For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, October 10, 2012 USDL-12-2030

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 – AUGUST 2012

There were 3.6 million job openings on the last business day of August, essentially unchanged from 

July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.3 percent) and separations rate 

(3.3 percent) were little changed in August. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job 

openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by geographic region.

Job Openings

The number of job openings in August was 3.6 million, essentially unchanged from July. (See table 1.) 

The number of openings was little changed in all industries except accommodation and food services, 

where the number decreased. The number of openings was also little changed in all four regions in 

August. The level of total nonfarm job openings in August was up from 2.4 million at the end of the 

recession in June 2009. (Recession dates are determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.)

The number of job openings in August (not seasonally adjusted) increased over the year for total 

nonfarm and total private, and was little changed for government. Job openings increased over the year 

for nondurable goods manufacturing, wholesale trade, finance and insurance, and federal government,

but fell in mining and logging. The Northeast and South regions experienced a rise in job openings over 

the year. (See table 7.)

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

Percent

2010 2011 2012

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, September 2009 - August 2012

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Hires

Separations

Percent

2010 2011 2012

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, September 2009 - August 2012
- 2 -

Hires

In August, the hires rate was little changed at 3.3 percent. The hires rate also was little changed in all

industries and regions. (See table 2.) The number of hires in August was 4.4 million, up from 3.7 million 

at the end of the recession in June 2009.

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

nonfarm, total private, and government. The hires rate was up for finance and insurance and little 

changed in all other industries and all four regions. (See table 8.)

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

Industry Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2011 2012 2012p2011 2012 2012p2011 2012 2012p

Total .........................................................3,152 3,593 3,561 4,221 4,278 4,390 4,112 4,088 4,354

Total private 1................................................... 2,818 3,211 3,192 3,932 3,989 4,087 3,835 3,789 4,042

Construction................................................ 103 67 82 325 359 308 338 358 312

Manufacturing..........................................238 273 255 257 244 233 247 228 248

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2..................... 491 585 605 823 848 888 805 815 876

Retail trade..................................... 321 334 353 544 570 582 544 556 585

Professional and business services......................... 622 641 708 890 871 934 845 807 935

Education and health services 3.....................606 689 657 489 500 505 460 463 480

 Health care and social assistance...... 542 604 596 414 427 433 382 396 405

Leisure and hospitality .................................... 362 469 414 711 720 731 716 685 721

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 41 50 56 115 106 98 116 105 85

Accommodation and food services..........321 419 358 596 614 633 600 579 636

Government 4........................................ 334 382 369 290 288 302 276 299 312

State and local government..................................... 287 329 307 263 268 273 245 271 281

Total ...................................................... 2.3 2.6 2.6 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.3

Total private 1................................................... 2.5 2.8 2.8 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.6

Construction..........................................1.8 1.2 1.5 5.9 6.5 5.6 6.1 6.5 5.7

Manufacturing................................................ 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.0 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2........................ 1.9 2.3 2.3 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.2 3.2 3.5

Retail trade.................................... 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.7 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.8 4.0

Professional and business services......................... 3.5 3.5 3.8 5.1 4.9 5.2 4.9 4.5 5.2

Education and health services 3.....................3.0 3.3 3.1 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.4

 Health care and social assistance...... 3.1 3.4 3.4 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality .................................... 2.6 3.3 2.9 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.0 5.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2.1 2.5 2.8 6.0 5.5 5.1 6.1 5.5 4.4

Accommodation and food services..........2.7 3.5 3.0 5.2 5.2 5.4 5.2 4.9 5.4

Government 4........................................ 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4

State and local government..................................... 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.5

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

 2 Includes w holesale trade and transportation, w arehousing, and utilities, not show n separately.

 3 Includes educational services, not show n separately.

 4 Includes federal government, not show n separately.

 p Preliminary

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)
- 3 -

Separations

The total separations figure includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total 

separations is also referred to as turnover. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the 

employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave 

jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations 

include separations due to retirement, death, and disability, as well as transfers to other locations of the 

same firm.

In August, the total separations rate was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm and total private, and 

unchanged for government. (See table 3.) Over the year, the total separations rate (not seasonally 

adjusted) was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm and total private but rose for government. (See 

table 9.)

In August, the quits rate was unchanged for total nonfarm, total private, and government. (See table 4.)

The number of quits was 2.1 million in August, up from 1.8 million at the end of the recession in June 

2009.

The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in August was little changed over the year for total 

nonfarm and total private but rose for government. Quits also increased over the year in several 

industries and in the Northeast. (See table 10.)

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

total private, and government levels and for the four regions. The layoffs and discharges rate rose in 

August for total nonfarm and total private but was unchanged for government. The layoffs and 

discharges rate increased in the South in August. (See table 5.) The number of layoffs and discharges for 

total nonfarm was 1.8 million in August, down from 2.1 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.

The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, total 

private, and government over the 12 months ending in August 2012. Two industries experienced 

increases in layoffs and discharges over the year, while one reported a decrease. The number of layoffs 

and discharges was essentially unchanged over the year in all four regions. (See table 11.)

In August, there were 365,000 other separations for total nonfarm, little changed from the previous 

month but up over the year. (See tables 6 and 12.)

Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net 

employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of 

hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. 

Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even 

if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in August 2012, hires totaled 51.6

million and separations totaled 49.8 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.8 million. These 

figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for September 2012 are scheduled to be 

released on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
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, web, 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 2012 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 fulltime, 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, fulltime 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 stratified random 

sample of 16,400 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 establishment 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 outof-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

or ratio adjusted monthly to the strike-adjusted 

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 using the ratio of over-the-year CES 

employment change. 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.

 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.

Alignment procedure

JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable 

to the CES net employment change. However, definitional differences as well as sampling and nonsampling 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.

Historical changes in 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.

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; Federal Relay Service: (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.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 3,152 3,741 3,447 3,657 3,722 3,593 3,561 2.3 2.7 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,818 3,362 3,093 3,285 3,346 3,211 3,192 2.5 2.9 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8

Construction........................................................................ 103 92 69 69 68 67 82 1.8 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 238 308 259 297 296 273 255 2.0 2.5 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 491 598 562 591 588 585 605 1.9 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 321 368 338 348 348 334 353 2.1 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3

Professional and business services......................... 622 787 660 718 693 641 708 3.5 4.2 3.6 3.9 3.7 3.5 3.8

Education and health services 6........................................... 606 670 665 687 713 689 657 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.1

 Health care and social assistance... 542 605 610 629 660 604 596 3.1 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.4 3.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 362 431 419 432 460 469 414 2.6 3.1 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.3 2.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 41 57 61 52 47 50 56 2.1 2.8 3.1 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.8

Accommodation and food services......................... 321 375 358 381 413 419 358 2.7 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.0

Government 7......................................................................................... 334 378 354 372 376 382 369 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7

State and local government.................................................................................... 287 310 282 302 304 329 307 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... 552 688 679 675 664 671 662 2.2 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5

South ............................................................................................... 1,135 1,453 1,370 1,474 1,490 1,399 1,409 2.3 2.9 2.8 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.8

Midwest ......................................................................................... 714 853 666 755 777 759 760 2.3 2.7 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.4

West ...................................................................................... 750 746 732 754 792 763 731 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.4

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 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 educational services, 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.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 4,221 4,335 4,213 4,461 4,284 4,278 4,390 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,932 4,041 3,916 4,176 4,000 3,989 4,087 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.7

Construction........................................................................ 325 286 276 314 355 359 308 5.9 5.1 5.0 5.7 6.4 6.5 5.6

Manufacturing................................................................ 257 263 260 262 270 244 233 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.0 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 823 827 826 872 821 848 888 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 544 550 556 577 556 570 582 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.9

Professional and business services......................... 890 888 888 982 931 871 934 5.1 5.0 5.0 5.5 5.2 4.9 5.2

Education and health services 6........................................... 489 523 495 540 494 500 505 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.5

 Health care and social assistance... 414 442 427 466 425 427 433 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 711 795 717 715 700 720 731 5.3 5.8 5.3 5.3 5.1 5.3 5.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 115 154 123 115 108 106 98 6.0 7.9 6.4 6.0 5.7 5.5 5.1

Accommodation and food services......................... 596 640 594 600 592 614 633 5.2 5.5 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.2 5.4

Government 7......................................................................................... 290 294 297 285 284 288 302 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4

State and local government.................................................................................... 263 264 263 254 256 268 273 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... 685 711 673 696 701 675 678 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.7

South ............................................................................................... 1,617 1,677 1,676 1,781 1,691 1,674 1,721 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.6

Midwest ......................................................................................... 978 1,004 938 1,030 985 993 1,044 3.3 3.3 3.1 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.4

West ...................................................................................... 942 943 925 953 908 935 946 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.2

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

total employment. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal p Preliminary

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

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and 

other services, not shown separately.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

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.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 4,112 4,167 4,142 4,463 4,249 4,088 4,354 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,835 3,869 3,838 4,163 3,943 3,789 4,042 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 338 281 290 359 342 358 312 6.1 5.1 5.2 6.5 6.2 6.5 5.7

Manufacturing................................................................ 247 234 239 248 263 228 248 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.2 1.9 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 805 832 817 835 827 815 876 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 544 566 560 586 558 556 585 3.7 3.8 3.8 4.0 3.8 3.8 4.0

Professional and business services......................... 845 835 855 1,035 921 807 935 4.9 4.7 4.8 5.8 5.1 4.5 5.2

Education and health services 6........................................... 460 473 470 479 493 463 480 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.4

 Health care and social assistance.... 382 414 408 414 409 396 405 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 716 753 710 712 679 685 721 5.4 5.5 5.2 5.2 5.0 5.0 5.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 116 128 133 135 101 105 85 6.1 6.6 6.9 7.0 5.3 5.5 4.4

Accommodation and food services......................... 600 625 577 577 578 579 636 5.2 5.4 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9 5.4

Government 7......................................................................................... 276 299 304 300 306 299 312 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4

State and local government.................................................................................... 245 267 271 270 276 271 281 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 677 624 697 690 668 711 674 2.7 2.5 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,578 1,678 1,556 1,772 1,690 1,579 1,697 3.3 3.5 3.2 3.7 3.5 3.3 3.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 951 943 971 1,038 912 894 1,054 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.0 3.0 3.5

West...................................................................................... 906 923 918 963 979 905 929 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.4 3.1 3.2

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

month. 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

entire month as a percent of total employment. p

 Preliminary

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 

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

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

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.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 2,048 2,159 2,114 2,176 2,133 2,163 2,140 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 1,932 2,025 1,969 2,041 1,998 2,033 2,002 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8

Construction........................................................................ 69 74 70 79 86 87 70 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.3

Manufacturing................................................................ 99 112 114 117 108 107 113 .8 .9 1.0 1.0 .9 .9 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 439 472 455 440 465 482 478 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9

Retail trade................................................................................. 327 343 332 318 330 340 339 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.3

Professional and business services......................... 387 380 396 439 400 386 378 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.1

Education and health services 6........................................... 270 284 266 269 269 279 282 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4

 Health care and social assistance.... 223 253 238 239 229 248 237 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 439 471 445 448 440 432 424 3.3 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 45 47 47 52 49 47 46 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4

Accommodation and food services......................... 394 425 398 396 391 385 377 3.4 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.2

Government 7......................................................................................... 116 134 145 136 135 130 139 .5 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6

State and local government.................................................................................... 106 122 132 124 126 119 129 .6 .6 .7 .6 .7 .6 .7

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... 283 278 309 305 300 315 322 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3

South ............................................................................................... 831 908 855 899 925 945 900 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.9

Midwest ......................................................................................... 495 508 495 521 474 449 497 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.6

West ...................................................................................... 439 465 456 452 434 454 420 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.4

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

percent of total employment. 8

 See footnote 8, 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.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Layoffs and discharges 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.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 1,755 1,652 1,743 1,956 1,761 1,582 1,848 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 1,648 1,552 1,644 1,852 1,655 1,482 1,742 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.6

Construction........................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Manufacturing................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Retail trade................................................................................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Professional and business services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Education and health services 6........................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 Health care and social assistance... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Accommodation and food services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Government 7......................................................................................... 108 100 98 104 106 100 106 .5 .5 .4 .5 .5 .5 .5

State and local government.................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 327 277 334 331 298 323 275 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.1

South............................................................................................... 640 648 614 761 633 522 691 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.1 1.4

Midwest......................................................................................... 389 364 406 443 366 365 440 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.5

West...................................................................................... 400 364 388 421 464 372 442 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.3 1.5

 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

entire month. 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

the entire month as a percent of total employment. p

 Preliminary

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent – Data not available.

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

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

Table 6. Other 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.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 308 356 285 331 355 343 365 .2 .3 .2 .2 .3 .3 .3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 255 292 224 270 290 274 298 .2 .3 .2 .2 .3 .2 .3

Construction........................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Manufacturing................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Retail trade................................................................................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Professional and business services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Education and health services 6........................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 Health care and social assistance... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Accommodation and food services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Government 7......................................................................................... 53 64 61 61 65 69 67 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3

State and local government.................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

South ............................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Midwest ......................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

West ...................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

 2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

month as a percent of total employment. 8

 See footnote 8, 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. – Data not available.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 7. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,216 3,912 3,624 2.4 2.9 2.7

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,855 3,504 3,230 2.5 3.0 2.8

Mining and logging...................................................26 15 16 3.1 1.7 1.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 103 78 93 1.7 1.3 1.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 245 305 262 2.0 2.5 2.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 170 205 156 2.3 2.6 2.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 75 101 107 1.6 2.2 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 526 658 649 2.1 2.5 2.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 68 152 147 1.2 2.6 2.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 351 382 385 2.3 2.5 2.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 108 124 118 2.2 2.5 2.3

Information...................................................................................... 97 118 106 3.5 4.3 3.8

Financial activities........................................................................... 171 269 246 2.2 3.3 3.1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 126 192 197 2.1 3.2 3.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 45 77 48 2.2 3.7 2.4

Professional and business services........................................ 602 657 698 3.3 3.5 3.7

Education and health services................................................................. 604 741 645 3.0 3.6 3.1

Educational services................................................................ 69 93 66 2.3 3.0 2.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 535 648 579 3.1 3.7 3.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 396 531 435 2.8 3.6 3.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 47 49 63 2.1 2.2 2.8

Accommodation and food services............................... 349 481 372 2.9 3.8 3.0

Other services................................................................................. 85 132 80 1.6 2.4 1.5

Government......................................................................................... 360 407 394 1.7 1.9 1.9

Federal................................................................................................ 52 49 66 1.8 1.7 2.3

State and local.................................................................................... 309 359 328 1.7 2.0 1.8

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 585 727 694 2.3 2.8 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,122 1,520 1,392 2.3 3.1 2.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 761 845 809 2.5 2.7 2.6

West....................................................................................................... 748 821 730 2.5 2.7 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 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,655 4,732 4,843 3.5 3.6 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,154 4,403 4,345 3.8 3.9 3.9

Mining and logging...................................................28 32 34 3.4 3.8 4.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 319 425 295 5.5 7.4 5.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 286 282 255 2.4 2.3 2.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 153 159 149 2.1 2.1 2.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 132 123 106 2.9 2.7 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 842 872 931 3.4 3.4 3.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 132 141 150 2.4 2.5 2.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 566 569 613 3.9 3.9 4.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 145 162 168 3.0 3.3 3.4

Information...................................................................................... 67 68 77 2.5 2.6 2.9

Financial activities........................................................................... 168 192 200 2.2 2.5 2.6

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 97 125 132 1.7 2.2 2.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 71 67 68 3.6 3.4 3.4

Professional and business services........................................ 894 904 947 5.1 5.0 5.2

Education and health services................................................................. 620 584 636 3.2 2.9 3.2

Educational services................................................................ 125 98 118 4.3 3.2 3.9

Health care and social assistance.................................. 495 487 518 3.0 2.9 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 768 806 799 5.5 5.6 5.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 107 115 87 4.9 5.2 4.0

Accommodation and food services............................... 660 691 712 5.6 5.7 5.9

Other services................................................................................. 162 238 171 3.0 4.4 3.2

Government......................................................................................... 501 329 498 2.4 1.6 2.4

Federal................................................................................................ 30 19 34 1.0 .7 1.2

State and local.................................................................................... 471 310 464 2.6 1.7 2.6

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 698 809 679 2.8 3.2 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,852 1,788 1,965 3.9 3.7 4.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,066 1,035 1,157 3.6 3.4 3.8

West....................................................................................................... 1,039 1,100 1,043 3.6 3.8 3.6

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

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

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 9. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,856 4,552 5,124 3.7 3.4 3.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,434 4,162 4,645 4.0 3.7 4.1

Mining and logging...................................................25 31 36 3.1 3.6 4.1

Construction...................................................................................................... 347 377 316 6.0 6.5 5.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 287 238 297 2.4 2.0 2.5

Durable goods.............................................................................. 160 132 187 2.2 1.8 2.5

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 127 106 110 2.8 2.3 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 888 857 979 3.5 3.4 3.9

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 127 143 139 2.3 2.5 2.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 622 572 674 4.2 3.9 4.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 140 142 165 2.9 2.9 3.4

Information...................................................................................... 72 64 72 2.7 2.4 2.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 179 186 215 2.3 2.4 2.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 103 117 131 1.8 2.0 2.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 76 69 84 3.9 3.5 4.2

Professional and business services........................................ 901 882 982 5.1 4.9 5.4

Education and health services................................................................. 586 571 603 3.0 2.9 3.0

Educational services................................................................ 118 109 114 4.0 3.6 3.8

Health care and social assistance.................................. 468 462 489 2.8 2.7 2.9

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 900 744 895 6.4 5.2 6.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 175 92 130 8.1 4.1 6.0

Accommodation and food services............................... 725 653 765 6.1 5.4 6.3

Other services................................................................................. 248 213 250 4.6 3.9 4.6

Government......................................................................................... 422 390 480 2.0 1.9 2.3

Federal................................................................................................ 45 30 43 1.6 1.1 1.5

State and local.................................................................................... 377 360 437 2.1 2.0 2.4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 817 788 816 3.3 3.1 3.2

South............................................................................................... 1,885 1,787 2,011 4.0 3.7 4.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,126 951 1,266 3.8 3.2 4.2

West....................................................................................................... 1,028 1,026 1,031 3.6 3.5 3.5

 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

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 10. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,672 2,518 2,794 2.0 1.9 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,484 2,360 2,568 2.2 2.1 2.3

Mining and logging...................................................17 20 24 2.1 2.3 2.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 92 115 90 1.6 2.0 1.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 138 121 160 1.2 1.0 1.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 72 62 95 1.0 .8 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 66 59 65 1.5 1.3 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 558 528 610 2.2 2.1 2.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 62 89 74 1.1 1.6 1.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 423 366 440 2.9 2.5 3.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 73 73 96 1.5 1.5 2.0

Information...................................................................................... 49 43 43 1.8 1.6 1.6

Financial activities........................................................................... 105 100 125 1.4 1.3 1.6

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 60 62 80 1.0 1.1 1.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 45 39 44 2.3 1.9 2.2

Professional and business services........................................ 476 455 458 2.7 2.5 2.5

Education and health services................................................................. 347 327 364 1.8 1.6 1.8

Educational services................................................................ 69 44 72 2.4 1.5 2.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 277 283 292 1.7 1.7 1.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 588 517 563 4.2 3.6 3.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 84 60 85 3.9 2.7 3.9

Accommodation and food services............................... 504 457 479 4.3 3.8 4.0

Other services................................................................................. 114 134 131 2.1 2.5 2.4

Government......................................................................................... 188 158 227 .9 .8 1.1

Federal................................................................................................ 16 12 15 .6 .4 .5

State and local.................................................................................... 172 146 211 1.0 .8 1.2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 372 363 429 1.5 1.4 1.7

South............................................................................................... 1,062 1,103 1,146 2.2 2.3 2.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 676 517 693 2.3 1.7 2.3

West....................................................................................................... 562 535 526 1.9 1.8 1.8

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

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

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 11. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,866 1,619 1,940 1.4 1.2 1.5

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,693 1,489 1,767 1.5 1.3 1.6

Mining and logging...................................................7 7 11 .9 .8 1.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 247 250 211 4.2 4.3 3.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 127 96 112 1.1 .8 .9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 73 59 77 1.0 .8 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 54 36 35 1.2 .8 .8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 251 246 290 1.0 1.0 1.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 40 43 54 .7 .8 .9

Retail trade................................................................................. 164 146 182 1.1 1.0 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 48 57 54 1.0 1.2 1.1

Information...................................................................................... 20 19 26 .7 .7 1.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 53 52 58 .7 .7 .7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 28 27 31 .5 .5 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 25 25 27 1.2 1.2 1.4

Professional and business services........................................ 378 356 475 2.2 2.0 2.6

Education and health services................................................................. 202 208 179 1.0 1.0 .9

Educational services................................................................ 38 59 35 1.3 2.0 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 163 149 143 1.0 .9 .8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 284 192 303 2.0 1.3 2.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 89 30 43 4.1 1.4 2.0

Accommodation and food services............................... 195 162 261 1.7 1.3 2.2

Other services................................................................................. 125 64 103 2.3 1.2 1.9

Government......................................................................................... 173 131 172 .8 .6 .8

Federal................................................................................................ 21 6 18 .7 .2 .6

State and local.................................................................................... 152 124 155 .8 .7 .9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 383 330 310 1.5 1.3 1.2

South............................................................................................... 709 546 756 1.5 1.1 1.6

Midwest................................................................................................. 372 345 429 1.2 1.1 1.4

West....................................................................................................... 402 399 445 1.4 1.4 1.5

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

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

employment.

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 12. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 318 415 390 0.2 0.3 0.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 258 313 310 .2 .3 .3

Mining and logging...................................................1 4 1 .1 .4 .1

Construction...................................................................................................... 9 12 16 .1 .2 .3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 22 21 25 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 15 11 16 .2 .1 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 7 11 9 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 79 83 79 .3 .3 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 25 11 12 .4 .2 .2

Retail trade................................................................................. 35 60 52 .2 .4 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 20 12 15 .4 .2 .3

Information...................................................................................... 3 3 3 .1 .1 .1

Financial activities........................................................................... 21 33 33 .3 .4 .4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 15 28 20 .3 .5 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 7 6 13 .3 .3 .7

Professional and business services........................................ 46 72 48 .3 .4 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 38 36 60 .2 .2 .3

Educational services................................................................ 10 6 6 .4 .2 .2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 28 30 53 .2 .2 .3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 28 36 29 .2 .3 .2

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

Accommodation and food services............................... 26 34 26 .2 .3 .2

Other services................................................................................. 9 15 16 .2 .3 .3

Government......................................................................................... 60 102 81 .3 .5 .4

Federal................................................................................................ 8 12 10 .3 .4 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 53 90 71 .3 .5 .4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 62 96 77 .2 .4 .3

South............................................................................................... 115 137 109 .2 .3 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 78 90 144 .3 .3 .5

West....................................................................................................... 64 93 61 .2 .3 .2

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

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

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates