1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 04-645

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Thursday, April 15, 2004

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: FEBRUARY 2004

New monthly data on job openings and labor turnover were announced today by the Bureau of Labor

Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. For the first time, these data are seasonally adjusted, allowing

analysis of over-the-month change. There were 2.9 million job openings, 4.1 million hires, and 4.0 million

separations in February 2004, about the same as in January. These series include estimates of the number

and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector with breakouts by industry and

geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of February 2004, there were 2.9 million job openings in the United States, and

the job openings rate (the number of job openings on the last business day of the month divided by employment plus job openings) was 2.2 percent. Over the month, the job openings rate showed little or no change

overall and for the major industries. (See table 1.) The job openings rate has been relatively unchanged

since October 2001, ranging from 2.0 percent to 2.4 percent.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data in this release reflect the annual

revisions to JOLTS estimates that incorporate the most recent employment universe counts. Historical JOLTS estimates from December 2000 forward were subject to revision. See the note on

page 4 for more information on the JOLTS program.

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, 

 December 2000 - February 2004

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

2001 2002 2003 2004

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

December 2000 - February 2004

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

Separations

Hires

2001 2002 2003 2004
2

Total.1.......................................................... 2,786 2,868 2,907 3,991 4,106 4,064 4,081 3,968 4,019

Total private1........................................ 2,416 2,518 2,539 3,680 3,800 3,733 3,829 3,716 3,756

Construction ................................ 86 106 104 354 358 385 349 436 391

Manufacturing ............................. 182 233 224 321 349 346 404 323 349

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ...................................... 482 430 444 880 957 913 924 936 904

Professional and business

services ..................................... 471 501 481 623 708 537 606 572 581

Education and health services.... 570 549 540 435 416 439 363 389 384

Leisure and hospitality................ 305 368 387 666 715 752 750 709 721

Government ...................................... 373 350 365 315 295 333 259 258 268

Total1

........................................................... 2.1 2.2 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.1

Total private1........................................ 2.2 2.3 2.3 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.5

Construction ................................ 1.3 1.5 1.5 5.3 5.3 5.7 5.2 6.4 5.8

Manufacturing ............................. 1.2 1.6 1.5 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.7 2.3 2.4

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ...................................... 1.9 1.7 1.7 3.5 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.6

Professional and business

services ..................................... 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.9 4.4 3.3 3.8 3.5 3.6

Education and health services.... 3.3 3.2 3.1 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality................ 2.5 2.9 3.1 5.5 5.9 6.2 6.2 5.8 5.9

Government ...................................... 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. 2003 2004 2004 2003 p 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) was little changed in

February at 3.1 percent. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. The

hires rate has ranged from 3.0 percent to 3.2 percent since August 2002. The hires rate decreased in

professional and business services in February, while all other major industries showed little or no change

over the month.

The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in February 2004 and has been essentially unchanged since early 2002. (See table 3.)

Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. The major industries

showed little or no change in their total separations rates over the month.

Total separations includes 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 essentially unchanged in February at 1.7 percent and has shown little movement

since 2001. (See table 4.) Professional and business services showed an increase in the quits rate over the

month, while other major industries showed little or no change. The other two components of total

separations, layoffs and discharges (1.0 percent) and other separations (0.2 percent), are not seasonally

adjusted. (See tables 9 and 10.)
3

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

averaged 4.1 million per month and separations have averaged 3.9 million per month. (See the note on page

4 and the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) The trade, transportation, and

utilities; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality industries typically report the largest

share of hires and separations.

For More Information

For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site at 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 report on Job Openings and Labor Turnover for March 2004 is scheduled to be released on

Tuesday, May 11, 2004.
4

Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

The Bureau of Labor Statistics initiated the publication of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

(JOLTS) data with a news release in July 2002 that presented data from December 2000 through May 2002.

Since that time, data have been updated monthly on the BLS Web site. With the release of January 2004

estimates, the Bureau introduced new seasonally adjusted JOLTS data series and initiated several changes in

the publication of JOLTS estimates. Each month, the Bureau will issue a news release with seasonally

adjusted estimates and an analysis of significant over-the-month changes. The monthly JOLTS news release

will contain both the current month’s preliminary estimates and the previous month’s final estimates.

Background

JOLTS collects monthly job openings and labor turnover data from 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 data collected monthly from each cooperating establishment are employment for the pay period that

includes the 12th of the month; job openings on the last business day of the month; and hires, quits, layoffs

and discharges, and other separations for the entire month. The measure of job openings is a one-day

snapshot at the end of the month, while the hires and separations measures represent flows of workers into

and out of jobs over the course of the full calendar month.

In responding to the survey, employers are asked to report only those job openings for which: 1) a

specific position exists, 2) work could start within 30 days, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from

outside of the establishment to fill the position. Hires are any additions to the payroll, and separations are

any separations from the payroll, including quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations (retirements

or transfers to other locations). For hires and separations, firms are asked to exclude employees returning

from or going on strike; employees of temporary help agencies, leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants; and employees changing jobs within the establishment. Data on employees of temporary help

agencies, leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are reported by employers in those

industries.

Not seasonally adjusted data on job openings, hires, total separations, quits, layoffs and discharges, and

other separations levels and rates are available for the total nonfarm sector; for the total private sector and

16 private industry divisions based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS); and

government, with breakouts for the federal government and for state and local government combined. Levels

and rates also are published for four geographic regions: the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. Seasonally adjusted job openings, hires, total separations, and quits levels and rates are available for the nation, selected industry sectors, and the four geographic regions. (See the Technical Note for additional information

on seasonal adjustment methodology.)

Uses of the Data

As the monthly JOLTS time series grow longer, their value will increase in assessing, over the course of

the business cycle, the ease or difficulty that employers have in hiring workers and the extent of any mismatch

between the unused supply of available workers and the unmet demand for labor by employers. Of particular interest will be the study of the complex relationship between job openings and unemployment. While

these two measures are expected to move in opposite directions over the course of the business cycle, their

relative levels and movements will depend on the efficiency of the labor market in matching workers and

jobs.
5

Together with the job openings rate, trends in hires and separations estimates may broadly identify which

aggregate industries face the tightest labor markets. Quits rates may provide clues about workers’ views of

the labor market or their success in finding better jobs. In addition, businesses will be able to compare their

own turnover rate with the national, regional, and major industry division rates.

Hires and separations cannot completely explain net changes in payroll employment. Research shows

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 reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in payroll employment

with JOLTS hires and separations, especially over short-term periods, 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 including the 12th of the month.
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment

Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if

necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership

classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes

in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification

process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

with the data reported for the first month of the year.

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample
with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and

the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true”

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.

2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,786 2,755 2,823 2,952 3,062 2,868 2,907 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,416 2,399 2,479 2,593 2,719 2,518 2,539 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3

Construction........................................................................ 86 58 78 89 110 106 104 1.3 .9 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.5 1.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 182 183 199 221 234 233 224 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 482 484 451 513 520 430 444 1.9 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.7

Professional and business services......................... 471 467 488 499 594 501 481 2.9 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.5 3.0 2.9

Education and health services................................................. 570 499 545 551 520 549 540 3.3 2.9 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.1

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 305 348 367 364 399 368 387 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.9 3.2 2.9 3.1

Government......................................................................................... 373 364 346 358 351 350 365 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 503 488 499 526 541 476 489 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.9 1.9

South............................................................................................... 1,046 1,039 1,092 1,154 1,204 1,132 1,098 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 620 581 628 655 666 679 692 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2

West...................................................................................... 625 657 636 621 649 586 642 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.2

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

of the month. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

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

 

3

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

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

 

4

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

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

 

P

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

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

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

Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.

2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p

Total4........................................................................................................... 3,991 4,061 4,108 4,135 4,216 4,106 4,064 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,680 3,787 3,815 3,843 3,923 3,800 3,733 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.4

Construction........................................................................ 354 405 391 397 404 358 385 5.3 6.0 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.3 5.7

Manufacturing................................................................ 321 336 335 345 340 349 346 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 880 859 880 875 913 957 913 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.8 3.6

Professional and business services......................... 623 606 590 613 650 708 537 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.8 4.0 4.4 3.3

Education and health services................................................. 435 439 433 436 427 416 439 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.6

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 666 732 729 776 753 715 752 5.5 6.0 6.0 6.4 6.2 5.9 6.2

Government......................................................................................... 315 290 269 302 300 295 333 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 652 705 695 717 792 722 686 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.2 2.9 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,495 1,524 1,500 1,508 1,517 1,585 1,588 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 892 885 905 925 897 921 937 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.0

West...................................................................................... 957 973 969 924 992 883 857 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.1 3.0

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.

2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,081 3,845 3,859 3,797 4,022 3,968 4,019 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.0 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,829 3,588 3,612 3,543 3,723 3,716 3,756 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.5

Construction........................................................................ 349 408 365 372 391 436 391 5.2 6.0 5.4 5.5 5.8 6.4 5.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 404 340 332 330 343 323 349 2.7 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 924 821 854 856 968 936 904 3.6 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.6

Professional and business services......................... 606 524 523 542 575 572 581 3.8 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.6

Education and health services................................................. 363 399 377 372 330 389 384 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 750 657 725 678 723 709 721 6.2 5.4 6.0 5.6 5.9 5.8 5.9

Government......................................................................................... 259 259 257 259 269 258 268 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 670 660 615 622 687 712 676 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,557 1,468 1,465 1,438 1,518 1,505 1,469 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.3 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 897 832 859 881 901 903 935 2.9 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0

West...................................................................................... 954 878 877 858 898 896 930 3.4 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.3

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.

2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004p

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,121 2,072 2,129 2,104 2,131 2,118 2,166 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,005 1,949 1,995 1,999 2,010 2,002 2,036 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.9

Construction........................................................................ 123 151 139 158 171 148 129 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.2 1.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 161 142 162 166 178 165 165 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 494 473 482 491 534 530 499 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.0

Professional and business services......................... 318 276 266 261 256 261 310 2.0 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.9

Education and health services................................................. 223 252 230 225 212 237 227 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 456 392 515 463 462 428 450 3.8 3.2 4.2 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.7

Government......................................................................................... 114 123 135 100 119 116 126 .5 .6 .6 .5 .6 .5 .6

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 325 295 288 301 315 288 311 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2

South............................................................................................... 827 811 840 869 894 852 852 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9

Midwest......................................................................................... 468 462 464 466 465 513 463 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.5

West...................................................................................... 502 504 552 464 436 475 534 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.9

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total.................................................................. 2,714 2,700 2,811 2.1 2.1 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,384 2,374 2,482 2.2 2.2 2.3

Natural resources and mining........................... 5 7 5 .9 1.3 .9

Construction................................................... 75 85 92 1.2 1.3 1.4

Manufacturing................................................ 187 224 228 1.3 1.6 1.6

Durable goods............................................. 119 138 150 1.3 1.5 1.7

Nondurable goods....................................... 68 86 78 1.2 1.6 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 461 385 406 1.8 1.5 1.6

Wholesale trade.......................................... 84 85 75 1.5 1.5 1.3

Retail trade................................................ 281 235 259 1.9 1.6 1.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 95 65 72 2.0 1.4 1.5

Information................................................... 62 69 78 1.9 2.1 2.4

Financial activities............................................ 160 165 169 2.0 2.0 2.1

Finance and insurance................................. 121 137 142 2.0 2.3 2.3

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 39 28 27 1.9 1.4 1.3

Professional and business services..................... 491 474 487 3.0 2.9 3.0

Education and health services........................... 552 534 527 3.2 3.1 3.0

Educational services.................................... 38 34 41 1.3 1.3 1.4

Health care and social assistance.................. 514 500 486 3.6 3.5 3.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 277 324 360 2.3 2.7 3.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 27 50 47 1.6 3.1 2.9

Accommodations and food services............... 249 274 313 2.4 2.7 3.0

Other services................................................ 116 107 130 2.1 2.0 2.4

Government...................................................... 330 326 329 1.5 1.5 1.5

Federal......................................................... 29 41 50 1.0 1.5 1.8

State and local.............................................. 300 285 279 1.5 1.5 1.4

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 469 420 450 1.9 1.7 1.8

South............................................................ 1,067 1,110 1,095 2.3 2.4 2.4

Midwest......................................................... 573 612 643 1.8 2.0 2.1

West............................................................ 604 558 622 2.1 2.0 2.2

1

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,307 3,491 3,340 2.6 2.7 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,090 3,234 3,109 2.9 3.0 2.9

Natural resources and mining................................................... 19 17 18 3.3 3.1 3.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 293 281 316 4.7 4.4 5.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 300 349 324 2.0 2.5 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 186 237 213 2.0 2.7 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 114 112 111 2.0 2.1 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 654 681 678 2.6 2.7 2.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 96 111 110 1.7 2.0 2.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 483 448 451 3.3 3.0 3.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................76 122 117 1.6 2.6 2.5

Information...................................................................................... 68 47 65 2.1 1.5 2.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 147 128 115 1.9 1.6 1.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 97 78 75 1.6 1.3 1.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 50 49 40 2.5 2.4 2.0

Professional and business services........................................ 578 659 494 3.7 4.2 3.1

Education and health services................................................................. 367 400 373 2.2 2.4 2.2

Educational services................................................................ 37 47 49 1.3 1.8 1.7

Health care and social assistance.................................. 330 353 324 2.4 2.5 2.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 530 530 604 4.6 4.6 5.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 60 64 80 3.7 4.0 5.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 471 466 524 4.7 4.6 5.2

Other services................................................................................. 135 143 122 2.5 2.7 2.3

Government......................................................................................... 217 257 232 1.0 1.2 1.1

Federal................................................................................................ 23 34 29 .8 1.3 1.1

State and local.................................................................................... 194 223 203 1.0 1.2 1.1

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 506 572 514 2.0 2.3 2.1

South............................................................................................... 1,307 1,409 1,409 2.9 3.1 3.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 672 743 711 2.2 2.4 2.3

West....................................................................................................... 822 766 706 2.9 2.7 2.5

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,365 4,030 3,335 2.6 3.1 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,187 3,819 3,149 3.0 3.6 2.9

Natural resources and mining................................................... 16 16 16 2.8 3.0 2.9

Construction...................................................................................................... 340 426 376 5.5 6.7 5.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 365 325 311 2.5 2.3 2.2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 233 193 176 2.6 2.2 2.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 131 132 135 2.4 2.4 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 788 1,126 767 3.2 4.5 3.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 108 121 116 1.9 2.2 2.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 569 866 533 3.9 5.8 3.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 110 140 118 2.3 3.0 2.5

Information...................................................................................... 68 56 70 2.1 1.8 2.2

Financial activities........................................................................... 135 138 142 1.7 1.7 1.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 82 87 102 1.4 1.5 1.7

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 52 51 40 2.6 2.5 2.0

Professional and business services........................................ 478 576 465 3.1 3.6 2.9

Education and health services................................................................. 304 398 328 1.8 2.4 1.9

Educational services................................................................ 23 46 29 .8 1.7 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 281 352 299 2.0 2.5 2.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 526 616 512 4.5 5.3 4.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 64 70 56 3.9 4.4 3.5

Accommodations and food services............................... 463 547 456 4.6 5.4 4.5

Other services................................................................................. 168 143 161 3.1 2.7 3.0

Government......................................................................................... 178 211 186 .8 1.0 .8

Federal................................................................................................ 29 36 34 1.0 1.3 1.2

State and local.................................................................................... 149 175 152 .8 .9 .8

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 516 689 530 2.1 2.8 2.1

South............................................................................................... 1,345 1,482 1,265 3.0 3.3 2.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 720 912 758 2.4 3.0 2.5

West....................................................................................................... 783 948 782 2.8 3.4 2.8

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,765 1,877 1,808 1.4 1.5 1.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,677 1,780 1,707 1.6 1.7 1.6

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 5 5 1.0 .9 1.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 119 113 119 1.9 1.8 1.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 138 142 140 .9 1.0 1.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 84 83 81 .9 .9 .9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 55 58 59 1.0 1.1 1.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 420 513 417 1.7 2.0 1.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 54 60 49 1.0 1.1 .9

Retail trade................................................................................. 323 406 310 2.2 2.7 2.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................42 47 59 .9 1.0 1.2

