Full text of February 2007 : Text File, USDL-07-0524
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Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 07-0524
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: 691-5902 Tuesday, April 10, 2007
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: FEBRUARY 2007
On the last business day of February, there were 4.1 million job open-
ings 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, hires, and total separations rates were essentially un-
changed in February. This release includes estimates of the number and
rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector
by industry and geographic region.
Job Openings
At 2.9 percent in February, the job openings rate has been essentially
flat since September 2006. In February, the job openings rate rose in the
construction industry and fell in the Northeast region; no other industry
or region experienced a significant over-the-month change in the job open-
ings rate. The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in Feb-
ruary for the following industries: accommodations and food services (4.0
percent), education and health services (3.6 percent), and professional
and business services (3.5 percent). (See table 1.)
Over the year, the job openings rate increased in nondurable goods manu-
facturing; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; and
other services. The rate decreased in durable goods manufacturing; finance
and insurance; professional and business services; accommodations and food
services; and federal government. The job openings rate did not change sig-
nificantly over the year in any of the regions. (See table 5.)
Hires
The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.5 percent in February.
Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. In February, the
hires rate fell in the retail trade industry and in the Northeast region;
no other industry or region experienced a significant over-the-month change
in the hires rate. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in Feb-
ruary in the leisure and hospitality industry (7.1 percent). (See table 2.)
From February 2006 to February 2007, the hires rate rose in educational
services and federal government, but fell in construction; retail trade;
information; accommodations and food services; and other services. Region-
ally, the hires rate increased over the year in the Midwest but decreased
in the South. (See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate was little changed at 3.3 per-
cent in February. Separations are terminations of employment that occur
at any time during the month. In February, the only industry to experience
a change in the separations rate was state and local government, where the
rate declined slightly. None of the regions experienced a significant
change in the separations rate. From February 2006 to February 2007, the
total separations rate rose significantly only in federal government; the
rate did not decline significantly in any industry. Geographically, none
of the regions experienced a significant change in the total separations
rate over the year. (See tables 3 and 7.)
- 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.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2007p| 2006 | 2007 | 2007p| 2006 | 2007 | 2007p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,972 |4,222 |4,071 |4,955 |4,959 |4,804 |4,601 |4,602 |4,481
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1).|3,550 |3,746 |3,605 |4,696 |4,607 |4,487 |4,320 |4,296 |4,191
Construction...| 130 | 142 | 189 | 408 | 299 | 291 | 363 | 400 | 324
Manufacturing..| 314 | 337 | 333 | 333 | 369 | 380 | 381 | 399 | 405
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)..| 653 | 727 | 669 |1,123 |1,020 |1,002 |1,008 | 973 | 941
Retail trade..| 394 | 413 | 379 | 762 | 757 | 664 | 697 | 680 | 658
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 732 | 707 | 641 | 874 | 954 | 964 | 828 | 894 | 879
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 636 | 707 | 669 | 453 | 508 | 515 | 420 | 423 | 404
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality(3)| 560 | 552 | 542 |1,045 | 956 | 955 | 859 | 768 | 800
Accommodations| | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.....| 509 | 495 | 480 | 848 | 825 | 782 | 750 | 612 | 685
Government(4)....| 419 | 477 | 468 | 373 | 384 | 395 | 288 | 309 | 299
State and local| | | | | | | | |
government....| 378 | 439 | 433 | 321 | 321 | 315 | 233 | 254 | 227
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........| 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.3
| | | | | | | | |
Total private(1).| 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.6
Construction...| 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 5.3 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 4.2
Manufacturing..| 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.9
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities(2)..| 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.6
Retail trade..| 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.9
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.2
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality(3)| 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 5.7 | 6.0
Accommodations| | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.....| 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 7.7 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 6.0
Government(4)....| 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.3
State and local| | | | | | | | |
government....| 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
2 Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not
shown separately.
3 Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
4 Includes federal government, 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 little changed at 2.0 percent in February.
Over the month, the quits rate rose in accommodations and food services
but fell in state and local government. None of the regions experienced
a significant change in the quits rate over the month. In February, the
seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the accommodations and food
services industry (4.6 percent). (See table 4.)
Over the year, the quits rate rose in finance and insurance and profes-
sional and business services but fell in construction. Geographically, the
quits rate declined 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 February, the
layoffs and discharges rate (0.9 percent) and level (1.2 million) were
little changed from the prior year. The construction industry had the
highest layoffs and discharges rate (2.4 percent) in February. From
February 2006 to February 2007, the other separations rate was unchang-
ed at 0.2 percent and the level was little changed at 257,000. (See
tables 9 and 10.)
- 3 -
Quits as a Percentage of Separations
The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution of
its three components (quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separa-
tions), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of
total separations attributable to quits has risen and fallen over time
along with employment levels. Total nonfarm employment had peaked in
February 2001 at 132.6 million, and then had fallen to a low of 129.8
million in August 2003. During the same time period, the proportion of
quits fell from 61 percent in February 2001 to 51 percent in August 2003
(seasonally adjusted). The proportion of quits has since risen to 60
percent in February 2007. Between early 2001 and mid-2003, total sepa-
rations fell by 613,000 but quits fell by a greater amount, 759,000,
causing the proportion of total separations attributable to quits to
fall.
This change in quits as a percentage of total separations is espe-
cially pronounced in manufacturing, retail trade, and professional and
business services. Geographically, the regions averaged 61 percent of
totat separations attributable to quits at the employment peak in Feb-
ruary 2001. All four regions experienced a decline in the proportion
of quits during the period of employment decline. The Northeast re-
gion's proportion declined the most, falling to a low of 39 percent.
Since the employment trough in August 2003, the South and West have
fully recovered to early 2001 levels of quits as a proportion of sepa-
rations, but the Northeast and Midwest have not.
Flows in the Labor Market
Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market.
For the 12 months ending in February 2007, hires have averaged 4.9 million
per month and separations have averaged 4.6 million per month (not season-
ally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were
4.8 million hires and 4.5 million separations. (See the Technical Note
for additional information on these measures.)
Several industries 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 February 2007, these five industries produced
34.9 million hires and 32.9 million separations. Thus, these five indus-
tries accounted for 59 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59 percent of
total nonfarm separations while comprising only 39 percent of total non-
farm employment.
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 2007 is sched-
uled to be issued on Tuesday, May 8.
- 4 -
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 characteris-
tics 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.
- 5 -
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.
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 an-
nual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employ-
ment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This figure will be ap-
proximately 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 es-
timates 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.
- 6 -
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 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.
- 7 -
Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007, sea-
sonal 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 sea-
sonal filters. Therefore, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal
filter is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS seasonal ad-
justment 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 season-
ally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food services, and
state and local government. It is expected that more series may be sea-
sonally 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 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.
2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p
Total (4).................................. 3,972 4,177 4,157 4,200 4,401 4,222 4,071 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.0 2.9
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 3,550 3,715 3,702 3,735 3,928 3,746 3,605 3.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.3 3.1 3.0
Construction............................. 130 148 137 106 107 142 189 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4
Manufacturing............................ 314 317 364 328 362 337 333 2.2 2.2 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 653 721 658 671 767 727 669 2.4 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.8 2.7 2.5
Retail trade............................ 394 396 370 417 471 413 379 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.7 3.0 2.6 2.4
Professional and business services....... 732 755 709 705 745 707 641 4.0 4.1 3.9 3.8 4.0 3.8 3.5
Education and health services............ 636 701 749 713 734 707 669 3.5 3.8 4.0 3.8 3.9 3.8 3.6
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 560 544 579 625 612 552 542 4.1 4.0 4.2 4.5 4.4 4.0 3.9
Accommodations and food services........ 509 469 487 528 538 495 480 4.4 4.0 4.1 4.4 4.5 4.1 4.0
Government (7)............................ 419 467 460 463 473 477 468 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.1
State and local government............... 378 430 423 427 427 439 433 1.9 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 693 770 760 772 849 733 667 2.7 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.2 2.8 2.5
South.................................... 1,572 1,626 1,649 1,572 1,674 1,653 1,635 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.3 3.2 3.2
Midwest.................................. 781 789 769 770 810 822 784 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.4
West..................................... 922 1,017 989 1,034 1,044 1,005 974 3.0 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.1
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.
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) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p
Total (4).................................. 4,955 4,917 4,983 4,994 4,959 4,959 4,804 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.5
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 4,696 4,482 4,616 4,665 4,662 4,607 4,487 4.1 3.9 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.9
Construction............................. 408 336 345 395 341 299 291 5.3 4.4 4.5 5.1 4.4 3.9 3.8
Manufacturing............................ 333 314 366 363 375 369 380 2.3 2.2 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 1,123 965 1,008 1,012 990 1,020 1,002 4.3 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.8
Retail trade............................ 762 710 713 737 699 757 664 5.0 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.6 4.9 4.3
Professional and business services....... 874 1,028 994 1,010 963 954 964 5.0 5.8 5.6 5.7 5.4 5.4 5.4
Education and health services............ 453 467 529 492 515 508 515 2.6 2.6 2.9 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 1,045 859 893 903 969 956 955 8.1 6.5 6.7 6.8 7.2 7.1 7.1
Accommodations and food services........ 848 756 758 748 793 825 782 7.7 6.7 6.7 6.6 6.9 7.2 6.8
Government (7)............................ 373 386 363 348 371 384 395 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.8
State and local government............... 321 318 320 303 313 321 315 1.7 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 803 720 727 713 768 833 709 3.2 2.8 2.8 2.8 3.0 3.2 2.8
South.................................... 2,104 2,019 1,969 1,979 1,900 1,899 1,854 4.3 4.1 4.0 4.0 3.9 3.9 3.8
Midwest.................................. 1,034 1,031 1,097 1,061 1,150 1,167 1,160 3.3 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.7
West..................................... 1,114 1,163 1,198 1,249 1,209 1,142 1,150 3.7 3.8 3.9 4.1 3.9 3.7 3.7
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 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) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p
Total (4).................................. 4,601 4,470 4,613 4,844 4,540 4,602 4,481 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.4 3.3
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 4,320 4,123 4,323 4,543 4,253 4,296 4,191 3.8 3.6 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.6
Construction............................. 363 346 373 413 387 400 324 4.7 4.5 4.8 5.4 5.0 5.2 4.2
Manufacturing............................ 381 389 359 360 372 399 405 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.8 2.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 1,008 990 987 1,020 962 973 941 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.6
Retail trade............................ 697 686 688 719 707 680 658 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.7 4.6 4.4 4.3
Professional and business services....... 828 824 921 974 851 894 879 4.8 4.7 5.2 5.5 4.8 5.0 4.9
Education and health services............ 420 396 424 430 430 423 404 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 2.2
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 859 726 791 838 835 768 800 6.6 5.5 6.0 6.3 6.2 5.7 6.0
Accommodations and food services........ 750 607 673 721 757 612 685 6.8 5.4 5.9 6.3 6.6 5.4 6.0
Government (7)............................ 288 315 298 305 283 309 299 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3
State and local government............... 233 251 248 256 255 254 227 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 713 731 745 707 670 740 669 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.9 2.6
South.................................... 1,753 1,742 1,709 2,011 1,796 1,783 1,738 3.6 3.6 3.5 4.1 3.7 3.6 3.5
Midwest.................................. 1,019 970 1,072 985 1,054 1,034 1,067 3.3 3.1 3.4 3.1 3.3 3.3 3.4
West..................................... 1,075 1,031 1,081 1,079 1,036 1,037 997 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.2
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
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.
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) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.
2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007p
Total (4).................................. 2,687 2,566 2,655 2,774 2,759 2,648 2,687 2.0 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 2.0
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 2,553 2,400 2,513 2,625 2,615 2,505 2,555 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2
Construction............................. 172 135 137 144 143 141 121 2.2 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.6
Manufacturing............................ 193 185 196 211 222 229 208 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 616 591 593 661 597 594 600 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.3
Retail trade............................ 456 430 438 472 438 422 424 3.0 2.8 2.9 3.1 2.9 2.7 2.8
Professional and business services....... 424 443 475 486 497 498 507 2.4 2.5 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.8
Education and health services............ 290 263 274 278 289 271 270 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 574 510 542 565 602 489 570 4.4 3.9 4.1 4.2 4.5 3.7 4.2
Accommodations and food services........ 533 462 496 520 560 448 523 4.8 4.1 4.4 4.6 4.9 3.9 4.6
Government (7)............................ 141 160 144 147 146 150 140 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6
State and local government............... 121 125 124 125 130 129 114 .6 .6 .6 .6 .7 .7 .6
REGION(8)
Northeast................................ 374 383 359 409 367 355 325 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.4 1.3
South.................................... 1,148 1,102 1,101 1,167 1,171 1,099 1,133 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.3
Midwest.................................. 576 541 604 543 559 595 602 1.8 1.7 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9
West..................................... 602 551 592 645 638 602 629 2.0 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0
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 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) Rates
Industry and region Feb. Jan. Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb.
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 3,832 3,902 3,882 2.8 2.8 2.8
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,446 3,460 3,452 3.0 3.0 3.0
Natural resources and mining.................. 12 15 13 1.8 2.1 1.8
Construction.................................. 116 115 168 1.6 1.6 2.3
Manufacturing................................. 324 331 341 2.2 2.3 2.4
Durable goods................................ 236 207 208 2.6 2.3 2.3
Nondurable goods............................. 88 123 134 1.7 2.4 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 600 642 603 2.3 2.4 2.3
Wholesale trade.............................. 147 166 143 2.5 2.7 2.4
Retail trade................................. 344 352 321 2.2 2.3 2.1
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 109 124 139 2.2 2.4 2.7
Information................................... 116 161 144 3.7 5.0 4.5
Financial activities.......................... 318 215 203 3.7 2.5 2.4
Finance and insurance........................ 275 180 163 4.3 2.8 2.5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 43 35 40 2.0 1.6 1.8
Professional and business services............ 727 680 627 4.1 3.8 3.5
Education and health services................. 630 669 655 3.4 3.6 3.5
Educational services......................... 69 57 60 2.2 1.9 1.9
Health care and social assistance............ 562 612 596 3.7 3.9 3.8
Leisure and hospitality....................... 534 492 509 4.1 3.7 3.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 55 53 62 3.1 3.0 3.4
Accommodations and food services............. 479 439 447 4.3 3.8 3.9
Other services................................ 68 141 189 1.3 2.6 3.4
Government..................................... 386 442 430 1.7 2.0 1.9
Federal....................................... 44 37 39 1.6 1.3 1.4
State and local............................... 342 405 391 1.7 2.1 1.9
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 644 649 615 2.5 2.5 2.4
South......................................... 1,559 1,558 1,614 3.1 3.1 3.2
Midwest....................................... 745 749 743 2.4 2.3 2.3
West.......................................... 884 947 911 2.9 3.0 2.9
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 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
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.
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 4,226 4,294 4,035 3.2 3.2 3.0
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,967 3,947 3,755 3.6 3.5 3.3
Natural resources and mining.................. 17 23 22 2.7 3.4 3.2
Construction.................................. 335 224 230 4.6 3.1 3.2
Manufacturing................................. 311 362 356 2.2 2.6 2.5
Durable goods................................ 177 226 207 2.0 2.5 2.3
Nondurable goods............................. 134 136 149 2.6 2.7 2.9
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 876 787 780 3.4 3.0 3.0
Wholesale trade.............................. 124 135 132 2.1 2.3 2.2
Retail trade................................. 598 529 506 4.0 3.5 3.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 154 124 142 3.1 2.5 2.8
Information................................... 101 90 58 3.3 2.9 1.9
Financial activities.......................... 199 200 176 2.4 2.4 2.1
Finance and insurance........................ 121 141 112 2.0 2.3 1.8
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 78 59 63 3.7 2.7 2.9
Professional and business services............ 792 907 874 4.6 5.2 5.0
Education and health services................. 388 474 443 2.2 2.6 2.4
Educational services......................... 63 74 74 2.1 2.6 2.4
Health care and social assistance............ 325 399 369 2.2 2.6 2.4
Leisure and hospitality....................... 809 740 743 6.5 5.8 5.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 89 94 87 5.2 5.4 4.9
Accommodations and food services............. 720 646 656 6.7 5.8 5.9
Other services................................ 137 140 73 2.5 2.6 1.4
Government..................................... 259 347 280 1.2 1.6 1.2
Federal....................................... 35 55 60 1.3 2.0 2.2
State and local............................... 224 293 220 1.1 1.5 1.1
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 583 631 505 2.3 2.5 2.0
South......................................... 1,881 1,734 1,641 3.9 3.6 3.4
Midwest....................................... 820 986 935 2.7 3.2 3.0
West.......................................... 941 943 955 3.1 3.1 3.1
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 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
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.
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 3,802 4,467 3,685 2.8 3.3 2.7
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,613 4,211 3,491 3.2 3.7 3.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 15 20 22 2.4 2.9 3.2
Construction.................................. 329 481 272 4.6 6.6 3.8
Manufacturing................................. 329 389 362 2.3 2.8 2.6
Durable goods................................ 192 242 220 2.1 2.7 2.5
Nondurable goods............................. 137 148 142 2.7 2.9 2.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 879 1,025 801 3.4 3.9 3.1
Wholesale trade.............................. 141 116 113 2.4 2.0 1.9
Retail trade................................. 628 765 572 4.2 5.0 3.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 110 144 116 2.2 2.9 2.3
Information................................... 64 77 59 2.1 2.5 1.9
Financial activities.......................... 190 154 199 2.3 1.8 2.4
Finance and insurance........................ 119 110 128 1.9 1.8 2.0
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 71 45 71 3.4 2.1 3.3
Professional and business services............ 702 853 752 4.1 4.9 4.3
Education and health services................. 345 395 325 1.9 2.2 1.8
Educational services......................... 30 61 41 1.0 2.1 1.3
Health care and social assistance............ 315 333 284 2.1 2.2 1.9
Leisure and hospitality....................... 631 664 591 5.1 5.2 4.6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 56 106 62 3.3 6.1 3.5
Accommodations and food services............. 575 558 529 5.4 5.1 4.8
Other services................................ 129 153 109 2.4 2.8 2.0
Government..................................... 189 255 193 0.8 1.2 0.9
Federal....................................... 37 50 54 1.4 1.9 2.0
State and local............................... 151 205 140 .8 1.1 .7
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 555 723 507 2.2 2.9 2.0
South......................................... 1,506 1,694 1,460 3.1 3.5 3.0
Midwest....................................... 842 1,043 898 2.7 3.3 2.9
West.......................................... 898 1,008 820 3.0 3.3 2.7
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 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
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.
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 2,189 2,316 2,187 1.6 1.7 1.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,084 2,194 2,087 1.9 1.9 1.8
Natural resources and mining.................. 8 8 12 1.3 1.2 1.7
Construction.................................. 137 118 87 1.9 1.6 1.2
Manufacturing................................. 169 198 179 1.2 1.4 1.3
Durable goods................................ 96 117 94 1.1 1.3 1.1
Nondurable goods............................. 73 81 85 1.4 1.6 1.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 511 529 494 2.0 2.0 1.9
Wholesale trade.............................. 66 72 79 1.1 1.2 1.3
Retail trade................................. 376 381 344 2.5 2.5 2.3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 70 76 70 1.4 1.5 1.4
Information................................... 44 49 37 1.5 1.6 1.2
Financial activities.......................... 119 86 120 1.4 1.0 1.4
Finance and insurance........................ 72 70 90 1.2 1.1 1.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 47 16 30 2.2 0.7 1.4
Professional and business services............ 341 454 417 2.0 2.6 2.4
Education and health services................. 236 240 218 1.3 1.3 1.2
Educational services......................... 21 28 18 0.7 1.0 0.6
Health care and social assistance............ 215 212 200 1.5 1.4 1.3
Leisure and hospitality....................... 444 429 447 3.6 3.4 3.5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 23 27 31 1.4 1.5 1.7
Accommodations and food services............. 420 402 416 3.9 3.6 3.7
Other services................................ 76 83 75 1.4 1.6 1.4
Government..................................... 104 121 100 .5 .6 .4
Federal....................................... 17 16 18 .6 .6 .7
State and local............................... 87 105 82 .4 .5 .4
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 287 295 238 1.1 1.2 .9
South......................................... 952 966 941 2.0 2.0 1.9
Midwest....................................... 454 531 489 1.5 1.7 1.6
West.......................................... 497 523 519 1.7 1.7 1.7
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 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
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.
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 1,321 1,755 1,241 1.0 1.3 0.9
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,274 1,679 1,196 1.1 1.5 1.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 6 8 7 0.9 1.2 1.0
Construction.................................. 174 333 172 2.4 4.6 2.4
Manufacturing................................. 116 155 157 .8 1.1 1.1
Durable goods................................ 66 97 107 .7 1.1 1.2
Nondurable goods............................. 51 58 49 1.0 1.1 1.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 288 396 247 1.1 1.5 1.0
Wholesale trade.............................. 51 37 28 .9 0.6 0.5
Retail trade................................. 208 313 186 1.4 2.1 1.2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 29 46 33 .6 .9 .7
Information................................... 13 22 18 .4 .7 .6
Financial activities.......................... 58 57 62 .7 .7 .7
Finance and insurance........................ 36 32 30 .6 .5 .5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 22 24 32 1.0 1.1 1.5
Professional and business services............ 323 338 295 1.9 1.9 1.7
Education and health services................. 88 103 88 .5 .6 .5
Educational services......................... 8 28 17 .2 1.0 .6
Health care and social assistance............ 80 75 70 .5 .5 .5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 163 213 128 1.3 1.7 1.0
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 31 75 30 1.8 4.3 1.7
Accommodations and food services............. 132 139 98 1.2 1.3 .9
Other services................................ 44 55 22 .8 1.0 .4
Government..................................... 47 75 45 .2 .3 .2
Federal....................................... 9 13 13 .3 .5 .5
State and local............................... 39 62 32 .2 .3 .2
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 225 354 212 .9 1.4 .8
South......................................... 455 579 437 .9 1.2 .9
Midwest....................................... 321 432 350 1.0 1.4 1.1
West.......................................... 320 389 242 1.1 1.3 .8
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 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.
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.
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 292 396 257 0.2 0.3 0.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 255 337 208 .2 .3 .2
Natural resources and mining.................. 1 4 3 .2 .6 .5
Construction.................................. 19 31 13 .3 .4 .2
Manufacturing................................. 43 36 26 .3 .3 .2
Durable goods................................ 30 28 19 .3 .3 .2
Nondurable goods............................. 14 9 8 .3 .2 .1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 79 100 59 .3 .4 .2
Wholesale trade.............................. 25 8 6 .4 .1 .1
Retail trade................................. 44 71 41 .3 .5 .3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 11 22 12 .2 .4 .2
Information................................... 6 5 3 .2 .2 .1
Financial activities.......................... 14 12 16 .2 .1 .2
Finance and insurance........................ 11 7 8 .2 .1 .1
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 3 5 8 .1 .2 .4
Professional and business services............ 38 61 40 .2 .3 .2
Education and health services................. 21 51 19 .1 .3 .1
Educational services......................... 2 5 5 .1 .2 .2
Health care and social assistance............ 19 46 14 .1 .3 .1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 25 22 17 .2 .2 .1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2 4 2 .1 .2 .1
Accommodations and food services............. 23 18 15 .2 .2 .1
Other services................................ 9 15 11 .2 .3 .2
Government..................................... 37 59 49 .2 .3 .2
Federal....................................... 11 21 23 .4 .8 .8
State and local............................... 25 38 26 .1 .2 .1
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 44 73 56 .2 .3 .2
South......................................... 99 149 83 .2 .3 .2
Midwest....................................... 67 79 58 .2 .3 .2
West.......................................... 82 95 60 .3 .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 See footnote 8, table 1.
p = preliminary.