payroll remains the hardest-hit sector.
by beth bellor
after shedding 77,800 jobs in april, tax and accounting employers have added back 45,300 employees, but the total headcount has dipped again and remains down by 32,300 from the pre-covid level, according to the latest data reviewed by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间.
more on jobs: covid job toll: tax & accounting cuts 17,500 employees | firms recall half of furloughed staffers | covid kills 67,600 jobs in tax and accounting | pre-covid-19, accounting profession hits new highs | planning for the coronavirus recession
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in this report, 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 highlights:
- current and long-term hiring trends in each of the bookkeeping, payroll, tax, and cpa segments of the industry (all data seasonally adjusted)
- average hourly wages for key segments
- typical hours worked per week
- trends concerning women in the accounting workforce
nationally, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1.4 million in august and the unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent, according to the latest data available. the increase was less than those seen in the previous three months, and august compared to february was down 11.5 million or 7.6 percent. professional and business services picked up 197,000 in august, with 107,000 of those in temporary help services. the sector was 1.5 million below its february level.
tax & accounting overall
the accounting profession took a slight dip in august – the latest month available – dropping to 1,010,500, down 1,600 or 0.2 percent for the month and 20,100 or 2 percent for the year. workers clocked 36.5 hours per week, up 24 minutes or 1.1 percent per month and year. they made $34.89 per hour, down a nickel or 0.1 percent for the month but up 58 cents or 1.7 percent for the year.
staff slipped as well, to 740,900, down 2,900 or 0.4 percent for the month and 36,800 or 4.7 percent for the year. they averaged 34.8 hours per week, up 24 minutes or 1.2 percent for the month and 36 minutes or 1.8 percent for the year. they made $27.45 per hour, down 9 cents or 0.3 percent for the month but up 41 cents or 1.5 percent for the year.
cpa firms
cpa firms employed 485,100, down 2,700 or 0.6 percent for the month and 6,000 or 1.2 percent for the year. those employees averaged 37.9 hours, up 36 minutes or 1.6 percent for the month and 54 minutes or 2.4 percent for the year. their earnings squeaked up 8 cents to $37.34, up 0.2 percent for the month and 71 cents or 1.9 percent for the year.
staff at cpa firms numbered 336,500, down 4,000 or 1.2 percent for the month and 16,700 or 4.7 percent for the year. they worked 36.8 hours, up 42 minutes or 1.9 percent for the month and 1 hour or 2.8 percent for the year. they made $29.52 an hour, up 9 cents or 0.3 percent for the month and $1.56 or 5.6 percent for the year.
tax preparation services
tax preparation services were unchanged for the month at 95,200. year over year, they were down 1,400 or 1.4 percent.
payroll services
payroll services employed 156,200, up – yes, we said up – 2,600 or 1.7 percent for the month. but they also were down 24,300 or 13.5 percent for the year. ouch.
workers averaged 37.6 hours per week, up 36 minutes or 1.6 percent for the month and 2 hours 18 minutes or 6.5 percent for the year. earnings at $34.74 were down 14 cents or 0.4 percent for the month but up $3.50 or 11.2 percent for the year.
staff in payroll rose as well, to 132,400, up 3,600 or 2.8 percent for the month. just as with payroll overall, though, year over year the number plummeted 20,700 or 13.5 percent. employees put in 37.3 weekly hours, up 48 minutes or 2.2 percent for the month and 3 hours 6 minutes or 9.1 percent for the year. earnings didn’t keep pace, dipping to $27.63, down 32 cents or 1.1 percent for the month but up 19 cents or 0.7 percent for the year. we all know how far apart 9.1 and 0.7 are.
bookkeeping
other accounting services employed 262,200, up 700 or 0.3 percent for the month but down 3,200 or 1.2 percent for the year.
women
women in the profession totaled 644,400, down 1,600 or 0.2 percent for the month and 14,700 or 2.2 percent for the year. they numbered 301,400 at cpa firms, down 1,600 for the month and 1,500 for the year, or 0.5 percent for both periods. in payroll services, there was a slight uptick to 83,700, up 400 or 0.5 percent for the month but down 9,700 or 10.4 percent for the year.