Technical information:   (202) 691-5870       USDL 06-39
                http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
                                              For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                 691-5902       Tuesday, January 10, 2006


              JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER:  NOVEMBER 2005

   The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all little
changed in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department
of Labor reported today.  This release includes estimates of the number and
rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector
by industry and geographic region.

Job Openings

   On the last business day of November 2005, there were 3.9 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.8 percent.
(See table 1.)  The job openings rate did not change significantly in
November, but has generally trended upward since September 2003.  In
November, the job openings rate increased in manufacturing and in the West
region, but decreased in professional and business services and in the
Northeast region.          
     
Hires and Separations

   The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in November.  (See
table 2.)  Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month.  Over
the month, the hires rate decreased in manufacturing, but did not change
significantly in any region.

   The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.2 percent
in November.  (See table 3.)  Separations are terminations of employment
that occur at any time during the month.  In November, the total separa-
tions rate did not change significantly in any industry.  Geographically,
the total separations rate increased in the Midwest but decreased in the
Northeast.
     
   Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and
discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including
retirements).  The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers'
ability to change jobs, was unchanged at 1.9 percent in November.  (See
table 4.)  The quits rate did not change significantly in any industry.
Geographically, the rate increased in the Midwest.

                                  - 2 -

Table A.  Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                       
                   |    Job openings    |       Hires        | Total separations
                   |--------------------|--------------------|--------------------
     Industry      | Nov. | Oct. | Nov. | Nov. | Oct. | Nov. | Nov. | Oct. | Nov. 
                   | 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                     Levels (in thousands)
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,277 |3,937 |3,904 |4,990 |4,650 |4,586 |4,266 |4,331 |4,337
  Total private(1).|2,910 |3,540 |3,483 |4,652 |4,308 |4,265 |3,996 |4,077 |4,071
    Construction...|  118 |  148 |  136 |  373 |  414 |  395 |  351 |  396 |  378
    Manufacturing..|  248 |  320 |  349 |  386 |  436 |  327 |  327 |  339 |  367
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |   
     utilities.....|  554 |  611 |  656 |1,077 |  919 |  883 |  943 |  902 |  928
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  620 |  848 |  713 |  935 |  780 |  802 |  822 |  805 |  801
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     vices.........|  543 |  597 |  594 |  447 |  460 |  470 |  408 |  402 |  413 
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  411 |  492 |  516 |  858 |  840 |  834 |  727 |  742 |  758
  Government.......|  369 |  432 |  425 |  335 |  326 |  319 |  275 |  255 |  268
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
                   |                       Rates (percent)                
                   |--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|  2.4 |  2.9 |  2.8 |  3.8 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.2 |  3.2 |  3.2
  Total private(1).|  2.6 |  3.1 |  3.0 |  4.2 |  3.8 |  3.8 |  3.6 |  3.6 |  3.6
    Construction...|  1.6 |  2.0 |  1.8 |  5.3 |  5.7 |  5.4 |  5.0 |  5.4 |  5.1
    Manufacturing..|  1.7 |  2.2 |  2.4 |  2.7 |  3.1 |  2.3 |  2.3 |  2.4 |  2.6
    Trade, trans-  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     portation, and|      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     utilities.....|  2.1 |  2.3 |  2.5 |  4.2 |  3.5 |  3.4 |  3.7 |  3.5 |  3.6
    Professional   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     and business  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     services......|  3.6 |  4.7 |  4.0 |  5.6 |  4.6 |  4.7 |  4.9 |  4.7 |  4.7
    Education and  |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     health ser-   |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |           
     vices.........|  3.1 |  3.3 |  3.3 |  2.6 |  2.6 |  2.7 |  2.4 |  2.3 |  2.4
    Leisure and    |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
     hospitality...|  3.2 |  3.7 |  3.9 |  6.8 |  6.6 |  6.5 |  5.8 |  5.8 |  5.9
  Government.......|  1.7 |  1.9 |  1.9 |  1.5 |  1.5 |  1.5 |  1.3 |  1.2 |  1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
                                  

   The other two components of total separations--layoffs and discharges,
and other separations--are not seasonally adjusted.  In November, the
layoffs and discharges rate, at 1.1 percent, was little changed over the
year, and the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent.  (See
tables 9 and 10.)
     
   Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.7 million per month and
separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted).
The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.5 million hires and 4.2 mil-
lion 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 December 2005 is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, February 7, 2006.
     




                                  - 3 -

Technical Note


  The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments 
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
   
Collection
   
  Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations.  Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
   
Coverage
   
  The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
   
Concepts
   
  Industry classification.  The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS).  In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle.  Changes in establish-
ment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always 
introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the 
first month of the year.
   
  Employment.  Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month.  Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave.  Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for 
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed.  Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
   
  Job openings.  Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month.  A job opening requires that:  
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position.  Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.  Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, 
or using other similar methods.
   
  Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded.  Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants.  The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
   
                                  - 4 -

  Hires.  Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations.  The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants.  The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
   
  Separations.  Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and 
other separations.  Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations).  Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs 
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting 
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges 
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and 
terminations of seasonal employees.  Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations 
due to disability.  Separations do not include transfers within the 
same location or employees on strike.
   
  The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.  The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
   
Sample methodology
   
  The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia.  The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program.  This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
   
  The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class.  Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey.  A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
   
                                  - 5 -

Using JOLTS data
   
  The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new.  The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month.  A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002.  The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not 
completely enrolled until May 2003.  The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample.  Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
   
  In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting.  As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
   
  The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not 
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment.  The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers 
were completed in March 2003.  The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of 
workers between establishments.  The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
   
Seasonal adjustment
   
  BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program.  Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such 
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in 
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general 
economic expansions and contractions.  A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are 
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including 
the data for the current month.
   
  Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary.  The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions.  Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects 
requires longer series than are currently available.  As a result, the stable 
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.  
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series.  The stable seasonal filter assumes 
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient 
data are available.  When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, 
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment 
and extended diagnostic testing.  Additionally, it is expected that more 
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be 
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
   
                                  - 6 -

Reliability of the estimates
   
  JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent.  The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate.  BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence.  That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error.  Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
   
  The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error.  Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the 
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a 
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection 
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data 
used in estimation.
   
  JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.  Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month.  Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices.  The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month 
period.
   
Other information
   
  Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.





Table 1.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Nov.   June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.  Nov.    Nov.  June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  3,277  3,647  3,588  3,487  3,836  3,937  3,904    2.4   2.7   2.6   2.5   2.8   2.9   2.8

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,910  3,239  3,204  3,130  3,406  3,540  3,483    2.6   2.8   2.8   2.7   2.9   3.1   3.0
  Construction.........................    118    104    128    136    156    148    136    1.6   1.4   1.7   1.8   2.1   2.0   1.8
  Manufacturing........................    248    269    287    266    293    320    349    1.7   1.8   2.0   1.8   2.0   2.2   2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    554    624    600    620    630    611    656    2.1   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.4   2.3   2.5
  Professional and business services...    620    686    666    590    725    848    713    3.6   3.9   3.8   3.4   4.1   4.7   4.0
  Education and health services........    543    609    607    604    606    597    594    3.1   3.4   3.4   3.3   3.4   3.3   3.3
  Leisure and hospitality..............    411    517    439    427    469    492    516    3.2   3.9   3.3   3.2   3.5   3.7   3.9
 Government............................    369    394    388    370    420    432    425    1.7   1.8   1.7   1.7   1.9   1.9   1.9


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    560    634    610    609    728    781    673    2.2   2.4   2.3   2.3   2.8   3.0   2.6
  South................................  1,250  1,333  1,343  1,353  1,466  1,471  1,456    2.6   2.7   2.7   2.8   3.0   3.0   3.0
  Midwest..............................    726    781    764    704    754    777    768    2.3   2.4   2.4   2.2   2.3   2.4   2.4
  West.................................    759    869    832    841    895    920  1,030    2.6   2.9   2.8   2.8   3.0   3.0   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 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.






Table 2.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Nov.   June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.  Nov.    Nov.  June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,990  4,694  4,649  4,601  4,719  4,650  4,586    3.8   3.5   3.5   3.4   3.5   3.5   3.4

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  4,652  4,365  4,342  4,276  4,356  4,308  4,265    4.2   3.9   3.9   3.8   3.9   3.8   3.8
  Construction.........................    373    393    381    435    422    414    395    5.3   5.4   5.3   6.0   5.8   5.7   5.4
  Manufacturing........................    386    347    345    344    338    436    327    2.7   2.4   2.4   2.4   2.4   3.1   2.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.  1,077  1,045    990    998  1,001    919    883    4.2   4.0   3.8   3.8   3.9   3.5   3.4
  Professional and business services...    935    835    832    786    925    780    802    5.6   4.9   4.9   4.6   5.4   4.6   4.7
  Education and health services........    447    457    453    465    460    460    470    2.6   2.6   2.6   2.7   2.6   2.6   2.7
  Leisure and hospitality..............    858    877    834    771    808    840    834    6.8   6.9   6.5   6.0   6.3   6.6   6.5
 Government............................    335    337    330    337    336    326    319    1.5   1.6   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.5


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    851    794    772    738    759    741    721    3.4   3.1   3.0   2.9   3.0   2.9   2.8
  South................................  1,903  1,786  1,689  1,750  1,840  1,774  1,679    4.1   3.8   3.6   3.7   3.9   3.7   3.5
  Midwest..............................  1,149  1,054  1,045    970    996  1,003  1,046    3.7   3.4   3.3   3.1   3.2   3.2   3.3
  West.................................  1,014  1,070  1,081  1,144  1,136  1,125  1,103    3.5   3.7   3.7   3.9   3.9   3.8   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.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 3.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Nov.   June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.  Nov.    Nov.  June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  4,266  4,477  4,270  4,499  4,779  4,331  4,337    3.2   3.4   3.2   3.4   3.6   3.2   3.2

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  3,996  4,223  4,007  4,235  4,487  4,077  4,071    3.6   3.8   3.6   3.8   4.0   3.6   3.6
  Construction.........................    351    380    370    452    417    396    378    5.0   5.3   5.1   6.2   5.7   5.4   5.1
  Manufacturing........................    327    350    361    369    408    339    367    2.3   2.4   2.5   2.6   2.9   2.4   2.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    943    980    948  1,019  1,039    902    928    3.7   3.8   3.7   3.9   4.0   3.5   3.6
  Professional and business services...    822    818    747    670    897    805    801    4.9   4.8   4.4   3.9   5.3   4.7   4.7
  Education and health services........    408    401    391    406    430    402    413    2.4   2.3   2.3   2.3   2.5   2.3   2.4
  Leisure and hospitality..............    727    803    750    785    814    742    758    5.8   6.3   5.9   6.1   6.4   5.8   5.9
 Government............................    275    254    257    271    295    255    268    1.3   1.2   1.2   1.2   1.3   1.2   1.2


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    756    761    715    734    752    683    584    3.0   3.0   2.8   2.9   2.9   2.7   2.3
  South................................  1,594  1,653  1,567  1,639  1,787  1,615  1,586    3.4   3.5   3.3   3.4   3.8   3.4   3.3
  Midwest..............................  1,041    946  1,011  1,047  1,135    979  1,171    3.3   3.0   3.2   3.3   3.6   3.1   3.7
  West.................................    826  1,062  1,001  1,094  1,085  1,012    957    2.9   3.6   3.4   3.7   3.7   3.4   3.3


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
  4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 4.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted

                                                      Levels(3) (in thousands)                              Rates

           Industry and region            Nov.   June   July   Aug.   Sept.  Oct.  Nov.    Nov.  June  July  Aug.  Sept. Oct.  Nov.
                                          2004   2005   2005   2005   2005   2005  2005p   2004  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005  2005p

Total(4)...............................  2,436  2,475  2,474  2,605  2,778  2,578  2,612    1.8   1.9   1.8   1.9   2.1   1.9   1.9

                INDUSTRY

 Total private(4)......................  2,319  2,348  2,351  2,467  2,630  2,441  2,471    2.1   2.1   2.1   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.2
  Construction.........................    159    139    140    222    202    203    170    2.2   1.9   1.9   3.1   2.8   2.8   2.3
  Manufacturing........................    185    190    189    184    214    199    204    1.3   1.3   1.3   1.3   1.5   1.4   1.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities.    568    588    577    604    580    555    565    2.2   2.3   2.2   2.3   2.2   2.1   2.2
  Professional and business services...    401    386    353    374    497    354    393    2.4   2.3   2.1   2.2   2.9   2.1   2.3
  Education and health services........    250    256    271    260    276    259    276    1.5   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.6   1.5   1.6
  Leisure and hospitality..............    499    510    525    517    563    569    572    4.0   4.0   4.1   4.0   4.4   4.5   4.5
 Government............................    118    124    125    139    149    134    141     .5    .6    .6    .6    .7    .6    .6


                 REGION

  Northeast............................    359    350    381    380    377    360    330    1.4   1.4   1.5   1.5   1.5   1.4   1.3
  South................................  1,014    960    964  1,054  1,147  1,032  1,009    2.2   2.0   2.0   2.2   2.4   2.2   2.1
  Midwest..............................    551    542    548    570    613    571    635    1.8   1.7   1.7   1.8   1.9   1.8   2.0
  West.................................    492    653    577    585    643    598    615    1.7   2.2   2.0   2.0   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.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 5.  Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Nov.     Oct.    Nov.           Nov.     Oct.     Nov.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,001    3,935    3,568           2.2      2.8      2.6

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,649    3,518    3,163           2.3      3.0      2.7
  Natural resources and mining..................      8       11       10           1.3      1.7      1.5
  Construction..................................     95      131      109           1.3      1.7      1.4
  Manufacturing.................................    211      312      302           1.4      2.1      2.1
   Durable goods................................    135      215      214           1.5      2.3      2.3
   Nondurable goods.............................     76       96       88           1.4      1.8      1.6
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    516      716      610           1.9      2.7      2.3
   Wholesale trade..............................     98      130      103           1.7      2.2      1.8
   Retail trade.................................    328      457      374           2.1      2.9      2.3
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     91      128      132           1.8      2.5      2.6
  Information...................................     73      111       98           2.3      3.4      3.0
  Financial activities..........................    191      273      257           2.3      3.2      3.0
   Finance and insurance........................    159      216      212           2.6      3.4      3.3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     32       57       46           1.5      2.6      2.1
  Professional and business services............    573      791      660           3.3      4.4      3.7
  Education and health services.................    526      587      568           2.9      3.2      3.1
   Educational services.........................     50       61       66           1.6      2.0      2.1
   Health care and social assistance............    476      526      502           3.2      3.5      3.3
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    341      437      444           2.7      3.3      3.4
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     44       56       42           2.5      3.0      2.4
   Accommodations and food services.............    297      381      402           2.7      3.4      3.6
  Other services................................    115      149      106           2.1      2.7      1.9

 Government.....................................    352      417      404           1.6      1.8      1.8
  Federal.......................................     46       38       43           1.7      1.4      1.6
  State and local...............................    306      379      361           1.6      1.9      1.8

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    540      800      639           2.1      3.0      2.4
  South.........................................  1,143    1,429    1,331           2.4      2.9      2.7
  Midwest.......................................    647      778      683           2.0      2.4      2.1
  West..........................................    671      927      915           2.2      3.0      3.0


  1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
  2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 6.  Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Nov.     Oct.    Nov.           Nov.     Oct.     Nov.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  4,522    4,631    4,130           3.4      3.4      3.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  4,247    4,312    3,870           3.8      3.8      3.4
  Natural resources and mining..................     17       15       12           2.7      2.3      1.9
  Construction..................................    294      374      305           4.1      5.0      4.1
  Manufacturing.................................    319      413      266           2.2      2.9      1.9
   Durable goods................................    178      262      167           2.0      2.9      1.9
   Nondurable goods.............................    141      151       99           2.6      2.8      1.9
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........  1,295    1,085    1,035           5.0      4.2      3.9
   Wholesale trade..............................    101      148      115           1.8      2.6      2.0
   Retail trade.................................    991      777      726           6.4      5.1      4.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    203      159      194           4.1      3.2      3.9
  Information...................................     75       84       89           2.4      2.7      2.8
  Financial activities..........................    185      181      188           2.3      2.2      2.3
   Finance and insurance........................    126      114      121           2.1      1.9      2.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     58       66       68           2.8      3.1      3.1
  Professional and business services............    837      783      706           5.0      4.5      4.1
  Education and health services.................    380      465      399           2.2      2.6      2.3
   Educational services.........................     43       54       49           1.4      1.8      1.6
   Health care and social assistance............    337      410      349           2.3      2.8      2.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    694      756      688           5.6      5.9      5.5
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     70       68       76           4.2      3.8      4.5
   Accommodations and food services.............    624      688      612           5.9      6.3      5.6
  Other services................................    151      158      181           2.8      2.9      3.3

 Government.....................................    276      319      260           1.2      1.4      1.2
  Federal.......................................     35       37       32           1.3      1.4      1.2
  State and local...............................    241      282      228           1.2      1.4      1.2

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    807      752      677           3.2      2.9      2.6
  South.........................................  1,767    1,768    1,500           3.7      3.7      3.1
  Midwest.......................................  1,005      965      939           3.2      3.0      3.0
  West..........................................    943    1,146    1,015           3.2      3.9      3.4


  1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
  2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 7.  Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Nov.     Oct.    Nov.           Nov.     Oct.     Nov.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  3,984    4,350    4,009           3.0      3.2      3.0

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  3,780    4,129    3,810           3.4      3.7      3.4
  Natural resources and mining..................     19       13       14           3.2      2.1      2.2
  Construction..................................    379      415      399           5.3      5.5      5.3
  Manufacturing.................................    301      360      346           2.1      2.5      2.4
   Durable goods................................    180      225      217           2.0      2.5      2.4
   Nondurable goods.............................    122      135      128           2.3      2.5      2.4
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    873      892      847           3.3      3.4      3.2
   Wholesale trade..............................    110      125      130           1.9      2.2      2.3
   Retail trade.................................    611      615      580           3.9      4.0      3.7
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...    152      152      136           3.1      3.0      2.7
  Information...................................     52       72       71           1.7      2.3      2.2
  Financial activities..........................    161      162      135           2.0      2.0      1.6
   Finance and insurance........................    105       97       84           1.8      1.6      1.4
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     56       66       51           2.7      3.0      2.4
  Professional and business services............    770      781      742           4.6      4.5      4.3
  Education and health services.................    332      369      339           1.9      2.1      1.9
   Educational services.........................     31       36       37           1.0      1.2      1.2
   Health care and social assistance............    301      334      302           2.1      2.3      2.1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    708      880      734           5.7      6.9      5.9
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........    125      139       99           7.4      7.8      5.9
   Accommodations and food services.............    583      741      635           5.5      6.8      5.9
  Other services................................    185      184      182           3.4      3.4      3.3

 Government.....................................    204      221      199            .9      1.0       .9
  Federal.......................................     25       19       27            .9       .7      1.0
  State and local...............................    179      202      172            .9      1.0       .9

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    743      700      568           2.9      2.7      2.2
  South.........................................  1,381    1,655    1,325           2.9      3.4      2.8
  Midwest.......................................  1,048      969    1,212           3.3      3.1      3.8
  West..........................................    813    1,026      905           2.8      3.5      3.0


  1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
  2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 8.  Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Nov.     Oct.    Nov.           Nov.     Oct.     Nov.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................  2,100    2,526    2,257           1.6      1.9      1.7

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  2,008    2,410    2,146           1.8      2.1      1.9
  Natural resources and mining..................      6        6        8           1.0      1.0      1.2
  Construction..................................    134      211      145           1.9      2.8      1.9
  Manufacturing.................................    139      202      156           1.0      1.4      1.1
   Durable goods................................     69      116      103            .8      1.3      1.1
   Nondurable goods.............................     70       86       53           1.3      1.6      1.0
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    506      559      502           1.9      2.2      1.9
   Wholesale trade..............................     49       65       48            .9      1.1       .8
   Retail trade.................................    390      421      390           2.5      2.8      2.5
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     67       74       64           1.4      1.5      1.3
  Information...................................     31       53       44           1.0      1.7      1.4
  Financial activities..........................     87       91       80           1.1      1.1      1.0
   Finance and insurance........................     60       62       59           1.0      1.0      1.0
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     27       29       21           1.3      1.3      1.0
  Professional and business services............    370      341      360           2.2      2.0      2.1
  Education and health services.................    208      242      230           1.2      1.4      1.3
   Educational services.........................     15       21       23            .5       .7       .8
   Health care and social assistance............    193      222      208           1.3      1.5      1.4
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    436      591      504           3.5      4.7      4.0
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     41       59       30           2.5      3.3      1.8
   Accommodations and food services.............    395      532      474           3.7      4.9      4.4
  Other services................................     91      114      117           1.7      2.1      2.2

 Government.....................................     92      116      111            .4       .5       .5
  Federal.......................................      9        9       15            .3       .3       .6
  State and local...............................     83      107       96            .4       .5       .5

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    317      374      280           1.2      1.5      1.1
  South.........................................    860    1,040      852           1.8      2.2      1.8
  Midwest.......................................    500      548      590           1.6      1.7      1.9
  West..........................................    423      564      535           1.5      1.9      1.8


  1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
  2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.






Table 9.  Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Nov.     Oct.    Nov.           Nov.     Oct.     Nov.
                                                   2004     2005    2005p          2004     2005     2005p
                                                                              
Total...........................................  1,621    1,559    1,498           1.2      1.2      1.1

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................  1,547    1,484    1,438           1.4      1.3      1.3
  Natural resources and mining..................      9        6        4           1.4       .9       .6
  Construction..................................    235      180      223           3.3      2.4      3.0
  Manufacturing.................................    145      122      148           1.0       .9      1.0
   Durable goods................................     99       79       80           1.1       .9       .9
   Nondurable goods.............................     46       42       68            .9       .8      1.3
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........    304      286      305           1.2      1.1      1.2
   Wholesale trade..............................     57       54       74           1.0       .9      1.3
   Retail trade.................................    178      170      169           1.1      1.1      1.1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     69       62       62           1.4      1.3      1.2
  Information...................................     14       13       21            .4       .4       .7
  Financial activities..........................     65       63       43            .8       .8       .5
   Finance and insurance........................     36       30       15            .6       .5       .3
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........     29       33       28           1.4      1.5      1.3
  Professional and business services............    356      408      352           2.1      2.4      2.1
  Education and health services.................    103       95       88            .6       .5       .5
   Educational services.........................     15       12       12            .5       .4       .4
   Health care and social assistance............     88       83       76            .6       .6       .5
  Leisure and hospitality.......................    233      266      208           1.9      2.1      1.7
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........     78       78       67           4.7      4.3      4.0
   Accommodations and food services.............    155      188      142           1.5      1.7      1.3
  Other services................................     83       44       47           1.5       .8       .9

 Government.....................................     75       75       60            .3       .3       .3
  Federal.......................................      4        5        6            .2       .2       .2
  State and local...............................     71       70       54            .4       .4       .3

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................    367      282      247           1.4      1.1      1.0
  South.........................................    434      542      404            .9      1.1       .8
  Midwest.......................................    484      353      549           1.5      1.1      1.7
  West..........................................    337      382      298           1.2      1.3      1.0


  1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
  2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.





Table 10.  Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted

                                                    Levels (in thousands)                  Rates

              Industry and region                  Nov.     Oct.     Nov.          Nov.     Oct.     Nov.
                                                   2004     2005     2005p         2004     2005     2005p

Total...........................................    262      266      254           0.2      0.2      0.2

                   INDUSTRY

 Total private..................................    225      235      226            .2       .2       .2
  Natural resources and mining..................      5        1        2            .8       .2       .3
  Construction..................................     10       24       32            .1       .3       .4
  Manufacturing.................................     17       36       43            .1       .3       .3
   Durable goods................................     11       29       35            .1       .3       .4
   Nondurable goods.............................      6        7        8            .1       .1       .2
  Trade, transportation, and utilities..........     63       46       41            .2       .2       .2
   Wholesale trade..............................      4        5        9            .1       .1       .2
   Retail trade.................................     43       25       21            .3       .2       .1
   Transportation, warehousing, and utilities...     15       16       11            .3       .3       .2
  Information...................................      7        6        7            .2       .2       .2
  Financial activities..........................     10        9       11            .1       .1       .1
   Finance and insurance........................      9        5        9            .2       .1       .1
   Real estate and rental and leasing...........      1        4        2           (3)       .2       .1
  Professional and business services............     44       32       30            .3       .2       .2
  Education and health services.................     21       32       21            .1       .2       .1
   Educational services.........................      1        3        2           (3)       .1       .1
   Health care and social assistance............     20       29       19            .1       .2       .1
  Leisure and hospitality.......................     38       23       21            .3       .2       .2
   Arts, entertainment, and recreation..........      5        2        2            .3       .1       .1
   Accommodations and food services.............     34       21       19            .3       .2       .2
  Other services................................     10       26       18            .2       .5       .3

 Government.....................................     37       30       29            .2       .1       .1
  Federal.......................................     12        5        6            .4       .2       .2
  State and local...............................     26       26       22            .1       .1       .1

                    REGION

  Northeast.....................................     59       44       41            .2       .2       .2
  South.........................................     86       74       68            .2       .2       .1
  Midwest.......................................     64       68       73            .2       .2       .2
  West..........................................     52       80       72            .2       .3       .2


  1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
  2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
  3 Data round to zero.
  p = preliminary.
  NOTE:  See NOTE, table 1.