Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 157,000 in December to 132.3 million, seasonally adjusted. This increase followed a gain of 137,000 in November (as revised). Over the year, payroll employment grew by 2.2 million. December's increase included gains in health care and social assistance, professional and business services, wholesale trade, and financial activities.health care and social assistance continued to add jobs over the month, with an increase of 36,000. Over the year, employment in this industry rose by 342,000. In December, employment increased in ambulatory health care services (17,000), hospitals (5,000), and social assistance (13,000).
Professional and business services added 41,000 jobs over the month, bringing the over-the-year gain to 546,000. In December, employment rose in computer systems design and related services (10,000) and in architectural and engineering services (7,000). Employment in the temporary help industry continued to trend upward; job growth totaled 206,000 in 2004.
Employment in wholesale trade increased by 17,000 in December and by 97,000 over the year. About 10,000 of the over-the-month gain was in its durable goods component.
Employment in financial activities rose over the month (14,000) and increased by 140,000 in 2004. Over the year, strength in the housing market continued to stimulate hiring in the industry. Credit intermediation added 9,000 jobs in December, bringing the total to 64,000 for all of 2004. Real estate employment was flat in December but was up by 42,000 over the year.
Retail trade employment edged down in December, after seasonal adjustment. Since reaching a low point in December 2003, however, retailers have added 169,000 jobs. Building material and garden supply stores and clothing an accessory stores contributed about 50,000 jobs each to the over-the-year gain.
In December, construction employment was little changed for the second month in a row. However, the industry has added 371,000 jobs since its recent low point in March 2003.
Manufacturing employment was about unchanged in December. The industry added 76,000 jobs in 2004; nearly all of the gain occurred early in the year.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour in December to 33.8 hours, seasonally adjusted. Both the manufacturing workweek and factory overtime were unchanged at 40.5 hours and 4.5 hours, respectively.The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 0.4 percent in December to 101.3 (2002=100), following a decrease of 0.2 percent in November. The manufacturing index was unchanged over the month at 94.3.
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 2 cents in December to $15.86, seasonally adjusted. Average weekly earnings increased by 0.4 percent over the month to $536.07. Over the year, average hourly earnings increased by 2.7 percent, and average weekly earnings grew by 3.3 percent.---
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