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1

Technical information:

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

Media contact:

USDL 07-1381
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JULY 2007
On the last business day of July, there were 4.2 million job openings in the United States, and the job
openings rate was 3.0 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported
today. The job openings rate was unchanged in July, while the hires rate and the total separations rate were
essentially unchanged. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and
separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
August 2004 - July 2007

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
August 2004 - July 2007
3.9

3.9
3.7

3.7

3.5
3.3

Hires

3.5

3.1
2.9

3.3

Separations

2.7

3.1

2.5
2.3

2.9

2.1
1.9

2.7
1.7
1.5
2005

2006

2007

2.5
2005

2006

2007

Job Openings
In July, the job openings rate remained at 3.0 percent. The rate has been 2.9 or 3.0 percent for the
last 7 months. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month. The
job openings rate did not change significantly in July in any industry or region. The seasonally adjusted job
openings rate was highest in July in professional and business services and in accommodations and food services (4.0 percent each). (See table 1.)
Over the year, the job openings rate increased in nondurable goods manufacturing and in professional
and business services. The rate decreased in the information industry. The job openings rate increased
over the year in the West region. (See table 5.)
Hires
The hires rate was little changed at 3.5 percent in July. 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 seasonally adjusted
hires rate was highest in July in accommodations and food services (6.1 percent). (See table 2.)

2
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted
Industry

Job openings
July
June July
p
2006 2007 2007

Total 1 ...................................................................... 3,891
Total private 1 ..................................................... 3,404
Construction .................................................
153
Manufacturing ..............................................
311
Trade, transportation, and utilities 2 ........
646
Retail trade ...............................................
392
Professional and business services ..........
574
Education and health services ...................
667
Leisure and hospitality 3 ............................ 497
Accommodations and food services .
450
Government 4 .................................................... 485
State and local government .......................
442

4,280 4,225
3,810 3,749
139
170
344
339
676
660
409
404
763
751
711
714
568
533
497
479
465
475
424
429

Hires
Total separations
June July
July
July
June July
p
p
2006 2007
2007
2006 2007 2007
Levels (in thousands)
5,141
4,835
377
377
1,095
767
942
570
851
731
372
299

4,741
4,335
358
355
910
605
865
493
854
736
395
312

4,816
4,453
411
356
919
617
921
500
834
713
392
297

4,643
4,304
438
368
985
680
807
445
817
692
327
269

4,543
4,234
363
382
974
688
728
473
850
730
310
239

4,479
4,135
366
372
990
697
768
396
815
702
326
249

3.4
3.8
5.7
2.6
3.8
4.4
4.6
2.5
6.2
6.2
1.5
1.4

3.3
3.7
4.7
2.7
3.7
4.5
4.1
2.6
6.3
6.3
1.4
1.2

3.2
3.6
4.8
2.6
3.7
4.5
4.3
2.2
6.0
6.0
1.5
1.3

Rates (percent)
Total 1 .....................................................................
Total private 1 .....................................................
Construction .................................................
Manufacturing ...............................................
Trade, transportation, and utilities 2 .........
Retail trade ...............................................
Professional and business services ..........
Education and health services ...................
Leisure and hospitality 3 ............................
Accommodations and food services ..
Government 4 ....................................................
State and local government .......................

2.8
2.9
2.0
2.1
2.4
2.5
3.2
3.6
3.6
3.9
2.2
2.2

3.0
3.2
1.8
2.4
2.5
2.6
4.1
3.7
4.0
4.1
2.0
2.1

3.0
3.1
2.2
2.4
2.4
2.6
4.0
3.7
3.8
4.0
2.1
2.2

3.8
4.2
4.9
2.7
4.2
5.0
5.4
3.2
6.5
6.5
1.7
1.6

3.4
3.7
4.7
2.5
3.4
3.9
4.8
2.7
6.3
6.4
1.8
1.6

3.5
3.8
5.4
2.5
3.5
4.0
5.1
2.7
6.1
6.1
1.8
1.5

1

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities, not shown separately.
3
Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
4 Includes federal government, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
2

From July 2006 to July 2007, the hires rate rose in federal government. The hires rate fell in retail trade;
transportation, warehousing, and utilities; information; finance and insurance; health care and social assistance;
and state and local government. The hires rate also fell over the year in the Northeast region. (See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate was essentially unchanged at 3.2 percent in July. Separations
are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, the only industry
to experience a significant change in the separations rate was education and health services. None of the
regions experienced a significant change in the separations rate. From July 2006 to July 2007, the total
separations rate increased in natural resources and mining and in federal government. The total separations
rate decreased in information; real estate and rental and leasing; and educational services. Geographically, the
total separations rate fell over the year in both the Northeast and Midwest regions. (See tables 3 and 7.)

3

Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations),
and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’
ability to change jobs, was unchanged in July, and has been 1.9 percent for 4 months in a row. None of
the industries experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. Regionally, the quits rate
decreased in the Northeast. In July, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the accommodations
and food services industry (4.5 percent). (See table 4.)
Over the year, the quits rate rose in natural resources and mining. The quits rate fell over the year in
durable goods manufacturing; information; real estate and rental and leasing; and state and local government.
Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the Northeast region. (See table 8.)
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not
seasonally adjusted. For July, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.1 percent) and level (1.5 million) were unchanged from a year earlier. The layoffs and discharges rate in July was highest in construction (1.8 percent),
followed closely by professional and business services (1.7 percent). From July 2006 to July 2007, the other
separations level declined to 348,000. (See tables 9 and 10.)
The total separations rate is driven by the relative contribution of its three components (quits, layoffs and
discharges, and other separations), with quits contributing the largest portion. The percentage of total separations attributable to quits has risen and fallen over time along with total nonfarm employment levels. The
proportion of total separations due to quits fell from 61 percent in February 2001 to 51 percent in August
2003 (seasonally adjusted), and has since risen. In July 2007, quits accounted for 59 percent of total separations.
Flows in the Labor Market
Several industries consistently have high rates of both hires and separations. These include construction;
retail trade; professional and business services; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and accommodations and
food services. In the 12 months ending in July 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.2 million hires and 32.3
million separations. Thus, these five industries accounted for 58 percent of total nonfarm hires and 59 percent of total nonfarm separations while comprising only 39 percent of total nonfarm employment.
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 2007 is scheduled to be issued on
Wednesday, October 10.

Technical Note
The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
(JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of
business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS).
Collection
Each month, data are collected in a survey of business
establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits,
layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection
methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing,
touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
Coverage
The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm
establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as
federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and
the District of Columbia.
Concepts
Industry classification. The industry classifications in this
release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to
ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce
Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the
industry code, location, and ownership classification of all
establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment
characteristics resulting from the verification process are
always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data
reported for the first month of the year.
Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll
who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes
the 12th day of the reference month. Full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly
employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated
businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without
pay or on strike for the entire pay period, are not counted as
employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee
leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are
counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment
where they are working.
Job openings. Establishments submit job openings
information for the last business day of the reference month.
A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and
there is work available for that position, 2) work could start
within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is
found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time,
part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings.
Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps
to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet,
posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using
other similar methods.
Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions,
demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded

are jobs with start dates more than 30 days in the future, jobs
for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported
for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of temporary help
agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or
consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing
the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job
openings and multiplying that quotient by 100.
Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll
occurring at any time during the reference month, including
both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees
recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more than 7 days,
on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other
locations. The hires count does not include transfers or
promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from
strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee
leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by
employment and multiplying that quotient by 100.
Separations. Separations are the total number of
terminations of employment occurring at any time during the
reference month, and are reported by type of separation—
quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are
voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements,
which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and
discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the
employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal
layoffs lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges
resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other
discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term
employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other
separations include retirements, transfers to other locations,
deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not
include transfers within the same location or employees on
strike.
The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of
separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by
100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations
rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by
employment and multiplying by 100.
Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of
hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total
separations are released with the January news release each year.
The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs
and discharges, other separations, and total separations are
the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate
estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the
Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average
employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This
figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly
rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are
rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates
are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates
will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data.

Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings
because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time,
measurement for the last business day of each month. Only
jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For
the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout
each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created
by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are
flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total
reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be
created by summing the monthly estimates.
Sample methodology
The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000
nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices,
and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in
the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments
are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments
compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of
Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program
includes all employers subject to state Unemployment
Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE).
The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region,
industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample
with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are
controlled to the employment estimates of the Current
Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS
employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data
elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels.
Using JOLTS data
The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and
separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into
panels, with one panel enrolled each month. A full complement
of panels for the original data series based on the 1987 Standard
Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely
enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental
panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates
were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data
collected up until those points are from less than a full sample.
Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with
caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting data at that time.
In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and
separations data were revised to address possible
underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations
estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be
comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later.
The federal government reorganization that involved
transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new
Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS
hires and separations estimates for the federal government.
The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these
transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is
intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between
establishments. The Department of Homeland Security
reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion
of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal
government time series.
Seasonal adjustment
BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the
X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal
adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic
fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,
and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal
adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in
the level of the series, particularly those associated with
general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent
seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new
seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using
all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current
month.
Prior to the January 2007 benchmark release in March 2007,
seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series was conducted using
the stable seasonal filter option since there were not enough data
observations available for the standard use of moving averages
as seasonal filters. Although the seasonal adjustment of the
JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is
customary, the number of observations is now above the minimum
required by X-12-ARIMA to use the normal seasonal filters.
Therefore, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal
filters is now in place for JOLTS seasonal adjustment. JOLTS
seasonal adjustment now includes both additive and
multiplicative seasonal adjustment models and REGARIMA
(regression with autocorrelated errors) modeling to improve the
seasonal adjustment factors at the beginning and end of the
series and to detect and adjust for outliers in the series. Due to
the improved diagnostics, three additional industries are now
seasonally adjusted: retail trade, accommodations and food
services, and state and local government. It is expected that more
series may be seasonally adjusted when more data are
available.
Reliability of the estimates
JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and
nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire
population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample
estimates may differ from the “true” population values they
represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this
variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of
confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or
level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true”

population value because of sampling error. Estimates of
sampling errors are available upon request.
The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling
error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability
to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or
unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,
mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or
processing of the data, and errors from the employment
benchmark data used in estimation.
JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to
exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.
Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in
payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,
especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for

payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the
month, while the reference period for hires and separations is
the calendar month; and 2) payroll employment can vary from
month to month simply because part-time and on-call workers
may not always work during the pay period that includes the
12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to
hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their
payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be
about 2 percent or less over a 12-month period.
Other information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory
impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200;
TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339.

Table 1. Job openings levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
July
2006

Feb.
2007

Levels 3 (in thousands)
Mar.
Apr.
May
2007
2007
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

Feb.
2007

Mar.
2007

Rates
Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

Total 4…………………………………………… 3,891

4,149

4,176

4,170

4,095

4,280

4,225

2.8

2.9

2.9

2.9

2.9

3.0

3.0

3,666
229
330
660
378
642
670
566
511
482
438

3,702
152
316
677
375
758
685
574
506
470
430

3,683
154
350
669
389
735
706
512
453
488
439

3,627
157
345
609
337
654
703
571
500
468
424

3,810
139
344
676
409
763
711
568
497
465
424

3,749
170
339
660
404
751
714
533
479
475
429

2.9
2.0
2.1
2.4
2.5
3.2
3.6
3.6
3.9
2.2
2.2

3.1
2.9
2.3
2.4
2.4
3.5
3.6
4.0
4.3
2.1
2.2

3.1
1.9
2.2
2.5
2.4
4.1
3.6
4.1
4.2
2.1
2.2

3.1
2.0
2.4
2.5
2.5
4.0
3.7
3.7
3.8
2.1
2.2

3.0
2.0
2.4
2.3
2.1
3.5
3.7
4.0
4.1
2.1
2.1

3.2
1.8
2.4
2.5
2.6
4.1
3.7
4.0
4.1
2.0
2.1

3.1
2.2
2.4
2.4
2.6
4.0
3.7
3.8
4.0
2.1
2.2

717
1,631
783
1,011

703
1,658
797
1,027

675
1,670
779
1,038

674
1,648
799
970

732
1,635
805
1,106

761
1,594
755
1,112

2.7
3.0
2.2
2.9

2.7
3.2
2.4
3.2

2.7
3.3
2.4
3.2

2.6
3.3
2.4
3.3

2.5
3.2
2.4
3.1

2.8
3.2
2.5
3.5

2.9
3.1
2.3
3.5

Industry and region

INDUSTRY
Total private 4………………………………… 3,404
Construction………………………………… 153
Manufacturing……………………………… 311
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5……… 646
Retail trade………………………………
392
Professional and business services……… 574
Education and health services…………… 667
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...… 497
Accommodations and food services…… 450
Government 7………………………………… 485
State and local government…………….… 442
REGION 8
Northeast…………………………………… 717
South…………………………………………1,527
Midwest……………………………………… 723
West………………………………………… 923

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
July
2006

Feb.
2007

Levels 3 (in thousands)
Mar.
Apr.
May
2007
2007
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

Feb.
2007

Mar.
2007

Rates
Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

Total 4…………………………………………… 5,141

4,815

4,815

4,832

4,982

4,741

4,816

3.8

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.6

3.4

3.5

4,509
298
371
1,018
695
953
518
934
778
379
317

4,416
356
318
1,006
691
881
497
867
726
404
313

4,423
330
350
1,028
706
828
507
903
811
421
333

4,503
351
356
1,044
715
935
507
873
755
409
330

4,335
358
355
910
605
865
493
854
736
395
312

4,453
411
356
919
617
921
500
834
713
392
297

4.2
4.9
2.7
4.2
5.0
5.4
3.2
6.5
6.5
1.7
1.6

3.9
3.9
2.6
3.9
4.5
5.3
2.9
7.0
6.8
1.7
1.6

3.8
4.6
2.3
3.8
4.5
4.9
2.7
6.4
6.3
1.8
1.6

3.8
4.3
2.5
3.9
4.6
4.6
2.8
6.7
7.0
1.9
1.7

3.9
4.6
2.5
3.9
4.6
5.2
2.8
6.5
6.5
1.8
1.7

3.7
4.7
2.5
3.4
3.9
4.8
2.7
6.3
6.4
1.8
1.6

3.8
5.4
2.5
3.5
4.0
5.1
2.7
6.1
6.1
1.8
1.5

709
1,837
1,184
1,156

740
1,835
1,105
1,157

759
1,894
1,069
1,122

705
1,960
1,101
1,143

684
1,842
1,082
1,117

752
1,853
1,048
1,152

3.5
4.0
3.5
4.0

2.8
3.7
3.7
3.8

2.9
3.7
3.5
3.8

2.9
3.8
3.4
3.6

2.7
4.0
3.5
3.7

2.6
3.7
3.4
3.6

2.9
3.7
3.3
3.7

Industry and region

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………… 4,835
Construction………………………………… 377
Manufacturing……………………………… 377
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5……… 1,095
Retail trade………………………………
767
Professional and business services……… 942
Education and health services…………… 570
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...… 851
Accommodations and food services…… 731
Government 7………………………………… 372
State and local government…………….… 299
REGION 8
Northeast…………………………………… 881
South…………………………………………1,940
Midwest………………………………………1,103
West………………………………………… 1,222
1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
3
Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal
adjustment of the various series.
4
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
2

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
July
2006

Feb.
2007

Levels 3 (in thousands)
Mar.
Apr.
May
2007
2007
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

Feb.
2007

Mar.
2007

Rates
Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

Total 4…………………………………………… 4,643

4,556

4,741

4,524

4,544

4,543

4,479

3.4

3.3

3.4

3.3

3.3

3.3

3.2

4,263
322
422
943
656
862
419
835
697
294
243

4,417
344
400
974
682
876
429
846
702
315
238

4,227
360
380
975
678
805
414
861
720
311
241

4,233
346
396
950
685
775
437
833
715
315
239

4,234
363
382
974
688
728
473
850
730
310
239

4,135
366
372
990
697
768
396
815
702
326
249

3.8
5.7
2.6
3.8
4.4
4.6
2.5
6.2
6.2
1.5
1.4

3.7
4.2
3.0
3.6
4.3
4.8
2.3
6.2
6.1
1.3
1.2

3.8
4.5
2.8
3.7
4.4
4.9
2.4
6.3
6.1
1.4
1.2

3.7
4.7
2.7
3.7
4.4
4.5
2.3
6.4
6.3
1.4
1.2

3.7
4.5
2.8
3.6
4.5
4.3
2.4
6.2
6.2
1.4
1.2

3.7
4.7
2.7
3.7
4.5
4.1
2.6
6.3
6.3
1.4
1.2

3.6
4.8
2.6
3.7
4.5
4.3
2.2
6.0
6.0
1.5
1.3

675
1,763
1,054
1,041

667
1,829
1,006
1,165

640
1,904
981
1,040

642
1,798
1,024
1,062

634
1,699
1,033
1,191

621
1,787
987
1,126

3.1
3.7
3.3
3.4

2.6
3.6
3.3
3.4

2.6
3.7
3.2
3.8

2.5
3.9
3.1
3.4

2.5
3.6
3.2
3.4

2.5
3.4
3.2
3.9

2.4
3.6
3.1
3.7

Industry and region

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………… 4,304
Construction………………………………… 438
Manufacturing……………………………… 368
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5……… 985
Retail trade………………………………
680
Professional and business services……… 807
Education and health services…………… 445
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...… 817
Accommodations and food services…… 692
Government 7………………………………… 327
State and local government…………….… 269
REGION 8
Northeast…………………………………… 780
South…………………………………………1,810
Midwest………………………………………1,043
West………………………………………… 1,022

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

July
2006

Feb.
2007

Levels 3 (in thousands)
Mar.
Apr.
May
2007
2007
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

Feb.
2007

Mar.
2007

Rates
Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007

July
2007p

Total 4…………………………………………… 2,668

2,705

2,763

2,637

2,686

2,627

2,636

2.0

2.0

2.0

1.9

1.9

1.9

1.9

2,571
120
212
606
438
486
280
579
531
139
117

2,591
131
216
608
428
461
267
590
539
155
130

2,486
126
199
600
440
418
274
592
542
153
129

2,530
124
216
606
445
424
284
551
503
157
130

2,475
129
195
618
448
411
271
595
540
152
123

2,483
157
180
586
440
444
267
576
526
152
128

2.2
2.2
1.3
2.3
2.9
2.4
1.5
4.1
4.5
.7
.7

2.2
1.6
1.5
2.3
2.9
2.7
1.5
4.3
4.6
.6
.6

2.2
1.7
1.5
2.3
2.8
2.6
1.5
4.4
4.7
.7
.7

2.2
1.6
1.4
2.3
2.9
2.3
1.5
4.4
4.7
.7
.7

2.2
1.6
1.5
2.3
2.9
2.4
1.6
4.1
4.3
.7
.7

2.1
1.7
1.4
2.3
2.9
2.3
1.5
4.4
4.7
.7
.6

2.1
2.1
1.3
2.2
2.9
2.5
1.5
4.2
4.5
.7
.7

322
1,152
599
629

352
1,150
588
665

350
1,163
544
590

331
1,162
551
643

380
1,049
555
648

323
1,130
530
649

1.5
2.3
1.8
2.0

1.3
2.3
1.9
2.0

1.4
2.3
1.9
2.2

1.4
2.4
1.7
1.9

1.3
2.4
1.7
2.1

1.5
2.1
1.7
2.1

1.3
2.3
1.7
2.1

Industry and region

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………… 2,506
Construction………………………………… 168
Manufacturing……………………………… 189
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5……… 600
Retail trade………………………………
451
Professional and business services……… 423
Education and health services…………… 271
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...… 544
Accommodations and food services…… 502
Government 7………………………………… 163
State and local government…………….… 138
REGION 8
Northeast…………………………………… 387
South…………………………………………1,117
Midwest……………………………………… 559
West………………………………………… 602
1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
3
Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent
seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4
Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities,
and other services, not shown separately.
2

5
Includes wholesale trade and transportation, warehousing, and utilities,
not shown separately.
6
Includes arts, entertainment, and recreation, not shown separately.
7
Includes federal government, not shown separately.
8
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.

Table 5. Job openings levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

Total……………………………………………………… 4,046

4,355

4,362

2.9

3.0

3.1

3,838
13
160
353
214
139
670
150
393
127
148
255
201
55
786
718
76
642
569
69
500
165

3,846
12
201
351
222
129
666
128
406
131
126
260
196
63
773
720
70
650
573
67
505
165

3.0
1.9
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.0
2.4
2.1
2.5
2.7
4.8
2.7
2.8
2.4
3.2
3.7
2.4
3.9
3.8
2.5
4.0
2.8

3.2
1.7
2.0
2.4
2.3
2.6
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.4
4.5
2.9
3.1
2.4
4.2
3.8
2.7
4.0
3.9
3.0
4.0
2.9

3.2
1.6
2.5
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.5
2.1
2.6
2.5
3.9
2.9
3.0
2.7
4.1
3.8
2.6
4.1
3.9
2.9
4.0
2.9

524
46
478

517
38
479

516
50
466

2.5
1.6
2.6

2.3
1.4
2.4

2.4
1.8
2.5

728
1,599
779
939

739
1,632
812
1,172

780
1,633
809
1,140

2.8
3.2
2.4
3.0

2.8
3.2
2.5
3.6

2.9
3.2
2.5
3.6

INDUSTRY
Total private…………………………………………… 3,522
13
Natural resources and mining……………………
174
Construction…………………………………………
324
Manufacturing………………………………………
218
Durable goods...…………………………………
Nondurable goods...……………………………
106
Trade, transportation, and utilities………………
656
125
Wholesale trade…………………………………
Retail trade………………………………………
392
138
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……
154
Information…………………………………………
234
Financial activities……..……………………………
Finance and insurance…………………………
180
54
Real estate and rental and leasing……………
590
Professional and business services………………
673
Education and health services……………………
63
Educational services……………………………
610
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...…………
544
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………
57
Accommodations and food services……………
487
159
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.
The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment
plus job openings.
3
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2

Table 6. Hires levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

Total……………………………………………………… 5,385

5,702

5,037

4.0

4.1

3.7

5,180
34
461
413
250
163
1,002
184
662
156
85
269
198
72
953
588
87
501
1,110
186
924
265

4,615
24
438
390
208
182
879
149
593
138
76
223
141
83
952
530
89
441
855
126
729
247

4.3
3.1
4.8
2.9
2.7
3.3
4.1
2.7
4.9
3.4
3.4
3.2
2.9
4.2
5.4
3.6
3.2
3.6
6.5
6.2
6.5
3.8

4.4
4.6
5.8
2.9
2.8
3.1
3.8
3.0
4.3
3.1
2.7
3.2
3.1
3.2
5.3
3.2
3.1
3.3
7.8
8.3
7.8
4.8

4.0
3.3
5.5
2.8
2.3
3.5
3.3
2.5
3.9
2.7
2.4
2.6
2.2
3.7
5.3
2.9
3.4
2.9
6.0
5.5
6.1
4.4

407
76
331

522
107
415

422
112
310

2.0
2.8
1.8

2.4
3.9
2.1

2.0
4.1
1.7

973
2,008
1,110
1,294

857
2,164
1,327
1,353

855
1,913
1,034
1,235

3.8
4.1
3.5
4.2

3.3
4.3
4.1
4.3

3.3
3.9
3.3
4.0

INDUSTRY
Total private…………………………………………… 4,978
22
Natural resources and mining……………………
387
Construction…………………………………………
413
Manufacturing………………………………………
239
Durable goods...…………………………………
Nondurable goods...……………………………
174
Trade, transportation, and utilities………………
1,085
159
Wholesale trade…………………………………
Retail trade………………………………………
754
171
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……
105
Information…………………………………………
273
Financial activities……..……………………………
Finance and insurance…………………………
179
93
Real estate and rental and leasing……………
966
Professional and business services………………
623
Education and health services……………………
82
Educational services……………………………
541
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...…………
894
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………
138
Accommodations and food services……………
756
210
Other services………………………………………
Government……………………………………………
Federal………………………………………………
State and local…………….………………………
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………
South…………………………………………………
Midwest………………………………………………
West…………………………………………………

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2

Table 7. Total separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

Total……………………………………………………… 4,862

4,823

4,666

3.6

3.5

3.4

4,364
20
330
384
239
144
971
172
676
123
81
206
149
57
741
566
121
445
862
88
774
205

4,222
26
341
380
214
166
971
158
676
137
61
207
150
56
825
435
57
377
817
83
734
159

3.8
2.3
4.8
2.7
2.7
2.7
3.6
2.8
4.2
2.8
2.7
2.9
2.3
4.3
5.0
2.9
3.6
2.7
6.0
4.5
6.2
2.9

3.7
2.7
4.2
2.7
2.7
2.8
3.7
2.8
4.4
2.4
2.6
2.4
2.4
2.5
4.1
3.1
4.3
2.9
6.1
3.9
6.5
3.7

3.6
3.5
4.3
2.7
2.4
3.2
3.7
2.6
4.4
2.7
2.0
2.4
2.4
2.5
4.6
2.4
2.1
2.5
5.7
3.6
6.1
2.9

429
70
359

459
91
368

443
95
349

2.1
2.5
2.0

2.1
3.3
1.9

2.1
3.5
1.9

781
1,933
1,095
1,053

690
1,783
1,060
1,290

620
1,899
999
1,148

3.1
4.0
3.5
3.5

2.7
3.6
3.3
4.1

2.4
3.8
3.1
3.7

INDUSTRY
Total private…………………………………………… 4,433
16
Natural resources and mining……………………
386
Construction…………………………………………
384
Manufacturing………………………………………
241
Durable goods...…………………………………
Nondurable goods...……………………………
143
Trade, transportation, and utilities………………
956
168
Wholesale trade…………………………………
Retail trade………………………………………
646
142
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……
82
Information…………………………………………
241
Financial activities……..……………………………
Finance and insurance…………………………
145
96
Real estate and rental and leasing……………
886
Professional and business services………………
502
Education and health services……………………
92
Educational services……………………………
410
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...…………
823
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………
101
Accommodations and food services……………
722
158
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.
The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2

Table 8. Quits levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

Total……………………………………………………… 2,917

2,843

2,855

2.1

2.0

2.1

2,636
13
140
205
117
88
633
113
450
69
50
131
100
31
423
307
46
261
615
46
569
119

2,661
17
183
202
107
94
591
69
444
78
42
116
91
25
480
290
35
256
636
59
578
103

2.4
1.4
2.3
1.5
1.4
1.7
2.4
1.4
3.0
1.6
2.0
1.8
1.6
2.5
2.6
1.7
1.6
1.7
4.3
2.2
4.8
2.0

2.3
1.8
1.8
1.5
1.3
1.7
2.4
1.9
2.9
1.4
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.4
2.3
1.7
1.6
1.7
4.3
2.1
4.8
2.1

2.3
2.2
2.3
1.4
1.2
1.8
2.2
1.1
2.9
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.1
2.7
1.6
1.3
1.7
4.5
2.6
4.8
1.9

206
33
173

207
30
176

195
33
162

1.0
1.2
1.0

.9
1.1
.9

.9
1.2
.9

435
1,235
591
657

400
1,127
579
737

357
1,247
541
710

1.7
2.5
1.9
2.2

1.5
2.3
1.8
2.4

1.4
2.5
1.7
2.3

INDUSTRY
Total private…………………………………………… 2,711
10
Natural resources and mining……………………
185
Construction…………………………………………
217
Manufacturing………………………………………
130
Durable goods...…………………………………
Nondurable goods...……………………………
87
Trade, transportation, and utilities………………
618
81
Wholesale trade…………………………………
Retail trade………………………………………
456
80
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……
61
Information…………………………………………
152
Financial activities……..……………………………
Finance and insurance…………………………
97
55
Real estate and rental and leasing……………
462
Professional and business services………………
297
Education and health services……………………
40
Educational services……………………………
257
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...…………
601
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………
49
Accommodations and food services……………
553
109
Other services………………………………………
Government……………………………………………
Federal………………………………………………
State and local…………….………………………
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………
South…………………………………………………
Midwest………………………………………………
West…………………………………………………

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.
The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2

Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

Total……………………………………………………… 1,531

1,562

1,462

1.1

1.1

1.1

1,430
3
178
134
85
49
246
42
168
36
19
58
40
19
272
218
68
150
226
39
187
74

1,304
6
144
157
94
63
317
78
192
48
13
70
44
25
303
111
17
94
146
21
125
38

1.2
.4
2.2
.9
.9
.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
.9
.5
.7
.4
1.6
2.0
.9
1.9
.7
1.4
2.2
1.3
.7

1.2
.5
2.2
1.0
1.0
.9
.9
.7
1.1
.7
.6
.7
.6
.8
1.5
1.2
2.5
1.0
1.6
1.8
1.6
1.3

1.1
.8
1.8
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.2
.9
.4
.8
.7
1.1
1.7
.6
.6
.6
1.0
.9
1.0
.7

149
21
128

132
26
106

158
26
133

.7
.7
.7

.6
1.0
.5

.8
.9
.7

276
553
384
318

217
528
365
452

204
536
368
355

1.1
1.1
1.2
1.0

.8
1.1
1.1
1.4

.8
1.1
1.2
1.1

INDUSTRY
Total private…………………………………………… 1,382
3
Natural resources and mining……………………
179
Construction…………………………………………
127
Manufacturing………………………………………
81
Durable goods...…………………………………
Nondurable goods...……………………………
46
Trade, transportation, and utilities………………
254
58
Wholesale trade…………………………………
Retail trade………………………………………
149
47
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……
16
Information…………………………………………
61
Financial activities……..……………………………
Finance and insurance…………………………
25
36
Real estate and rental and leasing……………
351
Professional and business services………………
157
Education and health services……………………
48
Educational services……………………………
109
Health care and social assistance………………
Leisure and hospitality………………...…………
198
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………
50
Accommodations and food services……………
148
37
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.
The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total
employment.
3
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2

Table 10. Other separations levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

July
2006

June
2007

July
2007p

414

419

348

0.3

0.3

0.3

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………………………………………

340
3
22
41
30
10
84
28
41
15
5
28
23
6
74
47
3
44
24
2
22
11

298
3
12
44
36
7
92
16
58
18
12
16
9
7
47
41
7
34
21
2
19
11

258
4
14
22
13
9
63
11
40
11
6
21
15
6
42
33
6
28
35
4
31
18

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

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

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

Government……………………………………………
Federal………………………………………………
State and local…………….………………………

74
17
58

121
34
86

90
36
54

.4
.6
.3

.5
1.3
.4

.4
1.3
.3

71
145
121
77

73
128
116
101

60
116
90
83

.3
.3
.4
.3

.3
.3
.4
.3

.2
.2
.3
.3

Total………………………………………………………
INDUSTRY

REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………
South…………………………………………………
Midwest………………………………………………
West…………………………………………………

1

Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2