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Employment up 1.4 million in August 2020 but still down 11.5 million since February

September 09, 2020

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1.4 million in August 2020, following larger increases in the prior 3 months. In August, nonfarm employment was below its February level by 11.5 million, or 7.6 percent.

Chart Image
Chart Data

Nonfarm payroll employment, January 1990–August 2020
Month	Employment level	Over-the-month change
Jan 1990	109,199,000	363,000
Feb 1990	109,435,000	236,000
Mar 1990	109,644,000	209,000
Apr 1990	109,686,000	42,000
May 1990	109,839,000	153,000
Jun 1990	109,856,000	17,000
Jul 1990	109,824,000	-32,000
Aug 1990	109,616,000	-208,000
Sep 1990	109,518,000	-98,000
Oct 1990	109,367,000	-151,000
Nov 1990	109,214,000	-153,000
Dec 1990	109,166,000	-48,000
Jan 1991	109,055,000	-111,000
Feb 1991	108,734,000	-321,000
Mar 1991	108,574,000	-160,000
Apr 1991	108,364,000	-210,000
May 1991	108,249,000	-115,000
Jun 1991	108,334,000	85,000
Jul 1991	108,292,000	-42,000
Aug 1991	108,310,000	18,000
Sep 1991	108,336,000	26,000
Oct 1991	108,357,000	21,000
Nov 1991	108,296,000	-61,000
Dec 1991	108,328,000	32,000
Jan 1992	108,369,000	41,000
Feb 1992	108,311,000	-58,000
Mar 1992	108,365,000	54,000
Apr 1992	108,519,000	154,000
May 1992	108,649,000	130,000
Jun 1992	108,715,000	66,000
Jul 1992	108,793,000	78,000
Aug 1992	108,925,000	132,000
Sep 1992	108,959,000	34,000
Oct 1992	109,139,000	180,000
Nov 1992	109,272,000	133,000
Dec 1992	109,495,000	223,000
Jan 1993	109,794,000	299,000
Feb 1993	110,044,000	250,000
Mar 1993	109,994,000	-50,000
Apr 1993	110,296,000	302,000
May 1993	110,568,000	272,000
Jun 1993	110,749,000	181,000
Jul 1993	111,055,000	306,000
Aug 1993	111,206,000	151,000
Sep 1993	111,448,000	242,000
Oct 1993	111,733,000	285,000
Nov 1993	111,984,000	251,000
Dec 1993	112,314,000	330,000
Jan 1994	112,595,000	281,000
Feb 1994	112,781,000	186,000
Mar 1994	113,242,000	461,000
Apr 1994	113,586,000	344,000
May 1994	113,921,000	335,000
Jun 1994	114,238,000	317,000
Jul 1994	114,610,000	372,000
Aug 1994	114,896,000	286,000
Sep 1994	115,247,000	351,000
Oct 1994	115,458,000	211,000
Nov 1994	115,869,000	411,000
Dec 1994	116,165,000	296,000
Jan 1995	116,501,000	336,000
Feb 1995	116,697,000	196,000
Mar 1995	116,907,000	210,000
Apr 1995	117,069,000	162,000
May 1995	117,049,000	-20,000
Jun 1995	117,286,000	237,000
Jul 1995	117,380,000	94,000
Aug 1995	117,634,000	254,000
Sep 1995	117,875,000	241,000
Oct 1995	118,031,000	156,000
Nov 1995	118,175,000	144,000
Dec 1995	118,320,000	145,000
Jan 1996	118,316,000	-4,000
Feb 1996	118,739,000	423,000
Mar 1996	118,993,000	254,000
Apr 1996	119,158,000	165,000
May 1996	119,486,000	328,000
Jun 1996	119,769,000	283,000
Jul 1996	120,015,000	246,000
Aug 1996	120,199,000	184,000
Sep 1996	120,410,000	211,000
Oct 1996	120,665,000	255,000
Nov 1996	120,961,000	296,000
Dec 1996	121,143,000	182,000
Jan 1997	121,363,000	220,000
Feb 1997	121,675,000	312,000
Mar 1997	121,990,000	315,000
Apr 1997	122,286,000	296,000
May 1997	122,546,000	260,000
Jun 1997	122,814,000	268,000
Jul 1997	123,111,000	297,000
Aug 1997	123,093,000	-18,000
Sep 1997	123,585,000	492,000
Oct 1997	123,929,000	344,000
Nov 1997	124,235,000	306,000
Dec 1997	124,549,000	314,000
Jan 1998	124,812,000	263,000
Feb 1998	125,016,000	204,000
Mar 1998	125,164,000	148,000
Apr 1998	125,442,000	278,000
May 1998	125,844,000	402,000
Jun 1998	126,076,000	232,000
Jul 1998	126,205,000	129,000
Aug 1998	126,544,000	339,000
Sep 1998	126,752,000	208,000
Oct 1998	126,954,000	202,000
Nov 1998	127,231,000	277,000
Dec 1998	127,596,000	365,000
Jan 1999	127,702,000	106,000
Feb 1999	128,120,000	418,000
Mar 1999	128,227,000	107,000
Apr 1999	128,597,000	370,000
May 1999	128,808,000	211,000
Jun 1999	129,089,000	281,000
Jul 1999	129,414,000	325,000
Aug 1999	129,569,000	155,000
Sep 1999	129,772,000	203,000
Oct 1999	130,177,000	405,000
Nov 1999	130,466,000	289,000
Dec 1999	130,772,000	306,000
Jan 2000	131,005,000	233,000
Feb 2000	131,124,000	119,000
Mar 2000	131,596,000	472,000
Apr 2000	131,888,000	292,000
May 2000	132,105,000	217,000
Jun 2000	132,061,000	-44,000
Jul 2000	132,236,000	175,000
Aug 2000	132,230,000	-6,000
Sep 2000	132,353,000	123,000
Oct 2000	132,351,000	-2,000
Nov 2000	132,556,000	205,000
Dec 2000	132,709,000	153,000
Jan 2001	132,698,000	-11,000
Feb 2001	132,789,000	91,000
Mar 2001	132,747,000	-42,000
Apr 2001	132,463,000	-284,000
May 2001	132,410,000	-53,000
Jun 2001	132,299,000	-111,000
Jul 2001	132,177,000	-122,000
Aug 2001	132,028,000	-149,000
Sep 2001	131,771,000	-257,000
Oct 2001	131,454,000	-317,000
Nov 2001	131,142,000	-312,000
Dec 2001	130,982,000	-160,000
Jan 2002	130,852,000	-130,000
Feb 2002	130,736,000	-116,000
Mar 2002	130,717,000	-19,000
Apr 2002	130,623,000	-94,000
May 2002	130,634,000	11,000
Jun 2002	130,684,000	50,000
Jul 2002	130,590,000	-94,000
Aug 2002	130,587,000	-3,000
Sep 2002	130,501,000	-86,000
Oct 2002	130,628,000	127,000
Nov 2002	130,615,000	-13,000
Dec 2002	130,472,000	-143,000
Jan 2003	130,580,000	108,000
Feb 2003	130,444,000	-136,000
Mar 2003	130,232,000	-212,000
Apr 2003	130,177,000	-55,000
May 2003	130,196,000	19,000
Jun 2003	130,194,000	-2,000
Jul 2003	130,191,000	-3,000
Aug 2003	130,149,000	-42,000
Sep 2003	130,254,000	105,000
Oct 2003	130,454,000	200,000
Nov 2003	130,474,000	20,000
Dec 2003	130,588,000	114,000
Jan 2004	130,769,000	181,000
Feb 2004	130,825,000	56,000
Mar 2004	131,142,000	317,000
Apr 2004	131,411,000	269,000
May 2004	131,694,000	283,000
Jun 2004	131,793,000	99,000
Jul 2004	131,848,000	55,000
Aug 2004	131,937,000	89,000
Sep 2004	132,093,000	156,000
Oct 2004	132,447,000	354,000
Nov 2004	132,503,000	56,000
Dec 2004	132,624,000	121,000
Jan 2005	132,774,000	150,000
Feb 2005	133,032,000	258,000
Mar 2005	133,156,000	124,000
Apr 2005	133,518,000	362,000
May 2005	133,690,000	172,000
Jun 2005	133,942,000	252,000
Jul 2005	134,296,000	354,000
Aug 2005	134,498,000	202,000
Sep 2005	134,566,000	68,000
Oct 2005	134,655,000	89,000
Nov 2005	134,993,000	338,000
Dec 2005	135,149,000	156,000
Jan 2006	135,429,000	280,000
Feb 2006	135,737,000	308,000
Mar 2006	136,047,000	310,000
Apr 2006	136,205,000	158,000
May 2006	136,244,000	39,000
Jun 2006	136,325,000	81,000
Jul 2006	136,520,000	195,000
Aug 2006	136,694,000	174,000
Sep 2006	136,843,000	149,000
Oct 2006	136,852,000	9,000
Nov 2006	137,063,000	211,000
Dec 2006	137,249,000	186,000
Jan 2007	137,477,000	228,000
Feb 2007	137,558,000	81,000
Mar 2007	137,793,000	235,000
Apr 2007	137,842,000	49,000
May 2007	137,993,000	151,000
Jun 2007	138,069,000	76,000
Jul 2007	138,038,000	-31,000
Aug 2007	138,015,000	-23,000
Sep 2007	138,095,000	80,000
Oct 2007	138,174,000	79,000
Nov 2007	138,284,000	110,000
Dec 2007	138,392,000	108,000
Jan 2008	138,403,000	11,000
Feb 2008	138,324,000	-79,000
Mar 2008	138,275,000	-49,000
Apr 2008	138,035,000	-240,000
May 2008	137,858,000	-177,000
Jun 2008	137,687,000	-171,000
Jul 2008	137,491,000	-196,000
Aug 2008	137,213,000	-278,000
Sep 2008	136,753,000	-460,000
Oct 2008	136,272,000	-481,000
Nov 2008	135,545,000	-727,000
Dec 2008	134,839,000	-706,000
Jan 2009	134,055,000	-784,000
Feb 2009	133,312,000	-743,000
Mar 2009	132,512,000	-800,000
Apr 2009	131,817,000	-695,000
May 2009	131,475,000	-342,000
Jun 2009	131,008,000	-467,000
Jul 2009	130,668,000	-340,000
Aug 2009	130,485,000	-183,000
Sep 2009	130,244,000	-241,000
Oct 2009	130,045,000	-199,000
Nov 2009	130,057,000	12,000
Dec 2009	129,788,000	-269,000
Jan 2010	129,790,000	2,000
Feb 2010	129,698,000	-92,000
Mar 2010	129,879,000	181,000
Apr 2010	130,110,000	231,000
May 2010	130,650,000	540,000
Jun 2010	130,511,000	-139,000
Jul 2010	130,427,000	-84,000
Aug 2010	130,422,000	-5,000
Sep 2010	130,357,000	-65,000
Oct 2010	130,625,000	268,000
Nov 2010	130,750,000	125,000
Dec 2010	130,822,000	72,000
Jan 2011	130,841,000	19,000
Feb 2011	131,053,000	212,000
Mar 2011	131,288,000	235,000
Apr 2011	131,602,000	314,000
May 2011	131,703,000	101,000
Jun 2011	131,939,000	236,000
Jul 2011	131,999,000	60,000
Aug 2011	132,125,000	126,000
Sep 2011	132,358,000	233,000
Oct 2011	132,562,000	204,000
Nov 2011	132,694,000	132,000
Dec 2011	132,896,000	202,000
Jan 2012	133,250,000	354,000
Feb 2012	133,512,000	262,000
Mar 2012	133,752,000	240,000
Apr 2012	133,834,000	82,000
May 2012	133,934,000	100,000
Jun 2012	134,007,000	73,000
Jul 2012	134,159,000	152,000
Aug 2012	134,331,000	172,000
Sep 2012	134,518,000	187,000
Oct 2012	134,677,000	159,000
Nov 2012	134,833,000	156,000
Dec 2012	135,072,000	239,000
Jan 2013	135,263,000	191,000
Feb 2013	135,541,000	278,000
Mar 2013	135,680,000	139,000
Apr 2013	135,871,000	191,000
May 2013	136,093,000	222,000
Jun 2013	136,274,000	181,000
Jul 2013	136,386,000	112,000
Aug 2013	136,628,000	242,000
Sep 2013	136,815,000	187,000
Oct 2013	137,040,000	225,000
Nov 2013	137,304,000	264,000
Dec 2013	137,373,000	69,000
Jan 2014	137,548,000	175,000
Feb 2014	137,714,000	166,000
Mar 2014	137,968,000	254,000
Apr 2014	138,293,000	325,000
May 2014	138,511,000	218,000
Jun 2014	138,837,000	326,000
Jul 2014	139,069,000	232,000
Aug 2014	139,257,000	188,000
Sep 2014	139,566,000	309,000
Oct 2014	139,818,000	252,000
Nov 2014	140,109,000	291,000
Dec 2014	140,377,000	268,000
Jan 2015	140,568,000	191,000
Feb 2015	140,839,000	271,000
Mar 2015	140,910,000	71,000
Apr 2015	141,194,000	284,000
May 2015	141,525,000	331,000
Jun 2015	141,699,000	174,000
Jul 2015	142,001,000	302,000
Aug 2015	142,126,000	125,000
Sep 2015	142,281,000	155,000
Oct 2015	142,587,000	306,000
Nov 2015	142,824,000	237,000
Dec 2015	143,097,000	273,000
Jan 2016	143,170,000	73,000
Feb 2016	143,433,000	263,000
Mar 2016	143,662,000	229,000
Apr 2016	143,849,000	187,000
May 2016	143,891,000	42,000
Jun 2016	144,158,000	267,000
Jul 2016	144,512,000	354,000
Aug 2016	144,647,000	135,000
Sep 2016	144,916,000	269,000
Oct 2016	145,061,000	145,000
Nov 2016	145,212,000	151,000
Dec 2016	145,442,000	230,000
Jan 2017	145,627,000	185,000
Feb 2017	145,815,000	188,000
Mar 2017	145,944,000	129,000
Apr 2017	146,141,000	197,000
May 2017	146,296,000	155,000
Jun 2017	146,512,000	216,000
Jul 2017	146,727,000	215,000
Aug 2017	146,911,000	184,000
Sep 2017	146,929,000	18,000
Oct 2017	147,196,000	267,000
Nov 2017	147,421,000	225,000
Dec 2017	147,551,000	130,000
Jan 2018	147,672,000	121,000
Feb 2018	148,078,000	406,000
Mar 2018	148,254,000	176,000
Apr 2018	148,391,000	137,000
May 2018	148,669,000	278,000
Jun 2018	148,888,000	219,000
Jul 2018	149,024,000	136,000
Aug 2018	149,268,000	244,000
Sep 2018	149,348,000	80,000
Oct 2018	149,549,000	201,000
Nov 2018	149,683,000	134,000
Dec 2018	149,865,000	182,000
Jan 2019	150,134,000	269,000
Feb 2019	150,135,000	1,000
Mar 2019	150,282,000	147,000
Apr 2019	150,492,000	210,000
May 2019	150,577,000	85,000
Jun 2019	150,759,000	182,000
Jul 2019	150,953,000	194,000
Aug 2019	151,160,000	207,000
Sep 2019	151,368,000	208,000
Oct 2019	151,553,000	185,000
Nov 2019	151,814,000	261,000
Dec 2019	151,998,000	184,000
Jan 2020	152,212,000	214,000
Feb 2020	152,463,000	251,000
Mar 2020	151,090,000	-1,373,000
Apr 2020	130,303,000	-20,787,000
May 2020	133,028,000	2,725,000
Jun 2020	137,809,000	4,781,000
Jul 2020	139,543,000	1,734,000
Aug 2020	140,914,000	1,371,000

Note: Data for the most recent two months are preliminary.

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Government employment rose in August, largely reflecting temporary hiring for the 2020 census.

Chart Image
Chart Data

Employment change by industry, August 2020, seasonally adjusted
Industry	Over-the-month change
Mining and logging	-2,000
Logging	-900
Mining	-1,700
Oil and gas extraction	-1,100
Mining, except oil and gas	300
Coal mining	100
Metal ore mining	200
Nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying	0
Support activities for mining	-900
Construction	16,000
Construction of buildings	13,400
Residential building	3,200
Nonresidential building	10,200
Heavy and civil engineering construction	-5,500
Specialty trade contractors	8,800
Residential specialty trade contractors	24,500
Nonresidential specialty trade contractors	-15,700
Manufacturing	29,000
Durable goods	2,000
Wood products	1,100
Nonmetallic mineral products	-4,400
Primary metals	-500
Fabricated metal products	5,900
Machinery	-1,300
Computer and electronic products	2,300
Computer and peripheral equipment	300
Communications equipment	300
Semiconductors and electronic components	0
Electronic instruments	1,400
Miscellaneous computer and electronic products	300
Electrical equipment and appliances	-400
Transportation equipment	-8,400
Motor vehicles and parts	-5,300
Furniture and related products	5,700
Miscellaneous durable goods manufacturing	2,000
Nondurable goods	27,000
Food manufacturing	12,100
Textile mills	-1,200
Textile product mills	1,200
Apparel	3,200
Paper and paper products	0
Printing and related support activities	-4,100
Petroleum and coal products	600
Chemicals	5,500
Plastics and rubber products	6,500
Miscellaneous nondurable goods manufacturing	3,400

Wholesale trade	13,500
Durable goods	400
Nondurable goods	8,500
Electronic markets and agents and brokers	4,600
Retail trade	248,900
Motor vehicle and parts dealers	22,300
Automobile dealers	16,800
Other motor vehicle dealers	3,000
Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores	2,500
Furniture and home furnishings stores	10,500
Electronics and appliance stores	20,800
Building material and garden supply stores	13,200
Food and beverage stores	3,800
Health and personal care stores	15,300
Gasoline stations	6,300
Clothing and clothing accessories stores	11,100
Sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores	5,800
General merchandise stores	116,400
Department stores	32,300
General merchandise stores, including warehouse clubs and supercenters	84,100
Miscellaneous store retailers	17,200
Nonstore retailers	6,200
Transportation and warehousing	78,100
Air transportation	7,500
Rail transportation	100
Water transportation	-100
Truck transportation	10,000
Transit and ground passenger transportation	11,400
Pipeline transportation	-200
Scenic and sightseeing transportation	100
Support activities for transportation	7,200
Couriers and messengers	7,700
Warehousing and storage	34,400
Utilities	600
Information	15,000
Publishing industries, except Internet	3,300
Motion picture and sound recording industries	13,900
Broadcasting, except Internet	4,300
Telecommunications	-2,700
Data processing, hosting and related services	-3,200
Other information services	0
Financial activities	36,000
Finance and insurance	12,900
Monetary authorities - central bank	0
Credit intermediation and related activities	8,900
Depository credit intermediation	-1,800
Commercial banking	-1,400
Nondepository credit intermediation	10,000
Activities related to credit intermediation	700
Securities, commodity contracts, investments, and funds and trusts	900
Insurance carriers and related activities	3,100
Real estate and rental and leasing	23,100
Real estate	14,900
Rental and leasing services	8,100
Lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets	100
Professional and business services	197,000
Professional and technical services	41,700
Legal services	0
Accounting and bookkeeping services	-1,600
Architectural and engineering services	14,400
Specialized design services	600
Computer systems design and related services	12,800
Management and technical consulting services	5,300
Scientific research and development services	9,600
Advertising and related services	-1,900
Other professional and technical services	2,500
Management of companies and enterprises	4,100
Administrative and waste services	151,200
Administrative and support services	150,800
Office administrative services	800
Facilities support services	-2,500
Employment services	126,300
Temporary help services	106,700
Business support services	13,300
Travel arrangement and reservation services	-2,900
Investigation and security services	5,400
Services to buildings and dwellings	5,100
Other support services	5,300
Waste management and remediation services	400
Education and health services	147,000
Educational services	56,900
Health care and social assistance	90,100
Health care	75,300
Ambulatory health care services	75,000
Offices of physicians	26,500
Offices of dentists	21,600
Offices of other health practitioners	10,600
Outpatient care centers	2,400
Medical and diagnostic laboratories	300
Home health care services	11,600
Other ambulatory health care services	2,000
Hospitals	14,000
Nursing and residential care facilities	-13,700
Nursing care facilities	-7,700
Residential mental health facilities	3,200
Community care facilities for the elderly	-7,900
Other residential care facilities	-1,300
Social assistance	14,800
Individual and family services	11,300
Emergency and other relief services	-2,000
Vocational rehabilitation services	6,100
Child day care services	-600
Leisure and hospitality	174,000
Arts, entertainment, and recreation	25,100
Performing arts and spectator sports	19,100
Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions	2,300
Amusements, gambling, and recreation	3,700
Accommodation and food services	149,000
Accommodation	15,400
Food services and drinking places	133,600
Other services	74,000
Repair and maintenance	28,700
Personal and laundry services	13,900
Membership associations and organizations	30,800
Government	344,000
Federal	251,000
Federal, except U.S. Postal Service	246,700
U.S. Postal Service	4,200
State government	-2,000
State government education	-3,900
State government, excluding education	2,000
Local government	95,000
Local government education	31,700
Local government, excluding education	63,300

Note: Data for the most recent two months are preliminary.

Notable job gains also occurred in retail trade, in professional and business services, in leisure and hospitality, and in education and health services.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program. Data for the most recent 2 months are preliminary. To learn more, see "The Employment Situation — August 2020" and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the August data. Also see more charts on employment, hours, and earnings data.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Employment up 1.4 million in August 2020 but still down 11.5 million since February at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/employment-up-1-point-4-million-in-august-2020-but-still-down-11-point-5-million-since-february.htm (visited April 19, 2024).

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