Technical information:      (202) 691-5870    USDL 04-2462
                   http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                              For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                    691-5902    Wednesday, December 8, 2004


                JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  OCTOBER 2004


   The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or no
change in October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today.  The job openings rate was little changed at 2.5 per-
cent.  The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.3 percent, and the total
separations rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent.  This release includes estimates
of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total
nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
   
Job Openings
   
   On the last business day of October 2004, there were 3.3 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.5 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate has generally trended upward since
August 2003.  In October, the job openings rate dropped in the leisure and
hospitality industry and edged up in government.
   
Hires and Separations
   
   The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employ-
ment) was 3.3 percent in October, little changed from a month earlier.  (See
table 2.)  Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  The
hires rate decreased in manufacturing and government and increased in trade,
transportation, and utilities over the month.
   
   The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separations
during the month divided by employment) was 3.2 percent in October.  (See
table 3.)  The overall total separations rate is 0.3 percentage point higher
than its most recent low in November 2003.  Separations are terminations of
employment that occur at any time during the month.  The total separations
rate increased in construction and fell in government in October.
   
   Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and dis-
charges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retire-
ments).  The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers' ability
to change jobs, was 1.7 percent in October and has been unchanged since
February 2004.  (See table 4.)  The quits rate increased in construction in
October.  The other two components of total separations, layoffs and dis-
charges (1.3 percent) and other separations (0.2 percent) are not seasonally
adjusted.  Both rates showed little or no change from a year earlier.

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Oct. | Sept.| Oct. | Oct. | Sept.| Oct. | Oct. | Sept.| Oct.
                   | 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|2,823 |3,294 |3,330 |4,108 |4,253 |4,317 |3,859 |4,158 |4,159
  Total private 1/.|2,479 |2,934 |2,950 |3,815 |3,906 |3,987 |3,612 |3,856 |3,891
    Construction...|   78 |  113 |  121 |  391 |  383 |  350 |  365 |  350 |  469
    Manufacturing..|  199 |  251 |  259 |  335 |  379 |  323 |  332 |  381 |  352
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  451 |  591 |  592 |  880 |  864 |  951 |  854 |  909 |  935
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  488 |  564 |  585 |  590 |  689 |  720 |  523 |  590 |  539
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  545 |  543 |  543 |  433 |  401 |  409 |  377 |  384 |  361
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  367 |  425 |  356 |  729 |  782 |  747 |  725 |  756 |  743
  Government.......|  346 |  350 |  382 |  269 |  337 |  301 |  257 |  306 |  269
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|  2.1 |  2.4 |  2.5 |  3.2 |  3.2 |  3.3 |  3.0 |  3.2 |  3.2
  Total private 1/.|  2.2 |  2.6 |  2.6 |  3.5 |  3.6 |  3.6 |  3.3 |  3.5 |  3.5
    Construction...|  1.1 |  1.6 |  1.7 |  5.8 |  5.5 |  5.0 |  5.4 |  5.0 |  6.7
    Manufacturing..|  1.4 |  1.7 |  1.8 |  2.3 |  2.6 |  2.2 |  2.3 |  2.6 |  2.4
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  1.8 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.7 |  3.4 |  3.6 |  3.7
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  2.9 |  3.3 |  3.4 |  3.7 |  4.2 |  4.3 |  3.3 |  3.6 |  3.2
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.2 |  3.1 |  3.1 |  2.6 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  2.1
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  2.9 |  3.3 |  2.8 |  6.0 |  6.3 |  6.0 |  6.0 |  6.1 |  6.0
  Government.......|  1.6 |  1.6 |  1.7 |  1.2 |  1.6 |  1.4 |  1.2 |  1.4 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1/ Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
                                 
   
   Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market.  Over
the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.3 million per month and separations
have averaged 4.1 million per month.  (See the Technical Note for additional
information on these measures.)


For More Information
   
   For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site
at www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by
e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.


                      ______________________________


   The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for November 2004 is scheduled to be
issued on Wednesday, January 12, 2005.
   




                                  - 3 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always 
introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the 
first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 4 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
                                  - 5 -

Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.
   
  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
                                  - 6 -

Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  2,823  3,105  3,022  3,237  3,195  3,294  3,330    2.1   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.5

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,479  2,746  2,640  2,894  2,859  2,934  2,950    2.2   2.4   2.3   2.6   2.5   2.6   2.6
  Construction.........................     78    108     94     88    121    113    121    1.1   1.5   1.3   1.3   1.7   1.6   1.7
  Manufacturing........................    199    244    247    240    234    251    259    1.4   1.7   1.7   1.6   1.6   1.7   1.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    451    521    503    567    551    591    592    1.8   2.0   1.9   2.2   2.1   2.3   2.3
  Professional and business services...    488    530    494    583    594    564    585    2.9   3.1   2.9   3.4   3.5   3.3   3.4
  Education and health services........    545    542    496    537    536    543    543    3.2   3.1   2.9   3.1   3.1   3.1   3.1
  Leisure and hospitality..............    367    391    421    435    410    425    356    2.9   3.1   3.3   3.4   3.2   3.3   2.8
 Government............................    346    360    380    343    337    350    382    1.6   1.6   1.7   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.7


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    499    526    546    545    540    562    599    2.0   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.3
  South................................  1,092  1,164  1,164  1,280  1,259  1,245  1,311    2.3   2.5   2.4   2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7
  Midwest..............................    628    688    631    635    613    699    640    2.0   2.2   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.2   2.0
  West.................................    636    765    677    738    771    790    756    2.2   2.6   2.3   2.5   2.6   2.7   2.6


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.

 
 
  
Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  4,108  4,206  4,433  4,229  4,375  4,253  4,317    3.2   3.2   3.4   3.2   3.3   3.2   3.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,815  3,938  4,110  3,930  4,058  3,906  3,987    3.5   3.6   3.7   3.6   3.7   3.6   3.6
  Construction.........................    391    406    436    368    401    383    350    5.8   5.9   6.3   5.3   5.8   5.5   5.0
  Manufacturing........................    335    336    370    352    356    379    323    2.3   2.3   2.6   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    880    938    945    957    984    864    951    3.5   3.7   3.7   3.8   3.9   3.4   3.7
  Professional and business services...    590    631    692    621    690    689    720    3.7   3.8   4.2   3.8   4.2   4.2   4.3
  Education and health services........    433    451    428    418    470    401    409    2.6   2.7   2.5   2.5   2.8   2.4   2.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    729    739    749    760    760    782    747    6.0   6.0   6.1   6.2   6.1   6.3   6.0
 Government............................    269    272    328    310    322    337    301    1.2   1.3   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.6   1.4


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    695    708    703    720    763    745    736    2.8   2.8   2.8   2.9   3.0   2.9   2.9
  South................................  1,500  1,606  1,709  1,640  1,643  1,635  1,646    3.3   3.5   3.7   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5
  Midwest..............................    905    956  1,009    935    945    942  1,010    2.9   3.1   3.2   3.0   3.0   3.0   3.2
  West.................................    969    951  1,023    865  1,018    942    893    3.4   3.3   3.6   3.0   3.5   3.3   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 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  3,859  4,040  4,069  4,074  4,134  4,158  4,159    3.0   3.1   3.1   3.1   3.1   3.2   3.2

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,612  3,761  3,789  3,793  3,894  3,856  3,891    3.3   3.4   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.5
  Construction.........................    365    367    382    364    391    350    469    5.4   5.3   5.5   5.3   5.6   5.0   6.7
  Manufacturing........................    332    377    343    367    379    381    352    2.3   2.6   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.6   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    854    917    927    972    951    909    935    3.4   3.6   3.6   3.8   3.7   3.6   3.7
  Professional and business services...    523    556    607    613    575    590    539    3.3   3.4   3.7   3.7   3.5   3.6   3.2
  Education and health services........    377    379    362    363    380    384    361    2.3   2.2   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.1
  Leisure and hospitality..............    725    696    734    694    760    756    743    6.0   5.6   5.9   5.6   6.2   6.1   6.0
 Government............................    257    268    270    273    246    306    269    1.2   1.2   1.3   1.3   1.1   1.4   1.2


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    615    648    704    674    717    730    693    2.5   2.6   2.8   2.7   2.8   2.9   2.7
  South................................  1,465  1,504  1,533  1,545  1,527  1,506  1,595    3.2   3.2   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.4
  Midwest..............................    859    833    853    935    831    931    894    2.8   2.7   2.7   3.0   2.7   3.0   2.9
  West.................................    877  1,008    979    945  1,087    978    952    3.1   3.5   3.4   3.3   3.8   3.4   3.3


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Oct.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Oct.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  2,129  2,173  2,284  2,265  2,252  2,248  2,259    1.6   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  1,995  2,036  2,162  2,141  2,140  2,118  2,130    1.8   1.9   2.0   2.0   1.9   1.9   1.9
  Construction.........................    139    144    156    101    147    138    198    2.1   2.1   2.3   1.5   2.1   2.0   2.8
  Manufacturing........................    162    171    171    174    165    183    173    1.1   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.1   1.3   1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    482    525    536    559    552    536    520    1.9   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.2   2.1   2.0
  Professional and business services...    266    259    322    322    308    325    284    1.7   1.6   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.0   1.7
  Education and health services........    230    223    225    271    239    240    235    1.4   1.3   1.3   1.6   1.4   1.4   1.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    515    455    480    442    476    439    454    4.2   3.7   3.9   3.6   3.9   3.6   3.7
 Government............................    135    129    123    126    116    130    124     .6    .6    .6    .6    .5    .6    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    288    318    334    338    339    325    333    1.2   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3
  South................................    840    857    910    901    897    903    888    1.8   1.8   2.0   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9
  Midwest..............................    464    479    485    505    447    472    480    1.5   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.4   1.5   1.5
  West.................................    552    521    573    519    566    546    561    1.9   1.8   2.0   1.8   2.0   1.9   1.9


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  2,763    3,439    3,274           2.1      2.5      2.4

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,434    3,104    2,911           2.2      2.7      2.6
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        9       11           1.1      1.5      1.9
  Construction..................................     70      113      111           1.0      1.6      1.5
  Manufacturing.................................    191      260      251           1.3      1.8      1.7
   Durable goods................................    119      156      159           1.3      1.7      1.7
   Nondurable goods.............................     72      104       92           1.3      1.9      1.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    513      677      680           2.0      2.6      2.6
   Wholesale trade..............................     64      118       85           1.1      2.0      1.5
   Retail trade.................................    375      477      502           2.4      3.1      3.2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     73       82       93           1.5      1.7      1.9
  Information...................................     71       76       80           2.2      2.4      2.5
  Financial activities..........................    164      243      230           2.0      2.9      2.8
   Finance and insurance........................    134      207      190           2.2      3.3      3.1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     30       36       40           1.4      1.7      1.9
  Professional and business services............    460      599      564           2.7      3.5      3.2
  Education and health services.................    539      565      536           3.1      3.2      3.0
   Educational services.........................     35       53       54           1.2      1.9      1.8
   Health care and social assistance............    504      511      482           3.5      3.5      3.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    331      434      321           2.7      3.3      2.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     39       50       34           2.2      2.6      1.9
   Accommodations and food services.............    291      384      287           2.7      3.5      2.6
  Other services................................     90      128      127           1.7      2.3      2.3

 Government.....................................    330      335      364           1.5      1.5      1.6
  Federal.......................................     39       39       37           1.4      1.4      1.3
  State and local...............................    290      296      327           1.5      1.6      1.7

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    484      589      610           1.9      2.3      2.3
  South.........................................  1,022    1,270    1,265           2.2      2.7      2.6
  Midwest.......................................    628      736      637           2.0      2.3      2.0
  West..........................................    630      844      762           2.2      2.8      2.6


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  4,072    4,805    4,273           3.1      3.6      3.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,802    4,296    3,982           3.5      3.9      3.6
  Natural resources and mining..................     12       20       20           2.0      3.4      3.3
  Construction..................................    375      386      323           5.4      5.4      4.5
  Manufacturing.................................    308      399      288           2.1      2.8      2.0
   Durable goods................................    185      249      183           2.1      2.8      2.0
   Nondurable goods.............................    123      150      106           2.2      2.8      1.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,043    1,016    1,128           4.1      4.0      4.4
   Wholesale trade..............................    143      160      160           2.6      2.8      2.8
   Retail trade.................................    789      660      812           5.3      4.4      5.4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    112      195      156           2.3      4.0      3.2
  Information...................................     70       72       71           2.2      2.3      2.3
  Financial activities..........................    149      188      174           1.9      2.3      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................     98      117      126           1.7      2.0      2.1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     51       72       47           2.5      3.4      2.3
  Professional and business services............    578      729      750           3.6      4.4      4.4
  Education and health services.................    444      518      412           2.6      3.1      2.4
   Educational services.........................     70      110       61           2.4      4.1      2.1
   Health care and social assistance............    374      408      351           2.7      2.9      2.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    638      788      652           5.3      6.3      5.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     87      102       59           5.0      5.5      3.4
   Accommodations and food services.............    550      686      594           5.3      6.4      5.6
  Other services................................    185      178      164           3.4      3.3      3.0

 Government.....................................    270      509      291           1.2      2.4      1.3
  Federal.......................................     33       40       37           1.2      1.5      1.4
  State and local...............................    237      470      254           1.2      2.5      1.3

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    692      939      737           2.8      3.7      2.9
  South.........................................  1,505    1,705    1,643           3.3      3.7      3.5
  Midwest.......................................    886    1,130    1,002           2.9      3.6      3.2
  West..........................................    989    1,031      892           3.5      3.6      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. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  3,918    4,659    4,222           3.0      3.5      3.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,688    4,299    3,982           3.4      3.9      3.6
  Natural resources and mining..................     17       19       18           2.9      3.2      3.0
  Construction..................................    386      368      503           5.5      5.1      7.0
  Manufacturing.................................    374      385      375           2.6      2.7      2.6
   Durable goods................................    220      243      235           2.5      2.7      2.6
   Nondurable goods.............................    154      142      140           2.8      2.6      2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    832      970      911           3.3      3.8      3.5
   Wholesale trade..............................    143      137      156           2.6      2.4      2.8
   Retail trade.................................    568      704      623           3.8      4.7      4.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    121      130      132           2.5      2.7      2.7
  Information...................................     68       66       75           2.1      2.1      2.4
  Financial activities..........................    145      200      183           1.8      2.5      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................     98      128      110           1.7      2.1      1.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     47       72       73           2.3      3.4      3.5
  Professional and business services............    519      635      518           3.2      3.8      3.1
  Education and health services.................    357      418      334           2.1      2.5      1.9
   Educational services.........................     40       61       46           1.4      2.3      1.6
   Health care and social assistance............    316      357      288           2.3      2.5      2.0
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    847    1,015      872           7.0      8.1      7.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    136      218      151           7.8     11.7      8.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    711      797      721           6.9      7.5      6.8
  Other services................................    145      222      193           2.7      4.1      3.6

 Government.....................................    230      360      241           1.1      1.7      1.1
  Federal.......................................     39       29       29           1.4      1.1      1.1
  State and local...............................    191      332      212           1.0      1.8      1.1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    649      924      726           2.6      3.7      2.8
  South.........................................  1,494    1,591    1,648           3.2      3.4      3.5
  Midwest.......................................    851    1,072      886           2.7      3.4      2.8
  West..........................................    923    1,072      963           3.2      3.7      3.3


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  2,119    2,599    2,233           1.6      2.0      1.7

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,003    2,458    2,126           1.8      2.2      1.9
  Natural resources and mining..................      7       12       10           1.2      2.0      1.7
  Construction..................................    125      157      192           1.8      2.2      2.7
  Manufacturing.................................    167      212      178           1.2      1.5      1.2
   Durable goods................................     97      129      118           1.1      1.4      1.3
   Nondurable goods.............................     71       83       60           1.3      1.5      1.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    495      614      526           2.0      2.4      2.1
   Wholesale trade..............................     71       86       73           1.3      1.5      1.3
   Retail trade.................................    363      461      385           2.4      3.1      2.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     60       67       68           1.3      1.4      1.4
  Information...................................     40       36       35           1.3      1.2      1.1
  Financial activities..........................     74      107       90            .9      1.3      1.1
   Finance and insurance........................     49       72       58            .8      1.2      1.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     25       36       31           1.2      1.7      1.5
  Professional and business services............    268      364      278           1.6      2.2      1.6
  Education and health services.................    219      274      221           1.3      1.6      1.3
   Educational services.........................     18       32       30            .6      1.2      1.0
   Health care and social assistance............    201      242      191           1.4      1.7      1.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    533      578      469           4.4      4.6      3.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     54       59       34           3.1      3.2      2.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    479      518      435           4.6      4.9      4.1
  Other services................................     74      103      128           1.4      1.9      2.4

 Government.....................................    115      141      106            .5       .7       .5
  Federal.......................................     14       10       13            .5       .4       .5
  State and local...............................    101      131       94            .5       .7       .5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    311      428      359           1.2      1.7      1.4
  South.........................................    837      999      883           1.8      2.1      1.9
  Midwest.......................................    446      552      462           1.4      1.8      1.5
  West..........................................    525      621      528           1.8      2.2      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. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  1,507    1,755    1,697           1.2      1.3      1.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,434    1,580    1,597           1.3      1.4      1.4
  Natural resources and mining..................      7        4        5           1.2       .7       .9
  Construction..................................    247      194      279           3.6      2.7      3.9
  Manufacturing.................................    169      144      177           1.2      1.0      1.2
   Durable goods................................    102       92      104           1.1      1.0      1.2
   Nondurable goods.............................     67       52       73           1.2      1.0      1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    282      295      306           1.1      1.2      1.2
   Wholesale trade..............................     59       43       76           1.1       .8      1.3
   Retail trade.................................    178      205      175           1.2      1.4      1.2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     45       46       55            .9      1.0      1.1
  Information...................................     26       22       31            .8       .7      1.0
  Financial activities..........................     39       74       70            .5       .9       .9
   Finance and insurance........................     21       39       31            .4       .7       .5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     18       35       40            .9      1.6      1.9
  Professional and business services............    211      237      198           1.3      1.4      1.2
  Education and health services.................    112      112       86            .7       .7       .5
   Educational services.........................     20       25       11            .7       .9       .4
   Health care and social assistance............     92       87       75            .7       .6       .5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    285      397      383           2.4      3.2      3.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     78      152      113           4.5      8.2      6.5
   Accommodations and food services.............    207      245      271           2.0      2.3      2.6
  Other services................................     56      100       61           1.0      1.8      1.1

 Government.....................................     73      175      100            .3       .8       .5
  Federal.......................................     12        8        9            .4       .3       .3
  State and local...............................     61      167       91            .3       .9       .5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    288      416      298           1.1      1.6      1.2
  South.........................................    538      481      646           1.2      1.0      1.4
  Midwest.......................................    345      465      379           1.1      1.5      1.2
  West..........................................    336      393      373           1.2      1.4      1.3


  1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
  2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Oct.     Sept.    Oct.          Oct.     Sept.    Oct.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................    292      304      293           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    251      260      258            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      3        3        3            .5       .5       .4
  Construction..................................     13       16       32            .2       .2       .4
  Manufacturing.................................     37       28       20            .3       .2       .1
   Durable goods................................     22       22       12            .2       .2       .1
   Nondurable goods.............................     16        6        8            .3       .1       .1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     54       61       79            .2       .2       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................     12        8        8            .2       .1       .1
   Retail trade.................................     26       37       62            .2       .2       .4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     15       16        8            .3       .3       .2
  Information...................................      2        8        9            .1       .2       .3
  Financial activities..........................     32       19       23            .4       .2       .3
   Finance and insurance........................     28       17       21            .5       .3       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      4        2        2            .2       .1       .1
  Professional and business services............     41       34       42            .2       .2       .3
  Education and health services.................     25       32       26            .2       .2       .2
   Educational services.........................      2        4        5            .1       .2       .2
   Health care and social assistance............     23       27       21            .2       .2       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     29       40       19            .2       .3       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      4        6        4            .2       .3       .2
   Accommodations and food services.............     25       34       15            .2       .3       .1
  Other services................................     14       19        4            .3       .4       .1

 Government.....................................     42       44       35            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................     13       10        8            .5       .4       .3
  State and local...............................     29       34       27            .2       .2       .1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     51       80       68            .2       .3       .3
  South.........................................    120      111      119            .3       .2       .3
  Midwest.......................................     59       56       44            .2       .2       .1
  West..........................................     62       58       62            .2       .2       .2


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.