Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: NAICS 54

About the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is part of the professional and business services supersector.

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector consists of a single subsector, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: NAICS 541. Data published under either the sector or subsector classification are included in the tables below. The subsector consists of these industry groups:

• Legal Services: NAICS 5411
• Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services: NAICS 5412
• Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services: NAICS 5413
• Specialized Design Services: NAICS 5414
• Computer Systems Design and Related Services: NAICS 5415
• Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: NAICS 5416
• Scientific Research and Development Services: NAICS 5417
• Advertising and Related Services: NAICS 5418
• Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services: NAICS 5419

NOTE: There was a change in the definition of this subsector between NAICS 2002 and NAICS 2007. Some of the data below reflect the 2002 definition and some reflect the 2007 definition. See the BLS implementation schedule for NAICS 2007 to find out which BLS programs have already implemented NAICS 2007.

Workforce Statistics

This section provides information relating to employment and unemployment in professional, scientific, and technical services. While most data are obtained from employer or establishment surveys, information on industry unemployment comes from a national survey of households. The following tables present an overview of the industry including the number of jobs, the unemployment rate of those previously employed in the industry, union membership and representation, mass layoffs, data for occupations common to the industry, and projections of occupational employment change.

Employment, Unemployment, and Layoffs

Data series	Back data	Jun. 2008	Jul. 2008	Aug. 2008	Sep. 2008
Employment (in thousands)
Employment, all employees (seasonally adjusted)		7,850.3	7,855.4	(P) 7,861.2	(P) 7,873.3
Employment, nonsupervisory workers		6,212.0	6,217.7	(P) 6,198.6
Unemployment
Unemployment rate		3.5%	3.5%	4.0%	4.0%
Layoffs
Mass layoff events		32	40	45	35
Initial claimants for unemployment benefits		3,903	3,147	4,458	5,623
Footnotes (P) Preliminary

(Source: Current Employment Statistics, Current Population Survey, Mass Layoff Statistics)

Union Membership and Representation

Data series	Back data	2004	2005	2006	2007
Union membership and representation
Members of unions (percent of wage and salary workers)		1.1%	1.5%	1.4%	1.4%
Represented by unions (percent of wage and salary workers)		1.6%	1.9%	1.8%	2.1%

(Source: Current Population Survey)

Extended Mass Layoffs

Data series	Back data	3rd quarter 2007	4th quarter 2007	1st quarter 2008	2nd quarter 2008
Extended mass layoff events		35	50	(P) 39	(P) 73
Separations		5,144	9,634	(P) 7,346	(P) 36,411
Initial claimants		5,728	9,675	(P) 5,806	(P) 14,847
Footnotes (P) Preliminary

(Source: Mass Layoff Statistics)

Employment by Occupation

Data series	Employment, 2007
Accountants and auditors	346,710
Architectural and civil drafters	90,830
Lawyers	372,680
Management analysts	193,260
Market research analysts	60,040

(Source: Occupational Employment Statistics)

Projections

For projected (future) employment estimates, see the National Employment Matrix, which includes employment estimates by industry and occupation for professional, scientific, and technical services.

(Source: Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections)

Earnings and Hours

This section presents data on employee earnings and weekly hours. The latest industry averages of hourly earnings and weekly hours for production or nonsupervisory employees, as well as weekly earnings by union membership status, are shown. In addition, recent hourly and annual earnings are shown for occupations commonly found in professional, scientific, and technical services. This section also contains information on the average cost of benefits paid by employers, as well as recent rates of change in wages and total compensation.

Earnings and Hours of Production Workers

Data series	Back data	May 2008	Jun. 2008	Jul. 2008	Aug. 2008
Average hourly earnings		$27.49	$27.85	$27.68	(P) $27.83
Average weekly hours		35.7	36.6	35.6	(P) 35.8
Footnotes (P) Preliminary

(Source: Current Employment Statistics)

Union Membership and Representation

Data series	Back data	Median weekly earnings
		2004	2005	2006	2007
Union membership and representation
Full-time workers		$927	$961	$996	$1,031
Members of unions		$940	$770	$940	$991
Represented by unions		$937	$858	$966	$1,041
Nonunion		$927	$963	$996	$1,031

(Source: Current Population Survey)

Earnings by Occupation

Data series	Wages, 2007
	Hourly		Annual
	Median	Mean	Median	Mean
Accountants and auditors	$28.54	$33.07	$59,360	$68,790
Architectural and civil drafters	$20.77	$21.71	$43,210	$45,150
Lawyers	$53.90	$59.80	$112,110	$124,380
Management analysts	$38.17	$44.50	$79,390	$92,550
Market research analysts	$28.70	$32.32	$59,700	$67,220

(Source: Occupational Employment Statistics)

Employer Compensation Costs

Data series	Back data	4th quarter 2007	1st quarter 2008	2nd quarter 2008	3rd quarter 2008
12-month percent change
Total compensation		4.5%	4.8%	4.1%	4.1%
Wages and salaries		4.2%	4.6%	4.3%	4.4%

(Source: Compensation Cost Trends)

Data series	Back data	2nd quarter 2008
		Compensation component ($ per hour worked)	Percent of total compensation
Compensation costs
Total compensation		43.87	100.0
Wages and salaries		31.85	72.6
Total benefits		12.02	27.4
Insurance		2.74	6.2
Retirement		1.41	3.2

(Source: Compensation Cost Trends)

Work-related Fatalities, Injuries, and Illnesses

This section presents data for the industry on the number of workplace fatalities and the rates of workplace injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in professional, scientific, and technical services. An injury or illness is considered to be work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing condition.

Data series	2004	2005	2006	2007
Fatalities
Number of fatalities	81	84	85	(P) 76
Rate of injury and illness cases per 100 full-time workers
Total recordable cases	1.3	1.4	1.2	1.3
Cases involving days away from work, job restriction, or transfer	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5
Cases involving days away from work	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.3
Cases involving days of job transfer or restriction	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Footnotes (P) Preliminary

(Source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities)

Workplace Trends

This section presents data on the number of establishments in professional, scientific, and technical services.

Establishments

Data series	Back data	2nd quarter 2007	3rd quarter 2007	4th quarter 2007	1st quarter 2008
Number of establishments
Private industry		969,274	979,690	989,875	(P) 990,359
Local government		849	849	849	(P) 870
State government		376	366	358	(P) 387
Federal government		1,480	1,482	1,488	(P) 1,491
Footnotes (P) Preliminary

(Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Other BLS Resources

The Editor's Desk

See industry studies in the subject matter index of The Editor's Desk (Current Edition).

Monthly Labor Review

See technological change in the Index of the Monthly Labor Review Online (Current Issue).

Career Guide to Industries

See advertising and public relations services, computer systems design and related services, management, scientific, and technical consulting services and scientific research and development services in the Career Guide to Industries.

 

Data extracted on: November 05, 2008