[Economic Indicators May, 2006]
[Page Number 11]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 
EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND WAGES

STATUS OF THE LABOR FORCE

In May, employment rose by 288,000 and unemployment fell by 108,000.
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                                    [Thousands of persons 16 years of age and over, except as noted; monthly data seasonally adjusted except as noted by NSA]
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                                                                                          Civilian employment                   Unemployment                                Percent \1\
                                                             Civilian            ----------------------------------------------------------------------           ------------------------------
                                                           noninstitu-  Civilian                      Women                              Women            Not in                  Employ-
                          Period                              tional      labor             Men  20     20     Both            Men  20    20     Both     labor     Labor force    ment/   Unem-
                                                            population    force     Total    years    years    sexes   Total    years    years   sexes    force    participation    pop-   ploy-
                                                              (NSA)                           and      and     16-19             and      and    16-19                  rate      ulation   ment
                                                                                              over     over    years             over    over    years                             ratio    rate
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1996.....................................................     200,591    133,943   126,708   64,897   55,311   6,500    7,236    3,146   2,783   1,306    66,647        66.8        63.2    5.4
1997 \2\.................................................     203,133    136,297   129,558   66,284   56,613   6,661    6,739    2,882   2,585   1,271    66,837        67.1        63.8    4.9
1998 \2\.................................................     205,220    137,673   131,463   67,135   57,278   7,051    6,210    2,580   2,424   1,205    67,547        67.1        64.1    4.5
1999 \2\.................................................     207,753    139,368   133,488   67,761   58,555   7,172    5,880    2,433   2,285   1,162    68,385        67.1        64.3    4.2
2000 \2\.................................................     212,577    142,583   136,891   69,634   60,067   7,189    5,692    2,376   2,235   1,081    69,994        67.1        64.4    4.0
2001 ....................................................     215,092    143,734   136,933   69,776   60,417   6,740    6,801    3,040   2,599   1,162    71,359        66.8        63.7    4.7
2002.....................................................     217,570    144,863   136,485   69,734   60,420   6,332    8,378    3,896   3,228   1,253    72,707        66.6        62.7    5.8
2003 \2\.................................................     221,168    146,510   137,736   70,415   61,402   5,919    8,774    4,209   3,314   1,251    74,658        66.2        62.3    6.0
2004 \2\.................................................     223,357    147,401   139,252   71,572   61,773   5,907    8,149    3,791   3,150   1,208    75,956        66.0        62.3    5.5
2005 \2\.................................................     226,082    149,320   141,730   73,050   62,702   5,978    7,591    3,392   3,013   1,186    76,762        66.0        62.7    5.1
 
2005:May ................................................     225,670    149,201   141,571   73,108   62,515   5,948    7,629    3,337   3,013   1,280    76,469        66.1        62.7    5.1
      June ..............................................     225,911    149,243   141,750   73,178   62,552   6,020    7,493    3,294   3,030   1,169    76,668        66.1        62.7    5.0
      July ..............................................     226,153    149,605   142,111   73,345   62,744   6,022    7,494    3,274   3,070   1,150    76,548        66.2        62.8    5.0
      Aug ...............................................     226,421    149,792   142,425   73,479   62,901   6,045    7,367    3,307   2,877   1,183    76,629        66.2        62.9    4.9
      Sept ..............................................     226,693    150,083   142,435   73,331   63,074   6,030    7,648    3,461   3,055   1,133    76,610        66.2        62.8    5.1
      Oct ...............................................     226,959    150,043   142,625   73,500   63,162   5,964    7,418    3,281   3,013   1,124    76,916        66.1        62.8    4.9
      Nov ...............................................     227,204    150,183   142,611   73,441   63,170   6,000    7,572    3,282   3,053   1,238    77,021        66.1        62.8    5.0
      Dec ...............................................     227,425    150,153   142,779   73,468   63,249   6,061    7,375    3,318   2,966   1,091    77,271        66.0        62.8    4.9
 
2006:Jan \2\.............................................     227,553    150,114   143,074   73,844   63,163   6,067    7,040    3,084   2,859   1,097    77,439        66.0        62.9    4.7
      Feb ...............................................     227,763    150,449   143,257   73,857   63,262   6,138    7,193    3,258   2,819   1,115    77,314        66.1        62.9    4.8
      Mar ...............................................     227,975    150,652   143,641   74,197   63,305   6,139    7,011    3,137   2,733   1,140    77,323        66.1        63.0    4.7
      Apr ...............................................     228,199    150,811   143,688   74,169   63,362   6,157    7,123    3,246   2,825   1,053    77,388        66.1        63.0    4.7
      May ...............................................     228,428    150,991   143,976   74,202   63,555   6,220    7,015    3,275   2,725   1,015    77,437        66.1        63.0    4.6
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    \1\ Civilian labor force (or 
employment) as percent of civilian 
noninstitutional population; and 
unemployment as percent of civilian 
labor force.
    \2\ Not strictly comparable with 
earlier data.
    Note.--Beginning January 2006 
data reflect revised population 
controls and are not strictly 
comparable with earlier data.
    See Employment and Earnings for 
details on breaks in series.
    Source: Department of Labor, 
Bureau of Labor Statistics.