Full text of March 2004 : Text File, USDL-04-845
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Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 04-845
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: 691-5902 Tuesday, May 11, 2004
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MARCH 2004
The number of hires rose by 441,000 in March to 4.5 million, while the
number of separations was about unchanged at 4.1 million, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The job
openings rate edged up to 2.3 percent in March. The series in this report
include estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and
separations for the total nonfarm sector with breakouts by industry and
geographic region.
Job Openings
On the last business day of March 2004, there were 3.1 million job open-
ings in the United States, and the job openings rate (the number of job
openings on the last business day of the month divided by employment plus
job openings) was 2.3 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate has
ranged from 2.0 to 2.4 percent since October 2001. Over the month, the job
openings rates for major industry categories showed little or no change.
Among the geographic regions, there was an increase in the job openings
rate in the Northeast.
Hires and Separations
The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employ-
ment) increased in March to 3.5 percent. (See table 2.) Hires are any
additions to the payroll during the month. The hires rate was at its
highest point since late 2001. The hires rate increased in professional
and business services in March, largely offsetting the drop in February,
while the hires rates for trade, transportation, and utilities and leisure
and hospitality continued on an upward trend. Other major industries showed
little or no change in their hires rates over the month. The hires rate
increased in the South, Midwest, and West regions in March.
The total separations, or turnover, rate (the number of separations
during the month divided by employment) was 3.2 percent in March 2004 and
has remained in the range of 2.9 to 3.3 percent since December 2001. Sepa-
rations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the
month. The major industries showed little or no change in their total
separations rates over the month. (See table 3.)
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Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally
adjusted
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Job openings | Hires | Total separations
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Industry | Mar. | Feb. | Mar. | Mar. | Feb. | Mar. | Mar. | Feb. | Mar.
| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p| 2003 | 2004 | 2004p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........|2,771 |2,906 |3,072 |4,003 |4,103 |4,544 |3,912 |4,073 |4,113
Total private 1/.|2,387 |2,534 |2,729 |3,694 |3,772 |4,204 |3,665 |3,807 |3,845
Construction...| 78 | 99 | 113 | 373 | 382 | 430 | 363 | 400 | 385
Manufacturing..| 178 | 226 | 231 | 326 | 355 | 361 | 387 | 355 | 376
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 439 | 458 | 500 | 877 | 945 | 995 | 856 | 899 | 988
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 457 | 491 | 509 | 594 | 529 | 683 | 473 | 590 | 557
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 565 | 551 | 558 | 428 | 447 | 433 | 356 | 388 | 380
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 319 | 383 | 372 | 686 | 766 | 799 | 745 | 727 | 697
Government.......| 388 | 364 | 354 | 312 | 323 | 331 | 259 | 268 | 282
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1/...........| 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2
Total private 1/.| 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5
Construction...| 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 6.3 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 5.6
Manufacturing..| 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.6
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.9
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.4
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 2.6 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 5.7
Government.......| 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
Total separations includes quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and
discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including
retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers'
ability to change jobs, was unchanged in March at 1.7 percent. (See table
4.) Quits as a percent of the total separations has been increasing since
December 2003; quits were 54.3 percent of total separations in March. The
other two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges (1.0 per-
cent) and other separations (0.2 percent), are not seasonally adjusted.
(See tables 9 and 10.)
Hires and separations help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over
the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.1 million per month and separations
have averaged 3.9 million per month. (See the Technical Note for additional
information on these measures.) Hires have outpaced separations in 11 of the
past 12 months. The trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and
business services; and leisure and hospitality industries have reported the
largest share of hires and separations over the last year.
- 3 -
For More Information
For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS
website at 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 report on Job Openings and Labor Turnover for April 2004 is scheduled
to be released on Wednesday, June 9, 2004.
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Technical Note
The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are
collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Collection
Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments
for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges,
and other separations. Data collection methods include computer-assisted
telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail.
Coverage
The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as
factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local
government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Concepts
Industry classification. The industry classifications in this release
are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible
quality of data, State Employment Security Agencies verify with employers
and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership clas-
sification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establish-
ment 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 re-
ceived pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference
month. Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried,
and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or
other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses,
unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for
the entire pay period, are not counted as employed. Employees of tempo-
rary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and
consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establish-
ment where they are working.
Job openings. Establishments submit job openings information for the
last business day of the reference month. A job opening requires that:
1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that posi-
tion, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable
candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside
the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time, part-time,
permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active recruiting means that
the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in news-
papers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications,
or using other similar methods.
Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or
recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded are jobs with start dates
more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired
but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of
temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors,
or consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number
of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying
that quotient by 100.
- 6 -
Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring
at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired em-
ployees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term and seasonal em-
ployees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more
than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after
having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations. The
hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting
site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies
or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The
hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and
multiplying that quotient by 100.
Separations. Separations are the total number of terminations of
employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are
reported by type of separation--quits, layoffs and discharges, and
other separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (ex-
cept for retirements, which are reported as other separations). Lay-
offs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the em-
ployer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs
lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting
from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges
for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and
terminations of seasonal employees. Other separations include re-
tirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations
due to disability. Separations do not include transfers within the
same location or employees on strike.
The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations
by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs
and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, divid-
ing the number by employment and multiplying by 100.
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.
- 7 -
Using JOLTS data
The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are rel-
atively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel
enrolled each month. A full complement of panels for the original data
series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system
was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supple-
mental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not
completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those
points are from less than a full sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier
months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting
data at that time.
In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data
were revised to address possible underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires
and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be compar-
able with estimates for March 2002 and later.
The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approx-
imately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not
reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal gov-
ernment. The Office of Personnel Management's record shows these transfers
were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS defi-
nitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of
workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorgan-
ization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovern-
mental transfers would distort the federal government time series.
Seasonal adjustment
BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA
seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal adjustment is the process of
estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such
as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year.
Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in
the level of the series, particularly those associated with general
economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjust-
ment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are
calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including
the data for the current month.
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 cal-
endar 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.
- 8 -
Reliability of the estimates
JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a
chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That means that there is
a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a
sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true"
population value because of sampling error. Estimates of sampling errors
are available upon request.
The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling
error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a seg-
ment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the
sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a
timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection
or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data
used in estimation.
JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly ex-
plain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment. Some reasons why it is
problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and
separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period
for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month,
while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month;
and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-
time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that in-
cludes the 12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some
reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a
number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and prac-
tices. The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month
period.
Other information
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone: 1-800-877-8339.
Table 1. Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.
2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 2,771 2,823 2,952 3,062 2,868 2,906 3,072 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.3
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 2,387 2,479 2,593 2,719 2,518 2,534 2,729 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.4
Construction......................... 78 78 89 110 106 99 113 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.6
Manufacturing........................ 178 199 221 234 233 226 231 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 439 451 513 520 430 458 500 1.7 1.8 2.0 2.0 1.7 1.8 1.9
Professional and business services... 457 488 499 594 501 491 509 2.8 2.9 3.0 3.5 3.0 2.9 3.0
Education and health services........ 565 545 551 520 549 551 558 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.2
Leisure and hospitality.............. 319 367 364 399 368 383 372 2.6 2.9 2.9 3.2 2.9 3.0 2.9
Government............................ 388 346 358 351 350 364 354 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.6
REGION
Northeast............................ 505 499 526 541 476 500 554 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 1.9 2.0 2.2
South................................ 1,052 1,092 1,154 1,204 1,132 1,112 1,166 2.2 2.3 2.5 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.5
Midwest.............................. 609 628 655 666 679 680 658 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.1
West................................. 568 636 621 649 586 632 661 2.0 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.2 2.3
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.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: 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.
Table 2. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.
2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 4,003 4,108 4,135 4,216 4,106 4,103 4,544 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.5
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 3,694 3,815 3,843 3,923 3,800 3,772 4,204 3.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.9
Construction......................... 373 391 397 404 358 382 430 5.6 5.8 5.9 6.0 5.3 5.6 6.3
Manufacturing........................ 326 335 345 340 349 355 361 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 877 880 875 913 957 945 995 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.8 3.7 3.9
Professional and business services... 594 590 613 650 708 529 683 3.7 3.7 3.8 4.0 4.4 3.3 4.2
Education and health services........ 428 433 436 427 416 447 433 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.6
Leisure and hospitality.............. 686 729 776 753 715 766 799 5.7 6.0 6.4 6.2 5.9 6.3 6.5
Government............................ 312 269 302 300 295 323 331 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5
REGION
Northeast............................ 629 695 717 792 722 689 721 2.5 2.8 2.9 3.2 2.9 2.8 2.9
South................................ 1,565 1,500 1,508 1,517 1,585 1,608 1,743 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.8
Midwest.............................. 939 905 925 897 921 953 1,070 3.1 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.5
West................................. 894 969 924 992 883 876 988 3.2 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.1 3.1 3.5
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 total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 3. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.
2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 3,912 3,859 3,797 4,022 3,968 4,073 4,113 3.0 3.0 2.9 3.1 3.0 3.1 3.2
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 3,665 3,612 3,543 3,723 3,716 3,807 3,845 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.5
Construction......................... 363 365 372 391 436 400 385 5.4 5.4 5.5 5.8 6.4 5.9 5.6
Manufacturing........................ 387 332 330 343 323 355 376 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 856 854 856 968 936 899 988 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.9
Professional and business services... 473 523 542 575 572 590 557 3.0 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.4
Education and health services........ 356 377 372 330 389 388 380 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.0 2.3 2.3 2.3
Leisure and hospitality.............. 745 725 678 723 709 727 697 6.2 6.0 5.6 5.9 5.8 5.9 5.7
Government............................ 259 257 259 269 258 268 282 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3
REGION
Northeast............................ 594 615 622 687 712 688 661 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.6
South................................ 1,539 1,465 1,438 1,518 1,505 1,499 1,567 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4
Midwest.............................. 871 859 881 901 903 929 951 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.1
West................................. 911 877 858 898 896 941 968 3.2 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.4
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 4. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, seasonally adjusted
Levels(3) (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar.
2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004p
Total(4)............................... 2,033 2,129 2,104 2,131 2,118 2,178 2,233 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 1,910 1,995 1,999 2,010 2,002 2,051 2,105 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.9
Construction......................... 108 139 158 171 148 133 151 1.6 2.1 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.0 2.2
Manufacturing........................ 150 162 166 178 165 169 171 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 492 482 491 534 530 493 536 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.1 2.1 1.9 2.1
Professional and business services... 250 266 261 256 261 302 302 1.6 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.9
Education and health services........ 219 230 225 212 237 234 252 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.5
Leisure and hospitality.............. 440 515 463 462 428 447 444 3.6 4.2 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.7 3.6
Government............................ 120 135 100 119 116 126 127 .6 .6 .5 .6 .5 .6 .6
REGION
Northeast............................ 298 288 301 315 288 319 319 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3
South................................ 824 840 869 894 852 867 920 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.0
Midwest.............................. 447 464 466 465 513 455 478 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.5 1.5
West................................. 465 552 464 436 475 520 534 1.6 1.9 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.9
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 total employment.
3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series.
4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 5. Job openings levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 2,731 2,807 3,056 2.1 2.1 2.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,346 2,475 2,704 2.1 2.3 2.4
Natural resources and mining.................. 6 6 8 1.0 1.1 1.4
Construction.................................. 71 85 117 1.1 1.3 1.8
Manufacturing................................. 181 223 231 1.2 1.5 1.6
Durable goods................................ 112 143 149 1.2 1.6 1.7
Nondurable goods............................. 69 80 82 1.2 1.5 1.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 420 409 493 1.7 1.6 1.9
Wholesale trade.............................. 72 77 101 1.3 1.4 1.8
Retail trade................................. 280 262 304 1.9 1.8 2.0
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 68 70 87 1.4 1.5 1.8
Information................................... 49 63 70 1.5 2.0 2.2
Financial activities.......................... 157 167 187 1.9 2.1 2.3
Finance and insurance........................ 110 137 152 1.8 2.3 2.5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 47 30 35 2.3 1.4 1.7
Professional and business services............ 458 498 506 2.8 3.0 3.1
Education and health services................. 542 537 543 3.2 3.1 3.1
Educational services......................... 32 43 40 1.1 1.5 1.4
Health care and social assistance............ 510 494 503 3.6 3.4 3.5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 351 357 409 2.9 3.0 3.3
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 38 50 41 2.2 3.0 2.4
Accommodations and food services............. 314 307 368 3.0 2.9 3.5
Other services................................ 111 131 140 2.0 2.4 2.5
Government..................................... 385 333 352 1.7 1.5 1.6
Federal....................................... 49 48 39 1.7 1.7 1.4
State and local............................... 336 285 313 1.7 1.5 1.6
REGION
Northeast..................................... 489 455 542 1.9 1.8 2.1
South......................................... 1,052 1,108 1,168 2.3 2.4 2.5
Midwest....................................... 629 642 674 2.0 2.1 2.1
West.......................................... 561 602 672 2.0 2.1 2.3
1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month.
2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a
percent of total employment plus job openings.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 6. Hires levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 3,761 3,364 4,295 2.9 2.6 3.3
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,550 3,139 4,067 3.3 2.9 3.8
Natural resources and mining.................. 17 17 20 3.1 3.1 3.5
Construction.................................. 390 311 472 6.2 4.9 7.3
Manufacturing................................. 328 332 370 2.2 2.3 2.6
Durable goods................................ 190 222 236 2.1 2.5 2.7
Nondurable goods............................. 138 110 134 2.5 2.0 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 761 698 880 3.0 2.8 3.5
Wholesale trade.............................. 110 114 170 2.0 2.1 3.0
Retail trade................................. 551 471 594 3.8 3.2 4.0
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 100 113 116 2.1 2.4 2.5
Information................................... 64 67 65 2.0 2.1 2.0
Financial activities.......................... 146 117 178 1.8 1.5 2.2
Finance and insurance........................ 83 76 111 1.4 1.3 1.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 63 42 67 3.1 2.0 3.3
Professional and business services............ 594 488 703 3.8 3.1 4.4
Education and health services................. 395 382 400 2.4 2.3 2.4
Educational services......................... 39 49 40 1.4 1.7 1.4
Health care and social assistance............ 356 333 360 2.6 2.4 2.6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 692 606 819 5.9 5.2 6.9
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 118 75 104 7.1 4.7 6.2
Accommodations and food services............. 574 531 715 5.7 5.3 7.0
Other services................................ 164 120 160 3.0 2.3 3.0
Government..................................... 210 225 228 1.0 1.0 1.0
Federal....................................... 28 28 28 1.0 1.0 1.0
State and local............................... 182 197 200 .9 1.0 1.0
REGION
Northeast..................................... 549 518 629 2.2 2.1 2.5
South......................................... 1,507 1,417 1,717 3.3 3.1 3.7
Midwest....................................... 872 711 1,015 2.8 2.3 3.3
West.......................................... 833 718 934 3.0 2.6 3.3
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 total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 7. Total separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 3,331 3,377 3,541 2.6 2.6 2.7
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,159 3,192 3,346 2.9 3.0 3.1
Natural resources and mining.................. 16 17 15 2.9 3.0 2.7
Construction.................................. 334 388 351 5.3 6.1 5.4
Manufacturing................................. 348 314 344 2.4 2.2 2.4
Durable goods................................ 218 186 203 2.4 2.1 2.3
Nondurable goods............................. 130 128 141 2.3 2.4 2.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 759 758 890 3.0 3.0 3.5
Wholesale trade.............................. 118 119 157 2.1 2.1 2.8
Retail trade................................. 531 531 606 3.6 3.6 4.1
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 110 109 127 2.3 2.3 2.7
Information................................... 59 68 65 1.8 2.1 2.1
Financial activities.......................... 156 147 122 2.0 1.8 1.5
Finance and insurance........................ 100 103 84 1.7 1.7 1.4
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 56 44 38 2.8 2.2 1.9
Professional and business services............ 428 481 502 2.7 3.0 3.1
Education and health services................. 321 333 345 1.9 2.0 2.0
Educational services......................... 30 29 35 1.1 1.0 1.2
Health care and social assistance............ 290 304 310 2.1 2.2 2.2
Leisure and hospitality....................... 608 528 565 5.2 4.5 4.7
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 75 54 73 4.5 3.4 4.4
Accommodations and food services............. 533 473 492 5.3 4.7 4.8
Other services................................ 131 159 147 2.4 3.0 2.7
Government..................................... 173 185 195 .8 .8 .9
Federal....................................... 25 33 25 .9 1.2 .9
State and local............................... 147 152 170 .8 .8 .9
REGION
Northeast..................................... 507 552 536 2.0 2.2 2.2
South......................................... 1,338 1,292 1,378 2.9 2.8 3.0
Midwest....................................... 679 747 752 2.2 2.5 2.4
West.......................................... 807 786 875 2.9 2.8 3.1
1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month.
2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 8. Quits levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 1,769 1,809 1,983 1.4 1.4 1.5
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,680 1,709 1,886 1.6 1.6 1.7
Natural resources and mining.................. 8 6 7 1.4 1.1 1.2
Construction.................................. 97 120 138 1.5 1.9 2.1
Manufacturing................................. 141 144 160 1.0 1.0 1.1
Durable goods................................ 90 89 89 1.0 1.0 1.0
Nondurable goods............................. 51 55 71 .9 1.0 1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 447 414 492 1.8 1.7 2.0
Wholesale trade.............................. 55 46 80 1.0 .8 1.4
Retail trade................................. 328 314 356 2.2 2.1 2.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 64 53 56 1.3 1.1 1.2
Information................................... 34 45 32 1.0 1.4 1.0
Financial activities.......................... 81 90 72 1.0 1.1 .9
Finance and insurance........................ 50 64 51 .9 1.1 .9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 31 27 21 1.5 1.3 1.0
Professional and business services............ 230 241 287 1.5 1.5 1.8
Education and health services................. 188 195 227 1.1 1.2 1.3
Educational services......................... 23 16 15 .8 .6 .5
Health care and social assistance............ 165 179 212 1.2 1.3 1.5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 364 355 366 3.1 3.0 3.1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 32 22 29 1.9 1.4 1.7
Accommodations and food services............. 332 333 338 3.3 3.3 3.3
Other services................................ 92 98 106 1.7 1.8 2.0
Government..................................... 89 101 97 .4 .5 .4
Federal....................................... 11 19 12 .4 .7 .4
State and local............................... 78 82 86 .4 .4 .4
REGION
Northeast..................................... 245 252 265 1.0 1.0 1.1
South......................................... 733 739 825 1.6 1.6 1.8
Midwest....................................... 372 364 400 1.2 1.2 1.3
West.......................................... 419 454 494 1.5 1.6 1.7
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 total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 1,281 1,318 1,302 1.0 1.0 1.0
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,236 1,276 1,246 1.2 1.2 1.2
Natural resources and mining.................. 6 7 5 1.1 1.3 .9
Construction.................................. 226 256 199 3.6 4.0 3.1
Manufacturing................................. 177 146 150 1.2 1.0 1.1
Durable goods................................ 108 81 87 1.2 .9 1.0
Nondurable goods............................. 69 65 63 1.2 1.2 1.2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 252 293 325 1.0 1.2 1.3
Wholesale trade.............................. 53 63 69 1.0 1.1 1.2
Retail trade................................. 166 187 195 1.1 1.3 1.3
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 33 43 62 .7 .9 1.3
Information................................... 21 19 30 .6 .6 1.0
Financial activities.......................... 69 35 31 .9 .4 .4
Finance and insurance........................ 46 25 16 .8 .4 .3
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 23 10 15 1.2 .5 .7
Professional and business services............ 156 206 188 1.0 1.3 1.2
Education and health services................. 93 104 102 .6 .6 .6
Educational services......................... 6 11 17 .2 .4 .6
Health care and social assistance............ 88 93 85 .6 .7 .6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 200 157 181 1.7 1.3 1.5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 42 31 43 2.5 1.9 2.6
Accommodations and food services............. 159 126 138 1.6 1.2 1.3
Other services................................ 34 52 36 .6 1.0 .7
Government..................................... 45 42 55 .2 .2 .3
Federal....................................... 7 7 7 .2 .3 .2
State and local............................... 38 35 49 .2 .2 .3
REGION
Northeast..................................... 216 252 230 .9 1.0 .9
South......................................... 492 453 452 1.1 1.0 1.0
Midwest....................................... 247 330 297 .8 1.1 1.0
West.......................................... 326 284 323 1.2 1.0 1.1
1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month.
2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a
percent of total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.
Table 10. Other separations levels(1) and rates(2) by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted
Levels (in thousands) Rates
Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar.
2003 2004 2004p 2003 2004 2004p
Total........................................... 282 250 256 0.2 0.2 0.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 242 208 214 .2 .2 .2
Natural resources and mining.................. 2 3 3 .4 .5 .6
Construction.................................. 10 12 14 .2 .2 .2
Manufacturing................................. 30 24 34 .2 .2 .2
Durable goods................................ 20 16 27 .2 .2 .3
Nondurable goods............................. 10 8 7 .2 .1 .1
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 60 51 73 .2 .2 .3
Wholesale trade.............................. 9 10 8 .2 .2 .1
Retail trade................................. 37 30 56 .3 .2 .4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 13 12 10 .3 .3 .2
Information................................... 4 4 3 .1 .1 .1
Financial activities.......................... 5 22 19 .1 .3 .2
Finance and insurance........................ 3 14 17 .1 .2 .3
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 2 8 2 .1 .4 .1
Professional and business services............ 42 34 28 .3 .2 .2
Education and health services................. 40 35 16 .2 .2 .1
Educational services......................... 2 2 2 .1 .1 .1
Health care and social assistance............ 38 33 13 .3 .2 .1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 44 15 18 .4 .1 .2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 2 1 1 .1 .1 .1
Accommodations and food services............. 42 14 17 .4 .1 .2
Other services................................ 5 9 5 .1 .2 .1
Government..................................... 39 42 42 .2 .2 .2
Federal....................................... 8 7 7 .3 .3 .2
State and local............................... 31 35 36 .2 .2 .2
REGION
Northeast..................................... 46 48 42 .2 .2 .2
South......................................... 113 100 101 .2 .2 .2
Midwest....................................... 61 54 55 .2 .2 .2
West.......................................... 62 49 58 .2 .2 .2
1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month.
2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of
total employment.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.