Technical information:  (202) 691-5870        USDL 06-821
               http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                              For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902        Tuesday, May 9, 2006

               JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  MARCH 2006

   The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or
no change in March, 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 March 2006, there were 4.0 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent.
The job openings rate was unchanged over the month but has generally
trended upward since September 2003.  In March, the job openings rates
decreased in leisure and hospitality and in the Midwest.  The industries
with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rates in March 2006 were
professional and business services (3.8 percent), education and health
services (3.7 percent), and leisure and hospitality (3.5 percent).  (See
table 1.)
     
   Over the year, the job openings rates increased in many industries and
in the West region; none of the industries or regions experienced a signif-
icant decrease in their job openings rates from the prior year.  (See
table 5.)
     
Hires and Separations

   The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.6 percent in March.  Hires
are any additions to the payroll during the month.  Over the month, the hires
rate did not change significantly in any industry but decreased in the South.
In March, the seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and
hospitality industry (7.3 percent).  (See table 2.)

   From March 2005 to March 2006, the hires rates rose in accommodation and
food services and in federal government.  Industries with over-the-year de-
clines in their hires rates were:  construction; information; and healthcare
and social assistance.  The only significant over-the-year change in the
hires rates for the regions was a decrease in the South.  (See table 6.)
   
   The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent
in March.  Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any
time during the month.  In March, the total separations rates increased in
construction and government and in the West region.  (See table 3.)

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Mar. | Feb. | Mar. | Mar. | Feb. | Mar. | Mar. | Feb. | Mar.
                   | 2005 | 2006 | 2006p| 2005 | 2006 | 2006p| 2005 | 2006 | 2006p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,658 |3,994 |3,989 |4,902 |4,954 |4,848 |4,610 |4,531 |4,642
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Total private(1).|3,284 |3,531 |3,549 |4,558 |4,578 |4,483 |4,341 |4,252 |4,331
    Construction...|  156 |  121 |  152 |  429 |  403 |  339 |  306 |  335 |  436
    Manufacturing..|  261 |  318 |  319 |  337 |  333 |  337 |  384 |  380 |  396
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  638 |  660 |  645 |1,082 |1,117 |1,115 |1,037 |  997 |  986
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  636 |  716 |  687 |  880 |  841 |  854 |  896 |  826 |  776
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  616 |  640 |  673 |  472 |  435 |  434 |  444 |  403 |  400
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  481 |  587 |  466 |  822 |1,019 |  945 |  775 |  881 |  818
  Government.......|  378 |  460 |  444 |  340 |  379 |  374 |  279 |  285 |  330
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.7 |  2.9 |  2.9 |  3.7 |  3.7 |  3.6 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.4
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Total private(1).|  2.9 |  3.0 |  3.0 |  4.1 |  4.1 |  4.0 |  3.9 |  3.8 |  3.8
    Construction...|  2.1 |  1.6 |  2.0 |  6.0 |  5.4 |  4.5 |  4.3 |  4.5 |  5.8
    Manufacturing..|  1.8 |  2.2 |  2.2 |  2.4 |  2.3 |  2.4 |  2.7 |  2.7 |  2.8
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.4 |  2.5 |  2.4 |  4.2 |  4.3 |  4.3 |  4.0 |  3.8 |  3.8
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.7 |  4.0 |  3.8 |  5.3 |  4.9 |  5.0 |  5.4 |  4.8 |  4.5
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  3.5 |  3.5 |  3.7 |  2.7 |  2.5 |  2.5 |  2.6 |  2.3 |  2.3
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.6 |  4.3 |  3.5 |  6.5 |  7.9 |  7.3 |  6.1 |  6.8 |  6.3
  Government.......|  1.7 |  2.1 |  2.0 |  1.6 |  1.7 |  1.7 |  1.3 |  1.3 |  1.5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.


   
   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, rose slightly to 2.1 percent in March.  The quits
rate did not change significantly for any particular industry; however,
rates rose at the total nonfarm, total private, and total government
levels.  The quits rate also rose in the Midwest region.  In March, the
seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality
industry (4.7 percent), which also had the highest hires rate.  (See
table 4.)
   
   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From March 2005 to
March 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 0.9 percent, with
decreases for total private and three of the four regions--the Northeast,
South, and Midwest.  For March 2006, the construction industry had the
highest layoffs and discharges rate.  From March 2005 to March 2006, the
other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent at the total nonfarm
level, but did increase in the West.  (See tables 9 and 10.)

                                  - 3 -

   Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.8 million per month and
separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted).
The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.7 million hires and 4.4 mil-
lion separations.  (See the Technical Note for additional information on
these measures.)

For More Information

   For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the
JOLTS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about
JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling
(202) 691-5870.
   
                       ______________________________                       
   

   The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for April 2006 is scheduled
to be issued on Tuesday, June 6, 2006.





                                  - 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 Workforce Agencies verify with employers and update,
if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classification of
all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establishment characteris-
tics resulting from the verification process are always introduced into the
JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 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.
   
   Annual estimates.  Annual estimates of rates and levels of hires, quits,
layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released
with the January news release each year.
   
   The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
other separations, and total separations are the sum of the 12 published
monthly levels.  The annual rate estimates are computed by dividing the an-
nual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employ-
ment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100.  This figure will be ap-
proximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly rates.  Note that both the
JOLTS and CES annual levels are rounded to the nearest thousand before the
annual estimates are calculated.  Consistent with BLS practices, annual es-
timates will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data.
   
   Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job
openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last business
day of each month.  Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are
counted.  For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout
each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created by summing
the monthly estimates.  Hires and separations are flow measures and are
cumulated over the month with a total reported for the month.  Therefore,
the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates.

                                  - 6 -

Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.

                                  - 7 -

  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  3,658  3,867  4,031  3,941  3,981  3,994  3,989    2.7   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.9   2.9   2.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,284  3,460  3,604  3,509  3,533  3,531  3,549    2.9   3.0   3.1   3.0   3.0   3.0   3.0
  Construction.........................    156    148    146    170    114    121    152    2.1   2.0   1.9   2.2   1.5   1.6   2.0
  Manufacturing........................    261    297    333    313    324    318    319    1.8   2.1   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    638    654    696    661    687    660    645    2.4   2.5   2.6   2.5   2.6   2.5   2.4
  Professional and business services...    636    723    782    750    777    716    687    3.7   4.1   4.4   4.2   4.3   4.0   3.8
  Education and health services........    616    613    601    618    627    640    673    3.5   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.4   3.5   3.7
  Leisure and hospitality..............    481    498    519    522    507    587    466    3.6   3.7   3.9   3.9   3.8   4.3   3.5
 Government............................    378    416    434    435    449    460    444    1.7   1.9   1.9   2.0   2.0   2.1   2.0


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    606    704    704    718    740    707    674    2.4   2.7   2.7   2.8   2.8   2.7   2.6
  South................................  1,467  1,515  1,562  1,612  1,550  1,547  1,601    3.0   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.1   3.1   3.2
  Midwest..............................    735    762    748    738    745    797    708    2.3   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.5   2.2
  West.................................    829    873  1,046    919    928    957    985    2.7   2.9   3.4   3.0   3.0   3.1   3.2


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
  p = preliminary.





Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,902  4,822  4,813  4,694  4,941  4,954  4,848    3.7   3.6   3.6   3.5   3.7   3.7   3.6

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,558  4,488  4,498  4,397  4,584  4,578  4,483    4.1   4.0   4.0   3.9   4.1   4.1   4.0
  Construction.........................    429    430    393    426    379    403    339    6.0   5.9   5.3   5.8   5.1   5.4   4.5
  Manufacturing........................    337    449    335    307    366    333    337    2.4   3.2   2.4   2.2   2.6   2.3   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,082    967    954  1,011  1,177  1,117  1,115    4.2   3.7   3.7   3.9   4.5   4.3   4.3
  Professional and business services...    880    849    907    849    953    841    854    5.3   5.0   5.3   5.0   5.6   4.9   5.0
  Education and health services........    472    460    459    467    446    435    434    2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7   2.5   2.5   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    822    859    895    853    847  1,019    945    6.5   6.7   6.9   6.6   6.6   7.9   7.3
 Government............................    340    319    314    293    352    379    374    1.6   1.5   1.4   1.3   1.6   1.7   1.7


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    877    744    747    698    727    814    879    3.5   2.9   3.0   2.8   2.9   3.2   3.5
  South................................  1,913  1,886  1,813  1,817  1,946  2,061  1,817    4.0   3.9   3.8   3.8   4.1   4.3   3.8
  Midwest..............................  1,056  1,017  1,031  1,038  1,043  1,045  1,126    3.4   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.6
  West.................................  1,077  1,154  1,188  1,127  1,176  1,083  1,057    3.7   3.9   4.0   3.8   4.0   3.6   3.5


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,610  4,359  4,476  4,359  4,285  4,531  4,642    3.5   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.2   3.4   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,341  4,103  4,205  4,067  3,995  4,252  4,331    3.9   3.7   3.7   3.6   3.5   3.8   3.8
  Construction.........................    306    392    371    348    374    335    436    4.3   5.3   5.0   4.7   5.0   4.5   5.8
  Manufacturing........................    384    340    388    355    353    380    396    2.7   2.4   2.7   2.5   2.5   2.7   2.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,037    935  1,003  1,027    880    997    986    4.0   3.6   3.9   3.9   3.4   3.8   3.8
  Professional and business services...    896    757    753    735    780    826    776    5.4   4.5   4.4   4.3   4.6   4.8   4.5
  Education and health services........    444    404    418    400    353    403    400    2.6   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.0   2.3   2.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    775    798    834    843    848    881    818    6.1   6.2   6.5   6.5   6.6   6.8   6.3
 Government............................    279    255    270    270    300    285    330    1.3   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.4   1.3   1.5


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    823    657    619    685    701    736    676    3.3   2.6   2.4   2.7   2.8   2.9   2.7
  South................................  1,752  1,710  1,711  1,759  1,653  1,694  1,823    3.7   3.6   3.6   3.7   3.4   3.5   3.8
  Midwest..............................  1,109    961  1,081    934    987  1,032  1,029    3.6   3.1   3.5   3.0   3.1   3.3   3.3
  West.................................    995  1,012  1,004    997    970  1,054  1,174    3.4   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.3   3.5   3.9


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Mar.   Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Mar.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.
                                          2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  2,552  2,619  2,683  2,567  2,577  2,663  2,814    1.9   2.0   2.0   1.9   1.9   2.0   2.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,423  2,470  2,540  2,428  2,435  2,526  2,667    2.2   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.4
  Construction.........................    145    205    183    189    179    153    191    2.0   2.8   2.5   2.6   2.4   2.0   2.5
  Manufacturing........................    182    200    210    184    196    202    212    1.3   1.4   1.5   1.3   1.4   1.4   1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    606    573    606    634    551    602    611    2.3   2.2   2.3   2.4   2.1   2.3   2.3
  Professional and business services...    422    345    359    365    415    422    427    2.5   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.4   2.5   2.5
  Education and health services........    297    258    277    254    225    279    270    1.7   1.5   1.6   1.4   1.3   1.6   1.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    472    597    595    558    569    607    606    3.7   4.6   4.6   4.3   4.4   4.7   4.7
 Government............................    131    142    142    139    143    139    156     .6    .6    .6    .6    .7    .6    .7


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    413    341    333    390    369    368    397    1.6   1.3   1.3   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.6
  South................................  1,003  1,109  1,102  1,069  1,068  1,114  1,175    2.1   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.4
  Midwest..............................    574    552    572    481    571    600    662    1.9   1.8   1.8   1.5   1.8   1.9   2.1
  West.................................    581    601    657    618    569    567    607    2.0   2.0   2.2   2.1   1.9   1.9   2.0


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  3,642    3,837    3,975           2.7      2.8      2.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,271    3,413    3,540           2.9      3.0      3.1
  Natural resources and mining..................     13       12       11           2.1      1.9      1.7
  Construction..................................    159      109      168           2.3      1.5      2.3
  Manufacturing.................................    265      323      326           1.8      2.2      2.3
   Durable goods................................    172      228      225           1.9      2.5      2.5
   Nondurable goods.............................     93       95      101           1.7      1.8      1.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    640      595      643           2.4      2.3      2.4
   Wholesale trade..............................    130      145      144           2.2      2.5      2.4
   Retail trade.................................    409      337      380           2.7      2.2      2.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    101      112      119           2.0      2.2      2.4
  Information...................................     74      116      121           2.3      3.7      3.8
  Financial activities..........................    215      298      300           2.6      3.5      3.5
   Finance and insurance........................    180      256      241           2.9      4.0      3.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     35       42       59           1.7      2.0      2.7
  Professional and business services............    621      707      663           3.6      4.0      3.7
  Education and health services.................    609      629      671           3.4      3.4      3.6
   Educational services.........................     55       66       76           1.8      2.2      2.5
   Health care and social assistance............    553      563      594           3.7      3.7      3.9
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    542      557      516           4.2      4.3      3.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     59       51       49           3.3      3.0      2.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    483      505      467           4.3      4.5      4.1
  Other services................................    134       69      120           2.4      1.3      2.2

 Government.....................................    371      424      436           1.6      1.9      1.9
  Federal.......................................     50       49       48           1.8      1.8      1.8
  State and local...............................    321      375      388           1.6      1.9      1.9

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    594      659      653           2.3      2.6      2.5
  South.........................................  1,456    1,531    1,596           3.0      3.1      3.2
  Midwest.......................................    775      746      740           2.5      2.3      2.3
  West..........................................    817      900      986           2.7      3.0      3.2


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.







Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  4,699    4,132    4,644           3.6      3.1      3.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,464    3,863    4,382           4.1      3.5      3.9
  Natural resources and mining..................     24       17       20           3.9      2.7      3.2
  Construction..................................    476      333      371           7.0      4.7      5.2
  Manufacturing.................................    350      309      351           2.5      2.2      2.5
   Durable goods................................    220      177      214           2.5      2.0      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................    130      132      137           2.5      2.6      2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    995      856    1,030           3.9      3.3      4.0
   Wholesale trade..............................    148      121      122           2.6      2.1      2.1
   Retail trade.................................    700      579      728           4.7      3.9      4.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    147      155      180           3.0      3.2      3.7
  Information...................................     82       97       60           2.7      3.2      2.0
  Financial activities..........................    196      194      186           2.4      2.4      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................    113      119      118           1.9      2.0      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     84       75       68           4.0      3.5      3.2
  Professional and business services............    864      755      832           5.2      4.5      4.9
  Education and health services.................    441      374      402           2.5      2.1      2.3
   Educational services.........................     39       54       41           1.3      1.8      1.4
   Health care and social assistance............    402      320      361           2.8      2.2      2.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    848      797      981           6.9      6.4      7.8
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    106       91      124           6.2      5.4      7.1
   Accommodations and food services.............    741      707      857           7.0      6.6      7.9
  Other services................................    189      131      149           3.5      2.4      2.8

 Government.....................................    235      269      262           1.1      1.2      1.2
  Federal.......................................     34       40       45           1.2      1.5      1.7
  State and local...............................    202      229      217           1.0      1.2      1.1

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    765      587      775           3.1      2.3      3.1
  South.........................................  1,911    1,824    1,785           4.1      3.8      3.7
  Midwest.......................................    994      811    1,091           3.2      2.6      3.5
  West..........................................  1,029      911      994           3.5      3.1      3.3


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  4,038    3,735    4,109           3.1      2.8      3.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,850    3,538    3,883           3.5      3.2      3.5
  Natural resources and mining..................     18       17       25           3.0      2.7      3.9
  Construction..................................    282      314      403           4.1      4.5      5.6
  Manufacturing.................................    355      332      371           2.5      2.4      2.6
   Durable goods................................    205      190      222           2.3      2.1      2.5
   Nondurable goods.............................    150      142      149           2.8      2.7      2.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    942      863      898           3.7      3.4      3.5
   Wholesale trade..............................    120      140      136           2.1      2.4      2.3
   Retail trade.................................    705      611      612           4.7      4.1      4.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    117      113      150           2.4      2.3      3.1
  Information...................................     72       65       63           2.4      2.1      2.0
  Financial activities..........................    134      186      185           1.7      2.3      2.2
   Finance and insurance........................     96      118      117           1.6      1.9      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     38       68       69           1.8      3.2      3.2
  Professional and business services............    832      662      721           5.0      3.9      4.2
  Education and health services.................    413      341      368           2.4      1.9      2.1
   Educational services.........................     48       29       40           1.6      1.0      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............    365      313      328           2.5      2.1      2.2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    636      630      669           5.1      5.1      5.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     74       38       66           4.3      2.2      3.8
   Accommodations and food services.............    562      592      603           5.3      5.5      5.5
  Other services................................    167      126      180           3.1      2.4      3.3

 Government.....................................    188      197      226            .9       .9      1.0
  Federal.......................................     26       43       50           1.0      1.6      1.9
  State and local...............................    162      154      176            .8       .8       .9

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    689      571      556           2.8      2.3      2.2
  South.........................................  1,536    1,441    1,608           3.3      3.0      3.4
  Midwest.......................................    919      837      882           3.0      2.7      2.8
  West..........................................    894      886    1,063           3.1      3.0      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 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  2,277    2,185    2,550           1.7      1.6      1.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,178    2,077    2,430           2.0      1.9      2.2
  Natural resources and mining..................     11        8       13           1.8      1.2      2.0
  Construction..................................    131      132      179           1.9      1.9      2.5
  Manufacturing.................................    172      171      203           1.2      1.2      1.4
   Durable goods................................    105       97      123           1.2      1.1      1.4
   Nondurable goods.............................     67       74       80           1.3      1.4      1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    564      500      571           2.2      1.9      2.2
   Wholesale trade..............................     81       68       96           1.4      1.2      1.6
   Retail trade.................................    422      361      396           2.8      2.4      2.6
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     61       71       80           1.3      1.4      1.6
  Information...................................     44       45       43           1.4      1.5      1.4
  Financial activities..........................     78      115      100           1.0      1.4      1.2
   Finance and insurance........................     58       69       76           1.0      1.1      1.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     20       46       24            .9      2.2      1.1
  Professional and business services............    414      326      425           2.5      1.9      2.5
  Education and health services.................    269      234      247           1.6      1.3      1.4
   Educational services.........................     29       21       21           1.0       .7       .7
   Health care and social assistance............    240      214      226           1.7      1.5      1.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    394      471      509           3.2      3.8      4.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     45       22       39           2.6      1.3      2.2
   Accommodations and food services.............    349      449      471           3.3      4.2      4.3
  Other services................................    100       75      138           1.9      1.4      2.6

 Government.....................................    100      109      120            .4       .5       .5
  Federal.......................................      9       19       21            .3       .7       .8
  State and local...............................     91       90       99            .5       .5       .5

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    356      285      348           1.4      1.1      1.4
  South.........................................    885      947    1,055           1.9      2.0      2.2
  Midwest.......................................    499      479      583           1.6      1.5      1.9
  West..........................................    537      475      564           1.8      1.6      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 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  1,505    1,250    1,241           1.1      0.9      0.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,458    1,201    1,185           1.3      1.1      1.1
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        8        9            .9      1.3      1.4
  Construction..................................    144      165      205           2.1      2.3      2.9
  Manufacturing.................................    154      118      134           1.1       .8       .9
   Durable goods................................     84       64       75            .9       .7       .8
   Nondurable goods.............................     70       54       59           1.3      1.0      1.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    305      282      260           1.2      1.1      1.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     35       52       33            .6       .9       .6
   Retail trade.................................    226      202      170           1.5      1.3      1.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     44       28       57            .9       .6      1.2
  Information...................................     22       14       15            .7       .5       .5
  Financial activities..........................     45       58       71            .6       .7       .9
   Finance and insurance........................     29       38       32            .5       .6       .5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     15       19       39            .7       .9      1.8
  Professional and business services............    377      296      228           2.3      1.8      1.3
  Education and health services.................    127       85       97            .7       .5       .5
   Educational services.........................     13        6       16            .4       .2       .5
   Health care and social assistance............    114       79       80            .8       .5       .5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    224      132      135           1.8      1.1      1.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     28       13       25           1.6       .7      1.4
   Accommodations and food services.............    196      120      110           1.8      1.1      1.0
  Other services................................     55       43       31           1.0       .8       .6

 Government.....................................     46       49       56            .2       .2       .3
  Federal.......................................      7       10       11            .3       .4       .4
  State and local...............................     39       39       45            .2       .2       .2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    280      233      149           1.1       .9       .6
  South.........................................    559      397      448           1.2       .8       .9
  Midwest.......................................    364      288      250           1.2       .9       .8
  West..........................................    303      331      394           1.0      1.1      1.3


  1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
  2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Mar.     Feb.     Mar.          Mar.     Feb.     Mar.
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................    256      300      318           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    214      261      268            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      1        1        3            .2       .2       .5
  Construction..................................      7       17       18            .1       .2       .3
  Manufacturing.................................     28       43       33            .2       .3       .2
   Durable goods................................     16       30       23            .2       .3       .3
   Nondurable goods.............................     12       14       10            .2       .3       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     72       81       67            .3       .3       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................      4       19        7            .1       .3       .1
   Retail trade.................................     56       47       46            .4       .3       .3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     12       15       13            .2       .3       .3
  Information...................................      6        6        5            .2       .2       .2
  Financial activities..........................     12       13       14            .1       .2       .2
   Finance and insurance........................      9       11        9            .1       .2       .1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      3        2        6            .1       .1       .3
  Professional and business services............     41       41       68            .2       .2       .4
  Education and health services.................     16       22       24            .1       .1       .1
   Educational services.........................      5        2        3            .2       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     11       21       21            .1       .1       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     18       27       25            .1       .2       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      1        3        2           (4)       .2       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     17       24       22            .2       .2       .2
  Other services................................     13        9       11            .2       .2       .2

 Government.....................................     42       39       49            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................     10       14       18            .4       .5       .7
  State and local...............................     32       25       32            .2       .1       .2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................     54       53       60            .2       .2       .2
  South.........................................     92       97      104            .2       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     56       70       49            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     54       80      105            .2       .3       .4


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  4 Data round to zero.
  p = preliminary.