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Dealing with Long-term Unemployment
President Obama made history in September when he finally beat out President Reagan’s record for worst U.S. economy in terms of unemployment since the Great Depression. The first Friday of every month at 8:30 (EDT), the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), publishes its Employment Situation Report, as it did on Oct. 7. The BLS reported that the unemployment rate in September remained unchanged at 9.1 percent with 14 million Americans unemployed.
Since 1948 the BLS has been publishing the unemployment rate statistics known to economists as U-3 or the headline unemployment rate.
U.S. Unemployment Rate Percent, 1948 to Present
For this 62 year period Reagan held the record for worst U.S. economy in terms of the duration of high unemployment rates in the post World War II period:
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|
1981 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.5 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 10.8 | |
1983 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.3 | |
1984 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
Obama has clearly surpassed Reagan’s unemployment record. The unemployment rate is expected to remain over 8 percent for the next twelve months, if not longer.
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|
2009 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 9.9 | 9.9 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.4 | |
2011 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 |
While the U-3 headline unemployment rate number gets the attention of most journalists, among economists and investment analysts the U-6 total unemployment rate gets more attention because it includes people who want to work full time but have been unable to find work. The U-6 unemployment rate increased from 16.2 percent in August to 16.5 percent in September.
The U-6 unemployment rate includes marginal attached workers including discouraged workers and individuals that are working part time but looking for full time employment. The BLS defines a marginally attached workers as “persons not in the labor force who want and are available for work, and who have looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months (or since the
end of their last job if they held one within the past 12 months), but were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey.”
A discouraged workers are “persons not in the labor force 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 who are not currently looking because they believe there are no jobs available or there are none for which they would qualify”, according to the BLS.
What is even worse for those searching for a job is the average weeks unemployed has more than doubled from 19.9 weeks in January 2009 to 40.5 weeks in September 2011, according to the BLS. During the Reagan years the average weeks unemployed in January 1981 was 14.3 weeks and peaked at 21.2 weeks in July 1983 and fell to 7.3 weeks in January 1985.
Only 103,000 new jobs were created in September according to the BLS’s Establishment Survey Data. For the last six months an average of 72,000 new jobs were created compared with 161,000 for the seven months prior to April 2011. The U.S. economy needs to create between 250,000 to 300,000 jobs each month to reduce the unemployment rate by .1 percent.
Every month high school and college students, graduates and dropouts enter the labor force for the first time as new entrants. In order to keep the unemployment rate unchanged the U.S. economy needs to create a minimum of 100,000 to 150,000 new jobs each month to absorb new entrants into the labor market. The September unemployment rate among teenagers was 24.6 percent.
The U.S. econonmy is on the brink of another recession with the growth of real Gross Domestic Product approaching zero. For the next 6 to 9 months many economists are predicting the unemployment rate to rise from 9.1 percent to over 10 percent before gradually falling back down to under 9 percent in the following 12 months. This does not bode well for Obama’s chances of being re-elected for a second term.
All statistics are from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic, October, 2011
Unemployment Rate (U-3)
Series Id: LNS14000000
Seasonally Adjusted
