U.S. gross job gains 7.7 million while gross job losses 6.9 million in the 4th quarter of 2018

Date: July 24, 2019

Gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector, from September 2018 to December 2018, amounted to an increase of 281,000 jobs from the previous quarter to 7.7 million according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. It was also noted that gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments booked 6.9 million, indicating a decline of 506,000 jobs from the previous period.

Gross Job Losses

In relation to gross job losses, which refers to contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments, the private-sector accounted for 5.6%. Consequently, there are 5.6 million jobs lost through contracting establishments. This was a decrease of 516,000 jobs from the prior quarter. Whereas, closing establishments lost 1.3 million jobs, an increase of 10,000 jobs from the prior quarter.

Gross Job Gains

The private sector reported 6.1% of gross job gains in the fourth quarter of 2018. Gross job gains refer to the increases in employment due to expansions of existing establishments along with new jobs at opening establishments. Expanding establishments increased by 202,000 jobs to 6.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Of the jobs gained in the fourth quarter, opening establishments experienced an increase of 79,000 jobs to total 1.4 million jobs relative to the previous quarter.

Establishment Births and Deaths

The number of establishment births totalled 248,000 establishments in the fourth quarter of 2018. These new establishments covered 857,000 jobs, which fell by 2,000 jobs the previous quarter.

Industries

Notably, job gains exceeded gross job losses in 9 of 13 industries in the fourth quarter of 2018. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the service-providing industries experienced a net job increase of 669,000 jobs. Within this industry, transportation and warehousing had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase with a gain of 187,000 jobs while the retail trade industry had the largest decrease with a loss of 70,000 jobs.

In addition, goods-producing industries had a net job increase of 145,000 jobs where manufacturing added 90,000 jobs, construction added 69,000 jobs, and natural resources and mining lost 14,000 jobs in the fourth quarter.

Firm Size

Firms with 1-49 employees experienced a net employment gain of 199,000 while firms with 50-249 employees had a net employment gain of 147,000. Notably, firms with 250 or more employees had a net employment gain of 400,000.

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation (s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.
Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

More Stories from the Market
shutterstock_609342323
December 5, 2025   Seprod Limited (SEP) has declared a dividend of $0.605 per stock unit payable on January 16, 2026, to stockholders on record…
shutterstock_148562033
December 5, 2025   Kingston Wharves Limited (KW) has advised that a connected party sold a total of 1,122,648 KW shares during the period Novem…
shutterstock_609342323
December 5, 2025   Kingston Wharves Limited (KW) has declared a dividend of $0.44 per stock unit payable on January 16, 2026, to stockholders o…
MIL
December 5, 2025 Mayberry Jamaican Equities Limited (MJE) has advised that the daily Net Asset Value (NAV) for November 28, 2025, was J$8.44. MJE’s c…
shutterstock_537598660
December 5, 2025 EduFocal Limited (LEARN) Unaudited financials for the six months ended June 30, 2025: EduFocal Limited (LEARN) for the six months …
shutterstock_342262439
December 4, 2025   JMMB Group Limited (JMMBGL) has advised that at a meeting of its Board of Directors to be held on December 10, 2025, an inte…
new-notes-thumnail
December 04, 2025 Government Operations Results for October 2025 Disclaimer: Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report ac…
shutterstock_316932977-700x441
December 04, 2025 Following Hurricane Melissa, and at the request of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, CAF (Development Bank of Latin America a…