1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-39

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 December 2002 - November 2005

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

2003 2004 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 December 2002 - November 2005

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2003 2004 2005

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: NOVEMBER 2005

The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all little changed in November, the Bureau of

Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. 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

On the last business day of November 2005, there were 3.9 million job openings in the United States,

and the job openings rate was 2.8 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate did not change significantly

in November, but has generally trended upward since September 2003. In November, the job openings rate

increased in manufacturing and in the West region, but decreased in professional and business services and in

the Northeast region.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in November. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to

the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate decreased in manufacturing, but did not change

significantly in any region.

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent in November. (See table 3.)

Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In November, the
2

Total 1........................................................... 4,650 4,586 4,266 4,331 4,337

Total private 1........................................ 2,910 4,652 4,308 4,265 3,996 4,077

118 148 373 414 395 351 396 378

Manufacturing ................................ 248 320 386 436 327 327 339 367

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 554 611 656 1,077 919 883 943 902 928

Professional and business

services ......................................... 620 848 713 935 780 802 822 805 801

Education and health services ..... 543 597 594 447 460 470 408 402 413

Leisure and hospitality .................. 411 492 516 858 840 834 727 742 758

Government .......................................... 369 432 425 335 326 319 275 255 268

Total 1.......................................................... 2.4 2.9 2.8 3.8 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.2

Total private 1....................................... 2.6 3.1 3.0 4.2 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.6

Construction .................................... 1.6 2.0 1.8 5.3 5.7 5.4 5.0 5.4 5.1

Manufacturing ................................ 1.7 2.2 2.4 2.7 3.1 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.6

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 2.1 2.3 2.5 4.2 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.5 3.6

Professional and business

services ......................................... 3.6 4.7 4.0 5.6 4.6 4.7 4.9 4.7 4.7

Education and health services ..... 3.1 3.3 3.3 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality .................. 3.2 3.7 3.9 6.8 6.6 6.5 5.8 5.8 5.9

Government .......................................... 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.2

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 2005 2005p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

 2005

3,277 4,990

3,540

3,937

4,071

136

349

3,483

3,904

2004

total separations rate did not change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the total separations rate

increased in the Midwest but decreased in the Northeast.

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 November. (See table 4.) The quits rate did not

change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the rate increased in the Midwest.

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

seasonally adjusted. In November, the layoffs and discharges rate, at 1.1 percent, was little changed over

the year, and the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)

Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires

have averaged 4.7 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally

adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.5 million hires and 4.2 million separations. (See the

Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

Construction.....................................
3

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 December 2005 is scheduled to be issued on

Tuesday, February 7, 2006.
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 Employment

Security 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.

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.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

is customary. The historical data, therefore, may be subject to

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

a result, the stable seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series,

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, 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 levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 3,277 3,647 3,588 3,487 3,836 3,937 3,904 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 2,910 3,239 3,204 3,130 3,406 3,540 3,483 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.0

Construction....................................... 118 104 128 136 156 148 136 1.6 1.4 1.7 1.8 2.1 2.0 1.8

Manufacturing....................................... 248 269 287 266 293 320 349 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 554 624 600 620 630 611 656 2.1 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5

Professional and business services......... 620 686 666 590 725 848 713 3.6 3.9 3.8 3.4 4.1 4.7 4.0

Education and health services.................. 543 609 607 604 606 597 594 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.3

Leisure and hospitality........................... 411 517 439 427 469 492 516 3.2 3.9 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.7 3.9

Government............................................. 369 394 388 370 420 432 425 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.9

REGION

Northeast............................................. 560 634 610 609 728 781 673 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.8 3.0 2.6

South................................................ 1,250 1,333 1,343 1,353 1,466 1,471 1,456 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.0

Midwest............................................. 726 781 764 704 754 777 768 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4

West................................................... 759 869 832 841 895 920 1,030 2.6 2.9 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.4

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

of the month. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, 

 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,

seasonal adjustment of the various series. and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,

 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,

and other services, not shown separately. and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,

 p

 = preliminary. Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,

 NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise and Wyoming.

Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 4,990 4,694 4,649 4,601 4,719 4,650 4,586 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 4,652 4,365 4,342 4,276 4,356 4,308 4,265 4.2 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.8

Construction....................................... 373 393 381 435 422 414 395 5.3 5.4 5.3 6.0 5.8 5.7 5.4

Manufacturing....................................... 386 347 345 344 338 436 327 2.7 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 3.1 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 1,077 1,045 990 998 1,001 919 883 4.2 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.5 3.4

Professional and business services......... 935 835 832 786 925 780 802 5.6 4.9 4.9 4.6 5.4 4.6 4.7

Education and health services.................. 447 457 453 465 460 460 470 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7

Leisure and hospitality........................... 858 877 834 771 808 840 834 6.8 6.9 6.5 6.0 6.3 6.6 6.5

Government............................................. 335 337 330 337 336 326 319 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

REGION

Northeast............................................. 851 794 772 738 759 741 721 3.4 3.1 3.0 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.8

South................................................ 1,903 1,786 1,689 1,750 1,840 1,774 1,679 4.1 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.9 3.7 3.5

Midwest............................................. 1,149 1,054 1,045 970 996 1,003 1,046 3.7 3.4 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.3

West...................................................1,014 1,070 1,081 1,144 1,136 1,125 1,103 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.7

 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

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 4,266 4,477 4,270 4,499 4,779 4,331 4,337 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.2 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 3,996 4,223 4,007 4,235 4,487 4,077 4,071 3.6 3.8 3.6 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.6

Construction....................................... 351 380 370 452 417 396 378 5.0 5.3 5.1 6.2 5.7 5.4 5.1

Manufacturing....................................... 327 350 361 369 408 339 367 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.4 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 943 980 948 1,019 1,039 902 928 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.9 4.0 3.5 3.6

Professional and business services......... 822 818 747 670 897 805 801 4.9 4.8 4.4 3.9 5.3 4.7 4.7

Education and health services.................. 408 401 391 406 430 402 413 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality........................... 727 803 750 785 814 742 758 5.8 6.3 5.9 6.1 6.4 5.8 5.9

Government............................................. 275 254 257 271 295 255 268 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2

REGION

Northeast............................................. 756 761 715 734 752 683 584 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.3

South................................................ 1,594 1,653 1,567 1,639 1,787 1,615 1,586 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.3

Midwest............................................. 1,041 946 1,011 1,047 1,135 979 1,171 3.3 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.6 3.1 3.7

West................................................... 826 1,062 1,001 1,094 1,085 1,012 957 2.9 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.3

 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

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 4. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 2,436 2,475 2,474 2,605 2,778 2,578 2,612 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 2,319 2,348 2,351 2,467 2,630 2,441 2,471 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2

Construction....................................... 159 139 140 222 202 203 170 2.2 1.9 1.9 3.1 2.8 2.8 2.3

Manufacturing....................................... 185 190 189 184 214 199 204 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 568 588 577 604 580 555 565 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.2

Professional and business services......... 401 386 353 374 497 354 393 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.9 2.1 2.3

Education and health services.................. 250 256 271 260 276 259 276 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6

Leisure and hospitality........................... 499 510 525 517 563 569 572 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.4 4.5 4.5

Government............................................. 118 124 125 139 149 134 141 .5 .6 .6 .6 .7 .6 .6

REGION

Northeast............................................. 359 350 381 380 377 360 330 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3

South................................................ 1,014 960 964 1,054 1,147 1,032 1,009 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.1

Midwest............................................. 551 542 548 570 613 571 635 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.8 2.0

West................................................... 492 653 577 585 643 598 615 1.7 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.1

 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

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 3,001 3,935 3,568 2.2 2.8 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,649 3,518 3,163 2.3 3.0 2.7

Natural resources and mining........................... 8 11 10 1.3 1.7 1.5

Construction................................................... 95 131 109 1.3 1.7 1.4

Manufacturing................................................ 211 312 302 1.4 2.1 2.1

Durable goods............................................. 135 215 214 1.5 2.3 2.3

Nondurable goods....................................... 76 96 88 1.4 1.8 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 516 716 610 1.9 2.7 2.3

Wholesale trade.......................................... 98 130 103 1.7 2.2 1.8

Retail trade................................................ 328 457 374 2.1 2.9 2.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 91 128 132 1.8 2.5 2.6

Information................................................... 73 111 98 2.3 3.4 3.0

Financial activities............................................ 191 273 257 2.3 3.2 3.0

Finance and insurance................................. 159 216 212 2.6 3.4 3.3

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 32 57 46 1.5 2.6 2.1

Professional and business services..................... 573 791 660 3.3 4.4 3.7

Education and health services........................... 526 587 568 2.9 3.2 3.1

Educational services.................................... 50 61 66 1.6 2.0 2.1

Health care and social assistance.................. 476 526 502 3.2 3.5 3.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 341 437 444 2.7 3.3 3.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 44 56 42 2.5 3.0 2.4

Accommodations and food services............... 297 381 402 2.7 3.4 3.6

Other services................................................ 115 149 106 2.1 2.7 1.9

Government...................................................... 352 417 404 1.6 1.8 1.8

Federal......................................................... 46 38 43 1.7 1.4 1.6

State and local.............................................. 306 379 361 1.6 1.9 1.8

