For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT), Thursday, August 2, 2012 USDL-12-1530

Technical Information: (202) 691-6553 • BDMInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/bdm 

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT DYNAMICS – FOURTH QUARTER 2011

From September to December 2011 gross job 

gains from opening and expanding private 

sector establishments were 6.9 million, a 

decrease of 204,000 from the previous quarter, 

the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 

today. Over this period, gross job losses from 

closing and contracting private sector 

establishments were 6.5 million, an increase 

of 181,000 from the previous quarter. 

The difference between the number of gross 

job gains and the number of gross job losses 

yielded a net employment change of 368,000 

jobs in the private sector during the fourth 

quarter of 2011. (See table 1.) 

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 job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Technical 

Note for more information.) 

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses at the establishment level by industry 

subsector and for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as 

gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. 
- 2 - 

Gross job gains at expanding establishments 

totaled 5.5 million in fourth quarter 2011, a 

decrease of 203,000 from the previous quarter. 

Opening establishments accounted for 1.3 million 

jobs gained in fourth quarter 2011, essentially 

unchanged from the previous quarter. 

Contracting establishments lost 5.2 million jobs 

in fourth quarter 2011. This is an increase of 

52,000 from the prior quarter. 

In fourth quarter 2011, closing establishments lost 

1.3 million jobs, an increase of 129,000 from the 

previous quarter. (See table 1 and table 3.) 

 

Gross job gains represented 6.3 percent of private 

sector employment in fourth quarter 2011, while 

gross job losses represented 6.0 percent of private 

sector employment. (See table 2.) 

In fourth quarter 2011, the number of establishment births (a subset of the openings data, see the Technical 

Note for more information) rose by 6,000 to 197,000. These new establishments accounted for 778,000 jobs, an 

increase of 15,000 from the previous quarter. (See table 8.) 

Data for establishment deaths (a subset of the closings data) are available through first quarter 2011, when 

613,000 jobs were lost at 185,000 establishments. These figures represent a decrease from the prior quarter 

when 691,000 jobs were lost at 186,000 establishments. 

During fourth quarter 2011, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains in the construction, information, leisure 

and hospitality, and other services sectors. The construction industry experienced a net employment loss of 

33,000 jobs after two consecutive quarters of positive net growth. Professional and business services, which 

include temporary help services, accounted for 25 percent of the total private sector net job change in the fourth 

quarter of 2011. (See table 3.) 
- 3 - 

1

The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. 

See the Technical Note for further information. 

Gross job gains declined in all three major firm size classes compared to the previous quarter. Firms with 1-49 

employees experienced the largest drop in gross job gains. Firms with 250 or more employees accounted for 85 

percent of the total net change in employment for the quarter. (See tables 4 and 5.)

In the fourth quarter of 2011, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 41 states, the District of Columbia, 

and Puerto Rico. California had the largest net employment gain of 79,832 jobs, followed by Texas with 65,886 

jobs. (See table 6.) Arizona, Missouri, North Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico had both 

a rate of gross job gains at or above the U.S average of 6.3 percent, and a rate of gross job losses that was the 

same or below the national average of 6.0 percent. (See table 7.) 

More Information 

Additional information on gross job gains and gross job losses are available online at www.bls.gov/bdm. This 

information includes data on the levels and rates of gross job gains and gross job losses by firm size, not 

seasonally adjusted data and other seasonally adjusted time series not presented in this release, charts of gross 

job gains and gross job losses by industry and firm size, and frequently asked questions on firm size data. 

Additional information about the Business Employment Dynamics data can be found in the Technical Note of 

this release or may be obtained by e-mailing BDMinfo@bls.gov. 

The Business Employment Dynamics for First Quarter 2012 are scheduled to be released on Friday, 

November 16, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (EST). 

Table A. Three-month private sector gross job gains and losses, seasonally adjusted 

Category 

3 months ended 

Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. 

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 

Levels (in thousands) 

Gross job gains.................................... 7,009 6,338 6,892 7,058 6,854 

 At expanding establishments........... 5,631 5,230 5,627 5,745 5,542 

 At opening establishments............... 1,378 1,108 1,265 1,313 1,312 

 

Gross job losses................................... 6,427 6,086 6,314 6,305 6,486 

 At contracting establishments........... 5,199 4,969 5,083 5,160 5,212 

 At closing establishments................ 1,228 1,117 1,231 1,145 1,274 

 

Net employment change1........................ 582 252 578 753 368 

 

Rates (percent) 

Gross job gains................................ 6.6 5.9 6.4 6.5 6.3 

 At expanding establishments....... 5.3 4.9 5.2 5.3 5.1 

 At opening establishments............ 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 

 

Gross job losses............................... 6.1 5.7 5.8 5.9 6.0 

 At contracting establishments........ 4.9 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.8 

 At closing establishments............. 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 

 

Net employment change1..................... .5 .2 .6 .6 .3 
- 4 - 

Technical Note

 The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are 

a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as 

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). 

The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor 

Statistics (BLS) from existing quarterly state 

unemployment insurance (UI) records. Most employers 

in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the 

employment and wages of workers covered by UI laws, 

and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The quarterly UI reports are 

sent by the State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) 

to BLS and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment 

universe sampling frame. These reports are also used to 

produce the quarterly QCEW data on total employment 

and wages and the longitudinal BED data on gross job 

gains and losses. Other important Bureau uses of the UI 

reports are in the Current Employment Statistics (CES) 

program. 

 In the BED program, the quarterly UI records are 

linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history 

for each establishment. The linkage process allows the 

tracking of net employment changes at the 

establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of 

jobs gained at opening and expanding units and jobs lost 

at closing and contracting units. 

Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES 

employment measures 

 The Bureau publishes three different establishmentbased employment measures for any given quarter. Each 

of these measures — QCEW, BED, and CES — makes use 

of the quarterly UI employment reports in producing data; 

however, each measure has a somewhat different universe 

coverage, estimation procedure, and publication product. 

 Differences in coverage and estimation methods can 

result in somewhat different measures of over-the-quarter 

employment change. It is important to understand 

program differences and the intended uses of the program 

products. (See table below.) 

 Additional information on each program can be 

obtained from the program web sites shown in the table 

below. 

Summary of Major Differences between QCEW, BED, and CES Employment Measures 

QCEW BED CES 

Source  Count of UI administrative records 

submitted by 9.1 million employers 

 Count of longitudinally-linked UI 

administrative records submitted by 

6.7 million private sector employers 

 Sample Survey: 440,000 

establishments 

Coverage  UI and UCFE coverage: all 

employers subject to State and 

federal UI Laws 

 UI Coverage, excluding: government, 

private households, and establishments 

with zero employment 

Non-farm wage and salary jobs: 

 UI Coverage, excluding: agriculture, 

private households, and selfemployed; including: railroads, 

religious organizations, and other 

non-UI-covered jobs 

Publication 

frequency 

 Quarterly 

—7 Months after the end of each 

quarter 

 Quarterly 

—8 Months after the end of each quarter 

 Monthly 

—First Friday of each month 

Use of UI file  Directly summarizes and publishes 

each new quarter of UI data 

 Links each new UI quarter to longitudinal 

database and directly summarizes gross 

job gains and losses 

 Uses UI file as a sampling frame 

and annually realigns (benchmarks) 

sample estimates to first quarter UI 

levels 

Principal products  Provides a quarterly and annual 

universe count of establishments, 

employment, and wages at the 

county, MSA, State, and national 

levels by detailed industry 

 Provides quarterly employer dynamics 

data on establishment openings, closings, 

expansions, and contractions at the 

national level by NAICS super-sectors 

and by size of firm, and at the state 

private-sector total level 

 Future expansions will include data with 

greater industry detail and data at the 

county and MSA level 

 Provides current monthly estimates 

of employment, hours, and earnings 

at the MSA, State, and national level 

by industry 

Principal uses  Major uses include: 

—Detailed locality data 

—Periodic universe counts for 

benchmarking sample survey 

estimates 

—Sample frame for BLS 

establishment surveys 

 Major uses include: 

— Business cycle analysis 

— Analysis of employer dynamics 

underlying economic expansions and 

contractions 

— Analysis of employment expansion 

and contraction by size of firm 

 Major uses include: 

— Principal national economic 

indicator 

— Official time series for 

employment change measures 

— Input into other major economic 

indicators 

Program Websites  www.bls.gov/cew/  www.bls.gov/bdm/  www.bls.gov/ces/
- 5 - 

Coverage

Employment and wage data for workers covered by 

state UI and Unemployment Compensation for Federal 

Employees (UCFE) laws are compiled from quarterly 

contribution reports submitted to the SESAs by 

employers. In addition to the quarterly contribution 

reports, employers who operate multiple establishments 

within a state complete a questionnaire, called the 

“Multiple Worksite Report,” which provides detailed 

information on the location of their establishments. 

These reports are based on place of employment rather 

than place of residence. UI and UCFE coverage is broad 

and basically comparable from state to state. 

Major exclusions from UI coverage are selfemployed workers, religious organizations, most 

agricultural workers on small farms, all members of the 

Armed Forces, elected officials in most states, most 

employees of railroads, some domestic workers, most 

student workers at schools, and employees of certain 

small nonprofit organizations. 

Gross job gains and gross job losses in this release 

are derived from longitudinal histories of 6.7 million 

private sector employer reports out of 9.1 million total 

reports of employment and wages submitted by states to 

BLS in the first quarter of 2011. Gross job gains and 

gross job losses data in this release do not report estimates 

for government employees or private households (NAICS 

814110), and do not include establishments with zero 

employment in both previous and current quarters. Data 

from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also are excluded 

from the national data. As an illustration, the table below 

shows, in millions of establishments, the number of 

establishments excluded from the national gross job gains 

and gross job losses data in the first quarter 2011: 

Number of active establishments included in 

Business Employment Dynamics data at the 

national level 

 Millions 

Total establishments QCEW program .........9.1 

 Excluded: Public sector .........................0.3 

 Private households ................0.7 

 Zero employment .................1.3 

 Establishments in Puerto Rico 

 and the Virgin Islands ...........0.1 

 

Total establishments included in Business 

Employment Dynamics data ........................6.7 

Unit of analysis 

 Establishments are used in the tabulation of the BED 

statistics by industry and firms are used in the tabulation 

of the BED size class statistics. An establishment is 

defined as an economic unit that produces goods or 

services, usually at a single physical location, and engages 

in one or predominantly one activity. A firm is a legal 

business, either corporate or otherwise, and may consist 

of several establishments. Firm-level data are compiled 

based on an aggregation of establishments under common 

ownership by a corporate parent using employer tax 

identification numbers. The firm level aggregation which 

is consistent with the role of corporations as the economic 

decision makers are used for the measurement of the BED 

data elements by size class. 

 Because of the difference in the unit of analysis, total 

gross job gains and gross job losses by size class are 

lower than total gross job gains and gross job losses by 

industry, as some establishment gains and losses within a 

firm are offset during the aggregation process. However, 

the total net changes in employment are the same for not 

seasonally adjusted data and are similar for seasonally 

adjusted data. 

Concepts and methodology

The Business Employment Dynamics data measure 

the net change in employment at the establishment or firm 

level. These changes come about in one of four ways. A 

net increase in employment can come from either opening 

units or expanding units. A net decrease in employment 

can come from either closing units or contracting units. 

Gross job gains include the sum of all jobs added at either 

opening or expanding units. Gross job losses include the 

sum of all jobs lost in either closing or contracting units. 

The net change in employment is the difference between 

gross job gains and gross job losses. 

The formal definitions of employment changes are as 

follows: 

Openings. These are either units with positive third 

month employment for the first time in the current 

quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive 

third month employment in the current quarter following 

zero employment in the previous quarter. 

Expansions. These are units with positive 

employment in the third month in both the previous and 

current quarters, with a net increase in employment over 

this period. 

Closings. These are either units with positive third 

month employment in the previous quarter, with no 

employment or zero employment reported in the current 

quarter. 

Contractions. These are units with positive 

employment in the third month in both the previous and 

current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over 

this period. 

Births. These are units with positive third month 

employment for the first time in the current quarter with 

no links to the prior quarter, or units with positive third 
- 6 - 

month employment in the current quarter and zero 

employment in the third month of the previous four 

quarters. Births are a subset of openings not including reopenings of seasonal businesses. 

Deaths. These are units with no employment or zero 

employment reported in the third month of four 

consecutive quarters following the last quarter with 

positive employment. Deaths are a subset of closings not 

including temporary shutdowns of seasonal businesses. A 

unit that closes during the quarter may be a death, but we 

wait three quarters to determine whether it is a permanent 

closing or a temporary shutdown. Therefore, there is 

always a lag of three quarters for the publication of death 

statistics. 

All employment changes are measured from the third 

month of the previous quarter to the third month of the 

current quarter. Not all establishments and firms change 

their employment levels. Units with no change in 

employment count towards estimates of total 

employment, but not for levels of gross job gains and 

gross job losses. 

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as 

rates by dividing their levels by the average of 

employment in the current and previous quarters. This 

provides a symmetric growth rate. The rates are 

calculated for the components of gross job gains and 

gross job losses and then summed to form their respective 

totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as 

their levels can. For instance, the difference between the 

gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net 

growth rate. 

Establishment Births and Deaths 

 For the purpose of BED statistics, births are defined 

as establishments that appear in the longitudinal database 

for the first time with positive employment in the third 

month of a quarter, or showed four consecutive quarters 

of zero employment in the third month followed by a 

quarter in which it shows positive employment in the 

third month. Similarly, deaths are defined as 

establishments that either drop out of the longitudinal 

database or an establishment that had positive 

employment in the third month of a given quarter 

followed by four consecutive quarters of showing zero 

employment in the third month. Although the data for 

establishment births and deaths are tabulated 

independently from the data for openings and closings, 

the concepts are not mutually exclusive. An 

establishment that is defined as a birth in a given quarter 

is necessarily an opening as well, and an establishment 

defined as a death in a quarter must also be a closing. 

Since openings include seasonal and other re-openings 

and closings include temporary shutdowns, the not 

seasonally adjusted values for births and deaths must be 

less than those for openings and closings. However, 

because some BED series do not have many re-openings 

or temporary shutdowns, as well as the fact that births and 

deaths are independently seasonally adjusted from 

openings and closings, there may be instances in which 

the seasonally adjusted value of the former is greater than 

the latter. 

Linkage methodology 

Prior to the measurement of gross job gains and gross 

job losses, QCEW records are linked across two quarters. 

The linkage process matches establishments' unique 

SESA identification numbers (SESA-ID). Between 95 to 

97 percent of establishments identified as continuous 

from quarter to quarter are matched by SESA-ID. The 

rest are linked in one of three ways. The first method 

uses predecessor and successor information, identified by 

the States, which relates records with different SESA-IDs 

across quarters. Predecessor and successor relations can 

come about for a variety of reasons, including a change in 

ownership, a firm restructuring, or a UI account 

restructuring. If a match cannot be attained in this 

manner, a probability-based match is used. This match 

attempts to identify two establishments with different 

SESA-IDs as continuous. The match is based upon 

comparisons such as the same name, address, and phone 

number. Third, an analyst examines unmatched records 

individually and makes a possible match. 

 In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, 

SESAs verify with employers and update, if necessary, 

the industry, location, and ownership classification of all 

establishments on a 4-year cycle. Changes in 

establishment classification codes resulting from the 

verification process are introduced with the data reported 

for the first quarter of the year. Changes resulting from 

improved employer reporting also are introduced in the 

first quarter. 

 

Sizing methodology 

 The method of dynamic sizing is used in 

calculations for the BED size class data series. Dynamic 

sizing allocates each firm’s employment gain or loss 

during a quarter to each respective size class in which the 

change occurred. For example, if a firm grew from 2 

employees in quarter 1 to 38 employees in quarter 2, then, 

of the 36-employee increase, 2 would be allocated to the 

first size class, 5 to the size class 5 to 9, 10 to size class 

10 to 19, and 19 to size class 20 to 49. 

 Dynamic sizing provides symmetrical firm size 

estimates and eliminates any systematic effects which 

may be caused by the transitory and reverting changes in 

firms’ sizes over time. Additionally, it allocates each job 

gain or loss to the actual size class where it occurred. 

Annual Data 

 The annual gross job gains and gross job losses 

measure the net change in employment at the 

establishment level from the third month of a quarter in 

the previous year to the third month of the same quarter in 

the current year. The BLS publishes annual BED data 

based on March-to-March changes once a year with the 

release of the first quarter BED data. The annual data 

based on over-the-year changes for other quarters of the 

year are available upon request. The definitions and 
- 7 - 

methodology in measuring annual gross job gains and 

gross job losses are similar to the quarterly measures. The 

linkage method considers all predecessor and successor 

relations that may come about due to changes in 

ownership and corporate restructuring over the entire 

year. At the establishment level, some of the quarterly job 

gains and job losses are offset during the estimation over 

the year. Therefore, the sum of four quarters of gross job 

gains and gross job losses are not equal to annual gross 

job gains and gross job losses. The net change in 

employment over the year, however, is equal to the sum 

of four quarterly net changes on a not seasonally adjusted 

basis. 

Seasonal adjustment 

 Over the course of a year, the levels of employment 

and the associated job flows undergo sharp fluctuations 

due to such seasonal events as changes in the weather, 

reduced or expanded production, harvests, major 

holidays, and the opening and closing of schools. The 

effect of such seasonal variation can be very large. 

 Because these seasonal events follow a more or less 

regular pattern each year, their influence can be 

eliminated by adjusting these statistics from quarter to 

quarter. These adjustments make nonseasonal 

developments, such as declines in economic activity, 

easier to recognize. For example, the large number of 

youths taking summer jobs is likely to obscure other 

changes that have taken place in June relative to March, 

making it difficult to determine if the level of economic 

activity has risen or declined. However, because the 

effect of students finishing school in previous years is 

known, the statistics for the current year can be adjusted 

to allow for a comparable change. The adjusted figures 

provide a more useful tool with which to analyze changes 

in economic activity. 

 The employment data series for opening, expanding, 

closing, and contracting units are independently 

seasonally adjusted; net changes are calculated based on 

the difference between gross job gains and gross job 

losses. Similarly, for industry data, the establishment 

counts data series for opening, expanding, closing, and 

contracting establishments are independently adjusted, 

and the net changes are calculated based on the difference 

between the number of opening and closing 

establishments. Additionally establishment and 

employment levels are independently seasonally adjusted 

to calculate the seasonally adjusted rates. Concurrent 

seasonal adjustment is run using X-12 ARIMA. 

Seasonally adjusted data series for total private are the 

sum of seasonally adjusted data of all sectors including 

the unclassified sector, which is not separately published. 

The net over-the-quarter change derived by summing 

the BED component series will differ from the net 

employment change estimated from the seasonally 

adjusted total private employment series from the CES 

program. The intended use of BED statistics is to show 

the dynamic labor market changes that underlie the net 

employment change statistic. As such, data users 

interested particularly in the net employment change and 

not in the gross job flows underlying this change should 

refer to CES data for over-the-quarter net employment 

changes.

Reliability of the data 

 Since the data series on Business Employment 

Dynamics are based on administrative rather than sample 

data, there are no issues related to sampling error. 

Nonsampling error, however, still exists. Nonsampling 

errors can occur for many reasons, such as the employer 

submitting corrected employment data after the end of the 

quarter or typographical errors made by businesses when 

providing information. Such errors, however, are likely to 

be distributed randomly throughout the dataset. 

 Changes in administrative data sometimes create 

complications for the linkage process. This can result in 

overstating openings and closings while understating 

expansions and contractions. The BLS continues to refine 

methods for improving the linkage process to alleviate the 

effects of these complications. 

 The BED data series are subject to periodic minor 

changes based on corrections in QCEW records, updates 

on predecessors and successors information, and seasonal 

adjustment revisions. 

 Annual revisions are published each year with the 

release of the first quarter data. These revisions cover the 

last four quarters of not seasonally adjusted data and 5 

years of seasonally adjusted data. 

Additional statistics and other information 

 Several other programs within BLS produce closely 

related information. The QCEW program provides both 

quarterly and annual estimates of employment by state, 

county, and detailed industry. News releases on quarterly 

county employment and wages and an annual bulletin: 

Employment and Wages Annual Averages, are available 

upon request from the Division of Administrative Statistics 

and Labor Turnover, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. 

Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20212; telephone 

202-691-6567; (http://www.bls.gov/cew/); (e-mail: 

QCEWInfo@bls.gov). 

 The CES program produces monthly estimates of 

employment, its net change, and earnings by detailed 

industry. These estimates are part of the Employment 

Situation report put out monthly by BLS. 

 The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey 

(JOLTS) program provides monthly measures of job 

openings, as well as employee hires and separations. 

 Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. 

Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral 

number: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses, seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Expanding Opening Contracting Closing

establishments establishments establishments establishments

2001 March -119 8,491 6,728 1,763 8,610 6,717 1,893

June -780 7,991 6,302 1,689 8,771 7,036 1,735

September -1,148 7,630 5,945 1,685 8,778 6,990 1,788

December -1,009 7,547 5,912 1,635 8,556 6,870 1,686

2002 March -10 8,071 6,298 1,773 8,081 6,434 1,647

June -30 7,868 6,145 1,723 7,898 6,274 1,624

September -151 7,630 6,039 1,591 7,781 6,248 1,533

December -241 7,483 5,938 1,545 7,724 6,185 1,539

2003 March -393 7,467 5,928 1,539 7,860 6,307 1,553

June -90 7,398 5,929 1,469 7,488 6,030 1,458

September 204 7,392 5,923 1,469 7,188 5,828 1,360

December 297 7,521 6,005 1,516 7,224 5,800 1,424

2004 March 470 7,715 6,204 1,511 7,245 5,795 1,450

June 644 7,754 6,235 1,519 7,110 5,639 1,471

September 206 7,633 6,060 1,573 7,427 5,888 1,539

December 757 7,844 6,243 1,601 7,087 5,663 1,424

2005 March 384 7,620 6,131 1,489 7,236 5,801 1,435

June 593 7,774 6,231 1,543 7,181 5,776 1,405

September 677 7,965 6,387 1,578 7,288 5,844 1,444

December 494 7,807 6,252 1,555 7,313 5,948 1,365

2006 March 874 7,797 6,354 1,443 6,923 5,636 1,287

June 371 7,758 6,246 1,512 7,387 6,015 1,372

September 52 7,499 6,061 1,438 7,447 6,097 1,350

December 455 7,740 6,223 1,517 7,285 5,941 1,344

2007 March 555 7,723 6,303 1,420 7,168 5,871 1,297

June 155 7,630 6,222 1,408 7,475 6,073 1,402

September -240 7,333 5,858 1,475 7,573 6,219 1,354

December 274 7,642 6,178 1,464 7,368 6,016 1,352

2008 March -215 7,234 5,831 1,403 7,449 6,086 1,363

June -574 7,255 5,851 1,404 7,829 6,351 1,478

September -955 6,893 5,526 1,367 7,848 6,467 1,381

December -1,819 6,698 5,342 1,356 8,517 7,030 1,487

2009 March -2,696 5,830 4,651 1,179 8,526 7,109 1,417

June -1,653 6,395 5,091 1,304 8,048 6,661 1,387

September -893 6,345 5,127 1,218 7,238 5,881 1,357

December -238 6,634 5,306 1,328 6,872 5,586 1,286

2010 March -254 6,246 5,084 1,162 6,500 5,299 1,201

June 721 6,969 5,687 1,282 6,248 5,086 1,162

September 205 6,685 5,427 1,258 6,480 5,255 1,225

December 582 7,009 5,631 1,378 6,427 5,199 1,228

2011 March 252 6,338 5,230 1,108 6,086 4,969 1,117

June 578 6,892 5,627 1,265 6,314 5,083 1,231

September 753 7,058 5,745 1,313 6,305 5,160 1,145

December 368 6,854 5,542 1,312 6,486 5,212 1,274

1 Net change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses.

Gross job gains

Total Total

Gross job losses

Year 3 months ended Net change 1
Table 2. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment, 1

 seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Expanding Opening Contracting Closing

establishments establishments establishments establishments

2001 March -.1 7.7 6.1 1.6 7.8 6.1 1.7

June -.8 7.2 5.7 1.5 8.0 6.4 1.6

September -1.1 6.9 5.4 1.5 8.0 6.4 1.6

December -1.0 7.0 5.5 1.5 8.0 6.4 1.6

2002 March .0 7.5 5.9 1.6 7.5 6.0 1.5

June .0 7.3 5.7 1.6 7.3 5.8 1.5

September -.1 7.1 5.6 1.5 7.2 5.8 1.4

December -.3 6.9 5.5 1.4 7.2 5.8 1.4

2003 March -.5 6.9 5.5 1.4 7.4 5.9 1.5

June .0 7.0 5.6 1.4 7.0 5.6 1.4

September .1 6.9 5.5 1.4 6.8 5.5 1.3

December .3 7.0 5.6 1.4 6.7 5.4 1.3

2004 March .5 7.2 5.8 1.4 6.7 5.4 1.3

June .6 7.2 5.8 1.4 6.6 5.2 1.4

September .3 7.1 5.6 1.5 6.8 5.4 1.4

December .7 7.2 5.7 1.5 6.5 5.2 1.3

2005 March .4 7.0 5.6 1.4 6.6 5.3 1.3

June .6 7.1 5.7 1.4 6.5 5.2 1.3

September .6 7.2 5.8 1.4 6.6 5.3 1.3

December .4 7.0 5.6 1.4 6.6 5.4 1.2

2006 March .9 7.0 5.7 1.3 6.1 5.0 1.1

June .3 6.8 5.5 1.3 6.5 5.3 1.2

September .1 6.7 5.4 1.3 6.6 5.4 1.2

December .3 6.8 5.5 1.3 6.5 5.3 1.2

2007 March .4 6.7 5.5 1.2 6.3 5.2 1.1

June .2 6.7 5.5 1.2 6.5 5.3 1.2

September -.3 6.4 5.1 1.3 6.7 5.5 1.2

December .2 6.7 5.4 1.3 6.5 5.3 1.2

2008 March -.2 6.3 5.1 1.2 6.5 5.3 1.2

June -.6 6.3 5.1 1.2 6.9 5.6 1.3

September -.8 6.1 4.9 1.2 6.9 5.7 1.2

December -1.6 6.0 4.8 1.2 7.6 6.3 1.3

2009 March -2.4 5.4 4.3 1.1 7.8 6.5 1.3

June -1.5 6.0 4.8 1.2 7.5 6.2 1.3

September -.9 6.0 4.8 1.2 6.9 5.6 1.3

December -.2 6.3 5.0 1.3 6.5 5.3 1.2

2010 March -.2 5.9 4.8 1.1 6.1 5.0 1.1

June .7 6.6 5.4 1.2 5.9 4.8 1.1

September .1 6.3 5.1 1.2 6.2 5.0 1.2

December .5 6.6 5.3 1.3 6.1 4.9 1.2

2011 March .2 5.9 4.9 1.0 5.7 4.7 1.0

June .6 6.4 5.2 1.2 5.8 4.7 1.1

September .6 6.5 5.3 1.2 5.9 4.8 1.1

December .3 6.3 5.1 1.2 6.0 4.8 1.2

1 The rates measure gross job gains and gross job losses as a percentage of the average of the previous and current quarter employment levels. 

2 Net change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses.

Gross job gains

Total Total

Gross job losses

Year 3 months ended Net change 2
Table 3. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, seasonally adjusted

Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011

Total private 1

Gross job gains ........................... 7,009 6,338 6,892 7,058 6,854 6.6 5.9 6.4 6.5 6.3

At expanding establishments ......... 5,631 5,230 5,627 5,745 5,542 5.3 4.9 5.2 5.3 5.1

At opening establishments ............ 1,378 1,108 1,265 1,313 1,312 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2

Gross job losses ........................... 6,427 6,086 6,314 6,305 6,486 6.1 5.7 5.8 5.9 6.0

At contracting establishments ......... 5,199 4,969 5,083 5,160 5,212 4.9 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.8

At closing establishments ............ 1,228 1,117 1,231 1,145 1,274 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2

Net employment change .............. 582 252 578 753 368 .5 .2 .6 .6 .3

Goods-producing

Gross job gains ........................... 1,364 1,296 1,396 1,437 1,348 7.2 6.9 7.3 7.5 7.0

At expanding establishments ......... 1,138 1,107 1,184 1,222 1,138 6.0 5.9 6.2 6.4 5.9

At opening establishments ............ 226 189 212 215 210 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1

Gross job losses ........................... 1,406 1,268 1,264 1,259 1,352 7.5 6.8 6.6 6.6 7.0

At contracting establishments ......... 1,160 1,049 1,029 1,049 1,118 6.2 5.6 5.4 5.5 5.8

At closing establishments ............ 246 219 235 210 234 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2

Net employment change .............. -42 28 132 178 -4 -.3 .1 .7 .9 .0

Natural resources and mining

Gross job gains ........................... 284 261 276 301 293 15.6 14.2 15.0 16.0 15.1

At expanding establishments ......... 240 225 239 259 250 13.2 12.2 13.0 13.8 12.9

At opening establishments ............ 44 36 37 42 43 2.4 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.2

Gross job losses ........................... 278 260 259 239 269 15.2 14.1 14.0 12.8 13.9

At contracting establishments ......... 241 225 214 208 234 13.2 12.2 11.6 11.1 12.1

At closing establishments ............ 37 35 45 31 35 2.0 1.9 2.4 1.7 1.8

Net employment change .............. 6 1 17 62 24 .4 .1 1.0 3.2 1.2

Construction

Gross job gains ........................... 638 613 662 678 623 11.6 11.3 12.2 12.3 11.3

At expanding establishments ......... 499 493 526 544 495 9.1 9.1 9.7 9.9 9.0

At opening establishments ............ 139 120 136 134 128 2.5 2.2 2.5 2.4 2.3

Gross job losses ........................... 697 638 626 613 656 12.8 11.8 11.5 11.2 11.8

At contracting establishments ......... 541 499 488 483 511 9.9 9.2 9.0 8.8 9.2

At closing establishments ............ 156 139 138 130 145 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.6

Net employment change .............. -59 -25 36 65 -33 -1.2 -.5 .7 1.1 -.5

Manufacturing

Gross job gains ........................... 442 422 458 458 432 3.9 3.6 3.9 3.9 3.6

At expanding establishments ......... 399 389 419 419 393 3.5 3.3 3.6 3.6 3.3

At opening establishments ............ 43 33 39 39 39 .4 .3 .3 .3 .3

Gross job losses ........................... 431 370 379 407 427 3.8 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.7

At contracting establishments ......... 378 325 327 358 373 3.3 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.2

At closing establishments ............ 53 45 52 49 54 .5 .4 .4 .4 .5

Net employment change .............. 11 52 79 51 5 .1 .4 .7 .5 -.1

Service-providing 1

Gross job gains ........................... 5,645 5,042 5,496 5,621 5,506 6.4 5.7 6.2 6.3 6.1

At expanding establishments ......... 4,493 4,123 4,443 4,523 4,404 5.1 4.7 5.0 5.1 4.9

At opening establishments ............ 1,152 919 1,053 1,098 1,102 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2

Gross job losses ........................... 5,021 4,818 5,050 5,046 5,134 5.7 5.5 5.7 5.7 5.8

At contracting establishments ......... 4,039 3,920 4,054 4,111 4,094 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.6

At closing establishments ............ 982 898 996 935 1,040 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2

Net employment change .............. 624 224 446 575 372 .7 .2 .5 .6 .3

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains ........................... 281 258 285 283 275 5.2 4.7 5.2 5.1 4.9

At expanding establishments ......... 223 214 235 230 224 4.1 3.9 4.3 4.1 4.0

At opening establishments ............ 58 44 50 53 51 1.1 .8 .9 1.0 .9

Gross job losses ........................... 253 246 243 256 251 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.6 4.5

At contracting establishments ......... 197 189 185 202 191 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.6 3.4

At closing establishments ............ 56 57 58 54 60 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1

Net employment change .............. 28 12 42 27 24 .6 .3 .9 .5 .4

See footnote at end of table.

Category

Gross job gains and losses (in thousands) Gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment

(3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Table 3. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, seasonally adjusted —Continued

Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011

Retail trade

Gross job gains ........................... 893 805 895 870 892 6.2 5.5 6.1 5.9 6.1

At expanding establishments ......... 763 698 769 736 775 5.3 4.8 5.2 5.0 5.3

At opening establishments ............ 130 107 126 134 117 .9 .7 .9 .9 .8

Gross job losses ........................... 812 814 768 864 813 5.6 5.6 5.2 5.8 5.6

At contracting establishments ......... 692 704 648 754 687 4.8 4.8 4.4 5.1 4.7

At closing establishments ............ 120 110 120 110 126 .8 .8 .8 .7 .9

Net employment change .............. 81 -9 127 6 79 .6 -.1 .9 .1 .5

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains ........................... 253 204 220 227 244 6.3 5.1 5.4 5.6 5.9

At expanding establishments ......... 217 173 187 192 211 5.4 4.3 4.6 4.7 5.1

At opening establishments ............ 36 31 33 35 33 .9 .8 .8 .9 .8

Gross job losses ........................... 193 223 200 196 202 4.8 5.5 4.9 4.8 4.9

At contracting establishments ......... 160 190 164 163 165 4.0 4.7 4.0 4.0 4.0

At closing establishments ............ 33 33 36 33 37 .8 .8 .9 .8 .9

Net employment change .............. 60 -19 20 31 42 1.5 -.4 .5 .8 1.0

Utilities

Gross job gains ........................... 12 11 12 11 12 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.2

At expanding establishments ......... 10 10 10 10 10 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8

At opening establishments ............ 2 1 2 1 2 .4 .2 .4 .2 .4

Gross job losses ........................... 11 9 13 12 12 2.0 1.7 2.4 2.2 2.2

At contracting establishments ......... 10 8 12 11 11 1.8 1.5 2.2 2.0 2.0

At closing establishments ............ 1 1 1 1 1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2

Net employment change .............. 1 2 -1 -1 0 .2 .3 -.2 -.2 .0

 Information

Gross job gains ........................... 127 111 124 123 123 4.8 4.1 4.7 4.6 4.6

At expanding establishments ......... 104 95 106 102 99 3.9 3.5 4.0 3.8 3.7

At opening establishments ............ 23 16 18 21 24 .9 .6 .7 .8 .9

Gross job losses ........................... 138 130 129 122 135 5.1 4.8 4.8 4.5 5.1

At contracting establishments ......... 114 110 103 103 101 4.2 4.1 3.8 3.8 3.8

At closing establishments ............ 24 20 26 19 34 .9 .7 1.0 .7 1.3

Net employment change .............. -11 -19 -5 1 -12 -.3 -.7 -.1 .1 -.5

Financial activities

Gross job gains ........................... 369 317 346 370 359 5.0 4.3 4.6 5.0 4.8

At expanding establishments ......... 282 257 277 294 282 3.8 3.5 3.7 4.0 3.8

At opening establishments ............ 87 60 69 76 77 1.2 .8 .9 1.0 1.0

Gross job losses ........................... 346 334 352 336 352 4.7 4.5 4.8 4.6 4.7

At contracting establishments ......... 263 255 272 258 268 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.5 3.6

At closing establishments ............ 83 79 80 78 84 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1

Net employment change .............. 23 -17 -6 34 7 .3 -.2 -.2 .4 .1

Professional and business services

Gross job gains ........................... 1,387 1,219 1,300 1,359 1,340 8.2 7.1 7.6 7.8 7.7

At expanding establishments ......... 1,116 1,013 1,063 1,109 1,077 6.6 5.9 6.2 6.4 6.2

At opening establishments ............ 271 206 237 250 263 1.6 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.5

Gross job losses ........................... 1,176 1,134 1,212 1,152 1,249 6.9 6.6 7.0 6.7 7.2

At contracting establishments ......... 918 907 948 915 977 5.4 5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6

At closing establishments ............ 258 227 264 237 272 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.6

Net employment change .............. 211 85 88 207 91 1.3 .5 .6 1.1 .5

Education and health services

Gross job gains ........................... 842 733 777 841 800 4.5 3.8 4.1 4.4 4.2

At expanding establishments ......... 697 630 660 710 672 3.7 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.5

At opening establishments ............ 145 103 117 131 128 .8 .5 .6 .7 .7

Gross job losses ........................... 704 668 751 707 731 3.8 3.6 4.0 3.7 3.8

At contracting establishments ......... 580 558 618 588 601 3.1 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.1

At closing establishments ............ 124 110 133 119 130 .7 .6 .7 .6 .7

Net employment change .............. 138 65 26 134 69 .7 .2 .1 .7 .4

See footnote at end of table.

Category

Gross job gains and losses (in thousands) Gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment

(3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Table 3. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, seasonally adjusted —Continued

Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011

 Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains ........................... 1,131 1,037 1,166 1,170 1,099 8.6 7.9 8.8 8.8 8.1

At expanding establishments ......... 862 814 903 914 838 6.6 6.2 6.8 6.9 6.2

At opening establishments ............ 269 223 263 256 261 2.0 1.7 2.0 1.9 1.9

Gross job losses ........................... 1,100 985 1,095 1,104 1,101 8.4 7.4 8.3 8.2 8.2

At contracting establishments ......... 893 799 901 899 882 6.8 6.0 6.8 6.7 6.6

At closing establishments ............ 207 186 194 205 219 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6

Net employment change .............. 31 52 71 66 -2 .2 .5 .5 .6 -.1

 Other services

Gross job gains ........................... 272 258 280 277 259 7.3 6.9 7.4 7.3 6.9

At expanding establishments ......... 210 206 222 215 204 5.6 5.5 5.9 5.7 5.4

At opening establishments ............ 62 52 58 62 55 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5

Gross job losses ........................... 267 249 259 270 261 7.2 6.7 6.9 7.2 6.9

At contracting establishments ......... 207 193 196 211 204 5.6 5.2 5.2 5.6 5.4

At closing establishments ............ 60 56 63 59 57 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.5

Net employment change .............. 5 9 21 7 -2 .1 .2 .5 .1 .0

1 Includes unclassified sector, not shown separately.

Category

Gross job gains and losses (in thousands) Gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment

(3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Table 4. Private sector gross job gains and losses by firm size, seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

gains losses gains losses gains losses gains losses

2001 March 52 7,033 6,981 23 3,508 3,485 -87 1,277 1,364 116 2,248 2,132

June -843 6,432 7,275 -123 3,393 3,516 -180 1,223 1,403 -540 1,816 2,356

September -1,214 6,124 7,338 -271 3,333 3,604 -253 1,142 1,395 -690 1,649 2,339

December -1,041 6,146 7,187 -118 3,325 3,443 -200 1,138 1,338 -723 1,683 2,406

2002 March 70 6,602 6,532 54 3,402 3,348 -52 1,194 1,246 68 2,006 1,938

June -61 6,416 6,477 69 3,379 3,310 -7 1,191 1,198 -123 1,846 1,969

September -176 6,190 6,366 20 3,335 3,315 -46 1,144 1,190 -150 1,711 1,861

December -247 6,114 6,361 -3 3,299 3,302 -73 1,106 1,179 -171 1,709 1,880

2003 March -326 6,112 6,438 -135 3,257 3,392 -56 1,127 1,183 -135 1,728 1,863

June -137 6,108 6,245 112 3,346 3,234 -26 1,133 1,159 -223 1,629 1,852

September 193 6,162 5,969 120 3,327 3,207 21 1,127 1,106 52 1,708 1,656

December 310 6,218 5,908 146 3,340 3,194 32 1,128 1,096 132 1,750 1,618

2004 March 430 6,306 5,876 153 3,392 3,239 137 1,194 1,057 140 1,720 1,580

June 621 6,471 5,850 169 3,387 3,218 141 1,196 1,055 311 1,888 1,577

September 197 6,243 6,046 88 3,379 3,291 88 1,175 1,087 21 1,689 1,668

December 759 6,494 5,735 274 3,480 3,206 101 1,172 1,071 384 1,842 1,458

2005 March 368 6,320 5,952 66 3,416 3,350 97 1,161 1,064 205 1,743 1,538

June 570 6,435 5,865 243 3,476 3,233 146 1,198 1,052 181 1,761 1,580

September 701 6,672 5,971 218 3,510 3,292 85 1,195 1,110 398 1,967 1,569

December 506 6,406 5,900 169 3,462 3,293 45 1,140 1,095 292 1,804 1,512

2006 March 788 6,433 5,645 334 3,547 3,213 222 1,213 991 232 1,673 1,441

June 375 6,349 5,974 117 3,434 3,317 110 1,190 1,080 148 1,725 1,577

September 43 6,103 6,060 -14 3,329 3,343 27 1,127 1,100 30 1,647 1,617

December 447 6,375 5,928 117 3,393 3,276 74 1,147 1,073 256 1,835 1,579

2007 March 481 6,301 5,820 196 3,454 3,258 109 1,155 1,046 176 1,692 1,516

June 170 6,260 6,090 -28 3,340 3,368 106 1,181 1,075 92 1,739 1,647

September -252 5,907 6,159 -129 3,256 3,385 -53 1,075 1,128 -70 1,576 1,646

December 259 6,231 5,972 -10 3,304 3,314 51 1,133 1,082 218 1,794 1,576

2008 March -259 5,810 6,069 -132 3,240 3,372 0 1,076 1,076 -127 1,494 1,621

June -552 5,862 6,414 -282 3,181 3,463 -38 1,100 1,138 -232 1,581 1,813

September -1,016 5,499 6,515 -354 3,045 3,399 -161 1,015 1,176 -501 1,439 1,940

December -1,880 5,323 7,203 -706 2,898 3,604 -380 941 1,321 -794 1,484 2,278

2009 March -2,626 4,582 7,208 -962 2,725 3,687 -600 807 1,407 -1,064 1,050 2,114

June -1,776 5,176 6,952 -472 2,952 3,424 -276 958 1,234 -1,028 1,266 2,294

September -957 5,134 6,091 -382 2,818 3,200 -127 928 1,055 -448 1,388 1,836

December -310 5,389 5,699 -176 2,928 3,104 -52 957 1,009 -82 1,504 1,586

2010 March -213 5,096 5,309 -177 2,866 3,043 7 910 903 -43 1,320 1,363

June 686 5,819 5,133 236 3,096 2,860 211 1,080 869 239 1,643 1,404

September 175 5,493 5,318 14 2,935 2,921 72 995 923 89 1,563 1,474

December 502 5,769 5,267 74 3,036 2,962 87 1,029 942 341 1,704 1,363

2011 March 300 5,270 4,970 95 2,931 2,836 120 954 834 85 1,385 1,300

June 513 5,727 5,214 174 3,043 2,869 174 1,066 892 165 1,618 1,453

September 747 5,869 5,122 207 3,061 2,854 150 1,052 902 390 1,756 1,366

December 305 5,572 5,267 5 2,921 2,916 42 981 939 258 1,670 1,412

NOTE: See http://www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmfirmsize.htm for more detailed firm size class data

2 Net change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses.

3 Net change totals for the firm-level data differ from the establishment-level data due to independent seasonal adjustment.

Year 3 months ended

Total private by firm1 Firm size 1 - 49 employees

1 Total gross job gains and gross job losses by firm are lower than total gross job gains and gross job losses by establishment, as some establishment gains 

and losses within a firm are offset during the aggregation process. 

Firm size 50 - 249 employees Firm size 250 or more

Net 

change2,3

Gross job Net 

change

Gross job Net 

change

Gross job Net 

change

Gross job
Table 5. Components of private sector gross job gains and losses by firm size, seasonally adjusted

Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011

Total private by firm 1

Gross job gains ........................ 5,769 5,270 5,727 5,869 5,572 5.4 4.9 5.3 5.5 5.1

At expanding firms .................. 4,792 4,414 4,829 4,952 4,678 4.5 4.1 4.5 4.6 4.3

At opening firms ..................... 977 856 898 917 894 .9 .8 .8 .9 .8

Gross job losses ........................ 5,267 4,970 5,214 5,122 5,267 4.9 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.9

At contracting firms .................. 4,392 4,122 4,320 4,292 4,393 4.1 3.9 4.0 4.0 4.1

At closing firms ................... 875 848 894 830 874 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8

Net employment change ............. 502 300 513 747 305 .5 .2 .5 .7 .2

Firm size 1 to 49 employees

Gross job gains ........................ 3,036 2,931 3,043 3,061 2,921 9.8 9.5 9.7 9.8 9.3

At expanding firms .................. 2,105 2,102 2,188 2,186 2,071 6.8 6.8 7.0 7.0 6.6

At opening firms ..................... 931 829 855 875 850 3.0 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.7

Gross job losses ........................ 2,962 2,836 2,869 2,854 2,916 9.6 9.1 9.2 9.2 9.3

At contracting firms .................. 2,128 2,020 2,009 2,053 2,078 6.9 6.5 6.4 6.6 6.6

At closing firms ................... 834 816 860 801 838 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.6 2.7

Net employment change ............. 74 95 174 207 5 .2 .4 .5 .6 .0

Firm size 50 to 249 employees

Gross job gains ........................ 1,029 954 1,066 1,052 981 5.3 4.8 5.4 5.3 4.9

At expanding firms .................. 990 930 1,030 1,016 945 5.1 4.7 5.2 5.1 4.7

At opening firms ..................... 39 24 36 36 36 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2

Gross job losses ........................ 942 834 892 902 939 4.8 4.2 4.5 4.5 4.7

At contracting firms .................. 906 807 865 877 907 4.6 4.1 4.4 4.4 4.5

At closing firms ................... 36 27 27 25 32 .2 .1 .1 .1 .2

Net employment change ............. 87 120 174 150 42 .5 .6 .9 .8 .2

Firm size 250 or more employees

Gross job gains ........................ 1,704 1,385 1,618 1,756 1,670 3.1 2.5 2.9 3.1 2.9

At expanding firms .................. 1,697 1,382 1,611 1,750 1,662 3.1 2.5 2.9 3.1 2.9

At opening firms ..................... 7 3 7 6 8 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0

Gross job losses ........................ 1,363 1,300 1,453 1,366 1,412 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.5

At contracting firms .................. 1,358 1,295 1,446 1,362 1,408 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.5

At closing firms ................... 5 5 7 4 4 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0

Net employment change ............. 341 85 165 390 258 .7 .2 .3 .7 .4

1 Total gross job gains and gross job losses by firm are lower than total gross job gains and gross job losses by establishment, as some establishment gains and 

losses within a firm are offset during the aggregation process. 

