Technical information:   (202) 691-5870        USDL 06-457
                http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                               For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                 691-5902        Tuesday, March 14, 2006


              JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  JANUARY 2006


   The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all unchanged
in January, 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 indus-
try and geographic region.  The annual turnover, or separations, rate rose
to 41 percent in 2005, up from 37 percent in 2003.

Job Openings
     
   On the last business day of January 2006, there were 3.9 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.8 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate was unchanged in January but has
generally trended upward since September 2003.  In January, the job open-
ings rate fell in construction.  Rates did not change significantly in any
geographic region.
     
Hires and Separations
     
   The hires rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent in January.  (See table 2.)
Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  Over the month,
the hires rate increased in manufacturing; trade, transportation, and
utilities; and government.  The hires rate did not change significantly
in any region.
   
   The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent
in January.  (See table 3.)  Separations are terminations of employment
that occur at any time during the month.  In January, the total separa-
tions rate decreased in the trade, transportation, and utilities industry
but increased in professional and business services and in government.
The total separations rate did not change significantly in any region.

     -------------------------------------------------------------------
    |             Revisions to Monthly JOLTS Data and First             |
    |                     Publication of Annual Data                    |
    |                                                                   |
    |    The job openings, hires, and separations data in this release  |
    | have been revised to incorporate annual updates to the Current    |
    | Employment Statistics employment estimates and the JOLTS seasonal |
    | adjustment factors.  See page 4 for more information.             |
    |    With this release, annual rates and levels for hires and sepa- |
    | rations from the JOLTS program are published for the first time.  |
    | Data for the years 2001 through 2005 are presented in tables 11   |
    | through 20.  See page 3 for more information.                     |
     -------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------|--------------------|--------------------
     Industry      | Jan. | Dec. | Jan. | Jan. | Dec. | Jan. | Jan. | Dec. | Jan. 
                   | 2005 | 2005 | 2006p| 2005 | 2005 | 2006p| 2005 | 2005 | 2006p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,339 |3,941 |3,916 |4,840 |4,694 |4,768 |4,540 |4,359 |4,304
  Total private(1).|2,968 |3,509 |3,486 |4,499 |4,397 |4,439 |4,276 |4,067 |3,998
    Construction...|  132 |  170 |  129 |  387 |  426 |  356 |  465 |  348 |  365
    Manufacturing..|  263 |  313 |  300 |  310 |  307 |  371 |  371 |  355 |  347
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |   
     utilities.....|  547 |  661 |  661 |1,092 |1,011 |1,151 |  964 |1,027 |  890
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  610 |  750 |  788 |  883 |  849 |  903 |  809 |  735 |  845
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  574 |  618 |  604 |  470 |  467 |  440 |  362 |  400 |  357 
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  435 |  522 |  534 |  851 |  853 |  776 |  831 |  843 |  834
  Government.......|  373 |  435 |  432 |  341 |  293 |  330 |  256 |  270 |  311
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.5 |  2.8 |  2.8 |  3.7 |  3.5 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.2 |  3.2
  Total private(1).|  2.6 |  3.0 |  3.0 |  4.1 |  3.9 |  3.9 |  3.9 |  3.6 |  3.5
    Construction...|  1.8 |  2.2 |  1.7 |  5.4 |  5.8 |  4.8 |  6.5 |  4.7 |  4.9
    Manufacturing..|  1.8 |  2.2 |  2.1 |  2.2 |  2.2 |  2.6 |  2.6 |  2.5 |  2.4
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.1 |  2.5 |  2.5 |  4.2 |  3.9 |  4.4 |  3.7 |  3.9 |  3.4
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.5 |  4.2 |  4.4 |  5.3 |  5.0 |  5.3 |  4.9 |  4.3 |  4.9
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.2 |  3.4 |  3.3 |  2.7 |  2.7 |  2.5 |  2.1 |  2.3 |  2.0
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.3 |  3.9 |  4.0 |  6.7 |  6.6 |  6.0 |  6.6 |  6.5 |  6.5
  Government.......|  1.7 |  2.0 |  1.9 |  1.6 |  1.3 |  1.5 |  1.2 |  1.2 |  1.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current
Employment Statistics employment estimates and the Jolts seasonal adjustment
factors.  See the note on page 4 for more information.


   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 little changed at 2.0 percent in January.  (See
table 4.)  The quits rate fell in the trade, transportation, and utilities
industry but increased in the professional and business services industry.
The quits rate rose in the Midwest.
   
   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From January 2005 to
January 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 1.2 percent, and the
other separations rate rose to 0.3 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 4.8 million per month and
separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted).
The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.6 million hires and 4.4 million
separations.  (See the Technical Note for additional information on these
measures.)

                                  - 3 -

Annual Levels and Rates
   
   This release begins the publication of JOLTS annual rates and levels
for hires, total separations, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other
separations.  (See tables 11 through 20.)  These data series were developed
in response to numerous requests by data users.  Note that annual figures
for job openings are not calculated because job openings are measured on a
stock, or point-in-time, basis rather than on a flow basis over a specified
time period.  This first release includes annual data for the years 2001
through 2005.  The annual figures and additional tables will be published
with the release of January data each year.  (See the Technical Note for
additional information on these measures.)
   
   Calculating annual levels and rates allows additional comparisons across
years.  In 2005, annual hires rose for the second year in a row, reaching
57 million after weaker hiring in 2002 and 2003.  (See table 11.)  Total
separations rose to 55 million in 2005, yielding an annual turnover rate of
41 percent.  (See tables 13 and 14.)  (The annual turnover rate is the number
of total separations during the entire year as a percent of annual average
employment.)  The number of quits increased notably for the second year in
a row, reaching 31 million in 2005, while the quits rate rose to 23 percent
for the first time since 2001.  (See tables 15 and 16.)  In contrast, the
levels of layoffs and discharges were relatively flat over the past several
years at around 20 million per year, as was the level of other separations
at about and 3.7 million per year.  (See tables 17 and 19.)  The corresponding
rates for these measures also have shown little change since 2001.  (See
table 18 and 20.)

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 February 2006 is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, April 11, 2006.

                                  - 4 -
     
       Revisions to Job Openings and Labor Turnover Data               
                                                                          
   In accordance with annual practice, the Job Openings and Labor       
Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data have been revised to reflect annual        
updates to the Current Employment Statistics (CES), or establishment    
survey, employment estimates.  The JOLTS employment levels (not pub-    
lished) are ratio-adjusted to the CES employment levels, and the re-    
sulting ratios are applied to all JOLTS data elements.  This annual     
benchmark process resulted in revisions to all not seasonally adjusted  
JOLTS data series from April 2004 forward, the time period since the    
last benchmark was established.  Additionally, the seasonally adjusted  
JOLTS data series have been recalculated from December 2000 forward to  
reflect updated seasonal adjustment factors.                            

   Table B presents revisions to seasonally adjusted job openings data
for April 2004 forward, while table C presents revisions to hires data, 
table D presents revisions to total separations data, and table E pre-  
sents revisions to quits data.  All revised historical seasonally ad-
justed and not seasonally adjusted JOLTS data can be accessed through
the JOLTS homepage at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.                                                
                                                                            
   Further information on the revisions released today may be obtained  
by calling 202-691-5870 or via the Internet on the JOLTS homepage.      



Table B. Revisions in job openings data, seasonally adjusted, April 2004-
December 2005
_________________________________________________________________________________
          |                                   |
          |          Levels (in thousands)    |           Rates (percent)
   Year   |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
   and    |     As     |    As   |            |     As     |    As   |
   month  | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
          | published  |         |            | published  |         |
_________________________________________________________________________________
   2004   |            |         |            |            |         |
April.....|    3,111   |  3,151  |     40     |     2.3    |  2.3    |    0.0
May.......|    3,181   |  3,159  |    -22     |     2.4    |  2.3    |    -.1
June......|    3,140   |  3,160  |     20     |     2.3    |  2.3    |     .0
July......|    3,231   |  3,276  |     45     |     2.4    |  2.4    |     .0
August....|    3,206   |  3,277  |     71     |     2.4    |  2.4    |     .0
September.|    3,265   |  3,326  |     61     |     2.4    |  2.5    |     .1
October...|    3,300   |  3,370  |     70     |     2.4    |  2.5    |     .1
November..|    3,277   |  3,262  |    -15     |     2.4    |  2.4    |     .0
December..|    3,507   |  3,405  |   -102     |     2.6    |  2.5    |    -.1
   2005   |            |         |            |            |         |
January...|    3,385   |  3,339  |    -46     |     2.5    |  2.5    |     .0
February..|    3,569   |  3,494  |    -75     |     2.6    |  2.6    |     .0
March.....|    3,598   |  3,658  |     60     |     2.6    |  2.7    |     .1
April.....|    3,576   |  3,589  |     13     |     2.6    |  2.6    |     .0
May.......|    3,416   |  3,364  |    -52     |     2.5    |  2.5    |     .0
June......|    3,647   |  3,598  |    -49     |     2.7    |  2.6    |    -.1
July......|    3,588   |  3,580  |     -8     |     2.6    |  2.6    |     .0
August....|    3,487   |  3,697  |    210     |     2.5    |  2.7    |     .2
September.|    3,836   |  3,728  |   -108     |     2.8    |  2.7    |    -.1
October...|    3,937   |  3,867  |    -70     |     2.9    |  2.8    |    -.1
November..|    3,927   |  4,031  |    104     |     2.8    |  2.9    |     .1
December..|    4,050   |  3,941  |   -109     |     2.9    |  2.8    |    -.1
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________

                                  - 5 -

Table C. Revisions in hires data, seasonally adjusted, April 2004 -
December 2005
_________________________________________________________________________________
          |                                   |
          |          Levels (in thousands)    |           Rates (percent)
   Year   |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
   and    |     As     |    As   |            |     As     |    As   |
   month  | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
          | published  |         |            | published  |         |
_________________________________________________________________________________
   2004   |            |         |            |            |         |
April.....|    4,509   |  4,553  |     44     |     3.4    |  3.5    |    0.1
May.......|    4,339   |  4,436  |     97     |     3.3    |  3.4    |     .1
June......|    4,492   |  4,600  |    108     |     3.4    |  3.5    |     .1
July......|    4,297   |  4,371  |     74     |     3.3    |  3.3    |     .0
August....|    4,504   |  4,591  |     87     |     3.4    |  3.5    |     .1
September.|    4,406   |  4,498  |     92     |     3.3    |  3.4    |     .1
October...|    4,552   |  4,622  |     70     |     3.4    |  3.5    |     .1
November..|    4,990   |  5,021  |     31     |     3.8    |  3.8    |     .0
December..|    4,639   |  4,796  |    157     |     3.5    |  3.6    |     .1
   2005   |            |         |            |            |         |
January...|    4,709   |  4,840  |    131     |     3.6    |  3.7    |     .1
February..|    4,760   |  4,832  |     72     |     3.6    |  3.6    |     .0
March.....|    4,841   |  4,902  |     61     |     3.6    |  3.7    |     .1
April.....|    4,538   |  4,574  |     36     |     3.4    |  3.4    |     .0
May.......|    4,740   |  4,778  |     38     |     3.6    |  3.6    |     .0
June......|    4,694   |  4,807  |    113     |     3.5    |  3.6    |     .1
July......|    4,649   |  4,727  |     78     |     3.5    |  3.5    |     .0
August....|    4,601   |  4,824  |    223     |     3.4    |  3.6    |     .2
September.|    4,719   |  4,748  |     29     |     3.5    |  3.5    |     .0
October...|    4,650   |  4,822  |    172     |     3.5    |  3.6    |     .1
November..|    4,641   |  4,813  |    172     |     3.5    |  3.6    |     .1
December..|    4,507   |  4,694  |    187     |     3.4    |  3.5    |     .1
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________

                                  - 6 -

Table D. Revisions in total separations data, seasonally adjusted, April 2004 -
December 2005
_________________________________________________________________________________
          |                                   |
          |          Levels (in thousands)    |           Rates (percent)
   Year   |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
   and    |     As     |    As   |            |     As     |    As   |
   month  | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
          | published  |         |            | published  |         |
_________________________________________________________________________________
   2004   |            |         |            |            |         |
April.....|    4,334   |  4,370  |     36     |     3.3    |  3.3    |    0.0
May.......|    4,254   |  4,272  |     18     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
June......|    4,235   |  4,324  |     89     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
July......|    4,190   |  4,291  |    101     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
August....|    4,271   |  4,337  |     66     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
September.|    4,214   |  4,375  |    161     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
October...|    4,215   |  4,420  |    205     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
November..|    4,266   |  4,323  |     57     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
December..|    4,435   |  4,590  |    155     |     3.3    |  3.5    |     .2
   2005   |            |         |            |            |         |
January...|    4,352   |  4,540  |    188     |     3.3    |  3.4    |     .1
February..|    4,295   |  4,481  |    186     |     3.2    |  3.4    |     .2
March.....|    4,502   |  4,610  |    108     |     3.4    |  3.5    |     .1
April.....|    4,562   |  4,614  |     52     |     3.4    |  3.5    |     .1
May.......|    4,504   |  4,543  |     39     |     3.4    |  3.4    |     .0
June......|    4,477   |  4,590  |    113     |     3.4    |  3.4    |     .0
July......|    4,270   |  4,464  |    194     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
August....|    4,499   |  4,633  |    134     |     3.4    |  3.5    |     .1
September.|    4,779   |  4,798  |     19     |     3.6    |  3.6    |     .0
October...|    4,331   |  4,359  |     28     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
November..|    4,315   |  4,476  |    161     |     3.2    |  3.3    |     .1
December..|    4,133   |  4,359  |    226     |     3.1    |  3.2    |     .1
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________

                                  - 7 -

Table E. Revisions in quits data, seasonally adjusted, April 2004 -
December 2005
_________________________________________________________________________________
          |                                   |
          |          Levels (in thousands)    |           Rates (percent)
   Year   |---------------------------------- |----------------------------------
   and    |     As     |    As   |            |     As     |    As   |
   month  | previously | revised | Difference | previously | revised | Difference
          | published  |         |            | published  |         |
_________________________________________________________________________________
   2004   |            |         |            |            |         |
April.....|    2,302   |  2,323  |     21     |     1.8    |  1.8    |    0.0
May.......|    2,276   |  2,277  |      1     |     1.7    |  1.7    |     .0
June......|    2,330   |  2,386  |     56     |     1.8    |  1.8    |     .0
July......|    2,340   |  2,414  |     74     |     1.8    |  1.8    |     .0
August....|    2,288   |  2,307  |     19     |     1.7    |  1.8    |     .1
September.|    2,291   |  2,298  |      7     |     1.7    |  1.7    |     .0
October...|    2,344   |  2,415  |     71     |     1.8    |  1.8    |     .0
November..|    2,436   |  2,418  |    -18     |     1.8    |  1.8    |     .0
December..|    2,495   |  2,517  |     22     |     1.9    |  1.9    |     .0
   2005   |            |         |            |            |         |
January...|    2,530   |  2,554  |     24     |     1.9    |  1.9    |     .0
February..|    2,307   |  2,325  |     18     |     1.7    |  1.8    |     .1
March.....|    2,516   |  2,552  |     36     |     1.9    |  1.9    |     .0
April.....|    2,520   |  2,586  |     66     |     1.9    |  1.9    |     .0
May.......|    2,514   |  2,534  |     20     |     1.9    |  1.9    |     .0
June......|    2,475   |  2,541  |     66     |     1.9    |  1.9    |     .0
July......|    2,474   |  2,511  |     37     |     1.8    |  1.9    |     .1
August....|    2,605   |  2,651  |     46     |     1.9    |  2.0    |     .1
September.|    2,778   |  2,681  |    -97     |     2.1    |  2.0    |    -.1
October...|    2,578   |  2,619  |     41     |     1.9    |  2.0    |     .1
November..|    2,587   |  2,683  |     96     |     1.9    |  2.0    |     .1
December..|    2,470   |  2,567  |     97     |     1.8    |  1.9    |     .1
__________|____________|_________|____________|____________|_________|___________





                                  - 8 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with employers and update,
if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classification of
all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establishment characteris-
tics resulting from the verification process are always introduced into the
JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 9 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
   Annual estimates.  Annual estimates of rates and levels of hires, quits,
layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released
with the January news release each year.
   
   The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
other separations, and total separations are the sum of the 12 published
monthly levels.  The annual rate estimates are computed by dividing the an-
nual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employ-
ment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100.  This figure will be ap-
proximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly rates.  Note that both the
JOLTS and CES annual levels are rounded to the nearest thousand before the
annual estimates are calculated.  Consistent with BLS practices, annual es-
timates will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data.
   
   Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job
openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last business
day of each month.  Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are
counted.  For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout
each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created by summing
the monthly estimates.  Hires and separations are flow measures and are
cumulated over the month with a total reported for the month.  Therefore,
the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates.

                                  - 10 -

Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.

                                  - 11 -

  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Jan.   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Jan.  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006p

Total(4)...............................  3,339  3,697  3,728  3,867  4,031  3,941  3,916    2.5   2.7   2.7   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.8

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,968  3,239  3,285  3,460  3,604  3,509  3,486    2.6   2.8   2.8   3.0   3.1   3.0   3.0
  Construction.........................    132    133    152    148    146    170    129    1.8   1.8   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.2   1.7
  Manufacturing........................    263    256    285    297    333    313    300    1.8   1.8   2.0   2.1   2.3   2.2   2.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    547    637    629    654    696    661    661    2.1   2.4   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.5   2.5
  Professional and business services...    610    687    671    723    782    750    788    3.5   3.9   3.8   4.1   4.4   4.2   4.4
  Education and health services........    574    620    630    613    601    618    604    3.2   3.4   3.5   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    435    426    431    498    519    522    534    3.3   3.2   3.3   3.7   3.9   3.9   4.0
 Government............................    373    459    443    416    434    435    432    1.7   2.1   2.0   1.9   1.9   2.0   1.9


                 REGION (5)

  Northeast............................    573    617    661    704    704    718    728    2.2   2.4   2.6   2.7   2.7   2.8   2.8
  South................................  1,301  1,442  1,451  1,515  1,562  1,612  1,539    2.7   2.9   2.9   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.1
  Midwest..............................    710    724    760    762    748    738    748    2.2   2.3   2.4   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.3
  West.................................    744    925    890    873  1,046    919    886    2.5   3.0   2.9   2.9   3.4   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.
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.




Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Jan.   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Jan.  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,840  4,824  4,748  4,822  4,813  4,694  4,768    3.7   3.6   3.5   3.6   3.6   3.5   3.5

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,499  4,489  4,418  4,488  4,498  4,397  4,439    4.1   4.0   3.9   4.0   4.0   3.9   3.9
  Construction.........................    387    446    436    430    393    426    356    5.4   6.1   6.0   5.9   5.3   5.8   4.8
  Manufacturing........................    310    346    346    449    335    307    371    2.2   2.4   2.4   3.2   2.4   2.2   2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,092  1,043    983    967    954  1,011  1,151    4.2   4.0   3.8   3.7   3.7   3.9   4.4
  Professional and business services...    883    900    904    849    907    849    903    5.3   5.3   5.3   5.0   5.3   5.0   5.3
  Education and health services........    470    468    468    460    459    467    440    2.7   2.7   2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    851    818    836    859    895    853    776    6.7   6.4   6.5   6.7   6.9   6.6   6.0
 Government............................    341    342    314    319    314    293    330    1.6   1.6   1.4   1.5   1.4   1.3   1.5


                 REGION (5)

  Northeast............................    765    805    796    744    747    698    730    3.1   3.2   3.2   2.9   3.0   2.8   2.9
  South................................  1,857  1,870  1,842  1,886  1,813  1,817  1,903    3.9   3.9   3.9   3.9   3.8   3.8   4.0
  Midwest..............................  1,160    955    965  1,017  1,031  1,038  1,004    3.8   3.1   3.1   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.2
  West.................................  1,026  1,186  1,139  1,154  1,188  1,127  1,092    3.5   4.0   3.8   3.9   4.0   3.8   3.7


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Jan.   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Jan.  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,540  4,633  4,798  4,359  4,476  4,359  4,304    3.4   3.5   3.6   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.2

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,276  4,377  4,503  4,103  4,205  4,067  3,998    3.9   3.9   4.0   3.7   3.7   3.6   3.5
  Construction.........................    465    454    423    392    371    348    365    6.5   6.2   5.8   5.3   5.0   4.7   4.9
  Manufacturing........................    371    392    437    340    388    355    347    2.6   2.8   3.1   2.4   2.7   2.5   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    964  1,036  1,000    935  1,003  1,027    890    3.7   4.0   3.9   3.6   3.9   3.9   3.4
  Professional and business services...    809    754    856    757    753    735    845    4.9   4.5   5.0   4.5   4.4   4.3   4.9
  Education and health services........    362    434    433    404    418    400    357    2.1   2.5   2.5   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.0
  Leisure and hospitality..............    831    815    871    798    834    843    834    6.6   6.3   6.8   6.2   6.5   6.5   6.5
 Government............................    256    265    302    255    270    270    311    1.2   1.2   1.4   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.4


                 REGION (5)

  Northeast............................    799    772    797    657    619    685    714    3.2   3.1   3.2   2.6   2.4   2.7   2.8
  South................................  1,759  1,692  1,779  1,710  1,711  1,759  1,656    3.7   3.5   3.7   3.6   3.6   3.7   3.4
  Midwest..............................  1,040  1,053  1,065    961  1,081    934    986    3.4   3.4   3.4   3.1   3.5   3.0   3.1
  West.................................  1,006  1,140  1,127  1,012  1,004    997  1,007    3.4   3.9   3.8   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.4


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.





Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Jan.   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Jan.  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006p

Total(4)...............................  2,554  2,651  2,681  2,619  2,683  2,567  2,628    1.9   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.0

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,429  2,517  2,529  2,470  2,540  2,428  2,484    2.2   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2
  Construction.........................    172    208    210    205    183    189    185    2.4   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.5   2.6   2.5
  Manufacturing........................    183    186    213    200    210    184    193    1.3   1.3   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.3   1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    599    640    566    573    606    634    563    2.3   2.5   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.4   2.2
  Professional and business services...    398    387    448    345    359    365    452    2.4   2.3   2.6   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.6
  Education and health services........    243    275    283    258    277    254    238    1.4   1.6   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.4   1.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    511    543    557    597    595    558    575    4.0   4.2   4.3   4.6   4.6   4.3   4.4
 Government............................    127    132    154    142    142    139    147     .6    .6    .7    .6    .6    .6    .7


                 REGION (5)

  Northeast............................    421    410    361    341    333    390    381    1.7   1.6   1.4   1.3   1.3   1.5   1.5
  South................................  1,055  1,094  1,125  1,109  1,102  1,069  1,078    2.2   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.2
  Midwest..............................    543    544    574    552    572    481    593    1.8   1.7   1.8   1.8   1.8   1.5   1.9
  West.................................    552    611    627    601    657    618    589    1.9   2.1   2.1   2.0   2.2   2.1   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.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the
JOLTS seasonal adjustment factors.




Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Jan.     Dec.     Jan.          Jan.     Dec.     Jan.
                                                   2005     2005     2006p         2005     2005     2006p

Total...........................................  3,088    3,444    3,622           2.3      2.5      2.7

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,741    3,042    3,220           2.5      2.6      2.8
  Natural resources and mining..................     10        9        9           1.7      1.4      1.4
  Construction..................................    108      122      106           1.6      1.6      1.5
  Manufacturing.................................    249      265      284           1.7      1.8      2.0
   Durable goods................................    171      184      204           1.9      2.0      2.2
   Nondurable goods.............................     77       82       81           1.5      1.5      1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    466      519      563           1.8      1.9      2.1
   Wholesale trade..............................    103      104       99           1.8      1.8      1.7
   Retail trade.................................    278      315      353           1.8      1.9      2.3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     85      100      111           1.7      2.0      2.2
  Information...................................     85       95      114           2.7      3.0      3.6
  Financial activities..........................    198      291      287           2.4      3.4      3.4
   Finance and insurance........................    170      235      217           2.8      3.7      3.5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     28       56       70           1.3      2.6      3.2
  Professional and business services............    561      673      726           3.3      3.8      4.2
  Education and health services.................    547      580      574           3.1      3.2      3.2
   Educational services.........................     45       63       57           1.6      2.1      2.0
   Health care and social assistance............    501      517      517           3.4      3.4      3.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    393      407      483           3.2      3.1      3.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     56       34       53           3.3      1.9      3.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    336      373      430           3.1      3.3      3.9
  Other services................................    125       80       74           2.3      1.5      1.4

 Government.....................................    347      401      402           1.6      1.8      1.8
  Federal.......................................     33       40       41           1.2      1.4      1.5
  State and local...............................    314      362      362           1.6      1.8      1.9

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    513      588      652           2.0      2.3      2.5
  South.........................................  1,243    1,405    1,471           2.6      2.8      3.0
  Midwest.......................................    640      634      674           2.1      2.0      2.1
  West..........................................    692      816      824           2.3      2.7      2.7


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.




Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Jan.     Dec.     Jan.          Jan.     Dec.     Jan.
                                                   2005     2005     2006p         2005     2005     2006p

Total...........................................  4,095    3,479    4,034           3.1      2.6      3.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,787    3,285    3,736           3.5      2.9      3.4
  Natural resources and mining..................     24       14       13           4.0      2.2      2.0
  Construction..................................    300      259      276           4.5      3.6      3.9
  Manufacturing.................................    312      211      372           2.2      1.5      2.6
   Durable goods................................    216      126      213           2.4      1.4      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................     96       84      159           1.8      1.6      3.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    797      834      840           3.1      3.1      3.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    151       93       97           2.7      1.6      1.7
   Retail trade.................................    462      555      530           3.1      3.5      3.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    184      186      214           3.8      3.8      4.4
  Information...................................     58       61       62           1.9      2.0      2.0
  Financial activities..........................    196      135      174           2.4      1.6      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................    128       97      128           2.1      1.6      2.1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     68       38       47           3.3      1.8      2.2
  Professional and business services............    830      660      850           5.1      3.9      5.1
  Education and health services.................    434      340      406           2.5      1.9      2.3
   Educational services.........................     52       43       58           1.9      1.5      2.1
   Health care and social assistance............    382      297      348           2.7      2.0      2.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    637      636      581           5.3      5.1      4.7
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    116       72       68           7.1      4.1      4.1
   Accommodations and food services.............    521      564      513           5.0      5.2      4.8
  Other services................................    199      134      162           3.7      2.5      3.0

 Government.....................................    308      195      297           1.4       .9      1.4
  Federal.......................................     34       34       45           1.2      1.3      1.7
  State and local...............................    274      161      252           1.5       .8      1.3

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    603      487      575           2.5      1.9      2.3
  South.........................................  1,659    1,370    1,700           3.6      2.8      3.6
  Midwest.......................................    967      723      836           3.2      2.3      2.7
  West..........................................    866      899      922           3.0      3.0      3.1


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.





Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Jan.     Dec.     Jan.          Jan.     Dec.     Jan.
                                                   2005     2005     2006p         2005     2005     2006p

Total...........................................  4,492    4,140    4,259           3.4      3.1      3.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,281    3,910    4,002           3.9      3.5      3.6
  Natural resources and mining..................     24       16       15           4.1      2.5      2.4
  Construction..................................    485      387      381           7.3      5.3      5.4
  Manufacturing.................................    362      318      339           2.6      2.2      2.4
   Durable goods................................    231      195      181           2.6      2.2      2.0
   Nondurable goods.............................    131      123      157           2.5      2.3      3.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,082    1,117    1,000           4.2      4.2      3.9
   Wholesale trade..............................    119      133       93           2.1      2.3      1.6
   Retail trade.................................    827      745      769           5.5      4.7      5.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    136      239      137           2.8      4.8      2.8
  Information...................................     75       62       82           2.5      2.0      2.7
  Financial activities..........................    217      164      173           2.7      2.0      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................    128      104      113           2.2      1.7      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     88       60       60           4.3      2.8      2.8
  Professional and business services............    764      700      798           4.7      4.1      4.8
  Education and health services.................    353      346      348           2.1      2.0      2.0
   Educational services.........................     39       45       36           1.4      1.5      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............    314      300      312           2.2      2.0      2.1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    734      691      736           6.1      5.5      6.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     72       99       66           4.4      5.7      3.9
   Accommodations and food services.............    662      592      671           6.3      5.5      6.3
  Other services................................    184      109      131           3.5      2.0      2.5

 Government.....................................    211      230      257           1.0      1.0      1.2
  Federal.......................................     37       43       59           1.4      1.6      2.2
  State and local...............................    174      187      198            .9      1.0      1.0

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    766      694      685           3.1      2.7      2.7
  South.........................................  1,683    1,607    1,584           3.6      3.3      3.3
  Midwest.......................................  1,032      895      977           3.4      2.8      3.2
  West..........................................  1,012      944    1,013           3.5      3.2      3.5


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.





Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Jan.     Dec.     Jan.          Jan.     Dec.     Jan.
                                                   2005     2005     2006p         2005     2005     2006p

Total...........................................  2,262    2,111    2,328           1.7      1.6      1.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,155    2,004    2,204           2.0      1.8      2.0
  Natural resources and mining..................      9        6        9           1.6       .9      1.4
  Construction..................................    134      150      148           2.0      2.1      2.1
  Manufacturing.................................    156      129      165           1.1       .9      1.2
   Durable goods................................     95       80       98           1.1       .9      1.1
   Nondurable goods.............................     61       49       67           1.2       .9      1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    558      564      524           2.2      2.1      2.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     65       56       52           1.2      1.0       .9
   Retail trade.................................    421      423      407           2.8      2.7      2.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     71       85       65           1.5      1.7      1.3
  Information...................................     45       37       57           1.5      1.2      1.9
  Financial activities..........................    112       91       96           1.4      1.1      1.2
   Finance and insurance........................     64       61       72           1.1      1.0      1.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     47       30       24           2.3      1.4      1.1
  Professional and business services............    353      301      401           2.2      1.8      2.4
  Education and health services.................    224      222      220           1.3      1.3      1.3
   Educational services.........................     22       21       21            .8       .7       .8
   Health care and social assistance............    202      201      198           1.4      1.4      1.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    454      441      510           3.8      3.5      4.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     28       39       33           1.7      2.2      1.9
   Accommodations and food services.............    426      402      478           4.1      3.7      4.5
  Other services................................    109       63       75           2.0      1.2      1.4

 Government.....................................    107      108      123            .5       .5       .6
  Federal.......................................     12       16       24            .5       .6       .9
  State and local...............................     95       91      100            .5       .5       .5

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    352      315      319           1.4      1.2      1.3
  South.........................................    931      873      951           2.0      1.8      2.0
  Midwest.......................................    484      402      529           1.6      1.3      1.7
  West..........................................    495      523      528           1.7      1.7      1.8


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.





Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Jan.     Dec.     Jan.          Jan.     Dec.     Jan.
                                                   2005     2005     2006p         2005     2005     2006p

Total...........................................  1,908    1,674    1,549           1.5      1.2      1.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,857    1,600    1,477           1.7      1.4      1.3
  Natural resources and mining..................      8        8        4           1.3      1.2       .6
  Construction..................................    340      226      215           5.1      3.1      3.1
  Manufacturing.................................    174      147      140           1.2      1.0      1.0
   Durable goods................................    115       83       65           1.3       .9       .7
   Nondurable goods.............................     59       64       75           1.1      1.2      1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    462      474      400           1.8      1.8      1.5
   Wholesale trade..............................     44       71       34            .8      1.2       .6
   Retail trade.................................    367      274      318           2.4      1.7      2.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     50      129       49           1.0      2.6      1.0
  Information...................................     26       14       10            .9       .4       .3
  Financial activities..........................     81       53       62           1.0       .6       .8
   Finance and insurance........................     44       25       35            .7       .4       .6
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     37       28       27           1.8      1.3      1.3
  Professional and business services............    360      352      285           2.2      2.1      1.7
  Education and health services.................    102       92      106            .6       .5       .6
   Educational services.........................     13       22       12            .5       .8       .4
   Health care and social assistance............     89       70       94            .6       .5       .6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    236      195      205           2.0      1.6      1.7
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     40       57       30           2.5      3.3      1.8
   Accommodations and food services.............    195      138      175           1.9      1.3      1.6
  Other services................................     68       39       50           1.3       .7       .9

 Government.....................................     52       75       73            .2       .3       .3
  Federal.......................................      7       19       11            .3       .7       .4
  State and local...............................     45       56       62            .2       .3       .3

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    358      331      297           1.5      1.3      1.2
  South.........................................    656      613      514           1.4      1.3      1.1
  Midwest.......................................    467      407      330           1.5      1.3      1.1
  West..........................................    428      323      408           1.5      1.1      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.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.




Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Jan.     Dec.     Jan.          Jan.     Dec.     Jan.
                                                   2005     2005     2006p         2005     2005     2006p

Total...........................................    322      355      382           0.2      0.3      0.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    269      307      321            .2       .3       .3
  Natural resources and mining..................      7        2        2           1.1       .3       .4
  Construction..................................     10       11       18            .1       .1       .3
  Manufacturing.................................     32       42       34            .2       .3       .2
   Durable goods................................     21       32       19            .2       .4       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................     11       10       15            .2       .2       .3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     63       79       75            .2       .3       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................     10        6        8            .2       .1       .1
   Retail trade.................................     38       48       45            .3       .3       .3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     15       25       23            .3       .5       .5
  Information...................................      4       11       15            .1       .4       .5
  Financial activities..........................     24       20       15            .3       .2       .2
   Finance and insurance........................     20       19        6            .3       .3       .1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      4        2        9            .2       .1       .4
  Professional and business services............     50       47      112            .3       .3       .7
  Education and health services.................     27       32       22            .2       .2       .1
   Educational services.........................      4        2        2            .2       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     23       30       20            .2       .2       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     44       55       21            .4       .4       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      4        3        3            .3       .2       .2
   Accommodations and food services.............     40       52       18            .4       .5       .2
  Other services................................      7        7        6            .1       .1       .1

 Government.....................................     53       48       61            .2       .2       .3
  Federal.......................................     18        9       25            .7       .3       .9
  State and local...............................     35       39       36            .2       .2       .2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................     56       48       69            .2       .2       .3
  South.........................................     96      121      119            .2       .3       .3
  Midwest.......................................     81       87      119            .3       .3       .4
  West..........................................     88       99       76            .3       .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 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: Data have been revised to incorporate the annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics
employment estimates.





Table 11.  Annual hires levels(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                            Levels (in thousands)

              Industry and region                  2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 54,578   49,718   49,294   54,721   57,353

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 50,401   45,673   45,620   50,858   53,432
  Natural resources and mining..................    221      219      216      229      273
  Construction..................................  4,501    4,421    4,580    4,677    5,057
  Manufacturing.................................  4,130    4,062    3,861    4,316    4,111
   Durable goods................................  2,239    2,356    2,389    2,718    2,576
   Nondurable goods.............................  1,890    1,704    1,470    1,598    1,533
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 11,984   10,517   10,389   11,988   12,268
   Wholesale trade..............................  1,711    1,556    1,481    1,702    1,717
   Retail trade.................................  8,621    7,557    7,423    8,392    8,512
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...  1,651    1,406    1,489    1,893    2,040
  Information...................................    967      799      748      792      916
  Financial activities..........................  2,207    2,002    2,031    2,292    2,287
   Finance and insurance........................  1,444    1,253    1,209    1,354    1,429
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........    763      749      820      939      863
  Professional and business services............  8,521    7,758    7,842    9,416   10,597
  Education and health services.................  5,484    5,133    5,164    5,253    5,613
   Educational services.........................    686      587      726      713      723
   Health care and social assistance............  4,798    4,544    4,439    4,541    4,891
  Leisure and hospitality....................... 10,397    8,868    8,628    9,670    9,906
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........  1,543    1,383    1,349    1,495    1,512
   Accommodations and food services.............  8,854    7,484    7,281    8,173    8,392
  Other services................................  1,992    1,899    2,160    2,223    2,402

 Government.....................................  4,177    4,043    3,674    3,863    3,920
  Federal.......................................    513      617      476      464      488
  State and local...............................  3,667    3,426    3,197    3,399    3,433

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast.....................................  9,102    7,900    8,687    9,745    9,501
  South......................................... 20,335   19,079   18,705   20,998   21,937
  Midwest....................................... 13,439   11,561   10,666   11,931   12,474
  West.......................................... 11,703   11,179   11,236   12,048   13,441


  1 The annual hires level is the total number of hires during the entire year.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.




Table 12.  Annual hires rates(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                                  Rates

              Industry and region                2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 41.4     38.1     37.9     41.6     43.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 45.5     42.0     42.1     46.3     47.9
  Natural resources and mining.................. 36.5     37.6     37.8     38.7     43.7
  Construction.................................. 65.9     65.8     68.0     67.0     69.5
  Manufacturing................................. 25.1     26.6     26.6     30.2     28.9
   Durable goods................................ 21.7     24.8     26.7     30.5     28.8
   Nondurable goods............................. 30.9     29.5     26.5     29.6     29.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 46.1     41.2     41.1     47.0     47.4
   Wholesale trade.............................. 29.6     27.5     26.4     30.1     29.9
   Retail trade................................. 56.6     50.3     49.8     55.7     55.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 33.2     29.2     31.3     39.3     41.6
  Information................................... 26.6     23.5     23.5     25.4     29.9
  Financial activities.......................... 28.3     25.5     25.5     28.5     28.1
   Finance and insurance........................ 25.0     21.5     20.4     22.8     23.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing........... 37.5     36.9     39.9     45.1     40.5
  Professional and business services............ 51.7     48.6     49.1     57.4     62.8
  Education and health services................. 35.1     31.7     31.1     31.0     32.4
   Educational services......................... 27.3     22.2     26.9     25.8     25.6
   Health care and social assistance............ 36.5     33.5     32.0     32.0     33.7
  Leisure and hospitality....................... 86.4     74.0     70.9     77.4     77.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 84.6     77.6     74.4     80.8     80.0
   Accommodations and food services............. 86.7     73.4     70.3     76.8     76.9
  Other services................................ 37.9     35.3     40.0     41.1     44.6

 Government..................................... 19.8     18.8     17.0     17.9     18.0
  Federal....................................... 18.6     22.3     17.2     17.0     17.9
  State and local............................... 20.0     18.3     17.0     18.0     18.0

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast..................................... 36.2     31.7     34.9     39.2     37.8
  South......................................... 43.7     41.4     40.7     44.9     46.0
  Midwest....................................... 42.9     37.4     34.7     38.8     40.1
  West.......................................... 40.7     39.3     39.6     41.5     45.5


  1 The annual hires rate is the number of hires during the entire year as a percent of 
annual average employment.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.





Table 13.  Annual total separations levels(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                            Levels (in thousands)

              Industry and region                  2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 54,556   49,597   48,294   51,779   54,530

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 51,406   46,454   45,136   48,479   51,295
  Natural resources and mining..................    233      229      218      216      218
  Construction..................................  4,794    4,531    4,555    4,638    4,787
  Manufacturing.................................  6,177    5,121    4,350    4,255    4,502
   Durable goods................................  3,800    3,148    2,709    2,661    2,875
   Nondurable goods.............................  2,378    1,972    1,641    1,591    1,627
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 12,324   11,108   10,682   11,704   11,956
   Wholesale trade..............................  1,820    1,777    1,647    1,720    1,594
   Retail trade.................................  8,725    7,750    7,378    8,177    8,407
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...  1,778    1,584    1,657    1,810    1,953
  Information...................................  1,181      960      796      927      898
  Financial activities..........................  2,147    2,099    1,899    2,161    2,110
   Finance and insurance........................  1,369    1,330    1,162    1,339    1,354
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........    776      772      738      824      755
  Professional and business services............  7,858    7,078    7,362    8,568    9,767
  Education and health services.................  4,779    4,570    4,500    4,710    4,970
   Educational services.........................    489      566      627      594      641
   Health care and social assistance............  4,292    4,001    3,874    4,118    4,328
  Leisure and hospitality.......................  9,939    8,737    8,589    9,012    9,705
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........  1,370    1,370    1,334    1,493    1,473
   Accommodations and food services.............  8,570    7,366    7,257    7,520    8,232
  Other services................................  1,977    2,024    2,185    2,285    2,380

 Government.....................................  3,150    3,144    3,158    3,298    3,238
  Federal.......................................    403      409      468      414      431
  State and local...............................  2,745    2,734    2,688    2,888    2,807

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast.....................................  9,053    8,136    8,283    9,169    8,969
  South......................................... 19,710   18,752   18,579   19,356   20,677
  Midwest....................................... 13,856   11,307   10,596   11,378   12,239
  West.......................................... 11,936   11,403   10,836   11,878   12,649


  1 The annual total separations level is the total number of total separations during the 
entire year.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.





Table 14.  Annual total separations rates(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                                  Rates

              Industry and region                2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 41.4     38.1     37.1     39.4     40.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 46.4     42.7     41.6     44.1     45.9
  Natural resources and mining.................. 38.4     39.3     38.1     36.5     34.9
  Construction.................................. 70.2     67.5     67.6     66.5     65.8
  Manufacturing................................. 37.6     33.6     30.0     29.7     31.6
   Durable goods................................ 36.8     33.2     30.2     29.8     32.1
   Nondurable goods............................. 38.9     34.1     29.6     29.5     30.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 47.4     43.6     42.2     45.8     46.1
   Wholesale trade.............................. 31.5     31.4     29.4     30.4     27.7
   Retail trade................................. 57.3     51.6     49.5     54.3     55.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 35.8     32.9     34.8     37.6     39.8
  Information................................... 32.5     28.3     25.0     29.7     29.3
  Financial activities.......................... 27.5     26.7     23.8     26.9     25.9
   Finance and insurance........................ 23.7     22.9     19.6     22.5     22.5
   Real estate and rental and leasing........... 38.1     38.0     35.9     39.6     35.5
  Professional and business services............ 47.7     44.3     46.0     52.3     57.9
  Education and health services................. 30.5     28.2     27.1     27.8     28.7
   Educational services......................... 19.5     21.4     23.3     21.5     22.7
   Health care and social assistance............ 32.7     29.5     27.9     29.0     29.8
  Leisure and hospitality....................... 82.6     72.9     70.6     72.1     75.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 75.1     76.8     73.6     80.7     77.9
   Accommodations and food services............. 83.9     72.2     70.0     70.7     75.4
  Other services................................ 37.6     37.7     40.5     42.2     44.2

 Government..................................... 14.9     14.6     14.6     15.3     14.9
  Federal....................................... 14.6     14.8     17.0     15.2     15.8
  State and local............................... 15.0     14.6     14.3     15.3     14.7

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast..................................... 36.0     32.6     33.3     36.9     35.7
  South......................................... 42.3     40.7     40.4     41.3     43.4
  Midwest....................................... 44.2     36.6     34.4     37.0     39.3
  West.......................................... 41.5     40.1     38.2     41.0     42.8


  1 The annual total separations rate is the number of total separations during the 
entire year as a percent of annual average employment.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.






Table 15.  Annual quits levels(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                            Levels (in thousands)

              Industry and region                  2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 30,817   26,833   24,881   27,939   30,875

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 29,127   25,282   23,452   26,375   29,276
  Natural resources and mining..................    103       87       83       98      111
  Construction..................................  1,869    1,657    1,563    1,766    2,064
  Manufacturing.................................  2,463    2,142    1,870    2,140    2,264
   Durable goods................................  1,423    1,271    1,161    1,322    1,400
   Nondurable goods.............................  1,042      870      712      815      865
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  7,499    6,401    5,738    6,581    7,112
   Wholesale trade..............................    979      918      845      881      865
   Retail trade.................................  5,591    4,730    4,229    4,927    5,341
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    929      756      664      772      905
  Information...................................    682      496      440      499      590
  Financial activities..........................  1,259    1,177    1,103    1,315    1,267
   Finance and insurance........................    830      767      666      814      850
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........    428      410      436      499      412
  Professional and business services............  4,293    3,679    3,453    4,085    4,786
  Education and health services.................  3,184    2,835    2,723    2,933    3,233
   Educational services.........................    282      312      293      304      357
   Health care and social assistance............  2,905    2,526    2,427    2,630    2,876
  Leisure and hospitality.......................  6,647    5,605    5,309    5,554    6,371
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    609      619      537      505      611
   Accommodations and food services.............  6,038    4,989    4,775    5,049    5,761
  Other services................................  1,128    1,200    1,176    1,402    1,472

 Government.....................................  1,690    1,553    1,428    1,562    1,601
  Federal.......................................    254      209      194      163      183
  State and local...............................  1,436    1,343    1,234    1,397    1,421

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast.....................................  4,929    3,971    3,660    4,104    4,553
  South......................................... 11,783   10,708   10,200   11,304   12,528
  Midwest.......................................  7,727    6,057    5,467    6,034    6,545
  West..........................................  6,380    6,097    5,552    6,495    7,250


  1 The annual quits level is the total number of quits during the entire year.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.




Table 16.  Annual quits rates(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                                  Rates

              Industry and region                2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 23.4     20.6     19.1     21.3     23.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 26.3     23.2     21.6     24.0     26.2
  Natural resources and mining.................. 17.0     14.9     14.5     16.6     17.8
  Construction.................................. 27.4     24.7     23.2     25.3     28.4
  Manufacturing................................. 15.0     14.0     12.9     14.9     15.9
   Durable goods................................ 13.8     13.4     13.0     14.8     15.6
   Nondurable goods............................. 17.1     15.1     12.8     15.1     16.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 28.9     25.1     22.7     25.8     27.5
   Wholesale trade.............................. 17.0     16.2     15.1     15.6     15.0
   Retail trade................................. 36.7     31.5     28.4     32.7     35.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 18.7     15.7     13.9     16.0     18.5
  Information................................... 18.8     14.6     13.8     16.0     19.2
  Financial activities.......................... 16.1     15.0     13.8     16.4     15.6
   Finance and insurance........................ 14.4     13.2     11.2     13.7     14.1
   Real estate and rental and leasing........... 21.0     20.2     21.2     24.0     19.4
  Professional and business services............ 26.1     23.0     21.6     24.9     28.3
  Education and health services................. 20.4     17.5     16.4     17.3     18.6
   Educational services......................... 11.2     11.8     10.9     11.0     12.7
   Health care and social assistance............ 22.1     18.6     17.5     18.5     19.8
  Leisure and hospitality....................... 55.2     46.8     43.6     44.5     49.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 33.4     34.7     29.6     27.3     32.3
   Accommodations and food services............. 59.1     48.9     46.1     47.4     52.8
  Other services................................ 21.5     22.3     21.8     25.9     27.3

 Government.....................................  8.0      7.2      6.6      7.2      7.3
  Federal.......................................  9.2      7.6      7.0      6.0      6.7
  State and local...............................  7.8      7.2      6.6      7.4      7.4

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast..................................... 19.6     15.9     14.7     16.5     18.1
  South......................................... 25.3     23.3     22.2     24.1     26.3
  Midwest....................................... 24.7     19.6     17.8     19.6     21.0
  West.......................................... 22.2     21.4     19.6     22.4     24.5


  1 The annual quits rate is the number of quits during the entire year as a percent of 
annual average employment.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.




Table 17.  Annual layoffs and discharges levels(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                            Levels (in thousands)

              Industry and region                  2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 19,954   19,023   19,746   20,153   19,923

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 19,048   18,057   18,628   19,048   18,886
  Natural resources and mining..................    107      103       95       70       71
  Construction..................................  2,697    2,705    2,827    2,677    2,530
  Manufacturing.................................  3,186    2,555    2,073    1,799    1,780
   Durable goods................................  1,995    1,600    1,285    1,129    1,128
   Nondurable goods.............................  1,197      956      788      673      650
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  4,147    3,944    4,151    4,315    4,121
   Wholesale trade..............................    727      733      666      706      632
   Retail trade.................................  2,713    2,534    2,691    2,750    2,624
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    706      674      791      860      866
  Information...................................    415      394      306      360      222
  Financial activities..........................    645      723      576      605      663
   Finance and insurance........................    347      409      329      321      350
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........    298      313      247      283      315
  Professional and business services............  3,012    2,771    3,367    3,922    4,315
  Education and health services.................  1,226    1,369    1,428    1,441    1,407
   Educational services.........................    150      209      285      251      239
   Health care and social assistance............  1,076    1,161    1,143    1,191    1,166
  Leisure and hospitality.......................  2,924    2,804    2,941    3,116    3,013
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    728      725      771      957      844
   Accommodations and food services.............  2,197    2,077    2,173    2,160    2,170
  Other services................................    685      686      860      740      764

 Government.....................................    907      967    1,120    1,102    1,040
  Federal.......................................     61      117      164      111      120
  State and local...............................    846      849      954      994      919

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast.....................................  3,425    3,447    3,899    4,282    3,787
  South.........................................  6,566    6,726    7,065    6,741    6,893
  Midwest.......................................  5,121    4,394    4,336    4,558    4,787
  West..........................................  4,843    4,455    4,450    4,573    4,458


  1 The annual layoffs and discharges level is the total number of layoffs and discharges 
during the entire year.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.





Table 18.  Annual layoffs and discharges rates(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                                  Rates

              Industry and region                2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total........................................... 15.1     14.6     15.2     15.3     14.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private.................................. 17.2     16.6     17.2     17.3     16.9
  Natural resources and mining.................. 17.7     17.7     16.6     11.8     11.4
  Construction.................................. 39.5     40.3     42.0     38.4     34.8
  Manufacturing................................. 19.4     16.7     14.3     12.6     12.5
   Durable goods................................ 19.3     16.9     14.3     12.7     12.6
   Nondurable goods............................. 19.6     16.6     14.2     12.5     12.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 16.0     15.5     16.4     16.9     15.9
   Wholesale trade.............................. 12.6     13.0     11.9     12.5     11.0
   Retail trade................................. 17.8     16.9     18.0     18.3     17.2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 14.2     14.0     16.6     17.9     17.7
  Information................................... 11.4     11.6      9.6     11.5      7.2
  Financial activities..........................  8.3      9.2      7.2      7.5      8.1
   Finance and insurance........................  6.0      7.0      5.6      5.4      5.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing........... 14.6     15.4     12.0     13.6     14.8
  Professional and business services............ 18.3     17.3     21.1     23.9     25.6
  Education and health services.................  7.8      8.5      8.6      8.5      8.1
   Educational services.........................  6.0      7.9     10.6      9.1      8.5
   Health care and social assistance............  8.2      8.6      8.2      8.4      8.0
  Leisure and hospitality....................... 24.3     23.4     24.2     24.9     23.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 39.9     40.7     42.5     51.7     44.7
   Accommodations and food services............. 21.5     20.4     21.0     20.3     19.9
  Other services................................ 13.0     12.8     15.9     13.7     14.2

 Government.....................................  4.3      4.5      5.2      5.1      4.8
  Federal.......................................  2.2      4.2      5.9      4.1      4.4
  State and local...............................  4.6      4.5      5.1      5.3      4.8

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast..................................... 13.6     13.8     15.7     17.2     15.1
  South......................................... 14.1     14.6     15.4     14.4     14.5
  Midwest....................................... 16.3     14.2     14.1     14.8     15.4
  West.......................................... 16.8     15.7     15.7     15.8     15.1


  1 The annual layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during
the entire year as a percent of annual average employment.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.





Table 19.  Annual other separations levels(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                            Levels (in thousands)

              Industry and region                  2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total...........................................  3,784    3,742    3,666    3,689    3,734

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,231    3,116    3,055    3,056    3,135
  Natural resources and mining..................     24       39       43       45       37
  Construction..................................    227      170      165      198      192
  Manufacturing.................................    528      423      406      315      457
   Durable goods................................    386      277      263      210      346
   Nondurable goods.............................    143      147      144      104      111
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    677      762      795      810      720
   Wholesale trade..............................    115      125      132      130       98
   Retail trade.................................    420      484      458      501      441
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    141      152      203      178      183
  Information...................................     84       69       50       65       86
  Financial activities..........................    240      201      223      243      184
   Finance and insurance........................    193      153      167      202      155
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     50       49       56       41       28
  Professional and business services............    551      627      543      562      665
  Education and health services.................    365      361      351      333      328
   Educational services.........................     57       49       48       38       43
   Health care and social assistance............    311      315      303      294      286
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    369      326      340      342      320
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     35       29       30       32       22
   Accommodations and food services.............    331      298      311      308      298
  Other services................................    166      135      148      147      146

 Government.....................................    553      623      610      634      598
  Federal.......................................     88       86      109      138      131
  State and local...............................    464      539      500      495      468

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast.....................................    700      719      724      786      630
  South.........................................  1,360    1,319    1,313    1,310    1,255
  Midwest.......................................  1,011      854      793      784      907
  West..........................................    714      853      838      810      941


  1 The annual other separations level is the total number of other separations during the
entire year.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.





Table 20.  Annual other separations rates(1) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                                  Rates

              Industry and region                2001     2002     2003     2004     2005

Total...........................................  2.9      2.9      2.8      2.8      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2.9      2.9      2.8      2.8      2.8
  Natural resources and mining..................  4.0      6.7      7.5      7.6      5.9
  Construction..................................  3.3      2.5      2.4      2.8      2.6
  Manufacturing.................................  3.2      2.8      2.8      2.2      3.2
   Durable goods................................  3.7      2.9      2.9      2.4      3.9
   Nondurable goods.............................  2.3      2.5      2.6      1.9      2.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  2.6      3.0      3.1      3.2      2.8
   Wholesale trade..............................  2.0      2.2      2.4      2.3      1.7
   Retail trade.................................  2.8      3.2      3.1      3.3      2.9
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...  2.8      3.2      4.3      3.7      3.7
  Information...................................  2.3      2.0      1.6      2.1      2.8
  Financial activities..........................  3.1      2.6      2.8      3.0      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................  3.3      2.6      2.8      3.4      2.6
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........  2.5      2.4      2.7      2.0      1.3
  Professional and business services............  3.3      3.9      3.4      3.4      3.9
  Education and health services.................  2.3      2.2      2.1      2.0      1.9
   Educational services.........................  2.3      1.9      1.8      1.4      1.5
   Health care and social assistance............  2.4      2.3      2.2      2.1      2.0
  Leisure and hospitality.......................  3.1      2.7      2.8      2.7      2.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........  1.9      1.6      1.7      1.7      1.2
   Accommodations and food services.............  3.2      2.9      3.0      2.9      2.7
  Other services................................  3.2      2.5      2.7      2.7      2.7

 Government.....................................  2.6      2.9      2.8      2.9      2.7
  Federal.......................................  3.2      3.1      3.9      5.1      4.8
  State and local...............................  2.5      2.9      2.7      2.6      2.5

                    REGION (2)

  Northeast.....................................  2.8      2.9      2.9      3.2      2.5
  South.........................................  2.9      2.9      2.9      2.8      2.6
  Midwest.......................................  3.2      2.8      2.6      2.5      2.9
  West..........................................  2.5      3.0      3.0      2.8      3.2


  1 The annual other separations rate is the number of other separations during the 
entire year as a percent of annual average employment.
  2 See footnote 5, table 1.