Technical information:   (202) 691-5870       USDL 04-1025
                http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                              For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                 691-5902       Wednesday, June 9, 2004


                JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  APRIL 2004

     There were 4.4 million hires and 4.0 million separations during April,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported
today.  The number of hires dropped by 245,000 from March to April, but
remained above the number of separations for the 12th straight month.  The
job openings rate was unchanged at 2.3 percent in April.  The series in
this report include 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 April, there were 3.1 million job openings
in the United States, and the job openings rate (the number of job openings
on the last business day of the month divided by employment plus job open-
ings) was 2.3 percent.  (See table 1.)  The job openings rate has ranged
from 2.0 to 2.4 percent since October 2001.  Over the month, the
job openings rate edged up for manufacturing, while showing little or no
change in other major industry categories.

Hires and Separations

     The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by
employment) decreased to 3.3 percent in April.  (See table 2.)  Hires are
any additions to the payroll during the month.  The hires rate decreased
in professional and business services in April, following an increase in
March.  The hires rate for government decreased to 1.4 percent in April.
Other major industries showed little or no change in their hires rates over
the month.  However, in the leisure and hospitality industry, there were
approximately 100,000 more hires each month in February, March, and April
2004 than in the same months in 2003.

     The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations
during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in April and has
remained in the range of 2.9 to 3.3 percent since December 2001.
Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during
the month.  The total separations rate for government edged down in April,
and the other major industries showed little or no change in their total
separations rates over the month.  (See table 3.)
              
                                  - 2 -
   
Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally 
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Apr. | Mar. | Apr. | Apr. | Mar. | Apr. | Apr. | Mar. | Apr.
                   | 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|2,807 |3,079 |3,091 |3,911 |4,603 |4,358 |3,975 |4,134 |4,029
  Total private 1/.|2,430 |2,740 |2,733 |3,610 |4,256 |4,044 |3,740 |3,868 |3,785
    Construction...|  100 |  113 |  112 |  357 |  437 |  409 |  411 |  392 |  391
    Manufacturing..|  183 |  232 |  259 |  282 |  361 |  349 |  391 |  377 |  364
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  439 |  524 |  518 |  838 |1,009 |1,028 |  867 |  978 |  958
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  460 |  502 |  494 |  624 |  713 |  600 |  568 |  597 |  589
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  569 |  559 |  566 |  419 |  444 |  459 |  387 |  382 |  385
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  337 |  370 |  368 |  656 |  810 |  754 |  699 |  715 |  671
  Government.......|  371 |  353 |  357 |  303 |  343 |  306 |  231 |  284 |  251
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|  2.1 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  3.0 |  3.5 |  3.3 |  3.1 |  3.2 |  3.1
  Total private 1/.|  2.2 |  2.5 |  2.4 |  3.3 |  3.9 |  3.7 |  3.5 |  3.5 |  3.5
    Construction...|  1.5 |  1.6 |  1.6 |  5.3 |  6.4 |  6.0 |  6.1 |  5.7 |  5.7
    Manufacturing..|  1.2 |  1.6 |  1.8 |  1.9 |  2.5 |  2.4 |  2.7 |  2.6 |  2.5
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  1.7 |  2.0 |  2.0 |  3.3 |  4.0 |  4.0 |  3.4 |  3.8 |  3.8
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  2.8 |  3.0 |  2.9 |  3.9 |  4.4 |  3.7 |  3.6 |  3.7 |  3.6
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.3 |  3.2 |  3.3 |  2.5 |  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  2.3
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  2.7 |  2.9 |  2.9 |  5.4 |  6.6 |  6.1 |  5.8 |  5.8 |  5.5
  Government.......|  1.7 |  1.6 |  1.6 |  1.4 |  1.6 |  1.4 |  1.1 |  1.3 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1/ Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.

     Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and
discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including
retirements).  The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers'
ability to change jobs, was unchanged at 1.7 percent in April.  (See table
4.)  There were more quits in February, March, and April 2004 than in the
same months in 2003.  Quits as a percent of total separations has been
increasing since December 2003; quits were 55.2 percent of total separa-
tions in April.  In the education and health services industry, quits were
64.4 percent of total separations.  The other two components of total sep-
arations, layoffs and discharges (1.0 percent) and other separations
(0.2 percent), are not seasonally adjusted.  (See tables 9 and 10.)

                                  - 3 -

     Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.1 million per month and
separations have averaged 3.9 million per month.  (See the Technical Note
for additional information on these measures.)  Hires have outpaced separa-
tions in each of the last 12 months.  In March and April, hires outpaced
separations in every industry except manufacturing.
     
     The trade, transportation, and utilities industry reported 23.6 percent
of the 4.4 million hires and 23.8 percent of the 4.0 million separations in
April.  The South region reported 36.0 percent of hires and 36.9 percent of
separations.
     
For More Information

     For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS
Web site at www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about JOLTS also may
be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.


                      ______________________________


     The report on Job Openings and Labor Turnover for May 2004 is scheduled
to be released on Wednesday, July 7, 2004.




                                  - 4 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always 
introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the 
first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 5 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
                                  - 6 -

Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.
   
  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
                                  - 7 -

Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Apr.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.  Apr.    Apr.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004  2004p   2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  2,807  2,952  3,062  2,868  2,906  3,079  3,091    2.1   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,430  2,593  2,719  2,518  2,534  2,740  2,733    2.2   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.5   2.4
  Construction.........................    100     89    110    106     99    113    112    1.5   1.3   1.6   1.5   1.4   1.6   1.6
  Manufacturing........................    183    221    234    233    226    232    259    1.2   1.5   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    439    513    520    430    458    524    518    1.7   2.0   2.0   1.7   1.8   2.0   2.0
  Professional and business services...    460    499    594    501    491    502    494    2.8   3.0   3.5   3.0   2.9   3.0   2.9
  Education and health services........    569    551    520    549    551    559    566    3.3   3.2   3.0   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    337    364    399    368    383    370    368    2.7   2.9   3.2   2.9   3.0   2.9   2.9
 Government............................    371    358    351    350    364    353    357    1.7   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.7   1.6   1.6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    509    526    541    476    500    569    559    2.0   2.1   2.1   1.9   2.0   2.2   2.2
  South................................  1,071  1,154  1,204  1,132  1,112  1,176  1,201    2.3   2.5   2.6   2.4   2.4   2.5   2.5
  Midwest..............................    616    655    666    679    680    663    659    2.0   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.2   2.1   2.1
  West.................................    608    621    649    586    632    655    672    2.1   2.1   2.2   2.0   2.2   2.2   2.3


  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            Apr.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.  Apr.    Apr.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004  2004p   2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  3,911  4,135  4,216  4,106  4,103  4,603  4,358    3.0   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.2   3.5   3.3

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,610  3,843  3,923  3,800  3,772  4,256  4,044    3.3   3.5   3.6   3.5   3.5   3.9   3.7
  Construction.........................    357    397    404    358    382    437    409    5.3   5.9   6.0   5.3   5.6   6.4   6.0
  Manufacturing........................    282    345    340    349    355    361    349    1.9   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.5   2.5   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    838    875    913    957    945  1,009  1,028    3.3   3.5   3.6   3.8   3.7   4.0   4.0
  Professional and business services...    624    613    650    708    529    713    600    3.9   3.8   4.0   4.4   3.3   4.4   3.7
  Education and health services........    419    436    427    416    447    444    459    2.5   2.6   2.5   2.5   2.7   2.6   2.7
  Leisure and hospitality..............    656    776    753    715    766    810    754    5.4   6.4   6.2   5.9   6.3   6.6   6.1
 Government............................    303    302    300    295    323    343    306    1.4   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.5   1.6   1.4


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    646    717    792    722    689    744    772    2.6   2.9   3.2   2.9   2.8   3.0   3.1
  South................................  1,499  1,508  1,517  1,585  1,608  1,781  1,567    3.3   3.3   3.3   3.4   3.5   3.9   3.4
  Midwest..............................    886    925    897    921    953  1,040    975    2.9   3.0   2.9   3.0   3.1   3.4   3.1
  West.................................    919    924    992    883    876  1,029  1,089    3.2   3.3   3.5   3.1   3.1   3.6   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            Apr.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.  Apr.    Apr.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004  2004p   2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  3,975  3,797  4,022  3,968  4,073  4,134  4,029    3.1   2.9   3.1   3.0   3.1   3.2   3.1

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,740  3,543  3,723  3,716  3,807  3,868  3,785    3.5   3.3   3.4   3.4   3.5   3.5   3.5
  Construction.........................    411    372    391    436    400    392    391    6.1   5.5   5.8   6.4   5.9   5.7   5.7
  Manufacturing........................    391    330    343    323    355    377    364    2.7   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.5   2.6   2.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    867    856    968    936    899    978    958    3.4   3.4   3.8   3.7   3.5   3.8   3.8
  Professional and business services...    568    542    575    572    590    597    589    3.6   3.4   3.6   3.5   3.6   3.7   3.6
  Education and health services........    387    372    330    389    388    382    385    2.3   2.2   2.0   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    699    678    723    709    727    715    671    5.8   5.6   5.9   5.8   5.9   5.8   5.5
 Government............................    231    259    269    258    268    284    251    1.1   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    643    622    687    712    688    666    720    2.6   2.5   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.7   2.9
  South................................  1,533  1,438  1,518  1,505  1,499  1,612  1,486    3.3   3.1   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.5   3.2
  Midwest..............................    902    881    901    903    929    938    864    2.9   2.9   2.9   2.9   3.0   3.0   2.8
  West.................................    889    858    898    896    941  1,003    955    3.1   3.0   3.2   3.2   3.3   3.5   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            Apr.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.  Apr.    Apr.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                          2003   2003   2003   2004   2004   2004  2004p   2003  2003  2003  2004  2004  2004  2004p

Total(4)...............................  2,048  2,104  2,131  2,118  2,178  2,271  2,225    1.6   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.7   1.7   1.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  1,933  1,999  2,010  2,002  2,051  2,144  2,096    1.8   1.8   1.9   1.8   1.9   2.0   1.9
  Construction.........................    106    158    171    148    133    154    163    1.6   2.3   2.5   2.2   2.0   2.3   2.4
  Manufacturing........................    151    166    178    165    169    176    188    1.0   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    491    491    534    530    493    530    530    1.9   1.9   2.1   2.1   1.9   2.1   2.1
  Professional and business services...    280    261    256    261    302    309    307    1.8   1.6   1.6   1.6   1.9   1.9   1.9
  Education and health services........    230    225    212    237    234    252    248    1.4   1.3   1.3   1.4   1.4   1.5   1.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    436    463    462    428    447    465    420    3.6   3.8   3.8   3.5   3.7   3.8   3.4
 Government............................    113    100    119    116    126    129    127     .5    .5    .6    .5    .6    .6    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    297    301    315    288    319    314    381    1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.3   1.3   1.5
  South................................    817    869    894    852    867    957    872    1.8   1.9   1.9   1.9   1.9   2.1   1.9
  Midwest..............................    456    466    465    513    455    474    467    1.5   1.5   1.5   1.7   1.5   1.5   1.5
  West.................................    472    464    436    475    520    565    517    1.7   1.6   1.5   1.7   1.8   2.0   1.8


  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                  Apr.     Mar.    Apr.           Apr.     Mar.     Apr.
                                                   2003     2004    2004p          2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  2,935    3,061    3,249           2.2      2.3      2.4

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,559    2,713    2,888           2.3      2.5      2.6
  Natural resources and mining..................      5        8        6            .8      1.3      1.0
  Construction..................................    128      112      146           1.9      1.7      2.1
  Manufacturing.................................    180      230      260           1.2      1.6      1.8
   Durable goods................................    109      145      170           1.2      1.6      1.9
   Nondurable goods.............................     71       85       90           1.3      1.6      1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    454      518      537           1.8      2.0      2.1
   Wholesale trade..............................     78       94      115           1.4      1.7      2.0
   Retail trade.................................    306      333      342           2.0      2.2      2.3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     70       91       79           1.4      1.9      1.6
  Information...................................     47       68       65           1.4      2.1      2.0
  Financial activities..........................    165      189      223           2.0      2.3      2.7
   Finance and insurance........................    118      157      178           2.0      2.6      2.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     47       32       45           2.2      1.6      2.1
  Professional and business services............    489      499      514           3.0      3.0      3.0
  Education and health services.................    563      543      563           3.3      3.1      3.2
   Educational services.........................     36       43       50           1.3      1.5      1.7
   Health care and social assistance............    527      500      513           3.7      3.4      3.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    400      408      437           3.2      3.3      3.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     54       44       35           3.0      2.6      2.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    346      364      401           3.3      3.4      3.7
  Other services................................    129      138      137           2.3      2.5      2.5

 Government.....................................    376      348      362           1.7      1.6      1.6
  Federal.......................................     39       40       46           1.4      1.4      1.7
  State and local...............................    337      309      316           1.7      1.6      1.6

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    522      556      576           2.1      2.2      2.2
  South.........................................  1,121    1,173    1,263           2.4      2.5      2.7
  Midwest.......................................    655      684      703           2.1      2.2      2.2
  West..........................................    636      648      707           2.2      2.2      2.4


  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                  Apr.     Mar.    Apr.           Apr.     Mar.     Apr.
                                                   2003     2004    2004p          2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  4,101    4,357    4,584           3.2      3.4      3.5

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,876    4,123    4,358           3.6      3.8      4.0
  Natural resources and mining..................     21       21       25           3.7      3.7      4.4
  Construction..................................    463      479      532           7.1      7.4      7.9
  Manufacturing.................................    293      370      363           2.0      2.6      2.5
   Durable goods................................    168      237      214           1.9      2.7      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................    126      133      149           2.3      2.5      2.8
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    806      891    1,007           3.2      3.6      4.0
   Wholesale trade..............................    124      161      176           2.2      2.9      3.1
   Retail trade.................................    580      613      694           3.9      4.2      4.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    101      116      136           2.1      2.4      2.9
  Information...................................     67       65       68           2.1      2.1      2.1
  Financial activities..........................    182      177      197           2.3      2.2      2.5
   Finance and insurance........................     92      111      114           1.6      1.9      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     89       66       83           4.4      3.3      4.0
  Professional and business services............    727      725      680           4.6      4.5      4.2
  Education and health services.................    360      411      401           2.2      2.4      2.4
   Educational services.........................     38       39       36           1.3      1.4      1.2
   Health care and social assistance............    323      372      365           2.3      2.6      2.6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    794      823      899           6.6      6.9      7.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    186      110      162          10.7      6.6      9.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    608      713      738           5.9      6.9      7.0
  Other services................................    163      160      186           3.0      3.0      3.5

 Government.....................................    224      235      226           1.0      1.1      1.0
  Federal.......................................     27       26       37           1.0      1.0      1.4
  State and local...............................    197      208      189           1.0      1.1      1.0

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    630      649      761           2.5      2.6      3.0
  South.........................................  1,554    1,753    1,615           3.4      3.8      3.5
  Midwest.......................................    981      985    1,083           3.2      3.2      3.5
  West..........................................    935      970    1,126           3.3      3.4      3.9


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.




Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Apr.     Mar.    Apr.           Apr.     Mar.     Apr.
                                                   2003     2004    2004p          2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  3,630    3,632    3,677           2.8      2.8      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,452    3,437    3,492           3.2      3.2      3.2
  Natural resources and mining..................     13       16       18           2.4      2.8      3.1
  Construction..................................    339      360      324           5.2      5.5      4.8
  Manufacturing.................................    379      345      354           2.6      2.4      2.5
   Durable goods................................    246      207      194           2.7      2.3      2.2
   Nondurable goods.............................    133      137      159           2.4      2.5      3.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    746      876      828           3.0      3.5      3.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    104      148      134           1.8      2.6      2.4
   Retail trade.................................    548      597      568           3.7      4.0      3.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     95      131      126           2.0      2.8      2.6
  Information...................................     52       71       86           1.6      2.3      2.7
  Financial activities..........................    164      135      148           2.1      1.7      1.8
   Finance and insurance........................     90       87       88           1.5      1.5      1.5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     74       48       60           3.6      2.4      2.9
  Professional and business services............    549      550      576           3.5      3.4      3.5
  Education and health services.................    348      346      352           2.1      2.0      2.1
   Educational services.........................     45       34       29           1.6      1.2      1.0
   Health care and social assistance............    303      313      323           2.2      2.2      2.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    707      585      667           5.9      4.9      5.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    124       71      123           7.1      4.3      7.1
   Accommodations and food services.............    583      514      544           5.7      5.0      5.2
  Other services................................    155      152      139           2.9      2.8      2.6

 Government.....................................    178      195      185            .8       .9       .8
  Federal.......................................     22       26       25            .8      1.0       .9
  State and local...............................    156      168      160            .8       .9       .8

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    536      538      625           2.2      2.2      2.5
  South.........................................  1,460    1,412    1,406           3.2      3.1      3.0
  Midwest.......................................    800      764      743           2.6      2.5      2.4
  West..........................................    835      917      903           2.9      3.2      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.
  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                  Apr.     Mar.    Apr.           Apr.     Mar.     Apr.
                                                   2003     2004    2004p          2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  1,938    2,024    2,114           1.5      1.6      1.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,853    1,925    2,018           1.7      1.8      1.9
  Natural resources and mining..................      7        8        9           1.3      1.4      1.6
  Construction..................................    105      140      164           1.6      2.2      2.4
  Manufacturing.................................    150      164      190           1.0      1.1      1.3
   Durable goods................................     89       94      114           1.0      1.1      1.3
   Nondurable goods.............................     61       70       76           1.1      1.3      1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    462      484      503           1.8      1.9      2.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     53       73       64            .9      1.3      1.1
   Retail trade.................................    361      357      388           2.5      2.4      2.6
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     48       54       50           1.0      1.1      1.1
  Information...................................     30       33       49            .9      1.0      1.6
  Financial activities..........................    120       76       97           1.5      1.0      1.2
   Finance and insurance........................     63       53       58           1.1       .9      1.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     57       23       39           2.8      1.2      1.9
  Professional and business services............    255      296      286           1.6      1.8      1.7
  Education and health services.................    212      224      230           1.3      1.3      1.4
   Educational services.........................     23       14       17            .8       .5       .6
   Health care and social assistance............    189      211      213           1.4      1.5      1.5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    425      391      403           3.6      3.3      3.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     38       29       47           2.2      1.7      2.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    387      362      356           3.8      3.5      3.4
  Other services................................     88      109       87           1.6      2.0      1.6

 Government.....................................     85       99       97            .4       .5       .4
  Federal.......................................     11       12       12            .4       .5       .4
  State and local...............................     74       87       85            .4       .5       .4

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    254      252      327           1.0      1.0      1.3
  South.........................................    809      855      857           1.8      1.9      1.9
  Midwest.......................................    426      400      433           1.4      1.3      1.4
  West..........................................    451      517      497           1.6      1.8      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                  Apr.     Mar.    Apr.           Apr.     Mar.     Apr.
                                                   2003     2004    2004p          2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................  1,414    1,365    1,300           1.1      1.1      1.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,360    1,312    1,247           1.3      1.2      1.1
  Natural resources and mining..................      3        5        5            .5       .9       .8
  Construction..................................    221      211      145           3.4      3.2      2.2
  Manufacturing.................................    191      150      139           1.3      1.1      1.0
   Durable goods................................    127       89       62           1.4      1.0       .7
   Nondurable goods.............................     64       61       77           1.2      1.1      1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    228      328      253            .9      1.3      1.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     33       68       61            .6      1.2      1.1
   Retail trade.................................    164      195      142           1.1      1.3      1.0
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     31       66       50            .7      1.4      1.1
  Information...................................     16       36       29            .5      1.1       .9
  Financial activities..........................     31       38       29            .4       .5       .4
   Finance and insurance........................     19       17       14            .3       .3       .2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     11       22       15            .6      1.1       .7
  Professional and business services............    254      227      257           1.6      1.4      1.6
  Education and health services.................    114      104      101            .7       .6       .6
   Educational services.........................     18       18       10            .6       .6       .3
   Health care and social assistance............     96       86       91            .7       .6       .6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    255      177      241           2.1      1.5      2.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     84       40       75           4.8      2.4      4.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    171      137      166           1.7      1.3      1.6
  Other services................................     48       36       48            .9       .7       .9

 Government.....................................     54       54       53            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................      5        7        6            .2       .3       .2
  State and local...............................     49       47       47            .3       .2       .2

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    238      247      254           1.0      1.0      1.0
  South.........................................    540      458      437           1.2      1.0       .9
  Midwest.......................................    310      311      253           1.0      1.0       .8
  West..........................................    327      349      356           1.2      1.2      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                  Apr.     Mar.     Apr.          Apr.     Mar.     Apr.
                                                   2003     2004     2004p         2003     2004     2004p

Total...........................................    278      242      263           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    239      200      227            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      3        3        4            .5       .5       .8
  Construction..................................     13        9       15            .2       .1       .2
  Manufacturing.................................     39       31       25            .3       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     30       23       18            .3       .3       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................      9        7        7            .2       .1       .1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     56       64       73            .2       .3       .3
   Wholesale trade..............................     18        7        9            .3       .1       .2
   Retail trade.................................     23       45       38            .2       .3       .3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     16       12       25            .3       .2       .5
  Information...................................      6        3        9            .2       .1       .3
  Financial activities..........................     14       20       21            .2       .3       .3
   Finance and insurance........................      8       18       16            .1       .3       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      6        3        6            .3       .1       .3
  Professional and business services............     41       27       32            .3       .2       .2
  Education and health services.................     22       18       21            .1       .1       .1
   Educational services.........................      5        2        2            .2       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     18       16       20            .1       .1       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     27       17       23            .2       .1       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      2        2        1            .1       .1      (3)
   Accommodations and food services.............     25       15       22            .2       .1       .2
  Other services................................     19        8        4            .4       .1       .1

 Government.....................................     39       42       36            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................      6        7        8            .2       .3       .3
  State and local...............................     33       35       28            .2       .2       .1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     45       39       44            .2       .2       .2
  South.........................................    112       99      111            .2       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     64       53       57            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     57       51       50            .2       .2       .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.