1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 04-845

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, 

 December 2000 - March 2004

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

2001 2002 2003 2004

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

December 2000 - March 2004

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Percent

Separations

Hires

2001 2002 2003 2004

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MARCH 2004

The number of hires rose by 441,000 in March to 4.5 million, while the number of separations was

about unchanged at 4.1 million, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported

today. The job openings rate edged up to 2.3 percent in March. The series in this report include estimates

of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector with breakouts by

industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of March 2004, there were 3.1 million job openings in the United States, and

the job openings rate (the number of job openings on the last business day of the month divided by employment plus job openings) was 2.3 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate has ranged from 2.0

to 2.4 percent since October 2001. Over the month, the job openings rates for major industry categories

showed little or no change. Among the geographic regions, there was an increase in the job openings rate

in the Northeast.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) increased in March to

3.5 percent. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. The hires rate was at

its highest point since late 2001. The hires rate increased in professional and business services in March,

largely offsetting the drop in February, while the hires rates for trade, transportation, and utilities and leisure

and hospitality continued on an upward trend. Other major industries showed little or no change in their hires

rates over the month. The hires rate increased in the South, Midwest, and West regions in March.
2

Total 1.......................................................... 3,072 4,103 4,544 3,912 4,113

Total private 1....................................... 2,729 3,694 3,772 4,204 3,665 3,845

Construction ................................... 78 99 113 373 382 430 363 400 385

Manufacturing ................................ 178 226 231 326 355 361 387 355 376

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 439 458 500 877 945 995 856 899 988

Professional and business

services ......................................... 457 491 509 594 529 683 473 590 557

Education and health services .... 565 551 558 428 447 433 356 388 380

Leisure and hospitality ................. 319 383 372 686 766 799 745 727 697

Government .......................................... 388 364 354 312 323 331 259 268 282

Total 1......................................................... 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.1 3.2 3.5 3.0 3.1 3.2

Total private 1....................................... 2.2 2.3 2.4 3.4 3.5 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.5

Construction ................................... 1.2 1.4 1.6 5.6 5.6 6.3 5.4 5.9 5.6

Manufacturing ................................ 1.2 1.6 1.6 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 1.7 1.8 1.9 3.5 3.7 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.9

Professional and business

services ......................................... 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.7 3.3 4.2 3.0 3.6 3.4

Education and health services .... 3.3 3.2 3.2 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality ................. 2.6 3.0 2.9 5.7 6.3 6.5 6.2 5.9 5.7

Government .......................................... 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.3

 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.

2003 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

2003 2004 2004p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2004

4,003

2,387

2,771

2,534

2,906

The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.2 percent in March 2004 and has remained in the range of 2.9 to 3.3 percent since December

2001. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. The major

industries showed little or no change in their total separations rates over the month. (See table 3.)

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

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

ability to change jobs, was unchanged in March at 1.7 percent. (See table 4.) Quits as a percent of the

total separations has been increasing since December 2003; quits were 54.3 percent of total separations in

March. The other two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges (1.0 percent) and other

separations (0.2 percent), are not seasonally adjusted. (See tables 9 and 10.)

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

averaged 4.1 million per month and separations have averaged 3.9 million per month. (See the Technical

Note for additional information on these measures.) Hires have outpaced separations in 11 of the past 12

months. The trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; and leisure and hospitality

industries have reported the largest share of hires and separations over the last year.

4,073

3,807
3

For More Information

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

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

(202) 691-5870.

______________________________

The report on Job Openings and Labor Turnover for April 2004 is scheduled to be released on

Wednesday, June 9, 2004.
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment

Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if

necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership

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

in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification

process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

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

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and

the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

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

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,771 2,823 2,952 3,062 2,868 2,906 3,072 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.3

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,387 2,479 2,593 2,719 2,518 2,534 2,729 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4

Construction........................................................................ 78 78 89 110 106 99 113 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.6

Manufacturing................................................................ 178 199 221 234 233 226 231 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 439 451 513 520 430 458 500 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.8 1.9

Professional and business services......................... 457 488 499 594 501 491 509 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.5 3.0 2.9 3.0

Education and health services................................................. 565 545 551 520 549 551 558 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.2

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 319 367 364 399 368 383 372 2.6 2.9 2.9 3.2 2.9 3.0 2.9

Government......................................................................................... 388 346 358 351 350 364 354 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 505 499 526 541 476 500 554 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.2

South............................................................................................... 1,052 1,092 1,154 1,204 1,132 1,112 1,166 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 609 628 655 666 679 680 658 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1

West...................................................................................... 568 636 621 649 586 632 661 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.3

1

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

of the month. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

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

 

3

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

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

 

4

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

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

 

P

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

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

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

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

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,003 4,108 4,135 4,216 4,106 4,103 4,544 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,694 3,815 3,843 3,923 3,800 3,772 4,204 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.9

Construction........................................................................ 373 391 397 404 358 382 430 5.6 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.3 5.6 6.3

Manufacturing................................................................ 326 335 345 340 349 355 361 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 877 880 875 913 957 945 995 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.9

Professional and business services......................... 594 590 613 650 708 529 683 3.7 3.7 3.8 4.0 4.4 3.3 4.2

Education and health services................................................. 428 433 436 427 416 447 433 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.6

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 686 729 776 753 715 766 799 5.7 6.0 6.4 6.2 5.9 6.3 6.5

Government......................................................................................... 312 269 302 300 295 323 331 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 629 695 717 792 722 689 721 2.5 2.8 2.9 3.2 2.9 2.8 2.9

South............................................................................................... 1,565 1,500 1,508 1,517 1,585 1,608 1,743 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.8

Midwest......................................................................................... 939 905 925 897 921 953 1,070 3.1 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.5

West...................................................................................... 894 969 924 992 883 876 988 3.2 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.1 3.1 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.

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

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

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 3,912 3,859 3,797 4,022 3,968 4,073 4,113 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.0 3.1 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,665 3,612 3,543 3,723 3,716 3,807 3,845 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.5

Construction........................................................................ 363 365 372 391 436 400 385 5.4 5.4 5.5 5.8 6.4 5.9 5.6

Manufacturing................................................................ 387 332 330 343 323 355 376 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 856 854 856 968 936 899 988 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.9

Professional and business services......................... 473 523 542 575 572 590 557 3.0 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.4

Education and health services................................................. 356 377 372 330 389 388 380 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.3 2.3 2.3

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 745 725 678 723 709 727 697 6.2 6.0 5.6 5.9 5.8 5.9 5.7

Government......................................................................................... 259 257 259 269 258 268 282 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 594 615 622 687 712 688 661 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.6

South............................................................................................... 1,539 1,465 1,438 1,518 1,505 1,499 1,567 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4

Midwest......................................................................................... 871 859 881 901 903 929 951 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.1

West...................................................................................... 911 877 858 898 896 941 968 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.4

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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.

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,033 2,129 2,104 2,131 2,118 2,178 2,233 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 1,910 1,995 1,999 2,010 2,002 2,051 2,105 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.9

Construction........................................................................ 108 139 158 171 148 133 151 1.6 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.0 2.2

Manufacturing................................................................ 150 162 166 178 165 169 171 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 492 482 491 534 530 493 536 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.1 1.9 2.1

Professional and business services......................... 250 266 261 256 261 302 302 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.9

Education and health services................................................. 219 230 225 212 237 234 252 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 440 515 463 462 428 447 444 3.6 4.2 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.7 3.6

Government......................................................................................... 120 135 100 119 116 126 127 .6 .6 .5 .6 .5 .6 .6

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 298 288 301 315 288 319 319 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3

South............................................................................................... 824 840 869 894 852 867 920 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.0

Midwest......................................................................................... 447 464 466 465 513 455 478 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.5 1.5

West...................................................................................... 465 552 464 436 475 520 534 1.6 1.9 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.9

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

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

 

3

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

 

4

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

 

P

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

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

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,731 2,807 3,056 2.1 2.1 2.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,346 2,475 2,704 2.1 2.3 2.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 6 8 1.0 1.1 1.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 71 85 117 1.1 1.3 1.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 181 223 231 1.2 1.5 1.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 112 143 149 1.2 1.6 1.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 69 80 82 1.2 1.5 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 420 409 493 1.7 1.6 1.9

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 72 77 101 1.3 1.4 1.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 280 262 304 1.9 1.8 2.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................68 70 87 1.4 1.5 1.8

Information...................................................................................... 49 63 70 1.5 2.0 2.2

Financial activities........................................................................... 157 167 187 1.9 2.1 2.3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 110 137 152 1.8 2.3 2.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 47 30 35 2.3 1.4 1.7

Professional and business services........................................ 458 498 506 2.8 3.0 3.1

Education and health services................................................................. 542 537 543 3.2 3.1 3.1

Educational services................................................................ 32 43 40 1.1 1.5 1.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 510 494 503 3.6 3.4 3.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 351 357 409 2.9 3.0 3.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 38 50 41 2.2 3.0 2.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 314 307 368 3.0 2.9 3.5

Other services................................................................................. 111 131 140 2.0 2.4 2.5

Government......................................................................................... 385 333 352 1.7 1.5 1.6

Federal................................................................................................ 49 48 39 1.7 1.7 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 336 285 313 1.7 1.5 1.6

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 489 455 542 1.9 1.8 2.1

South............................................................................................... 1,052 1,108 1,168 2.3 2.4 2.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 629 642 674 2.0 2.1 2.1

West....................................................................................................... 561 602 672 2.0 2.1 2.3

1

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

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

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,761 3,364 4,295 2.9 2.6 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,550 3,139 4,067 3.3 2.9 3.8

Natural resources and mining................................................... 17 17 20 3.1 3.1 3.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 390 311 472 6.2 4.9 7.3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 328 332 370 2.2 2.3 2.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 190 222 236 2.1 2.5 2.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 138 110 134 2.5 2.0 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 761 698 880 3.0 2.8 3.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 110 114 170 2.0 2.1 3.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 551 471 594 3.8 3.2 4.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 100 113 116 2.1 2.4 2.5

Information...................................................................................... 64 67 65 2.0 2.1 2.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 146 117 178 1.8 1.5 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 83 76 111 1.4 1.3 1.9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 63 42 67 3.1 2.0 3.3

Professional and business services........................................ 594 488 703 3.8 3.1 4.4

Education and health services................................................................. 395 382 400 2.4 2.3 2.4

Educational services................................................................ 39 49 40 1.4 1.7 1.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 356 333 360 2.6 2.4 2.6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 692 606 819 5.9 5.2 6.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 118 75 104 7.1 4.7 6.2

Accommodations and food services............................... 574 531 715 5.7 5.3 7.0

Other services................................................................................. 164 120 160 3.0 2.3 3.0

Government......................................................................................... 210 225 228 1.0 1.0 1.0

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

State and local.................................................................................... 182 197 200 .9 1.0 1.0

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 549 518 629 2.2 2.1 2.5

South............................................................................................... 1,507 1,417 1,717 3.3 3.1 3.7

Midwest................................................................................................. 872 711 1,015 2.8 2.3 3.3

West....................................................................................................... 833 718 934 3.0 2.6 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.

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

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

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,331 3,377 3,541 2.6 2.6 2.7

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,159 3,192 3,346 2.9 3.0 3.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 16 17 15 2.9 3.0 2.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 334 388 351 5.3 6.1 5.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 348 314 344 2.4 2.2 2.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 218 186 203 2.4 2.1 2.3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 130 128 141 2.3 2.4 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 759 758 890 3.0 3.0 3.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 118 119 157 2.1 2.1 2.8

Retail trade................................................................................. 531 531 606 3.6 3.6 4.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 110 109 127 2.3 2.3 2.7

Information...................................................................................... 59 68 65 1.8 2.1 2.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 156 147 122 2.0 1.8 1.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 100 103 84 1.7 1.7 1.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 56 44 38 2.8 2.2 1.9

Professional and business services........................................ 428 481 502 2.7 3.0 3.1

Education and health services................................................................. 321 333 345 1.9 2.0 2.0

Educational services................................................................ 30 29 35 1.1 1.0 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 290 304 310 2.1 2.2 2.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 608 528 565 5.2 4.5 4.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 75 54 73 4.5 3.4 4.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 533 473 492 5.3 4.7 4.8

Other services................................................................................. 131 159 147 2.4 3.0 2.7

Government......................................................................................... 173 185 195 .8 .8 .9

Federal................................................................................................ 25 33 25 .9 1.2 .9

State and local.................................................................................... 147 152 170 .8 .8 .9

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 507 552 536 2.0 2.2 2.2

South............................................................................................... 1,338 1,292 1,378 2.9 2.8 3.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 679 747 752 2.2 2.5 2.4

West....................................................................................................... 807 786 875 2.9 2.8 3.1

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

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

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,769 1,809 1,983 1.4 1.4 1.5

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,680 1,709 1,886 1.6 1.6 1.7

Natural resources and mining................................................... 8 6 7 1.4 1.1 1.2

Construction...................................................................................................... 97 120 138 1.5 1.9 2.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 141 144 160 1.0 1.0 1.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 90 89 89 1.0 1.0 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 51 55 71 .9 1.0 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 447 414 492 1.8 1.7 2.0

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 55 46 80 1.0 .8 1.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 328 314 356 2.2 2.1 2.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................64 53 56 1.3 1.1 1.2

Information...................................................................................... 34 45 32 1.0 1.4 1.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 81 90 72 1.0 1.1 .9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 50 64 51 .9 1.1 .9

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 31 27 21 1.5 1.3 1.0

Professional and business services........................................ 230 241 287 1.5 1.5 1.8

Education and health services................................................................. 188 195 227 1.1 1.2 1.3

Educational services................................................................ 23 16 15 .8 .6 .5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 165 179 212 1.2 1.3 1.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 364 355 366 3.1 3.0 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 32 22 29 1.9 1.4 1.7

Accommodations and food services............................... 332 333 338 3.3 3.3 3.3

Other services................................................................................. 92 98 106 1.7 1.8 2.0

Government......................................................................................... 89 101 97 .4 .5 .4

Federal................................................................................................ 11 19 12 .4 .7 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 78 82 86 .4 .4 .4

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 245 252 265 1.0 1.0 1.1

South............................................................................................... 733 739 825 1.6 1.6 1.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 372 364 400 1.2 1.2 1.3

West....................................................................................................... 419 454 494 1.5 1.6 1.7

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

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

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,281 1,318 1,302 1.0 1.0 1.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,236 1,276 1,246 1.2 1.2 1.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 7 5 1.1 1.3 .9

Construction...................................................................................................... 226 256 199 3.6 4.0 3.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 177 146 150 1.2 1.0 1.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 108 81 87 1.2 .9 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 69 65 63 1.2 1.2 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 252 293 325 1.0 1.2 1.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 53 63 69 1.0 1.1 1.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 166 187 195 1.1 1.3 1.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................33 43 62 .7 .9 1.3

Information...................................................................................... 21 19 30 .6 .6 1.0

Financial activities........................................................................... 69 35 31 .9 .4 .4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 46 25 16 .8 .4 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 23 10 15 1.2 .5 .7

Professional and business services........................................ 156 206 188 1.0 1.3 1.2

Education and health services................................................................. 93 104 102 .6 .6 .6

Educational services................................................................ 6 11 17 .2 .4 .6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 88 93 85 .6 .7 .6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 200 157 181 1.7 1.3 1.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 42 31 43 2.5 1.9 2.6

Accommodations and food services............................... 159 126 138 1.6 1.2 1.3

Other services................................................................................. 34 52 36 .6 1.0 .7

Government......................................................................................... 45 42 55 .2 .2 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 7 7 7 .2 .3 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 38 35 49 .2 .2 .3

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 216 252 230 .9 1.0 .9

South............................................................................................... 492 453 452 1.1 1.0 1.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 247 330 297 .8 1.1 1.0

West....................................................................................................... 326 284 323 1.2 1.0 1.1

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

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

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 282 250 256 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 242 208 214 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 2 3 3 .4 .5 .6

Construction...................................................................................................... 10 12 14 .2 .2 .2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 30 24 34 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 20 16 27 .2 .2 .3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 10 8 7 .2 .1 .1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 60 51 73 .2 .2 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 9 10 8 .2 .2 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 37 30 56 .3 .2 .4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................13 12 10 .3 .3 .2

Information...................................................................................... 4 4 3 .1 .1 .1

Financial activities........................................................................... 5 22 19 .1 .3 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 3 14 17 .1 .2 .3

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

Professional and business services........................................ 42 34 28 .3 .2 .2

Education and health services................................................................. 40 35 16 .2 .2 .1

Educational services................................................................ 2 2 2 .1 .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 38 33 13 .3 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 44 15 18 .4 .1 .2

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

Accommodations and food services............................... 42 14 17 .4 .1 .2

Other services................................................................................. 5 9 5 .1 .2 .1

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

Federal................................................................................................ 8 7 7 .3 .3 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 31 35 36 .2 .2 .2

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 46 48 42 .2 .2 .2

South............................................................................................... 113 100 101 .2 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 61 54 55 .2 .2 .2

West....................................................................................................... 62 49 58 .2 .2 .2

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates