Technical information:  (202) 691-5870      USDL 05-2144
               http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                            For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902      Tuesday, November 8, 2005


             JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  SEPTEMBER 2005


   The job openings rate increased in September while the hires and total
separations rates were unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This release includes estimates
of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the
total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
     
Job Openings

   On the last business day of September 2005, there were 3.7 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.7 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate rose in September, continuing the
generally upward trend that began in September 2003.  Over the month, the
job openings rate increased in government and in the South region.

Hires and Separations

   The hires rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in September.  (See table
2.)  Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  Over the
month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or
region.

   The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent
in September.  (See table 3.)  Separations are terminations of employment
that occur at any time during the month.  In September, the total separa-
tions rate increased in the professional and business services industry
and in government.  The total separations rates in the four geographic
regions did not change significantly from August.
     
   Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and
discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including
retirements).  The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers'
ability to change jobs, was essentially unchanged at 2.0 percent in
September.  (See table 4.)  The quits rate increased in manufacturing
and in professional and business services, but did not change signifi-
cantly in any geographic region.


   -------------------------------------------------------------------
  |                    Hurricanes Katrina and Rita                    |
  |                                                                   |
  |     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck Florida and the Gulf       |
  | Coast, potentially affecting estimates for August and September.  |
  | While JOLTS does not produce data at the detailed local level,    |
  | some effect of the storms may be reflected in the JOLTS estimates.|
   -------------------------------------------------------------------      

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------|--------------------|--------------------
     Industry      | Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.| Sept.| Aug. | Sept.
                   | 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,265 |3,487 |3,677 |4,406 |4,601 |4,589 |4,214 |4,499 |4,610
  Total private(1).|2,905 |3,130 |3,251 |3,957 |4,276 |4,231 |3,918 |4,235 |4,318
    Construction...|  105 |  136 |  151 |  363 |  435 |  435 |  377 |  452 |  425
    Manufacturing..|  245 |  266 |  276 |  361 |  344 |  341 |  368 |  369 |  404
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |   
     utilities.....|  609 |  620 |  609 |  908 |  998 |  971 |  909 |1,019 |  988
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  583 |  590 |  667 |  761 |  786 |  843 |  686 |  670 |  802
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  529 |  604 |  620 |  416 |  465 |  457 |  380 |  406 |  452 
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  419 |  427 |  457 |  772 |  771 |  785 |  732 |  785 |  821
  Government.......|  360 |  370 |  426 |  375 |  337 |  339 |  305 |  271 |  298
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.4 |  2.5 |  2.7 |  3.3 |  3.4 |  3.4 |  3.2 |  3.4 |  3.4
  Total private(1).|  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.8 |  3.6 |  3.8 |  3.8 |  3.6 |  3.8 |  3.8
    Construction...|  1.5 |  1.8 |  2.0 |  5.2 |  6.0 |  6.0 |  5.4 |  6.2 |  5.8
    Manufacturing..|  1.7 |  1.8 |  1.9 |  2.5 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  2.6 |  2.6 |  2.8
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.3 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  3.6 |  3.8 |  3.8 |  3.6 |  3.9 |  3.8
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.4 |  3.4 |  3.8 |  4.6 |  4.6 |  4.9 |  4.2 |  3.9 |  4.7
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.0 |  3.3 |  3.4 |  2.4 |  2.7 |  2.6 |  2.2 |  2.3 |  2.6
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.2 |  3.2 |  3.5 |  6.2 |  6.0 |  6.2 |  5.8 |  6.1 |  6.4
  Government.......|  1.6 |  1.7 |  1.9 |  1.7 |  1.5 |  1.6 |  1.4 |  1.2 |  1.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
                                  
     
   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From September 2004 to
September 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged at 1.3 percent,
but the other separations rate decreased to 0.2 percent.  (See tables 9
an 10.)
     
   Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.7 million per month and
separations have averaged 4.4 million per month (not seasonally adjusted).
The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.4 million hires and 4.2 million
separations.  (See the Technical Note for additional information on these
measures.)

                                  - 3 -


For More Information

   For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the
JOLTS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about
JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling
(202) 691-5870.


                      ______________________________



   The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for October 2005 is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, December 13, 2005.
     




                                  - 4 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always 
introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the 
first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 5 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
                                  - 6 -

Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.
   
  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
                                  - 7 -

Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  3,265  3,576  3,416  3,647  3,588  3,487  3,677    2.4   2.6   2.5   2.7   2.6   2.5   2.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,905  3,178  3,050  3,239  3,204  3,130  3,251    2.6   2.8   2.7   2.8   2.8   2.7   2.8
  Construction.........................    105    113    107    104    128    136    151    1.5   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.7   1.8   2.0
  Manufacturing........................    245    259    240    269    287    266    276    1.7   1.8   1.6   1.8   2.0   1.8   1.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    609    627    597    624    600    620    609    2.3   2.4   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.3
  Professional and business services...    583    691    659    686    666    590    667    3.4   3.9   3.8   3.9   3.8   3.4   3.8
  Education and health services........    529    608    611    609    607    604    620    3.0   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.3   3.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    419    457    440    517    439    427    457    3.2   3.5   3.3   3.9   3.3   3.2   3.5
 Government............................    360    396    378    394    388    370    426    1.6   1.8   1.7   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.9


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    564    602    563    634    610    609    628    2.2   2.3   2.2   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.4
  South................................  1,239  1,414  1,303  1,333  1,343  1,353  1,458    2.6   2.9   2.7   2.7   2.7   2.8   3.0
  Midwest..............................    699    742    786    781    764    704    742    2.2   2.3   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.2   2.3
  West.................................    797    818    799    869    832    841    869    2.7   2.7   2.7   2.9   2.8   2.8   2.9


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day 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            Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,406  4,538  4,740  4,694  4,649  4,601  4,589    3.3   3.4   3.6   3.5   3.5   3.4   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,957  4,212  4,398  4,365  4,342  4,276  4,231    3.6   3.8   3.9   3.9   3.9   3.8   3.8
  Construction.........................    363    412    420    393    381    435    435    5.2   5.7   5.8   5.4   5.3   6.0   6.0
  Manufacturing........................    361    319    342    347    345    344    341    2.5   2.2   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    908  1,042  1,030  1,045    990    998    971    3.6   4.0   4.0   4.0   3.8   3.8   3.8
  Professional and business services...    761    792    887    835    832    786    843    4.6   4.7   5.3   4.9   4.9   4.6   4.9
  Education and health services........    416    487    466    457    453    465    457    2.4   2.8   2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7   2.6
  Leisure and hospitality..............    772    742    750    877    834    771    785    6.2   5.8   5.9   6.9   6.5   6.0   6.2
 Government............................    375    329    339    337    330    337    339    1.7   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.5   1.5   1.6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    794    825    764    794    772    738    776    3.1   3.3   3.0   3.1   3.0   2.9   3.0
  South................................  1,754  1,701  1,816  1,786  1,689  1,750  1,777    3.8   3.6   3.8   3.8   3.6   3.7   3.7
  Midwest..............................    889  1,020  1,129  1,054  1,045    970    924    2.8   3.3   3.6   3.4   3.3   3.1   2.9
  West.................................    963  1,037  1,048  1,070  1,081  1,144  1,125    3.3   3.6   3.6   3.7   3.7   3.9   3.8


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,214  4,562  4,504  4,477  4,270  4,499  4,610    3.2   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.2   3.4   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,918  4,306  4,256  4,223  4,007  4,235  4,318    3.6   3.9   3.8   3.8   3.6   3.8   3.8
  Construction.........................    377    421    408    380    370    452    425    5.4   5.8   5.6   5.3   5.1   6.2   5.8
  Manufacturing........................    368    369    369    350    361    369    404    2.6   2.6   2.6   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    909  1,018    989    980    948  1,019    988    3.6   3.9   3.8   3.8   3.7   3.9   3.8
  Professional and business services...    686    869    851    818    747    670    802    4.2   5.2   5.1   4.8   4.4   3.9   4.7
  Education and health services........    380    433    405    401    391    406    452    2.2   2.5   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.6
  Leisure and hospitality..............    732    709    750    803    750    785    821    5.8   5.6   5.9   6.3   5.9   6.1   6.4
 Government............................    305    256    254    254    257    271    298    1.4   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.4


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    725    807    714    761    715    734    748    2.9   3.2   2.8   3.0   2.8   2.9   2.9
  South................................  1,604  1,766  1,743  1,653  1,567  1,639  1,744    3.4   3.7   3.7   3.5   3.3   3.4   3.7
  Midwest..............................    922    982    976    946  1,011  1,047  1,051    3.0   3.1   3.1   3.0   3.2   3.3   3.3
  West.................................    982  1,006  1,034  1,062  1,001  1,094  1,071    3.4   3.4   3.5   3.6   3.4   3.7   3.6


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Sept.  Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Sept. Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.  Sept.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  2,291  2,520  2,514  2,475  2,474  2,605  2,686    1.7   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.8   1.9   2.0

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,166  2,395  2,391  2,348  2,351  2,467  2,537    2.0   2.1   2.1   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.3
  Construction.........................    159    146    168    139    140    222    207    2.3   2.0   2.3   1.9   1.9   3.1   2.8
  Manufacturing........................    181    178    183    190    189    184    211    1.3   1.2   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    529    577    589    588    577    604    568    2.1   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.2
  Professional and business services...    358    417    420    386    353    374    447    2.2   2.5   2.5   2.3   2.1   2.2   2.6
  Education and health services........    235    272    249    256    271    260    281    1.4   1.6   1.4   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.6
  Leisure and hospitality..............    451    506    488    510    525    517    557    3.6   4.0   3.8   4.0   4.1   4.0   4.4
 Government............................    127    125    123    124    125    139    153     .6    .6    .6    .6    .6    .6    .7


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    317    446    373    350    381    380    372    1.3   1.8   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.5   1.5
  South................................    950    992  1,020    960    964  1,054  1,102    2.0   2.1   2.2   2.0   2.0   2.2   2.3
  Midwest..............................    492    540    554    542    548    570    600    1.6   1.7   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.8   1.9
  West.................................    541    573    562    653    577    585    617    1.9   2.0   1.9   2.2   2.0   2.0   2.1


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug.     Sept.         Sept.    Aug.     Sept.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,408    3,749    3,848           2.5      2.7      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,061    3,348    3,437           2.7      2.9      3.0
  Natural resources and mining..................     10       10       13           1.6      1.5      2.0
  Construction..................................    101      148      153           1.4      1.9      2.0
  Manufacturing.................................    256      285      287           1.7      1.9      2.0
   Durable goods................................    158      189      187           1.7      2.1      2.1
   Nondurable goods.............................     98       96       99           1.8      1.8      1.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    690      686      683           2.6      2.6      2.6
   Wholesale trade..............................    120      130      113           2.1      2.2      1.9
   Retail trade.................................    490      428      441           3.2      2.7      2.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     80      127      128           1.6      2.5      2.5
  Information...................................     71       98      105           2.2      3.0      3.2
  Financial activities..........................    236      236      247           2.8      2.8      2.9
   Finance and insurance........................    193      198      200           3.1      3.1      3.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     43       38       47           2.0      1.7      2.1
  Professional and business services............    609      629      704           3.5      3.5      3.9
  Education and health services.................    542      639      633           3.1      3.6      3.5
   Educational services.........................     47       65       65           1.7      2.5      2.3
   Health care and social assistance............    495      574      569           3.4      3.8      3.8
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    411      475      451           3.1      3.4      3.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     57       63       38           2.9      2.9      2.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    354      412      412           3.2      3.5      3.6
  Other services................................    135      144      162           2.4      2.5      2.9

 Government.....................................    347      401      410           1.6      1.9      1.9
  Federal.......................................     46       43       46           1.6      1.5      1.7
  State and local...............................    302      358      364           1.6      2.0      1.9

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    590      676      665           2.3      2.6      2.5
  South.........................................  1,266    1,399    1,511           2.6      2.9      3.1
  Midwest.......................................    739      779      782           2.3      2.4      2.4
  West..........................................    813      895      890           2.7      3.0      2.9


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.


Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug.     Sept.         Sept.    Aug.     Sept.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,918    5,296    5,114           3.7      4.0      3.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,329    4,778    4,581           3.9      4.2      4.1
  Natural resources and mining..................     21       19       17           3.4      3.0      2.6
  Construction..................................    373      447      454           5.2      5.9      6.0
  Manufacturing.................................    388      394      363           2.7      2.7      2.5
   Durable goods................................    241      216      219           2.7      2.4      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................    146      178      144           2.7      3.3      2.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,029    1,101    1,087           4.0      4.2      4.2
   Wholesale trade..............................    151      159      147           2.7      2.8      2.6
   Retail trade.................................    650      772      751           4.3      5.1      5.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    229      169      189           4.7      3.4      3.8
  Information...................................     65       84       81           2.1      2.6      2.6
  Financial activities..........................    200      186      176           2.5      2.2      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................    118      117      117           2.0      1.9      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     82       69       59           3.9      3.1      2.7
  Professional and business services............    763      862      851           4.6      5.0      5.0
  Education and health services.................    537      580      586           3.2      3.4      3.4
   Educational services.........................    116       92      121           4.3      3.7      4.3
   Health care and social assistance............    421      488      465           3.0      3.4      3.2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    766      875      783           6.0      6.5      6.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    130      104       76           6.8      4.9      4.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    636      771      708           5.9      6.8      6.4
  Other services................................    187      229      182           3.5      4.2      3.3

 Government.....................................    589      517      533           2.7      2.5      2.5
  Federal.......................................     44       44       57           1.6      1.6      2.1
  State and local...............................    545      473      476           2.9      2.6      2.5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................  1,018      779      996           4.0      3.1      3.9
  South.........................................  1,786    2,041    1,807           3.8      4.3      3.8
  Midwest.......................................  1,050    1,186    1,066           3.4      3.8      3.4
  West..........................................  1,063    1,289    1,245           3.7      4.4      4.2


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug.     Sept.         Sept.    Aug.     Sept.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,725    5,731    5,186           3.6      4.3      3.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,354    5,312    4,810           3.9      4.7      4.3
  Natural resources and mining..................     20       22       16           3.2      3.4      2.4
  Construction..................................    403      545      461           5.6      7.2      6.1
  Manufacturing.................................    372      448      414           2.6      3.1      2.9
   Durable goods................................    239      288      253           2.7      3.2      2.8
   Nondurable goods.............................    133      160      160           2.4      3.0      3.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    964    1,201    1,046           3.8      4.6      4.1
   Wholesale trade..............................    140      152      124           2.5      2.6      2.2
   Retail trade.................................    681      853      741           4.6      5.6      4.9
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    144      196      180           2.9      4.0      3.6
  Information...................................     75       90       99           2.4      2.9      3.2
  Financial activities..........................    232      234      170           2.9      2.8      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................    138      166      108           2.3      2.7      1.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     94       68       62           4.4      3.1      2.8
  Professional and business services............    691      844      812           4.2      4.9      4.7
  Education and health services.................    409      528      483           2.4      3.1      2.8
   Educational services.........................     70       77       89           2.6      3.1      3.2
   Health care and social assistance............    339      451      394           2.4      3.1      2.7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    970    1,008    1,107           7.6      7.5      8.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    246      175      230          12.9      8.3     12.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    724      833      877           6.7      7.4      7.9
  Other services................................    219      392      204           4.0      7.1      3.7

 Government.....................................    371      419      376           1.7      2.0      1.7
  Federal.......................................     32       44       49           1.2      1.6      1.8
  State and local...............................    339      375      327           1.8      2.1      1.7

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    896      954      925           3.5      3.8      3.6
  South.........................................  1,662    2,116    1,832           3.6      4.4      3.8
  Midwest.......................................  1,066    1,379    1,228           3.4      4.4      3.9
  West..........................................  1,101    1,281    1,202           3.8      4.4      4.1


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug.     Sept.         Sept.    Aug.     Sept.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  2,636    3,558    3,118           2.0      2.7      2.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,497    3,328    2,950           2.3      2.9      2.6
  Natural resources and mining..................     12       12        9           2.0      1.8      1.4
  Construction..................................    177      266      233           2.4      3.5      3.1
  Manufacturing.................................    204      255      243           1.4      1.8      1.7
   Durable goods................................    127      148      155           1.4      1.6      1.7
   Nondurable goods.............................     77      108       88           1.4      2.0      1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    613      812      649           2.4      3.1      2.5
   Wholesale trade..............................     85       97       75           1.5      1.7      1.3
   Retail trade.................................    461      598      484           3.1      3.9      3.2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     66      116       90           1.4      2.4      1.8
  Information...................................     40       62       69           1.3      2.0      2.2
  Financial activities..........................    123      166       91           1.5      2.0      1.1
   Finance and insurance........................     69      113       74           1.2      1.9      1.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     54       53       17           2.5      2.4       .8
  Professional and business services............    374      501      460           2.3      2.9      2.7
  Education and health services.................    262      344      318           1.6      2.0      1.8
   Educational services.........................     37       46       49           1.4      1.8      1.8
   Health care and social assistance............    226      298      268           1.6      2.0      1.8
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    571      710      751           4.5      5.3      5.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     62       64       66           3.3      3.0      3.5
   Accommodations and food services.............    508      646      684           4.7      5.7      6.2
  Other services................................    120      200      127           2.2      3.6      2.3

 Government.....................................    139      230      169            .6      1.1       .8
  Federal.......................................     10       21       20            .4       .8       .7
  State and local...............................    129      208      149            .7      1.2       .8

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    413      536      484           1.6      2.1      1.9
  South.........................................  1,034    1,402    1,213           2.2      2.9      2.5
  Midwest.......................................    571      822      710           1.8      2.6      2.3
  West..........................................    617      798      711           2.1      2.7      2.4


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug.     Sept.         Sept.    Aug.     Sept.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  1,742    1,819    1,770           1.3      1.4      1.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,559    1,685    1,619           1.4      1.5      1.4
  Natural resources and mining..................      4        9        5            .7      1.3       .8
  Construction..................................    194      253      212           2.7      3.3      2.8
  Manufacturing.................................    140      162      143           1.0      1.1      1.0
   Durable goods................................     90      118       81           1.0      1.3       .9
   Nondurable goods.............................     49       44       62            .9       .8      1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    296      326      337           1.2      1.3      1.3
   Wholesale trade..............................     47       43       27            .8       .7       .5
   Retail trade.................................    187      219      232           1.2      1.4      1.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     63       64       78           1.3      1.3      1.6
  Information...................................     23       21       21            .8       .7       .7
  Financial activities..........................     75       53       67            .9       .6       .8
   Finance and insurance........................     37       43       24            .6       .7       .4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     38       10       43           1.8       .5      2.0
  Professional and business services............    276      280      302           1.7      1.6      1.8
  Education and health services.................    116      149      130            .7       .9       .7
   Educational services.........................     30       26       37           1.1      1.0      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............     86      123       93            .6       .8       .6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    356      254      336           2.8      1.9      2.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    177      108      158           9.3      5.1      8.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    179      146      178           1.7      1.3      1.6
  Other services................................     79      179       65           1.5      3.2      1.2

 Government.....................................    183      134      151            .9       .7       .7
  Federal.......................................     10       11       13            .4       .4       .5
  State and local...............................    174      123      138            .9       .7       .7

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    403      347      400           1.6      1.4      1.6
  South.........................................    504      584      526           1.1      1.2      1.1
  Midwest.......................................    416      496      440           1.3      1.6      1.4
  West..........................................    419      393      404           1.5      1.3      1.4


  1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
  2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Sept.    Aug.     Sept.         Sept.    Aug.     Sept.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................    347      354      298           0.3      0.3      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    298      299      241            .3       .3       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      3        1        1            .5       .2       .2
  Construction..................................     32       26       15            .4       .3       .2
  Manufacturing.................................     28       31       27            .2       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     22       22       17            .2       .2       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................      6        9       10            .1       .2       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     55       64       60            .2       .2       .2
   Wholesale trade..............................      7       12       23            .1       .2       .4
   Retail trade.................................     33       36       26            .2       .2       .2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     15       16       12            .3       .3       .2
  Information...................................     11        7        9            .4       .2       .3
  Financial activities..........................     34       15       12            .4       .2       .1
   Finance and insurance........................     32        9       10            .5       .2       .2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      2        5        2            .1       .2       .1
  Professional and business services............     40       63       50            .2       .4       .3
  Education and health services.................     30       35       36            .2       .2       .2
   Educational services.........................      3        6        3            .1       .2       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     27       29       33            .2       .2       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     43       45       20            .3       .3       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      7        3        5            .4       .1       .3
   Accommodations and food services.............     37       42       15            .3       .4       .1
  Other services................................     20       12       12            .4       .2       .2

 Government.....................................     49       55       57            .2       .3       .3
  Federal.......................................     13       12       16            .5       .4       .6
  State and local...............................     36       43       40            .2       .2       .2

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     80       72       41            .3       .3       .2
  South.........................................    123      131       93            .3       .3       .2
  Midwest.......................................     79       62       78            .3       .2       .2
  West..........................................     64       90       87            .2       .3       .3


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.