1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-1201

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 July 2004 - June 2007

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2005 2006 2007

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 July 2004 - June 2007

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2005 2006 2007

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JUNE 2007

On the last business day of June, there were 4.3 million job openings in the United States, and the job

openings rate was 3.0 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported

today. The job openings rate increased slightly in June, while the hires rate and the total separations rate

were essentially unchanged. 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.

Job Openings

In June, the job openings rate increased slightly to 3.0 percent after remaining steady at 2.9 percent for

the prior 4 months. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month.

The job openings rate rose in June in retail trade and in professional and business services but fell in construction. The job openings rate increased over the month in the West region. The seasonally adjusted job

openings rate was highest in June for the following industries: professional and business services (4.3 percent) and accommodations and food services (4.0 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate increased in nondurable goods manufacturing; retail trade; and

professional and business services. The rate decreased in construction and in transportation, warehousing,

and utilities. The job openings rate increased over the year in the West region. (See table 5.)
2

Hires

The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in June. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the

month. In June, the hires rate did not increase significantly in any industry but decreased in retail trade. The

hires rate decreased over the month in the South region. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in

June in accommodations and food services (6.3 percent). (See table 2.)

From June 2006 to June 2007, the hires rate rose in natural resources and mining; finance and insurance;

and federal government. The hires rate fell in retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and state

and local government. The hires rate decreased over the year in both the Northeast and South regions. (See

table 6.)

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

p

Total ................................................................... 3,995 4,095 4,305 4,986 4,982 4,752 4,654 4,544 4,513

Total private ......................................................... 3,538 3,627 3,830 4,520 4,503 4,339 4,326 4,233 4,203

Construction ................................................. 168 157 110 369 351 348 356 346 348

Manufacturing .............................................. 308 345 348 375 356 360 378 396 376

Trade, transportation, and utilities ............ 663 609 673 1,075 1,044 900 1,046 950 969

Retail trade ............................................... 386 337 427 747 715 603 771 685 681

Professional and business services .......... 595 654 801 934 935 899 778 775 732

Education and health services ................... 665 703 708 489 507 512 439 437 467

Leisure and hospitality ................................ 495 571 562 826 873 850 813 833 847

Accommodations and food services .. 434 500 486 717 755 727 689 715 718

Government .......................................................... 455 468 469 392 409 398 316 315 309

State and local government ........................ 421 424 427 341 330 317 257 239 238

Total ................................................................... 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.3

Total private ......................................................... 3.0 3.0 3.2 4.0 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.6

Construction ................................................. 2.1 2.0 1.4 4.8 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.5

Manufacturing .............................................. 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities ............ 2.5 2.3 2.5 4.1 3.9 3.4 4.0 3.6 3.7

Retail trade ............................................... 2.5 2.1 2.7 4.9 4.6 3.9 5.0 4.5 4.4

Professional and business services .......... 3.3 3.5 4.3 5.3 5.2 5.0 4.4 4.3 4.1

Education and health services ................... 3.6 3.7 3.7 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.5 2.4 2.5

Leisure and hospitality ................................ 3.6 4.0 4.0 6.3 6.5 6.3 6.2 6.2 6.2

Accommodations and food services .. 3.7 4.1 4.0 6.4 6.5 6.3 6.2 6.2 6.2

Government .......................................................... 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.4 1.4 1.4

State and local government ........................ 2.1 2.1 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.2

1

1

2

3

4

1

1

2

3

4

June

2006

May

2007

June

2007

June

2006

May

2007

June

2007

June

2006

May

2007

June

2007 p

2.1

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

4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
3

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.3 percent in June. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, none of the industries or regions experienced a significant change in the separations rate. From June 2006 to June 2007, the total separations rate increased in federal government. The total separations rate decreased in retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; real estate and rental and leasing; and state and local government. Geographically, the total separations rate fell over the year in both the Northeast and South regions. (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 at 1.9 percent in June. None of the industries experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. The quits rate decreased in the South region. In June, the

seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the accommodations and food services industry (4.6 percent).

(See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate rose in natural resources and mining. The quits rate fell over the year in

information and in real estate and rental and leasing. Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the

South region. (See table 8.)

The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not

seasonally adjusted. For June, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.1 percent) and level (1.5 million) were

unchanged from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in June was highest in educational services

(2.0 percent), followed closely by arts, entertainment, and recreation (1.9 percent) and construction (1.9 percent). From June 2006 to June 2007, the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.3 percent and the level

was essentially unchanged at 410,000. (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 risen and fallen over time along with total nonfarm employment levels. The

proportion of total separations due to quits fell from 61 percent in February 2001 to 51 percent in August

2003 (seasonally adjusted), and has since risen. In June 2007, quits accounted for 58 percent of total separations.

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 accommodations and

food services. In the 12 months ending in June 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.4 million hires and

32.4 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59

percent of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 39 percent of total nonfarm employment.
4

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 July 2007 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,

September 11.

______________________________
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 2002 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. Due to

the improved diagnostics, three additional industries are now

seasonally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food

services, and state and local government. It is expected that more

series may be seasonally adjusted when more data are

available.

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

June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June

2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 3,995 4,222 4,149 4,176 4,170 4,095 4,305 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,538 3,746 3,666 3,702 3,683 3,627 3,830 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.2

Construction........................................................................ 168 142 229 152 154 157 110 2.1 1.8 2.9 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 308 337 330 316 350 345 348 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 663 727 660 677 669 609 673 2.5 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 386 413 378 375 389 337 427 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.1 2.7

Professional and business services......................... 595 707 642 758 735 654 801 3.3 3.8 3.5 4.1 4.0 3.5 4.3

Education and health services................................................. 665 707 670 685 706 703 708 3.6 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.7

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 495 552 566 574 512 571 562 3.6 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.7 4.0 4.0

Accommodations and food services......................... 434 495 511 506 453 500 486 3.7 4.1 4.3 4.2 3.8 4.1 4.0

Government 7......................................................................................... 455 477 482 470 488 468 469 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1

State and local government.................................................................................... 421 439 438 430 439 424 427 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 702 733 717 703 675 674 696 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,583 1,653 1,631 1,658 1,670 1,648 1,646 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 786 822 783 797 779 799 843 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.6

West...................................................................................... 913 1,005 1,011 1,027 1,038 970 1,109 2.9 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.5

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

June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June

2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,986 4,959 4,815 4,815 4,832 4,982 4,752 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,520 4,607 4,509 4,416 4,423 4,503 4,339 4.0 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.7

Construction........................................................................ 369 299 298 356 330 351 348 4.8 3.9 3.9 4.6 4.3 4.6 4.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 375 369 371 318 350 356 360 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 1,075 1,020 1,018 1,006 1,028 1,044 900 4.1 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 747 757 695 691 706 715 603 4.9 4.9 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.6 3.9

Professional and business services......................... 934 954 953 881 828 935 899 5.3 5.4 5.3 4.9 4.6 5.2 5.0

Education and health services................................................. 489 508 518 497 507 507 512 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 826 956 934 867 903 873 850 6.3 7.1 7.0 6.4 6.7 6.5 6.3

Accommodations and food services......................... 717 825 778 726 811 755 727 6.4 7.2 6.8 6.3 7.0 6.5 6.3

Government 7......................................................................................... 392 384 379 404 421 409 398 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.8

State and local government.................................................................................... 341 321 317 313 333 330 317 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 705 833 709 740 759 705 668 2.8 3.2 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,934 1,899 1,837 1,835 1,894 1,960 1,791 4.0 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.8 4.0 3.6

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,073 1,167 1,184 1,105 1,069 1,101 1,110 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.5

West...................................................................................... 1,188 1,142 1,156 1,157 1,122 1,143 1,152 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.7

 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

June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June

2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,654 4,602 4,556 4,741 4,524 4,544 4,513 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,326 4,296 4,263 4,417 4,227 4,233 4,203 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 356 400 322 344 360 346 348 4.6 5.2 4.2 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 378 399 422 400 380 396 376 2.7 2.8 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 1,046 973 943 974 975 950 969 4.0 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 771 680 656 682 678 685 681 5.0 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.4

Professional and business services......................... 778 894 862 876 805 775 732 4.4 5.0 4.8 4.9 4.5 4.3 4.1

Education and health services................................................. 439 423 419 429 414 437 467 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.5

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 813 768 835 846 861 833 847 6.2 5.7 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.2

Accommodations and food services......................... 689 612 697 702 720 715 718 6.2 5.4 6.1 6.1 6.3 6.2 6.2

Government 7......................................................................................... 316 309 294 315 311 315 309 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4

State and local government.................................................................................... 257 254 243 238 241 239 238 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 717 740 675 667 640 642 633 2.8 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,953 1,783 1,763 1,829 1,904 1,798 1,689 4.0 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.9 3.6 3.4

Midwest......................................................................................... 937 1,034 1,054 1,006 981 1,024 1,019 3.0 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.2

West...................................................................................... 1,100 1,037 1,041 1,165 1,040 1,062 1,189 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.4 3.9

 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

June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June June Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June

2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,748 2,648 2,705 2,763 2,637 2,686 2,627 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,601 2,505 2,571 2,591 2,486 2,530 2,473 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1

Construction........................................................................ 170 141 120 131 126 124 127 2.2 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7

Manufacturing................................................................ 190 229 212 216 199 216 202 1.3 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 617 594 606 608 600 606 616 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 467 422 438 428 440 445 447 3.1 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9

Professional and business services......................... 418 498 486 461 418 424 417 2.4 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.4 2.3

Education and health services................................................. 292 271 280 267 274 284 277 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 618 489 579 590 592 551 588 4.7 3.7 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.1 4.3

Accommodations and food services......................... 561 448 531 539 542 503 532 5.0 3.9 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.3 4.6

Government 7......................................................................................... 146 150 139 155 153 157 153 .7 .7 .6 .7 .7 .7 .7

State and local government.................................................................................... 120 129 117 130 129 130 123 .6 .7 .6 .7 .7 .7 .6

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 363 355 322 352 350 331 371 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4

South............................................................................................... 1,219 1,099 1,152 1,150 1,163 1,162 1,036 2.5 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 555 595 599 588 544 551 569 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.8

West...................................................................................... 615 602 629 665 590 643 643 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.2 1.9 2.1 2.1

 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

June May June June May June

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,044 4,278 4,361 2.9 3.0 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,535 3,790 3,838 3.0 3.2 3.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 15 14 13 2.1 1.9 1.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 198 190 128 2.4 2.4 1.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 317 356 356 2.2 2.5 2.5

Durable goods.............................................................................. 210 216 224 2.3 2.4 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 107 140 131 2.0 2.7 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 653 621 666 2.4 2.3 2.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 139 134 133 2.3 2.2 2.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 367 345 409 2.3 2.2 2.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 147 142 124 2.8 2.7 2.4

Information...................................................................................... 137 141 158 4.3 4.3 4.8

Financial activities........................................................................... 279 247 259 3.2 2.8 3.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 213 197 204 3.3 3.1 3.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 66 50 56 2.9 2.2 2.4

Professional and business services........................................ 610 665 823 3.3 3.6 4.4

Education and health services................................................................. 673 725 713 3.7 3.8 3.8

Educational services................................................................ 69 71 78 2.5 2.3 2.7

Health care and social assistance.................................. 605 654 635 3.9 4.1 4.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 493 656 560 3.5 4.6 3.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 55 82 77 2.5 3.9 3.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 438 575 483 3.7 4.7 3.9

Other services................................................................................. 159 175 161 2.8 3.1 2.8

Government......................................................................................... 509 488 523 2.3 2.1 2.3

Federal................................................................................................ 33 49 40 1.2 1.8 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 476 438 484 2.4 2.2 2.4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 712 692 699 2.7 2.6 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,587 1,756 1,636 3.1 3.4 3.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 786 822 848 2.4 2.5 2.6

West....................................................................................................... 959 1,008 1,178 3.0 3.1 3.6

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

June May June June May June

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,980 5,689 5,708 4.4 4.1 4.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 5,461 5,261 5,184 4.7 4.5 4.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 23 36 33 3.3 5.0 4.6

Construction...................................................................................................... 477 464 452 6.0 6.0 5.7

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 439 416 421 3.1 3.0 3.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 283 242 260 3.1 2.7 2.9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 156 174 161 3.0 3.4 3.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,210 1,165 994 4.6 4.4 3.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 175 187 179 2.9 3.1 3.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 850 812 662 5.6 5.3 4.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 185 166 153 3.7 3.3 3.0

Information...................................................................................... 97 79 83 3.2 2.5 2.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 229 276 255 2.7 3.3 3.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 140 177 187 2.3 2.8 3.0

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 89 100 67 4.0 4.5 3.0

Professional and business services........................................ 1,044 989 999 5.9 5.5 5.5

Education and health services................................................................. 585 504 613 3.3 2.7 3.4

Educational services................................................................ 87 55 106 3.2 1.8 3.8

Health care and social assistance.................................. 498 449 508 3.3 2.9 3.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 1,091 1,129 1,090 8.0 8.2 7.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 186 214 186 8.6 10.5 8.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 905 914 904 7.9 7.8 7.6

Other services................................................................................. 265 204 243 4.8 3.7 4.4

Government......................................................................................... 518 428 524 2.4 1.9 2.4

Federal................................................................................................ 67 92 114 2.4 3.4 4.2

State and local.................................................................................... 452 336 410 2.4 1.7 2.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 936 843 849 3.7 3.3 3.3

South............................................................................................... 2,282 2,215 2,085 4.6 4.5 4.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,307 1,386 1,363 4.1 4.3 4.3

West....................................................................................................... 1,456 1,245 1,410 4.7 4.0 4.5

 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

June May June June May June

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,940 4,544 4,776 3.6 3.3 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,462 4,201 4,311 3.9 3.6 3.7

Natural resources and mining................................................... 16 25 19 2.4 3.5 2.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 327 328 313 4.1 4.2 4.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 380 403 372 2.7 2.9 2.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 222 238 229 2.4 2.7 2.6

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 158 165 142 3.0 3.2 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,045 974 974 4.0 3.7 3.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 146 118 178 2.5 2.0 2.9

Retail trade................................................................................. 759 708 675 5.0 4.6 4.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 140 148 121 2.8 2.9 2.4

Information...................................................................................... 92 77 74 3.0 2.5 2.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 224 245 202 2.7 2.9 2.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 133 169 145 2.1 2.7 2.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 91 76 57 4.1 3.4 2.5

Professional and business services........................................ 835 722 743 4.7 4.0 4.1

Education and health services................................................................. 515 488 554 2.9 2.7 3.0

Educational services................................................................ 86 69 103 3.2 2.3 3.7

Health care and social assistance.................................. 429 418 451 2.9 2.7 2.9

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 826 800 855 6.0 5.8 6.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 99 93 98 4.6 4.6 4.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 727 707 757 6.3 6.0 6.4

Other services................................................................................. 202 140 205 3.7 2.5 3.7

Government......................................................................................... 478 344 465 2.2 1.5 2.1

Federal................................................................................................ 76 78 95 2.8 2.9 3.5

State and local.................................................................................... 402 266 369 2.1 1.3 1.9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 788 567 684 3.1 2.2 2.6

South............................................................................................... 2,053 1,931 1,780 4.2 3.9 3.6

Midwest................................................................................................. 938 982 1,021 3.0 3.1 3.2

West....................................................................................................... 1,161 1,064 1,290 3.8 3.4 4.1

 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

June May June June May June

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,993 2,850 2,838 2.2 2.1 2.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,788 2,668 2,628 2.4 2.3 2.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 8 18 13 1.2 2.5 1.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 193 142 146 2.4 1.8 1.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 201 227 212 1.4 1.6 1.5

Durable goods.............................................................................. 120 133 128 1.3 1.5 1.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 81 94 83 1.5 1.8 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 623 651 627 2.4 2.5 2.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 86 66 112 1.4 1.1 1.9

Retail trade................................................................................. 464 495 449 3.0 3.2 2.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 74 90 66 1.5 1.8 1.3

Information...................................................................................... 70 43 43 2.3 1.4 1.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 150 173 130 1.8 2.0 1.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 91 128 101 1.5 2.0 1.6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 58 45 29 2.6 2.0 1.3

Professional and business services........................................ 452 439 433 2.5 2.5 2.4

Education and health services................................................................. 328 305 314 1.9 1.7 1.7

Educational services................................................................ 43 29 44 1.6 .9 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 285 276 270 1.9 1.8 1.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 635 565 603 4.6 4.1 4.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 57 42 53 2.6 2.0 2.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 577 523 550 5.0 4.5 4.6

Other services................................................................................. 127 107 107 2.3 1.9 1.9

Government......................................................................................... 204 182 209 .9 .8 .9

Federal................................................................................................ 30 30 33 1.1 1.1 1.2

State and local.................................................................................... 174 152 177 .9 .8 .9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 383 330 396 1.5 1.3 1.5

South............................................................................................... 1,339 1,259 1,118 2.7 2.5 2.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 578 585 591 1.8 1.8 1.8

West....................................................................................................... 692 676 732 2.3 2.2 2.3

 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

June May June June May June

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,513 1,380 1,528 1.1 1.0 1.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,339 1,290 1,395 1.2 1.1 1.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 3 6 4 .4 .8 .5

Construction...................................................................................................... 114 164 154 1.4 2.1 1.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 147 140 136 1.0 1.0 1.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 80 80 86 .9 .9 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 67 60 50 1.3 1.2 1.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 312 265 249 1.2 1.0 .9

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 45 44 46 .8 .7 .8

Retail trade................................................................................. 225 177 165 1.5 1.2 1.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 42 45 37 .8 .9 .7

Information...................................................................................... 14 24 22 .5 .8 .7

Financial activities........................................................................... 55 53 55 .7 .6 .6

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 27 28 36 .4 .5 .6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 28 24 19 1.3 1.1 .8

Professional and business services........................................ 310 247 265 1.7 1.4 1.5

Education and health services................................................................. 154 147 203 .9 .8 1.1

Educational services................................................................ 37 37 55 1.4 1.2 2.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 117 110 148 .8 .7 1.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 170 217 228 1.2 1.6 1.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 40 49 43 1.8 2.4 1.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 130 167 185 1.1 1.4 1.5

Other services................................................................................. 60 27 80 1.1 .5 1.4

Government......................................................................................... 175 91 133 .8 .4 .6

Federal................................................................................................ 26 17 26 1.0 .6 1.0

State and local.................................................................................... 148 74 107 .8 .4 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 312 188 221 1.2 .7 .9

South............................................................................................... 541 562 529 1.1 1.1 1.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 269 321 326 .9 1.0 1.0

West....................................................................................................... 390 310 452 1.3 1.0 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

June May June June May June

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 434 313 410 0.3 0.2 0.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 335 242 288 .3 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 2 2 .8 .2 .3

Construction...................................................................................................... 19 22 14 .2 .3 .2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 32 36 24 .2 .3 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 22 25 15 .2 .3 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 10 10 9 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 109 58 98 .4 .2 .4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 15 8 19 .3 .1 .3

Retail trade................................................................................. 70 36 60 .5 .2 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 25 13 18 .5 .3 .4

Information...................................................................................... 8 10 9 .2 .3 .3

Financial activities........................................................................... 20 20 17 .2 .2 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 15 13 9 .2 .2 .1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 5 7 8 .2 .3 .4

Professional and business services........................................ 73 36 44 .4 .2 .2

Education and health services................................................................. 33 36 37 .2 .2 .2

Educational services................................................................ 6 4 5 .2 .1 .2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 27 32 33 .2 .2 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 21 19 24 .2 .1 .2

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

Accommodations and food services............................... 20 16 23 .2 .1 .2

Other services................................................................................. 14 6 17 .3 .1 .3

Government......................................................................................... 99 71 122 .5 .3 .6

Federal................................................................................................ 19 32 36 .7 1.2 1.3

State and local.................................................................................... 80 39 86 .4 .2 .4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 93 50 67 .4 .2 .3

South............................................................................................... 172 110 133 .4 .2 .3

Midwest................................................................................................. 91 76 104 .3 .2 .3

West....................................................................................................... 78 78 106 .3 .3 .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 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region