1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-1547

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 September 2004 - August 2007

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2005 2006 2007

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 September 2004 - August 2007

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2005 2006 2007

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: AUGUST 2007

On the last business day of August, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States, and the job

openings rate was 2.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported

today. The job openings rate was unchanged in August, while the hires rate and the total separations rate

were essentially unchanged. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires,

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

Job Openings

In August, the job openings rate remained at 2.9 percent. The rate has been 2.9 percent for 6 of the

past 7 months. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month. The

job openings rate did not change significantly in August in any industry. Regionally, the job openings rate

declined in the Northeast and West. The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in August in

accommodations and food services (4.1 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate rose in finance and insurance. The rate fell over the year in natural

resources and mining; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and information. Regionally, the job openings

rate fell over the year in the Northeast and Midwest. (See table 5.)

Hires

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

the month. In August, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. As in nearly every
2

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

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

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

 4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = preliminary.

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

p

Total ....................................................................... 4,188 4,186 4,146 4,912 4,802 4,741 4,463 4,507 4,476

Total private .................................................... 3,714 3,711 3,671 4,434 4,443 4,318 4,158 4,173 4,147

Construction ................................................. 185 167 152 369 408 377 346 384 383

Manufacturing .............................................. 330 340 323 359 359 351 368 379 381

Trade, transportation, and utilities ......... 741 684 706 1,070 924 909 1,002 987 936

Retail trade ............................................... 431 399 401 724 613 652 699 687 668

Professional and business services .......... 682 693 665 830 879 766 728 733 727

Education and health services ................... 683 717 701 478 502 507 437 414 431

Leisure and hospitality ............................ 525 547 559 834 874 875 804 837 826

Accommodations and food services .. 471 497 493 713 748 742 688 735 721

Government ................................................... 469 475 470 407 385 398 307 323 326

State and local government ........................ 422 430 421 336 293 314 242 254 256

Total ....................................................................... 3.0 2.9 2.9 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.2

Total private ................................................... 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6

Construction ................................................. 2.3 2.1 2.0 4.8 5.3 4.9 4.5 5.0 5.0

Manufacturing .............................................. 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities .......... 2.7 2.5 2.6 4.1 3.5 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.5

Retail trade ............................................... 2.7 2.5 2.5 4.7 4.0 4.2 4.6 4.5 4.3

Professional and business services .......... 3.7 3.7 3.6 4.7 4.9 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.1

Education and health services ................... 3.7 3.7 3.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.4 2.2 2.3

Leisure and hospitality ........................... 3.8 3.9 4.0 6.3 6.4 6.4 6.1 6.2 6.1

Accommodations and food services .. 4.0 4.1 4.1 6.3 6.5 6.4 6.1 6.3 6.2

Government .................................................... 2.1 2.1 2.1 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.4 1.5 1.5

State and local government ........................ 2.2 2.1 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.3

1

1

2

4

1

1

2

4

Aug.

2006

July

2007

Aug.

2007

Aug.

2006

July

2007

Aug.

2007

Aug.

2006

July

2007

Aug.

2007 p

2.1

month, the seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in August in accommodations and food services

(6.4 percent). (See table 2.)

From August 2006 to August 2007, the hires rate increased in nondurable manufacturing; finance and

insurance; and federal government. The hires rate decreased in durable manufacturing; retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and state and local government. Regionally, the hires rate fell over the

year in the South. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at 3.2 percent in August. Separations

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

rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. From August 2006 to August 2007, the total

3

3
3

separations rate increased in finance and insurance and in state and local government. Over the year, the

total separations rate decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities and in other services. Geographically, the total separations rate did not change significantly in any region. (See tables 3 and 7.)

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

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

ability to change jobs, was unchanged in August and has been 1.9 percent for 5 months in a row. None of

the industries or regions experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. As in every month

since the series began in December 2000, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in August in the

accommodations and food services industry (4.6 percent). (See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate rose in finance and insurance. The quits rate fell over the year in many

industries, including retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; educational services;

other services; and federal government. Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the Northeast

region. (See table 8.)

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

seasonally adjusted. For August, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.3 percent) and level (1.8 million) were

unchanged from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in August 2007 was highest in construction

(3.3 percent). Over the year, the other separations rate (0.2 percent) and level (319,000) were essentially

unchanged. (See tables 9 and 10.)

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

discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of total separations attributable to quits has risen and fallen over time along with total nonfarm employment levels. The

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

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

separations.

Flows in the Labor Market

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

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

food services. In the 12 months ending in August 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.1 million hires and

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

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

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

are experiencing significant over-the-year change. From August 2006 to August 2007, finance and insurance

had increases in the job openings, hires, and quits rates. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities had decreases in the job openings, hires, and quits rates; information had decreases in the job openings and quits

rates.
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For More Information

For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at http://www.

bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by

calling (202) 691-5870.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for September 2007 is scheduled to be issued on

Tuesday, November 6.

______________________________
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

(JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce

Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the

industry code, location, and ownership classification of all

establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment

characteristics resulting from the verification process are

always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data

reported for the first month of the year.

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

the 12th day of the reference month. Full-time, part-time,

permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and

there is work available for that position, 2) work could start

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside

the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time,

part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet,

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

are jobs with start dates more than 30 days in the future, jobs

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of temporary help

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time,

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more than 7 days,

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

layoffs lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges

resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of

hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total

separations are released with the January news release each year.

The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs

and discharges, other separations, and total separations are

the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate

estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the

Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average

employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This

figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly

rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are

rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates

are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates

will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data.
Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings

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

measurement for the last business day of each month. Only

jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For

the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout

each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created

by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are

flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total

reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be

created by summing the monthly estimates.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

of panels for the original data series based on the 1987 Standard

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

collected up until those points are from less than a full sample.

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting data at that time.

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,

and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current

month.

Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007,

seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using

the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough data

observations available for the standard use of moving averages

as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is

customary, the number of observations is now above the minimum

required by X-12-ARIMA to use the normal seasonal filters.

Therefore, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal

filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS

seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and

multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA

(regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the

seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the

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

the improved diagnostics, three additional industries are now

seasonally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food

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

series may be seasonally adjusted when more data are

available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of

confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or

level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will

differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true”
population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability

to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,188 4,176 4,170 4,095 4,280 4,186 4,146 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,714 3,702 3,683 3,627 3,810 3,711 3,671 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.1

Construction........................................................................ 185 152 154 157 139 167 152 2.3 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.8 2.1 2.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 330 316 350 345 344 340 323 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 741 677 669 609 676 684 706 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 431 375 389 337 409 399 401 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.1 2.6 2.5 2.5

Professional and business services......................... 682 758 735 654 763 693 665 3.7 4.1 4.0 3.5 4.1 3.7 3.6

Education and health services................................................. 683 685 706 703 711 717 701 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 525 574 512 571 568 547 559 3.8 4.1 3.7 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.0

Accommodations and food services......................... 471 506 453 500 497 497 493 4.0 4.2 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1

Government 7......................................................................................... 469 470 488 468 465 475 470 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1

State and local government.................................................................................... 422 430 439 424 424 430 421 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.1

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 746 703 675 674 732 741 681 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,599 1,658 1,670 1,648 1,635 1,612 1,678 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 851 797 779 799 805 754 766 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.3

West...................................................................................... 1,009 1,027 1,038 970 1,106 1,120 1,024 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.5 3.5 3.2

1

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

8

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

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

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

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

 

3

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

adjustment of the various series. Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 

 

4

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

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

 

5

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

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

 

6

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

 

7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 

p

 = preliminary.

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

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,912 4,815 4,832 4,982 4,741 4,802 4,741 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,434 4,416 4,423 4,503 4,335 4,443 4,318 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.7

Construction........................................................................ 369 356 330 351 358 408 377 4.8 4.6 4.3 4.6 4.7 5.3 4.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 359 318 350 356 355 359 351 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 1,070 1,006 1,028 1,044 910 924 909 4.1 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 724 691 706 715 605 613 652 4.7 4.5 4.6 4.6 3.9 4.0 4.2

Professional and business services......................... 830 881 828 935 865 879 766 4.7 4.9 4.6 5.2 4.8 4.9 4.3

Education and health services................................................. 478 497 507 507 493 502 507 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 834 867 903 873 854 874 875 6.3 6.4 6.7 6.5 6.3 6.4 6.4

Accommodations and food services......................... 713 726 811 755 736 748 742 6.3 6.3 7.0 6.5 6.4 6.5 6.4

Government 7......................................................................................... 407 404 421 409 395 385 398 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.8

State and local government.................................................................................... 336 313 333 330 312 293 314 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.6

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 729 740 759 705 684 750 756 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.9 2.9

South............................................................................................... 1,927 1,835 1,894 1,960 1,842 1,898 1,816 3.9 3.7 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.7

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,053 1,105 1,069 1,101 1,082 1,039 1,055 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.3

West...................................................................................... 1,176 1,157 1,122 1,143 1,117 1,135 1,125 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6

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

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

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

total employment. 6

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

3

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

adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

4

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

other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,463 4,741 4,524 4,544 4,543 4,507 4,476 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,158 4,417 4,227 4,233 4,234 4,173 4,147 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 346 344 360 346 363 384 383 4.5 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.7 5.0 5.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 368 400 380 396 382 379 381 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 1,002 974 975 950 974 987 936 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 699 682 678 685 688 687 668 4.6 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.3

Professional and business services......................... 728 876 805 775 728 733 727 4.1 4.9 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.1

Education and health services................................................. 437 429 414 437 473 414 431 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.2 2.3

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 804 846 861 833 850 837 826 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.1

Accommodations and food services......................... 688 702 720 715 730 735 721 6.1 6.1 6.3 6.2 6.3 6.3 6.2

Government 7......................................................................................... 307 315 311 315 310 323 326 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5

State and local government.................................................................................... 242 238 241 239 239 254 256 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 697 667 640 642 634 622 660 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,828 1,829 1,904 1,798 1,699 1,744 1,745 3.7 3.7 3.9 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 962 1,006 981 1,024 1,033 1,014 1,021 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2

West...................................................................................... 1,044 1,165 1,040 1,062 1,191 1,149 1,073 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.4 3.9 3.7 3.5

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

month. 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 6

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

3

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

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

4

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

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

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,692 2,763 2,637 2,686 2,627 2,640 2,594 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,532 2,591 2,486 2,530 2,475 2,493 2,443 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.1

Construction........................................................................ 153 131 126 124 129 176 147 2.0 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 2.3 1.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 201 216 199 216 195 186 203 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 610 608 600 606 618 572 556 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 435 428 440 445 448 427 405 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6

Professional and business services......................... 424 461 418 424 411 418 396 2.4 2.6 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2

Education and health services................................................. 295 267 274 284 271 276 275 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 553 590 592 551 595 597 590 4.2 4.4 4.4 4.1 4.4 4.4 4.3

Accommodations and food services......................... 508 539 542 503 540 552 533 4.5 4.7 4.7 4.3 4.7 4.8 4.6

Government 7......................................................................................... 158 155 153 157 152 148 150 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7

State and local government.................................................................................... 130 130 129 130 123 125 127 .7 .7 .7 .7 .6 .6 .7

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 409 352 350 331 380 314 327 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.3

South............................................................................................... 1,140 1,150 1,163 1,162 1,049 1,097 1,094 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.1 2.2 2.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 558 588 544 551 555 553 548 1.8 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7

West...................................................................................... 575 665 590 643 648 669 629 1.9 2.2 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.0

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

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

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

percent of total employment. 6

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

3

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

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

4

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

and other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,512 4,364 4,423 3.2 3.1 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,998 3,848 3,911 3.3 3.2 3.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 15 12 11 2.1 1.6 1.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 207 195 168 2.5 2.4 2.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 344 359 331 2.3 2.5 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 224 222 210 2.4 2.4 2.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 120 137 121 2.2 2.6 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 802 694 779 3.0 2.6 2.9

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 150 163 171 2.5 2.6 2.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 478 400 455 3.0 2.5 2.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 174 131 153 3.4 2.5 2.9

Information...................................................................................... 160 123 108 4.9 3.8 3.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 258 273 292 3.0 3.1 3.3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 201 212 231 3.1 3.3 3.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 56 61 62 2.5 2.6 2.7

Professional and business services........................................ 734 708 704 4.0 3.8 3.7

Education and health services................................................................. 723 728 739 4.0 3.9 3.9

Educational services................................................................ 64 71 65 2.4 2.6 2.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 658 657 675 4.2 4.1 4.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 572 592 607 4.0 4.0 4.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 58 59 76 2.6 2.5 3.3

Accommodations and food services............................... 514 533 531 4.2 4.3 4.2

Other services................................................................................. 184 164 171 3.2 2.9 3.0

Government......................................................................................... 514 516 512 2.4 2.4 2.4

Federal................................................................................................ 55 45 61 2.0 1.6 2.2

State and local.................................................................................... 458 471 452 2.5 2.5 2.4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 833 759 751 3.2 2.9 2.8

South............................................................................................... 1,656 1,643 1,738 3.3 3.2 3.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 941 810 846 2.9 2.5 2.6

West....................................................................................................... 1,081 1,152 1,089 3.4 3.6 3.4

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 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,630 5,065 5,441 4.1 3.7 3.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,976 4,655 4,787 4.3 4.0 4.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 26 25 27 3.8 3.3 3.6

Construction...................................................................................................... 397 437 412 4.9 5.5 5.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 415 393 405 2.9 2.8 2.9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 267 209 229 2.9 2.3 2.6

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 149 184 176 2.8 3.5 3.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,214 902 1,013 4.6 3.4 3.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 175 183 154 3.0 3.0 2.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 793 577 719 5.2 3.8 4.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 246 141 141 4.9 2.8 2.8

Information...................................................................................... 94 70 83 3.1 2.3 2.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 198 222 233 2.4 2.6 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 125 142 153 2.0 2.3 2.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 74 80 79 3.3 3.6 3.5

Professional and business services........................................ 945 912 841 5.3 5.1 4.6

Education and health services................................................................. 598 533 631 3.4 3.0 3.5

Educational services................................................................ 99 101 110 3.9 3.8 4.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 499 432 520 3.3 2.8 3.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 920 914 956 6.7 6.4 6.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 102 140 109 4.6 6.1 4.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 818 774 847 7.0 6.5 7.1

Other services................................................................................. 167 247 186 3.1 4.4 3.4

Government......................................................................................... 654 410 654 3.1 2.0 3.1

Federal................................................................................................ 85 104 113 3.1 3.8 4.2

State and local.................................................................................... 569 306 541 3.1 1.7 3.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 787 843 826 3.1 3.3 3.2

South............................................................................................... 2,280 1,982 2,135 4.7 4.0 4.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,198 1,028 1,183 3.8 3.2 3.7

West....................................................................................................... 1,365 1,211 1,297 4.5 3.9 4.2

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

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

3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,699 4,709 5,666 4.2 3.4 4.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 5,236 4,279 5,166 4.5 3.7 4.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 25 25 32 3.5 3.4 4.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 416 355 477 5.2 4.5 6.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 453 390 466 3.2 2.8 3.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 269 221 275 3.0 2.5 3.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 184 169 192 3.5 3.3 3.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,214 976 1,116 4.6 3.7 4.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 184 157 186 3.1 2.6 3.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 847 669 800 5.5 4.4 5.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 182 151 130 3.7 3.0 2.6

Information...................................................................................... 104 72 88 3.4 2.3 2.8

Financial activities........................................................................... 242 206 289 2.9 2.4 3.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 159 146 208 2.6 2.3 3.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 82 60 81 3.7 2.7 3.6

Professional and business services........................................ 879 782 841 4.9 4.3 4.6

Education and health services................................................................. 587 455 580 3.3 2.5 3.2

Educational services................................................................ 93 63 106 3.6 2.4 4.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 494 392 473 3.3 2.5 3.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 1,041 848 1,060 7.5 6.0 7.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 173 76 158 7.9 3.4 7.1

Accommodations and food services............................... 868 772 902 7.5 6.5 7.5

Other services................................................................................. 276 169 218 5.1 3.0 3.9

Government......................................................................................... 463 430 500 2.2 2.1 2.4

Federal................................................................................................ 97 85 96 3.5 3.1 3.5

State and local.................................................................................... 367 346 404 2.0 1.9 2.2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 917 614 900 3.6 2.4 3.5

South............................................................................................... 2,300 1,846 2,200 4.7 3.7 4.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,215 1,050 1,282 3.9 3.3 4.0

West....................................................................................................... 1,267 1,199 1,285 4.2 3.9 4.2

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

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

3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,713 2,874 3,547 2.7 2.1 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,459 2,688 3,305 3.0 2.3 2.8

Natural resources and mining................................................... 17 15 20 2.4 2.1 2.6

Construction...................................................................................................... 209 209 207 2.6 2.6 2.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 281 210 283 2.0 1.5 2.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 164 114 169 1.8 1.3 1.9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 117 96 114 2.2 1.9 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 840 580 751 3.2 2.2 2.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 127 67 125 2.1 1.1 2.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 602 430 549 3.9 2.8 3.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 111 82 76 2.2 1.6 1.5

Information...................................................................................... 73 39 47 2.4 1.3 1.5

Financial activities........................................................................... 146 111 196 1.7 1.3 2.3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 102 85 146 1.6 1.3 2.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 44 26 50 2.0 1.1 2.2

Professional and business services........................................ 559 450 501 3.1 2.5 2.8

Education and health services................................................................. 408 302 378 2.3 1.7 2.1

Educational services................................................................ 61 42 42 2.4 1.6 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 347 261 336 2.3 1.7 2.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 767 664 817 5.6 4.7 5.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 88 51 103 4.0 2.2 4.6

Accommodations and food services............................... 680 613 713 5.9 5.1 6.0

Other services................................................................................. 157 108 105 2.9 1.9 1.9

Government......................................................................................... 254 186 242 1.2 .9 1.2

Federal................................................................................................ 46 29 37 1.7 1.1 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 208 157 205 1.1 .9 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 611 344 490 2.4 1.3 1.9

South............................................................................................... 1,533 1,203 1,459 3.1 2.4 3.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 804 581 776 2.6 1.8 2.4

West....................................................................................................... 765 746 822 2.5 2.4 2.7

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

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

3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,626 1,471 1,800 1.2 1.1 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,490 1,310 1,627 1.3 1.1 1.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 6 9 .8 .8 1.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 189 131 258 2.4 1.6 3.3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 141 160 164 1.0 1.1 1.2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 83 95 95 .9 1.1 1.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 58 65 69 1.1 1.2 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 297 327 305 1.1 1.2 1.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 51 75 52 .9 1.2 .9

Retail trade................................................................................. 194 198 207 1.3 1.3 1.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 53 54 45 1.1 1.1 .9

Information...................................................................................... 20 28 28 .6 .9 .9

Financial activities........................................................................... 76 66 75 .9 .8 .9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 43 38 49 .7 .6 .8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 33 28 26 1.5 1.3 1.2

Professional and business services........................................ 275 287 288 1.5 1.6 1.6

Education and health services................................................................. 144 111 175 .8 .6 1.0

Educational services................................................................ 29 16 59 1.1 .6 2.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 114 95 115 .8 .6 .7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 238 151 215 1.7 1.1 1.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 80 20 43 3.6 .9 1.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 158 131 172 1.4 1.1 1.4

Other services................................................................................. 105 42 110 1.9 .8 2.0

Government......................................................................................... 135 161 173 .6 .8 .8

Federal................................................................................................ 31 23 24 1.1 .9 .9

State and local.................................................................................... 105 138 149 .6 .8 .8

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 256 209 357 1.0 .8 1.4

South............................................................................................... 630 515 633 1.3 1.0 1.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 333 382 429 1.1 1.2 1.4

West....................................................................................................... 406 365 380 1.3 1.2 1.2

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

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

employment.

3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 361 365 319 0.3 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 287 281 234 .2 .2 .2

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

Construction...................................................................................................... 17 15 11 .2 .2 .1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 31 21 18 .2 .1 .1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 22 13 11 .2 .1 .1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 9 8 8 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 76 69 60 .3 .3 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 7 14 8 .1 .2 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 51 40 44 .3 .3 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 18 15 8 .4 .3 .2

Information...................................................................................... 11 6 14 .4 .2 .4

Financial activities........................................................................... 20 29 17 .2 .3 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 15 23 12 .2 .4 .2

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

Professional and business services........................................ 45 45 52 .3 .3 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 35 42 27 .2 .2 .1

Educational services................................................................ 3 5 5 .1 .2 .2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 32 37 22 .2 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 36 33 29 .3 .2 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 6 5 12 .3 .2 .5

Accommodations and food services............................... 30 28 17 .3 .2 .1

Other services................................................................................. 14 19 3 .3 .3 (

4

)

Government......................................................................................... 74 83 85 .4 .4 .4

Federal................................................................................................ 19 32 35 .7 1.2 1.3

State and local.................................................................................... 54 51 50 .3 .3 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 49 61 52 .2 .2 .2

South............................................................................................... 137 128 108 .3 .3 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 78 87 76 .2 .3 .2

West....................................................................................................... 97 88 82 .3 .3 .3

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

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

3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 

4

 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region