December 08, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Manufacturing employment in November

In recent months, job losses have lessened in manufacturing.

[Chart data—TXT]

Factory job losses have averaged 17,000 in the September-to-November period, compared with an average decline of 53,000 for the 12 months ending in August. Employment in durable goods manufacturing was unchanged in November, while small job losses continued in nondurable goods.

The manufacturing workweek rose by 0.2 hour to 40.8 hours in November, and manufacturing overtime edged up by 0.1 hour to 4.4 hours. Since July, the factory workweek has increased by 0.7 hour and factory overtime has risen by 0.3 hour.

Total nonfarm payroll employment, of which manufacturing represents 11.2 percent, edged up by 57,000 in November to 130.2 million, seasonally adjusted. Payroll employment has increased by 328,000 since July.

Payroll employment data are from the Current Employment Statistics program. The above data are seasonally adjusted. Data for October and November 2003 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see "The Employment Situation: November 2003" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 03-817.