Information...................................................................................... 33 27 42 1.0 .9 1.3

Financial activities........................................................................... 84 66 90 1.1 .8 1.1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 47 46 64 .8 .8 1.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 37 20 26 1.8 1.0 1.3

Professional and business services........................................ 237 239 244 1.5 1.5 1.5

Education and health services................................................................. 189 234 192 1.1 1.4 1.1

Educational services................................................................ 11 20 16 .4 .8 .5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 178 213 176 1.3 1.5 1.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 360 347 358 3.1 3.0 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 37 18 22 2.3 1.1 1.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 324 329 336 3.2 3.3 3.3

Other services................................................................................. 93 94 99 1.7 1.8 1.9

Government......................................................................................... 88 97 101 .4 .5 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 16 11 19 .6 .4 .7

State and local.................................................................................... 72 86 81 .4 .5 .4

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 254 231 245 1.0 .9 1.0

South............................................................................................... 715 744 731 1.6 1.6 1.6

Midwest................................................................................................. 373 465 369 1.2 1.5 1.2

West....................................................................................................... 422 436 464 1.5 1.6 1.7

 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.

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,336 1,796 1,282 1.0 1.4 1.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,282 1,737 1,236 1.2 1.6 1.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 8 8 1.1 1.4 1.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 210 282 246 3.4 4.4 3.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 187 155 148 1.3 1.1 1.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 123 91 80 1.4 1.0 .9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 63 64 67 1.1 1.2 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 290 534 299 1.2 2.1 1.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 42 52 57 .8 .9 1.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 199 414 196 1.4 2.8 1.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................49 68 46 1.0 1.4 1.0

Information...................................................................................... 32 22 23 1.0 .7 .7

Financial activities........................................................................... 35 50 32 .4 .6 .4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 24 20 24 .4 .3 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 11 30 8 .5 1.5 .4

Professional and business services........................................ 212 300 187 1.4 1.9 1.2

Education and health services................................................................. 93 117 103 .6 .7 .6

Educational services................................................................ 9 21 12 .3 .8 .4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 84 96 91 .6 .7 .6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 151 231 139 1.3 2.0 1.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 26 50 33 1.6 3.1 2.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 125 181 106 1.3 1.8 1.1

Other services................................................................................. 65 36 52 1.2 .7 1.0

Government......................................................................................... 54 59 46 .2 .3 .2

Federal................................................................................................ 6 6 7 .2 .2 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 48 53 39 .3 .3 .2

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 215 390 237 .9 1.6 1.0

South............................................................................................... 521 617 434 1.1 1.4 1.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 287 361 342 .9 1.2 1.1

West....................................................................................................... 313 427 269 1.1 1.5 1.0

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 264 357 245 0.2 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 228 302 207 .2 .3 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 4 4 3 .7 .7 .6

Construction...................................................................................................... 11 30 11 .2 .5 .2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 40 28 23 .3 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 27 18 14 .3 .2 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 13 9 9 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 78 80 51 .3 .3 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 12 9 11 .2 .2 .2

Retail trade................................................................................. 47 46 27 .3 .3 .2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................19 25 13 .4 .5 .3

Information...................................................................................... 3 6 4 .1 .2 .1

Financial activities........................................................................... 17 22 20 .2 .3 .3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 12 21 14 .2 .4 .2

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

Professional and business services........................................ 29 36 35 .2 .2 .2

Education and health services................................................................. 22 47 34 .1 .3 .2

Educational services................................................................ 2 4 1 .1 .1 (

3

)

Health care and social assistance.................................. 19 43 33 .1 .3 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 15 38 15 .1 .3 .1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 1 1 1 (

3

) .1 .1

Accommodations and food services............................... 14 37 14 .1 .4 .1

Other services................................................................................. 10 12 10 .2 .2 .2

Government......................................................................................... 36 55 39 .2 .3 .2

Federal................................................................................................ 7 18 7 .2 .7 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 29 36 32 .2 .2 .2

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 47 67 48 .2 .3 .2

South............................................................................................... 110 120 100 .2 .3 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 59 86 48 .2 .3 .2

West....................................................................................................... 48 84 50 .2 .3 .2

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

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

 

3

 Data round to zero.

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates