1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 07-1881

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 November 2004 - October 2007

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2005 2006 2007

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 November 2004 - October 2007

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2005 2006 2007

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: OCTOBER 2007

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

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

today. The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all essentially unchanged in October. This

release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm

sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

In October, the job openings rate remained at 2.9 percent. The rate has been 2.9 percent for 8 of the

past 9 months. Job openings include only those jobs open on the last business day of the month. The job

openings rate changed significantly in October only in retail trade, falling from 2.3 percent in September to

1.9 percent in October. Over the month, the job openings rate rose in the Northeast region (2.6 percent)

and fell in the Midwest region (2.3 percent). The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in

October in accommodations and food services (4.9 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate rose in wholesale trade (2.9 percent); accommodations and food

services (4.6 percent); and federal government (1.7 percent). The rate fell over the year in natural resources

and mining (1.4 percent); durable goods manufacturing (1.9 percent); retail trade (2.5 percent); information

(2.7 percent); health care and social assistance (3.9 percent); and arts, entertainment, and recreation (2.8 percent). Regionally, the job openings rate fell over the year in the Northeast (2.8 percent). (See table 5.)

Hires

The hires rate was little changed at 3.5 percent in October. Hires are any additions to the payroll during

the month. In October, the hires rate increased in education and health services (2.8 percent), in accommo-
2

 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.

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

p

Oct.

2006

Sept.

2007

Oct.

2007

Oct.

2006

Sept.

2007

Oct.

2007

Oct.

2006

Sept.

2007

Oct.

2007 p

Total 1 ...................................................... 4,157 4,119 4,122 4,983 4,714 4,903 4,613 4,430 4,665

Total private 1 ......................................... 3,702 3,664 3,652 4,616 4,355 4,502 4,323 4,146 4,394

Construction .................................................. 137 138 163 345 336 336 373 364 384

Manufacturing ............................................... 364 319 309 366 365 389 359 379 397

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2......... 658 691 638 1,008 994 1,019 987 954 994

Retail trade ............................................... 370 367 303 713 709 708 688 676 682

Professional and business services .......... 709 661 712 994 800 828 921 832 882

Education and health services ................... 749 720 704 529 448 523 424 411 431

Leisure and hospitality 3....................... 579 653 664 893 906 960 791 723 811

Accommodations and food services... 487 587 598 758 749 835 673 627 692

Government 4........................................... 460 455 470 363 370 378 298 289 292

State and local government ........................ 423 408 420 320 296 314 248 213 240

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

Total private 1.......................................... 3.1 3.1 3.0 4.0 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.8

Construction .................................................. 1.7 1.8 2.1 4.5 4.4 4.4 4.8 4.8 5.1

Manufacturing ............................................... 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.6 2.6 2.8 2.5 2.7 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2....... 2.4 2.5 2.4 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.8

Retail trade ............................................... 2.4 2.3 1.9 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.4

Professional and business services .......... 3.9 3.5 3.8 5.6 4.5 4.6 5.2 4.6 4.9

Education and health services ................... 4.0 3.7 3.7 2.9 2.4 2.8 2.4 2.2 2.3

Leisure and hospitality 3....................... 4.2 4.6 4.6 6.7 6.6 7.0 6.0 5.3 5.9

Accommodations and food services 4.1 4.8 4.9 6.7 6.4 7.1 5.9 5.4 5.9

Government 4.......................................... 2.0 2.0 2.1 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.3 1.3

State and local government ........................ 2.1 2.0 2.1 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.1 1.2
3

dations and food services (7.1 percent), and in the West region (3.9 percent). The hires rate did not fall significantly in October in any industry or region. As occurs nearly every month, the seasonally adjusted hires

rate in October was highest in accommodations and food services (7.1 percent). (See table 2.)

From October 2006 to October 2007, the hires rate decreased over the year in professional and business services (4.7 percent), in other services (3.0 percent), and in the Northeast region (2.5 percent). The

hires rate did not increase significantly in any industry or region over the year. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at 3.4 percent in October. Separations

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

rate changed significantly in state and local government (1.2 percent) and in the West region (3.8 percent);

both rates rose. From October 2006 to October 2007, the total separations rate increased in durable goods

manufacturing (2.7 percent) and wholesale trade (2.8 percent). Over the year, the total separations rate

decreased in information (1.7 percent) and federal government (0.9 percent). The total separations rate did

not change significantly in any region over the year. (See tables 3 and 7.)

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

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

ability to change jobs, was unchanged in October. The quits rate increased over the month in professional

and business services (2.8 percent) and accommodations and food services (4.4 percent). Geographically,

the quits rate rose over the month in the West (2.3 percent). As has occurred every month since the series

began in December 2000, the seasonally adjusted quits rate in October was highest in accommodations and

food services (4.4 percent). (See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate did not rise significantly in any industry but did fall in several industries,

including information (1.1 percent); real estate and rental and leasing (1.4 percent); health care and social

assistance (1.4 percent); and federal government (0.3 percent). Geographically, the quits rate rose over the

year in the West (2.1 percent) and fell over the year in the Midwest (1.6 percent). (See table 8.)

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

seasonally adjusted. For October, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.3 percent) and level (1.8 million) were

little changed from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in October 2007 was highest in arts, entertainment, and recreation (5.4 percent). The other separations level decreased over the year to 247,000.

(See tables 9 and 10.)

Flows in the Labor Market

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

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

food services. In the 12 months ending in October 2007, these 5 industries produced 33.9 million hires and

32.3 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59

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

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

are experiencing significant over-the-year change. From October 2006 to October 2007, the information

industry had decreases in its job openings, hires, and total separations rates.
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For More Information

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

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

or by calling (202) 691-5870.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for November 2007 is scheduled to be issued on

Thursday, January 10, 2008. Release dates for the balance of 2008 are as follows:

Dec. — Feb. 12 March — May 15 June — Aug. 12 Sept. — Nov. 13

Jan. — March 12 April — June 10 July — Sept. 9 Oct. — Dec. 9

Feb. — April 8 May — July 9 Aug. — Oct. 7

______________________________
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce

Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the

industry code, location, and ownership classification of all

establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment

characteristics resulting from the verification process are

always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data

reported for the first month of the year.

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of

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

separations are released with the January news release each year.

The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs

and discharges, other separations, and total separations are

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

estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the

Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average

employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This

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

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

rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates

are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates

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

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

measurement for the last business day of each month. Only

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

the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout

each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created

by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are

flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total

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

created by summing the monthly estimates.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,

and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007,

seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using

the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough data

observations available for the standard use of moving averages

as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is

customary, the number of observations is now above the minimum

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

Therefore, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal

filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS

seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and

multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA

(regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the

seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the

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

the improved diagnostics, three additional industries are now

seasonally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food

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

series may be seasonally adjusted when more data are

available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true”
population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,157 4,095 4,280 4,186 4,168 4,119 4,122 3.0 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,702 3,627 3,810 3,711 3,709 3,664 3,652 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0

Construction........................................................................ 137 157 139 167 149 138 163 1.7 2.0 1.8 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 364 345 344 340 328 319 309 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 658 609 676 684 703 691 638 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 370 337 409 399 380 367 303 2.4 2.1 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 1.9

Professional and business services......................... 709 654 763 693 676 661 712 3.9 3.5 4.1 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.8

Education and health services................................................. 749 703 711 717 700 720 704 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 579 571 568 547 585 653 664 4.2 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.1 4.6 4.6

Accommodations and food services......................... 487 500 497 497 518 587 598 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.3 4.8 4.9

Government 7......................................................................................... 460 468 465 475 449 455 470 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1

State and local government.................................................................................... 423 424 424 430 410 408 420 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.1

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 760 674 732 741 682 611 687 2.9 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.3 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,649 1,648 1,635 1,612 1,690 1,651 1,663 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 769 799 805 754 778 828 757 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.3

West...................................................................................... 989 970 1,106 1,120 1,024 1,048 1,025 3.1 3.1 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.2

1

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

8

 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 

month. regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

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

 

3

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

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

 

4

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

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

 

5

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

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

 

6

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

 

7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 

p

 = preliminary.

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

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,983 4,982 4,741 4,802 4,836 4,714 4,903 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,616 4,503 4,335 4,443 4,369 4,355 4,502 4.0 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.9

Construction........................................................................ 345 351 358 408 371 336 336 4.5 4.6 4.7 5.3 4.9 4.4 4.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 366 356 355 359 349 365 389 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 1,008 1,044 910 924 922 994 1,019 3.8 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.7 3.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 713 715 605 613 666 709 708 4.7 4.6 3.9 4.0 4.3 4.6 4.6

Professional and business services......................... 994 935 865 879 797 800 828 5.6 5.2 4.8 4.9 4.4 4.5 4.6

Education and health services................................................. 529 507 493 502 501 448 523 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.4 2.8

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 893 873 854 874 901 906 960 6.7 6.5 6.3 6.4 6.6 6.6 7.0

Accommodations and food services......................... 758 755 736 748 758 749 835 6.7 6.5 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.4 7.1

Government 7......................................................................................... 363 409 395 385 396 370 378 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7

State and local government.................................................................................... 320 330 312 293 314 296 314 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 727 705 684 750 761 689 647 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,969 1,960 1,842 1,898 1,841 1,848 1,916 4.0 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.9

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,097 1,101 1,082 1,039 1,081 1,125 1,114 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.5

West...................................................................................... 1,198 1,143 1,117 1,135 1,148 1,068 1,211 3.9 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.9

 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

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,613 4,544 4,543 4,507 4,446 4,430 4,665 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,323 4,233 4,234 4,173 4,120 4,146 4,394 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.8

Construction........................................................................ 373 346 363 384 371 364 384 4.8 4.5 4.7 5.0 4.9 4.8 5.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 359 396 382 379 380 379 397 2.5 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 987 950 974 987 926 954 994 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 688 685 688 687 652 676 682 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.2 4.4 4.4

Professional and business services......................... 921 775 728 733 742 832 882 5.2 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.6 4.9

Education and health services................................................. 424 437 473 414 430 411 431 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.3

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 791 833 850 837 808 723 811 6.0 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.0 5.3 5.9

Accommodations and food services......................... 673 715 730 735 703 627 692 5.9 6.2 6.3 6.3 6.1 5.4 5.9

Government 7......................................................................................... 298 315 310 323 322 289 292 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3

State and local government.................................................................................... 248 239 239 254 255 213 240 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.2

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 745 642 634 622 667 631 681 2.9 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.4 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,709 1,798 1,699 1,744 1,710 1,760 1,757 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,072 1,024 1,033 1,014 1,038 998 1,005 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.1

West...................................................................................... 1,081 1,062 1,191 1,149 1,053 1,018 1,190 3.5 3.4 3.9 3.7 3.4 3.3 3.8

 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

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

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

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,655 2,686 2,627 2,640 2,539 2,450 2,653 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,513 2,530 2,475 2,493 2,391 2,308 2,507 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.2

Construction........................................................................ 137 124 129 176 145 135 136 1.8 1.6 1.7 2.3 1.9 1.8 1.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 196 216 195 186 202 189 200 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 593 606 618 572 545 559 589 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 438 445 448 427 401 412 433 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.8

Professional and business services......................... 475 424 411 418 395 420 504 2.7 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.8

Education and health services................................................. 274 284 271 276 270 253 256 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4

Leisure and hospitality 6...................................................... 542 551 595 597 557 410 561 4.1 4.1 4.4 4.4 4.1 3.0 4.1

Accommodations and food services......................... 496 503 540 552 505 363 519 4.4 4.3 4.7 4.8 4.4 3.1 4.4

Government 7......................................................................................... 144 157 152 148 148 146 146 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7

State and local government.................................................................................... 124 130 123 125 126 123 128 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6 .6 .7

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 359 331 380 314 313 306 336 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3

South............................................................................................... 1,101 1,162 1,049 1,097 1,070 1,012 1,077 2.2 2.4 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 604 551 555 553 564 543 549 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7

West...................................................................................... 592 643 648 669 598 582 702 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.2 1.9 1.9 2.3

 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

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,189 4,273 4,157 3.0 3.0 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,740 3,830 3,698 3.1 3.2 3.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 14 12 11 2.0 1.7 1.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 120 132 145 1.5 1.7 1.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 356 321 300 2.4 2.2 2.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 226 191 174 2.5 2.1 1.9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 130 130 126 2.4 2.5 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 762 790 729 2.8 2.9 2.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 130 190 181 2.1 3.0 2.9

Retail trade................................................................................. 489 445 401 3.1 2.8 2.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 143 156 148 2.7 2.9 2.8

Information...................................................................................... 153 90 86 4.8 2.8 2.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 227 244 233 2.6 2.8 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 184 203 186 2.9 3.2 2.9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 43 41 47 1.9 1.8 2.1

Professional and business services........................................ 711 669 721 3.8 3.6 3.8

Education and health services................................................................. 740 750 698 3.9 3.9 3.6

Educational services................................................................ 68 69 65 2.1 2.3 2.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 673 681 633 4.3 4.2 3.9

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 517 639 614 3.8 4.4 4.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 81 67 55 4.1 3.2 2.8

Accommodations and food services............................... 436 572 559 3.7 4.6 4.6

Other services................................................................................. 140 184 161 2.5 3.3 2.9

Government......................................................................................... 448 443 459 2.0 2.0 2.0

Federal................................................................................................ 32 42 46 1.1 1.5 1.7

State and local.................................................................................... 417 401 413 2.1 2.0 2.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 810 661 744 3.1 2.5 2.8

South............................................................................................... 1,620 1,662 1,637 3.2 3.2 3.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 775 885 762 2.4 2.7 2.3

West....................................................................................................... 984 1,064 1,015 3.1 3.3 3.2

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

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,985 5,135 4,931 3.6 3.7 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,645 4,572 4,587 4.0 3.9 3.9

Natural resources and mining................................................... 20 27 19 2.8 3.7 2.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 309 332 297 3.9 4.2 3.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 331 382 359 2.3 2.7 2.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 187 214 211 2.1 2.4 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 144 168 148 2.8 3.3 2.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,122 1,105 1,149 4.3 4.2 4.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 139 183 171 2.3 3.0 2.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 823 756 831 5.4 4.9 5.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 159 167 147 3.1 3.2 2.9

Information...................................................................................... 74 60 60 2.4 2.0 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 217 236 224 2.6 2.8 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 140 142 164 2.3 2.3 2.6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 77 93 59 3.5 4.2 2.7

Professional and business services........................................ 1,013 830 854 5.7 4.6 4.7

Education and health services................................................................. 535 561 539 2.9 3.0 2.9

Educational services................................................................ 73 130 68 2.3 4.4 2.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 463 431 472 3.1 2.8 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 810 866 920 6.1 6.3 6.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 81 124 93 4.3 6.1 4.8

Accommodations and food services............................... 729 742 827 6.5 6.3 7.1

Other services................................................................................. 215 172 166 4.0 3.2 3.0

Government......................................................................................... 340 563 344 1.5 2.5 1.5

Federal................................................................................................ 31 113 37 1.2 4.2 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 308 451 307 1.6 2.3 1.5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 738 848 642 2.9 3.3 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,962 1,922 1,938 4.0 3.9 3.9

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,068 1,214 1,098 3.4 3.8 3.4

West....................................................................................................... 1,218 1,150 1,253 4.0 3.7 4.0

 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

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,621 4,896 4,689 3.4 3.5 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,380 4,526 4,462 3.8 3.9 3.8

Natural resources and mining................................................... 16 30 19 2.3 4.1 2.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 380 379 407 4.8 4.8 5.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 357 400 399 2.5 2.8 2.9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 201 228 239 2.2 2.6 2.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 157 173 160 3.0 3.3 3.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 926 1,008 948 3.5 3.8 3.6

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 119 152 172 2.0 2.5 2.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 642 706 634 4.2 4.6 4.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 165 150 142 3.3 2.9 2.8

Information...................................................................................... 80 78 54 2.6 2.5 1.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 249 235 228 3.0 2.8 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 149 153 155 2.4 2.5 2.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 100 82 74 4.6 3.7 3.3

Professional and business services........................................ 888 847 910 5.0 4.7 5.0

Education and health services................................................................. 379 442 387 2.1 2.4 2.1

Educational services................................................................ 38 53 34 1.2 1.8 1.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 342 389 353 2.3 2.5 2.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 935 928 946 7.1 6.7 7.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 153 209 153 8.0 10.2 7.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 782 719 793 6.9 6.1 6.8

Other services................................................................................. 169 179 165 3.1 3.3 3.0

Government......................................................................................... 241 370 227 1.1 1.7 1.0

Federal................................................................................................ 32 103 24 1.2 3.8 .9

State and local.................................................................................... 209 267 203 1.1 1.4 1.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 754 802 711 2.9 3.1 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,731 1,839 1,771 3.5 3.7 3.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,055 1,098 991 3.3 3.4 3.1

West....................................................................................................... 1,081 1,157 1,217 3.5 3.7 3.9

 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

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,593 2,671 2,604 1.9 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,473 2,498 2,486 2.1 2.1 2.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 10 20 11 1.5 2.7 1.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 140 144 141 1.8 1.8 1.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 196 207 202 1.4 1.5 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 104 114 116 1.2 1.3 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 93 93 86 1.8 1.8 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 567 610 566 2.2 2.3 2.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 65 87 78 1.1 1.4 1.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 424 445 422 2.8 2.9 2.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 78 78 66 1.5 1.5 1.3

Information...................................................................................... 52 52 34 1.7 1.7 1.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 157 132 124 1.9 1.6 1.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 100 91 92 1.6 1.5 1.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 57 41 32 2.6 1.9 1.4

Professional and business services........................................ 432 426 477 2.4 2.4 2.6

Education and health services................................................................. 260 275 237 1.4 1.5 1.3

Educational services................................................................ 17 32 20 .6 1.1 .6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 243 243 217 1.6 1.6 1.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 580 517 590 4.4 3.8 4.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 56 68 44 3.0 3.3 2.3

Accommodations and food services............................... 524 450 545 4.6 3.8 4.7

Other services................................................................................. 78 116 104 1.4 2.1 1.9

Government......................................................................................... 120 173 118 .5 .8 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 14 36 9 .5 1.3 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 105 137 109 .5 .7 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 351 389 341 1.4 1.5 1.3

South............................................................................................... 1,109 1,047 1,079 2.2 2.1 2.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 584 595 527 1.8 1.9 1.6

West....................................................................................................... 549 640 656 1.8 2.1 2.1

 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

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,706 1,924 1,838 1.2 1.4 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,620 1,800 1,762 1.4 1.5 1.5

Natural resources and mining................................................... 4 8 6 .5 1.1 .8

Construction...................................................................................................... 206 221 251 2.6 2.8 3.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 134 167 178 .9 1.2 1.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 80 101 113 .9 1.1 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 54 67 64 1.0 1.3 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 282 327 337 1.1 1.2 1.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 46 59 89 .8 1.0 1.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 174 210 189 1.1 1.4 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 62 59 59 1.2 1.1 1.2

Information...................................................................................... 23 19 12 .8 .6 .4

Financial activities........................................................................... 73 91 89 .9 1.1 1.1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 36 53 53 .6 .9 .9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 37 38 36 1.7 1.7 1.6

Professional and business services........................................ 400 371 395 2.2 2.1 2.2

Education and health services................................................................. 88 143 112 .5 .8 .6

Educational services................................................................ 17 18 11 .6 .6 .4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 71 126 100 .5 .8 .6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 337 397 333 2.6 2.9 2.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 94 139 106 4.9 6.8 5.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 243 257 228 2.2 2.2 2.0

Other services................................................................................. 71 55 50 1.3 1.0 .9

Government......................................................................................... 87 124 76 .4 .6 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 11 27 9 .4 1.0 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 76 97 67 .4 .5 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 345 345 309 1.3 1.3 1.2

South............................................................................................... 495 707 598 1.0 1.4 1.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 411 438 414 1.3 1.4 1.3

West....................................................................................................... 455 435 517 1.5 1.4 1.7

 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

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p

Total........................................................................................................... 322 301 247 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 287 228 214 .2 .2 .2

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

Construction...................................................................................................... 34 14 15 .4 .2 .2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 27 26 19 .2 .2 .1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 17 13 10 .2 .1 .1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 10 13 10 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 77 71 45 .3 .3 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 7 6 5 .1 .1 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 44 51 23 .3 .3 .1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 26 13 16 .5 .3 .3

Information...................................................................................... 5 7 8 .2 .2 .3

Financial activities........................................................................... 19 12 15 .2 .1 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 13 9 9 .2 .1 .1

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

Professional and business services........................................ 55 50 39 .3 .3 .2

Education and health services................................................................. 31 25 38 .2 .1 .2

Educational services................................................................ 3 3 3 .1 .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 27 21 35 .2 .1 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 17 14 23 .1 .1 .2

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

Accommodations and food services............................... 15 12 20 .1 .1 .2

Other services................................................................................. 20 8 10 .4 .1 .2

Government......................................................................................... 35 73 32 .2 .3 .1

Federal................................................................................................ 7 40 6 .3 1.5 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 27 33 27 .1 .2 .1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 58 68 60 .2 .3 .2

South............................................................................................... 127 86 94 .3 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 60 65 49 .2 .2 .2

West....................................................................................................... 77 82 44 .3 .3 .1

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

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

3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region