Average Weekly Earnings - multiplying average weekly hours estimates by average hourly earnings estimates derives these estimates. So, weekly earnings are affected the length of the workweek along with changes in average hourly earnings. Monthly trends in these factors as stoppages for varying reason, the proportion of part-time workers, labor turnover during the survey period and absenteeism for which employees are not paid may cause the fluctuations of average workweek. Structural changes in the makeup of the workforce can cause long-term trends of average weekly earnings. For example, persistent long-term rising of the percentage of part-time workers in retail trade and many of the services industries have reduced average workweeks in these industries and have affected the average weekly earnings series. Average work week.

The average workweek, or worked hours is necessary for two reasons. First, it is considered a useful indicator of labor market conditions: a rising workweek early in the business cycle may be the first indication that employers are preparing to increase their payrolls, while late in the cycle a rising workweek may indicate that employers are having difficulty finding specialists to occupy vacant positions. Second, it is a critical determinant of such monthly indicators as industrial production and personal income.