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 540 800 639 2.1 3.0 2.4

South............................................................ 1,143 1,429 1,331 2.4 2.9 2.7

Midwest......................................................... 647 778 683 2.0 2.4 2.1

West............................................................ 671 927 915 2.2 3.0 3.0

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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 4,522 4,631 4,130 3.4 3.4 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 4,247 4,312 3,870 3.8 3.8 3.4

Natural resources and mining........................... 17 15 12 2.7 2.3 1.9

Construction................................................... 294 374 305 4.1 5.0 4.1

Manufacturing................................................ 319 413 266 2.2 2.9 1.9

Durable goods............................................. 178 262 167 2.0 2.9 1.9

Nondurable goods....................................... 141 151 99 2.6 2.8 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 1,295 1,085 1,035 5.0 4.2 3.9

Wholesale trade.......................................... 101 148 115 1.8 2.6 2.0

Retail trade................................................ 991 777 726 6.4 5.1 4.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 203 159 194 4.1 3.2 3.9

Information................................................... 75 84 89 2.4 2.7 2.8

Financial activities............................................ 185 181 188 2.3 2.2 2.3

Finance and insurance................................. 126 114 121 2.1 1.9 2.0

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 58 66 68 2.8 3.1 3.1

Professional and business services..................... 837 783 706 5.0 4.5 4.1

Education and health services........................... 380 465 399 2.2 2.6 2.3

Educational services.................................... 43 54 49 1.4 1.8 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................. 337 410 349 2.3 2.8 2.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 694 756 688 5.6 5.9 5.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 70 68 76 4.2 3.8 4.5

Accommodations and food services............... 624 688 612 5.9 6.3 5.6

Other services................................................ 151 158 181 2.8 2.9 3.3

Government...................................................... 276 319 260 1.2 1.4 1.2

Federal......................................................... 35 37 32 1.3 1.4 1.2

State and local.............................................. 241 282 228 1.2 1.4 1.2

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 807 752 677 3.2 2.9 2.6

South............................................................ 1,767 1,768 1,500 3.7 3.7 3.1

Midwest......................................................... 1,005 965 939 3.2 3.0 3.0

West............................................................ 943 1,146 1,015 3.2 3.9 3.4

 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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 7. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 3,984 4,350 4,009 3.0 3.2 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 3,780 4,129 3,810 3.4 3.7 3.4

Natural resources and mining........................... 19 13 14 3.2 2.1 2.2

Construction................................................... 379 415 399 5.3 5.5 5.3

Manufacturing................................................ 301 360 346 2.1 2.5 2.4

Durable goods............................................. 180 225 217 2.0 2.5 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................... 122 135 128 2.3 2.5 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 873 892 847 3.3 3.4 3.2

Wholesale trade.......................................... 110 125 130 1.9 2.2 2.3

Retail trade................................................ 611 615 580 3.9 4.0 3.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 152 152 136 3.1 3.0 2.7

Information................................................... 52 72 71 1.7 2.3 2.2

Financial activities............................................ 161 162 135 2.0 2.0 1.6

Finance and insurance................................. 105 97 84 1.8 1.6 1.4

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 56 66 51 2.7 3.0 2.4

Professional and business services..................... 770 781 742 4.6 4.5 4.3

Education and health services........................... 332 369 339 1.9 2.1 1.9

Educational services.................................... 31 36 37 1.0 1.2 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................. 301 334 302 2.1 2.3 2.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 708 880 734 5.7 6.9 5.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 125 139 99 7.4 7.8 5.9

Accommodations and food services............... 583 741 635 5.5 6.8 5.9

Other services................................................ 185 184 182 3.4 3.4 3.3

Government...................................................... 204 221 199 .9 1.0 .9

Federal......................................................... 25 19 27 .9 .7 1.0

State and local.............................................. 179 202 172 .9 1.0 .9

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 743 700 568 2.9 2.7 2.2

South............................................................ 1,381 1,655 1,325 2.9 3.4 2.8

Midwest......................................................... 1,048 969 1,212 3.3 3.1 3.8

West............................................................ 813 1,026 905 2.8 3.5 3.0

 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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 2,100 2,526 2,257 1.6 1.9 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,008 2,410 2,146 1.8 2.1 1.9

Natural resources and mining........................... 6 6 8 1.0 1.0 1.2

Construction................................................... 134 211 145 1.9 2.8 1.9

Manufacturing................................................ 139 202 156 1.0 1.4 1.1

Durable goods............................................. 69 116 103 .8 1.3 1.1

Nondurable goods....................................... 70 86 53 1.3 1.6 1.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 506 559 502 1.9 2.2 1.9

Wholesale trade.......................................... 49 65 48 .9 1.1 .8

Retail trade................................................ 390 421 390 2.5 2.8 2.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 67 74 64 1.4 1.5 1.3

Information................................................... 31 53 44 1.0 1.7 1.4

Financial activities............................................ 87 91 80 1.1 1.1 1.0

Finance and insurance................................. 60 62 59 1.0 1.0 1.0

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 27 29 21 1.3 1.3 1.0

Professional and business services..................... 370 341 360 2.2 2.0 2.1

Education and health services........................... 208 242 230 1.2 1.4 1.3

Educational services.................................... 15 21 23 .5 .7 .8

Health care and social assistance.................. 193 222 208 1.3 1.5 1.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 436 591 504 3.5 4.7 4.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 41 59 30 2.5 3.3 1.8

Accommodations and food services............... 395 532 474 3.7 4.9 4.4

Other services................................................ 91 114 117 1.7 2.1 2.2

Government...................................................... 92 116 111 .4 .5 .5

Federal......................................................... 9 9 15 .3 .3 .6

State and local.............................................. 83 107 96 .4 .5 .5

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 317 374 280 1.2 1.5 1.1

South............................................................ 860 1,040 852 1.8 2.2 1.8

Midwest......................................................... 500 548 590 1.6 1.7 1.9

West............................................................ 423 564 535 1.5 1.9 1.8

 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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 1,621 1,559 1,498 1.2 1.2 1.1

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 1,547 1,484 1,438 1.4 1.3 1.3

Natural resources and mining........................... 9 6 4 1.4 .9 .6

Construction................................................... 235 180 223 3.3 2.4 3.0

Manufacturing................................................ 145 122 148 1.0 .9 1.0

Durable goods............................................. 99 79 80 1.1 .9 .9

Nondurable goods....................................... 46 42 68 .9 .8 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 304 286 305 1.2 1.1 1.2

Wholesale trade.......................................... 57 54 74 1.0 .9 1.3

Retail trade................................................ 178 170 169 1.1 1.1 1.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 69 62 62 1.4 1.3 1.2

Information................................................... 14 13 21 .4 .4 .7

Financial activities............................................ 65 63 43 .8 .8 .5

Finance and insurance................................. 36 30 15 .6 .5 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 29 33 28 1.4 1.5 1.3

Professional and business services..................... 356 408 352 2.1 2.4 2.1

Education and health services........................... 103 95 88 .6 .5 .5

Educational services.................................... 15 12 12 .5 .4 .4

Health care and social assistance.................. 88 83 76 .6 .6 .5

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 233 266 208 1.9 2.1 1.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 78 78 67 4.7 4.3 4.0

Accommodations and food services............... 155 188 142 1.5 1.7 1.3

Other services................................................ 83 44 47 1.5 .8 .9

Government...................................................... 75 75 60 .3 .3 .3

Federal......................................................... 4 5 6 .2 .2 .2

State and local.............................................. 71 70 54 .4 .4 .3

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 367 282 247 1.4 1.1 1.0

South............................................................ 434 542 404 .9 1.1 .8

Midwest......................................................... 484 353 549 1.5 1.1 1.7

West............................................................ 337 382 298 1.2 1.3 1.0

 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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 10. Other separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 262 266 254 .2 .2 .2

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 225 235 226 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining........................... 5 1 2 .8 .2 .3

Construction................................................... 10 24 32 .1 .3 .4

Manufacturing................................................ 17 36 43 .1 .3 .3

Durable goods............................................. 11 29 35 .1 .3 .4

Nondurable goods....................................... 6 7 8 .1 .1 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 63 46 41 .2 .2 .2

Wholesale trade.......................................... 4 5 9 .1 .1 .2

Retail trade................................................ 43 25 21 .3 .2 .1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 15 16 11 .3 .3 .2

Information................................................... 7 6 7 .2 .2 .2

Financial activities............................................ 10 9 11 .1 .1 .1

Finance and insurance................................. 9 5 9 .2 .1 .1

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 1 4 2 (3) .2 .1

Professional and business services..................... 44 32 30 .3 .2 .2

Education and health services........................... 21 32 21 .1 .2 .1

Educational services.................................... 1 3 2 (3) .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................. 20 29 19 .1 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 38 23 21 .3 .2 .2

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

Accommodations and food services............... 34 21 19 .3 .2 .2

Other services................................................ 10 26 18 .2 .5 .3

Government...................................................... 37 30 29 .2 .1 .1

Federal......................................................... 12 5 6 .4 .2 .2

State and local.............................................. 26 26 22 .1 .1 .1

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 59 44 41 .2 .2 .2

South............................................................ 86 74 68 .2 .2 .1

Midwest......................................................... 64 68 73 .2 .2 .2

West............................................................ 52 80 72 .2 .3 .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 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates