1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 04-1762

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Wednesday, September 8, 2004

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

December 2000 - July 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 - July 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: JULY 2004

The hires rate fell in July but remained above the separations rate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the

U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The hires rate was 3.2 percent in July, and the separations rate

was 3.1 percent. The job openings rate edged up to 2.4 percent. This report 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 July 2004, there were 3.2 million job openings in the United States, and the

job openings rate was 2.4 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate continued to remain in the range

of 2.0 to 2.4 percent, as it has since October 2001. In July, the job openings rate increased in the trade,

transportation, and utilities industry group and continued on an upward trend in leisure and hospitality. The

job openings rate edged down in government and showed little or no change for the other major industry

categories in July.

Hires and Separations

The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) was 3.2 percent in July,

down from 3.4 percent a month ago. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.

The hires rate decreased in construction and edged down in government (including federal, state, and local)

over the month, while other major industries showed little or no change in their hires rates. The hires rates in

the Midwest and West decreased from a month ago.
2

Total............................................................ 4,433 4,233 3,861 4,069 4,011

Total private ......................................... 3,715 4,110 3,936 3,579 3,789

Construction ................................... 95 94 383 436 351 380 382 380

Manufacturing ................................ 183 247 319 370 349 396 343 365

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 428 503 571 812 945 939 842 927 939

Professional and business

services ......................................... 503 494 529 631 692 621 513 607 576

Education and health services .... 519 496 513 427 428 435 368 362 368

Leisure and hospitality ................. 331 421 452 709 749 771 665 734 680

Government .......................................... 345 380 353 289 328 301 272 270 273

Total 1......................................................... 2.1 2.3 2.4 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.0 3.1 3.1

Total private 1....................................... 2.2 2.3 2.5 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.3 3.5 3.4

Construction ................................... 1.4 1.3 1.2 5.7 6.3 5.1 5.7 5.5 5.5

Manufacturing ................................ 1.3 1.7 1.6 2.2 2.6 2.4 2.7 2.4 2.5

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 1.7 1.9 2.2 3.2 3.7 3.7 3.3 3.6 3.7

Professional and business

services ......................................... 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.9 4.2 3.8 3.2 3.7 3.5

Education and health services .... 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.2 2.1 2.2

Leisure and hospitality ................. 2.7 3.3 3.5 5.8 6.1 6.2 5.5 5.9 5.5

Government .......................................... 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

July June July July June July July June July

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

4,014

2,390

2,738

2,640

3,022

3,725

85

230

2,836

3,190

The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in July, unchanged from the month before. The total separations rate has been

relatively unchanged since December 2001, ranging from 2.9 percent to 3.3 percent. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. (See table 3.) In July, the total separations rate showed little or no change for all major industry categories.

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 unchanged at 1.7 percent in July. (See table 4.) The quits rate increased in

education and health services over the month. The other two components of total separations, layoffs and

discharges (1.1 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 4.2 million per month and separations have averaged 4.0 million per month. (See the Technical

Note for additional information on these measures.)

1

1
3

For More Information

For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site 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 August 2004 is scheduled to be released on

Wednesday, October 13, 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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,738 2,906 3,079 3,135 3,105 3,022 3,190 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,390 2,534 2,740 2,778 2,746 2,640 2,836 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.5

Construction........................................................................ 95 99 113 105 108 94 85 1.4 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.2

Manufacturing................................................................ 183 226 232 251 244 247 230 1.3 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 428 458 524 531 521 503 571 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 503 491 502 518 530 494 529 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.1

Education and health services................................................. 519 551 559 576 542 496 513 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 2.9 2.9

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 331 383 370 376 391 421 452 2.7 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.5

Government......................................................................................... 345 364 353 354 360 380 353 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 529 500 569 560 526 546 530 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.1

South............................................................................................... 1,055 1,112 1,176 1,191 1,164 1,164 1,236 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.6

Midwest......................................................................................... 567 680 663 692 688 631 655 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.1

West...................................................................................... 565 632 655 694 765 677 725 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.3 2.5

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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,014 4,103 4,603 4,398 4,206 4,433 4,233 3.1 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,715 3,772 4,256 4,090 3,938 4,110 3,936 3.4 3.5 3.9 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 383 382 437 421 406 436 351 5.7 5.6 6.4 6.1 5.9 6.3 5.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 319 355 361 354 336 370 349 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 812 945 1,009 1,032 938 945 939 3.2 3.7 4.0 4.1 3.7 3.7 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 631 529 713 609 631 692 621 3.9 3.3 4.4 3.7 3.8 4.2 3.8

Education and health services................................................. 427 447 444 460 451 428 435 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.6

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 709 766 810 766 739 749 771 5.8 6.3 6.6 6.2 6.0 6.1 6.2

Government......................................................................................... 289 323 343 300 272 328 301 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 681 689 744 810 708 703 760 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.2 2.8 2.8 3.0

South............................................................................................... 1,513 1,608 1,781 1,582 1,606 1,709 1,628 3.3 3.5 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 865 953 1,040 991 956 1,009 914 2.8 3.1 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.2 2.9

West...................................................................................... 903 876 1,029 1,093 951 1,023 844 3.2 3.1 3.6 3.8 3.3 3.6 2.9

 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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 3,861 4,073 4,134 4,088 4,040 4,069 4,011 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,579 3,807 3,868 3,843 3,761 3,789 3,725 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.4

Construction........................................................................ 380 400 392 391 367 382 380 5.7 5.9 5.7 5.7 5.3 5.5 5.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 396 355 377 353 377 343 365 2.7 2.5 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 842 899 978 1,013 917 927 939 3.3 3.5 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.6 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 513 590 597 606 556 607 576 3.2 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.7 3.5

Education and health services................................................. 368 388 382 386 379 362 368 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.2

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 665 727 715 679 696 734 680 5.5 5.9 5.8 5.5 5.6 5.9 5.5

Government......................................................................................... 272 268 284 245 268 270 273 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.3

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 648 688 666 716 648 704 699 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.9 2.6 2.8 2.8

South............................................................................................... 1,474 1,499 1,612 1,524 1,504 1,533 1,505 3.2 3.3 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 866 929 938 877 833 853 904 2.8 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.9

West...................................................................................... 887 941 1,003 959 1,008 979 915 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.2

 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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July

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

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,024 2,178 2,271 2,278 2,173 2,284 2,235 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 1,897 2,051 2,144 2,151 2,036 2,162 2,113 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.9

Construction........................................................................ 121 133 154 149 144 156 123 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.3 1.8

Manufacturing................................................................ 157 169 176 189 171 171 180 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 477 493 530 563 525 536 547 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1

Professional and business services......................... 268 302 309 323 259 322 306 1.7 1.9 1.9 2.0 1.6 2.0 1.9

Education and health services................................................. 220 234 252 245 223 225 264 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.6

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 429 447 465 429 455 480 430 3.5 3.7 3.8 3.5 3.7 3.9 3.5

Government......................................................................................... 126 126 129 129 129 123 123 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6

REGION

Northeast......................................................................... 294 319 314 390 318 334 347 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.4

South............................................................................................... 814 867 957 888 857 910 869 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.0 1.9

Midwest......................................................................................... 455 455 474 479 479 485 501 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6

West...................................................................................... 456 520 565 524 521 573 508 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.8 1.8 2.0 1.8

 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 July June July July June July

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,878 3,125 3,369 2.2 2.3 2.5

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,503 2,704 2,989 2.2 2.4 2.6

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 10 8 1.0 1.6 1.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 125 114 106 1.8 1.6 1.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 199 266 251 1.4 1.8 1.7

Durable goods.............................................................................. 114 163 153 1.3 1.8 1.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 84 104 97 1.5 1.9 1.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 429 493 590 1.7 1.9 2.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 93 123 136 1.6 2.1 2.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 270 288 368 1.8 1.9 2.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................66 82 86 1.4 1.7 1.8

Information...................................................................................... 48 75 83 1.5 2.3 2.5

Financial activities........................................................................... 179 203 201 2.2 2.4 2.4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 133 157 153 2.2 2.5 2.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 46 47 48 2.1 2.1 2.2

Professional and business services........................................ 508 523 544 3.1 3.0 3.2

Education and health services................................................................. 546 512 537 3.3 3.0 3.1

Educational services................................................................ 47 43 48 1.9 1.7 1.9

Health care and social assistance.................................. 500 469 489 3.5 3.2 3.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 363 404 517 2.8 3.0 3.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 32 40 43 1.5 1.9 2.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 331 364 474 3.0 3.2 4.2

Other services................................................................................. 101 105 153 1.8 1.9 2.7

Government......................................................................................... 375 421 380 1.8 1.9 1.8

Federal................................................................................................ 46 37 41 1.6 1.3 1.5

State and local.................................................................................... 329 384 339 1.8 2.0 1.9

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 553 565 556 2.2 2.2 2.2

South............................................................................................... 1,110 1,230 1,322 2.4 2.6 2.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 606 634 699 1.9 2.0 2.2

West....................................................................................................... 610 697 792 2.1 2.4 2.7

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 July June July July June July

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,275 5,399 4,455 3.3 4.1 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,953 4,972 4,122 3.6 4.5 3.7

Natural resources and mining................................................... 16 23 23 2.7 3.9 3.8

Construction...................................................................................................... 443 580 389 6.3 8.1 5.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 351 431 378 2.4 3.0 2.6

Durable goods.............................................................................. 210 272 243 2.4 3.0 2.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 141 159 135 2.5 2.9 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 811 1,058 925 3.2 4.1 3.6

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 132 193 133 2.4 3.4 2.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 559 725 646 3.8 4.8 4.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 120 140 145 2.6 2.9 3.0

Information...................................................................................... 52 94 61 1.6 2.9 1.9

Financial activities........................................................................... 172 256 177 2.1 3.2 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 109 144 89 1.8 2.4 1.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 63 112 88 3.0 5.3 4.1

Professional and business services........................................ 674 766 647 4.2 4.6 3.9

Education and health services................................................................. 483 508 492 3.0 3.0 3.0

Educational services................................................................ 59 77 72 2.5 3.1 3.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 424 431 419 3.1 3.0 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 747 978 819 5.9 7.6 6.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 100 169 126 4.8 8.3 6.1

Accommodations and food services............................... 647 809 694 6.1 7.5 6.4

Other services................................................................................. 204 278 210 3.7 5.1 3.8

Government......................................................................................... 322 427 334 1.6 2.0 1.6

Federal................................................................................................ 39 46 38 1.4 1.7 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 283 381 296 1.6 2.0 1.7

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 775 953 887 3.1 3.8 3.5

South............................................................................................... 1,609 1,991 1,718 3.5 4.3 3.7

Midwest................................................................................................. 862 1,227 899 2.8 3.9 2.9

West....................................................................................................... 1,029 1,228 951 3.6 4.2 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 July June July July June July

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,095 4,310 4,234 3.2 3.3 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,753 3,902 3,883 3.4 3.5 3.5

Natural resources and mining................................................... 18 17 18 3.1 2.8 3.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 354 366 349 5.0 5.1 4.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 413 357 387 2.9 2.5 2.7

Durable goods.............................................................................. 250 249 260 2.8 2.8 2.9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 164 108 127 2.9 2.0 2.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 837 930 935 3.3 3.6 3.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 155 182 146 2.8 3.2 2.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 560 588 623 3.8 3.9 4.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 122 160 166 2.6 3.3 3.5

Information...................................................................................... 81 69 57 2.5 2.1 1.8

Financial activities........................................................................... 145 217 176 1.8 2.7 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 92 126 104 1.5 2.1 1.7

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 53 91 72 2.5 4.3 3.4

Professional and business services........................................ 553 614 615 3.4 3.7 3.7

Education and health services................................................................. 422 431 418 2.6 2.6 2.5

Educational services................................................................ 59 73 59 2.5 2.9 2.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 363 358 359 2.6 2.5 2.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 711 735 715 5.6 5.7 5.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 104 88 89 5.0 4.3 4.3

Accommodations and food services............................... 606 647 627 5.7 6.0 5.8

Other services................................................................................. 220 168 212 4.0 3.1 3.9

Government......................................................................................... 342 408 352 1.7 1.9 1.7

Federal................................................................................................ 31 35 25 1.1 1.3 .9

State and local.................................................................................... 310 373 327 1.8 2.0 1.8

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 656 789 705 2.6 3.1 2.8

South............................................................................................... 1,606 1,605 1,634 3.5 3.4 3.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 868 929 917 2.8 3.0 3.0

West....................................................................................................... 965 988 978 3.4 3.4 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.

 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 July June July July June July

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,257 2,464 2,489 1.7 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,107 2,297 2,343 1.9 2.1 2.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 8 10 11 1.4 1.7 1.9

Construction...................................................................................................... 164 192 158 2.3 2.7 2.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 179 181 208 1.2 1.2 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 108 118 138 1.2 1.3 1.5

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 71 63 70 1.3 1.2 1.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 497 532 572 2.0 2.1 2.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 85 106 97 1.5 1.9 1.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 351 375 396 2.4 2.5 2.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................61 51 79 1.3 1.1 1.6

Information...................................................................................... 48 50 38 1.5 1.6 1.2

Financial activities........................................................................... 79 133 123 1.0 1.6 1.5

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 48 77 67 .8 1.3 1.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 31 56 57 1.5 2.6 2.7

Professional and business services........................................ 297 336 340 1.8 2.0 2.0

Education and health services................................................................. 232 247 282 1.4 1.5 1.7

Educational services................................................................ 25 29 36 1.1 1.1 1.5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 207 218 246 1.5 1.5 1.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 493 495 487 3.9 3.8 3.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 45 40 43 2.1 2.0 2.1

Accommodations and food services............................... 448 455 443 4.2 4.2 4.1

Other services................................................................................. 111 120 126 2.0 2.2 2.3

Government......................................................................................... 150 168 146 .7 .8 .7

Federal................................................................................................ 16 9 11 .6 .3 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 133 158 135 .8 .8 .8

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 314 372 382 1.3 1.5 1.5

South............................................................................................... 947 992 1,010 2.1 2.1 2.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 486 515 536 1.6 1.6 1.7

West....................................................................................................... 510 586 562 1.8 2.0 2.0

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

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

 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 July June July July June July

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,532 1,497 1,440 1.2 1.1 1.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,404 1,346 1,294 1.3 1.2 1.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 8 4 5 1.4 .7 .9

Construction...................................................................................................... 171 160 171 2.4 2.2 2.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 204 145 152 1.4 1.0 1.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 123 110 102 1.4 1.2 1.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 81 35 49 1.5 .6 .9

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 277 323 292 1.1 1.3 1.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 58 63 43 1.0 1.1 .8

Retail trade................................................................................. 174 166 179 1.2 1.1 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................46 94 70 1.0 1.9 1.5

Information...................................................................................... 26 14 16 .8 .4 .5

Financial activities........................................................................... 46 56 31 .6 .7 .4

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 28 28 21 .5 .5 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 18 28 10 .9 1.3 .5

Professional and business services........................................ 215 234 238 1.3 1.4 1.4

Education and health services................................................................. 161 151 118 1.0 .9 .7

Educational services................................................................ 29 37 21 1.2 1.5 .9

Health care and social assistance.................................. 132 114 97 1.0 .8 .7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 198 219 208 1.6 1.7 1.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 58 46 42 2.8 2.3 2.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 140 173 166 1.3 1.6 1.5

Other services................................................................................. 97 39 64 1.8 .7 1.2

Government......................................................................................... 128 152 146 .6 .7 .7

Federal................................................................................................ 9 16 5 .3 .6 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 118 135 141 .7 .7 .8

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 283 337 256 1.1 1.3 1.0

South............................................................................................... 541 502 518 1.2 1.1 1.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 326 330 315 1.1 1.1 1.0

West....................................................................................................... 382 328 351 1.3 1.1 1.2

 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 July June July July June July

2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p

Total........................................................................................................... 306 349 305 0.2 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 242 260 245 .2 .2 .2

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

Construction...................................................................................................... 19 13 21 .3 .2 .3

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 31 30 28 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 19 20 20 .2 .2 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 12 10 8 .2 .2 .1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 63 75 72 .2 .3 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 12 14 6 .2 .2 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 36 48 48 .2 .3 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................15 14 17 .3 .3 .4

Information...................................................................................... 7 5 3 .2 .2 .1

Financial activities........................................................................... 20 28 21 .2 .3 .3

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 16 20 16 .3 .3 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 3 8 5 .2 .4 .2

Professional and business services........................................ 41 44 37 .3 .3 .2

Education and health services................................................................. 28 33 19 .2 .2 .1

Educational services................................................................ 5 7 3 .2 .3 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 23 26 16 .2 .2 .1

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 20 21 20 .2 .2 .2

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

Accommodations and food services............................... 18 18 17 .2 .2 .2

Other services................................................................................. 12 8 22 .2 .2 .4

Government......................................................................................... 64 89 60 .3 .4 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 6 9 9 .2 .3 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 58 80 51 .3 .4 .3

REGION

Northeast......................................................................................... 60 80 67 .2 .3 .3

South............................................................................................... 117 112 106 .3 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 56 83 66 .2 .3 .2

West....................................................................................................... 73 73 66 .3 .3 .2

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

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

 P = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates