April 21, 2008 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Trends in industry employment in 2007

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by slightly more than 1 million in 2007.

Percent change in number of employees on nonfarm payrolls, selected industries, 2006-07
[Chart data—TXT]

Employment trends varied by industry. Deceleration in the housing market and problems with subprime mortgages had a negative effect on employment in construction and other housing-related industries.

Manufacturing continued its long-term contraction, while health care, professional and technical services, food services and drinking places, and local government continued to expand.

Employer services, which had hit a high point in August 2006, lost jobs throughout most of 2007.

These data on employment are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and have been seasonally adjusted. For more information, see "Payroll employment in 2007: job growth slows," by Robyn J. Richards, Monthly Labor Review, March 2008.