For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, November 10, 2009 USDL-09-1359

Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – SEPTEMBER 2009 

On the last business day of September, the number of job openings in the U.S. was little changed at 2.5 

million, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The hires rate 

(3.1 percent) and the separations rate (3.3 percent) were unchanged and remained low in September. 

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 

The job openings rate was little changed in September at a rate of 1.9 percent. The number of job 

openings has fallen by 2.3 million, or 48 percent, since the most recent peak in June 2007. The job 

openings rate decreased in state and local government in September and was little changed in the 

remaining industries. The job openings rate increased in the Midwest. (See table 1.) 

Over the 12 months ending in September, the job openings rate (not seasonally adjusted) decreased for 

total nonfarm, total private, and government. The job openings rate also decreased in the following 

industries: construction; durable goods manufacturing; nondurable goods manufacturing; transportation, 

warehousing, and utilities; health care and social assistance; accommodation and food services; federal 

government; and state and local government. The job openings rate decreased in 3 of the 4 regions—

Midwest, South, and West. (See table 5.) 

1.6

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.4

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, October 2006 - September 2009

Percent

2007 2008 2009

2.6

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

4.2

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, October 2006 - September 2009

Percent

Separations

Hires

2007 2008 2009
- 2 - 

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

Industry Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total 1.........................................................3,346 2,423 2,480 4,505 4,040 4,010 4,852 4,284 4,311

Total private 1................................................... 2,913 2,128 2,232 4,263 3,779 3,758 4,553 3,976 4,017

Construction................................................152 65 62 365 297 353 412 342 421

Manufacturing..........................................236 122 136 305 243 262 371 313 316

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2..................... 525 422 414 959 818 832 1,046 850 864

Retail trade..................................... 297 273 268 649 557 525 684 567 548

Professional and business services......................... 608 438 455 787 715 699 809 728 701

Education and health services........................... 624 520 547 506 538 524 488 509 513

Leisure and hospitality ....................................427 238 299 814 695 653 830 704 685

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 44 22 24 117 107 104 115 111 100

Accommodation and food services.......... 374 216 274 708 591 556 714 593 583

Government 3..................................... 431 300 267 278 261 258 294 293 283

 State and local government..................................... 352 269 221 259 233 235 280 271 263

Total 1................................................... 2.4 1.8 1.9 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.5 3.3 3.3

Total private 1................................................... 2.5 1.9 2.0 3.7 3.5 3.5 4.0 3.7 3.7

Construction.......................................... 2.1 1.1 1.0 5.1 4.9 5.9 5.8 5.6 7.0

Manufacturing................................................ 1.7 1.0 1.1 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.8 2.7 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 2........................ 2.0 1.6 1.6 3.7 3.3 3.3 4.0 3.4 3.4

Retail trade.................................... 1.9 1.8 1.8 4.2 3.8 3.6 4.5 3.8 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 3.3 26 2.7 4.5 4.3 4.2 4.6 4.4 4.2

Education and health services........................... 3.2 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7

Leisure and hospitality .................................... 3.1 1.8 2.2 6.1 5.3 5.0 6.2 5.3 5.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2.2 1.1 1.3 6.0 5.7 5.4 5.9 5.9 5.2

Accommodation and food services.......... 3.2 1.9 2.4 6.2 5.2 4.9 6.2 5.3 5.2

Government 3..................................... 1.9 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3

 State and local government..................................... 1.7 1.4 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3

 1 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

 2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.

 3 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

 p = preliminary.

Rates (percent)

Job openings Hires Total separations

Levels (in thousands)

Hires 

The hires level was little changed at 4.0 million in September but has declined by 1.6 million, or 29

percent, since its most recent peak in July 2006. The hires rate was unchanged in September at 3.1 

percent. The hires rate increased in construction and was little changed in the remaining industries and 

all four regions. (See table 2.) 

Over the 12 months ending in September, the hires rate (not seasonally adjusted) declined for total 

nonfarm, total private, and government. The hires rate decreased over the 12 months for retail trade; 

finance and insurance; accommodation and food services; and state and local government. The rate 

increased for educational services. The hires rate fell over the past 12 months in the Midwest and West. 

(See table 6.) 
- 3 - 

Separations 

The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged in September and remained low at 3.3 percent. 

The total separations rate (not seasonally adjusted) decreased over the 12 months ending in September 

for total nonfarm and total private. Total separations includes quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and 

discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). (See tables 3 and 7.) 

The quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to change jobs. The quits rate 

remained unchanged in September at 1.4 percent. The quits level was 1.8 million in September, which is 

43 percent lower than its most recent peak in December 2006. (See table 4.) 

Over the 12 months ending in September, the quits rate (not seasonally adjusted) was lower for total 

nonfarm, total private, government, the majority of industries, and the South, Midwest, and West 

regions. The industries for which the quits rate was little changed over the year include construction; 

nondurable goods manufacturing; information; professional and business services; health care and social 

assistance; other services; and federal government. (See table 8.) 

The layoffs and discharges component of total separations is seasonally adjusted at the total nonfarm, 

total private, and government levels. The layoffs and discharges levels for total nonfarm, total private, 

and government were little changed in September at 2.1 million, 2.0 million, and 118,000 respectively. 

The corresponding layoffs and discharges rates were 1.6 percent, 1.9 percent, and 0.5 percent. The 

number of layoffs and discharges at the total nonfarm level in September was 35 percent higher than the 

most recent trough in January 2006. (See table B below.) 

The layoffs and discharges rate (not seasonally adjusted) was little changed over the 12 months ending 

in September for total nonfarm and total private, while the rate increased for government. The layoffs 

and discharges rate rose in mining and logging; construction; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; 

other services; federal government; and state and local government. The rate decreased in retail trade. 

The layoffs and discharges rate increased in the Northeast. (See table 9.) 

Table B. Layoffs and discharges, seasonally adjusted

Sept. Aug. 

2009

Sept. 

2009p

Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total........................................................................................................... 1,910 2,248 2,141 1.4 1.7 1.6

Total private............................................................................................ 1,827 2,123 2,023 1.6 2.0 1.9

Government......................................................................................... 100 135 118 0.4 0.6 0.5

 p = preliminary.

Industry

Levels (in thousands) Rates

The other separations series is not seasonally adjusted. In September, there were 323,000 other 

separations for total nonfarm, 266,000 for total private, and 57,000 for government. Compared to 

September 2008, the number of other separations was little changed for total nonfarm, total private, and 

government. (See table 10.) 

The total separations level is influenced by the relative contribution of its three components—quits, 

layoffs and discharges, and other separations. The percentage of total separations at the total nonfarm 

level attributable to the individual components has varied over time. The proportion of separations due 
- 4 - 

to quits declined from the most recent high of 59 percent in January 2008 to a series low of 38 percent in 

April 2009. It then rose slightly and stood at 42 percent in September 2009. The proportion of 

separations due to layoffs and discharges reached a series high of 55 percent in July 2009 then dropped 

to 50 percent in September 2009. (See tables 3 and 4, and table B above.) 

Net Change in Employment 

Over the 12 months ending in September, hires totaled 50.4 million and separations totaled 55.6 million,

yielding a net employment loss of 5.2 million. 

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey results for October 2009 are scheduled to be 

released on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
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 

 In a monthly survey of business establishments, data are 

collected 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, e-mail, 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 2007 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. Fulltime, 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 are 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. 

Special Collection Procedures 

 An implied measure of employment change can be 

derived from the JOLTS data by subtracting separations 

from hires for a given month. Aggregating these monthly 

changes historically produced employment levels that 

overstated employment change as measured by CES at the 

total nonfarm level. Research into this problem showed 

that a significant amount of the divergence between the 

CES employment levels and the derived JOLTS 

employment levels was traceable to the Employment 

Services industry and to the State Government Education 

industry. In the former industry, businesses have a 

difficult time reporting hires and separations of temporary 

help workers. In the latter industry, employers have 

difficulty reporting hires and separations of student 

workers. BLS now devotes additional resources to the 

collection, editing, and review of data for these 

industries. BLS analysts more closely examine reported 

data that do not provide a consistent picture over time, 

and re-contact the respondents as necessary. Analysts 

work with the respondents to adjust their reporting 

practices as possible. Units that cannot be reconciled but 

are clearly incorrect on a consistent basis are not used, 

they are replaced by imputed values using standard 

techniques. 

Sample and estimation methodology 

 The JOLTS survey 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 9.1 

million establishments compiled as part of the operations 

of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 

(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. The JOLTS sample is 

constructed from individual panels of sample units drawn 

on an annual basis. The full annual sample consists of one 

certainty panel composed of only large units selected with 

virtual certainty based on their size and 24 non-certainty 

panels. Each month a new non-certainty panel is rolled 

into collection, and the oldest non-certainty panel is rolled 

out. This means that at any given time the JOLTS sample 

is constructed from panels from three different annual 

sampling frames. The entire sample of old plus new 

panels is post-stratified and re-weighted annually to 

represent the most recent sampling frame. Additionally, 

the out-of-business establishments are removed from the 

old panels. The annual sample is supplemented with a 

quarterly sample of birth establishments (i.e., new 

establishments) to better reflect the impact of younger 

establishments in the JOLTS sample. 

 JOLTS total employment estimates are benchmarked 

monthly 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. 

 JOLTS Business Birth/Death Model 

 As with any sample survey, the JOLTS sample can only 

be as current as its sampling frame. The time lag from the 

birth of an establishment until its appearance on the 

sampling frame is approximately one year. In addition, 

many of these new units may fail within the first year. 

Since these universe units cannot be reflected on the 

sampling frame immediately, the JOLTS sample cannot 

capture job openings, hires, and separations from these 

units during their early existence. BLS has developed a 

model to estimate birth/death activity for current months 

by examining the birth/death activity from previous years 

on the QCEW and projecting forward to the present using 

an econometric technique known as X-12 ARIMA 

modeling. The birth/death model also uses historical 

JOLTS data to estimate the amount of “churn” (hires and 

separations) that exists in establishments of various sizes. 

The model then combines the estimated churn with the 

projected employment change to estimate the number of 

hires and separations taking place in these units that 

cannot be measured through sampling. 
 The model-based estimate of total separations is 

distributed to the three components – quits; layoffs and 

discharges; and other separations - in proportion to their 

contribution to the sample-based estimate of total 

separations. Additionally, job openings for the modeled 

units are estimated by computing the ratio of openings to 

hires in the collected data and applying that ratio to the 

modeled hires. The estimates of job openings, hires, and 

separations produced by the birth/death model are then 

added to the sample-based estimates produced from the 

survey to arrive at the estimates for openings, hires, and 

separations. 

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. 

Alignment procedure 

 JOLTS hires minus separations should be comparable to 

the CES net employment change. However, definitional 

differences as well as sampling and non-sampling errors 

between the two surveys historically caused JOLTS to 

diverge from CES over time. To limit the divergence, and 

improve the quality of the JOLTS hires and separations 

series, BLS implemented the Monthly Alignment Method. 

The Monthly Alignment Method applies the CES 

employment trends to the seasonally adjusted JOLTS 

implied employment trend (hires minus separations) 

forcing them to be approximately the same, while 

preserving the seasonality of the JOLTS data. First, the 

two series are seasonally adjusted and the difference 

between the JOLTS implied employment trend and the 

CES net employment change is calculated. Next, the 

JOLTS implied employment trend is adjusted to equal the 

CES net employment change through a proportional 

adjustment. This proportional adjustment procedure 

adjusts the two components (hires, separations) 

proportionally to their contribution to the total churn 

(hires plus separations). For example, if hires are 40 

percent of the churn for a given month, they will receive 

40 percent of the needed adjustment and separations will 

receive 60 percent of the needed adjustment. The adjusted 

hires and separations are converted back to not seasonally 

adjusted data by reversing the application of the original 

seasonal factors. After the monthly alignment method has 

been used to adjust the level estimates, rate estimates are 

computed from the adjusted levels. The Monthly 

Alignment procedure assures a close match of the JOLTS 

implied employment trend with the CES trend. The CES 

series is considered a highly accurate measure of net 

employment change owing to its very large sample size 

and annual benchmarking to universe counts of 

employment from the QCEW program. 

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 to 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. 

 JOLTS uses moving averages as seasonal filters in 

seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment 

includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal 

adjustment models and REGARIMA (regression with 

autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the seasonal 

adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the series 

and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series. 

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. 

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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 3,346 2,513 2,523 2,513 2,408 2,423 2,480 2.4 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,913 2,042 2,191 2,163 2,090 2,128 2,232 2.5 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.0

Construction........................................................................ 152 29 39 56 47 65 62 2.1 .5 .6 .9 .8 1.1 1.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 236 95 105 113 110 122 136 1.7 .8 .9 .9 .9 1.0 1.1

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 525 332 466 469 393 422 414 2.0 1.3 1.8 1.8 1.5 1.6 1.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 297 205 319 308 260 273 268 1.9 1.4 2.1 2.0 1.7 1.8 1.8

Professional and business services......................... 608 461 451 445 431 438 455 3.3 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.7

Education and health services................................................. 624 515 530 531 553 520 547 3.2 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.6 2.8

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 427 322 265 276 256 238 299 3.1 2.4 2.0 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 44 22 20 19 17 22 24 2.2 1.1 1.0 1.0 .9 1.1 1.3

Accommodation and food services......................... 374 312 239 254 237 216 274 3.2 2.7 2.1 2.2 2.1 1.9 2.4

Government 6......................................................................................... 431 461 310 322 314 300 267 1.9 2.0 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.2

State and local government.................................................................................... 352 307 267 273 266 269 221 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.1

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 644 520 554 609 508 513 533 2.5 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.0 2.0 2.1

South............................................................................................... 1,269 942 888 882 870 911 908 2.5 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9

Midwest......................................................................................... 674 512 512 496 509 476 553 2.1 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.8

West...................................................................................... 785 570 544 561 517 533 519 2.5 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.7

1

 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the 

7

 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the 

month. regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New

 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 

of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 

 

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North 

adjustment of the various series. Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 

 

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, 

other services, not shown separately. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and 

 

5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, 

shown separately. Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and 

 

6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately. Wyoming.

 

p

 = preliminary.

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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,505 4,117 3,942 3,919 4,228 4,040 4,010 3.3 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.1

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,263 3,822 3,739 3,654 3,930 3,779 3,758 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.6 3.5 3.5

Construction........................................................................ 365 341 365 277 355 297 353 5.1 5.4 5.8 4.5 5.8 4.9 5.9

Manufacturing................................................................ 305 236 206 225 272 243 262 2.3 1.9 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.1 2.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 959 888 842 744 819 818 832 3.7 3.5 3.3 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.3

Retail trade................................................................................. 649 655 575 519 547 557 525 4.2 4.4 3.9 3.5 3.7 3.8 3.6

Professional and business services......................... 787 733 721 644 686 715 699 4.5 4.4 4.3 3.9 4.1 4.3 4.2

Education and health services................................................. 506 475 473 530 522 538 524 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 814 691 695 695 716 695 653 6.1 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.0

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 117 86 83 107 138 107 104 6.0 4.5 4.4 5.7 7.3 5.7 5.4

Accommodation and food services......................... 708 603 606 590 582 591 556 6.2 5.4 5.4 5.2 5.2 5.2 4.9

Government 6......................................................................................... 278 340 273 262 282 261 258 1.2 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2

State and local government.................................................................................... 259 246 257 237 253 233 235 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 742 729 712 735 714 720 729 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 3.0

South............................................................................................... 1,643 1,619 1,423 1,428 1,544 1,493 1,468 3.3 3.4 3.0 3.0 3.3 3.2 3.1

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,038 901 867 839 885 947 879 3.3 3.0 2.9 2.8 3.0 3.2 2.9

West...................................................................................... 1,088 949 995 917 1,042 884 912 3.6 3.2 3.4 3.1 3.5 3.0 3.1

 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of not shown separately.

total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal 7 See footnote 7, table 1. 

adjustment of the various series. p

 = preliminary.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, and 

other services, not shown separately.

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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 4,852 4,641 4,356 4,306 4,430 4,284 4,311 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 4,553 4,362 4,066 3,939 4,147 3,976 4,017 4.0 4.0 3.7 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.7

Construction........................................................................ 412 437 411 355 444 342 421 5.8 6.9 6.5 5.7 7.2 5.6 7.0

Manufacturing................................................................ 371 390 367 352 329 313 316 2.8 3.2 3.1 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.7

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 1,046 982 951 816 874 850 864 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 684 678 601 549 578 567 548 4.5 4.6 4.1 3.7 3.9 3.8 3.7

Professional and business services......................... 809 839 771 698 738 728 701 4.6 5.0 4.6 4.2 4.4 4.4 4.2

Education and health services................................................. 488 462 419 489 500 509 513 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.7

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 830 716 684 696 713 704 685 6.2 5.4 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.2

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 115 102 88 115 121 111 100 5.9 5.4 4.6 6.1 6.4 5.9 5.2

Accommodation and food services......................... 714 612 596 594 594 593 583 6.2 5.4 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.2

Government 6......................................................................................... 294 255 288 340 298 293 283 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3

State and local government.................................................................................... 280 243 250 272 274 271 263 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.3

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 734 700 774 799 716 759 762 2.9 2.8 3.1 3.2 2.9 3.1 3.1

South............................................................................................... 1,767 1,682 1,565 1,535 1,602 1,490 1,518 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.4 3.1 3.2

Midwest......................................................................................... 1,116 1,065 1,016 958 958 951 898 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.0

West...................................................................................... 1,184 1,188 980 1,053 1,181 1,086 1,090 3.9 4.0 3.3 3.6 4.0 3.7 3.7

 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

month. not shown separately.

 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

entire month as a percent of total employment. 7

 See footnote 7, table 1. 

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent p = preliminary.

seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

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

Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Sept. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009p

Total 4........................................................................................................... 2,454 1,777 1,788 1,787 1,778 1,779 1,805 1.8 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4

INDUSTRY

Total private 4............................................................................................ 2,319 1,678 1,682 1,680 1,673 1,680 1,709 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6

Construction........................................................................ 128 74 84 70 68 67 91 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.5

Manufacturing................................................................ 147 80 86 93 82 85 91 1.1 .7 .7 .8 .7 .7 .8

Trade, transportation, and utilities 5.............................. 580 385 398 391 415 407 435 2.2 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.7

Retail trade................................................................................. 414 271 296 299 295 309 336 2.7 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.3

Professional and business services......................... 368 272 281 257 265 269 271 2.1 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6

Education and health services................................................. 290 228 249 264 235 249 268 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.4

Leisure and hospitality ...................................................... 514 430 396 429 411 413 363 3.8 3.3 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.1 2.8

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 52 41 45 46 38 38 16 2.7 2.1 2.4 2.4 2.0 2.0 .8

Accommodation and food services......................... 467 392 351 378 372 374 351 4.1 3.5 3.1 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.1

Government 6......................................................................................... 134 99 107 111 107 106 100 .6 .4 .5 .5 .5 .5 .4

State and local government.................................................................................... 133 96 97 99 101 97 96 .7 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5

REGION 7

Northeast......................................................................... 338 263 303 279 234 270 300 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.2

South............................................................................................... 971 691 718 693 724 687 704 2.0 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

Midwest......................................................................................... 577 410 397 403 435 374 403 1.9 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.4

West...................................................................................... 560 453 398 434 404 460 421 1.8 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.4

 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 5

 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 

 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a not shown separately.

percent of total employment. 6

 Includes federal government, not shown separately.

3

 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent 7 See footnote 7, table 1. 

seasonal adjustment of the various series. p

 = preliminary.

4

 Includes mining and logging, information, financial activities, 

and other services, not shown separately.

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

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total........................................................................................................... 3,369 2,542 2,555 2.4 1.9 1.9

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,946 2,218 2,303 2.5 2.0 2.1

Mining and logging...................................................18 9 10 2.1 1.2 1.3

Construction...................................................................................................... 144 73 63 1.9 1.1 1.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 237 132 148 1.7 1.1 1.2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 140 58 75 1.6 .8 1.0

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 97 74 72 1.9 1.6 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 563 486 439 2.1 1.9 1.7

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 95 97 70 1.6 1.7 1.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 340 308 302 2.2 2.0 2.0

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 128 80 67 2.5 1.7 1.4

Information...................................................................................... 60 56 53 2.0 1.9 1.8

Financial activities........................................................................... 191 128 211 2.3 1.6 2.7

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 137 95 139 2.2 1.6 2.4

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 55 32 71 2.5 1.6 3.5

Professional and business services........................................ 588 433 445 3.2 2.5 2.6

Education and health services................................................................. 597 527 534 3.1 2.7 2.7

Educational services................................................................ 34 69 33 1.1 2.4 1.1

Health care and social assistance.................................. 563 458 501 3.4 2.7 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 424 235 311 3.0 1.7 2.3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 39 23 23 1.9 1.1 1.1

Accommodation and food services............................... 385 212 288 3.2 1.8 2.5

Other services................................................................................. 124 140 90 2.2 2.5 1.6

Government......................................................................................... 424 324 252 1.9 1.5 1.1

Federal................................................................................................ 74 35 41 2.6 1.2 1.4

State and local.................................................................................... 349 289 211 1.8 1.5 1.1

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 653 548 543 2.5 2.2 2.2

South............................................................................................... 1,245 943 923 2.5 2.0 1.9

Midwest................................................................................................. 704 494 579 2.2 1.6 1.9

West....................................................................................................... 768 557 510 2.4 1.9 1.7

 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 See footnote 7, 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

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,717 4,442 4,169 3.4 3.4 3.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,315 4,011 3,809 3.8 3.7 3.5

Mining and logging...................................................27 18 18 3.4 2.6 2.5

Construction...................................................................................................... 337 296 326 4.6 4.6 5.2

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 316 260 279 2.4 2.2 2.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 172 129 130 2.0 1.8 1.8

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 144 131 149 2.9 2.8 3.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,015 862 887 3.9 3.4 3.5

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 160 114 145 2.7 2.0 2.6

Retail trade................................................................................. 687 604 549 4.5 4.1 3.7

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 168 144 193 3.3 3.0 4.0

Information...................................................................................... 66 54 53 2.2 1.9 1.9

Financial activities........................................................................... 225 194 153 2.8 2.5 2.0

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 142 97 83 2.4 1.7 1.5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 83 97 70 3.9 4.8 3.5

Professional and business services........................................ 752 718 674 4.2 4.3 4.0

Education and health services................................................................. 582 680 597 3.1 3.6 3.1

Educational services................................................................ 87 123 106 2.9 4.4 3.5

Health care and social assistance.................................. 495 556 491 3.1 3.4 3.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 797 748 621 5.9 5.4 4.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 96 99 89 4.8 4.6 4.5

Accommodation and food services............................... 701 649 532 6.1 5.6 4.7

Other services................................................................................. 197 182 200 3.6 3.3 3.7

Government......................................................................................... 402 431 359 1.8 2.0 1.6

Federal................................................................................................ 28 33 24 1.0 1.2 .9

State and local.................................................................................... 374 398 335 1.9 2.2 1.7

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 845 745 829 3.3 3.0 3.4

South............................................................................................... 1,659 1,681 1,474 3.3 3.6 3.1

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,078 1,021 916 3.5 3.4 3.1

West....................................................................................................... 1,135 996 950 3.7 3.4 3.2

 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 7, 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

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total........................................................................................................... 4,905 4,860 4,336 3.6 3.7 3.3

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 4,536 4,421 3,982 4.0 4.0 3.6

Mining and logging...................................................23 24 20 2.9 3.4 2.7

Construction...................................................................................................... 400 373 414 5.4 5.8 6.6

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 355 315 289 2.6 2.7 2.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 208 178 158 2.5 2.5 2.2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 147 137 132 3.0 3.0 2.8

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 1,020 893 841 3.9 3.6 3.4

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 170 133 138 2.8 2.3 2.4

Retail trade................................................................................. 671 620 526 4.4 4.2 3.6

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 179 140 177 3.5 3.0 3.7

Information...................................................................................... 63 63 49 2.1 2.2 1.7

Financial activities........................................................................... 225 224 144 2.8 2.9 1.9

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 136 130 76 2.3 2.3 1.3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 88 94 68 4.1 4.7 3.4

Professional and business services........................................ 780 752 660 4.4 4.5 3.9

Education and health services................................................................. 475 620 510 2.5 3.3 2.7

Educational services................................................................ 77 116 68 2.5 4.2 2.3

Health care and social assistance.................................. 399 504 442 2.5 3.1 2.7

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 997 881 816 7.3 6.4 6.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 201 169 171 10.0 7.9 8.7

Accommodation and food services............................... 797 712 645 6.9 6.1 5.7

Other services................................................................................. 197 274 239 3.6 5.0 4.4

Government......................................................................................... 369 438 354 1.7 2.1 1.6

Federal................................................................................................ 23 37 34 .8 1.3 1.2

State and local.................................................................................... 346 401 320 1.8 2.2 1.7

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 849 891 873 3.3 3.6 3.5

South............................................................................................... 1,694 1,680 1,444 3.4 3.6 3.0

Midwest................................................................................................. 1,153 1,089 906 3.7 3.7 3.0

West....................................................................................................... 1,209 1,200 1,113 3.9 4.1 3.8

 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 7, 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

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,551 2,244 1,918 1.9 1.7 1.5

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 2,396 2,078 1,804 2.1 1.9 1.7

Mining and logging...................................................15 12 5 1.9 1.6 .6

Construction...................................................................................................... 122 93 92 1.6 1.5 1.5

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 152 111 98 1.1 .9 .8

Durable goods.............................................................................. 79 59 44 .9 .8 .6

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 72 52 54 1.4 1.1 1.2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 593 495 460 2.3 2.0 1.8

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 85 49 51 1.4 .9 .9

Retail trade................................................................................. 422 378 350 2.8 2.6 2.4

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 85 68 59 1.7 1.4 1.2

Information...................................................................................... 29 34 31 1.0 1.2 1.1

Financial activities........................................................................... 126 96 65 1.5 1.2 .8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 71 67 35 1.2 1.2 .6

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 55 29 30 2.6 1.4 1.5

Professional and business services........................................ 355 326 268 2.0 1.9 1.6

Education and health services................................................................. 298 305 280 1.6 1.6 1.5

Educational services................................................................ 49 36 31 1.6 1.3 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 250 268 249 1.6 1.7 1.5

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 605 525 418 4.4 3.8 3.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 74 64 24 3.7 3.0 1.2

Accommodation and food services............................... 531 461 394 4.6 4.0 3.5

Other services................................................................................. 102 82 87 1.9 1.5 1.6

Government......................................................................................... 155 166 114 .7 .8 .5

Federal................................................................................................ 9 19 8 .3 .7 .3

State and local.................................................................................... 146 148 106 .7 .8 .5

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 379 341 340 1.5 1.4 1.4

South............................................................................................... 950 849 694 1.9 1.8 1.5

Midwest................................................................................................. 627 488 444 2.0 1.6 1.5

West....................................................................................................... 594 567 440 1.9 1.9 1.5

 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 7, 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

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total........................................................................................................... 2,015 2,277 2,095 1.5 1.7 1.6

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 1,861 2,063 1,912 1.6 1.9 1.8

Mining and logging...................................................6 11 14 .7 1.5 1.9

Construction...................................................................................................... 268 274 314 3.6 4.3 5.0

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 176 181 171 1.3 1.5 1.4

Durable goods.............................................................................. 113 102 101 1.3 1.4 1.4

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 63 79 70 1.3 1.7 1.5

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 349 322 303 1.3 1.3 1.2

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 71 79 65 1.2 1.4 1.2

Retail trade................................................................................. 206 178 135 1.4 1.2 .9

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 72 64 103 1.4 1.4 2.2

Information...................................................................................... 29 22 12 1.0 .8 .4

Financial activities........................................................................... 73 111 61 .9 1.4 .8

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 40 50 26 .7 .9 .5

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 33 61 36 1.5 3.0 1.8

Professional and business services........................................ 374 384 345 2.1 2.3 2.1

Education and health services................................................................. 141 260 184 .7 1.4 1.0

Educational services................................................................ 23 75 30 .8 2.7 1.0

Health care and social assistance.................................. 119 185 155 .7 1.1 1.0

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 368 327 361 2.7 2.4 2.7

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 117 100 144 5.8 4.7 7.3

Accommodation and food services............................... 252 226 217 2.2 1.9 1.9

Other services................................................................................. 77 171 146 1.4 3.1 2.7

Government......................................................................................... 154 214 183 .7 1.0 .8

Federal................................................................................................ 7 10 11 .2 .4 .4

State and local.................................................................................... 147 204 172 .7 1.1 .9

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 403 494 484 1.6 2.0 2.0

South............................................................................................... 625 702 640 1.3 1.5 1.4

Midwest................................................................................................. 455 515 400 1.5 1.7 1.3

West....................................................................................................... 531 565 570 1.7 1.9 1.9

 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 7, 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

Sept. Aug. Sept. Sept. Aug. Sept.

2008 2009 2009p 2008 2009 2009p

Total........................................................................................................... 340 338 323 0.2 0.3 0.2

INDUSTRY

Total private............................................................................................ 279 280 266 .2 .3 .2

Mining and logging...................................................2 2 1 .3 .2 .2

Construction...................................................................................................... 10 6 7 .1 .1 .1

Manufacturing..................................................................................... 27 23 20 .2 .2 .2

Durable goods.............................................................................. 16 17 12 .2 .2 .2

Nondurable goods....................................................................... 12 6 8 .2 .1 .2

Trade, transportation, and utilities.................................................... 78 77 78 .3 .3 .3

Wholesale trade........................................................................... 13 6 23 .2 .1 .4

Retail trade................................................................................. 43 64 41 .3 .4 .3

Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...................... 23 7 15 .4 .2 .3

Information...................................................................................... 5 7 6 .2 .3 .2

Financial activities........................................................................... 27 17 18 .3 .2 .2

Finance and insurance..................................................................................... 26 13 16 .4 .2 .3

Real estate and rental and leasing................................... 1 5 2 (

4

) .2 .1

Professional and business services........................................ 51 42 46 .3 .3 .3

Education and health services................................................................. 36 55 45 .2 .3 .2

Educational services................................................................ 5 4 7 .2 .2 .2

Health care and social assistance.................................. 30 51 38 .2 .3 .2

Leisure and hospitality.................................................................. 25 30 38 .2 .2 .3

Arts, entertainment, and recreation..................................... 10 5 3 .5 .2 .2

Accommodation and food services............................... 14 25 34 .1 .2 .3

Other services................................................................................. 18 21 6 .3 .4 .1

Government......................................................................................... 61 58 57 .3 .3 .3

Federal................................................................................................ 8 8 15 .3 .3 .5

State and local.................................................................................... 53 50 43 .3 .3 .2

REGION 3

Northeast......................................................................................... 67 56 47 .3 .2 .2

South............................................................................................... 119 129 110 .2 .3 .2

Midwest................................................................................................. 71 86 62 .2 .3 .2

West....................................................................................................... 83 68 103 .3 .2 .4

 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 7, table 1.

 4 Data round to zero.

 p = preliminary.

Levels (in thousands) Rates

Industry and region