For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, October 12, 2011 USDL-11-1468

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

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

(Note: August estimates of hires, separations, and job openings originally published on October 

12, 2011, had not been adjusted to account for a strike in the information industry. With the 

release of September estimates, August estimates found in the September release and database 

reflect both regular revisions and corrections. Estimates in this release will not be corrected. For 

further assistance, see www.bls.gov/bls/errata/jolts_corrections_11082011.htm.)

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – AUGUST 2011

There were 3.1 million job openings on the last business day of August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 

Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.1 percent) and separations rate (3.0 percent) were essentially 

unchanged over the month. The job openings rate has trended upward slowly since the end of the 

recession in June 2009 (as determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research). This release 

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

by industry and by geographic region.

Job Openings

The number of job openings in August was 3.1 million, little changed from July. (See table 1.) Although 

the number of job openings remained below the 4.4 million openings when the recession began in 

December 2007, the level in August was 944,000 higher than in July 2009 (the most recent trough). The 

number of job openings is up 26 percent since the end of the recession in June 2009.

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

Percent

2009 2010 2011

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

September 2008 - August 2011

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

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

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Hires

Separations

Percent

2009 2010 2011

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

September 2008 - August 2011

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

as designated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). 
- 2 -

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

Industry Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

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

Total ...................................................... 2,862 3,213 3,056 3,886 3,976 4,014 3,996 3,962 3,968

Total private 1..........................................2,556 2,905 2,757 3,627 3,733 3,755 3,556 3,659 3,692

Construction.......................................... 54 75 92 332 334 323 320 327 330

Manufacturing....................................... 173 252 240 259 259 252 279 239 248

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2............ 409 540 489 749 767 782 769 770 773

Retail trade..................................... 250 312 322 528 552 534 545 547 536

Professional and business services............ 613 640 623 777 819 839 757 806 805

Education and health services.................. 477 604 607 471 472 480 429 431 446

Leisure and hospitality ........................... 350 338 339 628 682 673 601 670 683

Arts, entertainment, and recreation......... 37 62 44 102 96 102 103 97 108

Accommodation and food services......... 313 276 295 527 586 572 498 573 576

Government 3..................................... 306 309 299 259 243 259 440 302 275

State and local government..................... 228 253 261 221 219 231 289 271 244

Total ...................................................... 2.2 2.4 2.3 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.0

Total private 1.......................................... 2.3 2.6 2.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.4

Construction.......................................... 1.0 1.3 1.6 6.0 6.0 5.9 5.8 5.9 6.0

Manufacturing....................................... 1.5 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.4 2.0 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2............ 1.6 2.1 1.9 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1

Retail trade.................................... 1.7 2.1 2.2 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.7

Professional and business services............3.5 3.6 3.5 4.6 4.8 4.9 4.5 4.7 4.7

Education and health services.................. 2.4 2.9 2.9 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.2

Leisure and hospitality ........................... 2.6 2.5 2.5 4.8 5.2 5.1 4.6 5.1 5.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation......... 1.9 3.2 2.3 5.3 5.1 5.4 5.4 5.1 5.7

Accommodation and food services......... 2.7 2.4 2.5 4.7 5.2 5.0 4.5 5.1 5.1

Government 3..................................... 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.2 2.0 1.4 1.3

State and local government..................... 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.3

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

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

 3 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = Preliminary

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)

The number of job openings in August (not seasonally adjusted) increased over the year for total private 

and was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm and government. Several industries experienced an 

increase over the year in the number of job openings; the number of job openings decreased for federal 

government. The number of job openings rose in the Midwest.

Hires

In August, the hires rate was little changed at 3.1 percent for total nonfarm. The hires rate was also 

essentially unchanged for all industries and regions. (See table 2.) The number of hires in August was 

4.0 million, up from 3.6 million in October 2009 (the most recent trough) but below the 5.0 million hires 

recorded when the recession began in December 2007. The number of hires has increased 11 percent 

since the end of the recession in June 2009.
- 3 -

Over the past 12 months, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) fell for federal government. The hires 

rate was essentially unchanged for all other industries and regions. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations figure includes voluntary quits, involuntary layoffs and discharges, and other 

separations, including retirements. Total separations is also referred to as turnover.

The seasonally adjusted total separations rate was unchanged in August for total nonfarm (3.0 percent)

and total private (3.4 percent) and little changed for government (1.3 percent). (See table 3.) Over the 

year, the total separations rate (not seasonally adjusted) was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm and

total private but decreased for government. (See table 7.)

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

quits rate was essentially unchanged for total nonfarm (at 1.5 percent), total private (1.7 percent), and 

government (0.6 percent). (See table 4.) The number of quits rose from 1.5 million in January 2010 (the 

most recent trough) to 2.0 million in August although it remained below the 2.8 million recorded when 

the recession began in December 2007.

The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) in August 2011 increased from 12 months earlier for total 

nonfarm and total private and was essentially unchanged for government. Several industries experienced 

an increase in the number of quits over the year, while federal government experienced a decline.

Among the regions, the number of quits rose in the Midwest and South. (See table 8.)

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

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

for total nonfarm, total private, and government. The number of layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm 

was 1.7 million in August, up slightly from the recent low point of 1.5 million in January 2011, but still 

below the peak of 2.5 million in February 2009. (See table B.)

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

2011 for government. The level decreased over the year for educational services, other services, and for 

state and local government. The level also decreased over the year for federal government, returning to a 

more typical level after a large number of layoffs in August 2010 of temporary Census workers. The 

number of layoffs and discharges was little changed in all four regions over the year. (See table 9.)

Table B. Layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total...............................................................1,809 1,694 1,659 1.4 1.3 1.3

Total private...................................................1,555 1,579 1,559 1.4 1.4 1.4

Government................................................... 254 115 99 1.1 0.5 0.5

 p = Preliminary

Industry

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

The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In August 2011, there were 321,000 other 

separations for total nonfarm, 259,000 for total private, and 62,000 for government. Compared to 

August 2010, the number of other separations was down for total nonfarm and government. (See table 

10.)

Relative Contributions to Separations

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Other separations is historically a very small portion of 

total separations; it has rarely been above 10 percent of total separations. The percentage of total 

separations attributable to the individual components has varied over time at the total nonfarm level, but 

for the majority of the months since the series began in December 2000, the proportion of quits has 

exceeded the proportion of layoffs and discharges. For the majority of the months between November 

2008 and November 2010, however, the proportion of layoffs and discharges was equal to or greater 

than the proportion of quits. Since November 2010 the series have returned to their historical pattern. 

In August, the proportion of quits for total nonfarm was 51 percent, and the proportion of layoffs and 

discharges was 42 percent. (See table C.)

Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month. Over the 12 months ending in August 2011,

hires totaled 47.9 million and separations totaled 46.7 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.2

million based on not seasonally adjusted data. These figures include workers who may have been hired 

and separated more than once during the year.

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

released on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).

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

(Levels in thousands)

Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total Level

Portion 

of total

Total .................................... 1,846 46% 1,969 50% 2,030 51% 1,809 45% 1,694 43% 1,659 42%

Total private...........................1,726 49% 1,839 50% 1,909 52% 1,555 44% 1,579 43% 1,559 42%

Government ........................ 120 27% 130 43% 122 44% 254 58% 115 38% 99 36%

 p = Preliminary

Industry

Quits Layoffs and discharges

Aug.

2010

July

2011

Aug.

2011p

Aug.

2010

July

2011

Aug.

2011p
Technical Note

 The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover 

Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly 

from a sample of business establishments by the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Collection

 In a monthly survey of business establishments, data 

are collected for total employment, job openings, hires, 

quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. 

Data collection methods include computer-assisted 

telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, web, fax, 

e-mail, and mail.

Coverage

 The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well 

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

states and the District of Columbia.

Concepts

 Industry classification. The industry classifications 

in this release are in accordance with the 2007 version 

of the North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with 

employers and update, if necessary, the industry code, 

location, and ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment 

characteristics resulting from the verification process 

are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

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

 Employment. Employment includes persons on the 

payroll who worked or received pay for the pay period 

that includes the 12th day of the reference month. Fulltime, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or other paid leave. 

Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses, 

unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay 

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and 

consultants are counted by their employer of record, 

not by the establishment where they are working.

 Job openings. Establishments submit job openings 

information for the last business day of the reference 

month. A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, 

2) work could start within 30 days regardless of 

whether a suitable candidate is found, and 3) the 

employer is actively recruiting from outside the 

establishment to fill the position. Included are fulltime, part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal 

openings. Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in 

newspapers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted 

signs, accepting applications, or using other similar 

methods.

 Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. 

Also excluded are jobs with start dates more than 30 

days in the future, jobs for which employees have been 

hired but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be 

filled by employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or 

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by 

dividing the number of job openings by the sum of 

employment and job openings and multiplying that 

quotient by 100.

 Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the 

payroll occurring at any time during the reference 

month, including both new and rehired employees, fulltime and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal 

employees, employees recalled to the location after a 

layoff lasting more than 7 days, on-call or intermittent 

employees who returned to work after having been 

formally separated, and transfers from other locations. 

The hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting site, employees returning 

from strike, employees of temporary help agencies or 

employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or 

consultants. The hires rate is computed by dividing the 

number of hires by employment and multiplying that 

quotient by 100.

 Separations. Separations are the total number of 

terminations of employment occurring at any time 

during the reference month, and are reported by type of 

separation—quits, layoffs and discharges, and other 

separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements, which are reported as 

other separations). Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer and 

include layoffs with no intent to rehire; formal layoffs 

lasting or expected to last more than 7 days; discharges 

resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings; firings 

or other discharges for cause; terminations of permanent or short-term employees; and terminations of 

seasonal employees. Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not include 

transfers within the same location or employees on 

strike.
 The separations rate is computed by dividing the 

number of separations by employment and multiplying 

that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, 

and other separations rates are computed similarly, 

dividing the number by employment and multiplying 

by 100.

 Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and 

levels of hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released with the 

January news release each year.

 The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, 

layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total 

separations are the sum of the 12 published monthly 

levels. The annual rate estimates are computed by 

dividing the annual level by the Current Employment 

Statistics (CES) annual average employment level, and 

multiplying that quotient by 100. This figure will be 

approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly 

rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels 

are rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual 

estimates are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates are published only for not seasonally adjusted data.

 Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings 

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

measurement for the last business day of each month. 

Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are 

counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be 

cumulated throughout each month, annual figures for 

job openings cannot be created by summing the 

monthly estimates. Hires and separations are flow 

measures and are cumulated over the month with a 

total reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates.

Special collection procedures

 An implied measure of employment change can be 

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

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

measured by CES at the total nonfarm level. Research 

into this problem showed that a significant amount of 

the divergence between the CES employment levels 

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

State Government Education industry. In the former 

industry, businesses have a difficult time reporting 

hires and separations of temporary help workers. In 

the latter industry, employers have difficulty reporting 

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

review of data for these industries. BLS analysts more 

closely examine reported data that do not provide a 

consistent picture over time, and re-contact the 

respondents as necessary. Analysts work with the 

respondents to adjust their reporting practices as 

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

replaced by imputed values using standard techniques.

Sample and estimation methodology

 The JOLTS survey design is a random sample of 

16,000 nonfarm business establishments, including 

factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, 

and local governments in the 50 states and the District 

of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a 

universe of over 9.1 million establishments compiled 

as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of 

Employment and Wages (QCEW) program. This 

program includes all employers subject to state 

Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal 

agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for 

Federal Employees (UCFE).

 The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, 

industry sector, and size class. The JOLTS sample is 

constructed from individual panels of sample units 

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

units selected with virtual certainty based on their size 

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

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

any given time the JOLTS sample is constructed from 

panels from three different annual sampling frames. 

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

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

panels. The annual sample is supplemented with a 

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

establishments) to better reflect the impact of younger 

establishments in the JOLTS sample.

 JOLTS total employment estimates are benchmarked 

monthly to the employment estimates of the Current 

Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES 

to JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for 

all other JOLTS data elements. 

JOLTS business birth/death model

 As with any sample survey, the JOLTS sample can 

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

from the birth of an establishment until its appearance 

on the sampling frame is approximately one year. In 

addition, many of these new units may fail within the 

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

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

BLS has developed a model to estimate birth/death 

activity for current months by examining the birth/

death activity from previous years on the QCEW and 

projecting forward to the present using an econometric 

technique known as X-12 ARIMA modeling. The 

birth/death model also uses historical JOLTS data to 

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

that exists in establishments of various sizes. The 

model then combines the estimated churn with the 

projected employment change to estimate the number 

of hires and separations taking place in these units that 

cannot be measured through sampling. 

 The model-based estimate of total separations is 

distributed to the three components—quits; layoffs and 

discharges; and other separations—in proportion to 

their contribution to the sample-based estimate of total 

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

openings to hires in the collected data and applying that 

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

model are then added to the sample-based estimates 

produced from the survey to arrive at the estimates for 

openings, hires, and separations.

Seasonal adjustment

 BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using 

the X-12 ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. 

Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and 

removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 

as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of 

the school year. Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to 

observe fundamental changes in the level of the series, 

particularly those associated with general economic 

expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal 

adjustment methodology is used in which new seasonal 

adjustment factors are calculated each month, using all 

relevant data, up to and including the data for the 

current month.

 JOLTS uses moving averages as seasonal filters in 

seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA (regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the seasonal 

adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the 

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

Alignment procedure

JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable 

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

caused JOLTS to diverge from CES over time. To limit 

the divergence, and improve the quality of the JOLTS 

hires and separations series, BLS implemented the 

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

the seasonally adjusted JOLTS implied employment 

trend (hires minus separations) forcing them to be 

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

seasonally adjusted and the difference between the 

JOLTS implied employment trend and the CES net 

employment change is calculated. Next, the JOLTS 

implied employment trend is adjusted to equal the CES 

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

the two components (hires, separations) proportionally 

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

churn for a given month, they will receive 40 percent 

of the needed adjustment and separations will receive 

60 percent of the needed adjustment. The adjusted hires 

and separations are converted back to not seasonally 

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

Method has been used to adjust the level estimates, rate 

estimates are computed from the adjusted levels. The 

monthly alignment procedure assures a close match of 

the JOLTS implied employment trend with the CES 

trend. The CES series is considered a highly accurate 

measure of net employment change owing to its very 

large sample size and annual benchmarking to universe 

counts of employment from the QCEW program.

Using JOLTS data

 The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and 

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel enrolled each month. 

A full complement of panels for the original data series 

based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification 

(SIC) system was not completely enrolled in the survey 

until January 2002. The supplemental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 

completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those points are from less than a full 

sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier months 

should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units 

were reporting data at that time.

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires 

and separations data were revised to address possible 

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may 

not be comparable to estimates for March 2002 and 

later.

 The federal government reorganization that involved 

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the 

new Department of Homeland Security is not reflected 

in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the 
federal government. The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers were completed in 

March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS 

definitions of hires and separations is intended to cover 

ongoing movements of workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the 

inclusion of these intergovernmental transfers would 

distort the federal government time series.

Reliability of the estimates

 JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and 

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the 

sample estimates may differ from the "true" population 

values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample 

selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally 

conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That 

means that there is a 90-percent chance, or level of 

confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will 

differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the 

"true" population value because of sampling error. 

Estimates of sampling errors are available upon request.

 The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many 

reasons, including the failure to include a segment of 

the population, the inability to obtain data from all 

units in the sample, the inability or unwillingness of 

respondents to provide data on a timely basis, mistakes 

made by respondents, errors made in the collection or 

processing of the data, and errors from the employment 

benchmark data used in estimation.

Other information

 Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice 

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

877-8339.
Table 1. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug

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

Total ........................................................................................................... 2,862 3,123 2,953 3,034 3,169 3,213 3,056 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,556 2,793 2,635 2,725 2,835 2,905 2,757 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.5

Construction........................................................................ 54 68 90 100 68 75 92 1.0 1.2 1.6 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.6

Manufacturing................................................................ 173 235 226 211 217 252 240 1.5 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 2.1 2.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 409 472 524 484 515 540 489 1.6 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.1 1.9

Retail trade................................................................................. 250 254 312 276 332 312 322 1.7 1.7 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 613 613 497 615 616 640 623 3.5 3.5 2.8 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5

Education and health services................................................. 477 609 550 594 596 604 607 2.4 3.0 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 350 340 305 298 360 338 339 2.6 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.6 2.5 2.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 37 41 36 34 55 62 44 1.9 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.8 3.2 2.3

Accommodation and food services......................... 313 299 269 264 305 276 295 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.5

Government 6......................................................................................... 306 331 319 309 334 309 299 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3

State and local government.................................................................................... 228 274 268 261 279 253 261 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3

REGION 7

Northeast ......................................................................... 594 675 531 586 522 570 548 2.3 2.6 2.1 2.3 2.0 2.2 2.1

South ............................................................................................... 1,035 1,082 985 1,087 1,109 1,192 1,096 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.3

Midwest ......................................................................................... 612 672 664 730 686 714 707 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3

West ...................................................................................... 685 752 681 719 753 753 731 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.5

1

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

7

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

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

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

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

 

3

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

adjustment of the various series and because not all series are shown. Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 

 

4

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

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

 

5

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

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

 

6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 

p

 = Preliminary

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

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

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

Total ........................................................................................................... 3,886 4,067 4,001 4,129 4,058 3,976 4,014 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,627 3,807 3,733 3,870 3,797 3,733 3,755 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.4

Construction........................................................................ 332 338 355 371 360 334 323 6.0 6.1 6.4 6.7 6.5 6.0 5.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 259 269 257 263 260 259 252 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 749 803 791 804 802 767 782 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 528 553 556 557 553 552 534 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 777 840 831 902 806 819 839 4.6 4.9 4.9 5.3 4.7 4.8 4.9

Education and health services................................................. 471 470 468 480 485 472 480 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 628 681 653 629 689 682 673 4.8 5.2 4.9 4.8 5.2 5.2 5.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 102 120 107 111 104 96 102 5.3 6.3 5.6 5.9 5.5 5.1 5.4

Accommodation and food services......................... 527 560 546 517 585 586 572 4.7 5.0 4.8 4.6 5.2 5.2 5.0

Government 6......................................................................................... 259 260 269 259 261 243 259 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2

State and local government.................................................................................... 221 229 244 232 238 219 231 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2

REGION 7

Northeast ......................................................................... 670 717 695 675 681 675 640 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6

South ............................................................................................... 1,465 1,535 1,471 1,643 1,503 1,488 1,527 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.5 3.2 3.1 3.2

Midwest ......................................................................................... 899 862 941 890 908 910 932 3.1 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1

West ...................................................................................... 845 851 864 826 910 893 890 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.1

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

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of not shown separately.

total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

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

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

 = Preliminary

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and 

other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

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

Total ........................................................................................................... 3,996 3,805 3,833 4,145 3,993 3,962 3,968 3.1 2.9 2.9 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,556 3,534 3,528 3,844 3,687 3,659 3,692 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4

Construction........................................................................ 320 334 357 376 371 327 330 5.8 6.0 6.5 6.8 6.7 5.9 6.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 279 245 241 272 252 239 248 2.4 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 769 772 725 799 785 770 773 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 545 541 511 562 538 547 536 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 757 719 785 892 766 806 805 4.5 4.2 4.6 5.2 4.5 4.7 4.7

Education and health services................................................. 429 429 428 450 459 431 446 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 601 650 621 652 653 670 683 4.6 4.9 4.7 4.9 4.9 5.1 5.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 103 122 109 123 101 97 108 5.4 6.4 5.7 6.6 5.3 5.1 5.7

Accommodation and food services......................... 498 528 512 528 552 573 576 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.7 4.9 5.1 5.1

Government 6......................................................................................... 440 271 304 301 306 302 275 2.0 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3

State and local government.................................................................................... 289 247 278 271 273 271 244 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 684 649 763 757 634 665 635 2.8 2.6 3.1 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,494 1,519 1,402 1,528 1,421 1,482 1,487 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 886 912 947 942 934 905 921 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.1

West...................................................................................... 823 872 898 974 863 853 824 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.4 3.0 3.0 2.9

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

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

month. not shown separately.

 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 7

 See footnote 7, table 1. 

3

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

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

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

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

Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.

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

Total ........................................................................................................... 1,846 1,924 1,887 2,000 1,904 1,969 2,030 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 1,726 1,820 1,771 1,877 1,786 1,839 1,909 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.7

Construction........................................................................ 77 72 91 92 75 71 69 1.4 1.3 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.3 1.2

Manufacturing................................................................ 101 115 105 109 109 101 99 .9 1.0 .9 .9 .9 .9 .8

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 398 443 410 463 432 412 426 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 299 342 315 351 333 316 327 2.1 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 363 357 360 372 330 391 377 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 1.9 2.3 2.2

Education and health services................................................. 230 251 239 253 264 238 269 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 366 382 386 388 395 401 449 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 36 46 42 45 42 44 47 1.9 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.5

Accommodation and food services......................... 330 337 344 343 353 357 402 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.5

Government 6......................................................................................... 120 104 117 123 117 130 122 .5 .5 .5 .6 .5 .6 .6

State and local government.................................................................................... 103 97 108 114 108 121 113 .5 .5 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 308 293 266 330 264 264 294 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2

South............................................................................................... 737 779 741 816 744 782 830 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7

Midwest......................................................................................... 426 437 456 484 465 476 509 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7

West...................................................................................... 402 455 400 460 406 460 446 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.6 1.5

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a not shown separately.

percent of total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

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

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

 = Preliminary

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,954 3,392 3,158 2.2 2.5 2.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,620 3,062 2,840 2.4 2.7 2.5

Mining and logging...................................................15 35 29 2.0 4.1 3.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 56 86 101 1.0 1.5 1.7

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 186 282 257 1.6 2.3 2.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 129 201 186 1.8 2.7 2.5

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 57 81 71 1.2 1.8 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 452 583 534 1.8 2.3 2.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 85 114 67 1.5 2.0 1.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 273 354 359 1.9 2.4 2.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 94 115 108 2.0 2.3 2.2

Information...................................................................................... 98 102 58 3.5 3.7 2.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 212 202 176 2.7 2.6 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 170 149 130 2.9 2.6 2.2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 43 53 46 2.1 2.6 2.3

Professional and business services........................................ 599 661 611 3.4 3.7 3.4

Education and health services................................................................. 477 629 605 2.4 3.1 3.0

Educational services................................................................ 52 83 59 1.8 2.8 2.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 426 545 545 2.5 3.2 3.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 371 341 376 2.6 2.4 2.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 43 58 51 1.9 2.6 2.3

Accommodation and food services............................... 328 283 325 2.8 2.4 2.7

Other services................................................................................. 153 141 94 2.7 2.5 1.7

Government......................................................................................... 334 330 318 1.5 1.6 1.5

Federal................................................................................................ 88 55 39 2.9 1.9 1.3

State and local.................................................................................... 246 275 279 1.3 1.5 1.5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 611 600 572 2.4 2.4 2.2

South............................................................................................... 1,043 1,257 1,113 2.2 2.6 2.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 636 754 762 2.1 2.5 2.5

West....................................................................................................... 664 781 712 2.3 2.6 2.4

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

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

plus job openings.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,317 4,281 4,462 3.3 3.3 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,890 4,010 4,026 3.6 3.6 3.7

Mining and logging...................................................30 29 29 4.1 3.6 3.6

Construction...................................................................................................... 342 375 322 5.9 6.5 5.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 288 290 282 2.5 2.5 2.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 155 161 156 2.2 2.2 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 133 128 125 3.0 2.9 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 786 767 810 3.2 3.1 3.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 101 98 111 1.8 1.8 2.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 571 536 568 4.0 3.7 3.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 114 132 130 2.4 2.8 2.7

Information...................................................................................... 59 45 39 2.2 1.7 1.5

Financial activities........................................................................... 151 157 162 2.0 2.0 2.1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 97 107 89 1.7 1.9 1.6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 54 50 72 2.7 2.5 3.7

Professional and business services........................................ 780 843 851 4.6 4.9 4.9

Education and health services................................................................. 599 530 618 3.1 2.7 3.1

Educational services................................................................ 114 96 112 4.0 3.3 3.9

Health care and social assistance.................................. 485 434 505 3.0 2.6 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 689 737 743 5.0 5.3 5.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 98 112 97 4.5 5.1 4.5

Accommodation and food services............................... 592 625 646 5.2 5.4 5.5

Other services................................................................................. 165 237 171 3.0 4.3 3.1

Government......................................................................................... 427 271 437 2.0 1.3 2.1

Federal................................................................................................ 40 25 30 1.4 .9 1.0

State and local.................................................................................... 387 246 407 2.1 1.4 2.3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 697 773 655 2.8 3.1 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,700 1,552 1,777 3.6 3.3 3.7

Midwest................................................................................................. 993 927 1,052 3.4 3.1 3.5

West....................................................................................................... 927 1,029 978 3.2 3.6 3.4

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

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

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,725 4,393 4,742 3.6 3.4 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,117 3,960 4,338 3.8 3.6 3.9

Mining and logging...................................................21 20 23 2.9 2.5 2.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 333 341 339 5.7 5.9 5.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 309 229 281 2.7 1.9 2.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 165 121 158 2.3 1.7 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 144 108 123 3.2 2.4 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 849 789 859 3.5 3.2 3.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 112 104 110 2.0 1.9 2.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 622 555 615 4.3 3.8 4.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 116 130 134 2.5 2.7 2.8

Information...................................................................................... 57 67 87 2.1 2.5 3.3

Financial activities........................................................................... 177 157 176 2.3 2.0 2.3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 114 111 98 2.0 2.0 1.7

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 63 45 79 3.2 2.3 4.0

Professional and business services........................................ 812 853 876 4.8 4.9 5.0

Education and health services................................................................. 541 526 583 2.8 2.7 3.0

Educational services................................................................ 107 108 115 3.8 3.7 4.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 434 418 468 2.6 2.5 2.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 763 729 885 5.6 5.3 6.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 154 89 165 7.0 4.0 7.7

Accommodation and food services............................... 609 640 720 5.3 5.5 6.2

Other services................................................................................. 255 248 230 4.7 4.5 4.2

Government......................................................................................... 608 432 404 2.9 2.1 1.9

Federal................................................................................................ 162 32 43 5.5 1.1 1.5

State and local.................................................................................... 446 400 362 2.4 2.2 2.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 859 736 786 3.5 3.0 3.2

South............................................................................................... 1,807 1,666 1,834 3.8 3.5 3.9

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,067 980 1,129 3.6 3.3 3.8

West....................................................................................................... 992 1,010 993 3.5 3.5 3.4

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

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

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,393 2,248 2,677 1.8 1.7 2.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,205 2,086 2,482 2.0 1.9 2.3

Mining and logging...................................................12 13 15 1.7 1.6 1.9

Construction...................................................................................................... 108 91 93 1.9 1.6 1.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 145 111 140 1.2 .9 1.2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 75 52 70 1.1 .7 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 70 58 70 1.5 1.3 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 501 448 541 2.0 1.8 2.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 58 48 53 1.1 .9 1.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 377 336 419 2.6 2.3 2.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 65 64 69 1.4 1.3 1.4

Information...................................................................................... 31 37 53 1.1 1.4 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 103 102 100 1.3 1.3 1.3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 64 79 54 1.1 1.4 1.0

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 39 23 46 2.0 1.2 2.3

Professional and business services........................................ 451 441 475 2.7 2.6 2.7

Education and health services................................................................. 284 268 340 1.5 1.4 1.7

Educational services................................................................ 37 42 65 1.3 1.4 2.3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 247 226 275 1.5 1.3 1.6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 476 462 613 3.5 3.3 4.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 62 55 83 2.8 2.5 3.8

Accommodation and food services............................... 414 407 530 3.6 3.5 4.5

Other services................................................................................. 93 114 111 1.7 2.1 2.0

Government......................................................................................... 188 162 195 .9 .8 .9

Federal................................................................................................ 24 10 15 .8 .3 .5

State and local.................................................................................... 165 152 180 .9 .9 1.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 398 300 373 1.6 1.2 1.5

South............................................................................................... 925 889 1,062 2.0 1.9 2.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 572 536 694 1.9 1.8 2.3

West....................................................................................................... 499 524 548 1.7 1.8 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 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,947 1,761 1,744 1.5 1.3 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,620 1,585 1,598 1.5 1.4 1.5

Mining and logging...................................................6 6 6 .9 .7 .8

Construction...................................................................................................... 218 237 241 3.7 4.1 4.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 143 96 122 1.2 .8 1.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 78 56 76 1.1 .8 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 64 40 46 1.4 .9 1.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 247 251 240 1.0 1.0 1.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 47 41 30 .8 .7 .5

Retail trade................................................................................. 167 165 164 1.2 1.1 1.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 34 46 47 .7 1.0 1.0

Information...................................................................................... 21 26 28 .8 1.0 1.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 53 47 52 .7 .6 .7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 38 27 26 .7 .5 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 15 20 26 .8 1.0 1.3

Professional and business services........................................ 312 364 354 1.9 2.1 2.0

Education and health services................................................................. 221 215 200 1.1 1.1 1.0

Educational services................................................................ 66 57 38 2.3 2.0 1.3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 155 158 162 .9 .9 1.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 243 218 244 1.8 1.6 1.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 87 32 80 4.0 1.4 3.7

Accommodation and food services............................... 155 187 164 1.4 1.6 1.4

Other services................................................................................. 156 124 111 2.9 2.2 2.0

Government......................................................................................... 327 176 147 1.5 .9 .7

Federal................................................................................................ 129 10 20 4.4 .3 .7

State and local.................................................................................... 198 167 127 1.1 .9 .7

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 400 342 356 1.6 1.4 1.4

South............................................................................................... 734 638 653 1.6 1.3 1.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 395 372 356 1.3 1.3 1.2

West....................................................................................................... 418 409 379 1.5 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.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2010 2011 2011p 2010 2011 2011p

Total........................................................................................................... 385 383 321 0.3 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 292 290 259 .3 .3 .2

Mining and logging...................................................3 1 1 .4 .2 .1

Construction...................................................................................................... 6 13 6 .1 .2 .1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 21 23 20 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 12 13 12 .2 .2 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 10 10 7 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 101 90 77 .4 .4 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 7 16 27 .1 .3 .5

Retail trade................................................................................. 78 54 32 .5 .4 .2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 17 20 19 .4 .4 .4

Information...................................................................................... 4 4 5 .2 .2 .2

Financial activities........................................................................... 21 8 25 .3 .1 .3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 13 5 18 .2 .1 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 9 3 7 .4 .1 .3

Professional and business services........................................ 49 48 47 .3 .3 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 36 42 43 .2 .2 .2

Educational services................................................................ 5 9 11 .2 .3 .4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 31 34 32 .2 .2 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 44 48 27 .3 .3 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 5 2 2 .2 .1 .1

Accommodation and food services............................... 39 46 25 .3 .4 .2

Other services................................................................................. 6 11 8 .1 .2 .1

Government......................................................................................... 93 94 62 .4 .5 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 9 13 8 .3 .4 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 84 81 55 .5 .5 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 62 95 57 .2 .4 .2

South............................................................................................... 148 139 120 .3 .3 .3

Midwest................................................................................................. 100 73 79 .3 .2 .3

West....................................................................................................... 76 77 66 .3 .3 .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.

 3 See footnote 7, table 1.

 p = Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates