1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-1727

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Job Openings

In September, the job openings rate remained at 2.9 percent. The rate has been 2.9 percent for 7 of

the past 8 months. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month.

The job openings rate changed significantly in September only in the construction industry, rising from 1.9 in

August to 2.4 in September. The job openings rate did not change significantly in any region. The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in September in the accommodations and food services industry

(4.6 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate rose in construction (2.4 percent); nondurable manufacturing

(2.7 percent); and accommodations and food services (4.5 percent). The rate fell over the year in natural

resources and mining (1.7 percent); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (2.7 percent); information (3.0

percent); professional and business services (3.7 percent); and state and local government (2.1 percent).

Regionally, the job openings rate fell over the year in the Northeast (2.7 percent). (See table 5.)

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 October 2004 - September 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,

 October 2004 - September 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: SEPTEMBER 2007

On the last business day of September, 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 rate and total separations rate were unchanged in September, while the hires 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.

News

Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

United States

Department 

of Labor
2

Hires

The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in September. Hires are any additions to the payroll

during the month. In September, the hires rate changed significantly only in the education and health services

sector, in which it fell. As in nearly every month, the seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest

in September in accommodations and food services (6.3 percent). (See table 2.)

From September 2006 to September 2007, the hires rate increased in arts, entertainment, and recreation

(6.4 percent) and in federal government (4.8 percent). The hires rate decreased over the year in transportaTable A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted

Industry Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

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

Total 1......................................................... 4,177 4,168 4,148 4,917 4,836 4,677 4,470 4,446 4,355

Total private 1................................................... 3,715 3,709 3,695 4,482 4,369 4,280 4,123 4,120 4,046

Construction................................................ 148 149 186 336 371 337 346 371 365

Manufacturing..........................................317 328 329 314 349 344 389 380 375

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2..................... 721 703 671 965 922 971 990 926 914

 Retail trade..................................... 396 380 375 710 666 699 686 652 658

Professional and business services......................... 755 676 669 1,028 797 799 824 742 790

Education and health services........................... 701 700 720 467 501 441 396 430 389

Leisure and hospitality 3....................................... 544 585 620 859 901 891 726 808 734

 Accommodations and food services..........469 518 562 756 758 728 607 703 630

Government 4..................................... 467 449 453 386 396 377 315 322 297

 State and local government..................................... 430 410 411 318 314 293 251 255 213

Total 1...................................................3.0 2.9 2.9 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2

Total private 1................................................... 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5

Construction..........................................1.9 1.9 2.4 4.4 4.9 4.4 4.5 4.9 4.8

Manufacturing................................................ 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2........................ 2.7 2.6 2.5 3.7 3.5 3.7 3.8 3.5 3.4

 Retail trade.................................... 2.5 2.4 2.4 4.6 4.3 4.5 4.5 4.2 4.3

Professional and business services......................... 4.1 3.6 3.6 5.8 4.4 4.5 4.7 4.1 4.4

Education and health services........................... 3.8 3.6 3.7 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.1

Leisure and hospitality 3.................................... 4.0 4.1 4.4 6.5 6.6 6.5 5.5 6.0 5.4

 Accommodations and food services.......... 40 4.3 4.6 6.7 6.5 6.3 5.4 6.1 5.4

Government 4..........................................2.1 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.4 1.4 1.3

 State and local government..................................... 2.2 2.1 2.1 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.1

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

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

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

 4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = preliminary.

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)
3

tion, warehousing, and utilities (3.0 percent); information (2.0 percent); professional and business services

(4.6 percent); health care and social assistance (2.8 percent); and state and local government (2.3 percent).

Regionally, the hires rate fell over the year in the South (3.8 percent) and in the West (3.7 percent). (See

table 6.)

Separations

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

terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, the separations rate

changed significantly only in state and local government, in which it declined. The separations rate did not

change significantly in any region over the month. From September 2006 to September 2007, the total

separations rate increased in the finance and insurance industry (2.4 percent) and in the federal government

(4.3 percent). Over the year, the total separations rate decreased only in state and local government (1.4

percent). Geographically, the total separations rate declined in the Northeast (3.1 percent). (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 unchanged in September. The quits rate changed significantly over the month only

in the accommodations and food services industry. None of the regions experienced a significant change in

the quits rate over the month. As in every month since the series began in December 2000, the seasonally

adjusted quits rate was highest in September in the accommodations and food services industry (3.5 percent).

(See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate did not rise significantly in any industry but did fall in many industries, including wholesale trade (1.2 percent); information (1.4 percent); real estate and rental and leasing (1.6 percent); health care and social assistance (1.5 percent); accommodations and food services (4.1 percent); and

federal government (1.5 percent). Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the Northeast (1.6 percent) and South (2.1 percent). (See table 8.)

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

seasonally adjusted. For September, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.3 percent) and level (1.9 million)

were unchanged from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in September 2007 was highest in arts,

entertainment, and recreation (6.9 percent). Over the year, the other separations rate (0.2 percent) and level

(304,000) were essentially unchanged. (See tables 9 and 10.)

Flows in the Labor Market

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 September 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.0 million hires

and 32.2 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent of total nonfarm hires and

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

Although the month-to-month changes in job openings and turnover data are often small, some industries

are experiencing significant over-the-year change. From September 2006 to September 2007, the information industry had decreases in the job openings, hires, and quits rates. Experiencing a decrease in the job

openings and hires rates over the year were transportation, warehousing, and utilities; professional and business services; and state and local government.
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For More Information

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

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

or by calling (202) 691-5870.

______________________________

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for October 2007 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,

December 11.
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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,177 4,170 4,095 4,280 4,186 4,168 4,148 3.0 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,715 3,683 3,627 3,810 3,711 3,709 3,695 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1

Construction........................................................................ 148 154 157 139 167 149 186 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.8 2.1 1.9 2.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 317 350 345 344 340 328 329 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 721 669 609 676 684 703 671 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 396 389 337 409 399 380 375 2.5 2.5 2.1 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.4

Professional and business services......................... 755 735 654 763 693 676 669 4.1 4.0 3.5 4.1 3.7 3.6 3.6

Education and health services................................................. 701 706 703 711 717 700 720 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 544 512 571 568 547 585 620 4.0 3.7 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.1 4.4

Accommodations and food services......................... 469 453 500 497 497 518 562 4.0 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.3 4.6

Government 7......................................................................................... 467 488 468 465 475 449 453 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.0

State and local government.................................................................................... 430 439 424 424 430 410 411 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.1

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 770 675 674 732 741 682 658 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,626 1,670 1,648 1,635 1,612 1,690 1,688 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 789 779 799 805 754 778 823 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.5

West...................................................................................... 1,017 1,038 970 1,106 1,120 1,024 998 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.1

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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,917 4,832 4,982 4,741 4,802 4,836 4,677 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,482 4,423 4,503 4,335 4,443 4,369 4,280 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.7

Construction........................................................................ 336 330 351 358 408 371 337 4.4 4.3 4.6 4.7 5.3 4.9 4.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 314 350 356 355 359 349 344 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 965 1,028 1,044 910 924 922 971 3.7 3.9 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 710 706 715 605 613 666 699 4.6 4.6 4.6 3.9 4.0 4.3 4.5

Professional and business services......................... 1,028 828 935 865 879 797 799 5.8 4.6 5.2 4.8 4.9 4.4 4.5

Education and health services................................................. 467 507 507 493 502 501 441 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.4

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 859 903 873 854 874 901 891 6.5 6.7 6.5 6.3 6.4 6.6 6.5

Accommodations and food services......................... 756 811 755 736 748 758 728 6.7 7.0 6.5 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.3

Government 7......................................................................................... 386 421 409 395 385 396 377 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7

State and local government.................................................................................... 318 333 330 312 293 314 293 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 720 759 705 684 750 761 697 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.9 2.9 2.7

South............................................................................................... 2,019 1,894 1,960 1,842 1,898 1,841 1,816 4.1 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.7

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,031 1,069 1,101 1,082 1,039 1,081 1,114 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.5

West...................................................................................... 1,163 1,122 1,143 1,117 1,135 1,148 1,054 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.4

 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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,470 4,524 4,544 4,543 4,507 4,446 4,355 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,123 4,227 4,233 4,234 4,173 4,120 4,046 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5

Construction........................................................................ 346 360 346 363 384 371 365 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.7 5.0 4.9 4.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 389 380 396 382 379 380 375 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 990 975 950 974 987 926 914 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 686 678 685 688 687 652 658 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.2 4.3

Professional and business services......................... 824 805 775 728 733 742 790 4.7 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.4

Education and health services................................................. 396 414 437 473 414 430 389 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.1

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 726 861 833 850 837 808 734 5.5 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.0 5.4

Accommodations and food services......................... 607 720 715 730 735 703 630 5.4 6.3 6.2 6.3 6.3 6.1 5.4

Government 7......................................................................................... 315 311 315 310 323 322 297 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3

State and local government.................................................................................... 251 241 239 239 254 255 213 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.1

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 731 640 642 634 622 667 634 2.9 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,742 1,904 1,798 1,699 1,744 1,710 1,703 3.6 3.9 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.4

Midwest......................................................................................... 970 981 1,024 1,033 1,014 1,038 1,014 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.2

West...................................................................................... 1,031 1,040 1,062 1,191 1,149 1,053 1,025 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.9 3.7 3.4 3.3

 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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,566 2,637 2,686 2,627 2,640 2,539 2,440 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,400 2,486 2,530 2,475 2,493 2,391 2,282 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.0

Construction........................................................................ 135 126 124 129 176 145 139 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 2.3 1.9 1.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 185 199 216 195 186 202 183 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 591 600 606 618 572 545 542 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 430 440 445 448 427 401 406 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.6

Professional and business services......................... 443 418 424 411 418 395 410 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3

Education and health services................................................. 263 274 284 271 276 270 239 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.3

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 510 592 551 595 597 557 463 3.9 4.4 4.1 4.4 4.4 4.1 3.4

Accommodations and food services......................... 462 542 503 540 552 505 412 4.1 4.7 4.3 4.7 4.8 4.4 3.5

Government 7......................................................................................... 160 153 157 152 148 148 147 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7

State and local government.................................................................................... 125 129 130 123 125 126 121 .6 .7 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 383 350 331 380 314 313 316 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2

South............................................................................................... 1,102 1,163 1,162 1,049 1,097 1,070 995 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.0

Midwest......................................................................................... 541 544 551 555 553 564 541 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7

West...................................................................................... 551 590 643 648 669 598 577 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.2 1.9 1.9

 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

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

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,342 4,458 4,304 3.1 3.1 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,882 3,974 3,861 3.3 3.3 3.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 18 11 12 2.4 1.5 1.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 148 159 196 1.8 2.0 2.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 318 339 329 2.2 2.3 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 200 220 184 2.2 2.4 2.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 118 119 145 2.2 2.2 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 803 779 758 3.0 2.9 2.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 168 195 169 2.8 3.1 2.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 469 428 448 3.0 2.7 2.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 166 156 140 3.2 3.0 2.7

Information...................................................................................... 166 122 95 5.2 3.8 3.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 238 288 244 2.8 3.3 2.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 199 225 198 3.1 3.5 3.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 40 63 46 1.8 2.7 2.0

Professional and business services........................................ 779 722 689 4.2 3.8 3.7

Education and health services................................................................. 717 733 744 3.9 3.9 3.9

Educational services................................................................ 72 66 68 2.4 2.4 2.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 645 668 676 4.1 4.1 4.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 519 635 606 3.7 4.3 4.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 73 74 59 3.5 3.2 2.8

Accommodations and food services............................... 446 561 547 3.8 4.5 4.5

Other services................................................................................. 176 186 189 3.2 3.3 3.4

Government......................................................................................... 460 484 443 2.1 2.2 2.0

Federal................................................................................................ 31 47 35 1.1 1.7 1.3

State and local.................................................................................... 429 437 408 2.2 2.3 2.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 842 760 714 3.2 2.9 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,642 1,752 1,710 3.2 3.4 3.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 836 847 883 2.6 2.6 2.7

West....................................................................................................... 1,022 1,099 996 3.2 3.4 3.1

1

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

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

plus job openings.

3 See footnote 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

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

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,358 5,573 5,071 3.9 4.0 3.7

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,750 4,912 4,493 4.1 4.2 3.9

Natural resources and mining................................................... 30 27 28 4.2 3.7 3.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 342 405 331 4.3 5.1 4.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 329 403 359 2.3 2.9 2.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 185 230 201 2.1 2.6 2.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 144 173 158 2.8 3.3 3.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,056 1,017 1,078 4.0 3.8 4.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 136 152 170 2.3 2.5 2.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 729 723 752 4.8 4.7 4.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 191 143 156 3.8 2.8 3.0

Information...................................................................................... 81 82 62 2.6 2.6 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 237 235 235 2.8 2.8 2.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 158 159 139 2.6 2.5 2.2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 78 76 96 3.6 3.4 4.3

Professional and business services........................................ 1,063 888 829 6.0 4.9 4.6

Education and health services................................................................. 600 633 557 3.4 3.5 3.0

Educational services................................................................ 123 106 130 4.2 4.0 4.3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 477 527 428 3.2 3.4 2.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 828 997 859 6.2 7.0 6.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 70 123 129 3.5 5.5 6.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 758 874 731 6.7 7.3 6.2

Other services................................................................................. 184 224 154 3.4 4.1 2.8

Government......................................................................................... 608 660 578 2.8 3.1 2.6

Federal................................................................................................ 106 114 131 3.9 4.2 4.8

State and local.................................................................................... 501 546 447 2.6 3.0 2.3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 894 840 851 3.5 3.3 3.3

South............................................................................................... 2,096 2,176 1,888 4.3 4.4 3.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,090 1,215 1,198 3.5 3.8 3.8

West....................................................................................................... 1,277 1,342 1,134 4.2 4.3 3.7

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

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

3 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

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

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,015 5,668 4,811 3.7 4.1 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,592 5,167 4,428 4.0 4.4 3.8

Natural resources and mining................................................... 27 34 28 3.8 4.6 3.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 367 453 382 4.6 5.7 4.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 422 468 404 3.0 3.3 2.9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 258 281 235 2.9 3.2 2.6

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 164 187 169 3.1 3.6 3.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,051 1,109 954 4.0 4.2 3.6

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 162 186 132 2.7 3.1 2.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 717 776 679 4.7 5.0 4.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 172 147 143 3.4 2.9 2.8

Information...................................................................................... 86 86 68 2.8 2.8 2.2

Financial activities........................................................................... 204 293 222 2.4 3.4 2.6

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 122 211 149 2.0 3.4 2.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 82 82 73 3.7 3.7 3.3

Professional and business services........................................ 829 854 805 4.7 4.7 4.5

Education and health services................................................................. 437 586 410 2.4 3.2 2.2

Educational services................................................................ 65 109 50 2.2 4.1 1.7

Health care and social assistance.................................. 373 477 360 2.5 3.1 2.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 982 1,044 942 7.3 7.4 6.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 246 151 217 12.3 6.8 10.8

Accommodations and food services............................... 736 893 725 6.5 7.5 6.2

Other services................................................................................. 187 238 213 3.4 4.3 3.9

Government......................................................................................... 423 501 384 1.9 2.4 1.7

Federal................................................................................................ 95 94 116 3.5 3.4 4.3

State and local.................................................................................... 327 407 267 1.7 2.2 1.4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 936 912 811 3.7 3.5 3.1

South............................................................................................... 1,802 2,166 1,727 3.7 4.4 3.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,086 1,316 1,117 3.4 4.1 3.5

West....................................................................................................... 1,191 1,274 1,157 3.9 4.1 3.7

 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

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

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,911 3,502 2,651 2.1 2.5 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,721 3,265 2,476 2.4 2.8 2.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 15 22 20 2.1 2.9 2.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 147 205 150 1.9 2.6 1.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 208 284 200 1.5 2.0 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 117 166 114 1.3 1.9 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 91 118 87 1.7 2.3 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 660 733 589 2.5 2.8 2.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 95 114 72 1.6 1.9 1.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 474 540 437 3.1 3.5 2.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 91 78 79 1.8 1.5 1.5

Information...................................................................................... 63 47 44 2.1 1.5 1.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 133 188 119 1.6 2.2 1.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 79 140 83 1.3 2.2 1.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 54 48 36 2.5 2.1 1.6

Professional and business services........................................ 460 503 425 2.6 2.8 2.4

Education and health services................................................................. 295 378 259 1.6 2.1 1.4

Educational services................................................................ 34 40 31 1.2 1.5 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 261 338 228 1.7 2.2 1.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 639 772 554 4.8 5.4 4.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 68 92 74 3.4 4.1 3.6

Accommodations and food services............................... 571 680 481 5.0 5.7 4.1

Other services................................................................................. 102 132 116 1.9 2.4 2.1

Government......................................................................................... 190 238 175 .9 1.1 .8

Federal................................................................................................ 48 35 40 1.8 1.3 1.5

State and local.................................................................................... 142 202 135 .7 1.1 .7

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 494 465 406 1.9 1.8 1.6

South............................................................................................... 1,164 1,437 1,028 2.4 2.9 2.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 615 820 586 1.9 2.6 1.8

West....................................................................................................... 638 780 631 2.1 2.5 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 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

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

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,770 1,819 1,857 1.3 1.3 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,595 1,647 1,724 1.4 1.4 1.5

Natural resources and mining................................................... 9 8 6 1.3 1.1 .8

Construction...................................................................................................... 185 237 220 2.3 3.0 2.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 181 157 180 1.3 1.1 1.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 120 95 108 1.3 1.1 1.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 61 62 71 1.2 1.2 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 310 308 299 1.2 1.2 1.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 59 64 53 1.0 1.1 .9

Retail trade................................................................................. 186 195 194 1.2 1.3 1.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 65 49 52 1.3 1.0 1.0

Information...................................................................................... 16 27 17 .5 .9 .6

Financial activities........................................................................... 53 86 83 .6 1.0 1.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 27 59 51 .4 .9 .8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 26 27 31 1.2 1.2 1.4

Professional and business services........................................ 330 302 332 1.9 1.7 1.8

Education and health services................................................................. 113 179 124 .6 1.0 .7

Educational services................................................................ 24 64 15 .8 2.4 .5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 88 115 109 .6 .7 .7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 328 239 375 2.5 1.7 2.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 175 51 140 8.8 2.3 6.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 152 188 234 1.3 1.6 2.0

Other services................................................................................. 70 103 89 1.3 1.9 1.6

Government......................................................................................... 175 172 133 .8 .8 .6

Federal................................................................................................ 24 24 34 .9 .9 1.3

State and local.................................................................................... 151 149 99 .8 .8 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 374 388 335 1.5 1.5 1.3

South............................................................................................... 531 619 616 1.1 1.3 1.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 387 413 464 1.2 1.3 1.5

West....................................................................................................... 478 398 442 1.6 1.3 1.4

 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

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

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 334 347 304 0.2 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 275 255 228 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 3 5 2 .4 .6 .3

Construction...................................................................................................... 35 11 12 .4 .1 .1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 33 27 24 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 21 19 13 .2 .2 .1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 11 8 11 .2 .1 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 81 68 67 .3 .3 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 8 8 7 .1 .1 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 57 40 48 .4 .3 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 17 20 12 .3 .4 .2

Information...................................................................................... 7 12 7 .2 .4 .2

Financial activities........................................................................... 19 19 20 .2 .2 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 16 12 15 .3 .2 .2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 3 7 6 .1 .3 .2

Professional and business services........................................ 38 50 48 .2 .3 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 30 29 27 .2 .2 .1

Educational services................................................................ 7 5 3 .2 .2 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 23 24 24 .2 .2 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 16 33 13 .1 .2 .1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 3 8 3 .2 .3 .2

Accommodations and food services............................... 13 25 10 .1 .2 .1

Other services................................................................................. 15 3 7 .3 (

4

) .1

Government......................................................................................... 58 91 76 .3 .4 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 23 35 42 .8 1.3 1.5

State and local.................................................................................... 35 56 34 .2 .3 .2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 68 60 70 .3 .2 .3

South............................................................................................... 106 109 84 .2 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 84 83 66 .3 .3 .2

West....................................................................................................... 75 95 84 .2 .3 .3

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

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

3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 

4

 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region