1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-0020

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 December 2003 - November 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,

 December 2003 - November 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: NOVEMBER 2006

The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or no change in November, 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 November 2006, there were 4.2 million job openings in the United States,

and the job openings rate was 3.0 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month and has

shown little change since November 2005. In November 2006, the job openings rate fell in construction,

manufacturing, and education and health services; the rate did not rise significantly in any industry. Geographically, the job openings rate increased in the West region and fell in the South region over the month.

The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in November for the following industries: leisure and

hospitality (4.5 percent), professional and business services (4.3 percent), and education and health services

(3.8 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate rose in information; health care and social assistance; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and accommodations and food services. The rate declined over the year in

construction; retail trade; and finance and insurance. The job openings rate rose over the year in the

Northeast and West regions. (See table 5.)
2

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

 p = preliminary.

Hires

The hires rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent in November. Hires are any additions to the payroll during

the month. In November, the hires rate did not rise significantly in any industry or region but declined in education and health services. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in November in the leisure and

hospitality industry (6.6 percent). (See table 2.)

From November 2005 to November 2006, the hires rate rose in retail trade and in professional and business services but fell in transportation, warehousing, and utilities and in other services. The hires rate did not

rise or decline significantly in any region over the year. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in November. Separations are

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

did not increase or decrease significantly in any industry. Geographically, the separations rate rose in the

South region over the month. From November 2005 to November 2006, the total separations rate increased in real estate and rental and leasing and in professional and business services. The total separations

rate also increased in the South region. The total separations rate did not decline significantly in any industry

or region over the year. (See tables 3 and 7.)

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 p 2005 2006 2006 p

2005 2006 2006 p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

2006

Total ................................................................ 4,031 4,248 4,238 4,813 4,988 5,003 4,476 4,524 4,660

Total private ............................................... 3,604 3,790 3,795 4,498 4,615 4,646 4,205 4,246 4,367

Construction .......................................... 146 134 96 393 356 382 371 351 406

Manufacturing ....................................... 333 364 338 335 358 361 388 344 343

Trade, transportation, and utilities ..... 696 639 637 954 984 980 1,003 962 1,011

Professional and business services ... 782 805 790 907 994 1,073 753 933 1,008

Education and health services ............ 601 754 707 459 531 489 418 413 428

Leisure and hospitality ......................... 519 573 622 895 886 877 834 762 783

Government ................................................ 434 476 455 314 353 348 270 278 292

Total................................................................. 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.3 3.3 3.4

Total private ............................................... 3.1 3.2 3.2 4.0 4.1 4.1 3.7 3.7 3.8

Construction .......................................... 1.9 1.8 1.3 5.3 4.8 5.1 5.0 4.7 5.4

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

Trade, transportation, and utilities ..... 2.6 2.4 2.4 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.9

Professional and business services ... 4.4 4.4 4.3 5.3 5.7 6.1 4.4 5.3 5.8

Education and health services ............ 3.3 4.0 3.8 2.6 3.0 2.7 2.4 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality ......................... 3.9 4.2 4.5 6.9 6.7 6.6 6.5 5.8 5.9

Government ................................................ 1.9 2.1 2.0 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.2 1.3 1.3

1

1

1

1
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, rose to 2.1 percent in November. Over the month, the quits rate rose in trade,

transportation, and utilities and in professional and business services. The quits rate also rose in the South

region. In November, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry

(4.2 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate rose in finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; and

professional and business services. The quits rate also rose in the Northeast region. Over the same time

period, the quits rate fell in the other services industry. (See table 8.)

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

seasonally adjusted. The layoffs and discharges rate, at 1.2 percent, was unchanged from the prior year.

For November 2006, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest layoffs and discharges

rate (5.0 percent). From November 2005 to November 2006, the other separations rate was unchanged 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

November 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 December 2006 is scheduled to be issued on

Tuesday, February 6. The remaining release dates for 2007 are as follows:

March 13 July 10 November 6

April 10 August 8 December 11

May 8 September 11

June 12 October 10
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

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,031 3,960 3,844 4,061 4,154 4,248 4,238 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,604 3,476 3,363 3,604 3,659 3,790 3,795 3.1 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.2

Construction........................................................................ 146 161 148 162 140 134 96 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.1 1.8 1.8 1.3

Manufacturing................................................................. 333 301 305 310 307 364 338 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.5 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 696 640 605 686 736 639 637 2.6 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.4

Professional and business services......................... 782 616 651 661 728 805 790 4.4 3.4 3.6 3.7 4.0 4.4 4.3

Education and health services................................................. 601 659 643 678 691 754 707 3.3 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.7 4.0 3.8

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 519 487 482 501 520 573 622 3.9 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.8 4.2 4.5

Government......................................................................................... 434 467 478 464 492 476 455 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.0

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 704 699 699 747 824 791 807 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.1 3.0 3.0

South............................................................................................... 1,562 1,507 1,498 1,548 1,582 1,630 1,532 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 748 777 739 809 783 764 769 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4

West...................................................................................... 1,046 935 911 955 991 1,062 1,142 3.4 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.7

1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode 

of the month. Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,

3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois,

seasonal adjustment of the various series. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,

4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska,

and other services, not shown separately. Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,

5 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

p = preliminary.

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

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,813 4,899 4,995 4,831 4,803 4,988 5,003 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.7

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,498 4,508 4,741 4,396 4,395 4,615 4,646 4.0 4.0 4.2 3.9 3.9 4.1 4.1

Construction........................................................................ 393 366 365 351 338 356 382 5.3 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.5 4.8 5.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 335 378 380 353 325 358 361 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 954 1,099 1,045 1,070 968 984 980 3.7 4.2 4.0 4.1 3.7 3.8 3.8

Professional and business services......................... 907 905 967 860 988 994 1,073 5.3 5.2 5.6 4.9 5.7 5.7 6.1

Education and health services................................................. 459 465 521 482 465 531 489 2.6 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.6 3.0 2.7

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 895 846 850 794 827 886 877 6.9 6.5 6.5 6.1 6.3 6.7 6.6

Government......................................................................................... 314 392 338 409 380 353 348 1.4 1.8 1.5 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.6

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 747 729 841 738 718 731 721 3.0 2.9 3.3 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.8

South............................................................................................... 1,813 1,877 1,849 1,907 1,993 1,944 1,930 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.9 4.1 4.0 4.0

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,031 1,072 1,123 1,008 997 1,096 1,043 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.2 3.1 3.5 3.3

West...................................................................................... 1,188 1,207 1,177 1,160 1,122 1,204 1,274 4.0 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.7 4.0 4.2

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

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

 

3 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.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,476 4,631 4,479 4,386 4,380 4,524 4,660 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,205 4,299 4,168 4,083 4,050 4,246 4,367 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.8

Construction........................................................................ 371 324 415 348 332 351 406 5.0 4.3 5.5 4.6 4.4 4.7 5.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 388 370 358 364 391 344 343 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.4 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,003 1,082 935 997 1,004 962 1,011 3.9 4.2 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.9

Professional and business services......................... 753 755 735 705 781 933 1,008 4.4 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.5 5.3 5.8

Education and health services................................................. 418 424 431 460 390 413 428 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 834 802 818 801 711 762 783 6.5 6.2 6.3 6.1 5.4 5.8 5.9

Government......................................................................................... 270 315 306 304 322 278 292 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.3 1.3

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 619 724 763 695 766 763 685 2.4 2.8 3.0 2.7 3.0 3.0 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,711 1,858 1,687 1,703 1,659 1,599 1,928 3.6 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.3 4.0

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,081 871 1,087 942 904 1,028 990 3.5 2.8 3.4 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.1

West...................................................................................... 1,004 1,137 979 1,070 1,031 1,101 1,044 3.4 3.8 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.7 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.

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

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,683 2,699 2,623 2,597 2,473 2,606 2,806 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,540 2,554 2,469 2,442 2,309 2,461 2,661 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.3

Construction........................................................................ 183 154 157 143 131 135 143 2.5 2.0 2.1 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 210 190 189 194 182 195 213 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 606 615 586 604 594 571 659 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.5

Professional and business services......................... 359 386 412 388 401 425 500 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.9

Education and health services................................................. 277 290 277 300 262 278 280 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.6

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 595 622 549 542 495 544 557 4.6 4.8 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.1 4.2

Government......................................................................................... 142 146 156 153 159 143 145 .6 .7 .7 .7 .7 .6 .7

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 333 358 378 404 383 366 407 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.6

South............................................................................................... 1,102 1,153 1,081 1,095 1,029 1,047 1,149 2.3 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.4

Midwest......................................................................................... 572 552 562 551 522 605 577 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.9 1.8

West...................................................................................... 657 631 598 553 544 579 628 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.9 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 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.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,721 4,288 3,916 2.7 3.0 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,305 3,833 3,483 2.8 3.2 3.0

Natural resources and mining................................................... 14 16 14 2.1 2.2 2.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 123 119 79 1.6 1.5 1.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 290 355 296 2.0 2.4 2.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 197 221 193 2.2 2.4 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 93 134 104 1.7 2.5 2.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 655 755 596 2.4 2.8 2.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 102 130 105 1.7 2.2 1.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 426 483 366 2.6 3.1 2.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 127 143 126 2.5 2.7 2.4

Information...................................................................................... 99 137 163 3.1 4.3 5.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 276 238 231 3.3 2.8 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 221 193 181 3.5 3.0 2.8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 56 46 50 2.5 2.1 2.2

Professional and business services........................................ 738 816 760 4.1 4.4 4.1

Education and health services................................................................. 567 743 661 3.1 4.0 3.5

Educational services................................................................ 64 69 50 2.1 2.2 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 503 674 611 3.3 4.3 3.9

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 438 508 546 3.4 3.7 4.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 46 72 74 2.6 3.7 4.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 392 436 472 3.5 3.7 4.1

Other services................................................................................. 105 144 137 1.9 2.6 2.5

Government......................................................................................... 416 455 432 1.8 2.0 1.9

Federal................................................................................................ 38 41 33 1.4 1.5 1.2

State and local.................................................................................... 378 414 399 1.9 2.1 2.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 678 845 781 2.6 3.2 2.9

South............................................................................................... 1,449 1,607 1,417 2.9 3.2 2.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 662 770 678 2.1 2.4 2.1

West....................................................................................................... 931 1,066 1,040 3.0 3.4 3.3

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

Industry and region
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,359 4,991 4,531 3.2 3.6 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,105 4,654 4,257 3.6 4.1 3.7

Natural resources and mining................................................... 18 19 12 2.7 2.7 1.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 298 325 295 4.0 4.2 3.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 269 337 292 1.9 2.4 2.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 166 194 171 1.9 2.2 1.9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 103 143 121 2.0 2.7 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,126 1,137 1,152 4.3 4.3 4.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 112 140 105 1.9 2.4 1.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 810 834 903 5.2 5.5 5.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 205 162 144 4.1 3.2 2.9

Information...................................................................................... 94 73 75 3.1 2.4 2.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 197 217 201 2.4 2.6 2.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 123 141 126 2.0 2.3 2.0

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 75 76 75 3.5 3.5 3.5

Professional and business services........................................ 793 1,003 959 4.6 5.7 5.5

Education and health services................................................................. 388 538 412 2.2 3.0 2.3

Educational services................................................................ 48 72 37 1.6 2.3 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 340 466 375 2.3 3.1 2.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 741 797 731 5.9 6.1 5.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 81 80 119 4.6 4.2 6.7

Accommodations and food services............................... 660 717 612 6.1 6.4 5.5

Other services................................................................................. 180 208 128 3.4 3.8 2.4

Government......................................................................................... 254 337 274 1.1 1.5 1.2

Federal................................................................................................ 32 32 43 1.2 1.2 1.6

State and local.................................................................................... 222 305 231 1.1 1.5 1.2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 700 746 664 2.7 2.9 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,623 1,942 1,733 3.4 4.0 3.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 930 1,069 930 2.9 3.4 2.9

West....................................................................................................... 1,106 1,234 1,204 3.7 4.1 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

Industry and region
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,152 4,571 4,346 3.1 3.3 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,954 4,335 4,136 3.5 3.8 3.6

Natural resources and mining................................................... 14 15 13 2.1 2.1 1.9

Construction...................................................................................................... 401 360 442 5.3 4.7 5.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 376 361 325 2.6 2.5 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 223 205 199 2.5 2.3 2.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 153 155 126 2.9 3.0 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 934 940 939 3.5 3.6 3.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 135 135 127 2.3 2.3 2.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 638 638 679 4.1 4.2 4.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 160 168 134 3.2 3.3 2.7

Information...................................................................................... 82 77 72 2.7 2.5 2.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 142 247 199 1.7 3.0 2.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 83 149 108 1.4 2.4 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 58 98 90 2.7 4.5 4.2

Professional and business services........................................ 672 892 907 3.9 5.1 5.2

Education and health services................................................................. 344 378 353 1.9 2.1 1.9

Educational services................................................................ 36 35 36 1.2 1.2 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 308 343 317 2.1 2.3 2.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 816 904 767 6.5 6.9 5.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 124 158 126 7.0 8.4 7.1

Accommodations and food services............................... 692 745 640 6.4 6.6 5.7

Other services................................................................................. 175 162 119 3.3 3.0 2.2

Government......................................................................................... 198 237 210 .9 1.1 .9

Federal................................................................................................ 29 32 30 1.1 1.2 1.1

State and local.................................................................................... 169 205 180 .9 1.0 .9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 587 789 635 2.3 3.1 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,503 1,662 1,705 3.1 3.4 3.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,087 1,011 1,000 3.4 3.2 3.1

West....................................................................................................... 976 1,110 1,006 3.3 3.7 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 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,313 2,556 2,414 1.7 1.9 1.8

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,203 2,437 2,305 1.9 2.1 2.0

Natural resources and mining................................................... 9 8 7 1.3 1.2 .9

Construction...................................................................................................... 158 141 119 2.1 1.8 1.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 162 200 167 1.1 1.4 1.2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 105 108 99 1.2 1.2 1.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 57 91 67 1.1 1.7 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 550 567 607 2.1 2.2 2.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 48 66 71 .8 1.1 1.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 432 427 462 2.8 2.8 3.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 70 73 75 1.4 1.5 1.5

Information...................................................................................... 53 49 48 1.7 1.6 1.6

Financial activities........................................................................... 80 161 121 1.0 1.9 1.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 56 106 75 .9 1.7 1.2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 23 55 46 1.1 2.5 2.1

Professional and business services........................................ 313 402 438 1.8 2.3 2.5

Education and health services................................................................. 234 263 234 1.3 1.5 1.3

Educational services................................................................ 23 17 19 .8 .6 .6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 210 246 215 1.4 1.6 1.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 527 572 497 4.2 4.4 3.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 36 64 35 2.0 3.4 2.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 491 509 462 4.5 4.5 4.1

Other services................................................................................. 118 74 66 2.2 1.4 1.2

Government......................................................................................... 109 119 109 .5 .5 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 17 15 15 .6 .5 .5

State and local.................................................................................... 93 104 95 .5 .5 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 281 372 354 1.1 1.4 1.4

South............................................................................................... 945 1,064 988 2.0 2.2 2.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 514 581 518 1.6 1.8 1.6

West....................................................................................................... 572 538 554 1.9 1.8 1.8

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

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

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,560 1,697 1,645 1.2 1.2 1.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,499 1,611 1,572 1.3 1.4 1.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 4 4 4 .6 .6 .6

Construction...................................................................................................... 212 186 292 2.8 2.4 3.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 172 135 137 1.2 .9 1.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 86 81 89 1.0 .9 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 86 54 48 1.6 1.0 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 332 296 267 1.3 1.1 1.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 80 62 44 1.4 1.1 .8

Retail trade................................................................................. 174 167 171 1.1 1.1 1.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 79 67 52 1.6 1.3 1.0

Information...................................................................................... 23 23 18 .8 .7 .6

Financial activities........................................................................... 52 65 67 .6 .8 .8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 19 30 23 .3 .5 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 34 35 43 1.6 1.6 2.0

Professional and business services........................................ 308 432 403 1.8 2.5 2.3

Education and health services................................................................. 89 88 88 .5 .5 .5

Educational services................................................................ 11 15 12 .4 .5 .4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 78 73 76 .5 .5 .5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 267 312 254 2.1 2.4 2.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 88 93 89 5.0 4.9 5.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 179 219 166 1.7 2.0 1.5

Other services................................................................................. 40 71 43 .7 1.3 .8

Government......................................................................................... 61 86 73 .3 .4 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 7 10 8 .3 .4 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 54 76 65 .3 .4 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 263 359 216 1.0 1.4 .8

South............................................................................................... 467 475 623 1.0 1.0 1.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 496 375 413 1.6 1.2 1.3

West....................................................................................................... 335 489 393 1.1 1.6 1.3

 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

Industry and region
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 279 318 287 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 252 286 260 .2 .2 .2

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

Construction...................................................................................................... 31 33 31 .4 .4 .4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 42 26 22 .3 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 33 16 11 .4 .2 .1

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

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 51 77 65 .2 .3 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 8 7 11 .1 .1 .2

Retail trade................................................................................. 33 43 46 .2 .3 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 11 27 8 .2 .5 .2

Information...................................................................................... 5 5 6 .2 .2 .2

Financial activities........................................................................... 10 21 11 .1 .2 .1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 8 13 10 .1 .2 .2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 1 8 1 .1 .4 (

4

)

Professional and business services........................................ 51 58 66 .3 .3 .4

Education and health services................................................................. 21 28 31 .1 .2 .2

Educational services................................................................ 2 4 5 .1 .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 19 25 26 .1 .2 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 22 19 15 .2 .1 .1

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

4

) 2 2 (

4

) .1 .1

Accommodations and food services............................... 21 18 13 .2 .2 .1

Other services................................................................................. 18 17 10 .3 .3 .2

Government......................................................................................... 27 32 28 .1 .1 .1

Federal................................................................................................ 5 7 7 .2 .2 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 22 26 20 .1 .1 .1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 43 58 66 .2 .2 .3

South............................................................................................... 91 123 94 .2 .3 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 77 54 69 .2 .2 .2

West....................................................................................................... 68 83 59 .2 .3 .2

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

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

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 4 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region