The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 06-1784 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Wednesday, October 11, 2006 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: AUGUST 2006 The job openings rate increased in August, while the hires rate decreased and the total separations rate remained essentially unchanged, 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. Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, Percent September 2003 - August 2006 Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, Percent September 2003 - August 2006 3.9 3.9 3.7 Hires 3.7 3.5 3.3 3.5 3.1 2.9 3.3 2.7 2.5 Separations 3.1 2.3 2.9 2.1 1.9 2.7 1.7 1.5 2004 2005 2006 2.5 2004 2005 2006 Job Openings On the last business day of August 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States and the job openings rate was 3.0 percent. The job openings rate increased over the month to the highest level since April 2001, after showing little change since November 2005. In August, the job openings rate increased in trade, transportation, and utilities and in three of the four regions—the Midwest, South, and West. There were no significant over-the-month decreases in the job openings rate in any industry or region. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rates in August 2006 were professional and business services (3.8 percent), leisure and hospitality (3.7 percent), and education and health services (3.6 percent). (See table 1.) Over the year, the job openings rate rose in many of the private sector industries, in federal government, and in three of the four regions (Midwest, Northeast, and South). The job openings rate did not decline significantly over the year in any industry or region. (See table 5.) Hires The hires rate decreased to 3.5 percent in August. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In August, the hires rate rose in government and fell in professional and business services and in the 2 Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted Industry Job openings Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006 p Aug. 2005 Hires July 2006 Aug. 2006 p Total separations Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006 p Levels (in thousands) 1 Total .......................................... 1 Total private ............................. Construction ................................... Manufacturing ................................ Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................... Professional and business services ......................................... Education and health services .... Leisure and hospitality ................. Government .......................................... 3,697 3,239 133 256 3,844 Total 1......................................................... Total private 1....................................... Construction ................................... Manufacturing ................................ Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................... Professional and business services ......................................... Education and health services .... Leisure and hospitality ................. Government .......................................... 1 4,824 3,363 148 305 4,145 3,683 180 323 637 605 704 687 620 426 459 651 643 482 478 2.7 2.8 1.8 1.8 4,489 446 346 4,995 4,741 365 380 4,694 4,299 383 342 4,633 4,377 454 392 4,479 4,168 415 358 4,287 4,033 346 364 1,043 1,045 1,018 1,036 935 994 685 674 496 467 900 967 841 468 521 483 818 850 801 342 338 374 Rates (percent) 754 434 815 265 735 431 818 306 686 458 791 267 2.8 2.9 1.9 2.1 3.0 3.1 2.3 2.2 3.6 4.0 6.1 2.4 3.7 4.2 4.9 2.7 3.5 3.8 5.1 2.4 3.5 3.9 6.2 2.8 3.3 3.7 5.5 2.5 3.2 3.6 4.6 2.6 2.4 2.3 2.6 4.0 4.0 3.9 4.0 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.4 3.2 2.1 3.6 3.5 3.6 2.1 3.8 3.6 3.7 2.1 5.3 2.7 6.4 1.6 5.6 2.9 6.5 1.5 4.8 2.7 6.1 1.7 4.5 2.5 6.3 1.2 4.2 2.4 6.3 1.4 3.9 2.6 6.1 1.2 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. Midwest and Northeast regions. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (6.1 percent). (See table 2.) From August 2005 to August 2006, the hires rate increased in state and local government and decreased in other services and in the Northeast region. (See table 6.) Separations The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.2 percent in August. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In August, the total separations rate increased in the West region but in none of the industries. The rate declined in government and in the Midwest and Northeast regions. (See table 3.) Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’ ability to change jobs, was unchanged at 1.9 percent in August. Over the month, the quits rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. In August, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was the highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (4.2 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.) 3 Over the year, the quits rate grew in educational services and in state and local government. The quits rate declined in construction, retail trade, other services, and the Northeast. (See table 8.) The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. From August 2005 to August 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate decreased to 1.2 percent. For August 2006, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate (2.6 percent). From August 2005 to August 2006, the other separations rate was little changed at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.) Flows in the Labor Market Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the 12 months ending in August 2006, hires have averaged 4.8 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were also 4.8 million hires and 4.5 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) For More Information For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at http://www. bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870. ______________________________ The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for September 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. Technical Note The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Collection Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail. Coverage The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Concepts Industry classification. The industry classifications in this release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the first month of the year. Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference month. 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 temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment where they are working. Job openings. Establishments submit job openings information for the last business day of the reference month. A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using other similar methods. Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded are jobs with start dates more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying that quotient by 100. Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations. The hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. Separations. Separations are the total number of terminations of employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are reported by type of separation— quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements, which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not include transfers within the same location or employees on strike. The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by employment and multiplying by 100. Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released with the January news release each year. The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data. Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last business day of each month. Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates. Sample methodology The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program includes all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels. Using JOLTS data The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel enrolled each month. A full complement of panels for the original data series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those points are from less than a full sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting data at that time. In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data were revised to address possible underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later. The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal government time series. Seasonal adjustment BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in the level of the series, particularly those associated with general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current month. 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 calendar month after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be seasonally adjusted when more data are available. Reliability of the estimates JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the “true” population values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true” population value because of sampling error. Estimates of sampling errors are available upon request. The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data used in estimation. JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly explain 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 includes 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 practices. 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 levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted 3 Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,697 4,089 4,070 3,945 3,960 3,844 4,145 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 3.0 3,476 161 301 640 616 659 487 467 3,363 148 305 605 651 643 482 478 3,683 180 323 704 685 674 496 467 2.8 1.8 1.8 2.4 3.9 3.4 3.2 2.1 3.1 1.9 2.2 2.4 3.9 3.8 3.8 2.0 3.1 1.8 2.2 2.5 4.2 3.7 3.6 2.1 3.0 1.6 2.1 2.6 3.9 3.6 3.7 2.0 3.0 2.1 2.1 2.4 3.4 3.6 3.6 2.1 2.9 1.9 2.1 2.3 3.6 3.5 3.6 2.1 3.1 2.3 2.2 2.6 3.8 3.6 3.7 2.1 699 1,507 777 935 699 1,498 739 911 736 1,596 820 982 2.4 2.9 2.3 3.0 2.8 3.3 2.2 3.2 2.6 3.2 2.4 3.3 2.6 3.2 2.4 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.4 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.3 3.0 2.8 3.2 2.5 3.2 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,239 3,633 3,603 3,496 Construction……………………………………………………………… 133 144 138 119 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 256 318 323 311 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 637 651 672 687 Professional and business services……………………. 687 702 748 693 Education and health services…………………………………………. 620 692 674 651 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 426 506 485 496 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 459 458 467 452 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 617 732 672 670 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,442 1,634 1,600 1,591 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 724 721 770 787 West………………………………………………………………………….. 925 985 1,022 1 918 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, 3 and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. p = preliminary. and other services, not shown separately. 5 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Aug. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006p 4,995 4,694 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.5 4,508 366 378 1,099 905 465 846 392 4,741 365 380 1,045 967 521 850 338 4,299 383 342 1,018 841 483 801 374 4.0 6.1 2.4 4.0 5.3 2.7 6.4 1.6 4.0 4.6 2.4 4.2 5.4 2.5 6.9 1.8 3.8 5.0 2.3 4.0 5.0 2.7 6.0 1.6 4.0 5.0 2.7 3.9 5.8 3.1 6.2 1.7 4.0 4.9 2.7 4.2 5.2 2.6 6.5 1.8 4.2 4.9 2.7 4.0 5.6 2.9 6.5 1.5 3.8 5.1 2.4 3.9 4.8 2.7 6.1 1.7 729 1,877 1,072 1,207 841 1,849 1,123 1,177 694 1,836 966 1,172 3.2 3.9 3.1 4.0 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.8 3.3 3.7 3.1 3.9 3.3 3.8 3.6 3.7 2.9 3.9 3.4 4.0 3.3 3.8 3.6 3.9 2.7 3.8 3.1 3.9 4 Total …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,824 4,884 4,649 4,949 4,899 INDUSTRY Total private4……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,489 4,503 4,301 4,573 Construction……………………………………………………………… 446 344 376 374 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 346 341 328 385 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 1,043 1,103 1,029 1,018 Professional and business services……………………. 900 922 858 1,006 Education and health services…………………………………………. 468 435 481 549 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 818 899 775 811 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 342 397 361 379 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 805 914 849 852 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,870 1,803 1,777 1,849 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 955 1,117 965 1,133 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,186 1,127 1,152 1,114 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. 1 2 Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted 3 Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2005 Mar. 2006 Apr. 2006 May 2006 Rates June 2006 July 2006 Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,633 4,681 4,495 4,811 4,631 Aug. 2006p Aug. 2005 Mar. 2006 Apr. 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 2006p Aug. 4,479 4,287 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.2 324 370 1,082 755 424 802 315 4,168 415 358 935 735 431 818 306 4,033 346 364 994 686 458 791 267 3.9 6.2 2.8 4.0 4.5 2.5 6.3 1.2 3.9 5.6 3.0 3.8 4.6 2.3 5.9 1.5 3.7 5.0 2.4 3.9 4.6 2.5 5.9 1.4 4.0 6.4 2.7 4.0 4.8 2.8 6.1 1.5 3.8 4.3 2.6 4.2 4.4 2.4 6.2 1.4 3.7 5.5 2.5 3.6 4.2 2.4 6.3 1.4 3.6 4.6 2.6 3.8 3.9 2.6 6.1 1.2 724 1,858 871 1,137 763 1,687 1,087 979 620 1,702 895 1,094 3.1 3.5 3.4 3.9 2.8 3.8 3.2 4.0 2.8 3.5 3.2 3.7 3.1 3.8 3.3 3.8 2.8 3.8 2.8 3.8 3.0 3.5 3.4 3.3 2.4 3.5 2.8 3.7 Mar. 2006 Apr. 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 2006p INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,377 4,360 4,203 4,488 4,299 Construction……………………………………………………………… 454 422 373 478 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 392 427 346 381 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 1,036 989 1,022 1,046 Professional and business services……………………. 754 798 790 833 Education and health services…………………………………………. 434 399 437 487 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 815 769 770 799 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 265 326 302 324 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 772 714 711 779 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,692 1,810 1,710 1,828 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,053 1,014 992 1,045 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,140 1,188 1,116 1,136 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. 1 2 Table 4. Quits levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2005 Mar. 2006 Apr. 2006 May 2006 Rates June 2006 July 2006 Aug. 2006p Aug. 2005 Aug. Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,651 2,763 2,541 2,723 2,699 2,623 2,586 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 154 190 615 386 290 622 146 2,469 157 189 586 412 277 549 156 2,439 155 201 602 377 301 549 146 2.2 2.8 1.3 2.5 2.3 1.6 4.2 .6 2.3 2.4 1.4 2.3 2.5 1.5 4.3 .7 2.1 2.2 1.2 2.4 2.4 1.4 4.1 .7 2.3 2.8 1.4 2.4 2.5 1.6 4.1 .7 2.3 2.0 1.3 2.4 2.2 1.6 4.8 .7 2.2 2.1 1.3 2.3 2.4 1.6 4.2 .7 2.1 2.1 1.4 2.3 2.2 1.7 4.2 .7 358 1,153 552 631 378 1,081 562 598 374 1,121 529 579 1.6 2.3 1.7 2.1 1.5 2.3 2.0 2.2 1.5 2.1 1.8 2.0 1.5 2.4 1.8 2.0 1.4 2.4 1.8 2.1 1.5 2.2 1.8 2.0 1.5 2.3 1.7 1.9 INDUSTRY Total private4……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,517 2,606 2,383 2,565 2,554 Construction……………………………………………………………… 208 182 167 207 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 186 205 175 202 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 640 598 613 622 Professional and business services……………………. 387 426 409 434 Education and health services…………………………………………. 275 267 253 276 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 543 561 535 533 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 132 156 159 159 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 410 383 370 370 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,094 1,129 1,026 1,152 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 544 619 575 581 West………………………………………………………………………….. 611 642 593 612 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 5. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 4,495 2.9 2.9 3.2 3,981 13 16 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 136 163 199 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 275 323 347 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 181 213 219 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 93 110 129 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 707 622 788 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 138 125 160 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 461 358 454 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 108 139 174 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 97 157 169 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 243 236 248 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 197 186 201 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 45 50 47 Professional and business services…………………………………. 755 659 759 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 661 661 722 Educational services………………………………………………………. 67 62 63 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 594 599 659 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 475 539 553 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 65 61 53 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 410 479 500 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 133 155 180 3.0 1.7 1.7 1.9 2.0 1.7 2.6 2.3 2.9 2.2 3.1 2.9 3.2 2.0 4.2 3.7 2.6 3.9 3.4 2.9 3.5 2.4 3.0 1.9 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.0 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.7 4.9 2.7 2.9 2.2 3.6 3.7 2.4 3.9 3.8 2.6 4.0 2.8 3.4 2.3 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.9 2.7 2.9 3.4 5.2 2.9 3.2 2.1 4.1 4.0 2.4 4.2 3.9 2.4 4.2 3.2 514 60 454 2.4 1.5 2.5 2.4 1.7 2.5 2.4 2.1 2.4 820 1,689 913 1,073 2.6 3.1 2.5 3.3 2.7 3.2 2.5 3.1 3.1 3.4 2.8 3.4 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,001 4,046 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,493 3,529 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 11 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 508 517 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 40 47 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 468 470 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 682 712 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,521 1,579 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 798 801 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,000 954 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 6. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 5,397 4.2 3.9 4.0 4,806 23 26 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 454 376 393 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 397 416 391 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 223 238 241 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 174 178 150 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,158 1,025 1,116 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 153 133 155 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 825 717 749 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 180 175 213 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 81 99 102 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 185 274 180 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 118 177 120 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 68 97 60 Professional and business services…………………………………. 1,030 1,017 946 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 585 569 600 Educational services………………………………………………………. 89 70 95 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 497 499 506 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 928 898 899 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 106 121 106 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 822 776 793 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 212 206 152 4.5 3.7 6.0 2.8 2.5 3.3 4.5 2.6 5.4 3.7 2.6 2.3 2.0 3.1 6.0 3.4 3.6 3.4 6.9 4.9 7.3 3.9 4.3 3.3 4.8 2.9 2.6 3.4 3.9 2.3 4.7 3.5 3.2 3.3 2.9 4.4 5.8 3.3 2.8 3.4 6.5 5.4 6.7 3.8 4.2 3.7 5.0 2.7 2.7 2.8 4.3 2.6 4.9 4.3 3.3 2.2 2.0 2.7 5.4 3.4 3.8 3.4 6.6 4.9 6.9 2.8 591 34 557 2.6 1.7 2.7 1.8 1.1 1.9 2.8 1.3 3.1 748 2,179 1,148 1,322 3.5 4.6 3.7 4.5 3.7 4.0 3.6 4.2 2.9 4.5 3.6 4.4 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,591 5,276 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 5,054 4,903 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 24 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 536 373 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 46 29 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 490 344 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 885 942 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,220 1,949 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,150 1,126 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,335 1,260 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 7. Total separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 5,480 4.5 3.5 4.1 5,072 16 24 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 544 372 399 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 477 387 450 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 316 240 273 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 161 147 176 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,230 928 1,174 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 151 163 181 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 892 619 807 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 187 146 186 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 98 83 96 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 222 246 244 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 160 149 160 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 62 97 84 Professional and business services…………………………………. 979 827 869 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 557 476 585 Educational services………………………………………………………. 74 65 96 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 483 411 489 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 1,030 831 991 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 182 100 145 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 848 731 846 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 379 160 240 4.9 4.1 7.1 3.3 3.5 3.0 4.7 2.6 5.8 3.8 3.2 2.7 2.7 2.8 5.7 3.3 3.0 3.3 7.6 8.4 7.5 7.0 3.8 2.3 4.8 2.7 2.7 2.8 3.6 2.8 4.1 3.0 2.7 2.9 2.4 4.4 4.7 2.7 2.6 2.8 6.0 4.5 6.3 2.9 4.4 3.4 5.1 3.1 3.0 3.3 4.5 3.1 5.3 3.8 3.1 2.9 2.6 3.8 4.9 3.4 3.8 3.3 7.2 6.6 7.3 4.4 408 39 369 2.0 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.4 2.0 2.0 1.4 2.0 818 2,191 1,168 1,303 4.1 4.6 4.5 4.5 3.0 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.2 4.5 3.7 4.3 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,951 4,717 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 5,544 4,327 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 26 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 407 390 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 48 38 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 359 352 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,023 753 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,190 1,811 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,391 1,100 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,347 1,053 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 8. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 3,567 2.8 2.1 2.6 3,336 9 16 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 256 178 201 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 262 218 285 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 156 129 173 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 106 89 112 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 861 606 807 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 98 85 118 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 644 431 570 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 120 90 120 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 67 61 73 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 154 150 146 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 106 97 102 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 48 53 44 Professional and business services…………………………………. 561 471 533 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 367 299 405 Educational services………………………………………………………. 47 39 62 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 320 259 343 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 746 611 754 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 84 52 82 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 662 560 672 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 184 110 117 3.1 1.8 3.4 1.8 1.7 2.0 3.3 1.7 4.2 2.4 2.2 1.9 1.8 2.2 3.3 2.2 1.9 2.2 5.5 3.9 5.9 3.4 2.4 1.3 2.3 1.5 1.4 1.7 2.3 1.4 2.8 1.8 2.0 1.8 1.6 2.4 2.7 1.7 1.6 1.7 4.4 2.3 4.9 2.0 2.9 2.3 2.6 2.0 1.9 2.1 3.1 2.0 3.7 2.4 2.4 1.7 1.7 2.0 3.0 2.3 2.5 2.3 5.5 3.8 5.8 2.2 231 22 210 1.0 .9 1.1 .9 .6 .9 1.1 .8 1.2 534 1,487 757 788 2.3 3.1 2.6 2.8 1.6 2.5 1.9 2.2 2.1 3.1 2.4 2.6 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,685 2,900 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,470 2,713 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 11 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 215 187 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 24 17 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 191 170 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 589 418 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,461 1,223 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 798 594 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 837 666 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 1,582 1.4 1.0 1.2 1,463 3 3 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 261 170 184 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 164 125 131 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 118 79 78 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 46 46 53 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 308 239 294 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 43 53 57 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 210 144 188 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....55 41 49 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 21 16 19 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 54 68 80 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 44 29 45 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 10 39 35 Professional and business services…………………………………. 365 274 290 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 153 130 146 Educational services………………………………………………………. 22 22 31 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 130 108 116 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 248 200 207 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 95 47 58 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 153 152 149 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 182 38 109 1.6 1.4 3.4 1.1 1.3 .9 1.2 .7 1.4 1.1 .7 .7 .7 .4 2.1 .9 .9 .9 1.8 4.3 1.4 3.4 1.1 .4 2.2 .9 .9 .9 .9 .9 .9 .8 .5 .8 .5 1.8 1.6 .7 .9 .7 1.5 2.1 1.3 .7 1.3 .5 2.4 .9 .9 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.0 .6 1.0 .7 1.6 1.6 .8 1.2 .8 1.5 2.6 1.3 2.0 119 12 107 .7 .5 .7 .6 .4 .7 .6 .4 .6 232 578 338 435 1.5 1.2 1.6 1.4 1.0 .9 1.2 1.0 .9 1.2 1.1 1.4 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,907 1,398 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,765 1,264 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 9 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 142 134 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 15 10 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 127 124 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 374 260 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 591 439 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 512 386 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 430 313 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month. 2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 10. Other separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Aug. July Aug. Aug. July Aug. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 331 0.3 0.3 0.2 273 4 14 35 23 12 73 7 49 17 4 19 13 6 47 34 3 31 30 5 25 15 .3 1.0 .4 .4 .5 .2 .2 .2 .3 .3 .4 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .3 .2 .3 .6 .3 .3 .4 .2 .3 .4 .3 .3 .2 .3 .4 .2 .5 .3 .1 .3 .1 .1 .2 .2 .2 .5 .2 .2 .3 .2 .3 .1 .3 .3 .1 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 58 5 52 .2 .3 .2 .3 .4 .3 .3 .2 .3 53 126 72 80 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .4 .2 .2 .3 .2 .3 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 359 420 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 310 350 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 6 4 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 27 23 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 51 43 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 42 32 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 9 11 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 61 83 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 10 25 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 39 43 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....12 15 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 11 6 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 15 28 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 10 23 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 4 5 Professional and business services…………………………………. 53 82 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 37 47 Educational services………………………………………………………. 4 3 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 33 44 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 37 20 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 4 1 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 33 19 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 13 12 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 49 70 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 9 11 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 41 59 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 60 75 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 138 149 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 81 121 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 81 75 1 2 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary.