Technical information:  (202) 691-5870     USDL 05-995
               http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                           For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                691-5902     Tuesday, June 7, 2005


               JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  APRIL 2005

   The job openings rate was essentially unchanged in April at 2.7 percent,
while the hires rate decreased to 3.4 percent, and the total separations
rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This release includes estimates
of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the
total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings
   
   On the last business day of April 2005, there were 3.7 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.7 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate was little changed in April, but has
generally trended upward since September 2003.  In April, the job openings
rate decreased in the construction sector and increased in professional
and business services.  The job openings rate did not change significantly
in any of the regions.

Hires and Separations
   
   The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employ-
ment) fell to 3.4 percent in April.  (See table 2.)  Hires are any additions
to the payroll during the month.  In April, the hires rate fell in the pri-
vate sector overall, in the leisure and hospitality sector, and in the
South region.
   
   The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of sep-
arations during the month divided by employment) was 3.4 percent in
April, the same as in March.  Separations are terminations of employment
that occur at any time during the month.  (See table 3.)  In April, the
total separations rate changed significantly only in the construction
sector, where the rate increased.
   
   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, remained at 1.9 percent in April.  (See table 4.)
The quits rate did not change significantly for any sector or region in
April.  The other two components of total separations--layoffs and dis-
charges and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From April
2004 to April 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.2 percent) and
the other separations rate (0.2 percent) were unchanged.  (See tables 9
and 10.)

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | Apr. | Mar. | Apr. | Apr. | Mar. | Apr. | Apr. | Mar. | Apr.
                   | 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,111 |3,598 |3,664 |4,509 |4,841 |4,507 |4,334 |4,502 |4,588
  Total private(1).|2,768 |3,212 |3,267 |4,203 |4,497 |4,174 |4,090 |4,237 |4,331
    Construction...|  113 |  170 |  112 |  378 |  414 |  433 |  397 |  303 |  416
    Manufacturing..|  248 |  258 |  253 |  360 |  334 |  318 |  348 |  360 |  372
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  537 |  624 |  644 |1,067 |1,047 |  988 |1,029 |  980 |  984
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  528 |  646 |  765 |  720 |  895 |  815 |  816 |  924 |  914
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  575 |  616 |  617 |  452 |  472 |  483 |  398 |  445 |  424
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  383 |  440 |  430 |  756 |  798 |  693 |  695 |  743 |  667
  Government.......|  339 |  383 |  395 |  298 |  336 |  325 |  242 |  267 |  256
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.3 |  2.6 |  2.7 |  3.4 |  3.6 |  3.4 |  3.3 |  3.4 |  3.4
  Total private(1).|  2.5 |  2.8 |  2.8 |  3.8 |  4.0 |  3.7 |  3.7 |  3.8 |  3.9
    Construction...|  1.6 |  2.3 |  1.5 |  5.5 |  5.8 |  6.0 |  5.7 |  4.2 |  5.8
    Manufacturing..|  1.7 |  1.8 |  1.7 |  2.5 |  2.3 |  2.2 |  2.4 |  2.5 |  2.6
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.1 |  2.4 |  2.4 |  4.2 |  4.1 |  3.8 |  4.0 |  3.8 |  3.8
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.1 |  3.7 |  4.3 |  4.4 |  5.3 |  4.8 |  5.0 |  5.5 |  5.4
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  3.3 |  3.5 |  3.5 |  2.7 |  2.7 |  2.8 |  2.4 |  2.6 |  2.5
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.0 |  3.4 |  3.3 |  6.1 |  6.3 |  5.4 |  5.6 |  5.9 |  5.2
  Government.......|  1.5 |  1.7 |  1.8 |  1.4 |  1.5 |  1.5 |  1.1 |  1.2 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.

   Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.6 million per month and
separations have averaged 4.3 million per month.  The comparable figures a
year earlier were 4.3 million hires and 4.1 million separations.  (See the
Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)
   
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 Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for May 2005 is scheduled to
be issued on Tuesday, July 12, 2005.
   
   
   
   
   
                                  - 3 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always 
introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the 
first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 4 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
                                  - 5 -

Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.
   
  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
                                  - 6 -

Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Apr.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.  Apr.    Apr.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                          2004   2004   2004   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2004  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  3,111  3,277  3,507  3,385  3,569  3,598  3,664    2.3   2.4   2.6   2.5   2.6   2.6   2.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,768  2,910  3,106  3,020  3,160  3,212  3,267    2.5   2.6   2.7   2.7   2.8   2.8   2.8
  Construction.........................    113    118    132    127    133    170    112    1.6   1.6   1.8   1.8   1.8   2.3   1.5
  Manufacturing........................    248    248    266    252    252    258    253    1.7   1.7   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.8   1.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    537    554    561    564    668    624    644    2.1   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.5   2.4   2.4
  Professional and business services...    528    620    699    682    607    646    765    3.1   3.6   4.0   3.9   3.5   3.7   4.3
  Education and health services........    575    543    557    560    602    616    617    3.3   3.1   3.1   3.2   3.4   3.5   3.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    383    411    450    434    447    440    430    3.0   3.2   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.4   3.3
 Government............................    339    369    396    346    404    383    395    1.5   1.7   1.8   1.6   1.8   1.7   1.8


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    563    560    620    602    606    615    621    2.2   2.2   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.4
  South................................  1,216  1,250  1,329  1,342  1,399  1,447  1,501    2.6   2.6   2.8   2.8   2.9   3.0   3.1
  Midwest..............................    683    726    740    716    745    737    716    2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.2
  West.................................    641    759    792    718    823    806    818    2.2   2.6   2.7   2.4   2.8   2.7   2.7


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.





Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Apr.   Nov.   Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.  Apr.    Apr.  Nov.  Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                          2004   2004   2004   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2004  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,509  4,990  4,639  4,709  4,760  4,841  4,507    3.4   3.8   3.5   3.6   3.6   3.6   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,203  4,652  4,337  4,374  4,430  4,497  4,174    3.8   4.2   3.9   3.9   4.0   4.0   3.7
  Construction.........................    378    373    368    339    430    414    433    5.5   5.3   5.2   4.8   6.0   5.8   6.0
  Manufacturing........................    360    386    324    307    336    334    318    2.5   2.7   2.3   2.1   2.3   2.3   2.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,067  1,077    986  1,056  1,055  1,047    988    4.2   4.2   3.8   4.1   4.1   4.1   3.8
  Professional and business services...    720    935    878    882    853    895    815    4.4   5.6   5.3   5.3   5.1   5.3   4.8
  Education and health services........    452    447    452    445    500    472    483    2.7   2.6   2.6   2.6   2.9   2.7   2.8
  Leisure and hospitality..............    756    858    834    826    771    798    693    6.1   6.8   6.6   6.6   6.1   6.3   5.4
 Government............................    298    335    307    341    329    336    325    1.4   1.5   1.4   1.6   1.5   1.5   1.5


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    832    851    858    762    820    856    838    3.3   3.4   3.4   3.0   3.2   3.4   3.3
  South................................  1,620  1,903  1,770  1,880  1,867  1,922  1,739    3.5   4.1   3.8   4.0   4.0   4.1   3.7
  Midwest..............................  1,006  1,149  1,043  1,092  1,081  1,034    973    3.2   3.7   3.3   3.5   3.5   3.3   3.1
  West.................................  1,096  1,014    970    959  1,069  1,036  1,030    3.8   3.5   3.4   3.3   3.7   3.6   3.5


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  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.
                                          2004   2004   2004   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2004  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,334  4,266  4,435  4,352  4,295  4,502  4,588    3.3   3.2   3.3   3.3   3.2   3.4   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,090  3,996  4,146  4,091  4,035  4,237  4,331    3.7   3.6   3.7   3.7   3.6   3.8   3.9
  Construction.........................    397    351    355    417    403    303    416    5.7   5.0   5.0   5.9   5.7   4.2   5.8
  Manufacturing........................    348    327    353    361    341    360    372    2.4   2.3   2.5   2.5   2.4   2.5   2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,029    943  1,062    882    940    980    984    4.0   3.7   4.1   3.4   3.7   3.8   3.8
  Professional and business services...    816    822    833    836    772    924    914    5.0   4.9   5.0   5.0   4.6   5.5   5.4
  Education and health services........    398    408    375    356    389    445    424    2.4   2.4   2.2   2.1   2.3   2.6   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    695    727    758    832    790    743    667    5.6   5.8   6.0   6.6   6.3   5.9   5.2
 Government............................    242    275    274    258    260    267    256    1.1   1.3   1.3   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.2


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    794    756    773    773    732    802    807    3.2   3.0   3.0   3.1   2.9   3.2   3.2
  South................................  1,657  1,594  1,707  1,747  1,647  1,763  1,784    3.6   3.4   3.6   3.7   3.5   3.7   3.8
  Midwest..............................    917  1,041    986    981    937  1,051    976    3.0   3.3   3.1   3.1   3.0   3.4   3.1
  West.................................    989    826    953    964    961    926  1,017    3.5   2.9   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.2   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.
  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.
                                          2004   2004   2004   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2004  2004  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  2,302  2,436  2,495  2,530  2,307  2,516  2,523    1.8   1.8   1.9   1.9   1.7   1.9   1.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,176  2,319  2,366  2,412  2,192  2,383  2,397    2.0   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.0   2.1   2.1
  Construction.........................    151    159    162    171    139    150    148    2.2   2.2   2.3   2.4   2.0   2.1   2.1
  Manufacturing........................    187    185    194    185    181    186    178    1.3   1.3   1.4   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    563    568    570    563    512    583    567    2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.0   2.3   2.2
  Professional and business services...    340    401    415    417    410    424    439    2.1   2.4   2.5   2.5   2.4   2.5   2.6
  Education and health services........    239    250    232    230    259    280    285    1.4   1.5   1.4   1.3   1.5   1.6   1.7
  Leisure and hospitality..............    440    499    506    516    474    458    471    3.5   4.0   4.0   4.1   3.8   3.6   3.7
 Government............................    130    118    129    124    117    124    126     .6    .5    .6    .6    .5    .6    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    397    359    392    424    340    410    431    1.6   1.4   1.5   1.7   1.3   1.6   1.7
  South................................    911  1,014  1,021  1,053    914  1,003  1,003    2.0   2.2   2.2   2.2   1.9   2.1   2.1
  Midwest..............................    486    551    544    539    509    561    513    1.6   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.6   1.8   1.6
  West.................................    530    492    536    530    550    562    598    1.9   1.7   1.9   1.8   1.9   1.9   2.0


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  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.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,203    3,607    3,800           2.4      2.7      2.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,876    3,229    3,417           2.6      2.9      3.0
  Natural resources and mining..................      6       13       10           1.0      2.0      1.6
  Construction..................................    145      175      139           2.1      2.5      1.9
  Manufacturing.................................    250      266      257           1.7      1.8      1.8
   Durable goods................................    166      174      175           1.8      1.9      1.9
   Nondurable goods.............................     83       92       82           1.5      1.7      1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    537      618      651           2.1      2.4      2.5
   Wholesale trade..............................     92      120      116           1.6      2.1      2.0
   Retail trade.................................    357      399      436           2.3      2.6      2.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     88       98       99           1.8      2.0      2.0
  Information...................................     68       83       83           2.1      2.6      2.6
  Financial activities..........................    198      219      238           2.4      2.6      2.8
   Finance and insurance........................    165      184      192           2.7      3.0      3.1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     33       35       45           1.6      1.7      2.1
  Professional and business services............    525      614      784           3.1      3.6      4.4
  Education and health services.................    565      611      615           3.2      3.4      3.4
   Educational services.........................     51       57       62           1.7      1.9      2.0
   Health care and social assistance............    514      555      552           3.5      3.7      3.7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    454      488      507           3.5      3.8      3.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     47       51       61           2.5      3.0      3.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    407      437      446           3.7      3.9      3.9
  Other services................................    129      142      132           2.3      2.5      2.4

 Government.....................................    326      379      383           1.5      1.7      1.7
  Federal.......................................     42       48       48           1.5      1.8      1.7
  State and local...............................    285      330      335           1.5      1.7      1.7

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    586      603      648           2.3      2.3      2.5
  South.........................................  1,246    1,436    1,559           2.6      3.0      3.2
  Midwest.......................................    719      777      754           2.3      2.4      2.3
  West..........................................    652      792      839           2.2      2.7      2.8


  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.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,766    4,673    4,740           3.6      3.5      3.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,549    4,443    4,503           4.2      4.0      4.0
  Natural resources and mining..................     25       24       26           4.3      4.0      4.3
  Construction..................................    491      469      579           7.2      6.9      8.2
  Manufacturing.................................    371      351      326           2.6      2.5      2.3
   Durable goods................................    224      216      191           2.5      2.4      2.1
   Nondurable goods.............................    147      135      135           2.7      2.5      2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,063      964      967           4.2      3.8      3.8
   Wholesale trade..............................    178      142      157           3.2      2.5      2.7
   Retail trade.................................    742      674      670           5.0      4.5      4.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    143      148      140           3.0      3.0      2.9
  Information...................................     77       80       91           2.4      2.6      2.9
  Financial activities..........................    194      198      176           2.4      2.4      2.1
   Finance and insurance........................    114      110      117           1.9      1.8      1.9
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     80       87       59           3.9      4.2      2.8
  Professional and business services............    840      894      931           5.2      5.4      5.5
  Education and health services.................    392      443      426           2.3      2.6      2.4
   Educational services.........................     40       40       41           1.4      1.3      1.4
   Health care and social assistance............    353      403      384           2.5      2.8      2.7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    893      831      798           7.2      6.7      6.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    142      101      148           7.9      6.1      8.3
   Accommodations and food services.............    751      730      649           7.1      6.8      6.0
  Other services................................    203      189      184           3.8      3.5      3.4

 Government.....................................    217      230      236           1.0      1.0      1.1
  Federal.......................................     41       28       31           1.5      1.0      1.1
  State and local...............................    176      203      205            .9      1.0      1.1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    802      745      809           3.2      3.0      3.2
  South.........................................  1,681    1,922    1,774           3.6      4.1      3.7
  Midwest.......................................  1,154    1,004    1,095           3.7      3.2      3.5
  West..........................................  1,129    1,003    1,061           3.9      3.5      3.6


  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.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,994    3,944    4,255           3.0      3.0      3.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,809    3,764    4,064           3.5      3.4      3.7
  Natural resources and mining..................     18       19       14           3.0      3.1      2.2
  Construction..................................    324      278      352           4.8      4.1      5.0
  Manufacturing.................................    341      329      369           2.4      2.3      2.6
   Durable goods................................    198      198      241           2.2      2.2      2.7
   Nondurable goods.............................    144      131      128           2.7      2.5      2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    887      889      853           3.5      3.5      3.3
   Wholesale trade..............................    150      113      134           2.7      2.0      2.4
   Retail trade.................................    612      654      617           4.1      4.4      4.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    125      122      102           2.6      2.5      2.1
  Information...................................     80       71       82           2.6      2.3      2.6
  Financial activities..........................    140      136      211           1.8      1.7      2.6
   Finance and insurance........................     84       95      130           1.4      1.6      2.1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     56       41       81           2.7      2.0      3.8
  Professional and business services............    822      854      956           5.0      5.1      5.7
  Education and health services.................    352      414      386           2.1      2.4      2.2
   Educational services.........................     37       46       41           1.3      1.6      1.4
   Health care and social assistance............    315      368      345           2.2      2.6      2.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    690      611      650           5.6      5.0      5.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    122       67      103           6.8      4.1      5.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    568      544      547           5.4      5.1      5.0
  Other services................................    155      163      192           2.9      3.0      3.5

 Government.....................................    185      180      191            .8       .8       .9
  Federal.......................................     33       22       25           1.2       .8       .9
  State and local...............................    152      158      166            .8       .8       .9

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    698      664      720           2.8      2.6      2.8
  South.........................................  1,572    1,555    1,715           3.4      3.3      3.6
  Midwest.......................................    821      886      861           2.6      2.9      2.7
  West..........................................    904      839      959           3.2      2.9      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.
  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.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  2,205    2,248    2,421           1.7      1.7      1.8

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,104    2,154    2,322           1.9      2.0      2.1
  Natural resources and mining..................      8       12        8           1.3      1.9      1.3
  Construction..................................    156      141      151           2.3      2.1      2.1
  Manufacturing.................................    191      178      179           1.3      1.2      1.3
   Durable goods................................    117      108      106           1.3      1.2      1.2
   Nondurable goods.............................     74       70       73           1.4      1.3      1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    529      544      538           2.1      2.1      2.1
   Wholesale trade..............................     61       74       72           1.1      1.3      1.3
   Retail trade.................................    416      412      412           2.8      2.8      2.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     52       58       55           1.1      1.2      1.1
  Information...................................     52       45       59           1.7      1.5      1.9
  Financial activities..........................     94       78       96           1.2      1.0      1.2
   Finance and insurance........................     55       58       59            .9      1.0      1.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     39       21       37           1.9      1.0      1.8
  Professional and business services............    322      408      424           2.0      2.5      2.5
  Education and health services.................    220      263      268           1.3      1.5      1.5
   Educational services.........................     22       25       21            .7       .9       .7
   Health care and social assistance............    198      237      247           1.4      1.7      1.7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    427      384      453           3.5      3.1      3.6
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     44       41       48           2.4      2.5      2.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    383      343      405           3.6      3.2      3.7
  Other services................................    106      101      145           1.9      1.8      2.7

 Government.....................................    101       94       99            .5       .4       .4
  Federal.......................................     18        7        8            .7       .3       .3
  State and local...............................     83       87       91            .4       .4       .5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    351      343      383           1.4      1.4      1.5
  South.........................................    909      897      997           2.0      1.9      2.1
  Midwest.......................................    456      493      476           1.5      1.6      1.5
  West..........................................    489      516      565           1.7      1.8      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. 
  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.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  1,526    1,454    1,556           1.2      1.1      1.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,478    1,411    1,504           1.4      1.3      1.4
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        6        5           1.0      1.0       .7
  Construction..................................    157      131      188           2.3      1.9      2.7
  Manufacturing.................................    122      124      157            .9       .9      1.1
   Durable goods................................     60       74      111            .7       .8      1.2
   Nondurable goods.............................     63       51       45           1.2      1.0       .9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    299      272      269           1.2      1.1      1.1
   Wholesale trade..............................     75       35       57           1.3       .6      1.0
   Retail trade.................................    169      187      177           1.1      1.3      1.2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     54       50       34           1.1      1.0       .7
  Information...................................     19       22       14            .6       .7       .5
  Financial activities..........................     25       46       79            .3       .6      1.0
   Finance and insurance........................     15       30       45            .2       .5       .8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     11       16       34            .5       .8      1.6
  Professional and business services............    455      410      477           2.8      2.5      2.8
  Education and health services.................    111      136       95            .6       .8       .5
   Educational services.........................     11       17       14            .4       .6       .5
   Health care and social assistance............    100      119       81            .7       .8       .6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    238      214      179           1.9      1.7      1.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     78       25       53           4.3      1.5      3.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    161      189      126           1.5      1.8      1.2
  Other services................................     45       49       42            .8       .9       .8

 Government.....................................     48       43       52            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................      6        5        6            .2       .2       .2
  State and local...............................     42       38       46            .2       .2       .2

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    295      271      271           1.2      1.1      1.1
  South.........................................    556      575      624           1.2      1.2      1.3
  Midwest.......................................    310      339      316           1.0      1.1      1.0
  West..........................................    365      269      345           1.3       .9      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.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................    263      242      278           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    227      199      238            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      4        1        1            .7       .2       .2
  Construction..................................     11        6       12            .2       .1       .2
  Manufacturing.................................     28       27       33            .2       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     21       17       24            .2       .2       .3
   Nondurable goods.............................      7       10       10            .1       .2       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     59       73       46            .2       .3       .2
   Wholesale trade..............................     13        4        5            .2       .1       .1
   Retail trade.................................     27       56       28            .2       .4       .2
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     19       13       13            .4       .3       .3
  Information...................................      9        4        9            .3       .1       .3
  Financial activities..........................     21       11       36            .3       .1       .4
   Finance and insurance........................     15        7       26            .2       .1       .4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      6        4       10            .3       .2       .5
  Professional and business services............     44       35       55            .3       .2       .3
  Education and health services.................     21       16       22            .1       .1       .1
   Educational services.........................      4        4        6            .2       .1       .2
   Health care and social assistance............     17       11       16            .1       .1       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     25       13       18            .2       .1       .1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      1        1        2           (3)      (3)       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     24       12       16            .2       .1       .1
  Other services................................      5       13        4            .1       .2       .1

 Government.....................................     36       43       40            .2       .2       .2
  Federal.......................................      9       10       11            .3       .4       .4
  State and local...............................     27       32       29            .1       .2       .1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     53       51       66            .2       .2       .3
  South.........................................    106       82       94            .2       .2       .2
  Midwest.......................................     55       54       69            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     49       54       49            .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.