October 12, 2004 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Payroll employment in September 2004

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 96,000 in September to 131.6 million, seasonally adjusted.

One-month net change in nonfarm payroll employment, seasonally adjusted, September 2003 -September 2004
[Chart data—TXT]

Payroll employment has risen by 1.8 million since reaching a trough in August 2003, with about half of the gain (885,000) occurring in March, April, and May. Since May, payroll job gains have totaled 405,000.

Employment increases in September occurred in financial activities, professional and technical services, and temporary help services.

Payroll employment data are from the BLS Current Employment Statistics program. The above data are seasonally adjusted. Data for August and September 2004 are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see "The Employment Situation: September 2004"(PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 04-2053.

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