For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, March 9, 2010 USDL-10-0282

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

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

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – JANUARY 2010

There were 2.7 million job openings on the last business day of January 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 

Statistics reported today. The job openings rate rose over the month to 2.1 percent, the highest the rate 

has been since February 2009. The hires rate (3.1 percent) and the separations rate (3.2 percent) were 

unchanged in January. 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. This release also includes 

annual estimates for hires and separations. The annual totals for hires and quits decreased in 2009 while 

the annual total for layoffs and discharges increased. 

Job Openings 

The job openings rate increased in January to 2.1 percent, the highest the rate has been since February 

2009. In January, the job openings rate increased in education and health services. (See table 1.) 

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

2008 2009 2010

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, February 2007 - January 2010

NOTE: The shaded area represents the recession that began in Dec. 2007 as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an end point for the 

recession.

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

4.2

Percent

2008 2009 2010

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, February 2007 - January 2010

Hires

Separations

NOTE: The shaded area represents the recession that began in Dec. 2007 as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). NBER has not yet determined an end point for the 

recession.

Revisions to the JOLTS Data

The job openings, hires, and separations data in this release have been revised from December 2000 forward to 

incorporate annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the Job Openings 

and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) seasonal adjustment factors. See page 5 for more information.
- 2 - 

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

Industry Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total .........................................................2,792 2,531 2,724 4,330 3,997 4,080 5,121 4,195 4,122

Total private 1................................................... 2,396 2,130 2,327 4,005 3,715 3,802 4,833 3,884 3,843

Construction................................................33 67 60 358 335 326 523 382 409

Manufacturing..........................................114 171 153 213 244 252 502 273 250

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2..................... 482 378 385 928 849 844 1,085 901 854

Retail trade..................................... 349 237 231 572 547 594 662 567 583

Professional and business services......................... 508 404 432 726 652 741 855 649 703

Education and health services........................... 620 545 617 552 496 488 499 486 461

Leisure and hospitality ....................................235 227 252 725 657 711 757 688 711

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 31 20 17 109 94 99 113 109 110

Accommodation and food services.......... 203 207 235 616 562 611 644 578 601

Government 3..................................... 396 401 397 325 282 278 288 311 279

 State and local government..................................... 313 294 266 286 254 234 267 283 258

Total ................................................... 2.0 1.9 2.1 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.8 3.2 3.2

Total private 1................................................... 2.1 2.0 2.1 3.6 3.5 3.6 4.4 3.6 3.6

Construction..........................................0.5 1.2 1.1 5.5 5.9 5.8 8.0 6.7 7.3

Manufacturing................................................ 0.9 1.5 1.3 1.7 2.1 2.2 4.0 2.4 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2........................ 1.9 1.5 1.5 3.6 3.4 3.4 4.3 3.7 3.5

Retail trade.................................... 2.3 1.6 1.6 3.9 3.8 4.1 4.5 3.9 4.0

Professional and business services......................... 2.9 24 2.5 4.2 4.0 4.5 5.0 3.9 4.3

Education and health services........................... 3.2 2.7 3.1 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.4

Leisure and hospitality .................................... 1.7 1.7 1.9 5.5 5.1 5.5 5.7 5.3 5.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 1.6 1.1 0.9 5.6 5.0 5.3 5.8 5.8 5.9

Accommodation and food services.......... 1.8 1.8 2.1 5.5 5.1 5.5 5.7 5.2 5.4

Government 3..................................... 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.2

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

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

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

 3 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)

Over the 12 months ending in January, the job openings rate (not seasonally adjusted) was essentially 

unchanged for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The job openings rate increased over the 

year in construction, durable goods manufacturing, wholesale trade, information, and federal 

government. The job openings rate decreased over the 12-month period in retail trade and educational 

services. (See table 5.) 

Hires 

The hires rate was unchanged in January, remaining at 3.1 percent. The rate has remained between 3.0 

percent and 3.2 percent since November 2008. After falling from the most recent peak of 5.6 million 

hires in January 2005, the hires level reached a low point of 3.9 million in June 2009. In January 2010, 
- 3 - 

the hires level was 4.1 million. The hires rate was essentially unchanged in January for all industries and 

all four regions. (See table 2.) 

Over the 12 months ending in January, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for 

total nonfarm and total private, but fell for government. Over the 12 months ending in January, the hires 

rate increased for durable goods manufacturing and decreased for wholesale trade, health care and social 

assistance, and the South region. (See table 6.) 

Separations 

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

separations), and other separations (including retirements). The total separations, or turnover, rate was 

unchanged in January for total nonfarm and remained low at 3.2 percent. The rate was also unchanged 

for total private, but fell for government. The total separations rate (not seasonally adjusted) decreased 

over the 12 months ending in January for total nonfarm and total private while the rate for government 

was unchanged. (See tables 3 and 7.) 

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

quits rate was little changed for total nonfarm (1.4 percent), total private (1.6 percent), and government 

(0.5 percent). The rate rose over the month in construction and arts, entertainment, and recreation. After 

falling from the most recent peak of 3.2 million in November 2006, the number of quits has held steady 

at 1.7 million or 1.8 million since April 2009. (See table 4.) 

Over the 12 months ending in January, the quits rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for 

total nonfarm and government, but decreased for total private. The quits rate increased over the year in 

educational services and arts, entertainment, and recreation; the rate decreased in mining and logging, 

durable goods manufacturing, and retail trade. The quits rate fell over the year in the Midwest and was 

essentially unchanged in the other regions. (See table 8.) 

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

total private, and government levels. The layoffs and discharges level for total nonfarm (1.9 million) and 

total private (1.8 million) were essentially unchanged in January, while the level for government 

(110,000) fell. The corresponding layoffs and discharges rates were 1.5 percent, 1.7 percent, and 0.5 

percent. The number of layoffs and discharges at the total nonfarm level peaked at 2.6 million in January 

2009; the most recent trough was 1.6 million in January 2006. (See table B below.) 

The layoffs and discharges rate (not seasonally adjusted) fell over the 12 months ending in January for 

total nonfarm and total private, and was little changed for government. The layoffs and discharges rate 

fell over the year in many industries, including construction, durable goods manufacturing, nondurable 

goods manufacturing, wholesale trade, information, finance and insurance, real estate and rental and 

leasing, and other services. Regionally, the rate fell over the year in 3 of the 4 regions—Midwest, 

Northeast, and South. The layoffs and discharges rate did not rise over the year in any industry or 

region. (See table 9.) 
- 4 - 

Table B. Layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,641 2,049 1,890 2.0 1.6 1.5

Total private............................................................................................ 2,518 1,914 1,780 2.3 1.8 1.7

Government......................................................................................... 123 135 110 0.5 0.6 0.5

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.

Industry

Levels (in thousands) Rates

The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In January, there were 547,000 other separations 

for total nonfarm, 476,000 for total private, and 71,000 for government. Compared to January 2009, the 

number of other separations was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and government. (See 

table 10.) 

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. The percentage of total separations at the total nonfarm 

level attributable to the individual components has varied over time. The proportion of quits had 

exceeded the proportion of layoffs and discharges every month from the beginning of the series in

December 2000 until November 2008 when layoffs and discharges became the larger contributor to total 

separations. The proportion of separations due to quits hit a series low of 39 percent in January 2009 and 

again in April 2009. The proportion is now 43 percent in January 2010. The proportion of separations 

due to layoffs and discharges rose to a series high of 56 percent in April 2009 and was 46 percent in 

January 2010. (See tables 3 and 4, and table B above.) 

Net Change in Employment 

Over the 12 months ending in January, hires totaled 48.4 million and separations totaled 52.4 million,

yielding a net employment loss of 4.0 million. 

Annual Levels and Rates 

This release contains the 2009 annual rates and levels for hires, total separations, quits, layoffs and 

discharges, and other separations. Note that annual figures for job openings are not calculated because 

job openings are measured on a stock, or point-in-time, basis rather than on a flow basis over a specified 

time period. The annual figures and additional tables are published with the release of January data each 

year. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) 

Calculating annual levels and rates allows additional comparisons across years. For the third year in a 

row, annual levels fell for hires, total separations, quits, and other separations, while rising for layoffs 

and discharges. In 2009, annual hires fell to 48.7 million (37.2 percent of employment), annual total 

separations fell to 53.7 million (41.0 percent of employment), annual quits declined steeply to 22.0

million (16.8 percent of employment), and annual other separations decreased slightly to 3.9 million (3.0

percent of employment). Annual layoffs and discharges rose in 2009 to 27.8 million (21.2 percent of 

employment). (See tables 11 through 20.) 
- 5 - 

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for February 2010 are scheduled to be 

released on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). 

Revisions to Job Openings and Labor Turnover Data

In accordance with annual practice, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data have 

been revised to reflect annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics (CES), or establishment 

survey, employment estimates. The JOLTS employment levels (not published) are ratio-adjusted to the 

CES employment levels, and the resulting ratios are applied to all JOLTS data elements. This annual 

benchmark process resulted in revisions to all not seasonally adjusted JOLTS data series from April 

2008 forward, the time period since the last benchmark was established. Additionally, the seasonally 

adjusted JOLTS data series have been recalculated from December 2000 forward to reflect updated 

seasonal adjustment factors. Further, the new methodology incorporated in 2009 to more closely align 

the hires and separations estimates with the monthly payroll employment change created a dependency 

of the not seasonally adjusted estimates on the seasonal adjustment process. Therefore, the not 

seasonally adjusted data series have been recalculated from December 2000 forward to reflect the 

updated seasonal adjustment factors’ effect on the alignment process. 

Tables C through H present revised total nonfarm data for January through December 2009. The revised 

data incorporate the effect of applying the new benchmark level. The December 2009 revisions also 

reflect the routine incorporation of additional sample receipts into the final December estimates. Table 

C (job openings), table D (hires), table E (total separations), table F (quits), and table G (layoffs and 

discharges) present revised data on a seasonally adjusted basis, incorporating the new seasonal 

adjustment factors as well as the new benchmark level. Table H (other separations) present revisions on 

a not seasonally adjusted basis since that series is not adjusted. 

The BLS website contains all revised historical seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted JOLTS 

data. The data can be accessed through the JOLTS homepage at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.

Further information on the revisions released today may be obtained by calling (202) 691-5870 or via 

the Internet on the JOLTS homepage. 
- 6 - 

Table C. Revisions in job openings data, January-December 2009, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2009

January............................ 2,920 2,792 -128 2.1 2.0 -0.1

February........................... 2,973 2,830 -143 2.2 2.1 -.1

March............................... 2,633 2,671 38 1.9 2.0 .1

April................................. 2,513 2,475 -38 1.9 1.8 -.1

May................................. 2,523 2,488 -35 1.9 1.9 .0

June................................ 2,513 2,519 6 1.9 1.9 .0

July.................................. 2,408 2,338 -70 1.8 1.8 .0

August............................. 2,423 2,411 -12 1.8 1.8 .0

September......................... 2,586 2,624 38 1.9 2.0 .1

October............................ 2,571 2,546 -25 1.9 1.9 .0

November.......................... 2,434 2,456 22 1.8 1.9 .1

December......................... 2,497 2,531 34 1.9 1.9 .0

Year and month

Table D. Revisions in hires data, January-December 2009, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2009

January............................ 4,460 4,330 -130 3.3 3.2 -0.1

February........................... 4,339 4,095 -244 3.2 3.1 -.1

March............................... 4,099 3,935 -164 3.1 3.0 -.1

April................................. 4,117 4,182 65 3.1 3.2 .1

May................................. 3,942 3,962 20 3.0 3.0 .0

June................................ 3,919 3,856 -63 3.0 3.0 .0

July.................................. 4,228 4,065 -163 3.2 3.1 -.1

August............................. 4,040 3,975 -65 3.1 3.1 .0

September......................... 4,061 4,091 30 3.1 3.2 .1

October............................ 4,045 4,001 -44 3.1 3.1 .0

November.......................... 4,125 4,160 35 3.1 3.2 .1

December......................... 4,073 3,997 -76 3.1 3.1 .0

Year and month
- 7 - 

Table E. Revisions in total separations data, January-December 2009, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2009

January............................ 4,949 5,121 172 3.7 3.8 0.1

February........................... 4,833 4,869 36 3.6 3.7 .1

March............................... 4,712 4,710 -2 3.5 3.6 .1

April................................. 4,641 4,651 10 3.5 3.5 .0

May................................. 4,356 4,401 45 3.3 3.4 .1

June................................ 4,306 4,310 4 3.3 3.3 .0

July.................................. 4,430 4,424 -6 3.4 3.4 .0

August............................. 4,284 4,166 -118 3.3 3.2 -.1

September......................... 4,325 4,274 -51 3.3 3.3 .0

October............................ 4,223 4,171 -52 3.2 3.2 .0

November.......................... 4,274 4,130 -144 3.3 3.2 -.1

December......................... 4,238 4,195 -43 3.2 3.2 .0

Year and month

Table F. Revisions in quits data, January-December 2009, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2009 

January............................ 2,063 1,980 -83 1.5 1.5 0.0

February........................... 1,911 2,003 92 1.4 1.5 .1

March............................... 1,856 1,942 86 1.4 1.5 .1

April................................. 1,777 1,821 44 1.3 1.4 .1

May................................. 1,788 1,807 19 1.4 1.4 .0

June................................ 1,787 1,830 43 1.4 1.4 .0

July.................................. 1,778 1,822 44 1.4 1.4 .0

August............................. 1,779 1,779 0 1.4 1.4 .0

September......................... 1,804 1,716 -88 1.4 1.3 -.1

October............................ 1,771 1,723 -48 1.4 1.3 -.1

November.......................... 1,919 1,837 -82 1.5 1.4 -.1

December......................... 1,764 1,753 -11 1.3 1.4 .1

Year and month
- 8 - 

Table G. Revisions in layoffs and discharges data, January-December 2009, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2009 

January............................ 2,568 2,641 73 1.9 2.0 0.1

February........................... 2,546 2,593 47 1.9 2.0 .1

March............................... 2,528 2,462 -66 1.9 1.9 .0

April................................. 2,513 2,617 104 1.9 2.0 .1

May................................. 2,273 2,342 69 1.7 1.8 .1

June................................ 2,141 2,224 83 1.6 1.7 .1

July.................................. 2,431 2,349 -82 1.8 1.8 .0

August............................. 2,248 2,129 -119 1.7 1.6 -.1

September......................... 2,128 2,241 113 1.6 1.7 .1

October............................ 2,128 2,063 -65 1.6 1.6 .0

November.......................... 2,011 1,973 -38 1.5 1.5 .0

December......................... 2,079 2,049 -30 1.6 1.6 .0

Year and month

Table H. Revisions in other separations data, January-December 2009, not seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2009 

January............................ 514 531 17 0.4 0.4 0.0

February........................... 272 264 -8 0.2 0.2 .0

March............................... 284 294 10 0.2 0.2 .0

April................................. 384 357 -27 0.3 0.3 .0

May................................. 288 271 -17 0.2 0.2 .0

June................................ 364 335 -29 0.3 0.3 .0

July.................................. 351 370 19 0.3 0.3 .0

August............................. 338 338 0 0.3 0.3 .0

September......................... 309 305 -4 0.2 0.2 .0

October............................ 325 357 32 0.2 0.3 .1

November.......................... 232 220 -12 0.2 0.2 .0

December......................... 289 279 -10 0.2 0.2 .0

Year and month
Technical Note 

 The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover 

Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from 

a sample of business establishments by the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Collection 

 In a monthly survey of business establishments, data are 

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data 

collection methods include computer-assisted telephone 

interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, e-mail, and mail. 

Coverage 

 The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm 

establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as 

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

50 states and the District of Columbia. 

Concepts 

 Industry classification. The industry classifications in 

this release are in accordance with the 2007 version of the 

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). 

In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, 

State Workforce Agencies verify with employers and 

update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and 

ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year 

cycle. Changes in establishment characteristics resulting 

from the verification process are always introduced into 

the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the 

first month of the year. 

 Employment. Employment includes persons on the 

payroll who worked or received pay for the pay period 

that includes the 12th day of the reference month. Fulltime, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, 

and hourly employees are included, as are employees on 

paid vacations or other paid leave. Proprietors or partners 

of unincorporated businesses, unpaid family workers, or 

persons on leave without pay or on strike for the entire 

pay period, are not counted as employed. Employees of 

temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, 

outside contractors, and consultants are counted by their 

employer of record, not by the establishment where they 

are working. 

 Job openings. Establishments submit job openings 

information for the last business day of the reference 

month. A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position 

exists and there is work available for that position, 2) 

work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a 

suitable candidate is found, and 3) the employer is 

actively recruiting from outside the establishment to fill 

the position. Included are 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 are published only for not seasonally 

adjusted data. 

 Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings 

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

measurement for the last business day of each month. 

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

counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be 

cumulated throughout each month, annual figures for job 

openings cannot be created by summing the monthly 

estimates. Hires and separations are flow measures and 

are cumulated over the month with a total reported for the 

month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by 

summing the monthly estimates. 

Special Collection Procedures 

 An implied measure of employment change can be 

derived from the JOLTS data by subtracting separations 

from hires for a given month. Aggregating these monthly 

changes historically produced employment levels that 

overstated employment change as measured by CES at the 

total nonfarm level. Research into this problem showed 

that a significant amount of the divergence between the 

CES employment levels and the derived JOLTS 

employment levels was traceable to the Employment 

Services industry and to the State Government Education 

industry. In the former industry, businesses have a 

difficult time reporting hires and separations of temporary 

help workers. In the latter industry, employers have 

difficulty reporting hires and separations of student 

workers. BLS now devotes additional resources to the 

collection, editing, and review of data for these 

industries. BLS analysts more closely examine reported 

data that do not provide a consistent picture over time, 

and re-contact the respondents as necessary. Analysts 

work with the respondents to adjust their reporting 

practices as possible. Units that cannot be reconciled but 

are clearly incorrect on a consistent basis are not used, 

they are replaced by imputed values using standard 

techniques. 

Sample and estimation methodology 

 The JOLTS survey design is a random sample of 16,000 

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, 

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

governments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

The establishments are drawn from a universe of over 9.1 

million establishments compiled as part of the operations 

of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 

(QCEW) program. This program includes all employers 

subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and 

federal agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation 

for Federal Employees (UCFE). 

 The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, 

industry sector, and size class. The JOLTS sample is 

constructed from individual panels of sample units drawn 

on an annual basis. The full annual sample consists of one 

certainty panel composed of only large units selected with 

virtual certainty based on their size and 24 non-certainty 

panels. Each month a new non-certainty panel is rolled 

into collection, and the oldest non-certainty panel is rolled 

out. This means that at any given time the JOLTS sample 

is constructed from panels from three different annual 

sampling frames. The entire sample of old plus new 

panels is post-stratified and re-weighted annually to 

represent the most recent sampling frame. Additionally, 

the out-of-business establishments are removed from the 

old panels. The annual sample is supplemented with a 

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

establishments) to better reflect the impact of younger 

establishments in the JOLTS sample. 

 JOLTS total employment estimates are benchmarked 

monthly to the employment estimates of the Current 

Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to 

JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for all 

other JOLTS data elements. 

 JOLTS Business Birth/Death Model 

 As with any sample survey, the JOLTS sample can only 

be as current as its sampling frame. The time lag from the 

birth of an establishment until its appearance on the 

sampling frame is approximately one year. In addition, 

many of these new units may fail within the first year. 

Since these universe units cannot be reflected on the 

sampling frame immediately, the JOLTS sample cannot 

capture job openings, hires, and separations from these 

units during their early existence. BLS has developed a 

model to estimate birth/death activity for current months 

by examining the birth/death activity from previous years 

on the QCEW and projecting forward to the present using 

an econometric technique known as X-12 ARIMA 

modeling. The birth/death model also uses historical 

JOLTS data to estimate the amount of “churn” (hires and 

separations) that exists in establishments of various sizes. 

The model then combines the estimated churn with the 

projected employment change to estimate the number of 

hires and separations taking place in these units that 

cannot be measured through sampling. 
 The model-based estimate of total separations is 

distributed to the three components – quits; layoffs and 

discharges; and other separations - in proportion to their 

contribution to the sample-based estimate of total 

separations. Additionally, job openings for the modeled 

units are estimated by computing the ratio of openings to 

hires in the collected data and applying that ratio to the 

modeled hires. The estimates of job openings, hires, and 

separations produced by the birth/death model are then 

added to the sample-based estimates produced from the 

survey to arrive at the estimates for openings, hires, and 

separations. 

Seasonal adjustment 

 BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the 

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal 

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing 

periodic fluctuations caused by events such as weather, 

holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year. 

Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe 

fundamental changes in the level of the series, particularly 

those associated with general economic expansions and 

contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjustment 

methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment 

factors are calculated each month, using all relevant data, 

up to and including the data for the current month. 

Alignment procedure 

 JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable to 

the CES net employment change. However, definitional 

differences as well as sampling and non-sampling errors 

between the two surveys historically caused JOLTS to 

diverge from CES over time. To limit the divergence, and 

improve the quality of the JOLTS hires and separations 

series, BLS implemented the Monthly Alignment Method. 

The Monthly Alignment Method applies the CES 

employment trends to the seasonally adjusted JOLTS 

implied employment trend (hires minus separations) 

forcing them to be approximately the same, while 

preserving the seasonality of the JOLTS data. First, the 

two series are seasonally adjusted and the difference 

between the JOLTS implied employment trend and the 

CES net employment change is calculated. Next, the 

JOLTS implied employment trend is adjusted to equal the 

CES net employment change through a proportional 

adjustment. This proportional adjustment procedure 

adjusts the two components (hires, separations) 

proportionally to their contribution to the total churn 

(hires plus separations). For example, if hires are 40 

percent of the churn for a given month, they will receive 

40 percent of the needed adjustment and separations will 

receive 60 percent of the needed adjustment. The adjusted 

hires and separations are converted back to not seasonally 

adjusted data by reversing the application of the original 

seasonal factors. After the monthly alignment method has 

been used to adjust the level estimates, rate estimates are 

computed from the adjusted levels. The Monthly 

Alignment procedure assures a close match of the JOLTS 

implied employment trend with the CES trend. The CES 

series is considered a highly accurate measure of net 

employment change owing to its very large sample size 

and annual benchmarking to universe counts of 

employment from the QCEW program. 

Using JOLTS data 

 The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and 

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided 

into panels, with one panel enrolled each month. A full 

complement of panels for the original data series based on 

the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system 

was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 

2002. The supplemental panels of establishments needed 

to create NAICS estimates were not completely enrolled 

until May 2003. The data collected up until those points 

are from less than a full sample. Therefore, estimates 

from earlier months should be used with caution, as fewer 

sampled units were reporting data at that time. 

 In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and 

separations data were revised to address possible 

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations 

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be 

comparable to estimates for March 2002 and later. 

 The federal government reorganization that involved 

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new 

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the 

JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal 

government. The Office of Personnel Management's 

record shows these transfers were completed in March 

2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS definitions 

of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing 

movements of workers between establishments. The 

Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a 

massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these 

intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal 

government time series. 

 JOLTS uses moving averages as seasonal filters in 

seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment 

includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal 

adjustment models and REGARIMA (regression with 

autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the seasonal 

adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the series 

and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series. 

Reliability of the estimates 

 JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and 

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire 

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample 

estimates may differ from the "true" population values 

they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, 

varies depending on the particular sample selected, and 

this variability is measured by the standard error of the 

estimate. BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-

percent level of confidence. That means that there is a 
90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate 

based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 

standard errors from the "true" population value because 

of sampling error. Estimates of sampling errors are 

available upon request. 

 The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling 

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, 

including the failure to include a segment of the 

population, the inability to obtain data from all units in 

the sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents 

to provide data on a timely basis, mistakes made by 

respondents, errors made in the collection or processing 

of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark 

data used in estimation. 

Other information 

 Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-

8339. 
Table 1. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,792 2,411 2,624 2,546 2,456 2,531 2,724 2.0 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,396 2,098 2,333 2,164 2,113 2,130 2,327 2.1 1.9 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.1

Construction........................................................................ 33 66 73 65 71 67 60 .5 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 114 134 139 141 155 171 153 .9 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 482 425 415 363 334 378 385 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 349 248 282 228 207 237 231 2.3 1.7 1.9 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.6

Professional and business services......................... 508 404 446 436 425 404 432 2.9 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.5

Education and health services................................................. 620 531 573 529 537 545 617 3.2 2.7 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.7 3.1

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 235 241 305 268 236 227 252 1.7 1.8 2.3 2.0 1.8 1.7 1.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 31 20 27 19 23 20 17 1.6 1.0 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.1 .9

Accommodation and food services......................... 203 221 278 249 214 207 235 1.8 1.9 2.4 2.2 1.9 1.8 2.1

Government 6......................................................................................... 396 313 292 382 343 401 397 1.7 1.4 1.3 1.7 1.5 1.8 1.7

State and local government.................................................................................... 313 287 232 292 249 294 266 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.3

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 566 504 532 532 482 547 468 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.9 2.2 1.9

South............................................................................................... 1,031 883 952 915 859 943 953 2.1 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.0

Midwest......................................................................................... 567 478 565 566 553 495 552 1.8 1.6 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.8

West...................................................................................... 616 535 566 605 586 603 586 2.0 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0

1

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

7

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

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

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

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

 

3

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

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

 

4

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

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

 

5

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

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

 

6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the 

Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS 

seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,330 3,975 4,091 4,001 4,160 3,997 4,080 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,005 3,696 3,833 3,689 3,878 3,715 3,802 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 358 278 349 325 329 335 326 5.5 4.7 6.0 5.7 5.7 5.9 5.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 213 254 271 243 259 244 252 1.7 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 928 798 854 772 847 849 844 3.6 3.2 3.4 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 572 545 566 518 554 547 594 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.6 3.9 3.8 4.1

Professional and business services......................... 726 680 698 709 808 652 741 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.9 4.0 4.5

Education and health services................................................. 552 531 532 522 512 496 488 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.5

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 725 711 693 663 693 657 711 5.5 5.4 5.3 5.1 5.3 5.1 5.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 109 115 121 100 111 94 99 5.6 6.1 6.3 5.2 5.9 5.0 5.3

Accommodation and food services......................... 616 596 572 563 582 562 611 5.5 5.3 5.1 5.1 5.2 5.1 5.5

Government 6......................................................................................... 325 279 258 312 282 282 278 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2

State and local government.................................................................................... 286 252 236 271 247 254 234 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 755 676 731 805 758 746 811 3.0 2.7 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.0 3.3

South............................................................................................... 1,721 1,436 1,518 1,420 1,555 1,463 1,485 3.6 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 948 915 926 949 896 900 927 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.2

West...................................................................................... 974 838 954 933 970 879 936 3.3 2.9 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.1 3.3

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

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

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

total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

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

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

 = preliminary.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the 

other services, not shown separately. Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS 

seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,121 4,166 4,274 4,171 4,130 4,195 4,122 3.8 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,833 3,883 3,990 3,901 3,846 3,884 3,843 4.4 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 523 335 415 381 347 382 409 8.0 5.7 7.1 6.6 6.1 6.7 7.3

Manufacturing................................................................ 502 297 313 293 285 273 250 4.0 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 1,085 826 916 844 853 901 854 4.3 3.3 3.7 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 662 558 605 567 544 567 583 4.5 3.9 4.2 3.9 3.8 3.9 4.0

Professional and business services......................... 855 711 705 717 706 649 703 5.0 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.3 3.9 4.3

Education and health services................................................. 499 501 503 473 486 486 461 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 757 718 677 707 716 688 711 5.7 5.5 5.2 5.4 5.5 5.3 5.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 113 116 86 128 116 109 110 5.8 6.1 4.4 6.7 6.1 5.8 5.9

Accommodation and food services......................... 644 602 591 579 600 578 601 5.7 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.4 5.2 5.4

Government 6......................................................................................... 288 283 284 269 284 311 279 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.2

State and local government.................................................................................... 267 259 267 242 249 283 258 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.3

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 844 698 744 727 728 817 760 3.3 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.3 3.1

South............................................................................................... 2,007 1,419 1,598 1,544 1,531 1,499 1,550 4.2 3.0 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,168 913 948 920 752 1,016 973 3.8 3.1 3.2 3.1 2.6 3.5 3.3

West...................................................................................... 1,179 992 1,037 939 894 1,061 1,050 4.0 3.4 3.6 3.3 3.1 3.7 3.7

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

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

month. not shown separately.

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

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 7

 See footnote 7, table 1. 

3

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

seasonal adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the 

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS 

and other services, not shown separately. seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,980 1,779 1,716 1,723 1,837 1,753 1,781 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 1,872 1,669 1,616 1,620 1,731 1,639 1,669 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6

Construction........................................................................ 80 68 77 62 92 76 105 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.6 1.3 1.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 105 82 90 80 75 75 75 .8 .7 .8 .7 .6 .7 .7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 454 408 387 382 413 392 367 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 351 307 285 287 276 291 266 2.4 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.8

Professional and business services......................... 329 263 265 277 264 248 263 1.9 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.6

Education and health services................................................. 245 247 270 267 262 271 253 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 439 410 345 356 397 375 409 3.3 3.1 2.6 2.7 3.0 2.9 3.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 30 41 14 39 42 32 51 1.5 2.2 .7 2.0 2.2 1.7 2.7

Accommodation and food services......................... 409 368 331 317 355 344 359 3.6 3.3 3.0 2.8 3.2 3.1 3.2

Government 6......................................................................................... 108 110 100 102 106 114 112 .5 .5 .4 .5 .5 .5 .5

State and local government.................................................................................... 103 100 96 98 101 106 107 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 273 275 245 300 276 280 283 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.2

South............................................................................................... 746 696 659 677 757 722 754 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.6

Midwest......................................................................................... 461 383 359 382 377 391 372 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3

West...................................................................................... 457 454 371 388 446 382 393 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.4

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

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

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

percent of total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

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

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

 = preliminary.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the 

and other services, not shown separately. Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS 

seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,020 2,279 3,020 2.2 1.7 2.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,607 1,927 2,577 2.3 1.8 2.4

Mining and logging...................................................18 6 12 2.3 .9 1.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 33 55 59 .5 1.0 1.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 120 159 162 1.0 1.4 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 54 80 92 .7 1.1 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 65 79 70 1.4 1.7 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 490 295 405 1.9 1.2 1.6

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 70 75 125 1.2 1.3 2.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 343 177 228 2.3 1.2 1.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 77 43 52 1.6 .9 1.1

Information...................................................................................... 77 56 133 2.6 2.0 4.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 231 134 220 2.8 1.7 2.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 191 97 187 3.1 1.7 3.2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 41 37 33 2.0 1.8 1.7

Professional and business services........................................ 583 381 498 3.4 2.2 3.0

Education and health services................................................................. 667 532 675 3.4 2.7 3.4

Educational services................................................................ 69 42 36 2.2 1.3 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 598 490 639 3.6 2.9 3.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 238 186 259 1.9 1.4 2.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 29 14 16 1.7 .8 .9

Accommodation and food services............................... 208 172 243 1.9 1.5 2.2

Other services................................................................................. 151 123 154 2.8 2.3 2.8

Government......................................................................................... 413 352 443 1.8 1.5 1.9

Federal................................................................................................ 115 86 190 4.0 3.0 6.3

State and local.................................................................................... 297 266 253 1.5 1.3 1.3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 637 488 581 2.5 1.9 2.3

South............................................................................................... 1,105 873 1,083 2.3 1.8 2.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 601 419 646 2.0 1.4 2.2

West....................................................................................................... 677 499 710 2.3 1.7 2.4

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

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

plus job openings.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,254 2,912 4,014 3.2 2.2 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,949 2,746 3,750 3.6 2.6 3.6

Mining and logging...................................................28 16 33 3.7 2.4 5.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 315 206 287 5.1 3.7 5.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 221 152 267 1.8 1.3 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 112 85 170 1.4 1.2 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 109 67 97 2.3 1.5 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 845 672 746 3.3 2.7 3.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 252 82 145 4.4 1.5 2.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 463 435 483 3.2 2.9 3.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 131 156 118 2.7 3.3 2.5

Information...................................................................................... 86 57 77 3.0 2.1 2.8

Financial activities........................................................................... 225 148 192 2.9 1.9 2.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 154 83 130 2.6 1.5 2.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 71 64 62 3.5 3.3 3.2

Professional and business services........................................ 817 524 843 4.9 3.2 5.2

Education and health services................................................................. 569 356 504 3.0 1.8 2.6

Educational services................................................................ 71 31 70 2.3 1.0 2.3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 498 326 434 3.1 2.0 2.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 626 477 617 5.0 3.8 5.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 95 71 87 5.5 4.1 5.2

Accommodation and food services............................... 531 406 530 4.9 3.7 5.0

Other services................................................................................. 217 138 185 4.1 2.6 3.5

Government......................................................................................... 305 166 264 1.4 .7 1.2

Federal................................................................................................ 43 23 50 1.5 .8 1.7

State and local.................................................................................... 262 144 215 1.3 .7 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 717 544 775 2.9 2.2 3.2

South............................................................................................... 1,717 1,066 1,482 3.6 2.3 3.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 918 641 894 3.1 2.2 3.1

West....................................................................................................... 902 661 864 3.1 2.3 3.1

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

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

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 6,766 3,900 5,405 5.1 3.0 4.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 6,445 3,654 5,092 5.9 3.4 4.8

Mining and logging...................................................44 22 32 5.9 3.2 4.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 688 403 540 11.2 7.2 10.3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 711 237 356 5.7 2.0 3.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 474 127 209 6.1 1.8 3.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 237 110 147 5.1 2.4 3.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,556 952 1,235 6.2 3.8 5.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 348 124 178 6.1 2.2 3.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 982 606 871 6.7 4.1 6.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 226 222 186 4.6 4.6 4.0

Information...................................................................................... 165 72 115 5.8 2.6 4.2

Financial activities........................................................................... 464 156 341 5.9 2.0 4.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 323 83 242 5.5 1.5 4.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 141 73 99 7.0 3.7 5.1

Professional and business services........................................ 1,013 707 838 6.0 4.3 5.2

Education and health services................................................................. 675 388 617 3.6 2.0 3.2

Educational services................................................................ 56 52 84 1.9 1.6 2.8

Health care and social assistance.................................. 618 336 534 3.9 2.1 3.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 832 563 785 6.6 4.4 6.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 103 81 101 6.0 4.6 6.1

Accommodation and food services............................... 728 483 684 6.7 4.4 6.4

Other services................................................................................. 298 154 233 5.6 2.9 4.5

Government......................................................................................... 321 246 314 1.4 1.1 1.4

Federal................................................................................................ 30 31 31 1.1 1.1 1.1

State and local.................................................................................... 291 215 283 1.5 1.1 1.4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 1,114 736 936 4.5 3.0 3.9

South............................................................................................... 2,543 1,278 1,910 5.3 2.7 4.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,595 969 1,267 5.3 3.3 4.4

West....................................................................................................... 1,515 917 1,293 5.2 3.2 4.6

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

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

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,376 1,402 2,123 1.8 1.1 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,251 1,318 1,992 2.1 1.2 1.9

Mining and logging...................................................17 3 9 2.3 .5 1.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 77 58 100 1.3 1.0 1.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 133 48 95 1.1 .4 .8

Durable goods.............................................................................. 68 22 43 .9 .3 .6

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 65 26 53 1.4 .6 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 548 345 443 2.2 1.4 1.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 49 31 54 .9 .6 1.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 424 265 320 2.9 1.8 2.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 75 49 69 1.5 1.0 1.5

Information...................................................................................... 58 21 41 2.0 .8 1.5

Financial activities........................................................................... 125 66 118 1.6 .9 1.6

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 90 35 76 1.5 .6 1.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 34 31 42 1.7 1.6 2.2

Professional and business services........................................ 364 226 292 2.2 1.4 1.8

Education and health services................................................................. 332 206 340 1.7 1.1 1.8

Educational services................................................................ 23 23 46 .8 .7 1.5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 309 184 294 1.9 1.1 1.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 476 293 438 3.8 2.3 3.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 26 21 43 1.5 1.2 2.6

Accommodation and food services............................... 450 272 395 4.1 2.5 3.7

Other services................................................................................. 121 51 116 2.3 1.0 2.2

Government......................................................................................... 126 84 130 .6 .4 .6

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

State and local.................................................................................... 118 76 123 .6 .4 .6

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 346 214 335 1.4 .9 1.4

South............................................................................................... 907 558 897 1.9 1.2 1.9

Midwest................................................................................................. 579 318 445 1.9 1.1 1.5

West....................................................................................................... 544 313 446 1.9 1.1 1.6

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

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

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,859 2,219 2,736 2.9 1.7 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,733 2,111 2,623 3.4 2.0 2.5

Mining and logging...................................................21 17 18 2.8 2.5 2.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 587 326 410 9.5 5.8 7.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 533 168 219 4.3 1.4 1.9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 368 95 142 4.7 1.3 2.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 164 73 78 3.5 1.6 1.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 877 563 684 3.5 2.2 2.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 270 84 96 4.7 1.5 1.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 483 314 492 3.3 2.1 3.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 124 164 96 2.5 3.4 2.1

Information...................................................................................... 98 45 55 3.4 1.6 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 296 79 136 3.7 1.0 1.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 195 39 88 3.3 .7 1.6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 101 40 48 5.0 2.0 2.5

Professional and business services........................................ 588 441 484 3.5 2.7 3.0

Education and health services................................................................. 244 144 203 1.3 .7 1.1

Educational services................................................................ 31 26 30 1.0 .8 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 213 118 173 1.3 .7 1.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 331 250 303 2.6 2.0 2.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 71 59 50 4.1 3.4 3.0

Accommodation and food services............................... 260 191 253 2.4 1.7 2.4

Other services................................................................................. 159 80 109 3.0 1.5 2.1

Government......................................................................................... 125 108 113 .6 .5 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 10 12 9 .4 .4 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 115 96 104 .6 .5 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 677 463 483 2.7 1.9 2.0

South............................................................................................... 1,437 624 824 3.0 1.3 1.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 866 597 691 2.9 2.0 2.4

West....................................................................................................... 879 535 738 3.0 1.9 2.6

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

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

employment.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2009 2009 2010p 2009 2009 2010p

Total........................................................................................................... 531 279 547 0.4 0.2 0.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 461 225 476 .4 .2 .5

Mining and logging...................................................6 1 5 .8 .2 .7

Construction...................................................................................................... 23 20 29 .4 .4 .6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 46 20 41 .4 .2 .4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 38 10 25 .5 .1 .4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 8 11 16 .2 .2 .4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 131 44 109 .5 .2 .4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 29 9 28 .5 .2 .5

Retail trade................................................................................. 75 27 59 .5 .2 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 27 9 22 .5 .2 .5

Information...................................................................................... 9 6 19 .3 .2 .7

Financial activities........................................................................... 44 11 87 .6 .1 1.1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 38 9 78 .6 .2 1.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 6 2 9 .3 .1 .5

Professional and business services........................................ 60 40 62 .4 .2 .4

Education and health services................................................................. 99 38 74 .5 .2 .4

Educational services................................................................ 2 3 7 .1 .1 .2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 97 34 66 .6 .2 .4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 25 21 44 .2 .2 .4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 7 1 8 .4 .1 .5

Accommodation and food services............................... 18 19 36 .2 .2 .3

Other services................................................................................. 18 23 8 .3 .4 .2

Government......................................................................................... 70 54 71 .3 .2 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 12 11 15 .4 .4 .5

State and local.................................................................................... 58 43 55 .3 .2 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 90 58 117 .4 .2 .5

South............................................................................................... 199 100 189 .4 .2 .4

Midwest................................................................................................. 150 53 131 .5 .2 .5

West....................................................................................................... 93 68 111 .3 .2 .4

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

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

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 11. Annual hires levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total........................................................................................................... 59,797 57,787 61,624 64,498 64,906 63,404 56,204 48,696

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 55,665 54,082 57,534 60,444 60,481 58,843 52,486 45,237

Mining and logging...................................................238 261 284 303 311 346 364 214

Construction........................................................................ 5,104 5,234 5,438 5,884 5,396 4,813 4,564 3,882

Manufacturing................................................................ 4,679 4,245 4,675 4,535 4,601 4,613 3,671 2,906

Durable goods............................................................. 2,735 2,581 2,961 2,893 2,735 2,685 2,110 1,513

Nondurable goods...................................................... 1,946 1,663 1,714 1,640 1,864 1,928 1,558 1,391

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................12,235 11,837 13,291 13,683 13,805 13,212 11,600 10,009

Wholesale trade............................................................... 1,929 1,869 2,069 2,008 2,045 2,208 1,905 1,648

Retail trade....................................................................... 8,565 8,248 9,130 9,440 9,602 9,121 7,897 6,658

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 1,744 1,720 2,096 2,235 2,160 1,882 1,801 1,704

Information....................................................................... 1,095 942 983 1,045 1,123 985 805 760

Financial activities........................................................ 2,679 2,598 2,866 2,868 3,099 3,160 2,629 2,136

Finance and insurance.............................................1,723 1,580 1,771 1,850 1,991 2,092 1,697 1,274

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 954 1,020 1,092 1,018 1,107 1,066 932 861

Professional and business services.........................11,352 10,631 11,035 12,152 11,955 11,474 9,983 8,428

Education and health services................................................. 5,773 5,730 5,792 6,207 6,382 6,440 6,499 6,156

Educational services............................................... 708 825 756 826 879 915 934 888

Health care and social assistance........................ 5,064 4,906 5,036 5,379 5,503 5,524 5,565 5,268

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 9,993 9,979 10,558 10,953 11,258 11,208 9,981 8,313

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 1,579 1,609 1,633 1,643 1,581 1,648 1,471 1,246

Accommodation and food services................. 8,414 8,370 8,926 9,310 9,677 9,561 8,509 7,066

Other services....................................................................... 2,516 2,629 2,615 2,818 2,559 2,595 2,386 2,430

Government......................................................................................... 4,132 3,706 4,090 4,052 4,427 4,562 3,720 3,457

Federal................................................................................. 593 530 503 511 714 853 333 452

State and local.......................................................................... 3,536 3,176 3,586 3,541 3,711 3,709 3,387 3,007

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 9,725 10,010 10,722 10,676 10,246 10,015 9,210 8,810

South................................................................................. 22,451 21,823 23,530 24,610 25,299 24,368 20,822 18,020

Midwest................................................................................. 14,066 12,909 13,754 14,123 14,030 14,244 12,628 10,822

West................................................................................. 13,557 13,045 13,619 15,085 15,335 14,781 13,543 11,041

 1 The annual hires level is the total number of hires during the entire year.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 12. Annual hires rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total........................................................................................................... 45.9 44.5 46.9 48.2 47.7 46.1 41.1 37.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 51.1 49.9 52.4 54.0 53.0 51.0 45.9 41.7

Mining and logging...................................................40.8 45.6 48.1 48.2 45.5 47.8 47.5 30.6

Construction........................................................................ 76.0 77.7 78.0 80.2 70.2 63.1 63.7 64.3

Manufacturing................................................................ 30.7 29.3 32.7 31.9 32.5 33.2 27.4 24.5

Durable goods............................................................. 28.8 28.8 33.2 32.3 30.5 30.5 24.9 20.7

Nondurable goods...................................................... 33.7 30.0 31.8 31.1 36.0 38.0 31.5 30.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................48.0 46.8 52.1 52.7 52.5 49.6 44.1 40.1

Wholesale trade............................................................... 34.1 33.3 36.5 34.8 34.6 36.7 32.1 29.3

Retail trade....................................................................... 57.0 55.3 60.6 61.8 62.5 58.8 51.7 45.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 36.2 36.1 43.6 45.5 43.0 36.9 35.5 35.5

Information....................................................................... 32.3 29.5 31.5 34.1 37.0 32.5 27.0 27.1

Financial activities........................................................ 34.1 32.6 35.7 35.2 37.2 38.1 32.3 27.5

Finance and insurance.............................................29.6 26.7 29.8 30.7 32.3 34.1 28.2 22.1

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 46.9 49.6 52.3 47.7 51.0 49.1 43.8 43.1

Professional and business services......................... 71.1 66.5 67.3 71.7 68.1 64.0 56.3 50.8

Education and health services................................................. 35.6 34.5 34.2 35.7 35.8 35.1 34.5 32.1

Educational services............................................... 26.8 30.6 27.4 29.1 30.3 31.1 30.7 28.7

Health care and social assistance........................ 37.4 35.3 35.5 37.0 36.9 35.9 35.2 32.7

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 83.4 82.0 84.5 85.5 85.9 83.5 74.3 63.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 88.6 88.7 88.3 86.8 82.0 83.7 74.7 65.1

Accommodation and food services................. 82.5 80.8 83.9 85.2 86.5 83.5 74.2 63.2

Other services....................................................................... 46.8 48.7 48.3 52.2 47.1 47.2 43.3 45.3

Government......................................................................................... 19.2 17.2 18.9 18.6 20.1 20.5 16.5 15.3

Federal................................................................................. 21.4 19.2 18.4 18.7 26.1 31.2 12.1 16.0

State and local.......................................................................... 18.9 16.9 19.0 18.6 19.3 19.0 17.2 15.2

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 39.0 40.4 43.2 42.7 40.4 39.0 35.7 35.5

South................................................................................. 48.8 47.3 50.2 51.4 51.6 49.0 42.1 38.1

Midwest................................................................................. 45.5 42.1 44.8 45.6 45.0 45.4 40.6 36.4

West................................................................................. 47.7 45.8 46.9 50.6 50.2 47.9 44.5 38.0

 1 The annual hires rate is the number of hires during the entire year as a percent of annual average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 13. Annual total separations levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total..................................................................................................... 60,412 57,847 59,666 62,107 62,661 62,125 59,640 53,679

INDUSTRY

Total private.............................................................................. 56,498 54,027 55,654 58,234 58,467 57,882 56,111 50,112

Mining and logging...................................................258 268 262 252 255 310 332 310

Construction........................................................................ 5,182 5,104 5,138 5,485 5,232 4,972 5,303 4,930

Manufacturing................................................................ 5,474 4,893 4,674 4,637 4,762 4,873 4,543 4,277

Durable goods............................................................. 3,305 2,992 2,850 2,887 2,770 2,884 2,736 2,600

Nondurable goods...................................................... 2,170 1,901 1,821 1,751 1,988 1,989 1,808 1,677

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................12,479 12,043 12,868 13,304 13,442 12,893 12,708 11,030

Wholesale trade............................................................... 1,989 1,912 1,940 1,913 1,894 2,129 2,161 1,900

Retail trade....................................................................... 8,710 8,330 8,946 9,239 9,513 8,931 8,612 7,172

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 1,782 1,799 1,982 2,152 2,034 1,835 1,935 1,955

Information....................................................................... 1,355 1,088 1,039 1,072 1,139 997 919 928

Financial activities........................................................ 2,620 2,504 2,738 2,710 2,949 3,260 2,845 2,528

Finance and insurance.............................................1,663 1,525 1,703 1,737 1,864 2,177 1,849 1,545

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 957 980 1,037 976 1,081 1,082 997 984

Professional and business services.........................11,562 10,356 10,624 11,467 11,424 11,187 10,784 9,146

Education and health services................................................. 5,316 5,408 5,402 5,769 5,908 5,913 6,035 5,850

Educational services............................................... 621 774 693 753 835 852 840 855

Health care and social assistance........................ 4,697 4,636 4,710 5,017 5,074 5,060 5,196 4,994

Leisure and hospitality............................................................... 9,790 9,738 10,278 10,712 10,861 10,940 10,208 8,568

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 1,525 1,577 1,643 1,587 1,497 1,602 1,496 1,319

Accommodation and food services................. 8,265 8,161 8,637 9,124 9,364 9,338 8,711 7,249

Other services......................................................................... 2,460 2,625 2,634 2,818 2,498 2,537 2,438 2,549

Government.................................................................................... 3,913 3,823 4,013 3,873 4,195 4,243 3,528 3,564

Federal................................................................................. 559 574 549 507 715 819 329 391

State and local......................................................................... 3,355 3,249 3,464 3,365 3,478 3,426 3,199 3,174

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 10,008 9,700 10,276 10,199 9,861 9,536 9,800 9,370

South................................................................................. 22,362 22,112 22,388 23,524 24,353 23,858 22,092 19,641

Midwest................................................................................. 14,199 13,094 13,520 14,079 13,967 13,869 13,161 11,931

West................................................................................. 13,841 12,942 13,481 14,306 14,480 14,863 14,589 12,741

 1 The annual total separations level is the total number of total separations during the entire year.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 14. Annual total separations rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total..................................................................................................... 46.3 44.5 45.4 46.5 46.0 45.1 43.6 41.0

INDUSTRY

Total private.............................................................................. 51.9 49.8 50.7 52.0 51.2 50.2 49.1 46.2

Mining and logging...................................................44.3 46.9 44.3 40.1 37.3 42.8 43.3 44.3

Construction........................................................................ 77.2 75.8 73.7 74.8 68.0 65.2 74.0 81.7

Manufacturing................................................................ 35.9 33.7 32.7 32.6 33.6 35.1 33.9 36.0

Durable goods............................................................. 34.8 33.4 31.9 32.2 30.8 32.7 32.3 35.6

Nondurable goods...................................................... 37.6 34.3 33.8 33.2 38.4 39.2 36.6 36.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................48.9 47.6 50.4 51.3 51.2 48.4 48.3 44.2

Wholesale trade............................................................... 35.2 34.1 34.3 33.2 32.1 35.4 36.4 33.8

Retail trade....................................................................... 58.0 55.8 59.4 60.5 62.0 57.5 56.4 49.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 37.0 37.8 41.2 43.8 40.5 36.0 38.2 40.8

Information....................................................................... 39.9 34.1 33.3 35.0 37.5 32.9 30.8 33.1

Financial activities........................................................ 33.4 31.4 34.1 33.2 35.4 39.3 34.9 32.6

Finance and insurance.............................................28.6 25.8 28.6 28.9 30.3 35.5 30.7 26.8

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 47.1 47.6 49.7 45.7 49.8 49.9 46.8 49.3

Professional and business services......................... 72.4 64.8 64.8 67.6 65.0 62.4 60.8 55.2

Education and health services................................................. 32.8 32.6 31.9 33.2 33.1 32.3 32.0 30.5

Educational services............................................... 23.5 28.7 25.1 26.6 28.8 29.0 27.6 27.7

Health care and social assistance........................ 34.6 33.4 33.2 34.5 34.0 32.9 32.9 31.0

Leisure and hospitality............................................................... 81.7 80.0 82.3 83.6 82.8 81.5 76.0 65.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 85.5 87.0 88.8 83.9 77.6 81.4 75.9 68.9

Accommodation and food services................. 81.0 78.8 81.2 83.5 83.7 81.5 76.0 64.8

Other services......................................................................... 45.8 48.6 48.7 52.2 45.9 46.2 44.2 47.5

Government.................................................................................... 18.2 17.7 18.6 17.8 19.1 19.1 15.7 15.8

Federal................................................................................. 20.2 20.8 20.1 18.6 26.2 30.0 11.9 13.9

State and local......................................................................... 17.9 17.3 18.3 17.6 18.1 17.6 16.2 16.1

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 40.1 39.2 41.4 40.8 38.9 37.1 38.0 37.7

South................................................................................. 48.6 47.9 47.7 49.1 49.7 48.0 44.7 41.5

Midwest................................................................................. 45.9 42.7 44.0 45.5 44.8 44.2 42.3 40.1

West................................................................................. 48.7 45.5 46.5 48.0 47.4 48.1 47.9 43.9

 1 The annual total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire year as a percent of annual average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 15. Annual quits levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total..................................................................................................... 32,375 29,351 31,852 34,964 36,327 35,108 31,074 21,964

INDUSTRY

Total private.............................................................................. 30,472 27,593 30,011 33,116 34,246 33,094 29,374 20,689

Mining and logging...................................................110 98 113 121 141 184 184 90

Construction........................................................................ 1,848 1,776 1,962 2,362 2,245 1,901 1,623 906

Manufacturing................................................................ 2,290 2,104 2,327 2,363 2,509 2,513 1,938 1,064

Durable goods............................................................. 1,324 1,274 1,400 1,427 1,454 1,424 1,068 519

Nondurable goods......................................................968 827 929 937 1,055 1,089 870 544

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................7,044 6,387 7,107 7,866 8,159 7,650 6,858 4,911

Wholesale trade............................................................... 1,014 929 964 1,033 1,055 1,177 1,004 551

Retail trade....................................................................... 5,176 4,699 5,323 5,850 5,996 5,550 4,897 3,615

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 856 762 822 983 1,111 927 956 744

Information....................................................................... 720 592 571 700 794 579 469 409

Financial activities........................................................ 1,422 1,407 1,609 1,563 1,766 1,899 1,492 918

Finance and insurance.............................................905 870 1,009 1,044 1,175 1,399 1,019 593

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 516 538 603 520 593 499 475 325

Professional and business services......................... 5,963 4,667 5,050 5,588 5,988 5,795 5,186 3,398

Education and health services................................................. 3,286 3,243 3,361 3,701 3,799 3,731 3,538 3,057

Educational services............................................... 326 364 355 400 443 414 395 328

Health care and social assistance........................ 2,961 2,880 3,004 3,298 3,355 3,318 3,144 2,729

Leisure and hospitality............................................................... 6,330 5,920 6,287 7,111 7,483 7,440 6,730 4,808

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 681 567 543 657 619 633 557 421

Accommodation and food services................. 5,646 5,353 5,744 6,456 6,864 6,807 6,171 4,386

Other services......................................................................... 1,460 1,403 1,623 1,739 1,361 1,403 1,360 1,128

Government.................................................................................... 1,903 1,758 1,842 1,850 2,082 2,012 1,701 1,278

Federal................................................................................. 267 254 204 195 324 284 105 65

State and local......................................................................... 1,635 1,500 1,637 1,655 1,759 1,730 1,597 1,214

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 4,905 4,272 4,668 5,225 5,316 4,708 4,622 3,294

South................................................................................. 12,435 11,902 12,842 14,052 15,116 14,475 12,426 8,645

Midwest................................................................................. 7,592 6,615 7,061 7,528 7,758 7,554 6,893 4,928

West................................................................................. 7,444 6,560 7,280 8,160 8,141 8,370 7,131 5,100

 1 The annual quits level is the total number of quits during the entire year.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 16. Annual quits rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total..................................................................................................... 24.8 22.6 24.2 26.2 26.7 25.5 22.7 16.8

INDUSTRY

Total private.............................................................................. 28.0 25.5 27.3 29.6 30.0 28.7 25.7 19.1

Mining and logging...................................................18.9 17.1 19.1 19.3 20.6 25.4 24.0 12.9

Construction........................................................................ 27.5 26.4 28.1 32.2 29.2 24.9 22.7 15.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 15.0 14.5 16.3 16.6 17.7 18.1 14.5 9.0

Durable goods............................................................. 14.0 14.2 15.7 15.9 16.2 16.2 12.6 7.1

Nondurable goods...................................................... 16.8 14.9 17.2 17.8 20.4 21.5 17.6 11.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................27.6 25.3 27.8 30.3 31.1 28.7 26.1 19.7

Wholesale trade............................................................... 17.9 16.6 17.0 17.9 17.9 19.6 16.9 9.8

Retail trade....................................................................... 34.4 31.5 35.3 38.3 39.1 35.8 32.0 24.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 17.8 16.0 17.1 20.0 22.1 18.2 18.9 15.5

Information....................................................................... 21.2 18.6 18.3 22.9 26.1 19.1 15.7 14.6

Financial activities........................................................ 18.1 17.6 20.0 19.2 21.2 22.9 18.3 11.8

Finance and insurance.............................................15.6 14.7 17.0 17.3 19.1 22.8 16.9 10.3

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 25.4 26.2 28.9 24.4 27.3 23.0 22.3 16.3

Professional and business services......................... 37.3 29.2 30.8 33.0 34.1 32.3 29.2 20.5

Education and health services................................................. 20.3 19.6 19.8 21.3 21.3 20.4 18.8 15.9

Educational services............................................... 12.3 13.5 12.9 14.1 15.3 14.1 13.0 10.6

Health care and social assistance........................ 21.8 20.7 21.2 22.7 22.5 21.6 19.9 16.9

Leisure and hospitality............................................................... 52.8 48.6 50.3 55.5 57.1 55.4 50.1 36.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 38.2 31.3 29.4 34.7 32.1 32.1 28.3 22.0

Accommodation and food services................. 55.3 51.7 54.0 59.1 61.4 59.4 53.8 39.2

Other services......................................................................... 27.2 26.0 30.0 32.2 25.0 25.5 24.7 21.0

Government.................................................................................... 8.8 8.1 8.5 8.5 9.5 9.1 7.6 5.7

Federal................................................................................. 9.7 9.2 7.5 7.1 11.9 10.4 3.8 2.3

State and local......................................................................... 8.7 8.0 8.7 8.7 9.1 8.9 8.1 6.2

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 19.6 17.3 18.8 20.9 21.0 18.3 17.9 13.3

South................................................................................. 27.0 25.8 27.4 29.3 30.8 29.1 25.1 18.3

Midwest................................................................................. 24.6 21.6 23.0 24.3 24.9 24.1 22.1 16.6

West................................................................................. 26.2 23.0 25.1 27.4 26.7 27.1 23.4 17.6

 1 The annual quits rate is the number of quits during the entire year as a percent of annual average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 17. Annual layoff and discharges levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total........................................................................................................... 23,325 23,959 23,389 22,774 21,460 22,557 24,549 27,790

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 22,124 22,666 22,011 21,476 20,094 21,197 23,368 26,154

Mining and logging...................................................106 107 83 78 74 90 119 193

Construction........................................................................ 3,118 3,145 2,945 2,928 2,634 2,850 3,448 3,891

Manufacturing................................................................ 2,690 2,326 1,998 1,847 1,819 1,969 2,259 2,929

Durable goods............................................................. 1,653 1,414 1,219 1,154 1,022 1,208 1,445 1,892

Nondurable goods...................................................... 1,038 914 782 693 797 761 814 1,035

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................4,536 4,783 4,809 4,641 4,174 4,283 4,890 5,185

Wholesale trade............................................................... 810 836 790 761 645 821 1,035 1,171

Retail trade....................................................................... 2,990 3,141 3,070 2,922 2,848 2,754 3,061 2,960

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 735 805 946 957 681 706 796 1,055

Information....................................................................... 534 426 390 272 259 316 378 438

Financial activities........................................................950 771 785 863 869 1,107 1,105 1,389

Finance and insurance.............................................577 421 427 474 465 607 661 784

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 374 349 358 389 406 501 448 603

Professional and business services......................... 4,637 4,924 4,907 5,080 4,585 4,749 4,997 5,115

Education and health services................................................. 1,626 1,732 1,655 1,680 1,686 1,737 2,042 2,255

Educational services............................................... 247 359 287 301 339 388 396 469

Health care and social assistance........................ 1,380 1,372 1,370 1,381 1,348 1,351 1,644 1,785

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 3,090 3,408 3,584 3,232 3,053 3,175 3,161 3,467

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 804 966 1,061 907 836 911 899 859

Accommodation and food services................. 2,286 2,442 2,522 2,328 2,218 2,263 2,262 2,607

Other services....................................................................... 841 1,042 853 855 937 915 968 1,291

Government......................................................................................... 1,202 1,292 1,380 1,298 1,365 1,360 1,179 1,634

Federal................................................................................. 143 160 162 166 190 224 111 217

State and local.......................................................................... 1,058 1,134 1,217 1,134 1,174 1,135 1,070 1,419

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 4,201 4,530 4,689 4,201 3,675 4,002 4,395 5,335

South................................................................................. 8,297 8,548 7,946 7,967 7,470 7,912 8,300 9,554

Midwest................................................................................. 5,505 5,454 5,501 5,547 5,079 5,282 5,316 6,103

West................................................................................. 5,318 5,429 5,257 5,058 5,236 5,359 6,538 6,797

 1 The annual layoffs and discharges level is the total number of layoffs and discharges during the entire year.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 18. Annual layoffs and discharges rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total........................................................................................................... 17.9 18.4 17.8 17.0 15.8 16.4 17.9 21.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 20.3 20.9 20.0 19.2 17.6 18.4 20.4 24.1

Mining and logging...................................................18.2 18.7 14.0 12.4 10.8 12.4 15.5 27.6

Construction........................................................................ 46.4 46.7 42.2 39.9 34.2 37.4 48.1 64.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 17.6 16.0 14.0 13.0 12.9 14.2 16.9 24.6

Durable goods............................................................. 17.4 15.8 13.7 12.9 11.4 13.7 17.1 25.9

Nondurable goods...................................................... 18.0 16.5 14.5 13.1 15.4 15.0 16.5 22.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................17.8 18.9 18.8 17.9 15.9 16.1 18.6 20.8

Wholesale trade............................................................... 14.3 14.9 14.0 13.2 10.9 13.6 17.4 20.8

Retail trade....................................................................... 19.9 21.1 20.4 19.1 18.6 17.7 20.0 20.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 15.2 16.9 19.7 19.5 13.6 13.9 15.7 22.0

Information....................................................................... 15.7 13.4 12.5 8.9 8.5 10.4 12.7 15.6

Financial activities........................................................ 12.1 9.7 9.8 10.6 10.4 13.3 13.6 17.9

Finance and insurance.............................................9.9 7.1 7.2 7.9 7.6 9.9 11.0 13.6

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 18.4 17.0 17.2 18.2 18.7 23.1 21.0 30.2

Professional and business services......................... 29.0 30.8 29.9 30.0 26.1 26.5 28.2 30.9

Education and health services................................................. 10.0 10.4 9.8 9.7 9.5 9.5 10.8 11.8

Educational services............................................... 9.3 13.3 10.4 10.6 11.7 13.2 13.0 15.2

Health care and social assistance........................ 10.2 9.9 9.7 9.5 9.0 8.8 10.4 11.1

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 25.8 28.0 28.7 25.2 23.3 23.6 23.5 26.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 45.1 53.3 57.4 47.9 43.4 46.3 45.6 44.9

Accommodation and food services................. 22.4 23.6 23.7 21.3 19.8 19.8 19.7 23.3

Other services....................................................................... 15.7 19.3 15.8 15.8 17.2 16.7 17.6 24.1

Government......................................................................................... 5.6 6.0 6.4 6.0 6.2 6.1 5.2 7.2

Federal................................................................................. 5.2 5.8 5.9 6.1 7.0 8.2 4.0 7.7

State and local.......................................................................... 5.6 6.0 6.4 5.9 6.1 5.8 5.4 7.2

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 16.8 18.3 18.9 16.8 14.5 15.6 17.1 21.5

South................................................................................. 18.0 18.5 16.9 16.6 15.2 15.9 16.8 20.2

Midwest................................................................................. 17.8 17.8 17.9 17.9 16.3 16.9 17.1 20.5

West................................................................................. 18.7 19.1 18.1 17.0 17.1 17.4 21.5 23.4

 1 The annual layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire year as a percent of annual average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 19. Annual other separations levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total..................................................................................................... 4,711 4,537 4,425 4,369 4,871 4,464 4,018 3,921

INDUSTRY

Total private.............................................................................. 3,901 3,766 3,634 3,646 4,125 3,592 3,370 3,273

Mining and logging................................................... 44 64 67 55 39 35 30 26

Construction........................................................................ 215 181 231 199 353 220 231 131

Manufacturing................................................................ 495 462 349 429 431 391 345 288

Durable goods............................................................. 327 305 237 309 294 251 223 190

Nondurable goods......................................................165 159 113 119 136 144 124 97

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 897 871 952 797 1,104 958 960 931

Wholesale trade............................................................... 165 147 188 116 196 132 124 182

Retail trade....................................................................... 543 492 551 469 668 623 650 597

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 191 232 214 211 242 200 186 155

Information....................................................................... 102 67 76 101 84 101 75 76

Financial activities........................................................246 326 341 287 310 256 244 221

Finance and insurance.............................................179 234 266 217 226 173 167 165

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 67 97 76 67 85 81 75 55

Professional and business services......................... 964 768 669 796 849 646 603 632

Education and health services................................................. 407 435 385 389 424 443 455 538

Educational services...............................................50 50 51 54 53 51 47 55

Health care and social assistance........................ 355 384 336 336 372 395 409 481

Leisure and hospitality............................................................... 369 410 406 365 326 323 315 295

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 37 46 38 26 42 59 40 39

Accommodation and food services................. 333 364 369 340 280 265 278 254

Other services......................................................................... 160 181 156 227 201 216 112 130

Government.................................................................................... 807 772 791 723 749 871 648 650

Federal................................................................................. 148 162 182 148 203 310 114 109

State and local......................................................................... 661 610 610 576 546 562 535 541

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 898 891 916 775 871 820 779 740

South................................................................................. 1,632 1,665 1,604 1,507 1,769 1,475 1,372 1,445

Midwest................................................................................. 1,101 1,024 955 1,000 1,129 1,034 954 900

West................................................................................. 1,079 951 948 1,088 1,105 1,134 916 839

 1 The annual other separations level is the total number of other separations during the entire year.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Table 20. Annual other separations rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total..................................................................................................... 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.6 3.2 2.9 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private.............................................................................. 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.6 3.1 2.9 3.0

Mining and logging...................................................7.5 11.2 11.3 8.8 5.7 4.8 3.9 3.7

Construction........................................................................ 3.2 2.7 3.3 2.7 4.6 2.9 3.2 2.2

Manufacturing................................................................ 3.2 3.2 2.4 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.4

Durable goods............................................................. 3.4 3.4 2.7 3.5 3.3 2.8 2.6 2.6

Nondurable goods...................................................... 2.9 2.9 2.1 2.3 2.6 2.8 2.5 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities..............................3.5 3.4 3.7 3.1 4.2 3.6 3.7 3.7

Wholesale trade............................................................... 2.9 2.6 3.3 2.0 3.3 2.2 2.1 3.2

Retail trade....................................................................... 3.6 3.3 3.7 3.1 4.4 4.0 4.3 4.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 4.0 4.9 4.4 4.3 4.8 3.9 3.7 3.2

Information....................................................................... 3.0 2.1 2.4 3.3 2.8 3.3 2.5 2.7

Financial activities........................................................3.1 4.1 4.2 3.5 3.7 3.1 3.0 2.8

Finance and insurance.............................................3.1 4.0 4.5 3.6 3.7 2.8 2.8 2.9

Real estate and rental and leasing....................... 3.3 4.7 3.6 3.1 3.9 3.7 3.5 2.8

Professional and business services......................... 6.0 4.8 4.1 4.7 4.8 3.6 3.4 3.8

Education and health services................................................. 2.5 2.6 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.8

Educational services............................................... 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.8

Health care and social assistance........................ 2.6 2.8 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.6 3.0

Leisure and hospitality............................................................... 3.1 3.4 3.2 2.8 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...................... 2.1 2.5 2.1 1.4 2.2 3.0 2.0 2.0

Accommodation and food services................. 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.1 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.3

Other services......................................................................... 3.0 3.4 2.9 4.2 3.7 3.9 2.0 2.4

Government.................................................................................... 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.3 3.4 3.9 2.9 2.9

Federal................................................................................. 5.4 5.9 6.7 5.4 7.4 11.3 4.1 3.9

State and local......................................................................... 3.5 3.2 3.2 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.7

REGION 2

Northeast................................................................................. 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.0 3.0

South................................................................................. 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.1 3.6 3.0 2.8 3.1

Midwest................................................................................. 3.6 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.6 3.3 3.1 3.0

West................................................................................. 3.8 3.3 3.3 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.0 2.9

 1 The annual other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire year as a percent of annual average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009