Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods: NAICS 423
About the Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods subsector
The merchant wholesalers, durable goods subsector is part of the wholesale trade sector.
Industries in the Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods subsector sell capital or durable goods to other businesses. Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell; in other words, they buy and sell goods on their own account. Durable goods are new or used items generally with a normal life expectancy of three years or more. Durable goods merchant wholesale trade establishments are engaged in wholesaling products, such as motor vehicles, furniture, construction materials, machinery and equipment (including household-type appliances), metals and minerals (except petroleum), sporting goods, toys and hobby goods, recyclable materials, and parts.
North American Industry Classification System
The merchant wholesalers, durable goods subsector consists of these industry groups:
- Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4231
- Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4232
- Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4233
- Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4234
- Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4235
- Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4236
- Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4237
- Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4238
- Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers: NAICS 4239
Workforce Statistics
This section provides information relating to employment in merchant wholesalers, durable goods.
These data are obtained from employer or establishment surveys.
The following tables present an overview of the industry including
the number of jobs,
mass layoffs,
data for occupations common to the industry,
and projections of occupational employment change.
Employment and Layoffs
| Data series |
Back
data |
May
2012 |
Jun.
2012 |
Jul.
2012 |
Aug.
2012 |
Employment (in thousands) |
|
Employment, all employees (seasonally adjusted) |
|
2,789.9 |
2,794.2 |
2,798.0 |
2,800.9 |
Employment, production and nonsupervisory employees |
|
2,227.6 |
2,248.1 |
2,251.2 |
|
Layoffs |
|
Mass layoff events |
|
7 |
6 |
9 |
8 |
Initial claimants for unemployment benefits |
|
386 |
471 |
680 |
1,149 |
(Source: Current Employment Statistics, Mass Layoff Statistics)
Extended Mass Layoffs
(Source: Mass Layoff Statistics)
Employment by Occupation
| Data series |
Employment,
2011 |
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
165,080 |
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products |
404,230 |
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products |
110,160 |
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks |
87,740 |
Truck drivers, light or delivery services |
73,900 |
(Source: Occupational Employment Statistics)
Projections
For projected (future) employment estimates, see the National Employment Matrix, which includes employment estimates by industry and occupation for merchant wholesalers, durable goods.
(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 are shown.
In addition, recent hourly and annual earnings are shown for occupations commonly found in merchant wholesalers, durable goods.
Earnings and Hours of All Employees
(Source: Current Employment Statistics)
Earnings and Hours of Production and Nonsupervisory Employees
(Source: Current Employment Statistics)
Earnings by Occupation
| Data series |
Wages, 2011 |
| Hourly |
Annual |
| Median |
Mean |
Median |
Mean |
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand |
$12.00 |
$12.75 |
$24,970 |
$26,510 |
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products |
$24.53 |
$29.16 |
$51,030 |
$60,660 |
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products |
$32.94 |
$38.64 |
$68,520 |
$80,380 |
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks |
$13.99 |
$14.75 |
$29,090 |
$30,690 |
Truck drivers, light or delivery services |
$12.90 |
$13.42 |
$26,830 |
$27,900 |
(Source: Occupational Employment Statistics)
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 merchant wholesalers, durable goods. 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.
(Source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities)
Prices
This section provides industry-specific pricing information. The producer price index measures the percentage change in prices that domestic producers receive for goods and services. The prices included in the producer price index are from the first commercial transaction.
| Data series |
Back
data |
May
2012 |
Jun.
2012 |
Jul.
2012 |
Aug.
2012 |
Producer price index |
|
123.2 |
123.1 |
125.3 |
123.2 |
Percent change from previous month |
|
0.2% |
-0.1% |
1.8% |
-1.7% |
(Source: Producer Price Indexes)
Workplace Trends
This section presents data on the number of establishments in merchant wholesalers, durable goods. Also included in this section is information on productivity, presented as the rate of change in output per hour of workers in the industry.
Establishments
(Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)
Productivity
(Source: Productivity and Costs)
Other BLS Resources
Career Guide to Industries
To learn about careers from an industry perspective, see the Career Guide to Industries.
Data extracted on:
September 27, 2012
