Chart: Gross job gains and losses in the second quarter of 2009

From March to June 2009, the number of gross job gains from opening and expanding private sector establishments was 6.4 million, an increase of 674,000 jobs compared to the previous quarter, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This is the largest over the quarter increase in gross job gains since the series began in 1992.

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The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost yielded a net change of ‑1,579,000 jobs in the private sector for second quarter 2009.

From March to June 2009, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains in all industry sectors except education and health services. Gross job gains in the education and health services sector increased to 770,000 jobs in the second quarter, while gross job losses decreased to 710,000. This industry sector is the only one which has experienced a net positive change in every quarter since this series began in 1992.

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. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private business units from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing units and the addition of new jobs at opening units. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing units and the loss of jobs at closing units. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

This data is from the Business Employment Dynamics program. See "Business Employment Dynamics — Second Quarter 2009" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL 10-0228, to learn more.