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1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 06-637 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Tuesday, April 11, 2006 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: FEBRUARY 2006 The job openings, hires, and total separations rates were all essentially unchanged in February, 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 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, Percent March 2003 - February 2006 Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, Percent March 2003 - February 2006 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 Hires 3.5 3.3 3.5 3.1 3.3 2.9 2.7 Separations 3.1 2.5 2.3 2.9 2.1 1.9 2.7 1.7 2.5 1.5 2004 2005 2006 2004 2005 2006 Job Openings On the last business day of February 2006, there were 4.1 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate was unchanged in February, but has generally trended upward since September 2003. In February, the job openings rate did not change significantly in any industry or region. Hires and Separations The hires rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent in February. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate increased in the leisure and hospitality industry. The hires rate did not change significantly in any region. The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.3 percent in February. (See table 3.) Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In February, the total separations rate increased in the trade, transportation, and utilities industry. The total separations rate did not change significantly in any region. 2 Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted Job openings Industry 1 Total ......................................................... Total private 1........................................ Construction ................................... Manufacturing ................................ Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................... Professional and business services ......................................... Education and health services .... Leisure and hospitality ................. Government .......................................... Feb. 2005 Jan. 2006 Hires Jan. 2006 Total separations Feb. p 2006 Feb. 2005 Feb. p 2006 Feb. 2005 Jan. 2006 Feb. 2006 p Levels (in thousands) 4,941 4,972 4,832 4,503 4,584 4,601 430 379 412 335 366 327 4,481 4,215 402 345 4,285 3,995 374 353 4,492 4,209 306 387 3,494 3,099 127 256 3,981 3,533 114 324 4,054 3,591 143 329 631 687 708 1,055 1,177 1,110 969 880 990 605 601 426 392 777 627 507 449 727 637 536 458 920 479 786 325 953 446 847 352 850 440 1,042 376 874 392 814 270 780 353 848 300 833 395 853 288 Rates (percent) Total 1......................................................... Total private 1....................................... Construction ................................... Manufacturing ................................ Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................... Professional and business services ......................................... Education and health services .... Leisure and hospitality ................. Government .......................................... 2.6 2.7 1.7 1.8 2.9 3.0 1.5 2.2 2.9 3.1 1.9 2.3 3.6 4.1 6.0 2.3 3.7 4.1 5.1 2.6 3.7 4.1 5.5 2.3 3.4 3.8 5.6 2.4 3.2 3.5 5.0 2.5 3.3 3.7 4.1 2.7 2.4 2.6 2.6 4.1 4.5 4.3 3.8 3.4 3.8 3.5 3.4 3.2 1.8 4.3 3.4 3.8 2.0 4.1 3.5 4.0 2.0 5.5 2.8 6.2 1.5 5.6 2.5 6.6 1.6 4.9 2.5 8.0 1.7 5.2 2.3 6.4 1.2 4.6 2.0 6.6 1.4 4.8 2.2 6.6 1.3 1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary 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 essentially unchanged at 2.0 percent in February. (See table 4.) The quits rate rose in the education and health services industry. The quits rate did not change significantly in any region. The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. From February 2005 to February 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 0.9 percent but the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent. (See tables 9 and 10.) Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.8 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.6 million hires and 4.4 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) 3 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 March 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, May 9, 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 Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 p 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 3,728 3,867 4,031 3,941 3,981 4,054 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 3,285 152 285 629 671 630 431 443 3,460 148 297 654 723 613 498 416 3,604 146 333 696 782 601 519 434 3,509 170 313 661 750 618 522 435 3,533 114 324 687 777 627 507 449 3,591 143 329 708 727 637 536 458 2.7 1.7 1.8 2.4 3.5 3.4 3.2 1.8 2.8 2.0 2.0 2.4 3.8 3.5 3.3 2.0 3.0 2.0 2.1 2.5 4.1 3.4 3.7 1.9 3.1 1.9 2.3 2.6 4.4 3.3 3.9 1.9 3.0 2.2 2.2 2.5 4.2 3.4 3.9 2.0 3.0 1.5 2.2 2.6 4.3 3.4 3.8 2.0 3.1 1.9 2.3 2.6 4.1 3.5 4.0 2.0 661 1,451 760 890 704 1,515 762 873 704 1,562 748 1,046 718 1,612 738 919 740 1,550 745 928 734 1,574 769 977 2.3 2.8 2.3 2.7 2.6 2.9 2.4 2.9 2.7 3.1 2.4 2.9 2.7 3.2 2.3 3.4 2.8 3.3 2.3 3.0 2.8 3.1 2.3 3.0 2.8 3.2 2.4 3.2 Total4………………………………………………… 3,494 p INDUSTRY 4 Total private ………………………………………3,099 127 Manufacturing………………………………… 256 Trade, transportation, and utilities…………… 631 Professional and business services………… 605 Education and health services……………… 601 Leisure and hospitality………………...……… 426 Government……………………………………… 392 Construction…………………………………… REGION 5 Northeast……………………………………… 602 South…………………………………………… 1,352 Midwest………………………………………… West…………………………………………… 1 718 824 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, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, 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 Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, 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 levels 1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 p 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 4,748 4,822 4,813 4,694 4,941 4,972 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.7 4,418 436 346 983 904 468 836 314 4,488 430 449 967 849 460 859 319 4,498 393 335 954 907 459 895 314 4,397 426 307 1,011 849 467 853 293 4,584 379 366 1,177 953 446 847 352 4,601 412 327 1,110 850 440 1,042 376 4.1 6.0 2.3 4.1 5.5 2.8 6.2 1.5 3.9 6.0 2.4 3.8 5.3 2.7 6.5 1.4 4.0 5.9 3.2 3.7 5.0 2.6 6.7 1.5 4.0 5.3 2.4 3.7 5.3 2.6 6.9 1.4 3.9 5.8 2.2 3.9 5.0 2.7 6.6 1.3 4.1 5.1 2.6 4.5 5.6 2.5 6.6 1.6 4.1 5.5 2.3 4.3 4.9 2.5 8.0 1.7 796 1,842 965 1,139 744 1,886 1,017 1,154 747 1,813 1,031 1,188 698 1,817 1,038 1,127 727 1,946 1,043 1,176 827 2,040 1,051 1,088 3.2 3.9 3.5 3.8 3.2 3.9 3.1 3.8 2.9 3.9 3.3 3.9 3.0 3.8 3.3 4.0 2.8 3.8 3.3 3.8 2.9 4.1 3.3 4.0 3.3 4.2 3.3 3.7 Total4………………………………………………… 4,832 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ………………………………………4,503 430 Manufacturing………………………………… 335 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………1,055 Professional and business services………… 920 Education and health services……………… 479 Leisure and hospitality………………...……… 786 Government……………………………………… 325 Construction…………………………………… REGION 5 Northeast……………………………………… 810 South…………………………………………… 1,861 Midwest………………………………………… 1,090 West…………………………………………… 1,104 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. p 1 2 Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Feb. Rates Oct. 2005 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 Jan. 2006 Feb. Feb. 2005 Sept. 2005 2006p Total 4……………………………………………… 4,481 4,798 4,359 4,476 4,359 4,285 4,503 423 437 1,000 856 433 871 302 4,103 392 340 935 757 404 798 255 4,205 371 388 1,003 753 418 834 270 4,067 348 355 1,027 735 400 843 270 797 1,779 1,065 1,127 657 1,710 961 1,012 619 1,711 1,081 1,004 685 1,759 934 997 2005 Sept. 2005 Oct. 2005 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 Jan. 2006 2006p Feb. 4,492 3.4 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 3,995 374 353 880 780 353 848 300 4,209 306 387 990 833 395 853 288 3.8 5.6 2.4 3.8 5.2 2.3 6.4 1.2 4.0 5.8 3.1 3.9 5.0 2.5 6.8 1.4 3.7 5.3 2.4 3.6 4.5 2.3 6.2 1.2 3.7 5.0 2.7 3.9 4.4 2.4 6.5 1.2 3.6 4.7 2.5 3.9 4.3 2.3 6.5 1.2 3.5 5.0 2.5 3.4 4.6 2.0 6.6 1.4 3.7 4.1 2.7 3.8 4.8 2.2 6.6 1.3 701 1,653 987 970 735 1,650 1,072 1,015 2.9 3.6 3.2 3.5 3.2 3.7 3.4 3.8 2.6 3.6 3.1 3.4 2.4 3.6 3.5 3.4 2.7 3.7 3.0 3.4 2.8 3.4 3.1 3.3 2.9 3.4 3.4 3.4 Oct. 2005 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 Jan. 2006 2006p INDUSTRY Total private4…………………………………… 4,215 402 Manufacturing………………………………… 345 Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 969 Professional and business services……… 874 Education and health services……………… 392 Leisure and hospitality………………...…… 814 Government……………………………………… 270 Construction………………………………… REGION 5 Northeast……………………………………… 717 South………………………………………… 1,699 Midwest……………………………………… 1,002 West…………………………………………… 1,041 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. Table 4. Quits levels 1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted 3 Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Feb. Rates Oct. 2005 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 Jan. 2006 Feb. Feb. 2005 Sept. 2005 2006p 2005 Sept. 2005 Total 4……………………………………………… 2,325 2,681 2,619 2,683 2,567 2,577 2,638 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 2.0 2,529 210 213 566 448 283 557 154 2,470 205 200 573 345 258 597 142 2,540 183 210 606 359 277 595 142 2,428 189 184 634 365 254 558 139 2,435 179 196 551 415 225 569 143 2,497 145 203 598 449 269 577 144 2.0 2.0 1.3 2.0 2.4 1.5 3.9 .6 2.3 2.9 1.5 2.2 2.6 1.6 4.3 .7 2.2 2.8 1.4 2.2 2.0 1.5 4.6 .6 2.3 2.5 1.5 2.3 2.1 1.6 4.6 .6 2.2 2.6 1.3 2.4 2.1 1.4 4.3 .6 2.2 2.4 1.4 2.1 2.4 1.3 4.4 .7 2.2 1.9 1.4 2.3 2.6 1.5 4.5 .7 361 1,125 574 627 341 1,109 552 601 333 1,102 572 657 390 1,069 481 618 369 1,068 571 569 385 1,081 605 554 1.3 2.0 1.6 1.9 1.4 2.4 1.8 2.1 1.3 2.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 2.3 1.8 2.2 1.5 2.2 1.5 2.1 1.5 2.2 1.8 1.9 1.5 2.2 1.9 1.9 Feb. INDUSTRY 4 Total private …………………………………… 2,203 145 Manufacturing………………………………… 181 Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 512 Professional and business services……… 402 Education and health services……………… 252 Leisure and hospitality………………...…… 490 Government……………………………………… 124 Construction………………………………… REGION 5 Northeast……………………………………… 329 938 Midwest……………………………………… 503 West…………………………………………… 546 South………………………………………… 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 Total………………………………………………………… Rates Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 3,350 3,678 3,895 2.5 2.7 2.8 2,993 9 118 258 174 84 578 140 347 91 81 235 182 53 601 591 47 544 398 57 341 125 3,259 9 94 309 214 95 608 104 395 110 111 294 232 62 719 599 59 539 445 63 381 71 3,475 12 134 335 242 93 647 153 371 123 112 314 273 41 715 629 68 561 508 51 457 69 2.7 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.6 2.2 2.4 2.3 1.8 2.6 2.8 3.0 2.5 3.5 3.3 1.6 3.7 3.2 3.3 3.2 2.3 2.9 1.5 1.3 2.1 2.3 1.8 2.3 1.8 2.5 2.2 3.5 3.5 3.7 2.8 4.1 3.3 2.1 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5 1.3 3.0 1.8 1.9 2.3 2.6 1.8 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.5 3.5 3.7 4.3 1.9 4.1 3.4 2.2 3.7 3.9 2.9 4.1 1.3 357 41 316 419 46 374 420 45 375 1.6 1.5 1.6 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.6 1.9 561 1,343 671 774 665 1,481 667 865 685 1,565 720 925 2.2 2.8 2.1 2.6 2.6 3.0 2.1 2.9 2.7 3.2 2.3 3.0 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………… Natural resources and mining……………………… Construction…………………………………………… Manufacturing………………………………………… Durable goods...…………………………………… Nondurable goods...……………………………… Trade, transportation, and utilities………………… Wholesale trade…………………………………… Retail trade………………………………………… Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……… Information…………………………………………… Financial activities……..……………………………… Finance and insurance…………………………… Real estate and rental and leasing……………… Professional and business services………………… Education and health services……………………… Educational services……………………………… Health care and social assistance……………… Leisure and hospitality………………...…………… Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………… Accommodations and food services…………… Other services………………………………………… Government……………………………………………… Federal………………………………………………… State and local…………….………………………… REGION 3 Northeast……………………………………………… South…………………………………………………… Midwest………………………………………………… West…………………………………………………… 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 Total………………………………………………………… Rates Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 4,004 4,196 4,144 3.1 3.2 3.1 3,778 20 354 314 212 101 804 117 562 124 64 164 95 70 835 414 47 367 610 77 533 200 3,877 15 291 361 207 153 861 99 531 231 61 172 124 47 906 413 62 351 635 71 564 162 3,879 17 340 302 174 128 850 114 575 160 81 191 119 72 764 378 53 325 815 104 712 141 3.5 3.3 5.3 2.2 2.4 1.9 3.2 2.1 3.8 2.6 2.1 2.0 1.6 3.4 5.1 2.4 1.6 2.6 5.0 4.6 5.1 3.7 3.5 2.4 4.1 2.6 2.3 3.0 3.3 1.7 3.5 4.7 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 5.4 2.4 2.3 2.4 5.2 4.2 5.3 3.0 3.5 2.6 4.8 2.1 1.9 2.5 3.3 2.0 3.8 3.3 2.7 2.3 2.0 3.4 4.5 2.1 1.8 2.2 6.6 6.1 6.7 2.6 226 31 195 319 43 276 265 43 222 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.6 1.1 570 1,641 851 942 564 1,740 878 1,014 592 1,816 823 913 2.3 3.5 2.8 3.2 2.3 3.7 2.8 3.5 2.4 3.8 2.6 3.1 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………… Natural resources and mining……………………… Construction…………………………………………… Manufacturing………………………………………… Durable goods...…………………………………… Nondurable goods...……………………………… Trade, transportation, and utilities………………… Wholesale trade…………………………………… Retail trade………………………………………… Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……… Information…………………………………………… Financial activities……..……………………………… Finance and insurance…………………………… Real estate and rental and leasing……………… Professional and business services………………… Education and health services……………………… Educational services……………………………… Health care and social assistance……………… Leisure and hospitality………………...…………… Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………… Accommodations and food services…………… Other services………………………………………… Government……………………………………………… Federal………………………………………………… State and local…………….………………………… REGION 3 Northeast……………………………………………… South…………………………………………………… Midwest………………………………………………… West…………………………………………………… 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 Total………………………………………………………… Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 3,679 4,186 3,707 2.8 3.2 2.8 3,493 15 383 296 193 103 834 133 569 132 45 157 96 62 692 330 24 307 571 74 497 171 3,938 17 405 344 192 151 991 101 761 129 63 165 117 48 720 345 38 306 751 57 694 137 3,506 19 287 344 201 143 855 139 605 112 63 202 134 68 668 333 24 309 604 43 561 130 3.2 2.5 5.7 2.1 2.2 2.0 3.3 2.3 3.8 2.7 1.5 2.0 1.6 3.0 4.2 1.9 .8 2.1 4.7 4.5 4.7 3.2 3.6 2.6 5.8 2.4 2.2 2.9 3.8 1.8 5.0 2.6 2.1 2.0 1.9 2.2 4.3 2.0 1.4 2.1 6.1 3.4 6.5 2.6 3.2 3.1 4.1 2.4 2.3 2.7 3.3 2.4 4.0 2.3 2.1 2.5 2.2 3.2 4.0 1.9 .8 2.1 4.9 2.5 5.2 2.4 187 26 161 248 57 191 201 48 153 .8 1.0 .8 1.1 2.1 1.0 .9 1.8 .8 546 1,449 810 875 667 1,580 971 968 577 1,399 876 855 2.2 3.1 2.6 3.0 2.7 3.3 3.1 3.3 2.3 2.9 2.8 2.9 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………… Natural resources and mining……………………… Construction…………………………………………… Manufacturing………………………………………… Durable goods...…………………………………… Nondurable goods...……………………………… Trade, transportation, and utilities………………… Wholesale trade…………………………………… Retail trade………………………………………… Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……… Information…………………………………………… Financial activities……..……………………………… Finance and insurance…………………………… Real estate and rental and leasing……………… Professional and business services………………… Education and health services……………………… Educational services……………………………… Health care and social assistance……………… Leisure and hospitality………………...…………… Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………… Accommodations and food services…………… Other services………………………………………… Government……………………………………………… Federal………………………………………………… State and local…………….………………………… REGION 3 Northeast……………………………………………… South…………………………………………………… Midwest………………………………………………… West…………………………………………………… 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 Total………………………………………………………… Rates Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 1,914 2,262 2,177 1.5 1.7 1.6 1,817 6 127 153 99 54 425 73 300 52 32 80 60 20 308 208 15 194 373 37 337 104 2,142 9 142 166 96 69 516 52 406 58 41 100 76 24 371 213 23 190 504 28 476 81 2,063 8 124 174 103 71 498 69 361 68 44 120 72 47 349 225 16 210 443 24 419 77 1.7 1.0 1.9 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.7 1.3 2.0 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.9 1.2 .5 1.3 3.1 2.2 3.2 1.9 1.9 1.4 2.0 1.2 1.1 1.3 2.0 .9 2.7 1.2 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.1 2.2 1.2 .8 1.3 4.1 1.7 4.5 1.5 1.9 1.2 1.8 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.9 1.2 2.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.2 2.2 2.1 1.3 .5 1.4 3.6 1.4 3.9 1.4 97 12 86 120 24 96 114 23 91 .4 .4 .4 .6 .9 .5 .5 .9 .5 257 795 401 462 305 939 508 510 305 920 487 464 1.0 1.7 1.3 1.6 1.2 2.0 1.6 1.7 1.2 1.9 1.6 1.6 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………… Natural resources and mining……………………… Construction…………………………………………… Manufacturing………………………………………… Durable goods...…………………………………… Nondurable goods...……………………………… Trade, transportation, and utilities………………… Wholesale trade…………………………………… Retail trade………………………………………… Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……… Information…………………………………………… Financial activities……..……………………………… Finance and insurance…………………………… Real estate and rental and leasing……………… Professional and business services………………… Education and health services……………………… Educational services……………………………… Health care and social assistance……………… Leisure and hospitality………………...…………… Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………… Accommodations and food services…………… Other services………………………………………… Government……………………………………………… Federal………………………………………………… State and local…………….………………………… REGION 3 Northeast……………………………………………… South…………………………………………………… Midwest………………………………………………… West…………………………………………………… 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 Total………………………………………………………… Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 1,463 1,564 1,230 1.1 1.2 0.9 1,417 5 242 115 75 39 346 51 232 64 10 62 22 40 303 99 7 92 182 37 146 52 1,494 4 248 132 66 65 407 44 312 52 12 55 35 20 260 108 12 96 218 25 193 50 1,179 11 144 121 65 57 278 51 197 30 13 70 51 19 280 86 7 79 131 16 115 44 1.3 .9 3.6 .8 .8 .7 1.4 .9 1.6 1.3 .3 .8 .4 1.9 1.8 .6 .2 .6 1.5 2.2 1.4 1.0 1.4 .6 3.5 .9 .7 1.3 1.6 .8 2.1 1.1 .4 .7 .6 .9 1.6 .6 .4 .7 1.8 1.5 1.8 .9 1.1 1.7 2.0 .9 .7 1.1 1.1 .9 1.3 .6 .4 .9 .8 .9 1.7 .5 .2 .5 1.1 .9 1.1 .8 46 8 38 70 12 59 50 11 39 .2 .3 .2 .3 .4 .3 .2 .4 .2 243 533 346 340 293 518 361 392 222 375 319 314 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.3 .9 .8 1.0 1.1 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………… Natural resources and mining……………………… Construction…………………………………………… Manufacturing………………………………………… Durable goods...…………………………………… Nondurable goods...……………………………… Trade, transportation, and utilities………………… Wholesale trade…………………………………… Retail trade………………………………………… Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……… Information…………………………………………… Financial activities……..……………………………… Finance and insurance…………………………… Real estate and rental and leasing……………… Professional and business services………………… Education and health services……………………… Educational services……………………………… Health care and social assistance……………… Leisure and hospitality………………...…………… Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………… Accommodations and food services…………… Other services………………………………………… Government……………………………………………… Federal………………………………………………… State and local…………….………………………… REGION 3 Northeast……………………………………………… South…………………………………………………… Midwest………………………………………………… West…………………………………………………… 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 Total………………………………………………………… Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 302 360 301 .2 .3 .2 259 3 14 28 18 9 63 9 38 16 3 15 14 2 81 23 2 21 15 1 14 14 302 4 15 46 30 16 69 6 44 19 10 10 6 4 89 24 3 21 28 4 25 6 264 1 19 48 33 15 79 19 47 13 6 13 11 2 39 22 2 20 30 3 27 9 .2 .6 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .3 .1 .2 .2 .1 .5 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .3 .3 .6 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .1 .3 .4 .3 .1 .1 .2 .5 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 .4 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .3 .2 43 7 36 58 21 37 37 13 23 .2 .2 .2 .3 .8 .2 .2 .5 .1 46 121 63 73 68 124 103 65 50 104 70 77 .2 .3 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………… Natural resources and mining……………………… Construction…………………………………………… Manufacturing………………………………………… Durable goods...…………………………………… Nondurable goods...……………………………… Trade, transportation, and utilities………………… Wholesale trade…………………………………… Retail trade………………………………………… Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……… Information…………………………………………… Financial activities……..……………………………… Finance and insurance…………………………… Real estate and rental and leasing……………… Professional and business services………………… Education and health services……………………… Educational services……………………………… Health care and social assistance……………… Leisure and hospitality………………...…………… Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………… Accommodations and food services…………… Other services………………………………………… Government……………………………………………… Federal………………………………………………… State and local…………….………………………… REGION 3 Northeast……………………………………………… South…………………………………………………… Midwest………………………………………………… West…………………………………………………… 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.