1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

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

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-1784

For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 September 2003 - August 2006

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2004 2005 2006

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 September 2003 - August 2006

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2004 2005 2006

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: AUGUST 2006

The job openings rate increased in August, while the hires rate decreased and the total separations rate

remained essentially unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported

today. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the

total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

On the last business day of August 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States and the

job openings rate was 3.0 percent. The job openings rate increased over the month to the highest level since

April 2001, after showing little change since November 2005. In August, the job openings rate increased in

trade, transportation, and utilities and in three of the four regions—the Midwest, South, and West. There

were no significant over-the-month decreases in the job openings rate in any industry or region. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rates in August 2006 were professional and business

services (3.8 percent), leisure and hospitality (3.7 percent), and education and health services (3.6 percent).

(See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate rose in many of the private sector industries, in federal government,

and in three of the four regions (Midwest, Northeast, and South). The job openings rate did not decline

significantly over the year in any industry or region. (See table 5.)

Hires

The hires rate decreased to 3.5 percent in August. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the

month. In August, the hires rate rose in government and fell in professional and business services and in the
2

Midwest and Northeast regions. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality

industry (6.1 percent). (See table 2.)

From August 2005 to August 2006, the hires rate increased in state and local government and decreased

in other services and in the Northeast region. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.2 percent in August. Separations are

terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In August, the total separations rate

increased in the West region but in none of the industries. The rate declined in government and in the

Midwest and Northeast regions. (See table 3.)

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 unchanged at 1.9 percent in August. Over the month, the quits rate did not

change significantly in any industry or region. In August, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was the highest

in the leisure and hospitality industry (4.2 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.)

 Job openings

Industry

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

Hires Total separations

Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2005 2006 2005 2006 2006 2005 2006 2006

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

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

 p = preliminary.

2006

1

1

p p p

Total .......................................... 3,697 4,145 4,995 4,694 4,633 4,479 4,287

 Total private ............................. 3,683 4,489 4,741 4,299 4,377 4,168

Construction ................................... 133 148 446 365 383 454 415 346

Manufacturing ................................ 256 305 346 380 342 392 358 364

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 637 605 704 1,043 1,045 1,018 1,036 935 994

Professional and business

services ......................................... 687 651 685 900 967 841 754 735

Education and health services .... 620 643 674 468 521 483 434 431 458

Leisure and hospitality ................. 426 482 496 818 850 801 815 818 791

Government .......................................... 459 478 467 342 338 374 265 306 267

Total 1......................................................... 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.2

Total private 1....................................... 2.8 2.9 3.1 4.0 4.2 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.6

Construction ................................... 1.8 1.9 2.3 6.1 4.9 5.1 6.2 5.5 4.6

Manufacturing ................................ 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.7 2.4 2.8 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and

utilities ........................................... 2.4 2.3 2.6 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.0 3.6 3.8

Professional and business

services ......................................... 3.9 3.6 3.8 5.3 5.6 4.8 4.5 4.2 3.9

Education and health services .... 3.4 3.5 3.6 2.7 2.9 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.6

Leisure and hospitality ................. 3.2 3.6 3.7 6.4 6.5 6.1 6.3 6.3 6.1

Government .......................................... 2.1 2.1 2.1 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.2 1.4 1.2

180

3,239

3,844

323

686

4,824

3,363 4,033
3

Over the year, the quits rate grew in educational services and in state and local government. The quits

rate declined in construction, retail trade, other services, and the Northeast. (See table 8.)

The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not

seasonally adjusted. From August 2005 to August 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate decreased to 1.2

percent. For August 2006, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate (2.6 percent). From August 2005 to August 2006, the other separations rate was little changed

at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)

Flows in the Labor Market

Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the 12 months ending in

August 2006, hires have averaged 4.8 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month

(not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were also 4.8 million hires

and 4.5 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)

For More Information

For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at http://www.

bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by

calling (202) 691-5870.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for September 2006 is scheduled to be issued on

Tuesday, November 7, 2006.

______________________________
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

characteristics resulting from the verification process are

always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data

reported for the first month of the year.

Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll

who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes

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

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

employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or

other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated

businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without

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

employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

where they are working.

Job openings. Establishments submit job openings

information for the last business day of the reference month.

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

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

within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is

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

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

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

Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps

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

posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using

other similar methods.

Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,

demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

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

for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported

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

agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or

consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing

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

openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.

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

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

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

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees

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

on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after

having been formally separated, and transfers from other

locations. The hires count does not include transfers or

promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from

strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The

hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by

employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.

Separations. Separations are the total number of

terminations of employment occurring at any time during the

reference month, and are reported by type of separation—

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

voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal

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

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

discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term

employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other

separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,

deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not

include transfers within the same location or employees on

strike.

The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of

separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by

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

rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

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 annual level by the

Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average

employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This

figure will be approximately 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 estimates

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.

Sample methodology

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

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

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

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

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

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

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into

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

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

Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely

enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental

panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates

were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data

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

Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with

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

In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and

separations data were revised to address possible

underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations

estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

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

of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal

government time series.

Seasonal adjustment

BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the

X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal

adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic

fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,

and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal

adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in

the level of the series, particularly those associated with

general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent

seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new

seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using

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

month.

Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the

JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than

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

larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in

economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard

use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these

effects requires longer series than are currently available. As

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

adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal

factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

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

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

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

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

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

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

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

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

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.
The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

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

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

unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,

mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or

processing of the data, and errors from the employment

benchmark data used in estimation.

JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to

exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.

Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in

payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,

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

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

month, while the reference period for hires and separations is

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

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

may not always work during the pay period that includes the

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

reporters systematically underreport separations relative to

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

payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be

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

Other information

Information in this release will be made available to sensory

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

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

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

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4........................................................................................................... 3,697 4,089 4,070 3,945 3,960 3,844 4,145 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 3,239 3,633 3,603 3,496 3,476 3,363 3,683 2.8 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1

Construction........................................................................ 133 144 138 119 161 148 180 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.3

Manufacturing................................................................ 256 318 323 311 301 305 323 1.8 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 637 651 672 687 640 605 704 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.3 2.6

Professional and business services......................... 687 702 748 693 616 651 685 3.9 3.9 4.2 3.9 3.4 3.6 3.8

Education and health services................................................. 620 692 674 651 659 643 674 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.6

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 426 506 485 496 487 482 496 3.2 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7

Government......................................................................................... 459 458 467 452 467 478 467 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 617 732 672 670 699 699 736 2.4 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8

South............................................................................................... 1,442 1,634 1,600 1,591 1,507 1,498 1,596 2.9 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 724 721 770 787 777 739 820 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.5

West...................................................................................... 925 985 1,022 918 935 911 982 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.2

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, 

of the month. North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,

day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,

 

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,

seasonal adjustment of the various series. Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,

 

4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and Wyoming.

and other services, not shown separately. 

p

 = preliminary.

 

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, 

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

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

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,824 4,884 4,649 4,949 4,899 4,995 4,694 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.5

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 4,489 4,503 4,301 4,573 4,508 4,741 4,299 4.0 4.0 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.2 3.8

Construction........................................................................ 446 344 376 374 366 365 383 6.1 4.6 5.0 5.0 4.9 4.9 5.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 346 341 328 385 378 380 342 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,043 1,103 1,029 1,018 1,099 1,045 1,018 4.0 4.2 4.0 3.9 4.2 4.0 3.9

Professional and business services......................... 900 922 858 1,006 905 967 841 5.3 5.4 5.0 5.8 5.2 5.6 4.8

Education and health services................................................. 468 435 481 549 465 521 483 2.7 2.5 2.7 3.1 2.6 2.9 2.7

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 818 899 775 811 846 850 801 6.4 6.9 6.0 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.1

Government......................................................................................... 342 397 361 379 392 338 374 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.5 1.7

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 805 914 849 852 729 841 694 3.2 3.6 3.3 3.3 2.9 3.3 2.7

South............................................................................................... 1,870 1,803 1,777 1,849 1,877 1,849 1,836 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.8

Midwest......................................................................................... 955 1,117 965 1,133 1,072 1,123 966 3.1 3.5 3.1 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.1

West...................................................................................... 1,186 1,127 1,152 1,114 1,207 1,177 1,172 4.0 3.8 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.9 3.9

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

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

3

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

4

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

5

 See footnote 5, table 1. 

p

 = preliminary.

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

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

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4........................................................................................................... 4,633 4,681 4,495 4,811 4,631 4,479 4,287 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 4,377 4,360 4,203 4,488 4,299 4,168 4,033 3.9 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 454 422 373 478 324 415 346 6.2 5.6 5.0 6.4 4.3 5.5 4.6

Manufacturing................................................................ 392 427 346 381 370 358 364 2.8 3.0 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.6

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 1,036 989 1,022 1,046 1,082 935 994 4.0 3.8 3.9 4.0 4.2 3.6 3.8

Professional and business services......................... 754 798 790 833 755 735 686 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.8 4.4 4.2 3.9

Education and health services................................................. 434 399 437 487 424 431 458 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.6

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 815 769 770 799 802 818 791 6.3 5.9 5.9 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.1

Government......................................................................................... 265 326 302 324 315 306 267 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.2

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 772 714 711 779 724 763 620 3.1 2.8 2.8 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.4

South............................................................................................... 1,692 1,810 1,710 1,828 1,858 1,687 1,702 3.5 3.8 3.5 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,053 1,014 992 1,045 871 1,087 895 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.3 2.8 3.4 2.8

West...................................................................................... 1,140 1,188 1,116 1,136 1,137 979 1,094 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.7

 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.

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

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

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total4........................................................................................................... 2,651 2,763 2,541 2,723 2,699 2,623 2,586 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private4............................................................................................ 2,517 2,606 2,383 2,565 2,554 2,469 2,439 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.1

Construction........................................................................ 208 182 167 207 154 157 155 2.8 2.4 2.2 2.8 2.0 2.1 2.1

Manufacturing................................................................ 186 205 175 202 190 189 201 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 640 598 613 622 615 586 602 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3

Professional and business services......................... 387 426 409 434 386 412 377 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.2

Education and health services................................................. 275 267 253 276 290 277 301 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 543 561 535 533 622 549 549 4.2 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.8 4.2 4.2

Government......................................................................................... 132 156 159 159 146 156 146 .6 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 410 383 370 370 358 378 374 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5

South............................................................................................... 1,094 1,129 1,026 1,152 1,153 1,081 1,121 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 544 619 575 581 552 562 529 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7

West...................................................................................... 611 642 593 612 631 598 579 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0 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.

5 See footnote 5, table 1.

p

 = preliminary.

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,001 4,046 4,495 2.9 2.9 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,493 3,529 3,981 3.0 3.0 3.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 11 13 16 1.7 1.9 2.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 136 163 199 1.7 2.1 2.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 275 323 347 1.9 2.2 2.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 181 213 219 2.0 2.3 2.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 93 110 129 1.7 2.0 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 707 622 788 2.6 2.3 2.9

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 138 125 160 2.3 2.1 2.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 461 358 454 2.9 2.3 2.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 108 139 174 2.2 2.7 3.4

Information...................................................................................... 97 157 169 3.1 4.9 5.2

Financial activities........................................................................... 243 236 248 2.9 2.7 2.9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 197 186 201 3.2 2.9 3.2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 45 50 47 2.0 2.2 2.1

Professional and business services........................................ 755 659 759 4.2 3.6 4.1

Education and health services................................................................. 661 661 722 3.7 3.7 4.0

Educational services................................................................ 67 62 63 2.6 2.4 2.4

Health care and social assistance.................................. 594 599 659 3.9 3.9 4.2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 475 539 553 3.4 3.8 3.9

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 65 61 53 2.9 2.6 2.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 410 479 500 3.5 4.0 4.2

Other services................................................................................. 133 155 180 2.4 2.8 3.2

Government......................................................................................... 508 517 514 2.4 2.4 2.4

Federal................................................................................................ 40 47 60 1.5 1.7 2.1

State and local.................................................................................... 468 470 454 2.5 2.5 2.4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 682 712 820 2.6 2.7 3.1

South............................................................................................... 1,521 1,579 1,689 3.1 3.2 3.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 798 801 913 2.5 2.5 2.8

West....................................................................................................... 1,000 954 1,073 3.3 3.1 3.4

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.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 6. Hires levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,591 5,276 5,397 4.2 3.9 4.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 5,054 4,903 4,806 4.5 4.3 4.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 24 23 26 3.7 3.3 3.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 454 376 393 6.0 4.8 5.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 397 416 391 2.8 2.9 2.7

Durable goods.............................................................................. 223 238 241 2.5 2.6 2.7

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 174 178 150 3.3 3.4 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,158 1,025 1,116 4.5 3.9 4.3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 153 133 155 2.6 2.3 2.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 825 717 749 5.4 4.7 4.9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 180 175 213 3.7 3.5 4.3

Information...................................................................................... 81 99 102 2.6 3.2 3.3

Financial activities........................................................................... 185 274 180 2.3 3.3 2.2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 118 177 120 2.0 2.9 2.0

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 68 97 60 3.1 4.4 2.7

Professional and business services........................................ 1,030 1,017 946 6.0 5.8 5.4

Education and health services................................................................. 585 569 600 3.4 3.3 3.4

Educational services................................................................ 89 70 95 3.6 2.8 3.8

Health care and social assistance.................................. 497 499 506 3.4 3.4 3.4

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 928 898 899 6.9 6.5 6.6

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 106 121 106 4.9 5.4 4.9

Accommodations and food services............................... 822 776 793 7.3 6.7 6.9

Other services................................................................................. 212 206 152 3.9 3.8 2.8

Government......................................................................................... 536 373 591 2.6 1.8 2.8

Federal................................................................................................ 46 29 34 1.7 1.1 1.3

State and local.................................................................................... 490 344 557 2.7 1.9 3.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 885 942 748 3.5 3.7 2.9

South............................................................................................... 2,220 1,949 2,179 4.6 4.0 4.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,150 1,126 1,148 3.7 3.6 3.6

West....................................................................................................... 1,335 1,260 1,322 4.5 4.2 4.4

 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.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 5,951 4,717 5,480 4.5 3.5 4.1

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 5,544 4,327 5,072 4.9 3.8 4.4

Natural resources and mining................................................... 26 16 24 4.1 2.3 3.4

Construction...................................................................................................... 544 372 399 7.1 4.8 5.1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 477 387 450 3.3 2.7 3.1

Durable goods.............................................................................. 316 240 273 3.5 2.7 3.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 161 147 176 3.0 2.8 3.3

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,230 928 1,174 4.7 3.6 4.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 151 163 181 2.6 2.8 3.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 892 619 807 5.8 4.1 5.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 187 146 186 3.8 3.0 3.8

Information...................................................................................... 98 83 96 3.2 2.7 3.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 222 246 244 2.7 2.9 2.9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 160 149 160 2.7 2.4 2.6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 62 97 84 2.8 4.4 3.8

Professional and business services........................................ 979 827 869 5.7 4.7 4.9

Education and health services................................................................. 557 476 585 3.3 2.7 3.4

Educational services................................................................ 74 65 96 3.0 2.6 3.8

Health care and social assistance.................................. 483 411 489 3.3 2.8 3.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 1,030 831 991 7.6 6.0 7.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 182 100 145 8.4 4.5 6.6

Accommodations and food services............................... 848 731 846 7.5 6.3 7.3

Other services................................................................................. 379 160 240 7.0 2.9 4.4

Government......................................................................................... 407 390 408 2.0 1.9 2.0

Federal................................................................................................ 48 38 39 1.8 1.4 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 359 352 369 2.0 2.0 2.0

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 1,023 753 818 4.1 3.0 3.2

South............................................................................................... 2,190 1,811 2,191 4.6 3.7 4.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,391 1,100 1,168 4.5 3.5 3.7

West....................................................................................................... 1,347 1,053 1,303 4.5 3.5 4.3

 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 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates
Table 8. Quits levels1

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,685 2,900 3,567 2.8 2.1 2.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,470 2,713 3,336 3.1 2.4 2.9

Natural resources and mining................................................... 11 9 16 1.8 1.3 2.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 256 178 201 3.4 2.3 2.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 262 218 285 1.8 1.5 2.0

Durable goods.............................................................................. 156 129 173 1.7 1.4 1.9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 106 89 112 2.0 1.7 2.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 861 606 807 3.3 2.3 3.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 98 85 118 1.7 1.4 2.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 644 431 570 4.2 2.8 3.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 120 90 120 2.4 1.8 2.4

Information...................................................................................... 67 61 73 2.2 2.0 2.4

Financial activities........................................................................... 154 150 146 1.9 1.8 1.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 106 97 102 1.8 1.6 1.7

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 48 53 44 2.2 2.4 2.0

Professional and business services........................................ 561 471 533 3.3 2.7 3.0

Education and health services................................................................. 367 299 405 2.2 1.7 2.3

Educational services................................................................ 47 39 62 1.9 1.6 2.5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 320 259 343 2.2 1.7 2.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 746 611 754 5.5 4.4 5.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 84 52 82 3.9 2.3 3.8

Accommodations and food services............................... 662 560 672 5.9 4.9 5.8

Other services................................................................................. 184 110 117 3.4 2.0 2.2

Government......................................................................................... 215 187 231 1.0 .9 1.1

Federal................................................................................................ 24 17 22 .9 .6 .8

State and local.................................................................................... 191 170 210 1.1 .9 1.2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 589 418 534 2.3 1.6 2.1

South............................................................................................... 1,461 1,223 1,487 3.1 2.5 3.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 798 594 757 2.6 1.9 2.4

West....................................................................................................... 837 666 788 2.8 2.2 2.6

 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.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,907 1,398 1,582 1.4 1.0 1.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,765 1,264 1,463 1.6 1.1 1.3

Natural resources and mining................................................... 9 3 3 1.4 .4 .5

Construction...................................................................................................... 261 170 184 3.4 2.2 2.4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 164 125 131 1.1 .9 .9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 118 79 78 1.3 .9 .9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 46 46 53 .9 .9 1.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 308 239 294 1.2 .9 1.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 43 53 57 .7 .9 1.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 210 144 188 1.4 .9 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................55 41 49 1.1 .8 1.0

Information...................................................................................... 21 16 19 .7 .5 .6

Financial activities........................................................................... 54 68 80 .7 .8 1.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 44 29 45 .7 .5 .7

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 10 39 35 .4 1.8 1.6

Professional and business services........................................ 365 274 290 2.1 1.6 1.6

Education and health services................................................................. 153 130 146 .9 .7 .8

Educational services................................................................ 22 22 31 .9 .9 1.2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 130 108 116 .9 .7 .8

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 248 200 207 1.8 1.5 1.5

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 95 47 58 4.3 2.1 2.6

Accommodations and food services............................... 153 152 149 1.4 1.3 1.3

Other services................................................................................. 182 38 109 3.4 .7 2.0

Government......................................................................................... 142 134 119 .7 .6 .6

Federal................................................................................................ 15 10 12 .5 .4 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 127 124 107 .7 .7 .6

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 374 260 232 1.5 1.0 .9

South............................................................................................... 591 439 578 1.2 .9 1.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 512 386 338 1.6 1.2 1.1

West....................................................................................................... 430 313 435 1.4 1.0 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.

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

 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 359 420 331 0.3 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 310 350 273 .3 .3 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 4 4 1.0 .6 .5

Construction...................................................................................................... 27 23 14 .4 .3 .2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 51 43 35 .4 .3 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 42 32 23 .5 .4 .3

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 9 11 12 .2 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 61 83 73 .2 .3 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 10 25 7 .2 .4 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 39 43 49 .3 .3 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities......................12 15 17 .3 .3 .3

Information...................................................................................... 11 6 4 .4 .2 .1

Financial activities........................................................................... 15 28 19 .2 .3 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 10 23 13 .2 .4 .2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 4 5 6 .2 .2 .2

Professional and business services........................................ 53 82 47 .3 .5 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 37 47 34 .2 .3 .2

Educational services................................................................ 4 3 3 .2 .1 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 33 44 31 .2 .3 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 37 20 30 .3 .1 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 4 1 5 .2 .1 .2

Accommodations and food services............................... 33 19 25 .3 .2 .2

Other services................................................................................. 13 12 15 .2 .2 .3

Government......................................................................................... 49 70 58 .2 .3 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 9 11 5 .3 .4 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 41 59 52 .2 .3 .3

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 60 75 53 .2 .3 .2

South............................................................................................... 138 149 126 .3 .3 .3

Midwest................................................................................................. 81 121 72 .3 .4 .2

West....................................................................................................... 81 75 80 .3 .2 .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.

Levels (in thousands) Rates