Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 262,000 in February to 132.8 million, seasonally adjusted, following smaller gains in the prior 3 months. Construction, manufacturing, and several service-providing industries added jobs.Construction employment rose by 30,000 in February. This followed no change in January, when unusually severe weather conditions in some areas of the country limited construction activity. Since its most recent low point in March 2003, the industry has added 458,000 jobs. Employment growth among residential specialty trade contractors (16,000) and residential builders (5,000) accounted for the bulk of February's gain.
In February, manufacturing added 20,000 jobs, with motor vehicles and parts accounting for about half of the job gain. The increase in motor vehicles employment (11,000) reflected the return of auto workers from larger-than-usual temporary layoffs in January. While total manufacturing employment edged up over the year, it has shown little net change since mid-2004.
Employment in a number of service-providing industries grew over the month. Professional and business services employment expanded by 81,000 in February. Within this sector, sizable increases occurred in employment services (38,000), services to buildings and dwellings (14,000), and architectural and engineering services (7,000). Within employment services, temporary help services added 30,000 jobs in February and 207,000 jobs over the year.
Retail trade employment increased by 30,000 in February, with small gains distributed throughout this industry. Over the year, retail trade has added 135,000 jobs. Wholesale trade employment was essentially flat in February; employment in the industry has been trending upward, however, and has grown by 94,000 since its most recent low in August 2003.
Within the financial activities sector, employment growth continued in credit intermediation and related activities. The industry added 11,000 jobs in February, with commercial banks accounting for about 5,000 of the gain.
Health care employment rose by 23,000 over the month. Since February 2004, this industry has gained 262,000 jobs. Over the month, employment increased in ambulatory health care services (12,000) and in hospitals (6,000).
In the leisure and hospitality sector, food services and drinking places added 27,000 jobs in February. Over the year, leisure and hospitality employment increased by 268,000, with strong gains in both food services and accommodations.
Weekly Hours (Establishment Survey Data)
The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged in February, at 33.7 hours, seasonally adjusted. The manufacturing workweek declined by 0.2 hour to 40.5 hours, the same level as in November and December. Manufacturing overtime edged up in February to 4.6 hours.The index of aggregate weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.2 percent in February to 101.6 (2002=100). The manufacturing index was down by 0.4 percent over the month to 93.8.
Hourly and Weekly Earnings (Establishment Survey Data)
Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls were unchanged over the month at $15.90, seasonally adjusted. This followed a 5-cent increase in January. Average weekly earnings also were unchanged in February at $535.83. Over the year, average hourly earnings grew by 2.5 percent and average weekly earnings increased by 2.2 percent.---
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