Technical information:   (202) 691-5870        USDL 06-1200
                http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                               For release:  10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact:                 691-5902        Tuesday, July 11, 2006



                JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  MAY 2006


   The hires rate increased, while the job openings and total separations
rates were essentially unchanged in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of
the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  This release includes esti-
mates 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 May 2006, there were 4.0 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent.
The job openings rate was unchanged over the month and has been essen-
tially unchanged since November 2005.  There were no significant over-the-
month changes in the job openings rate in any industry or region.  The in-
dustries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rates in May 2006
were professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality (3.8 per-
cent each), and education and health services (3.5 percent).  (See table 1.)
   
   Over the year, the job openings rate increased in several industries and
in three of the four regions--the Northeast, South, and West.  None of the
industries or regions experienced a significant decrease in the job openings
rate from the prior year.  (See table 5.)
     
     
Hires
     
   The hires rate increased to 3.7 percent in May, offsetting declines in
the previous 2 months.  Hires are any additions to the payroll during the
month.  In May, the hires rate increased in manufacturing, professional and
business services, and in the Midwest region.  There were no significant
declines in the hires rate in any industry or region.  The seasonally ad-
justed hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry
(6.2 percent).  (See table 2.)
   
   From May 2005 to May 2006, the hires rate rose in nondurable goods
manufacturing, professional and business services, and the federal
government and declined in construction.  The hires rate did not change
significantly over the year in any geographic region.  (See table 6.)
     
                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
     Industry      | May  | Apr. | May  | May  | Apr. | May  | May  | Apr. | May
                   | 2005 | 2006 | 2006p| 2005 | 2006 | 2006p| 2005 | 2006 | 2006p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,364 |4,070 |3,989 |4,778 |4,649 |4,962 |4,543 |4,495 |4,654
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Total private(1).|3,005 |3,603 |3,542 |4,454 |4,301 |4,586 |4,290 |4,203 |4,339
    Construction...|  114 |  138 |  125 |  434 |  376 |  365 |  405 |  373 |  461
    Manufacturing..|  235 |  323 |  308 |  344 |  328 |  377 |  384 |  346 |  382
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  613 |  672 |  706 |1,043 |1,029 |1,047 |1,013 |1,022 |1,005
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  623 |  748 |  677 |  862 |  858 |1,004 |  794 |  790 |  854
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  597 |  674 |  643 |  469 |  481 |  518 |  427 |  437 |  440
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  447 |  485 |  518 |  782 |  775 |  810 |  762 |  770 |  742
  Government.......|  361 |  467 |  452 |  325 |  361 |  380 |  260 |  302 |  321
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.5 |  2.9 |  2.9 |  3.6 |  3.4 |  3.7 |  3.4 |  3.3 |  3.4
                   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Total private(1).|  2.6 |  3.1 |  3.0 |  4.0 |  3.8 |  4.1 |  3.8 |  3.7 |  3.8
    Construction...|  1.5 |  1.8 |  1.6 |  6.0 |  5.0 |  4.9 |  5.6 |  5.0 |  6.1
    Manufacturing..|  1.6 |  2.2 |  2.1 |  2.4 |  2.3 |  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.4 |  2.7
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.3 |  2.5 |  2.6 |  4.0 |  4.0 |  4.0 |  3.9 |  3.9 |  3.9
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.6 |  4.2 |  3.8 |  5.1 |  5.0 |  5.8 |  4.7 |  4.6 |  5.0
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  3.3 |  3.7 |  3.5 |  2.7 |  2.7 |  2.9 |  2.5 |  2.5 |  2.5
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.4 |  3.6 |  3.8 |  6.1 |  6.0 |  6.2 |  6.0 |  5.9 |  5.7
  Government.......|  1.6 |  2.1 |  2.0 |  1.5 |  1.6 |  1.7 |  1.2 |  1.4 |  1.5
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.


Separations
     
   The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.4 per-
cent in May.  Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any
time during the month.  In May, the total separations rate increased in
construction; all other industries and regions were about unchanged.  (See
table 3.)
   
   Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and
discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including
retirements).  The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers'
ability to change jobs, rose to 2.0 percent in May.  The quits rate in-
creased in the construction and manufacturing industries and in the South
region.  In May, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the
leisure and hospitality industry (4.1 percent), which also had the highest
hires rate.  (See table 4.)

                                  - 3 -

   Over the year, the quits rate grew in several industries and in the
South region.  The quits rate declined in real estate and rental and
leasing as well as in other services.  (See table 8.)
   
   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  From May 2005 to May
2006, the layoffs and discharges rate was little changed at 1.0 percent.
For May 2006, the construction industry had the highest layoffs and dis-
charges rate (2.3 percent).  From May 2005 to May 2006, the other sepa-
rations rate increased to 0.3 percent.  (See tables 9 and 10.)
     
Flows in the Labor Market

   Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the 12 months ending in May 2006, hires have averaged 4.8 million per
month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally
adjusted).  The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.7
million hires and 4.4 million separations.  (See the Technical Note for
additional information on these measures.)

For More Information

   For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the
JOLTS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/jlt/.  Additional information about
JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling
(202) 691-5870.
   
                       ______________________________     
     

     The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for June 2006 is scheduled
to be issued on Wednesday, August 9, 2006.
     




                                  - 4 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State 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 characteris-
tics resulting from the verification process are always introduced into the
JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 5 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
   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 an-
nual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employ-
ment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100.  This figure will be ap-
proximately 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 es-
timates will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data.
   
   Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job
openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last business
day of each month.  Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are
counted.  For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout
each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created by summing
the monthly estimates.  Hires and separations are flow measures and are
cumulated over the month with a total reported for the month.  Therefore,
the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates.

                                  - 6 -

Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are 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.

                                  - 7 -

  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.
   
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            May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                          2005   2005   2006   2006   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  3,364  3,941  3,981  3,994  4,089  4,070  3,989    2.5   2.8   2.9   2.9   2.9   2.9   2.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,005  3,509  3,533  3,531  3,633  3,603  3,542    2.6   3.0   3.0   3.0   3.1   3.1   3.0
  Construction.........................    114    170    114    121    144    138    125    1.5   2.2   1.5   1.6   1.9   1.8   1.6
  Manufacturing........................    235    313    324    318    318    323    308    1.6   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    613    661    687    660    651    672    706    2.3   2.5   2.6   2.5   2.4   2.5   2.6
  Professional and business services...    623    750    777    716    702    748    677    3.6   4.2   4.3   4.0   3.9   4.2   3.8
  Education and health services........    597    618    627    640    692    674    643    3.3   3.4   3.4   3.5   3.8   3.7   3.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    447    522    507    587    506    485    518    3.4   3.9   3.8   4.3   3.8   3.6   3.8
 Government............................    361    435    449    460    458    467    452    1.6   2.0   2.0   2.1   2.0   2.1   2.0


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    550    718    740    707    732    672    663    2.1   2.8   2.8   2.7   2.8   2.6   2.5
  South................................  1,320  1,612  1,550  1,547  1,634  1,600  1,627    2.7   3.3   3.1   3.1   3.3   3.2   3.3
  Midwest..............................    749    738    745    797    721    770    762    2.4   2.3   2.3   2.5   2.2   2.4   2.4
  West.................................    773    919    928    957    985  1,022    960    2.6   3.0   3.0   3.1   3.2   3.3   3.1


  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.
  5 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.
  p = preliminary.





Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                          2005   2005   2006   2006   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,778  4,694  4,941  4,954  4,884  4,649  4,962    3.6   3.5   3.7   3.7   3.6   3.4   3.7

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,454  4,397  4,584  4,578  4,503  4,301  4,586    4.0   3.9   4.1   4.1   4.0   3.8   4.1
  Construction.........................    434    426    379    403    344    376    365    6.0   5.8   5.1   5.4   4.6   5.0   4.9
  Manufacturing........................    344    307    366    333    341    328    377    2.4   2.2   2.6   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,043  1,011  1,177  1,117  1,103  1,029  1,047    4.0   3.9   4.5   4.3   4.2   4.0   4.0
  Professional and business services...    862    849    953    841    922    858  1,004    5.1   5.0   5.6   4.9   5.4   5.0   5.8
  Education and health services........    469    467    446    435    435    481    518    2.7   2.7   2.5   2.5   2.5   2.7   2.9
  Leisure and hospitality..............    782    853    847  1,019    899    775    810    6.1   6.6   6.6   7.9   6.9   6.0   6.2
 Government............................    325    293    352    379    397    361    380    1.5   1.3   1.6   1.7   1.8   1.6   1.7


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    805    698    727    814    914    849    834    3.2   2.8   2.9   3.2   3.6   3.3   3.3
  South................................  1,766  1,817  1,946  2,061  1,803  1,777  1,874    3.7   3.8   4.1   4.3   3.7   3.7   3.9
  Midwest..............................  1,110  1,038  1,043  1,045  1,117    965  1,136    3.6   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.5   3.1   3.6
  West.................................  1,101  1,127  1,176  1,083  1,127  1,152  1,115    3.7   3.8   4.0   3.6   3.8   3.9   3.7


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                          2005   2005   2006   2006   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  4,543  4,359  4,285  4,531  4,681  4,495  4,654    3.4   3.2   3.2   3.4   3.5   3.3   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,290  4,067  3,995  4,252  4,360  4,203  4,339    3.8   3.6   3.5   3.8   3.9   3.7   3.8
  Construction.........................    405    348    374    335    422    373    461    5.6   4.7   5.0   4.5   5.6   5.0   6.1
  Manufacturing........................    384    355    353    380    427    346    382    2.7   2.5   2.5   2.7   3.0   2.4   2.7
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,013  1,027    880    997    989  1,022  1,005    3.9   3.9   3.4   3.8   3.8   3.9   3.9
  Professional and business services...    794    735    780    826    798    790    854    4.7   4.3   4.6   4.8   4.6   4.6   5.0
  Education and health services........    427    400    353    403    399    437    440    2.5   2.3   2.0   2.3   2.3   2.5   2.5
  Leisure and hospitality..............    762    843    848    881    769    770    742    6.0   6.5   6.6   6.8   5.9   5.9   5.7
 Government............................    260    270    300    285    326    302    321    1.2   1.2   1.4   1.3   1.5   1.4   1.5


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    739    685    701    736    714    711    781    2.9   2.7   2.8   2.9   2.8   2.8   3.1
  South................................  1,741  1,759  1,653  1,694  1,810  1,710  1,744    3.7   3.7   3.4   3.5   3.8   3.5   3.6
  Midwest..............................    985    934    987  1,032  1,014    992  1,052    3.2   3.0   3.1   3.3   3.2   3.2   3.3
  West.................................  1,059    997    970  1,054  1,188  1,116  1,075    3.6   3.4   3.3   3.5   4.0   3.7   3.6


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            May    Dec.   Jan.   Feb.   Mar.   Apr.   May    May   Dec.  Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.  May
                                          2005   2005   2006   2006   2006   2006   2006p  2005  2005  2006  2006  2006  2006  2006p

Total(4)...............................  2,534  2,567  2,577  2,663  2,763  2,541  2,737    1.9   1.9   1.9   2.0   2.0   1.9   2.0

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,406  2,428  2,435  2,526  2,606  2,383  2,579    2.2   2.2   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.1   2.3
  Construction.........................    164    189    179    153    182    167    208    2.3   2.6   2.4   2.0   2.4   2.2   2.8
  Manufacturing........................    168    184    196    202    205    175    207    1.2   1.3   1.4   1.4   1.4   1.2   1.5
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    602    634    551    602    598    613    624    2.3   2.4   2.1   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.4
  Professional and business services...    411    365    415    422    426    409    444    2.4   2.1   2.4   2.5   2.5   2.4   2.6
  Education and health services........    257    254    225    279    267    253    280    1.5   1.4   1.3   1.6   1.5   1.4   1.6
  Leisure and hospitality..............    494    558    569    607    561    535    529    3.9   4.3   4.4   4.7   4.3   4.1   4.1
 Government............................    127    139    143    139    156    159    159     .6    .6    .7    .6    .7    .7    .7


                 REGION(5)

  Northeast............................    380    390    369    368    383    370    386    1.5   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.5   1.5   1.5
  South................................  1,009  1,069  1,068  1,114  1,129  1,026  1,132    2.1   2.2   2.2   2.3   2.3   2.1   2.3
  Midwest..............................    551    481    571    600    619    575    590    1.8   1.5   1.8   1.9   2.0   1.8   1.9
  West.................................    591    618    569    567    642    593    620    2.0   2.1   1.9   1.9   2.2   2.0   2.1


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  5 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  3,617    4,236    4,285           2.6      3.0      3.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,224    3,766    3,794           2.8      3.2      3.2
  Natural resources and mining..................     12       11       15           2.0      1.6      2.2
  Construction..................................    143      168      155           1.9      2.2      2.0
  Manufacturing.................................    254      329      332           1.8      2.3      2.3
   Durable goods................................    166      233      222           1.8      2.5      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................     88       96      110           1.6      1.8      2.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    636      673      736           2.4      2.5      2.8
   Wholesale trade..............................    142      140      159           2.4      2.3      2.6
   Retail trade.................................    374      395      440           2.4      2.6      2.8
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    120      138      137           2.4      2.7      2.7
  Information...................................     74      142      138           2.3      4.4      4.3
  Financial activities..........................    220      314      307           2.6      3.7      3.6
   Finance and insurance........................    161      251      245           2.6      3.9      3.8
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     58       64       63           2.7      2.9      2.8
  Professional and business services............    639      768      685           3.7      4.3      3.8
  Education and health services.................    627      686      675           3.5      3.7      3.7
   Educational services.........................     70      106       82           2.4      3.4      2.7
   Health care and social assistance............    557      580      593           3.7      3.8      3.8
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    505      574      585           3.7      4.3      4.2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     64      101       66           3.2      5.1      3.2
   Accommodations and food services.............    441      473      520           3.8      4.1      4.4
  Other services................................    116      101      164           2.1      1.8      2.9

 Government.....................................    393      470      491           1.7      2.1      2.2
  Federal.......................................     41       48       48           1.5      1.7      1.8
  State and local...............................    352      422      443           1.8      2.1      2.2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    608      694      726           2.4      2.7      2.8
  South.........................................  1,387    1,661    1,717           2.8      3.3      3.4
  Midwest.......................................    774      810      790           2.4      2.5      2.4
  West..........................................    847    1,070    1,051           2.8      3.5      3.4


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  5,444    4,871    5,675           4.1      3.6      4.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  5,113    4,604    5,285           4.6      4.1      4.7
  Natural resources and mining..................     27       27       24           4.4      4.1      3.5
  Construction..................................    559      495      464           7.6      6.7      6.1
  Manufacturing.................................    390      333      437           2.7      2.3      3.1
   Durable goods................................    254      216      272           2.8      2.4      3.0
   Nondurable goods.............................    137      117      165           2.6      2.3      3.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,144    1,011    1,144           4.4      3.9      4.4
   Wholesale trade..............................    160      146      161           2.8      2.5      2.7
   Retail trade.................................    801      725      814           5.3      4.8      5.4
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    183      140      169           3.7      2.8      3.4
  Information...................................     85       79      101           2.8      2.6      3.3
  Financial activities..........................    258      194      234           3.2      2.3      2.8
   Finance and insurance........................    159      114      135           2.7      1.9      2.2
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     99       80       99           4.7      3.7      4.6
  Professional and business services............    914      935    1,101           5.4      5.4      6.4
  Education and health services.................    459      433      511           2.6      2.4      2.9
   Educational services.........................     45       69       59           1.6      2.3      2.0
   Health care and social assistance............    414      364      452           2.9      2.5      3.0
  Leisure and hospitality.......................  1,032      898    1,061           7.9      7.0      8.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    198      181      209          10.1      9.7     10.5
   Accommodations and food services.............    834      717      851           7.6      6.5      7.6
  Other services................................    245      199      209           4.5      3.7      3.9

 Government.....................................    331      266      390           1.5      1.2      1.7
  Federal.......................................     43       53       74           1.6      2.0      2.7
  State and local...............................    288      214      316           1.5      1.1      1.6

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    931      833      966           3.7      3.3      3.8
  South.........................................  1,992    1,794    2,125           4.2      3.7      4.4
  Midwest.......................................  1,320    1,080    1,371           4.2      3.4      4.3
  West..........................................  1,201    1,164    1,213           4.0      3.9      4.0


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  4,485    4,158    4,631           3.3      3.1      3.4

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,213    3,929    4,291           3.8      3.5      3.8
  Natural resources and mining..................     18       22       12           2.8      3.4      1.8
  Construction..................................    356      299      407           4.9      4.1      5.4
  Manufacturing.................................    367      341      369           2.6      2.4      2.6
   Durable goods................................    259      183      199           2.9      2.0      2.2
   Nondurable goods.............................    108      157      169           2.1      3.0      3.2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,035      892    1,031           4.0      3.5      4.0
   Wholesale trade..............................    156      135      140           2.7      2.3      2.4
   Retail trade.................................    691      622      750           4.6      4.1      4.9
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    187      135      141           3.8      2.7      2.8
  Information...................................     76       95       81           2.5      3.1      2.6
  Financial activities..........................    190      182      205           2.3      2.2      2.5
   Finance and insurance........................    108      125      148           1.8      2.0      2.4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     81       57       56           3.8      2.7      2.6
  Professional and business services............    767      814      860           4.6      4.7      5.0
  Education and health services.................    449      406      471           2.6      2.3      2.6
   Educational services.........................     65       37       85           2.3      1.2      2.9
   Health care and social assistance............    384      369      386           2.7      2.5      2.6
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    732      745      702           5.6      5.8      5.3
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     80       83       56           4.1      4.4      2.8
   Accommodations and food services.............    652      663      645           5.9      6.0      5.7
  Other services................................    223      134      155           4.1      2.5      2.8

 Government.....................................    272      229      340           1.2      1.0      1.5
  Federal.......................................     27       53       65           1.0      2.0      2.4
  State and local...............................    245      176      275           1.3       .9      1.4

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    652      643      707           2.6      2.5      2.8
  South.........................................  1,834    1,628    1,844           3.8      3.4      3.8
  Midwest.......................................    952      858    1,022           3.0      2.7      3.2
  West..........................................  1,047    1,029    1,059           3.5      3.4      3.5


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.





Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  2,641    2,421    2,868           2.0      1.8      2.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,498    2,294    2,687           2.2      2.0      2.4
  Natural resources and mining..................     12       11        8           1.9      1.6      1.3
  Construction..................................    167      159      213           2.3      2.2      2.8
  Manufacturing.................................    173      176      215           1.2      1.2      1.5
   Durable goods................................    108      108      111           1.2      1.2      1.2
   Nondurable goods.............................     65       68      104           1.2      1.3      2.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    634      568      661           2.5      2.2      2.5
   Wholesale trade..............................     72       79       69           1.3      1.4      1.2
   Retail trade.................................    495      405      503           3.3      2.7      3.3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     66       84       90           1.4      1.7      1.8
  Information...................................     51       66       65           1.7      2.2      2.1
  Financial activities..........................    123       92      130           1.5      1.1      1.6
   Finance and insurance........................     68       65       98           1.1      1.1      1.6
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     54       28       32           2.6      1.3      1.5
  Professional and business services............    423      402      469           2.5      2.3      2.7
  Education and health services.................    273      239      299           1.6      1.3      1.7
   Educational services.........................     30       18       44           1.0       .6      1.5
   Health care and social assistance............    243      222      256           1.7      1.5      1.7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    514      510      541           4.0      3.9      4.1
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     44       42       34           2.2      2.2      1.7
   Accommodations and food services.............    470      469      507           4.3      4.2      4.5
  Other services................................    128       70       85           2.4      1.3      1.6

 Government.....................................    143      127      181            .6       .6       .8
  Federal.......................................     12       27       30            .4      1.0      1.1
  State and local...............................    132      100      151            .7       .5       .8

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    385      323      400           1.5      1.3      1.6
  South.........................................  1,061    1,012    1,200           2.2      2.1      2.5
  Midwest.......................................    581      532      623           1.9      1.7      2.0
  West..........................................    614      552      646           2.1      1.8      2.1


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................  1,533    1,370    1,373           1.1      1.0      1.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,450    1,313    1,273           1.3      1.2      1.1
  Natural resources and mining..................      3       10        2            .6      1.5       .3
  Construction..................................    179      110      173           2.4      1.5      2.3
  Manufacturing.................................    150      131      124           1.1       .9       .9
   Durable goods................................    113       57       68           1.3       .6       .8
   Nondurable goods.............................     36       75       56            .7      1.4      1.1
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    353      247      253           1.4      1.0      1.0
   Wholesale trade..............................     77       43       46           1.3       .7       .8
   Retail trade.................................    170      180      173           1.1      1.2      1.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    106       23       33           2.2       .5       .7
  Information...................................     20       24       11            .7       .8       .4
  Financial activities..........................     52       60       51            .6       .7       .6
   Finance and insurance........................     26       32       30            .4       .5       .5
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     26       28       21           1.2      1.3      1.0
  Professional and business services............    277      348      322           1.7      2.0      1.9
  Education and health services.................    148      123      150            .9       .7       .8
   Educational services.........................     32       15       39           1.1       .5      1.3
   Health care and social assistance............    116      108      111            .8       .7       .7
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    186      205      136           1.4      1.6      1.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     35       38       20           1.8      2.1      1.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    150      166      116           1.4      1.5      1.0
  Other services................................     82       54       52           1.5      1.0      1.0

 Government.....................................     83       58       99            .4       .3       .4
  Federal.......................................      8       12       15            .3       .4       .6
  State and local...............................     75       46       84            .4       .2       .4

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................    211      256      233            .8      1.0       .9
  South.........................................    675      458      480           1.4       .9      1.0
  Midwest.......................................    299      259      327           1.0       .8      1.0
  West..........................................    348      398      333           1.2      1.3      1.1


  1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
  2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.






Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  May      Apr.     May           May      Apr.     May
                                                   2005     2006     2006p         2005     2006     2006p

Total...........................................    312      367      390           0.2      0.3      0.3

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    265      323      330            .2       .3       .3
  Natural resources and mining..................      2        2        1            .4       .3       .2
  Construction..................................     11       29       22            .1       .4       .3
  Manufacturing.................................     44       34       29            .3       .2       .2
   Durable goods................................     38       19       20            .4       .2       .2
   Nondurable goods.............................      7       15        9            .1       .3       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     47       77      117            .2       .3       .5
   Wholesale trade..............................      7       12       25            .1       .2       .4
   Retail trade.................................     26       37       74            .2       .2       .5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     15       28       18            .3       .6       .4
  Information...................................      5        4        4            .2       .1       .1
  Financial activities..........................     16       30       23            .2       .4       .3
   Finance and insurance........................     14       28       20            .2       .5       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      1        1        3            .1       .1       .2
  Professional and business services............     66       64       69            .4       .4       .4
  Education and health services.................     28       43       22            .2       .2       .1
   Educational services.........................      4        4        3            .1       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     25       39       19            .2       .3       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     32       30       25            .2       .2       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      1        3        3            .1       .2       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     31       27       23            .3       .2       .2
  Other services................................     13        9       17            .2       .2       .3

 Government.....................................     46       45       60            .2       .2       .3
  Federal.......................................      8       15       19            .3       .5       .7
  State and local...............................     39       30       41            .2       .2       .2

                    REGION (3)

  Northeast.....................................     56       64       74            .2       .3       .3
  South.........................................     98      158      164            .2       .3       .3
  Midwest.......................................     72       67       72            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     85       79       80            .3       .3       .3


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 See footnote 5, table 1.
  p = preliminary.