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MONTHLY LABOR
REVIEW
Volume 132, Number 6
June 2009
BLS at 125: using historic principles to track the 21st-century economy
The focus on objectivity, confidentiality, relevance, accuracy, and transparency has allowed
BLS to fulfill its mission and will continue to do so in the 21st century
William J. Wiatrowski
3
How shifting occupational composition has affected the real average wage
26
What do OES data have to say about increasing wage inequality?
39
Productivity trends in business cycles: a visual essay
50
Analyzing Occupational Employment Statistics survey data reveals how occupational
wage and employment changes have affected real average wage growth
Rebecca Keller
Occupational Employment Statistics survey data are used to measure changes in wage dispersion
and examine wage growth by occupational group, wage rate, skill level, and ties to technology
John I. Jones
Michael Chernousov, Susan E. Fleck, and John Glaser
Regional report
The prominence of Boston area colleges and universities
Denis M. McSweeney and Walter J. Marshall
Departments
Labor month in review
Book review
Précis
Current labor statistics
64
2
69
71
72
Editor-in-Chief: Michael D. Levi Executive Editor: William Parks II Managing Editor: Terry Schau Editors: Brian I. Baker,
Casey P. Homan Book Review Editor: James Titkemeyer Design and Layout: Catherine D. Bowman, Edith W. Peters Cover
Design: Bruce Boyd Contributor: Solidelle Wasser
Labor Month In Review
The June Review
BLS celebrates a birthday
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
is commemorating its 125th anniversary this month. Congress passed
legislation establishing the Bureau in
1884, and President Chester A. Arthur signed the bill into law on June
27 of that year. Carroll D. Wright,
the Bureau’s first Commissioner,
took office in January 1885. Keith
Hall, the current Commissioner of
Labor Statistics, is only the 13th
since the agency’s inception. BLS has
been part of the U.S. Department of
Labor since the Department was established in 1913. The Bureau today
has approximately 2,400 employees
in its National Office in Washington,
D.C., its 6 Regional Offices, and in
smaller offices around the country.
It employs economists, statisticians,
information technologists, and data
collectors, among other occupations.
As Monthly Labor Review readers
are aware, during its long tenure BLS
has been a leader in pioneering, refining, and disseminating critical measures of consumer and producer prices, employment and unemployment,
compensation and benefits, productivity, and workplace safety. BLS also
has long been a leader in producing
career guidance information and the
occupational projections upon which
it is based.
In the preparation of its data and
analyses, BLS adheres to widely recognized principles of objectivity and
impartiality, timeliness, relevance,
and transparency. The lead article in
this month’s Review, by Associate
Commissioner William J. Wiatrowski, uses those principles as a roadmap to examine significant events
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
and changes to BLS programs and
methods over the last quarter century,
since our 100th anniversary in 1984.
He notes that “Since its centennial,
the BLS has witnessed rapid growth
in technology, a movement towards
instantaneous news, the advent of online pundits with quick access to data,
and a constantly changing economy
that can be difficult to measure. Much
of what the Agency measured as
standard work characteristics a quarter century ago is no longer standard,
with such new phenomena as teleworking, medical savings accounts,
employee leasing arrangements, green
jobs, offshoring, and a host of others
challenging the traditional means of
measuring labor.”
125 YEARS
BLS
Change, in fact, has been a constant for the Bureau, as it has altered
its programs and functions many
times over the years to try and keep
up with appropriately measuring a
changing country and economy. In
its early days, prior to the creation
of many of the regulatory and mediation agencies we’re familiar with
today, BLS played a role sometimes
far beyond measurement. Commissioners Wright and Charles P. Neill
(appointed by President Theodore
Roosevelt) were essential in mediating many labor disputes; in fact, Neill
helped in settling around 60 railway
controversies. Because this work absorbed such enormous amounts of
time, Neill worked with Congress to
set up the Board of Mediation and
Conciliation, after which Commissioners of Labor Statistics were no
longer required to mediate labor disputes. Between 1908 and 1916, BLS
administered workmen’s compensation for Federal employees. Commissioner Royal Meeker (appointed by
President Woodrow Wilson) was instrumental in expanding the program
to cover all Federal workers and occupational diseases. He later worked
with Congress to establish a Board to
relieve BLS of this duty.
But the heart of the Bureau’s mission always has been the collection of
data and the preparation of descriptive and analytical summaries of the
findings. The employees of BLS have
striven to provide the public and
policymakers with the fullest possible understanding of labor markets
contemporary to their time. Commissioner Ethelbert Stewart (also a
Wilson appointee) said in 1918, “For
30 years, I have been struggling to put
some flesh upon the bony skeleton of
mere tabulation.” The analytical and
editorial staff at BLS, through the vehicle of Monthly Labor Review and
other publications, continues to happily engage in that struggle.
In today’s world of ever-heightening scrutiny over government data and
policy, it may be useful to remember
the words stated by Commissioner
Wright when speaking of the Bureau
near the end of his term (which concluded in January 1905): “It is only by
the fearless publication of the facts,
without regard to the influence those
facts may have upon any party’s position or any partisan’s views, that it can
justify its continued existence, and its
future usefulness will depend upon
the nonpartisan character of its personnel.” Words for a statistical agency
to live by, and ones the Bureau has
tried to adhere to for 125 years.
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
BLS at 125: using historic principles
to track the 21st-century economy
Relying on its core principles of objectivity, confidentiality,
relevance, accuracy, and transparency, as well as a core set
of disciplines—economics, statistics, information technology,
and behavioral science—the Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
has incorporated new labor phenomena arising over the past
quarter century into its repertoire of programs and services
William J. Wiatrowski
William J. Wiatrowski is Associate Commissioner, Office of Compensation and
Working Conditions, Bureau
of Labor Statistics.
T
he U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) used its centennial in 1984 as
“an opportunity to reflect on what we
can learn from history and a time to think
about emerging problems and their implications” for the future.1 At that time, it would
have been hard to imagine the growth and
change in the economy over just a quarter
century—and the growth and change at the
BLS designed to keep up with the changing
economy. Remarkably, some things that could
not have been imagined in 1984 are now
commonplace at the BLS: the use of the Internet for data collection and dissemination,
computers on every employee’s desk, staff
telecommuting, distance training via video
and computer, cognitive review to improve
the clarity and accuracy of BLS questionnaires
and publications, blogs and wikis, and more.
But all of these changes are needed to track
an economy that is increasingly global, lightning fast, and constantly being reinvented.
Gone are the days when the BLS counted
girdle manufacturers and stenographers. To
keep up with the world of satellite communications and nanotechnology, the Agency had
to reinvent itself.
The 100-year anniversary was marked with
the publication of a volume that traced the
growth of the BLS through the terms of 10
Commissioners.2 Although each Commissioner left his or her own mark, all supported
and expanded upon a core set of principles
to guide the organization and its work. An
additional quarter century may not deserve
another historic volume; rather, this article is
intended as an update of BLS activities over
the past 25 years. And while Commissioners
have come and gone, the guiding principles
remain, having been tested and strengthened.
This look back is organized not by time or by
program, but by those principles, which are
still relevant today. A brief introduction will
provide some context on how these principles
manifest themselves in today’s BLS.
What is the BLS?
Those not familiar with the BLS are nonetheless often aware of some of the key measures
and data that come from the Agency, including the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI),
the unemployment rate, and payroll employment figures. In fact, nearly every American
is affected by some BLS data, most notably
annual adjustments to Social Security payments and Federal income tax brackets, both
of which result from changes in the CPI. The
relative anonymity of the BLS is perhaps a
byproduct of its commitment to objectivity:
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
the statistics, not the agency that produces them, are the
story. And although the measures just cited are among the
most widely known, the BLS actually produces data from
about two dozen programs covering such topics as employment, prices, spending, compensation, workplace safety and
health, and productivity. These programs vary widely: some
are large while others are small, and some offer broad overviews of the economy while others are rich in detail. Exhibit
1 provides a look at the current programs of the BLS.
The BLS is the principal factfinding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and
statistics. As specified in its mission statement, the BLS
“collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential
statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress,
other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor.” 3
In the sections that follow, the principles that guide the
work of the BLS have been grouped into five categories that
describe the current focus of the Agency’s activities. Of
course, any such grouping is arbitrary, and other combinations might be as good or better at allowing readers to understand the tenets that go into producing high-quality labor
statistics. Similarly, the examples that accompany each principle often speak to multiple principles. Nor are the examples
exhaustive; other ones could easily have been substituted. The
intent, however, transcends the particular examples chosen:
to provide an illustration of the variety of challenges facing
the BLS in the 21st century and of how a set of principles
continues to guide the reactions to those challenges.
Objectivity, fairness, and impartiality
employment. The BLS frequently was asked whether the
declining employment figures meant that the U.S. economy was in a recession. In response, the BLS explained that
such a declaration was not within its purview. The official
declaration of a recession, as well as details of the specific
timing of the business cycle, is made by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), a nongovernmental
independent research organization.4 Data from the BLS
can inform the issue, however; for example, the BLS can
provide information from previous recessions on job losses and the amount of time that it took for employment to
recover to its prerecession peak.
Attempts to draw the BLS into policy issues invariably
come from external sources. For instance, Congress may
include language in legislation that requires the BLS to conduct certain policy-related analysis, and other Federal Government Agencies may request that the BLS be involved in
similar policy analysis. Such requests are turned down and
in many cases are transferred to the relevant policy Agencies
within the Department of Labor. (BLS statistical programs
often have a parallel policy and enforcement agency, such as
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the
Wage and Hour Division of the Employment Standards
Administration.) An example of the type of policy analysis
that frequently is requested of the BLS is an analysis of the
effect of increases in the minimum wage on employment.
Although the BLS may provide information on the number of workers earning at or below the minimum wage and
information on the characteristics of those workers, such
as their demographics and educational attainment, the BLS
does not predict the effect of changes to the minimum
wage.
Beyond avoiding policy discussions, the BLS often includes caveats about its data to caution readers against
drawing certain conclusions. For example, the following
caution appears in the BLS news release of data comparing
union and nonunion earnings:
The BLS is an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor, but
is also an “independent statistical agency,” meaning that it
is not involved in policy decisions. Although BLS data frequently are used by policymakers to formulate regulations,
enact legislation, and illuminate the outcomes of new policies, the staff who produce these data have no role in develThe difference [between union and nonunion
oping or enforcing policy. Underscoring this independence,
earnings]
reflects a variety of influences in addition
the BLS has but one political appointee: the Commissioner.
to
coverage
by a collective bargaining agreement,
Commissioners are nominated by the President, are conincluding
variations
in the distributions of union
firmed by the Senate, and serve fixed 4-year terms. Their
members and nonunion employees by occupation,
terms do not necessarily coincide with those of Presidents;
industry, firm size, or geographic region.5
for example, the current BLS Commissioner, Keith Hall,
was appointed by President George W. Bush and continues
A second example, from the annual Highlights of Womto serve under President Barack H. Obama.
en’s Earnings, is about differences in earnings between
Despite this independence, many individuals and or- men and women:
ganizations try to draw the BLS into the policy arena. An
In 2007, women who were full-time wage and salexample of this phenomenon occurred repeatedly during
ary
workers had median weekly earnings of $614, or
2008, as the Agency reported on reductions in payroll
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Exhibit 1. Statistical programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
Significant events
in past 25 years
BLS statistical program
Major outputs
Origins
American Time Use Survey
Annual and quarterly estimates
of how, where, and with whom
Americans aged 15 years and older spend their time
New program began in 2003;
first federally funded continuous
time-use survey in the United
States.
Only Federal survey providing
data on the full range of nonmarket activities, from childcare
to volunteering; the U.S. Department of Agriculture sponsored
secondary questions on eating
and general health in 2006–08.
Business Employment
Dynamics (BED)
Quarterly data series on gross job
gain (openings and expansions)
and gross job losses (closings and
contractions)
Data for the BED are generated
from the Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages (QCEW)
program; national data were first
published in 2003.
The following data series or expansions were added after 2003:
industry detail in 2004, size class
data in 2005, State data in 2007,
size-of-change data in 2008.
Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries (CFOI)
Annual counts and rates of workplace fatalities
New program began in 1992;
data previously captured as part
of injury survey.
Began in 1992; provided special
report on at-work fatalities as a
result of the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001; recently
introduced rates based on hours
worked.
Consumer Expenditure Survey
(CE)
Information on the buying habits
of American consumers, including average annual expenditures
and details by expense category
such as food, housing, health care,
and entertainment
Conducted periodically since
1888. As the independent Diary
and Interview surveys, continuously since 1980. To provide the
basis for revising the weights
and associated pricing samples
for the CPI and to provide timely
and detailed information on the
spending patterns of consumers.
Numerous data collection improvements, including the major transition to computer-assisted interviewing in 2003–04.
Variance data published starting
in 2000. Imputation of missing
income fields starting in 2004.
Sample redesigns in 1986, 1996,
and 2005.
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Price indexes; selected average
prices
Price indexes from 1913 forward
Introduced rental equivalence
in 1983; introduced geometric
mean formula in 1999; implemented biennial weight updates
in 2002; added the Chained
CPI-U in 2002.
Current Employment
Statistics (CES)
Employment, hours, and earnings for the Nation, States, and
metropolitan areas
The first monthly studies of employment and payrolls by BLS
began in 1915 and covered four
manufacturing industries. Several States were producing employment statistics prior to 1915.
In the early 1990s, the mail-based
CES program began a transition to
automated data collection methods. By 2006, nearly all collection
was done by automated techniques.
In June 2003, the BLS completed a
comprehensive sample redesign.
Prior to 2003, the survey utilized
a quota sample whose inception
in the 1940s predated the introduction of probability sampling
as the internationally recognized
standard for sample surveys. In
2006, BLS introduced hours and
earnings series for all employees,
to supplement the traditional
production and nonsupervisory
worker hours and earnings data.
(ATUS)
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
Exhibit 1. Continued—Statistical programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
BLS statistical program
Major outputs
Origins
Significant events
in past 25 years
Periodic supplemental surveys were
developed on a variety of topics,
including displaced workers (introduced in 1984), disabled veterans
(1985), home-based work and flexitime (1985), contingent and alternative work arrangements (1995), and
volunteering (2002). A significant
redesign of the survey was introduced in 1994, including computerization of the instrument, changes to
the questionnaire, and the availability
of new data. Survey questions on nativity (1995) and new race/ethnicity
categories (2003) were added. Special questions to identify Hurricane
Katrina evacuees were added to the
CPS from October 2005 to October
2006. Collection of monthly data on
persons with disabilities began in
2008.
Began publishing Career Guide to
Industries in 1992. Incorporated
offshoring analysis system into
projections process starting with
2004–14 projections.
Current Population Survey
(CPS)
Unemployment rate and demographic characteristics of the labor force
Monthly collection of the CPS
began in 1940 as a Work Projects
Administration project. Responsibility for the planning, analysis, and
publication of labor force statistics
from the CPS was transferred to
BLS in 1959.
Employment Projections
Long-term industry and occupation employment projections;
information for career planning
and for planning education or
training
First projections and career information published in 1949;
prepared on a biennial basis since
then.
Import and Export Price
Indexes
Prices indexes covering U.S. exports and imports of goods and
selected services
First series started in 1971. Full
coverage reached in 1983.
Industry Productivity
and Costs
Annual measures of labor productivity and unit labor costs for
detailed industries
International Labor
Comparisons
Annual and monthly data comparing the United States with more
than 30 countries on one or more
of the following measures: employment counts and unemployment
rates, productivity, hourly compensation costs, and Consumer Price
Indexes
Studies of output per hour in in- The number of industries covered by
dividual industries date back to labor productivity measures has more
the 1800s.
than tripled over the last 25 years.
Aggregation of detailed outputs was
improved in 1995 by introducing
value-weighted chained superlative
indexes in place of unit labor requirements weights. Labor compensation
and unit labor cost series were introduced in 1999. CPI research series
were incorporated in 2001 for deflating some industry receipts. Improvements were made to hours estimates
for nonproduction and supervisory
workers.
BLS has reported on foreign la- Regular publication of data combor developments and statistics paring compensation per hour for
since its earliest days; a program manufacturing workers began in
to develop internationally com- the 1990s, and country coverage
parable labor statistics began in has been expanded significantly in
the 1960s and was among the the 2000s. A chartbook on the infirst of its kind.
ternational labor situation was first
published in 1995; annual publication of the chartbook began in 2006.
Special studies have been completed
on labor underutilization, the family
and work, Mexico’s labor market, and
China’s manufacturing employment
and labor costs.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Shifted from quarterly to monthly
basis in 1989; in 2004, began switching from a mail survey to collecting
data via a Web-based application.
Exhibit 1. Continued—Statistical programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
Significant events
in past 25 years
BLS statistical program
Major outputs
Origins
International Technical
Cooperation
Provides technical assistance on labor statistics to economists, statisticians, and policymakers throughout
the world. Coordinates BLS participation in international cooperative
activities.
Carroll Wright, the first BLS Commissioner, strongly supported and
encouraged international cooperation activities. BLS international
technical assistance programs formally began as part of the Marshall
Plan to rebuild Europe and Japan
following World War II.
This program expanded during
the early 1990s to assist statistical agencies in new democracies
in eastern Europe. BLS activities
included sponsoring an international conference on statistical
needs of economies in transition.
Since 2001, demand to conduct
BLS technical assistance programs
overseas has grown. Today, BLS
staff conduct training programs
and serve as consultants under the
auspices of international organizations and direct foreign government sponsorship in countries
throughout the world.
Job Openings and Labor
Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
Monthly rates and levels of job openings; monthly and annual rates and
levels of hires, quits, layoffs, discharges,
and other separations
New program begun in 1999. Data
series starts with December 2000.
Program began collecting data in
2000. Began releasing monthly
data as a developmental series
in July 2002. Became official BLS
series in April 2004.
Local Area Unemployment
Statistics (LAUS)
Monthly and annual average estimates of the labor force, unemployment, and the unemployment
rate for nearly 7,300 areas that
geographically exhaust the United
States
Program was transferred to BLS
from another DOL agency in 1972.
The first stand-alone PC-based
estimating system was provided to States in 1983.
Modeling of estimates for States
was initiated in 1989, and two
newer generations of models have
been implemented since then. A
major redesign of the program
was completed in 2005.
Major Sector Productivity
and Costs
Quarterly and annual measures
of output per hour and unit labor
costs for the nonfarm business
sector and other sectors
Total private-sector labor productivity measures were first published in 1959; BLS switched to
the “business sector” in 1976.
Mass Layoff Statistics
(MLS)
Plant closings and mass layoffs
involving at least 50 people who
filed unemployment insurance
claims against an employer over
a 5–week period, for the Nation
and States, by detailed industry;
extended plant closings and layoffs lasting more than 30 days, by
State and detailed characteristics
of the layoff
After extensive consultation with
the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), in 1996 BLS switched
its business-sector output measures from the “income side” to
the “product side” of the National
Income and Product Accounts
and also based these measures on
BEA’s new “chain-type annual indexes.” These improvements have
reduced the number of revisions
to the series.
Program began in 1984 at the
direction of Congress. After the
program was terminated in December 1992, Congress restored
it in 1994.
Nationwide participation in the
MLS program in 1994. A standalone PC-based operating system
was provided to States in 1995. In
1996, the monthly news release
on all layoffs, regardless of duration, was introduced. In 2000, a
major program review involving
BLS, the Employment and Training Adminstration (ETA), and the
States was conducted. In 2004,
the collection of data on job losses
due to offshoring and outsourcing
was initiated.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
Exhibit 1.
Continued—Statistical programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
BLS statistical program
Major outputs
Origins
Multifactor Productivity
(Industry and Major Sector)
Annual measures for the private
business sector and selected industries. These measures expand
the list of inputs with which output is compared.
Multifactor productivity (MFP)
measures for private business were
first issued in 1983. This report
went a step beyond labor productivity analysis by accounting for
capital inputs as well as labor.
The first set of manufacturing MFP measures comparing
“sectoral output” (instead of
real value added) with inputs of
capital (C), labor, (L) energy (E),
non-energy materials (M), and
business services (all together
KLEMS) was published in 1987.
Estimates of the effects of the
education and experience of the
work force on private business
productivity were issued in 1993.
A set of KLEMS MFP measures
for nonmanufacturing industries was prepared and used to
critique the quality of available
real output measures in 1999. A
comprehensive set of MFP measures for detailed manufacturing
industries was introduced in
2000.
National Compensation
Survey (NCS), including
the Employment Cost Index
(ECI)
Quarterly rates of change in employer costs for wages and benefits;
quarterly employer costs for wages
and benefits; annual national, regional, and locality pay data by
occupation; annual data on the incidence and characteristics of employee
benefits
Studies of occupational wages in
specific industries were among the
earliest studies conducted by the
BLS; ad hoc studies of employee
benefits and workplace practices
were also conducted periodically.
After World War II, the need for
occupational wage data by locality and industry was recognized;
first sample of localities used to
represent all metropolitan areas
was introduced in 1960. Studies of
wage and benefit costs date to the
late 1950s; the current Employment Cost Index was introduced
in 1976. The current benefits program began in 1979.
Separate Employment Cost Index (ECI), occupational wage, and
employee benefit programs were
combined in the mid-1990s to
create the National Compensation Survey, which uses a single
sample, collection process, and
estimation methodology for all
outputs. In 2009, the first locality ECI estimates were published
for 14 large metropolitan areas.
Annual wage and benefit cost
levels were introduced in 1987;
quarterly data were introduced
in 2002. To meet the needs of
the 1990 Federal Employees Pay
Comparability Act, occupational
wage data expanded from initial
coverage for a fixed set of occupations to the current random
selection from all occupations.
Benefits data have expanded
over time to the current coverage of all private industry and
State and local governments.
National Longitudinal Survey Microdata from periodic interviews of a constant sample of
(NLS)
people regarding working, education, and other life experiences
Used by researchers in government and academia.
Significant events
in past 25 years
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Began in the mid–1960s with four A new cohort of youths aged
cohorts of individuals who were 12–16 years was started in 1997.
followed into the 2000s.
More than 2,000 articles using
NLS data have been written in
scholarly journals in the last 25
years.
Exhibit 1.
Continued—Statistical programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009
Significant events
in past 25 years
BLS statistical program
Major outputs
Origins
Occupational Employment
Statistics (OES)
Annual occupational employment
and wage data by geographical
area or industry
Initial data collection efforts be- National industry-specific occugan in late 1960s and early 1970s; pational employment estimates
national industry-specific occupa- developed in late 1980s, with each
tional employment estimates pub- industry available once every 3
lished since late 1980s; wage and years; in late 1990s, program exgeographical area data since late panded to include wage informa1990s.
tion, to cover all industries in each
year, and to produce national,
State, and local area cross-industry data.
Producer Price Index (PPI)
Family of indexes that measure
average change over time in selling prices received by domestic
producers of goods and services
Began in 1902 as Wholesale Price
Index and is oldest continuous
statistical series published by BLS.
Comprehensive overhaul in 1978
resulted in restructured Producer
Price Indexes.
Major expansion in coverage
of services (from less than 1
percent of services GDP in 1985
to more than 77 percent now);
added indexes for several types
of nonresidential building construction in 2002–08; conversion to use of broadcast fax for
mail surveys beginning in late
1990s.
Quarterly Census
of Employment and Wages
(QCEW)
Monthly employment and quarterly wages by detailed industry
and geography down to the county level
Economic and statistical responsibility for the QCEW program
(formerly known as ES–202) was
transferred to BLS from the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) in 1972. Full funding
and administrative responsibility
were transferred to BLS in 1984.
Worksite- and establishment-level
reporting was instituted in 1991–
92. The program began to geocode data at the establishment
level in 2003. The data review and
publication process was accelerated by 3 weeks in 2005.
Survey of Occupational
Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)
Annual counts and rates of workplace injuries and illnesses
Periodic data collection since Several external reviews in late
1910s; annual survey began in 1980s; significant program revi1973.
sions in early 1990s added demographics of injured workers
and characteristics of incident;
recent addition of rates by occupation and demographics.
about 80 percent of the $766 median for their male
counterparts. This ratio has grown since 1979. . .when
women earned about 62 percent as much as men. . . .
Readers should note that the comparisons of earnings
in this report are on a broad level and do not control
for many factors that can be significant in explaining
earnings differences.6
Because the statements that the BLS makes about its data
are limited to fact-based descriptions and analysis, journalists and commentators often go elsewhere to obtain policy
and political reactions.
Protecting confidentiality; reducing burden
Carroll D. Wright, the first Commissioner of Labor Statistics, defined the principles that are followed by the BLS
to this day. Among those principles were “firsthand data
collection, voluntary reporting and confidentiality of returns.” 7 Although the methods of data collection have
changed dramatically, the principles of voluntary reporting and confidentiality continue to be the focus for all BLS
data collection activities.8
The BLS and its regional offices, State agencies, and
contractors collect a wide range of data from employMonthly Labor Review • June 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
ers—data on employment, wages, compensation, prices,
and workplace safety and health—for input into two
dozen surveys and programs. In general, the BLS and its
partners enjoy good relationships with employers and obtain data from a large proportion of those surveyed. Still,
the relationship between the BLS and survey respondents
has changed considerably over the past 25 years, and the
Agency has had to take a number of steps to maintain and
improve the way it interacts with employers.
One of the biggest changes has been an explosion of
new technology, particularly in the area of communications. Today, data requested by the BLS often are available electronically, reducing the employer’s burden of
compiling data. Along with this expansion of electronic
records, however, comes heightened concern about security. Although the BLS has always pledged that employers’ data would remain confidential and would be used for
statistical purposes and only in the aggregate, the threat of
inadvertent disclosure of the data adds to the complexity
of maintaining confidentiality.
A major milestone in the 125-year history of the
BLS came in 2002 with the passage of the Confidential
Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act
(CIPSEA). This law provides statutory protection of data
collected by a Federal Agency under a pledge of confidentiality for exclusively statistical purposes (a principle
that is essential for gaining the cooperation of both employers and individuals). The law also allows the BLS, the
Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Census Bureau to
enter into data-sharing agreements to promote statistical
efficiency.9
In addition to exerting efforts to allay fears about data
security and confidentiality, the BLS has undertaken
many initiatives over the past quarter century to use technology and automation to make it easier for respondents
to provide data. Often, the efforts focus on methods that
work at the convenience of the employer. For example,
rather than having to schedule a visit or call from a BLS
representative at a particular time, employers frequently
can provide information at their convenience. (See box,
pages 11–12.)
The same individuals and organizations that provide
data to BLS frequently are users of BLS data as well. To
capitalize on these unique relationships, the BLS often
uses a “corporate” strategy to coordinate the collection of
data for multiple programs, thereby reducing the number of independent contacts with the employer. By understanding the full nature of the employer’s data needs,
the BLS can offer customized data products to meet those
needs—these days frequently provided over the Internet.
10
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Some BLS programs are administered in conjunction
with the States. The relationship between BLS and the
States has changed considerably over the past quarter century. Beginning in 1984, the BLS has been responsible for
the administration of agreements with the States for both
labor market information and safety and health statistics.
The BLS has full responsibility for planning, managing,
and funding all the Federal-State cooperative programs.
The Federal-State cooperative activities allow State
governments to leverage their existing relationships with
employers, which can assist in building cooperation. The
BLS and State representatives also work together through
the Workforce Information Council to improve State and
local data.10 Through these efforts and others, the availability of State and local labor market data has greatly
expanded over the past quarter century. For example, in
recent years the Current Employment Statistics (CES)
program has expanded the amount of seasonally adjusted
payroll employment data to the point that such data are
now available for all States and nearly all metropolitan
areas. In the same vein, the Local Area Unemployment
Statistics (LAUS) program provides monthly estimates of
employment and unemployment for 7,300 areas, including States, counties, and cities.
Employers responding to BLS data requests are remarkably generous with their time. This high degree of
voluntary cooperation stems from two sources: (1) the
high level of professionalism of the data collection staff
and (2) the great care the BLS takes to protect the confidentiality of the information that respondents furnish.
These partnerships with employers have been instrumental in maintaining consistently high response rates as well
as high-quality data.11 To maintain close relationships
with employers and partners within State governments,
the BLS realigned its regional offices in 1999. The streamlined regional structure (moving from eight to six regional
offices) provided greater flexibility for the BLS to meet the
needs of respondents and data users.
Relevance to economic and social conditions
The Act establishing the BLS (originally called the Bureau of Labor) within the Department of the Interior was
signed by President Chester A. Arthur on June 27, 1884,
and mandated that the Commissioner “shall collect information upon the subject of labor, its relation to capital,
the hours of labor, and the earnings of laboring men and
women, and the means of promoting their material, social,
intellectual, and moral prosperity.”12
Since its inception, the BLS has focused many of its
studies on current economic and social conditions. Early
studies “were broadly conceived and directed at social issues such as marriage and divorce, temperance, and laboring women and children, but, with periodic economic depressions and a growing industrial labor force, the Bureau
was called upon increasingly to deal with more strictly
economic issues such as wages, hours of work, prices, and
the cost of living.”13 These core economic topics—wages, employment, hours of work, and prices—along with
worker productivity and safety, continue to represent the
fundamental statistics produced by the BLS. But changing
economic and social conditions have led to an expansion
in the topics covered, such as employer-provided childcare, the price of cellular phone service, and the identification of green jobs. Even in just a 25-year period, there
are many examples of modifications in BLS programs and
outputs made in recognition of a changing world.
Classification systems. One method of providing consistent
data on a variety of topics is through the use of standard
classification systems. To categorize data, the BLS utilizes
several classification systems, some exclusively, others as a
result of collaboration within the U.S. Government statistical community, and still others as a result of agreements
with multiple countries.
Perhaps the most widely used of these systems among
all BLS programs is the industry classification system,
which has undergone radical changes over the past 25
years. Gone are separate categories for chewing-gum
manufacturers (now part of nonchocolate confectionary
manufacturing) and girdle manufacturers (now included
among manufacturers of lingerie and nightwear); added
are many new categories, often with a technological bent,
such as satellite telecommunications. Standardization of
industry classification in the United States began in the
1930s; early work soon became the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) system. The SIC was updated sporadically over 60 years, before rapid changes in the types of
Interaction with data providers in an electronic age
New technology calls for the development, testing, and
implementation of new methodologies. The explosion of the
capabilities of microcomputers and other telecommunication
features of the 1980s spawned experimentation and the largescale implementation of new methods for collecting data for
all BLS programs. The Current Employment Statistics (CES)
program has been especially at the forefront of electronic
collection efforts, driven in part by the rapid turnaround
time needed between collection and publication of monthly
payroll employment data. The CES program tested a number
of alternative data capture methods, including touch-tone
data entry and computer-assisted telephone interviewing.
The first touch-tone data entry and voice recognition technologies were included in new methods that substantially
increased response rates for CES data. An electronic data
interchange collection center opened in Chicago in 1995 to
handle electronic data submissions from large firms. Also,
the CES program implemented the first Internet collection in
an ongoing Federal survey in 1996. Indeed, what was once an
all-mail collection is now practically all collected by a costeffective array of telephone- and Internet-based methods.
And this work continues to evolve with technology and the
needs of respondents. The work has been copied, modified,
and designed to meet the specific needs of many programs in
the BLS and around the world.
The BLS Internet Data Collection Facility (IDCF) is a centralized resource currently available to all BLS programs for electronic
data collection. The IDCF uses a standard interface and security
protocol for users to enter the facility, so that respondents to multiple surveys will not need different logon IDs or passwords. Once
in the system, respondents may see different collection methods
or different entry screens, depending upon which survey they are
completing; however, applications adhere to design standards
that result in the same “look and feel.”
The IDCF contains two approaches to Internet data collection: standard and “lite.” Using the standard format, respondents may be able to see data from their establishment
from a prior period and can then enter current-period data.
Respondents can save incomplete information and return to
complete their entry at a later date. Alternatively, the “lite”
version, typically used for small amounts of data capture, has
a simpler logon procedure and does not show previous-period data. Respondents must enter all of their data during
one session, because data cannot be saved. The two versions
were designed to meet different needs: greater security, availability of data from a previous period, and multiple logons
for more complex requests (standard collection), compared
with simple logon and entry for simpler requests (“lite” data
collection). Both versions have been successful.
Like the CES program, the Survey of Occupational InjuMonthly Labor Review • June 2009 11
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
Continued—Interaction with data providers in an electronic age
ries and Illnesses (SOII) has had considerable success in moving its sample of more than 200,000 establishments toward
electronic collection. Depending upon an establishment’s injury and illness experience, data entry can be quite extensive.
In 2003, the survey began offering the Internet as an optional
data collection mode; included with the lengthy paper survey
form was a flyer describing how respondents could enter their
data over the Internet. That year, about 10,000 establishments
did so, and over the next 3 years Internet data collection grew,
despite limited marketing, to 53,000 establishments in 2006.
In an attempt to further encourage Internet collection, beginning in 2007 survey forms were eliminated from the mailing
sent to some establishments. As a result, Internet collection
ballooned: in 2008, almost 100,000 establishments used the
Internet to enter data. Beginning in 2009, nearly all establishments receive a short mailing requesting that data be entered
over the Internet.
One activity that has helped to test and improve the IDCF is
the use of “eye-tracking” technology (see photo below) through
the BLS cognitive laboratory. The technology can follow a
subject’s eyes as he or she looks at a computer screen and, in
particular, at a Web site. Changes to data collection screens,
domestic industries and increased globalization led the
United States, Mexico, and Canada to work together to
develop a standard classification across the three countries in 1997: the North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS).14 Nearly every BLS program has some
industry component, and all have converted to NAICS
12
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
especially as regards where and how instructions are presented,
were made on the basis of the results of eye-tracking tests.
The BLS also has attempted to expand the information
available to respondents, to make it clear how important their
continued cooperation is to all BLS programs. Over the past few
years, several BLS programs have added Internet pages targeted
specifically at respondents. These pages typically provide questions and answers about the survey, including answers such as
how establishments are selected and BLS procedures for maintaining the confidentiality of respondent data; definitions of,
and concepts having to do with, the data being collected; and
how respondents (and all employers) can use the results of data
collection. The BLS expanded upon these pages in 2006, testing
a new respondent page with detailed instructions for completing survey forms. Finally, as part of the 2008 Internet redesign,
BLS introduced a set of pages with information targeted at selected audiences, including a “Survey Respondents” page that
explains the importance of individual establishment responses
and highlights the confidentiality precautions that the Agency
takes. (See photo below.) The page has links to respondent information for many surveys, some of which have been updated
to expand upon earlier test pages for respondents.
over the past decade. The box on page 13 provides a brief
description of several classification systems: industries,
occupations, geographic areas, characteristics of worker
injuries and illnesses, and expenditures. Each system has
been updated over the past 25 years to keep pace with the
ever-changing economy.
BLS classification systems
Much of the data captured and published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics is categorized by a variety of classification systems. What follows is a brief description of some of the major
classification systems used for BLS data.
Industry: NAICS
Developed under a production-oriented conceptual framework
in cooperation with Canada and Mexico, the North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) represents one of the
most profound changes for statistical programs focusing on
emerging economic activities. NAICS groups establishments
into industries on the basis of the activity in which the establishments are primarily engaged. Establishments using similar
raw-material inputs, similar capital equipment, and similar labor are classified into the same industry. In other words, establishments that do similar things in similar ways are classified
together. (For more information on NAICS, which was introduced in 1997, see “North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS) at BLS” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 13,
2009), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm, visited
June 17, 2009.)
Occupation: SOC
The 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system
was developed in response to a growing need for a universal
occupational classification system. Such a system allows government agencies and private industry to produce comparable
data. Users of occupational data include government program
managers, industrial and labor relations practitioners, students
considering career training, jobseekers, vocational training
schools, and employers wishing to set salary scales or locate
a new plant. Used by Federal agencies collecting occupational
data, SOC provides a means of comparing occupational data
across agencies. Reflecting the current occupational structure
in the United States, the SOC system is designed to cover all
occupations in which work is performed for pay or profit. The
2000 SOC is the result of a cooperative effort on the part of all
Federal Agencies that use occupational classification systems
to maximize the usefulness of occupational information collected by the Federal Government. The BLS plays a leading role
in occupational classification by chairing the SOC Policy Committee, which is currently developing revisions to the system
that are to be implemented in 2010. (For more information
on SOC, see “Standard Occupational Classification” (Bureau of
Labor Statistics, no date), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/soc,
visited June 17, 2009.)
Geography: statistical areas
The
BLS
produces certain data series by State and by smaller
geographic divisions, including metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. These areas are defined by the U.S. Office
of Management and Budget and are revised following each
decennial census. The general concept of a metropolitan or
micropolitan statistical area is that of a core area containing
a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. Currently defined metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas are based on the application of 2000
standards to 2000 decennial census data. (For more information on definitions of geographic areas, see “Metropolitan and
Micropolitan Statistical Areas” (U.S. Census Bureau, no date),
on the Internet at www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/aboutmetro.html, visited June 17, 2009.)
Workplace injuries and illnesses: OIICS
The Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System
(OIICS) is the classification system that is used to code the
case characteristics of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the
BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and
Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Worker injuries, illnesses, and fatalities are classified by the following
characteristics: nature of injury or illness, part of body affected,
source (primary or secondary) of injury or illness, and event or
exposure. For example, a nurse sprains (nature) her back (part
of body) from overexertion in lifting (event) a health care patient (source). The OIICS was originally developed by the BLS
in 1992; other organizations have adopted this coding structure for their own use. The most recent update of the OIICS
was in 2007. (For more information on the characteristics
of workplace injuries and illnesses, see Injuries, Illnesses, and
Fatalities: Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, July 11, 2008), on the Internet at
www.bls.gov/iif/oshoiics.htm, visited June 17, 2009.)
Expenditures on goods and services
The BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) classify goods and services purchased for
consumption into several hundred categories, which are then
aggregated and published by major group, such as food, housing, apparel, transportation, health care, and recreation. While
the major groups are kept consistent over time, the classifications are updated as new or changed goods and services are
identified. (The CE information booklet Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Quarterly Interview Survey (Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Apr. 1, 2009), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/
cex/current/i_infobook.pdf, visited June 17, 2009, provides
more detail on the groupings of expenditures. The current CPI
structure is discussed in Appendix 3 of the December 1996
issue of the Monthly Labor Review.)
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 13
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
Employment data. Within the BLS employment programs, a major redesign of the Current Population Survey
(CPS)—the source of national unemployment data—was
implemented in 1994. The primary objective of the redesign was to improve the quality of the data derived from
the survey; this was done by introducing a new questionnaire and modernized data collection methods.15 The redesign had four main objectives:
• to adopt a computer-assisted interviewing environment,
• to measure the official labor force concepts more
precisely,
• to expand the amount of data available, and
• to implement several definitional changes.16
These changes led to the refinement of several alternative
measures of unemployment that have been available for
many years. Because of the redesign, the BLS now publishes six monthly measures of labor underutilization;
these measures gain considerable attention especially during periods of rising unemployment.17 One such measure
identifies those individuals who presently are working
part time although they would prefer to work full time.
Chart 1 shows the trend in each of the different measures
of unemployment over the past several years.
In addition to refining its statistics, the BLS has expanded its employment statistics programs considerably
over the past 25 years. Among surveys of households, the
American Time Use Survey released its first-ever estimates
in 2004 and the National Longitudinal Survey introduced
a new survey of youth in 1997. Together, these programs
provide a valuable look into the worklife and related economic and social activities of Americans, offering insight
into work-family issues, changes in training requirements
for the labor force, and the expansion of technology at
work and at home. More recently, new data from the CPS
on the employment status of individuals with disabilities
were introduced in 2009.
From surveys of employers, the BLS added the Job
Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and began publishing Business Establishment Dynamics data from the
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. These programs help data users understand the underlying ebbs and
flows in the labor market that might otherwise be masked
by broader measures of employment and unemployment.18
In addition, the CES program was redesigned to improve
statistical precision and broaden coverage to all workers,
while the Occupational Employment Statistics program
added to its publication of occupational staffing patterns
Chart 1. Alternative measures of labor underutilization, seasonally adjusted, 1994–2009
Percent
18
16
14
12
Percent
U-1: Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force
U-2: Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force
U-3: Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (official unemployment rate)
U-4: Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers
U-5: Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other marginally attached workers, as a percent of the civilian
labor force plus all marginally attached workers
U-6: Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers
10
U–5
6
4
U–4
12
6
4
U–2
2
Jan 1994
14
8
U–3
0
16
10
U–6
8
18
2
U–1
Jan 1997
0
Jan 2000 Jan 2003 Jan 2006
NOTE: Shaded areas represent recessions as determined by the
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet deter14 Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Jan 2009
mined an endpoint for the recession that began in December 2007.
SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.
by including wages associated with those occupations. The
Employment Projections program improved data on occupations and training requirements, while the Mass Layoff Statistics program added data on job losses associated
with offshoring and outsourcing.
Compensation data. The past quarter century has yielded
a considerable number of changes in the type (and magnitude) of worker compensation; the BLS has made every attempt to track those changes. Employer costs for benefits
have more than doubled from $3.58 per hour worked in
1986 to $7.98 per hour worked in 2008. As a percentage
of total employer compensation costs, however, benefits
in private industry have been relatively stable: 27 percent
of compensation costs in 1986 and 29 percent in 2008.19
The benefits available have become more varied and more
complex, and the responsibility for understanding and
taking full advantage of benefit programs has shifted considerably from employers to employees. For example, in
the early 1980s, traditional pension plans were quite prevalent; by 2008, such guaranteed plans had largely disappeared for private-sector workers. In their place are 401(k)
and similar plans, often requiring workers to contribute
in order to receive any contributions from their employer.
The shift in retirement plans has had added complexities
over the past 25 years, including the introduction of hybrid plans and employer activities that either canceled or
froze existing plans. To provide data on each of these topics, the BLS has made numerous revisions to its benefits
program in recent years.20 Policymakers use BLS benefits
data to determine the need for changes to social programs
and tax structures, among other things.
Workplace health care benefits have changed as well.
As the BLS celebrated its centennial in 1984, health insurance plans—often employer-paid “basic” benefits plus
“major medical”—were just beginning to change. Health
care inflation was high in the 1980s (see charts 2 and 3),
one of several factors that may have led employers to begin
a series of changes to the benefits they provide. Legislative changes also influenced what employers were offering.21 First came health maintenance organizations, then
preferred provider organizations, followed by point-ofservice plans, and, finally, consumer-driven health care.22
Employee premiums and employees’ share of total premiums grew, as did out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and copayments. One overarching theme of these
changes has been the introduction of more choice and
more responsibility for employees. Both of these features
are evident in new arrangements such as medical savings
plans and health reimbursement accounts. Benefits data
from the BLS National Compensation Survey have been
expanded and redefined over time to keep up with these
and other changes in employee benefits.
Beyond changes in retirement and health benefits, employees at the end of the first decade of the 2000s have access to such benefits as childcare assistance, parental leave,
long-term care insurance, and financial counseling. Employers are establishing employee assistance and wellness
programs to care for the well-being of their workforces.
In addition, the traditional notion of the workday is no
longer as rigid as it once was, with telework arrangements
gaining considerable attention. The BLS reports on the
percentage of workers who have these workplace options.
Price data. The BLS has produced data on prices and
expenditures—consumer prices, producer prices, import
and export prices, and consumer expenditures—for much
of its history. Originally focused on the cost of living for
U.S. workers, today’s data expand upon that concept to
provide broader measures of inflation, price levels, and
expenditure patterns. The CPI is used to adjust billions of
dollars in Federal payments and programs, including annual adjustments to Social Security benefits and income
tax brackets. Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) data are
used to adjust the standard sales tax amounts that can be
deducted from Federal income taxes. CPI and Producer
Price Index (PPI) data also are used as escalators in wage
and price contracts, and PPI data are used as well to deflate a variety of economic time series, such as measures
of inventories and sales, that are input into gross domestic
product (GDP) calculations.
The wide use of BLS price measures and the large sums
of money that are dependent upon such measures demand
that they be precise and up to date. Several enhancements
have occurred over the past quarter century to improve the
accuracy of these data and maintain their relevance. In the
CPI, expenditure weights, which are derived from patterns
captured in the CE, are now updated every 2 years, rather
than the less frequent updates that occurred prior to 2002.
By updating the CPI market basket of goods and services
used to construct the index, as well as the weights associated with those goods and services, the CPI improves its
measurement of price changes for current U.S. consumers.
For example, computing services represented 0.2 percent
of the CPI market basket of goods and services in 1984; a
quarter century later, such services have increased to 0.9
percent of the market basket—a fourfold increase reflecting their increased prevalence in the lives of Americans.
The PPI has made significant progress toward its goal of
expanding coverage of the U.S. economy. In 1985, only 1
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 15
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
percent of services, as measured by the GDP, was covered
by the PPI; currently, 77 percent of services are included
in the PPI, reflecting the growth in service industries in
the Nation’s economy. The PPI has been recognized for the
development of innovative measures in health care and
nonresidential buildings and specialty trades.
Other BLS data. Over the last 25 years, the BLS has improved the relevance of its productivity measures for the
domestic economy in a number of ways: by improving
consistency with the GDP National Accounts at the major
sector and subsector level, by conducting research into factors affecting productivity, by expanding coverage of industry productivity, and by incorporating broader measures
of multifactor productivity for industries as well as major
sectors. As a result of improvements to the BLS productivity series and expanded visibility of these data, several
countries, including Canada, Australia, and the European
Union, have started producing multifactor productivity
measures in the past few years, adopting approaches first
used by the BLS.23
The BLS international labor comparisons program began in the 1960s, with comparisons of unemployment and
productivity for a few major industrial countries. In the
past 25 years, the program has maintained its relevance
by expanding coverage of both indicators and countries.
The main indicator added was international comparisons
of manufacturing compensation costs, an important measure of competitiveness in tandem with productivity. With
globalization, the needs of policymakers for comparative
data on developing countries increased. The BLS met those
needs by instituting studies of Mexico, China, India, and
other countries that are of growing importance in international trade. In particular, the work on Mexico has been
useful to those analyzing the labor market impact of the
North American Free Trade Agreement.24 The work on
China and India has focused on hourly compensation and
employment in manufacturing.
For some statistical measures, maintaining relevance
comes from added detail. In the case of data on worker
safety and health, the BLS changed its focus in the early
1990s in order to capture both the demographics of
workers who are injured, taken ill, or killed and the circumstances that affected the individual. Today, not only
are the available statistics on worker safety and health detailed and extensive, but some items added over the past
quarter century highlight a variety of current workplace
safety concerns:
Chart 2. Employment Cost Index, 12-month change, private industry, cost of total benefits and cost of health
benefits, 1982–2009
Percent
26
Percent
26
22
22
18
18
14
14
Health benefits
10
10
6
6
Total benefits
2
–2
1982
2
1985
16 Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
–2
2009
Chart 3.
Growth in CPI-U and CPI-medical care, 1984–2008, not seasonally adjusted
Index
(1984 = 100)
Index
(1984 = 100)
350
350
300
300
250
250
200
150
200
CPI-U
CPI–medical care
150
100
100
50
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
• Identification of workers with musculoskeletal
disorders;
• Identification of categories of perpetrators in workplace homicide cases, including family members,
customers or clients, and robbers;
• Identification of the time of the incident and the
length of time the employee had been at work when
a workplace injury occurred;
• Identification of fatally injured Hispanic workers as
either native or foreign born.
Reacting to unique circumstances. Although the BLS
attempts to keep track of changes to the economy and
seeks to anticipate the need to refine its programs, unforeseen circumstances can occur that require quick
reaction. Two examples over the past quarter century
are the terrorist attacks in September 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Both events stressed
the BLS systems for capturing current and accurate
data; both also resulted in the release of new or different outputs to reflect the specific economic condition.
To ensure that statistics were reported accurately and
completely, the BLS quickly introduced new procedures
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
50
and collection methods for identifying the operational
status of businesses while minimizing disruption to
respondents.
The 2001 terrorist attacks led to the special publication of workplace fatality data on individuals who were in
“work status” when they were killed in the attacks. Among
those included were office workers at the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon, business travelers on each of
the airplanes that were hijacked, and rescue workers killed
in their attempt to save victims. Of the workers who were
fatally injured as a result of the terrorist attacks, 80 percent were working in an office building, 14 percent were
involved in rescue efforts, and the remainder were airline
passengers.25
Soon after Hurricane Katrina hit, the monthly CES
program modified its procedures in recognition of the fact
that many employers in heavily affected areas were likely
to be temporarily or permanently out of business. Further,
the BLS provided estimates of the effect of the hurricane
on national payroll employment: the loss of 35,000 jobs
in September 2005 was in stark contrast to the average
monthly gain of 194,000 over the previous 12 months.26
Finally, special questions were added to the CPS to identify individuals displaced by the hurricane.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 17
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
The BLS released new Internet pages that showed the
number of employees and business establishments in the
counties that had been declared a disaster area following
Hurricane Katrina. This feature of the Internet site was
one of the first examples of “quick response” capabilities
that the BLS has built; other examples have included special information on workplace fatalities related to mine
cave-ins and crane collapses, employment effects of floods
and hurricanes, and information on employment trends in
finance, automotive, and other industries in the news.
Improved accuracy and timeliness
There are many examples of successful, ongoing efforts
to improve the accuracy of BLS outputs. What these efforts frequently have in common is both the input of staff
from many different disciplines to develop the best possible product and the advice of data users and other external experts. The BLS employs economists, statisticians,
information technology specialists, behavioral scientists,
program analysts, financial management specialists, and
practitioners of many other disciplines; the Agency is
organized by subject (employment, prices, compensation,
and productivity), but also by areas of expertise (technology, data collection, publications, statistical methods, and
administration). Professionals from each of these disciplines work together to build consensus around the best
possible products.
High-quality methodology and research at the BLS
flow from sustained and carefully focused long-term
investments. An example of such an investment comes
from 1988, when Commissioner Janet Norwood secured
funding for laboratory-based research to improve survey
measurement, leading to the integration of behavioral science theories and methods within the statistical sciences.
Early work in the behavioral science research laboratory,
also known as the cognitive laboratory, used the theories
and methods of cognitive science to investigate accuracy,
timeliness, and response burden by evaluating the effects
of alternative wording and ordering of questions, variations in the design and structure of questionnaires, the
mode of data collection on the quality of survey data, and
the accuracy and timeliness of survey responses. BLS laboratory research has since expanded to all aspects of data
collection, including interviewer training, computer-assisted interviewing technology, data processing, and areas
outside of data collection, such as the dissemination of
data and customer satisfaction. In another example, economic research units associated with each BLS program
provide both expertise in program development and inde18 Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
pendent research.
One example in which the cognitive laboratory has
had a valuable and ongoing impact on BLS operations
is its review of the BLS Internet Data Collection Facility, which supports Web-based data collection for several
BLS programs. Since its inception and throughout several
iterations, the facility has gone through cognitive usability
testing, designed to identify how respondents will react
to data collection screens and how best to design those
screens to get the desired data from respondents. Recent
tests have included high-technology eye-tracking software that follows a user’s eye as he or she reads an Internet
screen and enters information. Such testing has optimized
the user experience when reporting data and furthered the
BLS mission of providing timely and accurate data.
In the area of statistical methods, the BLS also has
invested in research activities designed to improve the
accuracy and statistical soundness of various of its programs. Projects such as the conversion of the CES survey
to a probability sample and improvements to seasonal
adjustment techniques for many BLS programs come
directly from this research. The Local Area Unemployment Statistics program, the first BLS program to use a
model-based approach to estimation, incorporates regular
updates to the modeling process.
Through both formal and informal means, the BLS
reaches out beyond its borders to obtain input from
many users. At present, the Agency has two formal
advisory groups: the Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee (FESAC) and the Data Users Advisory
Committee (DUAC). FESAC is a joint effort among the
BLS, the Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic
Analysis. FESAC members are generally from academic
institutions and have backgrounds in economics, statistics, behavioral science, and related disciplines. The
group meets with senior staff from the three statistical
agencies; the agenda typically includes presentations on
topics of interest across the agencies, such as inputs into
the GDP accounts, statistical methods, and changes to
industry or occupational classifications. The sessions include time for discussing ongoing research by the academicians, who often partner with Agency staff on projects
of mutual interest. FESAC has been active since 1999,
and the input of the various experts has led to improvements in the American Time Use Survey and in the PPI,
among other BLS programs.
The DUAC is a recently formed advisory committee
that replaces two longstanding committees: the Labor
Research Advisory Committee (LRAC) and the Business
Research Advisory Committee (BRAC). Both LRAC and
provided valuable input for nearly 60 years. The
change in the advisory committee structure was designed
to take the best aspects of those two groups and combine
and expand participation to include a wide range of data
users. DUAC’s mission is as follows:
BRAC
• To bring together data users from various sectors of
the U.S. economy, including the labor, business, research, academic, and government communities;
• To engage in a dialogue on technical matters related
to the collection, tabulation, and analysis of BLS statistics, on the Agency’s published reports, on its data
dissemination methods, and on the broader aspects of
the overall BLS mission and function.
Other external inputs that help the BLS improve the accuracy of its statistics include formal and informal conversations with a wide variety of stakeholders. Many BLS
programs that are administered in cooperation with the
States have policy and advisory groups that provide a forum for State input into program operations and development. Field economists who collect data from employers
often report on changes in economic conditions or new
employer practices that might be ripe for future survey
collection or tabulation. Individual programs participate
in conferences and trade shows to encourage respondent
participation in BLS surveys and to publicize BLS data.
Through these interactions with stakeholders, the BLS
gains valuable insight into the labor force and identifies
potential improvements in survey programs.
Following delays in the implementation of a largescale revision in the PPI, the BLS established several
internal review processes. Programs identify “missioncritical projects” that are monitored more carefully by
experts throughout the Agency. As a requirement of
monitoring, large and highly visible projects must include detailed plans and written cross-organizational
implementation strategies. These activities follow strict
project management procedures to help ensure their success. In recent years, the BLS has developed several new
measures under strict project management guidelines.
Among these measures are employment cost indexes for
14 large metropolitan areas and rates of workplace injury
and illness by occupation and demographic characteristics. The BLS continues to identify a half dozen or more
mission-critical projects each year and has expanded its
project management skills to help ensure the success of
these projects.
More broadly, the BLS has implemented a rotating series
of reviews of each of its statistical programs in order to pro-
vide multidisciplinary input to managers on program objectives and processes. These reviews focus on a number of
aspects of a statistical program: what is being measured and
what should be measured, proper planning, program operations, the use of information technology, program outputs
and outreach efforts, and financial management. Although
such reviews, which are being expanded to include input
from external stakeholders, may not identify a large-scale
problem that was unknown to program management, they
have helped programs to develop long-run strategic plans
that identify multiple improvements to be tackled over
time. The inclusion of experts from various BLS programs
and offices on the review teams helps to break down barriers and share best practices across the Agency.
Two aspects of the development of accurate estimates
from statistical samples that are a constant challenge for
the BLS (and, indeed, for any statistical organization) are
variance and bias. Variance is a measure of the variability
in estimates that can be attributed to random variability
of the sampling and measurement process. Typically, the
closer the sample size is to the size of the population, the
lower is the variance. The BLS works to reduce variance
by refining the sources of its samples, adjusting sampling
sizes, and improving the allocation of the sample across
certain variables, such as industry or geography. In recent
years, these types of changes have resulted in lower variance estimates in a number of surveys.
Bias arises when the sample is not representative of the
population being studied or when the data collection process results in systematic distortions. For example, if a large
proportion of incomplete data in a particular survey came
from one industry, the results of the survey might have
a particular bias related to that industry. Similarly, if the
misunderstanding of certain questions will lead to underreporting or overreporting of some expenditure, then the
overall estimated mean expenditure may be biased. Improvements in sampling and estimation techniques, as well
as in the data collection process, can help to reduce bias.
Over the past quarter century, BLS activities related to
the measurement of variance and bias have included the
following:
• Adding a measurement of statistical bias, as was done
in the International Price Program;
• Increasing the quantity of published variance data,
such as data on employee benefits;
• Conducting an analysis of nonresponse bias for the
CES program;
• Implementing formal quality assurance processes,
such as that for the Survey of Occupational Injuries
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 19
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
and Illnesses;
• Standardizing collection processes and procedures, as
was done in the Mass Layoff Statistics and Occupational Employment Statistics programs;
• Improving nonresponse follow-up procedures, such
as call scheduling in the American Time Use Survey;
• Improving the design and wording of forms, as was
done for the CES; and
• Computerizing the survey collection instrument, as
was done for the CPS.
tions, expanded subscription capabilities, and improved
educational materials.
Insistence on transparency and candor
A BLS tradition that dates to the first annual report of
Commissioner Caroll Wright in March 1886 is the inclusion of information about the methods employed in the
development, collection, and tabulation of data.27 Today,
information on definitions, methodology, and limitations
of the data can be found in tables and charts, as well as in
technical notes that accompany most releases of data. The
reason for such transparency is to make readers aware of
the known limitations of the data, to guide them in the appropriate use of the information, and to assure them that
proper statistical standards and techniques have been used.
A comprehensive compilation of this technical material is
available in the BLS Handbook of Methods. The Handbook,
with chapters on each of the BLS programs, was published
as a bound volume up until the end of the last century; it
is now available online. One advantage of developing an
online version of the Handbook is to allow more frequent
updating. At present, each chapter is updated whenever
methodologies change.28
Among the types of information available to data users in the Handbook and elsewhere are response rates and
variance estimates for survey data. Most BLS survey data
are collected from employers, and most responses to requests for such data are voluntary. Although the response
rate is often quite good, nonresponse can result in a decline in the quality of the data. The BLS publishes detailed
statistics on response rates for its surveys. For example, the
following tabulation indicates that the 2008 CPI included
data from 84.5 percent of all items for which prices were
sought, ranging from 53.6 percent of apparel prices to
more than 91 percent of prices for food and beverages and
for other goods and services:29
The rapid pace of technology change has allowed the BLS
to implement numerous improvements in survey collection, processing, and dissemination techniques, among
other things, but technological improvements have had
some negative effects as well. Twice in the late 1990s, the
BLS released key economic data on its Internet site ahead
of the designated release time. These errors led to the
implementation of strict human and technological procedures to guard against early release, including processes
that involve the use of the Navy’s atomic clock to ensure
accurate release times.
Improved collection and processing techniques (such as
Internet collection and high-speed data processing) have
resulted in more timely releases of data. In addition, the
greatly expanded use of technology in data dissemination
has helped transmit data to users more quickly. These improvements are most noticeable in the rapid adoption of
the Internet for data dissemination. In January 1994, the
BLS went live with an Internet presence—one of the first
Federal Agencies to take advantage of this medium. Since
that time, the Web has become the Agency’s primary and
most heavily used data dissemination mechanism. (See
box, pages 21–22.)
The BLS gathers customer feedback on its Web products and uses that feedback to improve public access to
data. Such feedback was key to major Web site redesigns
CPI component
Response rate
that occurred in 2001 and again in 2008, including multiTotal............................................................
84.5
ple iterations of empirical usability testing involving repFood and beverages......... ................................ 91.4
resentative end users (researchers, journalists, librarians,
Housing............................................................ 89.9
students, economic analysts, and others). In the process,
Apparel............................................................. 53.6
Transportation..................................................
90.5
the BLS incorporated lessons learned from ongoing site
Medical
care.....................................................
75.9
operation. The Agency’s current Web site highlights new
Recreation........................................................ 84.5
content every business day and provides expanded search
Education and communication. ...................... 82.8
and query capabilities. Future plans include developing
Other goods and services.................................. 91.7
interactive graphics, including charts, maps, and other
data visualizations, to make it easier to understand large
Beyond the regular publication of information on
data sets. Also under investigation are improved site and methodology, BLS statistical programs are often the subdatabase search tools, more cross-program data compila- ject of external reviews, some initiated by the Agency it20
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Development of the BLS Internet
The Internet has been the focus of much of the change
that has occurred at the BLS in the last quarter century—and
specifically, since the first BLS Internet site was launched in
1995. This initial foray onto the Web was inwardly focused,
as pages were organized on the Internet in much the same
way that BLS offices were organized. The first BLS Internet
homepage was a grid of nine boxes (see photo below), and
as users navigated beyond those boxes, they found the formal
name of the Office that developed certain statistics. Users who
were looking for data on workplace fatalities had to know that
such data were produced in the Office of Compensation and
Working Conditions. Select that box, and you might find the
data you want; select another box, and you were lost.
As the data available on the BLS Web site accumulated,
so did the Agency’s interest in providing a better interface to
help serve customers. That interface, which debuted in October 2001, attempted to organize data by topic, rather than
by office. (See photo, next column.) As the Internet evolved,
the new design presented some challenges for users. First,
the theory behind the design was to provide users with a link
from the homepage to anything they might want, so the page
contained more than 100 links and could be overwhelming to
the uninitiated. Second, the titles of the links often related to
internal BLS program names or used other jargon, so getting
where the user wanted to go still was nonintuitive.
But in some sense, problems with the interface no longer
mattered, because users were not getting to BLS data by visiting
www.bls.gov. Rather, the advent of the Internet search engine
meant that users were searching for their topic of interest; with
luck, the search results provided a link to the appropriate BLS
Internet page. For example, if you were to enter “workplace fatality statistics” into Google, the BLS homepage would appear
as the third choice, although the first two choices would take
you to the same BLS statistics on the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration Web site.
The BLS changed its Internet homepage again in 2008, this
time reducing the number of links on the page, adding fresh
content up front each business day, and identifying resources
that users might need. (See photo, next page.) The goal of the
homepage has changed from providing a link to everything
available from the Agency to providing highlights of the latest data available. The goal of the new homepage is to get
users accustomed to coming back to it again and again for
BLS information, rather than coming upon such information
through a search engine or from a secondary source.
As the BLS Internet site has evolved, Web activity has expanded greatly. In 1995, the first year of its operation, the BLS
Web site averaged 70,000 hits per month; in June 2008, the
figure was 30 million hits. The pattern of use varies throughout the year and has remained consistent for many years. The
heaviest usage is generally in the fall and spring, corresponding with the academic year. Usage typically declines during
the summer. In addition, spikes in usage often coincide with
the release of new data, such as the release of employment
projection data every other November.
Finally, the BLS has begun to add material on its Internet
2001
1995
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 21
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
Continued—Development of the BLS Internet
site that focuses on broad economic themes, moving away
from the program focus that has dominated the site since its
inception. The new Web site includes spotlights on timely
topics, such as older workers and African-American History
Month, with data from a number of BLS programs. Special
pages also are available that demonstrate how the BLS can
serve various constituents, such as jobseekers, investors, policymakers, journalists, and students. With fresh content now
available on the homepage each business day, and with new
features such as audio, video, so-called really simple syndication (RSS) Web feed format, and podcasts, more than ever do
users have a single portal for labor statistics.
2008
self, others initiated externally. Over the past quarter century, standards for the operation of statistical surveys have
evolved, and in 2006 the Federal Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) updated and compiled those standards
into a single volume.30 Topics included in the standards
are as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Development of concepts, methods, and design
Collection of data
Processing and editing of data
Production of estimates and projections
Data analysis
Review procedures
Dissemination of information products
Reviews of the survey process are a regular part of the
business of producing government statistics. The OMB reviews all requests to collect statistical data; approval for
such collection must be obtained periodically, at which
time the OMB reviews each program for compliance with
standards, as well as for relevance and potential duplication with other Federal data collection efforts. Certain
major statistical programs receive an additional periodic
22
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
review from the OMB to ensure sound statistical practices.
Reviews also are performed from time to time by the
Government Accountability Office and the Department
of Labor’s Office of Inspector General; not infrequently,
these topic-based reviews result in recommendations to
improve survey processes.
Although many reviews of BLS programs result in recommendations for improvement, some reviews conducted
by the aforementioned organizations and others receive
considerable public attention or recommend sweeping
changes. A few examples from the past quarter century
illustrate the breadth of these inquiries and the effect they
can have on the data being produced.
In one example, as a result of the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970 the BLS developed an ongoing
program to capture and report data on workplace injuries,
illnesses, and fatalities. This data collection effort concentrated on broad estimates of the number and rate of
workplace injuries, but included little detailed information (such as the occupation or demographics of injured
workers or details of the injury). Further, a sample survey
was used to capture information on workplace fatalities,
an effort that proved inadequate for the collection of rare
events. Criticism of the BLS occupational safety and health
statistics in the mid-1980s led the Agency to request the
National Academy of Sciences to convene an expert panel
to review data on workplace safety and health. The panel’s
exhaustive study resulted in recommendations for major
changes to the program, including the collection of data on
the characteristics of injured workers and on the circumstances surrounding their injuries, as well as the introduction of a census format to capture all fatal work injuries.
The BLS implemented these changes in the early 1990s.31
In another, perhaps more well known example, the work
of the U.S. Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer
Price Index (known more commonly as the Boskin Commission), which took place in the mid-1990s, confirmed
internal BLS research that had identified issues with the
index that were thought to result in overestimates of price
increases, which in turn led to increases in the cost of Social Security, among other things. The BLS responded to
these issues not only by introducing a number of changes
to the CPI over the last decade, but also by publishing a
number of reports on progress toward the implementation and on the effect of the changes.32
Even without the impetus of outside reviews, the
BLS strives to address questions and concerns about
its statistics and implement changes where warranted.
A few current examples demonstrate how the BLS has
acknowledged criticisms of its data and provided clarification. In the area of employment statistics, data users
have expressed concerns about differences between two
surveys that provide similar information. The CES survey
is a survey of employers that reports on the number of
employees on the employers’ payrolls each month. The
CPS is a survey of households that reports on the number of individuals holding jobs, as well as the number
and rate of unemployed persons. The employment levels
reported by the CES and the CPS can differ, as can the
direction and magnitude of the change in employment
from month to month. The simple reason for such apparent discrepancies is that the surveys are measuring two
different things: jobs and workers, respectively. Differences between the two kinds of estimate can result from
individuals holding multiple jobs or from differences in
the scope of the workers covered. The BLS provides considerable information to help data users understand this
issue. For example, each monthly employment release
includes a selection of frequently asked questions, the
first of which relates to the different estimates provided
by the two programs.33
In another example, with increased attention to the
monthly payroll employment data from the CES program,
the methodology used to account for newly formed businesses, known as the “birth-death model,” has generated
interest among data users. Again, the BLS has taken actions to help users understand the issue, providing considerable detail about the model on its Internet site and
in publications.34
Finally, the BLS recently published two articles designed
to assist data users in understanding controversies that had
arisen concerning certain BLS statistics. Such proactive acknowledgement of external criticisms is not new, but in a
world of fast-paced information, the BLS is still learning
how to address criticisms in a timely manner. A Monthly
Labor Review article designed to identify and dispel myths
about the CPI includes the following passage:
Within the past several years, commentary on the
CPI...has not been concentrated in a single profession, academic discipline, or political group, but
comes instead from an array of investment advisers,
bloggers, magazine writers, and others in the popular press....This article is an attempt to correct some
of the misunderstandings underlying those criticisms.35
In the same issue of the Review, an article addressing allegations that the BLS undercounts workplace injuries and
illnesses includes the following rejoinder:
The BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII or Survey) has come under criticism for
undercounting the number of injury and illness incidents in the workplace....This article summarizes
and critiques some of these studies and describes
BLS efforts to better understand and address the
undercount issue.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics...has instituted a
number of activities to understand and, where possible, address the issue. First, in 2007 BLS conducted
a quality assurance survey....Second, BLS is extending the scope of SOII to include all public-sector
workers....Third, BLS has instituted a program of
research....Fourth, BLS is undertaking focused interviews of employers to learn about decisions made
to report injuries and illnesses on OSHA logs and to
other data systems. Finally, BLS is exploring partnerships with other organizations, including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
to research the use of alternative data sources to
complement the data available from SOII.36
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 23
Bureau of Labor Statistics at 125
The BLS is no stranger to controversy, and such criticisms are not unique to the last quarter century. Earlier
controversies were similar in nature, expressing concerns
about the accuracy of, and political influence on, statistics.
What is different today is the rapid pace of news and the
widespread nature of public commentary, often on the
Internet. The BLS will continue to address these issues as
they arise.
Looking forward
Since its centennial, the BLS has witnessed rapid growth in
technology, a movement toward instantaneous news, the
advent of online pundits with quick access to data, and a
constantly changing economy that can be difficult to measure. Much of what the Agency measured as standard work
characteristics a quarter century ago is no longer standard,
with such new phenomena as teleworking, medical savings accounts, employee leasing arrangements, green jobs,
offshoring, and a host of others challenging the traditional
means of measuring labor. The BLS has moved at different
speeds to incorporate these phenomena into its programs
and continues to develop new means of keeping abreast
of changes in the labor environment and adapting its programs to those changes. The continued focus on its core
principles—objectivity, confidentiality, relevance, accuracy,
and transparency—and on its commitment to developing a
staff grounded in a core set of disciplines, namely, economics, statistics, information technology, and behavioral science, has allowed the BLS to fulfill its mission to date. This
focus will serve the Agency well as the characteristics of
work continue to evolve in the 21st century.
NOTES
1
Janet L. Norwood, “Centennial,” Monthly Labor Review, January 1984,
pp. 1–2.
Joseph P. Goldberg and William T. Moye, The First Hundred Years of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin 2235 (U.S. Department of Labor, September
1985).
2
3
Quoted from the BLS Mission Statement, on the Internet at www.bls.
gov/bls/blsmissn.htm (visited June 17, 2009).
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research
organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works. For more information, visit the NBER Internet site at www.nber.org
(visited June 17, 2009).
4
5
See “Union Membership in 2008,” news release 09–0095 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Jan. 28, 2009). For a further discussion of the problem of differentiating between the influence of unionization status and that of other worker
characteristics on employee earnings, see Kay E. Anderson, Philip M. Doyle,
and Albert E. Schwenk, “Measuring union-nonunion earnings differences,”
Monthly Labor Review, June 1990, pp. 26–38.
6
See Highlights of Women’s Earnings in 2007, Report 1008 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2008), p. 1.
7
Goldberg and Moye, The First Hundred Years, p. 12.
The only BLS data that Federal law (the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970) requires employers to provide are occupational safety and health
statistics. Certain States require employers to provide some other BLS data.
8
For more information, see the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002, Title V of Public Law 107–347.
9
12
Goldberg and Moye, The First Hundred Years, p. 4.
13
Ibid., p. 21.
14
NAICS has been updated twice since it was first released; the most recent
version dates from 2007. For more information, see “North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) at BLS” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 13,
2009), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm (visited June 17, 2009).
15
The CPS, a monthly survey of households conducted by the U.S. Census
Bureau for the BLS, provides a comprehensive body of data on the labor force,
employment, unemployment, and persons not in the labor force.
16
BLS Handbook of Methods, chapter 1, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/
opub/hom/homch1_a.htm (visited June 17, 2009).
17
For more information on the variety of measures of unemployment, see
John E. Bregger and Steven E. Haugen, “BLS introduces new range of alternative
unemployment measures,” Monthly Labor Review, October 1995, pp. 19–26.
18
For more information on new measures of labor dynamics, see Zhi Boon,
Charles M. Carson, R. Jason Faberman, and Randy E. Ilg, “Studying the labor
market using BLS labor dynamics data,” Monthly Labor Review, February 2008,
pp. 3–16.
19
Data are from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation
series for private industry, March 1986 and December 2008. More information
may be found on the Internet at www.bls.gov/ncs/ect (visited June 17, 2009).
20
For more information on changes in retirement plans in recent years, see
Stephanie L. Costo, “Trends in retirement plan coverage over the last decade,”
Monthly Labor Review, February 2006, pp. 58–64.
More information on Workforce Information Councils may be found on
the Internet at www.workforceinfocouncil.org (visited June 17, 2009).
21
Examples of Federal legislation related to employer health benefits
include the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 and the Mental
Health Parity Act of 1996.
Some material from this section is based on information found in the
Handbook of Methods, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/home.
htm (visited June 17, 2009).
22
Definitions of the various types of health insurance plans are found in
National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in Private Industry in the United States, 2005, Bulletin 2589 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2007).
10
11
BLS
24 Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
23
Further information on the recent history of the BLS Office of Productivity and Technology’s productivity program appears in Edwin R. Dean and
Michael J. Harper, “The BLS Productivity Measurement Program,” in Charles R.
Hulten, Edwin R. Dean, and Michael J. Harper, New Developments in Productivity Analysis (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2001), pp. 55–84.
24
For a historical review of the international comparisons program, see Patricia Capdevielle and Mark K. Sherwood, “International comparisons: providing comparable international labor statistics,” Monthly Labor Review, June 2002,
pp. 3–14; for information on China, see Erin Lett and Judith Banister, “China’s
manufacturing employment and compensation costs,” Monthly Labor Review,
April 2009, pp. 30–38. An article on India is forthcoming in the Review.
Index is available on the
(visited June 17, 2009).
BLS
Internet site at www.bls.gov/cpi/cpirr2008.pdf
30
For more information on standards and guidelines for statistical surveys,
see “Statistical Programs and Standards” (Office of Management and Budget,
various dates), on the Internet at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/statpolicy.
html (visited June 17, 2009).
31
See Earl S. Pollack and Deborah Kellerman Keimig, Counting Injuries
and Illnesses in the Workplace: Proposals for a Better System (Washington, DC, National Academy Press, 1987).
For information on the Boskin report and follow-up activities from the
see David S. Johnson, Stephen B. Reed, and Kenneth J. Stewart, “Price
measurement in the United States: a decade after the Boskin Report,” Monthly
Labor Review, May 2006, pp. 10–19.
32
Complete data on work-related fatalities from the terrorist attacks are
available in Fatal Workplace Injuries in 2001: A Collection of Data and Analysis,
Report 970 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2003).
BLS,
26
These statistics were released in the BLS Commissioner’s statement that
appeared concurrently with the October 2005 “Employment Situation” release.
For more information on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Current Employment Statistics program, see “BLS Information: Effects of Hurricane Katrina
on BLS Employment and Unemployment Data Collection and Estimation” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2, 2006), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/katrina/
cpscesquestions.htm (visited June 17, 2009). The Commissioner’s statement
appears on the Internet at www.bls.gov/news.release/history/jec_10072005.
txt (visited June 17, 2009).
33
See “Frequently Asked Questions about Employment and Unemployment Estimates” in the monthly Employment Situation news release, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm (visited June 17, 2009).
25
27
Goldberg and Moye, The First Hundred Years.
28
Some material from this section is based on information found in the
Handbook; see note 11 for the Web address of the publication.
29
Information on response to requests for data on the Consumer Price
34
For more information on the CES birth-death model, see “Monthly Employment Situation Report: Quick Guide to Methods and Measurement Issues”
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, Aug. 8, 2008), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/bls/
empsitquickguide.htm (visited June 17, 2009).
35
John S. Greenlees and Robert B. McClelland, “Addressing misconceptions about the Consumer Price Index,” Monthly Labor Review, August 2008,
pp. 3–19.
36
John W. Ruser, “Examining evidence on whether BLS undercounts workplace injuries and illnesses,” Monthly Labor Review, August 2008, pp. 20–32.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 25
Wages and Employment
How shifting occupational composition
has affected the real average wage
OES data from 2002–2007 reveal that an overall shift in employment
towards occupations with lower mean wages hindered growth in the U.S.
real average wage and that wage growth was concentrated in higher paying
occupations; the data also show a shift in employment from the
middle-paying occupations to the highest and lowest paying occupations
Rebecca Keller
Rebecca Keller is an
economist in the Office of Employment
and Unemployment
Statistics, Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Email:
keller.rebecca@bls.gov
26
B
etween November 2002 and May 2007,
the cross-occupational average hourly
wage in the United States increased by
$2.46, from $17.10 to $19.56, or by about 14
percent, according to the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Adjusting
the 2002 figure to May 2007 dollars1 shows the
real average hourly wage increased from $19.48
to $19.56, approximately a .41-percent increase.
There have been numerous studies and programs devoted to understanding this recent
slow growth in the Real Average Wage (RAW).
Many studies attribute slow wage growth to
the increasing cost of employee benefits and
health insurance—a phenomenon that results
in employees’ wages becoming a smaller part of
their total compensation.2 Other studies have
analyzed how wage growth relates to income or
wage inequality.3 This article seeks to contribute
towards an understanding of RAW growth by
quantifying how changes in the occupational
composition of U.S. employment have affected
the average wage.
This article analyzes occupational wage and
employment data from the OES program to
understand how changes in occupations’ wages
and changes in occupations’ levels of employment each have contributed to growth in the
U.S. RAW. Overall wage growth could stem
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
from increases in the mean wages of particular
occupations, from a shift in employment towards occupations with higher wages, or from
a combination of the two factors. This article’s
analysis of OES data from November 2002 to
May 2007 finds that a shift in employment towards lower paying occupations hindered U.S.
RAW growth, that increases in the real mean
wages of individual occupations was the only
factor that caused growth in the U.S. RAW, and
that most of the average wage growth was due
to increases in the wages of the highest paying occupations. This analysis also finds a shift
in employment towards the highest paying
and lowest paying occupations and away from
middle-paying occupations. This article will
show which occupations experienced growth
and which experienced decline in real mean
wages or in share of employment, and how
these changes influenced the U.S. RAW. It will
also reveal patterns of lower and higher paying occupations and of education and training
categories, and give a brief analysis of changes
in the average wages of U.S. States.
Methods
The OES program estimates national employment and wages by occupation and provides a
data set for understanding changes in the average wage
over the medium term. The OES program surveys 1.2 million business establishments, using 3 years of data collected
in six semiannual panels to produce estimates for over 800
occupations.4 Because of the survey methods employed, it
can be difficult to use the data for time-series analysis, but
this study mostly overcomes the issue because it compares
wage and employment data 4½ years apart and analyzes
cross-industry wage and employment estimates that have
been retabulated on the basis of a common coding system.5 However, between November 2002 and May 2007,
OES implemented refinements in occupational coding
procedures that have caused some management workers
to be moved from one occupation to another. Therefore,
some results of this analysis may have been affected by
this worker classification change and must be interpreted
cautiously.
Change in the U.S. average wage may be due to changes
in the mean wages of individual occupations or to shifts
in employment among higher and lower paying occupations. An occupation’s share of national employment is
the percent of total jobs in the Nation for which the occupation accounts. This article uses a “shift-share analysis” of OES data to quantify the effect of changes in mean
wages and the effect of changes in employment share on
the U.S. RAW from November 2002 to May 2007.6 OES
data previously have been employed to examine the role of
occupational composition, or the assortment of shares of
national employment held by occupations, in the average
wage differentials of U.S. States for one point in time.7 In
this article, change in the U.S. RAW over time is analyzed
in a similar fashion, by decomposing the components of
the change.
To calculate the U.S. RAW, each occupation’s mean
wage is multiplied by its share of national employment
and then the products are summed. Change in the U.S.
RAW from time t to time t+1 is found by subtracting the
U.S. RAW at time t from the U.S. RAW at time t+1. Just
as the U.S. RAW is influenced by the two factors of occupational mean wages and occupational composition,
change in the U.S. RAW is influenced by the two factors
of changes in occupational real mean wages and change
in occupational composition. The decomposition of U.S.
RAW change into these two factors, expressed in words
and in mathematical notation, is
Change in U.S. RAW = National Wage Component +
National Employment Component + National Residual
Component
where
j = {1, 2,...J} index occupations
∆ = Change from November 2002 to May 2007
w = U.S. real average wage (in May 2007 dollars)
w j = Occupational real average wage (in May 2007 dollars)
N = National employment; Nj = Occupational employment
t = November 2002;
t+1 = May 2007
Table 1 shows the results and constituents of this
analysis for the sum of all occupations and for major occupational groups (obtained by summing the results of all
occupations within each group), and includes mean wages
(in May 2007 dollars) and national employment shares in
November 2002 and May 2007. Table 2 shows the results
and constituents of this analysis for selected occupations.
The contribution of changes in the mean wages of occupations to the change in the U.S. RAW, represented by
the first term in the aforementioned equation, is called the
“wage component.” The wage component of an occupation is found by holding the occupation’s share of national
employment constant while considering only the change
in the mean wage of the occupation. The wage component is measured by multiplying the change in mean wage
from November 2002 (in May 2007 dollars) to May 2007
by the occupation’s share of November 2002 national employment.
A positive wage component indicates that the mean
wage of an occupation or group of occupations increased,
while a negative result indicates that the mean wage decreased. For example, as seen in table 2, the occupation
of accountants and auditors has a wage component of
1 cent, found by multiplying the occupation’s real mean
wage increase of $1.23 by its November 2002 employment share of .70 percent. The national wage component
is found by summing all occupations’ wage components.
A positive national wage component indicates that occupational mean wages grew overall, whereas a negative
result indicates mean wages declined overall.
The contribution of changes in occupational composition to the change in the U.S. RAW, represented by the
second term in the above equation, is called the “employment component.” The employment component of an occupation is found by multiplying the occupation’s change
in employment share by its November 2002 mean wage
(in May 2007 dollars). In other words, an occupation’s
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
27
Wages and Employment
Table 1. Mean hourly wage, employment share, and components of change in the U.S. real average wage,
by occupational group, Nov. 2002–May 2007
2002
Change
mean
2007
Change
2002
2007
Wage Employ- Residual Total
in
Employwage,
mean
in
real
employemploycompoment
compo- of three
Occupational group
ment
in May
wage
mean
ment
ment employnent
component
compo-
ment
effect
2007
wage1
share
share
nent
nents1
1
share
dollars
Total, all occupations........... $19.48 $19.56
$0.08
100.0
100.0
— $0.22
$–0.11
$–0.03 $0.08
$–0.11
Management occupations2 ......... 43.19 46.27 3.08
Business and financial
operations occupations.............. 29.20 30.07 .87
Computer and mathematical
science occupations..................... 33.75 34.71 .96
Architecture and engineering
occupations . .................................. 31.77 33.11 1.34
Life, physical, and social
science occupations..................... 28.69 29.79 1.11
Community and social services
occupations..................................... 18.96 19.49 .53
Legal occupations .......................... 42.35 42.53 .18
Education, training, and library
occupations . .................................. 22.01 22.41
.40
Arts, design, entertainment,
sports, and media
occupations..................................... 22.81 23.27 .46
5.56
4.47
3.74
4.48
.74 .02
.22 .00 .25 .08
2.17
2.38
.20
.01
.08 .00
1.89
1.85
–.04
.02
.85
.93
.09
.01
1.24
.73
1.33
.74
.10 .01
.02 .00
.03 .00
.01 .00 .01 .00 .01 .01
6.09
6.19
.10
.01 .03 .00 .05
1.18
1.31
.13
.00
.03 .00
4.87
5.12
.25
.06
.08 .01 .15 .03
2.49
2.70
.21 .00
2.35
2.30
–.05
7.89
8.39
.50
3.34
3.28
–.06
2.29
2.49
10.46
–.28
Healthcare practitioner
and technical occupations......... 29.75 31.28 1.53
Healthcare support
occupations . ..................................
12.27 12.31
.03
Protective service
occupations..................................... 18.25 18.84 .58
Food preparation and serving
related occupations...................... 9.40 9.34
–.06
Building and grounds
cleaning and maintenance
occupations.....................................
11.44 11.33
–.11
Personal care and service
occupations.....................................
11.70 11.53
–.17
Sales and related
occupations..................................... 16.76 16.94
.18
Office and administrative
support occupations . ................. 15.28 15.00
Farming, fishing, and forestry
occupations . .................................. 11.05 10.89
Construction and extraction
occupations..................................... 19.93 19.53
Installation, maintenance,
and repair occupations............... 19.59 19.20
Production occupations................ 15.43 15.05
Transportation and material
moving occupations ................... 14.93 14.75
1
2
.02
–.49
–.01
–.33
–.28
.09 .04
.00 .01 .00
.03 .00 .04
.01
.01
.04 .01
.02
.00
.03
– .01
.00
.00 .00
.00 .04
.00
–.04
.00 .04
–.01 .00
–.02
–.05
.00
.20 .00
.02 .00 .02
–.02
10.67
.21
.02
.04 .00
17.84
17.32
–.52
–.04
–.09 .00
–.16
.35
.33
–.40
4.80
4.99
.19
–.39
–.38
4.09
8.41
4.01
7.55
–.08
–.86
–.02
–.03
–.02 .00
–.13 .00
–.03 .00
–.16 .04
–.18
7.37
7.17
–.20
–.02
–.02
–.04 .02
Numbers may not add precisely because of rounding.
The results for management occupations should be interpreted with
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
.20
–.01
mean wage is held constant and only the change in an
occupation’s employment share is taken into account. A
positive employment component indicates that the employment share of an occupation or group of occupations
28
–1.09
.05
.00
–.13 .01
–.02 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
–.02 .04 .00 .02 .00
.00
caution because they may be affected by refinements in occupational
coding procedures.
increased, while a negative result indicates that its employment share declined. For example, as seen in table 1,
the employment component of the production occupational group is –13 cents, found by multiplying the pro-
Table 2. Mean hourly wage, employment share, and components of change in the U.S. real average wage, for selected
occupations, Nov. 2002–May 2007
2002
Change
mean
2007
Change
2002
2007
Total
Wage Employ- ResidEmployin
Occupation title
wage,
mean
in real
employ- employment
ual
of
comment
employ
in May
wage
mean
ment
ment
comcom- compoponent
effect
ment
1
2007
wage1
share
share
ponent
ponent
nents
share1
dollars
Total, all occupations........
$19.48
$19.56
0.08
100.0
100.0
—
0.22
–0.11
$–0.03
$0.08
$–0.11
Selected occupations with large positive wage components (sorted by wage component)2
Registered nurses...............
Pharmacists...........................
Sales representatives,
wholesale
and manufacturing,
except technical
and scientific
products..............................
Accountants
and auditors.......................
First-line supervisors/
managers of nonretail sales workers...........
Sales representatives,
wholesale
and manufacturing,
technical and scientific
products..............................
Licensed practical
and licensed vocational
nurses...................................
Waiters and waitresses......
Computer software
engineers, systems
software...............................
Executive secretaries
and administrative
assistants.............................
27.29
41.15
30.04
47.58
2.74
6.43
1.76
.17
1.84
.19
.08
.02
.05
.01
.02
.01
.00
.00
.07
.02
.01
.00
28.00
28.94
.94
1.08
1.12
.04
.01
.01
.00
.02
.00
29.15
30.37
1.23
.70
.83
.13
.01
.04
.00
.05
.01
35.19
37.58
2.39
.26
.21
–.05
.01
–.02
.00
–.01
–.01
34.75
36.76
2.01
.29
.30
.01
.01
.00
.00
.01
.00
17.69
8.64
18.72
8.93
1.03
.29
.54
1.64
.54
1.75
–.01
.12
.01
.00
.00
.01
.00
.00
.00
.02
.00
–.01
41.53
43.65
2.12
.20
.26
.06
.00
.02
.00
.03
.01
19.19
19.57
.38
1.10
1.13
.03
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
Selected occupations with large negative wage components (sorted by wage component)2
Office clerks, general........
Truck drivers, heavy
and tractor-trailer............
Stock clerks
and order fillers................
Cashiers.................................
Customer service
representatives.................
Team assemblers................
Securities,
commodities,
and financial services
sales agents.......................
Secretaries, except
legal, medical,
and executive...................
Computer support
specialists...........................
Construction laborers......
12.89
12.48
–.41
2.24
2.22
–.02
–.01
.00
.00
–.01
.00
18.81
18.06
–.76
1.19
1.26
.07
–.01
.01
.00
.00
.00
11.63
9.14
10.93
8.84
–.71
–.30
1.26
2.65
1.35
2.64
.09
–.01
–.01
–.01
.01
.00
.00
.00
.00
–.01
–.01
.00
15.46
13.53
14.93
12.72
–.54
–.81
1.45
.89
1.63
.87
.18
–.02
–.01
–.01
.03
.00
.00
.00
.02
–.01
–.01
.00
46.94
43.49
–3.44
.20
.20
.00
–.01
.00
.00
–.01
.00
14.45
14.04
–.42
1.41
1.36
–.04
–.01
–.01
.00
–.01
.00
23.18
15.64
21.78
14.88
–1.40
–.76
.38
.65
.39
.78
.02
.13
–.01
.00
.00
.02
.00
.00
.00
.01
.00
–.01
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
29
Wages and Employment
Table 2. Continued—Mean hourly wage, employment share, and components of change in the U.S. real average wage, for
selected occupations, Nov. 2002–May 2007
2002
mean
Change
2002
2007
2007
Occupation title
wage,
in real
employemploymean
in May
mean
ment
ment
wage
2007
wage1
share
share
dollars
Change
Total Employin
Wage Employ- Residment
ual
of
employcomment
comcom- compo- effect
ment
ponent
1
ponent ponent nents
share1
Selected occupations with large positive employment effects (sorted by employment effect)2
Computer software
engineers,
applications.......................
Computer software
engineers, systems
software..............................
Accountants
and auditors......................
Packers and packagers,
hand.....................................
Management analysts......
Market research
analysts...............................
Personal financial
advisors...............................
Loan officers........................
Network systems
and data
communications
analysts...............................
Financial analysts...............
40.41
41.18
0.77
0.28
0.37
0.09
0.00
0.04
0.00
0.04
0.02
41.53
43.65
2.12
.20
.26
.06
.00
.02
.00
.03
.01
29.15
30.37
1.23
.70
.83
.13
.01
.04
.00
.05
.01
9.94
38.42
9.77
38.68
–.17
.26
.73
.31
.59
.37
–.13
.06
.00
.00
–.01
.02
.00
.00
–.01
.03
.01
.01
33.00
32.20
–.80
.10
.16
.07
.00
.02
.00
.02
.01
42.96
28.56
42.89
30.10
–.07
1.54
.06
.17
.10
.27
.04
.09
.00
.00
.02
.03
.00
.00
.02
.03
.01
.01
33.62
36.79
34.02
39.28
.41
2.50
.10
.13
.16
.17
.06
.04
.00
.00
.02
.02
.00
.00
.02
.02
.01
.01
Selected occupations with large negative employment effects (sorted by employment effect)2
Combined food preparation and serving
workers, including
fast food...............................
8.30
8.03
–.27
1.57
1.94
.37
.00
.03
.00
.03
–.04
Retail salespersons............. 11.91
11.79
–.12
3.05
3.30
.24
.00
.03
.00
.03
–.02
Home health aides............. 10.43
10.03
–.40
.45
.62
.17
.00
.02
.00
.02
–.02
Waiters and waitresses......
8.64
8.93
.29
1.64
1.75
.12
.00
.01
.00
.02
–.01
Computer programmers.. 34.88
34.62
–.26
.36
.29
–.06
.00
–.02
.00
–.02
–.01
Personal and home care
aides......................................
9.20
9.11
–.09
.35
.44
.09
.00
.01
.00
.01
–.01
Cooks, restaurant................ 10.87
10.56
–.31
.56
.65
.09
.00
.01
.00
.01
–.01
First–line supervisors/
managers of non–retail
sales workers...................... 35.19
37.58
2.39
.26
.21
–.05
.01
–.02
.00
–.01
–.01
Stock clerks and order
fillers...................................... 11.63
10.93
–.71
1.26
1.35
.09
–.01
.01
.00
.00
–.01
Customer service
representatives.................. 15.46
14.93
–.54
1.45
1.63
.18
–.01
.03
.00
.02
–.01
1
2
Numbers may not add precisely because of rounding.
Management occupations and residual occupations are not included.
duction group’s November 2002 mean wage (in May 2007
dollars) of $15.43 by its employment share decline of .86
percentage point. A higher paying occupation will have an
employment component of a greater degree than a lower
paying occupation with the same change in employment
share. The national employment component is found by
summing all occupations’ employment components. A
30
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
positive national employment component indicates that
higher paying occupations gained employment share relative to lower paying occupations, while a negative result
indicates lower paying occupations gained employment
share.
The final component of change in the U.S. RAW is
the residual component, which captures the part of the
change in the RAW that is not attributable solely to either
the employment component or the wage component. The
residual component is less meaningful to this study than
the wage and employment components, because it is small
and does not represent either the change in occupational
composition alone or the changes in occupations’ wages
alone.
The sums of the three components for each occupation or occupational group are the figures in the “total
of components” column of tables 1 and 2. The sum of all
three components of all occupations is equal to the change
in the U.S. RAW. In addition to decomposing U.S. RAW
change into its three components, this article also seeks
to show how the change in each occupation’s mean wage
and the change in its employment share have affected
the U.S. RAW. The effect of the change in an occupation’s
mean wage on the U.S. RAW is captured through its wage
component. Occupations whose real mean wages have increased will have positive wage components and increase
the U.S. RAW, while occupations whose real mean wages
have declined will have negative wage components and
decrease the U.S. RAW. For example, accountants and auditors’ real mean wage increase of $1.23 would have increased the U.S. RAW by 1 cent were employment shares
to have remained constant, as seen in table 2.
Whereas the wage component indicates the effect that
the change in an occupation’s mean wage has on the U.S.
RAW, the employment component does not indicate the
effect that the change in an occupation’s employment
share has on the U.S. RAW. For example, a below-average
paying occupation with a decline in employment share
will have a negative employment component, but this decline in employment share will actually increase the U.S.
RAW. There is, however, a calculation that can determine
the effect that the change in one occupation’s employment share has on the U.S. RAW, and the result of this
calculation is referred to as the “employment effect.” The
employment effect takes into account both the change in
an occupation’s share of employment and the difference
between the occupation’s mean wage and the national
mean wage. The overall employment effect of a group or
category of occupations is calculated by summing the employment effects of all the occupations within that group
or category. The national employment effect—that is, the
employment effect of all occupations taken together—is
found by summing the employment effects of all occupations in the United States, and it is equal to the national
employment component. The occupational employment
effect is shown in tables 1 and 2, and its equation is
where
j = {1, 2,...J} index occupations
E = Occupational employment effect
w = U.S. real average wage (in May 2007 dollars)
w j = Occupational real average wage (in May 2007 dollars)
∆S = Change in occupational employment share
t = November 2002
A positive employment effect indicates that the change
in an occupation’s employment share was a factor pushing the U.S. average wage upward. An occupation with a
below-average mean wage and a decline in employment
share will have a positive employment effect, as will an
occupation with an above-average mean wage and an increase in employment share. Similarly, a negative employment effect indicates that the change in an occupation’s
employment share was a factor pushing the U.S. average
wage downward. A negative employment effect is a result of either an occupation with a below-average mean
wage gaining employment share or an occupation with an
above-average mean wage losing employment share. For
example, computer programmers’ above-average November 2002 wage of $34.88 and their loss of .06 percentage
point in employment share from November 2002 to May
2007 resulted in an employment effect of –1 cent on the
U.S. RAW.
Results
The U.S real average wage increase of 8 cents was the
combined result of a –11 cent employment component,
indicating an employment shift toward lower paying jobs;
a 22 cent wage component, indicating that the mean wages of occupations increased overall; and a –3 cent residual
component.
The national wage component. The national wage component was 22 cents, indicating the U.S. RAW would have
increased by 22 cents, or 1.1 percent, if the employment
shares of occupations had remained constant. The national
wage component more than offset the national employment component of –11 cents, and it alone propelled the
U.S. RAW to positive growth. So, while the mean wages
of occupations increased overall, growth in the U.S. RAW
was hindered because lower paying occupations gained
employment share relative to higher paying occupations.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
31
Wages and Employment
The positive wage component indicates either that a majority of employment was in occupations with mean wage
growth or that those occupations with mean wage growth
had a greater degree of change in wage than did occupations whose mean wages declined. In fact, in November
2002 only about 41 percent of employment was in occupations whose mean wage was to grow through May 2007,
and the remaining 59 percent was in occupations whose
mean wage was to decrease or remain unchanged during
the same period. Therefore, the positive wage component
was driven by occupations with growth in the mean wage
having a greater degree of change than occupations with a
decline in the mean wage.
The influences of occupational wage components. Overall,
about 51 percent of occupations, making up about 41
percent of employment, had positive wage components.
The wage components of occupations depend on their
employment shares in November 2002 and on the change
in their mean wage from November 2002 to May 2007.
An occupation with a higher employment share or greater
growth in the mean wage will have a larger wage component. Conversely, an occupation with a lower employment share or lesser wage growth will have a smaller wage
component. Those occupations with the largest wage
components are generally higher paying and are mostly
from the management, computer and mathematical science, healthcare practitioner and technical, and sales and
related groups. As seen in table 2, registered nurses had
one of the highest wage components, 5 cents, because
the occupation had both strong real mean wage growth
of $2.74 and a high November 2002 employment share
of 1.76 percent. General office clerks, heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers, and stock clerks and order fillers all
had some of the most negative wage components, at –1
cent each, because of the occupations’ high employment
shares coupled with declines in their real mean wages. The
management occupational group and the healthcare practitioner and technical occupational group had the largest
wage components of all occupational groups, as shown in
table 1. Production occupations and office and administrative support occupations had the most negative wage
components.
The national employment component. The shifting occupational composition of the United States would have
decreased the RAW by 11 cents, or .6 percent, had occupational mean wages remained constant. In other words, if the
mean wages of all occupations had remained unchanged,
changes in the distribution of employment among occu32
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
pations would have decreased the U.S. RAW by 11 cents.
This negative employment component indicates that lower
paying occupations gained employment share relative to
higher paying occupations. In other words, lower paying
occupations had faster employment growth than higher
paying occupations, accounting for a greater share of total
employment in May 2007 than in November 2002. Because the national employment component aggregates the
employment components of all occupations, it signifies a
trend that takes all occupations into account and does not
necessarily indicate that only the lowest paying occupations gained employment share or that only the highest
paying occupations lost employment share. Occupations
that gained and lost employment share will be further explored later in this article.
The influences of occupational employment effects. Whereas
the national employment component has documented the
shift in employment share from higher paying to lower
paying occupations, the employment effect of an occupation shows precisely the degree and direction that the
occupation’s change in employment share has had on the
U.S. RAW. Overall, 42 percent of occupations, making up
46 percent of employment, had a negative or zero employment effect on the U.S. RAW. For example, the occupation
of combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food, has one of the most negative employment
effects, –4 cents, on the U.S. RAW because this below-average paying occupation increased in employment share
from 1.57 percent to 1.94 percent. Major occupational
groups that had negative employment effects on the U.S.
RAW include the healthcare support, food preparation and
serving related, and personal care and service occupational
groups.
Still, most occupations had positive employment effects on the U.S. RAW. Many of those occupations with
the greatest positive employment effects were from the
business and financial operations group or computer and
mathematical science group, as many of these above-average-paying occupations gained employment share. For
example, the occupation of computer software engineers,
applications had a positive employment effect of 2 cents
on the U.S. RAW, as this high-paying occupation increased
in employment share from .28 to .37 percent.
Grouping occupations by mean wage. Besides identifying
how each occupation’s mean wage and change in employment share affected the U.S. RAW, broader trends in the
U.S. labor market can be understood through grouping
occupations on the basis of mean wage. Doing so will illus-
Table 3. Employment shares and components of change in the U.S. real average wage, by pay category, Nov. 2002–May 2007
Category of occupations or percentage summary
Pay categories ( organized by mean hourly wage)
Lowest
paying
Lower
paying
Average
paying
Highest
paying
All
occupations
Below
$11.80
$11.80 to
$15.67
$15.68 to
$24.11
Above
$24.11
24.41
23.67
25.49
25.29
25.24
25.57
100.00
100.00
–.74
–.20
.33
.00
.35
–.03
–.03
.30
–.09
.22
–.11
–.03
.08
–.11
All occupations
Employment share, Nov. ‘02, in percent..............
24.86
Employment share, May ‘07, in percent ..............
25.46
Percentage point change in employment
share, Nov. ‘02–May ‘07
.60
Total wage component..............................................
–.03
Total employment component...............................
.05
Total residual component.........................................
.00
Total of three components.......................................
.02
Employment effect
–.06
Occupations whose mean wage increased
Nov. ‘02–May ‘07
Employment share, Nov. ‘02, in percent...............
6.73
Employment share, May ‘07, in percent...............
6.63
Percentage point change in employment
share, Nov. ‘02–May ‘07............................................
–.10
–.06
–.04
–.10
–.03
.00
.00
–.16
–.08
.04 .01
5.10
4.80
9.66
9.57
19.55
19.83
41.03
40.81
–.30
–.09
.28
–.22
15.84
15.73
5.69
5.75
58.97
59.18
–.11
.06
.22
37.88
77.45
62.12
22.55
23.54
47.63
26.86
9.65
Occupations whose mean wage declined or
remained the same Nov. ‘02–May ‘07
Employment share, Nov. ‘02, in percent..............
18.13
19.31
Employment share, May ‘07, in percent ..............
18.83
18.88
Percentage point change in employment
share, Nov. ‘02–May ‘07............................................
.71
–.44
Percentage summaries
Percent of pay category’s Nov. ‘02 employment
that was in occupations whose mean wage
increased Nov. ‘02–May ‘07.....................................
27.08
20.88
Percent of pay category’s Nov. ‘02 employment
that was in occupations whose mean wage
declined or remained the same Nov. ‘02–May ‘07
72.92
79.12
Percent of Nov. ‘02 employment in occupations
whose mean wage increased that comes from
this pay group.............................................................
16.41
12.42
Percent of Nov. ‘02 employment in occupations
whose mean wage declined or remained the
same that comes from this pay category..........
30.74
trate how occupations with higher and lower mean wages
experienced changes in mean wage and employment as a
group, and how these changes influenced the U.S. RAW.
Table 3 distributes occupations into four categories that
had roughly equal shares of the Nation’s employment in
2002. The categories vary by their 2002 mean wages, and
they are labeled as follows: “highest paying” (mean wage
32.75
over $24.11); “average paying” (mean wage of $15.68 to
$24.11), a range within which the U.S. RAW of $19.48
falls; “lower paying” (mean wage of $11.80 to $15.67);
and “lowest paying” (mean wage below $11.80). Table 3
also presents employment shares in November 2002 and
May 2007, employment components, wage components,
residual components, and employment effects for each of
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
33
Wages and Employment
Table 4. The number of occupations in the major occupational groups whose mean hourly wages are in each of 4 pay
categories, Nov. 2002
Occupational group
Total
All occupations
762
Management occupations
30
Business and financial operations occupations
28
Computer and mathematical science occupations
16
Architecture and engineering occupations 34
Life, physical, and social science occupations 39
Community and social services occupations
14
Legal occupations
9
Education, training, and library occupations 58
Arts, design, entertainment, sports,
and media occupations
37
Healthcare practitioner and technical
occupations
46
Healthcare support occupations 15
Protective service occupations
20
Food preparation and serving related
occupations
16
Building and grounds cleaning
and maintenance occupations
9
Personal care and service occupations
33
Sales and related occupations
21
Office and administrative support occupations
55
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
13
Construction and extraction occupations
58
Installation, maintenance, and repair
occupations
51
Production occupations
110
Transportation and material moving
occupations
50
Mean wage
below
$11.80
Mean wage of
$11.80 to
$15.67
Mean wage of
$15.68 to
$24.11
Mean wage
above
$24.11
76
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
150
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
285
4
4
2
9
10
11
4
9
251
26
24
14
25
29
1
5
45
1
3
20
13
0
4
2
7
8
3
12
3
9
27
0
6
14
1
1
0
3
17
3
6
4
0
4
9
6
21
4
13
2
6
4
28
5
42
0
1
8
0
0
3
1
13
10
47
35
43
5
7
7
9
22
12
the four categories of pay.
related; and production occupational groups.
Table
4 displays the occupational makeup of each pay
category.
The highest paying category consists mainly of Wage components by pay category. Analyzing the wage
management; business and financial operations; computer components of each category of pay as a whole illustrates
and
mathematical science; life, physical, and social sci- how mean wage growth varied by category. When the
ence;
architecture and engineering; healthcare practitio- wage components of occupations within each category
ner and technical; and education, training, and library oc- are summed, only the highest paying category has a posicupations.
However, some occupations from other groups tive wage component, while the three other pay catego
also
are
included,
such as power plant operators from the ries have negative wage components. When occupations
production group. The average-paying category consists of are analyzed in the context of these four categories, only
occupations from every occupational group. Still, account- the highest paying category would have increased the
ing for most of this category of pay are occupations in U.S. RAW—by 35 cents—from November 2002 to May
the office and administrative support; arts, design, enter- 2007 had employment shares remained constant durtainment, sports, and media; construction and extraction; ing that period. The lower paying category has the most
installation, maintenance, and repair; production; and negative wage component, –6 cents, while the lowest
transportation and material moving occupational groups. paying category has a wage component of –3 cents and
Most occupations within the lower paying category are the average-paying category has a wage component of –4
in the office and administrative support; production; and cents. Breaking out occupations into these pay categories
construction and extraction occupational groups. The low- shows that the category of highest paying occupations is
est paying category contains many occupations from the the largest factor in creating a positive national positive
personal care and service; food preparation and serving wage component of 22 cents.
34
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
The highest paying category’s wage component of 35
cents indicates either that occupations whose mean wage
increased make up the majority of employment in this
category or that those occupations whose mean wage
grew had a greater degree of wage change than did those
whose mean wage declined or remained unchanged. The
analysis shows that in fact about 77 percent of November 2002 employment in this category was in occupations
with growth in the mean wage.
For each of the other three pay categories, all of which
have negative wage components, the majority of employment was in occupations with declines in the mean wage.
About 62 percent of November 2002 employment within
the average-paying category, 79 percent of employment
from that time within the lower paying category, and 73
percent of employment from that time within the lowest
paying category was in occupations with a decline in the
mean wage or an unchanged mean wage from November
2002 to May 2007. Thus, most employment in the average-, lower, and lowest paying categories was in occupations with decline or no growth in mean wages, whereas
the majority of employment in the highest paying category was in occupations whose mean wage increased.
positive, at 5 cents, showing that within the lowest paying category, occupations with higher mean wages gained
employment share. Meanwhile, the lower paying category
lost .74 percentage point of employment share, causing a
positive employment effect of 4 cents on the U.S. RAW.
Within the lower paying category, however, employment
share shifted away from higher paying occupations, evidenced by the category’s employment component of –10
cents. The average-paying category had an employment
effect of about 1 cent on the U.S. RAW, although its employment component of –3 cents indicates that among
the occupations within the category, employment share
shifted slightly towards lower paying occupations. Because
the highest paying category contains many management
occupations, the results of this analysis for the highest
paying category should be interpreted with caution.
Examination of employment trends within the four
pay categories shows that the negative national employment component is explained by the trend of an overall
shift in employment towards the lowest paying category.
There was also a shift in employment towards occupations
with lower mean wages within two or three of the pay
categories.
Employment share by pay category. One can see from the
negative national employment component that lower
paying occupations gained employment share overall, but
breaking out occupations into pay categories reveals that
there also was an employment shift from the middle two
pay categories to the lowest and highest paying categories.
The lowest paying category had the largest increase in employment share, .60 percentage point, while the highest
paying category increased employment share by about half
that (.33 percentage point). The average-paying category
lost .20 percentage point of its share of employment, and
the lower paying category lost the greatest employment
share, with a decrease of .74 percentage point. This same
“polarization” of the U.S. labor market was studied by David H. Autor, Lawrence F. Katz, and Melissa S. Kearney in
the 1990s; they found “employment polarizing into highwage and low-wage jobs at the expense of traditional
middle-skill jobs.”8
Grouping occupations by change in mean wage. In addition to grouping occupations on the basis of their November 2002 mean wage, another way to allow hidden
patterns to emerge is to separate occupations into those
with growth in the mean wage and those with a decline
in the mean wage or an unchanged mean wage. Table 3
displays employment components, wage components,
and changes in employment share for occupations whose
mean wage increased from November 2002 to May 2007
and for occupations whose mean wage decreased or remained unchanged during the same period. As described
earlier, in November 2002 only about 41 percent of employment was in occupations whose mean wage increased
during the 4½-year period, and the remaining 59 percent
was in occupations whose mean wage declined or remain
unchanged during that time. The highest paying category
accounted for about 48 percent of the November 2002
employment of occupations whose mean wage was to
grow through May 2007. So, not only was most employment in the highest paying category in occupations that
experienced growth in the mean wage, as discussed earlier,
but the highest paying category accounted for almost half
of employment among occupations whose mean wage increased. The average-paying category made up about 24
percent of employment in occupations whose mean wage
increased, and the remaining 29 percent came from the
Employment components and employment effects by pay
category. Analyzing the overall employment effect of
each category of pay reveals how shifts in employment
share have influenced the U.S. RAW. The lowest paying
category’s gain of .60 percentage point in employment
share resulted in an employment effect of –6 cents on the
RAW. Still, the employment component of the category is
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
35
Wages and Employment
lower paying and lowest paying categories.
Among occupations for which the mean wage declined
or remained the same from November 2002 to May 2007,
the lowest and lower paying categories made up 63 percent of November 2002 employment. The average-paying
category made up 27 percent of employment among the
same occupations, and the highest paying category accounted for the remaining 10 percent. This finding further
explains the strong positive wage components of the highest paying category and the negative wage components of
the three other categories.
A final underlying trend behind the .41-percent
growth of the RAW was faster overall growth in employment among occupations whose mean wage declined or
did not change, in comparison with occupations whose
mean wage increased. Overall, those occupations whose
mean wage decreased or remained the same gained .22
percentage point of employment share. Most of the loss in
employment share from occupations with growth in the
mean wage came from the average-paying, lower paying
and the lowest paying categories, which lost a combined
.49 percentage point of employment share. The highest
paying occupations with mean wage growth gained .28
percentage point of employment share. In contrast, the
lowest paying occupations whose mean wage decreased
or remained the same gained .71 percentage point of employment share; the lower paying and average-paying categories whose mean wage declined or stayed the same lost
employment share. As mentioned earlier in this article, the
lowest paying and highest paying categories were the two
pay categories that gained employment share. Categorizing occupations by change in mean wage reveals that for
the lowest paying category, most of the occupations that
gained employment share were occupations with a decline
or no change in the mean wage, and that for the highest paying category, most of the occupations that gained
employment share were occupations whose mean wage
increased.
Additional applications
There are many potential additional applications for this
Table 5. Employment shares, wage components, and employment effects for categories of education and training,
Nov. 2002–May 2007
Number of occupations by pay category
Employ
Change
in
Number
ment
EmployEducation or
of
employWage
Mean
Mean
Mean
Mean
share,
ment
training category
occupa
ment
component
wage
wage
wage
wage
November
effect
tions
share
below
of $11.80
of $15.68
above
2002
$11.80
to $15.67
to $24.11
$24.11
All categories......................
First professional degree...........
Doctoral degree...........................
Master’s degree............................
Bachelor’s or higher degree,
plus work experience1.............
Bachelor’s degree........................
Associate degree.........................
Postsecondary vocational
award.............................................
Work experience in a related
occupation .................................
Long-term on-the-job
training
Moderate-term on-the-job
training.........................................
Short-term on-the-job
training.........................................
759
16
45
29
100.00
1.09
1.09
1.13
—
0.09
.07
.09
0.22
–.01
.02
.01
–0.11
.04
.01
.01
76
0
0
0
150
0
0
1
283
0
1
6
250
16
44
22
33
103
39
5.03
11.48
4.07
–.77
.95
.12
.17
.06
.06
–.22
.10
.01
0
0
0
0
1
2
4
28
25
29
74
12
48
5.00
–.07
.01
.00
3
12
27
6
47
8.92
–.34
.06
–.05
1
2
22
22
86
6.47
.18
–.01
.00
2
15
51
18
180
19.63
–.34
–.07
.04
13
62
98
7
133
35.83
.03
–.07
–.04
57
55
21
0
3
.27
Not classified2. ...............................
1
The results of this category should be interpreted with caution because
they may be affected by refinements in occupational coding procedures.
36
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
2
The occupations represented in these data were assigned to more than
one category of education or training.
article’s analysis of the effects of changing employment
shares and of changing occupational composition on
change in the U.S. RAW. Two applications that will be
briefly explored in this section are patterns among education and training categories and an analysis of the average
wages of U.S. States.
Education and training categories. Just as this article
groups occupations on the basis of their mean wage to
demonstrate trends among lower and higher paying occupations, it also groups occupations into education and
training categories to reveal trends among occupations
associated with greater or lesser education and training.
The BLS Employment Projections program assigns each
occupation to 1 of 11 education and training categories,
which range from “short-term on-the-job training” to
“first professional degree.” The most common source(s)
and level of education for workers in a given occupation
serves as the basis for placing the occupation in a particular category. Table 5 displays the employment shares, wage
components, and employment effects of these categories
of occupations.
The wage components of the three on-the-job training categories are negative, and the wage components of
most of the eight other education and training categories
are positive. The moderate-term on-the-job training and
short-term on-the-job training categories both have the
most negative wage components, –7 cents, and the longterm on-the-job training category has a wage component
of –1 cent. Occupations in the category of bachelor’s
or higher degree, plus work experience had the greatest
overall wage component, 17 cents, even though these
occupations made up only 5 percent of employment in
November 2002. This shows that this category had the
greatest increase in real average wage of all the education
and training categories. The categories of bachelor’s degree, associate degree, and work experience in a related
occupation each had relatively high wage components of
about 6 cents.
Regarding shifts in employment share among the education and training categories, those occupations in the
category of bachelor’s degree gained the most employment
share, .95 percentage point. Other education and training
categories that made slight gains in employment share
are long-term on-the-job training, short-term on-the-job
training, associate degree, master’s degree, doctoral degree, and first professional degree. The categories of work
experience in a related occupation and moderate-term
on-the-job training each lost about .34 percentage point
of employment share, and the category of postsecond-
Table 6. Components of change in the real average hourly
wages of U.S. States, Nov. 2002–May 2007
EmployResidual
Wage
ment
State
comcomcomponent
ponent
ponent
Alabama......................... $0.05
$–0.13
$–0.02
Alaska..............................
.11
–.03
–.13
Arizona............................
.19
–.18
–.12
Arkansas.........................
.24
–.01
–.04
California........................
.11
.32
–.05
Colorado.........................
.03
.03
.02
Connecticut................... –.31
.24
–.02
Delaware........................ 1.00
–.29
–.28
Florida ............................
.60
–.21
–.16
Georgia........................... –.32
.10
–.01
Total of
three
components1
$–0.10
–.04
–.11
.19
.38
.08
–.09
.44
.24
–.23
Hawaii..............................
Idaho................................
Illinois..............................
Indiana............................
Iowa ................................
Kansas.............................
Kentucky.........................
Louisiana........................
Maine...............................
Maryland........................
–.07
–.01
1.24
–.12
.30
–.17
–.19
.18
.44
1.25
.21
.07
–.31
–.25
–.17
–.09
.02
–.24
–.14
–.24
–.03
–.17
–.16
–.02
–.12
–.02
–.06
–.05
–.07
–.16
.11
–.12
.76
–.38
.01
–.28
–.22
–.12
.24
.85
Massachusetts..............
Michigan.........................
Minnesota......................
Mississippi......................
Missouri..........................
Montana.........................
Nebraska........................
Nevada............................
New Hampshire...........
New Jersey.....................
.78
–.30
–.06
.49
.52
.42
.37
–.11
.55
.20
.03
.04
.24
–.04
–.49
–.29
–.36
–.09
.04
.29
–.06
.04
–.02
–.06
–.20
–.10
–.13
.05
–.01
–.05
.75
–.22
.15
.39
–.17
.03
–.12
–.15
.58
.44
New Mexico...................
New York.........................
North Carolina..............
North Dakota................
Ohio.................................
Oklahoma......................
Oregon............................
Pennsylvania.................
Rhode Island.................
South Carolina..............
.73
–.14
.02
.81
.15
–.25
.00
.49
.38
.12
–.51
.34
–.10
–.09
–.33
.05
.09
–.60
.26
–.20
.01
.05
–.10
–.18
–.06
.02
–.04
–.15
–.09
–.11
.23
.25
–.18
.54
–.24
–.18
.05
–.25
.55
–.18
South Dakota................
Tennessee......................
Texas................................
Utah ................................
Vermont..........................
Virginia............................
Washington ..................
Washington, DC. ...........
West Virginia.................
Wisconsin.......................
Wyoming........................
.11
.00
.11
.16
.18
1.18
.32
1.22
–.03
.07
.33
–.09
–.13
–.28
–.02
.10
–.19
–.04
.29
–.36
–.06
.27
.00
–.02
–.12
.00
.05
–.04
.02
.47
–.07
.02
.00
.02
–.15
–.29
.14
.32
.95
.30
1.98
–.47
.03
.61
1 Numbers may not add precisely because of rounding.
ary vocational award decreased in employment share by
.07 percentage point. Autor, Katz, and Kearney, observed
“more rapid employment growth in the bottom end of the
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
37
Wages and Employment
education distribution than in the middle” in the 1990s, sas and Indiana, and some States having an employment
but this article’s findings from the 2000s indicate that the component and wage component that are both positive,
trend has changed.
such as Vermont and California.
Wage analysis by State. Just as OES data are used to
analyze the U.S. RAW, they also can be used to analyze
the components of changes in the average wages of U.S.
States. The wage component, employment component,
residual component, and total component for each State
and the District of Columbia are shown in table 6. The
patterns in employment and mean wages found at the
national level also occur in most States. For example, the
overall shift toward occupations with lower mean wages
is found in 32 States. The States with the most negative
employment components—that is, the most pronounced
shift in employment toward occupations with lower mean
wages—are Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Missouri, West
Virginia, and Nebraska. The five places with the greatest
positive employment components, or the most pronounced
employment shift towards occupations with higher mean
wages, are New York; California; New Jersey; Washington, DC; and Wyoming.
Most States have a positive wage component (35
States and the District of Columbia), but 15 States have
negative occupational wage components, indicating that
occupational mean wages declined overall in the State.
The States with the most negative wage components are
Georgia, with wage component of –32 cents; Connecticut, with wage component of –31 cents; and Michigan,
with a wage component of –30 cents. The places with the
greatest positive wage components are Maryland; Illinois;
Washington, DC; and Virginia. Some States that have
positive wage components still had a decline in the average wage—Pennsylvania being one example—because the
negative employment component is greater in degree than
the wage component. As seen in table 6, wage components and employment components differ greatly by State,
with some States having an employment component and
a wage component that are both negative, such as Kan-
Notes
1
The adjustment for inflation was made using the
Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
BLS
Consumer Price
2
Katherine Baicker and Amitabh Chandra, “The Labor Market Effects
Of Rising Health Insurance Premiums,” Journal of Labor Economics, July 2006,
pp. 609–34.
USING OES DATA TO UNDERSTAND COMPONENTS
of U.S. real average wage growth from November 2002
to May 2007 reveals many trends in occupational mean
wages and employment shares. The analysis revealed that
the increase of 8 cents in the U.S. RAW could be decomposed into an employment component of –11 cents, a
wage component of 22 cents, and a residual component
of –3 cents. These components indicate that overall, the
mean wages of individual occupations grew faster than is
evident from the national average wage growth statistic
because the national average wage was suppressed by occupations with lower mean wages gaining employment
share. Another finding was that a majority of employment was in occupations that experienced a decline or no
change in the mean wage, and the group of occupations
whose mean wage decreased or remained the same made
a slight gain in employment share; these two phenomena
also hampered the growth of the U.S. RAW.
Grouping occupations by mean wage revealed that
the lowest, lower, and average-paying categories of occupations each have overall negative wage components,
indicating that taken together, occupations within each
of these categories experienced a decline in their mean
wage. An additional finding of this article was a shift in
employment from the two middle-paying categories of
occupations to the lowest and highest paying categories.
The lowest paying category increased the most in employment share, .60 percentage point, and most of this gain
was made by occupations whose mean wage decreased or
did not change. The pay categories also revealed that the
increase in the U.S. RAW is due mostly to growth in the
mean wages of occupations in the highest paying category,
which had a wage component of 35 cents and made up 48
percent of employment among occupations whose mean
wage increased from November 2002 to May 2007.
5
ture.
The common coding system is the 2002
OES
occupational coding struc-
6
Mean wages for November 2002 have been adjusted for inflation to May
2007 dollars. All wages are discussed in terms of May 2007 dollars.
John Jones, “What do OES data have to say about increasing wage inequality?” Monthly Labor Review, June 2009, pp. 39–49.
7
Patrick Kilcoyne, “The Role of Occupational Composition in State Wage
Differentials,” Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2005, Bulletin 2585
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2007).
4
OES statistics cover part-time and full-time wage and salary workers, and
do not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms,
household workers, or unpaid family workers.
8
David H. Autor, Lawrence F. Katz, and Melissa S. Kearney, “The Polarization of the U.S. Labor Market,” American Economic Review, May 2006, pp.
189–194.
3
38
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Wage Inequality
What do OES data have to say
about increasing wage inequality?
Wage distribution data from the Occupational Employment
Statistics survey indicate that wages became more dispersed
over the 2002-08 period; occupations paying higher wages
tended to have workers with more education and higher level
technical skills, while occupations paying lower wages
tended to have workers with less education and lower skills
John I. Jones
John I. Jones is an economist in
the Division of Publication and
Analysis, Office of Employment
and Unemployment Statistics,
Bureau of Labor Statistics. E-mail:
jones.john@bls.gov
M
ost economists concur that wage
inequality has been increasing
in the United States since the
1970s.1 However, not all economists agree
on the reasons behind this trend.2 One of
the more widely held positions hypothesizes that increasing wage dispersion has been
driven by skill-biased technical change benefiting those who possess greater technical
skills. Specifically, advancements in technology have boosted the productivity and
wages of skilled labor relative to that of unskilled labor.3 This article uses Occupational
Employment Statistics (OES) survey data
to explore wage inequality, measure changes
in wage dispersion over time, and examine
wage growth by occupational group, wage
rate, skill level, and ties to technology.
The article first tests whether OES survey wage data support the notion that
wage dispersion increased between 2002
and 2008. Then, occupational data are
used to determine (1) whether wages for
higher skilled occupations increased by
more than wages for lower skilled occupations, (2) if so, which occupational groups
were exceptions, and (3) whether occupations with the highest wage growth were
most closely associated with technological
innovation. Educational attainment data from
the Current Population Survey are used as a
proxy for determining which workers in an occupation are “more skilled” and which are “less
skilled.”4
OES data; testing wage dispersion
The OES survey is a survey of 1.2 million business establishments conducted in six semiannual panels over a 3-year period. Respondents
are asked to list the occupation and wage range
for each of their employees. Data from the six
most recent panels are used each year to provide
wage and employment estimates for more than
800 occupations by area and industry. The OES
methodology that allows such detailed area and
industry estimates also makes it difficult to use
OES data for comparisons across short periods.
To minimize both the difficulty of comparison
over short periods and the difficulties associated with changes in occupational or methodological definitions, two nonoverlapping data
sets, from 2002 and 2008, were selected for the
analysis. The virtue of using OES data for this
type of analysis is that each period examined
includes wage and detailed occupational data
on more than 80 million workers.
One of the limitations of using OES data
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 39
Wage Inequality
to explore wage growth is the methodology of collecting data in wage ranges, especially for high-paying occupations. The OES program uses data from the
National Compensation Survey to apply values to the
wages within each of 12 wage ranges. Mean wage rates
and wage growth for occupations with workers earning more than $145,600 per year may be underestimated because of the open-ended upper wage interval.
Changes in percentile wage estimates should not be
affected by changes in the upper interval as long as the
percentile wages are below $145,600.
Results
If wage dispersion has increased over the study period,
then the wage growth rate of higher wage earners will
exceed that of lower wage earners. This hypothesis
can be tested at the most aggregate levels by using the
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles
of the wage distribution for all occupations and industries from the OES survey. Table 1 shows the national
annual wage in 2002 and 2008 for each percentile,
along with the percent change. If there is no increase
in wage dispersion between 2002 and 2008, then the
wage growth would be equivalent across the percentile
wages. However, that is not what is observed.
Wage growth by percentile
Nationally, the 10th percentile of the wage distribution increased 15.4 percent over the period examined,
while the median wage increased 17.0 percent and the
90th percentile increased 21.8 percent. Inflation-adjusted figures are shown in the last column of table 1;
the 90th-percentile workers are the only group to have
experienced wage growth that exceeded inflation. As
the wage percentiles increase, the growth in wages also
increases: by 2008, wages for higher earners exceeded those
for lower earners by a larger margin than in 2002. Another
way to look at this phenomenon is that in 2002 a worker in
the 90th percentile of the wage distribution earned 349 percent more than a worker in the 10th percentile, and by 2008
the worker in the 90th percentile earned 374 percent more
than the worker in the 10th percentile.
This evidence of increasing wage dispersion does not necessarily show that individuals or groups of workers experienced
the same wage growth as others in their percentile, because
a shift may have occurred in the occupations that make up
each group over time. Rather, the evidence simply points to a
wider distribution of wages, the result of faster wage growth
in high-paying occupations, uneven growth in employment
between high-paying and low-paying occupations, or a combination of both factors. Faster wage growth may be due to
structural changes in the economy that increase the demand
for one group of workers relative to others, such as highly
skilled workers, technologically oriented workers, or workers
in the health care professions. The rest of this article focuses
on the wage growth experience of both individual occupations and groups of occupations, and finds evidence that skillbiased technical changes in the occupational structure of the
United States are benefiting certain groups more than others.
Among those benefiting most are workers with higher levels
of skills or education and workers whose jobs are technological in nature.
Wage growth by occupational group
Because national wage data showed evidence of increasing
wage dispersion between 2002 and 2008, the data will be
examined by occupational group in order to see whether increasing wage growth is found across high-wage or high-skill
occupations or is concentrated in just a few occupations. Such
an examination also will aid in determining whether increasing wage growth is more prevalent in occupations related to
Table 1. National percentile wage growth, 2002–08
Year
Percent
Adjusted for
Percentile wage
change
inflation1
in
wage
2002
2008
10th.......................................................................................................................
25th.......................................................................................................................
50th.......................................................................................................................
75th.......................................................................................................................
90th.......................................................................................................................
1
40
The inflation rate over the 2002–08 period was 19.7 percent.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
$14,450
18,580
27,690
43,340
64,900
$16,680
21,590
32,390
51,540
79,020
15.4
16.2
17.0
18.9
21.8
–3.6
–2.9
–2.3
–.7
1.7
improved technology. The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system groups occupations by similar skills
or work activities, so analysis of the OES data by SOC occupational group will serve as a starting point in looking
for patterns in the occupational data.
Table 2 shows the mean annual wage for each occupational group in 2002 and 2008. Also listed is the wage
difference for each group over the 2002–08 period and the
percent change in the wage. To test the hypothesis that
those occupational groups which had higher wages in 2002
had the greatest growth between 2002 and 2008, the data
in the table are sorted by mean annual wage in 2002. If the
highest percent wage growth corresponded perfectly to the
highest annual mean wage, then the percent changes in the
wage would appear in descending order. In general, as the
2002 wage for the occupational groups decreases, the percent change in the wage decreases with a correlation coefficient of 0.75—although there are notable exceptions.
In most cases, the occupational groups that earned
above the mean wage of $35,560 in 2002 experienced
wage growth greater than 18.9 percent and those which
earned below the mean wage in 2002 experienced lower
wage growth. However, there were exceptions. Each oc-
cupational group’s 2002 wage and percent increase are
plotted in chart 1. The upper right-hand quadrant of the
chart shows occupations with above-average wages and
above-average wage growth, the lower left-hand quadrant
occupations with below-average wages and below-average
growth. The other two quadrants show the occupational
groups that fall outside the trend.
In general, the occupations listed toward the top of table
2 and shown in the upper right quadrant of chart 1 had both
the highest wages and the highest wage growth. Among
these occupations are architecture and engineering occupations and business and financial operations occupations.
Those occupations with the lowest wages had the lowest
wage growth and are shown in the lower left quadrant. Included in this group are food preparation and serving related
occupations and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations. Two occupations fell outside this trend,
experiencing above-average wages and lower-than-average
wage growth, and are shown in the lower right quadrant:
construction and extraction occupations and installation,
maintenance, and repair occupations. Finally, among those
occupations with below-average wages were community
and social services occupations and protective service occu-
Table 1.
2. Wage growth of Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) major groups, 2002–08
SOC
code
11–0000
23–0000
15–0000
17–0000
29–0000
13–0000
19–0000
27–0000
25–0000
47–0000
49–0000
00–0000
21–0000
33–0000
41–0000
51–0000
43–0000
Occupational group
Mean
annual wage,
2002
Mean
annual wage,
2008
Difference
(2008 wage
minus 2002
wage)1
Percent
change
Management.................................................................................................
Legal.................................................................................................................
Computer and mathematical..................................................................
Architecture and engineering.................................................................
Health care practitioners and technical...............................................
Business and financial operations..........................................................
Life, physical, and social science.............................................................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media...............................
Education, training, and library...............................................................
Construction and extraction....................................................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair...................................................
Mean wage for all occupations ..............................................................
Community and social services..............................................................
Protective service.........................................................................................
Sales and related..........................................................................................
Production......................................................................................................
Office and administrative support.........................................................
$78,870
77,330
61,630
58,020
53,990
53,350
52,380
41,660
40,160
36,340
35,780
35,560
34,630
33,330
30,610
28,190
27,910
$100,310
92,270
74,500
71,430
67,890
64,720
64,280
50,670
48,460
42,350
41,230
42,270
41,790
40,200
36,080
32,320
32,220
$21,440
14,940
12,870
13,410
13,900
11,370
11,900
9,010
8,300
6,010
5,450
6,710
7,160
6,870
5,470
4,130
4,310
27.2
19.3
20.9
23.1
25.7
21.3
22.7
21.6
20.7
16.5
15.2
18.9
20.7
20.6
17.9
14.7
15.4
00–0000
Median wage for all occupations...........................................................
53–0000
Transportation and material moving....................................................
31–0000
Health care support....................................................................................
39–0000
Personal care and service..........................................................................
37–0000
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance...........................
45–0000
Farming, fishing, and forestry..................................................................
35–0000
Food preparation and serving related..................................................
1
Statistically significant at the 90-percent confidence level.
27,690
27,220
22,410
21,370
20,850
20,220
17,180
32,390
31,450
26,340
24,120
24,370
23,560
20,220
4,700
4,230
3,930
2,750
3,520
3,340
3,040
17.0
15.5
17.5
12.9
16.9
16.5
17.7
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 41
Wage Inequality
Chart 1. Wages and percent growth in wages, by occupational group, 2002–08
Percent growth
in wages, 2002–08
Percent growth
in wages, 2002–08
× Management
Health care practioners and technical
Architecture and engineering
▲
Life, physical, and social science
Business and financial operations
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media
Community and social services
Computer and mathematical
Education, training, and library
Legal
Protective service ▲
25.00
20.00
15.00
▲
Building and grounds cleaning
and maintenance
Farming, fishing, and forestry
× Sales and related
Health care support
Food preparation
and serving related
Construction and extraction
Office and administrative support
Transportation and material moving ×
Production
10.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
Installation, maintenance, and repair
10.00
Personal care and service
5.00
5.00
0.00
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
0.00
90,000
Mean annual wage, dollars (2002)
pations, both of which experienced wage increases slightly
higher than the average. These two occupations are shown
in the upper left quadrant. Groups falling outside the trend
are examined further.
Three occupational groups had lower wage growth than
would be expected on the basis of their relatively high wage:
legal occupations; installation, maintenance, and repair occupations; and construction and extraction occupations.
The legal occupations group showed one of the biggest differences between its 2002 wage and its subsequent wage
growth: with the 2nd-highest average annual wage in 2002,
this group had only the 11th-highest wage growth and is
furthest from the trend line in chart 1. Further study of
the group reveals that the relatively low wage growth was
influenced primarily by lawyers, the legal group’s detailed
occupation with the most employment, but a relatively low
wage growth of 17.8 percent. This comparatively small wage
growth may be a reflection of the limitation of the OES data
and its methodology of collecting data in wage ranges. The
top wage range in the OES survey is $145,600 or more per
year, so the survey is less effective in measuring wages of the
highest wage earners. Therefore, the wage growth figure for
legal occupations may be underestimated. This explanation
is supported by an examination of the wages of lawyers who
are unaffected by the survey’s top-coding methodology.
42
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Even the relatively lower paid lawyers showed higher-thanaverage wage growth: the 10th through 50th percentile of
the wage distribution for lawyers showed increases of at
least 22.4 percent.
The occupational group with the next-largest difference
between its rank in wages in 2002 and its rank in percent
change in wages is installation, maintenance, and repair.
This group had the 11th-highest overall annual average
wage in 2002, but the 20th-highest wage growth. Lower
wage growth seems to be the norm for most, but not all, of
the detailed occupations within the group, with 41 of the
51 detailed occupations having a percent change in wages
that was below 18.9 percent for the period between 2002
and 2008. Some occupations in installation, maintenance,
and repair that had large percent-change wage increases
include watch repairers; manufactured building and home
installers; and powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical
and electronics repairers, all of which had wage increases
of 21.0 percent or more.
The third group with wage growth that was lower than
would be expected on the basis of its 2002 wages was
construction and extraction occupations, which had the
10th-highest average wage in 2002, but only the 16thhighest wage growth. The slow growth in this group hides
underlying trends for two subgroups: even slower growth
for construction-related occupations and faster-than-average wage growth for oil-and-gas-related occupations.
Lower wage growth for occupations associated with residential and commercial construction may have been due
to the slowdown in residential building after the housing
bubble burst.5 Occupations associated with the commodities of oil and gas, which, as an industry, had experienced
its own bubble in 2007,6 experienced much faster than
average growth. For example, the wage percent change
of 4 of the 5 occupations with the highest wage growth
in the construction and extraction group, all linked to
working with oil and gas, ranged from 31.3 percent to
49.7 percent. In contrast, carpet installers; paperhangers;
floor sanders and finishers; carpenters; carpenters’ helpers;
plumbers’, pipefitters’, and steamfitters’ helpers; construction and maintenance painters; plumbers, pipefitters, and
steamfitters; electricians; construction laborers; and other
related occupations all had wage percent changes below
the average of 18.9 percent.
Like construction and extraction, production occupations had wage growth that was lower than expected. The
group had the 15th-highest average wage in 2002, but
the 21st-highest wage growth. Low growth was prevalent
throughout the occupational group, with 91 of the 111
comparable occupations, representing 91 percent of the
group’s employment, having below-average wage growth.
Eleven occupation groups had higher wage growth
than would be expected on the basis of their 2002 wage
rank. The 5 groups with the greatest positive difference
between their 2002 wage positions and wage growth positions were food preparation and serving; building and
grounds cleaning and maintenance; farming, fishing, and
forestry occupations; health care support occupations; and
community and social services occupations. All 5 groups
had below-average wages, and 4 of the 5 had below-average wage growth, resulting in wages in 2008 that were
even further from the average than they were in 2002 and
contributing to increased wage dispersion. These lower
paying groups of occupations had smaller wage increases
compared with the groups of occupations that grew less
than their wage rank would indicate: the average annual
wage increase of the 5 groups that went up in wage percent growth rank was $4,198, whereas the average annual
wage increase of the 5 groups that went down in rank was
$8,680, more than double.
Two of the occupational groups with higher growth
than would be expected from their 2002 wages were food
preparation and serving related occupations and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations.
Food preparation and serving related occupations had the
lowest overall wage in 2002, but the 13th-highest wage
increase. Relatively high wage growth was seen in only 5
of the 16 occupations in this group and was concentrated
in just 1 occupation: waiters and waitresses, an occupation
making up approximately 21 percent of total employment
in the group and having a wage percent change of 24.2
percent. In contrast, combined food preparation and serving workers including fast-food workers, an occupation
making up nearly 24 percent of total employment in the
group, had a wage percent change of 14.9 percent.
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations also had a large difference between the group’s
annual average wage position in 2002, namely, 20th, and its
wage growth position, 15th. The wage percent change was
set predominantly by maids and housekeeping cleaners, an
occupational component that accounted for approximately
49 percent of the group’s total employment and had a wage
percent change of 16.6 percent. Wage growth for the building and grounds cleaning and maintenance group was in a
narrower range than that of most other groups, with a low
of 15.7 percent and a high of 20.2 percent.
Skills, technology, and wage growth
To measure the impact of the demand for workers of different skill levels on wage growth (under the assumption
that occupations in which wages have climbed the most
are the most in demand), education data7 from the CPS
were linked to occupational data from the OES survey. The
BLS Employment Projections program has identified the
typical educational background of workers in each occupation: high school (HS); high school/some college (HS/SC);
high school/some college/college (HS/SC/C); some college
(SC); some college/college (SC/C); and college (C). (See
note 4.) The 741 matching detailed occupations between
2002 and 2008 were sorted by percent change in wage,
and the 50 occupations with the lowest and highest statistically significant percent changes in wages are shown
in tables 3 and 4, respectively. Among occupations with
the lowest growth, the ones that are most likely affected
by the OES wage methodology, such as lawyers, were excluded from the table, because the top wage range might
mask higher wage growth.8
Chart 2 shows the general relationship between educational clusters and wage growth over the 2002–08 period
for all occupations in each educational cluster. In general,
higher average wage growth is associated with increasing
levels of education. An exception is the “some college” (SC)
category, whose average wage growth was lower than that
of the “high school/some college/college” (HS/SC/C) catMonthly Labor Review • June 2009 43
Wage Inequality
Table
1.
3.
Occupations with the lowest percent growth in wages, 2002–08
Difference
CPS
Average
Average
Percent
SOC
(2008 wage
Occupational title
education
annual wage, annual wage,
change
code
minus 2002
level
2008
2002
wage)
53–4013 Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers........
$40,600
$34,850
High school/
some college
–$5,750
–14.2
33–2022 Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists..............
40,720
36,400
41–9091 Door-to-door salesworkers, news and street vendors,
and related workers.....................................................................
30,120
27,600
High school/
some college/
college
–4,320
–10.6
High school/
some college/
college
–2,520
–8.4
47–4091 Segmental pavers.........................................................................
29,630
28,450
High school/
some college
–1,180
–4.0
College
–2,100
–2.5
High school/
some college
–660
–2.3
College
–820
–1.9
29–1011
Chiropractors..................................................................................
83,440
81,340
49–9093 Fabric menders, except garment............................................
28,580
27,920
15–2091
Mathematical technicians.........................................................
42,920
42,100
25–1043
Forestry and conservation science teachers,
postsecondary...............................................................................
68,030
67,400
College
–630
–.9
39–6011 Baggage porters and bellhops................................................
22,440
23,170
High school/
some college
730
3.3
53–7071 Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators.....
42,920
44,410
High school/
some college
1,490
3.5
51–9031
25,540
High school
910
3.7
51–3093 Food cooking machine operators and tenders.................
23,160
24,110
High school/
some college
950
4.1
27–2022 Coaches and scouts.....................................................................
34,170
35,580
Some college/
college
1,410
4.1
53–2022 Airfield operations specialists..................................................
40,850
42,550
Some college/
college
1,700
4.2
53–4011 Locomotive engineers................................................................
51,280
53,470
High school/
some college
2,190
4.3
27–2023 Umpires, referees, and other sports officials.......................
27,010
28,330
Some college/
college
1,320
4.9
53–4041 Subway and streetcar operators.............................................
46,810
49,330
51–9192 Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment
operators and tenders................................................................
24,780
26,140
51–4081 Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders,
metal and plastic...........................................................................
31,050
32,780
High school/
some college
2,520
5.4
High school/
some college
1,360
5.5
High school/
some college
1,730
5.6
51–9197 Tire builders....................................................................................
35,990
38,080
High school/
some college
2,090
5.8
33–3052 Transit and railroad police.........................................................
45,750
48,540
Some college/
college
2,790
6.1
53–7072 Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers.......................
38,640
41,020
High school/
some college
2,380
6.2
17–3021 Aerospace engineering and operations technicians.......
52,990
56,280
High school/
some college
3,290
6.2
34,180
High school
2,090
6.5
43–5111 Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers,
recordkeeping................................................................................
26,740
28,500
High school/
some college
1,760
6.6
45–4021
44
Cutters and trimmers, hand......................................................
Fallers................................................................................................
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
24,630
32,090
Table 3. Continued—Occupations with the lowest percent growth in wages, 2002–08
SOC
code
Occupational title
Average
annual wage,
2002
Average
annual wage,
2008
51–4122 Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters,
operators, and tenders...............................................................
31,620
33,700
CPS
education
level
Difference
(2008 wage
minus 2002
wage)
Percent
change
High school/
some college
2,080
6.6
25–9021
Farm and home management advisors...............................
41,850
44,630
College
2,780
6.6
23–1022
Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators...............................
55,970
59,650
College
3,680
6.6
39–6032 Transportation attendants, except flight attendants
and baggage porters...................................................................
20,940
22,370
High school/
some college/
college
1,430
6.8
41–9011 Demonstrators and product promoters...............................
25,360
27,150
High school/
some college/
college
1,790
7.1
47–5051 Rock splitters, quarry...................................................................
28,070
30,160
51–6064 Textile winding, twisting, and drawing-out machine
setters, operators, and tenders................................................
22,810
24,600
51–9132 Photographic processing machine operators....................
21,080
22,740
49–2096 Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor
vehicles.............................................................................................
27,600
29,770
High school/
some college
2,090
7.4
High school
High school/
some college
1,790
1,660
7.8
7.9
High school/
some college
2,170
7.9
19–4093 Forest and conservation technicians.....................................
32,700
35,320
Some college/
college
2,620
8.0
53–4021 Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators......................
45,750
49,400
51–4034 Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and
tenders, metal and plastic.........................................................
31,450
34,070
High school/
some college
3,650
8.0
High school/
some college
2,620
8.3
49–9063 Musical instrument repairers and tuners.............................
33,210
35,950
51–9041 Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine
setters, operators, and tenders................................................
28,070
30,430
High school/
some college
2,740
8.3
High school/
some college
2,360
8.4
51–9022 Grinding and polishing workers, hand.................................
24,940
27,100
High school/
some college
2,160
8.7
39–4011 Embalmers......................................................................................
36,160
39,320
High school/
some college/
college
3,160
8.7
43–5081 Stock clerks and order fillers.....................................................
21,240
23,140
High school/
some college
1,900
8.9
49–9098
47–3011
23,560
25,670
High school
2,110
9.0
27,170
29,610
High school
2,440
9.0
51–4194 Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners......................................
31,080
33,880
High school/
some college
2,800
9.0
31–9095 Pharmacy aides.............................................................................
19,700
21,500
High school/
some college
1,800
9.1
49–2092 Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers..............
34,030
37,110
High school/
some college
3,080
9.1
High school
3,740
9.2
High school
Some college/
college
2,070
5,690
9.3
9.3
47–2171
Helpers—installation, maintenance, and repair workers
Helpers—brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons,
and tile and marble setters.......................................................
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers.......................................
40,640
44,380
47–3014 Helpers—painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco
masons.............................................................................................
22,260
24,330
19–4051 Nuclear technicians......................................................................
61,220
66,910
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 45
Wage Inequality
Table 1.
4. Occupations with the highest percent growth in wages, 2002–08
Table
Difference
CPS
Average
Average
Percent
SOC
(2008 wage
Occupational title
education
annual wage, annual wage,
change
code
minus 2002
level
2008
2002
wage)
47–5012
Rotary drill operators, oil and gas...........................................
$36,320
$54,370
High school
$18,050
49.7
11–2031
Public relations managers.........................................................
69,870
101,220
College
31,350
44.9
11–3061 Purchasing managers..................................................................
66,250
94,300
Some college/
college
28,050
42.3
27–4032 Film and video editors................................................................
44,540
62,500
Some college/
college
17,960
40.3
25–1071
College
29,180
40.1
45–1012 Farm labor contractors...............................................................
26,220
36,640
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary........................
72,820
102,000
High school/
some college
10,420
39.7
27–2041 Music directors and composers...............................................
39,270
54,840
Some college/
college
15,570
39.6
17–2171
Petroleum engineers...................................................................
85,540
119,140
College
33,600
39.3
29–1051
Pharmacists.....................................................................................
75,140
104,260
College
29,120
38.8
19–3022
Survey researchers.......................................................................
30,360
42,060
College
11,700
38.5
11–9081 Lodging managers.......................................................................
38,110
52,550
High school/
some college
college
14,440
37.9
19–4041 Geological and petroleum technicians.................................
41,470
57,080
High school/
some college
college
15,610
37.6
36.9
11–2011
Advertising and promotions managers...............................
69,200
94,720
College
25,520
53–7033
Loading machine operators, underground mining.........
32,480
44,230
High school
11,750
36.2
11–9121
Natural sciences managers.......................................................
90,400
123,140
College
32,740
36.2
33–9021 Private detectives and investigators......................................
34,250
46,480
Some college/
college
12,230
35.7
11–2021 Marketing managers...................................................................
87,170
118,160
Some college/
college
30,990
35.6
47–5071
Roustabouts, oil and gas............................................................
24,160
32,660
High school
8,500
35.2
19–3091
Anthropologists and archeologists........................................
42,380
57,300
College
14,920
35.2
27–2012
Producers and directors.............................................................
61,500
83,030
College
21,530
35.0
19–1021
Biochemists and biophysicists.................................................
65,620
88,450
College
22,830
34.8
19–2021
Atmospheric and space scientists..........................................
61,000
82,080
College
21,080
34.6
High school/
some college/
college
20,150
34.0
College
18,720
33.8
11–3011 Administrative services managers..........................................
59,350
79,500
25–1021
Computer science teachers, postsecondary.......................
55,330
74,050
19–3041
Sociologists.....................................................................................
56,520
75,460
College
18,940
33.5
11–3031 Financial managers......................................................................
83,080
110,640
Some college/
college
27,560
33.2
29–2034 Radiologic technologists and technicians...........................
40,150
53,230
Some college/
college
13,080
32.6
35–1011 Chefs and head cooks.................................................................
32,000
42,410
High school/
some college
10,410
32.5
High school
10,300
32.3
51–6092
Fabric and apparel patternmakers.........................................
31,890
42,190
47–5011
Derrick operators, oil and gas..................................................
31,780
41,980
High school
10,200
32.1
45–2011 Agricultural inspectors................................................................
31,380
41,330
High school/
some college
college
9,950
31.7
46
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Table 1.
4. Continued—Occupations with the highest percent growth in wages, 2002–08
Table
Difference
CPS
Average
Average
Percent
SOC
(2008 wage
Occupational title
education
annual wage, annual wage,
change
code
minus 2002
level
2008
2002
wage)
53–5021 Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels.......................
51,430
67,730
High school/
some college
college
16,300
31.7
17–2061 Computer hardware engineers...............................................
76,150
100,180
Some college/
college
24,030
31.6
53–7031
Dredge operators.........................................................................
29,740
39,040
High school
9,300
31.3
47–5013
Service unit operators, oil, gas, and mining........................
31,480
41,320
High school
9,840
31.3
17–1022
Surveyors.........................................................................................
42,630
55,980
College
13,350
31.3
25–1192
Home economics teachers, postsecondary........................
53,650
70,420
College
16,770
31.3
Some college/
college
28,270
31.3
11–3021 Computer and information systems managers.................
90,440
118,710
31–2011
Occupational therapist assistants...........................................
36,950
48,440
Some college
11,490
31.1
17–2131
Materials engineers......................................................................
64,310
84,200
College
19,890
30.9
Some college/
college
15,290
30.7
29–1111 Registered nurses.........................................................................
49,840
65,130
17–2021
College
17,120
30.7
27–1027 Set and exhibit designers..........................................................
37,250
48,660
Some college/
college
11,410
30.6
29–1126 Respiratory therapists.................................................................
40,700
53,150
Some college/
college
12,450
30.6
College
14,220
30.6
13–2041 Credit analysts................................................................................
49,530
64,580
Some college/
college
15,050
30.4
53–2012 Commercial pilots.........................................................................
58,000
75,500
Some college/
college
17,500
30.2
11–3071 Transportation, storage, and distribution managers.......
65,070
84,520
High school/
some college/
college
19,450
29.9
25–1193
Agricultural engineers................................................................
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary.....
55,730
46,480
72,850
60,700
41–9031
Sales engineers..............................................................................
69,200
89,770
College
20,570
29.7
11–9033
Education administrators, postsecondary...........................
71,630
92,920
College
21,290
29.7
egory. This relatively low growth was due to changes in the
occupational employment composition of the group. The
SC category has only four occupations in it, each of which
grew between 20.4 percent and 31.1 percent; however, employment increases in the lowest paid occupation—emergency medical technicians and paramedics—lowered the
wage growth for the group. Another exception is the “college” (C) category, whose average wage growth was lower
than that of both the “high school/some college/college”
(HS/SC/C) and “some college/college” (SC/C) categories.
The college category is dominated by the employment of
elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers, who
make up nearly 25 percent of total employment in the
category. Teachers had wage growth rates ranging from
18.2 percent to 19.2 percent. In addition, the wage percent change of the “some college/college” (SC/C) category
was higher than that of the “college” (C) category, largely
because of both registered nurses, who made up 14.1 percent of employment with a wage percent change of 30.7
percent, and business managers, accounting for approximately 20.8 percent of employment with wage percent
changes from 21.8 percent to 33.2 percent.
Table 3, which lists the 50 occupations with the lowest wage growth during 2002–08, provides evidence of
the link between skills or education and wage dispersion.
Most of the occupations in this table require relatively
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 47
Wage Inequality
Chart 2. Wage growth, by education level, 2002–08
Percent growth
in wages, 2002–08
30.0
25.0
25.0
20.0
20.0
15.0
15.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
0.0
College
Some college/
Some college
High school/
college
some college/
college
Education level
low levels of skill. Twelve of the 50 occupations listed are
production occupations, 7 are from the transportation
and material-moving group, and there are 5 occupations
each from the construction and extraction group and the
installation, maintenance, and repair group. Thirty-nine
of the occupations with the lowest wage growth have
educational levels ranging from high school through high
school/some college/college. Only 11 of the occupations
have high educational levels of some college or college.
Table 4 offers further evidence of the connection between skills or education and wage dispersion. The table
lists the 50 occupations with the highest wage growth
from 2002 to 2008, most of which require relatively high
levels of skill. Eleven of the occupations are from the management group; 6 are in the life, physical, and social science group; and 5 are in the architecture and engineering
group. In contrast to the occupations listed in table 3, only
15 occupations in table 4 have educational levels ranging
from high school through high school/some college/college. Thirty-five of the 50 occupations have an educational
level of either some college or college.
In comparing Tables 3 and 4, a few generalizations
may be made in support of the skill- or education-biased
wage-change hypothesis. According to this hypothesis,
occupations that work with computers and new technol48
Percent growth
in wages, 2002–08
30.0
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
High school/
some college
High school
0.0
ogy should have the highest wage growth and college-educated workers are in the best position to take advantage
of such productivity-increasing technology. In fact, table
4 does have a preponderance of college-educated occupations, compared with table 3.
Although the broad group of computer and mathematical science occupations, which are the most directly related
to many types of technology, did not show the highest
wage growth, there is support for the hypothesis within the
occupational group. In this regard, the detailed occupation
consisting of computer and information research scientists
had the highest percent change in wages in the group. This
is an occupation that requires high levels of education or
talent to invent or design solutions to problems in the field
of computer hardware and software. In comparison, the
occupation consisting of computer support specialists had
the lowest percent change in wages of all detailed occupations in the group and may indeed be suffering stagnating
wages because technology has allowed workers in the occupation to be replaced by automated assistants, online help,
and technical support workers located overseas. This is the
downside of advancing technology: workers are finding
that their skills are being replaced by that very technology,
in one way or another. Simply put, one of the occupations
in the computer and mathematical science occupational
group is taking advantage of higher education while the
other is losing ground because of automation.
Technology may enhance the productivity of workers in
fields other than computer science. For example, the collection, processing, and analysis of medical information is
more efficient with advanced technology, allowing medical
workers to serve more individuals. Also, pharmacists filling
prescriptions for new drugs use technology to help screen
customers for adverse drug interactions. In another application of technology, nurses may enter notes concerning
a patient’s progress on a wireless portable memory device
that instantly becomes available to the doctor. Finally, the
nuclear medical technologist using a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device to scan a patient for disease
can improve productivity by having the results of the scan
uploaded almost instantaneously to the patient’s electronic
file for diagnosis. Again, workers with high levels of education and skill are in the best position to take advantage of
productivity-increasing technology.
More support for this hypothesis is found in table 3,
which lists lesser skilled occupations that are more likely to suffer from the other side of the increased use of
technology: labor replacement. For instance, workers in
manufacturing occupations may be replaced by robots or
computerized manufacturing. Similarly, demonstrators
and product promoters may be replaced with virtual online demonstrators and product promoters. Finally, door-
to-door salesworkers, news and street vendors, and related
workers may suffer from the availability of Internet news
and targeted e-mail and phone advertising.
OES DATA SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS that wage disper-
sion continued from 2002 to 2008. National wage distribution data show a clear positive correlation between percentile levels and wage increases: the higher the percentile,
the higher is the percent change in wages. In addition,
occupational groups with higher average wages in 2002
tended to have the highest subsequent wage growth.
Examining wage growth by occupational group provides insight into the types of jobs that have experienced
the largest wage increases. The five occupational groups
with the highest wage growth are management occupations; health care practitioners and technical occupations;
architecture and engineering occupations; life, physical,
and social science occupations; and education, training,
and library occupations. In contrast, the occupational
groups with the lowest wage growth were personal care
and service occupations; food preparation and serving
related occupations; farming, fishing, and forestry occupations; construction and extraction occupations; and
production occupations. In sum, occupations usually associated with higher education and higher technical skills
have had higher wage growth than occupations with lower
education and skill requirements.
Notes
1
Aaron Steelman and John A. Weinberg, “What’s Driving Wage Inequality?”
Economic Quarterly (Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond), summer 2005, pp.
1–17, cite this general consensus among economists.
2
David H. Autor, Lawrence F. Katz, and Melissa S. Kearney, “The
Polarization of the U.S. Labor Market,” NBER Working Paper No. 11986
(National Bureau of Economic Research, January 2006), pp. 1–19ff.
3
Steelman and Weinberg, “What’s Driving Wage Inequality?”
See “Occupational Projections and Training Data” (Bureau of Labor
Statistics, no date), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/emp/optd (visited June 17,
2009). Data on educational attainment by occupation come from the Current
Population Survey and are given in Occupational Projections and Training
Data, Bulletin 2602 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2007). Chapter 1,
“Education and Training Classification Systems,” says,
4
The educational attainment cluster system sorts occupations
according to the highest level of educational attainment of current
workers....
If an education level represents the highest educational attainment
of at least 20 percent of workers in an occupation, that education level
is included in the education category of the occupation. For example,
if more than 60 percent of workers have a high school diploma or less,
less than 20 percent have some college or an associate degree, and less
than 20 percent have a bachelor’s or higher degree, that occupation is
considered a high school (HS) occupation. However, if more than 20
percent have a high school degree or less, more than 20 percent have
attended some college or held an associate degree, and less than 20
percent have a bachelor’s or higher degree, the occupation is considered
to be a high school/some college (HS/SC) occupation.
5
For a discussion of job losses in residential construction, see the BLS news
release “The Employment Situation: May 2008” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 6,
2008), on the Internet at www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_06062008.
pdf (visited June 17, 2009). For a look at when the housing bubble burst, see
“Nationally, Home Prices Began 2009 with Record Declines According to the S&P/
Case-Shiller Home Price Indices,” Standard & Poor’s Press Release, May 26, 2009,
on the Internet at www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/index/CSHomePrice_
Release_052619.pdf (visited June 17, 2009); see especially chart, p. 1.
6
For an examination of the oil and gas industry, see “Oil Price History
and Analysis,” on the Internet at www.wtrg.com/prices.htm (visited June 17,
2009).
7
Education is often linked with skill. Other influences on skill include
experience, training, and individuals’ abilities—for instance, creativity.
8
The OES top wage range was $145,600 or more for panels prior to
November 2005. Currently, the top wage range is $166,400 or more. In either
case, because respondents cannot report their actual top wage, the top wage
range may mask wage growth for the highest wage earners over time.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 49
Visual Essay: Productivity Trends
Productivity trends in business cycles:
a visual essay
Michael Chernousov, Susan E. Fleck, and John Glaser
P
roductivity measures are used to assess the
state of the economy. The series of charts in
this visual essay provides an overview of labor productivity and related measures in the U.S.
nonfarm business and manufacturing sectors. The
nonfarm business sector accounts for three-fourths
of output and employment in the total economy;
manufacturing—a subsector of nonfarm businesses—produces about a quarter of U.S. output and
accounts for just under 10 percent of its employment.
Capital-intensive investment, improvements in
technology, and better skilled workers, among other
factors, translate into labor productivity growth in
the long term. More than 60 years of data—spanning 11 cycles of recessions and expansions—highlight long-term trends in productivity, output, and
hours worked. Productivity data are cyclical. In a
recession, output and hours worked decline, although usually not in tandem. Thus, productivity,
which is the measure of output per hour worked,
provides a window through which to analyze business cycles.
The National Bureau of Economic Research
(NBER) is responsible for identifying the month
in which changes in economic activity signal the
end of a business-cycle expansion, as well as the
month in which the ensuing recession ends. The
last month of expansion is called the peak; the last
month of a business-cycle contraction, or recession,
is called the trough. Recessions are measured by the
time between the peak and the trough, and expansions are measured by the time between the trough
and the peak.
50
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
The productivity measures in this visual essay are
quarterly data. In order to represent quarterly data
in the context of business cycles that NBER defines
using months, the quarter that contains the month
designated by NBER as the peak or trough of economic activity is identified in this visual essay as the
peak quarter or trough quarter. For example, the peak
marking the onset of the present recession is considered for the purpose of this essay to be the fourth
quarter of 2007, because NBER designated December
2007 as the most recent peak month of the business
cycle.
Since 1947, the first year for which nonfarm productivity data are available, there have been 11 recessions, including the one beginning in December
2007. The dates below are the years and quarters that
mark these recessions and expansions; no trough has
been designated for the present recession.
Year/quarter of the peak
1948:4
1953:2
1957:3
1960:2
1969:4
1973:4
1980:1
1981:3
1990:3
2001:1
2007:4
Year/quarter of the trough
1949:4
1954:2
1958:2
1961:1
1970:4
1975:1
1980:3
1982:4
1991:1
2001:4
Not yet designated
The current recession continues to show declining
output and hours worked through the first quarter
of 2009. Two other post-WWII recessions, from the
fourth quarter of 1973 to the first quarter of 1975
and from the third quarter of 1981 to the fourth
quarter of 1982, also lasted through five quarters;
the rest were shorter. Manufacturing data are available from 1949 onward.
The charts in this visual essay highlight output
and hours worked as well as output per hour worked,
or labor productivity; data on labor costs are also
included. Data are presented as indexes and growth
rates. Index measures are derived from data on output, hours worked, and compensation. Comparing
data based on different units and levels—such as
billions of dollars or thousands of hours—can skew
the analysis. To improve comparative analysis, the
long-term trends are based on the natural logarithm
of the index measures. The natural logarithm creates
a straighter line of data when comparing different
data series based on widely different levels over long
periods of time. Growth rates are based on percent
changes in indexes and are compounded to create an-
nual rates. Averages of productivity measures across
recessions and expansions are weighted averages of
compound annual rates, in which the weights are
based on the number of quarters that compose the
various time periods, excluding the current recession. All data are seasonally adjusted.
The data in these charts are updated eight times
a year in the Productivity and Costs news release
prepared by BLS. The charts prepared for this visual
essay are based on the June 4, 2009, Productivity
and Costs news release. All data are quarterly, unless otherwise noted. Data are available at the BLS
website, www.bls.gov/data/home.htm, or by contacting the BLS Division of Major Sector Productivity by telephone at (202) 691–5606 or by email at
DPRWEB@bls.gov. This essay was prepared by Michael Chernousov, economist; Susan E. Fleck, division chief; and John Glaser, supervisory economist;
in the Division of Major Sector Productivity in the
Office of Productivity and Technology, Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
51
Visual Essay: Productivity Trends
1. Productivity in the nonfarm business sector, 1947–2009
Natural logarithm
of indexes
Natural logarithm
of indexes
6.0
6.0
5.8
5.8
5.6
5.6
5.4
5.4
5.2
5.2
5.0
5.0
4.8
4.8
4.6
4.6
1947
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
NOTE: The shaded bars denote recessions. Because the data in the chart are quarterly, peaks and troughs of economic activity are assigned
to quarters instead of months. An endpoint for the most recent recession has yet to be designated.
• Labor productivity is defined as total output divided by total hours worked by all people: employees, the self-employed, and unpaid family workers. Productivity in the nonfarm business sector often dips during recessions.
• Overall, productivity growth has been positive since the series began in 1947.
52
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
2. Productivity growth in the nonfarm business sector, 1947–2008
Average annual
percent change
Average annual
percent change
3.5
3.5
3.0
3.0
2.5
2.5
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0
1947–1973
1973–1979
1979–1990
1990–1995
1995–2000
2000–2005
2005–2008
0
• Though productivity growth has trended upwards over the last 60 years, a slowdown in productivity growth in
nonfarm businesses took place from the early 1970s through 1995.
• After 1995 productivity growth shifted upwards, until recently. This productivity boost is often attributed to capitalintensive investments and improvements in technology.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
53
Visual Essay: Productivity Trends
3. Productivity, output, and hours worked, nonfarm business sector, 1947–2009
Natural logarithm
of indexes
Natural logarithm
of indexes
7.0
7.0
6.5
6.5
Output
6.0
6.0
Productivity
5.5
5.5
Hours worked
5.0
4.5
1947
5.0
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
4.5
NOTE: The shaded bars denote recessions. Because the data in the chart are quarterly, peaks and troughs of economic activity are assigned
to quarters instead of months. An endpoint for the most recent recession has yet to be designated.
• In recessions both output and hours worked contract. Output usually slows earlier than hours worked in a recession
and recovers sooner during an expansion.
• Over the long term, output has outpaced hours worked. Hours worked have taken longer to return to prerecession
levels, especially in the most recent recessions.
54
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
4. Productivity growth, nonfarm business sector, first quarter 1947–first quarter 2009
Percent change
at an annual rate
Percent change
at an annual rate
20.0
20.0
From previous quarter, compound annual rate
From same quarter 1 year ago
15.0
15.0
10.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
0.0
0.0
–5.0
–5.0
–10.0
–10.0
–15.0
1947
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
–15.0
NOTE: The shaded bars denote recessions. Because the data in the chart are quarterly, peaks and troughs of economic activity are assigned
to quarters instead of months. An endpoint for the most recent recession has yet to be designated.
• Quarterly movement in the growth of nonfarm business output per hour is highly volatile. The percent change
from a given quarter of one year to the same quarter of the following year provides a longer term perspective.
• Recessions generally end with high productivity growth that carries on into the initial few quarters of the
recovery, illustrated by spikes in the blue line just beyond the shaded areas.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
55
Visual Essay: Productivity Trends
5. Growth in productivity, output, and hours worked during recessions, nonfarm business sector,
fourth quarter 1948–first quarter 2009
Average annual
percent change
Average annual
percent change
6.0
6.0
g Productivity g Output g Hours worked
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
–2.0
–2.0
–4.0
–4.0
–6.0
–6.0
–8.0
–8.0
–10.0
1948: Q4 1953: Q2 1957: Q3
to
to
to
1949: Q4 1954: Q2 1958: Q2
1960: Q2 1969: Q4 1973: Q4 1980: Q1 1981: Q3 1990: Q3 2001: Q1
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
1961: Q1 1970: Q4 1975: Q1 1980: Q3 1982: Q4 1991: Q1 2001: Q4
Average
through
2001
2007: Q4
to
2009: Q1
–10.0
• Negative productivity growth is more likely during recessions than expansions. Three of the 10 recessions prior to
the current one involved a contraction in output that surpassed the decline in hours in the nonfarm business sector.
• Productivity growth in recessions may also be positive, albeit weak, when the change in hours worked is less positive
or more negative than the change in output. In 4 of the last 10 recessions before the current one, nonfarm business
productivity experienced more than 1.0 percent growth. For the 10 recessions combined, productivity growth averaged 1.1 percent.
56
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
6. Growth in productivity, output, and hours worked during expansions, nonfarm business sector,
fourth quarter 1949–fourth quarter 2007
Average annual
percent change
Average annual
percent change
8.0
8.0
g Productivity g Output g Hours worked
7.0
7.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
4.0
3.0
3.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
1.0
0.0
1949: Q4
to
1953: Q2
1954: Q2
to
1957: Q3
1958: Q2
to
1960: Q2
1961: Q1
to
1969: Q4
1970: Q4
to
1973: Q4
1975: Q1
to
1980: Q1
1980: Q3
to
1981: Q3
1982: Q4
to
1990: Q3
1991: Q1
to
2001: Q1
2001: Q4
to
2007: Q4
Average
through
2007
0.0
• Expansions are marked by growth in total hours worked and even higher growth in output. This combination results
in higher productivity growth during the upturn in the business cycle.
• Expansions typically last much longer than recessionary periods and exhibit greater productivity growth, which has
averaged 2.4 percent.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
57
Visual Essay: Productivity Trends
7. Productivity, output, and hours worked, manufacturing sector, first quarter 1949–first quarter 2009
Natural logarithm
of indexes
Natural logarithm
of indexes
6.5
6.5
Output
6.0
6.0
Productivity
5.5
5.5
5.0
5.0
Hours worked
4.5
4.0
4.5
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
4.0
NOTE: The shaded bars denote recessions. Because the data in the chart are quarterly, peaks and troughs of economic activity are assigned
to quarters instead of months. An endpoint for the most recent recession has yet to be designated.
• Manufacturing-sector data from 1949 onward highlight how labor productivity has improved steadily over the last
six decades. Over the last three decades, this is due partly to a fall-off in hours worked.
• Recessions are clearly marked in historical manufacturing-sector data by downward shifts in output and hours
worked.
• The 2001 recession saw a large dip in manufacturing output, as well as a decline in hours worked that continued
throughout the subsequent expansion.
58
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
8. Growth in productivity, output, and hours worked during recessions, manufacturing sector,
second quarter 1953–first quarter 2009
Average annual
percent change
Average annual
percent change
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
–2.0
–2.0
–4.0
–4.0
–6.0
–6.0
–8.0
–8.0
–10.0
–10.0
–12.0
–12.0
g Productivity g Output g Hours worked
–14.0
1953: Q2
to
1954: Q2
1957: Q3
to
1958: Q2
1960: Q2
to
1961: Q1
1969: Q4
to
1970: Q4
1973: Q4
to
1975: Q1
1980: Q1
to
1980: Q3
1981: Q3
to
1982: Q4
1990: Q3
to
1991: Q1
–14.0
2001: Q1
to
2001: Q4
Average
through
2001
2007: Q4
to
2009: Q1
• In the manufacturing sector, recessions are consistently characterized by reductions in output and hours worked that
are deeper than in the nonfarm business sector as a whole. (See chart 5.)
• Half of the recessions showed positive productivity growth because the decline in hours worked outpaced the
contraction of output. On average, productivity has grown 1.8 percent in the manufacturing sector in the nine recessionary periods beginning with the recession that started in 1953.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
59
Visual Essay: Productivity Trends
9. Growth in productivity, output, and hours worked during expansions, manufacturing sector,
second quarter 1954–fourth quarter 2007
Average annual
percent change
Average annual
percent change
10.0
10.0
g Productivity g Output g Hours worked
8.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
–2.0
–2.0
–4.0
1954: Q2
to
1957: Q3
1958: Q2
to
1960: Q2
1961: Q1
to
1969: Q4
1970: Q4
to
1973: Q4
1975: Q1
to
1980: Q1
1980: Q3
to
1981: Q3
1982: Q4
to
1990: Q3
1991: Q1
to
2001: Q1
2001: Q4
to
2007: Q4
Average
through
2007
–4.0
• In the manufacturing sector, expansions—in contrast to recessions—consistently show positive productivity growth
because output advances faster than hours worked. The average rate of manufacturing-sector productivity growth
during recoveries since 1949 is 3.2 percent.
• Beginning with the economic recovery in 1970, hours worked in manufacturing grew more slowly with each successive expansion and fell outright from 2001 to 2007.
60
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
10. Productivity and real hourly compensation, nonfarm business sector, 1947–2009
Natural logarithm
of indexes
Natural logarithm
of indexes
6.0
6.0
5.8
5.8
Productivity
5.6
5.6
5.4
5.4
Real hourly
compensation
5.2
5.2
5.0
5.0
4.8
4.8
4.6
4.6
1947
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
NOTE: The shaded bars denote recessions. Because the data in the chart are quarterly, peaks and troughs of economic activity are assigned
to quarters instead of months. An endpoint for the most recent recession has yet to be designated.
• Real hourly compensation, which measures wages plus benefits adjusted for consumer prices, does not typically
experience dips during recessions. This trend implies that workers who maintain jobs during a recession do not
see a loss in their purchasing power.
• Output per hour closely tracked real hourly compensation through the 1970s. After 1982 productivity began
growing faster than real hourly compensation.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
61
Visual Essay: Productivity Trends
11. Productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs, nonfarm business sector, 1947–2009
Natural logarithm
of indexes
Natural logarithm
of indexes
8.0
7.5
8.0
Hourly
compensation
7.0
6.5
6.0
7.5
7.0
Unit labor costs
Productivity
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.5
5.0
5.0
4.5
4.5
1947 1950 1953 1956 1959 1962 1965 1968 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007
NOTE: The shaded bars denote recessions. Because the data in the chart are quarterly, peaks and troughs of economic activity are assigned
to quarters instead of months. An endpoint for the most recent recession has yet to be designated.
• Unit labor costs are the ratio of hourly compensation to productivity. Because productivity has steadily improved,
unit labor costs have not increased as fast as hourly compensation.
• Unit labor costs tend to rise in the beginning of recessions, as output falls faster than hours worked and productivity
stagnates.
62
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
12. Growth in productivity, hourly compensation, and unit labor costs during recessions,
nonfarm business sector, fourth quarter 1948–first quarter 2009
Average annual
percent change
Average annual
percent change
14.0
14.0
g Productivity g Hourly compensation g Unit labor costs
12.0
12.0
10.0
10.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
–2.0
–2.0
–4.0
1948: Q4
to
1949: Q4
1953: Q2 1957: Q3 1960: Q2 1969: Q4 1973: Q4 1980: Q1 1981: Q3 1990: Q3 2001: Q1
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
1954: Q2 1958: Q2 1961: Q1 1970: Q4 1975: Q1 1980: Q3 1982: Q4 1991: Q1 2001: Q4
Average 2007: Q4
to
through
2009: Q1
2001
–4.0
• During the recessions of the 1970s and early 1980s, unit labor costs soared as productivity gains failed to keep up
with hourly compensation increases. High inflation was characteristic of the 1970s and early 1980s.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
63
Regional Report
The prominence
of Boston area colleges
and universities
Denis M. McSweeney
and
Walter J. Marshall
The Boston metropolitan area1 is recognized by many for its concentration
of prestigious private colleges and
universities. The metropolitan area is
home to 85 private colleges and universities employing 70,000 people and
attracting more than 360,000 students
from all over the world. This report
uses employment and wage data from
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Quarterly Census of Employment
and Wages (QCEW) program for the
years 1990 and 20072 to analyze the
labor market impact and contribution
of these institutions of higher education to the Boston area economy.
The analysis indicates a strong and
steady growth in both wages and employment, with job creation in colleges
and universities almost double the rate
for total private employment. Wage
gains also were higher for those working in colleges and universities than
for those in overall private industry.
The continuing growth of colleges and
universities enhances the quality of the
labor force and fuels knowledge-based
industries, which are attracted by that
quality.
Higher education employment
In 1990, there were almost 2,000
private colleges and universities in the
Denis M. McSweeney is Regional Commissioner, Boston/New York regional office,
Bureau of Labor Statistics; Walter J. Marshall
is a regional economist formerly with the
Boston regional office. E-mail: mcsweeney.
denis@bls.gov
64
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
United States, employing a total of
almost 725,000 workers. (See table 1.)
Massachusetts had 82 private colleges
and universities, employing more than
69,000. Fifty-eight of those institutions (70.7 percent) were located in the
Boston area, employing almost 58,000
workers.
By 2007, there were dramatic increases in the number of colleges
and universities, as well as in their
employment. In the United States,
there were almost 4,400 private colleges and universities, employing an
estimated 1,060,000 workers. Massachusetts colleges and universities
had grown to 124, employing almost
85,000. Eighty-five (68.5 percent) of
those institutions were in the Boston
area, employing more than 70,000
workers.
Higher education job growth
In the Nation over the 17-year period from 1990 to 2007, overall job
growth increased by 25.5 percent
while the growth in college and
university employment was 46.7
percent. Massachusetts employment
gains in colleges and universities were
almost double the overall percentage of growth in the private sector
(22.2 percent, compared with 11.3
percent). While the Massachusetts
economy added 288,000 jobs over
the period, 5.4 percent of the total
growth, or 15,400 jobs, were attributable to gains in higher education employment. The Boston area accounted
for approximately 80 percent of the
overall job gains in colleges and universities, with 12,000 jobs added over
the 17-year period, for a growth rate
of 20.9 percent, well above the overall
increase of 12.9 percent for the metropolitan area.
Metropolitan area comparisons
Using a location quotient3 comparison
among the largest metropolitan areas
in the Nation confirms the dominance
and importance that higher education employment had in the Boston
area over the 17-year period. In 1990,
Boston ranked first among major
metropolitan areas, with a location
quotient of 3.92. Seventeen years later, the Boston area still ranked first,
with a location quotient of 3.59. (See
chart 1.) The Boston area location
quotient indicates that college and
university employment was approximately three-and-a-half times more
concentrated, compared with the
U.S. average, and shows that none of
the other major metropolitan areas
came close to matching the Boston
area’s concentration of employment
in higher education.
Job generators
The concentration of colleges and
universities in both Massachusetts
and the Boston metropolitan area has
a positive impact on the quality of
the labor force. The highly educated
workforce attracts knowledge-based
industries such as professional and
business services, financial activities,
and navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments
manufacturing.
Colleges and universities themselves are a knowledge-based industry
that requires a highly skilled labor force
to educate students, and the results
benefit the Boston area by increasing
the percentage of the workforce with
college degrees. Nationally in 2007,
27.5 percent of adults 25 years and
older had bachelor’s degrees and 10.1
percent had more advanced degrees.
Among the 50 States, Massachu-
Table 1. Total private employment and employment in colleges and universities, United States, Massachusetts,
and Boston metropolitan area, 1990 and 2007 annual averages
Number
Change, 1990–2007
Employment and wages
1990
2007
Number
Percent
Employment:
Total private establishments.....................................................................
Total private employment..........................................................................
Colleges and universities’ establishments............................................
Colleges and universities’ employment................................................
Colleges and universities’ share of total private employment......
Location quotient..........................................................................................
5,860,445
90,855,141
1,985
723,107
.80
1.00
8,681,001
114,012,221
4,389
1,060,666
.93
1.00
2,820,556
23,157,080
2,404
337,559
–
–
48.1
25.5
121.1
46.7
–
–
Wages:
Total private average weekly wage........................................................
Total private average annual wage.........................................................
Colleges and universities’ average weekly wage...............................
Colleges and universities’ average annual wage...............................
$447
23,262
458
23,835
$853
44,362
925
48,098
$406
21,100
467
24,263
90.8
90.7
102.0
101.8
Employment:
Total private establishments.....................................................................
Total private employment..........................................................................
Colleges and universities’ establishments............................................
Colleges and universities’ employment................................................
Colleges and universities’ share of total private employment......
Location quotient..........................................................................................
164,346
2,537,238
82
69,423
2.74
3.44
204,301
2,824,834
124
84,847
3.00
3.23
39,955
287,596
42
15,424
–
–
24.3
11.3
51.2
22.2
–
–
Employment:
Total private average weekly wage........................................................
Total private average annual wage.........................................................
Colleges and universities’ average weekly wage...............................
Colleges and universities’ average annual wage...............................
$510
26,497
521
27,080
$1,073
55,798
1,095
56,927
$563
29,301
574
29,847
110.4
110.6
110.2
110.2
United States
Massachusetts
Boston metropolitan area
Employment:
Total private establishments.....................................................................
Total private employment..........................................................................
Colleges and universities’ establishments............................................
Colleges and universities’ employment................................................
Colleges and universities’ share of total private employment......
Location quotient..........................................................................................
113,165
1,859,951
58
57,960
3.12
3.92
135,840
2,099,976
85
70,089
3.34
3.59
22,675
240,025
27
12,129
–
–
20.0
12.9
46.6
20.9
–
–
Wages:
Total private average weekly wage........................................................
Total private average annual wage.........................................................
Colleges and universities’ average weekly wage...............................
Colleges and universities’ average annual wage...............................
$538
27,988
527
27,387
$1,168
60,725
1,136
59,058
$630
32,737
609
31,671
117.1
117.0
115.6
115.6
NOTE: Dash indicates not applicable.
SOURCE: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
65
Regional Report
Chart 1.
Location quotients for colleges and universities in 12 of the largest metropolitan areas, 2007
annual averages
Metropolitan area
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Chicago-Naperville -Joliet
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
New York-Northern New JerseyLong Island
Los Angeles-Long BeachSanta Ana
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta
Miami-Fort LauderdaleMiami Beach
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown
San Bernardino
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
Location quotient
setts ranked first in the percentage of
adults with both bachelor’s degrees
and advanced degrees. In 2007, 37.9
percent of Massachusetts adults had
completed a bachelor’s degree and 16
percent had completed an advanced
degree. In the Boston area, an even
greater percentage of the population—more than 40 percent—had
bachelor’s degrees.4
Massachusetts has consistently
attracted venture capital funds for
biotechnology-related investments. In
2007, Massachusetts attracted almost
$1.5 billion in investment funds for
biotechnology firms, up from $1.3 billion in 2006.5 To further highlight local prominence in knowledge-based
industries, despite being ranked 13th
in population, Massachusetts had
the fifth-highest number of patents
granted in 2007.6 Boston’s reputation
and prominence have been strengthened by the fact that 56 Nobel laureates have taught and do research in
66
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
the area’s colleges and universities.
Industry concentration
Using location quotient analysis at the
supersector7 industry level highlights
those industries which are prominently concentrated in the Boston area.
An examination of the 10 supersector industries in 2007 indicates that
the highest concentrated industry in
Boston was education and health services (location quotient = 1.34), an industry that includes not only colleges
and universities, but nursing homes,
hospitals, and elementary and secondary schools. (See chart 2.) In Boston,
employment in this supersector was
34 percent higher than the national
average.
The Boston area also had a high
concentration of other knowledgebased industries, including information (location quotient = 1.31);
financial activities (1.25); and pro-
fessional and business services (1.22).
These industries are generally regarded as knowledge-based industries
with high wages. In contrast, Boston
had lower-than-average concentrations in such industries as manufacturing, construction, and natural
resources and mining.
Higher education wages
In 1990, total U.S. private average
weekly wages were $447. (See table
1.) Massachusetts and Boston, with
average weekly wages of $510 and
$538, respectively, were 14 percent
and 20 percent above the national
average weekly wage. Massachusetts ranked fifth highest in average
weekly wages among the 50 States
in 1990. The average weekly wage
in colleges and universities in 1990
was $458 nationally, $521 in Massachusetts, and $527 in the Boston
area.
Chart 2.
Location quotients in the Boston metropolitan area, by industry supersector, 2007 annual averages
Industry
Total, all private industries
Natural resources and mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Colleges and universities (subsector of
education and health services)
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
0.00
Seventeen years later, in 2007,
Massachusetts ranked third highest
among the 50 States in the average weekly wage for private-industry
workers, at $1,073. Wages for colleges
and universities in Massachusetts were
$1,095, slightly above the average for
all private industry.
In the Boston area, where high-paying industries such as high technology,
finance, and biotechnology are more
concentrated, college and university
wages were $1,136, slightly lower than
the $1,168 average for private industry.
From 1990 to 2007, private-industry
wage gains were 91 percent nationally,
but 110 percent in Massachusetts and
117 percent in Boston. Those working
in colleges and universities saw a national average weekly pay increase of
102 percent, a gain of 110 percent in
Massachusetts, and an increase of 116
percent in Boston.
In 2007, total private wages in the
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
Location quotient
United States were $5.0 trillion, of
which $51 billion was generated by
colleges and universities. Thus, roughly 1.0 percent of all national wages was
earned in colleges and universities. In
contrast, total private wages in Boston
were $127.5 billion, of which $4.1
billion, or 3.2 percent, were earned in
higher education.
Summary
In Massachusetts and, more specifically, the Boston metropolitan area,
colleges and universities have exerted
an important positive influence on the
local and regional labor market economies. Compared with the Nation and
the largest metropolitan areas in the
country, Boston has the highest industry concentration, or location quotient,
for colleges and universities, both in
2007 and historically back to 1990.
Colleges and universities have a
3.00
3.50
4.00
measurable economic impact in
Boston. Over the 17-year period
examined, they acted as a powerful job generator, with job growth
roughly twice the rate for total private industry. Boston area colleges
and universities’ total wages as a
proportion of total private wages
were 3.2 percent, compared with 1.0
percent nationally. In addition, colleges and universities have a powerful economic impact by improving
the quality of the labor force. As a
result, the Boston area’s highly educated labor force continues to attract
knowledge-based industries such as
high technology, biotechnology, and
financial services. These industries
have high wages, generate jobs faster
than overall job growth does, and attract much-needed venture capital
funds required to sustain the area’s
prominence as a center for higher
education and research.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
67
Regional Report
Notes
1
According to the BLS Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages (QCEW), the Boston metropolitan area is defined as all cities and towns in the
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH, Metropolitan
Statistical Area, which includes the Boston-Quincy,
MA, Metropolitan Division—Norfolk, Plymouth,
and Suffolk Counties; Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA, Metropolitan Division—Middlesex
County; Essex County, MA, Metropolitan Division—Essex County; and Rockingham CountyStrafford County, NH, Metropolitan Division—
Rockingham and Strafford Counties.
2
1990 was chosen because it was the earliest
year that the QCEW used the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611310,
which includes all private 4-year colleges, universi-
68
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
ties, and professional schools (for example, business
administration, dental, law, and medical schools), as
well as theological seminaries, that grant baccalaureate or graduate degrees.
A location quotient is the ratio of the concentration of a resource or activity, such as employment, in a defined area, such as a State, to the
concentration of the same resource or activity in a
larger area, such as the Nation. The national location quotient for each industry is always 1.0. (For
more on location quotients, see “Quarterly Census
of Employment and Wages: Location Quotient
Calculator,” on the Interntet at www.bls.gov/cew/
cewlq.htm, visited June 19, 2009.)
3
4
Educational attainment data are from the U.S.
Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2007.
5
6
According to Dow Jones VentureSource.
According to the U.S. Patent Trademark Office.
Under NAICS, the industrial composition and
organization of industries are defined by the type
of activity or sector they are engaged in. The analysis presented in this report uses the BLS standard
for sector aggregation at the two-digit level, of
which there are 11 “supersectors”: natural resources
and mining; construction; manufacturing; trade,
transportation, and utilities; information; financial
activities; professional and business services; educational and health services; leisure and hospitality; other services; and government. This report
excludes the government supersector.
7
Book Review
The life of Frances Perkins
The Woman Behind the New Deal: The
Life of Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary
of Labor and His Moral Conscience.
By Kirstin Downey, New York, NY,
Doubleday, 2009, 458 pp., $35.00/
hardback.
In a captivating style Kirstin Downey
has told a tale of moral complexity
that transcends fictional drama. A
real life experience, it is not limited
by the author’s imagination. The author chronicles one of the historic
struggles that shaped our nation as
she demonstrates what these changes owe the individuals who brought
them about.
In the first six chapters of the book
Downey describes Frances Perkins’
struggles in life as an independent
woman. The formative years of Perkins’ young adult life seemed almost
destined to result in her achievements
as a cabinet official during the transforming era of the Great Depression.
Reminiscent of the John Adams described in James Grant’s biography, it
is in the interplay between her values
and her life experiences that were
forged the idealism that led to Perkins’ confrontation with inadequate
governmental institutions.
After graduating from Mount
Holyoke, Perkins had been unable to
find work until she received an offer
to teach at a woman’s college in Lake
Forest, Illinois. It provided her an opportunity to leave behind the socially
conventional milieu of a merchant’s
daughter in Worcester, Massachusetts; she reinvented herself by changing her first name (to Frances) and
her faith (to Episcopalian). Whatever
worldly advantage this move to a new
faith gave her, for she was also a bit of
a social climber who did what it took
to advance her agenda, she remained
committed to the Episcopalian church
until the end of her days. Meanwhile,
Perkins escaped the finishing school
atmosphere of the school by absorbing
nearby Chicago in its notorious turn
of the century heyday. She learned
from the radical feminist Florence
Kelley, who remained her mentor, and
Jane Addams, founder of Hull House,
a leading “settlement house” which
had the implementation of social reform as its goal.
Perkins was ever mindful that she
was a direct descendant of Revolutionary War patriot James Otis, who
had railed against taxation without
representation. The event which transformed her from social reformer to
social activist was when she witnessed
the Triangle Shirtwaist fire. Her leadership role in investigating its cause led
to an appointment as Director of the
Committee on Safety that established
fire regulations, particularly as they
concerned worker safety. A woman of
abounding energy, Perkins was fearless
in the face of intellectual and physical
challenges. She entered into the world
of political reality by recognizing in
notorious Tammany Hall the ability to make things happen on behalf
of its constituency. Consequently, she
marched into the cigar chomping all
male den of its headquarters and demanded to see the man in charge. She
came armed with facts and figures. In
addition to her work on fire laws, she
championed a fifty-four hour work
week for women factory workers. The
legislation passed at her instigation by
allowing a compromise on an exemption for cannery workers. Her perfectionist social worker colleagues were
angry, but she had learned to compromise to get things done and the following year was rewarded by seeing
the cannery workers included as well.
Frances Perkins earned her appointment as the first female cabinet
member in U.S. history and FDR’s
only Labor Secretary as a result of
these successes. Perkins became the
impetus while FDR understood the
need, and together they had the political skill to propose and shepherd legislation to successful outcomes. Their
close collaboration was instrumental
in the passage of landmark Social
Security, Fair Labor Standards, and
other safety net legislation. FDR
had first learned of her extraordinary competence when she served
him as Industrial Commissioner of
New York State. Her brilliance as a
government official centered on her
unusual effectiveness in persuading
others of the merits of her well conceived and rehearsed agenda. This
quality was one Perkins also sought
in her appointments, notably that
of Isador Lubin (whom she named
Commissioner of Labor Statistics in
1933 shortly after she became Labor
Secretary).
Family considerations were another
important factor that shaped Frances
Perkins’ life. At age thirty three she
married a socially prominent, urbane
man four years her senior. Chapters
seven through nine in the book detail
the heartbreaks that followed this
seemingly ‘good match.’ Her husband
ran through his fortune by increasingly bizarre behavior that was clinically diagnosed as manic depression.
Their daughter was later to suffer the
same illness. Isolated emotionally
from family ties, Perkins was forced
by necessity to become decision maker
and breadwinner for her husband and
daughter.
Mary Rumsey and Frances Perkins
shared a home in Washington D.C.
when Mary became a widow and
Frances’ husband needed hospital care.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 69
Book Review
They entertained extensively, a life
style that suited the Franklin Delano
Roosevelt administration. A good deal
of legislative business was handled in
these entertainments. Downey cites an
instance in which a Supreme Court
justice guest tipped off Perkins that
the taxing power of the Federal Government could be used to ensure that
State unemployment compensation
met national standards. In a 5–4 decision the court upheld the constitutionality of this provision of the Social
Security Act.
In her closing chapters Downey recounts Perkins’ work on the U.S. Civil
Service Commission from 1946 to
1952 and the offer Perkins accepted to
join Cornell University’s fledgling Industrial and Labor Relations School.
While the Cornell position appeared
to be to her liking, the Civil Service
Commission job was not commensurate with her experience as Labor
Secretary; Perkins had hoped to be
appointed head of the Social Security
Administration. She was clearly disheartened by both the lack of recognition and by being told that the other
cabinet members did not wish to work
with her because she was a woman…
that her mere presence made them
uncomfortable.
Kirstin Downey has written an
excellent book about a page turning
political history which needs to be
read. Frances Perkins was a pioneer in
shaping the world we know. Her personal life was full of sorrow. Her professional life was a constant struggle
whose triumphs were often rewarded
with hostility. Downey shows us what
it costs to be the catalyst that recasts
societal values in a resistant world.
—Solidelle Wasser
New York Region
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Wanted: Book Reviewers
Interested in reviewing a book for the Monthly Labor Review? We have a number of books by distinguished
authors on economics, industrial relations, other social sciences, and related issues waiting to be reviewed. If you
have good writing skills and/or experience, then please contact us via E-mail at mlr@bls.gov
70
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Précis
Immigrants’ occupations
and earnings
Numerous studies have analyzed the
effects that education and work experience have on the earnings of immigrants in the United States. However,
most of these studies do not include
variables for occupations in their
equations. The article “Earnings and
Occupational Attainment among
Immigrants” (Industrial Relations,
July 2009), by Barry R. Chiswick and
Paul W. Miller, in contrast, is one that
views earnings and occupation as two
imperfect measures of labor-market
outcome. The authors believe that
education has not only a direct effect
on earnings, but also an indirect effect
that operates through the occupation
in which a given immigrant works.
Their article uses data from the 2000
U.S. Census on foreign-born males
aged 25–64. The data include information on 23 major occupational
groups and 509 occupations.
Controlling for major occupational group, Chiswick and Miller find
that about 40 percent of the rise in
earnings associated with additional
schooling stems from entrance into
a better paying major occupational
group; the rest stems from attaining
higher earnings within the group.
Controlling separately for both major
occupational group and for occupation, the authors also discover that
a larger amount of work experience
prior to immigration is associated
with immigrants working in lower
paying jobs in the United States. This
appears to result from the difficulty
in transferring job skills from one
country to another. This explanation
is consistent with the fact that the
negative effect of experience in a foreign labor market is relatively stron-
ger among higher paying occupations.
Most growth in earnings achieved by
immigrants comes from increases in
earnings within an occupation.
A greater number of years spent in
the United States is associated with
higher earnings, but only when not
controlling for English-language
ability—a finding which highlights
the importance of English skills in
obtaining a job that pays well. In fact,
the association between better English skills and greater pay is found
to be highly statistically significant.
It also appears that access to higher
paying occupations is based primarily
on educational attainment as opposed
to work experience. On the whole, an
immigrant appears to be most likely
to obtain a high salary in a more lucrative occupation if he is highly educated, immigrates as early as possible,
and becomes proficient in English as
quickly as possible.
We are interested in your feedback on this column. Please let us know what you have found most interesting and what essential reading we may have missed. Write to: Executive Editor, Monthly Labor Review,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington, DC. 20212, or e-mail MLR@bls.gov
Monthly Labor Review • April 2009 71
Current Labor Statistics
Monthly Labor Review
June 2009
NOTE: Many of the statistics in the
following pages were subsequently
revised. These pages have not been
updated to reflect the revisions.
To obtain BLS data that reflect all revisions, see
http://www.bls.gov/data/home.htm
For the latest set of "Current Labor Statistics,"
see http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/curlabst.htm
Current Labor Statistics
Notes on current labor statistics . ..............
73
Comparative indicators
1. Labor market indicators..................................................... 85
2. Annual and quarterly percent changes in
compensation, prices, and productivity........................... 86
3. Alternative measures of wages and
compensation changes.................................................... 86
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 State, seasonally adjusted.............
11. Employment of workers by State,
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.................................
87
88
89
89
90
90
91
91
92
95
96
97
98
17. Diffusion indexes of employment change,
seasonally adjusted ...................................................... 99
18. Job openings levels and rates by industry and region,
seasonally adjusted........................................................ 100
19. Hires levels and rates by industry and region,
seasonally adjusted........................................................ 100
20. Separations levels and rates by industry and region,
seasonally adjusted......................................................... 101
21. Quits levels and rates by industry and region,
seasonally adjusted........................................................ 101
22. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages,
10 largest counties . ....................................................... 102
23. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, by State... 104
24. Annual data: Quarterly Census of Employment
and Wages, by ownership............................................... 105
25. Annual data: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages,
establishment size and employment, by supersector....... 106
26. Annual data: Quarterly Census of Employment and
Wages, by metropolitan area ......................................... 107
27. Annual data: Employment status of the population.......... 112
28. Annual data: Employment levels by industry ................. 112
29. Annual data: Average hours and earnings level,
by industry..................................................................... 113
72
Monthly Labor Review June 2009
Labor compensation and collective
bargaining data
30.
31.
32.
33.
Employment Cost Index, compensation ..........................114
Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries .................... 115
Employment Cost Index, benefits, private industry .......... 118
Employment Cost Index, private industry workers,
by bargaining status, and region..................................... 119
34. National Compensation Survey, retirement benefits,
private industry ............................................................. 120
35. National Compensation Survey, health insurance,
private industry............................................................... 123
36. National Compensation Survey, selected benefits,
private industry.............................................................. 125
37. Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more............. 125
Price data
38. Consumer Price Index: U.S. city average, by expenditure
category and commodity and service groups.................. 126
39. Consumer Price Index: U.S. city average and
local data, all items ........................................................ 129
40. Annual data: Consumer Price Index, all items
and major groups........................................................... 130
41. Producer Price Indexes by stage of processing................... 131
42. Producer Price Indexes for the net output of major
industry groups.............................................................. 132
43. Annual data: Producer Price Indexes
by stage of processing..................................................... 133
44. U.S. export price indexes by end-use category................... 133
45. U.S. import price indexes by end-use category................... 134
46. U.S. international price indexes for selected
categories of services...................................................... 134
Productivity data
47. Indexes of productivity, hourly compensation,
and unit costs, data seasonally adjusted.......................... 135
48. Annual indexes of multifactor productivity........................ 136
49. Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation,
unit costs, and prices...................................................... 137
50. Annual indexes of output per hour for select industries..... 138
International comparisons data
51. Unemployment rates in 10 countries,
seasonally adjusted......................................................... 141
52. Annual data: Employment status of the civilian
working-age population, 10 countries........................... 142
53. Annual indexes of productivity and related measures,
17 economies................................................................ 143
Injury and Illness data
54. Annual data: Occupational injury and illness..................... 145
55. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure ................ 147
Notes on Current Labor Statistics
This section of the Review presents the
principal statistical series collected and
calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
series on labor force; employment; unemployment; labor compensation; consumer,
producer, and international prices; productivity; 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 additional information are cited.
General notes
The following notes apply to several tables
in this section:
Seasonal adjustment. Certain monthly
and quarterly data are adjusted to eliminate
the effect on the data of such factors as climatic conditions, industry production schedules, opening and closing of schools, holiday
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 estimated
on the basis of current and past experiences.
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, 17–21, 48, and 52. Seasonally adjusted
labor force data in tables 1 and 4–9 and seasonally adjusted establishment survey data
shown in tables 1, 12–14, and 17 are revised
in the March 2007 Review. A brief explanation of the seasonal adjustment methodology
appears in “Notes on the data.”
Revisions in the productivity data in table
54 are usually introduced in the September
issue. Seasonally adjusted indexes and percent changes from month-to-month and
quarter-to-quarter are published for numerous Consumer and Producer Price Index
series. However, seasonally adjusted indexes
are not published for the U.S. average AllItems CPI. Only seasonally adjusted percent
changes are available for this series.
Adjustments for price changes. Some
data—such as the “real” earnings shown in
table 14—are adjusted to eliminate the effect
of changes in price. These adjustments are
made by dividing current-dollar values by
the Consumer Price Index or the appropriate
component of the index, then multiplying
by 100. For example, given a current hourly
wage rate of $3 and a current price 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 section are published by the Bureau in a variety
of sources. Definitions of each series and
notes on the data are contained in later sections of these Notes describing each set of
data. For detailed descriptions of each data
series, see BLS Handbook of Methods, Bulletin
2490. Users also may wish to consult Major
Programs of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Report 919. News releases provide the latest statistical information published by the
Bureau; the major recurring releases are
published according to the schedule appearing on the back cover of this issue.
More information about labor force,
employment, and unemployment data and
the household and establishment surveys
underlying the data are available in the
Bureau’s monthly publication, Employment
and Earnings. Historical unadjusted and
seasonally adjusted data from the household
survey are available on the Internet:
www.bls.gov/cps/
Historically comparable unadjusted and seasonally adjusted data from the establishment
survey also are available on the Internet:
www.bls.gov/ces/
Additional information on labor force data
for areas below the national level are provided 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 Bulletin 2466. The most recent data from the
Employee Benefits Survey appear in the following 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
producer prices are published in the monthly
periodicals, The CPI Detailed Report and Producer Price Indexes. For an overview of the
1998 revision of the CPI, see the December
1996 issue of the Monthly Labor Review. Additional data on international prices appear
in monthly news releases.
Listings of industries for which productivity indexes are available may be found on
the Internet:
www.bls.gov/lpc/
For additional information on international comparisons data, see International Comparisons of Unemployment, Bulletin
1979.
Detailed data on the occupational injury
and illness series are published in Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in the United States,
by Industry, a BLS annual bulletin.
Finally, the Monthly Labor Review carries
analytical articles on annual and longer term
developments in labor force, employment,
and unemployment; employee compensation
and collective bargaining; prices; productivity; international comparisons; and injury
and illness data.
Symbols
n.e.c. =
n.e.s. =
p =
r =
not elsewhere classified.
not elsewhere specified.
preliminary. To increase
the timeliness of some series,
preliminary figures are issued
based on representative but
incomplete returns.
revised. Generally, this revision
reflects the availability of later
data, but also may reflect other
adjustments.
Comparative Indicators
(Tables 1–3)
Comparative indicators tables provide an
overview and comparison of major bls statistical series. Consequently, although many
of the included series are available monthly,
all measures in these comparative tables are
presented quarterly and annually.
Labor market indicators include employment measures from two major surveys
and information on rates of change in
compensation provided by the Employment
Cost Index (ECI) program. The labor force
participation rate, the employment-population ratio, and unemployment rates for major
demographic groups based on the Current
Population (“household”) Survey are presented, while measures of employment and
average weekly hours by major industry sector are given using nonfarm payroll data. The
Employment Cost Index (compensation),
by major sector and by bargaining status, is
chosen from a variety of BLS compensation
and wage measures because it provides a
comprehensive 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 changes in compensation, prices, and productivity are presented in table 2.
Measures of rates of change of compensation
and wages from the Employment Cost Index
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
73
Current Labor Statistics
program are provided for all civilian 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.
Alternative measures of wage and compensation rates of change, which reflect the
overall trend in labor costs, are summarized
in table 3. Differences in concepts and scope,
related to the specific purposes of the series,
contribute to the variation in changes among
the individual measures.
Employment and
Unemployment Data
because they were on layoff are also counted
among the unemployed. The unemployment
rate represents the number unemployed as a
percent of the civilian labor force.
The civilian labor force consists of all
employed or unemployed persons in the civilian noninstitutional population. Persons not
in the labor 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 last job
if they held one within the past 12 months),
but are not currently looking, because they
believe there are no jobs available or there are
none for which they would qualify. The civilian noninstitutional population comprises
all persons 16 years of age and older who are
not inmates of penal or mental institutions,
sanitariums, or homes for the aged, infirm,
or needy. The civilian labor force participation rate is the proportion of the civilian
noninstitutional population that is in the
labor force. The employment-population
ratio is employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population.
(Tables 1; 4–29)
Notes on the data
Household survey data
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 description of
these adjustments and their effect on the
various data series appears in the Explanatory Notes of Employment and Earnings. For
a discussion of changes introduced in January
2003, see “Revisions to the Current Population Survey Effective in January 2003” in
the February 2003 issue of Employment and
Earnings (available on the BLS Web site at
www.bls.gov/cps/rvcps03.pdf).
Effective in January 2003, BLS began
using the X-12 ARIMA seasonal adjustment
program to seasonally adjust national labor
force data. This program replaced the X-11
ARIMA program which had been used since
January 1980. See “Revision of Seasonally
Adjusted Labor Force Series in 2003,” in
the February 2003 issue of Employment and
Earnings (available on the BLS Web site at
www.bls.gov/cps/cpsrs.pdf) for a discussion
of the introduction of the use of X-12 ARIMA
for seasonal adjustment of the labor force
data and the effects that it had on the data.
At the beginning of each calendar year,
historical seasonally adjusted data usually
are revised, and projected seasonal adjustment factors are calculated for use during the
January–June period. The historical season-
Notes on the data
Definitions of each series and notes on the
data are contained in later sections of these
notes describing each set of data.
Description of the series
Employment data in this section are obtained 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
consists of about 60,000 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
Employed persons 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 regular
jobs because of illness, vacation, industrial
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.
Unemployed persons are those who did
not work during the survey week, but were
available for work except for temporary illness
and had looked for jobs within the preceding
4 weeks. Persons who did not look for work
74
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
ally adjusted data usually are revised for only
the most recent 5 years. In July, new seasonal
adjustment factors, which incorporate the
experience through June, are produced for
the July–December period, but no revisions
are made in the historical data.
F OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on
national household survey data, contact the
Division of Labor Force Statistics: (202)
691–6378.
Establishment survey data
Description of the series
Employment, hours, and earnings data in this
section are compiled from payroll records
reported monthly on a voluntary basis to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperating State agencies by about 160,000
businesses and government agencies, which
represent approximately 400,000 individual
worksites and represent all industries except
agriculture. The active CES sample covers
approximately one-third of all nonfarm
payroll workers. Industries are classified in
accordance with the 2002 North American
Industry Classification System. 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 necessarily
a firm; it may be a branch plant, for example,
or warehouse.) Self-employed persons and
others not on a regular civilian payroll are
outside the scope of the survey because they
are excluded from establishment records.
This largely accounts for the difference in
employment figures between the household
and establishment surveys.
Definitions
An establishment is an economic unit which
produces goods or services (such as a factory
or store) at a single location and is engaged
in one type of economic activity.
Employed persons are all persons who
received pay (including holiday and sick pay)
for any part of the payroll period including
the 12th day of the month. Persons holding
more than one job (about 5 percent of all
persons in the labor force) are counted in
each establishment which reports them.
Production workers in the goods-producing industries cover employees, up through
the level of working supervisors, who engage
directly in the manufacture or construction of
the establishment’s product. In private service-providing industries, data are collected
for nonsupervisory workers, which include
most employees except those in executive,
managerial, and supervisory positions. Those
workers mentioned in tables 11–16 include
production workers in manufacturing and
natural resources and mining; construction
workers in construction; and nonsupervisory workers in all private service-providing
industries. Production and nonsupervisory
workers account for about four-fifths of the
total employment on private nonagricultural
payrolls.
Earnings are the payments production
or nonsupervisory workers receive during
the survey period, including premium pay
for overtime or late-shift work but excluding irregular bonuses and other special
payments. Real earnings 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).
Hours represent the average weekly
hours of production or nonsupervisory
workers for which pay was received, and are
different from standard or scheduled hours.
Overtime hours represent the portion of
average weekly hours which was in excess
of regular hours and for which overtime
premiums were paid.
The Diffusion Index represents the
percent 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 employment. In line with
Bureau practice, data for the 1-, 3-, and 6month spans are seasonally adjusted, while
those for the 12-month span are unadjusted.
Table 17 provides an index on private nonfarm employment based on 278 industries,
and a manufacturing index based on 84
industries. These indexes are useful for measuring the dispersion of economic gains or
losses and are also economic indicators.
Notes on the data
Establishment survey data are annually
adjusted to comprehensive counts of employment (called “benchmarks”). The March
2003 benchmark was introduced in February
2004 with the release of data for January
2004, published in the March 2004 issue of
the Review. With the release in June 2003,
CES completed a conversion from the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system to
the North American Industry Classification
System (naics) and completed the transition
from its original quota sample design to a
probability-based sample design. The industry-coding update included reconstruction
of historical estimates in order to preserve
time series for data users. Normally 5 years
of seasonally adjusted data are revised with
each benchmark revision. However, with this
release, the entire new time series history for
all CES data series were re-seasonally adjusted
due to the NAICS conversion, which resulted
in the revision of all CES time series.
Also in June 2003, the CES program introduced concurrent seasonal adjustment for
the national establishment data. Under this
methodology, the first preliminary estimates
for the current reference month and the
revised estimates for the 2 prior months will
be updated with concurrent factors with each
new release of data. Concurrent seasonal
adjustment incorporates all available data,
including first preliminary estimates for
the most current month, in the adjustment
process. For additional information on all of
the changes introduced in June 2003, see the
June 2003 issue of Employment and Earnings
and “Recent changes in the national Current
Employment Statistics survey,” Monthly Labor Review, June 2003, pp. 3–13.
Revisions in State data (table 11) occurred with the publication of January 2003
data. For information on the revisions for
the State data, see the March and May 2003
issues of Employment and Earnings, and “Recent changes in the State and Metropolitan
Area CES survey,” Monthly Labor Review,
June 2003, pp. 14–19.
Beginning in June 1996, the BLS uses
the X-12-ARIMA methodology to seasonally adjust establishment survey data. This
procedure, developed by the Bureau of the
Census, controls for the effect of varying
survey intervals (also known as the 4- versus
5-week effect), thereby providing improved
measurement of over-the-month changes
and underlying economic trends. Revisions
of data, usually for the most recent 5-year
period, are made once a year coincident with
the benchmark revisions.
In the establishment survey, estimates
for the most recent 2 months are based on
incomplete returns and are published as preliminary in the tables (12–17 in the Review).
When all returns have been received, the
estimates are revised and published as “final”
(prior to any benchmark revisions) in the
third month of their appearance. Thus, December data are published as preliminary in
January and February and as final in March.
For the same reasons, quarterly establishment data (table 1) are preliminary for the
first 2 months of publication and final in the
third month. Fourth-quarter data are published as preliminary in January and February
and as final in March.
F OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on
establishment survey data, contact the Division of Current Employment Statistics:
(202) 691–6555.
Unemployment data by State
Description of the series
Data presented in this section are obtained
from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (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 local 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 Partnership Act. Seasonally adjusted unemployment
rates are presented in table 10. Insofar as possible, the concepts and definitions underlying
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 this series, call (202) 691–6392 (table 10)
or (202) 691–6559 (table 11).
Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages
Description of the series
Employment, wage, and establishment data
in this section are derived from the quarterly
tax reports submitted to State employment
security agencies by private and State and
local government employers subject to State
unemployment insurance (ui) laws and from
Federal, agencies subject to the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees
(ucfe) program. Each quarter, State agencies edit and process the data and send the
information to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Quarterly Census of Employment
and Wages (QCEW) data, also referred as ES202 data, are the most complete enumeration
of employment and wage information by
industry at the national, State, metropolitan
area, and county levels. They have broad
economic significance in evaluating labor
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
75
Current Labor Statistics
market trends and major industry developments.
Definitions
In general, the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages monthly employment data
represent the number of covered workers
who worked during, or received pay for, the
pay period that included the 12th day of
the month. Covered private industry employment includes most corporate officials,
executives, supervisory personnel, professionals, clerical workers, wage earners, piece
workers, and part-time workers. It excludes
proprietors, the unincorporated self-employed, unpaid family members, and certain
farm and domestic workers. Certain types
of nonprofit employers, such as religious
organizations, are given a choice of coverage
or exclusion in a number of States. Workers
in these organizations are, therefore, reported
to a limited degree.
Persons on paid sick leave, paid holiday,
paid vacation, and the like, are included.
Persons on the payroll of more than one
firm during the period are counted by each
ui-subject employer if they meet the employment definition noted earlier. The employment count excludes workers who earned no
wages during the entire applicable pay period
because of work stoppages, temporary layoffs,
illness, or unpaid vacations.
Federal employment data are based on
reports of monthly employment and quarterly wages submitted each quarter to State
agencies for all Federal installations with
employees covered by the Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (ucfe)
program, except for certain national security
agencies, which are omitted for security reasons. Employment for all Federal agencies
for any given month is based on the number
of persons who worked during or received
pay for the pay period that included the 12th
of the month.
An establishment is an economic unit,
such as a farm, mine, factory, or store, that
produces goods or provides services. It is
typically at a single physical location and
engaged in one, or predominantly one, type
of economic activity for which a single industrial classification may be applied. Occasionally, a single physical location encompasses
two or more distinct and significant activities.
Each activity should be reported as a separate
establishment if separate records are kept
and the various activities are classified under
different NAICS industries.
Most employers have only one establishment; thus, the establishment is the
predominant reporting unit or statistical
entity for reporting employment and wages
76
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
data. Most employers, including State and
local governments who operate more than
one establishment in a State, file a Multiple
Worksite Report each quarter, in addition
to their quarterly ui report. The Multiple
Worksite Report is used to collect separate
employment and wage data for each of the
employer’s establishments, which are not
detailed on the ui report. Some very small
multi-establishment employers do not file a
Multiple Worksite Report. When the total
employment in an employer’s secondary
establishments (all establishments other
than the largest) is 10 or fewer, the employer
generally will file a consolidated report for all
establishments. Also, some employers either
cannot or will not report at the establishment
level and thus aggregate establishments into
one consolidated unit, or possibly several
units, though not at the establishment level.
For the Federal Government, the reporting unit is the installation: a single location
at which a department, agency, or other government body has civilian employees. Federal
agencies follow slightly different criteria than
do private employers when breaking down
their reports by installation. They are permitted to combine as a single statewide unit: 1)
all installations with 10 or fewer workers,
and 2) all installations that have a combined
total in the State of fewer than 50 workers.
Also, when there are fewer than 25 workers
in all secondary installations in a State, the
secondary installations may be combined and
reported with the major installation. Last, if a
Federal agency has fewer than five employees
in a State, the agency headquarters office
(regional office, district office) serving each
State may consolidate the employment and
wages data for that State with the data reported to the State in which the headquarters
is located. As a result of these reporting rules,
the number of reporting units is always larger
than the number of employers (or government agencies) but smaller than the number
of actual establishments (or installations).
Data reported for the first quarter are
tabulated into size categories ranging from
worksites of very small size to those with
1,000 employees or more. The size category
is determined by the establishment’s March
employment level. It is important to note that
each establishment of a multi-establishment
firm is tabulated separately into the appropriate size category. The total employment level
of the reporting multi-establishment firm is
not used in the size tabulation.
Covered employers in most States report
total wages paid during the calendar quarter,
regardless of when the services were performed. A few State laws, however, specify
that wages be reported for, or based on the
period during which services are performed
rather than the period during which compensation is paid. Under most State laws or
regulations, wages include bonuses, stock
options, the cash value of meals and lodging,
tips and other gratuities, and, in some States,
employer contributions to certain deferred
compensation plans such as 401(k) plans.
Covered employer contributions for
old-age, survivors, and disability insurance
(oasdi), health insurance, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and private
pension and welfare funds are not reported as
wages. Employee contributions for the same
purposes, however, as well as money withheld
for income taxes, union dues, and so forth, are
reported even though they are deducted from
the worker’s gross pay.
Wages of covered Federal workers represent the gross amount of all payrolls for all
pay periods ending within the quarter. This
includes cash allowances, the cash equivalent
of any type of remuneration, severance pay,
withholding taxes, and retirement deductions. Federal employee remuneration generally covers the same types of services as for
workers in private industry.
Average annual wage per employee for
any given industry are computed by dividing total annual wages by annual average
employment. A further division by 52 yields
average weekly wages per employee. Annual
pay data only approximate annual earnings
because an individual may not be employed
by the same employer all year or may work for
more than one employer at a time.
Average weekly or annual wage is affected by the ratio of full-time to part-time
workers as well as the number of individuals
in high-paying and low-paying occupations.
When average pay levels between States and
industries are compared, these factors should
be taken into consideration. For example,
industries characterized by high proportions
of part-time workers will show average wage
levels appreciably less than the weekly pay
levels of regular full-time employees in these
industries. The opposite effect characterizes
industries with low proportions of part-time
workers, or industries that typically schedule
heavy weekend and overtime work. Average
wage data also may be influenced by work
stoppages, labor turnover rates, retroactive
payments, seasonal factors, bonus payments,
and so on.
Notes on the data
Beginning with the release of data for 2001,
publications presenting data from the Covered Employment and Wages program have
switched to the 2002 version of the North
American Industry Classification System
(NAICS) as the basis for the assignment and
tabulation of economic data by industry.
NAICS is the product of a cooperative effort on the part of the statistical agencies
of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Due to difference in NAICS and Standard
Industrial Classification ( SIC) structures,
industry data for 2001 is not comparable to the SIC-based data for earlier years.
Effective January 2001, the program
began assigning Indian Tribal Councils and
related establishments to local government
ownership. This BLS action was in response to
a change in Federal law dealing with the way
Indian Tribes are treated under the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act. This law requires
federally recognized Indian Tribes to be treated similarly to State and local governments.
In the past, the Covered Employment and
Wage (CEW) program coded Indian Tribal
Councils and related establishments in the
private sector. As a result of the new law, CEW
data reflects significant shifts in employment
and wages between the private sector and
local government from 2000 to 2001. Data
also reflect industry changes. Those accounts
previously assigned to civic and social organizations were assigned to tribal governments.
There were no required industry changes for
related establishments owned by these Tribal
Councils. These tribal business establishments
continued to be coded according to the economic activity of that entity.
To insure the highest possible quality
of data, State employment security agencies
verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry, location, and ownership
classification of all establishments on a 3-year
cycle. Changes in establishment classification codes resulting from the verification
process are introduced with the data reported
for the first quarter of the year. Changes
resulting from improved employer reporting
also are introduced in the first quarter. For
these reasons, some data, especially at more
detailed geographic levels, may not be strictly
comparable with earlier years.
County definitions are assigned according
to Federal Information Processing Standards
Publications as issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Areas
shown as counties include those designated
as independent cities in some jurisdictions
and, in Alaska, those areas designated by the
Census Bureau where counties have not been
created. County data also are presented for
the New England States for comparative
purposes, even though townships are the
more common designation used in New
England (and New Jersey).
The Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) defines metropolitan areas for use
in Federal statistical activities and updates
these definitions as needed. Data in this table
use metropolitan area criteria established
by OMB in definitions issued June 30, 1999
(OMB Bulletin No. 99-04). These definitions
reflect information obtained from the 1990
Decennial Census and the 1998 U.S. Census
Bureau population estimate. A complete list
of metropolitan area definitions is available
from the National Technical Information
Service (NTIS), Document Sales, 5205 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161, telephone 1-800-553-6847.
OMB defines metropolitan areas in terms
of entire counties, except in the six New England States where they are defined in terms of
cities and towns. New England data in this
table, however, are based on a county concept
defined by OMB as New England County
Metropolitan Areas (NECMA) because county-level data are the most detailed available
from the Quarterly Census of Employment
and Wages. The NECMA is a county-based
alternative to the city- and town-based metropolitan areas in New England. The NECMA for
a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) include:
(1) the county containing the first-named city
in that MSA title (this county may include
the first-named cities of other MSA, and (2)
each additional county having at least half its
population in the MSA in which first-named
cities are in the county identified in step 1.
The NECMA is officially defined areas that
are meant to be used by statistical programs
that cannot use the regular metropolitan area
definitions in New England.
For additional information on the
covered employment and wage data, contact
the Division of Administrative Statistics and
Labor Turnover at (202) 691–6567.
Job Openings and Labor
Turnover Survey
Description of the series
Data for the Job Openings and Labor
Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are collected and
compiled from a sample of 16,000 business
establishments. Each month, data are collected for total employment, job openings,
hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other
separations. The JOLTS program covers all
private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as Federal,
State, and local government entities in the
50 States and the District of Columbia. The
JOLTS sample design is a random sample
drawn from a universe of more than eight
million establishments compiled as part of the
operations of the Quarterly Census of Em-
ployment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This
program includes all employers subject to
State unemployment insurance (UI) laws and
Federal agencies subject to Unemployment
Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector, and size class.
Large firms fall into the sample with virtual
certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates
are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES)
survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS employment
is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS
data elements. Rates then are computed from
the adjusted levels.
The monthly JOLTS data series begin with
December 2000. Not seasonally adjusted
data on job openings, hires, total separations, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other
separations levels and rates are available for
the total nonfarm sector, 16 private industry
divisions and 2 government divisions based
on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and four geographic
regions. Seasonally adjusted data on job
openings, hires, total separations, and quits
levels and rates are available for the total
nonfarm sector, selected industry sectors, and
four geographic regions.
Definitions
Establishments submit job openings infor-mation for the last business day of the
reference month. A job opening requires
that (1) a specific position exists and there
is work available for that position; and (2)
work could start within 30 days regardless
of whether a suitable candidate is found;
and (3) the employer is actively recruiting
from outside the establishment to fill the
position. Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by
advertising in newspapers or on the Internet,
posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using other similar methods.
Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers,
promotions, demotions, or recall from layoffs
are excluded. Also excluded are jobs with
start dates more than 30 days in the future,
jobs for which employees have been hired but
have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be
filled by employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside
contractors, or consultants. The job openings
rate is computed by dividing the number of
job openings by the sum of employment and
job openings, and multiplying that quotient
by 100.
Hires are the total number of additions
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
77
Current Labor Statistics
to the payroll occurring at any time during
the reference month, including both new and
rehired employees and full-time and parttime, permanent, short-term and seasonal
employees, employees recalled to the location
after a layoff lasting more than 7 days, on-call
or intermittent employees who returned to
work after having been formally separated,
and transfers from other locations. The hires
count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting site, employees
returning from strike, employees of temporary
help agencies or employee leasing companies,
outside contractors, or consultants. The hires
rate is computed by dividing the number of
hires by employment, and multiplying that
quotient by 100.
Separations are the total number of
terminations of employment occurring at
any time during the reference month, and
are reported by type of separation—quits,
layoffs and discharges, and other separations.
Quits are voluntary separations by employees
(except for retirements, which are reported
as other separations). Layoffs and discharges
are involuntary separations initiated by the
employer and include layoffs with no intent
to rehire, formal layoffs lasting or expected
to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings
or other discharges for cause, terminations
of permanent or short-term employees, and
terminations of seasonal employees. Other
separations include retirements, transfers to
other locations, deaths, and separations due to
disability. Separations do not include transfers
within the same location or employees on
strike.
The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations by employment, and multiplying that quotient by 100.
The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other
separations rates are computed similarly,
dividing the number by employment and
multiplying by 100.
Notes on the data
The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires,
and separations are relatively new. The full
sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month. A full complement of
panels for the original data series based on the
1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
system was not completely enrolled in the
survey until January 2002. The supple-mental
panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not completely enrolled
until May 2003. The data collected up until
those points are from less than a full sample.
Therefore, estimates from earlier months
should be used with caution, as fewer sampled
78
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
units were reporting data at that time.
In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data were revised to
address possible underreporting. As a result,
JOLTS hires and separations estimates for
months prior to March 2002 may not be
comparable with estimates for March 2002
and later.
The Federal Government reorganization
that involved transferring approximately
180,000 employees to the new Department
of Homeland Security is not reflected in
the JOLTS hires and separations estimates
for the Federal Government. The Office of
Personnel Management’s record shows these
transfers were completed in March 2003. The
inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS definitions
of hires and separations is intended to cover
ongoing movements of workers between
establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a massive
one-time event, and the inclusion of these
intergovernmental transfers would distort
the Federal Government time series.
Data users should note that seasonal
adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted
with fewer data observations than is customary. The historical data, therefore, may
be subject to larger than normal revisions.
Because the seasonal patterns in economic
data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal
filters to capture these effects requires longer
series than are currently available. As a result,
the stable seasonal filter option is used in the
seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data. When
calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes
an average for each calendar month after
detrending the series. The stable seasonal
filter assumes that the seasonal factors are
fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient
data are available. When the stable seasonal
filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier
adjustment and extended diagnostic testing.
Additionally, it is expected that more series,
such as layoffs and discharges and additional
industries, may be seasonally adjusted when
more data are available.
JOLTS hires and separations estimates
cannot be used to exactly explain net changes
in payroll employment. Some reasons why it
is problematic to compare changes in payroll
employment with JOLTS hires and separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: (1)
the reference period for payroll employment
is the pay period including the 12th of the
month, while the reference period for hires
and separations is the calendar month; and
(2) payroll employment can vary from month
to month simply because part-time and oncall workers may not always work during
the pay period that includes the 12th of the
month. Additionally, research has found that
some reporters systematically underreport
separations relative to hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their
payroll systems and practices. The shortfall
appears to be about 2 percent or less over a
12-month period.
F OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on
the Job Openings and Labor Turnover
Survey, contact the Division of Administrative Statistics and Labor Turnover at (202)
961–5870.
Compensation and
Wage Data
(Tables 1–3; 30–37)
The National Compensation Survey (NCS)
produces a variety of compensation data. These
include: The Employment Cost Index (ECI)
and NCS benefit measures of the incidence and
provisions of selected employee benefit plans.
Selected samples of these measures appear in
the following tables. NCS also compiles data on
occupational wages and the Employer Costs
for Employee Compensation (ECEC).
Employment Cost Index
Description of the series
The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a
quarterly measure of the rate of change in
compensation per hour worked and includes
wages, salaries, and employer costs of employee benefits. It is a Laspeyres Index that
uses fixed employment weights to measure
change in labor costs free from the influence
of employment shifts among occupations
and industries.
The ECI provides data for the civilian
economy, which includes the total private
nonfarm economy excluding private households, and the public sector excluding the
Federal government. Data are collected each
quarter for the pay period including the
12th day of March, June, September, and
December.
Sample establishments are classified by
industry categories based on the 2002 North
American Classification System (NAICS).
Within a sample establishment, specific job
categories are selected and classified into
about 800 occupations according to the 2000
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
System. Individual occupations are combined to represent one of ten intermediate
aggregations, such as professional and related
occupations, or one of five higher level aggre-
gations, such as management, professional,
and related occupations.
Fixed employment weights are used
each quarter to calculate the most aggregate
series—civilian, private, and State and local
government. These fixed weights are also used
to derive all of the industry and occupational
series indexes. Beginning with the March
2006 estimates, 2002 fixed employment
weights from the Bureau’s Occupational
Employment Statistics survey were introduced. From March 1995 to December 2005,
1990 employment counts were used. These
fixed weights ensure that changes in these
indexes reflect only changes in compensation,
not employment shifts among industries or
occupations with different levels of wages
and compensation. For the series based on
bargaining status, census region and division,
and metropolitan area status, fixed employment data are not available. The employment
weights are reallocated within these series
each quarter based on the current eci sample.
The indexes for these series, consequently, are
not strictly comparable with those for aggregate, occupational, and industry series.
Definitions
Total compensation costs include wages,
salaries, and the employer’s costs for employee benefits.
Wages and salaries consist of earnings
before payroll deductions, including production bonuses, incentive earnings, commissions, and cost-of-living adjustments.
Benefits include the cost to employers
for paid leave, supplemental pay (including nonproduction bonuses), insurance,
retirement and savings plans, and legally
required benefits (such as Social Security,
workers’ compensation, and unemployment
insurance).
Excluded from wages and salaries and
employee benefits are such items as paymentin-kind, free room and board, and tips.
Notes on the data
The ECI data in these tables reflect the
con-version to the 2002 North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) and
the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The NAICS and SOC data
shown prior to 2006 are for informational
purposes only. ECI series based on NAICS
and SOC became the official BLS estimates
starting in March 2006.
The ECI 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 government sector and
in the civilian nonfarm economy (excluding
Federal employees) were published beginning in 1981. Historical indexes (December
2005=100) are available on the Internet:
www.bls.gov/ect/
A DDITIONAL INFORMATION on the
Employment Cost Index is available at www.
bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm or by telephone
at (202) 691–6199.
National Compensation Survey
Benefit Measures
Description of the series
benefit measures of employee benefits
are published in two separate reports. The
annual summary provides data on the incidence of (access to and participation in)
selected benefits and provisions of paid
holidays and vacations, life insurance plans,
and other selected benefit programs. Data on
percentages of establishments offering major
employee benefits, and on the employer and
employee shares of contributions to medical
care premiums also are presented. Selected
benefit data appear in the following tables. A
second publication, published later, contains
more detailed information about health and
retirement plans.
NCS
Definitions
Employer-provided benefits 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 employee also are included. For example, long-term
care insurance paid entirely by the employee
are included because the guarantee of insurability and availability at group premium
rates are considered a benefit.
Employees are considered as having access to a benefit plan if it is available for their
use. For example, if an employee is permitted
to participate in a medical care plan offered
by the employer, but the employee declines to
do so, he or she is placed in the category with
those having access to medical care.
Employees in contributory plans are
considered as participating in an insurance
or retirement plan if they have paid required
contributions and fulfilled any applicable
service requirement. Employees in noncontributory plans are counted as participating
regardless of whether they have fulfilled the
service requirements.
Defined benefit pension plans use predetermined 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.
Defined contribution plans 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 participants, and benefits are based on amounts
credited to these accounts.
Tax-deferred savings plans are a type of
defined contribution plan that allow participants to contribute a portion of their salary
to an employer-sponsored plan and defer
income taxes until withdrawal.
Flexible benefit plans 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
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE NCS
benefit measures is available at www.bls.
gov/ncs/ebs/home.htm or by telephone at
(202) 691–6199.
Work stoppages
Description of the series
Data on work stoppages measure the number
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 37.
Data are largely from a variety of published sources and cover only establishments
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
Number of stoppages: The number of
strikes and lockouts involving 1,000 workers or more and lasting a full shift or longer.
Workers involved: The number of workers directly involved in the stoppage.
Number of days idle: The aggregate
number of workdays lost by workers involved
in the stoppages.
Days of idleness as a percent of estiMonthly Labor Review • June 2009
79
Current Labor Statistics
mated working 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 involving six workers or more.
A DDITIONAL INFORMATION on work
stop-pages data is available at www. bls.
gov/cba/home.htm or by telephone at (202)
691–6199.
Price Data
(Tables 2; 38–46)
Price data are gathered by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics from retail and primary markets in the United States. Price
indexes are given in relation to a base period—December 2003 = 100 for many Producer Price Indexes (unless otherwise noted),
1982–84 = 100 for many Consumer Price
Indexes (unless otherwise noted), and 1990
= 100 for International Price Indexes.
Consumer Price Indexes
Description of the series
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure
of the average change in the prices paid by
urban consumers for a fixed market basket
of goods and services. The CPI is calculated
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 urban
households. The wage earner index (CPI-W) 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 representative index
became apparent. The all-urban consumer
index (CPI-U), introduced in 1978, is representative of the 1993–95 buying habits 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 clerical workers,
the CPI-U covers professional, managerial, and
technical workers, the self-employed, shortterm workers, the unemployed, retirees, and
others not in the labor force.
The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing,
shelter, fuel, drugs, transportation fares, doctors’
80
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
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 between 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 retail
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 presented in table
39.The areas listed are as indicated 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.
Notes on the data
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 homeownership so that the index would
reflect only the cost of shelter services provided
by owner-occupied homes. An updated CPI-U
and CPI-W were introduced with release of the
January 1987 and January 1998 data.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, contact the Division of Prices and Price Indexes:
(202) 691–7000.
Producer Price Indexes
Description of the series
Producer Price Indexes (PPI) measure average changes in prices received by domestic
producers of commodities in all stages of
processing. The sample used for calculating
these indexes currently contains about 3,200
commodities and about 80,000 quotations
per month, selected to represent the movement of prices of all commodities produced
in the manufacturing; agriculture, forestry,
and fishing; mining; and gas and electricity
and public utilities sectors. The stage-of-processing structure of PPI organizes products by
class of buyer and degree of fabrication (that is,
finished goods, intermediate goods, and crude
materials). The traditional commodity structure of PPI organizes products by similarity of
end use or material composition. The industry
and product structure of PPI organizes data in
accordance with the 2002 North American
Industry Classification System and product
codes developed by the U.S. Census Bureau.
To the extent possible, prices used in
calculating Producer Price Indexes apply to
the first significant commercial transaction
in the United States from the production
or central marketing point. Price data are
generally collected monthly, primarily by
mail questionnaire. Most prices are obtained
directly from producing companies on a voluntary and confidential basis. 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.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, contact the Division of Industrial Prices and
Price Indexes: (202) 691–7705.
International Price Indexes
Description of the series
The International Price Program produces
monthly and quarterly export and import
price indexes for nonmilitary goods and
services 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. (“Residents” is defined as in
the national income accounts; it includes
corporations, businesses, 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 manufactures, 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 the 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 during
the first week of the month. Survey respondents are asked to indicate all discounts, allow-
ances, and rebates applicable to the reported
prices, so that the price used in the calculation
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, the three-digit level for the Standard
International Trade Classification (SITC), and
the four-digit level of detail for the Harmonized System. Aggregate import indexes by
country or region of origin are also available.
BLS publishes indexes for selected categories of internationally traded services,
calculated on an international basis and on a
balance-of-payments basis.
Notes on the data
The export and import price indexes are
weighted indexes of the Laspeyres type. The
trade weights currently used to compute both
indexes relate to 2000.
Because a price index depends on the same
items being priced from period to period, it
is necessary to recognize when a product’s
specifications or terms of transaction have
been modified. For this reason, the Bureau’s
questionnaire 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,
discounts, credit terms, packaging, class of
buyer or seller, and so forth. When there are
changes in either the specifications or terms
of transaction 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 employed which allows for the continued
repricing of the item.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, contact the Division of International Prices:
(202) 691–7155.
Productivity Data
(Tables 2; 47–50)
Business and major sectors
Description of the series
The productivity measures relate real output
to real input. As such, they encompass a family of measures which include single-factor
input measures, such as output per hour,
output per unit of labor input, or output per
unit of capital input, as well as measures of
multifactor productivity (output per unit
of combined labor and capital inputs). The
Bureau indexes show the change in output
relative to changes in the various inputs.
The measures cover the business, nonfarm
business, manufacturing, and nonfinancial
corporate sectors.
Corresponding indexes of hourly compensation, unit labor costs, unit nonlabor
payments, and prices are also provided.
Definitions
Output per hour of all persons (labor
productivity) is the quantity of goods and
services produced per hour of labor input.
Output per unit of capital services (capital
productivity) is the quantity of goods and
services produced per unit of capital services input. Multifactor productivity is the
quantity of goods and services produced per
combined inputs. For private business and
private nonfarm business, inputs include
labor and capital units. For manufacturing,
inputs include labor, capital, energy, nonenergy
materials, and purchased business services.
Compensation per hour is total compensation divided by hours at work. Total
compensation 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 corporations
in which there are no self-employed). Real
compensation per hour is compensation per
hour deflated by the change in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Unit labor costs are the labor compensation costs expended in the production of a
unit of output and are derived by dividing
compensation by output. Unit nonlabor
payments include profits, depreciation,
interest, and indirect taxes per unit of output.
They are computed by subtracting compensation of all persons from current-dollar value
of output and dividing by output.
Unit nonlabor costs contain all the components of unit nonlabor payments except
unit profits.
Unit profits include corporate profits
with inventory valuation and capital consumption adjustments per unit of output.
Hours of all persons are the total hours
at work of payroll workers, self-employed
persons, and unpaid family workers.
Labor inputs are hours of all persons
adjusted for the effects of changes in the
education and experience of the labor force.
Capital services 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.
Combined units of labor and capital
inputs 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 Tornquist 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. Private business and private nonfarm business further exclude government
enterprises. The measures are supplied by
the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau
of Economic Analysis. Annual estimates of
manufacturing sectoral output are produced
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly manufacturing output indexes from the
Federal Reserve Board are adjusted 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
measures in tables 47–50 describe the relationship between output in real terms and
the labor and capital inputs involved in its
production. They show the changes from
period to period in the amount of goods and
services produced per unit of input.
Although these measures relate output
to hours and capital services, they do not
measure 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 investment; level of output; changes
in the utilization of capacity, energy, material,
and research and development; the organization of production; 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.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
81
Current Labor Statistics
Industry productivity measures
Description of the series
The BLS industry productivity indexes measure the relationship between output and
inputs for selected industries and industry
groups, and thus reflect trends in industry efficiency over time. Industry measures include
labor productivity, multifactor productivity,
compensation, and unit labor costs.
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.
Definitions
Output per hour is derived by dividing an
index of industry output by an index of labor
input. For most industries, output indexes
are derived from data on the value of industry output adjusted for price change. For
the remaining industries, output indexes are
derived from data on the physical quantity
of production.
The labor input series is based on the
hours of all workers or, in the case of some
transportation industries, on the number of
employees. For most industries, the series
consists of the hours of all employees. For
some trade and services industries, the series
also includes the hours of partners, proprietors, and unpaid family workers.
Unit labor costs represent the labor compensation costs per unit of output produced,
and are derived by dividing an index of labor
compensation by an index of output. Labor
compensation includes payroll as well as
supplemental payments, including both
legally required expenditures and payments
for voluntary programs.
Multifactor productivity is derived by
dividing an index of industry output by an index of combined inputs consumed in producing that output. Combined inputs include
capital, labor, and intermediate purchases.
The measure of capital input represents 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. The
measure of intermediate purchases is a
combination of purchased materials, services,
fuels, and electricity.
Notes on the data
The industry measures are compiled from
82
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau, with additional
data supplied by other government agencies,
trade associations, and other sources.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on this
series, contact the Division of Industry Productivity Studies: (202) 691–5618, or visit the
Web site at: www.bls.gov/lpc/home.htm
International Comparisons
(Tables 51–53)
Labor force and unemployment
Description of the series
Tables 51 and 52 present comparative
measures of the labor force, employment,
and unemployment approximating U.S.
concepts for the United States, Canada,
Australia, Japan, and six European countries.
The Bureau adjusts the figures for these
selected countries, for all known major
definitional differences, to the extent that
data to prepare adjustments are available.
Although precise comparability may not
be achieved, these adjusted figures provide
a better basis for international comparisons than the figures regularly published
by each country. For further information
on adjustments and comparability issues,
see Constance Sorrentino, “International
unemployment rates: how comparable are
they?” Monthly Labor Review, June 2000,
pp. 3–20, available on the Internet at www.
bls.gov/opub/mlr/2000/06/art1full.pdf.
Definitions
For the principal U.S. definitions of the labor
force, employment, and unemployment, see
the Notes section on Employment and Unemployment Data: Household survey data.
Notes on the data
Foreign country data are adjusted as closely
as possible to the U.S. definitions. Primary
areas of adjustment address conceptual differences in upper age limits and definitions of employment and unemployment,
provided that reliable data are available to
make these adjustments. Adjustments are
made where applicable to include employed
and unemployed persons above upper age
limits; some European countries do not
include persons older than age 64 in their
labor force measures, because a large portion
of this population has retired. Adjustments
are made to exclude active duty military
from employment figures, although a small
number of career military may be included
in some European countries. Adjustments
are made to exclude unpaid family workers
who worked fewer than 15 hours per week
from employment figures; U.S. concepts do
not include them in employment, whereas
most foreign countries include all unpaid
family workers regardless of the number
of hours worked. Adjustments are made
to include full-time students seeking work
and available for work as unemployed when
they are classified as not in the labor force.
Where possible, lower age limits are based
on the age at which compulsory schooling
ends in each country, rather than based on
the U.S. standard of 16. Lower age limits
have ranged between 13 and 16 over the years
covered; currently, the lower age limits are
either 15 or 16 in all 10 countries.
Some adjustments for comparability are
not made because data are unavailable for
adjustment purposes. For example, no adjustments to unemployment are usually made for
deviations from U.S. concepts in the treatment
of persons waiting to start a new job or passive
job seekers. These conceptual differences have
little impact on the measures. Furthermore,
BLS studies have concluded that no adjustments should be made for persons on layoff
who are counted as employed in some countries because of their strong job attachment as
evidenced by, for example, payment of salary
or the existence of a recall date. In the United
States, persons on layoff have weaker job attachment and are classified as unemployed.
The annual labor force measures are obtained from monthly, quarterly, or continuous household surveys and may be calculated
as averages of monthly or quarterly data.
Quarterly and monthly unemployment
rates are based on household surveys. For
some countries, they are calculated by applying annual adjustment factors to current published data and, therefore, are less
precise indicators of unemployment under
U.S. concepts than the annual figures. The
labor force measures may have breaks in
series over time due to changes in surveys,
sources, or estimation methods. Breaks are
noted in data tables.
For up-to-date information on adjustments and breaks in series, see the Technical
Notes of Comparative Civilian Labor Force
Statistics, 10 Countries, on the Internet at
www.bls.gov/fls/flscomparelf.htm, and the
Notes of Unemployment rates in 10 countries,
civilian labor force basis, approximating U.S.
concepts, seasonally adjusted, on the Internet
at www.bls.gov/fls/flsjec.pdf.
F OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on
this series, contact the Division of Foreign
Labor Statistics: (202) 691–5654 or flshelp@
bls.gov.
Manufacturing productivity
and labor costs
Description of the series
Table 53 presents comparative indexes
of manufacturing output per hour (labor
productivity),output,total hours,compensation
per hour, and unit labor costs for the United
States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic
of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and 10 European
countries. These measures are trend comparisons—that is, series that measure changes over
time—rather than level comparisons. BLS does
not recommend using these series for level
comparisons because of technical problems.
BLS constructs the comparative indexes
from three basic aggregate measures—output, total labor hours, and total compensation. The hours and compensation measures
refer to employees (wage and salary earners)
in Belgium and Taiwan. For all other economies, the measures refer to all employed
persons, including employees, self-employed
persons, and unpaid family workers.
The data for recent years are based on the
United Nations System of National Accounts
1993 (SNA 93). Manufacturing is generally defined according to the International Standard
Industrial Classification (ISIC). However, the
measures for France include parts of mining
as well. For the United States and Canada,
manufacturing is defined according to the
North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS 97).
Definitions
Output. For most economies, the output
measures are real value added in manufacturing from national accounts. However, output for Japan prior to 1970 and
for the Netherlands prior to 1960 are
indexes of industrial production. The
manufacturing value added measures for the
United Kingdom are essentially identical
to their indexes of industrial production.
For United States, the output measure for
the manufacturing sector is a chain-weighted
index of real gross product originating (deflated value added) produced by the Bureau
of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Most of the other
economies now also use chain-weighted as
opposed to fixed-year weights that are periodically updated.
To preserve the comparability of the U.S.
measures with those of other economies,
BLS uses gross product originating in manufacturing for the United States. The gross
product originating series differs from the
manufacturing output series that BLS pub-
lishes in its quarterly news releases on U.S.
productivity and costs (and that underlies the
measures that appear in tables 48 and 50 in
this section). The quarterly measures are on
a “sectoral output” basis, rather than a valueadded basis. Sectoral output is gross output
less intrasector transactions.
Total hours refer to hours worked in all
economies. The measures are developed from
statistics of manufacturing employment and
average hours. For most other economies, recent years’ aggregate hours series are obtained
from national statistical offices, usually from
national accounts. However, for some economies and for earlier years, BLS calculates the
aggregate hours series using employment
figures published with the national accounts,
or other comprehensive employment series,
and data on average hours worked.
Hourly compensation is total compensation divided by total hours. Total compensation includes all payments in cash or in-kind
made directly to employees plus employer
expenditures for legally required insurance
programs and contractual and private benefit
plans. For Australia, Canada, France, Singapore, and Sweden, compensation is increased
to account for important taxes on payroll
or employment. For the United Kingdom,
compensation is reduced between 1967 and
1991 to account for subsidies.
Labor productivity is defined as real
output per hour worked. Although the labor
productivity measure presented in this release
relates output to the hours worked of persons
employed in manufacturing, it does not measure
the specific contributions of labor as a single
factor of production. Rather, it reflects the joint
effects of many influences, including new technology, capital investment, capacity utilization,
energy use, and managerial skills, as well as the
skills and efforts of the workforce.
Unit labor costs are defined as the cost
of labor input required to produce one unit
of output. They are computed as compensation in nominal terms divided by real output.
Unit labor costs can also be computed by
dividing hourly compensation by output per
hour, that is, by labor productivity.
Notes on the data
The measures for recent years may be
based on current indicators of manufacturing output (such as industrial production
indexes), employment, average hours, and
hourly compensation until national accounts and other statistics used for the
long-term measures become available.
F OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on
this series, go to http://www.bls.gov/news.
release/prod4.toc.htm or contact the Divi-
sion of International Labor Comparison at
(202) 691–5654.
Occupational Injury
and Illness Data
(Tables 54–55)
Survey of Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses
Description of the series
The Survey of Occupational Injuries and
Illnesses collects data from employers about
their workers’ job-related nonfatal injuries
and illnesses. The information that employers
provide is based on records that they maintain
under the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 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 cooperative
program with an independent sample selected for each participating State. A stratified
random sample with a Neyman allocation
is selected to represent all private industries
in the State. The survey is stratified by Standard Industrial Classification and size of
employment.
Definitions
Under the Occupational Safety and Health
Act, employers maintain records of nonfatal
work-related injuries and illnesses that involve 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.
Occupational injury is any injury such
as a cut, fracture, sprain, or amputation that
results from a work-related event or a single,
instantaneous exposure in the work environment.
Occupational illness is an abnormal
condition or disorder, other than one resulting from an occupational injury, caused by
exposure to factors associated with employment. It includes acute and chronic illnesses
or disease which may be caused by inhalation,
absorption, ingestion, or direct contact.
Lost workday injuries and illnesses are
cases that involve days away from work, or
days of restricted work activity, or both.
Lost workdays 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,
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
83
Current Labor Statistics
because of an occupational injury or illness.
BLS measures of the number and incidence
rate of lost workdays were discontinued 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.
Incidence rates are computed as the
number of injuries and/or illnesses or lost
work days per 100 full-time workers.
Notes on the data
The definitions of occupational injuries and
illnesses are from Recordkeeping Guidelines
for Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (U.S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 1986).
Estimates are made for industries and employment size classes for total recordable cases,
lost workday cases, days away from work cases,
and nonfatal cases without lost workdays. These
data also are shown separately for injuries.
Illness data are available for seven categories:
occupational skin diseases or disorders, dust
diseases of the lungs, respiratory conditions
due to toxic agents, poisoning (systemic
effects of toxic agents), disorders due to
physical agents (other than toxic materials),
disorders associated with repeated trauma,
and all other occupational illnesses.
The survey continues to measure the
number of new work-related illness cases
which are recognized, diagnosed, and reported during 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 recognized and reported. These
long-term latent illnesses are believed to be
understated in the survey’s illness measure. In
contrast, the overwhelming majority of the
reported new illnesses are those which are
easier to directly relate to workplace activity
(for example, contact dermatitis and carpal
tunnel syndrome).
Most of the estimates are in the form
of incidence rates, defined as the number
of injuries and illnesses per 100 equivalent
84
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
full-time workers. For this purpose, 200,000
employee 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 Conditions. Many of these States publish data
on State and local government employees in
addition to private industry data.
Mining and railroad data are furnished to
BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration. Data from these organizations are
included in both the national and State data
published annually.
With the 1992 survey, BLS began publishing details on serious, nonfatal incidents
resulting 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
circumstances of their injuries and illnesses
(nature 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 detailed industries and for individual
States at more aggregated industry levels.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on occupational injuries and illnesses, contact the
Office of Occupational Safety, Health and
Working Conditions at (202) 691–6180, or
access the Internet at: www.bls. gov/iif/
Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries
The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
compiles a complete roster of fatal job-related 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 Administration and Mine Safety
and Health Administration records, medical
examiner and autopsy reports, media accounts, State motor vehicle fatality records,
and follow-up questionnaires to employers.
In addition to private wage and salary
workers, the self-employed, family members, and Federal, State, and local government 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
unintentional wound or damage to the body
resulting in death from acute exposure to
energy, such as heat or electricity, or kinetic
energy from a crash, or from the absence of
such essentials 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-related 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
injured worker, the fatal incident, and the
machinery or equipment involved. Summary worker demographic data and event
characteristics are included in a national news
release 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
contact the BLS Office of Safety, Health,
and Working Conditions at (202) 691–
6175, or the Internet at: www.bls.gov/iif/
1. Labor market indicators
Selected indicators
2007
2007
2008
I
II
2008
III
IV
I
II
2009
III
IV
I
Employment data
Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional
population (household survey):
1
Labor force participation rate........................................................
Employment-population ratio........................................................
Unemployment rate………………………………………………….…
Men………………………………………………..…….….…………
16 to 24 years...........................................................................
25 years and older....................................................................
Women……………………………………………….….……………
16 to 24 years...........................................................................
25 years and older....................................................................
Employment, nonfarm (payroll data), in thousands:
66.0
63.0
4.6
4.7
11.6
3.6
4.5
9.4
3.6
66.0
62.2
5.8
6.1
14.4
4.8
5.4
11.2
4.4
65.9
62.9
4.5
4.6
10.8
3.6
4.4
9.1
3.5
66.6
63.4
4.5
4.6
11.5
3.5
4.4
9.0
3.6
66.0
63.0
4.7
4.8
11.8
3.6
4.6
9.7
3.7
65.9
62.8
4.8
4.9
12.1
3.7
4.7
9.9
3.8
65.7
62.3
4.9
5.1
12.7
3.9
4.8
10.1
3.9
66.6
62.8
5.4
5.6
13.5
4.2
5.1
11.1
4.1
65.9
62.0
6.0
6.5
14.9
5.1
5.6
11.9
4.5
65.7
61.0
6.9
7.5
16.5
6.0
6.1
11.6
5.2
65.4
59.5
8.1
8.8
18.0
7.4
7.2
12.9
6.2
1
Total nonfarm…………………….................................................... 137,598
Total private....................................................................... 115,380
137,066
114,566
137,400
115,250
137,645
115,400
137,652
115,389
138,152
115,783
137,814
115,373
137,356
114,834
136,732
114,197
135,074
112,542
133,019
110,481
22,233
Manufacturing………….………………..………………………… 13,879
21,419
13,431
22,392
13,966
22,289
13,889
22,099
13,796
22,043
13,777
21,800
13,643
21,507
13,505
21,247
13,322
20,532
12,902
19,537
12,310
Service-providing……………………………………………….…………..…115,366
115,646
115,008
115,356
115,553
116,109
116,014
115,849
115,485
114,542
113,482
Goods-producing ……………………………………………….…………..
Average hours:
Total private........................................…………..........................
Manufacturing………...……………………………………………
Overtime……..………….………………...………………………
33.9
41.2
4.2
33.6
40.8
3.7
33.9
41.2
4.3
33.9
41.3
4.3
33.8
41.3
4.1
33.8
41.2
4.1
33.8
41.2
4.0
33.6
40.9
3.8
33.6
40.5
3.5
33.3
39.9
2.9
33.2
39.3
2.7
Civilian nonfarm ……………………………….…………………………….……
3.3
2.6
.9
.8
1.0
.6
.8
.7
.8
.3
.4
Private nonfarm……………...............………...............................
3.0
2.4
.8
.9
.8
.6
.9
.7
.6
.2
.4
2.4
2.4
.4
1.0
.5
.6
1.0
.7
.4
.3
.4
1, 2, 3
Employment Cost Index
Total compensation:
4
5
Goods-producing ……………………………………………….…………
5
Service-providing ……………………………………………….…………
State and local government ……………….………………………
Workers by bargaining status (private nonfarm):
Union……………………………………………………………………
Nonunion…………………………………………………………………
1
3.2
2.5
.9
.9
.9
.6
.9
.7
.6
.3
.4
4.1
3.0
1.0
.6
1.8
.7
.5
.5
1.7
.3
.6
2.0
3.2
2.8
2.4
-.3
1.0
1.2
.9
.5
.8
.7
.6
.8
.9
.8
.7
.7
.6
.6
.2
1.0
.3
Quarterly data seasonally adjusted.
Annual changes are December-to-December changes. Quarterly changes
are calculated using the last month of each quarter.
3
The Employment Cost Index data reflect the conversion to the 2002 North
American Classification System (NAICS) and the 2000 Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) system. The NAICS and SOC data shown prior to 2006 are
for informational purposes only. Series based on NAICS and SOC became the
official BLS estimates starting in March 2006.
2
4
Excludes Federal and private household workers.
Goods-producing industries include mining, construction, and manufacturing. Serviceproviding industries include all other private sector industries.
5
NOTE: Beginning in January 2003, household survey data reflect revised population
controls. Nonfarm data reflect the conversion to the 2002 version of the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS), replacing the Standard Industrial
Classification (SIC) system. NAICS-based data by industry are not comparable with SIC
based data.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 85
Current Labor Statistics: Comparative Indicators
2. Annual and quarterly percent changes in compensation, prices, and productivity
Selected measures
2007
2007
2008
I
II
2008
III
IV
I
2009
II
III
IV
I
1, 2, 3
Compensation data
Employment Cost Index—compensation:
Civilian nonfarm...................................................................
Private nonfarm...............................................................
Employment Cost Index—wages and salaries:
Civilian nonfarm……………………………………………….
Private nonfarm...............................................................
Price data
3.3
3.0
2.6
2.4
0.9
.8
0.8
.9
1.0
.8
0.6
.6
0.8
.9
0.7
.7
0.8
.6
0.3
.2
0.4
.4
3.4
3.3
2.7
2.6
1.1
1.1
.7
.8
1.0
.9
.7
.6
.8
.9
.7
.7
.8
.6
.3
.3
.4
.4
2.8
3.8
1.8
1.5
.1
.7
1.7
2.5
0
-3.9
1.2
3.9
4.5
1.8
4.1
12.1
6.3
7.4
2.8
10.5
21.5
2.2
2.8
.3
1.5
5.7
1.9
2.5
-.1
3.2
3.8
.1
.2
-.1
.1
-2.4
1.8
1.9
1.2
2.0
11.9
2.8
3.4
.7
5.0
14.5
4.2
5.2
.6
6.9
14.9
-.1
-.4
1.0
.7
-15.6
-7.4
-9.9
1.6
-13.0
-32.5
.1
.1
.2
-2.7
-6.9
1.6
1.4
2.7
2.8
-.7
-.6
5.7
4.8
7.3
7.0
-1.1
-.5
2.2
2.6
4.7
4.7
2.3
2.2
-.5
-.6
1.1
.8
.7
-
-.6
3.8
3.0
1.2
-.4
8.5
6.4
-3.9
-
1
Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers): All Items......
Producer Price Index:
Finished goods.....................................................................
Finished consumer goods.................................................
Capital equipment……………………………………………
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components…………
Crude materials.....................................................................
4
Productivity data
Output per hour of all persons:
Business sector.....................................................................
Nonfarm business sector.......................................................
5
Nonfinancial corporations ……………….…………...………………
1
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
only. Series based on NAICS and SOC became the official BLS estimates starting in
March 2006.
4
Annual rates of change are computed by comparing annual averages. Quarterly
percent changes reflect annual rates of change in quarterly indexes. The data are
seasonally adjusted.
Excludes Federal and private household workers.
3
The Employment Cost Index data reflect the conversion to the 2002 North American
Classification System (NAICS) and the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)
system. The NAICS and SOC data shown prior to 2006 are for informational purposes
5
Output per hour of all employees.
3. Alternative measures of wage and compensation changes
Quarterly change
Components
Four quarters ending—
2008
I
II
2009
III
IV
I
2008
I
II
2009
III
IV
I
1
Average hourly compensation:
All persons, business sector..........................................................
All persons, nonfarm business sector...........................................
Employment Cost Index—compensation:
1.9
1.7
5.7
5.7
4.9
5.2
4.1
4.1
3.5
3.5
3.4
3.6
3.7
3.9
4.0
4.1
4.1
4.2
.8
.9
.8
.9
.5
.7
.7
.8
.7
.5
.8
.6
.7
.6
1.7
.3
.2
.6
.2
.3
.4
.4
1.0
.3
.6
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.2
3.6
3.1
3.0
2.7
3.0
3.5
2.9
2.8
2.9
2.8
3.4
2.6
2.4
2.8
2.4
3.0
2.1
1.9
3.0
1.8
3.1
.8
.9
.8
.9
.6
.7
.7
1.1
.7
.5
.8
.6
.7
.6
1.8
.3
.3
.7
.2
.3
.4
.4
.6
.4
.5
3.2
3.2
2.6
3.3
3.5
3.2
3.1
2.9
3.2
3.4
3.1
2.9
2.9
3.0
3.5
2.7
2.6
3.2
2.5
3.1
2.2
2.0
3.1
1.9
3.0
2
3
Civilian nonfarm ……….………………………………………….…………..…
Private nonfarm….......................................................................
Union…………..........................................................................
Nonunion…………....................................................................
State and local government….....................................................
Employment Cost Index—wages and salaries:
3
3.5
3.7
2
Civilian nonfarm ……….………………………………………….…………..…
Private nonfarm….......................................................................
Union…………..........................................................................
Nonunion…………....................................................................
State and local government….....................................................
1
Seasonally adjusted. "Quarterly average" is percent change from a
quarter ago, at an annual rate.
2
The Employment Cost Index data reflect the conversion to the 2002
North American Classification System (NAICS) and the 2000 Standard
86
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The NAICS and SOC data shown
prior to 2006 are for informational purposes only. Series based on NAICS
and SOC became the official BLS estimates starting in March 2006.
3
Excludes Federal and private household workers.
4. Employment status of the population, by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status
2008
Annual average
2007
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional
1
population ……………………. 231,867
Civilian labor force.............. 153,124
66.0
Participation rate...........
Employed........................ 146,047
Employment-pop63.0
ulation ratio 2……………
7,078
Unemployed...................
4.6
Unemployment rate.....
Not in the labor force........ 78,743
233,788 233,198 233,405 233,627 233,864 234,107 234,360 234,612 234,828 235,035 234,739 234,913 235,086 235,271
154,287 153,932 154,510 154,400 154,506 154,823 154,621 154,878 154,620 154,447 153,716 154,214 154,048 154,731
66.0
66.0
66.2
66.1
66.1
66.1
66.0
66.0
65.8
65.7
65.5
65.6
65.5
65.8
145,362 146,257 145,974 145,738 145,596 145,273 145,029 144,657 144,144 143,338 142,099 141,748 140,887 141,007
62.2
8,924
5.8
79,501
62.7
7,675
5.0
79,267
62.5
8,536
5.5
78,895
62.4
8,662
5.6
79,227
62.3
8,910
5.8
79,358
62.1
9,550
6.2
79,284
61.9
9,592
6.2
79,739
61.7
10,221
6.6
79,734
61.4
10,476
6.8
80,208
61.0
11,108
7.2
80,588
60.5
11,616
7.6
81,023
60.3
12,467
8.1
80,699
59.9
13,161
8.5
81,038
59.9
13,724
8.9
80,541
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional
1
population ……………………. 103,555
Civilian labor force.............. 78,596
75.9
Participation rate...........
Employed........................ 75,337
Employment-pop72.8
ulation ratio 2……………
3,259
Unemployed...................
4.1
Unemployment rate.....
Not in the labor force……… 24,959
104,453 104,152 104,258 104,371 104,490 104,613 104,741 104,869 104,978 105,083 104,902 104,999 105,095 105,196
79,047
78,820
78,913
79,055
79,286
79,308
79,392
79,380
79,335
78,998
78,585
78,687
78,578
79,081
75.7
75.7
75.7
75.7
75.9
75.8
75.8
75.7
75.6
75.2
74.9
74.9
74.8
75.2
74,750
75,147
74,992
74,949
74,973
74,737
74,503
74,292
74,045
73,285
72,613
72,293
71,655
71,678
71.6
4,297
5.4
25,406
72.2
3,673
4.7
25,332
71.9
3,921
5.0
25,345
71.8
4,106
5.2
25,315
71.8
4,313
5.4
25,204
71.4
4,572
5.8
25,305
71.1
4,889
6.2
25,349
70.8
5,088
6.4
25,489
70.5
5,290
6.7
25,643
69.7
5,714
7.2
26,085
69.2
5,972
7.6
26,318
68.9
6,394
8.1
26,312
68.2
6,923
8.8
26,516
68.1
7,403
9.4
26,115
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional
1
population ……………………. 111,330
Civilian labor force.............. 67,516
60.6
Participation rate...........
Employed........................ 64,799
Employment-pop58.2
ulation ratio 2……………
2,718
Unemployed...................
4.0
Unemployment rate.....
Not in the labor force……… 43,814
112,260 111,990 112,083 112,183 112,290 112,401 112,518 112,633 112,731 112,825 112,738 112,824 112,908 112,999
68,382
68,118
68,367
68,421
68,273
68,666
68,385
68,700
68,753
68,891
68,584
68,917
68,977
69,148
60.9
60.8
61.0
61.0
60.8
61.1
60.8
61.0
61.0
61.1
60.8
61.1
61.1
61.2
65,039
65,196
65,114
65,169
65,103
65,003
65,008
64,975
64,902
64,860
64,298
64,271
64,148
64,226
57.9
3,342
4.9
43,878
58.2
2,923
4.3
43,872
58.1
3,252
4.8
43,716
58.1
3,252
4.8
43,762
58.0
3,170
4.6
44,017
57.8
3,662
5.3
43,736
57.8
3,377
4.9
44,133
57.7
3,725
5.4
43,933
57.6
3,851
5.6
43,978
57.5
4,031
5.9
43,935
57.0
4,286
6.2
44,154
57.0
4,646
6.7
43,907
56.8
4,828
7.0
43,931
56.8
4,922
7.1
43,850
17,075
6,858
40.2
5,573
17,056
6,993
41.0
5,914
17,064
7,231
42.4
5,868
17,073
6,924
40.6
5,620
17,084
6,947
40.7
5,520
17,092
6,849
40.1
5,533
17,101
6,844
40.0
5,518
17,110
6,799
39.7
5,390
17,118
6,531
38.2
5,196
17,126
6,557
38.3
5,194
17,098
6,547
38.3
5,188
17,090
6,610
38.7
5,184
17,083
6,493
38.0
5,083
17,076
6,501
38.1
5,103
32.6
1,285
18.7
10,218
34.7
1,079
15.4
10,063
34.4
1,363
18.9
9,834
32.9
1,304
18.8
10,149
32.3
1,427
20.5
10,137
32.4
1,316
19.2
10,243
32.3
1,326
19.4
10,257
31.5
1,408
20.7
10,311
30.4
1,335
20.4
10,587
30.3
1,363
20.8
10,568
30.3
1,359
20.8
10,551
30.3
1,427
21.6
10,480
29.8
1,410
21.7
10,590
29.9
1,398
21.5
10,575
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional
1
population ……………………. 16,982
7,012
Civilian labor force..............
41.3
Participation rate...........
5,911
Employed........................
Employment-pop34.8
ulation ratio 2……………
1,101
Unemployed...................
15.7
Unemployment rate.....
Not in the labor force……… 9,970
White3
Civilian noninstitutional
1
population ……………………. 188,253
Civilian labor force.............. 124,935
66.4
Participation rate...........
Employed........................ 119,792
Employment-pop63.6
ulation ratio 2……………
5,143
Unemployed...................
4.1
Unemployment rate.....
Not in the labor force……… 63,319
189,540 189,147 189,281 189,428 189,587 189,747 189,916 190,085 190,221 190,351 190,225 190,331 190,436 190,552
125,635 125,198 125,759 125,712 125,979 125,987 125,844 126,298 126,029 125,634 125,312 125,703 125,599 126,110
66.3
66.2
66.4
66.4
66.4
66.4
66.3
66.4
66.3
66.0
65.9
66.0
66.0
66.2
119,126 119,644 119,611 119,417 119,432 119,082 118,964 118,722 118,226 117,357 116,692 116,481 115,693 115,977
62.8
6,509
5.2
63,905
63.3
5,554
4.4
63,949
63.2
6,148
4.9
63,523
63.0
6,295
5.0
63,716
63.0
6,547
5.2
63,608
62.8
6,904
5.5
63,761
62.6
6,880
5.5
64,072
62.5
7,577
6.0
63,787
62.2
7,803
6.2
64,193
61.7
8,277
6.6
64,718
61.3
8,621
6.9
64,913
61.2
9,222
7.3
64,628
60.8
9,906
7.9
64,837
60.9
10,133
8.0
64,441
27,843
17,740
63.7
15,953
27,746
17,755
64.0
16,200
27,780
17,737
63.8
16,009
27,816
17,708
63.7
16,041
27,854
17,744
63.7
15,989
27,896
17,949
64.3
16,026
27,939
17,733
63.5
15,709
27,982
17,768
63.5
15,762
28,021
17,708
63.2
15,703
28,059
17,796
63.4
15,674
28,052
17,791
63.4
15,546
28,085
17,703
63.0
15,336
28,118
17,542
62.4
15,212
28,153
17,816
63.3
15,142
57.3
1,788
10.1
10,103
58.4
1,555
8.8
9,991
57.6
1,728
9.7
10,043
57.7
1,667
9.4
10,109
57.4
1,755
9.9
10,111
57.4
1,923
10.7
9,947
56.2
2,024
11.4
10,206
56.3
2,006
11.3
10,214
56.0
2,005
11.3
10,313
55.9
2,122
11.9
10,263
55.4
2,245
12.6
10,261
54.6
2,368
13.4
10,382
54.1
2,330
13.3
10,576
53.8
2,673
15.0
10,337
Black or African American3
Civilian noninstitutional
1
population ……………………. 27,485
Civilian labor force.............. 17,496
63.7
Participation rate...........
Employed........................ 16,051
Employment-pop58.4
ulation ratio 2……………
1,445
Unemployed...................
8.3
Unemployment rate.....
Not in the labor force……… 9,989
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 87
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
4. Continued—Employment status of the population, by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status
2008
Annual average
2007
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
32,141
22,024
68.5
20,346
31,911
21,920
68.7
20,392
31,998
22,125
69.1
20,565
32,087
22,100
68.9
20,391
32,179
22,062
68.6
20,396
32,273
22,201
68.8
20,404
63.3
1,678
7.6
10,116
63.9
1,528
7.0
9,990
64.3
1,560
7.0
9,873
63.5
1,709
7.7
9,987
63.4
1,665
7.5
10,117
63.2
1,797
8.1
10,072
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
32,369
22,259
68.8
20,506
32,465
22,187
68.3
20,232
32,558
22,074
67.8
20,168
32,649
22,134
67.8
20,096
32,417
21,931
67.7
19,800
32,501
22,100
68.0
19,684
32,585
22,175
68.1
19,640
32,671
22,376
68.5
19,854
63.4
1,752
7.9
10,111
62.3
1,955
8.8
10,278
61.9
1,906
8.6
10,484
61.6
2,038
9.2
10,515
61.1
2,132
9.7
10,486
60.6
2,416
10.9
10,401
60.3
2,536
11.4
10,410
60.8
2,521
11.3
10,295
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity
Civilian noninstitutional
1
population ……………………. 31,383
Civilian labor force.............. 21,602
68.8
Participation rate...........
Employed........................ 20,382
Employment-pop64.9
ulation ratio 2……………
1,220
Unemployed...................
5.6
Unemployment rate.....
Not in the labor force ………… 9,781
1
The population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population.
3
Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who
selected more than one race group are not included. Prior to 2003, persons who
reported more than one race were included in the group they identified as the main
race.
2
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white and black or African American) do not
sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose
ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified
by ethnicity as well as by race. Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population
controls used in the household survey.
5. Selected employment indicators, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[In thousands]
Selected categories
Annual average
2007
2008
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Characteristic
Employed, 16 years and older.. 146,047 145,362 146,257 145,974 145,738 145,596 145,273 145,029 144,657 144,144 143,338 142,099 141,748 140,887 141,007
Men....................................... 78,254
77,486
78,029
77,932
77,726
77,683
77,484
77,249
76,938
76,577
75,847
75,092
74,777
74,053
74,116
Women............................…… 67,792
67,876
68,228
68,042
68,012
67,913
67,789
67,780
67,720
67,567
67,491
67,007
66,970
66,834
66,890
Married men, spouse
46,314
45,860
45,968
45,871
45,902
46,093
45,804
45,887
45,787
45,610
45,182
44,712
44,502
44,470
44,469
35,832
35,869
36,144
36,122
36,189
36,110
35,994
35,864
35,590
35,649
35,632
35,375
35,563
35,481
35,444
4,401
5,875
5,240
5,290
5,495
5,813
5,879
6,292
6,848
7,323
8,038
7,839
8,626
9,049
8,910
2,877
4,169
3,580
3,658
3,905
4,220
4,240
4,418
4,953
5,399
6,020
5,766
6,443
6,857
6,699
1,210
1,389
1,325
1,305
1,359
1,300
1,412
1,514
1,514
1,585
1,617
1,667
1,764
1,839
1,810
reasons……………………… 19,756
19,343
19,792
19,396
19,428
19,348
19,690
19,275
19,083
18,886
18,922
18,864
18,855
18,833
19,065
4,317
5,773
5,152
5,218
5,390
5,693
5,802
6,167
6,742
7,209
7,932
7,705
8,543
8,942
8,826
2,827
4,097
3,537
3,599
3,839
4,160
4,171
4,279
4,889
5,304
5,938
5,660
6,390
6,773
6,650
1,199
1,380
1,328
1,297
1,340
1,287
1,385
1,541
1,499
1,579
1,619
1,658
1,760
1,850
1,802
reasons.................………… 19,419
19,005
19,436
18,997
19,036
18,992
19,269
18,930
18,808
18,635
18,642
18,567
18,562
18,493
18,661
present................................
Married women, spouse
present................................
Persons at work part time1
All industries:
Part time for economic
reasons…………………….…
Slack work or business
conditions………….........
Could only find part-time
work………………………
Part time for noneconomic
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic
reasons…………………….…
Slack work or business
conditions........................
Could only find part-time
work………………………
Part time for noneconomic
1
Excludes persons "with a job but not at work" during the survey period for such reasons as vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.
NOTE: Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
88
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
6. Selected unemployment indicators, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[Unemployment rates]
Annual average
Selected categories
2007
2008
2008
2009
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Characteristic
Total, 16 years and older............................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years.....................
Men, 20 years and older.........................
Women, 20 years and older...................
4.6
15.7
4.1
4.0
5.8
18.7
5.4
4.9
5.0
15.4
4.7
4.3
5.5
18.9
5.0
4.8
5.6
18.8
5.2
4.8
5.8
20.5
5.4
4.6
6.2
19.2
5.8
5.3
6.2
19.4
6.2
4.9
6.6
20.7
6.4
5.4
6.8
20.4
6.7
5.6
7.2
20.8
7.2
5.9
7.6
20.8
7.6
6.2
8.1
21.6
8.1
6.7
8.5
21.7
8.8
7.0
8.9
21.5
9.4
7.1
White, total 1………………………………
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years................
Men, 16 to 19 years........................
Women, 16 to 19 years..................
Men, 20 years and older....................
Women, 20 years and older..............
4.1
13.9
15.7
12.1
3.7
3.6
5.2
16.8
19.1
14.4
4.9
4.4
4.4
14.2
15.2
13.1
4.2
3.7
4.9
16.5
18.1
14.8
4.5
4.1
5.0
17.0
18.7
15.3
4.6
4.2
5.2
19.1
22.4
15.6
4.8
4.2
5.5
17.3
19.5
15.0
5.1
4.7
5.5
17.5
19.7
15.2
5.5
4.2
6.0
18.6
22.6
14.4
5.8
4.9
6.2
18.4
21.4
15.3
6.1
5.1
6.6
18.7
21.4
16.0
6.5
5.5
6.9
18.4
21.8
14.8
6.8
5.8
7.3
19.1
22.2
16.0
7.4
6.1
7.9
20.0
23.3
16.7
8.0
6.5
8.0
19.7
22.5
16.9
8.5
6.4
Black or African American, total 1………
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years................
Men, 16 to 19 years........................
Women, 16 to 19 years..................
Men, 20 years and older....................
Women, 20 years and older..............
8.3
29.4
33.8
25.3
7.9
6.7
10.1
31.2
35.9
26.8
10.2
8.1
8.8
24.6
27.8
22.0
8.6
7.6
9.7
32.3
39.9
25.2
9.2
8.2
9.4
29.8
35.4
24.4
9.7
7.5
9.9
32.0
37.7
26.8
10.3
7.5
10.7
29.3
29.8
28.9
10.6
9.1
11.4
29.8
32.9
26.7
11.9
9.3
11.3
32.9
37.2
27.8
11.8
8.9
11.3
32.2
42.0
23.2
12.1
9.0
11.9
33.7
35.2
32.2
13.4
8.9
12.6
36.5
44.0
29.8
14.1
9.2
13.4
38.8
45.6
32.1
14.9
9.9
13.3
32.5
41.2
25.2
15.4
9.9
15.0
34.7
42.1
27.2
17.2
11.5
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity………………
Married men, spouse present................
Married women, spouse present...........
Full-time workers...................................
Part-time workers..................................
5.6
2.5
2.8
4.6
4.9
7.6
3.4
3.6
5.8
5.5
7.0
2.8
3.0
5.0
5.0
7.0
3.0
3.2
5.5
5.5
7.7
3.1
3.4
5.6
5.4
7.5
3.3
3.4
5.8
5.6
8.1
3.7
3.7
6.3
5.7
7.9
3.9
3.5
6.3
5.9
8.8
4.1
4.2
6.8
5.7
8.6
4.2
4.3
7.0
5.8
9.2
4.4
4.5
7.5
5.9
9.7
5.0
4.7
8.0
5.9
10.9
5.5
5.1
8.6
5.8
11.4
5.8
5.4
9.2
5.9
11.3
6.3
5.5
9.6
6.1
Educational attainment2
Less than a high school diploma................
7.1
9.0
7.9
8.4
8.9
8.6
9.7
9.8
10.4
10.6
10.9
12.0
12.6
13.3
14.8
High school graduates, no college 3………
Some college or associate degree………..
4.4
3.6
5.7
4.6
5.0
4.0
5.2
4.3
5.2
4.4
5.3
4.6
5.8
5.0
6.3
5.1
6.5
5.3
6.9
5.5
7.7
5.6
8.0
6.2
8.3
7.0
9.0
7.2
9.3
7.4
Bachelor's degree and higher 4…………….
2.0
2.6
2.1
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.7
2.6
3.1
3.2
3.7
3.8
4.1
4.3
4.4
1
Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who
selected more than one race group are not included. Prior to 2003, persons who
reported more than one race were included in the group they identified as the main
race.
2
Data refer to persons 25 years and older.
7. Duration of unemployment, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Weeks of
unemployment
Less than 5 weeks...........................
5 to 14 weeks..................................
15 weeks and over..........................
15 to 26 weeks.............................
27 weeks and over.......................
Mean duration, in weeks...................
Median duration, in weeks...............
Annual average
2007
2,542
2,232
2,303
1,061
1,243
16.8
8.5
2008
2,932
2,804
3,188
1,427
1,761
17.9
9.4
2008
Apr.
2,496
2,529
2,652
1,277
1,375
17.0
9.3
May
3,257
2,478
2,808
1,238
1,570
16.8
8.3
June
2,733
3,012
2,966
1,345
1,621
17.6
10.1
July
2,884
2,853
3,168
1,450
1,718
17.3
9.8
Aug.
3,242
2,874
3,447
1,568
1,878
17.6
9.3
2009
Sept.
2,864
3,083
3,662
1,621
2,041
18.7
10.3
Oct.
3,108
3,055
4,109
1,834
2,275
19.8
10.6
Nov.
3,255
3,141
3,964
1,757
2,207
18.9
10.0
Dec.
3,267
3,398
4,517
1,927
2,591
19.7
10.6
Jan.
3,658
3,519
4,634
1,987
2,647
19.8
10.3
Feb.
3,404
3,969
5,264
2,347
2,917
19.8
11.0
Mar.
3,371
4,041
5,715
2,534
3,182
20.1
11.2
Apr.
3,346
3,982
6,211
2,531
3,680
21.4
12.5
NOTE: Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 89
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
8. Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Annual average
Reason for
unemployment
2007
Job losers 1…………………….…
On temporary layoff..............
Not on temporary layoff........
Job leavers..............................
Reentrants...............................
New entrants...........................
2008
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
2009
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
3,515
976
2,539
793
2,142
627
4,789
1,176
3,614
896
2,472
766
4,043
1,103
2,939
860
2,145
625
4,319
1,121
3,197
881
2,522
832
4,465
1,106
3,358
847
2,562
761
4,595
1,041
3,554
875
2,668
818
4,994
1,279
3,715
999
2,678
829
5,348
1,396
3,952
982
2,587
822
5,811
1,367
4,443
946
2,650
825
6,156
1,413
4,744
940
2,655
760
6,471
1,524
4,946
1,007
2,777
829
6,980
1,441
5,539
917
2,751
780
7,696
1,488
6,208
820
2,834
1,005
8,243
1,557
6,686
887
2,974
868
8,814
1,625
7,189
890
3,087
900
49.7
13.8
35.9
11.2
30.3
8.9
53.7
13.2
40.5
10.0
27.7
8.6
52.7
14.4
38.3
11.2
28.0
8.1
50.5
13.1
37.4
10.3
29.5
9.7
51.7
12.8
38.9
9.8
29.7
8.8
51.3
11.6
39.7
9.8
29.8
9.1
52.6
13.5
39.1
10.5
28.2
8.7
54.9
14.3
40.6
10.1
26.6
8.4
56.8
13.4
43.4
9.2
25.9
8.1
58.6
13.4
45.1
8.9
25.3
7.2
58.4
13.8
44.6
9.1
25.1
7.5
61.1
12.6
48.5
8.0
24.1
6.8
62.3
12.0
50.2
6.6
22.9
8.1
63.5
12.0
51.5
6.8
22.9
6.7
64.4
11.9
52.5
6.5
22.5
6.6
2.6
.6
1.4
.4
2.8
.6
1.6
.5
2.9
.5
1.7
.5
3.0
.6
1.7
.5
3.2
.6
1.7
.5
3.5
.6
1.7
.5
3.8
.6
1.7
.5
4.0
.6
1.7
.5
4.2
.7
1.8
.5
4.5
.6
1.8
.5
5.0
.5
1.8
.7
5.4
.6
1.9
.6
5.7
.6
2.0
.6
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Percent of unemployed
Job losers 1…………………….…
On temporary layoff...............
Not on temporary layoff.........
Job leavers...............................
Reentrants................................
New entrants............................
Percent of civilian
labor force
2.3
3.1
Job losers 1…………………….…
.5
.6
Job leavers...............................
1.4
1.6
Reentrants................................
.4
.5
New entrants............................
1
Includes persons who completed temporary jobs.
NOTE: Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
9. Unemployment rates by sex and age, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[Civilian workers]
Sex and age
Annual average
2008
2007
2008
Apr.
Total, 16 years and older..................
16 to 24 years...............................
16 to 19 years............................
16 to 17 years.........................
18 to 19 years.........................
20 to 24 years............................
25 years and older........................
25 to 54 years.........................
55 years and older..................
4.6
10.5
15.7
17.5
14.5
8.2
3.6
3.7
3.1
5.8
12.8
18.7
22.1
16.8
10.2
4.6
4.8
3.8
5.0
11.0
15.4
20.2
13.4
9.0
4.0
4.2
3.1
5.5
13.1
18.9
21.5
17.6
10.3
4.2
4.5
3.3
5.6
12.9
18.8
23.2
15.9
10.2
4.4
4.6
3.4
Men, 16 years and older.................
16 to 24 years.............................
16 to 19 years..........................
16 to 17 years.......................
18 to 19 years.......................
20 to 24 years..........................
25 years and older......................
25 to 54 years.......................
55 years and older................
4.7
11.6
17.6
19.4
16.5
8.9
3.6
3.7
3.2
6.1
14.4
21.2
25.2
19.0
11.4
4.8
5.0
3.9
5.2
12.1
17.0
22.5
14.5
10.0
4.0
4.3
3.0
5.7
14.1
20.8
23.7
19.8
11.1
4.3
4.5
3.5
Women, 16 years and older...........
16 to 24 years.............................
16 to 19 years..........................
16 to 17 years…………………
18 t0 19 years…………………
20 to 24 years..........................
25 years and older......................
25 to 54 years.......................
55 years and older 1…………
4.5
9.4
13.8
15.7
12.5
7.3
3.6
3.8
5.4
11.2
16.2
19.1
14.3
8.8
4.4
4.6
4.8
9.8
13.9
18.1
12.2
7.7
3.9
4.1
3.0
3.7
2.8
1
May
June
July
Sept.
Mar.
Apr.
5.8
13.5
20.5
24.9
17.6
10.4
4.5
4.7
3.7
6.2
13.3
19.2
22.2
17.4
10.7
5.0
5.2
4.1
6.2
13.4
19.4
21.7
17.8
10.8
5.0
5.3
4.2
6.6
13.8
20.7
23.1
18.4
10.6
5.3
5.5
4.6
6.8
13.9
20.4
24.1
18.3
11.1
5.6
5.8
4.8
7.2
14.7
20.8
24.1
19.1
12.1
6.0
6.3
4.9
7.6
14.8
20.8
21.4
20.2
12.1
6.4
6.7
5.2
8.1
15.5
21.6
22.9
21.0
12.9
6.9
7.2
5.6
8.5
16.3
21.7
23.7
20.9
14.0
7.2
7.6
6.2
8.9
16.7
21.5
23.0
21.3
14.7
7.5
7.8
6.4
5.9
14.1
20.8
26.1
17.5
11.2
4.5
4.7
3.5
6.2
15.3
23.5
29.3
20.1
11.7
4.8
5.0
3.8
6.4
14.6
21.1
24.5
19.0
11.7
5.1
5.3
4.3
6.8
14.8
21.4
23.2
20.4
11.9
5.5
5.8
4.5
7.2
16.5
24.7
27.3
21.7
12.9
5.6
5.8
4.7
7.4
16.1
24.0
28.8
21.2
12.9
5.9
6.1
5.1
7.9
16.9
23.3
27.0
21.5
14.2
6.4
6.7
5.1
8.3
17.1
24.4
26.5
22.8
14.1
6.9
7.3
5.3
8.8
17.6
24.9
26.5
24.7
14.6
7.5
7.9
6.0
9.5
19.3
25.7
28.2
24.6
16.7
7.9
8.3
6.3
10.0
19.8
25.6
26.3
25.3
17.5
8.3
8.8
6.7
5.3
11.9
16.7
19.2
15.2
9.5
4.1
4.4
5.3
11.5
16.8
20.4
14.1
8.9
4.2
4.5
5.3
11.6
17.4
20.5
14.9
8.9
4.2
4.4
5.9
12.0
17.3
20.1
15.6
9.5
4.9
5.1
5.5
11.9
17.3
20.3
14.9
9.4
4.4
4.6
5.9
10.7
16.5
19.2
14.7
8.1
5.1
5.2
6.1
11.5
16.7
19.7
15.1
9.2
5.2
5.4
6.4
12.4
18.2
21.2
16.6
9.8
5.4
5.7
6.7
12.2
17.1
16.2
17.5
10.0
5.8
6.0
7.3
13.3
18.3
19.8
17.0
10.9
6.2
6.4
7.5
13.1
17.8
19.4
17.2
11.0
6.5
6.7
7.6
13.3
17.4
19.9
17.1
11.5
6.6
6.7
2.8
3.4
4.3
4.5
3.9
4.3
4.3
4.3
5.4
5.3
5.8
5.4
Data are not seasonally adjusted.
NOTE: Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
90
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
2009
Aug.
Oct.
10. Unemployment rates by State, seasonally adjusted
Feb.
Mar.
2008
State
2009p
Mar.
2009p
Feb.
Mar.
2008
State
2009p
Mar.
2009p
Alabama............................…………………
Alaska........................................................
Arizona............................……………………
Arkansas....................................................
California............................…………………
4.3
6.5
4.7
4.8
6.4
8.4
7.9
7.4
6.4
10.6
9.0
8.4
7.8
6.5
11.2
Missouri………………………………………
Montana.....................................................
Nebraska............................…………………
Nevada......................................................
New Hampshire............................…………
5.6
4.1
3.1
5.6
3.7
8.3
6.0
4.3
10.0
5.7
8.7
6.1
4.7
10.4
6.2
Colorado....................................................
Connecticut............................………………
Delaware...................................................
District of Columbia............................……
Florida........................................................
4.6
5.3
4.1
6.2
5.4
7.2
7.4
7.3
9.9
9.6
7.5
7.5
7.6
9.7
9.8
New Jersey................................................
New Mexico............................………………
New York...................................................
North Carolina............................……………
North Dakota.............................................
4.8
3.9
4.8
5.4
3.0
8.2
5.4
7.8
10.7
4.3
8.3
5.9
7.8
10.8
4.2
Georgia............................…………………
Hawaii........................................................
Idaho............................………………………
Illinois.........................................................
Indiana............................……………………
5.6
3.1
4.1
6.0
5.3
9.2
6.5
6.7
8.6
9.4
9.2
7.1
7.0
9.0
10.0
Ohio............................………………………
Oklahoma..................................................
Oregon............................……………………
Pennsylvania.............................................
Rhode Island............................……………
6.1
3.3
5.5
4.9
6.8
9.5
5.5
10.7
7.5
10.5
9.7
5.9
11.9
7.8
10.6
Iowa............................………………………
Kansas.......................................................
Kentucky............................…………………
Louisiana...................................................
Maine............................……………………
3.9
4.1
5.9
4.2
5.0
4.9
5.9
9.3
5.7
7.8
5.2
6.1
9.8
5.8
8.1
South Carolina............................…………
South Dakota.............................................
Tennessee............................………………
Texas.........................................................
Utah............................………………………
5.9
2.8
5.7
4.6
3.3
10.9
4.6
9.0
6.5
5.1
11.4
4.9
9.6
6.7
5.2
Maryland............................…………………
Massachusetts...........................................
Michigan............................…………………
Minnesota..................................................
Mississippi............................………………
3.8
4.7
7.6
5.1
6.1
6.8
7.7
12.0
8.0
9.1
6.9
7.7
12.6
8.2
9.4
Vermont............................…………………
Virginia.......................................................
Washington............................………………
West Virginia.............................................
Wisconsin............................………………
Wyoming....................................................
4.6
3.6
4.8
4.2
4.4
2.9
7.1
6.6
8.3
6.0
7.8
3.9
7.2
6.8
9.1
6.8
8.5
4.5
p
= preliminary
11. Employment of workers on nonfarm payrolls by State, seasonally adjusted
State
Mar.
2008
Feb.
2009p
Alabama............................………… 2,166,366 2,145,502
Alaska.............................................
355,551
358,704
Arizona............................…………… 3,090,448 3,157,285
Arkansas........................................ 1,366,462 1,377,064
California............................………… 18,269,099 18,580,954
Mar.
2009p
2,142,080
358,322
3,137,010
1,359,628
18,614,914
State
Feb.
Mar.
2008
2009p
Mar.
2009p
Missouri……………………………… 3,015,046
Montana.........................................
504,979
Nebraska............................…………
993,123
Nevada........................................... 1,352,855
New Hampshire............................…
739,633
3,019,674
501,843
992,445
1,403,105
742,425
3,014,046
501,020
990,165
1,394,336
743,788
Colorado......................................... 2,722,799
Connecticut............................……… 1,868,105
Delaware........................................
441,147
District of Columbia........................
332,507
Florida............................................ 9,163,303
2,731,554
1,890,346
440,145
331,791
9,263,707
2,725,094
1,884,885
436,166
328,454
9,218,209
New Jersey.....................................
New Mexico............................……
New York........................................
North Carolina............................…
North Dakota..................................
4,485,501
954,996
9,631,336
4,520,484
367,937
4,514,619
957,436
9,756,388
4,584,277
371,315
4,540,571
954,599
9,762,516
4,554,471
370,123
Georgia............................………… 4,834,846
Hawaii.............................................
651,683
Idaho............................……………
751,498
Illinois............................................. 6,726,327
Indiana............................…………… 3,226,776
4,811,586
650,254
752,227
6,603,239
3,241,553
4,783,304
644,426
750,049
6,577,979
3,219,896
Ohio............................………………
Oklahoma.......................................
Oregon............................……………
Pennsylvania..................................
Rhode Island............................……
5,975,797
1,735,230
1,944,465
6,348,351
568,978
5,993,089
1,757,714
1,997,891
6,459,235
566,039
5,953,746
1,763,261
2,000,064
6,433,548
564,449
Iowa............................………………
Kansas...........................................
Kentucky............................…………
Louisiana........................................
Maine............................……………
1,675,749
1,489,741
2,031,400
2,061,140
705,262
1,668,976
1,511,388
2,080,623
2,085,337
708,027
1,674,810
1,509,008
2,082,311
2,070,503
705,307
South Carolina............................… 2,131,288 2,189,322 2,187,149
South Dakota..................................
443,986
447,025
448,089
Tennessee............................……… 3,034,931 3,051,531 3,039,502
Texas.............................................. 11,610,701 11,839,609 11,861,161
Utah............................……………… 1,378,140 1,389,134 1,382,215
Maryland............................…………
Massachusetts...............................
Michigan............................…………
Minnesota.......................................
Mississippi............................………
2,989,419
3,418,593
4,960,868
2,920,559
1,310,275
2,969,663
3,427,365
4,857,714
2,951,001
1,326,532
2,961,054
3,421,053
4,841,297
2,954,684
1,321,098
Vermont............................…………
354,721
Virginia........................................... 4,099,518
Washington............................……… 3,449,523
West Virginia..................................
807,812
Wisconsin............................……… 3,080,290
Wyoming........................................
291,140
358,111
4,160,683
3,554,065
794,137
3,122,806
292,605
359,148
4,151,436
3,541,053
792,686
3,104,921
290,250
NOTE: Some data in this table may differ from data published elsewhere because of the continual updating of the database.
p
= preliminary
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 91
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
12. Employment of workers on nonfarm payrolls by industry, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[In thousands]
Industry
Annual average
2007
TOTAL NONFARM.................
TOTAL PRIVATE........................
GOODS-PRODUCING………………
137,598
115,380
2008
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.p
Apr.p
137,066 137,654 137,517 137,356 137,228 137,053 136,732 136,352 135,755 135,074 134,333 133,652 132,953 132,414
114,566 115,203 115,029 114,834 114,691 114,497 114,197 113,813 113,212 112,542 111,793 111,105 110,412 109,801
22,233
21,419
21,679
21,612
21,507
21,432
21,351
21,247
21,063
20,814
20,532
20,127
19,832
19,514
19,244
724
60.1
663.8
146.2
223.4
77.2
294.3
7,630
1,774.2
1,005.4
4,850.2
13,879
9,975
8,808
6,250
515.3
500.5
455.8
1,562.8
1,187.1
774
57.0
717.0
161.6
227.7
80.6
327.7
7,215
1,659.3
970.2
4,585.3
13,431
9,649
8,476
5,986
459.6
468.1
443.3
1,528.3
1,185.6
756
58.6
697.8
155.1
222.9
78.1
319.8
7,337
1,693.8
980.5
4,662.3
13,586
9,795
8,587
6,099
477.3
477.2
449.7
1,546.0
1,193.1
763
57.3
705.5
158.8
226.3
79.2
320.4
7,293
1,676.9
982.1
4,633.6
13,556
9,770
8,567
6,077
468.3
473.0
447.9
1,544.8
1,192.2
770
56.0
713.8
160.7
226.9
79.6
326.2
7,232
1,660.6
972.2
4,598.7
13,505
9,723
8,533
6,040
462.9
469.7
446.6
1,534.8
1,190.8
777
55.8
721.3
162.7
227.6
79.5
331.0
7,201
1,655.5
970.9
4,574.6
13,454
9,672
8,502
6,006
458.4
466.4
444.8
1,528.4
1,191.1
787
56.1
730.6
164.7
230.0
81.7
335.9
7,177
1,647.5
966.1
4,563.1
13,387
9,608
8,439
5,948
451.9
464.5
440.8
1,530.6
1,187.5
794
56.5
737.7
166.3
230.2
82.5
341.2
7,131
1,625.0
960.2
4,545.4
13,322
9,543
8,392
5,898
446.4
460.2
441.1
1,519.4
1,183.1
794
56.6
737.7
166.5
230.5
83.1
340.7
7,066
1,609.9
952.6
4,503.9
13,203
9,425
8,300
5,805
438.8
458.2
438.6
1,505.0
1,179.3
793
56.6
736.8
167.4
230.7
84.3
338.7
6,939
1,588.4
942.5
4,408.5
13,082
9,322
8,216
5,741
429.8
450.1
429.8
1,486.3
1,162.7
789
55.7
733.3
169.4
229.2
84.5
334.7
6,841
1,572.9
933.2
4,335.2
12,902
9,174
8,085
5,633
416.2
441.2
419.6
1,461.5
1,150.2
781
55.2
725.3
167.7
227.9
84.9
329.7
6,706
1,536.9
926.6
4,242.2
12,640
8,946
7,881
5,458
403.9
434.3
409.3
1,425.3
1,126.0
771
54.5
716.4
167.8
225.7
84.1
322.9
6,593
1,509.5
919.0
4,164.4
12,468
8,804
7,753
5,352
390.4
425.8
395.2
1,399.0
1,100.8
755
51.0
703.9
167.1
222.8
83.3
314.0
6,458
1,481.4
906.6
4,069.9
12,301
8,656
7,626
5,241
389.9
416.0
386.2
1,369.9
1,072.7
744
49.6
694.2
167.9
220.6
81.5
305.7
6,348
1,459.7
889.4
3,998.9
12,152
8,537
7,499
5,135
388.6
415.0
374.4
1,341.2
1,051.2
products 1……………………… 1,272.5
Computer and peripheral
1,247.6
1,255.7
1,252.8
1,248.5
1,247.3
1,248.3
1,246.5
1,239.8
1,233.3
1,223.7
1,212.9
1,196.9
1,188.6
1,176.9
Natural resources and
mining…………..……….......……
Logging....................................
Mining..........................................
Oil and gas extraction……………
Mining, except oil and gas 1……
Coal mining……………………
Support activities for mining……
Construction................................
Construction of buildings...........
Heavy and civil engineering……
Speciality trade contractors.......
Manufacturing..............................
Production workers................
Durable goods...........................
Production workers................
Wood products..........................
Nonmetallic mineral products
Primary metals..........................
Fabricated metal products.........
Machinery……….....................
Computer and electronic
equipment..............................
Communications equipment…
186.2
128.1
182.8
129.0
184.0
129.1
183.6
129.1
182.1
130.2
182.5
129.1
182.6
129.1
182.8
129.2
182.4
128.6
181.8
129.5
180.0
129.1
180.3
129.6
175.5
129.0
173.8
128.5
170.9
128.7
Semiconductors and
electronic components..........
Electronic instruments……….
447.5
443.2
432.4
441.6
437.0
442.9
434.4
443.1
431.2
442.4
431.9
441.8
432.3
442.6
431.0
442.5
428.4
440.2
423.2
438.8
417.4
437.5
410.5
433.8
403.3
431.9
397.8
431.9
390.9
431.3
Electrical equipment and
appliances...............................
Transportation equipment.........
429.4
1,711.9
424.9
1,606.5
428.5
1,632.1
428.5
1,636.6
428.3
1,634.3
428.4
1,625.7
425.5
1,584.5
422.6
1,572.6
421.3
1,531.3
417.5
1,532.5
412.0
1,501.8
406.1
1,423.5
399.1
1,423.7
389.8
1,403.3
380.5
1,369.5
Furniture and related
products.....……………………… 531.1
Miscellaneous manufacturing
641.7
Nondurable goods.....................
5,071
Production workers................
3,725
Food manufacturing..................
1,484.1
481.0
630.8
4,955
3,663
1,484.8
495.2
632.5
4,999
3,696
1,483.2
491.6
631.4
4,989
3,693
1,483.1
488.0
629.0
4,972
3,683
1,482.1
483.4
627.9
4,952
3,666
1,478.1
475.7
630.1
4,948
3,660
1,482.7
470.3
629.4
4,930
3,645
1,484.3
458.8
628.5
4,903
3,620
1,484.7
449.6
624.2
4,866
3,581
1,489.0
440.6
618.4
4,817
3,541
1,477.6
428.6
611.0
4,759
3,488
1,470.7
417.4
604.5
4,715
3,452
1,467.2
408.3
601.1
4,675
3,415
1,465.2
400.7
600.5
4,653
3,402
1,475.2
Beverages and tobacco
products…………………………
Textile mills………………………
Textile product mills...................
Apparel………………………….
Leather and allied products.......
Paper and paper products.........
198.2
169.7
157.7
214.6
33.8
458.2
199.0
151.0
147.5
198.4
33.6
445.8
201.6
155.9
150.1
202.5
33.6
450.6
201.4
154.3
149.1
200.8
33.6
449.8
200.6
150.7
147.1
200.0
34.2
448.2
200.0
149.0
146.2
199.5
33.0
447.1
199.2
149.5
145.2
200.4
34.5
444.7
199.3
147.5
145.5
197.3
34.3
441.9
197.2
145.6
144.5
192.8
33.9
439.7
196.4
140.6
143.5
187.1
32.6
437.1
195.8
136.8
141.2
183.5
32.6
433.4
194.2
133.6
137.4
178.9
32.4
427.3
191.3
130.0
134.2
176.3
31.9
422.5
191.7
128.2
129.4
173.0
31.8
419.1
190.5
127.6
127.2
169.1
32.0
415.6
Printing and related support
activities…………………………
Petroleum and coal products.....
Chemicals..................................
Plastics and rubber products..
622.1
114.5
860.9
757.2
594.1
117.1
849.8
734.2
605.6
115.9
854.1
745.5
601.2
117.1
854.2
744.3
594.8
117.6
852.8
743.4
591.5
118.1
850.0
739.3
591.5
118.0
847.3
734.7
587.6
117.9
844.3
729.7
582.3
117.8
843.4
721.1
574.1
117.2
842.6
705.9
567.0
116.9
837.1
694.9
558.1
114.2
832.7
679.7
549.2
114.6
828.2
669.3
539.9
114.5
823.1
659.2
532.2
114.6
818.7
650.6
SERVICE-PROVIDING...................
115,366
115,646 115,975 115,905 115,849 115,796 115,702 115,485 115,289 114,941 114,542 114,206 113,820 113,439 113,170
PRIVATE SERVICEPROVIDING………………………
Trade, transportation,
and utilities................................
Wholesale trade.........................
Durable goods…………………..
Nondurable goods……………
93,147
93,146
93,524
93,417
93,327
93,259
93,146
92,950
92,750
92,398
92,010
91,666
91,273
90,898
90,557
26,630
6,015.2
3,121.5
2,062.2
26,385
5,963.7
3,060.7
2,053.0
26,562
5,995.9
3,087.2
2,060.9
26,503
5,989.3
3,078.2
2,063.7
26,467
5,983.1
3,071.7
2,061.5
26,425
5,966.9
3,062.5
2,053.2
26,354
5,954.3
3,052.4
2,049.0
26,257
5,947.2
3,047.2
2,044.1
26,157
5,920.1
3,026.1
2,040.5
26,005
5,890.3
3,004.9
2,033.6
25,843
5,850.7
2,978.6
2,025.1
25,735
5,819.3
2,959.6
2,013.9
25,605
5,773.7
2,926.2
2,006.6
25,471
5,736.9
2,897.3
2,000.4
25,345
5,696.2
2,868.5
1,992.7
Electronic markets and
agents and brokers……………
831.5
850.1
847.8
847.4
849.9
851.2
852.9
855.9
853.5
851.8
847.0
845.8
840.9
839.2
835.0
Retail trade................................. 15,520.0 15,356.3 15,457.6 15,419.9 15,404.4 15,380.2 15,334.5 15,278.2 15,216.8 15,126.0 15,037.9 14,991.5 14,934.3 14,870.4 14,823.7
Motor vehicles and parts
dealers 1………………………
Automobile dealers..................
1,908.3
1,242.2
1,844.5
1,186.0
1,885.1
1,220.9
1,877.4
1,214.6
1,866.2
1,204.7
1,851.4
1,191.5
1,832.6
1,176.2
1,818.4
1,164.8
1,792.7
1,141.7
1,770.5
1,121.2
1,745.6
1,099.9
1,730.1
1,088.6
1,716.8
1,078.7
1,701.7
1,067.3
1,690.1
1,058.0
Furniture and home
furnishings stores....................
574.6
542.8
549.5
547.6
546.5
545.8
542.3
538.4
532.4
522.6
514.2
508.3
499.7
497.9
492.5
Electronics and appliance
stores.......................................
549.4
549.6
554.5
555.0
552.9
553.0
551.0
547.1
545.1
541.5
538.6
535.5
533.7
518.7
517.1
See notes at end of table.
92
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
12. Continued—Employment of workers on nonfarm payrolls by industry, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[In thousands]
Annual average
Industry
2008
2009
2007
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.p
Apr. p
1,309.3
2,843.6
1,253.1
2,858.4
1,254.5
2,866.7
1,256.0
2,864.0
1,252.2
2,863.2
1,244.1
2,863.4
1,245.9
2,853.8
1,248.4
2,846.5
1,245.9
2,851.9
1,235.8
2,843.5
1,227.8
2,835.1
1,214.9
2,835.3
1,207.1
2,826.0
1,193.3
2,824.8
1,185.8
2,820.0
993.1
861.5
1,002.4
843.4
1,006.9
848.5
1,004.8
838.1
1,003.6
845.8
1,005.4
843.0
999.0
840.9
998.9
834.8
995.9
836.1
989.4
836.9
991.2
834.4
985.7
833.0
986.9
832.1
985.8
830.3
985.7
831.2
Clothing and clothing
accessories stores ………………… 1,500.0
1,484.2
1,495.0
1,490.9
1,487.2
1,483.6
1,483.3
1,478.5
1,471.5
1,462.2
1,448.5
1,445.0
1,443.8
1,435.3
1,434.1
Sporting goods, hobby,
656.3
book, and music stores……………
General merchandise stores1……… 3,020.6
Department stores………………… 1,591.5
Miscellaneous store retailers………
865.4
437.9
Nonstore retailers……………………
646.7
3,047.1
1,557.0
847.8
436.3
646.2
3,052.9
1,576.4
855.0
442.8
649.2
3,043.2
1,564.0
851.8
441.9
646.9
3,052.0
1,561.8
849.4
438.5
642.2
3,062.3
1,563.2
848.3
437.7
645.8
3,058.2
1,554.4
845.6
436.1
641.6
3,045.8
1,541.9
844.3
435.5
641.2
3,025.5
1,523.9
845.0
433.6
633.1
3,024.5
1,517.5
838.3
427.7
624.3
3,029.2
1,521.2
825.0
424.0
620.8
3,040.7
1,529.1
819.5
422.7
613.6
3,040.7
1,532.6
815.1
418.8
610.2
3,047.4
1,531.9
807.6
417.4
609.6
3,039.3
1,518.3
802.5
415.8
Transportation and
warehousing................................. 4,540.9
491.8
Air transportation…………….………
Rail transportation……...…………… 233.7
65.5
Water transportation………...………
Truck transportation………..……… 1,439.2
4,505.0
492.6
229.5
65.2
1,391.1
4,551.7
501.9
231.1
66.2
1,410.4
4,536.3
498.3
230.3
65.8
1,405.1
4,521.1
494.9
227.1
66.1
1,393.1
4,518.0
492.9
230.1
66.4
1,391.2
4,506.0
488.1
228.8
64.9
1,390.3
4,471.3
483.2
227.6
64.5
1,378.1
4,456.9
482.1
229.5
63.9
1,370.3
4,424.4
481.6
229.0
62.6
1,358.0
4,389.9
477.8
226.8
60.3
1,340.8
4,354.4
476.8
227.1
59.7
1,323.3
4,327.0
474.8
224.1
60.9
1,313.9
4,293.6
472.7
223.4
60.0
1,299.6
4,255.5
469.5
221.9
58.6
1,283.4
Building material and garden
supply stores................................
Food and beverage stores.............
Health and personal care
stores………………………………
Gasoline stations……………………
Transit and ground passenger
transportation………...……………
Pipeline transportation………...……
412.1
39.9
418.1
42.0
423.0
40.9
418.8
41.7
421.9
42.3
420.8
42.7
422.7
42.5
414.4
43.1
413.8
43.3
411.7
43.2
410.1
43.3
408.1
43.1
406.4
43.1
405.4
42.9
399.2
43.2
Scenic and sightseeing
transportation…….…………………
28.6
28.0
28.4
28.1
28.1
27.6
27.3
27.1
27.1
27.2
27.2
26.9
27.0
26.8
27.3
584.2
580.7
665.2
553.4
3,032
589.9
575.9
672.8
559.5
2,997
593.0
577.8
679.0
557.1
3,017
591.5
578.9
677.8
557.0
3,013
590.9
579.2
677.5
558.2
3,006
592.8
577.7
675.8
559.7
2,995
592.1
575.7
673.6
559.3
2,990
589.5
572.9
670.9
560.5
2,986
588.0
570.5
668.4
562.8
2,982
582.2
565.7
663.2
564.0
2,965
579.5
564.6
659.5
564.6
2,940
569.3
563.2
656.9
569.3
2,924
561.0
563.7
652.1
570.0
2,918
552.7
558.4
651.7
570.3
2,904
550.9
557.4
644.1
569.8
2,887
Publishing industries, except
Internet…………………...…………
901.2
882.6
893.2
890.4
886.8
882.9
879.4
876.6
872.6
863.6
857.8
846.3
836.3
828.1
822.6
Motion picture and sound
recording industries……...…………
Broadcasting, except Internet.
380.6
325.2
381.6
315.9
384.5
317.3
383.3
317.7
383.5
315.7
380.1
315.9
380.0
313.8
381.7
313.0
388.7
312.9
385.0
313.1
377.2
308.1
376.7
306.5
389.8
302.5
394.0
299.4
394.5
297.0
Internet publishing and
broadcasting………………...………
Telecommunications………….…… 1,030.6
1,021.4
1,025.5
1,025.3
1,025.5
1,022.8
1,023.1
1,021.6
1,014.5
1,010.2
1,004.0
1,001.6
999.5
995.2
987.6
261.6
133.6
8,146
6,015.2
263.2
132.9
8,190
6,050.8
263.3
132.5
8,179
6,039.7
261.8
132.2
8,162
6,026.1
260.5
133.0
8,154
6,019.9
259.8
133.6
8,141
6,010.6
259.6
133.6
8,115
5,994.3
258.9
134.1
8,088
5,978.7
257.5
135.1
8,043
5,948.7
256.4
136.5
8,010
5,924.0
257.0
135.7
7,954
5,890.4
254.6
134.8
7,898
5,853.9
253.9
133.4
7,855
5,828.7
253.0
132.6
7,815
5,803.4
21.6
22.2
22.7
22.5
22.3
22.3
22.3
22.3
22.1
21.5
21.3
21.0
20.9
20.8
20.5
related activities1………………… 2,866.3
Depository credit
2,735.8
2,756.6
2,746.7
2,738.5
2,730.9
2,724.4
2,722.4
2,706.4
2,692.8
2,680.8
2,665.3
2,648.8
2,633.7
2,619.7
intermediation1…………………… 1,823.5
Commercial banking..…………… 1,351.4
1,819.5
1,359.9
1,827.9
1,363.4
1,824.8
1,363.0
1,822.2
1,362.1
1,820.0
1,361.1
1,818.4
1,360.1
1,814.8
1,359.0
1,811.1
1,356.0
1,806.9
1,352.7
1,804.9
1,351.8
1,798.1
1,346.6
1,790.9
1,340.5
1,783.5
1,334.3
1,779.7
1,330.2
Support activities for
transportation………………..……
Couriers and messengers……...……
Warehousing and storage…………
Utilities ………………………….……….....
Information…………………...….
ISPs, search portals, and
data processing………..…………
Other information services…………
267.8
126.3
8,301
Financial activities ………………..…
Finance and insurance……………..… 6,132.0
Monetary authorities—
central bank…………………..……
Credit intermediation and
Securities, commodity
contracts, investments……………
848.6
858.1
867.4
865.8
864.4
860.4
861.4
851.4
847.8
842.1
839.9
826.5
814.9
807.5
800.5
Insurance carriers and
related activities………………...…
2,306.8
2,308.8
2,313.4
2,314.7
2,310.6
2,316.1
2,312.0
2,307.6
2,311.0
2,300.9
2,292.0
2,287.4
2,281.1
2,278.9
2,274.9
Funds, trusts, and other
financial vehicles…………….……
88.7
90.3
90.7
90.0
90.3
90.2
90.5
90.6
91.4
91.4
90.0
90.2
88.2
87.8
87.8
Real estate and rental
and leasing………………………..… 2,169.1
Real estate……………………….… 1,500.4
Rental and leasing services………
640.3
2,130.2
1,481.1
620.9
2,139.6
1,486.9
624.3
2,138.9
1,486.2
624.8
2,135.9
1,485.5
622.5
2,134.4
1,481.5
624.4
2,130.0
1,482.4
619.4
2,120.6
1,474.5
617.7
2,109.0
1,471.2
609.7
2,093.8
1,461.7
603.8
2,085.8
1,458.2
599.3
2,063.2
1,444.9
589.9
2,043.8
1,432.4
583.2
2,026.4
1,421.7
576.2
2,011.8
1,411.9
571.6
Lessors of nonfinancial
intangible assets………………..…
28.4
28.2
28.4
27.9
27.9
28.5
28.2
28.4
28.1
28.3
28.3
28.4
28.2
28.5
28.3
Professional and business
services…………………………...…
Professional and technical
17,942
17,778
17,950
17,887
17,824
17,788
17,727
17,675
17,612
17,488
17,356
17,205
17,029
16,899
16,777
services1……………………………
Legal services……………..………
7,659.5
1,175.4
7,829.7
1,163.7
7,833.7
1,166.6
7,821.5
1,165.2
7,828.9
1,164.5
7,833.6
1,163.0
7,833.0
1,161.0
7,834.4
1,160.2
7,844.0
1,160.2
7,827.7
1,157.7
7,797.2
1,156.8
7,765.5
1,154.1
7,729.2
1,148.7
7,700.5
1,146.5
7,683.4
1,142.8
Accounting and bookkeeping
services……………………………
935.9
950.1
954.1
944.9
948.3
947.5
947.9
945.6
946.4
941.0
933.7
927.5
924.4
925.3
927.9
Architectural and engineering
services…………………………… 1,432.2
1,444.8
1,451.7
1,449.3
1,450.5
1,449.2
1,447.2
1,441.4
1,437.1
1,428.6
1,419.4
1,411.1
1,394.2
1,379.5
1,366.0
.
See notes at end of table
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 93
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
12. Continued—Employment of workers on nonfarm payrolls by industry, monthly data seasonally adjusted
[In thousands]
Industry
Annual average
2008
2009
2007
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.p
Apr.p
1,372.1
1,450.3
1,441.7
1,445.8
1,446.2
1,456.2
1,460.6
1,461.6
1,466.1
1,467.9
1,466.8
1,462.4
1,463.7
1,459.0
1,457.6
952.7
1,008.9
999.2
1,002.3
1,010.1
1,011.3
1,011.6
1,021.0
1,022.9
1,024.9
1,020.5
1,025.7
1,021.6
1,017.3
1,018.9
1,866.4
1,894.6
1,903.8
1,902.1
1,900.6
1,895.3
1,895.2
1,887.1
1,882.8
1,882.0
1,872.1
1,871.7
1,862.1
1,854.8
1,839.6
Administrative and waste
services…………………………… 8,416.3
Administrative and support
8,053.7
8,212.0
8,163.3
8,094.9
8,058.6
7,998.6
7,953.2
7,884.8
7,778.3
7,686.3
7,567.5
7,437.8
7,343.4
7,253.5
7,693.5
3,144.4
2,342.6
823.2
7,853.6
3,285.6
2,464.0
828.4
7,804.4
3,242.7
2,426.7
822.6
7,736.4
3,184.0
2,383.5
818.1
7,699.3
3,146.9
2,349.1
817.4
7,637.0
3,089.5
2,301.1
814.9
7,591.9
3,049.8
2,264.2
818.1
7,522.0
2,987.7
2,218.9
820.8
7,414.2
2,896.7
2,128.5
823.7
7,324.4
2,829.5
2,055.6
816.0
7,203.1
2,720.5
1,965.7
817.6
7,076.5
2,638.7
1,892.7
805.0
6,982.6
2,551.7
1,821.1
801.6
6,892.2
2,482.8
1,758.6
793.8
Computer systems design
and related services…………
Management and technical
consulting services……………
Management of companies
and enterprises……..……….....
services 1……………………… 8,061.3
Employment services 1……… 3,545.9
Temporary help services…… 2,597.4
817.4
Business support services……
Services to buildings
and dwellings…………………
1,849.5
1,847.0
1,853.8
1,853.5
1,851.4
1,848.6
1,847.0
1,843.3
1,837.4
1,829.4
1,818.1
1,812.5
1,796.8
1,787.9
1,780.7
Waste management and
remediation services………….
355.0
360.2
358.4
358.9
358.5
359.3
361.6
361.3
362.8
364.1
361.9
364.4
361.3
360.8
361.3
18,322
2,941.4
18,855
3,036.6
18,752
3,017.4
18,798
3,025.4
18,843
3,049.2
18,888
3,062.4
18,950
3,083.7
18,957
3,055.1
18,981
3,047.3
19,044
3,066.0
19,080
3,063.1
19,119
3,088.4
19,138
3,083.1
19,148
3,077.2
19,163
3,075.1
Educational and health
services………………...……….
Educational services…….………
Health care and social
assistance……….……………… 15,380.2
15,818.5 15,734.1 15,772.3 15,794.1 15,825.9 15,865.9 15,901.9 15,934.1 15,977.8 16,017.0 16,030.3 16,054.7 16,071.1 16,087.9
Ambulatory health care
services 1……………………… 5,473.5
Offices of physicians…………… 2,201.6
Outpatient care centers………
512.0
Home health care services……
913.8
Hospitals………………………… 4,515.0
5,660.7
2,265.7
532.5
958.0
4,641.1
5,622.6
2,251.8
530.4
948.7
4,610.4
5,634.9
2,256.8
531.5
951.8
4,627.2
5,652.0
2,264.6
531.2
955.3
4,634.0
5,676.3
2,272.7
535.4
961.1
4,646.8
5,683.8
2,272.7
537.2
963.4
4,660.7
5,699.5
2,279.0
534.8
966.8
4,668.9
5,706.1
2,283.3
536.6
968.6
4,681.9
5,727.7
2,289.8
536.9
975.6
4,692.4
5,742.6
2,294.5
536.7
980.7
4,703.7
5,753.3
2,300.4
538.0
981.4
4,707.5
5,770.1
2,304.4
538.5
991.0
4,711.3
5,777.5
2,307.9
537.5
994.8
4,711.4
5,795.2
2,310.1
540.5
1,003.6
4,712.0
3,008.1
1,613.7
2,508.7
859.2
13,459
3,006.1
1,615.0
2,495.0
859.9
13,512
3,006.2
1,615.1
2,504.0
863.3
13,495
3,005.7
1,613.0
2,502.4
853.8
13,490
3,006.3
1,612.3
2,496.5
844.6
13,473
3,009.9
1,612.6
2,511.5
851.6
13,454
3,007.6
1,608.9
2,525.9
862.5
13,428
3,013.2
1,611.0
2,532.9
862.3
13,395
3,022.3
1,614.5
2,535.4
863.2
13,344
3,029.6
1,617.3
2,541.1
864.3
13,304
3,029.4
1,616.6
2,540.1
862.7
13,268
3,033.6
1,617.9
2,539.7
860.4
13,236
3,040.0
1,620.8
2,542.2
856.4
13,194
3,038.4
1,621.9
2,542.3
853.5
13,150
Nursing and residential
care facilities 1………………… 2,958.3
Nursing care facilities………… 1,602.6
Social assistance 1……………… 2,433.4
Child day care services………
850.4
Leisure and hospitality………..
13,427
Arts, entertainment,
and recreation……….…….……
1,969.2
1,969.3
1,984.9
1,978.3
1,975.1
1,966.6
1,964.7
1,955.3
1,952.0
1,944.0
1,947.1
1,943.8
1,936.2
1,925.9
1,896.9
Performing arts and
spectator sports…………………
405.0
406.3
409.5
409.4
409.7
406.9
406.2
402.9
402.5
398.8
401.4
405.7
398.6
397.7
390.9
Museums, historical sites,
zoos, and parks…………………
130.3
131.8
132.9
133.9
132.2
132.1
132.1
130.6
129.6
130.6
130.8
130.3
130.9
129.9
130.0
1,433.9
1,431.2
1,442.5
1,435.0
1,433.2
1,427.6
1,426.4
1,421.8
1,419.9
1,414.6
1,414.9
1,407.8
1,406.7
1,398.3
1,376.0
Amusements, gambling, and
recreation………………………
Accommodations and
food services…………………… 11,457.4
Accommodations………………. 1,866.9
11,489.3 11,527.5 11,516.7 11,515.3 11,506.3 11,489.3 11,472.4 11,442.7 11,399.6 11,356.5 11,323.7 11,299.7 11,267.6 11,253.3
1,857.3 1,881.1 1,872.1 1,865.0 1,854.6 1,843.6 1,841.3 1,827.9 1,812.1 1,794.3 1,768.4 1,754.7 1,732.8 1,724.8
Food services and drinking
places…………………………… 9,590.4
Other services……………………
5,494
Repair and maintenance……… 1,253.4
Personal and laundry services
1,309.7
9,632.0
5,528
1,228.2
1,326.6
9,646.4
5,541
1,242.2
1,324.9
9,644.6
5,542
1,239.6
1,325.3
9,650.3
5,535
1,233.6
1,327.4
9,651.7
5,536
1,230.6
1,328.9
9,645.7
5,530
1,220.6
1,331.7
9,631.1
5,532
1,221.2
1,333.9
9,614.8
5,535
1,216.4
1,330.1
9,587.5
5,509
1,204.7
1,323.2
9,562.2
5,477
1,189.9
1,320.9
9,555.3
5,461
1,184.7
1,313.6
9,545.0
5,449
1,177.3
1,312.5
9,534.8
5,427
1,167.6
1,303.9
9,528.5
5,420
1,165.1
1,298.6
Membership associations and
organizations…………………… 2,931.1
Government..................................
Federal........................................
Federal, except U.S. Postal
Service....................................
U.S. Postal Service………………
State...........................................
Education................................
Other State government..........
Local...........................................
Education................................
Other local government...........
2,973.3
2,973.5
2,976.9
2,973.8
2,976.6
2,977.6
2,977.1
2,988.3
2,980.7
2,965.7
2,963.1
2,958.7
2,955.2
2,956.3
22,218
2,734
22,500
2,764
22,451
2,758
22,488
2,763
22,522
2,765
22,537
2,776
22,556
2,768
22,535
2,771
22,539
2,775
22,543
2,783
22,532
2,778
22,540
2,793
22,547
2,796
22,541
2,806
22,613
2,872
1,964.7
769.1
5,122
2,317.5
2,804.3
14,362
7,986.8
6,375.5
2,016.8
747.5
5,178
2,359.0
2,818.9
14,557
8,075.6
6,481.8
1,996.4
761.3
5,159
2,340.0
2,819.4
14,534
8,066.2
6,467.6
2,007.7
755.7
5,167
2,348.0
2,818.5
14,558
8,085.2
6,472.9
2,014.6
750.5
5,175
2,355.4
2,819.4
14,582
8,101.3
6,481.1
2,020.2
755.8
5,184
2,365.1
2,819.1
14,577
8,088.3
6,488.2
2,027.1
740.6
5,204
2,379.5
2,824.6
14,584
8,084.5
6,499.4
2,034.3
736.5
5,192
2,373.3
2,818.9
14,572
8,075.4
6,496.4
2,043.5
731.9
5,194
2,372.8
2,820.7
14,570
8,071.6
6,498.3
2,052.4
730.1
5,197
2,380.3
2,816.4
14,563
8,067.6
6,495.6
2,057.3
720.9
5,196
2,381.3
2,814.8
14,558
8,060.5
6,497.7
2,065.8
726.9
5,192
2,380.2
2,811.6
14,555
8,070.7
6,484.7
2,071.0
724.9
5,192
2,382.3
2,809.4
14,559
8,076.7
6,482.5
2,082.5
723.5
5,190
2,382.5
2,807.6
14,545
8,072.4
6,472.5
2,145.0
726.7
5,192
2,388.1
2,803.6
14,549
8,076.2
6,473.2
1
Includes other industries not shown separately.
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
p = preliminary.
94
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
13. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls, by industry, monthly
data seasonally adjusted
Annual average
Industry
2007
2008
2008
2009
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.p
Apr.p
33.2
TOTAL PRIVATE…………………………
33.9
33.6
33.8
33.7
33.6
33.6
33.7
33.6
33.5
33.4
33.3
33.3
33.3
33.2
GOODS-PRODUCING………………………
40.6
40.2
40.4
40.2
40.3
40.3
40.2
39.9
39.8
39.5
39.4
39.3
39.2
39.0
39.0
Natural resources and mining……………
45.9
45.1
45.0
44.6
44.9
44.8
45.3
44.5
44.7
45.3
44.3
44.2
43.9
43.4
43.0
Construction…………………………………
39.0
38.5
38.9
38.5
38.7
38.7
38.6
38.3
38.3
37.7
38.0
37.9
38.0
37.7
37.6
Manufacturing…………………….............
Overtime hours..................................
41.2
4.2
40.8
3.7
41.0
4.0
40.9
3.9
40.9
3.8
41.0
3.7
40.8
3.7
40.5
3.5
40.4
3.5
40.2
3.2
39.9
2.9
39.8
2.9
39.5
2.7
39.4
2.6
39.6
2.7
Durable goods..…………………............
Overtime hours..................................
Wood products.....................................
Nonmetallic mineral products...............
Primary metals.....................................
Fabricated metal products...................
Machinery…………………………………
Computer and electronic products……
Electrical equipment and appliances…
Transportation equipment....................
Furniture and related products………..
Miscellaneous manufacturing..............
41.5
4.2
39.4
42.3
42.9
41.6
42.6
40.6
41.2
42.8
39.2
38.9
41.1
3.7
38.6
42.1
42.2
41.3
42.3
41.0
40.9
42.0
38.1
38.9
41.4
4.0
38.6
42.3
42.6
41.6
42.5
41.1
41.0
42.5
38.7
39.3
41.2
3.9
39.0
42.3
42.4
41.5
42.2
41.1
41.1
41.9
38.8
39.2
41.2
3.8
39.1
42.0
42.5
41.2
42.1
41.2
40.9
42.1
38.7
39.0
41.2
3.7
38.8
42.6
42.2
41.2
42.1
41.1
40.8
42.6
38.3
39.1
41.1
3.7
38.8
42.2
42.5
41.1
42.5
41.0
40.8
41.7
37.9
39.4
40.6
3.4
38.4
41.9
41.8
40.9
42.1
40.8
41.0
40.9
37.4
38.7
40.6
3.4
38.1
41.8
41.4
40.8
41.8
40.8
40.4
41.3
37.4
38.9
40.4
3.1
37.6
40.9
40.9
40.8
41.4
41.3
40.2
40.9
37.2
38.5
40.0
2.8
36.8
40.9
40.5
40.3
41.1
40.4
39.7
40.9
37.3
38.3
39.8
2.7
36.9
40.2
40.4
39.7
40.9
40.7
39.4
40.4
37.7
38.4
39.6
2.5
37.1
40.0
40.1
39.5
40.6
40.5
38.9
40.1
37.4
38.2
39.4
2.4
36.9
39.9
40.2
39.0
40.2
39.9
38.8
40.3
37.7
38.3
39.7
2.5
37.0
40.2
40.1
39.1
40.5
40.3
39.6
41.0
37.4
38.5
Nondurable goods..................................
Overtime hours..................................
Food manufacturing............................…
Beverage and tobacco products..........
Textile mills………………………………
Textile product mills……………………
Apparel.................................................
Leather and allied products..................
Paper and paper products………………
40.8
4.1
40.7
40.7
40.3
39.7
37.2
38.2
43.1
40.4
3.7
40.5
38.8
38.7
38.6
36.4
37.5
42.9
40.5
3.9
40.8
39.4
38.4
38.3
36.6
38.6
43.3
40.5
3.8
40.8
39.5
38.9
38.7
36.0
38.8
42.6
40.4
3.8
40.6
38.8
38.8
38.9
36.4
38.4
42.7
40.6
3.7
40.6
38.7
39.2
39.1
37.0
38.2
42.6
40.4
3.8
40.5
38.2
39.5
38.7
36.5
37.5
42.9
40.2
3.6
40.3
38.2
38.9
38.1
35.9
37.5
42.4
40.2
3.6
40.3
38.1
38.4
37.9
36.3
36.9
42.2
39.9
3.4
39.9
37.9
37.7
37.9
36.2
34.4
42.1
39.7
3.1
39.8
36.7
37.0
37.1
36.0
34.7
41.9
39.7
3.2
40.1
37.0
37.1
37.0
36.0
34.0
41.6
39.5
3.0
39.9
37.0
36.4
37.1
35.6
33.3
41.5
39.4
3.0
40.0
36.1
36.2
37.0
36.1
33.0
41.0
39.5
3.0
40.0
35.8
36.3
37.1
36.1
32.6
41.3
Printing and related support
activities.............................................
Petroleum and coal products……………
Chemicals…………………………………
Plastics and rubber products……………
39.1
44.1
41.9
41.3
38.3
44.6
41.5
41.0
38.5
43.2
41.3
41.0
38.6
44.1
41.2
40.9
38.1
44.6
41.6
41.0
38.0
45.5
41.9
41.3
38.2
45.6
41.4
41.0
38.3
45.2
41.3
40.7
38.3
45.2
41.5
40.6
38.2
44.4
41.3
40.6
38.0
45.3
41.1
40.0
37.7
45.1
41.1
39.9
37.3
43.8
41.1
39.6
37.5
44.4
40.9
39.3
37.5
44.7
40.9
39.8
PRIVATE SERVICEPROVIDING………………………………
32.4
32.3
32.4
32.4
32.3
32.3
32.4
32.3
32.3
32.2
32.2
32.2
32.1
32.1
32.1
Trade, transportation, and
utilities.......……………….......................
Wholesale trade........……………….......
Retail trade…………………………………
Transportation and warehousing………
Utilities………………………………………
Information…………………………………
Financial activities…………………………
33.3
38.2
30.2
37.0
42.4
36.5
35.9
33.2
38.2
30.0
36.4
42.7
36.7
35.8
33.3
38.3
30.2
36.6
42.6
36.6
35.9
33.2
38.3
30.1
36.4
42.5
36.6
35.9
33.2
38.3
30.0
36.4
43.0
36.7
35.8
33.2
38.4
30.0
36.4
42.4
36.7
35.7
33.2
38.3
30.0
36.4
42.3
36.8
36.1
33.2
38.1
30.1
36.4
42.7
36.9
36.0
33.1
38.2
29.9
36.3
42.5
36.9
35.9
33.0
38.1
29.8
36.1
42.4
37.0
36.1
32.9
37.8
29.7
36.2
42.9
37.0
35.9
32.9
38.1
29.7
36.0
42.6
37.2
36.2
32.8
37.9
29.8
35.7
43.2
36.9
36.2
32.8
37.7
29.8
36.0
42.5
36.7
36.0
32.8
37.8
29.8
36.0
42.4
36.5
36.0
Professional and business
services……………………………………
Education and health services……………
Leisure and hospitality……………………
Other services……………........................
34.8
32.6
25.5
30.9
34.8
32.5
25.2
30.8
34.8
32.6
25.4
30.8
34.9
32.7
25.3
30.8
34.8
32.5
25.3
30.7
34.8
32.5
25.2
30.8
34.9
32.6
25.2
30.9
34.8
32.5
25.2
30.7
34.9
32.5
25.1
30.7
34.9
32.4
25.0
30.7
34.8
32.4
25.0
30.6
34.9
32.4
24.8
30.7
34.8
32.3
25.0
30.6
34.7
32.4
24.8
30.5
34.8
32.5
24.8
30.5
1
Data relate to production workers in natural resources and mining and
manufacturing, construction workers in construction, and nonsupervisory workers
in the service-providing industries.
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark
revision.
p = preliminary.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 95
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
14. Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls, by industry,
monthly data seasonally adjusted
Annual average
2008
Industry
2009
2007
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.p
Apr.p
TOTAL PRIVATE
Current dollars………………………
Constant (1982) dollars……………
$17.43
8.33
$18.08
8.30
$17.94
8.29
$17.99
8.27
$18.04
8.20
$18.10
8.16
$18.18
8.20
$18.21
8.21
$18.28
8.33
$18.34
8.54
$18.40
8.65
$18.43
8.64
$18.46
8.61
$18.50
8.64
$18.51
8.65
GOODS-PRODUCING...............................
18.67
19.33
19.16
19.20
19.27
19.36
19.43
19.48
19.56
19.63
19.69
19.72
19.78
19.86
19.84
20.97
20.95
17.26
16.43
18.20
15.67
22.50
21.87
17.74
16.97
18.70
16.15
21.77
21.62
17.64
16.82
18.61
16.01
21.79
21.72
17.68
16.88
18.63
16.08
22.04
21.77
17.73
16.94
18.70
16.11
22.54
21.85
17.80
17.03
18.78
16.16
23.01
22.02
17.78
17.01
18.74
16.19
23.08
22.09
17.81
17.07
18.74
16.28
23.03
22.17
17.89
17.15
18.84
16.35
23.28
22.28
17.94
17.25
18.91
16.37
23.23
22.41
17.96
17.33
18.94
16.39
23.14
22.43
17.99
17.36
18.99
16.43
23.14
22.42
18.07
17.47
19.09
16.49
23.41
22.60
18.11
17.53
19.18
16.46
23.49
22.57
18.13
17.53
19.21
16.49
PRIVATE SERVICE-PRIVATE SERVICEPROVIDING..........………………..............
17.11
17.77
17.63
17.69
17.74
17.79
17.87
17.90
17.97
18.03
18.10
18.14
18.17
18.19
18.22
Trade,transportation, and
utilities…………………………………....
Wholesale trade....................................
Retail trade...........................................
Transportation and warehousing………
Utilities……………………………………
Information..............................................
Financial activities..................................
15.78
19.59
12.75
17.72
27.88
23.96
19.64
16.16
20.14
12.87
18.41
28.84
24.77
20.27
16.08
20.05
12.84
18.31
28.54
24.56
20.17
16.13
20.07
12.87
18.39
28.81
24.71
20.23
16.16
20.11
12.87
18.41
29.12
24.78
20.24
16.17
20.15
12.88
18.42
28.67
24.87
20.26
16.23
20.28
12.92
18.48
28.89
24.95
20.37
16.20
20.20
12.91
18.47
28.86
24.90
20.43
16.23
20.22
12.89
18.58
28.91
24.99
20.43
16.29
20.29
12.93
18.66
28.91
24.94
20.41
16.31
20.31
12.94
18.66
29.16
24.91
20.53
16.36
20.41
12.97
18.72
29.22
24.98
20.53
16.38
20.52
12.96
18.67
29.67
25.09
20.55
16.37
20.60
12.97
18.62
29.29
25.30
20.63
16.40
20.70
12.98
18.62
29.36
25.27
20.63
Professional and business
services.................................................
20.15
21.19
20.90
20.96
21.08
21.19
21.38
21.47
21.63
21.78
21.97
22.04
22.17
22.28
22.30
Education and health
services.................................................
Leisure and hospitality..........................
Other services.........................................
18.11
10.41
15.42
18.88
10.84
16.08
18.74
10.81
16.00
18.80
10.83
16.04
18.84
10.85
16.09
18.92
10.87
16.13
18.96
10.89
16.17
19.04
10.90
16.20
19.08
10.92
16.24
19.13
10.90
16.29
19.20
10.94
16.29
19.18
10.97
16.30
19.24
10.97
16.25
19.21
10.97
16.23
19.29
10.96
16.23
Natural resources and mining...............
Construction...........................................
Manufacturing.........................................
Excluding overtime...........................
Durable goods……………………………
Nondurable goods………………………
1
Data relate to production workers in natural resources and mining and
manufacturing, construction workers in construction, and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-providing industries.
96
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
p = preliminary.
15. Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls, by industry
Annual average
2008
Industry
2007
TOTAL PRIVATE……………………………… $17.43
Seasonally adjusted…………………….
–
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.p
Apr.p
$18.08 $17.95 $17.94 $18.00 $18.02 $18.10 $18.25 $18.27 $18.40 $18.40 $18.49 $18.57 $18.56 $18.51
– 17.94 17.99 18.04 18.10 18.18 18.21 18.28 18.34 18.40 18.43 18.46 18.50 18.51
GOODS-PRODUCING......................................
18.67
19.33
19.09
19.15
19.26
19.39
19.53
19.63
19.61
19.65
19.75
19.64
19.64
19.74
19.80
Natural resources and mining……………..
20.97
22.50
21.78
21.52
21.75
22.45
23.06
23.19
22.98
23.31
23.53
23.41
23.19
23.44
23.54
Construction.…………..................................
20.95
21.87
21.49
21.61
21.69
21.90
22.16
22.34
22.28
22.32
22.52
22.32
22.25
22.46
22.45
Manufacturing…………………………………… 17.26
17.74
17.64
17.65
17.73
17.73
17.75
17.84
17.86
17.94
18.06
18.03
18.07
18.09
18.14
Durable goods..…………………..................
Wood products .........................................
Nonmetallic mineral products ………………
Primary metals .........................................
Fabricated metal products …....................
Machinery …………..………………………
Computer and electronic products ...........
Electrical equipment and appliances ........
Transportation equipment ........................
Furniture and related products .................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ...................
18.20
13.68
16.93
19.66
16.53
17.72
19.94
15.93
23.04
14.32
14.66
18.70
14.20
16.90
20.18
16.99
17.97
21.03
15.78
23.83
14.54
15.19
18.59
14.00
17.12
20.21
16.82
17.91
20.86
15.74
23.59
14.45
14.96
18.60
14.11
16.89
20.24
16.85
18.01
20.95
15.66
23.59
14.48
14.97
18.70
14.16
16.97
20.26
16.93
17.90
21.02
15.72
23.86
14.58
15.15
18.66
14.25
16.93
20.43
16.94
17.96
21.11
15.85
23.75
14.52
15.35
18.72
14.25
16.85
20.28
17.08
17.97
21.21
15.94
23.88
14.59
15.33
18.80
14.37
16.94
20.36
17.14
18.08
21.23
15.99
24.05
14.54
15.31
18.81
14.44
16.92
20.01
17.18
18.11
21.42
15.83
24.10
14.55
15.33
18.92
14.58
16.85
19.98
17.21
18.18
21.37
15.74
24.37
14.77
15.42
19.06
14.66
16.73
20.05
17.36
18.15
21.44
15.88
24.58
14.92
15.60
18.99
14.69
16.82
19.80
17.24
18.16
21.46
15.81
24.66
14.95
15.66
19.09
14.77
17.03
19.75
17.30
18.17
21.42
15.93
24.69
14.85
15.97
19.18
14.68
17.22
19.69
17.30
18.23
21.69
15.95
24.82
15.02
16.00
19.22
14.70
17.45
19.91
17.45
18.16
21.77
15.97
24.78
14.98
16.14
Nondurable goods………………………......
Food manufacturing ...........................……
Beverages and tobacco products .............
15.67
13.55
18.54
16.15
14.00
19.35
16.03
13.88
19.41
16.05
13.91
19.19
16.08
13.97
18.74
16.20
14.03
19.02
16.15
14.02
18.60
16.30
14.15
18.97
16.32
14.10
19.41
16.35
14.17
19.98
16.43
14.26
19.95
16.51
14.34
20.07
16.48
14.30
20.25
16.42
14.22
20.40
16.49
14.27
20.03
13.00
11.78
11.05
12.04
18.44
16.15
25.21
19.55
15.39
13.57
11.73
11.40
12.96
18.88
16.75
27.46
19.49
15.85
13.45
11.77
11.51
12.63
18.64
16.63
26.96
19.35
15.80
13.50
11.86
11.43
12.88
18.79
16.66
26.85
19.33
15.74
13.58
11.80
11.35
12.88
18.93
16.77
26.99
19.29
15.72
13.77
11.80
11.35
12.85
19.11
16.81
27.54
19.41
15.87
13.67
11.78
11.28
12.94
18.81
16.83
27.69
19.53
15.86
13.72
11.81
11.48
12.98
19.04
16.90
28.25
19.77
15.94
13.71
11.62
11.38
13.14
19.11
16.99
28.69
19.67
16.03
13.69
11.59
11.35
13.61
18.89
16.86
28.28
19.77
16.13
13.80
11.72
11.38
13.47
19.11
17.01
28.17
19.72
16.24
13.90
11.59
11.46
14.10
19.27
16.79
29.13
19.89
16.24
13.76
11.53
11.40
14.19
18.99
16.79
29.57
19.96
16.22
13.89
11.32
11.25
14.18
18.90
16.72
29.82
19.93
16.17
13.82
11.34
11.50
14.27
19.17
16.78
28.88
19.94
16.20
Textile mills ..............................................
Textile product mills .................................
Apparel .....................................................
Leather and allied products ………………
Paper and paper products …………………
Printing and related support activities…...
Petroleum and coal products ………………
Chemicals ……………………………………
Plastics and rubber products ....................
PRIVATE SERVICEPROVIDING …………………………………….
17.11
17.77
17.67
17.64
17.68
17.68
17.73
17.90
17.94
18.10
18.09
18.23
18.33
18.31
18.24
Trade, transportation, and
utilities…….……..........................................
Wholesale trade ………………………………
Retail trade ……………………………………
Transportation and warehousing ……………
Utilities ………..…..….………..………………
15.78
19.59
12.75
17.72
27.88
16.16
20.14
12.87
18.41
28.84
16.13
20.01
12.89
18.30
28.70
16.12
19.93
12.89
18.35
28.84
16.17
20.05
12.90
18.46
29.02
16.18
20.12
12.92
18.54
28.49
16.21
20.23
12.93
18.52
28.64
16.27
20.20
13.01
18.53
28.95
16.24
20.21
12.89
18.55
29.00
16.26
20.41
12.85
18.69
28.96
16.14
20.36
12.74
18.62
29.28
16.37
20.44
12.96
18.68
29.27
16.47
20.65
12.99
18.73
29.70
16.43
20.66
13.01
18.54
29.41
16.41
20.70
13.02
18.51
29.52
Information………………………………….....
23.96
24.77
24.56
24.65
24.78
24.75
24.87
25.03
25.06
25.03
24.86
25.03
25.12
25.39
25.27
Financial activities……..………....................
19.64
20.27
20.21
20.19
20.26
20.19
20.29
20.42
20.41
20.54
20.50
20.48
20.68
20.70
20.66
20.15
21.19
20.91
20.88
21.09
21.06
21.12
21.31
21.45
21.97
22.01
22.16
22.52
22.54
22.28
services………………………………………… 18.11
Professional and business
services…………………………………………
Education and health
18.88
18.75
18.76
18.79
18.96
18.95
19.08
19.04
19.10
19.23
19.26
19.26
19.20
19.29
Leisure and hospitality ………………………
10.41
10.84
10.81
10.83
10.78
10.73
10.79
10.89
10.93
10.93
11.05
11.03
11.06
10.99
10.97
Other services…………………......................
15.42
16.08
16.09
16.11
16.10
16.06
16.10
16.22
16.17
16.24
16.27
16.34
16.34
16.34
16.30
1 Data relate to production workers in natural resources and mining and
manufacturing, construction workers in construction, and nonsupervisory
workers in the service-providing industries.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 97
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
16. Average weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers1 on private nonfarm payrolls, by industry
Industry
Annual average
2007
TOTAL PRIVATE………………… $590.04
–
Seasonally adjusted..........
2008
2009
2008
Apr.
May
June
$607.99
–
$603.12
606.37
$602.78
606.26
$613.80
606.14
July
Aug.
$607.27 $613.59
608.16
612.67
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.p
Apr.p
$613.20
611.86
$613.87
612.38
$620.08
612.56
$610.88
612.72
$608.32
613.72
$616.52
614.72
$616.19
614.20
$607.13
614.53
791.09
788.32
782.07
778.15
762.03
758.10
763.94
760.32
GOODS-PRODUCING………………
757.34
776.60
767.42
769.83
783.88
Natural resources
and mining………………………..
962.64
1,013.78
969.21
951.18
985.28 1,005.76 1,051.54 1,041.23 1,038.70 1,072.26 1,040.03 1,020.68 1,008.77 1,005.58 1,002.80
816.66
842.36
825.22
834.15
854.59
858.48
875.32
869.03
866.69
845.93
840.00
828.07
823.25
837.76
Manufacturing……………………… 711.56
724.23
723.24
721.89
730.48
719.84
727.75
729.66
726.90
726.57
727.82
712.19
708.34
709.13
705.65
767.56
547.81
711.30
850.84
701.47
759.92
767.77
540.40
722.46
854.88
699.71
761.18
766.32
554.52
717.83
854.13
697.59
758.22
776.05
566.40
724.62
871.18
699.21
755.38
761.33
560.03
726.30
860.10
692.85
750.73
775.01
561.45
726.24
865.96
707.11
763.73
770.80
561.87
725.03
861.23
707.88
764.78
767.45
551.61
719.10
832.42
707.82
760.62
766.26
549.67
692.54
817.18
707.33
758.11
771.93
538.02
677.57
818.04
706.55
755.04
750.11
524.43
654.30
797.94
680.98
740.93
748.33
531.72
657.36
786.05
678.16
735.89
751.86
531.42
675.02
793.51
671.24
731.02
749.58
536.55
701.49
782.46
664.85
722.77
808.80
861.43
853.17
861.05
872.33
861.29
869.61
874.68
876.08
891.13
883.33
866.98
863.23
863.26
862.09
656.46
986.79
645.60
643.77
999.94 1,002.58
638.93
647.66
988.42 1,016.44
640.34
650.35
978.50 1,002.96
660.39
645.86
990.86 1,002.56
642.19
646.32
994.30 1,022.53
621.33
993.80
613.31
990.07
615.67
997.76
616.44
996.16
560.84
554.20
553.44
557.48
571.54
557.57
566.09
549.61
542.72
546.49
563.98
559.13
547.97
564.75
549.77
manufacturing..........................
569.99
591.73
586.43
583.83
595.40
594.05
608.60
595.56
593.27
593.67
600.60
599.78
603.67
614.40
616.55
Nondurable goods.......................
639.99
551.32
652.20
566.91
647.61
560.75
646.82
566.14
652.85
568.58
652.86
568.22
654.08
572.02
663.41
581.57
659.33
575.28
658.91
572.47
657.20
573.25
650.49
569.30
644.37
561.99
643.66
561.69
639.81
552.25
755.22
524.40
467.77
411.39
459.50
795.58
750.18
524.93
453.12
415.17
486.49
809.21
770.58
515.14
449.61
423.57
491.31
805.25
765.68
522.45
454.24
412.62
502.32
791.06
738.36
529.62
468.46
415.41
501.03
806.42
741.78
535.65
462.56
416.55
485.73
808.35
716.10
542.70
460.60
410.59
481.37
806.95
720.86
544.68
452.32
409.84
486.75
818.72
729.82
525.09
438.07
411.96
484.87
812.18
767.23
520.22
441.58
414.28
462.74
802.83
726.18
514.74
441.84
410.82
476.84
814.09
728.54
510.13
423.04
407.98
470.94
797.78
741.15
493.98
426.61
403.56
465.43
780.49
730.32
500.04
418.84
408.38
470.78
769.23
703.05
491.99
416.18
410.55
453.79
784.05
632.02
642.50
638.59
638.08
633.91
630.38
644.59
655.72
659.21
652.48
654.89
627.95
622.91
628.67
620.86
CONSTRUCTION
Durable goods……………………
754.77
539.34
Wood products .........................
716.78
Nonmetallic mineral products....
843.26
Primary metals……………………
687.20
Fabricated metal products.........
Machinery………………………… 754.19
781.42
794.87
830.65
Computer and electronic
products..................................
Electrical equipment and
appliances...............................
Transportation equipment………
Furniture and related
products…………………………
Miscellaneous
Food manufacturing...................
Beverages and tobacco
products..................................
Textile mills………………………
Textile product mills………………
Apparel……………………………
Leather and allied products.......
Paper and paper products…….
Printing and related
support activities………………
Petroleum and coal
products………………………… 1,112.73
Chemicals………………………… 819.54
1,224.26 1,156.58 1,181.40 1,219.95 1,266.84 1,259.90 1,302.33 1,322.61 1,275.43 1,256.38 1,307.94 1,286.30 1,294.19 1,276.50
808.80
799.16
790.60
808.25
809.40
810.50
820.46
814.34
822.43
814.44
811.51
820.36
815.14
811.56
Plastics and rubber
products…………………………
PRIVATE SERVICEPROVIDING…………....................
Trade, transportation,
and utilities………………………
Wholesale trade......…………......
Retail trade…………………………
635.63
649.04
647.80
645.34
650.81
647.50
650.26
655.13
652.42
658.10
657.72
647.98
639.07
633.86
633.42
554.89
574.31
568.97
569.77
579.90
572.83
576.23
578.17
577.67
588.25
578.88
579.71
592.06
589.58
581.86
526.07
748.94
385.11
535.79
769.91
386.39
533.90
764.38
385.41
533.57
761.33
386.70
544.93
779.95
393.45
538.79
770.60
391.48
541.41
774.81
391.78
543.42
767.60
395.50
535.92
772.02
384.12
536.58
787.83
381.65
531.01
767.57
380.93
530.39
770.59
378.43
538.57
784.70
384.50
537.26
780.95
385.10
534.97
774.18
385.39
Transportation and
warehousing……………………… 654.95
Utilities……………………………… 1,182.65
Information…………………………
670.33
662.46
664.27
681.17
674.86
679.68
676.35
671.51
680.32
679.63
663.14
663.04
669.29
657.11
1,231.19 1,225.49 1,222.82 1,250.76 1,205.13 1,205.74 1,244.85 1,238.30 1,236.59 1,256.11 1,243.98 1,286.01 1,241.10 1,251.65
874.65
908.44
891.53
892.33
919.34
910.80
917.70
926.11
924.71
936.12
917.33
921.10
931.95
934.35
914.77
Financial activities………………… 705.13
726.37
721.50
718.76
737.46
718.76
726.38
728.99
728.64
753.82
731.85
735.23
761.02
753.48
739.63
Professional and
business services………………
700.82
738.25
727.67
726.62
748.70
730.78
739.20
739.46
750.75
775.54
761.55
762.30
785.95
786.65
766.43
Education and………………………
health services…………………… 590.09
614.30
607.50
609.70
614.43
618.10
617.77
620.10
616.90
624.57
621.13
622.10
624.02
624.00
623.07
Leisure and hospitality…………… 265.52
273.27
272.41
274.00
280.28
276.83
278.38
272.25
273.25
273.25
270.73
264.72
275.39
272.55
269.86
Other services……………………… 477.06
494.99
493.96
494.58
500.71
496.25
500.71
497.95
496.42
501.82
496.24
498.37
501.64
498.37
495.52
1 Data relate to production workers in natural resources and mining and manufacturing,
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
construction workers in construction, and nonsupervisory workers in the service-
Dash indicates data not available.
providing industries.
p = preliminary.
septTAB16
98
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
17. Diffusion indexes of employment change, seasonally adjusted
[In percent]
Timespan and year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug. Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Private nonfarm payrolls, 278 industries
Over 1-month span:
2005...............................................
52.6
60.1
54.1
58.1
56.8
58.3
58.5
59.2
54.2
55.9
62.7
57.6
2006..............................................
64.9
62.2
63.8
59.8
49.1
51.8
59.2
55.4
55.7
56.3
59.4
60.7
2007..............................................
53.5
55.5
52.4
49.4
55.9
48.3
50.7
46.5
55.9
57.2
59.4
57.9
2008…………………………………
42.1
40.6
44.1
41.1
42.6
36.9
37.6
39.1
34.7
33.0
27.1
20.5
2009…………………………………
22.1
20.8
20.3
28.2
2005...............................................
51.7
57.2
59.0
59.8
57.9
62.0
60.5
62.9
60.3
55.5
56.3
62.7
2006..............................................
67.7
68.6
65.1
65.1
60.5
58.9
55.5
57.0
55.0
54.4
59.0
64.2
2007..............................................
62.5
54.8
54.2
54.8
54.1
50.4
52.8
48.7
53.3
53.9
58.3
62.5
2008…………………………………
57.7
44.8
40.2
39.7
37.3
33.6
33.6
32.8
34.9
33.2
26.9
20.8
2009…………………………………
18.6
14.2
14.6
15.9
2005...............................................
55.4
57.9
58.1
57.0
58.3
60.9
63.1
63.3
61.6
59.6
61.4
62.5
2006..............................................
64.6
63.8
67.5
66.2
65.5
66.6
60.3
61.1
57.9
57.9
62.4
59.0
2007..............................................
60.3
57.2
60.5
58.3
55.5
56.5
52.8
52.4
56.6
54.4
56.8
59.0
2008…………………………………
56.6
53.0
50.7
47.4
40.2
33.4
31.0
33.4
30.6
29.0
26.0
24.4
2009…………………………………
21.6
17.2
14.2
15.1
2005...............................................
60.9
60.9
60.0
59.2
58.3
60.3
61.3
63.3
60.7
59.2
59.8
61.8
2006..............................................
67.2
65.5
65.9
62.9
65.5
66.8
64.8
64.4
66.6
65.9
64.9
66.2
2007..............................................
63.3
59.4
61.1
59.6
59.2
58.3
56.8
57.2
59.4
58.9
58.1
59.6
2008…………………………………
54.4
56.1
52.6
49.1
50.2
47.8
43.7
42.3
38.0
37.8
32.3
28.2
2009…………………………………
24.0
22.0
19.7
18.6
Over 3-month span:
Over 6-month span:
Over 12-month span:
Manufacturing payrolls, 84 industries
Over 1-month span:
2005...............................................
36.7
46.4
42.2
46.4
40.4
33.7
41.0
43.4
45.8
47.6
44.6
47.0
2006..............................................
57.8
49.4
53.6
47.0
37.3
50.6
49.4
42.2
40.4
42.8
41.0
44.0
2007..............................................
44.6
41.0
30.7
24.7
38.0
32.5
43.4
30.7
39.2
42.8
60.8
48.2
2008…………………………………
30.7
28.9
37.3
32.5
40.4
25.3
25.9
27.7
22.9
18.7
15.1
10.2
2009…………………………………
6.0
9.6
12.7
26.5
2005...............................................
36.7
43.4
41.0
41.6
35.5
36.1
34.9
36.7
42.2
44.0
38.6
48.8
2006..............................................
56.6
57.2
48.2
48.2
44.6
50.0
43.4
45.2
36.7
33.1
35.5
39.2
2007..............................................
40.4
33.1
33.1
28.9
29.5
30.1
31.9
28.9
30.7
30.7
39.2
51.2
2008…………………………………
48.8
33.7
28.3
29.5
26.5
22.9
19.9
16.9
22.3
21.1
15.1
11.4
2009…………………………………
6.0
3.6
2.4
10.8
2005...............................................
33.7
39.8
38.0
36.1
35.5
34.9
39.8
36.1
36.1
38.0
36.7
39.8
2006..............................................
45.2
45.2
50.6
48.8
50.6
50.0
45.2
47.0
43.4
42.2
39.8
34.3
2007..............................................
37.3
33.1
29.5
28.9
30.7
34.9
28.9
26.5
29.5
28.3
33.7
38.0
2008…………………………………
34.3
30.1
37.3
35.5
25.3
20.5
17.5
18.1
16.9
13.3
11.4
9.6
2009…………………………………
9.0
4.8
4.8
7.2
2005...............................................
45.2
44.0
42.2
41.0
36.7
35.5
32.5
34.3
33.1
33.7
33.7
38.0
2006..............................................
44.0
41.0
41.0
39.8
39.8
45.2
42.2
42.8
47.0
48.8
45.8
44.6
2007..............................................
39.8
36.7
37.3
30.7
28.9
29.5
30.7
28.9
33.1
28.9
34.3
35.5
2008…………………………………
27.7
28.9
25.9
25.3
30.7
27.1
24.7
19.3
21.7
21.7
16.9
15.1
2009…………………………………
8.4
4.8
4.8
4.8
Over 3-month span:
Over 6-month span:
Over 12-month span:
NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment
increasing plus one-half of the industries with unchanged
employment, where 50 percent indicates an equal balance
between industries with increasing and decreasing
employment.
See the "Definitions" in this section. See "Notes on the data"
for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
Data for the two most recent months are preliminary.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 99
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
18. Job openings levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
1
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
2008
Oct.
Total 2………………………………………………
Percent
2009
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
2008
p
Mar.
Oct.
Apr.
Nov.
2.4
2.4
2009
Dec.
2.3
Jan.
Feb.
2.1
p
Mar.
2.2
Apr.
3,390
3,311
3,224
2,920
2,973
2,633
2,531
1.9
1.9
Total private 2…………………………………
2,964
2,928
2,861
2,461
2,606
2,269
2,080
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.2
2.3
2.0
1.9
Construction………………………………
79
76
66
55
58
51
30
1.1
1.1
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.5
Manufacturing……………………………
230
203
188
115
141
115
95
1.7
1.5
1.4
0.9
1.1
0.9
0.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities………
564
624
495
488
488
414
332
2.1
2.3
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.6
1.3
Professional and business services……
603
505
562
501
482
428
458
3.3
2.8
3.1
2.8
2.8
2.5
2.7
Education and health services…………
646
697
685
636
589
537
522
3.3
3.5
3.5
3.2
3.0
2.7
2.7
Leisure and hospitality……………………
417
302
315
272
332
289
330
3.0
2.2
2.3
2.0
2.4
2.1
2.4
427
378
345
417
367
353
450
1.9
1.6
1.5
1.8
1.6
1.5
2.0
2.2
Industry
Government…………………………………
Region3
Northeast…………………………………
636
582
633
560
607
583
550
2.4
2.2
2.4
2.2
2.4
2.3
South………………………………………
1,314
1,267
1,245
1,109
1,109
1,000
951
2.6
2.5
2.5
2.2
2.2
2.0
2.0
Midwest……………………………………
698
644
607
587
563
499
519
2.2
2.0
1.9
1.9
1.8
1.6
1.7
West………………………………………
734
767
689
655
638
556
572
2.3
2.5
2.2
2.1
2.1
1.8
1.9
1
Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal
adjustment of the various series.
2
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other
services, not shown separately.
3
Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia,
West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
NOTE: The job openings level is the number of job openings on the last business day of the
month; the job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month
as a percent of total employment plus job openings.
P
= preliminary.
19. Hires levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
1
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
2008
Oct.
Total ………………………………………………
2
Nov.
Percent
2009
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
2008
Mar.
p
Apr.
Oct.
3.3
Nov.
3.1
2009
Dec.
3.3
Jan.
3.3
Feb.
3.2
Mar.
3.1
Apr.p
4,486
4,226
4,508
4,460
4,339
4,099
4,165
3.1
Total private 2…………………………………
4,160
3,928
4,214
4,141
4,042
3,799
3,803
3.7
3.5
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.4
3.5
Construction………………………………
380
340
366
381
370
343
348
5.4
4.9
5.3
5.7
5.6
5.3
5.5
Manufacturing……………………………
290
257
252
237
257
244
235
2.2
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.1
2.0
1.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities………
933
852
891
949
814
883
897
3.6
3.3
3.4
3.7
3.2
3.5
3.5
Professional and business services……
788
783
786
762
730
668
743
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.4
4.3
4.0
4.4
Education and health services…………
544
528
528
539
527
483
486
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.5
2.5
Leisure and hospitality……………………
769
706
711
743
704
693
691
5.7
5.3
5.3
5.6
5.3
5.3
5.3
318
281
271
306
275
271
338
1.4
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.2
1.5
2.9
Industry
Government…………………………………
Region3
Northeast…………………………………
759
661
726
753
837
696
732
3.0
2.6
2.9
3.0
3.3
2.8
South………………………………………
1,652
1,572
1,659
1,663
1,566
1,458
1,591
3.4
3.2
3.4
3.4
3.2
3.0
3.3
Midwest……………………………………
1,051
934
1,009
1,003
904
943
921
3.4
3.0
3.3
3.3
3.0
3.1
3.1
West………………………………………
1,043
1,043
1,053
1,002
960
931
965
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.3
1
Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal
adjustment of the various series.
2
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other
services, not shown separately.
Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, Wyoming.
3
Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia;
100
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
NOTE: The hires level is the number of hires during the entire month; the hires rate
is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
p
= preliminary.
20. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
1
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region
2008
Oct.
Total 2………………………………………………
Nov.
Percent
2009
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
2008
Mar.
p
Apr.
Oct.
3.6
Nov.
3.6
2009
Dec.
Jan.
3.7
3.7
Feb.
p
Mar.
3.6
Apr.
4,910
4,863
4,958
4,949
4,833
4,712
4,718
3.5
3.6
Total private 2…………………………………
4,607
4,571
4,673
4,686
4,555
4,434
4,431
4.0
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.1
4.0
4.0
Construction………………………………
440
472
452
524
463
463
441
6.2
6.8
6.6
7.8
7.0
7.2
7.0
3.1
Industry
Manufacturing……………………………
404
384
419
476
424
401
379
3.1
2.9
3.2
3.8
3.4
3.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities………
1,034
1,030
1,041
1,049
920
1,001
1,008
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.1
3.6
3.9
4.0
Professional and business services……
906
909
898
866
951
778
851
5.1
5.2
5.2
5.0
5.6
4.6
5.1
Education and health services…………
507
466
498
494
498
466
471
2.7
2.4
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.4
2.5
Leisure and hospitality……………………
794
773
755
763
731
751
712
5.9
5.8
5.7
5.7
5.5
5.7
5.4
294
282
278
277
271
265
270
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
Government…………………………………
Region3
Northeast…………………………………
743
767
799
813
783
878
705
2.9
3.0
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.5
2.8
South………………………………………
1,782
1,841
1,815
1,898
1,742
1,741
1,704
3.6
3.8
3.7
3.9
3.6
3.6
3.6
Midwest……………………………………
1,168
1,105
1,088
1,120
1,121
1,085
1,054
3.8
3.6
3.5
3.7
3.7
3.6
3.5
West………………………………………
1,209
1,205
1,227
1,180
1,188
978
1,231
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.9
4.0
3.3
4.1
1
Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal
adjustment of the various series.
Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,
North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
Wyoming.
2
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other
services, not shown separately.
3
Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West
Virginia;
NOTE: The total separations level is the number of total separations during the entire
month; the total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire
month as a percent of total employment.
p
= preliminary
21. Quits levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels1 (in thousands)
Industry and region
2008
Oct.
Total ………………………………………………
2
Nov.
Percent
2009
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
2008
Mar.
p
Apr.
Oct.
1.8
Nov.
1.6
2009
Dec.
1.6
Jan.
1.5
Feb.
1.4
Mar.
p
Apr.
2,436
2,201
2,114
2,063
1,911
1,856
1,771
1.4
1.3
Total private 2…………………………………
2,305
2,076
1,984
1,945
1,831
1,749
1,674
2.0
1.8
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.5
Construction………………………………
107
109
92
85
87
102
64
1.5
1.6
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.6
1.0
Manufacturing……………………………
143
122
87
105
105
81
82
1.1
.9
.7
.8
.8
.7
.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities………
548
489
518
469
372
444
385
2.1
1.9
2.0
1.8
1.5
1.7
1.5
Professional and business services……
477
349
297
326
310
278
269
2.7
2.0
1.7
1.9
1.8
1.6
1.6
Education and health services…………
294
251
256
248
258
249
230
1.5
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.2
Leisure and hospitality……………………
516
469
461
443
431
433
424
3.8
3.5
3.5
3.3
3.3
3.3
3.2
132
122
130
105
115
107
99
.6
.5
.6
.5
.5
.5
.4
Northeast…………………………………
347
321
302
278
271
273
271
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
South………………………………………
949
879
847
790
759
751
682
1.9
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.4
Midwest……………………………………
595
491
452
491
468
431
412
1.9
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.4
West………………………………………
541
510
498
492
453
408
439
1.8
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.5
Industry
Government…………………………………
Region3
1
Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal
adjustment of the various series.
2
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other
services, not shown separately.
Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
3
Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West
Virginia;
NOTE: The quits level is the number of quits during the entire month; the quits
rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total
employment.
p
= preliminary.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 101
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
22. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages: 10 largest counties, third quarter 2008.
County by NAICS supersector
Average weekly wage1
Employment
September
2008
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2007-082
Third
quarter
2008
Percent change,
third quarter
2007-082
United States3 ..............................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
9,150.8
8,857.7
126.2
889.2
361.0
1,927.8
146.3
866.3
1,528.7
851.2
739.3
1,205.9
293.1
135,173.8
113,499.1
2,003.6
7,255.4
13,345.0
25,953.1
2,973.8
7,919.9
17,752.2
17,996.4
13,568.1
4,482.9
21,674.7
-0.8
-1.1
3.6
-6.7
-3.6
-1.3
-2.0
-2.5
-1.4
2.7
.0
.9
1.0
$841
833
880
922
1,006
719
1,335
1,207
1,045
803
358
544
886
2.8
2.8
7.3
5.1
1.9
1.7
4.9
.8
4.6
3.6
2.9
2.4
3.0
Los Angeles, CA ..........................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
428.8
424.8
.5
14.0
14.6
53.7
8.7
24.1
42.5
28.0
27.0
195.2
4.0
4,141.1
3,581.8
11.7
145.0
432.3
792.1
214.8
233.8
583.7
488.8
401.6
259.5
559.3
-1.5
-1.4
-2.8
-9.5
-3.4
-2.1
( 4)
-5.4
( 4)
1.7
-.2
4.2
( 4)
951
923
1,232
994
1,009
775
1,551
1,482
1,104
888
536
439
1,132
3.1
2.7
9.3
5.2
4.6
2.1
(4)
.1
(4)
4.5
3.3
.5
5.8
Cook, IL ........................................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
140.4
139.0
.1
12.4
7.0
27.6
2.5
15.7
28.9
13.9
11.7
14.5
1.4
2,504.2
2,195.4
1.3
92.9
226.3
460.4
56.5
206.3
434.2
378.9
237.8
96.6
308.8
-1.3
-1.5
-3.6
-5.9
-4.1
-2.3
-1.5
-3.2
-2.1
2.9
-1.3
1.5
.0
988
986
960
1,284
1,002
788
1,557
1,538
1,248
873
443
707
1,009
2.8
2.8
-9.3
5.9
2.5
1.8
10.2
-.8
5.3
3.3
3.3
2.2
2.9
New York, NY ...............................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
118.9
118.6
.0
2.4
3.0
22.1
4.6
19.1
25.6
8.8
11.7
18.0
.3
2,363.8
1,919.7
.2
37.8
35.4
248.9
135.9
372.9
491.8
283.4
218.9
89.1
444.1
.6
.7
-8.9
4.1
-5.8
.4
.0
-2.1
1.4
.6
3.9
2.1
.1
1,552
1,673
1,820
1,535
1,183
1,127
1,982
2,985
1,799
1,059
748
919
1,027
.5
.4
14.0
5.4
-2.6
.4
4.2
-2.2
2.3
4.7
3.2
4.1
1.4
Harris, TX .....................................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
97.3
96.7
1.6
6.7
4.6
22.4
1.4
10.6
19.4
10.3
7.5
11.7
.5
2,047.2
1,796.9
84.8
157.2
187.3
428.3
31.9
118.2
336.5
218.7
174.2
58.5
250.3
1.3
1.1
7.9
( 4)
2.8
1.0
-2.4
( 4)
( 4)
1.6
-1.2
.2
2.7
1,050
1,061
2,585
1,005
1,272
919
1,285
1,287
1,233
865
385
598
973
3.0
2.9
( 4)
(4)
-1.1
2.1
2.1
2.6
4.8
4.3
5.2
1.2
5.1
Maricopa, AZ ................................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
103.0
102.3
.5
11.0
3.6
22.8
1.7
12.9
22.9
10.1
7.4
7.3
.7
1,761.0
1,535.7
8.5
130.8
125.0
361.4
29.8
142.4
293.9
216.2
176.8
49.2
225.3
-3.7
-4.5
.9
-21.8
-5.6
-3.9
-2.0
-4.0
-6.4
7.8
-1.7
-2.3
2.3
836
825
840
878
1,137
770
1,083
1,004
863
906
394
584
915
1.8
1.9
16.5
5.1
2.1
-.3
5.5
-1.8
4.2
2.7
1.8
3.4
.9
See footnotes at end of table.
102
Establishments,
third quarter
2008
(thousands)
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
22. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages: 10 largest counties, third quarter 2008.
County by NAICS supersector
Establishments,
third quarter
2008
(thousands)
Average weekly wage1
Employment
September
2008
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2007-082
Third
quarter
2008
Percent change,
third quarter
2007-082
United States3 ..............................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
9,150.8
8,857.7
126.2
889.2
361.0
1,927.8
146.3
866.3
1,528.7
851.2
739.3
1,205.9
293.1
135,173.8
113,499.1
2,003.6
7,255.4
13,345.0
25,953.1
2,973.8
7,919.9
17,752.2
17,996.4
13,568.1
4,482.9
21,674.7
-0.8
-1.1
3.6
-6.7
-3.6
-1.3
-2.0
-2.5
-1.4
2.7
.0
.9
1.0
$841
833
880
922
1,006
719
1,335
1,207
1,045
803
358
544
886
2.8
2.8
7.3
5.1
1.9
1.7
4.9
.8
4.6
3.6
2.9
2.4
3.0
Los Angeles, CA ..........................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
428.8
424.8
.5
14.0
14.6
53.7
8.7
24.1
42.5
28.0
27.0
195.2
4.0
4,141.1
3,581.8
11.7
145.0
432.3
792.1
214.8
233.8
583.7
488.8
401.6
259.5
559.3
-1.5
-1.4
-2.8
-9.5
-3.4
-2.1
( 4)
-5.4
( 4)
1.7
-.2
4.2
( 4)
951
923
1,232
994
1,009
775
1,551
1,482
1,104
888
536
439
1,132
3.1
2.7
9.3
5.2
4.6
2.1
(4)
.1
(4)
4.5
3.3
.5
5.8
Cook, IL ........................................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
140.4
139.0
.1
12.4
7.0
27.6
2.5
15.7
28.9
13.9
11.7
14.5
1.4
2,504.2
2,195.4
1.3
92.9
226.3
460.4
56.5
206.3
434.2
378.9
237.8
96.6
308.8
-1.3
-1.5
-3.6
-5.9
-4.1
-2.3
-1.5
-3.2
-2.1
2.9
-1.3
1.5
.0
988
986
960
1,284
1,002
788
1,557
1,538
1,248
873
443
707
1,009
2.8
2.8
-9.3
5.9
2.5
1.8
10.2
-.8
5.3
3.3
3.3
2.2
2.9
New York, NY ...............................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
118.9
118.6
.0
2.4
3.0
22.1
4.6
19.1
25.6
8.8
11.7
18.0
.3
2,363.8
1,919.7
.2
37.8
35.4
248.9
135.9
372.9
491.8
283.4
218.9
89.1
444.1
.6
.7
-8.9
4.1
-5.8
.4
.0
-2.1
1.4
.6
3.9
2.1
.1
1,552
1,673
1,820
1,535
1,183
1,127
1,982
2,985
1,799
1,059
748
919
1,027
.5
.4
14.0
5.4
-2.6
.4
4.2
-2.2
2.3
4.7
3.2
4.1
1.4
Harris, TX .....................................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
97.3
96.7
1.6
6.7
4.6
22.4
1.4
10.6
19.4
10.3
7.5
11.7
.5
2,047.2
1,796.9
84.8
157.2
187.3
428.3
31.9
118.2
336.5
218.7
174.2
58.5
250.3
1.3
1.1
7.9
( 4)
2.8
1.0
-2.4
( 4)
( 4)
1.6
-1.2
.2
2.7
1,050
1,061
2,585
1,005
1,272
919
1,285
1,287
1,233
865
385
598
973
3.0
2.9
( 4)
(4)
-1.1
2.1
2.1
2.6
4.8
4.3
5.2
1.2
5.1
Maricopa, AZ ................................................................................
Private industry ........................................................................
Natural resources and mining ..............................................
Construction .........................................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................
Information ...........................................................................
Financial activities ................................................................
Professional and business services .....................................
Education and health services .............................................
Leisure and hospitality .........................................................
Other services ......................................................................
Government .............................................................................
103.0
102.3
.5
11.0
3.6
22.8
1.7
12.9
22.9
10.1
7.4
7.3
.7
1,761.0
1,535.7
8.5
130.8
125.0
361.4
29.8
142.4
293.9
216.2
176.8
49.2
225.3
-3.7
-4.5
.9
-21.8
-5.6
-3.9
-2.0
-4.0
-6.4
7.8
-1.7
-2.3
2.3
836
825
840
878
1,137
770
1,083
1,004
863
906
394
584
915
1.8
1.9
16.5
5.1
2.1
-.3
5.5
-1.8
4.2
2.7
1.8
3.4
.9
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 103
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
23. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages: by State, third quarter 2008.
State
Establishments,
third quarter
2008
(thousands)
September
2008
(thousands)
Percent change,
September
2007-08
Third
quarter
2008
Percent change,
third quarter
2007-08
United States2 ...................................
9,150.8
135,173.8
-0.8
$841
2.8
Alabama ............................................
Alaska ...............................................
Arizona ..............................................
Arkansas ...........................................
California ...........................................
Colorado ...........................................
Connecticut .......................................
Delaware ...........................................
District of Columbia ...........................
Florida ...............................................
121.8
21.6
164.1
86.1
1,344.6
180.4
113.5
29.5
33.8
625.2
1,936.4
332.1
2,570.1
1,185.0
15,527.1
2,322.7
1,692.5
420.6
688.2
7,546.4
-1.2
1.4
-3.0
-.1
-1.4
.4
-.3
-1.1
1.4
-4.1
730
872
798
649
959
877
1,032
879
1,391
756
3.3
3.7
2.0
3.0
2.9
3.8
1.0
2.1
1.0
2.2
Georgia .............................................
Hawaii ...............................................
Idaho .................................................
Illinois ................................................
Indiana ..............................................
Iowa ..................................................
Kansas ..............................................
Kentucky ...........................................
Louisiana ...........................................
Maine ................................................
276.6
39.1
57.0
369.7
160.5
94.6
86.7
110.4
124.1
50.7
4,018.6
613.0
665.7
5,872.8
2,897.6
1,499.0
1,368.9
1,795.3
1,877.4
610.8
-1.6
-2.1
-1.4
-.7
-1.4
.2
.0
-1.0
-.2
-.6
794
774
643
891
718
696
711
692
756
683
1.5
1.8
1.3
2.9
2.3
4.2
4.6
2.4
5.6
3.5
Maryland ...........................................
Massachusetts ..................................
Michigan ............................................
Minnesota .........................................
Mississippi .........................................
Missouri .............................................
Montana ............................................
Nebraska ...........................................
Nevada ..............................................
New Hampshire ................................
163.9
213.9
259.0
171.6
70.8
175.4
43.3
60.0
77.5
49.8
2,543.4
3,265.7
4,093.9
2,699.6
1,128.3
2,736.1
446.4
925.7
1,253.0
634.6
-.8
.0
-3.0
-.5
-1.3
-.4
.1
.2
-2.7
-.5
920
1,025
820
862
631
739
628
694
809
822
3.1
2.3
1.5
4.7
4.0
2.8
3.1
4.2
2.1
2.8
New Jersey .......................................
New Mexico ......................................
New York ..........................................
North Carolina ...................................
North Dakota .....................................
Ohio ..................................................
Oklahoma ..........................................
Oregon ..............................................
Pennsylvania .....................................
Rhode Island .....................................
277.8
54.7
586.1
259.4
25.8
295.5
100.9
132.5
343.5
35.9
3,952.9
835.2
8,633.8
4,064.2
357.0
5,251.1
1,562.8
1,734.1
5,679.0
476.0
-.7
.7
.5
-1.0
2.8
-1.5
1.2
-1.0
.0
-2.0
990
712
1,030
741
665
766
698
766
822
778
2.5
3.5
2.2
3.1
6.9
2.8
4.5
2.1
2.5
2.5
South Carolina ..................................
South Dakota ....................................
Tennessee ........................................
Texas ................................................
Utah ..................................................
Vermont ............................................
Virginia ..............................................
Washington .......................................
West Virginia .....................................
Wisconsin ..........................................
119.6
30.6
143.5
563.6
87.3
25.1
232.7
225.5
48.9
161.6
1,874.6
401.3
2,730.4
10,438.3
1,229.3
304.2
3,676.1
3,007.5
716.4
2,788.7
-1.5
1.0
-1.5
1.4
-.1
-.5
-.3
1.0
.6
-.6
683
623
745
850
717
722
877
903
661
730
2.9
4.2
2.8
2.9
2.9
3.3
2.3
3.0
5.9
3.4
Wyoming ...........................................
25.2
294.0
3.3
781
6.4
Puerto Rico .......................................
Virgin Islands ....................................
55.6
3.5
992.8
44.9
-1.6
-.9
477
709
5.5
4.3
1
Average weekly wages were calculated using unrounded data.
2
Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico
or the Virgin Islands.
104
Average weekly wage1
Employment
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
NOTE: Includes workers covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI)
and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)
programs. Data are preliminary.
24. Annual data: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, by ownership
Year
Average
establishments
Average
annual
employment
Total annual wages
(in thousands)
Average annual wage
per employee
Average
weekly
wage
Total covered (UI and UCFE)
1998 ..................................................
1999 ..................................................
2000 ..................................................
2001 ..................................................
2002 ..................................................
2003 ..................................................
2004 ..................................................
2005 ..................................................
2006 ..................................................
2007 ..................................................
7,634,018
7,820,860
7,879,116
7,984,529
8,101,872
8,228,840
8,364,795
8,571,144
8,784,027
8,971,897
124,183,549
127,042,282
129,877,063
129,635,800
128,233,919
127,795,827
129,278,176
131,571,623
133,833,834
135,366,106
$3,967,072,423
4,235,579,204
4,587,708,584
4,695,225,123
4,714,374,741
4,826,251,547
5,087,561,796
5,351,949,496
5,692,569,465
6,018,089,108
$31,945
33,340
35,323
36,219
36,764
37,765
39,354
40,677
42,535
44,458
$614
641
679
697
707
726
757
782
818
855
$31,676
33,094
35,077
35,943
36,428
37,401
38,955
40,270
42,124
44,038
$609
636
675
691
701
719
749
774
810
847
$31,762
33,244
35,337
36,157
36,539
37,508
39,134
40,505
42,414
44,362
$611
639
680
695
703
721
753
779
816
853
$33,605
34,681
36,296
37,814
39,212
40,057
41,118
42,249
43,875
45,903
$646
667
698
727
754
770
791
812
844
883
$30,251
31,234
32,387
33,521
34,605
35,669
36,805
37,718
39,179
40,790
$582
601
623
645
665
686
708
725
753
784
$43,688
44,287
46,228
48,940
52,050
54,239
57,782
59,864
62,274
64,871
$840
852
889
941
1,001
1,043
1,111
1,151
1,198
1,248
UI covered
1998 ..................................................
1999 ..................................................
2000 ..................................................
2001 ..................................................
2002 ..................................................
2003 ..................................................
2004 ..................................................
2005 ..................................................
2006 ..................................................
2007 ..................................................
7,586,767
7,771,198
7,828,861
7,933,536
8,051,117
8,177,087
8,312,729
8,518,249
8,731,111
8,908,198
121,400,660
124,255,714
127,005,574
126,883,182
125,475,293
125,031,551
126,538,579
128,837,948
131,104,860
132,639,806
$3,845,494,089
4,112,169,533
4,454,966,824
4,560,511,280
4,570,787,218
4,676,319,378
4,929,262,369
5,188,301,929
5,522,624,197
5,841,231,314
Private industry covered
1998 ..................................................
1999 ..................................................
2000 ..................................................
2001 ..................................................
2002 ..................................................
2003 ..................................................
2004 ..................................................
2005 ..................................................
2006 ..................................................
2007 ..................................................
7,381,518
7,560,567
7,622,274
7,724,965
7,839,903
7,963,340
8,093,142
8,294,662
8,505,496
8,681,001
105,082,368
107,619,457
110,015,333
109,304,802
107,577,281
107,065,553
108,490,066
110,611,016
112,718,858
114,012,221
$3,337,621,699
3,577,738,557
3,887,626,769
3,952,152,155
3,930,767,025
4,015,823,311
4,245,640,890
4,480,311,193
4,780,833,389
5,057,840,759
State government covered
1998 ..................................................
1999 ..................................................
2000 ..................................................
2001 ..................................................
2002 ..................................................
2003 ..................................................
2004 ..................................................
2005 ..................................................
2006 ..................................................
2007 ..................................................
67,347
70,538
65,096
64,583
64,447
64,467
64,544
66,278
66,921
67,381
4,240,779
4,296,673
4,370,160
4,452,237
4,485,071
4,481,845
4,484,997
4,527,514
4,565,908
4,611,395
$142,512,445
149,011,194
158,618,365
168,358,331
175,866,492
179,528,728
184,414,992
191,281,126
200,329,294
211,677,002
Local government covered
1998 ..................................................
1999 ..................................................
2000 ..................................................
2001 ..................................................
2002 ..................................................
2003 ..................................................
2004 ..................................................
2005 ..................................................
2006 ..................................................
2007 ..................................................
137,902
140,093
141,491
143,989
146,767
149,281
155,043
157,309
158,695
159,816
12,077,513
12,339,584
12,620,081
13,126,143
13,412,941
13,484,153
13,563,517
13,699,418
13,820,093
14,016,190
$365,359,945
385,419,781
408,721,690
440,000,795
464,153,701
480,967,339
499,206,488
516,709,610
541,461,514
571,713,553
Federal government covered (UCFE)
1998 ..................................................
1999 ..................................................
2000 ..................................................
2001 ..................................................
2002 ..................................................
2003 ..................................................
2004 ..................................................
2005 ..................................................
2006 ..................................................
2007 ..................................................
47,252
49,661
50,256
50,993
50,755
51,753
52,066
52,895
52,916
63,699
2,782,888
2,786,567
2,871,489
2,752,619
2,758,627
2,764,275
2,739,596
2,733,675
2,728,974
2,726,300
$121,578,334
123,409,672
132,741,760
134,713,843
143,587,523
149,932,170
158,299,427
163,647,568
169,945,269
176,857,794
NOTE: Data are final. Detail may not add to total due to rounding.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 105
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
25. Annual data: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, establishment size and employment, private ownership, by
supersector, first quarter 2007
Size of establishments
Industry, establishments, and
employment
Total
Fewer than
5 workers1
5 to 9
workers
10 to 19
workers
20 to 49
workers
50 to 99
workers
100 to 249
workers
250 to 499
workers
500 to 999
workers
1,000 or
more
workers
Total all industries2
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
8,572,894
112,536,714
5,189,837
7,670,620
Natural resources and mining
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
124,002
1,686,694
69,260
111,702
23,451
155,044
15,289
205,780
10,137
304,936
3,250
222,684
1,842
278,952
519
179,598
190
126,338
64
101,660
Construction
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
883,409
7,321,288
580,647
835,748
141,835
929,707
84,679
1,137,104
52,336
1,564,722
15,341
1,046,790
6,807
1,004,689
1,326
443,761
350
232,556
88
126,211
Manufacturing
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
361,070
13,850,738
136,649
238,848
61,845
415,276
54,940
755,931
53,090
1,657,463
25,481
1,785,569
19,333
2,971,836
6,260
2,140,531
2,379
1,613,357
1,093
2,271,927
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
1,905,750
25,983,275
1,017,012
1,683,738
381,434
2,539,291
248,880
3,335,327
160,549
4,845,527
53,721
3,709,371
34,536
5,140,740
7,315
2,510,273
1,792
1,167,986
511
1,051,022
Information
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
143,094
3,016,454
81,414
113,901
20,986
139,730
16,338
222,710
13,384
411,218
5,609
387,996
3,503
533,877
1,134
392,350
489
335,998
237
478,674
Financial activities
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
863,784
8,146,274
563,670
890,816
155,984
1,029,911
81,849
1,080,148
40,668
1,210,332
12,037
822,627
6,313
945,396
1,863
645,988
939
648,691
461
872,365
Professional and business services
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
1,456,681
17,612,073
989,991
1,375,429
196,645
1,292,744
125,014
1,685,085
83,127
2,520,739
32,388
2,243,595
20,412
3,102,005
5,902
2,012,609
2,263
1,535,591
939
1,844,276
Education and health services
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
812,914
17,331,231
388,773
700,195
179,011
1,189,566
116,031
1,559,689
75,040
2,258,922
27,393
1,908,595
18,815
2,828,678
4,153
1,409,073
1,906
1,319,128
1,792
4,157,385
Leisure and hospitality
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
716,126
12,949,319
275,121
439,080
120,795
815,688
132,408
1,858,394
134,766
4,054,666
39,766
2,648,733
10,681
1,510,212
1,639
551,528
646
438,008
304
633,010
Other services
Establishments, first quarter ..................
Employment, March ...............................
1,119,209
4,402,263
908,792
1,109,065
118,963
776,354
57,419
756,783
25,169
732,313
5,562
379,320
2,731
401,371
457
152,994
95
62,295
21
31,768
106
1
Includes establishments that reported no workers in March 2007.
2
Includes data for unclassified establishments, not shown separately.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
1,407,987
933,910
648,489
220,564
124,980
30,568
9,326,775 12,610,385 19,566,806 15,156,364 18,718,813 10,438,705
11,049
5,510
7,479,948 11,568,298
NOTE: Data are final. Detail may not add to total due to rounding.
26. Average annual wages for 2006 and 2007 for all covered workers1 by
metropolitan area
Average annual wages3
Metropolitan area2
Percent
change,
2006-07
2006
2007
Metropolitan areas4 ..............................................................
$44,165
$46,139
4.5
Abilene, TX ............................................................................
Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastian, PR ...................................
Akron, OH ..............................................................................
Albany, GA ............................................................................
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ..............................................
Albuquerque, NM ...................................................................
Alexandria, LA .......................................................................
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ ....................................
Altoona, PA ............................................................................
Amarillo, TX ...........................................................................
29,842
19,277
38,088
32,335
41,027
36,934
31,329
39,787
30,394
33,574
31,567
20,295
39,499
33,378
42,191
38,191
32,757
41,784
31,988
35,574
5.8
5.3
3.7
3.2
2.8
3.4
4.6
5.0
5.2
6.0
Ames, IA ................................................................................
Anchorage, AK ......................................................................
Anderson, IN ..........................................................................
Anderson, SC ........................................................................
Ann Arbor, MI ........................................................................
Anniston-Oxford, AL ..............................................................
Appleton, WI ..........................................................................
Asheville, NC .........................................................................
Athens-Clarke County, GA ....................................................
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA .....................................
35,331
42,955
32,184
30,373
47,186
32,724
35,308
32,268
33,485
45,889
37,041
45,237
32,850
31,086
49,427
34,593
36,575
33,406
34,256
48,111
4.8
5.3
2.1
2.3
4.7
5.7
3.6
3.5
2.3
4.8
Atlantic City, NJ .....................................................................
Auburn-Opelika, AL ...............................................................
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ......................................
Austin-Round Rock, TX .........................................................
Bakersfield, CA ......................................................................
Baltimore-Towson, MD ..........................................................
Bangor, ME ............................................................................
Barnstable Town, MA ............................................................
Baton Rouge, LA ...................................................................
Battle Creek, MI .....................................................................
38,018
30,468
35,638
45,737
36,020
45,177
31,746
36,437
37,245
39,362
39,276
31,554
36,915
46,458
38,254
47,177
32,829
37,691
39,339
40,628
3.3
3.6
3.6
1.6
6.2
4.4
3.4
3.4
5.6
3.2
Bay City, MI ...........................................................................
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX .....................................................
Bellingham, WA .....................................................................
Bend, OR ...............................................................................
Billings, MT ............................................................................
Binghamton, NY ....................................................................
Birmingham-Hoover, AL ........................................................
Bismarck, ND .........................................................................
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA ................................
Bloomington, IN .....................................................................
35,094
39,026
32,618
33,319
33,270
35,048
40,798
32,550
34,024
30,913
35,680
40,682
34,239
34,318
35,372
36,322
42,570
34,118
35,248
32,028
1.7
4.2
5.0
3.0
6.3
3.6
4.3
4.8
3.6
3.6
Bloomington-Normal, IL .........................................................
Boise City-Nampa, ID ............................................................
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH ......................................
Boulder, CO ...........................................................................
Bowling Green, KY ................................................................
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA .....................................................
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT .........................................
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX .....................................................
Brunswick, GA .......................................................................
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY ......................................................
41,359
36,734
56,809
50,944
32,529
37,694
74,890
25,795
32,717
36,950
42,082
37,553
59,817
52,745
33,308
39,506
79,973
27,126
32,705
38,218
1.7
2.2
5.3
3.5
2.4
4.8
6.8
5.2
0.0
3.4
Burlington, NC .......................................................................
Burlington-South Burlington, VT ............................................
Canton-Massillon, OH ...........................................................
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL ....................................................
Carson City, NV .....................................................................
Casper, WY ...........................................................................
Cedar Rapids, IA ...................................................................
Champaign-Urbana, IL ..........................................................
Charleston, WV .....................................................................
Charleston-North Charleston, SC ..........................................
32,835
40,548
33,132
37,065
40,115
38,307
38,976
34,422
36,887
35,267
33,132
41,907
34,091
37,658
42,030
41,105
41,059
35,788
38,687
36,954
0.9
3.4
2.9
1.6
4.8
7.3
5.3
4.0
4.9
4.8
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC ....................................
Charlottesville, VA .................................................................
Chattanooga, TN-GA .............................................................
Cheyenne, WY ......................................................................
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI .......................................
Chico, CA ..............................................................................
Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN .........................................
Clarksville, TN-KY .................................................................
Cleveland, TN ........................................................................
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH .................................................
45,732
39,051
35,358
35,306
48,631
31,557
41,447
30,949
33,075
41,325
46,975
40,819
36,522
36,191
50,823
33,207
42,969
32,216
34,666
42,783
2.7
4.5
3.3
2.5
4.5
5.2
3.7
4.1
4.8
3.5
Coeur d’Alene, ID ..................................................................
College Station-Bryan, TX .....................................................
Colorado Springs, CO ...........................................................
Columbia, MO ........................................................................
Columbia, SC ........................................................................
Columbus, GA-AL ..................................................................
Columbus, IN .........................................................................
Columbus, OH .......................................................................
Corpus Christi, TX .................................................................
Corvallis, OR .........................................................................
29,797
30,239
38,325
32,207
35,209
32,334
40,107
41,168
35,399
40,586
31,035
32,630
39,745
33,266
36,293
34,511
41,078
42,655
37,186
41,981
4.2
7.9
3.7
3.3
3.1
6.7
2.4
3.6
5.0
3.4
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 107
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
26. Continued — Average annual wages for 2006 and 2007 for all covered
workers1 by metropolitan area
Average annual wages3
Metropolitan area2
2007
Cumberland, MD-WV ............................................................
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ............................................
Dalton, GA .............................................................................
Danville, IL .............................................................................
Danville, VA ...........................................................................
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL .....................................
Dayton, OH ............................................................................
Decatur, AL ............................................................................
Decatur, IL .............................................................................
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL .........................
$29,859
47,525
33,266
33,141
28,870
37,559
39,387
34,883
39,375
31,197
$31,373
49,627
34,433
34,086
30,212
39,385
40,223
35,931
41,039
32,196
5.1
4.4
3.5
2.9
4.6
4.9
2.1
3.0
4.2
3.2
Denver-Aurora, CO ................................................................
Des Moines, IA ......................................................................
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI ....................................................
Dothan, AL .............................................................................
Dover, DE ..............................................................................
Dubuque, IA ...........................................................................
Duluth, MN-WI .......................................................................
Durham, NC ...........................................................................
Eau Claire, WI .......................................................................
El Centro, CA .........................................................................
48,232
41,358
47,455
31,473
34,571
33,044
33,677
49,314
31,718
30,035
50,180
42,895
49,019
32,367
35,978
34,240
35,202
52,420
32,792
32,419
4.0
3.7
3.3
2.8
4.1
3.6
4.5
6.3
3.4
7.9
Elizabethtown, KY .................................................................
Elkhart-Goshen, IN ................................................................
Elmira, NY .............................................................................
El Paso, TX ............................................................................
Erie, PA .................................................................................
Eugene-Springfield, OR .........................................................
Evansville, IN-KY ...................................................................
Fairbanks, AK ........................................................................
Fajardo, PR ...........................................................................
Fargo, ND-MN .......................................................................
32,072
35,878
33,968
29,903
33,213
33,257
36,858
41,296
21,002
33,542
32,701
36,566
34,879
31,354
34,788
34,329
37,182
42,345
22,075
35,264
2.0
1.9
2.7
4.9
4.7
3.2
0.9
2.5
5.1
5.1
Farmington, NM .....................................................................
Fayetteville, NC .....................................................................
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ...............................
Flagstaff, AZ ..........................................................................
Flint, MI ..................................................................................
Florence, SC ..........................................................................
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL ..................................................
Fond du Lac, WI ....................................................................
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO .....................................................
Fort Smith, AR-OK .................................................................
36,220
31,281
35,734
32,231
39,409
33,610
29,518
33,376
37,940
30,932
38,572
33,216
37,325
34,473
39,310
34,305
30,699
34,664
39,335
31,236
6.5
6.2
4.5
7.0
-0.3
2.1
4.0
3.9
3.7
1.0
Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, FL ..............................
Fort Wayne, IN ......................................................................
Fresno, CA ............................................................................
Gadsden, AL ..........................................................................
Gainesville, FL .......................................................................
Gainesville, GA ......................................................................
Glens Falls, NY ......................................................................
Goldsboro, NC .......................................................................
Grand Forks, ND-MN .............................................................
Grand Junction, CO ...............................................................
34,409
35,641
33,504
29,499
34,573
34,765
32,780
29,331
29,234
33,729
35,613
36,542
35,111
30,979
36,243
36,994
33,564
30,177
30,745
36,221
3.5
2.5
4.8
5.0
4.8
6.4
2.4
2.9
5.2
7.4
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ..................................................
Great Falls, MT ......................................................................
Greeley, CO ...........................................................................
Green Bay, WI .......................................................................
Greensboro-High Point, NC ...................................................
Greenville, NC .......................................................................
Greenville, SC .......................................................................
Guayama, PR ........................................................................
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS .................................................................
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV .........................................
38,056
29,542
35,144
36,677
35,898
32,432
35,471
24,551
34,688
34,621
38,953
31,009
37,066
37,788
37,213
33,703
36,536
26,094
34,971
35,468
2.4
5.0
5.5
3.0
3.7
3.9
3.0
6.3
0.8
2.4
Hanford-Corcoran, CA ...........................................................
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ..........................................................
Harrisonburg, VA ...................................................................
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT .............................
Hattiesburg, MS .....................................................................
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ..............................................
Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA ...................................................
Holland-Grand Haven, MI ......................................................
Honolulu, HI ...........................................................................
Hot Springs, AR .....................................................................
31,148
39,807
31,522
51,282
30,059
31,323
31,416
36,895
39,009
27,684
32,504
41,424
32,718
54,188
30,729
32,364
33,210
37,470
40,748
28,448
4.4
4.1
3.8
5.7
2.2
3.3
5.7
1.6
4.5
2.8
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA ......................................
Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, TX ........................................
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH ...........................................
Huntsville, AL .........................................................................
Idaho Falls, ID .......................................................................
Indianapolis, IN ......................................................................
Iowa City, IA ..........................................................................
Ithaca, NY ..............................................................................
Jackson, MI ...........................................................................
Jackson, MS ..........................................................................
38,417
50,177
32,648
44,659
31,632
41,307
35,913
38,337
36,836
34,605
41,604
53,494
33,973
45,763
29,878
42,227
37,457
39,387
38,267
35,771
8.3
6.6
4.1
2.5
-5.5
2.2
4.3
2.7
3.9
3.4
See footnotes at end of table.
108
Percent
change,
2006-07
2006
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
26. Continued — Average annual wages for 2006 and 2007 for all covered
workers1 by metropolitan area
Average annual wages3
Metropolitan area2
Percent
change,
2006-07
2006
2007
Jackson, TN ...........................................................................
Jacksonville, FL .....................................................................
Jacksonville, NC ....................................................................
Janesville, WI ........................................................................
Jefferson City, MO .................................................................
Johnson City, TN ...................................................................
Johnstown, PA .......................................................................
Jonesboro, AR .......................................................................
Joplin, MO .............................................................................
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI .........................................................
$34,477
40,192
25,854
36,732
31,771
31,058
29,972
28,972
30,111
37,099
$35,059
41,437
27,005
36,790
32,903
31,985
31,384
30,378
31,068
38,402
1.7
3.1
4.5
0.2
3.6
3.0
4.7
4.9
3.2
3.5
Kankakee-Bradley, IL ............................................................
Kansas City, MO-KS ..............................................................
Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, WA ...........................................
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX ...............................................
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA ............................................
Kingston, NY ..........................................................................
Knoxville, TN .........................................................................
Kokomo, IN ............................................................................
La Crosse, WI-MN .................................................................
Lafayette, IN ..........................................................................
32,389
41,320
38,750
31,511
35,100
33,697
37,216
45,808
31,819
35,380
33,340
42,921
40,439
32,915
36,399
35,018
38,386
47,269
32,949
36,419
2.9
3.9
4.4
4.5
3.7
3.9
3.1
3.2
3.6
2.9
Lafayette, LA .........................................................................
Lake Charles, LA ...................................................................
Lakeland, FL ..........................................................................
Lancaster, PA ........................................................................
Lansing-East Lansing, MI ......................................................
Laredo, TX .............................................................................
Las Cruces, NM .....................................................................
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV .......................................................
Lawrence, KS ........................................................................
Lawton, OK ............................................................................
38,170
35,883
33,530
36,171
39,890
28,051
29,969
40,139
29,896
29,830
40,684
37,447
34,394
37,043
40,866
29,009
31,422
42,336
30,830
30,617
6.6
4.4
2.6
2.4
2.4
3.4
4.8
5.5
3.1
2.6
Lebanon, PA ..........................................................................
Lewiston, ID-WA ....................................................................
Lewiston-Auburn, ME ............................................................
Lexington-Fayette, KY ...........................................................
Lima, OH ...............................................................................
Lincoln, NE ............................................................................
Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR ...........................................
Logan, UT-ID .........................................................................
Longview, TX .........................................................................
Longview, WA ........................................................................
31,790
30,776
32,231
37,926
33,790
33,703
36,169
26,766
35,055
35,140
32,876
31,961
33,118
39,290
35,177
34,750
39,305
27,810
36,956
37,101
3.4
3.9
2.8
3.6
4.1
3.1
8.7
3.9
5.4
5.6
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA .............................
Louisville, KY-IN ....................................................................
Lubbock, TX ..........................................................................
Lynchburg, VA .......................................................................
Macon, GA .............................................................................
Madera, CA ...........................................................................
Madison, WI ...........................................................................
Manchester-Nashua, NH .......................................................
Mansfield, OH ........................................................................
Mayaguez, PR .......................................................................
48,680
38,673
31,977
33,242
34,126
31,213
40,007
46,659
33,171
20,619
50,480
40,125
32,761
34,412
34,243
33,266
41,201
49,235
33,109
21,326
3.7
3.8
2.5
3.5
0.3
6.6
3.0
5.5
-0.2
3.4
McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr, TX ..................................................
Medford, OR ..........................................................................
Memphis, TN-MS-AR ............................................................
Merced, CA ............................................................................
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach, FL ..............................
Michigan City-La Porte, IN .....................................................
Midland, TX ...........................................................................
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI ....................................
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ...........................
Missoula, MT .........................................................................
26,712
31,697
40,580
31,147
42,175
31,383
42,625
42,049
46,931
30,652
27,651
32,877
42,339
32,351
43,428
32,570
45,574
43,261
49,542
32,233
3.5
3.7
4.3
3.9
3.0
3.8
6.9
2.9
5.6
5.2
Mobile, AL ..............................................................................
Modesto, CA ..........................................................................
Monroe, LA ............................................................................
Monroe, MI ............................................................................
Montgomery, AL ....................................................................
Morgantown, WV ...................................................................
Morristown, TN ......................................................................
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ...............................................
Muncie, IN .............................................................................
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI ................................................
36,126
35,468
30,618
40,938
35,383
32,608
31,914
32,851
30,691
33,949
36,890
36,739
31,992
41,636
36,223
35,241
32,806
34,620
31,326
34,982
2.1
3.6
4.5
1.7
2.4
8.1
2.8
5.4
2.1
3.0
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC ....................
Napa, CA ...............................................................................
Naples-Marco Island, FL .......................................................
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro, TN .................................
New Haven-Milford, CT .........................................................
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA .........................................
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA ......
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI ........................................................
Norwich-New London, CT .....................................................
Ocala, FL ...............................................................................
27,905
41,788
39,320
41,003
44,892
42,434
61,388
36,967
43,184
31,330
28,576
44,171
41,300
42,728
47,039
43,255
65,685
38,140
45,463
31,623
2.4
5.7
5.0
4.2
4.8
1.9
7.0
3.2
5.3
0.9
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 109
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
26. Continued — Average annual wages for 2006 and 2007 for all covered
workers1 by metropolitan area
Average annual wages3
Metropolitan area2
2007
Ocean City, NJ ......................................................................
Odessa, TX ............................................................................
Ogden-Clearfield, UT .............................................................
Oklahoma City, OK ................................................................
Olympia, WA ..........................................................................
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ................................................
Orlando, FL ............................................................................
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ............................................................
Owensboro, KY .....................................................................
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ...................................
$31,801
37,144
32,890
35,846
37,787
38,139
37,776
39,538
32,491
45,467
$32,452
41,758
34,067
37,192
39,678
39,273
38,633
41,014
33,593
47,669
2.0
12.4
3.6
3.8
5.0
3.0
2.3
3.7
3.4
4.8
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL ........................................
Panama City-Lynn Haven, FL ...............................................
Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH ..............................................
Pascagoula, MS ....................................................................
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL ...........................................
Peoria, IL ...............................................................................
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ................
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ...............................................
Pine Bluff, AR ........................................................................
Pittsburgh, PA ........................................................................
39,778
33,341
32,213
36,287
33,530
42,283
48,647
42,220
32,115
40,759
40,975
33,950
33,547
39,131
34,165
43,470
50,611
43,697
33,094
42,910
3.0
1.8
4.1
7.8
1.9
2.8
4.0
3.5
3.0
5.3
Pittsfield, MA ..........................................................................
Pocatello, ID ..........................................................................
Ponce, PR .............................................................................
Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME ................................
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA ...............................
Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce, FL ................................................
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY ............................
Prescott, AZ ...........................................................................
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA ..........................
Provo-Orem, UT ....................................................................
36,707
28,418
20,266
36,979
42,607
34,408
39,528
30,625
39,428
32,308
38,075
29,268
21,019
38,497
44,335
36,375
40,793
32,048
40,674
34,141
3.7
3.0
3.7
4.1
4.1
5.7
3.2
4.6
3.2
5.7
Pueblo, CO ............................................................................
Punta Gorda, FL ....................................................................
Racine, WI .............................................................................
Raleigh-Cary, NC ..................................................................
Rapid City, SD .......................................................................
Reading, PA ..........................................................................
Redding, CA ..........................................................................
Reno-Sparks, NV ...................................................................
Richmond, VA ........................................................................
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA .................................
30,941
32,370
39,002
41,205
29,920
38,048
33,307
39,537
42,495
36,668
32,552
32,833
40,746
42,801
31,119
39,945
34,953
41,365
44,530
37,846
5.2
1.4
4.5
3.9
4.0
5.0
4.9
4.6
4.8
3.2
Roanoke, VA .........................................................................
Rochester, MN .......................................................................
Rochester, NY .......................................................................
Rockford, IL ...........................................................................
Rocky Mount, NC ..................................................................
Rome, GA ..............................................................................
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA ...........................
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI ..................................
St. Cloud, MN ........................................................................
St. George, UT ......................................................................
33,912
42,941
39,481
37,424
31,556
34,850
44,552
37,747
33,018
28,034
35,419
44,786
40,752
38,304
32,527
33,041
46,385
37,507
33,996
29,052
4.4
4.3
3.2
2.4
3.1
-5.2
4.1
-0.6
3.0
3.6
St. Joseph, MO-KS ................................................................
St. Louis, MO-IL .....................................................................
Salem, OR .............................................................................
Salinas, CA ............................................................................
Salisbury, MD ........................................................................
Salt Lake City, UT ..................................................................
San Angelo, TX .....................................................................
San Antonio, TX ....................................................................
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA ...................................
Sandusky, OH .......................................................................
31,253
41,354
32,764
37,974
33,223
38,630
30,168
36,763
45,784
33,526
31,828
42,873
33,986
39,419
34,833
40,935
30,920
38,274
47,657
33,471
1.8
3.7
3.7
3.8
4.8
6.0
2.5
4.1
4.1
-0.2
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ...................................
San German-Cabo Rojo, PR .................................................
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ..................................
San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo, PR .........................................
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA ........................................
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA ................................
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ..................................................
Santa Fe, NM ........................................................................
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ....................................................
Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, FL ............................................
61,343
19,498
76,608
24,812
35,146
40,326
40,776
35,320
41,533
35,751
64,559
19,777
82,038
25,939
36,740
41,967
41,540
37,395
42,824
36,424
5.2
1.4
7.1
4.5
4.5
4.1
1.9
5.9
3.1
1.9
Savannah, GA .......................................................................
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA ..................................................
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ..............................................
Sheboygan, WI ......................................................................
Sherman-Denison, TX ...........................................................
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA ..................................................
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD .............................................................
Sioux Falls, SD ......................................................................
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ..............................................
Spartanburg, SC ....................................................................
35,684
32,813
49,455
35,908
34,166
33,678
31,826
34,542
35,089
37,077
36,695
34,205
51,924
37,049
35,672
34,892
33,025
36,056
36,266
37,967
2.8
4.2
5.0
3.2
4.4
3.6
3.8
4.4
3.4
2.4
See footnotes at end of table.
110
Percent
change,
2006-07
2006
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
26. Continued — Average annual wages for 2006 and 2007 for all covered
workers1 by metropolitan area
Average annual wages3
Metropolitan area2
Percent
change,
2006-07
2006
2007
Spokane, WA .........................................................................
Springfield, IL .........................................................................
Springfield, MA ......................................................................
Springfield, MO ......................................................................
Springfield, OH ......................................................................
State College, PA ..................................................................
Stockton, CA ..........................................................................
Sumter, SC ............................................................................
Syracuse, NY .........................................................................
Tallahassee, FL .....................................................................
$34,016
40,679
37,962
30,786
31,844
35,392
36,426
29,294
38,081
35,018
$35,539
42,420
39,487
31,868
32,017
36,797
37,906
30,267
39,620
36,543
4.5
4.3
4.0
3.5
0.5
4.0
4.1
3.3
4.0
4.4
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ..................................
Terre Haute, IN ......................................................................
Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, AR ..............................................
Toledo, OH ............................................................................
Topeka, KS ............................................................................
Trenton-Ewing, NJ .................................................................
Tucson, AZ ............................................................................
Tulsa, OK ...............................................................................
Tuscaloosa, AL ......................................................................
Tyler, TX ................................................................................
38,016
31,341
32,545
37,039
34,806
54,274
37,119
37,637
35,613
36,173
39,215
32,349
34,079
38,538
36,109
56,645
38,524
38,942
36,737
37,184
3.2
3.2
4.7
4.0
3.7
4.4
3.8
3.5
3.2
2.8
Utica-Rome, NY .....................................................................
Valdosta, GA .........................................................................
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ...............................................................
Vero Beach, FL ......................................................................
Victoria, TX ............................................................................
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ .............................................
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC .....................
Visalia-Porterville, CA ............................................................
Waco, TX ...............................................................................
Warner Robins, GA ...............................................................
32,457
26,794
40,225
33,823
36,642
37,749
36,071
29,772
33,450
38,087
33,916
27,842
42,932
35,901
38,317
39,408
37,734
30,968
34,679
39,220
4.5
3.9
6.7
6.1
4.6
4.4
4.6
4.0
3.7
3.0
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ...............
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA .......................................................
Wausau, WI ...........................................................................
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH ...............................................
Wenatchee, WA .....................................................................
Wheeling, WV-OH .................................................................
Wichita, KS ............................................................................
Wichita Falls, TX ....................................................................
Williamsport, PA ....................................................................
Wilmington, NC ......................................................................
58,057
34,329
34,438
31,416
28,340
30,620
38,763
30,785
31,431
32,948
60,711
35,899
35,710
32,893
29,475
31,169
39,662
32,320
32,506
34,239
4.6
4.6
3.7
4.7
4.0
1.8
2.3
5.0
3.4
3.9
Winchester, VA-WV ...............................................................
Winston-Salem, NC ...............................................................
Worcester, MA .......................................................................
Yakima, WA ...........................................................................
Yauco, PR .............................................................................
York-Hanover, PA ..................................................................
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA ...............................
Yuba City, CA ........................................................................
Yuma, AZ ...............................................................................
34,895
37,712
42,726
28,401
19,001
37,226
33,852
33,642
28,369
36,016
38,921
44,652
29,743
19,380
38,469
34,698
35,058
30,147
3.2
3.2
4.5
4.7
2.0
3.3
2.5
4.2
6.3
1 Includes workers covered by Unemployment
Insurance (UI) and Unemployment Compensation
for Federal Employees (UCFE) programs.
2 Includes data for Metropolitan Statistical
Areas (MSA) as defined by OMB Bulletin No.
04-03 as of February 18, 2004.
3 Each year’s total is based on the MSA
definition for the specific year. Annual changes
include differences resulting from changes in
MSA definitions.
4 Totals do not include the six MSAs within
Puerto Rico.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 111
Current Labor Statistics: Labor Force Data
27. Annual data: Employment status of the population
[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status
19981
Civilian noninstitutional population...........
Civilian labor force............................……
Labor force participation rate...............
Employed............................…………
Employment-population ratio..........
Unemployed............................………
Unemployment rate........................
Not in the labor force............................…
1
205,220
137,673
67.1
131,463
64.1
6,210
4.5
67,547
19991
207,753
139,368
67.1
133,488
64.3
5,880
4.2
68,385
20001
20011
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
212,577
142,583
67.1
136,891
64.4
5,692
4.0
69,994
215,092
143,734
66.8
136,933
63.7
6,801
4.7
71,359
217,570
144,863
66.6
136,485
62.7
8,378
5.8
72,707
221,168
146,510
66.2
137,736
62.3
8,774
6.0
74,658
223,357
147,401
66.0
139,252
62.3
8,149
5.5
75,956
226,082
149,320
66.0
141,730
62.7
7,591
5.1
76,762
228,815
151,428
66.2
144,427
63.1
7,001
4.6
77,387
231,867
153,124
66.0
146,047
63.0
7,078
4.6
78,743
233,788
154,287
66.0
145,362
62.2
8,924
5.8
79,501
Not strictly comparable with prior years.
28. Annual data: Employment levels by industry
[In thousands]
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total private employment............................…
106,021
108,686
110,995
110,708
108,828
108,416
109,814
111,899
114,113
115,420
114,792
Total nonfarm employment……………………
Goods-producing............................…………
Natural resources and mining.................
Construction............................……………
Manufacturing............................…………
125,930
24,354
645
6,149
17,560
128,993
24,465
598
6,545
17,322
131,785
24,649
599
6,787
17,263
131,826
23,873
606
6,826
16,441
130,341
22,557
583
6,716
15,259
129,999
21,816
572
6,735
14,510
131,435
21,882
591
6,976
14,315
133,703
22,190
628
7,336
14,226
136,086
22,531
684
7,691
14,155
137,623
22,221
723
7,614
13,884
137,248
21,404
774
7,175
13,455
Private service-providing..........................
Trade, transportation, and utilities..........
Wholesale trade............................………
Retail trade............................…………
Transportation and warehousing.........
Utilities............................………………
Information............................……………
Financial activities............................……
Professional and business services……
Education and health services…………
Leisure and hospitality……………………
Other services……………………………
81,667
25,186
5,795
14,609
4,168
613
3,218
7,462
15,147
14,446
11,232
4,976
84,221
25,771
5,893
14,970
4,300
609
3,419
7,648
15,957
14,798
11,543
5,087
86,346
26,225
5,933
15,280
4,410
601
3,630
7,687
16,666
15,109
11,862
5,168
86,834
25,983
5,773
15,239
4,372
599
3,629
7,808
16,476
15,645
12,036
5,258
86,271
25,497
5,652
15,025
4,224
596
3,395
7,847
15,976
16,199
11,986
5,372
86,600
25,287
5,608
14,917
4,185
577
3,188
7,977
15,987
16,588
12,173
5,401
87,932
25,533
5,663
15,058
4,249
564
3,118
8,031
16,394
16,953
12,493
5,409
89,709
25,959
5,764
15,280
4,361
554
3,061
8,153
16,954
17,372
12,816
5,395
91,582
26,276
5,905
15,353
4,470
549
3,038
8,328
17,566
17,826
13,110
5,438
93,199
26,608
6,028
15,491
4,536
553
3,029
8,308
17,962
18,327
13,474
5,491
93,387
26,332
6,012
15,265
4,495
560
2,987
8,192
17,863
18,878
13,615
5,520
19,909
20,307
20,790
21,118
21,513
21,583
21,621
21,804
21,974
22,203
22,457
Industry
Government……………………………………
112
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
29. Annual data: Average hours and earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on nonfarm
payrolls, by industry
Industry
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Private sector:
Average weekly hours.......……................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars).........................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)........................
34.5
13.01
448.56
34.3
13.49
463.15
34.3
14.02
481.01
34.0
14.54
493.79
33.9
14.97
506.75
33.7
15.37
518.06
33.7
15.69
529.09
33.8
16.13
544.33
33.9
16.76
567.87
33.8
17.42
589.72
33.6
18.05
606.84
Goods-producing:
Average weekly hours.............................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars).......................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)......................
40.8
14.23
580.99
40.8
14.71
599.99
40.7
15.27
621.86
39.9
15.78
630.01
39.9
16.33
651.61
39.8
16.80
669.13
40.0
17.19
688.13
40.1
17.60
705.31
40.5
18.02
730.16
40.6
18.67
757.06
40.2
19.31
775.28
44.9
16.20
727.28
44.2
16.33
721.74
44.4
16.55
734.92
44.6
17.00
757.92
43.2
17.19
741.97
43.6
17.56
765.94
44.5
18.07
803.82
45.6
18.72
853.71
45.6
19.90
907.95
45.9
20.96
961.78
45.0
22.42
1008.27
Average weekly hours............................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)......................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars).....................
Manufacturing:
38.8
16.23
629.75
39.0
16.80
655.11
39.2
17.48
685.78
38.7
18.00
695.89
38.4
18.52
711.82
38.4
18.95
726.83
38.3
19.23
735.55
38.6
19.46
750.22
39.0
20.02
781.21
39.0
20.95
816.06
38.5
21.86
841.46
Average weekly hours............................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)......................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars).....................
Private service-providing:
41.4
13.45
557.09
41.4
13.85
573.25
41.3
14.32
590.77
40.3
14.76
595.19
40.5
15.29
618.75
40.4
15.74
635.99
40.8
16.14
658.49
40.7
16.56
673.33
41.1
16.81
691.02
41.2
17.26
711.36
40.8
17.72
723.51
Average weekly hours..………................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars).......................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)......................
32.8
12.61
413.50
32.7
13.09
427.98
32.7
13.62
445.74
32.5
14.18
461.08
32.5
14.59
473.80
32.3
14.99
484.68
32.3
15.29
494.22
32.4
15.74
509.58
32.5
16.42
532.78
32.4
17.10
554.78
32.3
17.73
572.96
Trade, transportation, and utilities:
Average weekly hours.............................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars).......................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)......................
Wholesale trade:
34.2
12.39
423.30
33.9
12.82
434.31
33.8
13.31
449.88
33.5
13.70
459.53
33.6
14.02
471.27
33.6
14.34
481.14
33.5
14.58
488.42
33.4
14.92
498.43
33.4
15.39
514.34
33.3
15.79
526.38
33.2
16.19
537.00
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
Retail trade:
38.6
15.07
582.21
38.6
15.62
602.77
38.8
16.28
631.40
38.4
16.77
643.45
38.0
16.98
644.38
37.9
17.36
657.29
37.8
17.65
667.09
37.7
18.16
685.00
38.0
18.91
718.63
38.2
19.59
748.90
38.2
20.13
769.74
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
30.9
10.05
582.21
30.8
10.45
602.77
30.7
10.86
631.40
30.7
11.29
643.45
30.9
11.67
644.38
30.9
11.90
657.29
30.7
12.08
667.09
30.6
12.36
685.00
30.5
12.57
718.63
30.2
12.76
748.90
30.0
12.90
769.74
Transportation and warehousing:
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
38.7
14.12
546.86
37.6
14.55
547.97
37.4
15.05
562.31
36.7
15.33
562.70
36.8
15.76
579.75
36.8
16.25
598.41
37.2
16.52
614.82
37.0
16.70
618.58
36.9
17.28
636.97
36.9
17.73
654.83
36.4
18.39
669.44
Utilities:
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
42.0
21.48
902.94
42.0
22.03
924.59
42.0
22.75
955.66
41.4
23.58
977.18
40.9
23.96
979.09
41.1
24.77
1017.27
40.9
25.61
1048.44
41.1
26.68
1095.90
41.4
27.40
1135.34
42.4
27.87
1182.17
42.6
28.84
1230.08
Information:
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
Financial activities:
36.6
17.67
646.34
36.7
18.40
675.47
36.8
19.07
700.86
36.9
19.80
730.88
36.5
20.20
737.77
36.2
21.01
760.45
36.3
21.40
777.25
36.5
22.06
805.08
36.6
23.23
850.42
36.5
23.94
873.63
36.7
24.74
907.02
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
36.0
13.93
500.98
35.8
14.47
517.57
35.9
14.98
537.37
35.8
15.59
557.92
35.6
16.17
575.54
35.5
17.14
609.08
35.5
17.52
622.87
35.9
17.95
644.99
35.7
18.80
672.21
35.9
19.64
705.29
35.9
20.28
727.38
Professional and business services:
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
34.3
14.27
490.00
34.4
14.85
510.99
34.5
15.52
535.07
34.2
16.33
557.84
34.2
16.81
574.66
34.1
17.21
587.02
34.2
17.48
597.56
34.2
18.08
618.87
34.6
19.13
662.27
34.8
20.13
700.15
34.8
21.15
736.55
Education and health services:
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
32.2
13.00
418.82
32.1
13.44
431.35
32.2
13.95
449.29
32.3
14.64
473.39
32.4
15.21
492.74
32.3
15.64
505.69
32.4
16.15
523.78
32.6
16.71
544.59
32.5
17.38
564.94
32.6
18.11
590.18
32.5
18.78
611.03
26.2
7.67
200.82
26.1
7.96
208.05
26.1
8.32
217.20
25.8
8.57
220.73
25.8
8.81
227.17
25.6
9.00
230.42
25.7
9.15
234.86
25.7
9.38
241.36
25.7
9.75
250.34
25.5
10.41
265.45
25.2
10.83
272.97
32.6
11.79
384.25
32.5
12.26
398.77
32.5
12.73
413.41
32.3
13.27
428.64
32.0
13.72
439.76
31.4
13.84
434.41
31.0
13.98
433.04
30.9
14.34
443.37
30.9
14.77
456.50
30.9
15.42
476.80
30.8
15.86
488.22
Natural resources and mining
Average weekly hours............................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)......................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars).....................
Construction:
Leisure and hospitality:
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
Other services:
Average weekly hours.........................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars)...................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars)..................
NOTE: Data reflect the conversion to the 2002 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), replacing the Standard Industrial Classification
(SIC) system. N AICS-based data by industry are not comparable with SIC-based data.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 113
Current Labor Statistics: Compensation & Industrial Relations
30. Employment Cost Index, compensation,1 by occupation and industry group
[December 2005 = 100]
2007
Series
Mar.
June
2008
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
2009
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
Percent change
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
Mar. 2009
2
Civilian workers ……….…….........…………………………………….…
104.2
105.0
106.1
106.7
107.6
108.3
109.2
109.5
109.9
0.4
2.1
Management, professional, and related………………………
Management, business, and financial……………………
Professional and related……………………………………
Sales and office…………………………………………………
Sales and related……………………………………………
Office and administrative support…………………………
104.7
104.4
104.9
103.8
102.4
104.7
105.5
105.2
105.7
104.8
103.6
105.5
106.7
106.2
107.0
105.5
104.1
106.4
107.2
106.6
107.6
106.4
105.2
107.1
108.3
108.2
108.4
106.8
105.0
108.0
109.0
108.9
109.0
107.7
106.1
108.6
110.1
109.7
110.4
108.2
106.0
109.5
110.4
109.8
110.7
108.3
105.5
110.0
110.9
110.0
111.3
108.4
104.3
110.8
.5
.2
.5
.1
-1.1
.7
2.4
1.7
2.7
1.5
-.7
2.6
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance…………
Construction and extraction………………………………
Installation, maintenance, and repair……………………
Production, transportation, and material moving……………
Production……………………………………………………
Transportation and material moving………………………
Service occupations……………………………………………
104.1
104.3
103.7
102.7
102.1
103.4
104.8
105.1
105.7
104.4
103.5
102.8
104.4
105.5
106.1
106.5
105.6
104.2
103.3
105.3
106.9
106.8
107.4
106.2
104.7
104.1
105.6
107.7
107.7
108.5
106.7
105.6
104.8
106.6
108.4
108.4
109.6
107.0
106.2
105.3
107.3
109.1
109.3
110.3
108.0
106.9
105.9
108.1
110.2
109.8
110.8
108.6
107.2
106.2
108.4
110.6
110.1
111.0
109.1
108.0
107.2
108.9
111.5
.3
.2
.5
.7
.9
.5
.8
2.2
2.3
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.2
2.9
Workers by industry
Goods-producing………………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
Service-providing………………………………………………
Education and health services……………………………
Health care and social assistance………………………
Hospitals…………………………………………………
Nursing and residential care facilities………………
Education services………………………………………
Elementary and secondary schools…………………
102.9
102.0
104.4
104.9
105.4
105.1
104.5
104.5
104.6
103.9
102.9
105.2
105.5
106.1
105.7
105.0
104.9
105.0
104.4
103.2
106.4
107.2
107.1
106.7
105.6
107.3
107.4
105.0
103.8
107.0
107.9
107.9
107.5
106.3
107.9
107.9
106.1
104.7
107.8
108.6
108.9
108.4
107.3
108.3
108.2
106.8
105.1
108.5
109.2
109.6
109.2
108.2
108.9
108.8
107.3
105.6
109.5
110.8
110.4
110.2
109.0
111.1
111.1
107.5
105.9
109.8
111.1
110.8
110.8
109.6
111.3
111.4
108.0
106.5
110.3
111.7
111.7
111.7
110.3
111.8
111.9
.5
.6
.5
.5
.8
.8
.6
.4
.4
1.8
1.7
2.3
2.9
2.6
3.0
2.8
3.2
3.4
Public administration ……………………………………… 105.6
Workers by occupational group
3
106.6
108.0
109.1
109.7
110.1
111.6
112.0
113.0
.9
3.0
104.0
104.9
105.7
106.3
107.3
108.0
108.7
108.9
109.3
.4
1.9
Workers by occupational group
Management, professional, and related………………………
Management, business, and financial……………………
Professional and related……………………………………
Sales and office…………………………………………………
Sales and related……………………………………………
Office and administrative support…………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance…………
Construction and extraction…………………………………
Installation, maintenance, and repair………………………
Production, transportation, and material moving……………
Production……………………………………………………
Transportation and material moving………………………
Service occupations……………………………………………
104.6
104.3
104.9
103.7
102.4
104.5
104.0
104.4
103.5
102.5
102.1
103.1
104.5
105.5
105.1
105.9
104.7
103.6
105.4
105.0
105.7
104.1
103.3
102.8
104.1
105.2
106.4
106.0
106.7
105.3
104.2
106.0
105.9
106.5
105.2
103.9
103.2
104.9
106.4
106.8
106.3
107.3
106.1
105.2
106.7
106.7
107.4
105.8
104.5
104.0
105.3
107.0
108.1
108.0
108.3
106.6
105.0
107.8
107.6
108.6
106.3
105.5
104.8
106.4
107.8
108.9
108.7
109.0
107.5
106.2
108.5
108.3
109.7
106.6
106.0
105.2
107.2
108.7
109.6
109.3
109.9
107.9
106.0
109.2
109.0
110.3
107.4
106.6
105.8
107.7
109.4
109.9
109.5
110.3
107.9
105.5
109.6
109.6
110.8
108.1
106.9
106.1
107.9
109.8
110.4
109.6
111.0
107.9
104.3
110.5
109.9
110.9
108.6
107.7
107.1
108.4
110.7
.5
.1
.6
.0
-1.1
.8
.3
.1
.5
.7
.9
.5
.8
2.1
1.5
2.5
1.2
-.7
2.5
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.1
2.2
1.9
2.7
Workers by industry and occupational group
Goods-producing industries……………………………………
Management, professional, and related……………………
Sales and office………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance………
Production, transportation, and material moving………..
102.9
102.7
103.0
104.0
102.1
103.9
103.8
103.7
105.3
102.9
104.4
104.3
104.1
106.1
103.3
105.0
104.4
104.8
107.0
104.0
106.1
106.1
105.1
108.1
104.8
106.8
106.6
106.3
109.0
105.3
107.2
106.7
106.7
109.8
105.8
107.5
106.6
107.1
110.4
106.2
107.9
106.8
107.3
110.4
107.0
.4
.2
.2
.0
.8
1.7
.7
2.1
2.1
2.1
Construction…………………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
Management, professional, and related…………………
Sales and office……………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance……
Production, transportation, and material moving……..
104.7
102.0
102.0
102.4
101.7
101.9
105.9
102.9
103.3
103.2
102.4
102.6
106.9
103.2
103.3
103.5
102.8
103.1
107.6
103.8
103.5
104.3
103.9
103.8
108.9
104.7
104.9
105.0
104.6
104.5
110.1
105.1
105.2
106.1
104.5
105.0
110.6
105.6
105.4
106.7
105.3
105.5
110.9
105.9
105.4
107.0
106.0
105.8
110.9
106.5
105.7
107.3
106.6
106.7
.0
.6
.3
.3
.6
.9
1.8
1.7
.8
2.2
1.9
2.1
Service-providing industries…………………………………
Management, professional, and related……………………
Sales and office………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance………
Production, transportation, and material moving………..
Service occupations…………………………………………
104.3
105.0
103.7
104.0
103.0
104.5
105.2
105.9
104.8
104.5
104.0
105.3
106.1
106.8
105.4
105.7
104.7
106.4
106.7
107.3
106.3
106.2
105.2
107.1
107.7
108.5
106.8
106.7
106.4
107.9
108.5
109.3
107.7
107.3
107.0
108.7
109.1
110.2
108.0
107.8
107.6
109.5
109.4
110.6
108.0
108.4
107.8
109.8
109.8
111.1
108.0
109.0
108.5
110.7
.4
.5
.0
.6
.6
.8
1.9
2.4
1.1
2.2
2.0
2.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
103.1
104.2
104.7
105.5
106.1
107.3
107.6
107.5
107.8
.3
1.6
Private industry workers………………………………………
See footnotes at end of table.
114
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
30. Continued—Employment Cost Index, compensation,1 by occupation and industry group
[December 2005 = 100]
2007
Series
Mar.
June
2008
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
2009
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
Percent change
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
Mar. 2009
Wholesale trade……………………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing………………………
Utilities………………………………………………………
Information…………………………………………………
Financial activities…………………………………………
Finance and insurance…………………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………
Professional and business services………………………
Education and health services……………………………
Education services………………………………………
Health care and social assistance……………………
Hospitals………………………………………………
Leisure and hospitality……………………………………
Accommodation and food services……………………
Other services, except public administration……………
103.7
102.9
102.8
102.8
104.3
104.2
104.6
102.2
104.7
105.1
104.5
105.2
105.0
105.3
105.8
105.7
104.6
103.9
104.0
104.7
105.6
104.6
104.9
103.0
105.9
105.7
104.9
105.9
105.6
106.0
106.4
106.1
104.2
105.1
104.5
105.0
105.8
105.4
105.7
104.1
106.9
106.9
106.7
106.9
106.5
107.5
108.1
107.1
105.3
106.1
104.5
105.6
106.1
105.6
106.1
103.7
107.5
107.7
107.5
107.8
107.3
108.1
108.6
107.6
105.7
106.6
105.6
106.5
106.1
106.8
107.0
105.5
109.0
108.6
108.1
108.8
108.2
109.0
109.5
108.7
107.2
107.6
106.4
108.1
106.2
107.3
107.7
105.7
109.9
109.4
109.1
109.4
109.1
109.3
110.0
109.4
107.1
108.2
106.8
108.1
107.2
107.4
107.6
106.4
110.8
110.3
111.4
110.1
110.1
110.6
111.4
109.9
106.8
108.1
106.9
108.9
107.4
107.1
107.2
106.6
111.6
110.6
111.3
110.5
110.7
111.4
112.1
109.9
107.1
108.3
107.4
109.6
107.7
106.8
106.9
106.6
111.9
111.5
111.9
111.5
111.5
112.2
113.0
110.8
0.3
.2
.5
.6
.3
-.3
-.3
.0
.3
.8
.5
.9
.7
.7
.8
.8
1.3
1.6
1.7
2.9
1.5
.0
-.1
1.0
2.7
2.7
3.5
2.5
3.0
2.9
3.2
1.9
105.1
105.7
107.6
108.4
108.9
109.4
111.3
111.6
112.3
.6
3.1
Workers by occupational group
Management, professional, and related………………………
Professional and related……………………………………
Sales and office…………………………………………………
Office and administrative support…………………………
Service occupations……………………………………………
104.9
104.8
105.6
105.7
105.4
105.4
105.3
106.2
106.4
106.3
107.5
107.5
107.9
108.2
108.0
108.3
108.2
108.6
108.9
109.1
108.8
108.6
108.8
109.3
109.7
109.3
109.1
109.3
109.8
110.0
111.3
111.1
111.0
111.4
111.9
111.6
111.4
111.3
111.8
112.4
112.0
111.9
112.4
112.8
113.4
.4
.4
1.0
.9
.9
2.9
3.0
3.3
3.2
3.4
Workers by industry
Education and health services………………………………
Education services………………………………………
Schools…………………………………………………
Elementary and secondary schools………………
Health care and social assistance………………………
Hospitals…………………………………………………
104.8
104.6
104.6
104.7
107.1
105.6
105.3
105.0
104.9
105.0
107.6
106.3
107.5
107.4
107.4
107.4
108.6
107.5
108.2
108.0
108.0
108.0
109.3
108.2
108.6
108.4
108.4
108.3
110.1
109.2
109.1
108.8
108.8
108.8
111.1
109.7
111.2
111.0
111.0
111.1
112.7
110.8
111.5
111.2
111.2
111.4
113.2
111.3
111.9
111.8
111.8
112.0
113.3
112.4
.4
.5
.5
.5
.1
1.0
3.0
3.1
3.1
3.4
2.9
2.9
105.6
106.6
108.0
109.1
109.7
110.1
111.6
112.0
113.0
.9
3.0
State and local government workers…………………………
3
Public administration ………………………………………
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.
3
Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
NOTE: The Employment Cost Index data reflect the conversion to the 2002 North
American Classification System (NAICS) and the 2000 Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) system. The NAICS and SOC data shown prior to 2006 are for
informational purposes only. Series based on NAICS and SOC became the official BLS
estimates starting in March 2006.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 115
Current Labor Statistics: Compensation & Industrial Relations
31. Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry group
[December 2005 = 100]
2007
Series
Mar.
June
2008
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
2009
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
Percent change
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
Mar. 2009
1
Civilian workers ……….…….........…………………………………….…
104.3
105.0
106.0
106.7
107.6
108.4
109.3
109.6
110.0
0.4
2.2
Management, professional, and related………………………
Management, business, and financial……………………
Professional and related……………………………………
Sales and office…………………………………………………
Sales and related……………………………………………
Office and administrative support…………………………
104.7
104.7
104.7
103.8
102.7
104.5
105.4
105.4
105.3
104.8
103.9
105.3
106.6
106.4
106.7
105.4
104.3
106.1
107.1
106.7
107.4
106.2
105.5
106.8
108.2
108.2
108.3
106.7
105.2
107.8
109.0
109.0
109.0
107.7
106.6
108.5
110.1
109.8
110.3
108.1
106.3
109.3
110.5
110.1
110.7
108.1
105.6
109.8
111.0
110.4
111.2
108.1
104.3
110.6
.5
.3
.5
.0
-1.2
.7
2.6
2.0
2.7
1.3
-.9
2.6
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance…………
Construction and extraction………………………………
Installation, maintenance, and repair……………………
Production, transportation, and material moving……………
Production……………………………………………………
Transportation and material moving………………………
Service occupations……………………………………………
104.3
104.6
103.8
103.2
103.2
103.3
104.6
105.1
105.7
104.4
103.9
103.6
104.2
105.3
106.3
106.6
105.8
104.7
104.3
105.1
106.5
107.1
107.7
106.4
105.1
104.7
105.5
107.3
108.1
109.0
107.0
106.1
105.7
106.6
108.0
109.0
109.9
107.8
106.9
106.5
107.3
108.7
109.9
110.7
108.8
107.7
107.2
108.2
109.9
110.6
111.3
109.6
108.0
107.5
108.5
110.3
110.7
111.4
110.0
108.5
108.2
108.8
111.2
.1
.1
.4
.5
.7
.3
.8
2.4
2.2
2.8
2.3
2.4
2.1
3.0
Workers by industry
Goods-producing………………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
Service-providing………………………………………………
Education and health services……………………………
Health care and social assistance………………………
Hospitals…………………………………………………
Nursing and residential care facilities………………
Education services………………………………………
Elementary and secondary schools…………………
103.9
103.3
104.3
104.4
105.1
104.8
104.1
103.7
103.6
104.7
103.9
105.1
104.9
105.9
105.6
104.7
104.0
103.8
105.4
104.5
106.2
106.6
107.1
106.7
105.8
106.2
106.0
106.0
104.9
106.8
107.4
107.9
107.4
106.4
106.9
106.6
107.1
105.9
107.7
108.0
108.9
108.4
107.4
107.3
107.0
108.0
106.7
108.5
108.7
109.6
109.4
108.1
107.9
107.5
108.6
107.4
109.4
110.2
110.4
110.5
109.1
110.0
109.9
109.0
107.7
109.7
110.5
110.9
111.3
109.7
110.2
110.1
109.2
108.1
110.2
111.0
111.7
112.0
110.3
110.5
110.4
.2
.4
.5
.5
.7
.6
.5
.3
.3
2.0
2.1
2.3
2.8
2.6
3.3
2.7
3.0
3.2
Public administration ……………………………………… 104.5
105.2
106.4
107.4
108.2
108.6
109.9
110.4
111.3
.8
2.9
104.3
105.1
106.0
106.6
107.6
108.4
109.1
109.4
109.8
.4
2.0
Workers by occupational group
Management, professional, and related………………………
Management, business, and financial……………………
Professional and related……………………………………
Sales and office…………………………………………………
Sales and related……………………………………………
Office and administrative support…………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance…………
Construction and extraction…………………………………
Installation, maintenance, and repair………………………
Production, transportation, and material moving……………
Production……………………………………………………
Transportation and material moving………………………
Service occupations……………………………………………
104.9
104.7
105.1
103.8
102.8
104.5
104.2
104.7
103.7
103.1
103.1
103.2
104.6
105.8
105.5
106.0
104.8
104.0
105.4
105.1
105.8
104.2
103.8
103.6
104.1
105.3
106.7
106.3
107.0
105.3
104.4
106.0
106.2
106.7
105.6
104.5
104.2
105.0
106.5
107.2
106.6
107.6
106.2
105.5
106.7
107.1
107.8
106.1
105.0
104.6
105.4
107.1
108.5
108.2
108.7
106.7
105.3
107.7
108.1
109.2
106.8
106.0
105.6
106.5
107.9
109.3
109.0
109.5
107.7
106.6
108.5
109.0
110.1
107.6
106.8
106.4
107.4
108.8
110.1
109.7
110.4
108.0
106.4
109.2
109.8
110.8
108.5
107.5
107.2
108.0
109.7
110.5
110.0
110.9
108.0
105.7
109.7
110.5
111.5
109.3
107.8
107.4
108.3
110.1
111.1
110.3
111.6
107.9
104.3
110.6
110.6
111.4
109.7
108.3
108.1
108.5
111.0
.5
.3
.6
-.1
-1.3
.8
.1
-.1
.4
.5
.7
.2
.8
2.4
1.9
2.7
1.1
-.9
2.7
2.3
2.0
2.7
2.2
2.4
1.9
2.9
Workers by industry and occupational group
Goods-producing industries……………………………………
Management, professional, and related……………………
Sales and office………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance………
Production, transportation, and material moving………..
103.9
104.4
103.4
104.4
103.2
104.7
105.3
104.1
105.6
103.7
105.4
105.9
104.7
106.5
104.4
106.0
106.0
105.5
107.6
104.8
107.1
107.7
105.8
108.8
105.7
108.0
108.4
107.2
109.6
106.6
108.6
108.7
107.6
110.5
107.3
109.0
108.8
107.9
111.3
107.6
109.2
109.3
108.1
111.1
108.0
.2
.5
.2
-.2
.4
2.0
1.5
2.2
2.1
2.2
Construction…………………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
Management, professional, and related…………………
Sales and office……………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance……
Production, transportation, and material moving……..
104.9
103.3
103.8
102.4
103.8
103.1
106.0
103.9
104.6
103.2
104.3
103.6
107.0
104.5
105.0
103.9
105.0
104.2
107.8
104.9
105.3
104.7
105.9
104.5
109.0
105.9
106.7
105.5
106.8
105.4
110.0
106.7
107.2
106.9
107.1
106.3
110.6
107.4
107.6
107.6
108.1
107.1
111.1
107.7
107.8
108.1
109.0
107.3
111.2
108.1
108.4
108.2
108.8
107.7
.1
.4
.6
.1
-.2
.4
2.0
2.1
1.6
2.6
1.9
2.2
Service-providing industries…………………………………
Management, professional, and related……………………
Sales and office………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance………
Production, transportation, and material moving………..
Service occupations…………………………………………
104.4
105.0
103.8
103.9
103.0
104.6
105.3
105.9
104.9
104.3
104.0
105.3
106.1
106.8
105.4
105.7
104.6
106.6
106.8
107.4
106.3
106.3
105.2
107.2
107.7
108.6
106.8
106.9
106.3
108.0
108.6
109.4
107.7
108.0
107.1
108.8
109.3
110.3
108.0
108.6
107.8
109.7
109.6
110.8
108.0
109.3
108.1
110.1
110.0
111.4
107.9
109.9
108.6
111.0
.4
.5
-.1
.5
.5
.8
2.1
2.6
1.0
2.8
2.2
2.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
103.2
104.3
104.6
105.5
105.9
107.2
107.5
107.4
107.8
.4
1.8
Workers by occupational group
2
Private industry workers………………………………………
116
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
31. Continued—Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry group
[December 2005 = 100]
2007
Series
Mar.
June
2008
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
2009
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
Percent change
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
Mar. 2009
Wholesale trade……………………………………………
Retail trade…………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing………………………
Utilities………………………………………………………
Information…………………………………………………
Financial activities…………………………………………
Finance and insurance…………………………………
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………
Professional and business services………………………
Education and health services……………………………
Education services………………………………………
Health care and social assistance……………………
Hospitals………………………………………………
Leisure and hospitality……………………………………
Accommodation and food services……………………
Other services, except public administration……………
103.8
103.1
102.5
104.3
103.8
104.7
105.4
101.6
104.8
104.8
104.2
104.9
104.6
105.7
106.0
105.7
104.8
104.2
103.7
105.5
104.9
104.9
105.5
102.4
105.9
105.6
104.6
105.8
105.4
106.4
106.5
106.1
104.0
105.1
104.1
106.1
105.2
106.0
106.5
103.6
106.7
106.9
106.4
107.0
106.5
108.1
108.4
107.3
105.2
106.1
104.2
106.8
105.3
105.9
106.6
103.1
107.5
107.7
107.4
107.8
107.2
108.8
109.0
107.9
105.2
106.4
105.0
108.0
105.3
107.2
107.9
104.5
109.1
108.6
107.9
108.7
108.2
109.7
110.0
109.2
107.2
107.6
106.0
109.3
106.3
107.7
108.4
104.7
110.0
109.2
108.6
109.4
109.2
109.9
110.4
109.9
106.8
108.1
106.7
109.3
107.3
107.7
108.2
105.3
111.0
110.2
110.8
110.1
110.3
111.4
111.9
110.4
106.4
108.1
106.9
109.6
107.5
107.2
107.6
105.7
111.9
110.6
110.8
110.6
111.1
112.3
112.8
110.4
106.8
108.3
107.2
111.0
107.8
106.8
107.1
105.6
112.3
111.4
111.1
111.5
111.8
113.1
113.7
111.4
0.4
.2
.3
1.3
.3
-.4
-.5
-.1
.4
.7
.3
.8
.6
.7
.8
.9
1.5
1.8
2.1
2.8
2.4
-.4
-.7
1.1
2.9
2.6
3.0
2.6
3.3
3.1
3.4
2.0
104.1
104.6
106.4
107.1
107.7
108.2
110.1
110.4
110.9
.5
3.0
Workers by occupational group
Management, professional, and related………………………
Professional and related……………………………………
Sales and office…………………………………………………
Office and administrative support…………………………
Service occupations……………………………………………
104.0
103.9
104.5
104.7
104.5
104.3
104.2
104.8
105.0
105.2
106.3
106.3
106.3
106.5
106.5
107.0
107.0
107.0
107.3
107.7
107.6
107.5
107.4
107.8
108.3
108.2
108.1
107.9
108.3
108.6
110.1
110.1
109.3
109.7
110.4
110.4
110.3
109.7
110.1
110.9
110.7
110.6
110.5
111.0
112.0
.3
.3
.7
.8
1.0
2.9
2.9
2.9
3.0
3.4
Workers by industry
Education and health services………………………………
Education services………………………………………
Schools…………………………………………………
Elementary and secondary schools………………
Health care and social assistance………………………
Hospitals…………………………………………………
104.0
103.7
103.6
103.6
106.6
105.7
104.2
103.9
103.9
103.8
107.2
106.5
106.3
106.1
106.1
106.0
108.2
107.6
107.1
106.8
106.8
106.6
109.2
108.6
107.5
107.2
107.2
106.9
110.1
109.8
108.1
107.7
107.7
107.5
111.0
110.3
110.2
109.9
109.9
109.8
112.8
111.4
110.5
110.1
110.1
110.1
113.4
112.1
110.7
110.4
110.4
110.3
113.1
112.8
.2
.3
.3
.2
-.3
.6
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.2
2.7
2.7
104.5
105.2
106.4
107.4
108.2
108.6
109.9
110.4
111.3
.8
2.9
State and local government workers…………………………
2
Public administration ………………………………………
1
Consists of private industry workers (excluding farm and household workers) and
State and local government (excluding Federal Government) workers.
2
Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
NOTE: The Employment Cost Index data reflect the conversion to the 2002 North
American Classification System (NAICS) and the 2000 Standard Occupational
Classification (SOC) system. The NAICS and SOC data shown prior to 2006 are for
informational purposes only. Series based on NAICS and SOC became the official
BLS estimates starting in March 2006.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 117
Current Labor Statistics: Compensation & Industrial Relations
32. Employment Cost Index, benefits, by occupation and industry group
[December 2005 = 100]
2007
Series
Mar.
June
2008
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
2009
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
Percent change
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
Mar. 2009
Civilian workers………………………………………………….
104.0
105.1
106.1
106.8
107.6
108.1
108.9
109.1
109.7
0.5
2.0
Private industry workers………………………………………… 103.2
104.3
105.0
105.6
106.5
107.0
107.5
107.7
108.2
.5
1.6
Workers by occupational group
Management, professional, and related………………………
Sales and office…………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance…………
Production, transportation, and material moving……………
103.8
103.4
103.4
101.2
104.9
104.3
104.8
102.4
105.6
105.2
105.3
102.7
106.0
106.0
105.9
103.7
107.3
106.5
106.5
104.4
107.9
107.0
107.0
104.5
108.5
107.6
107.5
104.8
108.5
107.8
107.7
105.1
108.8
108.0
108.2
106.4
.3
.2
.5
1.2
1.4
1.4
1.6
1.9
Service occupations……………………………………………
104.2
105.1
106.0
106.7
107.6
108.5
108.7
108.8
109.7
.8
2.0
Goods-producing………………………………………………
100.9
Manufacturing………………………………………………… 99.6
Service-providing……………………………………………… 104.1
102.2
101.0
105.2
102.4
100.7
106.0
103.2
101.7
106.6
104.0
102.3
107.6
104.4
102.2
108.1
104.6
102.3
108.7
104.7
102.5
108.9
105.4
103.5
109.3
.7
1.0
.4
1.3
1.2
1.6
108.0
110.3
111.0
111.4
111.8
113.9
114.2
115.2
.9
3.4
Workers by industry
State and local government workers…………………………
107.0
NOTE: The Employment Cost Index data reflect the conversion to
the 2002 North American Classification System (NAICS) and the 2000
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The NAICS and
SOC data shown prior
118
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
to 2006 are for informational purposes only. Series based on NAICS and SOC became the official
BLS estimates starting in March 2006.
33. Employment Cost Index, private industry workers by bargaining status and region
[December 2005 = 100]
2007
Series
Mar.
June
2008
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
2009
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
Percent change
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
Mar. 2009
COMPENSATION
Workers by bargaining status1
Union………………………………………………………………… 102.7
Goods-producing………………………………………………… 101.5
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
99.2
Service-providing………………………………………………… 103.7
103.9
102.8
100.0
104.7
104.4
103.1
100.0
105.4
105.1
104.0
101.0
106.0
105.9
104.6
101.4
107.0
106.7
105.6
101.7
107.5
107.4
106.2
102.1
108.3
108.0
106.9
102.8
108.8
109.1
108.0
104.4
109.9
1.0
1.0
1.6
1.0
3.0
3.3
3.0
2.7
Nonunion……………………………………………………………
Goods-producing…………………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
Service-providing…………………………………………………
104.2
103.3
102.8
104.4
105.1
104.2
103.7
105.3
105.9
104.8
104.1
106.2
106.5
105.4
104.6
106.8
107.5
106.5
105.6
107.7
108.3
107.1
106.2
108.6
108.9
107.6
106.6
109.2
109.1
107.7
106.8
109.4
109.4
107.9
107.1
109.8
.3
.2
.3
.4
1.8
1.3
1.4
1.9
Workers by region1
Northeast……………………………………………………………
South…………………………………………………………………
Midwest………………………………………………………………
West…………………………………………………………………
104.0
104.3
103.3
104.2
105.1
105.3
104.2
104.9
106.2
106.1
104.6
105.7
106.8
106.7
105.3
106.5
107.4
107.8
106.0
107.8
108.1
108.5
107.0
108.4
108.7
109.1
107.4
109.3
109.5
109.3
107.6
109.4
109.8
109.8
107.9
109.9
.3
.5
.3
.5
2.2
1.9
1.8
1.9
Workers by bargaining status1
Union…………………………………………………………………
Goods-producing…………………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
Service-providing…………………………………………………
102.8
102.7
102.0
102.9
103.7
103.6
102.5
103.8
104.4
104.3
102.9
104.6
104.7
104.3
102.6
104.9
105.5
105.2
103.4
105.8
106.7
106.4
104.4
106.9
107.4
107.1
104.9
107.7
108.1
107.7
105.5
108.3
108.8
108.2
106.0
109.2
.6
.5
.5
.8
3.1
2.9
2.5
3.2
Nonunion……………………………………………………………
Goods-producing…………………………………………………
Manufacturing…………………………………………………
Service-providing…………………………………………………
104.5
104.2
103.6
104.6
105.3
105.0
104.2
105.4
106.2
105.8
104.9
106.3
106.9
106.4
105.5
107.0
107.9
107.7
106.6
107.9
108.7
108.4
107.3
108.8
109.4
109.0
108.0
109.4
109.6
109.3
108.2
109.7
110.0
109.5
108.6
110.1
.4
.2
.4
.4
1.9
1.7
1.9
2.0
Workers by region1
Northeast……………………………………………………………
South…………………………………………………………………
Midwest………………………………………………………………
West…………………………………………………………………
104.0
104.6
103.6
104.8
105.0
105.6
104.4
105.4
106.1
106.5
105.0
106.2
106.6
107.0
105.6
107.0
107.5
108.1
106.3
108.3
108.2
109.1
107.5
108.9
108.7
109.8
107.9
109.9
109.6
110.0
108.0
110.1
109.9
110.4
108.4
110.5
.3
.4
.4
.4
2.2
2.1
2.0
2.0
WAGES AND SALARIES
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.
NOTE: The Employment Cost Index data reflect the conversion to the 2002 North American
Classification System (NAICS) and the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. The
NAICS and SOC data shown prior to 2006 are for informational purposes only. Series based on NAICS
and SOC became the official BLS estimates starting in March 2006.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 119
Current Labor Statistics: Compensation & Industrial Relations
34. National Compensation Survey: Retirement benefits in private industry by
access, participation, and selected series, 2003–2007
Series
Year
2003
2004
2005
2007 1
2006
All retirement
Percentage of workers with access
All workers………………………………………………………
57
59
60
60
White-collar occupations 2 ……………………………………
67
69
70
69
-
-
-
-
-
76
64
Management, professional, and related ……………….
61
Sales and office ……………………………………………
-
-
-
-
Blue-collar occupations 2………………………………………
59
59
60
62
-
-
-
-
-
61
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance...…
Production, transportation, and material moving…...…
Service occupations……………………………………………
-
-
-
-
65
28
31
32
34
36
Full-time…………………………………………………………
67
68
69
69
70
Part-time………………………………………………………
24
27
27
29
31
Union……………………………………………………………
86
84
88
84
84
Non-union………………………………………………………
54
56
56
57
58
Average wage less than $15 per hour……...………………
45
46
46
47
47
Average wage $15 per hour or higher……...………………
76
77
78
77
76
Goods-producing industries…………………………………
70
70
71
73
70
Service-providing industries…………………………………
53
55
56
56
58
Establishments with 1-99 workers……………………………
42
44
44
44
45
Establishments with 100 or more workers…………………
75
77
78
78
78
All workers………………………………………………………
49
50
50
51
51
White-collar occupations 2 ……………………………………
59
61
61
60
-
-
-
-
-
69
54
Percentage of workers participating
Management, professional, and related ……………….
Sales and office ……………………………………………
-
-
-
-
Blue-collar occupations 2………………………………………
50
50
51
52
-
-
-
-
-
51
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance…...
Production, transportation, and material moving…...…
Service occupations……………………………………………
-
-
-
-
54
21
22
22
24
25
Full-time…………………………………………………………
58
60
60
60
60
Part-time………………………………………………………
18
20
19
21
23
Union……………………………………………………………
83
81
85
80
81
Non-union………………………………………………………
45
47
46
47
47
Average wage less than $15 per hour……...………………
35
36
35
36
36
Average wage $15 per hour or higher……...………………
70
71
71
70
69
Goods-producing industries…………………………………
63
63
64
64
61
Service-providing industries…………………………………
45
47
47
47
48
Establishments with 1-99 workers……………………………
35
37
37
37
37
Establishments with 100 or more workers…………………
65
67
67
67
66
-
-
85
85
84
20
21
22
21
21
23
24
25
23
-
-
-
-
-
29
19
3
Take-up rate (all workers) ……………………………………
Defined Benefit
Percentage of workers with access
All workers………………………………………………………
2
White-collar occupations ……………………………………
Management, professional, and related ……………….
Sales and office ……………………………………………
2
Blue-collar occupations ………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance...…
-
-
-
26
26
25
-
-
-
-
-
26
26
Production, transportation, and material moving…...…
-
-
-
-
Service occupations……………………………………………
8
6
7
8
8
Full-time…………………………………………………………
24
25
25
24
24
Part-time………………………………………………………
8
9
10
9
10
Union……………………………………………………………
74
70
73
70
69
Non-union………………………………………………………
15
16
16
15
15
Average wage less than $15 per hour……...………………
12
11
12
11
11
Average wage $15 per hour or higher……...………………
34
35
35
34
33
Goods-producing industries…………………………………
31
32
33
32
29
Service-providing industries…………………………………
17
18
19
18
19
9
9
10
9
9
34
35
37
35
34
Establishments with 1-99 workers……………………………
Establishments with 100 or more workers…………………
See footnotes at end of table.
120
24
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
34. Continued—National Compensation Survey: Retirement benefits in private industry
by access, participation, and selected series, 2003–2007
Series
Year
2003
2004
2005
2007
2006
1
Percentage of workers participating
All workers………………………………………………………
2
White-collar occupations ……………………………………
Management, professional, and related ……………….
Sales and office ……………………………………………
Blue-collar occupations 2……………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance...…
Production, transportation, and material moving…...…
Service occupations…………………………………………
Full-time………………………………………………………
Part-time………………………………………………………
Union……………………………………………………………
Non-union………………………………………………………
Average wage less than $15 per hour……...………………
20
22
24
7
24
8
72
15
11
21
24
25
6
24
9
69
15
11
21
24
26
7
25
9
72
15
11
20
22
25
7
23
8
68
14
10
20
28
17
25
25
7
23
9
67
15
10
Average wage $15 per hour or higher……...………………
33
35
34
33
32
Goods-producing industries…………………………………
31
31
32
31
28
Service-providing industries…………………………………
16
18
18
17
18
Establishments with 1-99 workers…………………………
8
9
9
9
9
Establishments with 100 or more workers…………………
33
34
36
33
32
Take-up rate (all workers) 3……………………………………
-
-
97
96
95
All workers………………………………………………………
51
53
53
54
55
White-collar occupations 2 ……………………………………
62
64
64
65
-
-
-
-
-
71
60
Defined Contribution
Percentage of workers with access
Management, professional, and related ……………….
-
-
-
-
Blue-collar occupations 2……………………………………
Sales and office ……………………………………………
49
49
50
53
-
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance...…
-
-
-
-
51
56
Production, transportation, and material moving…...…
-
-
-
-
Service occupations…………………………………………
23
27
28
30
32
Full-time………………………………………………………
60
62
62
63
64
Part-time………………………………………………………
21
23
23
25
27
Union……………………………………………………………
45
48
49
50
49
Non-union………………………………………………………
51
53
54
55
56
Average wage less than $15 per hour……...………………
40
41
41
43
44
Average wage $15 per hour or higher……...………………
67
68
69
69
69
Goods-producing industries…………………………………
60
60
61
63
62
Service-providing industries…………………………………
48
50
51
52
53
Establishments with 1-99 workers…………………………
38
40
40
41
42
Establishments with 100 or more workers…………………
65
68
69
70
70
All workers………………………………………………………
40
42
42
43
43
White-collar occupations 2 ……………………………………
51
53
53
53
-
-
-
-
-
60
47
Percentage of workers participating
Management, professional, and related ……………….
-
-
-
-
Blue-collar occupations 2……………………………………
Sales and office ……………………………………………
38
38
38
40
-
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance...…
-
-
-
-
40
41
Production, transportation, and material moving…...…
-
-
-
-
Service occupations…………………………………………
16
18
18
20
20
Full-time………………………………………………………
48
50
50
51
50
Part-time………………………………………………………
14
14
14
16
18
Union……………………………………………………………
39
42
43
44
41
Non-union………………………………………………………
40
42
41
43
43
Average wage less than $15 per hour……...………………
29
30
29
31
30
Average wage $15 per hour or higher……...………………
57
59
59
58
57
Goods-producing industries…………………………………
49
49
50
51
49
Service-providing industries…………………………………
37
40
39
40
41
Establishments with 1-99 workers…………………………
31
32
32
33
33
Establishments with 100 or more workers…………………
51
53
53
54
53
-
-
78
79
77
3
Take-up rate (all workers) ……………………………………
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 121
Current Labor Statistics: Compensation & Industrial Relations
34. Continued—National Compensation Survey: Retirement benefits in private industry
by access, participation, and selected series, 2003–2007
Series
Year
2003
2004
2005
2007 1
2006
Employee Contribution Requirement
Employee contribution required…………………………
Employee contribution not required………………………
Not determinable……………………………………………
-
-
61
31
8
61
33
6
65
35
0
Percent of establishments
Offering retirement plans……………………………………
Offering defined benefit plans………………………………
Offering defined contribution plans……………………….
47
10
45
48
10
46
51
11
48
48
10
47
46
10
44
1
The 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) replaced the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
System. Estimates for goods-producing and service-providing (formerly service-producing) industries are considered comparable.
Also introduced was the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) to replace the 1990 Census of Population system.
Only service occupations are considered comparable.
2
The white-collar and blue-collar occupation series were discontinued effective 2007.
3
The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan.
Note: Where applicable, dashes indicate no employees in this category or data do not meet publication criteria.
122
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
35. National Compensation Survey: Health insurance benefits in private industry
by access, particpation, and selected series, 2003-2007
Series
Year
2003
2004
2005
2007
2006
1
Medical insurance
Percentage of workers with access
All workers…………………………………………………………………………
60
69
70
71
2
White-collar occupations ………………………………………………………
65
76
77
77
-
-
-
-
-
85
71
Management, professional, and related …………………………………
Sales and office………………………………………………………………
Blue-collar occupations 2………………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance………………………
71
-
-
-
-
64
76
77
77
-
-
-
-
-
76
Production, transportation, and material moving…………………………
-
-
-
-
78
Service occupations……………………………………………………………
38
42
44
45
46
Full-time…………………………………………………………………………
73
84
85
85
85
Part-time…………………………………………………………………………
17
20
22
22
24
Union………………………………………………………………………………
67
89
92
89
88
Non-union…………………………………………………………………………
59
67
68
68
69
Average wage less than $15 per hour…………………………………………
51
57
58
57
57
Average wage $15 per hour or higher…………………………………………
74
86
87
88
87
Goods-producing industries……………………………………………………
68
83
85
86
85
Service-providing industries……………………………………………………
57
65
66
66
67
Establishments with 1-99 workers………………………………………………
49
58
59
59
59
Establishments with 100 or more workers……………………………………
72
82
84
84
84
All workers…………………………………………………………………………
45
53
53
52
52
White-collar occupations 2 ………………………………………………………
50
59
58
57
-
-
-
-
-
67
48
Percentage of workers participating
Management, professional, and related …………………………………
Sales and office………………………………………………………………
Blue-collar occupations 2………………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance………………………
-
-
-
-
51
60
61
60
-
-
-
-
-
61
Production, transportation, and material moving…………………………
-
-
-
-
60
Service occupations……………………………………………………………
22
24
27
27
28
Full-time…………………………………………………………………………
56
66
66
64
64
Part-time…………………………………………………………………………
9
11
12
13
12
Union………………………………………………………………………………
60
81
83
80
78
Non-union…………………………………………………………………………
44
50
49
49
49
Average wage less than $15 per hour…………………………………………
35
40
39
38
37
Average wage $15 per hour or higher…………………………………………
61
71
72
71
70
Goods-producing industries……………………………………………………
57
69
70
70
68
Service-providing industries……………………………………………………
42
48
48
47
47
Establishments with 1-99 workers………………………………………………
36
43
43
43
42
Establishments with 100 or more workers……………………………………
55
64
65
63
62
-
-
75
74
73
All workers…………………………………………………………………………
40
46
46
46
46
2
White-collar occupations ………………………………………………………
47
53
54
53
-
-
-
-
-
62
47
3
Take-up rate (all workers) ………………………………………………………
Dental
Percentage of workers with access
Management, professional, and related …………………………………
Sales and office………………………………………………………………
2
Blue-collar occupations ………………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance………………………
-
-
-
-
40
47
47
46
-
-
-
-
-
43
Production, transportation, and material moving…………………………
-
-
-
-
49
Service occupations……………………………………………………………
22
25
25
27
28
Full-time…………………………………………………………………………
49
56
56
55
56
Part-time…………………………………………………………………………
9
13
14
15
16
Union………………………………………………………………………………
57
73
73
69
68
Non-union…………………………………………………………………………
38
43
43
43
44
Average wage less than $15 per hour…………………………………………
30
34
34
34
34
Average wage $15 per hour or higher…………………………………………
55
63
62
62
61
Goods-producing industries……………………………………………………
48
56
56
56
54
Service-providing industries……………………………………………………
37
43
43
43
44
Establishments with 1-99 workers………………………………………………
27
31
31
31
30
Establishments with 100 or more workers……………………………………
55
64
65
64
64
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 123
Current Labor Statistics: Compensation & Industrial Relations
35. Continued—National Compensation Survey: Health insurance benefits in
private industry by access, particpation, and selected series, 2003-2007
Series
Year
2003
2004
2005
2007
2006
1
Percentage of workers participating
All workers……………………………………………………………………………
32
37
36
36
White-collar occupations 2 ………………………………………………………
37
43
42
41
-
Management, professional, and related ……………………………………
-
-
-
-
51
33
Sales and office…………………………………………………………………
Blue-collar occupations 2…………………………………………………………
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance…………………………
36
-
-
-
-
33
40
39
38
-
-
-
-
-
36
Production, transportation, and material moving……………………………
-
-
-
-
38
Service occupations………………………………………………………………
15
16
17
18
20
Full-time……………………………………………………………………………
40
46
45
44
44
Part-time……………………………………………………………………………
6
8
9
10
9
Union………………………………………………………………………………
51
68
67
63
62
Non-union…………………………………………………………………………
30
33
33
33
33
Average wage less than $15 per hour…………………………………………
22
26
24
23
23
Average wage $15 per hour or higher…………………………………………
47
53
52
52
51
Goods-producing industries………………………………………………………
42
49
49
49
45
Service-providing industries………………………………………………………
29
33
33
32
33
Establishments with 1-99 workers………………………………………………
21
24
24
24
24
Establishments with 100 or more workers………………………………………
44
52
51
50
49
Take-up rate (all workers) 3…………………………………………………………
-
-
78
78
77
Percentage of workers with access………………………………………………
25
29
29
29
29
Percentage of workers participating………………………………………………
19
22
22
22
22
Percentage of workers with access………………………………………………
-
-
64
67
68
Percentage of workers participating………………………………………………
-
-
48
49
49
Percent of estalishments offering healthcare benefits …………………......…
58
61
63
62
60
Vision care
Outpatient Prescription drug coverage
Percentage of medical premium paid by
Employer and Employee
Single coverage
Employer share……………………………………………………………………
82
82
82
82
81
Employee share…………………………………………………………………
18
18
18
18
19
Family coverage
Employer share……………………………………………………………………
70
69
71
70
71
Employee share…………………………………………………………………
30
31
29
30
29
1
The 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) replaced the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
System. Estimates for goods-producing and service-providing (formerly service-producing) industries are considered comparable.
Also introduced was the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) to replace the 1990 Census of Population system.
Only service occupations are considered comparable.
2
The white-collar and blue-collar occupation series were discontinued effective 2007.
3
The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan.
Note: Where applicable, dashes indicate no employees in this category or data do not meet publication criteria.
124
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
36. National Compensation Survey: Percent of workers in private industry
with access to selected benefits, 2003-2007
Year
Benefit
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Life insurance……………………………………………………
50
51
52
52
58
Short-term disabilty insurance…………………………………
39
39
40
39
39
Long-term disability insurance…………………………………
30
30
30
30
31
Long-term care insurance………………………………………
11
11
11
12
12
Flexible work place………………………………………………
4
4
4
4
5
Flexible benefits………………………………………………
-
-
17
17
17
Dependent care reimbursement account…………..………
-
-
29
30
31
Healthcare reimbursement account……………………...…
-
-
31
32
33
Health Savings Account………………………………...………
-
-
5
6
8
Employee assistance program……………………….…………
-
-
40
40
42
Section 125 cafeteria benefits
Paid leave
Holidays…………………………………………...……………
79
77
77
76
77
Vacations……………………………………………..………
79
77
77
77
77
Sick leave………………………………………..……………
-
59
58
57
57
Personal leave…………………………………………..……
-
-
36
37
38
Paid family leave…………………………………………….…
-
-
7
8
8
Unpaid family leave………………………………………..…
-
-
81
82
83
Employer assistance for child care…………………….………
18
14
14
15
15
Nonproduction bonuses………………………...………………
49
47
47
46
47
Family leave
Note: Where applicable, dashes indicate no employees in this category or data do not
meet publication criteria.
37. Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more
Annual average
Measure
2007
Number of stoppages:
Beginning in period.............................
In effect during period…......................
2008
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.p
21
23
15
16
1
2
2
4
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Workers involved:
Beginning in period (in thousands)…..
In effect during period (in thousands)…
189.2
220.9
72.2
136.8
2.3
5.9
4.2
10.1
4.2
4.2
8.5
8.5
7.0
7.0
28.2
28.2
6.0
33.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Days idle:
Number (in thousands)…....................
1264.8
1954.1
102.2
129.0
12.3
42.5
100.6
469.8
600.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.01
0.01
0
0
0
0
0
0.02
0.02
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Percent of estimated working time ……
1
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.
NOTE:
p = preliminary.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 125
Current Labor Statistics: Price Data
38. Consumer Price Indexes for All Urban Consumers and for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers:
U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity or service group
[1982–84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
Annual average
Series
2007
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS
All items........................................................................... 207.342
All items (1967 = 100)...................................................... 621.106
Food and beverages...................................................... 203.300
Food..................…......................................................... 202.916
Food at home…........................................................... 201.245
Cereals and bakery products…................................. 222.107
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs…................................ 195.616
2008
215.303
644.951
214.225
214.106
214.125
244.853
204.653
2009
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
214.823
643.515
211.365
211.102
210.851
240.034
200.770
216.632
648.933
212.251
212.054
211.863
244.192
200.960
218.815
655.474
213.383
213.243
213.171
245.758
202.914
219.964
658.915
215.326
215.299
215.785
250.321
205.075
219.086
656.284
216.419
216.422
217.259
250.080
207.488
218.783
655.376
217.672
217.696
218.629
250.924
209.937
216.573
648.758
218.705
218.738
219.660
252.832
210.706
212.425
636.332
218.752
218.749
219.086
252.723
209.602
210.228
629.751
218.839
218.805
218.683
253.063
208.890
211.143
632.491
219.729
219.675
219.744
254.445
208.616
212.193
635.637
219.333
219.205
218.389
254.187
207.963
212.709
637.182
218.794
218.600
217.110
253.698
206.348
213.240
638.771
218.364
218.162
215.783
252.709
205.699
1
Dairy and related products ……….…………………………194.770
Fruits and vegetables…............................................. 262.628
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage
210.396 207.680 207.778 209.117 213.981 214.748 213.533 212.733 213.102 210.838 209.632 204.537 199.687 197.124
278.932 272.746 276.481 277.957 280.209 283.296 285.986 285.484 283.677 281.706 282.601 278.721 274.759 274.297
materials….............................................................. 153.432
Other foods at home…............................................... 173.275
Sugar and sweets…................................................. 176.772
Fats and oils…......................................................... 172.921
Other foods…........................................................... 188.244
160.045
184.166
186.577
196.751
198.103
1,2
Other miscellaneous foods
……….…………………
115.105
1
Food away from home ……….………………………………… 206.659
1,2
Other food away from home ……….…………………… 144.068
Alcoholic beverages….................................................. 207.026
Housing.......................................................................... 209.586
Shelter...............…....................................................... 240.611
Rent of primary residence…...................................... 234.679
Lodging away from home………………………………142.813
3
Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence ………. 246.235
1,2
159.730
181.806
184.878
190.640
195.993
158.336
182.680
185.097
193.364
196.787
158.320
183.804
185.558
196.150
197.888
159.346
185.725
187.067
201.205
199.566
160.055
186.991
187.813
203.059
200.961
161.499
187.944
189.929
206.274
201.388
163.727
189.348
190.515
208.300
202.993
163.015
189.301
191.756
205.806
203.058
162.750
190.203
193.312
206.710
203.902
164.882
192.492
197.429
206.886
206.343
164.213
192.404
196.676
205.359
206.621
165.656
192.234
197.137
204.776
206.367
162.889
191.352
197.301
200.464
205.734
119.924 118.500 118.744 118.453 120.510 121.033 121.144 122.699 123.543 123.791 124.012 122.580 122.402 122.883
215.769
150.640
214.484
216.264
246.666
243.271
213.083
148.667
213.503
214.890
246.004
241.474
213.967
149.666
213.532
215.809
246.069
241.803
215.015
149.873
213.912
217.941
247.083
242.640
216.376
151.120
214.394
219.610
248.075
243.367
217.063
151.133
215.094
219.148
247.985
244.181
218.225
152.040
216.055
218.184
247.737
244.926
219.290
153.544
216.972
217.383
247.844
245.855
220.043
153.978
217.492
216.467
247.463
246.681
220.684
154.062
217.975
216.073
247.085
247.278
221.319
153.402
219.113
216.928
248.292
247.974
221.968
154.726
219.682
217.180
248.878
248.305
222.216
154.414
219.999
217.374
249.597
248.639
222.905
155.099
219.671
217.126
249.855
248.899
143.664 146.378 145.634 148.621 153.032 149.146 143.597 141.140 133.555 129.157 133.559 135.809 137.715 137.700
252.426 251.418 251.576 252.170 252.504 252.957 253.493 253.902 254.669 254.875 255.500 255.779 256.321 256.622
Tenants' and household insurance ……….…………… 117.004
Fuels and utilities…................................................... 200.632
Fuels...............…...................................................... 181.744
Fuel oil and other fuels…....................................... 251.453
Gas (piped) and electricity….................................. 186.262
Household furnishings and operations…................... 126.875
Apparel .......................................................................... 118.998
Men's and boys' apparel…......................................... 112.368
Women's and girls' apparel….................................... 110.296
118.843
220.018
200.808
334.405
202.212
127.800
118.907
113.032
107.460
118.422
213.302
194.121
342.811
194.379
127.332
122.113
116.653
111.221
118.411
219.881
201.212
363.872
200.999
127.598
120.752
116.479
108.722
119.092
231.412
213.762
389.423
213.375
127.625
117.019
112.011
104.312
118.764
239.039
221.742
395.706
221.805
127.884
114.357
109.669
100.049
118.562
235.650
217.455
367.794
218.656
128.013
116.376
110.180
104.211
119.944
228.450
209.501
349.164
210.950
128.584
121.168
112.720
111.774
119.916
221.199
201.176
318.667
203.503
128.789
122.243
115.067
111.833
120.232
216.285
195.599
281.869
199.435
128.554
121.262
114.239
110.588
120.019
215.184
194.335
256.209
199.487
128.535
117.078
110.767
105.456
120.402
215.232
194.149
247.163
199.791
128.761
114.764
110.797
100.638
120.683
213.520
192.168
242.264
197.886
129.170
118.825
115.202
105.777
120.737
210.501
188.736
230.837
194.752
129.669
122.545
117.748
111.079
120.675
207.175
184.903
228.107
190.686
129.654
123.208
117.195
111.871
Infants' and toddlers' apparel ……….………………………113.948
Footwear…................................................................ 122.374
Transportation................................................................ 184.682
Private transportation...............…................................ 180.778
1
113.762
124.157
195.549
191.039
116.358
126.212
198.608
194.574
114.582
125.537
205.262
201.133
111.555
123.568
211.787
207.257
109.218
122.421
212.806
208.038
109.558
121.982
206.739
201.779
113.494
124.907
203.861
199.153
116.158
126.442
192.709
187.976
116.010
126.788
173.644
168.527
112.568
124.093
164.628
159.411
112.321
122.363
166.738
161.788
113.544
124.301
169.542
164.871
115.548
126.707
169.647
165.023
117.084
128.057
171.987
167.516
2
New and used motor vehicles ……….…………………… 94.303
New vehicles…........................................................ 136.254
93.291
134.194
133.951
279.652
277.457
128.747
233.859
250.549
364.065
296.045
384.943
310.968
533.953
113.254
102.632
123.631
93.973
135.175
136.787
294.291
291.910
126.049
230.528
244.164
363.184
296.951
383.292
309.227
530.144
112.874
103.477
122.073
93.705
134.669
136.325
322.124
319.787
126.824
231.730
251.600
363.396
294.896
384.505
310.917
531.022
112.987
102.988
122.348
93.598
134.516
135.980
347.418
344.981
127.824
233.162
264.681
363.616
295.194
384.685
311.317
531.606
112.991
102.306
122.828
93.650
134.397
135.840
349.731
347.357
129.118
234.788
270.002
363.963
294.777
385.361
311.926
533.558
113.277
102.203
123.445
93.260
133.404
135.405
323.822
321.511
130.327
236.125
268.487
364.477
295.003
385.990
312.396
535.501
113.786
102.546
124.653
92.480
132.399
132.916
315.078
313.535
131.048
237.121
261.318
365.036
295.461
386.579
312.527
537.728
114.032
102.706
125.505
92.071
132.264
129.733
268.537
266.382
131.917
238.227
252.323
365.746
295.791
387.440
312.914
540.853
114.169
102.193
125.686
91.618
132.359
126.869
187.189
184.235
132.947
239.048
243.385
366.613
297.317
387.992
313.328
543.183
114.078
101.831
125.758
91.408
132.308
125.883
149.132
146.102
133.077
239.356
237.638
367.133
298.361
388.267
313.886
543.585
113.674
101.629
125.921
91.831
133.273
124.863
156.604
154.488
133.414
241.076
234.394
369.830
299.998
391.365
315.603
551.305
113.822
101.347
126.151
92.224
134.186
122.837
167.395
166.118
134.108
241.689
231.529
372.405
302.184
394.047
316.992
558.373
114.461
101.704
126.190
92.109
134.611
121.061
168.404
167.826
134.484
242.118
230.735
373.189
302.908
394.837
317.460
560.995
114.625
102.000
126.187
92.381
134.863
121.213
177.272
176.704
134.640
242.649
229.827
374.170
303.979
395.753
317.661
564.785
114.261
102.300
126.273
Used cars and trucks ……….………………………………135.747
Motor fuel…............................................................... 239.070
Gasoline (all types)…............................................... 237.959
Motor vehicle parts and equipment…........................ 121.583
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair…................... 222.963
Public transportation...............….................................. 230.002
Medical care................................................................... 351.054
Medical care commodities...............…......................... 289.999
Medical care services...............…................................ 369.302
Professional services…............................................. 300.792
Hospital and related services…................................. 498.922
2
Recreation ……….………………………………………….………111.443
1,2
Video and audio ……….………………………………………102.949
2
Education and communication ……….……………………… 119.577
1
Education ……….………………………………………….………171.388
Educational books and supplies…........................... 420.418
181.277 177.754 177.994 178.385 179.229 183.184 186.148 186.669 186.733 186.916 187.175 187.256 187.298 187.416
450.187 442.160 442.770 443.309 444.382 458.989 462.787 463.825 462.694 464.544 468.432 469.996 472.185 472.507
Tuition, other school fees, and child care…............. 494.079
1,2
Communication ……….……………………………………… 83.367
1,2
Information and information processing ……….…… 80.720
1,2
Telephone services ……….…………………………… 98.247
Information and information processing
522.098 511.887 512.579 513.743 516.264 527.230 536.082 537.606 537.906 538.309 538.765 538.878 538.813 539.149
84.185 83.670 83.929 84.394 84.840 84.701 84.524 84.535 84.601 84.737 84.928 84.945 84.922 84.985
2
1,4
other than telephone services ……….…………… 10.597
81.352
100.451
80.921
99.494
81.080 81.513 81.965 81.815 81.635 81.652 81.723 81.886 82.030 82.052 82.022 82.090
99.879 100.677 101.339 101.301 101.311 101.407 101.538 101.688 101.880 101.895 101.991 102.072
10.061
10.170
10.118
10.071
10.087
10.012
9.901
9.874
9.867
9.906
9.919
9.926
9.872
9.881
Personal computers and peripheral
1,2
equipment ……….……………………………………108.411
Other goods and services.............................................. 333.328
Tobacco and smoking products...............…................ 554.184
94.944 98.853 97.028 95.663 94.711 92.921 90.797 89.945 88.984 88.529 88.522 87.696 86.213 85.714
345.381 343.410 344.709 345.885 346.810 346.990 348.166 349.276 349.040 349.220 350.259 351.223 361.156 370.606
588.682 576.359 581.185 589.904 596.782 597.361 597.581 599.744 599.820 602.644 607.403 611.549 679.078 742.443
1
Personal care ……….………………………………………….…195.622
1
Personal care products ……….…………………………… 158.285
1
Personal care services ……….…………………………… 216.559
201.279 201.028 201.523 201.537 201.545 201.623 202.486 203.107 202.921 202.774 203.080 203.391 204.117 204.896
159.290 159.398 158.790 158.868 158.989 159.252 159.643 159.826 161.000 161.397 162.588 162.508 162.696 163.777
223.669 222.799 223.649 223.520 223.719 224.151 224.614 225.564 226.197 226.281 225.734 225.895 227.982 227.913
See footnotes at end of table.
126
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
38. Continued—Consumer Price Indexes for All Urban Consumers and for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity or service group
[1982–84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
Series
Annual average
2007
2008
Miscellaneous personal services...............….... 324.984
Apr.
May
June
July
2008
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
2009
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
338.921 337.685 339.824 340.547 340.077 341.053 343.431 343.131 340.174 339.698 340.608 341.188 341.570 342.641
Commodity and service group:
Commodities...........…............................................ 167.509
Food and beverages….........................................
Commodities less food and beverages….............
Nondurables less food and beverages…............
Apparel ….........................................................
203.300
147.515
182.526
118.998
Non durables less food, beverages,
and apparel…................................................. 226.224
Durables….......................................................... 112.473
Services….............................................................. 246.848
3
Rent of shelter ……….…………………………………… 250.813
Transportation services….................................... 233.731
Other services….................................................. 285.559
174.764 175.838 178.341 180.534 181.087 179.148 179.117 175.257 167.673 163.582 164.360 165.891 166.645 167.816
214.225
153.034
196.192
118.907
211.365
155.690
200.926
122.113
212.251
158.778
207.875
120.752
213.383
161.337
213.489
117.019
215.326
161.301
213.363
114.357
216.419
158.179
207.284
116.376
217.672
157.621
206.919
121.168
218.705
151.874
195.127
122.243
218.752
141.397
173.346
121.262
218.839
135.720
161.681
117.078
219.729
136.427
162.938
114.764
219.333
138.702
167.560
118.825
218.794
139.962
170.200
122.545
218.364
141.753
173.855
123.208
248.809 254.599 266.943 278.584 280.062 268.740 265.100 244.935 209.569 192.948 196.490 201.554 203.557 209.177
110.877
255.498
257.152
244.074
295.780
111.671
253.426
256.463
240.150
293.016
111.362
254.509
256.532
242.343
293.959
111.232
256.668
257.585
245.759
294.668
111.275
258.422
258.637
247.869
295.677
110.779
258.638
258.547
248.806
297.923
110.077
258.059
258.255
248.047
299.598
109.677
257.559
258.368
247.762
299.923
109.191
256.967
257.961
247.030
299.996
108.811
256.731
257.567
246.287
300.067
109.025
257.780
258.830
247.006
300.614
109.221
258.328
259.440
248.114
301.471
109.264
258.597
260.197
247.912
302.024
109.404
258.466
260.469
248.696
301.668
Special indexes:
All items less food…............................................ 208.098
215.528 215.462 217.411 219.757 220.758 219.552 218.991 216.250 211.421 208.855 209.777 211.076 211.775 212.464
All items less shelter…........................................
All items less medical care…...............................
Commodities less food….....................................
Nondurables less food….....................................
Nondurables less food and apparel….................
Nondurables….....................................................
205.453
207.777
155.310
197.297
244.443
205.901
273.000
244.987
236.666
214.751
215.572
140.246
284.352
261.017
3
Services less rent of shelter ……….…………………
Services less medical care services…................
Energy…..............................................................
All items less energy…........................................
All items less food and energy….......................
Commodities less food and energy…..............
Energy commodities......................................
Services less energy…....................................
196.639
200.080
149.720
184.012
223.411
193.468
260.764
236.847
207.723
208.925
210.729
140.053
241.018
253.058
205.040
207.317
157.870
201.693
249.571
207.096
269.007
242.921
240.194
213.851
215.059
141.156
298.757
259.503
207.566
209.170
160.880
208.233
260.703
211.240
271.467
243.982
257.106
214.101
215.180
140.677
326.414
260.049
210.242
211.408
163.385
213.538
271.235
214.783
275.200
246.219
275.621
214.600
215.553
139.925
351.886
261.216
211.468
212.576
163.364
213.447
272.612
215.628
277.982
248.007
280.833
215.335
216.045
139.535
354.423
262.323
210.264
211.653
160.341
207.769
262.470
212.882
278.606
248.198
266.283
215.873
216.476
139.785
328.240
262.867
209.936
211.321
159.825
207.483
259.278
213.274
277.615
247.563
258.020
216.397
216.862
140.528
318.918
262.980
206.776
209.021
154.250
196.442
241.183
207.435
276.297
246.997
231.561
216.695
217.023
140.659
272.921
263.156
201.075
204.721
144.055
175.979
209.344
195.773
275.425
246.351
189.938
216.417
216.690
140.236
193.395
262.901
198.127
202.442
138.536
165.032
194.403
189.557
275.370
246.090
171.158
215.930
216.100
139.228
155.745
262.636
198.936
203.281
139.258
166.282
197.704
190.649
276.227
247.013
174.622
216.586
216.719
139.111
162.395
263.759
200.184
204.265
141.491
170.665
202.323
192.943
276.739
247.439
178.741
217.325
217.685
140.270
172.428
264.547
200.626
204.766
142.728
173.167
204.159
194.105
276.407
247.675
177.454
218.033
218.639
141.662
172.787
265.147
201.271
205.275
144.464
176.587
209.195
195.864
275.752
247.490
179.704
218.388
219.143
142.489
181.102
265.399
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR URBAN
WAGE EARNERS AND CLERICAL WORKERS
All items.................................................................... 202.767
211.053 210.698 212.788 215.223 216.304 215.247 214.935 212.182 207.296 204.813 205.700 206.708 207.218 207.925
All items (1967 = 100)............................................... 603.982
Food and beverages................................................ 202.531
Food..................….................................................. 202.134
Food at home….................................................... 200.273
Cereals and bakery products….......................... 222.409
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs…......................... 195.193
1
Dairy and related products ……….…………………… 194.474
Fruits and vegetables…...................................... 260.484
628.661
213.546
213.376
213.017
245.472
204.255
209.773
276.759
627.606
210.559
210.252
209.657
240.663
200.285
207.135
270.169
633.830
211.438
211.200
210.624
244.648
200.501
207.088
274.136
641.082
212.700
212.514
212.079
246.493
202.424
208.510
276.641
644.303
214.662
214.577
214.679
250.972
204.557
213.582
278.885
641.155
215.850
215.812
216.214
250.842
207.211
214.139
282.171
640.226
217.098
217.090
217.594
251.448
209.515
212.841
284.612
632.025
218.141
218.120
218.600
253.561
210.314
211.808
283.549
617.472
218.178
218.114
217.956
253.498
209.297
212.184
281.279
610.075
218.269
218.155
217.498
253.759
208.639
209.922
278.835
612.719
219.123
218.998
218.485
255.055
208.161
208.530
279.906
615.719
218.645
218.449
217.111
254.775
207.656
203.023
275.884
617.239
218.119
217.855
215.922
254.395
206.094
198.048
271.727
619.344
217.653
217.376
214.654
253.556
205.527
195.714
271.771
Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage
materials…....................................................... 152.786
Other foods at home….......................................
172.630
Sugar and sweets…......................................... 175.323
Fats and oils….................................................. 173.640
Other foods…................................................... 188.405
1,2
Other miscellaneous foods ……….…………… 115.356
1
Food away from home ……….…………………………… 206.412
1,2
Other food away from home ……….……………… 143.462
Alcoholic beverages…........................................... 207.097
159.324 158.799 157.285 157.309 158.527 159.024 160.850 163.265 162.472 162.280 164.514 163.821 165.437 162.464
183.637
185.494
197.512
198.303
120.348
215.613
149.731
214.579
181.215
183.725
191.560
196.106
118.751
212.794
147.335
213.633
182.241
184.127
194.228
197.081
119.248
213.723
148.517
213.486
183.342
184.378
197.155
198.153
118.879
214.851
149.306
213.976
185.174
186.054
201.821
199.722
121.015
216.177
150.232
214.440
186.458
186.860
203.721
201.119
121.443
217.002
150.301
214.931
187.467
188.914
207.069
201.632
121.589
218.147
151.321
215.728
188.806
189.574
208.973
203.138
123.026
219.219
152.910
216.953
188.685
190.501
206.870
203.126
123.837
220.107
153.464
217.626
189.527
192.120
207.439
203.937
124.144
220.847
153.646
218.445
191.782
195.867
207.400
206.490
124.477
221.497
153.397
219.458
191.620
195.395
206.185
206.547
122.994
222.101
154.520
220.029
191.594
196.015
205.693
206.468
122.837
222.336
154.054
220.500
190.650
195.858
201.474
205.820
123.112
222.957
154.414
220.243
204.795
232.998
233.806
142.339
223.175
117.366
211.839
239.128
242.196
143.164
228.758
119.136
210.161
238.261
240.507
145.936
227.893
118.683
211.191
238.353
240.818
144.979
228.007
118.615
213.441
239.198
241.623
148.378
228.536
119.293
215.026
239.845
242.276
152.248
228.824
119.006
214.743
240.038
243.010
148.368
229.219
118.894
213.954
240.163
243.741
142.591
229.670
120.279
213.156
240.517
244.624
140.763
230.028
120.258
212.591
240.740
245.425
133.747
230.743
120.589
212.452
240.752
246.026
129.982
230.926
120.360
213.078
241.651
246.696
134.235
231.503
120.715
213.192
242.051
246.991
136.255
231.746
120.960
213.213
242.605
247.285
138.008
232.235
121.099
212.885
242.857
247.517
138.008
232.503
121.084
198.863
179.031
251.121
184.357
122.477
118.518
112.224
110.202
1
Infants' and toddlers' apparel ……….……………… 116.278
Footwear…......................................................... 122.062
217.883
197.537
331.784
200.265
123.635
118.735
113.490
107.489
116.266
124.102
210.912
190.657
339.009
192.434
123.108
121.855
117.136
110.971
119.200
126.150
217.388
197.554
358.947
199.045
123.287
120.407
116.621
108.594
117.213
125.335
228.843
209.843
381.903
211.398
123.434
116.706
112.395
104.062
114.057
123.381
236.381
217.640
388.208
219.612
123.798
113.978
109.969
99.772
111.502
122.380
233.373
213.807
363.535
216.557
123.944
116.214
110.513
104.584
111.593
122.026
226.709
206.544
345.907
209.442
124.500
120.990
112.973
112.304
115.764
124.873
219.325
198.191
317.012
201.651
124.719
121.957
115.495
111.880
118.496
126.352
214.700
193.000
283.747
197.507
124.466
121.149
114.651
110.612
118.611
126.689
213.861
192.050
260.185
197.545
124.314
117.006
111.232
105.413
115.003
124.152
213.882
191.852
251.976
197.703
124.454
114.969
111.879
100.751
114.775
122.753
212.353
190.110
246.781
196.040
124.865
118.766
116.332
105.538
116.001
124.494
209.400
186.809
236.237
192.922
125.337
122.162
118.735
110.380
117.944
126.858
205.840
182.795
232.068
188.735
125.458
122.709
117.834
110.990
119.873
128.312
Housing....................................................................
Shelter...............…................................................
Rent of primary residence…...............................
2
Lodging away from home ……….……………………
3
Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence …
1,2
Tenants' and household insurance ……….……
Fuels and utilities…...........................................
Fuels...............…..............................................
Fuel oil and other fuels…................................
Gas (piped) and electricity…..........................
Household furnishings and operations…............
Apparel ...................................................................
Men's and boys' apparel….................................
Women's and girls' apparel….............................
Transportation.......................................................... 184.344
Private transportation...............…......................... 181.496
2
New and used motor vehicles ……….……………… 93.300
See footnotes at end of table.
195.692 199.556 206.757 213.633 214.533 207.796 204.785 192.198 170.870 160.914 163.215 165.976 165.978 168.539
192.492 196.641 203.781 210.423 211.201 204.348 201.476 188.871 167.301 157.272 159.719 162.645 162.659 165.299
92.146 93.158 92.850 92.714 92.686 92.287 91.305 90.530 89.783 89.482 89.774 89.728 89.418 89.620
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 127
Current Labor Statistics: Price Data
38. Continued—Consumer Price Indexes for All Urban Consumers and for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: U.S. city
average, by expenditure category and commodity or service group
[1982–84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
Annual average
Series
2007
2008
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
New vehicles…............................................ 137.415 135.338 136.456 135.933 135.728 135.556 134.540 133.504 133.351 133.380 133.317 134.490 135.248 135.744 135.911
1
Used cars and trucks ……….…………………… 136.586
Motor fuel…................................................... 239.900
Gasoline (all types)….................................. 238.879
Motor vehicle parts and equipment…............ 121.356
Motor vehicle maintenance and repair…....... 225.535
Public transportation...............…..................... 228.531
Medical care.......................................................
Medical care commodities...............…............
Medical care services...............…...................
Professional services….................................
Hospital and related services….....................
350.882
282.558
370.111
303.169
493.740
134.731
280.817
278.728
128.776
236.353
247.865
137.616
295.618
293.349
126.032
232.983
241.966
137.145
323.495
321.291
126.742
234.221
249.310
136.790
348.762
346.459
127.750
235.550
261.779
136.639
351.124
348.888
128.997
237.324
266.259
136.186
325.116
322.930
130.228
238.583
264.755
133.669
316.717
315.324
131.072
239.571
258.142
130.444
269.639
267.580
132.088
240.688
249.168
127.540
187.770
184.855
133.125
241.509
240.496
126.526
149.650
146.644
133.295
241.855
235.199
125.485
157.265
155.204
133.645
243.594
232.422
123.443
168.028
166.831
134.264
244.219
229.404
121.669
169.060
168.574
134.485
244.650
229.034
121.850
177.982
177.510
134.614
245.180
228.525
364.208
287.970
386.317
313.446
530.193
363.356
288.796
384.753
311.757
526.495
363.462
286.825
385.769
313.294
527.230
363.628
287.033
385.911
313.618
527.948
363.942
286.562
386.560
314.235
529.798
364.652
286.880
387.420
314.893
532.065
365.250
287.397
388.036
314.977
534.394
366.000
287.725
388.947
315.458
537.382
366.800
289.046
389.493
315.825
539.864
367.301
290.080
389.744
316.435
540.101
370.001
291.710
392.831
318.110
547.655
372.630
293.917
395.563
319.663
554.390
373.541
294.728
396.489
320.231
557.167
374.599
295.699
397.553
320.407
561.516
2
Recreation ……….……………………………………… 108.572 110.143 109.775 109.876 109.905 110.198 110.698 110.904 110.947 110.826 110.487 110.630 111.257 111.436 111.182
1,2
Video and audio ……….……………………………102.559 102.654 103.414 102.958 102.306 102.267 102.643 102.819 102.267 101.974 101.810 101.488 101.857 102.153 102.516
2
Education and communication ……….…………… 116.301 119.827 118.462 118.737 119.264 119.852 120.809 121.439 121.569 121.636 121.819 122.025 122.092 122.087 122.152
2
Education ……….………………………………………169.280 178.892 175.545 175.791 176.148 176.879 180.819 183.613 184.091 184.115 184.352 184.642 184.765 184.824 184.892
Educational books and supplies….............. 423.730 452.880 444.594 445.394 445.740 446.741 461.104 465.570 466.885 465.576 467.179 471.061 473.012 474.880 474.950
Tuition, other school fees, and child care… 477.589 504.163 494.711 495.384 496.449 498.598 509.241 517.389 518.726 518.938 519.500 519.987 520.159 520.146 520.348
1,2
Communication ……….…………………………… 85.782 86.807 86.244 86.496 87.017 87.490 87.369 87.224 87.226 87.300 87.444 87.599 87.640 87.615 87.671
1,2
Information and information processing … 83.928 84.828 84.320 84.511 85.007 85.484 85.355 85.208 85.214 85.292 85.454 85.581 85.624 85.595 85.655
1,2
Telephone services ……….………………… 98.373 100.502 99.566 99.939 100.723 101.375 101.339 101.350 101.436 101.564 101.720 101.876 101.890 101.977 102.048
Information and information processing
other than telephone services
1,4
……….… 11.062
10.567
10.671
10.621
10.585
10.600
10.525
10.414
10.375
10.367
10.406
10.418
10.442
10.378
10.385
Personal computers and peripheral
1,2
equipment ……….……………………… 108.164 94.863 98.820 97.010 95.766 94.691 92.931 90.722 89.690 88.631 88.176 88.178 87.622 86.004 85.406
Other goods and services.................................. 344.004 357.906 354.887 356.523 358.419 359.961 360.102 361.125 362.354 362.550 362.986 364.333 365.522 380.208 394.902
Tobacco and smoking products...............….... 555.502 591.100 578.296 583.296 592.248 599.180 599.823 600.293 602.533 602.881 605.662 610.503 615.012 682.115 747.906
1
Personal care ……….………………………………… 193.590 199.170 198.859 199.367 199.404 199.495 199.501 200.284 200.930 201.036 200.918 201.209 201.426 202.099 203.010
1
Personal care products ……….………………… 158.268 159.410 159.585 158.993 159.052 159.237 159.345 159.730 159.914 160.994 161.295 162.683 162.543 162.516 163.911
1
Personal care services ……….………………… 216.823 223.978 223.088 223.922 223.838 223.994 224.464 224.910 225.800 226.433 226.578 225.951 226.088 228.201 228.119
Miscellaneous personal services...............… 326.100 340.533 338.851 341.212 341.921 341.763 342.974 345.175 344.622 342.853 342.530 343.022 343.443 344.021 345.016
Commodity and service group:
Commodities...........….......................................
Food and beverages…....................................
Commodities less food and beverages…........
Nondurables less food and beverages…......
Apparel …...................................................
169.554
202.531
150.865
189.507
118.518
177.618
213.546
157.481
205.279
118.735
178.900
210.559
160.488
210.558
121.855
181.837
211.438
164.188
218.794
120.407
184.495
212.700
167.344
225.585
116.706
185.105
214.662
167.376
225.595
113.978
182.846
215.850
163.761
218.454
116.214
182.647
217.098
162.971
217.828
120.990
177.906
218.141
155.982
203.762
121.957
168.926
218.178
143.544
178.209
121.149
164.233
218.269
137.015
164.879
117.006
165.151
219.123
137.932
166.694
114.969
166.673
218.645
140.235
171.698
118.766
167.514
218.119
141.615
174.838
122.162
169.005
217.653
143.871
179.415
122.709
Nondurables less food, beverages,
and apparel…............................................ 237.858 263.756 270.496 285.024 298.593 300.341 287.124 283.056 259.204 217.500 198.108 202.400 208.255 211.287 218.502
Durables….................................................... 112.640 111.217 112.171 111.845 111.769 111.820 111.357 110.451 109.782 109.038 108.576 108.689 108.592 108.413 108.596
Services…......................................................... 241.696 250.272 248.045 249.175 251.365 252.991 253.304 252.861 252.369 252.144 252.176 253.033 253.456 253.591 253.403
3
Rent of shelter ……….……………………………… 224.617 230.555 229.719 229.810 230.620 231.255 231.445 231.541 231.885 232.096 232.112 232.981 233.365 233.903 234.148
Transporatation services…............................ 233.420 242.563 239.044 240.728 243.395 245.005 246.041 245.722 246.003 246.126 245.881 246.931 248.029 247.862 248.809
Other services…............................................. 275.218 284.319 281.829 282.720 283.449 284.449 286.389 287.792 287.898 288.082 288.227 288.627 289.432 290.043 289.738
Special indexes:
All items less food….......................................
All items less shelter…...................................
All items less medical care….........................
Commodities less food…...............................
Nondurables less food…................................
Nondurables less food and apparel…............
Nondurables…...............................................
3
Services less rent of shelter ……….……………
Services less medical care services…...........
Energy…........................................................
All items less energy…...................................
All items less food and energy…..................
Commodities less food and energy…........
Energy commodities.................................
Services less energy…...............................
1
2
3
128
Not seasonally adjusted.
Indexes on a December 1997 = 100 base.
Indexes on a December 1982 = 100 base.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
202.698
193.940
196.564
152.875
190.698
234.201
196.772
210.452
203.102
204.626
159.538
206.047
258.423
210.333
210.583
202.931
204.290
162.455
211.005
264.488
211.757
212.870
205.774
206.423
166.070
218.809
277.717
216.582
215.498
208.817
208.906
169.169
225.276
290.127
220.813
216.407
210.069
210.002
169.213
225.309
291.760
221.740
214.950
208.544
208.900
165.689
218.562
279.753
218.473
214.361
208.068
208.563
164.937
218.010
276.112
218.725
210.949
204.149
205.726
158.132
204.734
254.473
211.680
205.214
197.342
200.707
145.985
180.533
216.516
198.009
202.292
193.918
198.153
139.620
167.933
198.909
190.910
203.186
194.811
198.978
140.543
169.708
202.906
192.284
204.465
196.052
199.928
142.809
174.484
208.291
194.740
205.167
196.551
200.421
144.172
177.487
211.094
196.174
206.081
197.432
201.112
146.371
181.815
217.649
198.408
230.876
232.195
208.066
203.002
203.554
140.612
241.257
247.888
241.567
240.275
237.414
208.719
208.147
141.084
284.270
255.598
237.922
238.048
241.518
207.812
207.687
142.040
298.852
254.031
240.181
239.167
258.903
208.021
207.747
141.558
326.565
254.517
243.780
241.422
277.597
208.458
208.007
140.878
351.873
255.513
246.411
243.071
282.579
209.062
208.317
140.492
354.402
256.365
246.834
243.354
267.624
209.718
208.857
140.802
328.310
257.072
245.787
242.868
259.864
210.325
209.329
141.428
319.507
257.411
244.331
242.316
232.106
210.649
209.511
141.375
272.894
257.774
243.599
242.058
188.375
210.541
209.383
140.793
192.494
258.008
243.646
242.079
168.726
210.168
208.925
139.731
154.744
258.039
244.376
242.819
172.463
210.707
209.404
139.614
161.781
258.976
244.791
243.128
177.033
211.279
210.203
140.554
171.978
259.643
244.413
243.223
175.947
211.989
211.178
142.077
172.563
260.158
243.718
242.980
178.485
212.472
211.857
143.237
181.021
260.439
4
Indexes on a December 1988 = 100 base.
NOTE: Index applied to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.
39. Consumer Price Index: U.S. city average and available local area data: all items
[1982–84 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
Pricing
schedule1
U.S. city average……………………………………………
All Urban Consumers
2008
Nov.
Urban Wage Earners
2009
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
2008
Mar.
Apr.
Nov.
2009
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
M
212.425 210.228 211.143 212.193 212.709 213.240 207.296 204.813 205.700 206.708 207.218 207.925
Northeast urban……….………………………………………….………
M
227.236 225.091 225.436 226.754 227.309 227.840 223.741 221.446 221.704 222.945 223.626 224.252
Size A—More than 1,500,000...........................................
M
229.625 227.681 227.852 229.262 229.749 230.400 224.621 222.628 222.707 224.084 224.597 225.214
M
134.445 132.830 133.308 133.967 134.411 134.547 134.757 132.938 133.345 133.908 134.558 134.951
M
201.737 199.582 200.815 201.453 202.021 202.327 196.346 193.987 195.245 195.813 196.453 196.933
M
202.922 200.465 202.001 202.639 203.240 203.463 196.770 194.120 195.621 196.147 196.855 197.192
M
129.018 128.018 128.636 129.057 129.334 129.604 128.186 127.005 127.768 128.167 128.468 128.968
Region and area size2
3
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,000 ……….…………………………
4
Midwest urban ……….………………………………………….…………
Size A—More than 1,500,000...........................................
3
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,000 ……….…………………………
Size D—Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000)………….....
M
197.883 195.383 195.843 196.421 197.267 197.644 195.114 192.391 192.907 193.527 194.393 194.651
South urban…….…..............................................................
M
205.559 203.501 204.288 205.343 206.001 206.657 201.821 199.399 200.067 201.150 201.737 202.619
Size A—More than 1,500,000...........................................
M
208.644 206.414 207.035 207.929 208.529 208.934 205.753 203.121 203.519 204.501 205.066 205.733
M
130.324 129.099 129.615 130.380 130.873 131.370 128.504 127.055 127.529 128.276 128.686 129.309
3
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,000 ……….…………………………
Size D—Nonmetropolitan (less than 50,000)………….....
M
206.659 204.428 205.766 206.671 206.927 207.898 205.777 203.054 204.316 205.337 205.744 206.921
West urban…….…...............................................................
M
217.113 214.685 215.923 217.095 217.357 217.910 210.870 208.088 209.367 210.492 210.661 211.386
Size A—More than 1,500,000...........................................
M
220.925 218.698 219.806 220.955 221.124 221.790 213.143 210.637 211.857 212.890 212.965 213.646
M
131.440 129.725 130.682 131.636 131.775 131.912 130.684 128.641 129.639 130.649 130.674 131.103
M
M
M
194.628 192.646 193.412 194.354 194.750 195.207 192.508 190.272 191.023 191.927 192.327 192.861
130.857 129.519 130.135 130.855 131.230 131.557 129.723 128.157 128.783 129.488 129.833 130.361
204.856 202.359 203.409 203.999 204.672 205.421 202.041 199.228 200.057 200.681 201.485 202.351
Chicago–Gary–Kenosha, IL–IN–WI…………………………..
Los Angeles–Riverside–Orange County, CA……….…………
M
M
209.053 205.959 207.616 207.367 207.462 207.886 202.022 198.434 200.222 199.944 200.218 200.607
222.229 219.620 220.719 221.439 221.376 221.693 214.083 211.007 212.454 213.234 213.013 213.405
New York, NY–Northern NJ–Long Island, NY–NJ–CT–PA…
M
234.498 233.012 233.402 234.663 235.067 235.582 228.727 227.223 227.503 228.653 229.064 229.639
Boston–Brockton–Nashua, MA–NH–ME–CT……….…………
1
232.354
– 230.806
– 232.155
– 231.854
– 230.095
– 231.884
–
Cleveland–Akron, OH……………………………………………
1
198.187
– 198.232
– 199.457
– 188.860
– 188.798
– 190.107
–
Dallas–Ft Worth, TX…….………………………………………
1
200.051
– 198.623
– 200.039
– 201.479
– 199.416
– 200.770
–
Washington–Baltimore, DC–MD–VA–WV ……….………………
1
138.547
– 137.598
– 138.620
– 137.700
– 136.359
– 137.539
–
Atlanta, GA……………………..…………………………………
2
3
Size B/C—50,000 to 1,500,000 ……….…………………………
Size classes:
5
A ……….………………………………………….…………..……………
3
B/C ……………………….….………………………………………….…
D…………….…………......................................................
Selected local areas 6
7
– 196.961
– 199.190
– 199.210
– 195.310
– 197.528
– 197.676
Detroit–Ann Arbor–Flint, MI……………………………………
2
– 197.991
– 201.913
– 202.373
– 192.808
– 196.191
– 197.239
Houston–Galveston–Brazoria, TX………………………………
2
– 185.930
– 187.972
– 189.701
– 183.088
– 185.015
– 186.970
Miami–Ft. Lauderdale, FL……………...………………………
2
– 218.324
– 220.589
– 220.740
– 215.867
– 217.635
– 217.900
Philadelphia–Wilmington–Atlantic City, PA–NJ–DE–MD……
2
– 218.186
– 220.262
– 221.686
– 217.610
– 219.356
– 220.732
San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, CA…….…………………
2
– 218.528
– 222.166
– 223.854
– 213.685
– 216.797
– 218.587
Seattle–Tacoma–Bremerton, WA………………...……………
2
– 222.580
– 224.737
– 225.918
– 216.424
– 218.752
– 220.208
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
6
Indexes on a December 1986 = 100 base.
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;
Cincinnatti,
OH–KY–IN;
Kansas
City,
MO–KS;
Milwaukee–Racine, WI; Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN–WI; Pittsburgh, PA; Port-land–Salem,
OR–WA; St Louis, MO–IL; San Diego, CA; Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FL.
7
Indexes on a November 1996 = 100 base.
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.
Dash indicates data not available.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 129
Current Labor Statistics: Price Data
40. Annual data: Consumer Price Index, U.S. city average, all items and major groups
[1982–84 = 100]
Series
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers:
All items:
Index..................……...............................................
Percent change............................……………………
Food and beverages:
Index................…….................................................
Percent change............................……………………
Housing:
Index....………………...............................................
Percent change............................……………………
Apparel:
Index........................…….........................................
Percent change............................……………………
Transportation:
Index........................………......................................
Percent change............................……………………
Medical care:
Index................…….................................................
Percent change............................……………………
Other goods and services:
Index............…….....................................................
Percent change............................……………………
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners
and Clerical Workers:
All items:
Index....................……………...................................
Percent change............................……………………
130
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
163.0
1.6
166.6
2.2
172.2
3.4
177.1
2.8
179.9
1.6
184.0
2.3
188.9
2.7
195.3
3.4
201.6
3.2
207.342
2.8
215.303
3.8
161.1
2.2
164.6
2.2
168.4
2.3
173.6
3.1
176.8
1.8
180.5
2.1
186.6
3.3
191.2
2.5
195.7
2.4
203.300
3.9
214.225
5.4
160.4
2.3
163.9
2.2
169.6
3.5
176.4
4.0
180.3
2.2
184.8
2.5
189.5
2.5
195.7
3.3
203.2
3.8
209.586
3.1
216.264
3.2
133.0
.1
131.3
–1.3
129.6
–1.3
127.3
–1.8
124.0
–2.6
120.9
–2.5
120.4
–.4
119.5
–.7
119.5
.0
118.998
-0.4
118.907
-0.1
141.6
–1.9
144.4
2.0
153.3
6.2
154.3
0.7
152.9
–.9
157.6
3.1
163.1
3.5
173.9
6.6
180.9
4.0
184.682
2.1
195.549
5.9
242.1
3.2
250.6
3.5
260.8
4.1
272.8
4.6
285.6
4.7
297.1
4.0
310.1
4.4
323.2
4.2
336.2
4.0
351.054
4.4
364.065
3.7
237.7
5.7
258.3
8.7
271.1
5.0
282.6
4.2
293.2
3.8
298.7
1.9
304.7
2.0
313.4
2.9
321.7
2.6
333.328
3.6
345.381
3.6
159.7
1.3
163.2
2.2
168.9
3.5
173.5
2.7
175.9
1.4
179.8
2.2
184.5
5.1
191.0
1.1
197.1
3.2
202.767
2.9
211.053
4.1
41. Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing
[1982 = 100]
Grouping
Finished goods....……………………………
Finished consumer goods.........................
Finished consumer foods........................
Annual average
2007
2008
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p Feb.p Mar.p Apr.p
166.6
173.5
167.0
177.1
186.3
178.3
176.5
185.8
175.5
179.8
190.3
177.6
182.4
193.8
180.0
185.1
197.2
181.0
182.2
193.2
181.3
182.2
193.0
181.5
177.4
185.5
180.7
172.0
178.2
179.8
168.8
173.7
177.7
170.3
175.7
177.6
170.1
175.4
174.9
168.9
173.9
174.0
169.9
175.5
175.8
excluding foods.....................................
Nondurable goods less food.................
Durable goods......................................
Capital equipment...................................
175.6
191.7
138.3
149.5
189.1
210.5
141.2
153.8
189.6
211.7
140.5
152.4
195.0
220.0
140.3
152.7
199.0
226.4
139.7
152.7
203.4
233.1
139.6
153.3
197.5
223.9
140.2
153.9
197.2
223.4
140.3
154.3
187.0
205.4
144.8
157.0
177.0
190.6
144.2
156.9
171.5
182.1
144.4
157.2
174.2
186.1
144.4
157.5
174.7
186.9
144.4
157.4
173.1
184.6
144.2
157.0
174.6
186.8
144.3
156.6
Intermediate materials,
supplies, and components........…………
170.7
188.3
187.3
192.8
197.2
203.1
199.4
198.6
189.0
179.2
171.6
171.6
169.8
168.1
167.7
for manufacturing......................................
Materials for food manufacturing..............
Materials for nondurable manufacturing...
Materials for durable manufacturing.........
Components for manufacturing................
162.4
161.4
184.0
189.8
136.3
177.2
180.4
214.3
203.3
140.3
175.5
180.3
209.5
205.6
138.6
179.1
182.7
215.9
211.9
139.4
182.4
185.4
222.8
215.4
140.1
187.4
187.6
234.8
219.2
141.3
188.7
187.5
238.6
218.9
141.9
186.7
185.2
234.7
214.5
142.4
180.3
179.4
222.4
202.2
142.5
171.1
175.5
200.6
190.0
142.3
163.7
170.8
185.0
178.6
141.9
162.9
167.3
188.3
171.6
141.7
161.2
164.1
186.7
167.1
141.6
160.2
163.6
184.8
166.0
141.2
158.4
164.1
181.3
162.7
140.6
Materials and components
for construction.........................................
Processed fuels and lubricants...................
Containers..................................................
Supplies......................................................
192.5
173.9
180.3
161.7
205.4
206.2
191.8
173.8
200.2
211.8
187.0
171.3
203.3
227.3
187.6
173.1
206.5
238.4
189.2
174.6
209.8
250.1
191.9
178.3
212.9
225.2
195.0
178.9
214.0
224.5
198.4
179.0
212.2
193.9
199.1
177.0
210.2
168.7
199.0
175.3
207.9
151.2
198.1
173.4
206.2
154.3
198.0
173.2
204.9
150.1
199.3
172.5
204.2
145.0
198.4
172.0
202.5
148.6
196.7
171.8
Crude materials for further
processing.......................…………………
Foodstuffs and feedstuffs...........................
Crude nonfood materials............................
207.1
146.7
246.3
251.8
163.4
313.9
274.6
168.1
352.4
293.1
173.2
382.4
301.2
178.1
393.0
313.3
178.9
414.9
274.6
170.6
350.0
254.2
167.6
314.2
212.0
147.9
253.9
183.3
144.2
203.2
172.6
135.5
191.6
166.9
136.7
179.8
160.3
133.1
170.9
159.9
130.5
172.7
164.8
136.7
175.8
Special groupings:
Finished goods, excluding foods................
Finished energy goods...............................
Finished goods less energy........................
Finished consumer goods less energy.......
Finished goods less food and energy.........
166.2
156.3
162.8
168.7
161.7
176.6
178.7
169.8
176.9
167.2
176.4
182.4
168.0
174.9
165.7
180.1
194.8
168.8
175.9
166.1
182.8
204.6
169.4
176.8
166.0
185.9
214.0
170.2
177.7
166.7
182.2
198.6
170.8
178.3
167.4
182.1
197.0
171.2
178.7
167.9
176.3
167.8
173.1
180.2
170.8
169.6
144.1
172.7
179.7
170.6
166.1
130.6
172.3
179.0
170.8
167.9
135.9
172.6
179.3
171.3
168.2
136.4
172.3
178.7
171.6
167.0
132.4
171.9
178.5
171.4
167.9
135.7
172.3
179.3
171.3
and energy................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food
170.0
176.4
174.8
175.2
175.2
175.9
176.6
177.2
180.2
180.0
180.1
180.7
181.2
181.4
181.5
and energy..............................................
197.0
206.8
204.3
205.4
206.0
207.6
208.5
209.7
210.7
210.9
211.0
212.1
213.3
213.8
214.0
Intermediate materials less foods
and feeds..................................................
Intermediate foods and feeds.....................
Intermediate energy goods.........................
Intermediate goods less energy..................
171.5
154.4
174.6
167.6
188.7
181.6
208.1
180.9
187.7
180.5
213.4
178.4
193.3
184.5
228.7
181.4
197.8
186.6
240.3
183.9
203.6
195.5
253.5
187.9
199.7
194.3
231.3
188.9
199.1
190.0
227.5
188.8
189.5
179.9
197.4
184.5
179.4
174.7
167.3
179.8
171.8
167.9
147.7
175.3
172.0
166.9
153.2
174.0
170.1
164.7
148.7
172.8
168.4
164.0
142.6
172.3
167.9
164.4
146.2
170.9
and energy................................................
168.4
180.9
178.3
181.2
183.8
187.5
188.7
188.8
184.8
180.2
175.9
174.6
173.6
173.0
171.5
Crude energy materials..............................
Crude materials less energy.......................
Crude nonfood materials less energy.........
232.8
182.6
282.6
309.4
205.4
324.4
346.1
218.5
366.7
386.1
223.9
372.4
400.4
228.2
373.8
426.5
231.7
386.1
339.1
222.3
374.2
303.7
211.7
337.5
244.4
182.0
276.7
194.9
167.6
224.8
181.1
159.8
221.3
165.0
160.9
221.7
151.0
158.6
225.3
153.8
155.7
221.7
158.2
160.6
220.5
Finished consumer goods
Materials and components
Finished consumer goods less food
Intermediate materials less foods
p = preliminary.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 131
Current Labor Statistics: Price Data
42. Producer Price Indexes for the net output of major industry groups
[December 2003 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
NAICS
Industry
Total mining industries (December 1984=100).............................
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan. p Feb.p Mar.p
p
Apr.
301.6
390.8
186.1
170.1
329.0
436.2
184.7
172.2
341.4
456.0
185.8
173.1
363.8
490.4
191.8
175.9
299.2
383.6
190.4
177.1
273.4
341.2
188.9
177.6
223.3
259.4
184.1
179.3
184.9
199.5
174.7
179.9
174.8
184.1
173.0
177.0
164.1
165.7
175.4
175.9
155.0
150.3
179.9
167.9
157.2
152.9
181.6
168.2
161.1
159.4
184.6
162.2
175.3
171.2
112.9
110.6
102.2
152.7
106.2
120.2
109.0
347.7
179.4
174.0
114.2
111.4
102.2
152.4
108.2
120.5
109.2
384.1
182.0
176.1
114.1
111.7
102.1
153.4
109.2
120.9
109.5
406.0
185.6
180.3
115.0
112.6
102.3
153.8
108.9
121.8
109.8
429.6
182.6
180.5
114.8
114.2
102.5
154.1
109.1
124.5
110.0
382.2
182.9
179.2
115.2
114.9
102.7
154.8
109.1
126.6
110.4
382.6
176.8
176.4
116.1
114.9
103.0
154.6
107.6
127.3
110.3
300.0
169.4
173.4
116.0
114.7
103.2
154.3
106.7
127.2
110.2
221.4
164.1
171.1
116.3
113.5
103.2
154.3
106.2
127.0
110.3
167.0
164.7
170.0
117.8
113.9
103.2
155.2
104.9
126.4
109.9
180.7
164.2
168.7
119.4
113.0
103.8
155.1
104.0
126.2
109.6
177.9
163.0
167.7
120.3
112.7
103.8
155.0
103.0
125.6
109.4
166.6
163.8
168.5
119.9
112.9
103.7
154.5
102.7
124.6
109.5
182.5
325
326
(December 1984=100)………………………………….…………
Chemical manufacturing (December 1984=100)…………………… 221.1
156.8
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing
224.5
158.3
228.5
159.4
234.5
162.9
238.2
165.2
240.4
166.9
239.3
167.8
234.5
166.9
229.7
165.0
225.7
162.9
227.1
161.3
226.9
160.6
224.0
160.5
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
Primary metal manufacturing (December 1984=100)………………
Fabricated metal product manufacturing (December 1984=100)…
Machinery manufacturing………………………..……………………
Computer and electronic products manufacturing…………………
Electrical equipment, appliance, and components manufacturing
Transportation equipment manufacturing……………………………
Furniture and related product manufacturing
211.5
171.1
115.1
92.7
127.3
106.7
169.5
221.1
173.0
115.8
92.8
127.8
106.6
170.2
227.8
174.7
116.4
92.8
128.2
105.9
171.3
232.7
177.2
117.9
92.8
129.1
105.9
172.3
233.5
178.8
118.3
92.7
129.3
106.5
173.5
228.9
179.6
118.8
92.7
129.8
106.6
174.3
214.9
179.6
119.4
92.7
129.4
110.4
175.1
199.9
179.3
119.9
92.6
127.3
110.0
175.3
185.6
178.5
120.0
92.4
126.9
110.1
175.7
176.4
178.1
120.7
92.9
126.2
109.8
175.9
170.5
177.5
120.6
92.7
126.8
110.2
176.3
169.1
176.6
120.5
92.3
126.9
109.5
176.9
163.8
175.1
120.3
92.5
127.7
109.2
176.5
339
Miscellaneous manufacturing………………………………………… 109.3
109.4
109.9
110.8
110.5
110.4
110.6
110.4
110.8
112.2
111.5
111.6
111.1
118.9
119.4
119.7
127.2
65.7
136.4
118.3
120.2
118.7
127.3
59.3
136.5
118.1
119.6
105.8
127.8
67.6
141.8
118.4
120.3
106.5
133.8
77.2
140.6
117.5
122.0
111.0
133.3
72.7
162.4
117.6
121.1
110.8
134.0
81.7
150.6
116.8
121.0
108.9
134.6
76.8
148.7
118.5
120.8
108.1
136.4
76.3
154.1
117.1
120.6
107.8
136.4
77.7
155.2
117.4
121.1
112.7
135.3
67.1
152.0
116.4
121.0
107.1
137.5
71.0
152.7
117.2
120.7
102.4
137.9
62.4
159.0
118.5
121.4
106.9
139.7
59.2
146.5
Air transportation (December 1992=100)…………………………… 199.5
Water transportation…………………………………………………… 121.1
Postal service (June 1989=100)……………………………………… 175.5
203.7
124.7
180.5
213.5
127.0
180.5
213.6
130.4
180.5
213.0
133.7
180.5
208.6
135.1
180.5
209.3
135.0
180.5
203.8
130.6
180.5
198.5
128.0
180.5
197.8
126.6
180.5
189.3
120.6
181.6
184.9
117.5
181.6
186.7
118.0
181.6
137.0
141.7
146.8
145.7
140.8
136.0
133.4
133.1
133.1
132.6
130.2
126.7
123.2
107.3
125.4
162.7
118.5
118.2
123.2
106.9
125.4
162.7
118.6
118.5
123.2
106.9
125.4
162.6
118.6
118.5
123.5
106.9
125.6
163.2
119.4
118.6
123.6
106.9
126.3
163.2
119.7
118.7
123.7
107.6
126.5
163.0
119.8
118.9
124.0
107.7
127.3
164.9
120.6
119.1
124.3
107.7
127.3
164.9
120.6
119.2
124.2
107.8
127.4
165.3
120.7
119.2
124.6
108.0
127.4
165.2
121.7
119.2
125.5
108.3
127.6
166.2
122.1
119.8
125.7
108.4
127.4
166.4
121.7
120.4
125.8
109.0
127.2
166.6
122.6
120.5
110.9
106.4
101.0
100.4
119.6
109.5
110.2
107.3
120.3
161.1
112.7
110.7
105.5
101.3
100.8
119.6
110.5
106.9
108.3
122.0
160.9
114.0
110.4
104.4
101.1
100.8
120.2
110.4
106.9
108.2
125.4
161.1
112.7
111.0
103.9
101.0
100.9
119.1
110.9
106.8
109.2
136.7
161.5
115.3
111.1
105.5
101.5
101.0
120.2
112.7
104.4
109.3
135.0
161.5
115.5
110.2
107.0
101.5
101.1
120.5
111.7
103.8
108.6
131.3
162.6
115.4
110.9
112.0
101.2
101.3
117.7
111.5
103.1
109.2
128.2
163.2
115.6
111.1
111.5
101.2
101.3
115.8
111.7
103.0
108.2
126.9
163.2
115.0
110.7
109.3
101.4
101.3
115.2
112.8
102.8
109.8
123.7
163.2
115.7
111.9
107.0
101.2
100.6
113.4
113.8
98.6
108.5
129.6
164.2
115.1
111.9
108.6
101.1
100.7
112.4
108.5
101.6
110.2
133.1
164.6
115.1
111.4
109.3
101.0
100.8
108.4
110.1
101.6
110.8
133.0
166.0
115.3
111.5
106.6
100.6
100.9
110.9
109.1
101.9
109.6
134.9
166.1
115.2
140.5
105.7
122.9
98.8
108.9
112.2
145.6
140.5
106.3
122.7
98.8
109.0
111.9
144.9
141.3
106.3
122.8
98.8
109.1
112.6
147.0
141.6
106.3
123.0
98.8
109.0
112.3
149.9
141.6
106.3
123.4
98.8
109.3
113.3
150.9
141.6
106.3
123.1
101.4
109.4
114.0
146.9
141.8
106.3
123.6
101.4
109.4
113.0
145.6
141.8
106.3
124.1
101.4
109.4
113.3
144.3
141.9
106.3
124.2
101.4
109.1
111.3
141.6
142.0
104.9
123.3
101.4
109.8
113.6
142.4
142.3
105.2
124.1
101.4
109.7
114.3
139.7
142.3
105.3
123.2
102.6
109.5
116.4
142.3
142.9
105.4
124.1
99.7
109.6
116.3
142.0
211
212
213
311
312
313
315
316
321
322
323
324
Oil and gas extraction (December 1985=100) .............................
Mining, except oil and gas……………………………………………
Mining support activities………………………………………………
Total manufacturing industries (December 1984=100)................
Food manufacturing (December 1984=100)…………………………
Beverage and tobacco manufacturing...........................................
Textile mills....................................................................................
Apparel manufacturing………………………………...………………
Leather and allied product manufacturing (December 1984=100)
Wood products manufacturing………………………………………
Paper manufacturing.....................................................................
Printing and related support activities...........................................
Petroleum and coal products manufacturing
(December 1984=100)………….…………………………………
(December 1984=100)………………………………………………
Retail trade
441
442
443
446
447
454
Motor vehicle and parts dealers………………………………………
Furniture and home furnishings stores………………………………
Electronics and appliance stores……………………………………
Health and personal care stores………………………………………
Gasoline stations (June 2001=100)…………………………………
Nonstore retailers………………………………………………………
Transportation and warehousing
481
483
491
Utilities
221
Utilities…………………………………………………………………… 134.5
Health care and social assistance
6211
6215
6216
622
6231
62321
Office of physicians (December 1996=100)…………………………
Medical and diagnostic laboratories…………………………………
Home health care services (December 1996=100)…………………
Hospitals (December 1992=100)……………………………………
Nursing care facilities…………………………………………………
Residential mental retardation facilities………………………………
Other services industries
511
515
517
5182
523
53112
5312
5313
5321
5411
541211
5413
Publishing industries, except Internet ………………………………
Broadcasting, except Internet…………………………………………
Telecommunications……………………………………………………
Data processing and related services………………………………
Security, commodity contracts, and like activity……………………
Lessors or nonresidental buildings (except miniwarehouse)………
Offices of real estate agents and brokers……………………………
Real estate support activities…………………………………………
Automotive equipment rental and leasing (June 2001=100)………
Legal services (December 1996=100)………………………………
Offices of certified public accountants………………………………
Architectural, engineering, and related services
(December 1996=100)………………………………………………
54181
Advertising agencies……………………………………………………
5613
Employment services (December 1996=100)………………………
56151
Travel agencies…………………………………………………………
56172
Janitorial services………………………………………………………
5621
Waste collection…………………………………………………………
721
Accommodation (December 1996=100)……………………………
p = preliminary.
132
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
43. Annual data: Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing
[1982 = 100]
Index
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Finished goods
Total...............................................................................
Foods............................…………………………….……
Energy............……………………………………….….…
Other…...............................………………………….……
130.7
134.3
75.1
143.7
133.0
135.1
78.8
146.1
138.0
137.2
94.1
148.0
140.7
141.3
96.7
150.0
138.9
140.1
88.8
150.2
143.3
145.9
102.0
150.5
148.5
152.7
113.0
152.7
155.7
155.7
132.6
156.4
160.4
156.7
145.9
158.7
166.6
167.0
156.3
161.7
177.1
178.3
178.7
167.2
123.0
123.2
80.8
133.5
123.2
120.8
84.3
133.1
129.2
119.2
101.7
136.6
129.7
124.3
104.1
136.4
127.8
123.2
95.9
135.8
133.7
134.4
111.9
138.5
142.6
145.0
123.2
146.5
154.0
146.0
149.2
154.6
164.0
146.2
162.8
163.8
170.7
161.4
174.6
168.4
188.3
180.4
208.1
180.9
96.8
103.9
68.6
84.5
98.2
98.7
78.5
91.1
120.6
100.2
122.1
118.0
121.0
106.1
122.3
101.5
108.1
99.5
102.0
101.0
135.3
113.5
147.2
116.9
159.0
127.0
174.6
149.2
182.2
122.7
234.0
176.7
184.8
119.3
226.9
210.0
207.1
146.7
232.8
238.7
251.8
163.4
309.4
308.5
Intermediate materials, supplies, and
components
Total...............................................................................
Foods............……………………………………….….…
Energy…...............................………………………….…
Other.................…………...………..........………….……
Crude materials for further processing
Total...............................................................................
Foods............................…………………………….……
Energy............……………………………………….….…
Other…...............................………………………….……
44. U.S. export price indexes by end-use category
[2000 = 100]
Category
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
2009
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
ALL COMMODITIES……………....................................
124.4
124.8
126.1
128.0
125.9
124.9
122.3
118.4
115.8
116.6
116.2
115.4
116.0
Foods, feeds, and beverages……………...……………
Agricultural foods, feeds, and beverages….............
Nonagricultural (fish, beverages) food products……
192.8
198.2
146.4
193.3
198.9
145.5
198.0
204.0
146.1
211.5
218.9
147.0
189.6
194.7
145.7
190.4
195.6
145.5
175.0
178.3
147.8
164.8
166.9
148.3
155.1
156.6
143.5
165.4
167.6
147.9
162.1
164.1
145.7
156.5
158.1
144.1
162.6
164.8
145.2
Industrial supplies and materials……………...………… 167.9
169.6
173.2
177.8
174.0
169.4
161.8
148.2
139.6
139.0
137.8
136.4
136.7
Agricultural industrial supplies and materials…........
157.9
156.9
158.0
162.8
160.9
157.4
148.5
134.2
126.1
125.6
125.9
123.3
123.6
Fuels and lubricants…...............................…………
259.3
275.8
297.2
312.3
275.8
267.2
239.2
193.4
166.8
165.8
156.2
146.6
158.2
Nonagricultural supplies and materials,
excluding fuel and building materials…………...…
Selected building materials…...............................…
160.1
114.1
160.1
113.9
161.6
113.8
165.1
114.5
165.3
115.2
160.8
115.4
155.5
116.6
145.6
115.6
138.8
115.1
138.2
115.5
138.0
115.7
137.9
114.5
136.7
114.0
Capital goods……………...…………………………….… 101.5
Electric and electrical generating equipment…........ 108.7
Nonelectrical machinery…...............................……… 93.9
101.6
108.6
93.9
102.0
108.9
94.2
101.9
109.3
94.0
101.9
109.2
94.1
101.8
109.5
93.9
101.7
109.7
93.6
101.6
109.2
93.5
101.5
109.0
93.3
102.1
107.3
93.7
102.3
106.6
94.0
102.2
106.8
93.7
102.6
106.8
94.0
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines……………...
107.5
107.5
107.4
107.7
107.8
107.9
108.2
108.1
108.0
108.4
108.1
108.2
108.2
Consumer goods, excluding automotive……………... 108.1
Nondurables, manufactured…...............................… 109.8
Durables, manufactured…………...………..........…… 105.1
108.1
110.0
105.1
108.2
110.1
105.2
108.5
109.8
106.0
109.0
109.6
107.2
109.3
109.0
108.7
109.9
108.9
109.9
109.1
107.4
109.8
109.0
107.2
109.7
109.2
108.8
109.7
109.2
109.1
109.8
108.2
106.9
109.8
108.3
107.2
109.7
Agricultural commodities……………...…………………
Nonagricultural commodities……………...……………
190.8
120.1
195.2
121.2
208.2
122.3
188.2
121.5
188.3
120.4
172.5
118.7
160.6
115.4
150.8
113.2
159.7
113.5
156.9
113.3
151.5
112.8
157.0
113.1
190.5
119.6
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 133
Current Labor Statistics: Price Data
45. U.S. import price indexes by end-use category
[2000 = 100]
Category
2008
Apr.
May
June
July
2009
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
ALL COMMODITIES……………....................................
137.3
141.2
145.5
147.5
143.0
137.8
129.6
120.0
114.5
113.0
112.9
113.1
114.9
Foods, feeds, and beverages……………...……………
Agricultural foods, feeds, and beverages….............
Nonagricultural (fish, beverages) food products……
143.7
159.8
107.2
145.0
162.2
105.9
147.7
165.1
108.4
149.7
167.6
109.1
150.4
167.9
110.9
147.9
165.1
109.1
146.0
162.8
108.0
139.5
154.4
105.8
142.3
159.4
103.8
142.3
159.0
104.5
137.7
152.9
103.4
136.8
151.1
104.6
136.6
150.5
105.1
Industrial supplies and materials……………...………… 248.7
265.0
283.0
290.7
270.7
248.9
213.5
174.6
150.4
143.7
144.7
147.3
155.3
Fuels and lubricants…...............................…………
Petroleum and petroleum products…………...……
354.6
375.8
388.3
412.2
423.7
450.3
437.6
465.0
392.0
419.5
346.3
371.5
274.1
288.9
197.8
201.6
153.9
150.8
146.6
143.8
150.3
151.4
157.8
163.4
177.0
188.5
Paper and paper base stocks…...............................
116.2
117.1
117.3
118.9
119.7
119.9
116.4
115.1
113.2
110.3
108.4
105.8
104.1
Materials associated with nondurable
supplies and materials…...............................………
Selected building materials…...............................…
Unfinished metals associated with durable goods…
Nonmetals associated with durable goods…...........
148.7
114.3
259.2
106.2
149.6
116.2
263.6
107.3
152.9
119.2
273.2
107.6
157.4
121.3
273.4
110.7
159.6
122.1
270.3
111.8
162.4
122.7
255.4
111.4
160.2
120.4
236.7
110.9
155.0
118.8
209.3
110.4
148.5
118.1
185.7
109.0
138.8
117.2
176.5
107.1
137.1
116.6
175.8
106.2
137.4
116.4
171.2
105.1
134.8
115.5
170.2
104.7
Capital goods……………...…………………………….… 93.0
Electric and electrical generating equipment…........
111.5
Nonelectrical machinery…...............................……… 88.0
93.3
111.7
88.4
93.2
112.0
88.2
93.4
112.7
88.4
93.4
113.0
88.3
93.3
112.9
88.2
93.3
112.3
88.1
92.9
111.8
87.7
92.7
111.4
87.5
92.7
111.1
87.5
92.2
110.2
87.1
91.6
109.7
86.3
91.7
109.6
86.4
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines……………...
107.8
107.8
107.9
108.1
108.3
108.1
108.3
107.9
107.8
108.0
107.9
107.7
107.6
Consumer goods, excluding automotive……………...
Nondurables, manufactured…...............................…
Durables, manufactured…………...………..........……
Nonmanufactured consumer goods…………...………
104.6
107.9
101.1
105.6
104.8
108.0
101.3
105.8
104.9
107.9
101.5
106.6
105.1
108.2
101.7
106.7
105.2
108.4
101.7
106.6
105.1
108.2
101.8
106.6
105.1
108.1
101.8
105.9
104.6
108.0
101.1
103.2
104.4
108.2
100.7
103.6
104.4
108.9
100.1
102.7
104.4
108.9
99.9
104.4
103.9
108.4
99.7
101.1
104.1
108.5
100.0
102.6
46. U.S. international price Indexes for selected categories of services
[2000 = 100, unless indicated otherwise]
Category
134
Apr.
2007
Mar.
June
2008
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
June
2009
Sept.
Dec.
Mar.
Import air freight……………...........................................
Export air freight……………...……………………………
130.7
117.0
132.3
117.0
134.2
119.8
141.8
127.1
144.4
132.0
158.7
140.8
157.1
144.3
138.5
135.0
132.8
122.8
Import air passenger fares (Dec. 2006 = 100)……………
Export air passenger fares (Dec. 2006 = 100)…............
122.9
140.2
144.6
147.3
140.2
154.6
135.3
155.7
131.3
156.4
171.6
171.4
161.3
171.9
157.3
164.6
134.9
140.0
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
47. Indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, and unit costs, quarterly data seasonally adjusted
[1992 = 100]
2006
Item
I
II
2007
III
IV
I
II
2008
III
IV
I
II
2009
III
IV
I
Business
Output per hour of all persons........................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Unit labor costs…...............................……………………
Unit nonlabor payments…………...………..........………
Implicit price deflator………………………………………
135.9
167.8
120.4
123.5
133.4
127.2
136.5
168.1
119.6
123.1
136.3
128.0
136.0
169.0
119.2
124.3
136.3
128.8
135.9
172.6
122.1
127.0
133.3
129.4
135.7
174.3
122.1
128.5
134.3
130.7
137.5
175.4
121.6
127.5
137.5
131.2
140.0
177.4
122.3
126.7
139.8
131.6
139.6
178.9
121.6
128.2
139.0
132.2
140.4
180.5
121.3
128.6
140.2
132.9
142.0
181.3
120.6
127.7
142.4
133.2
142.8
183.9
120.4
128.8
144.3
134.6
142.6
185.8
124.4
130.3
141.8
134.6
143.2
187.8
126.5
131.2
142.3
135.3
134.8
166.5
119.5
123.5
135.5
127.9
135.6
167.0
118.9
123.1
138.6
128.8
135.1
168.0
118.5
124.3
138.4
129.5
134.9
171.7
121.4
127.2
134.7
130.0
134.7
173.4
121.5
128.7
135.1
131.1
136.3
174.0
120.6
127.6
138.3
131.5
138.7
175.8
121.2
126.8
140.5
131.8
138.5
177.8
120.8
128.4
139.7
132.5
139.4
179.4
120.6
128.7
141.0
133.2
141.0
180.2
119.8
127.8
143.3
133.5
141.7
182.7
119.7
128.9
145.6
135.0
141.5
184.7
123.7
130.5
143.4
135.2
142.1
186.8
125.8
131.5
144.2
136.2
146.0
164.2
117.8
112.6
112.5
113.0
182.6
131.6
118.8
145.7
164.4
117.0
113.3
112.8
114.6
183.4
133.0
119.5
146.7
165.1
116.5
113.1
112.5
114.5
193.4
135.6
120.3
145.6
167.8
118.7
115.6
115.3
116.5
174.4
132.0
120.8
145.4
170.0
119.1
117.1
116.9
117.6
172.4
132.2
122.1
146.7
171.1
118.6
116.9
116.6
117.9
173.1
132.6
122.0
147.8
172.8
119.1
117.2
116.9
118.2
167.4
131.4
121.7
148.3
174.9
118.9
118.3
117.9
119.3
156.4
129.2
121.7
148.1
176.1
118.4
119.0
118.9
119.4
150.8
127.8
121.8
151.2
177.4
118.0
118.0
117.3
119.8
147.8
127.2
120.6
153.6
180.0
117.9
118.3
117.3
121.3
156.7
130.8
121.8
151.9
182.1
121.9
121.2
119.9
124.9
144.1
130.0
123.3
151.1
184.9
124.5
124.1
122.4
129.0
136.1
130.9
125.2
172.6
170.7
122.5
98.9
172.5
169.4
120.6
98.2
174.4
170.4
120.2
97.7
175.3
174.4
123.4
99.5
176.9
176.6
123.7
99.8
178.2
176.3
122.3
99.0
180.1
177.0
122.0
98.2
181.6
179.6
122.1
98.9
182.8
181.1
121.7
99.1
181.6
182.7
121.5
100.6
180.3
185.1
121.2
102.7
178.2
190.3
127.4
106.8
177.0
196.4
132.3
111.0
Nonfarm business
Output per hour of all persons........................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Unit labor costs…...............................……………………
Unit nonlabor payments…………...………..........………
Implicit price deflator………………………………………
Nonfinancial corporations
Output per hour of all employees...................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Total unit costs…...............................……………………
Unit labor costs.............................................................
Unit nonlabor costs......................................................
Unit profits......................................................................
Unit nonlabor payments…………...………..........………
Implicit price deflator………………………………………
Manufacturing
Output per hour of all persons........................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Unit labor costs…...............................……………………
NOTE: Dash indicates data not available.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 135
Current Labor Statistics: Productivity Data
48. Annual indexes of multifactor productivity and related measures, selected years
[2000 = 100, unless otherwise indicated]
Item
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Private business
Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons......……………..............
90.0
Output per unit of capital services……………………… 105.3
Multifactor productivity……………………………………
95.3
Output…...............................………………………….……
82.8
91.7
105.3
96.2
87.2
94.3
103.8
97.4
91.5
97.2
102.3
98.8
96.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.8
96.0
100.4
100.5
107.1
94.7
102.5
102.0
111.2
95.5
105.4
105.2
114.5
97.2
108.2
109.7
116.6
98.1
109.7
113.6
117.6
98.4
110.3
117.1
119.5
97.7
110.7
119.5
122.7
95.6
112.0
120.4
90.8
78.7
86.9
85.5
94.4
82.9
90.7
87.1
96.5
88.2
93.9
90.9
98.8
94.1
97.4
95.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
98.2
104.6
100.0
107.0
96.2
107.7
99.5
113.1
95.8
110.2
99.9
116.5
96.9
112.9
101.4
117.8
98.8
115.8
103.6
118.9
101.2
119.1
106.2
119.6
102.3
122.3
108.0
122.3
100.3
125.9
107.6
128.3
Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons........……………………… 90.5
Output per unit of capital services……………………… 106.1
95.8
Multifactor productivity……………………………………
Output…...............................………………………….……
82.8
92.0
105.8
96.5
87.2
94.5
104.2
97.7
91.5
97.3
102.6
99.0
96.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.7
96.0
100.4
100.5
107.1
94.5
102.5
102.1
111.1
95.2
105.2
105.2
114.2
96.9
108.0
109.6
116.1
97.7
109.3
113.5
117.2
97.9
109.9
117.1
118.9
97.0
110.1
119.4
122.3
95.1
111.4
120.4
90.4
78.1
86.5
85.3
94.0
82.4
90.4
86.9
96.3
87.8
93.7
90.7
98.8
93.9
97.3
94.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
98.4
104.7
100.2
107.0
96.4
107.9
99.6
113.2
96.0
110.5
100.0
116.7
97.1
113.1
101.5
117.8
99.1
116.1
103.8
118.9
101.6
119.6
106.6
119.7
102.8
123.1
108.4
122.6
100.9
126.7
108.1
128.8
Productivity:
Output per hour of all persons...…………………………
Output per unit of capital services………………………
Multifactor productivity……………………………………
Output…...............................………………………….……
82.7
98.0
91.2
83.1
87.3
100.6
93.8
89.2
92.0
100.7
95.9
93.8
96.1
100.4
96.7
97.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.6
93.5
98.7
94.9
108.6
92.3
102.4
94.3
115.3
93.2
105.2
95.2
117.9
95.4
108.0
96.9
123.5
98.9
108.4
100.4
125.0
100.2
110.1
102.3
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Inputs:
Hours of all persons.....................................................
Capital services…………...………..........………….……
Energy……………….……….........................................
Nonenergy materials....................................................
Purchased business services.......................................
Combined units of all factor inputs…………...………...
100.4
84.8
110.4
86.0
88.5
91.1
102.2
88.7
108.2
92.9
92.1
95.1
101.9
93.2
105.4
97.7
95.0
97.8
101.3
97.0
105.5
102.6
100.0
100.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
93.5
101.5
90.6
93.3
100.7
96.2
86.8
102.1
89.3
88.4
98.2
92.1
82.6
102.1
84.4
87.7
99.1
90.5
82.2
101.6
84.0
87.3
97.0
89.7
81.3
101.5
91.6
92.4
104.5
92.7
81.8
102.0
86.6
91.5
106.6
92.9
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Inputs:
Labor input...................................................................
Capital services…………...………..........………….……
Combined units of labor and capital input………………
Capital per hour of all persons.......................……………
Private nonfarm business
Inputs:
Labor input...................................................................
Capital services…………...………..........………….……
Combined units of labor and capital input………………
Capital per hour of all persons......…………………………
Manufacturing [1996 = 100]
NOTE: Dash indicates data not available.
136
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
49. Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years
[1992 = 100]
Item
1973
1963
1983
1993
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Business
Output per hour of all persons........................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Unit labor costs…...............................……………………
Unit nonlabor payments…………...………..........………
Implicit price deflator………………………………………
55.0
15.6
66.6
28.4
26.6
27.7
73.4
28.9
85.1
39.4
37.5
38.7
83.0
66.3
90.5
79.8
76.3
78.5
100.4
102.2
99.8
101.8
102.6
102.1
116.1
134.7
112.0
116.0
107.2
112.7
119.1
140.3
113.5
117.9
110.0
114.9
123.9
145.3
115.7
117.3
114.2
116.1
128.7
151.2
117.7
117.5
118.3
117.8
132.4
157.0
119.0
118.5
124.6
120.8
134.8
163.2
119.7
121.0
130.5
124.6
136.1
169.4
120.3
124.5
134.8
128.3
138.2
176.5
121.9
127.7
137.7
131.4
141.9
182.8
121.6
128.8
142.1
133.8
57.8
16.1
68.7
27.8
26.3
27.3
75.3
29.1
85.5
38.6
35.3
37.4
84.5
66.6
91.1
78.9
76.1
77.9
100.4
102.0
99.5
101.6
103.1
102.1
115.7
134.2
111.6
116.0
108.7
113.3
118.6
139.5
112.8
117.7
111.6
115.4
123.5
144.6
115.1
117.1
116.0
116.7
128.0
150.4
117.1
117.5
119.6
118.3
131.6
156.0
118.2
118.5
125.5
121.1
133.9
162.1
118.9
121.1
132.1
125.1
135.1
168.3
119.5
124.5
136.8
129.1
137.0
175.2
121.0
127.9
138.4
131.7
140.9
181.7
120.8
129.0
143.3
134.2
62.6
17.9
76.4
27.2
28.6
23.4
57.3
32.5
29.9
74.8
31.0
91.2
39.9
41.4
35.7
54.9
40.8
41.2
85.7
68.9
94.2
80.7
80.4
81.6
91.2
84.2
81.7
100.3
101.8
99.3
101.0
101.4
99.9
114.1
103.7
102.2
122.5
133.0
110.6
107.4
108.6
104.2
108.7
105.4
107.5
124.7
138.6
112.1
111.6
111.2
112.6
82.2
104.5
108.9
129.7
143.6
114.3
110.7
110.7
110.8
98.0
107.4
109.6
134.6
149.5
116.4
111.0
111.0
111.1
109.9
110.7
110.9
139.7
154.0
116.8
110.0
110.3
109.3
144.8
118.8
113.1
143.4
159.6
117.1
111.7
111.3
112.7
163.0
126.2
116.3
146.0
165.4
117.5
113.6
113.3
114.6
183.5
133.0
119.9
147.1
172.2
118.9
117.4
117.1
118.3
167.3
131.4
121.9
151.2
178.9
119.0
119.1
118.3
121.3
149.9
129.0
121.9
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
102.6
102.0
99.6
99.5
101.1
100.6
139.1
134.7
112.0
96.9
103.5
101.4
141.2
137.8
111.5
97.6
102.0
100.6
151.0
147.8
117.7
97.9
100.3
99.5
160.4
158.2
123.2
98.7
102.9
101.5
164.0
161.5
122.5
98.5
110.2
106.4
171.9
164.5
120.7
95.7
122.2
113.5
173.7
171.2
121.6
98.6
126.6
117.4
179.2
177.4
122.5
99.0
–
–
180.7
184.7
122.8
102.2
–
–
Nonfarm business
Output per hour of all persons........................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Unit labor costs…...............................……………………
Unit nonlabor payments…………...………..........………
Implicit price deflator………………………………………
Nonfinancial corporations
Output per hour of all employees...................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Total unit costs…...............................……………………
Unit labor costs.............................................................
Unit nonlabor costs......................................................
Unit profits......................................................................
Unit nonlabor payments…………...………..........………
Implicit price deflator………………………………………
Manufacturing
Output per hour of all persons........................................
Compensation per hour…………………………….………
Real compensation per hour………………………………
Unit labor costs…...............................……………………
Unit nonlabor payments…………...………..........………
Implicit price deflator………………………………………
Dash indicates data not available.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 137
Current Labor Statistics: Productivity Data
50. Annual indexes of output per hour for selected NAICS industries
[1997=100]
NAICS
Industry
1987
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Mining
21
211
2111
212
2121
2122
2123
213
2131
Mining……………………………..………………………
Oil and gas extraction…………………………………
Oil and gas extraction…………………………………
Mining, except oil and gas……………………………
Coal mining…………………………………………….
Metal ore mining…………………………………………
Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying…………
Support activities for mining……………………………
Support activities for mining……………………………
85.3
80.1
80.1
69.3
57.8
71.0
88.0
79.4
79.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
103.5
101.2
101.2
104.5
106.5
108.9
101.2
96.0
96.0
111.4
107.9
107.9
105.8
110.3
112.3
101.2
98.5
98.5
111.0
119.4
119.4
106.3
115.8
121.5
96.1
100.9
100.9
109.1
121.6
121.6
109.0
114.3
132.2
99.4
110.4
110.4
113.5
123.8
123.8
110.7
111.7
138.2
103.6
103.5
103.5
116.0
130.1
130.1
113.8
113.4
142.2
108.3
136.3
136.3
106.8
111.7
111.7
116.2
113.4
137.1
114.3
170.3
170.3
96.0
107.8
107.8
114.2
107.8
129.9
118.4
144.9
144.9
87.3
100.4
100.4
111.0
99.8
123.1
120.0
147.0
147.0
81.7
97.0
97.0
105.2
101.0
104.2
109.8
156.8
156.8
2211
2212
Power generation and supply…………………………
Natural gas distribution…………………………………
65.6
67.8
100.0
100.0
103.7
99.0
103.5
102.7
107.0
113.2
106.4
110.1
102.9
115.4
105.1
114.1
107.5
118.3
114.3
122.2
115.4
119.1
113.3
119.7
311
3111
3112
3113
3114
Food……………………………..………………………
Animal food………………………………………………
Grain and oilseed milling………………………………
Sugar and confectionery products……………………
Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty………
94.1
83.6
81.1
87.6
92.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
103.9
109.0
107.5
103.5
107.1
105.9
110.9
116.1
106.5
109.5
107.1
109.7
113.1
109.9
111.8
109.5
131.4
119.5
108.6
121.4
113.8
142.7
122.4
108.0
126.9
116.8
165.8
123.9
112.5
123.0
117.3
149.5
130.3
118.2
126.2
123.3
165.5
133.0
130.7
132.0
121.1
150.4
130.7
129.2
126.9
-
3115
3116
3117
3118
3119
Dairy products…………………………………………… 82.7
Animal slaughtering and processing…………………
97.4
Seafood product preparation and packaging………. 123.1
Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing…………………… 100.9
Other food products……………………………………
97.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
120.2
103.8
107.8
93.6
101.2
131.6
108.6
111.4
95.9
102.6
140.5
108.3
112.6
97.1
103.7
153.0
109.9
106.2
105.0
107.3
169.8
108.9
111.9
110.5
106.6
173.2
109.3
118.8
107.4
108.0
162.2
113.8
119.3
109.6
117.4
186.1
115.4
116.2
110.2
116.9
203.8
110.5
116.3
-
312
3121
3122
313
3131
Beverages and tobacco products……………………
Beverages………………………………………………
Tobacco and tobacco products………………………
Textile mills………………………………………………
Fiber, yarn, and thread mills……………………………
78.1
77.1
71.9
73.7
66.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
97.6
99.0
98.5
102.6
102.1
87.3
90.7
91.0
106.2
103.9
88.3
90.8
95.9
106.7
101.3
89.5
92.7
98.2
109.5
109.1
82.6
99.4
67.0
125.3
133.3
90.9
108.3
78.7
136.1
148.8
94.7
114.1
82.4
138.6
154.1
100.5
120.3
93.1
152.8
143.5
94.0
112.0
94.9
150.5
139.7
-
3132
3133
314
3141
3149
Fabric mills………………………………………………
Textile and fabric finishing mills………………………
Textile product mills……………………………………
Textile furnishings mills…………………………………
Other textile product mills………………………………
68.0
91.3
93.0
91.2
92.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
104.2
101.2
98.7
99.3
96.7
110.0
102.2
102.5
99.1
107.6
110.1
104.4
107.1
104.5
108.9
110.3
108.5
104.5
103.1
103.1
125.4
119.8
107.3
105.5
105.1
137.3
125.1
112.7
114.4
104.2
138.6
127.7
123.4
122.3
120.4
164.2
139.8
128.0
125.7
128.9
170.5
126.2
121.1
117.3
126.1
-
315
3151
3152
3159
316
Apparel………………………………………………….
Apparel knitting mills……………………………………
Cut and sew apparel……………………………………
Accessories and other apparel………………………
Leather and allied products……………………………
71.9
76.2
69.8
97.8
71.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.8
96.1
102.3
109.0
106.6
111.7
101.4
114.6
99.3
112.7
116.8
108.9
119.8
98.3
120.3
116.5
105.6
119.5
105.2
122.4
102.9
112.0
103.9
76.1
97.7
112.4
105.6
117.2
78.7
99.8
103.4
96.6
108.4
70.8
109.5
110.9
120.0
113.5
74.0
123.6
114.0
123.7
117.6
67.3
132.5
-
3161
3162
3169
321
3211
Leather and hide tanning and finishing………………
Footwear…………………………………………………
Other leather products…………………………………
Wood products…………………………………………
Sawmills and wood preservation………………………
94.0
76.7
92.3
95.0
77.6
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.3
102.1
113.3
101.2
100.3
98.1
117.3
110.4
102.9
104.7
100.1
122.3
122.8
102.7
105.4
100.3
130.7
117.6
106.1
108.8
81.2
102.7
96.2
113.6
114.4
82.2
104.8
100.3
114.7
121.3
93.5
100.7
127.7
115.6
118.2
118.7
105.6
149.7
123.1
127.3
118.1
115.4
174.6
124.9
129.7
-
3212
3219
322
3221
3222
Plywood and engineered wood products……………
99.7
Other wood products…………………………………… 103.0
Paper and paper products……………………………
85.8
Pulp, paper, and paperboard mills……………………
81.7
Converted paper products……………………………
89.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.1
101.0
102.3
102.5
102.5
98.7
104.5
104.1
111.1
100.1
98.8
103.0
106.3
116.3
101.1
105.2
104.7
106.8
119.9
100.5
110.3
113.9
114.2
133.1
105.6
107.0
113.9
118.9
141.4
109.6
102.9
119.6
123.4
148.0
112.9
110.2
126.3
124.5
147.7
114.8
117.4
125.3
127.3
151.1
116.6
-
323
3231
324
3241
325
Printing and related support activities…………………
Printing and related support activities…………………
Petroleum and coal products…………………………
Petroleum and coal products…………………………
Chemicals………………………………………………
97.6
97.6
71.1
71.1
85.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.6
100.6
102.2
102.2
99.9
102.8
102.8
107.1
107.1
103.5
104.6
104.6
113.5
113.5
106.6
105.3
105.3
112.1
112.1
105.3
110.2
110.2
118.0
118.0
114.2
111.1
111.1
119.2
119.2
118.4
114.5
114.5
123.4
123.4
125.8
119.5
119.5
123.8
123.8
134.1
121.1
121.1
122.8
122.8
137.5
-
3251
3252
3253
3254
3255
Basic chemicals…………………………………………
Resin, rubber, and artificial fibers……………………
Agricultural chemicals…………………………………
Pharmaceuticals and medicines………………………
Paints, coatings, and adhesives………………………
94.6
77.4
80.4
87.3
89.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.8
106.0
98.8
93.8
100.1
115.7
109.8
87.4
95.7
100.3
117.5
109.8
92.1
95.6
100.8
108.8
106.2
90.0
99.5
105.6
123.8
123.1
99.2
97.4
108.9
136.0
122.2
108.4
101.5
115.2
154.4
121.9
117.4
104.1
119.1
165.2
130.5
132.5
110.0
120.8
169.3
134.9
130.7
115.0
115.4
-
3256
3259
326
3261
3262
Soap, cleaning compounds, and toiletries……………
Other chemical products and preparations…………
Plastics and rubber products…………………………
Plastics products………………………………………
Rubber products…………………………………………
84.4
75.4
80.9
83.1
75.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
98.0
99.2
103.2
104.2
99.4
93.0
109.3
107.9
109.9
100.2
102.8
119.7
110.2
112.3
101.7
106.0
110.4
112.3
114.6
102.3
124.1
120.8
120.8
123.8
107.1
118.2
123.0
126.0
129.5
111.0
135.3
121.3
128.7
131.9
114.4
153.1
123.5
132.6
135.6
118.7
162.9
118.1
132.8
133.8
124.9
-
327
3271
Nonmetallic mineral products…………………………
Clay products and refractories…………………………
87.6
86.9
100.0
100.0
103.7
101.2
104.3
102.7
102.5
102.9
100.0
98.4
104.6
99.7
111.2
103.5
108.7
109.2
115.3
114.6
114.6
111.9
-
Utilities
Manufacturing
138
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
50. Continued - Annual indexes of output per hour for selected NAICS industries
[1997=100]
NAICS
Industry
1987
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
3272
3273
3274
3279
331
Glass and glass products………………………………
Cement and concrete products………………………
Lime and gypsum products……………………………
Other nonmetallic mineral products…………………
Primary metals…………………………………………
82.4
93.6
88.2
83.0
81.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.3
105.1
114.9
99.0
102.0
106.7
105.9
104.4
95.6
102.8
108.1
101.6
98.5
96.6
101.3
102.9
98.0
101.8
98.6
101.0
107.5
102.4
99.0
106.9
115.2
115.3
108.3
107.1
113.6
118.2
113.8
102.8
104.7
110.6
132.0
123.1
106.5
119.3
118.9
135.5
132.9
103.1
116.5
116.3
134.3
-
3311
3312
3313
3314
3315
Iron and steel mills and ferroalloy production………
Steel products from purchased steel…………………
Alumina and aluminum production……………………
Other nonferrous metal production……………………
Foundries…………………………………………………
64.8
79.7
90.5
96.8
81.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.3
100.6
101.5
111.3
101.2
104.8
93.8
103.5
108.4
104.5
106.0
96.4
96.6
102.3
103.6
104.4
97.9
96.2
99.5
107.4
125.1
96.8
124.5
107.6
116.7
130.4
93.9
126.8
120.6
116.3
164.9
88.6
137.3
123.1
123.9
163.1
90.8
154.4
122.3
128.6
163.5
86.1
151.7
115.7
131.8
-
332
3321
3322
3323
3324
Fabricated metal products……………………………
Forging and stamping…………………………………
Cutlery and handtools…………………………………
Architectural and structural metals……………………
Boilers, tanks, and shipping containers………………
87.3
85.4
86.3
88.7
86.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.3
103.5
99.9
100.9
100.0
103.0
110.9
108.0
102.0
96.5
104.8
121.1
105.9
100.6
94.2
104.8
120.7
110.3
101.6
94.4
110.9
125.0
113.4
106.0
98.9
114.4
133.1
113.2
108.8
101.6
113.4
142.0
107.6
105.4
93.6
116.9
147.6
114.1
109.2
95.7
119.7
152.7
116.6
113.5
96.6
-
3325
3326
3327
3328
3329
Hardware…………………………………………………
Spring and wire products………………………………
Machine shops and threaded products………………
Coating, engraving, and heat treating metals………
Other fabricated metal products………………………
88.7
82.2
76.9
75.5
91.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.5
110.6
99.6
100.9
101.9
105.2
111.4
104.2
101.0
99.6
114.3
112.6
108.2
105.5
99.9
113.5
111.9
108.8
107.3
96.7
115.5
125.7
114.8
116.1
106.5
125.4
135.3
115.7
118.3
111.6
126.0
133.8
114.6
125.3
111.2
131.8
143.2
116.3
136.5
112.5
131.1
140.6
117.1
135.5
117.7
-
333
3331
3332
3333
3334
Machinery………………………………………………
Agriculture, construction, and mining machinery……
Industrial machinery……………………………………
Commercial and service industry machinery…………
HVAC and commercial refrigeration equipment……
82.3
74.6
75.1
87.0
84.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
102.9
103.3
95.1
106.3
106.2
104.7
94.3
105.8
110.0
110.2
111.5
100.3
130.0
101.3
107.9
109.0
100.3
105.8
94.5
110.8
116.6
103.7
117.6
97.8
118.6
125.2
116.1
117.0
104.7
130.0
127.0
125.4
126.5
106.5
132.8
134.1
129.4
122.4
115.1
137.1
137.4
129.1
135.3
122.3
133.4
-
3335
3336
3339
334
3341
Metalworking machinery………………………………
Turbine and power transmission equipment…………
Other general purpose machinery……………………
Computer and electronic products……………………
Computer and peripheral equipment…………………
85.1
80.2
83.5
28.4
11.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.1
105.0
103.7
118.4
140.4
100.3
110.8
106.0
149.5
195.9
106.1
114.9
113.7
181.8
235.0
103.3
126.9
110.5
181.4
252.2
112.7
130.7
117.9
188.0
297.4
115.2
143.0
128.1
217.2
373.4
117.1
126.4
127.1
244.3
415.1
127.3
132.5
138.4
259.6
543.3
128.3
128.5
143.8
282.2
715.7
-
3342
3343
3344
3345
3346
Communications equipment……………………………
Audio and video equipment……………………………
Semiconductors and electronic components…………
Electronic instruments…………………………………
Magnetic media manufacturing and reproduction……
39.8
61.7
17.0
70.2
85.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
107.1
105.4
125.8
102.3
106.4
135.4
119.6
173.9
106.7
108.9
164.1
126.3
232.2
116.7
105.8
152.9
128.4
230.0
119.3
99.8
128.2
150.1
263.1
118.1
110.4
143.1
171.0
321.6
125.3
126.1
148.4
239.3
360.0
145.4
142.6
143.7
230.2
381.6
146.6
142.1
178.2
240.7
380.4
150.6
137.7
-
335
3351
3352
3353
3359
Electrical equipment and appliances…………………
Electric lighting equipment……………………………
Household appliances…………………………………
Electrical equipment……………………………………
Other electrical equipment and components…………
75.5
91.1
73.3
68.7
78.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
103.9
104.4
105.2
100.2
105.8
106.6
102.8
104.0
98.7
114.7
111.5
102.0
117.2
99.4
119.7
111.4
106.7
124.6
101.0
113.1
113.4
112.4
132.3
101.8
114.0
117.2
111.4
146.7
103.4
116.2
123.3
122.7
159.6
110.8
115.6
130.0
130.3
164.5
118.5
121.6
129.4
136.7
173.2
118.1
115.7
-
336
3361
3362
3363
3364
Transportation equipment………………………………
Motor vehicles……………………………………………
Motor vehicle bodies and trailers………………………
Motor vehicle parts………………………………………
Aerospace products and parts…………………………
81.6
75.4
85.0
78.7
87.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
109.7
113.4
102.9
104.9
119.1
118.0
122.6
103.1
110.0
120.8
109.4
109.7
98.8
112.3
103.4
113.6
110.0
88.7
114.8
115.7
127.4
126.0
105.4
130.5
118.6
137.5
140.7
109.8
137.0
119.0
134.9
142.1
110.7
138.0
113.2
140.9
148.4
114.2
144.1
125.0
142.4
163.8
110.9
143.7
117.9
-
3365
3366
3369
337
3371
Railroad rolling stock……………………………………
Ship and boat building…………………………………
Other transportation equipment………………………
Furniture and related products…………………………
Household and institutional furniture…………………
55.6
95.5
73.8
84.8
85.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
103.3
99.3
111.5
102.0
102.2
116.5
112.0
113.8
101.6
103.1
118.5
122.0
132.4
101.4
101.9
126.1
121.5
140.2
103.4
105.5
146.1
131.0
150.9
112.6
111.8
139.8
133.9
163.0
117.0
114.7
131.5
138.7
168.3
118.4
113.6
137.3
131.7
184.1
125.0
120.8
148.0
127.3
197.8
127.8
124.0
-
3372
3379
339
3391
3399
Office furniture and fixtures……………………………
Other furniture related products………………………
Miscellaneous manufacturing…………………………
Medical equipment and supplies………………………
Other miscellaneous manufacturing…………………
85.8
86.3
81.1
76.3
85.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
106.9
105.2
109.0
102.1
98.2
102.0
107.8
111.1
105.0
100.2
99.5
114.7
115.5
113.6
98.0
105.0
116.6
120.7
111.8
115.9
110.2
124.2
129.1
118.0
125.2
110.0
132.7
138.9
124.7
130.7
121.3
134.9
139.5
128.6
134.9
128.3
144.6
148.5
137.8
134.4
130.8
149.8
152.8
143.2
-
42
423
4231
4232
4233
4234
Wholesale trade………………………………………… 73.2
Durable goods…………………………………………
62.3
Motor vehicles and parts………………………………
74.5
Furniture and furnishings………………………………
80.5
Lumber and construction supplies…………………… 109.1
Commercial equipment………………………………… 28.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
103.4
107.1
106.4
99.9
105.4
125.5
111.2
119.2
120.4
102.3
109.3
162.0
116.5
125.0
116.7
112.5
107.7
181.9
117.7
128.9
120.0
110.7
116.6
217.9
123.3
140.2
133.4
116.0
123.9
264.9
127.5
146.6
137.6
123.9
133.0
299.1
134.8
161.5
143.5
130.0
139.4
352.8
135.8
167.4
146.5
127.1
140.2
402.0
138.6
174.5
162.7
130.6
135.4
447.3
141.5
178.4
161.8
131.1
124.5
508.5
4235
4236
4237
4238
Metals and minerals…………………………………… 101.7
Electric goods…………………………………………… 42.8
Hardware and plumbing………………………………
82.2
Machinery and supplies………………………………
74.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.9
105.9
101.8
104.3
94.0
127.5
104.4
102.9
93.9
152.8
103.7
105.5
94.4
147.6
100.5
102.9
96.3
159.5
102.6
100.3
97.5
165.7
103.9
103.4
106.3
194.1
107.3
112.4
104.2
204.6
104.5
117.6
99.9
222.1
105.6
121.2
94.4
235.1
105.8
121.5
Wholesale trade
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 139
Current Labor Statistics: Productivity Data
50. Continued - Annual indexes of output per hour for selected NAICS industries
[1997=100]
NAICS
Industry
1987
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
4239
424
4241
4242
4243
Miscellaneous durable goods…………………………
Nondurable goods………………………………………
Paper and paper products……………………………
Druggists' goods…………………………………………
Apparel and piece goods………………………………
89.8
91.0
85.6
70.7
86.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.8
99.1
98.4
94.2
103.6
113.7
100.8
100.1
93.1
105.1
114.7
105.1
100.9
85.9
108.8
116.8
105.1
104.6
84.9
115.2
124.6
105.8
116.6
89.8
122.8
119.6
110.5
119.7
100.2
125.9
135.0
113.6
130.9
105.8
131.0
135.5
114.3
141.7
112.1
140.8
122.3
113.1
136.9
109.7
146.6
118.4
115.0
146.5
104.3
148.3
4244
4245
4246
4247
4248
Grocery and related products…………………………
Farm product raw materials……………………………
Chemicals………………………………………………
Petroleum………………………………………………
Alcoholic beverages……………………………………
87.9
81.6
90.4
84.4
99.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
101.1
94.3
97.1
88.5
106.5
101.0
101.6
93.3
102.9
105.6
102.4
105.1
87.9
138.1
108.4
101.9
102.1
85.3
140.6
106.4
98.6
98.1
89.1
153.6
106.8
104.9
98.2
92.2
151.1
107.9
104.1
109.3
91.2
163.2
103.1
103.4
111.0
87.4
153.3
104.0
103.8
117.9
85.1
149.4
107.4
109.7
125.1
86.4
149.1
108.5
4249
425
4251
Miscellaneous nondurable goods……………………
Electronic markets and agents and brokers…………
Electronic markets and agents and brokers…………
111.2
64.3
64.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.4
102.4
102.4
106.8
112.3
112.3
115.0
120.1
120.1
111.9
110.7
110.7
106.1
109.8
109.8
109.8
104.5
104.5
120.7
101.6
101.6
124.1
91.5
91.5
121.9
95.0
95.0
117.1
98.3
98.3
44-45
441
4411
4412
4413
Retail trade………………………………………………
Motor vehicle and parts dealers………………………
Automobile dealers……………………………………
Other motor vehicle dealers……………………………
Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores………………
79.2
78.4
79.2
74.1
71.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.7
106.4
106.5
109.6
105.1
112.7
115.1
116.3
114.8
107.6
116.1
114.3
113.7
115.3
108.4
120.1
116.0
115.5
124.6
101.3
125.6
119.9
117.2
133.6
107.7
131.6
124.3
119.5
133.8
115.1
137.9
127.3
124.7
143.3
110.1
141.3
126.7
123.5
134.6
115.5
147.3
129.3
125.8
142.6
115.9
152.7
132.2
129.8
146.9
112.0
442
4421
4422
443
4431
Furniture and home furnishings stores………………
Furniture stores…………………………………………
Home furnishings stores………………………………
Electronics and appliance stores………………………
Electronics and appliance stores………………………
75.1
77.3
71.3
38.0
38.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
104.1
104.3
104.1
122.6
122.6
110.8
107.5
115.2
150.6
150.6
115.9
112.0
121.0
173.7
173.7
122.4
119.7
126.1
196.7
196.7
129.3
125.2
134.9
233.5
233.5
134.6
128.8
142.6
292.7
292.7
146.7
139.2
156.8
334.1
334.1
150.5
142.3
161.4
367.5
367.5
158.2
151.1
168.3
412.0
412.0
168.7
156.6
184.6
471.1
471.1
444
4441
4442
445
4451
Building material and garden supply stores…………
Building material and supplies dealers………………
Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores…
Food and beverage stores……………………………
Grocery stores…………………………………………
75.8
77.6
66.9
110.8
111.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
107.4
108.3
102.4
99.9
99.6
113.8
115.3
105.5
101.9
102.5
113.3
115.1
103.1
101.0
101.1
116.8
116.7
118.4
103.8
103.3
120.8
121.3
118.3
104.7
104.8
127.1
127.4
125.7
107.2
106.7
134.6
134.0
140.1
112.9
112.2
134.8
134.9
134.7
117.9
116.8
137.9
138.0
138.3
120.6
118.2
142.2
140.0
162.1
123.8
120.6
4452
4453
446
4461
447
Specialty food stores…………………………………… 138.5
Beer, wine, and liquor stores…………………………
93.6
Health and personal care stores………………………
84.0
Health and personal care stores………………………
84.0
Gasoline stations………………………………………
83.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.5
104.6
104.0
104.0
106.7
96.4
99.1
107.1
107.1
110.7
98.5
105.7
112.2
112.2
107.7
108.2
107.1
116.2
116.2
112.9
105.3
110.1
122.9
122.9
125.1
112.2
117.0
129.5
129.5
119.9
120.3
127.8
134.3
134.3
122.2
125.3
139.8
133.4
133.4
124.7
139.4
146.1
139.3
139.3
124.9
145.4
156.8
139.0
139.0
129.3
4471
448
4481
4482
4483
Gasoline stations………………………………………
Clothing and clothing accessories stores……………
Clothing stores…………………………………………
Shoe stores………………………………………………
Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores…………
83.9
66.3
67.1
65.3
64.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
106.7
106.3
108.7
94.2
108.7
110.7
114.0
114.2
104.9
122.5
107.7
123.5
125.0
110.0
130.5
112.9
126.4
130.3
111.5
123.9
125.1
131.3
136.0
125.2
118.7
119.9
138.9
141.8
132.5
132.9
122.2
139.1
140.9
124.8
144.3
124.7
147.6
153.0
132.0
138.9
124.9
162.4
169.4
145.1
148.3
129.3
176.6
186.9
141.6
162.9
451
4511
4512
452
4521
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores……
Sporting goods and musical instrument stores………
Book, periodical, and music stores……………………
General merchandise stores…………………………
Department stores………………………………………
74.9
73.2
78.9
73.5
87.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
107.9
111.5
101.0
105.3
100.4
114.0
119.8
103.2
113.4
104.5
121.1
129.4
105.8
120.2
106.2
127.1
134.5
113.0
124.8
103.8
127.6
136.0
111.6
129.1
102.0
131.5
141.1
113.7
136.9
106.8
151.1
166.0
123.6
140.7
109.0
163.5
179.3
134.3
145.0
110.0
170.5
191.4
132.4
149.8
112.7
167.8
189.2
128.3
152.5
107.0
4529
453
4531
4532
4533
Other general merchandise stores……………………
Miscellaneous store retailers…………………………
Florists………………………………………………….
Office supplies, stationery and gift stores……………
Used merchandise stores………………………………
54.8
65.1
77.6
61.4
64.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
114.7
108.9
102.3
111.5
119.1
131.0
111.3
116.2
119.2
113.4
147.3
114.1
115.2
127.3
116.5
164.7
112.6
102.7
132.3
121.9
179.3
119.1
113.8
141.5
142.0
188.8
126.1
108.9
153.9
149.7
192.9
130.8
103.4
172.8
152.6
199.8
139.2
123.7
182.4
156.6
204.8
155.0
145.1
204.8
167.6
219.3
160.8
132.9
224.5
182.0
4539
454
4541
4542
4543
Other miscellaneous store retailers……………………
Nonstore retailers………………………………………
Electronic shopping and mail-order houses…………
Vending machine operators……………………………
Direct selling establishments…………………………
68.3
50.7
39.4
95.5
70.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
105.3
114.3
120.2
106.3
101.9
103.0
128.9
142.6
105.4
104.3
104.4
152.2
160.2
111.1
122.5
96.9
163.6
179.6
95.7
127.9
94.4
182.1
212.7
91.3
135.1
99.9
195.5
243.6
102.3
127.0
96.9
215.5
273.0
110.5
130.3
101.6
220.6
290.1
114.4
119.6
114.0
261.9
355.9
125.7
127.5
115.4
290.8
397.2
132.4
138.4
481
482111
48412
48421
491
4911
Air transportation………………………………………
78.0
Line-haul railroads……………………………………… 58.9
General freight trucking, long-distance………………
85.7
Used household and office goods moving…………… 106.7
U.S. Postal service……………………………………… 90.9
U.S. Postal service……………………………………… 90.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
96.4
102.1
99.4
91.0
101.6
101.6
95.9
105.5
99.1
96.1
102.8
102.8
97.7
114.3
101.9
94.8
105.5
105.5
92.5
121.9
103.2
84.0
106.3
106.3
101.7
131.9
107.0
81.6
106.4
106.4
112.1
138.5
110.7
86.2
107.8
107.8
126.3
141.4
110.7
88.6
110.0
110.0
135.9
136.3
113.3
88.5
111.2
111.2
142.9
144.2
113.3
88.9
111.3
111.3
145.4
137.7
115.3
93.2
112.0
112.0
492
493
4931
49311
49312
Couriers and messengers……………………………… 148.3
Warehousing and storage………………………………
Warehousing and storage………………………………
General warehousing and storage……………………
Refrigerated warehousing and storage………………
-
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
114.8
106.4
106.4
112.1
97.9
122.2
107.7
107.7
112.9
103.4
128.8
109.3
109.3
115.8
95.4
132.6
115.3
115.3
126.3
85.4
143.2
122.1
122.1
136.1
87.2
146.4
124.8
124.8
138.9
92.2
138.5
122.5
122.5
130.9
99.3
136.5
123.5
123.5
132.0
88.8
140.3
119.4
119.4
130.1
80.4
132.5
115.5
115.5
124.2
85.1
Retail trade
Transportation and warehousing
140
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
50. Continued - Annual indexes of output per hour for selected NAICS industries
[1997=100]
NAICS
Industry
1987
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Information
511
5111
5112
51213
515
Publishing industries, except internet………………… 64.1
Newspaper, book, and directory publishers………… 105.0
Software publishers……………………………………
10.2
Motion picture and video exhibition…………………… 90.7
Broadcasting, except internet…………………………
99.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
116.1
103.9
134.8
99.8
100.8
116.3
104.1
129.2
101.8
102.9
117.1
107.7
119.2
106.5
103.6
116.6
105.8
117.4
101.6
99.2
117.2
104.7
122.1
99.8
104.0
126.4
109.6
138.1
100.4
107.9
130.7
106.7
160.6
103.6
112.5
136.7
107.9
173.5
102.4
116.1
144.3
112.2
178.7
107.3
123.1
150.1
114.1
184.6
110.6
132.8
5151
5152
5171
5172
5175
Radio and television broadcasting……………………
98.1
Cable and other subscription programming………… 105.6
Wired telecommunications carriers…………………… 56.9
Wireless telecommunications carriers………………
75.6
Cable and other program distribution………………… 105.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
91.5
136.2
107.7
110.5
97.1
92.6
139.1
116.7
145.2
95.8
92.1
141.2
122.7
152.8
91.6
89.6
128.1
116.7
191.9
87.7
95.1
129.8
124.1
217.9
95.0
94.6
146.0
130.5
242.6
101.3
96.6
158.7
131.9
292.4
113.8
99.0
163.7
138.3
381.9
110.5
106.8
168.1
142.4
431.6
110.7
110.8
192.5
142.2
456.5
123.8
52211
Commercial banking……………………………………
73.6
100.0
97.7
100.8
104.8
102.4
106.9
111.7
117.8
119.3
122.7
123.8
92.7
60.3
77.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.1
115.4
113.2
112.2
121.0
129.4
112.3
121.8
134.9
111.1
113.5
133.3
114.6
114.0
130.3
121.1
116.3
148.5
118.2
137.7
154.5
109.8
147.1
144.2
111.4
168.9
176.2
130.1
173.8
223.0
82.9
90.0
90.2
95.9
98.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
107.6
111.4
98.2
89.2
124.8
105.8
106.8
98.0
97.9
109.8
100.9
107.6
102.0
107.5
108.9
94.4
111.0
100.1
106.9
102.2
111.4
107.6
100.5
113.1
97.6
110.0
112.6
100.5
121.1
104.2
99.9
118.3
107.8
133.5
93.1
103.7
119.8
112.3
132.9
93.6
103.2
118.9
113.1
134.1
98.8
117.4
124.5
110.0
139.1
104.5
89.3
75.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
86.8
111.4
95.3
93.2
115.5
98.6
89.8
119.4
101.0
99.6
115.2
102.1
116.8
127.6
105.6
115.4
147.2
118.8
119.8
167.2
116.6
116.0
179.2
120.7
123.8
183.4
116.1
132.8
190.6
122.3
-
100.0
100.0
100.0
118.8
117.2
121.4
124.7
121.4
129.7
131.9
127.4
139.9
135.3
127.7
148.3
137.6
123.1
163.3
140.8
128.6
160.0
140.8
130.7
153.5
137.8
125.8
154.1
139.7
127.3
156.8
136.0
130.0
138.9
Finance and insurance
Real estate and rental and leasing
532111
53212
53223
Passenger car rental……………………………………
Truck, trailer, and RV rental and leasing……………
Video tape and disc rental……………………………
541213
54131
54133
54181
541921
Tax preparation services………………………………
Architectural services……………………………………
Engineering services……………………………………
Advertising agencies……………………………………
Photography studios, portrait…………………………
56131
56151
56172
Employment placement agencies……………………
Travel agencies…………………………………………
Janitorial services………………………………………
6215
621511
621512
Medical and diagnostic laboratories…………………
Medical laboratories……………………………………
Diagnostic imaging centers……………………………
71311
71395
Amusement and theme parks…………………………
Bowling centers…………………………………………
111.9
106.0
100.0
100.0
110.5
89.9
105.2
89.4
106.0
93.4
93.0
94.3
106.5
96.4
113.2
102.4
101.4
107.9
109.9
106.5
97.7
102.6
103.2
122.8
72
721
7211
722
7221
7222
7223
7224
Accommodation and food services…………………… 93.1
Accommodation…………………………………………
85.8
Traveler accommodation………………………………
84.8
Food services and drinking places……………………
96.0
Full-service restaurants………………………………… 92.1
Limited-service eating places…………………………
96.5
Special food services…………………………………… 89.9
Drinking places, alcoholic beverages………………… 136.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.7
100.0
99.6
101.0
100.9
101.2
100.6
99.7
102.2
105.3
105.4
100.9
100.8
100.4
105.2
98.8
105.8
110.3
111.2
103.5
103.0
102.0
115.0
100.6
104.7
107.9
108.4
103.8
103.6
102.5
115.3
97.6
105.7
112.0
112.2
104.4
104.4
102.7
114.9
102.9
107.3
113.1
113.2
106.3
104.2
105.4
117.6
118.6
109.0
119.2
119.4
107.0
104.8
106.8
118.0
112.2
108.6
114.3
114.9
107.9
105.2
107.4
119.2
120.6
108.7
110.8
110.9
109.1
105.5
109.1
117.9
134.2
107.9
109.0
109.0
108.7
104.0
109.1
120.4
137.6
8111
81142
81211
81221
8123
81292
Automotive repair and maintenance…………………
85.9
Reupholstery and furniture repair……………………
105.3
Hair, nail, and skin care services……………………… 83.5
Funeral homes and funeral services………………… 103.7
Drycleaning and laundry services……………………
97.1
Photofinishing……………………………………………
95.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
103.6
95.8
108.6
106.8
100.1
69.3
106.1
105.0
108.6
103.3
105.0
76.3
109.4
105.5
108.2
94.8
107.6
73.8
108.9
105.0
114.6
91.8
110.9
81.2
103.7
102.0
110.4
94.6
112.5
100.5
104.1
97.2
119.7
95.7
103.8
100.5
112.0
99.8
125.0
92.9
110.6
102.0
112.1
101.4
130.0
93.1
121.1
112.4
111.4
100.0
129.8
99.5
119.7
111.3
110.4
105.8
134.5
97.0
114.6
110.2
Professional and technical services
Administrative and waste services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Accommodation and food services
Other services
NOTE: Dash indicates data are not available.
51. Unemployment rates, approximating U.S. concepts, 10 countries, seasonally adjusted
[Percent]
2006
Country
2006
2007
I
II
2008
2007
III
IV
I
II
III
IV
I
II
III
United States………
4.6
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.7
4.4
4.5
4.5
4.7
4.8
4.9
5.3
Canada………………
5.5
5.3
5.7
5.4
5.6
5.4
5.4
5.3
5.2
5.2
5.2
5.3
5.3
Australia……………
4.8
4.4
5.0
4.9
4.7
4.5
4.5
4.3
4.3
4.3
4.1
4.3
4.2
Japan…………………
4.2
3.9
4.2
4.2
4.2
4.1
4.0
3.8
3.8
3.9
3.9
4.0
4.1
France………………
9.5
8.6
9.9
9.5
9.5
9.2
9.1
8.7
8.5
8.2
8.0
8.0
8.3
Germany……………
10.4
8.7
11.1
10.6
10.1
9.6
9.3
8.9
8.5
8.1
7.8
7.6
7.5
Italy…………………
6.9
6.2
7.3
6.9
6.7
6.5
6.2
6.1
6.2
6.4
6.7
6.8
-
Netherlands…………
3.9
3.2
4.3
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.6
3.2
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.5
Sweden………………
7.0
6.1
7.3
7.3
6.7
6.5
6.4
6.1
5.8
5.9
5.8
5.8
5.9
United Kingdom……
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.5
5.5
5.5
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.2
5.3
5.4
-
NOTE: Dash indicates data not available.
Quarterly figures for France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are calculated by
applying annual adjustment factors to current published data and therefore should be
viewed as less precise indicators of unemployment under U.S. concepts than the
annual figures. Quarterly figures for Sweden are BLS seasonally adjusted estimates
derived from Swedish not seasonally adjusted data. For further qualifications and
historical annual data, see the BLS report International comparisons of annual labor
force statistics, 10 countries (on the internet at
6.0
http://www.bls.gov/fls/flscomparelf.htm). For monthly unemployment rates, as
well as the quarterly and annual rates published in this table, see the BLS report
Unemployment rates in 10 countries, civilian labor force basis, approximating U.S.
concepts, seasonally adjusted (on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/fls/flsjec.pdf).
Unemployment rates may differ between the two reports mentioned, because the
former is updated annually, whereas the latter is updated monthly and reflects the
most recent revisions in source data.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 141
Current Labor Statistics: International Comparisons
52. Annual data: employment status of the working-age population, approximating U.S. concepts, 10 countries
[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status and country
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
137,673
15,135
9,339
67,240
25,434
39,752
23,004
7,744
4,401
28,474
139,368
15,403
9,414
67,090
25,791
39,375
23,176
7,881
4,423
28,786
142,583
15,637
9,590
66,990
26,099
39,302
23,361
8,052
4,482
28,962
143,734
15,891
9,744
66,860
26,393
39,459
23,524
8,199
4,522
29,092
144,863
16,366
9,893
66,240
26,646
39,413
23,728
8,345
4,537
29,343
146,510
16,733
10,079
66,010
26,851
39,276
24,020
8,379
4,557
29,564
147,401
16,955
10,221
65,770
26,937
39,711
24,084
8,439
4,571
29,802
149,320
17,108
10,506
65,850
27,092
40,760
24,179
8,459
4,694
30,138
151,428
17,351
10,699
65,960
27,322
41,250
24,395
8,541
4,748
30,600
153,124
17,696
10,949
66,080
27,535
41,416
24,459
8,686
4,823
30,790
67.1
65.1
64.3
63.2
55.6
57.3
47.3
61.1
63.2
62.5
67.1
65.4
64.3
62.8
56.0
57.7
47.7
61.8
62.8
62.4
67.1
65.9
64.0
62.4
56.3
56.9
47.9
62.5
62.7
62.8
67.1
66.0
64.4
62.0
56.6
56.7
48.1
63.4
63.7
62.8
66.8
66.1
64.4
61.6
56.7
56.7
48.3
64.0
63.6
62.7
66.6
67.1
64.3
60.8
56.8
56.4
48.5
64.7
63.9
62.9
66.2
67.7
64.6
60.3
56.8
56.0
49.1
64.6
63.8
62.9
66.0
67.7
64.6
60.0
56.6
56.4
49.1
64.8
63.6
63.0
66.0
67.4
65.3
60.0
56.5
57.6
48.7
64.7
64.8
63.1
66.2
67.4
65.6
60.0
56.6
58.2
48.9
65.1
64.9
63.5
66.0
67.7
66.0
60.0
56.7
58.4
48.6
65.9
65.3
63.4
United States……………………………………………… 129,558
Canada……………………………………………………
13,637
Australia……………………………………………………
8,444
Japan………………………………………………………
64,900
France……………………………………………………… 22,176
Germany…………………………………………………… 35,508
Italy…………………………………………………………
20,169
Netherlands………………………………………………
7,189
Sweden……………………………………………………
3,969
United Kingdom…………………………………………… 26,413
131,463
13,973
8,618
64,450
22,597
36,059
20,370
7,408
4,033
26,684
133,488
14,331
8,762
63,920
23,080
36,042
20,617
7,605
4,110
27,058
136,891
14,681
8,989
63,790
23,714
36,236
20,973
7,813
4,222
27,375
136,933
14,866
9,086
63,460
24,167
36,350
21,359
8,014
4,295
27,603
136,485
15,223
9,264
62,650
24,312
36,018
21,666
8,114
4,303
27,815
137,736
15,586
9,480
62,510
24,373
35,615
21,972
8,069
4,293
28,077
139,252
15,861
9,668
62,640
24,354
35,604
22,124
8,052
4,271
28,379
141,730
16,080
9,975
62,910
24,493
36,185
22,290
8,056
4,334
28,674
144,427
16,393
10,186
63,210
24,717
36,978
22,721
8,205
4,416
28,930
146,047
16,767
10,470
63,510
25,162
37,815
22,953
8,408
4,530
29,138
63.8
59.6
59.0
61.0
49.1
51.6
41.9
57.7
56.8
58.1
64.1
60.4
59.3
60.2
49.7
52.3
42.2
59.1
57.6
58.5
64.3
61.3
59.6
59.4
50.4
52.1
42.6
60.3
58.3
59.0
64.4
62.0
60.3
59.0
51.4
52.2
43.2
61.5
60.0
59.4
63.7
61.9
60.0
58.4
51.9
52.2
43.8
62.6
60.4
59.5
62.7
62.4
60.2
57.5
51.8
51.5
44.3
62.9
60.6
59.6
62.3
63.1
60.7
57.1
51.5
50.8
44.9
62.2
60.1
59.8
62.3
63.3
61.1
57.1
51.1
50.6
45.1
61.8
59.4
60.0
62.7
63.4
62.0
57.3
51.1
51.2
44.9
61.6
59.9
60.0
63.1
63.6
62.5
57.5
51.2
52.2
45.5
62.5
60.4
60.1
63.0
64.2
63.1
57.6
51.8
53.3
45.6
63.8
61.3
60.0
6,739
1,248
759
2,300
2,940
3,907
2,584
423
445
1,991
6,210
1,162
721
2,790
2,837
3,693
2,634
337
368
1,790
5,880
1,072
652
3,170
2,711
3,333
2,559
277
313
1,728
5,692
956
602
3,200
2,385
3,065
2,388
239
260
1,587
6,801
1,026
658
3,400
2,226
3,110
2,164
186
227
1,488
8,378
1,143
629
3,590
2,334
3,396
2,062
231
234
1,528
8,774
1,147
599
3,500
2,478
3,661
2,048
310
264
1,488
8,149
1,093
553
3,130
2,583
4,107
1,960
387
300
1,422
7,591
1,028
531
2,940
2,599
4,575
1,889
402
361
1,463
7,001
958
512
2,750
2,605
4,272
1,673
336
332
1,670
7,078
929
478
2,570
2,374
3,601
1,506
278
293
1,652
4.9
8.4
8.3
3.4
11.7
9.9
11.4
5.6
10.1
7.0
4.5
7.7
7.7
4.1
11.2
9.3
11.5
4.4
8.4
6.3
4.2
7.0
6.9
4.7
10.5
8.5
11.0
3.5
7.1
6.0
4.0
6.1
6.3
4.8
9.1
7.8
10.2
3.0
5.8
5.5
4.7
6.5
6.8
5.1
8.4
7.9
9.2
2.3
5.0
5.1
5.8
7.0
6.4
5.4
8.8
8.6
8.7
2.8
5.2
5.2
6.0
6.9
5.9
5.3
9.2
9.3
8.5
3.7
5.8
5.0
5.5
6.4
5.4
4.8
9.6
10.3
8.1
4.6
6.6
4.8
5.1
6.0
5.1
4.5
9.6
11.2
7.8
4.8
7.7
4.9
4.6
5.5
4.8
4.2
9.5
10.4
6.9
3.9
7.0
5.5
4.6
5.3
4.4
3.9
8.6
8.7
6.2
3.2
6.1
5.4
Civilian labor force
United States……………………………………………… 136,297
Canada……………………………………………………
14,884
Australia……………………………………………………
9,204
Japan………………………………………………………
67,200
France……………………………………………………… 25,116
Germany…………………………………………………… 39,415
Italy…………………………………………………………
22,753
Netherlands………………………………………………
7,612
Sweden……………………………………………………
4,414
United Kingdom…………………………………………… 28,403
Participation rate1
United States………………………………………………
Canada……………………………………………………
Australia……………………………………………………
Japan………………………………………………………
France………………………………………………………
Germany……………………………………………………
Italy…………………………………………………………
Netherlands………………………………………………
Sweden……………………………………………………
United Kingdom……………………………………………
Employed
Employment-population ratio2
United States………………………………………………
Canada……………………………………………………
Australia……………………………………………………
Japan………………………………………………………
France………………………………………………………
Germany……………………………………………………
Italy…………………………………………………………
Netherlands………………………………………………
Sweden……………………………………………………
United Kingdom……………………………………………
Unemployed
United States………………………………………………
Canada……………………………………………………
Australia……………………………………………………
Japan………………………………………………………
France………………………………………………………
Germany……………………………………………………
Italy…………………………………………………………
Netherlands………………………………………………
Sweden……………………………………………………
United Kingdom……………………………………………
Unemployment rate
United States………………………………………………
Canada……………………………………………………
Australia……………………………………………………
Japan………………………………………………………
France………………………………………………………
Germany……………………………………………………
Italy…………………………………………………………
Netherlands………………………………………………
Sweden……………………………………………………
United Kingdom……………………………………………
1
2
Labor force as a percent of the working-age population.
Employment as a percent of the working-age population.
NOTE: There are breaks in series for the United States (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003,
2004), Australia (2001), Germany (1999, 2005), the Netherlands (2000, 2003), and Sweden
(2005). For further qualifications and historical annual data, see the BLS report
International comparisons of annual labor force statistics, 10 countries (on the
142
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
Internet at http://www.bls.gov/fls/flscomparelf.htm ). Unemployment rates may differ
from those in the BLS report Unemployment rates in 10 countries, civilian labor force
basis, approximating U.S. concepts, seasonally adjusted (on the Internet at
http://www.bls.gov/fls/flsjec.pdf ), because the former is updated annually, whereas
the latter is updated monthly and reflects the most recent revisions in source data.
53. Annual indexes of manufacturing productivity and related measures, 17 economies
[1996 = 100]
Measure and economy
1980
1990
1993
1994
1995
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Output per hour
United States………………………
Canada………………………….……
Australia…………………….………
Japan…………………………………
Korea, Rep. of………………………
Singapore……………………………
Taiwan………………………………
Belgium…………………………...…
Denmark……………………………
France………………………………
Germany………………………...……
Italy……………………………...……
Netherlands…………………...……
Norway………………………………
Spain………………………………..
Sweden……………………………..
United Kingdom……………….……
58.6
66.5
72.5
54.8
–
–
40.4
57.2
75.3
56.9
67.1
60.1
57.2
77.3
62.8
60.0
55.9
80.1
85.2
91.1
81.3
58.0
68.2
73.9
84.7
90.3
84.2
86.1
82.5
81.4
96.8
86.8
73.9
87.8
88.1
94.0
95.8
87.6
75.9
82.3
83.4
89.6
92.0
90.0
89.1
87.2
86.2
98.3
94.9
82.6
100.1
92.7
99.3
98.4
89.0
82.8
89.5
86.6
94.4
103.4
95.9
95.8
94.9
94.1
98.3
97.8
91.1
102.7
96.2
100.5
97.1
95.6
90.9
95.5
93.0
98.6
103.4
99.7
97.3
99.5
97.9
97.1
101.2
96.8
101.0
104.2
104.5
102.0
103.5
112.8
103.2
104.1
106.3
108.0
105.9
105.9
102.0
100.3
100.2
101.0
109.1
102.0
111.5
109.6
106.9
104.5
125.7
111.2
109.2
107.6
107.4
111.4
106.3
100.6
103.2
97.7
102.7
115.6
102.9
117.1
114.2
108.5
107.3
139.8
122.5
116.0
106.8
109.1
116.2
108.9
101.4
107.4
101.1
104.5
126.2
108.0
126.1
121.1
115.1
113.0
151.7
130.8
122.2
110.9
113.0
124.5
116.5
106.7
115.2
104.2
105.6
134.8
115.4
127.4
118.5
117.9
110.6
150.6
122.9
127.7
111.0
113.2
127.0
119.5
107.0
115.7
107.1
108.0
131.0
119.4
140.9
120.5
122.9
114.7
165.3
133.8
139.2
114.6
113.9
132.4
120.7
105.7
119.2
110.2
108.4
145.3
123.0
149.8
121.1
125.2
122.5
176.8
138.7
143.6
117.8
118.7
138.4
125.0
103.5
121.7
119.7
111.1
157.1
128.2
159.0
122.4
126.8
131.0
197.2
147.3
150.9
123.7
125.5
142.2
129.7
105.0
129.9
126.8
113.2
173.9
136.2
162.2
126.6
127.6
139.6
212.1
149.9
162.3
127.0
129.6
148.7
137.1
106.4
135.8
131.2
115.4
184.7
141.9
169.9
129.3
128.8
141.0
233.5
153.5
173.4
131.8
135.5
154.6
148.6
105.9
140.2
128.5
117.7
202.0
149.1
177.8
132.8
131.3
145.8
253.9
147.5
188.5
137.6
136.0
158.5
155.9
105.4
144.0
128.2
122.2
203.0
153.0
Output
United States…………………..……
Canada………………………………
Australia………………………………
Japan…………………………………
Korea, Rep. of………………………
Singapore……………………………
Taiwan………………………………
Belgium………………………………
Denmark……………………………
France………………………………
Germany……………………………
Italy……………………………………
Netherlands…………………………
Norway………………………………
Spain………………………………..
Sweden………………………………
United Kingdom……………………
60.5
71.2
80.2
59.0
20.5
–
38.2
74.8
85.6
83.2
92.3
74.7
68.7
96.7
75.5
67.1
80.3
80.7
88.7
93.1
94.3
63.2
66.2
76.7
96.6
94.7
97.5
107.2
92.6
89.2
92.9
94.6
80.4
96.9
85.7
87.7
92.7
93.5
75.5
78.5
85.0
92.8
90.3
93.8
99.9
89.9
90.2
93.2
92.4
74.1
93.4
92.2
94.4
97.5
92.1
84.1
88.4
90.1
97.0
100.0
96.8
103.1
95.9
95.0
95.7
94.0
85.5
97.8
96.4
98.7
96.9
95.9
94.0
97.3
95.0
99.6
104.8
100.3
102.1
100.5
98.6
96.1
97.6
96.8
99.3
106.1
106.3
102.3
102.5
104.9
104.3
105.7
104.8
108.2
104.7
104.4
101.5
101.4
104.3
106.4
107.8
101.8
113.2
111.7
105.2
97.1
96.6
103.5
109.1
106.5
109.1
109.7
105.6
102.4
104.8
103.6
112.9
116.7
102.4
118.1
121.0
105.0
96.7
117.6
117.0
117.1
106.9
110.0
113.4
106.6
102.2
108.7
103.5
119.3
127.6
103.6
125.5
133.1
110.0
101.8
137.6
134.7
125.7
111.6
113.9
118.6
113.9
106.5
116.0
102.9
124.6
138.1
105.9
118.5
128.0
108.9
96.2
140.6
119.1
116.4
111.8
114.0
119.8
115.8
106.2
115.8
102.2
128.6
134.9
104.5
121.8
129.0
114.2
94.7
151.2
129.1
126.7
110.9
110.7
119.7
113.4
105.0
115.9
101.6
128.4
143.4
102.2
123.2
128.3
116.2
99.8
159.6
132.9
133.5
109.3
107.6
121.9
114.2
102.2
114.6
105.0
130.0
150.4
101.9
130.1
130.9
116.3
105.6
177.3
151.3
146.5
113.2
109.3
123.0
118.3
103.0
118.5
111.0
130.9
164.2
104.2
131.2
132.9
115.8
111.1
189.8
165.7
156.7
113.1
109.9
125.9
122.3
102.5
120.9
115.9
132.4
171.8
104.0
138.4
132.3
114.7
114.9
205.9
185.4
167.9
116.3
114.5
127.2
131.2
103.7
124.1
119.4
134.8
185.3
105.8
142.4
131.1
118.4
119.1
219.3
196.2
185.3
119.3
118.6
128.8
139.2
104.8
128.1
125.7
138.6
189.6
106.5
Total hours
United States……………………… 103.3
Canada……………………………… 107.0
Australia……………………………… 110.6
Japan………………………………… 107.6
Korea, Rep. of………………………
–
Singapore…………………………… –
Taiwan……………………………… 94.5
Belgium……………………………… 130.9
Denmark…………………………… 113.7
France……………………………… 146.3
Germany…………………………… 137.4
Italy…………………………………… 124.3
Netherlands………………………… 120.1
Norway……………………………… 125.1
Spain……………………………….. 120.3
Sweden……………………………… 111.8
United Kingdom…………………… 143.8
100.7
104.1
102.2
115.9
109.0
96.9
103.7
114.1
104.8
115.8
124.6
112.2
109.6
96.0
109.0
108.8
110.4
97.3
93.3
96.9
106.7
99.5
95.3
101.9
103.5
98.1
104.1
112.1
103.1
104.6
94.8
97.4
89.7
93.3
99.5
95.1
99.1
103.5
101.6
98.8
104.0
102.8
96.7
101.0
107.6
101.1
100.9
97.3
96.1
93.9
95.2
100.2
98.3
99.8
100.4
103.3
101.9
102.2
101.0
101.4
100.6
105.0
100.9
100.7
99.0
96.4
100.0
98.3
101.8
101.6
100.3
99.1
93.0
101.1
101.6
98.6
100.2
98.9
98.6
99.5
101.0
104.1
105.4
98.8
99.8
101.5
101.9
98.4
92.9
76.8
93.1
99.9
98.9
101.5
98.5
99.4
101.8
101.5
106.1
109.9
100.9
99.6
100.9
105.9
96.7
90.2
84.1
95.6
101.0
100.0
100.8
97.6
97.9
100.8
101.2
102.4
114.1
101.1
95.9
99.6
109.9
95.6
90.1
90.7
103.0
102.9
100.7
100.8
95.3
97.7
99.9
100.7
98.8
118.0
102.4
91.8
93.0
107.9
92.4
87.0
93.3
96.9
91.1
100.7
100.7
94.3
96.9
99.3
100.1
95.4
119.0
103.0
87.5
86.5
107.1
92.9
82.6
91.5
96.5
91.1
96.8
97.2
90.4
94.0
99.3
97.2
92.3
118.4
98.7
83.1
82.2
105.9
92.8
81.4
90.2
95.8
92.9
92.8
90.7
88.1
91.4
98.8
94.1
87.7
117.0
95.7
79.5
81.8
106.9
91.7
80.6
89.9
102.8
97.1
91.5
87.1
86.5
91.2
98.1
91.2
87.5
115.6
94.4
76.5
80.9
105.0
90.7
79.6
89.5
110.5
96.5
89.0
84.8
84.7
89.2
96.4
89.0
88.4
114.7
93.0
73.3
81.5
102.3
89.1
81.5
88.2
120.8
96.8
88.2
84.5
82.3
88.3
97.9
88.5
92.9
114.6
91.7
71.0
80.1
98.7
90.2
81.6
86.4
133.0
98.3
86.7
87.2
81.2
89.3
99.4
88.9
98.0
113.4
93.4
69.6
82.7
82.4
79.5
83.0
36.1
64.6
66.5
81.4
83.1
78.9
72.3
70.5
78.8
81.2
65.9
77.4
82.8
93.3
93.5
88.9
94.1
61.6
84.3
82.6
94.8
90.9
91.8
86.7
85.1
91.6
89.2
90.3
85.8
96.2
96.3
96.2
90.0
96.0
70.8
89.1
86.6
95.5
94.1
95.3
90.6
89.6
95.6
91.9
93.6
88.0
98.6
98.1
98.5
95.6
99.2
85.9
93.1
93.8
98.2
96.0
98.1
95.5
94.9
98.1
96.0
97.6
92.8
100.3
102.6
102.4
102.7
103.3
108.7
104.4
103.1
103.8
103.4
102.9
102.0
104.7
102.6
104.5
102.4
105.4
104.4
108.6
107.7
106.9
105.9
118.4
110.5
107.0
105.3
106.1
103.7
103.4
102.8
106.9
110.6
103.2
109.4
112.3
112.9
110.0
111.2
105.7
119.0
101.0
108.9
106.7
108.8
107.0
105.8
105.4
110.5
116.9
102.9
112.8
118.9
123.2
113.6
116.1
105.1
127.1
103.7
111.0
108.5
110.9
112.8
111.3
108.1
115.9
123.5
104.5
117.2
126.2
126.1
116.7
123.5
106.5
131.1
111.8
118.1
113.1
116.2
115.8
114.7
111.8
120.8
130.9
108.7
122.8
131.8
135.2
120.6
129.0
107.2
144.4
114.9
114.4
118.0
121.2
122.8
117.5
115.0
127.5
138.8
111.8
129.4
139.1
144.7
125.5
134.1
104.9
151.5
115.6
116.3
122.0
129.4
125.7
120.2
119.3
132.6
144.5
117.4
135.2
146.1
147.7
129.9
141.1
105.9
173.0
112.5
118.2
125.2
134.4
129.7
120.8
123.4
138.2
149.2
121.5
138.9
153.2
150.5
135.5
150.1
106.8
186.8
111.3
122.8
129.0
142.0
134.4
122.4
127.4
140.3
156.2
127.3
143.6
163.2
156.7
139.7
160.2
105.6
202.9
108.7
126.7
133.7
149.0
140.9
127.4
129.9
144.2
165.8
132.7
147.8
173.7
162.2
144.6
168.6
105.4
218.6
104.1
130.6
140.7
152.9
145.0
129.5
132.7
148.5
173.7
139.2
154.8
174.9
Hourly compensation
(national currency basis)
United States………………………
Canada………………………………
Australia………………………………
Japan…………………………………
Korea, Rep. of………………………
Singapore……………………………
Taiwan………………………………
Belgium………………………………
Denmark……………………………
France………………………………
Germany……………………………
Italy……………………………………
Netherlands…………………………
Norway………………………………
Spain………………………………..
Sweden………………………………
United Kingdom……………………
See notes at end of table.
51.2
43.8
–
53.7
–
–
23.1
47.5
39.5
34.6
43.3
22.6
52.3
34.3
23.1
32.9
33.4
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 143
Current Labor Statistics: International Comparisons
53. Continued— Annual indexes of manufacturing productivity and related measures, 17 economies
[1996 = 100]
Measure and economy
1980
1990
1993
1994
1995
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Unit labor costs
(national currency basis)
United States………………………
Canada………………………………
Australia………………………………
Japan…………………………………
Korea, Rep. of………………………
Singapore……………………………
Taiwan………………………………
Belgium………………………………
Denmark……………………………
France………………………………
Germany……………………………
Italy……………………………………
Netherlands…………………………
Norway………………………………
Spain………………………………..
Sweden………………………………
United Kingdom……………………
87.4
65.9
–
98.0
33.6
–
57.1
83.0
52.5
60.9
64.5
37.6
91.5
44.4
36.8
54.9
59.8
103.3
96.7
87.3
102.1
62.3
94.7
89.9
96.1
91.9
93.7
84.0
85.4
96.8
83.9
76.0
104.8
94.3
106.0
99.5
92.8
107.5
81.2
102.5
99.1
105.7
98.9
102.0
97.3
97.5
106.3
90.7
95.1
103.9
96.1
103.9
96.9
91.5
107.9
85.5
99.5
100.0
101.2
91.0
99.4
94.6
94.4
101.6
93.4
95.7
96.6
96.0
102.0
98.0
98.4
103.8
94.5
97.5
100.9
99.6
92.9
98.5
98.2
95.3
100.3
98.9
96.5
95.8
99.4
98.5
98.0
100.7
99.8
96.4
101.2
99.0
97.6
95.7
97.2
96.3
102.7
102.3
104.2
101.4
96.6
102.4
97.4
98.3
100.0
101.3
94.2
99.3
97.9
97.9
98.8
93.1
97.3
102.2
103.6
113.2
100.4
94.7
109.2
96.4
96.3
102.4
98.6
85.1
82.5
93.9
99.9
99.7
92.1
97.1
104.0
102.9
115.7
98.5
89.4
110.1
97.7
93.8
100.9
93.0
83.8
79.3
90.9
97.9
98.1
90.6
95.5
101.4
100.6
118.5
99.0
86.9
109.4
99.0
98.5
104.8
96.2
87.0
91.0
92.5
101.9
102.7
91.2
96.0
104.5
104.4
122.2
100.6
93.8
110.4
96.0
100.0
105.0
93.5
87.3
85.9
82.2
103.0
106.4
92.8
97.4
108.7
106.9
126.0
103.1
89.1
113.1
96.6
103.6
107.1
85.6
85.7
83.3
81.0
103.5
109.0
90.8
96.1
115.3
108.9
120.7
105.6
86.1
113.9
92.9
106.1
111.3
80.8
87.8
76.4
78.4
101.2
107.0
91.2
93.2
117.6
106.3
117.6
107.3
79.9
112.4
92.8
107.1
117.6
76.5
88.1
74.2
75.7
101.5
109.6
90.4
89.3
119.8
103.3
119.1
110.3
77.8
115.1
92.2
108.0
124.4
74.9
86.9
70.8
73.1
101.4
109.9
91.2
85.8
122.6
102.9
129.0
112.7
73.2
116.6
91.2
108.9
128.4
72.3
86.1
70.6
69.2
102.3
112.4
91.5
83.1
125.8
103.1
135.5
113.9
76.3
114.3
Unit labor costs
(U.S. dollar basis)
United States………………………
Canada………………………………
Australia………………………………
Japan…………………………………
Korea, Rep. of………………………
Singapore……………………………
Taiwan………………………………
Belgium………………………………
Denmark……………………………
France………………………………
Germany……………………………
Italy……………………………………
Netherlands…………………………
Norway………………………………
Spain………………………………..
Sweden………………………………
United Kingdom……………………
87.4
76.8
–
47.0
44.6
–
43.6
87.9
54.1
73.7
53.4
67.7
77.7
58.1
65.0
87.0
89.1
103.3
113.1
87.1
76.6
70.5
73.7
91.8
89.1
86.2
88.0
78.2
110.0
89.6
86.6
94.4
118.7
107.8
106.0
105.2
80.6
105.2
81.1
89.4
103.0
94.7
88.4
92.1
88.5
95.6
96.4
82.6
94.5
89.4
92.5
103.9
96.7
85.5
114.8
85.3
91.9
103.8
93.7
83.1
91.7
87.8
90.4
94.1
85.5
90.5
84.0
94.3
102.0
97.4
93.1
120.2
98.4
97.0
104.6
104.7
96.2
101.0
103.2
90.2
105.4
100.8
98.0
90.0
100.5
98.5
96.5
95.7
89.7
81.9
96.0
94.5
84.4
84.0
85.2
83.5
93.0
88.4
95.0
87.6
84.7
107.4
97.4
90.4
80.4
84.1
54.1
83.7
80.2
83.5
85.5
80.7
83.2
90.8
88.0
96.8
85.1
79.8
116.0
96.4
88.4
84.5
94.3
57.6
68.6
79.8
81.7
82.7
76.5
79.6
88.2
83.9
95.7
79.9
72.5
114.1
97.7
86.1
75.0
93.9
59.6
64.8
79.9
69.4
70.3
65.2
67.8
74.6
71.1
86.9
69.6
63.6
106.3
99.0
86.7
69.2
86.1
54.2
71.6
75.1
70.0
71.5
63.7
66.1
74.5
71.5
87.8
68.6
60.8
101.9
96.0
86.9
72.9
81.2
56.2
67.6
65.4
74.8
78.2
68.4
70.8
81.9
77.4
101.9
74.2
61.4
108.9
96.6
100.9
89.3
80.3
57.9
67.4
64.6
90.0
96.1
80.2
83.7
104.0
94.3
110.1
91.1
71.5
119.3
92.9
111.2
104.7
81.3
61.7
63.7
64.5
96.6
103.7
88.5
89.2
116.5
101.2
112.7
101.6
72.9
132.0
92.8
120.5
114.6
75.6
69.3
62.9
64.7
97.0
106.0
87.8
85.5
118.8
98.4
119.4
104.5
69.8
134.2
92.2
129.9
119.7
70.1
73.3
62.8
61.7
97.8
107.3
89.3
82.9
122.7
98.9
130.0
107.8
66.6
137.7
91.2
138.4
137.6
66.7
74.6
66.1
57.9
107.6
119.8
97.8
87.6
137.5
108.1
149.4
118.9
75.7
146.7
NOTE: Data for Germany for years before 1993 are for the former West Germany. Data for 1993 onward are for unified Germany. Dash indicates data not available.
144
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
54. Occupational injury and illness rates by industry, 1 United States
Industry and type of case
Incidence rates per 100 full-time workers
2
1989
1
1990
1991
1992
1993
4
1994
4
1995
4
1996
4
1997
4
3
1998
4
1999
4
2000
4
2001
4
5
PRIVATE SECTOR
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
–
8.4
3.8
–
8.1
3.6
–
7.4
3.4
–
7.1
3.3
–
6.7
3.1
–
6.3
3.0
–
6.1
3.0
–
5.7
2.8
–
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
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
–
10.0
4.7
–
9.7
4.3
–
8.7
3.9
–
8.4
4.1
–
7.9
3.9
–
7.3
3.4
–
7.1
3.6
–
7.3
3.6
–
Mining
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
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
–
6.3
3.9
–
6.2
3.9
–
5.4
3.2
–
5.9
3.7
–
4.9
2.9
–
4.4
2.7
–
4.7
3.0
–
4.0
2.4
–
Construction
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
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
–
10.6
4.9
–
9.9
4.5
–
9.5
4.4
–
8.8
4.0
–
8.6
4.2
–
8.3
4.1
–
7.9
4.0
–
General building contractors:
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
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
–
10.9
5.1
–
9.8
4.4
–
9.0
4.0
–
8.5
3.7
–
8.4
3.9
–
8.0
3.7
–
7.8
3.9
–
6.9
3.5
–
Heavy construction, except building:
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
13.8
6.5
147.1
13.8
6.3
144.6
12.8
6.0
160.1
12.1
5.4
165.8
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
–
7.6
3.7
–
7.8
4.0
–
Special trades contractors:
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
14.6
6.9
144.9
14.7
6.9
153.1
13.5
6.3
151.3
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
–
9.1
4.1
–
8.9
4.4
–
8.6
4.3
–
8.2
4.1
–
Manufacturing
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
13.1
5.8
13.2
5.8
12.7
5.6
12.5
5.4
12.1
5.3
12.2
5.5
11.6
5.3
10.6
4.9
10.3
4.8
9.7
4.7
9.2
4.6
9.0
4.5
8.1
4.1
Lost workdays........………...........................................
113.0
120.7
121.5
124.6
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
14.1
6.0
116.5
14.2
6.0
123.3
13.6
5.7
122.9
13.4
5.5
126.7
13.1
5.4
–
13.5
5.7
–
12.8
5.6
–
11.6
5.1
–
11.3
5.1
–
10.7
5.0
–
10.1
4.8
–
–
–
–
8.8
4.3
–
Lumber and wood products:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
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
–
14.2
6.8
–
13.5
6.5
–
13.2
6.8
–
13.0
6.7
–
12.1
6.1
–
10.6
5.5
–
Furniture and fixtures:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
16.1
7.2
–
16.9
7.8
–
15.9
7.2
–
14.8
6.6
128.4
14.6
6.5
–
15.0
7.0
–
13.9
6.4
–
12.2
5.4
–
12.0
5.8
–
11.4
5.7
–
11.5
5.9
–
11.2
5.9
–
11.0
5.7
–
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
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
–
13.2
6.5
–
12.3
5.7
–
12.4
6.0
–
11.8
5.7
–
11.8
6.0
–
10.7
5.4
–
10.4
5.5
–
10.1
5.1
–
Primary metal industries:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
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
–
16.8
7.2
–
16.5
7.2
–
15.0
6.8
–
15.0
7.2
–
14.0
7.0
–
12.9
6.3
–
12.6
6.3
–
10.7
5.3
11.1
Fabricated metal products:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
18.5
7.9
147.6
18.7
7.9
155.7
17.4
7.1
146.6
16.8
6.6
144.0
16.2
6.7
–
16.4
6.7
–
15.8
6.9
–
14.4
6.2
–
14.2
6.4
–
13.9
6.5
–
12.6
6.0
–
11.9
5.5
–
11.1
5.3
–
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
12.1
4.8
86.8
12.0
4.7
88.9
11.2
4.4
86.6
11.1
4.2
87.7
11.1
4.2
–
11.6
4.4
–
11.2
4.4
–
9.9
4.0
–
10.0
4.1
–
9.5
4.0
–
8.5
3.7
–
8.2
3.6
–
11.0
6.0
–
Electronic and other electrical equipment:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
9.1
3.9
77.5
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
3.3
–
6.8
3.1
–
6.6
3.1
–
5.9
2.8
–
5.7
2.8
–
5.7
2.9
–
5.0
2.5
–
Transportation equipment:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
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
–
14.6
6.6
–
13.7
6.4
–
13.7
6.3
–
12.6
6.0
–
Instruments and related products:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
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
–
4.0
1.9
–
4.0
1.8
–
4.5
2.2
–
4.0
2.0
–
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries:
Total cases ............................…………………………
Lost workday cases..................................................
Lost workdays........………........................................
11.1
5.1
97.6
11.3
5.1
113.1
11.3
5.1
104.0
10.7
5.0
108.2
10.0
4.6
–
9.9
4.5
–
9.1
4.3
–
9.5
4.4
–
8.9
4.2
–
8.1
3.9
–
8.4
4.0
–
7.2
3.6
–
6.4
3.2
–
Total cases ............................………………………….
Lost workday cases.....................................................
Lost workdays........………...........................................
5
Durable goods:
Industrial machinery and equipment:
See footnotes at end of table.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 145
Current Labor Statistics: Injury and Illness Data
54. Continued—Occupational injury and illness rates by industry,1 United States
Industry and type of case2
Incidence rates per 100 workers 3
1989
1
1990
1991
1993 4 1994 4 1995 4 1996 4 1997 4 1998 4 1999 4 2000 4 2001 4
1992
Nondurable goods:
Total cases ............................…………………………..…
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays........………...............................................
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
–
9.2
4.6
–
8.8
4.4
–
8.2
4.3
7.8
4.2
–
7.8
4.2
–
6.8
3.8
–
Food and kindred products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
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
–
15.0
8.0
–
14.5
8.0
–
13.6
7.5
12.7
7.3
–
12.4
7.3
–
10.9
6.3
–
Tobacco products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
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
–
6.7
2.8
–
5.9
2.7
–
6.4
3.4
-
5.5
2.2
–
6.2
3.1
–
6.7
4.2
–
Textile mill products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
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
–
6.7
3.1
–
7.4
3.4
–
6.4
3.2
–
6.0
3.2
–
5.2
2.7
–
Apparel and other textile products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
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
–
8.2
3.6
–
7.4
3.3
–
7.0
3.1
–
6.2
2.6
-
5.8
2.8
–
6.1
3.0
–
5.0
2.4
–
Paper and allied products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
12.7
5.8
132.9
12.1
5.5
124.8
11.2
5.0
122.7
11.0
5.0
125.9
9.9
4.6
–
9.6
4.5
–
8.5
4.2
–
7.9
3.8
–
7.3
3.7
–
7.1
3.7
–
7.0
3.7
–
6.5
3.4
–
6.0
3.2
–
Printing and publishing:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
6.9
3.3
63.8
6.9
3.3
69.8
6.7
3.2
74.5
7.3
3.2
74.8
6.9
3.1
–
6.7
3.0
–
6.4
3.0
–
6.0
2.8
–
5.7
2.7
–
5.4
2.8
–
5.0
2.6
–
5.1
2.6
–
4.6
2.4
–
Chemicals and allied products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
7.0
3.2
63.4
6.5
3.1
61.6
6.4
3.1
62.4
6.0
2.8
64.2
5.9
2.7
–
5.7
2.8
–
5.5
2.7
–
4.8
2.4
–
4.8
2.3
–
4.2
2.1
–
4.4
2.3
–
4.2
2.2
–
4.0
2.1
–
Petroleum and coal products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
6.6
3.3
68.1
6.6
3.1
77.3
6.2
2.9
68.2
5.9
2.8
71.2
5.2
2.5
–
4.7
2.3
–
4.8
2.4
–
4.6
2.5
–
4.3
2.2
–
3.9
1.8
–
4.1
1.8
–
3.7
1.9
–
2.9
1.4
–
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
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
–
14.0
6.7
–
12.9
6.5
–
12.3
6.3
–
11.9
5.8
–
11.2
5.8
–
10.1
5.5
–
10.7
5.8
–
8.7
4.8
–
Leather and leather products:
Total cases ............................…………………………..
Lost workday cases......................................................
Lost workdays........………............................................
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
–
12.0
5.3
–
11.4
4.8
–
10.7
4.5
–
10.6
4.3
–
9.8
4.5
–
10.3
5.0
–
9.0
4.3
–
8.7
4.4
–
Transportation and public utilities
Total cases ............................…………………………..…
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays........………...............................................
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
–
6.9
4.3
–
6.9
4.3
–
Wholesale and retail trade
Total cases ............................…………………………..…
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays........………...............................................
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
–
5.9
2.7
–
6.6
2.5
–
Wholesale trade:
Total cases ............................…………………………..…
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays........………...............................................
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
–
5.8
3.1
–
5.3
2.8
–
Retail trade:
Total cases ............................…………………………..…
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays........………...............................................
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
–
7.9
3.3
–
7.5
3.0
–
6.9
2.8
–
6.8
2.9
–
6.5
2.7
–
6.1
2.5
–
5.9
2.5
–
5.7
2.4
–
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Total cases ............................…………………………..…
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays........………...............................................
2.0
.9
17.6
2.4
1.1
27.3
2.4
1.1
24.1
2.9
1.2
32.9
2.9
1.2
–
2.7
1.1
–
2.6
1.0
–
2.4
.9
–
2.2
.9
–
.7
.5
–
1.8
.8
–
1.9
.8
–
1.8
.7
–
Services
Total cases ............................…………………………..…
Lost workday cases.........................................................
Lost workdays........………...............................................
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
–
6.5
2.8
–
6.4
2.8
–
6.0
2.6
–
5.6
2.5
–
5.2
2.4
–
4.9
2.2
–
4.9
2.2
–
4.6
2.2
–
-
1
Data for 1989 and subsequent years are based on the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1987 Edition. For this reason, they are not strictly comparable with data
for the years 1985–88, which were based on the Standard Industrial Classification
Manual, 1972 Edition, 1977 Supplement.
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).
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.
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 from work
by industry and for groups of workers sustaining similar work disabilities.
5
Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees since 1976.
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) X 200,000, where:
146
-
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009
NOTE: Dash indicates data not available.
55. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, 1996-2005
20053
1996-2000
(average)
2001-2005
(average)2
All events ...............................................................
6,094
5,704
5,734
100
Transportation incidents ................................................
Highway ........................................................................
Collision between vehicles, mobile equipment .........
Moving in same direction ......................................
Moving in opposite directions, oncoming ..............
Moving in intersection ...........................................
Vehicle struck stationary object or equipment on
side of road .............................................................
Noncollision ...............................................................
Jack-knifed or overturned--no collision .................
Nonhighway (farm, industrial premises) ........................
Noncollision accident ................................................
Overturned ............................................................
Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment ................
Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment in
roadway ..................................................................
Worker struck by vehicle, mobile equipment in
parking lot or non-road area ....................................
Water vehicle ................................................................
Aircraft ...........................................................................
2,608
1,408
685
117
247
151
2,451
1,394
686
151
254
137
2,493
1,437
718
175
265
134
43
25
13
3
5
2
264
372
298
378
321
212
376
310
335
274
335
277
175
369
345
318
273
340
281
182
391
6
6
5
6
5
3
7
129
136
140
2
171
105
263
166
82
206
176
88
149
3
2
3
Assaults and violent acts ...............................................
Homicides .....................................................................
Shooting ....................................................................
Suicide, self-inflicted injury ............................................
1,015
766
617
216
850
602
465
207
792
567
441
180
14
10
8
3
Contact with objects and equipment ............................
Struck by object ............................................................
Struck by falling object ..............................................
Struck by rolling, sliding objects on floor or ground
level .........................................................................
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects .......
Caught in running equipment or machinery ..............
Caught in or crushed in collapsing materials ................
1,005
567
364
952
560
345
1,005
607
385
18
11
7
77
293
157
128
89
256
128
118
94
278
121
109
2
5
2
2
Falls ..................................................................................
Fall to lower level ..........................................................
Fall from ladder .........................................................
Fall from roof .............................................................
Fall to lower level, n.e.c. ...........................................
714
636
106
153
117
763
669
125
154
123
770
664
129
160
117
13
12
2
3
2
Exposure to harmful substances or environments .....
Contact with electric current ..........................................
Contact with overhead power lines ...........................
Exposure to caustic, noxious, or allergenic substances
Oxygen deficiency .........................................................
535
290
132
112
92
498
265
118
114
74
501
251
112
136
59
9
4
2
2
1
Fires and explosions ......................................................
Fires--unintended or uncontrolled .................................
Explosion ......................................................................
196
103
92
174
95
78
159
93
65
3
2
1
Event or exposure1
Number
Percent
1 Based on the 1992 BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification Manual.
2 Excludes fatalities from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
3 The BLS news release of August 10, 2006, reported a total of 5,702 fatal work injuries for calendar year
2005. Since then, an additional 32 job-related fatalities were identified, bringing the total job-related fatality
count for 2005 to 5,734.
NOTE: Totals for all years are revised and final. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not
shown separately. Dashes indicate no data reported or data that do not meet publication criteria. N.e.c. means
"not elsewhere classified."
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with State, New York City,
District of Columbia, and Federal agencies, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
Monthly Labor Review • June 2009 147
COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Profiles of Significant Collective Bargaining Disputes of 2008
by Elizabeth A. Ashack
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Originally Posted: June 24, 2009
The Work Stoppages program at the Bureau of Labor Statistics identified 15 work stoppages involving 1,000 or more
employees that occurred in the United States in 2008. The 15 work stoppages idled 72,000 workers, for a total of 1.954
million workdays lost.1 This article discusses the collective bargaining labor issues surrounding the three largest work
stoppages of 2008, as measured by days of idleness and the number of employees involved.
The Boeing Company
The largest work stoppage in terms of total days of idleness and largest number of workers involved was the work stoppage
between the Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists (IAM), Districts 24, 70, and 751. The work
stoppage lasted 39 days,2 with the 27,000 workers participating in the work stoppage accruing 1,053,000 lost work days.
After negotiations involving the two sides and a Federal mediator failed to lead to an agreement, the work stoppage began at
12:01 a.m., Saturday, September 6, 2008, affecting Boeing operations in the States of Washington, Oregon, and Kansas.3
Boeing officials stated that the company would not attempt to assemble planes during the work stoppage.4
The union objected to company proposals in which some workers would receive lower pay, fewer benefits, and a less
generous retirement package than others.5 Boeings final offer involved a 3-year contract that included bonuses of at least
$5,000 in the first year, a pay increase of 11 percent over 3 years, and a 3-percent annual cost-of-living adjustment.
According to the company, their offer amounted to an average increase in pay and benefits of $34,000 per employee.6
Boeing and IAM negotiators reached a tentative agreement in late October, and on November 1, 2008, 74 percent of union
members voted to end the work stoppage.7 The new collective bargaining agreement provides a similar level of
compensation to that offered by the company before the stoppage, although the agreement was extended from 3 years to 4
years. The new agreement calls for an 11-percent wage increase over 3 years, with an additional 4-percent increase in the
fourth year. The agreement also provides lump-sum payments of the greater of $5,000 or 10 percent of annual salary in the
first year and $1,500 in each of the second and third years.8 In addition, many lower-paid machinists will receive $1.00 more
per hour, and all machinists will retain their current medical plans with no increase in cost. The agreement also includes
some limitations on outsourcing of factory work–a major sticking point in the negotiations–as well as job protection for 5,000
union members who deliver parts and maintain the Boeing facilities. Some analysts have estimated that the shutdown of jet
production during the work stoppage cost Boeing more than $2 billion in profits.9
American Axel And Manufacturing, Incorporated
The second largest work stoppage of 2008 in terms of total days of idleness involved the automobile parts component
manufacturer American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) and the United Auto Workers International Union (UAW), Locals 235,
262, 424, 846, and 2093. The work stoppage lasted 63 days, idling 3,600 workers and leading to 226,800 lost work days. As
a result of the work stoppage, General Motors, which accounts for 80 percent of AAMs revenue, shut down or reduced
production at 30 of its U.S. plants, affecting production of full-sized pickups and SUVs. The two AAM facilities in New York
State (Cheektowaga and Tonawanda) and the three in Michigan (Detroit, Hamtramck, and Three Rivers) are the companys
original plants acquired from General Motors in 1994.10
The work stoppage began on February 26, 2008, as the union protested company proposals to reduce wages, increase
health care costs, and freeze pension benefits.11 After negotiators for the two sides reached agreement, 78 percent of union
members ratified a new 4-year contract, and the work stoppage ended May 22, 2008. The new agreement allows for some
plant closings, as well as reduced wages for the remaining workers, fewer paid holidays and less vacation time, and
reductions in shift premiums. The new agreement also reduces hourly pay to a range of $10 per hour to $26 per hour and
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COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
provides “buydown” payments of up to $105,000 over 3 years for workers who stay. (A buydown payment is a type of bonus
meant to compensate workers for accepting reduced hourly wages.) In addition, buyout packages and early retirement were
offered to eligible workers.12
Hawker Beechcraft, Incorporated
The third largest work stoppage of 2008 in terms of total days of idleness involved the aircraft manufacturing firm Hawker
Beechcraft and the International Association of Machinists (IAM), Locals 733 and 2328. The stoppage lasted 19 days, idling
5,200 workers and leading to 98,200 lost work days. The IAM represents about 4,700 of the 8,000 Hawker Beechcraft
workers employed at the companys factory in Wichita, KS, and an additional 500 workers at its smaller plant in Salina, KS.
Hawker Beechcraft is perhaps best known as a leading manufacturer of super-midsize and midsize business jets.
The work stoppage began on August 3, 2008, when 90 percent of union members voted against a new labor contract offer.
The work stoppage was the first involving the company (formerly known as Beech Aircraft and Raytheon Aircraft Company)
since 1984. The work stoppage ended on August 28, 2008, when 77 percent of members voted to accept the new contract,
which provides wage increases of 4 percent in each year of the new 3-year contract. The new contract also keeps health
care premiums at their current levels for 3 years.13 The company also agreed to increase pension benefits and to drop a
proposal that would have reduced the amount of earned time off for new employees.
Elizabeth A. Ashack
Economist, Division of Compensation Data Analysis and Planning, Office of Compensation and Working Conditions, Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
Telephone: (202) 691-5178; E-mail: Ashack.Elizabeth@bls.gov.
Notes
1 Major Work Stoppages in 2008, USDL 09-0150 (U.S. Department of Labor), February 11, 2009; available on the Internet at http://
www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/wkstp_02112009.pdf.
2 The BLS Work Stoppages program calculates days of idleness for days including at least one full shift idle, excluding weekends and Federal
holidays.
3 Boeing Statement: Renegotiation Fails; Strike Called (September 5, 2008), on the Internet at http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/
q3/080905c_nr.html.
4 “Boeing Machinist Strike After Failed Negotiations,” The Washington Post, September 7, 2008, p. A5.
5 Machinists Fault Boeing for Triggering 08 Strike (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers statement, January 29,
2009), on the Internet at http://www.goiam.org/content.cfm?cID=14505.
6 “Boeing Machinist Strike After Failed Negotiations,” The Washington Post, September 7, 2008, p. A5.
7 “Boeing strike ends; Machinists back on the job Sunday,” The Seattle Times, November 2, 2008; available on the Internet at http://
seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2008340022&zsection_id=200375.
8 “Boeing, Machinists reach settlement; pact calls for 15 percent pay raise over 4 years,” The Seattle Times, November 1, 2008; available on
the Internet at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2008319765_machinists28.html.
9 “Boeing strike ends; Machinists back on the job Sunday,” The Seattle Times, November 2, 2008.
10 “American Axle contract ratified, strike ends,” Reuters (online), May 22, 2008; on the Internet at http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/
idUSN2251234220080523.
11 “Some GM workers back American Axle Strike,” USA Today (online version), March 14, 2008; on the Internet at http://www.usatoday.com/
money/industries/manufacturing/2008-03-11-american-axle_N.htm.
12 “American Axle contract ratified, strike ends,” Reuters (online), May 22, 2008.
13 David Collogan, “Hawker Beechcraft Strike Ends,” Aviation Week (online version), September 2, 2008; on the Internet at http://
www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=businessweekly&id=news/STRIKE09028.xml
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COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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