Category

Gross job gains and losses (in thousands) Gross job gains and losses as a percent of employment

(3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Table 6. Private sector gross job gains and losses by state, seasonally adjusted

Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011

United States 1

 ............ 7,009,000 6,338,000 6,892,000 7,058,000 6,854,000 6,427,000 6,086,000 6,314,000 6,305,000 6,486,000

Alabama .................. 92,703 84,637 85,592 89,163 84,902 89,303 84,577 88,057 80,766 86,811

Alaska ..................... 23,714 23,704 26,682 24,543 22,945 25,098 21,076 23,216 23,016 26,148

Arizona .................. 141,959 116,287 126,242 137,222 141,007 113,441 119,945 122,634 117,282 122,629

Arkansas .................. 53,841 56,325 53,865 61,843 59,014 57,528 54,661 59,326 55,999 50,570

California .................. 869,765 752,097 829,483 891,979 859,658 768,114 743,843 779,015 808,154 779,826

Colorado .................. 130,478 122,766 131,469 131,059 128,595 121,381 115,795 114,903 116,008 122,675

Connecticut ............... 73,952 68,916 77,071 73,048 72,755 71,930 69,652 66,307 68,789 70,840

Delaware .................. 21,865 21,934 22,247 24,591 21,495 22,473 20,460 23,686 23,409 21,336

District of Columbia ... 27,326 32,551 28,237 25,787 25,702 24,844 21,185 25,721 24,632 24,711

Florida ..................... 449,196 379,849 425,637 434,967 435,381 410,096 363,736 394,012 388,491 412,001

Georgia .................. 213,709 209,182 204,074 205,602 201,650 197,217 189,167 197,983 199,107 200,263

Hawaii ..................... 26,710 24,022 23,772 27,275 25,022 23,085 23,055 28,239 22,296 22,485

Idaho ..................... 40,396 35,101 37,182 41,201 37,046 38,004 37,154 37,510 33,989 37,708

Illinois ..................... 283,029 243,874 273,748 274,868 266,469 250,035 237,315 242,868 253,937 258,087

Indiana ..................... 147,601 134,570 134,642 147,420 141,985 130,056 116,631 127,648 128,058 133,390

Iowa ........................ 76,155 66,167 71,914 73,955 71,149 67,853 67,143 65,640 64,523 68,595

Kansas ..................... 71,306 59,023 63,561 66,004 65,001 59,548 60,921 62,431 61,473 61,692

Kentucky .................. 92,394 81,058 86,726 88,635 87,176 80,264 83,398 80,396 78,431 81,718

Louisiana .................. 104,538 101,107 96,036 105,596 99,191 101,157 91,929 103,403 88,932 96,098

Maine ..................... 35,285 31,923 36,874 36,194 33,038 35,153 33,587 34,606 32,251 34,945

Maryland .................. 129,128 120,590 130,489 131,940 128,539 124,276 119,259 124,892 122,518 122,002

Massachusetts ............ 157,256 140,586 159,052 167,845 144,205 149,093 140,876 142,030 146,737 150,404

Michigan .................. 210,265 197,929 218,137 227,785 202,960 205,916 181,677 200,177 190,661 198,242

Minnesota ............... 133,344 127,308 141,827 143,523 125,786 128,021 119,396 120,988 117,440 130,800

Mississippi ............... 56,206 54,905 51,146 53,661 51,504 55,128 52,004 56,420 52,391 50,410

Missouri .................. 125,381 124,161 128,455 128,195 135,130 118,878 121,614 122,957 127,272 122,259

Montana .................. 27,412 24,773 27,613 28,498 28,859 27,464 24,600 25,488 24,128 26,620

Nebraska .................. 42,503 40,626 42,236 42,691 43,312 41,662 39,873 40,384 39,740 39,971

Nevada ..................... 68,182 57,570 61,627 64,218 57,458 58,354 55,923 61,678 57,425 55,206

New Hampshire ......... 36,320 32,184 35,249 35,229 35,786 33,028 32,166 33,877 33,518 33,721

New Jersey ............... 204,445 187,187 220,220 204,955 209,431 192,833 196,954 191,595 195,289 195,955

New Mexico ............ 40,203 35,792 39,688 40,942 37,164 38,293 36,000 38,632 37,790 40,290

New York ............... 443,101 415,350 464,287 460,896 436,423 413,552 388,706 407,215 420,817 426,749

North Carolina ............ 208,892 201,177 201,804 197,920 202,558 193,313 179,918 186,868 189,164 191,808

North Dakota ............ 25,477 24,301 22,027 31,013 32,270 17,817 18,710 20,698 18,430 19,899

Ohio ........................ 263,829 232,634 255,425 258,434 252,833 248,000 225,754 224,156 224,984 238,467

Oklahoma ............... 78,140 70,542 72,898 77,646 75,051 63,495 72,208 66,793 70,215 73,191

Oregon ..................... 93,768 90,387 87,393 100,035 92,624 91,329 85,528 84,050 78,502 92,328

Pennsylvania ............ 287,353 256,356 276,634 264,527 276,936 255,340 245,437 249,470 265,920 245,749

Rhode Island ............ 23,892 21,940 26,431 23,227 23,838 24,293 23,049 24,728 23,335 24,926

South Carolina ............ 90,254 86,054 91,667 90,563 90,346 82,846 79,478 85,150 87,749 82,032

South Dakota ............ 21,290 19,073 21,404 22,160 21,579 19,484 20,405 19,116 18,938 19,441

Tennessee ............... 129,496 121,094 126,896 128,156 136,418 113,331 108,222 110,348 117,113 116,607

Texas ..................... 521,355 487,171 512,733 540,240 522,310 434,541 430,556 442,173 441,962 456,424

Utah ........................ 69,949 64,660 68,917 68,859 69,738 62,878 60,897 61,092 56,810 60,954

Vermont .................. 19,007 15,834 18,615 18,533 20,184 16,786 17,121 18,265 18,741 16,318

Virginia .................. 177,039 163,055 173,719 172,449 177,651 166,124 155,930 163,481 158,109 174,723

Washington ............... 165,022 152,331 156,143 172,347 163,346 158,113 145,613 149,155 132,961 162,721

West Virginia ............ 34,909 35,855 35,737 36,863 37,872 34,879 32,383 33,306 33,902 32,794

Wisconsin ............... 138,480 126,622 133,862 131,978 125,731 128,104 123,857 122,475 123,201 130,742

Wyoming .................. 19,363 16,627 17,857 19,903 19,756 18,449 17,712 18,183 15,437 17,401

Puerto Rico ............... 45,464 36,260 38,389 41,592 45,676 37,113 41,528 41,232 36,646 37,845

Virgin Islands ............ 2,417 2,134 1,848 1,772 1,845 1,774 2,192 2,836 2,213 1,920

1 The sum of the states will not necessarily add to the U.S. total because of the independent seasonal adjustment of each state.

NOTE: Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

State

Gross job gains Gross job losses

(3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Table 7. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted

Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec. Dec. Mar. June Sept. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011

United States .......................... 6.6 5.9 6.4 6.5 6.3 6.1 5.7 5.8 5.9 6.0

Alabama ............................. 6.4 5.8 5.9 6.2 5.9 6.1 5.9 6.1 5.6 6.0

Alaska ................................. 10.0 9.8 11.0 10.0 9.4 10.5 8.8 9.5 9.4 10.7

Arizona ............................... 7.2 5.9 6.4 6.9 7.0 5.8 6.1 6.2 5.9 6.0

Arkansas .............................. 5.8 6.1 5.8 6.7 6.2 6.1 5.9 6.4 6.0 5.3

California ........................... 7.3 6.3 7.0 7.4 7.1 6.5 6.3 6.6 6.7 6.5

Colorado .............................. 7.2 6.8 7.2 7.1 7.0 6.7 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.6

Connecticut ......................... 5.4 5.1 5.7 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.2 4.8 5.0 5.2

Delaware .............................. 6.4 6.4 6.5 7.2 6.3 6.6 6.0 6.9 6.8 6.2

District of Columbia ............... 6.2 7.2 6.2 5.7 5.6 5.6 4.7 5.6 5.4 5.4

Florida ................................. 7.4 6.3 7.0 7.0 7.0 6.7 6.0 6.4 6.3 6.7

Georgia .............................. 6.9 6.7 6.6 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.0 6.3 6.4 6.4

Hawaii ............................... 5.7 5.1 5.1 5.8 5.2 5.0 4.9 6.0 4.7 4.7

Idaho .................................... 8.2 7.1 7.5 8.3 7.4 7.7 7.5 7.6 6.8 7.5

Illinois ................................ 6.0 5.1 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.3 5.0 5.1 5.4 5.4

Indiana ............................... 6.4 5.8 5.8 6.2 6.0 5.6 5.0 5.4 5.4 5.6

Iowa .................................... 6.3 5.5 6.0 6.1 5.8 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.3 5.7

Kansas ................................. 6.8 5.6 6.1 6.2 6.1 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.9 5.8

Kentucky .............................. 6.5 5.8 6.1 6.2 6.1 5.7 5.9 5.7 5.5 5.7

Louisiana .............................. 7.0 6.7 6.3 7.0 6.5 6.8 6.1 6.9 5.9 6.4

Maine ................................ 7.4 6.7 7.7 7.5 6.8 7.4 7.0 7.2 6.7 7.3

Maryland ............................ 6.6 6.1 6.6 6.6 6.4 6.3 6.0 6.3 6.1 6.1

Massachusetts ....................... 5.8 5.2 5.9 6.1 5.2 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.3 5.5

Michigan ............................. 6.5 6.1 6.7 7.0 6.1 6.4 5.7 6.1 5.8 6.0

Minnesota ........................... 6.1 5.8 6.4 6.4 5.6 5.8 5.4 5.5 5.2 5.8

Mississippi ........................... 6.7 6.5 6.1 6.4 6.1 6.6 6.2 6.7 6.3 6.1

Missouri .............................. 5.9 5.8 6.0 6.0 6.3 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.7

Montana ............................... 8.1 7.4 8.2 8.4 8.4 8.1 7.3 7.5 7.1 7.8

Nebraska .............................. 5.7 5.5 5.7 5.7 5.8 5.7 5.4 5.5 5.4 5.3

Nevada ............................... 7.1 6.0 6.3 6.7 6.0 6.1 5.8 6.4 5.9 5.7

New Hampshire ..................... 7.0 6.2 6.8 6.7 6.9 6.4 6.2 6.6 6.4 6.5

New Jersey ........................... 6.5 5.9 7.0 6.4 6.5 6.2 6.2 6.0 6.2 6.2

New Mexico ........................ 6.8 6.0 6.6 6.9 6.3 6.5 6.1 6.5 6.4 6.7

New York ........................... 6.4 6.0 6.6 6.5 6.1 6.0 5.5 5.8 5.9 6.0

North Carolina ........................ 6.7 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.3 5.7 5.9 6.0 6.0

North Dakota ........................ 8.5 8.0 7.2 9.9 10.0 6.0 6.1 6.8 5.9 6.2

Ohio .................................... 6.3 5.5 6.1 6.1 5.9 5.9 5.4 5.3 5.3 5.6

Oklahoma ........................... 6.6 6.0 6.2 6.5 6.3 5.4 6.1 5.6 5.9 6.1

Oregon ................................. 7.1 6.8 6.6 7.5 6.9 6.9 6.5 6.3 5.9 6.8

Pennsylvania ........................ 6.0 5.4 5.8 5.5 5.7 5.4 5.1 5.2 5.5 5.1

Rhode Island ........................ 6.1 5.6 6.8 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.0 6.4 6.0 6.4

South Carolina ........................ 6.3 6.0 6.4 6.2 6.2 5.8 5.5 5.9 6.0 5.6

South Dakota ........................ 6.7 6.0 6.7 6.8 6.6 6.1 6.3 6.0 5.9 6.0

Tennessee ........................... 6.0 5.6 5.8 5.9 6.2 5.3 5.0 5.1 5.3 5.3

Texas ................................. 6.2 5.7 6.0 6.3 6.0 5.2 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.3

Utah .................................... 7.3 6.7 7.2 7.1 7.2 6.6 6.4 6.3 5.9 6.2

Vermont .............................. 7.9 6.5 7.7 7.7 8.3 7.0 7.1 7.6 7.7 6.7

Virginia .............................. 6.2 5.7 6.1 6.0 6.1 5.8 5.4 5.7 5.5 6.1

Washington ........................... 7.3 6.7 7.0 7.6 7.2 7.1 6.4 6.6 5.8 7.1

West Virginia ........................ 6.3 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.7 6.3 5.8 6.0 6.1 5.8

Wisconsin ........................... 6.1 5.6 5.9 5.8 5.5 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.7

Wyoming .............................. 9.3 8.0 8.6 9.6 9.3 8.9 8.5 8.7 7.4 8.2

Puerto Rico ........................... 6.8 5.4 5.8 6.2 6.8 5.5 6.2 6.2 5.4 5.6

Virgin Islands ........................ 7.7 6.7 5.8 5.6 6.0 5.6 6.9 9.0 7.1 6.2

NOTE: Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

State

Gross job gains as a percent of employment Gross job losses as a percent of employment

(3 months ended) (3 months ended)
Table 8. Private sector establishment births and deaths, seasonally adjusted

(Levels in thousands)

Level Rate 2 Level Rate Level Rate Level Rate

2001 March 206 3.3 203 3.2 1,187 1.1 1,303 1.2

June 204 3.2 204 3.2 1,146 1.0 1,226 1.1

September 204 3.2 207 3.3 1,151 1.1 1,219 1.1

December 194 3.1 200 3.2 1,109 1.0 1,142 1.1

2002 March 204 3.2 190 3.0 1,175 1.1 1,089 1.0

June 208 3.3 187 2.9 1,189 1.1 1,080 1.0

September 199 3.1 184 2.9 1,051 1.0 1,023 1.0

December 201 3.1 191 3.0 1,023 1.0 1,021 1.0

2003 March 193 3.0 186 2.9 1,004 .9 1,011 .9

June 191 3.0 186 2.9 964 .9 951 .9

September 193 3.0 179 2.8 954 .9 884 .8

December 200 3.1 180 2.8 998 .9 910 .9

2004 March 207 3.2 180 2.8 1,000 .9 917 .9

June 203 3.1 185 2.8 980 .9 909 .8

September 209 3.2 186 2.8 1,016 .9 953 .9

December 210 3.2 180 2.7 997 .9 894 .8

2005 March 209 3.1 185 2.8 944 .9 852 .8

June 216 3.2 180 2.7 951 .9 841 .8

September 221 3.3 186 2.8 996 .9 884 .8

December 221 3.3 186 2.8 979 .9 846 .8

2006 March 220 3.2 180 2.6 924 .8 748 .7

June 221 3.2 194 2.8 973 .9 841 .7

September 210 3.1 196 2.9 927 .8 836 .7

December 221 3.2 194 2.8 959 .8 804 .7

2007 March 214 3.1 193 2.8 896 .8 768 .7

June 206 3.0 202 2.9 883 .8 851 .7

September 216 3.1 203 2.9 944 .8 837 .7

December 208 3.0 207 3.0 903 .8 830 .7

2008 March 207 3.0 211 3.0 894 .8 810 .7

June 200 2.9 228 3.3 876 .8 934 .8

September 191 2.7 223 3.2 830 .7 881 .8

December 188 2.7 240 3.5 801 .7 953 .9

2009 March 172 2.5 235 3.4 701 .6 846 .8

June 177 2.6 226 3.3 741 .7 832 .8

September 169 2.5 215 3.2 694 .7 786 .7

December 182 2.7 200 3.0 713 .7 741 .7

2010 March 175 2.6 194 2.9 684 .7 664 .6

June 179 2.7 185 2.7 713 .7 652 .6

September 188 2.8 189 2.8 743 .7 695 .7

December 200 2.9 186 2.7 792 .7 691 .7

2011 March 183 2.7 185 2.7 660 .6 613 .6

June 187 2.7 N/A N/A 727 .7 N/A N/A

September 191 2.8 N/A N/A 763 .7 N/A N/A

December 197 2.9 N/A N/A 778 .7 N/A N/A

1 Values for deaths are not available for the most recent three quarters. See the Technical Note for more information.

2 The rates measure births and deaths as a percentage of the average of the previous and current quarter employment levels or total number of establishments

Year 3 months ended

Number of Establishments Employment

Births Deaths 1 Births Deaths