History of NFP

Non Farm payrolls began reporting in 1939 with passage of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act to also give us a maximum 44 hour work week and Minimum Wage that began at 25 cents per hour.

One aspect regarding Non Farm Payroll releases is the incredibly large Standard Deviations that accompany this release. It was devised in this manner to allow reported wide ranges month to month.

Participation Rate. Began January 1954 as a formal release. From January 1954 - August 1969, the Participation Rate ranged between 58.0 - 59.0. Only 4 times was 57 seen during this period and 3 of those times was in 1954. 58.0 was seen 112 months during this 180 month total and a slight bit higher than half of the 90 month average.

From the latter part of 1969 - 1973, the Participation Rate steadily increased to reach first ever 60.0 and began a slow climb to current 62.8. But 62.8 is quite low historically and hovered in the 62 range from 2012 - 2014. Year 1984 saw the highest ever since release inception to 64.0 while the 1990's experienced 67.0.

Employment Population Ratio. Began in 1954 at 55.5 and again saw a steady increase to present 58.0. But 58.0 is off from historic 64.0 and 65.0 highs between 1996 - 2006. From 2009 - 2014, the average reports at 59.0.

Seasonal Employment. Began in 1954 at 53,000 persons and again a steady rise to highest ever 120,003 in December 2007. Today employed accounts for 117,186. The numbers exploded from 2000 - Present and never saw a low of 100,000.

Unemployment Levels. From 1954 and 2000 lows, Unemployment levels ranged between 2000 - 5,000 until 2009 when Unemployment exploded higher to first ever 100,000. Today Unemployment is 5872ish

Unemployment Rate. From 1954 - Present, the Unemployment Rate ranged between 3.0 lows - 9.0 in 2009 and today is 4.8.

Not in Labor Force. From 1975 - Present, the figure bounced between 51,000 - 73,000 highs but has seen a steady increase over the years. A possible reason is the introduction of Unemployment Insurance beginning in the late 1960's then the pile on Bills to accompany disability, Unemployment extensions and Disaster Relief.

Union Membership. From 1983 - 2014, membership dropped from 17, 717 to current 14,576, 11.1% of the workforce are union wage workers V 20.1% in 1983. Union membership has seen a steady decline from first reported in 1983. In terms of actual workers, today 129,000 V 140,347 in 1983.

Federal Government. Totals workers in the Federal Government 2, 744, 931. A few of the highest agencies. Total Postal workers 579,000, Homeland Security 196,799, Natural Resources 178,000, police Protection 192,213.