1

Technical information: (202) 691-5870

 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/

Media contact: 691-5902

USDL 06-2068

For release: 10:00 A.M. EST

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,

 November 2003 - October 2006

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.1

2.3

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

2004 2005 2006

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,

 November 2003 - October 2006

2.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

Percent

Separations

Hires

2004 2005 2006

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: OCTOBER 2006

The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or no change in October, 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 October 2006, there were 4.2 million job openings in the United States, and

the job openings rate was 3.0 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month and has been

little changed since November 2005. In October, the job openings rate rose in manufacturing and in education and health services, but fell in trade, transportation, and utilities. None of the regions experienced a significant change in the job openings rate over the month. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted

job openings rate in October 2006 were leisure and hospitality and professional and business services (4.1

percent each), and education and health services (4.0 percent). (See table 1.)

Over the year, the job openings rate rose in durable manufacturing, nondurable manufacturing, information,

health care and social assistance, and state and local government. The rate also rose over the year in the

Northeast and West regions. The job openings rate did not decline significantly over the year in any industry

or region. (See table 5.)
2

 Job openings

Industry

Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted

Hires Total separations

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Sept.

2005 2006 2005 2006 2006 2005 2006 2006

Levels (in thousands)

Rates (percent)

2006 p p p

1

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

 p = preliminary.

Oct. Oct. Oct.

Hires

The hires rate was little changed at 3.6 percent in October. Hires are any additions to the payroll during

the month. In October, the hires rate did not rise significantly in any private sector industry but fell in government. Geographically, the hires rate did not change significantly in any region over the month. The

seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in October in the leisure and hospitality industry (6.6 percent).

(See table 2.)

From October 2005 to October 2006, the hires rate rose in finance and insurance but fell in construction

and durable manufacturing. (See table 6.)

Separations

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent in October. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In October, the total separations rate increased in professional and business services but decreased in government. Geographically, the separations

rate did not change significantly in any region over the month. From October 2005 to October 2006, the

total separations rate increased in finance and insurance and in real estate and rental and leasing. The total

separations rate decreased over the year in accommodations and food services. (See tables 3 and 7.)

Total ........................................................ 3,867 4,154 4,207 4,822 4,803 4,893 4,359 4,380 4,386

 Total private ....................................... 3,460 3,659 3,733 4,488 4,395 4,520 4,103 4,050 4,113

Construction .................................... 148 140 134 430 338 335 392 332 351

Manufacturing ................................. 297 307 364 449 325 351 340 391 345

Trade, transportation, and

 utilities .......................................... 654 736 640 967 968 967 935 1,004 952

Professional and business

 services ......................................... 723 728 752 849 988 982 757 781 909

Education and health services....... 613 691 738 460 465 508 404 390 406

Leisure and hospitality .................. 498 520 559 859 827 868 798 711 712

 Government ............................................ 416 492 490 319 380 343 255 322 278

Total ........................................................ 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.3 3.2 3.2

 Total private ...................................... 3.0 3.1 3.2 4.0 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.6 3.6

Construction .................................... 2.0 1.8 1.8 5.9 4.5 4.5 5.3 4.4 4.7

Manufacturing ................................. 2.1 2.1 2.5 3.2 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.8 2.4

Trade, transportation, and

 utilities .......................................... 2.5 2.7 2.4 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.9 3.7

Professional and business

 services ......................................... 4.1 4.0 4.1 5.0 5.7 5.6 4.5 4.5 5.2

Education and health services ...... 3.4 3.7 4.0 2.6 2.6 2.8 2.3 2.2 2.3

Leisure and hospitality .................. 3.7 3.8 4.1 6.7 6.3 6.6 6.2 5.4 5.4

 Government ........................................... 1.9 2.2 2.2 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.2 1.5 1.3

1

 1

1

1
3

Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations),

and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’

ability to change jobs, was little changed at 1.9 percent in October. Over the month, the quits rate did not

rise significantly in any industry or region but declined in government. In October, the seasonally adjusted

quits rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (4.0 percent), which also had the highest hires

rate. (See table 4.)

Over the year, the quits rate rose in finance and insurance; real estate and rental and leasing; and professional and business services. Over the same time period, the quits rate fell in construction; accommodations

and food services; and other services. (See table 8.)

The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not

seasonally adjusted. The layoffs and discharges rate, at 1.2 percent, was essentially unchanged from the

prior year. For October 2006, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest layoffs and

discharges rate (4.0 percent). From October 2005 to October 2006, the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.)

Flows in the Labor Market

Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the 12 months ending in

October 2006, hires have averaged 4.9 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per

month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.8 million

hires and 4.6 million 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 November 2006 is scheduled to be issued on

Wednesday, January 10, 2007.

______________________________
Technical Note

The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey

(JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of

business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

(BLS).

Collection

Each month, data are collected in a survey of business

establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits,

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection

methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,

touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.

Coverage

The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm

establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as

federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and

the District of Columbia.

Concepts

Industry classification. The industry classifications in this

release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to

ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce

Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the

industry code, location, and ownership classification of all

establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment

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 received 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 temporary help agencies, employee

leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are

counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment

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 position, 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 newspapers 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.

Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll

occurring at any time during the reference month, including

both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time,

permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, 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 (except for retirements,

which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and

discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the

employer 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 retirements, 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, dividing the number by

employment and multiplying by 100.

Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of

hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total

separations are released with the January news release each year.

The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs

and discharges, other separations, and total separations are

the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate

estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the

Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average

employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This

figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly

rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are

rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates

are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates

will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data.
Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings

because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time,

measurement for the last business day of each month. Only

jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For

the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout

each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created

by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are

flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total

reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be

created by summing the monthly estimates.

Sample methodology

The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000

nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,

and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in

the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments

are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments

compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of

Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program

includes all employers subject to state Unemployment

Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).

The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,

industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample

with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are

controlled to the employment estimates of the Current

Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS

employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data

elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.

Using JOLTS data

The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and

separations are relatively 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 supplemental

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

comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.

The federal government reorganization that involved

transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new

Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS

hires and separations estimates for the federal government.

The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these

transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is

intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between

establishments. The Department of Homeland Security

reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion

of these intergovernmental 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 adjustment 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 calendar month

after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes

that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption

until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal

filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be

introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended

diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series,

such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may

be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.

Reliability of the estimates

JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and

nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire

population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample

estimates may differ from the “true” population values they

represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies

depending on the particular sample selected, and this

variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.

BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of

confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or

level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will

differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true”

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of

sampling errors are available upon request.
The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling

error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including

the failure to include a segment 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 explain 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 includes 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 practices. 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

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 3,867 3,945 3,960 3,844 4,061 4,154 4,207 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 3,460 3,496 3,476 3,363 3,604 3,659 3,733 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.2

Construction........................................................................ 148 119 161 148 162 140 134 2.0 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.1 1.8 1.8

Manufacturing................................................................. 297 311 301 305 310 307 364 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 654 687 640 605 686 736 640 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.7 2.4

Professional and business services......................... 723 693 616 651 661 728 752 4.1 3.9 3.4 3.6 3.7 4.0 4.1

Education and health services................................................. 613 651 659 643 678 691 738 3.4 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.7 4.0

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 498 496 487 482 501 520 559 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.8 4.1

Government......................................................................................... 416 452 467 478 464 492 490 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 704 670 699 699 747 824 786 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.1 3.0

South............................................................................................... 1,515 1,591 1,507 1,498 1,548 1,582 1,631 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 762 787 777 739 809 783 740 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.3

West...................................................................................... 873 918 935 911 955 991 1,031 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3

1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode 

of the month. Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,

3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois,

seasonal adjustment of the various series. Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska,

4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska,

and other services, not shown separately. Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,

5 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

p = preliminary.

Table 2. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,822 4,949 4,899 4,995 4,831 4,803 4,893 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,488 4,573 4,508 4,741 4,396 4,395 4,520 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.2 3.9 3.9 4.0

Construction........................................................................ 430 374 366 365 351 338 335 5.9 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.5 4.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 449 385 378 380 353 325 351 3.2 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 967 1,018 1,099 1,045 1,070 968 967 3.7 3.9 4.2 4.0 4.1 3.7 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 849 1,006 905 967 860 988 982 5.0 5.8 5.2 5.6 4.9 5.7 5.6

Education and health services................................................. 460 549 465 521 482 465 508 2.6 3.1 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.8

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 859 811 846 850 794 827 868 6.7 6.2 6.5 6.5 6.1 6.3 6.6

Government......................................................................................... 319 379 392 338 409 380 343 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.5 1.9 1.7 1.6

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 744 852 729 841 738 718 748 2.9 3.3 2.9 3.3 2.9 2.8 2.9

South............................................................................................... 1,886 1,849 1,877 1,849 1,907 1,993 1,873 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.9 4.1 3.9

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,017 1,133 1,072 1,123 1,008 997 1,065 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.6 3.2 3.1 3.4

West...................................................................................... 1,154 1,114 1,207 1,177 1,160 1,122 1,182 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.7 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.

 

3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

 

4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

 

5

 See footnote 5, table 1. 

 

p

 = preliminary.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels Rates 3 (in thousands)

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 3. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,359 4,811 4,631 4,479 4,386 4,380 4,386 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,103 4,488 4,299 4,168 4,083 4,050 4,113 3.7 4.0 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6

Construction........................................................................ 392 478 324 415 348 332 351 5.3 6.4 4.3 5.5 4.6 4.4 4.7

Manufacturing................................................................ 340 381 370 358 364 391 345 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 935 1,046 1,082 935 997 1,004 952 3.6 4.0 4.2 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 757 833 755 735 705 781 909 4.5 4.8 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.5 5.2

Education and health services................................................. 404 487 424 431 460 390 406 2.3 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.2 2.3

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 798 799 802 818 801 711 712 6.2 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.1 5.4 5.4

Government......................................................................................... 255 324 315 306 304 322 278 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.3

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 657 779 724 763 695 766 736 2.6 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.9

South............................................................................................... 1,710 1,828 1,858 1,687 1,703 1,659 1,589 3.6 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.3

Midwest......................................................................................... 961 1,045 871 1,087 942 904 1,002 3.1 3.3 2.8 3.4 3.0 2.9 3.2

West...................................................................................... 1,012 1,136 1,137 979 1,070 1,031 1,057 3.4 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.6 3.4 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.

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

5 See footnote 5, table 1.

p

 = preliminary.

Table 4. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Oct. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,619 2,723 2,699 2,623 2,597 2,473 2,576 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,470 2,565 2,554 2,469 2,442 2,309 2,430 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.1

Construction........................................................................ 205 207 154 157 143 131 129 2.8 2.8 2.0 2.1 1.9 1.7 1.7

Manufacturing................................................................ 200 202 190 189 194 182 193 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.............................. 573 622 615 586 604 594 573 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2

Professional and business services......................... 345 434 386 412 388 401 437 2.0 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.5

Education and health services................................................. 258 276 290 277 300 262 275 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.5

Leisure and hospitality...................................................... 597 533 622 549 542 495 523 4.6 4.1 4.8 4.2 4.1 3.8 4.0

Government......................................................................................... 142 159 146 156 153 159 140 .6 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .6

REGION 5

Northeast......................................................................... 341 370 358 378 404 383 358 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.4

South............................................................................................... 1,109 1,152 1,153 1,081 1,095 1,029 1,036 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 552 581 552 562 551 522 575 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.8

West...................................................................................... 601 612 631 598 553 544 598 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0 1.8 1.8 2.0

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

5 See footnote 5, table 1.

p

 = preliminary.

Industry and region

Industry and region

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates

Levels 3 (in thousands) Rates
Table 5. Job openings levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,860 4,347 4,227 2.8 3.1 3.0

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 3,463 3,864 3,759 3.0 3.3 3.2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 12 22 17 1.8 3.0 2.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 132 139 118 1.7 1.8 1.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 290 315 357 2.0 2.2 2.5

Durable goods.............................................................................. 203 196 229 2.2 2.1 2.5

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 87 119 129 1.6 2.2 2.4

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 782 830 754 2.9 3.1 2.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 126 167 125 2.1 2.8 2.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 519 492 487 3.3 3.2 3.1

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 137 172 142 2.7 3.3 2.7

Information...................................................................................... 104 172 138 3.3 5.3 4.3

Financial activities........................................................................... 253 236 246 3.0 2.7 2.9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 202 192 197 3.2 3.0 3.1

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 51 44 50 2.3 1.9 2.2

Professional and business services........................................ 708 772 760 4.0 4.2 4.1

Education and health services................................................................. 603 713 731 3.3 3.9 3.9

Educational services................................................................ 66 65 64 2.2 2.2 2.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 537 648 667 3.5 4.2 4.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 437 494 499 3.3 3.6 3.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 60 63 75 3.1 3.1 3.8

Accommodations and food services............................... 378 431 424 3.3 3.7 3.7

Other services................................................................................. 141 173 138 2.6 3.1 2.5

Government......................................................................................... 397 482 468 1.8 2.2 2.0

Federal................................................................................................ 41 35 38 1.5 1.3 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 356 448 430 1.8 2.3 2.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 743 891 839 2.8 3.4 3.2

South............................................................................................... 1,471 1,620 1,600 3.0 3.2 3.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 772 839 744 2.4 2.6 2.3

West....................................................................................................... 873 996 1,044 2.8 3.2 3.3

 

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 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 6. Hires levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,805 5,302 4,877 3.6 3.9 3.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,494 4,717 4,549 4.0 4.1 4.0

Natural resources and mining................................................... 15 30 16 2.3 4.3 2.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 393 345 303 5.2 4.5 3.9

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 423 336 330 3.0 2.4 2.3

Durable goods.............................................................................. 273 194 187 3.0 2.1 2.1

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 150 142 144 2.8 2.7 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,128 1,068 1,107 4.3 4.1 4.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 156 142 135 2.7 2.4 2.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 815 738 822 5.3 4.9 5.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 157 188 149 3.2 3.7 3.0

Information...................................................................................... 82 76 71 2.7 2.5 2.3

Financial activities........................................................................... 204 233 227 2.5 2.8 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 112 156 150 1.8 2.5 2.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 93 77 78 4.3 3.5 3.6

Professional and business services........................................ 855 1,022 998 5.0 5.8 5.7

Education and health services................................................................. 465 598 516 2.6 3.4 2.9

Educational services................................................................ 56 120 65 1.9 4.2 2.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 409 478 451 2.8 3.2 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 770 829 780 6.0 6.2 6.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 76 75 77 4.1 3.8 4.1

Accommodations and food services............................... 694 754 703 6.4 6.7 6.3

Other services................................................................................. 159 182 201 3.0 3.4 3.7

Government......................................................................................... 311 584 329 1.4 2.7 1.5

Federal................................................................................................ 39 94 29 1.4 3.4 1.1

State and local.................................................................................... 272 491 300 1.4 2.6 1.5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 765 914 766 3.0 3.6 3.0

South............................................................................................... 1,870 2,043 1,861 3.9 4.2 3.8

Midwest................................................................................................. 991 1,121 1,035 3.2 3.5 3.3

West....................................................................................................... 1,179 1,223 1,215 3.9 4.1 4.0

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 7. Total separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,406 4,922 4,420 3.3 3.6 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,184 4,507 4,184 3.7 3.9 3.7

Natural resources and mining................................................... 15 26 14 2.3 3.8 2.0

Construction...................................................................................................... 411 352 360 5.4 4.6 4.7

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 368 403 359 2.6 2.8 2.5

Durable goods.............................................................................. 233 243 200 2.6 2.7 2.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 135 160 159 2.6 3.0 3.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 929 1,066 923 3.6 4.1 3.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 121 158 118 2.1 2.7 2.0

Retail trade................................................................................. 654 738 654 4.3 4.9 4.3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 154 169 151 3.1 3.4 3.0

Information...................................................................................... 69 80 76 2.2 2.6 2.5

Financial activities........................................................................... 165 211 255 2.0 2.5 3.1

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 98 123 151 1.6 2.0 2.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 68 88 104 3.2 4.0 4.8

Professional and business services........................................ 716 800 855 4.2 4.6 4.8

Education and health services................................................................. 374 430 371 2.1 2.4 2.1

Educational services................................................................ 39 61 31 1.3 2.1 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 334 369 340 2.3 2.5 2.3

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 953 962 827 7.5 7.2 6.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 150 237 140 8.1 11.9 7.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 803 725 687 7.4 6.4 6.1

Other services................................................................................. 185 177 143 3.4 3.3 2.7

Government......................................................................................... 222 415 236 1.0 1.9 1.1

Federal................................................................................................ 23 81 27 .9 3.0 1.0

State and local.................................................................................... 199 334 209 1.0 1.7 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 676 969 753 2.7 3.8 2.9

South............................................................................................... 1,781 1,738 1,634 3.7 3.6 3.3

Midwest................................................................................................. 940 1,041 981 3.0 3.3 3.1

West....................................................................................................... 1,010 1,174 1,051 3.4 3.9 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.

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 8. Quits levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,587 2,837 2,539 1.9 2.1 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,466 2,660 2,422 2.2 2.3 2.1

Natural resources and mining................................................... 8 16 8 1.2 2.3 1.1

Construction...................................................................................................... 212 153 135 2.8 2.0 1.8

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 206 206 200 1.4 1.4 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 121 119 105 1.4 1.3 1.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 85 87 95 1.6 1.7 1.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 580 674 572 2.2 2.6 2.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 61 95 66 1.1 1.6 1.1

Retail trade................................................................................. 441 488 433 2.9 3.2 2.8

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 77 90 74 1.6 1.8 1.5

Information...................................................................................... 49 58 51 1.6 1.9 1.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 94 136 167 1.1 1.6 2.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 61 78 109 1.0 1.3 1.8

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 33 58 57 1.5 2.6 2.6

Professional and business services........................................ 328 410 419 1.9 2.3 2.4

Education and health services................................................................. 246 290 260 1.4 1.6 1.4

Educational services................................................................ 23 33 17 .8 1.2 .6

Health care and social assistance.................................. 223 257 243 1.5 1.7 1.6

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 627 629 549 4.9 4.7 4.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 59 68 63 3.2 3.4 3.4

Accommodations and food services............................... 568 561 486 5.2 5.0 4.3

Other services................................................................................. 116 90 62 2.2 1.7 1.2

Government......................................................................................... 121 177 116 .5 .8 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 13 38 12 .5 1.4 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 109 138 104 .6 .7 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 351 503 365 1.4 2.0 1.4

South............................................................................................... 1,141 1,118 1,056 2.4 2.3 2.2

Midwest................................................................................................. 531 598 554 1.7 1.9 1.7

West....................................................................................................... 564 618 564 1.9 2.0 1.9

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,548 1,748 1,577 1.1 1.3 1.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,476 1,565 1,490 1.3 1.4 1.3

Natural resources and mining................................................... 6 8 4 .9 1.1 .5

Construction...................................................................................................... 176 169 192 2.3 2.2 2.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 128 170 132 .9 1.2 .9

Durable goods.............................................................................. 83 106 79 .9 1.2 .9

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 44 63 54 .8 1.2 1.0

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 296 304 288 1.1 1.2 1.1

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 54 54 45 .9 .9 .8

Retail trade................................................................................. 180 187 177 1.2 1.2 1.2

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 62 63 66 1.2 1.3 1.3

Information...................................................................................... 13 16 22 .4 .5 .7

Financial activities........................................................................... 64 55 68 .8 .7 .8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 31 28 29 .5 .5 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 33 27 39 1.5 1.2 1.8

Professional and business services........................................ 339 345 373 2.0 2.0 2.1

Education and health services................................................................. 98 112 84 .6 .6 .5

Educational services................................................................ 13 22 10 .4 .8 .3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 85 90 73 .6 .6 .5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 310 317 257 2.4 2.4 2.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 91 167 75 4.9 8.4 4.0

Accommodations and food services............................... 220 151 182 2.0 1.3 1.6

Other services................................................................................. 46 68 70 .9 1.3 1.3

Government......................................................................................... 73 183 87 .3 .8 .4

Federal................................................................................................ 5 21 9 .2 .8 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 67 162 78 .3 .8 .4

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 280 397 335 1.1 1.6 1.3

South............................................................................................... 574 513 458 1.2 1.1 .9

Midwest................................................................................................. 346 359 361 1.1 1.1 1.1

West....................................................................................................... 348 480 423 1.2 1.6 1.4

 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.

 2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

 3 See footnote 5, table 1.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region
Table 10. Other separations levels 1

 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

Oct. Sept. Oct. Oct. Sept. Oct.

2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p

Total........................................................................................................... 271 338 304 0.2 0.2 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 242 282 271 .2 .2 .2

Natural resources and mining................................................... 1 3 2 .2 .4 .3

Construction...................................................................................................... 22 31 33 .3 .4 .4

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 34 27 27 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 28 18 16 .3 .2 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 6 9 10 .1 .2 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 53 87 63 .2 .3 .2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 5 9 7 .1 .1 .1

Retail trade................................................................................. 32 63 44 .2 .4 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 15 16 11 .3 .3 .2

Information...................................................................................... 7 7 4 .2 .2 .1

Financial activities........................................................................... 7 20 20 .1 .2 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 5 17 13 .1 .3 .2

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 2 3 8 .1 .2 .3

Professional and business services........................................ 49 45 62 .3 .3 .4

Education and health services................................................................. 30 28 28 .2 .2 .2

Educational services................................................................ 3 6 4 .1 .2 .1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 27 22 24 .2 .1 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 16 16 21 .1 .1 .2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 1 3 2 (

4

) .1 .1

Accommodations and food services............................... 15 13 20 .1 .1 .2

Other services................................................................................. 23 18 11 .4 .3 .2

Government......................................................................................... 28 56 32 .1 .3 .1

Federal................................................................................................ 5 21 6 .2 .8 .2

State and local.................................................................................... 23 34 26 .1 .2 .1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 45 70 53 .2 .3 .2

South............................................................................................... 66 107 120 .1 .2 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 62 84 66 .2 .3 .2

West....................................................................................................... 98 77 64 .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 See footnote 5, table 1.

 4 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region