Technical information: (202) 691-6467 USDL 05-2277 

 http://www.bls.gov/bdm/ 

 For release: 10:00 A.M. EST 

Media contact: 691-5902 Thursday, December 8, 2005 

NEW QUARTERLY DATA FROM BLS ON BUSINESS EMPLOYMENT 

DYNAMICS BY SIZE OF FIRM 

New data on Business Employment Dynamics (BED) by firm size were introduced today by the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. These data show how large firms, small 

firms, or both are creating or losing jobs in the economy. These new data detail nine different size classes in the private sector spanning September 1992 to March 2005, and include measures of gross job 

gains, gross job losses, and net employment change. They can be used to examine employment trends for 

different firm-size classes on a relatively current basis or for selected time periods of particular interest, 

such as over-the-year changes or for different points in the business cycle. This release presents a brief 

analysis of the data over the full time series, during the 2001 recession, and for the first quarter of 2005, 

the most recently available quarter. For example, the data show that, from September 1992 through 

March 2005, firms with fewer than 500 employees accounted, on average, for 65 percent of quarterly net 

employment growth, representing 13.5 million out of 20.6 million net jobs created by the total private 

sector. (See chart 2 and tables A and D.) As of March 2005, firms with fewer than 500 employees 

accounted for 55.8 percent of private sector employment. (See table B.) 

What are Business Employment Dynamics?

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that 

occur at all firms in the economy. These new data track the changes in employment at private business firms 

from one quarter to the next and allocate the gain or loss in employment into the appropriate firm-size class. 

Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions in employment at existing firms and 

Chart 2. Cumulative average share of total quarterly gross job gains, gross job 

losses, and net employment change by firm size, September 1992 - March 2005, 

seasonally adjusted

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

1 - 4 1 - 9 1 - 19 1 - 49 1 - 99 1 - 249 1 - 499 1 - 999 All Fims

Size Class - Number of Employees

Cumulative Percent

Share of net change Share of gross job gains Share of gross job losses

Chart 1. Average share of total quarterly gross job gains, gross job losses, and 

net employment change by firm size, September 1992 - March 2005, 

seasonally adjusted

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

1 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 19 20 - 49 50 - 99 100 - 249 250 - 499 500 - 999 1,000 or

More

Size Class - Number of Employees

Percent

Share of net change Share of gross job gains Share of gross job losses
2

the addition of new jobs at opening firms. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at 

existing firms and the loss of jobs at closing firms. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and 

the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment. Thus, the BED statistics show the labor market 

flows that underlie the net employment change. The BED statistics for this release are measured at the firm

level rather than the establishment level, and are not comparable to other BED data series. (See the Technical 

Note for a more complete discussion of these data.)

Table A. Net change in employment, third quarter 1992 - first quarter 2005, seasonally adjusted 

(In thousands)

Size class (number of employees)

1 5 10 20 50 100 250 500 1,000

- - - - - - - - or

Category Total 

private

4 9 19 49 99 249 499 999 more

Net change in

 Employment... 20,597 2,014 1,379 1,705 2,529 1,924 2,411 1,502 1,213 5,920

Cumulative........ - 2,014 3,393 5,098 7,627 9,551 11,962 13,464 14,677 20,597

Size Distribution of Firms

At the end of the first quarter of 2005, there were 4.9 million firms in the private sector of the U.S. economy. Firms with fewer than 500 employees accounted for 99.6 percent of all firms and 55.8 percent of total 

employment. Of the firms included in the BED data, 54.4 percent had 1–4 employees, representing 5.2 percent 

of total employment. In contrast, firms with 1,000 or more employees accounted for 0.2 percent of firms and 

had 37.4 percent of total employment. (See table B.)

Number of 

firms

Cumulative 

total

Share 

of total

Cumulative 

share

Number of 

employees

Cumulative 

total

Share 

of total 

Cumulative 

share

1 - 4 employees................. 2,687 2,687 54.4 54.4 5,606 5,606 5.2 5.2

5 - 9 employees................ 1,006 3,693 20.3 74.7 6,613 12,219 6.1 11.3

10 - 19 employees............. 610 4,303 12.4 87.1 8,204 20,423 7.6 18.9

20 - 49 employees........... 392 4,695 7.9 95.0 11,801 32,223 10.9 29.9

50 - 99 employees........... 129 4,824 2.6 97.6 8,873 41,096 8.2 38.1

100 - 249 employees....... 75 4,899 1.5 99.1 11,310 52,406 10.5 48.6

250 - 499 employees........ 23 4,922 0.5 99.6 7,813 60,219 7.2 55.8

500 - 999 employees........ 11 4,932 0.2 99.8 7,334 67,553 6.8 62.6

1,000 or more employees.... 10 4,942 0.2 100.0 40,349 107,902 37.4 100.0

Table B. Number of firms and employment by size class, first quarter 2005, not seasonally adjusted

Number of firms Employment

Firm size class

In thousands Percent In thousands Percent

Average Gross Job Gains and Losses by Firm–Size Class: September 1992–March 2005

The data in this release show the dynamics within nine size classes. For example, from the third quarter of 1992 through the first quarter of 2005, the average quarterly gross job gains in the largest firms—those 

with 1,000 or more employees—were 1.2 million, and the average quarterly job losses were 1.1 million. This 

resulted in an average net quarterly gain of 117,000 jobs, or 28.8 percent of the average total net quarterly 

change. Firms with 1,000 or more employees had the largest average net quarterly gain among the nine firmsize categories used in this release. Firms with 20–49 employees had net quarterly gains of 50,000 jobs on 
3

(In thousands)

1 5 10 20 50 100 250 500 1,000

 Total - - - - - - - - or

4 9 19 49 99 249 499 999 more

Gross job gains...............6,666 950 766 794 951 606 652 396 326 1,225

 At expanding firms...... 5,573 387 591 667 843 559 618 381 316 1,211

 At opening firms.......... 1,093 563 175 127 108 47 34 15 10 14

Gross job losses............ 6,260 911 738 761 901 568 605 367 301 1,108

 At contracting firms... 5,191 388 573 636 790 516 562 347 288 1,091

 At closing firms............1,069 523 165 125 111 52 43 20 13 17

Net change........................406 39 28 33 50 38 47 29 25 117

Category

Size class (number of employees)

Table C. Average quarterly level of gross job gains and gross job losses by firm size, third quarter 1992 - first quarter 

2005, seasonally adjusted

average, or 12.3 percent of the total net change in employment—the second largest average quarterly gain. (See 

tables C and D.)

The firm-size classes presented in this release can be combined to create other groupings for analysis. For 

example, a commonly used definition of a “large” firm is 500 or more employees; data for this grouping can be 

created by combining two firm-size classes, those with 500–999 employees and those with 1,000 or more employees. Firms with 500 or more employees were, on average over the period, responsible for 23.3 percent of 

all gross quarterly job gains, 22.5 percent of gross quarterly job losses, and 35.0 percent of quarterly net gains 

in employment. (See table D.)

Generally, as firm size increases, openings and closings account for a decreasing share of gross employment changes. For example, openings and closings make up over half of gross job gains and losses for firms 

with 1–4 employees, but only about 1 percent of the gains and losses for firms with 1,000 or more employees. 

(See table D.)

(Percent)

1 5 10 20 50 100 250 500 1,000

Total - - - - - - - - or

4 9 19 49 99 249 499 999 more

Gross job gains........ 100 14.3 11.5 11.9 14.3 9.1 9.8 5.9 4.9 18.4

Expansions............. 100 6.9 10.6 12.0 15.1 10.0 11.1 6.8 5.7 21.7

Openings................ 100 51.5 16.0 11.6 9.9 4.3 3.1 1.4 0.9 1.3

Gross job losses.......... 100 14.6 11.8 12.2 14.4 9.1 9.7 5.9 4.8 17.7

Contractions............ 100 7.5 11.0 12.3 15.2 9.9 10.8 6.7 5.5 21.0

Closings.................. 100 48.9 15.4 11.7 10.4 4.9 4.0 1.9 1.2 1.6

Net change................ 100 9.6 6.9 8.1 12.3 9.4 11.6 7.1 6.2 28.8

Cumulative share of net change 9.6 16.5 24.6 36.9 46.3 57.9 65.0 71.2 100.0

1

 Share measures the percent of the category represented by each firm size class.

 Table D. Average percentage share1 of gross job gains and gross job losses by firm size, third quarter 1992 - first 

quarter 2005, seasonally adjusted

Category

Size class (number of employees)
4

Chart 3. Quarterly net employment growth Chart 4. Quarterly net employment growth in 

 in firms with 1–4 employees, firms with 1,000 or more employees,

 seasonally adjusted seasonally adjusted

(In thousands) (In thousands)

 

2001 Recession and Recovery

Firm-size class data also can be used to analyze patterns of employment changes among firms of varying 

sizes across the business cycle. All firm–size classes experienced at least one quarter of negative net employment change related to the 2001 recession, but the larger size classes experienced more quarters of net loss than 

the smaller classes. Firms with 250–499 employees and firms with 500–999 employees both saw the longest 

period of net losses, lasting 10 consecutive quarters, from the first quarter of 2001 through the second quarter of 

2003. During the same period, the smallest size class, 1–4 employees, experienced only two quarters of net job 

loss and size class 5–9 employees had just four quarters of net job loss. (See chart 3 and tables 1–10.)

During the period for which the BED data are available, overall employment declined in eight quarters—

the last three quarters of 2001 and the second quarter of 2002 through the second quarter of 2003. During these

eight quarters, firms with 500 or more employees accounted for 60 percent of net job losses. This is in contrast 

to the 35-percent average contribution of this group to the net gain in employment from September 1992 

through March 2005. 

The net employment declines associated with the 2001 recession are most evident in firms with 1,000 or 

more employees. Firms in this category had a net employment loss in the third quarter of 2001 of 578,000, 

making up 41.7 percent of the overall net employment decline. This largest firm-size class did not show 

sustained growth on a quarterly basis until September 2003. (See chart 4 and table 10.)

More recently, there have been seven consecutive quarters of overall net employment growth, from 

September 2003 through March 2005. Firms with 500 or more employees added 1.0 million new jobs, 

representing 35.9 percent of the 2.8 million net jobs gained during this period. Firms with fewer than 500 

employees accounted for the remaining 1.8 million jobs, representing 64.1 percent of the total net job gains. 

During this same period, firms with 1,000 or more employees added 842,000 jobs, representing 30.3 percent 

of the total net job gains.
5

1 5 10 20 50 100 250 500 1,000

 Total - - - - - - - - or

4 9 19 49 99 249 499 999 more

Gross job gains..................6,345 984 770 780 912 564 604 364 291 1,076

 At expanding firms............. 5,249 376 582 652 814 527 581 356 287 1,074

 At opening Firms.............. 1,096 608 188 128 98 37 23 8 4 2

Gross job losses................ 6,047 976 763 765 879 533 553 328 269 981

 At contracting firms.......... 5,003 401 592 649 788 495 524 315 262 977

 At closing firms..............1,044 575 171 116 91 38 29 13 7 4

Net change..................... 298 8 7 15 33 31 51 36 22 95

Gross job gains................. 5.8 17.3 11.5 9.3 7.5 6.2 5.2 4.6 4.0 2.6

 At expanding firms............4.8 6.6 8.7 7.8 6.7 5.8 5.0 4.5 3.9 2.6

 At opening Firms..............1.0 10.7 2.8 1.5 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0

Gross job losses................ 5.6 17.3 11.3 9.2 7.3 5.8 4.8 4.2 3.6 2.4

 At contracting firms...........4.6 7.1 8.8 7.8 6.5 5.4 4.5 4.0 3.5 2.4

 At closing firms............. 1.0 10.2 2.5 1.4 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0

Net change..................... 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2

Table E. Level and rate of gross job gains and losses by firm size, first quarter 2005, seasonally adjusted 

Size Class (number of employees)

Level (in thousands)

Rate (percent of employment)

Category

First Quarter 2005

From December 2004 to March 2005, the most recent quarter for which the data are available, there 

were 6.3 million gross job gains and 6.0 million gross job losses by firms of all sizes, resulting in a net gain 

of 298,000 jobs, or 0.2 percent of total employment. Firms with 1,000 or more employees had 1.1 million

gross job gains, the largest gross job gains of any size class. The same size class had 981,000 gross job losses,

leading to a net increase of 95,000 jobs in this size group. This net job increase represented the largest net 

employment gain among firms of all sizes, and accounted for 31.9 percent of the total net change in employment in the quarter. (See tables E and F.)

(Percent)

1 5 10 20 50 100 250 500 1,000

Total - - - - - - - - or

4 9 19 49 99 249 499 999 more

Gross job gains............... 100 15.5 12.1 12.3 14.4 8.9 9.5 5.7 4.6 17.0

Expansions.......................100 7.2 11.1 12.4 15.5 10.0 11.1 6.8 5.5 20.5

Openings...........................100 55.5 17.2 11.7 8.9 3.4 2.1 0.7 0.4 0.2

Gross job losses........... 100 16.1 12.6 12.7 14.5 8.8 9.1 5.4 4.4 16.2

Contractions................... 100 8.0 11.8 13.0 15.8 9.9 10.5 6.3 5.2 19.5

Closings............................100 55.1 16.4 11.1 8.7 3.6 2.8 1.2 0.7 0.4

Net change....................... 100 2.7 2.3 5.0 11.1 10.4 17.1 12.1 7.4 31.9

Cumulative share of net change 2.7 5.0 10.1 21.1 31.5 48.7 60.7 68.1 100.0

1

Share measures the percent of the category represented by each firm size class.

Table F. Firm size percentage share1 of gross job gains and losses, first quarter 2005, seasonally adjusted 

Category

Size class (number of employees)
6

Firms with 1–4 employees had gross job gains of 984,000 and gross job losses of 976,000 jobs in the first 

quarter of 2005, the second largest number of both gross job gains and losses among these size classes. However, the net gain of 8,000 jobs in this size class represents the second smallest net gain in all size classes.

In the first quarter of 2005, firms with less than 500 employees represented 60.7 percent of total net change, 

while firms with 500 or more employees represented the remaining 39.3 percent of net change. (See table F.)

The rates of gross job gains and gross job losses in the smaller size classes are greater than those in the 

larger size classes. The rate is a measure of gains and losses as a percent of employment during the quarter and

represents the extent of “job churning” in each size class. During the first quarter of 2005, in the firms with 1–4 

employees, the rates of both gross job gains and gross job losses equaled 17.3 percent of quarterly employment, 

while in the firms with 1,000 or more employees, gross job gains and gross job losses accounted for only 2.6 

and 2.4 percent, respectively, of employment. (See table E.)

Due to the high numbers of openings and closings in the 1–4 employee size class, firms of this size accounted for 55.5 percent of gross job gains at opening firms and 55.1 percent of gross job losses at closing 

firms. The share of gross job gains and losses due to openings and closings drop sharply as the size class 

increases. (See table F.)

Methodology

Firms, rather than establishments, are used in the tabulation of these 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 defined as an aggregation of establishments under 

common ownership by a corporate parent. Firm-level data are compiled by aggregating records under the 

same employer tax identification numbers. Total gross job gains and gross job losses reported in this release 

are lower than previously released gross job gain and gross job loss statistics computed at the establishment 

level, as some establishment gains and losses within a firm are offset during the aggregation process.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considered a number of methodologies for use in examining firm–size 

class dynamics before deciding to use the method of dynamic sizing for these calculations. Dynamic sizing 

allocates each firm’s employment growth 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 the first quarter to 38 employees in the 

second quarter, then of the 36-employee increase, 2 jobs would be allocated to the 1–4 size class, 5 jobs 

would be allocated to the 5–9 size class, 10 jobs would be allocated to the 10–19 size class, and 19 jobs 

would be allocated to the 20–49 size class.

Dynamic sizing accounts for the transitory changes in employment across size classes that result largely 

from the seasonal variations in the quarterly employment data. Additionally, it has a clear conceptual foundation by allocating each job gain or loss to the actual size class where it occurred. For more information, see 

the “Dynamic sizing methodology” section of the Technical Note.

More Information

In the future, Business Employment Dynamics data by size of firm will be released each quarter as a part 

of the quarterly Business Employment Dynamics news release. Additional information is available on the 
7

Business Employment Dynamics Web page at http://www.bls.gov/bdm. Research data on alternative sizing 

methods will be updated on a periodic basis. 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.

Comparing Business Employment Dynamics Data with Current Employment Statistics and 

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Data

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data series are derived from the Quarterly Census of 

Employment and Wages (QCEW), also known as the ES-202 program. This program is a quarterly 

census of all firms covered under state unemployment insurance programs, representing about 98 

percent of employment on nonfarm payrolls. The net change in employment from the BED data 

series will not match the estimates from employment series such as the monthly Current Employment 

Statistics (CES) survey or the totals from the QCEW program. The CES estimates are based on a 

sample of establishments, while gross job gains and gross job losses are based on a quarterly census of 

administrative records. In addition, the CES has a different coverage, excluding the agriculture sector 

but including firms not covered by the unemployment insurance program. The BED data have a more 

limited scope than the QCEW data. The data in this release, in contrast to QCEW data, exclude 

government employees, private households (NAICS 814110), and firms with zero employment. See 

the Technical Note for further information.
Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a

product of a federal-state cooperative program known as the

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), or the

ES-202 program. 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 Workforce

Agencies (SWAs) to BLS and form the basis of the Bureau’s

establishment universe sampling frame. These reports also are

used to produce the quarterly QCEW data on total employment

and wages and the longitudinal BED data on gross job gains

and losses. Another important Bureau use of the QCEW data

is in the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program.

In the BED program, the QCEW enhanced 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

establishments and jobs lost at closing and contracting

establishments.

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 SWAs 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 self-employed

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 data in this release do

not report estimates for government employees or private

households (NAICS 814110), and do not include establishments

with zero employment over three quarters. Data from Puerto Rico

and the Virgin Islands also are excluded from the national data.

Unit of analysis

Firms, rather than establishments, are used in the tabulation

of these 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. Firmlevel data are compiled based on an aggregation of

establishments under common ownership by a corporate parent

using employer tax identification numbers. The firm level is

more consistent with the role of corporations as the economic

decision makers than each individual establishment. Moreover,

the firm level is consistent with similar data from other sources.

Total gross job gains and gross job losses reported in this

release are lower than previously released data by

establishment, 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. In the BED statistics

by size of firm, a net increase in employment can come from

either opening firms or expanding firms. A net decrease in

employment can come from either closing firms or contracting

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

opening or expanding firms. Gross job losses include the sum

of all jobs lost in either closing or contracting firms. The net

change in employment is the difference between gross job gains

and gross job losses.

The formal definitions of firm-level employment changes are

as follows:

Openings. These are either firms 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 firms 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 firms with positive third-month

employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or

zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions. These are firms with positive employment in

the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with

a net decrease in employment over this period.

All firm-level employment changes are measured from the

third month of each quarter. Not all firms change their

employment levels; these firms 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.

Though the aggregation for measuring the BED size-class

data is by firm, the linkage process matches records at the

establishment level. Records are linked across two quarters by

their unique establishment identification numbers (SWA-ID).

Between 95 to 97 percent of establishments identified as

continuous from quarter to quarter are matched by SWA-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 SWA-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 SWA-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, SWAs

verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry,

location, and ownership classification of all establishments on

a 3-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.

Dynamic sizing methodology

The method of dynamic sizing is used in calculations for the

BED firm 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.

Besides dynamic sizing, four other methodologies were

considered: quarterly base sizing, end sizing, mean sizing, and

annual base sizing. Quarterly base sizing classifies firms

into size categories based on the number of employees in

the previous quarter. End sizing classifies firms into

size categories based on the number of employees in the

current quarter. Mean sizing is a compromise between these

two methods and classifies firms based on the average size

during month three of the current and previous quarters.

Annual base sizing classifies a firm based upon the most recent

first quarter.

For firms that are growing and that move from one size class

to another, base sizing results in statistics which indicate that

employment growth is coming from smaller firms, whereas end

sizing results in statistics which indicate that employment

growth is coming from larger firms. Similarly, for firms that are

contracting and that move from one size-class category to

another, base sizing results in statistics which indicate that

employment decline is coming from larger firms, whereas end

sizing results in statistics which indicate that employment

decline is coming from smaller firms.

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 firms are independently seasonally adjusted;

net changes are calculated based on the difference between

gross job gains and gross job losses. Additionally,

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.

Additional statistics and other information

Several other programs within BLS produce closely related

information. The QCEW program, also known as the ES-202

program, provides both quarterly and annual estimates of

employment by state, county, and detailed industry. News

releases on quarterly county employment and wages 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/); (email: 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. Total private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, calculated using firm-level data, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 532 6,125 5,089 1,036 5,593 4,636 957 0.6 6.9 5.7 1.2 6.3 5.2 1.1

 December 252 5,986 4,953 1,033 5,734 4,747 987 0.3 6.7 5.5 1.2 6.4 5.3 1.1

1993 March 257 5,869 4,869 1,000 5,612 4,649 963 0.2 6.5 5.4 1.1 6.3 5.2 1.1

 June 755 6,170 5,177 993 5,415 4,419 996 0.8 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.0 4.9 1.1

 September 941 6,379 5,338 1,041 5,438 4,544 894 0.9 6.9 5.8 1.1 6.0 5.0 1.0

 December 626 6,241 5,267 974 5,615 4,668 947 0.7 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.1 5.1 1.0

1994 March 470 6,171 5,165 1,006 5,701 4,737 964 0.6 6.7 5.6 1.1 6.1 5.1 1.0

 June 1,003 6,558 5,476 1,082 5,555 4,469 1,086 1.1 7.1 5.9 1.2 6.0 4.8 1.2

 September 1,246 6,771 5,653 1,118 5,525 4,657 868 1.4 7.2 6.0 1.2 5.8 4.9 0.9

 December 493 6,371 5,405 966 5,878 4,858 1,020 0.5 6.7 5.7 1.0 6.2 5.1 1.1

1995 March 708 6,498 5,457 1,041 5,790 4,833 957 0.8 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.0 5.0 1.0

 June 399 6,381 5,322 1,059 5,982 4,968 1,014 0.4 6.6 5.5 1.1 6.2 5.1 1.1

 September 861 6,718 5,673 1,045 5,857 4,806 1,051 0.9 6.9 5.8 1.1 6.0 4.9 1.1

 December 370 6,564 5,473 1,091 6,194 5,114 1,080 0.4 6.7 5.6 1.1 6.3 5.2 1.1

1996 March 510 6,654 5,586 1,068 6,144 5,103 1,041 0.5 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.3 5.2 1.1

 June 645 6,723 5,630 1,093 6,078 5,014 1,064 0.6 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.2 5.1 1.1

 September 684 6,830 5,682 1,148 6,146 5,109 1,037 0.8 6.9 5.7 1.2 6.1 5.1 1.0

 December 801 6,822 5,724 1,098 6,021 4,979 1,042 0.8 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.0 5.0 1.0

1997 March 838 6,933 5,824 1,109 6,095 5,051 1,044 0.9 6.9 5.8 1.1 6.0 5.0 1.0

 June 611 6,703 5,638 1,065 6,092 5,010 1,082 0.6 6.6 5.6 1.0 6.0 4.9 1.1

 September 927 7,126 6,014 1,112 6,199 5,087 1,112 0.9 7.0 5.9 1.1 6.1 5.0 1.1

 December 606 7,151 6,001 1,150 6,545 5,276 1,269 0.6 6.9 5.8 1.1 6.3 5.1 1.2

1998 March 900 7,467 6,205 1,262 6,567 5,336 1,231 0.9 7.2 6.0 1.2 6.3 5.1 1.2

 June 641 7,171 5,924 1,247 6,530 5,392 1,138 0.6 6.9 5.7 1.2 6.3 5.2 1.1

 September 742 7,140 6,025 1,115 6,398 5,263 1,135 0.7 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.1 5.0 1.1

 December 659 7,022 6,005 1,017 6,363 5,218 1,145 0.7 6.7 5.7 1.0 6.0 4.9 1.1

1999 March 530 7,337 6,119 1,218 6,807 5,605 1,202 0.5 6.9 5.8 1.1 6.4 5.3 1.1

 June 526 7,253 6,038 1,215 6,727 5,536 1,191 0.5 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.3 5.2 1.1

 September 618 7,361 6,180 1,181 6,743 5,536 1,207 0.6 6.9 5.8 1.1 6.3 5.2 1.1

 December 996 7,524 6,281 1,243 6,528 5,379 1,149 0.8 6.9 5.8 1.1 6.1 5.0 1.1

2000 March 872 7,464 6,238 1,226 6,592 5,437 1,155 0.7 6.8 5.7 1.1 6.1 5.0 1.1

 June 486 7,179 6,039 1,140 6,693 5,558 1,135 0.4 6.5 5.5 1.0 6.1 5.1 1.0

 September 202 7,220 6,043 1,177 7,018 5,791 1,227 0.2 6.6 5.5 1.1 6.4 5.3 1.1

 December 274 7,096 5,966 1,130 6,822 5,674 1,148 0.3 6.4 5.4 1.0 6.1 5.1 1.0

2001 March 35 7,076 5,995 1,081 7,041 5,844 1,197 0.0 6.4 5.4 1.0 6.4 5.3 1.1

 June -835 6,582 5,516 1,066 7,417 6,295 1,122 -0.7 6.0 5.0 1.0 6.7 5.7 1.0

 September -1,385 6,186 5,107 1,079 7,571 6,329 1,242 -1.2 5.7 4.7 1.0 6.9 5.8 1.1

 December -972 6,368 5,210 1,158 7,340 6,244 1,096 -0.9 5.9 4.8 1.1 6.8 5.8 1.0

2002 March 67 6,642 5,556 1,086 6,575 5,494 1,081 0.1 6.2 5.2 1.0 6.1 5.1 1.0

 June -135 6,521 5,419 1,102 6,656 5,600 1,056 -0.2 6.0 5.0 1.0 6.2 5.2 1.0

 September -164 6,289 5,231 1,058 6,453 5,399 1,054 -0.1 5.9 4.9 1.0 6.0 5.0 1.0

 December -230 6,245 5,203 1,042 6,475 5,453 1,022 -0.3 5.8 4.8 1.0 6.1 5.1 1.0

2003 March -355 6,117 5,082 1,035 6,472 5,429 1,043 -0.4 5.7 4.7 1.0 6.1 5.1 1.0

 June -191 6,217 5,191 1,026 6,408 5,395 1,013 0.0 5.9 4.9 1.0 5.9 5.0 0.9

 September 121 6,148 5,131 1,017 6,027 5,056 971 0.2 5.8 4.8 1.0 5.6 4.7 0.9

 December 327 6,277 5,242 1,035 5,950 4,965 985 0.4 5.9 4.9 1.0 5.5 4.6 0.9

2004 March 419 6,365 5,283 1,082 5,946 4,948 998 0.4 5.9 4.9 1.0 5.5 4.6 0.9

 June 565 6,545 5,482 1,063 5,980 4,968 1,012 0.6 6.1 5.1 1.0 5.5 4.6 0.9

 September 205 6,366 5,274 1,092 6,161 5,082 1,079 0.2 5.9 4.9 1.0 5.7 4.7 1.0

 December 846 6,661 5,520 1,141 5,815 4,808 1,007 0.8 6.1 5.1 1.0 5.3 4.4 0.9

2005 March 298 6,345 5,249 1,096 6,047 5,003 1,044 0.2 5.8 4.8 1.0 5.6 4.6 1.0

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

Total Total Opening 

firms

Net change1 Contracting 

firms

Rates (percent of employment)

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Closing 

firms Total

Gross job gains Gross job losses Year Net change1

3 months 

ended Expanding 

firms

Levels (in thousands)

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses

Total
Table 2. Firm size class 1–4 employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 72 913 380 533 841 380 461 1.5 18.5 7.7 10.8 17.0 7.7 9.3

 December 24 891 377 514 867 382 485 0.5 17.9 7.6 10.3 17.4 7.7 9.7

1993 March 42 897 377 520 855 381 474 0.9 18.0 7.6 10.4 17.1 7.6 9.5

 June 61 917 387 530 856 370 486 1.2 18.3 7.7 10.6 17.1 7.4 9.7

 September 125 937 389 548 812 375 437 2.5 18.6 7.7 10.9 16.1 7.4 8.7

 December 41 888 389 499 847 377 470 0.9 17.6 7.7 9.9 16.7 7.4 9.3

1994 March 27 888 380 508 861 383 478 0.5 17.5 7.5 10.0 17.0 7.6 9.4

 June 59 948 392 556 889 376 513 1.1 18.6 7.7 10.9 17.5 7.4 10.1

 September 135 964 396 568 829 380 449 2.7 18.9 7.8 11.1 16.2 7.4 8.8

 December -4 891 385 506 895 388 507 -0.1 17.4 7.5 9.9 17.5 7.6 9.9

1995 March 69 927 390 537 858 386 472 1.4 18.1 7.6 10.5 16.7 7.5 9.2

 June 42 929 383 546 887 387 500 0.8 18.0 7.4 10.6 17.2 7.5 9.7

 September 38 931 393 538 893 387 506 0.7 18.0 7.6 10.4 17.3 7.5 9.8

 December 20 929 387 542 909 391 518 0.4 18.0 7.5 10.5 17.6 7.6 10.0

1996 March 46 938 389 549 892 385 507 0.9 18.1 7.5 10.6 17.2 7.4 9.8

 June 54 955 393 562 901 387 514 1.1 18.4 7.6 10.8 17.3 7.4 9.9

 September 87 971 395 576 884 392 492 1.7 18.6 7.6 11.0 16.9 7.5 9.4

 December 31 945 394 551 914 394 520 0.6 18.0 7.5 10.5 17.4 7.5 9.9

1997 March 82 972 401 571 890 387 503 1.5 18.5 7.6 10.9 17.0 7.4 9.6

 June 35 946 395 551 911 391 520 0.6 17.9 7.5 10.4 17.3 7.4 9.9

 September 34 951 400 551 917 391 526 0.6 18.0 7.6 10.4 17.4 7.4 10.0

 December 1 965 399 566 964 399 565 0.0 18.3 7.6 10.7 18.3 7.6 10.7

1998 March 49 996 394 602 947 387 560 1.0 18.9 7.5 11.4 17.9 7.3 10.6

 June 113 1,003 396 607 890 385 505 2.2 18.9 7.5 11.4 16.7 7.2 9.5

 September 24 958 395 563 934 396 538 0.4 17.9 7.4 10.5 17.5 7.4 10.1

 December 4 929 400 529 925 386 539 0.1 17.4 7.5 9.9 17.3 7.2 10.1

1999 March 52 990 408 582 938 393 545 0.9 18.5 7.6 10.9 17.6 7.4 10.2

 June -4 980 398 582 984 410 574 -0.1 18.4 7.5 10.9 18.5 7.7 10.8

 September 13 989 400 589 976 402 574 0.3 18.6 7.5 11.1 18.3 7.5 10.8

 December 85 1,022 404 618 937 389 548 1.6 19.2 7.6 11.6 17.6 7.3 10.3

2000 March 56 1,008 403 605 952 396 556 1.0 18.8 7.5 11.3 17.8 7.4 10.4

 June 27 978 396 582 951 412 539 0.5 18.3 7.4 10.9 17.8 7.7 10.1

 September -2 992 398 594 994 408 586 0.0 18.5 7.4 11.1 18.5 7.6 10.9

 December 23 980 390 590 957 407 550 0.4 18.2 7.2 11.0 17.8 7.6 10.2

2001 March 10 949 385 564 939 392 547 0.2 17.6 7.1 10.5 17.4 7.3 10.1

 June 3 929 380 549 926 393 533 0.0 17.2 7.0 10.2 17.2 7.3 9.9

 September -69 924 368 556 993 397 596 -1.4 17.1 6.8 10.3 18.5 7.4 11.1

 December 32 953 372 581 921 388 533 0.5 17.6 6.9 10.7 17.1 7.2 9.9

2002 March 21 934 376 558 913 379 534 0.4 17.2 6.9 10.3 16.8 7.0 9.8

 June 36 944 371 573 908 383 525 0.6 17.3 6.8 10.5 16.7 7.0 9.7

 September 42 943 373 570 901 380 521 0.7 17.2 6.8 10.4 16.5 7.0 9.5

 December 40 948 375 573 908 383 525 0.6 17.2 6.8 10.4 16.6 7.0 9.6

2003 March -11 926 367 559 937 394 543 -0.3 16.8 6.7 10.1 17.1 7.2 9.9

 June 31 933 380 553 902 377 525 0.6 16.9 6.9 10.0 16.3 6.8 9.5

 September 34 925 374 551 891 373 518 0.6 16.8 6.8 10.0 16.2 6.8 9.4

 December 48 939 367 572 891 373 518 0.8 16.9 6.6 10.3 16.1 6.7 9.4

2004 March 70 987 385 602 917 383 534 1.2 17.7 6.9 10.8 16.5 6.9 9.6

 June 25 942 377 565 917 377 540 0.4 16.9 6.8 10.1 16.5 6.8 9.7

 September 20 965 372 593 945 374 571 0.4 17.3 6.7 10.6 16.9 6.7 10.2

 December 113 1,015 384 631 902 381 521 1.9 18.0 6.8 11.2 16.1 6.8 9.3

2005 March 8 984 376 608 976 401 575 0.0 17.3 6.6 10.7 17.3 7.1 10.2

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

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 3. Firm size class 5–9 employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 38 730 568 162 692 548 144 0.6 12.1 9.4 2.7 11.5 9.1 2.4

 December 28 729 562 167 701 551 150 0.5 12.1 9.3 2.8 11.6 9.1 2.5

1993 March 6 707 552 155 701 554 147 0.2 11.7 9.1 2.6 11.5 9.1 2.4

 June 55 735 577 158 680 528 152 0.9 12.1 9.5 2.6 11.2 8.7 2.5

 September 78 749 582 167 671 536 135 1.3 12.2 9.5 2.7 10.9 8.7 2.2

 December 53 745 584 161 692 547 145 0.8 12.1 9.5 2.6 11.3 8.9 2.4

1994 March 23 728 573 155 705 555 150 0.4 11.8 9.3 2.5 11.4 9.0 2.4

 June 47 758 590 168 711 543 168 0.7 12.2 9.5 2.7 11.5 8.8 2.7

 September 101 785 603 182 684 549 135 1.6 12.6 9.7 2.9 11.0 8.8 2.2

 December 15 739 583 156 724 565 159 0.3 11.8 9.3 2.5 11.5 9.0 2.5

1995 March 46 756 591 165 710 562 148 0.6 12.0 9.4 2.6 11.4 9.0 2.4

 June 23 748 579 169 725 567 158 0.4 11.9 9.2 2.7 11.5 9.0 2.5

 September 39 763 596 167 724 563 161 0.6 12.2 9.5 2.7 11.6 9.0 2.6

 December 24 760 588 172 736 571 165 0.3 12.0 9.3 2.7 11.7 9.1 2.6

1996 March 33 757 589 168 724 564 160 0.6 12.0 9.3 2.7 11.4 8.9 2.5

 June 35 767 594 173 732 568 164 0.5 12.1 9.4 2.7 11.6 9.0 2.6

 September 45 774 594 180 729 575 154 0.7 12.2 9.4 2.8 11.5 9.1 2.4

 December 39 776 602 174 737 575 162 0.7 12.2 9.5 2.7 11.5 9.0 2.5

1997 March 62 782 608 174 720 563 157 0.9 12.2 9.5 2.7 11.3 8.8 2.5

 June 25 759 593 166 734 571 163 0.5 11.9 9.3 2.6 11.4 8.9 2.5

 September 38 780 613 167 742 572 170 0.6 12.2 9.6 2.6 11.6 8.9 2.7

 December 19 789 606 183 770 586 184 0.4 12.4 9.5 2.9 12.0 9.1 2.9

1998 March 25 789 595 194 764 570 194 0.4 12.3 9.3 3.0 11.9 8.9 3.0

 June 64 797 602 195 733 565 168 1.0 12.4 9.4 3.0 11.4 8.8 2.6

 September 10 770 597 173 760 583 177 0.3 12.0 9.3 2.7 11.7 9.0 2.7

 December 32 774 612 162 742 565 177 0.5 12.0 9.5 2.5 11.5 8.8 2.7

1999 March 39 809 615 194 770 583 187 0.6 12.5 9.5 3.0 11.9 9.0 2.9

 June 17 800 615 185 783 600 183 0.3 12.3 9.5 2.8 12.0 9.2 2.8

 September 24 811 621 190 787 598 189 0.4 12.5 9.6 2.9 12.1 9.2 2.9

 December 79 836 636 200 757 578 179 1.2 12.9 9.8 3.1 11.7 8.9 2.8

2000 March 59 832 635 197 773 590 183 0.9 12.7 9.7 3.0 11.8 9.0 2.8

 June 5 796 610 186 791 617 174 0.0 12.1 9.3 2.8 12.1 9.4 2.7

 September 4 810 620 190 806 614 192 0.1 12.4 9.5 2.9 12.3 9.4 2.9

 December -1 786 604 182 787 611 176 0.0 12.0 9.2 2.8 12.0 9.3 2.7

2001 March 15 782 605 177 767 589 178 0.3 12.0 9.3 2.7 11.7 9.0 2.7

 June -12 760 587 173 772 601 171 -0.2 11.6 9.0 2.6 11.8 9.2 2.6

 September -54 743 568 175 797 605 192 -0.8 11.4 8.7 2.7 12.2 9.3 2.9

 December -15 747 570 177 762 591 171 -0.3 11.4 8.7 2.7 11.7 9.1 2.6

2002 March 23 760 583 177 737 572 165 0.4 11.6 8.9 2.7 11.2 8.7 2.5

 June 11 754 575 179 743 580 163 0.2 11.5 8.8 2.7 11.3 8.8 2.5

 September 11 747 574 173 736 576 160 0.1 11.3 8.7 2.6 11.2 8.8 2.4

 December 2 739 574 165 737 577 160 0.0 11.2 8.7 2.5 11.2 8.8 2.4

2003 March -20 733 562 171 753 592 161 -0.3 11.1 8.5 2.6 11.4 9.0 2.4

 June 27 753 585 168 726 567 159 0.4 11.4 8.9 2.5 11.0 8.6 2.4

 September 22 739 575 164 717 562 155 0.4 11.2 8.7 2.5 10.8 8.5 2.3

 December 20 737 572 165 717 561 156 0.4 11.1 8.6 2.5 10.7 8.4 2.3

2004 March 34 768 588 180 734 575 159 0.5 11.5 8.8 2.7 11.0 8.6 2.4

 June 17 754 583 171 737 570 167 0.3 11.3 8.7 2.6 11.0 8.5 2.5

 September 13 757 576 181 744 568 176 0.2 11.3 8.6 2.7 11.1 8.5 2.6

 December 49 780 591 189 731 569 162 0.7 11.6 8.8 2.8 10.9 8.5 2.4

2005 March 7 770 582 188 763 592 171 0.2 11.5 8.7 2.8 11.3 8.8 2.5

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

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses

Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 4. Firm size class 10–19 employees: private sector quarterly gross gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 49 757 639 118 708 596 112 0.6 10.3 8.7 1.6 9.7 8.2 1.5

 December 22 746 620 126 724 609 115 0.3 10.2 8.5 1.7 9.9 8.3 1.6

1993 March 13 724 610 114 711 600 111 0.2 9.9 8.3 1.6 9.7 8.2 1.5

 June 64 751 638 113 687 573 114 0.9 10.2 8.7 1.5 9.3 7.8 1.5

 September 91 774 653 121 683 579 104 1.2 10.4 8.8 1.6 9.2 7.8 1.4

 December 60 768 650 118 708 599 109 0.8 10.3 8.7 1.6 9.5 8.0 1.5

1994 March 45 759 644 115 714 602 112 0.6 10.1 8.6 1.5 9.5 8.0 1.5

 June 60 780 659 121 720 592 128 0.8 10.4 8.8 1.6 9.6 7.9 1.7

 September 122 820 685 135 698 597 101 1.6 10.8 9.0 1.8 9.2 7.9 1.3

 December 35 771 657 114 736 616 120 0.4 10.1 8.6 1.5 9.7 8.1 1.6

1995 March 64 791 669 122 727 614 113 0.8 10.3 8.7 1.6 9.5 8.0 1.5

 June 26 775 651 124 749 629 120 0.3 10.1 8.5 1.6 9.8 8.2 1.6

 September 59 802 679 123 743 619 124 0.8 10.4 8.8 1.6 9.6 8.0 1.6

 December 29 791 664 127 762 635 127 0.4 10.2 8.6 1.6 9.8 8.2 1.6

1996 March 50 793 671 122 743 622 121 0.7 10.3 8.7 1.6 9.6 8.0 1.6

 June 35 795 669 126 760 633 127 0.4 10.2 8.6 1.6 9.8 8.2 1.6

 September 56 808 674 134 752 634 118 0.7 10.3 8.6 1.7 9.6 8.1 1.5

 December 58 816 687 129 758 635 123 0.7 10.4 8.8 1.6 9.7 8.1 1.6

1997 March 80 822 697 125 742 620 122 1.0 10.5 8.9 1.6 9.5 7.9 1.6

 June 31 789 669 120 758 634 124 0.4 10.0 8.5 1.5 9.6 8.0 1.6

 September 59 818 696 122 759 632 127 0.7 10.3 8.8 1.5 9.6 8.0 1.6

 December 35 828 692 136 793 647 146 0.4 10.4 8.7 1.7 10.0 8.2 1.8

1998 March 38 828 680 148 790 636 154 0.6 10.5 8.6 1.9 9.9 8.0 1.9

 June 66 830 683 147 764 632 132 0.8 10.4 8.6 1.8 9.6 7.9 1.7

 September 26 809 682 127 783 648 135 0.3 10.1 8.5 1.6 9.8 8.1 1.7

 December 52 815 699 116 763 628 135 0.6 10.1 8.7 1.4 9.5 7.8 1.7

1999 March 31 830 689 141 799 653 146 0.5 10.4 8.6 1.8 9.9 8.1 1.8

 June 36 831 695 136 795 658 137 0.5 10.3 8.6 1.7 9.8 8.1 1.7

 September 43 849 710 139 806 660 146 0.5 10.5 8.8 1.7 10.0 8.2 1.8

 December 100 877 729 148 777 640 137 1.2 10.8 9.0 1.8 9.6 7.9 1.7

2000 March 70 871 727 144 801 662 139 0.9 10.7 8.9 1.8 9.8 8.1 1.7

 June 11 830 692 138 819 684 135 0.2 10.1 8.4 1.7 9.9 8.3 1.6

 September 11 839 697 142 828 682 146 0.1 10.2 8.5 1.7 10.1 8.3 1.8

 December 6 819 688 131 813 677 136 0.0 10.0 8.4 1.6 10.0 8.3 1.7

2001 March 17 821 691 130 804 665 139 0.2 10.0 8.4 1.6 9.8 8.1 1.7

 June -32 794 666 128 826 692 134 -0.3 9.7 8.1 1.6 10.0 8.4 1.6

 September -68 770 641 129 838 691 147 -0.8 9.4 7.8 1.6 10.2 8.4 1.8

 December -36 769 639 130 805 674 131 -0.4 9.4 7.8 1.6 9.8 8.2 1.6

2002 March 13 787 657 130 774 650 124 0.2 9.6 8.0 1.6 9.4 7.9 1.5

 June 4 784 652 132 780 657 123 0.0 9.5 7.9 1.6 9.5 8.0 1.5

 September -4 765 640 125 769 651 118 0.0 9.3 7.8 1.5 9.3 7.9 1.4

 December -14 754 636 118 768 650 118 -0.2 9.1 7.7 1.4 9.3 7.9 1.4

2003 March -31 750 627 123 781 664 117 -0.4 9.1 7.6 1.5 9.5 8.1 1.4

 June 21 778 657 121 757 637 120 0.3 9.5 8.0 1.5 9.2 7.7 1.5

 September 18 759 641 118 741 629 112 0.2 9.2 7.8 1.4 9.0 7.6 1.4

 December 27 764 646 118 737 624 113 0.3 9.2 7.8 1.4 8.9 7.5 1.4

2004 March 37 783 658 125 746 634 112 0.5 9.4 7.9 1.5 8.9 7.6 1.3

 June 40 782 660 122 742 625 117 0.5 9.4 7.9 1.5 8.9 7.5 1.4

 September 11 767 639 128 756 633 123 0.1 9.2 7.7 1.5 9.1 7.6 1.5

 December 54 795 664 131 741 625 116 0.7 9.6 8.0 1.6 8.9 7.5 1.4

2005 March 15 780 652 128 765 649 116 0.1 9.3 7.8 1.5 9.2 7.8 1.4

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

Opening 

firms

Expanding 

firms

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Opening 

firms

Expanding 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses

Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Closing 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 5. Firm size class 20–49 employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 83 913 809 104 830 730 100 0.8 8.9 7.9 1.0 8.1 7.1 1.0

 December 36 887 779 108 851 746 105 0.4 8.7 7.6 1.1 8.3 7.3 1.0

1993 March 31 861 763 98 830 731 99 0.3 8.4 7.4 1.0 8.1 7.1 1.0

 June 89 887 791 96 798 698 100 0.8 8.5 7.6 0.9 7.7 6.7 1.0

 September 127 925 825 100 798 705 93 1.3 8.9 7.9 1.0 7.6 6.7 0.9

 December 101 921 821 100 820 724 96 0.9 8.7 7.8 0.9 7.8 6.9 0.9

1994 March 68 904 805 99 836 735 101 0.6 8.5 7.6 0.9 7.9 6.9 1.0

 June 104 932 828 104 828 717 111 1.0 8.7 7.7 1.0 7.7 6.7 1.0

 September 176 985 870 115 809 721 88 1.7 9.2 8.1 1.1 7.5 6.7 0.8

 December 65 926 830 96 861 754 107 0.6 8.5 7.6 0.9 7.9 6.9 1.0

1995 March 104 954 850 104 850 749 101 1.1 8.8 7.8 1.0 7.7 6.8 0.9

 June 35 920 813 107 885 778 107 0.3 8.4 7.4 1.0 8.1 7.1 1.0

 September 108 973 866 107 865 753 112 1.0 8.8 7.8 1.0 7.8 6.8 1.0

 December 63 959 850 109 896 782 114 0.6 8.7 7.7 1.0 8.1 7.1 1.0

1996 March 79 961 857 104 882 774 108 0.6 8.6 7.7 0.9 8.0 7.0 1.0

 June 36 945 837 108 909 795 114 0.4 8.5 7.5 1.0 8.1 7.1 1.0

 September 82 974 858 116 892 786 106 0.7 8.6 7.6 1.0 7.9 7.0 0.9

 December 96 981 871 110 885 776 109 0.8 8.7 7.7 1.0 7.9 6.9 1.0

1997 March 118 996 889 107 878 766 112 1.0 8.7 7.8 0.9 7.7 6.7 1.0

 June 38 940 839 101 902 790 112 0.3 8.2 7.3 0.9 7.9 6.9 1.0

 September 108 999 891 108 891 778 113 0.9 8.7 7.8 0.9 7.8 6.8 1.0

 December 63 1,004 889 115 941 800 141 0.5 8.7 7.7 1.0 8.2 7.0 1.2

1998 March 53 1,002 867 135 949 805 144 0.4 8.7 7.5 1.2 8.3 7.0 1.3

 June 71 997 869 128 926 799 127 0.6 8.6 7.5 1.1 8.0 6.9 1.1

 September 46 976 863 113 930 807 123 0.4 8.4 7.4 1.0 8.0 6.9 1.1

 December 107 1,003 906 97 896 779 117 0.9 8.6 7.8 0.8 7.7 6.7 1.0

1999 March 34 996 875 121 962 828 134 0.3 8.5 7.5 1.0 8.2 7.1 1.1

 June 65 1,007 887 120 942 821 121 0.6 8.6 7.6 1.0 8.0 7.0 1.0

 September 72 1,032 912 120 960 824 136 0.5 8.7 7.7 1.0 8.2 7.0 1.2

 December 138 1,063 933 130 925 800 125 1.2 9.0 7.9 1.1 7.8 6.7 1.1

2000 March 100 1,055 931 124 955 828 127 0.8 8.8 7.8 1.0 8.0 6.9 1.1

 June 35 1,011 894 117 976 852 124 0.3 8.4 7.4 1.0 8.1 7.1 1.0

 September 23 1,015 893 122 992 861 131 0.1 8.4 7.4 1.0 8.3 7.2 1.1

 December 18 991 882 109 973 851 122 0.2 8.3 7.4 0.9 8.1 7.1 1.0

2001 March 1 986 878 108 985 856 129 0.0 8.2 7.3 0.9 8.2 7.1 1.1

 June -65 955 844 111 1,020 897 123 -0.6 7.9 7.0 0.9 8.5 7.5 1.0

 September -119 909 799 110 1,028 895 133 -1.0 7.6 6.7 0.9 8.6 7.5 1.1

 December -85 906 796 110 991 873 118 -0.7 7.6 6.7 0.9 8.3 7.3 1.0

2002 March -3 933 824 109 936 829 107 -0.1 7.8 6.9 0.9 7.9 7.0 0.9

 June 8 941 829 112 933 825 108 0.1 7.9 7.0 0.9 7.8 6.9 0.9

 September -33 894 792 102 927 826 101 -0.3 7.6 6.7 0.9 7.9 7.0 0.9

 December -31 882 786 96 913 812 101 -0.3 7.4 6.6 0.8 7.7 6.8 0.9

2003 March -57 873 773 100 930 831 99 -0.5 7.3 6.5 0.8 7.8 7.0 0.8

 June 27 917 818 99 890 789 101 0.1 7.7 6.9 0.8 7.6 6.7 0.9

 September 16 885 791 94 869 777 92 0.1 7.5 6.7 0.8 7.4 6.6 0.8

 December 21 889 794 95 868 774 94 0.2 7.5 6.7 0.8 7.3 6.5 0.8

2004 March 64 924 825 99 860 770 90 0.4 7.7 6.9 0.8 7.3 6.5 0.8

 June 82 935 836 99 853 757 96 0.7 7.8 7.0 0.8 7.1 6.3 0.8

 September 26 904 800 104 878 779 99 0.3 7.6 6.7 0.9 7.3 6.5 0.8

 December 72 934 832 102 862 769 93 0.5 7.7 6.9 0.8 7.2 6.4 0.8

2005 March 33 912 814 98 879 788 91 0.2 7.5 6.7 0.8 7.3 6.5 0.8

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

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses

Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 6. Firm size class 50–99 employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 60 580 533 47 520 473 47 0.7 7.5 6.9 0.6 6.8 6.2 0.6

 December 38 576 527 49 538 487 51 0.4 7.4 6.8 0.6 7.0 6.3 0.7

1993 March 36 559 514 45 523 475 48 0.6 7.3 6.7 0.6 6.7 6.1 0.6

 June 64 566 525 41 502 455 47 0.8 7.3 6.8 0.5 6.5 5.9 0.6

 September 100 597 554 43 497 452 45 1.2 7.6 7.1 0.5 6.4 5.8 0.6

 December 80 596 552 44 516 470 46 1.0 7.6 7.0 0.6 6.6 6.0 0.6

1994 March 60 584 537 47 524 475 49 0.8 7.4 6.8 0.6 6.6 6.0 0.6

 June 82 596 549 47 514 462 52 1.1 7.5 6.9 0.6 6.4 5.8 0.6

 September 121 626 576 50 505 464 41 1.5 7.7 7.1 0.6 6.2 5.7 0.5

 December 69 601 559 42 532 483 49 0.8 7.3 6.8 0.5 6.5 5.9 0.6

1995 March 83 615 568 47 532 484 48 1.0 7.5 6.9 0.6 6.5 5.9 0.6

 June 30 589 540 49 559 510 49 0.4 7.1 6.5 0.6 6.7 6.1 0.6

 September 81 627 579 48 546 493 53 1.0 7.5 6.9 0.6 6.5 5.9 0.6

 December 58 624 573 51 566 510 56 0.6 7.4 6.8 0.6 6.8 6.1 0.7

1996 March 51 614 568 46 563 511 52 0.5 7.2 6.7 0.5 6.7 6.1 0.6

 June 30 605 555 50 575 520 55 0.4 7.1 6.5 0.6 6.7 6.1 0.6

 September 60 623 570 53 563 512 51 0.7 7.3 6.7 0.6 6.6 6.0 0.6

 December 87 636 585 51 549 498 51 1.0 7.4 6.8 0.6 6.4 5.8 0.6

1997 March 78 634 586 48 556 503 53 1.0 7.4 6.8 0.6 6.4 5.8 0.6

 June 44 604 557 47 560 507 53 0.4 6.9 6.4 0.5 6.5 5.9 0.6

 September 89 649 598 51 560 508 52 1.1 7.5 6.9 0.6 6.4 5.8 0.6

 December 59 650 597 53 591 515 76 0.6 7.4 6.8 0.6 6.8 5.9 0.9

1998 March 53 656 589 67 603 531 72 0.6 7.5 6.7 0.8 6.9 6.1 0.8

 June 39 633 574 59 594 527 67 0.4 7.2 6.5 0.7 6.8 6.0 0.8

 September 46 627 578 49 581 522 59 0.5 7.1 6.5 0.6 6.6 5.9 0.7

 December 86 646 603 43 560 505 55 1.0 7.3 6.8 0.5 6.3 5.7 0.6

1999 March 24 639 584 55 615 550 65 0.2 7.1 6.5 0.6 6.9 6.2 0.7

 June 46 646 590 56 600 543 57 0.5 7.2 6.6 0.6 6.7 6.1 0.6

 September 57 666 612 54 609 545 64 0.6 7.4 6.8 0.6 6.8 6.1 0.7

 December 102 689 628 61 587 524 63 1.1 7.6 6.9 0.7 6.5 5.8 0.7

2000 March 82 682 627 55 600 540 60 0.9 7.5 6.9 0.6 6.6 5.9 0.7

 June 37 656 607 49 619 558 61 0.3 7.1 6.6 0.5 6.8 6.1 0.7

 September 32 662 609 53 630 567 63 0.3 7.2 6.6 0.6 6.9 6.2 0.7

 December 14 631 585 46 617 558 59 0.2 6.9 6.4 0.5 6.7 6.1 0.6

2001 March -27 620 574 46 647 583 64 -0.3 6.8 6.3 0.5 7.1 6.4 0.7

 June -68 606 558 48 674 616 58 -0.7 6.6 6.1 0.5 7.3 6.7 0.6

 September -112 562 515 47 674 609 65 -1.2 6.2 5.7 0.5 7.4 6.7 0.7

 December -93 562 514 48 655 599 56 -1.1 6.2 5.7 0.5 7.3 6.7 0.6

2002 March -21 578 534 44 599 548 51 -0.2 6.5 6.0 0.5 6.7 6.1 0.6

 June 12 595 548 47 583 534 49 0.1 6.6 6.1 0.5 6.5 6.0 0.5

 September -30 558 516 42 588 541 47 -0.3 6.3 5.8 0.5 6.6 6.1 0.5

 December -35 545 506 39 580 533 47 -0.4 6.1 5.7 0.4 6.5 6.0 0.5

2003 March -29 548 509 39 577 533 44 -0.4 6.1 5.7 0.4 6.5 6.0 0.5

 June -1 566 527 39 567 522 45 0.0 6.4 6.0 0.4 6.4 5.9 0.5

 September 3 548 510 38 545 505 40 0.0 6.2 5.8 0.4 6.2 5.7 0.5

 December 8 552 513 39 544 503 41 0.0 6.2 5.8 0.4 6.2 5.7 0.5

2004 March 62 586 547 39 524 485 39 0.7 6.5 6.1 0.4 5.8 5.4 0.4

 June 74 593 554 39 519 478 41 0.8 6.6 6.2 0.4 5.8 5.3 0.5

 September 32 571 529 42 539 496 43 0.4 6.4 5.9 0.5 6.0 5.5 0.5

 December 40 576 535 41 536 498 38 0.5 6.4 5.9 0.5 5.9 5.5 0.4

2005 March 31 564 527 37 533 495 38 0.4 6.2 5.8 0.4 5.8 5.4 0.4

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

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses

Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 7. Firm size class 100–249 employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 46 595 562 33 549 511 38 0.5 6.4 6.0 0.4 5.9 5.5 0.4

 December 47 605 568 37 558 515 43 0.4 6.4 6.0 0.4 6.0 5.5 0.5

1993 March 60 599 563 36 539 500 39 0.6 6.3 5.9 0.4 5.7 5.3 0.4

 June 87 606 577 29 519 479 40 0.9 6.3 6.0 0.3 5.4 5.0 0.4

 September 115 638 607 31 523 485 38 1.2 6.6 6.3 0.3 5.4 5.0 0.4

 December 88 630 600 30 542 506 36 0.9 6.5 6.2 0.3 5.6 5.2 0.4

1994 March 78 621 583 38 543 505 38 0.8 6.3 5.9 0.4 5.5 5.1 0.4

 June 120 649 614 35 529 486 43 1.3 6.6 6.2 0.4 5.3 4.9 0.4

 September 135 666 630 36 531 499 32 1.4 6.7 6.3 0.4 5.3 5.0 0.3

 December 92 650 619 31 558 517 41 0.9 6.4 6.1 0.3 5.5 5.1 0.4

1995 March 89 655 620 35 566 528 38 0.8 6.4 6.1 0.3 5.6 5.2 0.4

 June 56 636 601 35 580 540 40 0.5 6.1 5.8 0.3 5.6 5.2 0.4

 September 91 668 635 33 577 534 43 0.9 6.4 6.1 0.3 5.5 5.1 0.4

 December 76 670 630 40 594 549 45 0.8 6.4 6.0 0.4 5.6 5.2 0.4

1996 March 52 656 621 35 604 561 43 0.5 6.2 5.9 0.3 5.7 5.3 0.4

 June 46 649 610 39 603 561 42 0.5 6.2 5.8 0.4 5.7 5.3 0.4

 September 88 684 642 42 596 551 45 0.9 6.5 6.1 0.4 5.6 5.2 0.4

 December 111 688 652 36 577 534 43 1.0 6.4 6.1 0.3 5.4 5.0 0.4

1997 March 74 673 638 35 599 556 43 0.7 6.2 5.9 0.3 5.5 5.1 0.4

 June 83 662 626 36 579 536 43 0.8 6.1 5.8 0.3 5.3 4.9 0.4

 September 120 712 669 43 592 548 44 1.1 6.5 6.1 0.4 5.4 5.0 0.4

 December 76 714 672 42 638 568 70 0.7 6.5 6.1 0.4 5.8 5.2 0.6

1998 March 80 725 667 58 645 589 56 0.7 6.5 6.0 0.5 5.8 5.3 0.5

 June 57 699 651 48 642 580 62 0.5 6.3 5.9 0.4 5.8 5.2 0.6

 September 69 693 653 40 624 575 49 0.7 6.3 5.9 0.4 5.6 5.2 0.4

 December 92 700 669 31 608 561 47 0.9 6.3 6.0 0.3 5.4 5.0 0.4

1999 March 14 699 652 47 685 629 56 0.1 6.2 5.8 0.4 6.1 5.6 0.5

 June 78 716 669 47 638 591 47 0.7 6.3 5.9 0.4 5.6 5.2 0.4

 September 67 720 678 42 653 600 53 0.6 6.4 6.0 0.4 5.8 5.3 0.5

 December 123 754 707 47 631 579 52 1.0 6.6 6.2 0.4 5.6 5.1 0.5

2000 March 109 750 710 40 641 594 47 0.9 6.5 6.2 0.3 5.6 5.2 0.4

 June 60 717 683 34 657 607 50 0.6 6.2 5.9 0.3 5.6 5.2 0.4

 September 45 722 684 38 677 623 54 0.4 6.2 5.9 0.3 5.8 5.3 0.5

 December 31 696 663 33 665 615 50 0.3 6.0 5.7 0.3 5.7 5.3 0.4

2001 March -55 672 642 30 727 666 61 -0.4 5.8 5.5 0.3 6.2 5.7 0.5

 June -95 655 622 33 750 702 48 -0.8 5.6 5.3 0.3 6.4 6.0 0.4

 September -151 600 567 33 751 697 54 -1.4 5.2 4.9 0.3 6.6 6.1 0.5

 December -127 597 562 35 724 679 45 -1.2 5.2 4.9 0.3 6.4 6.0 0.4

2002 March -28 622 592 30 650 607 43 -0.3 5.5 5.2 0.3 5.8 5.4 0.4

 June 3 637 605 32 634 591 43 0.1 5.7 5.4 0.3 5.6 5.2 0.4

 September -38 589 564 25 627 588 39 -0.3 5.2 5.0 0.2 5.5 5.2 0.3

 December -42 579 553 26 621 584 37 -0.4 5.1 4.9 0.2 5.5 5.2 0.3

2003 March -30 586 562 24 616 581 35 -0.3 5.2 5.0 0.2 5.5 5.2 0.3

 June -9 598 573 25 607 573 34 -0.1 5.3 5.1 0.2 5.4 5.1 0.3

 September 2 574 552 22 572 543 29 -0.1 5.1 4.9 0.2 5.2 4.9 0.3

 December 6 578 554 24 572 539 33 0.1 5.2 5.0 0.2 5.1 4.8 0.3

2004 March 79 618 596 22 539 509 30 0.7 5.5 5.3 0.2 4.8 4.5 0.3

 June 78 629 605 24 551 522 29 0.6 5.5 5.3 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

 September 52 621 593 28 569 534 35 0.4 5.4 5.2 0.2 5.0 4.7 0.3

 December 60 618 592 26 558 530 28 0.6 5.4 5.2 0.2 4.8 4.6 0.2

2005 March 51 604 581 23 553 524 29 0.4 5.2 5.0 0.2 4.8 4.5 0.3

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

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 8. Firm size class 250–499 employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 30 348 334 14 318 300 18 0.4 5.5 5.3 0.2 5.1 4.8 0.3

 December 24 351 334 17 327 308 19 0.4 5.6 5.3 0.3 5.2 4.9 0.3

1993 March 35 343 327 16 308 291 17 0.6 5.5 5.2 0.3 4.9 4.6 0.3

 June 67 359 347 12 292 274 18 1.0 5.6 5.4 0.2 4.6 4.3 0.3

 September 75 376 365 11 301 282 19 1.2 5.9 5.7 0.2 4.7 4.4 0.3

 December 55 373 362 11 318 301 17 0.8 5.7 5.5 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

1994 March 57 374 356 18 317 301 16 0.9 5.7 5.4 0.3 4.8 4.6 0.2

 June 96 403 387 16 307 289 18 1.4 6.0 5.8 0.2 4.6 4.3 0.3

 September 83 404 388 16 321 309 12 1.1 5.9 5.7 0.2 4.8 4.6 0.2

 December 55 392 380 12 337 318 19 0.8 5.7 5.5 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

1995 March 53 388 374 14 335 319 16 0.8 5.6 5.4 0.2 4.8 4.6 0.2

 June 33 377 363 14 344 326 18 0.4 5.4 5.2 0.2 5.0 4.7 0.3

 September 60 400 386 14 340 318 22 0.9 5.7 5.5 0.2 4.8 4.5 0.3

 December 50 402 383 19 352 332 20 0.7 5.7 5.4 0.3 5.0 4.7 0.3

1996 March 22 391 374 17 369 350 19 0.3 5.5 5.3 0.2 5.2 4.9 0.3

 June 65 409 392 17 344 326 18 0.8 5.7 5.5 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

 September 50 406 388 18 356 335 21 0.7 5.7 5.4 0.3 5.0 4.7 0.3

 December 63 408 391 17 345 325 20 0.8 5.6 5.4 0.2 4.8 4.5 0.3

1997 March 56 413 395 18 357 337 20 0.7 5.6 5.4 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

 June 63 411 395 16 348 327 21 0.8 5.5 5.3 0.2 4.7 4.4 0.3

 September 60 429 407 22 369 346 23 0.9 5.8 5.5 0.3 4.9 4.6 0.3

 December 66 438 418 20 372 341 31 1.0 5.9 5.6 0.3 4.9 4.5 0.4

1998 March 72 455 428 27 383 358 25 1.1 6.1 5.7 0.4 5.0 4.7 0.3

 June 21 431 409 22 410 377 33 0.4 5.7 5.4 0.3 5.3 4.9 0.4

 September 56 430 411 19 374 351 23 0.7 5.6 5.4 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

 December 60 433 418 15 373 351 22 0.8 5.6 5.4 0.2 4.8 4.5 0.3

1999 March 1 434 411 23 433 405 28 0.0 5.6 5.3 0.3 5.6 5.2 0.4

 June 46 443 418 25 397 372 25 0.6 5.7 5.4 0.3 5.1 4.8 0.3

 September 48 447 430 17 399 377 22 0.6 5.7 5.5 0.2 5.1 4.8 0.3

 December 75 468 449 19 393 368 25 1.0 5.9 5.7 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

2000 March 88 477 459 18 389 370 19 1.1 5.9 5.7 0.2 4.8 4.6 0.2

 June 40 445 430 15 405 383 22 0.5 5.5 5.3 0.2 5.0 4.7 0.3

 September 22 444 427 17 422 398 24 0.3 5.5 5.3 0.2 5.2 4.9 0.3

 December 7 424 411 13 417 396 21 0.0 5.2 5.0 0.2 5.2 4.9 0.3

2001 March -45 410 398 12 455 423 32 -0.6 5.0 4.9 0.1 5.6 5.2 0.4

 June -91 385 372 13 476 453 23 -1.2 4.8 4.6 0.2 6.0 5.7 0.3

 September -111 361 345 16 472 450 22 -1.4 4.6 4.4 0.2 6.0 5.7 0.3

 December -102 358 342 16 460 441 19 -1.3 4.6 4.4 0.2 5.9 5.7 0.2

2002 March -14 385 372 13 399 377 22 -0.2 5.0 4.8 0.2 5.2 4.9 0.3

 June -13 381 366 15 394 372 22 -0.2 4.9 4.7 0.2 5.1 4.8 0.3

 September -19 356 347 9 375 357 18 -0.2 4.6 4.5 0.1 4.8 4.6 0.2

 December -28 354 342 12 382 366 16 -0.3 4.7 4.5 0.2 5.0 4.8 0.2

2003 March -24 353 343 10 377 361 16 -0.3 4.6 4.5 0.1 4.9 4.7 0.2

 June -13 357 347 10 370 357 13 -0.2 4.7 4.6 0.1 4.9 4.7 0.2

 September 3 357 348 9 354 341 13 0.0 4.7 4.6 0.1 4.7 4.5 0.2

 December 14 360 350 10 346 331 15 0.2 4.7 4.6 0.1 4.5 4.3 0.2

2004 March 39 365 358 7 326 312 14 0.5 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.3 4.1 0.2

 June 40 374 364 10 334 323 11 0.5 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.3 4.2 0.1

 September 35 376 366 10 341 325 16 0.4 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.4 4.2 0.2

 December 41 376 366 10 335 321 14 0.5 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.3 4.1 0.2

2005 March 36 364 356 8 328 315 13 0.4 4.6 4.5 0.1 4.2 4.0 0.2

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

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses

Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 9. Firm size class 500–999 employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 19 273 261 12 254 241 13 0.3 4.7 4.5 0.2 4.4 4.2 0.2

 December 23 274 265 9 251 239 12 0.5 4.8 4.6 0.2 4.3 4.1 0.2

1993 March 41 276 266 10 235 224 11 0.7 4.7 4.5 0.2 4.0 3.8 0.2

 June 67 287 280 7 220 207 13 1.1 4.8 4.7 0.1 3.7 3.5 0.2

 September 42 294 287 7 252 238 14 0.7 4.9 4.8 0.1 4.2 4.0 0.2

 December 55 306 299 7 251 236 15 1.0 5.1 5.0 0.1 4.1 3.9 0.2

1994 March 49 302 292 10 253 243 10 0.8 5.0 4.8 0.2 4.2 4.0 0.2

 June 67 315 303 12 248 231 17 1.0 5.1 4.9 0.2 4.1 3.8 0.3

 September 74 322 314 8 248 242 6 1.1 5.1 5.0 0.1 4.0 3.9 0.1

 December 53 317 311 6 264 255 9 0.9 5.0 4.9 0.1 4.1 4.0 0.1

1995 March 51 311 302 9 260 250 10 0.7 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.1 3.9 0.2

 June 30 301 292 9 271 260 11 0.4 4.6 4.5 0.1 4.2 4.0 0.2

 September 76 339 330 9 263 248 15 1.2 5.2 5.1 0.1 4.0 3.8 0.2

 December 23 315 304 11 292 277 15 0.4 4.8 4.6 0.2 4.4 4.2 0.2

1996 March 11 314 303 11 303 290 13 0.2 4.8 4.6 0.2 4.6 4.4 0.2

 June 50 330 320 10 280 269 11 0.7 4.9 4.8 0.1 4.2 4.0 0.2

 September 47 343 329 14 296 282 14 0.7 5.0 4.8 0.2 4.3 4.1 0.2

 December 62 346 334 12 284 272 12 0.9 5.1 4.9 0.2 4.2 4.0 0.2

1997 March 26 334 322 12 308 294 14 0.4 4.8 4.6 0.2 4.4 4.2 0.2

 June 38 338 328 10 300 282 18 0.5 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.3 4.0 0.3

 September 67 371 351 20 304 289 15 1.0 5.3 5.0 0.3 4.3 4.1 0.2

 December 54 369 355 14 315 294 21 0.8 5.2 5.0 0.2 4.4 4.1 0.3

1998 March 87 400 383 17 313 296 17 1.2 5.5 5.3 0.2 4.3 4.1 0.2

 June 4 359 346 13 355 332 23 0.1 5.0 4.8 0.2 4.9 4.6 0.3

 September 50 361 348 13 311 294 17 0.7 5.0 4.8 0.2 4.3 4.1 0.2

 December 39 365 353 12 326 307 19 0.5 5.0 4.8 0.2 4.5 4.2 0.3

1999 March 20 376 358 18 356 336 20 0.2 5.0 4.8 0.2 4.8 4.5 0.3

 June 33 373 354 19 340 322 18 0.6 5.1 4.8 0.3 4.5 4.3 0.2

 September 46 371 358 13 325 314 11 0.7 5.0 4.8 0.2 4.3 4.2 0.1

 December 67 384 374 10 317 303 14 0.9 5.1 5.0 0.1 4.2 4.0 0.2

2000 March 70 386 374 12 316 305 11 1.0 5.1 4.9 0.2 4.1 4.0 0.1

 June 44 373 364 9 329 317 12 0.5 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.3 4.1 0.2

 September 32 374 363 11 342 328 14 0.4 4.8 4.7 0.1 4.4 4.2 0.2

 December 0 357 351 6 357 341 16 0.0 4.6 4.5 0.1 4.6 4.4 0.2

2001 March -20 353 348 5 373 352 21 -0.2 4.6 4.5 0.1 4.8 4.5 0.3

 June -94 311 306 5 405 389 16 -1.2 4.1 4.0 0.1 5.3 5.1 0.2

 September -123 285 277 8 408 393 15 -1.6 3.8 3.7 0.1 5.4 5.2 0.2

 December -90 294 281 13 384 372 12 -1.2 4.0 3.8 0.2 5.2 5.0 0.2

2002 March -19 317 308 9 336 320 16 -0.2 4.3 4.2 0.1 4.5 4.3 0.2

 June -24 311 303 8 335 320 15 -0.4 4.2 4.1 0.1 4.6 4.4 0.2

 September -14 302 297 5 316 303 13 -0.2 4.1 4.0 0.1 4.3 4.1 0.2

 December -16 298 291 7 314 307 7 -0.2 4.1 4.0 0.1 4.3 4.2 0.1

2003 March -24 288 283 5 312 302 10 -0.3 4.0 3.9 0.1 4.3 4.2 0.1

 June -37 288 282 6 325 317 8 -0.5 4.0 3.9 0.1 4.5 4.4 0.1

 September 3 291 286 5 288 280 8 0.1 4.1 4.0 0.1 4.0 3.9 0.1

 December 1 281 275 6 280 272 8 0.0 3.9 3.8 0.1 3.9 3.8 0.1

2004 March 33 299 295 4 266 257 9 0.6 4.2 4.1 0.1 3.6 3.5 0.1

 June 41 312 306 6 271 266 5 0.6 4.3 4.2 0.1 3.7 3.6 0.1

 September 12 300 295 5 288 279 9 0.2 4.1 4.0 0.1 3.9 3.8 0.1

 December 45 314 308 6 269 259 10 0.7 4.3 4.2 0.1 3.6 3.5 0.1

2005 March 22 291 287 4 269 262 7 0.4 4.0 3.9 0.1 3.6 3.5 0.1

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

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms Total

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses Gross job gains

Total Total Total
Table 10. Firm size class 1,000 or more employees: private sector quarterly gross job gains and gross job losses, levels and rates, seasonally adjusted

1992 September 135 1,016 1,003 13 881 857 24 0.4 3.2 3.2 0.0 2.8 2.7 0.1

 December 10 927 921 6 917 910 7 0.0 2.9 2.9 0.0 2.9 2.9 0.0

1993 March -7 903 897 6 910 893 17 -0.1 2.8 2.8 0.0 2.9 2.8 0.1

 June 201 1,062 1,055 7 861 835 26 0.6 3.3 3.3 0.0 2.7 2.6 0.1

 September 188 1,089 1,076 13 901 892 9 0.5 3.3 3.3 0.0 2.8 2.8 0.0

 December 93 1,014 1,010 4 921 908 13 0.3 3.1 3.1 0.0 2.8 2.8 0.0

1994 March 63 1,011 995 16 948 938 10 0.1 3.0 3.0 0.0 2.9 2.9 0.0

 June 368 1,177 1,154 23 809 773 36 1.2 3.6 3.5 0.1 2.4 2.3 0.1

 September 299 1,199 1,191 8 900 896 4 0.8 3.5 3.5 0.0 2.7 2.7 0.0

 December 113 1,084 1,081 3 971 962 9 0.4 3.2 3.2 0.0 2.8 2.8 0.0

1995 March 149 1,101 1,093 8 952 941 11 0.4 3.2 3.2 0.0 2.8 2.8 0.0

 June 124 1,106 1,100 6 982 971 11 0.4 3.2 3.2 0.0 2.8 2.8 0.0

 September 309 1,215 1,209 6 906 891 15 0.9 3.5 3.5 0.0 2.6 2.6 0.0

 December 27 1,114 1,094 20 1,087 1,067 20 0.0 3.2 3.1 0.1 3.2 3.1 0.1

1996 March 166 1,230 1,214 16 1,064 1,046 18 0.4 3.5 3.5 0.0 3.1 3.0 0.1

 June 294 1,268 1,260 8 974 955 19 0.8 3.6 3.6 0.0 2.8 2.7 0.1

 September 169 1,247 1,232 15 1,078 1,042 36 0.5 3.5 3.5 0.0 3.0 2.9 0.1

 December 254 1,226 1,208 18 972 970 2 0.8 3.5 3.4 0.1 2.7 2.7 0.0

1997 March 262 1,307 1,288 19 1,045 1,025 20 0.8 3.7 3.6 0.1 2.9 2.8 0.1

 June 254 1,254 1,236 18 1,000 972 28 0.6 3.4 3.4 0.0 2.8 2.7 0.1

 September 352 1,417 1,389 28 1,065 1,023 42 1.0 3.9 3.8 0.1 2.9 2.8 0.1

 December 233 1,394 1,373 21 1,161 1,126 35 0.7 3.8 3.7 0.1 3.1 3.0 0.1

1998 March 443 1,616 1,602 14 1,173 1,164 9 1.1 4.2 4.2 0.0 3.1 3.1 0.0

 June 206 1,422 1,394 28 1,216 1,195 21 0.5 3.7 3.6 0.1 3.2 3.1 0.1

 September 415 1,516 1,498 18 1,101 1,087 14 1.1 3.9 3.9 0.0 2.8 2.8 0.0

 December 187 1,357 1,345 12 1,170 1,136 34 0.4 3.4 3.4 0.0 3.0 2.9 0.1

1999 March 315 1,564 1,527 37 1,249 1,228 21 0.8 4.0 3.9 0.1 3.2 3.1 0.1

 June 209 1,457 1,412 45 1,248 1,219 29 0.5 3.7 3.6 0.1 3.2 3.1 0.1

 September 248 1,476 1,459 17 1,228 1,216 12 0.6 3.6 3.6 0.0 3.0 3.0 0.0

 December 227 1,431 1,421 10 1,204 1,198 6 0.5 3.5 3.5 0.0 3.0 3.0 0.0

2000 March 238 1,403 1,372 31 1,165 1,152 13 0.7 3.5 3.4 0.1 2.8 2.8 0.0

 June 227 1,373 1,363 10 1,146 1,128 18 0.6 3.3 3.3 0.0 2.7 2.7 0.0

 September 35 1,362 1,352 10 1,327 1,310 17 0.1 3.3 3.3 0.0 3.2 3.2 0.0

 December 176 1,412 1,392 20 1,236 1,218 18 0.4 3.3 3.3 0.0 2.9 2.9 0.0

2001 March 139 1,483 1,474 9 1,344 1,318 26 0.2 3.5 3.5 0.0 3.3 3.2 0.1

 June -381 1,187 1,181 6 1,568 1,552 16 -0.9 2.8 2.8 0.0 3.7 3.7 0.0

 September -578 1,032 1,027 5 1,610 1,592 18 -1.4 2.5 2.5 0.0 3.9 3.9 0.0

 December -456 1,182 1,134 48 1,638 1,627 11 -1.1 2.9 2.8 0.1 4.0 4.0 0.0

2002 March 95 1,326 1,310 16 1,231 1,212 19 0.3 3.3 3.3 0.0 3.0 3.0 0.0

 June -172 1,174 1,170 4 1,346 1,338 8 -0.4 2.9 2.9 0.0 3.3 3.3 0.0

 September -79 1,135 1,128 7 1,214 1,177 37 -0.2 2.8 2.8 0.0 3.0 2.9 0.1

 December -106 1,146 1,140 6 1,252 1,241 11 -0.3 2.8 2.8 0.0 3.1 3.1 0.0

2003 March -129 1,060 1,056 4 1,189 1,171 18 -0.3 2.6 2.6 0.0 2.9 2.9 0.0

 June -237 1,027 1,022 5 1,264 1,256 8 -0.6 2.6 2.6 0.0 3.2 3.2 0.0

 September 20 1,070 1,054 16 1,050 1,046 4 0.1 2.7 2.7 0.0 2.6 2.6 0.0

 December 182 1,177 1,171 6 995 988 7 0.4 2.9 2.9 0.0 2.5 2.5 0.0

2004 March 1 1,035 1,031 4 1,034 1,023 11 0.0 2.6 2.6 0.0 2.6 2.6 0.0

 June 168 1,224 1,197 27 1,056 1,050 6 0.5 3.1 3.0 0.1 2.6 2.6 0.0

 September 4 1,105 1,104 1 1,101 1,094 7 0.0 2.7 2.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 0.0

 December 372 1,253 1,248 5 881 856 25 0.9 3.1 3.1 0.0 2.2 2.1 0.1

2005 March 95 1,076 1,074 2 981 977 4 0.2 2.6 2.6 0.0 2.4 2.4 0.0

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

Gross job losses

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent of employment)

Year 3 months 

ended Net change1 Expanding 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms

Contracting 

firms

Closing 

firms Total Expanding 

firms

Opening 

firms

Gross job gains Gross job losses Gross job gains

Total Total Total Net change1 Opening 

firms