1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 05-2144

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 October 2002 - September 2005

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2003 2004 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 October 2002 - September 2005

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2003 2004 2005

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: SEPTEMBER 2005

The job openings rate increased in September while the hires and total separations rates were unchanged,

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 September 2005, there were 3.7 million job openings in the United States,

and the job openings rate was 2.7 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate rose in September,

continuing the generally upward trend that began in September 2003. Over the month, the job openings

rate increased in government and in the South region.

 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Florida and the Gulf Coast, potentially affecting estimates

for August and September. While JOLTS does not produce data at the detailed local level,

some effect of the storms may be reflected in the JOLTS estimates.
2

Total 1........................................................... 4,601 4,589 4,214 4,499 4,610

Total private 1................................... 2,905 3,957 4,276 4,231 3,918 4,235

Construction ..................................... 105 136 363 435 435 377 452 425

Manufacturing ................................ 245 266 361 344 341 368 369 404

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 609 620 609 908 998 971 909 1,019 988

Professional and business

services ......................................... 583 590 667 761 786 843 686 670 802

Education and health services ..... 529 604 620 416 465 457 380 406 452

Leisure and hospitality .................. 419 427 457 772 771 785 732 785 821

Government .......................................... 360 370 426 375 337 339 305 271 298

Total 1.......................................................... 2.4 2.5 2.7 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.4

Total private 1....................................... 2.6 2.7 2.8 3.6 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.8

Construction .................................... 1.5 1.8 2.0 5.2 6.0 6.0 5.4 6.2 5.8

Manufacturing ................................ 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.8

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 2.3 2.3 2.3 3.6 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.9 3.8

Professional and business

services ......................................... 3.4 3.4 3.8 4.6 4.6 4.9 4.2 3.9 4.7

Education and health services ..... 3.0 3.3 3.4 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.6

Leisure and hospitality .................. 3.2 3.2 3.5 6.2 6.0 6.2 5.8 6.1 6.4

Government .......................................... 1.6 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.4

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2004 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2005

3,265 4,406

3,130

3,487

4,318

151

276

3,251

3,677

Hires and Separations

The hires rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to

the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or

region.

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September. (See table 3.)

Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In September, the

total separations rate increased in the professional and business services industry and in government. The

total separations rates in the four geographic regions did not change significantly from August.

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

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

ability to change jobs, was essentially unchanged at 2.0 percent in September. (See table 4.) The quits rate

increased in manufacturing and in professional and business services, but did not change significantly in any

geographic region.

The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are

not seasonally adjusted. From September 2004 to September 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate was

unchanged at 1.3 percent, but the other separations rate decreased to 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)
3

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.)

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 October 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,

December 13, 2005.

______________________________
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

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

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

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

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

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

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

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Employment

Security Agencies verify with employers and update, if

necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership

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

in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification

process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame

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

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

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

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and

the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 3,265 3,576 3,416 3,647 3,588 3,487 3,677 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.7

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 2,905 3,178 3,050 3,239 3,204 3,130 3,251 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.8

Construction....................................... 105 113 107 104 128 136 151 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.7 1.8 2.0

Manufacturing....................................... 245 259 240 269 287 266 276 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.8 2.0 1.8 1.9

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 609 627 597 624 600 620 609 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3

Professional and business services......... 583 691 659 686 666 590 667 3.4 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.4 3.8

Education and health services.................. 529 608 611 609 607 604 620 3.0 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.4

Leisure and hospitality........................... 419 457 440 517 439 427 457 3.2 3.5 3.3 3.9 3.3 3.2 3.5

Government............................................. 360 396 378 394 388 370 426 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9

REGION

Northeast............................................. 564 602 563 634 610 609 628 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4

South................................................ 1,239 1,414 1,303 1,333 1,343 1,353 1,458 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.0

Midwest............................................. 699 742 786 781 764 704 742 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3

West................................................... 797 818 799 869 832 841 869 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.9

1

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

of the month. New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

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

 3

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

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

 4

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

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

 p

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

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

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

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 4,406 4,538 4,740 4,694 4,649 4,601 4,589 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 3,957 4,212 4,398 4,365 4,342 4,276 4,231 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.8

Construction....................................... 363 412 420 393 381 435 435 5.2 5.7 5.8 5.4 5.3 6.0 6.0

Manufacturing....................................... 361 319 342 347 345 344 341 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 908 1,042 1,030 1,045 990 998 971 3.6 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.8

Professional and business services......... 761 792 887 835 832 786 843 4.6 4.7 5.3 4.9 4.9 4.6 4.9

Education and health services.................. 416 487 466 457 453 465 457 2.4 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6

Leisure and hospitality........................... 772 742 750 877 834 771 785 6.2 5.8 5.9 6.9 6.5 6.0 6.2

Government............................................. 375 329 339 337 330 337 339 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6

REGION

Northeast............................................. 794 825 764 794 772 738 776 3.1 3.3 3.0 3.1 3.0 2.9 3.0

South................................................ 1,754 1,701 1,816 1,786 1,689 1,750 1,777 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.7

Midwest............................................. 889 1,020 1,129 1,054 1,045 970 924 2.8 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.1 2.9

West................................................... 963 1,037 1,048 1,070 1,081 1,144 1,125 3.3 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.9 3.8

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

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

3

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

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 4,214 4,562 4,504 4,477 4,270 4,499 4,610 3.2 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.4

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 3,918 4,306 4,256 4,223 4,007 4,235 4,318 3.6 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.8 3.8

Construction....................................... 377 421 408 380 370 452 425 5.4 5.8 5.6 5.3 5.1 6.2 5.8

Manufacturing....................................... 368 369 369 350 361 369 404 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 909 1,018 989 980 948 1,019 988 3.6 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.9 3.8

Professional and business services......... 686 869 851 818 747 670 802 4.2 5.2 5.1 4.8 4.4 3.9 4.7

Education and health services.................. 380 433 405 401 391 406 452 2.2 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.6

Leisure and hospitality........................... 732 709 750 803 750 785 821 5.8 5.6 5.9 6.3 5.9 6.1 6.4

Government............................................. 305 256 254 254 257 271 298 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4

REGION

Northeast............................................. 725 807 714 761 715 734 748 2.9 3.2 2.8 3.0 2.8 2.9 2.9

South................................................ 1,604 1,766 1,743 1,653 1,567 1,639 1,744 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.5 3.3 3.4 3.7

Midwest............................................. 922 982 976 946 1,011 1,047 1,051 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.3

West................................................... 982 1,006 1,034 1,062 1,001 1,094 1,071 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.6

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

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

3

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

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 4. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005p

Total4...................................................... 2,291 2,520 2,514 2,475 2,474 2,605 2,686 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.0

INDUSTRY

Total private4

.......................................... 2,166 2,395 2,391 2,348 2,351 2,467 2,537 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3

Construction....................................... 159 146 168 139 140 222 207 2.3 2.0 2.3 1.9 1.9 3.1 2.8

Manufacturing....................................... 181 178 183 190 189 184 211 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities............ 529 577 589 588 577 604 568 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2

Professional and business services......... 358 417 420 386 353 374 447 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.6

Education and health services.................. 235 272 249 256 271 260 281 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6

Leisure and hospitality........................... 451 506 488 510 525 517 557 3.6 4.0 3.8 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.4

Government............................................. 127 125 123 124 125 139 153 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .7

REGION

Northeast............................................. 317 446 373 350 381 380 372 1.3 1.8 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5

South................................................ 950 992 1,020 960 964 1,054 1,102 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.3

Midwest............................................. 492 540 554 542 548 570 600 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9

West................................................... 541 573 562 653 577 585 617 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1

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

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

3

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

4

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

p

 = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3

 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005P

Total.................................................................. 3,408 3,749 3,848 2.5 2.7 2.8

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 3,061 3,348 3,437 2.7 2.9 3.0

Natural resources and mining........................... 10 10 13 1.6 1.5 2.0

Construction................................................... 101 148 153 1.4 1.9 2.0

Manufacturing................................................ 256 285 287 1.7 1.9 2.0

Durable goods............................................. 158 189 187 1.7 2.1 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................... 98 96 99 1.8 1.8 1.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 690 686 683 2.6 2.6 2.6

Wholesale trade.......................................... 120 130 113 2.1 2.2 1.9

Retail trade................................................ 490 428 441 3.2 2.7 2.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 80 127 128 1.6 2.5 2.5

Information................................................... 71 98 105 2.2 3.0 3.2

Financial activities............................................ 236 236 247 2.8 2.8 2.9

Finance and insurance................................. 193 198 200 3.1 3.1 3.2

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 43 38 47 2.0 1.7 2.1

Professional and business services..................... 609 629 704 3.5 3.5 3.9

Education and health services........................... 542 639 633 3.1 3.6 3.5

Educational services.................................... 47 65 65 1.7 2.5 2.3

Health care and social assistance.................. 495 574 569 3.4 3.8 3.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 411 475 451 3.1 3.4 3.4

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 57 63 38 2.9 2.9 2.0

Accommodations and food services............... 354 412 412 3.2 3.5 3.6

Other services................................................ 135 144 162 2.4 2.5 2.9

Government...................................................... 347 401 410 1.6 1.9 1.9

Federal......................................................... 46 43 46 1.6 1.5 1.7

State and local.............................................. 302 358 364 1.6 2.0 1.9

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 590 676 665 2.3 2.6 2.5

South............................................................ 1,266 1,399 1,511 2.6 2.9 3.1

Midwest......................................................... 739 779 782 2.3 2.4 2.4

West............................................................ 813 895 890 2.7 3.0 2.9

1

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 4,918 5,296 5,114 3.7 4.0 3.8

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 4,329 4,778 4,581 3.9 4.2 4.1

Natural resources and mining........................... 21 19 17 3.4 3.0 2.6

Construction................................................... 373 447 454 5.2 5.9 6.0

Manufacturing................................................ 388 394 363 2.7 2.7 2.5

Durable goods............................................. 241 216 219 2.7 2.4 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................... 146 178 144 2.7 3.3 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 1,029 1,101 1,087 4.0 4.2 4.2

Wholesale trade.......................................... 151 159 147 2.7 2.8 2.6

Retail trade................................................ 650 772 751 4.3 5.1 5.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 229 169 189 4.7 3.4 3.8

Information................................................... 65 84 81 2.1 2.6 2.6

Financial activities............................................ 200 186 176 2.5 2.2 2.1

Finance and insurance................................. 118 117 117 2.0 1.9 1.9

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 82 69 59 3.9 3.1 2.7

Professional and business services..................... 763 862 851 4.6 5.0 5.0

Education and health services........................... 537 580 586 3.2 3.4 3.4

Educational services.................................... 116 92 121 4.3 3.7 4.3

Health care and social assistance.................. 421 488 465 3.0 3.4 3.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 766 875 783 6.0 6.5 6.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 130 104 76 6.8 4.9 4.0

Accommodations and food services............... 636 771 708 5.9 6.8 6.4

Other services................................................ 187 229 182 3.5 4.2 3.3

Government...................................................... 589 517 533 2.7 2.5 2.5

Federal......................................................... 44 44 57 1.6 1.6 2.1

State and local.............................................. 545 473 476 2.9 2.6 2.5

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 1,018 779 996 4.0 3.1 3.9

South............................................................ 1,786 2,041 1,807 3.8 4.3 3.8

Midwest......................................................... 1,050 1,186 1,066 3.4 3.8 3.4

West............................................................ 1,063 1,289 1,245 3.7 4.4 4.2

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 4,725 5,731 5,186 3.6 4.3 3.9

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 4,354 5,312 4,810 3.9 4.7 4.3

Natural resources and mining........................... 20 22 16 3.2 3.4 2.4

Construction................................................... 403 545 461 5.6 7.2 6.1

Manufacturing................................................ 372 448 414 2.6 3.1 2.9

Durable goods............................................. 239 288 253 2.7 3.2 2.8

Nondurable goods....................................... 133 160 160 2.4 3.0 3.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 964 1,201 1,046 3.8 4.6 4.1

Wholesale trade.......................................... 140 152 124 2.5 2.6 2.2

Retail trade................................................ 681 853 741 4.6 5.6 4.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 144 196 180 2.9 4.0 3.6

Information................................................... 75 90 99 2.4 2.9 3.2

Financial activities............................................ 232 234 170 2.9 2.8 2.1

Finance and insurance................................. 138 166 108 2.3 2.7 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 94 68 62 4.4 3.1 2.8

Professional and business services..................... 691 844 812 4.2 4.9 4.7

Education and health services........................... 409 528 483 2.4 3.1 2.8

Educational services.................................... 70 77 89 2.6 3.1 3.2

Health care and social assistance.................. 339 451 394 2.4 3.1 2.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 970 1,008 1,107 7.6 7.5 8.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 246 175 230 12.9 8.3 12.0

Accommodations and food services............... 724 833 877 6.7 7.4 7.9

Other services................................................ 219 392 204 4.0 7.1 3.7

Government...................................................... 371 419 376 1.7 2.0 1.7

Federal......................................................... 32 44 49 1.2 1.6 1.8

State and local.............................................. 339 375 327 1.8 2.1 1.7

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 896 954 925 3.5 3.8 3.6

South............................................................ 1,662 2,116 1,832 3.6 4.4 3.8

Midwest......................................................... 1,066 1,379 1,228 3.4 4.4 3.9

West............................................................ 1,101 1,281 1,202 3.8 4.4 4.1

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 2,636 3,558 3,118 2.0 2.7 2.3

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 2,497 3,328 2,950 2.3 2.9 2.6

Natural resources and mining........................... 12 12 9 2.0 1.8 1.4

Construction................................................... 177 266 233 2.4 3.5 3.1

Manufacturing................................................ 204 255 243 1.4 1.8 1.7

Durable goods............................................. 127 148 155 1.4 1.6 1.7

Nondurable goods....................................... 77 108 88 1.4 2.0 1.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 613 812 649 2.4 3.1 2.5

Wholesale trade.......................................... 85 97 75 1.5 1.7 1.3

Retail trade................................................ 461 598 484 3.1 3.9 3.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 66 116 90 1.4 2.4 1.8

Information................................................... 40 62 69 1.3 2.0 2.2

Financial activities............................................ 123 166 91 1.5 2.0 1.1

Finance and insurance................................. 69 113 74 1.2 1.9 1.2

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 54 53 17 2.5 2.4 .8

Professional and business services..................... 374 501 460 2.3 2.9 2.7

Education and health services........................... 262 344 318 1.6 2.0 1.8

Educational services.................................... 37 46 49 1.4 1.8 1.8

Health care and social assistance.................. 226 298 268 1.6 2.0 1.8

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 571 710 751 4.5 5.3 5.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 62 64 66 3.3 3.0 3.5

Accommodations and food services............... 508 646 684 4.7 5.7 6.2

Other services................................................ 120 200 127 2.2 3.6 2.3

Government...................................................... 139 230 169 .6 1.1 .8

Federal......................................................... 10 21 20 .4 .8 .7

State and local.............................................. 129 208 149 .7 1.2 .8

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 413 536 484 1.6 2.1 1.9

South............................................................ 1,034 1,402 1,213 2.2 2.9 2.5

Midwest......................................................... 571 822 710 1.8 2.6 2.3

West............................................................ 617 798 711 2.1 2.7 2.4

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 1,742 1,819 1,770 1.3 1.4 1.3

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 1,559 1,685 1,619 1.4 1.5 1.4

Natural resources and mining........................... 4 9 5 .7 1.3 .8

Construction................................................... 194 253 212 2.7 3.3 2.8

Manufacturing................................................ 140 162 143 1.0 1.1 1.0

Durable goods............................................. 90 118 81 1.0 1.3 .9

Nondurable goods....................................... 49 44 62 .9 .8 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 296 326 337 1.2 1.3 1.3

Wholesale trade.......................................... 47 43 27 .8 .7 .5

Retail trade................................................ 187 219 232 1.2 1.4 1.5

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 63 64 78 1.3 1.3 1.6

Information................................................... 23 21 21 .8 .7 .7

Financial activities............................................ 75 53 67 .9 .6 .8

Finance and insurance................................. 37 43 24 .6 .7 .4

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 38 10 43 1.8 .5 2.0

Professional and business services..................... 276 280 302 1.7 1.6 1.8

Education and health services........................... 116 149 130 .7 .9 .7

Educational services.................................... 30 26 37 1.1 1.0 1.3

Health care and social assistance.................. 86 123 93 .6 .8 .6

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 356 254 336 2.8 1.9 2.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 177 108 158 9.3 5.1 8.3

Accommodations and food services............... 179 146 178 1.7 1.3 1.6

Other services................................................ 79 179 65 1.5 3.2 1.2

Government...................................................... 183 134 151 .9 .7 .7

Federal......................................................... 10 11 13 .4 .4 .5

State and local.............................................. 174 123 138 .9 .7 .7

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 403 347 400 1.6 1.4 1.6

South............................................................ 504 584 526 1.1 1.2 1.1

Midwest......................................................... 416 496 440 1.3 1.6 1.4

West............................................................ 419 393 404 1.5 1.3 1.4

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

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

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p

Total.................................................................. 347 354 298 .3 .3 .2

INDUSTRY

Total private...................................................... 298 299 241 .3 .3 .2

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

Construction................................................... 32 26 15 .4 .3 .2

Manufacturing................................................ 28 31 27 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods............................................. 22 22 17 .2 .2 .2

Nondurable goods....................................... 6 9 10 .1 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities..................... 55 64 60 .2 .2 .2

Wholesale trade.......................................... 7 12 23 .1 .2 .4

Retail trade................................................ 33 36 26 .2 .2 .2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......... 15 16 12 .3 .3 .2

Information................................................... 11 7 9 .4 .2 .3

Financial activities............................................ 34 15 12 .4 .2 .1

Finance and insurance................................. 32 9 10 .5 .2 .2

Real estate and rental and leasing.................. 2 5 2 .1 .2 .1

Professional and business services..................... 40 63 50 .2 .4 .3

Education and health services........................... 30 35 36 .2 .2 .2

Educational services.................................... 3 6 3 .1 .2 .1

Health care and social assistance.................. 27 29 33 .2 .2 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................... 43 45 20 .3 .3 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.................. 7 3 5 .4 .1 .3

Accommodations and food services............... 37 42 15 .3 .4 .1

Other services................................................ 20 12 12 .4 .2 .2

Government...................................................... 49 55 57 .2 .3 .3

Federal......................................................... 13 12 16 .5 .4 .6

State and local.............................................. 36 43 40 .2 .2 .2

REGION

Northeast...................................................... 80 72 41 .3 .3 .2

South............................................................ 123 131 93 .3 .3 .2

Midwest......................................................... 79 62 78 .3 .2 .2

West............................................................ 64 90 87 .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.

 p = preliminary.

 NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Levels (in thousands) Rates