Series title: (Seas) Unemployment Rate
Labor force status: Unemployment rate
Type of data: Percent or rate
Age: 16 years and over
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.0 | |
1949 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 6.4 | 6.6 | |
1950 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | |
1951 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.1 | |
1952 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.7 | |
1953 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 4.5 | |
1954 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.0 | |
1955 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
1956 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.2 | |
1957 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.2 | |
1958 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 6.2 | |
1959 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.3 | |
1960 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.6 | |
1961 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 6.0 | |
1962 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.5 | |
1963 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.5 | |
1964 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 5.0 | |
1965 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | |
1966 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.8 | |
1967 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | |
1968 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | |
1969 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | |
1970 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.1 | |
1971 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.0 | |
1972 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
1973 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 | |
1974 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 7.2 | |
1975 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.2 | |
1976 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.8 | |
1977 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.4 | |
1978 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.0 | |
1979 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 | |
1980 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | |
1981 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.5 | |
1982 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 10.8 | |
1983 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.3 | |
1984 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.3 | |
1985 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.0 | |
1986 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.6 | |
1987 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.7 | |
1988 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
1989 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | |
1990 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.3 | |
1991 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.3 | |
1992 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 | |
1993 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 6.5 | |
1994 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.5 | |
1995 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 | |
1996 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.4 | |
1997 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | |
1998 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | |
1999 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | |
2000 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | |
2001 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.7 | |
2002 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.0 | |
2003 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.7 | |
2004 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | |
2005 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | |
2006 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | |
2007 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5.0 | |
2008 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 6.8 | 7.3 | |
2009 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 9.9 | 9.9 | |
2010 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.4 | |
2011 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.1 |
Average Weeks Unemployed
Series Id: LNS13008275
Seasonally Adjusted
Series title: (Seas) Average Weeks Unemployed
Labor force status: Unemployed
