, and penalties.
Family issues. A few States attempted to pass legislation
that would have provided unemployment benefits for indi­
viduals on family and medical leave, but these all failed to
pass into law. One of these, however, a New Hampshire
bill, was amended and adopted as a measure to create a study
committee to examine the use of these types of benefits.
A resolution was adopted in Tennessee urging employ­
ers to excuse employees from work to attend parent/teacher
conferences, and a committee in South Carolina was assigned
to develop recommendations for the use of employer tax
credits as incentives to provide paid time off for employees
to attend school functions.
Puerto Rico provided paid time off upon adoption of
a child.
Child labor. Again this year, a number of child labor laws
were enacted, with some adding more restrictions on work
by children and others permitting children to work at younger
ages, for longer hours, or in additional occupations.
The Nevada labor commissioner banned employing chil­
dren under age 16 in youth peddling (or door-to-door sales),
adding to the number of States that have addressed this is­
sue in recent years. New, more restrictive hours limitations
were adopted in Alabama. In addition, the Alabama Build­
ing Commission will expand its building site inspection du­
ties to include investigation of child labor law violations.
Administrative penalties were increased for violations of the
Colorado, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania laws.
Kansas enacted restrictions on the employment of in­


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fants under age 1 month on any motion picture set or lo­
cation. Kansas also adopted a requirement for placing in
trust a portion of the earnings of all minors having enter­
tainment industry contracts.
California State agencies are not to purchase equip­
ment, materials, or supplies produced by using abusive
forms of child labor or the exploitation of children in
sweatshop labor.
Restrictions were eased on work by minors around alco­
hol in Alabama, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Children were
also provided with expanded employment opportunities in
Connecticut, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Minors under
age 16 in Vermont may now work later in the evening as bat
girls or bat boys. Exceptions from hours restrictions for mi­
nors under age 16 who are employed by their parents were
adopted in Oregon.
The Massachusetts attorney general was authorized to
suspend the application of the child labor law in emergency
or hardship situations.
Equal employment opportunity. The trend to enact legisla­
tion banning employment discrimination against individu­
als based on genetic characteristics, genetic information, or
test results continued this year, with new laws passed in Mas­
sachusetts and Michigan.
Among other measures that were enacted, banning vari­
ous forms of employment discrimination, Tennessee repealed
a prohibition on the employment of public school teachers
past age 70, and an Executive Order was issued in Mary­
land establishing a special commission to study sexual ori­
entation discrimination. Measures addressing workplace
harassment were enacted in Arizona and California. C ali­
fornia also revised definitions of m ental and physical
disability and medical condition as applicable to prohibited
employment discrimination in the State civil service system.
An Executive Order was issued in Wyoming adopting an
antidiscrimination policy in State government, including a
specific prohibition on sexual harassment.
Drug and alcohol testing. Virginia now requires that all
public bodies include in every contract they let over $10,000,
a statement that the contractor agrees to provide a drug-free
workplace. In Tennessee, each employer with five or more
employees who contracts with the State or any local govern­
ment to provide construction services must submit an affi­
davit stating that the employer has a drug-free workplace
program in effect at the time of submission of a bid.
Worker privacy. Virginia continued a recent trend by adopt­
ing legislation providing immunity from civil liability to
employers who furnish information about a current or former
employee’s job performance to a prospective or current
employer. Protection from civil liability for providing cerMonthly Labor Review January 2001

13

State Labor Laws, 2000

tain employment information was also extended to escrow
agents in Arizona.
Two laws were enacted in California pertaining to em­
ployee access to their personnel files. The Iowa law per­
mitting the use of polygraph examinations for certain law
enforcement officers was amended to apply to additional
occupations. Tennessee made it unlawful to sell medical
information that directly identifies an employee.
Private employment agencies. Private employment agen­
cies operating in Kentucky will no longer be regulated or
licensed. The California law regulating advance-fee tal­
ent services was amended to remove certain activities from
coverage.
Whistleblowers. New whistleblower laws were enacted in
California, applicable to school and community college
employees, and in Wisconsin, applicable to health care work­
ers. These laws bar reprisal against an employee who dis­
closes an unlawful workplace act or practice. The Rhode
Island whistleblower law was amended to specify that it
covers at-will employees, contract employees, and indepen­
dent contractors, and the Tennessee law was amended to
provide that, in the event of violation, employees may re­
cover reasonable attorney fees and costs.
Violence. A Victims of Domestic Violence Employment
Leave Act was adopted in California. Also, in California,
employers who employ community health care workers are
to keep a record of any violence committed against them. In
Georgia, an employer, where there has been violence or a
threat of violence against an employee at the workplace, may
seek a temporary restraining order and an injunction pro­
hibiting further violence. The 1999 Maine Employment
Leave for Victims of Violence law was amended to clarify

Alabama
Wages. A resolution urges business and
industry in the State to adopt and enforce
an equal pay for equal work policy for
women.
Child labor. The Governor issued Execu­
tive Order 13, requiring that the Depart­
ment of Industrial Relations, while remain­
ing by statute responsible for the State’s
child labor law, transfer the day-to-day
operation and administration of the law to
the Department of Labor. Implementing
legislation was enacted.
Executive Order 23 requires the De­
partment of Labor and the Building Com­
mission to enter into any necessary agree­
ments that will allow them to exchange in­
formation so as to maximize enforcement
14 Monthly Labor Review January 2001

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that it applies to all public and private sector employers.
Other laws. Among other laws of interest, California estab­
lished a Farm Labor Contractor Special Enforcement Unit
and revised farm labor vehicle regulation and safety provi­
sions. California also provided job protection for employ­
ees who take off work to perform emergency duty as reserve
peace officers or emergency rescue personnel, and made it
unlawful to use State funds to assist, promote, or deter union
organizing. Maine Department of Labor rules were approved
governing administrative civil money penalties for labor law
violations. In Nebraska, a position of Meatpacking Industry
Worker Rights Coordinator was established within the De­
partment of Labor.
A number of significant initiatives made their way to the
ballot or through the legislature, but were not enacted. They
are as follows: (1) two measures in the November general
election would have amended the Oregon State constitution
to prohibit the use of payroll deductions from employee
wages for political purposes; (2) a bill was vetoed in Cali­
fornia that would have expanded the family leave law to
include unpaid leave to care for a grandparent, sibling, or
domestic partner with a serious health condition; (3) for the
second consecutive year, California’s Governor vetoed a bill
that would have made it unlawful for an employer to secretly
monitor the electronic mail or other personal computer records
of an employee; and (4) the Maine legislature adopted an
act adding discrimination in employment, housing, pub­
lic accommodations, and credit, on the basis of sexual
orientation, to the forms of unlawful discrimination pro­
hibited under the State Human Rights Act, but the voters
rejected it on the November ballot.
The following is a summary, by jurisdiction, of labor leg­
islation enacted in 2000.

of child labor laws. The Building Commis­
sion will expand its building site inspec­
tion duties to include investigation of child
labor law violations. The Department of
Labor will oversee all child labor related
inspections undertaken by Building Com­
mission personnel.
The child labor law was amended to re­
strict the work hours of 18-year-olds en­
rolled in school to no later than 10 p .m . on
any night preceding a school day and to no
earlier than 5 a .m . These restrictions pre­
viously applied only to 16- and 17-yearolds enrolled in school.
The law prohibiting the employment of
persons under age 21 to serve alcoholic
beverages was amended to permit persons
who are 19 years or older and working as a
waiter, waitress, or server to serve alcoholic
beverages during normal dining hours in a

restaurant which holds an Alcoholic Bev­
erage Control Board restaurant retail li­
cense. An employer who employs a person
between the ages of 19 and 21 to serve al­
coholic beverages must be a licensee of the
board, who has been annually certified as
a responsible vendor under the Alabama
Responsible Vendor Act.
Other laws. April 28, 2000, will be recog­
nized as Workers’ Memorial Day to remem­
ber those who have suffered and died on
the job and to renew the fight for safe work­
places.

Alaska
Wages. The maximum size of a claim for
wages that may be accepted by the Depart­
ment of Labor and Workforce Development

increased from $7,500 to an amount of up
to $20,000, exclusive of costs, interest, and
attorney fees. The department may file ac­
tions in small claims court if necessary to
effectuate enforcement. The requirement
for payment to terminated employees
within 3 working days after termination was
amended. Now, if the employment is ter­
minated by the employer, regardless of the
cause, payment is due within 3 working
days, but, if the employment is terminated
by the employee, payment is due at the next
regular pay day that is at least 3 days after
the employer received notice of the
employee’s termination of services. An
employer found liable for failing to pay
within the deadlines will be required to pay
a waiting time penalty.

Arizona
Hours. Longer hours of uninterrupted work
are now permitted for certain drivers trans­
porting agricultural commodities or farm
supplies. To qualify, the work must be lim­
ited to an area within a 100-mile radius
from the source of the commodities or the
distribution point for the farm supplies;
must be limited to the planting and harvest­
ing seasons; and is from the field to cooling
facilities to the first point of processing or
packing. With limited exceptions, these
drivers are not to drive for any period after
having been on duty 16 hours following 8
consecutive hours off duty or for any pe­
riod after having been on duty for 112 hours
in any consecutive 7-day period.
Equal employment opportunity. An em­
ployer, or an authorized agent of an em­
ployer, may now file a written verified
petition with a magistrate, justice of the
peace, or superior court judge for an in­
junction prohibiting workplace harassment.
If the court grants the injunction, it also
may restrain the defendant from coming
near the employer’s property or place of
business, contacting the employer or other
person while that person is on or at the
employer’s place of business, or perform­
ing official work duties, and grant any other
relief necessary for the protection of the
employer, the workplace, the employer’s
employees, or any other person who is on
or at the employer’s property or place of
business or who is performing official work
duties. The court may not issue a tempo­
rary restraining order or injunction that
prohibits speech or other activities that are
protected by law, including actions involv­
ing organized labor disputes.
Worker privacy. Escrow agents were added
to coverage of the law protecting banks,


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savings and loan associations, and credit
unions from civil liability when providing
a written employment reference that reports
an applicant’s involvement in a theft, em­
bezzlement, or misappropriation that has
been reported to Federal authorities or to
the Arizona Banking Department. In order
for the immunity from civil liability to ap­
ply, a copy of the written reference must be
sent to the applicant, and the information
cannot be knowingly false or provided with
malice.

California
Wages. The State minimum wage rate in­
creased to $6.25 from $5.75 per hour on
January 1, 2001, as the result of action by
the State Industrial Welfare Commission.
A further increase to $6.75 is scheduled for
January 1, 2002.
Certain computer software profession­
als are exempted from the overtime require­
ments of the State’s minimum wage law.
These computer professionals are exempt
if they (1) are primarily engaged in work
that is intellectual or creative and that re­
quires the exercise of discretion and inde­
pendent judgment, (2) are highly skilled
and proficient in the theoretical and
practical application of highly specialized
information to computer systems analysis,
programming, and software engineering,
and (3) their hourly rate of pay is not less
than $41. Certified nurse midwives, certi­
fied nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse
practitioners who are engaged in perform­
ing duties for which their certifications are
required also are exempted.
Several changes were made to the law
relating to public works contracts. Among
these, the awarding body now is required
to report promptly any suspected violations
of the laws regulating public works con­
tracts to the labor commissioner and to re­
tain all amounts required to satisfy any civil
wage and penalty assessment issued by the
labor commissioner. Significant changes
were made in the administrative hearing
process where a contractor or subcontrac­
tor is alleged by the labor commissioner or
an awarding body to have violated the law
and has been issued a civil wage and pen­
alty assessment. Contractors and subcon­
tractors will be held jointly and severally
liable for all amounts due pursuant to a fi­
nal order, but the labor commissioner shall
collect amounts due from the subcontrac­
tor before pursuing the claim against the
contractor. Wages for workers who cannot
be located are to be placed in the Industrial
Relations Unpaid Wage Fund. Penalties are
to be paid into the General Fund.
Project sponsors under the Downtown

Rebound Program and the Multifamily
Housing Program, administered by the
Department of Housing and Community
Development, must now pay prevailing
wages on construction projects assisted
through the programs. The department must
require, as a condition of loan closing, a
certification that prevailing wages have
been or will be paid.
The definition of “construction” for
purposes of coverage under the public
works prevailing wage law was amended
to now include work that is performed dur­
ing the design and preconstruction phases
of construction including, but not limited
to, inspection and land surveying work.
The prevailing wage law previously
provided that whenever a contractor or sub­
contractor performing a public works
project wa^ found by the labor commis­
sioner to be either in violation of certain
provisions of the law relating to payment
of prevailing wages, with intent to defraud,
or in willful violation, then the contractor
or subcontractor or a firm, corporation,
partnership, or association in which the
contractor or subcontractor had a substan­
tial interest was ineligible to bid on or re­
ceive a public works contract for up to 3
years. The law was amended to delete the
requirement that the contractor or subcon­
tractor have a substantial interest in an en­
tity in order for it to be ineligible to bid or
contract. Now, any interest in an entity may
render it ineligible.
Amendments were made to a number
of statutes that regulate wages and hours,
including administrative and enforcement
procedures. Among these changes, an em­
ployer who is in the process of appealing a
decision by the labor commissioner must
post an appeal bond to guarantee the pay­
ment of wages; the penalties levied on em­
ployers in the building and construction
industry who issue insufficient funds pay­
roll checks were extended to apply to all
employers; case law regarding the award­
ing of attorney’s fees for unpaid wages was
codified; employers must now include piece
rate and hourly wage information on item­
ized wage statements and penalties were
increased for employers who knowingly
and intentionally are in violation; penalties
were established in the Labor Code for vio­
lations of meal and rest periods in accor­
dance with Industrial Welfare Commission
wage orders; and the right of certain em­
ployees to retain their tips was protected.
The law requiring an employer to in­
demnify his or her employees for all that
the employee necessarily expends or loses
as the result of performing the employee’s
duties or as a result of obeying the
employer’s directions was amended to deMonthly Labor Review January 2001

15

State Labor Laws, 2000

fine necessary expenditures to include all
reasonable costs, including attorney’s fees
incurred by the employee in enforcing his
or her rights.
In a case brought by farm workers
(Morillion v. Royal Packing), the Califor­
nia Supreme Court, on March 27, held that
workers who are required to ride employerowned vehicles to and from their jobs must
be paid for that particular type of travel time.
A resolution adopted declares May 11,
2000, to be “Equal Pay Day” and urges the
citizens of the State to recognize the full
value of women’s skills and significant
contributions to the labor force. May 11
symbolizes the day on which the wages paid
to American women so far in 2000, when
added to women’s earnings for all of 1999,
equal the 1999 earnings of American men.
Hours. The requirement that employers
provide a 30-minute meal period after 5
hours of work was amended to permit the
Industrial Welfare Commission to adopt
working-condition orders permitting a meal
period to start after 6 hours of work if the
commission determines that the order is
consistent with the health and welfare of
the affected employees.
Family issues. A Victims of Domestic
Violence Employment Leave Act adopted
prohibits employers from discharging, dis­
criminating, or retaliating against an em­
ployee who takes time off from work to
receive social services related to domestic
violence. Victims of domestic violence may
take either paid or unpaid time off to seek
medical attention for injuries resulting from
domestic violence; seek legal assistance
or participate in legal proceedings; seek
assistance or services from a domestic vio­
lence shelter, program, or rape crisis cen­
ter; obtain psychological counseling; or
participate in activities designed to ensure
a victim’s safety and well being, such as
relocation. The new law applies to employ­
ers with 25 or more employees and limits
the amount of time to that provided in the
Family Medical Leave Act (12 weeks).
Child labor. State agencies are to provide
in every procurement contract, other than
in public works contracts, that no equip­
ment, materials, or supplies provided un­
der the contract shall have been produced,
in whole or in part, by the use of abusive
forms of child labor or the exploitation of
children in sweatshop labor. Violation may
result in a civil penalty and removal from
the bidder’s list for up to 360 days.
The Department of Industrial Relations
is to contract with a coordinator to estab­

16 Monthly Labor Review January 2001

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lish a statewide young worker health and
safety resource network. The resource net­
work will assist in increasing the ability of
young workers and their communities state­
wide to identify and address workplace
hazards in order to prevent young workers
from becoming injured or ill on the job.
Agriculture. The labor commissioner was
authorized to establish and maintain a Farm
Labor Contractor Special Enforcement Unit
within the Division of Labor Standards
Enforcement of the Department of Indus­
trial Relations to enforce provisions of law
relating to farm workers by revoking, sus­
pending, or refusing to renew farm labor
contractors’ licenses. Other changes in­
crease the annual licensing fee for farm la­
bor contractors to $500 from $350, and
increase to quarterly from annually the fre­
quency with which the labor commissioner
shall submit a list of licensees to the State
Highway Patrol. Farm labor contractors are
required to deposit a surety bond with the
labor commissioner based on the size of
the person’s annual payroll. They are also
required to pass a written test on current
laws and regulations pertaining to farm
labor contractors.
The State Vehicle Code was amended
to add provisions relating to the safety of
farm labor vehicles. Among these provi­
sions are: a requirement that all cutting
tools or tools with sharp edges carried in
the passenger compartment of a farm labor
vehicle be placed in securely latched con­
tainers that are attached to the vehicle; a
prohibition on transporting farm workers
on flatbed trucks for more than one mile
on a highway; and a prohibition, after March
21, 2002, on transporting any person in a
farm labor vehicle that lacks passenger seats
or seating systems in compliance with Fed­
eral regulations.
It is now unlawful to operate a farm
labor vehicle that has been determined to
be unsafe except to return it, without pas­
sengers, to the owner’s property or to take
it to a repair facility.
Equal employment opportunity. The Fair
Employment and Housing Act was amended
to expressly provide that employees of any
covered entity are personally liable for any
prohibited harassment that is perpetuated
by the employee, regardless of whether the
employer or covered entity knows or should
have known of the conduct and fails to
take immediate and appropriate correc­
tive action. Under the act, employers, la­
bor organizations, and apprenticeship and
employment training programs are civilly
liable for harassment of an employee, an

applicant for employment, or a person pro­
viding services under a contract, on the
basis of race, religious creed, color, national
origin, ancestry, physical disability, men­
tal disability, medical condition, marital
status, sex, age, or sexual orientation.
Several changes were made relating to
the rights of workers with disabilities.
Among these changes, definitions of men­
tal and physical disability and medical con­
dition were revised and made uniform
across different State civil rights statutes,
including employment in the State civil
service system. It is now an unlawful
employment practice for an employer or
employment agency to make any medical,
psychological, or disability-related inquiry
of any job applicant or, with regard to an
employee, to make such an inquiry unless
it is job-related and consistent with busi­
ness necessity. It is also an unlawful em­
ployment practice for an employer or other
covered entity to fail to engage in a
timely, good faith, interactive process to
determine and provide reasonable accom­
modations at the request of disabled appli­
cants and employees.
Worker privacy. State law pertaining to
employee access to personnel files was
unified by eliminating an exemption for
some public employers from a general re­
quirement that employers make employee
personnel files available for inspection and
bringing public and private employers un­
der the same records-access provisions of
the Labor Code with the exception of pub­
lic safety officers and employees of agen­
cies subject to the Information Practices Act
of 1977. Employers are to make the con­
tents of personnel files available to an em­
ployee at reasonable intervals and times.
Records relating to the investigation of a
criminal offense, letters of reference, and
specified ratings and reports are exempt.
A new measure requires employers of
public safety officers to permit an officer
to inspect his or her personnel file, or a copy
thereof, during usual business hours, with
no loss of compensation. If the officer be­
lieves that any portion of the material is
mistakenly or unlawfully placed in the file,
he or she may request, in writing, that the
mistaken or unlawful portion be corrected
or deleted. Within 30 calendar days of re­
ceipt of a request, the employer must ei­
ther grant the officer’s request or notify him
or her of the decision to refuse to grant the
request. In the event of a refusal, the em­
ployer must state in writing the reasons for
refusing the request, and the written state­
ment will become part of the officer’s per­
sonnel file.

The law providing that peace officer
personnel records are confidential and
may not be disclosed in a criminal or civil
proceeding, except by discovery pursu­
ant to law, was amended to specify that
the prohibition against disclosure refers
to disclosure by the department or agency
that employs the peace officer.
Private employment agencies. The law
regulating advance-fee talent services will
no longer cover activities performed for the
artist, including registering or listing an
artist for employment in the entertainment
industry or as a customer of the advancefee talent service; creating or providing
photographs, filmstrips, videotapes, audi­
tion tapes, demonstration reels, or other
reproductions of the artist, or casting or
talent brochures or other promotional ma­
terials; creating or providing costumes,
providing lessons, coaching, or similar
training; and providing auditions. These ac­
tivities were deleted from the definition of
“advance-fee talent service.”
Whistleblowers. A Reporting by School
Employees of Improper Governmental
Activities Act and a Reporting by Com­
munity College Employees of Improper
Governmental Activities Act were adopted
protecting these employees who, among
other things, make disclosures of infor­
mation that may evidence an improper
governmental activity, refusal to obey an
illegal order, or any condition that may sig­
nificantly threaten the health or safety of
employees or the public if the disclosure is
made for the purpose of remedying the con­
dition. A person who intentionally engages
in acts of reprisal, retaliation, threats, co­
ercion, or similar acts against a protected
employee or applicant for employment is
subject to a fine of up to $ 10,000 and up to a
year in jail.
Other laws. Employers who employ com­
munity health care workers must keep a
record of any violence committed against
these workers. They are to file a copy of
that record with the Division of Labor Sta­
tistics and Research within the Department
of Industrial Relations.
The existing law which provides that
an employer is not to discharge, refuse to
promote, or otherwise discriminate against
an employee for taking time off to perform
emergency duty as a volunteer firefighter
was amended to extend those protections
to reserve peace officers and emergency
rescue personnel.
Public agencies in the State, recipients
of State grants, and contractors that receive


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more than $50,000 in State funds are now
prohibited from using the State funds to
assist, promote, or deter union organizing.
Violators will be subject to civil penalties.

Colorado
Wages. The law stipulating when final pay­
ment shall be made to a terminated em­
ployee was amended to provide that, if the
accounting unit of the employer is located
off the work site, the employer shall de­
liver the final paycheck to the separated
employee no later than 24 hours after the
start of the employer’s next regular work­
day to either the work site, the employer’s
local office, or the employee’s last known
address.
Hours. A law provision was repealed
which had limited work in and about ce­
ment manufacturing plants and plaster
manufacturing plants to no more than 8
hours within any 24-hour period.
Child labor. The child labor law was
amended to increase the administrative pen­
alties for employers who violate restrictions
on the times that minors under age 16 are
permitted to work. If an hours-of-work vio­
lation is found, the director of the division
of labor will give the employer written
notice of the violation. Within 10 days of
receipt of the notice of violation, the em­
ployer may file a request for a hearing on
the issue of whether the violation exists.
After a hearing or 20 days after the issu­
ance of a notice of violation during which
the employer has neither requested a hear­
ing nor ceased the unlawful conduct, the
director may issue a final cease-and-desist
order. At any time thereafter, the director
may order the employer to pay a penalty of
from $200 to $500 for a first offense; of
$500 to $ 1,000 for a second offense within
6 months of the first offense; or of $ 1,000
to $ 10,000 for a third or subsequent offense
within 6 months of the first offense. Or­
ders issued by the director of labor are to
be posted at the work site and are to in­
clude information on permitted hours of
work, notice and appeal provisions, and
possible penalties for violation.

Connecticut
Wages. As the result of previous legisla­
tion, the State minimum wage rate rose to
$6.15 from $5.65 per hour on January 1,

further increase to $6.70 scheduled for
January 1, 2002. During the period from
January 1,2001 to December 31,2002, the
minimum wage for persons employed in the
hotel and restaurant industry, including
hotel restaurants, who regularly receive tips
will be $4.74 per hour, and the minimum
wage for bartenders who regularly receive
tips will be $6.15 per hour.
Child labor. The child labor law was
amended to allow 15-year-old minors to be
employed as baggers, cashiers, or stock
clerks in retail food stores on any Saturday
during the year. Previously, this work was
limited to periods of school vacation dur­
ing which school was not in session for 5
consecutive days or more.

Delaware
Wages. As the result of previous legisla­
tion, the State minimum wage rate in­
creased to $6.15 from $5.65 per hour on
October 1, 2000.
Child labor. Beginning in 2001, the Sec­
retary of Education shall submit an annual
education outcome report to the governor
and general assembly. The report is to show
the dropout rate among seniors in Delaware
high schools and the enrollment and/or
employment status of students who com­
plete the 12th grade.
Equal employment opportunity. An Execu­
tive Order was issued declaring that no
State agency or department shall discrimi­
nate against an employee or job applicant
because of race, color, religion, union af­
filiation, age, gender, marital status, sexual
orientation, handicap or disability in hir­
ing, job appointment, promotions, tenure,
or compensation.

Georgia
Other laws. An employer, whose employee
has suffered unlawful violence or a cred­
ible threat of violence at the workplace, may
seek a temporary restraining order and an
injunction prohibiting further violence or
threats of violence at the workplace or while
the employee is acting within the course
and scope of his or her employment.
On July 1,2001, the Division of Reha­
bilitation Services will be transferred from
the Department of Human Resources to the
Department of Labor.

2000.

New legislation was enacted increasing
the State minimum wage rate to $6.40 from
$6.15 per hour on January 1, 2001, with a

Hawaii
Wages. Any hotel or restaurant, which ap-

Monthly Labor Review January 2001

17

State Labor Laws, 2000

plies a service charge for the sale of food or
beverage services, must either distribute the
service charge directly to its employees as tip
income or else clearly disclose to the custom­
ers that the service charge is being used to
pay for costs or expenses other than wages
and tips of employees.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
Legislative Reference Bureau to compile
data on the number and percentage of em­
ployees of private companies on contract
with the State who may be affected by the
implementation of a living wage law; con­
tact other jurisdictions that have enacted
living wage laws for information relating
to their experience with the implementa­
tion of these laws; and submit proposed
legislation, prior to the start of the 2001
session of the legislature, for a living wage
law for employees of private companies on
contract with the State.

Idaho
Wages. A resolution was adopted autho­
rizing the Legislative Council to appoint
an interim committee to study the issues of
whether to repeal the exemption of farm
workers from the State minimum wage law
and whether farm labor contractors should
be licensed. A report of findings, recom­
mendations, and proposed legislation, if
any, shall be made to the 2001 session of
the legislature.
Inmate labor. The law relating to the es­
cape of prisoners was amended to specify
that escape will be deemed to include aban­
donment of a job site or work assignment
without the permission of an employment
supervisor or officer.

Illinois
Wages. The Illinois Income Tax Act was
amended to add the tax-exempt amount
contributed to a medical savings account
to the information that must be provided to
employees on an income-withholding in­
formation statement.

Indiana
Hours. Contract carriers that transport rail­
road employees are now required to limit
the hours of service by the contract carri­
ers’ drivers. Drivers are to be limited to 12
hours of vehicle operation per day; 15 hours
of on duty service per day; and 70 hours of
on duty service in 7 consecutive days. A
driver who has 12 hours of vehicle opera­
tion per day or 15 hours of on duty service

18 Monthly Labor Review January 2001


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

per day must have at least 8 consecutive
hours off duty before operating a vehicle
again.

the result of the repeal of authorizing leg­
islation. This repealed legislation had also
provided for an Employment Advisory
Council.

Iowa
Maine
Wages. The Wage Payment Collection law
was amended by adding a section specify­
ing that the rights and obligations provided
for in the law continue until they are ful­
filled, even diough the employer-employee
relationship has been severed.
Worker privacy. The law permitting the use
of polygraph examinations for candidates
for employment as peace officers or cor­
rections officers was amended to also
permit these examinations for appli­
cants for positions with a public law en­
forcement agency where the employee
filling the position has direct access to
prisoner funds, any other cash assets, and
confidential information.

Kansas
Child labor. The child labor law exempts
from coverage those children employed
outside of school hours as actors, ac­
tresses, or performers in motion pictures,
theatrical, radio, or television produc­
tions. An exception to this exemption was
adopted providing that no infant under age
1 month may be employed on any motion
picture set or location unless a licensed
physician and surgeon who is board-certi­
fied in pediatrics provides written certifi­
cation that the infant is at least 15 days old
and was carried to full term, was of normal
birth weight, is physically capable of han­
dling the stress of filmmaking, and the
infant’s lungs, eyes, heart and immune sys­
tem are sufficiently developed to withstand
the potential risks. In addition, a new re­
quirement provides that 15 percent of the
gross earnings of all minors with entertain­
ment industry contracts be set aside by the
minor child’s employer and preserved for
the benefit of the minor child, either in a
trust fund or other savings plan approved
by the district court. The Department of
Human Resources was authorized to adopt
rules and regulations setting out standards
for minor children on motion picture sets
as may be necessary to protect their safety
and well being.

Kentucky
Private employment agencies. Private
employment agencies operating in the State
will no longer be regulated or licensed as

Wages. A new law places limits on the
amount of mandatory overtime that em­
ployees can be required to work. Employ­
ers may not require employees to work
more than 80 hours of overtime in any con­
secutive 2-week period. Employers and
employees may agree to limit mandatory
overtime to fewer than the 80 hours. The
limit will not apply to work performed in
response to an emergency declared by the
governor; to an employee who performs
essential services for the public such as util­
ity service or road maintenance; to an em­
ployee whose work is necessary to protect
the public health or safety; to an individual
exempt from the State minimum wage law;
to a salaried employee who works in a bona
fide executive capacity and whose regular
compensation, when converted to an an­
nual rate, exceeds 3,000 times the State’s
minimum hourly wage; to an employee of
a seasonal employer; to a medical intern or
resident engaged in an approved graduate
educational program; or to certain employ­
ees who work for an employer who shuts
down an operation for annual maintenance
or work performed in the construction,
rebuilding, maintenance, or repair of pro­
duction machinery and equipment.
Other laws. The legislature approved rules
adopted by the Department of Labor gov­
erning administrative civil money penalties
for labor law violations.
The Employment Leave for Victims of
Violence law, enacted in 1999, was
amended to clarify that it applies to all pub­
lic and private sector employers, including
the State and its political subdivisions.

Maryland
Wages. The prevailing wage law was
amended to remove an exemption for the
construction of elementary or secondary
schools for which 75 percent or more of
the money used for construction is State
money. This school construction will now
be treated the same as other public work
and be covered by the prevailing wage
law if 50 percent or more of the funding
is State money. Another change requires
that consideration be given to the bidder’s
plans for the utilization of minority con­
tractors in letting contracts for school

buildings, improvements, supplies, or
other equipment.
Child labor. The law regulating the sale of
alcoholic beverages was amended to pro­
vide that a person 18 years or older may be
employed as a lottery ticket terminal op­
erator in an establishment holding a Class
A alcoholic beverages license.
Equal employment opportunity. An Execu­
tive Order was issued establishing a Special
Commission to Study Sexual Orientation
Discrimination in the State. The Commis­
sion will examine the characteristics, cov­
erage, and exclusion of existing laws that
prohibit discrimination in employment,
housing, and public accommodations based
on sexual orientation. It is to gather infor­
mation on complaints filed, lawsuits
brought and potential employer liability;
solicit input from the business community,
nonprofit organizations, religious groups,
advocacy groups, government entities, and
State citizens; and develop recommendations
to eliminate sexual orientation discrimina­
tion, including legislative proposals for in­
troduction during the 2001 session of the
General Assembly, as well as any propos­
als for executive action that the commis­
sion deems appropriate.

Massachusetts
Wages. As the result of prior legislation,
the State minimum wage rate increased to
$6.00 from $5.25 per hour on January 1,
2000, and to $6.75 per hour on January 1,
2001. The $2.63-per-hour cash wage that
was required to be paid to employees who
receive part of their compensation from tips
was frozen at that level.
Child labor. Following a hearing where
it has been shown that an emergency
exists or that a hardship exists in an
industry or individual establishment, the
attorney general was authorized to sus­
pend the application or operation of the
child labor law or any rule or regulation
made under that law which regulates, lim­
its, or prohibits the employment of mi­
nors over the age of 16. This authority is
limited to the time periods: (1) May 26,
2000, to June 21, 2000, and May 25,
2001, to June 21, 2001, on Friday and
Saturday evenings only; (2) June 21,
2000, to September 4, 2000, inclusive
and June 21, 2001, to September 3,2001,
inclusive; and (3) September 5, 2000, to
October 31,2000, and September 4,2001
to October 31, 2001, on Friday and Sat­


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urday evenings only.
Equal employment opportunity. It was
made an unlawful discriminatory practice
for any employer, employment agency, la­
bor organization, or licensing agency to
refuse to hire, represent, grant membership
to, or license a person on the basis of that
person’s genetic information, or to solicit
or require a genetic test or disclosure of
genetic information from any person as a
condition of employment, membership,
or obtaining a license. It is also unlawful
to offer a person an inducement to un­
dergo a genetic test or otherwise disclose
genetic information; to question a person
about their genetic information or genetic
information concerning their family
members; to inquire about previous ge­
netic testing; or to use the results of a
genetic test or other genetic informa­
tion to affect the terms, conditions,
com pensation, or privileges of a
person’s employment, representation,
membership, or the ability to obtain a
license.

Michigan
Equal employment opportunity. It was
made unlawful for an employer to require
an individual to submit to a genetic test or
to provide genetic information as a condi­
tion of employment or promotion. Genetic
information, which is unrelated to the abil­
ity to perform job duties, also may be nei­
ther the basis for an employer’s refusal to
hire or promote an individual, nor the ba­
sis for discharging or otherwise discrimi­
nating against an individual with respect
to compensation or the terms, conditions,
or privileges of employment.
Plant closing. A resolution was adopted
urging approval of trade adjustment assis­
tance for terminated workers of Kellogg’s
Battle Creek South Plant.

Minnesota
Child labor. A section in the State’s bud­
get bill provided for an increase in the fines
that may be recovered in civil actions for
violations of the child labor law. The fine
for employing minors without proof of age
was increased from $25 to $250 for each
employee. Fines were increased from $50
to $500 (each employee) for employment
of minors under the age of 14; employment
of minors under the age of 16 during school
hours while school is in session; or employ­
ment of minors under the age of 16 before

7 a .m ., after 9 p.m ., over 8 hours a day, or
over 40 hours a week. Fines were increased
from $100 to $1,000 (each employee) for
employment of a high school student un­
der the age of 18 in violation of hours re­
strictions on work before schooldays and
for employment of minors in occupations
hazardous or detrimental to their well-be­
ing. The fine for minors under the age of
18 injured in hazardous employment was
increased from $500 to $5,000 for each
employee. An employer who refuses to
make certificates or lists available as re­
quired by law will be assessed a $500 fine.
Other laws. The Department of Economic
Security is, to have as a goal, to process
completed applications for certification for
permanent alien laborers within 60 days of
receipt of the completed application.

Missouri
Child labor. The child labor law was
amended in 1999 to exempt children 12
years of age or older participating in a
youth sporting event as a player, referee,
coach, or other position necessary to the
sporting event. A new amendment elimi­
nates the exemption for the specific act
of playing.
Other laws. A permanent memorial for
workers who were killed on the job in Mis­
souri or who suffered an on-the-job injury
that resulted in a permanent disability is to
be established and located on the grounds
of the State capitol.

Nebraska
Other laws. As part of a law relating to
immigrant workers, a position of
Meatpacking Industry Worker Rights Co­
ordinator was established within the State
Department of Labor. The coordinator shall
inspect and review the practices and pro­
cedures of meatpacking operations in the
State as they relate to the provisions of the
Governor’s Meatpacking Industry Workers
Bill of Rights. These rights are: (1) the right
to organize; (2) the right to a safe work­
place; (3) the right to adequate facilities and
the opportunity to use them; (4) the right
to complete information; (5) the right to
understand the information provided; (6)
the right to existing State and Federal ben­
efits and rights; (7) the right to be free from
discrimination; (8) the right to continuing
training including supervisor’s training; (9)
the right to compensation for work per­
formed; and (10) the right to seek State

Monthly Labor Review January 2001

19

State Labor Laws, 2000

help. The coordinator will annually submit
a report to the legislature and the Gover­
nor regarding any recommended actions
deemed necessary or appropriate to provide
for the fair treatment of workers in the
meatpacking industry.

Nevada
Child labor. The labor commissioner
banned youth peddling, or the employment
of children under age 16 in door-to-door
sales, under the authority provided by the
child labor law to declare employment to
be dangerous to the lives or limbs, or inju­
rious to the health or morals of children
under age 16. It is now unlawful to employ
any person under 16 years of age in the
practice of door-to-door sales, including
but not limited to candy sales, or otherwise
soliciting for commercial purposes prod­
ucts, goods, or services, including the sell­
ing of subscription contracts for books,
magazines or other periodical publications
other than newspapers, unless permitted by
written authorization of the labor commis­
sioner. Door-to-door sales will not include
the activities of individuals who, as volun­
teers without compensation, sell products,
goods, or services on behalf of not-forprofit organizations such as the Girl
Scouts, schools, and churches. It also will
not include the delivery of newspapers
to the customer’s residence or place of
business, nor 14- and 15-year-olds em­
ployed in compliance with the Federal
Fair Labor Standards Act at fixed retail
locations.

New Hampshire
Wages. A procedure was established for
hearings and appeals of decisions by the
labor department concerning equal pay
claims. Employers will be served with a
copy of claims by the labor commissioner
and will have 10 days from receipt to file
any objections. If requested, a hearing will
be held, at which time any party may ap­
pear and present evidence and cross-exam­
ine opposing witnesses. A written decision
will be made within 30 days after the hear­
ing. If wages are found to be due, an order
for payment will be issued. Any party ag­
grieved by the decision may appeal to the
superior court within 20 days. The court
may affirm, vacate, or modify the decision
of the commissioner or may remand the
matter to the commissioner for further find­
ings. In the absence of a reasonable appeal,
the decision and order will be final, will be
entered upon the docket of the superior
court at the request of the prevailing party,

20 Monthly Labor Review January 2001


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may be enforced as judgement of the court,
and will be a lien upon the property of the
employer for three years from the date of
the decision.
An employee, who incurs work-related
expenses at the request of the employer
which are not paid for by wages, cash ad­
vance, or other means from the employer,
shall be reimbursed for these expenses
within 30 days of the presentation of proof
of payment. This does not apply to those
expenses normally borne by the employee
as a precondition of employment.
Family issues. A committee was established
to study the feasibility of implementing a
paid family and medical leave insurance
program and potential funding sources to
support it. Findings and any recommenda­
tions for proposed legislation were to have
been reported to the legislature and gover­
nor by December 1, 2000.
A committee was established to study
the workplace policies and practices in
small businesses of 50 or fewer employees
that enable employees to balance work re­
sponsibilities with family commitments.
These may include workplace policies such
as flexible schedules, jobsharing, cafeteria
benefit plans, use of sick leave to care for
family members with extended illnesses,
and leave banks. The committee also may
examine possible changes to statutes or rules
that would allow for greater flexibility on the
part of small businesses to accommodate
the changing needs of employees and their
families. A report of findings and any rec­
ommendations for proposed legislation
was to have been sent to the legislature by
November 1, 2000.

New Jersey
Wages. A new law was adopted in response
to a 1999 U.S. Court of Appeals decision
(Keeley v. Loomis Fargo & Co.) that held
that the New Jersey Commissioner of La­
bor exceeded his statutory authority when
he promulgated a regulation that excluded
certain trucking industry employees from
the State’s statutory overtime pay require­
ment. The new law codifies the substance of
the regulation, explicitly requiring drivers,
helpers, loaders, and mechanics employed
by motor carriers, who are subject to re­
quirements for maximum hours prescribed
by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation
under the Federal Motor Carrier Act, to be
paid an overtime wage rate not less than
one and one-half times the State’s minimum
wage rate and permitting these employees
to be excluded from the State overtime re­
quirement otherwise applicable.
The State Commissioner of Labor was
authorized to enter into reciprocal agree­
ments with the labor department or other
corresponding agency of any State for the
collection of claims and judgments for wages,
administrative fees, or penalties based on
claims arising in each others’ States.
Child labor. Minors under the age of 18
who have successfully reached the ninth
or higher grade level and who have the
approval of a parent or guardian to partici­
pate or work in any educational program
in science will be exempt from the prohib­
ited employment sections of the child labor
law. A school student may not participate
or work in the program more than 20 hours
a week during the school year.

Private employment agencies. Provisions
were repealed which had prohibited em­
ployees from obtaining money or property
from a person in payment for procuring em­
ployment for that person; had prohibited
offering money or property to an employee
in payment for securing employment; and
which had made violation of these provi­
sions a misdemeanor. An exception had
provided that these provisions would not
affect the right to hire laborers, or accept
apprentices in the ordinary course of busi­
ness, or in any way abridge the right to
obtain and exercise licenses to conduct
employment offices.

Equal employment opportunity. Executive
Order Number 112 established the Governor’s
Study Commission on Discrimination in
State Employment and Contracting. The
study commission will investigate, research
and report on the nature and scope of any
past or present discrimination in State em­
ployment and contracting. Where evidence
of such discrimination is found, the study
commission is to identify and evaluate rem­
edies, consistent with legal guidelines.
Findings and recommendations are to be
reported to the governor by April 16,2001.

Other laws. The commissioner of labor, in
consultation with the commissioner of
health and human services, shall adopt rules
to protect health care workers from occu­
pational exposure to blood or other poten­
tially infectious materials.

Wages. As the result of a law enacted in
late December 1999, the State minimum
wage rate rose to $5.15 from $4.25 per hour
on March 31,2000. In a departure from prior
practice, this increase applied to both nonagricultural and agricultural workers on the

New York

same date. The law also provides for adopt­
ing any higher Federal rate that may be es­
tablished in the future.
Legislation was enacted creating a new
employee classification for certain tipped
employees in the restaurant and hotel in­
dustries. The classification “food service
worker” includes any employee primarily
engaged in the serving of food or bever­
ages to guests, patrons, or customers in the
hotel or restaurant industries, including, but
not limited to, wait staff, bartenders, cap­
tains, and bussing personnel who regularly
receive tips. These employees may be paid
a cash wage of $3.30 per hour provided that
their tips added to the cash wage equal or
exceed the State minimum wage. If the
cash wage payable under the Federal Fair
Labor Standards Act is increased, the
cash wage payable under State law will
automatically be increased proportionately.
Within 6 months of enactment of any
change in the State minimum wage, the la­
bor commissioner must appoint a wage
board to recommend any changes to wage
orders governing wages payable to food
service workers.
The rate at which State agencies or pub­
lic benefit corporations, entering into public
works contracts, are required to contribute
to the Public Work Enforcement Fund, for
labor law enforcement by the labor depart­
ment, was increased from 0.0334 to 0.05
of the cost of the contract.
The duration of a lien for labor done or
materials provided for a public improve­
ment project was extended from 6 months
to 1 year from the time of the filing of the
notice of the lien.
Other laws. The section of the racing, pari­
mutuel waging, and breeding law relating
to licenses for participants and employees
at harness race meetings was amended to
provide that licenses will not be required
for seasonal employees hired solely to work
for no longer than 6 weeks during the sum­
mer meet at the Syracuse mile.

Ohio
Wages. By law, threshold amounts for
contract coverage under the State prevail­
ing wage law are adjusted every 2 years
according to the change in the Bureau of
the Census Implicit Price Deflator for
Construction, provided that no increase
or decrease exceeds 6 percent for the 2year period. As a result, effective Janu­
ary 1,2000, the threshold amount for new
construction rose from $55,574 to
$58,958, and the threshold amount for
reconstruction, remodeling, or renovation


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increased from $16,672 to $17,687.
Equal employment opportunity. A resolu­
tion was adopted recognizing the State’s
State Use Program as a necessary, viable,
and valuable means for carrying out the
State’s policy of promoting gainful em­
ployment for citizens of Ohio with severe
disabilities.
Other laws. Employers are prohibited from
terminating employees who are volunteer
firefighters of volunteer providers of emer­
gency medical services, if they miss or are
late to work, because of responding to a
medical emergency.

Oklahoma
Wages. Payroll deductions for a college sav­
ings account administered under the Okla­
homa College Savings Plan Act will now be
permitted under the law regulating voluntary
payroll deductions by State employees.
Drug and alcohol testing. The definition
of “testing facility,” for purposes of the
Standards for Workplace Drug and Alco­
hol Testing Act, was amended to specify
that the administration of onsite drug
screening tests to applicants or employees
to screen out negative test results are not
considered to be laboratory services under
the law if the onsite tests used are cleared
by the Federal Food and Drug Administra­
tion for commercial marketing, and all posi­
tive results of such tests are confirmed by
a testing facility in accordance with the
Standards for Workplace Drug and Alco­
hol Testing Act.

Oregon
Child labor. Amended child labor rules
allow the Wage and Hour Commission to
grant exceptions to the work-hour restric­
tions for minors under age 16 who are
employed by their parents, and authorizes
these minors to work as late as 9 p .m . if the
commission determines that the employ­
ment will not adversely affect the health,
safety, or education of the children.

Pennsylvania
Child labor. In late 1999, the section of
the child labor law restricting the employ­
ment of minors in establishments where
alcoholic beverages are brewed, bottled,
sold, or served was amended to specifically
permit minors 14 and 15 years of age to be
employed at ski resorts, golf courses, and
amusement parks, as long as they are not

permitted to serve or handle alcoholic bev­
erages, and as long as they do not work in
any room in which alcohol is being served
or stored. Fines for any violation of the
child labor law were increased. The fine
for a first violation was increased from a
range of $100 to $300 to a range of $200
to $400. The fine for a subsequent viola­
tion was increased from a range of $250 to
$ 1,000 to a range of $750 to $ 1,500 and/or
imprisonment of up to 10 days at the dis­
cretion of the court.
Other laws. The law governing military
affairs was amended to provide that an
employee who has been granted a military
leave of absence may receive pay from his
or her civilian employer while on the leave.
Another amendment eliminated the posi­
tion of Veterans’ Ombudsman.

Puerto Rico
Wages. The process for collection of wage
claims was clarified by providing that when
any employee files a claim against his or
her employer for wages, overtime hours,
vacation, or medical leave, penalty for
working during rest or meal periods, and
other benefits, the prescriptive period for
all wage claims is 3 years.
A 1999 enactment authorized employ­
ers, with employee consent, to make pay­
roll deductions for negotiated payments
of income tax owed to the Department of
Finance.
Another 1999 law provides that all
employers of health care employees who
require the employees to wear uniforms are
to pay for the uniforms. Coverage includes
nurses, lab technicians, and therapists.
Family issues. The Working Mothers Act
which provides for paid time off from work
before and after the birth of a child was
amended to also allow paid time off upon
the adoption of a child under 5 years old
who is not enrolled in school.
Equal employment opportunity. A Law that
Guarantees Equal Work Opportunities for
both Genders was passed in 1999. This law
reaffirms the public policy of the Govern­
ment of Puerto Rico of eliminating work­
place discrimination based on gender. It
will be administered by the Commission for
Women’s Affairs in the Office of the Gov­
ernor. All public agencies, with the assis­
tance of the commission, are to develop and
implement affirmative action plans in or­
der to guarantee that no one is discrimi­
nated against, who is working or who
seeks employment, because of gender.

Monthly Labor Review January 2001

21

State Labor Laws, 2000

The commission will develop and offer
training to agencies to help them enforce
the law, and will offer, to other government
agencies, assessment of processes dealing
with recruitment, selection, nomination, ex­
ams, transferring, promotions, seniority,
and other terms and conditions of employ­
ment. The commission has the authority to
assess administrative fines if agencies do
not comply.

tract employees, and independent con­
tractors.
Other laws. The governor is to issue an­
nually a proclamation recognizing March
31st as “César Chávez Day,” in remem­
brance of the accomplishments of César
Chávez on behalf of our nation’s farm
workers.

South Carolina
Drug and alcohol testing. The Law to
Regulate Tests for the Detection and Pre­
vention of Controlled Substances in the
Private Sector permits employee drug
testing in the event of a workplace acci­
dent. The definition of “accident” for
purposes of this law was amended to now
cover any unexpected event or action re­
sulting from an action of the employee
that jeopardizes health, safety, or prop­
erty. Previously, “accident” was more
narrowly defined, referring to an incident
that resulted in serious damage or physi­
cal harm.

Rhode Island
Wages. Legislation was adopted raising
the State minimum wage rate to $6.15
from $5.65 per hour on September 1,
2000. The minimum cash wage that must
be paid to employees receiving gratuities
will remain at $2.89 per hour.
Hours. The law regulating work performed
on Sundays and holidays was amended to
exempt those manufacturers who operate
for 7 continuous days per week from the
requirement that they not penalize em­
ployees for refusing to work on a Sun­
day or holiday.
Equal employment opportunity. A resolu­
tion was adopted urging the President and
the Secretary of State to place the United
Nations Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women in the highest category of prior­
ity in order to accelerate the treaty’s pas­
sage through the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee.
Employee leasing. The responsibility for
bonding of employee leasing companies was
transferred from the Department of Labor and
Training to the Division of Taxation within
the Department of Administration.
Whistleblowers. The definition section of
the Whistleblowers’ Protective Act was
amended to specify that coverage of the
law includes at-will employees, con­
22 Monthly Labor Review January 2001

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Family issues. As part of a new compre­
hensive Parental Involvement in Their
Children’s Education Act, an Education
Oversight Committee, in cooperation with
the Department of Commerce, the Depart­
ment of Revenue, and the South Carolina
Chamber of Commerce, shall develop recom­
mendations for employer tax credits as in­
centives to provide parent-employee release
time for parent-teacher conferences or atten­
dance at their children’s academic-related
events without loss of pay, and to develop
workplace policies which enable parents to
improve their literacy, assist their children
with academics, and become more involved
in their child’s education as a result of em­
ployers working with local school officials.
Recommendations are to be reported to the
legislature by January 1, 2001.
Child labor. The law relating to election
poll managers was amended to allow any
person at least 16 years of age, who has
completed the necessary training and who
is not otherwise disqualified by law, to be
appointed as a poll manager’s assistant
by the appropriate county election com­
mission. No polling place may employ
more than one 16- or 17-year-old assis­
tant poll manager.

South Dakota
Wages. A resolution was adopted urging
all employers in the State to abide by the
equal pay for equal work law. This law pro­
hibits employers from paying wages to any
employee in any occupation at a rate less
than the rate at which the employer pays
any employee of the opposite sex for
comparable work.

Tennessee
Wages. A resolution was adopted urging
the governor to recognize May 9, 2000, as
“Equal Pay Day” in the State. May 9 sym­
bolizes the day in which the wages paid to
American women to that date in the year
2000, when added to women’s earnings for
all of 1999, equal the 1999 earnings of

American men.
Family issues. A resolution was adopted
urging all employers doing business in the
State to excuse employees from work to
attend parent-teacher conferences when
given 24 hours notice.
Equal employment opportunity. The sec­
tion of law prohibiting the continued em­
ployment of public school teachers past age
70 was repealed.
Drug and alcohol testing. Each employer
with five or more employees who contracts
with, or is awarded a contract by, the State
or any local government to provide construc­
tion services or who provides construction
services to the State or local government is
to submit an affidavit stating that the em­
ployer has a drug-free workplace program
in effect at the time of submission of a bid.
The program must comply with State law to
the extent required of governmental entities.
No local government or State governmental
entity shall enter into any contract or award
a contract for construction services with
an employer who is not in compliance.
Employers in violation may be barred
from future contracts for varying periods
of time, including not less than one year
in the event of a third violation.
Worker privacy. It was made unlawful for
any employer, or an agent, contractor, or
employee of an employer, to market or sell
medical information that directly identifies
an employee, unless the employee has au­
thorized the release. Violation will be pun­
ished as a Class C misdemeanor.
Whistleblowers. Any employee, terminated
in violation of the law protecting employ­
ees from discharge for refusing to partici­
pate in, or for refusing to remain silent
about, illegal activities, who prevails in a
cause of action against an employer for re­
taliatory discharge for such actions will be
entitled to recover reasonable attorney fees
and costs.
State employees are not to be dis­
charged, demoted, suspended, reassigned,
transferred, disciplined, threatened, or oth­
erwise discriminated against regarding thenevaluation, promotion, compensation,
terms, conditions, location, or privileges of
employment because they report violations
of State or Federal laws, rules or regula­
tions; acts which constitute fraud against
the State, the Federal government, the pub­
lic, or any fellow employee; the willful
misappropriation of State or Federal re­
sources; acts which pose an unreasonable

and specific danger to health or safety; or
acts constituting gross mismanagement. A
State employee injured by a violation of
the law may maintain an action in circuit
or chancery court within 1 year of the
alleged violation for actual damages, in­
junctive relief, reinstatement, back pay,
or other remedies. Where the court finds
that the employee was injured by a will­
ful and malicious violation, by a crimi­
nal violation, or by a violation based upon
an effort to obtain personal gain, the court
may award damages of up to 3 times the
amount of actual damages plus costs and
attorney’s fees.

by November 1,2000, the Department of
Labor and Industry was to present writ­
ten recommendations to the legislature
for updating the child labor laws.

that the protection applies to any court. The
penalty against an employer who violates
the law was increased from a Class 4 mis­
demeanor to a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Virginia

Washington

Child labor. The law governing those child
day centers operated by religious institu­
tions, and thereby exempt from licensure,
was amended to change staff ratios to per­
mit 16- and 17-year-olds to count as staff
as long as they are under the supervision
of an adult. Adult staff members are to su­
pervise no more than two staff members
under 18 years of age at any given time.

Wages. As the result of Initiative 688, ap­
proved by voters in the November 1998
general election, the State minimum wage
rate for employees over age 18 increased
to $6.50 from $5.70 per hour on January 1,
2000, and to $6.72 on January 1, 2001.
Beginning with the rate for January 1,2001,
and annually hereafter, the rate will be ad­
justed for inflation by a calculation using
the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage
Earners and Clerical Workers, or a succes­
sor index, for the previous year.

Utah
Equal employment opportunity. The name
of the Antidiscrimination Advisory Coun­
cil, under the labor commission, was re­
named the Antidiscrimination and Labor
Advisory Council.

Vermont
Wages. As part of an act, which relates to
assuring a livable income for all working
residents of the State, the Commissioner
of Labor and Industry was authorized
to collect unpaid wages that are owed to
employees by an employer. Previously, col­
lection was by a State’s Attorney. If it is
found that the unpaid wages were willfully
withheld by the employer, the commis­
sioner is now authorized to collect an ad­
ditional amount of up to twice the amount
of unpaid wages, one-half of which will be
given to the employee and one-half of
which will be retained by the commissioner
to offset estimated administrative and col­
lection costs. The commissioner will en­
force an order for collection in superior
court. Other sections of the law require the
joint fiscal office to report on baseline data
on the cost of living in Vermont and the
current wage levels within various sectors
of the economy, and require the Commis­
sioner of Employment and Training to pro­
vide the General Assembly with detailed
wage and employee benefit information
maintained by the department and by the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Child labor. The section of the child la­
bor law pertaining to hours and
nightwork restrictions on the employment
of children under age 16 was amended to
allow baseball bat girls or bat boys of this
age to be employed until midnight or af­
ter midnight if a parent or guardian and
the Commissioner of Labor and Industry
have consented in writing. In addition,


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Drug and alcohol testing. The Public Pro­
curement Act was amended to require that
all public bodies include, in every contract
they let over $10,000, a statement that the
contractor agrees to provide a drug-free
workplace for the employees. The contrac­
tor is also to post in conspicuous places a
statement notifying employees of the pro­
hibition of any drug violations and speci­
fying the actions that will be taken for such
violations; to specify in all solicitations or
advertisements for employees that the con­
tractor maintains a drug-free workplace;
and to include these requirements in every
subcontract or purchase order of over
$ 10,000, so that the provisions will be bind­
ing on each subcontractor or vendor.
Worker privacy. An employer who fur­
nishes information about a person’s pro­
fessional conduct, reasons for separation or
job performance, upon request by the
person’s prospective or current employer,
is presumed to be acting in good faith and
is immune from civil liability for disclos­
ing the information unless it is shown that
the employer knowingly provided false in­
formation, provided information with reck­
less disregard for whether it is false or not,
or provided information with the intent to
deliberately mislead.
Inmate labor. The penalty for a prisoner
leaving his or her work release program,
without authorization, or failing to return
to such a program was increased from a
Class 2 to a Class 1 misdemeanor. A pris­
oner found guilty of such a violation will
be ineligible for further participation in a
work-release program during his or her
current term of confinement.
Jury duty. The law protecting employees
from discharge or other adverse personnel
actions because of required jury service or
court appearance was amended to clarify

West Virginia
Other laws. A Veterans Employment Train­
ing Priority article was enacted requiring
all Federal and State funded employment
and training programs administered
through the State to adopt a written policy
providing priority of service to veterans
of the United States military over other
individuals seeking employment and
training services.

Wisconsin
Wages. Effective January 1, 2000, the
threshold amount for coverage under the
State prevailing wage laws for State and
municipal contracts was changed admin­
istratively from $ 164,000 to $ 168,000 for
contracts in which more than one trade
is involved and from $33,000 to $34,000
for contracts in which a single trade is
involved.
Prevailing wage law amendments made
language consistent in the three State pre­
vailing wage laws (municipal public works
projects, State building, and other public
works projects except bridges and high­
ways, and State bridge and highway
projects). Other changes codified the ex­
isting policies for determining the jurisdic­
tion of truck drivers hauling goods to and
from prevailing wage projects, and changed
the procedures concerning information sub­
mitted by individuals appealing prevailing
wage rates set by the Department of
Workforce Development. Previously, per­
sons were asked to submit statistical infor­
mation based on calendar years. Now, in­
formation is to be submitted based on the
survey year in question (June 1 through
May 31) to match the annual surveying pro­
cess adopted by the department in 1996.
Monthly Labor Review January 2001

23

State Labor Laws, 2000

Child labor. Labor permits issued to mi­
nors aged 14 to 18 will no longer show the
place of birth of the minor. In promulgat­
ing rules governing the proof of age of
minors who apply for labor permits, the De­
partment of Workplace Development must
include a requirement that it and its per­
mit officers will accept as evidence of a
minor’s age a duly-attested birth certifi­
cate, a verified baptismal certificate, or
either a valid operator’s license that con­
tains a photograph of the licensee holder
or an identification card issued by the De­
partment of Transportation. These evi­
dences of age are also to be accepted by
the Department of Workplace Development
in issuing certificates of age to those age
18 and older.
The child labor law was amended to
provide that, to the extent permitted under
the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act, mi­
nors 12 and 13 years of age may be em­
ployed, under direct adult supervision, as
officials for athletic events sponsored by
private, nonprofit organizations in which
the minor would be eligible to participate
or in which the participants are the same
age or younger than the minor.

24 Monthly Labor Review January 2001

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Whistleblowers. Under a new health care
worker protection act, health care facilities,
health care providers, and their employees
may not take disciplinary action against, or
threaten to take disciplinary action against,
any person because he or she reported in
good faith any information concerning
violation of any State of Federal law or regu­
lation, or reported in good faith any situa­
tion in which the quality of any health care
service provided by the health care facility
or health care provider violates any estab­
lished standard and poses a potential risk
to public health or safety. The law estab­
lishes complaint procedures and civil pen­
alties in the event of violation.

tional origin, age, or disability. Sexual
harassment is defined and prohibited.
Violation of the policy is grounds for dis­
cipline, up to and including dismissal. The
policy prohibits retaliation against any
employee who opposes a practice prohib­
ited by the policy or who has filed a charge,
testified, or assisted, or participated in any
manner in an investigation under the
policy. Procedures for complaints, inves­
tigations, and corrective action are estab­
lished. This Order repeals and replaces
Executive Order 1993-4.
□

Wyoming

Notes

Equal employment opportunity. An Execu­
tive Order was issued adopting an antidis­
crimination policy applicable to all employ­
ees and elected officials of the executive
branch of the State government. Barred are
any forms of discrimination or harassment
that violate applicable State law including
discrimination or harassment related to an
individual’s race, religion, color, sex, na­

1The Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Da­
kota, Oregon, and Texas legislatures did not
meet in regular session in 2000. The District of
Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New
Mexico, and North Carolina did not enact sig­
nificant legislation in the fields covered by this
article. Information about Guam and the Virgin
Islands was not received in time to be included
in the article, which is based on information
received by November 10, 2000.

Workers’ Compensation, 2000

Changes in workers’ compensation
laws during 2000
About half o f all States changed
their workers' compensation laws to some extent,
with most of them increasing benefits
for both disability and death
Glenn Whittington
number of States increased their maximum work­
ers’ compensation rates for disability and /or death
in 2000.
For example, Alaska’s maximum weekly compensation ben­
efit for disability or death changed to 120 percent of the State’s
average weekly wage from $700, and the maximum permanent
impairment compensation benefits increased to $177,000 from
$135,000 to be multiplied by the employee’s percentage of per­
manent impairment of the whole person. In Georgia, the weekly
maximum benefit for temporary total disability increased to
$375 and the minimum to $37.50 (up from $350 and $35 respec­
tively). Also in Georgia, the weekly maximum benefit for tem­
porary partial disability increased to $250 from $233.33, and
the maximum death benefit to $125,000 from $100,000. In Indi­
ana, the maximum compensation, exclusive of medical ben­
efits, that may be paid for an injury on and after July 1,2000,
and before July 1,2001, may not exceed $254,000. On October
1,2000, Minnesota’s maximum weekly compensation increased
to $750 per week from $615, and the minimum increased to $ 130
per week from $104. In Rhode Island the maximum rate for

Alaska
An employer must have paid its assessed
annual service fees before receiving a selfinsurance certificate.

Glenn Whittington is Chief, Branch of Planning
Policy and Standards, O ffice o f Workers’
Compensation Programs, Employment Standards
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

weekly compensation for total disability changed to 110 per­
cent (previously 100 percent) of the State’s average weekly wage.
Examples of coverage changes included extending pre­
sumptions of coverage for certain diseases suffered by law
enforcement officers or firefighters, or both, in California,
Maryland, and Virginia; and redefining the term “employee” in
Arizona, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
In Nebraska, the Second Injury Fund was renamed the
Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund, and all monies in the Sec­
ond Injury Fund were transferred to the Workers’ Compensa­
tion Trust Fund. The Second Injury Fund had previously
been eliminated for injuries occurring on or after December 1,
1997. An Uninsured Employers’ Fund was established in Ten­
nessee to ensure the timely provision of workers’ compensa­
tion benefits to workers injured during periods when an em­
ployer has no insurance.
Maximum burial allowances increased to $5,000 in Alaska,
to $7,000 in Colorado, and to $15,000 in Minnesota.
The following is a State-by-State summary of significant
changes to workers’ compensation laws.

Upon notification of eligibility, an em­
ployee now has 15 days (formally, 10 days)
to give written notice, to the employer that
he or she has selected a rehabilitation special­
ist. Failure to give such notice constitutes
noncooperation. A reemployment plan must
require continuous participation by the em­
ployee and must maximize the use of the
employee’s transferable skills. Compensa­
tion paid before completion or termination
of a reemployment plan, but after exhaustion

of temporary total and permanent impair­
ment benefits, increased to 70 percent from
60 percent of the employee’s weekly wages.
The maximum amount allowable is now 105
percent of the average weekly wage, up from
$525. The maximum allowed under a reem­
ployment plan increased to $13,300 from
$10,000. The maximum weekly compensa­
tion rate for disability or death changed to
120 percent of the State’s average weekly
wage (previously, it was $700). If an

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

25

Workers' Compensation, 2000

employee’s spendable weekly wages are less
than 22 percent of the maximum compensa­
tion rate (previously $154), the employee
will receive his/her spendable weekly wage.
Permanent impairment compensation ben­
efits increased to $ 177,000 from $ 135,000 to
be multiplied by the employee’s percentage
of permanent impairment of the whole per­
son. The maximum burial allowance is now
$5,000, up from $2,500. The percentage of
death benefits to a widow or widower and
children also increased. A death benefit pay­
ment of $5,000 is now made to a surviving
widow or widower, or equally divided among
surviving children of the deceased if there is
no widow or widower. The period a widow
or widower may receive death benefits is now
12 years (previously 10 years) following
death of the deceased employee.

Arizona
Persons placed in level three or four of the
Arizona works program or the temporary
assistance for needy families program now
are considered employees for workers’ com­
pensation purposes.

California
A physician seeking appointment as a quali­
fied medical evaluator on or after January 1,
2001, must complete, prior to the appoint­
ment, a course on disability evaluation re­
port writing approved by the Industrial
Medical Board.
For certain State and local firefighting and
law enforcement personnel, the term “injury”
now includes hepatitis that develops or mani­
fests itself while the person is in the service
of that office, division, department, or unit.
The presumption is extended to a covered
person following termination of service for a
period of 3 months for each full year of ser­
vice, but not to exceed 60 months in any cir­
cumstance, commencing with the last date
actually worked in the specified capacity.
The provision allowing certain peace of­
ficers, firefighters, and other specified State
and local public employees to a leave of ab­
sence without loss of salary while disabled,
in lieu of temporary disability payments, was
extended to specified airport law enforcement
officers, harbor and port police officers, war­
dens, and special officers.

26

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Colorado
The reference to a specific age of retirement
for purposes of an offset against permanent
total disability benefits was deleted.
Persons who provide host home services
to persons with developmental disabilities,
pursuant to a contract with a communitycentered board, or a contract with a service
agency, are not considered employees of the
community-centered board or the service
agency.
The maximum burial allowance increased
to $7,000 from $4,000 for deaths occurring
on or after February 1, 2000.
In a death claim where the deceased is a
minor with no persons either wholly or par­
tially dependent upon the deceased, the em­
ployer or insurance carrier pays to the par­
ents of the deceased $15,000, not to exceed
100 percent of the death benefit. In the event
that there are no surviving parents, the money
is paid to the Division of Workers’ Compen­
sation for credit to the Subsequent Injury
Fund. In the event there are persons only
partially dependent upon the deceased, ben­
efits will first be paid to such partially de­
pendent persons and the balance will be paid
to the surviving parents, or in the event there
are no surviving parents, the Division for
credit to the Subsequent Injury Fund.

Florida
The Division of Workers’ Compensation
may specify by rule the amount of the quali­
fying security deposit required prior to au­
thorizing an employer to self-insure and the
amount of net worth required for an em­
ployer to qualify for authorization to selfinsure.
A Task Force on Workers’ Compensa­
tion Administration was established to ex­
amine the way in which the workers’ com­
pensation system is funded and adminis­
tered.

Georgia
The parties to a claim may, by agreement
and with the approval of the State Board of
Workers’ Compensation, enter into a com­
promise lump-sum settlement resolving all
issues which prorates the lump-sum settle­

January 2001

ment over the life expectancy of the injured
worker. Benefits may be paid by electronic
funds transfer if agreed to by the parties.
The weekly maximum for temporary total
disability benefits increased to $375 and the
minimum, to $37.50 (previously, $350 and
$35 respectively). The weekly maximum
for temporary partial disability benefits in­
creased to $250, from $233.33. The total
for maximum death benefits is now
$125,000, previously $100,000.
For purposes of workers’ compensation
coverage, members of the State Defense
Force are considered employees of the State.
An injury arising in the course of employ­
ment includes any injury incurred by a mem­
ber of the Georgia National Guard or State
Defense Force while on active duty in the
State or when traveling to and from active
duty.

Indiana
If the treatment or travel to or from the place
of treatment causes a loss of work time to
the employee, the employer shall reimburse
the employee for the loss of wages, using
the basis of the employee’s average daily
wage. Benefits for permanent impairment
for injuries occurring on and after July 1,
2000, and July 1, 2001, increased in incre­
ments depending on the degree of impair­
ment. The maximum compensation, exclu­
sive of medical benefits, that may be paid
for an injury may not exceed $254,000 on
and after July 1, 2000, and before July 1,
2001; $274,000 on and after July 1, 2001,
and before July 1, 2002; and $294,000 on
and after July 1, 2002.

Iowa
Every corporation, individual, personal rep­
resentative, partnership, or association that
has the necessary minimum contact with the
State shall be subject to the jurisdiction of
the workers’ compensation commissioner.
If an employee was absent from employ­
ment for personal reasons during part of the
13 calendar weeks preceding an injury, that
employee’s weekly earnings is the amount
that would have been earned had he or she
worked when work was available to other
employees of a similar occupation.

Kansas

Maryland

A list of drugs and their percentage of
concentration are now provided, which,
if found in an employee, conclusively
presumes the employee is impaired due
to drugs, thus relieving the employer of
liability for injury, disability, or death.
The definition of a health care provider
now includes a person licensed to prac­
tice audiology. In case of death, there is
an initial payment of $40,000 made to
the surviving legal spouse or a wholly de­
pendent child or children, or both. The
provision which stipulated that death
benefits for a surviving spouse be dis­
continued upon remarriage was repealed,
and the total maximum death benefits in­
creased to $250,000 from $200,000,
which include the initial payment of
$40,000.

The presumption of compensability for
heart disease or hypertension was extended
to Prince George’s County Correction Of­
ficers.

which authorizes and provides group selfinsurance of workers’ compensation liabil­
ity, or with approval of the Nebraska Work­
ers’ Compensation Court, the employer may
self-insure his or her workers’ compensa­
tion liability.

Minnesota

New Hampshire
A managed care program under workers’
compensation is required to maintain a busi­
ness office in the State and to have a suffi­
cient number of resident injury management
facilitators. Any employee receiving work­
ers’ compensation benefits has a duty to
report any changes in his or her employ­
ment status or earnings, or both, to the car­
rier or self-insured.

The threshold for considering a case for
commuted lump-sum payment increased
to $100 from $10 per week. The maxi­
mum for attorney’s fees changed from 20
percent of an award not to exceed $2,000
to the following sliding scale: 20 percent
of the first $25,000; 15 percent of the
next $10,000; and 5 percent of the
award’s remainder, not to exceed a maxi­
mum of $12,000. The lump-sum pay­
ment made to a deceased’s estate, from
which the cost of burial and cost of trans­
portation of the body to the employee’s
place of residence is to be made, increased
to $50,000 from $25,000. The amount of
this lump sum now will be adjusted an­
nually based on the State’s average
weekly wage.

Beginning October 1, 2000, the maximum
weekly compensation payable increased to
$750 from $615 per week, and the minimum
increased to $130 from $104 per week or
the employees’ actual weekly wage, which­
ever is less. After an employee has been
paid 52 weeks of temporary total compen­
sation, the employer or insurer must notify
the employee in writing, with a copy to the
Workers’ Compensation Division, of the
104-week limitation on payment of tempo­
rary total compensation. The benefit
amounts specified in the impairment ratings
for permanent partial disability increased.
For injuries occurring after October 1,2000,
an employee who receives any other ser­
vice-based Government retirement pension
is presumed retired from the labor market.
The term “service-based government retire­
ment pension” does not include disabilitybased government pensions. The time limit
for filing a request for retraining increased to
156 weeks from 104 weeks. The minimum
amount of dependency compensation that
must be paid to entitled persons is $60,000.
The maximum burial allowance increased to
$15,000 from $7,500. In every case of an
employee death arising out of and in the
course of employment where there are no
persons entitled to monetary benefits of
dependency compensation, the employer
shall pay $60,000 to the estate of the de­
ceased employee.

Maine

Nebraska

Employers of agricultural or aquacultural
laborers are not liable for securing com­
pensation payment if the employer has
six or fewer laborers or the employer has
more than six such laborers, but the total
number of hours they worked in a week
does not exceed 240, and has not exceeded
240 hours at any time during the 52 weeks
immediately preceding the injury.

The Second Injury Fund was renamed the
Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund, and all
monies in the Second Injury Fund were
transferred to the Workers’ Compensation
Trust Fund. The age of a child who qualifies
as a dependent was increased from age 18 to
19. An employer, for purposes of obtaining
workers’ compensation coverage, now may
be a member of a risk management pool

Kentucky

New Jersey
The coverage previously provided to em­
ployees of horse trainers was eliminated.

New York
Criteria were established for the perfor­
mance of independent medical examinations.

Oklahoma
All requests made to the Workers’ Com­
pensation Court for information on claims
involving a worker, including written inquir­
ies about prior claims and requests to ac­
cess a worker’s claim file, must be in writ­
ing on a form prescribed by the workers’
compensation Administrator.

Rhode Island


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For workers’ compensation purposes,
newspaper carriers are considered employ­
ees, effective September 1,2000. The addi­
tional benefit for dependent children in death
claims increased to $40 from $20 per week.
Effective September 1,2000, the maximum
rate for weekly compensation for total dis­
ability increased to 110 percent of the State
average weekly wage (previously, it was 100
percent).

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

27

Workers' Compensation, 2000

Tennessee
An Uninsured Employers Fund has been
established to ensure the timely provision
of workers’ compensation benefits to work­
ers injured during periods of employer noncompliance. The Fund will be financed by
penalties assessed and collected from em­
ployers who fail to provide workers’ com­
pensation coverage or who fail to qualify as
a self-insurer.
Permanent total disability benefits is
now paid until the employee is, by age, eli­
gible for full benefits in the old-age insur­
ance benefit program under the Social Secu­
rity Act (previously, benefits were paid un­
til employee reached age 65). The Commis­
sioner of Labor and Workforce Development
is authorized to refer an employer to the
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for in­
vestigation and for appropriate referral for
possible prosecution if the commissioner
becomes aware the employer had prior
knowledge that its employee was subject to
the workers’ compensation law and the em­
ployer failed to secure payment of compen­
sation as required by the workers’ compen­
sation law.
If an employee suffers a back injury, the
list of three or more physicians from which
the employee can choose shall be expanded
to four, one of whom must be a chiropractic
doctor. However, no more than 12 visits to
a chiropractor shall be approved per back
injury.
If an employer or insurer fails to reim­
burse an employee for medical expenses in­

28

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curred within 60 days of a settlement, judg­
ment, or decree, the employer or insurer can
be liable for up to an additional 25 percent
of such expenses.

Vermont
If a worker receives a personal injury off the
workplace premises while engaged in a rec­
reational activity encouraged by the em­
ployer, the injury will not be considered to
have occurred in the course of employment,
unless the employer derived substantial ben­
efit from the activity, the activity was rea­
sonably a part of the employee’s regular
duties or undertaken to meet expectations
of employer, or the activity was undertaken
at the request of the employer. An injury
arising from an on-premises recreational ac­
tivity will be presumed compensable unless
the activity is shown to be not reasonably
related to employment duties, requirements,
or a regular incident of employment.

Virginia
All members of any panel or committee re­
quired to interpret or classify a chest x-ray
for purposes of diagnosing a coal worker’s
pneumoconiosis must be B-readers ap­
proved by the National Institute for Occu­
pational Safety and Health.
The list of cancers causing the death of,
or any health condition or impairment re­
sulting in total or partial disability of, any

January 2001

volunteer or salaried firefighter or hazard­
ous materials officer who, having completed
12 years of continuous service, has contact
with a toxic substance encountered in the
line of duty, now includes ovarian or breast
cancer.
The term “employee” now includes vol­
unteer members of regional hazardous mate­
rials emergency response teams, and also
includes aliens and minors, whether lawfully
or unlawfully employed.
The time limit for filing an application
for review before the full Commission in­
creased to 45 days, from 20.
Any health care provider attending an
injured employee shall, upon request of a
certified rehabilitation provider, furnish a
copy of any medical report to such provider.

Wyoming
If the employer objects to a division deter­
mination that an injury is compensable and
the employee’s health care provider has cer­
tified the employee as temporarily totally
disabled, the injured worker may request an
interim benefit while the case is under ap­
peal. The interim benefit will be paid for up
to 3 months until a final compensability de­
cision is issued or until the expiration of the
period of certified temporary disability,
whichever occurs first. The experience rat­
ing of the employer against whom a claim is
made shall not be charged for the interim
benefit if the injury is determined after a
hearing to not be compensable.
Q

Unemployment Insurance Laws, 2000;®

Changes in unemployment
insurance legislation in 2000
Some States increased their maximum weekly benefit amounts
and others modified the voluntary quit provision
for situations involving domestic abuse; in the Federal arena,
there were two legislative enactments and one rule issued

Robert Kenyon, Jr.
and Loryn Lancaster
uring 2000, there were two Federal legislative enact­
ments that affected the Federal-State unemployment
insurance program. The “Consolidated Appropria­
tions Act, 2001” ( p.l . 106-554) amends Federal law to treat
Indian tribes similar to State and local governments. Briefly,
services performed in the employ of tribes generally will no
longer be subject to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act tax
and, with some specified exceptions, will be required to be
covered under State unemployment insurance laws. Further,
tribes must be offered the reimbursement option and if a tribe
fails to make required payments to the State’s unemployment
insurance fund or payments of interest or penalty, then the
tribe will become liable for the Federal unemployment tax and
the State may remove tribal services from State coverage.
States also will lose the Federal share of extended benefits
with respect to services performed for tribes. States with
Indian tribes will be required to amend their laws to implement
these requirements which were effective December 21,2000.
The “Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of
2000” (P.L. 106-386) requires the Secretary of Labor, in con­
sultation with the Attorney General, to conduct a national
study to identify State unemployment insurance laws that
address the separation from employment due to circum­
stances resulting from domestic violence and the receipt (or
nonreceipt) of unemployment compensation, and to report to
the Congress the results of the study along with recommen­
dations in October 2001.

D

Robert Kenyon, Jr. and Loryn Lancaster are unemployment insurance
program specialists in the Division of Legislation, Office of Workforce
Security, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department
of Labor.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

The U.S. Department of Labor issued the Birth and Adop­
tion-Unemployment Compensation ( ba a - uc ) final rule, which
was effective August 14,2000. This ruling allows States (that
choose to do so or on an experimental basis) to provide un­
employment insurance as a partial wage replacement to em­
ployees who desire to take approved leave or otherwise leave
their employment following the birth or placement for adop­
tion of a child. States will have the latitude to define eligibility
requirements for work history and benefit levels. While 15
State legislatures addressed the Birth and Adoption-Unem­
ployment Compensation ruling in some manner during 2000,
none had enacted the experimental effort by the year’s end.
However, several States have indicated that they may take up
this issue in 2001.
Some States made significant changes to their unemploy­
ment insurance laws during 2000. For instance, Maryland,
Utah, and Virginia increased their maximum weekly benefit
amounts through legislation; in some other States, the weekly
benefit amounts increase automatically. Delaware, Nebraska,
New Jersey, and Rhode Island have made an exception to the
voluntary quit provision for a separation from work in situa­
tions caused by domestic abuse. Michigan moved up its
wage record system conversion date to October 2000 from
December 2001. Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia amended
their waiting week provisions. Colorado, Kentucky, and South
Carolina amended their pension deduction provisions. Refer­
ence to the Standard Industrial Classification system has been
replaced by the North American Industry Classification Sys­
tem in three States—Alaska, Washington, and South Dakota.
Following is a summary of some significant changes in
State unemployment insurance laws during 2000.

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

29

Unemployment Insurance Laws, 2000

Alabama

California

Administration. Excess revenue generated
by disclosing information to a consumer
reporting agency will be deposited into the
Employment Security Administration
Fund, rather than the unemployment trust
fund, with continuous appropriation for
the administration of the State law.
Nonprofit organizations may place es­
crow funds into interest bearing accounts,
which are used by the Department of In­
dustrial Relations, for payment of unem­
ployment insurance.

Coverage. Services performed by an indi­
vidual in a national service program, funded
by the Federal Government (such as
AmeriCorps), will be excluded.

Financing. The termination date of a spe­
cial assessment of 0.06 percent of all wages
has extended from March 31, 2002, to
March 31, 2004. The 0.06-percent reduc­
tion in regular contribution rates has ex­
tended to March 31, 2004.

Alaska
Administration. References to the Stan­
dard Industrial Classification system are re­
placed by the North American Industry
Classification System.
The provision that defines what consti­
tutes that an individual is in State-approved
training in order to not be denied benefits is
now under the Workforce Investment Act.
Benefits. Disqualification for misconduct
connected with work is now limited to the
insured worker’s last work.

Arizona
Taxation. Beginning January 1, 2001,
through December 31, 2007 (or, if earlier,
when the Federal unemployment tax is re­
duced to 6 percent), the required income
rates will decrease by 0.1 percent; the re­
quired income rate is used to adjust em­
ployer tax rates.
Beginning January 1,2001, through De­
cember 31, 2007, a job training employer
tax will be imposed on employers. This tax
replaces State general fund monies as the
funding source for the existing Arizona job
training program. The monies will be col­
lected by the Department of Economic Se­
curity and deposited in the job training
fund.
Unexpended or unencumbered monies
in the job training fund, upon repeal of the
job training program in 2008, will revert to
the unemployment compensation fund if
the monies were attributable to the job
training employer tax.
The provision related to the non-charging
of employers’ accounts for benefits attribut­
able to former welfare recipients is deleted.
30

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Colorado
Benefits. The amount of benefit deduction
due to receipt of a Social Security pension
has changed from 100 percent to 50 percent
of the Social Security payment and other­
wise clarifies the pension provisions.
Financing. Credits to the unemployment
revenue fund shall incorporate the follow­
ing: penalties collected from employers for
late report filings; claimant penalties col­
lected and all investigative costs awarded in
connection with overpayments established,
due to an individual’s false representation or
willful failure to disclose a material fact (re­
paid benefits will be deposited into the un­
employment trust fund); and money remain­
ing in the Federal advance interest repay­
ment fund after interest charges and admin­
istrative costs have been paid.
A 20-percent tax credit is established for
employers for calendar years 2001 and 2002,
provided the unemployment compensation
fund balance is at least 1.1 percent of the
total amount of insured wages for the pre­
ceding year. Employers who have not filed
required reports or paid taxes due, and those
who have a negative balance or who reim­
burse the fund rather than pay contributions
would not be eligible for the tax credit.

Delaware
Administration. The Department of La­
bor will now have the same right to appeal
from determinations by the Unemploy­
ment Insurance Appeal Board concerning
employer assessments as it has with re­
spect to determinations regarding eligibil­
ity for benefits.
Parties have 10 days from the mailing of
the Unemployment Insurance Appeal
Board’s decision to file an appeal to the
Superior Court.
Benefits. Provided certain conditions are
met, an individual is permitted to receive
benefits if the individual left employment
because of domestic abuse. In such cases,
the individual is required to provide a writ­
ten statement issued by an independent
party addressing his or her status in at­
tempting to seek assistance for domestic
abuse.

January 2001

Hawaii
Financing. The Employment Training
Fund assessment will be extended from De­
cember 31,2000, to December 31,2003, for
all contributing employers except those pay­
ing a zero-minimum rate or a 5.4-percent
maximum rate. The assessment decreases
each year as follows; 0.05 percent for 2000,
0. 03 percent for 2001, 0.01 percent for
2002, and no assessment for 2003 and all
subsequent years.

Idaho
Benefits. The disqualification that is re­
lated to making a false statement or failing to
report a material fact is applicable only to
claimants who willfully do so.

Illinois
Coverage. The conditions under which an
individual (under a contract between an em­
ployee leasing company and a client em­
ployer) is considered an employee of either
the employee leasing company or the client
employer are now specified.

Indiana
Benefits. The maximum level of quarterly
wage credits increases over a 3-year period
to compute benefits as follows: after July
1, 2000 and prior to July 1, 2001: $6,700;
after July 1, 2001 and prior to July 1, 2002:
$7,300; and after July 1, 2002 and prior to
July 1, 2003: $7,900.
Financing. A new rate schedule decreases
the contribution rates for certain employ­
ers. Rates for employers with a positive
balance range from 0.15 percent to 2.4 per­
cent, and for employers with a negative bal­
ance, the rates range from 3.6 to 5.4 percent
for calendar year 2001. Employer rates will
be set according to the next higher schedule
for calendar year 2002.

Kentucky
Benefits. Effective January 1, 2001, the
weekly benefit amount increases from 1.235
percent to 1.3078 percent of base-period
wages, subject to specified maximums.
Benefits. The requirement to reduce the ben­
efit amount for receipt of a pension (includ­
ing Social Security) is eliminated if the claim­
ant contributed to the pension.
Financing. Effective 2001, the tax rates for
employers with a positive balance are re-

duced when the trust fund balance reaches a
specified level.

Maine
Administration. The Bureau of Employ­
ment Security shall review and evaluate all
proposed legislation containing an unem­
ployment compensation “benefit change”
prior to the public hearing on the proposal.
Benefit change is defined as any change in
law that will cause a change in the number
of people eligible, as well as any increase or
decrease in the dollar amount, maximum
amount, or duration of benefits payable.
The bureau’s review and evaluation must
address the potential impact on the unem­
ployment compensation trust fund, on
groups of individuals, employer taxes, and
anything else the bureau considers appro­
priate. Once the review and evaluation are
completed, the joint standing committee of
the legislature, with jurisdiction over the
proposal, will review the bureau’s findings.
Benefits. Unless inconsistent with Federal
law, acceptance of training opportunities
available through the Federal Workforce In­
vestment Act of 1998 is deemed to be ac­
ceptance of training with the approval of
the State within the meaning of any other
provision of Federal or State law relating to
unemployment benefits.
Financing. The procedure for determining
the rate schedule and planned yield-in-ef­
fect for a given year is now provided. Not­
withstanding the procedure, a planned yield
of 1.1 percent is in effect for calendar year
2000.

Maryland
Benefits. The maximum weekly benefit
amount increases from $250 to $280.
The law now reflects permanent Federal
authorization of the Self-Employment As­
sistance (sea) program, and the requirement
by the U.S. Department of Labor that States
submit a plan for approval by the Secretary
prior to implementing the sea program is
eliminated.

Michigan
Benefits. The conversion date is changed
to a wage record system from December 31,
2001, to October 1, 2000.


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Minnesota
Administration. The program name is
changed from “reemployment compensa­
tion” to the “unemployment compensation
program” and, where applicable, the term
“benefit” is changed to “unemployment
benefit.”
Benefits. Individuals are exempt from the
between-terms denial provision if they
earned wage credits during the school year
from a private employer performing work
under a contract between the employer and
an elementary or secondary school and the
employment was related to food services
provided to the school by the employer.
This exemption expires December 31,2001.
Effective May 16,2000, until January 1,
2001, individuals may receive additional
benefits of up to 26 weeks if they were laid
off from Hennepin Paper Company due to
lack of work and if certain eligibility require­
ments are met. Benefit amount is the same
as for the regular State program.
Effective May 16,2000, individuals may
receive additional benefits of up to 13 weeks
if they were laid off from Evtac Mining Com­
pany between June and August 1999, due
to lack of work and if certain eligibility re­
quirements are met. The benefit amount is
the same as that for the regular State pro­
gram. Individuals who, prior to September
1,2000, receive or have an agreement to re­
ceive a retirement pension financed in whole
or in part by the Evtac Mining Company
are not eligible.
Effective retroactively to August 1,
1999, 50 percent of primary Social Secu­
rity disability benefits the applicant has re­
ceived, has filed for, or intends to file for
with respect to a week will be deducted
from the weekly benefit amount. Regard­
less of this deduction provision, ineligibil­
ity for benefits for any week the applicant
is receiving, has received, or has filed for,
primary Social Security disability benefits
shall not apply if the Social Security Ad­
ministration approved the collecting of pri­
mary Social Security disability benefits
each month the applicant was employed
during the base period.
Financing. The period for which a non­
profit organization is bound when it elects
to change from taxable to reimbursable sta­
tus has changed from 3 years to 2 years.
The conditions under which nonprofit
organizations can switch their taxable status
to reimbursable status have changed. These
organizations can now switch if they paid
an amount of taxes that exceeded the ben­
efits to its employees by 25 percent over

the past 5 years. Previously, an employer
either had to have no benefit charges or had
to pay down its experience rating to zero.
The commissioner of economic security
may apply the compromise authority (that
is, to change, in whole or in part, any action,
determination, or decision), which is appli­
cable to all other employers, to nonprofit
organizations.

Mississippi
Administration. The filing of lien provi­
sions is modified to require that the com­
mission deliver a copy of the warrant issued
to the sheriff on employers failing to pay
contributions and assessments to the clerk
of the circuit court.
The lien provisions are modified further.
Among other changes, the provisions
specify that a judgment not be a lien upon
the property of the employer for more than
7 years from the filing date of the tax lien
notice. However, action can be brought be­
fore the expiration of the 7 years or the com­
mission refiles the tax lien notice before the
expiration of such time. The judgment is a
lien upon the property of the employer for
7 years from the date of refiling the tax lien
notice, unless action is brought before the
expiration time or unless the commission
refiles (without limit to the number of
times), the notice before the expiration time.
The commission is permitted to issue the
warrant directly to the circuit clerk of any
county of the State for enrollment, upon the
judgment rolls of the county.

Nebraska
Benefits. An individual is deemed to have
left employment for good cause if abuse is
the reason. Also, the individual is not dis­
qualified from benefits for voluntarily leav­
ing work, provided all reasonable efforts to
preserve the employment were made.
No benefits will be charged to an
employer’s experience account for benefits
paid based on the claimant voluntarily leav­
ing work with good cause to escape abuse.

New Hampshire
Administration. The composition and ap­
pointment operating procedures of the ap­
pellate board of the department of employ­
ment security include the following changes:
• Increase number of appellate board
members from five to eight;
• Increase number of business represen­
tatives, organized labor representatives, and

Monthly Labor Review

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31

Unemployment Insurance Laws, 2000

representatives of the public from one to
two each;
• Increase length of terms from 3 to 4
years, but limit consecutive years of ser­
vice to 8;
• Decrease duration of appointments of
additional members (allowable during peri­
ods of increased workload) to 1 year;
• Require that, when the board is in ses­
sion, none of the three members be from the
same category of representation.
An employer or employing unit may re­
quest that the commissioner reconsider his
or her decision, or request a new hearing, if
done within 20 days of mailing of the
commissioner’s decision.
Appeals are permitted to the appellate
board of decisions of the commissioner.
Coverage. The exemption for services
performed by an individual who, on a tem­
porary, part-time, contractual basis, does
not apply to such service performed for the
State or any of its political subdivisions or
nonprofit organizations.
Effective January 1,2000, the following
services are exempt from the definition of
“employment” when these services are done
on a temporary, part-time, or contractual
basis (either in the field or over the tele­
phone) on premises not used or controlled
by the person for whom such contract ser­
vices are being provided: demonstrating
company products; offering samples of
products or promotional materials to cus­
tomers; conducting store audits; mystery
shopping as part of an advertising or sales
promotion for the products.
Financing. Employers are now exempt
from obligation to pay contributions of less
than $ 1.

New Jersey
Benefits. No otherwise eligible individual
shall be denied benefits because the indi­
vidual left work or was discharged due to
circumstances resulting from being a victim
of domestic violence.
No charge shall apply to the employer’s
account for benefits paid to an individual
who quit to escape domestic violence.

New Mexico
Administration. The requirements for the
risk management advisory board to annu­
ally determine and transfer balances of the
State government unemployment compen­

32

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sation reserve fund are deleted.
Money from the State government un­
employment compensation reserve fund
may be used to establish and maintain a re­
serve fund for reimbursing State agencies for
benefits paid to their former employees.
Benefits. Eligibility conditions require that
an unemployed individual have wages in at
least 2 quarters of his base period rather than
wages equal to 1-1/4 of his or her high quar­
ter wages.
Eligibility conditions for subsequent
benefit years are modified to require that an
individual must have performed services in
employment and earned remuneration for
such services equal to at least 5 times his or
her weekly benefit amount in his or her prior
benefit year rather than remuneration equal
to the lesser of 3/13 of the individual’s high
quarter wages and 6 times his weekly ben­
efit amount.
The provision in which no charge shall
apply to the employer’s account for ben­
efits based on work performed in a work
release program (designed to give an inmate
of a correctional institution an opportunity
to work while serving a term of incarcera­
tion) if the inmate’s separation was caused
by his release from prison is eliminated.
The requirement that wages be in insured
work to qualify for subsequent benefit years
is deleted.
Coverage. Exclusion from employment for
services performed in the employ of a hospi­
tal, if the service is performed by a patient of
the hospital, or services performed by an in­
mate of a custodial or penal institution, is ex­
panded from only governmental and non­
profit entities to any employer.
Financing. The factors used for determin­
ing rate schedules applicable in a given year,
are changed, effectively reducing employer
contribution rates.

New York
Administration. The termination date for
requiring the appeal board to establish quali­
fications and procedures for the registra­
tion of agents authorized to represent cer­
tain claimants and other requirements is
now extended for 2 years through Decem­
ber 31,2002.
The termination date for requiring the
appeal board to maintain lists of authorized
agents and attorneys, available to represent
claimants, and requiring the availability of
the lists to claimants on request is extended
for 2 years through December 31,2002. The

January 2001

law requires that monies credited with re­
spect to Federal fiscal years 2000, 2001,
and 2002 be transferred to the unemploy­
ment administration fund and be used only
for expenses incurred by the State for the
administration of the unemployment insur­
ance law and not be used for the payment
of unemployment compensation or for the
administration of State public employment
offices, effective March 2, 2000.
An unemployment insurance control
fund is established that will consist of all
penalties imposed and collected for failure
to file a combined withholding, wage re­
porting and unemployment insurance re­
turn, and other funds. The law requires
monies in the unemployment insurance
control fund to be kept separate from, and
not commingled, with any other monies and
to be used for the location and prevention
of fraud and abuse, collection and enforce­
ment activities, benefit payment control
activities, and other quality control activi­
ties related to the unemployment insurance
program, effective January 1, 2001.
The amount of time an employer has to
file a return or to file a corrected or insuffi­
cient return is changed from 20 days to 30
days, effective December 31,2000.
The law now specifies the penalties
(with waivers for good cause or subse­
quent compliance) for employer failure
to provide complete and correct wage re­
porting information on the return. It also
requires the penalties imposed and col­
lected to be credited to the special fund,
effective January 1, 2001. The definition
of the term “qualified employer” is modi­
fied to include any employer who has had
an amount of contributions due or an
amount of wages paid, or both, deter­
mined by the commissioner, effective De­
cember 31,2000.
The penalty for failure to file required
returns is modified to impose a penalty of
5 percent of the amount of contributions
required (including assessment or modifi­
cation) if failure to file return is less than 1
month, with an additional 5 percent for each
additional month or fraction thereof, during
which such failure continues, not exceeding
25 percent in the aggregate, with not less
than $ 100 for each occurrence.
The employer tax rate schedule is re­
vised, changing the range of rates from 0.0
percent to 8.5 percent to 0.0 percent to 8.9
percent, effective January 1, 2001. The law
now specifies that for any calendar year when
contributions paid into the re-employment
service fund equals $35 million, excess contri­
butions will be credited to the general account,
effective February 15,2000.

Benefits. Effective March 2, 2000: the
term “week of employment” is clarified to
mean a Monday-Sunday period; the earn­
ings in the high calendar quarter of the base
period in determining a valid original claim
is limited to 22 times the maximum benefit
rate; and a reconsideration of the weekly
benefit amount may be requested to the
commissioner by the claimant if certain con­
ditions are met.
Effective February 15, 2000, the law
modifies the conditions related to the pre­
vailing wage under which a claimant must
accept employment.
Effective February 15, 2000, the pen­
sion offset provision dealing with benefit
reductions, is modified to make it consistent
with the Federal Unemployment Tax Act.
Financing. Effective March 2, 2000, the
law requires that monies from the re-em­
ployment service fund be deposited in the
unemployment insurance fund.

Ohio
Administration. The law now requires ap­
propriate charging and crediting to a sus­
pense account when claimant eligibility de­
terminations are pending (not final), rather
than to a contributing employer’s account.
The director is authorized to reduce, in
whole or in part, the amount of interest, for­
feiture, or fines required to be paid if the
director determines that the reduction is in
the best interest of the unemployment com­
pensation fund.
The conditions that a contributing em­
ployer must meet to qualify for an experi­
ence rate are modified, specifying that the
employer qualifies only if there have been 4
consecutive quarters, ending on June 30,
immediately prior to the computation date,
throughout which, the employer’s account
was chargeable with benefits.
The law eliminates all provisions regard­
ing the joint certification and expedited deci­
sion procedure related to 500 similarly situ­
ated claimants whose claims are pending a
redetermination or appeal.
An individual who is provided tempo­
rary work assignments under agreed terms
and conditions (which require the individual
to contact the employer upon the comple­
tion of assignments) is not eligible for ben­
efits if the individual fails to contact the
employer about future assignments.
The director is authorized to disclose
wage information to a consumer- reporting
agency to verify an individual’s income un­
der a written agreement when certain require­
ments are met.


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Benefits. The unemployment insurance
agency is required to notify the State or
local child support enforcement agency
(enforcing a child support obligation) of the
claimant who owes the obligation only if
the claimant is determined eligible for ben­
efits. The unemployment insurance agency
is required to deduct and withhold from
benefits payable to a claimant owing child
support obligations the appropriate
amount as specified in the State’s unem­
ployment insurance law.
To determine whether an individual has
had sufficient employment since the begin­
ning of the individual’s previous benefit
year to file for a subsequent benefit year,
the law specifies that employment means
the performance of services for which re­
muneration is payable.
Implementation of the requirement that
a claimant be free from certain separation
disqualifications to qualify for benefits is de­
layed until March 3, 2002.
The provision exempting employers of
individuals engaged in the commercial can­
ning or freezing of fruits and vegetables to
furnish separation notices prior to separa­
tion is now eliminated.
A written notice of an individual filing
for benefit rights does not need to be sent to
the individual’s most recent separating em­
ployer if:
• The administrator is prohibited by law
from revising a previous determination
concerning a disqualification from benefits;
• The individual’s employer indicates the
notice is not needed;
• The individual’s separation is 1 among
50 or more individuals separated by the
same employer due to a lack of work, the
administrator received information regard­
ing the separations, and the reason for the
separation is not disputed.
Coverage. The following services are ex­
cluded from the definition of employment:
• Service performed by an individual work­
ing as an election official or election worker
if the amount of remuneration received by
the individual during the calendar year for
services as an election official or election
worker is less than $1,000;
• Service performed for an elementary or
secondary school that is operated prima­
rily for religious purposes, and exempt from
Federal income taxation as provided by
Federal law;

• Service performed by a person commit­
ted to a penal institution.
Determinations of employment of an
authorized provider of a type B family day­
care home for unemployment insurance pur­
poses are to be determined under the rules
and regulations under the State’s unemploy­
ment insurance law.

Rhode Island
Benefits. An individual is eligible for wait­
ing-period-credit or benefits if the individual
voluntarily leaves work due to domestic
abuse and the individual meets the following
criteria: fears domestic abuse at or on route
to or from place of employment; wishes to
relocate to another geographical location to
avoid future domestic abuse against the in­
dividual or the individual’s family; or be­
lieves that leaving work is necessary for
future safety of individual or the
individual’s family.
In such domestic abuse cases, the indi­
vidual also must provide documentation of
domestic abuse, such as police or court
records, or other documentation from a shel­
ter worker, attorney, clergy member, or medi­
cal or other professional from which assis­
tance was sought.
Also, confidentiality of evidence docu­
mentation is required unless the individual
gives consent for disclosure.
Financing. A 0.03-percent employment
security reemployment assessment is now
imposed on all contributory employers for
tax years 2001,2002, and 2003.
A pilot research and demonstration rapid
reemployment program is established.
An employment security reemployment
fund is established to deposit the assess­
ment and other monies. This funding is to be
used, among other things, to pay adminis­
trative expenses incurred to implement and
operate a 3-year pilot research and demon­
stration rapid reemployment program.
Each contributory employer’s unem­
ployment insurance tax rate is reduced by
0. 03 percent.
The required job development assess­
ment paid by employers increases from 0.19
percent to 0.21 percent, beginning January
1, 2001. The 0.02-percent will be used to
support necessary core services in the un­
employment insurance and employment
services programs by the Department of
Labor and Training.
The unemployment insurance tax reduc­
tion, applicable to contributory employers,
increases from 0.19 percent to 0.21 percent.

Monthly Labor Review

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33

Unemployment Insurance Laws, 2000

South Carolina

Vermont

Benefits. The requirement that Social Secu­
rity benefits be deducted from an individual’s
weekly benefit amount is deleted.

Benefits. The disqualification related to
holiday pay is now deleted.
Effective July 1, 2000, the requirement
that an individual serve a 1-week waiting
period to be eligible for benefits is repealed.

South Dakota
Financing. After December 31,2000, new
employer rates will be assigned based on the
North American Industry Classification
System, rather than the Standard Industrial
Classification system.

Tennessee
Benefits. For benefit years established on or
after July 2, 2000, the law allows payment
of benefits for the waiting period, and in
each of the 3 consecutive weeks immedi­
ately following such waiting period, pro­
vided the claimant made a claim for benefits
and is determined eligible and certified for
benefits in the waiting period.

Utah
Administration. The requirement for a re­
corded hearing in cases of unemployment
insurance fraud is now eliminated. There­
fore, determinations regarding fraud are ap­
pealable in the same manner as appeals from
other benefit determinations.
Benefits. The maximum weekly benefit
payable increases from 60 percent to 65
percent of the “insured average fiscal year
weekly wage” during the preceding fiscal
year for individuals whose benefit year be­
gins on or after January 1, 2001.
Coverage. The definition of “wages”
changes to conform with the Federal Unem­
ployment Tax Act, with some modifications.
Financing. Beginning January 1,2000, the
social contribution is at a fixed amount of
0.1 percent rather than a calculated amount,
provided the reserve factor is 1.000 or less.
The current procedures are retained when
the reserve factor is greater than 1.000. So­
cial costs for the previous 4 years are di­
vided by total taxable wages.
The determination of the reserve factor
is modified to set it at a rate that sustains an
adequate reserve. An “adequate reserve” is
defined as “between 17 and 19 months of
benefits at the average of the five highest
benefit cost rates in the last 25 years.”

34

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Virginia
Benefits. Effective November 28,1999: the
benefit increase, scheduled to occur July 1,
2000 is retroactive to November 28,1999; the
maximum weekly benefit amount increased
from $230 to $232; the waiting week for
claims filed effective November 28,1999, and
after, is waived for any individual whose un­
employment was caused by his or her em­
ployer terminating the company’s operations,
closing its business, or declaring bankruptcy
without paying the final wages earned by the
individual; the final wages, if paid late by an
employer who terminates operations, closes
his or her business, or declares bankruptcy,
will not be offset against an individual’s un­
employment benefits or cause an individual
to be declared overpaid in benefits.
Effective April 7, 2000: a shift worker
shall not be deemed unavailable for work if
the worker is currently enrolled in one or
more classes of education related to employ­
ment or is continuing in a certificate or de­
gree program at an institution of higher edu­
cation, if the enrollment would only limit
the individual’s availability for one shift and
the individual is otherwise available to work
any of the other shifts.
Coverage. The services provided in the
home by an individual pursuant to an agree­
ment among a service recipient, a public hu­
man services agency and such individual
constitute “employment” when coverage of
such services is required by the Federal Un­
employment Tax Act.

Washington
Administration. A legislative task force is
established to review and make recommen­
dations regarding the changes needed to en­
sure the unemployment insurance system
meets the needs of employers and workers
in the twenty-first century.
A workforce training and education co­
ordinating board shall review and analyze
the program that provides additional unem­
ployment benefits.
Benefits. Effective for rate years begin­

January 2001

ning on or after January 1, 2000 the com­
putation of “average annual wage for con­
tribution purposes” changes from a single
year to a 3-year average.
Effective for weeks of unemployment
beginning February 13,2000, the disquali­
fication period increases when an individual
leaves work voluntarily without good cause
or because of marital or domestic responsi­
bilities, being discharged for misconduct, or
refusing suitable work; from 5 weeks and
until re-employed and having earned 5 times
the weekly benefit amount, to 7 weeks and
until re-employed and having earned 7 times
the weekly benefit amount.
The exception to the voluntary quit dis­
qualification for individuals who leave work
to relocate for a spouse’s employment now
only applies when, among other conditions,
it is due to an employer-initiated, manda­
tory transfer.
Subject to availability to funds, the State
provides additional unemployment com­
pensation for certain individuals who have
exhausted their regular unemployment
compensation and who are in an approved
training program. The maximum number of
weeks is 26, except for workers in aero­
space, forestry, and fishing, for those, the
maximum is 48 weeks until June 30, 2002.
The provision authorizing the Employ­
ment Security Department to deduct a pro­
cessing fee when intercepting or deducting
child support from unemployment insur­
ance benefits is deleted.
Financing. The amount available for ad­
ditional unemployment compensation for
trainees is limited to $60 million for the 2year period from June 30, 2000 to June 30,
2002, and thereafter $20 million annually,
plus any carryover funds.
Training benefits paid may not be charged
to contributing employers.
References to the Standard Industrial Clas­
sification system are replaced by the North
American Industry Classification System.
Effective for rate years beginning on or
after January 1,2000: the taxable wage base
is lowered from $26,500 to $24,300 for rate
year 2000; the fund balance ratio triggers are
lowered for various tax schedules and the
tax rates for employers are lowered before
the maximum rate
Sixty percent of tax collected to fund ad­
ministration of additional benefits for train­
ees who have exhausted regular unemploy­
ment insurance benefits must be deposited
in the unemployment trust fund.
□

Précis
Internet promises
The prospect of a new economy has been
one of the great opinion generators of the
times. Optimists, according to Robert E.
Litan and Alice M. Rivlin’s Brookings In­
stitution conference report The Economy
and the Internet: What Lies Ahead, are of
the opinion that the Internet will enhance
productivity and generate more prosper­
ity. Pessimists doubt it will have any fun­
damental effect on the economy.
The papers Litan and Rivlin summarize
are generally of the optimistic persuasion.
Patricia Danzon and Michael Furukawa,
for example, see large, Internet-driven cost
savings in transactions processing, par­
ticularly in the healthcare sector, and Jane
Fountain notes the vast potential savings
for disseminating Government information
on-line. Charles Fine and Daniel Raff not
only find significant potential cost sav­
ings, but suggest that cars may one day
be purchased much like the “Dell model”
in computers: “ .. .customers specify ex­
actly what features they want and buy a
product that is built to suit their tastes.”
Litan and Rivlin also note that “in the
longer run, the increasing transparency
of prices and the widening reach of mar­
kets provided by the Internet [are] likely
to be a continuing global force for greater
efficiency,” but that such efficiencies
might show up more as a larger range of
choices offered consumers and greater
convenience in shopping for one’s choice.
The skeptics made three points in re­
buttal. First, e-commerce may total about
$120 billion in transactions, but this ac­
counts for only a small fraction of a $6
trillion total in private economic activity.
Second, what baseline of productivity
growth should be used to evaluate the
effect of the Internet? “[E]ven if the
Internet makes an identifiable contribution
to productivity growth, it is quite possible
that this will not produce an acceleration
in the growth that is already occurring.”
Third, some empirical research supports
the more conservative view. Indeed, Rob­
ert Gordon ranks the Internet only thir­
teenth among the major economic inno­
vations of the century.


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Litan and Rivlin avoid extremes when
summing up the conference report: “The
economic impact of the Internet will likely
not be as insignificant as the pessimists
claim, and not as overwhelming as many
cyber-enthusiasts suggest.” They do
conclude, however, that the Internet will
produce important cost savings, faster
productivity growth, lower prices, higher
living standards, saved time, added con­
venience, and custom products. Perhaps
just not as much of these as the more op­
timistic project.

Internet rust
No matter whether the optimistic or pessi­
mistic view of the Internet is true, Charles
Babcock, writing in MSNBC.com’s Tech­
nology page, is concerned that the
progress of the new economy comes at a
cost: “ ...someone, somewhere gets
crowded out.” In his article, “Do you live
in the Internet’s Rust Belt?” Babcock cites
traditional middlemen who have relied on
their understanding and control of nichebased information as being particularly
vulnerable. Specific mention is made of
car and software sales people, stock bro­
kers, real estate agents, and wholesalers.
Babcock quotes one California observer
as saying that “sales forces could easily
be done away with” because they are
typically suppliers of information to cus­
tomers and one of the major impacts of
the Internet is to make information much
more available at a much lower cost.

Internet w a g e g a p
One old economy issue that appears to
have carried over into the Internet
economy has been a wage gap between
men and women. Laura Carr, writing in
The Industry Standard on the results of
their Internet Workforce Compensation
Survey 2000, reports that the median
base salary for women working in the
Internet economy was 24 percent lower
than that of men.
Although many tangible factors such
as industry, educational attainment, and,
quite significantly, job level, account for

some of the gap, Carr concludes that the
discrepancy persists after these are con­
sidered. Carr also notes that women in
the survey reported slightly shorter work­
days, that they were somewhat less likely
than men to work weekends, and that they
were slightly more likely to be compen­
sated for extra work. “But,” she adds,
“these factors are not enough to account
for the gender wage gap [in the Internet
workforce].”

W hat m a ke s
an entrepreneur?
Ever wonder whether an entrepreneurial
mindset exists? And if it does, is it differ­
ent for men and women who choose selfem ploym ent as a career? Yannis
Georgellis and Howard Wall find that yes,
different mindsets may be evident, with
differences marked by such elements as
gender, education, age, and region in
“Who are the Self-Employed?” (Review,
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, November/December 2000). Using data from
the CPS March 1998 supplement, the au­
thors examine why such differences may
exist and the various choices men and
women make as they work on their own.
Georgellis and Wall find that gender is
particularly important. While self-em­
ployed workers of both genders were con­
centrated in a small number of occupa­
tions, “nearly a quarter of self-employed
men were in precision production,” an
occupation where very few women were
found. In contrast, “large shares of
women were in service or administrative
support occupations, where self-em­
ployed men were not likely to be.” Other
elements, such as education (the authors
find it is instructive to look at self-employ­
ment rates within a given educational
group) and age (self-employment tends
to rise with age) affected the analysis, as
well. The authors conclude “because of
these many differences questions arise
whether policies designed to spur selfemployment have different effects on the
various categories,” and the questions
which emerge beget a need for increased
research into the topic.
□

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

35

Book Reviews
Work-time reduction
Sharing the Work, Sparing the Planet.
By Anders Hayden. New York, St.
Martin’s Press, 2000, 234 pp. $65,
cloth; $22.50, paper.
Canadian author Anders Hayden adds
a powerful new dimension to the array
of arguments for reducing hours of
work. Sharing the Work, Sparing the
Planet stands out for that reason from
the recent stream of books advocating
cutting the hours of work. Hayden
shares the concerns of many writers—
job creation, improved quality of life
for the employed, balancing work and
family, and equity between North and
South—but adds a compelling environ­
mental basis for cutting working time.
It is among the very best books on the
subject of working time.
Many recent books have offered
work-time reduction as a single solu­
tion for multiple problems. Unemploy­
ment, declining quality of life, and
stress on the family and individuals
have each been the focus of books adv o cating cuttin g hours of work.
Hayden’s is a more encompassing vi­
sion, taking in all these issues and more,
and his voice adds a rich new dimen­
sion to the symphony.
The book focuses on the role of re­
ducing time in achieving ecologically
sustainable development, addressing at
the same time equity between the North
and the South. Hayden demonstrates a
wide-ranging command of the multiple
issues that reduction of working time
can address, and adds a mastery of the
literature.
Hayden begins by recalling that
since the beginning of the Industrial
Revolution, people have had two mo­
tives for a reduction in working time,
getting more hours away from work,
and creating more jobs through a bet­
ter distribution of the available work.
These remain every bit as pertinent,
he says, but this focus is on the eco­
logical gains to be achieved by work­

36 Monthly Labor Review January 2001


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time reduction.
The stress that consumption in the
North puts on the earth’s ecology is the
main concern of the book, and Hayden
develops a powerful thesis to address
it. Acknowledging a rift in the environ­
mental community about how to deal
with ecological problem s, Hayden
draw s a d istin ctio n betw een two
camps—“sufficiency” and “efficiency.”
The latter group, he argues, believes
that environmental impacts can be re­
duced by better use of inputs, so that
material sacrifice is unnecessary, and
unlimited economic growth is possible.
In contrast, the “sufficiency” camp of
the green movement, to which Hayden
clearly belongs, believes that reducing
inputs per unit of goods and services,
while good in itself, must ultimately fail
to save the earth. He asserts that “al­
though the ecological crisis does clearly
call for a more efficient use of non-hu­
man nature, this response has serious
limitations. Growth in GNP without in­
put growth is little more than a theo­
retical possibility at present, and in
any case zero input growth is not
enough. Significant reductions in in­
put in the North are necessary.” The
author argues that achieving that end
can come through reductions in work­
ing time.
Make no mistake, this book is about
work-time reduction, though sparing
the earth is a main goal. The headings
of the remaining chapters make the
book’s scope clear: “Working Less,
Consuming Less, and Living More”;
“Work-time Reduction and an Expan­
sionary Vision”; “Why It’s So Hard to
Work Less”; “Work-time Policy and
Practice, North and South”; “Europe’s
New Movement for Work-time Reduc­
tion”; and “With or without Loss of
Pay? With or without Revolution?”
It is outside the scope of the book to
provide a history of the struggle for the
shorter work day— for that, in the
United States, see Roediger and Foner’s
Our Own Time: A History o f American
Labor and the Working Day (pp. 44-

49.) But Hayden does trace some im­
portant voices who have spoken out for
work-time reduction over the past two
centuries. This enriches his argument
and provides a brief background for
the reader new to the issue of work­
time reduction.
For readers more conversant with
the issue, the long chapter on steps
taken by European countries for reduc­
ing hours of work will be very useful,
as it goes into great detail on what is
happening now outside the United
States. France, where a series of laws
over the past 10 years have made real
changes in work time, gets 11 pages of
reporting. Germany, where changes
have come more through collective bar­
gaining, also gets full coverage, as do
the Netherlands, Denmark, and other
European countries.
In short, Sharing the Work is engag­
ing reading for both specialists and neo­
phytes. And as concern with global
warming takes its place on the interna­
tional agenda, Hayden’s book provides
an input to the discussion from a dif­
ferent perspective than the usual tax and
carbon-trading schemes being put for­
ward. Not that Hayden ignores environ­
mental taxes as an alternative to his pre­
ferred solution, for he covers those as
well. The final chapter, “With or with­
out Loss of Pay? With or without the
Revolution” is a very thoughtful analy­
sis of the conflicts between labor and
capital, and offers ways to reduce those
conflicts while still achieving the reduc­
tion in working hours that Hayden ad­
vocates.
This is a very rich book, the product
of a writer steeped in the literature and
the political debates about work-time
reduction, a writer who treats gener­
ously those with whom he disagrees by
carefully and fairly making their argu­
ments before offering his own. The
book has extensive notes and a useful,
though not exhaustive, bibliography.
—Eugene Coyle
Eco-Economics

Current Labor Statistics
Notes on labor statistics .................. 38
Comparative indicators
1. Labor market indicators................................................. 48
2. Annual and quarterly percent changes in
compensation, prices, andproductivity...................... 49
3. Alternative measures of wages and
compensation changes................................................ 49

Labor force data
4. Employment status of the population,
seasonally adjusted...................................................
5. Selected employment indicators,
seasonally adjusted...................................................
6. Selected unemployment indicators,
seasonally adjusted...................................................
7. Duration of unemployment,
seasonally adjusted...................................................
8. Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment,
seasonally adjusted...................................................
9. Unemployment rates by sex and age,
seasonally adjusted....................................................
10. Unemployment rates by States,
seasonally adjusted.................................................
11. Employment of workers by States,
seasonally adjusted....................................................
12. Employment of workers by industry,
seasonally adjusted....................................................
13. Average weekly hours by industry,
seasonally adjusted....................................................
14. Average hourly earnings by industry,
seasonally adjusted....................................................
15. Average hourly earnings by industry..............................
16. Average weekly earnings by industry.............................
17. Diffusion indexes of employment change,
seasonally adjusted...................................................
18. Annual data: Employment status of the population.......
19. Annual data: Employment levels by industry................
20. Annual data: Average hours
and earnings levels by industry..................................

50
51
52
53
53
54
55
55


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26. Participants in benefits plans, small firms
and government......................................................... 71
27. Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more.......... 72

Price data
28. Consumer Price Index: U.S. city average, by expenditure
category and commodity and service groups...............
29. Consumer Price Index: U.S. city average and
local data, all items.....................................................
30. Annual data: Consumer Price Index, all items
and major groups.......................................................
31. Producer Price Indexes by stage of processing..............
32. Producer Price Indexes for the net output of major
industry groups.........................................................
33. Annual data: Producer Price Indexes
by stage of processing............................................
34. U.S. export price indexes by Standard International
Trade Classification...................................................
35. U.S. import price indexes by Standard International
Trade Classification...................................................
36. U.S. export price indexes by end-use category...............
37. U.S. import price indexes by end-use category...............
38. U.S.international price indexes for selected
categories of services..................................................

73
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
84

56
58
59
60
61
62
63
63
64

Labor compensation and collective
bargaining data
21. Employment Cost Index, compensation,
by occupation and industry group..............................
22. Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries,
by occupation and industry group..............................
23. Employment Cost Index, benefits, private industry
workers, by occupation and industry group...............
24. Employment Cost Index, private nonfarm workers,
by bargaining status, region, and area size..................
25. Participants in benefit plans, medium and large firms.....

Labor compensation and collective
bargaining data—continued

65

Productivity data
39. Indexes of productivity, hourly compensation,
and unit costs, data seasonally adjusted.....................
40. Annual indexes of multifactor productivity....................
41. Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation,
unit costs, and prices.................................................
42. Annual indexes of output per hour for selected
industries...................................................................

85
86
87
88

International comparisons data
43. Unemployment rates in nine countries,
data seasonally adjusted............................................. 91
44. Annual data: Employment status of the civilian
working-age population, 10 countries......................... 92
45. Annual indexes of productivity and related measures,
12 countries..............................
93

67

Injury and illness data

68

46. Annual data: Occupational injury and illness
incidence rates........................................................... 94
47. Fatal occupational injuries by event or
exposure.................................. ................................. 96

69
70

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

37

N o te s o n C u rre n t L ab o r Statistics

This section of the Review presents the prin­
cipal statistical series collected and calcu­
lated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
series on labor force; employment; unem­
ployment; labor compensation; consumer,
producer, and international prices; produc­
tivity; international comparisons; and injury
and illness statistics. In the notes that follow,
the data in each group of tables are briefly
described; key definitions are given; notes
on the data are set forth; and sources of addi­
tional information are cited.

General notes
The following notes apply to several tables
in this section:
S ea so n a l a d ju stm e n t. Certain monthly
and quarterly data are adjusted to eliminate
the effect on the data of such factors as cli­
matic conditions, industry production sched­
ules, opening and closing of schools, holi­
day buying periods, and vacation practices,
which might prevent short-term evaluation
of the statistical series. Tables containing
data that have been adjusted are identified as
“seasonally adjusted.” (All other data are not
seasonally adjusted.) Seasonal effects are es­
timated on the basis of past experience.
When new seasonal factors are computed
each year, revisions may affect seasonally
adjusted data for several preceding years.
Seasonally adjusted data appear in tables
1-14,16-17,39, and 43. Seasonally adjusted
labor force data in tables 1 and 4-9 were re­
vised in the February 2000 issue of the Re­
view. Seasonally adjusted establishment sur­
vey data shown in tables 1, 12-14 and 1617 were revised in the July 2000 Review and
reflect the experience through March 2000.
A brief explanation of the seasonal adjust­
ment methodology appears in “Notes on the
data.”
Revisions in the productivity data in table
45 are usually introduced in the September
issue. Seasonally adjusted indexes and per­
cent changes from month-to-month and
quarter-to-quarter are published for numer­
ous Consumer and Producer Price Index se­
ries. However, seasonally adjusted indexes
are not published for the U.S. average AllItems cpi. Only seasonally adjusted percent
changes are available for this series.
A d ju stm e n ts fo r p ric e ch a n g es. Some
data—such as the “real” earnings shown in
table 14—are adjusted to eliminate the ef­
fect of changes in price. These adjustments
are made by dividing current-dollar values
by the Consumer Price Index or the appro­
priate component of the index, then multi­
plying by 100. For example, given a current
hourly wage rate of $3 and a current price
38

Monthly Labor Review


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

index number of 150, where 1982 = 100, the
hourly rate expressed in 1982 dollars is $2
($3/150 x 100 = $2). The $2 (or any other
resulting values) are described as “real,”
“constant,” or “1982” dollars.

Sources of information
Data that supplement the tables in this sec­
tion are published by the Bureau in a variety
of sources. Definitions of each series and
notes on the data are contained in later sec­
tions of these Notes describing each set of
data. For detailed descriptions of each data
series, see b l s Handbook of Methods, Bul­
letin 2490. Users also may wish to consult
Major Programs of the Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics, Report 919. News releases provide
the latest statistical information published by
the Bureau; the major recurring releases are
published according to the schedule appear­
ing on the back cover of this issue.
More information about labor force, em­
ployment, and unemployment data and the
household and establishment surveys under­
lying the data are available in the Bureau’s
monthly publication, Employment and Earn­
ings. Historical unadjusted and seasonally
adjusted data from the household survey are
available on the Internet:
http://stats.bls.gov/cpshome.htm
Historically comparable unadjusted and sea­
sonally adjusted data from the establishment
survey also are available on the Internet:
http://stats.bis .gov/ceshome .htm
Additional information on labor force data
for areas below the national level are pro­
vided in the bls annual report, Geographic
Profile of Employment and Unemployment.
For a comprehensive discussion of the
Employment Cost Index, see Employment
Cost Indexes and Levels, 1975-95, BLS Bul­
letin 2466. The most recent data from the
Employee Benefits Survey appear in the fol­
lowing Bureau of Labor Statistics bulletins:
Employee Benefits in Medium and Large
Firms; Employee Benefits in Small Private
Establishments; and Employee Benefits in
State and Local Governments.
More detailed data on consumer and pro­
ducer prices are published in the monthly
periodicals, The c p i Detailed Report and
Producer Price Indexes. For an overview of
the 1998 revision of the CPI, see the Decem­
ber 1996 issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
Additional data on international prices ap­
pear in monthly news releases.
Listings of industries for which produc­
tivity indexes are available may be found on
the Internet:
http://stats.bls.gov/iprhome.htm
For additional information on interna­

January 2001

tional comparisons data, see International
Comparisons of Unemployment, BLS Bulle­
tin 1979.
Detailed data on the occupational injury
and illness series are published in Occupa­
tional Injuries and Illnesses in the United
States, by Industry, a BLS annual bulletin.
Finally, the Monthly Labor Review car­
ries analytical articles on annual and longer
term developments in labor force, employ­
ment, and unemployment; employee com­
pensation and collective bargaining; prices;
productivity; international comparisons; and
injury and illness data.

Symbols
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified,
n.e.s. = not elsewhere specified.
p = preliminary. To increase the time­
liness of some series, preliminary
figures are issued based on repre­
sentative but incomplete returns,
r = revised. Generally, this revision
reflects the availability of later
data, but also may reflect other ad­
justments.

Comparative Indicators
(Tables 1-3)
Comparative indicators tables provide an
overview and comparison of major BLS sta­
tistical series. Consequently, although many
of the included series are available monthly,
all measures in these comparative tables are
presented quarterly and annually.
L a b o r m a r k e t in d ic a to rs include em­
ployment measures from two major surveys
and information on rates of change in com­
pensation provided by the Employment Cost
Index (ECi) program. The labor force partici­
pation rate, the employment-to-population
ratio, and unemployment rates for major de­
mographic groups based on the Current
Population (“household”) Survey are pre­
sented, while measures of employment and
average weekly hours by major industry sec­
tor are given using nonfarm payroll data. The
Employment Cost Index (compensation), by
major sector and by bargaining status, is cho­
sen from a variety of bls compensation and
wage measures because it provides a com­
prehensive measure of employer costs for
hiring labor, not just outlays for wages, and
it is not affected by employment shifts among
occupations and industries.
Data on ch an ges in com pen sation, p rices,
a n d p ro d u c tiv ity are presented in table 2.

ceding 4 weeks. Persons who did not look for
work because they were on layoff are also
counted among the unemployed. T h e u n em ­
p lo ym en t ra te represents the number unem­
ployed as a percent of the civilian labor force.
The c iv ilia n la b o r fo rc e consists of all
employed or unemployed persons in the
civilian noninstitutional population. Persons
n ot in th e la b o r force are those not classified
as employed or unemployed. This group
includes discouraged workers, defined as
persons who want and are available for a job
and who have looked for work sometime in
the past 12 months (or since the end of their
A lte rn a tiv e m ea su res o f w a g e an d co m ­
last job if they held one within the past 12
p e n sa tio n ra te s o f c h a n g e, which reflect the
overall trend in labor costs, are summarized months), but are not currently looking,
in table 3. Differences in concepts and scope, because they believe there are no jobs
related to the specific purposes of the series, available or there are none for which they
contribute to the variation in changes among would qualify. The c iv ilia n n o n in s tit u ­
tio n al p o p u la tio n comprises all persons 16
the individual measures.
years of age and older who are not inmates
of penal or mental institutions, sanitariums,
Notes on the data
or homes for the aged, infirm, or needy. The
Definitions of each series and notes on the c iv ilia n la b o r fo rce p a rtic ip a tio n rate is the
data are contained in later sections of these proportion of the civilian noninstitutional
population that is in the labor force. The
notes describing each set of data.
e m p lo y m e n t-p o p u la tio n r a tio is employ­
ment as a percent of the civilian nonin­
stitutional population.
Employment and

Measures of rates of change of compensa­
tion and wages from the Employment Cost
Index program are provided for all civil­
ian nonfarm workers (excluding Federal
and household workers) and for all private
nonfarm workers. Measures of changes in
consumer prices for all urban consumers;
producer prices by stage of processing;
overall prices by stage of processing; and
overall export and import price indexes are
given. Measures of productivity (output per
hour of all persons) are provided for major
sectors.

Unemploym ent Data
Notes on the data
(Tables 1; 4-20)

Household survey data
Description of the series
E mployment data in this section are ob­
tained from the Current Population Survey,
a program of personal interviews conducted
monthly by the Bureau of the Census for the
Bureau of Labor Statistics. The sample con­
sists of about 50,000 households selected to
represent the U.S. population 16 years of age
and older. Households are interviewed on a
rotating basis, so that three-fourths of the
sample is the same for any 2 consecutive
months.
Definitions
include (1) all those who
worked for pay any time during the week
which includes the 12th day of the month or
who worked unpaid for 15 hours or more in
a family-operated enterprise and (2) those
who were temporarily absent from their regu­
lar jobs because of illness, vacation, indus­
trial dispute, or similar reasons. A person
working at more than one job is counted only
in the job at which he or she worked the
greatest number of hours.
U n e m p lo y e d p e rso n s are those who did
not work during the survey week, but were
available for work except for temporary ill­
ness and had looked for jobs within the pre­

E m p lo y e d p e rso n s


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From time to time, and especially after a
decennial census, adjustments are made in
the Current Population Survey figures to
correct for estimating errors during the
intercensal years. These adjustments affect
the comparability of historical data. A de­
scription of these adjustments and their ef­
fect on the various data series appears in the
Explanatory Notes of Employment and
Earnings.
Data beginning in 2000 are not strictly
comparable with data for 1999 and earlier
years because of the introduction of revised
population controls. Additional information
appears in the February 2000 issue of Em­
ployment and Earnings.
Labor force data in tables 1 and 4-9 are
seasonally adjusted. Since January 1980,
national labor force data have been season­
ally adjusted with a procedure called X-ll
arima which was developed at Statistics
Canada as an extension of the standard X11 method previously used by bls . A de­
tailed description of the procedure appears
in the X -ll a r i m a Seasonal Adjustment
Method, by Estela Bee Dagum (Statistics
Canada, Catalogue No. 12-564E, January
1983).
At the beginning of each calendar year,
historical seasonally adjusted data usually
are revised, and projected seasonal adjust­
ment factors are calculated for use during
the January-June period. The historical sea­

sonally adjusted data usually are revised for
only the most recent 5 years. In July, new
seasonal adjustment factors, which incorpo­
rate the experience through June, are pro­
duced for the July-December period, but no
revisions are made in the historical data.
For additional information on na­
tional household survey data, contact the
Division ofLabor Force Statistics: (202) 691—
6378.

Establishment survey data
Description of the series
E mployment, hours , and earnings data

in this section are compiled from payroll
records reported monthly on a voluntary ba­
sis to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its
cooperating State agencies by about 300,000
establishments representing all industries
except agriculture. Industries are classified
in accordance with the 1987 Standard In­
dustrial Classification (SIC) Manual. In most
industries, the sampling probabilities are
based on the size of the establishment; most
large establishments are therefore in the
sample. (An establishment is not necessar­
ily a firm; it may be a branch plant, for ex­
ample, or warehouse.) Self-employed per­
sons and others not on a regular civilian
payroll are outside the scope of the sur­
vey because they are excluded from estab­
lishment records. This largely accounts for
the difference in employment figures be­
tween the household and establishment
surveys.
Definitions
An estab lish m e n t is an economic unit which
produces goods or services (such as a fac­
tory or store) at a single location and is en­
gaged in one type of economic activity.
E m p lo y e d p e rs o n s are all persons who
received pay (including holiday and sick
pay) for any part of the payroll period in­
cluding the 12th day of the month. Per­
sons holding more than one job (about 5
percent of all persons in the labor force)
are counted in each establishment which
reports them.
P r o d u c tio n w o r k e r s in manufacturing
include working supervisors and nonsupervisory workers closely associated with pro­
duction operations. Those workers men­
tioned in tables 11-16 include production
workers in manufacturing and mining; con­
struction workers in construction; and
nonsupervisory workers in the following in­
dustries: transportation and public utilities;
wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance,
and real estate; and services. These groups ac­
count for about four-fifths of the total em-

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

39

Current Labor Statistics

ployment on private nonagricultural payrolls.
E a r n in g s are the payments production
or nonsupervisory workers receive during
the survey period, including premium pay
for overtime or late-shift work but exclud­
ing irregular bonuses and other special
payments. R e a l e a r n in g s are earnings
adjusted to reflect the effects of changes in
consumer prices. The deflator for this series
is derived from the Consumer Price Index
for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPi-W).
H o u r s represent the average weekly
hours of production or nonsupervisory work­
ers for which pay was received, and are dif­
ferent from standard or scheduled hours.
O v e r tim e h o u rs represent the portion of av­
erage weekly hours which was in excess of
regular hours and for which overtime premi­
ums were paid.
The D iffu sio n In d ex represents the per­
cent of industries in which employment was
rising over the indicated period, plus one-half
of the industries with unchanged employment;
50 percent indicates an equal balance between
industries with increasing and decreasing em­
ployment. In line with Bureau practice, data
for the 1-, 3-, and 6-month spans are season­
ally adjusted, while those for the 12-month
span are unadjusted. Data are centered within
the span. Table 17 provides an index on pri­
vate nonfarm employment based on 356 in­
dustries, and a manufacturing index based on
139 industries. These indexes are useful for
measuring the dispersion of economic gains
or losses and are also economic indicators.

Beginning in June 1996, the bls uses the
X - 12 arima methodology to seasonally ad­

just establishment survey data. This proce­
dure, developed by the Bureau of the Cen­
sus, controls for the effect of varying survey
intervals (also known as the 4- versus 5-week
effect), thereby providing improved mea­
surement of over-the-month changes and un­
derlying economic trends. Revisions of data,
usually for the most recent 5-year period, are
made once a year coincident with the bench­
mark revisions.
In the establishment survey, estimates for
the most recent 2 months are based on in­
complete returns and are published as pre­
liminary in the tables (12-17 in the Review).
When all returns have been received, the es­
timates are revised and published as “final”
(prior to any benchmark revisions) in the
third month of their appearance. Thus, De­
cember data are published as preliminary in
January and February and as final in March.
For the same reasons, quarterly establish­
ment data (table 1) are preliminary for the
first 2 months of publication and final in the
third month. Thus, fourth-quarter data are
published as preliminary in January and Feb­
ruary and as final in March.
For additional information on estab­
lishment survey data, contact the Division of
Monthly Industry Employment Statistics;
(202) 691-6555.

Unemployment data by
State
Description of the series

Notes on the data
Establishment survey data are annually ad­
justed to comprehensive counts of employ­
ment (called “benchmarks”). The latest ad­
justment, which incorporated March 1999
benchmarks, was made with the release of
May 2000 data, published in the July 2000
issue of the Review. Coincident with the
benchmark adjustment, historical seasonally
adjusted data were revised to reflect updated
seasonal factors. Unadjusted data from April
1999 forward and seasonally adjusted data
from January 1996 forward are subject to
revision in future benchmarks.
In addition to the routine benchmark revi­
sions and updated seasonal factors introduced
with the release of the May 2000 data, all esti­
mates for the wholesale trade division from
April 1998 forward were revised to incorpo­
rate a new sample design. This represented
the first major industry division to convert to
a probability-based sample under a 4-year
phase-in plan for the establishment survey
sample redesign project. For additional infor­
mation, see the the June 2000 issue of Employ­
ment and Earnings.
Revisions in State data (table 11) occurred
with the publication of January 2000 data.
40

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Data presented in this section are obtained
from the Local Area Unemployment Statis­
tics (LAUS) program, which is conducted in
cooperation with State employment security
agencies.
Monthly estimates of the labor force,
employment, and unemployment for States
and sub-State areas are a key indicator of lo­
cal economic conditions, and form the basis
for determining the eligibility of an area for
benefits under Federal economic assistance
programs such as the Job Training Partner­
ship Act. Seasonally adjusted unemployment
rates are presented in table 10. Insofar as
possible, the concepts and definitions under­
lying these data are those used in the national
estimates obtained from the CPS.
Notes on the data
Data refer to State of residence. Monthly data
for all States and the District of Columbia are
derived using standardized procedures
established by bls. Once a year, estimates are
revised to new population controls, usually
with publication of January estimates, and
benchmarked to annual average CPS levels.
For additional information on data in

January 2001

this series, call (202) 691-6392 (table 10) or
(202) 691-6559 (table 11).

Compensation and
W age Data
(Tables 1-3; 21-27)
Compensation and wage data are gathered
by the Bureau from business establishments,
State and local governments, labor unions,
collective bargaining agreements on file with
the Bureau, and secondary sources.

Employment Cost Index
Description of the series
The E m p lo y m en t C o s t In d e x (ECl) is a quar­
terly measure of the rate of change in com­
pensation per hour worked and includes
wages, salaries, and employer costs of em­
ployee benefits. It uses a fixed market
basket of labor—similar in concept to the
Consumer Price Index’s fixed market basket
of goods and services—to measure change
over time in employer costs of employing
labor.
Statistical series on total compensation
costs, on wages and salaries, and on benefit
costs are available for private nonfarm work­
ers excluding proprietors, the self-employed,
and household workers. The total compensa­
tion costs and wages and salaries series are
also available for State and local government
workers and for the civilian nonfarm economy,
which consists of private industry and State
and local government workers combined. Fed­
eral workers are excluded.
The Employment Cost Index probability
sample consists of about 4,400 private non­
farm establishments providing about 23,000
occupational observations and 1,000 State
and local government establishments provid­
ing 6,000 occupational observations selected
to represent total employment in each sector.
On average, each reporting unit provides
wage and compensation information on five
well-specified occupations. Data are col­
lected each quarter for the pay period includ­
ing the 12th day of March, June, September,
and December.
Beginning with June 1986 data, fixed
employment weights from the 1980 Census
of Population are used each quarter to
calculate the civilian and private indexes
and the index for State and local govern­
ments. (Prior to June 1986, the employment
weights are from the 1970 Census of Popu­
lation.) These fixed weights, also used to
derive all of the industry and occupation
series indexes, ensure that changes in these
indexes reflect only changes in compensa­
tion, not employment shifts among indus-

tries or occupations with different levels of
wages and compensation. For the bargaining
status, region, and metropolitan/non-metropolitan area series, however, employment
data by industry and occupation are not
available from the census. Instead, the 1980
employment weights are reallocated within
these series each quarter based on the cur­
rent sample. Therefore, these indexes are not
strictly comparable to those for the aggre­
gate, industry, and occupation series.
Definitions
costs include wages,
salaries, and the employer’s costs for em­
ployee benefits.
W a g e s a n d s a la rie s consist of earnings
before payroll deductions, including produc­
tion bonuses, incentive earnings, commis­
sions, and cost-of-living adjustments.
B e n e fits include the cost to employers
for paid leave, supplemental pay (includ­
ing nonproduction bonuses), insurance, retire­
ment and savings plans, and legally required
benefits (such as Social Security, workers’
compensation, and unemployment insurance).
Excluded from wages and salaries and em­
ployee benefits are such items as payment-inkind, free room and board, and tips.
T o ta l c o m p e n sa tio n

Notes on the data
The Employment Cost Index for changes in
wages and salaries in the private nonfarm
economy was published beginning in 1975.
Changes in total compensation cost—wages
and salaries and benefits combined—were
published beginning in 1980. The series of
changes in wages and salaries and for total
compensation in the State and local govern­
ment sector and in the civilian nonfarm
economy (excluding Federal employees)
were published beginning in 1981. Histori­
cal indexes (June 1981=100) are available on
the Internet:
http://stats.bls.gov/ecthome.htm
F or additional information on the
Employment Cost Index, contact the Office
of Compensation Levels and Trends: (202)
691-6199.

Employee Benefits Survey
Description of the series
data are obtained from
the Employee Benefits Survey, an annual
survey of the incidence and provisions of
selected benefits provided by employers.
The survey collects data from a sample of
approximately 9,000 private sector and
State and local government establishments.
The data are presented as a percentage of em­
E m p lo y e e b e n e fits


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ployees who participate in a certain benefit, or
as an average benefit provision (for example,
the average number of paid holidays provided
to employees per year). Selected data from the
survey are presented in table 25 for medium
and large private establishments and in table
26 for small private establishments and State
and local government.
The survey covers paid leave benefits
such as holidays and vacations, and personal,
funeral, jury duty, military, family, and sick
leave; short-term disability, long-term dis­
ability, and life insurance; medical, dental,
and vision care plans; defined benefit and
defined contribution plans; flexible benefits
plans; reimbursement accounts; and unpaid
family leave.
Also, data are tabulated on the inci­
dence of several other benefits, such as
severance pay, child-care assistance, well­
ness programs, and employee assistance
programs.
Definitions
are benefits
that are financed either wholly or partly by
the employer. They may be sponsored by a
union or other third party, as long as there is
some employer financing. However, some
benefits that are fully paid for by the em­
ployee also are included. For example, long­
term care insurance and postretirement life
insurance paid entirely by the employee are
included because the guarantee of insurabil­
ity and availability at group premium rates
are considered a benefit.
P articip an ts are workers who are covered
by a benefit, whether or not they use that benefit
If the benefit plan is financed wholly by
employers and requires employees to complete
a minimum length of service for eligibility, the
workers are considered participants whether or
not they have met the requirement. If workers
are required to contribute towards the cost of
a plan, they are considered participants only
if they elect the plan and agree to make the
required contributions.
D efin ed ben efit pension p lan s use prede­
termined formulas to calculate a retirement
benefit (if any), and obligate the employer to
provide those benefits. Benefits are generally
based on salary, years of service, or both.
D e fin e d c o n trib u tio n p la n s generally
specify the level of employer and employee
contributions to a plan, but not the formula
for determining eventual benefits. Instead,
individual accounts are set up for partici­
pants, and benefits are based on amounts
credited to these accounts.
T ax -d eferred savings p lan s are a type of
defined contribution plan that allow par­
ticipants to contribute a portion of their sal­
ary to an employer-sponsored plan and defer
income taxes until withdrawal.
E m p lo y e r-p ro v id e d b e n e fits

F lexib le ben efit p la n s allow employees
to choose among several benefits, such as life
insurance, medical care, and vacation days, and
among several levels of coverage within a given
benefit.

Notes on the data
Surveys of employees in medium and large
establishments conducted over the 1979-86
period included establishments that
employed at least 50, 100, or 250 workers,
depending on the industry (most service
industries were excluded). The survey
conducted in 1987 covered only State and
local governments with 50 or more
employees. The surveys conducted in 1988
and 1989 included medium and large
establishments with 100 workers or more in
private industries. All surveys conducted over
the 1979-89 period excluded establishments
in Alaska and Hawaii, as well as part-time
employees.
Beginning in 1990, surveys of State and
local governments and small private
establishments were conducted in evennumbered years, and surveys of medium and
large establishments were conducted in oddnumbered years. The small establishment
survey includes all private nonfarm
establishments with fewer than 100 workers,
while the State and local government survey
includes all governments, regardless of the
number of workers. All three surveys include
full- and part-time workers, and workers in all
50 States and the District of Columbia.
F or additional information on the
Employee Benefits Survey, contact the Of­
fice of Compensation Levels and Trends on
the Internet:
h ttp ://sta ts.b ls.g o v /eb sh o m e.h tm

Work stoppages
Description of the series
Data on work stoppages measure the num­
ber and duration of major strikes or lockouts
(involving 1,000 workers or more) occurring
during the month (or year), the number of
workers involved, and the amount of work
time lost because of stoppage. These data are
presented in table 27.
Data are largely from a variety of pub­
lished sources and cover only establish­
ments directly involved in a stoppage. They
do not measure the indirect or secondary
effect of stoppages on other establishments
whose employees are idle owing to material
shortages or lack of service.
Definitions
The number of
strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 work­
ers or more and lasting a full shift or longer.
N u m b e r o f s to p p a g e s :

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

41

Current Labor Statistics
W o r k e r s in v o lv e d :
The number of
workers directly involved in the stoppage.
N u m b e r o f d a y s id le: The aggregate
number of workdays lost by workers in­
volved in the stoppages.
D ays o f idleness as a percent o f estimated
w o rkin g time: Aggregate workdays lost as a

percent of the aggregate number of standard
workdays in the period multiplied by total
employment in the period.
Notes on the data
This series is not comparable with the one
terminated in 1981 that covered strikes in­
volving six workers or more.
For additional information on work
stoppages data, contact the Office of Com­
pensation and Working Conditions: (202)
691-6282, or the Internet:
h ttp ://sta ts.bIs.gov/cb ah om e.htm

force.
The CPI is based on prices of food, cloth­
ing, shelter, fuel, drugs, transportation fares,
doctors’ and dentists’ fees, and other goods
and services that people buy for day-to-day
living. The quantity and quality of these
items are kept essentially unchanged be­
tween major revisions so that only price
changes will be measured. All taxes directly
associated with the purchase and use of items
are included in the index.
Data collected from more than 23,000 re­
tail establishments and 5,800 housing units
in 87 urban areas across the country are used
to develop the “U.S. city average.” Separate
estimates for 14 major urban centers are pre­
sented in table 29. The areas listed are as in­
dicated in footnote 1 to the table. The area
indexes measure only the average change in
prices for each area since the base period, and
do not indicate differences in the level of
prices among cities.

Price Data

Notes on the data

(Tables 2; 28-38)

In January 1983, the Bureau changed the
way in which homeownership costs are
meaured for the cpi-u . A rental equivalence
method replaced the asset-price approach to
homeownership costs for that series. In
January 1985, the same change was made
in the CPi-w. The central purpose of the
change was to separate shelter costs from
the investment component of home-owner­
ship so that the index would reflect only the
cost of shelter services provided by owneroccupied homes. An updated cpi-u and CPIw were introduced with release of the Janu­
ary 1987 and January 1998 data.
F or additional information on con­
sumer prices, contact the Division of Con­
sumer Prices and Price Indexes: (202)
691-7000.

P rice data are gathered by the Bureau

of Labor Statistics from retail and pri­
mary markets in the United States. Price
indexes are given in relation to a base pe­
riod— 1982 = 100 for many Producer Price
Indexes, 1982-84 = 100 for many Con­
sumer Price Indexes (unless otherwise
noted), and 1990 = 100 for International
Price Indexes.

Consumer Price Indexes
Description of the series
The C o n s u m e r P r ic e I n d e x (CPI) is a mea­
sure of the average change in the prices paid
by urban consumers for a fixed market bas­
ket of goods and services. The CPI is calcu­
lated monthly for two population groups, one
consisting only of urban households whose
primary source of income is derived from the
employment of wage earners and clerical
workers, and the other consisting of all ur­
ban households. The wage earner index (CPIW) is a continuation of the historic index that
was introduced well over a half-century ago
for use in wage negotiations. As new uses
were developed for the CPI in recent years,
the need for a broader and more representa­
tive index became apparent. The all-urban
consumer index (CPi-U), introduced in 1978,
is representative of the 1993-95 buying hab­
its of about 87 percent of the noninstitutional
population of the United States at that time,
compared with 32 percent represented in the
CPI-W. In addition to wage earners and cleri­
cal workers, the CPI-U covers professional,
managerial, and technical workers, the selfemployed, short-term workers, the unem­
ployed, retirees, and others not in the labor
42

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Producer Price Indexes
Description of the series
measure av­
erage changes in prices received by domes­
tic producers of commodities in all stages
of processing. The sample used for calcu­
lating these indexes currently contains about
3,200 commodities and about 80,000 quo­
tations per month, selected to represent the
movement of prices of all commodities pro­
duced in the manufacturing; agriculture, for­
estry, and fishing; mining; and gas and elec­
tricity and public utilities sectors. The stageof-processing structure of PPI organizes
products by class of buyer and degree of
fabrication (that is, finished goods, interme­
diate goods, and crude materials). The tradi­
tional commodity structure of ppi organizes
products by similarity of end use or mate­
rial composition. The industry and product
P r o d u c e r P r ic e In d e x e s (PPi)

January 2001

structure of ppi organizes data in
accordance with the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) and the product code ex­
tension of the sic developed by the U.S. Bu­
reau of the Census.
To the extent possible, prices used in
calculating Producer Price Indexes apply
to the first significant commercial trans­
action in the United States from the pro­
duction or central marketing point. Price
data are generally collected monthly, pri­
marily by mail questionnaire. Most prices
are obtained directly from producing com­
panies on a voluntary and confidential ba­
sis. Prices generally are reported for the
Tuesday of the week containing the 13th
day of the month.
Since January 1992, price changes for the
various commodities have been averaged
together with implicit quantity weights
representing their importance in the total net
selling value of all commodities as of 1987.
The detailed data are aggregated to obtain
indexes for stage-of-processing groupings,
commodity groupings, durability-of-product
groupings, and a number of special composite
groups. All Producer Price Index data are
subject to revision 4 months after original
publication.
F or additional information on pro­
ducer prices, contact the Division of In­
dustrial Prices and Price Indexes: (202)
691-7705.

International Price Indexes
Description of the series
The In te rn a tio n a l P r ic e P r o g r a m produces
monthly and quarterly export and import
price indexes for nonmilitary goods traded
between the United States and the rest of the
world. The export price index provides a
measure of price change for all products sold
by U.S. residents to foreign buyers. (“Resi­
dents” is defined as in the national income
accounts; it includes corporations, busi­
nesses, and individuals, but does not require
the organizations to be U.S. owned nor the
individuals to have U.S. citizenship.) The
import price index provides a measure of
price change for goods purchased from other
countries by U.S. residents.
The product universe for both the import
and export indexes includes raw materials,
agricultural products, semifinished manufac­
tures, and finished manufactures, including
both capital and consumer goods. Price data
for these items are collected primarily by
mail questionnaire. In nearly all cases, the
data are collected directly from the exporter
or importer, although in a few cases, prices
are obtained from other sources.
To the extent possible, the data gathered
refer to prices at die U.S. border for exports
and at either the foreign border or the U.S.

border for imports. For nearly all products,
the prices refer to transactions completed dur­
ing the first week of the month. Survey re­
spondents are asked to indicate all discounts,
allowances, and rebates applicable to the re­
ported prices, so that the price used in the cal­
culation of the indexes is the actual price for
which the product was bought or sold.
In addition to general indexes of prices
for U.S. exports and imports, indexes are also
published for detailed product categories of
exports and imports. These categories are
defined according to the five-digit level of
detail for the Bureau of Economic Analysis
End-use Classification (SiTC), and the four­
digit level of detail for the Harmonized
System. Aggregate import indexes by coun­
try or region of origin are also available.
publishes indexes for selected catego­
ries of internationally traded services, calcu­
lated on an international basis and on a balance-of-payments basis.
bls

Notes on the data
The export and import price indexes are
weighted indexes of the Laspeyres type. Price
relatives are assigned equal importance
within each harmonized group and are then
aggregated to the higher level. The values as­
signed to each weight category are based on
trade value figures compiled by the Bureau
of the Census. The trade weights currently
used to compute both indexes relate to 1990.
Because a price index depends on the same
items being priced from period to period, it is
necessary to recognize when a product’s speci­
fications or terms of transaction have been
modified. For this reason, the Bureau’s ques­
tionnaire requests detailed descriptions of the
physical and functional characteristics of the
products being priced, as well as information
on the number of units bought or sold, dis­
counts, credit terms, packaging, class of buyer
or seller, and so forth. When there are changes
in either the specifications or terms of trans­
action of a product, the dollar value of each
change is deleted from the total price change
to obtain the “pure” change. Once this value
is determined, a linking procedure is em­
ployed which allows for the continued repric­
ing of the item.
For the export price indexes, the preferred
pricing is f.a.s. (free alongside ship) U.S. port
of exportation. When firms report export
prices f.o.b. (free on board), production point
information is collected which enables the
Bureau to calculate a shipment cost to the port
of exportation. An attempt is made to collect
two prices for imports. The first is the import
price f.o.b. at the foreign port of exportation,
which is consistent with the basis for valua­
tion of imports in the national accounts. The
second is the import price c.i.f.(costs, insur­
ance, and freight) at the U.S. port of importa­


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tion, which also includes the other costs as­
sociated with bringing the product to the U.S.
border. It does not, however, include duty
charges. For a given product, only one price
basis series is used in the construction of an
index.
For additional information on inter­
national prices, contact the Division of In­
ternational Prices: (202) 691-7155.

Productivity Data
(Tables 2; 39-42)

Business sector and major
sectors
Description of the series
The productivity measures relate real output
to real input. As such, they encompass a fam­
ily of measures which include single-factor
input measures, such as output per hour, out­
put per unit of labor input, or output per unit
of capital input, as well as measures of mul­
tifactor productivity (output per unit of com­
bined labor and capital inputs). The Bureau
indexes show the change in output relative
to changes in the various inputs. The mea­
sures cover the business, nonfarm business,
manufacturing, and nonfinancial corporate
sectors.
Corresponding indexes of hourly com­
pensation, unit labor costs, unit nonlabor
payments, and prices are also provided.
Definitions
O u tp u t p e r h o u r o f a ll p e rso n s (labor pro­
ductivity) is the quantity of goods and ser­
vices produced per hour of labor input. O u t­
p u t p e r u n it o f c a p ita l se rvices (capital pro­
ductivity) is the quantity of goods and ser­
vices produced per unit of capital services
input. M u ltifa c to r p ro d u ctiv ity is the quan­
tity of goods and services produced per com­
bined inputs. For private business and pri­
vate nonfarm business, inputs include labor
and capital units. For manufacturing, in­
puts include labor, capital, energy, non-en­
ergy materials, and purchased business ser­
vices.
C o m p en sa tio n p e r h o u r is total compen­
sation divided by hours at work. Total com­
pensation equals the wages and salaries of
employees plus employers’ contributions for
social insurance and private benefit plans,
plus an estimate of these payments for the
self-employed (except for nonfinancial cor­
porations in which there are no self-em­
ployed). R e a l c o m p e n sa tio n p e r h o u r is
compensation per hour deflated by the
change in the Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers.
U n it la b o r costs are the labor compen­

sation costs expended in the production of a
unit of output and are derived by dividing
compensation by output. U n it n o n la b o r
p a y m e n ts include profits, depreciation,
interest, and indirect taxes per unit of out­
put. They are computed by subtracting com­
pensation of all persons from current-dollar
value of output and dividing by output.
U n it n o n la b o r c o s ts contain all the
components of unit nonlabor payments ex­
cept unit profits.
U n it p r o fits include corporate profits
with inventory valuation and capital con­
sumption adjustments per unit of output.
H o u rs o f all p e rso n s are the total hours
at work of payroll workers, self-employed
persons, and unpaid family workers.
L a b o r in p u ts are hours of all persons ad­
justed for the effects of changes in the edu­
cation and experience of the labor force.
C a p ita l se rv ic e s are the flow of services
from the capital stock used in production. It
is developed from measures of the net stock
of physical assets—equipment, structures,
land, and inventories—weighted by rental
prices for each type of asset.
C o m b in e d u n its o f la b o r a n d c a p ita l
in puts are derived by combining changes in

labor and capital input with weights which
represent each component’s share of total
cost. Combined units of labor, capital, energy,
materials, and purchased business services are
similarly derived by combining changes in
each input with weights that represent each
input’s share of total costs. The indexes for
each input and for combined units are based
on changing weights which are averages of the
shares in the current and preceding year (the
Tomquist index-number formula).
Notes on the data
Business sector output is an annually-weighted
index constructed by excluding from real gross
domestic product (gdp) the following outputs:
general government, nonprofit institutions,
paid employees of private households, and the
rental value of owner-occupied dwellings.
Nonfarm business also excludes farming. Pri­
vate business and private nonfarm business
further exclude government enterprises. The
measures are supplied by the U.S. Department
of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analy­
sis. Annual estimates of manufacturing sectoral
output are produced by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. Quarterly manufacturing output in­
dexes from the Federal Reserve Board are ad­
justed to these annual output measures by the
bls . Compensation data are developed from
data of the Bureau of Economic Analysis and
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hours data are
developed from data of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
The productivity and associated cost mea­
sures in tables 39-42 describe the relation-

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

43

Current Labor Statistics

ship between output in real terms and the
labor and capital inputs involved in its pro­
duction. They show the changes from period
to period in the amount of goods and ser­
vices produced per unit of input.
Although these measures relate output to
hours and capital services, they do not mea­
sure the contributions of labor, capital, or any
other specific factor of production. Rather,
they reflect the joint effect of many influences,
including changes in technology; shifts in the
composition of the labor force; capital invest­
ment; level of output; changes in the utiliza­
tion of capacity, energy, material, and research
and development; the organization of produc­
tion; managerial skill; and characteristics and
efforts of the work force.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this
productivity series, contact the Division of
Productivity Research: (202) 691-5606.

Industry productivity
measures
Description of the series
The bls industry productivity data
supplement the measures for the business
economy and major sectors with annual
measures of labor productivity for selected
industries at the three- and four-digit levels
of the Standard Industrial Classification
system. In addition to labor productivity,
the industry data also include annual
measures of compensation and unit labor
costs for three-digit industries and measures
of multifactor productivity for three-digit
manufacturing industries and railroad
transportation. The industry measures differ
in methodology and data sources from the
productivity measures for the major sectors
because the industry measures are
developed independently of the National
Income and Product Accounts framework
used for the major sector measures.

put. L a b o r c o m p e n sa tio n includes pay­
roll as well as supplemental payments, in­
cluding both legally required expenditures
and payments for voluntary programs.
M u lt ifa c t o r p r o d u c tiv ity is derived by
dividing an index of industry output by an
index of the combined inputs consumed in
producing that output. C o m b in e d in p u ts
include capital, labor, and intermediate pur­
chases. The measure of c a p ita l in p u t used
represents the flow of services from the
capital stock used in production. It is devel­
oped from measures of the net stock of
physical assets—equipment, structures,
land, and inventories. The measure of in ­
te rm e d ia te p u rc h a s e s is a combination of
purchased materials, services, fuels, and
electricity.
Notes on the data
The industry measures are compiled from
data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statis­
tics and the Bureau of the Census,with addi­
tional data supplied by other government
agencies, trade associations, and other
sources.
For most industries, the productivity
indexes refer to the output per hour of all
employees. For some trade and services in­
dustries, indexes of output per hour of all
persons (including self-employed) are con­
structed. For some transportation indus­
tries, only indexes of output per employee
are prepared.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this se­
ries, contact the Division of Industry Produc­
tivity Studies: (202) 691-5618.

International Comparisons
(Tables 43-45)

Labor force and
unemployment

Definitions
O u tp u t p er hour is derived by dividing an index
of industry output by an index of labor input.
For most industries, o u tp u t indexes are de­
rived from data on the value of industry out­
put adjusted for price change. For the remain­
ing industries, output indexes are derived from
data on the physical quantity of production.
The la b o r in p ut series consist of the hours
of all employees (production workers and non­
production workers), the hours of all persons
(paid employees, partners, proprietors, and
unpaid family workers), or the number of em­
ployees, depending upon the industry.
U n it l a b o r c o s ts represent the labor
compensation costs per unit of output pro­
duced, and are derived by dividing an index
of labor compensation by an index of out­

44

Monthly Labor Review


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Description of the series
Tables 43 and 44 present comparative meas­
ures of the labor force, employment, and un­
employment—approximating U.S. con­
cepts—for the United States, Canada, Aus­
tralia, Japan, and several European countries.
The unemployment statistics (and, to a lesser
extent, employment statistics) published by
other industrial countries are not, in most
cases, comparable to U.S. unemployment
statistics. Therefore, the Bureau adjusts the
figures for selected countries, where neces­
sary, for all known major definitional differ­
ences. Although precise comparability may
not be achieved, these adjusted figures pro­
vide a better basis for international compari­

January 2001

sons than the figures regularly published by
each country.
Definitions
For the principal U.S. definitions of the la b o r
force, em ploym en t, and u nem ploym ent, see
the Notes section on Employment and Unem­
ployment Data: Household survey data.
Notes on the data
The adjusted statistics have been adapted to
the age at which compulsory schooling ends
in each country, rather than to the U.S. stan­
dard of 16 years of age and older. Therefore,
the adjusted statistics relate to the popula­
tion aged 16 and older in France, Sweden,
and the United Kingdom; 15 and older in
Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, Italy
from 1993 onward, and the Netherlands; and
14 and older in Italy prior to 1993. The insti­
tutional population is included in the denomi­
nator of the labor force participation rates
and employment-population ratios for Japan
and Germany; it is excluded for the United
States and the other countries.
In the U.S. labor force survey, persons on
layoff who are awaiting recall to their jobs
are classified as unemployed. European and
Japanese layoff practices are quite different
in nature from those in the United States;
therefore, strict application of the U.S. defi­
nition has not been made on this point. For
further information, see Monthly Labor Re­
view, December 1981, pp. 8-11.
The figures for one or more recent years
for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,
and the United Kingdom are calculated using
adjustment factors based on labor force sur­
veys for earlier years and are considered pre­
liminary. The recent-year measures for these
countries, therefore, are subject to revision
whenever data from more current labor force
surveys become available.
There are breaks in the data series for the
United States (1990, 1994, 1997, 1998),
France (1992), Italy (1991,1993), the Neth­
erlands (1988), and Sweden (1987).
For the United States, the break in series
reflects a major redesign of the labor force
survey questionnaire and collection method­
ology introduced in January 1994. Revised
population estimates based on the 1990 cen­
sus, adjusted for the estimated undercount,
also were incorporated. In 1996, previously
published data for the 1990-93 period were
revised to reflect the 1990 census-based
population controls, adjusted for the un­
dercount. In 1997, revised population con­
trols were introduced into the household sur­
vey. Therefore, the data are not strictly
conparable with prior years. In 1998, new
composite estimation procedures and minor
revisions in population controls were intro-

duced into the household survey. Therefore,
the data are not strictly comparable with data
for 1997 and earlier years. See the Notes sec­
tion on Employment and Unemployment
Data of this Review.
For France, the 1992 break reflects the
substitution of standardized European Union
Statistical Office (eurostat) unemployment
statistics for the unemployment data esti­
mated according to the International Labor
Office (ilo) definition and published in the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (oecd) annual yearbook and
quarterly update. This change was made be­
cause the eurostat data are more up-to-date
than the oecd figures. Also, since 1992, the
eurostat definitions are closer to the U.S.
definitions than they were in prior years. The
impact of this revision was to lower the un­
employment rate by 0.1 percentage point in
1992 and 1993, by 0.4 percentage point in
1994, and 0.5 percentage point in 1995.
For Italy, the 1991 break reflects a revi­
sion in the method of weighting sample data.
The impact was to increase the unemploy­
ment rate by approximately 0.3 percentage
point, from 6.6 to 6.9 percent in 1991.
In October 1992, the survey methodol­
ogy was revised and the definition of unem­
ployment was changed to include only those
who were actively looking for a job within
the 30 days preceding the survey and who
were available for work. In addition, the
lower age limit for the labor force was raised
from 14 to 15 years. (Prior to these changes,
bls adjusted Italy’s published unemploy­
ment rate downward by excluding from the
unemployed those persons who had not
actively sought work in the past 30 days.)
The break in the series also reflects the in­
corporation of the 1991 population census
results. The impact of these changes was to
raise Italy’s adjusted unemployment rate by
approximately 1.2 percentage points, from
8.3 to 9.5 percent in fourth-quarter 1992.
These changes did not affect employment
significantly, except in 1993. Estimates by
the Italian Statistical Office indicate that em­
ployment declined by about 3 percent in
1993, rather than the nearly 4 percent indi­
cated by the data shown in table 44. This dif­
ference is attributable mainly to the incorpo­
ration of the 1991 population benchmarks in
the 1993 data. Data for earlier years have not
been adjusted to incorporate the 1991 cen­
sus results.
For the Netherlands, a new survey ques­
tionnaire was introduced in 1992 that al­
lowed for a closer application of ilo guide­
lines. EUROSTAT has revised the Dutch series
back to 1988 based on the 1992 changes. The
1988 revised unemployment rate is 7.6 per­
cent; the previous estimate for the same year
was 9.3 percent.
There have been two breaks in series in


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

the Swedish labor force survey, in 1987 and
1993. Adjustments have been made for the
1993 break back to 1987. In 1987, a new
questionnaire was introduced. Questions re­
garding current availability were added and
the period of active workseeking was re­
duced from 60 days to 4 weeks. These
changes lowered Sweden’s 1987 unemploy­
ment rate by 0.4 percentage point, from 2.3
to 1.9 percent. In 1993, the measurement
period for the labor force survey was
changed to represent all 52 weeks of the year
rather than one week each month and a new
adjustment for population totals was intro­
duced. The impact was to raise the unem­
ployment rate by approximately 0.5 per­
centage point, from 7.6 to 8.1 percent. Sta­
tistics Sweden revised its labor force survey
data for 1987-92 to take into account the
break in 1993. The adjustment raised the
Swedish unemployment rate by 0.2 percent­
age point in 1987 and gradually rose to 0.5
percentage point in 1992.
Beginning with 1987, bls has adjusted the
Swedish data to classify students who also
sought work as unemployed. The impact of
this change was to increase the adjusted un­
employment rate by 0.1 percentage point in
1987 and by 1.8 percentage points in 1994,
when unemployment was higher. In 1998,
the adjusted unemployment rate had risen
from 6.5 to 8.4 percent due to the adjustment
to include students.
The net effect of the 1987 and 1993
changes and the bls adjustment for students
seeking work lowered Sweden’s 1987 unem­
ployment rate from 2.3 to 2.2 percent.
FORADDITIONAL INFORMATION On this se­
ries, contact the Division of Foreign Labor
Statistics: (202) 691-5654.

and Sweden, and to all employees (wage and
salary earners) in the other countries.
Definitions

in general, refers to value added in
manufacturing from the national accounts of
each country. However, the output series
for Japan prior to 1970 is an index of indus­
trial production, and the national accounts
measures for the United Kingdom are essen­
tially identical to their indexes of industrial
production.
The 1977-97 output data for the United
States are the gross product originating (value
added) measures prepared by the Bureau of
Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department
of Commerce. Comparable manufacturing
output data currently are not available prior
to 1977.
U.S. gross product originating is a chaintype annual-weighted series. (For more in­
formation on the U.S. measure, see Robert E.
Yuskavage, “Improved Estimates of Gross
Product by Industry, 1959-94,” Survey of
Current Business, August 1996, pp. 133—
55.) The Japanese value added series is based
upon one set of fixed price weights for the
years 1970 through 1997. Output series for
the other foreign economies also employ fixed
price weights, but the weights are updated
periodically (for example, every 5 or 10 years).
To preserve the comparability of the U.S.
measures with those for other economies, bls
uses gross product originating in manufac­
turing for the United States for these com­
parative measures. The gross product origi­
nating series differs from the manufacturing
output series that bls publishes in its news
releases on quarterly measures of U.S. pro­
ductivity and costs (and that underlies the
measures that appear in tables 39 and 41 in
Manufacturing productivity
this section). The quarterly measures are on
and labor costs
a “sectoral output” basis, rather than a valueadded basis. Sectoral output is gross output
Description of the series
less intrasector transactions.
Table 45 presents comparative indexes of
T otal la b o r h o u rs refers to hours worked
manufacturing labor productivity (output per in all countries. The measures are developed
hour), output, total hours, compensation per from statistics of manufacturing employment
hour, and unit labor costs for the United and average hours. The series used for France
States, Canada, Japan, and nine European (from 1970 forward), Norway, and Sweden
countries. These measures are trend compari­ are official series published with the national
sons—that is, series that measure changes accounts. Where official total hours series are
over time—rather than level comparisons. not available, the measures are developed by
There are greater technical problems in com­ BLS using employment figures published with
paring the levels of manufacturing output the national accounts, or other comprehen­
among countries.
sive employment series, and estimates of
bls constructs the comparative indexes
annual hours worked. For Germany, BLS uses
from three basic aggregate measures—out­ estimates of average hours worked developed
put, total labor hours, and total compensa­ by a research institute connected to the Min­
tion. The hours and compensation measures istry of Labor for use with the national ac­
refer to all employed persons (wage and sal­ counts employment figures. For the other
ary earners plus self-employed persons and countries, bls constructs its own estimates
unpaid family workers) in the United States, of average hours.
Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Norway,
Denmark has not published estimates of
O u tp u t,

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

45

Current Labor Statistics

average hours for 1994-97; therefore, the bls
measure of labor input for Denmark ends in
1993.
T otal com p en satio n (lab o r cost) includes
all payments in cash or in-kind made directly
to employees plus employer expenditures for
legally required insurance programs and con­
tractual and private benefit plans. The mea­
sures are from the national accounts of each
country, except those for Belgium, which are
developed by bls using statistics on employ­
ment, average hours, and hourly compensa­
tion. For Canada, France, and Sweden, com­
pensation is increased to account for other sig­
nificant taxes on payroll or employment. For
the United Kingdom, compensation is reduced
between 1967 and 1991 to account for em­
ployment-related subsidies. Self-employed
workers are included in the all-employed-per­
sons measures by assuming that their hourly
compensation is equal to the average for wage
and salary employees.

1970. Self-employed individuals, farms with
fewer than 11 employees, employers regulated
by other Federal safety and health laws, and
Federal, State, and local government agencies
are excluded from the survey.
The survey is a Federal-State coopera­
tive program with an independent sample
selected for each participating State. A
stratified random sample with a Neyman al­
location is selected to represent all private
industries in the State. The survey is strati­
fied by Standard Industrial Classification
and size of employment.
Definitions

Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses

Under the Occupational Safety and Health
Act, employers maintain records of nonfatal
work-related injuries and illnesses that in­
volve one or more of the following: loss of
consciousness, restriction of work or motion,
transfer to another job, or medical treatment
other than first aid.
O ccu p ation al in ju ry is any injury such as
a cut, fracture, sprain, or amputation that re­
sults from a work-related event or a single, in­
stantaneous exposure in the work environment.
O c cu p a tio n a l illness is an abnormal con­
dition or disorder, other than one resulting from
an occupational injury, caused by exposure to
factors associated with employment. It in­
cludes acute and chronic illnesses or disease
which may be caused by inhalation, absorp­
tion, ingestion, or direct contact.
L o s t w o r k d a y in ju rie s a n d illn esses are
cases that involve days away from work, or
days of restricted work activity, or both.
L o s t w o r k d a y s include the number of
workdays (consecutive or not) on which
the employee was either away from work
or at work in some restricted capacity, or
both, because of an occupational injury or
illness, bls measures of the number and
incidence rate of lost workdays were dis­
continued beginning with the 1993 survey.
The number of days away from work or
days of restricted work activity does not
include the day of injury or onset of illness
or any days on which the employee would
not have worked, such as a Federal holiday,
even though able to work.
I n c id e n c e r a te s are computed as the
number of injuries and/or illnesses or lost
work days per 100 full-time workers.

Description of the series

Notes on the data

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Ill­
nesses collects data from employers about their
workers’ job-related nonfatal injuries and ill­
nesses. The information that employers provide
is based on records that they maintain under
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of

The definitions of occupational injuries and
illnesses are from Recordkeeping Guidelines
for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (U.S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics, September 1986).
Estimates are made for industries and em­
ployment size classes for total recordable cases,

Notes on the data
In general, the measures relate to total manu­
facturing as defined by the International Stan­
dard Industrial Classification. However, the
measures for France (for all years) and Italy
(beginning 1970) refer to mining and manu­
facturing less energy-related products, and
the measures for Denmark include mining
and exclude manufacturing handicrafts from
1960 to 1966.
The measures for recent years may be
based on current indicators of manufactur­
ing output (such as industrial production in­
dexes), employment, average hours, and
hourly compensation until national accounts
and other statistics used for the long-term
measures become available.
For additional information on this se­
ries, contact the Division of Foreign Labor
Statistics: (202) 691-5654.____________

O ccupational Injury
and Illness Data
(Tables 46-47)

46

Monthly Labor Review


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

lost workday cases, days away from work
cases, and nonfatal cases without lost work­
days. These data also are shown separately for
injuries. Illness data are available for seven cat­
egories: occupational skin diseases or disorders,
dust diseases of the lungs, respiratory condi­
tions due to toxic agents, poisoning (systemic
effects of toxic agents), disorders due to physi­
cal agents (other than toxic materials), disor­
ders associated with repeated trauma, and all
other occupational illnesses.
The survey continues to measure the num­
ber of new work-related illness cases which
are recognized, diagnosed, and reported dur­
ing the year. Some conditions, for example,
long-term latent illnesses caused by exposure
to carcinogens, often are difficult to relate to
the workplace and are not adequately recog­
nized and reported. These long-term latent ill­
nesses are believed to be understated in the
survey’s illness measure. In contrast, the over­
whelming majority of the reported new ill­
nesses are those which are easier to directly
relate to workplace activity (for example, con­
tact dermatitis and carpal tunnel syndrome).
Most of the estimates are in the form of
incidence rates, defined as the number of in­
juries and illnesses per 100 equivalent full­
time workers. For this purpose, 200,000 em­
ployee hours represent 100 employee years
(2,000 hours per employee). Full detail on the
available measures is presented in the annual
bulletin, Occupational Injuries and Illnesses:
Counts, Rates, and Characteristics.
Comparable data for more than 40 States
and territories are available from the BLS Office of Safety, Health and Working Condi­
tions. Many of these States publish data on
State and local government employees in ad­
dition to private industry data.
Mining and railroad data are furnished to
bls by the Mine Safety and Health Adminis­
tration and the Federal Railroad Administra­
tion. Data from these organizations are in­
cluded in both the national and State data
published annually.
With the 1992 survey, bls began publish­
ing details on serious, nonfatal incidents re­
sulting in days away from work. Included are
some major characteristics of the injured and
ill workers, such as occupation, age, gender,
race, and length of service, as well as the cir­
cumstances of their injuries and illnesses (na­
ture of the disabling condition, part of body
affected, event and exposure, and the source
directly producing the condition). In general,
these data are available nationwide for de­
tailed industries and for individual States at
more aggregated industry levels.
For additional information on occu­
pational injuries and illnesses, contact the
Office of Occupational Safety, Health and
Working Conditions at (202) 691-6180, or
access the Internet at:
h ttp ://w w w .b ls.go v/osh h om e.h tm

Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries
The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
compiles a complete roster of fatal job-re­
lated injuries, including detailed data about
the fatally injured workers and the fatal
events. The program collects and cross
checks fatality information from multiple
sources, including death certificates, State
and Federal workers’ compensation reports,
Occupational Safety and Health Administra­
tion and Mine Safety and Health Adminis­
tration records, medical examiner and au­
topsy reports, media accounts, State motor
vehicle fatality records, and follow-up ques­
tionnaires to employers.
In addition to private wage and salary
workers, the self-employed, family mem­
bers, and Federal, State, and local govern­
ment workers are covered by the program.

To be included in the fatality census, the
decedent must have been employed (that is
working for pay, compensation, or profit)
at the time of the event, engaged in a legal
work activity, or present at the site of the
incident as a requirement of his or her job.
Definition
A fatal work injury is any intentional or un­
intentional wound or damage to the body re­
sulting in death from acute exposure to energy,
such as heat or electricity, or kinetic energy
from a crash, or from the absence of such es­
sentials as heat or oxygen caused by a specific
event or incident or series of events within a
single workday or shift. Fatalities that occur
during a person’s commute to or from work are
excluded from the census, as well as work-re­
lated illnesses, which can be difficult
to identify due to long latency periods.

Notes on the data
Twenty-eight data elements are collected,
coded, and tabulated in the fatality program,
including information about the fatally in­
jured worker, the fatal incident, and the ma­
chinery or equipment involved. Summary
worker demographic data and event charac­
teristics are included in a national news re­
lease that is available about 8 months after
the end of the reference year. The Census of
Fatal Occupational Injuries was initiated in
1992 as a joint Federal-State effort. Most
States issue summary information at the time
of the national news release.
F or additional information on the
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries con­
tact the bls Office of Safety, Health, and
Working Conditions at (202) 691-6175, or
the Internet at:
h ttp ://w w w .b ls.go v/osh h om e.h tm

Bureau of Labor Statistics Internet
The Bureau of Labor Statistics World Wide Web site on the Internet contains a range of
data on consumer and producer prices, employment and unemployment, occupational com­
pensation, employee benefits, workplace injuries and illnesses, and productivity. The
homepage can be accessed using any Web browser:
http://stats.bls.gov
Also, some data can be accessed through anonymous FTP or Gopher at
stats.bls.gov


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

47

Current Labor Statistics:

Comparative Indicators

1. Labor market indicators
Selected indicators

1998

1998

1999
III

1999
IV

1

II

2000
III

IV

1

II

III

E m p lo y m e n t d a ta

Employment status of the civilian noninstitutionalized
population (household survey):'
Labor force participation rate...............................................
Employment-population ratio...............................................
Unemployment rate............................................................
Men...............................................................................
16 to 24 years...............................................................
25 years and over..........................................................
Women..........................................................................
16 to 24 years...............................................................
25 years and over..........................................................
Employment, nonfarm (payroll data), inthousands:1
Total.................................................................................
Private sector..................................................................
Goods-producing...........................................................
Manufacturing............................................................
Service-producing..........................................................
Average hours:
Private sector..................................................................
Manufacturing..................................................
Overtime....................................................................

67.1
64.1
4.5
4.4
11.1
3.2
4.6
9.8
3.6

67.1
64.3
4.2
4.1
10.3
3.0
4.3
9.5
3.3

67.0
64.0
4.5
4.5
11.5
3.2
4.5
9.9
3.5

67.1
64.1
4.4
4.3
10.6
3.1
4.6
9.4
3.6

67.2
64.3
4.3
4.2
10.4
3.0
4.4
9.8
3.4

67.1
64.2
4.3
4.2
10.4
3.0
4.4
9.2
3.4

67.0
64.2
4.2
4.1
10.0
3.0
4.4
9.5
3.3

125,865
106,042
25,414
18,805
100,451

128,786
108,616
25,482
18,543
103,304

126,180
106,321
25,408
18,765
100,772

126,967
107,016
25,469
18,716
101,498

127,800
107,741
25,488
18,632
102,312

128,430
108,319
25,454
18,543
102,976

129,073
108,874
25,459
18,516
103,614

129,783
109,507
25,524
18,482
104,259

130,626
110,195
25,680
18,481
104,946

131,552
110,725
25,703
18,488
105,849

131,619
111,089
25,670
18,448
105,949

34.6
41.7
4.6

34.5
41.7
4.6

34.6
41.7
4.6

34.6
41.7
4.5

34.5
41.6
4.5

34.5
41.7
4.6

34.5
41.8
4.6

34.5
41.7
4.7

34.5
41.7
4.6

34.5
41.7
4.7

34.4
41.4
4.5

3.4
3.5
2.8
3.8
3.0

3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.4

1.2
1.1
.7
1.3
1.5

.6
.6
.5
.6
.6

.4
.4
.8
.3
.5

1.0
1.1
.7
1.3
.4

1.1
.9
.9
.9
1.5

.9
.9
1.0
.8
1.0

1.3
1.5
1.6
1.4
.6

1.0
1.2
1.2
1.2
.3

1.0
.9
.9
1.0
1.3

.7
1.0

1.3
1.5

1.0
1.2

1.2
1.0

67.0
64.3
4.1
4.0
10.4
2.9
4.2
9.4
3.1

67.5
64.7
4.1
4.0
9.7
2.9
4.2
9.6
3.2

67.3
64.6
4.0
3.9
9.7
2.8
4.1
9.0
3.2

67.0
64.3
4.0
3.9
9.7
2.8
4.2
8.5
3.3

E m p lo y m e n t C o s t In d e x 2

Percent change in the ECI, compensation:
All workers (excluding farm, household and Federal workers)....
Private industry workers....................................................
Goods-producing-5........................................................
Service-producing-5.......................................................
State and local government workers...................................

Workers by bargaining status (private industry):
Union................................................................................
3.0
2.7
1.1
.4
.5
.7
.9
Nonunion...........................................................................
3.5
3.6
1.1
.6
.5
1.2
.9
1 Quarterly data seasonally adjusted.
2 Annual changes are December-to-December changes. Quarterly changes are calculated using the last month of each quarter.
3 Goods-produclng Industries include mining, construction, and manufacturing. Service-producing industries include all other private sector industries.

48

Monthly Labor Review


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

2. Annual and quarterly percent changes in compensation, prices, and productivity
Selected m easures

1998

1999

1998

1999
III

IV

I

2000
III

II

IV

I

II

III

C o m p e n s a t io n d a t a 1’2

Employment Cost Index—compensation (wages,
salaries, benefits):
Civilian nonfarm...........................................................
Private nonfarm.......................................................
Employment Cost Index—wages and salaries:
Private nonfarm.......................................................

3.4
3.5

3.4
3.4

1.2
1.1

0.6
.6

0.4
.4

1.0
1.1

1.1
.9

0.9
.9

1.3
1.5

1.0
1.2

1.0
.9

3.7
3.9

3.5
3.5

1.3
1.3

.7
.6

.5
.5

1.0
1.2

1.1
.9

.8
.9

1.1
1.2

1.0
1.0

1.1
1.0

1.6

2.7

.4

.2

.7

.7

1.0

.2

1.7

.7

1.0

.0
.0
.0
-3.3
-16.7

2.9
3.8
.3
3.7
15.3

-.1
.0
-.4
-.5
-5.6

.4
.2
.9
-1.6
-2.5

.0
.0
-.1
-.2
-.1

1.2
1.8
-.4
1.9
9.4

1.5
2.2
-.4
1.9
10.2

.1
-.2
1.2
.1
-3.5

1.4
1.8
.1
1.9
9.1

1.2
1.5
.0
1.5
7.8

1.0
1.0
.0
1.0
-.6

2.7
2.6
3.3

3.1
2.9
4.0

2.1
1.8
5.2

3.9
3.6
3.4

3.3
2.6
4.4

.9
.6
3.8

4.9
5.2
5.1

7.7
8.0
6.1

1.6
1.9
2.9

6.9
6.1
5.4

2.8
3.3
4.9

P r ic e d a t a 1

Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers): All Items....
Producer Price Index:
Finished goods.............................................................
Capital equipment......................................................
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components............
Crude materials.............................................................
P r o d u c t iv ity d a t a 3

Output per hour of all persons:
Business sector.............................................................
Nonfarm business sector................................................
Nonfinancial corporations4.............................................

Annual changes are December-to-December changes. Quarterly changes are
calculated using the last month of each quarter. Compensation and price data are not
seasonally adjusted, and the price data are not compounded.
2 Excludes Federal and private household workers.
3 Annual rates of change are computed by comparing annual averages. Quarterly per­

cent changes reflect annual rates of change in quarterly indexes. The data are
seasonally adjusted.
4 Output per hour of all employees.

3 . A lte r n a tiv e m e a s u re s o f w a g e a n d c o m p e n s a tio n c h a n g e s
Quarterly average
C om ponents

1999
II

Average hourly compensation:1
All persons, business sector...................................................
Employment Cost Index—compensation:
Civilian nonfarm2..................................................................
Union...............................................................................
Nonunion..........................................................................
Employment Cost Index—wages and salaries:
Civilian nonfarm2..................................................................

III

Four quarters ending—
2000

IV

I

II

1999
III

II

III

2000

IV

>

I

III

5.0
5.0

5.3
5.5

3.8
4.2

3.5
3.9

7.0
5.9

5.7
6.3

5.0
4.8

5.1
4.8

4.8
4.8

4.4
4.6

4.9
4.9

5.0
5.1

1.0
1.1
.7
1.2
.4

1.1
.9
.9
.9
1.5

.9
.9
.7
1.0
1.0

1.3
1.5
1.3
1.5
.6

1.0
1.2
1.0
1.2
.3

1.0
.9
1.2
1.0
1.3

3.2
3.3
2.7
3.4
3.0

3.1
3.1
2.5
3.2
2.9

3.4
3.4
2.7
3.6
3.4

4.3
46
3.6
4.7
3.6

4.4
46
3.9
4.6
3.5

4.3
46
4.2
4.7
3.3

1.1
1.2
.5
1.3
.6

1.0
1.0
.9
1.1
.3

1.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.7

3.6
3.6
3.1
3.7
3.1

3.3
3.2
2.5
3.3
3.3

3.5
3.5
2.6
3.6
3.6

4.0
4.2
2.7
4.4
3.8

4.0
4.1
2.8
4.3
3.7

4.0
4.1
3.2
4.3
3.5

1.0
1.1
.8
.9
1.2
.9
Union...............................................................................
.8
.7
.6
Nonunion.........................................................................
1.2
.9
.9
State and local governments...............................................
.4
1.9
.9
1 Seasonally adjusted. "Quarterly average" is percent change from a quarter ago, at an annual rate.

2 Excludes Federal and household workers.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

49

Current Labor Statistics:

Labor Force Data

4. Em ploym ent status of the population, by sex, a g e , ra c e , a n d Hispanic origin, m onthly d a ta seasonally adjusted

[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status

Annual average
1998

1999

2000

1999
Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

TO TAL

Civilian noninstitutional
population1....................
Civilian labor force..........
Participation rate.......
Employed..................
Employment-population ratio2..........
Unemployed...............
Unemployment rate....
Not inthe labor force......

205,220 207,753 208,666 208,832 208,782 208,907 209,053 209,216 209,371 209,543 209,727 209,935 210,161 210,378 210,577
137,673 139,368 139,834 140,108 140,910 141,165 140,867 141,230 140,489 140,762 140,399 140,742 140,639 140,918 141,052
67.1
67.2
67.1
67.1
67.1
67.4
67.5
66.9
67.0
66.9
67.0
67.0
67.5
67.6
67.0
131,463 133,488 134,098 134,420 135,221 135,362 135,159 135,706 134,715 135,179 134,749 134,912 135,161 135,422 135,373
64.1
6,210
4.5
67,547

64.3
5,880
4.2
68,385

64.3
5,736
4.1
68,832

64.4
5,688
4.1
68,724

64.8
5,689
4.0
67,872

64.8
5,804
4.1
67,742

64.7
5,708
4.1
68,187

64.9
5,524
3.9
67,986

64.3
5,774
4.1
68,882

64.5
5,583
4.0
68,781

64.2
5,650
4.0
69,329

64.3
5,829
4.1
69,193

64.3
5,477
3.9
69,522

64.4
5,496
3.9
69,460

64.3
5,679
4.0
69,525

90,790
69,715
76.8
67,135

91,555
70,194
76.7
67,761

91,986
70,388
76.5
68,037

92,052
70,529
76.6
68,197

92,057
70,917
77.0
68,585

92,092
71,120
77.2
68,691

92,145
70,822
76.9
68,480

92,303
70,761
76.7
68,481

92,408
70,603
76.4
68,230

92,546
70,714
76.4
68,430

92,642
70,702
76.3
68,440

92,754
71,067
76.6
68,757

92,863
71,002
76.5
68,699

92,969
71,128
76.5
68,743

93,061
71,122
76.4
68,646

73.9
Agriculture...............
2,350
Nonagricultural
industries.............. 64,785
Unemployed...............
2,580
Unemployment rate....
3.7

74.0
2,244

74.0
2,262

74.1
2,227

74.5
2,303

74.6
2,309

74.3
2,232

74.2
2,213

73.8
2,217

73.9
2,269

73.9
2,296

74.1
2,288

74.0
2,350

73.9
2,196

73.8
2,103

65,517
2,433
3.5

65,775
2,351
3.3

65,970
2,332
3.3

66,282
2,332
3.3

66,382
2,429
3.4

66,249
2,342
3.3

66,269
2,280
3.2

66,013
2,373
3.4

66,161
2,284
3.2

66,144
2,263
3.2

66,469
2,309
3.2

66,349
2,303
3.2

66,547
2,385
3.4

66,543
2,476
3.5

M e n , 2 0 y e a rs a n d o v er

Civilian noninstitutional
population1....................
Civilian labor force..........
Participation rate.......
Employed..................
Employment-pop-

W o m e n , 2 0 y e a rs a n d o v er

Civilian noninstitutional
Civilian labor force..........
Participation rate.......
Employed..................
Employment-pop-

98,786 100,158 100,573 100,666 100,579 100,666 100,713 100,809 100,929 101,007 101,111 101,209 101,321 101,448 101,533
59,702 60,840 61,052 61,154 61,576 61,575 61,671 61,920 61,614 61,596 61,508 61,260 61,386 61,481 61,561
60.4
60.7
60.7
60.7
61.2
61.4
61.0
61.0
60.8
60.5
60.6
61.2
61.2
60.6
60.6
57,278 58,555 58,838 58,958 59,280 59,398 59,422 59,757 59,248 59,278 59,222 58,949 59,268 59,417 59,456
58.5
803

58.5
768

58.6
791

58.9
826

59.0
871

59.0
894

59.3
899

58.7
864

58.7
834

58.6
792

58.2
824

58.5
744

58.6
734

58.6
778

57,752
2,285
3.8

58,070
2,214
3.6

58,167
2,196
3.6

58,454
2,297
3.7

58,526
2,178
3.5

58,528
2,249
3.6

58,858
2,163
3.5

58,383
2,367
3.8

58,444
2,318
3.8

58,430
2,286
3.7

58,125
2,311
3.8

58,524
2,118
3.5

58,683
2,065
3.4

58,677
2,105
3.4

15,644
8,256
52.8
7,051

16,040
8,333
52.0
7,172

16,107
8,394
52.1
7,223

16,114
8,425
52.3
7,265

16,147
8,416
52.1
7,356

16,149
8,470
52.4
7,273

16,196
8,374
51.7
7,257

16,104
8,549
53.1
7,467

16,034
8,271
51.6
7,237

15,991
8,452
52.9
7,471

15,974
8,189
51.3
7,087

15,972
8,415
52.7
7,206

15,977
8,251
51.6
7,195

15,960
8,309
52.1
7,262

15,983
8,370
52.4
7,272

45.1
261

44.7
234

44.8
280

45.1
261

45.6
242

45.0
228

44.8
233

46.4
243

45.1
217

46.7
218

44.4
211

45.1
232

45.0
247

45.5
304

45.5
272

6,790
1,205
14.6

6,938
1,162
13.9

6,943
1,171
14.0

7,004
1,160
13.8

7,114
1,060
12.6

7,046
1,197
14.1

7,024
1,117
13.3

7,224
1,082
12.7

7,020
1,034
12.5

7,253
981
11.6

6,876
1,101
13.4

6,974
1,209
14.4

6,948
1,056
12.8

6,958
1,047
12.6

7,000
1,098
13.1

58.0
Agriculture...............
768
Nonagricultural
industries.............. 56,510
2,424
Unemployed...............
Unemployment rate....
4.1
B o th s e x e s , 16 to 19 y e a rs

Civilian noninstitutional
Civilian labor force..........
Participation rate.......
Employed..................
Employment-popAgriculture...............
Nonagricultural
industries..............
Unemployed...............
Unemployment rate....
W h ite

Civilian noninstitutional
171,478 173,085 173,709 173,821 173,812 173,886 173,983 174,092 174,197 174,316 174,443 174,587 174,745 174,899 175,034
Civilian labor force.......... 115,415 116,509 116,703 117,008 117,716 117,821 117,832 117,988 117,097 117,451 117,258 117,551 117,535 117,500 117,507
Participation rate.......
67.3
67.2
67.3
67.3
67.7
67.8
67.7
67.8
67.2
67.4
67.2
67.3
67.3
67.2
67.1
Employed.................. 110,931 112,235 112,611 112,951 113,704 113,634 113,630 113,915 112,988 113,484 113,156 113,352 113,450 113,516 113,359
Employment-pop64.7
64.8
65.4
64.8
65.0
65.3
65.3
65.4
64.9
64.9
64.9
65.1
64.9
64.9
64.8
Unemployed...............
4,484
4,273
4,092
4,057
4,187
4,011
4,202
4,073
4,108
3,967
3,984
4,103
4,199
4,085
4,148
Unemployment rate....
3.9
3.7
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.4
3.5
3.5
B la c k

Civilian noninstitutional
Civilian labor force..........
Participation rate.......
Employed..................
Employment-popUnemployed...............
Unemployment rate....
See footnotes at end of table.

50

24,373
15,982
65.6
14,556

24,855
16,365
65.8
15,056

25,019
16,508
66.0
15,187

25,051
16,513
65.9
15,204

25,047
16,622
66.4
15,254

25,076
16,785
66.9
15,471

25,105
16,572
66.0
15,356

25,135
16,636
66.2
15,444

25,161
16,596
66.0
15,261

25,191
16,557
65.8
15,275

25,221
16,456
65.2
15,190

25,258
16,512
65.4
15,190

25,299
16,403
64.8
15,246

25,339
16,593
65.5
15,380

25,376
16,755
66.0
15,509

59.7
1,426
8.9

60.6
1,309
8.0

60.7
1,321
8.0

60.7
1,309
7.9

60.9
1,368
8.2

61.7
1,314
7.8

61.2
1,216
7.3

61.4
1,191
7.2

60.7
1,335
8.0

60.6
1,302
7.9

60.2
1,266
7.7

60.1
1,322
8.0

60.3
1,156
7.0

60.7
1,213
7.3

61.1
1,245
7.4

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

4. C o n tin u e d — E m p lo y m e n t status o f th e p o p u la tio n , b y sex, a g e , ra c e , a n d H ispanic origin, m o n th ly d a ta s e aso n ally adju s te d

[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status

Annual average

1999

2000

1998

1999

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

21,070
14,317
67.9
13,291

21,650
14,665
67.7
13,720

21,947
14,887
67.8
13,979

22,008
14,984
68.1
14,095

22,047
15,251
69.2
14,395

22,108
15,249
69.0
14,382

22,166
15,313
69.1
14,355

22,231
15,355
69.1
14,524

22,292
15,322
68.7
14,432

22,355
15,325
68.6
14,461

22,422
15,188
67.7
14,339

22,488
15,248
67.8
14,371

22,555
15,536
68.9
14,666

22,618
15,496
68.5
14,728

22,687
15,599
68.8
14,646

63.1
1,026
7.2

63.4
945
6.4

63.7
908
6.1

64.0
889
5.9

65.3
856
5.6

65.1
868
5.7

64.8
958
6.3

65.3
831
5.4

64.7
890
5.8

64.7
864
5.6

64.0
849
5.6

63.9
876
5.7

65.0
871
5.6

65.1
767
5.0

64.6
954
6.1

H is p a n ic o rig in

Civilian noninstitutional
population1.....................
Civilian labor force...........
Participation rate.......
Employment-popUnemployed................
Unemployment rate....

1 The population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
2 Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population.
NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because

data for the "other races" groups are not presented and Híspanles are included in both the
white ancl black population groups.

5. S e le c te d e m p lo y m e n t indicators, m o n th ly d a ta seaso nally a d ju sted

[In thousands]
Selected categories

1999

Annual average
1998

1999

Nov.

2000
Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

C h a r a c te r is t ic

Employed, 16 years and over.. 131,463
Men................................ 70,693
Women............................ 60,771
Married men, spouse
present.......................... 42,923
Married women, spouse
present.......................... 32,872
Women who maintain
7,904
families..........................

133,488 134,098 134,420 135,221 135,362 135,159 135,706 134,715 135,179 134,749 134,912 135,161 135,422 135,373
71,446 71,732 71,927 72,358 72,473 72,313 72,307 71,948 72,217 72,063 72,407 72,352 72,378 72,286
62,042 62,366 62,493 62,863 62,889 62,846 63,399 62,767 62,962 62,686 62,505 62,809 63,044 63,087
43,254

43,273

43,283

43,951

43,535

43,297

43,272

43,216

43,357

43,284

43,372

43,324

43,363

43,210

33,450

33,635

33,762

34,166

33,882

33,780

33,877

33,786

33,824

33,618

33,413

33,402

33,604

33,621

8,229

8,526

8,375

8,362

8,220

8,082

8,307

8,301

8,280

8,483

8,519

8,548

8,441

8,501

1,944
1,297
40

2,049
1,216
41

2,018
1,211
36

2,024
1,320
38

2,025
1,344
51

2,043
1,292
42

2,054
1,272
43

2,006
1,252
38

2,059
1,175
50

2,079
1,182
40

2,056
1,258
37

2,010
1,288
39

2,044
1,171
31

1,964
1,164
24

C la s s o f w o r k e r

Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers....
2,000
1,341
Self-employed workers.......
Unpaid family workers........
38
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers.... 119,019
18,383
100,637
962
Private households......
Other......................... 99,674
Self-employed workers......
8,962
Unpaid family workers.......
103

121,323 121,965 122,426 122,823 123,166 123,169 123,623 122,860 123,002 122,681 122,773 122,992 123,367 123,514
18,903 18,902 18,959 19,013 19,394 19,598 19,280 19,169 18,777 18,497 18,496 18,979 19,047 19,092
102,420 103,063 103,467 103,810 103,772 103,571 104,343 103,691 104,225 104,184 104,277 104,013 104,320 104,422
933
944
952
957
807
716
812
793
812
948
1,016
998
1,019
953
101,487 102,119 102,519 102,858 102,756 102,573 103,324 102,783 103,268 103,377 103,561 103,201 103,527 103,610
8,662
8,802
8,704
8,714
8,790
8,686
8,793
8,750
8,665
8,609
8,590
8,799
8,550
8,488
95
108
98
92
74
107
82
144
134
103
71
80
116
105

P e r s o n s a t w o r k p a r t t im e 1

All industries:
Part time for economic
3,665

3,357

3,274

3,320

3,219

3,139

3,124

3,124

3,248

3,117

3,071

3,164

3,189

3,200

3,477

2,095

1,968

1,930

1,951

1,893

1,807

1,820

1,844

1,962

1,811

1,846

1,997

2,101

1,900

2,221

1,258

1,079

1,032

1,025

1,012

1,023

953

1,016

978

1,022

900

855

815

973

877

18,530

18,758

18,651

18,618

18,889

19,031

18,770

18,474

18,409

18,308

18,558

18,709

18,456

18,704

18,917

3,501

3,189

3,105

3,157

3,066

2,985

3,003

3,021

3,096

2,967

2,940

3,038

3,021

3,031

3,325

1,997

1,861

1,815

1,843

1,801

1,705

1,766

1,782

1,840

1,713

1,750

1,924

1,983

1,810

2,119

922
962
994
1,228
1,056
1,013
1,018
966
1,005
989
Part time for noneconomic
reasons........................
17,954 18,197 18,083 18,061 18,347 18,406 18,184 17,943 17,853 17,743
’ Excludes persons "with a job but not at work" during the survey period for such reasons as vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.

881

838

804

945

867

18,041

18,190

17,879

18,158

18,318

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


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Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

51

Current Labor Statistics:

6.

Labor Force Data

S e le c te d u n e m p lo y m e n t in d ic a to rs , m o n th ly d a t a s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

[Unemployment rates]
1999

A n n u a l a v e ra g e

2000

Selected categories
1998

1999

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

C h a r a c t e r is t ic

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

4.5
14.6
3.7
4.1

4.2
13.9
3.5
3.8

4.1
14.0
3.3
3.6

4.1
13.8
3.3
3.6

4.0
12.6
3.3
3.7

4.1
14.1
3.4
3.5

4.1
13.3
3.3
3.6

3.9
12.7
3.2
3.5

4.1
12.5
3.4
3.8

4.0
11.6
3.2
3.8

4.0
13.4
3.2
3.7

4.1
14.4
3.2
3.8

3.9
12.8
3.2
3.5

3.9
12.6
3.4
3.4

4.0
13.1
3.5
3.4

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

3.9
12.6
14.1
10.9
3.2
3.4

3.7
12.0
12.6
11.3
3.0
3.3

3.5
12.0
12.8
11.2
2.8
3.1

3.5
12.2
13.3
10.9
2.8
3.0

3.4
10.8
12.4
9.1
2.8
3.1

3.6
12.5
14.4
10.4
2.9
3.1

3.6
11.7
11.3
12.1
2.9
3.2

3.5
11.6
13.0
10.0
2.8
3.1

3.5
10.6
10.7
10.5
2.8
3.3

3.4
9.4
11.2
7.4
2.8
3.2

3.5
11.5
12.6
10.3
2.7
3.3

3.6
12.2
13.3
11.0
2.7
3.3

3.5
11.5
12.2
10.7
2.9
3.1

3.4
11.1
11.5
10.6
2.9
2.9

3.5
11.9
12.6
11.1
3.0
3.0

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

8.9
27.6
30.1
25.3
7.4
7.9

8.0
27.9
30.9
25.1
6.7
6.8

8.0
28.4
31.0
25.9
7.0
6.6

7.9
25.3
27.5
23.0
7.0
6.7

8.2
23.9
24.0
23.8
7.4
7.2

7.8
24.3
22.3
26.6
7.1
6.5

7.3
25.1
21.3
28.9
6.4
6.1

7.2
22.2
22.0
22.4
6.6
5.8

8.0
23.9
27.7
20.2
7.2
7.0

7.9
25.4
32.0
18.2
6.9
6.6

7.7
26.6
25.0
27.9
6.7
6.4

8.0
27.8
33.7
22.5
7.4
6.3

7.0
23.9
26.7
21.5
6.3
5.8

7.3
24.2
28.0
21.0
7.0
5.6

7.4
20.9
20.9
21.0
6.8
6.3

Hispanic origin, total.......................

7.2

6.4

6.1

5.9

5.6

5.7

6.3

5.4

5.8

5.6

5.6

5.7

5.6

5.0

6.1

Married men, spouse present...........
Married women, spouse present......

2.4
2.9
7.2
4.3
5.3

2.2
2.7
6.4
4.1
5.0

2.1
2.5
6.0
3.9
4.9

2.2
2.5
6.2
3.9
4.9

2.0
2.6
6.2
3.9
4.6

2.1
2.6
6.1
3.9
4.9

2.0
2.7
6.8
3.8
5.1

1.8
2.6
6.3
3.8
4.6

1.9
2.9
6.5
3.9
5.3

1.9
2.6
6.1
3.8
4.8

2.0
2.8
5.6
3.7
5.3

2.0
2.9
6.0
4.0
5.0

2.1
2.8
5.3
3.8
4.6

2.0
2.4
5.4
3.8
4.4

2.3
2.4
5.1
3.9
4.5

4.6
3.2
7.5
3.9
3.4
4.7
3.4
5.5
2.5
4.5
2.3
8.3

4.3
5.7
7.0
3.6
3.5
3.9
3.0
5.2
2.3
4.1
2.2
8.9

4.2
4.6
5.7
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.3
5.3
2.3
3.9
2.0
8.3

4.1
4.1
6.6
3.6
3.6
3.5
3.0
5.2
2.1
3.8
2.1
7.1

4.2
2.6
6.4
3.2
2.8
3.9
3.7
5.1
2.5
4.2
2.1
5.0

4.2
4.0
7.5
3.3
3.0
3.8
3.2
5.3
2.9
3.7
2.2
6.5

4.3
2.5
6.9
3.9
3.0
5.2
3.1
5.4
2.4
4.0
1.7
5.6

4.0
2.8
5.2
4.0
3.9
4.1
2.9
4.9
2.6
3.7
1.7
8.4

4.2
4.2
5.8
3.7
3.6
3.7
3.2
5.1
2.4
4.1
2.0
7.6

4.0
3.5
5.9
3.4
3.5
3.1
2.7
5.2
2.3
3.8
2.5
7.3

4.1
5.1
5.9
3.6
3.3
4.0
3.2
5.0
2.1
4.0
2.1
7.0

4.1
4.6
6.5
3.5
3.1
4.3
3.1
5.1
2.5
3.8
2.4
8.5

4.0
5.8
6.4
3.6
3.1
4.4
3.3
4.7
2.0
3.6
2.0
7.8

4.0
7.1
6.5
4.1
3.8
4.5
2.7
4.7
2.4
3.5
2.0
9.2

4.0
3.2
7.3
3.6
3.5
3.8
2.5
4.6
1.8
3.8
2.3
10.2

7.1
4.0

6.7
3.5

6.5
3.3

6.0
3.5

6.6
3.5

6.0
3.5

6.9
3.4

6.1
3.4

7.0
3.6

6.4
3.4

6.4
3.3

6.1
3.7

6.1
3.3

6.4
3.5

6.7
3.6

3.0
1.8

2.8
1.8

2.7
1.7

2.5
1.8

2.6
1.8

2.9
1.6

2.7
1.6

2.6
1.5

2.5
1.6

2.9
1.5

2.8
1.7

2.9
1.8

2.6
1.9

2.4
1.6

2.7
1.5

Part-time workers............................
In d u s try

Nonagricultural wage and salary
Construction.....................................
Manufacturing..................................
Transportation and public utilities.......
Wholesale and retail trade.................
Finance, insurance, and real estate....
Services...........................................
Agricultural wage and salary workers.....
E d u c a t io n a l a t t a in m e n t 1

Less than a high school diploma.............
High school graduates, no college...........
Some college, less than a bachelor's
degree...............................................
College graduates................................
1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.

52

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

7.

D u ra tio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t, m o n th ly d a t a s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

[Numbers in thousands]
W eeks of
unem ploym ent

1998

2000

1999

A nnual average
1999

Nov,

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

Aug.

July

Sept

Oct.

Nov.

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

2,622
1,950
1,637
763
875

2,568
1,832
1,480
755
725

2,601
1,760
1,401
725
676

2,620
1,694
1,388
693
695

2,447
1,754
1,372
667
705

2,603
1,864
1,277
673
604

2,824
1,719
1,295
657
637

2,455
1,868
1,250
670
580

2,531
1,953
1,337
677
660

2,595
1,759
1,242
593
649

2,470
1,812
1,331
654
677

2,594
1,846
1,384
679
705

2,487
1,717
1,226
602
624

2,497
1,703
1,320
715
605

2,547
1,783
1,331
735
596

Mean duration, in weeks..............
Median duration, in weeks............

14.5
6.7

13.4
6.4

13.0
6.2

12.9
5.9

13.2
5.7

12.5
6.1

12.8
6.0

12.4
6.0

12.6
5.8

12.4
5.8

13.3
6.0

13.0
6.2

11.9
5.2

12.4
6.2

12.4
6.1

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

2,417
856
1,561
799
1,961
402

2,615
940
1,674
782
1,919
514

2,428
791
1,637
837
1,842
383

2,492
871
1,621
768
1,961
430

8.

U n e m p lo y e d p erson s b y re a s o n for u n e m p lo y m e n t, m o n th ly d a t a s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

[Numbers in thousands]
Reason for
unem ploym ent

Job losers1..................................
On temporary layoff...................
Not on temporary layoff.............
Job leavers.................................
Reentrants..................................
New entrants...............................

Annual average
1998

1999

2,822
866
1,957
734
2,132
520

2,622
848
1,774
783
2,005
469

2000

1999
Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

2,493
851
1,642
821
1,935
485

2,401
795
1,606
825
2,036
453

2,477
739
1,739
776
2,043
393

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

2,616
838
1,778
759
1,975
387

2,541
781
1,759
824
1,979
434

2,306
703
1,602
883
1,961
408

2,483
894
1,589
774
2,093
500

June

2,450
959
1,491
671
2,076
343

2,511
823
1,688
746
1,774
411

P e r c e n t o f u n e m p lo y e d

Not on temporary layoff.............
Job leavers.................................
New entrants...............................

45.5
13.9
31.5
11.8
34.3
8.4

44.6
14.4
30.2
13.3
34.1
8.0

43.5
14.8
28.6
14.3
33.7
8.5

42.0
13.9
28.1
14.4
35.6
7.9

43.5
13.0
30.6
13.6
35.9
6.9

45.6
14.6
31.0
13.2
34.4
6.7

44.0
13.5
30.5
14.3
34.3
7.5

41.9
12.8
29.1
15.1
35.6
7.4

42.4
15.3
27.2
13.2
35.8
8.5

44.2
17.3
26.9
12.1
37.5
6.2

43.3
15.3
28.0
14.3
35.1
7.2

44.8
16.1
28.7
13.4
32.9
8.8

46.2
15.1
31.0
13.7
32.6
7.5

44.2
14.4
29.8
15.3
33.5
7.0

44.1
15.4
28.7
13.6
34.7
7.6

1.9
.6
1.4
.3

1.8
.6
1.4
.3

1.7
.6
1.5
.3

1.8
.6
1.4
.3

1.9
.5
1.4
.3

1.8
.6
1.4
.3

1.6
.6
1.4
.3

1.8
.6
1.5
.4

1.7
.5
1.5
.2

1.7
.6
1.4
.3

1.9
.6
1.4
.4

1.8
.5
1.4
.4

1.7
.6
1.3
.3

1.8
.5
1.4
.3

P e r c e n t o f c iv ilia n
la b o r fo r c e

2.1
.5
1.5
.4
New entrants..............................
1 Includes persons who completed temporary jobs.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

53

Current Labor Statistics:

9.

Labor Force Data

U n e m p lo y m e n t ra te s b y s e x a n d a g e , m o n th ly d a t a s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

[Civilian workers]
S ex and age

A nnual average
1998

1999

1999
Nov.

2000

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

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

4.5
10.4
14.6
17.2
12.8
7.9
3.4
3.5
2.7

4.2
9.9
13.9
16.3
12.4
7.5
3.1
3.2
2.8

4.1
10.0
14.0
16.5
12.3
7.7
3.0
3.1
2.6

4.1
9.8
13.8
16.5
12.1
7.4
3.0
3.0
2.7

4.0
9.3
12.6
14.0
11.4
7.4
3.0
3.1
2.8

4.1
10.0
14.1
15.9
12.8
7.5
3.0
3.0
3.0

4.1
9.7
13.3
15.3
12.1
7.6
3.0
3.0
2.7

3.9
9.3
12.7
14.6
11.4
7.2
2.9
3.0
2.4

4.1
9.8
12.5
16.0
10.4
8.2
3.0
3.1
2.4

4.0
9.0
11.6
13.1
10.6
7.5
3.0
3.1
2.3

4.0
9.2
13.4
16.5
11.5
6.8
3.0
3.2
2.4

4.1
9.4
14.4
17.1
12.6
6.4
3.1
3.2
2.6

3.9
8.7
12.8
15.7
11.2
6.4
3.0
3.0
2.8

3.9
8.9
12.6
14.9
11.3
6.8
2.9
3.0
2.9

4.0
9.1
13.1
15.5
11.5
6.8
3.0
3.1
2.9

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

4.4
11.1
16.2
19.1
14.1
8.1
3.2
3.3
2.8

4.1
10.3
14.7
17.0
13.1
7.7
3.0
3.0
2.8

4.0
10.2
14.9
16.9
13.6
7.5
2.8
2.9
2.6

4.0
10.6
15.2
17.7
13.5
7.8
2.8
2.9
2.5

3.9
9.7
14.0
14.3
13.7
7.2
2.8
2.9
2.5

4.1
10.3
15.5
17.3
13.9
7.3
2.9
2.9
2.8

3.8
9.2
12.4
15.1
10.5
7.4
2.8
2.8
2.8

3.8
9.6
13.6
15.8
12.4
7.3
2.7
2.7
2.7

3.9
10.0
13.1
16.9
10.8
8.3
2.8
2.8
2.6

3.9
9.5
14.1
15.6
13.3
6.8
2.8
2.9
2.2

3.8
9.6
14.0
17.4
11.9
7.1
2.8
2.8
2.4

4.0
10.1
16.0
16.9
15.5
6.7
2.8
2.9
2.7

3.8
9.3
13.6
17.4
11.0
6.9
2.8
2.8
2.6

3.9
9.4
13.2
17.7
10.3
7.4
2.9
2.9
2.9

4.1
9.6
13.8
17.5
11.3
7.3
3.0
3.0
3.0

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

4.6
9.8
12.9
15.1
11.5
7.8
3.6
3.8
2.6

4.3
9.5
13.2
15.5
11.6
7.2
3.3
3.4
2.8

4.2
9.8
13.0
16.1
10.8
7.9
3.1
3.3
2.6

4.1
8.9
12.2
15.1
10.5
7.0
3.2
3.2
2.9

4.2
8.9
11.1
13.7
8.9
7.6
3.2
3.3
3.1

4.1
9.6
12.6
14.3
11.6
7.8
3.0
3.0
3.3

4.3
10.2
14.4
15.4
13.7
7.7
3.2
3.3
2.7

4.0
8.9
11.6
13.3
10.4
7.2
3.0
3.2
2.0

4.3
9.5
11.8
15.0
9.9
8.2
3.3
3.5
2.3

4.1
8.5
8.9
10.4
7.8
8.2
3.2
3.4
2.4

4.3
8.9
12.8
15.5
11.0
6.5
3.3
3.5
2.3

4.3
8.6
12.6
17.3
9.4
6.2
3.5
3.6
2.6

4.0
8.0
11.9
13.9
11.5
5.7
3.2
3.2
3.1

3.9
8.4
12.0
12.2
12.3
6.2
3.0
3.0
2.9

4.0
8.6
12.4
13.4
11.7
6.3
3.1
3.1
2.8

54

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

10. U n e m p lo y m e n t ra tes b y S ta te , s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d
Oct.
State

1999

Mississippi...........................................

Sept.

OCt.

2000

2000p

State

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

1999

2000

2000p

4.7
6.0
4.3
42
5.0

4.4
6.3
3.5
3.8
4.8

4.4
6.0
3.7
3.7
4.7

Missouri...............................................
Montana..............................................
Nebraska.............................................
Nevada................................................
New Hampshire....................................

2.9
5.0
2.8
4.5
2.5

3.1
5.0
2.6
4.0
2.4

3.7
4.8
2.8
4.2
2.5

2.9
31
3.5
5.8
38

2.7
2.4
3.9
5.8
3.8

3.5
2.0
3.8
6.0
3.7

New Jersey..........................................
New York............................................
North Carolina.....................................
North Dakota.......................................

4.5
5.6
5.1
3.2
3.2

3.8
5.5
4.6
3.6
2.5

3.8
5.5
4.4
3.7
2.4

3.8
53
4.8
4.3
3.0

3.8
4.4
4.6
4.4
2.3

3.6
3.9
4.7
3.9
2.4

Ohio...................................................
Oklahoma...........................................
Oregon................................................
Pennsylvania.......................................
Rhode Island.......................................

4.2
3.2
5.4
4.3
4.0

4.2
3.0
5.1
4.0
3.8

4.0
3.0
5.4
4.2
3.3

2.3
3.0
4.3
4.8
3.9

2.3
3.4
3.8
5.0
3.5

2.5
3.5
3.9
5.3
3.4

South Carolina.....................................
South Dakota.......................................
Tennessee...........................................
Texas..................................................
Utah...................................................

4.6
2.8
3.9
4.6
3.3

3.6
2.3
3.8
4.4
3.0

2.5
2.4
3.7
4.3
3.1

3.4
3.3
3.7
27
5.1

3.5
2.4
3.7
2.7
4.7

3.6
2.4
3.6
2.8
5.2

Vermont..............................................
Virginia................................................
Washington.........................................
West Virginia.......................................
Wisconsin............................................
Wyoming............................................

2.9
2.8
4.5
6.5
2.9
4.7

2.8
2.4
4.7
5.3
3.6
4.4

2.7
2.4
4.7
5.5
3.0
3.8

p= preliminary

11. E m p lo y m e n t o f w o rk e rs o n n o n fa rm p ay ro lls b y S ta te , s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

[In thousands]
State

Oct.

Sept.

O ct

1999

2000

2000p

2,738.3
384.1
894.1
1,001.4
606.6

2,773.2
393.6
887.4
1,040.9
613.3

2,769.1
392.0
886.6
1,043.9
611.7

North Carolina.........................
North Dakota............................

3,894.6
733.1
8,496.0
3,879.2
325.5

3,936.4
750.7
8,649.9
3,922.6
325.6

3,943.9
749.0
8,662.9
3,907.0
326.4

4,003.4
546.3
561.9
6,020.6
2,990.6

Ohio.......................................
Oklahoma................................
Oregon....................................
Pennsylvania...........................
Rhode Island............................

5,566.6
1,470.1
1,583.0
5,583.0
467.7

5,591.0
1,492.1
1,593.0
5,602.9
473.1

5,599.2
1,495.4
1,593.5
5,605.7
472.3

1,494.6
1 354.4
1,835.4
1,912.4
595.2

1,498.1
1,359.5
1,838.7
1,913.8
596.3

South Carolina.........................

1,843.9
376.3
2,684.4
9,212.6
1,059.4

1,880.5
377.6
2,713.8
9,442.5
1,082.3

1,881.6
378.5
2,709.3
9,465.1
1,083.6

2 449.7
3 302.6
4 606.3
2 661.2
1,144.6

2,452.6
3,307.2
4,616.2
2,668.4
1,142.0

291.0
3,432.4
2,653.7
726.2
2,787.7
233.3

296.6
3,493.3
2,697.0
735.0
2,830.4
236.8

296.6
3,491.4
2,702.9
732.6
2,835.2
238.2

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

1999

2000

2000p

1 935.7
278 7
2 188 0
1 149 1
14,083.9

1,950.0
281.7
2,274.3
1,172.0
14,490.0

1,946.9
283.2
2,279.3
1,175.3
14,529.5

2 156 4
1 674.7
415 3
618.1
6 965 4

2 216 0
1 697.4
422.4
622.1
7 227.1

2,219.4
1,698.4
423.7
623.8
7,233.8

3,932.8
537 1
547.9
5 972.9
2 982.1

4,018.5
550.5
564.0
6,010.0
3,001.2

1 466.9
1 333 2
1 804.2
1 904.8
590 2
2 401 2
3 255 6
4 570 8
2 623 9
1,160.3

State

Missouri...................................
Nebraska.................................
Nevada...................................
New Hampshire.......................
New Mexico.............................

Tennessee...............................
Texas......................................
Utah.......................................
Vermont..................................
Washington.............................
West Virginia...........................
Wisconsin................................
Wyoming................................

p= preliminary
NOTE: Some data in this table may differ from data published elsewhere because of the continual updating of the data base.

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

55

Current Labor Statistics:

Labor Force Data

12. Employment of workers on nonfarm payrolls by industry, monthly data seasonally adjusted

[In thousands]
In d u s try

Annua

a v e ra g e

1999

1998
1999
Nov.
TOTAL......................... 125,865 128,786 129,788
PRIVATESECTOR............. 106,042 108,616 109,517
GOODS-PRODUCING............. 25,414 25,482 25,527
Mining ......................
590
535
527
Metal mining.......................
49
45
45
Oil and gas extraction...........
339
293
288
Nonmetallic minerals,
except fuels......................
110
112
112
Construction.......................
6,020
6,404
6,516
General building contractors...
1,377
1,450
1,470
Heavy construction, except
building...........................
840
869
876
Special trades contractors......
3,804
4,084
4,170
Manufacturing..................... 18,805 18,543 18,484
Production workers.......... 12,952 12,739 12,702
Durable goods.................... 11,205 11,103 11,085
Production workers..........
7,666
7,590
7,579
Lumber and wood products....
814
828
831
Furniture and fixtures..........
533
548
553
Stone, clay, and glass
products........................
562
563
564
Primary metal Industries......
715
700
698
Fabricated metal products....
1,509
1,517
1,520
Industrial machinery and
equipment......................
2,206
2,141
2,131
Computer and office
equipment....................
382
370
370
Electronic and other electrical
equipment......................
1,707
1,670
1,670
Electronic components and
accessories...................
660
636
638
Transportation equipment.....
1,893
1,884
1,870
Motor vehicles and
equipment......................
995
1,019
1,022
Aircraft and parts...............
525
495
473
Instruments and related
products........................
873
856
850
Miscellaneous manufacturing
industries........................
395
395
398
Nondurable goods..............
7,600
7,440
7,399
Production workers..........
5,287
5,149
5,123
Food and kindred products....
1,683
1,677
1,675
Tobacco products...............
41
39
38
Textile mill products.............
598
560
552
Apparel and other textile
products.........................
766
692
672
Paper and allied products......
677
668
665
Printing and publishing.........
1,565
1,553
1,549
Chemicals and allied products. 1,043
1,034
1,031
Petroleumand coal products...
139
134
132
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products...............
1,005
1,006
1,009
Leather and leather products...
84
78
76
SERVICE-PRODUCING............ 100,451 103,304 104,261
Transportation and public
utilities............................ 6,611
6,826
6,898
Transportation.....................
4,273
4,409
4,453
Railroad transportation.........
231
230
226
Local and interurban
passenger transit...............
469
485
490
Trucking and warehousing....
1,744
1,805
1,823
Water transportation............
181
187
190
Transportation by air............
1,227
1,181
1,246
Pipelines, except natural gas...
14
13
13
Transportation services.......
454
463
465
Communications and public
utilities.............................
2,338
2,416
2,445
Communications.................
1,477
1,552
1,581
Electric, gas, and sanitary
services.........................
861
865
864
Wholesale trade.................... 6,800
6,924
6,989
Retail trade.......................... 22,295 22,788 22,893
Building materials and garden
supplies...........................
948
989
1,008
General merchandise stores...
2,730
2,771
2,752
Department stores............... 2,415
2,431
2,406
See footnotes at end of table.

56

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2000

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t .p

Novp

130,038 130,387 130,482 131,009 131,419 131,590 131,647 131,607 131,528 131,723 131,800 131,894
109,730 110,036 110,088 110,462 110,752 110,578 110,845 111,001 111,018 111,232 111,306 111,454
25,561 25,677 25,624 25,738 25,725 25,684 25,700 25,756 25,644 25,639 25,660 25,656
530
530
533
536
539
539
539
538
537
539
541
542
45
45
45
45
45
44
44
43
44
44
44
43
291
293
296
300
303
305
306
306
304
307
309
311
111
6,552
1,474

111
6,652
1,498

111
6,618
1,491

111
6,726
1,508

111
6,694
1,497

110
6,666
1,497

110
6,668
1,498

110
6,670
1,498

109
6,675
1,505

108
6,720
1,510

109
6,742
1,516

109
6,736
1,519

882
4,196
18,479
12,701
11,087
7,579
831
552

892
4,262
18,495
12,713
11,099
7,592
830
553

885
4,242
18,473
12,697
11,088
7,592
832
553

905
4,313
18,476
12,683
11,094
7,580
830
555

899
4,298
18,492
12,689
11,104
7,584
830
557

888
4,281
18,479
12,682
11,106
7,584
828
558

877
4,293
18,493
12,683
11,120
7,593
827
558

881
4,291
18,548
12,741
11,161
7,629
825
564

882
4,288
18,432
12,630
11,087
7,567
818
555

885
4,325
18,380
12,585
11,052
7,541
816
556

891
4,335
18,377
12,582
11,053
7,540
812
554

884
4,333
18,378
12,578
11,068
7,552
809
553

565
698
1,521

568
699
1,523

567
699
1,525

568
701
1,528

567
699
1,534

566
699
1,535

568
699
1,540

571
698
1,539

566
695
1,539

565
691
1,534

565
692
1,533

563
692
1,536

2,132

2,130

2,131

2,124

2,126

2,125

2,130

2,137

2,133

2,121

2,123

2,129

370

369

368

366

364

360

360

361

363

361

360

362

1,673

1,679

1,684

1,682

1,691

1,693

1,697

1,719

1,718

1,714

1,719

1,724

640
1,867

642
1,871

645
1,855

646
1,865

651
1,859

654
1,863

661
1,864

670
1,863

675
1,818

681
1,813

686
1,813

694
1,817

1,023
470

1,027
469

1,029
453

1,028
467

1,026
461

1,026
463

1,030
460

1,029
460

993
456

993
457

991
456

990
455

849

847

844

844

844

845

844

849

849

847

847

851

399
7,392
5,122
1,674
38
549

399
7,396
5,121
1,681
38
548

398
7,385
5,105
1,672
37
549

397
7,382
5,103
1,671
35
549

397
7,388
5,105
1,678
37
548

394
7,373
5,098
1,675
37
545

393
7,373
5,090
1,679
37
542

396
7,387
5,112
1,680
37
544

396
7,345
5,063
1,670
34
542

395
7,328
5,044
1,661
37
539

395
7,324
5,042
1,671
36
536

394
7,310
5,026
1,672
37
530

669
665
1,548
1,030
132

666
664
1,549
1,031
132

665
663
1,550
1,031
132

665
662
1,551
1,031
132

665
662
1,554
1,030
132

660
661
1,552
1,028
132

652
663
1,558
1,028
132

656
662
1,561
1,026
131

644
660
1,560
1,024
132

639
660
1,560
1,024
132

633
660
1,559
1,023
131

630
658
1,559
1,024
130

1,011
1,011
1,010
1,010
1,007
1,008
1,008
1,014
1,005
1,002
1,002
998
76
76
76
76
75
75
74
76
74
74
75
72
104,477 104,710 104,858 105,271 105,694 105,906 105,947 105,851 105,884 106,084 106,140 106,238
6,911
4,459
226

6,925
4,470
225

6,937
4,479
225

6,953
4,492
222

6,970
4,509
221

6,962
4,501
219

6,985
4,510
217

7,010
4,536
219

6,941
4,549
221

7,037
4,549
219

7,046
4,550
220

7,062
4,561
218

491
1,818
192
1,253
13
466

493
1,827
192
1,256
13
464

494
1,828
196
1,259
12
465

494
1,833
197
1,268
12
466

498
1,839
200
1,270
12
469

498
1,834
200
1,269
12
469

493
1,834
202
1,279
12
473

502
1,846
199
1,282
13
475

503
1,845
204
1,288
12
476

500
1,845
206
1,291
12
476

499
1,843
206
1,295
12
475

500
1,842
206
1,305
12
478

2,452
1,588

2,455
1,591

2,458
1,598

2,461
1,602

2,461
1,604

2,461
1,606

2,475
1,619

2,474
1,618

2,392
1,537

2,488
1,632

2,496
1,640

2,501
1,646

864
7,002
22,936

864
7,005
22,973

860
7,011
22,987

859
7,017
23,027

857
7,055
23,197

855
7,048
23,064

856
7,049
23,122

856
7,050
23,196

855
7,062
23,191

856
7,070
23,179

856
7,088
23,190

855
7,102
23,236

1,012
2,766
2,416

1,016
2,765
2,419

1,020
2,762
2,417

1,034
2,756
2,409

1,032
2,791
2,443

1,025
2,744
2,388

1,018
2,741
2,386

1,018
2,727
2,373

1,021
2,740
2,393

1,019
2,739
2,389

1,021
2,738
2,389

1,019
2,776
2,427

January 2001

12. Continued—Employment of workers on nonfarm payrolls by industry, monthly data seasonally adjusted

[In thousands]_________________________________________________________________________________________
A n n u a l a v e ra g e

2000

1999

In d u s try
1998

1999

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay.

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.p

N o v .p

3,484

3,495

3,498

3,501

3,501

3,503

3,502

3,522

3,516

3,515

3,519

3,522

3,522

3,521

3,517

2,332
1,047
1,141

2,369
1,079
1,174

2,380
1,092
1,190

2,386
1,094
1,182

2,399
1,097
1,176

2,394
1,100
1,184

2,407
1,105
1,188

2,410
1,106
1,195

2,408
1,107
1,195

2,412
1,110
1,197

2,411
1,111
1,206

2,418
1,115
1,202

2,424
1,118
1,209

2,430
1,120
1,205

2,433
1,122
1,209

1,025
7,768

1,082
7,940

1,091
7,966

1,098
7,986

1,099
7,998

1,102
7,992

1,111
8,000

1,113
8,097

1,113
8,028

1,118
8,071

1,119
8,132

1,121
8,099

1,122
8,076

1,128
8,068

1,132
8,085

2,868

2,969

3,008

3,005

3,019

3,021

3,029

3,037

3,035

3,050

3,064

3,068

3,068

3,079

3,065

7,389
3,588
2,046
1,472
256
658

7,569
3,691
2,061
1,476
252
710

7,604
3,707
2,061
1,473
250
704

7,613
3,710
2,059
1,471
248
704

7,612
3,709
2,058
1,470
247
699

7,624
3,717
2,057
1,469
245
699

7,621
3,713
2,054
1,466
243
692

7,610
3,709
2,052
1,464
243
686

7,600
3,703
2,044
1,456
243
684

7,588
3,705
2,042
1,454
242
682

7,586
3,708
2,036
1,449
240
683

7,608
3,717
2,037
1,450
240
683

7,622
3,729
2,038
1,450
239
687

7,637
3,733
2,034
1,446
238
689

7,648
3,741
2,035
1,447
238
690

647

688

709

713

716

723

728

732

736

741

748

753

759

766

767

238
2,335
1,591

231
2,371
1,611

233
2,375
1,608

234
2,378
1,610

236
2,372
1,606

238
2,373
1,606

239
2,373
1,605

239
2,365
1,597

239
2,361
1,594

240
2,359
1,593

241
2,354
1,585

244
2,358
1,587

245
2,353
1,582

248
2,354
1,581

249
2,358
1,586

744
761
1,507
1,465
S e r v ic e s 1.........................................
37,533 39,027
Agricultural services..............
708
766
Hotels and other lodging places 1,789
1,848
1,201
1,233
Personal services.................
8,618
9,267
Business services.................
Services to buildings............
950
985
3,601
Personnel supply services..... 3,278
Help supply services..........
2,956
3,228
Computer and data
processing services...........
1,615
1,831
Auto repair services
and parking......................
1,184
1,145
377
Miscellaneous repair services...
376
610
576
Motion pictures....................
Amusement and recreation
1,594
1,660
Health services....................
9,853
9,989
Offices and clinics of medical
doctors............................ 1,806
1,877
Nursing and personal care
1,772
facilities...........................
1,785
3,982
Hospitals........................... 3,930
Home health care services....
666
636
971
997
Legal services.....................
2,276
Educational services.............
2,178
Social services....................
2,646
2,800
621
695
744
Residential care..................
775
Museums and botanical and
94
zoological gardens.............
98
2,372
2,425
Membership organizations......
Engineering and management
3,254
3,139
Engineering and architectural
908
953
Management and public
relations.........................
1,000
1,036
19,823 20,170
2,686
2,669
Federal, except Postal
1,819
1,796
Service..........................
4,612
4,695
State.................................
1,922
1,968
Other State government.......
2,727
2,690
Local................................. 12,525 12,806
Education.........................
7,085
7,272
5,534
Other local government........
5,440
1 Includes other industries not shown separately.

767
1,522
39,606
782
1,868
1,252
9,502
998
3,734
3,343

768
1,525
39,707
782
1,868
1,257
9,538
997
3,748
3,358

766
1,531
39,844
806
1,866
1,263
9,571
997
3,753
3,361

767
1,534
39,914
796
1,868
1,265
9,615
1,000
3,773
3,382

768
1,535
40,090
812
1,885
1,265
9,681
1,004
3,817
3,418

768
1,536
40,195
801
1,902
1,272
9,735
1,001
3,885
3,485

767
1,536
40,220
790
1,904
1,262
9,715
996
3,855
3,440

766
1,524
40,401
788
1,922
1,271
9,773
997
3,873
3,444

769
1,524
40,403
794
1,925
1,273
9,768
1,002
3,851
3,433

771
1,533
40,572
799
1,921
1,285
9,800
1,000
3,865
3,436

771
1,540
40,685
801
1,923
1,285
9,853
1,001
3,891
3,463

773
1,546
40,685
807
1,923
1,284
9,821
1,000
3,852
3,424

772
1,549
40,750
810
1,932
1,285
9,823
1,006
3,843
3,414

1,880

1,888

1,896

1,906

1,915

1,927

1,929

1,933

1,950

1,951

1,955

1,967

1,978

1,191
379
625

1,192
382
624

1,194
382
626

1,195
384
623

1,192
384
630

1,195
383
634

1,192
383
632

1,191
384
635

1,194
384
634

1,198
384
636

1,200
385
631

1,206
385
630

1,206
386
6,630

1,701
10,041

1,703
10,053

1,721
10,066

1,723
10,078

1,729
10,091

1,752
10,093

1,755
10,104

1,789
10,116

1,795
10,143

1,808
10,161

1,785
10,178

1,786
10,192

1,771
10,209

1,898

1,903

1,910

1,914

1,920

1,925

1,928

1,928

1,930

1,935

1,945

1,950

1,951

1,785
3,992
637
1,005
2,305
2,868
721
795

1,787
3,997
637
1,007
2,309
2,884
729
800

1,788
4,001
638
1,008
2,308
2,905
737
803

1,790
4,002
639
1,007
2,309
2,912
740
807

1,791
4,004
639
1,007
2,329
2,929
749
810

1,789
3,999
641
1,004
2,329
2,940
753
812

1,788
4,005
641
1,006
2,356
2,946
758
816

1,786
4,008
642
1,009
2,374
2,945
760
820

1,787
4,018
645
1,012
2,374
2,919
768
826

1,793
4,021
646
1,014
2,395
2,955
774
827

1,791
4,029
645
1,014
2,388
3,001
779
833

1,793
4,032
645
1,016
2,362
3,021
786
838

1,794
4,047
643
1,014
2,380
3,035
790
838

99
2,434

99
2,438

100
2,439

100
2,439

101
2,440

102
2,439

101
2,438

103
2,441

103
2,429

103
2,433

103
2,445

103
2,446

104
2,450

3,310

3,327

3,344

3,354

3,369

3,368

3,390

3,415

3,411

3,435

3,449

3,459

3,471

969

974

982

984

985

987

995

1,005

1,007

1,010

1,012

1,014

1,016

1,058
20,271
2,646

1,068
20,308
2,646

1,074
20,351
2,663

1,077
20,394
2,700

1,085
20,547
2,816

1,088
20,667
2,885

1,096
21,012
3,238

1,110
20,802
3,092

1,107
20,606
2,819

1,118
20,510
2,657

1,123
20,491
2,627

1,130
20,494
2,625

1,137
20,440
2,612

1,780
4,723
1,980
2,743
12,902
7,323
5,579

1,780
4,727
1,983
2,744
12,935
7,343
5,592

1,797
4,725
1,981
2,744
12,963
7,356
5,607

1,835
4,728
1,981
2,747
12,966
7,355
5,611

1,951
4,733
1,982
2,751
12,998
7,373
5,625

2,022
4,744
1,990
2,754
13,038
7,408
5,630

2,374
4,737
1,983
2,754
13,037
7,395
5,642

2,230
4,716
1,967
2,749
12,994
7,361
5,633

1,954
4,774
1,994
2,750
13,043
7,394
5,649

1,790
4,765
2,002
2,763
13,088
7,411
5,677

1,764
4,776
2,009
2,767
13,088
7,396
5,692

1,762
4,772
2,004
2,768
13,097
7,403
5,694

1,758
4,765
1,995
2,770
13,063
7,387
5,676

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..................
F in a n c e , in s u ra n c e , a n d
real e s ta te .....................................

Finance..............................
Depository institutions..........
Commercial banks.............
Savings institutions............
Nondepository institutions.....
Security and commodity
brokers...........................
Holding and other investment
offices............................
Insurance............................
Insurance carriers...............
Insurance agents, brokers,
and service......................
Real estate..........................

p= preliminary.
Note: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

57

Current Labor Statistics:

13.

Labor Force Data

A v e r a g e w e e k ly hours o f p ro d u c tio n o r n o n su p e rv iso ry w o rk e rs o n p riv a te n o n fa rm p ayro lls, b y industry, m o n th ly
d a t a s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d
Annual average

1999

2000

Industry
1998

1999

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

O ct.p

Nov.p

P R IV A T E S E C T O R ...........................................

3 4 .6

3 4 .5

3 4 .5

3 4 .5

3 4 .5

3 4 .6

3 4 .5

3 4 .6

3 4 .4

3 4 .5

3 4 .4

3 4 .3

3 4 .4

3 4 .4

3 4 .3

G O O D S - P R O D U C I N G ...........................................

4 1 .0

4 1 .0

4 1 .3

4 1 .0

41.1

4 1 .3

4 1 .2

4 1 .5

4 0 .9

4 0 .9

4 1.1

4 0 .8

4 0 .7

4 0 .9

4 0 .5

M I N I N G ........................................................................

4 3 .9

4 3 .8

4 4 .2

4 4 .3

4 4 .7

4 4 .7

4 4 .7

4 5 .3

4 4 .1

4 4 .7

4 5 .3

4 4 .6

4 5 .2

4 5 .6

4 4 .8

M A N U F A C T U R I N G ..............................................

4 1 .7

4 1 .7

4 1 .7

4 1 .7

4 1 .7

4 1 .8

4 1 .7

4 2 .2

4 1 .4

4 1 .6

4 1 .7

4 1 .4

4 1 .3

4 1 .4

4 1 .1

Overtime hours...............................

4 .6

4 .6

4 .7

4 .7

4 .6

4 .7

4 .6

4 .9

4 .5

4 .6

4 .6

4 .5

4 .4

4 .5

4 .3

D u r a b le g o o d s .....................................................

4 2 .3

4 2 .2

4 2 .2

4 2 .2

4 2 .3

4 2 .3

4 2 .3

4 2 .8

4 2 .0

4 2 .2

4 2 .4

4 1 .9

4 1 .8

4 1 .9

4 1 .6

Overtime hours..............................
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............
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s ...........................................

Overtime hours..............................
Food and kindred products...............
Textile mill products.........................
Apparel and other textile products.....
Paper and allied products.................
Printing and publishing......................
Chemicals and allied products...........
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products............................
Leather and leather products.............
S E R V I C E - P R O D U C IN G ........................................

4 .8

4 .8

4 .8

4 .8

4 .8

4 .9

4 .8

5.1

4 .7

4 .8

4 .7

4 .6

4 .5

4 .6

4 .4

4 1 .1

4 1 .2

4 1.1

4 1 .0

41.1

4 1 .0

4 0 .9

4 1 .2

4 0 .7

4 0 .8

4 1 .1

4 0 .4

4 0 .5

4 0 .7

4 0 .6

4 0 .5

4 0 .3

3 9 .9

4 0 .2

4 0 .2

4 0 .3

4 0 .2

4 0 .6

4 0 .3

3 9 .9

3 9 .7

3 9 .4

3 9 .4

3 9 .6

3 9 .6

4 3 .5

4 3 .5

4 3 .8

4 3 .5

4 3 .6

4 3 .5

4 3 .4

4 3 .6

4 3 .0

4 2 .9

4 3 .7

4 3 .2

4 3 .1

4 3 .2

4 2 .5

4 4 .2

4 4 .2

4 4 .3

4 4 .4

4 4 .5

4 4 .5

4 4 .4

4 4 .9

4 3 .8

4 3 .9

4 4 .3

4 3 .7

4 3 .7

4 3 .7

4 3 .5

4 4 .6

4 4 .8

4 5 .3

4 5 .4

4 5 .3

4 5 .4

4 5 .2

4 5 .0

4 4 .7

4 5 .0

4 5 .2

4 4 .4

4 4 .5

4 4 .2

4 3 .4

4 2 .3

4 2 .2

4 2.1

4 2.1

4 2 .4

4 2 .4

4 2 .5

4 3 .0

4 2 .3

4 2 .4

4 2 .6

4 2 .1

4 2 .0

4 2 .1

4 1 .7

4 2 .8

4 2 .2

4 2 .2

4 2 .2

4 2 .3

4 2 .3

4 2 .3

4 2 .9

4 2 .2

4 2 .5

4 2 .6

4 2 .2

4 2 .1

4 2 .1

4 1 .7

4 1 .4

4 1 .4

4 1 .4

4 1 .5

4 1 .6

4 1 .6

4 1 .8

4 2 .2

4 1 .3

4 1 .4

4 1 .9

4 1 .0

4 1 .2

4 1 .1

4 0 .9

4 3 .4

4 3 .8

4 3 .6

4 3 .4

4 3 .8

4 4 .0

4 3 .7

4 4 .3

4 3 .2

4 4 .0

4 3 .9

4 3 .4

4 2 .9

4 3 .1

4 3 .0

4 3 .5

4 5 .0

4 4 .7

4 4 .5

4 5 .0

4 5 .0

4 4 .6

4 5 .5

4 4 .2

4 5 .3

4 4 .5

4 4 .5

4 3 .6

4 4 .0

4 3 .4

4 1 .3

4 1 .5

4 1 .5

4 1 .5

4 1 .3

4 1 .2

4 1 .2

4 1 .6

4 1 .2

4 1 .3

4 1 .6

4 1.1

4 1.1

4 1 .2

4 0 .9

3 9 .9

3 9 .8

3 9 .7

3 9 .7

3 9 .5

3 9 .5

3 9 .4

3 9 .8

3 9 .3

3 9 .4

3 9 .7

3 9 .4

3 9 .3

3 9 .3

3 9 .0

4 0 .9

4 0 .9

4 1 .0

4 0 .9

4 0 .9

4 1 .0

4 0 .9

4 1 .3

4 0 .6

4 0 .7

4 0 .7

4 0 .6

4 0 .6

4 0 .6

4 0 .4

4 .3

4 .4

4 .5

4 .5

4 .4

4 .5

4 .3

4 .6

4 .3

4 .3

4 .3

4 .2

4 .3

4 .3

4.1

4 1 .7

4 1 .8

4 1 .8

4 1 .7

4 1 .6

4 1 .6

4 1 .6

4 1 .9

4 1 .2

4 1 .5

4 1 .2

4 1 .5

4 1 .4

4 1 .4

4 1 .1

4 1 .0

4 0 .9

4 1 .3

4 1 .2

4 1.1

4 1 .7

4 1 .6

4 1 .9

4 1 .1

4 1.1

4 1 .2

4 0 .7

4 1 .0

4 0 .9

4 0 .6

3 7 .3

3 7 .5

3 7 .4

3 7 .5

3 7 .6

3 7 .7

3 7 .8

3 8 .0

37.1

3 7 .0

3 7 .3

3 6 .9

3 6 .8

3 6 .8

3 6 .6

4 3 .4

4 3 .5

4 3 .4

4 3 .3

4 3 .3

4 3 .5

4 3 .2

4 3 .6

4 2 .8

4 2 .8

4 2 .4

4 2 .4

4 2 .7

4 2 .5

4 2 .5

3 8 .3

3 8 .2

3 8 .3

3 8 .3

3 8 .3

3 8 .3

3 8 .2

3 8 .5

3 8 .0

3 8 .2

3 8.1

3 7 .9

38.1

3 8.1

3 7 .9

4 3 .2

4 3 .0

4 3 .0

4 3 .0

4 2 .9

4 2 .7

4 2 .6

4 2 .9

4 2 .7

4 2 .9

4 3 .4

4 3 .0

4 2 .9

4 3 .0

4 2 .6

4 0 .9

4 1 .7

4 1 .7

4 1 .5

4 1 .5

4 1 .6

4 1 .6

4 1 .5

42.1

4 1 .3

4 1 .4

4 1 .4

4 1 .2

4 1.1

4 1 .1

3 7 .6

3 7 .8

3 7 .7

3 7 .4

3 7 .8

3 8.1

3 8 .0

3 8 .9

3 8 .2

3 7 .8

3 7.1

3 7.1

3 7 .4

3 7 .4

3 8 .7

3 2 .9

3 2 .8

3 2 .8

3 2 .9

3 2 .9

3 2 .8

3 2 .8

3 2 .8

3 2 .7

3 2 .9

3 2 .7

3 2 .7

3 2 .8

3 2 .8

3 2 .8

3 9 .5

3 8 .7

3 8 .3

3 8 .4

3 8 .4

3 8 .3

3 8 .3

3 8 .7

3 8 .4

3 8 .4

3 8 .8

3 8 .2

3 8 .5

3 8 .6

3 8 .5

T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D
P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S ..........................................
W H O L E S A L E T R A D E .........................................

3 8 .3

3 8 .3

3 8 .4

3 8 .5

3 8 .6

3 8 .5

3 8 .6

3 8 .6

3 8 .6

3 8 .6

3 8 .5

3 8 .3

3 8 .6

3 8 .5

3 8 .5

R E T A IL T R A D E ......................................................

2 9 .0

2 9 .0

2 9 .0

2 9 .1

2 9 .1

2 9.1

2 9 .0

2 8 .8

2 8 .8

2 9 .0

2 8 .8

2 8 .8

2 8 .8

2 8 .9

2 8 .9

p= preliminary.
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

58

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

14.

A v e r a g e h o u rly e a rn in g s o f p ro d u c tio n o r n o n su p e rv iso ry w o rk e rs o n p riv a te n o n fa rm p ayro lls, b y industry,
s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

______________________
Annual average

2000

1999

Industry
1998
P R IV A T E S E C T O R (in c u r r e n t d o lla r s )..
G o o d s - p r o d u c i n g ...........................................

1999

Nov.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

O ct.p

Nov.p

$ 12.78 $ 13.24 $13.41 $13.44 $13.49 $13.54 $13.58 $13.64 $13.66 $13.70 $13.75 $13.80 $13.83 $13.88 $13.94
14.34

14.84

15.03

15.05

15.13

15.69
14.58
9.08
14.62
13.36

7.75

7.86

15.45

15.46

15.57

15.67

17.23
17.90
14.39
13.64

17.05
17.93
14.43
13.69

17.09
17.96
14.43
13.73

17.10
18.00
14.56
13.82

17.14
18.21
14.64
13.91

13.01

13.05

13.11

13.15

13.19

13.23

13.28

13.33

13.36

13.41

16.00
14.89
9.32
14.87
13.66

16.04
14.98
9.35
14.95
13.69

16.12
15.03
9.39
14.98
13.74

16.22
15.02
9.39
15.01
13.79

16.28
15.16
9.43
15.05
13.82

16.17
15.22
9.45
15.03
13.89

16.26
15.24
9.49
15.12
13.87

16.30
15.32
9.54
15.19
13.97

16.38
15.34
9.56
15.17
14.00

16.41
15.41
9.59
15.24
14.07

7.88

7.87

7.83

7.87

7.87

7.85

7.86

7.90

7.87

7.89

7.91

7.87

12.73

15.31
14.07
8.74
14.07
12.84

15.40

15.92
14.90
9.26
14.86
13.61

7.87

12.27

Transportation and public utilities.....
Wholesale trade..............................

15.34
17.24
17.77
14.36
13.60

12.97

12.93
15.94
14.83
9.25
14.78
13.57

S e r v i c e - p r o d u c i n g ..........................................

15.29
17.25
17.75
14.27
13.53

15.84
14.76
9.21
14.76
13.53

17.00
17.37
14.07
13.33

15.30
17.26
17.78
14.28
13.49

12.89

17.09
17.18
13.91
13.18

15.25
17.27
17.67
14.23
13.47

17.09
17.50
14.15
13.41

16.91
16.61
13.49
12.79

15.20
17.14
17.60
14.21
13.45

17.04
17.44
14.10
13.36

Construction...................................
Manufacturing................................
Excluding overtime.......................

Finance, insurance, and real estate....
Services.........................................

Dec.

P R IV A T E S E C T O R (in c o n s t a n t (1 9 8 2 )
d o l l a r s ) ....................................................................

p= preliminary.
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

59

Current Labor Statistics:

15.

Labor Force Data

A v e r a g e h o u rly e a rn in g s o f p ro d u c tio n o r n o n su p e rv iso ry w o rk e rs o n p riv a te n o n fa rm p ayro lls, b y industry
Annual average

1999

2000

Industry

P R IV A T E S E C T O R .............................................

1998

1999

$12.78

$13.24

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

M I N I N G ......................................................................

16.91

17.09

17.01

17.19

17.30

17.20

16.61

17.18

17.42

17.47

17.39

17.42

17.54

17.66

M A N U F A C T U R I N G .............................................

13.49

13.91

14.08

14.20

14.19

14.19

14.22

14.28

13 98
11.10
10.90
13.59
15.48

14 40
11.47
11.23
13.87
15.83

14 58
11.60
11.36
14.04
16.12

14 73
11.64
11.47
13.97
16.17

14 72
11.67
11.47
13.94
16.20

14 73
11.63
11.51
13.96
16.28

14 76
11.62
11.59
14.03
16.34

14 82
11.73
11.64
14.23
16.51

18.42
13.07

18.81
13.48

19.11
13.59

19.09
13.72

19.16
13.71

19.32
13.67

19.49
13.69

14.47

15.02

15.22

15.36

15.39

15.40

13.10
17.51
17.84
13.81
10.88

13.46
18.04
18.41
14.17
11.30

13.61
18.39
18.80
14.34
11.41

13.73
18.72
19.22
14.41
11.54

13.77
18.57
18.99
14.38
11.52

12.76
11.80
18.56
10.39
8.52
15.50

13.16
12.09
19.07
10.71
8.86
15.94

13.31
12.19
18.02
10.80
8.98
16.08

13.39
12.28
18.03
10.84
9.04
16.12

13.46
17.09
20.91

13.84
17.38
21.39

14.02
17.64
21.76

11.89
9.35

12.36
9.77

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.....
N o n d u r a b l e g o o d s ..........................................

Food and kindred products..............
Textile mill products........................
Apparel and other textile products....
Paper and allied products................
Chemicals and allied products..........
Petroleum and coal products............
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products...........................
Leather and leather products............

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

O ct.p

Nov.p

$13.43 $13.46 $13.58 $13.58 $13.59 $13.69 $13.64 $13.62 $13.68 $13.67 $13.88 $13.95 $13.96

C O N S T R U C T I O N .................................................

Furniture and fixtures.......................
Stone, clay, and glass products........

May

17.09

17.13

16.94

17.05

17.04

17.07

17.71

17.74

17.95

18.04

18.16

18.21

18.17

14.27

14.34

14.37

14.37

14.50

14.53

14.63

14 80
11.74
11.69
14.28
16.40

14 90
11.82
11.73
14.36
16.52

14 86
11.87
11.80
14.42
16.68

14 93
11.83
11.82
14.41
16.57

16 07
11.88
11.88
14.53
16.65

16 11
11.92
11.91
14.57
16.56

16 22
11.90
11.88
14.50
16.65

19.72
13.75

19.46
13.75

19.62
13.82

19.78
13.82

19.56
13.90

19.58
14.02

19.28
14.04

19.26
14.08

15.43

15.42

15.45

15.51

15.61

15.66

15.84

15.80

15.98

13.72
18.58
19.03
14.41
11.53

13.70
18.70
19.17
14.40
11.55

13.70
18.82
19.36
14.40
11.58

13.65
18.79
19.35
14.44
11.59

13.72
19.01
19.62
14.49
11.60

13.79
18.66
19.07
14.65
11.65

13.81
19.02
19.58
14.65
11.60

13.84
19.30
19.87
14.80
11.70

13.87
19.52
20.19
14.84
11.77

13.93
19.79
20.52
14.90
11.81

13.37
12.23
17.21
10.84
9.03
16.02

13.36
12.23
17.48
10.85
9.03
15.99

13.37
12.27
19.10
10.86
9.05
16.00

13.45
12.36
19.71
10.94
9.05
16.15

13.43
12.36
20.40
10.91
9.05
16.12

13.48
12.39
20.87
10.91
9.07
16.18

13.61
12.46
21.08
10.97
9.06
16.29

13.52
12.40
20.95
10.97
9.09
16.18

13.63
12.50
18.51
11.05
9.16
16.31

13.63
12.46
17.90
11.02
9.15
16.35

13.72
12.61
18.54
11.04
9.18
16.36

14.12
17.67
21.76

14.10
17.70
21.62

14.13
17.67
22.03

14.18
17.63
22.24

14.20
17.77
21.77

14.15
17.80
21.34

14.15
17.91
21.19

14.29
18.17
21.24

14.29
17.94
21.01

14.48
18.07
21.14

14.48
18.05
21.09

14.53
18.10
21.28

12.46
9.93

12.57
10.01

12.61
10.08

12.57
9.96

12.58
10.01

12.67
10.13

12.65
10.05

12.72
10.08

12.84
10.08

12.81
10.15

12.87
10.25

12.90
10.19

12.98
10.07

17.28

17.29

17.19

T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D
P U B L IC U T I L I T I E S .........................................

15.31

15.69

15 90

15 96

15.98

16 05

16 02

16 15

16 13

16 17

16 19

16 22

16 31

16 38

16 42

W H O L E S A L E T R A D E .......................................

14.07

14.58

17.76

14.85

14.99

14.91

14.83

15.14

14.99

15.04

15.25

15.17

15.32

15.43

15.41

R E T A IL T R A D E ....................................................

8 74

9.08

9.22

9.26

9.33

9.35

9.37

9.42

9.39

9.38

9.38

9.40

9.57

9.58

9.59

A N D R E A L E S T A T E .......................................

14.07

14.62

14.74

14.76

14.99

14.93

14.97

15.12

15.02

14.93

15.01

14.99

15.12

15.23

15.22

S E R V IC E S ...............................................................

12.84

13.36

13.57

13.65

13.78

13.77

13.77

13.83

13.76

13.68

13.74

13.70

13.96

14.07

14.12

F IN A N C E , IN S U R A N C E ,

p= preliminary.
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

60

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

16. A verage w eekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls, by industry

1998

1999

2000

1999

Annual average
Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.p

Nov.p

P R IV A T E S E C T O R

Current dollars........................ $442.19 $456.78 $463.34 $465.72 $467.15 $464.44 $464.78 $473.67 $467.85 $471.25 $477.43 $474.35 $478.86 $484.07 $478.83
462.65 463.68 465.41 468.48 468.51 471.94 469.90 472.65 473.00 473.34 475.75 477.47 478.14
Seasonally adjusted.............
Constant (1982) dollars.......... 268.32 271.25 271.91 273.31 273.35 270.34 268.19 273.17 269.50 269.90 273.13 271.52 272.23 274.88 271.45

M IN IN G .....................................................

742.35

748.54

758.65

763.24

766.39

758.52

758.59

776.32

763.24

770.76

775.99

762.30

784.30

785.54

766.44

C O N S T R U C T IO N .................................

646.13

671.74

688.09

677.84

664.04

674.15

680.55

692.27

701.32

702.50

723.39

725.21

726.40

730.22

699.55

Current dollars.......................
Constant (1982) dollars...........

562.53
341.34

580.05
344.45

594.18
348.70

603.50
354.17

590.30
345.41

588.89
342.78

590.13
340.53

595.48
343.41

590.78
340.31

597.98
342.49

590.61
337.88

594.92
340.54

604.65
343.75

604.45
343.24

607.15
344.19

D u ra b le g o o d s ....................................

591.35
456.21
441.45

607.68
472.56
452.57

622.57
480.24
458.94

634.86
480.73
471.42

621.18
474.97
459.95

620.13
469.85
458.10

622.87
470.61
462.44

628.37
482.10
464.44

623.08
480.17
465.26

630.27
485.80
468.03

618.18
483.11
462.56

625.57
483.85
470.44

635.95
485.89
477.58

634.62
488.72
474.02

639.24
483.14
474.01

591.17
684.22

603.35
699.69

620.57
720.56

604.90
732.50

591.06
722.52

591.90
722.83

596.28
723.86

614.74
734.70

621.18
721.60

624.66
728.53

631.60
725.58

631.16
720.80

637.87
730.94

638.17
720.36

620.60
729.27

821.53
552.86

842.69
568.86

865.68
580.29

878.14
594.08

867.95
579.93

875.20
576.87

875.10
577.72

891.34
583.00

873.75
581.63

882.90
587.35

888.12
576.29

866.51
585.19

871.31
594.45

844.46
593.89

841.66
592.77

619.32

633.84

646.85

663.55

654.08

652.96

654.23

655.35

653.54

659.18

654.06

657.72

666.86

665.18

669.56

542.34
759.93

557.24
790.15

572.98
811.00

582.15
838.66

572.83
811.51

569.38
815.66

571.29
819.06

569.92
829.96

561.02
817.37

569.38
836.44

566.77
781.85

566.21
819.76

575.74
839.55

572.83
847.17

578.10
858.89

776.04

828.45

849.76

887.96

850.75

856.35

860.73

880.88

866.88

888.79

800.94

861.52

880.24

890.38

898.78

570.35
434.11

588.06
449.74

600.85
459.82

612.43
466.22

595.33
450.43

595.13
453.13

593.28
456.23

594.72
456.25

592.04
454.33

596.99
458.20

600.65
453.19

600.65
458.20

608.28
464.49

609.92
467.27

615.37
466.50

521.88
492.06
710.85
425.99

538.24
505.36
762.80
438.04

551.03
518.08
774.86
449.28

557.02
520.67
793.32
453.11

544.16
505.10
672.91
443.36

542.42
500.21
685.22
448.11

542.82
501.84
741.08
450.69

548.76
506.76
782.49
456.20

543.92
506.76
811.92
448.40

549.98
512.95
836.89
451.67

549.84
513.35
832.66
450.29

548.91
517.08
842.19
448.67

558.83
527.50
764.46
454.16

556.10
520.83
716.00
452.92

559.78
525.84
730.48
452.64

317.80
672.70

332.25
693.39

337.65
704.30

343.52
712.50

335.92
695.27

339.53
687.57

342.09
686.40

341.19
696.07

336.66
686.71

339.22
692.50

333.41
687.44

336.33
681.18

338.00
701.33

337.64
699.78

336.91
703.45

515.52
738.29
911.68

528.69
747.34
921.91

543.98
765.58
935.68

550.68
772.18
937.86

534.39
757.56
933.98

536.94
750.98
956.10

540.26
749.28
969.66

542.44
757.00
966.59

533.46
756.50
919.75

534.87
768.34
923.88

540.16
779.49
955.80

543.02
769.63
926.54

557.48
778.82
957.64

554.58
779.76
963.81

557.95
780.11
955.47

495.81
351.56

515.41
369.31

523.32
378.33

532.97
375.75

523.32
372.96

520.40
375.49

520.81
379.38

528.34
388.99

523.71
384.92

529.15
387.07

522.59
365.90

525.21
383.67

532.82
388.48

530.19
383.14

533.48
391.72

604.75

607.20

608.97

612.86

612.03

611.51

608.76

626.62

616.17

622.55

634.65

627.71

631.20

638.82

632.17

579.04

591.70

581.01

589.82

597.14

591.74

M A N U F A C T U R IN G

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...
Food and kindred products.....
Apparel and other textile

Printing and publishing..........
Chemicals and allied products..
Petroleum and coal products....
Rubber and miscellaneous
Leather and leather products...
T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D
P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S ..........................
W H O L E S A L E T R A D E .......................

538.88

558.41

566.78

570.24

578.61

568.07

566.51

588.95

575.62

R E T A IL T R A D E ....................................

253.46

263.32

264.61

271.32

265.91

266.48

267.98

272.24

270.43

274.83

279.52

277.30

275.62

277.82

274.27

512.15

529.24

530.64

534.31

551.63

538.97

537.42

554.90

539.22

540.47

550.87

539.64

545.83

557.42

546.40

418.58 435.54 443.74 444.99 450.61 448.90 447.53 453.62 445.82
p= preliminary.
N o t e : See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision. Dash indicates data not available.

447.34

453.42

450.73

453.70

462.90

461.72

F IN A N C E , IN S U R A N C E ,
A N D R E A L E S T A T E .......................
S E R V IC E S ..............................................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

61

Current Labor Statistics:

Labor Force Data

17. Diffusion in d e x e s o f e m p lo y m e n t c h a n g e , s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

[In percent]
Tim espan and year

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov

Dec.

Private nonfarm payrolls, 356 industries

Over 1-month span:
1998
.......
1999
.......

6 3 .2

5 6 .6

6 0 .5

5 8 .7

5 8 .3

5 9 .7

5 3 .9

58.1

5 6 .2

5 3 .8

5 9 .0

5 7 .4

.....

5 4.1

5 8 .8

5 3 .9

5 9 .6

5 2 .8

5 7 .9

5 8 .8

5 3 .8

5 7 .3

6 0 .7

6 0 .8

5 9 .0

6 0 .8

54.1

6 0 .7

5 6 .5

4 5 .9

5 6 .2

5 8 .7

5 1 .4

5 3 .7

55.1

53.1

-

Over 3-month span:
1998
.......
1999
.......

6 4 .3

6 6 .6

6 3 .2

6 6 .3

6 3 .6

5 8 .0

5 7 .4

5 7 .9

5 9 .7

5 8.1

5 8 .6

5 9 .4

.....

5 8 .3

5 7 .3

5 8 .4

5 4 .4

5 7 .3

5 8 .8

58.1

6 0 .7

5 9 .6

6 3 .5

6 4 .3

6 3.1

6 1 .0

6 2 .6

6 1 .9

5 7 .4

5 6 .7

5 8 .3

5 7 .9

5 8 .4

5 1 .4

5 2 .5

-

-

Over 6-month span:
1998
.......
1999
.......

6 9 .8

6 7 .4

6 5 .2

6 1 .8

6 2 .9

6 1 .4

5 9 .0

5 8 .4

5 7 .4

5 9 .7

5 9 .3

5 9.1

6 0 .0

5 8 .0

5 7 .6

5 8 .6

5 4 .4

5 9 .7

6 0 .4

62.1

6 4 .0

6 2 .8

6 5 .2

6 4 .6

6 5 .6

6 0 .8

6 1 .0

6 1 .9

5 9 .3

5 6 .0

5 4 .8

5 8 .0

-

-

-

-

2000

2000

2000

.....

Over 12-month span:
1998
........
1999
........
2000

......

6 9 .7

6 7 .3

6 7 .3

6 5 .9

6 3 .9

6 2 .5

6 1 .5

62.1

6 1 .0

5 9 .8

5 9 .8

58.1

6 0 .3

5 8 .3

5 7 .6

5 9 .4

5 9 .6

6 0 .5

6 1 .9

6 1 .0

6 2 .6

6 2 .9

6 2 .5

6 3 .2

6 4 .9

6 3 .8

6 0 .8

5 9 .7

5 8 .4

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Manufacturing payrolls, 139 industries

Over 1-month span:
1998
.......
1999
.......
2000

......

Over 3-month span:
1998
.......
1999
.......

5 7 .9

5 0 .7

5 3 .6

5 0 .7

4 7 .1

5 0 .0

3 7 .8

5 0 .0

4 5 .7

3 9 .9

4 1 .7

4 3 .9

4 5 .0

4 1 .0

4 2 .8

4 6 .4

4 0 .3

4 6 .4

5 4 .7

3 8.1

4 6 .4

5 1 .8

5 1 .4

5 0 .4

5 2 .2

4 7 .8

5 1.1

5 1.1

4 5 .7

51.1

5 7 .6

3 6 .3

3 8 .8

4 5 .7

4 6 .0

-

5 6 .8

5 6 .8

5 2 .2

5 2 .2

4 8 .6

4 1 .4

3 9 .2

4 0 .3

4 3 .2

3 7.1

3 6 .7

4 0 .6

.....

3 6 .7

3 7.1

3 7.1

3 4 .5

3 7 .8

4 3 .5

3 9 .9

4 5 .0

4 2 .1

5 0 .4

51.1

5 0 .7

4 7 .8

5 2 .5

4 9 .3

4 8 .9

4 9 .6

5 3 .6

4 4 .2

3 6 .3

2 9 .5

3 6 .7

-

-

Over 6-month span:
1998
.......
1999
.......

6 0.1

5 4 .3

5 0 .4

3 9 .9

4 3 .5

4 2 .1

3 8 .8

3 6 .7

3 6 .0

3 9 .9

3 4 .5

3 2 .7

......

3 5 .6

3 3 .5

3 3 .5

3 7.1

3 2 .7

3 8 .8

4 1 .0

4 5 .7

4 8 .2

4 3 .2

4 8 .6

5 1.1

5 1 .4

4 7 .5

5 0 .4

5 3 .6

4 5 .0

38.1

3 3 .8

37.1

-

-

-

-

Over 12-month span:
1998
........
1999
........

5 5 .0

5 1 .8

5 1 .8

4 6 .8

4 0 .6

3 9 .9

3 7 .8

3 8.1

37.1

3 6 .0

3 4 .2

3 3 .5

3 7 .4

3 2 .4

3 1 .7

3 5 .3

3 6 .0

3 7 .1

3 8 .8

3 9 .6

4 2 .4

4 2 .4

4 2 .4

4 6 .0

4 7 .8

4 4 .6

3 9 .2

2 9 .2

3 5 .3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2000

2000

2000

......

- Data not available.
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

62

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January 2001

decreasing employment. Data tor the 2 most recent months shown in each
span are preliminary. See the "Definitions" in this section. See "Notes on
the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

18.

A n n u a l d a ta : E m p lo y m e n t status o f th e p o p u la tio n

[Numbers in thousands]
Em ploym ent status

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

196,814
131,056
66.6

198,584
132,304
66.6

200,591
133,943
66.8

203,133
136,297
67.1

205,220
137,673
67.1

207,753
139,368
67.1

Civilian noninstitutional population.........
Civilian labor force............................
Labor force participation rate............

190.925
126,346
66.2

192,805
128,105
66.4

194,838
129,200
66.3

Employed....................................
Employment-population ratio........

117,718
61.7
3,269
114,499

118,492
61.5
3,247
115,245

120,259
61.7
3,115
117,144

123,060
62.5
3,409
119,651

124,900
62.9
3,440
121,460

126,708
63.2
3,443
123,264

129,558
63.8
3,399
126,159

131,463
64.1
3,378
128,085

133,488
64.3
3,281
130,207

8,628
6.8
64,578

9,613
7.5
64,700

8,940
6.9
65,638

7,996
6.1
65,758

7,404
5.6
66,280

7,236
5.4
66,647

6,739
4.9
66,837

6,210
4.5
67,547

5,880
4.2
68,385

Nonagricultural industries..........
Unemployed................................
Not in the labor force.........................

19.

A n n u a l d a ta : E m p lo y m e n t le v e ls b y industry

[In thousands]
Industry

Transportation and public utilities......

Finance, insurance, and real estate....

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

108,249
89,847
23,745
689
4,650
18,406

108,601
89,956
23,231
635
4,492
18,104

110,713
91,872
23,352
610
4,668
18,075

114,163
95,036
23,908
601
4,986
18,321

117,191
97,885
24,265
581
5,160
18,524

119,608
100,189
24,493
580
5,418
18,495

122,690
103,133
24,962
596
5,691
18,675

125,865
106,042
25,414
590
6,020
18,805

128,786
108,616
25,482
535
6,404
18,543

84,504
5,755
6,081
19,284
6,646
28,336

85,370
5,718
5,997
19,356
6,602
29,052

87,361
5,811
5,981
19,773
6,757
30,197

90,256
5,984
6,162
20,507
6,896
31,579

92,925
6,132
6,378
21,187
6,806
33,117

95,115
6,253
6,482
21,597
6,911
34,454

9 7 ,7 2 7

6,408
6,648
21,966
7,109
36,040

100,451
6,611
6,800
22,295
7,389
37,533

103,304
6,826
6,924
22,788
7,569
39,027

18,402
2,966
4,355
11,081

18,645
2,969
4,408
11,267

18,841
2,915
4,488
11,438

19,128
2,870
4,576
11,682

19,305
2,822
4,635
11,849

19,419
2,757
4,606
12,056

19,557
2,699
4,582
12,276

19,823
2,686
4,612
12,525

20,170
2,669
4,695
12,806

Local...........................................
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

63

Current Labor Statistics:

20.

Labor Force Data

A n n u a l d a ta : A v e r a g e hours a n d e a rn in g s o f p ro d u c tio n o r n o n su p erviso ry w o rk e rs o n n o n fa rm
p ay ro lls , b y industry
Industry

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

P riv a te sector:

Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars).....................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)....................

34.3
10.32
353.98

34.4
10.57
363.61

34.5
10.83
373.64

34.7
11.12
385.86

34.5
11.43
394.34

34.4
11.82
406.61

34.6
12.28
424.89

34.6
12.78
442.19

34.5
13.24
456.78

44.4
14.19
630.04

43.9
14.54
638.31

44.3
14.60
646.78

44.8
14.88
666.62

44.7
15.30
683.91

45.3
15.62
707.59

45.4
16.15
733.21

43.9
16.91
742.35

43.8
17.09
748.54

38.1
14.00
533.40

38.0
14.15
537.70

38.5
14.38
553.63

38.9
14.73
573.00

38.9
15.09
587.00

39.0
15.47
603.33

39.0
16.04
625.56

38.9
16.61
646.13

39.1
17.18
671.74

40.7
11.18
455.03

41.0
11.46
469.86

41.4
11.74
486.04

42.0
12.07
506.94

41.6
12.37
514.59

41.6
12.77
531.23

42.0
13.17
553.14

41.7
13.49
562.53

41.7
13.91
580.05

38.1
13.20
502.92

38.3
13.43
514.37

39.3
13.55
532.52

39.7
13.78
547.07

39.4
14.13
556.72

39.6
14.45
572.22

39.7
14.92
592.32

39.5
15.31
604.75

38.7
15.69
607.20

38.1
11.15
424.82

38.2
11.39
435.10

38.2
11.74
448.47

38.4
12.06
463.10

38.3
12.43
476.07

38.3
12.87
492.92

38.4
13.45
516.48

38.3
14.07
538.88

38.3
14.58
558.41

28.6
6.94
198.48

28.8
7.12
205.06

28.8
7.29
209.95

28.9
7.49
216.46

28.8
7.69
221.47

28.8
7.99
230.11

28.9
8.33
240.74

29.0
8.74
253.46

29.0
9.08
263.32

35.7
10.39
370.92

35.8
10.82
387.36

35.8
11.35
406.33

35.8
11.83
423.51

35.9
12.32
442.29

35.9
12.80
459.52

36.1
13.34
481.57

36.4
14.07
512.15

36.2
14.62
529.24

32.4
10.23
331.45

32.5
10.54
342.55

32.5
10.78
350.35

32.5
11.04
358.80

32.4
11.39
369.04

32.4
11.79
382.00

32.6
12.28
400.33

32.6
12.84
418.58

32.6
13.36
435.54

M ining:

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
C o n s tru c tio n :

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
M a n u fa c tu rin g :

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
T ra n s p o rta tio n a n d p u b lic utilities:

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)....................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
W h o le s a l e t r a d e :

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)....................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
Retail trade:

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)....................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)...................
F in a n c e , in s u ra n c e , a n d real estate:

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)....................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
S e rv ices :

Average weekly hours.......................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)....................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)...................

64

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

21.

Employment Cost Index, com pensation,1 by occupation and industry group

[J u n e 1 9 8 9 = 1 0 0 ]

1998

1999

2000

Percent change

Series
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

3

12

months

months

ended

ended

Sept. 2000

Civilian workers2........................................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers.................................................
Professional specialty and technical...........................
Executive, adminitratlve, and managerial....................
Administrative support, including clerical....................
Blue-collar workers..................................................
Service occupations.................................................
Workers, by Industry division:
Goods-producing.....................................................
Manufacturing.......................................................
Service-producing....................................................
Services...............................................................
Hospitals...........................................................
Educational services.............................................
Public administration3..............................................
Nonmanufacturing....................................................
Private industry workers............................................
Excluding sales occupations...................................
Workers, by occupational group:
Excluding sales occupations.................................
Professional specialty and technical occupations........
Executive, adminitrative, and managerial occupations..
Sales occupations................................................
Administrative support occupations, including clerical...
Blue-collar workers.................................................
Precision production, craft, and repair occupations......
Transportation and material moving occupations........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....
Service occupations................................................
Production and nonsupervisory occupations4.............

139.0

139.8

140.4

141.8

143.3

144.6

146.5

148.0

149.5

1.0

4.3

140.6
140.0
141.7
140.4
135.3
139.4

141.4
141.0
141.8
141.3
136.1
140.0

141.9
141.3
143.5
142.5
137.1
141.3

143.3
142.2
145.4
143.4
138.3
142.4

145.0
143.9
147.3
144.7
139.5
143.1

146.3
145.3
148.6
146.1
140.6
144.8

148.4
146.7
150.5
148.6
142.7
146.0

149.9
148.3
151.9
150.1
144.1
147.1

151.5
150.0
153.7
151.8
145.6
148.5

1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.0

4.5
4.2
4.3
4.9
4.4
3.8

137.2
138.2
139.6
140.8
139.1
139.4
140.2
138.9
139.0
139.0
138.8

137.9
138.9
140.4
141.7
139.1
140.2
141.0
139.9
139.9
139.8
139.4

139.0
139.9
140.9
142.3
140.5
141.3
141.3
140.8
140.5
140.4
140.5

140.0
140.9
142.4
143.2
141.4
142.2
141.7
141.5
141.9
142.0
141.9

141.2
142.1
144.0
145.1
142.7
143.4
144.6
142.4
143.4
143.3
143.2

142.5
143.6
145.3
146.5
144.3
145.0
145.8
144.4
144.7
144.6
144.5

144.9
146.0
147.1
148.0
145.9
146.3
146.5
145.7
146.6
146.8
146.5

146.6
147.5
148.4
149.3
147.5
147.7
146.8
146.1
148.0
148.5
148.2

148.0
148.7
150.1
151.2
149.0
149.5
149.7
146.9
149.6
149.9
149.8

1.0
.8
1.1
1.3
1.0
1.2
2.0
.5
1.1
.9
1.1

4.8
4.6
4.2
4.2
44
4.3
3.5
3.2
4.3
4.6
4.6

141.1
141.3
141.6
141.9
140.4
140.6
135.2
135.4
135.7
130.7
138.5

142.0
141.9
142.6
141.8
142.6
141.4
135.9
136.1
136.8
130.7
139.2

142.4
143.0
142.9
143.7
139.6
142.6
136.9
137.2
137.3
131.6
141.0

144.1
144.5
144.1
145.8
142.6
143.7
138.2
138.4
138.4
133.6
142.3

145.6
146.0
145.2
147.7
144.1
145.0
139.4
139.6
139.9
134.4
143.2

146.9
147.3
146.7
149.1
145.3
146.2
140.5
140.6
141.4
135.2
144.4

149.3
149.4
148.4
151.1
148.9
149.0
142.6
142.3
144.0
137.5
146.4

151.1
151.3
150.7
152.7
150.3
150.6
144.1
144.1
145.0
138.6
148.1

152.6
152.9
152.2
154.4
151.2
152.3
145.5
145.8
146.0
139.9
149.4

1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
.6
1.1
1.0
1.2
.7
.9
.9

4.8
4.7
4.8
4.5
4.9
5.0
4.4
4.4
4.4
4.1
4.3

137.3

138.0

139.5

140.6

141.0

142.6

143.9

145.4

146.6

.8

4.0

138.0

139.0

139.3

140.8

141.9

143.1

145.3

146.9

148.4

1.0

4.6

Workers, by industry division:
Goods-producing....................................................
Excluding sales occupations..............................
White-collar occupations......................................
Excluding sales occupations..............................
Blue-collar occupations........................................
Construction........................................................
Manufacturing......................................................
White-collar occupations......................................
Excluding sales occupations..............................
Blue-collar occupations........................................
Durables.............................................................
Nondurables.......................................................

137.1
136.5
139.7
138.3
135.5
133.4
138.2
140.1
138.3
136.8
138.5
137.6

137.8
137.2
140.2
138.8
136.3
134.3
138.9
140.5
138.7
137.7
139.2
138.2

138.9
138.3
141.7
140.4
137.1
135.6
139.9
141.8
140.1
138.5
139.9
139.6

139.9
139.3
142.7
141.3
138.3
136.9
140.9
143.0
141.3
139.4
141.0
140.4

141.1
140.5
143.9
142.5
139.4
137.9
142.1
144.3
142.5
140.5
142.3
141.5

142.5
141.8
145.5
143.9
140.7
138.7
143.6
145.8
143.8
142.1
144.0
142.8

144.8
144.2
148.1
146.5
142.8
140.8
146.0
148.2
146.2
144.4
146.5
144.9

146.6
145.9
150.1
148.4
144.4
143.2
147.5
150.2
148.2
145.6
148.3
146.0

147.9
147.2
151.3
149.6
145.8
145.1
148.7
151.4
149.3
146.7
149.4
147.5

.9
.9
.8
.8
1.0
1.3
.8
.8
.7
.8
.7
1.0

4.8
4.8
5.1
5.0
4.6
5.2
4.6
4.9
4.8
4.4
5.0
4.2

Service-producing...................................................
Excluding sales occupations..............................
White-collar occupations......................................
Excluding sales occupations..............................
Blue-collar occupations........................................
Service occupations............................................
Transportation and public utilities............................
Transportation....................................................
Public utilities.....................................................
Communications..............................................
Electric, gas, and sanitary services......................
Wholesale and retail trade......................................
Excluding sales occupations..............................
Wholesale trade..................................................
Excluding sales occupations..............................
Retail trade.......................................................
General merchandise stores................................
Food stores......................................................

139.6
140.0
141.2
142.2
134.3
137.0
138.5
136.7
140.7
140.5
141.0
137.6
138.1
140.8
140.0
135.9
133.2
133.7

140.5
140.6
142.2
142.8
134.8
137.8
139.3
137.3
141.9
141.7
142.1
138.2
138.8
142.8
141.2
135.6
134.0
132.7

140.9
141.7
142.3
143.8
136.2
139.3
139.7
136.8
143.4
143.3
143.4
138.9
139.9
142.7
142.4
136.8
135.0
134.3

142.8
143.3
144.3
145.5
137.8
140.5
140.9
138.1
144.6
144.9
144.2
141.1
141.9
144.6
144.0
139.1
135.6
135.7

144.1
144.6
145.8
147.0
139.1
140.8
141.8
138.7
145.7
146.1
145.1
142.2
142.8
146.3
145.8
140.0
137.2
137.0

145.3
145.9
147.0
148.3
139.8
142.4
142.3
139.5
146.1
146.0
146.1
143.5
144.3
148.5
147.4
140.7
138.3
138.1

147.4
147.7
149.3
150.3
141.8
143.6
143.9
140.4
148.6
148.4
148.9
145.6
146.4
150.0
149.6
143.2
139.7
140.1

149.1
149.4
151.0
152.1
143.1
145.1
145.7
141.8
150.9
150.9
151.0
147.3
148.1
151.8
151.1
144.8
141.0
142.5

150.6
151.1
152.6
153.9
144.5
146.3
147.4
142.8
153.5
153.9
152.9
148.3
149.6
152.1
152.7
146.2
142.2
143.4

1.0
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.0
.8
1.2
.7
1.7
2.0
1.3
.7
1.0
.2
1.1
1.0
.9
.6

4.5
4.5
4.7
4.7
3.9
3.9
3.9
3.0
5.4
5.3
5.4
4.3
4.8
4.0
4.7
4.4
3.6
4.7

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

65

Current Labor Statistics:

Compensation & Industrial Relations

2 1 . C o n tin u e d — E m p lo y m e n t C o st In d e x , c o m p e n s a tio n ,1 b y o c c u p a tio n a n d industry g ro u p

[June 1989 = 100]
1998

1999

2000

Percent change

Series
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

3

12

m onths

m onths

ended

ended

Sept. 2000

Finance, insurance, and real estate...........................
Excluding sales occupations.................................
Banking, savings and loan, and other credit agencies.
Insurance..............................................................
Services..................................................................
Business services..................................................
Health services......................................................
Hospitals.............................................................
Educational services..............................................
Colleges and universities......................................

141.0
143.2
148.4
141.9
141.8
143.5
139.0
139.1
147.0
147.8

Nonmanufacturing...................................................
White-collar workers...............................................
Excluding sales occupations................................
Blue-collar occupations...........................................
Service occupations...............................................
S t a t e a n d lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t w o r k e r s .............................................

Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers....................................................
Professional specialty and technical............................
Executive, administrative, and managerial....................
Administrative support, including clerical......................

141.5
145.6
148.8
141.7
143.5
147 5
140.5
141.2
148.3
149.2

145.8
148.8
155.4
144.0
144.6
148 7
141.4
142.1
148.7
149.6

147.6
151.0
159.3
144.5
146.1
150 7
142.6
143.0
152.2
152.6

148.3
151.6
159.8
145.8
147.6
151 9
144.2
144.6
153.0
153.3

138.9
141.1
142.0
133.4
136.9

142.5
143.3
146.7
141.7
142.7
145.9
139.0
139.9
147.7
148.5
139.7
142.0
142.7
134.0
137.7

140.3
142.3
143.7
135.2
139.2

142.0
144.1
145.3
136.8
140.4

143.4
145.6
146.8
138.0
140.7

139.0

139.8

140.5

141.0

138.4
137.7
140.4
139.5
136 8

139.3
138.5
141.6
140.3
137.8

139.8
138.8
142.6
141.4
138.8

Workers, by industry division:
Services.................................................................... 139.0 139.7 140.0
Services excluding schools5....................................... 138.7 138.8 139.6
Health services......................................................
140.3 140.7 141.2
Hospitals............................................................
140.7 141.2 141.7
Educational services...............................................
138.8 139.6 139.9
Schools..............................................................
139.1
139.9 140.2
Elementary and secondary.................................
138.8 139.3 139.6
Colleges and universities....................................
140.4 141.5 141.7
Public administration3.................................................. 138.9 139.9 140.8
1 Cost (cents per hour worked) measured in the Employment Cost Index consists of
wages, salaries, and employer cost of employee benefits.
2 Consists of private industry workers (excluding farm and household workers) and
State and local government (excluding Federal Government) workers.

66

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

153.1
155.5
164.2
151.3
151.2
156 3
147.5
147.5
154.9
155.5

155.2
157.4
165.8
154.8
152.9
157 5
149.0
149.2
158.8
158.6

1.4
1.2
1.0
2.3
1.1
8
1.0
1.2
2.5
2.0

4.5
4.3
4.3
3.9

144.5
146.9
148.1
138.7
142.3

152.0
154.2
162.7
149.9
149.4
154 2
145.8
145.8
154.0
154.6
146.7
149.2
150.2
140.6
143.5

148.4
151.0
152.0
142.3
145.1

150.0
152.6
153.8
143.9
146.3

1.1
1.1
1.2
1.1
.8

4.6
4.8
4.8
4.3
4.0

143.1

144.6

145.5

145.9

147.8

1.3

3.3

140.2
139.3
142.8
141.3
139.5

142.6
142.0
144.5
143.0
140.9

144.0
143.2
146.1
145.0
142.5

144.9
144.1
147.0
145.9
143.7

145.3
144.5
147.2
146.5
144.2

147.3
146.6
149.2
148 3
145.9

1.4
1.5
1.4
1.2
1.2

3.3
3.2
3.3
37
3.5

140.5
140.3
142.0
142.7
140.3
140.6
140.0
142.1
141.5

143.2
142.6
144.2
144.8
143.1
143.5
142.9
144.8
142.4

144.5
143.8
145.8
146.3
144.4
144.7
144.1
146.5
144.4

145.2
145.2
147.3
147.9
145.0
145.3
144.5
147.4
145.7

145.5
145.8
147.9
148.4
145.2
145.5
144.7
147.6
146.1

148.0
147.6
150.0
150.7
147.9
148.2
147.3
150.5
146.9

1.7
1.2
1.4
1.5
1.9
1.9
1.8
2.0
.5

3.4
3.5
4.0
4.1
3.4
3.3
3.1
3.9
3.2

5.1
4.2
4.1
7.1
4.7

3 Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
4 This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the Hourly
Earnings index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
5 Includes, for example, library, social, and health services.

22.

E m plo ym en t Cost In d e x , w a g e s a n d salaries, b y o c c u p a tio n a n d industry g ro up

[June 1989 = 100]
1998

1999

2000

Percent change

Series
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

3

12

months

months

ended

ended

Sept. 2000
C iv ilia n w o r k e r s 1....................................................................................

136.8

137.7

138.4

139.8

141.3

142.5

144.0

145.4

147.0

1.1

4.0

Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers..................................................
Professional specialty and technical...........................
Executive, adminitrative, and managerial....................
Administrative support, including clerical.....................
Blue-collar workers...................................................
Service occupations..................................................

138.8
138.5
140.5
137.5
132.6
136.1

139.7
139.4
140.3
138.6
133.3
137.0

140.1
140.1
141.6
140.0
134.5
138.3

141.6
141.0
143.8
140.9
135.8
139.4

143.3
142.6
145.9
142.3
137.0
140.1

144.6
144.0
147.2
143.5
137.9
141.7

146.2
144.9
148.6
145.5
139.2
143.0

147.6
146.4
149.9
146.9
140.6
144.0

149.2
148.3
151.6
148.5
142.0
145.7

1.1
1.3
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.2

4.1
4.0
3.9
4.4
3.6
4.0

Workers, by industry division:
Goods-producing......................................................
Manufacturing........................................................
Service-producing....................................................
Services................................................................
Health services.....................................................
Hospitals...........................................................
Educational services..............................................
Public administration^...............................................
Nonmanufacturing....................................................

134.4
136.0
137.8
139.6
137.6
136.4
139.1
134.8
137.0

135.2
136.8
138.7
140.5
137.6
137.1
140.0
135.9
137.8

136.3
137.9
139.2
141.5
138.8
138.1
140.2
136.9
138.4

137.4
139.0
140.7
142.3
139.7
138.8
140.6
137.8
139.9

138.6
140.2
142.3
144.1
140.9
140.1
143.7
139.5
141.5

139.7
141.5
143.5
145.5
142.5
141.6
144.7
141.5
142.6

141.3
142.9
145.0
146.6
143.8
142.6
145.3
142.5
144.2

143.0
144.4
146.3
147.9
145.3
143.8
145.6
142.9
145.5

144.3
145.7
148.0
149.9
146.7
145.6
148.9
144.6
147.2

.9
.9
1.2
1.4
1.0
1.3
2.3
1.2
1.2

4.1
3.9
4.0
4.0
4.1
3.9
3.6
3.7
4.0

136.6
136.3

137.4
136.9

138.1
138.2

139.7
139.6

141.0
140.8

142.2
142.0

143.9
143.5

145.4
145.1

146.8
146.5

1.0
1.0

4.1
4.0

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations.....
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors.........
Transportation and material moving occupations........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers....

139.0
139.1
138.7
140.9
138.8
137.9
132.4
132.3
133.8
127.6
135.1

139.9
139.7
139.7
140.5
141.3
138.9
133.2
133.0
134.9
127.8
135.8

140.3
141.0
140.7
141.9
137.3
140.4
134.3
134.3
135.7
129.1
137.3

142.1
142.5
141.8
144.3
140.5
141.4
135.6
135.6
136.7
131.0
138.3

143.5
143.9
142.6
146.4
142.1
142.7
136.8
136.7
138.3
131.9
139.4

144.8
145.2
144.1
147.6
143.3
143.8
137.7
137.5
139.5
132.7
140.4

146.6
146.7
145.1
149.2
146.7
146.0
139.1
138.9
140.7
134.1
141.8

148.3
148.5
147.3
150.7
147.9
147.5
140.5
140.6
141.6
135.2
143.6

149.7
149.9
148.6
152.3
149.0
149.1
141.9
142.0
142.9
136.5
145.0

.9
.9
.9
1.1
.7
1.1
1.0
1.0
.9
1.0
1.0

4.3
4.2
4.2
4.0
4.9
4.5
3.7
3.9
3.3
3.5
4.0

Service occupations................................................
Production and nonsupervisory occupations3..............

134.4

135.3

136.7

137.8

138.0

139.6

141.0

142.5

143.5

.7

4.0

135.2

136.4

136.8

138.2

139.3

140.4

142.1

143.7

145.0

.9

4.1

134.3
133.6
137.4
135.7
132.3
128.5
136.0
138.3
136.3
134.3
135.9
136.0

135.2
134.4
138.2
136.4
133.3
129.3
136.8
139.0
137.1
135.3
136.9
136.8

136.3
135.5
139.4
137.8
134.3
130.7
137.9
140.1
138.3
136.3
137.9
138.0

137.3
136.6
140.5
138.8
135.4
131.9
139.0
141.4
139.6
137.2
139.1
138.7

138.5
137.8
141.7
140.1
136.6
133.0
140.2
142.7
140.8
138.4
140.4
139.7

139.7
138.9
143.0
141.3
137.6
133.6
141.5
144.0
142.0
139.7
141.8
140.9

141.3
140.5
145.0
143.2
139.0
136.0
142.9
145.8
143.7
140.8
143.0
142.7

143.0
142.1
146.8
144.9
140.5
138.0
144.4
147.7
145.6
142.0
144.7
143.9

144.3
143.4
147.9
146.0
142.0
139.4
145.7
148.7
146.6
143.4
146.1
145.0

.9
.9
7
.8
1.1
1.0
.9
.7
.7
1.0
1.0
.8

4.2
4.1
4.4
4.2
4.0
4.8
3.9
4.2
4.1
3.6
4.1
3.8

137.6
137.9
139.2
140.2
132.4
134.2
134.3
132.4
136.5
136.7
136.3
136.6
137.6
139.3
139.6
135.2
132.2
131.7

138.4
138.5
140.1
140.7
132.9
135.2
135.1
132.9
137.8
138.0
137.4
137.0
138.2
141.3
140.8
134.8
133.0
130.5

138.9
139.8
140.3
142.0
134.4
136.7
135.4
132.3
139.2
139.4
138.9
137.7
139.5
140.7
141.9
136.2
133.7
131.8

140.8
141.4
142.3
143.7
135.9
137.8
136.8
133.7
140.6
141.1
140.0
139.6
141.1
142.3
143.0
138.3
134.3
132.8

142.1
142.6
143.8
145.1
137.0
138.0
137.5
134.4
141.5
141.9
140.9
140.7
141.8
144.3
144.8
138.9
135.6
133.9

143.3
143.8
145.0
146.4
137.8
139.6
137.9
134.9
141.8
142.2
141.3
142.0
143.3
146.5
146.4
139.6
136.7
134.9

145.0
145.3
146.9
147.8
139.1
141.1
138.5
134.9
143.2
143.4
143.0
143.8
145.2
147.4
147.9
142.1
137.8
136.7

146.5
146.9
148.5
149.6
140.3
142.5
140.0
136.2
144.9
145.0
144.7
145.5
146.8
149.4
149.7
143.5
138.5
139.5

147.9
148.3
150.0
151.2
141.6
143.5
141.3
137.4
146.4
146.7
145.9
146.4
148.2
149.6
151.3
144.8
139.7
140.2

1.0
1.0
1.0
1.1
.9
.7
.9
.9
1.0
1.2
.8
.6
1.0
.1
1.1
.9
.9
.5

4.1
4.0
4.3
4.2
3.4
4.0
2.8
2.2
3.5
3.4
3.5
4.1
4.5
3.7
4.5
4.2
3.0
4.7

P riv a te in d u s tr y w o r k e r s .................................................................

Excluding sales occupations...................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers................................................
Excluding sales occupations..................................
Professional specialty and technical occupations........
Executive, adminitrative, and managerial occupations..
Sales occupations.................................................
Administrative support occupations, including clerical...

Workers, by industry division:
Goods-producing....................................................
Excluding sales occupations...............................
White-collar occupations......................................
Excluding sales occupations...............................
Blue-collar occupations........................................
Construction.........................................................
Manufacturing......................................................
White-collar occupations.......................................
Excluding sales occupations...............................
Durables.............................................................
Nondurables........................................................
Service-producing...................................................
Excluding sales occupations...............................

Service occupations.............................................
Transportation and public utilities.............................
Transportation.....................................................
Public utilities......................................................
Communications...............................................
Electric, gas, and sanitary services......................
Wholesale and retail trade......................................
Wholesale trade..................................................
Retail trade........................................................
General merchandise stores................................
Food stores......................................................
See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

67

Current Labor Statistics:

22.

Compensation & Industrial Relations

C o n tin u e d — E m p lo y m e n t C o st In d e x , w a g e s a n d salaries, b y o c c u p a tio n a n d industry g ro u p

[June 1989 = 100]
1998

2000

1999

Percent change

Series
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

3

12

m onths

m onths

ended

ended

Sept. 2000

Insurance..............................................................
Services..................................................................
Business services..................................................
Health services......................................................
Hospitals.............................................................
Educational services..............................................
Colleges and universities......................................

138.1
139.7
147.0
138.7
140.0
141.8
137.5
135.8
142.8
142.8

139.8
139.6
144.4
138.5
140.8
144.1
137.4
136.5
143.5
143.6

137.2
141.0
146.1
137.4
142.2
145.4
138.7
137.6
143.9
144.1

142.4
144.8
154.5
139.8
143.2
146.3
139.6
138.3
144.2
144.4

144.5
147.5
159.2
140.2
144.5
148.5
140.6
139.3
147.5
147.2

145.2
148.0
159.6
141.5
146.0
149.8
142.2
140.9
148.2
147.9

148.7
150.2
162.0
145.5
147.4
152.0
143.5
141.8
148.9
148.9

149.5
151.5
163.3
146.6
149.1
154.1
145.3
143.3
149.6
149.4

151.7
153.3
165.0
150.7
150.6
155.3
146.6
144.9
153.4
152.5

1.5
1.2
1.0
2.8
1.0
.8
.9
1.1
2.5
2.1

5.0
3.9
3.6
7.5
4.2
4.6
4.3
4.0
4.0
3.6

Nonmanufacturing...................................................
White-collar workers...............................................
Excluding sales occupations................................
Blue-collar occupations...........................................
Service occupations...............................................

136.5
138.9
139.8
130.5
134.1

137.4
139.8
140.3
131.1
135.1

137.9
140.1
141.6
132.4
136.5

139.7
142.0
143.2
134.0
137.7

141.0
143.5
144.6
135.1
137.9

142.1
144.7
145.9
135.8
139.5

143.9
146.5
147.4
137.4
140.9

145.5
148.2
149.1
138.9
142.4

146.9
149.6
150.7
140.3
143.4

1.0
.9
1.1
1.0
.7

4.2
4.3
4.2
3.8
4.0

S t a t e a n d lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t w o r k e r s .............................................

137.6

138.5

139.0

139.6

142.2

143.5

144.3

144.7

147.2

1.7

3.5

137.6
137.9
138.0
135.4
135.1

138.5
138.7
139.3
136.5
136.0

138.9
138.9
140.1
137.4
136.9

139.3
139.4
140.5
137.5
137.6

142.1
142.5
142.7
139.6
139.4

143.4
143.6
144.3
141.7
140.7

144.1
144.3
144.9
142.4
141.5

144.5
144.7
145.1
143.0
142.1

147.1
147.4
147.3
145.0
143.9

1.8
1.9
1.5
1.4
1.3

3.5
3.4
3.2
3.9
3.2

138.4

139.2
138.2
139.2
139.1
139.3
139.5
139.3
139.6

139.5
139.0
139.7
139.7
139.5
139.6
139.5
139.6

139.9
139.6
140.4
140.6
139.8
140.0
139.9
139.8

142.9
142.1
142.8
142.8
142.9
143.1
143.1
142.6

144.0
143.2
144.2
144.1
144.0
144.2
144.1
144.4

144.6
144.3
145.3
145.3
144.5
144.7
144.5
144.9

144.9
144.8
145.7
145.6
144.8
144.9
144.6
145.6

147.9
146.7
147.7
147.7
148.0
148.1
147.9
148.3

2.1

3.5
3.2
3.4
3.4
3.6
3.5
3.4
4.0

Finance, insurance, and real estate...........................
Excluding sales occupations.................................

Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers....................................................
Professional specialty and technical............................

Workers, by industry division:
Services...................................................................
Services excluding schools4.......................................
Health services......................................................
Hospitals............................................................
Schools.............................................................
Elementary and secondary.................................
Colleges and universities....................................
Public administration^..................................................

137.8
138.7
138.6
138.4
138.5
138.7
137.7

1.3
1.4
1.4
2.2
2.2
2.3
1.9
1.2

3.7
134.8 135.9 136.9 137.8 139.5 141.5 142.5 142.9 144.6
1 Consists of private industry workers (excluding farm and household workers) and
3 This series has the same industry and occupational coverage as the Hourly
State and local government (excluding Federal Government) workers.
Earnings index, which was discontinued in January 1989.
2 Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
4 Includes, for example, library, social, and health services.

23.

E m p lo y m e n t C o s t In d e x , b en e fits , p riv a te industry w o rk e rs b y o c c u p a tio n a n d industry g ro u p

[June 1989 = 100]
Percent change

2000

1999

1998

Series
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

3

12

m onths

m onths

ended

ended

Sept. 2000
P rivate in d u s try w o rk e rs ..................................................................

Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers....................................................
Workers, by industry division:
Goods-producing.........................................................
Service-producing........................................................
Manufacturing.............................................................
Nonmanufacturing.......................................................

68

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

144.5

145.2

145.8

147.3

148.6

150.2

153.8

155.7

157.5

1.2

6.0

146.6
141.0

147.4
141.6

147.9
142.2

149.4
143.6

151.0
144.8

152.5
146.2

156.3
150.0

158.5
151.6

160.4
153.1

1.2
1.0

6.2
5.7

143.0
144.9
142.6
145.0

143.2
145.7
142.7
145.8

144.3
146.1
143.6
146.3

145.2
147.9
144.5
148.0

146.3
149.4
145.7
149.4

148.2
150.7
147.8
150.7

152.3
154.0
152.3
154.0

154.2
156.0
153.9
156.1

155.7
157.9
154.9
158.1

1.0
1.2
.6
1.3

6.4
5.7
6.3
5.8

January 2001

24.

E m p lo y m e n t C o s t In d e x , p riv a te n o n fa rm w o rk e rs b y b a r g a in in g status, re g io n , a n d a r e a size

[June 1989 = 100]

Series
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

P ercent change

2000

1999

1998

Dec.

Sept.

Mar.

June

Sept.

3

12

m onths

m onths

ended

ended

Sept. 2000
C O M P E N S A T IO N
W o r k e r s , b y b a r g a in in g s ta t u s 1

Union..............................................................................
Goods-producing..........................................................
Service-producing........................................................
Manufacturing..............................................................
Nonmanufacturing........................................................

136.8
135.6
138.0
136.0
136.9

137.5
136.5
138.5
136.9
137.4

138.0
136.8
139.2
137.0
138.1

139.0
138.2
139.7
138.1
139.2

140.2
139.2
141.0
139.1
140.3

141.2
140.8
141.4
141.0
140.8

143.0
143.3
142.5
144.5
141.7

144.4
144.8
143.9
145.4
143.4

146.1
146.8
145.2
147.1
145.0

1.2
1.4
.9
1.2
1.1

4.2
5.5
3.0
6.8
3.3

Nonunion........................................................................
Goods-producing..........................................................
Service-producing........................................................
Manufacturing..............................................................
Nonmanufacturing........................................................

139.3
137.7
139.7
138.9
139.1

140.1
138.3
140.6
139.4
140.0

140.8
139.7
141.1
140.7
140.6

142.5
140.5
143.0
141.7
142.4

143.8
141.8
144.4
143.0
143.8

145.2
143.1
145.7
144.4
145.1

147.4
145.4
148.0
146.5
147.4

149.1
147.2
149.6
148.2
149.1

150.6
148.4
151.2
149.2
150.7

1.0
.8
1.1
.7
1.1

4.7
4.7
4.7
4.3
4.8

138.7
137.6
140.9
138.5

139.5
138.1
141.4
140.0

140.5
139.1
141.7
140.3

141.5
140.7
143.6
142.1

143.2
141.8
145.0
143.3

144.3
143.0
146.3
144.7

146.3
145.0
148.9
147.0

147.6
146.7
150.7
148.8

149.3
147.6
152.2
150.8

1.2
.6
1.0
1.3

4.3
4.1
5.0
5.2

139.1
138.2

139.8
139.4

140.4
140.5

142.0
141.8

143.3
143.1

144.7
143.6

146.9
146.0

148.6
147.7

150.1
148.8

1.0
.7

4.7
4.0

132.4
131.0
134.1
132.2
132.4

133.1
131.7
134.8
133.0
133.1

133.6
132.3
135.4
133.6
133.7

134.7
133.8
135.8
134.7
134.6

135.7
134.9
136.8
135.8
135.6

136.5
136.1
137.2
137.5
135.9

137.2
137.2
137.6
138.8
136.4

138.5
138.4
138.9
139.7
137.8

140.0
140.2
140.1
141.4
139.2

1.1
1.3
.9
1.2
1.0

3.2
3.9
2.4
4.1
2.7

137.4
135.7
137.9
137.3
137.1

138.3
136.5
138.8
138.2
138.0

139.0
137.8
139.3
139.4
138.6

140.7
138.8
141.3
140.5
140.5

142.0
140.0
142.6
141.7
141.8

143.3
141.1
143.9
142.9
143.0

145.1
142.9
145.8
144.4
145.0

146.7
144.7
147.3
146.1
146.6

148.1
145.8
148.7
147.2
148.0

1.0
.8
1.0
.8
1.0

4.3
4.1
4.3
3.9
4.4

135.4
136.5
137.5
136.7

136.4
136.7
138.0
138.4

137.1
137.9
138.9
138.2

138.2
139.4
141.0
140.2

139.9
140.2
142.4
141.3

140.9
141.5
143.6
142.6

142.3
143.0
145.3
144.7

143.7
144.6
147.1
146.3

145.3
145.3
148.6
148.2

1.1
.5
1.0
1.3

3.9
3.6
4.4
4.9

W o r k e r s , b y r e g io n 1

Northeast.......................................................................
South.............................................................................
Midwest (formerly North Central)......................................
West..............................................................................
W o r k e r s , b y a r e a s iz e 1

Metropolitan areas...........................................................
W A G E S A N D S A L A R IE S
W o r k e r s , b y b a r g a in in g s ta t u s 1

Union..............................................................................
Goods-producing.........................................................
Service-producing........................................................
Nonmanufacturing........................................................
Nonunion........................................................................
Goods-producing.........................................................
Service-producing........................................................
Manufacturing.............................................................
W o r k e r s , b y r e g io n 1

Midwest (formerly North Central)......................................
W o r k e r s , b y a r e a s iz e 1

4.2
1.0
145.7
147.1
141.2 142.5 144.1
136.9 137.7 138.3 139.9
Metropolitan areas..........................................................
3.5
.7
143.7 144.7
142.2
140.2
138.4 139.8
134.7 136.0 137.1
Other areas...................................................................
1 The indexes are calculated differently from those for the occupation and industry groups. For a detailed description of the index calculation, see the Monthly Labor Review
Technical Note, "Estimation procedures for the Employment Cost Index," May 1982.


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Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

69

Current Labor Statistics:

Compensation & Industrial Relations

25. P e rc e n t o f fu ll-tim e e m p lo y e e s p a rtic ip a tin g in e m p lo y e r-p ro v id e d b e n e fit plans, a n d in s e le c te d fea tu re s w ithin plans,
m e d iu m a n d la rg e p riv a te establishm ents, s e le c te d years, 1 9 8 0 -9 7

Item

1980

Scope of survey (in 000's)...................................
Number of employees (in 000's):
With medical care...........................................
With life insurance...........................................
With defined benefit plan................................

Percent of participants with employee
contribution required for:
Self coverage.................................................
Average monthly contribution..........................
Family coverage.............................................
Average mummy uoniriuuuon..........................
Participants in life insurance plans........................
Percent of participants with:
Accidental death and dismemberment
insurance......................................................
Survivor income benefits..................................
Retiree protection available...............................
Participants in long-term disability
insurance plans.........................................
Participants in sickness and accident
insurance plans........................................
Participants in short-term disability plans1............
Retirement plans
Participants in detinea benefit pension plans.........
Percent of participants with:
Normal retirement prior to age 65..................
Early retirement available.................................
Ad hoc pension increase in last 5 years..............
Terminal earnings formula................................
Benefit coordinated with Social Security..............
Participants in defined contribution plans................
Participants in plans with tax-deferred savings
arrangements........................................

1986

Monthly Labor Review


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

21,352

21,043

21,013

21,303

31,059

32,428

31,163

28,728

33,374

38,409

20,711
20,498
17,936

20,412
20,201
17,676

20,383
20,172
17,231

20,238
20,451
16,190

27,953
28,574
19,567

29,834
30,482
20,430

25,865
29,293
18,386

23,519
26,175
16,015

25,546
29,078
17,417

29,340
33,495
19,202

10
75
-

g
25
76
25

9
26
73
26

99
10.1
20
100
62
-

_
99
10.0
24
3.8
99
67
-

99
9.8
23
3.6
99
67

10
27
72
26
88
3.2
99
10.0
25
3.7
100
70
-

11
29
72
26
85
3.2
96
9.4
24
3.3
98
69
33
16

10
26
71
26
84
3.3
97
9.2
22
3.1
97
68
37
18

8
30
67
28
80
3.3
92
10.2
21
3.3
96
67
37
26

9
29
68
26
83
3.0
91
9.4
21
3.1
97
65
60
53

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

97

97

97

95

90

92

58

62

46
62
8

66
70
18

76
79
28

26
46
96

27
51
-

36
$11.93
58
$35.93

43
$12.80
63
$41.40

96

96

69

72

-

-

-

3.3
89
9.1
22
3.3
96
58

81
3.7
89
9.3
20
3.5
95
56

-

84

93

83

82

77

76

75
80
28

81
80
30

86
82
42

78
73
56

85
78
63

44
$19.29
64
$60.07

47
$25.31
66
$72.10

51
$26.60
69
$96.97

61
$31.55
76
$107.42

67
$33.92
78
$118.33

69
$39.14
80
$130.07

96

92

94

94

91

87

87

64

74
_
64

72
10
59

78
8
49

71
7
42

71
6
44

76
5
41

77
7
37

74
6
33

40

43

47

48

42

45

40

41

42

43

54

51

51

49

46

43

45

44

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

53

55

84

84

82

76

63

63

59

56

52

50

55
98
53
45

58
97
52
45

63
97
47
54
56

-

-

-

64
98
35
57
62
60

59
98
26
55
62
45

62
97
22
64
63
48

55
98
7
56
54
48

52
95
6
61
48
49

52
96
4
58
51
55

52
95
10
56
49
57

33

36

41

44

43

54

55

2
5

5
12

9
23

10
36

12
52

12
38
5

13
32
7

_

-

Other benefits
Employees eligible for:
_
_
Flexible benefits plans.......................................
_
_
_
Reimbursement accounts2.............................
_
Premium conversion plans.................................
_
_
The definitions for paid sick leave and short-term disability (previously sickness and
accident insurance) were changed for the 1995 survey. Paid sick leave now includes only
plans that specify either a maximum number of days per year or unlimited days. Shortterms disability now includes all insured, self-insured, and State-mandated plans available
on a per-disabllity basis, as well as the unfunded per-disability plans previously reported as
sick leave. Sickness and accident insurance, reported in years prior to this survey, included
only insured, self-insured, and State-mandated plans providing per-disability bene-

70

1988

January 2001

o

Insurance plans
Participants in medical care plans.........................
Percent of participants with coverage for:
Home health care...........................................
Extended care facilities.....................................
Physical exam................................................

1984

CO

Time-off plans
Participants with:
Paid lunch time................................
Average minutes per day.................................
Paid rest time...................................................
Average minutes per day.................................
Paid funeral leave...................................
Average days per occurrence...........................
Paid holidays...................................................
Average uays per year.....................................
Paid personal leave..........................................
Average days per year.....................................
Paid vacations.................................................
Paid sick leave '..........................................
Unpaid maternity leave......................................
Unpaid paternity leave.......................................
Unpaid family leave..........................................

1982

fits at less than full pay.
2 Prior to 1995, reimbursement accounts included premium conversion plans, which
specifically allow medical plan participants to pay required plan premiums with pretax
dollars. Also, reimbursement accounts that were part of flexible benefit plans were
tabulated separately.
NOTE: Dash indicates data not available.

26. Percent of full-time em ployees participating in em ployer-provided benefit plans, and in selected features
within plans, small private establishments and State and local governments, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998
S t a t e a n d lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t s

S m a ll p r iv a t e e s t a b lis h m e n t s
Ite m

32,466
Number of employees (in 000's):

1994

1992

1990

34,360

35,910

22,402
20,778
6,493

24,396
21,990
7,559

23,536
21,955
5,480

8
37
48
27
47
2.9
84
9.5
11
2.8
88
47
17
8

9
37
49
26
50
3.0
82
9.2
12
2.6
88
53
18
7

_
_
_

39,816
25,599
24,635
5,883

1998

1994

1992

1990

1987

1996

10,321

12,972

12,466

12,907

14,351

9,599
8,773
9,599

12,064
11,415
11,675

11,219
11,095
10,845

11,192
11,194
11,708

12,308
12,777
12,983

17
34
58
29
56
3.7
81
10.9
38
2.7
72
97
57
30

11
36
56
29
63
3.7
74
13.6
39
2.9
67
95
51
33

10
34
53
29
65
3.7
75
14.2
38
2.9
67
95
59
44

Time-off plans
Participants with:

50
3.1
82
7.5
13
2.6
88
50

_
_

_
_

_

51
3.0
80
7.6
14
3.0
86
50
_
_

Percent of participants with employee
contribution required for:

-

-

-

65
3.7
73
11.4
38
3.1
67
96

62
3.7
73
11.5
38
3.0
66
94
-

-

-

47

48

_

_

-

93

9.5

69

71

66

64

93

93

90

87

8.6

79
83
26

80
84
28

-

-

-

-

76
78
36

82
79
36

87
84
47

84
81
55

90
78
67

42
$25.13
67
$109.34
64

47
$36.51
73
$150.54
64

52
$40.97
76
$159.63
61

52
$42.63
75
$181.53
62

35
$15.74
71
$71.89
85

38
$25.53
65
$117.59
88

43
$28.97
72
$139.23
89

47
$30.20
71
$149.70
87

51
$31.94
75
$152.46
89

78
1
19

76
1
25

79
2
20

77
1
13

67
1
55

67
1
45

74
1
46

64
2
46

58
1

31

27

28

30

34

Percent of participants with:
Accidental death and dismemberment

Participants inlong-termdisability

-

-

_

Insurance plans
Percent of participants withcoverage for:

-

19

23

20

6

26

26

Participants insickness and accident

22

14

21

22

_

29

-

-

-

21
-

-

15

93

90

87

91

90

47
92

92
90
33
100
18
9

89
88
16
100
8
9

92
89
10
100
10
9

92
87
13
99
4
9

77
87

Retirement plans
Percent of participants with:

20

22

15

54
95
7
58
49
31

50
95
4
54
46
33

_
_
_
_
34

53
44
38

17

24

23

28

28

45

45

24

35

1
8

2
14

3
19

4
12

5
5

5
31

5
50

5
64

5
42
9

Participants inplans withtax-deferred savings
Other benefits
Employees eligible for:
Premiumconversion plans ............................

1 Methods used to calculate the average number of paid holidays were revised
In 1994 to count partial days more precisely. Average holidays for 1994 are
not comparable with those reported in 1990 and 1992.
2 The definitions for paid sick leave and short-term disability (previously
sickness and accident insurance) were changed forthe 1996 survey. Paid sick
leave now includes only plans that specify either a maximum number of days
per year or unlimited days. Short-termdisability now includes all insured, selfinsured, and State-mandated plans available on a per-disability basis, as well
as the unfunded per-disability plans previously reported as


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-

7

-

99
7
14

sick leave. Sickness and accident insurance, reported in years prior to this
survey, included only insured, self-insured, and State-mandated plans
providing per-disability benefits at less than full pay.
3 Prior to 1996, reimbursement accounts included premiumconversion plans,
which specifically allow medical plan participants to pay required plan
premiums with pretax dollars. Also, reimbursement accounts that were part of
flexible benefit plans were tabulated separately.
Note: Dash indicates data not available.

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

71

Current Labor Statistics:

Compensation & Industrial Relations

27. W o rk s to p p a g e s in v o lv in g 1,000 w o rk e rs o r m o re
Measure

Annual totals
1998

1999

1999
Apr.

May

June

July

2000

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.p

Feb.p

M ar.p

Apr.P

Number of stoppages:
Beginning in period.........................
In effect during period.....................

34
34

17
21

2
4

3
6

2
6

1
6

1
3

2
5

0
2

1
2

0
1

0
1

1
2

2
4

6
7

Workers involved:
Beginning in period (in thousands)....
In effect during period (in thousands).

387
387

73
80

19.0
23.4

9.6
22.0

2.2
21.6

1.7
16.3

11.0
15.4

19.1
34.5

.0
10.1

2.0
5.0

.0
3.0

.0
3.0

17.0
20.0

5.7
25.7

26.7
29.7

Days idle:
Number (in thousands)...................

5,116
1,995 272.4 314.8 309.4 266.4 118.8 176.2
67.1
63.6
63.0
60.0 298.0 327.6 272.2
.02
.01
Percent of estimated workina time1....
.01
.01
.01
.01
.01
(2)
Ô
(2)
.01
(2)
.01
(2)
.01
Agricultural and government employees are Included in the total employed and total working time; private household, forestry, and fishery employees are excluded. An explanation of
the measurement of idleness as a percentage of the total time worked is found in"'Total economy' measures of strike idleness," Monthly Labor Review, October 1968, pp. 54-56.
2 Less than 0.005.
p= preliminary.

72

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

28. Consumer Price Indexes for All Urban Consumers and for Urban W age Earners and Clerical Workers: U.S. city average,
by expenditure category and com modity or service group

[1982-84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
A n n u a l a v e ra g e

2000

1999

S e r ie s
1998

1999

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

C O N S U M E R P R I C E IN D E X
FO R ALL URBAN C O N SU M ER S

All items...........................................................
All items (1967= 100).......................................
Food and beverages........................................
Food.............................................................
Food at home...............................................
Cereals and bakery products.......................
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.......................
Dairy and related products'..........................
Fruits and vegetables..................................
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage
materials..................................................
Other foods at home....................................
Sugar and sweets......................................
Fats and oils.............................................
Other foods...............................................
Other miscellaneous foods1,2...................
Food away from home'..................................
Other food away from home' 2
Alcoholic beverages.......................................
Housing..........................................................
Shelter.........................................................
Rent of primary residence............................
Lodging away from home............................
Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence3
Tenants' and household insurance1'2............
Fuels and utilities.......................................
Fuels........................................................
Fuel oil and other fuels.............................
Gas (piped) and electricity........................
Household furnishings and operations..........
Apparel..........................................................
Men’s and boys’ apparel..............................
Infants' and toddlers' apparel'.....................
Transportation.................................................
New and used motor vehicles2.....................
Used cars and trucks'...............................
Gasoline (all types)...................................
Motor vehicle parts and equipment...............
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair..........
Public transportation.....................................
Medical care...................................................
Medical care commodities..............................
Medical care services....................................
Professional services..................................

Education and communication2.......................
Education2..................................................
Educational books and supplies..................
Tuition, other school fees, and child care....
Communication1,2........................................
Information and information processing1,2....
Telephone services1,2.............................
Information and Information processing
other than telephone services1,4............
Personal computers and peripheral
Other goods and services................................

Personal care services'..............................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

163.0
488.3
161.1
160.7
161.1
181.1
147.3
150.8
198.2

166.6
499.0
164.6
164.1
164.2
185.0
147.9
159.6
203.1

168.3
504.1
165.7
165.2
165.1
184.8
150.5
164.6
201.2

168.3
504.1
165.9
165.4
165.4
185.9
149.8
162.1
204.5

168.8
505.8
166.6
166.1
166.3
185.6
150.2
160.4
208.4

169.8
508.7
166.8
166.3
166.3
186.0
151.3
160.9
203.0

171.2
512.8
167.1
166.5
166.4
186.1
152.4
159.1
201.7

171.3
513.2
167.2
166.6
166.5
187.2
152.9
160.6
201.6

171.5
513.6
167.8
167.3
167.5
188.6
153.9
159.6
204.3

172.4
516.5
167.9
167.3
167.3
187.7
154.9
159.5
199.9

172.8
517.5
168.7
168.1
168.3
189.6
155.8
160.5
201.0

172.8
517.6
169.2
168.7
168.9
189.9
156.8
161.0
202.5

173.7
520.3
169.4
168.9
169.0
188.6
156.9
161.6
204.6

174.0
521.2
169.6
169.1
169.1
190.1
156.8
161.9
206.2

174.1
521.5
169.5
168.9
168.8
189.0
155.5
161.4
207.3

133.0
150.8
150.2
146.9
165.5
102.6
161.1
101.6
165.7
160.4
182.1
172.1
109.0
187.8

134.3
153.5
152.3
148.3
168.9
104.9
165.1
105.2
169.7
163.9
187.3
177.5
112.3
192.9

133.9
153.0
152.1
145.3
169.0
103.9
166.5
106.9
171.2
164.9
188.6
179.8
108.5
194.9

134.7
153.3
152.3
145.1
169.4
105.7
166.8
106.9
171.8
164.8
188.6
180.3
105.8
195.2
102.2
129.6
114.1
106.3
120.3
126.4
130.1
131.5
121.8
133.0
123.7
148.3
144.4
101.1
143.6
155.0
112.2
111.5
100.8
173.8
201.2
254.2
234.6
258.5
231.7
306.3
102.0
100.1
102.3
109.3
256.0
316.3
95.9
95.4
100.7

137.6
154.0
152.4
144.8
170.7
105.2
168.1
108.0
173.6
167.9
192.3
182.3
119.4
197.2
103.1
131.7
116.1
123.7
121.0
128.2
133.3
131.6
126.7
132.3
126.7
152.9
148.7
100.8
143.5
154.0
128.7
127.9
101.0
175.9
209.2
258.8
237.0
263.9
236.6
312.7
102.9
100.3
101.8
110.7
276.7
318.7
93.8
93.1
98.6

137.3
155.4
153.7
147.0
172.1
106.4
168.3
108.1
173.8
168.1
192.4
182.7
117.5
197.6
103.8
132.4
116.8
121.6
122.0
128.1
132.2
132.6
124.4
131.7
126.1
153.1
148.8
101.0
143.3
155.4
128.3
127.6
101.1
176.3
210.4
259.4
237.5
264.4
237.1
313.5
103.1
101.3
101.8
110.9
276.8
319.2
93.7
93.0
98.5

137.5
156.2
154.0
146.6
173.4
108.4
168.6
108.1
174.4
169.6
193.3
183.2
120.5
198.2
103.9
138.9
124.0
120.9
130.2
128.1
128.3
129.4
119.2
130.5
123.9
155.7
151.4
100.8
142.9
155.7
139.0
138.3
101.2
176.8
212.6
260.5
238.2
265.6
237.9
315.6
103.4
101.5
101.5
111.5
277.5
320.9
92.6
91.8
97.2

138.5
156.6
154.1
148.1
173.5
108.8
169.1
108.7
175.2
170.6
194.1
183.9
122.8
198.6
104.2
141.3
126.5
120.8
133.0
128.6
124.5
126.4
113.9
128.1
120.3
155.0
150.6
100.6
142.5
155.3
136.1
135.4
101.5
177.2
213.7
261.4
238.6
266.7
238.3
318.1
103.7
101.3
102.0
111.8
278.1
321.7
93.3
92.5
98.2

138.2
156.9
154.6
148.9
173.7
109.5
169.5
109.3
175.6
170.9
194.7
184.6
123.0
199.2
104.0
140.9
125.9
120.8
132.4
128.6
125.3
126.8
115.6
126.7
120.7
153.2
148.6
100.4
141.9
155.2
128.4
127.7
101.5
178.2
215.7
262.6
239.2
268.0
238.9
321.3
103.9
101.6
102.8
113.0
280.2
325.4
93.7
93.0
98.9

137.9
156.0
153.0
146.5
173.3
110.0
170.4
111.0
176.4
171.6
195.2
186.8
113.9
201.2

102.1
130.0
114.6
100.7
121.4
126.4
133.6
133.2
126.6
132.6
126.4
147.6
143.6
100.9
143.1
156.1
109.3
108.7
101.2
173.6
202.2
253.3
233.7
257.7
231.4
303.9
101.9
100.1
102.2
109.3
255.7
316.3
95.9
95.3
100.6

138.5
155.1
154.6
145.9
171.6
107.0
167.9
107.9
173.5
167.8
192.2
182.0
120.9
196.9
102.6
131.8
116.3
130.1
120.7
127.9
132.5
131.5
125.9
133.9
124.7
153.4
149.2
100.4
143.3
153.0
131.7
130.9
101.4
175.7
209.8
258.1
236.3
263.2
236.1
311.5
102.9
100.9
102.0
110.6
276.9
318.3
94.3
93.6
98.9

137.4
155.8
153.9
149.7
172.0
106.8
170.3
110.5
175.9
171.7
195.2
186.1
118.5
200.5

101.3
128.8
113.5
91.4
120.9
126.7
131.3
131.1
123.3
129.0
125.7
144.4
140.5
100.1
142.9
152.0
100.7
100.1
100.5
171.9
197.7
250.6
230.7
255.1
229.2
299.5
102.1
100.7
101.2
107.0
261.7
308.4
96.0
95.5
100.1

138.4
154.4
154.4
145.6
170.5
106.4
167.6
107.9
173.0
167.1
191.0
181.5
115.1
196.6
102.4
132.9
117.6
147.2
120.6
127.2
129.2
130.0
120.0
133.1
122.1
149.7
145.6
100.3
143.0
153.0
118.1
117.3
100.9
175.2
204.2
257.0
235.5
262.0
234.9
310.5
102.5
100.8
102.2
110.6
278.3
318.0
94.7
94.1
99.4

138.0
156.7
154.6
148.7
173.4
107.7
170.0
110.0
175.5
171.4
194.6
185.3
118.1
199.9

99.8
128.5
113.7
90.0
121.2
126.6
133.0
131.8
126.0
126.1
128.0
141.6
137.9
100.1
143.4
150.6
92.2
91.6
101.1
167.1
190.3
242.1
221.8
246.8
222.2
287.5
101.1
101.1
100.3
102.1
250.8
294.2
98.7
98.5
100.7

137.1
154.3
154.8
147.0
169.8
104.3
167.2
107.5
172.4
166.0
190.1
181.1
111.3
196.2
102.4
129.9
114.3
114.4
119.8
127.0
126.8
129.2
116.0
133.3
121.6
148.3
144.4
100.8
143.3
153.9
112.6
111.9
100.8
174.6
199.5
255.5
235.2
260.1
233.1
308.4
102.3
100.5
102.7
110.2
273.9
317.3
96.0
95.5
100.9

104.2
143.8
129.1
133.7
134.8
129.0
130.4
129.1
124.2
127.4
124.9
154.7
150.4
100.4
141.4
156.2
135.2
134.3
101.7
178.7
213.0
263.1
239.4
268.7
239.3
322.5
103.8
101.5
102.9
114.9
284.8
330.8
92.1
91.3
97.0

104.2
143.1
128.3
137.6
133.6
128.7
132.8
130.4
127.9
130.8
125.3
154.4
150.4
100.8
141.6
157.9
133.1
132.3
101.7
179.4
208.0
263.7
239.6
269.4
239.7
323.6
103.8
101.0
103.6
115.3
285.2
332.1
93.1
92.3
98.3

104.5
142.7
127.7
140.3
132.7
128.9
131.8
131.3
124.8
130.7
125.4
155.2
151.1
101.5
142.7
159.3
133.0
132.2
102.5
179.9
209.1
264.1
240.0
269.8
239.8
324.7
103.7
100.9
103.2
115.4
284.8
332.5
92.3
91.5
97.5

39.9

30.5

28.2

28.2

28.0

27.6

27.2

26.7

26.6

26.0

25.7

25.2

25.0

24.7

24.2

78.2
237.7
274.8
156.7
148.3
166.0

53.5
258.3
355.8
161.1
151.8
171.4

47.0
263.0
369.8
162.8
153.3
173.9

47.2
263.0
369.1
162.9
152.5
174.3

46.4
264.7
375.1
163.4
152.8
174.9

45.1
266.7
383.0
163.8
152.6
175.6

44.2
268.0
387.3
164.3
153.5
176.2

42.7
271.9
404.4
164.8
153.4
176.2

42.4
270.2
393.5
165.1
153.0
177.3

41.2
269.6
388.5
165.4
153.6
177.9

40.3
272.2
400.7
165.7
153.7
178.2

39.5
271.6
394.1
166.2
154.3
179.3

38.9
274.7
408.0
166.6
154.3
179.9

38.3
273.0
396.7
167.0
153.4
180.3

37.3
276.2
411.0
167.4
153.9
180.6

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

73

Current Labor Statistics:

28.

Price Data

Continued— Consumer Price Indexes for All Urban Consumers and for Urban W age Earners and Clerical Workers: U.S. city average,
by expenditure category and com m odity or service group

[1982-84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
A n n u a l a v e ra g e

1999

2000

S e r ie s
1998

Miscellaneous personal services..................
Commodity and service group:
Commodities..................................................
Food and beverages.....................................
Commodities less food and beverages...........
Nondurables less food and beverages..........
Apparel....................................................
Nondurables less food, beverages,

1999

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

Feb.

M a r.

A p r.

M ay

June

J u ly

Aug.

S e p t.

O c t.

Nov.

234.7

243.0

246.0

246.6

247.6

248.9

249.4

250.9

251.7

252.0

252.9

253.6

254.0

255.1

255.7

141.9
161.1
130.5
132.6
133.0

144.4
164.6
132.5
137.5
131.3

146.2
165.7
134.6
141.3
133.6

146.1
165.9
134.4
140.9
130.1

146.2
166.6
134.0
140.5
126.8

147.4
166.8
135.7
143.9
129.2

149.2
167.1
138.4
148.5
132.5

149.3
167.2
138.4
148.5
133.3

149.2
167.8
138.0
147.6
132.2

149.7
167.9
138.6
149.1
128.3

149.3
169.4
137.7
147.5
124.5

148.6
169.2
136.4
145.6
125.3

150.3
169.4
138.8
149.9
130.4

150.4
169.6
138.9
149.9
132.8

150.6
169.5
139.3
150.2
131.8

137.4
127.6
184.2
189.6
187.9
216.9

146.0
126.0
188.8
195.0
190.7
223.1

150.7
126.0
190.5
196.3
192.7
226.0

152.1
125.9
190.5
196.3
192.8
226.5

153.1
125.7
191.6
198.0
193.0
227.4

157.2
125.3
192.4
198.9
193.7
227.4

162.7
125.6
193.3
200.1
195.0
227.8

162.3
125.6
193.5
200.2
195.2
228.0

161.5
125.8
193.8
200.3
195.7
228.4

165.8
125.4
195.3
201.2
196.1
228.7

165.4
125.2
196.3
202.1
196.5
229.9

162.0
124.7
197.0
202.7
197.4
231.3

165 9
124.8
197.2
202.6
197.2
231.5

164 7
125.0
197.6
203.3
197.0
232.6

165 7
125.5
197.6
203.2
198.0
232.4

163.4
157.2
158.6
132.0
134.6
139.2
146.9
191.8
178.4
102.9
170.9
173.4
143.2
92.1
190.6

167.0
160.2
162.0
134.0
139.4
147.5
151.2
195.8
182.7
106.6
174.4
177.0
144.1
100.0
195.7

168.8
162.1
163.6
136.1
143.1
151.9
153.7
197.9
184.3
111.2
175.8
178.4
145.0
108.7
197.5

168.8
162.1
163.6
135.9
142.8
153.2
153.6
198.0
184.3
112.2
175.7
178.2
144.2
111.8
197.7

169.3
162.3
164.1
135.6
142.4
154.2
153.7
198.6
185.3
112.5
176.3
178.8
143.6
112.8
198.9

170.5
163.3
165.0
137.2
145.7
158.0
155.6
199.2
186.0
116.7
176.9
179.5
144.2
120.6
199.7

172.0
164.8
166.4
139.9
150.1
163.0
158.1
199.9
186.9
122.2
177.8
180.5
145.3
131.7
200.7

172.2
164.9
166.5
139.9
150.1
162.7
158.2
200.2
187.1
120.7
178.1
180.9
145.9
128.4
200.9

172.2
165.1
166.6
139.4
149.3
161.9
158.0
200.9
187.4
121.0
178.2
180.9
145.5
127.9
201.2

173.3
166.0
167.6
140.1
150.7
166.0
158.8
202.9
188.9
129.6
178.3
181.0
144.5
137.6
201.9

173.6
166.2
167.9
139.2
149.3
165.7
158.4
204.2
189.9
129.7
178.7
181.3
143.8
135.0
202.7

173.5
166.0
167.9
138.0
147.5
162.6
157.6
205.0
190.5
125.9
179.1
181.7
143.7
127.9
203.5

174.6
167.4
168 8
140.3
151.5
166.2
160.0
205.7
190.7
130.6
179.6

174.9
167.5
169 1
140.4
151.6
165.1
160.1
205.8
191.1
129.3
180 1

175.0
167.7

145.1
135.2
203.5

145.6
133.6
204.1

146.0
133 8
204.2

159.7
475.6
160.4
160.0
160.0
180.9
147.0
150.4
197.0

163.2
486.2
163.8
163.4
163.0
184.7
147.6
159.4
201.8

165.1
491.7
164.9
164.5
164.0
184.5
150.1
164.6
199.8

165.1
491.8
165.2
164.7
164.2
185.7
149.4
161.9
202.8

165.6
493.2
165.9
165.4
165.1
185.5
149.8
159.9
207.0

166.5
495.9
166.1
165.6
165.1
185.8
150.8
160.4
201.7

167.9
500.0
166.4
165.9
165.3
185.9
152.0
158.7
200.5

168.0
500.4
166.5
166.0
165.4
186.9
152.5
160.2
200.5

168.2
501.1
167.2
166.7
166.4
188.4
153.5
159.3
203.1

169.2
504.1
167.3
166.8
166.3
187.3
154.6
159.4
198.9

169.4
504.7
168.0
167.6
167.3
189.2
155.4
160.5
200.0

169.3
504.2
168.6
189.9
156.8
161.0
202.5
138.2
201.5

170.4
507.6
168.8
168.3
168.1
188.4
156.6
161.6
203.6

170.6
508.2
169.0
168.5
168.1
189.9
156.4
161.9
204.7

170.9
509.0
168.8
168.3
167.8
188.6
155.3
161.4
205.8

133.2
152.8
152.2
147.9
168.8
104.6
165.0
105.1
168.8
160.0
181.6
177.1
122.2
175.7
101.6
128.7
113.0
91.7
120.4
124.7
130.1
131.2
121.3
130.3
126.2
143.4

132.7
152.3
152.0
144.9
168.8
103.4
166.5
106.8
170.4
161.1
183.1
179 3
108.4
177.4
102.3
129.8
114.0
100.7
120.9
124.2
132.3
133.3
124.4
134.3
126.9
146.9

133.5
152.7
152.3
144.7
169.4
105.2
166.8
106.9
171.0
161.1
183.3
179 9
105.7
177.8
102.4
129.2
113.5
106.0
119.8
124.2
129.0
131.6
119.8
134.8
124.2
147.6

136.0
153.7
154.8
146.8
169.8
103.9
167.1
107.4
171.6
162.0
184.5
180 7
110.8
178.6
102.6
129.5
113.6
114.0
119.4
124.5
125.9
129.3
114.2
134.9
122.3
147.7

137.6
153.8
154.3
145.2
170.5
106.2
167.6
107.8
172.2
162.9
185.2

137.8
154.5
154.5
145.7
171.6
106.7
167.9
107.8
172.8
163.4
186.0

136.7
153.4
152.3
144.5
170.7
104.7
168.1
108.3
172.9
163.6
186.2

136.4
154.9
153.6
146.9
172.2
106.1
168.3
108.5
172.9
163.9
186.5

136.7
155.6
153.9
146.4
173.4
108.0
168.6
108.4
173.6
165.5
187.2

137.5
156.0
154.2
147.9
173.5
108.4
169.1
108.8
174.4
166.4
187.9

137.4
156.2
154.4
148.6
173.6
109.0
169.5
109.6
174.7
166.6
188.4

137.1
156.1
154.4
148.5
173.5
107.5
170.0
110.4
174.4
167.3
188.7

136.6
155.3
153.8
149.4
172.0
106.3
170.3
110.9
174.8
167.5
189.3

137.1
155.4
152.7
146.3
173.4
109.6
170.5
111.2
175.6
167.6
189.5

114.5
179.0
102.6
132.0
116.3
144.5
120.1
124.6
127.9
129.9
118.0
134.7
122.6
149.1

119.9
179.2
102.8
131.2
115.4
129.6
120.2
125.3
131.0
131.5
123.5
135.7
124.7
152.9

118.7
179.6
103.3
131.1
115.2
123.0
120.5
125.6
131.8
131.5

117.8
179.9
104.0
131.9
116.0
120.9
121.6
125.5
130.9
132.7

120.9
180.4
104.1
138.7
123.3
120.2
129.9
125.3
127.3
129.5

123.1
180.8
104.4
141.0
125.7
120.1
132.5
125.7
123.6
126.6

122.5
181.3
104.2
140.4
125.0
120.1
131.8
125.7
124.0
126.8

118.3
181.9
104.4
143.4
128.2
133.1
134.4
126.1
128.7
128.8

118.6
182.4
104.4
142.5
127.2
136.7
133.0
125.8
131.3
130.3

113.9
183.0
104.7
142.0
126.5
139.3
132.1
126.0
130.5
131.3

134.1
127 1
152.2

133.4
126 6
152.5

132.0
124 6
155.5

129.8

128.4

129.0

132.6

132.7

Transportation.................................................

131.8
150.2
150.1
146.5
165.4
102.6
161.1
101.6
164.6
156.7
176.6
171.7
109.0
171.1
100.0
128.4
113.3
90.3
120.8
125.0
131.6
131.4
123.9
126.7
128.7
140.5

154.4

152.3

154.2

154.0

154.9

New and used motor vehicles2.....................

100.3

100.4

101.5

101.5

101.2

100.7

100.8

101.2

101.5

101.4

101.1

100.9

101.0

101.4

102.2

Durables.....................................................
Services.........................................................
Transporatation services...............................
Special indexes:
All items less shelter.....................................
Commodities less food..................................
Nondurables less food..................................
Nondurables less food and apparel................
Nondurables................................................
Services less rent of shelter3.........................
Services less medical care services...............
Energy.........................................................

Commodities less food and energy............

140.8
151.8
166.0
160.2
205.9
191.1
129.0

C O N S U M E R P R I C E IN D E X F O R U R B A N
W A G E E A R N E R S A N D C L E R IC A L W O R K E R S

All Items (1967 - 100).......................................
Food and beverages........................................

Fruits and vegetables...................................
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage
materials..................................................
Other foods at home...................................
Sugar and sweets.....................................
Fats and oils..............................................
Other foods...............................................
Other miscellaneous foods1,2...................
Food away from home1...................................
Other food away from home1,2.....................
Housing...........................................................
Shelter..........................................................

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence3
Fuels and utilities.......................................
Fuels........................................................
Fuel oil and other fuels.............................
Gas (piped) and electricity.......................
Household furnishings and operations...........
Apparel..........................................................
Men's and boys' apparel................ .............
Infants' and toddlers’ apparel1......................

74

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

28.

C o n tin u ed — C o nsu m er Price In d exes for All Urban Consum ers a n d for Urban W a g e Earners a n d C le ric a l Workers: U.S. c ity a v e ra g e ,
b y e x p e n d itu re c a te g o ry a n d c o m m o d ity or service group

[1982-84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]___________________________
Annual average

2000

1999

Series
1998

Miscellaneous personal services................
Commodity and service group:
Commodities..............................................

Nondurables less food and beverages..........
Apparel................................................
Nonauraoies less rood, beverages,
Durables.................................................
Services....................................................
Transportation services............................

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

159.3
133.1
132.3
101.0
180.9
202.4
262.8
235.2
269.2
241.8
319.2
102.8
100.7
103.7
115.4
289.0
325.7
94.2
93.8
98.6

143.7
160.7
133.2
132.4
101.8
181.4
203.2
263.1
235.5
269.4
241.7
320.3
102.7
100.6
103.2
115.6
288.6
326.3
93.3
92.8
97.6

26.6

26.1

25.9

25.5

25.1

40.7
274.5
388.7
165.3
154.0
178.3
251.4

39.8
277.9
400.9
165.5
154.1
178.6
252.2

39.1
276.8
394.2
166.1
155.0
179.7
253.0

38.5
280.9
408.2
166.5
155.1
180.3
253.4

37.8
278.2
397.0
166.8
153.9
180.8
254.5

36.7
282.3
411.3
167.1
154.2
181.1
255.1

149.9
167.2
139.3
149.4
130.9

150.6
167.3
140.3
151.5
127.3

150.1
168.0
139.2
149.7
123.6

149.3
168.6
137.7
147.2
124.0

151.0
168.8
140.2
151.8
128.7

151.0
169.0
140.2
151.6
131.3

151.4
168.8
140.8
152.1
130.5

165.2
126.0
189.4
179.3
192.0
224.2

164.4
126.2
189.8
179.6
192.4
224.6

169.6
125.9
191.2
180.3
192.6
224.7

168.7
125.6
192.2
181.0
193.0
225.9

164.6
125.2
193.0
181.5
193.8
227.3

169.3
125.3
193.4
181.7
193.7
227.3

167.6
125.6
193.9
182.3
193.9
228.4

168.8
126.2
194.0
182.5
195.0
228.1

168.2
163.0
163.8
141.0
151.7
165.3
158.9
177.7
183.3
121.0
174.5
176.7
146.4
128.3
197.1

168.3
163.1
164.0
140.7
150.9
164.5
158.8
178.2
183.7
121.5
174.6
176.7
146.0
128.3
197.5

169.5
164.3
165.0
141.7
152.9
169.4
159.9
180.2
185.1
130.9
174.6
176.6
145.0
139.1
198.0

169.6
164.3
165.1
140.6
151.2
168.7
159.4
181.3
186.0
130.1
174.9
176.8
144.5
135.4
198.8

169.4
163.9
165.0
139.1
148.9
164.9
158.3
181.9
186.6
125.7
175.3
177.2
144.2
127.7
199.5

170.7
165.4
166.2
141.6
153.3
169.2
160.8
182.5
187.2
130.9
176.0
178.0
145.7
135.4
200.0

170.9
165.5
166.4
141.6
153.1
167.7
160.8
182.7
187.6
129.3
176.5
178.6
146.1
133.5
200.6

171.3
165.7
166.6
142.2
153.6
168.8
161.0
182.8
187.7
129.0
176.8
179.0
146.7
133.8
200.8

144.1
157.1
140.1
139.4
100.5
178.3
205.5
259.7
233.7
265.6
239.9
311.7
102.5
101.2
101.7
111.8
280.9
315.4
93.6
93.0
97.4

143.1

156.6
136.2
135.5
100.8
178.7
206.9
260.6
234.2
266.6
240.3
314.2
102.7
100.9
102.2
112.1
281.5
316.2
94.3
93.9
98.4

29.3

29.3

28.9

28.6

28.2

27.6

27.5

27.0

53.1
261.9
356.2
161.3
152.5
171.7
243.1

46.9
267.4
370.4
163.0
154.0
174.4
245.9

46.9
267.3
369.7
163.1
153.1
174.7
246.7

45.7
269.3
375.7
163.5
153.4
175.3
247.6

44.5
271.7
383.6
163.9
153.2
176.1
248.9

43.6
273.3
387.8
164.3
154.1
176.6
249.4

42.0
278.0
404.9
164.6
153.9
176.6
250.4

41.8
275.4
393.7
164.9
153.4
177.7
251.2

141.8
160.4
130.6
132.1
131.6

144.7
163.8
133.2
138.1
130.1

146.6
164.9
135.6
142.2
132.3

146.6
165.2
135.4
142.0
129.0

146.6
165.9
135.1
141.7
125.9

147.8
166.1
136.8
145.1
127.9

149.8
166.4
139.6
150.2
131.0

149.9
166.5
139.6
150.2
131.8

137.0
127.3
181.0
170.1
185.4
213.7

147.2
126.0
185.3
174.9
187.9
219.6

152.5
126.4
187.1
176.3
189.8
222.3

153.9
126.3
187.2
176.5
189.9
222.9

155.0
126.0
187.9
177.7
190.2
223.8

159.3
125.6
188.5
178.4
190.8
223.7

165.7
125.8
189.2
179.1
191.8
224.0

159.5
155.0
155.8
132.0
134.1
138.7
146.5
170.7
175.4
102.1
167.6
169.6
142.7
92.3
187.7

163.1
158.1
159.2
134.6
140.0
148.4
151.3
174.1
179.5
106.1
171.1
173.1
144.3
100.3
192.6

165.1
160.1
161.1
137.0
144.0
153.4
154.0
175.8
181.1
111.0
172.6
174.7
145.4
109.1
194.4

165.1
160.1
161.1
136.8
143.8
154.7
154.0
175.9
181.2
112.1
172.5
174.5
144.6
112.1
194.7

165.4
160.3
161.4
136.5
143.6
155.8
154.2
176.4
181.9
112.5
172.8
174.8
144.1
113.1
195.5

166.4
161.3
162.3
138.2
146.8
159.8
156.0
176.9
182.4
116.7
173.3
175.3
144.6
120.4
196.2

168.0
162.8
163.6
141.0
151.7
165.7
158.8
177.4
183.1
122.9
174.1
176.2
145.6
132.0
196.9

152.0
92.2
91.7
100.5
168.2
187.1
241.4
218.6
246.6
223.7
283.6
100.9
101.1
100.4
102.1
253.1
288.5
99.1
99.0
100.7

144.3
157.3
109.5
108.9
100.6
175.1
197.0
252.5
229.5
257.6
233.1
299.8
101.0
99.9
102.5
109.4
256.5
310.4
96.9
96.6
100.8

41.2

31.6

77.9
236.1
274.8
156.8
149.3
166.3
234.0

144.7

142.7

Nov.

156.5
128.0
127.3
100.7
179.6
208.7
261.7
234.6
267.9
240.9
317.1
102.9
101.3
103.0
113.2
283.6
319.2
94.8
94.4
99.1

144.5
156.8
128.5
127.9
100.5
177.8
203.9
258.5
232.9
264.4
239.0
309.5
102.3
101.0
102.1
111.3
280.0
313.8
94.7
94.3
98.7

143.7

156.3
112.3
111.7
100.2
175.2
196.0
253.2
230.2
258.4
233.4
302.1
101.2
99.8
102.5
109.4
256.9
310.4
97.0
96.6
100.9

144.7
155.4
128.5
127.8
100.6
177.4
202.9
258.0
232.4
263.8
238.6
308.7
102.0
100.0
102.1
111.1
279.9
313.4
94.8
94.4
98.8

144.0
153.3
100.8
100.2
100.0
173.3
193.1
249.7
226.8
254.9
230.8
295.5
101.3
100.5
101.5
107.2
264.1
302.8
96.9
96.5
100.2

Oct.

142.5
157.5
135.3
134.6
100.9
180.2
206.4
262.2
235.0
268.5
241.3
318.2
102.8
101.1
102.9
115.1
288.6
324.7
93.1
92.6
97.1

144.5
154.4
132.0
131.2
100.9
177.2
203.4
257.3
231.8
263.1
238.0
307.5
102.0
100.6
102.2
111.0
280.0
312.8
95.3
94.8
99.1

Used cars and trucks1.............................
Motor fuel................................................
Gasoline (all types)..................................
Motor vehicle parts and equipment..............
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair..........
Public transportation...................................
Medical care................................................
Medical care commodities............................
Medical care services..................................
Professional services................................
Hospital and related services......................

Other goods and services...............................

Dec.

144.2
154.4
118.6
117.9
100.5
176.6
198.8
256.2
231.0
261.9
236.7
306.4
101.6
100.4
102.5
110.9
281.3
312.7
95.7
95.3
99.6

144.6

Information and information processing1,2...
Telephone services1,2...........................
Information and information processing
other than telephone services1,4............
Personal computers and peripheral
12

Nov.

144.5
155.3
112.9
112.3
100.3
176.1
194.8
254.5
230.7
259.9
234.8
304.1
101.4
100.2
103.0
110.5
276.6
311.7
97.1
96.7
101.1

New vehicles..........................................

Recreation2................................................
Video and audio1,2....................................
Education and communication2......................
Education2...............................................
Educational books and supplies................
Tuition, other school fees, and child care.....

1999

Special indexes:
All items less shelter.................................
Commodities less food..............................

Nondurables............................................

Energy...................................................
All Items less energy.................................
All items less food and energy...................
Commodities less food and energy...........
Services less energy..............................
1 Not seasonally adjusted.
2 Indexes on a December 1997 = 100 base.
3 Indexes on a December 1982 = 100 base.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4 Indexes on a December 1988 = 100 base.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

75

Current Labor Statistics:

Price Data

29. C o n s u m e r Price In d e x : U.S. c ity a v e r a g e a n d a v a ila b le lo c a l a r e a d a ta : all item s

[1982-84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
All Urban Consumers

Pricing
sched-

Area

ule1

U.S. city average...................................................

1999
Sept

Oct.

Urban Wage Earners

2000
June

July

Aug.

1999
Sept.

Oct.

Sept.

Oct.

2000
June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

M

167.9

168.2

172.4

172.8

172.8

173.7

174.0

164.7

165.0

169.2

169.4

169.3

170.4

170.6

M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

174.8
175.7
105.1
164.3
165.7
105.1
158.6
163.2
162.7
104.8
164.1
170.0
171.2
105.2

175.5
176.4
105.3
164.3
165.7
105.0
158.7
163.6
163.2
105.1
164.1
170.4
171.6
105.5

179.0
179.7
107.7
169.7
171.3
108.4
163.1
167.5
167.2
107.6
167.1
174.3
175.8
107.7

179.8 179.9'
180.5 180.8'
108.2 108.0
168.8 168.2
170.5 170.0
107.7 107.1
163.2 162.5
168.0 168.0
167.9 167.9
107.8 107.8
167.7 167.8
175.2 175.9
176.8 177.6
108.1 108.3

180.7
181.7
108.3
170.0
171.5
108.6
164.5
168.5
168.4
108.1
168.2
176.6
178.4
108.8

181.2
182.1
108.8
170.1
171.5
108.8
164.9
168.5
168.6
108.1
167.6
177.2
179.0
109.0

171.9
171.8
104.7
160.6
161.1
105.1
157.1
161.9
160.4
104.6
164.8
165.8
165.3
105.1

172.5
172.5
105.0
160.6
161.1
105.0
157.2
161.9
160.9
104.9
164.8
166.2
165.6
105.4

175.9
172.5
107.3
166.2
166.9
108.7
161.8
165.8
165.0
107.4
168.1
169.9
169.6
107.4

176.7
176.5
107.7
165.1
165.9
107.7
161.7
166.3
166.7
107.6
168.6
170.8
170.6
107.9

176.6
176.7
107.4
164.3
165.3
106.9
160.9
166.1
166.5
107.5
168.7
171.2
171.2
108.0

177.6
177.7
107.9
166.4
167.0
108.7
163.0
166.8
166.1
107.9
169.2
172.1
172.1
108.6

178.0
178.0
108.4
166.4
166.9
108.7
163.4
166.8
166.3
107.9
168.8
172.7
172.7
108.9

M
M
M

152.2
105.0
163.7

152.6
105.2
163.8

156.4
107.8
167.5

156.8
107.9
167.8

157.0
107.8
167.6

157.8
108.3
168.7

158.1
108.5
168.7

150.8
104.8
163.0

151.2
105.0
163.1

155.1
107.7
166.8

155.4
107.7
167.0

155.4
107.4
166.8

156.4
108.2
167.9

156.6
108.3
168.1

M
M
M
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

169.7
167.2
178.2
176.8
164.2
159.8
105.4

169.7
167.2
178.9
166.5
165.9
151.2
164.1
174.4
175.2
174.7

176.0
171.0
182.0
171.3
170.9
154.1
168.0
176.6
179.1
179.2

174.6
171.7
182.8
183.2
168.3
166.2
108.4

173.7
172.2
183.1
172.1
170.1
154.4
168.4
177.5
181.7
180.3

174.8
173.3
184.4
184.3
170.5
166.9
108.7

175.4
173.8
184.6
171.9
171.9
157.1
169.6
177.9
183.4
182.1

164.1
160.7
173.9
175.2
156.4
159.6
105.3

164.0 170.4
160.7 164.3
174.5 177.6
164.0 168.9
160.4 165.8
149 9 153 1
161 9 165 7
174.3 176.1
171.2 175 2
170.2 174..5

168.9
165.0
178.4
182.3
160.5
166.2
108.2

168.0
165.3
178.5
169.6
164.6
153 1
165 8
177.1
177 8
175.4

169.2
166.3
179.9
183.2
162.8
166.8
108.7

169.8
166.9
180.2
169.6
166.5
155 4
167 1
177.2
179 3
177.5

R e g io n a n d a re a s iz e 2

Northeast urban..........................................................
Size A—More than 1,500,000....................................
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,0003................................
Size A—More than 1,500,000....................................
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,0003................................
Size D—Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000)................
South urban..............................................................
Size A—More than 1,500,000....................................
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,0003................................
Size D—Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000)...............
West urban...............................................................
Size A—More than 1,500,000....................................
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,0003................................
Size classes:
A5................................................
B/C3......................................................................
D..........................................................................
S e le c t e d lo c a l a r e a s 6

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL—
IN—
Wl...............................
Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA...................
New York, NY-Northern NJ-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA..
Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA-NH-ME-CT..................
Cleveland-Akron, OH..................................................
Dallas-Ft Worth, TX....................................................
Washington-Baltimore, DC-MD-VA-WV7.....................
Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, Ml..........................................

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD....
Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA...................................

-

-

1 Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas; most other goods
and services priced as indicated:
M—Every month.
1— January, March, May, July, September, and November.
2— February, April, June, August, October, and December.
2 Regions defined as the four Census regions.
3 Indexes on a December 1996 = 100 base.
4 The "North Central" region has been renamed the "Midwest" region by the Census Bureau.
It is composed of the same geographic entities.
5 Indexes on a December 1986 = 100 base.
6 In addition, the following metropolitan areas are published semiannually and appear in
tables 34 and 39 of the January and July issues of the CPI Detailed Report: Anchorage, AK;
Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN; Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO; Honolulu, HI; Kansas City,

76

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

MO-KS; Milwaukee-Racine, Wl; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland-Salem, OR-WA; St Louis, MO-IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater,
FL.
7 Indexes on a November 1996 = 100 base.
- Data not available.
NOTE: Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local
index has a smaller sample size and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and
other measurement error. As a result, local area indexes show greater volatility than the
national index, although their long-term trends are similar. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI for use in their
escalator clauses. Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

30.

A n n u a l d a ta : C o n s u m e r P rice In d e x , U.S. c ity a v e r a g e , a ll item s a n d m a jo r g ro u p s

[ 1982-

8 4 = 100]
Series

1991

1992

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers:
All items:

1993

1996

1997

1998

1999

140.3
3.0

144.5
3.0

148.2
2.6

152.4
2.8

156.9
3.0

160.5
2.3

163.0
1.6

166.6
2.2

136.8
3.6

138.7
1.4

141.6
2.1

144.9
2.3

148.9
2.8

153.7
3.2

157.7
2.6

161.1
2.2

164.6
2.2

133.6
4.0

137.5
2.9

141.2
2.7

144.8
2.5

148.5
2.6

152.8
2.9

156.8
2.6

160.4
2.3

163.9
2.2

128.7
3.7

131.9
2.5

133.7
1.4

133.4
-.2

132.0
-1.0

131.7
-.2

132.9
.9

133.0
.1

131.3
-1.3

123.8
2.7

126.5
2.2

130.4
3.1

134.3
3.0

139.1
3.6

143.0
2.8

144.3
0.9

141.6
-1.9

144.4
2.0

177.0
8.7

190.1
7.4

201.4
5.9

211.0
4.8

220.5
4.5

228.2
3.5

234.6
2.8

242.1
3.2

250.6
3.5

171.6
7.9

183.3
6.8

192.9
5.2

198.5
2.9

206.9
4.2

215.4
4.1

224.8
4.4

237.7
5.7

258.3
8.7

134.3
4.1

138.2
2.9

142.1
2.8

145.6
2.5

149.8
2.9

154.1
2.9

157.6
2.3

159.7
1.3

163.2
2.2

Housing:
Apparel:
Transportation:
Medical care:
Other goods and services:

Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners
and Clerical Workers:
All items:


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1995

136.2
4.2
Food and beverages:

Percent change.................................................

1994

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

77

Current Labor Statistics:

31.

Price Data

P ro d u cer Price In d e x e s, b y s ta g e o f processing

[1982 = 100]
Grouping

Annual average
1998

F in is h e d g o o d s .....................................................

Finished consumer goods...................
Finished consumer foods..................
Finshed consumer goods
excluding foods...............................
Nondurable goods less food.............
Durable goods...............................
Capital equipment.............................

1999

1999

2000

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

139.2
139.9
137.1

140.0
140.5
137.8

139.9
140.4
138.1

139.0
139.9
132.7
138.4

140.8
142.7
132.5
138.4

141.5
142.4
135.1
139.8

141.2
142.1
135.0
139.8

130.1

129.9

131.0

130.8

130.5

128.6
120.6
133.7
129.4
126.2

129.0
120.5
135.0
129.3
126.2

128.6
119.1
134.2
129.1
126.2

128.5
118.9
133.6
129.4
126.3

128.5
119.1
133.8
129.2
126.2

128.1
118.8
133.7
127.7
126.2

151.1
96.7
152.8
136.6

151.2
103.3
153.3
137.1

150.5
103.9
153.3
137.3

150.3
104.6
153.1
136.9

150.3
110.0
153.5
137.3

150.2
108.9
153.4
137.6

149.9
108.3
153.2
137.6

111.3
103.4
112.7

115.4
104.6
118.6

125.6
101.9
137.3

120.8
99.4
131.1

119.2
95.4
131.2

124.8
97.6
139.1

128.3
99,5
143.5

125.5
100.5
138.2

136.9
90.9
144.3
146.7
147.5

136.4
89.2
144.6
147.2
147.5

137.2
91.5
145.0
147.6
147.8

138.8
97.7
144.7
147.3
147.5

138.4
96.2
144.7
147.2
147.5

138.4
96.3
144.5
147.0
147.4

139.6
100.6
144.6
147.1
147.5

140.5
99.7
145.8
148.3
149.0

140.3
99.3
145.9
148.4
148.9

153.6

153.6

153.5

153.8

153.6

153.5

153.4

153.6

155.1

155.0

167.3

169.0

169.1

168.9

169.4

169.4

169.4

169.8

170.3

170.8

170.7

127.8
110.0
94.5
133.9

128.8
111.0
97.1
134.5

128.9
111.9
95.4
135.1

129.2
113.2
96.5
135.2

130.7
113.4
103.0
135.5

131.0
112.7
103.6
135.7

131.0
110.2
104.3
135.3

132.1
111.2
109.6
135.4

131.8
111.6
108.5
135.4

131.5
111.6
107.9
135.2

130.7
128.9
134.3

133.0
132.0
135.1

134.9
134.3
135.4

134.9
134.3
135.6

134.7
133.9
135.0

136.0
135.7
136.0

136.8
136.7
136.0

136.7
136.5
137.3

137.5
137.6
138.0

138.6
139.1
137.6

138.3
138.6
137.4

138.1
138.5
136.9

126.4
122.2
132.9
137.6

130.5
127.9
133.0
137.6

133.6
131.6
134.6
138.3

133.6
131.7
134.4
138.3

133.3
131.4
134.1
138.4

135.4
134.3
133.9
138.5

136.8
136.4
133.8
138.5

136.0
135.3
133.9
138.5

137.2
136.9
134.0
138.7

139.6
140.5
133.4
138.5

139.0
139.7
133.2
138.6

123.0

123.2

125.2

125.4

125.9

126.9

127.8

128.0

128.3

129.8

126.1
123.2
126.7
128.0
125.9

124.6
120.8
124.9
125.1
125.7

125.9
120.9
127.8
126.7
125.7

125.9
118.2
128.2
127.2
125.8

126.4
117.6
128.6
128.6
125.9

127.0
117.5
129.7
129.6
125.9

127.6
118.1
131.3
129.7
126.0

128.2
119.6
132.3
130.0
126.1

128.4
120.6
133.2
129.6
126.0

146.8
81.1
140.8
134.8

148.9
84.6
142.5
134.2

149.4
90.2
146.5
135.0

149.8
90.6
146.5
135.1

150.4
91.5
147.2
135.2

150.8
94.8
147.2
135.6

151.3
97.4
148.1
136.0

151.6
95.7
151.6
136.4

96.8
103.9
88.4

98.2
98.7
94.3

109.2
99.5
111.9

103.5
96.9
104.3

105.8
96.5
108.3

110.3
97.6
115.1

112.9
101.4
116.7

129.5
75.1
141.1
142.5
143.7

132.3
78.8
143.0
145.2
146.1

134.7
83.6
144.0
146.3
147.4

134.6
83.6
144.0
146.4
147.4

134.5
83.8
143.6
145.8
147.0

135.9
87.5
144.3
146.7
147.5

147.7

151.7

153.4

153.4

152.8

159.1

166.3

168.2

168.2

In te r m e d ia te m a te r ia ls ,
s u p p lie s , a n d c o m p o n e n ts ..........................

Materials and components
for manufacturing...............................
Materials for food manufacturing..........
Materials for nondurable manufacturing..
Materials for durable manufacturing......
Components for manufacturing.............
Materials and components
for construction..................................
Processed fuels and lubricants...............
Containers...........................................
Supplies.............................................
C r u d e m a te r ia ls f o r f u r t h e r
p r o c e s s in g ...........................................................

Foodstuffs and feedstuffs......................
Crude nonfood materials.......................
S p e c ia l g r o u p in g s :

Finished goods, excluding foods.............
Finished energy goods..........................
Finished goods less energy....................
Finished consumer goods less energy.....
Finished goods less food and energy.......
Finished consumer goods less food
and energy........................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food
and energy......................................
Intermediate materials less foods
and feeds..........................................
Intermediate foods and feeds.................
Intermediate energy goods.....................
Intermediate goods less energy..............
Intermediate materials less foods
and energy........................................

123.4
116.2
80.8
132.4

123.9
111.1
84.6
131.7

126.0
111.6
89.9
133.0

126.2
109.7
90.3
133.0

126.8
109.3
91.2
133.5

133.5

133.1

134.4

134.6

135.1

135.5

136.1

136.6

136.7

137.0

137.2

137.0

137.0

137.0

136.7

Crude energy materials.........................
Crude materials less energy...................
Crude nonfood materials less energy....... j

68.6
113.6
142.1

78.5
107.9
135.2

98.9
110.5
142.6

87.9
109.5
146.0

92.0
110.2
149.8

100.2
111.5
151.3

102.5
114.1
150.9

97.9
115.1
149.2

105.8
115.8
148.5

130.6
113.4
146.7

123.4
110.9
144.2

124.2
107.4
142.3

134.3
109.1
142.6

140.5
110.1
141.2

134.8
109.9
137.7

78

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

32.

Producer Price Indexes for the net output of m ajo r industry groups

[December 1984 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
A n n u a l a v e ra g e

2000

1999

In d u s try

S IC

1998
T o ta l m in in g in d u s trie s ...........................................

10
12
13
14

_
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

35
36
37
38
39

Metal mining..........................................
Coal mining (12/85 = 100)........................
Oil and gas extraction (12/85 - 100)...........
Mining and quarrying of nonmetallic
minerals, except fuels............................
T o ta l m a n u fa c tu rin g in d u s trie s ...........................

Food and kindred products.......................
Tobacco manufactures............................
Textile mill products................................
Apparel and other finished products
made fromfabrics and similar materials.....
Lumber and wood products,
except furniture....................................
Furniture and fixtures..............................
Paper and allied products.........................
Printing, publishing, and allied industries.....
Chemicals and allied products...................
Petroleum refining and related products.......
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products.
Leather and leather products....................
Stone, clay, glass, and concrete products....
Primary metal industries...........................
Fabricated metal products,
except machinery and transportation
transportation equipment.......................

1999

Nov.

D ec.

Jan.

M ay

95.8
75.3
84.7
102.6

98.9
73.3
84.8
107.0

95.7
71.8
85.9
102.7

100.0
71.7
86.0
108.3

118.4
73.7
85.1
133.1

114.8
72.8
85.4
128.3

137.9

138.0

138.1

138.1

133.6
129.3
342.3
116.8

133.4
128.2
350.5
116.8

134.6
128.4
350.5
116.7

134.8
128.6
351.6
116.6

134.9
128.8
351.6
117.0

125.6

125.8

125.6

125.6

125.9

125.9

159.0
143.3
146.9

158.7
143.5
147.3

157.2
143.7
147.3

155.8
143.6
147.3

155.4
143.5
147.6

155.3
143.6
147.6

154.3
143.8
147.3

182.0
155.5
105.6
123.7
137.6
135.0
120.3

181.7
156.9
111.4
123.3
137.5
134.8
120.5

183.1
156.5
119.9
124.4
137.2
135.1
120.2

183.0
158.0
112.6
124.8
137.5
134.9
119.9

183.1
157.5
112.8
125.0
138.0
134.6
120.1

183.2
158.4
124.8
124.9
138.3
134.9
120.5

184.0
159.3
121.3
124.6
138.2
134.4
120.4

184.8
158.5
122.5
124.8
138.2
134.1

130.3

130.4

130.3

130.3

130.3

130.4

130.5

130.5

130.5

117.4

117.4

117.5

117.5

117.6

117.5

117.6

117.6

117.7

108.6
136.5

108.6
136.4

108.6
136.5

108.6
136.1

108.5
136.0

108.6
136.0

108.1
135.6

108.0
135.5

108.1
138.4

107.8
138.4

126.0

126.2

126.0

126.0

126.3

126.2

126.5

126.6

126.5

126.4

126.3

130.5

130.7

131.1

130.8

130.9

131.3

130.7

131.0

131.1

130.7

131.0

131.2

115.8
135.2
116.1
134.2
98.2

116.5
135.2
116.4
141.0
102.1

117.0
135.2
117.0
141.6
101.9

118.1
135.2
117.8
144.3
101.9 I

118.2
135.2
118.6
145.4
101.9

118.8
135.2
119.8
149.6
101.9

119.0
135.2
124.1
147.2
102.1

118.8
135.2
124.8
147.6
102.5

120.1
135.2
128.1
148.3
102.5

120.6
135.2
126.6
151.3
102.4 I

121.4
135.2
126.5
151.2
102.7 I

121.6
135.2
127.8
153.1
102.7

135.0

135.3

135.7

136.7

137.5

137.2

128.3
126.3
325.7
116.3

130.5
126.7
345.0
116.1

130.8
126.7
329.4
116.2

132.2
127.2
348.6
116.4

132.9
127.4
347.3
116.5

132.6
128.1
341.8
116.5

133.4
129.1
347.1
116.3

134.2
129.4
342.2
116.6

124.8

125.3

125.4

125.3

125.2

125.2

125.6

125.7

125.6

157.0
139.7
136.2

161.8
141.3
136.4

159.6
142.0
140.2

160.6
142.1
140.4

161.4
142.4
141.0

161.6
142.5
141.5

162.1
143.0
143.2

161.7
143.2
145.4

174.0
148.7
66.3
122.1
137.1
129.3
120.9

177.6
149.7
76.8
122.2
136.5
132.6
115.8

179.1
153.0
89.5
123.3
137.0
133.7
117.1

179.2
152.9
91.8
123.4
137.0
133.5
117.4

180.4
153.6
94.0
123.5
137.5
134.4
118.6

180.8
154.5
104.1
123.5
137.5
134.6
119.5

181.1
155.2
111.0
123.5
137.4
134.7
120.0

128.7

129.1

129.6

129.7

129.9

130.0

117.7

117.3

117.1

117.0

117.1

117.3

110.4
133.6

109.5
134.5

109.1
136.2

108.9
136.2

108.7
136.3

126.0

125.7

125.3

125.6

129.7

130.3

130.2

111.6
132.3
105.6
124.5
99.2

114.8
135.3
113.0
130.8
98.3

115.5
135.2
116.7
133.4
98.2

134.0

126.2
126.3
243.1
118.6

Nov.

138.4

134.4

130.3
127.1
344.5
115.9

132.2

O c t.

128.7
74.7
83.9
147.3

134.4

95.1
73.4
86.1
101.6

S e p t.

122.6
73.6
83.9
139.3

89.5
73.9
85.3
94.2

78.0
70.3
87.3
78.5

Aug.

115.4
72.8
83.5
129.6

86.7
72.6
85.4
90.4

70.8
73.2
89.5
68.3

J u ly

Feb.

A p r.

Electrical and electronic machinery,
Measuring and controlling instruments;
photographic, medical, and optical
goods; watches and clocks.....................
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries

June

M a r.

124.6
72.5
83.1
142.3

S e rv ic e in d u s trie s ;

42
43
44
45
46

Motor freight transportation
and warehousing (06/93 - 100)................
Water transportation (12/92 - 100).............
Transportation by air (12/92 - 100)............


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

79

Current Labor Statistics:

33.

Price Data

A n n u a l d a ta : P ro d u c e r P rice In d e x e s , b y s ta g e o f p ro ce s s in g

[1982 = 100]
In d e x

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

F in is h e d g o o d s

Total......................................................................
Foods..................................................................
Energy..................................................................
Other....................................................................

121.7
124.1
78.1
131.1

123.2
123.3
77.8
134.2

124.7
125.7
78.0
135.8

125.5
126.8
77.0
137.1

127.9
129.0
78.1
140.0

131.3
133.6
83.2
142.0

131.8
134.5
83.4
142.4

130.7
134.3
75.1
143.7

133.0
135.1
78.8
146.1

114.4
115.3
85.1
121.4

114.7
113.9
84.3
122.0

116.2
115.6
84.6
123.8

118.5
118.5
83.0
127.1

124.9
119.5
84.1
135.2

125.7
125.3
89.8
134.0

125.6
123.2
89.0
134.2

123.0
123.2
80.8
133.5

123.2
120.8
84.3
133.1

101.2
105.5
80.4
97.5

100.4
105.1
78.8
94.2

102.4
108.4
76.7
94.1

101.8
106.5
72.1
97.0

102.7
105.8
69.4
105.8

113.8
121.5
85.0
105.7

111.1
112.2
87.3
103.5

96.8
103.9
68.6
84.5

98.2
98.7
78.5
91.1

In te rm e d ia te m a te ria ls , s u p p lie s , and
c o m p o n e n ts

Total.......................................................................
Foods...................................................................
Energy..................................................................
Other...................................................................
C ru d e m a te ria ls fo r fu rth e r p ro ce ssin g

Total......................................................................
Foods..................................................................
Energy.................................................................
Other...................................................................

80

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

34.

U.S. e x p o rt p ric e in d e x e s b y S tan d ard In tern atio n al T rade Classification

[1995 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
S IT C

Oct.

0
01
04
05

F o o d a n d liv e a n im a ls .....................................................................

2
21
22
24
25
26
27
28

C r u d e m a te r ia ls , in e d ib le , e x c e p t f u e ls ................................

3
32
33

Meat and meat preparations....................................
Cereals and cereal preparations...............................
Vegetables, fruit, and nuts, prepared fresh or dry........
Hides, skins, and furskins, raw.................................
Oilseeds and oleaginous fruits..................................
Cork and wood......................................................
Textile fibers and their waste...................................

Petroleum, petroleum products, and related materials...

4
5
54
55
57
58
59
6
62
64
66
68
7
71
72
74
75
76
77
78
87

Medicinal and pharmaceutical products......................
Essential oils; polishing and cleaning preparations.......
Chemical materials and products, n.e.s......................
M a n u fa c tu r e d g o o d s c la s s ifie d c h ie fly b y m a te r ia ls .....

Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.....................................
Paper, paperboard, and articles of paper, pulp,
and paperboard...................................................
Nonmetallic mineral manufactures, n.e.s....................
Nonferrous metals..................................................
M a c h in e r y a n d t r a n s p o r t e q u ip m e n t.......................................

Power generating machinery and equipment..............
Machinery specialized for particular industries............
General industrial machines and parts, n.e.s.,
Computer equipment and office machines.................
Telecommunications and sound recording and
Road vehicles.......................................................

2000

1999

Industry

R ev. 3

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

86.4
97.4
69.5
96.6

86.3
97.7
70.1
94.3

85.6
100.9
68.5
91.2

86.3
100.1
71.0
90.9

86.9
98.0
74.1
89.0

86.8
99.4
74.4
88.6

87.5
102.2
74.0
90.6

88.3
105.1
75.0
90.1

87.5
109.5
71.6
87.8

85.8
108.2
66.9
91.3

83.6
103.7
64.0
88.6

85.9
105.2
67.8
91.9

87.3
107.9
70.8
89.7

78.1
88.6
82.3
83.5
77.1
64.5
93.1
75.1

77.8
87.8
78.1
83.8
78.7
63.4
93.8
77.3

78.9
90.5
79.6
85.0
80.9
62.5
94.1
78.4

80.0
91.1
80.5
86.4
84.3
61.2
94.3
80.0

82.2
89.5
84.8
86.5
88.3
65.7
94.0
80.7

83.2
87.7
86.0
87.2
90.0
68.6
93.5
80.9

84.2
85.5
88.3
87.4
93.8
68.9
93.0
80.4

85.2
86.5
89.1
86.7
99.0
69.0
93.0
79.6

84.4
86.7
86.3
86.7
97.6
69.6
93.3
78.2

82.9
89.7
80.3
86.5
95.9
67.7
93.3
78.0

82.9
95.4
78.0
88.4
91.7
70.7
93.1
78.7

83.7
100.5
83.8
87.0
90.7
72.2
91.5
78.7

83.7
104.7
81.3
88.2
89.8
72.2
90.7
79.6

119.5
97.6
131.3

121.4
97.6
133.4

126.6
97.5
140.1

129.5
96.1
143.6

138.5
96.1
159.6

152.1
96.1
179.2

137.2
94.7
152.0

142.3
94.5
163.1

144.9
93.8
168.2

151.2
93.8
178.3

147.6
93.1
172.3

166.3
93.1
203.3

157.1
93.3
188.8

81.9

79 0

78 0

75 8

74 3

70 8

71 6

70.1

67.1

64.6

63.2

61.7

60.5

93.3
99.8
102.3
94.4
97.9
98.9

93.3
99.8
103.5
94.9
97.8
98.8

93.6
100.3
103.4
95.0
98.0
99.1

93.8
100.2
103.4
94.8
97.8
99.2

94.2
100.4
103.3
94.8
98.6
99.9

94.4
100.2
103.0
95.5
100.1
99.6

95.8
99.9
103.2
97.7
100.2
99.4

95.8
100.0
103.1
98.4
99.8
99.3

95.5
99.7
102.9
98.1
99.3
99.1

94.7
100.5
103.3
97.0
99.4
99.3

94.6
100.3
103.3
95.4
99.4
99.2

94.1
100.2
103.3
92.8
99.3
99.2

94.5
100.2
103.4
92.9
98.6
99.1

97.8
108.2

98.0
108.2

98.3
108.5

98.3
104.7

99.0
103.7

99.7
103.6

99.9
103.7

100.1
104.6

100.4
104.4

100.7
104.8

100.9
104.7

101.1
104.7

100.8
104.6

87.2
106.0
90.2

87.6
106.0
90.7

87.2
105.8
92.3

87.6
105.8
93.4

87.8
106.0
98.8

88.4
106.2
101.9

89.1
106.4
100.3

90.5
106.4
98.1

89.8
106.5
100.1

90.4
106.3
103.0

90.3
106.3
105.1

90.0
106.1
105.0

89.9
105.8
105.2

97.4
110.2
106.0

97.5
111.0
106.1

97.2
111.0
104.7

97.4
111.8
106.2

97.3
111.8
106.3

97.3
111.8
106.1

97.3
111.9
106.2

97.4
112.0
106.2

97.3
112.0
106.5

97.3
112.4
106.4

97.3
112.3
106.5

97.4
112.4
106.3

97.3
112.4
106.4

107.7
70.5

107.7
70.4

107.9
70.2

107.5
70.1

107.6
68.7

108.0
68.7

108.2
68.5

108.2
68.5

108.2
68.2

108.3
68.3

108.1
67.8

108.2
67.8

108.3
67.8

96.6
87.4
103.1

96.6
87.3
103.1

96.7
86.7
103.1

96.4
86.4
103.5

97.0
86.6
103.6

96.6
86.3
104.0

96.4
86.4
103.9

97.0
86.3
103.9

96.9
85.7
103.9

96.9
85.7
103.9

96.7
85.8
103.9

96 8
85.7
104.0

96.5
85.2
103.9

105.5

105.6

105.3

105.2

105.4

105.7

105.7

105.7

105.8

106.4

106.4

106.5

106.6

P ro fe s s io n a l, s c ie n tific , a n d c o n tr o llin g
in s t r u m e n t s a n d a p p a r a tu s .......................................................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

81

Current Labor Statistics:

35.

Price Data

U.S. im p ort p ric e in d e x e s b y S ta n d a rd In tern atio n al T rade C lassification

[1995 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
S IT C

Nov.

0
01
03
05
07

Meat and meat preparations....................................
Fish and crustaceans, mollusks, and other
aquatic invertebrates.............................................
Vegetables, fruit, and nuts, prepared fresh or dry........
Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, and manufactures
thereof................................................................

107.5
97.2

106.8
103.6

106.8
102.0

Apr.

May

93.6
98.2

93.1
99.1

94.0
100.2

92.3
100.2

91.3
99.1

91.5
98.1

91.5
98.9

91.2
98.9

91.4
95.5

90.1
95.7

107.9
102.1

108.0
101.2

111.0
100.7

109.6
96.8

109.1
95.7

110.7
97.2

113.5
97.6

112.5
97.8

110.7
100.7

108.6
96.7

Feb.

Mar.

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

70.6

67.2

64.7

61.0

61.1

59.8

59.5

56.8

55.8

54.5

54.0

52.0

111.2
107.9

111.4
108.2

111.7
108.5

111.9
108.7

112.4
109.4

113.0
110.1

112.5
109.4

112.9
109.9

113.6
110.7

113.6
110.6

113.4
110.7

Metalliferous ores and metal scrap............................
Crude animal and vegetable materials, n.e.s...............

90.3
114.9
66.8
98.0
106.5

92.2
118.7
68.2
99.0
111.9

93.6
117.7
70.5
101.4
121.1

94.7
117.0
72.0
105.7
124.3

94.3
118.6
72.4
104.0
111.9

93.8
117.6
75.1
101.7
110.1

91.9
112.9
77.0
99.6
106.7

90.7
110.1
80.1
100.7
92.7

90.7
107.0
80.7
101.2
101.8

89.6
102.2
81.4
102.1
101.3

88.8
99.5
82.0
101.6
103.0

89.8
101.6
83.4
102.2
104.3

87.6
97.5
83.4
100.1
99.1

Petroleum, petroleum products, and related materials...
Gas, natural and manufactured................................

134.7
132.6
161.5

141.2
141.4
150.2

145 2
146.1
147.8

165.7
167.9
161.4

165.4
166.6
170.5

148.5
147.1
171.5

154.3
154.2
167.5

172.0
171.0
195.4

170.6
168.5
202.9

172.1
170.0
205.4

189 8
188.9
218.1

185 2
180.9
239.4

190.2
184.6
254.6

92.1
87.7
91.4
97.8
92.3
93.9
79.4
98.4

92.0
88.0
89.7
97.3
90.2
94.0
79.7
99.5

92.2
88.3
88.9
98.2
89.6
93.7
79.3
100.0

92.7
89.0
89.3
98.2
89.6
93.0
79.0
101.6

92.8
88.8
88.4
97.3
89.7
93.9
80.4
100.6

93.4
89.8
88.0
97.3
89.4
93.9
80.3
100.0

94.3
90.7
87.4
97.3
89.9
94.0
80.8
100.9

94.1
91.5
86.1
96.8
89.6
94.3
80.8
99.7

95.5
92.5
87.6
97.5
89.9
95.5
81.5
100.2

95.9
92.6
88.6
97.3
89.4
95.4
80.9
100.0

95.4
92.5
87.9
96.8
88.9
95.3
80.8
101.1

95.1
93.1
87.0
96.0
87.6
96.0
80.0
100.7

94.7
92.9
86.9
95.9
87.3
95.9
79.5
100.6

93.9
94.4

93.9
94.4

94.5
92.7

95.5
92.8

98.0
92.3

97.5
92.4

97.1
92.5

97.6
91.8

98.0
92.1

98.7
91.9

97.9
91.7

97.6
91.7

97.2
91.6

87.4
101.6
95.4
95.9

86.2
101.2
95.6
95.9

86.6
100.8
98.9
95.7

86.9
101.2
104.4
96.1

87.1
100.8
115.1
96.1

88.8
100.9
110.3
95.9

89.6
100.7
106.9
95.9

89.1
100.5
110.7
95.7

89.5
100.9
112.5
95.8

89.4
100.9
118.6
95.4

91.4
100.8
114.5
95.5

91.6
100.2
115.7
95.2

91.9
100.2
113.8
95.0

89.8
98.2

89.7
97.8

89.8
97.7

89.8
97.9

89.6
97.3

89.7
97.1

89.8
97.0

89.6
96.1

89.6
96.7

89.5
96.6

89.3
95.9

89.2
95 7

89.1
95 5

97.3
61.4

97.0
61.7

97.0
61.5

96.7
61.4

97.0
61.0

96.9
60.5

96.7
60.2

96.2
60.0

96.7
59.9

96.4
59.9

96.1
59.7

95.5
58.8

95.4
58.8

85.9
82.2
102.4
100.8

85.6
82.1
102.3
100.8

85.2
82.4
102.4
100.8

85.2
82.2
102.6
100.9

84.9
82.2
102.6
100.7

84.5
83.0
102.7
100.5

84.7
83.5
102.7
100.7

84.6
83.3
102.8
100.3

84.3
82.8
102.8
100.9

84.2
82.7
102.7
101.0

84 1
82.6
102.6
100.9

83 8
82.7
102.9
100.8

83 8
82 5
102.9
100.7

92.5

92.5

92.2

91.7

91.8

91.8

91.9

91.6

92.5

92.1

91.4

91.4

91.1

Beverages.............................................................
Cork and wood.......................................................

5
52
53
54
55
57
58
59

C h e m ic a ls a n d r e la te d p ro d u c ts , n .e .s ..................................

6
62
64

M a n u fa c tu r e d g o o d s c la s s ifie d c h ie fly b y m a te r ia ls .....

77
78
85
88

93.7
97.8

112.0
108.7

C r u d e m a te r ia ls , in e d ib le , e x c e p t fu e ls ................................

75
76

Jan.

94.7
98.4

66.0

2
24
25
28
29

7
72
74

Dec.

92.4
97.7

111.5
108.5

B e v e r a g e s a n d t o b a c c o .................................................................

66
68
69

82

F o o d a n d liv e a n im a ls .....................................................................

1
11

3
33
34

2000

1999

Industry

R ev. 3

Inorganic chemicals................................................
Dying, tanning, and coloring materials.......................
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products......................
Essential oils; polishing and cleaning preparations.......
Plastics in primary forms (12/92 - 100)......................
Plastics in nonprimary forms (12/92 - 100).................
Chemical materials and products, n.e.s......................
Rubber manufactures, n.e.s.....................................
Paper, paperboard, and articles of paper, pulp,
and paperboard...................................................
Nonmetallic mineral manufactures, n.e.s....................
Nonferrous metals..................................................
Manufactures of metals, n.e.s...................................
M a c h in e r y a n d tr a n s p o r t e q u ip m e n t.......................................

General industrial machines and parts, n.e.s.,
Computer equipment and office machines.................
Telecommunications and sound recording and
Road vehicles........................................................
Footwear...............................................................
Photographic apparatus, equipment, and supplies,
and optical goods, n.e.s........................................

Monthly Labor Review


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

36.

U.S. e x p o rt p ric e in d e x e s b y e n d -u s e c a te g o r y

[1995 = 100]
C ategory

1999
Nov.

2000

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

A L L C O M M O D IT I E S ......................................................................

95.3

95.2

95.4

95.8

96.3

96.2

96.4

Foods, feeds, and beverages................................
Agricultural foods, feeds, and beverages..............
Nonagricultural (fish, beverages) food products....

86.7
85.6
99.2

86.0
84.9
99.5

86.3
85.4
98.3

87.2
86.0
100.9

87.1
86.2
97.8

87.8
87.1
97.0

88.3
87.7
96.6

93.6

95.2

94.6

95.2

Industrial supplies and materials...........................

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

96.3

96.2

96.0

96.6

96.5

96.5

87.1
86.2
98.1

85.1
84.0
97.9

82.8
81.3
99.7

85.3
84.3
97.9

85.8
84.6
99.5

86.7
85.7
98.6

95.2

95.5

95.3

96.6

96.1

95.9

91.1

91.7

92.1

Agricultural industrial supplies and materials.........

76.6

76.7

75.2

76.9

77.7

78.2

78.2

78.2

77.9

80.3

81.9

82.3

82.3

Fuels and lubricants...........................................
Nonagricultural supplies and materials,
excluding fuel and building materials..................
Selected building materials................................

115.9

120.4

122.7

131.3

143.6

127.8

132.9

135.6

141.2

137.9

155.0

146.9

150.7

89.1
87.7

89.3
88.6

89.7
89.2

90.4
89.5

91.0
90.1

91.9
90.4

92.1
90.0

91.9
89.9

91.7
89.6

91.6
90.5

91.3
89.5

91.5
90.3

90.9
89.5

Capital goods......................................................
Electric and electrical generating equipment.........
Nonelectrical machinery.....................................

96.3
98.4
92.5

96.0
98.5
92.1

96.1
98.3
92.1

96.0
98.8
91.9

96.0
98.8
91.8

96.1
98.7
91.9

96.1
98.9
91.9

96.1
99.2
91.7

96.1
99.1
91.6

96.1
99.7
91.6

96.2
99.9
91.5

96.1
99.5
91.4

96.2
99.5
91.4

Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines.................

103.9

103.8

103.9

103.8

104.2

104.2

104.2

104.1

104.4

104.4

104.5

104.5

104.4

Consumer goods, excluding automotive..................
Nondurables, manufactured...............................
Durables, manufactured.....................................

102.2
102.5
100.9

102.4
102.9
100.8

102.4
102.8
101.0

102.5
102.6
101.4

102.3
102.4
101.0

102.4
102.3
101.3

102.4
102.4
101.3

102.3
102.1
101.3

102.5
102.4
101.5

102.4
102.4
101.4

102.2
102.2
101.3

102.2
102.3
101.2

102.2
102.2
101.2

Agricultural commodities.......................................
Nonagricultural commodities..................................

83.7
96.6

83.1
96.6

83.2
96.8

84.0
97.2

84.4
97.6

85.1
97.4

85.6
97.7

84.4
97.6

82.6
97.8

80.9
97.7

83.5
98.0

83.9
97.9

84.8
97.8


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

83

Current Labor Statistics:

37.

Price Data

U.S. im p o rt p ric e in d e x e s b y e n d -u s e c a te g o r y

[1995 = 100]
2000

1999

C ategory

Nov.
A L L C O M M O D IT I E S ......................................................................

Foods, feeds, and beverages.................................
Agricultural foods, feeds, and beverages..............
Nonagricultural (fish, beverages) food products....

Dec.

Jan.

Mar.

Feb.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Oct.

Nov.

99.2

99.3

97.9

98.3

99.6

99.7

99.9

101.0

100.5

100.7

94.8
89.8
107.7

93.6
88.4
107.2

93.3
87.6
108.1

92.5
86.6
108.3

93.3
86.7
110.8

91.9
85.2
109.8

91.1
84.1
109.7

91.1
83.7
110.5

91.3
83.2
112.9

90.7
82.5
112.5

90.6
82.8
111.2

89.2
81.7
109.0

96.8

93.0
87.2
108.2

Industrial supplies and materials............................

106.9

109.4

111.0

118.6

119.8

114.3

115.9

121.8

121.8

122.8

127.6

126.3

127.4

Fuels and lubricants...........................................

134.3
132.5

140.7
140.9

144.2
145.8

164.7
167.5

163.7
166.2

147.7
147.4

153.3
154.0

170.6
170.4

169.2
168.0

170.9
169.6

187.3
187.0

183.4
181.0

188.3
184.6

81.8

81.2

82.1

82.8

83.1

85.6

86.8

87.0

87.5

87.6

89.8

90.4

90.6

88.8
108.3
94.4
87.5

89.1
111.1
94.8
87.4

89.2
110.5
97.4
87.2

89.7
110.1
100.3
88.0

90.4
112.1
107.1
87.6

91.2
111.9
104.3
87.8

92.1
109.1
102.0
87.8

91.7
105.0
105.0
87.0

92.7
103.4
106.5
87.7

93.4
100.2
109.5
87.5

92.8
98.7
106.0
87.2

92.9
99.3
105.6
87.0

92.7
97.1
104.0
86.7

81.8
91.8
78.5

81.7
91.1
78.4

81.7
91.8
78.3

81.6
91.8
78.2

81.3
92.1
77.9

81.4
93.9
77.7

81.2
94.2
77.5

80.9
94.3
77.1

80.9
94.1
77.1

80.7
93.7
77.0

80.6
93.6
76.8

80.2
93.4
76.4

80.1
93.3
76.3

102.0

102.0

102.1

102.2

102.2

102.3

102.6

102.7

102.8

102.6

102.5

102.6

102.7

97.6
100.7
94.2
98.8

97.5
100.6
94.1
99.8

97.5
100.4
94.1
101.5

97.4
100.4
93.8
102.0

97.1
100.3
93.5
100.1

97.1
100.3
93.4
100.3

97.0
100.1
93.4
99.7

96.5
99.5
93.2
98.0

96.8
99.8
93.4
99.5

96.8
100.0
93.2
99.2

96.6
99.8
93.0
99.6

96.6
99.8
92.8
99.8

96.5
99.9
92.8
99.1

Mar.

June

Materials associated with nondurable
supplies and materials......................................
Selected building materials................................
Unfinished metals associated with durable goods..
Nonmetals associated with durable goods............

Consumer goods, excluding automotive..................
Nondurables, manufactured...............................
Durables, manufactured.....................................
Nonmanufactured consumer goods.....................

38.

U.S. in te rn a tio n a l p r ic e In d e x e s for s e le c te d c a te g o r ie s o f s e rv ic e s

[1990 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]

Dec.

2000

1999

1998

C ategory

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Sept.

Air freight (inbound) (9/90 - 100)..............................
Air freight (outbound) (9/92 - 100)............................

87.4
95.2

88.0
92.7

86.2
92.8

87.9
92.7

90.7
91.7

88.9
91.7

88.4
92.8

88.5
92.6

Air passenger fares (U.S. carriers)............................
Air passenger fares (foreign carriers)........................
Ocean liner freight (inbound)....................................

103.1
101.1
104.2

104.5
98.9
102.6

112.3
106.3
133.7

114.2
108.6
148.0

106.8
102.2
139.4

107.3
102.6
136.3

113.3
107.9
143.0

115.5
109.1
142.8

84

Sept.

97.2

96.2

Monthly Labor Review


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

39.

In d e x e s o f p ro d u c tiv ity , h o u rly c o m p e n s a tio n , a n d unit costs, q u a rte rly d a t a s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d

[1992 = 100]__________________________________________________________________________________________ _
Quarterly indexes

Ill

IV

1

II

2000

1999

1998

Item

III

IV

I

II

III

IV

1

II

III

B u s in e s s

Output per hour of all persons..................................
Compensation per hour...........................................
Real compensation per hour....................................
Unit labor costs.......................................................
Unit nonlabor payments...........................................
Implicit price deflator...............................................

108.3
113.5
100.4
104.8
118.5
109.9

108.5
115.3
101.5
106.3
116.8
110.2

109.7
117.1
102.9
106.7
116.4
110.3

110.0
118.5
103.8
107.7
115.1
110.5

110.6
120.0
104.7
108.5
114.6
110.7

111.6
121.4
105.5
108.8
114.6
110.9

112.6
123.0
106.4
109.3
115.1
111.4

112.8
124.5
106.9
110.4
114.1
111.8

114.2
126.1
107.6
110.5
114.3
111.9

116.3
127.3
107.8
109.5
116.8
112.2

116.7
128.4
107.7
110.0
118.2
113.0

118.7
130.6
108.5
110.0
120.0
113.7

119.5
132.4
109.2
110.8
119.9
114.1

108.0
113.0
100.0
104.7
119.5
110.1

108.1
114.7
101.0
106.1
117.8
110.4

109.3
116.4
102.3
106.5
117.4
110.5

109.8
117.9
103.2
107.5
116.3
110.7

110.3
119.4
104.2
108.3
115.8
111.0

111.2
120.8
104.9
108.5
115.8
111.2

112.0
122.1
105.7
109.0
116.7
111.8

112.1
123.6
106.1
110.2
115.7
112.2

113.6
125.2
106.8
110.3
116.1
112.4

115.8
126.5
107.2
109.3
118.6
112.7

116.3
127.8
107.1
109.8
120.1
113.6

118.1
129.6
107.7
109.7
121.8
114.1

119.1
131.6
108.5
110.5
121.9
114.7

110.8
112.1
99.2
101.1
101.2
100.8
160.3
116.0
106.1

111.6
113.7
100.1
101.5
101.9
100.4
156.5
114.7
106.1

112.3
115.2
101.2
102.0
102.6
100.5
150.4
113.2
106.1

113.4
116.6
102.1
102.3
102.8
100.9
147.2
112.7
106.1

114.9
118.0
103.0
102.1
102.7
100.2
151.4
113.3
106.2

115.8
119.3
103.7
102.6
103.0
101.6
144.5
112.5
106.2

117.1
120.9
104.6
102.5
103.2
100.7
149.7
113.2
106.5

118.2
122.4
105.1
103.0
103.5
101.4
147.5
113.2
106.7

119.7
124.0
105.8
103.2
103.6
102.1
143.3
112.6
106.6

121.5
125.3
106.1
103.0
103.1
102.5
145.7
113.5
106.6

121.3
126.1
105.8
104.0
1-4/104.2
152.2
116.4
108.1

122.9
128.0
106.4
104.3
104.2
104.9
156.3
118.0
108.8

124.4
129.9
107.1
104.7
104.4
105.5
154.1
117.9
108.9

118.7
111.5
98.6
93.9

120.1
113.3
99.8
94.4

121.3
115.2
101.2
95.0

122.7
116.6
102.1
95.1

125.1
118.1
103.0
94.4

126.8
119.4
103.7
94.1

128.9
120.7
104.4
93.6

130.4
122.4
105.1
93.8

131.9
124.1
105.9
94.1

135.1
125.5
106.4
92.9

138.4
127.0
106.5
91.8

140.3
128.2
106.6
91.4

142.8
130.3
107.5
91.2

N o n f a r m b u s in e s s

Output per hour of all persons..................................
Real compensation per hour.....................................
Unit labor costs.......................................................
Unit nonlabor payments...........................................
Implicit price deflator...............................................
N o n f in a n c ia l c o r p o r a t io n s

Compensation per hour...........................................
Real compensation per hour.....................................
Unit labor costs.....................................................
Unit nonlabor costs................................................
Unit nonlabor payments...........................................
Implicit price deflator...............................................
M a n u f a c tu r in g

Output per hour of all persons..................................
Compensation per hour...........................................
Real compensation per hour...................................
Unit labor costs.......................................................


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Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

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Current Labor Statistics:

40.

Productivity Data

A n n u a l in d e x e s o f m u ltifa c to r p ro d u c tiv ity a n d r e la te d m e a s u re s , s e le c te d y e a rs

[1996 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
Ite m

1960

1970

1980

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

P rivate b u s in e s s

Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons................................
Output per unit of capital services...........................
Multifactor productivity...........................................
Output....................................................................
Inputs:
Labor input...........................................................
Capital services.....................................................
Combined units of labor and capital input................
Capital per hour of all persons..................................

45.6
110.4
65.2
27.5

63.0
111.1
80.0
42.0

75.8
101.5
88.3
59.4

90.2
99.3
95.3
83.6

91.3
96.1
94.4
82.6

94.8
97.7
96.6
85.7

95.4
98.5
97.1
88.5

96.6
100.3
98.1
92.8

97.3
99.7
98.4
95.8

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

102.0
100.5
101.1
105.2

104.8
100.1
102.6
110.6

54.0
24.9
42.3
41.3

61.0
37.8
52.4
56.7

71.9
58.6
67.3
74.7

89.4
84.2
87.7
90.8

88.3
86.0
87.5
95.0

89.3
87.7
88.8
97.0

91.8
89.8
91.1
96.8

95.6
92.6
94.6
96.3

98.0
96.0
97.3
97.6

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

103.7
104.7
104.0
101.5

106.4
110.4
107.7
104.7

48.7
120.1
69.1
27.2

64.9
118.3
82.6
41.9

77.3
105.7
90.5
59.6

90.3
100.0
95.6
83.5

91.4
96.6
94.7
82.5

94.8
97.9
96.6
85.5

95.3
98.8
97.1
88.4

96.5
100.3
98.1
92.6

97.5
99.9
98.6
95.8

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

101.7
100.2
100.9
105.1

104.5
99.8
102.4
110.6

50.1
22.6
39.3
40.5

59.3
35.5
50.7
54.8

70.7
56.4
65.9
73.1

89.2
83.5
87.3
90.3

88.0
85.4
87.1
94.7

89.0
87.3
88.4
96.8

91.8
89.5
91.0
96.5

95.4
92.3
94.4
96.3

97.8
95.9
97.2
97.6

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

103.8
104.9
104.2
101.5

106.6
110.8
108.0
104.7

41.8
124.3
72.7
38.5

54.2
116.5
84.4
56.5

70.1
100.9
86.6
75.3

92.8
101.6
99.3
97.3

95.0
97.5
98.3
95.4

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

101.9
101.1
100.4
103.3

105.0
104.0
102.6
108.7

109.0
105.0
105.0
113.4

112.8
104.5
106.1
116.9

117.1
105.6
109.8
123.5

124.3
106.5
113.2
130.7

92.0
30.9
51.3
38.2
28.2
52.9

104.2
48.5
85.4
44.8
48.8
67.0

107.5
74.7
92.5
75.0
73.7
87.0

104.8
95.8
99.9
92.5
92.5
98.0

100.4
97.9
100.1
93.6
92.1
97.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

101.4
102.2
103.7
105.7
103.0
102.9

103.6
104.5
107.3
111.3
105.1
106.0

104.0
108.0
109.5
112.8
110.0
107.9

103.7
111.9
107.0
120.4
108.9
110.2

105.5
116.9
103.9
120.4
114.2
112.5

105.2
122.8
109.2
127.2
116.8
115.5

P rivate n o n fa rm b u s in e s s

Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons................................
Output per unit of capital services...........................
Multifactor productivity...........................................
Output....................................................................
Inputs:
Labor input...........................................................
Capital services.....................................................
Combined units of labor and capital input................
Capital per hour of all persons..................................
M a n u fa c tu rin g (1992 = 100)
Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons.................................
Output per unit of capital services...........................
Multifactor productivity...........................................
Output....................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons...............................................
Capital services.....................................................
Energy.................................................................
Nonenergy materials.............................................
Purchased business services..................................
Combined units of all factor inputs...........................

86

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41.

A n n u a l in d e x e s o f p ro d u c tiv ity , h ou rly c o m p e n s a tio n , unit costs, a n d p ric e s, s e le c te d y e a rs

[1992 = 100]
Item

1960

1970

1980

1989

1990

1991

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

B u sin ess

Output per hour of all persons..................................
Compensation per hour...........................................
Real compensation per hour.....................................
Unit labor costs.......................................................
Unit nonlabor payments...........................................
Implicit price deflator...............................................

48.8
13.7
60.0
28.0
25.2
27.0

67.0
23.5
78.9
35.1
31.6
33.9

80.4
54.2
89.5
67.4
61.5
65.2

93.9
85.8
95.9
91.3
91.8
91.5

95.2
90.7
96.5
95.3
93.9
94.8

96.3
95.0
97.5
98.7
97.0
98.1

100.5
102.5
99.9
101.9
102.5
102.2

101.9
104.5
99.7
102.6
106.4
104.0

102.6
106.7
99.3
104.1
109.4
106.0

105.4
110.1
99.7
104.5
113.3
107.7

107.6
113.3
100.4
105.3
117.1
109.7

110.5
119.3
104.3
107.9
115.2
110.6

114.0
125.2
107.3
109.9
115.1
111.8

51.9
14.3
62.8
27.5
24.6
26.5

68.9
23.7
79.5
34.4
31.3
33.3

82.0
54.6
90.0
66.5
60.5
64.3

94.2
85.8
95.9
91.1
91.3
91.2

95.3
90.5
96.3
95.0
93.6
94.5

96.4
95.0
97.5
98.5
97.1
98.0

100.5
102.2
99.6
101.7
103.0
102.2

101.8
104.3
99.5
102.5
106.9
104.1

102.8
106.6
99.2
103.7
110.4
106.1

105.4
109.8
99.5
104.2
113.5
107.6

107.3
112.9
100.0
105.1
118.0
109.8

110.2
118.6
103.8
107.7
116.3
110.8

113.4
124.4
106.5
109.7
116.8
112.3

55.4
15.6
68.3
26.8
28.1
23.3
50.2
30.2
28.8

70.4
25.3
84.7
34.8
35.9
31.9
44.4
35.1
35.6

81.1
56.4
93.1
68.4
69.6
65.1
68.8
66.0
68.4

94.6
86.2
96.3
92.0
91.1
94.6
97.3
95.3
92.5

95.4
90.8
96.6
95.9
95.2
98.0
94.3
97.1
95.8

97.6
95.2
97.8
98.8
97.5
102.1
93.0
99.7
98.3

100.8
102.1
99.6
101.0
101.3
100.2
113.2
103.5
102.1

103.2
104.3
99.5
101.1
101.0
101.3
131.7
109.0
103.7

104.3
106.2
98.9
102.0
101.9
102.2
139.0
111.6
105.1

107.6
109.1
98.8
101.2
101.4
100.6
152.2
113.8
105.5

110.2
112.0
99.3
101.4
101.6
100.8
156.7
115.0
106.1

114.2
117.4
102.7
102.2
102.8
100.8
148.3
112.9
106.1

119.2
123.2
105.5
102.9
103.4
101.7
146.5
113.1
106.6

41.9
14.9
65.2
35.5
26.8
30.2

54.3
23.7
79.5
43.7
29.4
34.9

70.3
55.6
91.7
79.1
80.2
79.8

90.5
86.6
96.8
95.8
95.4
95.5

92.9
90.8
96.6
97.7
99.6
98.9

95.0
95.6
98.1
100.6
98.9
99.6

102.0
102.7
100.2
100.7
101.0
100.9

105.2
105.6
100.8
100.4
102.9
101.9

109.3
107.9
100.4
98.7
107.2
103.9

113.1
109.3
99.0
96.6
110.1
104.9

117.6
111.4
98.8
94.8
109.7
103.9

123.9
117.3
102.6
94.6
104.6
100.7

131.6
123.2
105.5
93.6
-

N o n fa rm b u s in e s s

Output per hour of all persons..................................
Compensation per hour...........................................
Real compensation per hour.....................................
Unit labor costs.......................................................
Unit nonlabor payments...........................................
Implicit price deflator...............................................
N o n fin a n c ia l c o rp o ra tio n s

Output per hour of all employees..............................
Compensation per hour...........................................
Real compensation per hour.....................................
Unit labor costs......................................................
Unit nonlabor costs................................................
Unit nonlabor payments...........................................
Implicit price deflator................................................
M an u fa c tu rin g

Output per hour of all persons..................................
Real compensation per hour....................................
Unit labor costs......................................................
Unit nonlabor payments..........................................
Implicit price deflator...............................................

______ 1

- Data not available.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

87

Current Labor Statistics:

42.

Productivity Data

Annual indexes of output per hour for selected 3-digit SIC industries

[1987 = 100]
Industry

SIC

1988

104
122
131
142

101.5
111.7
101.0
101.3

113.3
117.3
98.0
98.7

122.3
118.7
97.0
102.2

127.4
122.4
97.9
99.8

141.6
133.0
102.1
105.0

159.8
141.2
105.9
103.6

160.8
148.1
112.4
108.7

144.2
155.9
119.4
105.4

138.3
168.0
123.9
107.2

159.0
176.6
125.2
114.0

186.3
187.3
128.7
111.9

Meat products..................................................
Dairy products.................................................
Preserved fruits and vegetables........................
Grain mill products...........................................
Bakery products.............................................

201
202
203
204
205

100.1
108.4
97.0
101.3
96.8

99.2
107.7
97.8
107.6
96.1

97.1
107.3
95.6
105.4
92.7

99.6
108.3
99.2
104.9
90.6

104.6
111.4
100.5
107.8
93.8

104.3
109.6
106.8
109.2
94.4

101.2
111.8
107.6
108.4
96.4

102.3
116.4
109.1
115.4
97.3

97.4
116.0
109.1
108.0
95.6

103.2
119.5
111.7
118.7
99.3

102.8
119.7
116.5
128.7
102.1

Sugar and confectionery products......................
Fats and oils....................................................
Beverages.......................................................
Miscellaneous food and kindred products............
Cigarettes....................................................

206
207
208
209
211

99.5
108.9
105.6
107.0
101.2

101.8
116.4
112.2
99.1
109.0

103.2
118.1
117.0
99.2
113.2

102.0
120.1
120.0
101.7
107.6

99.8
114.1
127.1
101.5
111.6

104.5
112.6
126.4
105.2
106.5

106.2
111.8
130.1
100.9
126.6

108.3
120.3
133.5
102.9
142.9

113.8
110.1
135.0
109.1
147.2

117.1
120.0
135.5
103.9
147.2

123.2
138.3
137.4
113.2
152.2

Broadwoven fabric mills, cotton.........................
Broadwoven fabric mills, manmade....................
Narrow fabric mills...........................................
Knitting mills..................................................
Textile finishing, except wool.............................

221
222
224
225
226

99.6
99.2
108.4
96.6
90.3

99.8
106.3
92.7
108.0
88.7

103.1
111.3
96.5
107.5
83.4

111.2
116.2
99.6
114.0
79.9

110.3
126.2
112.9
119.3
78.6

117.8
131.7
111.4
127.9
79.3

122.1
142.5
120.1
134.1
81.2

134.0
145.3
118.9
138.3
78.5

137.3
147.6
126.3
150.3
79.2

130.9
161.9
107.7
149.9
94.0

135.1
167.3
114.1
149.9
100.5

Carpets and rugs.............................................
Yarn and thread mills........................................
Miscellaneous textile goods...............................
Men's and boys' furnishings..............................
Women's and misses' outerwear........................

227
228
229
232
233

98.6
102.1
101.6
100.1
101.4

97.8
104.2
109.1
100.1
96.8

93.2
110.2
109.2
102.1
104.1

89.2
111.4
104.6
108.4
104.3

96.1
119.6
106.5
109.1
109.4

97.1
126.6
110.4
108.4
121.8

93.3
130.7
118.5
111.7
127.4

95.8
137.4
123.7
123.4
135.5

100.2
147.4
123.1
134.7
141.6

100.3
150.1
117.9
152.4
151.5

103.0
154.2
120.3
166.9
153.1

Women's and children's undergarments..............
Hats, caps, and millinery...................................
Miscellaneous apparel and accessories..............
Miscellaneous fabricated textile products.............
Sawmills and planing mills.................................

234
235
238
239
242

105.4
99.0
101.3
96.6
100.7

94.6
96.4
88.4
95.7
99.6

102.1
89.2
90.6
99.9
99.8

113.6
91.1
91.8
100.7
102.6

117.4
93.6
91.3
107.5
108.1

124.5
87.2
94.0
108.5
101.9

138.0
77.7
105.5
107.8
103.3

161.3
84.3
116.8
109.2
110.2

174.5
82.2
120.1
105.6
115.6

196.3
83.5
105.2
117.0
117.5

215.2
99.4
109.8
118.0
120.4

Millwork, plywood, and structural members.........
Wood containers..............................................
Wood buildings and mobile homes.....................
Miscellaneous wood products...........................
Household furniture..........................................

243
244
245
249
251

98.8
103.1
97.8
95.9
99.4

97.1
108.8
98.8
102.4
102.0

98.0
111.2
103.1
107.7
104.5

98.0
113.1
103.0
110.5
107.1

99.9
109.4
103.1
114.2
110.5

97.0
100.1
103.8
115.3
110.6

94.5
100.9
98.3
111.8
112.5

92.7
106.1
97.0
115.4
116.9

92.4
106.7
96.7
114.4
121.6

89.9
106.6
101.1
123.1
121.8

92.5
107.0
99.7
132.3
127.5

Office furniture..........................................
Public building and related furniture....................
Partitions and fixtures....................................
Miscellaneous furniture and fixtures....................
Pulp mills.............................................

252
253
254
259
261

94.3
109.6
95.7
103.6
99.6

97.5
113.7
92.4
101.9
107.4

95.0
119.8
95.6
103.5
116.7

94.1
120.2
93.0
102.1
128.3

102.5
140.6
102.7
99.5
137.3

103.2
161.0
107.4
103.6
122.5

100.5
157.4
98.9
104.7
128.9

101.1
173.3
101.2
110.0
131.9

106.4
181.5
97.5
113.2
132.6

117.9
186.5
121.4
102.2
104.4

113.8
205.3
127.7
123.1
108.9

Paper mills.........................................
Paperboard mills.....................................
Paperboard containers and boxes......................
Miscellaneous converted paper products.............
Newspapers...................................

262
263
265
267
271

103.9
105.5
99.7
101.1
96.9

103.6
101.9
101.5
101.6
95.2

102.3
100.6
101.3
101.4
90.6

99.2
101.4
103.4
105.3
85.8

103.3
104.4
105.2
105.5
81.5

102.4
108.4
107.9
107.9
79.4

110.2
114.9
108.4
110.6
79.9

118.6
119.5
105.1
113.3
79.0

111.6
118.0
106.3
113.6
77.4

107.0
124.2
110.1
121.7
79.0

110.8
127.6
114.4
124.8
83.0

Periodicals.............................................
Books....................................
Miscellaneous publishing...................................
Commercial printing.................................
Manifold business forms...................................

272
273
274
275
276

97.9
99.1
96.7
100.0
98.7

98.3
94.1
89.0
101.1
89.7

93.9
96.6
92.2
102.5
93.0

89.5
100.8
95.9
102.0
89.1

92.9
97.7
105.8
108.0
94.5

89.5
103.5
104.5
106.9
91.1

81.9
103.0
97.5
106.5
82.0

87.8
101.6
94.8
107.2
76.9

89.1
99.3
93.6
108.3
75.2

100.1
102.2
114.5
109.2
78.9

97.6
97.1
114.2
110.7
76.4

Greeting cards......................................
Blankbooks and bookbinding...........................
Printing trade services..................................
Industrial inorganic chemicals.............................
Plastics materials and synthetics........................

277
278
279
281
282

100.1
95.6
99.9
105.7
98.8

109.1
94.2
94.3
104.3
99.7

100.6
99.4
99.3
106.8
100.9

92.7
96.1
100.6
109.7
100.0

96.7
103.6
112.0
109.7
107.5

91.4
98.7
115.3
105.6
112.0

89.0
105.4
111.0
102.3
125.3

92.5
108.7
116.7
109.3
128.3

90.8
114.5
126.2
110.1
125.3

92.2
115.3
124.2
116.1
133.8

104.5
124.7
127.6
145.7
142.6

Drugs.......................................................
Soaps, cleaners, and toilet goods.......................
Paints and allied products..................................
Industrial organic chemicals...............................
Agricultural chemicals.......................................

283
284
285
286
287

101.0
102.0
101.4
109.9
103.7

102.8
100.6
103.3
110.4
104.3

103.8
103.8
106.3
101.4
104.7

104.5
105.3
104.3
95.8
99.5

99.5
104.4
102.9
94.6
99.5

99.9
108.7
108.8
92.2
103.8

104.9
111.2
116.7
99.9
105.0

108.7
118.6
118.0
98.6
108.5

112.1
120.9
125.6
99.0
110.0

112.6
130.4
127.2
112.9
120.4

105.3
129.2
128.8
111.3
117.0

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

Mining

Gold and silver ores........................................
Bituminous coal and lignite mining.....................
Crude petroleum and natural gas.......................
Crushed and broken stone................................
Manufacturing

See footnotes at end of table.

88

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

42. C o n tin u e d -A n n u a l indexes of output per hour for selected 3-digit SIC industries
[1987 = 100]
1989

1990

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

SIC

Miscellaneous chemical products........................
Petroleum refining.............................................
Asphalt paving and roofing materials..................
Miscellaneous petroleum and coal products.........
Tires and inner tubes.........................................

289
291
295
299
301

95.4
105.3
98.3
98.4
102.9

95.2
109.6
95.3
101.9
103.8

97.3
109.2
98.0
94.8
103.0

96.1
106.6
94.1
90.6
102.4

101.8
111.3
100.4
101.5
107.8

107.1
120.1
108.0
104.2
116.5

105.7
123.8
104.9
96.3
124.1

107.8
132.3
111.2
87.4
131.1

110.1
142.0
113.1
87.1
138.8

120.2
149.2
120.8
97.2
148.5

120.9
155.8
129.5
100.7
145.2

Hose and belting and gaskets and packing..........
Fabricated rubber products, n.e.c........................
Miscellaneous plastics products, n.e.c.................
Footwear, except rubber....................................
Flat glass.........................................................

305
306
308
314
321

103.7
104.2
100.5
101.3
91.9

96.3
105.5
101.8
101.1
90.7

96.1
109.0
105.7
101.1
84.5

92.4
109.9
108.3
94.4
83.6

97.8
115.2
114.4
104.2
92.7

99.7
123.1
116.7
105.2
97.7

102.7
119.1
120.8
113.0
97.6

104.6
121.5
121.0
117.1
99.6

107.4
121.0
124.7
126.1
101.5

112.4
125.5
130.2
129.4
107.6

111.7
133.2
134.6
111.6
114.0

Glass and glassware, pressed or blown...............
Products of purchased glass..............................
Cement, hydraulic.............................................
Structural clay products.....................................
Pottery and related products..............................

322
323
324
325
326

100.6
95.9
103.2
98.8
99.6

100.2
90.1
110.2
103.1
97.1

104.8
92.6
112.4
109.6
98.6

102.3
97.7
108.3
109.8
95.8

108.9
101.5
115.1
111.4
99.5

108.7
106.2
119.9
106.8
100.3

112.9
105.9
125.6
114.0
108.4

115.7
106.1
124.3
112.6
109.3

121.4
122.0
128.7
119.6
119.3

128.2
125.3
133.1
116.1
116.1

135.1
120.0
134.1
115.4
127.6

Concrete, gypsum, and plaster products..............
Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral products.........
Blast furnace and basic steel products................
Iron and steel foundries.....................................
Primary nonferrous metals.................................

327
329
331
332
333

100.8
103.0
112.6
104.0
107.8

102.4
95.5
108.1
105.4
106.1

102.3
95.4
109.7
106.1
102.3

101.2
94.0
107.8
104.5
110.7

102.5
104.3
117.0
107.2
101.9

104.6
104.5
133.6
112.1
107.9

101.5
106.3
142.4
113.0
105.3

104.5
107.8
142.6
112.7
111.0

107.3
110.4
147.5
116.2
110.8

109.2
112.7
155.0
121.7
116.0

113.4
117.1
152.3
121.7
125.0

Nonferrous rolling and drawing...........................
Nonferrous foundries (castings)..........................
Miscellaneous primary metal products.................
Metal cans and shipping containers....................
Cutlery, handtools, and hardware.......................

335
336
339
341
342

95.5
102.6
106.6
106.5
97.8

93.6
105.1
105.0
108.5
101.7

92.7
104.0
113.7
117.6
97.3

91.0
103.6
109.1
122.9
96.8

96.0
103.6
114.5
127.8
100.1

98.3
108.5
111.3
132.3
104.0

101.2
112.1
134.5
140.9
109.2

99.2
117.8
152.2
144.2
111.3

104.0
122.3
149.6
155.2
118.2

112.3
126.4
140.9
160.8
113.1

115.0
131.1
139.7
155.8
115.2

Plumbing and heating, except electric.................
Fabricated structural metal products...................
Metal forgings and stampings.............................
Metal services, n.e.c..........................................
Ordnance and accessories, n.e.c........................

343
344
346
347
348

103.7
100.4
101.5
108.3
97.7

101.5
96.9
99.8
102.4
89.8

102.6
98.8
95.6
104.7
82.1

102.0
100.0
92.9
99.4
81.5

98.4
103.9
103.7
111.6
88.6

102.0
104.8
108.7
120.6
84.6

109.1
107.7
108.5
123.0
83.6

109.2
105.8
109.3
127.7
87.6

118.6
106.5
113.6
128.4
87.5

127.2
110.0
120.2
123.5
100.5

131.3
112.5
125.9
128.5
94.6

Engines and turbines.........................................
Farm and garden machinery..............................
Construction and related machinery...................
Metalworking machinery.....................................

349
351
352
353
354

101.4
106.8
106.3
106.5
101.0

95.9
110.7
110.7
108.3
103.5

97.5
106.5
116.5
107.0
101.1

97.4
105.8
112.9
99.1
96.4

101.1
103.3
113.9
102.0
104.3

102.0
109.2
118.6
108.2
107.4

103.2
122.3
125.0
117.7
109.9

106.6
122.7
134.7
122.1
114.8

108.3
136.6
137.2
123.3
114.9

106.2
134.2
141.0
131.8
118.6

112.4
142.8
148.7
137.1
120.2

Special industry machinery................................
General industrial machinery..............................
Computer and office equipment..........................
Refrigeration and service machinery...................
Industrial machinery, n.e.c.................................

355
356
357
358
359

104.6
105.9
121.4
102.1
106.5

108.3
101.5
124.2
106.0
107.1

107.5
101.5
138.1
103.6
107.3

108.3
101.6
149.6
100.7
109.0

106.0
101.6
195.7
104.9
117.0

113.6
104.8
258.6
108.6
118.5

121.2
106.7
328.6
110.7
127.4

132.3
109.0
469.4
112.7
138.8

134.0
109.4
681.3
114.7
141.4

130.1
110.1
937.0
114.8
129.7

125.9
112.4
1345.8
121.3
127.6

Electric distribution equipment............................
Electrical industrial apparatus
Household appliances.......................................
Electric lighting and wiring equipment.................
Communications equipment...............................

361
362
363
364
366

105.4
104.6
103.0
101.9
110.5

105.0
107.4
104.7
100.2
107.2

106.3
107.7
105.8
99.9
121.4

106.5
107.1
106.5
97.5
124.5

119.6
117.1
115.0
105.7
146.7

122.2
132.9
123.4
107.8
150.3

131.8
134.9
131.4
113.4
166.0

143.0
150.8
127.3
113.7
170.9

143.9
154.3
127.4
116.9
190.3

143.9
163.9
138.1
121.4
221.0

147.8
162.6
151.7
129.3
228.4

Electronic components and accessories..............
Miscellaneous electrical equipment &supplies.....
Motor vehicles and equipment............................
Aircraft and parts..............................................
Ship and boat building and repairing...................

367
369
371
372
373

109.0
102.8
103.2
100.6
99.4

119.8
99.6
103.3
98.2
97.6

133.4
90.6
102.4
98.9
103.7

154.7
98.6
96.6
108.2
96.3

189.3
101.3
104.2
112.3
102.7

217.9
108.2
106.2
115.2
106.2

274.1
110.5
108.8
109.6
103.8

401.5
114.1
106.7
107.9
98.0

514.9
123.1
107.2
113.0
99.2

610.5
124.6
116.5
114.1
104.3

764.4
130.5
125.7
140.4
101.6

Railroad equipment...........................................
Motorcycles, bicycles, and parts.........................
Guided missiles, space vehicles, parts................
Search and navigation equipment......................
Measuring and controlling devices......................

374
375
376
381
382

113.5
92.6
104.1
104.8
103.7

135.3
94.6
110.6
105.8
101.7

141.1
93.8
116.5
112.7
106.4

146.9
99.8
110.5
118.9
113.1

147.9
108.4
110.5
122.1
119.9

151.0
130.9
122.1
129.1
124.0

152.5
125.1
118.9
132.1
133.8

150.0
120.3
121.0
149.5
146.4

148.3
125.5
129.4
142.2
150.5

183.2
120.6
126.6
148.9
143.0

191.7
127.8
132.1
148.8
147.3

Medical instruments and supplies......................
Ophthalmic goods.............................................
Photographic equipment &supplies....................
Jewelry, silverware, and plated ware..................
Musical Instruments..........................................

384
385
386
391
393

105.2
112.6
105.6
100.1
101.8

107.9
123.3
113.0
102.9
96.1

116.9
121.2
107.8
99.3
97.1

118.7
125.1
110.2
95.8
96.9

123.5
144.5
116.4
96.7
96.0

127.3
157.8
126.9
96.7
95.6

126.7
160.6
132.7
99.5
88.7

131.5
167.2
129.5
100.2
86.9

139.8
188.2
128.7
102.6
78.8

146.3
202.6
121.6
117.2
83.9

159.4
211.7
125.9
111.7
83.5


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1988

1991

Industry

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

89

Current Labor Statistics:

Productivity Data

42. C o n tin u e d -A n n u a l indexes of output per hour for selected 3-digit SIC industries
[1987 = 100]
Industry

SIC

Toys and sporting goods....................................
Pens, pencils, office, and art supplies.................
Costume jewelry and notions.............................
Miscellaneous manufactures..............................

394
395
396
399

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

104.8
108 3
102 0
102.1

106.0
112 9
93 8
100.9

108.1
118 2
10S 3
106.5

109.7
116 8
106 7
109.2

104.9
1113
110 8
109.5

114.2
111 6
115 6
107.7

108.4
105.2
99.9
99.5

114.6
109.3
99.7
95.8

118.5
111.1
104.0
92.9

127.8
116.9
103.7
92.5

139.6
123.4
104.5
96.9

481
483
484
491 3 (pt )
492,3 (pt.)

106.2
103.1
102.0
104 9
108.3

111.6
106.2
99.7
107 7
111.2

113.3
104.9
92.5
110 1
105.8

119.8
106.1
87.5
113 4
109.6

127.7
108.3
88.3

Lumber and other building materials dealers.......
Paint, glass, and wallpaper stores.......................
Hardware stores...............................................
Retail nurseries, lawn and garden supply stores....
Department stores............................................

521
523
525
526
531

101.0
102.8
108.6
106.7
99.2

99.1
101.7
115.2
103.4
97.0

103.6
106.0
110.5
83.9
94.2

Variety stores....................................................
Miscellaneous general merchandise stores..........
Grocery stores..................................................
Meat and fish (seafood) markets.........................
Retail bakeries..................................................

533
539
541
542
546

101.9
100.8
98.9
99.0
89.8

124.4
109.8
95.4
97.6
83.3

New and used car dealers.................................
Auto and home supply stores.............................
Gasoline service stations...................................
Men's and boy's wear stores..............................
Women's clothing stores....................................

551
553
554
561
562

103.4
103.2
103.0
106.0
97.8

Family clothing stores........................................
Shoe stores......................................................
Furniture and homefurnishings stores.................
Household appliance stores...............................
Radio, television, computer, and music stores......

565
566
571
572
573

Eating and drinking places.................................
Drug and proprietary stores................................
Liquor stores.....................................................
Used merchandise stores...................................
Miscellaneous shopping goods stores.................
Nonstore retailers..............................................
Fuel dealers......................................................
Retail stores, n.e.c............................................

1994

109.7

1995

1996

1997

1998

113.6
135 P

119.9

125.1

134.8

106.1

108.1

112.8

109.3

109.5

145.4
126.6
107.1
100.2

150.3
129.5
106.6
105.7

156.2
125.4
106.5
108.6

167.0
130.9
104.7
111.1

170.1
132.4
108.3
111.6

130.1
109.5
108.5

142.2
110.1
85.6

148.1
109.6
86.7

159.5
105.8
84.4

160.9
101.1
87.6

171.2
100.8
88.0

111.1

135.5
106.7
86.7
i?n 6
121.8

125.6

137.1

145.9

158.6

153.4

101.3
99.4
102.5
88.5
98.2

105.4
106.5
107.2
100.4
100.9

110.5
114.7
105.8
106.6
105.7

118.3
130.2
112.7
116.6
108.6

117.6
135.3
108.5
117.2
110.9

121.7
140.2
112.1
136.6
118.4

122.2
143.8
111.2
128.1
123.5

133.0
166.0
125.3
136.1
129.4

151.2
116.4
94.6
96.8
89.7

154.2
121.8
93.7
88.4
94.7

167.7
136.1
93.3
95.8
94.0

184.7
159.7
92.8
93.7
86.5

190.1
160.9
92.5
91.1
87.2

203.2
163.9
91.2
89.1
86.8

229.2
164.9
89.4
81.1
81.7

247.6
168.2
89.2
84.7
75.4

262.5
189.9
90.2
89.9
65.0

102.5
101.6
105.2
109.6
99.5

106.1
102.7
102.6
113.7
101.5

104.1
99.0
104.3
119.2
103.0

106.5
100.0
109.7
118.2
112.2

107.6
98.7
115.2
115.5
118.4

108.7
102.6
120.4
117.9
119.3

107.1
105.7
126.3
117.5
128.5

108.2
104.6
125.1
125.7
142.3

107.8
104.2
125.0
132.2
145.8

108.0
107.0
130.6
145.5
154.8

102.0
102.7
98.6
98.5
118.6

104.9
107.2
100.9
103.5
114.6

104.5
106.1
101.8
102.8
119.6

106.4
105.1
101.5
105.2
128.3

111.7
111.5
108.4
113.9
137.8

114.5
113.2
107.6
117.0
152.7

120.4
126.3
108.8
121.2
177.0

133.8
134.5
112.0
138.7
196.7

138.8
146.9
118.6
141.8
204.6

142.1
143.5
119.4
155.5
215.1

145.6
136.4
121.6
184.5
258.9

581
591
592
593
594

102.8
101.9
98.2
105.3
100.7

102.2
102.5
101.1
104.9
104.2

104.0
103.6
105.2
100.3
104.2

103.1
104.7
105.9
98.6
105.0

102.5
103.6
108.4
110.4
102.7

102.8
105.4
100.7
112.1
106.5

101.1
105.7
99.1
115.4
111.9

100.9
106.9
103.7
117.3
117.8

99.5
109.6
112.8
129.8
120.0

100.5
115.4
108.9
138.0
123.7

101.1
117.7
113.9
158.4
131.5

596
598
599

105.6
95.6
105.9

110.8
92.0
103.1

108.8
84.4
113.7

109.3
85.3
103.2

122.1
84.4
111.6

127.5
92.7
117.3

143.3
100.7
125.0

146.1
114.2
126.2

165.5
115.8
139.5

177.2
113.4
147.3

193.5
112.0
157.6

Commercial banks............................................
Hotels and motels..............................................
Laundry, cleaning, and garment services.............
Photographic studios, portrait.............................
Beauty shops....................................................

602
701
721
722
723

102.8
97.6
97.2
100.1
95.1

104.8
95.0
99.7
94.9
99.6

107.7
96.1
101.8
96.6
96.8

110.1
99.1
99.2
92.8
94.8

111.0
107.8
98.3
97.7
99.6

118.5
106.2
98.9
105.9
95.7

121.7
109.6
104.0
117.4
99.8

126.4
110.1
105.5
129.3
103.5

129.7
109.7
108.7
126.6
106.3

133.0
107.9
108.0
133.7
107.5

133.0
108.8
113.5
153.4
108.4

Barber shops....................................................
Funeral services and crematories........................
Automotive repair shops.....................................
Motion picture theaters.......................................

724
726
753
783

108.8
102.5
105.7
107.1

111.6
97.9
108.1
114.3

100.2
90.9
106.9
115.8

94.1
89.5
98.7
116.0

112.1
103.2
103.3
110.8

120.8
98.2
104.0
109.8

117.7
103.8
112.3
106.5

114.6
99.7
119.5
101.4

127.6
97.1
114.1
100.5

149.0
101.3
115.2
99.8

153.0
107.0
121.2
101.3

1 pq Q

i ?q n

Transportation

Railroad transportation.......................................
4011
Trucking, except local1.....................................
4213
U.S. postal service ^..........................................
431
Air transportation ' ........................................... 4512,13,22 (pts.)

-

Utitlities

Telephone communications...............................
Radio and television broadcasting.......................
Cable and other pay TV services........................
Gas utilities.......................................................
Trade

Finance and Services

90

Refers to output per employee.

n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified

Refers to ouput per full-time equivalent employee year on fiscal basis.

- Data not available.

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

43.

U n e m p lo y m e n t rates, a p p ro x im a tin g U.S. c o n c e p ts , in n in e co u n trie s , q u a rte rly d a t a
s e a s o n a lly a d ju s te d
C ountry

1998

Annual average
1998

1999

III

2000

1999
IV

I

III

II

IV

II

I

United States.................................
Canada..........................................
Australia........................................
Japan...........................................

4.5
8.3
8.0
4.1

4.2
7.6
7.2
4.7

4.5
8.2
8.1
4.3

4.4
8.1
7.7
4.5

4.3
7.9
7.5
4.7

4.3
7.8
7.4
4.8

4.2
7.6
7.1
4.8

4.1
7.0
7.0
4.7

4.1
6.8
6.8
4.9

4.0
6.7
6.7
4.8

France..........................................
Germany.......................................
Italy1.............................................

11.8
9.3
12.0
8.4
6.3

11.1
8.7
11.5
7.1
6.1

11.8
9.1
12.0
8.5
6.3

11.6
8.9
12.0
7.6
6.2

11.3
8.8
11.9
7.2
6.3

11.2
8.8
11.6
7.0
6.1

11.0
8.8
11.6
7.0
5.9

10.6
8.7
11.1
7.1
5.9

10.2
8.4
11.2
6.8
5.8

9.8
8.3
10.8
6.0
5.5

United Kinqdom..............................

1 Quarterly rates are for the first month of the quarter.
NOTE: Quarterly figures for France, Germany, and the United Kingdom
calculated by applying annual adjustment factors to current published
data, and therefore should be viewed as less precise indicators of


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

unemployment under U.S. concepts than the annual figures. See Notes
on the data" for information on breaks in series. For further qualifications
and historical data, see Comparative Civilian Labor Force Statistics, Ten
Countries, 1959-1998 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oct. 22,1999).

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

91

Current Labor Statistics:

44.

International Comparison

Annual data: Employment status of the working-age population, approximating U.S. concepts, 10 countries

[Numbers in thousands]
E m p lo y m e n t s ta tu s a n d c o u n tr y

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

C iv ilia n la b o r f o r c e

United States1...................................................
Canada...........................................................
Australia..........................................................
Japan...........................................................
France...........................................................
Germany2........................................................
Italy................................................................
Netherlands......................................................
Sweden...........................................................
United Kingdom.................................................
P a rtic ip a tio n ra te

125,840
14,241
8,444
63,050
24,300
29,410
22,670
6,640
4,597
28,730

126,346
14,330
8,490
64,280
24,490
39,130
22,940
6,750
4,591
28,610

128,105
14,362
8,562
65,040
24,550
39,040
22,910
6,950
4,520
28,410

129,200
14,505
8,619
65,470
24,650
39,140
22,570
7,090
4,443
28,310

131,056
14,627
8,776
65,780
24,760
39,210
22,450
7,190
4,418
28,280

132,304
14,750
9,001
65,990
24,820
39,100
22,460
7,270
4,460
28,480

133,943
14,900
9,127
66,450
25,090
39,180
22,570
7,370
4,459
28,620

136,297
15,153
9,221
67,200
25,180
39,450
22,680
7,530
4,418
28,760

137,673
15,418
9,347
67,240
25,360
39,430
22,960
7,720
4,402
28,870

139,368
15,721
9,470
67,100
25,590

66.5
67.1
64.6
62.6
56.0
55.3
47.2
56.1
67.4
64.1

66.2
66.5
64 1
63.2
56 0
58.9
47.7
56.5
67.0
63.7

66.4
65.7
63 9
63.4

66.3
65.4

66.6
65.2

66.6
64.9

66.8
64.7

67.1
64.9

63.3

63.1

62.9

63.0

63.2

58.3
47.5
57.8
65.7
63.1

67.1
65.6
64
62.4
55 7

58.0
47.9
58.5
64.5
62.8

57.6
47.3
59.0
63.7
62.5

57.3
47.1
59.3
64.1
62.7

57.4
47.1
59.8
64.0
62.7

57.6
47.2
60.7
63.3
62.8

67.1
65.1
64 4
62.8
55 4
57.6
47.6
62.0
62.8
62.7

117,718
12,851
7,676
62,920
22,140
36,920
21,360
6,350
4,447
26,090

118,492
12,760
7,637
63,620
21,990
36,420
21,230
6,560
4,265
25,530

120,259
12,858
7,680
63,810
21,740
36,030
20,270
6,620
4,028
25,340

123,060
13,112
7,921
63,860
21,710
35,890
19,940
6,670
3,992
25,550

124,900
13,357
8,235
63,890
21,890
35,900
19,820
6,760
4,056
26,000

126,708
13,463
8,344
64,200
21,960
35,680
19,920
6,900
4,019
26,280

129,558
13,774
8,429
64,900
22,060
35,540
19,990
7,130
3,973
26,740

131,463
14,140
8,597
64,450
22,390
35,720
20,210
7,410
4,034
27,050

133,488
14,531
8,785
63,930
22,760
20,460
_
4,117
27,330

62.8
61.7
60.1
61.3
50.9
52.6
43.9
52.6
66.1
59.6

61.7
59.7
57.9
61.8
50.6
55.5
44.5
53.2
64.9
58.0

61.5
58.4
57.0
62.0
49.9
54.4
44.0
54.5
62.0
56.7

61.7
58.0
56.6
61.7
49.0
53.4
43.0
54.7
58.5
56.2

62.5
58.4
57.7
61.3
48.7
52.8
42.0
54.7
57.6
56.5

62.9
58.8
59.1
60.9
48.7
52.6
41.5
55.1
58.3
57.2

63.2
58.5
59.1
60.9
48.5
52.2
41.6
55.9
57.7
57.6

63.8
59.0
58.8
61.0
48.4
51.9
41.6
57.5
56.9
58.3

64.1
59.7
59.2
60.2
48.9
52.2
41.9
59.5
57.6
58.7

64.3
60.6
59.6
59.4
49.6
42.3
_
58.7
59.1

7,047
1,157
585
1,340
2,210
1,460
1,590
410
84
1,990

8,628
1,480
814
1,360
2,350
2,210
1,580
400
144
2,520

9,613
1,602
925
1,420
2,560
2,620
1,680
390
255
2,880

8,940
1,647
939
1,660
2,910
3,110
2,300
470
415
2,970

7,996
1,515
856
1,920
3,050
3,320
2,510
520
426
2,730

7,404
1,393
766
2,100
2,920
3,200
2,640
510
404
2,480

7,236
1,437
783
2,250
3,130
3,500
2,650
470
440
2,340

6,739
1,379
791
2,300
3,120
3,910
2,690
400
445
2,020

6,210
1,277
750
2,790
2,980
3,710
2,750
310
368
1,820

6,210
1,190
685
3,170
2,830
2,670
_
313
1,760

3

United States1..................................................
Canada............................................................
Australia..........................................................
Japan.............................................................
France............................................................
Germany2.........................................................
Italy................................................................
Netherlands......................................................
Sweden...........................................................
United Kingdom.................................................

_

23,130
_
4,430
29,090

-

47.8
_
63.2
62.9

E m p lo y e d

118,793
United States1................................................
Canada...........................................................
13,084
Australia..........................................................
7,859
Japan.............................................................. 61,710
France............................................................
22,100
Germany2......................................................... 27,950
Italy................................................................ 21,080
Netherlands......................................................
6,230
Sweden...........................................................
4,513
United Kingdom................................................. 26,740
E m p lo y m e n t-p o p u la tio n ra tio

4

United States1...................................................
Canada...........................................................
Australia.................................................... ......
Japan..............................................................
France............................................................
Germany2......................................................
Italy................................................................
Netherlands......................................................
Sweden...........................................................
United Kingdom..........................................
U n e m p lo y e d

United States1............................................
Canada...........................................................
Australia...........................................................
Japan..............................................................
France.............................................................
Germany2.........................................................
Netherlands..............................................
Sweden............................................................
United Kingdom.................................................
U n e m p lo y m e n t ra te

5.6
6.8
7.5
6.9
6.1
5.6
5.4
4.9
4.5
4.2
8.1
10.3
11.2
11.4
10.4
9.4
9.6
9.1
8.3
7.6
6.9
9.6
10.8
10.9
9.7
8.5
8.6
8.6
8.0
7.2
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.5
2.9
3.2
3.4
3.4
4.1
4.7
9.1
9.6
10.4
11.8
12.3
11.8
12.4
12.5
11.8
11.1
5.0
5.6
6.7
7.9
8.5
8.2
8.9
9.9
9.4
9.0
7.0
6.9
7.3
10.2
11.2
11.8
11.7
11.9
12.0
11.5
Netherlands...................................................
_
6.2
5.9
5.6
6.6
7.2
6.4
7.0
5.3
4.0
Sweden...................................................
1.8
3.1
5.6
9.3
9.6
9.1
9.9
10.1
8.4
7.1
United Kinadom.................................................
6.9
8.8
10.1
10.5
9.7
8.7
8.2
7.0
6.3
6.1
1Data for 1994 are not directly comparable with data for 1993 and earlier yes rs. For 3 Labor fo ce as a percent of the »/orking-age population.
additional information, see the box note under "Employment and Unemployment Data" 4 Employment as a percent of the working-age population,
inthe notes to this section.
2 Data from 1991 onward refer to unified Germany. See Comparative Civilian Labor N o t e : See "Notes on the data”for information on breaks in series for the United
Force Statistics, Ten Countries, 1959-1998, October 22, 1999, on the Internet at States, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Dash indicates
h ttp ://s ta ts .b ls .g o v /f ls d a ta .h tm .
data not available.
United States1.................................................
Canada.......................................................
Australia...........................................................
Japan..............................................................
France.............................................................
Germany2........................................................

92

Monthly Labor Review


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

45.

A nn ual indexes of m anu facturing productivity a n d re la te d m easures, 12 countries

Ite m a n d c o u n tr y
O u tp u t p e r h o u r

Belgium..............................................................
Denmark............................................................

Netherlands........................................................

United Kingdom..................................................
O u tp u t

Denmark............................................................
France...............................................................
Germany............................................................
Netherlands........................................................
Norway..............................................................
Sweden..............................................................
United Kingdom..................................................

1960

1980

1970

_

_

40.7
14.0
18.0
29.9
21.8
29.2
19.6
18.6
36.7
27.6
31.2

59.2
38.0
32.9
52.7
43.1
52.0
36.8
38.1
57.8
52.8
44.7

1987

1988

1990

1989

1991

1993

1994

1997

1996

1995

1998

122.1
111.0
121.4
121.8

127.9
111.7
120.4
122.6

114.9
115.1
110.3
119.7
102.0
125.4
103.2

123.2
121.8
113.4
125.7
101.9
133.6
104.0

127.4
127.1
113.6
127.8
104.1
136.5
105.1

71.9
75.3
63.9
65.4
90.3
66.7
77.2
64.1
69.2
76.7
74.0
56.1

94.4
91.3
81.2
88.9
90.6
81.8
88.1
85.1
91.6
93.3
90.1
79.4

98.0
91.1
84.8
92.0
94.1
87.4
91.5
86.7
93.7
92.1
90.8
82.3

97.1
92.4
89.5
96.9
99.6
91.9
94.6
89.4
97.1
94.6
93.8
86.2

97.8
95.3
95.4
96.8
99.1
93.5
99.0
92.5
98.6
96.6
95.0
88.3

98.3
95.1
99.4
99.1
99.6
96.9
101.9
95.2
99.6
97.5
95.0
92.2

102.1
102.5
100.5
102.5
104.5
100.6
100.6
102.9
101.4
100.6
106.7
104.0

108.3
106.2
101.8
108.4

114.9
108.9
109.3
113.2

117.3
107.3
115.8
114.7

108.5
107.9
105.6
112.7
101.4
116.1
106.8

114.4
111.2
109.3
117.7
102.0
122.4
104.8

“

“

_

_

34.2
10.7
30.7
40.8
31.0
41.5
21.4
31.7
56.5
46.5
67.7

60.5
38.8
57.6
68.0
64.1
70.9
44.7
59.5
89.1
81.7
90.3

77.3
85.4
59.9
78.2
91.3
88.7
85.3
78.4
77.4
103.6
91.8
87.2

97.9
103.2
78.4
88.8
99.3
87.2
88.0
88.2
89.5
110.7
107.7
94.4

104.5
109.3
84.6
93.3
100.8
92.2
90.9
94.5
92.8
105.3
110.2
101.4

104.0
110.8
90.2
99.1
104.3
97.2
94.0
98.1
96.9
101.3
111.6
105.4

102.5
106.6
96.3
101.0
102.7
99.1
99.1
99.6
100.1
100.2
110.6
105.3

98.7
98.8
101.4
100.7
101.7
99.8
102.8
99.2
100.6
98.3
103.6
100.0

103.5
105.1
96.0
97.0
99.0
95.7
91.8
96.4
98.2
102.7
101.3
101.4

112.2
113.2
95.4
101.4
109.3
100.3
93.5
102.2
104.2
106.7
115.7
106.1

119.6
118.8
100.6
104.2
114.7
104.8
93.7
107.2
107.8
109.0
130.1
107.8

121.6
120.2
106.7
104.2
117.8
104.5
92.5
106.7
108.4
110.1
132.9
108.2

128.8
128.0
111.1
109.0
120.3
110.2
95.8
110.4
114.1
113.3
140.3
109.6

135.0
133.0
103.6
111.8
126.5
114.6
100.7
112.5
116.6
116.4
146.4
110.0

92.1
84.1
76.3
170.7
136.5
142.1
142.3
109.0
170.6
154.0
168.3
217.3

104.4
102.1
102.3
174.7
129.0
148.7
136.3
121.2
156.2
154.3
154.7
202.1

107.5
113.5
93.8
119.7
101.1
133.1
110.5
122.4
111.8
135.0
124.0
155.3

103.8
113.0
96.6
100.0
109.6
106.6
99.9
103.6
97.7
118.6
119.5
118.9

106.6
120.0
99.8
101.5
107.2
105.5
99.3
108.9
99.0
114.3
121.4
123.2

107.1
119.9
100.8
102.3
104.7
105.8
99.3
109.7
99.8
107.1
119.0
122.3

104.8
111.9
100.9
104.3
103.7
105.9
100.1
107.7
101.5
103.7
116.4
119.2

100.4
103.8
102.0
101.5
102.1
103.0
100.9
104.2
101.0
100.8
109.0
108.5

101.4
102.6
95.6
94.7
94.8
95.1
91.3
93.6
96.9
102.1
94.9
97.5

103.6
106.6
93.7
93.6

104.0
109.1
92.0
92.0

103.7
112.0
92.2
90.8

105.5
115.4
91.5
89.5

105.6
119.0
86.1
91.2

-

-

-

-

-

92.4
86.7
96.7
92.4
105.2
99.6
99.4

91.6
84.3
98.0
91.6
106.9
106.3
102.9

91.0
80.4
96.7
90.5
107.9
106.0
104.8

89.5
78.6
97.4
90.8
111.1
105.0
105.4

89.9
79.3
99.0
91.2
111.9
107.3
104.7

14.9
10.4
4.3
5.4
4.6
4.3
8.1
1.6
6.4
4.7
4.1
3.1

23.7
17.8
16.5
13.7
13.3
10.3
20.7
4.7
20.2
11.8
10.8
6.3

55.6
47.7
58.6
52.5
49.6
40.8
53.6
28.2
64.4
39.0
37.4
33.2

80.7
75.3
77.9
79.7
80.1
78.6
76.0
66.7
87.8
78.5
67.3
64.8

84.0
77.8
79.2
81.1
82.9
81.6
79.1
69.3
87.7
83.3
71.7
67.7

86.6
82.5
84.2
85.9
87.7
86.0
83.2
75.9
88.5
87.2
79.4
72.9

90.8
89.5
90.7
90.1
92.7
90.6
89.4
84.4
90.8
92.3
87.6
80.9

95.6
94.7
95.9
97.3
95.9
96.2
95.1
93.6
95.2
97.5
95.4
90.5

102.7
99.6
104.6
104.8
104.6
102.8
105.9
107.5
103.7
101.5
98.0
104.3

105.6
100.4
106.7
106.1
105.0
111.7
107.8
108.2
104.4
101.1
106.5

107.9
103.6
109.5
109.2
107.6
117.7
112.8
110.6
109.2
106.2
107.4

109.3
102.8
110.9
112.0
109.5
123.7
120.9
113.2
113.6
113.4
108.2

113.4
106.7
113.9
115.2
112.3
126.6
125.9
115.8
119.1
118.3
111.4

119.4
110.8
115.8
116.0
113.9
127.6
124.8
118.3
126.4
121.5
117.8

25.5
30.9
30.1
15.4
19.5
27.8
8.0
34.4
12.9
14.9
9.8

30.0
43.3
41.7
25.2
24.0
39.8
12.7
52.9
20.4
20.5
14.1

77.2
63.3
91.7
80.3
55.0
61.2
69.4
44.0
93.0
50.8
50.6
59.1

85.5
82.5
96.0
89.7
88.4
96.2
86.3
78.3
95.9
84.1
74.7
81.6

85.7
85.5
93.4
88.1
88.2
93.4
86.5
79.9
93.6
90.4
79.0
82.2

89.2
89.2
94.0
88.7
88.1
93.6
87.9
84.9
91.1
92.2
84.7
84.6

92.8
93.9
95.0
93.0
93.6
96.8
90.3
91.3
92.1
95.6
92.3
91.6

97.2
99.6
96.5
98.1
96.3
99.3
93.3
98.4
95.5
100.0
100.4
98.2

100.6
97.2
104.1
102.3
100.1
102.2
105.3
104.4
102.3
100.9
91.8
100.3

97.6
94.5
104.9
97.9
93.0
96.8
103.6
102.1
96.0
102.9
87.0
99.7

93.9
95.2
100.1
96.4
93.8
94.1
105.9
103.2
94.0
107.1
86.8
102.5

93.2
95.8
95.8
97.6
92.7
95.3
107.5
109.6
94.6
111.4
90.4
104.8

92.9
96.2
93.8
94.6
95.9
91.2
103.9
111.1
92.2
116.9
88.5
107.1

93.4
99.2
96.2
94.7
94.0
89.4
100.4
109.8
92.5
121.4
89.0
112.1

31.8
10.£
19.4
13.8
21.1
10.4
16.C
16.C

34.7
15.3
27.0
20.3
23.C
17.1
24.8
25.7
17.8
23.C
19.2

77.2
65.4
51.3
88.3
58.9
76.7
59.6
63.3
82.3
63.2
69.6
77.6

85.5
75.2
84.2
77.2
77.2
84.7
74.2

85.7
83.9
92.4
77.C
79.C
82.2
76.2
75.6
83.2
86.
75.C
82.2

89.2
91.0
86.3
72.3
72.6
77.7
73.C
76.2
75.6
82.2

92.8
97.2
83.1
89.6
91.3
94.1
87.3
93.8
88.2
95.C
90.6
92.6

97.2
105.0
90.9
92.3
90.8
93.1
87.6
97.6
89.8
95.'
96.6
98.2

100.6
91.1
118.8
95.1
93.2
95.6
99.4
81.8
96.8
88.C
68.6
85.C

97.6
83.6
130.1
94.2
88.3
92.4
99.8
78.1
92.8
90."
65.'
86.8

93.9
83.8
135.1
105.2
101.1
99.8
115.E
78.C
103.C
105.C
70.8
91.8

93.2
84.9
111.7
101.4
96.5
98.6
111.6
87.6
98.8
107.1
78.6
95.6

92.S
83.£
98.3
84.£
87.6
82.6
93.6

93.4
80.8
93.1
83.8
84.7
80.2
89.1
77.9
82.0
99.9
65.2
105.2

T o ta l h o u r s

United States......................................................
Canada..............................................................
Japan.................................................................
Belgium..............................................................
Denmark............................................................
Germany.............................................................
Italy....................................................................
Norway..............................................................
United Kingdom..................................................
C o m p e n s a tio n p e r h o u r

Canada..............................................................
Japan.................................................................
Denmark............................................................
France...............................................................
Italy....................................................................
Norway..............................................................
Sweden.............................................................
United Kingdom..................................................
U n it l a b o r c o s t s :

National currency basis

France...............................................................
Germany............................................................

Sweden.............................................................
U n it l a b o r c o s t s :

U.S. dollar basis

Japan................................................................
Belgium............................................................

il.:

United Kingdom.................................................

16.8
15.8

74.4

83.2
77.6
68.6
75.'

76.4

78.6

so.:
83.C
102.5
67.6
99.:

- Data not available.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

93

Current Labor Statistics:

46.

Injury and Illness

O c c u p a tio n a l injury a n d illness rates b y in dustry,1 U nited States
In c id e n c e r a te s p e r 1 0 0 fu ll-tim e w o r k e r s 3
In d u s try a n d ty p e o f c a s e 2
1988
P R IV A T E S E C T O R

1989 1

1990

1991

1992

1993 4

1994 4

1995 4

1996 4

1997 4

1998 4

1999 4

8.4
3.8

8.1
3.6

7.4
3.4

7.1
3.3

6.7
3.1

6.3
3.0

8.7
3.9

8.4
4.1

7.9
3.9

7.3
3.4

-

-

5.4
3.2

5.9
3.7

4.9
2.9

4.4
2.7

-

-

0

Total cases...........
Lost workday cases..
Lost workdays........

8.6
4.0
76.1

8.6
4.0
78.7

8.8
4.1
84.0

8.4
3.9
86.5

8.9
3.9
93.8

8.5
3.8

Total cases................................................
Lost workday cases...................................... .
Lost workdays.............................................

10.9
5.6
101 .E

10.9
5.7
100.9

11.6
5.9
112.2

10.8
5.4
108.3

11.6
5.4
126.9

11.2
5.0

Total cases.
Lost workday cases....
Lost workdays..........

8.8
5.1
152.1

8.5
4.8
137.2

8.3
5.0
119.5

7.4
4.5
129.6

7.3
4.1
204.7

6.8
3.9

14.6
6.8
142.2

14.3
6.8
143.3

14.2
6.7
147.9

13.0
6.1
148.1

13.1
5.8
161.9

12.2
5.5

11.8
5.5

14.0
6.4
132.2

13.9
6.5
137.3

13.4
6.4
137.6

12.0
5.5
132.0

12.2
5.4
142.7

11.5
5.1

15.1
7.0
162.3

13.8
6.5
147.1

13.8
6.3
144.6

12.8
6.0
160.1

12.1
5.4
165.8

14.7
7.0
141.1

14.6
6.9
144.9

14.7
6.9
153.1

13.5
6.3
151.3

13.1
5.7
107.4

13.1
5.8
113.0

13.2
5.8
120.7

14.2
5.9
111.1

14.1
6.0
116.5

19.5
10.0
189.1

A g ric u ltu re , fo re s try , a n d fis h in g

Total cases...............
Lost workday cases.....
Lost workdays...........
General building contractors:
Total cases....................
Lost workday cases..........
Lost workdays.................
Heavy construction, except building:
Total cases.............................
Lost workday cases.......
Lost workdays..............
Special trades contractors:
Total cases.
Lost workday cases..
Lost workdays........

-

-

5

10.0
4.7

-

9.7
4.3

-

6.3
3.9

-

6.2
3.9
-

-

10.6
4.9

9.9
4.5

9.5
4.4

8.8
4.0

8.6
4.2

10.9
5.1

9.8
4.4

9.0
4.0

8.5
3.7

8.4
3.9

8.0
3.7

11.1
5.1

10.2
5.0

9.9
4.8

9.0
4.3

8.7
4.3

8.2
4.1

7.8
3.8

13.8
6.1
168.3

12.8
5.8

12.5
5.8

11.1
5.0

10.4
4.8

10.0
4.7

-

-

-

12.7
5.6
121.5

12.5
5.4
124.6

12.1
5.3

12.2
5.5

11.6
5.3

14.2
6.0
123.3

13.6
5.7
122.9

13.4
5.5
126.7

13.1
5.4

18.4
9.4
177.5

18.1
8.8
172.5

16.8
8.3
172.0

16.3
7.6
165.8

15.9
7.6

15.7
7.7

14.9
7.0

16.6
7.3
115.7

16.1
7.2

16.9
7.8

15.9
7.2

14.8

14.6
6.5

15.0
7.0

13.9
6.4

16.0
7.5
141.0

15.5
7.4
149.8

15.4
7.3
160.5

14.8
6.8
156.0

13.6
6.1
152.2

13.8
6.3

19.4
8.2
161.3

18.7
8.1
168.3

19.0
8.1
180.2

17.7
7.4
169.1

17.5
7.1
175.5

17.0
7.3

18.8
8.0
138.8

18.5
7.9
147.6

18.7
7.9
155.7

17.4
7.1
146.6

16.8

6.6

16.2
6.7

16.4
6.7

15.8
6.9

14.4
6.2

14.2
6.4

144.0

-

-

-

-

-

12.1
4.7
82.8

12.1
4.8
86.8

12.0
4.7
88.9

11.2

11.1

11.1

11.6

11.2

9.9

4.4

4.2

4.4

4.4

4.0

10.0
4.1

86.6

4.2
87.7

-

-

-

-

-

8.0

9.1
3.8
79.4

8.6
3.7
83.0

8.4
3.6
81.2

8.3
3.5

8.3
3.6

7.6

6.8
3.1

6.6
3.1

64.6

9.1
3.9
77.5

-

-

-

-

-

17.7
6.6
134.2

17.7
6.8
138.6

17.8
6.9
153.7

18.3
7.0
166.1

18.7
7.1
186.6

18.5
7.1

19.6
7.8

18.6
7.9

16.3
7.0

15.4
6.6

-

-

-

-

-

6.1
2.6
51.5

5.6
2.5
55.4

5.9
2.7
57.8

6.0
2.7
64.4

5.9
2.7
65.3

5.6
2.5

5.9
2.7

5.3
2.4

5.1
2.3

4.8
2.3

-

-

-

-

-

11.3
5.1
91.0

11.1

11.3

5.1
113.1

10.7
5.0
108.21

10.0
4.6

9.9
4.5

9.1
4.3

9.5

5.1
97.6

11.3
5.1
104.0

4.4

8.9
4.2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9.1
4.1

8.9
4.4

9.7
4.7

9.2
4.6

-

-

M a n u fa c tu rin g

Total cases.
Lost workday cases...........
Lost workdays..................
Durable goods:
Total cases.....................
Lost workday cases...........
Lost workdays..................
Lumber and wood products:
Total cases.
Lost workday cases...
Lost workdays.........
Furniture and fixtures:
Total cases.
Lost workday cases..
Lost workdays........
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Total cases........................
Lost workday cases..............
Lost workdays.....................
Primary metal industries:
Total cases.
Lost workday cases..
Lost workdays.......
Fabricated metal products:
Total cases................
Lost workday cases.......
Lost workdays.............
Industrial machinery and equipment:
Total cases.
Lost workdaycases..
Lost workdays.......
Electronic and other electrical equipment:
Total cases.
Lost workday cases......
Lost workdays.............
Transportation equipment:
Total cases.
Lost workday cases..
Lost workdays........
Instruments and related products:
Total cases.
Lost workday cases..
Lost workdays........
Miscellaneous manufacturing indus
Total cases.
Lost workday cases..
Lost workdays........

3.3

See footnotes at end of table.

94

Monthly Labor Review


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

January 2001

“

6.6
128.4

-

-

-

13.5
5.7
-

-

12.8
5.6

-

-

-

-

-

-

13.2
6.5
-

16.8
7.2
-

-

12.3
5.7
16.5
7.2
-

3.3

10.6
4.9
-

11.6
5.1
-

14.2
6.8
-

12.2
5.4
-

12.4
6.0
-

15.0
6.8
-

10.3
4.8
-

11.3
5.1

-

10.7
5.0

10.1
4.8

13.2
6.8

13.0
6.7

11.4
5.7

11.5
5.9

11.8
6.0

10.7
5.4

14.0
7.0

12.9
6.3

13.9
6.5

12.6
6.0

9.5
4.0

8.5
3.7

5.9
2.8

5.7
2.8

14.6
6.6

13.7
6.4

4.0
1.9

4.0
1.8

8.1
3.9

8.4
4.0

13.5
6.5
12.0
5.8
-

11.8
5.7
-

15.0
7.2
-

46.

C o n tin u e d — O c c u p a tio n a l injury a n d illness rates b y industry,1 U nited States

In d u s try a n d ty p e o f c a s e 2

Nondurable goods:
Total cases..................................................................
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays............................................................... .
Food and kindred products:
Total cases................................................................
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays.............................................................
Tobacco products:
Total cases................................................................
Lost workdaycases......................................................
Lost workdays.............................................................
Textile mill products:
Total cases................................................................
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays............................................................................
Apparel and other textile products:
Total cases...............................................................................
Lost workday cases...................................................................
Lost workdays............................................................................
Paper and allied products:
Total cases................................................................
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays.............................................................
Printing and publishing:
Total cases...............................................................................
Lost workday cases...................................................................
Lost workdays............................................................................
Chemicals and allied products:
Total cases...............................................................................
Lost workday cases...................................................................
Lost workdays............................................................................
Petroleumand coal products:
Total cases...............................................................................
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays.............................................................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products:
Total cases................................................................
Lost workdaycases......................................................
Lost workdays.............................................................
Leather and leather products:
Total cases................................................................
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays.............................................................

1 98 8

1 98 9

1

1991

1 99 0

199 2

1993 4

1994 4

1995 4

1 99 6 4

1997 4

1998 4

1999 4

9.2
4.6

8.8
4.4

8.2
4.3

7.8
4.2

”

*

-

14.5
8.0

13.6
7.5

12.7
7.3

“

-

-

5.9
2.7
-

6.4
3.4

5.5
2.2

-

-

6.7
3.1
“

7.4
3.4

6.4
3.2

-

-

7.0
3.1
-

6.2
2.6

5.8
2.8

-

-

7.3
3.7
“

7.1
3.7

7.0
3.7

-

-

5.7
2.7
“

5.4
2.8

5.0
2.6

-

-

11.4
5.4
101.7

11.6
5.5
107.8

11.7
5.6
116.9

11.5
5.5
119.7

11.3
5.3
121.8

10.7
5.0

10.5
5.1

9.9
4.9

-

-

-

18.5
9.2
169.7

18.5
9.3
174.7

20.0
9.9
202.6

19.5
9.9
207.2

18.8
9.5
211.9

17.6
8.9

17.1
9.2

16.3
8.7

-

-

-

9.3
2.9
53.0

8.7
3.4
64.2

7.7
3.2
62.3

6.4
2.8
52.0

6.0
2.4
42.9

5.8
2.3

5.3
2.4

5.6
2.6

-

-

-

9.6
4.0
78.8

10.3
4.2
81.4

9.6
4.0
85.1

10.1
4.4
88.3

9.9
4.2
87.1

9.7
4.1

8.7
4.0

8.2
4.1

7.8
3.6

-

-

-

“

8.1
3.5
68.2

8.6
3.8
80.5

8.8
3.9
92.1

9.2
4.2
99.9

9.5
4.0
104.6

9.0
3.8

8.9
3.9

7.4
3.3

-

-

8.2
3.6
-

11.0
5.0
125.9

9.9
4.6

9.6
4.5

7.9
3.8

-

-

8.5
4.2
-

7.3
3.2
74.8

6.9
3.1

6.7
3.0

6.4
3.0
-

6.0
2.8

5.7
2.8

5.5
2.7

4.8
2.4

4.8
2.3

4.2
2.1

4.4
2.3

4.7
2.3

4.8
2.4

4.6
2.5

4.3
2.2

3.9
1.8

4.1
1.8

14.0
6.7

12.9
6.5

13.1
5.9
124.3

12.7
5.8
132.9

12.1
5.5
124.8

11.2
5.0
122.7

6.6
3.2
59.8

6.9
3.3
63.8

6.9
3.3
69.8

6.7
3.2
74.5

6.0
2.8
64.2

5.9
2.7

5.9
2.8
71.2

5.2
2.5

7.0
3.3
59.0

7.0
3.2
63.4

6.5
3.1
61.6

6.4
3.1
62.4

7.0
3.2
68.4

6.6
3.3
68.1

6.6
3.1
77.3

6.2
2.9
68.2

-

15.0
8.0

6.7
2.8
-

-

-

-

-

-

-

12.3
6.3

-

16.3
8.1
142.9

16.2
8.0
147.2

16.2
7.8
151.3

15.1
7.2
150.9

14.5
6.8
153.3

13.9
6.5

11.4
5.6
128.2

13.6
6.5
130.4

12.1
5.9
152.3

12.5
5.9
140.8

12.1
5.4
128.5

12.1
5.5

8.9
5.1
118.6

9.2
5.3
121.5

9.6
5.5
134.1

9.3
5.4
140.0

9.1
5.1
144.0

9.5
5.4

9.3
5.5

9.1
5.2

8.7
5.1

8.2
4.8

7.3
4.3

7.3
4.4

7.8
3.5
60.9

8.0
3.6
63.5

7.9
3.5
65.6

7.6
3.4
72.0

8.4
3.5
80.1

8.1
3.4

7.9
3.4

7.5
3.2

6.8
2.9

6.7
3.0

6.5
2.8

6.1
2.7

7.6
3.8
69.2

7.7
4.0
71.9

7.4
3.7
71.5

7.2
3.7
79.2

7.6
3.6
82.4

7.8
3.7

7.7
3.8

7.5
3.6

6.6
3.4

6.5
3.2

6.5
3.3

6.3
3.3

7.S
3.4
57.6

8.1
3.4
60.0

8.1
3.4
63.2

7.7
3.3
69.1

8.7
3.4
79.2

8.2
3.3

7.S
3.3

7.5
3.0

6.Ê
2.8

6.8
2.9

6.5
2.7

6.1
2.5

2.0
.9
17.2

2.0
.9
17.6

2.4
1.1
27.3

2.4
1.1
24.1

2.9
1.2
32.9

2.S
1.2

2.7
1.1

2.6
1.0

2.Í

2.2
.9

.7
.5

1.8
8

5.4
2.6
47.7

5.5
2.7
51.2

6.0
2.8
56.4

6.2
2.8
60.0

7.1
3.0
68.6

6.7
2.8

11.9
5.8

11.2
5.8

-

-

10.6
4.3

9.8
4.5

10.3
5.0

12.0
5.3

11.4
4.8

10.7
4.5

10.1
5.5

-

T r a n s p o r ta tio n a n d p u b lic u tilitie s

Lost workday cases........................................................

_

W h o le s a le a n d re ta il tr a d e

Lost workday cases........................................................
Lost workdays...............................................................
Wholesale trade:
Lost workdays...............................................................
Retail trade:
Lost workdays...............................................................

-

F in a n c e , in s u r a n c e , a n d re a l e s ta te

Lost workday cases........................................................
Lost workdays...............................................................

.9

-

S e rv ic e s

Lost workday cases........................................................
Lost workdays...............................................................

1 Data tor 1989 and subsequent years are based on the Standard Industrial Class­
ification Manual, 1987 Edition. For this reason, they are not strictlycomparable withdata
for the years 1985-88, which were based on the Standard Industrial Classification
Manual, 1972 Edition, 1977 Supplement.
2 Beginning with the 1992 survey, the annual survey measures only nonfatal injuries and
illnesses, while past surveys covered both fatal and nonfatal incidents. To better address
fatalities, a basic element of workplace safety, BLS implemented the Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries.
3 The incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses or lost workdays per
100 full-time workers and were calculated as (N/EH) X200,000, where:


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

6.5
2.8

6.<
2.8

6.C
2.6

5.6
2.5

5.2
2.4

4.9
2.2

“

N= number of injuries and illnesses or lost workdays;
EH=total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year; and
200,000 = base for 100 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50
weeks per year).
4 Beginning with the 1993 survey, lost workday estimates will not be generated. As of
1992, BLS began generating percent distributions and the median number of days away
fromwork by industry and for groups of workers sustaining similar workdisabilities.
5 Excludes farms withfewer than 11 employees since 1976.
- Data not available.

Monthly Labor Review

January 2001

95

Current Labor Statistics:

Injury and Illness

4 7 . F ata l o c c u p a t io n a l injuries b y e v e n t o r e x p o s u re , 1 9 9 3 -9 8
Fatalities

Event or exposure1

Total...............................................................

1993-97

19972

Average

Number

1998
Number

6,335

6,238

6,026

Transportation incidents........................................................
Highway incident..........................................................
Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment.......................
Moving in same direction..................................................
Moving in opposite directions, oncoming............................
Moving in intersection................................................
Vehicle struck stationary object or equipment........................
Noncollision incident..............................................
Jackknifed or overturned—no collision...............................
Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises) incident.......................
Overturned.....................................................................
Aircraft....................................................................
Worker struck by a vehicle.....................................................
Water vehicle incident............................................................
Railway...............................................................

2,611
1,334
652
109
234
132
249
360
267
388
214
315
373
106
83

2,630
1,431
701

Assaults and violent acts.....................................................
Homicides............................................................
Shooting.......................................................
Stabbing...............................................................
Other, including bombing....................................................
Self-inflicted injuries...............................................................

1,241
995
810
75
110
215

2,605
1,393
640
103
230
142
282
387
298
377
216
261
367
109
93
1,111
860
708
73
79
216

Contact with objects and equipment......................................
Struck by object..........................................................
Struck by falling object.....................................................
Struck by flying object.........................................................
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects...................
Caught in running equipment or machinery...........................
Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials.............................
Falls......................................................................
Fall to lower level................................................................
Fall from ladder.....................................................
Fall from roof.......................................................
Fall from scaffold, staging.......................................... .
Fall on same level.............................................................

1,005
573
369
65
290
153
124

Exposure to harmful substances or environments..................
Contact with electric current......................................
Contact with overhead power lines.......................................
Contact with temperature extremes.......................................
Exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances..............
Inhalation of substances....................................................
Oxygen deficiency..............................................
Drowning, submersion........................................
F ir e s a n d e x p l o s i o n s .....................................................................................
O t h e r e v e n t s o r e x p o s u r e s 3.......................

Percent
100
44
24

271

4

306
373
300
384
216
223
413
112
60

5
6
5
6
4
4
7
2
1
16
12
9
1
1
4

1,035
579
384
54
320
189
118
716
653
116
154
87
44

960
709
569
61
79
223
941
517
317
58
266
129
140
702
623
111
156
97
51

16
9
5
1
4
2
2
12
10
2
3
2
1

586
320
128
43
120
70
101
80
199

554
298
138
40
123
59
90
72

572
334
153
46
104
48
87
75

9
6
3
1
2
1
1
1

196

205

3

26

21

16

-

668
591
94
139
83
52

Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness 3 Includes the category "Bodily reaction and exertion."
Classification Structures.
NOTE: Totals for major categories may include sub­
2 The BLS news release issued August 12, 1998, reported a
total of 6,218 fatal work injuries for calendar year 1997. Since categories not shown separately. Percentages may not add to
then, an additional 20 job-related fatalities were identified, totals because of rounding. Dash indicates less than 0.5
percent.
bringing the total job-related fatality count for 1997 to 6,238.

96

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January 2001

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material published in the Review, should be
submitted to:
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12/99

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Schedule of release dates for BLS statistical series
Series

Release
date

Period
covered

Release
date

Period
covered

Release
date

Period
covered

MLR table
num ber

Em ploym ent situation

January 5

D ecem ber

February 2

January

M arch 9

February

1; 4 - 2 0

February 7

4th quarter

M arch 6

4th quarter

Productivity and costs
U.S. Im port and Export

2; 3 9 -4 2

January 11

D ecem ber

February 15

January

March 15

February

3 4 -3 8

Producer Price Indexes

January 12

D ecem ber

February 16

January

March 16

February

2; 3 1 -3 3

Consum er Price indexes

January 17

D ecem b er

February 21

January

March 21

February

2; 2 8 -3 0

Real earnings

January 17

D ecem ber

February 21

January

March 21

February

14, 16

Em ploym ent Cost Indexes

January 25

4th quarter

Price Indexes


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1 -3 ; 2 1 -2 4