what is nonfarm payroll 
nonfarm payroll measures the number of workers in the u s except those who work in farming private households non profits and sole proprietorships or self employment as well as those who are active military service members the bureau of labor statistics bls surveys private and government entities throughout the u s to obtain information about their payrolls the nonfarm payroll numbers are reported monthly to the public through the closely followed employment situation summary understanding nonfarm payrollaccording to the bls nonfarm employee classifications account for approximately 80 of workers contributing to gross domestic product gdp 1 besides farm workers other categories excluded from nonfarm payroll numbers are employment situation summarythe employment situation summary is a closely followed monthly report released by the bls on the first friday of the month following data collection the report is created from two comprehensive surveys the household survey and the establishment survey the household survey reports the unemployment rate and details employment demographics the establishment survey segment headlines the number of new nonfarm payroll jobs added to the national economy key components of the household survey include the labor force participation rate estimates an economy s active workforce by the number of people ages 16 and older who are employed or actively seeking employment divided by the total non institutionalized civilian working age population the establishment survey portion of the employment situation report provides details on nonfarm payroll additions and is referred to as the nonfarm payrolls report key components of the establishment survey include nonfarm payroll data and economic analysisthe nonfarm payroll additions and the unemployment rate are headlines of the employment situation report but economists and policymakers use all available data to assess the state of the economy and forecast future levels of economic activity the report contains insights into the labor force that directly impact the economy the stock market the value of the u s dollar the value of treasuries and the price of gold the household survey data reveals trends in the unemployment rate and participation rate that may be associated with demographics the establishment survey report offers valuable information on job changes within sectors or industries 