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1 Technical information: (202) 691-5870 http://www.bls.gov/jlt/ Media contact: USDL 06-821 For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT Tuesday, May 9, 2006 691-5902 JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER: MARCH 2006 The job openings, hires, and total separations rates showed little or no change in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector by industry and geographic region. Chart 1. Job openings rate, seasonally adjusted, Percent April 2003 - March 2006 Chart 2. Hires and separations rates, seasonally adjusted, Percent April 2003 - March 2006 3.9 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.5 Hires 3.3 3.5 3.1 2.9 3.3 2.7 Separations 3.1 2.5 2.3 2.9 2.1 1.9 2.7 1.7 1.5 2.5 2004 2005 2006 2004 2005 2006 Job Openings On the last business day of March 2006, there were 4.0 million job openings in the United States, and the job openings rate was 2.9 percent. The job openings rate was unchanged over the month but has generally trended upward since September 2003. In March, the job openings rates decreased in leisure and hospitality and in the Midwest. The industries with the highest seasonally adjusted job openings rates in March 2006 were professional and business services (3.8 percent), education and health services (3.7 percent), and leisure and hospitality (3.5 percent). (See table 1.) Over the year, the job openings rates increased in many industries and in the West region; none of the industries or regions experienced a significant decrease in their job openings rates from the prior year. (See table 5.) Hires and Separations The hires rate was essentially unchanged at 3.6 percent in March. Hires are any additions to the payroll during the month. Over the month, the hires rate did not change significantly in any industry but decreased in 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. 2005 Feb. 2006 Hires Feb. 2006 Total separations Mar. p 2006 Mar. 2005 Mar. p 2006 Mar. 2005 Feb. 2006 Mar. 2006 p Levels (in thousands) 4,954 4,848 4,902 4,558 4,578 4,483 429 403 339 337 333 337 4,610 4,341 306 384 4,531 4,252 335 380 4,642 4,331 436 396 3,658 3,284 156 261 3,994 3,531 121 318 3,989 3,549 152 319 638 660 645 1,082 1,177 1,115 1,037 997 986 636 616 481 378 716 640 587 460 687 673 466 444 880 472 822 340 841 435 1,019 379 854 434 945 374 896 444 775 279 826 403 881 285 776 400 818 330 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 .......................................... 2.7 2.9 2.1 1.8 2.9 3.0 1.6 2.2 2.9 3.0 2.0 2.2 3.7 4.1 6.0 2.4 3.7 4.1 5.4 2.3 3.6 4.0 4.5 2.4 3.5 3.9 4.3 2.7 3.4 3.8 4.5 2.7 3.4 3.8 5.8 2.8 2.4 2.5 2.4 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.5 3.6 1.7 4.0 3.5 4.3 2.1 3.8 3.7 3.5 2.0 5.3 2.7 6.5 1.6 4.9 2.5 7.9 1.7 5.0 2.5 7.3 1.7 5.4 2.6 6.1 1.3 4.8 2.3 6.8 1.3 4.5 2.3 6.3 1.5 1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. p = preliminary. the South. In March, the seasonally adjusted hires rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (7.3 percent). (See table 2.) From March 2005 to March 2006, the hires rates rose in accommodation and food services and in federal government. Industries with over-the-year declines in their hires rates were: construction; information; and healthcare and social assistance. The only significant over-the-year change in the hires rates for the regions was a decrease in the South. (See table 6.) The total separations, or turnover, rate was unchanged at 3.4 percent in March. Separations are terminations of employment that occur at any time during the month. In March, the total separations rates increased in construction and government and in the West region. (See table 3.) Total separations include quits (voluntary separations), layoffs and discharges (involuntary separations), and other separations (including retirements). The quits rate, which can serve as a barometer of workers’ ability to change jobs, rose slightly to 2.1 percent in March. The quits rate did not change significantly for any particular industry; however, rates rose at the total nonfarm, total private, and total government levels. The quits rate also rose in the Midwest region. In March, the seasonally adjusted quits rate was highest in the leisure and hospitality industry (4.7 percent), which also had the highest hires rate. (See table 4.) 3 The other two components of total separations—layoffs and discharges, and other separations—are not seasonally adjusted. From March 2005 to March 2006, the layoffs and discharges rate fell to 0.9 percent, with decreases for total private and three of the four regions—the Northeast, South, and Midwest. For March 2006, the construction industry had the highest layoffs and discharges rate. From March 2005 to March 2006, the other separations rate was unchanged at 0.2 percent at the total nonfarm level, but did increase in the West. (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 4.8 million per month and separations have averaged 4.5 million per month (not seasonally adjusted). The comparable figures a year earlier were 4.7 million hires and 4.4 million separations. (See the Technical Note for additional information on these measures.) For More Information For additional information, please read the Technical Note or visit the JOLTS Web site at http://www. bls.gov/jlt/. Additional information about JOLTS also may be obtained by e-mailing Joltsinfo@bls.gov or by calling (202) 691-5870. ______________________________ The Job Openings and Labor Turnover release for April 2006 is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, June 6, 2006. Technical Note The data for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) are collected and compiled monthly from a sample of business establishments by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Collection Each month, data are collected in a survey of business establishments for total employment, job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Data collection methods include computer-assisted telephone interviewing, touchtone data entry, fax, and mail. Coverage The JOLTS program covers all private nonfarm establishments such as factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Concepts Industry classification. The industry classifications in this release are in accordance with the 2002 version of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). In order to ensure the highest possible quality of data, State Workforce Agencies verify with employers and update, if necessary, the industry code, location, and ownership classification of all establishments on a 3-year cycle. Changes in establishment characteristics resulting from the verification process are always introduced into the JOLTS sampling frame with the data reported for the first month of the year. Employment. Employment includes persons on the payroll who worked or received pay for the pay period that includes the 12th day of the reference month. Full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, seasonal, salaried, and hourly employees are included, as are employees on paid vacations or other paid leave. Proprietors or partners of unincorporated businesses, unpaid family workers, or persons on leave without pay or on strike for the entire pay period, are not counted as employed. Employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, and consultants are counted by their employer of record, not by the establishment where they are working. Job openings. Establishments submit job openings information for the last business day of the reference month. A job opening requires that: 1) a specific position exists and there is work available for that position, 2) work could start within 30 days regardless of whether a suitable candidate is found, and 3) the employer is actively recruiting from outside the establishment to fill the position. Included are full-time, part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal openings. Active recruiting means that the establishment is taking steps to fill a position by advertising in newspapers or on the Internet, posting help-wanted signs, accepting applications, or using other similar methods. Jobs to be filled only by internal transfers, promotions, demotions, or recall from layoffs are excluded. Also excluded are jobs with start dates more than 30 days in the future, jobs for which employees have been hired but have not yet reported for work, and jobs to be filled by employees of temporary help agencies, employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The job openings rate is computed by dividing the number of job openings by the sum of employment and job openings and multiplying that quotient by 100. Hires. Hires are the total number of additions to the payroll occurring at any time during the reference month, including both new and rehired employees, full-time and part-time, permanent, short-term, and seasonal employees, employees recalled to the location after a layoff lasting more than 7 days, on-call or intermittent employees who returned to work after having been formally separated, and transfers from other locations. The hires count does not include transfers or promotions within the reporting site, employees returning from strike, employees of temporary help agencies or employee leasing companies, outside contractors, or consultants. The hires rate is computed by dividing the number of hires by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. Separations. Separations are the total number of terminations of employment occurring at any time during the reference month, and are reported by type of separation— quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are voluntary separations by employees (except for retirements, which are reported as other separations). Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer and include layoffs with no intent to rehire, formal layoffs lasting or expected to last more than 7 days, discharges resulting from mergers, downsizing, or closings, firings or other discharges for cause, terminations of permanent or short-term employees, and terminations of seasonal employees. Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, deaths, and separations due to disability. Separations do not include transfers within the same location or employees on strike. The separations rate is computed by dividing the number of separations by employment and multiplying that quotient by 100. The quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations rates are computed similarly, dividing the number by employment and multiplying by 100. Annual estimates. Annual estimates of rates and levels of hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are released with the January news release each year. The JOLTS annual level estimates for hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, other separations, and total separations are the sum of the 12 published monthly levels. The annual rate estimates are computed by dividing the annual level by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) annual average employment level, and multiplying that quotient by 100. This figure will be approximately equal to the sum of the 12 monthly rates. Note that both the JOLTS and CES annual levels are rounded to the nearest thousand before the annual estimates are calculated. Consistent with BLS practices, annual estimates will be published only for not seasonally adjusted data. Annual estimates are not calculated for job openings because job openings are a stock, or point-in-time, measurement for the last business day of each month. Only jobs still open on the last day of the month are counted. For the same reason job openings cannot be cumulated throughout each month, annual figures for job openings cannot be created by summing the monthly estimates. Hires and separations are flow measures and are cumulated over the month with a total reported for the month. Therefore, the annual figures can be created by summing the monthly estimates. Sample methodology The JOLTS sample design is a random sample of 16,000 nonfarm business establishments, including factories, offices, and stores, as well as federal, state, and local governments in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The establishments are drawn from a universe of over eight million establishments compiled as part of the operations of the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, or QCEW, program. This program includes all employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws and federal agencies subject to Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The sampling frame is stratified by ownership, region, industry sector, and size class. Large firms fall into the sample with virtual certainty. JOLTS total employment estimates are controlled to the employment estimates of the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey. A ratio of CES to JOLTS employment is used to adjust the levels for all other JOLTS data elements. Rates are then computed from the adjusted levels. Using JOLTS data The JOLTS data series on job openings, hires, and separations are relatively new. The full sample is divided into panels, with one panel enrolled each month. A full complement of panels for the original data series based on the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was not completely enrolled in the survey until January 2002. The supplemental panels of establishments needed to create NAICS estimates were not completely enrolled until May 2003. The data collected up until those points are from less than a full sample. Therefore, estimates from earlier months should be used with caution, as fewer sampled units were reporting data at that time. In March 2002, BLS procedures for collecting hires and separations data were revised to address possible underreporting. As a result, JOLTS hires and separations estimates for months prior to March 2002 may not be comparable with estimates for March 2002 and later. The federal government reorganization that involved transferring approximately 180,000 employees to the new Department of Homeland Security is not reflected in the JOLTS hires and separations estimates for the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management’s record shows these transfers were completed in March 2003. The inclusion of transfers in the JOLTS definitions of hires and separations is intended to cover ongoing movements of workers between establishments. The Department of Homeland Security reorganization was a massive one-time event, and the inclusion of these intergovernmental transfers would distort the federal government time series. Seasonal adjustment BLS seasonally adjusts several JOLTS series using the X-12-ARIMA seasonal adjustment program. Seasonal adjustment is the process of estimating and removing periodic fluctuations caused by events such as weather, holidays, and the beginning and ending of the school year. Seasonal adjustment makes it easier to observe fundamental changes in the level of the series, particularly those associated with general economic expansions and contractions. A concurrent seasonal adjustment methodology is used in which new seasonal adjustment factors are calculated each month, using all relevant data, up to and including the data for the current month. Data users should note that seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS series is conducted with fewer data observations than is customary. The historical data, therefore, may be subject to larger than normal revisions. Since the seasonal patterns in economic data series typically emerge over time, the standard use of moving averages as seasonal filters to capture these effects requires longer series than are currently available. As a result, the stable seasonal filter option is used in the seasonal adjustment of the JOLTS data. When calculating seasonal factors, this filter takes an average for each calendar month after detrending the series. The stable seasonal filter assumes that the seasonal factors are fixed; a necessary assumption until sufficient data are available. When the stable seasonal filter is no longer needed, other program features also may be introduced, such as outlier adjustment and extended diagnostic testing. Additionally, it is expected that more series, such as layoffs and discharges and additional industries, may be seasonally adjusted when more data are available. Reliability of the estimates JOLTS estimates are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the “true” population values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the estimate. BLS analysis is generally conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. That means that there is a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the “true” population value because of sampling error. Estimates of sampling errors are available upon request. The JOLTS estimates also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the failure to include a segment of the population, the inability to obtain data from all units in the sample, the inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide data on a timely basis, mistakes made by respondents, errors made in the collection or processing of the data, and errors from the employment benchmark data used in estimation. JOLTS hires and separations estimates cannot be used to exactly explain net changes in nonfarm payroll employment. Some reasons why it is problematic to compare changes in payroll employment with JOLTS hires and separations, especially on a monthly basis, are: 1) the reference period for payroll employment is the pay period including the 12th of the month, while the reference period for hires and separations is the calendar month; and 2) payroll employment can vary from month to month simply because part-time and on-call workers may not always work during the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. Additionally, research has found that some reporters systematically underreport separations relative to hires due to a number of factors, including the nature of their payroll systems and practices. The shortfall appears to be about 2 percent or less over a 12-month period. Other information Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone: 1-800-877-8339. Table 1. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted 3 Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006p Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,658 3,867 4,031 3,941 3,981 3,994 3,989 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.8 2.9 2.9 2.9 3,533 114 324 687 777 627 507 449 3,531 121 318 660 716 640 587 460 3,549 152 319 645 687 673 466 444 2.9 2.1 1.8 2.4 3.7 3.5 3.6 1.7 3.0 2.0 2.1 2.5 4.1 3.4 3.7 1.9 3.1 1.9 2.3 2.6 4.4 3.3 3.9 1.9 3.0 2.2 2.2 2.5 4.2 3.4 3.9 2.0 3.0 1.5 2.2 2.6 4.3 3.4 3.8 2.0 3.0 1.6 2.2 2.5 4.0 3.5 4.3 2.1 3.0 2.0 2.2 2.4 3.8 3.7 3.5 2.0 740 1,550 745 928 707 1,547 797 957 674 1,601 708 985 2.4 3.0 2.3 2.7 2.7 3.1 2.4 2.9 2.7 3.2 2.3 3.4 2.8 3.3 2.3 3.0 2.8 3.1 2.3 3.0 2.7 3.1 2.5 3.1 2.6 3.2 2.2 3.2 INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,284 3,460 3,604 3,509 Construction……………………………………………………………… 156 148 146 170 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 261 297 333 313 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 638 654 696 661 Professional and business services……………………. 636 723 782 750 Education and health services…………………………………………. 616 613 601 618 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 481 498 519 522 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 378 416 434 435 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 606 704 704 718 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,467 1,515 1,562 1,612 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 735 762 748 738 West………………………………………………………………………….. 829 873 1,046 1 919 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, 3 and West Virginia; Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent and Wisconsin; West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. p = preliminary. and other services, not shown separately. 5 The States (including the District of Columbia) that comprise the regions are: Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont; South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Table 2. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Mar. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006p 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006p 4,954 4,848 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.6 4,584 379 366 1,177 953 446 847 352 4,578 403 333 1,117 841 435 1,019 379 4,483 339 337 1,115 854 434 945 374 4.1 6.0 2.4 4.2 5.3 2.7 6.5 1.6 4.0 5.9 3.2 3.7 5.0 2.6 6.7 1.5 4.0 5.3 2.4 3.7 5.3 2.6 6.9 1.4 3.9 5.8 2.2 3.9 5.0 2.7 6.6 1.3 4.1 5.1 2.6 4.5 5.6 2.5 6.6 1.6 4.1 5.4 2.3 4.3 4.9 2.5 7.9 1.7 4.0 4.5 2.4 4.3 5.0 2.5 7.3 1.7 727 1,946 1,043 1,176 814 2,061 1,045 1,083 879 1,817 1,126 1,057 3.5 4.0 3.4 3.7 2.9 3.9 3.3 3.9 3.0 3.8 3.3 4.0 2.8 3.8 3.3 3.8 2.9 4.1 3.3 4.0 3.2 4.3 3.3 3.6 3.5 3.8 3.6 3.5 4 Total …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,902 4,822 4,813 4,694 4,941 INDUSTRY Total private4……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,558 4,488 4,498 4,397 Construction……………………………………………………………… 429 430 393 426 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 337 449 335 307 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 1,082 967 954 1,011 Professional and business services……………………. 880 849 907 849 Education and health services…………………………………………. 472 460 459 467 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 822 859 895 853 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 340 319 314 293 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 877 744 747 698 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,913 1,886 1,813 1,817 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,056 1,017 1,031 1,038 West………………………………………………………………………….. 1,077 1,154 1,188 1,127 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. 1 2 Table 3. Total separations levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted 3 Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. Rates Jan. 2006 Feb. 2006 Mar. Mar. 2006p Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,610 4,359 4,476 4,359 4,285 4,531 374 353 880 780 353 848 300 701 1,653 987 970 2005 Oct. 2005 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 2005 Oct. 2005 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 Jan. 2006 Feb. 2006 2006p Mar. 4,642 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.4 4,252 335 380 997 826 403 881 285 4,331 436 396 986 776 400 818 330 3.9 4.3 2.7 4.0 5.4 2.6 6.1 1.3 3.7 5.3 2.4 3.6 4.5 2.3 6.2 1.2 3.7 5.0 2.7 3.9 4.4 2.4 6.5 1.2 3.6 4.7 2.5 3.9 4.3 2.3 6.5 1.2 3.5 5.0 2.5 3.4 4.6 2.0 6.6 1.4 3.8 4.5 2.7 3.8 4.8 2.3 6.8 1.3 3.8 5.8 2.8 3.8 4.5 2.3 6.3 1.5 736 1,694 1,032 1,054 676 1,823 1,029 1,174 3.3 3.7 3.6 3.4 2.6 3.6 3.1 3.4 2.4 3.6 3.5 3.4 2.7 3.7 3.0 3.4 2.8 3.4 3.1 3.3 2.9 3.5 3.3 3.5 2.7 3.8 3.3 3.9 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 Jan. 2006 Feb. 2006 2006p INDUSTRY 4 Total private ……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,341 4,103 4,205 4,067 3,995 Construction……………………………………………………………… 306 392 371 348 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 384 340 388 355 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 1,037 935 1,003 1,027 Professional and business services……………………. 896 757 753 735 Education and health services…………………………………………. 444 404 418 400 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 775 798 834 843 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 279 255 270 270 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 823 657 619 685 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,752 1,710 1,711 1,759 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 1,109 961 1,081 934 West………………………………………………………………………….. 995 1,012 1,004 997 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. 1 2 Table 4. Quits levels and rates by industry and region, seasonally adjusted Levels3 (in thousands) Industry and region Mar. Rates Jan. 2006 Feb. 2006 Mar. Mar. 2006p 2005 Oct. 2005 Total4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,552 2,619 2,683 2,567 2,577 2,663 2,814 1.9 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.1 179 196 551 415 225 569 143 2,526 153 202 602 422 279 607 139 2,667 191 212 611 427 270 606 156 2.2 2.0 1.3 2.3 2.5 1.7 3.7 .6 2.2 2.8 1.4 2.2 2.0 1.5 4.6 .6 2.3 2.5 1.5 2.3 2.1 1.6 4.6 .6 2.2 2.6 1.3 2.4 2.1 1.4 4.3 .6 2.2 2.4 1.4 2.1 2.4 1.3 4.4 .7 2.2 2.0 1.4 2.3 2.5 1.6 4.7 .6 2.4 2.5 1.5 2.3 2.5 1.5 4.7 .7 369 1,068 571 569 368 1,114 600 567 397 1,175 662 607 1.6 2.1 1.9 2.0 1.3 2.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 2.3 1.8 2.2 1.5 2.2 1.5 2.1 1.5 2.2 1.8 1.9 1.4 2.3 1.9 1.9 1.6 2.4 2.1 2.0 2005 Oct. 2005 Nov. 2005 Dec. 2005 Mar. INDUSTRY Total private4……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,423 2,470 2,540 2,428 2,435 Construction……………………………………………………………… 145 205 183 189 Manufacturing………………………………………………………. 182 200 210 184 Trade, transportation, and utilities………………………… 606 573 606 634 Professional and business services……………………. 422 345 359 365 Education and health services…………………………………………. 297 258 277 254 Leisure and hospitality………………...…………………………… 472 597 595 558 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 131 142 142 139 REGION 5 Northeast………………………………………………………………. 413 341 333 390 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,003 1,109 1,102 1,069 Midwest…………………………………………………………………………….. 574 552 572 481 West………………………………………………………………………….. 581 601 657 618 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 Detail will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. 4 Includes natural resources and mining, information, financial activities, and other services, not shown separately. 