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1

Technical information:

(202) 691-5870
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/

Media contact:

USDL 05-1674
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Wednesday, September 7, 2005

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JULY 2005
The job openings and hires rates were little changed in July, while the total separations rate decreased
to 3.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This
release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total
nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
December 2000 - July 2005

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
December 2000 - July 2005

4.0

4.0

3.8

3.8

3.6

3.6

3.4

3.4

3.2

3.2

3.0

3.0

2.8

2.8

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.4

2.2

2.2

2.0

2.0

Hires

Separations

1.8

1.8
2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Job Openings
On the last business day of July 2005, there were 3.5 million job openings in the United States, and the
job openings rate was 2.6 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate was little changed in July, but has
generally trended upward since September 2003. In July, the job openings rate increased in the manufacturing industry and decreased in the leisure and hospitality industry and in the Northeast region.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in July. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the
payroll during the month. In July, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry or region.
The total separations, or turnover, rate decreased from 3.4 to 3.1 percent in July. (See table 3.) Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In July, the total separations
rate decreased in the professional and business services industry and in the South 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 ..........................................

July
2004

June
2005

Hires
July
2005p

July
2004

Levels (in thousands)
4,694
4,545
4,297
4,015
4,365
4,237
357
393
384
340
347
344

June
2005

3,231
2,871
89
238

3,647
3,239
104
269

3,545
3,167
112
293

558

624

607

925

1,045

615
524
411
358

686
609
517
394

682
605
424
380

725
424
804
314

835
457
877
337

July
2005p

Total separations
July
June
July
2004
2005
2005p
4,190
3,923
345
363

4,477
4,223
380
350

4,132
3,864
373
362

977

979

980

953

795
440
819
327

683
370
729
264

818
401
803
254

669
396
720
261

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 ..........................................
1

2.4
2.5
1.3
1.6

2.7
2.8
1.4
1.8

2.6
2.7
1.5
2.0

3.3
3.7
5.1
2.4

3.5
3.9
5.4
2.4

3.4
3.8
5.3
2.4

3.2
3.6
5.0
2.5

3.4
3.8
5.3
2.4

3.1
3.5
5.2
2.5

2.1

2.4

2.3

3.6

4.0

3.8

3.8

3.8

3.7

3.6
3.0
3.2
1.6

3.9
3.4
3.9
1.8

3.9
3.4
3.2
1.7

4.4
2.5
6.4
1.5

4.9
2.6
6.9
1.6

4.7
2.5
6.4
1.5

4.2
2.2
5.8
1.2

4.8
2.3
6.3
1.2

4.0
2.3
5.6
1.2

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 1.8 percent in July. (See table 4.) The quits rate
decreased in the professional and business services industry and in the West region in July.
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not
seasonally adjusted. From July 2004 to July 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.0 percent) and the
other separations rate (0.2 percent) were essentially unchanged. (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 4.7 million per month and separations have averaged 4.4 million per month (not seasonally
adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.3 million hires and 4.1 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 August 2005 is scheduled to be issued on
Wednesday, October 12, 2005.

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
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.
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.

1

2

Table 1. Job openings levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

July

Rates

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July

July

2004

Feb.
2005

2005p

Total 4……………………………………………… 3,231

3,569

3,598

3,576

3,416

3,647

3,160
133
252
668
607
602
447
404

3,212
170
258
624
646
616
440
383

3,178
113
259
627
691
608
457
396

3,050
107
240
597
659
611
440
378

606
1,399
745
823

615
1,447
737
806

602
1,414
742
818

563
1,303
786
799

2004

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

2005p

July

3,545

2.4

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.5

2.7

2.6

3,239
104
269
624
686
609
517
394

3,167
112
293
607
682
605
424
380

2.5
1.3
1.6
2.1
3.6
3.0
3.2
1.6

2.8
1.8
1.7
2.5
3.5
3.4
3.4
1.8

2.8
2.3
1.8
2.4
3.7
3.5
3.4
1.7

2.8
1.5
1.8
2.4
3.9
3.4
3.5
1.8

2.7
1.5
1.6
2.3
3.8
3.4
3.3
1.7

2.8
1.4
1.8
2.4
3.9
3.4
3.9
1.8

2.7
1.5
2.0
2.3
3.9
3.4
3.2
1.7

634
1,333
781
869

582
1,331
775
821

2.1
2.7
2.1
2.4

2.3
2.9
2.3
2.8

2.4
3.0
2.3
2.7

2.3
2.9
2.3
2.7

2.2
2.7
2.4
2.7

2.4
2.7
2.4
2.9

2.2
2.7
2.4
2.7

INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 2,871

89
Manufacturing………………………………… 238
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 558
Professional and business services………
615
Education and health services……………… 524
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
411
Government……………………………………… 358
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 535
South………………………………………… 1,291
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

1

656
719

Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day

the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,

of the month.
2
The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and

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

Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi,

seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities,

and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,

and other services, not shown separately.
P
= preliminary.

and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii,

Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia,
North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,

NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise

and Wyoming.

Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3
Levels (in thousands)

Industry and region

July

Rates
July

2004

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July

2004

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

2005p

Total 4……………………………………………… 4,297

4,760

4,841

4,538

4,740

4,694

4,545

3.3

3.6

3.6

3.4

3.6

3.5

3.4

4,430
430
336
1,055
853
500
771
329

4,497
414
334
1,047
895
472
798
336

4,212
412
319
1,042
792
487
742
329

4,398
420
342
1,030
887
466
750
339

4,365
393
347
1,045
835
457
877
337

4,237
384
344
977
795
440
819
327

3.7
5.1
2.4
3.6
4.4
2.5
6.4
1.5

4.0
6.0
2.3
4.1
5.1
2.9
6.1
1.5

4.0
5.8
2.3
4.1
5.3
2.7
6.3
1.5

3.8
5.7
2.2
4.0
4.7
2.8
5.8
1.5

3.9
5.8
2.4
4.0
5.3
2.7
5.9
1.6

3.9
5.4
2.4
4.0
4.9
2.6
6.9
1.6

3.8
5.3
2.4
3.8
4.7
2.5
6.4
1.5

820
1,867
1,081
1,069

856
1,922
1,034
1,036

825
1,701
1,020
1,037

764
1,816
1,129
1,048

794
1,786
1,054
1,070

767
1,673
1,018
1,035

3.0
3.6
3.0
3.0

3.2
4.0
3.5
3.7

3.4
4.1
3.3
3.6

3.3
3.6
3.3
3.6

3.0
3.8
3.6
3.6

3.1
3.8
3.4
3.7

3.0
3.5
3.2
3.5

p

July

INDUSTRY
4

Total private …………………………………… 4,015

357
Manufacturing………………………………… 340
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 925
Professional and business services………
725
Education and health services……………… 424
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
804
Government……………………………………… 314
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 748
South………………………………………… 1,678
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

931
872

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.

1

2

Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

July

Rates

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July

July

2004

Feb.
2005

2005p

Total 4……………………………………………… 4,190

4,295

4,502

4,562

4,504

4,477

4,035
403
341
940
772
389
790
260

4,237
303
360
980
924
445
743
267

4,306
421
369
1,018
869
433
709
256

4,256
408
369
989
851
405
750
254

732
1,647
937
961

802
1,763
1,051
926

807
1,766
982
1,006

714
1,743
976
1,034

2004

Feb.
2005

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

2005p

July

4,132

3.2

3.2

3.4

3.4

3.4

3.4

3.1

4,223
380
350
980
818
401
803
254

3,864
373
362
953
669
396
720
261

3.6
5.0
2.5
3.8
4.2
2.2
5.8
1.2

3.6
5.7
2.4
3.7
4.6
2.3
6.3
1.2

3.8
4.2
2.5
3.8
5.5
2.6
5.9
1.2

3.9
5.8
2.6
3.9
5.2
2.5
5.6
1.2

3.8
5.6
2.6
3.8
5.1
2.3
5.9
1.2

3.8
5.3
2.4
3.8
4.8
2.3
6.3
1.2

3.5
5.2
2.5
3.7
4.0
2.3
5.6
1.2

761
1,653
946
1,062

709
1,500
982
976

3.0
3.4
3.1
3.3

2.9
3.5
3.0
3.3

3.2
3.7
3.4
3.2

3.2
3.7
3.1
3.4

2.8
3.7
3.1
3.5

3.0
3.5
3.0
3.6

2.8
3.2
3.1
3.3

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

2005p

INDUSTRY
Total private4…………………………………… 3,923

345
Manufacturing………………………………… 363
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 979
Professional and business services………
683
Education and health services……………… 370
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
729
Government……………………………………… 264
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 748
South………………………………………… 1,578
Midwest………………………………………
West……………………………………………

966
934

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 levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3
Levels (in thousands)

Industry and region

July

Rates

Mar.
2005

Apr.
2005

May
2005

June
2005

July

July

2004

Feb.
2005

2005p

2004

Feb.
2005

Total 4……………………………………………… 2,340

2,307

2,516

2,520

2,514

2,475

2,404

1.8

1.7

1.9

1.9

1.9

1.9

1.8

2,192
139
181
512
410
259
474
117

2,383
150
186
583
424
280
458
124

2,395
146
178
577
417
272
506
125

2,391
168
183
589
420
249
488
123

2,348
139
190
588
386
256
510
124

2,278
144
191
567
314
276
505
127

2.0
1.5
1.2
2.2
2.2
1.6
3.6
.6

2.0
2.0
1.3
2.0
2.4
1.5
3.8
.5

2.1
2.1
1.3
2.3
2.5
1.6
3.6
.6

2.1
2.0
1.2
2.2
2.5
1.6
4.0
.6

2.1
2.3
1.3
2.3
2.5
1.4
3.8
.6

2.1
1.9
1.3
2.3
2.3
1.5
4.0
.6

2.0
2.0
1.3
2.2
1.9
1.6
3.9
.6

340
914
509
550

410
1,003
561
562

446
992
540
573

373
1,020
554
562

350
960
542
653

368
929
529
581

1.4
2.0
1.7
1.8

1.3
1.9
1.6
1.9

1.6
2.1
1.8
1.9

1.8
2.1
1.7
2.0

1.5
2.2
1.8
1.9

1.4
2.0
1.7
2.2

1.4
2.0
1.7
2.0

July

INDUSTRY
4

Total private …………………………………… 2,215

104
Manufacturing………………………………… 179
Trade, transportation, and utilities………… 561
Professional and business services………
365
Education and health services……………… 269
Leisure and hospitality………………...……
449
Government……………………………………… 127
Construction…………………………………

REGION
Northeast……………………………………… 345

945
Midwest………………………………………
534
West…………………………………………… 514
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.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 5. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Total…………………………………………………………

Rates

July

June

July

July

June

July

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

3,442

3,813

3,766

2.6

2.8

2.7

3,053
10
103
255
151
104
575
129
356
89
87
200
160
39
660
544
48
496
469
45
424
151

3,363
12
120
284
184
100
618
116
380
122
85
235
189
45
745
623
63
560
515
76
438
126

3,358
12
132
317
205
111
621
128
384
109
77
225
181
43
731
629
63
566
476
73
403
139

2.7
1.7
1.4
1.7
1.7
1.9
2.2
2.2
2.3
1.8
2.7
2.4
2.6
1.8
3.8
3.2
1.9
3.4
3.5
2.1
3.7
2.7

2.9
1.8
1.6
1.9
2.0
1.8
2.3
2.0
2.4
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0
2.0
4.2
3.5
2.3
3.7
3.7
3.5
3.7
2.2

2.9
1.9
1.7
2.2
2.2
2.0
2.3
2.2
2.5
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.9
1.9
4.1
3.6
2.4
3.8
3.4
3.3
3.4
2.4

388
41
348

451
52
399

408
46
362

1.9
1.5
1.9

2.0
1.8
2.1

1.9
1.7
2.0

554
1,411
696
780

665
1,401
805
943

598
1,457
822
890

2.2
2.9
2.2
2.6

2.5
2.8
2.5
3.1

2.3
3.0
2.6
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
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.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 6. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Total…………………………………………………………

Rates

July

June

July

July

June

July

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,512

5,702

4,713

3.4

4.2

3.5

4,160
20
379
371
227
144
907
131
640
137
64
195
94
101
746
459
59
400
842
147
695
177

5,270
29
516
399
272
126
1,150
174
801
175
82
202
121
80
928
549
61
488
1,136
210
925
280

4,349
18
401
373
216
157
945
132
679
134
59
173
116
57
806
471
72
399
867
119
748
236

3.7
3.3
5.2
2.6
2.5
2.6
3.6
2.3
4.3
2.9
2.0
2.4
1.6
4.8
4.5
2.8
2.4
2.8
6.4
6.9
6.3
3.2

4.7
4.5
6.9
2.8
3.0
2.4
4.4
3.0
5.3
3.5
2.6
2.4
2.0
3.7
5.4
3.2
2.3
3.4
8.5
10.1
8.2
5.1

3.9
2.8
5.3
2.6
2.4
2.9
3.6
2.3
4.5
2.7
1.9
2.1
1.9
2.6
4.7
2.8
2.9
2.7
6.5
5.6
6.6
4.3

352
41
311

432
50
382

364
35
329

1.7
1.5
1.8

2.0
1.8
2.0

1.8
1.3
1.8

829
1,817
917
949

1,059
2,081
1,268
1,294

844
1,759
994
1,116

3.3
3.9
3.0
3.3

4.1
4.3
4.0
4.4

3.3
3.7
3.2
3.8

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
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.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 7. Total separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region

Total…………………………………………………………

July

June

July

July

June

July

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

4,421

4,675

4,338

3.4

3.5

3.2

4,094
16
304
384
250
134
987
155
667
166
57
181
104
77
772
417
57
360
763
94
669
213

4,291
15
365
355
219
135
960
119
646
194
71
192
133
59
847
469
76
393
823
110
713
194

4,014
13
320
387
242
146
954
131
691
132
75
160
116
43
749
443
61
382
726
69
657
186

3.7
2.7
4.2
2.7
2.8
2.5
3.9
2.7
4.4
3.4
1.8
2.2
1.7
3.6
4.7
2.5
2.3
2.5
5.8
4.4
6.1
3.9

3.8
2.4
4.9
2.5
2.4
2.5
3.7
2.1
4.3
3.9
2.2
2.3
2.2
2.7
5.0
2.7
2.9
2.7
6.2
5.3
6.3
3.5

3.6
2.1
4.2
2.7
2.7
2.7
3.7
2.3
4.5
2.7
2.4
1.9
1.9
2.0
4.4
2.6
2.4
2.6
5.4
3.2
5.8
3.4

327
30
297

383
38
345

325
34
291

1.6
1.1
1.7

1.8
1.4
1.8

1.6
1.2
1.6

738
1,731
954
998

854
1,706
1,020
1,094

689
1,636
976
1,037

2.9
3.7
3.1
3.5

3.3
3.6
3.2
3.7

2.7
3.4
3.1
3.5

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
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.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 8. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Total…………………………………………………………

Rates

July

June

July

July

June

July

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

2,602

2,682

2,655

2.0

2.0

2.0

2,450
10
131
212
137
75
585
93
409
82
40
129
66
63
425
290
32
258
503
44
459
125

2,512
9
168
202
129
72
591
77
423
90
48
148
100
48
407
283
39
244
519
58
461
137

2,503
10
170
229
137
92
589
79
441
69
43
99
71
27
359
303
34
270
567
48
519
135

2.2
1.7
1.8
1.5
1.5
1.4
2.3
1.6
2.7
1.7
1.3
1.6
1.1
3.0
2.6
1.7
1.3
1.8
3.8
2.1
4.2
2.3

2.2
1.5
2.2
1.4
1.4
1.4
2.3
1.3
2.8
1.8
1.5
1.8
1.6
2.2
2.4
1.7
1.5
1.7
3.9
2.8
4.1
2.5

2.2
1.5
2.3
1.6
1.5
1.7
2.3
1.4
2.9
1.4
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
2.1
1.8
1.3
1.9
4.2
2.3
4.6
2.4

152
11
141

170
14
156

152
14
138

.7
.4
.8

.8
.5
.8

.7
.5
.8

376
1,097
560
569

382
1,028
583
689

400
1,065
551
640

1.5
2.4
1.8
2.0

1.5
2.1
1.8
2.3

1.6
2.2
1.8
2.2

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
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.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region

Total…………………………………………………………

July

June

July

July

June

July

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

1,473

1,648

1,380

1.1

1.2

1.0

1,367
4
161
145
94
51
326
54
208
64
13
32
23
9
283
106
23
83
238
46
192
59

1,529
2
182
129
73
56
302
34
182
86
16
34
23
11
395
150
32
117
275
51
224
44

1,274
3
143
124
82
42
302
45
207
50
22
41
27
15
348
107
22
85
139
19
120
45

1.2
.7
2.2
1.0
1.0
.9
1.3
.9
1.4
1.3
.4
.4
.4
.4
1.7
.6
.9
.6
1.8
2.2
1.7
1.1

1.4
.4
2.4
.9
.8
1.0
1.2
.6
1.2
1.7
.5
.4
.4
.5
2.3
.9
1.2
.8
2.1
2.5
2.0
.8

1.1
.4
1.9
.9
.9
.8
1.2
.8
1.4
1.0
.7
.5
.4
.7
2.0
.6
.9
.6
1.0
.9
1.1
.8

106
5
101

119
10
108

106
9
96

.5
.2
.6

.5
.4
.6

.5
.3
.5

285
518
323
347

386
559
374
329

240
460
343
338

1.1
1.1
1.0
1.2

1.5
1.2
1.2
1.1

.9
1.0
1.1
1.2

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
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.

P

= preliminary.

NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.

Table 10. Other separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Rates
Industry and region

Total…………………………………………………………

July

June

July

July

June

July

2004

2005

2005p

2004

2005

2005p

346

344

303

.3

.3

.2

277
1
12
27
19
8
76
8
49
19
3
21
15
6
65
22
2
20
22
3
18
28

250
3
15
24
17
7
66
8
41
18
7
10
10
1
46
35
4
31
29
1
28
14

236
1
7
34
22
12
63
7
43
12
11
20
18
2
42
32
5
27
20
2
18
7

.2
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.1
.3
.4
.1
.3
.3
.3
.4
.1
.1
.1
.2
.2
.2
.5

.2
.5
.2
.2
.2
.1
.3
.1
.3
.4
.2
.1
.2
(³)
.3
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.2

.2
.2
.1
.2
.3
.2
.2
.1
.3
.2
.3
.2
.3
.1
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.1
.2
.1

69
14
55

94
14
81

67
10
56

.3
.5
.3

.4
.5
.4

.3
.4
.3

76
116
71
83

85
120
63
76

50
112
83
58

.3
.3
.2
.3

.3
.3
.2
.3

.2
.2
.3
.2

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
Northeast………………………………………………
South……………………………………………………
Midwest…………………………………………………
West……………………………………………………

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.