November 05, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

October 2007 payroll employment

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 166,000 in October to 138.4 million, seasonally adjusted, following increases of 93,000 in August and 96,000 in September.

Over-the-month change in payroll employment, January-October 2007
[Chart data—TXT]

In October, job growth continued in several service-providing industries, while employment in manufacturing continued to trend downward. Construction employment was little changed over the month.

Employment in professional and business services increased by 65,000 in October. Health care employment continued to grow in October with job gains in ambulatory health care services and hospitals. Within leisure and hospitality, employment in food services and drinking places continued to trend up.

Manufacturing employment continued to trend down over the month (-21,000) with declines in motor vehicles and parts, computer and electronic products, and chemicals. 

Overall, employment in construction was little changed in October. A job gain in nonresidential specialty trade contractors was offset by job losses in residential building and in residential specialty trade contractors.

These data are from the BLS Current Employment Statistics program, and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent two months are preliminary. More information can be found in "The Employment Situation: October 2007" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-1678.