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Economics Daily
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
02-03-2026 - No Economics Daily was published for this date.
02-02-2026 - No Economics Daily was published for this date.
01-30-2026 - In October 2025, federal government employment fell by 179,000 to its lowest level since July 2014 as some federal employees who accepted a deferred resignation offer came off federal payrolls. Federal employees on furlough during the government shutdown were counted as employed in the establishment survey because they received pay, even if later than usual, for the pay period that included the 12th of the month. Federal government employment fell by 274,000 in 2025—the largest decline in any calendar year since 1946. Through November (the latest data available for most government agencies), the Department of Defense shed 68,000 jobs in 2025, federal hospitals shed 16,000 jobs, the U.S. Postal Service lost 6,000 jobs, and employment in other Federal agencies fell by 185,000. Note that federal government employment spikes every 10 years because of temporary hiring associated with the constitutionally mandated decennial census. These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for November and December 2025 are preliminary.
01-29-2026 - Have you ever made a bauble, a bangle, or maybe a beaded bracelet? Across the country a wide variety of things fill our spare time, not the least of which is arts and crafts as a hobby. Hobbies sometimes require certain skills and, like most human endeavors, get easier with practice. Some people even take classes and do homework to learn about their personal interests and improve their skills. In recognition of World Hobby Month, let’s look at the time spent on a few hobbies and activities. Participants in many hobbies spent well over an hour enjoying their elected task on days they chose to participate in 2024. People doing arts and crafts as a hobby spent over 2 hours (125 minutes) on days they engaged in some creative time. For hobbies other than arts, crafts, and collecting, participants spent over 2 hours and 30 minutes (151 minutes) on days they participated in their chosen activity. Counted together, taking a class (119 minutes) and doing research or homework for a personal interest (96 minutes) clocked in at 3 hours and 34 minutes, approximately the length of two feature-length films. Of course, not every hobby needs to involve special expertise or training. Arts and crafts could be as simple as dyeing some eggs or as complex as painting a landscape. These data (and many more) are from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS).
01-28-2026 - Overall, 177.2 million people worked or looked for work in 2024, up by 2.8 million from the prior year. The number who experienced some unemployment increased by 978,000 to 14.7 million. The work-experience unemployment rate (those unemployed during the year as a percentage of those who worked or looked for work during the year) increased by 0.4 percentage point to 8.3 percent. In 2024, men continued to have a higher work-experience unemployment rate than women (8.7 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively). The rates for both men and women were up by 0.4 percentage point over the year. These data are from the Current Population Survey.
01-27-2026 - From November 2024 to November 2025, nonfarm employment increased in 4 metropolitan areas with a 2020 Census population of 1 million or more, decreased in 1 area, and was essentially unchanged in 51 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC (+2.7 percent), followed by Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN (+1.7 percent), and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (+1.3 percent). The over-the-year decrease in employment occurred in Washington-Arlington Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (-1.4 percent). These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program and are not seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary.
01-26-2026 - Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 1.1 percent from December 2024 to December 2025. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek resulted in a 1.1-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over the year. Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees increased 0.9 percent over the past 12 months. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek led to a 1.0-percent increase in real average weekly earnings over this period. These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Earnings for the most recent 2 months are preliminary.
01-23-2026 - Prices for U.S. imports increased 0.1 percent from November 2024 to November 2025 while U.S. export prices increased 3.3 percent over the same period. Fuel import prices decreased 6.6 percent from November 2024 to November 2025, the largest year-over-year drop since prices declined 9.8 percent for the year ended August 2025. Nonfuel import prices increased 0.7 percent over the year ended November 2025. Higher prices for nonfuel industrial supplies and materials and for capital goods more than offset lower prices for automotive vehicles; foods, feeds, and beverages; and consumer goods. Agricultural export prices increased 2.6 percent over the past 12 months, as higher prices for vegetables, nuts, and fruit drove the year-over-year increase. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 3.3 percent over the year, reflecting higher prices for nonagricultural industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and consumer goods. These data are from the International Price program.
01-22-2026 - The Producer Price Index for final demand advanced 3.0 percent from November 2024 to November 2025. Prices for final demand goods increased 3.2 percent, while prices for final demand services rose 2.9 percent. The increase in producer prices for final demand goods over the year ended November 2025 included a 1.8-percent increase in prices for food and a 4.0-percent increase in energy prices. Within services, prices for trade rose 1.0 percent, while transportation and warehousing prices increased 3.8 percent. Prices for final demand less foods, energy, and trade services climbed 3.5 percent, the largest 12-month increase since rising 3.5 percent in March. These data are from the Producer Price Indexes program and are not seasonally adjusted.
01-21-2026 - The Consumer Price Index for all items rose 2.7 percent from December 2024 to December 2025. Food prices increased 3.1 percent, reflecting a 2.4-percent increase in prices for food at home and a 4.1-percent increase in prices for food away from home. Prices for five of the six major food at home groups increased from 2024 to 2025. Prices for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials increased 5.1 percent. Within this larger category, prices for juices and nonalcoholic drinks rose 2.3 percent and prices for beverage materials including coffee and tea rose 11.8 percent. Prices increased for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (3.9 percent); other food at home (2.7 percent); cereals and bakery products (1.5 percent); and fruits and vegetables (0.5 percent). Dairy and related products prices declined 0.9 percent, after rising 1.3 percent in 2024. Costs for energy increased 2.3 percent in 2025 after decreasing 0.5 percent in 2024 and 2.0 percent in 2023. Prices increased for utility (piped) gas service (10.8 percent), fuel oil (7.4 percent), and electricity (6.7 percent). Gasoline (all types) prices continued to decline, falling 3.4 percent in 2025, 3.4 percent in 2024, 1.9 percent in 2023, and 1.5 percent in 2022. These declines came after gasoline prices rose 49.6 percent in 2021.
Motor vehicle insurance prices rose 2.8 percent in 2025, their smallest December-to-December increase in the last 5 years. Prices for airline fares decreased 3.4 percent after rising 7.9 percent the prior year. Prices rose for used cars and trucks (1.6 percent) and new vehicles (0.3 percent). Medical care prices rose 3.2 percent in 2025, following an increase of 2.8 percent in 2024. Prices for hospital and related services rose 6.7 percent, their largest December-to-December increase since 2010. Prices increased for prescription drugs (2.0 percent), physicians’ services (1.9 percent), and nonprescription drugs (0.5 percent). These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted.
01-20-2026 - Both the unemployment rate, at 4.4 percent, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.5 million, changed little in December 2025. The long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) accounted for 26.0 percent of all unemployed people in December, and was up 397,000 over the year to 1.9 million. Over the past five years, this figure has ranged from 43.0 percent in March 2021 to 17.8 percent in February 2023. These data are from the Current Population Survey and are seasonally adjusted.
01-16-2026 - Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in December (+50,000). Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, health care, and social assistance. Retail trade lost jobs. Payroll employment rose by 584,000 in 2025 (an average monthly gain of 49,000), less than the increase of 2.0 million in 2024 (an average monthly gain of 168,000). Employment in food services and drinking places continued to trend up in December (+27,000). Food services and drinking places added an average of 12,000 jobs per month in 2025, similar to the average increase of 11,000 jobs per month in 2024. Health care employment continued its upward trend in December (+21,000), with a gain of 16,000 jobs in hospitals. Health care employment rose by an average of 34,000 per month in 2025, less than the average monthly gain of 56,000 in 2024. Employment in social assistance also continued to trend up (+17,000), mostly in individual and family services (+13,000). Retail trade lost 25,000 jobs in December and showed little net change in both 2024 and 2025. Federal government employment was little changed in December (+2,000). Since its recent peak in January, federal government employment is down by 277,000, or 9.2 percent. (Employees on paid leave or receiving ongoing severance pay are counted as employed in the establishment survey.) These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. The most recent two months are preliminary.
01-15-2026 - From November 2024 to November 2025, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 12 states, decreased in the District of Columbia, and was essentially unchanged in 38 states. The largest percentage increases occurred in Missouri and South Carolina (+2.0 percent each), followed by North Carolina (+1.7 percent). The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+146,300) and Pennsylvania (+97,600), followed by New York and North Carolina (+87,900 each). Employment decreased in the District (-4.2 percent, or -32,800). These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary.
01-14-2026 - If it is January 14th, then it is World Logic Day - January 14, 2026 In our personal lives or on the job, we all make logical inferences based on the information available to us. Interferential reasoning is especially important in some occupations. This TED explores some occupations in which different kinds of logic are intrinsic to the tasks of the job. At the heart of mathematics is the use of deductive logic to demonstrate features of numerical relationships. Statistics uses probabilistic logic to document quantitative relationships between empirical observations and to build predictive models. Mathematicians had employment of 2,400 in 2024, with a median annual wage of $121,680. Employment of statisticians was more significant, 32,200, with a median annual wage of $103,300. Employment of mathematicians is projected to decrease slightly from 2024 to 2034, but employment of statisticians is projected to increase by 9 percent.
Boolean logic is the basis for digital electronics. Computer and information research scientists (2024 employment: 40,300) and electrical and electronics engineers (287,900) are both versed in the design of digital systems. In 2024, median annual wages were $140,910 for computer and information research scientists, and $118,780 for electrical and electronics engineers. Between 2024 and 2034, the employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to increase by 20 percent and electrical and electronics engineers by 7 percent.
Early systems of logic, such as syllogistic and propositional logic, were studied by philosophers in ancient times. Today, some professional philosophers continue to study and develop logical thought. In 2024, there were 27,300 postsecondary philosophy and religion teachers with a median wage of $78,050. Employment of philosophy and religion teachers is projected to increase slightly over the decade.
Detectives and criminal investigators (117,900) gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes, using critical thinking and both deductive and inductive logic to connect the evidence to an explanation of a crime. Forensic science technicians (20,700) aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Median annual wages were $93,580 for detectives and criminal investigators, and $67,440 for forensic science technicians. Employment of detectives and criminal investigators is expected to decrease slightly, while that of forensic science technicians is projected to increase by 13 percent between 2024 and 2034. These data come from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
01-13-2026 - The number of nonfarm job openings, hires, and total separations each recorded little or no change from October to November 2025. Job openings numbered 7.1 million in November 2025, down by 885,000 over the year. The number of job openings decreased over the month in accommodation and food services; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and wholesale trade. Job openings increased in construction. There were 5.1 million hires in November 2025, compared with 5.3 million a year earlier. Over the month, the number of hires decreased in state and local government. Hires increased in federal government. The number of total separations was unchanged over the month at 5.1 million, roughly the same as a year earlier. The number of quits (included in total separations) was little changed at 3.2 million in November 2025. From the previous month, the number of quits increased in accommodation and food services. The number of layoffs and discharges (not shown in the chart) was little changed at 1.7 million in November 2025. These data are from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary.
01-12-2026 - Comparing an industry’s average hourly earnings contribution with its employment share - January 12, 2026 - Industries with large contributions to changes in total private hourly earnings tend to have large employment bases. Those contributions to earnings changes are not always proportional to the industries’ employment shares, however. Professional and business services accounted for 26.7 percent of the private sector’s overall earnings gain from December 2023 to December 2024, even though the industry made up 16.9 percent of all private-sector employment in December 2023. Private education and health services accounted for 19.3 percent of earnings growth, nearly identical to its 19.4-percent employment share. In contrast, both retail trade and leisure and hospitality accounted for private-sector earnings growth that was well below their respective employment shares. Manufacturing, with 9.6 percent of private-sector employment in December 2023, contributed 10.8 percent of the earnings gain from December 2023 to December 2024. These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted.
