1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-1943

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 October 2003 - September 2006

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2004 2005 2006

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 October 2003 - September 2006

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2004 2005 2006

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: SEPTEMBER 2006

The job openings and total separations rates were unchanged in September, while the hires rate was

essentially unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This

release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm

sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of September 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States and

the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month and has been

little changed since November 2005. In September, the job openings rate did not change significantly in any

industry or region. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rate in September 2006

were education and health services (3.8 percent), leisure and hospitality (3.8 percent), and professional and

business services (3.7 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate rose in several of the private sector industries, in state and local

government, and in the Northeast region. The job openings rate did not decline significantly over the year

in any industry or region. (See table 5.)

Hires

The hires rate was little changed at 3.5 percent in September. Hires are any additions to the payroll

during the month. In September, the hires rate did not rise significantly in any industry but fell in trade,

transportation, and utilities and in government. Geographically, the hires rate did not change significantly
2

in any region over the month. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in September in the leisure and

hospitality industry (6.2 percent). (See table 2.)

From September 2005 to September 2006, the hires rate increased in mining and in finance and

insurance but decreased in construction; arts, entertainment, and recreation; federal government; and the

Northeast region. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent in September. Separations are

terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In September, the total separations rate

did not increase significantly in any industry but did decrease in education and health services. Geographically, the separations rate did not change significantly in any region over the month. (See table 3.)

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

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

ability to change jobs, edged down to 1.8 percent in September. Over the month, the quits rate did not

rise significantly in any industry or region but declined in leisure and hospitality and in the South region. In

September, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (3.6 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.)

Total 1........................................................... 4,831 4,684 4,798 4,386 4,339

 Total private 1....................................... 3,285 4,418 4,396 4,349 4,503 4,083

Construction ..................................... 152 162 436 351 328 423 348 312

Manufacturing ................................. 285 310 346 353 316 437 364 387

Trade, transportation, and .............

 utilities ............................................ 629 686 690 983 1,070 966 1,000 997 975

Professional and business

 services ........................................... 671 661 663 904 860 959 856 705 762

Education and health services ...... 630 678 699 468 482 475 433 460 407

Leisure and hospitality ................... 431 501 515 836 794 807 871 801 764

 Government ........................................... 443 464 480 314 409 324 302 304 291

Total 1.......................................................... 2.7 2.9 2.9 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.2 3.2

 Total private 1........................................ 2.8 3.1 3.0 3.9 3.9 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.6

Construction..................................... 2.0 2.1 1.9 6.0 4.7 4.4 5.8 4.6 4.1

Manufacturing ................................. 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.2 3.1 2.6 2.7

Trade, transportation, and

 utilities ............................................ 2.4 2.6 2.6 3.8 4.1 3.7 3.9 3.8 3.7

Professional and business

 services ........................................... 3.8 3.7 3.7 5.3 4.9 5.5 5.0 4.1 4.4

Education and health services ...... 3.5 3.7 3.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.6 2.3

Leisure and hospitality ................... 3.3 3.7 3.8 6.5 6.1 6.2 6.8 6.1 5.8

 Government ........................................... 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.4 1.9 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 p 2005 2006 2006 p

2005 2006 2006 p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2006

3,728 4,748

3,604

4,061

4,054

144

300

3,570

4,053
3

Over the year, the quits rate fell in many industries and in three of the four regions—the Midwest, South,

and West. The quits rate rose significantly over the year in only one industry: real estate and rental and

leasing. (See table 8.)

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

seasonally adjusted. From September 2005 to September 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 1.3

percent. For September 2006, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest layoffs and

discharges rate (12.5 percent). From September 2005 to September 2006, the other separations rate was

little changed at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)

Flows in the Labor Market

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

September 2006, hires have averaged 4.9 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per

month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.8 million

hires and 4.6 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

For More Information

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

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

by calling (202) 691-5870.

______________________________

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for October 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,

December 12, 2006.
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce

Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the

industry code, location, and ownership classification of all

establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment

characteristics resulting from the verification process are

always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data

reported for the first month of the year.

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of

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

separations are released with the January news release each year.

The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs

and discharges, other separations, and total separations are

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

estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the

Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average

employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This

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

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

rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates

are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates

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

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

measurement for the last business day of each month. Only

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

the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout

each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created

by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are

flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total

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

created by summing the monthly estimates.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,

and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

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 levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 3,728 4,070 3,945 3,960 3,844 4,061 4,053 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,285 3,603 3,496 3,476 3,363 3,604 3,570 2.8 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.0

Construction........................................................................ 152 138 119 161 148 162 144 2.0 1.8 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.1 1.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 285 323 311 301 305 310 300 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 629 672 687 640 605 686 690 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.6

Professional and business services......................... 671 748 693 616 651 661 663 3.8 4.2 3.9 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.7

Education and health services................................................. 630 674 651 659 643 678 699 3.5 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.8

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 431 485 496 487 482 501 515 3.3 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.8

Government......................................................................................... 443 467 452 467 478 464 480 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 661 672 670 699 699 747 773 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.9

South............................................................................................... 1,451 1,600 1,591 1,507 1,498 1,548 1,543 2.9 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 760 770 787 777 739 809 790 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.4

West...................................................................................... 890 1,022 918 935 911 955 972 2.9 3.3 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1

 

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

 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.

 

5

 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, 

Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia;

Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin;

West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

 

p = preliminary.

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 2. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................ 4,748 4,649 4,949 4,899 4,995 4,831 4,684 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private 4......................................................................................... 4,418 4,301 4,573 4,508 4,741 4,396 4,349 3.9 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.2 3.9 3.8

Construction........................................................................ 436 376 374 366 365 351 328 6.0 5.0 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 346 328 385 378 380 353 316 2.4 2.3 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 983 1,029 1,018 1,099 1,045 1,070 966 3.8 4.0 3.9 4.2 4.0 4.1 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 904 858 1,006 905 967 860 959 5.3 5.0 5.8 5.2 5.6 4.9 5.5

Education and health services................................................. 468 481 549 465 521 482 475 2.7 2.7 3.1 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.7

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 836 775 811 846 850 794 807 6.5 6.0 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.1 6.2

Government......................................................................................... 314 361 379 392 338 409 324 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.5 1.9 1.5

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 796 849 852 729 841 738 697 3.2 3.3 3.3 2.9 3.3 2.9 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,842 1,777 1,849 1,877 1,849 1,907 1,946 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.9 4.0

Midwest......................................................................................... 965 965 1,133 1,072 1,123 1,008 965 3.1 3.1 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.2 3.1

West...................................................................................... 1,139 1,152 1,114 1,207 1,177 1,160 1,104 3.8 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.7

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

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

 

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

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

 5 See footnote 5, table 1. 

 

 p = preliminary.

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)
Table 3. Total separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,798 4,495 4,811 4,631 4,479 4,386 4,339 3.6 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,503 4,203 4,488 4,299 4,168 4,083 4,054 4.0 3.7 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 423 373 478 324 415 348 312 5.8 5.0 6.4 4.3 5.5 4.6 4.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 437 346 381 370 358 364 387 3.1 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,000 1,022 1,046 1,082 935 997 975 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.2 3.6 3.8 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 856 790 833 755 735 705 762 5.0 4.6 4.8 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.4

Education and health services................................................. 433 437 487 424 431 460 407 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.3

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 871 770 799 802 818 801 764 6.8 5.9 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.1 5.8

Government......................................................................................... 302 302 324 315 306 304 291 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 797 711 779 724 763 695 760 3.2 2.8 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.7 3.0

South............................................................................................... 1,779 1,710 1,828 1,858 1,687 1,703 1,634 3.7 3.5 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.4

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,065 992 1,045 871 1,087 942 896 3.4 3.2 3.3 2.8 3.4 3.0 2.8

West...................................................................................... 1,127 1,116 1,136 1,137 979 1,070 1,046 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.6 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 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.

 5 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Level 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 4. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,681 2,541 2,723 2,699 2,623 2,597 2,401 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,529 2,383 2,565 2,554 2,469 2,442 2,260 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.0

Construction........................................................................ 210 167 207 154 157 143 123 2.9 2.2 2.8 2.0 2.1 1.9 1.6

Manufacturing................................................................ 213 175 202 190 189 194 181 1.5 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 566 613 622 615 586 604 582 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 448 409 434 386 412 388 393 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.3

Education and health services................................................. 283 253 276 290 277 300 272 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.5

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 557 535 533 622 549 542 476 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.8 4.2 4.1 3.6

Government......................................................................................... 154 159 159 146 156 153 146 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7

Northeast......................................................................... 361 370 370 358 378 404 378 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5

South............................................................................................... 1,125 1,026 1,152 1,153 1,081 1,095 983 2.4 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.0

Midwest......................................................................................... 574 575 581 552 562 551 511 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6

West...................................................................................... 627 593 612 631 598 553 543 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0 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 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.

