Full text of March 2005 : Text File, USDL-05-833
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Technical information: (202) 691-5870 USDL 05-833
http://www.bls.gov/jlt/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Media contact: 691-5902 Tuesday, May 10, 2005
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.
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 separa-
tions 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 separa-
tions rate fell in construction and rose in professional and business ser-
vices and in the Midwest region in March.
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 dis-
charges 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.)
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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.
| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p| 2004 | 2005 | 2005p
-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Levels (in thousands)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........|3,105 |3,569 |3,568 |4,838 |4,760 |4,880 |4,289 |4,295 |4,421
Total private(1).|2,780 |3,160 |3,199 |4,494 |4,430 |4,541 |4,013 |4,035 |4,158
Construction...| 114 | 133 | 158 | 408 | 430 | 409 | 394 | 403 | 297
Manufacturing..| 240 | 252 | 258 | 376 | 336 | 335 | 373 | 341 | 356
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 562 | 668 | 615 |1,068 |1,055 |1,046 |1,003 | 940 | 971
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 529 | 607 | 667 | 815 | 853 | 924 | 674 | 772 | 902
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 551 | 602 | 599 | 441 | 500 | 464 | 386 | 389 | 441
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 379 | 447 | 437 | 885 | 771 | 822 | 759 | 790 | 728
Government.......| 341 | 404 | 365 | 341 | 329 | 336 | 273 | 260 | 261
|--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rates (percent)
|--------------------------------------------------------------
Total(1)...........| 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.3
Total private(1).| 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.7
Construction...| 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 4.2
Manufacturing..| 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.5
Trade, trans- | | | | | | | | |
portation, and| | | | | | | | |
utilities.....| 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.8
Professional | | | | | | | | |
and business | | | | | | | | |
services......| 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 5.4
Education and | | | | | | | | |
health ser- | | | | | | | | |
vices.........| 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.6
Leisure and | | | | | | | | |
hospitality...| 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 5.8
Government.......| 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and
other services, not shown separately.
p = preliminary.
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.)
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.
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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.
- 4 -
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.
- 5 -
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.
- 6 -
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.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 3,105 3,300 3,277 3,507 3,385 3,569 3,568 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.6
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 2,780 2,924 2,910 3,106 3,020 3,160 3,199 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.8
Construction......................... 114 114 118 132 127 133 158 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.2
Manufacturing........................ 240 250 248 266 252 252 258 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 562 559 554 561 564 668 615 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.3
Professional and business services... 529 602 620 699 682 607 667 3.2 3.5 3.6 4.0 3.9 3.5 3.8
Education and health services........ 551 547 543 557 560 602 599 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.4
Leisure and hospitality.............. 379 413 411 450 434 447 437 3.0 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3
Government............................ 341 400 369 396 346 404 365 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.7
REGION
Northeast............................ 606 562 560 620 602 606 587 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.3
South................................ 1,197 1,318 1,250 1,329 1,342 1,399 1,416 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.9
Midwest.............................. 673 688 726 740 716 745 759 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.4
West................................. 634 742 759 792 718 823 811 2.2 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.8 2.7
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.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 4,838 4,552 4,990 4,639 4,709 4,760 4,880 3.7 3.4 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.7
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 4,494 4,216 4,652 4,337 4,374 4,430 4,541 4.1 3.8 4.2 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.1
Construction......................... 408 353 373 368 339 430 409 5.9 5.0 5.3 5.2 4.8 6.0 5.7
Manufacturing........................ 376 353 386 324 307 336 335 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 1,068 977 1,077 986 1,056 1,055 1,046 4.2 3.8 4.2 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.1
Professional and business services... 815 812 935 878 882 853 924 5.0 4.9 5.6 5.3 5.3 5.1 5.5
Education and health services........ 441 420 447 452 445 500 464 2.6 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.9 2.7
Leisure and hospitality.............. 885 801 858 834 826 771 822 7.1 6.4 6.8 6.6 6.6 6.1 6.5
Government............................ 341 318 335 307 341 329 336 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.5 1.5
REGION
Northeast............................ 803 811 851 858 762 820 873 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.4 3.0 3.2 3.4
South................................ 1,912 1,809 1,903 1,770 1,880 1,867 1,904 4.1 3.9 4.1 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.0
Midwest.............................. 1,043 1,013 1,149 1,043 1,092 1,081 1,083 3.4 3.2 3.7 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.5
West................................. 1,087 916 1,014 970 959 1,069 1,024 3.8 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.7 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 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 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.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 4,289 4,215 4,266 4,435 4,352 4,295 4,421 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 4,013 3,957 3,996 4,146 4,091 4,035 4,158 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7
Construction......................... 394 425 351 355 417 403 297 5.7 6.0 5.0 5.0 5.9 5.7 4.2
Manufacturing........................ 373 354 327 353 361 341 356 2.6 2.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 1,003 889 943 1,062 882 940 971 3.9 3.5 3.7 4.1 3.4 3.7 3.8
Professional and business services... 674 585 822 833 836 772 902 4.2 3.5 4.9 5.0 5.0 4.6 5.4
Education and health services........ 386 376 408 375 356 389 441 2.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.6
Leisure and hospitality.............. 759 767 727 758 832 790 728 6.1 6.1 5.8 6.0 6.6 6.3 5.8
Government............................ 273 263 275 274 258 260 261 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2
REGION
Northeast............................ 729 711 756 773 773 732 778 2.9 2.8 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.9 3.1
South................................ 1,631 1,614 1,594 1,707 1,747 1,647 1,713 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.7 3.5 3.6
Midwest.............................. 1,004 952 1,041 986 981 937 1,094 3.2 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.0 3.5
West................................. 990 896 826 953 964 961 898 3.5 3.1 2.9 3.3 3.3 3.3 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.
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.
2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p 2004 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2005p
Total(4)............................... 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
INDUSTRY
Total private(4)...................... 2,211 2,217 2,319 2,366 2,412 2,192 2,368 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.0 2.1
Construction......................... 152 182 159 162 171 139 146 2.2 2.6 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.0 2.0
Manufacturing........................ 194 187 185 194 185 181 182 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities. 541 517 568 570 563 512 584 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.3
Professional and business services... 341 281 401 415 417 410 429 2.1 1.7 2.4 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.6
Education and health services........ 245 239 250 232 230 259 286 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.7
Leisure and hospitality.............. 469 474 499 506 516 474 461 3.8 3.8 4.0 4.0 4.1 3.8 3.6
Government............................ 130 123 118 129 124 117 123 .6 .6 .5 .6 .6 .5 .6
REGION
Northeast............................ 327 333 359 392 424 340 396 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.3 1.6
South................................ 992 943 1,014 1,021 1,053 914 972 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.9 2.1
Midwest.............................. 491 500 551 544 539 509 619 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.6 2.0
West................................. 545 550 492 536 530 550 549 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.8 1.9 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 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 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.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 3,098 3,433 3,586 2.3 2.5 2.6
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 2,761 3,064 3,228 2.5 2.7 2.9
Natural resources and mining.................. 7 8 12 1.1 1.4 1.9
Construction.................................. 106 121 162 1.6 1.8 2.3
Manufacturing................................. 246 248 265 1.7 1.7 1.8
Durable goods................................ 167 164 176 1.9 1.8 1.9
Nondurable goods............................. 79 85 89 1.5 1.6 1.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 552 619 610 2.1 2.4 2.3
Wholesale trade.............................. 98 143 121 1.7 2.5 2.1
Retail trade................................. 352 373 391 2.3 2.4 2.6
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 102 103 99 2.1 2.1 2.0
Information................................... 63 87 85 2.0 2.7 2.6
Financial activities.......................... 182 220 227 2.2 2.6 2.7
Finance and insurance........................ 159 174 184 2.6 2.8 3.0
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 23 46 44 1.1 2.2 2.0
Professional and business services............ 518 597 651 3.1 3.5 3.8
Education and health services................. 540 597 593 3.1 3.3 3.3
Educational services......................... 41 57 59 1.4 1.9 1.9
Health care and social assistance............ 499 540 534 3.4 3.6 3.6
Leisure and hospitality....................... 418 436 483 3.3 3.5 3.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 43 57 50 2.5 3.4 2.9
Accommodations and food services............. 375 379 433 3.5 3.5 3.9
Other services................................ 129 132 140 2.3 2.4 2.5
Government..................................... 337 369 358 1.5 1.6 1.6
Federal....................................... 46 48 52 1.7 1.8 1.9
State and local............................... 291 321 306 1.5 1.6 1.6
REGION
Northeast..................................... 594 567 573 2.3 2.2 2.2
South......................................... 1,181 1,393 1,408 2.5 2.9 2.9
Midwest....................................... 701 695 797 2.2 2.2 2.5
West.......................................... 621 778 809 2.1 2.6 2.7
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.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 4,603 3,938 4,680 3.5 3.0 3.5
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 4,373 3,709 4,451 4.0 3.4 4.0
Natural resources and mining.................. 18 19 24 3.1 3.1 3.9
Construction.................................. 450 363 466 6.9 5.5 6.9
Manufacturing................................. 390 318 351 2.7 2.2 2.5
Durable goods................................ 256 211 214 2.9 2.4 2.4
Nondurable goods............................. 134 107 136 2.5 2.0 2.6
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 968 803 948 3.9 3.2 3.7
Wholesale trade.............................. 171 116 137 3.1 2.1 2.4
Retail trade................................. 655 560 684 4.4 3.8 4.6
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 141 126 126 3.0 2.6 2.6
Information................................... 62 62 71 2.0 2.0 2.3
Financial activities.......................... 173 158 200 2.2 1.9 2.5
Finance and insurance........................ 111 93 112 1.9 1.5 1.9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 62 65 88 3.0 3.1 4.2
Professional and business services............ 803 758 923 5.0 4.6 5.6
Education and health services................. 410 430 435 2.4 2.5 2.5
Educational services......................... 40 51 41 1.4 1.7 1.4
Health care and social assistance............ 370 380 393 2.6 2.6 2.7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 913 607 849 7.6 5.0 6.9
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 122 78 103 7.2 4.8 6.3
Accommodations and food services............. 791 529 746 7.6 5.0 7.0
Other services................................ 187 192 186 3.5 3.5 3.4
Government..................................... 230 230 229 1.0 1.0 1.0
Federal....................................... 29 33 24 1.1 1.2 .9
State and local............................... 201 197 205 1.0 1.0 1.1
REGION
Northeast..................................... 692 578 762 2.8 2.3 3.0
South......................................... 1,868 1,619 1,879 4.1 3.5 4.0
Midwest....................................... 1,002 823 1,049 3.3 2.7 3.4
West.......................................... 1,041 918 990 3.7 3.2 3.4
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 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.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 3,739 3,529 3,878 2.9 2.7 2.9
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 3,555 3,350 3,703 3.3 3.1 3.4
Natural resources and mining.................. 15 15 18 2.6 2.5 3.0
Construction.................................. 363 386 271 5.5 5.8 4.0
Manufacturing................................. 340 297 325 2.4 2.1 2.3
Durable goods................................ 212 189 196 2.4 2.1 2.2
Nondurable goods............................. 128 108 129 2.4 2.0 2.4
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 904 815 881 3.6 3.2 3.5
Wholesale trade.............................. 134 134 113 2.4 2.4 2.0
Retail trade................................. 612 549 655 4.1 3.7 4.4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 158 133 113 3.3 2.7 2.3
Information................................... 73 45 68 2.3 1.5 2.2
Financial activities.......................... 130 146 135 1.6 1.8 1.7
Finance and insurance........................ 89 97 94 1.5 1.6 1.6
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 42 49 41 2.0 2.3 1.9
Professional and business services............ 601 591 838 3.8 3.6 5.1
Education and health services................. 351 333 409 2.1 1.9 2.4
Educational services......................... 37 27 45 1.3 .9 1.5
Health care and social assistance............ 314 305 364 2.2 2.1 2.5
Leisure and hospitality....................... 626 553 593 5.2 4.6 4.8
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 81 66 71 4.8 4.1 4.3
Accommodations and food services............. 545 486 522 5.2 4.6 4.9
Other services................................ 152 169 164 2.8 3.1 3.0
Government..................................... 184 179 175 .8 .8 .8
Federal....................................... 30 21 21 1.1 .8 .8
State and local............................... 154 158 154 .8 .8 .8
REGION
Northeast..................................... 595 553 643 2.4 2.2 2.6
South......................................... 1,422 1,406 1,507 3.1 3.0 3.2
Midwest....................................... 813 753 922 2.6 2.4 3.0
West.......................................... 909 816 806 3.2 2.8 2.8
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.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 2,089 1,912 2,249 1.6 1.5 1.7
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,990 1,820 2,155 1.8 1.7 2.0
Natural resources and mining.................. 6 6 11 1.1 1.0 1.9
Construction.................................. 144 123 136 2.2 1.8 2.0
Manufacturing................................. 185 152 172 1.3 1.1 1.2
Durable goods................................ 114 96 104 1.3 1.1 1.2
Nondurable goods............................. 71 56 68 1.3 1.1 1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 501 426 546 2.0 1.7 2.1
Wholesale trade.............................. 72 73 74 1.3 1.3 1.3
Retail trade................................. 371 302 410 2.5 2.0 2.8
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 58 51 62 1.2 1.1 1.3
Information................................... 31 29 39 1.0 .9 1.3
Financial activities.......................... 72 87 79 .9 1.1 1.0
Finance and insurance........................ 52 67 57 .9 1.1 .9
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 20 21 22 1.0 1.0 1.1
Professional and business services............ 324 311 417 2.0 1.9 2.5
Education and health services................. 221 217 264 1.3 1.3 1.5
Educational services......................... 17 18 25 .6 .6 .8
Health care and social assistance............ 204 199 239 1.4 1.4 1.7
Leisure and hospitality....................... 399 364 387 3.3 3.0 3.1
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 31 31 40 1.9 1.9 2.4
Accommodations and food services............. 367 333 347 3.5 3.2 3.3
Other services................................ 108 105 104 2.0 1.9 1.9
Government..................................... 99 92 94 .5 .4 .4
Federal....................................... 15 8 6 .6 .3 .2
State and local............................... 84 83 88 .4 .4 .5
REGION
Northeast..................................... 274 262 333 1.1 1.0 1.3
South......................................... 886 766 865 1.9 1.6 1.8
Midwest....................................... 424 407 542 1.4 1.3 1.7
West.......................................... 505 477 509 1.8 1.7 1.8
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 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.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 1,407 1,364 1,375 1.1 1.0 1.0
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 1,363 1,320 1,336 1.3 1.2 1.2
Natural resources and mining.................. 6 6 6 1.1 1.0 .9
Construction.................................. 209 255 129 3.2 3.8 1.9
Manufacturing................................. 132 116 128 .9 .8 .9
Durable goods................................ 82 74 76 .9 .8 .9
Nondurable goods............................. 50 42 51 .9 .8 1.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 334 331 259 1.3 1.3 1.0
Wholesale trade.............................. 55 51 36 1.0 .9 .6
Retail trade................................. 189 212 185 1.3 1.4 1.2
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 90 67 38 1.9 1.4 .8
Information................................... 39 13 23 1.2 .4 .8
Financial activities.......................... 42 44 45 .5 .5 .6
Finance and insurance........................ 24 19 29 .4 .3 .5
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 19 26 16 .9 1.2 .8
Professional and business services............ 247 235 380 1.5 1.4 2.3
Education and health services................. 115 97 131 .7 .6 .8
Educational services......................... 18 8 16 .6 .3 .5
Health care and social assistance............ 97 89 115 .7 .6 .8
Leisure and hospitality....................... 204 172 186 1.7 1.4 1.5
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 49 34 30 2.9 2.1 1.8
Accommodations and food services............. 155 139 157 1.5 1.3 1.5
Other services................................ 35 49 48 .6 .9 .9
Government..................................... 44 44 39 .2 .2 .2
Federal....................................... 7 5 4 .3 .2 .1
State and local............................... 37 39 36 .2 .2 .2
REGION
Northeast..................................... 278 250 259 1.1 1.0 1.0
South......................................... 442 544 553 1.0 1.2 1.2
Midwest....................................... 333 299 329 1.1 1.0 1.1
West.......................................... 354 271 235 1.2 .9 .8
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.
2004 2005 2005p 2004 2005 2005p
Total........................................... 243 253 254 0.2 0.2 0.2
INDUSTRY
Total private.................................. 202 210 212 .2 .2 .2
Natural resources and mining.................. 2 3 1 .3 .6 .2
Construction.................................. 10 8 6 .2 .1 .1
Manufacturing................................. 24 28 26 .2 .2 .2
Durable goods................................ 16 18 16 .2 .2 .2
Nondurable goods............................. 8 10 10 .1 .2 .2
Trade, transportation, and utilities.......... 69 58 76 .3 .2 .3
Wholesale trade.............................. 7 10 4 .1 .2 .1
Retail trade................................. 52 34 60 .4 .2 .4
Transportation, warehousing, and utilities... 10 14 12 .2 .3 .3
Information................................... 3 3 5 .1 .1 .2
Financial activities.......................... 15 14 10 .2 .2 .1
Finance and insurance........................ 12 12 8 .2 .2 .1
Real estate and rental and leasing........... 3 2 2 .2 .1 .1
Professional and business services............ 30 44 42 .2 .3 .3
Education and health services................. 15 19 14 .1 .1 .1
Educational services......................... 2 1 3 .1 (3) .1
Health care and social assistance............ 13 18 10 .1 .1 .1
Leisure and hospitality....................... 24 16 20 .2 .1 .2
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.......... 1 1 2 .1 .1 .1
Accommodations and food services............. 22 15 18 .2 .1 .2
Other services................................ 10 16 12 .2 .3 .2
Government..................................... 41 43 42 .2 .2 .2
Federal....................................... 8 8 12 .3 .3 .4
State and local............................... 33 35 30 .2 .2 .2
REGION
Northeast..................................... 43 41 51 .2 .2 .2
South......................................... 95 96 89 .2 .2 .2
Midwest....................................... 56 48 52 .2 .2 .2
West.......................................... 50 68 62 .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.
3 Data round to zero.
p = preliminary.
NOTE: See NOTE, table 1.