Type of data: Number of weeks
Age: 16 years and over
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 7.8 | 8.1 | |
1949 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 10.0 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 11.7 | 10.9 | 11.6 | 11.8 | |
1950 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 12.4 | 12.6 | 12.7 | 13.1 | 12.5 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 10.7 | 10.7 | |
1951 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 10.1 | 10.6 | 9.9 | 8.7 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 9.3 | |
1952 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 8.8 | |
1953 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 8.0 | |
1954 | 8.7 | 9.5 | 10.6 | 10.9 | 11.6 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 12.8 | 12.9 | 13.3 | 13.2 | 13.4 | |
1955 | 13.4 | 14.2 | 13.4 | 14.3 | 14.4 | 13.4 | 13.8 | 12.3 | 11.7 | 11.5 | 11.3 | 12.0 | |
1956 | 11.7 | 12.5 | 11.6 | 11.0 | 10.4 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 12.0 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 10.9 | 11.4 | |
1957 | 10.4 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 10.6 | 10.4 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 9.8 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 10.4 | |
1958 | 10.5 | 11.0 | 11.2 | 12.1 | 13.1 | 14.4 | 14.6 | 15.7 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 16.4 | 15.7 | |
1959 | 16.3 | 15.5 | 15.3 | 14.9 | 14.7 | 14.9 | 14.3 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 12.9 | 13.1 | 13.1 | |
1960 | 13.5 | 13.1 | 13.0 | 12.6 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 12.6 | 12.2 | 12.9 | 13.5 | 13.9 | 12.4 | |
1961 | 13.7 | 13.6 | 14.1 | 15.5 | 15.6 | 16.2 | 17.3 | 17.0 | 16.1 | 15.9 | 17.0 | 15.8 | |
1962 | 15.3 | 16.0 | 15.0 | 14.9 | 15.5 | 15.1 | 14.6 | 14.5 | 14.1 | 14.1 | 13.3 | 13.6 | |
1963 | 13.8 | 14.1 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 13.9 | 13.3 | 13.3 | |
1964 | 13.5 | 13.2 | 13.5 | 12.4 | 13.6 | 13.6 | 14.7 | 13.0 | 12.7 | 12.6 | 14.0 | 12.7 | |
1965 | 12.2 | 12.6 | 12.0 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 11.6 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 12.1 | 11.7 | 11.4 | |
1966 | 11.9 | 11.2 | 11.1 | 10.8 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 9.5 | |
1967 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 8.6 | |
1968 | 9.4 | 8.7 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 8.2 | |
1969 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 8.0 | |
1970 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 9.3 | 9.8 | |
1971 | 10.5 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 10.9 | 11.2 | 11.6 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 12.6 | 12.0 | 11.5 | |
1972 | 12.1 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 12.1 | 11.7 | 11.4 | 11.4 | |
1973 | 11.0 | 10.5 | 10.6 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 10.2 | 9.9 | 9.5 | |
1974 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.9 | 9.6 | 10.1 | |
1975 | 10.7 | 11.7 | 11.8 | 12.9 | 13.4 | 15.3 | 15.0 | 15.6 | 16.1 | 15.4 | 16.6 | 16.5 | |
1976 | 16.6 | 16.3 | 16.5 | 15.9 | 15.0 | 16.9 | 15.7 | 15.6 | 15.2 | 15.2 | 15.3 | 15.1 | |
1977 | 15.2 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 14.4 | 14.9 | 14.4 | 14.3 | 13.9 | 14.0 | 13.7 | 13.6 | 13.6 | |
1978 | 12.9 | 12.5 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.0 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 10.6 | |
1979 | 11.1 | 11.2 | 11.7 | 11.0 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.6 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.6 | 10.8 | |
1980 | 10.4 | 10.6 | 11.0 | 11.4 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 12.4 | 12.9 | 13.1 | 13.6 | 13.7 | |
1981 | 14.3 | 14.1 | 14.0 | 13.9 | 13.6 | 13.7 | 13.8 | 14.4 | 13.6 | 13.5 | 13.1 | 13.1 | |
1982 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 14.1 | 14.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.4 | 16.2 | 16.6 | 17.2 | 17.1 | 18.1 | |
1983 | 19.4 | 19.2 | 19.4 | 19.5 | 20.5 | 20.8 | 21.2 | 20.0 | 20.2 | 20.2 | 19.7 | 19.2 | |
1984 | 20.4 | 19.0 | 19.1 | 18.9 | 18.8 | 18.1 | 18.0 | 17.3 | 17.0 | 16.7 | 17.0 | 16.8 | |
1985 | 15.9 | 15.9 | 16.1 | 16.4 | 15.3 | 15.5 | 15.5 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.7 | 15.1 | |
1986 | 14.8 | 15.2 | 14.6 | 14.7 | 14.7 | 15.2 | 15.2 | 15.5 | 15.4 | 15.2 | 15.0 | 15.0 | |
1987 | 14.9 | 14.7 | 14.9 | 14.8 | 14.9 | 14.9 | 14.2 | 14.4 | 14.2 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 14.2 | |
1988 | 14.2 | 14.4 | 13.7 | 13.3 | 13.8 | 13.1 | 13.4 | 13.6 | 13.6 | 13.4 | 12.6 | 12.9 | |
1989 | 12.6 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 12.0 | 11.1 | 11.8 | 11.4 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 11.7 | 11.6 | |
1990 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 11.7 | 11.8 | 11.7 | 11.6 | 11.9 | 12.2 | 12.4 | 12.2 | 12.4 | 12.5 | |
1991 | 12.2 | 12.7 | 12.9 | 13.5 | 12.9 | 13.7 | 13.8 | 13.9 | 14.0 | 14.4 | 14.8 | 15.4 | |
1992 | 16.1 | 16.7 | 17.1 | 17.4 | 17.8 | 18.2 | 18.1 | 18.0 | 18.1 | 18.9 | 17.9 | 19.0 | |
1993 | 18.3 | 18.2 | 17.6 | 17.6 | 17.5 | 17.8 | 17.7 | 18.0 | 18.1 | 18.1 | 18.6 | 18.3 | |
1994 | 18.6 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 19.5 | 18.8 | 19.0 | 18.8 | 18.7 | 19.3 | 18.0 | 17.8 | |
1995 | 17.1 | 17.0 | 17.3 | 17.6 | 17.0 | 15.9 | 16.5 | 16.2 | 16.2 | 16.0 | 16.4 | 16.3 | |
1996 | 16.1 | 16.4 | 17.3 | 17.6 | 17.0 | 17.6 | 16.7 | 17.3 | 16.8 | 16.3 | 15.9 | 15.6 | |
1997 | 16.0 | 15.8 | 15.5 | 15.6 | 15.4 | 15.5 | 16.4 | 16.0 | 15.9 | 16.1 | 15.4 | 15.9 | |
1998 | 15.6 | 15.4 | 14.5 | 14.7 | 14.7 | 14.1 | 14.1 | 13.7 | 14.4 | 14.1 | 14.5 | 14.0 | |
1999 | 13.4 | 13.8 | 13.4 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.3 | 13.6 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.3 | 12.9 | 12.9 | |
2000 | 13.1 | 12.6 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 12.6 | 12.3 | 13.4 | 12.9 | 12.2 | 12.7 | 12.4 | 12.5 | |
2001 | 12.7 | 12.8 | 12.8 | 12.4 | 12.1 | 12.7 | 12.9 | 13.3 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 14.3 | 14.5 | |
2002 | 14.7 | 15.0 | 15.4 | 16.3 | 16.8 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.5 | 17.6 | 17.8 | 17.6 | 18.5 | |
2003 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.1 | 19.4 | 19.0 | 19.9 | 19.7 | 19.2 | 19.5 | 19.3 | 19.9 | 19.8 | |
2004 | 19.9 | 20.1 | 19.8 | 19.6 | 19.8 | 20.5 | 18.8 | 18.8 | 19.4 | 19.5 | 19.7 | 19.4 | |
2005 | 19.5 | 19.1 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 18.6 | 17.9 | 17.6 | 18.4 | 17.9 | 17.9 | 17.5 | 17.5 | |
2006 | 16.9 | 17.8 | 17.1 | 16.7 | 17.1 | 16.6 | 17.1 | 17.1 | 17.1 | 16.3 | 16.2 | 16.1 | |
2007 | 16.3 | 16.7 | 17.8 | 17.0 | 16.7 | 16.5 | 17.2 | 17.0 | 16.3 | 17.0 | 17.2 | 16.6 | |
2008 | 17.5 | 16.9 | 16.5 | 16.9 | 16.7 | 17.2 | 17.0 | 17.7 | 18.6 | 19.9 | 18.8 | 19.8 | |
2009 | 19.9 | 20.1 | 20.9 | 21.6 | 22.6 | 24.1 | 25.2 | 25.3 | 26.6 | 27.3 | 28.8 | 29.3 | |
2010 | 30.5 | 29.8 | 31.7 | 33.1 | 34.3 | 34.8 | 33.9 | 33.5 | 33.4 | 33.9 | 33.9 | 34.2 | |
2011 | 36.9 | 37.1 | 39.0 | 38.3 | 39.7 | 39.9 | 40.4 | 40.3 | 40.5 |
Total Unemployment Rate (U-6)
Series Id: LNS13327709
Seasonally Adjusted
Series title: (seas) Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers
Labor force status: Aggregated totals unemployed
Type of data: Percent or rate
Age: 16 years and over
Percent/rates: Unemployed and mrg attached and pt for econ reas as percent of labor force plus marg attached
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | 11.8 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 10.9 | 10.7 | 10.5 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 10.0 | |
1995 | 10.2 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 9.9 | 10.0 | 10.0 | |
1996 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.5 | |
1997 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.4 | |
1998 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.6 | |
1999 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 7.1 | |
2000 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 6.9 | |
2001 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 8.7 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.6 | |
2002 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.8 | |
2003 | 10.0 | 10.2 | 10.0 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 10.4 | 10.2 | 10.0 | 9.8 | |
2004 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 10.0 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 9.2 | |
2005 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.6 | |
2006 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 7.9 | |
2007 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.8 | |
2008 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 9.7 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 11.2 | 11.9 | 12.7 | 13.6 | |
2009 | 14.1 | 15.0 | 15.6 | 15.8 | 16.4 | 16.6 | 16.5 | 16.8 | 17.0 | 17.4 | 17.1 | 17.2 | |
2010 | 16.5 | 16.8 | 16.8 | 17.0 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 16.5 | 16.7 | 17.1 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 16.7 | |
2011 | 16.1 | 15.9 | 15.7 | 15.9 | 15.8 | 16.2 | 16.1 | 16.2 | 16.5 |
Labor Force Participation Rate
Series Id: LNS11300000
Seasonally Adjusted
Series title: (Seas) Labor Force Participation Rate
Labor force status: Civilian labor force participation rate
Type of data: Percent or rate
Age: 16 years and over
Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | 58.6 | 58.9 | 58.5 | 59.0 | 58.3 | 59.2 | 59.3 | 58.9 | 58.9 | 58.7 | 58.7 | 59.1 | |
1949 | 58.7 | 59.0 | 58.9 | 58.8 | 59.0 | 58.6 | 58.9 | 59.2 | 59.1 | 59.6 | 59.4 | 59.2 | |
1950 | 58.9 | 58.9 | 58.8 | 59.2 | 59.1 | 59.4 | 59.1 | 59.5 | 59.2 | 59.4 | 59.3 | 59.2 | |
1951 | 59.1 | 59.1 | 59.8 | 59.1 | 59.4 | 59.0 | 59.4 | 59.2 | 59.1 | 59.4 | 59.2 | 59.6 | |
1952 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 58.9 | 58.8 | 59.1 | 59.1 | 58.9 | 58.7 | 59.2 | 58.7 | 59.1 | 59.2 | |
1953 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 59.6 | 59.1 | 58.6 | 58.9 | 58.9 | 58.6 | 58.5 | 58.5 | 58.6 | 58.3 | |
1954 | 58.6 | 59.3 | 59.1 | 59.2 | 58.9 | 58.5 | 58.4 | 58.7 | 59.2 | 58.8 | 58.6 | 58.1 | |
1955 | 58.6 | 58.4 | 58.5 | 59.0 | 58.8 | 58.8 | 59.3 | 59.7 | 59.7 | 59.8 | 59.9 | 60.2 | |
1956 | 60.2 | 59.9 | 59.8 | 59.9 | 60.2 | 60.1 | 60.1 | 60.0 | 60.0 | 59.8 | 59.8 | 59.8 | |
1957 | 59.5 | 59.9 | 59.8 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 59.8 | 60.0 | 59.3 | 59.6 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 59.6 | |
1958 | 59.3 | 59.3 | 59.3 | 59.6 | 59.8 | 59.5 | 59.6 | 59.8 | 59.7 | 59.6 | 59.2 | 59.2 | |
1959 | 59.3 | 59.0 | 59.3 | 59.4 | 59.2 | 59.2 | 59.4 | 59.2 | 59.3 | 59.4 | 59.1 | 59.5 | |
1960 | 59.1 | 59.1 | 58.5 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 59.7 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 59.7 | 59.4 | 59.8 | 59.7 | |
1961 | 59.6 | 59.6 | 59.7 | 59.3 | 59.4 | 59.7 | 59.3 | 59.3 | 59.0 | 59.1 | 59.1 | 58.8 | |
1962 | 58.8 | 59.0 | 58.9 | 58.7 | 58.9 | 58.8 | 58.5 | 59.0 | 59.0 | 58.7 | 58.5 | 58.4 | |
1963 | 58.6 | 58.6 | 58.6 | 58.8 | 58.8 | 58.5 | 58.7 | 58.5 | 58.7 | 58.8 | 58.8 | 58.5 | |
1964 | 58.6 | 58.8 | 58.7 | 59.1 | 59.1 | 58.7 | 58.6 | 58.6 | 58.7 | 58.6 | 58.5 | 58.6 | |
1965 | 58.6 | 58.7 | 58.7 | 58.8 | 59.0 | 58.8 | 59.1 | 58.9 | 58.7 | 58.9 | 58.8 | 59.0 | |
1966 | 59.0 | 58.8 | 58.8 | 59.0 | 59.0 | 59.1 | 59.1 | 59.3 | 59.3 | 59.3 | 59.6 | 59.5 | |
1967 | 59.5 | 59.3 | 59.1 | 59.4 | 59.3 | 59.6 | 59.6 | 59.7 | 59.7 | 59.9 | 59.8 | 59.9 | |
1968 | 59.2 | 59.6 | 59.6 | 59.5 | 59.9 | 60.0 | 59.8 | 59.6 | 59.5 | 59.5 | 59.6 | 59.7 | |
1969 | 59.6 | 60.0 | 59.9 | 60.0 | 59.8 | 60.1 | 60.1 | 60.3 | 60.3 | 60.4 | 60.2 | 60.2 | |
1970 | 60.4 | 60.4 | 60.6 | 60.6 | 60.3 | 60.2 | 60.4 | 60.3 | 60.2 | 60.4 | 60.4 | 60.4 | |
1971 | 60.4 | 60.1 | 60.0 | 60.1 | 60.2 | 59.8 | 60.1 | 60.2 | 60.1 | 60.1 | 60.4 | 60.4 | |
1972 | 60.2 | 60.2 | 60.5 | 60.4 | 60.4 | 60.4 | 60.4 | 60.6 | 60.4 | 60.3 | 60.3 | 60.5 | |
1973 | 60.0 | 60.5 | 60.8 | 60.8 | 60.6 | 60.9 | 60.9 | 60.7 | 60.8 | 60.9 | 61.2 | 61.2 | |
1974 | 61.3 | 61.4 | 61.3 | 61.1 | 61.2 | 61.2 | 61.4 | 61.2 | 61.4 | 61.3 | 61.3 | 61.2 | |
1975 | 61.4 | 61.0 | 61.2 | 61.3 | 61.5 | 61.2 | 61.3 | 61.3 | 61.2 | 61.2 | 61.1 | 61.1 | |
1976 | 61.3 | 61.3 | 61.3 | 61.6 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 61.8 | 61.8 | 61.6 | 61.6 | 61.9 | 61.8 | |
1977 | 61.6 | 61.9 | 62.0 | 62.1 | 62.2 | 62.4 | 62.1 | 62.3 | 62.3 | 62.4 | 62.8 | 62.7 | |
1978 | 62.8 | 62.7 | 62.8 | 63.0 | 63.1 | 63.3 | 63.2 | 63.2 | 63.3 | 63.3 | 63.5 | 63.6 | |
1979 | 63.6 | 63.8 | 63.8 | 63.5 | 63.3 | 63.5 | 63.6 | 63.6 | 63.8 | 63.7 | 63.7 | 63.9 | |
1980 | 64.0 | 64.0 | 63.7 | 63.8 | 63.9 | 63.7 | 63.8 | 63.7 | 63.6 | 63.7 | 63.8 | 63.6 | |
1981 | 63.9 | 63.9 | 64.1 | 64.2 | 64.3 | 63.7 | 63.8 | 63.8 | 63.5 | 63.8 | 63.9 | 63.6 | |
1982 | 63.7 | 63.8 | 63.8 | 63.9 | 64.2 | 63.9 | 64.0 | 64.1 | 64.1 | 64.1 | 64.2 | 64.1 | |
1983 | 63.9 | 63.8 | 63.7 | 63.8 | 63.7 | 64.3 | 64.1 | 64.3 | 64.3 | 64.0 | 64.1 | 64.1 | |
1984 | 63.9 | 64.1 | 64.1 | 64.3 | 64.5 | 64.6 | 64.6 | 64.4 | 64.4 | 64.4 | 64.5 | 64.6 | |
1985 | 64.7 | 64.7 | 64.9 | 64.9 | 64.8 | 64.6 | 64.7 | 64.6 | 64.9 | 65.0 | 64.9 | 65.0 | |
1986 | 64.9 | 65.0 | 65.1 | 65.1 | 65.2 | 65.4 | 65.4 | 65.3 | 65.4 | 65.4 | 65.4 | 65.3 | |
1987 | 65.4 | 65.5 | 65.5 | 65.4 | 65.7 | 65.5 | 65.6 | 65.7 | 65.5 | 65.7 | 65.7 | 65.7 | |
1988 | 65.8 | 65.9 | 65.7 | 65.8 | 65.7 | 65.8 | 65.9 | 66.1 | 65.9 | 66.0 | 66.2 | 66.1 | |
1989 | 66.5 | 66.3 | 66.3 | 66.4 | 66.3 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.4 | 66.5 | 66.6 | 66.5 | |
1990 | 66.8 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.6 | 66.6 | 66.4 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.4 | |
1991 | 66.2 | 66.2 | 66.3 | 66.4 | 66.2 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.0 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.0 | |
1992 | 66.3 | 66.2 | 66.4 | 66.5 | 66.6 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.6 | 66.5 | 66.2 | 66.3 | 66.3 | |
1993 | 66.2 | 66.2 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.4 | 66.5 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.2 | 66.3 | 66.3 | 66.4 | |
1994 | 66.6 | 66.6 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.6 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.6 | 66.6 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.7 | |
1995 | 66.8 | 66.8 | 66.7 | 66.9 | 66.5 | 66.5 | 66.6 | 66.6 | 66.6 | 66.6 | 66.5 | 66.4 | |
1996 | 66.4 | 66.6 | 66.6 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.9 | 66.7 | 66.9 | 67.0 | 67.0 | 67.0 | |
1997 | 67.0 | 66.9 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.2 | 67.2 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.2 | 67.2 | |
1998 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.0 | 67.0 | 67.0 | 67.0 | 67.0 | 67.2 | 67.2 | 67.1 | 67.2 | |
1999 | 67.2 | 67.2 | 67.0 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 67.0 | 67.0 | 67.0 | 67.1 | 67.1 | |
2000 | 67.3 | 67.3 | 67.3 | 67.3 | 67.1 | 67.1 | 66.9 | 66.9 | 66.9 | 66.8 | 66.9 | 67.0 | |
2001 | 67.2 | 67.1 | 67.2 | 66.9 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.8 | 66.5 | 66.8 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.7 | |
2002 | 66.5 | 66.8 | 66.6 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 66.6 | 66.5 | 66.6 | 66.7 | 66.6 | 66.4 | 66.3 | |
2003 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.3 | 66.4 | 66.4 | 66.5 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 65.9 | |
2004 | 66.1 | 66.0 | 66.0 | 65.9 | 66.0 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.0 | 65.8 | 65.9 | 66.0 | 65.9 | |
2005 | 65.8 | 65.9 | 65.9 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.0 | 66.0 | |
2006 | 66.0 | 66.1 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.2 | 66.1 | 66.2 | 66.3 | 66.4 | |
2007 | 66.4 | 66.3 | 66.2 | 65.9 | 66.0 | 66.0 | 66.0 | 65.8 | 66.0 | 65.8 | 66.0 | 66.0 | |
2008 | 66.2 | 66.0 | 66.1 | 65.9 | 66.1 | 66.1 | 66.0 | 66.1 | 66.0 | 66.0 | 65.8 | 65.8 | |
2009 | 65.7 | 65.7 | 65.6 | 65.6 | 65.7 | 65.7 | 65.5 | 65.4 | 65.1 | 65.1 | 65.0 | 64.7 | |
2010 | 64.8 | 64.8 | 64.9 | 65.1 | 64.9 | 64.7 | 64.6 | 64.7 | 64.7 | 64.5 | 64.5 | 64.3 | |
2011 | 64.2 | 64.2 | 64.2 | 64.2 | 64.2 | 64.1 | 63.9 | 64.0 | 64.2 |
Employment Situation Summary
Transmission of material in this release is embargoed USDL-11-1441 until 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Friday, October 7, 2011 Technical information: Household data: (202) 691-6378 * cpsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cps Establishment data: (202) 691-6555 * cesinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/ces Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION -- SEPTEMBER 2011 Nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 in September, and the unemployment rate held at 9.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The increase in employment partially reflected the return to payrolls of about 45,000 telecommunications workers who had been on strike in August. In September, job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and construction. Government employment continued to trend down. Household Survey Data The number of unemployed persons, at 14.0 million, was essentially unchanged in September, and the unemployment rate was 9.1 percent. Since April, the rate has held in a narrow range from 9.0 to 9.2 percent. (See table A-1.) Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (8.8 percent), adult women (8.1 percent), teenagers (24.6 percent), whites (8.0 percent), blacks (16.0 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) showed little or no change in September. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.) The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was 6.2 million in September. These individuals accounted for 44.6 percent of the unemployed. (See table A-12.) Both the labor force and employment increased in September. However, the civilian labor force participation rate, at 64.2 percent, and the employment-population ratio, at 58.3 percent, were little changed. (See table A-1.) The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) rose to 9.3 million in September. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. (See table A-8.) In September, about 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, about the same as a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. (See table A-16.) Among the marginally attached, there were 1.0 million discouraged workers in September, down by 172,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.5 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in September had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities. (See table A-16.) Establishment Survey Data Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 103,000 in September. Since April, payroll employment has increased by an average of 72,000 per month, compared with an average of 161,000 for the prior 7 months. In September, job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and construction. Government employment continued to trend down. (See table B-1.) Employment in professional and business services increased by 48,000 over the month and has grown by 897,000 since a recent low in September 2009. Employment in temporary help services edged up in September; this industry has added 53,000 jobs over the past 3 months. In September, employment growth continued in computer systems design and in management and technical consulting services. Health care employment continued to expand in September, with an increase of 44,000. Within the industry, job gains occurred in ambulatory health care services (+26,000) and in hospitals (+13,000). Construction employment increased by 26,000 over the month, after showing little movement since February. The over-the-month gain was due to employment increases in the nonresidential construction industries, which includes heavy and civil construction. Mining employment continued to trend up in September. Employment in information was up by 34,000 over the month due to the return of about 45,000 telecommunications workers to payrolls after an August strike. Manufacturing employment changed little in September (-13,000) and has been essentially flat for the past 2 months. Within retail trade, employment declined in electronic and appliance stores (-9,000) in September. Employment in wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality changed little. Government employment continued to trend down over the month (-34,000). The U.S. Postal Service continued to lose jobs (-5,000). Local government employment declined by 35,000 and has fallen by 535,000 since September 2008. The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 0.1 hour over the month to 34.3 hours following a decrease of 0.1 hour in August. The manufacturing workweek edged down by 0.1 hour in September to 40.2 hours. Factory overtime increased by 0.1 hour to 3.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 0.1 hour to 33.6 hours in September. (See tables B-2 and B-7.) In September, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $23.12. This increase followed a decline of 4 cents in August. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 1.9 percent. In September, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 3 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $19.52. (See tables B-3 and B-8.) The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for July was revised from +85,000 to +127,000, and the change for August was revised from 0 to +57,000. _____________ The Employment Situation for October is scheduled to be released on Friday, November 4, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT).
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