This report provides in-depth analysis of the 833 industries and industry groups categorized by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A seasonality score for each industry is calculated by subtracting the lowest monthly ratio (seasonal trough) from the highest monthly ratio (seasonal peak), divided by the non-seasonally adjusted value. Of the 833 industries and groups, most (717) had low seasonality (score below 10%), 73 had medium seasonality (score of 10%-20%), 35 had high seasonality (score of 20%-50%), and 8 had very high seasonality (score of 50%+).
Highly seasonal industries typically trend with certain times of the year, such as food services and drinking places peaking in the summer, and tax preparation services peaking in February and remaining strong through tax season (April). However, the industries with the greatest seasonal volatility are not necessarily those with the greatest numerical seasonal change. The industries with the greatest seasonal change were “Local government education,” with a seasonal employment change of 1.4 million jobs, and “Food services and drinking places” with a seasonal change of 782 thousand jobs.
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