Technical information:    (202) 691-5870       USDL 05-1674
                 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                               For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                  691-5902       Wednesday, September 7, 2005
                                     
                                     
                JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  JULY 2005


   The job openings and hires rates were little changed in July, while
the total separations rate decreased to 3.1 percent, 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 July 2005, there were 3.5 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.6 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate was little changed in July, but has
generally trended upward since September 2003.  In July, the job openings
rate increased in the manufacturing industry and decreased in the leisure
and hospitality industry and in the Northeast region.
     
Hires and Separations
     
   The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in July.  (See table 2.)
Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  In July, the hires
rate did not change significantly in any industry or region.
     
   The total separations, or turnover, rate decreased from 3.4 to 3.1 per-
cent in July.  (See table 3.)  Separations are terminations of employment
that occur at any time during the month.  In July, the total separations
rate decreased in the professional and business services industry and in
the South region.

   Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and
discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including
retirements).  The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers'
ability to change jobs, was essentially unchanged at 1.8 percent in July.
(See table 4.)  The quits rate decreased in the professional and business
services industry and in the West region in July.
     
   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From July 2004 to July
2005, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.0 percent) and the other separations
rate (0.2 percent) were essentially unchanged.  (See tables 9 and 10.)
     
                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | July | June | July | July | June | July | July | June | July
                   | 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,231 |3,647 |3,545 |4,297 |4,694 |4,545 |4,190 |4,477 |4,132
  Total private(1).|2,871 |3,239 |3,167 |4,015 |4,365 |4,237 |3,923 |4,223 |3,864
    Construction...|   89 |  104 |  112 |  357 |  393 |  384 |  345 |  380 |  373
    Manufacturing..|  238 |  269 |  293 |  340 |  347 |  344 |  363 |  350 |  362
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |   
     utilities.....|  558 |  624 |  607 |  925 |1,045 |  977 |  979 |  980 |  953
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  615 |  686 |  682 |  725 |  835 |  795 |  683 |  818 |  669
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  524 |  609 |  605 |  424 |  457 |  440 |  370 |  401 |  396 
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  411 |  517 |  424 |  804 |  877 |  819 |  729 |  803 |  720
  Government.......|  358 |  394 |  380 |  314 |  337 |  327 |  264 |  254 |  261
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.4 |  2.7 |  2.6 |  3.3 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.2 |  3.4 |  3.1
  Total private(1).|  2.5 |  2.8 |  2.7 |  3.7 |  3.9 |  3.8 |  3.6 |  3.8 |  3.5
    Construction...|  1.3 |  1.4 |  1.5 |  5.1 |  5.4 |  5.3 |  5.0 |  5.3 |  5.2
    Manufacturing..|  1.6 |  1.8 |  2.0 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  2.5 |  2.4 |  2.5
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.1 |  2.4 |  2.3 |  3.6 |  4.0 |  3.8 |  3.8 |  3.8 |  3.7
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.6 |  3.9 |  3.9 |  4.4 |  4.9 |  4.7 |  4.2 |  4.8 |  4.0
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.0 |  3.4 |  3.4 |  2.5 |  2.6 |  2.5 |  2.2 |  2.3 |  2.3
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.2 |  3.9 |  3.2 |  6.4 |  6.9 |  6.4 |  5.8 |  6.3 |  5.6
  Government.......|  1.6 |  1.8 |  1.7 |  1.5 |  1.6 |  1.5 |  1.2 |  1.2 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.

     
   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 4.3 million hires and 4.1 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 August 2005 is scheduled
to be issued on Wednesday, October 12, 2005.
     
                                  - 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            July   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   July  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  3,231  3,569  3,598  3,576  3,416  3,647  3,545    2.4   2.6   2.6   2.6   2.5   2.7   2.6

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,871  3,160  3,212  3,178  3,050  3,239  3,167    2.5   2.8   2.8   2.8   2.7   2.8   2.7
  Construction.........................     89    133    170    113    107    104    112    1.3   1.8   2.3   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.5
  Manufacturing........................    238    252    258    259    240    269    293    1.6   1.7   1.8   1.8   1.6   1.8   2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    558    668    624    627    597    624    607    2.1   2.5   2.4   2.4   2.3   2.4   2.3
  Professional and business services...    615    607    646    691    659    686    682    3.6   3.5   3.7   3.9   3.8   3.9   3.9
  Education and health services........    524    602    616    608    611    609    605    3.0   3.4   3.5   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    411    447    440    457    440    517    424    3.2   3.4   3.4   3.5   3.3   3.9   3.2
 Government............................    358    404    383    396    378    394    380    1.6   1.8   1.7   1.8   1.7   1.8   1.7


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    535    606    615    602    563    634    582    2.1   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.2   2.4   2.2
  South................................  1,291  1,399  1,447  1,414  1,303  1,333  1,331    2.7   2.9   3.0   2.9   2.7   2.7   2.7
  Midwest..............................    656    745    737    742    786    781    775    2.1   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.4   2.4
  West.................................    719    823    806    818    799    869    821    2.4   2.8   2.7   2.7   2.7   2.9   2.7


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
  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            July   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   July  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,297  4,760  4,841  4,538  4,740  4,694  4,545    3.3   3.6   3.6   3.4   3.6   3.5   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,015  4,430  4,497  4,212  4,398  4,365  4,237    3.7   4.0   4.0   3.8   3.9   3.9   3.8
  Construction.........................    357    430    414    412    420    393    384    5.1   6.0   5.8   5.7   5.8   5.4   5.3
  Manufacturing........................    340    336    334    319    342    347    344    2.4   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.4   2.4   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    925  1,055  1,047  1,042  1,030  1,045    977    3.6   4.1   4.1   4.0   4.0   4.0   3.8
  Professional and business services...    725    853    895    792    887    835    795    4.4   5.1   5.3   4.7   5.3   4.9   4.7
  Education and health services........    424    500    472    487    466    457    440    2.5   2.9   2.7   2.8   2.7   2.6   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    804    771    798    742    750    877    819    6.4   6.1   6.3   5.8   5.9   6.9   6.4
 Government............................    314    329    336    329    339    337    327    1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.5


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    748    820    856    825    764    794    767    3.0   3.2   3.4   3.3   3.0   3.1   3.0
  South................................  1,678  1,867  1,922  1,701  1,816  1,786  1,673    3.6   4.0   4.1   3.6   3.8   3.8   3.5
  Midwest..............................    931  1,081  1,034  1,020  1,129  1,054  1,018    3.0   3.5   3.3   3.3   3.6   3.4   3.2
  West.................................    872  1,069  1,036  1,037  1,048  1,070  1,035    3.0   3.7   3.6   3.6   3.6   3.7   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.
  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            July   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   July  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,190  4,295  4,502  4,562  4,504  4,477  4,132    3.2   3.2   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.4   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,923  4,035  4,237  4,306  4,256  4,223  3,864    3.6   3.6   3.8   3.9   3.8   3.8   3.5
  Construction.........................    345    403    303    421    408    380    373    5.0   5.7   4.2   5.8   5.6   5.3   5.2
  Manufacturing........................    363    341    360    369    369    350    362    2.5   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.6   2.4   2.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    979    940    980  1,018    989    980    953    3.8   3.7   3.8   3.9   3.8   3.8   3.7
  Professional and business services...    683    772    924    869    851    818    669    4.2   4.6   5.5   5.2   5.1   4.8   4.0
  Education and health services........    370    389    445    433    405    401    396    2.2   2.3   2.6   2.5   2.3   2.3   2.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    729    790    743    709    750    803    720    5.8   6.3   5.9   5.6   5.9   6.3   5.6
 Government............................    264    260    267    256    254    254    261    1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    748    732    802    807    714    761    709    3.0   2.9   3.2   3.2   2.8   3.0   2.8
  South................................  1,578  1,647  1,763  1,766  1,743  1,653  1,500    3.4   3.5   3.7   3.7   3.7   3.5   3.2
  Midwest..............................    966    937  1,051    982    976    946    982    3.1   3.0   3.4   3.1   3.1   3.0   3.1
  West.................................    934    961    926  1,006  1,034  1,062    976    3.3   3.3   3.2   3.4   3.5   3.6   3.3


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 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            July   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    June   July   July  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May   June  July
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005p  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  2,340  2,307  2,516  2,520  2,514  2,475  2,404    1.8   1.7   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.8

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,215  2,192  2,383  2,395  2,391  2,348  2,278    2.0   2.0   2.1   2.1   2.1   2.1   2.0
  Construction.........................    104    139    150    146    168    139    144    1.5   2.0   2.1   2.0   2.3   1.9   2.0
  Manufacturing........................    179    181    186    178    183    190    191    1.2   1.3   1.3   1.2   1.3   1.3   1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    561    512    583    577    589    588    567    2.2   2.0   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2
  Professional and business services...    365    410    424    417    420    386    314    2.2   2.4   2.5   2.5   2.5   2.3   1.9
  Education and health services........    269    259    280    272    249    256    276    1.6   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.4   1.5   1.6
  Leisure and hospitality..............    449    474    458    506    488    510    505    3.6   3.8   3.6   4.0   3.8   4.0   3.9
 Government............................    127    117    124    125    123    124    127     .6    .5    .6    .6    .6    .6    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    345    340    410    446    373    350    368    1.4   1.3   1.6   1.8   1.5   1.4   1.4
  South................................    945    914  1,003    992  1,020    960    929    2.0   1.9   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.0   2.0
  Midwest..............................    534    509    561    540    554    542    529    1.7   1.6   1.8   1.7   1.8   1.7   1.7
  West.................................    514    550    562    573    562    653    581    1.8   1.9   1.9   2.0   1.9   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                  July     June     July          July     June     July
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,442    3,813    3,766           2.6      2.8      2.7

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,053    3,363    3,358           2.7      2.9      2.9
  Natural resources and mining..................     10       12       12           1.7      1.8      1.9
  Construction..................................    103      120      132           1.4      1.6      1.7
  Manufacturing.................................    255      284      317           1.7      1.9      2.2
   Durable goods................................    151      184      205           1.7      2.0      2.2
   Nondurable goods.............................    104      100      111           1.9      1.8      2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    575      618      621           2.2      2.3      2.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    129      116      128           2.2      2.0      2.2
   Retail trade.................................    356      380      384           2.3      2.4      2.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     89      122      109           1.8      2.4      2.2
  Information...................................     87       85       77           2.7      2.6      2.4
  Financial activities..........................    200      235      225           2.4      2.8      2.6
   Finance and insurance........................    160      189      181           2.6      3.0      2.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     39       45       43           1.8      2.0      1.9
  Professional and business services............    660      745      731           3.8      4.2      4.1
  Education and health services.................    544      623      629           3.2      3.5      3.6
   Educational services.........................     48       63       63           1.9      2.3      2.4
   Health care and social assistance............    496      560      566           3.4      3.7      3.8
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    469      515      476           3.5      3.7      3.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     45       76       73           2.1      3.5      3.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    424      438      403           3.7      3.7      3.4
  Other services................................    151      126      139           2.7      2.2      2.4

 Government.....................................    388      451      408           1.9      2.0      1.9
  Federal.......................................     41       52       46           1.5      1.8      1.7
  State and local...............................    348      399      362           1.9      2.1      2.0

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    554      665      598           2.2      2.5      2.3
  South.........................................  1,411    1,401    1,457           2.9      2.8      3.0
  Midwest.......................................    696      805      822           2.2      2.5      2.6
  West..........................................    780      943      890           2.6      3.1      2.9


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.

           




             
Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  July     June     July          July     June     July
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,512    5,702    4,713           3.4      4.2      3.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,160    5,270    4,349           3.7      4.7      3.9
  Natural resources and mining..................     20       29       18           3.3      4.5      2.8
  Construction..................................    379      516      401           5.2      6.9      5.3
  Manufacturing.................................    371      399      373           2.6      2.8      2.6
   Durable goods................................    227      272      216           2.5      3.0      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................    144      126      157           2.6      2.4      2.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    907    1,150      945           3.6      4.4      3.6
   Wholesale trade..............................    131      174      132           2.3      3.0      2.3
   Retail trade.................................    640      801      679           4.3      5.3      4.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    137      175      134           2.9      3.5      2.7
  Information...................................     64       82       59           2.0      2.6      1.9
  Financial activities..........................    195      202      173           2.4      2.4      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................     94      121      116           1.6      2.0      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........    101       80       57           4.8      3.7      2.6
  Professional and business services............    746      928      806           4.5      5.4      4.7
  Education and health services.................    459      549      471           2.8      3.2      2.8
   Educational services.........................     59       61       72           2.4      2.3      2.9
   Health care and social assistance............    400      488      399           2.8      3.4      2.7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    842    1,136      867           6.4      8.5      6.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    147      210      119           6.9     10.1      5.6
   Accommodations and food services.............    695      925      748           6.3      8.2      6.6
  Other services................................    177      280      236           3.2      5.1      4.3

 Government.....................................    352      432      364           1.7      2.0      1.8
  Federal.......................................     41       50       35           1.5      1.8      1.3
  State and local...............................    311      382      329           1.8      2.0      1.8

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    829    1,059      844           3.3      4.1      3.3
  South.........................................  1,817    2,081    1,759           3.9      4.3      3.7
  Midwest.......................................    917    1,268      994           3.0      4.0      3.2
  West..........................................    949    1,294    1,116           3.3      4.4      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. 
  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                  July     June     July          July     June     July
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,421    4,675    4,338           3.4      3.5      3.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,094    4,291    4,014           3.7      3.8      3.6
  Natural resources and mining..................     16       15       13           2.7      2.4      2.1
  Construction..................................    304      365      320           4.2      4.9      4.2
  Manufacturing.................................    384      355      387           2.7      2.5      2.7
   Durable goods................................    250      219      242           2.8      2.4      2.7
   Nondurable goods.............................    134      135      146           2.5      2.5      2.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    987      960      954           3.9      3.7      3.7
   Wholesale trade..............................    155      119      131           2.7      2.1      2.3
   Retail trade.................................    667      646      691           4.4      4.3      4.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    166      194      132           3.4      3.9      2.7
  Information...................................     57       71       75           1.8      2.2      2.4
  Financial activities..........................    181      192      160           2.2      2.3      1.9
   Finance and insurance........................    104      133      116           1.7      2.2      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     77       59       43           3.6      2.7      2.0
  Professional and business services............    772      847      749           4.7      5.0      4.4
  Education and health services.................    417      469      443           2.5      2.7      2.6
   Educational services.........................     57       76       61           2.3      2.9      2.4
   Health care and social assistance............    360      393      382           2.5      2.7      2.6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    763      823      726           5.8      6.2      5.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     94      110       69           4.4      5.3      3.2
   Accommodations and food services.............    669      713      657           6.1      6.3      5.8
  Other services................................    213      194      186           3.9      3.5      3.4

 Government.....................................    327      383      325           1.6      1.8      1.6
  Federal.......................................     30       38       34           1.1      1.4      1.2
  State and local...............................    297      345      291           1.7      1.8      1.6

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    738      854      689           2.9      3.3      2.7
  South.........................................  1,731    1,706    1,636           3.7      3.6      3.4
  Midwest.......................................    954    1,020      976           3.1      3.2      3.1
  West..........................................    998    1,094    1,037           3.5      3.7      3.5


  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                  July     June     July          July     June     July
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  2,602    2,682    2,655           2.0      2.0      2.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,450    2,512    2,503           2.2      2.2      2.2
  Natural resources and mining..................     10        9       10           1.7      1.5      1.5
  Construction..................................    131      168      170           1.8      2.2      2.3
  Manufacturing.................................    212      202      229           1.5      1.4      1.6
   Durable goods................................    137      129      137           1.5      1.4      1.5
   Nondurable goods.............................     75       72       92           1.4      1.4      1.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    585      591      589           2.3      2.3      2.3
   Wholesale trade..............................     93       77       79           1.6      1.3      1.4
   Retail trade.................................    409      423      441           2.7      2.8      2.9
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     82       90       69           1.7      1.8      1.4
  Information...................................     40       48       43           1.3      1.5      1.3
  Financial activities..........................    129      148       99           1.6      1.8      1.2
   Finance and insurance........................     66      100       71           1.1      1.6      1.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     63       48       27           3.0      2.2      1.2
  Professional and business services............    425      407      359           2.6      2.4      2.1
  Education and health services.................    290      283      303           1.7      1.7      1.8
   Educational services.........................     32       39       34           1.3      1.5      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............    258      244      270           1.8      1.7      1.9
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    503      519      567           3.8      3.9      4.2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     44       58       48           2.1      2.8      2.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    459      461      519           4.2      4.1      4.6
  Other services................................    125      137      135           2.3      2.5      2.4

 Government.....................................    152      170      152            .7       .8       .7
  Federal.......................................     11       14       14            .4       .5       .5
  State and local...............................    141      156      138            .8       .8       .8

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    376      382      400           1.5      1.5      1.6
  South.........................................  1,097    1,028    1,065           2.4      2.1      2.2
  Midwest.......................................    560      583      551           1.8      1.8      1.8
  West..........................................    569      689      640           2.0      2.3      2.2


  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                  July     June     July          July     June     July
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  1,473    1,648    1,380           1.1      1.2      1.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,367    1,529    1,274           1.2      1.4      1.1
  Natural resources and mining..................      4        2        3            .7       .4       .4
  Construction..................................    161      182      143           2.2      2.4      1.9
  Manufacturing.................................    145      129      124           1.0       .9       .9
   Durable goods................................     94       73       82           1.0       .8       .9
   Nondurable goods.............................     51       56       42            .9      1.0       .8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    326      302      302           1.3      1.2      1.2
   Wholesale trade..............................     54       34       45            .9       .6       .8
   Retail trade.................................    208      182      207           1.4      1.2      1.4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     64       86       50           1.3      1.7      1.0
  Information...................................     13       16       22            .4       .5       .7
  Financial activities..........................     32       34       41            .4       .4       .5
   Finance and insurance........................     23       23       27            .4       .4       .4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      9       11       15            .4       .5       .7
  Professional and business services............    283      395      348           1.7      2.3      2.0
  Education and health services.................    106      150      107            .6       .9       .6
   Educational services.........................     23       32       22            .9      1.2       .9
   Health care and social assistance............     83      117       85            .6       .8       .6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    238      275      139           1.8      2.1      1.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     46       51       19           2.2      2.5       .9
   Accommodations and food services.............    192      224      120           1.7      2.0      1.1
  Other services................................     59       44       45           1.1       .8       .8

 Government.....................................    106      119      106            .5       .5       .5
  Federal.......................................      5       10        9            .2       .4       .3
  State and local...............................    101      108       96            .6       .6       .5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    285      386      240           1.1      1.5       .9
  South.........................................    518      559      460           1.1      1.2      1.0
  Midwest.......................................    323      374      343           1.0      1.2      1.1
  West..........................................    347      329      338           1.2      1.1      1.2


  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                  July     June     July          July     June     July
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................    346      344      303           0.3      0.3      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    277      250      236            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      1        3        1            .2       .5       .2
  Construction..................................     12       15        7            .2       .2       .1
  Manufacturing.................................     27       24       34            .2       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     19       17       22            .2       .2       .3
   Nondurable goods.............................      8        7       12            .1       .1       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     76       66       63            .3       .3       .2
   Wholesale trade..............................      8        8        7            .1       .1       .1
   Retail trade.................................     49       41       43            .3       .3       .3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     19       18       12            .4       .4       .2
  Information...................................      3        7       11            .1       .2       .3
  Financial activities..........................     21       10       20            .3       .1       .2
   Finance and insurance........................     15       10       18            .3       .2       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      6        1        2            .3      (3)       .1
  Professional and business services............     65       46       42            .4       .3       .2
  Education and health services.................     22       35       32            .1       .2       .2
   Educational services.........................      2        4        5            .1       .2       .2
   Health care and social assistance............     20       31       27            .1       .2       .2
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     22       29       20            .2       .2       .1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      3        1        2            .2       .1       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     18       28       18            .2       .2       .2
  Other services................................     28       14        7            .5       .2       .1

 Government.....................................     69       94       67            .3       .4       .3
  Federal.......................................     14       14       10            .5       .5       .4
  State and local...............................     55       81       56            .3       .4       .3

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     76       85       50            .3       .3       .2
  South.........................................    116      120      112            .3       .3       .2
  Midwest.......................................     71       63       83            .2       .2       .3
  West..........................................     83       76       58            .3       .3       .2


  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.