April 2025_________________________
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This month's job and employment summary data are below and this month's inflation data is below that.
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The Establishment Job Report with data released April 4, 2025.
Current Job and Employment Data
Jobs
Total Non-Farm Establishment Jobs up 228,000 to 159,398,000
Total Private Jobs up
135,000 to 135,786,000
Total Government Employment up 19,000 to 23,612,000 Note
Civilian Non-Institutional Population up 178 thousand to 273,023,000
Civilian Labor Force up
232 thousand to 170,591,000
Employed up 201
thousand to 163,508,000
Employed Men up
217 thousand to 86,443,000
Employed Women
down 16 thousand to 77,065,000
Unemployed up
31 thousand to 7,083,000
Not in the Labor Force down 56 thousand to 102,431,000
Unemployment Rate
went up .1% to 4.2% or 7,083/170,591
Labor Force Participation Rate went up .1% to 62.5%, or 170,591/273,591
Prices and inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers was up by a monthly average of 2.9 percent for 2024.
The CPI March report for the 12 months ending with February shows the
CPI for All Items was up 3.0%
CPI for Food and Beverages was up 2.4%
CPI for Housing was up 3.9%
CPI for Apparel was up .9%
CPI for Transportation including gasoline was up 3.2%
CPI for Medical Care was up 2.6%
CPI for Recreation was up 1.6%
CPI for Education was up 3.8%
CPI for Communication was down 1.9%
This Month’s Establishment Jobs Press Report
NO SIGN OF RECESSION IN JOBS AS OF APRIL
1
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published its April report for jobs in March. The civilian labor force was up 232 thousand with 201 thousand more employed. The unemployed were up 31 thousand, enough to increase the unemployment rate, which increased .1 percent to 4.2%. The participation rate increased .1% to 62.5 percent, Still very low.
Goods
production had a small increase of 12 thousand jobs. Natural resources lost 2
thousand jobs; construction added 19 thousand jobs. In construction specialty
trade contractors added a net of 12.5 thousand jobs with nonresidential specialty
trade contractors up 19.3 thousand jobs offset by a decrease of 12.9 thousand
jobs for residential specialty trade contractors. There was an increase of 3.4
thousand jobs in heavy and engineering construction and building construction
increased 2.7 thousand jobs.
Manufacturing
added only a thousand jobs. Durable goods were down 1 thousand jobs with small
job losses across many sub-sectors. Even motor vehicle jobs were off slightly
and no durable subsectors did well. Non-durable goods production added 4
thousand jobs. Plastic and rubber products added 2 thousand jobs among other
small job gains and losses.
Government
service employment increased a net 19 thousand jobs, but the federal government
employment was down 4 thousand jobs. State government added 6.3 thousand jobs and
local government added 16.8 thousand more. State and local government jobs
excluding education increased by 9.4 thousand. Public education was up a 13.7
thousand this month, which was 8.7 thousand new jobs in local education and 5
thousand jobs in state education. Private sector education was off a thousand
seasonally adjusted jobs, which brings the total of 7.7 thousand new jobs across
all of education.
Health
care took first place for private service sector job gains with 78 thousand new
jobs, up from last month. All four of the health care subsectors had more jobs
with ambulatory care adding 19.8 thousand jobs; hospitals added 17.1 thousand
jobs, a good month for hospitals; nursing and residential care were up 16.7
thousand jobs. Social assistance services added 24.2 thousand jobs, but with 21.9
thousand new jobs coming in just individual and family services. The growth
rate for health care was up from last month to 4.05 percent, above the average
of 2.17 percent per month of the last 15 years.
Trade,
transportation and utilities had 48 thousand new jobs, more than the last two
months. While wholesale trade was off 2.1 thousand jobs, retail trade added
23.7 thousand jobs. Food and beverage retailers had 20.7 thousand of the jobs. but
no other trade sub sectors did especially well. Transportation had 22.9
thousand new jobs with couriers and messengers had 15.8 thousand of the jobs;
truck transportation added 9.6 thousand jobs. Warehousing and storage were off 9.4 thousand
jobs among other smaller transportation job gains and losses. Utilities added 3
thousand jobs, an unusually big increase.
Professional
and business services added only 3 thousand jobs, after last month’s job losses.
The professional and technical services subsector added 5.7 thousand jobs in a poor
month; where management of companies also added 7.1 thousand jobs, larger than
usual for managing. The third sub sector, administrative and support services
including waste management offset job gains with a decline of 9.8 thousand jobs.
Among
professional and technical services, architecture and engineering services
added 3.9 thousand jobs and legal services added 3.7 thousand jobs, an unusual
increase for law. Management and consulting services added 2.5 thousand jobs. Otherwise
computer design and related services dropped 8.3 thousand jobs, along with
other small gains and losses. Among administrative support services, the
primary job losses came in employment services down 12.7 thousand jobs offset
by some small job gains across other administrative support services.
Leisure
and hospitality added a net 43 thousand jobs, much better than last month. Arts,
entertainment and recreation added a net 12.3 thousand jobs. The performing
arts and spectator sports sub sector did well adding 8.6 thousand jobs. Restaurants
had a good month adding 29.8 thousand
jobs, a recovery from last month’s decline. Accommodations added just 800 jobs.
Information services lost 2 thousand
new jobs. Computing services in hosting and data processing added 1.8 thousand
jobs and publishing had 1.5 thousand more, but motion picture production and
sound recordings and telecommunications lost jobs for a net decline in
information. Financial activities added 9 thousand jobs, less than last month. Finance
and insurance added 6.4 thousand jobs with another 2.5 thousand jobs in real
estate and rental and leasing services. Security firms and financial services
had 4.7 thousand of the finance new jobs. The category, other, added 19
thousand jobs across all three subsectors, a third month of more jobs. Repair
and maintenance services had 9 thousand new jobs, an especially large gain. Personal
and laundry services added another 3.9 thousand jobs while non-profit
membership associations added 6.4 thousand jobs.
The economy added 228 thousand jobs
for March, better than last month. Establishment employment in March was 159.398
million with an annual growth rate of 1.72 percent, above population growth. Health
care continued to have the biggest share of job growth with 34 percent of new
jobs, although less than last month’s share. Leisure and hospitality did better
this month but business and professional services did poorly again. Tariffs will not be good for jobs. This
month’s job total is 1.881 million above March a year ago and 4.192 million
jobs above March two years ago.
March Details
Non Farm Total +228
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments increased from February by 228 thousand jobs for a(n) March total of 159.398 million. (Note 1 below) An increase of 228 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of +1.72% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning March 2024 was +1.19%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning March 2020 was +1.11%; from 15 years ago beginning March 2010 it was +1.37%. America needs growth around 1.5 percent a year to keep itself employed.
Sector breakdown for 12 Sectors in 000’s of jobs
1. Natural Resources -2
Natural Resources jobs including logging and mining decreased 2 thousand from February with 623 thousand jobs in March. A decrease of 2 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -3.84 percent. Natural resource jobs were down 14 thousand from a year ago. Jobs in 2000 averaged around 600 thousand with little prospect for growth. This is the smallest of 12 major sectors of the economy with .4 percent of establishment jobs.
2. Construction +13
Construction jobs were up 13 thousand from February with 8.313 million jobs in March. An increase of 13 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.88 percent. Construction jobs are up 143 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 5 years is 1.67%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.2 percent of non-farm employment.
3. Manufacturing +1
Manufacturing jobs were up 1 thousand from February with 12.764 million jobs in March. An increase of 1 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.09 percent. Manufacturing jobs were down for the last 12 months by 88 thousand. The growth rate for the last 5 years is +.07%; for the last 15 years by +.73%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 8.0 percent of establishment jobs.
4. Trade, Transportation & Utility +48
Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were up 48 thousand jobs from February with 29.156 million jobs in March. An increase of 48 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.98 percent. Jobs are up by 265 thousand for last 12 months. Growth rates for the last 5 years are +1.01 percent. Jobs in these sectors rank first as the biggest sectors with combined employment of 18.3 percent of total establishment employment.
5. Information Services -2
Information Services jobs were down 2 thousand from February with 2.939 million jobs in March. A decrease of 2 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.82 percent. (Note 2 below) Jobs are down by 20 thousand for the last 12 months. Information jobs reached 3.7 million at the end of 2000, but started dropping, reaching 3 million by 2004 and has slowly come back to 3.0 million in the last decade. Information Services is a small sector ranking 11th of 12 with 1.9 percent of establishment jobs.
6. Financial Activities +9
Financial Activities jobs were up by 9 thousand jobs from February to 9.245 million in March. An increase of 9 thousand jobs for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.17 percent. Jobs are up 93 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 3 below) This sector also includes real estate as well as real estate lending. The long term growth rates are now at a 5 year growth rate of +.88 percent, and a 15 year growth rate of +1.22 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.
7. Business and Professional Services +3
Business and Professional Service jobs went up 3 thousand from February to 22.589 million in March. An increase of 3 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.16 percent. Jobs are down 48 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 5 years was +1.16 percent. It ranks as 2nd among the 12 sectors now. It was 2nd in 1993, when manufacturing was bigger and third rank now with 14.2 percent of establishment employment.
8. Education including public and private +13
Education jobs were up 13 thousand jobs from February at 14.846 million in March. An increase of 13 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.03 percent. These include public and private education. Jobs are up 186 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.61 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.3 percent of establishment jobs.
9. Health Care +78
Health care jobs were up 78 thousand from February to 23.130 million in March. An increase of 78 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +4.05 percent. Jobs are up 858 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6) The health care long term 15 year growth rate has been +2.17 percent lately compared to +4.05 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 14.5 percent of establishment jobs.
10. Leisure and hospitality +43
Leisure and hospitality jobs were up 43 thousand from February to 16.991 million in March. (note 7) An increase of 43 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.04 percent. Jobs are up 219 thousand for the last 12 months. More than 80 percent of leisure and hospitality are accommodations and restaurants assuring that most of the new jobs are in restaurants. Leisure and hospitality ranks 4th of 12 with 10.7 percent of establishment jobs. It moved up to 7th from 4th in the pandemic decline.
11. Other +19
Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were up 19 thousand from February to 6.036 million in March. An increase of 19 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.79 percent. Jobs are up 90 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 8) Other services had +.83 percent growth for the last 15 years. These sectors rank 10th of 12 with 3.8 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
12. Government, excluding education +5
Government service employment went up 5 thousand from February
at 12.766 million jobs in March. An increase of 5 thousand each month for the
next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.51 percent. Jobs are up 183
thousand for the last 12 months. (note 9) Government jobs excluding education
tend to increase slowly with a 15 year growth rate of +.36 percent. Government,
excluding education, ranks 7th of 12 with 8.0 percent of total non-farm
establishment jobs.
Sector Notes__________________________
(1) The total cited above is non-farm establishment employment that counts jobs and not people. If one person has two jobs then two jobs are counted. It excludes agricultural employment and the self employed. Out of a total of people employed agricultural employment typically has about 1.5 percent, the self employed about 6.8 percent, the rest make up wage and salary employment. Jobs and people employed are close to the same, but not identical numbers because jobs are not the same as people employed: some hold two jobs. Remember all these totals are jobs. back
(2) Information Services is part of the new North American Industry Classification System(NAICS). It includes firms or establishments in publishing, motion picture & sound recording, broadcasting, Internet publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, ISPs, web search portals, data processing, libraries, archives and a few others.back
(3) Financial Activities includes deposit and non-deposit credit firms, most of which are still known as banks, savings and loan and credit unions, but also real estate firms and general and commercial rental and leasing.back
(4) Business and Professional services includes the professional areas such as legal services, architecture, engineering, computing, advertising and supporting services including office services, facilities support, services to buildings, security services, employment agencies and so on.back
(5) Education includes private and public education. Therefore education job totals include public schools and colleges as well as private schools and colleges. back
(6) Health care includes ambulatory care, private hospitals, nursing and residential care, and social services including child care. back
(7) Leisure and hospitality has establishment with arts, entertainment and recreation which has performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, fitness centers and others, which are the leisure part. The hospitality part has accommodations, motels, hotels, RV parks, and full service and fast food restaurants. back
(8) Other is a smorgasbord of repair and maintenance services, especially car repair, personal services and non-profit services of organizations like foundations, social advocacy and civic groups, and business, professional, labor unions, political groups and political parties. back
(9) Government job totals include federal, state, and local government administrative work but without education jobs. back
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Notes
Jobs are not the same as employment because jobs are counted once but one person could have two jobs adding one to employment but two to jobs. Also the employment numbers include agricultural workers, the self employed, unpaid family workers, household workers and those on unpaid leave. Jobs are establishment jobs and non-other. back
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