News

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

United States 

Department 

of Labor 

Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 08-1270

 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ 

 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Tuesday, September 9, 2008 

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JULY 2008 

On the last business day of July, there were 3.4 million job openings in the United States, and the job 

openings rate was 2.4 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported 

today. The job openings rate and total separations rate were little changed in July, while the hires rate 

decreased slightly. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and 

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

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 August 2005 - July 2008

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

2006 2007 2008

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 August 2005 - July 2008

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

Separations

Hires

2006 2007 2008

Although the month-to-month changes in job openings, hires, and turnover data are often small, the 

trends over time are notable. The job openings rate remained essentially flat from August 2006 through 

September 2007 followed by an overall downward trend through July 2008. The hires rate has trended 

downward since July 2006. At 3.0 percent in two of the last three months, the hires rate is at the lowest level 

since May 2003. After remaining essentially flat for much of 2007, the separations rate began an overall 

downward trend in December 2007. (See tables 1, 2, and 3.) 
2 

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

Industry July June July July June July July June July

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total 1................................................4,116 3,497 3,416 4,818 4,438 4,062 4,562 4,368 4,308

Total private 1

.................................... 3,648 3,073 2,983 4,489 4,136 3,792 4,222 4,115 4,085

Construction.................................... 162 100 84 401 354 267 382 409 436

Manufacturing................................. 331 241 233 355 285 253 370 353 304

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2

......... 693 539 591 952 906 893 987 1,003 1,025

 Retail trade.................................. 378 322 374 638 608 597 687 679 719

Professional and business services............ 686 670 600 879 889 788 765 799 756

Education and health services............... 692 682 674 501 485 473 420 417 465

Leisure and hospitality 3

........................ 530 452 436 869 741 775 835 749 674

 Accommodation and food services...... 482 406 395 739 645 654 723 641 570

Government 4

..................................... 470 417 432 387 340 325 322 259 237

 State and local government.................. 431 361 379 305 309 303 258 233 214

Total 1

................................................ 2.9 2.5 2.4 3.5 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.2 3.1

Total private 1

.................................... 3.1 2.6 2.5 3.9 3.6 3.3 3.7 3.6 3.5

Construction.................................... 2.1 1.4 1.2 5.3 4.9 3.7 5.0 5.7 6.1

Manufacturing................................. 2.3 1.7 1.7 2.6 2.1 1.9 2.7 2.6 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2

......... 2.5 2.0 2.2 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.7 3.8 3.9

 Retail trade.................................... 2.4 2.1 2.4 4.1 4.0 3.9 4.4 4.4 4.7

Professional and business services............3.7 3.6 3.2 4.9 5.0 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.2

Education and health services............... 3.6 3.5 3.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.5

Leisure and hospitality 3

........................ 3.8 3.2 3.1 6.5 5.4 5.7 6.2 5.5 4.9

 Accommodation and food services...... 4.0 3.4 3.3 6.4 5.5 5.6 6.3 5.5 4.9

Government 4

.................................... 2.1 1.8 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.1 1.1

 State and local government.................. 2.2 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.1

 1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 3 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 4 Includes federal government, not shown separately. p = preliminary.

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)

Job Openings

In July, the job openings rate was essentially unchanged at 2.4 percent. The rate has been trending 

downward and is at the lowest level since November 2004. Job openings include only those jobs open on 

the last business day of the month. In July, the job openings rate changed significantly only in retail trade, 

where the rate increased. Since the series began in December 2000, three industries consistently have had 

higher job openings rates than the other industries: education and health services (3.4 percent in July), 
3 

accommodation and food services (3.3 percent) and professional and business services (3.2 percent). (See 

table 1.) 

Over the year, the job openings rate (not seasonally adjusted) rose significantly only in federal 

government (to 2.2 percent). The rate fell over the year for total nonfarm (2.5 percent) and total private (2.5 

percent) as well as in most industries, including construction; durable goods manufacturing; nondurable 

goods manufacturing; wholesale trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; finance and 

insurance; professional and business services; educational services; accommodation and food services; other 

services; and state and local government. Regionally, the job openings rate fell over the year in all four 

regions. (See table 5.) 

Hires

The hires rate decreased in July to 3.0 percent and was at the lowest level since May 2003. Hires are 

any additions to the payroll during the month. The hires rate fell significantly in July for total nonfarm, total 

private, the construction industry, and the Northeast and South regions. The hires rate did not increase 

significantly in any industry or region in July. As occurs nearly every month, the seasonally adjusted hires 

rate was highest in accommodation and food services (5.6 percent) and lowest in state and local government 

(1.5 percent). (See table 2.) 

From July 2007 to July 2008, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) decreased significantly for total 

nonfarm (to 3.1 percent) and total private (3.4 percent), and in construction; durable goods manufacturing; 

nondurable goods manufacturing; information; real estate and rental and leasing; educational services; 

accommodation and food services; other services; and federal government. Regionally, the hires rate fell 

over the year in the Northeast, South, and West. The hires rate did not rise significantly in any industry or 

region over the year. (See table 6.) 

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.1 percent in July. Separations are 

terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, the separations rate 

did not change significantly in any industry or region. As often occurs, the seasonally adjusted separations 

rate was highest in construction (6.1 percent) and lowest in state and local government (1.1 percent). From 

July 2007 to July 2008, the total separations rate rose significantly only in the construction industry. The 

rate fell in nondurable goods manufacturing; finance and insurance; accommodation and food services; 

federal government; and state and local government. Regionally, the rate rose in the Northeast and fell in 

the South over the year. (See tables 3 and 7.) 

Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary 

separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer 

of workers’ ability to change jobs, was unchanged in July for total nonfarm (1.7 percent) and has been stable 

since November 2007. The quits rate did not change significantly in any industry or region in July. As has 

occurred every month since the series began in December 2000, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was 

highest in the accommodation and food services industry (3.6 percent) and lowest in state and local 

government (0.5 percent). (See table 4.) 

From July 2007 to July 2008, the quits rate (not seasonally adjusted) did not rise significantly for any 

industry or region. The rate fell for total nonfarm (to 1.8 percent) and total private (2.1 percent), and for 

several industries, including durable goods manufacturing; nondurable goods manufacturing; finance and 
4 

insurance; accommodation and food services; federal government; and state and local government. The 

quits rate fell in July in the South and West regions. (See table 8.) 

The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are 

not seasonally adjusted. For July, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.2 percent) and level (1.7 million) were 

essentially unchanged from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate increased significantly for total 

private and in construction; educational services; health care and social assistance; and the Northeast region. 

The rate fell for federal government and state and local government. The layoffs and discharges rate in July 

2008 was highest in construction (3.3 percent) and lowest in federal government (0.2 percent). The other 

separations rate (0.2 percent) and level (269,000) were lower in July than a year earlier. The other 

separations rate was highest in July 2008 for transportation, warehousing, and utilities (0.4 percent). The 

other separations rate for most of the other industries range from 0.1 to 0.3 percent each month. (See tables 

9 and 10.) 

The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution of its three components (quits, layoffs 

and discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of total 

separations attributable to quits has varied over time. The proportion of total separations due to quits 

(seasonally adjusted) rose from a post-recession low of 50 percent in December 2003 to a high of 61 percent 

in December 2006 before trending downward again. Quits accounted for 54 percent of total separations in 

July 2008. The proportion of separations attributable to quits has varied the most over the history of the 

series in the construction industry (ranging from 26 percent to 55 percent) and in the Northeast region 

(ranging from 39 percent to 65 percent). The proportion of separations attributable to quits varies widely by 

industry with the highest proportion regularly occurring in the accommodation and food services industry 

(74 percent in July) and the lowest proportion regularly occurring in the construction industry (33 percent in 

July). (See tables 3 and 4.) 

Flows in the Labor Market

Several industries consistently have high rates of both hires and separations. These include 

construction; retail trade; professional and business services; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and 

accommodation and food services. In the 12 months ending in July 2008, these 5 industries produced 31.8 

million hires and 31.5 million separations, accounting for 58 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59 percent 

of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 40 percent of total nonfarm employment. 

For More Information

For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at 

http://www.bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing 

Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870. 

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for August 2008 is scheduled to be issued on 

Tuesday, October 7. 
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

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits,

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, 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. Full-time, 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 full-time,

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, full-time 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

will be 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.

Sample methodology

The JOLTS sample 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 eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or 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. Large firms fall into the sample

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled 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. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

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 with 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.

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.

Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007,

seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using

the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough

data observations available for the standard use of moving

averages as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal

adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data

observations than is customary, the number of observations is

now above the minimum required by X-12 ARIMA to use the

normal seasonal filters. Therefore, the standard use of moving

averages as seasonal filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal

adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment now 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.

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.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for

payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

the calendar month; and 2) payroll employment can vary from

month to month simply because part-time and on-call workers

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

about 2 percent or less over a 12-month period.

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200;

TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 4,116 3,799 3,672 3,612 3,631 3,497 3,416 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4....................................... 3,648 3,350 3,225 3,192 3,185 3,073 2,983 3.1 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.5

Construction....................................... 162 123 102 99 130 100 84 2.1 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.8 1.4 1.2

Manufacturing.................................... 331 239 251 244 249 241 233 2.3 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 693 598 562 550 572 539 591 2.5 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.2

Retail trade....................................... 378 326 344 338 363 322 374 2.4 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.4

Professional and business services......... 686 699 714 676 649 670 600 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.2

Education and health services............... 692 737 696 684 648 682 674 3.6 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.5 3.4

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 530 530 501 491 503 452 436 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.1

Accommodation and food services...... 482 477 450 433 438 406 395 4.0 3.9 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.3

Government 7

....................................... 470 450 441 422 451 417 432 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.0 1.8 1.9

State and local government................... 431 413 389 395 407 361 379 2.2 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.9

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 733 576 602 618 600 608 588 2.8 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2

South................................................ 1,601 1,485 1,386 1,364 1,386 1,440 1,360 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.7

Midwest............................................. 764 766 781 752 721 676 647 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.0

West................................................ 1,041 954 918 883 937 789 831 3.3 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.5 2.6

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the 8 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. Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 

 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, 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 arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. p = preliminary.

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

July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 4,818 4,586 4,569 4,715 4,123 4,438 4,062 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.0 3.2 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private 4....................................... 4,489 4,203 4,147 4,311 3,871 4,136 3,792 3.9 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 3.3

Construction....................................... 401 349 350 385 286 354 267 5.3 4.7 4.8 5.3 3.9 4.9 3.7

Manufacturing.................................... 355 285 309 300 274 285 253 2.6 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.1 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 952 882 884 943 828 906 893 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.6 3.1 3.4 3.4

Retail trade....................................... 638 603 598 642 585 608 597 4.1 3.9 3.9 4.2 3.8 4.0 3.9

Professional and business services......... 879 780 893 858 770 889 788 4.9 4.3 5.0 4.8 4.3 5.0 4.4

Education and health services............... 501 522 501 510 479 485 473 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.6 2.5

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 869 868 801 841 847 741 775 6.5 6.4 5.9 6.1 6.2 5.4 5.7

Accommodation and food services...... 739 730 654 719 731 645 654 6.4 6.3 5.6 6.2 6.3 5.5 5.6

Government 7

....................................... 387 387 429 407 329 340 325 1.7 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.4

State and local government................... 305 306 315 315 304 309 303 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 753 713 715 743 646 761 658 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.5 3.0 2.6

South................................................ 1,913 1,769 1,703 1,725 1,538 1,666 1,507 3.9 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.1 3.4 3.0

Midwest.............................................1,050 944 986 986 914 966 947 3.3 3.0 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.1 3.0

West................................................ 1,167 1,186 1,170 1,246 1,111 1,084 1,017 3.8 3.8 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.5 3.3

 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 arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and p = preliminary.

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

July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 4,562 4,503 4,390 4,404 4,313 4,368 4,308 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 4,222 4,224 4,100 4,112 4,046 4,115 4,085 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.5

Construction....................................... 382 329 367 378 393 409 436 5.0 4.5 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.7 6.1

Manufacturing.................................... 370 350 304 390 359 353 304 2.7 2.6 2.2 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 987 957 941 1,003 868 1,003 1,025 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.8 3.3 3.8 3.9

Retail trade.................................... 687 669 688 716 605 679 719 4.4 4.3 4.5 4.7 3.9 4.4 4.7

Professional and business services......... 765 861 806 739 741 799 756 4.3 4.8 4.5 4.1 4.1 4.5 4.2

Education and health services............... 420 459 449 429 434 417 465 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.5

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 835 854 776 722 801 749 674 6.2 6.2 5.7 5.3 5.8 5.5 4.9

Accommodation and food services...... 723 718 656 619 675 641 570 6.3 6.2 5.6 5.3 5.8 5.5 4.9

Government 7

....................................... 322 278 291 295 269 259 237 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1

State and local government................... 258 229 228 248 240 233 214 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 637 770 737 709 685 658 750 2.5 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.9

South................................................1,800 1,673 1,617 1,666 1,614 1,681 1,602 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.2

Midwest............................................. 985 902 918 949 915 954 911 3.1 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.0 2.9

West................................................ 1,178 1,167 1,101 1,094 1,096 1,089 1,069 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire and other services, not shown separately.

month. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 6

 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, p = preliminary.

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

July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 2,621 2,522 2,375 2,444 2,336 2,365 2,324 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 2,476 2,384 2,258 2,301 2,210 2,242 2,212 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9

Construction....................................... 159 133 111 127 124 139 144 2.1 1.8 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.9 2.0

Manufacturing.................................... 179 187 157 182 163 154 134 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 565 532 535 550 495 545 561 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1 1.9 2.1 2.1

Retail trade.................................... 425 374 399 404 352 391 423 2.7 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.6 2.8

Professional and business services......... 431 492 386 385 391 413 403 2.4 2.7 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3

Education and health services............... 277 271 279 270 229 246 270 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.4

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 584 539 529 516 547 525 482 4.3 3.9 3.9 3.8 4.0 3.8 3.5

Accommodation and food services...... 545 488 494 473 500 481 422 4.7 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.3 4.1 3.6

Government 7

....................................... 146 135 126 144 126 123 115 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6 .5 .5

State and local government................... 123 116 101 129 117 114 106 .6 .6 .5 .7 .6 .6 .5

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 309 410 334 368 327 344 357 1.2 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4

South................................................1,111 1,021 996 1,001 937 969 916 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.8

Midwest............................................. 540 475 491 500 485 515 536 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.7

West................................................ 658 632 568 575 584 539 519 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.7

 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 arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, p = preliminary.

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

July June July July June July

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 4,287 3,587 3,507 3.0 2.5 2.5

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 3,772 3,124 3,030 3.1 2.6 2.5

Natural resources and mining........................ 12 18 18 1.6 2.2 2.2

Construction................................................ 185 113 92 2.3 1.5 1.2

Manufacturing............................................. 349 250 242 2.4 1.8 1.8

Durable goods.......................................... 223 144 140 2.5 1.6 1.6

Nondurable goods.................................... 126 107 102 2.4 2.1 2.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 711 519 614 2.6 1.9 2.3

Wholesale trade....................................... 182 119 130 2.9 1.9 2.1

Retail trade............................................. 392 299 393 2.5 1.9 2.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 138 101 92 2.6 1.9 1.8

Information................................................ 132 74 57 4.2 2.4 1.9

Financial activities......................................... 255 179 184 2.9 2.1 2.2

Finance and insurance.............................. 198 144 144 3.1 2.3 2.3

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 57 35 40 2.5 1.6 1.8

Professional and business services.................. 695 703 584 3.7 3.7 3.1

Education and health services........................ 696 693 673 3.7 3.6 3.5

Educational services................................. 69 59 52 2.5 2.0 1.9

Health care and social assistance.................. 627 634 621 3.9 3.9 3.8

Leisure and hospitality................................. 570 447 453 3.9 3.0 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 59 41 48 2.5 1.8 2.0

Accommodation and food services............... 511 406 406 4.1 3.3 3.3

Other services............................................. 166 128 113 2.9 2.2 2.0

Government................................................... 515 463 476 2.4 2.0 2.2

Federal...................................................... 42 54 61 1.5 1.9 2.2

State and local........................................... 473 409 415 2.5 2.0 2.2

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 761 626 610 2.9 2.4 2.3

South......................................................... 1,645 1,447 1,380 3.2 2.8 2.7

Midwest...................................................... 818 678 668 2.5 2.1 2.1

West......................................................... 1,063 836 848 3.3 2.6 2.7

 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 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

July June July July June July

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 5,147 5,471 4,311 3.7 3.9 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 4,723 5,013 3,970 4.1 4.3 3.4

Natural resources and mining........................ 25 41 27 3.3 5.3 3.4

Construction................................................ 437 468 284 5.5 6.3 3.8

Manufacturing............................................. 387 350 269 2.8 2.6 2.0

Durable goods.......................................... 209 186 149 2.4 2.2 1.7

Nondurable goods.................................... 178 163 120 3.5 3.3 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 918 1,009 865 3.4 3.8 3.3

Wholesale trade....................................... 175 183 166 2.9 3.0 2.7

Retail trade............................................. 599 678 559 3.9 4.4 3.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 144 148 141 2.8 2.9 2.8

Information................................................ 71 60 40 2.3 2.0 1.3

Financial activities......................................... 242 286 200 2.9 3.5 2.4

Finance and insurance.............................. 163 187 155 2.6 3.1 2.5

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 79 99 45 3.6 4.6 2.1

Professional and business services.................. 920 1,022 816 5.1 5.6 4.5

Education and health services........................ 549 568 510 3.0 3.0 2.7

Educational services................................. 101 93 77 3.8 3.3 2.8

Health care and social assistance.................. 448 475 433 2.9 3.0 2.7

Leisure and hospitality................................. 912 941 800 6.4 6.6 5.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 141 158 131 6.2 7.0 5.7

Accommodation and food services............... 771 784 669 6.5 6.5 5.6

Other services............................................. 262 268 159 4.7 4.8 2.8

Government................................................... 424 457 341 2.0 2.0 1.6

Federal...................................................... 104 36 29 3.8 1.3 1.0

State and local........................................... 320 421 312 1.8 2.1 1.7

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 851 968 734 3.3 3.7 2.9

South......................................................... 1,995 1,981 1,548 4.0 4.0 3.1

Midwest...................................................... 1,035 1,188 929 3.3 3.8 3.0

West......................................................... 1,266 1,334 1,100 4.1 4.3 3.6

 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 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

July June July July June July

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 4,784 4,656 4,500 3.5 3.4 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 4,339 4,260 4,191 3.7 3.7 3.6

Natural resources and mining........................ 24 24 20 3.2 3.1 2.5

Construction................................................ 355 392 441 4.5 5.3 5.9

Manufacturing............................................. 384 355 311 2.8 2.6 2.3

Durable goods.......................................... 224 221 195 2.5 2.6 2.3

Nondurable goods.................................... 160 134 115 3.1 2.7 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 958 1,024 1,016 3.6 3.9 3.9

Wholesale trade....................................... 160 205 151 2.6 3.4 2.5

Retail trade............................................. 657 670 708 4.2 4.4 4.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 140 149 157 2.8 2.9 3.1

Information................................................ 70 63 57 2.3 2.1 1.9

Financial activities......................................... 226 169 192 2.7 2.0 2.3

Finance and insurance.............................. 168 111 110 2.7 1.8 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 58 59 82 2.6 2.7 3.8

Professional and business services.................. 828 811 798 4.6 4.5 4.4

Education and health services........................ 461 489 519 2.6 2.6 2.8

Educational services................................. 59 85 78 2.3 3.0 2.9

Health care and social assistance.................. 402 404 440 2.6 2.6 2.8

Leisure and hospitality................................. 847 782 677 6.0 5.5 4.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 80 88 80 3.5 3.9 3.5

Accommodation and food services............... 767 693 597 6.5 5.8 5.0

Other services............................................. 188 152 161 3.4 2.7 2.9

Government................................................... 444 396 309 2.1 1.8 1.4

Federal...................................................... 82 24 24 3.0 .9 .9

State and local........................................... 362 371 285 2.0 1.9 1.5

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 614 703 758 2.4 2.7 3.0

South......................................................... 1,920 1,778 1,707 3.9 3.6 3.4

Midwest...................................................... 1,020 995 929 3.3 3.1 3.0

West......................................................... 1,230 1,180 1,105 4.0 3.8 3.6

 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 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

July June July July June July

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 2,879 2,558 2,535 2.1 1.8 1.8

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 2,695 2,387 2,394 2.3 2.1 2.1

Natural resources and mining........................ 15 17 12 2.0 2.1 1.5

Construction................................................ 197 159 191 2.5 2.1 2.6

Manufacturing............................................. 201 161 147 1.4 1.2 1.1

Durable goods.......................................... 109 99 82 1.2 1.1 1.0

Nondurable goods.................................... 92 62 65 1.8 1.2 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 573 545 575 2.2 2.1 2.2

Wholesale trade....................................... 69 73 79 1.1 1.2 1.3

Retail trade............................................. 423 382 422 2.7 2.5 2.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 82 90 74 1.6 1.8 1.5

Information................................................ 37 36 36 1.2 1.2 1.2

Financial activities......................................... 122 102 86 1.5 1.2 1.0

Finance and insurance.............................. 98 69 48 1.6 1.1 .8

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 24 32 38 1.1 1.5 1.7

Professional and business services.................. 474 432 447 2.6 2.4 2.5

Education and health services........................ 305 272 302 1.7 1.5 1.6

Educational services................................. 40 33 36 1.5 1.1 1.3

Health care and social assistance.................. 264 239 266 1.7 1.5 1.7

Leisure and hospitality................................. 658 561 520 4.7 3.9 3.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 55 53 53 2.4 2.4 2.3

Accommodation and food services............... 603 508 467 5.1 4.2 3.9

Other services............................................. 113 102 80 2.0 1.8 1.4

Government................................................... 184 171 141 .9 .8 .7

Federal...................................................... 28 9 9 1.0 .3 .3

State and local........................................... 156 163 132 .9 .8 .7

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 337 363 390 1.3 1.4 1.5

South......................................................... 1,240 1,046 1,007 2.5 2.1 2.0

Midwest...................................................... 556 537 566 1.8 1.7 1.8

West......................................................... 745 613 573 2.4 2.0 1.9

 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 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

July June July July June July

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 1,525 1,794 1,695 1.1 1.3 1.2

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 1,354 1,660 1,584 1.2 1.4 1.4

Natural resources and mining........................ 6 6 6 .9 .7 .7

Construction................................................ 142 215 245 1.8 2.9 3.3

Manufacturing............................................. 162 168 141 1.2 1.2 1.0

Durable goods.......................................... 102 108 98 1.2 1.2 1.2

Nondurable goods.................................... 60 60 42 1.2 1.2 .8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 317 417 362 1.2 1.6 1.4

Wholesale trade....................................... 79 118 61 1.3 1.9 1.0

Retail trade............................................. 193 248 236 1.2 1.6 1.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 44 51 66 .9 1.0 1.3

Information................................................ 27 24 15 .9 .8 .5

Financial activities......................................... 81 60 86 1.0 .7 1.0

Finance and insurance.............................. 53 38 46 .9 .6 .8

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 28 22 40 1.3 1.0 1.8

Professional and business services.................. 303 337 319 1.7 1.9 1.8

Education and health services........................ 110 190 196 .6 1.0 1.1

Educational services................................. 13 50 41 .5 1.7 1.5

Health care and social assistance.................. 97 140 156 .6 .9 1.0

Leisure and hospitality................................. 149 195 134 1.1 1.4 .9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 20 33 24 .9 1.4 1.1

Accommodation and food services............... 129 162 109 1.1 1.4 .9

Other services............................................. 56 48 80 1.0 .9 1.4

Government................................................... 172 134 111 .8 .6 .5

Federal...................................................... 23 9 6 .8 .3 .2

State and local........................................... 148 125 105 .8 .6 .6

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 212 291 304 .8 1.1 1.2

South......................................................... 555 623 607 1.1 1.2 1.2

Midwest...................................................... 368 389 307 1.2 1.2 1.0

West......................................................... 391 490 478 1.3 1.6 1.5

 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 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

July June July July June July

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 380 304 269 0.3 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 291 214 213 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining........................ 3 2 2 .4 .2 .2

Construction................................................ 16 17 5 .2 .2 .1

Manufacturing............................................. 21 26 23 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.......................................... 13 15 15 .1 .2 .2

Nondurable goods.................................... 8 11 8 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 68 62 80 .3 .2 .3

Wholesale trade....................................... 13 13 10 .2 .2 .2

Retail trade............................................. 41 41 51 .3 .3 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 14 8 18 .3 .2 .4

Information................................................ 6 4 6 .2 .1 .2

Financial activities......................................... 22 8 19 .3 .1 .2

Finance and insurance.............................. 17 3 15 .3 .1 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 5 4 4 .2 .2 .2

Professional and business services.................. 51 43 32 .3 .2 .2

Education and health services........................ 46 26 21 .3 .1 .1

Educational services................................. 5 2 2 .2 .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................. 40 24 19 .3 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality................................. 39 25 23 .3 .2 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 5 2 3 .2 .1 .1

Accommodation and food services............... 34 23 20 .3 .2 .2

Other services............................................. 19 2 2 .3 (

4

) (4)

Government................................................... 89 90 57 .4 .4 .3

Federal...................................................... 32 7 8 1.1 .3 .3

State and local........................................... 57 83 48 .3 .4 .3

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 65 49 64 .3 .2 .3

South......................................................... 125 109 94 .3 .2 .2

Midwest...................................................... 96 68 56 .3 .2 .2

West......................................................... 94 77 55 .3 .2 .2

 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 8, table 1. 4 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region