1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-821

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 April 2003 - March 2006

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2004 2005 2006

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 April 2003 - March 2006

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2004 2005 2006

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MARCH 2006

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

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

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

Job Openings

On the last business day of March 2006, there were 4.0 million job openings in the United States, and

the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month but has

generally trended upward since September 2003. In March, the job openings rates decreased in leisure and

hospitality and in the Midwest. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rates in

March 2006 were professional and business services (3.8 percent), education and health services (3.7

percent), and leisure and hospitality (3.5 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rates increased in many industries and in the West region; none of the

industries or regions experienced a significant decrease in their job openings rates from the prior year. (See

table 5.)

Hires and Separations

The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.6 percent in March. Hires are any additions to the payroll

during the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry but decreased in
2

Total 1......................................................... 4,954 4,610 4,531 4,642

 Total private ........................................ 4,558 4,578 4,341 4,252

Construction ................................... 156 121 429 403 339 306 335 436

Manufacturing ................................ 261 318 337 333 337 384 380 396

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 638 660 645 1,082 1,177 1,115 1,037 997 986

Professional and business

services ......................................... 636 716 687 880 841 854 896 826 776

Education and health services .... 616 640 673 472 435 434 444 403 400

Leisure and hospitality ................. 481 587 466 822 1,019 945 775 881 818

Government .......................................... 378 460 444 340 379 374 279 285 330

Total 1......................................................... 2.7 2.9 2.9 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.4

Total private 1....................................... 2.9 3.0 3.0 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.8

Construction ................................... 2.1 1.6 2.0 6.0 5.4 4.5 4.3 4.5 5.8

Manufacturing ................................ 1.8 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.8

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 2.4 2.5 2.4 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.0 3.8 3.8

Professional and business

services ......................................... 3.7 4.0 3.8 5.3 4.9 5.0 5.4 4.8 4.5

Education and health services .... 3.5 3.5 3.7 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality ................. 3.6 4.3 3.5 6.5 7.9 7.3 6.1 6.8 6.3

Government .......................................... 1.7 2.1 2.0 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.3 1.3 1.5

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2005 2006 2005 2006 2006 2005 2006 2006

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

2006

4,902

3,284

3,658

3,531 4,331

152

319

1

p p p

3,994

1

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

p = preliminary.

the South. In March, the seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry

(7.3 percent). (See table 2.)

From March 2005 to March 2006, the hires rates rose in accommodation and food services and in

federal government. Industries with over-the-year declines in their hires rates were: construction; information; and healthcare and social assistance. The only significant over-the-year change in the hires rates for the

regions was a decrease in the South. (See table 6.)

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in March. Separations are

terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In March, the total separations rates

increased in construction and government and in the West region. (See table 3.)

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

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

ability to change jobs, rose slightly to 2.1 percent in March. The quits rate did not change significantly for

any particular industry; however, rates rose at the total nonfarm, total private, and total government levels.

The quits rate also rose in the Midwest region. In March, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest

in the leisure and hospitality industry (4.7 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.)

3,989

3,549

4,848

4,483
3

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

seasonally adjusted. From March 2005 to March 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 0.9 percent,

with decreases for total private and three of the four regions—the Northeast, South, and Midwest. For

March 2006, the construction industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate. From March 2005 to

March 2006, the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent at the total nonfarm level, but did

increase in the West. (See tables 9 and 10.)

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

have averaged 4.8 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally

adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.7 million hires and 4.4 million separations. (See the

Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

For More Information

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

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

calling (202) 691-5870.

______________________________

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for April 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,

June 6, 2006.
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce

Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the

industry code, location, and ownership classification of all

establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment

characteristics resulting from the verification process are

always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data

reported for the first month of the year.

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of

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

separations are released with the January news release each year.

The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs

and discharges, other separations, and total separations are

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

estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the

Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average

employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This

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

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

rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates

are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates

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

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

measurement for the last business day of each month. Only

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

the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout

each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created

by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are

flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total

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

created by summing the monthly estimates.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,

and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.
The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 3,658 3,867 4,031 3,941 3,981 3,994 3,989 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,284 3,460 3,604 3,509 3,533 3,531 3,549 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

Construction........................................................................ 156 148 146 170 114 121 152 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.2 1.5 1.6 2.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 261 297 333 313 324 318 319 1.8 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 638 654 696 661 687 660 645 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.4

Professional and business services......................... 636 723 782 750 777 716 687 3.7 4.1 4.4 4.2 4.3 4.0 3.8

Education and health services................................................. 616 613 601 618 627 640 673 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.7

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 481 498 519 522 507 587 466 3.6 3.7 3.9 3.9 3.8 4.3 3.5

Government......................................................................................... 378 416 434 435 449 460 444 1.7 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 606 704 704 718 740 707 674 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,467 1,515 1,562 1,612 1,550 1,547 1,601 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 735 762 748 738 745 797 708 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.5 2.2

West...................................................................................... 829 873 1,046 919 928 957 985 2.7 2.9 3.4 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2

1

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

of the month. North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,

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

 

3

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

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

 

4

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

and other services, not shown separately. 

p

 = preliminary.

 

5

 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise 

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

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

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

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

Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,902 4,822 4,813 4,694 4,941 4,954 4,848 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 4,558 4,488 4,498 4,397 4,584 4,578 4,483 4.1 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.1 4.1 4.0

Construction........................................................................ 429 430 393 426 379 403 339 6.0 5.9 5.3 5.8 5.1 5.4 4.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 337 449 335 307 366 333 337 2.4 3.2 2.4 2.2 2.6 2.3 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,082 967 954 1,011 1,177 1,117 1,115 4.2 3.7 3.7 3.9 4.5 4.3 4.3

Professional and business services......................... 880 849 907 849 953 841 854 5.3 5.0 5.3 5.0 5.6 4.9 5.0

Education and health services................................................. 472 460 459 467 446 435 434 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 822 859 895 853 847 1,019 945 6.5 6.7 6.9 6.6 6.6 7.9 7.3

Government......................................................................................... 340 319 314 293 352 379 374 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.7

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 877 744 747 698 727 814 879 3.5 2.9 3.0 2.8 2.9 3.2 3.5

South............................................................................................... 1,913 1,886 1,813 1,817 1,946 2,061 1,817 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.8 4.1 4.3 3.8

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,056 1,017 1,031 1,038 1,043 1,045 1,126 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.6

West...................................................................................... 1,077 1,154 1,188 1,127 1,176 1,083 1,057 3.7 3.9 4.0 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.5

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

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

3

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

4

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

5

 See footnote 5, table 1. 

p

 = preliminary.

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,610 4,359 4,476 4,359 4,285 4,531 4,642 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 4,341 4,103 4,205 4,067 3,995 4,252 4,331 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.8 3.8

Construction........................................................................ 306 392 371 348 374 335 436 4.3 5.3 5.0 4.7 5.0 4.5 5.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 384 340 388 355 353 380 396 2.7 2.4 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,037 935 1,003 1,027 880 997 986 4.0 3.6 3.9 3.9 3.4 3.8 3.8

Professional and business services......................... 896 757 753 735 780 826 776 5.4 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.6 4.8 4.5

Education and health services................................................. 444 404 418 400 353 403 400 2.6 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.0 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 775 798 834 843 848 881 818 6.1 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.6 6.8 6.3

Government......................................................................................... 279 255 270 270 300 285 330 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.5

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 823 657 619 685 701 736 676 3.3 2.6 2.4 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,752 1,710 1,711 1,759 1,653 1,694 1,823 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.4 3.5 3.8

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,109 961 1,081 934 987 1,032 1,029 3.6 3.1 3.5 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.3

West...................................................................................... 995 1,012 1,004 997 970 1,054 1,174 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.9

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

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

3

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

4

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

5 See footnote 5, table 1.

p

 = preliminary.

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

Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,552 2,619 2,683 2,567 2,577 2,663 2,814 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.1

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,423 2,470 2,540 2,428 2,435 2,526 2,667 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.4

Construction........................................................................ 145 205 183 189 179 153 191 2.0 2.8 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.0 2.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 182 200 210 184 196 202 212 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 606 573 606 634 551 602 611 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.1 2.3 2.3

Professional and business services......................... 422 345 359 365 415 422 427 2.5 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.5

Education and health services................................................. 297 258 277 254 225 279 270 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.6 1.5

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 472 597 595 558 569 607 606 3.7 4.6 4.6 4.3 4.4 4.7 4.7

Government......................................................................................... 131 142 142 139 143 139 156 .6 .6 .6 .6 .7 .6 .7

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 413 341 333 390 369 368 397 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.6

South............................................................................................... 1,003 1,109 1,102 1,069 1,068 1,114 1,175 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.4

Midwest......................................................................................... 574 552 572 481 571 600 662 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.5 1.8 1.9 2.1

West...................................................................................... 581 601 657 618 569 567 607 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.1 1.9 1.9 2.0

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

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

3

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

4

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

5 See footnote 5, table 1.

p

 = preliminary.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,642 3,837 3,975 2.7 2.8 2.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,271 3,413 3,540 2.9 3.0 3.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 13 12 11 2.1 1.9 1.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 159 109 168 2.3 1.5 2.3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 265 323 326 1.8 2.2 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 172 228 225 1.9 2.5 2.5

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 93 95 101 1.7 1.8 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 640 595 643 2.4 2.3 2.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 130 145 144 2.2 2.5 2.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 409 337 380 2.7 2.2 2.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 101 112 119 2.0 2.2 2.4

Information...................................................................................... 74 116 121 2.3 3.7 3.8

Financial activities........................................................................... 215 298 300 2.6 3.5 3.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 180 256 241 2.9 4.0 3.8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 35 42 59 1.7 2.0 2.7

Professional and business services........................................ 621 707 663 3.6 4.0 3.7

Education and health services................................................................. 609 629 671 3.4 3.4 3.6

Educational services................................................................ 55 66 76 1.8 2.2 2.5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 553 563 594 3.7 3.7 3.9

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 542 557 516 4.2 4.3 3.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 59 51 49 3.3 3.0 2.7

Accommodations and food services............................... 483 505 467 4.3 4.5 4.1

Other services................................................................................. 134 69 120 2.4 1.3 2.2

Government......................................................................................... 371 424 436 1.6 1.9 1.9

Federal................................................................................................ 50 49 48 1.8 1.8 1.8

State and local.................................................................................... 321 375 388 1.6 1.9 1.9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 594 659 653 2.3 2.6 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,456 1,531 1,596 3.0 3.1 3.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 775 746 740 2.5 2.3 2.3

West....................................................................................................... 817 900 986 2.7 3.0 3.2

1

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

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

3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,699 4,132 4,644 3.6 3.1 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,464 3,863 4,382 4.1 3.5 3.9

Natural resources and mining................................................... 24 17 20 3.9 2.7 3.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 476 333 371 7.0 4.7 5.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 350 309 351 2.5 2.2 2.5

Durable goods.............................................................................. 220 177 214 2.5 2.0 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 130 132 137 2.5 2.6 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 995 856 1,030 3.9 3.3 4.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 148 121 122 2.6 2.1 2.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 700 579 728 4.7 3.9 4.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 147 155 180 3.0 3.2 3.7

Information...................................................................................... 82 97 60 2.7 3.2 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 196 194 186 2.4 2.4 2.3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 113 119 118 1.9 2.0 1.9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 84 75 68 4.0 3.5 3.2

Professional and business services........................................ 864 755 832 5.2 4.5 4.9

Education and health services................................................................. 441 374 402 2.5 2.1 2.3

Educational services................................................................ 39 54 41 1.3 1.8 1.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 402 320 361 2.8 2.2 2.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 848 797 981 6.9 6.4 7.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 106 91 124 6.2 5.4 7.1

Accommodations and food services............................... 741 707 857 7.0 6.6 7.9

Other services................................................................................. 189 131 149 3.5 2.4 2.8

Government......................................................................................... 235 269 262 1.1 1.2 1.2

Federal................................................................................................ 34 40 45 1.2 1.5 1.7

State and local.................................................................................... 202 229 217 1.0 1.2 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 765 587 775 3.1 2.3 3.1

South............................................................................................... 1,911 1,824 1,785 4.1 3.8 3.7

Midwest................................................................................................. 994 811 1,091 3.2 2.6 3.5

West....................................................................................................... 1,029 911 994 3.5 3.1 3.3

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

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

3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,038 3,735 4,109 3.1 2.8 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,850 3,538 3,883 3.5 3.2 3.5

Natural resources and mining................................................... 18 17 25 3.0 2.7 3.9

Construction...................................................................................................... 282 314 403 4.1 4.5 5.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 355 332 371 2.5 2.4 2.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 205 190 222 2.3 2.1 2.5

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 150 142 149 2.8 2.7 2.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 942 863 898 3.7 3.4 3.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 120 140 136 2.1 2.4 2.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 705 611 612 4.7 4.1 4.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 117 113 150 2.4 2.3 3.1

Information...................................................................................... 72 65 63 2.4 2.1 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 134 186 185 1.7 2.3 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 96 118 117 1.6 1.9 1.9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 38 68 69 1.8 3.2 3.2

Professional and business services........................................ 832 662 721 5.0 3.9 4.2

Education and health services................................................................. 413 341 368 2.4 1.9 2.1

Educational services................................................................ 48 29 40 1.6 1.0 1.3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 365 313 328 2.5 2.1 2.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 636 630 669 5.1 5.1 5.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 74 38 66 4.3 2.2 3.8

Accommodations and food services............................... 562 592 603 5.3 5.5 5.5

Other services................................................................................. 167 126 180 3.1 2.4 3.3

Government......................................................................................... 188 197 226 .9 .9 1.0

Federal................................................................................................ 26 43 50 1.0 1.6 1.9

State and local.................................................................................... 162 154 176 .8 .8 .9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 689 571 556 2.8 2.3 2.2

South............................................................................................... 1,536 1,441 1,608 3.3 3.0 3.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 919 837 882 3.0 2.7 2.8

West....................................................................................................... 894 886 1,063 3.1 3.0 3.6

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

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

3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,277 2,185 2,550 1.7 1.6 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,178 2,077 2,430 2.0 1.9 2.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 11 8 13 1.8 1.2 2.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 131 132 179 1.9 1.9 2.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 172 171 203 1.2 1.2 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 105 97 123 1.2 1.1 1.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 67 74 80 1.3 1.4 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 564 500 571 2.2 1.9 2.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 81 68 96 1.4 1.2 1.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 422 361 396 2.8 2.4 2.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................61 71 80 1.3 1.4 1.6

Information...................................................................................... 44 45 43 1.4 1.5 1.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 78 115 100 1.0 1.4 1.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 58 69 76 1.0 1.1 1.2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 20 46 24 .9 2.2 1.1

Professional and business services........................................ 414 326 425 2.5 1.9 2.5

Education and health services................................................................. 269 234 247 1.6 1.3 1.4

Educational services................................................................ 29 21 21 1.0 .7 .7

Health care and social assistance.................................. 240 214 226 1.7 1.5 1.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 394 471 509 3.2 3.8 4.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 45 22 39 2.6 1.3 2.2

Accommodations and food services............................... 349 449 471 3.3 4.2 4.3

Other services................................................................................. 100 75 138 1.9 1.4 2.6

Government......................................................................................... 100 109 120 .4 .5 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 9 19 21 .3 .7 .8

State and local.................................................................................... 91 90 99 .5 .5 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 356 285 348 1.4 1.1 1.4

South............................................................................................... 885 947 1,055 1.9 2.0 2.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 499 479 583 1.6 1.5 1.9

West....................................................................................................... 537 475 564 1.8 1.6 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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,505 1,250 1,241 1.1 0.9 0.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,458 1,201 1,185 1.3 1.1 1.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 8 9 .9 1.3 1.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 144 165 205 2.1 2.3 2.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 154 118 134 1.1 .8 .9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 84 64 75 .9 .7 .8

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 70 54 59 1.3 1.0 1.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 305 282 260 1.2 1.1 1.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 35 52 33 .6 .9 .6

Retail trade................................................................................. 226 202 170 1.5 1.3 1.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................44 28 57 .9 .6 1.2

Information...................................................................................... 22 14 15 .7 .5 .5

Financial activities........................................................................... 45 58 71 .6 .7 .9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 29 38 32 .5 .6 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 15 19 39 .7 .9 1.8

Professional and business services........................................ 377 296 228 2.3 1.8 1.3

Education and health services................................................................. 127 85 97 .7 .5 .5

Educational services................................................................ 13 6 16 .4 .2 .5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 114 79 80 .8 .5 .5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 224 132 135 1.8 1.1 1.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 28 13 25 1.6 .7 1.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 196 120 110 1.8 1.1 1.0

Other services................................................................................. 55 43 31 1.0 .8 .6

Government......................................................................................... 46 49 56 .2 .2 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 7 10 11 .3 .4 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 39 39 45 .2 .2 .2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 280 233 149 1.1 .9 .6

South............................................................................................... 559 397 448 1.2 .8 .9

Midwest................................................................................................. 364 288 250 1.2 .9 .8

West....................................................................................................... 303 331 394 1.0 1.1 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 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 256 300 318 .2 .2 .2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 214 261 268 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 1 1 3 .2 .2 .5

Construction...................................................................................................... 7 17 18 .1 .2 .3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 28 43 33 .2 .3 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 16 30 23 .2 .3 .3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 12 14 10 .2 .3 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 72 81 67 .3 .3 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 4 19 7 .1 .3 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 56 47 46 .4 .3 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................12 15 13 .2 .3 .3

Information...................................................................................... 6 6 5 .2 .2 .2

Financial activities........................................................................... 12 13 14 .1 .2 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 9 11 9 .1 .2 .1

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

Professional and business services........................................ 41 41 68 .2 .2 .4

Education and health services................................................................. 16 22 24 .1 .1 .1

Educational services................................................................ 5 2 3 .2 .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 11 21 21 .1 .1 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 18 27 25 .1 .2 .2

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

4

) .2 .1

Accommodations and food services............................... 17 24 22 .2 .2 .2

Other services................................................................................. 13 9 11 .2 .2 .2

Government......................................................................................... 42 39 49 .2 .2 .2

Federal................................................................................................ 10 14 18 .4 .5 .7

State and local.................................................................................... 32 25 32 .2 .1 .2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 54 53 60 .2 .2 .2

South............................................................................................... 92 97 104 .2 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 56 70 49 .2 .2 .2

West....................................................................................................... 54 80 105 .2 .3 .4

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

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

3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 4 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates