Total nonfarm employment growth continues to slow in 2024

Total nonfarm employment in the United States expanded in 2024—although by less than in any year since 2020. The slower employment growth was widespread across industries as most sectors added fewer jobs than in 2023. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, nonfarm payroll employment in the United States expanded by just over 2 million in 2024.1 (See chart 1.) Average monthly job gains slowed to an average of 168,000 in 2024, down from 216,000 in 2023. (See chart 2.) Most major industry sectors added jobs in 2024. Employment rose in private education and health services (+999,000), government (+453,000), leisure and hospitality (+251,000), construction (+190,000), other services (+96,000), and with transportation and warehousing (+136,000) growing faster than it did in 2023.