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