1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 05-995

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Tuesday, June 7, 2005

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 December 2000 - April 2005

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: APRIL 2005

The job openings rate was essentially unchanged in April at 2.7 percent, while the hires rate decreased

to 3.4 percent, and the total separations rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics

of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of

job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of April 2005, there were 3.7 million job openings in the United States, and

the job openings rate was 2.7 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate was little changed in April,

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

the construction sector and increased in professional and business services. The job openings rate did

not change significantly in any of the regions.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) fell to 3.4 percent in April.

(See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In April, the hires rate fell in the private sector overall, in the leisure and hospitality sector, and in the South region.

The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.4 percent in April, the same as in March. Separations are terminations of employment that

occur at any time during the month. (See table 3.) In April, the total separations rate changed significantly

only in the construction sector, where the rate increased.

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 December 2000 - April 2005

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

Separations

Hires

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
2

Total............................................................ 3,598 3,664 4,841 4,507 4,334 4,502 4,588

 Total private ........................................ 3,267 4,203 4,497 4,174 4,090 4,237

Construction ................................... 113 170 378 414 433 397 303 416

Manufacturing ................................ 248 258 360 334 318 348 360 372

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 537 624 644 1,067 1,047 988 1,029 980 984

Professional and business

services ......................................... 528 646 765 720 895 815 816 924 914

Education and health services .... 575 616 617 452 472 483 398 445 424

Leisure and hospitality ................. 383 440 430 756 798 693 695 743 667

Government .......................................... 339 383 395 298 336 325 242 267 256

Total 1......................................................... 2.3 2.6 2.7 3.4 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.4

Total private 1....................................... 2.5 2.8 2.8 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9

Construction ................................... 1.6 2.3 1.5 5.5 5.8 6.0 5.7 4.2 5.8

Manufacturing ................................ 1.7 1.8 1.7 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 2.1 2.4 2.4 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.0 3.8 3.8

Professional and business

services ......................................... 3.1 3.7 4.3 4.4 5.3 4.8 5.0 5.5 5.4

Education and health services .... 3.3 3.5 3.5 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.4 2.6 2.5

Leisure and hospitality ................. 3.0 3.4 3.3 6.1 6.3 5.4 5.6 5.9 5.2

Government .......................................... 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.1 1.2 1.2

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

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

2004 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2005

4,509

2,768

3,111

3,212 4,331

112

253

1

1

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, remained at 1.9 percent in April. (See table 4.) The quits rate did not change significantly for any sector or region in April. The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. From April 2004 to April 2005, the layoffs

and discharges rate (1.2 percent) and the other separations rate (0.2 percent) were unchanged. (See tables

9 and 10.)

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

have averaged 4.6 million per month and separations have averaged 4.3 million per month. The comparable

figures a year earlier were 4.3 million hires and 4.1 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)
3

For More Information

For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site at 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 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,

July 12, 2005.

______________________________
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment

Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if

necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership

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

in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification

process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

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

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and

the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 3,111 3,277 3,507 3,385 3,569 3,598 3,664 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.7

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,768 2,910 3,106 3,020 3,160 3,212 3,267 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8

Construction........................................................................ 113 118 132 127 133 170 112 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.3 1.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 248 248 266 252 252 258 253 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 537 554 561 564 668 624 644 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.4 2.4

Professional and business services......................... 528 620 699 682 607 646 765 3.1 3.6 4.0 3.9 3.5 3.7 4.3

Education and health services................................................. 575 543 557 560 602 616 617 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.5 3.5

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 383 411 450 434 447 440 430 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.3

Government......................................................................................... 339 369 396 346 404 383 395 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.8

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 563 560 620 602 606 615 621 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4

South............................................................................................... 1,216 1,250 1,329 1,342 1,399 1,447 1,501 2.6 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 683 726 740 716 745 737 716 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2

West...................................................................................... 641 759 792 718 823 806 818 2.2 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.8 2.7 2.7

1

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

of the month. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

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

 

3

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

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

 

4

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

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

 

P

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

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

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

Industry and region Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,509 4,990 4,639 4,709 4,760 4,841 4,507 3.4 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 4,203 4,652 4,337 4,374 4,430 4,497 4,174 3.8 4.2 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.0 3.7

Construction........................................................................ 378 373 368 339 430 414 433 5.5 5.3 5.2 4.8 6.0 5.8 6.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 360 386 324 307 336 334 318 2.5 2.7 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,067 1,077 986 1,056 1,055 1,047 988 4.2 4.2 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.1 3.8

Professional and business services......................... 720 935 878 882 853 895 815 4.4 5.6 5.3 5.3 5.1 5.3 4.8

Education and health services................................................. 452 447 452 445 500 472 483 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.8

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 756 858 834 826 771 798 693 6.1 6.8 6.6 6.6 6.1 6.3 5.4

Government......................................................................................... 298 335 307 341 329 336 325 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 832 851 858 762 820 856 838 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.3

South............................................................................................... 1,620 1,903 1,770 1,880 1,867 1,922 1,739 3.5 4.1 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.7

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,006 1,149 1,043 1,092 1,081 1,034 973 3.2 3.7 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.1

West...................................................................................... 1,096 1,014 970 959 1,069 1,036 1,030 3.8 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.7 3.6 3.5

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,334 4,266 4,435 4,352 4,295 4,502 4,588 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 4,090 3,996 4,146 4,091 4,035 4,237 4,331 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.8 3.9

Construction........................................................................ 397 351 355 417 403 303 416 5.7 5.0 5.0 5.9 5.7 4.2 5.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 348 327 353 361 341 360 372 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,029 943 1,062 882 940 980 984 4.0 3.7 4.1 3.4 3.7 3.8 3.8

Professional and business services......................... 816 822 833 836 772 924 914 5.0 4.9 5.0 5.0 4.6 5.5 5.4

Education and health services................................................. 398 408 375 356 389 445 424 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.6 2.5

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 695 727 758 832 790 743 667 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.6 6.3 5.9 5.2

Government......................................................................................... 242 275 274 258 260 267 256 1.1 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 794 756 773 773 732 802 807 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.9 3.2 3.2

South............................................................................................... 1,657 1,594 1,707 1,747 1,647 1,763 1,784 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.7 3.8

Midwest......................................................................................... 917 1,041 986 981 937 1,051 976 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.4 3.1

West...................................................................................... 989 826 953 964 961 926 1,017 3.5 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.5

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Industry and region Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Apr. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,302 2,436 2,495 2,530 2,307 2,516 2,523 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,176 2,319 2,366 2,412 2,192 2,383 2,397 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.1

Construction........................................................................ 151 159 162 171 139 150 148 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.0 2.1 2.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 187 185 194 185 181 186 178 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 563 568 570 563 512 583 567 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.3 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 340 401 415 417 410 424 439 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.6

Education and health services................................................. 239 250 232 230 259 280 285 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.7

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 440 499 506 516 474 458 471 3.5 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.8 3.6 3.7

Government......................................................................................... 130 118 129 124 117 124 126 .6 .5 .6 .6 .5 .6 .6

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 397 359 392 424 340 410 431 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.3 1.6 1.7

South............................................................................................... 911 1,014 1,021 1,053 914 1,003 1,003 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.9 2.1 2.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 486 551 544 539 509 561 513 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.6

West...................................................................................... 530 492 536 530 550 562 598 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.0

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,203 3,607 3,800 2.4 2.7 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,876 3,229 3,417 2.6 2.9 3.0

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 13 10 1.0 2.0 1.6

Construction...................................................................................................... 145 175 139 2.1 2.5 1.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 250 266 257 1.7 1.8 1.8

Durable goods.............................................................................. 166 174 175 1.8 1.9 1.9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 83 92 82 1.5 1.7 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 537 618 651 2.1 2.4 2.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 92 120 116 1.6 2.1 2.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 357 399 436 2.3 2.6 2.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................88 98 99 1.8 2.0 2.0

Information...................................................................................... 68 83 83 2.1 2.6 2.6

Financial activities........................................................................... 198 219 238 2.4 2.6 2.8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 165 184 192 2.7 3.0 3.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 33 35 45 1.6 1.7 2.1

Professional and business services........................................ 525 614 784 3.1 3.6 4.4

Education and health services................................................................. 565 611 615 3.2 3.4 3.4

Educational services................................................................ 51 57 62 1.7 1.9 2.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 514 555 552 3.5 3.7 3.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 454 488 507 3.5 3.8 3.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 47 51 61 2.5 3.0 3.3

Accommodations and food services............................... 407 437 446 3.7 3.9 3.9

Other services................................................................................. 129 142 132 2.3 2.5 2.4

Government......................................................................................... 326 379 383 1.5 1.7 1.7

Federal................................................................................................ 42 48 48 1.5 1.8 1.7

State and local.................................................................................... 285 330 335 1.5 1.7 1.7

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 586 603 648 2.3 2.3 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,246 1,436 1,559 2.6 3.0 3.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 719 777 754 2.3 2.4 2.3

West....................................................................................................... 652 792 839 2.2 2.7 2.8

1

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,766 4,673 4,740 3.6 3.5 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,549 4,443 4,503 4.2 4.0 4.0

Natural resources and mining................................................... 25 24 26 4.3 4.0 4.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 491 469 579 7.2 6.9 8.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 371 351 326 2.6 2.5 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 224 216 191 2.5 2.4 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 147 135 135 2.7 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,063 964 967 4.2 3.8 3.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 178 142 157 3.2 2.5 2.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 742 674 670 5.0 4.5 4.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 143 148 140 3.0 3.0 2.9

Information...................................................................................... 77 80 91 2.4 2.6 2.9

Financial activities........................................................................... 194 198 176 2.4 2.4 2.1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 114 110 117 1.9 1.8 1.9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 80 87 59 3.9 4.2 2.8

Professional and business services........................................ 840 894 931 5.2 5.4 5.5

Education and health services................................................................. 392 443 426 2.3 2.6 2.4

Educational services................................................................ 40 40 41 1.4 1.3 1.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 353 403 384 2.5 2.8 2.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 893 831 798 7.2 6.7 6.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 142 101 148 7.9 6.1 8.3

Accommodations and food services............................... 751 730 649 7.1 6.8 6.0

Other services................................................................................. 203 189 184 3.8 3.5 3.4

Government......................................................................................... 217 230 236 1.0 1.0 1.1

Federal................................................................................................ 41 28 31 1.5 1.0 1.1

State and local.................................................................................... 176 203 205 .9 1.0 1.1

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 802 745 809 3.2 3.0 3.2

South............................................................................................... 1,681 1,922 1,774 3.6 4.1 3.7

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,154 1,004 1,095 3.7 3.2 3.5

West....................................................................................................... 1,129 1,003 1,061 3.9 3.5 3.6

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,994 3,944 4,255 3.0 3.0 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,809 3,764 4,064 3.5 3.4 3.7

Natural resources and mining................................................... 18 19 14 3.0 3.1 2.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 324 278 352 4.8 4.1 5.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 341 329 369 2.4 2.3 2.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 198 198 241 2.2 2.2 2.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 144 131 128 2.7 2.5 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 887 889 853 3.5 3.5 3.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 150 113 134 2.7 2.0 2.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 612 654 617 4.1 4.4 4.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 125 122 102 2.6 2.5 2.1

Information...................................................................................... 80 71 82 2.6 2.3 2.6

Financial activities........................................................................... 140 136 211 1.8 1.7 2.6

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 84 95 130 1.4 1.6 2.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 56 41 81 2.7 2.0 3.8

Professional and business services........................................ 822 854 956 5.0 5.1 5.7

Education and health services................................................................. 352 414 386 2.1 2.4 2.2

Educational services................................................................ 37 46 41 1.3 1.6 1.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 315 368 345 2.2 2.6 2.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 690 611 650 5.6 5.0 5.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 122 67 103 6.8 4.1 5.7

Accommodations and food services............................... 568 544 547 5.4 5.1 5.0

Other services................................................................................. 155 163 192 2.9 3.0 3.5

Government......................................................................................... 185 180 191 .8 .8 .9

Federal................................................................................................ 33 22 25 1.2 .8 .9

State and local.................................................................................... 152 158 166 .8 .8 .9

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 698 664 720 2.8 2.6 2.8

South............................................................................................... 1,572 1,555 1,715 3.4 3.3 3.6

Midwest................................................................................................. 821 886 861 2.6 2.9 2.7

West....................................................................................................... 904 839 959 3.2 2.9 3.3

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,205 2,248 2,421 1.7 1.7 1.8

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,104 2,154 2,322 1.9 2.0 2.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 8 12 8 1.3 1.9 1.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 156 141 151 2.3 2.1 2.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 191 178 179 1.3 1.2 1.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 117 108 106 1.3 1.2 1.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 74 70 73 1.4 1.3 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 529 544 538 2.1 2.1 2.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 61 74 72 1.1 1.3 1.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 416 412 412 2.8 2.8 2.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................52 58 55 1.1 1.2 1.1

Information...................................................................................... 52 45 59 1.7 1.5 1.9

Financial activities........................................................................... 94 78 96 1.2 1.0 1.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 55 58 59 .9 1.0 1.0

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 39 21 37 1.9 1.0 1.8

Professional and business services........................................ 322 408 424 2.0 2.5 2.5

Education and health services................................................................. 220 263 268 1.3 1.5 1.5

Educational services................................................................ 22 25 21 .7 .9 .7

Health care and social assistance.................................. 198 237 247 1.4 1.7 1.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 427 384 453 3.5 3.1 3.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 44 41 48 2.4 2.5 2.7

Accommodations and food services............................... 383 343 405 3.6 3.2 3.7

Other services................................................................................. 106 101 145 1.9 1.8 2.7

Government......................................................................................... 101 94 99 .5 .4 .4

Federal................................................................................................ 18 7 8 .7 .3 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 83 87 91 .4 .4 .5

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 351 343 383 1.4 1.4 1.5

South............................................................................................... 909 897 997 2.0 1.9 2.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 456 493 476 1.5 1.6 1.5

West....................................................................................................... 489 516 565 1.7 1.8 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.

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,526 1,454 1,556 1.2 1.1 1.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,478 1,411 1,504 1.4 1.3 1.4

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

Construction...................................................................................................... 157 131 188 2.3 1.9 2.7

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 122 124 157 .9 .9 1.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 60 74 111 .7 .8 1.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 63 51 45 1.2 1.0 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 299 272 269 1.2 1.1 1.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 75 35 57 1.3 .6 1.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 169 187 177 1.1 1.3 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................54 50 34 1.1 1.0 .7

Information...................................................................................... 19 22 14 .6 .7 .5

Financial activities........................................................................... 25 46 79 .3 .6 1.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 15 30 45 .2 .5 .8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 11 16 34 .5 .8 1.6

Professional and business services........................................ 455 410 477 2.8 2.5 2.8

Education and health services................................................................. 111 136 95 .6 .8 .5

Educational services................................................................ 11 17 14 .4 .6 .5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 100 119 81 .7 .8 .6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 238 214 179 1.9 1.7 1.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 78 25 53 4.3 1.5 3.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 161 189 126 1.5 1.8 1.2

Other services................................................................................. 45 49 42 .8 .9 .8

Government......................................................................................... 48 43 52 .2 .2 .2

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

State and local.................................................................................... 42 38 46 .2 .2 .2

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 295 271 271 1.2 1.1 1.1

South............................................................................................... 556 575 624 1.2 1.2 1.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 310 339 316 1.0 1.1 1.0

West....................................................................................................... 365 269 345 1.3 .9 1.2

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Apr. Mar. Apr. Apr. Mar. Apr.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total........................................................................................................... 263 242 278 .2 .2 .2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 227 199 238 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 4 1 1 .7 .2 .2

Construction...................................................................................................... 11 6 12 .2 .1 .2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 28 27 33 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 21 17 24 .2 .2 .3

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

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 59 73 46 .2 .3 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 13 4 5 .2 .1 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 27 56 28 .2 .4 .2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................19 13 13 .4 .3 .3

Information...................................................................................... 9 4 9 .3 .1 .3

Financial activities........................................................................... 21 11 36 .3 .1 .4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 15 7 26 .2 .1 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 6 4 10 .3 .2 .5

Professional and business services........................................ 44 35 55 .3 .2 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 21 16 22 .1 .1 .1

Educational services................................................................ 4 4 6 .2 .1 .2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 17 11 16 .1 .1 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 25 13 18 .2 .1 .1

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

3

) (

3

) .1

Accommodations and food services............................... 24 12 16 .2 .1 .1

Other services................................................................................. 5 13 4 .1 .2 .1

Government......................................................................................... 36 43 40 .2 .2 .2

Federal................................................................................................ 9 10 11 .3 .4 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 27 32 29 .1 .2 .1

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 53 51 66 .2 .2 .3

South............................................................................................... 106 82 94 .2 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 55 54 69 .2 .2 .2

West....................................................................................................... 49 54 49 .2 .2 .2

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

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

 3 Data round to zero.

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates