*The Current Employment Statistics (CES) program is based on a monthly sample survey of employing establishments. This survey provides employment, hours, and earnings information about persons on nonfarm payrolls. CES operates as a federal/state partnership.

The unit reviews monthly survey data and transmits it to BLS in Washington D.C. New Hampshire's data are then combined with that of other states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories to assist in measuring national economic trends. CES estimates the current number of jobs in nonfarm wage and salary employment and the average weekly hours, the average weekly earnings, and the average hourly earnings for manufacturing production workers in the state. Current estimates of employment, hours, and earnings provide indicators of economic activity and business cycles in the state on a more timely basis than covered employment data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage (QCEW) program. CES also develops all-employees estimates for the Manchester NH MetroNECTA; the Nashua NH-MA NECTA Division; the Portsmouth NH-ME MetroNECTA; and the Rochester-Dover NH-ME MetroNECTA. When available, QCEW program employment and wage data are used to benchmark CES estimates.

With the release of the January 2003 benchmark data, Current Employment Statistics (CES) started published using the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS), replacing the Standard Industrial Classification system (SIC). While the CES structure was modified slightly, there was a major impact to the terminology used. The following is an example of the conversion from SIC to NAICS:

The primary purpose for the conversion was to standardize industrial classification for the entire North American continent, as well as bringing the classification system in tune with today's economy, including new and evolving technology.

For additional information about the SIC to NAICS transition, please see the special insert in our November 2002 issue of Economic Conditions in New Hampshire.