For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, January 10, 2013 USDL-13-0015

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

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

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – NOVEMBER 2012

There were 3.7 million job openings on the last business day of November, unchanged from October, 

the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The hires rate (3.2 percent) and separations rate (3.1

percent) also were unchanged in November. 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 November was 3.7 million, unchanged from October. (See table 1.) The 

number of openings increased in retail trade and was little changed in all remaining industries and in all

four regions in November. The level of total nonfarm job openings was 2.4 million at the end of the 

recession in June 2009. (Recession dates are determined by the National Bureau of Economic Research.)

The number of job openings in November (not seasonally adjusted) rose over the year for total nonfarm

and total private but was little changed for government. Job openings increased over the year for retail 

trade and for health care and social assistance. The Midwest and Northeast regions experienced an 

increase in job openings over the 12 months ending in November. (See table 7.)

Hires

In November, the hires rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent. The hires rate increased in government over 

the month. The rate was little changed in all four regions. (See table 2.) The number of hires in 

November was 4.3 million, up from 3.7 million at 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

2010 2011 2012

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

December 2009 - November 2012

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

2010 2011 2012

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

December 2009 - November 2012
- 2 -

Over the 12 months ending in November, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) was unchanged for

total nonfarm and total private and was little changed for government. The hires rate decreased in arts,

entertainment, and recreation over the 12 months ending in November and was little changed in all four 

regions. (See table 8.)

Separations

The total separations figure includes quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Total 

separations is also referred to as turnover. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the 

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

Industry Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total ......................................................3,274 3,665 3,676 4,268 4,316 4,319 4,057 4,087 4,138

Total private 1

....................................... 2,925 3,301 3,321 3,986 4,053 4,021 3,750 3,767 3,838

Construction....................................... 83 99 93 312 318 351 300 290 358

Manufacturing.................................... 240 281 276 237 242 231 236 228 232

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2

......... 581 610 720 849 907 869 770 824 768

Retail trade..................................... 316 374 460 573 615 572 520 552 500

Professional and business services......... 561 645 584 858 887 914 807 785 856

Education and health services 3

............ 616 681 705 483 501 478 462 477 468

 Health care and social assistance...... 552 627 643 407 433 424 396 397 406

Leisure and hospitality ........................ 434 442 479 779 738 684 715 706 677

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...... 58 49 44 157 120 106 142 112 101

Accommodation and food services...... 376 394 435 622 618 578 573 594 576

Government 4

....................................... 349 364 355 281 263 298 307 320 300

State and local.................................... 299 304 298 252 236 269 268 282 264

Total ...................................................... 2.4 2.7 2.7 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1

Total private 1

....................................... 2.6 2.9 2.9 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.4

Construction....................................... 1.5 1.8 1.7 5.7 5.7 6.4 5.4 5.2 6.5

Manufacturing.................................... 2.0 2.3 2.3 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2

......... 2.3 2.3 2.7 3.4 3.6 3.4 3.1 3.2 3.0

Retail trade.................................... 2.1 2.5 3.0 3.9 4.1 3.8 3.5 3.7 3.4

Professional and business services......... 3.1 3.5 3.1 4.9 4.9 5.1 4.6 4.4 4.7

Education and health services 3

............ 3.0 3.2 3.3 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3

 Health care and social assistance...... 3.2 3.5 3.6 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality ........................ 3.1 3.1 3.4 5.8 5.4 5.0 5.3 5.1 4.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation...... 2.9 2.5 2.2 8.2 6.2 5.4 7.4 5.8 5.2

Accommodation and food services...... 3.2 3.2 3.6 5.4 5.2 4.9 5.0 5.0 4.9

Government 4

....................................... 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4

State and local.................................... 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4

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

 2 Includes w holesale trade and transportation, w arehousing, and utilities, not show n separately.

 3 Includes educational services, not show n separately.

 4 Includes federal government, not show n separately.

 p Preliminary

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)
- 3 -

employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave 

jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations 

include separations due to retirement, death, and disability, as well as transfers to other locations of the 

same firm.

In November, the quits rate was unchanged at 1.6 percent. The quits rate was little changed for total 

private and government. (See table 4.) The number of quits was 2.1 million in November compared to

1.8 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.

The number of quits (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed over the 12 months ending in 

November for total nonfarm and total private. The number of quits rose in government. Quits increased 

over the year in transportation, warehousing, and utilities and in state and local government. Quits levels

were essentially unchanged over the year for all four regions. (See table 10.)

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

total private, and government levels and for the four regions. The layoffs and discharges rate was little 

changed in November at 1.2 percent. The rate was also little changed for total private and government 

and in all four regions. (See table 5.) The number of layoffs and discharges for total nonfarm was 1.7

million in November, down from 2.1 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.

The layoffs and discharges level (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed for total nonfarm, total 

private, and government over the 12 months ending in November 2012. Over the year, the number of 

layoffs and discharges rose in construction but fell in arts, entertainment, and recreation. The number of 

layoffs and discharges was little changed over the year in all four regions. (See table 11.)

In November, there were 344,000 other separations for total nonfarm, little changed from the previous 

month. The number of other separations was also little changed over the year. (See tables 6 and 12.)

Net Change in Employment

Large numbers of hires and separations occur every month throughout the business cycle. Net 

employment change results from the relationship between hires and separations. When the number of 

hires exceeds the number of separations, employment rises, even if the hires level is steady or declining. 

Conversely, when the number of hires is less than the number of separations, employment declines, even 

if the hires level is steady or rising. Over the 12 months ending in November 2012, hires totaled 51.7

million and separations totaled 49.9 million, yielding a net employment gain of 1.9 million. 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 December 2012 are scheduled to be 

released on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
- 4 -

Hurricane Sandy

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) sample is designed to produce estimates 

of job openings, hires, and separations for the nation as a whole, and for four geographic regions. 

Industry detail is produced only for the national-level estimates. While JOLTS does not produce 

data at the detailed local level, some effect of the storm and ensuing flooding may be reflected in 

the JOLTS estimates. However, it is not possible to quantify the effect of Hurricane Sandy on the 

overall JOLTS estimates.

All possible efforts were made to contact survey respondents in the areas affected by Hurricane 

Sandy, and special treatment procedures were used for selected cases as described below. 

Nonresponding establishments that met the following criteria were given special treatment in the 

October estimation: 1.) The establishment exhibited a consistent pattern of reporting survey data 

in the months preceding the storm, 2.) The establishment was located in one of the most heavily 

damaged or flooded areas as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 3.) 

The establishment was identified as being in a hurricane zone or evacuation area by the US Army 

Corps of Engineers or as being in an evacuation area by the New York City Office of Emergency 

Management, 4.) Research produced independent corroboration that the business location was not 

operating, and 5.) Research produced no evidence that the establishment’s workforce was still 

being paid or was otherwise considered employed. For such establishments, BLS assumed that 

they had no job openings as of the last business day of the month, and that by the end of October 

the business was closed and their entire workforce was laid off. There were very few 

establishments subject to the special procedures.
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 2012 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 stratified random 

sample of 16,400 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 establishment 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 non-certainty 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 

post-stratified and re-weighted annually to represent 

the most recent sampling frame. Additionally, the outof-business 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

or ratio adjusted monthly to the strike-adjusted 

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 separations 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 using the ratio of over-the-year CES 

employment change. 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.

Historical changes in 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

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 3,274 3,722 3,593 3,661 3,547 3,665 3,676 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.7

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,925 3,346 3,211 3,257 3,172 3,301 3,321 2.6 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9

Construction........................................................................ 83 68 67 81 82 99 93 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.8 1.7

Manufacturing................................................................ 240 296 273 257 241 281 276 2.0 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.0 2.3 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 581 588 585 592 592 610 720 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 316 348 334 350 342 374 460 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.5 3.0

Professional and business services......................... 561 693 641 761 622 645 584 3.1 3.7 3.5 4.1 3.3 3.5 3.1

Education and health services 6........................................... 616 713 689 661 725 681 705 3.0 3.4 3.3 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.3

 Health care and social assistance... 552 660 604 601 654 627 643 3.2 3.7 3.4 3.4 3.7 3.5 3.6

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 434 460 469 405 366 442 479 3.1 3.3 3.3 2.9 2.6 3.1 3.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 58 47 50 50 54 49 44 2.9 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.2

Accommodation and food services......................... 376 413 419 355 312 394 435 3.2 3.4 3.5 2.9 2.6 3.2 3.6

Government 7......................................................................................... 349 376 382 404 375 364 355 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.6

State and local.................................................................................... 299 304 329 327 306 304 298 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... 557 664 671 681 659 654 670 2.2 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.6

South ............................................................................................... 1,306 1,490 1,399 1,431 1,325 1,420 1,381 2.7 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.8 2.8

Midwest ......................................................................................... 730 777 759 790 817 849 863 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8

West ...................................................................................... 682 792 763 758 747 742 763 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5

1

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

8

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

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

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

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

 

3

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

adjustment of the various series 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 educational services, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 

7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 

p

 Preliminary

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

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 4,268 4,284 4,278 4,440 4,204 4,316 4,319 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,986 4,000 3,989 4,109 3,922 4,053 4,021 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 312 355 359 323 327 318 351 5.7 6.4 6.5 5.9 5.9 5.7 6.4

Manufacturing................................................................ 237 270 244 230 235 242 231 2.0 2.3 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 849 821 848 892 819 907 869 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.5 3.2 3.6 3.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 573 556 570 577 548 615 572 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.7 4.1 3.8

Professional and business services......................... 858 931 871 915 848 887 914 4.9 5.2 4.9 5.1 4.7 4.9 5.1

Education and health services 6........................................... 483 494 500 502 499 501 478 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.3

 Health care and social assistance... 407 425 427 430 417 433 424 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 779 700 720 747 708 738 684 5.8 5.1 5.3 5.5 5.2 5.4 5.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 157 108 106 104 102 120 106 8.2 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.3 6.2 5.4

Accommodation and food services......................... 622 592 614 643 606 618 578 5.4 5.1 5.2 5.5 5.1 5.2 4.9

Government 7......................................................................................... 281 284 288 332 283 263 298 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 252 256 268 300 251 236 269 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.4

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... 691 701 675 676 745 648 710 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.9 2.5 2.8

South ............................................................................................... 1,626 1,691 1,674 1,758 1,722 1,710 1,630 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.4

Midwest ......................................................................................... 1,004 985 993 1,056 893 954 995 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.5 2.9 3.1 3.3

West ...................................................................................... 947 908 935 951 844 1,005 984 3.3 3.1 3.2 3.3 2.9 3.4 3.4

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

total employment. 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

3

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

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.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

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

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 4,057 4,249 4,088 4,355 4,017 4,087 4,138 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.0 3.1 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,750 3,943 3,789 4,062 3,759 3,767 3,838 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.4

Construction........................................................................ 300 342 358 316 332 290 358 5.4 6.2 6.5 5.7 6.0 5.2 6.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 236 263 228 250 235 228 232 2.0 2.2 1.9 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 770 827 815 883 805 824 768 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.2 3.2 3.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 520 558 556 587 541 552 500 3.5 3.8 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.4

Professional and business services......................... 807 921 807 911 821 785 856 4.6 5.1 4.5 5.1 4.6 4.4 4.7

Education and health services 6........................................... 462 493 463 474 438 477 468 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3

 Health care and social assistance.... 396 409 396 404 375 397 406 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 715 679 685 730 672 706 677 5.3 5.0 5.0 5.3 4.9 5.1 4.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 142 101 105 88 104 112 101 7.4 5.3 5.5 4.5 5.4 5.8 5.2

Accommodation and food services......................... 573 578 579 642 568 594 576 5.0 4.9 4.9 5.5 4.8 5.0 4.9

Government 7......................................................................................... 307 306 299 292 258 320 300 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.5 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 268 276 271 262 226 282 264 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.5 1.4

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 667 668 711 671 704 660 664 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.6 2.8 2.6 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,609 1,690 1,579 1,696 1,646 1,644 1,589 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 881 912 894 1,056 868 840 938 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.5 2.9 2.8 3.1

West...................................................................................... 899 979 905 931 801 942 947 3.1 3.4 3.1 3.2 2.7 3.2 3.2

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

month. 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

entire month as a percent of total employment. p

 Preliminary

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 

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.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

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

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 1,976 2,133 2,163 2,151 1,964 2,092 2,138 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.6

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 1,860 1,998 2,033 2,025 1,849 1,944 1,998 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8

Construction........................................................................ 91 86 87 75 69 89 83 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 121 108 107 113 109 102 105 1.0 .9 .9 .9 .9 .9 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 413 465 482 471 425 452 455 1.6 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 294 330 340 337 317 315 328 2.0 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 380 400 386 386 362 363 413 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.3

Education and health services 6........................................... 247 269 279 277 243 265 276 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3

 Health care and social assistance.... 225 229 248 234 206 233 244 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 370 440 432 430 411 441 426 2.8 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 36 49 47 44 33 40 38 1.9 2.6 2.5 2.3 1.7 2.1 2.0

Accommodation and food services......................... 335 391 385 386 377 401 388 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.3

Government 7......................................................................................... 116 135 130 125 115 147 141 .5 .6 .6 .6 .5 .7 .6

State and local.................................................................................... 106 126 119 115 105 133 130 .6 .7 .6 .6 .5 .7 .7

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... 275 300 315 325 290 292 296 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2

South ............................................................................................... 830 925 945 906 868 896 877 1.7 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8

Midwest ......................................................................................... 443 474 449 488 431 442 501 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.6

West ...................................................................................... 428 434 454 432 375 462 464 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.6

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

percent of total employment. 8

 See footnote 8, 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.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 1,770 1,761 1,582 1,848 1,728 1,673 1,656 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 1,651 1,655 1,482 1,745 1,643 1,564 1,564 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.4

Construction........................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Manufacturing................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Retail trade................................................................................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Professional and business services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Education and health services 6........................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 Health care and social assistance... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Accommodation and food services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Government 7......................................................................................... 119 106 100 103 85 108 92 .5 .5 .5 .5 .4 .5 .4

State and local.................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

REGION 8

Northeast......................................................................... 325 298 323 269 344 309 311 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.4 1.2 1.2

South............................................................................................... 669 633 522 686 653 632 596 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 374 366 365 467 365 329 338 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.2 1.1 1.1

West...................................................................................... 402 464 372 426 366 403 410 1.4 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.4 1.4

 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

entire month. 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during 8

 See footnote 8, table 1. 

the entire month as a percent of total employment. p

 Preliminary

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent – Data not available.

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.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

Table 6. Other separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Nov. June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012p

Total ........................................................................................................... 311 355 343 356 326 323 344 .2 .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 .3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 240 290 274 292 267 258 276 .2 .3 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2

Construction........................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Manufacturing................................................................ – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Retail trade................................................................................. – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Professional and business services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Education and health services 6........................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 Health care and social assistance... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Accommodation and food services......................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Government 7......................................................................................... 71 65 69 64 59 65 67 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3

State and local.................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

REGION 8

Northeast ......................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

South ............................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Midwest ......................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

West ...................................................................................... – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. 6

 Includes educational services, not shown separately.

 2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire 7

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

month as a percent of total employment. 8

 See footnote 8, 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. – Data not available.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

not shown separately.

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 7. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,912 3,934 3,248 2.1 2.8 2.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,582 3,571 2,916 2.3 3.1 2.5

Mining and logging...................................................24 14 16 2.9 1.6 1.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 58 102 68 1.0 1.7 1.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 208 284 237 1.7 2.3 1.9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 150 177 159 2.0 2.3 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 58 107 78 1.3 2.3 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 504 704 633 1.9 2.7 2.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 118 124 121 2.1 2.1 2.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 276 476 402 1.8 3.1 2.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 110 104 109 2.2 2.0 2.1

Information...................................................................................... 114 98 100 4.1 3.6 3.6

Financial activities........................................................................... 156 292 185 2.0 3.6 2.3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 121 230 144 2.1 3.8 2.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 35 62 41 1.8 3.0 2.0

Professional and business services........................................ 511 706 517 2.8 3.7 2.8

Education and health services................................................................. 578 722 662 2.8 3.4 3.1

Educational services................................................................ 58 58 57 1.6 1.6 1.6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 521 664 605 3.0 3.7 3.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 339 462 390 2.5 3.3 2.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 51 50 37 2.8 2.6 2.0

Accommodation and food services............................... 288 412 352 2.5 3.4 2.9

Other services................................................................................. 90 187 108 1.7 3.4 2.0

Government......................................................................................... 331 363 332 1.4 1.6 1.5

Federal................................................................................................ 47 63 50 1.6 2.2 1.8

State and local.................................................................................... 283 300 282 1.4 1.5 1.4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 508 720 600 2.0 2.7 2.3

South............................................................................................... 1,168 1,524 1,219 2.4 3.0 2.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 622 880 750 2.0 2.8 2.4

West....................................................................................................... 614 810 679 2.1 2.7 2.2

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

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

plus job openings.

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

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

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,844 4,589 3,904 2.9 3.4 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,640 4,354 3,683 3.3 3.9 3.3

Mining and logging...................................................20 30 27 2.4 3.6 3.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 223 329 256 3.9 5.7 4.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 194 243 188 1.6 2.0 1.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 116 147 130 1.6 2.0 1.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 77 96 58 1.7 2.1 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,009 1,073 1,037 3.9 4.2 4.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 94 138 87 1.7 2.4 1.5

Retail trade................................................................................. 737 759 734 4.9 5.1 4.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 178 176 215 3.6 3.5 4.3

Information...................................................................................... 65 63 71 2.5 2.4 2.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 147 211 167 1.9 2.7 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 99 145 115 1.7 2.5 2.0

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 48 67 52 2.5 3.4 2.7

Professional and business services........................................ 786 932 833 4.4 5.1 4.6

Education and health services................................................................. 397 540 390 2.0 2.6 1.9

Educational services................................................................ 51 72 35 1.5 2.1 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 346 468 355 2.1 2.7 2.1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 653 716 569 5.0 5.2 4.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 128 92 86 7.3 4.9 4.8

Accommodation and food services............................... 525 624 483 4.6 5.3 4.1

Other services................................................................................. 146 217 147 2.7 4.0 2.7

Government......................................................................................... 204 235 221 .9 1.1 1.0

Federal................................................................................................ 28 27 27 1.0 1.0 1.0

State and local.................................................................................... 177 208 193 .9 1.1 1.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 611 672 636 2.4 2.6 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,500 1,847 1,472 3.1 3.8 3.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 856 1,005 865 2.8 3.3 2.8

West....................................................................................................... 877 1,064 931 3.0 3.6 3.1

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

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

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 9. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,666 4,256 3,718 2.8 3.2 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,474 4,006 3,518 3.1 3.6 3.1

Mining and logging...................................................20 36 25 2.4 4.3 3.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 312 318 385 5.5 5.5 6.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 209 248 206 1.8 2.1 1.7

Durable goods.............................................................................. 111 154 126 1.5 2.1 1.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 98 94 80 2.2 2.1 1.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 679 833 673 2.7 3.3 2.6

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 99 135 91 1.8 2.4 1.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 461 546 436 3.1 3.7 2.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 119 153 147 2.4 3.0 2.9

Information...................................................................................... 57 62 46 2.2 2.4 1.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 135 203 152 1.8 2.6 2.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 82 124 92 1.4 2.1 1.6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 53 80 59 2.8 4.0 3.0

Professional and business services........................................ 781 799 826 4.4 4.4 4.5

Education and health services................................................................. 379 441 377 1.9 2.1 1.8

Educational services................................................................ 39 58 37 1.1 1.7 1.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 339 382 340 2.0 2.2 2.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 735 857 655 5.6 6.3 4.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 183 151 118 10.4 8.0 6.5

Accommodation and food services............................... 552 706 537 4.8 6.0 4.6

Other services................................................................................. 167 209 172 3.1 3.9 3.2

Government......................................................................................... 193 250 201 .9 1.1 .9

Federal................................................................................................ 29 38 30 1.0 1.3 1.1

State and local.................................................................................... 163 212 171 .8 1.1 .9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 626 672 625 2.5 2.6 2.4

South............................................................................................... 1,392 1,708 1,360 2.9 3.5 2.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 837 866 860 2.8 2.8 2.8

West....................................................................................................... 811 1,009 873 2.8 3.4 2.9

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

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

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 10. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,616 2,176 1,748 1.2 1.6 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,537 2,058 1,650 1.4 1.8 1.5

Mining and logging...................................................10 24 13 1.2 2.9 1.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 78 102 72 1.4 1.8 1.3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 93 108 79 .8 .9 .7

Durable goods.............................................................................. 44 62 43 .6 .8 .6

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 49 46 36 1.1 1.0 .8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 343 466 382 1.3 1.8 1.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 40 71 27 .7 1.3 .5

Retail trade................................................................................. 247 316 276 1.6 2.1 1.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 57 79 79 1.1 1.6 1.6

Information...................................................................................... 34 37 27 1.3 1.4 1.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 68 99 78 .9 1.3 1.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 42 62 47 .7 1.1 .8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 26 38 31 1.3 1.9 1.6

Professional and business services........................................ 336 386 371 1.9 2.1 2.0

Education and health services................................................................. 200 266 223 1.0 1.3 1.1

Educational services................................................................ 15 28 21 .4 .8 .6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 185 238 203 1.1 1.4 1.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 298 482 337 2.3 3.5 2.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 24 39 25 1.4 2.1 1.4

Accommodation and food services............................... 274 443 312 2.4 3.8 2.7

Other services................................................................................. 77 86 69 1.5 1.6 1.3

Government......................................................................................... 79 118 99 .4 .5 .4

Federal................................................................................................ 7 12 8 .3 .4 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 72 106 91 .4 .5 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 223 303 239 .9 1.2 .9

South............................................................................................... 689 920 727 1.4 1.9 1.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 364 470 407 1.2 1.5 1.3

West....................................................................................................... 340 483 376 1.2 1.6 1.3

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

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

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 11. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,807 1,774 1,701 1.4 1.3 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,736 1,688 1,640 1.6 1.5 1.5

Mining and logging...................................................9 10 11 1.1 1.2 1.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 227 213 306 4.0 3.7 5.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 106 123 111 .9 1.0 .9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 60 83 73 .8 1.1 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 45 40 38 1.0 .9 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 273 291 231 1.1 1.1 .9

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 47 51 53 .8 .9 .9

Retail trade................................................................................. 176 185 126 1.2 1.2 .8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 50 55 53 1.0 1.1 1.0

Information...................................................................................... 22 17 14 .8 .7 .5

Financial activities........................................................................... 56 73 50 .7 .9 .6

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 32 35 29 .5 .6 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 25 38 21 1.3 1.9 1.1

Professional and business services........................................ 403 352 408 2.3 1.9 2.2

Education and health services................................................................. 149 140 116 .7 .7 .6

Educational services................................................................ 20 24 14 .6 .7 .4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 129 116 102 .8 .7 .6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 407 350 299 3.1 2.6 2.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 156 107 90 8.9 5.7 5.0

Accommodation and food services............................... 251 243 209 2.2 2.1 1.8

Other services................................................................................. 84 120 93 1.6 2.2 1.7

Government......................................................................................... 71 86 61 .3 .4 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 11 16 11 .4 .6 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 60 70 50 .3 .4 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 353 307 347 1.4 1.2 1.3

South............................................................................................... 615 679 539 1.3 1.4 1.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 427 330 380 1.4 1.1 1.2

West....................................................................................................... 412 458 435 1.4 1.6 1.5

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

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

employment.

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 12. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Nov. Oct. Nov. Nov. Oct. Nov.

2011 2012 2012p 2011 2012 2012p

Total........................................................................................................... 243 305 269 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 200 259 228 .2 .2 .2

Mining and logging...................................................1 2 2 .1 .2 .2

Construction...................................................................................................... 8 2 7 .1 (

4

) .1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 10 17 16 .1 .1 .1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 7 10 9 .1 .1 .1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 4 7 6 .1 .2 .1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 62 76 60 .2 .3 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 11 12 10 .2 .2 .2

Retail trade................................................................................. 38 46 34 .3 .3 .2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 13 18 15 .3 .4 .3

Information...................................................................................... 1 8 5 (

4

) .3 .2

Financial activities........................................................................... 11 31 24 .1 .4 .3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 8 27 16 .1 .5 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 3 4 8 .1 .2 .4

Professional and business services........................................ 41 61 48 .2 .3 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 29 35 38 .1 .2 .2

Educational services................................................................ 4 6 3 .1 .2 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 25 29 35 .1 .2 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 30 25 19 .2 .2 .1

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

Accommodation and food services............................... 28 21 17 .2 .2 .1

Other services................................................................................. 6 3 10 .1 (

4

) .2

Government......................................................................................... 43 46 41 .2 .2 .2

Federal................................................................................................ 11 10 11 .4 .4 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 32 36 30 .2 .2 .2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 50 61 38 .2 .2 .1

South............................................................................................... 90 110 95 .2 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 45 66 74 .1 .2 .2

West....................................................................................................... 58 68 62 .2 .2 .2

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

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

 3 See footnote 8, table 1.

 4 Data round to zero.

 p Preliminary

Industry and region

Levels (in thousands) Rates