1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-0842

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 May 2004 - April 2007

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

2005 2006 2007

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 May 2004 - April 2007

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2005 2006 2007

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: APRIL 2007

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

openings rate was 2.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported

today. The job openings and hires rates were unchanged in April, and the total separations rate was essentially unchanged. 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

In April, the job openings rate was unchanged at 2.9 percent. Job openings include only those jobs still

open on the last business day of the month. The job openings rate fell over the month in the accommodations

and food services industry. None of the regions experienced a significant over-the-month change in the job

openings rate. The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in April for the following industries: professional and business services (4.2 percent), accommodations and food services (3.8 percent), and education

and health services (3.7 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate increased in nondurable goods manufacturing; health care and social

assistance; and other services. The rate decreased in finance and insurance; educational services; and arts, entertainment, and recreation. The job openings rate did not change significantly over the year in any of the regions. (See table 5.)
2

Hires

The hires rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent in April. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the

month. In April, the hires rate increased in accommodations and food services. None of the regions experienced a significant over-the-month change in the hires rate. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in April in accommodations and food services (7.1 percent). (See table 2.)

From April 2006 to April 2007, the hires rate rose in nondurable goods manufacturing; finance and insurance; accommodations and food services; and federal government. The hires rate fell in real estate and

rental and leasing; educational services; and arts, entertainment, and recreation. None of the regions experienced a significant over-the-year change in the hires rate. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.3 percent in April. Separations are

terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In April, none of the industries or

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Mar.

2006 2007 2006 2007 2007 2006 2007 2007

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

2007 p p p

Apr. Apr. Apr.

Total ....................................................................

Total private ................................................

Construction ...............................................

Manufacturing ............................................

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

Retail trade ...............................................

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

Education and health services .................

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

Accommodations and food services ..

Government ................................................

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

Total ....................................................................

Total private .............................................

Construction ...............................................

Manufacturing ...........................................

Trade, transportation, and utilities .....

Retail trade ..............................................

Professional and business services .......

Education and health services ................

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

Accommodations and food services ..

Government ................................................

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

2

3

1

1

2

3

4

1

1

2

3

4

 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.

Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.

 4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = preliminary.

3,999 4,176 4,145 4,741 4,815 4,793 4,405 4,741 4,579

3,562 3,702 3,668 4,351 4,416 4,433 4,105 4,417 4,276

 145 152 156 398 356 331 382 344 379

 323 316 336 314 318 346 342 400 389

 674 677 637 1,054 1,006 997 1,009 974 940

 410 375 364 748 691 688 719 682 660

 690 758 782 831 881 894 737 876 864

 683 685 702 489 497 505 425 429 418

 491 574 508 807 867 903 777 846 847

 412 506 451 702 726 813 699 702 693

 434 470 476 370 404 424 316 315 315

 395 430 430 304 313 327 246 238 238

 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.4 3.3

 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.7

 1.9 1.9 2.0 5.2 4.6 4.3 5.0 4.5 4.9

 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.8 2.8

 2.5 2.5 2.4 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6

 2.6 2.4 2.3 4.9 4.5 4.5 4.7 4.4 4.3

 3.8 4.1 4.2 4.8 4.9 5.0 4.2 4.9 4.8

 3.7 3.6 3.7 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.3

 3.6 4.1 3.6 6.2 6.4 6.7 6.0 6.3 6.3

 3.6 4.2 3.8 6.3 6.3 7.1 6.3 6.1 6.0

 1.9 2.1 2.1 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.4 1.4 1.4

State and local government ..................... 2.0 2.2 2.2 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.3 1.2 1.2
3

regions experienced a significant change in the separations rate. From April 2006 to April 2007, the total

separations rate increased in durable goods manufacturing; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and federal

government. The total separations rate decreased in information. Geographically, the total separations rate

rose over the year in the South region. (See tables 3 and 7.)

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 1.9 percent in April. None of the industries or regions experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. In April, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was

highest in the accommodations and food services industry (4.6 percent). (See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate rose in nondurable goods manufacturing. The quits rate fell over the year in

transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and information. Geographically, the quits rate rose over the year in

the South region. (See table 8.)

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

seasonally adjusted. For April, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.1 percent) and level (1.5 million) were essentially unchanged from a year earlier. As is typical many months, the layoffs and discharges rate in April

was highest in arts, entertainment, and recreation (5.4 percent), construction (2.3 percent), and professional

and business services (2.3 percent). From April 2006 to April 2007, the other separations rate decreased to

0.2 percent, and the level decreased to 308,000. (See tables 9 and 10.)

The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution of its three components (quits, layoffs and

discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of total separations attributable to quits has risen and fallen over time along with employment levels. The proportion of

quits fell from 61 percent in February 2001 to 51 percent in August 2003 (seasonally adjusted), and has

since risen. In April 2007, the percentage of quits was 58 percent.

Flows in the Labor Market

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

April 2007, hires have averaged 4.9 million per month and separations have averaged 4.6 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.)

Several industries consistently have high rates of both hires and separations. These include construction;

retail trade; professional and business services; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and accommodations and

food services. In the 12 months ending in April 2007, these five industries produced 34.8 million hires and

33.0 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 59 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59

percent of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 39 percent of total nonfarm employment.

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 May 2007 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, July 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.

Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007,

seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using

the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough data

observations available for the standard use of moving averages

as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is

customary, the number of observations is now above the minimum

required by X-12-ARIMA to use the normal seasonal filters.

Therefore, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal

filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS

seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and

multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA

(regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the

seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the

series and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series. Due to

the improved diagnostics, three additional industries are now

seasonally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food

services, and state and local government. It is expected that more

series 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

Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4................................................... 3,999 4,200 4,401 4,222 4,149 4,176 4,145 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 3,562 3,735 3,928 3,746 3,666 3,702 3,668 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1

Construction....................................... 145 106 107 142 229 152 156 1.9 1.4 1.4 1.8 2.9 1.9 2.0

Manufacturing.................................... 323 328 362 337 330 316 336 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 674 671 767 727 660 677 637 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.4

Retail trade.................................... 410 417 471 413 378 375 364 2.6 2.7 3.0 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.3

Professional and business services......... 690 705 745 707 642 758 782 3.8 3.8 4.0 3.8 3.5 4.1 4.2

Education and health services............... 683 713 734 707 670 685 702 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.7

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 491 625 612 552 566 574 508 3.6 4.5 4.4 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.6

Accommodations and food services...... 412 528 538 495 511 506 451 3.6 4.4 4.5 4.1 4.3 4.2 3.8

Government 7

....................................... 434 463 473 477 482 470 476 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1

State and local government................... 395 427 427 439 438 430 430 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 685 772 849 733 717 703 692 2.6 2.9 3.2 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6

South................................................1,599 1,572 1,674 1,653 1,631 1,658 1,663 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3

Midwest............................................. 764 770 810 822 783 797 764 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3

West................................................ 953 1,034 1,044 1,005 1,011 1,027 1,020 3.0 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the 8 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 

month. regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North 

adjustment of the various series. Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 

 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, 

other services, not shown separately. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and 

 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, 

shown separately. Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and 

 6

 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. p = preliminary.

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

Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4................................................... 4,741 4,994 4,959 4,959 4,815 4,815 4,793 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 4,351 4,665 4,662 4,607 4,509 4,416 4,433 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.8

Construction....................................... 398 395 341 299 298 356 331 5.2 5.1 4.4 3.9 3.9 4.6 4.3

Manufacturing.................................... 314 363 375 369 371 318 346 2.2 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

.........1,054 1,012 990 1,020 1,018 1,006 997 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.8

Retail trade.................................... 748 737 699 757 695 691 688 4.9 4.8 4.6 4.9 4.5 4.5 4.5

Professional and business services......... 831 1,010 963 954 953 881 894 4.8 5.7 5.4 5.4 5.3 4.9 5.0

Education and health services............... 489 492 515 508 518 497 505 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.8

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 807 903 969 956 934 867 903 6.2 6.8 7.2 7.1 7.0 6.4 6.7

Accommodations and food services...... 702 748 793 825 778 726 813 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.2 6.8 6.3 7.1

Government 7

....................................... 370 348 371 384 379 404 424 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9

State and local government................... 304 303 313 321 317 313 327 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 806 713 768 833 709 740 760 3.2 2.8 3.0 3.2 2.8 2.9 3.0

South................................................1,847 1,979 1,900 1,899 1,837 1,835 1,889 3.8 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.8

Midwest............................................. 966 1,061 1,150 1,167 1,184 1,105 1,068 3.1 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.4

West................................................ 1,173 1,249 1,209 1,142 1,156 1,157 1,163 3.9 4.1 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.8

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of not shown separately.

total employment. 6

 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and p = preliminary.

other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels Rates 3

 (in thousands)

Levels 3

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4................................................... 4,405 4,844 4,540 4,602 4,556 4,741 4,579 3.2 3.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 4,105 4,543 4,253 4,296 4,263 4,417 4,276 3.6 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.7

Construction....................................... 382 413 387 400 322 344 379 5.0 5.4 5.0 5.2 4.2 4.5 4.9

Manufacturing.................................... 342 360 372 399 422 400 389 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.8 3.0 2.8 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

.........1,009 1,020 962 973 943 974 940 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6

Retail trade.................................... 719 719 707 680 656 682 660 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.3

Professional and business services......... 737 974 851 894 862 876 864 4.2 5.5 4.8 5.0 4.8 4.9 4.8

Education and health services............... 425 430 430 423 419 429 418 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 777 838 835 768 835 846 847 6.0 6.3 6.2 5.7 6.2 6.3 6.3

Accommodations and food services...... 699 721 757 612 697 702 693 6.3 6.3 6.6 5.4 6.1 6.1 6.0

Government 7

....................................... 316 305 283 309 294 315 315 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4

State and local government................... 246 256 255 254 243 238 238 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 696 707 670 740 675 667 641 2.7 2.8 2.6 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.5

South................................................1,694 2,011 1,796 1,783 1,763 1,829 1,853 3.5 4.1 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.8

Midwest............................................. 926 985 1,054 1,034 1,054 1,006 997 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.1

West................................................ 1,128 1,079 1,036 1,037 1,041 1,165 1,124 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.7

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire and other services, not shown separately.

month. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 6

 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, p = preliminary.

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

Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007p

Total 4................................................... 2,530 2,774 2,759 2,648 2,705 2,763 2,640 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 2,379 2,625 2,615 2,505 2,571 2,591 2,498 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2

Construction....................................... 177 144 143 141 120 131 137 2.3 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.8

Manufacturing.................................... 174 211 222 229 212 216 202 1.2 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 614 661 597 594 606 608 574 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2

Retail trade.................................... 450 472 438 422 438 428 423 2.9 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8

Professional and business services......... 398 486 497 498 486 461 456 2.3 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.6

Education and health services............... 253 278 289 271 280 267 274 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 535 565 602 489 579 590 576 4.1 4.2 4.5 3.7 4.3 4.4 4.3

Accommodations and food services...... 490 520 560 448 531 539 524 4.4 4.6 4.9 3.9 4.6 4.7 4.6

Government 7

....................................... 156 147 146 150 139 155 150 .7 .7 .7 .7 .6 .7 .7

State and local government................... 125 125 130 129 117 130 126 .7 .6 .7 .7 .6 .7 .6

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 363 409 367 355 322 352 335 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3

South................................................1,053 1,167 1,171 1,099 1,152 1,150 1,151 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3

Midwest............................................. 536 543 559 595 599 588 553 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.7

West................................................ 604 645 638 602 629 665 615 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.0

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a not shown separately.

percent of total employment. 6

 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, p = preliminary.

and other services, not shown separately.

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

Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total............................................................... 4,205 4,283 4,326 3.0 3.0 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 3,768 3,827 3,847 3.2 3.2 3.2

Natural resources and mining........................ 11 13 13 1.7 1.8 1.8

Construction................................................ 177 159 191 2.3 2.1 2.5

Manufacturing............................................. 339 328 352 2.3 2.3 2.4

Durable goods.......................................... 239 206 217 2.6 2.3 2.4

Nondurable goods.................................... 100 122 135 1.9 2.3 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 686 686 637 2.6 2.6 2.4

Wholesale trade....................................... 142 169 153 2.4 2.8 2.5

Retail trade............................................. 407 365 355 2.6 2.3 2.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 137 152 129 2.7 2.9 2.5

Information................................................ 134 140 135 4.2 4.4 4.2

Financial activities......................................... 326 258 243 3.8 3.0 2.8

Finance and insurance.............................. 268 196 174 4.2 3.0 2.7

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 58 63 69 2.6 2.8 3.1

Professional and business services.................. 710 727 815 3.9 4.0 4.4

Education and health services........................ 705 693 725 3.8 3.6 3.8

Educational services................................. 107 57 73 3.4 1.8 2.3

Health care and social assistance.................. 597 636 652 3.9 4.0 4.1

Leisure and hospitality................................. 578 663 583 4.3 4.8 4.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 94 74 71 4.8 3.9 3.6

Accommodations and food services............... 484 589 512 4.2 5.0 4.3

Other services............................................. 101 161 152 1.8 2.9 2.7

Government................................................... 438 456 478 1.9 2.0 2.1

Federal...................................................... 44 45 52 1.6 1.6 1.9

State and local........................................... 393 412 426 2.0 2.0 2.1

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 705 680 700 2.7 2.6 2.6

South......................................................... 1,698 1,737 1,767 3.4 3.4 3.5

Midwest...................................................... 810 835 804 2.5 2.6 2.5

West......................................................... 992 1,032 1,055 3.2 3.3 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 8, 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

Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total............................................................... 4,864 4,630 4,930 3.6 3.4 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 4,598 4,343 4,618 4.1 3.8 4.0

Natural resources and mining........................ 27 20 23 4.1 2.8 3.3

Construction................................................ 524 394 448 6.9 5.4 6.0

Manufacturing............................................. 320 328 353 2.3 2.3 2.5

Durable goods.......................................... 199 194 207 2.2 2.2 2.3

Nondurable goods.................................... 121 134 146 2.3 2.6 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 1,028 974 966 4.0 3.7 3.7

Wholesale trade....................................... 143 166 167 2.4 2.8 2.8

Retail trade............................................. 735 672 670 4.8 4.4 4.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 150 136 129 3.0 2.7 2.6

Information................................................ 71 68 87 2.3 2.2 2.8

Financial activities......................................... 198 172 204 2.4 2.0 2.4

Finance and insurance.............................. 117 109 152 1.9 1.8 2.4

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 81 62 52 3.8 2.9 2.4

Professional and business services.................. 895 853 942 5.1 4.8 5.3

Education and health services........................ 434 454 449 2.4 2.5 2.4

Educational services................................. 70 45 50 2.3 1.4 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................. 364 408 399 2.5 2.7 2.6

Leisure and hospitality................................. 896 903 991 6.9 6.9 7.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 170 126 133 9.1 7.0 7.0

Accommodations and food services............... 726 777 857 6.5 6.9 7.5

Other services............................................. 205 177 155 3.8 3.3 2.8

Government................................................... 266 287 312 1.2 1.3 1.4

Federal...................................................... 53 72 79 2.0 2.7 2.9

State and local........................................... 213 215 233 1.1 1.1 1.2

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 813 682 778 3.2 2.7 3.0

South......................................................... 1,829 1,776 1,881 3.8 3.6 3.8

Midwest...................................................... 1,057 1,092 1,109 3.4 3.5 3.5

West......................................................... 1,165 1,080 1,162 3.8 3.5 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 See footnote 8, 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

Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total............................................................... 4,141 4,258 4,286 3.0 3.1 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 3,911 4,035 4,056 3.4 3.5 3.5

Natural resources and mining........................ 23 21 22 3.5 3.0 3.1

Construction................................................ 313 308 319 4.1 4.2 4.2

Manufacturing............................................. 341 405 385 2.4 2.9 2.7

Durable goods.......................................... 179 254 226 2.0 2.8 2.5

Nondurable goods.................................... 162 152 159 3.1 3.0 3.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 900 900 824 3.5 3.4 3.1

Wholesale trade....................................... 132 161 141 2.2 2.7 2.4

Retail trade............................................. 639 603 580 4.2 4.0 3.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 129 136 103 2.6 2.7 2.0

Information................................................ 75 75 72 2.5 2.4 2.3

Financial activities......................................... 190 240 185 2.3 2.9 2.2

Finance and insurance.............................. 136 159 131 2.2 2.5 2.1

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 54 81 54 2.5 3.7 2.5

Professional and business services.................. 790 861 894 4.5 4.9 5.0

Education and health services........................ 405 389 392 2.3 2.1 2.1

Educational services................................. 38 40 49 1.2 1.3 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................. 367 349 343 2.5 2.3 2.2

Leisure and hospitality................................. 735 702 813 5.7 5.4 6.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 74 93 155 4.0 5.2 8.1

Accommodations and food services............... 660 609 659 6.0 5.4 5.7

Other services............................................. 140 133 150 2.6 2.4 2.7

Government................................................... 230 223 231 1.0 1.0 1.0

Federal...................................................... 56 63 67 2.1 2.3 2.5

State and local........................................... 174 160 164 .9 .8 .8

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 635 553 567 2.5 2.2 2.2

South......................................................... 1,654 1,682 1,829 3.4 3.4 3.7

Midwest...................................................... 809 921 836 2.6 2.9 2.6

West......................................................... 1,043 1,101 1,055 3.4 3.6 3.4

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

3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total............................................................... 2,438 2,579 2,500 1.8 1.9 1.8

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 2,315 2,457 2,380 2.0 2.2 2.1

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

Construction................................................ 168 121 133 2.2 1.7 1.8

Manufacturing............................................. 179 219 200 1.3 1.6 1.4

Durable goods.......................................... 107 129 113 1.2 1.5 1.3

Nondurable goods.................................... 72 89 88 1.4 1.7 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 584 577 535 2.2 2.2 2.0

Wholesale trade....................................... 80 116 83 1.4 2.0 1.4

Retail trade............................................. 421 396 393 2.8 2.6 2.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 82 65 59 1.6 1.3 1.2

Information................................................ 56 50 51 1.8 1.6 1.7

Financial activities......................................... 99 162 108 1.2 1.9 1.3

Finance and insurance.............................. 75 108 81 1.2 1.7 1.3

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 24 54 26 1.1 2.5 1.2

Professional and business services.................. 401 487 439 2.3 2.8 2.5

Education and health services........................ 242 244 259 1.4 1.3 1.4

Educational services................................. 18 22 28 .6 .7 .9

Health care and social assistance.................. 225 223 231 1.5 1.5 1.5

Leisure and hospitality................................. 503 496 545 3.9 3.8 4.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 37 39 46 2.0 2.1 2.4

Accommodations and food services............... 466 457 499 4.2 4.0 4.3

Other services............................................. 72 89 98 1.3 1.6 1.8

Government................................................... 123 122 119 .6 .5 .5

Federal...................................................... 27 21 23 1.0 .8 .8

State and local........................................... 96 101 97 .5 .5 .5

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 325 315 292 1.3 1.2 1.1

South......................................................... 1,051 1,054 1,148 2.2 2.1 2.3

Midwest...................................................... 496 570 487 1.6 1.8 1.5

West......................................................... 567 639 572 1.9 2.1 1.9

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

3 See footnote 8, 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

Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total............................................................... 1,340 1,374 1,479 1.0 1.0 1.1

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 1,281 1,327 1,423 1.1 1.2 1.2

Natural resources and mining........................ 10 6 7 1.5 .8 .9

Construction................................................ 114 164 176 1.5 2.2 2.3

Manufacturing............................................. 132 158 147 .9 1.1 1.1

Durable goods.......................................... 55 104 94 .6 1.2 1.1

Nondurable goods.................................... 77 54 54 1.5 1.1 1.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 241 240 224 .9 .9 .9

Wholesale trade....................................... 40 41 50 .7 .7 .8

Retail trade............................................. 178 151 144 1.2 1.0 .9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 23 47 31 .5 .9 .6

Information................................................ 14 18 16 .5 .6 .5

Financial activities......................................... 66 63 54 .8 .7 .6

Finance and insurance.............................. 37 43 33 .6 .7 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 29 20 21 1.3 .9 1.0

Professional and business services.................. 322 333 413 1.8 1.9 2.3

Education and health services........................ 120 119 107 .7 .7 .6

Educational services................................. 16 17 17 .5 .5 .5

Health care and social assistance.................. 104 102 90 .7 .7 .6

Leisure and hospitality................................. 204 187 244 1.6 1.4 1.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 35 53 103 1.8 2.9 5.4

Accommodations and food services............... 169 134 140 1.5 1.2 1.2

Other services............................................. 58 38 35 1.1 .7 .6

Government................................................... 60 48 55 .3 .2 .2

Federal...................................................... 12 15 15 .5 .5 .6

State and local........................................... 47 33 40 .2 .2 .2

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 246 183 218 1.0 .7 .8

South......................................................... 444 511 577 .9 1.0 1.2

Midwest...................................................... 252 290 284 .8 .9 .9

West......................................................... 398 390 400 1.3 1.3 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 8, 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

Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total............................................................... 363 305 308 0.3 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 315 251 252 .3 .2 .2

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

Construction................................................ 31 23 9 .4 .3 .1

Manufacturing............................................. 30 28 37 .2 .2 .3

Durable goods.......................................... 18 20 19 .2 .2 .2

Nondurable goods.................................... 13 8 18 .2 .2 .3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 75 83 65 .3 .3 .2

Wholesale trade....................................... 11 4 8 .2 .1 .1

Retail trade............................................. 40 55 44 .3 .4 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 24 23 13 .5 .5 .3

Information................................................ 4 7 5 .1 .2 .1

Financial activities......................................... 25 15 23 .3 .2 .3

Finance and insurance.............................. 24 8 16 .4 .1 .3

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

Professional and business services.................. 67 41 42 .4 .2 .2

Education and health services........................ 43 26 27 .2 .1 .1

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

Health care and social assistance.................. 39 24 23 .3 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality................................. 28 19 25 .2 .1 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 2 1 5 .1 .1 .3

Accommodations and food services............... 25 18 20 .2 .2 .2

Other services............................................. 9 6 17 .2 .1 .3

Government................................................... 47 54 56 .2 .2 .2

Federal...................................................... 17 27 29 .6 1.0 1.1

State and local........................................... 30 27 27 .2 .1 .1

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 65 55 56 .3 .2 .2

South......................................................... 159 117 104 .3 .2 .2

Midwest...................................................... 61 62 65 .2 .2 .2

West......................................................... 77 72 83 .3 .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 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region