Full text of July 2007 : Text File, USDL-07-1381
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Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 07-1381
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: 691-5902 Tuesday, September 11, 2007
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 esti-
mates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the
total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
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 open-
ings rate did not change significantly in July in any industry or region.
The seasonally adjusted job openings rate was highest in July in profes-
sional 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 manu-
facturing 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 per-
cent). (See table 2.)
From July 2006 to July 2007, the hires rate rose in federal government.
The hires rate fell in retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and util-
ities; 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 experi-
ence a significant change in the separations rate was education and health
services. None of the regions experienced a significant change in the sep-
arations rate. From July 2006 to July 2007, the total separations rate in-
creased 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.)
- 2 -
Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | July | June | July | July | June | July | July | June | July
| 2006 | 2007 | 2007p| 2006 | 2007 | 2007p| 2006 | 2007 | 2007p
---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total (1)............|3,891 |4,280 |4,225 |5,141 |4,741 |4,816 |4,643 |4,543 |4,479
| | | | | | | | |
Total private (1)..|3,404 |3,810 |3,749 |4,835 |4,335 |4,453 |4,304 |4,234 |4,135
Construction.....| 153 | 139 | 170 | 377 | 358 | 411 | 438 | 363 | 366
Manufacturing....| 311 | 344 | 339 | 377 | 355 | 356 | 368 | 382 | 372
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities (2)...| 646 | 676 | 660 |1,095 | 910 | 919 | 985 | 974 | 990
Retail trade....| 392 | 409 | 404 | 767 | 605 | 617 | 680 | 688 | 697
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 574 | 763 | 751 | 942 | 865 | 921 | 807 | 728 | 768
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices...........| 667 | 711 | 714 | 570 | 493 | 500 | 445 | 473 | 396
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality (3) | 497 | 568 | 533 | 851 | 854 | 834 | 817 | 850 | 815
Accommodations | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 450 | 497 | 479 | 731 | 736 | 713 | 692 | 730 | 702
Government (4).....| 485 | 465 | 475 | 372 | 395 | 392 | 327 | 310 | 326
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government......| 442 | 424 | 429 | 299 | 312 | 297 | 269 | 239 | 249
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total (1)............| 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.2
| | | | | | | | |
Total private (1)..| 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.6
Construction.....| 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 4.8
Manufacturing....| 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.6
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and | | | | | | | | |
utilities (2)...| 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7
Retail trade....| 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services........| 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.3
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices...........| 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.2
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality (3) | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 6.5 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.0
Accommodations | | | | | | | | |
and food | | | | | | | | |
services.......| 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.0
Government (4).....| 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.5
State and local | | | | | | | | |
government......| 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
- 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 busi-
ness services (1.7 percent). From July 2006 to July 2007, the other sepa-
rations 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 ob-
tained 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.
- 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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July
2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 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
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 3,404 3,666 3,702 3,683 3,627 3,810 3,749 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.1
Construction............................. 153 229 152 154 157 139 170 2.0 2.9 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.8 2.2
Manufacturing............................ 311 330 316 350 345 344 339 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 646 660 677 669 609 676 660 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.4
Retail trade............................ 392 378 375 389 337 409 404 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.1 2.6 2.6
Professional and business services....... 574 642 758 735 654 763 751 3.2 3.5 4.1 4.0 3.5 4.1 4.0
Education and health services............ 667 670 685 706 703 711 714 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 497 566 574 512 571 568 533 3.6 4.0 4.1 3.7 4.0 4.0 3.8
Accommodations and food services........ 450 511 506 453 500 497 479 3.9 4.3 4.2 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.0
Government (7)............................ 485 482 470 488 468 465 475 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.1
State and local government............... 442 438 430 439 424 424 429 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.2
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 717 717 703 675 674 732 761 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.8 2.9
South.................................... 1,527 1,631 1,658 1,670 1,648 1,635 1,594 3.0 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.1
Midwest.................................. 723 783 797 779 799 805 755 2.2 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.3
West..................................... 923 1,011 1,027 1,038 970 1,106 1,112 2.9 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.1 3.5 3.5
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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July
2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 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
INDUSTRY
Total private .(4)........................ 4,835 4,509 4,416 4,423 4,503 4,335 4,453 4.2 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.8
Construction............................. 377 298 356 330 351 358 411 4.9 3.9 4.6 4.3 4.6 4.7 5.4
Manufacturing............................ 377 371 318 350 356 355 356 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 1,095 1,018 1,006 1,028 1,044 910 919 4.2 3.9 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.4 3.5
Retail trade............................ 767 695 691 706 715 605 617 5.0 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.6 3.9 4.0
Professional and business services....... 942 953 881 828 935 865 921 5.4 5.3 4.9 4.6 5.2 4.8 5.1
Education and health services............ 570 518 497 507 507 493 500 3.2 2.9 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.7
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 851 934 867 903 873 854 834 6.5 7.0 6.4 6.7 6.5 6.3 6.1
Accommodations and food services........ 731 778 726 811 755 736 713 6.5 6.8 6.3 7.0 6.5 6.4 6.1
Government (7)............................ 372 379 404 421 409 395 392 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8
State and local government............... 299 317 313 333 330 312 297 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.5
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 881 709 740 759 705 684 752 3.5 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.9
South.................................... 1,940 1,837 1,835 1,894 1,960 1,842 1,853 4.0 3.7 3.7 3.8 4.0 3.7 3.7
Midwest.................................. 1,103 1,184 1,105 1,069 1,101 1,082 1,048 3.5 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.5 3.4 3.3
West..................................... 1,222 1,156 1,157 1,122 1,143 1,117 1,152 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.6 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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July
2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 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
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 4,304 4,263 4,417 4,227 4,233 4,234 4,135 3.8 3.7 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6
Construction............................. 438 322 344 360 346 363 366 5.7 4.2 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.7 4.8
Manufacturing............................ 368 422 400 380 396 382 372 2.6 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7 2.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 985 943 974 975 950 974 990 3.8 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7
Retail trade............................ 680 656 682 678 685 688 697 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5
Professional and business services....... 807 862 876 805 775 728 768 4.6 4.8 4.9 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.3
Education and health services............ 445 419 429 414 437 473 396 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.4 2.6 2.2
Leisure and hospitality(6)............... 817 835 846 861 833 850 815 6.2 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.2 6.3 6.0
Accommodations and food services........ 692 697 702 720 715 730 702 6.2 6.1 6.1 6.3 6.2 6.3 6.0
Government(7)............................. 327 294 315 311 315 310 326 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5
State and local government............... 269 243 238 241 239 239 249 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3
REGION(8)
Northeast................................ 780 675 667 640 642 634 621 3.1 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.4
South.................................... 1,810 1,763 1,829 1,904 1,798 1,699 1,787 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.9 3.6 3.4 3.6
Midwest.................................. 1,043 1,054 1,006 981 1,024 1,033 987 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.1
West..................................... 1,022 1,041 1,165 1,040 1,062 1,191 1,126 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.4 3.4 3.9 3.7
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 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 July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July July Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July
2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 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
INDUSTRY
Total private (4)......................... 2,506 2,571 2,591 2,486 2,530 2,475 2,483 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.1 2.1
Construction............................. 168 120 131 126 124 129 157 2.2 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.7 2.1
Manufacturing............................ 189 212 216 199 216 195 180 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities (5). 600 606 608 600 606 618 586 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.2
Retail trade............................ 451 438 428 440 445 448 440 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9
Professional and business services....... 423 486 461 418 424 411 444 2.4 2.7 2.6 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5
Education and health services............ 271 280 267 274 284 271 267 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5
Leisure and hospitality (6).............. 544 579 590 592 551 595 576 4.1 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.1 4.4 4.2
Accommodations and food services........ 502 531 539 542 503 540 526 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.3 4.7 4.5
Government (7)............................ 163 139 155 153 157 152 152 .7 .6 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7
State and local government............... 138 117 130 129 130 123 128 .7 .6 .7 .7 .7 .6 .7
REGION (8)
Northeast................................ 387 322 352 350 331 380 323 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.3
South.................................... 1,117 1,152 1,150 1,163 1,162 1,049 1,130 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.1 2.3
Midwest.................................. 559 599 588 544 551 555 530 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7
West..................................... 602 629 665 590 643 648 649 2.0 2.0 2.2 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.1
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 July June July July June July
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 4,046 4,355 4,362 2.9 3.0 3.1
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,522 3,838 3,846 3.0 3.2 3.2
Natural resources and mining.................. 13 13 12 1.9 1.7 1.6
Construction.................................. 174 160 201 2.1 2.0 2.5
Manufacturing................................. 324 353 351 2.2 2.4 2.4
Durable goods................................ 218 214 222 2.4 2.3 2.4
Nondurable goods............................. 106 139 129 2.0 2.6 2.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 656 670 666 2.4 2.5 2.5
Wholesale trade.............................. 125 150 128 2.1 2.4 2.1
Retail trade................................. 392 393 406 2.5 2.5 2.6
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 138 127 131 2.7 2.4 2.5
Information................................... 154 148 126 4.8 4.5 3.9
Financial activities.......................... 234 255 260 2.7 2.9 2.9
Finance and insurance........................ 180 201 196 2.8 3.1 3.0
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 54 55 63 2.4 2.4 2.7
Professional and business services............ 590 786 773 3.2 4.2 4.1
Education and health services................. 673 718 720 3.7 3.8 3.8
Educational services......................... 63 76 70 2.4 2.7 2.6
Health care and social assistance............ 610 642 650 3.9 4.0 4.1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 544 569 573 3.8 3.9 3.9
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 57 69 67 2.5 3.0 2.9
Accommodations and food services............. 487 500 505 4.0 4.0 4.0
Other services................................ 159 165 165 2.8 2.9 2.9
Government..................................... 524 517 516 2.5 2.3 2.4
Federal....................................... 46 38 50 1.6 1.4 1.8
State and local............................... 478 479 466 2.6 2.4 2.5
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 728 739 780 2.8 2.8 2.9
South......................................... 1,599 1,632 1,633 3.2 3.2 3.2
Midwest....................................... 779 812 809 2.4 2.5 2.5
West.......................................... 939 1,172 1,140 3.0 3.6 3.6
1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
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 July June July July June July
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 5,385 5,702 5,037 4.0 4.1 3.7
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,978 5,180 4,615 4.3 4.4 4.0
Natural resources and mining.................. 22 34 24 3.1 4.6 3.3
Construction.................................. 387 461 438 4.8 5.8 5.5
Manufacturing................................. 413 413 390 2.9 2.9 2.8
Durable goods................................ 239 250 208 2.7 2.8 2.3
Nondurable goods............................. 174 163 182 3.3 3.1 3.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 1,085 1,002 879 4.1 3.8 3.3
Wholesale trade.............................. 159 184 149 2.7 3.0 2.5
Retail trade................................. 754 662 593 4.9 4.3 3.9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 171 156 138 3.4 3.1 2.7
Information................................... 105 85 76 3.4 2.7 2.4
Financial activities.......................... 273 269 223 3.2 3.2 2.6
Finance and insurance........................ 179 198 141 2.9 3.1 2.2
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 93 72 83 4.2 3.2 3.7
Professional and business services............ 966 953 952 5.4 5.3 5.3
Education and health services................. 623 588 530 3.6 3.2 2.9
Educational services......................... 82 87 89 3.2 3.1 3.4
Health care and social assistance............ 541 501 441 3.6 3.3 2.9
Leisure and hospitality....................... 894 1,110 855 6.5 7.8 6.0
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 138 186 126 6.2 8.3 5.5
Accommodations and food services............. 756 924 729 6.5 7.8 6.1
Other services................................ 210 265 247 3.8 4.8 4.4
Government..................................... 407 522 422 2.0 2.4 2.0
Federal....................................... 76 107 112 2.8 3.9 4.1
State and local............................... 331 415 310 1.8 2.1 1.7
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 973 857 855 3.8 3.3 3.3
South......................................... 2,008 2,164 1,913 4.1 4.3 3.9
Midwest....................................... 1,110 1,327 1,034 3.5 4.1 3.3
West.......................................... 1,294 1,353 1,235 4.2 4.3 4.0
1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.
2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
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 July June July July June July
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 4,862 4,823 4,666 3.6 3.5 3.4
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,433 4,364 4,222 3.8 3.7 3.6
Natural resources and mining.................. 16 20 26 2.3 2.7 3.5
Construction.................................. 386 330 341 4.8 4.2 4.3
Manufacturing................................. 384 384 380 2.7 2.7 2.7
Durable goods................................ 241 239 214 2.7 2.7 2.4
Nondurable goods............................. 143 144 166 2.7 2.8 3.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 956 971 971 3.6 3.7 3.7
Wholesale trade.............................. 168 172 158 2.8 2.8 2.6
Retail trade................................. 646 676 676 4.2 4.4 4.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 142 123 137 2.8 2.4 2.7
Information................................... 82 81 61 2.7 2.6 2.0
Financial activities.......................... 241 206 207 2.9 2.4 2.4
Finance and insurance........................ 145 149 150 2.3 2.4 2.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 96 57 56 4.3 2.5 2.5
Professional and business services............ 886 741 825 5.0 4.1 4.6
Education and health services................. 502 566 435 2.9 3.1 2.4
Educational services......................... 92 121 57 3.6 4.3 2.1
Health care and social assistance............ 410 445 377 2.7 2.9 2.5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 823 862 817 6.0 6.1 5.7
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 101 88 83 4.5 3.9 3.6
Accommodations and food services............. 722 774 734 6.2 6.5 6.1
Other services................................ 158 205 159 2.9 3.7 2.9
Government..................................... 429 459 443 2.1 2.1 2.1
Federal....................................... 70 91 95 2.5 3.3 3.5
State and local............................... 359 368 349 2.0 1.9 1.9
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 781 690 620 3.1 2.7 2.4
South......................................... 1,933 1,783 1,899 4.0 3.6 3.8
Midwest....................................... 1,095 1,060 999 3.5 3.3 3.1
West.......................................... 1,053 1,290 1,148 3.5 4.1 3.7
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 July June July July June July
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 2,917 2,843 2,855 2.1 2.0 2.1
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,711 2,636 2,661 2.4 2.3 2.3
Natural resources and mining.................. 10 13 17 1.4 1.8 2.2
Construction.................................. 185 140 183 2.3 1.8 2.3
Manufacturing................................. 217 205 202 1.5 1.5 1.4
Durable goods................................ 130 117 107 1.4 1.3 1.2
Nondurable goods............................. 87 88 94 1.7 1.7 1.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 618 633 591 2.4 2.4 2.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 81 113 69 1.4 1.9 1.1
Retail trade................................. 456 450 444 3.0 2.9 2.9
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 80 69 78 1.6 1.4 1.5
Information................................... 61 50 42 2.0 1.6 1.4
Financial activities.......................... 152 131 116 1.8 1.5 1.4
Finance and insurance........................ 97 100 91 1.6 1.6 1.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 55 31 25 2.5 1.4 1.1
Professional and business services............ 462 423 480 2.6 2.3 2.7
Education and health services................. 297 307 290 1.7 1.7 1.6
Educational services......................... 40 46 35 1.6 1.6 1.3
Health care and social assistance............ 257 261 256 1.7 1.7 1.7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 601 615 636 4.3 4.3 4.5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 49 46 59 2.2 2.1 2.6
Accommodations and food services............. 553 569 578 4.8 4.8 4.8
Other services................................ 109 119 103 2.0 2.1 1.9
Government..................................... 206 207 195 1.0 .9 .9
Federal....................................... 33 30 33 1.2 1.1 1.2
State and local............................... 173 176 162 1.0 .9 .9
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 435 400 357 1.7 1.5 1.4
South......................................... 1,235 1,127 1,247 2.5 2.3 2.5
Midwest....................................... 591 579 541 1.9 1.8 1.7
West.......................................... 657 737 710 2.2 2.4 2.3
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 July June July July June July
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 1,531 1,562 1,462 1.1 1.1 1.1
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,382 1,430 1,304 1.2 1.2 1.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 3 3 6 .4 .5 .8
Construction.................................. 179 178 144 2.2 2.2 1.8
Manufacturing................................. 127 134 157 .9 1.0 1.1
Durable goods................................ 81 85 94 .9 1.0 1.1
Nondurable goods............................. 46 49 63 .9 .9 1.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 254 246 317 1.0 .9 1.2
Wholesale trade.............................. 58 42 78 1.0 .7 1.3
Retail trade................................. 149 168 192 1.0 1.1 1.2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 47 36 48 .9 .7 .9
Information................................... 16 19 13 .5 .6 .4
Financial activities.......................... 61 58 70 .7 .7 .8
Finance and insurance........................ 25 40 44 .4 .6 .7
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 36 19 25 1.6 .8 1.1
Professional and business services............ 351 272 303 2.0 1.5 1.7
Education and health services................. 157 218 111 .9 1.2 .6
Educational services......................... 48 68 17 1.9 2.5 .6
Health care and social assistance............ 109 150 94 .7 1.0 .6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 198 226 146 1.4 1.6 1.0
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 50 39 21 2.2 1.8 .9
Accommodations and food services............. 148 187 125 1.3 1.6 1.0
Other services................................ 37 74 38 .7 1.3 .7
Government..................................... 149 132 158 .7 .6 .8
Federal....................................... 21 26 26 .7 1.0 .9
State and local............................... 128 106 133 .7 .5 .7
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 276 217 204 1.1 .8 .8
South......................................... 553 528 536 1.1 1.1 1.1
Midwest....................................... 384 365 368 1.2 1.1 1.2
West.......................................... 318 452 355 1.0 1.4 1.1
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 July June July July June July
2006 2007 2007p 2006 2007 2007p
Total........................................... 414 419 348 0.3 0.3 0.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 340 298 258 .3 .3 .2
Natural resources and mining.................. 3 3 4 .4 .4 .5
Construction.................................. 22 12 14 .3 .2 .2
Manufacturing................................. 41 44 22 .3 .3 .2
Durable goods................................ 30 36 13 .3 .4 .1
Nondurable goods............................. 10 7 9 .2 .1 .2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 84 92 63 .3 .3 .2
Wholesale trade.............................. 28 16 11 .5 .3 .2
Retail trade................................. 41 58 40 .3 .4 .3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 15 18 11 .3 .4 .2
Information................................... 5 12 6 .2 .4 .2
Financial activities.......................... 28 16 21 .3 .2 .2
Finance and insurance........................ 23 9 15 .4 .1 .2
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 6 7 6 .3 .3 .3
Professional and business services............ 74 47 42 .4 .3 .2
Education and health services................. 47 41 33 .3 .2 .2
Educational services......................... 3 7 6 .1 .2 .2
Health care and social assistance............ 44 34 28 .3 .2 .2
Leisure and hospitality....................... 24 21 35 .2 .1 .2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2 2 4 .1 .1 .2
Accommodations and food services............. 22 19 31 .2 .2 .3
Other services................................ 11 11 18 .2 .2 .3
Government..................................... 74 121 90 .4 .5 .4
Federal....................................... 17 34 36 .6 1.3 1.3
State and local............................... 58 86 54 .3 .4 .3
REGION (3)
Northeast..................................... 71 73 60 .3 .3 .2
South......................................... 145 128 116 .3 .3 .2
Midwest....................................... 121 116 90 .4 .4 .3
West.......................................... 77 101 83 .3 .3 .3
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.