Quarterly Data Series on Business Employment Dynamics News Release — 2010-11-18

From December 2009 to March 2010 the number of gross job gains from opening and expanding private sector establishments decreased to 6.1 million, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over this period, gross job losses from closing and contracting private sector establishments were 6.4 million. Job losses have steadily decreased from a recent high of 8.5 million in December 2008 to their lowest level since this series began in September 1992. Firms with 100 to 999 employees experienced net job gains in first quarter 2010, while firms with 1 to 99 employees and 1,000 or more employees experienced net job losses. The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy.