Full text of August 2004 : Text File, USDL-04-2098
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Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 04-2098
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Wednesday, October 13, 2004
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: AUGUST 2004
The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or
no change from July to August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S.
Department of Labor reported today. The job openings rate was unchanged at
2.4 percent. The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.3 percent, and
the total separations rate remained at 3.1 percent. 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 August 2004, there were 3.2 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.4 percent.
(See table 1.) The job openings rate has generally trended upward over the
last 12 months. In August, the job openings rate showed little or no change
for the major industry categories.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employ-
ment) was 3.3 percent in August, little changed from a month earlier. (See
table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. The
hires rate increased in education and health services over the month, while
other major industries showed little or no change in their hires rates. The
hires rate in the West increased from a month earlier.
The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separations
during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in August, unchanged
from the month before. The total separations rate has been relatively un-
changed since December 2001, ranging from 2.9 percent to 3.3 percent. Separa-
tions are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month.
(See table 3.) In August, the total separations rate decreased in government
and showed little or no change for all other major industry categories.
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 1.7 percent in August. (See table
4.) The quits rate increased in construction and decreased in education
and health services and government in over the month.
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Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug. | Aug. | July | Aug.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|2,688 |3,237 |3,191 |4,010 |4,229 |4,358 |3,815 |4,074 |4,060
Total private 1/.|2,364 |2,894 |2,854 |3,729 |3,930 |4,058 |3,572 |3,793 |3,843
Construction...| 107 | 88 | 118 | 491 | 368 | 399 | 432 | 364 | 394
Manufacturing..| 184 | 240 | 233 | 326 | 352 | 339 | 332 | 367 | 364
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 458 | 567 | 537 | 837 | 957 | 999 | 850 | 972 | 952
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 469 | 583 | 601 | 597 | 621 | 693 | 508 | 613 | 584
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 499 | 537 | 533 | 433 | 418 | 478 | 365 | 363 | 378
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 314 | 435 | 413 | 696 | 760 | 741 | 704 | 694 | 724
Government.......| 328 | 343 | 340 | 289 | 310 | 308 | 250 | 273 | 225
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........| 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.1
Total private 1/.| 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.5
Construction...| 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 5.7
Manufacturing..| 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.5
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.7
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.5
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.2
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 2.5 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.9
Government.......| 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over
the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.2 million per month and separations
have averaged 4.0 million per month. (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 September 2004 is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, November 9, 2004.
- 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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 2,688 3,079 3,135 3,105 3,022 3,237 3,191 2.0 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 2,364 2,740 2,778 2,746 2,640 2,894 2,854 2.1 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.5
Construction......................... 107 113 105 108 94 88 118 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.7
Manufacturing........................ 184 232 251 244 247 240 233 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 458 524 531 521 503 567 537 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.1
Professional and business services... 469 502 518 530 494 583 601 2.8 3.0 3.1 3.1 2.9 3.4 3.5
Education and health services........ 499 559 576 542 496 537 533 2.9 3.2 3.3 3.1 2.9 3.1 3.0
Leisure and hospitality.............. 314 370 376 391 421 435 413 2.5 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.3 3.4 3.2
Government............................ 328 353 354 360 380 343 340 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6
REGION
Northeast............................ 485 569 560 526 546 545 545 1.9 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1
South................................ 1,021 1,176 1,191 1,164 1,164 1,280 1,290 2.2 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.7 2.7
Midwest.............................. 575 663 692 688 631 635 598 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9
West................................. 629 655 694 765 677 738 761 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.3 2.5 2.6
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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 4,010 4,603 4,398 4,206 4,433 4,229 4,358 3.1 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.2 3.3
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 3,729 4,256 4,090 3,938 4,110 3,930 4,058 3.4 3.9 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.7
Construction......................... 491 437 421 406 436 368 399 7.3 6.4 6.1 5.9 6.3 5.3 5.8
Manufacturing........................ 326 361 354 336 370 352 339 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 837 1,009 1,032 938 945 957 999 3.3 4.0 4.1 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9
Professional and business services... 597 713 609 631 692 621 693 3.7 4.4 3.7 3.8 4.2 3.8 4.2
Education and health services........ 433 444 460 451 428 418 478 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.8
Leisure and hospitality.............. 696 810 766 739 749 760 741 5.7 6.6 6.2 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.0
Government............................ 289 343 300 272 328 310 308 1.3 1.6 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.4
REGION
Northeast............................ 675 744 810 708 703 720 735 2.7 3.0 3.2 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9
South................................ 1,512 1,781 1,582 1,606 1,709 1,640 1,643 3.3 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.7 3.5 3.5
Midwest.............................. 843 1,040 991 956 1,009 935 955 2.7 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.0 3.1
West................................. 994 1,029 1,093 951 1,023 865 1,020 3.5 3.6 3.8 3.3 3.6 3.0 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.
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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 3,815 4,134 4,088 4,040 4,069 4,074 4,060 2.9 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 3,572 3,868 3,843 3,761 3,789 3,793 3,843 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.5
Construction......................... 432 392 391 367 382 364 394 6.4 5.7 5.7 5.3 5.5 5.3 5.7
Manufacturing........................ 332 377 353 377 343 367 364 2.3 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 850 978 1,013 917 927 972 952 3.4 3.8 4.0 3.6 3.6 3.8 3.7
Professional and business services... 508 597 606 556 607 613 584 3.2 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.5
Education and health services........ 365 382 386 379 362 363 378 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2
Leisure and hospitality.............. 704 715 679 696 734 694 724 5.8 5.8 5.5 5.6 5.9 5.6 5.9
Government............................ 250 284 245 268 270 273 225 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.0
REGION
Northeast............................ 644 666 716 648 704 674 717 2.6 2.7 2.9 2.6 2.8 2.7 2.8
South................................ 1,428 1,612 1,524 1,504 1,533 1,545 1,500 3.1 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2
Midwest.............................. 848 938 877 833 853 935 827 2.8 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.7 3.0 2.7
West................................. 903 1,003 959 1,008 979 945 1,041 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.6
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
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 Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug.
2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 1,984 2,271 2,278 2,173 2,284 2,265 2,229 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 1,881 2,144 2,151 2,036 2,162 2,141 2,122 1.7 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9
Construction......................... 138 154 149 144 156 101 144 2.0 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.3 1.5 2.1
Manufacturing........................ 150 176 189 171 171 174 157 1.0 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 462 530 563 525 536 559 552 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2
Professional and business services... 253 309 323 259 322 322 309 1.6 1.9 2.0 1.6 2.0 2.0 1.9
Education and health services........ 222 252 245 223 225 271 238 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.6 1.4
Leisure and hospitality.............. 431 465 429 455 480 442 465 3.6 3.8 3.5 3.7 3.9 3.6 3.8
Government............................ 110 129 129 129 123 126 111 .5 .6 .6 .6 .6 .6 .5
REGION
Northeast............................ 295 314 390 318 334 338 337 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
South................................ 805 957 888 857 910 901 880 1.8 2.1 1.9 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.9
Midwest.............................. 445 474 479 479 485 505 453 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5
West................................. 457 565 524 521 573 519 552 1.6 2.0 1.8 1.8 2.0 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.
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 Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 2,869 3,439 3,415 2.2 2.6 2.5
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,515 3,068 3,059 2.3 2.7 2.7
Natural resources and mining.................. 6 8 7 1.1 1.3 1.2
Construction.................................. 97 106 121 1.4 1.4 1.6
Manufacturing................................. 199 263 251 1.4 1.8 1.7
Durable goods................................ 115 159 149 1.3 1.7 1.6
Nondurable goods............................. 83 104 102 1.5 1.9 1.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 508 586 603 2.0 2.2 2.3
Wholesale trade.............................. 100 128 108 1.8 2.2 1.9
Retail trade................................. 338 366 405 2.2 2.4 2.6
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 71 92 90 1.5 1.9 1.8
Information................................... 53 81 77 1.6 2.5 2.4
Financial activities.......................... 179 207 214 2.2 2.5 2.6
Finance and insurance........................ 138 165 173 2.3 2.7 2.8
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 41 43 40 1.9 2.0 1.8
Professional and business services............ 470 601 627 2.8 3.5 3.6
Education and health services................. 538 561 571 3.2 3.3 3.3
Educational services......................... 45 49 52 1.9 2.0 2.1
Health care and social assistance............ 492 512 519 3.4 3.5 3.5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 350 497 459 2.7 3.7 3.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 35 49 47 1.7 2.3 2.3
Accommodations and food services............. 316 448 411 2.9 4.0 3.6
Other services................................ 114 157 130 2.1 2.8 2.3
Government..................................... 354 371 355 1.7 1.8 1.7
Federal....................................... 41 37 43 1.5 1.3 1.6
State and local............................... 312 334 312 1.7 1.9 1.7
REGION
Northeast..................................... 537 574 607 2.1 2.2 2.4
South......................................... 1,026 1,373 1,334 2.2 2.9 2.8
Midwest....................................... 652 686 667 2.1 2.2 2.1
West.......................................... 653 805 806 2.3 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.
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 Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 4,599 4,456 5,011 3.6 3.4 3.8
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,143 4,110 4,524 3.8 3.7 4.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 15 20 20 2.6 3.3 3.3
Construction.................................. 484 403 380 6.9 5.6 5.2
Manufacturing................................. 374 387 376 2.6 2.7 2.6
Durable goods................................ 222 240 230 2.5 2.7 2.5
Nondurable goods............................. 152 146 146 2.7 2.7 2.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 908 938 1,095 3.6 3.7 4.3
Wholesale trade.............................. 134 132 185 2.4 2.3 3.3
Retail trade................................. 652 662 725 4.4 4.4 4.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 122 145 186 2.6 3.0 3.9
Information................................... 72 60 74 2.3 1.9 2.3
Financial activities.......................... 164 186 181 2.0 2.3 2.2
Finance and insurance........................ 97 93 115 1.6 1.6 1.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 67 93 67 3.2 4.4 3.1
Professional and business services............ 652 647 773 4.0 3.9 4.6
Education and health services................. 512 465 588 3.2 2.8 3.5
Educational services......................... 106 64 90 4.5 2.6 3.8
Health care and social assistance............ 406 401 498 2.9 2.8 3.5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 776 804 825 6.1 6.2 6.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 95 108 72 4.6 5.2 3.5
Accommodations and food services............. 681 697 753 6.4 6.4 6.9
Other services................................ 186 200 213 3.4 3.7 3.9
Government..................................... 456 345 486 2.2 1.7 2.4
Federal....................................... 37 40 33 1.3 1.5 1.2
State and local............................... 419 305 454 2.4 1.7 2.6
REGION
Northeast..................................... 691 820 760 2.8 3.3 3.0
South......................................... 1,797 1,736 1,957 3.9 3.7 4.2
Midwest....................................... 1,042 923 1,180 3.4 3.0 3.8
West.......................................... 1,069 977 1,113 3.8 3.4 3.9
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 Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 4,863 4,320 5,160 3.8 3.3 3.9
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,469 3,970 4,813 4.1 3.6 4.3
Natural resources and mining.................. 19 17 22 3.2 2.9 3.7
Construction.................................. 494 324 462 7.0 4.5 6.4
Manufacturing................................. 403 389 437 2.8 2.7 3.0
Durable goods................................ 260 259 281 2.9 2.9 3.1
Nondurable goods............................. 143 130 156 2.6 2.4 2.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 991 978 1,115 3.9 3.8 4.4
Wholesale trade.............................. 164 160 162 2.9 2.8 2.9
Retail trade................................. 694 669 780 4.7 4.5 5.2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 134 149 172 2.8 3.1 3.6
Information................................... 63 58 86 2.0 1.8 2.7
Financial activities.......................... 198 182 206 2.5 2.2 2.5
Finance and insurance........................ 115 105 139 1.9 1.8 2.3
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 84 77 67 4.0 3.6 3.1
Professional and business services............ 649 669 739 4.0 4.0 4.4
Education and health services................. 479 411 491 3.0 2.5 3.0
Educational services......................... 69 54 64 2.9 2.2 2.7
Health care and social assistance............ 410 357 426 3.0 2.5 3.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 899 735 942 7.1 5.7 7.3
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 191 97 96 9.3 4.7 4.7
Accommodations and food services............. 708 638 847 6.6 5.9 7.8
Other services................................ 273 207 312 5.0 3.8 5.7
Government..................................... 394 351 348 1.9 1.7 1.7
Federal....................................... 45 24 27 1.6 .9 1.0
State and local............................... 349 326 321 2.0 1.8 1.8
REGION
Northeast..................................... 847 672 953 3.4 2.7 3.8
South......................................... 1,833 1,692 1,896 4.0 3.6 4.1
Midwest....................................... 1,147 942 1,097 3.7 3.0 3.5
West.......................................... 1,036 1,015 1,215 3.7 3.5 4.2
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 Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 2,763 2,537 3,056 2.1 1.9 2.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,575 2,385 2,877 2.4 2.2 2.6
Natural resources and mining.................. 9 11 11 1.6 1.8 1.8
Construction.................................. 178 137 186 2.5 1.9 2.6
Manufacturing................................. 218 206 224 1.5 1.4 1.5
Durable goods................................ 136 137 132 1.5 1.5 1.5
Nondurable goods............................. 82 69 92 1.5 1.3 1.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 616 586 737 2.4 2.3 2.9
Wholesale trade.............................. 95 95 85 1.7 1.7 1.5
Retail trade................................. 455 418 572 3.1 2.8 3.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 66 74 80 1.4 1.5 1.7
Information................................... 40 40 61 1.2 1.2 1.9
Financial activities.......................... 132 127 130 1.6 1.6 1.6
Finance and insurance........................ 73 66 81 1.2 1.1 1.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 59 60 48 2.8 2.8 2.3
Professional and business services............ 365 363 440 2.3 2.2 2.6
Education and health services................. 295 291 313 1.8 1.7 1.9
Educational services......................... 36 34 32 1.6 1.4 1.3
Health care and social assistance............ 259 257 281 1.9 1.8 2.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 594 503 646 4.7 3.9 5.0
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 89 50 55 4.3 2.4 2.7
Accommodations and food services............. 506 453 591 4.7 4.2 5.4
Other services................................ 127 124 132 2.3 2.3 2.4
Government..................................... 188 152 179 .9 .7 .9
Federal....................................... 26 11 13 .9 .4 .5
State and local............................... 162 141 165 .9 .8 .9
REGION
Northeast..................................... 414 367 478 1.7 1.5 1.9
South......................................... 1,063 1,056 1,156 2.3 2.3 2.5
Midwest....................................... 669 540 670 2.2 1.7 2.2
West.......................................... 617 574 751 2.2 2.0 2.6
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 Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 1,788 1,452 1,758 1.4 1.1 1.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,638 1,322 1,646 1.5 1.2 1.5
Natural resources and mining.................. 7 5 7 1.2 .8 1.2
Construction.................................. 304 170 258 4.3 2.4 3.6
Manufacturing................................. 147 155 179 1.0 1.1 1.2
Durable goods................................ 101 102 127 1.1 1.1 1.4
Nondurable goods............................. 46 53 52 .8 1.0 1.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 325 324 303 1.3 1.3 1.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 59 58 63 1.0 1.0 1.1
Retail trade................................. 208 204 164 1.4 1.4 1.1
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 58 63 76 1.2 1.3 1.6
Information................................... 18 15 22 .6 .5 .7
Financial activities.......................... 45 33 46 .6 .4 .6
Finance and insurance........................ 27 23 30 .4 .4 .5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 19 11 16 .9 .5 .7
Professional and business services............ 225 254 258 1.4 1.5 1.5
Education and health services................. 156 97 143 1.0 .6 .9
Educational services......................... 29 17 28 1.2 .7 1.2
Health care and social assistance............ 127 79 115 .9 .6 .8
Leisure and hospitality....................... 272 211 260 2.1 1.6 2.0
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 100 44 40 4.9 2.1 1.9
Accommodations and food services............. 172 167 220 1.6 1.5 2.0
Other services................................ 137 57 171 2.5 1.0 3.1
Government..................................... 150 130 112 .7 .6 .6
Federal....................................... 11 5 7 .4 .2 .2
State and local............................... 139 125 106 .8 .7 .6
REGION
Northeast..................................... 377 236 393 1.5 .9 1.6
South......................................... 640 526 619 1.4 1.1 1.3
Midwest....................................... 413 334 356 1.3 1.1 1.1
West.......................................... 358 356 390 1.3 1.2 1.4
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 Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 312 331 346 0.2 0.3 0.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 256 263 289 .2 .2 .3
Natural resources and mining.................. 2 2 4 .4 .3 .7
Construction.................................. 12 18 19 .2 .2 .3
Manufacturing................................. 37 28 34 .3 .2 .2
Durable goods................................ 23 20 22 .3 .2 .2
Nondurable goods............................. 15 8 12 .3 .1 .2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 50 68 75 .2 .3 .3
Wholesale trade.............................. 10 7 14 .2 .1 .2
Retail trade................................. 31 48 45 .2 .3 .3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 10 13 16 .2 .3 .3
Information................................... 5 3 4 .2 .1 .1
Financial activities.......................... 21 22 31 .3 .3 .4
Finance and insurance........................ 16 16 28 .3 .3 .5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 6 6 3 .3 .3 .1
Professional and business services............ 59 52 41 .4 .3 .2
Education and health services................. 28 23 35 .2 .1 .2
Educational services......................... 4 2 4 .2 .1 .2
Health care and social assistance............ 24 21 30 .2 .1 .2
Leisure and hospitality....................... 32 21 37 .3 .2 .3
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2 3 1 .1 .1 .1
Accommodations and food services............. 30 18 36 .3 .2 .3
Other services................................ 9 26 10 .2 .5 .2
Government..................................... 56 69 57 .3 .3 .3
Federal....................................... 8 9 7 .3 .3 .2
State and local............................... 48 60 50 .3 .3 .3
REGION
Northeast..................................... 56 69 82 .2 .3 .3
South......................................... 130 110 120 .3 .2 .3
Midwest....................................... 65 68 71 .2 .2 .2
West.......................................... 60 85 73 .2 .3 .3
1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.