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

Hours, earnings, and payrolls in August

The average workweek for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.6 hours (seasonally adjusted) in August 2003. The manufacturing workweek (40.1 hours) also was unchanged. Manufacturing overtime ticked up by 0.1 hour to 4.1 hours.

Index of aggregate payrolls, August 2000-August 2003
[Chart data—TXT]

The index of aggregate weekly hours edged down in August to 98.2 (2002=100). The manufacturing index decreased by 0.2 percent over the month to 93.8.

Average hourly earnings increased by 2 cents in August to $15.45. Average weekly earnings were up by 0.1 percent over the month at $519.12. The index of aggregate weekly payrolls in private nonfarm establishments was unchanged at 101.5 (2002=100).

These data are products of the Current Employment Statistics program. Data for July and August 2003 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see news release USDL 03-467, "The Employment Situation: August 2003" (PDF) (TXT).