News Releases

For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Friday, August 24, 2012

USDL-12-1719

Technical information: (202) 691-6378 • cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

WORKER DISPLACEMENT: 2009-2011
From January 2009 through December 2011, 6.1 million workers were displaced from jobs they had
held for at least 3 years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This was down from 6.9
million for the survey period covering January 2007 to December 2009. In January 2012, 56 percent of
workers displaced from 2009-11 were reemployed, up by 7 percentage points from the prior survey in
January 2010.
Since 1984, the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor has
sponsored surveys that collect information on workers who were displaced from their jobs. These
surveys have been conducted biennially as supplements to the Current Population Survey (CPS), a
monthly survey of households that is the primary source of information on the nation's labor force.
Displaced workers are defined as persons 20 years of age and older who lost or left jobs because their
plant or company closed or moved, there was insufficient work for them to do, or their position or shift
was abolished. The period covered in this study was 2009-11, the 3 calendar years prior to the January
2012 survey date. Most of this period was characterized by modest employment growth. The following
analysis focuses primarily on the 6.1 million persons who had worked for their employer for 3 or more
years at the time of displacement (referred to as long-tenured). An additional 6.7 million persons were
displaced from jobs they had held for less than 3 years (referred to as short-tenured). Combining the
short- and long-tenured groups, the number of displaced workers totaled 12.9 million from 2009-11. In
the prior survey, which was conducted in January 2010 and covered 2007-09, this group numbered 15.4
million. This previous survey reflected the steep employment declines associated with the recession that
began in December 2007.
Highlights from the January 2012 survey include:


In January 2012, 56 percent of the 6.1 million long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed,
up from 49 percent for the prior survey in January 2010. (See table 1.)



Forty percent of long-tenured displaced workers from the 2009-11 period cited insufficient work
as the reason for their displacement, and 31 percent cited that their plant or company closed
down or moved. (See table 2.)



Nearly 1 in 5 long-tenured displaced workers lost a job in manufacturing. (See table 4.)



Among long-tenured workers who were displaced from full-time wage and salary jobs and who
were reemployed in such jobs in January 2012, 46 percent had earnings that were as much or
greater than those of their lost job. (See table 7.)

Characteristics of the Reemployed
Fifty-six percent of the 6.1 million long-tenured displaced workers were reemployed at the time of the
survey in January 2012, up from 49 percent for the January 2010 survey. The proportion unemployed at
the time of the most recent survey was 27 percent, down from 36 percent in the January 2010 survey.
Seventeen percent of long-tenured displaced workers were not in the labor force in January 2012, up
from 15 percent for the previous survey. (See table 1.)
In January 2012, reemployment rates were about 62 percent for workers ages 20 to 54. Reemployment
rates were lower for older workers. The rates for those ages 55 to 64 and 65 years and over were 47 and
24 percent, respectively. Among those age 65 and over, 49 percent were no longer in the labor force
when surveyed in January 2012.
Among long-tenured displaced workers, men had a higher reemployment rate (61 percent) in January
2012 than women (50 percent). The reemployment rate for men increased from 49 percent in January
2010, while the rate for women was about unchanged from the prior survey. Displaced men were less
likely than displaced women to be unemployed at the time of the survey in January 2012—23 versus 31
percent. The share of displaced men who had left the labor force, at 16 percent, continued to be lower
than that for women—20 percent.
In January 2012, the reemployment rates for long-tenured displaced whites (57 percent), Hispanics (55
percent), and Asians (60 percent) were higher than in January 2010. The reemployment rate for blacks
was little changed at 46 percent in January 2012.
Reason for Job Loss and Receipt of Advance Notice
Of the 6.1 million long-tenured workers displaced during the January 2009 through December 2011
period, 40 percent lost or left their jobs due to insufficient work, 31 percent due to plant or company
closings or moves, and 30 percent because their position or shift was abolished. (See table 2.)
Thirty-eight percent of long-tenured displaced workers in the January 2012 survey received written
advance notice that their jobs would be terminated, about the same proportion as in the January 2010
survey. Workers who lost jobs during the 2009-11 period due to plant or company closings or moves
were most likely to receive written advance notice. Of this group, 52 percent received such notice. In
contrast, 39 percent of workers who were displaced because their position or shift was abolished and 25
percent of those who lost jobs due to insufficient work were notified in advance. For each of these
groups, reemployment rates were similar for those who received written advanced notice and those who
did not. (See table 3.)
Industry and Occupation
During the 2009-11 period, 1.2 million long-tenured manufacturing workers were displaced from their
jobs—19 percent of all long-tenured displaced workers, down from 23 percent in the prior survey
period. In the January 2012 survey, manufacturing displacements were concentrated within the durable
- 2 - 

goods component (844,000). Workers in wholesale and retail trade accounted for 14 percent of all longtenured displaced, and professional and business services made up 12 percent. (See table 4.)
Among the major industry groups, workers displaced from transportation and utilities (67 percent) had a
reemployment rate that was higher than the overall reemployment rate for displaced workers. Workers
displaced from wholesale and retail trade were the least likely to be reemployed (50 percent). (Workers
were not necessarily reemployed in the same industries from which they were displaced.)
Reemployment rates differed by major occupation, but were highest for those displaced from
management, professional, and related occupations and from natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations (60 percent each). They were lower for those displaced from service
occupations and sales and office occupations, 50 percent and 51 percent, respectively. Compared with
the January 2010 survey, reemployment rates were higher in January 2012 for displaced workers from
natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations and from production, transportation, and
material moving occupations. Reemployment rates for workers displaced from other major occupational
groups were similar across the 2012 and 2010 surveys. (See table 5.)
Geographic Divisions
The number of long-tenured workers displaced during 2009-11 declined from the 2007-09 period in the
East North Central, South Atlantic, Mountain, and New England geographic divisions of the United
States. Reemployment rates for the divisions ranged from 49 percent for the Pacific division to 64
percent for the East South Central division. (See table 6.)
Earnings
Of the 3.0 million displaced workers who lost full-time wage and salary jobs during the 2009-11 period
and were reemployed, 2.4 million had full-time wage and salary jobs in January 2012. Of these
reemployed full-time workers who reported earnings on their lost job, 46 percent were earning as much
or more in January 2012 as they did at their lost job. About one-third reported earnings losses of 20
percent or more. These proportions were similar to those from the January 2010 survey. (See table 7.)
Total Displaced Workers (With No Tenure Restriction)
The total number of workers displaced between January 2009 and December 2011 (regardless of how
long they had held their jobs) was 12.9 million, down by 2.6 million from the 2007-2009 survey period.
Of the total number of workers who lost jobs over the 2009-11 period, 57 percent were reemployed and
28 percent were unemployed in January 2012. (See table 8.)

- 3 - 

Technical Note
The data presented in this release were collected
through a supplement to the January 2012 Current Population Survey (CPS), the monthly survey of about 60,000
eligible households that provides basic data on employment
and unemployment for the nation. The CPS is conducted
by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS). The purpose of this supplement was to
obtain information on the number and characteristics of
persons who had been displaced (as defined below) from
their jobs over the prior 3 calendar years. Additional
information, reports, and archived news releases,
including the Worker Displacement 2007-2009 news
release,
are
available
online
at
www.bls.gov/cps/lfcharacteristics.htm#displaced.
Data presented in this release are based on Census
2010 population controls that are updated annually in
January. For additional information, see "Population control adjustments to the CPS" available on the Internet at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.
Information in this release will be made available to
sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone:
(202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both
sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather
than the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance
that the sample estimates may differ from the "true"
population values they represent. The exact difference, or
sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample
selected, and this variability is measured by the standard
error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or
level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses
are generally conducted at the 90-percent level of
confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.
Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the failure to sample a segment of the population, inability
to obtain information for all respondents in the sample,
inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing
of the data.
A full discussion of the reliability of data from the
CPS and information on estimating standard errors is
documented and can be found on the BLS web site at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

Concepts and questions
Displaced workers are wage and salary workers 20

years of age and older who lost or left jobs because their
plant or company closed or moved, there was insufficient
work for them to do, or their position or shift was
abolished. Data are often presented for long-tenured displaced workers—those who had worked for their employer
for 3 or more years at the time of displacement.
Wage and salary workers receive wages, salaries,
commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates. The
group includes employees in both the private and public
sectors but excludes all self-employed persons, both those
with incorporated businesses as well as those with unincorporated businesses.
Data discussed in this release on displaced workers
were obtained from the following questions:
(This question was asked of all persons 20 years and
over.) During the last 3 calendar years, that is, January 2009
through December 2011, did (you/name) lose a job or leave
one because: (your/his/her) plant or company closed or
moved, (your/his/her) position or shift was abolished,
insufficient work, or another similar reason?
(If the respondent answered "yes" to the above
question on job loss, the following question was then
asked.) Which of these specific reasons describes why
(name/you) (is/are) no longer working at that job?
Plant or company closed down or moved
Plant or company operating but lost or left job because of:
Insufficient work
Position or shift abolished
Seasonal job completed
Self-operated business failed
Some other reason
Respondents who provided one of the first three
reasons—plant or company closed or moved, insufficient
work, or position or shift abolished—were classified as
displaced and asked additional questions about the lost job,
including how many years they had worked for their
employer; the year the job was lost; the earnings, industry,
and occupation of the lost job; and whether health insurance
had been provided. Other questions were asked to determine what occurred before and after the job loss, such as:
Was the respondent notified of the upcoming dismissal?
How long did he/she go without work? Did he/she receive
unemployment benefits? And, if so, were the benefits used
up? Did the person move to another location after the job
loss to take or look for another job? Information also was
collected about current health insurance coverage (other
than Medicare and Medicaid) and current earnings for those
employed in January 2012.

Table 1. Long-tenured displaced workers1 by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and employment
status in January 2012
(Numbers in thousands)
Percent distribution by employment status
Age, sex, race, and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity

Total
Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

6,121
128
4,268
1,338
386

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

56.0
61.7
61.5
47.4
23.5

26.7
22.4
26.2
28.1
27.5

17.4
15.9
12.3
24.5
49.0

3,440
78
2,438
727
197

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

60.9
70.6
66.7
50.8
23.5

23.4
15.0
22.7
25.6
27.3

15.7
14.4
10.6
23.7
49.2

2,681
50
1,831
611
189

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

49.7
(2)
54.6
43.3
23.5

30.8
(2)
30.9
31.1
27.7

19.5
(2)
14.5
25.6
48.8

5,027
2,920
2,107

100.0
100.0
100.0

57.4
61.9
51.2

26.1
23.1
30.2

16.5
14.9
18.7

662
284
378

100.0
100.0
100.0

46.1
52.7
41.2

31.2
24.8
35.9

22.7
22.4
22.9

230
121
109

100.0
100.0
100.0

60.3
61.5
58.9

26.7
27.6
25.6

13.1
10.9
15.5

901
594
307

100.0
100.0
100.0

54.9
60.3
44.3

27.7
25.7
31.6

17.4
14.0
24.1

TOTAL
Total, 20 years and over .........................
20 to 24 years .............................................
25 to 54 years .............................................
55 to 64 years .............................................
65 years and over .......................................
Men
Total, 20 years and over .........................
20 to 24 years .............................................
25 to 54 years .............................................
55 to 64 years .............................................
65 years and over .......................................
Women
Total, 20 years and over .........................
20 to 24 years .............................................
25 to 54 years .............................................
55 to 64 years .............................................
65 years and over .......................................
White
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................
Black or African American
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................
Asian
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Total, 20 years and over .........................
Men .............................................................
Women .......................................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job
they had lost or left between January 2009 and December 2011
because of plant or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the
abolishment of their positions or shifts.
2 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African
American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

Table 2. Long-tenured displaced workers1 by age, sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and reason for job loss,
January 2012
(Numbers in thousands)
Percent distribution by reason for job loss
Age, sex, race, and Hispanic
or Latino ethnicity

Total
Total

Plant or
Position or shift
company closed Insufficient work
abolished
down or moved

TOTAL
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................
25 to 54 years ...............................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................
65 years and over .........................................................

6,121
128
4,268
1,338
386

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

30.8
40.5
31.8
27.8
26.7

39.5
39.3
40.2
37.0
40.8

29.7
20.3
28.0
35.2
32.5

3,440
78
2,438
727
197

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

31.1
40.2
32.6
27.6
21.7

43.2
36.7
43.4
43.0
44.2

25.7
23.1
24.0
29.4
34.2

2,681
50
1,831
611
189

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

30.4
(2)
30.8
28.1
31.9

34.8
(2)
35.9
29.9
37.3

34.8
(2)
33.3
42.0
30.8

5,027
2,920
2,107

100.0
100.0
100.0

30.2
30.5
29.8

38.9
42.5
34.0

30.9
27.0
36.2

662
284
378

100.0
100.0
100.0

33.5
35.5
32.0

41.0
44.9
38.0

25.5
19.6
30.0

230
121
109

100.0
100.0
100.0

30.5
24.3
37.3

46.9
56.8
35.9

22.7
18.9
26.8

901
594
307

100.0
100.0
100.0

35.9
37.3
33.3

50.1
52.4
45.6

14.0
10.3
21.1

Men
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................
25 to 54 years ...............................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................
65 years and over .........................................................
Women
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................
25 to 54 years ...............................................................
55 to 64 years ...............................................................
65 years and over .........................................................
White
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................
Black or African American
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................
Asian
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
Total, 20 years and over ...........................................
Men ...............................................................................
Women .........................................................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they
had lost or left between January 2009 and December 2011 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.
2 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African
American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for
all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of
any race.

Table 3. Long-tenured displaced workers1 by whether they received written advance notice, reason for job loss, and
employment status in January 2012
(Numbers in thousands)
Percent distribution by employment status
Characteristic

Total
Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

6,121
2,307
3,707

100.0
100.0
100.0

56.0
54.5
56.5

26.7
26.9
26.8

17.4
18.6
16.7

1,884
987
861

100.0
100.0
100.0

57.2
53.1
61.5

24.6
26.9
22.2

18.2
19.9
16.3

2,418
613
1,759

100.0
100.0
100.0

55.1
56.3
54.3

27.2
25.8
27.9

17.7
17.9
17.7

1,819
708
1,087

100.0
100.0
100.0

55.9
54.7
56.1

28.1
28.0
28.5

16.0
17.3
15.4

TOTAL
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................
Plant or company closed down or moved
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................
Insufficient work
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................
Position or shift abolished
Total, 20 years and over 2 ..................................................................
Received written advance notice ............................................................
Did not receive written advance notice ...................................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had lost or left between January 2009 and December 2011 because of plant or company
closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their positions or shifts.
2 Includes a small number who did not report information on advance notice.

Table 4. Long-tenured displaced workers1 by industry and class of worker of lost job and employment status in January
2012
(Numbers in thousands)
Percent distribution by employment status
Industry and class of worker of lost job

Total
Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Total, 20 years and over 2 .................................................................
Agriculture and related industries wage and salary workers ..................
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers ..............................

6,121
43
5,974

100.0
100.0
100.0

56.0
(3)
55.7

26.7
(3)
26.8

17.4
(3)
17.4

Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers .................................
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction .................................
Construction ...................................................................................
Manufacturing .................................................................................
Durable goods manufacturing ..................................................
Primary metals and fabricated metal products ......................
Machinery manufacturing ......................................................
Computers and electronic products .......................................
Electrical equipment and appliances .....................................
Transportation equipment ......................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ................................................
Other durable goods industries .............................................
Nondurable goods manufacturing ............................................
Food manufacturing ...............................................................
Textiles, apparel, and leather ................................................
Paper and printing .................................................................
Other nondurable goods industries .......................................
Wholesale and retail trade ..............................................................
Wholesale trade .........................................................................
Retail trade ................................................................................
Transportation and utilities 4 ...........................................................
Transportation and warehousing ...............................................
Information 4 ...................................................................................
Telecommunications ..................................................................
Financial activities ..........................................................................
Finance and insurance ..............................................................
Finance ..................................................................................
Insurance ...............................................................................
Real estate and rental and leasing ............................................
Professional and business services ...............................................
Professional and technical services ..........................................
Management, administrative, and waste services .....................
Education and health services ........................................................
Educational services ..................................................................
Health care and social assistance 4 ..........................................
Hospitals ................................................................................
Health services, except hospitals ..........................................
Leisure and hospitality 4 .................................................................
Accommodation and food services 4 .........................................
Food services and drinking places ........................................
Other services ................................................................................

5,629
29
691
1,183
844
126
93
151
24
169
123
158
339
52
55
75
158
859
197
663
240
207
197
81
478
352
237
115
127
751
442
309
605
111
494
136
259
381
288
235
201

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

55.8
(3)
58.7
55.6
55.6
67.6
49.5
52.9
(3)
50.1
58.2
55.4
55.5
(3)
(3)
55.7
51.5
49.9
49.9
49.9
66.5
71.7
56.4
70.6
54.9
63.6
65.8
59.2
30.8
55.1
59.4
48.8
56.5
64.8
54.6
55.3
57.7
61.7
61.8
57.7
55.1

26.8
(3)
24.9
23.8
23.5
19.7
20.6
25.8
(3)
22.0
22.5
25.6
24.7
(3)
(3)
31.5
23.2
32.1
30.2
32.6
20.7
15.8
27.9
15.2
26.9
21.1
19.3
24.8
42.9
31.0
28.9
34.1
28.0
16.4
30.6
26.8
26.3
21.4
21.7
23.4
27.7

17.4
(3)
16.4
20.6
20.9
12.7
29.9
21.3
(3)
27.9
19.3
18.9
19.8
(3)
(3)
12.7
25.2
18.0
19.9
17.4
12.8
12.5
15.7
14.2
18.2
15.3
14.9
16.0
26.3
13.9
11.6
17.1
15.6
18.7
14.8
17.9
15.9
17.0
16.5
18.9
17.2

Government wage and salary workers .................................................

345

100.0

54.3

26.9

18.8

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had
lost or left between January 2009 and December 2011 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.

2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and persons who
did not report industry or class of worker, not shown separately.
3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.
4 Includes other industries, not shown separately.

Table 5. Long-tenured displaced workers1 by occupation of lost job and employment status in January 2012
(Numbers in thousands)
Percent distribution by employment status
Occupation of lost job

Total
Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Total, 20 years and over 2 ...................................................

6,121

100.0

56.0

26.7

17.4

Management, professional, and related occupations ..............
Management, business, and financial operations
occupations ........................................................................
Professional and related occupations ....................................

2,008

100.0

60.3

25.1

14.7

1,051
956

100.0
100.0

60.2
60.4

26.7
23.3

13.1
16.3

Service occupations ................................................................

611

100.0

50.0

28.7

21.3

Sales and office occupations ...................................................
Sales and related occupations ..............................................
Office and administrative support occupations ......................

1,563
625
938

100.0
100.0
100.0

50.6
52.4
49.3

32.1
31.1
32.8

17.3
16.5
17.9

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations ........................................................................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................
Construction and extraction occupations ...............................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................

788
30
516
242

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

60.0
(3)
55.5
69.1

23.6
(3)
26.0
18.0

16.4
(3)
18.5
13.0

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
Production occupations .........................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..................

1,055
644
411

100.0
100.0
100.0

55.9
52.1
61.8

22.8
24.1
20.7

21.4
23.8
17.6

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they
had lost or left between January 2009 and December 2011 because of plant
or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.
2 Total includes a small number who did not report occupation.
3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

NOTE: Beginning with displacement data for January 2012, occupations
reflect the introduction of the 2010 Census occupational classification
system into the Current Population Survey. This classification system is
derived from the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No
historical data have been revised. Data for 2012 are not strictly comparable
with earlier years.

Table 6. Long-tenured displaced workers1 by selected characteristics and area of residence in January 2012
(In thousands)

Characteristic

Total

New
Middle
England Atlantic

East
North
Central

West
North
Central

South
Atlantic

East
South
Central

West
South
Central

Mountain

Pacific

Workers who lost jobs
Total, 20 years and over ...........................
Men ...............................................................
Women .........................................................

6,121
3,440
2,681

318
176
142

851
425
426

1,002
598
403

401
232
169

1,170
675
495

307
167
140

515
288
227

423
242
181

1,136
636
500

1,884
2,418
1,819

81
113
123

268
329
254

344
374
283

107
147
146

347
455
367

107
110
90

185
195
135

112
205
105

332
490
314

43

1

4

3

16

4

3

13

5,974

313

824

1,002

396

1,131

295

504

418

1,091

770

972

366

1,076

283

471

388

1,003

–
62
171
99
72
121
29
39
54
91
100
86
17

3
88
264
210
54
166
50
22
60
121
99
54
45

4
52
94
74
21
53
14
7
38
25
46
24
9

6
163
167
114
53
145
48
27
124
143
134
63
43

18
70
42
28
71
14
3
23
38
21
18
8

9
56
99
75
24
74
19
24
27
73
32
31
26

6
57
59
47
12
53
15
17
34
77
27
35
7

–
169
199
137
62
135
46
47
86
149
91
55
26

Reason for job loss
Plant or company closed down or moved .....
Insufficient work ............................................
Position or shift abolished .............................
Industry and class of worker of lost job 2
Agriculture and related industries wage and
salary workers ........................................
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary
workers ...................................................

–

–

Private nonagricultural wage and salary
workers ...................................................
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas
extraction ................................................
Construction .........................................
Manufacturing .......................................
Durable goods .................................
Nondurable goods ...........................
Wholesale and retail trade ....................
Transportation and utilities ...................
Information ............................................
Financial activities ................................
Professional and business services .....
Education and health services ..............
Leisure and hospitality ..........................
Other services ......................................

5,629

301

29
691
1,183
844
339
859
240
197
478
751
605
381
201

1
26
59
46
13
42
5
12
33
35
53
15
20

Government wage and salary workers .......

345

13

54

30

30

55

12

34

30

88

3,427
1,631
1,062

181
81
56

436
244
171

592
269
140

250
73
77

644
292
233

195
67
45

318
123
74

253
87
83

558
394
184

–

Employment status
in January 2012
Employed ......................................................
Unemployed .................................................
Not in the labor force ....................................

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had
lost or left between January 2009 and December 2011 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their positions
or shifts.
2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and persons who did
not report industry or class of worker, not shown separately.
NOTE: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
and Vermont compose the New England Division; New Jersey, New York, and
Pennsylvania compose the Middle Atlantic Division; Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Ohio, and Wisconsin compose the East North Central Division; Iowa, Kansas,

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota compose the
West North Central Division; Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia,
Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia compose
the South Atlantic Division; Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee
compose the East South Central Division; Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and
Texas compose the West South Central Division; Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming compose the Mountain
Division; Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington compose the Pacific
Division. Dash represents or rounds to zero.

Table 7. Long-tenured displaced workers1 who lost full-time wage and salary jobs and were reemployed in January 2012
by industry of lost job and characteristics of new job
(In thousands)
Reemployed in January 2012
Wage and salary workers
Full time
Industry and class of worker of lost job
Total

Earnings relative to those of lost job
Part
time

Total 2

Equal or
20 percent Below, but
20 percent
above, but
or more
within 20
or more
within 20
below
percent
above
percent

Selfemployed
and
unpaid
family
workers

Total who lost full-time wage and salary jobs 3 ........
Agriculture and related industries wage and salary
workers ...................................................................
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers ....

3,003

424

2,368

630

408

538

352

211

24
2,943

1
423

23
2,313

11
619

3
398

5
529

4
340

–
208

Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers .......
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction .......
Construction .........................................................
Manufacturing .......................................................
Durable goods .................................................
Nondurable goods ...........................................
Wholesale and retail trade ....................................
Transportation and utilities ...................................
Information ............................................................
Financial activities ................................................
Professional and business services .....................
Education and health services ..............................
Leisure and hospitality ..........................................
Other services ......................................................

2,805
15
393
645
457
188
368
139
95
255
373
257
174
91

402
2
54
66
43
24
60
14
21
18
31
70
50
14

2,209
12
290
544
387
157
290
114
72
220
301
176
115
75

589
12
89
171
125
46
84
22
27
52
56
29
25
20

385
–
49
108
74
34
42
26
14
29
60
30
17
10

506
–
64
87
53
34
77
15
8
46
93
67
31
18

308
–
43
64
48
16
52
20
10
27
36
21
22
11

195
–
49
35
28
7
18
11
2
18
41
11
9
2

Government wage and salary workers .......................

138

21

104

30

13

22

33

13

1 Data refer to persons who had 3 or more years of tenure on a job they had
lost or left between January 2009 and December 2011 because of plant or
company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.

2 Includes about 440,000 persons who did not report earnings on lost job.
3 Includes a small number who did not report industry.

NOTE: Dash represents or rounds to zero.

Table 8. Total displaced workers1 by selected characteristics and employment status in January 2012
(Numbers in thousands)
Percent distribution by employment status
Characteristic

Total
Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Workers who lost jobs
Total, 20 years and over .......................................................
20 to 24 years ...........................................................................
25 to 54 years ...........................................................................
55 to 64 years ...........................................................................
65 years and over .....................................................................

12,854
1,118
9,220
2,006
509

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

56.9
54.4
60.7
49.2
22.3

27.5
27.2
27.4
28.3
27.2

15.7
18.4
11.9
22.5
50.5

Men, 20 years and over ........................................................
20 to 24 years ...........................................................................
25 to 54 years ...........................................................................
55 to 64 years ...........................................................................
65 years and over .....................................................................

7,485
668
5,457
1,092
268

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

60.5
55.1
64.5
53.2
23.0

26.7
30.9
26.1
26.6
26.4

12.8
13.9
9.4
20.2
50.6

Women, 20 years and over ..................................................
20 to 24 years ...........................................................................
25 to 54 years ...........................................................................
55 to 64 years ...........................................................................
65 years and over .....................................................................

5,368
450
3,763
915
241

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

51.7
53.3
55.2
44.5
21.5

28.6
21.7
29.1
30.3
28.1

19.6
25.0
15.7
25.2
50.4

White ........................................................................................
Black or African American ........................................................
Asian .........................................................................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .......................................................

10,166
1,686
493
2,304

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

58.8
47.3
54.1
54.8

26.6
31.8
29.7
30.5

14.6
20.9
16.2
14.7

3,424
6,119
3,311

100.0
100.0
100.0

59.7
54.2
58.9

23.1
29.9
27.5

17.2
16.0
13.5

3,492

100.0

64.7

23.2

12.1

1,764
1,728
1,752
3,179
1,424
1,755

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

64.0
65.5
50.6
52.4
54.5
50.7

24.9
21.4
30.8
29.5
26.9
31.6

11.1
13.1
18.7
18.1
18.6
17.7

1,904
61
1,297
546
2,159
1,228
931

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

58.3
(3)
55.5
64.4
55.4
53.3
58.3

29.3
(3)
31.5
24.4
26.7
26.9
26.5

12.4
(3)
12.9
11.2
17.9
19.9
15.2

Reason for job loss
Plant or company closed down or moved .................................
Insufficient work ........................................................................
Position or shift abolished .........................................................
Occupation of lost job 2
Management, professional, and related occupations ..............
Management, business, and financial operations
occupations ........................................................................
Professional and related occupations ....................................
Service occupations ................................................................
Sales and office occupations ...................................................
Sales and related occupations ..............................................
Office and administrative support occupations ......................
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations ........................................................................
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ............................
Construction and extraction occupations ...............................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ................
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
Production occupations .........................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..................
See footnotes at end of table.

Table 8. Total displaced workers1 by selected characteristics and employment status in January 2012
(Numbers in thousands) — Continued
Percent distribution by employment status
Characteristic

Total
Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Industry and class of worker of lost job 2
Agriculture and related industries wage and salary workers ....
Nonagricultural industries wage and salary workers ................

90
12,403

100.0
100.0

53.5
57.0

35.3
27.4

11.1
15.6

Private nonagricultural wage and salary workers ...................
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction ...................
Construction .....................................................................
Manufacturing ...................................................................
Durable goods .............................................................
Nondurable goods .......................................................
Wholesale and retail trade ................................................
Transportation and utilities ...............................................
Information ........................................................................
Financial activities ............................................................
Professional and business services .................................
Education and health services ..........................................
Leisure and hospitality ......................................................
Other services ..................................................................

11,733
85
1,579
2,024
1,437
586
1,835
559
314
792
1,676
1,193
1,144
512

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

57.1
62.0
57.8
58.7
57.3
62.3
52.6
62.5
56.6
57.6
57.6
58.4
57.6
54.1

27.4
22.6
29.6
25.4
26.3
23.2
29.0
24.5
28.8
26.5
27.6
26.1
27.1
29.5

15.5
15.5
12.6
15.8
16.4
14.5
18.4
13.0
14.6
15.9
14.7
15.5
15.3
16.5

Government wage and salary workers ...................................

670

100.0

55.8

27.3

16.8

1 Data refer to all persons (regardless of years of tenure on lost job)
who had lost or left a job between January 2009 and December 2011
because of plant or company closings or moves, insufficient work, or the
abolishment of their positions or shifts.
2 Total includes a small number of unpaid family workers and
persons who did not report occupation, industry, or class of worker, not
shown separately.
3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African

American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Beginning with displacement data for January 2012, occupations reflect
the introduction of the 2010 Census occupational classification system
into the Current Population Survey. This classification system is derived
from the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No historical
data have been revised. Data for 2012 are not strictly comparable with
earlier years.

age 16

For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday, September 18, 2012

USDL-12-1887

Technical information: (202) 691-6378 • cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

EMPLOYEE TENURE IN 2012
The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.6
in January 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This measure, referred to as
employee tenure, was higher than the median tenure (4.4 years) in January 2010.
Information on employee tenure has been obtained from supplemental questions to the Current
Population Survey (CPS) every 2 years since 1996. These data are collected as part of the Displaced
Worker Supplement, which is sponsored by the Employment and Training Administration of the
U.S. Department of Labor. The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that provides
information on the labor force status of the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. The
questions about employee tenure measure how long workers had been with their current employer at the
time of the survey. A number of factors can affect the median tenure of workers, including changes in
the age profile among workers, as well as changes in the number of hires and separations. For further
information about the CPS, see the Technical Note.
Demographic Characteristics
In January 2012, median employee tenure (the point at which half of all workers had more tenure and
half had less tenure) for men was 4.7 years, little changed from January 2010. For women, median
tenure in January 2012 was 4.6 years, up from 4.2 years in January 2010. Among men, 30 percent of
wage and salary workers had 10 years or more of tenure with their current employer; among women, the
figure was 28 percent. (See tables 1 and 3.)
Median employee tenure varied by age. Older workers tend to have more years of tenure than their
younger counterparts. For example, the median tenure for employees age 65 and over was 10.3 years in
January 2012, over three times the tenure for workers age 25 to 34 (3.2 years). More than half of all
workers age 55 and over were employed for at least 10 years with their current employer in January
2012, compared with 13 percent of workers age 30 to 34. (See tables 1 and 2.)
Among the major race and ethnicity groups, 20 percent of Hispanics had been with their current
employer for 10 years or more in January 2012, compared with 31 percent of whites, 26 percent of
blacks, and 23 percent of Asians. (See table 3.) The shorter tenure among Hispanics can be explained,
in part, by their relative youth. Almost half of Hispanic workers age 16 and over were age 16 to 34,
compared with just over a third of whites, blacks, and Asians.

Twenty-one percent of all wage and salary workers age 16 and over had a year or less of tenure with
their current employer in January 2012. This short-tenured group of workers includes new entrants and
reentrants to the labor force, job losers who found new jobs during the previous year, and workers who
had voluntarily changed employers during the previous year. Younger workers are more likely than
older workers to be short-tenured employees. For example, among 16- to 19-year-old workers, 73
percent had tenure of 12 months or less with their current employer in January 2012, compared with 9
percent of workers age 55 to 64. (See table 3.)
Industry
In January 2012, wage and salary workers in the public sector had almost double the median tenure of
private sector employees, 7.8 versus 4.2 years. (See table 5.) The longer tenure among workers in the
public sector is explained, in part, by the age profile of government workers. About three in four
government workers were age 35 and over, compared with about three in five private wage and salary
workers.
Within the private sector, workers in manufacturing had the highest median tenure among the major
industries (6.0 years). In contrast, workers in leisure and hospitality had the lowest median tenure
(2.4 years). (See table 5.) These differences in tenure reflect many factors, including the varying age
distributions across industries. On average, workers in manufacturing tend to be older than workers in
leisure and hospitality.
Occupation
In January 2012, workers in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest median
tenure (5.5 years) among the major occupational groups. Within this group, employees in architecture
and engineering occupations and in management occupations had the longest tenure—7.0 and 6.3 years,
respectively. Workers in service occupations, who are generally younger than persons employed in
management, professional, and related occupations, had the lowest median tenure (3.2 years). Among
employees working in service jobs, food service workers had the shortest median tenure, at 2.3 years.
(See table 6.)

-2-

Technical Note
The data in this release were collected through a
supplement to the January 2012 Current Population Survey
(CPS). The CPS, which is conducted by the U.S. Census
Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a monthly
survey of about 60,000 eligible households that provides
information on the labor force status, demographics, and
other characteristics of the nation's civilian noninstitutional
population age 16 and over.
The January 2012 CPS supplement obtained
information on worker displacement and workers' tenure with
their current employer. The data on worker displacement are
online at www.bls.gov/cps/lfcharacteristics.htm#displaced.
Revised population controls are introduced periodically
in the CPS, which can affect the comparability of labor force
levels over time. Beginning in 2012, data reflect the
introduction of Census 2010 population controls and are not
strictly comparable with data for prior years. Additional
information about population control adjustments is available
at www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.
Information in this release will be made available to
sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone:
(202) 691-5200, Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling
and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than the entire
population, is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample
estimates may differ from the "true" population values they
represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this
variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence,
that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more
than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value
because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error.
Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the
failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to
obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability
or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing
of the data.
A full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS
and information on estimating standard errors is available at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.
Tenure concepts and questions
Employee tenure is a measure of how long wage and
salary workers had been with their current employer at the
time of the survey. Many of the estimates shown in this report
are medians; the median is the point at which half of all
workers had more tenure and half had less tenure. Data refer
to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers.

Wage and salary workers receive wages, salaries,
commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates. The group
includes employees in both the private and public sectors but
excludes all self-employed persons, both those with
incorporated businesses and those with unincorporated
businesses.
In the January 2012 CPS supplement, questions on
tenure were asked of all employed persons. The main
question was: "How long has ... been working continuously
for (fill in name of present employer)?"
_____ Days
_____ Weeks
_____ Months
_____ Years
For responses of "1 year" or "2 years," a follow-up question
was asked: "Could you please give the exact number of
months?"
The purpose of the follow-up question is to obtain more
precise information on workers who had been with their
current employer for a relatively short time. This follow-up
question was included for the first time in the February 1996
CPS supplement on worker displacement and tenure. CPS
supplements that obtained information on tenure in January
of 1983, 1987, and 1991 did not include the follow-up
question. In those surveys, responses of 1 year or more could
be coded only as the nearest full year, and responses of less
than a year were coded as the nearest full month.
Prior to January 1983, CPS supplements on tenure
asked wage and salary workers, "When did ... start working at
(his/her) present job?" For wage and salary workers, the
meaning of the term "job" is ambiguous. For example, a
worker who had been employed at a particular company for
10 years and had been promoted to a managerial position 1
year prior to the survey may have been counted as having 10
years or 1 year of tenure, depending on whether the
respondent interpreted the question to mean tenure with the
current employer or tenure in the managerial position. To
rectify this ambiguity, the wording of the question was
changed in January 1983 to specify the length of time a
worker had been with his or her current employer. The
change resulted in a break in historical comparability.
Interpreting tenure data
Data on tenure have been used as a gauge of
employment security, with some observers regarding
increases in tenure as a sign of improving security and
decreasing tenure as a sign of deteriorating security.
However, there are limitations to using the data in this way.
For example, during recessions or other periods of declining
job security, median tenure and the proportion of workers
with long tenure could rise because less-senior workers are
more likely to lose their jobs than are workers with longer
tenure. During periods of economic growth, median tenure

long tenure could fall because more job opportunities are
available for new entrants to the workforce and experienced
workers have more opportunities to change employers and
take better jobs. Tenure also could rise under improving
economic conditions, however, as fewer layoffs occur and
good job matches develop between workers and employers.

A changing age distribution among workers would also
affect median tenure. Since older workers are more likely to
have long tenure with their current employer than younger
workers, aging baby boomers in the workforce would provide
upward pressure on overall median tenure.

Table 1. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary
workers by age and sex, selected years, 2002-2012
Age and sex

January
2002

January
2004

January
2006

January
2008

January
2010

January
2012

3.7
.7
.8
1.2
4.7
2.7
4.6
7.6
9.9
8.6

4.0
.7
.8
1.3
4.9
2.9
4.9
7.7
9.6
9.0

4.0
.6
.7
1.3
4.9
2.9
4.9
7.3
9.3
8.8

4.1
.7
.8
1.3
5.1
2.7
4.9
7.6
9.9
10.2

4.4
.7
1.0
1.5
5.2
3.1
5.1
7.8
10.0
9.9

4.6
.7
.8
1.3
5.4
3.2
5.3
7.8
10.3
10.3

3.9
.8
.8
1.4
4.9
2.8
5.0
9.1
10.2
8.1

4.1
.7
.8
1.3
5.1
3.0
5.2
9.6
9.8
8.2

4.1
.7
.7
1.4
5.0
2.9
5.1
8.1
9.5
8.3

4.2
.7
.8
1.4
5.2
2.8
5.2
8.2
10.1
10.4

4.6
.7
1.0
1.6
5.3
3.2
5.3
8.5
10.4
9.7

4.7
.6
.8
1.4
5.5
3.2
5.4
8.5
10.7
10.2

3.4
.7
.8
1.1
4.4
2.5
4.2
6.5
9.6
9.4

3.8
.6
.8
1.3
4.7
2.8
4.5
6.4
9.2
9.6

3.9
.6
.7
1.2
4.8
2.8
4.6
6.7
9.2
9.5

3.9
.6
.8
1.3
4.9
2.6
4.7
7.0
9.8
9.9

4.2
.7
1.0
1.5
5.1
3.0
4.9
7.1
9.7
10.1

4.6
.7
.8
1.3
5.4
3.1
5.2
7.3
10.0
10.5

TOTAL
16 years and over .......................
16 to 17 years ...................................
18 to 19 years ...................................
20 to 24 years ...................................
25 years and over .............................
25 to 34 years .................................
35 to 44 years .................................
45 to 54 years .................................
55 to 64 years .................................
65 years and over ...........................
Men
16 years and over .......................
16 to 17 years ...................................
18 to 19 years ...................................
20 to 24 years ...................................
25 years and over .............................
25 to 34 years .................................
35 to 44 years .................................
45 to 54 years .................................
55 to 64 years .................................
65 years and over ...........................
Women
16 years and over .......................
16 to 17 years ...................................
18 to 19 years ...................................
20 to 24 years ...................................
25 years and over .............................
25 to 34 years .................................
35 to 44 years .................................
45 to 54 years .................................
55 to 64 years .................................
65 years and over ...........................

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 2. Percent of employed wage and salary workers 25 years and over who had 10 years
or more of tenure with their current employer by age and sex, selected years, 2002-2012
Age and sex

January
2002

January
2004

January
2006

January
2008

January
2010

January
2012

30.8
2.2
11.7
25.2
33.9
41.2
49.4
53.3
50.5
48.0

30.6
2.4
10.9
23.2
32.4
42.1
48.5
50.9
49.7
48.7

30.0
2.4
10.6
22.8
31.8
39.9
46.6
50.1
48.4
48.5

31.5
2.3
10.1
23.0
32.9
40.2
47.7
52.4
53.6
56.3

33.1
2.3
12.8
25.7
35.3
40.8
48.9
52.4
54.5
53.1

33.7
2.5
12.5
25.2
35.1
41.6
48.4
54.1
55.1
55.5

32.6
2.6
13.0
27.2
37.4
45.4
54.0
56.5
48.4
46.4

32.4
2.7
11.9
24.9
36.2
48.1
53.0
53.4
48.5
46.8

31.1
2.6
11.6
24.7
34.8
42.9
49.7
51.0
48.1
47.2

32.9
2.4
11.3
25.4
35.8
43.5
50.4
54.9
52.4
58.9

34.3
3.1
14.3
27.2
37.5
43.7
51.3
53.6
56.8
51.9

34.6
2.6
13.2
25.7
36.9
44.8
51.4
55.7
56.2
55.5

28.8
1.8
10.2
22.9
30.2
37.0
44.8
49.9
52.6
49.7

28.6
1.9
9.8
21.3
28.5
36.2
44.1
48.4
51.0
50.7

28.8
2.1
9.4
20.5
28.4
36.9
43.6
49.1
48.7
49.9

30.0
2.1
8.7
20.3
29.9
36.7
45.0
50.0
54.8
53.8

31.9
1.6
11.1
24.0
32.9
38.0
46.5
51.2
52.2
54.3

32.8
2.3
11.8
24.7
33.2
38.3
45.5
52.6
54.0
55.6

TOTAL
25 years and over .......................
25 to 29 years ...................................
30 to 34 years ...................................
35 to 39 years ...................................
40 to 44 years ...................................
45 to 49 years ...................................
50 to 54 years ...................................
55 to 59 years ...................................
60 to 64 years ...................................
65 years and over .............................
Men
25 years and over .......................
25 to 29 years ...................................
30 to 34 years ...................................
35 to 39 years ...................................
40 to 44 years ...................................
45 to 49 years ...................................
50 to 54 years ...................................
55 to 59 years ...................................
60 to 64 years ...................................
65 years and over .............................
Women
25 years and over .......................
25 to 29 years ...................................
30 to 34 years ...................................
35 to 39 years ...................................
40 to 44 years ...................................
45 to 49 years ...................................
50 to 54 years ...................................
55 to 59 years ...................................
60 to 64 years ...................................
65 years and over .............................

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 3. Distribution of employed wage and salary workers by tenure with current employer, age, sex, race, and
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, January 2012
Percent distribution by tenure with current employer
Age, sex, race, and
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Number
employed
(in thousands)

Total

125,516
3,925
121,591
12,712
28,381
27,477
28,535
19,339
5,148

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

21.1
72.9
19.5
48.9
25.5
16.1
12.5
9.4
7.8

6.3
11.9
6.1
12.8
8.4
5.4
4.5
2.8
2.0

64,552
1,839
62,713
6,559
15,104
14,570
14,361
9,470
2,648

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

21.0
71.2
19.6
48.8
24.7
16.3
12.6
10.0
7.8

60,964
2,085
58,879
6,153
13,276
12,907
14,174
9,868
2,499

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100,679
52,641
48,039

12
13 to 23
months
2 years
months
or less

3 to 4
years

5 to 9
years

10 to 14 15 to 19 20 years
years
years or more

4.9
6.9
4.8
10.6
6.9
4.3
2.9
2.3
2.1

16.6
7.8
16.9
20.4
24.5
16.8
13.0
10.8
11.8

21.8
.4
22.4
7.1
27.2
27.0
22.0
20.2
20.7

12.5
–
12.9
.2
6.8
17.8
16.8
16.4
16.6

6.1
–
6.3
–
.7
8.8
9.5
9.8
9.2

10.6
–
11.0
–
–
3.8
18.7
28.3
29.7

6.3
13.3
6.1
12.5
8.5
5.4
4.5
2.5
1.3

5.0
7.8
4.9
10.4
7.3
4.0
2.8
2.7
1.9

16.2
7.4
16.5
20.6
23.8
16.1
12.5
10.1
11.8

21.3
.4
21.9
7.4
27.8
26.8
19.6
18.8
21.7

12.2
–
12.6
.2
7.0
17.3
16.6
15.6
16.9

6.4
–
6.5
–
.9
9.8
10.0
9.2
8.9

11.5
–
11.9
–
–
4.4
21.4
31.2
29.7

21.3
74.4
19.4
49.0
26.5
15.9
12.4
8.8
7.7

6.3
10.7
6.2
13.1
8.4
5.4
4.5
3.2
2.8

4.8
6.2
4.7
10.7
6.4
4.6
3.1
1.9
2.4

17.1
8.2
17.4
20.3
25.3
17.5
13.6
11.6
11.9

22.2
.5
23.0
6.7
26.5
27.4
24.4
21.4
19.7

12.7
–
13.2
.2
6.5
18.4
17.0
17.2
16.3

5.9
–
6.1
–
.5
7.7
9.0
10.5
9.6

9.7
–
10.1
–
–
3.1
16.0
25.5
29.7

100.0
100.0
100.0

20.7
20.5
20.9

6.4
6.5
6.3

4.8
4.7
4.8

16.1
15.7
16.4

21.7
21.1
22.2

12.6
12.4
12.9

6.6
6.8
6.3

11.3
12.3
10.2

14,204
6,526
7,678

100.0
100.0
100.0

22.2
22.9
21.6

5.6
5.1
6.0

5.2
5.5
5.0

18.5
18.9
18.2

22.1
21.9
22.2

12.4
10.8
13.8

4.5
4.8
4.2

9.5
10.0
9.1

6,933
3,502
3,432

100.0
100.0
100.0

21.1
21.2
21.0

6.6
5.8
7.3

5.3
6.6
4.0

20.5
19.0
22.1

23.8
23.8
23.9

11.3
12.8
9.8

4.8
4.3
5.2

6.6
6.5
6.7

19,763
11,262
8,501

100.0
100.0
100.0

23.6
24.5
22.3

5.9
6.0
5.6

6.6
6.8
6.4

20.1
20.8
19.2

23.7
22.4
25.4

10.9
10.0
12.0

4.2
4.3
4.2

5.1
5.2
4.9

TOTAL
16 years and over .............
16 to 19 years .........................
20 years and over ...................
20 to 24 years .......................
25 to 34 years .......................
35 to 44 years .......................
45 to 54 years .......................
55 to 64 years .......................
65 years and over .................
Men
16 years and over .............
16 to 19 years .........................
20 years and over ...................
20 to 24 years .......................
25 to 34 years .......................
35 to 44 years .......................
45 to 54 years .......................
55 to 64 years .......................
65 years and over .................
Women
16 years and over .............
16 to 19 years .........................
20 years and over ...................
20 to 24 years .......................
25 to 34 years .......................
35 to 44 years .......................
45 to 54 years .......................
55 to 64 years .......................
65 years and over .................
White
16 years and over ...............
Men .........................................
Women ...................................
Black or African American
16 years and over ...............
Men .........................................
Women ...................................
Asian
16 years and over ...............
Men .........................................
Women ...................................
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
16 years and over ...............
Men .........................................
Women ...................................

NOTE: Detail for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Dash represents zero or
rounds to zero. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 4. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers 25 years
and over by educational attainment, sex, and age, January 2012
25 years and over
Educational attainment and sex
Total

25 to 34
years

35 to 44
years

45 to 54
years

55 to 64
years

65 years
and over

Total ........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ................
High school graduates, no college .............
Some college, no degree ............................
Associate degree ........................................
College graduates ......................................
Bachelor’s degree .....................................
Master’s degree ........................................
Doctoral or professional degree ...............

5.4
4.8
5.8
5.2
5.7
5.5
5.2
6.3
5.6

3.2
3.2
3.3
3.1
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.4
2.3

5.3
4.6
5.0
5.1
5.6
5.7
5.7
6.0
5.0

7.8
5.3
8.5
7.4
7.7
8.2
7.8
8.6
9.6

10.3
8.0
10.3
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.4
10.4
11.9

10.3
9.8
10.2
10.2
10.4
11.0
11.6
10.2
14.8

Men .........................................................
Less than a high school diploma ................
High school graduates, no college .............
Some college, no degree ............................
Associate degree ........................................
College graduates ......................................
Bachelor’s degree .....................................
Master’s degree ........................................
Doctoral or professional degree ...............

5.5
4.7
5.7
5.3
6.2
5.7
5.5
6.4
5.9

3.2
3.4
3.3
3.1
3.4
3.1
3.2
3.3
2.3

5.4
4.8
5.1
5.2
6.3
5.7
5.9
5.8
4.8

8.5
5.4
9.6
8.6
8.4
8.6
8.3
8.9
9.7

10.7
8.2
10.6
10.2
11.2
11.3
11.3
10.5
13.4

10.2
10.5
9.7
9.8
10.0
11.3
10.4
9.9
15.3

Women ...................................................
Less than a high school diploma ................
High school graduates, no college .............
Some college, no degree ............................
Associate degree ........................................
College graduates ......................................
Bachelor’s degree .....................................
Master’s degree ........................................
Doctoral or professional degree ...............

5.4
4.8
6.0
5.2
5.3
5.3
5.0
6.3
5.2

3.1
2.9
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.0
3.4
2.4

5.2
4.2
5.0
5.0
5.1
5.7
5.6
6.2
5.4

7.3
5.2
7.8
6.5
7.2
7.9
7.4
8.4
9.4

10.0
7.8
10.0
10.3
9.8
10.2
10.1
10.4
10.3

10.5
7.8
11.4
10.8
11.3
10.7
12.3
10.3
10.0

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 5. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected
years, 2002-2012
Industry

January
2002

January
2004

January
2006

January
2008

January
2010

January
2012

Total, 16 years and over .......................................................................

3.7

4.0

4.0

4.1

4.4

4.6

Private sector ..........................................................................................
Agriculture and related industries .........................................................
Nonagricultural industries .....................................................................
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction .....................................
Construction .......................................................................................
Manufacturing .....................................................................................
Durable goods manufacturing ..........................................................
Nonmetallic mineral products .........................................................
Primary metals and fabricated metal products ...............................
Machinery manufacturing ...............................................................
Computers and electronic products ................................................
Electrical equipment and appliances ..............................................
Transportation equipment ...............................................................
Wood products ...............................................................................
Furniture and fixtures ......................................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing .........................................................
Nondurable goods manufacturing ....................................................
Food manufacturing ........................................................................
Beverage and tobacco products .....................................................
Textiles, apparel, and leather .........................................................
Paper and printing ..........................................................................
Petroleum and coal products ..........................................................
Chemicals .......................................................................................
Plastics and rubber products ..........................................................
Wholesale and retail trade ..................................................................
Wholesale trade ................................................................................
Retail trade .......................................................................................
Transportation and utilities .................................................................
Transportation and warehousing ......................................................
Utilities ..............................................................................................
Information 1 .......................................................................................
Publishing, except Internet ...............................................................
Motion pictures and sound recording industries ...............................
Radio and television broadcasting and cable
subscriptions programming 2 .....................................................
Telecommunications 2 ......................................................................
Financial activities ..............................................................................
Finance and insurance .....................................................................
Finance ...........................................................................................
Insurance ........................................................................................
Real estate and rental and leasing ...................................................
Real estate .....................................................................................
Rental and leasing services ............................................................
Professional and business services ...................................................
Professional and technical services .................................................
Management, administrative, and waste services 1 .........................
Administrative and support services ...............................................
Waste management and remediation services ..............................
Education and health services ............................................................
Educational services .........................................................................
Health care and social assistance ....................................................
Hospitals .........................................................................................
Health services, except hospitals ...................................................
Social assistance ............................................................................

3.3
4.2
3.3
4.5
3.0
5.4
5.5
5.3
6.3
6.8
4.7
5.5
7.0
4.3
4.7
4.5
5.3
5.0
4.6
5.0
6.2
9.8
5.7
5.3
2.8
3.9
2.6
4.9
4.3
13.4
3.3
4.8
2.3

3.5
3.7
3.5
5.2
3.0
5.8
6.0
4.8
6.4
6.4
5.2
9.8
7.7
5.0
4.7
4.6
5.5
4.9
8.0
5.0
6.9
11.4
5.3
5.7
3.1
4.3
2.8
5.3
4.7
13.3
4.3
4.7
2.2

3.6
3.8
3.6
3.8
3.0
5.5
5.6
5.0
6.2
6.6
5.9
6.2
7.2
4.7
4.2
3.9
5.4
5.2
5.4
4.4
6.3
5.0
6.1
5.0
3.1
4.6
2.8
4.9
4.3
10.4
4.8
5.3
1.9

3.6
4.3
3.6
4.1
3.5
5.9
6.1
4.8
5.2
6.0
6.7
6.2
7.8
6.2
5.2
4.7
5.4
4.3
6.9
4.6
5.5
4.3
7.6
5.3
3.2
5.0
2.9
5.1
4.6
10.1
4.7
4.7
1.9

4.0
4.8
4.0
4.8
4.2
6.1
6.6
7.7
7.2
8.3
5.9
5.0
8.3
4.7
5.0
5.4
5.5
4.7
8.1
4.7
6.8
5.1
7.3
7.4
3.6
5.2
3.3
5.3
5.0
9.1
5.0
5.6
3.8

4.2
4.1
4.2
3.5
4.3
6.0
6.1
7.0
5.6
5.4
7.7
5.9
7.1
5.3
6.5
4.8
5.8
4.9
6.4
4.3
9.7
6.4
6.1
6.1
3.7
5.5
3.3
5.6
5.3
9.5
5.4
6.6
2.6

3.1
3.4
3.6
3.9
3.6
4.5
3.0
3.2
2.2
2.7
3.1
2.1
1.9
4.3
3.5
3.6
3.5
4.9
3.1
2.5

4.0
4.6
3.9
4.1
4.0
4.4
3.3
3.5
2.9
3.2
3.6
2.6
2.4
3.4
3.6
3.8
3.6
4.7
3.3
2.8

4.6
5.3
4.0
4.1
3.9
4.7
3.4
3.5
3.1
3.2
3.8
2.5
2.4
4.1
4.0
4.0
4.1
5.2
3.6
3.1

3.4
6.9
4.5
4.7
4.4
5.2
3.7
3.9
3.0
3.1
3.3
2.5
2.4
4.1
4.1
4.3
4.1
5.4
3.6
3.0

4.3
6.6
4.6
4.8
4.5
5.5
3.9
4.1
3.3
3.4
4.0
2.9
2.8
2.9
4.1
4.4
4.1
5.3
3.6
3.1

4.9
7.4
4.9
5.0
4.7
5.7
4.5
4.5
4.2
3.8
4.4
3.1
3.0
4.4
4.4
4.3
4.4
6.0
3.8
3.1

See footnotes at end of table.

Table 5. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected
years, 2002-2012—Continued
January
2002

January
2004

January
2006

January
2008

January
2010

January
2012

Leisure and hospitality ........................................................................
Arts, entertainment, and recreation ..................................................
Accommodation and food services ...................................................
Accommodation ..............................................................................
Food services and drinking places .................................................
Other services ....................................................................................
Other services, except private households .......................................
Repair and maintenance ................................................................
Personal and laundry services .......................................................
Membership associations and organizations ..................................
Other services, private households ..................................................

1.8
2.3
1.6
2.7
1.4
3.3
3.3
3.0
2.8
4.1
2.7

2.0
2.8
1.9
3.1
1.6
3.3
3.5
3.2
3.4
3.9
2.3

1.9
3.1
1.6
2.5
1.4
3.2
3.3
2.9
2.8
4.2
2.8

2.1
2.8
1.9
3.1
1.6
3.3
3.4
3.0
3.2
4.4
2.8

2.5
3.3
2.3
3.3
2.2
4.0
4.1
4.0
3.5
4.5
3.4

2.4
3.1
2.3
3.8
2.1
3.8
3.8
3.7
3.5
4.3
3.3

Public sector ...........................................................................................
Federal government .............................................................................
State government .................................................................................
Local government .................................................................................

6.7
11.3
5.4
6.2

6.9
10.4
6.4
6.4

6.9
9.9
6.3
6.6

7.2
9.9
6.5
7.1

7.2
7.9
6.4
7.5

7.8
9.5
6.4
8.1

Industry

1 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
2 Data for these industries are not directly comparable over time due to industry classification changes in 2003 and 2009.
NOTE: Beginning with data for January 2009, industries reflect the introduction of the 2007 census industry classification system into the Current Population Survey.
This industry classification system is derived from the 2007 North American Industry Classification System. No historical data have been revised. Updated population
controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.

Table 6. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by occupation,
selected years, 2002-2012
January
2002

January
2004

January
2006

January
2008

January
2010

January
2012

Total, 16 years and over ...............................................................

3.7

4.0

4.0

4.1

4.4

4.6

Management, professional, and related occupations ......................
Management, business, and financial operations occupations .....
Management occupations ..........................................................
Business and financial operations occupations ..........................
Professional and related occupations ............................................
Computer and mathematical occupations ..................................
Architecture and engineering occupations .................................
Life, physical, and social science occupations ...........................
Community and social services occupations ..............................
Legal occupations .......................................................................
Education, training, and library occupations ...............................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations ......
Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations .....................

4.6
5.2
5.6
4.2
4.2
3.2
5.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.8
3.0
4.3

5.0
5.5
6.0
4.5
4.7
4.8
5.8
4.2
4.7
4.1
5.1
3.6
4.5

5.2
5.5
6.0
4.7
5.0
4.8
6.5
4.7
4.7
5.0
5.3
3.6
4.8

5.1
5.4
6.0
4.6
4.9
4.5
6.4
4.0
4.8
4.3
5.4
3.4
4.9

5.2
5.4
6.1
4.6
5.0
4.8
5.7
4.6
4.6
4.6
5.6
3.9
4.8

5.5
5.9
6.3
5.2
5.4
4.8
7.0
5.3
5.0
5.4
5.9
4.2
5.2

Service occupations ........................................................................
Healthcare support occupations ....................................................
Protective service occupations ......................................................
Food preparation and serving related occupations .......................
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations ......
Personal care and service occupations .........................................

2.4
2.5
5.4
1.5
3.0
2.3

2.8
2.9
5.5
1.8
3.3
2.7

2.8
3.1
5.5
1.8
3.7
2.4

2.8
3.1
5.9
2.0
3.6
2.6

3.1
3.3
5.0
2.3
4.1
2.9

3.2
3.3
6.4
2.3
4.0
3.0

Sales and office occupations ...........................................................
Sales and related occupations ......................................................
Office and administrative support occupations ..............................

3.2
2.7
3.6

3.4
2.8
4.0

3.4
2.8
4.1

3.5
2.9
4.2

4.1
3.4
4.7

4.2
3.4
4.8

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations .....
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations ....................................
Construction and extraction occupations .......................................
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations ........................

3.7
4.0
3.2
4.6

3.7
3.7
3.2
4.7

3.5
3.6
3.0
4.6

4.0
3.1
3.5
5.0

4.7
4.2
4.1
5.7

4.7
3.9
4.3
5.3

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations .........
Production occupations .................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations ..........................

4.3
5.2
3.2

4.2
5.0
3.4

4.0
4.8
3.3

4.5
5.0
3.8

4.6
5.3
4.0

4.8
5.3
4.3

Occupation

NOTE: Effective with January 2011 data, occupations reflect the introduction of the 2010 Census occupational classification system into the Current
Population Survey, or household survey. This classification system is derived from the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No historical data
have been revised. Data for 2011 and later years are not strictly comparable with earlier years. Updated population controls are introduced annually with
the release of January data.