U.S. jobs by industry: payroll employment

Private-sector jobs

+46K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This counts payroll jobs at private businesses, which is total nonfarm payrolls minus government. The monthly change shows how many jobs companies added.

Government jobs

-17K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

Government employment covers federal, state and local governments, including public schools and hospitals. Local government, mostly education, is the largest part.

Federal government jobs

-1K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This counts civilian federal government employees, including the Postal Service. It excludes members of the armed forces.

Manufacturing jobs

+9K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

Manufacturing employment counts payroll jobs at factories and other plants that make goods. It peaked in 1979 at more than 19 million and is far lower today as output per worker has grown.

Construction jobs

+11K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

Construction employment counts payroll jobs building homes, commercial buildings and infrastructure. It is sensitive to interest rates and the housing cycle.

Mining and logging jobs

-2K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This sector covers oil and gas extraction, mining, support activities and logging. It moves with energy prices.

Trade, transportation and utilities jobs

+18K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This is the largest industry group in the payroll survey, combining wholesale and retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and utilities.

Retail jobs

+6K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

Retail trade employment counts payroll jobs at stores, car dealers, gas stations and online retailers.

Transportation and warehousing jobs

+8K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This counts jobs in trucking, air and rail transportation, couriers and warehouses. It grew quickly with online shopping.

Information sector jobs

-10K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

The information sector covers publishing, software publishing, telecommunications, broadcasting, film and data processing.

Financial activities jobs

-7K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

Financial activities covers banking, insurance, investing and real estate, including rental and leasing.

Professional and business services jobs

-9K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This sector includes legal, accounting, engineering, consulting, computer design and administrative and staffing services. Temporary help jobs in this sector often turn down before the wider economy.

Education and health services jobs

+20K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This sector covers private schools and colleges, doctors offices, hospitals, nursing homes and social assistance. It added jobs in most years, even during recessions other than 2020.

Health care jobs

+23K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

This counts private health care jobs in doctors offices, outpatient care, hospitals and nursing and residential care. An aging population has made it one of the most steady sources of job growth.

Leisure and hospitality jobs

+10K Sep 2026 vs. Aug 2026

Leisure and hospitality covers restaurants, bars, hotels, arts, entertainment and recreation. It lost about 8 million jobs in March and April 2020, more than any other sector.