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1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 07-1547 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Wednesday, October 10, 2007 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: AUGUST 2007 On the last business day of August, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job openings rate was unchanged in August, while the hires rate and the total separations rate were essentially unchanged. 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 2004 - August 2007 Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, Percent September 2004 - August 2007 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.5 Hires 3.3 3.5 3.1 2.9 3.3 Separations 2.7 3.1 2.5 2.3 2.9 2.1 1.9 2.7 1.7 1.5 2005 2006 2007 2.5 2005 2006 2007 Job Openings In August, the job openings rate remained at 2.9 percent. The rate has been 2.9 percent for 6 of the past 7 months. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month. The job openings rate did not change significantly in August in any industry. Regionally, the job openings rate declined in the Northeast and West. The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in August in accommodations and food services (4.1 percent). (See table 1.) Over the year, the job openings rate rose in finance and insurance. The rate fell over the year in natural resources and mining; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and information. Regionally, the job openings rate fell over the year in the Northeast and Midwest. (See table 5.) Hires The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in August. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In August, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. As in nearly every 2 Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted Industry Job openings Hires July Aug. Aug. July Aug. Aug. 2007 2007 p 2006 2007 2007 p 2006 Levels (in thousands) Total1 ....................................................................... 4,188 Total private 1 .................................................... 3,714 Construction ................................................. 185 Manufacturing .............................................. 330 Trade, transportation, and utilities2 ......... 741 Retail trade ............................................... 431 Professional and business services .......... 682 Education and health services ................... 683 Leisure and hospitality 3 ............................ 525 Accommodations and food services .. 471 Government 4 ................................................... 469 State and local government ........................ 422 4,186 4,146 3,711 3,671 167 152 340 323 684 706 399 401 693 665 717 701 547 559 497 493 475 470 430 421 4,912 4,434 369 359 1,070 724 830 478 834 713 407 336 4,802 4,443 408 359 924 613 879 502 874 748 385 293 Total separations Aug. July Aug. p 2006 2007 2007 4,741 4,318 377 351 909 652 766 507 875 742 398 314 4,463 4,158 346 368 1,002 699 728 437 804 688 307 242 4,507 4,173 384 379 987 687 733 414 837 735 323 254 4,476 4,147 383 381 936 668 727 431 826 721 326 256 3.4 3.7 4.9 2.5 3.4 4.2 4.3 2.7 6.4 6.4 1.8 1.6 3.3 3.6 4.5 2.6 3.8 4.6 4.1 2.4 6.1 6.1 1.4 1.3 3.3 3.6 5.0 2.7 3.7 4.5 4.1 2.2 6.2 6.3 1.5 1.3 3.2 3.6 5.0 2.7 3.5 4.3 4.1 2.3 6.1 6.2 1.5 1.3 Rates (percent) Total 1 ....................................................................... Total private 1 ................................................... Construction ................................................. Manufacturing .............................................. Trade, transportation, and utilities 2 .......... Retail trade ............................................... Professional and business services .......... Education and health services ................... Leisure and hospitality 3 ........................... Accommodations and food services .. Government 4 .................................................... State and local government ........................ 1 2 3 4 3.0 3.1 2.3 2.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 3.7 3.8 4.0 2.1 2.1 2.9 3.1 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.5 3.7 3.7 3.9 4.1 2.1 2.2 2.9 3.1 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.5 3.6 3.7 4.0 4.1 2.1 2.1 3.6 3.9 4.8 2.5 4.1 4.7 4.7 2.7 6.3 6.3 1.8 1.7 3.5 3.8 5.3 2.6 3.5 4.0 4.9 2.7 6.4 6.5 1.7 1.5 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. Includes federal government, not shown separately. p = preliminary. month, the seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in August in accommodations and food services (6.4 percent). (See table 2.) From August 2006 to August 2007, the hires rate increased in nondurable manufacturing; finance and insurance; and federal government. The hires rate decreased in durable manufacturing; retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and state and local government. Regionally, the hires rate fell over the year in the South. (See table 6.) Separations The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at 3.2 percent in August. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, the separations rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. From August 2006 to August 2007, the total 3 separations rate increased in finance and insurance and in state and local government. Over the year, the total separations rate decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities and in other services. Geographically, the total separations rate did not change significantly in any region. (See tables 3 and 7.) 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 in August and has been 1.9 percent for 5 months in a row. None of the industries or regions experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. As in every month since the series began in December 2000, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in August in the accommodations and food services industry (4.6 percent). (See table 4.) Over the year, the quits rate rose in finance and insurance. The quits rate fell over the year in many industries, including retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; educational services; other services; and federal government. Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the Northeast region. (See table 8.) The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. For August, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.3 percent) and level (1.8 million) were unchanged from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in August 2007 was highest in construction (3.3 percent). Over the year, the other separations rate (0.2 percent) and level (319,000) were essentially unchanged. (See tables 9 and 10.) The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution of its three components (quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of total separations attributable to quits has risen and fallen over time along with total nonfarm employment levels. The proportion of total separations due to quits fell from 61 percent in February 2001 to 51 percent in August 2003 (seasonally adjusted), and has since risen. In August 2007, quits accounted for 58 percent of total separations. Flows in the Labor Market Several industries consistently have high rates of both hires and separations. These include construction; retail trade; professional and business services; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and accommodations and food services. In the 12 months ending in August 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.1 million hires and 32.3 million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59 percent of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 39 percent of total nonfarm employment. Although the month-to-month changes in job openings and turnover data are often small, some industries are experiencing significant over-the-year change. From August 2006 to August 2007, finance and insurance had increases in the job openings, hires, and quits rates. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities had decreases in the job openings, hires, and quits rates; information had decreases in the job openings and quits rates. 4 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 2007 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, November 6. 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. Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007, seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough data observations available for the standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is customary, the number of observations is now above the minimum required by X-12-ARIMA to use the normal seasonal filters. Therefore, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA (regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the series and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series. Due to the improved diagnostics, three additional industries are now seasonally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food services, and state and local government. It is expected that more series 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 levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Apr. May June 2007 2007 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p 4,188 4,176 4,170 4,095 4,280 4,186 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,146 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 3,671 152 323 706 401 665 701 559 493 470 421 3.1 2.3 2.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 3.7 3.8 4.0 2.1 2.1 3.1 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.4 4.1 3.6 4.1 4.2 2.1 2.2 3.1 2.0 2.4 2.5 2.5 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.8 2.1 2.2 3.0 2.0 2.4 2.3 2.1 3.5 3.7 4.0 4.1 2.1 2.1 3.2 1.8 2.4 2.5 2.6 4.1 3.7 4.0 4.1 2.0 2.1 3.1 2.1 2.4 2.5 2.5 3.7 3.7 3.9 4.1 2.1 2.2 3.1 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.5 3.6 3.7 4.0 4.1 2.1 2.1 681 1,678 766 1,024 2.8 3.2 2.6 3.2 2.7 3.3 2.4 3.2 2.6 3.3 2.4 3.3 2.5 3.2 2.4 3.1 2.8 3.2 2.5 3.5 2.8 3.2 2.3 3.5 2.6 3.3 2.3 3.2 Industry and region Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,714 3,702 3,683 3,627 3,810 3,711 Construction……………………………………………………………… 185 152 154 157 139 167 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 330 316 350 345 344 340 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 741 677 669 609 676 684 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 431 375 389 337 409 399 Professional and business services……………………. 682 758 735 654 763 693 Education and health services…………………………………………. 683 685 706 703 711 717 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 525 574 512 571 568 547 Accommodations and food services……………………. 471 506 453 500 497 497 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 469 470 488 468 465 475 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 422 430 439 424 424 430 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 746 703 675 674 732 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,599 1,658 1,670 1,648 1,635 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 851 797 779 799 805 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,009 1,027 1,038 970 1,106 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 741 1,612 754 1,120 8 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. p = preliminary. Table 2. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Apr. May June 2007 2007 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,912 4,815 4,832 4,982 4,741 4,802 4,741 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.4 4,318 377 351 909 652 766 507 875 742 398 314 3.9 4.8 2.5 4.1 4.7 4.7 2.7 6.3 6.3 1.8 1.7 3.8 4.6 2.3 3.8 4.5 4.9 2.7 6.4 6.3 1.8 1.6 3.8 4.3 2.5 3.9 4.6 4.6 2.8 6.7 7.0 1.9 1.7 3.9 4.6 2.5 3.9 4.6 5.2 2.8 6.5 6.5 1.8 1.7 3.7 4.7 2.5 3.4 3.9 4.8 2.7 6.3 6.4 1.8 1.6 3.8 5.3 2.6 3.5 4.0 4.9 2.7 6.4 6.5 1.7 1.5 3.7 4.9 2.5 3.4 4.2 4.3 2.7 6.4 6.4 1.8 1.6 756 1,816 1,055 1,125 2.9 3.9 3.3 3.9 2.9 3.7 3.5 3.8 2.9 3.8 3.4 3.6 2.7 4.0 3.5 3.7 2.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 2.9 3.8 3.3 3.7 2.9 3.7 3.3 3.6 Industry and region Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 INDUSTRY Total private 4……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,434 4,416 4,423 4,503 4,335 4,443 Construction……………………………………………………………… 369 356 330 351 358 408 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 359 318 350 356 355 359 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 1,070 1,006 1,028 1,044 910 924 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 724 691 706 715 605 613 Professional and business services……………………. 830 881 828 935 865 879 Education and health services…………………………………………. 478 497 507 507 493 502 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 834 867 903 873 854 874 Accommodations and food services……………………. 713 726 811 755 736 748 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 407 404 421 409 395 385 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 336 313 333 330 312 293 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 729 740 759 705 684 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,927 1,835 1,894 1,960 1,842 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,053 1,105 1,069 1,101 1,082 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,176 1,157 1,122 1,143 1,117 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 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. 2 750 1,898 1,039 1,135 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 8 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 3. Total separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Apr. May June 2007 2007 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,463 4,741 4,524 4,544 4,543 4,507 4,476 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 4,147 383 381 936 668 727 431 826 721 326 256 3.6 4.5 2.6 3.8 4.6 4.1 2.4 6.1 6.1 1.4 1.3 3.8 4.5 2.8 3.7 4.4 4.9 2.4 6.3 6.1 1.4 1.2 3.7 4.7 2.7 3.7 4.4 4.5 2.3 6.4 6.3 1.4 1.2 3.7 4.5 2.8 3.6 4.5 4.3 2.4 6.2 6.2 1.4 1.2 3.7 4.7 2.7 3.7 4.5 4.1 2.6 6.3 6.3 1.4 1.2 3.6 5.0 2.7 3.7 4.5 4.1 2.2 6.2 6.3 1.5 1.3 3.6 5.0 2.7 3.5 4.3 4.1 2.3 6.1 6.2 1.5 1.3 660 1,745 1,021 1,073 2.7 3.7 3.1 3.4 2.6 3.7 3.2 3.8 2.5 3.9 3.1 3.4 2.5 3.6 3.2 3.4 2.5 3.4 3.2 3.9 2.4 3.5 3.2 3.7 2.6 3.5 3.2 3.5 Industry and region Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,158 4,417 4,227 4,233 4,234 4,173 Construction……………………………………………………………… 346 344 360 346 363 384 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 368 400 380 396 382 379 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 1,002 974 975 950 974 987 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 699 682 678 685 688 687 Professional and business services……………………. 728 876 805 775 728 733 Education and health services…………………………………………. 437 429 414 437 473 414 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 804 846 861 833 850 837 Accommodations and food services……………………. 688 702 720 715 730 735 7 Government …………………………………………………………………………….. 307 315 311 315 310 323 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 242 238 241 239 239 254 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 697 667 640 642 634 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,828 1,829 1,904 1,798 1,699 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 962 1,006 981 1,024 1,033 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,044 1,165 1,040 1,062 1,191 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, 622 1,744 1,014 1,149 and other services, not shown separately. 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 8 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 4. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels 3 (in thousands) Apr. May June 2007 2007 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 Apr. 2007 Rates May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 Aug. 2007p 2,692 2,763 2,637 2,686 2,627 2,640 Total 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,594 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 2,443 147 203 556 405 396 275 590 533 150 127 2.2 2.0 1.4 2.3 2.8 2.4 1.6 4.2 4.5 .7 .7 2.2 1.7 1.5 2.3 2.8 2.6 1.5 4.4 4.7 .7 .7 2.2 1.6 1.4 2.3 2.9 2.3 1.5 4.4 4.7 .7 .7 2.2 1.6 1.5 2.3 2.9 2.4 1.6 4.1 4.3 .7 .7 2.1 1.7 1.4 2.3 2.9 2.3 1.5 4.4 4.7 .7 .6 2.2 2.3 1.3 2.2 2.8 2.3 1.5 4.4 4.8 .7 .6 2.1 1.9 1.4 2.1 2.6 2.2 1.5 4.3 4.6 .7 .7 327 1,094 548 629 1.6 2.3 1.8 1.9 1.4 2.3 1.9 2.2 1.4 2.4 1.7 1.9 1.3 2.4 1.7 2.1 1.5 2.1 1.7 2.1 1.2 2.2 1.7 2.2 1.3 2.2 1.7 2.0 Industry and region Aug. 2006 Mar. 2007 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,532 2,591 2,486 2,530 2,475 2,493 Construction……………………………………………………………… 153 131 126 124 129 176 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 201 216 199 216 195 186 Trade, transportation, and utilities 5………………………… 610 608 600 606 618 572 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 435 428 440 445 448 427 Professional and business services……………………. 424 461 418 424 411 418 Education and health services…………………………………………. 295 267 274 284 271 276 Leisure and hospitality 6………………...…………………………… 553 590 592 551 595 597 Accommodations and food services……………………. 508 539 542 503 540 552 Government 7…………………………………………………………………………….. 158 155 153 157 152 148 State and local government…………….………………………………………….………………. 130 130 129 130 123 125 REGION 8 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 409 352 350 331 380 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,140 1,150 1,163 1,162 1,049 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 558 588 544 551 555 West………………………………………………………………………….. 575 665 590 643 648 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 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. 2 314 1,097 553 669 5 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately. 6 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately. 7 Includes federal government, not shown separately. 8 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 5. Job openings levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2006 July 2007 Rates Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,512 4,364 4,423 3.2 3.1 3.1 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,998 3,848 3,911 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 15 12 11 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 207 195 168 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 344 359 331 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 224 222 210 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 120 137 121 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 802 694 779 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 150 163 171 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 478 400 455 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 174 131 153 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 160 123 108 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 258 273 292 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 201 212 231 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 56 61 62 Professional and business services…………………………………. 734 708 704 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 723 728 739 Educational services………………………………………………………. 64 71 65 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 658 657 675 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 572 592 607 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 58 59 76 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 514 533 531 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 184 164 171 3.3 2.1 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.2 3.0 2.5 3.0 3.4 4.9 3.0 3.1 2.5 4.0 4.0 2.4 4.2 4.0 2.6 4.2 3.2 3.2 1.6 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 3.8 3.1 3.3 2.6 3.8 3.9 2.6 4.1 4.0 2.5 4.3 2.9 3.2 1.5 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 3.4 3.3 3.5 2.7 3.7 3.9 2.4 4.2 4.1 3.3 4.2 3.0 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 514 516 512 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 55 45 61 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 458 471 452 2.4 2.0 2.5 2.4 1.6 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.4 3.2 3.3 2.9 3.4 2.9 3.2 2.5 3.6 2.8 3.4 2.6 3.4 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 833 759 751 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,656 1,643 1,738 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 941 810 846 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,081 1,152 1,089 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. 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 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 6. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2006 July 2007 Rates Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,630 5,065 5,441 4.1 3.7 3.9 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,976 4,655 4,787 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 26 25 27 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 397 437 412 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 415 393 405 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 267 209 229 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 149 184 176 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,214 902 1,013 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 175 183 154 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 793 577 719 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 246 141 141 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 94 70 83 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 198 222 233 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 125 142 153 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 74 80 79 Professional and business services…………………………………. 945 912 841 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 598 533 631 Educational services………………………………………………………. 99 101 110 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 499 432 520 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 920 914 956 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 102 140 109 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 818 774 847 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 167 247 186 4.3 3.8 4.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 4.6 3.0 5.2 4.9 3.1 2.4 2.0 3.3 5.3 3.4 3.9 3.3 6.7 4.6 7.0 3.1 4.0 3.3 5.5 2.8 2.3 3.5 3.4 3.0 3.8 2.8 2.3 2.6 2.3 3.6 5.1 3.0 3.8 2.8 6.4 6.1 6.5 4.4 4.1 3.6 5.2 2.9 2.6 3.4 3.8 2.5 4.7 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.4 3.5 4.6 3.5 4.1 3.4 6.7 4.9 7.1 3.4 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 654 410 654 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 85 104 113 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 569 306 541 3.1 3.1 3.1 2.0 3.8 1.7 3.1 4.2 3.0 3.1 4.7 3.8 4.5 3.3 4.0 3.2 3.9 3.2 4.3 3.7 4.2 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 787 843 826 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,280 1,982 2,135 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,198 1,028 1,183 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,365 1,211 1,297 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 7. Total separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2006 July 2007 Rates Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5,699 4,709 5,666 4.2 3.4 4.1 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 5,236 4,279 5,166 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 25 25 32 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 416 355 477 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 453 390 466 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 269 221 275 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 184 169 192 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 1,214 976 1,116 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 184 157 186 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 847 669 800 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 182 151 130 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 104 72 88 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 242 206 289 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 159 146 208 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 82 60 81 Professional and business services…………………………………. 879 782 841 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 587 455 580 Educational services………………………………………………………. 93 63 106 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 494 392 473 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 1,041 848 1,060 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 173 76 158 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 868 772 902 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 276 169 218 4.5 3.5 5.2 3.2 3.0 3.5 4.6 3.1 5.5 3.7 3.4 2.9 2.6 3.7 4.9 3.3 3.6 3.3 7.5 7.9 7.5 5.1 3.7 3.4 4.5 2.8 2.5 3.3 3.7 2.6 4.4 3.0 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.7 4.3 2.5 2.4 2.5 6.0 3.4 6.5 3.0 4.4 4.3 6.0 3.3 3.1 3.7 4.2 3.1 5.2 2.6 2.8 3.4 3.3 3.6 4.6 3.2 4.0 3.1 7.5 7.1 7.5 3.9 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 463 430 500 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 97 85 96 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 367 346 404 2.2 3.5 2.0 2.1 3.1 1.9 2.4 3.5 2.2 3.6 4.7 3.9 4.2 2.4 3.7 3.3 3.9 3.5 4.5 4.0 4.2 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 917 614 900 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,300 1,846 2,200 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,215 1,050 1,282 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,267 1,199 1,285 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 8. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2006 July 2007 Rates Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,713 2,874 3,547 2.7 2.1 2.6 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,459 2,688 3,305 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 17 15 20 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 209 209 207 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 281 210 283 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 164 114 169 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 117 96 114 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 840 580 751 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 127 67 125 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 602 430 549 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 111 82 76 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 73 39 47 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 146 111 196 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 102 85 146 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 44 26 50 Professional and business services…………………………………. 559 450 501 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 408 302 378 Educational services………………………………………………………. 61 42 42 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 347 261 336 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 767 664 817 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 88 51 103 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 680 613 713 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 157 108 105 3.0 2.4 2.6 2.0 1.8 2.2 3.2 2.1 3.9 2.2 2.4 1.7 1.6 2.0 3.1 2.3 2.4 2.3 5.6 4.0 5.9 2.9 2.3 2.1 2.6 1.5 1.3 1.9 2.2 1.1 2.8 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.1 2.5 1.7 1.6 1.7 4.7 2.2 5.1 1.9 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.8 2.1 3.6 1.5 1.5 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.8 2.1 1.6 2.2 5.7 4.6 6.0 1.9 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 254 186 242 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 46 29 37 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 208 157 205 1.2 1.7 1.1 .9 1.1 .9 1.2 1.4 1.1 2.4 3.1 2.6 2.5 1.3 2.4 1.8 2.4 1.9 3.0 2.4 2.7 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 611 344 490 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,533 1,203 1,459 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 804 581 776 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 765 746 822 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2006 July 2007 Rates Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,626 1,471 1,800 1.2 1.1 1.3 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,490 1,310 1,627 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 6 6 9 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 189 131 258 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 141 160 164 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 83 95 95 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 58 65 69 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 297 327 305 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 51 75 52 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 194 198 207 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 53 54 45 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 20 28 28 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 76 66 75 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 43 38 49 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 33 28 26 Professional and business services…………………………………. 275 287 288 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 144 111 175 Educational services………………………………………………………. 29 16 59 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 114 95 115 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 238 151 215 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 80 20 43 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 158 131 172 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 105 42 110 1.3 .8 2.4 1.0 .9 1.1 1.1 .9 1.3 1.1 .6 .9 .7 1.5 1.5 .8 1.1 .8 1.7 3.6 1.4 1.9 1.1 .8 1.6 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.1 .9 .8 .6 1.3 1.6 .6 .6 .6 1.1 .9 1.1 .8 1.4 1.2 3.3 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.2 .9 1.3 .9 .9 .9 .8 1.2 1.6 1.0 2.2 .7 1.5 1.9 1.4 2.0 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 135 161 173 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 31 23 24 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 105 138 149 .6 1.1 .6 .8 .9 .8 .8 .9 .8 1.0 1.3 1.1 1.3 .8 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.2 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 256 209 357 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 630 515 633 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 333 382 429 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 406 365 380 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month. 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 8, table 1. p = preliminary. 2 Table 10. Other separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Aug. 2006 July 2007 Rates Aug. 2007p Aug. 2006 July 2007 Aug. 2007p Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 361 365 319 0.3 0.3 0.2 Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 287 281 234 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 2 3 3 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 17 15 11 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 31 21 18 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 22 13 11 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 9 8 8 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 76 69 60 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 7 14 8 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 51 40 44 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 18 15 8 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 11 6 14 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 20 29 17 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 15 23 12 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 5 6 5 Professional and business services…………………………………. 45 45 52 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 35 42 27 Educational services………………………………………………………. 3 5 5 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 32 37 22 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 36 33 29 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 6 5 12 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 30 28 17 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 14 19 3 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .1 .3 .4 .4 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .1 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .4 .2 .1 .1 .2 .3 .2 .3 .3 .2 .3 .4 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .4 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .1 .3 .2 .4 .2 .2 .2 .3 .1 .2 .1 .2 .5 .1 (4 ) Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 74 83 85 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 19 32 35 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 54 51 50 .4 .7 .3 .4 1.2 .3 .4 1.3 .3 .2 .3 .2 .3 .2 .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .3 INDUSTRY REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 49 61 52 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 137 128 108 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 78 87 76 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 97 88 82 1 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 8, table 1. 4 Data round to zero. p = preliminary. 2