For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, March 11, 2011 USDL-11-0307

Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

(NOTE: Data published in this release for the seasonally adjusted total nonfarm and seasonally 

adjusted government sectors are erroneous. The errors are found in the text and in Tables A-H 

and 1-4. Corrected data will be loaded into the JOLTS database on April 13, 2011. More 

information about these errors and corrected revision tables is located at 

http://www.bls.gov/jlt/jolts_corrections_040811.htm.)

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – JANUARY 2011 

There were 2.8 million job openings on the last business day of January 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 

Statistics reported today. The job openings rate (2.1 percent), hires rate (2.8 percent), and total 

separations rate (2.7 percent) were little changed over the month. This release includes estimates of the 

number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and by 

geographic region. This release also includes annual estimates for hires and separations. The annual 

totals for hires and quits increased in 2010 while the annual total for layoffs and discharges decreased.

Job Openings

The number of job openings in January was 2.8 million, little changed from 2.9 million in December. 

(See table 1.) The job openings level has risen since the end of the recession in June 2009 (as designated 

by the National Bureau of Economic Research) but remains well below the 4.4 million openings when 

the recession began in December 2007. 

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

Percent

2010 2009 2011

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

February 2008 - January 2011

NOTE: The shaded area represents the recession that began in Dec. 2007 and ended in June 2009

as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). 

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Hires

Separations

Percent

2009 2010 2011

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

February 2008 - January 2011

NOTE: The shaded area represents the recession that began in Dec. 2007 and ended in June 2009

as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). 

Revisions to the JOLTS Data

The job openings, hires, and separations data in this release have been revised from January 2006 forward to 

incorporate annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics (CES) employment estimates and the Job 

Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) birth/death model and seasonal adjustment factors. See page 5

for more information.
- 2 - 

The number of job openings in January 2011 (not seasonally adjusted) increased from 12 months earlier 

for total nonfarm, total private, several industries, and the South region. The level fell over the year for 

federal government. (See table 5.) 

Hires

In January, the hires rate was essentially unchanged at 2.8 percent. The number of hires decreased in 

construction but was little changed in every other industry and region. (See table 2.) At 3.7 million, the 

number of monthly hires in January was well below the 5.0 million monthly hires in December 2007 

when the recession began. 

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

Industry Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total ......................................................2,399 2,921 2,760 3,585 3,905 3,712 3,542 3,836 3,555

Total private 1

....................................... 2,020 2,500 2,454 3,311 3,631 3,453 3,274 3,539 3,297

Construction....................................... 61 44 62 344 356 247 410 393 280

Manufacturing.................................... 118 184 197 231 264 247 218 252 188

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2

......... 316 463 489 698 756 785 696 718 755

Retail trade..................................... 218 268 283 507 476 535 475 470 514

Professional and business services......... 381 609 494 681 780 775 640 735 730

Education and health services............... 519 510 498 409 465 434 373 450 401

Leisure and hospitality ........................ 221 270 279 593 596 590 597 583 594

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...... 14 41 39 89 98 89 99 98 90

Accommodation and food services...... 208 229 240 504 498 502 498 485 503

Government 3

..................................... 379 421 306 274 274 259 268 297 258

 State and local government.................. 226 319 239 233 242 229 248 269 227

Total ................................................... 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.8 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.9 2.7

Total private 1

....................................... 1.9 2.3 2.2 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.1

Construction....................................... 1.1 0.8 1.1 6.2 6.5 4.5 7.3 7.2 5.1

Manufacturing.................................... 1.0 1.6 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.1 1.9 2.2 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2

......... 1.3 1.8 1.9 2.8 3.1 3.2 2.8 2.9 3.0

Retail trade.................................... 1.5 1.8 1.9 3.5 3.3 3.7 3.3 3.3 3.6

Professional and business services......... 2.3 3.5 2.8 4.1 4.6 4.6 3.9 4.3 4.3

Education and health services............... 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.1 2.4 2.2 1.9 2.3 2.0

Leisure and hospitality ........................ 1.7 2.0 2.1 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...... 0.7 2.1 2.0 4.7 5.2 4.7 5.2 5.2 4.8

Accommodation and food services...... 1.8 2.0 2.1 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.3 4.5

Government 3

..................................... 1.7 1.9 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2

 State and local government.................. 1.1 1.6 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.2

 1 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not show n separately.

 2 Includes w holesale trade and transportation, w arehousing, and utilities, not show n separately.

 3 Includes federal government, not show n separately.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)
- 3 - 

Over the 12 months ending in January, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for 

total nonfarm, total private, and government. The hires rate fell over the year in construction and federal 

government but rose in wholesale trade. The rate also fell in the Northeast region. (See table 6.)

Separations 

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

separations), and other separations (including retirements). The total separations, or turnover, rate was

little changed at 2.7 percent in January. Over the 12 months ending in January, the total separations rate 

(not seasonally adjusted) was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm, total private, and government. 

(See tables 3 and 7.)

The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to change jobs. In January, the 

quits rate declined for total private (to 1.4 percent) but was little changed for total nonfarm (1.3 percent) 

and government (0.5 percent). (See table 4.) The number of monthly quits in January (1.7 million) 

remains well below the 2.8 million monthly quits in December 2007 when the recession began. 

Although still low, the number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in January 2011 was higher than in 

January 2010 for total nonfarm and total private. Professional and business services and federal 

government were the only industries with a rise in quits over the 12 months. (See table 8.) 

The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is seasonally adjusted at the total nonfarm, 

total private, and government levels. The layoffs and discharges rate was essentially unchanged in 

January for total nonfarm and total private but fell for government. After peaking at 2.5 million in 

February 2009, the number of layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm fell to a series low of 1.5 million 

in January 2011. (See table B below.) 

The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) declined over the 12 months ending in 

January for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Construction, durable goods manufacturing, 

and state and local government experienced a decline in the number of layoffs and discharges over the 

year. (See table 9.) 

The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In January, there were 440,000 other separations 

for total nonfarm, 370,000 for total private, and 70,000 for government. Compared to January 2010, the 

number of other separations was little changed for total nonfarm and total private but higher for 

government. (See table 10.)

Table B. Layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total...............................................................1,707 1,677 1,519 1.3 1.3 1.2

Total private...................................................1,589 1,549 1,431 1.5 1.4 1.3

Government................................................... 118 128 88 0.5 0.6 0.4

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics

employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.

Industry

Levels (in thousands) Rates (percent)
- 4 - 

Relative Contributions to Separations 

The total separations level is influenced by the relative contribution of its three components—quits, 

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. The percentage of total separations at the total nonfarm 

level attributable to the individual components has varied over time, but for the majority of the months 

since the series began in December 2000, the proportion of quits has exceeded the proportion of layoffs 

and discharges. Other separations is historically a very small portion of total separations; it has rarely 

been above 10 percent of the total.

Since February 2010, the proportions of quits and of layoffs and discharges at the total nonfarm level

have been close. In January 2011, the proportion of quits for total nonfarm was 47 percent and the 

proportion of layoffs and discharges was 43 percent. The proportions for total private were the same as 

for total nonfarm. For government, the proportions were 39 percent quits and 34 percent layoffs and 

discharges. (See table C below.)

Net Change in Employment

Over the 12 months ending in January, hires (not seasonally adjusted) totaled 47.3 million and 

separations (not seasonally adjusted) totaled 46.3 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.0 million

at the total nonfarm level. These figures include workers who may have been hired and separated more 

than once during the year. Nearly half of the hires and nearly half of the separations during these 12 

months occurred in three industries: retail trade; professional and business services; and 

accommodation and food services. The large share of total hires and separations accounted for by these 

three industries reflects the size of the industries as well as their relatively high hires and separations 

rates.

Annual Levels and Rates 

This release contains the 2010 annual levels and rates for hires, total separations, quits, layoffs and 

discharges, and other separations. Note that annual figures for job openings are not calculated because 

job openings are measured on a stock, or point-in-time, basis rather than on a flow basis over a specified 

time period. The annual figures and additional tables are published with the release of January data each 

year. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) 

Calculating annual levels and rates allows additional comparisons across years. After 3 years of 

declines, annual levels for hires, quits, and other separations increased slightly in 2010. Layoffs and 

discharges annual levels were down in 2010 after three consecutive years of increases. Total separations 

annual levels declined for a fourth year in a row. These figures reflect the effects of the economic 

Table C. Quits and layoffs and discharges as a percentage of total separations, seasonally adjusted

(Levels in thousands)

Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total

Total .................................... 1,482 42% 1,838 48% 1,659 47% 1,707 48% 1,677 44% 1,519 43%

Total private...........................1,387 42% 1,731 49% 1,559 47% 1,589 49% 1,549 44% 1,431 43%

Government........................... 95 35% 107 36% 100 39% 118 44% 128 43% 88 34%

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.

Industry

Quits Layoffs and discharges

Jan.

2010

Dec.

2010

Jan.

2011p

Jan.

2010

Dec.

2010

Jan.

2011p
- 5 - 

recovery since the end of the recession as well as the hiring and laying off of temporary workers for the 

Census 2010. 

In 2010, annual hires increased to 47.2 million (36.4 percent of employment) and annual total 

separations fell to 46.3 million (35.7 percent of employment). Annual quits increased slightly to 21.3 

million (16.4 percent of employment) in 2010 after falling to 20.6 million (15.7 percent of employment) 

in 2009. Annual other separations also increased slightly in 2010 to 3.8 million (2.9 percent of 

employment). Annual layoffs and discharges decreased in 2010 to 21.2 million (16.4 percent of 

employment) after reaching 26.3 million (20.1 percent of employment) in 2009. (See tables 11 through 

20.) 

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for February 2011 are scheduled to be 

released on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

Revisions to Job Openings and Labor Turnover Data

In accordance with annual practice, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data have 

been revised to reflect annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics (CES), or establishment 

survey, employment estimates. The JOLTS employment levels (not published) are ratio-adjusted to the 

CES employment levels, and the resulting ratios are applied to all JOLTS data elements. This annual 

benchmark process resulted in revisions to all not seasonally adjusted JOLTS data series from April 

2009 forward, the time period since the last benchmark was established. Additionally, the seasonally 

adjusted JOLTS data series have been recalculated from January 2006 forward to reflect updated 

seasonal adjustment factors. Further, the new methodology incorporated in 2009 to more closely align 

the hires and separations estimates with the monthly payroll employment change created a dependency 

of the not seasonally adjusted estimates on the seasonal adjustment process. Therefore, the not 

seasonally adjusted data series have been recalculated from January 2006 forward to reflect the updated 

seasonal adjustment factors’ effect on the alignment process.

The revised JOLTS estimates covering the period from January 2006 forward show substantial 

downward revisions in most data elements beginning in early 2008. These revisions are largely the result 

of updates made to the JOLTS birth/death model. The birth/death model was implemented in 2009 in 

order to provide an estimate for that part of the population that cannot be captured in the traditional 

sample. (See the technical note for a more complete description of the birth/death model.) 

The birth/death model was initially developed using Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 

(QCEW) data from the period 2000-2007. The birth/death model estimates used in JOLTS monthly 

estimation since 2008 were based on a forecast that used the period 2000-2007 as a baseline. With this 

release, JOLTS estimates for April 2008 forward include the most up to date QCEW values available, 

January 2008 through June 2010. In the future, the JOLTS birth/death model estimates will be updated 

each year as part of the annual retabulation process.

Incorporating the QCEW data for 2008 forward into the birth/death model enabled the model to more 

fully reflect the recent recession, resulting in a sizeable downward trend in the number of establishment 

births and the number of hires and separations from those new establishments. The previously published 

estimates based on the birth/death model using 2000-2007 QCEW data consequently overestimated 

hires, job openings, and separations.
- 6 - 

Tables D through I present revised total nonfarm data for January through December 2010. The 

December 2010 revisions also reflect the routine incorporation of additional sample receipts into the 

final December estimates. Table D (job openings), table E (hires), table F (total separations), table G 

(quits), and table H (layoffs and discharges) present revised data on a seasonally adjusted basis, 

incorporating the new seasonal adjustment factors, benchmark level, and birth/death model update. 

Table I (other separations) present revisions on a not seasonally adjusted basis since that series is not 

adjusted. 

The BLS website contains all revised historical seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted JOLTS 

data. The data can be accessed through the JOLTS homepage at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/. 

Further information on the revisions released today may be obtained by calling (202) 691-5870 or via 

the Internet on the JOLTS homepage. 

Table D. Revisions in job openings data, January-December 2010, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2010

January........................... 2,854 2,399 -455 2.2 1.8 -0.4

February........................... 2,647 2,489 -158 2.0 1.9 -.1

March.............................. 2,785 2,649 -136 2.1 2.0 -.1

April.............................. 3,302 2,756 -546 2.5 2.1 -.4

May.............................. 2,939 2,777 -162 2.2 2.1 -.1

June............................... 2,864 2,678 -186 2.1 2.0 -.1

July................................. 3,141 2,845 -296 2.4 2.1 -.3

August........................... 3,092 2,862 -230 2.3 2.2 -.1

September........................ 3,011 2,756 -255 2.3 2.1 -.2

October........................... 3,328 2,905 -423 2.5 2.2 -.3

November........................ 3,202 2,966 -236 2.4 2.2 -.2

December........................ 3,063 2,921 -142 2.3 2.2 -.1

Year and month
- 7 - 

Table E. Revisions in hires data, January-December 2010, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2010

January........................... 4,087 3,585 -502 3.2 2.8 -0.4

February........................... 4,011 3,766 -245 3.1 2.9 -.2

March.............................. 4,331 4,087 -244 3.3 3.2 -.1

April.............................. 4,292 3,892 -400 3.3 3.0 -.3

May.............................. 4,581 3,905 -676 3.5 3.0 -.5

June............................... 4,250 3,933 -317 3.3 3.0 -.3

July................................. 4,275 3,926 -349 3.3 3.0 -.3

August........................... 4,156 3,882 -274 3.2 3.0 -.2

September........................ 4,208 3,868 -340 3.2 3.0 -.2

October........................... 4,249 3,865 -384 3.3 3.0 -.3

November........................ 4,214 3,943 -271 3.2 3.0 -.2

December........................ 4,184 3,905 -279 3.2 3.0 -.2

Year and month

Table F. Revisions in total separations data, January-December 2010, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2010

January........................... 4,155 3,542 -613 3.2 2.7 -0.5

February........................... 3,969 3,793 -176 3.1 2.9 -.2

March.............................. 4,048 3,872 -176 3.1 3.0 -.1

April.............................. 4,013 3,633 -380 3.1 2.8 -.3

May.............................. 4,146 3,897 -249 3.2 3.0 -.2

June............................... 4,436 3,929 -507 3.4 3.0 -.4

July................................. 4,390 3,879 -511 3.4 3.0 -.4

August........................... 4,210 3,877 -333 3.2 3.0 -.2

September........................ 4,139 3,827 -312 3.2 2.9 -.3

October........................... 4,084 3,697 -387 3.1 2.8 -.3

November........................ 4,154 3,868 -286 3.2 3.0 -.2

December........................ 4,162 3,836 -326 3.2 2.9 -.3

Year and month
- 8 - 

Table G. Revisions in quits data, January-December 2010, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2010 

January........................... 1,772 1,482 -290 1.4 1.1 -0.3

February........................... 1,851 1,782 -69 1.4 1.4 .0

March.............................. 1,918 1,803 -115 1.5 1.4 -.1

April.............................. 1,972 1,738 -234 1.5 1.3 -.2

May.............................. 1,929 1,815 -114 1.5 1.4 -.1

June............................... 1,951 1,833 -118 1.5 1.4 -.1

July................................. 1,974 1,780 -194 1.5 1.4 -.1

August........................... 1,998 1,839 -159 1.5 1.4 -.1

September........................ 1,983 1,839 -144 1.5 1.4 -.1

October........................... 1,997 1,755 -242 1.5 1.3 -.2

November........................ 1,921 1,756 -165 1.5 1.3 -.2

December........................ 1,991 1,838 -153 1.5 1.4 -.1

Year and month

Table H. Revisions in layoffs and discharges data, January-December 2010, seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2010 

January........................... 1,953 1,707 -246 1.5 1.3 -0.2

February........................... 1,823 1,753 -70 1.4 1.4 .0

March.............................. 1,821 1,785 -36 1.4 1.4 .0

April.............................. 1,760 1,585 -175 1.4 1.2 -.2

May.............................. 1,904 1,786 -118 1.5 1.4 -.1

June............................... 2,139 1,794 -345 1.6 1.4 -.2

July................................. 2,112 1,819 -293 1.6 1.4 -.2

August........................... 1,861 1,697 -164 1.4 1.3 -.1

September........................ 1,808 1,642 -166 1.4 1.3 -.1

October........................... 1,755 1,631 -124 1.3 1.3 .0

November........................ 1,854 1,738 -116 1.4 1.3 -.1

December........................ 1,838 1,677 -161 1.4 1.3 -.1

Year and month
- 9 - 

Table I. Revisions in other separations data, January-December 2010, not seasonally adjusted

Levels (in thousands) Rates

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

As

previously

 published

As revised Difference

2010 

January........................... 532 380 -152 0.4 0.3 -0.1

February........................... 277 273 -4 0.2 0.2 .0

March.............................. 300 283 -17 0.2 0.2 .0

April.............................. 359 277 -82 0.3 0.2 -.1

May.............................. 304 303 -1 0.2 0.2 .0

June............................... 389 375 -14 0.3 0.3 .0

July................................. 431 365 -66 0.3 0.3 .0

August........................... 359 385 26 0.3 0.3 .0

September........................ 354 341 -13 0.3 0.3 .0

October........................... 302 249 -53 0.2 0.2 .0

November........................ 287 268 -19 0.2 0.2 .0

December........................ 332 311 -21 0.3 0.2 -.1

Year and month
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

 In a monthly survey of business establishments, data 

are collected for total employment, job openings, hires, 

quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. 

Data collection methods include computer-assisted 

telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, web, fax, 

e-mail, 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 2007 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. Fulltime, 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 fulltime, 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, fulltime 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 are 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.

Special collection procedures

 An implied measure of employment change can be 

derived from the JOLTS data by subtracting separations from hires for a given month. Aggregating 

these monthly changes historically produced employment levels that overstated employment change as 

measured by CES at the total nonfarm level. Research 

into this problem showed that a significant amount of 

the divergence between the CES employment levels 

and the derived JOLTS employment levels was traceable to the Employment Services industry and to the 

State Government Education industry. In the former 

industry, businesses have a difficult time reporting 

hires and separations of temporary help workers. In 

the latter industry, employers have difficulty reporting 

hires and separations of student workers. BLS now devotes additional resources to the collection, editing, and 

review of data for these industries. BLS analysts more 

closely examine reported data that do not provide a 

consistent picture over time, and re-contact the 

respondents as necessary. Analysts work with the 

respondents to adjust their reporting practices as 

possible. Units that cannot be reconciled but are clearly incorrect on a consistent basis are not used; they are 

replaced by imputed values using standard techniques.

Sample and estimation methodology

 The JOLTS survey 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 9.1 million establishments compiled 

as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of 

Employment and Wages (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. The JOLTS sample is 

constructed from individual panels of sample units 

drawn on an annual basis. The full annual sample consists of one certainty panel composed of only large 

units selected with virtual certainty based on their size 

and 24 non-certainty panels. Each month a new noncertainty panel is rolled into collection, and the oldest 

non-certainty panel is rolled out. This means that at 

any given time the JOLTS sample is constructed from 

panels from three different annual sampling frames. 

The entire sample of old plus new panels is poststratified and re-weighted annually to represent the 

most recent sampling frame. Additionally, the out-ofbusiness establishments are removed from the old 

panels. The annual sample is supplemented with a 

quarterly sample of birth establishments (i.e., new 

establishments) to better reflect the impact of younger 

establishments in the JOLTS sample.

 JOLTS total employment estimates are benchmarked 

monthly 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. 

JOLTS business birth/death model

 As with any sample survey, the JOLTS sample can 

only be as current as its sampling frame. The time lag 

from the birth of an establishment until its appearance 

on the sampling frame is approximately one year. In 

addition, many of these new units may fail within the 

first year. Since these universe units cannot be reflected on the sampling frame immediately, the JOLTS 

sample cannot capture job openings, hires, and sepa-
rations from these units during their early existence. 

BLS has developed a model to estimate birth/death 

activity for current months by examining the birth/

death activity from previous years on the QCEW and 

projecting forward to the present using an econometric 

technique known as X-12 ARIMA modeling. The 

birth/death model also uses historical JOLTS data to 

estimate the amount of “churn” (hires and separations) 

that exists in establishments of various sizes. The 

model then combines the estimated churn with the 

projected employment change to estimate the number 

of hires and separations taking place in these units that 

cannot be measured through sampling. 

 The model-based estimate of total separations is 

distributed to the three components—quits; layoffs and 

discharges; and other separations—in proportion to 

their contribution to the sample-based estimate of total 

separations. Additionally, job openings for the modeled units are estimated by computing the ratio of 

openings to hires in the collected data and applying that 

ratio to the modeled hires. The estimates of job openings, hires, and separations produced by the birth/death 

model are then added to the sample-based estimates 

produced from the survey to arrive at the estimates for 

openings, hires, and separations.

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.

 JOLTS uses moving averages as seasonal filters in 

seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment 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.

Alignment procedure

 JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable 

to the CES net employment change. However, definitional differences as well as sampling and nonsampling errors between the two surveys historically 

caused JOLTS to diverge from CES over time. To limit 

the divergence, and improve the quality of the JOLTS 

hires and separations series, BLS implemented the 

Monthly Alignment Method. The Monthly Alignment Method applies the CES employment trends to 

the seasonally adjusted JOLTS implied employment 

trend (hires minus separations) forcing them to be 

approximately the same, while preserving the seasonality of the JOLTS data. First, the two series are 

seasonally adjusted and the difference between the 

JOLTS implied employment trend and the CES net 

employment change is calculated. Next, the JOLTS 

implied employment trend is adjusted to equal the CES 

net employment change through a proportional adjustment. This proportional adjustment procedure adjusts 

the two components (hires, separations) proportionally 

to their contribution to the total churn (hires plus separations). For example, if hires are 40 percent of the 

churn for a given month, they will receive 40 percent 

of the needed adjustment and separations will receive 

60 percent of the needed adjustment. The adjusted hires 

and separations are converted back to not seasonally 

adjusted data by reversing the application of the original seasonal factors. After the Monthly Alignment 

Method has been used to adjust the level estimates, rate 

estimates are computed from the adjusted levels. The 

monthly alignment procedure assures a close match of 

the JOLTS implied employment trend with the CES 

trend. The CES series is considered a highly accurate 

measure of net employment change owing to its very 

large sample size and annual benchmarking to universe 

counts of employment from the QCEW program.

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 to 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.

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.

Other information

 Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice 

phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 

877-8339.
Table 1. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p

Total......................................................2,399 2,862 2,756 2,905 2,966 2,921 2,760 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4.......................................2,020 2,556 2,429 2,560 2,639 2,500 2,454 1.9 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.2

Construction.................................... 61 54 68 69 94 44 62 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.7 .8 1.1

Manufacturing................................. 118 173 183 193 213 184 197 1.0 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5...... 316 409 419 445 430 463 489 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.9

Retail trade................................. 218 250 239 272 248 268 283 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.9

Professional and business services...... 381 613 554 575 647 609 494 2.3 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.7 3.5 2.8

Education and health services............ 519 477 510 569 528 510 498 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.8 2.6 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality ........................ 221 350 284 274 253 270 279 1.7 2.6 2.1 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 14 37 35 27 30 41 39 .7 1.9 1.8 1.4 1.5 2.1 2.0

Accommodation and food services... 208 313 248 247 224 229 240 1.8 2.7 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1

Government 6....................................... 379 305 326 345 327 421 306 1.7 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.9 1.4

State and local government............... 226 228 239 272 244 319 239 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.2 1.6 1.2

REGION 7

Northeast....................................... 455 594 559 605 603 548 524 1.8 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.1

South............................................. 823 1,035 1,015 1,084 1,053 1,023 970 1.7 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.0

Midwest.......................................... 473 612 540 584 634 617 517 1.6 2.0 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.0 1.7

West............................................. 572 685 648 740 769 829 622 2.0 2.3 2.2 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.1

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the 7

 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 and because not all series are shown. Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 

 4 Includes mining and logging, 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 federal government, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the

Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS

seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p

Total......................................................3,585 3,882 3,868 3,865 3,943 3,905 3,712 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private 4.......................................3,311 3,627 3,614 3,580 3,668 3,631 3,453 3.1 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.2

Construction.................................... 344 332 327 331 324 356 247 6.2 6.0 5.9 6.0 5.9 6.5 4.5

Manufacturing................................. 231 259 240 259 272 264 247 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5...... 698 749 776 777 799 756 785 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.2

Retail trade................................. 507 528 539 545 548 476 535 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.7

Professional and business services...... 681 777 747 730 761 780 775 4.1 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.6

Education and health services............ 409 471 487 465 491 465 434 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.2

Leisure and hospitality ........................ 593 628 645 596 590 596 590 4.6 4.8 4.9 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 89 102 110 87 94 98 89 4.7 5.3 5.7 4.6 5.0 5.2 4.7

Accommodation and food services... 504 527 535 508 496 498 502 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.5

Government 6....................................... 274 254 254 285 275 274 259 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2

State and local government............... 233 221 224 250 243 242 229 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2

REGION 7

Northeast....................................... 749 669 724 690 701 680 604 3.0 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.4

South............................................. 1,311 1,463 1,427 1,449 1,572 1,513 1,396 2.8 3.1 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.0

Midwest.......................................... 829 898 854 880 879 878 873 2.8 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

West............................................. 820 844 851 839 883 806 893 2.9 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 2.8 3.1

 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 federal government, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal 7 See footnote 7, table 1. 

adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. p

 = preliminary. 4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the

other services, not shown separately. Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS

seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p

Total................................................... 3,542 3,877 3,827 3,697 3,868 3,836 3,555 2.7 3.0 2.9 2.8 3.0 2.9 2.7

INDUSTRY

Total private 4.................................... 3,274 3,556 3,526 3,436 3,568 3,539 3,297 3.1 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.1

Construction.................................... 410 320 330 323 342 393 280 7.3 5.8 6.0 5.9 6.2 7.2 5.1

Manufacturing................................. 218 279 245 266 265 252 188 1.9 2.4 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5...... 696 769 763 741 773 718 755 2.8 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.1 2.9 3.0

Retail trade................................. 475 545 531 527 541 470 514 3.3 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.3 3.6

Professional and business services...... 640 757 742 709 687 735 730 3.9 4.5 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.3 4.3

Education and health services............ 373 429 460 408 460 450 401 1.9 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.0

Leisure and hospitality ..................... 597 601 607 613 595 583 594 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 99 103 104 106 99 98 90 5.2 5.4 5.4 5.6 5.2 5.2 4.8

Accommodation and food services... 498 498 503 507 497 485 503 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.5

Government 6.................................... 268 322 302 260 299 297 258 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2

State and local government............... 248 289 266 220 263 269 227 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.2

REGION 7

Northeast....................................... 747 662 647 677 715 598 545 3.0 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.9 2.4 2.2

South............................................. 1,269 1,448 1,422 1,288 1,407 1,476 1,428 2.7 3.1 3.0 2.7 3.0 3.1 3.0

Midwest.......................................... 764 859 890 821 890 841 873 2.6 2.9 3.0 2.8 3.0 2.8 3.0

West............................................. 834 800 836 781 829 759 790 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.9 2.7 2.8

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities 

month. not shown separately. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 7

 See footnote 7, table 1. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent p = preliminary.

seasonal adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the 4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS

and other services, not shown separately. seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2011p

Total................................................... 1,482 1,839 1,839 1,755 1,756 1,838 1,659 1.1 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4.................................... 1,387 1,726 1,723 1,654 1,653 1,731 1,559 1.3 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.4

Construction.................................... 71 77 80 77 56 81 59 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.0 1.5 1.1

Manufacturing................................. 68 101 93 95 103 107 87 .6 .9 .8 .8 .9 .9 .7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5...... 306 398 411 376 388 373 342 1.2 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.4

Retail trade................................. 223 299 319 291 292 274 250 1.5 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.7

Professional and business services...... 251 363 337 342 317 335 334 1.5 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0

Education and health services............ 214 230 235 228 248 244 210 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.1

Leisure and hospitality ..................... 342 366 358 357 335 368 350 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation... 43 36 38 43 37 41 28 2.3 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.2 1.5

Accommodation and food services... 299 330 320 314 297 327 321 2.7 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.9 2.9

Government 6.................................... 95 113 115 101 102 107 100 .4 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5

State and local government............... 91 103 106 89 91 98 92 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5

REGION 7

Northeast....................................... 215 307 261 266 248 251 208 .9 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 .8

South............................................. 639 734 760 679 702 761 639 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.4

Midwest.......................................... 288 425 374 414 403 411 353 1.0 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2

West............................................. 286 401 382 377 367 343 345 1.0 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2

 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 federal government, not shown separately. 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 7 See footnote 7, table 1. 

seasonal adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. p

 = preliminary. 4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the

and other services, not shown separately. Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS

seasonal adjustment factors.

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

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total............................................................ 2,542 2,583 2,912 2.0 1.9 2.2

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 2,156 2,215 2,608 2.0 2.0 2.4

Mining and logging.................................... 8 21 28 1.2 2.8 3.8

Construction............................................. 58 33 58 1.1 .6 1.1

Manufacturing.......................................... 124 159 207 1.1 1.3 1.8

Durable goods....................................... 70 108 142 1.0 1.5 2.0

Nondurable goods.................................... 54 50 65 1.2 1.1 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 309 353 475 1.3 1.4 1.9

Wholesale trade....................................... 66 64 120 1.2 1.1 2.2

Retail trade............................................. 209 192 271 1.4 1.3 1.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 34 97 84 .7 2.0 1.7

Information................................................ 106 73 85 3.8 2.6 3.1

Financial activities...................................... 161 181 237 2.1 2.3 3.0

Finance and insurance.............................. 132 160 208 2.3 2.7 3.5

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 29 20 28 1.5 1.0 1.5

Professional and business services............... 433 594 562 2.6 3.4 3.3

Education and health services..................... 556 492 533 2.8 2.4 2.6

Educational services................................. 30 41 55 1.0 1.2 1.8

Health care and social assistance............... 526 451 478 3.1 2.6 2.8

Leisure and hospitality................................. 218 205 272 1.7 1.6 2.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 12 28 35 .7 1.6 2.0

Accommodation and food services............ 206 177 237 1.9 1.6 2.2

Other services.......................................... 184 105 151 3.4 1.9 2.7

Government................................................ 386 367 304 1.7 1.6 1.4

Federal................................................... 169 81 72 5.6 2.8 2.5

State and local........................................... 217 286 231 1.1 1.4 1.2

REGION 3

Northeast................................................ 520 451 609 2.1 1.8 2.4

South...................................................... 892 919 1,055 1.9 1.9 2.2

Midwest................................................... 503 530 557 1.7 1.7 1.9

West...................................................... 628 683 691 2.2 2.3 2.4

 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 7, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total............................................................ 3,429 2,841 3,539 2.7 2.2 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 3,161 2,680 3,294 3.0 2.5 3.1

Mining and logging.................................... 24 12 19 3.6 1.7 2.6

Construction............................................. 307 219 221 5.9 4.1 4.4

Manufacturing.......................................... 258 157 270 2.3 1.4 2.3

Durable goods....................................... 179 93 177 2.6 1.3 2.5

Nondurable goods.................................... 80 64 93 1.8 1.4 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 572 614 650 2.3 2.4 2.7

Wholesale trade....................................... 90 84 140 1.7 1.5 2.6

Retail trade............................................. 394 367 413 2.8 2.5 2.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 89 164 98 1.9 3.4 2.1

Information................................................ 53 55 63 2.0 2.0 2.4

Financial activities...................................... 147 137 134 1.9 1.8 1.8

Finance and insurance.............................. 94 83 84 1.7 1.5 1.5

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 53 54 50 2.7 2.8 2.6

Professional and business services............... 756 629 862 4.7 3.7 5.2

Education and health services..................... 406 328 423 2.1 1.6 2.2

Educational services................................. 56 32 68 1.8 1.0 2.2

Health care and social assistance............... 350 296 355 2.2 1.8 2.1

Leisure and hospitality................................. 490 417 482 4.0 3.3 3.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 69 70 66 4.1 4.0 3.9

Accommodation and food services............ 421 348 417 4.0 3.2 3.9

Other services.......................................... 147 112 170 2.8 2.1 3.2

Government................................................ 268 161 245 1.2 .7 1.1

Federal................................................... 51 23 31 1.8 .8 1.1

State and local........................................... 218 138 214 1.1 .7 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast................................................ 678 505 556 2.8 2.0 2.3

South...................................................... 1,303 1,125 1,397 2.8 2.4 3.0

Midwest................................................... 727 613 777 2.5 2.1 2.7

West...................................................... 722 598 809 2.6 2.1 2.9

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 7, table 1. p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total............................................................ 4,309 3,764 4,256 3.4 2.9 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 4,046 3,516 4,005 3.9 3.2 3.8

Mining and logging.................................... 21 23 19 3.2 3.1 2.6

Construction............................................. 549 445 378 10.6 8.3 7.5

Manufacturing.......................................... 305 227 257 2.7 2.0 2.2

Durable goods....................................... 199 126 131 2.9 1.8 1.8

Nondurable goods.................................... 106 102 126 2.4 2.3 2.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 950 794 1,026 3.9 3.1 4.2

Wholesale trade....................................... 127 105 139 2.3 1.9 2.5

Retail trade............................................. 659 506 709 4.6 3.4 4.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 165 183 178 3.5 3.7 3.8

Information................................................ 70 70 73 2.6 2.6 2.7

Financial activities...................................... 213 145 189 2.8 1.9 2.5

Finance and insurance.............................. 126 92 100 2.2 1.6 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 87 52 89 4.6 2.7 4.7

Professional and business services............... 720 808 819 4.4 4.7 4.9

Education and health services..................... 428 402 439 2.2 2.0 2.2

Educational services................................. 53 52 69 1.8 1.6 2.2

Health care and social assistance............... 374 350 370 2.3 2.1 2.2

Leisure and hospitality................................. 616 489 610 5.0 3.8 4.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 84 75 74 5.0 4.3 4.4

Accommodation and food services............ 532 414 536 5.0 3.8 5.0

Other services.......................................... 175 113 194 3.3 2.1 3.6

Government................................................ 263 249 251 1.2 1.1 1.1

Federal................................................... 32 25 47 1.1 .9 1.7

State and local........................................... 231 224 204 1.2 1.1 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast................................................ 956 646 688 3.9 2.6 2.8

South...................................................... 1,494 1,399 1,671 3.2 2.9 3.6

Midwest................................................... 920 935 1,035 3.2 3.1 3.6

West...................................................... 938 784 863 3.4 2.7 3.1

 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 7, table 1. p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total............................................................ 1,576 1,518 1,744 1.2 1.2 1.4

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 1,481 1,437 1,644 1.4 1.3 1.6

Mining and logging.................................... 7 7 7 1.1 1.0 1.0

Construction............................................. 65 62 53 1.2 1.2 1.0

Manufacturing.......................................... 72 71 89 .6 .6 .8

Durable goods....................................... 34 37 43 .5 .5 .6

Nondurable goods.................................... 38 34 46 .9 .8 1.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 344 331 381 1.4 1.3 1.6

Wholesale trade....................................... 38 32 47 .7 .6 .9

Retail trade............................................. 253 250 281 1.8 1.7 2.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 53 49 53 1.1 1.0 1.1

Information................................................ 16 36 27 .6 1.3 1.0

Financial activities...................................... 66 68 75 .9 .9 1.0

Finance and insurance.............................. 48 41 46 .8 .7 .8

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 18 27 29 .9 1.4 1.5

Professional and business services............... 255 289 335 1.6 1.7 2.0

Education and health services..................... 239 203 230 1.2 1.0 1.2

Educational services................................. 29 22 32 1.0 .7 1.0

Health care and social assistance............... 209 181 198 1.3 1.1 1.2

Leisure and hospitality................................. 341 298 351 2.8 2.3 2.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 36 28 23 2.1 1.6 1.4

Accommodation and food services............ 305 270 328 2.9 2.4 3.1

Other services.......................................... 77 72 96 1.5 1.3 1.8

Government................................................ 95 81 100 .4 .4 .5

Federal................................................... 6 7 13 .2 .2 .5

State and local........................................... 88 75 87 .5 .4 .4

REGION 3

Northeast................................................ 240 219 249 1.0 .9 1.0

South...................................................... 698 641 707 1.5 1.4 1.5

Midwest................................................... 321 367 396 1.1 1.2 1.4

West...................................................... 317 291 392 1.1 1.0 1.4

 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 7, table 1. p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total............................................................ 2,353 1,935 2,072 1.8 1.5 1.6

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 2,244 1,831 1,991 2.1 1.7 1.9

Mining and logging.................................... 11 13 10 1.7 1.8 1.4

Construction............................................. 467 380 314 9.0 7.0 6.2

Manufacturing.......................................... 206 128 143 1.8 1.1 1.2

Durable goods....................................... 149 68 72 2.1 1.0 1.0

Nondurable goods.................................... 57 60 71 1.3 1.4 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 515 407 544 2.1 1.6 2.2

Wholesale trade....................................... 72 64 56 1.3 1.2 1.0

Retail trade............................................. 365 222 381 2.6 1.5 2.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 78 121 107 1.7 2.5 2.3

Information................................................ 44 30 29 1.6 1.1 1.1

Financial activities...................................... 103 60 91 1.3 .8 1.2

Finance and insurance.............................. 40 36 36 .7 .6 .6

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 63 24 56 3.3 1.2 2.9

Professional and business services............... 410 459 404 2.5 2.7 2.4

Education and health services..................... 150 157 143 .8 .8 .7

Educational services................................. 19 24 27 .6 .7 .9

Health care and social assistance............... 130 133 116 .8 .8 .7

Leisure and hospitality................................. 250 168 233 2.0 1.3 1.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 45 44 47 2.7 2.5 2.8

Accommodation and food services............ 205 124 186 1.9 1.1 1.7

Other services.......................................... 89 29 78 1.7 .5 1.5

Government................................................ 109 105 81 .5 .5 .4

Federal................................................... 9 9 15 .3 .3 .5

State and local........................................... 100 96 67 .5 .5 .3

REGION 3

Northeast................................................ 643 379 362 2.6 1.5 1.5

South...................................................... 669 656 822 1.5 1.4 1.8

Midwest................................................... 512 491 502 1.8 1.6 1.7

West...................................................... 528 409 386 1.9 1.4 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 7, table 1. p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan.

2010 2010 2011p 2010 2010 2011p

Total............................................................ 380 311 440 0.3 0.2 0.3

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 321 248 370 .3 .2 .3

Mining and logging.................................... 2 3 2 .3 .3 .2

Construction............................................. 18 3 12 .3 .1 .2

Manufacturing.......................................... 27 28 25 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods....................................... 16 21 16 .2 .3 .2

Nondurable goods.................................... 11 7 9 .3 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 92 56 101 .4 .2 .4

Wholesale trade....................................... 17 10 36 .3 .2 .7

Retail trade............................................. 42 33 47 .3 .2 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 33 13 18 .7 .3 .4

Information................................................ 9 5 17 .3 .2 .7

Financial activities...................................... 45 17 23 .6 .2 .3

Finance and insurance.............................. 38 15 18 .7 .3 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 6 2 5 .3 .1 .2

Professional and business services............... 55 60 80 .3 .4 .5

Education and health services..................... 39 42 66 .2 .2 .3

Educational services................................. 5 6 11 .2 .2 .3

Health care and social assistance............... 35 36 55 .2 .2 .3

Leisure and hospitality................................. 25 23 26 .2 .2 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 4 3 4 .2 .1 .2

Accommodation and food services............ 21 20 22 .2 .2 .2

Other services.......................................... 8 13 20 .2 .2 .4

Government................................................ 59 62 70 .3 .3 .3

Federal................................................... 16 9 19 .6 .3 .7

State and local........................................... 43 53 51 .2 .3 .3

REGION 3

Northeast................................................ 69 49 77 .3 .2 .3

South...................................................... 132 102 141 .3 .2 .3

Midwest................................................... 87 76 137 .3 .3 .5

West...................................................... 92 83 84 .3 .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 7, table 1. p = preliminary.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates. 

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 11. Annual hires levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total............................................................ 64,870 63,326 53,986 45,372 47,234

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 60,419 58,760 50,286 41,966 43,299

Mining and logging.................................... 311 345 349 185 280

Construction............................................. 5,394 4,815 4,370 3,627 3,923

Manufacturing.......................................... 4,600 4,605 3,561 2,718 3,100

Durable goods....................................... 2,736 2,682 2,046 1,399 1,771

Nondurable goods.................................... 1,862 1,922 1,513 1,318 1,330

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 13,802 13,199 11,105 9,256 9,356

Wholesale trade.................................... 2,043 2,206 1,807 1,423 1,347

Retail trade.......................................... 9,595 9,109 7,564 6,214 6,481

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 2,167 1,884 1,736 1,621 1,532

Information................................................ 1,117 981 747 663 614

Financial activities...................................... 3,078 3,137 2,421 1,863 1,884

Finance and insurance........................... 1,972 2,071 1,550 1,094 1,235

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 1,104 1,067 871 769 651

Professional and business services............... 11,949 11,467 9,702 8,001 8,942

Education and health services..................... 6,374 6,428 6,290 5,816 5,678

Educational services.............................. 883 916 914 849 860

Health care and social assistance............... 5,491 5,514 5,378 4,966 4,820

Leisure and hospitality................................. 11,242 11,193 9,491 7,600 7,475

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 1,574 1,639 1,410 1,166 1,277

Accommodation and food services............ 9,667 9,552 8,081 6,433 6,201

Other services.......................................... 2,556 2,590 2,247 2,236 2,038

Government................................................ 4,452 4,567 3,698 3,406 3,936

Federal................................................... 710 846 336 501 1,083

State and local........................................... 3,743 3,720 3,363 2,907 2,854

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 10,238 10,001 8,747 8,134 8,500

South...................................................... 25,286 24,339 20,133 17,047 17,546

Midwest................................................... 14,021 14,229 11,957 9,781 10,887

West...................................................... 15,326 14,760 13,144 10,408 10,304

 1 The annual hires level is the total number of hires during the entire year. 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

 employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 12. Annual hires rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total............................................................ 47.7 46.0 39.5 34.7 36.4

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 52.9 50.9 44.0 38.8 40.3

Mining and logging.................................... 45.5 47.7 45.6 26.7 39.7

Construction............................................. 70.1 63.1 61.0 60.3 71.0

Manufacturing.......................................... 32.5 33.2 26.6 22.9 26.9

Durable goods....................................... 30.5 30.4 24.2 19.2 25.1

Nondurable goods.................................... 36.0 37.9 30.6 28.9 29.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 52.5 49.6 42.2 37.2 38.0

Wholesale trade.................................... 34.6 36.7 30.4 25.5 24.7

Retail trade.......................................... 62.5 58.7 49.5 42.8 45.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 43.2 37.0 34.3 33.8 32.3

Information................................................ 36.8 32.4 25.0 23.6 22.6

Financial activities...................................... 37.0 37.8 29.7 24.0 24.7

Finance and insurance........................... 32.0 33.8 25.8 18.9 21.7

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 50.8 49.2 40.9 38.6 33.6

Professional and business services............... 68.0 63.9 54.7 48.3 53.6

Education and health services..................... 35.8 35.1 33.4 30.3 29.0

Educational services.............................. 30.4 31.1 30.1 27.5 27.3

Health care and social assistance............... 36.8 35.9 34.0 30.8 29.4

Leisure and hospitality................................. 85.8 83.4 70.6 58.1 57.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 81.6 83.2 71.6 60.9 66.9

Accommodation and food services............ 86.5 83.4 70.5 57.6 55.8

Other services.......................................... 47.0 47.1 40.7 41.7 38.0

Government................................................ 20.3 20.6 16.4 15.1 17.5

Federal................................................... 26.0 30.9 12.2 17.7 36.5

State and local........................................... 19.5 19.1 17.0 14.7 14.6

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 40.4 39.0 34.0 32.7 34.3

South...................................................... 51.6 49.0 40.7 36.0 37.3

Midwest................................................... 45.0 45.4 38.4 32.9 36.9

West...................................................... 50.2 47.8 43.2 36.1 36.1

 1 The annual hires rate is the number of hires during the entire year as a percent of annual average employment. 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

 employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 13. Annual total separations levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total............................................................ 62,699 62,173 57,525 50,544 46,347

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 58,496 57,924 54,042 47,035 42,125

Mining and logging.................................... 254 311 317 294 210

Construction............................................. 5,237 4,980 5,111 4,714 4,139

Manufacturing.......................................... 4,760 4,882 4,449 4,153 3,000

Durable goods....................................... 2,770 2,886 2,686 2,519 1,637

Nondurable goods.................................... 1,990 1,995 1,765 1,636 1,366

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 13,432 12,896 12,260 10,365 9,116

Wholesale trade.................................... 1,895 2,127 2,058 1,763 1,346

Retail trade.......................................... 9,511 8,940 8,331 6,761 6,317

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 2,028 1,829 1,869 1,839 1,456

Information................................................ 1,140 994 865 843 659

Financial activities...................................... 2,966 3,274 2,657 2,197 1,939

Finance and insurance........................... 1,880 2,191 1,720 1,306 1,267

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 1,083 1,084 940 891 671

Professional and business services............... 11,431 11,192 10,515 8,735 8,540

Education and health services..................... 5,914 5,920 5,843 5,502 5,282

Educational services.............................. 831 854 815 805 788

Health care and social assistance............... 5,083 5,068 5,026 4,695 4,494

Leisure and hospitality................................. 10,867 10,938 9,720 7,894 7,298

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 1,495 1,592 1,440 1,232 1,242

Accommodation and food services............ 9,372 9,345 8,279 6,658 6,056

Other services.......................................... 2,498 2,534 2,305 2,340 1,939

Government................................................ 4,203 4,255 3,485 3,507 4,223

Federal................................................... 722 823 330 446 1,056

State and local........................................... 3,480 3,430 3,155 3,063 3,167

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 9,865 9,544 9,332 8,756 8,446

South...................................................... 24,368 23,876 21,478 18,675 17,063

Midwest................................................... 13,976 13,880 12,495 10,937 10,524

West...................................................... 14,487 14,875 14,222 12,180 10,310

 1 The annual total separations level is the total number of total separations during the entire year. 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

 employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 14. Annual total separations rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total............................................................ 46.1 45.2 42.1 38.6 35.7

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 51.3 50.2 47.3 43.4 39.2

Mining and logging.................................... 37.1 43.0 41.4 42.4 29.8

Construction............................................. 68.1 65.3 71.4 78.4 74.9

Manufacturing.......................................... 33.6 35.2 33.2 35.1 26.0

Durable goods....................................... 30.8 32.8 31.7 34.6 23.2

Nondurable goods.................................... 38.5 39.3 35.7 35.9 30.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 51.1 48.4 46.6 41.6 37.0

Wholesale trade.................................... 32.1 35.4 34.6 31.6 24.7

Retail trade.......................................... 61.9 57.6 54.5 46.6 43.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 40.4 35.9 36.9 38.3 30.7

Information................................................ 37.5 32.8 29.0 30.1 24.3

Financial activities...................................... 35.6 39.4 32.6 28.3 25.4

Finance and insurance........................... 30.5 35.7 28.6 22.6 22.3

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 49.9 50.0 44.1 44.7 34.6

Professional and business services............... 65.1 62.4 59.3 52.7 51.2

Education and health services..................... 33.2 32.3 31.0 28.7 27.0

Educational services.............................. 28.6 29.0 26.8 26.1 25.0

Health care and social assistance............... 34.1 33.0 31.8 29.2 27.4

Leisure and hospitality................................. 82.9 81.5 72.3 60.4 56.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 77.5 80.9 73.1 64.3 65.1

Accommodation and food services............ 83.8 81.6 72.2 59.6 54.5

Other services.......................................... 45.9 46.1 41.8 43.6 36.1

Government................................................ 19.1 19.2 15.5 15.5 18.8

Federal................................................... 26.4 30.1 11.9 15.7 35.6

State and local........................................... 18.1 17.6 16.0 15.5 16.2

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 38.9 37.2 36.2 35.1 34.1

South...................................................... 49.7 48.0 43.4 39.4 36.3

Midwest................................................... 44.8 44.3 40.1 36.8 35.7

West...................................................... 47.4 48.2 46.7 42.2 36.1

 1 The annual total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire year as a percent of annual 

average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 15. Annual quits levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total............................................................ 36,354 35,134 29,912 20,571 21,296

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 34,271 33,122 28,237 19,319 19,951

Mining and logging.................................... 141 184 175 89 91

Construction............................................. 2,244 1,901 1,560 861 857

Manufacturing.......................................... 2,510 2,514 1,891 1,020 1,114

Durable goods....................................... 1,453 1,426 1,042 497 548

Nondurable goods.................................... 1,056 1,091 849 527 564

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 8,159 7,656 6,614 4,589 4,695

Wholesale trade.................................... 1,054 1,174 956 523 516

Retail trade.......................................... 5,999 5,559 4,740 3,370 3,547

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 1,109 925 923 696 631

Information................................................ 796 578 438 369 330

Financial activities...................................... 1,777 1,906 1,396 794 947

Finance and insurance........................... 1,182 1,404 949 504 630

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 595 502 447 292 315

Professional and business services............... 5,991 5,798 5,046 3,285 3,823

Education and health services..................... 3,802 3,737 3,420 2,886 2,855

Educational services.............................. 443 415 384 311 346

Health care and social assistance............... 3,361 3,322 3,035 2,573 2,509

Leisure and hospitality................................. 7,490 7,445 6,403 4,387 4,285

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 620 631 536 391 433

Accommodation and food services............ 6,871 6,811 5,867 3,999 3,853

Other services.......................................... 1,361 1,403 1,291 1,036 958

Government................................................ 2,085 2,013 1,675 1,253 1,343

Federal................................................... 328 288 105 85 166

State and local........................................... 1,756 1,725 1,571 1,165 1,180

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 5,319 4,713 4,376 3,021 3,367

South...................................................... 15,128 14,486 12,078 8,303 8,567

Midwest................................................... 7,760 7,558 6,524 4,416 4,780

West...................................................... 8,147 8,377 6,934 4,832 4,583

 1 The annual quits level is the total number of quits during the entire year. 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

 employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 16. Annual quits rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total............................................................ 26.7 25.5 21.9 15.7 16.4

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 30.0 28.7 24.7 17.8 18.6

Mining and logging.................................... 20.6 25.4 22.8 12.8 12.9

Construction............................................. 29.2 24.9 21.8 14.3 15.5

Manufacturing.......................................... 17.7 18.1 14.1 8.6 9.7

Durable goods....................................... 16.2 16.2 12.3 6.8 7.8

Nondurable goods.................................... 20.4 21.5 17.2 11.5 12.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 31.1 28.8 25.2 18.4 19.1

Wholesale trade.................................... 17.8 19.5 16.1 9.4 9.5

Retail trade.......................................... 39.1 35.8 31.0 23.2 24.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 22.1 18.2 18.2 14.5 13.3

Information................................................ 26.2 19.1 14.7 13.2 12.2

Financial activities...................................... 21.3 23.0 17.1 10.2 12.4

Finance and insurance........................... 19.2 22.9 15.8 8.7 11.1

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 27.4 23.1 21.0 14.6 16.2

Professional and business services............... 34.1 32.3 28.5 19.8 22.9

Education and health services..................... 21.3 20.4 18.2 15.0 14.6

Educational services.............................. 15.3 14.1 12.6 10.1 11.0

Health care and social assistance............... 22.5 21.6 19.2 16.0 15.3

Leisure and hospitality................................. 57.1 55.5 47.7 33.5 32.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 32.2 32.0 27.2 20.4 22.7

Accommodation and food services............ 61.5 59.4 51.2 35.8 34.7

Other services.......................................... 25.0 25.5 23.4 19.3 17.9

Government................................................ 9.5 9.1 7.4 5.6 6.0

Federal................................................... 12.0 10.5 3.8 3.0 5.6

State and local........................................... 9.1 8.9 8.0 5.9 6.0

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 21.0 18.4 17.0 12.1 13.6

South...................................................... 30.9 29.2 24.4 17.5 18.2

Midwest................................................... 24.9 24.1 21.0 14.9 16.2

West...................................................... 26.7 27.1 22.8 16.8 16.1

 1 The annual quits rate is the number of quits during the entire year as a percent of annual average employment. 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

 employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 17. Annual layoff and discharges levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total............................................................ 21,468 22,577 23,737 26,318 21,243

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 20,097 21,209 22,571 24,709 19,156

Mining and logging.................................... 75 91 114 178 93

Construction............................................. 2,639 2,857 3,330 3,737 3,138

Manufacturing.......................................... 1,821 1,974 2,222 2,860 1,643

Durable goods....................................... 1,023 1,210 1,422 1,844 929

Nondurable goods.................................... 796 763 797 1,017 713

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 4,171 4,284 4,720 4,929 3,621

Wholesale trade.................................... 645 822 987 1,096 713

Retail trade.......................................... 2,849 2,759 2,963 2,822 2,274

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 679 704 768 1,011 634

Information................................................ 257 312 356 405 271

Financial activities...................................... 873 1,113 1,035 1,217 730

Finance and insurance........................... 467 611 612 666 423

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 405 502 423 552 305

Professional and business services............... 4,586 4,751 4,881 4,846 4,113

Education and health services..................... 1,686 1,741 1,982 2,123 2,022

Educational services.............................. 338 386 385 445 388

Health care and social assistance............... 1,350 1,352 1,597 1,680 1,632

Leisure and hospitality................................. 3,055 3,168 3,015 3,237 2,663

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 835 902 865 810 774

Accommodation and food services............ 2,220 2,268 2,152 2,427 1,891

Other services.......................................... 935 913 913 1,179 864

Government................................................ 1,369 1,370 1,171 1,610 2,087

Federal................................................... 192 226 111 236 763

State and local........................................... 1,178 1,141 1,059 1,374 1,325

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 3,675 4,005 4,211 5,038 4,388

South...................................................... 7,475 7,922 8,073 9,033 7,128

Midwest................................................... 5,083 5,287 5,064 5,714 4,884

West...................................................... 5,233 5,362 6,393 6,537 4,842

 1 The annual layoffs and discharges level is the total number of layoffs and discharges during the entire year. 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

 employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 18. Annual layoffs and discharges rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total............................................................ 15.8 16.4 17.4 20.1 16.4

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 17.6 18.4 19.8 22.8 17.8

Mining and logging.................................... 11.0 12.6 14.9 25.6 13.2

Construction............................................. 34.3 37.4 46.5 62.1 56.8

Manufacturing.......................................... 12.9 14.2 16.6 24.1 14.3

Durable goods....................................... 11.4 13.7 16.8 25.3 13.1

Nondurable goods.................................... 15.4 15.0 16.1 22.3 16.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 15.9 16.1 18.0 19.8 14.7

Wholesale trade.................................... 10.9 13.7 16.6 19.6 13.1

Retail trade.......................................... 18.6 17.8 19.4 19.4 15.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 13.5 13.8 15.2 21.1 13.4

Information................................................ 8.5 10.3 11.9 14.4 10.0

Financial activities...................................... 10.5 13.4 12.7 15.7 9.6

Finance and insurance........................... 7.6 10.0 10.2 11.5 7.4

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 18.6 23.1 19.9 27.7 15.7

Professional and business services............... 26.1 26.5 27.5 29.2 24.6

Education and health services..................... 9.5 9.5 10.5 11.1 10.3

Educational services.............................. 11.7 13.1 12.7 14.4 12.3

Health care and social assistance............... 9.0 8.8 10.1 10.4 9.9

Leisure and hospitality................................. 23.3 23.6 22.4 24.8 20.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 43.3 45.8 43.9 42.3 40.5

Accommodation and food services............ 19.9 19.8 18.8 21.7 17.0

Other services.......................................... 17.2 16.6 16.6 22.0 16.1

Government................................................ 6.2 6.2 5.2 7.1 9.3

Federal................................................... 7.0 8.3 4.0 8.3 25.7

State and local........................................... 6.1 5.9 5.4 7.0 6.8

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 14.5 15.6 16.3 20.2 17.7

South...................................................... 15.2 15.9 16.3 19.1 15.2

Midwest................................................... 16.3 16.9 16.3 19.2 16.6

West...................................................... 17.1 17.4 21.0 22.7 17.0

 1 The annual layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire 

year as a percent of annual average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 19. Annual other separations levels 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)

Total............................................................ 4,875 4,466 3,875 3,652 3,810

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 4,130 3,593 3,236 3,005 3,019

Mining and logging.................................... 39 35 30 25 25

Construction............................................. 355 220 224 118 144

Manufacturing.......................................... 431 392 338 275 245

Durable goods....................................... 296 250 218 181 159

Nondurable goods.................................... 135 143 120 91 87

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 1,105 960 925 847 802

Wholesale trade.................................... 194 132 117 142 116

Retail trade.......................................... 665 625 628 569 498

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 241 201 179 136 186

Information................................................ 85 102 68 68 59

Financial activities...................................... 315 257 228 185 266

Finance and insurance........................... 230 177 156 136 213

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 85 81 70 49 54

Professional and business services............... 852 645 585 602 606

Education and health services..................... 424 444 440 494 406

Educational services.............................. 53 50 46 52 53

Health care and social assistance............... 372 395 395 443 353

Leisure and hospitality................................. 325 324 302 267 349

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 44 59 38 34 36

Accommodation and food services............ 282 266 265 234 312

Other services.......................................... 202 217 100 125 120

Government................................................ 748 874 639 645 788

Federal................................................... 201 309 115 124 128

State and local........................................... 544 562 525 522 660

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 870 821 740 690 689

South...................................................... 1,771 1,475 1,334 1,351 1,376

Midwest................................................... 1,130 1,035 907 802 860

West...................................................... 1,103 1,132 891 808 885

 1 The annual other separations level is the total number of other separations during the entire year. 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

 employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Table 20. Annual other separations rates 1

 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

(Percent)

Total............................................................ 3.6 3.2 2.8 2.8 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................ 3.6 3.1 2.8 2.8 2.8

Mining and logging.................................... 5.7 4.8 3.9 3.6 3.5

Construction............................................. 4.6 2.9 3.1 2.0 2.6

Manufacturing.......................................... 3.0 2.8 2.5 2.3 2.1

Durable goods....................................... 3.3 2.8 2.6 2.5 2.2

Nondurable goods.................................... 2.6 2.8 2.4 2.0 2.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 4.2 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.3

Wholesale trade.................................... 3.3 2.2 2.0 2.5 2.1

Retail trade.......................................... 4.3 4.0 4.1 3.9 3.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 4.8 3.9 3.5 2.8 3.9

Information................................................ 2.8 3.4 2.3 2.4 2.2

Financial activities...................................... 3.8 3.1 2.8 2.4 3.5

Finance and insurance........................... 3.7 2.9 2.6 2.4 3.7

Real estate and rental and leasing............ 3.9 3.7 3.3 2.5 2.8

Professional and business services............... 4.9 3.6 3.3 3.6 3.6

Education and health services..................... 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.1

Educational services.............................. 1.8 1.7 1.5 1.7 1.7

Health care and social assistance............... 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.2

Leisure and hospitality................................. 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.0 2.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............ 2.3 3.0 1.9 1.8 1.9

Accommodation and food services............ 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.8

Other services.......................................... 3.7 3.9 1.8 2.3 2.2

Government................................................ 3.4 3.9 2.8 2.9 3.5

Federal................................................... 7.4 11.3 4.2 4.4 4.3

State and local........................................... 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.6 3.4

REGION 2

Northeast................................................ 3.4 3.2 2.9 2.8 2.8

South...................................................... 3.6 3.0 2.7 2.9 2.9

Midwest................................................... 3.6 3.3 2.9 2.7 2.9

West...................................................... 3.6 3.7 2.9 2.8 3.1

 1 The annual other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire year as a percent of

annual average employment.

 2 See footnote 7, table 1.

 NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics 

employment estimates. 

Industry and region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010