For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, February 7, 2012 USDL-12-0214

Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt 

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

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – DECEMBER 2011

There were 3.4 million job openings on the last business day of December, up from 3.1 million in 

November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.1 percent) and 

separations rate (3.0 percent) were unchanged over the month. The job openings rate has trended upward 

since the end of the recession in June 2009. (Recession dates are determined by the National Bureau of 

Economic Research.) This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and 

separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by geographic region. 

Job Openings

The number of job openings in December was 3.4 million, up from 3.1 million in November. (See table 

1.) Although the number of job openings remained below the 4.4 million openings when the recession 

began in December 2007, the number of job openings has increased 39 percent since the end of the 

recession in June 2009. 

The number of job openings in December (not seasonally adjusted) increased over the year for total 

nonfarm and total private; the level was little changed for government. Several industries saw increases 

in the number of job openings over the year, while the number of job openings decreased for federal 

government. The South region experienced an increase in the number of job openings over the year.

(See table 5.)

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

Percent

2009 2010 2011

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

January 2009 - December 2011

NOTE: The shaded area represents the recession that began in Dec. 2007 and ended in June 2009

as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). 

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Hires

Separations

Percent

2009 2010 2011

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

January 2009 - December 2011

NOTE: The shaded area represents the recession that began in Dec. 2007 and ended in June 2009

as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). 
- 2 - 

Hires

In December, the hires rate was unchanged at 3.1 percent for total nonfarm. The hires rate was little 

changed over the month in all industries and regions. (See table 2.) The number of hires in December

was 4.0 million, an increase of 12 percent since the end of the recession in June 2009. 

Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, 

total private, and government. The hires rate was essentially unchanged over the year in all industries 

and regions. (See table 6.)

Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted

Industry Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total ......................................................2,921 3,118 3,376 3,905 4,132 4,046 3,836 3,986 3,909

Total private 1....................................... 2,500 2,766 3,009 3,631 3,853 3,765 3,539 3,686 3,593

Construction....................................... 44 74 71 356 304 289 393 307 280

Manufacturing.................................... 184 242 264 264 236 261 252 217 226

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2......... 463 541 571 756 800 803 718 730 731

Retail trade..................................... 268 305 336 476 559 534 470 496 494

Professional and business services......... 609 503 652 780 845 787 735 811 792

Education and health services............... 510 609 588 465 472 487 450 459 460

Leisure and hospitality ................ ........ 270 411 402 596 733 715 583 697 694

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...... 41 57 44 98 146 137 98 147 145

Accommodation and food services...... 229 354 358 498 587 578 485 549 549

Government 3..................................... 421 353 367 274 278 282 297 300 315

State and local government.................. 319 299 302 242 247 250 269 266 282

Total ...................................................... 2.2 2.3 2.5 3.0 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.0 3.0

Total private 1....................................... 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3

Construction....................................... 0.8 1.3 1.3 6.5 5.5 5.2 7.2 5.6 5.0

Manufacturing.................................... 1.6 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.2 1.8 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2......... 1.8 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.2 2.9 2.9 2.9

Retail trade.................................... 1.8 2.0 2.2 3.3 3.8 3.6 3.3 3.4 3.4

Professional and business services......... 3.5 2.8 3.6 4.6 4.9 4.5 4.3 4.7 4.6

Education and health services............... 2.5 2.9 2.8 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality ................... ..... 2.0 3.0 2.9 4.6 5.5 5.4 4.5 5.2 5.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...... 2.1 2.9 2.3 5.2 7.7 7.3 5.2 7.8 7.7

Accommodation and food services...... 2.0 3.0 3.0 4.5 5.1 5.0 4.3 4.8 4.8

Government 3..................................... 1.9 1.6 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4

State and local government.................. 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5

 1 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

 2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.

 3 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = Preliminary

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)
- 3 - 

Separations 

The total separations figure includes voluntary quits, involuntary layoffs and discharges, and other 

separations, including retirements. Total separations is also referred to as turnover.

The seasonally adjusted total separations rate was unchanged in December for total nonfarm and 

government and little changed for total private. (See table 3.) Over the year, the total separations rate 

(not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. (See table 

7.) 

The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to change jobs. In December, the 

quits rate was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. (See table 4.) The number 

of quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the most recent trough) to 1.9 million in December, 

although it remained below the 2.8 million recorded when the recession began in December 2007. 

 

The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in December 2011 was little changed from December 

2010 for total nonfarm and total private but increased for government. The number of quits increased for 

state and local government. No region experienced a significant change in the number of quits over the 

year. (See table 8.) 

The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is seasonally adjusted only at the total 

nonfarm, total private, and government levels. The layoffs and discharges rate was essentially

unchanged in December 2011 for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of layoffs 

and discharges for total nonfarm was 1.6 million in December, down from a peak of 2.5 million in 

February 2009. For the 17 months ending in December 2011, the number of layoffs and discharges has 

been at or below 1.8 million—the level at the start of the recession in December 2007. (See table B.)

The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) for total nonfarm, total private, and 

government was little changed over the year. Over the year, the number of layoffs and discharges 

declined for construction. The number of layoffs and discharges increased for other services over the 

year. All four regions experienced little change in the number of layoffs and discharges. (See table 9.) 

The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In December 2011, there were 330,000 other 

separations for total nonfarm, 259,000 for total private, and 72,000 for government. Compared to 

December 2010, the number of other separations was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and

government. (See table 10.)

Table B. Layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total...............................................................1,677 1,718 1,644 1.3 1.3 1.2

Total private...................................................1,549 1,604 1,528 1.4 1.5 1.4

Government................................................... 128 114 115 0.6 0.5 0.5

 p = Preliminary

Industry

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent)
- 4 - 

Relative Contributions to Separations 

The total separations level is influenced by the relative contribution of its three components—quits, 

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Other separations is historically a very small portion of 

total separations; it has rarely been above 10 percent of total separations. The percentage of total 

separations attributable to the individual components has varied over time at the total nonfarm level, but 

for the majority of the months since the series began in December 2000, the proportion of quits has 

exceeded the proportion of layoffs and discharges. For most of the months between November 2008 and 

November 2010, however, the proportion of layoffs and discharges was equal to or greater than the 

proportion of quits. Since November 2010, the series have returned to their historical pattern. In 

December 2011, the proportion of quits at the total nonfarm level was 49 percent, and the proportion of 

layoffs and discharges was 42 percent. (See table C.) 

Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net 

employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of 

hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. 

Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even 

if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in December 2011, hires totaled 48.4 

million and separations totaled 47.0 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.4 million. These 

figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year. 

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for January 2012 are scheduled to be 

released on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

Upcoming changes to the JOLTS Data 

With the release of January data on March 13, BLS will revise the job openings, hires, and 

separations data to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors. Unadjusted data and 

seasonally adjusted data from December 2006 forward are subject to revision. In addition, a 

revised/birth death model will be implemented resulting in possible revisions to the full data 

series. Also effective with the release of January data, JOLTS will adopt the 2012 version of the 

North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). Changes in the 2012 NAICS 

structure are minor and will not impact the published JOLTS data series. 

Table C. Quits and layoffs and discharges as a percentage of total separations, seasonally adjusted

(Levels in thousands)

Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total

Total .................................... 1,838 48% 1,955 49% 1,926 49% 1,677 44% 1,718 43% 1,644 42%

Total private...........................1,731 49% 1,835 50% 1,790 50% 1,549 44% 1,604 44% 1,528 43%

Government ........................ 107 36% 120 40% 135 43% 128 43% 114 38% 115 37%

 p = Preliminary

Industry

Quits Layoffs and discharges

Dec.

2010

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011p

Dec.

2010

Nov.

2011

Dec.

2011p
Technical Note

 The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover 

Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly 

from a sample of business establishments by the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Collection

 In a monthly survey of business establishments, data 

are collected for total employment, job openings, hires, 

quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. 

Data collection methods include computer-assisted 

telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, web, fax, 

e-mail, and mail.

Coverage

 The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well 

as federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 

states and the District of Columbia.

Concepts

 Industry classification. The industry classifications 

in this release are in accordance with the 2007 version 

of the North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with 

employers and update, if necessary, the industry code, 

location, and ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment 

characteristics resulting from the verification process 

are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

with the data reported for the first month of the year.

 Employment. Employment includes persons on the 

payroll who worked or received pay for the pay period 

that includes the 12th day of the reference month. Fulltime, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or other paid leave. 

Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses, 

unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay 

or on strike for the entire pay period, are not counted as 

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and 

consultants are counted by their employer of record, 

not by the establishment where they are working.

 Job openings. Establishments submit job openings 

information for the last business day of the reference 

month. A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, 

2) work could start within 30 days regardless of 

whether a suitable candidate is found, and 3) the 

employer is actively recruiting from outside the 

establishment to fill the position. Included are fulltime, part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal 

openings. Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in 

newspapers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted 

signs, accepting applications, or using other similar 

methods.

 Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. 

Also excluded are jobs with start dates more than 30 

days in the future, jobs for which employees have been 

hired but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be 

filled by employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or 

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by 

dividing the number of job openings by the sum of 

employment and job openings and multiplying that 

quotient by 100.

 Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the 

payroll occurring at any time during the reference 

month, including both new and rehired employees, fulltime and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal 

employees, employees recalled to the location after a 

layoff lasting more than 7 days, on-call or intermittent 

employees who returned to work after having been 

formally separated, and transfers from other locations. 

The hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting site, employees returning 

from strike, employees of temporary help agencies or 

employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or 

consultants. The hires rate is computed by dividing the 

number of hires by employment and multiplying that 

quotient by 100.

 Separations. Separations are the total number of 

terminations of employment occurring at any time 

during the reference month, and are reported by type of 

separation—quits, layoffs and discharges, and other 

separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements, which are reported as 

other separations). Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer and 

include layoffs with no intent to rehire; formal layoffs 

lasting or expected to last more than 7 days; discharges 

resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings; firings 

or other discharges for cause; terminations of permanent or short-term employees; and terminations of 

seasonal employees. Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not include 

transfers within the same location or employees on 

strike.
 The separations rate is computed by dividing the 

number of separations by employment and multiplying 

that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, 

and other separations rates are computed similarly, 

dividing the number by employment and multiplying 

by 100.

 Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and 

levels of hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released with the 

January news release each year.

 The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, 

layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total 

separations are the sum of the 12 published monthly 

levels. The annual rate estimates are computed by 

dividing the annual level by the Current Employment 

Statistics (CES) annual average employment level, and 

multiplying that quotient by 100. This figure will be 

approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly 

rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels 

are rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual 

estimates are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates are published only for not seasonally adjusted data.

 Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings 

because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time, 

measurement for the last business day of each month. 

Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are 

counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be 

cumulated throughout each month, annual figures for 

job openings cannot be created by summing the 

monthly estimates. Hires and separations are flow 

measures and are cumulated over the month with a 

total reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates.

Special collection procedures

 An implied measure of employment change can be 

derived from the JOLTS data by subtracting separations from hires for a given month. Aggregating 

these monthly changes historically produced employment levels that overstated employment change as 

measured by CES at the total nonfarm level. Research 

into this problem showed that a significant amount of 

the divergence between the CES employment levels 

and the derived JOLTS employment levels was traceable to the Employment Services industry and to the 

State Government Education industry. In the former 

industry, businesses have a difficult time reporting 

hires and separations of temporary help workers. In 

the latter industry, employers have difficulty reporting 

hires and separations of student workers. BLS now devotes additional resources to the collection, editing, and 

review of data for these industries. BLS analysts more 

closely examine reported data that do not provide a 

consistent picture over time, and re-contact the 

respondents as necessary. Analysts work with the 

respondents to adjust their reporting practices as 

possible. Units that cannot be reconciled but are clearly incorrect on a consistent basis are not used; they are 

replaced by imputed values using standard techniques.

Sample and estimation methodology

 The JOLTS survey design is a random sample of 

16,000 nonfarm business establishments, including 

factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, 

and local governments in the 50 states and the District 

of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a 

universe of over 9.1 million establishments compiled 

as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of 

Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. This 

program includes all employers subject to state 

Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal 

agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for 

Federal Employees (UCFE).

 The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, 

industry sector, and size class. The JOLTS sample is 

constructed from individual panels of sample units 

drawn on an annual basis. The full annual sample consists of one certainty panel composed of only large 

units selected with virtual certainty based on their size 

and 24 non-certainty panels. Each month a new noncertainty panel is rolled into collection, and the oldest 

non-certainty panel is rolled out. This means that at 

any given time the JOLTS sample is constructed from 

panels from three different annual sampling frames. 

The entire sample of old plus new panels is poststratified and re-weighted annually to represent the 

most recent sampling frame. Additionally, the out-ofbusiness establishments are removed from the old 

panels. The annual sample is supplemented with a 

quarterly sample of birth establishments (i.e., new 

establishments) to better reflect the impact of younger 

establishments in the JOLTS sample.

 JOLTS total employment estimates are benchmarked 

monthly to the employment estimates of the Current 

Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES 

to JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for 

all other JOLTS data elements. 

JOLTS business birth/death model

 As with any sample survey, the JOLTS sample can 

only be as current as its sampling frame. The time lag 

from the birth of an establishment until its appearance 

on the sampling frame is approximately one year. In 

addition, many of these new units may fail within the 

first year. Since these universe units cannot be reflected on the sampling frame immediately, the JOLTS 

sample cannot capture job openings, hires, and sepa-
rations from these units during their early existence. 

BLS has developed a model to estimate birth/death 

activity for current months by examining the birth/

death activity from previous years on the QCEW and 

projecting forward to the present using an econometric 

technique known as X-12 ARIMA modeling. The 

birth/death model also uses historical JOLTS data to 

estimate the amount of “churn” (hires and separations) 

that exists in establishments of various sizes. The 

model then combines the estimated churn with the 

projected employment change to estimate the number 

of hires and separations taking place in these units that 

cannot be measured through sampling. 

 The model-based estimate of total separations is 

distributed to the three components—quits; layoffs and 

discharges; and other separations—in proportion to 

their contribution to the sample-based estimate of total 

separations. Additionally, job openings for the modeled units are estimated by computing the ratio of 

openings to hires in the collected data and applying that 

ratio to the modeled hires. The estimates of job openings, hires, and separations produced by the birth/death 

model are then added to the sample-based estimates 

produced from the survey to arrive at the estimates for 

openings, hires, and separations.

Seasonal adjustment

 BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using 

the X-12 ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. 

Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and 

removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 

as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of 

the school year. Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to 

observe fundamental changes in the level of the series, 

particularly those associated with general economic 

expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal 

adjustment methodology is used in which new seasonal 

adjustment factors are calculated each month, using all 

relevant data, up to and including the data for the 

current month.

 JOLTS uses moving averages as seasonal filters in 

seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA (regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the seasonal 

adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the 

series and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series.

Alignment procedure

 JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable 

to the CES net employment change. However, definitional differences as well as sampling and nonsampling errors between the two surveys historically 

caused JOLTS to diverge from CES over time. To limit 

the divergence, and improve the quality of the JOLTS 

hires and separations series, BLS implemented the 

Monthly Alignment Method. The Monthly Alignment Method applies the CES employment trends to 

the seasonally adjusted JOLTS implied employment 

trend (hires minus separations) forcing them to be 

approximately the same, while preserving the seasonality of the JOLTS data. First, the two series are 

seasonally adjusted and the difference between the 

JOLTS implied employment trend and the CES net 

employment change is calculated. Next, the JOLTS 

implied employment trend is adjusted to equal the CES 

net employment change through a proportional adjustment. This proportional adjustment procedure adjusts 

the two components (hires, separations) proportionally 

to their contribution to the total churn (hires plus separations). For example, if hires are 40 percent of the 

churn for a given month, they will receive 40 percent 

of the needed adjustment and separations will receive 

60 percent of the needed adjustment. The adjusted hires 

and separations are converted back to not seasonally 

adjusted data by reversing the application of the original seasonal factors. After the Monthly Alignment 

Method has been used to adjust the level estimates, rate 

estimates are computed from the adjusted levels. The 

monthly alignment procedure assures a close match of 

the JOLTS implied employment trend with the CES 

trend. The CES series is considered a highly accurate 

measure of net employment change owing to its very 

large sample size and annual benchmarking to universe 

counts of employment from the QCEW program.

Using JOLTS data

 The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and 

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel enrolled each month. 

A full complement of panels for the original data series 

based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification 

(SIC) system was not completely enrolled in the survey 

until January 2002. The supplemental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 

completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those points are from less than a full 

sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier months 

should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units 

were reporting data at that time.

 In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires 

and separations data were revised to address possible 

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may 

not be comparable to estimates for March 2002 and 

later.

 The federal government reorganization that involved 

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the 

new Department of Homeland Security is not reflected 

in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the 
federal government. The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers were completed in 

March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS 

definitions of hires and separations is intended to cover 

ongoing movements of workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the 

inclusion of these intergovernmental transfers would 

distort the federal government time series.

Reliability of the estimates

 JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and 

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the 

sample estimates may differ from the "true" population 

values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample 

selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally 

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That 

means that there is a 90-percent chance, or level of 

confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will 

differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the 

"true" population value because of sampling error. 

Estimates of sampling errors are available upon request.

 The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many 

reasons, including the failure to include a segment of 

the population, the inability to obtain data from all 

units in the sample, the inability or unwillingness of 

respondents to provide data on a timely basis, mistakes 

made by respondents, errors made in the collection or 

processing of the data, and errors from the employment 

benchmark data used in estimation.

Other information

 Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice 

phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 

877-8339.
Table 1. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p

Total ........................................................................................................... 2,921 3,213 3,129 3,377 3,224 3,118 3,376 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.5

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,500 2,905 2,799 3,003 2,864 2,766 3,009 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.7

Construction........................................................................ 44 75 102 70 84 74 71 .8 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.3

Manufacturing................................................................ 184 252 232 235 232 242 264 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 463 540 490 561 552 541 571 1.8 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 268 312 324 328 306 305 336 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 609 640 621 675 576 503 652 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.8 3.2 2.8 3.6

Education and health services................................................. 510 604 609 616 593 609 588 2.5 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.8

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 270 338 351 383 374 411 402 2.0 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.7 3.0 2.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 41 62 44 62 47 57 44 2.1 3.2 2.3 3.1 2.4 2.9 2.3

Accommodation and food services......................... 229 276 307 321 328 354 358 2.0 2.4 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.0

Government 6......................................................................................... 421 309 329 374 360 353 367 1.9 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6

State and local government.................................................................................... 319 253 287 312 293 299 302 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6

REGION 7

Northeast ......................................................................... 548 570 589 586 552 593 656 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.5

South ............................................................................................... 1,023 1,192 1,108 1,273 1,223 1,219 1,380 2.1 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.8

Midwest ......................................................................................... 617 714 732 704 725 698 766 2.0 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5

West ...................................................................................... 829 753 775 818 810 630 775 2.8 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.1 2.6

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the 

7

 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 

month. regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

 

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North 

adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 

 

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, 

other services, not shown separately. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and 

 

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, 

shown separately. Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and 

 

6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 

p

 = Preliminary

Table 2. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p

Total ........................................................................................................... 3,905 3,976 4,060 4,150 4,042 4,132 4,046 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,631 3,733 3,785 3,885 3,785 3,853 3,765 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4

Construction........................................................................ 356 334 309 367 339 304 289 6.5 6.0 5.6 6.6 6.1 5.5 5.2

Manufacturing................................................................ 264 259 249 234 235 236 261 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 756 767 779 778 816 800 803 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 476 552 526 547 550 559 534 3.3 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.6

Professional and business services......................... 780 819 863 895 846 845 787 4.6 4.8 5.0 5.2 4.9 4.9 4.5

Education and health services................................................. 465 472 481 482 471 472 487 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 596 682 679 698 666 733 715 4.6 5.2 5.1 5.3 5.0 5.5 5.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 98 96 110 126 121 146 137 5.2 5.1 5.8 6.6 6.4 7.7 7.3

Accommodation and food services......................... 498 586 569 572 545 587 578 4.5 5.2 5.0 5.0 4.8 5.1 5.0

Government 6......................................................................................... 274 243 275 264 257 278 282 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3

State and local government.................................................................................... 242 219 247 237 228 247 250 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3

REGION 7

Northeast ......................................................................... 680 675 604 662 667 666 630 2.7 2.7 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.5

South ............................................................................................... 1,513 1,488 1,526 1,592 1,577 1,568 1,545 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2

Midwest ......................................................................................... 878 910 919 987 949 994 960 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.2

West ...................................................................................... 806 893 868 969 904 914 880 2.8 3.1 3.0 3.4 3.1 3.2 3.0

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of not shown separately.

total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal 7 See footnote 7, table 1. 

adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. p

 = Preliminary

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and 

other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p

Total ........................................................................................................... 3,836 3,962 3,960 4,052 3,898 3,986 3,909 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,539 3,659 3,688 3,763 3,617 3,686 3,593 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3

Construction........................................................................ 393 327 320 338 328 307 280 7.2 5.9 5.8 6.1 5.9 5.6 5.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 252 239 250 238 216 217 226 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 718 770 762 782 767 730 731 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 2.9 2.9

Retail trade................................................................................. 470 547 521 546 517 496 494 3.3 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.4

Professional and business services......................... 735 806 824 850 817 811 792 4.3 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.7 4.7 4.6

Education and health services................................................. 450 431 444 414 440 459 460 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 583 670 689 693 634 697 694 4.5 5.1 5.2 5.2 4.8 5.2 5.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 98 97 113 137 105 147 145 5.2 5.1 6.0 7.2 5.5 7.8 7.7

Accommodation and food services......................... 485 573 576 557 529 549 549 4.3 5.1 5.1 4.9 4.6 4.8 4.8

Government 6......................................................................................... 297 302 272 289 281 300 315 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4

State and local government.................................................................................... 269 271 240 255 250 266 282 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.5

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 598 665 627 687 638 642 602 2.4 2.7 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.6 2.4

South............................................................................................... 1,476 1,482 1,463 1,519 1,447 1,559 1,546 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 841 905 903 877 846 853 833 2.8 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.8

West...................................................................................... 759 853 812 901 814 855 837 2.7 3.0 2.8 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.9

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

month. not shown separately.

 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 7

 See footnote 7, table 1. 

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent p = Preliminary

seasonal adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

Table 4. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011p

Total ........................................................................................................... 1,838 1,969 2,006 2,000 1,923 1,955 1,926 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 1,731 1,839 1,889 1,884 1,808 1,835 1,790 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6

Construction........................................................................ 81 71 66 84 75 101 79 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.8 1.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 107 101 98 97 102 117 109 .9 .9 .8 .8 .9 1.0 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 373 412 422 437 439 402 412 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 274 316 319 327 313 291 310 1.9 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.1

Professional and business services......................... 335 391 383 391 341 375 359 2.0 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.1

Education and health services................................................. 244 238 268 246 239 243 255 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 368 401 432 406 381 373 371 2.8 3.0 3.3 3.1 2.9 2.8 2.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 41 44 48 45 44 35 48 2.2 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.3 1.8 2.5

Accommodation and food services......................... 327 357 384 361 338 338 323 2.9 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.8

Government 6......................................................................................... 107 130 117 116 114 120 135 .5 .6 .5 .5 .5 .5 .6

State and local government.................................................................................... 98 121 108 105 103 110 125 .5 .6 .6 .5 .5 .6 .7

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 251 264 285 275 259 258 250 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0

South............................................................................................... 761 782 821 836 764 798 779 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.6

Midwest......................................................................................... 411 476 495 440 437 435 436 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

West...................................................................................... 343 460 447 433 423 415 423 1.2 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a not shown separately.

percent of total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 7 See footnote 7, table 1. 

seasonal adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. p

 = Preliminary

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,583 2,761 2,987 1.9 2.0 2.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,215 2,433 2,643 2.0 2.2 2.3

Mining and logging...................................................21 23 34 2.8 2.8 3.9

Construction...................................................................................................... 33 52 49 .6 .9 .9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 159 203 229 1.3 1.7 1.9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 108 148 164 1.5 2.0 2.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 50 55 65 1.1 1.2 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 353 467 446 1.4 1.8 1.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 64 89 84 1.1 1.6 1.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 192 270 245 1.3 1.8 1.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 97 108 117 2.0 2.2 2.3

Information...................................................................................... 73 89 96 2.6 3.2 3.5

Financial activities........................................................................... 181 148 171 2.3 1.9 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 160 110 150 2.7 1.9 2.6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 20 38 21 1.0 1.9 1.1

Professional and business services........................................ 594 452 640 3.4 2.5 3.5

Education and health services................................................................. 492 582 551 2.4 2.8 2.6

Educational services................................................................ 41 51 44 1.2 1.5 1.3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 451 531 507 2.6 3.0 2.9

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 205 326 305 1.6 2.4 2.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 28 49 28 1.6 2.7 1.6

Accommodation and food services............................... 177 278 276 1.6 2.4 2.4

Other services................................................................................. 105 91 123 1.9 1.6 2.2

Government......................................................................................... 367 328 344 1.6 1.4 1.5

