1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-225

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 January 2003 - December 2005

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

2003 2004 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 January 2003 - December 2005

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2003 2004 2005

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: DECEMBER 2005

The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all essentially unchanged in December, 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 December 2005, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States,

and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate did not change significantly

in December but has generally trended upward since September 2003. In December, the job openings rate

increased in professional and business services and in the West region, but decreased in manufacturing.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in December. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to

the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate increased in the trade, transportation, and utilities

industry. At the same time, the hires rate decreased in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and in the

Northeast region.

The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at 3.1 percent in December. (See

table 3.) Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In December,

the total separations rate did not change significantly in any industry. Geographically, the total separations rate

decreased in the Midwest, while remaining essentially unchanged in all other regions.
2

Total 1........................................................... 4,641 4,507 4,435 4,315 4,133

 Total private 1..................................... 4,337 4,321 4,210 4,146 4,049

Construction ..................................... 132 161 368 389 420 355 373 331

Manufacturing ................................ 266 337 324 332 287 353 386 349

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 561 660 675 986 931 1,073 1,062 972 1,030

Professional and business

services ......................................... 699 707 813 878 770 704 833 685 625

Education and health services ..... 557 611 626 452 471 468 375 419 389

Leisure and hospitality .................. 450 480 518 834 853 746 758 778 802

Government .......................................... 396 439 435 307 321 298 274 267 253

Total 1.......................................................... 2.6 2.8 2.9 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1

Total private 1....................................... 2.7 3.0 3.1 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.4

Construction .................................... 1.8 2.2 2.0 5.2 5.3 5.7 5.0 5.1 4.5

Manufacturing ................................ 1.8 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.0 2.5 2.7 2.4

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 2.1 2.5 2.5 3.8 3.6 4.1 4.1 3.8 4.0

Professional and business

services ......................................... 4.0 4.0 4.5 5.3 4.5 4.1 5.0 4.0 3.6

Education and health services ..... 3.1 3.4 3.5 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.2 2.4 2.2

Leisure and hospitality .................. 3.4 3.6 3.9 6.6 6.7 5.8 6.0 6.1 6.2

Government .......................................... 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.2

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 2005 2005p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2005

3,507 4,639

3,495

3,927

3,856

152

312

3,624

4,050

2004

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

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

ability to change jobs, was little changed at 1.8 percent in December. (See table 4.) Over the month, the

quits rate fell in manufacturing, education and health services, and in the Midwest region.

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

seasonally adjusted. From December 2004 to December 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 1.1

percent, while the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)

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

have averaged 4.7 million per month and separations have averaged 4.4 million per month (not seasonally

adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.5 million hires and 4.2 million separations. (See the

Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

3,106
3

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 January 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,

March 14, 2006.

______________________________

With the release of January 2006 data on March 14, BLS will revise the job

openings, hires, and separations data to incorporate the annual updates to the Current

Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.

Unadjusted data since April 2004 and seasonally adjusted data since December 2000

are subject to revision. Additionally, starting with next month's release, BLS will begin

the publication of annual rates and levels for hires and separations in the January release

each year.

Revisions to the JOLTS Data
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment

Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if

necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership

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

in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification

process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

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

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and

the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 3,507 3,588 3,487 3,836 3,937 3,927 4,050 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 3,106 3,204 3,130 3,406 3,540 3,495 3,624 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.0 3.1

Construction....................................... 132 128 136 156 148 161 152 1.8 1.7 1.8 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.0

Manufacturing....................................... 266 287 266 293 320 337 312 1.8 2.0 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 561 600 620 630 611 660 675 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.5

Professional and business services......... 699 666 590 725 848 707 813 4.0 3.8 3.4 4.1 4.7 4.0 4.5

Education and health services.................. 557 607 604 606 597 611 626 3.1 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.5

Leisure and hospitality........................... 450 439 427 469 492 480 518 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.7 3.6 3.9

Government............................................. 396 388 370 420 432 439 435 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.9

REGION

Northeast............................................. 620 610 609 728 781 674 665 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.8 3.0 2.6 2.5

South................................................ 1,329 1,343 1,353 1,466 1,471 1,558 1,601 2.8 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.2 3.2

Midwest............................................. 740 764 704 754 777 720 765 2.3 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.2 2.4

West................................................... 792 832 841 895 920 971 1,056 2.7 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.2 3.5

1

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

of the month. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

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

 3

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

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

 4

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

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

 p

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

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

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

Industry and region Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 4,639 4,649 4,601 4,719 4,650 4,641 4,507 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 4,337 4,342 4,276 4,356 4,308 4,321 4,210 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.7

Construction....................................... 368 381 435 422 414 389 420 5.2 5.3 6.0 5.8 5.7 5.3 5.7

Manufacturing....................................... 324 345 344 338 436 332 287 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 3.1 2.3 2.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 986 990 998 1,001 919 931 1,073 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.5 3.6 4.1

Professional and business services......... 878 832 786 925 780 770 704 5.3 4.9 4.6 5.4 4.6 4.5 4.1

Education and health services.................. 452 453 465 460 460 471 468 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7

Leisure and hospitality........................... 834 834 771 808 840 853 746 6.6 6.5 6.0 6.3 6.6 6.7 5.8

Government............................................. 307 330 337 336 326 321 298 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4

REGION

Northeast............................................. 858 772 738 759 741 727 635 3.4 3.0 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.5

South................................................ 1,770 1,689 1,750 1,840 1,774 1,719 1,748 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.9 3.7 3.6 3.7

Midwest............................................. 1,043 1,045 970 996 1,003 1,018 1,001 3.3 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2

West................................................... 970 1,081 1,144 1,136 1,125 1,143 1,110 3.4 3.7 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.8

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

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

3

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

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 4,435 4,270 4,499 4,779 4,331 4,315 4,133 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.2 3.2 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 4,146 4,007 4,235 4,487 4,077 4,049 3,856 3.7 3.6 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.6 3.4

Construction....................................... 355 370 452 417 396 373 331 5.0 5.1 6.2 5.7 5.4 5.1 4.5

Manufacturing....................................... 353 361 369 408 339 386 349 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.9 2.4 2.7 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 1,062 948 1,019 1,039 902 972 1,030 4.1 3.7 3.9 4.0 3.5 3.8 4.0

Professional and business services......... 833 747 670 897 805 685 625 5.0 4.4 3.9 5.3 4.7 4.0 3.6

Education and health services.................. 375 391 406 430 402 419 389 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.2

Leisure and hospitality........................... 758 750 785 814 742 778 802 6.0 5.9 6.1 6.4 5.8 6.1 6.2

Government............................................. 274 257 271 295 255 267 253 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2

REGION

Northeast............................................. 773 715 734 752 683 605 628 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.4 2.5

South................................................ 1,707 1,567 1,639 1,787 1,615 1,637 1,643 3.6 3.3 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.4 3.4

Midwest............................................. 986 1,011 1,047 1,135 979 1,033 905 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.6 3.1 3.3 2.9

West................................................... 953 1,001 1,094 1,085 1,012 995 947 3.3 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.4 3.2

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

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

3

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

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Industry and region Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Dec. July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 2,495 2,474 2,605 2,778 2,578 2,587 2,470 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.9 1.9 1.8

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 2,366 2,351 2,467 2,630 2,441 2,447 2,340 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.1

Construction....................................... 162 140 222 202 203 176 185 2.3 1.9 3.1 2.8 2.8 2.4 2.5

Manufacturing....................................... 194 189 184 214 199 208 179 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 570 577 604 580 555 585 589 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.3

Professional and business services......... 415 353 374 497 354 327 354 2.5 2.1 2.2 2.9 2.1 1.9 2.1

Education and health services.................. 232 271 260 276 259 287 247 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.4

Leisure and hospitality........................... 506 525 517 563 569 567 558 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.4 4.5 4.4 4.3

Government............................................. 129 125 139 149 134 140 131 .6 .6 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6

REGION

Northeast............................................. 392 381 380 377 360 344 362 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4

South................................................ 1,021 964 1,054 1,147 1,032 1,034 1,022 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.1

Midwest............................................. 544 548 570 613 571 556 490 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.5

West................................................... 536 577 585 643 598 638 595 1.9 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.0

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

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

3

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

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 3,043 3,575 3,563 2.2 2.6 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,677 3,156 3,158 2.4 2.7 2.7

Natural resources and mining........................... 10 11 12 1.7 1.7 1.8

Construction................................................... 89 133 103 1.3 1.7 1.4

Manufacturing................................................ 220 291 262 1.5 2.0 1.8

Durable goods............................................. 140 199 174 1.5 2.2 1.9

Nondurable goods....................................... 81 92 88 1.5 1.7 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 451 611 543 1.7 2.3 2.0

Wholesale trade.......................................... 105 98 104 1.8 1.7 1.8

Retail trade................................................ 269 390 335 1.7 2.4 2.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 76 123 104 1.5 2.4 2.1

Information................................................... 87 101 101 2.7 3.1 3.1

Financial activities............................................ 198 274 286 2.4 3.2 3.3

Finance and insurance................................. 160 226 219 2.6 3.6 3.4

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 38 48 67 1.8 2.1 3.0

Professional and business services..................... 638 646 764 3.7 3.6 4.3

Education and health services........................... 526 582 584 2.9 3.2 3.2

Educational services.................................... 51 71 66 1.7 2.3 2.2

Health care and social assistance.................. 475 512 519 3.2 3.4 3.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 355 396 416 2.8 3.1 3.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 46 41 33 2.7 2.4 1.9

Accommodations and food services............... 309 355 384 2.8 3.2 3.4

Other services................................................ 103 112 85 1.9 2.0 1.5

Government...................................................... 366 419 405 1.6 1.8 1.8

Federal......................................................... 38 47 41 1.4 1.7 1.5

State and local.............................................. 328 372 364 1.7 1.9 1.8

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 527 651 535 2.0 2.5 2.0

South............................................................ 1,165 1,436 1,408 2.4 2.9 2.8

Midwest......................................................... 650 636 669 2.0 2.0 2.1

West............................................................ 702 852 951 2.4 2.8 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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 3,449 4,204 3,330 2.6 3.1 2.5

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 3,244 3,941 3,133 2.9 3.5 2.8

Natural resources and mining........................... 14 13 13 2.4 1.9 2.0

Construction................................................... 228 299 258 3.3 4.0 3.6

Manufacturing................................................ 225 271 197 1.6 1.9 1.4

Durable goods............................................. 136 167 116 1.5 1.9 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................... 89 105 81 1.7 2.0 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 810 1,093 888 3.1 4.1 3.4

Wholesale trade.......................................... 70 111 97 1.2 1.9 1.7

Retail trade................................................ 582 773 594 3.7 5.0 3.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 158 210 197 3.2 4.2 3.9

Information................................................... 43 94 64 1.4 3.0 2.0

Financial activities............................................ 138 197 133 1.7 2.4 1.6

Finance and insurance................................. 84 122 98 1.4 2.0 1.6

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 53 75 36 2.5 3.5 1.6

Professional and business services..................... 681 683 535 4.1 4.0 3.1

Education and health services........................... 332 400 342 1.9 2.3 1.9

Educational services.................................... 36 48 40 1.2 1.6 1.3

Health care and social assistance.................. 295 351 302 2.1 2.4 2.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 621 709 561 5.0 5.6 4.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 72 80 67 4.4 4.7 4.0

Accommodations and food services............... 549 629 494 5.2 5.8 4.6

Other services................................................ 153 182 142 2.8 3.3 2.6

Government...................................................... 205 263 197 .9 1.2 .9

Federal......................................................... 32 32 24 1.2 1.2 .9

State and local.............................................. 173 231 173 .9 1.2 .9

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 624 689 448 2.4 2.7 1.7

South............................................................ 1,339 1,557 1,324 2.8 3.2 2.8

Midwest......................................................... 718 898 688 2.3 2.8 2.2

West............................................................ 768 1,060 869 2.6 3.6 2.9

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 4,275 4,004 3,910 3.2 3.0 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 4,039 3,805 3,697 3.6 3.4 3.3

Natural resources and mining........................... 18 13 14 3.0 2.0 2.1

Construction................................................... 399 399 366 5.7 5.3 5.1

Manufacturing................................................ 322 375 309 2.2 2.6 2.2

Durable goods............................................. 199 220 187 2.2 2.5 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................... 123 156 122 2.3 2.9 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 1,116 891 1,093 4.3 3.4 4.1

Wholesale trade.......................................... 121 138 129 2.1 2.4 2.2

Retail trade................................................ 789 597 711 5.0 3.8 4.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 206 156 253 4.2 3.1 5.1

Information................................................... 55 82 70 1.8 2.6 2.2

Financial activities............................................ 171 137 150 2.1 1.7 1.8

Finance and insurance................................. 100 83 108 1.7 1.4 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 71 54 42 3.4 2.5 1.9

Professional and business services..................... 824 623 593 4.9 3.6 3.5

Education and health services........................... 339 348 324 2.0 2.0 1.8

Educational services.................................... 38 38 40 1.3 1.3 1.3

Health care and social assistance.................. 301 309 284 2.1 2.1 1.9

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 625 756 664 5.1 6.0 5.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 97 114 77 5.8 6.7 4.6

Accommodations and food services............... 529 642 587 5.0 5.9 5.4

Other services................................................ 170 181 113 3.1 3.3 2.1

Government...................................................... 236 199 213 1.1 .9 1.0

Federal......................................................... 41 29 32 1.5 1.1 1.2

State and local.............................................. 195 170 182 1.0 .9 .9

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 790 587 628 3.1 2.3 2.4

South............................................................ 1,597 1,394 1,510 3.4 2.9 3.1

Midwest......................................................... 966 1,053 879 3.1 3.3 2.8

West............................................................ 922 970 894 3.2 3.3 3.0

 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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 2,073 2,242 2,040 1.6 1.7 1.5

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 1,972 2,131 1,939 1.8 1.9 1.7

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

Construction................................................... 122 152 146 1.7 2.0 2.0

Manufacturing................................................ 137 160 125 1.0 1.1 .9

Durable goods............................................. 85 103 80 .9 1.1 .9

Nondurable goods....................................... 53 57 45 1.0 1.1 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 502 527 521 1.9 2.0 2.0

Wholesale trade.......................................... 63 52 55 1.1 .9 1.0

Retail trade................................................ 371 412 380 2.4 2.6 2.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 68 63 85 1.4 1.3 1.7

Information................................................... 33 54 39 1.0 1.7 1.2

Financial activities............................................ 88 80 80 1.1 1.0 1.0

Finance and insurance................................. 64 56 61 1.1 .9 1.0

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 24 24 19 1.1 1.1 .9

Professional and business services..................... 354 290 297 2.1 1.7 1.7

Education and health services........................... 207 241 215 1.2 1.4 1.2

Educational services.................................... 20 25 21 .7 .8 .7

Health care and social assistance.................. 187 216 194 1.3 1.5 1.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 403 498 444 3.3 4.0 3.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 38 34 33 2.3 2.0 2.0

Accommodations and food services............... 365 464 411 3.4 4.3 3.8

Other services................................................ 120 120 66 2.2 2.2 1.2

Government...................................................... 102 111 101 .5 .5 .5

Federal......................................................... 10 17 10 .4 .6 .4

State and local.............................................. 92 94 91 .5 .5 .5

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 311 294 288 1.2 1.1 1.1

South............................................................ 846 879 843 1.8 1.8 1.8

Midwest......................................................... 460 508 410 1.5 1.6 1.3

West............................................................ 456 562 499 1.6 1.9 1.7

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 1,923 1,486 1,552 1.4 1.1 1.1

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 1,839 1,425 1,483 1.7 1.3 1.3

Natural resources and mining........................... 7 3 6 1.2 .5 1.0

Construction................................................... 266 214 210 3.8 2.9 2.9

Manufacturing................................................ 161 174 153 1.1 1.2 1.1

Durable goods............................................. 98 85 89 1.1 1.0 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................... 63 88 64 1.2 1.7 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 549 321 482 2.1 1.2 1.8

Wholesale trade.......................................... 44 78 67 .8 1.4 1.2

Retail trade................................................ 382 162 269 2.4 1.0 1.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 124 82 146 2.5 1.6 2.9

Information................................................... 16 22 20 .5 .7 .6

Financial activities............................................ 66 47 45 .8 .6 .5

Finance and insurance................................. 26 19 23 .4 .3 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 40 28 21 1.9 1.3 1.0

Professional and business services..................... 430 288 257 2.6 1.7 1.5

Education and health services........................... 110 88 84 .6 .5 .5

Educational services.................................... 16 11 17 .6 .4 .6

Health care and social assistance.................. 94 76 67 .7 .5 .5

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 195 226 187 1.6 1.8 1.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 57 79 42 3.4 4.7 2.5

Accommodations and food services............... 138 147 145 1.3 1.4 1.3

Other services................................................ 38 42 40 .7 .8 .7

Government...................................................... 84 60 69 .4 .3 .3

Federal......................................................... 17 7 16 .6 .3 .6

State and local.............................................. 68 53 53 .4 .3 .3

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 412 253 291 1.6 1.0 1.1

South............................................................ 653 442 584 1.4 .9 1.2

Midwest......................................................... 456 455 386 1.4 1.4 1.2

West............................................................ 403 335 292 1.4 1.1 1.0

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Dec. Nov. Dec. Dec. Nov. Dec.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 279 276 318 .2 .2 .2

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 229 249 275 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining........................... 5 2 2 .8 .3 .2

Construction................................................... 10 32 11 .1 .4 .2

Manufacturing................................................ 24 42 31 .2 .3 .2

Durable goods............................................. 16 32 18 .2 .4 .2

Nondurable goods....................................... 7 10 13 .1 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 65 42 90 .2 .2 .3

Wholesale trade.......................................... 14 8 6 .3 .1 .1

Retail trade................................................ 36 23 62 .2 .1 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 15 11 22 .3 .2 .4

Information................................................... 6 6 12 .2 .2 .4

Financial activities............................................ 17 10 25 .2 .1 .3

Finance and insurance................................. 10 7 24 .2 .1 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 7 2 1 .3 .1 .1

Professional and business services..................... 40 45 39 .2 .3 .2

Education and health services........................... 22 19 25 .1 .1 .1

Educational services.................................... 2 2 1 .1 .1 (3)

Health care and social assistance.................. 20 17 24 .1 .1 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 28 32 33 .2 .3 .3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 2 (3) 2 .1 (3) .1

Accommodations and food services............... 26 31 31 .2 .3 .3

Other services................................................ 12 19 8 .2 .3 .1

Government...................................................... 50 28 43 .2 .1 .2

Federal......................................................... 15 5 6 .5 .2 .2

State and local.............................................. 35 22 38 .2 .1 .2

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 67 40 49 .3 .2 .2

South............................................................ 98 73 83 .2 .2 .2

Midwest......................................................... 51 90 83 .2 .3 .3

West............................................................ 63 73 103 .2 .2 .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 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates