Full text of February 2005 : Text File, USDL-05-622
The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 05-622
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: 691-5902 Tuesday, April 12, 2005
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: FEBRUARY 2005
The job openings rate was unchanged in February at 2.5 percent, while
the hires and total separations rates were little changed at 3.5 and 3.1
percent, respectively, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Depart-
ment of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the num-
ber and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm
sector by industry and geographic region.
Job Openings
On the last business day of February 2005, there were 3.5 million job
openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.5 percent.
(See table 1.) The job openings rate has generally trended upward since
September 2003. In February, the job openings rate increased for govern-
ment; trade, transportation, and utilities; and education and health ser-
vices. The job openings rate fell in the professional and business ser-
vices sector. The job openings rate rose slightly in the West region
but showed little or no change in the other regions of the country.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employ-
ment) was 3.5 percent in February, essentially unchanged from a month ear-
lier. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the
month. Professional and business services and leisure and hospitality were
the only two industries showing significant change in the hires rate from
January to February; both industries registered declines.
The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separa-
tions during the month divided by employment) was 3.1 percent in February.
The overall total separations rate is near its most recent low reached in
November 2003. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at
any time during the month. (See table 3.) The total separations rate fell
in the professional and business services industry and in the South region
in February.
Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and dis-
charges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retire-
ments). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers' ability
to change jobs, declined to 1.7 percent in February. (See table 4.) The
quits rate fell in February for private industries overall, for the leisure
and hospitality industry, and for the Northeast and South regions. The other
two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges and other separa-
tions, are not seasonally adjusted. The layoffs and discharges rate (1.0 per-
cent) was little changed from February 2004 to February 2005; the other sepa-
rations rate (0.2 percent) was unchanged. (See tables 9 and 10.)
- 2 -
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | Feb. | Jan. | Feb. | Feb. | Jan. | Feb. | Feb. | Jan. | Feb.
| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|2,961 |3,385 |3,458 |4,159 |4,709 |4,595 |4,196 |4,352 |4,157
Total private 1/.|2,606 |3,020 |3,053 |3,832 |4,374 |4,271 |3,926 |4,091 |3,894
Construction...| 114 | 127 | 140 | 352 | 339 | 406 | 378 | 417 | 408
Manufacturing..| 206 | 252 | 246 | 361 | 307 | 327 | 345 | 361 | 338
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 474 | 564 | 627 | 978 |1,056 |1,054 |1,003 | 882 | 914
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 493 | 682 | 604 | 549 | 882 | 773 | 645 | 836 | 734
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 542 | 560 | 603 | 453 | 445 | 477 | 389 | 356 | 372
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 399 | 434 | 408 | 779 | 826 | 740 | 725 | 832 | 778
Government.......| 344 | 346 | 387 | 338 | 341 | 330 | 273 | 258 | 263
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........| 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.1
Total private 1/.| 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.5
Construction...| 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 5.7
Manufacturing..| 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 1.8 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 3.6
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 3.0 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.4
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health serv- | | | | | | | | |
ices..........| 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.2
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.6 | 6.2
Government.......| 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
Hires and separations data show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over
the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.6 million per month and separations
have averaged 4.3 million per month. The comparable figures a year earlier
were 4.1 million hires and 4.0 million separations. (See the Technical Note
for additional information on these measures.)
For More Information
For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS
Web site at www.bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may
be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870.
______________________________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for March 2005 is scheduled
to be issued on Tuesday, May 10, 2005.
- 3 -
Technical Note
The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Collection
Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations. Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
Coverage
The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Concepts
Industry classification. The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establish-
ment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always
introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the
first month of the year.
Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month. Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed. Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
Job openings. Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month. A job opening requires that:
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications,
or using other similar methods.
Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
- 4 -
Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations. The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
Separations. Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and
other separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations). Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and
terminations of seasonal employees. Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations
due to disability. Separations do not include transfers within the
same location or employees on strike.
The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
Sample methodology
The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business
establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District
of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight
million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly
Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program includes
all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal
agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector,
and size class. Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty.
JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates
of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements.
Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
- 5 -
Using JOLTS data
The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month. A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not
completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment. The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers
were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of
workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
Seasonal adjustment
BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general
economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including
the data for the current month.
Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is
conducted with fewer data observations than is customary. The historical
data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions. Since the
seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the
standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects
requires longer series than are currently available. As a result, the stable
seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data.
When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each cal-
endar month after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient
data are available. When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed,
other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment
and extended diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more
series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be
seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
- 6 -
Reliability of the estimates
JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error. Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data
used in estimation.
JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment. Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices. The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month
period.
Other information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 2,961 3,265 3,300 3,277 3,507 3,385 3,458 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.5
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 2,606 2,905 2,924 2,910 3,106 3,020 3,053 2.3 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.7
Construction......................... 114 105 114 118 132 127 140 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.9
Manufacturing........................ 206 245 250 248 266 252 246 1.4 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 474 609 559 554 561 564 627 1.8 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.4
Professional and business services... 493 583 602 620 699 682 604 3.0 3.4 3.5 3.6 4.0 3.9 3.5
Education and health services........ 542 529 547 543 557 560 603 3.1 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.4
Leisure and hospitality.............. 399 419 413 411 450 434 408 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.3 3.1
Government............................ 344 360 400 369 396 346 387 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.7
REGION
Northeast............................ 528 564 562 560 620 602 565 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.2
South................................ 1,172 1,239 1,318 1,250 1,329 1,342 1,375 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.8
Midwest.............................. 680 699 688 726 740 716 724 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3
West................................. 583 797 742 759 792 718 798 2.0 2.7 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.7
1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus
job openings.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming.
Table 2. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 4,159 4,406 4,552 4,990 4,639 4,709 4,595 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.5
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 3,832 3,957 4,216 4,652 4,337 4,374 4,271 3.5 3.6 3.8 4.2 3.9 3.9 3.8
Construction......................... 352 363 353 373 368 339 406 5.1 5.2 5.0 5.3 5.2 4.8 5.7
Manufacturing........................ 361 361 353 386 324 307 327 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.3 2.1 2.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 978 908 977 1,077 986 1,056 1,054 3.9 3.6 3.8 4.2 3.8 4.1 4.1
Professional and business services... 549 761 812 935 878 882 773 3.4 4.6 4.9 5.6 5.3 5.3 4.6
Education and health services........ 453 416 420 447 452 445 477 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.8
Leisure and hospitality.............. 779 772 801 858 834 826 740 6.3 6.2 6.4 6.8 6.6 6.6 5.9
Government............................ 338 375 318 335 307 341 330 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.5
REGION
Northeast............................ 704 794 811 851 858 762 774 2.8 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.4 3.0 3.1
South................................ 1,666 1,754 1,809 1,903 1,770 1,880 1,827 3.6 3.8 3.9 4.1 3.8 4.0 3.9
Midwest.............................. 974 889 1,013 1,149 1,043 1,092 1,038 3.2 2.8 3.2 3.7 3.3 3.5 3.3
West................................. 910 963 916 1,014 970 959 1,032 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.5
1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 3. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 4,196 4,214 4,215 4,266 4,435 4,352 4,157 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.1
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 3,926 3,918 3,957 3,996 4,146 4,091 3,894 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.5
Construction......................... 378 377 425 351 355 417 408 5.5 5.4 6.0 5.0 5.0 5.9 5.7
Manufacturing........................ 345 368 354 327 353 361 338 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 1,003 909 889 943 1,062 882 914 4.0 3.6 3.5 3.7 4.1 3.4 3.6
Professional and business services... 645 686 585 822 833 836 734 4.0 4.2 3.5 4.9 5.0 5.0 4.4
Education and health services........ 389 380 376 408 375 356 372 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.2
Leisure and hospitality.............. 725 732 767 727 758 832 778 5.9 5.8 6.1 5.8 6.0 6.6 6.2
Government............................ 273 305 263 275 274 258 263 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2
REGION
Northeast............................ 749 725 711 756 773 773 681 3.0 2.9 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.7
South................................ 1,554 1,604 1,614 1,594 1,707 1,747 1,578 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.3
Midwest.............................. 901 922 952 1,041 986 981 947 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.0
West................................. 977 982 896 826 953 964 954 3.4 3.4 3.1 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.3
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 4. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 2,130 2,291 2,344 2,436 2,495 2,530 2,225 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 1,990 2,166 2,217 2,319 2,366 2,412 2,112 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 1.9
Construction......................... 111 159 182 159 162 171 146 1.6 2.3 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.1
Manufacturing........................ 169 181 187 185 194 185 180 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 497 529 517 568 570 563 518 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0
Professional and business services... 304 358 281 401 415 417 375 1.9 2.2 1.7 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.2
Education and health services........ 227 235 239 250 232 230 238 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4
Leisure and hospitality.............. 433 451 474 499 506 516 462 3.5 3.6 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.7
Government............................ 132 127 123 118 129 124 116 .6 .6 .6 .5 .6 .6 .5
REGION
Northeast............................ 310 317 333 359 392 424 312 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.2
South................................ 854 950 943 1,014 1,021 1,053 898 1.9 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.9
Midwest.............................. 462 492 500 551 544 539 488 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6
West................................. 497 541 550 492 536 530 529 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.8
1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 5. Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 2,829 3,157 3,317 2.1 2.4 2.5
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,521 2,833 2,961 2.3 2.5 2.6
Natural resources and mining.................. 6 9 9 1.0 1.5 1.5
Construction.................................. 105 104 131 1.6 1.5 1.9
Manufacturing................................. 204 236 244 1.4 1.6 1.7
Durable goods................................ 134 163 166 1.5 1.8 1.8
Nondurable goods............................. 70 73 78 1.3 1.4 1.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 423 495 580 1.7 1.9 2.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 78 103 130 1.4 1.8 2.3
Retail trade................................. 266 302 352 1.8 2.0 2.3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 78 90 98 1.6 1.8 2.0
Information................................... 69 93 84 2.2 2.9 2.6
Financial activities.......................... 178 203 220 2.2 2.5 2.6
Finance and insurance........................ 152 168 177 2.5 2.7 2.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 27 36 43 1.3 1.7 2.0
Professional and business services............ 495 641 594 3.0 3.8 3.5
Education and health services................. 530 534 597 3.0 3.0 3.3
Educational services......................... 43 46 51 1.5 1.7 1.7
Health care and social assistance............ 487 487 546 3.4 3.3 3.7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 385 391 384 3.1 3.2 3.1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 59 54 49 3.5 3.3 3.0
Accommodations and food services............. 326 337 335 3.1 3.1 3.1
Other services................................ 126 126 118 2.3 2.3 2.1
Government..................................... 309 324 356 1.4 1.5 1.6
Federal....................................... 42 31 44 1.5 1.1 1.6
State and local............................... 267 293 312 1.4 1.5 1.6
REGION
Northeast..................................... 491 552 520 1.9 2.2 2.0
South......................................... 1,161 1,287 1,368 2.5 2.7 2.8
Midwest....................................... 634 645 676 2.0 2.1 2.1
West.......................................... 543 674 753 1.9 2.3 2.6
1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 6. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 3,440 3,991 3,779 2.7 3.1 2.9
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,204 3,686 3,548 3.0 3.4 3.2
Natural resources and mining.................. 16 21 19 2.8 3.5 3.2
Construction.................................. 286 267 340 4.5 4.0 5.1
Manufacturing................................. 337 301 309 2.4 2.1 2.2
Durable goods................................ 228 206 209 2.6 2.3 2.3
Nondurable goods............................. 109 95 100 2.0 1.8 1.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 740 763 802 3.0 3.0 3.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 113 156 122 2.0 2.8 2.2
Retail trade................................. 499 448 566 3.4 3.0 3.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 128 159 113 2.7 3.3 2.3
Information................................... 71 56 60 2.3 1.8 1.9
Financial activities.......................... 124 192 151 1.6 2.4 1.9
Finance and insurance........................ 79 125 86 1.3 2.1 1.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 45 68 65 2.2 3.2 3.1
Professional and business services............ 491 840 678 3.1 5.1 4.1
Education and health services................. 387 425 414 2.3 2.5 2.4
Educational services......................... 59 52 47 2.1 1.9 1.6
Health care and social assistance............ 327 373 367 2.3 2.6 2.6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 617 630 585 5.2 5.2 4.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 76 110 71 4.6 6.9 4.4
Accommodations and food services............. 541 519 514 5.3 5.0 4.9
Other services................................ 135 192 190 2.5 3.6 3.5
Government..................................... 236 305 231 1.1 1.4 1.0
Federal....................................... 32 31 31 1.2 1.2 1.1
State and local............................... 204 274 200 1.1 1.4 1.0
REGION
Northeast..................................... 501 597 539 2.0 2.4 2.2
South......................................... 1,441 1,675 1,580 3.2 3.6 3.4
Midwest....................................... 744 901 783 2.4 2.9 2.5
West.......................................... 754 818 877 2.7 2.9 3.0
1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 7. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 3,464 4,399 3,420 2.7 3.4 2.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,275 4,186 3,238 3.1 3.8 3.0
Natural resources and mining.................. 14 21 14 2.5 3.6 2.4
Construction.................................. 355 454 391 5.6 6.8 5.9
Manufacturing................................. 303 366 294 2.1 2.6 2.1
Durable goods................................ 181 232 191 2.1 2.6 2.1
Nondurable goods............................. 122 134 103 2.3 2.5 1.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 871 1,011 790 3.5 4.0 3.1
Wholesale trade.............................. 126 117 133 2.3 2.1 2.4
Retail trade................................. 635 759 541 4.3 5.1 3.6
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 110 135 116 2.3 2.8 2.4
Information................................... 85 71 41 2.7 2.3 1.3
Financial activities.......................... 146 204 133 1.8 2.5 1.6
Finance and insurance........................ 106 121 87 1.8 2.0 1.5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 40 84 45 2.0 4.0 2.2
Professional and business services............ 497 818 559 3.1 5.0 3.4
Education and health services................. 332 357 314 2.0 2.1 1.8
Educational services......................... 34 41 27 1.2 1.5 .9
Health care and social assistance............ 299 316 288 2.1 2.2 2.0
Leisure and hospitality....................... 502 732 541 4.2 6.1 4.5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 59 71 65 3.6 4.4 4.0
Accommodations and food services............. 443 661 476 4.4 6.3 4.5
Other services................................ 170 153 161 3.2 2.8 3.0
Government..................................... 189 213 182 .9 1.0 .8
Federal....................................... 38 36 19 1.4 1.3 .7
State and local............................... 152 177 163 .8 .9 .8
REGION
Northeast..................................... 582 742 512 2.4 3.0 2.0
South......................................... 1,327 1,694 1,339 2.9 3.7 2.9
Midwest....................................... 732 976 762 2.4 3.2 2.5
West.......................................... 822 987 808 2.9 3.5 2.8
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 8. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 1,773 2,250 1,843 1.4 1.7 1.4
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,666 2,146 1,752 1.6 2.0 1.6
Natural resources and mining.................. 7 8 6 1.2 1.3 1.0
Construction.................................. 102 136 131 1.6 2.0 2.0
Manufacturing................................. 144 159 152 1.0 1.1 1.1
Durable goods................................ 89 93 95 1.0 1.1 1.1
Nondurable goods............................. 54 65 57 1.0 1.2 1.1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 416 530 425 1.7 2.1 1.7
Wholesale trade.............................. 51 65 72 .9 1.2 1.3
Retail trade................................. 317 404 298 2.2 2.7 2.0
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 49 61 55 1.0 1.3 1.1
Information................................... 42 42 30 1.4 1.3 1.0
Financial activities.......................... 90 105 79 1.1 1.3 1.0
Finance and insurance........................ 63 59 61 1.1 1.0 1.0
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 27 46 19 1.3 2.2 .9
Professional and business services............ 231 393 279 1.5 2.4 1.7
Education and health services................. 188 225 197 1.1 1.3 1.1
Educational services......................... 18 22 16 .6 .8 .5
Health care and social assistance............ 170 203 182 1.2 1.4 1.3
Leisure and hospitality....................... 334 449 351 2.8 3.7 2.9
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 23 30 30 1.4 1.9 1.8
Accommodations and food services............. 311 419 322 3.1 4.0 3.1
Other services................................ 111 99 102 2.1 1.8 1.9
Government..................................... 106 104 91 .5 .5 .4
Federal....................................... 24 9 7 .9 .3 .3
State and local............................... 82 95 84 .4 .5 .4
REGION
Northeast..................................... 244 347 241 1.0 1.4 1.0
South......................................... 731 934 757 1.6 2.0 1.6
Midwest....................................... 370 486 389 1.2 1.6 1.3
West.......................................... 427 483 456 1.5 1.7 1.6
1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 1,426 1,841 1,327 1.1 1.4 1.0
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,388 1,788 1,280 1.3 1.6 1.2
Natural resources and mining.................. 4 8 5 .7 1.3 .9
Construction.................................. 239 310 246 3.7 4.7 3.7
Manufacturing................................. 135 174 113 1.0 1.2 .8
Durable goods................................ 76 114 76 .9 1.3 .8
Nondurable goods............................. 59 60 37 1.1 1.1 .7
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 399 416 304 1.6 1.6 1.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 64 45 51 1.1 .8 .9
Retail trade................................. 289 316 209 2.0 2.1 1.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 47 56 45 1.0 1.1 .9
Information................................... 39 26 8 1.2 .8 .3
Financial activities.......................... 38 70 44 .5 .9 .5
Finance and insurance........................ 28 41 19 .5 .7 .3
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 10 28 25 .5 1.4 1.2
Professional and business services............ 228 390 238 1.4 2.4 1.4
Education and health services................. 107 105 97 .6 .6 .6
Educational services......................... 14 15 10 .5 .5 .3
Health care and social assistance............ 94 90 87 .7 .6 .6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 152 244 175 1.3 2.0 1.4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 34 38 34 2.0 2.4 2.1
Accommodations and food services............. 119 206 140 1.2 2.0 1.3
Other services................................ 45 46 50 .8 .9 .9
Government..................................... 38 53 47 .2 .2 .2
Federal....................................... 5 5 5 .2 .2 .2
State and local............................... 34 47 42 .2 .3 .2
REGION
Northeast..................................... 290 344 224 1.2 1.4 .9
South......................................... 492 663 487 1.1 1.4 1.0
Midwest....................................... 307 416 324 1.0 1.4 1.1
West.......................................... 338 418 293 1.2 1.5 1.0
1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 10. Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 265 308 250 0.2 0.2 0.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 221 252 205 .2 .2 .2
Natural resources and mining.................. 3 6 3 .5 1.0 .5
Construction.................................. 14 8 14 .2 .1 .2
Manufacturing................................. 24 33 30 .2 .2 .2
Durable goods................................ 16 24 20 .2 .3 .2
Nondurable goods............................. 8 9 10 .1 .2 .2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 56 65 60 .2 .3 .2
Wholesale trade.............................. 11 7 10 .2 .1 .2
Retail trade................................. 30 40 34 .2 .3 .2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 14 18 16 .3 .4 .3
Information................................... 4 4 3 .1 .1 .1
Financial activities.......................... 18 29 9 .2 .4 .1
Finance and insurance........................ 15 20 7 .2 .3 .1
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 3 9 1 .2 .4 .1
Professional and business services............ 38 35 42 .2 .2 .3
Education and health services................. 37 26 20 .2 .2 .1
Educational services......................... 2 4 1 .1 .1 (3)
Health care and social assistance............ 34 23 19 .2 .2 .1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 15 39 15 .1 .3 .1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2 3 1 .1 .2 (3)
Accommodations and food services............. 13 36 14 .1 .3 .1
Other services................................ 14 7 9 .3 .1 .2
Government..................................... 45 56 45 .2 .3 .2
Federal....................................... 8 21 7 .3 .8 .2
State and local............................... 36 35 38 .2 .2 .2
REGION
Northeast..................................... 48 51 47 .2 .2 .2
South......................................... 104 98 95 .2 .2 .2
Midwest....................................... 55 74 48 .2 .2 .2
West.......................................... 58 85 59 .2 .3 .2
1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
3 Data round to zero.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.