Federal................................................................................................ 81 47 53 2.8 1.7 1.8

State and local.................................................................................... 286 280 291 1.4 1.4 1.5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 451 524 525 1.8 2.0 2.0

South............................................................................................... 919 1,068 1,244 1.9 2.2 2.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 530 597 607 1.7 1.9 2.0

West....................................................................................................... 683 571 611 2.3 1.9 2.1

 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment 

plus job openings.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,841 3,687 2,919 2.2 2.8 2.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,680 3,488 2,747 2.5 3.2 2.5

Mining and logging...................................................12 19 21 1.7 2.3 2.6

Construction...................................................................................................... 219 212 173 4.1 3.7 3.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 157 185 157 1.4 1.6 1.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 93 113 96 1.3 1.5 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 64 72 61 1.4 1.6 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 614 957 657 2.4 3.8 2.6

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 84 73 94 1.5 1.3 1.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 367 713 398 2.5 4.7 2.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 164 172 165 3.4 3.5 3.3

Information...................................................................................... 55 60 57 2.0 2.3 2.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 137 143 118 1.8 1.9 1.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 83 99 84 1.5 1.7 1.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 54 44 34 2.8 2.3 1.7

Professional and business services........................................ 629 769 607 3.7 4.4 3.5

Education and health services................................................................. 328 396 342 1.6 1.9 1.7

Educational services................................................................ 32 49 38 1.0 1.4 1.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 296 347 304 1.8 2.0 1.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 417 602 490 3.3 4.6 3.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 70 120 100 4.0 6.9 5.8

Accommodation and food services............................... 348 482 390 3.2 4.3 3.5

Other services................................................................................. 112 144 125 2.1 2.7 2.3

Government......................................................................................... 161 200 172 .7 .9 .8

Federal................................................................................................ 23 27 24 .8 .9 .9

State and local.................................................................................... 138 173 148 .7 .9 .8

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 505 581 460 2.0 2.3 1.8

South............................................................................................... 1,125 1,445 1,154 2.4 3.0 2.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 613 834 663 2.1 2.8 2.2

West....................................................................................................... 598 828 641 2.1 2.8 2.2

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,764 3,590 3,749 2.9 2.7 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,516 3,400 3,475 3.2 3.1 3.1

Mining and logging...................................................23 19 28 3.1 2.3 3.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 445 318 306 8.3 5.6 5.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 227 205 204 2.0 1.7 1.7

Durable goods.............................................................................. 126 114 116 1.8 1.6 1.6

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 102 91 89 2.3 2.0 2.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 794 641 779 3.1 2.5 3.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 105 84 101 1.9 1.5 1.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 506 438 498 3.4 2.9 3.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 183 118 180 3.7 2.4 3.6

Information...................................................................................... 70 60 63 2.6 2.3 2.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 145 138 131 1.9 1.8 1.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 92 87 96 1.6 1.5 1.7

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 52 51 35 2.7 2.6 1.8

Professional and business services........................................ 808 785 832 4.7 4.5 4.8

Education and health services................................................................. 402 367 419 2.0 1.8 2.1

Educational services................................................................ 52 38 49 1.6 1.1 1.5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 350 329 369 2.1 1.9 2.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 489 696 577 3.8 5.3 4.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 75 177 117 4.3 10.2 6.8

Accommodation and food services............................... 414 519 460 3.8 4.6 4.1

Other services................................................................................. 113 170 136 2.1 3.1 2.5

Government......................................................................................... 249 190 274 1.1 .8 1.2

Federal................................................................................................ 25 29 31 .9 1.0 1.1

State and local.................................................................................... 224 161 243 1.1 .8 1.2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 646 613 596 2.6 2.4 2.4

South............................................................................................... 1,399 1,354 1,460 2.9 2.8 3.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 935 837 882 3.1 2.8 2.9

West....................................................................................................... 784 785 811 2.7 2.7 2.8

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.

 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,518 1,597 1,547 1.2 1.2 1.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,437 1,517 1,443 1.3 1.4 1.3

Mining and logging...................................................7 10 11 1.0 1.2 1.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 62 79 58 1.2 1.4 1.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 71 92 74 .6 .8 .6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 37 45 40 .5 .6 .5

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 34 48 34 .8 1.1 .8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 331 332 360 1.3 1.3 1.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 32 37 33 .6 .7 .6

Retail trade................................................................................. 250 242 281 1.7 1.6 1.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 49 54 45 1.0 1.1 .9

Information...................................................................................... 36 35 28 1.3 1.3 1.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 68 59 67 .9 .8 .9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 41 36 49 .7 .6 .9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 27 24 18 1.4 1.2 .9

Professional and business services........................................ 289 336 288 1.7 1.9 1.6

Education and health services................................................................. 203 195 215 1.0 1.0 1.1

Educational services................................................................ 22 16 20 .7 .5 .6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 181 179 195 1.1 1.1 1.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 298 301 289 2.3 2.3 2.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 28 24 33 1.6 1.4 1.9

Accommodation and food services............................... 270 277 257 2.4 2.4 2.3

Other services................................................................................. 72 77 53 1.3 1.4 1.0

Government......................................................................................... 81 79 104 .4 .4 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 7 7 8 .2 .3 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 75 72 96 .4 .4 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 219 221 203 .9 .9 .8

South............................................................................................... 641 675 636 1.4 1.4 1.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 367 370 371 1.2 1.2 1.2

West....................................................................................................... 291 331 337 1.0 1.1 1.2

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,935 1,757 1,872 1.5 1.3 1.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,831 1,688 1,773 1.7 1.5 1.6

Mining and logging...................................................13 9 11 1.8 1.0 1.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 380 232 240 7.0 4.1 4.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 128 102 111 1.1 .9 .9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 68 62 65 1.0 .8 .9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 60 40 46 1.4 .9 1.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 407 249 364 1.6 1.0 1.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 64 36 58 1.2 .6 1.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 222 161 185 1.5 1.1 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 121 52 121 2.5 1.1 2.4

Information...................................................................................... 30 24 28 1.1 .9 1.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 60 67 38 .8 .9 .5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 36 43 22 .6 .8 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 24 24 16 1.2 1.3 .8

Professional and business services........................................ 459 409 492 2.7 2.3 2.8

Education and health services................................................................. 157 145 141 .8 .7 .7

Educational services................................................................ 24 18 25 .7 .5 .7

Health care and social assistance.................................. 133 127 116 .8 .7 .7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 168 364 270 1.3 2.8 2.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 44 151 81 2.5 8.6 4.7

Accommodation and food services............................... 124 214 189 1.1 1.9 1.7

Other services................................................................................. 29 87 78 .5 1.6 1.4

Government......................................................................................... 105 69 98 .5 .3 .4

Federal................................................................................................ 9 11 9 .3 .4 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 96 57 90 .5 .3 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 379 343 322 1.5 1.4 1.3

South............................................................................................... 656 588 713 1.4 1.2 1.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 491 426 439 1.6 1.4 1.5

West....................................................................................................... 409 399 398 1.4 1.4 1.4

 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.

 2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total 

employment.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 311 237 330 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 248 194 259 .2 .2 .2

Mining and logging...................................................3 1 5 .3 .1 .7

Construction...................................................................................................... 3 8 9 .1 .1 .2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 28 11 20 .2 .1 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 21 8 11 .3 .1 .1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 7 4 9 .2 .1 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 56 59 55 .2 .2 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 10 11 10 .2 .2 .2

Retail trade................................................................................. 33 36 31 .2 .2 .2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 13 12 14 .3 .2 .3

Information...................................................................................... 5 1 7 .2 .1 .3

Financial activities........................................................................... 17 12 26 .2 .2 .3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 15 9 24 .3 .2 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 2 3 2 .1 .1 .1

Professional and business services........................................ 60 40 53 .4 .2 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 42 27 63 .2 .1 .3

Educational services................................................................ 6 4 4 .2 .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 36 23 59 .2 .1 .3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 23 30 17 .2 .2 .1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 3 2 3 .1 .1 .2

Accommodation and food services............................... 20 28 14 .2 .2 .1

Other services................................................................................. 13 5 5 .2 .1 .1

Government......................................................................................... 62 42 72 .3 .2 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 9 11 15 .3 .4 .5

State and local.................................................................................... 53 32 57 .3 .2 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 49 49 71 .2 .2 .3

South............................................................................................... 102 92 112 .2 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 76 41 72 .3 .1 .2

West....................................................................................................... 83 55 76 .3 .2 .3

 1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.

 2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates