Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212

Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 08-0669

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

For release: 10:00 A.M. (EDT)

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Thursday, May 15, 2008

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MARCH 2008

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

job openings rate was 2.6 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor 

reported today. The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were essentially unchanged in 

March. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations 

for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 April 2005 - March 2008

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2006 2007 2008

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 April 2005 - March 2008

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2006 2007 2008

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

trends over time are notable. The job openings rate remained essentially flat from August 2006 through 

September 2007 then began trending downward; the rate in March was at the lowest point since mid2005. The hires rate has had an overall downward trend since July 2006, and has reached the lowest 

level since early 2004. The separations rate has had an overall downward trend since November 2006. 

(See tables 1, 2, and 3.)

Job Openings

In March, the job openings rate was essentially unchanged at 2.6 percent. Job openings include only 

those jobs open on the last business day of the month. Over the month, the job openings rate did not rise

News United States

Department 

of Labor
2

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

Industry Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total 1......................................................... 4,201 3,799 3,733 4,828 4,586 4,547 4,663 4,503 4,378

Total private 1................................................... 3,736 3,350 3,293 4,438 4,203 4,159 4,339 4,224 4,103

Construction................................................ 152 123 94 358 349 362 336 329 349

Manufacturing..........................................313 239 252 325 285 313 401 350 310

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2..................... 738 598 566 1,000 882 905 995 957 932

 Retail trade.................................. 384 326 344 695 603 617 678 669 681

Professional and business services........................ 722 699 722 873 780 856 802 861 797

Education and health services........................... 692 737 715 504 522 498 427 459 459

Leisure and hospitality 3....................................... 540 530 520 841 868 802 826 854 774

 Accommodation and food services......... 465 477 465 703 730 663 691 718 648

Government 4..................................... 460 450 441 389 387 385 315 278 271

 State and local government.................................... 425 413 393 309 306 317 250 229 226

Total 1...................................................3.0 2.7 2.6 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.2

Total private 1................................................... 3.1 2.8 2.8 3.9 3.6 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.6

Construction..........................................1.9 1.6 1.3 4.7 4.7 4.9 4.4 4.5 4.8

Manufacturing................................................ 2.2 1.7 1.8 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.9 2.6 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2........................ 2.7 2.2 2.1 3.8 3.3 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.5

 Retail trade.................................... 2.4 2.1 2.2 4.5 3.9 4.0 4.4 4.3 4.4

Professional and business services........................ 3.9 3.7 3.9 4.9 4.3 4.7 4.5 4.8 4.4

Education and health services........................... 3.7 3.8 3.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality 3.................................... 3.9 3.7 3.7 6.3 6.4 5.9 6.2 6.2 5.7

 Accommodation and food services.........3.9 3.9 3.8 6.2 6.3 5.7 6.1 6.2 5.6

Government 4..........................................2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.4 1.2 1.2

 State and local government.................................... 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.1

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

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

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

 4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = preliminary.

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)

or fall significantly in any industry or region. Since the series began in December 2000, three industries 

have consistently had higher job openings rates than the other industries: education and health services 

(3.7 percent in March), accommodation and food services (3.8 percent), and professional and business 

services (3.9 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate (not seasonally adjusted) rose significantly only for federal 

government. The rate fell over the year for total nonfarm (to 2.7 percent) and total private (2.9 percent) 
3

as well as in several industries, including construction (1.4 percent); durable goods manufacturing (1.8 

percent); wholesale trade (2.2 percent); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (1.9 percent); 

information (1.7 percent); and finance and insurance (2.7 percent). Two industries—wholesale trade 

and information—have experienced exceptionally steep declines in the job openings rate over the past 

year. The job openings rate for wholesale trade fell from 3.8 percent in March 2007 to 2.2 percent in 

March 2008; the rate for information fell from 4.5 percent in March 2007 to 1.7 percent in March 2008. 

Regionally, the job openings rate fell over the year in the Northeast (2.3 percent) and in the South (2.8 

percent). (See table 5.)

Hires

The hires rate was unchanged at 3.3 percent in March. Hires are any additions to the payroll during 

the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. As 

occurs nearly every month, the seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in March in accommodation 

and food services (5.7 percent) and lowest in state and local government (1.6 percent). (See table 2.)

From March 2007 to March 2008, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) did not increase 

significantly in any industry or region. Over the year, the hires rate did fall significantly for total 

nonfarm (to 3.2 percent) and total private (3.6 percent) as well as in the information industry (1.4 

percent), in the South region (3.3 percent), and in the Midwest region (3.0 percent). (See table 6.) The 

downward trend in the hires rate since 2006 was steepest in construction; transportation, warehousing,

and utilities; information; and professional and business services.

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at 3.2 percent in March. 

Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, 

the separations rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. As with hires, the seasonally 

adjusted separations rate was, as usual, highest in March in accommodation and food services (5.6

percent) and lowest in state and local government (1.1 percent). From March 2007 to March 2008, the 

total separations rate did not rise in any industry or region; the rate fell for total nonfarm (to 2.8 percent); 

durable goods manufacturing (2.2 percent); nondurable goods manufacturing (2.3 percent); wholesale 

trade (2.0 percent); federal government (1.4 percent); and in the Midwest (2.4 percent) and South (3.0 

percent) regions. (See tables 3 and 7.)

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

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

barometer of workers’ ability to change jobs, was little changed in March for total nonfarm (1.7 

percent). The quits rate fell over the month in manufacturing (to 1.2 percent); professional and business 

services (2.1 percent); state and local government (0.5 percent); and in the Northeast region (1.3 

percent). As has occurred every month since the series began in December 2000, the seasonally 

adjusted quits rate was highest in the accommodation and food services industry (4.2 percent) and 

lowest in state and local government (0.5 percent). (See table 4.)

From March 2007 to March 2008, the quits rate (not seasonally adjusted) did not increase 

significantly in any industry. The quits rate fell over the year for total nonfarm (to 1.6 percent) and total 

private (1.8 percent), as well as in many industries, including durable goods manufacturing (1.1 

percent); nondurable goods manufacturing (1.3 percent); wholesale trade (1.0 percent); information (1.0 

percent); professional and business services (2.1 percent); and state and local government (0.4 percent). 
4

Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the Midwest (1.3 percent) and South (1.9 percent). 

(See table 8.)

The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are 

not seasonally adjusted. For March, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.0 percent) and level (1.4 million) 

were unchanged from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in March 2008 was highest in arts, 

entertainment, and recreation (2.9 percent) and lowest in state and local government (0.2 percent). The 

other separations rate (0.2 percent) and level (310,000) were essentially unchanged in March from a year 

earlier. The highest other separations rate in March was for federal government (0.6 percent). The other 

separations rate for most of the other industries range from 0.1 to 0.3 each month. (See tables 9 and 10.)

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

and discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of 

total separations attributable to quits has risen and fallen over time along with total nonfarm 

employment levels. The proportion of total separations due to quits rose from a post-recession low of 50 

percent in December 2003 to a high of 61 percent in December 2006 (seasonally adjusted) before 

trending downward again. In March 2008, quits accounted for 54 percent of total separations. The 

proportion of separations attributable to quits varies widely by industry with the highest proportion 

regularly occurring in the accommodation and food services industry (76 percent in March) and the

lowest proportion regularly occurring in the construction industry (30 percent in March). (See tables 3 

and 4.)

Flows in the Labor Market

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

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

accommodation and food services. In the 12 months ending in March 2008, these 5 industries produced 

32.9 million hires and 31.8 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent of 

total nonfarm hires and 59 percent of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 40 percent of 

total nonfarm employment.

For More Information

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

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

Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.

______________________________

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for April 2008 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, 

June 10.
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 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. Full-time, part-time,

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of

hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total

separations are released with the January news release each year.

The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs

and discharges, other separations, and total separations are

the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate

estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the

Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average

employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This

figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly

rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are

rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates

are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates

will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data.
Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings

because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time,

measurement for the last business day of each month. Only

jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For

the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout

each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created

by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are

flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total

reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be

created by summing the monthly estimates.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,

and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007,

seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using

the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough

data observations available for the standard use of moving

averages as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal

adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data

observations than is customary, the number of observations is

now above the minimum required by X-12 ARIMA to use the

normal seasonal filters. Therefore, the standard use of moving

averages as seasonal filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal

adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment now includes both

additive and multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and

REGARIMA (regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling

to improve the seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning

and end of the series and to detect and adjust for outliers in

the series.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 4,201 4,044 3,972 3,974 3,889 3,799 3,733 3.0 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private 4....................................... 3,736 3,597 3,520 3,526 3,449 3,350 3,293 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.8

Construction....................................... 152 150 138 140 133 123 94 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.3

Manufacturing.................................... 313 303 303 305 286 239 252 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0 1.7 1.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 738 644 648 667 643 598 566 2.7 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.1

Retail trade....................................... 384 321 344 358 346 326 344 2.4 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.2

Professional and business services......... 722 758 685 706 752 699 722 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.7 4.0 3.7 3.9

Education and health services............... 692 704 713 698 680 737 715 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.8 3.7

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 540 614 591 574 515 530 520 3.9 4.3 4.2 4.0 3.6 3.7 3.7

Accommodation and food services...... 465 543 518 514 467 477 465 3.9 4.5 4.3 4.2 3.9 3.9 3.8

Government 7

....................................... 460 448 454 446 439 450 441 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.9

State and local government................... 425 408 404 398 401 413 393 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 688 657 629 644 662 576 614 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.3

South................................................ 1,718 1,629 1,620 1,574 1,536 1,485 1,390 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.7

Midwest............................................. 772 747 755 779 749 766 789 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.4

West................................................ 1,016 1,014 957 988 966 954 943 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0

1

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

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

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

 3

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

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

 4

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

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

 5

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

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

 6

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

 7

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

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

Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 4,828 4,914 4,672 4,717 4,639 4,586 4,547 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4....................................... 4,438 4,552 4,305 4,314 4,227 4,203 4,159 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6

Construction....................................... 358 331 351 335 319 349 362 4.7 4.4 4.7 4.5 4.3 4.7 4.9

Manufacturing.................................... 325 396 353 350 326 285 313 2.3 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.1 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 1,000 1,018 946 970 916 882 905 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.4

Retail trade....................................... 695 699 655 693 656 603 617 4.5 4.5 4.2 4.5 4.2 3.9 4.0

Professional and business services......... 873 855 902 851 897 780 856 4.9 4.7 5.0 4.7 5.0 4.3 4.7

Education and health services............... 504 517 527 460 516 522 498 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.7

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 841 924 846 880 824 868 802 6.3 6.8 6.2 6.4 6.0 6.4 5.9

Accommodation and food services...... 703 803 708 713 702 730 663 6.2 6.9 6.1 6.1 6.0 6.3 5.7

Government 7

....................................... 389 373 349 390 394 387 385 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7

State and local government................... 309 315 287 326 319 306 317 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 708 653 761 770 767 713 714 2.8 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.8

South................................................ 1,893 1,924 1,828 1,802 1,814 1,769 1,710 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.4

Midwest.............................................1,072 1,097 1,027 1,045 998 944 966 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.0 3.1

West................................................ 1,166 1,216 1,018 1,067 1,058 1,186 1,167 3.8 3.9 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.8

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 5

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

total employment. 6

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

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

adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

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

other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels Rates 3

 (in thousands)

Levels 3

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 4,663 4,594 4,640 4,408 4,477 4,503 4,378 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 4,339 4,314 4,367 4,107 4,188 4,224 4,103 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.6

Construction....................................... 336 355 322 331 311 329 349 4.4 4.7 4.3 4.4 4.2 4.5 4.8

Manufacturing.................................... 401 393 400 325 348 350 310 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 995 1,010 1,065 981 1,005 957 932 3.7 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.6 3.5

Retail trade.................................... 678 702 764 686 689 669 681 4.4 4.5 4.9 4.4 4.4 4.3 4.4

Professional and business services......... 802 935 878 814 790 861 797 4.5 5.2 4.9 4.5 4.4 4.8 4.4

Education and health services............... 427 434 423 417 447 459 459 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 826 761 799 803 800 854 774 6.2 5.6 5.9 5.9 5.9 6.2 5.7

Accommodation and food services...... 691 651 667 697 657 718 648 6.1 5.6 5.7 6.0 5.7 6.2 5.6

Government 7

....................................... 315 286 286 295 290 278 271 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2

State and local government................... 250 238 240 256 237 229 226 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 661 652 860 635 697 770 732 2.6 2.5 3.3 2.5 2.7 3.0 2.8

South................................................1,843 1,764 1,709 1,712 1,699 1,673 1,633 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3

Midwest............................................. 993 994 974 980 975 902 867 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1 2.9 2.8

West................................................ 1,095 1,186 1,117 1,117 1,107 1,167 1,126 3.6 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.8 3.6

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

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

entire month as a percent of total employment. 6

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

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

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

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

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

Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008p

Total 4................................................... 2,684 2,648 2,501 2,494 2,493 2,522 2,376 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private 4

....................................... 2,526 2,508 2,361 2,358 2,355 2,384 2,253 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0

Construction....................................... 132 137 116 119 113 133 105 1.7 1.8 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.4

Manufacturing.................................... 219 199 187 182 183 187 160 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5

......... 593 588 572 590 598 532 538 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0

Retail trade.................................... 412 432 433 445 437 374 405 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.4 2.6

Professional and business services......... 441 479 398 367 351 492 377 2.5 2.7 2.2 2.0 1.9 2.7 2.1

Education and health services............... 268 264 269 258 276 271 283 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5

Leisure and hospitality 6

........................ 573 545 557 561 525 539 530 4.3 4.0 4.1 4.1 3.8 3.9 3.9

Accommodation and food services...... 528 503 516 513 465 488 492 4.6 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.0 4.2 4.2

Government 7

....................................... 157 144 140 137 138 135 117 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .5

State and local government................... 137 128 125 120 119 116 102 .7 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6 .5

REGION 8

Northeast.......................................... 353 338 367 312 358 410 326 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.3

South................................................1,148 1,088 996 1,008 1,045 1,021 1,003 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.0

Midwest............................................. 578 524 529 521 502 475 449 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4

West................................................ 613 691 607 632 583 632 591 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.9

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

percent of total employment. 6

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

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

seasonal adjustment of the various series. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 4

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

and other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3

 (in thousands) Rates

Levels 3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 4,296 3,620 3,784 3.1 2.6 2.7

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 3,848 3,204 3,355 3.3 2.7 2.9

Natural resources and mining........................ 13 14 15 1.9 1.9 2.0

Construction................................................ 162 113 96 2.2 1.6 1.4

Manufacturing............................................. 323 237 255 2.3 1.7 1.8

Durable goods.......................................... 204 137 155 2.3 1.6 1.8

Nondurable goods.................................... 119 100 100 2.3 2.0 2.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 759 536 571 2.8 2.0 2.1

Wholesale trade....................................... 238 158 138 3.8 2.6 2.2

Retail trade............................................. 374 261 335 2.4 1.7 2.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 146 117 98 2.8 2.3 1.9

Information................................................ 143 51 52 4.5 1.7 1.7

Financial activities......................................... 282 230 230 3.3 2.7 2.7

Finance and insurance.............................. 219 177 169 3.4 2.8 2.7

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 63 52 61 2.8 2.4 2.9

Professional and business services.................. 711 670 718 3.9 3.6 3.9

Education and health services........................ 694 735 718 3.7 3.8 3.7

Educational services................................. 56 53 60 1.8 1.6 1.9

Health care and social assistance.................. 637 682 658 4.0 4.2 4.0

Leisure and hospitality................................. 604 500 575 4.4 3.7 4.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 78 55 62 4.2 2.9 3.2

Accommodation and food services............... 525 445 513 4.5 3.8 4.3

Other services............................................. 157 118 126 2.8 2.1 2.2

Government................................................... 448 416 429 1.9 1.8 1.8

Federal...................................................... 40 42 53 1.4 1.5 1.9

State and local........................................... 409 373 376 2.0 1.8 1.8

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 672 543 594 2.6 2.1 2.3

South......................................................... 1,813 1,451 1,435 3.6 2.9 2.8

Midwest...................................................... 798 734 820 2.5 2.3 2.6

West......................................................... 1,013 892 936 3.2 2.8 3.0

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

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

plus job openings.

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 4,651 3,788 4,343 3.4 2.8 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 4,376 3,517 4,071 3.8 3.1 3.6

Natural resources and mining........................ 19 21 24 2.6 2.9 3.3

Construction................................................ 395 275 404 5.4 4.0 5.8

Manufacturing............................................. 330 263 316 2.4 1.9 2.3

Durable goods.......................................... 189 149 186 2.1 1.7 2.2

Nondurable goods.................................... 141 114 130 2.8 2.3 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 968 688 869 3.7 2.6 3.3

Wholesale trade....................................... 151 110 140 2.5 1.8 2.3

Retail trade............................................. 683 456 598 4.5 3.0 3.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 134 122 131 2.7 2.4 2.6

Information................................................ 68 40 43 2.2 1.3 1.4

Financial activities......................................... 194 197 166 2.3 2.4 2.0

Finance and insurance.............................. 125 123 111 2.0 2.0 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 69 74 55 3.2 3.6 2.6

Professional and business services.................. 857 693 845 4.8 3.9 4.7

Education and health services........................ 456 464 445 2.5 2.5 2.4

Educational services................................. 45 71 47 1.5 2.3 1.5

Health care and social assistance.................. 411 393 399 2.7 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality................................. 892 716 794 6.9 5.5 6.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 137 79 112 7.6 4.3 6.0

Accommodation and food services............... 755 637 682 6.8 5.6 6.0

Other services............................................. 198 159 163 3.6 2.9 3.0

Government................................................... 275 271 271 1.2 1.2 1.2

Federal...................................................... 63 60 54 2.3 2.2 2.0

State and local........................................... 212 211 217 1.1 1.1 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 656 504 655 2.6 2.0 2.6

South......................................................... 1,835 1,553 1,638 3.7 3.2 3.3

Midwest...................................................... 1,074 748 944 3.4 2.4 3.0

West......................................................... 1,086 983 1,106 3.5 3.2 3.6

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 4,173 3,719 3,903 3.1 2.7 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 3,950 3,542 3,717 3.5 3.1 3.3

Natural resources and mining........................ 19 24 21 2.7 3.4 2.8

Construction................................................ 298 286 318 4.1 4.1 4.6

Manufacturing............................................. 409 319 304 2.9 2.3 2.2

Durable goods.......................................... 253 173 189 2.9 2.0 2.2

Nondurable goods.................................... 156 146 116 3.1 2.9 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 912 808 830 3.5 3.1 3.2

Wholesale trade....................................... 180 123 121 3.0 2.0 2.0

Retail trade............................................. 589 573 587 3.9 3.8 3.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 143 112 122 2.8 2.2 2.4

Information................................................ 75 46 72 2.5 1.5 2.4

Financial activities......................................... 242 170 211 2.9 2.1 2.6

Finance and insurance.............................. 157 109 137 2.5 1.8 2.2

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 86 62 74 4.0 3.0 3.5

Professional and business services.................. 792 750 770 4.5 4.2 4.3

Education and health services........................ 389 375 427 2.1 2.0 2.3

Educational services................................. 40 32 39 1.3 1.0 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................. 349 343 389 2.3 2.2 2.5

Leisure and hospitality................................. 681 647 632 5.2 4.9 4.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 87 82 85 4.8 4.5 4.6

Accommodation and food services............... 594 565 548 5.3 5.0 4.8

Other services............................................. 134 118 131 2.4 2.2 2.4

Government................................................... 223 177 186 1.0 .8 .8

Federal...................................................... 56 40 37 2.1 1.5 1.4

State and local........................................... 167 138 149 .8 .7 .7

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 555 616 623 2.2 2.4 2.4

South......................................................... 1,718 1,399 1,486 3.5 2.8 3.0

Midwest...................................................... 899 741 754 2.9 2.4 2.4

West......................................................... 1,001 963 1,041 3.3 3.1 3.4

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 2,510 2,076 2,177 1.8 1.5 1.6

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 2,387 1,977 2,088 2.1 1.7 1.8

Natural resources and mining........................ 11 13 11 1.6 1.8 1.5

Construction................................................ 120 102 90 1.6 1.5 1.3

Manufacturing............................................. 223 165 162 1.6 1.2 1.2

Durable goods.......................................... 128 93 95 1.5 1.1 1.1

Nondurable goods.................................... 95 72 67 1.9 1.5 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 561 441 498 2.1 1.7 1.9

Wholesale trade....................................... 119 66 61 2.0 1.1 1.0

Retail trade............................................. 380 309 365 2.5 2.0 2.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 62 65 72 1.2 1.3 1.4

Information................................................ 50 29 31 1.6 1.0 1.0

Financial activities......................................... 147 111 120 1.8 1.4 1.5

Finance and insurance.............................. 91 76 73 1.5 1.2 1.2

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 55 35 47 2.6 1.7 2.2

Professional and business services.................. 458 402 381 2.6 2.3 2.1

Education and health services........................ 246 224 265 1.3 1.2 1.4

Educational services................................. 21 17 21 .7 .6 .7

Health care and social assistance.................. 224 207 243 1.5 1.3 1.6

Leisure and hospitality................................. 484 423 444 3.7 3.2 3.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 39 38 31 2.2 2.1 1.7

Accommodation and food services............... 445 384 414 4.0 3.4 3.6

Other services............................................. 88 67 86 1.6 1.2 1.6

Government................................................... 123 99 89 .5 .4 .4

Federal...................................................... 18 16 12 .7 .6 .5

State and local........................................... 105 83 77 .5 .4 .4

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 320 308 290 1.3 1.2 1.1

South......................................................... 1,065 855 924 2.2 1.7 1.9

Midwest...................................................... 552 394 416 1.8 1.3 1.3

West......................................................... 573 519 547 1.9 1.7 1.8

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 1,350 1,384 1,416 1.0 1.0 1.0

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 1,301 1,348 1,363 1.1 1.2 1.2

Natural resources and mining........................ 4 10 7 .6 1.3 .9

Construction................................................ 157 172 209 2.1 2.5 3.0

Manufacturing............................................. 159 130 112 1.1 1.0 .8

Durable goods.......................................... 106 68 73 1.2 .8 .8

Nondurable goods.................................... 53 63 40 1.1 1.3 .8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 261 293 258 1.0 1.1 1.0

Wholesale trade....................................... 56 52 55 .9 .9 .9

Retail trade............................................. 150 202 161 1.0 1.3 1.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 55 39 42 1.1 .8 .8

Information................................................ 18 14 37 .6 .5 1.2

Financial activities......................................... 71 41 78 .9 .5 1.0

Finance and insurance.............................. 49 21 57 .8 .3 .9

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 22 20 21 1.0 1.0 1.0

Professional and business services.................. 296 318 320 1.7 1.8 1.8

Education and health services........................ 118 113 130 .6 .6 .7

Educational services................................. 17 13 13 .5 .4 .4

Health care and social assistance.................. 102 100 117 .7 .6 .7

Leisure and hospitality................................. 176 212 170 1.4 1.6 1.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation............... 45 42 53 2.5 2.3 2.9

Accommodation and food services............... 131 170 117 1.2 1.5 1.0

Other services............................................. 40 45 39 .7 .8 .7

Government................................................... 49 37 53 .2 .2 .2

Federal...................................................... 13 9 9 .5 .3 .3

State and local........................................... 36 27 45 .2 .1 .2

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 179 254 263 .7 1.0 1.0

South......................................................... 526 468 491 1.1 1.0 1.0

Midwest...................................................... 283 278 264 .9 .9 .8

West......................................................... 361 384 398 1.2 1.3 1.3

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

employment.

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

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2007 2008 2008p 2007 2008 2008p

Total............................................................... 313 259 310 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private................................................... 262 217 267 .2 .2 .2

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

Construction................................................ 22 11 20 .3 .2 .3

Manufacturing............................................. 26 23 30 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.......................................... 18 13 21 .2 .1 .2

Nondurable goods.................................... 8 11 9 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................. 90 74 74 .3 .3 .3

Wholesale trade....................................... 5 5 5 .1 .1 .1

Retail trade............................................. 59 61 62 .4 .4 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...... 26 8 8 .5 .2 .1

Information................................................ 7 3 3 .2 .1 .1

Financial activities......................................... 24 18 13 .3 .2 .2

Finance and insurance.............................. 16 12 7 .3 .2 .1

Real estate and rental and leasing............... 8 6 6 .4 .3 .3

Professional and business services.................. 38 30 68 .2 .2 .4

Education and health services........................ 25 37 32 .1 .2 .2

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

4

) .1

Health care and social assistance.................. 23 36 28 .1 .2 .2

Leisure and hospitality................................. 21 12 18 .2 .1 .1

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

Accommodation and food services............... 18 11 17 .2 .1 .1

Other services............................................. 6 6 6 .1 .1 .1

Government................................................... 51 42 44 .2 .2 .2

Federal...................................................... 24 14 16 .9 .5 .6

State and local........................................... 27 28 27 .1 .1 .1

REGION 3

Northeast................................................... 56 55 70 .2 .2 .3

South......................................................... 127 76 71 .3 .2 .1

Midwest...................................................... 63 68 73 .2 .2 .2

West......................................................... 67 60 96 .2 .2 .3

 1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. 2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. 4 Data round to zero. p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region