Technical information:   (202) 691-5870      USDL 06-637
                http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                             For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                 691-5902      Tuesday, April 11, 2006


              JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  FEBRUARY 2006

   The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all essentially
unchanged in February, 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 February 2006, there were 4.1 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate was unchanged in February but has
generally trended upward since September 2003.  In February, the job
openings rate did not change significantly in any industry or region.

Hires and Separations

   The hires rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent in February.  (See table 2.)
Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  Over the month,
the hires rate increased in the leisure and hospitality industry.  The hires
rate did not change significantly in any region.

   The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.3 per-
cent in February.  (See table 3.)  Separations are terminations of employment
that occur at any time during the month.  In February, the total separations
rate increased in the trade, transportation, and utilities industry.  The
total separations rate did not change significantly in any region.

   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, was essentially unchanged at 2.0 percent in
February.  (See table 4.)  The quits rate rose in the education and health
services industry.  The quits rate did not change significantly in any
region.

   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From February 2005 to
February 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 0.9 percent but the
other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent.  (See tables 9 and 10.)

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Feb. | Jan. | Feb. | Feb. | Jan. | Feb. | Feb. | Jan. | Feb.
                   | 2005 | 2006 | 2006p| 2005 | 2006 | 2006p| 2005 | 2006 | 2006p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,494 |3,981 |4,054 |4,832 |4,941 |4,972 |4,481 |4,285 |4,492
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Total private(1).|3,099 |3,533 |3,591 |4,503 |4,584 |4,601 |4,215 |3,995 |4,209
    Construction...|  127 |  114 |  143 |  430 |  379 |  412 |  402 |  374 |  306
    Manufacturing..|  256 |  324 |  329 |  335 |  366 |  327 |  345 |  353 |  387
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  631 |  687 |  708 |1,055 |1,177 |1,110 |  969 |  880 |  990
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  605 |  777 |  727 |  920 |  953 |  850 |  874 |  780 |  833
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  601 |  627 |  637 |  479 |  446 |  440 |  392 |  353 |  395
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  426 |  507 |  536 |  786 |  847 |1,042 |  814 |  848 |  853
  Government.......|  392 |  449 |  458 |  325 |  352 |  376 |  270 |  300 |  288
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.6 |  2.9 |  2.9 |  3.6 |  3.7 |  3.7 |  3.4 |  3.2 |  3.3
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Total private(1).|  2.7 |  3.0 |  3.1 |  4.1 |  4.1 |  4.1 |  3.8 |  3.5 |  3.7
    Construction...|  1.7 |  1.5 |  1.9 |  6.0 |  5.1 |  5.5 |  5.6 |  5.0 |  4.1
    Manufacturing..|  1.8 |  2.2 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  2.6 |  2.3 |  2.4 |  2.5 |  2.7
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.4 |  2.6 |  2.6 |  4.1 |  4.5 |  4.3 |  3.8 |  3.4 |  3.8
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.5 |  4.3 |  4.1 |  5.5 |  5.6 |  4.9 |  5.2 |  4.6 |  4.8
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  3.4 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  2.8 |  2.5 |  2.5 |  2.3 |  2.0 |  2.2
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.2 |  3.8 |  4.0 |  6.2 |  6.6 |  8.0 |  6.4 |  6.6 |  6.6
  Government.......|  1.8 |  2.0 |  2.0 |  1.5 |  1.6 |  1.7 |  1.2 |  1.4 |  1.3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.



   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 4.6 million hires and 4.4 mil-
lion 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 March 2006 is scheduled
to be issued on Tuesday, May 9, 2006.


                                  - 3 -

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 characteris-
tics 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 re-
ceived 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 tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment 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 posi-
tion, 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 news-
papers 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.
   
                                  - 4 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, 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 (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer 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 re-
tirements, 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, divid-
ing 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 an-
nual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employ-
ment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100.  This figure will be ap-
proximately 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 es-
timates 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.

                                  - 5 -

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 rel-
atively 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 supple-
mental 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 compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental 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 adjust-
ment 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.

                                  - 6 -

  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 cal-
endar 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 seg-
ment 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 ex-
plain 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 in-
cludes 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 prac-
tices.  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 levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  3,494  3,728  3,867  4,031  3,941  3,981  4,054    2.6   2.7   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.9   2.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,099  3,285  3,460  3,604  3,509  3,533  3,591    2.7   2.8   3.0   3.1   3.0   3.0   3.1
  Construction.........................    127    152    148    146    170    114    143    1.7   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.2   1.5   1.9
  Manufacturing........................    256    285    297    333    313    324    329    1.8   2.0   2.1   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    631    629    654    696    661    687    708    2.4   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.5   2.6   2.6
  Professional and business services...    605    671    723    782    750    777    727    3.5   3.8   4.1   4.4   4.2   4.3   4.1
  Education and health services........    601    630    613    601    618    627    637    3.4   3.5   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.4   3.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    426    431    498    519    522    507    536    3.2   3.3   3.7   3.9   3.9   3.8   4.0
 Government............................    392    443    416    434    435    449    458    1.8   2.0   1.9   1.9   2.0   2.0   2.0


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    602    661    704    704    718    740    734    2.3   2.6   2.7   2.7   2.8   2.8   2.8
  South................................  1,352  1,451  1,515  1,562  1,612  1,550  1,574    2.8   2.9   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.1   3.2
  Midwest..............................    718    760    762    748    738    745    769    2.3   2.4   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.4
  West.................................    824    890    873  1,046    919    928    977    2.7   2.9   2.9   3.4   3.0   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 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 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, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
  p = preliminary.




Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,832  4,748  4,822  4,813  4,694  4,941  4,972    3.6   3.5   3.6   3.6   3.5   3.7   3.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,503  4,418  4,488  4,498  4,397  4,584  4,601    4.1   3.9   4.0   4.0   3.9   4.1   4.1
  Construction.........................    430    436    430    393    426    379    412    6.0   6.0   5.9   5.3   5.8   5.1   5.5
  Manufacturing........................    335    346    449    335    307    366    327    2.3   2.4   3.2   2.4   2.2   2.6   2.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,055    983    967    954  1,011  1,177  1,110    4.1   3.8   3.7   3.7   3.9   4.5   4.3
  Professional and business services...    920    904    849    907    849    953    850    5.5   5.3   5.0   5.3   5.0   5.6   4.9
  Education and health services........    479    468    460    459    467    446    440    2.8   2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7   2.5   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    786    836    859    895    853    847  1,042    6.2   6.5   6.7   6.9   6.6   6.6   8.0
 Government............................    325    314    319    314    293    352    376    1.5   1.4   1.5   1.4   1.3   1.6   1.7


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    810    796    744    747    698    727    827    3.2   3.2   2.9   3.0   2.8   2.9   3.3
  South................................  1,861  1,842  1,886  1,813  1,817  1,946  2,040    3.9   3.9   3.9   3.8   3.8   4.1   4.2
  Midwest..............................  1,090    965  1,017  1,031  1,038  1,043  1,051    3.5   3.1   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.3
  West.................................  1,104  1,139  1,154  1,188  1,127  1,176  1,088    3.8   3.8   3.9   4.0   3.8   4.0   3.7


  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.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,481  4,798  4,359  4,476  4,359  4,285  4,492    3.4   3.6   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.2   3.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,215  4,503  4,103  4,205  4,067  3,995  4,209    3.8   4.0   3.7   3.7   3.6   3.5   3.7
  Construction.........................    402    423    392    371    348    374    306    5.6   5.8   5.3   5.0   4.7   5.0   4.1
  Manufacturing........................    345    437    340    388    355    353    387    2.4   3.1   2.4   2.7   2.5   2.5   2.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    969  1,000    935  1,003  1,027    880    990    3.8   3.9   3.6   3.9   3.9   3.4   3.8
  Professional and business services...    874    856    757    753    735    780    833    5.2   5.0   4.5   4.4   4.3   4.6   4.8
  Education and health services........    392    433    404    418    400    353    395    2.3   2.5   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.0   2.2
  Leisure and hospitality..............    814    871    798    834    843    848    853    6.4   6.8   6.2   6.5   6.5   6.6   6.6
 Government............................    270    302    255    270    270    300    288    1.2   1.4   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.4   1.3


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    717    797    657    619    685    701    735    2.9   3.2   2.6   2.4   2.7   2.8   2.9
  South................................  1,699  1,779  1,710  1,711  1,759  1,653  1,650    3.6   3.7   3.6   3.6   3.7   3.4   3.4
  Midwest..............................  1,002  1,065    961  1,081    934    987  1,072    3.2   3.4   3.1   3.5   3.0   3.1   3.4
  West.................................  1,041  1,127  1,012  1,004    997    970  1,015    3.5   3.8   3.4   3.4   3.4   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.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Feb.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Feb.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  2,325  2,681  2,619  2,683  2,567  2,577  2,638    1.8   2.0   2.0   2.0   1.9   1.9   2.0

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,203  2,529  2,470  2,540  2,428  2,435  2,497    2.0   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.2
  Construction.........................    145    210    205    183    189    179    145    2.0   2.9   2.8   2.5   2.6   2.4   1.9
  Manufacturing........................    181    213    200    210    184    196    203    1.3   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.3   1.4   1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    512    566    573    606    634    551    598    2.0   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.4   2.1   2.3
  Professional and business services...    402    448    345    359    365    415    449    2.4   2.6   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.4   2.6
  Education and health services........    252    283    258    277    254    225    269    1.5   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.4   1.3   1.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    490    557    597    595    558    569    577    3.9   4.3   4.6   4.6   4.3   4.4   4.5
 Government............................    124    154    142    142    139    143    144     .6    .7    .6    .6    .6    .7    .7


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    329    361    341    333    390    369    385    1.3   1.4   1.3   1.3   1.5   1.5   1.5
  South................................    938  1,125  1,109  1,102  1,069  1,068  1,081    2.0   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.2
  Midwest..............................    503    574    552    572    481    571    605    1.6   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.5   1.8   1.9
  West.................................    546    627    601    657    618    569    554    1.9   2.1   2.0   2.2   2.1   1.9   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.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.     Feb.          Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  3,350    3,678    3,895           2.5      2.7      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,993    3,259    3,475           2.7      2.9      3.0
  Natural resources and mining..................      9        9       12           1.5      1.5      1.8
  Construction..................................    118       94      134           1.7      1.3      1.9
  Manufacturing.................................    258      309      335           1.8      2.1      2.3
   Durable goods................................    174      214      242           1.9      2.3      2.6
   Nondurable goods.............................     84       95       93           1.6      1.8      1.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    578      608      647           2.2      2.3      2.5
   Wholesale trade..............................    140      104      153           2.4      1.8      2.6
   Retail trade.................................    347      395      371           2.3      2.5      2.4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     91      110      123           1.8      2.2      2.5
  Information...................................     81      111      112           2.6      3.5      3.5
  Financial activities..........................    235      294      314           2.8      3.5      3.7
   Finance and insurance........................    182      232      273           3.0      3.7      4.3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     53       62       41           2.5      2.8      1.9
  Professional and business services............    601      719      715           3.5      4.1      4.1
  Education and health services.................    591      599      629           3.3      3.3      3.4
   Educational services.........................     47       59       68           1.6      2.1      2.2
   Health care and social assistance............    544      539      561           3.7      3.5      3.7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    398      445      508           3.2      3.5      3.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     57       63       51           3.3      3.6      2.9
   Accommodations and food services.............    341      381      457           3.2      3.5      4.1
  Other services................................    125       71       69           2.3      1.3      1.3

 Government.....................................    357      419      420           1.6      1.9      1.9
  Federal.......................................     41       46       45           1.5      1.7      1.6
  State and local...............................    316      374      375           1.6      1.9      1.9

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    561      665      685           2.2      2.6      2.7
  South.........................................  1,343    1,481    1,565           2.8      3.0      3.2
  Midwest.......................................    671      667      720           2.1      2.1      2.3
  West..........................................    774      865      925           2.6      2.9      3.0


  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.





Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.     Feb.          Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  4,004    4,196    4,144           3.1      3.2      3.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,778    3,877    3,879           3.5      3.5      3.5
  Natural resources and mining..................     20       15       17           3.3      2.4      2.6
  Construction..................................    354      291      340           5.3      4.1      4.8
  Manufacturing.................................    314      361      302           2.2      2.6      2.1
   Durable goods................................    212      207      174           2.4      2.3      1.9
   Nondurable goods.............................    101      153      128           1.9      3.0      2.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    804      861      850           3.2      3.3      3.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    117       99      114           2.1      1.7      2.0
   Retail trade.................................    562      531      575           3.8      3.5      3.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    124      231      160           2.6      4.7      3.3
  Information...................................     64       61       81           2.1      2.0      2.7
  Financial activities..........................    164      172      191           2.0      2.1      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................     95      124      119           1.6      2.1      2.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     70       47       72           3.4      2.2      3.4
  Professional and business services............    835      906      764           5.1      5.4      4.5
  Education and health services.................    414      413      378           2.4      2.4      2.1
   Educational services.........................     47       62       53           1.6      2.3      1.8
   Health care and social assistance............    367      351      325           2.6      2.4      2.2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    610      635      815           5.0      5.2      6.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     77       71      104           4.6      4.2      6.1
   Accommodations and food services.............    533      564      712           5.1      5.3      6.7
  Other services................................    200      162      141           3.7      3.0      2.6

 Government.....................................    226      319      265           1.0      1.5      1.2
  Federal.......................................     31       43       43           1.1      1.6      1.6
  State and local...............................    195      276      222           1.0      1.4      1.1

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    570      564      592           2.3      2.3      2.4
  South.........................................  1,641    1,740    1,816           3.5      3.7      3.8
  Midwest.......................................    851      878      823           2.8      2.8      2.6
  West..........................................    942    1,014      913           3.2      3.5      3.1


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.     Feb.          Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  3,679    4,186    3,707           2.8      3.2      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,493    3,938    3,506           3.2      3.6      3.2
  Natural resources and mining..................     15       17       19           2.5      2.6      3.1
  Construction..................................    383      405      287           5.7      5.8      4.1
  Manufacturing.................................    296      344      344           2.1      2.4      2.4
   Durable goods................................    193      192      201           2.2      2.2      2.3
   Nondurable goods.............................    103      151      143           2.0      2.9      2.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    834      991      855           3.3      3.8      3.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    133      101      139           2.3      1.8      2.4
   Retail trade.................................    569      761      605           3.8      5.0      4.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    132      129      112           2.7      2.6      2.3
  Information...................................     45       63       63           1.5      2.1      2.1
  Financial activities..........................    157      165      202           2.0      2.0      2.5
   Finance and insurance........................     96      117      134           1.6      1.9      2.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     62       48       68           3.0      2.2      3.2
  Professional and business services............    692      720      668           4.2      4.3      4.0
  Education and health services.................    330      345      333           1.9      2.0      1.9
   Educational services.........................     24       38       24            .8      1.4       .8
   Health care and social assistance............    307      306      309           2.1      2.1      2.1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    571      751      604           4.7      6.1      4.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     74       57       43           4.5      3.4      2.5
   Accommodations and food services.............    497      694      561           4.7      6.5      5.2
  Other services................................    171      137      130           3.2      2.6      2.4

 Government.....................................    187      248      201            .8      1.1       .9
  Federal.......................................     26       57       48           1.0      2.1      1.8
  State and local...............................    161      191      153            .8      1.0       .8

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    546      667      577           2.2      2.7      2.3
  South.........................................  1,449    1,580    1,399           3.1      3.3      2.9
  Midwest.......................................    810      971      876           2.6      3.1      2.8
  West..........................................    875      968      855           3.0      3.3      2.9


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.     Feb.          Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  1,914    2,262    2,177           1.5      1.7      1.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,817    2,142    2,063           1.7      1.9      1.9
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        9        8           1.0      1.4      1.2
  Construction..................................    127      142      124           1.9      2.0      1.8
  Manufacturing.................................    153      166      174           1.1      1.2      1.2
   Durable goods................................     99       96      103           1.1      1.1      1.2
   Nondurable goods.............................     54       69       71           1.0      1.3      1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    425      516      498           1.7      2.0      1.9
   Wholesale trade..............................     73       52       69           1.3       .9      1.2
   Retail trade.................................    300      406      361           2.0      2.7      2.4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     52       58       68           1.1      1.2      1.4
  Information...................................     32       41       44           1.0      1.4      1.4
  Financial activities..........................     80      100      120           1.0      1.2      1.5
   Finance and insurance........................     60       76       72           1.0      1.3      1.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     20       24       47           1.0      1.1      2.2
  Professional and business services............    308      371      349           1.9      2.2      2.1
  Education and health services.................    208      213      225           1.2      1.2      1.3
   Educational services.........................     15       23       16            .5       .8       .5
   Health care and social assistance............    194      190      210           1.3      1.3      1.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    373      504      443           3.1      4.1      3.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     37       28       24           2.2      1.7      1.4
   Accommodations and food services.............    337      476      419           3.2      4.5      3.9
  Other services................................    104       81       77           1.9      1.5      1.4

 Government.....................................     97      120      114            .4       .6       .5
  Federal.......................................     12       24       23            .4       .9       .9
  State and local...............................     86       96       91            .4       .5       .5

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    257      305      305           1.0      1.2      1.2
  South.........................................    795      939      920           1.7      2.0      1.9
  Midwest.......................................    401      508      487           1.3      1.6      1.6
  West..........................................    462      510      464           1.6      1.7      1.6


  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.





Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.     Feb.          Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  1,463    1,564    1,230           1.1      1.2      0.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,417    1,494    1,179           1.3      1.4      1.1
  Natural resources and mining..................      5        4       11            .9       .6      1.7
  Construction..................................    242      248      144           3.6      3.5      2.0
  Manufacturing.................................    115      132      121            .8       .9       .9
   Durable goods................................     75       66       65            .8       .7       .7
   Nondurable goods.............................     39       65       57            .7      1.3      1.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    346      407      278           1.4      1.6      1.1
   Wholesale trade..............................     51       44       51            .9       .8       .9
   Retail trade.................................    232      312      197           1.6      2.1      1.3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     64       52       30           1.3      1.1       .6
  Information...................................     10       12       13            .3       .4       .4
  Financial activities..........................     62       55       70            .8       .7       .9
   Finance and insurance........................     22       35       51            .4       .6       .8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     40       20       19           1.9       .9       .9
  Professional and business services............    303      260      280           1.8      1.6      1.7
  Education and health services.................     99      108       86            .6       .6       .5
   Educational services.........................      7       12        7            .2       .4       .2
   Health care and social assistance............     92       96       79            .6       .7       .5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    182      218      131           1.5      1.8      1.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     37       25       16           2.2      1.5       .9
   Accommodations and food services.............    146      193      115           1.4      1.8      1.1
  Other services................................     52       50       44           1.0       .9       .8

 Government.....................................     46       70       50            .2       .3       .2
  Federal.......................................      8       12       11            .3       .4       .4
  State and local...............................     38       59       39            .2       .3       .2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    243      293      222           1.0      1.2       .9
  South.........................................    533      518      375           1.1      1.1       .8
  Midwest.......................................    346      361      319           1.1      1.2      1.0
  West..........................................    340      392      314           1.2      1.3      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.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Feb.     Jan.     Feb.          Feb.     Jan.     Feb.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................    302      360      301           0.2      0.3      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    259      302      264            .2       .3       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      3        4        1            .6       .6       .2
  Construction..................................     14       15       19            .2       .2       .3
  Manufacturing.................................     28       46       48            .2       .3       .3
   Durable goods................................     18       30       33            .2       .3       .4
   Nondurable goods.............................      9       16       15            .2       .3       .3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     63       69       79            .2       .3       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................      9        6       19            .2       .1       .3
   Retail trade.................................     38       44       47            .3       .3       .3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     16       19       13            .3       .4       .3
  Information...................................      3       10        6            .1       .3       .2
  Financial activities..........................     15       10       13            .2       .1       .2
   Finance and insurance........................     14        6       11            .2       .1       .2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      2        4        2            .1       .2       .1
  Professional and business services............     81       89       39            .5       .5       .2
  Education and health services.................     23       24       22            .1       .1       .1
   Educational services.........................      2        3        2            .1       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     21       21       20            .1       .1       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     15       28       30            .1       .2       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      1        4        3            .1       .2       .2
   Accommodations and food services.............     14       25       27            .1       .2       .3
  Other services................................     14        6        9            .3       .1       .2

 Government.....................................     43       58       37            .2       .3       .2
  Federal.......................................      7       21       13            .2       .8       .5
  State and local...............................     36       37       23            .2       .2       .1

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................     46       68       50            .2       .3       .2
  South.........................................    121      124      104            .3       .3       .2
  Midwest.......................................     63      103       70            .2       .3       .2
  West..........................................     73       65       77            .3       .2       .3


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.