1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 04-2462

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 December 2000 - October 2004

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

2001 2002 2003 2004

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 December 2000 - October 2004

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

Separations

Hires

2001 2002 2003 2004

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: OCTOBER 2004

The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or no change in October, the Bureau of

Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job openings rate was little changed

at 2.5 percent. The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.3 percent, and the total separations rate was

unchanged at 3.2 percent. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and

separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of October 2004, there were 3.3 million job openings in the United States, and

the job openings rate was 2.5 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate has generally trended upward

since August 2003. In October, the job openings rate dropped in the leisure and hospitality industry and

edged up in government.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) was 3.3 percent in October,

little changed from a month earlier. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.

The hires rate decreased in manufacturing and government and increased in trade, transportation, and utilities

over the month.

The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.2 percent in October. (See table 3.) The overall total separations rate is 0.3 percentage

point higher than its most recent low in November 2003. Separations are terminations of employment that
2

Total............................................................ 4,108 4,253 4,317 3,859 4,158 4,159

 Total private ........................................ 3,815 3,906 3,987 3,612 3,856

Construction ................................... 78 113 391 383 350 365 350 469

Manufacturing ................................ 199 251 335 379 323 332 381 352

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 451 591 592 880 864 951 854 909 935

Professional and business

services ......................................... 488 564 585 590 689 720 523 590 539

Education and health services .... 545 543 543 433 401 409 377 384 361

Leisure and hospitality ................. 367 425 356 729 782 747 725 756 743

Government .......................................... 346 350 382 269 337 301 257 306 269

Total 1......................................................... 2.1 2.4 2.5 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.2 3.2

Total private 1....................................... 2.2 2.6 2.6 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.5 3.5

Construction ................................... 1.1 1.6 1.7 5.8 5.5 5.0 5.4 5.0 6.7

Manufacturing ................................ 1.4 1.7 1.8 2.3 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.6 2.4

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 1.8 2.3 2.3 3.5 3.4 3.7 3.4 3.6 3.7

Professional and business

services ......................................... 2.9 3.3 3.4 3.7 4.2 4.3 3.3 3.6 3.2

Education and health services .... 3.2 3.1 3.1 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.1

Leisure and hospitality ................. 2.9 3.3 2.8 6.0 6.3 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.0

Government .......................................... 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.2 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.2

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

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

2003 2004p 2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2004

2,479

2,823

2,934

3,294

3,891

121

259

2,950

3,330

1

1

occur at any time during the month. The total separations rate increased in construction and fell in government in October.

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 1.7 percent in October and has been unchanged since February 2004. (See

table 4.) The quits rate increased in construction in October. The other two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges (1.3 percent) and other separations (0.2 percent) are not seasonally adjusted.

Both rates showed little or no change from a year earlier.

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

averaged 4.3 million per month and separations have averaged 4.1 million per month. (See the Technical

Note for additional information on these measures.)
3

For More Information

For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site at www.bls.gov/jlt/.

Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling

(202) 691-5870.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for November 2004 is scheduled to be issued on

Wednesday, January 12, 2005.

______________________________
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment

Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if

necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership

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

in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification

process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

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

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and

the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p

Total4...................................................... 2,823 3,105 3,022 3,237 3,195 3,294 3,330 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 2,479 2,746 2,640 2,894 2,859 2,934 2,950 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.6

Construction....................................... 78 108 94 88 121 113 121 1.1 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.7 1.6 1.7

Manufacturing....................................... 199 244 247 240 234 251 259 1.4 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 451 521 503 567 551 591 592 1.8 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.3

Professional and business services......... 488 530 494 583 594 564 585 2.9 3.1 2.9 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.4

Education and health services.................. 545 542 496 537 536 543 543 3.2 3.1 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1

Leisure and hospitality........................... 367 391 421 435 410 425 356 2.9 3.1 3.3 3.4 3.2 3.3 2.8

Government............................................. 346 360 380 343 337 350 382 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.7

REGION

Northeast............................................. 499 526 546 545 540 562 599 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3

South................................................ 1,092 1,164 1,164 1,280 1,259 1,245 1,311 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7

Midwest............................................. 628 688 631 635 613 699 640 2.0 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.0

West................................................... 636 765 677 738 771 790 756 2.2 2.6 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.6

1

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

of the month. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

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

 3

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

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

 4

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

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

 P

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

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

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

Industry and region Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p

Total4...................................................... 4,108 4,206 4,433 4,229 4,375 4,253 4,317 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 3,815 3,938 4,110 3,930 4,058 3,906 3,987 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6

Construction....................................... 391 406 436 368 401 383 350 5.8 5.9 6.3 5.3 5.8 5.5 5.0

Manufacturing....................................... 335 336 370 352 356 379 323 2.3 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 880 938 945 957 984 864 951 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.4 3.7

Professional and business services......... 590 631 692 621 690 689 720 3.7 3.8 4.2 3.8 4.2 4.2 4.3

Education and health services.................. 433 451 428 418 470 401 409 2.6 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.4 2.4

Leisure and hospitality........................... 729 739 749 760 760 782 747 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.1 6.3 6.0

Government............................................. 269 272 328 310 322 337 301 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.4

REGION

Northeast............................................. 695 708 703 720 763 745 736 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9

South................................................ 1,500 1,606 1,709 1,640 1,643 1,635 1,646 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5

Midwest............................................. 905 956 1,009 935 945 942 1,010 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.2

West................................................... 969 951 1,023 865 1,018 942 893 3.4 3.3 3.6 3.0 3.5 3.3 3.1

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

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

 3

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

 4

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

 P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p

Total4...................................................... 3,859 4,040 4,069 4,074 4,134 4,158 4,159 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 3,612 3,761 3,789 3,793 3,894 3,856 3,891 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5

Construction....................................... 365 367 382 364 391 350 469 5.4 5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6 5.0 6.7

Manufacturing....................................... 332 377 343 367 379 381 352 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 854 917 927 972 951 909 935 3.4 3.6 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.7

Professional and business services......... 523 556 607 613 575 590 539 3.3 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.2

Education and health services.................. 377 379 362 363 380 384 361 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.1

Leisure and hospitality........................... 725 696 734 694 760 756 743 6.0 5.6 5.9 5.6 6.2 6.1 6.0

Government............................................. 257 268 270 273 246 306 269 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.4 1.2

REGION

Northeast............................................. 615 648 704 674 717 730 693 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.7

South................................................ 1,465 1,504 1,533 1,545 1,527 1,506 1,595 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.4

Midwest............................................. 859 833 853 935 831 931 894 2.8 2.7 2.7 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.9

West................................................... 877 1,008 979 945 1,087 978 952 3.1 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.8 3.4 3.3

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

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

 3

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

 4

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

 P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

Industry and region Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p

Total4...................................................... 2,129 2,173 2,284 2,265 2,252 2,248 2,259 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 1,995 2,036 2,162 2,141 2,140 2,118 2,130 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9

Construction....................................... 139 144 156 101 147 138 198 2.1 2.1 2.3 1.5 2.1 2.0 2.8

Manufacturing....................................... 162 171 171 174 165 183 173 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 482 525 536 559 552 536 520 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.0

Professional and business services......... 266 259 322 322 308 325 284 1.7 1.6 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.7

Education and health services.................. 230 223 225 271 239 240 235 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.4

Leisure and hospitality........................... 515 455 480 442 476 439 454 4.2 3.7 3.9 3.6 3.9 3.6 3.7

Government............................................. 135 129 123 126 116 130 124 .6 .6 .6 .6 .5 .6 .6

REGION

Northeast............................................. 288 318 334 338 339 325 333 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3

South................................................ 840 857 910 901 897 903 888 1.8 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9

Midwest............................................. 464 479 485 505 447 472 480 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.5

West................................................... 552 521 573 519 566 546 561 1.9 1.8 2.0 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.9

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

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

 3

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

 4

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

 P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total.................................................................. 2,763 3,439 3,274 2.1 2.5 2.4

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,434 3,104 2,911 2.2 2.7 2.6

Natural resources and mining........................... 6 9 11 1.1 1.5 1.9

Construction................................................... 70 113 111 1.0 1.6 1.5

Manufacturing................................................ 191 260 251 1.3 1.8 1.7

Durable goods............................................. 119 156 159 1.3 1.7 1.7

Nondurable goods....................................... 72 104 92 1.3 1.9 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 513 677 680 2.0 2.6 2.6

Wholesale trade.......................................... 64 118 85 1.1 2.0 1.5

Retail trade................................................ 375 477 502 2.4 3.1 3.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 73 82 93 1.5 1.7 1.9

Information................................................... 71 76 80 2.2 2.4 2.5

Financial activities............................................ 164 243 230 2.0 2.9 2.8

Finance and insurance................................. 134 207 190 2.2 3.3 3.1

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 30 36 40 1.4 1.7 1.9

Professional and business services..................... 460 599 564 2.7 3.5 3.2

Education and health services........................... 539 565 536 3.1 3.2 3.0

Educational services.................................... 35 53 54 1.2 1.9 1.8

Health care and social assistance.................. 504 511 482 3.5 3.5 3.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 331 434 321 2.7 3.3 2.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 39 50 34 2.2 2.6 1.9

Accommodations and food services............... 291 384 287 2.7 3.5 2.6

Other services................................................ 90 128 127 1.7 2.3 2.3

Government...................................................... 330 335 364 1.5 1.5 1.6

Federal......................................................... 39 39 37 1.4 1.4 1.3

State and local.............................................. 290 296 327 1.5 1.6 1.7

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 484 589 610 1.9 2.3 2.3

South............................................................ 1,022 1,270 1,265 2.2 2.7 2.6

Midwest......................................................... 628 736 637 2.0 2.3 2.0

West............................................................ 630 844 762 2.2 2.8 2.6

1

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total.................................................................. 4,072 4,805 4,273 3.1 3.6 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 3,802 4,296 3,982 3.5 3.9 3.6

Natural resources and mining........................... 12 20 20 2.0 3.4 3.3

Construction................................................... 375 386 323 5.4 5.4 4.5

Manufacturing................................................ 308 399 288 2.1 2.8 2.0

Durable goods............................................. 185 249 183 2.1 2.8 2.0

Nondurable goods....................................... 123 150 106 2.2 2.8 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 1,043 1,016 1,128 4.1 4.0 4.4

Wholesale trade.......................................... 143 160 160 2.6 2.8 2.8

Retail trade................................................ 789 660 812 5.3 4.4 5.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 112 195 156 2.3 4.0 3.2

Information................................................... 70 72 71 2.2 2.3 2.3

Financial activities............................................ 149 188 174 1.9 2.3 2.1

Finance and insurance................................. 98 117 126 1.7 2.0 2.1

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 51 72 47 2.5 3.4 2.3

Professional and business services..................... 578 729 750 3.6 4.4 4.4

Education and health services........................... 444 518 412 2.6 3.1 2.4

Educational services.................................... 70 110 61 2.4 4.1 2.1

Health care and social assistance.................. 374 408 351 2.7 2.9 2.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 638 788 652 5.3 6.3 5.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 87 102 59 5.0 5.5 3.4

Accommodations and food services............... 550 686 594 5.3 6.4 5.6

Other services................................................ 185 178 164 3.4 3.3 3.0

Government...................................................... 270 509 291 1.2 2.4 1.3

Federal......................................................... 33 40 37 1.2 1.5 1.4

State and local.............................................. 237 470 254 1.2 2.5 1.3

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 692 939 737 2.8 3.7 2.9

South............................................................ 1,505 1,705 1,643 3.3 3.7 3.5

Midwest......................................................... 886 1,130 1,002 2.9 3.6 3.2

West............................................................ 989 1,031 892 3.5 3.6 3.1

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total.................................................................. 3,918 4,659 4,222 3.0 3.5 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 3,688 4,299 3,982 3.4 3.9 3.6

Natural resources and mining........................... 17 19 18 2.9 3.2 3.0

Construction................................................... 386 368 503 5.5 5.1 7.0

Manufacturing................................................ 374 385 375 2.6 2.7 2.6

Durable goods............................................. 220 243 235 2.5 2.7 2.6

Nondurable goods....................................... 154 142 140 2.8 2.6 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 832 970 911 3.3 3.8 3.5

Wholesale trade.......................................... 143 137 156 2.6 2.4 2.8

Retail trade................................................ 568 704 623 3.8 4.7 4.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 121 130 132 2.5 2.7 2.7

Information................................................... 68 66 75 2.1 2.1 2.4

Financial activities............................................ 145 200 183 1.8 2.5 2.3

Finance and insurance................................. 98 128 110 1.7 2.1 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 47 72 73 2.3 3.4 3.5

Professional and business services..................... 519 635 518 3.2 3.8 3.1

Education and health services........................... 357 418 334 2.1 2.5 1.9

Educational services.................................... 40 61 46 1.4 2.3 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................. 316 357 288 2.3 2.5 2.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 847 1,015 872 7.0 8.1 7.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 136 218 151 7.8 11.7 8.7

Accommodations and food services............... 711 797 721 6.9 7.5 6.8

Other services................................................ 145 222 193 2.7 4.1 3.6

Government...................................................... 230 360 241 1.1 1.7 1.1

Federal......................................................... 39 29 29 1.4 1.1 1.1

State and local.............................................. 191 332 212 1.0 1.8 1.1

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 649 924 726 2.6 3.7 2.8

South............................................................ 1,494 1,591 1,648 3.2 3.4 3.5

Midwest......................................................... 851 1,072 886 2.7 3.4 2.8

West............................................................ 923 1,072 963 3.2 3.7 3.3

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total.................................................................. 2,119 2,599 2,233 1.6 2.0 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,003 2,458 2,126 1.8 2.2 1.9

Natural resources and mining........................... 7 12 10 1.2 2.0 1.7

Construction................................................... 125 157 192 1.8 2.2 2.7

Manufacturing................................................ 167 212 178 1.2 1.5 1.2

Durable goods............................................. 97 129 118 1.1 1.4 1.3

Nondurable goods....................................... 71 83 60 1.3 1.5 1.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 495 614 526 2.0 2.4 2.1

Wholesale trade.......................................... 71 86 73 1.3 1.5 1.3

Retail trade................................................ 363 461 385 2.4 3.1 2.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 60 67 68 1.3 1.4 1.4

Information................................................... 40 36 35 1.3 1.2 1.1

Financial activities............................................ 74 107 90 .9 1.3 1.1

Finance and insurance................................. 49 72 58 .8 1.2 1.0

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 25 36 31 1.2 1.7 1.5

Professional and business services..................... 268 364 278 1.6 2.2 1.6

Education and health services........................... 219 274 221 1.3 1.6 1.3

Educational services.................................... 18 32 30 .6 1.2 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................. 201 242 191 1.4 1.7 1.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 533 578 469 4.4 4.6 3.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 54 59 34 3.1 3.2 2.0

Accommodations and food services............... 479 518 435 4.6 4.9 4.1

Other services................................................ 74 103 128 1.4 1.9 2.4

Government...................................................... 115 141 106 .5 .7 .5

Federal......................................................... 14 10 13 .5 .4 .5

State and local.............................................. 101 131 94 .5 .7 .5

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 311 428 359 1.2 1.7 1.4

South............................................................ 837 999 883 1.8 2.1 1.9

Midwest......................................................... 446 552 462 1.4 1.8 1.5

West............................................................ 525 621 528 1.8 2.2 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.

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total.................................................................. 1,507 1,755 1,697 1.2 1.3 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 1,434 1,580 1,597 1.3 1.4 1.4

Natural resources and mining........................... 7 4 5 1.2 .7 .9

Construction................................................... 247 194 279 3.6 2.7 3.9

Manufacturing................................................ 169 144 177 1.2 1.0 1.2

Durable goods............................................. 102 92 104 1.1 1.0 1.2

Nondurable goods....................................... 67 52 73 1.2 1.0 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 282 295 306 1.1 1.2 1.2

Wholesale trade.......................................... 59 43 76 1.1 .8 1.3

Retail trade................................................ 178 205 175 1.2 1.4 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 45 46 55 .9 1.0 1.1

Information................................................... 26 22 31 .8 .7 1.0

Financial activities............................................ 39 74 70 .5 .9 .9

Finance and insurance................................. 21 39 31 .4 .7 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 18 35 40 .9 1.6 1.9

Professional and business services..................... 211 237 198 1.3 1.4 1.2

Education and health services........................... 112 112 86 .7 .7 .5

Educational services.................................... 20 25 11 .7 .9 .4

Health care and social assistance.................. 92 87 75 .7 .6 .5

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 285 397 383 2.4 3.2 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 78 152 113 4.5 8.2 6.5

Accommodations and food services............... 207 245 271 2.0 2.3 2.6

Other services................................................ 56 100 61 1.0 1.8 1.1

Government...................................................... 73 175 100 .3 .8 .5

Federal......................................................... 12 8 9 .4 .3 .3

State and local.............................................. 61 167 91 .3 .9 .5

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 288 416 298 1.1 1.6 1.2

South............................................................ 538 481 646 1.2 1.0 1.4

Midwest......................................................... 345 465 379 1.1 1.5 1.2

West............................................................ 336 393 373 1.2 1.4 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.

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total.................................................................. 292 304 293 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 251 260 258 .2 .2 .2

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

Construction................................................... 13 16 32 .2 .2 .4

Manufacturing................................................ 37 28 20 .3 .2 .1

Durable goods............................................. 22 22 12 .2 .2 .1

Nondurable goods....................................... 16 6 8 .3 .1 .1

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 54 61 79 .2 .2 .3

Wholesale trade.......................................... 12 8 8 .2 .1 .1

Retail trade................................................ 26 37 62 .2 .2 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 15 16 8 .3 .3 .2

Information................................................... 2 8 9 .1 .2 .3

Financial activities............................................ 32 19 23 .4 .2 .3

Finance and insurance................................. 28 17 21 .5 .3 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 4 2 2 .2 .1 .1

Professional and business services..................... 41 34 42 .2 .2 .3

Education and health services........................... 25 32 26 .2 .2 .2

Educational services.................................... 2 4 5 .1 .2 .2

Health care and social assistance.................. 23 27 21 .2 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 29 40 19 .2 .3 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 4 6 4 .2 .3 .2

Accommodations and food services............... 25 34 15 .2 .3 .1

Other services................................................ 14 19 4 .3 .4 .1

Government...................................................... 42 44 35 .2 .2 .2

Federal......................................................... 13 10 8 .5 .4 .3

State and local.............................................. 29 34 27 .2 .2 .1

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 51 80 68 .2 .3 .3

South............................................................ 120 111 119 .3 .2 .3

Midwest......................................................... 59 56 44 .2 .2 .1

West............................................................ 62 58 62 .2 .2 .2

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates