Technical information:    (202) 691-5870        USDL 04-2098
                 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                                For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:            (202) 691-5902        Wednesday, October 13, 2004


               JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: AUGUST 2004

   The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or
no change from July to August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today.  The job openings rate was unchanged at
2.4 percent.  The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.3 percent, and
the total separations rate remained at 3.1 percent.  This release includes
estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for
the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
     
Job Openings

   On the last business day of August 2004, there were 3.2 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.4 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate has generally trended upward over the
last 12 months.  In August, the job openings rate showed little or no change
for the major industry categories.

Hires and Separations

   The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employ-
 ment) was 3.3 percent in August, little changed from a month earlier.  (See
table 2.)  Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  The
hires rate increased in education and health services over the month, while
other major industries showed little or no change in their hires rates.  The
hires rate in the West increased from a month earlier.

   The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separations
during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in August, unchanged
from the month before.  The total separations rate has been relatively un-
changed since December 2001, ranging from 2.9 percent to 3.3 percent.  Separa-
tions are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month.
(See table 3.)  In August, the total separations rate decreased in government
and showed little or no change for all other major industry categories.

   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 1.7 percent in August.  (See table
4.)  The quits rate increased in construction and decreased in education
and health services and government in over the month.

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug.
                   | 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|2,688 |3,237 |3,191 |4,010 |4,229 |4,358 |3,815 |4,074 |4,060
  Total private 1/.|2,364 |2,894 |2,854 |3,729 |3,930 |4,058 |3,572 |3,793 |3,843
    Construction...|  107 |   88 |  118 |  491 |  368 |  399 |  432 |  364 |  394
    Manufacturing..|  184 |  240 |  233 |  326 |  352 |  339 |  332 |  367 |  364
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  458 |  567 |  537 |  837 |  957 |  999 |  850 |  972 |  952
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  469 |  583 |  601 |  597 |  621 |  693 |  508 |  613 |  584
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  499 |  537 |  533 |  433 |  418 |  478 |  365 |  363 |  378
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  314 |  435 |  413 |  696 |  760 |  741 |  704 |  694 |  724
  Government.......|  328 |  343 |  340 |  289 |  310 |  308 |  250 |  273 |  225
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|  2.0 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  3.1 |  3.2 |  3.3 |  2.9 |  3.1 |  3.1
  Total private 1/.|  2.1 |  2.6 |  2.5 |  3.4 |  3.6 |  3.7 |  3.3 |  3.5 |  3.5
    Construction...|  1.6 |  1.3 |  1.7 |  7.3 |  5.3 |  5.8 |  6.4 |  5.3 |  5.7
    Manufacturing..|  1.3 |  1.6 |  1.6 |  2.3 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  2.3 |  2.5 |  2.5
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  1.8 |  2.2 |  2.1 |  3.3 |  3.8 |  3.9 |  3.4 |  3.8 |  3.7
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  2.8 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  3.7 |  3.8 |  4.2 |  3.2 |  3.7 |  3.5
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  2.9 |  3.1 |  3.0 |  2.6 |  2.5 |  2.8 |  2.2 |  2.1 |  2.2
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  2.5 |  3.4 |  3.2 |  5.7 |  6.2 |  6.0 |  5.8 |  5.6 |  5.9
  Government.......|  1.5 |  1.6 |  1.6 |  1.3 |  1.4 |  1.4 |  1.2 |  1.3 |  1.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1/ Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.


   Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market.  Over
the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.2 million per month and separations
have averaged 4.0 million per month.  (See the Technical Note for additional
information on these measures.)

For More Information

   For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS
Web site at www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about JOLTS also may
be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.


                      _________________________________


   The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for September 2004 is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, November 9, 2004.
                                  - 3 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always 
introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the 
first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 4 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
                                  - 5 -

Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.
   
  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
                                  - 6 -

Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Aug.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Aug.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  2,688  3,079  3,135  3,105  3,022  3,237  3,191    2.0   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,364  2,740  2,778  2,746  2,640  2,894  2,854    2.1   2.5   2.5   2.4   2.3   2.6   2.5
  Construction.........................    107    113    105    108     94     88    118    1.6   1.6   1.5   1.5   1.3   1.3   1.7
  Manufacturing........................    184    232    251    244    247    240    233    1.3   1.6   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.6   1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    458    524    531    521    503    567    537    1.8   2.0   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.2   2.1
  Professional and business services...    469    502    518    530    494    583    601    2.8   3.0   3.1   3.1   2.9   3.4   3.5
  Education and health services........    499    559    576    542    496    537    533    2.9   3.2   3.3   3.1   2.9   3.1   3.0
  Leisure and hospitality..............    314    370    376    391    421    435    413    2.5   2.9   3.0   3.1   3.3   3.4   3.2
 Government............................    328    353    354    360    380    343    340    1.5   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.7   1.6   1.6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    485    569    560    526    546    545    545    1.9   2.2   2.2   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.1
  South................................  1,021  1,176  1,191  1,164  1,164  1,280  1,290    2.2   2.5   2.5   2.5   2.4   2.7   2.7
  Midwest..............................    575    663    692    688    631    635    598    1.8   2.1   2.2   2.2   2.0   2.0   1.9
  West.................................    629    655    694    765    677    738    761    2.2   2.2   2.4   2.6   2.3   2.5   2.6


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.





Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Aug.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Aug.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  4,010  4,603  4,398  4,206  4,433  4,229  4,358    3.1   3.5   3.4   3.2   3.4   3.2   3.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,729  4,256  4,090  3,938  4,110  3,930  4,058    3.4   3.9   3.7   3.6   3.7   3.6   3.7
  Construction.........................    491    437    421    406    436    368    399    7.3   6.4   6.1   5.9   6.3   5.3   5.8
  Manufacturing........................    326    361    354    336    370    352    339    2.3   2.5   2.5   2.3   2.6   2.4   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    837  1,009  1,032    938    945    957    999    3.3   4.0   4.1   3.7   3.7   3.8   3.9
  Professional and business services...    597    713    609    631    692    621    693    3.7   4.4   3.7   3.8   4.2   3.8   4.2
  Education and health services........    433    444    460    451    428    418    478    2.6   2.6   2.7   2.7   2.5   2.5   2.8
  Leisure and hospitality..............    696    810    766    739    749    760    741    5.7   6.6   6.2   6.0   6.1   6.2   6.0
 Government............................    289    343    300    272    328    310    308    1.3   1.6   1.4   1.3   1.5   1.4   1.4


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    675    744    810    708    703    720    735    2.7   3.0   3.2   2.8   2.8   2.9   2.9
  South................................  1,512  1,781  1,582  1,606  1,709  1,640  1,643    3.3   3.9   3.4   3.5   3.7   3.5   3.5
  Midwest..............................    843  1,040    991    956  1,009    935    955    2.7   3.4   3.2   3.1   3.2   3.0   3.1
  West.................................    994  1,029  1,093    951  1,023    865  1,020    3.5   3.6   3.8   3.3   3.6   3.0   3.6


  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            Aug.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Aug.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  3,815  4,134  4,088  4,040  4,069  4,074  4,060    2.9   3.2   3.1   3.1   3.1   3.1   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,572  3,868  3,843  3,761  3,789  3,793  3,843    3.3   3.5   3.5   3.4   3.5   3.5   3.5
  Construction.........................    432    392    391    367    382    364    394    6.4   5.7   5.7   5.3   5.5   5.3   5.7
  Manufacturing........................    332    377    353    377    343    367    364    2.3   2.6   2.5   2.6   2.4   2.5   2.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    850    978  1,013    917    927    972    952    3.4   3.8   4.0   3.6   3.6   3.8   3.7
  Professional and business services...    508    597    606    556    607    613    584    3.2   3.7   3.7   3.4   3.7   3.7   3.5
  Education and health services........    365    382    386    379    362    363    378    2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.1   2.1   2.2
  Leisure and hospitality..............    704    715    679    696    734    694    724    5.8   5.8   5.5   5.6   5.9   5.6   5.9
 Government............................    250    284    245    268    270    273    225    1.2   1.3   1.1   1.2   1.3   1.3   1.0


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    644    666    716    648    704    674    717    2.6   2.7   2.9   2.6   2.8   2.7   2.8
  South................................  1,428  1,612  1,524  1,504  1,533  1,545  1,500    3.1   3.5   3.3   3.2   3.3   3.3   3.2
  Midwest..............................    848    938    877    833    853    935    827    2.8   3.0   2.8   2.7   2.7   3.0   2.7
  West.................................    903  1,003    959  1,008    979    945  1,041    3.2   3.5   3.4   3.5   3.4   3.3   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            Aug.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   Aug.   Aug.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July  Aug.
                                          2003   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004   2004p  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  1,984  2,271  2,278  2,173  2,284  2,265  2,229    1.5   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.7   1.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  1,881  2,144  2,151  2,036  2,162  2,141  2,122    1.7   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.0   2.0   1.9
  Construction.........................    138    154    149    144    156    101    144    2.0   2.3   2.2   2.1   2.3   1.5   2.1
  Manufacturing........................    150    176    189    171    171    174    157    1.0   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    462    530    563    525    536    559    552    1.8   2.1   2.2   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.2
  Professional and business services...    253    309    323    259    322    322    309    1.6   1.9   2.0   1.6   2.0   2.0   1.9
  Education and health services........    222    252    245    223    225    271    238    1.3   1.5   1.5   1.3   1.3   1.6   1.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    431    465    429    455    480    442    465    3.6   3.8   3.5   3.7   3.9   3.6   3.8
 Government............................    110    129    129    129    123    126    111     .5    .6    .6    .6    .6    .6    .5


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    295    314    390    318    334    338    337    1.2   1.3   1.6   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3
  South................................    805    957    888    857    910    901    880    1.8   2.1   1.9   1.8   2.0   1.9   1.9
  Midwest..............................    445    474    479    479    485    505    453    1.4   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.5
  West.................................    457    565    524    521    573    519    552    1.6   2.0   1.8   1.8   2.0   1.8   1.9


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Aug.     July     Aug.          Aug.     July     Aug.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  2,869    3,439    3,415           2.2      2.6      2.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,515    3,068    3,059           2.3      2.7      2.7
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        8        7           1.1      1.3      1.2
  Construction..................................     97      106      121           1.4      1.4      1.6
  Manufacturing.................................    199      263      251           1.4      1.8      1.7
   Durable goods................................    115      159      149           1.3      1.7      1.6
   Nondurable goods.............................     83      104      102           1.5      1.9      1.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    508      586      603           2.0      2.2      2.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    100      128      108           1.8      2.2      1.9
   Retail trade.................................    338      366      405           2.2      2.4      2.6
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     71       92       90           1.5      1.9      1.8
  Information...................................     53       81       77           1.6      2.5      2.4
  Financial activities..........................    179      207      214           2.2      2.5      2.6
   Finance and insurance........................    138      165      173           2.3      2.7      2.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     41       43       40           1.9      2.0      1.8
  Professional and business services............    470      601      627           2.8      3.5      3.6
  Education and health services.................    538      561      571           3.2      3.3      3.3
   Educational services.........................     45       49       52           1.9      2.0      2.1
   Health care and social assistance............    492      512      519           3.4      3.5      3.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    350      497      459           2.7      3.7      3.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     35       49       47           1.7      2.3      2.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    316      448      411           2.9      4.0      3.6
  Other services................................    114      157      130           2.1      2.8      2.3

 Government.....................................    354      371      355           1.7      1.8      1.7
  Federal.......................................     41       37       43           1.5      1.3      1.6
  State and local...............................    312      334      312           1.7      1.9      1.7

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    537      574      607           2.1      2.2      2.4
  South.........................................  1,026    1,373    1,334           2.2      2.9      2.8
  Midwest.......................................    652      686      667           2.1      2.2      2.1
  West..........................................    653      805      806           2.3      2.7      2.7


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  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                  Aug.     July     Aug.          Aug.     July     Aug.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  4,599    4,456    5,011           3.6      3.4      3.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,143    4,110    4,524           3.8      3.7      4.1
  Natural resources and mining..................     15       20       20           2.6      3.3      3.3
  Construction..................................    484      403      380           6.9      5.6      5.2
  Manufacturing.................................    374      387      376           2.6      2.7      2.6
   Durable goods................................    222      240      230           2.5      2.7      2.5
   Nondurable goods.............................    152      146      146           2.7      2.7      2.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    908      938    1,095           3.6      3.7      4.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    134      132      185           2.4      2.3      3.3
   Retail trade.................................    652      662      725           4.4      4.4      4.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    122      145      186           2.6      3.0      3.9
  Information...................................     72       60       74           2.3      1.9      2.3
  Financial activities..........................    164      186      181           2.0      2.3      2.2
   Finance and insurance........................     97       93      115           1.6      1.6      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     67       93       67           3.2      4.4      3.1
  Professional and business services............    652      647      773           4.0      3.9      4.6
  Education and health services.................    512      465      588           3.2      2.8      3.5
   Educational services.........................    106       64       90           4.5      2.6      3.8
   Health care and social assistance............    406      401      498           2.9      2.8      3.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    776      804      825           6.1      6.2      6.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     95      108       72           4.6      5.2      3.5
   Accommodations and food services.............    681      697      753           6.4      6.4      6.9
  Other services................................    186      200      213           3.4      3.7      3.9

 Government.....................................    456      345      486           2.2      1.7      2.4
  Federal.......................................     37       40       33           1.3      1.5      1.2
  State and local...............................    419      305      454           2.4      1.7      2.6

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    691      820      760           2.8      3.3      3.0
  South.........................................  1,797    1,736    1,957           3.9      3.7      4.2
  Midwest.......................................  1,042      923    1,180           3.4      3.0      3.8
  West..........................................  1,069      977    1,113           3.8      3.4      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. 
  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                  Aug.     July     Aug.          Aug.     July     Aug.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  4,863    4,320    5,160           3.8      3.3      3.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,469    3,970    4,813           4.1      3.6      4.3
  Natural resources and mining..................     19       17       22           3.2      2.9      3.7
  Construction..................................    494      324      462           7.0      4.5      6.4
  Manufacturing.................................    403      389      437           2.8      2.7      3.0
   Durable goods................................    260      259      281           2.9      2.9      3.1
   Nondurable goods.............................    143      130      156           2.6      2.4      2.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    991      978    1,115           3.9      3.8      4.4
   Wholesale trade..............................    164      160      162           2.9      2.8      2.9
   Retail trade.................................    694      669      780           4.7      4.5      5.2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    134      149      172           2.8      3.1      3.6
  Information...................................     63       58       86           2.0      1.8      2.7
  Financial activities..........................    198      182      206           2.5      2.2      2.5
   Finance and insurance........................    115      105      139           1.9      1.8      2.3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     84       77       67           4.0      3.6      3.1
  Professional and business services............    649      669      739           4.0      4.0      4.4
  Education and health services.................    479      411      491           3.0      2.5      3.0
   Educational services.........................     69       54       64           2.9      2.2      2.7
   Health care and social assistance............    410      357      426           3.0      2.5      3.0
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    899      735      942           7.1      5.7      7.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    191       97       96           9.3      4.7      4.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    708      638      847           6.6      5.9      7.8
  Other services................................    273      207      312           5.0      3.8      5.7

 Government.....................................    394      351      348           1.9      1.7      1.7
  Federal.......................................     45       24       27           1.6       .9      1.0
  State and local...............................    349      326      321           2.0      1.8      1.8

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    847      672      953           3.4      2.7      3.8
  South.........................................  1,833    1,692    1,896           4.0      3.6      4.1
  Midwest.......................................  1,147      942    1,097           3.7      3.0      3.5
  West..........................................  1,036    1,015    1,215           3.7      3.5      4.2


  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                  Aug.     July     Aug.          Aug.     July     Aug.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  2,763    2,537    3,056           2.1      1.9      2.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,575    2,385    2,877           2.4      2.2      2.6
  Natural resources and mining..................      9       11       11           1.6      1.8      1.8
  Construction..................................    178      137      186           2.5      1.9      2.6
  Manufacturing.................................    218      206      224           1.5      1.4      1.5
   Durable goods................................    136      137      132           1.5      1.5      1.5
   Nondurable goods.............................     82       69       92           1.5      1.3      1.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    616      586      737           2.4      2.3      2.9
   Wholesale trade..............................     95       95       85           1.7      1.7      1.5
   Retail trade.................................    455      418      572           3.1      2.8      3.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     66       74       80           1.4      1.5      1.7
  Information...................................     40       40       61           1.2      1.2      1.9
  Financial activities..........................    132      127      130           1.6      1.6      1.6
   Finance and insurance........................     73       66       81           1.2      1.1      1.4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     59       60       48           2.8      2.8      2.3
  Professional and business services............    365      363      440           2.3      2.2      2.6
  Education and health services.................    295      291      313           1.8      1.7      1.9
   Educational services.........................     36       34       32           1.6      1.4      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............    259      257      281           1.9      1.8      2.0
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    594      503      646           4.7      3.9      5.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     89       50       55           4.3      2.4      2.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    506      453      591           4.7      4.2      5.4
  Other services................................    127      124      132           2.3      2.3      2.4

 Government.....................................    188      152      179            .9       .7       .9
  Federal.......................................     26       11       13            .9       .4       .5
  State and local...............................    162      141      165            .9       .8       .9

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    414      367      478           1.7      1.5      1.9
  South.........................................  1,063    1,056    1,156           2.3      2.3      2.5
  Midwest.......................................    669      540      670           2.2      1.7      2.2
  West..........................................    617      574      751           2.2      2.0      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. 
  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                  Aug.     July     Aug.          Aug.     July     Aug.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  1,788    1,452    1,758           1.4      1.1      1.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,638    1,322    1,646           1.5      1.2      1.5
  Natural resources and mining..................      7        5        7           1.2       .8      1.2
  Construction..................................    304      170      258           4.3      2.4      3.6
  Manufacturing.................................    147      155      179           1.0      1.1      1.2
   Durable goods................................    101      102      127           1.1      1.1      1.4
   Nondurable goods.............................     46       53       52            .8      1.0      1.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    325      324      303           1.3      1.3      1.2
   Wholesale trade..............................     59       58       63           1.0      1.0      1.1
   Retail trade.................................    208      204      164           1.4      1.4      1.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     58       63       76           1.2      1.3      1.6
  Information...................................     18       15       22            .6       .5       .7
  Financial activities..........................     45       33       46            .6       .4       .6
   Finance and insurance........................     27       23       30            .4       .4       .5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     19       11       16            .9       .5       .7
  Professional and business services............    225      254      258           1.4      1.5      1.5
  Education and health services.................    156       97      143           1.0       .6       .9
   Educational services.........................     29       17       28           1.2       .7      1.2
   Health care and social assistance............    127       79      115            .9       .6       .8
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    272      211      260           2.1      1.6      2.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    100       44       40           4.9      2.1      1.9
   Accommodations and food services.............    172      167      220           1.6      1.5      2.0
  Other services................................    137       57      171           2.5      1.0      3.1

 Government.....................................    150      130      112            .7       .6       .6
  Federal.......................................     11        5        7            .4       .2       .2
  State and local...............................    139      125      106            .8       .7       .6

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    377      236      393           1.5       .9      1.6
  South.........................................    640      526      619           1.4      1.1      1.3
  Midwest.......................................    413      334      356           1.3      1.1      1.1
  West..........................................    358      356      390           1.3      1.2      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                  Aug.     July     Aug.          Aug.     July     Aug.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................    312      331      346           0.2      0.3      0.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    256      263      289            .2       .2       .3
  Natural resources and mining..................      2        2        4            .4       .3       .7
  Construction..................................     12       18       19            .2       .2       .3
  Manufacturing.................................     37       28       34            .3       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     23       20       22            .3       .2       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................     15        8       12            .3       .1       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     50       68       75            .2       .3       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................     10        7       14            .2       .1       .2
   Retail trade.................................     31       48       45            .2       .3       .3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     10       13       16            .2       .3       .3
  Information...................................      5        3        4            .2       .1       .1
  Financial activities..........................     21       22       31            .3       .3       .4
   Finance and insurance........................     16       16       28            .3       .3       .5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      6        6        3            .3       .3       .1
  Professional and business services............     59       52       41            .4       .3       .2
  Education and health services.................     28       23       35            .2       .1       .2
   Educational services.........................      4        2        4            .2       .1       .2
   Health care and social assistance............     24       21       30            .2       .1       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     32       21       37            .3       .2       .3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      2        3        1            .1       .1       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     30       18       36            .3       .2       .3
  Other services................................      9       26       10            .2       .5       .2

 Government.....................................     56       69       57            .3       .3       .3
  Federal.......................................      8        9        7            .3       .3       .2
  State and local...............................     48       60       50            .3       .3       .3

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     56       69       82            .2       .3       .3
  South.........................................    130      110      120            .3       .2       .3
  Midwest.......................................     65       68       71            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     60       85       73            .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.