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1

Technical information:

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

Media contact:

USDL 07-1201
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Wednesday, August 8, 2007

691-5902

JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: JUNE 2007
On the last business day of June, there were 4.3 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 increased slightly in June, while the hires rate and the total separations rate
were essentially unchanged. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires,
and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region.
Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted,
Percent
July 2004 - June 2007

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

3.9
3.7

3.7

Hires

3.5
3.3

3.5

3.1

3.3

2.9

Separations
2.7

3.1

2.5
2.3

2.9

2.1

2.7

1.9
1.7

2.5

1.5

2005

2006

2007

2005

2006

2007

Job Openings
In June, the job openings rate increased slightly to 3.0 percent after remaining steady at 2.9 percent for
the prior 4 months. Job openings include only those jobs still open on the last business day of the month.
The job openings rate rose in June in retail trade and in professional and business services but fell in construction. The job openings rate increased over the month in the West region. The seasonally adjusted job
openings rate was highest in June for the following industries: professional and business services (4.3 percent) and accommodations and food services (4.0 percent). (See table 1.)
Over the year, the job openings rate increased in nondurable goods manufacturing; retail trade; and
professional and business services. The rate decreased in construction and in transportation, warehousing,
and utilities. The job openings rate increased over the year in the West region. (See table 5.)

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

Job openings
Hires
June May June
June May June
p
p
2006 2007 2007
2006 2007 2007
Levels (in thousands)

Total1
................................................................... 3,995
Total private1......................................................... 3,538
Construction .................................................
168
Manufacturing ..............................................
308
2
Trade, transportation, and utilities ............
663
Retail trade ...............................................
386
Professional and business services ..........
595
Education and health services ...................
665
Leisure and hospitality 3................................
495
Accommodations and food services ..
434
Government 4..........................................................
455
State and local government ........................
421

4,095 4,305
3,627 3,830
157
110
345
348
609
673
337
427
654
801
703
708
571
562
500
486
468
469
424
427

4,986
4,520
369
375
1,075
747
934
489
826
717
392
341

4,982
4,503
351
356
1,044
715
935
507
873
755
409
330

Total separations
June May June
p
2006 2007
2007

4,752
4,339
348
360
900
603
899
512
850
727
398
317

4,654
4,326
356
378
1,046
771
778
439
813
689
316
257

4,544
4,233
346
396
950
685
775
437
833
715
315
239

4,513
4,203
348
376
969
681
732
467
847
718
309
238

3.4
3.7
4.5
2.6
3.4
3.9
5.0
2.8
6.3
6.3
1.8
1.6

3.4
3.8
4.6
2.7
4.0
5.0
4.4
2.5
6.2
6.2
1.4
1.3

3.3
3.7
4.5
2.8
3.6
4.5
4.3
2.4
6.2
6.2
1.4
1.2

3.3
3.6
4.5
2.7
3.7
4.4
4.1
2.5
6.2
6.2
1.4
1.2

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

2.9
3.0
2.1
2.1
2.5
2.5
3.3
3.6
3.6
3.7
2.0
2.1

2.9
3.0
2.0
2.4
2.3
2.1
3.5
3.7
4.0
4.1
2.1
2.1

3.0
3.2
1.4
2.4
2.5
2.7
4.3
3.7
4.0
4.0
2.1
2.1

3.7
4.0
4.8
2.6
4.1
4.9
5.3
2.7
6.3
6.4
1.8
1.8

3.6
3.9
4.6
2.5
3.9
4.6
5.2
2.8
6.5
6.5
1.8
1.7

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

p = preliminary.

Hires
The hires rate was little changed at 3.4 percent in June. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the
month. In June, the hires rate did not increase significantly in any industry but decreased in retail trade. The
hires rate decreased over the month in the South region. The seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in
June in accommodations and food services (6.3 percent). (See table 2.)
From June 2006 to June 2007, the hires rate rose in natural resources and mining; finance and insurance;
and federal government. The hires rate fell in retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; and state
and local government. The hires rate decreased over the year in both the Northeast and South regions. (See
table 6.)

3

Separations
The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.3 percent in June. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. Over the month, none of the industries or regions experienced a significant change in the separations rate. From June 2006 to June 2007, the total separations rate increased in federal government. The total separations rate decreased in retail trade; transportation, warehousing, and utilities; real estate and rental and leasing; and state and local government. Geographically, the total separations rate fell over the year in both the Northeast and South regions. (See tables 3
and 7.)
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 at 1.9 percent in June. None of the industries experienced a significant change in the quits rate over the month. The quits rate decreased in the South region. In June, the
seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the accommodations and food services industry (4.6 percent).
(See table 4.)
Over the year, the quits rate rose in natural resources and mining. The quits rate fell over the year in
information and in real estate and rental and leasing. Geographically, the quits rate fell over the year in the
South region. (See table 8.)
The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not
seasonally adjusted. For June, 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 June was highest in educational services
(2.0 percent), followed closely by arts, entertainment, and recreation (1.9 percent) and construction (1.9 percent). From June 2006 to June 2007, the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.3 percent and the level
was essentially unchanged at 410,000. (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 June 2007, quits accounted for 58 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 June 2007, these 5 industries produced 34.4 million hires and
32.4 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.

4

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 2007 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday,
September 11.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Table 1. Job openings levels 1 and rates 2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels 3 (in thousands)
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
2007
2007
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

June
2006

Jan.
2007

Feb.
2007

Rates
Mar.
2007

Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

3,995 4,222 4,149 4,176 4,170 4,095
Total 4……………………………………………………………………………………………..

4,305

2.9

3.0

2.9

2.9

2.9

2.9

3.0

3,830
110
348
673
427
801
708
562
486
469
427

3.0
2.1
2.1
2.5
2.5
3.3
3.6
3.6
3.7
2.0
2.1

3.1
1.8
2.3
2.7
2.6
3.8
3.8
4.0
4.1
2.1
2.2

3.1
2.9
2.3
2.4
2.4
3.5
3.6
4.0
4.3
2.1
2.2

3.1
1.9
2.2
2.5
2.4
4.1
3.6
4.1
4.2
2.1
2.2

3.1
2.0
2.4
2.5
2.5
4.0
3.7
3.7
3.8
2.1
2.2

3.0
2.0
2.4
2.3
2.1
3.5
3.7
4.0
4.1
2.1
2.1

3.2
1.4
2.4
2.5
2.7
4.3
3.7
4.0
4.0
2.1
2.1

696
1,646
843
1,109

2.7
3.1
2.4
2.9

2.8
3.2
2.5
3.2

2.7
3.2
2.4
3.2

2.7
3.3
2.4
3.2

2.6
3.3
2.4
3.3

2.5
3.2
2.4
3.1

2.6
3.2
2.6
3.5

Industry and region

June
2006

Jan.
2007

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
3,538 3,746 3,666 3,702 3,683 3,627
Construction………………………………………………………………
168
142
229
152
154
157
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
308
337
330
316
350
345
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5…………………………
663
727
660
677
669
609
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
386
413
378
375
389
337
Professional and business services…………………….
595
707
642
758
735
654
Education and health services………………………………………….
665
707
670
685
706
703
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...……………………………
495
552
566
574
512
571
Accommodations and food services…………………….
434
495
511
506
453
500
Government 7……………………………………………………………………………..
455
477
482
470
488
468
State and local government…………….………………………………………….……………….
421
439
438
430
439
424
REGION 8
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
702
733
717
703
675
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,583 1,653 1,631 1,658 1,670
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
786
822
783
797
779
West…………………………………………………………………………..
913 1,005 1,011 1,027 1,038
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.

674
1,648
799
970

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)
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
2007
2007
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

June
2006

Jan.
2007

Feb.
2007

Rates
Mar.
2007

Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

Total 4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,986 4,959 4,815 4,815 4,832 4,982

4,752

3.7

3.6

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.6

3.4

4,339
348
360
900
603
899
512
850
727
398
317

4.0
4.8
2.6
4.1
4.9
5.3
2.7
6.3
6.4
1.8
1.8

4.0
3.9
2.6
3.9
4.9
5.4
2.8
7.1
7.2
1.7
1.7

3.9
3.9
2.6
3.9
4.5
5.3
2.9
7.0
6.8
1.7
1.6

3.8
4.6
2.3
3.8
4.5
4.9
2.7
6.4
6.3
1.8
1.6

3.8
4.3
2.5
3.9
4.6
4.6
2.8
6.7
7.0
1.9
1.7

3.9
4.6
2.5
3.9
4.6
5.2
2.8
6.5
6.5
1.8
1.7

3.7
4.5
2.6
3.4
3.9
5.0
2.8
6.3
6.3
1.8
1.6

668
1,791
1,110
1,152

2.8
4.0
3.4
3.9

3.2
3.9
3.7
3.7

2.8
3.7
3.7
3.8

2.9
3.7
3.5
3.8

2.9
3.8
3.4
3.6

2.7
4.0
3.5
3.7

2.6
3.6
3.5
3.7

Industry and region

June
2006

Jan.
2007

INDUSTRY
Total private 4………………………………………………………………………………..
4,520 4,607 4,509 4,416 4,423 4,503
Construction………………………………………………………………
369
299
298
356
330
351
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
375
369
371
318
350
356
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5…………………………
1,075 1,020 1,018 1,006 1,028 1,044
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
747
757
695
691
706
715
Professional and business services…………………….
934
954
953
881
828
935
Education and health services………………………………………….
489
508
518
497
507
507
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...……………………………
826
956
934
867
903
873
Accommodations and food services…………………….
717
825
778
726
811
755
Government 7……………………………………………………………………………..
392
384
379
404
421
409
State and local government…………….………………………………………….……………….
341
321
317
313
333
330
REGION 8
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
705
833
709
740
759
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,934 1,899 1,837 1,835 1,894
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
1,073 1,167 1,184 1,105 1,069
West…………………………………………………………………………..
1,188 1,142 1,156 1,157 1,122
1

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

705
1,960
1,101
1,143

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)
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
2007
2007
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

June
2006

Jan.
2007

Feb.
2007

Rates
Mar.
2007

Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

Total 4……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,654 4,602 4,556 4,741 4,524 4,544

4,513

3.4

3.4

3.3

3.4

3.3

3.3

3.3

4,203
348
376
969
681
732
467
847
718
309
238

3.8
4.6
2.7
4.0
5.0
4.4
2.5
6.2
6.2
1.4
1.3

3.7
5.2
2.8
3.7
4.4
5.0
2.3
5.7
5.4
1.4
1.3

3.7
4.2
3.0
3.6
4.3
4.8
2.3
6.2
6.1
1.3
1.2

3.8
4.5
2.8
3.7
4.4
4.9
2.4
6.3
6.1
1.4
1.2

3.7
4.7
2.7
3.7
4.4
4.5
2.3
6.4
6.3
1.4
1.2

3.7
4.5
2.8
3.6
4.5
4.3
2.4
6.2
6.2
1.4
1.2

3.6
4.5
2.7
3.7
4.4
4.1
2.5
6.2
6.2
1.4
1.2

633
1,689
1,019
1,189

2.8
4.0
3.0
3.6

2.9
3.6
3.3
3.4

2.6
3.6
3.3
3.4

2.6
3.7
3.2
3.8

2.5
3.9
3.1
3.4

2.5
3.6
3.2
3.4

2.5
3.4
3.2
3.9

Industry and region

June
2006

Jan.
2007

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
4,326 4,296 4,263 4,417 4,227 4,233
Construction………………………………………………………………
356
400
322
344
360
346
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
378
399
422
400
380
396
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5…………………………
1,046
973
943
974
975
950
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
771
680
656
682
678
685
Professional and business services…………………….
778
894
862
876
805
775
Education and health services………………………………………….
439
423
419
429
414
437
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...……………………………
813
768
835
846
861
833
Accommodations and food services…………………….
689
612
697
702
720
715
7
Government ……………………………………………………………………………..
316
309
294
315
311
315
State and local government…………….………………………………………….……………….
257
254
243
238
241
239
REGION 8
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
717
740
675
667
640
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,953 1,783 1,763 1,829 1,904
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
937 1,034 1,054 1,006
981
West…………………………………………………………………………..
1,100 1,037 1,041 1,165 1,040
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,

642
1,798
1,024
1,062

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)
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
2007
2007
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

June
2006

Jan.
2007

Feb.
2007

Rates
Mar.
2007

Apr.
2007

May
2007

June
2007p

2,748 2,648 2,705 2,763 2,637 2,686
Total 4……………………………………………………………………………………………..

2,627

2.0

1.9

2.0

2.0

1.9

1.9

1.9

2,473
127
202
616
447
417
277
588
532
153
123

2.3
2.2
1.3
2.4
3.1
2.4
1.6
4.7
5.0
.7
.6

2.2
1.8
1.6
2.3
2.7
2.8
1.5
3.7
3.9
.7
.7

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

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

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

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

2.1
1.7
1.4
2.3
2.9
2.3
1.5
4.3
4.6
.7
.6

371
1,036
569
643

1.4
2.5
1.8
2.0

1.4
2.2
1.9
2.0

1.3
2.3
1.9
2.0

1.4
2.3
1.9
2.2

1.4
2.4
1.7
1.9

1.3
2.4
1.7
2.1

1.4
2.1
1.8
2.1

Industry and region

June
2006

Jan.
2007

INDUSTRY
4

Total private ………………………………………………………………………………..
2,601 2,505 2,571 2,591 2,486 2,530
Construction………………………………………………………………
170
141
120
131
126
124
Manufacturing……………………………………………………….
190
229
212
216
199
216
Trade, transportation, and utilities 5…………………………
617
594
606
608
600
606
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
467
422
438
428
440
445
Professional and business services…………………….
418
498
486
461
418
424
Education and health services………………………………………….
292
271
280
267
274
284
Leisure and hospitality 6………………...……………………………
618
489
579
590
592
551
Accommodations and food services…………………….
561
448
531
539
542
503
Government 7……………………………………………………………………………..
146
150
139
155
153
157
State and local government…………….………………………………………….……………….
120
129
117
130
129
130
REGION 8
Northeast……………………………………………………………….
363
355
322
352
350
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,219 1,099 1,152 1,150 1,163
Midwest……………………………………………………………………………..
555
595
599
588
544
West…………………………………………………………………………..
615
602
629
665
590
1

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

331
1,162
551
643

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

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

June
2006

May
2007

Rates

June
2007p

June
2006

May
2007

June
2007p

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,044
4,278
4,361

2.9

3.0

3.0

Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
3,535
3,790
3,838
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
15
14
13
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
198
190
128
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
317
356
356
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
210
216
224
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
107
140
131
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
653
621
666
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
139
134
133
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
367
345
409
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
147
142
124
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
137
141
158
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
279
247
259
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
213
197
204
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
66
50
56
Professional and business services………………………………….
610
665
823
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
673
725
713
Educational services……………………………………………………….
69
71
78
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
605
654
635
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
493
656
560
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
55
82
77
Accommodations and food services………………………….
438
575
483
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
159
175
161

3.0
2.1
2.4
2.2
2.3
2.0
2.4
2.3
2.3
2.8
4.3
3.2
3.3
2.9
3.3
3.7
2.5
3.9
3.5
2.5
3.7
2.8

3.2
1.9
2.4
2.5
2.4
2.7
2.3
2.2
2.2
2.7
4.3
2.8
3.1
2.2
3.6
3.8
2.3
4.1
4.6
3.9
4.7
3.1

3.2
1.8
1.6
2.5
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.1
2.6
2.4
4.8
3.0
3.1
2.4
4.4
3.8
2.7
4.0
3.8
3.4
3.9
2.8

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
509
488
523
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
33
49
40
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
476
438
484

2.3
1.2
2.4

2.1
1.8
2.2

2.3
1.4
2.4

2.7
3.1
2.4
3.0

2.6
3.4
2.5
3.1

2.6
3.2
2.6
3.6

INDUSTRY

REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
712
692
699
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,587
1,756
1,636
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
786
822
848
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
959
1,008
1,178

1

Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment
plus job openings.
3
See footnote 8, table 1.
p
= preliminary.
2

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

June
2006

May
2007

Rates

June
2007p

June
2006

May
2007

June
2007p

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
5,980
5,689
5,708

4.4

4.1

4.1

Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
5,461
5,261
5,184
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
23
36
33
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
477
464
452
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
439
416
421
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
283
242
260
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
156
174
161
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,210
1,165
994
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
175
187
179
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
850
812
662
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
185
166
153
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
97
79
83
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
229
276
255
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
140
177
187
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
89
100
67
Professional and business services………………………………….
1,044
989
999
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
585
504
613
Educational services……………………………………………………….
87
55
106
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
498
449
508
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
1,091
1,129
1,090
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
186
214
186
Accommodations and food services………………………….
905
914
904
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
265
204
243

4.7
3.3
6.0
3.1
3.1
3.0
4.6
2.9
5.6
3.7
3.2
2.7
2.3
4.0
5.9
3.3
3.2
3.3
8.0
8.6
7.9
4.8

4.5
5.0
6.0
3.0
2.7
3.4
4.4
3.1
5.3
3.3
2.5
3.3
2.8
4.5
5.5
2.7
1.8
2.9
8.2
10.5
7.8
3.7

4.4
4.6
5.7
3.0
2.9
3.1
3.8
3.0
4.3
3.0
2.7
3.0
3.0
3.0
5.5
3.4
3.8
3.3
7.7
8.4
7.6
4.4

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
518
428
524
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
67
92
114
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
452
336
410

2.4
2.4
2.4

1.9
3.4
1.7

2.4
4.2
2.1

3.7
4.6
4.1
4.7

3.3
4.5
4.3
4.0

3.3
4.2
4.3
4.5

INDUSTRY

REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
936
843
849
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
2,282
2,215
2,085
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
1,307
1,386
1,363
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,456
1,245
1,410

1

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

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

June
2006

May
2007

Rates

June
2007p

June
2006

May
2007

June
2007p

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
4,940
4,544
4,776

3.6

3.3

3.4

Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
4,462
4,201
4,311
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
16
25
19
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
327
328
313
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
380
403
372
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
222
238
229
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
158
165
142
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
1,045
974
974
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
146
118
178
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
759
708
675
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
140
148
121
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
92
77
74
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
224
245
202
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
133
169
145
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
91
76
57
Professional and business services………………………………….
835
722
743
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
515
488
554
Educational services……………………………………………………….
86
69
103
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
429
418
451
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
826
800
855
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
99
93
98
Accommodations and food services………………………….
727
707
757
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
202
140
205

3.9
2.4
4.1
2.7
2.4
3.0
4.0
2.5
5.0
2.8
3.0
2.7
2.1
4.1
4.7
2.9
3.2
2.9
6.0
4.6
6.3
3.7

3.6
3.5
4.2
2.9
2.7
3.2
3.7
2.0
4.6
2.9
2.5
2.9
2.7
3.4
4.0
2.7
2.3
2.7
5.8
4.6
6.0
2.5

3.7
2.7
4.0
2.6
2.6
2.7
3.7
2.9
4.4
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.5
4.1
3.0
3.7
2.9
6.0
4.4
6.4
3.7

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
478
344
465
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
76
78
95
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
402
266
369

2.2
2.8
2.1

1.5
2.9
1.3

2.1
3.5
1.9

3.1
4.2
3.0
3.8

2.2
3.9
3.1
3.4

2.6
3.6
3.2
4.1

INDUSTRY

REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
788
567
684
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
2,053
1,931
1,780
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
938
982
1,021
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
1,161
1,064
1,290

1

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

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

June
2006

May
2007

Rates

June
2007p

June
2006

May
2007

June
2007p

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
2,993
2,850
2,838

2.2

2.1

2.0

Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
2,788
2,668
2,628
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
8
18
13
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
193
142
146
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
201
227
212
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
120
133
128
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
81
94
83
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
623
651
627
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
86
66
112
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
464
495
449
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
74
90
66
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
70
43
43
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
150
173
130
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
91
128
101
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
58
45
29
Professional and business services………………………………….
452
439
433
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
328
305
314
Educational services……………………………………………………….
43
29
44
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
285
276
270
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
635
565
603
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
57
42
53
Accommodations and food services………………………….
577
523
550
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
127
107
107

2.4
1.2
2.4
1.4
1.3
1.5
2.4
1.4
3.0
1.5
2.3
1.8
1.5
2.6
2.5
1.9
1.6
1.9
4.6
2.6
5.0
2.3

2.3
2.5
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.8
2.5
1.1
3.2
1.8
1.4
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.5
1.7
.9
1.8
4.1
2.0
4.5
1.9

2.2
1.8
1.8
1.5
1.4
1.6
2.4
1.9
2.9
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.3
2.4
1.7
1.6
1.8
4.3
2.4
4.6
1.9

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
204
182
209
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
30
30
33
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
174
152
177

.9
1.1
.9

.8
1.1
.8

.9
1.2
.9

1.5
2.7
1.8
2.3

1.3
2.5
1.8
2.2

1.5
2.2
1.8
2.3

INDUSTRY

REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
383
330
396
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
1,339
1,259
1,118
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
578
585
591
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
692
676
732

1

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

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

June
2006

May
2007

Rates

June
2007p

June
2006

May
2007

June
2007p

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
1,513
1,380
1,528

1.1

1.0

1.1

Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
1,339
1,290
1,395
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
3
6
4
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
114
164
154
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
147
140
136
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
80
80
86
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
67
60
50
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
312
265
249
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
45
44
46
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
225
177
165
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
42
45
37
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
14
24
22
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
55
53
55
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
27
28
36
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
28
24
19
Professional and business services………………………………….
310
247
265
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
154
147
203
Educational services……………………………………………………….
37
37
55
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
117
110
148
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
170
217
228
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
40
49
43
Accommodations and food services………………………….
130
167
185
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
60
27
80

1.2
.4
1.4
1.0
.9
1.3
1.2
.8
1.5
.8
.5
.7
.4
1.3
1.7
.9
1.4
.8
1.2
1.8
1.1
1.1

1.1
.8
2.1
1.0
.9
1.2
1.0
.7
1.2
.9
.8
.6
.5
1.1
1.4
.8
1.2
.7
1.6
2.4
1.4
.5

1.2
.5
1.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
.9
.8
1.1
.7
.7
.6
.6
.8
1.5
1.1
2.0
1.0
1.6
1.9
1.5
1.4

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
175
91
133
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
26
17
26
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
148
74
107

.8
1.0
.8

.4
.6
.4

.6
1.0
.5

1.2
1.1
.9
1.3

.7
1.1
1.0
1.0

.9
1.1
1.0
1.5

INDUSTRY

REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
312
188
221
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
541
562
529
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
269
321
326
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
390
310
452

1

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

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

June
2006

May
2007

Rates

June
2007p

June
2006

May
2007

June
2007p

Total……………………………………………………………………………………………..
434
313
410

0.3

0.2

0.3

Total private………………………………………………………………………………..
335
242
288
Natural resources and mining……………………………………………
6
2
2
Construction…………………………………………………………………………………………
19
22
14
Manufacturing………………………………………………………………………….
32
36
24
Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..….
22
25
15
Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..…
10
10
9
Trade, transportation, and utilities…………………………………………….
109
58
98
Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...………
15
8
19
Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..………..
70
36
60
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....
25
13
18
Information………………………………………………………………...………..
8
10
9
Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….……
20
20
17
Finance and insurance………………………………………………………………………….
15
13
9
Real estate and rental and leasing……………………………..
5
7
8
Professional and business services………………………………….
73
36
44
Education and health services………………………………………….…………….
33
36
37
Educational services……………………………………………………….
6
4
5
Health care and social assistance…………………………….
27
32
33
Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...………
21
19
24
Arts, entertainment, and recreation……………………………….
2
2
2
Accommodations and food services………………………….
20
16
23
Other services……………………………………………………….……………..
14
6
17

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

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

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

Government……………………………………………………………………………..
99
71
122
Federal……………………………………………………………………...……………
19
32
36
State and local…………….………………………………………….……………….
80
39
86

.5
.7
.4

.3
1.2
.2

.6
1.3
.4

.4
.4
.3
.3

.2
.2
.2
.3

.3
.3
.3
.3

INDUSTRY

REGION 3
Northeast……………………………………………………………………………..
93
50
67
South…………………………………………………………………………………..
172
110
133
Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..…..
91
76
104
West………………………………………………………………………………………….
78
78
106

1

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