Technical information:     (202) 691-5870      USDL 04-845
                  http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                               For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                   691-5902      Tuesday, May 11, 2004


                JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  MARCH 2004

   The number of hires rose by 441,000 in March to 4.5 million, while the
number of separations was about unchanged at 4.1 million, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  The job
openings rate edged up to 2.3 percent in March.  The series in this report
include estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and
separations for the total nonfarm sector with breakouts by industry and
geographic region.
     
Job Openings
     
   On the last business day of March 2004, there were 3.1 million job open-
ings in the United States, and the job openings rate (the number of job
openings on the last business day of the month divided by employment plus
job openings) was 2.3 percent.  (See table 1.)  The job openings rate has
ranged from 2.0 to 2.4 percent since October 2001.  Over the month, the job
openings rates for major industry categories showed little or no change.
Among the geographic regions, there was an increase in the job openings
rate in the Northeast.

Hires and Separations
     
   The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employ-
ment) increased in March to 3.5 percent.  (See table 2.)  Hires are any
additions to the payroll during the month.  The hires rate was at its
highest point since late 2001.  The hires rate increased in professional
and business services in March, largely offsetting the drop in February,
while the hires rates for trade, transportation, and utilities and leisure
and hospitality continued on an upward trend.  Other major industries showed
little or no change in their hires rates over the month.  The hires rate
increased in the South, Midwest, and West regions in March.
   
   The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations
during the month divided by employment) was 3.2 percent in March 2004 and
has remained in the range of 2.9 to 3.3 percent since December 2001.  Sepa-
rations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the
month.  The major industries showed little or no change in their total
separations rates over the month.  (See table 3.)

                                  - 2 -
   
Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally 
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Mar. | Feb. | Mar. | Mar. | Feb. | Mar. | Mar. | Feb. | Mar.
                   | 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|2,771 |2,906 |3,072 |4,003 |4,103 |4,544 |3,912 |4,073 |4,113
  Total private 1/.|2,387 |2,534 |2,729 |3,694 |3,772 |4,204 |3,665 |3,807 |3,845
    Construction...|   78 |   99 |  113 |  373 |  382 |  430 |  363 |  400 |  385
    Manufacturing..|  178 |  226 |  231 |  326 |  355 |  361 |  387 |  355 |  376
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  439 |  458 |  500 |  877 |  945 |  995 |  856 |  899 |  988
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  457 |  491 |  509 |  594 |  529 |  683 |  473 |  590 |  557
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  565 |  551 |  558 |  428 |  447 |  433 |  356 |  388 |  380
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  319 |  383 |  372 |  686 |  766 |  799 |  745 |  727 |  697
  Government.......|  388 |  364 |  354 |  312 |  323 |  331 |  259 |  268 |  282
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|  2.1 |  2.2 |  2.3 |  3.1 |  3.2 |  3.5 |  3.0 |  3.1 |  3.2
  Total private 1/.|  2.2 |  2.3 |  2.4 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  3.9 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  3.5
    Construction...|  1.2 |  1.4 |  1.6 |  5.6 |  5.6 |  6.3 |  5.4 |  5.9 |  5.6
    Manufacturing..|  1.2 |  1.6 |  1.6 |  2.2 |  2.5 |  2.5 |  2.6 |  2.5 |  2.6
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  1.7 |  1.8 |  1.9 |  3.5 |  3.7 |  3.9 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  3.9
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  2.8 |  2.9 |  3.0 |  3.7 |  3.3 |  4.2 |  3.0 |  3.6 |  3.4
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.3 |  3.2 |  3.2 |  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.6 |  2.2 |  2.3 |  2.3
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  2.6 |  3.0 |  2.9 |  5.7 |  6.3 |  6.5 |  6.2 |  5.9 |  5.7
  Government.......|  1.8 |  1.7 |  1.6 |  1.4 |  1.5 |  1.5 |  1.2 |  1.2 |  1.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1/ Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.

   
   Total separations includes quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and
discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including
retirements).  The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers'
ability to change jobs, was unchanged in March at 1.7 percent.  (See table
4.)  Quits as a percent of the total separations has been increasing since
December 2003; quits were 54.3 percent of total separations in March.  The
other two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges (1.0 per-
cent) and other separations (0.2 percent), are not seasonally adjusted.
(See tables 9 and 10.)
   
   Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market.  Over
the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.1 million per month and separations
have averaged 3.9 million per month.  (See the Technical Note for additional
information on these measures.)  Hires have outpaced separations in 11 of the
past 12 months.  The trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and
business services; and leisure and hospitality industries have reported the
largest share of hires and separations over the last year.
   
                                  - 3 - 

For More Information
   
   For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS
website at www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about JOLTS also may
be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.


                      ______________________________


   The report on Job Openings and Labor Turnover for April 2004 is scheduled
to be released on Wednesday, June 9, 2004.




                                  - 5 -

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 clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment 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 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.
   
                                  - 6 -

  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.
   
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.
   
                                  - 7 -

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.
   
  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.
   
                                  - 8 -

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            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  2,771  2,823  2,952  3,062  2,868  2,906  3,072    2.1   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,387  2,479  2,593  2,719  2,518  2,534  2,729    2.2   2.2   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.4
  Construction.........................     78     78     89    110    106     99    113    1.2   1.1   1.3   1.6   1.5   1.4   1.6
  Manufacturing........................    178    199    221    234    233    226    231    1.2   1.4   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    439    451    513    520    430    458    500    1.7   1.8   2.0   2.0   1.7   1.8   1.9
  Professional and business services...    457    488    499    594    501    491    509    2.8   2.9   3.0   3.5   3.0   2.9   3.0
  Education and health services........    565    545    551    520    549    551    558    3.3   3.2   3.2   3.0   3.2   3.2   3.2
  Leisure and hospitality..............    319    367    364    399    368    383    372    2.6   2.9   2.9   3.2   2.9   3.0   2.9
 Government............................    388    346    358    351    350    364    354    1.8   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.7   1.6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    505    499    526    541    476    500    554    2.0   2.0   2.1   2.1   1.9   2.0   2.2
  South................................  1,052  1,092  1,154  1,204  1,132  1,112  1,166    2.2   2.3   2.5   2.6   2.4   2.4   2.5
  Midwest..............................    609    628    655    666    679    680    658    1.9   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.2   2.1
  West.................................    568    636    621    649    586    632    661    2.0   2.2   2.1   2.2   2.0   2.2   2.3


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day 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.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  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.




Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                               Rates

           Industry and region            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  4,003  4,108  4,135  4,216  4,106  4,103  4,544    3.1   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.5

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,694  3,815  3,843  3,923  3,800  3,772  4,204    3.4   3.5   3.5   3.6   3.5   3.5   3.9
  Construction.........................    373    391    397    404    358    382    430    5.6   5.8   5.9   6.0   5.3   5.6   6.3
  Manufacturing........................    326    335    345    340    349    355    361    2.2   2.3   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.5   2.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    877    880    875    913    957    945    995    3.5   3.5   3.5   3.6   3.8   3.7   3.9
  Professional and business services...    594    590    613    650    708    529    683    3.7   3.7   3.8   4.0   4.4   3.3   4.2
  Education and health services........    428    433    436    427    416    447    433    2.6   2.6   2.6   2.5   2.5   2.7   2.6
  Leisure and hospitality..............    686    729    776    753    715    766    799    5.7   6.0   6.4   6.2   5.9   6.3   6.5
 Government............................    312    269    302    300    295    323    331    1.4   1.2   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.5   1.5


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    629    695    717    792    722    689    721    2.5   2.8   2.9   3.2   2.9   2.8   2.9
  South................................  1,565  1,500  1,508  1,517  1,585  1,608  1,743    3.4   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.4   3.5   3.8
  Midwest..............................    939    905    925    897    921    953  1,070    3.1   2.9   3.0   2.9   3.0   3.1   3.5
  West.................................    894    969    924    992    883    876    988    3.2   3.4   3.3   3.5   3.1   3.1   3.5


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent 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 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                               Rates

           Industry and region            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  3,912  3,859  3,797  4,022  3,968  4,073  4,113    3.0   3.0   2.9   3.1   3.0   3.1   3.2

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,665  3,612  3,543  3,723  3,716  3,807  3,845    3.4   3.3   3.3   3.4   3.4   3.5   3.5
  Construction.........................    363    365    372    391    436    400    385    5.4   5.4   5.5   5.8   6.4   5.9   5.6
  Manufacturing........................    387    332    330    343    323    355    376    2.6   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.5   2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    856    854    856    968    936    899    988    3.4   3.4   3.4   3.8   3.7   3.5   3.9
  Professional and business services...    473    523    542    575    572    590    557    3.0   3.3   3.4   3.6   3.5   3.6   3.4
  Education and health services........    356    377    372    330    389    388    380    2.2   2.3   2.2   2.0   2.3   2.3   2.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    745    725    678    723    709    727    697    6.2   6.0   5.6   5.9   5.8   5.9   5.7
 Government............................    259    257    259    269    258    268    282    1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    594    615    622    687    712    688    661    2.4   2.5   2.5   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.6
  South................................  1,539  1,465  1,438  1,518  1,505  1,499  1,567    3.4   3.2   3.1   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.4
  Midwest..............................    871    859    881    901    903    929    951    2.8   2.8   2.9   2.9   2.9   3.0   3.1
  West.................................    911    877    858    898    896    941    968    3.2   3.1   3.0   3.2   3.2   3.3   3.4


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                               Rates

           Industry and region            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  2,033  2,129  2,104  2,131  2,118  2,178  2,233    1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.7   1.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  1,910  1,995  1,999  2,010  2,002  2,051  2,105    1.8   1.8   1.8   1.9   1.8   1.9   1.9
  Construction.........................    108    139    158    171    148    133    151    1.6   2.1   2.3   2.5   2.2   2.0   2.2
  Manufacturing........................    150    162    166    178    165    169    171    1.0   1.1   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    492    482    491    534    530    493    536    1.9   1.9   1.9   2.1   2.1   1.9   2.1
  Professional and business services...    250    266    261    256    261    302    302    1.6   1.7   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.9   1.9
  Education and health services........    219    230    225    212    237    234    252    1.3   1.4   1.3   1.3   1.4   1.4   1.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    440    515    463    462    428    447    444    3.6   4.2   3.8   3.8   3.5   3.7   3.6
 Government............................    120    135    100    119    116    126    127     .6    .6    .5    .6    .5    .6    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    298    288    301    315    288    319    319    1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.3   1.3
  South................................    824    840    869    894    852    867    920    1.8   1.8   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   2.0
  Midwest..............................    447    464    466    465    513    455    478    1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.7   1.5   1.5
  West.................................    465    552    464    436    475    520    534    1.6   1.9   1.6   1.5   1.7   1.8   1.9


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent 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 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  2,731    2,807    3,056           2.1      2.1      2.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,346    2,475    2,704           2.1      2.3      2.4
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        6        8           1.0      1.1      1.4
  Construction..................................     71       85      117           1.1      1.3      1.8
  Manufacturing.................................    181      223      231           1.2      1.5      1.6
   Durable goods................................    112      143      149           1.2      1.6      1.7
   Nondurable goods.............................     69       80       82           1.2      1.5      1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    420      409      493           1.7      1.6      1.9
   Wholesale trade..............................     72       77      101           1.3      1.4      1.8
   Retail trade.................................    280      262      304           1.9      1.8      2.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     68       70       87           1.4      1.5      1.8
  Information...................................     49       63       70           1.5      2.0      2.2
  Financial activities..........................    157      167      187           1.9      2.1      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................    110      137      152           1.8      2.3      2.5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     47       30       35           2.3      1.4      1.7
  Professional and business services............    458      498      506           2.8      3.0      3.1
  Education and health services.................    542      537      543           3.2      3.1      3.1
   Educational services.........................     32       43       40           1.1      1.5      1.4
   Health care and social assistance............    510      494      503           3.6      3.4      3.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    351      357      409           2.9      3.0      3.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     38       50       41           2.2      3.0      2.4
   Accommodations and food services.............    314      307      368           3.0      2.9      3.5
  Other services................................    111      131      140           2.0      2.4      2.5

 Government.....................................    385      333      352           1.7      1.5      1.6
  Federal.......................................     49       48       39           1.7      1.7      1.4
  State and local...............................    336      285      313           1.7      1.5      1.6

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    489      455      542           1.9      1.8      2.1
  South.........................................  1,052    1,108    1,168           2.3      2.4      2.5
  Midwest.......................................    629      642      674           2.0      2.1      2.1
  West..........................................    561      602      672           2.0      2.1      2.3


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  3,761    3,364    4,295           2.9      2.6      3.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,550    3,139    4,067           3.3      2.9      3.8
  Natural resources and mining..................     17       17       20           3.1      3.1      3.5
  Construction..................................    390      311      472           6.2      4.9      7.3
  Manufacturing.................................    328      332      370           2.2      2.3      2.6
   Durable goods................................    190      222      236           2.1      2.5      2.7
   Nondurable goods.............................    138      110      134           2.5      2.0      2.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    761      698      880           3.0      2.8      3.5
   Wholesale trade..............................    110      114      170           2.0      2.1      3.0
   Retail trade.................................    551      471      594           3.8      3.2      4.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    100      113      116           2.1      2.4      2.5
  Information...................................     64       67       65           2.0      2.1      2.0
  Financial activities..........................    146      117      178           1.8      1.5      2.2
   Finance and insurance........................     83       76      111           1.4      1.3      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     63       42       67           3.1      2.0      3.3
  Professional and business services............    594      488      703           3.8      3.1      4.4
  Education and health services.................    395      382      400           2.4      2.3      2.4
   Educational services.........................     39       49       40           1.4      1.7      1.4
   Health care and social assistance............    356      333      360           2.6      2.4      2.6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    692      606      819           5.9      5.2      6.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    118       75      104           7.1      4.7      6.2
   Accommodations and food services.............    574      531      715           5.7      5.3      7.0
  Other services................................    164      120      160           3.0      2.3      3.0

 Government.....................................    210      225      228           1.0      1.0      1.0
  Federal.......................................     28       28       28           1.0      1.0      1.0
  State and local...............................    182      197      200            .9      1.0      1.0

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    549      518      629           2.2      2.1      2.5
  South.........................................  1,507    1,417    1,717           3.3      3.1      3.7
  Midwest.......................................    872      711    1,015           2.8      2.3      3.3
  West..........................................    833      718      934           3.0      2.6      3.3


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent total employment. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  3,331    3,377    3,541           2.6      2.6      2.7

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,159    3,192    3,346           2.9      3.0      3.1
  Natural resources and mining..................     16       17       15           2.9      3.0      2.7
  Construction..................................    334      388      351           5.3      6.1      5.4
  Manufacturing.................................    348      314      344           2.4      2.2      2.4
   Durable goods................................    218      186      203           2.4      2.1      2.3
   Nondurable goods.............................    130      128      141           2.3      2.4      2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    759      758      890           3.0      3.0      3.5
   Wholesale trade..............................    118      119      157           2.1      2.1      2.8
   Retail trade.................................    531      531      606           3.6      3.6      4.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    110      109      127           2.3      2.3      2.7
  Information...................................     59       68       65           1.8      2.1      2.1
  Financial activities..........................    156      147      122           2.0      1.8      1.5
   Finance and insurance........................    100      103       84           1.7      1.7      1.4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     56       44       38           2.8      2.2      1.9
  Professional and business services............    428      481      502           2.7      3.0      3.1
  Education and health services.................    321      333      345           1.9      2.0      2.0
   Educational services.........................     30       29       35           1.1      1.0      1.2
   Health care and social assistance............    290      304      310           2.1      2.2      2.2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    608      528      565           5.2      4.5      4.7
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     75       54       73           4.5      3.4      4.4
   Accommodations and food services.............    533      473      492           5.3      4.7      4.8
  Other services................................    131      159      147           2.4      3.0      2.7

 Government.....................................    173      185      195            .8       .8       .9
  Federal.......................................     25       33       25            .9      1.2       .9
  State and local...............................    147      152      170            .8       .8       .9

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    507      552      536           2.0      2.2      2.2
  South.........................................  1,338    1,292    1,378           2.9      2.8      3.0
  Midwest.......................................    679      747      752           2.2      2.5      2.4
  West..........................................    807      786      875           2.9      2.8      3.1


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  1,769    1,809    1,983           1.4      1.4      1.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,680    1,709    1,886           1.6      1.6      1.7
  Natural resources and mining..................      8        6        7           1.4      1.1      1.2
  Construction..................................     97      120      138           1.5      1.9      2.1
  Manufacturing.................................    141      144      160           1.0      1.0      1.1
   Durable goods................................     90       89       89           1.0      1.0      1.0
   Nondurable goods.............................     51       55       71            .9      1.0      1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    447      414      492           1.8      1.7      2.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     55       46       80           1.0       .8      1.4
   Retail trade.................................    328      314      356           2.2      2.1      2.4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     64       53       56           1.3      1.1      1.2
  Information...................................     34       45       32           1.0      1.4      1.0
  Financial activities..........................     81       90       72           1.0      1.1       .9
   Finance and insurance........................     50       64       51            .9      1.1       .9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     31       27       21           1.5      1.3      1.0
  Professional and business services............    230      241      287           1.5      1.5      1.8
  Education and health services.................    188      195      227           1.1      1.2      1.3
   Educational services.........................     23       16       15            .8       .6       .5
   Health care and social assistance............    165      179      212           1.2      1.3      1.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    364      355      366           3.1      3.0      3.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     32       22       29           1.9      1.4      1.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    332      333      338           3.3      3.3      3.3
  Other services................................     92       98      106           1.7      1.8      2.0

 Government.....................................     89      101       97            .4       .5       .4
  Federal.......................................     11       19       12            .4       .7       .4
  State and local...............................     78       82       86            .4       .4       .4

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    245      252      265           1.0      1.0      1.1
  South.........................................    733      739      825           1.6      1.6      1.8
  Midwest.......................................    372      364      400           1.2      1.2      1.3
  West..........................................    419      454      494           1.5      1.6      1.7


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent total employment. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  1,281    1,318    1,302           1.0      1.0      1.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,236    1,276    1,246           1.2      1.2      1.2
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        7        5           1.1      1.3       .9
  Construction..................................    226      256      199           3.6      4.0      3.1
  Manufacturing.................................    177      146      150           1.2      1.0      1.1
   Durable goods................................    108       81       87           1.2       .9      1.0
   Nondurable goods.............................     69       65       63           1.2      1.2      1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    252      293      325           1.0      1.2      1.3
   Wholesale trade..............................     53       63       69           1.0      1.1      1.2
   Retail trade.................................    166      187      195           1.1      1.3      1.3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     33       43       62            .7       .9      1.3
  Information...................................     21       19       30            .6       .6      1.0
  Financial activities..........................     69       35       31            .9       .4       .4
   Finance and insurance........................     46       25       16            .8       .4       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     23       10       15           1.2       .5       .7
  Professional and business services............    156      206      188           1.0      1.3      1.2
  Education and health services.................     93      104      102            .6       .6       .6
   Educational services.........................      6       11       17            .2       .4       .6
   Health care and social assistance............     88       93       85            .6       .7       .6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    200      157      181           1.7      1.3      1.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     42       31       43           2.5      1.9      2.6
   Accommodations and food services.............    159      126      138           1.6      1.2      1.3
  Other services................................     34       52       36            .6      1.0       .7

 Government.....................................     45       42       55            .2       .2       .3
  Federal.......................................      7        7        7            .2       .3       .2
  State and local...............................     38       35       49            .2       .2       .3

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    216      252      230            .9      1.0       .9
  South.........................................    492      453      452           1.1      1.0      1.0
  Midwest.......................................    247      330      297            .8      1.1      1.0
  West..........................................    326      284      323           1.2      1.0      1.1


  1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
  2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................    282      250      256           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    242      208      214            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      2        3        3            .4       .5       .6
  Construction..................................     10       12       14            .2       .2       .2
  Manufacturing.................................     30       24       34            .2       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     20       16       27            .2       .2       .3
   Nondurable goods.............................     10        8        7            .2       .1       .1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     60       51       73            .2       .2       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................      9       10        8            .2       .2       .1
   Retail trade.................................     37       30       56            .3       .2       .4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     13       12       10            .3       .3       .2
  Information...................................      4        4        3            .1       .1       .1
  Financial activities..........................      5       22       19            .1       .3       .2
   Finance and insurance........................      3       14       17            .1       .2       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      2        8        2            .1       .4       .1
  Professional and business services............     42       34       28            .3       .2       .2
  Education and health services.................     40       35       16            .2       .2       .1
   Educational services.........................      2        2        2            .1       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     38       33       13            .3       .2       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     44       15       18            .4       .1       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      2        1        1            .1       .1       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     42       14       17            .4       .1       .2
  Other services................................      5        9        5            .1       .2       .1

 Government.....................................     39       42       42            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................      8        7        7            .3       .3       .2
  State and local...............................     31       35       36            .2       .2       .2

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     46       48       42            .2       .2       .2
  South.........................................    113      100      101            .2       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     61       54       55            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     62       49       58            .2       .2       .2


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.