Technical information:   (202) 691-5870      USDL 05-2311
                http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                             For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                 691-5902      Tuesday, December 13, 2005
   
   
              JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  OCTOBER 2005


   The job openings rate increased to 2.9 percent in October, while the
total separations rate decreased to 3.1 percent and the hires rate was
unchanged at 3.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  This release includes estimates of
the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total
nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
   
Job Openings
   
   On the last business day of October 2005, there were 4.0 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate rose over the month, continuing the
generally upward trend that began in September 2003.  In October, the job
openings rate increased for private industries overall and for government.
The job openings rate also rose in the professional and business services
industry and in the Northeast region.   
   
Hires and Separations
   
   The hires rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent in October.  (See table 2.)
Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  Over the month,
the hires rate increased in the manufacturing industry but decreased in the
professional and business services industry.
   
   The total separations, or turnover, rate decreased to 3.1 percent in
October.  (See table 3.)  Separations are terminations of employment that
occur at any time during the month.  In October, the total separations rate
decreased for government and for private industries overall, and in the
manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; and professional and
business services industries.  The total separations rate also decreased
in the South and Midwest regions.

   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, decreased to 1.9 percent in October.  (See table
4.)  The quits rate decreased for private industries overall and for pro-
fessional and business services.  Geographically, the rate was down in
the South and Midwest regions.

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------|--------------------|--------------------
     Industry      | Oct. | Sept.| Oct. | Oct. | Sept.| Oct. | Oct. | Sept.| Oct. 
                   | 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,300 |3,836 |3,992 |4,552 |4,719 |4,716 |4,215 |4,779 |4,140
  Total private(1).|2,924 |3,406 |3,568 |4,216 |4,356 |4,370 |3,957 |4,487 |3,890
    Construction...|  114 |  156 |  163 |  353 |  422 |  428 |  425 |  417 |  391
    Manufacturing..|  250 |  293 |  292 |  353 |  338 |  450 |  354 |  408 |  310
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |   
     utilities.....|  559 |  630 |  601 |  977 |1,001 |  944 |  889 |1,039 |  878
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  602 |  725 |  886 |  812 |  925 |  770 |  585 |  897 |  742
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  547 |  606 |  603 |  420 |  460 |  467 |  376 |  430 |  397 
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  413 |  469 |  493 |  801 |  808 |  840 |  767 |  814 |  725
  Government.......|  400 |  420 |  463 |  318 |  336 |  327 |  263 |  295 |  252
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.4 |  2.8 |  2.9 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  3.5 |  3.2 |  3.6 |  3.1
  Total private(1).|  2.6 |  2.9 |  3.1 |  3.8 |  3.9 |  3.9 |  3.6 |  4.0 |  3.5
    Construction...|  1.6 |  2.1 |  2.2 |  5.0 |  5.8 |  5.9 |  6.0 |  5.7 |  5.3
    Manufacturing..|  1.7 |  2.0 |  2.0 |  2.5 |  2.4 |  3.2 |  2.5 |  2.9 |  2.2
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.1 |  2.4 |  2.3 |  3.8 |  3.9 |  3.7 |  3.5 |  4.0 |  3.4
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.5 |  4.1 |  4.9 |  4.9 |  5.4 |  4.5 |  3.5 |  5.3 |  4.3
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.1 |  3.4 |  3.3 |  2.5 |  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.2 |  2.5 |  2.3
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.2 |  3.5 |  3.7 |  6.4 |  6.3 |  6.6 |  6.1 |  6.4 |  5.7
  Government.......|  1.8 |  1.9 |  2.1 |  1.5 |  1.5 |  1.5 |  1.2 |  1.3 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
                                  

   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From October 2004 to
October 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate decreased to 1.1 percent,
but the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent.  (See tables
9 and 10.)
   
   Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.7 million per month and
separations have averaged 4.4 million per month (not seasonally adjusted).
The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.4 million hires and 4.2
million separations.  (See the Technical Note for additional information on
these measures.)

                                  - 3 -

For More Information
   
   For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the
JOLTS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about
JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling
(202) 691-5870.
   
   The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for November 2005 is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, January 10, 2006.
   



                                  - 4 -

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.
   
                                  - 5 -

  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.
   
                                  - 6 -

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.
   
                                  - 7 -

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            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  3,300  3,416  3,647  3,588  3,487  3,836  3,992    2.4   2.5   2.7   2.6   2.5   2.8   2.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,924  3,050  3,239  3,204  3,130  3,406  3,568    2.6   2.7   2.8   2.8   2.7   2.9   3.1
  Construction.........................    114    107    104    128    136    156    163    1.6   1.5   1.4   1.7   1.8   2.1   2.2
  Manufacturing........................    250    240    269    287    266    293    292    1.7   1.6   1.8   2.0   1.8   2.0   2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    559    597    624    600    620    630    601    2.1   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.3
  Professional and business services...    602    659    686    666    590    725    886    3.5   3.8   3.9   3.8   3.4   4.1   4.9
  Education and health services........    547    611    609    607    604    606    603    3.1   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    413    440    517    439    427    469    493    3.2   3.3   3.9   3.3   3.2   3.5   3.7
 Government............................    400    378    394    388    370    420    463    1.8   1.7   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.9   2.1


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    562    563    634    610    609    728    803    2.2   2.2   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.8   3.1
  South................................  1,318  1,303  1,333  1,343  1,353  1,466  1,512    2.7   2.7   2.7   2.7   2.8   3.0   3.1
  Midwest..............................    688    786    781    764    704    754    760    2.1   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.2   2.3   2.4
  West.................................    742    799    869    832    841    895    914    2.5   2.7   2.9   2.8   2.8   3.0   3.0


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
  3 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            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,552  4,740  4,694  4,649  4,601  4,719  4,716    3.4   3.6   3.5   3.5   3.4   3.5   3.5

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,216  4,398  4,365  4,342  4,276  4,356  4,370    3.8   3.9   3.9   3.9   3.8   3.9   3.9
  Construction.........................    353    420    393    381    435    422    428    5.0   5.8   5.4   5.3   6.0   5.8   5.9
  Manufacturing........................    353    342    347    345    344    338    450    2.5   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.4   3.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    977  1,030  1,045    990    998  1,001    944    3.8   4.0   4.0   3.8   3.8   3.9   3.7
  Professional and business services...    812    887    835    832    786    925    770    4.9   5.3   4.9   4.9   4.6   5.4   4.5
  Education and health services........    420    466    457    453    465    460    467    2.5   2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7   2.6   2.7
  Leisure and hospitality..............    801    750    877    834    771    808    840    6.4   5.9   6.9   6.5   6.0   6.3   6.6
 Government............................    318    339    337    330    337    336    327    1.5   1.6   1.6   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    811    764    794    772    738    759    748    3.2   3.0   3.1   3.0   2.9   3.0   2.9
  South................................  1,809  1,816  1,786  1,689  1,750  1,840  1,783    3.9   3.8   3.8   3.6   3.7   3.9   3.7
  Midwest..............................  1,013  1,129  1,054  1,045    970    996  1,033    3.2   3.6   3.4   3.3   3.1   3.2   3.3
  West.................................    916  1,048  1,070  1,081  1,144  1,136  1,141    3.2   3.6   3.7   3.7   3.9   3.9   3.9


  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.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,215  4,504  4,477  4,270  4,499  4,779  4,140    3.2   3.4   3.4   3.2   3.4   3.6   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,957  4,256  4,223  4,007  4,235  4,487  3,890    3.6   3.8   3.8   3.6   3.8   4.0   3.5
  Construction.........................    425    408    380    370    452    417    391    6.0   5.6   5.3   5.1   6.2   5.7   5.3
  Manufacturing........................    354    369    350    361    369    408    310    2.5   2.6   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.9   2.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    889    989    980    948  1,019  1,039    878    3.5   3.8   3.8   3.7   3.9   4.0   3.4
  Professional and business services...    585    851    818    747    670    897    742    3.5   5.1   4.8   4.4   3.9   5.3   4.3
  Education and health services........    376    405    401    391    406    430    397    2.2   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.5   2.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    767    750    803    750    785    814    725    6.1   5.9   6.3   5.9   6.1   6.4   5.7
 Government............................    263    254    254    257    271    295    252    1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    711    714    761    715    734    752    670    2.8   2.8   3.0   2.8   2.9   2.9   2.6
  South................................  1,614  1,743  1,653  1,567  1,639  1,787  1,589    3.5   3.7   3.5   3.3   3.4   3.8   3.3
  Midwest..............................    952    976    946  1,011  1,047  1,135    925    3.0   3.1   3.0   3.2   3.3   3.6   2.9
  West.................................    896  1,034  1,062  1,001  1,094  1,085    980    3.1   3.5   3.6   3.4   3.7   3.7   3.3


  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            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  2,344  2,514  2,475  2,474  2,605  2,778  2,547    1.8   1.9   1.9   1.8   1.9   2.1   1.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,217  2,391  2,348  2,351  2,467  2,630  2,405    2.0   2.1   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.1
  Construction.........................    182    168    139    140    222    202    196    2.6   2.3   1.9   1.9   3.1   2.8   2.7
  Manufacturing........................    187    183    190    189    184    214    194    1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.5   1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    517    589    588    577    604    580    552    2.0   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.1
  Professional and business services...    281    420    386    353    374    497    361    1.7   2.5   2.3   2.1   2.2   2.9   2.1
  Education and health services........    239    249    256    271    260    276    260    1.4   1.4   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    474    488    510    525    517    563    558    3.8   3.8   4.0   4.1   4.0   4.4   4.4
 Government............................    123    123    124    125    139    149    137     .6    .6    .6    .6    .6    .7    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    333    373    350    381    380    377    365    1.3   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.4
  South................................    943  1,020    960    964  1,054  1,147  1,017    2.0   2.2   2.0   2.0   2.2   2.4   2.1
  Midwest..............................    500    554    542    548    570    613    558    1.6   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.8   1.9   1.8
  West.................................    550    562    653    577    585    643    590    1.9   1.9   2.2   2.0   2.0   2.2   2.0


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  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                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,269    4,008    3,995           2.4      2.9      2.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,886    3,604    3,547           2.5      3.1      3.0
  Natural resources and mining..................     10       13        8           1.6      2.0      1.2
  Construction..................................     99      155      147           1.3      2.0      1.9
  Manufacturing.................................    243      307      285           1.7      2.1      2.0
   Durable goods................................    153      203      195           1.7      2.2      2.1
   Nondurable goods.............................     90      104       89           1.6      1.9      1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    665      721      709           2.5      2.7      2.7
   Wholesale trade..............................     83      118      124           1.4      2.0      2.1
   Retail trade.................................    498      473      468           3.2      3.0      3.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     84      130      116           1.7      2.5      2.3
  Information...................................     90      109      115           2.8      3.3      3.5
  Financial activities..........................    217      275      288           2.6      3.2      3.4
   Finance and insurance........................    179      208      221           2.9      3.3      3.5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     38       67       67           1.8      3.0      3.0
  Professional and business services............    543      756      817           3.1      4.2      4.5
  Education and health services.................    542      618      595           3.0      3.4      3.3
   Educational services.........................     54       57       60           1.8      2.0      1.9
   Health care and social assistance............    489      560      536           3.3      3.7      3.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    364      461      441           2.8      3.4      3.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     41       42       51           2.2      2.1      2.8
   Accommodations and food services.............    323      419      390           2.9      3.7      3.4
  Other services................................    113      191      143           2.0      3.4      2.6

 Government.....................................    383      404      448           1.7      1.8      2.0
  Federal.......................................     41       43       34           1.5      1.6      1.2
  State and local...............................    342      360      415           1.7      1.9      2.1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    553      781      823           2.1      3.0      3.1
  South.........................................  1,274    1,516    1,477           2.6      3.1      3.0
  Midwest.......................................    687      796      758           2.1      2.5      2.3
  West..........................................    755      915      938           2.5      3.0      3.1


  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                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,535    5,284    4,698           3.4      3.9      3.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,222    4,757    4,378           3.8      4.2      3.9
  Natural resources and mining..................     23       17       16           3.8      2.7      2.4
  Construction..................................    321      435      390           4.4      5.8      5.2
  Manufacturing.................................    323      360      423           2.2      2.5      3.0
   Durable goods................................    208      211      258           2.3      2.4      2.9
   Nondurable goods.............................    115      149      165           2.1      2.8      3.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,160    1,146    1,104           4.5      4.4      4.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    164      160      146           2.9      2.8      2.5
   Retail trade.................................    853      788      800           5.6      5.2      5.3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    144      198      158           2.9      4.0      3.2
  Information...................................     65       80       92           2.1      2.6      2.9
  Financial activities..........................    199      189      210           2.5      2.3      2.5
   Finance and insurance........................    126      117      115           2.1      1.9      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     73       72       95           3.5      3.3      4.4
  Professional and business services............    828      938      766           4.9      5.5      4.4
  Education and health services.................    426      590      472           2.5      3.4      2.7
   Educational services.........................     68      128       55           2.3      4.6      1.8
   Health care and social assistance............    358      463      417           2.5      3.2      2.9
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    709      806      757           5.7      6.2      6.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     71       87       72           4.0      4.5      4.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    638      719      685           6.0      6.5      6.3
  Other services................................    168      194      149           3.1      3.6      2.7

 Government.....................................    313      527      319           1.4      2.4      1.4
  Federal.......................................     39       57       33           1.4      2.1      1.2
  State and local...............................    275      470      286           1.4      2.5      1.5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    828      971      758           3.2      3.8      3.0
  South.........................................  1,797    1,885    1,768           3.8      3.9      3.7
  Midwest.......................................    979    1,171    1,004           3.1      3.7      3.2
  West..........................................    932    1,257    1,168           3.2      4.3      3.9


  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. 
  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                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,278    5,353    4,168           3.2      4.0      3.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,046    4,983    3,949           3.6      4.4      3.5
  Natural resources and mining..................     20       18       12           3.3      2.7      1.9
  Construction..................................    452      451      408           6.2      6.0      5.4
  Manufacturing.................................    391      414      336           2.7      2.9      2.4
   Durable goods................................    247      248      205           2.8      2.8      2.3
   Nondurable goods.............................    144      166      130           2.7      3.1      2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    897    1,115      876           3.5      4.3      3.4
   Wholesale trade..............................    126      157      116           2.2      2.7      2.0
   Retail trade.................................    645      768      612           4.3      5.1      4.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    126      190      148           2.6      3.8      3.0
  Information...................................     87       96       73           2.8      3.1      2.3
  Financial activities..........................    208      202      151           2.6      2.4      1.8
   Finance and insurance........................    120      112       80           2.0      1.8      1.3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     88       90       71           4.2      4.1      3.3
  Professional and business services............    570      910      707           3.4      5.3      4.1
  Education and health services.................    346      463      364           2.0      2.7      2.1
   Educational services.........................     45       84       34           1.5      3.0      1.1
   Health care and social assistance............    301      380      330           2.1      2.6      2.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    923    1,099      853           7.4      8.5      6.7
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    177      224      137           9.9     11.7      7.6
   Accommodations and food services.............    746      876      716           7.0      7.9      6.6
  Other services................................    154      215      168           2.8      4.0      3.1

 Government.....................................    232      369      219           1.1      1.7      1.0
  Federal.......................................     33       53       18           1.2      1.9       .7
  State and local...............................    199      317      201           1.0      1.7      1.0

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    735      936      675           2.9      3.7      2.6
  South.........................................  1,676    1,868    1,606           3.6      3.9      3.3
  Midwest.......................................    943    1,323      914           3.0      4.2      2.9
  West..........................................    924    1,226      973           3.2      4.2      3.3


  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                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  2,300    3,211    2,489           1.7      2.4      1.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,192    3,046    2,368           2.0      2.7      2.1
  Natural resources and mining..................      9       10        7           1.6      1.6      1.1
  Construction..................................    178      228      201           2.5      3.0      2.7
  Manufacturing.................................    191      244      196           1.3      1.7      1.4
   Durable goods................................    128      150      117           1.4      1.7      1.3
   Nondurable goods.............................     63       94       79           1.2      1.8      1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    527      672      551           2.0      2.6      2.1
   Wholesale trade..............................     64       95       56           1.1      1.7      1.0
   Retail trade.................................    402      486      419           2.7      3.2      2.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     61       92       77           1.2      1.8      1.5
  Information...................................     48       66       54           1.5      2.1      1.7
  Financial activities..........................    124      118       90           1.5      1.4      1.1
   Finance and insurance........................     67       74       55           1.1      1.2       .9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     56       44       35           2.7      2.0      1.6
  Professional and business services............    281      516      348           1.7      3.0      2.0
  Education and health services.................    226      312      244           1.3      1.8      1.4
   Educational services.........................     27       44       20            .9      1.6       .7
   Health care and social assistance............    199      267      224           1.4      1.8      1.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    489      750      580           3.9      5.8      4.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     48       73       64           2.7      3.8      3.6
   Accommodations and food services.............    441      678      516           4.1      6.1      4.7
  Other services................................    119      129       99           2.2      2.4      1.8

 Government.....................................    107      165      121            .5       .8       .5
  Federal.......................................     12       20        8            .4       .7       .3
  State and local...............................     95      145      113            .5       .8       .6

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    341      492      376           1.3      1.9      1.5
  South.........................................    949    1,254    1,021           2.0      2.6      2.1
  Midwest.......................................    483      723      535           1.5      2.3      1.7
  West..........................................    527      741      557           1.8      2.5      1.9


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  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                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  1,697    1,844    1,427           1.3      1.4      1.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,614    1,704    1,360           1.5      1.5      1.2
  Natural resources and mining..................      5        6        4            .8      1.0       .6
  Construction..................................    247      205      180           3.4      2.7      2.4
  Manufacturing.................................    180      143      122           1.3      1.0       .9
   Durable goods................................    107       79       77           1.2       .9       .9
   Nondurable goods.............................     73       64       45           1.3      1.2       .8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    297      384      280           1.2      1.5      1.1
   Wholesale trade..............................     56       43       55           1.0       .7      1.0
   Retail trade.................................    190      255      170           1.3      1.7      1.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     51       86       55           1.0      1.7      1.1
  Information...................................     34       20       14           1.1       .6       .4
  Financial activities..........................     61       73       52            .8       .9       .6
   Finance and insurance........................     31       29       19            .5       .5       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     30       44       32           1.4      2.0      1.5
  Professional and business services............    248      354      321           1.5      2.1      1.9
  Education and health services.................     96      121       93            .6       .7       .5
   Educational services.........................     15       37       12            .5      1.3       .4
   Health care and social assistance............     81       84       81            .6       .6       .6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    418      325      251           3.3      2.5      2.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    126      146       72           7.0      7.6      4.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    292      179      179           2.7      1.6      1.6
  Other services................................     27       74       43            .5      1.4       .8

 Government.....................................     84      141       67            .4       .6       .3
  Federal.......................................      8       13        5            .3       .5       .2
  State and local...............................     76      127       62            .4       .7       .3

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    326      407      259           1.3      1.6      1.0
  South.........................................    616      519      519           1.3      1.1      1.1
  Midwest.......................................    415      509      324           1.3      1.6      1.0
  West..........................................    341      409      324           1.2      1.4      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                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................    281      298      252           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    240      234      220            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        1        1           1.0       .2       .2
  Construction..................................     26       18       28            .4       .2       .4
  Manufacturing.................................     19       27       18            .1       .2       .1
   Durable goods................................     12       19       11            .1       .2       .1
   Nondurable goods.............................      8        8        7            .1       .2       .1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     73       59       44            .3       .2       .2
   Wholesale trade..............................      6       19        6            .1       .3       .1
   Retail trade.................................     53       28       23            .3       .2       .2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     14       12       15            .3       .2       .3
  Information...................................      5       10        6            .2       .3       .2
  Financial activities..........................     24       11       10            .3       .1       .1
   Finance and insurance........................     22       10        6            .4       .2       .1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      2        2        4            .1       .1       .2
  Professional and business services............     40       40       38            .2       .2       .2
  Education and health services.................     23       31       28            .1       .2       .2
   Educational services.........................      3        3        2            .1       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     20       28       25            .1       .2       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     16       24       22            .1       .2       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      3        5      (3)            .2       .3      (3)
   Accommodations and food services.............     13       19       21            .1       .2       .2
  Other services................................      8       12       26            .1       .2       .5

 Government.....................................     40       64       31            .2       .3       .1
  Federal.......................................     12       19        5            .5       .7       .2
  State and local...............................     28       45       26            .1       .2       .1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     68       37       41            .3       .1       .2
  South.........................................    111       95       65            .2       .2       .1
  Midwest.......................................     46       91       54            .1       .3       .2
  West..........................................     56       76       91            .2       .3       .3


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 Data round to zero.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.