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1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 05-833 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Tuesday, May 10, 2005 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MARCH 2005 The job openings rate was unchanged in March at 2.6 percent, while the hires and total separations rates were little changed at 3.7 and 3.3 percent, respectively, 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 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, Percent December 2000 - March 2005 Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, Percent December 2000 - March 2005 4.0 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 Hires Separations 1.8 1.8 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Job Openings On the last business day of March 2005, there were 3.6 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.6 percent. (See table 1.) The job openings rate was unchanged in March but has generally trended upward since September 2003. In March, the job openings rate changed significantly only for the government sector, where the rate fell slightly. The job openings rate did not change significantly in any of the regions. Hires and Separations The hires rate (the number of hires during the month divided by employment) was 3.7 percent in March, essentially unchanged from a month earlier. (See table 2.) Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. None of the industries or regions had significant changes in their hires rates from February to March. The total separations, or turnover, rate (the total number of separations during the month divided by employment) was 3.3 percent in March, little changed from February. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. (See table 3.) The total separations rate fell in construction and rose in professional and business services and in the Midwest region in March. 2 Table A. Job openings, hires, and total separations by industry, seasonally adjusted Job openings Industry 1 Total ............................................................ Total private 1........................................ Construction ................................... Manufacturing ................................ Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................... Professional and business services ......................................... Education and health services .... Leisure and hospitality ................. Government .......................................... Mar. 2004 Feb. 2005 Hires Feb. 2005 Mar. 2005p Total separations Mar. Mar. Feb. 2005 2005p 2004 Mar. 2005p Mar. 2004 Levels (in thousands) 4,760 4,880 4,838 4,494 4,430 4,541 408 430 409 376 336 335 4,289 4,013 394 373 4,295 4,035 403 341 4,421 4,158 297 356 3,105 2,780 114 240 3,569 3,160 133 252 3,568 3,199 158 258 562 668 615 1,068 1,055 1,046 1,003 940 971 529 551 379 341 607 602 447 404 667 599 437 365 815 441 885 341 853 500 771 329 924 464 822 336 674 386 759 273 772 389 790 260 902 441 728 261 Rates (percent) Total 1......................................................... Total private 1....................................... Construction ................................... Manufacturing ................................ Trade, transportation, and utilities ........................................... Professional and business services ......................................... Education and health services .... Leisure and hospitality ................. Government .......................................... 1 2.3 2.5 1.6 1.7 2.6 2.8 1.8 1.7 2.6 2.8 2.2 1.8 3.7 4.1 5.9 2.6 3.6 4.0 6.0 2.3 3.7 4.1 5.7 2.3 3.3 3.7 5.7 2.6 3.2 3.6 5.7 2.4 3.3 3.7 4.2 2.5 2.2 2.5 2.3 4.2 4.1 4.1 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.2 3.2 3.0 1.6 3.5 3.4 3.4 1.8 3.8 3.4 3.3 1.7 5.0 2.6 7.1 1.6 5.1 2.9 6.1 1.5 5.5 2.7 6.5 1.5 4.2 2.3 6.1 1.3 4.6 2.3 6.3 1.2 5.4 2.6 5.8 1.2 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. 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, increased to 1.9 percent in March. (See table 4.) The quits rate rose in March for private industries overall; for the trade, transportation, and utilities industry; and for the Northeast and Midwest regions. The other two components of total separations, layoffs and discharges and other separations, are not seasonally adjusted. From March 2004 to March 2005, the layoffs and discharges rate (1.0 percent) was little changed and the other separations rate (0.2 percent) was unchanged. (See tables 9 and 10.) Hires and separations data help show dynamic flows in the labor market. Over the last 12 months, hires have averaged 4.6 million per month and separations have averaged 4.3 million per month. The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.2 million hires and 4.0 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) 3 For More Information For additional information, please see the Technical Note or the JOLTS Web site 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 Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for April 2005 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, June 7, 2005. 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 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. 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. 1 2 Table 1. Job openings levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted 3 Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. Rates Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 Mar. Mar. 2005p Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,105 3,300 3,277 3,507 3,385 3,569 127 252 564 682 560 434 346 602 1,342 716 718 2004 Oct. 2004 Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 2004 Oct. 2004 Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 2005p Mar. 3,568 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.6 3,160 133 252 668 607 602 447 404 3,199 158 258 615 667 599 437 365 2.5 1.6 1.7 2.2 3.2 3.2 3.0 1.6 2.6 1.6 1.7 2.1 3.5 3.1 3.2 1.8 2.6 1.6 1.7 2.1 3.6 3.1 3.2 1.7 2.7 1.8 1.8 2.1 4.0 3.1 3.4 1.8 2.7 1.8 1.7 2.2 3.9 3.2 3.3 1.6 2.8 1.8 1.7 2.5 3.5 3.4 3.4 1.8 2.8 2.2 1.8 2.3 3.8 3.4 3.3 1.7 606 1,399 745 823 587 1,416 759 811 2.4 2.5 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.7 2.1 2.5 2.2 2.6 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.8 2.3 2.7 2.3 2.8 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.9 2.3 2.8 2.3 2.9 2.4 2.7 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,780 2,924 2,910 3,106 3,020 Construction……………………………………………………………… 114 114 118 132 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 240 250 248 266 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 562 559 554 561 Professional and business services……………………. 529 602 620 699 Education and health services…………………………………………. 551 547 543 557 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 379 413 411 450 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 341 400 369 396 REGION Northeast………………………………………………………………. 606 562 560 620 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,197 1,318 1,250 1,329 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 673 688 726 740 West………………………………………………………………………….. 634 742 759 1 792 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and 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 Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, and other services, not shown separately. P = preliminary. and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, NOTE: The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise and Wyoming. Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 Rates Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 2005 Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,838 4,552 4,990 4,639 4,709 4,760 339 307 1,056 882 445 826 341 762 1,880 1,092 959 2004 Oct. 2004 Mar. Mar. 2004 Oct. 2004 Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 2005p 4,880 3.7 3.4 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.7 4,430 430 336 1,055 853 500 771 329 4,541 409 335 1,046 924 464 822 336 4.1 5.9 2.6 4.2 5.0 2.6 7.1 1.6 3.8 5.0 2.5 3.8 4.9 2.5 6.4 1.5 4.2 5.3 2.7 4.2 5.6 2.6 6.8 1.5 3.9 5.2 2.3 3.8 5.3 2.6 6.6 1.4 3.9 4.8 2.1 4.1 5.3 2.6 6.6 1.6 4.0 6.0 2.3 4.1 5.1 2.9 6.1 1.5 4.1 5.7 2.3 4.1 5.5 2.7 6.5 1.5 820 1,867 1,081 1,069 873 1,904 1,083 1,024 3.2 4.1 3.4 3.8 3.2 3.9 3.2 3.2 3.4 4.1 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.8 3.3 3.4 3.0 4.0 3.5 3.3 3.2 4.0 3.5 3.7 3.4 4.0 3.5 3.5 p Mar. INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,494 4,216 4,652 4,337 4,374 Construction……………………………………………………………… 408 353 373 368 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 376 353 386 324 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 1,068 977 1,077 986 Professional and business services……………………. 815 812 935 878 Education and health services…………………………………………. 441 420 447 452 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 885 801 858 834 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 341 318 335 307 REGION Northeast………………………………………………………………. 803 811 851 858 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,912 1,809 1,903 1,770 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,043 1,013 1,149 1,043 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,087 916 1,014 970 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. P = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. 1 2 Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted 3 Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. Rates Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 Mar. Mar. 2005p Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,289 4,215 4,266 4,435 4,352 4,295 417 361 882 836 356 832 258 773 1,747 981 964 2004 Oct. 2004 Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 2004 Oct. 2004 Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 2005p Mar. 4,421 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3 4,035 403 341 940 772 389 790 260 4,158 297 356 971 902 441 728 261 3.7 5.7 2.6 3.9 4.2 2.3 6.1 1.3 3.6 6.0 2.5 3.5 3.5 2.2 6.1 1.2 3.6 5.0 2.3 3.7 4.9 2.4 5.8 1.3 3.7 5.0 2.5 4.1 5.0 2.2 6.0 1.3 3.7 5.9 2.5 3.4 5.0 2.1 6.6 1.2 3.6 5.7 2.4 3.7 4.6 2.3 6.3 1.2 3.7 4.2 2.5 3.8 5.4 2.6 5.8 1.2 732 1,647 937 961 778 1,713 1,094 898 2.9 3.5 3.2 3.5 2.8 3.5 3.0 3.1 3.0 3.4 3.3 2.9 3.0 3.6 3.1 3.3 3.1 3.7 3.1 3.3 2.9 3.5 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.6 3.5 3.1 Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 2005p INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,013 3,957 3,996 4,146 4,091 Construction……………………………………………………………… 394 425 351 355 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 373 354 327 353 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 1,003 889 943 1,062 Professional and business services……………………. 674 585 822 833 Education and health services…………………………………………. 386 376 408 375 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 759 767 727 758 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 273 263 275 274 REGION Northeast………………………………………………………………. 729 711 756 773 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,631 1,614 1,594 1,707 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,004 952 1,041 986 West………………………………………………………………………….. 990 896 826 953 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 levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. Rates Jan. 2005 Feb. 2005 Mar. Mar. 2005p 2004 Oct. 2004 Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,346 2,344 2,436 2,495 2,530 2,307 2,496 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.9 171 185 563 417 230 516 124 2,192 139 181 512 410 259 474 117 2,368 146 182 584 429 286 461 123 2.0 2.2 1.4 2.1 2.1 1.5 3.8 .6 2.0 2.6 1.3 2.0 1.7 1.4 3.8 .6 2.1 2.2 1.3 2.2 2.4 1.5 4.0 .5 2.1 2.3 1.4 2.2 2.5 1.4 4.0 .6 2.2 2.4 1.3 2.2 2.5 1.3 4.1 .6 2.0 2.0 1.3 2.0 2.4 1.5 3.8 .5 2.1 2.0 1.3 2.3 2.6 1.7 3.6 .6 424 1,053 539 530 340 914 509 550 396 972 619 549 1.3 2.1 1.6 1.9 1.3 2.0 1.6 1.9 1.4 2.2 1.8 1.7 1.5 2.2 1.7 1.9 1.7 2.2 1.7 1.8 1.3 1.9 1.6 1.9 1.6 2.1 2.0 1.9 2004 Oct. 2004 Nov. 2004 Dec. 2004 Mar. INDUSTRY Total private4……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,211 2,217 2,319 2,366 2,412 Construction……………………………………………………………… 152 182 159 162 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 194 187 185 194 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 541 517 568 570 Professional and business services……………………. 341 281 401 415 Education and health services…………………………………………. 245 239 250 232 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 469 474 499 506 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 130 123 118 129 REGION Northeast………………………………………………………………. 327 333 359 392 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 992 943 1,014 1,021 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 491 500 551 544 West………………………………………………………………………….. 545 550 492 536 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. P = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 5. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 3,586 2.3 2.5 2.6 3,228 8 12 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 106 121 162 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 246 248 265 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 167 164 176 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 79 85 89 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 552 619 610 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 98 143 121 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 352 373 391 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 102 103 99 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 63 87 85 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 182 220 227 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 159 174 184 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 23 46 44 Professional and business services…………………………………. 518 597 651 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 540 597 593 Educational services………………………………………………………. 41 57 59 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 499 540 534 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 418 436 483 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 43 57 50 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 375 379 433 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 129 132 140 2.5 1.1 1.6 1.7 1.9 1.5 2.1 1.7 2.3 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.6 1.1 3.1 3.1 1.4 3.4 3.3 2.5 3.5 2.3 2.7 1.4 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.6 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.1 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.2 3.5 3.3 1.9 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.5 2.4 2.9 1.9 2.3 1.8 1.9 1.6 2.3 2.1 2.6 2.0 2.6 2.7 3.0 2.0 3.8 3.3 1.9 3.6 3.8 2.9 3.9 2.5 358 52 306 1.5 1.7 1.5 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.6 573 1,408 797 809 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.9 2.2 2.6 2.2 2.9 2.5 2.7 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,098 3,433 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,761 3,064 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 7 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 337 369 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 46 48 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 291 321 REGION Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 594 567 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,181 1,393 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 701 695 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 621 778 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 levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 4,680 3.5 3.0 3.5 4,451 19 24 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 450 363 466 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 390 318 351 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 256 211 214 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 134 107 136 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 968 803 948 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 171 116 137 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 655 560 684 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 141 126 126 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 62 62 71 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 173 158 200 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 111 93 112 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 62 65 88 Professional and business services…………………………………. 803 758 923 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 410 430 435 Educational services………………………………………………………. 40 51 41 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 370 380 393 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 913 607 849 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 122 78 103 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 791 529 746 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 187 192 186 4.0 3.1 6.9 2.7 2.9 2.5 3.9 3.1 4.4 3.0 2.0 2.2 1.9 3.0 5.0 2.4 1.4 2.6 7.6 7.2 7.6 3.5 3.4 3.1 5.5 2.2 2.4 2.0 3.2 2.1 3.8 2.6 2.0 1.9 1.5 3.1 4.6 2.5 1.7 2.6 5.0 4.8 5.0 3.5 4.0 3.9 6.9 2.5 2.4 2.6 3.7 2.4 4.6 2.6 2.3 2.5 1.9 4.2 5.6 2.5 1.4 2.7 6.9 6.3 7.0 3.4 229 24 205 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.0 .9 1.1 762 1,879 1,049 990 2.8 4.1 3.3 3.7 2.3 3.5 2.7 3.2 3.0 4.0 3.4 3.4 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,603 3,938 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,373 3,709 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 18 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 230 230 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 29 33 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 201 197 REGION Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 692 578 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,868 1,619 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 1,002 823 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,041 918 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. P = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 7. Total separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 3,878 2.9 2.7 2.9 3,703 15 18 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 363 386 271 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 340 297 325 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 212 189 196 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 128 108 129 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 904 815 881 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 134 134 113 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 612 549 655 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 158 133 113 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 73 45 68 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 130 146 135 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 89 97 94 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 42 49 41 Professional and business services…………………………………. 601 591 838 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 351 333 409 Educational services………………………………………………………. 37 27 45 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 314 305 364 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 626 553 593 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 81 66 71 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 545 486 522 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 152 169 164 3.3 2.6 5.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 3.6 2.4 4.1 3.3 2.3 1.6 1.5 2.0 3.8 2.1 1.3 2.2 5.2 4.8 5.2 2.8 3.1 2.5 5.8 2.1 2.1 2.0 3.2 2.4 3.7 2.7 1.5 1.8 1.6 2.3 3.6 1.9 .9 2.1 4.6 4.1 4.6 3.1 3.4 3.0 4.0 2.3 2.2 2.4 3.5 2.0 4.4 2.3 2.2 1.7 1.6 1.9 5.1 2.4 1.5 2.5 4.8 4.3 4.9 3.0 175 21 154 .8 1.1 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 .8 643 1,507 922 806 2.4 3.1 2.6 3.2 2.2 3.0 2.4 2.8 2.6 3.2 3.0 2.8 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,739 3,529 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,555 3,350 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 15 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 184 179 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 30 21 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 154 158 REGION Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 595 553 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,422 1,406 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 813 753 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 909 816 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 levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 2,249 1.6 1.5 1.7 2,155 6 11 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 144 123 136 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 185 152 172 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 114 96 104 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 71 56 68 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 501 426 546 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 72 73 74 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 371 302 410 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....58 51 62 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 31 29 39 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 72 87 79 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 52 67 57 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 20 21 22 Professional and business services…………………………………. 324 311 417 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 221 217 264 Educational services………………………………………………………. 17 18 25 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 204 199 239 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 399 364 387 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 31 31 40 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 367 333 347 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 108 105 104 1.8 1.1 2.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 2.0 1.3 2.5 1.2 1.0 .9 .9 1.0 2.0 1.3 .6 1.4 3.3 1.9 3.5 2.0 1.7 1.0 1.8 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.7 1.3 2.0 1.1 .9 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.9 1.3 .6 1.4 3.0 1.9 3.2 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.0 1.2 1.2 1.3 2.1 1.3 2.8 1.3 1.3 1.0 .9 1.1 2.5 1.5 .8 1.7 3.1 2.4 3.3 1.9 94 6 88 .5 .6 .4 .4 .3 .4 .4 .2 .5 333 865 542 509 1.1 1.9 1.4 1.8 1.0 1.6 1.3 1.7 1.3 1.8 1.7 1.8 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,089 1,912 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,990 1,820 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 6 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 99 92 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 15 8 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 84 83 REGION Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 274 262 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 886 766 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 424 407 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 505 477 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. P = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1. Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 1,375 1.1 1.0 1.0 1,336 6 6 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 209 255 129 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 132 116 128 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 82 74 76 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 50 42 51 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 334 331 259 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 55 51 36 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 189 212 185 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....90 67 38 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 39 13 23 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 42 44 45 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 24 19 29 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 19 26 16 Professional and business services…………………………………. 247 235 380 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 115 97 131 Educational services………………………………………………………. 18 8 16 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 97 89 115 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 204 172 186 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 49 34 30 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 155 139 157 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 35 49 48 1.3 1.1 3.2 .9 .9 .9 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.9 1.2 .5 .4 .9 1.5 .7 .6 .7 1.7 2.9 1.5 .6 1.2 1.0 3.8 .8 .8 .8 1.3 .9 1.4 1.4 .4 .5 .3 1.2 1.4 .6 .3 .6 1.4 2.1 1.3 .9 1.2 .9 1.9 .9 .9 1.0 1.0 .6 1.2 .8 .8 .6 .5 .8 2.3 .8 .5 .8 1.5 1.8 1.5 .9 39 4 36 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 259 553 329 235 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.0 .9 1.0 1.2 1.1 .8 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,407 1,364 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,363 1,320 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 6 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 44 44 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 7 5 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 37 39 REGION Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 278 250 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 442 544 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 333 299 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 354 271 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 levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p 254 0.2 0.2 0.2 212 1 6 26 16 10 76 4 60 12 5 10 8 2 42 14 3 10 20 2 18 12 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 .3 .1 .4 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 .6 .1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .1 .2 .2 .1 .3 .1 (3) .1 .1 .1 .1 .3 .2 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 .3 .1 .4 .3 .2 .1 .1 .1 .3 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .2 .2 42 12 30 .2 .3 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .4 .2 51 89 52 62 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 243 253 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 202 210 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 2 3 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 8 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 24 28 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 16 18 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 8 10 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 69 58 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 7 10 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 52 34 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....10 14 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 3 3 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 15 14 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 12 12 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 3 2 Professional and business services…………………………………. 30 44 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 15 19 Educational services………………………………………………………. 2 1 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 13 18 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 24 16 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 1 1 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 22 15 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 10 16 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 41 43 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 8 8 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 33 35 REGION Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 43 41 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 95 96 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 56 48 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 50 68 1 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. 2 The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Data round to zero. P = preliminary. NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.