 5 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,897 4,396 4,235 2.8 3.1 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,465 3,890 3,765 3.0 3.3 3.2

Natural resources and mining...................................................17 16 23 2.5 2.3 3.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 153 180 143 2.0 2.2 1.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 294 336 309 2.0 2.3 2.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 196 218 198 2.1 2.4 2.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 99 117 110 1.8 2.2 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 708 764 780 2.7 2.8 2.9

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 119 146 165 2.0 2.4 2.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 461 453 465 2.9 2.9 3.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 128 165 150 2.5 3.2 2.9

Information...................................................................................... 112 153 166 3.5 4.7 5.2

Financial activities........................................................................... 257 253 235 3.1 2.9 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 209 200 196 3.4 3.1 3.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 48 53 38 2.2 2.3 1.7

Professional and business services........................................708 726 699 4.0 4.0 3.8

Education and health services................................................................. 652 722 728 3.6 4.0 3.9

Educational services................................................................ 69 62 61 2.4 2.4 2.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 583 660 667 3.8 4.2 4.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 407 557 506 3.0 3.9 3.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 46 62 59 2.3 2.7 2.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 361 496 447 3.2 4.1 3.8

Other services................................................................................. 157 182 177 2.8 3.2 3.2

Government......................................................................................... 432 506 469 2.0 2.4 2.1

Federal................................................................................................ 48 52 38 1.7 1.9 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 384 455 432 2.0 2.4 2.2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 702 829 834 2.7 3.2 3.2

South............................................................................................... 1,491 1,631 1,581 3.0 3.3 3.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 810 905 840 2.5 2.8 2.6

West....................................................................................................... 895 1,030 979 2.9 3.3 3.1

 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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,268 5,588 5,153 3.9 4.1 3.8

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,788 4,933 4,666 4.3 4.3 4.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 15 26 30 2.3 3.7 4.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 449 351 333 6.0 4.5 4.3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 362 408 329 2.5 2.8 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 213 254 184 2.4 2.8 2.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 149 154 145 2.8 2.9 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,113 1,200 1,069 4.3 4.6 4.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 151 168 142 2.6 2.9 2.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 762 783 741 5.0 5.1 4.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 200 250 186 4.0 5.0 3.7

Information...................................................................................... 81 93 81 2.6 3.0 2.6

Financial activities........................................................................... 188 199 233 2.3 2.4 2.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 117 127 152 2.0 2.1 2.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 71 72 82 3.3 3.3 3.7

Professional and business services........................................ 929 968 989 5.4 5.5 5.6

Education and health services................................................................. 606 601 611 3.5 3.4 3.4

Educational services................................................................ 131 94 128 4.7 3.7 4.6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 475 507 483 3.3 3.4 3.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 845 891 807 6.5 6.5 6.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 147 99 71 7.4 4.5 3.6

Accommodations and food services............................... 697 792 736 6.3 6.9 6.5

Other services................................................................................. 201 196 183 3.7 3.6 3.4

Government......................................................................................... 480 655 488 2.2 3.1 2.2

Federal................................................................................................ 59 83 43 2.2 3.1 1.6

State and local.................................................................................... 420 572 444 2.2 3.2 2.3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 1,037 802 884 4.1 3.2 3.5

South............................................................................................... 1,860 2,275 1,985 3.9 4.7 4.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,117 1,201 1,082 3.6 3.8 3.4

West....................................................................................................... 1,255 1,309 1,203 4.2 4.4 4.0

 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 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,419 5,617 4,865 4.0 4.1 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 5,046 5,152 4,512 4.5 4.5 4.0

Natural resources and mining................................................... 17 23 22 2.7 3.3 3.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 463 400 336 6.1 5.1 4.3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 444 449 396 3.1 3.1 2.8

Durable goods.............................................................................. 276 265 244 3.1 2.9 2.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 168 183 153 3.2 3.5 2.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,065 1,179 1,028 4.1 4.5 4.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 135 183 135 2.3 3.1 2.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 742 810 710 4.9 5.3 4.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 188 186 183 3.8 3.8 3.6

Information...................................................................................... 97 102 83 3.2 3.3 2.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 184 243 202 2.3 2.9 2.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 113 160 122 1.9 2.6 2.0

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 71 83 80 3.3 3.7 3.7

Professional and business services........................................ 884 896 783 5.2 5.1 4.5

Education and health services................................................................. 475 588 446 2.7 3.4 2.5

Educational services................................................................ 85 97 60 3.0 3.8 2.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 390 491 386 2.7 3.3 2.6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 1,199 1,010 1,042 9.2 7.4 7.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 313 152 314 15.8 6.9 15.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 886 858 728 8.0 7.4 6.4

Other services................................................................................. 217 263 174 4.0 4.8 3.2

Government......................................................................................... 373 465 353 1.7 2.2 1.6

Federal................................................................................................ 57 88 33 2.1 3.2 1.2

State and local.................................................................................... 316 377 320 1.7 2.1 1.7

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 1,000 908 959 4.0 3.6 3.8

South............................................................................................... 1,878 2,201 1,680 3.9 4.5 3.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,244 1,237 1,031 4.0 3.9 3.3

West....................................................................................................... 1,297 1,270 1,195 4.4 4.2 4.0

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

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

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,105 3,623 2,764 2.3 2.7 2.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,936 3,373 2,606 2.6 2.9 2.3

Natural resources and mining................................................... 9 16 12 1.4 2.3 1.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 233 190 141 3.1 2.4 1.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 247 274 206 1.7 1.9 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 153 161 120 1.7 1.8 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 95 113 86 1.8 2.1 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 643 814 656 2.5 3.1 2.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 85 125 86 1.5 2.1 1.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 465 573 472 3.1 3.8 3.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................93 116 98 1.9 2.3 1.9

Information...................................................................................... 68 72 61 2.2 2.3 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 107 147 124 1.3 1.8 1.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 77 103 75 1.3 1.7 1.2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 29 44 49 1.4 2.0 2.2

Professional and business services........................................ 463 553 402 2.7 3.1 2.3

Education and health services................................................................. 318 404 302 1.8 2.3 1.7

Educational services................................................................ 45 60 34 1.6 2.4 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 273 345 268 1.9 2.3 1.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 719 748 607 5.5 5.4 4.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 72 75 62 3.6 3.4 3.1

Accommodations and food services............................... 647 673 545 5.9 5.8 4.8

Other services................................................................................. 129 155 95 2.4 2.8 1.8

Government......................................................................................... 169 250 157 .8 1.2 .7

Federal................................................................................................ 23 41 20 .8 1.5 .8

State and local.................................................................................... 146 209 137 .8 1.2 .7

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 470 589 492 1.9 2.3 1.9

South............................................................................................... 1,236 1,467 1,064 2.6 3.0 2.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 675 815 588 2.2 2.6 1.9

West....................................................................................................... 722 752 620 2.4 2.5 2.1

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

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

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,967 1,644 1,779 1.5 1.2 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,817 1,504 1,624 1.6 1.3 1.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 8 3 8 1.2 .5 1.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 215 193 161 2.8 2.5 2.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 154 141 161 1.1 1.0 1.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 89 80 105 1.0 .9 1.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 65 61 56 1.2 1.2 1.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 358 289 286 1.4 1.1 1.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 30 52 39 .5 .9 .7

Retail trade................................................................................. 242 185 177 1.6 1.2 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 86 53 69 1.7 1.1 1.4

Information...................................................................................... 20 19 15 .7 .6 .5

Financial activities........................................................................... 67 77 57 .8 .9 .7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 27 43 29 .4 .7 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 41 34 29 1.9 1.5 1.3

Professional and business services........................................ 336 306 342 2.0 1.7 1.9

Education and health services................................................................. 126 148 116 .7 .9 .7

Educational services................................................................ 37 34 19 1.3 1.3 .7

Health care and social assistance..................................89 115 98 .6 .8 .7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 460 233 416 3.5 1.7 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 239 75 248 12.0 3.4 12.5

Accommodations and food services............................... 221 158 168 2.0 1.4 1.5

Other services................................................................................. 73 94 62 1.4 1.7 1.2

Government......................................................................................... 151 140 155 .7 .7 .7

Federal................................................................................................ 15 29 6 .5 1.1 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 136 111 149 .7 .6 .8

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 493 268 401 2.0 1.1 1.6

South............................................................................................... 536 612 514 1.1 1.3 1.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 464 341 367 1.5 1.1 1.2

West....................................................................................................... 474 424 498 1.6 1.4 1.7

 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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2005 2006 2006p2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 347 350 322 0.3 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 293 275 281 .3 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 1 4 3 .1 .6 .4

Construction...................................................................................................... 15 17 33 .2 .2 .4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 43 34 30 .3 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 34 24 19 .4 .3 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 8 10 11 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 63 77 86 .2 .3 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 20 7 9 .4 .1 .2

Retail trade................................................................................. 34 52 61 .2 .3 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................9 17 16 .2 .4 .3

Information...................................................................................... 9 11 7 .3 .4 .2

Financial activities........................................................................... 10 18 21 .1 .2 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 9 14 18 .2 .2 .3

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

Professional and business services........................................ 86 36 40 .5 .2 .2

Education and health services................................................................. 31 35 28 .2 .2 .2

Educational services................................................................ 3 4 7 .1 .1 .3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 28 32 21 .2 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 20 29 18 .2 .2 .1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 2 2 4 .1 .1 .2

Accommodations and food services............................... 18 27 15 .2 .2 .1

Other services................................................................................. 15 14 16 .3 .3 .3

Government......................................................................................... 54 75 40 .2 .4 .2

Federal................................................................................................ 19 18 6 .7 .7 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 35 57 34 .2 .3 .2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 37 52 66 .1 .2 .3

South............................................................................................... 105 123 101 .2 .3 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 105 81 76 .3 .3 .2

West....................................................................................................... 100 95 78 .3 .3 .3

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

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

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates