Nonfarm payroll employment up 273,000 in February 2020

In February 2020, total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment rose by 273,000 to 152.5 million. In the private sector, employment in goods-producing industries increased 61,000, while service-providing industries employment grew by 167,000. Government employment increased by 45,000.

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Chart Data Nonfarm payroll employment, by industry, January 2010–February 2020 Month Total nonfarm Goods-producing Private service-providing Federal government State government Local government Jan 2010 129,790,000 17,707,000 89,592,000 2,860,000 5,145,000 14,486,000 Feb 2010 129,698,000 17,627,000 89,595,000 2,872,000 5,147,000 14,457,000 Mar 2010 129,879,000 17,672,000 89,689,000 2,923,000 5,140,000 14,455,000 Apr 2010 130,110,000 17,729,000 89,812,000 2,984,000 5,136,000 14,449,000 May 2010 130,650,000 17,742,000 89,912,000 3,416,000 5,135,000 14,445,000 Jun 2010 130,511,000 17,763,000 90,008,000 3,193,000 5,139,000 14,408,000 Jul 2010 130,427,000 17,777,000 90,081,000 3,051,000 5,136,000 14,382,000 Aug 2010 130,422,000 17,793,000 90,209,000 2,945,000 5,130,000 14,345,000 Sep 2010 130,357,000 17,787,000 90,323,000 2,869,000 5,122,000 14,256,000 Oct 2010 130,625,000 17,801,000 90,527,000 2,866,000 5,139,000 14,292,000 Nov 2010 130,750,000 17,827,000 90,636,000 2,866,000 5,139,000 14,282,000 Dec 2010 130,822,000 17,796,000 90,760,000 2,870,000 5,133,000 14,263,000 Jan 2011 130,841,000 17,784,000 90,799,000 2,874,000 5,138,000 14,246,000 Feb 2011 131,053,000 17,844,000 90,994,000 2,876,000 5,106,000 14,233,000 Mar 2011 131,288,000 17,906,000 91,190,000 2,877,000 5,096,000 14,219,000 Apr 2011 131,602,000 17,957,000 91,461,000 2,870,000 5,091,000 14,223,000 May 2011 131,703,000 18,007,000 91,567,000 2,871,000 5,083,000 14,175,000 Jun 2011 131,939,000 18,045,000 91,730,000 2,860,000 5,079,000 14,225,000 Jul 2011 131,999,000 18,094,000 91,856,000 2,862,000 5,058,000 14,129,000 Aug 2011 132,125,000 18,120,000 91,988,000 2,850,000 5,079,000 14,088,000 Sep 2011 132,358,000 18,167,000 92,208,000 2,846,000 5,072,000 14,065,000 Oct 2011 132,562,000 18,188,000 92,376,000 2,850,000 5,056,000 14,092,000 Nov 2011 132,694,000 18,187,000 92,536,000 2,842,000 5,050,000 14,079,000 Dec 2011 132,896,000 18,244,000 92,698,000 2,836,000 5,047,000 14,071,000 Jan 2012 133,250,000 18,304,000 93,000,000 2,833,000 5,045,000 14,068,000 Feb 2012 133,512,000 18,334,000 93,231,000 2,828,000 5,048,000 14,071,000 Mar 2012 133,752,000 18,372,000 93,437,000 2,828,000 5,051,000 14,064,000 Apr 2012 133,834,000 18,384,000 93,519,000 2,826,000 5,055,000 14,050,000 May 2012 133,934,000 18,386,000 93,637,000 2,823,000 5,052,000 14,036,000 Jun 2012 134,007,000 18,411,000 93,666,000 2,824,000 5,059,000 14,047,000 Jul 2012 134,159,000 18,447,000 93,799,000 2,815,000 5,055,000 14,043,000 Aug 2012 134,331,000 18,459,000 93,956,000 2,820,000 5,063,000 14,033,000 Sep 2012 134,518,000 18,461,000 94,132,000 2,822,000 5,076,000 14,027,000 Oct 2012 134,677,000 18,472,000 94,302,000 2,824,000 5,055,000 14,024,000 Nov 2012 134,833,000 18,477,000 94,473,000 2,809,000 5,052,000 14,022,000 Dec 2012 135,072,000 18,532,000 94,653,000 2,806,000 5,048,000 14,033,000 Jan 2013 135,263,000 18,580,000 94,814,000 2,806,000 5,029,000 14,034,000 Feb 2013 135,541,000 18,638,000 95,022,000 2,806,000 5,045,000 14,030,000 Mar 2013 135,680,000 18,660,000 95,150,000 2,794,000 5,052,000 14,024,000 Apr 2013 135,871,000 18,653,000 95,349,000 2,794,000 5,047,000 14,028,000 May 2013 136,093,000 18,691,000 95,538,000 2,775,000 5,049,000 14,040,000 Jun 2013 136,274,000 18,724,000 95,710,000 2,771,000 5,038,000 14,031,000 Jul 2013 136,386,000 18,705,000 95,866,000 2,761,000 5,025,000 14,029,000 Aug 2013 136,628,000 18,756,000 96,041,000 2,754,000 5,045,000 14,032,000 Sep 2013 136,815,000 18,810,000 96,170,000 2,753,000 5,050,000 14,032,000 Oct 2013 137,040,000 18,857,000 96,353,000 2,739,000 5,057,000 14,034,000 Nov 2013 137,304,000 18,911,000 96,550,000 2,746,000 5,056,000 14,041,000 Dec 2013 137,373,000 18,881,000 96,672,000 2,741,000 5,053,000 14,026,000 Jan 2014 137,548,000 18,937,000 96,797,000 2,736,000 5,052,000 14,026,000 Feb 2014 137,714,000 18,988,000 96,901,000 2,731,000 5,057,000 14,037,000 Mar 2014 137,968,000 19,037,000 97,098,000 2,728,000 5,055,000 14,050,000 Apr 2014 138,293,000 19,104,000 97,336,000 2,728,000 5,055,000 14,070,000 May 2014 138,511,000 19,142,000 97,537,000 2,728,000 5,051,000 14,053,000 Jun 2014 138,837,000 19,195,000 97,747,000 2,729,000 5,058,000 14,108,000 Jul 2014 139,069,000 19,264,000 97,904,000 2,731,000 5,035,000 14,135,000 Aug 2014 139,257,000 19,316,000 98,086,000 2,735,000 5,016,000 14,104,000 Sep 2014 139,566,000 19,371,000 98,298,000 2,735,000 5,041,000 14,121,000 Oct 2014 139,818,000 19,419,000 98,482,000 2,735,000 5,046,000 14,136,000 Nov 2014 140,109,000 19,456,000 98,721,000 2,740,000 5,053,000 14,139,000 Dec 2014 140,377,000 19,481,000 98,949,000 2,743,000 5,059,000 14,145,000 Jan 2015 140,568,000 19,500,000 99,108,000 2,745,000 5,065,000 14,150,000 Feb 2015 140,839,000 19,537,000 99,324,000 2,747,000 5,071,000 14,160,000 Mar 2015 140,910,000 19,505,000 99,435,000 2,748,000 5,067,000 14,155,000 Apr 2015 141,194,000 19,553,000 99,636,000 2,763,000 5,070,000 14,172,000 May 2015 141,525,000 19,580,000 99,933,000 2,753,000 5,074,000 14,185,000 Jun 2015 141,699,000 19,591,000 100,093,000 2,754,000 5,073,000 14,188,000 Jul 2015 142,001,000 19,626,000 100,325,000 2,756,000 5,073,000 14,221,000 Aug 2015 142,126,000 19,629,000 100,437,000 2,760,000 5,077,000 14,223,000 Sep 2015 142,281,000 19,641,000 100,600,000 2,759,000 5,083,000 14,198,000 Oct 2015 142,587,000 19,680,000 100,851,000 2,759,000 5,084,000 14,213,000 Nov 2015 142,824,000 19,711,000 101,032,000 2,766,000 5,090,000 14,225,000 Dec 2015 143,097,000 19,738,000 101,262,000 2,776,000 5,088,000 14,233,000 Jan 2016 143,170,000 19,730,000 101,322,000 2,772,000 5,089,000 14,257,000 Feb 2016 143,433,000 19,728,000 101,561,000 2,778,000 5,086,000 14,280,000 Mar 2016 143,662,000 19,716,000 101,766,000 2,783,000 5,093,000 14,304,000 Apr 2016 143,849,000 19,728,000 101,935,000 2,785,000 5,098,000 14,303,000 May 2016 143,891,000 19,689,000 102,005,000 2,792,000 5,093,000 14,312,000 Jun 2016 144,158,000 19,709,000 102,265,000 2,797,000 5,107,000 14,280,000 Jul 2016 144,512,000 19,757,000 102,470,000 2,799,000 5,116,000 14,370,000 Aug 2016 144,647,000 19,732,000 102,647,000 2,803,000 5,113,000 14,352,000 Sep 2016 144,916,000 19,762,000 102,851,000 2,807,000 5,147,000 14,349,000 Oct 2016 145,061,000 19,789,000 102,980,000 2,804,000 5,134,000 14,354,000 Nov 2016 145,212,000 19,808,000 103,114,000 2,799,000 5,139,000 14,352,000 Dec 2016 145,442,000 19,825,000 103,309,000 2,817,000 5,141,000 14,350,000 Jan 2017 145,627,000 19,865,000 103,460,000 2,815,000 5,151,000 14,336,000 Feb 2017 145,815,000 19,928,000 103,568,000 2,813,000 5,160,000 14,346,000 Mar 2017 145,944,000 19,964,000 103,655,000 2,811,000 5,163,000 14,351,000 Apr 2017 146,141,000 19,985,000 103,826,000 2,800,000 5,166,000 14,364,000 May 2017 146,296,000 20,007,000 103,957,000 2,808,000 5,174,000 14,350,000 Jun 2017 146,512,000 20,050,000 104,116,000 2,806,000 5,170,000 14,370,000 Jul 2017 146,727,000 20,056,000 104,312,000 2,805,000 5,173,000 14,381,000 Aug 2017 146,911,000 20,135,000 104,419,000 2,802,000 5,167,000 14,388,000 Sep 2017 146,929,000 20,161,000 104,402,000 2,802,000 5,160,000 14,404,000 Oct 2017 147,196,000 20,206,000 104,621,000 2,803,000 5,155,000 14,411,000 Nov 2017 147,421,000 20,273,000 104,755,000 2,792,000 5,171,000 14,430,000 Dec 2017 147,551,000 20,326,000 104,844,000 2,794,000 5,159,000 14,428,000 Jan 2018 147,672,000 20,371,000 104,946,000 2,801,000 5,147,000 14,407,000 Feb 2018 148,078,000 20,494,000 105,178,000 2,793,000 5,151,000 14,462,000 Mar 2018 148,254,000 20,530,000 105,320,000 2,793,000 5,154,000 14,457,000 Apr 2018 148,391,000 20,577,000 105,400,000 2,795,000 5,167,000 14,452,000 May 2018 148,669,000 20,648,000 105,590,000 2,792,000 5,174,000 14,465,000 Jun 2018 148,888,000 20,698,000 105,731,000 2,796,000 5,180,000 14,483,000 Jul 2018 149,024,000 20,739,000 105,823,000 2,798,000 5,178,000 14,486,000 Aug 2018 149,268,000 20,791,000 105,987,000 2,801,000 5,183,000 14,506,000 Sep 2018 149,348,000 20,834,000 106,025,000 2,804,000 5,193,000 14,492,000 Oct 2018 149,549,000 20,884,000 106,180,000 2,805,000 5,184,000 14,496,000 Nov 2018 149,683,000 20,897,000 106,300,000 2,811,000 5,173,000 14,502,000 Dec 2018 149,865,000 20,948,000 106,422,000 2,809,000 5,173,000 14,513,000 Jan 2019 150,134,000 21,023,000 106,605,000 2,811,000 5,170,000 14,525,000 Feb 2019 150,135,000 20,994,000 106,628,000 2,814,000 5,175,000 14,524,000 Mar 2019 150,282,000 21,011,000 106,743,000 2,815,000 5,175,000 14,538,000 Apr 2019 150,492,000 21,039,000 106,900,000 2,823,000 5,169,000 14,561,000 May 2019 150,577,000 21,050,000 106,976,000 2,826,000 5,158,000 14,567,000 Jun 2019 150,759,000 21,076,000 107,130,000 2,829,000 5,157,000 14,567,000 Jul 2019 150,953,000 21,085,000 107,281,000 2,831,000 5,168,000 14,588,000 Aug 2019 151,160,000 21,087,000 107,436,000 2,857,000 5,184,000 14,596,000 Sep 2019 151,368,000 21,106,000 107,612,000 2,857,000 5,181,000 14,612,000 Oct 2019 151,553,000 21,086,000 107,822,000 2,844,000 5,184,000 14,617,000 Nov 2019 151,814,000 21,131,000 108,024,000 2,850,000 5,181,000 14,628,000 Dec 2019 151,998,000 21,136,000 108,183,000 2,847,000 5,184,000 14,648,000 Jan 2020 152,271,000 21,163,000 108,378,000 2,857,000 5,199,000 14,674,000 Feb 2020 152,544,000 21,224,000 108,545,000 2,865,000 5,217,000 14,693,000 1-month change in nonfarm payroll employment, by industry, January 2010–February 2020 Month Total nonfarm Goods-producing Private service-providing Federal government State government Local government Jan 2010 2,000 -85,000 78,000 29,000 -5,000 -15,000 Feb 2010 -92,000 -80,000 3,000 12,000 2,000 -29,000 Mar 2010 181,000 45,000 94,000 51,000 -7,000 -2,000 Apr 2010 231,000 57,000 123,000 61,000 -4,000 -6,000 May 2010 540,000 13,000 100,000 432,000 -1,000 -4,000 Jun 2010 -139,000 21,000 96,000 -223,000 4,000 -37,000 Jul 2010 -84,000 14,000 73,000 -142,000 -3,000 -26,000 Aug 2010 -5,000 16,000 128,000 -106,000 -6,000 -37,000 Sep 2010 -65,000 -6,000 114,000 -76,000 -8,000 -89,000 Oct 2010 268,000 14,000 204,000 -3,000 17,000 36,000 Nov 2010 125,000 26,000 109,000 0 0 -10,000 Dec 2010 72,000 -31,000 124,000 4,000 -6,000 -19,000 Jan 2011 19,000 -12,000 39,000 4,000 5,000 -17,000 Feb 2011 212,000 60,000 195,000 2,000 -32,000 -13,000 Mar 2011 235,000 62,000 196,000 1,000 -10,000 -14,000 Apr 2011 314,000 51,000 271,000 -7,000 -5,000 4,000 May 2011 101,000 50,000 106,000 1,000 -8,000 -48,000 Jun 2011 236,000 38,000 163,000 -11,000 -4,000 50,000 Jul 2011 60,000 49,000 126,000 2,000 -21,000 -96,000 Aug 2011 126,000 26,000 132,000 -12,000 21,000 -41,000 Sep 2011 233,000 47,000 220,000 -4,000 -7,000 -23,000 Oct 2011 204,000 21,000 168,000 4,000 -16,000 27,000 Nov 2011 132,000 -1,000 160,000 -8,000 -6,000 -13,000 Dec 2011 202,000 57,000 162,000 -6,000 -3,000 -8,000 Jan 2012 354,000 60,000 302,000 -3,000 -2,000 -3,000 Feb 2012 262,000 30,000 231,000 -5,000 3,000 3,000 Mar 2012 240,000 38,000 206,000 0 3,000 -7,000 Apr 2012 82,000 12,000 82,000 -2,000 4,000 -14,000 May 2012 100,000 2,000 118,000 -3,000 -3,000 -14,000 Jun 2012 73,000 25,000 29,000 1,000 7,000 11,000 Jul 2012 152,000 36,000 133,000 -9,000 -4,000 -4,000 Aug 2012 172,000 12,000 157,000 5,000 8,000 -10,000 Sep 2012 187,000 2,000 176,000 2,000 13,000 -6,000 Oct 2012 159,000 11,000 170,000 2,000 -21,000 -3,000 Nov 2012 156,000 5,000 171,000 -15,000 -3,000 -2,000 Dec 2012 239,000 55,000 180,000 -3,000 -4,000 11,000 Jan 2013 191,000 48,000 161,000 0 -19,000 1,000 Feb 2013 278,000 58,000 208,000 0 16,000 -4,000 Mar 2013 139,000 22,000 128,000 -12,000 7,000 -6,000 Apr 2013 191,000 -7,000 199,000 0 -5,000 4,000 May 2013 222,000 38,000 189,000 -19,000 2,000 12,000 Jun 2013 181,000 33,000 172,000 -4,000 -11,000 -9,000 Jul 2013 112,000 -19,000 156,000 -10,000 -13,000 -2,000 Aug 2013 242,000 51,000 175,000 -7,000 20,000 3,000 Sep 2013 187,000 54,000 129,000 -1,000 5,000 0 Oct 2013 225,000 47,000 183,000 -14,000 7,000 2,000 Nov 2013 264,000 54,000 197,000 7,000 -1,000 7,000 Dec 2013 69,000 -30,000 122,000 -5,000 -3,000 -15,000 Jan 2014 175,000 56,000 125,000 -5,000 -1,000 0 Feb 2014 166,000 51,000 104,000 -5,000 5,000 11,000 Mar 2014 254,000 49,000 197,000 -3,000 -2,000 13,000 Apr 2014 325,000 67,000 238,000 0 0 20,000 May 2014 218,000 38,000 201,000 0 -4,000 -17,000 Jun 2014 326,000 53,000 210,000 1,000 7,000 55,000 Jul 2014 232,000 69,000 157,000 2,000 -23,000 27,000 Aug 2014 188,000 52,000 182,000 4,000 -19,000 -31,000 Sep 2014 309,000 55,000 212,000 0 25,000 17,000 Oct 2014 252,000 48,000 184,000 0 5,000 15,000 Nov 2014 291,000 37,000 239,000 5,000 7,000 3,000 Dec 2014 268,000 25,000 228,000 3,000 6,000 6,000 Jan 2015 191,000 19,000 159,000 2,000 6,000 5,000 Feb 2015 271,000 37,000 216,000 2,000 6,000 10,000 Mar 2015 71,000 -32,000 111,000 1,000 -4,000 -5,000 Apr 2015 284,000 48,000 201,000 15,000 3,000 17,000 May 2015 331,000 27,000 297,000 -10,000 4,000 13,000 Jun 2015 174,000 11,000 160,000 1,000 -1,000 3,000 Jul 2015 302,000 35,000 232,000 2,000 0 33,000 Aug 2015 125,000 3,000 112,000 4,000 4,000 2,000 Sep 2015 155,000 12,000 163,000 -1,000 6,000 -25,000 Oct 2015 306,000 39,000 251,000 0 1,000 15,000 Nov 2015 237,000 31,000 181,000 7,000 6,000 12,000 Dec 2015 273,000 27,000 230,000 10,000 -2,000 8,000 Jan 2016 73,000 -8,000 60,000 -4,000 1,000 24,000 Feb 2016 263,000 -2,000 239,000 6,000 -3,000 23,000 Mar 2016 229,000 -12,000 205,000 5,000 7,000 24,000 Apr 2016 187,000 12,000 169,000 2,000 5,000 -1,000 May 2016 42,000 -39,000 70,000 7,000 -5,000 9,000 Jun 2016 267,000 20,000 260,000 5,000 14,000 -32,000 Jul 2016 354,000 48,000 205,000 2,000 9,000 90,000 Aug 2016 135,000 -25,000 177,000 4,000 -3,000 -18,000 Sep 2016 269,000 30,000 204,000 4,000 34,000 -3,000 Oct 2016 145,000 27,000 129,000 -3,000 -13,000 5,000 Nov 2016 151,000 19,000 134,000 -5,000 5,000 -2,000 Dec 2016 230,000 17,000 195,000 18,000 2,000 -2,000 Jan 2017 185,000 40,000 151,000 -2,000 10,000 -14,000 Feb 2017 188,000 63,000 108,000 -2,000 9,000 10,000 Mar 2017 129,000 36,000 87,000 -2,000 3,000 5,000 Apr 2017 197,000 21,000 171,000 -11,000 3,000 13,000 May 2017 155,000 22,000 131,000 8,000 8,000 -14,000 Jun 2017 216,000 43,000 159,000 -2,000 -4,000 20,000 Jul 2017 215,000 6,000 196,000 -1,000 3,000 11,000 Aug 2017 184,000 79,000 107,000 -3,000 -6,000 7,000 Sep 2017 18,000 26,000 -17,000 0 -7,000 16,000 Oct 2017 267,000 45,000 219,000 1,000 -5,000 7,000 Nov 2017 225,000 67,000 134,000 -11,000 16,000 19,000 Dec 2017 130,000 53,000 89,000 2,000 -12,000 -2,000 Jan 2018 121,000 45,000 102,000 7,000 -12,000 -21,000 Feb 2018 406,000 123,000 232,000 -8,000 4,000 55,000 Mar 2018 176,000 36,000 142,000 0 3,000 -5,000 Apr 2018 137,000 47,000 80,000 2,000 13,000 -5,000 May 2018 278,000 71,000 190,000 -3,000 7,000 13,000 Jun 2018 219,000 50,000 141,000 4,000 6,000 18,000 Jul 2018 136,000 41,000 92,000 2,000 -2,000 3,000 Aug 2018 244,000 52,000 164,000 3,000 5,000 20,000 Sep 2018 80,000 43,000 38,000 3,000 10,000 -14,000 Oct 2018 201,000 50,000 155,000 1,000 -9,000 4,000 Nov 2018 134,000 13,000 120,000 6,000 -11,000 6,000 Dec 2018 182,000 51,000 122,000 -2,000 0 11,000 Jan 2019 269,000 75,000 183,000 2,000 -3,000 12,000 Feb 2019 1,000 -29,000 23,000 3,000 5,000 -1,000 Mar 2019 147,000 17,000 115,000 1,000 0 14,000 Apr 2019 210,000 28,000 157,000 8,000 -6,000 23,000 May 2019 85,000 11,000 76,000 3,000 -11,000 6,000 Jun 2019 182,000 26,000 154,000 3,000 -1,000 0 Jul 2019 194,000 9,000 151,000 2,000 11,000 21,000 Aug 2019 207,000 2,000 155,000 26,000 16,000 8,000 Sep 2019 208,000 19,000 176,000 0 -3,000 16,000 Oct 2019 185,000 -20,000 210,000 -13,000 3,000 5,000 Nov 2019 261,000 45,000 202,000 6,000 -3,000 11,000 Dec 2019 184,000 5,000 159,000 -3,000 3,000 20,000 Jan 2020 273,000 27,000 195,000 10,000 15,000 26,000 Feb 2020 273,000 61,000 167,000 8,000 18,000 19,000

Within the goods-producing industries, construction employment increased by 42,000, with employment gains in specialty trade contractors and residential building. Employment in the other major goods-producing industries, mining and manufacturing, changed little over the month. Employment in goods-producing industries totaled 21.2 million in February 2020.

Among the private service-providing industries, employment increased by 57,000 in health care and social assistance. Health care had employment gains in offices of physicians, home health care services, and hospitals. Employment in social assistance increased in individual and family services.

Food services and drinking places added 53,000 jobs.

Employment increased by 32,000 in professional and technical services. Job growth in February occurred in architectural and engineering services and in scientific research and development services.

With gains in real estate and in credit intermediation and related activities, financial activities employment increased 26,000.

Employment in other major private service-providing industries, such as wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and information, changed little over the month. Private service-providing industries employed 108.5 million in February.

The 45,000-job gain in total government employment was led by a gain in state government education. Federal government employment increased by 8,000, reflecting the hiring of 7,000 temporary workers for the 2020 Census. The chart (above) shows increases in federal government employment during the 2010 Census.

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 — February 2020." Also see more charts showing nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings data.

RELATED SUBJECTS Employment

Industry Studies