Technical information:      (202) 691-5870       USDL 06-225
                   http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                                 For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                    691-5902       Tuesday, February 7, 2006


              JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  DECEMBER 2005


   The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all essentially
unchanged in December, 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 December 2005, there were 4.1 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate did not change significantly in
December but has generally trended upward since September 2003.  In Decem-
ber, the job openings rate increased in professional and business services
and in the West region, but decreased in manufacturing.
     
Hires and Separations

   The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in December.  (See
table 2.)  Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  Over
the month, the hires rate increased in the trade, transportation, and utili-
ties industry.  At the same time, the hires rate decreased in manufacturing,
leisure and hospitality, and in the Northeast region.
     
   The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at
3.1 percent in December.  (See table 3.)  Separations are terminations of
employment that occur at any time during the month.  In December, the total
separations rate did not change significantly in any industry.  Geographic-
ally, the total separations rate decreased in the Midwest, while remaining
essentially unchanged in all other regions.
     
   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 little changed at 1.8 percent in December.
(See table 4.)  Over the month, the quits rate fell in manufacturing,
education and health services, and in the Midwest region.
                                  
                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Dec. | Nov. | Dec. | Dec. | Nov. | Dec. | Dec. | Nov. | Dec.
                   | 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,507 |3,927 |4,050 |4,639 |4,641 |4,507 |4,435 |4,315 |4,133
  Total private(1).|3,106 |3,495 |3,624 |4,337 |4,321 |4,210 |4,146 |4,049 |3,856
    Construction...|  132 |  161 |  152 |  368 |  389 |  420 |  355 |  373 |  331
    Manufacturing..|  266 |  337 |  312 |  324 |  332 |  287 |  353 |  386 |  349
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |   
     utilities.....|  561 |  660 |  675 |  986 |  931 |1.073 |1.062 |  972 |1,030
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  699 |  707 |  813 |  878 |  770 |  704 |  833 |  685 |  625
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  557 |  611 |  626 |  452 |  471 |  468 |  375 |  419 |  389 
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  450 |  480 |  518 |  834 |  853 |  746 |  758 |  778 |  802
  Government.......|  396 |  439 |  435 |  307 |  321    298 |  274 |  267 |  253       
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.6 |  2.8 |  2.9 |  3.5 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.3 |  3.2 |  3.1
  Total private(1).|  2.7 |  3.0 |  3.1 |  3.9 |  3.8 |  3.7 |  3.7 |  3.6 |  3.4
    Construction...|  1.8 |  2.2 |  2.0 |  5.2 |  5.3 |  5.7 |  5.0 |  5.1 |  4.5
    Manufacturing..|  1.8 |  2.3 |  2.1 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  2.0 |  2.5 |  2.7 |  2.4
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.1 |  2.5 |  2.5 |  3.8 |  3.6 |  4.1 |  4.1 |  3.8 |  4.0
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  4.0 |  4.0 |  4.5 |  5.3 |  4.5 |  4.1 |  5.0 |  4.0 |  3.6
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.1 |  3.4 |  3.5 |  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.7 |  2.2 |  2.4 |  2.2
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.4 |  3.6 |  3.9 |  6.6 |  6.7 |  5.8 |  6.0 |  6.1 |  6.2
  Government.......|  1.8 |  2.0 |  1.9 |  1.4 |  1.5 |  1.4 |  1.3 |  1.2 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
     
   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From December 2004 to
December 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 1.1 percent, while
the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent.  (See tables 9
and 10.)
     
   Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.7 million per month and
separations have averaged 4.4 million per month (not seasonally adjusted).
The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.5 million hires and 4.2 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 January 2006 is sched-
uled to be issued on Tuesday, March 14, 2006.

                                                                     
    ------------------------------------------------------------------        
   |                                                                  |
   |                    Revisions to the JOLTS Data                   |
   |                                                                  |
   |    With the release of January 2006 data on March 14, BLS will   |
   | revise the job openings, hires, and separations data to incor-   |
   | porate the annual updates to the Current Employmen Statistics    |
   | employment estimates and the JOLTS seaasonal adjustment factors. |
   | Unadjusted data since April 2004 and seasonally adjusted data    |
   | since December 2000 are subject to revision.  Additionally,      |
   | starting with next month's release, BLS will begin the publica-  |
   | tion of annual rates and levels for hires and separations in the |
   | January release each year.                                       |
    ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
    
    
    



                                  - 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            Dec.   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  3,507  3,588  3,487  3,836  3,937  3,927  4,050    2.6   2.6   2.5   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,106  3,204  3,130  3,406  3,540  3,495  3,624    2.7   2.8   2.7   2.9   3.1   3.0   3.1
  Construction.........................    132    128    136    156    148    161    152    1.8   1.7   1.8   2.1   2.0   2.2   2.0
  Manufacturing........................    266    287    266    293    320    337    312    1.8   2.0   1.8   2.0   2.2   2.3   2.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    561    600    620    630    611    660    675    2.1   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.5   2.5
  Professional and business services...    699    666    590    725    848    707    813    4.0   3.8   3.4   4.1   4.7   4.0   4.5
  Education and health services........    557    607    604    606    597    611    626    3.1   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    450    439    427    469    492    480    518    3.4   3.3   3.2   3.5   3.7   3.6   3.9
 Government............................    396    388    370    420    432    439    435    1.8   1.7   1.7   1.9   1.9   2.0   1.9


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    620    610    609    728    781    674    665    2.4   2.3   2.3   2.8   3.0   2.6   2.5
  South................................  1,329  1,343  1,353  1,466  1,471  1,558  1,601    2.8   2.7   2.8   3.0   3.0   3.2   3.2
  Midwest..............................    740    764    704    754    777    720    765    2.3   2.4   2.2   2.3   2.4   2.2   2.4
  West.................................    792    832    841    895    920    971  1,056    2.7   2.8   2.8   3.0   3.0   3.2   3.5


  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            Dec.   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,639  4,649  4,601  4,719  4,650  4,641  4,507    3.5   3.5   3.4   3.5   3.5   3.5   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,337  4,342  4,276  4,356  4,308  4,321  4,210    3.9   3.9   3.8   3.9   3.8   3.8   3.7
  Construction.........................    368    381    435    422    414    389    420    5.2   5.3   6.0   5.8   5.7   5.3   5.7
  Manufacturing........................    324    345    344    338    436    332    287    2.3   2.4   2.4   2.4   3.1   2.3   2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    986    990    998  1,001    919    931  1,073    3.8   3.8   3.8   3.9   3.5   3.6   4.1
  Professional and business services...    878    832    786    925    780    770    704    5.3   4.9   4.6   5.4   4.6   4.5   4.1
  Education and health services........    452    453    465    460    460    471    468    2.6   2.6   2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7   2.7
  Leisure and hospitality..............    834    834    771    808    840    853    746    6.6   6.5   6.0   6.3   6.6   6.7   5.8
 Government............................    307    330    337    336    326    321    298    1.4   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.4


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    858    772    738    759    741    727    635    3.4   3.0   2.9   3.0   2.9   2.8   2.5
  South................................  1,770  1,689  1,750  1,840  1,774  1,719  1,748    3.8   3.6   3.7   3.9   3.7   3.6   3.7
  Midwest..............................  1,043  1,045    970    996  1,003  1,018  1,001    3.3   3.3   3.1   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.2
  West.................................    970  1,081  1,144  1,136  1,125  1,143  1,110    3.4   3.7   3.9   3.9   3.8   3.9   3.8


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.






Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Dec.   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,435  4,270  4,499  4,779  4,331  4,315  4,133    3.3   3.2   3.4   3.6   3.2   3.2   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,146  4,007  4,235  4,487  4,077  4,049  3,856    3.7   3.6   3.8   4.0   3.6   3.6   3.4
  Construction.........................    355    370    452    417    396    373    331    5.0   5.1   6.2   5.7   5.4   5.1   4.5
  Manufacturing........................    353    361    369    408    339    386    349    2.5   2.5   2.6   2.9   2.4   2.7   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,062    948  1,019  1,039    902    972  1,030    4.1   3.7   3.9   4.0   3.5   3.8   4.0
  Professional and business services...    833    747    670    897    805    685    625    5.0   4.4   3.9   5.3   4.7   4.0   3.6
  Education and health services........    375    391    406    430    402    419    389    2.2   2.3   2.3   2.5   2.3   2.4   2.2
  Leisure and hospitality..............    758    750    785    814    742    778    802    6.0   5.9   6.1   6.4   5.8   6.1   6.2
 Government............................    274    257    271    295    255    267    253    1.3   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.2   1.2


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    773    715    734    752    683    605    628    3.0   2.8   2.9   2.9   2.7   2.4   2.5
  South................................  1,707  1,567  1,639  1,787  1,615  1,637  1,643    3.6   3.3   3.4   3.8   3.4   3.4   3.4
  Midwest..............................    986  1,011  1,047  1,135    979  1,033    905    3.1   3.2   3.3   3.6   3.1   3.3   2.9
  West.................................    953  1,001  1,094  1,085  1,012    995    947    3.3   3.4   3.7   3.7   3.4   3.4   3.2


  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. 
  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            Dec.   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.   Nov.   Dec.   Dec.  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.  Dec.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  2,495  2,474  2,605  2,778  2,578  2,587  2,470    1.9   1.8   1.9   2.1   1.9   1.9   1.8

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,366  2,351  2,467  2,630  2,441  2,447  2,340    2.1   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.1
  Construction.........................    162    140    222    202    203    176    185    2.3   1.9   3.1   2.8   2.8   2.4   2.5
  Manufacturing........................    194    189    184    214    199    208    179    1.4   1.3   1.3   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    570    577    604    580    555    585    589    2.2   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.1   2.3   2.3
  Professional and business services...    415    353    374    497    354    327    354    2.5   2.1   2.2   2.9   2.1   1.9   2.1
  Education and health services........    232    271    260    276    259    287    247    1.4   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    506    525    517    563    569    567    558    4.0   4.1   4.0   4.4   4.5   4.4   4.3
 Government............................    129    125    139    149    134    140    131     .6    .6    .6    .7    .6    .6    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    392    381    380    377    360    344    362    1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.3   1.4
  South................................  1,021    964  1,054  1,147  1,032  1,034  1,022    2.2   2.0   2.2   2.4   2.2   2.2   2.1
  Midwest..............................    544    548    570    613    571    556    490    1.7   1.7   1.8   1.9   1.8   1.8   1.5
  West.................................    536    577    585    643    598    638    595    1.9   2.0   2.0   2.2   2.0   2.2   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.
  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                  Dec.     Nov.     Dec.          Dec.     Nov.     Dec.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,043    3,575    3,563           2.2      2.6      2.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,677    3,156    3,158           2.4      2.7      2.7
  Natural resources and mining..................     10       11       12           1.7      1.7      1.8
  Construction..................................     89      133      103           1.3      1.7      1.4
  Manufacturing.................................    220      291      262           1.5      2.0      1.8
   Durable goods................................    140      199      174           1.5      2.2      1.9
   Nondurable goods.............................     81       92       88           1.5      1.7      1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    451      611      543           1.7      2.3      2.0
   Wholesale trade..............................    105       98      104           1.8      1.7      1.8
   Retail trade.................................    269      390      335           1.7      2.4      2.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     76      123      104           1.5      2.4      2.1
  Information...................................     87      101      101           2.7      3.1      3.1
  Financial activities..........................    198      274      286           2.4      3.2      3.3
   Finance and insurance........................    160      226      219           2.6      3.6      3.4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     38       48       67           1.8      2.1      3.0
  Professional and business services............    638      646      764           3.7      3.6      4.3
  Education and health services.................    526      582      584           2.9      3.2      3.2
   Educational services.........................     51       71       66           1.7      2.3      2.2
   Health care and social assistance............    475      512      519           3.2      3.4      3.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    355      396      416           2.8      3.1      3.2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     46       41       33           2.7      2.4      1.9
   Accommodations and food services.............    309      355      384           2.8      3.2      3.4
  Other services................................    103      112       85           1.9      2.0      1.5

 Government.....................................    366      419      405           1.6      1.8      1.8
  Federal.......................................     38       47       41           1.4      1.7      1.5
  State and local...............................    328      372      364           1.7      1.9      1.8

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    527      651      535           2.0      2.5      2.0
  South.........................................  1,165    1,436    1,408           2.4      2.9      2.8
  Midwest.......................................    650      636      669           2.0      2.0      2.1
  West..........................................    702      852      951           2.4      2.8      3.1


  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                  Dec.     Nov.     Dec.          Dec.     Nov.     Dec.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,449    4,204    3,330           2.6      3.1      2.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,244    3,941    3,133           2.9      3.5      2.8
  Natural resources and mining..................     14       13       13           2.4      1.9      2.0
  Construction..................................    228      299      258           3.3      4.0      3.6
  Manufacturing.................................    225      271      197           1.6      1.9      1.4
   Durable goods................................    136      167      116           1.5      1.9      1.3
   Nondurable goods.............................     89      105       81           1.7      2.0      1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    810    1,093      888           3.1      4.1      3.4
   Wholesale trade..............................     70      111       97           1.2      1.9      1.7
   Retail trade.................................    582      773      594           3.7      5.0      3.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    158      210      197           3.2      4.2      3.9
  Information...................................     43       94       64           1.4      3.0      2.0
  Financial activities..........................    138      197      133           1.7      2.4      1.6
   Finance and insurance........................     84      122       98           1.4      2.0      1.6
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     53       75       36           2.5      3.5      1.6
  Professional and business services............    681      683      535           4.1      4.0      3.1
  Education and health services.................    332      400      342           1.9      2.3      1.9
   Educational services.........................     36       48       40           1.2      1.6      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............    295      351      302           2.1      2.4      2.1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    621      709      561           5.0      5.6      4.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     72       80       67           4.4      4.7      4.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    549      629      494           5.2      5.8      4.6
  Other services................................    153      182      142           2.8      3.3      2.6

 Government.....................................    205      263      197            .9      1.2       .9
  Federal.......................................     32       32       24           1.2      1.2       .9
  State and local...............................    173      231      173            .9      1.2       .9

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    624      689      448           2.4      2.7      1.7
  South.........................................  1,339    1,557    1,324           2.8      3.2      2.8
  Midwest.......................................    718      898      688           2.3      2.8      2.2
  West..........................................    768    1,060      869           2.6      3.6      2.9


  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                  Dec.     Nov.     Dec.          Dec.     Nov.     Dec.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,275    4,004    3,910           3.2      3.0      2.9

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,039    3,805    3,697           3.6      3.4      3.3
  Natural resources and mining..................     18       13       14           3.0      2.0      2.1
  Construction..................................    399      399      366           5.7      5.3      5.1
  Manufacturing.................................    322      375      309           2.2      2.6      2.2
   Durable goods................................    199      220      187           2.2      2.5      2.1
   Nondurable goods.............................    123      156      122           2.3      2.9      2.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,116      891    1,093           4.3      3.4      4.1
   Wholesale trade..............................    121      138      129           2.1      2.4      2.2
   Retail trade.................................    789      597      711           5.0      3.8      4.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    206      156      253           4.2      3.1      5.1
  Information...................................     55       82       70           1.8      2.6      2.2
  Financial activities..........................    171      137      150           2.1      1.7      1.8
   Finance and insurance........................    100       83      108           1.7      1.4      1.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     71       54       42           3.4      2.5      1.9
  Professional and business services............    824      623      593           4.9      3.6      3.5
  Education and health services.................    339      348      324           2.0      2.0      1.8
   Educational services.........................     38       38       40           1.3      1.3      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............    301      309      284           2.1      2.1      1.9
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    625      756      664           5.1      6.0      5.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     97      114       77           5.8      6.7      4.6
   Accommodations and food services.............    529      642      587           5.0      5.9      5.4
  Other services................................    170      181      113           3.1      3.3      2.1

 Government.....................................    236      199      213           1.1       .9      1.0
  Federal.......................................     41       29       32           1.5      1.1      1.2
  State and local...............................    195      170      182           1.0       .9       .9

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    790      587      628           3.1      2.3      2.4
  South.........................................  1,597    1,394    1,510           3.4      2.9      3.1
  Midwest.......................................    966    1,053      879           3.1      3.3      2.8
  West..........................................    922      970      894           3.2      3.3      3.0


  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                  Dec.     Nov.     Dec.          Dec.     Nov.     Dec.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  2,073    2,242    2,040           1.6      1.7      1.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,972    2,131    1,939           1.8      1.9      1.7
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        8        6            .9      1.2       .9
  Construction..................................    122      152      146           1.7      2.0      2.0
  Manufacturing.................................    137      160      125           1.0      1.1       .9
   Durable goods................................     85      103       80            .9      1.1       .9
   Nondurable goods.............................     53       57       45           1.0      1.1       .9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    502      527      521           1.9      2.0      2.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     63       52       55           1.1       .9      1.0
   Retail trade.................................    371      412      380           2.4      2.6      2.4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     68       63       85           1.4      1.3      1.7
  Information...................................     33       54       39           1.0      1.7      1.2
  Financial activities..........................     88       80       80           1.1      1.0      1.0
   Finance and insurance........................     64       56       61           1.1       .9      1.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     24       24       19           1.1      1.1       .9
  Professional and business services............    354      290      297           2.1      1.7      1.7
  Education and health services.................    207      241      215           1.2      1.4      1.2
   Educational services.........................     20       25       21            .7       .8       .7
   Health care and social assistance............    187      216      194           1.3      1.5      1.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    403      498      444           3.3      4.0      3.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     38       34       33           2.3      2.0      2.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    365      464      411           3.4      4.3      3.8
  Other services................................    120      120       66           2.2      2.2      1.2

 Government.....................................    102      111      101            .5       .5       .5
  Federal.......................................     10       17       10            .4       .6       .4
  State and local...............................     92       94       91            .5       .5       .5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    311      294      288           1.2      1.1      1.1
  South.........................................    846      879      843           1.8      1.8      1.8
  Midwest.......................................    460      508      410           1.5      1.6      1.3
  West..........................................    456      562      499           1.6      1.9      1.7


  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                  Dec.     Nov.     Dec.          Dec.     Nov.     Dec.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  1,923    1,486    1,552           1.4      1.1      1.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,839    1,425    1,483           1.7      1.3      1.3
  Natural resources and mining..................      7        3        6           1.2       .5      1.0
  Construction..................................    266      214      210           3.8      2.9      2.9
  Manufacturing.................................    161      174      153           1.1      1.2      1.1
   Durable goods................................     98       85       89           1.1      1.0      1.0
   Nondurable goods.............................     63       88       64           1.2      1.7      1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    549      321      482           2.1      1.2      1.8
   Wholesale trade..............................     44       78       67            .8      1.4      1.2
   Retail trade.................................    382      162      269           2.4      1.0      1.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    124       82      146           2.5      1.6      2.9
  Information...................................     16       22       20            .5       .7       .6
  Financial activities..........................     66       47       45            .8       .6       .5
   Finance and insurance........................     26       19       23            .4       .3       .4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     40       28       21           1.9      1.3      1.0
  Professional and business services............    430      288      257           2.6      1.7      1.5
  Education and health services.................    110       88       84            .6       .5       .5
   Educational services.........................     16       11       17            .6       .4       .6
   Health care and social assistance............     94       76       67            .7       .5       .5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    195      226      187           1.6      1.8      1.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     57       79       42           3.4      4.7      2.5
   Accommodations and food services.............    138      147      145           1.3      1.4      1.3
  Other services................................     38       42       40            .7       .8       .7

 Government.....................................     84       60       69            .4       .3       .3
  Federal.......................................     17        7       16            .6       .3       .6
  State and local...............................     68       53       53            .4       .3       .3

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    412      253      291           1.6      1.0      1.1
  South.........................................    653      442      584           1.4       .9      1.2
  Midwest.......................................    456      455      386           1.4      1.4      1.2
  West..........................................    403      335      292           1.4      1.1      1.0


  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                  Dec.     Nov.     Dec.          Dec.     Nov.     Dec.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................    279      276      318           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    229      249      275            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      5        2        2            .8       .3       .2
  Construction..................................     10       32       11            .1       .4       .2
  Manufacturing.................................     24       42       31            .2       .3       .2
   Durable goods................................     16       32       18            .2       .4       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................      7       10       13            .1       .2       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     65       42       90            .2       .2       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................     14        8        6            .3       .1       .1
   Retail trade.................................     36       23       62            .2       .1       .4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     15       11       22            .3       .2       .4
  Information...................................      6        6       12            .2       .2       .4
  Financial activities..........................     17       10       25            .2       .1       .3
   Finance and insurance........................     10        7       24            .2       .1       .4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      7        2        1            .3       .1       .1
  Professional and business services............     40       45       39            .2       .3       .2
  Education and health services.................     22       19       25            .1       .1       .1
   Educational services.........................      2        2        1            .1       .1      (3)
   Health care and social assistance............     20       17       24            .1       .1       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     28       32       33            .2       .3       .3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      2      (3)        2            .1      (3)       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     26       31       31            .2       .3       .3
  Other services................................     12       19        8            .2       .3       .1

 Government.....................................     50       28       43            .2       .1       .2
  Federal.......................................     15        5        6            .5       .2       .2
  State and local...............................     35       22       38            .2       .1       .2

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     67       40       49            .3       .2       .2
  South.........................................     98       73       83            .2       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     51       90       83            .2       .3       .3
  West..........................................     63       73      103            .2       .2       .3


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 Data round to zero.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.