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1

Technical information:

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

Media contact:

USDL 06-1363
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Wednesday, August 9, 2006

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JUNE 2006
The hires and total separations rates edged down, while the job openings rate was essentially unchanged
in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector
by industry and geographic region.
Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
July 2003 - June 2006

Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
July 2003 - June 2006
3.9

3.9
3.7

3.7

3.5

Hires

3.3

3.5
3.1
2.9

3.3

2.7

Separations
3.1

2.5
2.3

2.9

2.1
1.9

2.7
1.7
1.5

2004

2005

2006

2.5
2004

2005

2006

Job Openings
On the last business day of June 2006, there were 4.0 million job openings in the United States, and the
job openings rate was 2.9 percent. The job openings rate was about unchanged over the month and has
been essentially unchanged since November 2005. In June, the job openings rate increased in construction
and government and declined in professional and business services. The industries with the highest seasonally
adjusted job openings rate in June 2006 were education and health services (3.7 percent), leisure and hospitality (3.6 percent), and professional and business services (3.4 percent). (See table 1.)
Over the year, the job openings rate increased in many industries and in three of the four regions—the
Northeast, South, and West. None of the industries or regions experienced a significant decrease in the job
openings rate from the prior year. (See table 5.)
Hires
The hires rate edged down to 3.5 percent in June. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the
month. In June, the hires rate decreased in professional and business services, education and health services,
and in the Northeast and Midwest regions. There were no significant increases in the hires rate in any

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

June
2005

1

Total ........................................................... 3,598
Total private 1...................................... 3,183
Construction .....................................
112
Manufacturing ................................
259
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
636
Professional and business
services .........................................
643
Education and health services .....
601
Leisure and hospitality ..................
493
Government ..........................................
397

May
2006

Hires
May
2006

June
2006 p

June
2006 p

June
2005

3,945
3,496
119
311

4,004
3,509
156
313

Levels (in thousands)
4,949
4,758
4,807
4,471
4,573
4,385
413
374
362
340
385
377

687

663

1,057

1,018

693
651
496
452

611
674
486
478

904
462
892
338

1,006
549
811
379

Total separations
May
June
June
2006
2006 p
2005
4,590
4,321
403
341

4,811
4,488
478
381

4,550
4,263
318
373

1,037

980

1,046

1,042

868
471
843
373

873
412
839
266

833
487
799
324

752
464
781
286

Rates (percent)
1

Total ..........................................................
Total private 1.......................................
Construction ....................................
Manufacturing ................................
Trade, transportation, and
utilities ...........................................
Professional and business
services .........................................
Education and health services .....
Leisure and hospitality ..................
Government ..........................................
1

2.6
2.8
1.5
1.8

2.8
3.0
1.6
2.1

2.9
3.0
2.0
2.2

3.6
4.0
5.7
2.4

3.7
4.0
5.0
2.7

3.5
3.9
4.8
2.6

3.4
3.9
5.5
2.4

3.6
4.0
6.4
2.7

3.4
3.8
4.2
2.6

2.4

2.6

2.5

4.1

3.9

4.0

3.8

4.0

4.0

3.7
3.4
3.7
1.8

3.9
3.6
3.7
2.0

3.4
3.7
3.6
2.1

5.4
2.7
7.0
1.6

5.8
3.1
6.2
1.7

5.0
2.7
6.5
1.7

5.2
2.4
6.6
1.2

4.8
2.8
6.1
1.5

4.4
2.6
6.0
1.3

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.

industry or region. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry
(6.5 percent). (See table 2.)
From June 2005 to June 2006, the hires rate rose in nondurable goods manufacturing, educational services, and state and local government and declined in construction; arts, entertainment, and recreation; and
the federal government. The hires rate did not change significantly over the year in any geographic region.
(See table 6.)
Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate decreased to 3.4 percent in June. Separations are terminations
of employment that occur at any time during the month. In June, the total separations rate decreased in construction, government, and the Midwest region. There were no significant increases in the total separations
rate in any industry or region. (See table 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 about unchanged at 1.9 percent in June. The quits rate decreased in construction, professional and business services, and government. In June, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was

3

highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (4.5 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See
table 4.)
Over the year, the quits rate grew in nondurable goods manufacturing and accommodations and food
services as well as in the South region. The quits rate declined in professional and business services. (See
table 8.)
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not
seasonally adjusted. From June 2005 to June 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate decreased to 1.1 percent. For June 2006, the professional and business services industry had the highest layoffs and discharges
rate (1.9 percent). From June 2005 to June 2006, the other separations rate increased to 0.3 percent.
(See tables 9 and 10.)
Flows in the Labor Market
Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the 12 months ending in
June 2006, hires have averaged 4.8 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month
(not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures for the prior 12-month period were 4.7 million hires and
4.5 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.)
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 July 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,
September 12, 2006.

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

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

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

transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is
intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between
establishments. The Department of Homeland Security
reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion
of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal
government time series.
Seasonal adjustment
BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the
X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal
adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic
fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays,
and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal
adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in
the level of the series, particularly those associated with
general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent
seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new
seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using
all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current
month.
Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the
JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than
is customary. The historical data, therefore, may be subject to
larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in
economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard
use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these
effects requires longer series than are currently available. As
a result, the stable seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal
adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal
factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month
after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes
that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption
until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal
filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be
introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended
diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series,
such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may
be seasonally adjusted when more data are available.
Reliability of the estimates
JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and
nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire
population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample
estimates may differ from the “true” population values they
represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this
variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of
confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or
level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true”
population value because of sampling error. Estimates of
sampling errors are available upon request.

The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling
error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including
the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability
to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or
unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis,
mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or
processing of the data, and errors from the employment
benchmark data used in estimation.
JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to
exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment.
Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in
payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations,
especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for
payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the

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

Table 1. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3

Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

June

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

June

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,598 3,981 3,994 4,089 4,070

3,945

4,004

2.6

2.9

2.9

2.9

2.9

2.8

2.9

3,603
138
323
672
748
674
485
467

3,496
119
311
687
693
651
496
452

3,509
156
313
663
611
674
486
478

2.8
1.5
1.8
2.4
3.7
3.4
3.7
1.8

3.0
1.5
2.2
2.6
4.3
3.4
3.8
2.0

3.0
1.6
2.2
2.5
4.0
3.5
4.3
2.1

3.1
1.9
2.2
2.4
3.9
3.8
3.8
2.0

3.1
1.8
2.2
2.5
4.2
3.7
3.6
2.1

3.0
1.6
2.1
2.6
3.9
3.6
3.7
2.0

3.0
2.0
2.2
2.5
3.4
3.7
3.6
2.1

672
1,600
770
1,022

670
1,591
787
918

726
1,536
772
933

2.4
2.8
2.4
2.7

2.8
3.1
2.3
3.0

2.7
3.1
2.5
3.1

2.8
3.3
2.2
3.2

2.6
3.2
2.4
3.3

2.6
3.2
2.4
3.0

2.8
3.1
2.4
3.0

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
3,183 3,533 3,531 3,633
Construction………………………………………………………………
112
114
121

144
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
259
324
318
318
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
636
687
660
651
Professional and business services…………………….
643
777
716
702
Education and health services………………………………………….
601
627
640
692
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
493
507
587
506
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
397
449
460
458
REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
628
740
707

732

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,360 1,550 1,547 1,634
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
750
745
797
721
West…………………………………………………………………………..
828
928
957

1

985

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

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

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

North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,

day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings.

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,

3

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

Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent

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

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

Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington,
and Wyoming.
p
= preliminary.

and other services, not shown separately.
5

The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise

the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and
Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia,

Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

Rates

June

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

June

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006

2006p

4,949

4,758

3.6

3.7

3.7

3.6

3.4

3.7

3.5

4,301
376
328
1,029
858
481
775
361

4,573
374
385
1,018
1,006
549
811
379

4,385
362
377
1,037
868
471
843
373

4.0
5.7
2.4
4.1
5.4
2.7
7.0
1.6

4.1
5.1
2.6
4.5
5.6
2.5
6.6
1.6

4.1
5.4
2.3
4.3
4.9
2.5
7.9
1.7

4.0
4.6
2.4
4.2
5.4
2.5
6.9
1.8

3.8
5.0
2.3
4.0
5.0
2.7
6.0
1.6

4.0
5.0
2.7
3.9
5.8
3.1
6.2
1.7

3.9
4.8
2.6
4.0
5.0
2.7
6.5
1.7

849
1,777
965
1,152

852
1,849
1,133
1,114

716
1,836
1,022
1,177

3.1
3.9
3.3
3.9

2.9
4.1
3.3
4.0

3.2
4.3
3.3
3.6

3.6
3.7
3.5
3.8

3.3
3.7
3.1
3.9

3.3
3.8
3.6
3.7

2.8
3.8
3.2
3.9

4
Total ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,807 4,941 4,954 4,884 4,649

INDUSTRY
Total private4………………………………………………………………………………..
4,471 4,584 4,578 4,503
Construction………………………………………………………………
413
379
403

344
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
340
366
333
341
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
1,057 1,177 1,117 1,103
Professional and business services…………………….
904
953
841
922
Education and health services………………………………………….
462
446
435
435
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
892
847 1,019
899
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
338
352
379
397
REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
779
727
814

914

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,854 1,946 2,061 1,803
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
1,041 1,043 1,045 1,117
West…………………………………………………………………………..
1,137 1,176 1,083

1,127

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

2

The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

5

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

1

2

Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
3

Levels (in thousands)
Industry and region

June
2005

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Rates

Apr.
2006

May
2006

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,590 4,285 4,531 4,681 4,495

June
2006p

June
2005

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Apr.
2006

May
2006

2006p

June

4,811

4,550

3.4

3.2

3.4

3.5

3.3

3.6

3.4

373
346
1,022
790
437
770
302

4,488
478
381
1,046
833
487
799
324

4,263
318
373
1,042
752
464
781
286

3.9
5.5
2.4
3.8
5.2
2.4
6.6
1.2

3.5
5.0
2.5
3.4
4.6
2.0
6.6
1.4

3.8
4.5
2.7
3.8
4.8
2.3
6.8
1.3

3.9
5.6
3.0
3.8
4.6
2.3
5.9
1.5

3.7
5.0
2.4
3.9
4.6
2.5
5.9
1.4

4.0
6.4
2.7
4.0
4.8
2.8
6.1
1.5

3.8
4.2
2.6
4.0
4.4
2.6
6.0
1.3

711
1,710
992
1,116

779
1,828
1,045
1,136

742
1,774
849
1,127

3.1
3.6
2.9
3.8

2.8
3.4
3.1
3.3

2.9
3.5
3.3
3.5

2.8
3.8
3.2
4.0

2.8
3.5
3.2
3.7

3.1
3.8
3.3
3.8

2.9
3.7
2.7
3.8

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Apr.
2006

May
2006

2006p

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
4,321 3,995 4,252 4,360 4,203
Construction………………………………………………………………
403
374
335

422
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
341
353
380
427
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
980
880
997
989
Professional and business services…………………….
873
780
826
798
Education and health services………………………………………….
412
353
403
399
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
839
848
881
769
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
266
300
285
326
REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
785
701
736

714

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,708 1,653 1,694 1,810
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
918
987 1,032 1,014
West…………………………………………………………………………..
1,120
970 1,054 1,188

1

Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.

2

The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

5

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

1

2

Table 4. Quits levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels3 (in thousands)
Industry and region

June
2005

Jan.
2006

Feb.
2006

Mar.
2006

Rates

Apr.
2006

May
2006

June
2006p

June
2005

June

Total4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,541 2,577 2,663 2,763 2,541

2,723

2,614

1.9

1.9

2.0

2.0

1.9

2.0

1.9

167
175
613
409
253
535
159

2,565
207
202
622
434
276
533
159

2,478
159
191
594
357
286
588
137

2.2
2.0
1.3
2.3
2.5
1.5
3.9
.6

2.2
2.4
1.4
2.1
2.4
1.3
4.4
.7

2.2
2.0
1.4
2.3
2.5
1.6
4.7
.6

2.3
2.4
1.4
2.3
2.5
1.5
4.3
.7

2.1
2.2
1.2
2.4
2.4
1.4
4.1
.7

2.3
2.8
1.4
2.4
2.5
1.6
4.1
.7

2.2
2.1
1.3
2.3
2.1
1.6
4.5
.6

370
1,026
575
593

370
1,152
581
612

349
1,120
535
615

1.4
2.1
1.7
2.2

1.5
2.2
1.8
1.9

1.4
2.3
1.9
1.9

1.5
2.3
2.0
2.2

1.5
2.1
1.8
2.0

1.5
2.4
1.8
2.0

1.4
2.3
1.7
2.1

INDUSTRY
Total private4………………………………………………………………………………..
2,413 2,435 2,526 2,606 2,383
Construction………………………………………………………………
147
179
153

182
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
185
196
202
205
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………
587
551
602
598
Professional and business services…………………….
414
415
422
426
Education and health services………………………………………….
269
225
279
267
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………
504
569
607
561
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
132
143
139
156
REGION 5
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
356
369
368

383

South…………………………………………………………………………………..
998 1,068 1,114 1,129
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
538
571
600
619
West…………………………………………………………………………..
661
569
567

642

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

2

The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.

4

Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.

5

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

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

Rates

June

May

June

June

May

June

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

4,120

2.7

3.0

2.9

3,590
15
15
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
130
145
187
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
275
325
333
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
173
219
217
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
102
106
116
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
631
717
656
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
125
156
136
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
384
413
365
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
122
148
154
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
93
131
138
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
211
285
285
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
171
221
220
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
39
64
65
Professional and business services………………………………….
685
710
638
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
616
681
695
Educational services……………………………………………………….
65
80
62
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
551
602
633
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
504
558
493
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
75
66
51
Accommodations and food services………………………….
428
492
442
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
108
170
152

2.8
2.0
1.7
1.9
1.9
1.9
2.4
2.1
2.5
2.4
2.9
2.5
2.8
1.8
3.9
3.5
2.4
3.6
3.6
3.4
3.7
1.9

3.2
2.2
1.9
2.2
2.4
2.0
2.7
2.6
2.7
2.9
4.1
3.3
3.5
2.9
4.0
3.7
2.7
3.9
4.1
3.2
4.2
3.0

3.0
2.1
2.4
2.3
2.3
2.2
2.4
2.3
2.3
3.0
4.3
3.3
3.4
2.9
3.5
3.8
2.3
4.1
3.5
2.3
3.7
2.7

529
41
488

2.0
1.3
2.1

2.1
1.6
2.2

2.4
1.5
2.5

743
1,592
787
998

2.5
2.9
2.4
2.9

2.8
3.4
2.5
3.2

2.8
3.2
2.4
3.2

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
3,702
4,229
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
3,264
3,739
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
13

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
438
490
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
36
44
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
401
446
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
639
726
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,414
1,683
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
760
818
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
889
1,002

1

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

2

The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings.

3

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

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

Rates

June

May

June

June

May

June

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

5,775

4.4

4.2

4.2

5,290
25
23
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
542
481
469
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
391
444
437
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
261
286
275
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
130
158
162
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,170
1,107
1,143
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
171
155
180
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
828
784
765
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
171
168
198
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
78
98
80
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
196
226
240
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
120
131
142
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
77
95
98
Professional and business services………………………………….
1,028
1,097
979
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
558
542
567
Educational services……………………………………………………….
61
66
88
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
497
476
479
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
1,154
1,061
1,087
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
243
222
187
Accommodations and food services………………………….
911
838
901
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
269
197
264

4.8
4.5
7.2
2.7
2.9
2.4
4.5
3.0
5.4
3.5
2.5
2.4
2.0
3.6
6.0
3.3
2.3
3.4
8.6
11.3
8.1
4.9

4.6
3.7
6.3
3.1
3.2
3.0
4.3
2.6
5.2
3.4
3.2
2.7
2.1
4.4
6.4
3.0
2.2
3.2
8.0
11.2
7.5
3.6

4.6
3.3
6.1
3.0
3.0
3.1
4.4
3.1
5.0
4.0
2.6
2.9
2.3
4.4
5.6
3.2
3.3
3.2
8.0
8.6
7.9
4.8

485
37
449

2.0
2.0
2.0

1.7
2.5
1.6

2.2
1.4
2.3

951
2,172
1,222
1,430

4.1
4.6
4.0
4.6

3.9
4.3
4.3
4.0

3.7
4.5
3.8
4.7

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
5,855
5,666
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
5,416
5,277
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
28

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
439
389
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
56
67
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
383
322
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
1,037
1,000
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
2,189
2,092
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
1,255
1,365
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,373
1,209

1

Hires are the number of hires during the entire month.

2

The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

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

June

May

June

June

May

June

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

4,753

3.6

3.5

3.5

4,323
13
16
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
398
422
311
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
349
367
376
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
219
203
214
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
130
164
162
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
940
1,078
1,006
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
124
140
142
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
631
766
699
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
185
173
165
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
70
84
72
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
186
211
219
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
126
152
123
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
60
58
96
Professional and business services………………………………….
931
853
792
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
478
514
537
Educational services……………………………………………………….
88
83
85
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
390
431
452
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
854
765
790
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
112
119
89
Accommodations and food services………………………….
742
646
700
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
182
151
205

3.9
2.4
5.3
2.4
2.4
2.4
3.6
2.1
4.1
3.8
2.3
2.3
2.1
2.8
5.5
2.8
3.4
2.7
6.4
5.2
6.6
3.3

3.9
1.9
5.6
2.6
2.2
3.2
4.1
2.4
5.1
3.5
2.7
2.5
2.5
2.7
4.9
2.9
2.9
2.9
5.8
6.0
5.7
2.8

3.8
2.3
4.0
2.6
2.3
3.1
3.9
2.4
4.6
3.3
2.3
2.6
2.0
4.3
4.5
3.1
3.2
3.0
5.8
4.1
6.1
3.7

430
31
399

1.9
1.7
1.9

1.5
1.9
1.5

2.0
1.1
2.1

828
1,850
913
1,163

3.5
3.7
3.2
3.9

2.8
4.0
3.2
3.8

3.2
3.8
2.9
3.8

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,806
4,800
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
4,404
4,457
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
15

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
403
342
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
47
52
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
356
291
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
873
704
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,777
1,945
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
1,007
1,018
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,149
1,133

1

Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.

2

The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

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

Rates

June

May

June

June

May

June

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

2,797

2.0

2.1

2.1

2,607
9
8
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
181
210
183
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
196
210
202
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
125
112
117
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
71
99
84
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
585
663
589
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
76
70
82
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
427
498
431
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....83
94
76
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
49
67
54
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
144
134
146
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
96
99
84
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
48
35
63
Professional and business services………………………………….
443
463
380
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
298
294
321
Educational services……………………………………………………….
49
39
42
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
249
254
279
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
507
543
599
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
57
36
51
Accommodations and food services………………………….
450
507
548
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
131
84
125

2.3
1.4
2.4
1.4
1.4
1.3
2.3
1.3
2.8
1.7
1.6
1.8
1.6
2.2
2.6
1.7
1.9
1.7
3.8
2.6
4.0
2.4

2.4
1.3
2.8
1.5
1.2
1.9
2.5
1.2
3.3
1.9
2.2
1.6
1.6
1.6
2.7
1.7
1.3
1.7
4.1
1.8
4.5
1.5

2.3
1.1
2.4
1.4
1.3
1.6
2.3
1.4
2.8
1.5
1.7
1.7
1.4
2.8
2.2
1.8
1.6
1.9
4.4
2.3
4.8
2.3

191
11
180

.9
.6
.9

.8
.9
.8

.9
.4
.9

378
1,195
565
658

1.5
2.2
1.8
2.4

1.5
2.5
1.9
2.1

1.5
2.5
1.8
2.2

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,729
2,860
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
2,545
2,677
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
9

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
185
183
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
17
24
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
167
159
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
389
383
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,063
1,225
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
574
616
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
703
636

1

Quits are the number of quits during the entire month.

2

The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

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

June

May

June

June

May

June

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

1,551

1.3

1.1

1.1

1,397
2
3
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
195
179
110
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
127
127
145
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
76
71
75
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
51
56
69
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
304
320
335
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
43
57
46
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
177
204
223
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....83
59
66
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
17
12
11
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
31
51
50
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
20
32
21
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
11
20
29
Professional and business services………………………………….
436
317
334
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
147
195
180
Educational services……………………………………………………….
33
41
37
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
114
153
143
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
323
193
166
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
55
80
37
Accommodations and food services………………………….
269
113
129
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
40
50
64

1.4
.6
2.6
.9
.8
1.0
1.2
.7
1.2
1.7
.5
.4
.3
.5
2.6
.9
1.3
.8
2.4
2.5
2.4
.7

1.3
.3
2.4
.9
.8
1.1
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.2
.4
.6
.5
.9
1.8
1.1
1.4
1.0
1.5
4.0
1.0
.9

1.2
.4
1.4
1.0
.8
1.3
1.3
.8
1.5
1.3
.4
.6
.3
1.3
1.9
1.0
1.4
1.0
1.2
1.7
1.1
1.2

154
13
141

.6
.5
.6

.5
.4
.5

.7
.5
.7

368
493
257
433

1.6
1.3
1.2
1.2

.9
1.1
1.0
1.4

1.4
1.0
.8
1.4

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1,745
1,547
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
1,624
1,446
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
4

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
121
101
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
13
12
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
108
90
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
402
242
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
607
557
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
368
326
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
369
423

1

Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.

2

The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

See footnote 5, table 1.

p

= preliminary.

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

June

May

June

June

May

June

2005

2006

2006p

2005

2006

2006p

405

0.2

0.3

0.3

320
5
18
30
21
9
82
13
46
23
7
23
18
5
78
37
6
31
25
2
23
15

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

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

.3
.8
.2
.2
.2
.2
.3
.2
.3
.5
.2
.3
.3
.2
.4
.2
.2
.2
.2
.1
.2
.3

85
6
79

.4
.6
.4

.3
.6
.2

.4
.2
.4

82
162
90
71

.3
.2
.2
.3

.3
.3
.2
.2

.3
.3
.3
.2

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
332
392
INDUSTRY
Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
235
334
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
2

2
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
22
32
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
26
30
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
18
20
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
8
10
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
51
96
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
6
12
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
27
64
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....19
19
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
5
5
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
11
25
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
10
22
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
1
3
Professional and business services………………………………….
52
73
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
32
26
Educational services……………………………………………………….
5
3
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
27
23
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
23
29
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
1
3
Accommodations and food services………………………….
23
26
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
12
17
Government……………………………………………………………………………..
97
58
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
16
16
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
80
42
REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
82
79
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
107
163
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
65
76
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
78
74

1
2

Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.

3

See footnote 5, table 1.

4

Data round to zero.

p

= preliminary.