5 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 5. Job openings levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 3,975 2.7 2.8 2.9 3,540 12 11 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 159 109 168 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 265 323 326 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 172 228 225 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 93 95 101 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 640 595 643 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 130 145 144 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 409 337 380 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 101 112 119 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 74 116 121 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 215 298 300 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 180 256 241 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 35 42 59 Professional and business services…………………………………. 621 707 663 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 609 629 671 Educational services………………………………………………………. 55 66 76 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 553 563 594 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 542 557 516 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 59 51 49 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 483 505 467 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 134 69 120 2.9 2.1 2.3 1.8 1.9 1.7 2.4 2.2 2.7 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 1.7 3.6 3.4 1.8 3.7 4.2 3.3 4.3 2.4 3.0 1.9 1.5 2.2 2.5 1.8 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.2 3.7 3.5 4.0 2.0 4.0 3.4 2.2 3.7 4.3 3.0 4.5 1.3 3.1 1.7 2.3 2.3 2.5 1.9 2.4 2.4 2.5 2.4 3.8 3.5 3.8 2.7 3.7 3.6 2.5 3.9 3.9 2.7 4.1 2.2 436 48 388 1.6 1.8 1.6 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.9 653 1,596 740 986 2.3 3.0 2.5 2.7 2.6 3.1 2.3 3.0 2.5 3.2 2.3 3.2 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3,642 3,837 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,271 3,413 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 13 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 371 424 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 50 49 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 321 375 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 594 659 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,456 1,531 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 775 746 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 817 900 1 Job openings are the number of job openings on the last business day of the month. 2 The job openings rate is the number of job openings on the last business day of the month as a percent of total employment plus job openings. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 6. Hires levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 4,644 3.6 3.1 3.5 4,382 17 20 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 476 333 371 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 350 309 351 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 220 177 214 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 130 132 137 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 995 856 1,030 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 148 121 122 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 700 579 728 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 147 155 180 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 82 97 60 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 196 194 186 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 113 119 118 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 84 75 68 Professional and business services…………………………………. 864 755 832 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 441 374 402 Educational services………………………………………………………. 39 54 41 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 402 320 361 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 848 797 981 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 106 91 124 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 741 707 857 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 189 131 149 4.1 3.9 7.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.9 2.6 4.7 3.0 2.7 2.4 1.9 4.0 5.2 2.5 1.3 2.8 6.9 6.2 7.0 3.5 3.5 2.7 4.7 2.2 2.0 2.6 3.3 2.1 3.9 3.2 3.2 2.4 2.0 3.5 4.5 2.1 1.8 2.2 6.4 5.4 6.6 2.4 3.9 3.2 5.2 2.5 2.4 2.6 4.0 2.1 4.8 3.7 2.0 2.3 1.9 3.2 4.9 2.3 1.4 2.4 7.8 7.1 7.9 2.8 262 45 217 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.2 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.7 1.1 775 1,785 1,091 994 3.1 4.1 3.2 3.5 2.3 3.8 2.6 3.1 3.1 3.7 3.5 3.3 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,699 4,132 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 4,464 3,863 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 24 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 235 269 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 34 40 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 202 229 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 765 587 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,911 1,824 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 994 811 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1,029 911 1 Hires are the number of hires during the entire month. 2 The hires rate is the number of hires during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 7. Total separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 4,109 3.1 2.8 3.1 3,883 17 25 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 282 314 403 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 355 332 371 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 205 190 222 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 150 142 149 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 942 863 898 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 120 140 136 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 705 611 612 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities……………….... 117 113 150 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 72 65 63 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 134 186 185 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 96 118 117 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 38 68 69 Professional and business services…………………………………. 832 662 721 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 413 341 368 Educational services………………………………………………………. 48 29 40 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 365 313 328 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 636 630 669 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 74 38 66 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 562 592 603 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 167 126 180 3.5 3.0 4.1 2.5 2.3 2.8 3.7 2.1 4.7 2.4 2.4 1.7 1.6 1.8 5.0 2.4 1.6 2.5 5.1 4.3 5.3 3.1 3.2 2.7 4.5 2.4 2.1 2.7 3.4 2.4 4.1 2.3 2.1 2.3 1.9 3.2 3.9 1.9 1.0 2.1 5.1 2.2 5.5 2.4 3.5 3.9 5.6 2.6 2.5 2.9 3.5 2.3 4.1 3.1 2.0 2.2 1.9 3.2 4.2 2.1 1.3 2.2 5.3 3.8 5.5 3.3 226 50 176 .9 1.0 .8 .9 1.6 .8 1.0 1.9 .9 556 1,608 882 1,063 2.8 3.3 3.0 3.1 2.3 3.0 2.7 3.0 2.2 3.4 2.8 3.6 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4,038 3,735 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 3,850 3,538 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 18 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 188 197 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 26 43 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 162 154 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 689 571 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,536 1,441 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 919 837 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 894 886 1 Total separations are the number of total separations during the entire month. 2 The total separations rate is the number of total separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 8. Quits levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Industry and region Rates Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 2,550 1.7 1.6 1.9 2,430 8 13 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 131 132 179 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 172 171 203 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 105 97 123 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 67 74 80 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 564 500 571 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 81 68 96 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 422 361 396 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....61 71 80 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 44 45 43 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 78 115 100 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 58 69 76 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 20 46 24 Professional and business services…………………………………. 414 326 425 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 269 234 247 Educational services………………………………………………………. 29 21 21 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 240 214 226 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 394 471 509 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 45 22 39 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 349 449 471 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 100 75 138 2.0 1.8 1.9 1.2 1.2 1.3 2.2 1.4 2.8 1.3 1.4 1.0 1.0 .9 2.5 1.6 1.0 1.7 3.2 2.6 3.3 1.9 1.9 1.2 1.9 1.2 1.1 1.4 1.9 1.2 2.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.1 2.2 1.9 1.3 .7 1.5 3.8 1.3 4.2 1.4 2.2 2.0 2.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 2.2 1.6 2.6 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.1 2.5 1.4 .7 1.5 4.0 2.2 4.3 2.6 120 21 99 .4 .3 .5 .5 .7 .5 .5 .8 .5 348 1,055 583 564 1.4 1.9 1.6 1.8 1.1 2.0 1.5 1.6 1.4 2.2 1.9 1.9 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2,277 2,185 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 2,178 2,077 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 11 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 100 109 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 9 19 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 91 90 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 356 285 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 885 947 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 499 479 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 537 475 1 Quits are the number of quits during the entire month. 2 The quits rate is the number of quits during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 9. Layoffs and discharges levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 1,241 1.1 0.9 0.9 1,185 8 9 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 144 165 205 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 154 118 134 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 84 64 75 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 70 54 59 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 305 282 260 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 35 52 33 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 226 202 170 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....44 28 57 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 22 14 15 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 45 58 71 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 29 38 32 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 15 19 39 Professional and business services…………………………………. 377 296 228 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 127 85 97 Educational services………………………………………………………. 13 6 16 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 114 79 80 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 224 132 135 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 28 13 25 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 196 120 110 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 55 43 31 1.3 .9 2.1 1.1 .9 1.3 1.2 .6 1.5 .9 .7 .6 .5 .7 2.3 .7 .4 .8 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.0 1.1 1.3 2.3 .8 .7 1.0 1.1 .9 1.3 .6 .5 .7 .6 .9 1.8 .5 .2 .5 1.1 .7 1.1 .8 1.1 1.4 2.9 .9 .8 1.1 1.0 .6 1.1 1.2 .5 .9 .5 1.8 1.3 .5 .5 .5 1.1 1.4 1.0 .6 56 11 45 .2 .3 .2 .2 .4 .2 .3 .4 .2 149 448 250 394 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.0 .9 .8 .9 1.1 .6 .9 .8 1.3 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1,505 1,250 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 1,458 1,201 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 6 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 46 49 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 7 10 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 39 39 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 280 233 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 559 397 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 364 288 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 303 331 1 Layoffs and discharges are the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month. 2 The layoffs and discharges rate is the number of layoffs and discharges during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. p = preliminary. Table 10. Other separations levels1 and rates2 by industry and region, not seasonally adjusted Levels (in thousands) Rates Industry and region Mar. Feb. Mar. Mar. Feb. Mar. 2005 2006 2006p 2005 2006 2006p 318 .2 .2 .2 268 3 18 33 23 10 67 7 46 13 5 14 9 6 68 24 3 21 25 2 22 11 .2 .2 .1 .2 .2 .2 .3 .1 .4 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .2 .1 .1 (4) .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .2 .2 .2 .1 .2 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .5 .3 .2 .3 .2 .3 .1 .3 .3 .2 .2 .1 .3 .4 .1 .1 .1 .2 .1 .2 .2 49 18 32 .2 .4 .2 .2 .5 .1 .2 .7 .2 60 104 49 105 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .2 .3 .2 .2 .2 .4 Total…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 256 300 INDUSTRY Total private……………………………………………………………………………….. 214 261 Natural resources and mining…………………………………………… 1 1 Construction………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 17 Manufacturing…………………………………………………………………………. 28 43 Durable goods...……………………………………………………………..…. 16 30 Nondurable goods...………………………………………………………..… 12 14 Trade, transportation, and utilities……………………………………………. 72 81 Wholesale trade………………………………………………………...……… 4 19 Retail trade………………………………………………………..…..……….. 56 47 Transportation, warehousing, and utilities………………....12 15 Information………………………………………………………………...……….. 6 6 Financial activities……..…………………………………………………….…… 12 13 Finance and insurance…………………………………………………………………………. 9 11 Real estate and rental and leasing…………………………….. 3 2 Professional and business services…………………………………. 41 41 Education and health services………………………………………….……………. 16 22 Educational services………………………………………………………. 5 2 Health care and social assistance……………………………. 11 21 Leisure and hospitality………………...……………………………...……… 18 27 Arts, entertainment, and recreation………………………………. 1 3 Accommodations and food services…………………………. 17 24 Other services……………………………………………………….…………….. 13 9 Government…………………………………………………………………………….. 42 39 Federal……………………………………………………………………...…………… 10 14 State and local…………….………………………………………….………………. 32 25 REGION 3 Northeast…………………………………………………………………………….. 54 53 South………………………………………………………………………………….. 92 97 Midwest………………………………………………………………………………..….. 56 70 West…………………………………………………………………………………………. 54 80 1 2 Other separations are the number of other separations during the entire month. The other separations rate is the number of other separations during the entire month as a percent of total employment. 3 See footnote 5, table 1. 4 Data round to zero. p = preliminary.