01-09-2026 - From December 2024 to March 2025, job gains at opening and expanding private-sector establishments numbered 7.4 million. Job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 7.2 million. The difference between the job losses and the gross job gains yielded a net employment gain of 210,000 jobs. Job gains at opening establishment were 1.6 million and losses at closing establishments were 1.4 million. Gains at expanding establishments matched losses at contracting establishments, 5.9 million each. These data are from the Business Employment Dynamics program and are seasonally adjusted.
01-07-2026 - Unemployment rates were higher in September 2025 than a year earlier in 275 of the 387 metropolitan areas, lower in 83 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas. A total of 45 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 8 areas had rates of at least 8.0 percent. In September, Sioux Falls, South Dakota-Minnesota, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.8 percent. El Centro, California, had the highest rate, 21.5 percent. A total of 245 areas had September jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.3 percent, 127 areas had rates above it, and 15 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increase in September occurred in Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas (+2.2 percentage points). Fifty-one other areas had rate increases of at least 1.0 percentage point. Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii, and Kokomo, Indiana, had the largest over-the-year rate decreases in September (-1.5 percentage points each). These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are not seasonally adjusted.
01-06-2026 - From 2019 to 2024, total factor productivity increased in 12 out of 21 major industries. The largest increase occurred in management of companies (3.0 percent), followed by mining and professional and technical services (2.5 percent each). Output growth was widespread, increasing in 17 of 21 industries over the period. The output declines occurred in the 4 goods-producing industries: mining (-0.6 percent), manufacturing and durable manufacturing (-0.8 percent each), and nondurable manufacturing (-0.7 percent). Labor input grew in 16 of 21 industries over the period, demonstrating that these industries have recovered from labor losses in 2020. The industries that had the largest increases in labor input from 2019 to 2024 were transportation and warehousing (3.0 percent) and health care and social assistance (2.5 percent). These data are from the Productivity program and are average annual percentage changes.
01-05-2026 - For many people, the new year is a time of new year's resolutions made with an aim towards building new habits, such as eating better, getting more exercise, or perhaps less smoking or drinking alcohol. Other resolutions may include spending more time reading (instead of browsing random websites, except the BLS website of course), saving money, or giving more to charities. These lifestyle modifications may require adjustments in household spending. With that in mind, here's a look at average household spending in various categories. Household spending on food at home in 2024 averaged $6,224, compared with $3,945 for food away from home (which in addition to restaurant meals also includes delivery and takeout meals). Spending on alcoholic beverages for use at home averaged $269 in 2024, while alcoholic beverages away from home was $374. Some people exercise at a gym or health club, others invest in exercise equipment for use at home. Spending for social, recreation, and health club memberships averaged $272 in 2024. Spending for sports, recreation, and exercise equipment was $225. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these proportions were reversed, with spending for equipment outpacing spending for memberships. Eating healthier and exercising may require spending, but if people are able to economize, they may have more money to give to good causes. Contributions to churches and other religious organizations averaged $781, while contributions to charities and other organizations were $322 in 2024. These data are from the Consumer Expenditure Surveys.
01-02-2026 - In July 2024, 5.9 million wage and salary workers ages 16 to 75 had ever requested or made a change in their current job to help them do it better. These requests or changes were regardless of the presence of a work-limiting health condition or difficulty, representing 4.1 percent of the employed in that age group. The most common changes requested or made were related to their work schedule (2.6 million), getting new or modified equipment (1.5 million), work tasks (1.4 million), and telework (802,000). The changes that were least requested or made included increased accessibility to workplace or building facilities (147,000) and arranging special transportation (73,000). These data are from the Current Population Survey. For more information, see “People with Health Conditions or Difficulties that Limit Work — July 2024.” The July 2024 supplement collected information about people ages 16 to 75 with a work-limiting health condition or difficulty, changes workers requested or made to do their job better, and challenges in finding and maintaining employment.
12-31-2025 - Employment grew 1.7 percent in Miami-Dade, Florida, from June 2024 to June 2025, the highest percentage growth among the 10 largest U.S. counties. In Cook, Illinois (part of the Chicago area) employment increased 0.6 percent, while in Orange, California (Los Angeles area), employment increased by 0.4 percent. Over the same period, employment decreases ranging from 0.1 percent to 0.6 percent were recorded in Maricopa county (Phoenix area), Arizona; San Diego county, California; and King county (Seattle area), Washington. During the year ended June 2025, average weekly wages increased in 9 of the 10 largest counties. In percentage terms, wage increases ranged from 1.6 percent in Los Angeles county, California, to 4.1 percent in New York county (Manhattan), New York. Average weekly wages decreased slightly in King, Washington. These data are from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program.
12-30-2025 - The veterinary services industry had 10.6 nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time workers in 2023. The nonfatal injury and illness rate for all workers was 2.4. In 2023, only 29 percent of the total recordable cases in the veterinary services industry resulted in days away from work, job transfer, or restriction. The other 71 percent were classified as other recordable cases, which are cases that do not involve days away from work or days of restricted work activity or job transfer, but require medical treatment beyond first aid (such as prescription antibiotics for a puncture wound). This indicates that the cases in this industry are typically less severe. These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program.
12-29-2025 - Real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 0.8 percent from November 2024 to November 2025. This result stems from an increase of 3.5 percent in average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 2.7 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Real average weekly earnings increased 0.8 percent over the year due to the change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek. Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees increased 1.1 percent over the year. This result stems from a 3.9-percent increase in average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 2.7 percent in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Real average weekly earnings increased 1.4 percent over the year due to the change in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.3-percent increase in the average workweek. These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Earnings for the most recent 2 months are preliminary.
12-23-2025 - Airline fares decreased 5.4 percent over the year ending November 2025 - Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go. The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh through the … ?? Oh, hello there! The holiday travel season is here, and our travel options have widely expanded since this song was written as a poem in 1844 by Lydia Maria Child. For those seeing friends or family locally or out of state, pick your method or methods of transportation and see how prices have changed from November 2024 to November 2025. For electric vehicle (EV) owners plugging in, electricity prices increased 6.9 percent over the year, while prices for gasoline of all types increased 0.9 percent over the same period. Flying may be first choice for anyone short on time or traveling long distances. Airline fares decreased 5.4 percent in November 2025 compared with the prior year. Need a rental car at the airport or prefer not adding more miles to your own vehicle? You’re in luck! Car and truck rental fees declined 2.7 percent from a year earlier. Intracity transportation prices increased 0.4 percent over the year ending November 2025. This group included fares for bus, subway, trolly, light rail, commuter train, passenger ferry, and bike or scooter sharing. Taxi and rideshare fares charged for passenger trips are included in this price group as well. Unlike intracity transportation, intercity transportation begins travel within the city and ends outside the city. Intercity transportation includes bus, train, and ship fares, which fell 1.2 percent over the year. And for those very close to your final destination, perhaps footwear is your mode of transport. Footwear prices were down 0.1 percent from November 2024 to November 2025. These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted.
12-22-2025 - Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in November 2025 (+64,000) and has shown little net change since April. In November, employment rose in health care and construction. Federal government employment declined by 6,000, following a loss of 162,000 in October. In November, health care added 46,000 jobs, in line with the average monthly gain of 39,000 over the prior 12 months. Over the month, job gains occurred in ambulatory health care services (+24,000), hospitals (+11,000), and nursing and residential care facilities (+11,000).
Construction employment grew by 28,000, as nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 19,000 jobs. Construction employment had changed little over the prior 12 months.
Employment in social assistance continued to trend up in November (+18,000), primarily in individual and family services (+13,000).
Employment edged down in transportation and warehousing (-18,000), reflecting a job loss in couriers and messengers (-18,000). Transportation and warehousing employment has declined by 78,000 since reaching a peak in February.
Federal government employment continued to decrease in November (-6,000). This follows a sharp decline of 162,000 in October, as some federal employees who accepted a deferred resignation offer came off federal payrolls. Federal government employment is down by 271,000 since reaching a peak in January. (Federal employees on furlough during the government shutdown were counted as employed in the establishment survey because they received pay, even if later than usual, for the pay period that included the 12th of the month. Employees on paid leave or receiving ongoing severance pay are counted as employed in the establishment survey.)
These data are from the Current Employment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted.
12-19-2025 - In November 2025, the unemployment rate, at 4.6 percent, was little changed from September. The November 2025 rate was higher than the previous November, when the jobless rate was 4.2 percent. Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for teenagers ages 16 to 19 was 16.3 percent in November 2025, an increase from September. The jobless rates for adult men (4.1 percent), adult women (4.1 percent), Whites (3.9 percent), Blacks (8.3 percent), Asians (3.6 percent), and Hispanics (5.0 percent) showed little change. The unemployment rate for people ages 20 to 24 was 8.3 percent in November 2025, while unemployment rates were 3.9 percent for people ages 25 to 54 and 3.1 percent for people 55 and over (not shown in the chart). These data are from the Current Population Survey and are seasonally adjusted. Household survey data, used to measure unemployment, were not collected for October 2025 due to the federal government shutdown.
12-18-2025 - During 2021 and 2022, registered nurses in private industry experienced nonfatal injuries and illnesses that required at least one day away from work at a rate of 220.9 per 10,000 full-time workers. Workers across all private industry occupations had a rate of 112.9 over the same period. The rate for private industry nurses in 2020 was 390.6. Private industry registered nurses in 2021–22 had a days-away-from-work rate of exposure to harmful substances and environments of 120.4 cases per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 31.9 across all private industry occupations. The rates of workplace violence were 16.6 for private industry registered nurses and 4.3 across all private industry occupations. These data are from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program and are annualized rates.
12-17-2025 - From September 2024 to September 2025, 18 states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from a year earlier, 9 states had decreases, and 23 states had little change. The national unemployment rate, 4.4 percent, was 0.3 percentage point higher than in September 2024. The largest unemployment rate increase from a year prior was in Oregon (+1.0 percentage point). The largest decrease was in Indiana (-0.7 percentage point). Twenty-three states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in September, 2.0 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 6.2 percent. The next highest rate was in California, 5.6 percent. In total, 22 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.4 percent, 3 states and the District had higher rates, and 25 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. 12-16-2025 - Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 3.5 percent from September 2024 to September 2025. Wages and salaries increased 3.6 percent over the year and benefits costs increased 3.5 percent. Inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) wages and salaries increased 0.6 percent over the year. A year prior, from September 2023 to September 2024, compensation costs rose 3.6 percent as wages and salaries increased 3.8 percent and benefit costs were up 3.3 percent. Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 3.6 percent for the 12-month period ending in September 2025 after increasing 4.7 percent in the same period a year earlier. Wages and salaries increased 3.5 percent from September 2024 to September 2025 and benefit costs increased 3.8 percent. From September 2023 to September 2024, wages and salaries were up 4.6 percent and benefit costs rose 4.8 percent. These data are from the Employment Cost Index program and are not seasonally adjusted.
12-15-2025 - Job openings rate 4.6 percent in September and October 2025 - December 15, 2025 - The rate and number of job openings were unchanged at 4.6 percent and 7.7 million, respectively, in October 2025. The job openings rate was also 4.6 percent in October 2024. Since January 2024, the total nonfarm job openings rate has ranged from 4.3 percent to 5.1 percent. In manufacturing, the job openings rate was 3.1 percent in October 2025 and has been below 4.0 percent most months during 2024 and 2025 (to date). The leisure and hospitality job openings rate was 6.3 percent October 2025 and has ranged from 4.9 percent to 6.6 percent. The job openings rate in private education and health services, which was 5.4 percent in October 2025, has ranged from 5.0 percent to 7.3 percent since January 2024. These data are from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and are seasonally adjusted.
12-12-2025 - Recognizing sales workers on Salesperson Day - December 12, 2025 - Whether it’s finding gifts for the kids, recommending wine and cheese for a party, or arranging a dream vacation, sales workers go the extra mile at this time of year to help make our holidays special. Salesperson Day, the second Friday in December, gives us an opportunity to recognize them in return. Sales and related workers had employment of nearly 13.4 million in May 2024, representing about 8.7 percent of U.S. employment. Retail salespersons (3.8 million) and cashiers (3.1 million) were the two largest sales occupations, as well as two of the largest occupations overall. Three other sales-related occupations each had employment of over 1 million: wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, except technical and scientific products; sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel; and first-line supervisors of retail sales workers. Sales and related occupations had an annual mean wage of $54,070, below the average of $67,920 for all occupations. Sales engineers ($130,410) and wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives of technical and scientific products ($114,520) were the highest paying sales occupations. Two of the occupations with the most employment were among the lowest paying sales occupations: retail salespersons ($37,150) and cashiers ($31,810). Telemarketers ($36,340), with employment of about 66,000, was also among the occupations with below-average wages. Customer service, adaptability, and interpersonal skills are important qualities for sales workers to have. Although most sales occupations typically require either a high school diploma or no formal educational credential for entry, a few, such as sales engineers, typically require a bachelor’s degree. Employment and wage data are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.
12-11-2025 - Mobility impairment most common work-limiting health condition or difficulty in 2024 - December 11, 2025 - In July 2024, 7.4 million employed people ages 16 to 75 had at least one work-limiting health condition or difficulty, accounting for 4.6 percent of all employed people in this age group. The most common work-limiting health condition or difficulty among workers was a mobility impairment (1.8 percent). Additional types included a mental health condition (0.5 percent), cognitive, intellectual, or learning disability (0.3 percent), visual or hearing impairment (0.2 percent), and some other health condition or difficulty (1.7 percent). Examples of other health conditions or difficulties include heart problems, asthma, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases. These data are from the Current Population Survey.
12-10-2025 - Median weekly earnings of the nation's 122.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $1,214 in the third quarter of 2025. Women had median weekly earnings of $1,076, or 80.7 percent of the $1,333 median for men. Among the major occupational groups, people employed full time in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings—$1,912 for men and $1,466 for women. People employed in service occupations earned the least—$897 for men and $747 for women. These data are from the Current Population Survey and are not seasonally adjusted.
12-09-2025 - Numbers, research, and discovery: STEM employment projected to take off! - December 09, 2025 - STEM employment, which includes occupations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is projected to grow by 8.1 percent from 2024 to 2034. In comparison, employment in non-STEM occupations is projected to grow 2.7 percent over this period. The median wage for STEM occupations ($103,580) was more than twice the median wage for non-STEM occupations ($48,000) in 2024. These data are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs.
12-05-2025 - From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Economics Daily - December 08, 2025 - Import prices up 0.3 percent, export prices up 3.8 percent, over the year ended September 2025 - Prices for U.S. imports rose 0.3 percent from September 2024 to September 2025, the first over-the-year increase since import prices rose 0.8 percent for the year ended March 2025. Import fuel prices fell 4.0 percent, while nonfuel import prices rose 0.8 percent. U.S. export prices increased 3.8 percent over the 12-months ended in September 2025, the largest over-the-year increase since export prices rose 4.6 percent for the year ended December 2022. Prices for agricultural exports rose 4.4 percent, as higher prices for nuts, fruit, and meat contributed to the over-the-year increase. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 3.7 percent from September 2024 to September 2025, the largest over-the-year increase since a 3.9 percent increase for the year ended December 2022. These data are from the International Price program and are not seasonally adjusted.