1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-1585

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 August 2003 - July 2006

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

2004 2005 2006

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 August 2003 - July 2006

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2004 2005 2006

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JULY 2006

The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were essentially unchanged in July, the Bureau of

Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the

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

Job Openings

On the last business day of July 2006, there were 3.8 million job openings in the United States, and the

job openings rate was 2.8 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month and has been little

changed since November 2005. In July, the job openings rate increased in government. There were no significant decreases in the job openings rate in any industry or region. The industries with the highest seasonally

adjusted job openings rates in July 2006 were education and health services (3.6 percent), leisure and hospitality (3.4 percent), and professional and business services (3.3 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate increased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information;

health care and social assistance; state and local government; and the West region. The job openings rate

declined significantly over the year in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry. (See table 5.)

Hires

The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.7 percent in July. Hires are any additions to the payroll

during the month. In July, the hires rate increased in education and health services and in the Northeast region
2

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

July June July July June July July June July

2005 2006 2005 2006 2006 2005 2006 2006

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2006

1

1

p p p

Total .......................................... 3,580 3,844 4,899 4,949 4,464 4,631 4,447

 Total private ............................. 3,354 4,430 4,508 4,623 4,186 4,299

Construction ................................... 120 161 374 366 367 378 324 435

Manufacturing ................................ 281 301 335 378 379 389 370 363

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 625 640 622 1,010 1,099 1,050 977 1,082 953

Professional and business

services ......................................... 643 616 591 909 905 878 804 755

Education and health services .... 598 659 662 448 465 536 405 424 403

Leisure and hospitality ................. 450 487 466 838 846 840 792 802 823

Government .......................................... 418 467 490 327 392 345 275 315 297

Total 1......................................................... 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.3 3.4 3.3

Total private 1....................................... 2.8 3.0 2.9 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.7 3.8 3.7

Construction ................................... 1.6 2.1 2.1 5.1 4.9 4.9 5.2 4.3 5.8

Manufacturing ................................ 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.5

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 2.4 2.4 2.3 3.9 4.2 4.0 3.8 4.2 3.7

Professional and business

services ......................................... 3.7 3.4 3.3 5.4 5.2 5.1 4.8 4.4 4.0

Education and health services .... 3.3 3.6 3.6 2.6 2.6 3.0 2.3 2.4 2.3

Leisure and hospitality ................. 3.4 3.6 3.4 6.5 6.5 6.4 6.2 6.2 6.3

Government .......................................... 1.9 2.1 2.2 1.5 1.8 1.6 1.3 1.4 1.4

157

3,162

3,960

304

702

4,727

3,476 4,143

and declined in government. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (6.4 percent). (See table 2.)

From July 2005 to July 2006, the hires rate rose in nondurable goods manufacturing, information, finance

and insurance, real estate rental and leasing, and health care and social assistance. The hires rate declined in

natural resources and mining over the year. The hires rate did not change significantly over the year in any

geographic region. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.3 percent in July. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In July, the total separations rate increased in construction and in the Midwest region and declined in trade, transportation, and utilities and

in the South and West regions. (See table 3.)

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’
3

ability to change jobs, was about unchanged at 1.9 percent in July. The quits rate decreased in leisure and

hospitality and in the South region. In July, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the leisure and

hospitality industry (4.2 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate grew in transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; real estate

rental and leasing; and state and local government. The quits rate declined in federal government. The

quits rate did not change significantly over the year in any geographic region. (See table 8.)

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

seasonally adjusted. From July 2005 to July 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate was about unchanged at

1.0 percent. For July 2006, the construction industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate (2.6 percent). From July 2005 to July 2006, the other separations rate increased to 0.3 percent. (See tables 9

and 10.)

Flows in the Labor Market

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

in July 2006, hires have averaged 4.9 million per month and separations have averaged 4.6 million per month

(not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.7 million hires and

4.5 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

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 August 2006 is scheduled to be issued on

Wednesday, October 11, 2006.
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.

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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4.........................................................3,580 3,994 4,089 4,070 3,945 3,960 3,844 2.6 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.............................................3,162 3,531 3,633 3,603 3,496 3,476 3,354 2.8 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9

Construction.......................................... 120 121 144 138 119 161 157 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.8 1.6 2.1 2.1

Manufacturing....................................... 281 318 318 323 311 301 304 1.9 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities............... 625 660 651 672 687 640 622 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.3

Professional and business services............ 643 716 702 748 693 616 591 3.7 4.0 3.9 4.2 3.9 3.4 3.3

Education and health services.................. 598 640 692 674 651 659 662 3.3 3.5 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6

Leisure and hospitality.............................. 450 587 506 485 496 487 466 3.4 4.3 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.4

Government............................................. 418 460 458 467 452 467 490 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.2

REGION 5

Northeast............................................. 621 707 732 672 670 699 690 2.4 2.7 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6

South................................................... 1,368 1,547 1,634 1,600 1,591 1,507 1,472 2.8 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.0

Midwest................................................ 774 797 721 770 787 777 745 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3

West................................................... 778 957 985 1,022 918 935 914 2.6 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.0 3.0

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, 

of the month. North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,

day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,

 3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,

seasonal adjustment of the various series. Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,

 4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and Wyoming.

and other services, not shown separately. p

 = preliminary.

 5

 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise 

the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

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

Industry and region July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4.........................................................4,727 4,954 4,884 4,649 4,949 4,899 4,949 3.5 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.7

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.............................................4,430 4,578 4,503 4,301 4,573 4,508 4,623 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.1

Construction.......................................... 374 403 344 376 374 366 367 5.1 5.4 4.6 5.0 5.0 4.9 4.9

Manufacturing....................................... 335 333 341 328 385 378 379 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.7 2.7 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities...............1,010 1,117 1,103 1,029 1,018 1,099 1,050 3.9 4.3 4.2 4.0 3.9 4.2 4.0

Professional and business services............ 909 841 922 858 1,006 905 878 5.4 4.9 5.4 5.0 5.8 5.2 5.1

Education and health services.................. 448 435 435 481 549 465 536 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.7 3.1 2.6 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.............................. 838 1,019 899 775 811 846 840 6.5 7.9 6.9 6.0 6.2 6.5 6.4

Government............................................. 327 379 397 361 379 392 345 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.6

REGION 5

Northeast............................................. 785 814 914 849 852 729 831 3.1 3.2 3.6 3.3 3.3 2.9 3.3

South................................................... 1,766 2,061 1,803 1,777 1,849 1,877 1,850 3.7 4.3 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.8

Midwest................................................1,034 1,045 1,117 965 1,133 1,072 1,092 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.1 3.6 3.4 3.5

West................................................... 1,105 1,083 1,127 1,152 1,114 1,207 1,147 3.7 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.8

 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.

5

 See footnote 5, table 1. 

p

 = preliminary.

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4...................................................... 4,464 4,531 4,681 4,495 4,811 4,631 4,447 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 4,186 4,252 4,360 4,203 4,488 4,299 4,143 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.8 3.7

Construction....................................... 378 335 422 373 478 324 435 5.2 4.5 5.6 5.0 6.4 4.3 5.8

Manufacturing....................................... 389 380 427 346 381 370 363 2.7 2.7 3.0 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 977 997 989 1,022 1,046 1,082 953 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.9 4.0 4.2 3.7

Professional and business services......... 804 826 798 790 833 755 702 4.8 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.8 4.4 4.0

Education and health services.................. 405 403 399 437 487 424 403 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.5 2.8 2.4 2.3

Leisure and hospitality........................... 792 881 769 770 799 802 823 6.2 6.8 5.9 5.9 6.1 6.2 6.3

Government............................................. 275 285 326 302 324 315 297 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4

REGION 5

Northeast............................................. 721 736 714 711 779 724 741 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 3.1 2.8 2.9

South................................................ 1,637 1,694 1,810 1,710 1,828 1,858 1,649 3.4 3.5 3.8 3.5 3.8 3.8 3.4

Midwest............................................. 1,058 1,032 1,014 992 1,045 871 1,048 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 2.8 3.3

West...................................................1,076 1,054 1,188 1,116 1,136 1,137 1,022 3.6 3.5 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.4

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

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

3

 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.

5 See footnote 5, table 1.

p

 = preliminary.

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

Industry and region July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4...................................................... 2,511 2,663 2,763 2,541 2,723 2,699 2,570 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 2,395 2,526 2,606 2,383 2,565 2,554 2,423 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.1

Construction....................................... 151 153 182 167 207 154 145 2.1 2.0 2.4 2.2 2.8 2.0 1.9

Manufacturing....................................... 190 202 205 175 202 190 187 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 587 602 598 613 622 615 598 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3

Professional and business services......... 373 422 426 409 434 386 385 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.2

Education and health services.................. 281 279 267 253 276 290 271 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.5

Leisure and hospitality........................... 527 607 561 535 533 622 544 4.1 4.7 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.8 4.2

Government............................................. 122 139 156 159 159 146 151 .6 .6 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7

REGION 5

Northeast............................................. 374 368 383 370 370 358 374 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5

South................................................ 988 1,114 1,129 1,026 1,152 1,153 1,066 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.2

Midwest............................................. 555 600 619 575 581 552 533 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7

West................................................... 591 567 642 593 612 631 593 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0

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

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

3

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

4

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

5 See footnote 5, table 1.

p

 = preliminary.

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 July June July July June July

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total.................................................................. 3,783 4,081 4,045 2.8 2.9 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 3,333 3,568 3,515 2.9 3.0 3.0

Natural resources and mining........................... 14 14 13 2.2 2.1 1.9

Construction................................................... 135 193 180 1.7 2.4 2.3

Manufacturing................................................ 303 319 325 2.1 2.2 2.2

Durable goods............................................. 194 212 213 2.1 2.3 2.3

Nondurable goods....................................... 109 106 112 2.0 2.0 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 648 633 640 2.4 2.4 2.4

Wholesale trade.......................................... 133 136 128 2.2 2.3 2.1

Retail trade................................................ 400 351 367 2.5 2.3 2.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 115 147 145 2.3 2.8 2.8

Information................................................... 79 141 150 2.5 4.4 4.7

Financial activities............................................ 231 284 239 2.7 3.3 2.8

Finance and insurance................................. 190 219 185 3.1 3.4 2.9

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 42 65 54 1.9 2.9 2.4

Professional and business services..................... 661 647 596 3.7 3.6 3.3

Education and health services........................... 620 676 687 3.5 3.7 3.8

Educational services.................................... 61 68 61 2.4 2.5 2.4

Health care and social assistance.................. 559 608 625 3.7 3.9 4.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 506 498 519 3.6 3.5 3.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 88 57 58 3.8 2.6 2.5

Accommodations and food services............... 418 442 461 3.6 3.7 3.8

Other services................................................ 137 162 167 2.4 2.9 3.0

Government...................................................... 450 513 530 2.1 2.3 2.5

Federal......................................................... 43 40 52 1.6 1.4 1.9

State and local.............................................. 406 473 478 2.2 2.4 2.6

REGION 3

Northeast...................................................... 635 712 705 2.5 2.7 2.7

South............................................................ 1,472 1,564 1,568 3.0 3.1 3.1

Midwest......................................................... 840 804 805 2.6 2.5 2.5

West............................................................ 836 1,002 967 2.7 3.2 3.1

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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region July June July July June July

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total.................................................................. 4,935 5,962 5,161 3.7 4.4 3.8

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 4,571 5,446 4,783 4.1 4.8 4.2

Natural resources and mining........................... 32 23 19 5.1 3.3 2.8

Construction................................................... 388 476 377 5.1 6.2 4.8

Manufacturing................................................ 362 437 412 2.5 3.0 2.9

Durable goods............................................. 215 280 231 2.4 3.1 2.6

Nondurable goods....................................... 147 157 181 2.8 3.0 3.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 993 1,222 1,026 3.8 4.7 3.9

Wholesale trade.......................................... 143 182 145 2.5 3.1 2.5

Retail trade................................................ 697 833 712 4.6 5.5 4.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 154 207 169 3.1 4.1 3.4

Information................................................... 68 96 97 2.2 3.1 3.2

Financial activities............................................ 190 240 272 2.3 2.9 3.2

Finance and insurance................................. 129 148 176 2.1 2.4 2.9

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 60 93 96 2.8 4.2 4.3

Professional and business services..................... 939 1,031 896 5.5 5.9 5.1

Education and health services........................... 481 561 586 2.8 3.2 3.4

Educational services.................................... 70 86 75 2.8 3.3 3.0

Health care and social assistance.................. 411 475 512 2.8 3.2 3.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 883 1,092 883 6.5 8.0 6.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 129 183 124 5.9 8.5 5.6

Accommodations and food services............... 754 910 759 6.7 7.9 6.6

Other services................................................ 235 268 213 4.3 4.9 3.9

Government...................................................... 364 516 379 1.8 2.4 1.8

Federal......................................................... 43 66 31 1.6 2.4 1.1

State and local.............................................. 321 450 347 1.8 2.3 1.9

REGION 3

Northeast...................................................... 871 969 926 3.5 3.8 3.6

South............................................................ 1,854 2,229 1,950 3.9 4.6 4.0

Midwest......................................................... 1,028 1,289 1,085 3.3 4.1 3.5

West............................................................ 1,183 1,476 1,200 4.0 4.9 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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region July June July July June July

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total.................................................................. 4,695 4,882 4,660 3.5 3.6 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 4,348 4,402 4,284 3.9 3.8 3.7

Natural resources and mining........................... 24 16 13 3.8 2.3 1.9

Construction................................................... 330 317 395 4.3 4.1 5.1

Manufacturing................................................ 416 374 392 2.9 2.6 2.7

Durable goods............................................. 269 216 242 3.0 2.4 2.7

Nondurable goods....................................... 147 158 150 2.8 3.0 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 976 1,069 944 3.8 4.1 3.6

Wholesale trade.......................................... 135 148 167 2.3 2.5 2.8

Retail trade................................................ 702 753 630 4.6 4.9 4.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 139 168 147 2.9 3.4 3.0

Information................................................... 74 91 79 2.4 2.9 2.6

Financial activities............................................ 171 225 239 2.1 2.7 2.8

Finance and insurance................................. 128 133 147 2.1 2.2 2.4

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 43 93 92 2.0 4.2 4.1

Professional and business services..................... 915 798 778 5.4 4.6 4.4

Education and health services........................... 450 491 444 2.6 2.8 2.6

Educational services.................................... 62 83 64 2.5 3.1 2.5

Health care and social assistance.................. 388 408 381 2.7 2.7 2.6

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 796 814 835 5.9 6.0 6.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 86 86 102 3.9 4.0 4.6

Accommodations and food services............... 710 728 734 6.3 6.4 6.4

Other services................................................ 194 206 165 3.6 3.8 3.0

Government...................................................... 348 481 375 1.7 2.2 1.8

Federal......................................................... 39 75 23 1.4 2.8 .8

State and local.............................................. 308 405 352 1.7 2.1 2.0

REGION 3

Northeast...................................................... 701 805 721 2.8 3.1 2.8

South............................................................ 1,773 1,952 1,778 3.7 4.0 3.7

Midwest......................................................... 1,063 946 1,067 3.4 3.0 3.4

West............................................................ 1,158 1,179 1,094 3.9 3.9 3.6

 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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region July June July July June July

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total.................................................................. 2,780 2,920 2,827 2.1 2.1 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,636 2,716 2,650 2.3 2.4 2.3

Natural resources and mining........................... 12 8 9 1.9 1.1 1.3

Construction................................................... 173 183 159 2.3 2.4 2.0

Manufacturing................................................ 224 201 217 1.6 1.4 1.5

Durable goods............................................. 137 120 127 1.5 1.3 1.4

Nondurable goods....................................... 87 81 91 1.6 1.5 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 611 614 620 2.4 2.3 2.4

Wholesale trade.......................................... 78 89 84 1.3 1.5 1.4

Retail trade................................................ 464 451 442 3.0 3.0 2.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 69 74 94 1.4 1.5 1.9

Information................................................... 43 71 58 1.4 2.3 1.9

Financial activities............................................ 111 150 148 1.3 1.8 1.8

Finance and insurance................................. 83 93 96 1.4 1.5 1.6

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 27 58 52 1.3 2.6 2.3

Professional and business services..................... 425 408 433 2.5 2.3 2.5

Education and health services........................... 306 326 294 1.8 1.9 1.7

Educational services.................................... 33 41 40 1.3 1.5 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................. 273 286 254 1.9 1.9 1.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 588 627 604 4.4 4.6 4.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 60 54 50 2.7 2.5 2.3

Accommodations and food services............... 528 573 553 4.7 5.0 4.8

Other services................................................ 142 129 109 2.6 2.4 2.0

Government...................................................... 144 204 176 .7 .9 .9

Federal......................................................... 18 30 10 .6 1.1 .4

State and local.............................................. 127 174 166 .7 .9 .9

REGION 3

Northeast...................................................... 412 390 413 1.6 1.5 1.6

South............................................................ 1,127 1,248 1,204 2.4 2.6 2.5

Midwest......................................................... 583 588 553 1.9 1.9 1.8

West............................................................ 658 695 657 2.2 2.3 2.2

 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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region July June July July June July

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total.................................................................. 1,591 1,534 1,418 1.2 1.1 1.0

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 1,456 1,355 1,284 1.3 1.2 1.1

Natural resources and mining........................... 5 3 2 .8 .4 .3

Construction................................................... 148 113 201 1.9 1.5 2.6

Manufacturing................................................ 139 144 129 1.0 1.0 .9

Durable goods............................................. 91 76 81 1.0 .8 .9

Nondurable goods....................................... 49 68 48 .9 1.3 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 303 352 246 1.2 1.3 .9

Wholesale trade.......................................... 48 46 62 .8 .8 1.1

Retail trade................................................ 198 234 145 1.3 1.5 1.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 57 72 39 1.2 1.4 .8

Information................................................... 20 12 15 .7 .4 .5

Financial activities............................................ 40 54 63 .5 .6 .7

Finance and insurance................................. 27 24 29 .4 .4 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 14 29 34 .6 1.3 1.5

Professional and business services..................... 454 315 268 2.7 1.8 1.5

Education and health services........................... 112 133 108 .7 .8 .6

Educational services.................................... 23 36 21 .9 1.4 .8

Health care and social assistance.................. 89 97 88 .6 .6 .6

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 189 166 207 1.4 1.2 1.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 25 31 50 1.1 1.4 2.3

Accommodations and food services............... 164 135 157 1.5 1.2 1.4

Other services................................................ 46 64 44 .8 1.2 .8

Government...................................................... 135 179 134 .7 .8 .6

Federal......................................................... 9 26 7 .3 .9 .3

State and local.............................................. 126 153 127 .7 .8 .7

REGION 3

Northeast...................................................... 241 330 241 1.0 1.3 .9

South............................................................ 531 524 434 1.1 1.1 .9

Midwest......................................................... 386 273 394 1.2 .9 1.3

West............................................................ 433 408 349 1.5 1.3 1.2

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

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

3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region July June July July June July

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total.................................................................. 325 428 415 0.2 0.3 0.3

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 256 331 350 .2 .3 .3

Natural resources and mining........................... 8 5 3 1.2 .8 .4

Construction................................................... 9 21 35 .1 .3 .4

Manufacturing................................................ 53 29 46 .4 .2 .3

Durable goods............................................. 41 20 34 .5 .2 .4

Nondurable goods....................................... 12 9 11 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 62 103 77 .2 .4 .3

Wholesale trade.......................................... 9 13 20 .2 .2 .3

Retail trade................................................ 40 68 43 .3 .4 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 14 21 14 .3 .4 .3

Information................................................... 10 7 6 .3 .2 .2

Financial activities............................................ 21 21 28 .3 .3 .3

Finance and insurance................................. 18 16 23 .3 .3 .4

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

Professional and business services..................... 36 76 77 .2 .4 .4

Education and health services........................... 32 32 42 .2 .2 .2

Educational services.................................... 6 6 3 .2 .2 .1

Health care and social assistance.................. 26 25 39 .2 .2 .3

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 19 22 25 .1 .2 .2

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

Accommodations and food services............... 17 20 24 .2 .2 .2

Other services................................................ 7 14 12 .1 .3 .2

Government...................................................... 69 97 65 .3 .4 .3

Federal......................................................... 13 19 6 .5 .7 .2

State and local.............................................. 56 78 59 .3 .4 .3

REGION 3

Northeast...................................................... 48 85 68 .2 .3 .3

South............................................................ 115 181 139 .2 .4 .3

Midwest......................................................... 94 86 120 .3 .3 .4

West............................................................ 67 76 88 .2 .3 .3

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

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

3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates