The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Report
Summary of BLS (2010/6 – 2011/3)
BLS: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
From the second quarter 2010 to March 2011, BLS has updated six reports, which are all related to employment and unemployment. The trend is that the nation’s unemployment has decreased but still remains high.
Monthly Labor Review (2011/3) shows that at 9.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Nation’s unemployment rate was slightly below its year-earlier level. The number of long-term unemployed reached a record high. Employment rose in 2010, but the employment-population ratio was little changed. The size of the civilian labor force was about unchanged in 2010, and the labor force participation rate continued to decline.
Layoff events and separations during the 4th quarter 2010 declined from fourth quarter 2009 levels.
From March to June 2010 the number of gross job gains from opening and expanding private sector establishments increased to 6.9 million, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over this period, gross job losses from closing and contracting private sector establishments were 6.2 million. Job losses have steadily decreased from a recent high of 8.5 million in December 2008 to the lowest level since the series began in September 1992.
The number of mass layoff events in March decreased by 135 from February, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 12,295. These were their lowest levels since September 2007 and May 2007, respectively.
There were 3.1 million job openings on the last business day of February 2011. The job openings rate (2.3 percent) increased over the month. The hires rate (3.0 percent) and total separations rate (2.9 percent) were little changed over the month.
Monthly Labor Review
1. Unemployment remains high in 2010. Monthly Labor Review, 2011.3
At 9.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Nation’s unemployment rate was slightly below its year-earlier level; the number of long-term unemployed reached a record high.
Unemployment and labor force underutilization
Ÿ Unemployment fell modestly and rates for most groups were little changed. Unemployment rates for nearly all major race and ethnicity groups were about unchanged in 2010. Workers with less education continued to experience a substantially higher unemployment rate than did better educated members of the labor force.
Ÿ The number of long-term unemployed continued to grow, raising the average (mean) duration of joblessness by 5.5 weeks to 34 weeks in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Ÿ The persistently high level of unemployment in 2010 is reflected in the labor force status flow data.
Ÿ The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons was essentially unchanged over the year.
Ÿ In 2010, the number of persons who were not in the labor force but wanted a job increased for the third consecutive year, as did the number of discouraged workers.
Ÿ Mirroring the unemployment rate, the alternative measures of labor underutilization declined in early 2010 before mainly holding steady.
Labor force participation
Ÿ The size of the civilian labor force was about unchanged in 2010, and the labor force participation rate continued to decline.
Employment and earnings
Ÿ Employment rose in 2010, but the employment-population ratio was little changed.
Ÿ In contrast to 2009, when nearly all major occupational groups recorded substantial employment declines, employment in 2010 grew in production occupations and in installation, maintenance, and repair occupations.
Ÿ Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers increased in 2010 at a slightly slower rate than inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
Veterans, persons with disabilities, and foreign-born workers
Ÿ In 2010, unemployment rates for veterans and nonveterans were little changed.
Ÿ At the end of 2010, labor force participation rates and unemployment rates for both persons with and without a disability were little changed from their year-earlier levels.
Ÿ Both foreign- and native-born individuals continued to be adversely affected by poor labor market conditions.
Unemployment
2. Extended Mass Layoffs-Fourth Quarter 2010. 2011.2.11
Layoff events and separations declined from fourth quarter 2009 levels.
The number of mass layoff events in March decreased by 135 from February, and the number of associated initial claims decreased by 12,295. These were their lowest levels since September 2007 and May 2007, respectively. In March 253 mass layoff events were reported in the manufacturing sector.
Employment
4. Business Employment Dynamics-Second Quarter 2010. 2011.2.1.
From March to June 2010 the number of gross job gains from opening and expanding private sector establishments increased to 6.9 million, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over this period, gross job losses from closing and contracting private sector establishments were 6.2 million. Job losses have steadily decreased from a recent high of 8.5 million in December 2008 to the lowest level since the series began in September 1992.
The financial activities, utilities, and information sectors were the only sectors to post a net decrease in employment during second quarter 2010.
5. Job Openings and Labor Turnover-February 2011. 2011.4.13
There were 3.1 million job openings on the last business day of February 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The job openings rate (2.3 percent) increased over the month. The hires rate (3.0 percent) and total separations rate (2.9 percent) were little changed over the month.
6. The Employment Situation-March 2011. 2011.4.1.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 216,000 in March, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 8.8 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, leisure and hospitality, and mining. Employment in manufacturing continued to trend up.
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